Silverback Gold

What is Silverback Gold?

Cyprus is not the first market to consider whether to block its welfare recipients from using their benefits to gamble, Brazil introduced a similar ban in 2025.

During a session of the House Audit Committee last Thursday, members of parliament (MPs), the Data Protection Commissioner and representatives from the Welfare Benefits Administration Service (WBAS), the Gaming & Casino Supervision Commission and the National Betting Authority (NBA) convened to discuss ways to identify and restrict gambling activity among GMI beneficiaries, as reported by Cyprus Mail.

While the intention is to protect vulnerable households and ensure welfare is spent on essential needs, proposed measures are being complicated by legal, technical and privacy obstacles.

What is Silverback Gold?

Meanwhile Blackstone, Cirsa’s largest shareholder, is expected to become the largest shareholder of the combined company, maintaining around 24% of the share capital.

The deal is expected to provide around €115 million of pre-tax cash synergies per year from opex and interest cost savings. These synergies are expected to be realised by the third full year following completion.

Angelozzi is set to serve as the combined company’s chairman and CEO, while Lottomatica’s deputy CEO and CFO Laurence Van Lancker will assume the same role.

How to play Silverback Gold

The partnership doesn’t end at this stage, as Wazdan is going to further implement new releases for the operator’s local content library and offer players new opportunities as they come back to play. 

Wazdan has been methodically building up its footprint across regional and European markets, with the supplier signing up a content partnership with Jupiter Gaming earlier in September, and similarly bringing its portfolio of player-favorite games to the operator in the UK.

Besides Europe, Wazdan has also been focused on expanding in the North American market. To this end, the supplier teamed up with Caliente.mx, a brand operated by Caliente Interactive in Mexico, bringing the supplier’s games to the local market.