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DACH regional focus at European Gaming Congress (EGC2018) with Martin Arendts, Helmut Kafka, Dr. Raffaela Zillner and Dr. Joerg Hofmann
Reading Time: 4 minutes
The DACH region has been quoted by some of the leading operators as one of the geographical markets with the highest growth potential in the long run when it comes to the gambling industry. This year, the region has been targeted by large affiliate networks, however the software providers are also expanding in the region and trying to access these markets and continue the lobby to reach certain regulations when it comes to online gambling licenses.
We are proud to announce the during the inaugural European Gaming Congress, which will take place at Grand Union Hotel Ljubljana on the 16th of October, a special panel discussion dedicated for the Austrian and German gambling market will be added to the agenda.
You can Register here or View the Agenda
The panel discussion will be joined by leading experts of the industry such as Helmut Kafka (Automatenverband), Dr. Raffaela Zillner, LL.M. (Austrian Association for Betting and Gambling (OVWG), Martin Arendts (ARENDTS ANWÄLTE) and will be moderated by Dr. Joerg Hofmann (MELCHERS Law).
It is going to be a very informative panel as the speakers have clearly expressed that they will bring some fresh news and indicators about the mentioned markets and it is a must attend panel for companies seeking advice into entering or receiving a license for operating.
About Helmut Kafka
Helmut Kafka has been more than 35 years internationally busy in the amusement and gambling trade.
Since 1988 expert for the Austrian Chamber of Commerce for gambling and amusement with prices machines (AWP), re-elected March 2015.
Since 1999 member of the British Society of Study of Gambling.
Since 2006 President of Automatenverband.at.
From 2007 until 2015 first vice president EUROMAT, Brussels and chairman of the legal affairs committee.
Presenter and attendant of various international conferences, seminars, congresses
Member of the scientific advisory board of the Institut f. Glücksspiel u. Wetten at the University Bonn-Sieg, Germany.
In 2013 has been granted with the Certificate ‘Excellence in Responsible Gaming’ of the Sigmund Freud University, Vienna.
About Martin Arendts
Martin Arendts is an expert in gaming law, EU law and securities regulation. He studied law at the universities of Passau, Hamburg, Speyer and St Gallen. In 1995, Arendts founded ARENDTS ANWAELTE, now one of the leading law firms for gaming and betting law in Germany (www.gaminglaw.de). Clients include many private bookmakers and remote gaming operators, licensed in the UK, Austria, Malta or Gibraltar, as well as affiliates and media companies in Germany. Recently, Martin Arendts dealt with several administrative law, constitutional law, criminal law, unfair competition law, trademark and licensing proceedings in connection with sports betting, lotteries and poker.
Martin Arendts regularly writes for national and international legal publications and speaks at conferences. His work has appeared in a variety of publications, including Internet Gambling Report, World Online Gambling Law Report, European Gaming Lawyer, Zeitschrift für Wett- und Glücksspielrecht/European Journal of Gambling Law, MultiMedia und Recht (MMR), Gewerbearchiv, Casino & Gaming International and ISA Casinos.
About Dr. Raffaela Zillner, LL.M.
Dr. Raffaela Zillner, LL.M. runs the General Secretariat of the Austrian Association for Betting and Gambling (OVWG). In this position, she’s the first point of contact for all association matters. Raffaela holds a law degree as well as a Master’s degree in Information and Media Law and a doctoral degree in law. Furthermore, Raffaela successfully passed the Vienna (Lawyers) Bar exam. In her professional career, she has worked as an Associate at a Vienna-based law firm with a special focus on gambling and sports betting law.
About Dr. Joerg Hofmann
Dr. Joerg Hofmann is the group leader of the firm’s Gaming & Betting Law Practice and Past President of the International Masters of Gaming Law (IMGL), the pre-eminent global gambling law networking and educational organization shaping the future of gaming law.
