Yolo Group has announced that it will consolidate its business following a strategic decision to operate exclusively in regulated markets.
Via a post on Substack, the group confirmed it is in the final stages of securing two B2B vendor licences in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
As part of the strategic shift, Yolo Group, a pioneer in crypto-gaming, will unify its flagship brands, Sportsbet.io and Bitcasino.io, under a single regulated domain of Yolo.com.
“Our future strategy centres on a single, unified and Tier 1 licensed brand: Yolo.com,” the group stated, outlining the “next chapter of its growth focused on regulated markets”.
Founded in Tallinn, Estonia, in 2014 by Australian entrepreneur Tim Heath, Yolo Group operates as one of igaming’s most dynamic organisations.
Further to operating its flagship brands Sportsbet.io and Bitcasino.io, Yolo Group launched venture capital fund, Yolo Investments in 2017, to support new ventures in fintech, crypto and igaming.
In its update, Yolo Group reflected that its foundation and early growth were driven by “curiosity and conviction” in the belief that crypto would become an accepted medium of transaction by regulators.
However, in 2025, after rapid expansion of its igaming brands, Yolo Group sees itself at a crossroads and has chosen to pivot towards a fully regulated business model.
“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,” the group explained.
Looking ahead, Yolo Group set out a clear strategy for how it will operate in the years to come. The group’s focus will centre on Yolo.com as its single Tier-1 licensed brand, combining land-based operations in Estonia with a seamless digital arm. This will allow customers to move easily between physical and online play, with integrated wallet solutions and MiCA-compliant cryptocurrency payments.
The first phase of this strategy is anchored in Estonia, where Yolo will continue to build on its regulated presence through Bombay Casino, while simultaneously preparing to enter new Tier-1 jurisdictions such as Canada, Sweden and Finland.
Beyond Europe, the group is in the final stages of securing two B2B vendor licences in the UAE, signalling its ambition to become a leading technology player in emerging regulated markets.
The UAE introduced its gambling licensing framework in 2023 with the establishment of the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA). The approval of technology vendors began in 2024, and by May 2025 the regulator had authorised nine suppliers including Scientific Games, Random State, IGT Global Services, Novomatic and Aristocrat Technologies Europe.
Yolo Group concluded: “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.
“This isn’t about walking away from the past. 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.”
The strategic shift has also brought consequences at home as according to Estonian business news source ERR, Yolo Group is laying off 280 staff in Estonia as it exits unregulated markets.
More than 600 people will remain employed across the group’s Estonian operations. Yolo Group will continue to operate the Bombay Club casino in Tallinn’s Old Town and The Burman Hotel, alongside the group’s e-wallet business under the Yolowallet brand.
Yolo Group CEO Maarja Pärt explained: “To maintain a very clear focus and complete transparency across all processes, we are consolidating our activities under the single Yolo brand and will focus solely on regulated markets going forward.”
