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Gaming Licensing Consultancy Formed
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A new gaming licensing consultancy firm as been formed it was announced today by Steven M. Saferin, Managing Director of the new firm: The Entertainment and Sports Gaming Network (“ESGN”). In addition, Saferin announced that ITV Ventures a unit of the largest British broadcaster has signed on as the firm’s first client.
Saferin, who retired at the end of 2016 from his role as President Properties Group and Chief Creative Officer of Scientific Games one of the largest fully integrated gaming companies in the world, will initially have offices in Florida and London.
Saferin and his wife Linda formed MDI Entertainment LLC in 1986 and went on to virtually create the lottery licensing category. Over the last 15 years third party licensed scratch tickets have accounted for nearly 10% of total scratch sales. Scientific Games acquired MDI in 2003.
Over the course of more than two decades MDI acquired lottery licensing rights to hundreds of licenses for such diverse properties as Monopoly, Wheel of Fortune, The World Cup, Major League Baseball, The NBA, Harley Davidson, Deal Or No Deal, Betty Boop, The Walking Dead, Elvis Presley and Pac Man.
In 2012 Saferin left his leadership role at MDI to head up all third-party licensing for Scientific Games for lottery, electronic gaming machines and social and on-line casinos. In that role he led the negotiations for cross-channel licensing agreements with Hasbro (Monopoly and other games), Warner Bros. (Willy Wonka, Lord of the Rings and other shows), Elvis Presley, Margaritaville, Michael Jackson, The Simpsons (slots only) and led the preliminary talks for the now completed James Bond license.
In addition, Saferin announced that a unit of British Broadcaster ITV, ITV Ventures has become ESGN’s first client. He will assist them in structuring gaming licensing agreements outside the UK for shows such as Love Island and Hell’s Kitchen.
“Gaming licensing is a critical component of gaming operators’ and vendors’ content strategy,” Saferin said. “My objective is to not only assist licensors in creating gaming opportunities for their shows and brands but also to assist them in maximizing the value of those brands to licensors and gaming operators after agreements have been struck.”
“I am very pleased to announce ITV Ventures as ESGN’s first client. Love Island is a true television phenomenon in the UK. Original versions of the show have now been commissioned in a total of 13 countries, including the U.S. where the show launches on CBS in July in prime time,” Saferin stated. “Love Island has also been successfully introduced multiple times as an instant win digital scratch game by Camelot in the UK as well as a paper scratch card,” Saferin added.
“I have always thought that Hell’s Kitchen would make a terrific gaming brand. The phenomenal success of the Hell’s Kitchen restaurant at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas seems to confirm that notion,” Saferin said.
“We are delighted to have entered into this relationship with Steve and ESGN,” commented Dave Christopher Director International Commercial and Digital at ITV. “I have known Steve for many years and his creativity and leadership in gaming licensing is unmatched. We look forward to working with him to bring many of our shows to the gaming category.”
THE THIRD-PARTY PROPERTIES MENTIONED ARE THE TRADEMARKS OF THEIR RESPECTIVE OWNERS
Source: Entertainment and Sports Gaming Network
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: Gaming Licensing Consultancy Formed

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FBMDS launches Zaltik Empire – An Aztec-Inspired Adventure in the Titan Series
FBMDS proudly announces the release of Zaltik Empire, the latest addition to its Titan Series of online slot games. Drawing inspiration from the ancient Aztec civilization, this 6×5 tumble slot invites players to uncover mystical secrets hidden within lush jungles, stepped pyramids, and sacred temples.
Guided by Itzalco, the guardian of ancestral wisdom, players journey through sacred symbols — including Gold, Moon, Shield, and Temple — in search of long-lost riches. Zaltik Empire captivates with immersive animations, atmospheric sound design, and versatile mechanics optimized for Desktop, Tablet, and Mobile.
Key Features:
- Tumble slot mechanics with unlimited cascading wins
- All-symbols-pay-anywhere for flexible win patterns
- Free Spins feature with progressive multipliers
- Scatter symbol pays anywhere and retriggers spins
- Buy Bonus or Double Chance 25x for enhanced engagement
- Max win of 5000x the base bet
- RTP: 96.50%
As part of the expanding Titan Series, Zaltik Empire reinforces FBMDS’ commitment to delivering culturally rich, high-performing content. It follows the successful launches of Secrets of Scarabs and other Momentum Series titles like Piñata Rush, Magical Garden, and Arctic Jumper, offering operators modular game solutions for today’s dynamic player base.
