Latest News
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!
Latest News
R. Franco Digital reinforces growth in Spain with new TikiTaka Play launch
Franco Digital, the Spanish gaming provider, is to power the launch of new Spanish casino TikiTaka Play, after the operator selected the supplier’s IRIS platform to launch and manage its new online gaming operation.
This strategic partnership, which reinforces R. Franco Digital’s commitment to delivering cutting-edge technology to regulated markets, means TikiTaka Play will be provided with a fully integrated, scalable, compliant platform.
IRIS will centralise essential operational functions for TikiTaka Play, including player account management (PAM), KYC/AML, payments, product administration, promotions, CRM, affiliate activity, fraud prevention, and real-time analytics. This will ensure TikiTaka Play begins its digital journey with strength, reliability, and support to optimise its growth in Spain.
This latest deal is a new milestone in R. Franco Digital’s technological roadmap as the company continues to reinforce its successful presence in regulated markets globally.
Javier Sacristán Franco, International Business Director of R. Franco Digital, said: “We are proud that TikiTaka Play has selected our IRIS platform to underpin its new online gaming operation.
“This partnership reinforces our growth in our home market and is a testament to the platform’s power, security, and scalability. It marks a solid beginning for what is set to be a highly successful collaboration.”
Jesús Muñoz, CEO and founder of Tiki Taka Games group, added: “The choice of platform was paramount for launching our new online operation, and R. Franco Digital’s IRIS solution stood out.
“It provides us with a fully integrated and regulation-ready environment, ensuring we enter the market with confidence and efficiency.”
The post R. Franco Digital reinforces growth in Spain with new TikiTaka Play launch appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry Newsroom.
Latest News
Wazdan debuts Jackpot Rain™ and 10 new titles with WINBET in Bulgaria
Wazdan, the gain-focused developer, has partnered with WINBET to launch its acclaimed Jackpot Rain feature in Bulgaria for the first time, alongside 10 of its top-performing titles.
The agreement marks a major step forward for Wazdan’s growth in the Bulgarian iGaming market, bringing a mix of innovation and proven performance to one of the country’s leading operators.
Through the partnership, players at WINBET can now enjoy a host of Wazdan player favourites, including Burning Sun Extremely Light, Mighty Wild: Panther, 9 Coins Grand Platinum Edition, 15 Coins, Hot Slot: 777 Coins, 20 Coins, Hot Slot: 777 Crown, 12 Coins Grand Gold Edition, Black Horse Cash Out, and Mighty Symbols: Diamonds.
In addition to the slot lineup, Jackpot Rain will make its long-awaited debut in Bulgaria, bringing with it a new layer of excitement. The feature gives players the chance to trigger four progressive jackpots, adding a dynamic and rewarding dimension to gameplay across multiple Wazdan titles.
WINBET, the leading Bulgarian operator, offers a premium online experience with more than 300 casino slot games, live casino options, and a comprehensive sportsbook. Known for its generous promotions, seamless mobile experience, and variety of payment methods, WINBET continues to set new standards in the Bulgarian market.
This latest collaboration underscores Wazdan’s commitment to expanding its footprint in regulated territories by delivering next-generation features that enhance both player satisfaction and operator performance.
Magdalena Wojdyla, Head of Account Management for Europe at Wazdan, said: “This collaboration marks another exciting milestone as we continue expanding our presence in regulated markets across Europe.
“WINBET has built a strong reputation for quality and player engagement, and we are confident that our portfolio, together with the excitement of Jackpot Rain, will deliver outstanding results.”
Henrieta Nikolova, Head of Casino at WINBET said: “Partnering with Wazdan allows us to enrich our online casino offering with a series of titles known for their innovation and entertainment value.
“The exclusive launch of Jackpot Rain in Bulgaria is a great addition to our portfolio, and it is exciting to become the first operator in the country to deliver this experience to our players.”
The post Wazdan debuts Jackpot Rain™ and 10 new titles with WINBET in Bulgaria appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry Newsroom.
Latest News
Hub88 delivers InOut Games’ award-winning crash and instant titles to operator network
‘Rising Star’ provider integrates retention-driving portfolio with flexible branding capabilities
Hub88 has broadened its network of studio partners by integrating InOut Games’ full suite of high-converting crash, instant and slot titles.
InOut Games has carved out a niche with its rapid-cycle gameplay and internationally appealing titles, including Chicken Road Race, Squid Gambler, Forrest Arrow and many others. Each game is built using HTML5, supports multiple currencies and crypto, and is localised into more than 15 languages – ensuring operators can cater to their target markets with ease.
Hub88’s operator network has now gained access to more than 47 InOut Games releases, which are developed to boost retention with an average user lifetime of up to 12 months. The provider offers high levels of flexibility with its complimentary branding service, while an automated onboarding system allows for seamless integration.
The addition of InOut Games represents an injection of creativity, energetic mechanics and lively themes into Hub88’s line-up, delivering adaptable titles designed for commercial success.
Ollie Castleman, Managing Director at Hub88, said: “InOut Games brings a distinctive energy to fast-play, with a portfolio built on punchy mechanics, vibrant characters and easy-to-understand concepts. Their ability to combine rapid-fire gameplay with expert localisation makes them a natural fit for operators seeking to capture attention quickly.
“As we continue prioritising partnerships that help brands stand out, integrating a studio as versatile and ambitious as InOut Games is a major win for our network.”
Ilya Rybasov, Head of AM Department at InOut Games, said: “Joining forces with Hub88 is a pivotal leap for us. Their success in putting innovative content in front of leading operators at scale gives us the perfect basis to accelerate our global ambitions.
“Hub88 understands the power of instant-play entertainment as much as we do, and we’re thrilled to deliver a new calibre of instant games to their network.”
The post Hub88 delivers InOut Games’ award-winning crash and instant titles to operator network appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry Newsroom.
-
Latest News2 months ago
Announcement: 25th September 2025
-
Latest News3 months ago
GR8 Tech’s Bet It Drives Wraps Season 1 with Stephen Crystal—From Las Vegas Legends to Global Gaming Leadership
-
Latest News3 months ago
AI-Powered Gamification Arrives on Vegangster Platform via Smartico
-
Latest News1 month ago
JioBLAST Launches All Stars vs India powered by Campa Energy: A New Era of Creator-Driven Esports Entertainment
-
Latest News3 months ago
The Countdown is On: Less Than 3 Months to Go Until The Games of The Future 2025 Kicks Off in Abu Dhabi
-
eSports4 weeks ago
CS:GO Betting Gains Momentum in the iGaming Sector
-
Latest News3 months ago
Adidas Arena Set to Welcome the 2026 Six Invitational
-
Latest News3 months ago
LiveScore Group announces transformational partnership with X and xAI to drive the future of integrated sports media and betting


You must be logged in to post a comment Login