With the recent economic crisis worldwide and the accessibility of gambling online it comes as no surprise that big and small operators are looking at all and any markets to expand their services and broaden their audience. Eastern Europe may not be on the top of the list of destinations, mainly due to the fact that people don’t have that much cash to splash on games (at present), but it still accounts for good 5% of spending on gambling worldwide.

Both – the physical venue operators and online businesses in the gambling sector are starting to look at ways to exploit the massive potential of the area. They are still of course facing fighting legislations and public opinions. Even though EU regulations have eased up over the past decade, all member countries have the authority to apply their own rulings when it comes to some areas, gambling and betting being the ones that interest us in particular.

Even still, countries like Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Bulgaria and Romania have already made tremendous progress by licensing a number of gambling operators on top of their national lotteries. The industry is particular flourishing in Romania, with 13 operators being granted the right to operate on its territory in just 3 short months, thus beating Bulgaria in terms of market share in the field.

On the other side of the Black Sea, in Kiev, despite recent events, the gambling industry is also looking at bright horizons. The government is rightly seeing it as a way to increase tourism and generate tax income. Still not thoroughly regulated and organised, but undeniable – this is a step in a good direction.

If this is something you are interested in, the Eastern European Gaming Summit is one of the most prestigious forums in the gaming industry in Eastern Europe, holding conferences every November (22nd – 23rd this year, stay tuned, I will keep you posted). The conference is organized by the Bulgarian Association of Manufacturers and Operators in the Gaming Industry (BTAMOGI).

In short – this region of the world could well be the next heaven for gambling giants – with the income of citizens improving, regulations catching up with Western Europe and the customer profile of the average easterner fitting the perfect gambler – people who love fun and risk. Let’s wait and see!