RubyPlay, an innovative iGaming development studio, has announced a significant partnership with Italian operator Sisal, part of Flutter Entertainment. This collaboration marks an important step in RubyPlay’s efforts to enhance its footprint in the Italian market. The partnership will see RubyPlay integrating its popular slot game portfolio, including the notable “Immortal Ways Diamonds,” onto Sisal’s online platform, which is aimed at capturing a larger player base across Italy.
“Immortal Ways Diamonds,” launched in August 2023, has been described by RubyPlay as one of its most successful releases. This game introduces a novel mechanic that provides a unique and engaging slot experience, setting it apart from traditional offerings. Dr. Eyal Loz, Chief Product Officer at RubyPlay, expressed his enthusiasm about the collaboration, noting, “Partnering with Sisal, a trailblazer in the Italian gaming industry, marks an exciting chapter in RubyPlay’s journey.”
A Rich History and a Promising Future
Established in 1946, Sisal boasts a diverse offering that includes lotteries, betting, and entertainment devices across both retail and online channels. This agreement with RubyPlay not only underscores Sisal’s commitment to enhancing its online game offerings but also strengthens its relationship with parent company Flutter Entertainment. Dr. Loz added, “This agreement not only reinforces our dedication to delivering premium slot content to regulated markets but also strengthens our valued relationship with Flutter Entertainment.”
Technical Synergies and Market Expansion
Beyond the strategic partnership, RubyPlay has also engaged with Internet Vikings for a robust VMware cloud hosting solution. This technical collaboration involves the use of bare metal servers hosted near Atlantic City, enhancing data security and operational smoothness for RubyPlay’s offerings.
Italy is described by RubyPlay as a “prosperous region” for growth, with this partnership being one of many initiatives undertaken in the region over the last year. The partnership aims to set new standards for player engagement and entertainment across Italy, reinforcing RubyPlay’s commitment to delivering unique and innovative gaming experiences.
Flutter Entertainment’s Financial Prospects
In related news, Flutter Entertainment, the parent company of Sisal and a leading name in online sports betting and iGaming, has announced plans to release its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year of 2024 on March 4, 2025. Alongside these results, Flutter has been executing a significant share buyback program, with plans to cancel the acquired shares. This strategic financial maneuver is aimed at returning capital to shareholders and potentially enhancing the company’s stock value and market position.
Flutter’s management will host a conference call to discuss these results and answer questions, further highlighting the company’s proactive approach to stakeholder communication and market strategy. These partnerships, technological investments, and strong financial maneuvers position both RubyPlay and Flutter Entertainment for sustained growth and market leadership, particularly in the burgeoning Italian market.
Peruvian Players Welcome Spinomenal Through Olimpo.bet Alliance
Spinomenal has successfully penetrated the newly regulated Peruvian gaming landscape through a landmark content agreement with Olimpo.bet. This partnership enables Olimpo.bet, an affiliate of NG Gaming, to integrate Spinomenal’s extensive game portfolio via the Calimaco API-First Modular platform. Peruvian gaming enthusiasts can now access fan favorites including Baba Yaga Tales, Majestic Wild Buffalo, Story of Zeus, and 777 Fruits.
Lior Shvartz, Spinomenal’s CEO, shared his optimism about the venture: “Teaming up with an industry heavyweight like Olimpo.bet provides the ideal foundation for establishing our footprint in Peru’s regulated market. As we deepen our LATAM presence, we’re optimistic that our diverse game collection will resonate strongly with Olimpo.bet’s player community.”
AdmiralBet Partnership Bolsters Spinomenal’s Serbian Influence
Expanding its European footprint, Spinomenal has established a content collaboration with Serbian operator AdmiralBet. This strategic alliance enriches AdmiralBet’s gaming catalog with Spinomenal’s premium slot titles, including standouts like Demi Gods V, Queen Of Shadows, Wolf Fang – Nights Of Magic, and Book Of Majestic King. These titles will reach players through Bragg Gaming Group’s integration with AdmiralBet’s Millennium platform.
