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Gaming in Central and Eastern Europe in focus at #EGC2020VE with +10 industry experts from the region
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Central and Eastern Europe in focus at European Gaming Congress VE (Virtual Edition).
#EGC2020ve – The CEE gaming industry has been in the highlights of many media outlets and believe it or not there is always something big happening in this region.
In the Czech Republic: Just one week ago, Czech Lawmakers have voted in favor of a new decree to ban all electronic and mechanical gaming machines in the Czech capital. The decree awaits a nod from the city council.
If it gets the council’s approval, it will mean the end of all legal slot machines and video lottery terminals in the Czech capital once the current licensing period completes in 2024.
In Austria: The Austrian Financial Police have carried out a total of 278 inspections on suspected black-market gambling venues since January, resulting in the confiscation of over 660 gaming machines. Over half of the seized machines were found in Vienna, the capital city of Austria.
In a statement issued on July 28, Austria’s financial police set out the progress it has made this year towards a reduction in illegal gambling in the country. It made clear that the majority of illegal gambling activity is taking place in larger urban centers such as Vienna and Linz.
In rural areas, illegal gambling has been largely reduced – for example, in the states of Burgenland, Styria and Vorarlberg combined, only two devices have been found since January.
In Poland: The new figures published by Poland’s finance ministry have revealed that while the gambling revenue decline for the year to date, newly regulated products helped mitigate the falls in online betting and land-based gaming.
The gross gaming yield projections provided by H2 Gambling Capital revealed that the total for the year to June 11 is expected to fall 9.5% from 2019’s figures. This is significantly lower than the 19.6% decline projected across all EU markets.
Poland’s lower projected decline was due to the development of newly regulated verticals such as online casinos and land-based arcades. Online casino revenue grew 96.7% for the year to June 11, aided by growth from Totalizator Sportowy’s Total Casino site.
Also in Poland, ace football striker Robert Lewandowski has signed an investment deal with Movie Games, in a Polish manufacturer of sports-related video games, which has gained publicity during the coronavirus lockdown.
According to Movie Games, Lewandowski will become a shareholder in a company that is going to be started in launched by September to develop sports video games.
Lewandowski said in a statement released by Movie Games: “I see a huge potential in this segment.”
In Bulgaria: The National Revenue Agency (NRA) has officially assumed the power of regulating the gambling industry in Bulgaria. The country’s National Assembly passed a resolution to this effect last month. It replaces the State Commission on Gambling (SCG).
NRA Director Galya Dimitrova, who has the option to nominate a deputy to oversee the regulated gaming market, will be in charge of all proceedings.
The previous licenses will remain valid until they expire. NRA will process license applications and renewals within six months.
SGC was dismantled from the gambling regulation responsibility following several scandals, leading to the resignation of Chairman Alexander Georgiev in February after he was questioned in connection to an investigation into Vasil Bozhkov, owner of Bulgaria’s oldest betting operator, Eurofootball.
The is plenty of news to share about the Hungarian, Slovakian and Romanian gambling industry as well, but we will leave that to the professionals who will join the 3 special panel discussions at the virtual edition of European Gaming Congress 2020.
The virtual edition of European Gaming Congress 2020 is taking place between 6-7 October and gathers top names of the gaming industry who will present their insights to create Europe’s largest gaming compliance gathering.
THE EASY AND FREE REGISTRATION PROCESS IS SPONSORED BY ALTENAR AND YOU CAN REGISTER FOR FREE HERE!
The conference will cover +28 jurisdictions and you have the opportunity to dive into quality information about the CEE region via 3 special panels.
The “GAMING REPORT: CENTRAL EUROPE (PART ONE)” panel discussion will focus on the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Poland. The discussion will be moderated by Jakub Kolomicenko (Head of the legal department at Endorphina) and will be joined by Jan Rehola (Director at IFGR and Partner at PS Legal), Ewa Lejman-Widz (Head of Polish Desk at WH Partners), Anna Wietrzyńska-Ciołkowska (Legal advisor, Local Partner at DWF Poland), Jakub Myszkorowski (Chief Commercial Officer at STATSCORE) and Dr. Robert Skalina (Senior Advisor at WH Partners).
