Key talking points from the event

It's easy to get lost in the thumping music and dizzying scenes at this week's iGB Live, as the event bids farewell to the city of Amsterdam after many years in the Dutch capital. Eventually, the conference adrenaline will peter out and many will be left unsure of what exactly happened between the beers and handshakes. To combat that feeling, here's a curated roundup of interesting talking points, overheard by the iGB editorial team throughout the day.

“I'm hopeful that Finland will change their draft proposal for it to be more like Sweden or Denmark. They're aiming for 90% channelisation and they're not going to reach that with affiliates being banned,” notes Peter Gunni, CEO at Traffic Lab.

Affiliates are rallying against the Finnish government’s proposed ban on affiliate marketing in its draft proposal for an open online gambling sector, to launch in 2027.

?“The languishing progression of US regulation has led to a focus on what one can do in the market, which is sweepstakes. A lot of attention has moved into the sweepstakes market,” says Ben Robinson, Corfai Capital

Today, six years since PASPA’s appeal, only seven US states are offering legal online casino. Sweepstakes casinos can operate without real-money bets using virtual currency that is exchanged for cash or prizes following gameplay.

“Forget what you think you know about a country, because you’re probably wrong,” explains Lau Miguez, Freelance International Digital PR

Localisation is a priority for operators when entering a new market, but deeply understanding its consumers and their culture is challenging without local expertise. Lau pointed out that cultural stereotypes often misrepresent a country’s people, and that could be a product’s downfall.

“We’re expecting up to 1,000 total applications for Cura?ao gaming licences,” says Gaming Control Board chief Cedric Pietersz

After opening its latest licensing window last week, the Cura?ao government is anticipating an influx of interest from operators. Pietersz told iGB the board received in excess of 700 applications during the first licensing window in April. In comparison, Brazil has received two online betting licence applications since opening in May.

Thanks to those that joined us at the event this week, hoping it was a hugely fruitful week and for those that didn't, this might help the FOMO!