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Big Fish Games lands new managing director and president
Former Electronic Arts and Zynga executive Jeff Karp is joining Big Fish Games as managing director and president, responsible for leading the Seattle-based casual games company under its second corporate parent in four years.
Big Fish Games founder and former CEO Paul Thelen, who oversaw the sale of the company to Kentucky Derby operator Churchill Downs Inc. for $885 million in 2014, left following Big Fish’s $990 million acquisition by Australia’s Aristocrat Technologies, which was completed in January. Jeff Goldstein, Aristocrat’s chief digital officer and chief strategy officer, was overseeing Big Fish before Karp was brought on board.
Aristocrat is announcing Karp’s appointment as the new Big Fish leader this morning. He will be based in Seattle in his new role.
Karp has more than 15 years of experience in the video games industry. He spent more than 10 years at game giant EA in a variety of positions, most notably as the executive vice president of EA’s Play Label. There, he oversaw recognizable franchises like The Sims and EA Sports.
“I am honored to be working with such a creative and talented group, who are focused on enhancing life through exceptional play,” Karp said in a news release announcing his appointment. “Big Fish is a content-rich company and its employees are passionate about making great games that bring joy and fun to millions of players around the world.”
At Zynga, where he was executive vice president and chief marketing and revenue officer, Karp worked on games like Words With Friends and Draw Something. Karp also had a stint at GSN Games as the executive vice president of social and mobile games.
Most recently, Karp was the CEO of Sports Illustrated Play, which was acquired by Comcast/NBC this year. The digital youth sports platform had 17 million monthly users. Karp left the job in January.
In his new role, the company says Karp will oversee the company’s continued growth and manage its portfolio of games, including Big Fish Casino, Cooking Craze, and Gummy Drop.
“Jeff’s expertise in growing games into global entertainment franchises is unsurpassed,” said Aristocrat’s Goldstein in a news release. “His proven track record and deep experience in the games industry make him the ideal person to drive Big Fish’s growth strategy, and ensure the business delivers its full potential.”
The market for casino-based online video games was dealt a blow in March, when a federal appeals court ruled that the Big Fish Casino constituted illegal online gambling. The ruling, currently under appeal, also has repercussions for other casino games that use a similar virtual currency system.
Thelen, a former RealNetworks executive, founded Big Fish Games in Seattle in 2002. Big Fish Games in 2017 posted $466 million in net revenue and $80.3 million in adjusted earnings before interest, depreciation, taxes and amortization, according to financial statements from publicly held Churchill Downs. That was down from $486.2 million in revenue and $82.2 million in EBIDTA in 2016.
Big Fish has a regional office in Oakland, Calif., in addition to its Seattle HQ, which is shifting to a new location in the city. A spokesperson says the company currently has 735 employees overall, with 630 of them in Seattle.
Source: geekwire.com
Source: Latest News on European Gaming Media Network
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Week 8/2025 slot games releases
Here are this weeks latest slots releases compiled by European Gaming
Tom Horn Gaming is thrilled to announce the launch of its latest Hold & Win slot game, Majestic Coins. This high-volatility 3×3 slot takes players on a winning quest, where shimmering coins, respins, and grand jackpots lead to massive wins. Set against a sleek black 3×3 reel grid with 5 win lines, Majestic Coins offers classic slot excitement with a modern twist.
Candy Links Bonanza 2 is the newest slot game from Stakelogic, inviting you to wander through magical realms filled with delightfully sweet treats. Amidst this charming backdrop, two 5×5 grids are placed side by side. The grid on the right is where all the gameplay unfolds, while the other grid collects coins. Forming lines of coins wins their values and activates the powerful Wheels of Fortune!
Step into a world where opulence meets nature in Zillion’s latest release, Royal Crown Fruits – a dazzling slot experience filled with vibrant fruit symbols, golden crowns, and thrilling rewards. With 20 winning lines, the game blends classic charm with modern excitement, offering players a chance to strike royal-sized wins.
Big Time Gaming is back with its most exhilarating instalment yet. Max Megaways III invites players to gear up and embark on a high-stakes Arctic mission that’s shaken, stirred, and loaded with epic rewards. In this 6-reel Megaways™ slot, players get up to 117,649 ways to win, and that’s just the start of the action. Armed with MegaDozer™ mechanics, Free Spins, and a treasure trove of bonuses, Max Megaways III is set to deliver edge-of-your-seat excitement like never before.
Play’n GO delves into the mysteries of ancient Egypt with the release of Myth of Dead, a visually stunning slot that combines engaging gameplay with the allure of legendary treasures. This 5-reel, 3-row game with 10 paylines offers a captivating journey into a world ruled by powerful deities and golden riches.
Belatra Games, the specialist online slots developer, has released Blast the Bass, a brand new title that immerses players into an adventure on the open seas. Set out in the deep ocean, Blast the Bass brings together engaging mechanics, big bonus features and fun graphics that entertain players on every spin. A salty old skipper acts as the Wild symbol and will substitute for all regular symbols to combine for winning lines.
