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New scoring system that ranks games based on their representation of race, gender and disabilities reveals there’s still a long way to go to accurately represent the diverse communities playing them

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A new study by Currys PC World investigating diversity in the gaming industry has found that, while the representation of race, gender and disabilities has improved in games since the nineties, there is still a distinct bias in favour of the young, white, straight male.

Using a bespoke scoring system (please see methodology for breakdown), they analysed games that have made a mark at E3 and The Game Awards over the last 20 years. Games were awarded points for: female characters in prominent positions; for exploring LGBTQ+ plot points or themes; for mixed race characters prominently placed in the story; and for disabled characters or references. Their key findings are below:

Ethnic minorities are still underrepresented in games, but things are (slowly) improving

Despite efforts being made in recent years to improve the ethnic diversity of characters in games, an analysis of all games nominated for a Game Award from 2003 to 2018 unearthed that black and ethnic minorities are still severely underrepresented.

While RPGs (role-playing games) sometimes offer a choice of playable characters, their default characters are often white. When other ethnicities are represented, it’s also common for them to be type-cast.

“The diversity that is applied to white characters is something that is often missing when other races are depicted in games.” Adam Campbell, co-founder of POC in Play. “Representation still feels incomplete and inconsistent. We’re still also hard pushed to find those protagonists that are not the stereotypical Indiana Jones or the tough, bald, male type, so ‘diversity’ is the exception rather than the rule.”

·         Proper ethnic diversity is still lacking. Only 3% of Game Award nominees (2003-2018) have featured a person of colour as a default protagonist.

·         Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas and The Walking Dead are the only games where a playable person of colour is baked into the story from start to finish.

·         Fallout 4 doesn’t feature a specific character on the cover, but the player creator screen serves a generic white male/female face as the first thing you see.

·         Canada is by far the best at getting representation right. Edmonton’s Bioware has put an emphasis on freedom of choice of character, and Ubisoft Montreal consistently tells diverse stories (e.g. Assassin’s Creed).

Representation of women in games is on the rise, yet the characters are often hyper-sexualised

With as many as 42% of gamers in the UK being female (and that number rising to 52% in France[1]) it only makes sense that women are represented equally in games. This doesn’t appear to be the case, however. While the last decade has seen a 189% increase in games featuring playable female characters, fewer than a third of game covers feature a woman in a prominent position. When women are featured, they’re often sexualised. For example, the cover of San Andreas sports a blonde-haired woman in a come-hither pose.

“Female characters have historically been hyper-sexualised for the male gaze in gaming,” says Jay-Ann Lopez, founder of Black Girl Gamers. “You can observe this with the various representations of Lara Croft. I do not believe there is an inherent problem with women being viewed as sexy. However, when it is the only version of women shown, it strips us of our depth and limits us to serving as purely visual objects. Still, there are more and more holistic and nuanced female characters appearing within games.”

·         Game covers continue to put men first. Only 11% of covers have women as the focal point, or with a share of the focus.

·         From 2012 onwards, diversity has markedly improved. The Walking Dead release that year starred a black man (Lee) and a young mixed-race girl (Clementine) and was a critical and commercial hit.

The notion that people with disabilities need to be “fixed” is rife in the gaming industry

On the rare occasions that disabilities are represented in games, they are more likely to be physical ailments than mental. Mental health has only been tackled in the last few years as awareness rises. Plus, characters with a physical disability are often “fixed”.

Accessibility expert Ian Hamilton says: “This notion that people with disabilities are broken and need to be fixed – a concept known as the medical model of disability – was rejected and abandoned in the 1970s, yet still persists in media and in games, often through the trope of medical conditions being replaced by superhuman powers or superhuman prosthetics. Moreover, games are often guilty of furthering the myth that a disability is rare, with all the impact that has on broader prejudice and discrimination.”

·         Deadly Premonition shows protagonist Francis York Morgan talking to an imaginary character, Zach. What starts off as a curious subplot turns into a fascinating exploration of mental health.

·         The Joker, ace pilot of Mass Effect’s SS Normandy, suffers from Vrolik syndrome (brittleness of the bones), while Lester, the sardonic sidekick in Grand Theft Auto V, has an unnamed wasting disease. Yet both men are fiercely independent in spite of the challenges they face and are not defined by their disabilities.

