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Layer AI raises $1.8m to supercharge game art production!

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Layer, the AI-powered productivity tool of choice by the world’s top gaming companies, raises a $1.8M seed round by top ad-tech and gaming angels, and VC funds. 
 
The creator-first, enterprise-ready tool for professional art creation, Layer AI, today announced the successful closing of their first seed round. Round included top serial entrepreneurs and industry legends like Jim Payne, gaming angels like Akin Babayigit, Michele Attisani, and Dilpesh Parmar and gaming VCs like The Games Fund, The Games Syndicate, GFR Fund, Laton Ventures along with other AI/Tech VCs and angels like 500 Global, Elena Silenok, Taimur Rashid. Additionally, the team also got a strategic investment from the US-based top art production and talent house Devoted Studios.
 
Getting to know the team 
 
Layer, based in San Francisco, is founded by a team of passionate professionals with decades of experience in AI, Gaming, and Computer Vision. Volkan Gurel is the CEO, with a background in engineering and management from MIT, Hunch and Coinbase. Burcu is the CRO and served in multiple client-facing roles across multiple products from ads to game services at Unity & LoopMe. Kuo-chin, PhD is the CTO who recently joined bringing 20 years of experience in Computer Vision from Appen and XMotors. Finally, Mehmet is a self-taught technical artist and game developer who co-founded and sold Gram Games to Zynga in 2018. 
 
The team strongly believes a compact elite team can outcompete larger players and will expand by staying selective and laser focused on gaming. They believe in driving significant value to many businesses is critical to their own success, whether they are garage startups or industry giants. They are now hiring for their founding team positions: https://www.layer.ai/careers 
 
What makes Layer unique? 
 
Layer is simply unmatched when it comes to seamless integration into art pipelines and intuitive creator workflows, providing a great user experience and productivity boost. As proven by customer testimonials and detailed case studies, Layer leads the race as the tool of choice for game creators of all skill levels whether they are just starting their journey or have mastered game development. Layer proves any creator can go beyond their imagination and experiment with brand new ideas and art styles. A lot of AI tools today focus on either general use cases and foundational model training, or offer standalone cool features but don’t actually serve the everyday use cases. Most of them are either too complicated or are not designed for multi-disciplinary teams and certainly not enterprise ready. 
 
“Layer supercharges artist teams’ productivity by 240% and helps expedite the delivery of art to meet deadlines” says Production Lead, Games United 
 
“Layer AI supercharged Tripledot’s art creation, 3Xing our production speed and elevating quality. By reducing our reliance on outsourcing studios, we’ve not only saved significant costs but also brought the magic of art production in-house. We’re incredibly excited about this technology and eagerly await further updates. VP of Creative at Tripledot Studios. 
 
Creators not only can go faster but can also supercharge their imagination. “Our art pipeline is not only faster, the variations Layer provides has been super helpful in increasing our creative potential and exploring brand new ideas”‘ says the Artist at APPS Teknoloji. (more quotes will be available on our website by 10th of November) 
 
Layer already empowers many artists to generate images based on their own art styles, allowing them to seamlessly iterate on these images through its premier AI-assisted canvas. Layer is the only generative AI solution that has been adopted by the teams of world’s largest mobile gaming studios. Layer has a clear direction in style-consistent output quality, speedy generation, and an intuitive interface that’s committed to solving game artists’ challenges using AI. 
 
Volkan Gurel, the CEO believes “Just like Web 2.0, Cloud computing or mobile unlocked novel applications that beat incumbents and other startup competitors based on a great product experience, we believe the AI revolution will be no different. AI has unlocked many new applications that will be built on top of this new tech stack and we plan to win by building the best product experience for artists in the enterprise leveraging the power of all the great foundational models and tools released by OpenAI, Meta, Stability AI and others. We’re creator-first, enterprise-ready and will remain model-agnostic”. 
 
What’s ahead? 
While Layer is focusing on perfecting 2D generation in games for mobile, then AAA studios, the team is already looking ahead. In the near future, Layer will generate both spine and sprite animations from text, images and other animations and further expand to 3D workflows. Layer will also build integrations into non-gaming workflows like marketing and advertising.
 
