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Esports Betting in Central & Eastern Europe: Oddin.gg Sponsors Hipther’s GamingTECH CEE
HIPTHER Agency is excited to introduce the Sponsors of the highly-anticipated GamingTECH CEE Summit, taking place on September 26-27, 2023, in Budapest!
The #hipthers are delighted to announce Oddin.gg, the world-leading B2B esports betting solutions provider, as the Badge Sponsors of GamingTECH CEE, the most popular in person event for the iGaming industry in the region of Central and Eastern Europe!
We sat down with Oddin’s co-founder and CEO, Vlastimil Venclik, to find out more about the company’s history, their success story, and Oddin’s position in the CEE region.
Hello, Vlas, thank you for taking the time to talk with us! Can you please introduce yourself and tell us and our readers a bit about your role at Oddin.gg?
My background is in Cybernetics and Intelligent Buildings, my work experience is mainly connected to software development. I started as a mobile developer, then transitioned to cloud and finally ended with AI. My esports journey began in 2015, when I joined one of the first esports startups. Unfortunately the market was not ready at that time and we went bust. I felt that there is still potential and co-founded Oddin.gg in 2018. We became a multi-award winning B2B provider of esports odds feed, risk management, and iFrame solutions. I am leading the IT, Business Intelligence and data processing part of the company, along with the top-level leadership duties.
Esports have been the talk of the industry since the early 2010s, touted as “the future of the iGaming industry”, and during the pandemic many sports-based titles became the go-to sportsbook options in lieu of real life events. What is the position of eSports in the market today?
We are now in the fully recovered market that has shaken off all the anomalies caused by Covid. Esports as an industry is definitely going through consolidation: teams, brands, platforms, all parts of the ecosystem can’t go forward only on the initial enthusiasm and are professionalizing. There will be winners and losers in this process. Even so, all key metrics are showing significant growth. Revenue in the esports market is projected to reach US $10 billion this year. Revenue is expected to show an annual growth rate (CAGR 2023-2028) of at least 8 %, but up to 13 % The largest market in esports is the one we mainly operate in: esports betting. Its market volume should reach US$ 10 bn in 2023, and estimated 24 bn USD in 2028, and we have so much space in offering much higher bettor engagement, much more fun when spectating esports.
Oddin.gg is a world-leading B2B esports betting solutions provider. What is “esports betting” exactly, and what do Oddin’s offerings entail?
Esports betting is the act of placing wagers on the outcomes of professional video game matches and tournaments, just like you would in traditional sports. The main difference is that online games, especially when played by professional esports teams whose number of actions per minute is just astonishing, are generating huge volumes of data every second. Maybe only the NFL is comparable to the volume and quality of analyzed data of player actions and the whole match. At Oddin.gg, we provide a comprehensive suite of solutions for businesses wanting to delve into esports betting. This includes the very construction of the odds feeds, providing risk management, that means guardian anomalies both on the bettors side and players side, and user engagement tools. We are ensuring operators can offer a seamless and engaging esports betting experience to their users.
What makes an eSports betting experience truly engaging for users? Can Live Markets work for eSports?
An engaging esports betting experience hinges on a few key elements. First, the accuracy and depth of live match data. Fans want to bet on various events, not just the final outcome. Live Markets are absolutely crucial in this regard. Just like in traditional sports, the dynamics of an esports match can change moment to moment, and the ability to bet in real-time enhances the thrill. We believe that offering varied, accurate, and instant live betting opportunities is pivotal to captivating the esports audience. And that we can improve the experience much further from the actual state.
What are the benefits that eSports offerings bring to operators, and how does Oddin.gg recommend their offerings to be marketed and utilized in operators’ business strategy?
Esports offers operators a unique opportunity. The demographic engaged in esports is typically younger and digitally native. By catering to this audience, operators can diversify and future-proof their user base. Esports fans are tech-savvy and demand a frictionless experience; therefore, integrating esports offerings helps operators elevate their technological standard.
