Opening new markets presents a huge growth opportunity for established operators and new brands alike. It also demands strong know-how to ensure technical compliancy in new jurisdictions. Some operators choose to take the “go-it-alone” approach - opting to keep all their technical knowledge and expertise in-house. This strategy obviously has some advantages in terms of control, however, it is also costly up-front, requires continual maintenance and support, and can create greater regulatory risk, lost time-to-market and other delays.
One size does not fit all
Every regulated market has its own unique requirements and technical challenges. For example, markets like the Netherlands, Spain, Denmark, Germany, and Greece all require a form of Control Datase (CDB) - a specially configured reporting tool for local authorities. Each market’s requirements are different for the types of data, reports and availability - meaning a single solution does not cover all markets.
Other regulators impose strict marketing restraints, such as the multi-brand bonus limitations in Sweden. Operators with multiple brands on a single platform must ensure that players entering on one site are not able to receive multiple welcome bonuses from several different brands run by the same operator.
Limit setting, exclusions and other responsible gaming feature requirements vary widely from market to market. The same is also true for payment and game provider offerings and local preferences. There can be restrictions on hardware hosting, with markets like Romania requiring servers be physically in the market, while other markets only require virtual machines hosted locally, and others have no such regulations at all.
Cost vs reward
For operators considering jumping into a new market with their successful brand, there is more to consider beyond just getting the B2C licence. Technology that was built for one market does not simply plug and play into other markets. There are new features to build, local exclusion lists to integrate and maintain, plus dozens or even hundreds of other requirements that vary from market to market. The cost of upgrading current technology to meet new demands can be prohibitive. It is also time consuming, and often the money saved keeping technology in-house is easily lost in delayed time to market. There’s also the continual upkeep and maintenance to consider. Market regulations are not static - they are constantly evolving over time. Successful B2C operators want to focus on their core strengths –such as marketing, promotion and retention to find great players, keep them engaged and entertained.
Work with the experts
Finnplay is the Nordics’ most known and successful iGaming platform provider. Founded in 2008, Finnplay has been consistently committed to its core strengths of providing top-tier platform technology and support to operators in regulated markets around the world, with a strong focus on Europe. Finnplay has offices in four countries and employs a team of more than 85 iGaming professionals including developers, QA technicians, compliance experts and support staff. Finnplay’s platform Titan is specialised in technical compliancy and the team excels in agile development, innovation and providing fast customer service.
Our slogan, “Strong enough to bend”, means that we have the size and experience to support the most demanding operators in the toughest markets, but are still flexible enough to tailor our solution to meet the unique demands of every operator. We specialise in:
- Responsible Gaming
- Compliance
- Customisation and localisation
- Agile Development
Currently home to 20 brands, Finnplay is a boutique provider. In an industry dominated by “big box” suppliers with a one-sized-fits-all approach to platform delivery, Finnplay distinguishes itself by offering a closer, more personal and customised approach. The company gives very personal attention to each and every brand it supports. This means that operators on the Finnplay platform can expect a close relationship with their development team, with solid communication and quick responsiveness and service.
To learn more about Finnplay, and how our expert team can help support your venture into new, exciting markets, visit our website to book a demo or talk with one of our market experts.