This release marks another milestone in FBMDS’ strong pace of innovation and product delivery in 2025. With a sharp focus on localized content, intuitive mechanics, and trend-responsive game design, FBMDS continues to roll out high-quality titles across multiple categories.
The brand’s agile roadmap and cross-functional development strategy have enabled it to launch new games at unprecedented speed, strengthening its position as a top-tier provider in competitive iGaming markets.
The post FBMDS launches Zaltik Empire – An Aztec-Inspired Adventure in the Titan Series appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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ReferOn in the Spotlight with Two Nominations at the SBC Affiliate Leaders Awards
ReferOn, the next-gen affiliate management system, has been shortlisted in two key categories at the SBC Affiliate Leaders Awards: “Affiliate Management Platform of the Year” and “Affiliate Technology of the Year.”
These nominations reflect ReferOn’s strides in reshaping how operators run their affiliate operations and making affiliate marketing a key strategy for global brands. In 2025, the platform has expanded its capabilities, delivering new features that make management more transparent, scalable, and efficient, while maintaining its user-focused approach.
To date, ReferOn has become synonymous with making affiliate marketing simple. It has undertaken the goal of challenging legacy platforms to help empower affiliate managers with powerful yet easy-to-understand solutions, such as dynamic reporting, intuitive reward logic, multi-brand consolidation, and streamlined workflows. In turn, ReferOn has positioned itself as a trusted platform for businesses aiming to scale and maximise ROI with smarter technology.
Alex Bukin, ReferOn’s General Manager, commented on the nominations, “Recognition at this level isn’t a result of a single achievement, but from years of refining our product, listening to our users, and constant effort to improve. Our team has combined technical excellence and a deep understanding of the market to provide tools that actually work and help real affiliate managers. To be nominated for these awards reflects ReferOn’s dedication to serving our customers and delivering the best possible solutions.”
The SBC Affiliate Leaders Awards ceremony will take place on 17 September at the MEO Arena in Lisbon for a night of celebrating innovation and excellence. The ReferOn team looks forward to attending and networking with peers who push the boundaries of their respective industries.
Voting for the SBC Affiliate Leaders Awards 2025 is now open. Support ReferOn by submitting your votes here: sbcevents.com/affiliate-leaders-awards/
The post ReferOn in the Spotlight with Two Nominations at the SBC Affiliate Leaders Awards appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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BetBrain Expands into the UK Market with Launch of British-Focused Platform
BetBrain, the very first odds comparison platform, launched in 2000, announces its expansion into the British market with BetBrain UK. The platform serves as a premier odds comparison solution focusing on informational value and responsible betting.
The launch of BetBrain UK marks a pivotal step in BetBrain’s evolution. Owned and operated by GSH Online Media, the brand continues to strive for accuracy, insight, and enhanced player protection. Its recent expansion with BetBrain NZ reflects the same mission.
Following continuous redevelopment and upgrades to the initial model, BetBrain UK represents the culmination of the brand’s identity, adding various services and guidance methods.
With this British-focused platform, the company continues its quest to steer bettors towards worthwhile and responsible opportunities in the UK market.
A Bespoke Model for UK Audiences
BetBrain UK follows sound principles and creates a user-friendly environment for users looking to compare odds across British bookmakers. It does so by providing accurate, valuable, and responsible gambling-focused guidance.
All of its listed bookmakers and casino brands are from operators with active licences from the UKGC, providing access to legitimate and qualitative betting opportunities. The main solutions provided by BetBrain UK include:
- An efficient odds comparison tool aggregating the offerings from over 100 UKGC-licensed bookmakers.
- Football predictions, match results, and free betting tips.
- A database of online casino bonuses from UKGC-approved brands.
- An AI-powered service for generating accumulators.
- Written informational support, catered to the UK iGaming context and sensibilities.
- Ongoing commitment to educating and protecting users.
Viorel Stan, GSH Online Media CEO, Addresses the Launch: “The UK digital gambling sector demands legitimacy, precision, and truthfulness. With the launch of BetBrain UK, we’ve committed to upholding these principles and providing our British audience with the utmost quality. Our development process, our work ethic, and focus on user-centric values have steered us towards a continuous improvement of our model, allowing us to provide a solution worthy of the savvy and knowledgeable British users. I am thankful for our team’s effort in this endeavour.”
The post BetBrain Expands into the UK Market with Launch of British-Focused Platform appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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