LGBTQ+ themes are being explored more in gaming narratives

LGBTQ+ themes are rarely explored in games, and that’s especially true of the biggest titles.

This being said, things are improving. Some of the biggest games to tackle homosexuality with grace in the last 20 years include:

·         Assassin’s Creed Odyssey (2018) and The Sims (2000) with both allowing you to enter a relationship with anyone you please

·         The Last of Us (2013) boasting an expansion pack that portrays Ellie in a relationship with another girl,

·         Fallout 3 that features a romanceable gay character, and

·         Life is Strange (2015) that explores a number of well-written gay characters.

“Dream Daddy: A Dad Dating Simulator lets players be either a cis or trans man and captures a reality of the gay community I haven’t seen before in a game. Not every game can be Dream Daddy – and not every game has to be.” Alayna M. Cole, MD of Queerly Represent Me.

·         Only 11% of GOTY nominees and E3 winners offer up significant LGBTQ+ storylines.

·         From 2009-2018, there’s been a 300% rise in games featuring proper representation when compared to the preceding ten years (1999-2008).

Ultimately, things are getting better. Since 2012, nearly half of all games have featured diverse casts, LGBTQ+ themes or characters of colour – as opposed to 26% pre- 2012. Plus, The Last of Us II, one of the biggest PS4 games coming out in the next year, is set to feature a female LGBTQ+ lead. With time, here’s hoping that the enduring (and inaccurate) stereotype – that only young, white men play games – will fizzle out.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women_and_video_games


Source: Latest News on European Gaming Media Network
This is a Syndicated News piece. Photo credits or photo sources can be found on the source article: New scoring system that ranks games based on their representation of race, gender and disabilities reveals there’s still a long way to go to accurately represent the diverse communities playing them

George Miller (Gyorgy Molnar) started his career in content marketing and has started working as an Editor/Content Manager for our company in 2016. George has acquired many experiences when it comes to interviews and newsworthy content becoming Head of Content in 2017. He is responsible for the news being shared on multiple websites that are part of the European Gaming Media Network.

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Spinmatic’s premium Slots now live with ElaBet in Greece

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Spinmatic, leading developer of premium casino games and part of Softquo Holding, is proud to announce its latest strategic partnership in Greece. The company’s most popular Slots and Crash games are now live on ElaBet, the fast-growing online platform operated by Soft2Bet.

This collaboration marks a key milestone in Spinmatic’s European expansion. Following the successful certification of its games for the Greek market last year, Spinmatic has continued to build its local presence. The partnership with ElaBet strengthens that growth, bringing Spinmatic’s high-quality titles to an even broader Greek audience.

ElaBet has quickly earned a reputation for delivering localised content and gamified player experiences tailored to the Greek market. This shared focus on innovation, quality and entertainment makes it an ideal partner for Spinmatic.

“Greece is a competitive market, no doubt – but we believe in the quality of what we do. Partnering with ElaBet is a fantastic step forward. They’re building something innovative and powerful for local players and we’re proud to be part of that growth,” said Norbert Mathies, Managing Director at Spinmatic.

Thanks to Spinmatic’s Remote Gaming System and seamless API integration, ElaBet can now offer players a smooth, mobile-first experience that meets all local compliance requirements while enhancing user satisfaction.

“This launch with ElaBet Greece marks a fresh and exciting chapter for Spinmatic’s premium content. ElaBet is a brand on the rise – bold, modern, and sharply focused on what Greek players want – and that makes them the perfect partner for us at this stage of our journey. Through this collaboration, we’re bringing into the hands of the Greek players community, tailored content, certified under HGC and built for mobile-first entertainment. This is more than just a content launch – it’s a statement of intent. We’re here to grow, engage and contribute to a stronger, more dynamic igaming scene in Greece. The best is yet to come.”

Vassileios Efthymiou, Softquo’s Country Director for Greece.

Through this partnership, Greek players now have access to a range of Spinmatic’s top-performing titles, including 3 Amigos Jackpot, Cosmomix, Egyptian Stone, Ed Jones and the Book of Bastet Deluxe and the high-speed crash game Meteoroid Deluxe. Each title is designed to deliver immersive, cinematic gameplay optimised for mobile devices.