The “GAMING REPORT: CENTRAL EUROPE (PART TWO)” panel discussion will focus on Hungary and Slovenia under the moderation of Dr. Robert Skalina (Senior Advisor at WH Partners).
The discussion will be joined by Helembai Gabor (Attorney-at-law at Bird & Bird Hungary) and Jaka Repansek (Media and Gaming Expert, Partner at Hipther Agency).
The third panel discussion is going to focus on the updates from Romania and Bulgari and is titled “GAMING REPORT: EASTERN EUROPE”.
The discussion will be moderated by Ana-Maria Baciu (Managing Partner Simion & Baciu Law Firm) and will be joined by Dan Iliovici (Vice President of ROMBET – Romanian Gambling Organizers’ Association) and Georgi Dimitrov (Legal counsel at EGT Interactive Ltd).
You can find more details about the speakers’ and moderator bios below.
AS MENTIONED ABOVE THE EASY AND FREE REGISTRATION PROCESS IS SPONSORED BY ALTENAR AND YOU CAN REGISTER HERE NOW!
The HIPTHER FESTIVAL includes a full week of conferences that are designed to bring together innovation with compliance via several talks and discussions in multiple industries and will run between 5-9 October.
The festival includes the following conferences:
- PICANTE Marketing Summit (#MS2020ve) – 5 October
- European Gaming Congress (#EGC2020ve) – 6-7 October
- PICANTE TECH Conference Europe (#TCE2020AutumnVE) – 8-9 October
The registration is free and you can attend all three conferences with just one registration!
You can find more details about the Agenda here or you can register here!
For further inquiries about the speaking/sponsoring options, make sure to send an e-mail to Andrada Marginean (B2B Sales Executive at Hipther Agency) or subscribe to the weekly newsletter on the following link.
For media-related inquiries, please contact Alexandru Marginean (Marketing Specialist at Hipther Agency).
Ana-Maria Baciu – Managing Partner Simion & Baciu Law Firm
Ana-Maria Baciu is a regulatory and intellectual property lawyer, assisting clients in various industries, including gambling, IT, e-commerce or pharmaceuticals, for more than 20 years.
In the gaming field, Ana-Maria has been guiding betting & gaming companies, solution providers, marketing affiliates, other companies with an interest in this sector and industry-relevant associations, on the full range of regulatory and operational gaming aspects.
Ewa Lejman-Widz – Head of Polish Desk at WH Partners
Ewa is heading the Polish Desk of WH Partners as part of the strategic partnership under the WH Partners brand with Izabella Żyglicka and Partners, a very well reputed full-service law firm in Poland and a member of Ally Law.
Ewa is a business lawyer with over 12 years of experience. She assists clients on matters related to gaming and gambling, contract law, M&A and IT service market law.
Anna Wietrzyńska-Ciołkowska – Legal advisor, Local Partner at DWF Poland
Anna Wietrzyńska-Ciołkowska is a corporate lawyer dealing with M&A transactions focused on the gambling and insurance sectors.
She advises clients from the gambling sector on setting up a business and obtaining a permit to run a gambling business in Poland, providing gambling services to Polish residents from other jurisdictions, organising promotional lotteries, organising betting transactions, distributing gaming machines, gambling components in computer games or lotteries, acquiring gambling companies and structuring cooperation between partners in such companies, outsourcing of gambling functions, restrictions on making payments or advertising activities in gambling, as well as matters related to gambling tax.
Jan Řehola – Director at IFGR and Partner at PS Legal
Jan Řehola has over eight years of experience in the gambling field, both from the public and private sector.
He holds a Master’s of Law from Charles University in Prague. Jan worked for four years for the Ministry of Finance – the Czech gambling regulator; firstly, as a Head of the Legal Unit and later, as a Director of Gambling Department. In his work for the Czech gambling regulator, Jan was responsible for all gambling policy issues, including the drafting of new legislation, the issuing of gambling licenses and cooperation with other European regulators as a member of the European Commission Expert Group on Online Gambling.
