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Poker in Eastern Europe, here are some myths busted

Reports claim that Eastern European countries have a high market share and that Russia is the second largest poker market after Germany. Just by claiming that Russia is part of Eastern Europe is a false claim and also if you judge by the incomes and players spend, you also are able to find that Eastern Europe doesn’t have a high market share when it comes to playing poker.
Even if there is no difference between between the skills of an Eastern European player who has a minimum wage of 450 EUR per month and the Western European players who likely makes more than 2500 EUR per month, the true grinders come from a different category.
The Eastern European poker players that are spending big are usually the expats living in Budapest, Bucharest (make sure not to mix these two), Bratislava or Prague for certain cost reasons and representing the region in market share. You can call them a sort of online poker players/digital nomads. There are even sites that promote Budapest a possible Poker Refugee camp for poker players that wanted to play online poker after “Black Friday” hit their favorite skill game.
Texas Hold’em has seen its fair share of popular times and it has certainly impacted the less developed countries in Eastern Europe. This happened at the beginning of 2004-2005 when everyone was imagining that their skills are similar to Daniel Negreanu’s, due to his origins from the region. During this period there hasn’t been any regulation in place and all players had the possibility of engaging into playing poker online on any poker room from around the world.
Things have changed in the mean time when the online gambling industry was regulated in Romania at the end of 2013 and things started shifting towards a more responsible industry in which players were fewer, but started spending more and stronger communities were built.
888poker has remained a key and trusted brand in the region, attracting players each year to WSOP Europe and also to their online poker room with the most realistic deposit bonuses and play methods.
We must also mention that WSOP Europe (WSOPE) is returning to King’s Resort Rozvadov for the third consecutive year, with the central Europe locale and venue playing host for the 2019 edition this Fall.
WSOPE is set to run from October 15 to November 4, again featuring 10 official WSOP gold bracelet events. In 2018, the event schedule saw 6,028 entries compete for €20,997,184 in prize money.
It is a very popular tournament that gives Eastern Europeans and all European players a chance to compete in the heart of Europe, easily accessible for everyone. It is by far the most popular event in Europe.
In order to sum it all up, there is nothing peculiar about the poker industry in Eastern Europe versus the poker industry from the other sides of the world, it’s just having trustworthy poker rooms that offer players from regulated jurisdictions to develop their poker skills and also compete in international tournaments.
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Play’n GO games now live with Ivy Casino in the UK
Swedish gaming giant’s industry signals commitment to the UK regulated market by launching it leading portfolio of games with Ivy Casino
Play’n GO, the world’s leading casino entertainment provider, has today announced that its industry leading portfolio of games is now live with Ivy Casino in the UK.
Ivy Casino’s players in the United Kingdom can now access global smash hits from Play’n GO, including Book of Dead, Legacy of Dead, and Rise of Olympus 100 among many others.
Ivy Casino is a UK-facing online casino brand that launched in 2024 with a focus on delivering a premium, player-centric experience tailored specifically for the UK market.
The brand operates alongside two sister sites, Rose Casino and O’Reels, which also serve UK audiences and share the same commitment to high-quality entertainment, strong user experience and robust responsible gaming standards.
Play’n GO has been one of the leading game suppliers in the UK for many years and is steadfast in its commitment to regulated markets globally.
Magnus Olsson, Chief Commercial Officer of Play’n GO, said:
“We are delighted to launch with Ivy Casino in the UK who, like us, are focused on all the key elements of operating within a regulated market framework. I’m sure this is just the beginning of a long and fruitful partnership.”
Mark Good, representing Ivy Casino, said:
“This partnership with Play’n GO forms part of Ivy Casino’s ongoing strategy to enhance its content offering for UK players by collaborating with leading studios known for creative, engaging gameplay.”
Play’n GO is a proud sponsor of the Moneygram Haas Formula 1 team, and recently launched a fashion brand, Play’n GO Shop, to sit alongside its existing Play’n GO Music brand to give fans more ways to connect with Play’n GO.