Spinmatic’s presence in Greece continues to grow, with additional partnerships and localised content set to follow. For more information about Spinmatic’s offering in Greece, visit their website.

The post Spinmatic’s premium Slots now live with ElaBet in Greece appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Kind request for publication of a press material regarding EGT Digital’s partnership with Pepeta (Kenya)

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EGT Digital is thrilled to announce its collaboration with the prominent Kenyan operator Pepeta. Thanks to the provider’s Gaming Aggregator, pepeta.com customers can now enjoy the hit slot titles from the Bell Link, Clover Chance, High Cash, Single Progressive Jackpot, and Gods & Kings Link jackpots.

“We are very impressed with the performance of EGT Digital’s products, especially Bell Link and Clover Chance, which immediately caught the attention of our players and became their favorites,” said Joseph Mbugua, Kenya Country Manager of Pepeta. “I believe that our cooperation with the Bulgarian company will fully unleash its potential in the coming months, continuing to deliver remarkable results for us and our clients.”

Zsuzsanna Zeibig, Sales manager for Africa at EGT Digital, also shared her positive expectations regarding the partnership, stating that “it is of strategic importance for positioning our company as a leader not only in Kenya, but also in the region as a whole.” She concluded: “I would like to thank Pepeta for placing their trust in us. I am confident that together we will be able to further enhance the gaming experience of local players, providing them with access to innovative gaming solutions at a world-class level.”

The post Kind request for publication of a press material regarding EGT Digital’s partnership with Pepeta (Kenya) appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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HIPTHER Community Voices: AI in iGaming: A Guide to Adoption, Benefits, and Challenges

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iGaming is undeniably growing, yet even here, AI adoption for streamlining operations and accelerating processes remains surprisingly low. The scale and speed of production of platforms, apps, games, content, bonuses, sports events, and even marketing campaigns are truly impressive in our industry. That’s why it’s natural that AI should become a real business enabler in iGaming – boosting efficiency and quality without the need for a complete process overhaul, and above all, helping us keep up with growing customer expectations.

Our speaker at European Gaming Congress (HIPTHER Warsaw Summit), Bartek Borkowski, Managing Partner of createIT and host of CEOpen mic, shares his perspective on AI in iGaming. With 15+ years in the industry, he now leads AI adoption in business processes and B2B/B2C products. Read more in the article below.

 

First steps in implementing AI in iGaming companies

As always, the hardest part is finding the right starting point – identifying the areas where technology can truly make a positive impact. And that’s the most common reason why our industry still only scratches the surface when it comes to AI. There’s also a widespread lack of understanding of what AI can really help with, how it works, and what impact it can have.

Many companies still approach the topic very cautiously. Alongside standard blockers such as concerns about implementation costs and numerous day-to-day priorities, in practice companies face completely different challenges – mainly organizational and communication-related. And here comes a very important piece of the puzzle – the human factor and resistance to change. Especially in larger companies, introducing new solutions requires not only a budget but also trust, education, and proper process management. Interestingly, a new type of resistance is also emerging – one driven by anxiety. Some employees approach AI with skepticism, fearing that the technology might threaten their jobs. This is understandable, but it’s precisely why transparent communication and demonstrating that AI is here to support people, not replace them, is so important.

That’s why the best place to start is by allowing teams to talk about their daily, small, repetitive tasks – the simple ones that take up a lot of time. This way, from the very beginning, we involve the teams in the whole process and focus on elements that will genuinely improve their work. If people see that methodical changes streamline their work and allow them to focus on strategic tasks, they will be more willing to adopt new products and solutions in the future.

Of course, if there are no AI operations or implementation specialists in the teams, it’s best to use companies that already have experience in the industry. First, you may discover that there are already ready-made solutions on the market that just need to be implemented. Second, an external company enters the organization with a clean slate, without attachment to existing processes – this makes it easier to spot real problems that AI can solve.

Most implementations follow a few repeatable steps, which are adapted depending on the type of organization and its stage of development:

 

  1. Needs analysis and goal setting

At this stage, it’s crucial, as mentioned before, to open up to employees, let them speak, and actively listen. It may turn out that difficulties are related to too many games to test, lack of budget for copywriters, insufficient content team resources, lack of quick response to production errors, poor player support quality, compliance with responsible gaming principles, offer personalization, or proper aggregation and analysis of huge amounts of data.

