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Q&A with Lana Meisak, VP, Business Development and Marketing, Gismart
Give us a quick overview of your entrance into the games industry and what made you decide to join it?
Before entering the gaming space, Gismart had earned a name as a top music entertainment app developer for an array of popular gamified music products such as Beat Maker Go, Piano Crush and many others. Looking for ways to grow and diversify our company portfolio, in 2019, we decided to add another business vertical and established an internal studio called Flime by Gismart. We dived deep into the development and publishing of mobile lightweight games, focusing on trendy hyper-casual genres and instant games for social platforms. The hyper-casual market was on the rise, not that saturated yet, so we saw it as a good opportunity to utilize our expertise in hypothesis testing which is crucial for this genre. Besides, we appreciated the simplicity of its mechanics and relevantly quick production so we had more room for trial and error. Within two years, we released a couple of dozen games for mobile and social platforms with many of them reaching the top gaming charts (ex. Cool Goal!, Body Race, Foil Turning 3D, etc.) and generating over 450 million downloads overall. Working in the hyper-casual market, the team built effective processes in a very short time, as well as tested a large number of hypotheses. In 2021 we made our next step moving towards the casual genre and decided to explore puzzle games. It is a busy and challenging market with some strong competition. However, we have had success with our first game Cross Logic and are now actively working on new titles. We consider puzzle games to be a better investment in the long run. We also recently established a new business related to blockchain gaming projects and NFTs.
What does your role as VP of Business Development and Marketing at Gismart entail?
I focus on sourcing, negotiating and executing strategic partnerships across Gismart business verticals mainly related to product branding and marketing. I also build and develop long term and quality relationships and lead communications at Gismart. My role includes mobile product marketing and monetization, app distribution partner management (Apple App Store, Google Play, Facebook Instant Games, Snap Gaming, TikTok Gaming), product branding, PR and HR branding. Some of my proudest milestones include nurturing flagship partnerships between Gismart and household name entertainment brands such as UMPG, Sony/ATV and Warner Chappell, as well as the collaboration between The Chainsmokers and Gismartâs hit Beat Maker Go music app.
Women remain largely underrepresented in the global games industry. How does Gismart approach this, and what advice would you give to women who want to work in the industry?
It is an issue especially if we talk about senior ranks of companies. I am glad that this subject is constantly raised in the media as it helps the change to happen faster. I believe there are two things to fight â stereotypes and company practices. However, speaking of the Gismart gender ratio it is very balanced. The ratio between males and females is 1:1.
Gismart is perhaps best known as a publisher of mobile games. Whatâs the recipe for a hit mobile game in 2022?Â
I canât give a recipe but I can say how we approach building high-potential products at Gismart. We have an expert R&D team to explore global trends and conduct in-depth marketing research. Understanding the niche to find a gap for something fresh and exciting for users is an important task. After making sure that the game concept is relevant, we move on to creating a basic game prototype and perform a market test to understand the metrics. There are three key factors that most likely indicate that a game has a high potential â low CPI, high LTV and product scalability. The data-driven approach is what we stand by. Gismart has several analytical tools for in-depth market research, quick idea tests, and advanced product analytics that help us make a final decision.
How did Appleâs changes to marketing on iOS in 2021 affect Gismart?
Similarly to the rest of the market, we have been affected by the changes related to IDFA. This has significantly affected the traffic buying on iOS, and it has certainly become more difficult to evaluate the effectiveness of advertising campaigns. It also made it harder and more expensive to run product tests on Facebook. On the positive side, these changes forced us to delve into other purchasing channels, and change and improve approaches to testing new product ideas. We also definitely go for more technological experiments on the marketing side related to user acquisition through web traffic.
Many of your games are available on social media sites such as Snap and Facebook. Why do social networking apps want gaming content in general?
Social platforms have an undeniably huge audience and games are a new form of communication. We saw an opportunity for growth in this business and some of our team members who are now leading Flime by Gismart had the experience of building one of the first games for Facebook. Today we have over ten social platform games available on Facebook and Snapchat. Color Galaxy on Snap Games became one of the most successful games on the platform quickly after its launch and after two years still holding its position.
In general, social platforms see games as one of the instruments to entertain and retain the audience, increasing the time they spend on the platform. Besides retention, having quality games provides the platform with other benefits, such as improved user experience, new forms of communication and interaction between users, and, of course, additional monetization for social platforms.
Gismart also makes and publishes wider entertainment apps such as music and wellness. Why did the company decide to diversify its focus from mobile games?
