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European Gaming Q1 2024 Meetup: Exploring Innovation, Marketing, and the iGaming Industry Hubs
HIPTHER’s staple Quarterly Meetups for the Gaming industry have officially returned for 2024! The European Gaming Q1 Meetup 2024 took place on February 28 online, featuring an incredible lineup of speakers, including Ilya Machavariani, CEO and Senior Partner at 4H Agency, Krysta Muscat and Kevin Perks, International Recruiters at Van Kaizen, Jekaterina Dubnicka, Marketing & Communications Manager at Slotsjudge, Eberhard Dürrschmid, CEO at Golden Whale Productions, and John Chyriwsky, Head of Marketing at Fincore Ltd. HIPTHER’s Co-founder and Host-Extraordinaire, Zoltan Tuendik, moderated the panel discussions.
The Meetup sessions explored the gaming and technology industry, focusing on various topics such as the importance of innovation and transformation in the sector, strategies to combat offshore gambling, the emergence of Malta and the Isle of Man as iGaming industry hubs, potential future hubs for the gambling industry, marketing strategies in the gaming industry, and innovation in the gaming with a particular emphasis on personalization.
Gaming and TECH: Future Journey and Fight Against Offshore Gambling
The meeting kicked off highlighting the importance and intersection of gaming and technology industries, which will be explored at the upcoming MARE BALTICUM and Prague Gaming & TECH Summits by HIPTHER. Our first guest, Ilya Machavariani, CEO and Senior Partner at 4H Agency delved further into technology and the latest strategies in the global fight against offshore gambling.
Ilya discussed strategies to combat offshore gambling, proposing a separation into active and passive instruments. He suggested that governments should legalize all verticals of the industry and ensure operators obtain licenses. Ilya also emphasized the importance of transparent and sensible regulations and the role of technology in identifying and preventing access to offshore gambling sites. He highlighted the challenges of regulating and blocking websites from a governmental perspective and the need for international cooperation.
The discussion ended with a focus on improved consumer protection measures and the importance of educating consumers about potential risks associated with illegal gambling activities.
Gaming Industry Hubs: Malta, Isle of Man and Beyond
For the 2nd Session of the European Gaming Q1 Meetup, we welcomed Krysta Muscat and Kevin Perks, International Recruiters at Van Kaizen, to discuss iGaming hubs and hotspots of the Gaming Industry. Kevin introduced their global headhunting company that primarily serves the gaming sector, recruiting for approximately 140 businesses. The discussion revolved around the factors contributing to Malta and the Isle of Man emerging as hubs for the iGaming industry, with Krysta highlighting Malta’s modernized infrastructure and highly regulated environment, and Kevin pointing out the supportive government and dedicated government agency in the Isle of Man, along with its tax breaks. Both islands were found to have a skilled workforce and a multilingual population. Kevin also discussed the benefits of living on the Isle of Man, emphasizing the slower pace of life, the island’s 40% open space, and its status as one of the safest places in Europe. The discussion ended on the topic of the government’s efforts to promote the island and attract businesses, with a focus on recruitment strategies for gaming companies in competitive markets.
The session concluded with a discussion on potential future hubs for the iGaming industry, with Krysta and Kevin emphasizing on the US, Canada, Spain, Portugal, the UK, and Bulgaria, highlighting the significant interest and potential opportunities in these regions.
Marketing, Communication, and Community building in iGaming
In this first Marketing-focused session, Zoltan hosted our special guest Jekaterina Dubnicka – Marketing & Communications Manager at Slotsjudge. The conversation focused on marketing strategies in the gaming industry, with Jekaterina explaining the shift towards more interactive and immersive content by leveraging social media and video interviews, and focusing on SEO tools to gain insights into audience interests. She also provided insight into the role of community in the gaming experience, the importance of navigating strict regulatory environments while maintaining compliance and a strong brand voice, the importance of innovation in content creation and delivery, and emerging trends in the gaming industry.
Innovation and Personalization in Gaming Industry
The last panel discussion focused on innovation in the gaming industry, with a particular emphasis on personalization. Eberhard Dürrschmid, CEO at Golden Whale, and John Chyriwsky, Head of Marketing at Fincore Ltd joined us to discuss innovation in iGaming and Sports Betting. John highlighted the potential for improvement in the area of personalization and user experience, suggesting that platforms should “step up” to respond better to user needs. Eberhard pointed out the industry’s flexibility and the importance of meeting customer expectations, while John emphasized the need to enhance customer experience, suggesting the use of real-time data to create personalized experiences. He cited examples of successful companies that prioritize customer experience, such as Amazon and Uber. Eberhard also discussed the potential of AI and machine learning in the industry. The conversation concluded with a group exercise where participants shared their hopes for technology implementation in the gaming industry by the end of 2024.
Coming up Next:
Watch the recording of the European Gaming Q1 Meetup on HIPTHER TV, and keep an eye out for our next European Gaming Quarterly Meetups!
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Realize Music: Sing Launches on Meta Quest With Broad Catalog From Universal, Warner, Sony and Beggars, Delivered by Tuned Global’s Music Technology
Groundbreaking singing game for wellness and creativity expands beyond VR with a PC Gaming release planned for 2026, with the support of Tuned Global’s backend music platform enabling scalable catalogue delivery and lyric integration.
Realize Music, in collaboration with leading music and media technology platform Tuned Global, announces the launch of Realize Music: Sing, now available on the Meta Quest Store. Co-founded by veteran publisher Mike Wilson, best known as the co-founder of Devolver Digital and Gathering of Developers, the company is positioning Sing as Wilson’s final major venture in the gaming industry; a project that bridges music, wellness, and play across both VR and traditional platforms. Known for championing creativity and emotional depth in gaming, Wilson’s work has consistently challenged the boundaries of what interactive experiences can express.