  1. ROI analysis

A stage that companies often forget. Remember, every automation should bring a return on investment. So before starting implementation, you need to check whether the costs (both direct and indirect) will result in profits, improve player retention, and increase GGR.

  1. Choosing a solution

There are two paths here. If during the needs analysis you discover that there is already an existing solution in the market, then selecting an AI model is not necessary – you only need a qualified person to handle integration into your company ecosystem. If you decide on a custom solution, you need to collect data, choose a model, define the tech stack, and consider cloud-based solutions. Additionally, you must build a team or work with an external company that can implement the solution in compliance with iGaming regulations.

  1. Data collection

If you proceed with implementation, you need to gather the right data. For example: game history, deposit amounts, player behavior, transaction data, and elements necessary for publishing indexable content. This is a very challenging stage because of the nature of the data, cleaning it, and anonymizing it. If the implementation concerns the player directly, this is where you need to create a central repository of player attributes to train the models.

After choosing the custom solution route and building a dedicated team, the next steps are model development and training, integration with production systems, ensuring data security, and continuous performance monitoring.

 

How AI is typically used and the benefits it brings

In the iGaming world, where speed, personalization, and responsiveness matter most, manual processes are no longer enough. AI doesn’t just accelerate operations – it enables scaling without sacrificing quality. It is moving from the innovation-for-pioneers phase to becoming a technological foundation for modern products and services. Those who learn to use it today are building a real advantage, while those who delay will have to catch up – in a race where time plays a critical role.

From a high-level perspective, AI in the iGaming industry enhances user experience, maximizes revenue, ensures compliance, and reduces operational risks. On the operational side, it streamlines and accelerates testing large volumes of slot games, creating and publishing content, personalizing offers, bonuses, and games, speeding up bug response on production sites, reducing fraud rates, and supporting responsible gaming practices.

The adoption of AI is visible across multiple layers of the industry. One of the most significant transformations is the automation of internal processes within companies. Traditionally manual workflows, such as quality assurance, game certification preparation, and data reporting, are now handled by AI-powered systems, reducing time-to-market and human error. Additionally, Customer Relationship Management platforms are increasingly enhanced with AI-driven capabilities. By analyzing behavioral data, transactional history, and player interactions, AI models within CRMs provide predictive analytics, automate personalized communication, and optimize retention strategies with a level of precision unattainable through manual segmentation.

Among the various segments in the iGaming ecosystem, affiliates have emerged as some of the fastest adopters of AI technologies. Their ability to process massive amounts of player acquisition data, run automated content generation, and leverage predictive algorithms for SEO and ad targeting gives them a significant competitive edge. This segment’s early integration of AI demonstrates its value not only for operational efficiency but also for scaling performance-driven marketing strategies.

AI also plays a critical role in slot development. Game studios increasingly use machine learning models to generate mathematical models, optimize asset production, and conduct automated stress and fairness testing at scale. Instead of relying solely on manual iterations, AI-based tools can simulate thousands of game sessions in minutes, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and delivering balanced gameplay experiences. These advancements allow developers to accelerate the creative process while maintaining the integrity and appeal of their games.

 

When AI goes wrong – risks for the iGaming industry

One of the most common mistakes when implementing AI in iGaming is the belief that AI is a magic solution for all problems. A technology that “implements itself,” solves everything, and grows the business on its own. The reality is less glamorous but far more practical: AI is just – or rather only – a tool. A very advanced one with huge potential, but it requires a clear strategy, high-quality data, well-defined goals, and a team that knows how to use it effectively. It’s also still a young tool, developing rapidly but with limitations – and every implementation needs a careful approach to its autonomy.

Remember, especially in iGaming, AI deals with sensitive data and influences business decisions – so human oversight must remain a permanent part of the process.

Too often, companies adopt AI just to follow a trend that is permanently changing the rules of the iGaming world. They move too quickly, without deep analysis of how the technology fits their business model. From a tech company perspective, the biggest risk is costly solutions that bring no value to the business or the end user – generating only disappointment, loss of enthusiasm, and resistance to future AI initiatives.

