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European Gaming Q1 2024 Meetup: Exploring Innovation, Marketing, and the iGaming Industry Hubs
HIPTHER’s staple Quarterly Meetups for the Gaming industry have officially returned for 2024! The European Gaming Q1 Meetup 2024 took place on February 28 online, featuring an incredible lineup of speakers, including Ilya Machavariani, CEO and Senior Partner at 4H Agency, Krysta Muscat and Kevin Perks, International Recruiters at Van Kaizen, Jekaterina Dubnicka, Marketing & Communications Manager at Slotsjudge, Eberhard Dürrschmid, CEO at Golden Whale Productions, and John Chyriwsky, Head of Marketing at Fincore Ltd. HIPTHER’s Co-founder and Host-Extraordinaire, Zoltan Tuendik, moderated the panel discussions.
The Meetup sessions explored the gaming and technology industry, focusing on various topics such as the importance of innovation and transformation in the sector, strategies to combat offshore gambling, the emergence of Malta and the Isle of Man as iGaming industry hubs, potential future hubs for the gambling industry, marketing strategies in the gaming industry, and innovation in the gaming with a particular emphasis on personalization.
Gaming and TECH: Future Journey and Fight Against Offshore Gambling
The meeting kicked off highlighting the importance and intersection of gaming and technology industries, which will be explored at the upcoming MARE BALTICUM and Prague Gaming & TECH Summits by HIPTHER. Our first guest, Ilya Machavariani, CEO and Senior Partner at 4H Agency delved further into technology and the latest strategies in the global fight against offshore gambling.
Ilya discussed strategies to combat offshore gambling, proposing a separation into active and passive instruments. He suggested that governments should legalize all verticals of the industry and ensure operators obtain licenses. Ilya also emphasized the importance of transparent and sensible regulations and the role of technology in identifying and preventing access to offshore gambling sites. He highlighted the challenges of regulating and blocking websites from a governmental perspective and the need for international cooperation.
The discussion ended with a focus on improved consumer protection measures and the importance of educating consumers about potential risks associated with illegal gambling activities.
Gaming Industry Hubs: Malta, Isle of Man and Beyond
For the 2nd Session of the European Gaming Q1 Meetup, we welcomed Krysta Muscat and Kevin Perks, International Recruiters at Van Kaizen, to discuss iGaming hubs and hotspots of the Gaming Industry. Kevin introduced their global headhunting company that primarily serves the gaming sector, recruiting for approximately 140 businesses. The discussion revolved around the factors contributing to Malta and the Isle of Man emerging as hubs for the iGaming industry, with Krysta highlighting Malta’s modernized infrastructure and highly regulated environment, and Kevin pointing out the supportive government and dedicated government agency in the Isle of Man, along with its tax breaks. Both islands were found to have a skilled workforce and a multilingual population. Kevin also discussed the benefits of living on the Isle of Man, emphasizing the slower pace of life, the island’s 40% open space, and its status as one of the safest places in Europe. The discussion ended on the topic of the government’s efforts to promote the island and attract businesses, with a focus on recruitment strategies for gaming companies in competitive markets.
The session concluded with a discussion on potential future hubs for the iGaming industry, with Krysta and Kevin emphasizing on the US, Canada, Spain, Portugal, the UK, and Bulgaria, highlighting the significant interest and potential opportunities in these regions.
Marketing, Communication, and Community building in iGaming
In this first Marketing-focused session, Zoltan hosted our special guest Jekaterina Dubnicka – Marketing & Communications Manager at Slotsjudge. The conversation focused on marketing strategies in the gaming industry, with Jekaterina explaining the shift towards more interactive and immersive content by leveraging social media and video interviews, and focusing on SEO tools to gain insights into audience interests. She also provided insight into the role of community in the gaming experience, the importance of navigating strict regulatory environments while maintaining compliance and a strong brand voice, the importance of innovation in content creation and delivery, and emerging trends in the gaming industry.