A highly recognized expert in the field, Dr. Hofmann has been consistently ranked as a “Leading Individual” in Gaming & Gambling by Chambers Global since 2011 and is the only German Lawyer listed among “Germany’s Best Lawyers” in the category “Gaming Law” by Handelsblatt and BestLawyers in 2014 and 2015. In 2015, Dr. Hofmann received the award “Gaming Law – Lawyer of the Year in Germany – 2015” from Global Law Experts. He has also repeatedly been listed in Who’sWhoLegal for sport and entertainment in Germany.
Jörg Hofmann of Melchers has an “unrivalled reputation” and impresses clients with his “careful handling” and “sound advice”(Who’sWhoLegal Germany 2016)
Heidelberg-based Jörg Hofmann of Melchers is a widely admired practitioner. He has extensive experience in advising on regulatory compliance as well as licensing issues.(Chambers Global 2015).
High knowledge in regulation licensing and taxation as well as at the forefront of developments in social media gaming. Well connected to regulators(Chambers Global 2015)
Jörg Hofmann is another influential player in the German market. He is rated for his balanced practice, which covers both online and terrestrial gaming. ‘I think the world of him’, said one peer (Chambers Global 2011)
Dr. Hofmann regularly acts as speaker and moderator at renowned international gaming law conferences and serves as a member of the editorial board of “Gaming Law Review and Economics”.
Make sure you register your seat in time to benefit of the great lineup of speakers and quality networking opportunities!
Full details about the event can be found on the official website of the event: https://europeangamingcongress.com/
Source: Latest News on European Gaming Media Network

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SlotsUp 2.0 Launch: Transformed into a User-Centric Product
Reading Time: 2 minutes
Ten years after its quiet debut as a casino listing site, SlotsUp has reintroduced itself with a complete rebuild. What started in 2015 as a basic catalogue of online casinos has evolved into a structured, data-driven product designed around user needs and practical tools that actually help make smarter choices.
For years, SlotsUp relied on the industry-standard model. That formula worked, until it didn’t. So in 2025, the team behind SlotsUp tore it all down.
“We spent years chasing SEO. At some point, it became clear that the balance was off — too much energy went into ranking, and not enough into what players truly needed. That had to change. We shifted toward building a product where clarity, trust, and the user’s perspective always come first,” said a team lead at SlotsUp.
Not Just a Redesign — A New Product
SlotsUp 2.0 introduces a new brand identity, an updated interface and a new core principle: act like a correspondent, not a catalogue. That shift is reflected in a complete rethink of how casinos are added, rated and shown to users. Entry is no longer automatic — each listing must pass through a rigorous system of over 100 internal rules governing data quality, compliance, layout and trustworthiness.
The platform now filters and presents only what matters. Each casino is reviewed through 12 custom-built metrics, including:
Safety Index: Built on 4 criteria, from licensing transparency to user complaint volume.
SlotsUp Rating: A detailed breakdown of license, bonuses, payments, support and responsible gambling tools
Casino Match: A personalised alignment tool based on the user’s region, currency and language.
Radar: A visual chart comparing a game’s win potential against industry averages.
And now there’s Multi Game Mode — a new way to test and compare slots side by side. Players can launch up to four games in demo mode simultaneously, making it easy to spot differences in features, pace and style. It’s a faster, smarter way to find the game that truly fits your preferences.
The result is a real product, not just a database — with tools that respond to where the player is, what they value, and how they play.
From a List to a Real Product
The company’s team of 28+ experts includes writers, developers, designers and gambling professionals. Every review is written or reviewed by individuals who are well-versed in the industry.
Now, every rating is based on a clear system. Information is sorted by what matters to players: safety, fairness, relevance and quality.
SlotsUp 2.0 is built to guide users, not push them. It focuses on clarity, responsibility and smarter choices — one player at a time.
The post SlotsUp 2.0 Launch: Transformed into a User-Centric Product appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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SlotMatrix grows Enchanted Jackpots with Circle of Sylvan launch
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SlotMatrix, the world’s largest iGaming content aggregator, introduces Circle of Sylvan, a spellbinding new slot where enchanted forests, glowing coins, and powerful jackpots fuse to create fun and exciting potential wins.