After leaving the Ministry of Finance in 2014, Jan became a member of Petroš Sedláčková Legal and co-founder of the consultancy company BetOnSkill Consulting, a full-service international gaming consultancy.
Georgi Dimitrov – Legal Counsel / Compliance Manager at EGT Interactive
Georgi Dimitrov is a legal counsel at EGT Interactive Ltd., with a focus on legal, regulatory and technical compliance matters related to the iGaming industry. He specializes in international gambling regulation and provides guidance on licensing and certification frameworks, policy drafting, and compliance processes. His line of work involves communication with focal stakeholders in the business such as testing labs, regulators and operators.
Gábor Helembai – Senior Associate at Bird & Bird Budapest
Gábor is a Senior Associate in the Corporate and Commercial teams in the Budapest office of Bird & Bird. He advises on both domestic and cross-border transactions and investments in various industries. He has a special sector focus on gaming/betting, advising major online and land-based operators, and slot machine manufacturers on regulatory matters.
Dan Iliovici – Vice President of ROMBET – Romanian Gambling Organizers’ Association
Dan Iliovici is the Vice President of ROMBET – Romanian Gambling Organizers’ Association, one of the most important associations of the industry.
With rich experience in the gambling industry, former President of the Romanian gambling regulator – The National Gambling Office.
Dr. Robert Skalina – Senior Advisor at WH Partners
Robert Skalina is a Czech Advocate as well as a Registered European Lawyer in Malta. He is based in Prague and works in Malta regularly.
He is a financial service and corporate lawyer and provides advice to a wide range of investment managers, advisors and funds, including private equity and hedge funds. Robert also regularly advises clients in the gaming/gambling industries and has vast experience in the area of mergers and acquisitions and complex cross border transactions.
Jakub Myszkorowski – Chief Commercial Officer at STATSCORE
With more than 10 years of experience in the professional sport and betting industries, Jakub is now leading the Sales and Marketing operations at STATSCORE, a Polish company aiming at becoming the Biggest Sports Data Center in the world.
As a former football UEFA A coach and soccer performance analyst, he merges the best sports practices into managing the staff.
Jaka Repanšek – Media and Gaming Expert, Partner at Hipther Agency
Jaka has worked for various TIME (Telecom, Internet, Media, Entertainment) companies since 1996. He is recognized as one of the leading experts on gaming, media and digital law in Slovenia. Jaka graduated from the Faculty of Law at the University of Ljubljana, Slovenia and gained his graduate degree from Cambridge University in England and Faculty of Law in Ljubljana (Diploma in European Community Law) and completed two-year MBA graduate studies at the University of Kansas in the USA.
Jakub Kolomicenko – Head of the legal department at Endorphina
Jakub Kolomicenko started his practice as a corporate lawyer and member of the Czech Bar Association but then he changed his focus and as an in-house counsel specializes in IP law and all aspects of gaming law
He is currently the Head of the legal department at Endorphina and works with a team that consists of highly qualified international professionals with many years of experience in online casino games creation.
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 in Central and Eastern Europe in focus at #EGC2020VE with +10 industry experts from the region
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S8UL Makes History at the Esports Awards 2025, Becomes First Indian Organisation to Win Two Major Honours
Reading Time: 3 minutes
S8UL wins Esports Content Group of the Year for the fourth time, Animesh “8Bit Thug” Agarwal crowned Esports Personality of the Year at the Oscars of gaming
S8UL Esports, India’s trailblazing force in gaming and creator-led entertainment, delivered a landmark moment at the Esports Awards 2025 in Las Vegas. The organisation celebrated a remarkable double win, lifting the Esports Content Group of the Year award for the fourth time, while Co-Founder Animesh “8Bit Thug” Agarwal was honoured as Esports Personality of the Year. The night became even more memorable as S8UL emerged as the first and only Indian organisation to win two separate titles at the Esports Awards, a milestone shaped by the team’s heart, dedication, and years of passion.
