Betsson lands casino license in Serbia… and it will operate under brand name Rizk

Article by : Charles Perrin Sep 7, 2023

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The group has confirmed that Betsson has taken a giant stride into Serbia with a fresh casino offering under its esteemed brand, Rizk.

Rizk, a subsidiary of Zecure Gaming, officially became a part of the Betsson family three years ago when Betsson purchased it. The launch in Serbia, therefore, marks a broader commitment from Betsson to expand its presence across Europe.

More specifically, the move is supposed to signal Betsson’s presence in the Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia (CEECA). The CEECA region is significant for group growth, contributing 43% of Betsson’s revenue in the second quarter of 2023.

Under the agreement’s terms, Serbian players can now access various casino games from desktops or mobile devices.

Betsson has already accrued a myriad of licenses over the years, and in 2023, aside from planting roots in Serbia, the group obtained gaming licenses in Belgium and Ontario, Canada.

Discussing the Serbia license, Betsson CEO and President Pontus Lindwall said: “I am proud to welcome Serbia as yet another locally regulated market for Betsson.

“Our vision is to offer the best customer experience possible, and through the brand Rizk, we are now ready to deliver a best-in-class online casino offering in Serbia.”

Similarly, Andrew Valenzia, Zecure Gaming’s Commercial Director, hailed the move.

He said: “Serbia is an exciting new market for our brand, Rizk. We’re eager to replicate our success in other markets as we see tremendous potential and opportunities awaiting us here.”

The breakthrough in Serbia marks an exciting turn of developments for Betsson, who withdrew their application for a casino license in the Netherlands earlier in the summer.

Delays were believed to be the principal reason Betsson pulled out of trying to land an online gambling license in the Netherlands. However, the group hasn’t ruled out making a fresh application.

Meanwhile, the finances of Betsson appear to be in robust health. Group revenue for the three months up to 30 June stood at €236.8million, representing an increase of 27.1% from the figure of €186.3m posted for Q2 of 2022.

Casino, in particular, was a high point of Q2, as revenue set a record €165.1m, while turnover broke new ground, totalling €8.36billion.