As for marketing and integration, Oddin.gg emphasizes the importance of authenticity. Operators should genuinely understand and appreciate the esports culture, or have a partner who does. Collaborations with esports influencers, sponsoring tournaments, and creating dedicated esports betting platforms or sections are some strategies we recommend. As with sports, it’s essential to speak the language of the community to gain their trust and loyalty. Esports community can be very rewarding, but also it can punish you heavily and you can lose a lot of traffic overnight. But we are here to offer both personal assistance and technological means to jump start any client in the world of esports, and esports betting in particular. Our iFrame product is built exactly for that.
Hipther’s GamingTECH events have been all about how the iGaming industry evolution has been propelled by Technology – and eSports stand on the very intersection of tGaming and Tech. What is Oddin’s message to GamingTECH CEE attendees about the value of eSports now and in the future?
Our message is clear: Esports is not just a trend – it’s the future. As technology continues to advance and become more integrated into our daily lives, the line between gaming, tech, and mainstream culture will blur. Esports represents the perfect amalgamation of all these elements. For those in the iGaming industry, now is the time to embrace esports, invest in understanding the ecosystem, and provide offerings that resonate with the community. The value of esports will only grow. The next generation will admire pro-gamers in a way we admire Messi, Jordan or Gronkowski. And esports betting can be adjusted to catering the needs of this upcoming generation, and to fuel the whole esports ecosystem.
Thank you so much Vlas for this exciting interview, and thanks, Oddin.gg clan for your continued support!
We look forward to seeing you in Budapest at GamingTECH CEE for the annual reunion of the best companies and professionals from Gaming and Technology in Central and Eastern Europe!
Speaking of the best in the industry, Oddin.gg has been voted by its peers and shortlisted for the BEST ESPORTS BETTING PROVIDER IN CEE 2023 in GamingTECH Awards!
The Final Voting Session and Ceremony for GamingTECH Awards will take place on September 26th, during the GamingTECH CEE Summit.
→ Save your seat and join us to support Oddin.gg and grow your business network!
Looking to follow Oddin’s mighty Drakkar course and conquer your business development goals in iGaming? Become a sponsor of Hipther’s next big event!

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Week 29/2025 slot games releases
Here are this weeks latest slots releases compiled by European Gaming
Spinomenal has rolled out the latest addition to its iconic Demi Gods Series: Demi Gods VI Hold & Hit. In this new release, players are transported to a mystical realm surrounded by ominous mountains and swirling mists. The adventure unfolds within a 5×3 reel frame, where electric anticipation crackles around each spin. Atlas, Selene, Helios, and Hera are once again the main protagonists on a mission through ancient Greece in the hunt for glory.
Million Games is thrilled to announce the launch of Fortune Fairies, an enchanting new video slot that takes players into a mystical forest filled with magic, rewards, and a jackpot. This 5×3, high volatility slot invites players into a world, where ethereal fairies, shimmering orbs, and hidden treasures await. Designed for players who love immersive storytelling and rewarding gameplay, Fortune Fairies features two captivating bonus rounds.
GAMOMAT, one of the leading independent German software developers for slot games, has released Roman Legion Flaming Link, the latest addition to join the line-up of its hugely successful Flaming Link series. This imperious 5×3 slot marches players straight to the heart of the Roman Empire, where legionnaires must vie for victory.
PG Soft has unveiled its fantasy-fueled video slot, Dragon’s Treasure Quest. The game is presented within a 5-reel, 3-row frame and features expanding reels and multipliers. Players must track down hidden treasures while navigating through legendary lore to find Wilds and Scatters, represented by a dragon eye and treasure chest respectively.
BC.GAME is adding a dark twist to its slot lineup with the launch of Symbiote, a high-volatility crypto slot developed by Croco Gaming. Inspire by the cult comic Venom, the game invites players into a battle for control — where fusing with an alien parasite brings incredible power, but always at a cost. Symbiote draws heavy visual influence from comic book aesthetics, particularly from the Venom universe.