Push Gaming has launched Mad Blast, a volatile, multiplier-focused, pay-anywhere game that builds crazy robots along with wild winnings. Set in the workshop of the Mad Tinkerer, quirky, colourful bomb symbols populate the reels, with eight or more required to award a win. Winning symbols are removed from play, and the cascade of replacement icons allows subsequent wins to be formed.
Relax Gaming has revealed Glyph of Gods, an Egyptian-themed slot where hieroglyphs hold the key to wins. Bringing a fresh take on the much-loved Egyptian theme, this game features Glyph Positions which allow for Wild, Bonus, and Glyph symbols to land in dedicated spots, opening up multiple opportunities for big winning moments.
Blueprint Gaming returns in style with Big Catch Even Bigger Bass, offering a plethora of modifiers to maximise players’ winning potential. After years of success with its iconic Fishin’ Frenzy™ series, Blueprint has moved from the ocean to a picturesque lake where a bait box of aquatic symbols take their place on the 6×4, 4,096 win matrix, nestled in a mountainous landscape.
Amusnet announces the exclusive launch of 20 Wild Goals at Betano in Romania from February 20th to March 24th, 2025. 20 Wild Goals is a 5-reel video slot set in a stadium environment, offering 20 paylines. The Wild symbol, represented by a ball, expands to cover the entire reel, boosting the potential for higher wins. The tumbling reel feature adds a layer of excitement by removing winning combinations and increasing multipliers with each subsequent spin.
The post Week 8/2025 slot games releases appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Official Game Titles for 2025 IESF WEC25
International Esports Federation (IESF) has confirmed the official game titles for the 2025 IESF Season. The WEC25 will feature five of the most popular Esports titles:
- Counter-Strike 2,
- Dota 2,
- eFootball™ series,
- Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, and
- PUBG MOBILE.
2025 marks the third consecutive year that IESF has maintained the same lineup, reflecting the consistency and popularity of these titles in the World of Esports.
With 136 member federations organizing National Qualifiers, the road to the 2025 IESF Season is set to be bigger and more competitive than ever. Around the world, national tournaments are already underway, as each federation seeks to crown their nation’s champions who will go on to compete at the highest level.
Igor Nedeski, Esports Manager at IESF, said: “We are proud to continue our collaboration with leading game publishers to ensure the highest quality of competition for the 2025 season. The excitement among athletes is already incredible as they prepare to represent their nations on the grand stage. This year, we anticipate an even higher level of competition as teams and players push the boundaries of Esports.”
The 17th edition of the IESF Season will not only highlight the competitive excellence of esports athletes but also reinforce IESF’s commitment to inclusivity, diversity, and fair play within the Esports ecosystem.
Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) has participated in every IESF World Championship since the inception of the World Championships in 2009.
Players registered with MSSA may qualify for National Team Trials (NTT) in MSSA events that have been held for one Calendar Year before the National Team Trials are held.
Events still to be held are:
- 22 February 2025 – 6th WESTERN CAPE Online Championships
- 8 March 2025 – 6th GAUTENG Online Championships
- 15 March 2025 – National Team Trials for 17th IESF World Championships
The post Official Game Titles for 2025 IESF WEC25 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Amusnet Deepens Collaboration with Betano for Exclusive Launch of 20 Wild Goals
Amusnet announces the exclusive launch of 20 Wild Goals at Betano in Romania from February 20th to March 24th, 2025. This collaboration further strengthens the company’s long-term partnership with the operator and reflects Amusnet’s focus on providing localized gaming solutions to meet the needs of the Romanian market.
“With a clear focus on delivering localized, high-quality content, we continue to foster our mutually beneficial collaboration with Betano. By providing tailored gaming experiences, we ensure both Amusnet and our partners drive growth, meet player expectations, and strengthen our collective presence in the region,” said Andreea Popa, Commercial Manager at Amusnet Romania.
20 Wild Goals is a 5-reel video slot set in a stadium environment, offering 20 paylines. The Wild symbol, represented by a ball, expands to cover the entire reel, boosting the potential for higher wins. The tumbling reel feature adds a layer of excitement by removing winning combinations and increasing multipliers with each subsequent spin. The game presents a dynamic and engaging experience designed to appeal to players seeking thrilling gameplay.
Features
Expanding Wild
During the base game, the Wild symbol expands on the whole reel and substitutes for other symbols, increasing the winning potential.
Tumbling Reels with Increasing Multiplier
Winning symbols disappear, making way for the symbols above them while increasing the multiplier with each consecutive win. If new winning combinations appear on the screen after filling the empty positions, they are multiplied by Multiplier, which starts from x2 and increases by 1 with every consequent Tumbling Reels Feature.
Jackpot Cards
The four-level mystery jackpot bonus game Jackpot Cards is also available, just like in the rest of Amusnet’s Online Casino portfolio.
The post Amusnet Deepens Collaboration with Betano for Exclusive Launch of 20 Wild Goals appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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