SiGMA East Europe 2024 opening panel delves into regulatory trends, challenges, opportunities in the region

SiGMA East Europe 2024 kicked off on Monday in Budapest with an opening panel that provided valuable insights into the evolving landscape of responsible gambling in Eastern Europe. 

The panel included Rossi McKee, an entrepreneur and founder of the Responsible Gaming Foundation, Viktor Radics, Partner and Head of Dispute Resolution at DLA Piper Hungary, and Renata Kozak, Business Development Director at LexisNexis Risk Solutions. Moderated by Christos Zoulianitis, Director of Market Strategy of Playson, the panel powered by iGaming Academy delved into the regulatory trends, challenges, and opportunities facing the gaming sector in Eastern Europe.

Radics highlighted the significant progress made in responsible gambling regulations within the region. He emphasized the shift from monopolistic structures to a more competitive landscape with independent licensing and the increased presence of international operators. 

He also discussed the implementation of various responsible gambling measures, including advertising restrictions, self-exclusion options, alcohol restrictions, and protection for minors. He noted the region's adherence to European standards and the expectation of further growth in licensing and player protection. 

For her part, McKee focused on the specific developments in Bulgaria. She described the country's journey from a broad regulatory framework in 2015 to the recent implementation of stricter player protection measures. She also talked about the government's decision to ban gambling advertising on public media and the introduction of a new regulatory framework that will significantly strengthen the region’s commitment to responsible gaming. 

"Regulators should be aware that there are no regulations that could fit all the jurisdictions," McKee noted.

Meanwhile, Kozak emphasized the importance of leveraging alternative data sources and anti-fraud signals to enhance responsible gaming compliance. She highlighted the unique advantages of anti-fraud tools in gaining a broader understanding of customer behavior and identifying potential risks.

"The universal advice is, leverage alternative data, know more about the user, and try to adapt as much agility to treat customers as much the regulatory permits," she said.

To conclude, Zoulianitis ended the discussion by reminding attendees about the need for a balanced approach to regulation, avoiding overly restrictive measures that can stifle innovation.

"We got to make changes. We got to be technology-adapted. Fast. And this is a very important aspect for startups to expand into these markets," he stated.

The event, which is attended by 9,000 delegates, 5,000 affiliates, and over 200 speakers, will conclude today, September 4.