Get ready to don your sombrero and put your piñata smashing arm to the test in Piñateros – the brand-new Premium release from popular software provider, Swintt, where collecting six or more flaming chilis can unlock fiery rewards or one of four red-hot local jackpots. Boasting a colourful collection of symbols that serves up sugar, spice and all things nice, this exciting 5×3 reel, 50-payline slot includes fresh fruits, thirst-quenching beverages and Mexican musical instruments among its unique icons, with expanding wilds helping to create further wins.
Saddle up, slot fans! TaDa Gaming’s latest release, Bounty Frenzy, is here to ignite the reels with wild west energy, gold-studded features and nonstop action. Packed with cascading wins, dynamic multipliers and transforming Gold Frame Wilds, this medium-volatility slot delivers thrilling gameplay with a 5000x max win potential.
The chaos-loving Joker returns in Cashin’ Joker, a vibrant 3-reel slot from Play’n GO that doesn’t play by the rules. As numbers tumble onto the reels and transform into powerful multipliers, players are thrust into a fast-paced experience full of surprises and dramatic shifts in momentum. Every time the Joker symbol appears, the game shifts into another gear.
Red Rake Gaming has released Super 60 Stars, the latest addition to its acclaimed Super series, now available to all partner operators. This new release retains the fast-paced gameplay and wide variety of features that have made the series one of the most popular in the iGaming industry, while also introducing an exclusive new addition that adds even more excitement to the game. The new feature in Super 60 Stars is the “Super 60 Stars” symbol, which can appear anywhere on the reels and trigger the brand-new “Super 60 Gold X” minigame.
The post Week 29/2025 slot games releases appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Legends Charity Game in Lisbon to raise millions for charity
International stars of the football world are coming together in Lisbon this September for the Legends Charity Game in order to raise funds for communities suffering from the effects of war and local tensions around the world.
Timed to coincide with the SBC Summit in Lisbon, the Legends Charity Game on Monday 15 September is a highly anticipated match between Portugal Legends vs. World Legends, featuring some of the biggest names in the history of football. The Legends will compete in front of 60,000 Fans, and in front of millions of people that will watch the game online / on TV.
With strong support from the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF), the match will see Portuguese legends playing against footballing royalty from the Rest of the World in an event that aims to raise over €1,000,000 for selected charities in the support of communities and families experiencing extreme hardship.
Luis Figo, who won trophies across Europe as well as the Ballon d’Or in 2000, will be captaining the Portugal Legends side. He comments: “It’s always a pleasure to come back to my country and play football, especially when wearing the national team colours! Hope to see a full stadium in my hometown Lisbon for this amazing Legends Charity Game and raise funds for important charity causes.”
Joining Figo from the triumphant Euro 2016 winning squad are Ricardo Quaresma, Eliseu and Ricardo Carvalho. Champions League winners Fábio Coentrão, Maniche, Hugo Almeida, Vitor Baia, José Bosingwa and Deco will also play on the night as well as other famous Portuguese legends include Beto, Jorge Andrade, Dani, Tiago Mendes, Hélder Postiga, Nuno Gomes and Simão. They will be managed by another Champions League winner – Costinha.
They will be facing stiff competition from the World Legends squad that includes legends such as: Peter Schmeichel (Denmark), Cafu (Brazil), Javier Zanetti (Argentina), Diego Lugano (Uruguay), Leonardo Bonucci (Italy), Gaizka Mendieta (Spain), Youri Djorkaeff (France), Christian Karambeu (France), Marek Hamsik (Slovakia), Giorgos Karagounis (Greece), Krassimir Balakov (Bulgaria), Gheorghe Hagi (Romania), Edwin van der Sar (Netherlands) Henrik Larsson (Sweden), Shota Arveladze (Georgia), Javier Saviola (Argentina), and Ronaldinho (Brazil).
The match will be played in front of 60,000 fans at either Estádio da Luz (Benfica Stadium) or José Alvalade Stadium (Sporting Lisbon Stadium), which will be part of a big and exciting reveal in August when the Champions League schedule is released.