Reflecting on the collaboration, Spinomenal Co-CEO Lior Shvartz noted: “AdmiralBet stands as a market leader within Serbia’s expanding gaming sector, and we’re delighted to launch this partnership with ambitious mutual goals. Our game selection will provide AdmiralBet players with access to captivating slot experiences that deliver exceptional entertainment value.”
Milan Djurmez, AdmiralBet Serbia’s Head of Online Gaming, added: “I’m delighted to unveil our fresh partnership with Spinomenal, a premier developer of online casino content. This alliance represents a meaningful advancement in our mission to elevate our gaming offerings and deliver premium entertainment experiences to our customer base.”
Italian Expansion: Spinomenal Forms Alliance with bgame
Further consolidating its position in Italy’s regulated market, Spinomenal has revealed a new partnership with Italian operator bgame. This collaboration leverages Spinomenal’s integration with the Exalogic gaming platform provider. Effective immediately, bgame’s player community gains access to Spinomenal’s premium titles, including Poseidon’s Rising, Book of Aphrodite, Book of Demi Gods IV, and Majestic King.
Discussing the arrangement, Lior Shvartz remarked: “With bgame flourishing in the Italian market, we’re eager to contribute to its continued success story through our new collaboration. Our content portfolio will complement and enhance its casino offerings, building upon existing momentum.”
Massimo Bortolotti, bgame’s CEO, expressed similar enthusiasm: “Spinomenal’s content commands tremendous respect throughout the industry, and we’re confident these fresh additions will significantly enhance the gaming journey for our players.”
These calculated market entries highlight Spinomenal’s ongoing commitment to global expansion while reinforcing its status as an innovative leader in iGaming content development.
Merkur Slots UK Limited, overseeing more than 200 adult gaming centres (AGCs) across the United Kingdom, has been fined £95,450 by the UK Gambling Commission. This financial penalty was imposed after an investigation into how a customer was managed at a Merkur venue in Stockport, where the patron lost nearly £2,000 over several extended gambling sessions spanning a couple of days.
Details of the Gambling Sessions
The investigation by the Gambling Commission revealed that between November 1 and November 3, 2023, the customer engaged in lengthy gambling sessions with no recorded staff interactions. On November 1, the customer gambled from 1:50 PM to 6:43 PM and resumed the next day at 1:28 PM, continuing until just before 1:00 AM on November 3. These sessions resulted in total losses amounting to £1,981, raising serious concerns about the lack of intervention by the venue’s staff despite clear signs of potential gambling harm.
Regulatory Oversight and Failings
This incident highlights significant shortcomings in Merkur’s implementation of the Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice (LCCP). These regulations mandate that operators must proactively engage with customers showing signs of distress or excessive gambling to minimize risks associated with gambling harms. The failure at the Stockport gaming centre was attributed to a lack of effective training and the proper implementation of established harm-prevention protocols.
Andrew Rhodes, CEO of the Gambling Commission, emphasized the broader implications of the failure, stating, “This case underlines the need for all land-based gambling operators to not only establish but also rigorously enforce policies aimed at protecting consumers.” Rhodes further noted that both online and physical venues must ensure that their staff are equipped and willing to intervene when necessary.
Conclusion and Industry Implications
The fine and the circumstances leading to it serve as a stark reminder to the gambling industry of the critical importance of social responsibility. The Gambling Commission’s action against Merkur underscores the need for continuous vigilance and strict adherence to customer protection standards. It also stresses the importance of training staff adequately to recognize and act upon signs of gambling harm effectively.
This regulatory action is a clear message to all gambling operators about the serious consequences of neglecting their duties under UK law, particularly those designed to safeguard consumers from the potential harms of gambling. As the industry evolves, the commitment to social responsibility remains a paramount concern, with regulators keenly observing and ready to act on any breaches that compromise customer safety.
The Dutch government, led by the State Secretary for Legal Protection, Teun Struycken, is about to introduce a new gambling bill by the end of 2025. This new legislation will increase the age limit for online slots to 21, aiming to strengthen protections for younger adults.
