Betsson CEOs Optimistic On Regulated Crypto Casinos Amid Yolo Report

Betsson has been linked with a potential move for Yolo Group’s crypto casino brands Sportsbet.io and Bitcasino.io, following a report by The Australian. The operator declined to comment on what it described as “rumours or speculative reporting”, but recent remarks from its leadership suggest a cautious interest in the long term potential of regulated crypto gambling.

The report claimed the possible deal could be valued at less than €50m, as Yolo continues shifting toward fully regulated operations. Founder Tim Heath previously outlined plans to consolidate Sportsbet and Bitcasino into a single Yolo.com brand as part of this transition.

“Momentum is building” but patience remains key

In an interview with iGB, Betsson AB CEO Pontus Lindwall commented on the future of crypto casinos. “The sector is cautiously getting there,” he said, adding that “momentum is building” as regulatory frameworks take shape across different jurisdictions.

Lindwall noted that evolving rules around digital assets are laying the groundwork for adoption. “In the medium term, I do expect a gradual uptick in regulated crypto offerings. Regulatory frameworks are evolving – for instance, the EU’s MiCA regulations are laying groundwork for how digital assets are handled, and some forward-looking regulators are open to the idea, provided strict AML controls are in place,” he said.

Despite that optimism, Lindwall warned that the short term outlook remains limited. “In the short term, regulated crypto casinos will remain more of a novelty than the norm. Only a handful of jurisdictions today explicitly allow cryptocurrency in online gaming transactions under their licences.”

Risk management shapes Betsson’s long-term outlook

Lindwall also stressed that large operators must approach the space cautiously until key risks are addressed. “Public companies and major operators won’t dive headlong into crypto casinos until they’re confident that risks around money laundering, problem gaming and currency-volatility are mitigated,” he said.

Betsson Group operational CEO Jesper Svensson echoed the same sentiments, telling iGB that he expected an improvement in regulations and increased popularity. “It’s already evolving, as regulation starts catching up with user behaviour,” Svensson said. “This is a natural progression as both the technology and the regulatory landscape continue to mature.”

He added: “Crypto adoption is high in many markets and that’s increasingly extending into entertainment and gaming. As regulatory clarity improves – with frameworks like MiCA in Europe and similar efforts in other regions – we’ll likely see broader, more structured adoption over time.”

Yolo’s UAE focus highlights regulated future

According to The Australian, funds from any potential sale could support Yolo’s expansion in the UAE, a market central to its regulated ambitions. The company has already secured two gaming-related vendor licences covering its Hub88 Holdings and Live Online Gaming Services subsidiaries, allowing it to supply content within the emerging framework.

Yolo Group’s B2B CEO Lara Falzon previously described the company’s approach as fully committed to the region. “Yolo is entering the UAE market with a complete ecosystem offering, live studio experiences, slots and aggregation services,” she said. “This all-in approach builds credibility and trust, which effectively gives us a lot of opportunities as well as a head start when compared to our competitors.”