The Legends Charity Game aims to raise over €1,000,000 for a number of good causes based both abroad and in Portugal as the Football Family aims to give back to the families of the world. Funds will be raised for both international and national charities who help families and communities in need.
One of the international organisations that The Legends Charity Game will be raising funds for is the Ukrainian Red Cross Society (URCS). Every day, the Ukrainian Red Cross teams provide evacuation support, psychosocial and first aid, provide essential humanitarian relief, support temporary shelters, help with housing restoration, and spread awareness about unexploded ordnance risks. Ukrainian Red Cross volunteers and staff work in all regions of the country to support those who need it most.
Maksym Dotsenko, Director General of the Ukrainian Red Cross, comments: “The war in Ukraine continues, and unfortunately, millions of people still need support every day. We have no right to stop. Initiatives like the Legends Charity Game are not just about the funds raised. They are about compassion, and the understanding that the world stands by us. They are about solidarity that transforms into real help for those going through the toughest times. We are grateful to everyone who takes part.”
The Lisbon-based Cáritas Portuguesa, which offers critical support to marginalised communities fighting issues such as poverty and inadequate emergency relief, is also a charitable partner for the Legends Charity Game.
SBC Founder & CEO Rasmus Sojmark explains: “We are taking our charitable endeavours up a notch this year with the spectacular football match in order to raise a lot of money for some very worthy causes. By tying the match in with the SBC Summit in Lisbon the same week, we have found a way for the communities around football and business to help other communities that are facing unimaginable hardships.”
Tickets are available to purchase via the official website www.legendscharitygame.com. See Tickets will handle ticket management of the event.
Sponsorships and Hospitality are still available in support of the event and the charities. Some of the sponsors already confirmed include iGP, Soft2Bet, Sportingtech, Vegas Legends, Spribe, SmartSoft and Alea.
Sport Global Charitable Foundation is a restricted fund under the auspices of Prism the Gift Fund (UK registered charity with charity number 1099682). All of the profits from the Legends Charity Game will support the Sport Global Charitable Foundation’s beneficiary charities across a range of causes including the Ukrainian Red Cross Society and Caritas Portugal.
The post Legends Charity Game in Lisbon to raise millions for charity appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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International Chess Day: How India’s ancient game is evolving into a rising force in esports
Few games can boast a history as rich and enduring as chess. Originating in ancient India as Chaturanga, chess has evolved over centuries into one of the world’s most popular and celebrated sports. For a game with roots tracing back nearly 1500 years, it is rare to find renewed relevance in the digital era, but chess has done exactly that. Today, it thrives not only as a timeless sport of intellect and strategy but also as a modern source of entertainment, with millions of active players, vibrant communities, and massive global viewership.
This transformation has been driven by the meteoric rise of online chess, especially during the 2020 lockdown, which acted as an unexpected catalyst. The global success of the Netflix series The Queen’s Gambit, combined with the rapid growth of chess streamers across platforms like Chess.com, Twitch, and YouTube, propelled the game into mainstream pop culture.
Tournament series like PogChamps, launched by Chess.com in 2020, introduced chess to millions by featuring popular streamers and celebrities, each mentored by elite Grandmasters. Adding to this momentum were leading streaming personalities like Levy Rozman, known as GothamChess, and the Botez sisters, Alexandra and Andrea, who have built massive followings on both Twitch and YouTube. The accessible, educational, and entertaining style of these streamers has made chess more engaging and relatable to younger audiences than ever before.
Since then, online chess has seen explosive growth. In 2024 alone, Chess.com recorded over 7.6 billion games played. The platform has surpassed 200 million registered users globally, with India contributing over 9 million monthly active players and adding an average of 550,000 new signups each month. Beyond gameplay, viewership numbers have soared, with chess amassing 925 million organic views this year, reflecting an incredible 640 percent year-on-year growth. With its easy-to-play format and accessibility anytime, anywhere, chess has cemented itself as a universal sport for the digital generation.
