Yolo Group Shift Towards Regulation, Sportsbet.io and Bitcasino.io Face Uncertain Future

First and foremost, the announcements signal Yolo Groups intention to move away from unregulated gambling brands, which could mean the end of its brands – or at the very least – a complete rebranding. The most famous of these brands are Sportsbet.io and Bitcasino.io, whose fates are suddenly called into question. In favor of these, Tim Heath indicated that Yolo Group would look to make a single unified brand Yolo.com, with an eye on starting up in the UAE.

Yolog Group is said to be finalizing two B2B vendor licenses in the United Arab Emirates, which encompasses the major markets of Dubai and Abu Dhabi. It is also said to be looking to gain a foothold in the regulated crypto betting and gambling markets in the EU and MiCA, shifting a move away from the individual licences, such as Curacao.

What’s Next for Sportsbet.io and Bitcasino.io

Sportsbet.io is a massively popular crypto sportsbook in Latam and among crypto gamers. The brand has held partnerships with many leading soccer clubs, including Newcastle Utd, Southampton, and Hull City, but more recently, it partnered with La Liga. The sportsbook holds a licence with the Curacao gaming regulators, and support numerous cryptocurrencies.

Bitcasino.io on the other hand, has a big following in Asia, and has over 4,000 slots, live casino games, Bitcasino originals, and even an in-house sportsbook. It received consecutive EGR awards between 2020 and 2023, and also holds a licence with the Curacao authorities.

Tim Heath confirmed that the plans would consolidate the brands, and other brands in the Yolo Investments portfolio. So while it won’t happen tomorrow, it means that slowly Sportsbet.io and Bitcasino.io will be phased out, and players should prepare for their imminent closure. The longterm strategy of the company is clearly favoring a single, completely regulated entity.

Concerns with the Curacao Licences

Curacao has long been regarded as one of the most lenient and permissive gambling jurisdictions in the market. The Dutch island is responsibel for governing hundreds of online casinos, sportsbooks and crypto gambling sites. It allows its operators to service gamers from nearly anywhere, including markets where online betting is not strictly speaking legal.

While it is a bona fide iGaming license in its own right, for some, it has built a reputation around Curacao gambling licences. They are seen as grey market permits, and linked to looser AML or KYC enforcement, with less oversight from the gambling operators. Of course, this is not strictly speaking true, but with such a large volume of online casino operators using their Curacao licences to attract players from countries where gambling is not fully legal, the concerns around Curacao gambling licences are not too far fetched.

Yolo Group Seeking New Business Model with B2B Focus

Yolo Group believes that these flexible and international gambling licenses are a thing of the past. Especially where crypto gambling is concerned. They are set to gain 2 B2B vendors licenses from the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA) in the UAE. This would be a groundbreaking move for the operator, as the UAE’s gambling market is still pretty fresh, and licensure is not easy to obtain by any means.

Beyond the UAE market, Yolo wants to align with MiCA markets. That is, the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets, so that it can integrate crypto gambling related payments, in a regulated environment. The countries in its sights include Sweden, Finland, Spain, Canada (for international compliance), and Yolo Group’s native Estonia. This would give Yolo Group the necessary permissions it needs to gain access into the EU as a fully regulated crypto betting operator. And not one that is tied to a license that some authorities question.

Crypto Gambling Compliance and Regulated Markets

The pivot to regulated markets is a pretty savvy and forward thinking business decision. The Curacao license has long been one of the most progressive, and was among the first authorities to issue crypto gambling licenses. But gambling authorities around Europe are beginning to tighten their rules in regard to iGaming and cryptocurrencies. So while there was room for companies to straddle both regulated and unregulated zones, that wiggle room is slowly shrinking. Frameworks like the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) are reshaping how crypto payments and betting products are treated, while jurisdictions such as the UAE are building licensing systems that attract major operators.

For Yolo, aligning with these frameworks could be the perfect head start in their brand relaunch. They can build strong banking relationships, plant two feet in the regulated market, and start building customer trust. In the long run, it means they will stand on the right side of the law if the legislation becomes stricter and restrictions are put in place.

But, on the other side, it also means they will have to adhere to the following (potential) legislation:

• Higher compliance costs
• Stricter advertising laws
• High KYC requirements
• Potential bonus constraints
• Fair play limit compliance

These could all impact a regulated operator’s gambling products. As with higher taxes or necessary spending, they won’t be able to offer the same generous bonuses to gamers. What’s more, providing less anonymity to players and stricter rules on their gameplay would be taking away some of the very perks that attracted crypto native bettors in the first place.

The Shift Towards the UAE as a Gambling Hostpot

The decision to target the UAE as a new operating base is strategic. The region has been moving toward becoming a controlled gaming hub under the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA), which is building out a framework for both land-based integrated resorts and regulated online gaming. We just got a deadline for the UAE’s first landbased casino launch this week – it will open in March 2027. Wynn Resorts, which owns this casino, also bought more land recently, in what many anticipate may be a second casino resort opening in the UAE.

Gambling in the UAE, while very rigidly government, was legalized in 2023. The federal government created the GCGRA to oversee all landbased and online gambling brands, and it holds the autonomy to issue licenses to operators. Though the market is very, very new. At the time of writing, there are only 14 licensees listed on the GCGRA website (without Yolo Group, which we expect to see listed in the near future).

What the Yolo Group Brand May Offer

As Yolo Group transitions to Yolo.com, the unified brand will likely blend the best elements of Sportsbet.io and Bitcasino.io. All while basing its operations on the trust and legitimacy of regulated licensing. We are expecting a broad sports offering, with casino games, live dealer games, and eSports coverage.

However, the product will not be completely the same, as it will be delivered under stricter market conditions. That means, built in KYC, AML, responsible gambling protections, and possibly smaller bonuses (as a result of higher compliance costs).

We will watch the space closely, as if Yolo Group can hit the ground running, it will not doubt create a precedent for others to follow suit.