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‘At the heart of pop culture’: gamescom shines a spotlight on the cultural importance of games

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Games are more than just the most successful entertainment medium of our time – they have also established themselves at the very heart of popular culture, with other media increasingly taking their cue from games. Whereas in the past one might expect a film to be made from a popular book, now people are writing books based on games, designing fashion inspired by games – even creating dances influenced by games. In other words, anyone who can wow the games community today will be making their mark on the entire world tomorrow. The theme of this year’s gamescom – ‘Games: at the heart of pop culture’ – shines a spotlight on games’ cultural relevance. It is not only popular culture that is being shaped by games. Other areas – from digital companies and food retailers to car manufacturers – are devoting ever more attention to games and their communities. As a result, the cultural significance of computer and video games is playing a growing role in spurring innovation and economic growth.

‘Games have long since become established as a key driving force in popular culture: streaming services are more and more frequently turning to games brands as the basis for new series and films, books based on familiar games fill entire shelves in book stores, and fashion brands are producing clothing that either goes with the games or is actually present in the games themselves. All of this goes to show that games are a major force shaping our age,’ said Felix Falk, Managing Director of game – the German Games Industry Association.

Trend: ‘The next generation of mobile gaming’

Smartphones have established themselves worldwide as one of the most successful games platforms. Today’s devices are so good that they are even suitable for more complex games. In addition, more and more familiar game series have released their own mobile versions, allowing them to reach millions of additional players. And with the assistance of cloud gaming, people can seamlessly continue playing their favourite PC and console games on their smartphones when they are on the go. Greater performance and more demanding games for mobile devices are also driving the growing mobile esports trend. Teams and solo players are increasingly taking part in games competitions using their smartphones. The trend, which had previously witnessed its greatest success in Asia, has now established itself in the rest of the world.

Trend: ‘Healthy through games’

Even before the coronavirus struck, many people were using games to keep fit in their own living rooms. Now computer and video games are increasingly being used as a means of improving mental health as well. In fact, a new genre known as wholesome games has come into being that is focused on games whose more laid-back mode of play helps people to relax and unwind from their daily lives. In addition, computer and video games are seeing ever more frequent use within the context of therapy, such as helping patients cope with pain, alleviating the effects of dementia, and supporting children with ADHD.

Numerous major political figures to visit gamescom

gamescom has become one of the most important platforms for political dialogue on digital issues, and with the gamescom congress, the political opening and the Debatt(l)e Royale, the trade fair offers multiple events for these discussions. This year’s gamescom will once again be welcoming numerous top political figures: right from the start of the fair on Wednesday, various officials, including Vice Chancellor and Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action Robert Habeck and Hendrik Wüst, Minister-President of North Rhine-Westphalia, will take part in the political opening and the official tour. Starting at 10:30 a.m. on gamescom Thursday, the gamescom congress will kick off with its Debatt(l)e Royale panel talk. Here, Kevin Kühnert (SPD), Mario Czaja (CDU), Emily Büning (Bündnis 90/Die Grünen) and Bijan Djir-Sarai (FDP) will be discussing current issues and the best digital and games policies for Germany. On gamescom Friday, Claudia Roth, Minister of State and Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media, will be visiting the world’s biggest event for computer and video games to tour the various event areas and discover the latest trends.

 

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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Beyond Season’s Greetings: GR8 Tech Unveils Strategic ‘Holiday Calendar’ for Operators

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Editor’s Take

Why this matters: Most B2B holiday campaigns are fluff—digital greeting cards that get deleted instantly. GR8 Tech is taking a smarter approach by wrapping high-value strategic advice into a seasonal format. By focusing on 2026 goal-setting (tech upgrades, market wins), they are positioning themselves not just as a platform provider, but as a strategic partner for operators currently in their planning cycles.

The Full Story

GR8 Tech, the award-winning sportsbook and iGaming platform provider, has launched a new initiative designed to turn the holiday season into a period of strategic preparation for operators.

Dubbed the Holiday Calendar, the campaign is an exclusive newsletter experience that moves beyond standard festive greetings to deliver actionable, data-driven insights aimed at helping iGaming champions define and achieve their goals for 2026.

Unwrapping Strategic Insights The initiative runs as a 4-week series, consisting of eight curated email editions. Each edition focuses on a specific “iGaming wish”—ranging from stronger growth and smarter tech to smoother operations.

Instead of leaving these as abstract concepts, GR8 Tech pairs each goal with practical insights from its own data and technology stack, offering a roadmap for how operators can realistically achieve them in the coming year.

Management Commentary Yevhen Krazhan, CSO at GR8 Tech, explained that the campaign mirrors the ambitious mindset of their clients:

“Every operator has a vision for the year ahead: targets they want to hit, markets they want to win, experiences they want to deliver. The GR8 Tech Holiday Calendar is our way of celebrating ambitions and showing how the right insights and technology can turn them into reality.”

How It Works Operators can subscribe via the GR8 Tech website to receive the series. Each message “opens a new tile” on the digital calendar, revealing a specific insight designed to be applied to future business strategies.

The campaign effectively showcases GR8 Tech’s broader value proposition—including its Hyper Turnkey solution and ULTIM8 Sportsbook—by demonstrating how these tools solve specific operator challenges. It comes on the heels of a successful year for the provider, which recently secured the title of Platform Provider of the Year at the SBC Awards 2025.