Innovation and Personalization in Gaming Industry
The last panel discussion focused on innovation in the gaming industry, with a particular emphasis on personalization. Eberhard Dürrschmid, CEO at Golden Whale, and John Chyriwsky, Head of Marketing at Fincore Ltd joined us to discuss innovation in iGaming and Sports Betting. John highlighted the potential for improvement in the area of personalization and user experience, suggesting that platforms should “step up” to respond better to user needs. Eberhard pointed out the industry’s flexibility and the importance of meeting customer expectations, while John emphasized the need to enhance customer experience, suggesting the use of real-time data to create personalized experiences. He cited examples of successful companies that prioritize customer experience, such as Amazon and Uber. Eberhard also discussed the potential of AI and machine learning in the industry. The conversation concluded with a group exercise where participants shared their hopes for technology implementation in the gaming industry by the end of 2024.
Coming up Next:
Watch the recording of the European Gaming Q1 Meetup on HIPTHER TV, and keep an eye out for our next European Gaming Quarterly Meetups!

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Play’n GO’ electrifies iGaming with Lab of Madness It’s a Wild!
Play’n GO throws the switch on Lab of Madness It’s a Wild!, a gothic comic-inspired slot that surges with strange science and surprise. Players join the unconventional Dr Frankenstein as she attempts to jolt her patchwork Monster to life in a lab where every pull of the lever sparks new possibilities.
Inside her shadowy castle laboratory, the eccentric doctor – equal parts brilliant and bizarre – is moments away from success. Lightning dances across Tesla coils, strange bulbs flicker with colour, and each spin builds towards a shocking breakthrough.
At the centre of the chaos is the Monster Wild. It’s not just a symbol – it’s a scene-stealer, shifting positions, stretching across reels, and multiplying wins with raw energy. These Wilds can even combine their powers, filling the screen with movement and mayhem. Add to that a Power Up feature that delivers sudden prizes, and a Free Spins mode where stacked effects can keep the game alive with electricity – and the result is a slot packed with spark.
The visual style draws inspiration from retro horror comics, fusing dramatic shadows and hand-drawn details with neon bursts. The monochrome lab, oversized coils, and lively symbols create a world that’s both eerie and entertaining.
Magnus Wallentin, Games Ambassador at Play’n GO, said: “Lab of Madness It’s a Wild! gave us a chance to mix sharp design with surprising features. It’s got humour, heart, and just enough madness to keep players coming back for more.”
Between quirky characters, energetic gameplay, and a fresh twist on a classic tale, this is one experiment you’ll want to see through to the end.
The post Play’n GO’ electrifies iGaming with Lab of Madness It’s a Wild! appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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SOFTSWISS Game Aggregator Adds Five New Studios to Its Global Portfolio
The SOFTSWISS Game Aggregator continues to expand its industry-leading portfolio, which now features over 35,000 active games from both established and emerging providers. The company has announced new partnerships with Peter & Sons, Just Slots, BlueJack Gaming, FA CHAI Gaming, and TokaCity – five studios bringing original content and strong regional expertise.
The SOFTSWISS Game Aggregator connects operators to the widest and most diverse range of games through a single seamless integration. A recent Kantar study revealed that operators select software providers based on security, reliability, revenue-growth potential, stable infrastructure, and high-quality client service. SOFTSWISS is fully committed to these priorities, consistently delivering robust security, proven stability, and responsive support, while enabling operators to unlock new business opportunities.
Through its Game Aggregator, SOFTSWISS not only ensures operational excellence with 99.999% uptime but also provides the industry’s largest content hub with over 35,000 active games, helping partners drive engagement and retention. This commitment to quality and growth has earned SOFTSWISS the highest Net Promoter Score (NPS), reinforcing its position as the most trusted and reliable partner in the industry.
Nikita Keino, Head of Partnerships at SOFTSWISS Game Aggregator, comments: “Expanding our portfolio with five new studios strengthens the value we deliver to operators. Each partner adds unique mechanics, themes, and market perspectives, ensuring our clients can keep their offerings fresh and competitive. At the same time, we provide the reliability and tools that help operators maximise the impact of this content across multiple markets.”
