Betsson Makes Strategic Moves in Serbian Market
Online casino software provider Swintt has struck a deal to partner with Betsson’s Rizk Casino brand, allowing Swintt to enter the newly regulated Serbian online gambling market. The partnership will see Swintt provide the popular Rizk Casino platform with its full suite of games from the SwinttSelect and SwinttPremium libraries.
This comprehensive content package from the innovative game studio will significantly bolster Rizk Casino’s gaming offerings for Serbian players. Swintt’s portfolio contains over 140 top-performing online slot games packed with engaging themes, cutting-edge features, lucrative bonus rounds and potential wins up to 500x the original bet amount.
Betsson recognizes Swintt’s rising popularity and the supplier’s ability to deliver an immersive gaming experience. The deal allows Rizk Casino to take advantage of Swintt’s compelling titles as well as future releases from its new Elysium Studios game studio venture.
David Mann, CEO of Swintt, commented: “With Rizk Casino being celebrated for providing players with an unrivalled selection of games, we’re thrilled to strengthen their lineup with our Premium and Select collections. This deal will put us on the map in Serbia.”
Matthea Dudic, Regional Casino and Operations Chief at Rizk, added: “Swintt’s slots have seen great success, and we’re delighted to welcome them to our Serbian platform, offering both classic and modern games that will be a huge hit.”
Finnish Court Suspends Betsson Payment Blockade
In Finland, Betsson recently secured a temporary victory as the Supreme Administrative Court suspended an order that required banks and payment providers to block all payments from Finnish customers to the operator’s subsidiary BML Group.
The payment blockade stemmed from the Helsinki Administrative Court imposing a record €2.4 million fine on BML Group in March for allegedly targeting the Finnish market illegally. Betsson fiercely contested the fine and vowed to appeal to a higher court.
With the appeals process ongoing, the Supreme Administrative Court has halted the payment blockade order. Betsson will also not need to pay the €2.4 million penalty until the legal process concludes. Finland’s National Police Board has removed BML Group from its list of blacklisted operators during this period.
To mitigate the initial payment blockade, Betsson transferred its brands for non-Swedish and non-Irish EU customers to the new Rizk Nordic Limited entity licensed by the Malta Gaming Authority.
Finland’s Gambling Monopoly Ending by 2026
These developments coincide with Finland’s plans to phase out the gambling monopoly held by state-run operator Veikkaus by 2026 and transition to a licensing system that allows private operators.
While Veikkaus has said it welcomes the regulatory overhaul, the company warned the licensing regime could force it to reduce its workforce substantially.
The monopoly reform aims to create a better-regulated online gambling environment and tackle Finland’s high rates of problem gambling. A recent study found around 150,000 Finnish citizens, or nearly 3% of the population, potentially suffer from gambling addiction.
Experts argue ending Veikkaus’ monopoly and opening up licensing is crucial for safeguarding consumers and combating the unregulated black market for online gambling that has thrived under the current regime.