We started with entertainment music apps. Alex, one of the company foundersâ is a self-taught guitar player and the first Gismart app was a guitar app. After the successful launch of the first product, our portfolio of music entertainment apps has grown to over 15 different apps over time. Then came our expansion to games. Wellness, as well as the pet care vertical with flagship product Woofz, was established about a year ago. Both businesses are relatively new but already established their name on the market and have a substantial number of users. All of the verticals operate as independent businesses and Gismart provides them with consulting and mentorship, all kinds of resources and tools and infrastructure. So in a way, today Gismart operates as some sort of business incubator with some of the verticals having already outgrown the startup stage.
Last question â what can we expect to see from Gismart and from yourself during the remainder of 2022?
Gismart has very exciting and challenging plans across all verticals. Speaking of casual games, weâll continue expanding our portfolio of HTML5 games on Facebook Instant and Snap Games. We also plan to introduce our mini-games on new major social platforms. Also, we plan to soft-launch our new blockchain project.
Speaking of apps, we will continue to upgrade and develop our products in music entertainment. We are working on expanding our music partnersâ circle to bring more unique, fresh music to the table. As for wellness and pet care verticals â the focus is on product and working on features to enrich the user experience and facilitate product growth. We hope to see a few new products earning their spot on the top chart.

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Solitics launches In-Game Pulse for personalised in-play betting offers
Solitics has launched In-Game Pulse, a powerful tool that allows operators to turn real-time sports moments into high-impact engagement with bettors.
With In-Game Pulse, operators can respond to goals, plays and key events with personalised in-play betting offers, delivered to players when their attention peaks, not after.
Itâs powered by Soliticâs new Follow Engine, which tracks what each bettor is interested in and then automatically delivers tailored campaigns based on those interests.
This means marketers build just one journey, rather than separate ones for each possibility.
In-Game Pulse works by connecting an operatorâs user data with a live sports feed, then the Follow Engine adapts a single flow to match each userâs interests in real time.
Marketers can then trigger journeys based on the most important moments in a game â a goal, red card â as and when they happen, meaning they are no longer limited to just user behaviour.
The best part is that each campaign is tailored to the individual bettor, and based on the teams, athletes and events they care about.
This makes In-Game Pulse the perfect solution for personalised in-play betting engagement.
This is an example of how it works.
A team scores a goal.Â
All users with that team in their favourites list get notified instantly.Â
The messaging is kept really simple:
âBig Moment! Your team just scored. Want to double down on the momentum?â.Â
The great thing about In-Game Pulse is that itâs not a workaround or a third-party add-on; instead, it sits within Soliticsâ engagement flows.
This means operators and their marketing teams can deliver hyper-personalised campaigns at peak interest, with the speed and control that Solitics has built its reputation on.
Guy Shemer, VP Product at Solitics, said: âIn-Game Pulse will change the game for how marketers engage players with in-play betting communications and offers.Â
âIn the past, they have had to map out multiple journeys, and this has created a tremendous amount of work, let alone the challenge of pushing communications at the right time.Â
âIn-Game Pulse does all the heavy lifting here, allowing marketers to engage players in the moment and when their attention peaks, not after.Â
âIn short, it allows operators to go beyond their own data and react instantly to live sports moments â moments that can drive betting activity.âÂ
The post Solitics launches In-Game Pulse for personalised in-play betting offers appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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The Markets Everyoneâs WatchingâNow on Stage at SBC Summit
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SBC Summit 2025 will debut two new conference stages â Global Markets and Emerging Markets â targeting region-specific insights as the event prepares to welcome over 30,000 attendees from more than 130 countries from September 16-18.
Following sharp international growth in 2024, with Latin America attendance up 126%, Asia up 80% with delegates from 30 countries, Africa up 45% with 29 nations represented, and North America up 127%, two additional conference stages were introduced to meet the eventâs expanding global appeal.
Each stage will deliver targeted, actionable insights and create market-specific networking opportunities for delegates operating across the covered jurisdictions.
Rasmus Sojmark, Founder and CEO of SBC, said: âSBC Summit is now a truly global meeting point, so building an agenda that reflects that was the natural next step.Â
âWith the addition of the Global Markets and Emerging Markets stages, weâre offering market-specific insightsâand the networking lounges attached to each stage let delegates connect immediately with the people driving growth in those regions. Itâs all about continuing the conversations that start on stage with the people most invested in those markets.â
Global Markets Stage
The Global Markets stage is designed for stakeholders looking to optimise their strategies in established, high-value territories where regulatory frameworks are constantly evolving. Across three days, stakeholders can attend a series of panels focusing on key regions, including Latin America and Brazil, Western Europe, and North America.