To support this vision, Realize Music recently selected Tuned Global to power the music backend that enables Sing’s extensive licensed catalogue across platforms.
Launching first on Meta Quest, with plans to expand to additional platforms later in 2026, Sing marks one of the largest music collaborations ever seen in gaming. At release, the app features over one million of the most iconic popular songs officially licensed from Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment and Beggars Group, covering an unparalleled range of genres and decades, with new songs to be added regularly. It transforms singing into a hands-on, interactive experience where players can explore, express, and unwind through sound.
Announcing the launch on Meta Quest, Realize Music: Sing also marks the start of its next phase. A Steam PC gaming version and additional platforms are planned for 2026, expanding Sing beyond virtual reality and into new spaces for interactive music and wellness.
“We’ve always believed that games can help people feel better, not just entertained,” said Meta Quest, Realize Music: Sing Co-Founder, Mike Wilson. “Sing is about rediscovering joy without judgment or pressure, through the simple act of raising your own voice and watching the world respond. It’s the kind of project I’ve always hoped to finish my career on, and I hope it inspires other creators to focus their energies on beneficial media.”
“Realize Music: Sing is a breakthrough moment for music-driven wellbeing,” said Con Raso, CEO of Tuned Global. “We’re proud to support the Realize Music team with innovative music technology that empowers their vision and brings it to life in such an exciting way. From licensed catalogue delivery to lyrics and reporting, Sing shows what becomes possible when creativity, wellness, and responsible music innovation come together.”
Players can preview songs for free, purchase individual tracks or albums à la carte, or subscribe for unlimited access. Subscriptions launch at an introductory price of $9.99 per month for the first two months, before moving to $14.99 per month or $119.99 per year.
Realize Music: Sing is available now on the Meta Quest Store.
The post Realize Music: Sing Launches on Meta Quest With Broad Catalog From Universal, Warner, Sony and Beggars, Delivered by Tuned Global’s Music Technology appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry Newsroom.
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Hub88 strikes Playzia deal to deliver branded content and proprietary mechanics
Popular TV-based IPs such as Love Island: Love in a Spin and the other iconic themes made available via aggregator’s platform
Hub88 has boosted its award-winning aggregation platform by entering a strategic agreement with online casino content provider Playzia.
Playzia’s popular games, including Love Island: Love in a Spin – released under licence from ITV Studios – as well as Tale of the Red Dragon, Crazy Chilli Party, The Great Fishing Adventure, Billionaire Wolf and Sweet Candy Fortune, are now available to Hub88’s licensed global operator network.
The agreement brings Playzia’s titles to Hub88’s platform, spanning slots, instant win content and crash and table games, with a focus on regulated market compliance across multiple jurisdictions.
Additionally, Playzia’s proprietary Cubicways mechanic offers players dynamic rotating reel configurations that reveal new progression paths and gameplay environments, a trademarked feature in titles such as Knights 2: The Dragon Cubicways.
The deal further reinforces Hub88’s commitment to offering diverse gaming content from studios that successfully blend entertainment and iGaming, while sharing their regulated-first approach.
Ollie Castleman, Managing Director at Hub88, said: “Playzia has built an impressive portfolio that balances innovation with broad player appeal. Their Cubicways mechanic brings something different to the market, while their branded titles create compelling experiences that attract new player segments.
“As operators look to differentiate their content offering and engage new demographics, partnerships like this become increasingly important.”
Joe Caetano, Commercial Director at Playzia, said: “We’re thrilled to partner with Hub88, a platform that shares our commitment to seamless integration and delivering engaging gaming experiences.
“This collaboration enables us to reach new regulated markets and connect with operators looking for vibrant, high-quality content that resonates with diverse player audiences.”
The post Hub88 strikes Playzia deal to deliver branded content and proprietary mechanics appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry Newsroom.
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Betandyou shortlisted for three international awards
Despite the cold winter, the iGaming industry is entering its hottest season — awards season. This is the time when international experts evaluate the most innovative products, technologies, and services, highlighting the companies that set the standards for the year ahead. This season, Betandyou is kicking off with a strong start, making it onto the shortlist of several prestigious international awards.
Betandyou has been named a finalist at the European iGaming Awards in the category Sports Betting Platform of the Year, which recognizes brands delivering exceptional innovation, operational excellence, and user experience. At the same time, the brand has been shortlisted in the same category at the International Gaming Awards, one of the most influential global iGaming awards, where judging focuses on technology, UX, responsible gaming, and platform reliability.
Additionally, Betandyou has made it to the finals of the LCB Awards, earning recognition in three separate categories. This award is particularly meaningful because it combines expert evaluation with feedback from the real user community, reflecting both industry acknowledgment and players’ trust.
The Betandyou team commented on these nominations:
“This is an important milestone for us and a sign that our approach to product and service resonates with both the professional community and our users. We are grateful to the experts, partners, and players for their trust. Being shortlisted is already an achievement, and the wins are just the next step.”.
The team would like to thank partners, industry experts, and users for their support and high evaluation of the project. Awards season is just beginning, but Betandyou is already gaining international recognition as a strong player in the sports betting market.
Betandyou is a next-generation sports betting platform offering a seamless and secure experience for players worldwide. With a focus on innovation, fast payouts, and user-friendly design, Betandyou continues to set new standards for the online betting industry.
The post Betandyou shortlisted for three international awards appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry Newsroom.
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