The post Beyond Season’s Greetings: GR8 Tech Unveils Strategic ‘Holiday Calendar’ for Operators appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry Newsroom.

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ComeOn Group Fortifies C-Suite: Michela Tabone Valetta Named New CPO

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Editor’s Take

Why this matters: In the current iGaming climate, “sustainable growth” isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a survival strategy. By bringing in a seasoned CPO like Michela Tabone Valetta (ex-Bally’s, Gamesys), ComeOn is signaling a focus on organizational maturity. Furthermore, the specific addition of a Country Manager for Ontario (Mark Cheeswright) suggests a deeper entrenchment in North America’s most competitive regulated market, moving beyond general expansion to targeted regional dominance.

The Full Story

ComeOn Group, the leading international iGaming operator, has announced a significant strengthening of its leadership structure, headlined by the appointment of Michela Tabone Valetta to its Executive Team as Chief People Officer (CPO).

The move is part of a broader recruitment drive that has seen the company fill critical senior roles across Compliance, IT Security, Commercial, and Market Management, positioning itself for a new phase of regulated market expansion.

New Chief People Officer Michela Tabone Valetta brings two decades of HR leadership experience, with nearly half of that time spent in the iGaming sector. Her resume includes senior tenures at major industry players such as Vera & John, Gamesys, and Bally’s Corporation. Most recently, she served at BoyleSports, where she supported a workforce of nearly 3,000 employees.

At ComeOn, Valetta will lead the People & Culture function, tasked with refining talent strategy and organizational development as the operator scales its global footprint.

Strategic Senior Appointments alongside the C-level addition, ComeOn Group confirmed four other key strategic hires made earlier this year to bolster its operational foundations:

  • Mark Cheeswright (Country Manager, Ontario): A veteran with over 20 years in iGaming (LeoVegas, William Hill, BetVictor), Cheeswright is tasked with steering the company’s growth in the highly competitive Canadian province.

  • Thomas Mifsud Tommasi (Head of AML): Joining from LeoVegas and BetClic Everest Group, Tommasi brings over a decade of financial crime compliance expertise to the group.

  • Radek Ostojski (Head of Information Security): With a background in cloud architecture and DevOps at Swintt and KingMakers, Ostojski will lead the operator’s cybersecurity initiatives.

  • Rebekka Rogers (Head of Commercial, Casino): Formerly of Evolution, Rogers will drive commercial performance and strategic growth within the company’s core Casino vertical.

CEO Commentary Juergen Reutter, Chief Executive Officer at ComeOn Group, emphasized that these appointments are about building depth for the long term:

“We are delighted to welcome Michela to our Executive Team. Her extensive expertise in people and culture, organizational development, and leadership strategy will be instrumental as we continue to grow and strengthen our operations globally.

“Earlier this year, we also welcomed Radek, Thomas, Mark, and Rebekka into key leadership roles… Their contributions are already reinforcing our strategic foundations, and together with Michela’s arrival, they significantly enhance the depth and capability of our leadership team.”

The post ComeOn Group Fortifies C-Suite: Michela Tabone Valetta Named New CPO appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry Newsroom.

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Tom Horn Gaming Unlocks New Markets with Major Alea Aggregation Deal

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Editor’s Take

Why this matters: In the race for distribution, direct integrations are becoming less common for mid-sized studios. Partnering with a “super-aggregator” like Alea—known for its focus on API performance and data security—gives Tom Horn Gaming instant access to hundreds of operator brands without the technical bottleneck of individual integrations. This move signals a push to maximize the yield from their back catalog of 100+ games in both mature and emerging markets simultaneously.

The Full Story

Tom Horn Gaming, the omnichannel software supplier, has significantly widened its distribution capabilities by signing a new partnership with Alea, the award-winning iGaming aggregator.

The agreement sees Tom Horn’s entire portfolio of over 100 titles integrated into Alea’s aggregation ecosystem. This includes the supplier’s best-performing classic slots such as 243 Crystal Fruits and The Secret of Ba, as well as recent releases like Tao Tree Coins.

Technical & Strategic Fit For Tom Horn Gaming, the deal is a strategic lever to penetrate new jurisdictions more efficiently. By plugging into Alea’s centralized API, the studio gains immediate access to Alea’s extensive roster of operator partners. The collaboration focuses heavily on delivering “localized” content—games specifically tailored to regional preferences and regulatory requirements—without the friction of individual technical setups.

Management Commentary Both companies emphasized the role of compliance and technical reliability in the deal.

Ondrej Lapides, CEO of Tom Horn Gaming, commented on the strategic alignment:

“Partnering with Alea allows us to bring our games to even more operators and players in markets where we’ve long been committed to delivering tailored, reliable, and engaging content. Alea’s focus on compliance and seamless delivery perfectly complements our own ambitions for growth in both mature and emerging regions.”

Eduard Verdaguer, Partnerships Manager at Alea, highlighted the supplier’s reputation:

“Tom Horn Gaming has built a strong reputation for creating accessible, market-tailored content that players know and trust.”

This partnership marks the latest in a series of commercial expansions for Tom Horn Gaming in late 2025, reinforcing its status as a staple content provider for regulated markets.

The post Tom Horn Gaming Unlocks New Markets with Major Alea Aggregation Deal appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry Newsroom.

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