Layer will continue its dedication to style-consistent output quality, seamless workflow integrations that empower and free artists from redundant workflow overheads. “AI unlocked many opportunities for gaming and we want Layer to be the easiest tool to get onboard with and the fastest to ROI “ says Burcu Ozcengiz, the CRO. Layer is already serving numerous top tier clients like Tripledot, Sciplay, Mag Interactive and hundreds of professional artists since launching in February 2023. Layer is also working to shore up their compliance program and will achieve SOC 2 and ISO certification to further cement the security and reliability of their offering for the enterprise. 
 
“Being deeply rooted in game development we see pivotal changes coming to production with Gen-AI tools coming into play. We are not big fans of the idea of flooding the market with soulless content and Layer.AI sets itself apart by aiming to enhance, not replace, human artistry, liberating creators from mundane tasks. That is what we all believe in. We also like that their focus is on enterprise clients and their real needs for seamless integration into existing production pipelines.” – comments Maria Kochmola, General Partner at The Games Fund.

George Miller (Gyorgy Molnar) started his career in content marketing and has started working as an Editor/Content Manager for our company in 2016. George has acquired many experiences when it comes to interviews and newsworthy content becoming Head of Content in 2017. He is responsible for the news being shared on multiple websites that are part of the European Gaming Media Network.

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Spin2Win de GoldenRace regresa más fuerte

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GoldenRace, proveedor líder de premiados deportes virtuales y soluciones apuestas, ha presentado la última versión de su emblemático juego de números, Spin2Win & Spin2Win Royale. Reconocido por su sencillez, dinamismo y altas recompensas, este título se ha convertido en una pieza clave del portfolio de la compañía y en una herramienta de participación comprobada para operadores de todo el mundo.

Los juegos de números siguen siendo una de las verticales más sólidas dentro del mercado internacional de apuestas. Cifras de H2 Gambling Capital confirman que los productos de casino representaron en Europa 21.500 y 8.500 millones en ingresos brutos de juego (GGR) para los mercados online y retail respectivamente, en 2024. Sus reglas claras, ciclos cortos y premios frecuentes los convierten en los favoritos de los jugadores y en una fuente estable de ingresos para los operadores.

En GoldenRace, nos esforzamos constantemente por mejorar nuestros productos, haciéndolos más atractivos y accesibles con cada lanzamiento. Y esta filosofía se aplica a toda nuestra cartera. Big5, una innovadora versión del fútbol virtual, y RaceDay, que reúne todos los tipos de carreras en un solo producto, son solo dos ejemplos recientes. Esta versión de Spin2Win continúa por el mismo camino.

Entre sus mejoras destacan una interfaz de usuario totalmente optimizada y una ruleta renovada e impactante que eleva la emoción de cada giro. El juego también incorpora estadísticas más claras, la opción de juego automático en el modo instantáneo y la función multiplicador en el modo programado, herramientas diseñadas para agilizar la toma de decisiones, aumentar la

participación y alargar las sesiones de juego.
Spin2Win mantiene además su variedad con cuatro formatos distintos: Clásico, Royale, Americano y Americano Royale. Las versiones Royale incluyen una ruleta de sectores que amplía las opciones de apuesta, mientras que las versiones Americanas destacan el doble cero verde con cuotas totalmente transparentes. Los operadores se benefician de una configuración flexible, múltiples formatos de cuotas y validaciones automáticas que garantizan un juego justo y estable.

Con este relanzamiento, GoldenRace reafirma su liderazgo en el vertical de los juegos de números e invita a operadores y jugadores a descubrir una nueva era de giros.

The post Spin2Win de GoldenRace regresa más fuerte appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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GoldenRace’s Spin2Win returns stronger

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GoldenRace, the leading provider of award-winning Virtual Sports and betting solutions, has unveiled the latest version of its emblematic number game, Spin2Win&Spin2Win Royale. Recognised for its simplicity, fast gameplay and high rewards, the title has become a cornerstone of the company’s portfolio and a proven engagement tool for operators worldwide.