Background and Development
Last December, Struycken reported his ongoing efforts to overhaul the nation’s gambling regulations to the Dutch parliament. Following a thorough review that began last year, a proposal is expected to be presented to policymakers by March. The government’s findings, published in November, criticized the existing measures’ effectiveness in promoting responsible gambling and protecting consumers from gambling-related harm. These findings underscored the need for a legislative refresh to meet the goals in the Remote Gambling Act.
Core Objectives and Legislative Updates
During a recent update to parliament, dated February 14, Struycken highlighted that the foremost goal of the forthcoming bill is comprehensive protection against the hazards of gambling for all citizens, including those who have never gambled. Discussions are ongoing about whether some new protective measures, such as enhanced operator duty of care and tightened restrictions on gambling advertisements, could be implemented ahead of schedule.
Specific Measures in the Proposed Bill
Key components of Struycken’s proposed legislation include raising the minimum age for “risky” gambling activities to 21 and introducing a universal deposit limit. The legislation also aims to enforce strict rules on advertising to reduce the appeal of online gambling drastically. The Gambling Authority (KSA) is set to receive expanded powers for enforcement and supervision, which include blocking access to illegal gambling sites.
Impact Assessment and Current Challenges
Since the implementation of mandatory deposit limits across the industry in October, excessive gambling deposits have significantly reduced. However, the KSA has expressed concerns about high-spending players potentially migrating to unregulated providers. Despite these challenges, the rate of legal gambling participation remains high, demonstrating the effectiveness of current regulatory measures even as areas for improvement are identified.
A New Direction for Player Protection
Struycken’s legislative approach is comprehensive, focusing not only on preventing gambling addiction but also on addressing other related harms, such as financial indebtedness. Special attention is being paid to protecting minors and young adults, identified as particularly susceptible to risky gambling behaviors and the potential for addiction. These efforts are informed by recent studies and warnings from research bodies like the Scientific Research and Data Centre (WODC), which have highlighted vulnerabilities within these demographic groups.
Conclusion and Forward Look
The proposed changes in Dutch gambling legislation represent a significant shift toward a more regulated and responsible gambling environment. As Struycken prepares to finalize the draft legislation by the year’s end, the potential impacts of these reforms are anticipated with considerable interest both within the Netherlands and across the broader European community. This legislative effort signals a strong commitment to curbing the adverse effects of gambling while ensuring a safer, more responsible gambling landscape for all Dutch citizens.
Strategic Rollout Planned for Q1 2025
Realistic Games is strengthening its position in the Netherlands’ iGaming sector through a new partnership with established operator Bingoal. The collaboration will introduce Realistic’s slot portfolio to Dutch players through a measured rollout, with five titles being integrated weekly over a one-month period.
Initial Game Selection
The first wave of games includes several of Realistic’s notable titles: Book of Charms, Hit the Top, Diamonds Stick ’em Up, Catch 22: Frozen Fortune, and Top Tenner. This careful selection represents the developer’s diverse gaming portfolio, which will complement Bingoal’s existing casino offerings.
Market Context
The partnership holds particular significance given Bingoal’s established presence in the Benelux region. As a family-owned Belgian company with over three decades of experience, Bingoal operates both a network of betting outlets and land-based locations alongside its online gaming platforms in the Netherlands.
Recent Expansion Track Record
In August 2024, Realistic Games partnered with NRG Bet to bring its portfolio to UK players, including titles such as Maxiplier and Fortune Fortress. The company further expanded its Dutch presence through an agreement with Circus.nl Sport & Casino. Earlier in 2024, they also launched titles including Book of Midas and Chicken or the Egg with UK operator Slots Temple.
Industry Perspectives
Dany Salmon, Online Casino Product Manager at Bingoal, emphasized the strategic value of the partnership: “Its diverse range of titles perfectly complements our existing offering and reinforces our commitment to providing a top-tier gaming experience. This collaboration further strengthens our position in the Dutch market.”
The integration of Realistic Games’ titles on the Bingoal platform is expected to be completed within a month, representing another step in the company’s games roadmap into 2025.