Often called the Oscars of the gaming world, the Esports Awards shine a spotlight on the finest global talent every year. For India, S8UL’s double win comes during a remarkable season in which the organisation also competed at the Esports World Cup, standing alongside some of the world’s most premier teams and creators while representing the country on one of esports’ biggest international stages. Winning Content Group of the Year again, in a category stacked with giants like T1, Sentinels, Team Liquid, and Fnatic, reinforces S8UL’s global standing and the strength of its storytelling, creativity, and community-first approach.
This year also marked a proud moment for Indian creators who featured among some of the world’s most competitive categories. Payal Dhare, widely known as Payal Gaming, was nominated for Streamer of the Year. She stood alongside some of the biggest names in global streaming including Kai Cenat, Marc “Caedrel” Lamont, Morgan “AngryGinge” Burtwistle, Felix “xQc” Lengyel, Nicholas “Jynxzi” Stewart, and Nick “Lacy” Fosco. The award was ultimately won by Darren “IShowSpeed” Watkins Jr, yet Payal’s presence in a lineup of this scale reflects the growing global footprint of Indian creators and the doors they continue to open. Snax also continued to represent India’s creator and competitive community across the year, contributing to S8UL’s global presence including its run at the Esports World Cup, where the organisation competed in some of the most challenging lineups internationally.
Raj Varma carried the Indian flag into the Esports Content Creator of the Year category, nominated alongside Marc “Caedrel” Lamont, Cody “Clix” Conrod, Alexandre “gAuLeS” Borba, Tarik “Tarik” Celik, Jack “NiceWigg” Martin, and Mark “Ohnepixel” Zimmermann. The award went to Nicholas “Jynxzi” Stewart, yet Raj’s nomination underscored the rise of Indian storytellers who are now being recognised at the highest level of global esports entertainment.
Reflecting on the landmark night, S8UL’s founders shared their thoughts.
Animesh “8Bit Thug” Agarwal, Co-Founder, S8UL, said, “This year’s esports awards nominations were already huge for us. Back to back nominations told us we were doing something right. But winning Content Group of the year, for the fourth time running, its just wild. Lets take a moment to celebrate the huge moment that it is! And ‘Esports Personality of the year’, that really is a shared victory! The nights our fans have spent watching us, cheering us and all the votes they cast, together we’ve made this happen. Honestly, if you are a wellwisher of Indian Gaming, its the time to rejoice. Seeing Indian Gaming here, its big. I always knew this can happen, but its surreal when it did. Going back home with so much more determination! “
Naman ‘Mortal’ Mathur, Co-Founder, S8UL, said, “This is a proud moment not just for S8UL, but for India. Year after year, our goal has been to show the world that Indian gaming creators can stand shoulder to shoulder with the best. These wins inspire us to push even harder and continue representing India globally.”
Lokesh “Goldy” Jain, Co-Founder, S8UL, said, “S8UL has always been about building a legacy rooted in creativity, collaboration, and community. Winning two awards tonight is a testament to the relentless efforts of our team and the unwavering love of our fans. We will continue raising the bar for Indian esports and creators worldwide.”
As S8UL celebrates a historic night, the moment stands as another reminder of how far Indian esports has come and where it is headed. With creators, teams, and leadership continuously raising industry benchmarks, S8UL’s journey continues to inspire millions across the country, proving yet again that world-class esports culture can grow from the heart of India’s gaming community.
The post S8UL Makes History at the Esports Awards 2025, Becomes First Indian Organisation to Win Two Major Honours appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Red Bull Solo Legends National Final Set to Make Esports History at the Royal Opera House, Mumbai
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Red Bull Solo Legends is stepping into a new chapter as the tournament’s national finals arrive at the breathtaking Royal Opera House, Mumbai on 2nd December.
For the first time ever, the century-old cultural landmark will host an esports event, bringing competitive gaming into a space that has witnessed some of India’s most celebrated artistic performances.
This is a powerful moment for Indian esports. What began in community rooms, cyber cafés, and online lobbies now enters one of the country’s most majestic stages, celebrating the growth of gaming as a modern cultural force.