This digital success naturally extended into the competitive esports world. The chess esports revolution accelerated in 2020 when world-renowned Grandmasters such as Qiyu Zhou, Hikaru Nakamura, and Andrew Tang joined established esports organizations like Counter Logic Gaming, Team SoloMid (TSM), and Cloud9 respectively, blending the traditions of chess with the excitement of competitive gaming.
The momentum continued when the International Chess Federation (FIDE) and Chess.com included chess in the inaugural Olympic Esports Week in 2023 in Singapore. This evolution reached a landmark moment with chess officially becoming part of the prestigious Esports World Cup (EWC) 2025 in Riyadh, with Norwegian legend Magnus Carlsen serving as the tournament’s ambassador. Organized in partnership with Chess.com, this year’s EWC features a prize pool of $1.5 million (approximately INR 12.8 crore), bringing together the world’s top chess players to compete in the fast-paced 10+0 rapid format, while representing leading esports organizations from across the globe.
Indian chess is making its presence felt on this grand stage. Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi, signed with global esports organization Gen.G, has already secured his place at EWC 2025 through the Champions Chess Tour. The final four spots will be decided through the Last Chance Qualifier from July 24 to 26, where top Indian players, including Grandmasters Nihal Sarin and Aravindh Chithambaram, will compete.
Both Nihal and Aravindh have joined S8UL, a global powerhouse in esports and gaming content to compete at EWC 2025. S8UL is the only Indian organization selected among the 40 elite global teams in the Esports World Cup Foundation’s (EWCF) Club Partner Program. The organisation has earned its place to compete among the world’s best in Apex Legends and EAFC, and will also be fighting for qualification in Tekken 8 through the Last Chance Qualifier, further expanding its presence across multiple esports titles.
“It’s incredible to watch chess evolve from a quiet, traditional sport into a bold, global movement. Being part of S8UL has introduced me to the world of esports and content creation, opening up new ways to connect with people. Today, chess isn’t just about strategy, it’s about storytelling, culture and community. I’m proud to be part of this exciting shift, as the game steps into a whole new era,” shares Nihal Sarin.
The chess esports revolution in India is also being championed by NODWIN Gaming, a leader in South Asia’s esports and gaming ecosystem. The company recently announced a strategic partnership with Chess.com and ChessBase India aimed at building the future of chess esports in the country. This collaboration has already delivered remarkable success, most notably with the exclusive streaming of the recent World Chess Championship, where India’s Gukesh Dommaraju defeated Ding Liren to become the World Chess Champion. The event garnered over 24 million views, with peak concurrent viewership reaching 200,000.
Akshat Rathee, Co-founder and Managing Director of NODWIN Gaming, says, “The rise of online chess shows how even the most traditional games can reinvent themselves in a digital-first world. Chess has always stood for intellect and discipline, but with streaming, new formats, and structured esports competitions, it’s now more accessible and entertaining than ever, especially for younger audiences.”
Over the years, NODWIN Gaming has consistently driven the mainstream growth of chess through innovative initiatives. The Chess Super League in 2021 brought together a unique mix of top international Grandmasters, leading Indian Grandmasters, International Masters, and promising junior players, offering fans a fresh, competitive, and entertaining viewing experience. Chess has also featured prominently at DreamHack Hyderabad, India’s largest gaming festival, further reinforcing its place within the broader gaming and esports ecosystem.
“At NODWIN, we’ve always focused on youth entertainment across gaming, esports, and digital culture. Chess fits right into that vision. We’re excited to keep reimagining how the game is experienced and to help it grow as a meaningful part of the broader digital entertainment ecosystem,” adds Akshat Rathee.
On the occasion of International Chess Day, it serves as a fitting reminder that chess has always been more than just a game in India. Its digital evolution has unlocked exciting new avenues for competition, community building, and content creation. The board may remain the same, but the game continues to evolve, inspiring new generations of players and fans in the digital era.
The post International Chess Day: How India’s ancient game is evolving into a rising force in esports appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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