In October, Play’n GO set a world record by launching everyone’s favourite slot character, Garga, into space reaching a height of over 35,500m as part of the launch campaign for Reactoonz 100 which instantly became one of the biggest game launches of the year for the company.
The post Play’n GO games now live with Ivy Casino in the UK appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry Newsroom.
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Esportes da Sorte strengthens brand presence during New Year’s Eve celebrations across four Brazilian capitals
Esportes da Sorte, one of Brazil’s leading online betting platforms, will be the official sponsor of New Year’s Eve celebrations in four Brazilian capitals: Salvador, Recife, Natal and Maceió. The initiative reinforces the brand’s growing presence in the national cultural calendar and its strategy to connect with large-scale public celebrations beyond the digital environment.
New Year’s Eve is one of Brazil’s most significant annual moments, marked by intense domestic travel, international tourism and mass public participation. By supporting celebrations in four key destinations, Esportes da Sorte aligns its brand with tradition, culture and shared experiences that resonate deeply with local communities.
“Sponsoring New Year’s Eve celebrations in four capitals reflects our commitment to being present in moments that bring people together,” said Marcela Campos, Vice President of the Esportes Gaming Brasil Group, owner of the Esportes da Sorte brand. “Supporting these cities means valuing their cultural identity, strengthening local ecosystems and celebrating the people who keep these traditions alive year after year.”
Across all four capitals, the brand will activate its presence through immersive experiences, public-facing activations and the distribution of branded giveaways — a hallmark of Esportes da Sorte’s engagement strategy at major events. The activations are designed to enhance the festive atmosphere while reinforcing the brand’s connection with culture, entertainment and responsible enjoyment.
The New Year’s Eve sponsorships build on Esportes da Sorte’s broader cultural engagement strategy, which includes long-standing support for large-scale events such as Carnatal, in Rio Grande do Norte — a key fixture in the state’s tourism and cultural calendar. Together, these initiatives reflect the company’s commitment to expanding its footprint in cultural sponsorships nationwide.
Esportes da Sorte’s participation also mirrors a wider trend within Brazil’s regulated betting market, as operators increasingly diversify their sponsorship portfolios beyond football. Music, festivals and cultural celebrations have become strategic platforms for brands seeking broader visibility, deeper community ties and more sustainable engagement with the public.
The post Esportes da Sorte strengthens brand presence during New Year’s Eve celebrations across four Brazilian capitals appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry Newsroom.
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Holi Primed For Emerging Markets Via New QTech Games Partnership
Emerging-markets leader expands its live-games offering with new games from rising star supplier
QTech Games, the leading game aggregator for all emerging markets, has announced its latest partnership with live-games provider Holi, allowing its platform clients access to another positively delineated portfolio.
Integrating content from one of the more colourful and creative digital slots providers adds yet more variety to QTech Games’ premier platform, which is taking the widest range of online games to emerging territories with established names sitting alongside the industry’s most exciting up-and-coming providers.
Holi is the absolute embodiment in the latter rising-star category, reimagining the live-gaming experience through the power of aesthetics in content which delivers a unique and simplified gambling experience, underscored by reliability. Colourful-yet-familiar “light” table games, such as roulette and baccarat, are now overcoming local obstacles to engagement in emerging markets, like handset quality limitations, restricted access to fast networks, and high data costs.
Philip Doftvik, QTech Games’ CEO, said: “We will continue to add fresh content to the platform, prioritising suppliers who provide unique, localised content – and Holi’s light, colourful live games fit the bill perfectly. Their content brings a new level of energy and engagement that we’re thrilled to share across our growing network.”
Inga Vakulcika, Chief Product Officer at Holi, added: “Holi is artfully fusing craft and technology to create more aesthetically pleasing live games that turn local players’ heads – that means captivating, colourful graphics for a top-notch gaming experience. We look forward to seeing how our unique games perform when placed in front of new audiences via QTech’s emerging-market operators.”
The post Holi Primed For Emerging Markets Via New QTech Games Partnership appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry Newsroom.
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