Deep in the heart of the Sylvan realm lies hidden treasure, guarded by ancient trees and shimmering coins. Players are invited to channel magical energy into the Golden Circle, nourishing the mystical Golden Tree and growing the value of five dynamic Jackpots.
Each Sylvan coin collected adds 0.5x to the Jackpot prizes, creating a living, breathing prize pool that expands with every spin.
At the heart of Circle of Sylvan is the Jackpot Wheel, an awe-inspiring feature where every Sylvan coin that lands on the reels has the chance to summon the mystical wheel. Once summoned, the wheel awards one of five Jackpot prizes, boosting player suspense and bringing exciting rewards.
The excitement doesn’t stop there. The Free Spins multiplier grows each time players narrowly miss a Free Spins trigger by just one reel. With every two progressions, the multiplier climbs another level, reaching up to an astonishing 50x. Locking all positions on a reel further boost the multiplier during the Hold & Win Free Spins, turning near misses into thrilling opportunities.
All collected cash prizes during Hold & Win are multiplied by the current Free Spin multiplier.
Circle of Sylvan is exclusively available through SlotMatrix. As with all SlotMatrix titles, the game is enhanced by EveryMatrix’s proprietary gamification features, including free spins and leaderboards, and can be integrated with EngageSuite, the all-in-one player loyalty solution.
Bjorn Sjoberg, COO, SlotMatrix, said: “Players will love Circle of Sylvan. This was an ambitious fusion of progressive jackpots, innovative mechanics, and immersive storytelling.
“A perfect example of how SlotMatrix is redefining the slot experience, giving operators a truly standout title with incredible engagement potential.”
The post SlotMatrix grows Enchanted Jackpots with Circle of Sylvan launch appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Latest News
Vyking Appoints João Soares as CTO
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Vyking, the next-generation iGaming platform provider, has announced the appointment of João Soares as its new Chief Technology Officer (CTO).
João, a Portuguese native, is a highly accomplished engineering leader with more than a decade of senior experience in the iGaming sector, having held leadership roles at William Hill, BetVictor and White Hat Gaming. In a previous role, João served as Head of Engineering at White Hat Gaming, where he managed 120+ people and spearheaded the transformation of the company’s engineering function. He introduced scalable team structures, mentored managers and technical leads, and embedded Agile methodologies across the business. His leadership was pivotal in turning a flat engineering setup into a high-performing, resilient and delivery-focused organisation.
Prior to that, João spent over five years at BetVictor, where he held senior engineering roles and led the launch of eight native mobile apps across iOS and Android, supporting 60% of the company’s business in the UK, Germany and Asia. He also worked as Development Manager at William Hill, contributing to product and platform initiatives across multiple teams.
Beyond iGaming, João also gained senior leadership exposure in other technology sectors, including roles as Head of Engineering at Vision-Box and as Director of Engineering at Easyship, where he focused on digital transformation, QA implementation and leadership coaching.
João Soares, incoming CTO of Vyking, said: “I am thrilled to be joining Vyking at such an exciting time. The company’s platform vision, which combines flexibility, scalability and true product ownership for operators, is exactly the type of challenge I’m passionate about. My goal is to help accelerate innovation, build high-performing teams and ensure Vyking continues to set new standards for iGaming technology.”
Franz Gerhart, CEO of Vyking, said: “João brings the perfect blend of technical expertise, leadership capability, and proven industry experience. His track record of scaling engineering teams and driving transformation at leading operators will be invaluable as Vyking enters its next phase of growth. I also want to acknowledge Helmut Kleinhans, who has excelled in leading our technology function and is now stepping into a new senior role as Chief Software Architect. This transition reflects his passion for deep technology and innovation, enabling him to focus on advanced engineering across the wider business. Helmut’s impact has been pivotal in positioning Vyking for success, and we are thrilled he will continue to shape our technology future.”
The post Vyking Appoints João Soares as CTO appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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