Yolo Group Shifts Focus to Regulated Markets Amid Licensing Advances
Yolo Group is shifting its focus toward regulated gambling jurisdictions, as it nears securing two licenses in the UAE. The company’s move signals a significant transformation from its roots in unregulated crypto gambling to embracing the structured landscape of licensed markets.
The crypto powerhouse will unify its Sportsbet and Bitcasino brands under the single banner of Yolo.com, marking a departure from purely unregulated crypto casino operations. Instead, it aims to establish a presence in Tier-1 regulated jurisdictions.
On Tuesday, Yolo Group announced its intentions to introduce the Yolo.com brand into top-tier regulated environments.
“It’s our responsibility to bring the crypto casino experience to regulated domestic markets, working within sensible frameworks and combining speed and freedom with safety and oversight,” the group stated on its Substack page.
The company acknowledged the hurdles regulators pose. “It has become abundantly clear that domestic regulators who are offering licences are not keen on other group operations continuing to operate in pre-regulated markets. In other words, you cannot be white and grey; you have to pick a side. This means a crossroads has been reached and a decision must be made. Do we go left or do we go right?”
This crossroads has led Yolo to embrace a new chapter: “to bring the best of what we’ve built into Tier-1 regulated markets.”
Yolo is currently finalizing plans to obtain two B2B vendor licenses for the UAE’s emerging regulated gaming sector. The company’s move into these markets is built on a foundation of three years of research and strategic planning, leveraging its crypto casino expertise to navigate the regulatory landscape.
“The direction is clear: the regulated landscape is the future of gaming and we’re ready to lead with the same fearless innovation that got us here,” the group added.
This announcement underscores a pivotal shift for Yolo, which found itself at a “crossroads” before deciding to pursue regulated markets. The company expressed firm belief that licensed environments are the future of the industry, facilitating integration of its land-based and digital operations through seamless wallet solutions under the Yolo.com brand.
“This isn’t about walking away from the past,” the statement continued. “It’s about taking everything we’ve learned, everything we’ve pioneered, and applying it in environments where operators, regulators and players can work together, creating a stronger and more sustainable ecosystem for everyone.”
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Beyond the UAE, Yolo also has ambitions to expand into markets such as Canada, Sweden, and Finland—further evidence of its commitment to mainstream, regulated gaming.
In tandem with its strategic shift, Yolo Group has made notable changes to its senior leadership team. Lara Falzon has stepped in as CEO of the company’s B2B brands, overseeing platforms including Hub88, Live88, Odds88, and OneTouch.
Additionally, Stephanie Eddy, with over a decade of experience at Betway, has joined as Chief Revenue Officer for Yolo Entertainment’s B2C operations, signaling a renewed focus on growth and innovation across the board. Yolo Group Regulated Markets