Number games continue to be one of the most reliable verticals in the global betting market. Figures from H2 Gambling Capital confirm that casino-style products represented 21.5 and 8.5 billion in GGR for online and land-based markets, respectively, in 2024. Their clear rules, short cycles and frequent payouts make them a favourite among players and a steady source of revenue for operators.

At GoldenRace, we constantly push to improve our products, making them more engaging and accessible with every release. And this philosophy runs across our entire portfolio. Big5, a groundbreaking take on Virtual Football and RaceDay, which unites all race types in a single product, are just two recent examples. This version of Spin2Win continues this path.

Among the improvements are a fully optimised user interface and a renewed, visually striking wheel that boosts the excitement of every spin and clearer statistics. The game also incorporates an Autoplay option in instant mode and a Multiplier feature in scheduled mode – tools designed to enhance decision-making, increase engagement and extend player sessions online.

Spin2Win also maintains its variety with four distinct versions: Classic, Royale, American and American Royale. Royale formats introduce an additional sectors wheel that expands betting options, while the American variants highlight the double green with fully transparent odds. Operators benefit from flexible configuration, multiple odds formats and automated validations that ensure seamless and fair gameplay.

With this relaunch, GoldenRace confirms its leadership in the number games vertical and invites operators and players to discover a new era of spinning.

The post GoldenRace’s Spin2Win returns stronger appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Expanse Studios Secures Romanian Class 2 B2B Gaming License

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Expanse Studios, a B2B iGaming content provider and subsidiary of Golden Matrix Group Inc. (NASDAQ: GMGI), has been granted a Class 2 license by Romania’s National Gambling Office (ONJN), authorizing the company to distribute specialized gaming software across one of Europe’s fastest-growing regulated markets.

The license, granted under Decision No. 273, enables Expanse Studios to provide its portfolio of proprietary slot games, crash games, and casino content to licensed Romanian operators. This approval positions the company to serve a market that generated approximately €600 million in gross gaming revenue in 2024 and maintains one of Europe’s highest channelization rates at over 90%.

Strategic Entry into High-Growth Regulated Market

Romania represents one of Eastern Europe’s most dynamic iGaming jurisdictions, with internet penetration reaching 88% of its 19 million population and a regulatory framework that has attracted over 50 licensed operators. The market has demonstrated consistent growth, with total industry turnover exceeding €2 billion in 2023, reflecting a 15% year-over-year increase.

The Class 2 B2B license allows Expanse Studios to distribute content to Romania’s licensed B2C operators without establishing a Romanian entity or paying Romanian corporate taxes, while providing access to a market where mobile gaming dominates and player engagement continues to accelerate.

Romania’s stringent licensing requirements under Government Emergency Ordinance 77/2009 make ONJN approval a significant credential for B2B providers. The regulatory framework emphasizes technical compliance, player protection, and operational transparency—requirements that align with Expanse Studios’ existing European operations across 1,300+ casino brands.

“Securing ONJN approval validates our technical capabilities and regulatory compliance standards in one of Europe’s most demanding jurisdictions,” said Damjan Stamenkovic, CEO of Expanse Studios. “Romania offers substantial distribution opportunities through licensed operators serving a tech-savvy player base with strong engagement metrics. This license strengthens our European B2B footprint and demonstrates our ability to meet the compliance requirements of mature regulated markets.”

Expanding B2B Distribution Infrastructure

The Romanian license complements Expanse Studios’ recent European partnerships, reflecting accelerating demand for the company’s content across regulated jurisdictions. With 56 proprietary titles including Super Heli, Titan Roulette, and Wild Icy Fruits, Expanse continues scaling its high-margin B2B operations across Europe, Latin America, and North America.

Romania’s market characteristics—including preference for mobile platforms, strong affinity for slot content, and established payment infrastructure—align well with Expanse Studios’ content portfolio and distribution model. The company’s games will be available to Romanian operators seeking certified, compliant content for their licensed platforms.

This license approval reinforces Golden Matrix Group’s broader strategy of expanding regulated B2B operations in jurisdictions with transparent licensing frameworks and sustainable growth trajectories.

The post Expanse Studios Secures Romanian Class 2 B2B Gaming License appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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