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Meet Casino Guru Awards’ Social Responsibility Initiative judges

Published

3 years ago

October 31, 2022

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Casino Guru has revealed the judges for the Casino Guru Awards “The Most Impactful Social Responsibility Initiative” category.

Casino Guru is happy to reveal the list of judges for “The Most Impactful Social Responsibility Initiative,” part of the upcoming Casino Guru Awards. After Casino Guru revealed the judges for “The Best Implementation of Responsible Gambling Tools,” the company is happy to introduce the new faces who will leverage their expertise to weigh on one of the most important categories for the project.

The Social Responsibility category will focus on distinguishing and recognizing the achievements of responsible gambling and problem gambling prevention initiatives. This category will seek to award the one industry specialist whose efforts in the field stand out and have had an impactful change on the issue, or stand to make an impact.

To help Casino Guru decide objectively, the Casino Guru Awards panel for this particular category will consist of a number of external judges and the company’s own team. The professionals that may apply for this category as participants may have completed projects or currently be developing one.

The judges will review each proposal based on the possibility of a positive impact, intentions, execution, results (when applicable), and more. The people making the final decisions are themselves extensive professionals in the field of social responsibility and responsible gambling. They include:

Ewa Bakun, Director of Industry Insight and Engagement of Clarion Gaming, who is a long-standing Clarion Gaming veteran and who introduced and oversaw the growth of the Consumer Protection Zone at ICE London.
Shelley White, CEO of the Responsible Gambling Council (RGC), whose responsibility is to help her organizaiton promote responsible gambling and reduce problem gambling using research and evidence-based approaches to implement innovative prevention, education, and social marketing programs.
Sarah Ramanauskas, Auditor for the US’ National Council on Problem Gambling’s iCAP RG standard, who works with gambling operators around the world to ensure that their corporate policies stay true to safer gambling.
Dan Iliovici, Vice-President of the Romanian Gambling Organizers’ Association (ROMBET), and of the Responsible Gambling Association, who is permanently involved in responsible gambling projects and committed to the transformation of the industry.
Eduards Jakubovs, Head of Responsible Gambling of Betsson Group, who has been in charge of the Betsson’s commitment to responsible gambling operations since 2015 and has extensive experience in the field.
Jo Abergel, Founder – Rock Learning, Co-Founder – Ethical Gambling Forum, who is focused on challenging the industry with some of its greatest ethical dilemmas and seeks meaningful conversation with operators who are in position to start tackling these issues.
Maris Catania, Head of Responsible Gaming and Research at Kindred, who has extensive experience in studying and understanding behavior related to problem gambling, and has used her career to advance the industry’s collective understanding of problem gambling and how it can be stopped at an early stage.
Stephen Aupy, VP of Strategic Partnerships Gamban, who is committed to collaborating with the industry to help establish responsible gambling practices with leading operators and entities across the industry, and who is committed to bringing more positive change in the sector.
James Mpiirwe, Genius Gaming Consult – Senior Consultant Regulatory frameworks, who is a seasoned legal practitioner and who has been a torchbearer and pioneer of responsible gambling practices in Uganda and helped establish the National Responsible Gaming Policy of Uganda.
Martin Lycka, SVP for American Regulatory Affairs and Responsible Gambling at Entain, whose impressive track record in responsible gambling and social responsibility spans the American Gaming Association, the Entain Foundation US, the National Council on Problem Gambling, and others.
Matt Smith, Head of External Affairs at Betknowmore, who seeks to provide support and training services that prevent and address personal and societal harms caused by gambling.
Vladimir Malakchi, Chief Commercial Officer of Evoplay, whose industry experience and drive for results have translated into creating compelling products that protect consumers and innovate iGaming.
Pieter Remmers, Founder of Assissa Consultancy Europem, who has extensive experience in helping businesses understand the importance of consumer protection, social responsibility, and how intervention can help business and players.
Jody Bechtold, CEO of The Better Institute, who is the author of The Gambling Disorder Treatment Handbook: A Guide for Mental Health Professionals, and who has spent considerable part of her professional life in promoting social responsibility and responsible gambling in the industry.
Paul Buck, CEO & Founder of EPIC Risk Management, and an individual with a distinct commitment to consumer protection and responsible gambling in the industry. Paul’s company works with some of the most dedicated iGaming stakeholders to date.

The categories will also be judged by Head of Content Maros Gasparik and Sustainable & Safer Gambling Lead Simon Vincze whose work in gambling over the years has pivoted towards creating safer and meaningful content, projects and initiatives that focus on bringing on more social responsibility to the industry.

Casino Guru will hold the official ceremony for Casino Guru Awards online in February 2023. You may stay up to date with the Awards progress by visiting the official page at Casino Guru Awards.

