48 PUBLIC GAMING INTERNATIONAL • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2023 P U L S E olds to SEK 1,000/month . We will now take those insights with us in our continued work. Our long-term support for Swedish research on gambling and gambling addiction has begun to bear fruit in more and more domestic studies on how risky gambling can best be countered. It is incredibly important to customers that our care work is based on scientific evidence, makes a real difference. That is why we decided last year to add another 42 million kroner to Swedish gaming research over the next five years . We also want to see sharper government protection against over-indebtedness, a national debt register. Gambling addiction is often financed with payday loans, leading to personal tragedies. Even if the individual gets help to get out of their addiction, the debts remain. Just as there is Spelpaus for those who want to block themselves from gambling and targeted gambling advertising, there should be a "Loan block" that protects against quick loans and advertising from loan companies . There are more important issues for the gaming industry and society in 2023. Svenska Spel was an early driver in the issue of match-fixing, that is, that athletes are threatened or bribed to underperform so that criminal actors can make money from an unexpected game result. After many years of struggle, the work has produced political results. Just before Christmas, we received an early Christmas present from the government, which in a bill, among other things, wants to make it easier for gambling companies and authorities to share information with each other. Svenska Spel's expert Dan Korhonen explains this in more detail in his blog . One of the concrete proposals is that gambling companies on the Swedish license market will now be obliged to hand over the information needed to investigate crimes in connection with gambling at the request of the authorities. A matter of course? Yes, we at Svenska Spel have thought so all these years. Unfortunately, the entire industry has not caught up behind. Now you are forced to do so. But acting first under duress is a bad strategy for any industry that wants to improve its reputation. And the gaming industry really needs to increase its trust with the public. So if I can wish for something for 2023, it is that the Swedish gaming industry can come together around more positive initiatives. That is why I am happy that Svenska Spel was able to agree with ATG and Kindred to openly report key figures for how we work with customers who show signs of risky gambling . At the end of January, we will publish the first figures. This is something that will increase public transparency in how the companies work with the issue and a step in the right direction. During 2023, Svenska Spel will continue the work with increased gender equality in sports. In 2020, we decided to distribute all our sponsorship funds, around SEK 300 million annually, equally between female and male athletes. Among other things, we entered into a long-term giant investment in Swedish women's hockey. Now we are starting to see signs that the investment is paying off. Between 2021 and 2022, the number of girls playing hockey in Sweden increased by 29 percent – the largest annual increase ever. But there is of course a lot left to do in both hockey and the other sports we sponsor, and we promise to continue working there in 2023. We are also looking at how we can become even sharper within the Gräsroten initiative, the project which during its 10-year history added over half a billion kroner to Swedish youth sports . In short: I see 2023 as a year in which Svenska Spel takes new steps to contribute to a better society, while at the same time offering our 4 million customers the best imaginable entertainment. We will make it easy, fun and safe. That's our New Year's resolution. PATRIK HOFBAUER President and CEO, Svenska Spel Apollo-Backed Gambling Firm Lottomatica Weighs $1 Billion IPO Lottomatica, the Italian gambling company backed by Apollo Global Management Inc., is considering a Milan initial public offering this year that could raise about $1 billion, people familiar with the matter said. Lottomatica is working with banks including UniCredit SpA as it evaluates the listing, which could take place as soon as the second quarter, the people said. It’s considering seeking a valuation of around $5 billion including debt, according to the people, who asked not to be identified because the information is private. India Drafts Rules for Online Gaming: The Beginning of an Enabling Framework? Augmented Reality and its Potential in the iGaming Industry Technology is now part of our everyday lives. We use laptops, tablets, and computers to study, work, and communicate with those around us, which now happens almost daily. Not to mention smartphones, which have become an extension of ourselves. Technology hasn't only impacted how we work, study, or communicate but has also changed numerous industries. Doctors can now perform state-of-the-art, minimally invasive incisions; automobiles are more intelligent than ever, using techniques like autopilot or lane assist. Businesses all over the globe are perfecting their operations with technologies like cloud computing, and the advance of technology seems to have no signs of slowing down. The tech world is innovative in saving lives, making businesses thrive, and transforming how people relax and access entertainment. Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) are two new tech innovations transforming how people perceive and use computers. AR and VR are not as widespread as smartphones, laptops, or tablets, yet they possess excellent qualities that could change how people interact, play, relax, or even work. Both technologies are no longer just prototypes. They are being used actively in some fields. For example, VR has emerged quickly in the gaming world, while AR has been a substantial part of the development of popular smartphone apps. What's precisely AR? Augmented Reality is a tech system or a combination of software and/ or hardware products that combine elements of the natural world with features generated by a computer. Augmented Reality can make use of multiple human sensory experiences like visual, haptic, or olfactive sensors. Some of the most popular AR apps include Snapchat and Pokémon GO. Snapchat uses AR through some of its filters, which allow users to add certain simulation elements to their selfies or videos. Pokémon GO is a game that adds computer-generated aspects to a physical environment and has been a sensation in the gaming world since its launch in 2016. AR versus VR: AR and VR are both parts of the same technology field called Extended Reality. While Augmented Reality adds some computersimulated elements to the natural world as we know it, Virtual Reality creates a completely simulated new world or new environment for the user. That is why VR experiences require using a headset, which has become a famous symbol for the entire extended reality universe. With the help of the headset, users can emerge in a completely simulated environment, whether for relaxing purposes, playing a video game, or studying. AR could also transform how live casinos or events like conferences or seminars occur in the iGaming industry. The best way to understand how AR is already used in broadcasts is through sports events. For example, in some competitions, AR elements are added to the screen to show exactly where a ball hit. Augmented Reality innovation has already transformed the world as we know it. For example, it allows users to enjoy fantastic games or interact in unique matters through camera lens filters.
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