The Game Aggregator has just welcomed newly added game providers to its portfolio:
- Peter & Sons stands out for its distinctive design, sound, and mechanics, with popular titles like Barbarossa, Barbarossa Revenge, and Ghostfather.
- Just Slots released its first game in 2024 and aims to launch 10 titles by the end of 2025. Now its portfolio includes Book of Arcane 100 and Shogun Skylord.
- BlueJack Gaming offers more than 40 slots and table games, including King’s Crown, Macao Ladder, and Quick Blackjack.
- FA CHAI Gaming specialises in slots and arcade-style content, including the popular 3D Fishing series and Coin Dozer.
- TokaCity combines modern slot design and crash-game PVP elements with immersive storytelling, developing visually engaging titles with broad appeal.
With the addition of these five studios, alongside recent integrations of CG Games, Champion, and Formula Spin, the SOFTSWISS Game Aggregator further strengthens its position as the industry’s largest content hub, ensuring that operators can deliver tailored, competitive portfolios to meet diverse player demands.
About SOFTSWISS
SOFTSWISS is an international technology company with over 15 years of experience in developing innovative solutions for the iGaming industry. SOFTSWISS provides comprehensive software for managing iGaming projects. The company’s product portfolio includes the Casino Platform, the Game Aggregator with over 35,000 casino games, Affilka Affiliate Platform, the Sportsbook Platform and the Jackpot Aggregator. The expert team, based in Malta, Poland, and Georgia, counts over 2,000 employees.
The post SOFTSWISS Game Aggregator Adds Five New Studios to Its Global Portfolio appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Esports Charts becomes the official viewership analytics partner of the StarLadder StarSeries Season 19
Esports Charts, the leading esports viewership analytics provider, is pleased to announce a new partnership with StarLadder, a veteran tournament organizer.
The companies will partner for the new season of StarLadder StarSeries Season 19 — the legendary tournament series returns to the professional Counter-Strike scene after a six-year break.
As the official analytics partner of the StarLadder StarSeries Season 19, Esports Charts will provide comprehensive, real-time audience data and insights throughout the event for a deeper understanding of the tournament’s global reach.
“We’re proud to provide real-time viewership analytics for StarLadder StarSeries Season 19,” said Artyom Odintsov, co-founder and CEO of Esports Charts. “We welcome the return of StarLadder to the Tier‑1 Counter-Strike stage, adding healthy competition among tournament organizers. This season marks an exciting new chapter for a historic series, and our data will help capture audience engagement throughout the event, giving organizers, teams, and sponsors valuable insights into global viewership trends.”
StarLadder has been a driving force in global esports for almost 25 years, since hosting its first tournaments in 2001. The company has organized some of the industry’s most iconic events, including the StarLadder Berlin Major and The DOTA 2 Chongqing Major in 2019. Later this year, StarLadder will also host the Budapest Major 2025 — where it was earlier announced that Esports Charts will serve as the official viewership analytics partner.
The StarSeries tournament series, a key part of StarLadder’s brand, has helped launch the careers of numerous Counter-Strike stars. The last StarSeries event, StarSeries & i-League CS:GO Season 8, took place in October 2019 in Turkey. After a six-year hiatus, the series is finally set to make its return this fall with a brand-new season in Europe.
“StarLadder’s decision to partner with Esports Charts once again reflects our confidence in their leadership in esports viewership analytics. Their methodology sets the benchmark for accuracy and transparency — from tracking impressions with a true 30-second viewing window to providing insights that go far beyond raw numbers. Together, we are committed to giving brands and fans a deeper statistics of competitive Counter-Strike, powered by metrics that truly matter,” shared Viacheslav Shcherbakov, Head of Sales & Partnerships at StarLadder.
The StarLadder StarSeries Season 19 will run from September 18 to 21 in Budapest, Hungary, featuring a $500,000 prize pool. Eight teams will battle for the title: Natus Vincere, B8 Esports, Passion UA, 9INE, PARIVISION, OG, and Gentle Mates.
The post Esports Charts becomes the official viewership analytics partner of the StarLadder StarSeries Season 19 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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