The journey to the finals has been equally ambitious. Red Bull Solo Legends is a multi-phase tournament, featuring both online and on-ground stages, uniting tens of thousands of solo BGMI players from every corner of the country. From grassroots talent to seasoned pros, competitors battled through a pure solo queue format, proving their instincts, consistency, and clutch ability. Each round brought them closer to the opportunity of facing India’s top BGMI professionals at the finals. The champion of Red Bull Solo Legends will walk away with the title of India’s strongest solo BGMI player along with an exclusive international Red Bull Racing experience.
With 64 of the country’s finest solo BGMI contenders taking the stage, 32 qualified finalists, 24 top-tier pros, and 8 Chaos Agents, the Royal Opera House will echo with a new kind of intensity.They will compete across 5 matches to determine the first-ever Red Bull Solo Legends champion. As spectators walk in, they’ll be part of a one-of-a-kind atmosphere where strategy, instinct, and pure solo skill unfold inside one of Mumbai’s most exquisite architectural treasures.
Red Bull Solo Legends will feature some of India’s prominent BGMI athletes including Jonathan Amaral (Jonathan Gaming), Tanishk Singh (Admino), Rudra B (Spower), Sahil Jakhar (Omega), Raghuraj Singh (Slug), Mohammed Owais Lakhani (Owais), Sohail Shaikh (Hector), and Paridhi Gupta (Noob Pari) and many more. These players, known for their exceptional skills, will compete against each other, bringing their unique strategies and gameplay styles to the forefront. Esports thrives on pressure, audience energy, and unforgettable moments. The Royal Opera House, known for its grandeur and legacy, offers a stage worthy of the stakes. The contrast is striking in the best way, with ornate balconies and vintage chandeliers watching over India’s sharpest digital athletes as they fight for the title of the country’s strongest solo BGMI player.
Built between 1909 and 1915 and inaugurated by King George V, the Royal Opera House is India’s only surviving opera house, restored lovingly after decades of closure. From theatre to classical music to film screenings, its stage has embraced every form of performance. On 2nd December, it will embrace competitive gaming for the very first time, welcoming India’s esports community into its history.
Red Bull Solo Legends has been created to celebrate individual excellence in BGMI. Every rotation, every fight, every decision rests on the player alone. Hosting the finals in a venue that represents mastery, legacy, and performance adds a rare emotional depth to the competition, turning every clutch into a moment that will be remembered long after the final circle closes.
Tickets will be exclusively live on Swiggy Scenes 21st November onward.
Matches will also be broadcast live on the Red Bull Game On YouTube channel for fans from across the country: youtube.com/@RedBullGameOn
The post Red Bull Solo Legends National Final Set to Make Esports History at the Royal Opera House, Mumbai appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Reading Time: < 1 minute
eGaming Integrity has been shortlisted for the Tech Supporter of the Year award at the Digital Isle Tech Awards 2025, which recognise organisations making a significant contribution to the Island’s technology sector through collaboration, capability-building, and practical support.
eGaming Integrity provides compliance and internal audit services that help digital businesses strengthen their regulatory readiness and operational resilience. Its integrity-as-a-service model combines monitoring tools, risk assessments, and regulatory guidance to support both new and established operators. The firm also contributes to broader industry development by delivering workshops, best-practice resources, and advisory support aimed at helping early-stage and growing companies navigate compliance and security requirements.
Companies working with eGaming Integrity report improvements in governance, data protection, and audit preparedness, along with increased confidence when launching products or expanding into new markets. The firm’s partnerships with accelerators, incubators, and industry bodies have helped foster a more open and collaborative environment across the Island’s tech community.
Emma Shilling, Director of eGaming Integrity, commented: “We’re delighted to be shortlisted. Our focus has always been to support licence-holders and technology businesses in meeting the Island’s high standards. This recognition reflects the hard work of our team, the value of expert led technical solutions and the value of clear, practical guidance for organisations across the sector.”
Public voting for the awards is now open and closes at 2pm on 27 November 2025.
Members of the public can vote by selecting a finalist in each category at: digitalisleofman.com/tech-awards/
Winners will be announced at the Digital Isle 2025 event on 27 November.
The post eGaming Integrity Shortlisted for Tech Supporter of the Year Award appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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