Tuesday â Latin America & Brazil Focus: The opening day will examine Latin Americaâs diverse landscape, from maximising Brazilâs post-regulation opportunities to the latest developments in markets such as Mexico and Peru. Sessions will bring together leaders from LATAM and Brazil to discuss market entry strategies, payment solutions, and successful partnership models across the regionâs diverse regulatory environments.
Wednesday â Western Europe Deep Dive: The second day will shift focus to Western Europeâs evolving regulatory landscape, examining how businesses can tackle compliance challenges while leveraging new opportunities. Sessions will address the growing threat of black markets, Italyâs revamped online gambling framework, the Netherlandsâ increased regulatory requirements, and potential pathways for iGaming expansion into Finland and the broader Nordic region.
Thursday â North America Analysis: The final day will examine US expansion opportunities following rapid iGaming growth across multiple states. These sessions will explore the rise of alternative betting models, including sweepstakes and prediction markets, alongside the growing popularity of peer-to-peer betting in the region.
Emerging Markets Stage
The Emerging Markets stage will spotlight the most promising regions making waves across the industry. Covering Africa, Eurasia, the Middle East, and Asia, these sessions focus on markets experiencing rising player bases, regulatory reforms, and technological innovations.
Tuesday â Africa Innovation: The opening day will explore mobile-first innovation strategies that are reshaping the African gaming landscape. Sessions will cover payment infrastructure challenges, how operators can successfully engage stakeholders at a local level, and the importance of player protection in the region.
Wednesday â Expansion in Eurasia & the Middle East: Day two will focus on business expansion opportunities in Eurasia, with exciting growth prospects emerging across the Caucasus, Central Asia, and the Balkans. Sessions will also examine the potential for expansion into the Middle East, with panels analysing the UAEâs move towards introducing a gambling framework in the region.
Thursday â Asia Growth Potential: The closing day will examine market entry tactics for Asiaâs diverse regulatory environments, with sessions covering licensing pathways, cultural localisation, and strategies for long-term, sustainable growth across key markets like India, the Philippines, and Macau.
The Global Markets and Emerging Markets stages make up two of the six conference stages at SBC Summit 2025. These include dedicated stages for technology, affiliation, player protection, and the Super Stage.
Secure your ticket to SBC Summit 2025 today.Â
Choose from three pass types: VIP Event Pass, Expo+ Pass, or Expo Only Pass. Please note that an Expo Only Pass does not include access to conference panels.
Operators and affiliates may be eligible for a complimentary pass â simply apply and allow up to three working days for our team to process your request.
The post The Markets Everyoneâs WatchingâNow on Stage at SBC Summit appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Starcasino bolsters its commitment to Sports Betting Integrity with International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA) membership
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Partnership underscores Starcasinoâs pledge to protect sports and customers from betting-related corruption
Starcasino has joined the International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA) as part of the operatorâs recent launch of its sportsbook in the Netherlands via the Altenar sportsbook, which is also a member of IBIA. The operator is also established in Belgium and Spain and joins over 80 companies and 140 sports betting brands that feed into IBIAâs world leading betting integrity network, which monitors over $300bn in sports bets each year. Starcasinoâs membership maintains IBIAâs position as the foremost sports betting integrity monitor in the Netherlands, with the association representing around 90% of the licensed sportsbooks currently in operation in the country.
Kylian Olierook, Director of Starcasino Netherlands, said: âStarcasino.nl has joined the International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA) as part of our ongoing effort to support fair and honest sports betting. Together with our sportsbook partner Altenar, we want to help protect sports from manipulation and ensure a safe experience for our players. By working with IBIA, we take an active role in monitoring and reporting suspicious betting activity.â
Khalid Ali, CEO of IBIA, said: âWe are delighted to welcome Starcasino to our association. Their addition strengthens our global monitoring network and reinforces our shared commitment to safeguarding the integrity of sports and regulated betting markets. Membership of IBIA highlights Starcasinoâs dedication to maintaining the highest standards of integrity and transparency in the regulated sports betting industry. We look forward to working closely with Starcasino to protect the integrity of its products and markets.â
IBIA is a not-for-profit body that has no competing conflicts with the delivery of commercial services to other sectors and was established by operators, for operators, to protect regulated sports betting markets from match-fixing. IBIAâs global monitoring network is a highly effective anti-corruption tool, detecting and reporting suspicious activity in regulated betting markets. Through the IBIA global monitoring network it is possible to track transactional activities linked to individual customer accounts; this data is only available to IBIA and its members.
The post Starcasino bolsters its commitment to Sports Betting Integrity with International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA) membership appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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