Another common problem is data quality – or lack of data. iGaming relies heavily on massive volumes of data – from game testing to player behavior analysis to content personalization. Algorithm engines learn from available information. If the data is wrong, incomplete, or poorly labeled, you can’t expect accurate predictions. Wrong segmentation, poor personalization, failed recommendations – all of these lead to real financial losses.

Breaking the myths around AI

Two persistent myths often come up in conversations with clients:

  • AI can completely replace humans.
  • Implementing AI justifies staff reductions.

Both are as dangerous as they are false.

The reality is quite different. AI was never designed to replace humans in processes. Its role is to assist, by taking over repetitive tasks, accelerating data analysis, and offering guidance when information overload makes quick decisions challenging. It’s a tool to amplify human knowledge and capabilities, not to eliminate them. At the end of the day, it’s people who grasp context, understand company goals and values, and see the bigger picture – something even the most advanced algorithm cannot achieve.

Moreover, organizations that implement AI wisely don’t experience job cuts. Instead, there’s a shift in skills. Teams work faster, smarter, and more creatively. Employees gain time for strategic tasks as intelligent tools handle routine operations. This transforms workflows but doesn’t strip them of purpose.

Experience proves that companies treating AI as a partner rather than a cheap replacement achieve far better outcomes. They grow faster and build stronger, more stable teams. Contrary to common belief, it’s not algorithms but well-prepared employees that drive successful AI adoption. Without them, the technology simply cannot deliver its full potential

 

The impact of AI on iGaming so far

In one of the latest special edition episodes of the CEOpen Mic – Faceoff podcast, I spoke with Joshua Gibbs (CEO of PlayAIO) and Toms Andersons (CEO of Live Gaming Solutions) about the limitations and potential of AI in fraud detection. This is an area where we can expect significant development in the near future, but the impact of AI goes far beyond a single application.

The most profound shift we are witnessing is in mindset. AI has not only improved individual processes but has fundamentally transformed the way we think about work, innovation, and adaptability. This change is irreversible. Once organizations experience how AI can accelerate, simplify, or even fully automate complex tasks, going back to traditional methods becomes almost unthinkable. But it’s not just about efficiency, it’s about redefining what’s possible.

Increasingly, new solutions are being designed with AI at their core. Take slot game testing as an example. A few years ago, a lot of it was done manually: testers spent countless hours identifying animation errors, incorrect payouts, misaligned graphics, and UX issues. Then came the first wave of automation, where scripts could test predefined scenarios.

Today, we are entering an entirely new era. Tools like PlayPatrol can now recognize images, generate and execute test scenarios autonomously, and continuously improve with each update. The result? Higher-quality testing at a fraction of the cost – and with minimal human intervention.

This evolution in AI-driven processes is not just an incremental upgrade; it is reshaping entire workflows and setting new industry standards. Fraud detection, game testing, and countless other areas are only the beginning.

 

What AI will never replace in iGaming

Artificial intelligence is clearly one of the most powerful tools available today. Yet even the most advanced algorithms do not remove our responsibility to focus on the fundamentals: purpose, quality, and the human element at the heart of every process. No matter how many tasks we delegate to AI or how extensively we use it, one thing remains constant: humans are the ultimate recipients of our efforts – the players, users, and business partners. Systems, automation, and solutions are all designed with them in mind, which is why staying grounded amid technological excitement is crucial.

Players don’t care whether a game was tested by AI or created by a development team. What matters is whether the gameplay is engaging, immersive, and enjoyable. While AI can enhance this process in many ways – through testing, personalization, or content optimization – it is difficult to imagine it creating an entirely new type of game or significantly elevating game quality in a way that truly resonates with the player anytime soon.

Bartek Borkowski – Founder and managing partner at createIT, a company with over 15 years of experience in the iGaming industry, specializing in creating custom software solutions for casino operators and game providers.  Having scaled or built from ground up dozens of entertainment businesses through innovative software solutions, Bartek excels at identifying and removing system bottlenecks, bridging the gap between technical challenges and operational needs. He is also the host of CEOpen mic, a podcast where he speaks with C-level executives from the iGaming about their journey, motivation and honestly talk about their successes and failures.

The post HIPTHER Community Voices: AI in iGaming: A Guide to Adoption, Benefits, and Challenges appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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