BetMGM

BetMGM and FashionTV Gaming Group Bring Luxury Lifestyle to North American iGaming

Published

1 day ago

January 6, 2026

Wladimir P.

betmgm-and-fashiontv-gaming-group-bring-luxury-lifestyle-to-north-american-igaming

BetMGM, a leading iGaming and sports betting operator, has officially partnered with FashionTV Gaming Group to launch a curated portfolio of luxury-branded games. This strategic collaboration marks the entry of FashionTV’s iconic aesthetic into the North American iGaming market, exclusively through BetMGM’s platforms.

The partnership merges FashionTV’s global prestige in the worlds of fashion and high-society entertainment with BetMGM’s award-winning digital casino infrastructure.

Immersive Luxury Table Games

The initial rollout features two high-gloss table games designed to provide players with an “immersive, lifestyle-driven” experience that mirrors the sophistication of the FashionTV brand.

FashionTV Blackjack: A premium take on the casino classic, featuring refined visual assets and high-end production values.
FashionTV Roulette: A sleek, stylized version of the iconic wheel, bringing a “fashion-forward” energy to every spin.

The titles are currently live in Michigan, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, with a wider rollout planned for all jurisdictions where BetMGM Casino is active.

Strategic Vision and 2026 Roadmap

For BetMGM, the partnership is part of a broader “branded content” strategy that includes previous successes with major TV and movie franchises.

“At BetMGM, we have redefined what it means to deliver entertainment in iGaming,” said Oliver Bartlett, VP of Gaming at BetMGM. “By partnering with FashionTV Gaming Group, we’re creating experiences that go beyond gameplay and connect players to the brands they love.”

Moshe Cohen, Founder & President of FashionTV Gaming Group, added: “BetMGM’s leadership and scale make them the perfect partner to transform our vision into a North American success story.”

Looking ahead, BetMGM has confirmed that additional FashionTV-branded titles—including slots and potentially live dealer variants—will be released throughout 2026 as part of an expanding content pipeline.

The post BetMGM and FashionTV Gaming Group Bring Luxury Lifestyle to North American iGaming appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Brazil Betting Law

2026 iGaming Regulatory Roadmap: Key Compliance Deadlines

Published

1 day ago

January 6, 2026

Wladimir P.

2026-igaming-regulatory-roadmap:-key-compliance-deadlines

As the industry gathers for ICE Barcelona 2026, the regulatory landscape has shifted into a high-execution phase. The following roadmap outlines the critical compliance dates for three of the most influential markets currently undergoing major transitions: the United Kingdom, Brazil, and the Philippines.

Date	Jurisdiction	Regulatory Milestone	Action Required for Operators/Suppliers
Jan 19, 2026	United Kingdom	LCCP Social Responsibility Code 5.1.1 Update	Ban on Mixed-Product Incentives: Offers like “Bet £10, get 20 free spins” are now prohibited. Wagering Caps: Bonus wagering is capped at a maximum of 10x.
Jan 19-21, 2026	Global / EMEA	ICE Barcelona 2026	Flagship event for showcasing 2026 compliance technology and real-time auditing solutions.
Mar 19, 2026	United Kingdom	LCCP Condition 15.2.1 Reporting	Key Event Reporting: Threshold for reporting operator status/shareholder changes raised from 3% to 5%. All loans must be reported regardless of written agreements.
Mar 31, 2026	Philippines	PAGCOR B2B Accreditation Deadline	Final Compliance Date: All B2B providers (studios, aggregators, affiliates) must be accredited. Unaccredited foreign content will be blocked from licensed platforms.
Apr 6, 2026	United Kingdom	DMCC Act 2024 Alignment	Fair & Transparent Terms: Consumer Protection regulations replaced by the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024. Terms must align with new definitions of “misleading actions.”
June 30, 2026	United Kingdom	RTS 12 (Financial Limits)	Technical changes to Remote Technical Standards (RTS) regarding how customers set and view financial limits on their accounts.
H2 2026	Brazil	Betting Deposit Tax Vote	Proposed 15% tax on gambling deposits is expected to return to the Senate for a final vote after being pushed back in late 2025.

Regional Deep Dive: Strategic Compliance

1. United Kingdom: The “Safety & Simplicity” Era

The UKGC’s January 19th update is the most immediate challenge for marketing teams. By decoupling sports betting from casino bonuses, the regulator aims to reduce “cross-product friction” that could lead to unintended gambling harm.

Strategy: Pivot toward product-specific loyalty programs (e.g., “Bet £10 on Football, Get a £5 Free Bet”) to maintain compliance while driving retention.

2. Brazil: Sustaining the .bet.br Ecosystem

Following the January 1, 2025 launch of the regulated market, 2026 is about operational maturity. The focus has shifted to the mandatory use of the .bet.br domain and rigorous AML/KYC reporting to the Secretariat of Awards and Betting (SPA).

Strategy: Ensure all advertising features the mandatory license logo and that all protagonists in marketing materials are visibly over 21 years of age.

3. Philippines: The B2B Supply Chain Lockdown

PAGCOR’s new framework is a move to professionalize the region, mirroring the supplier-licensing models seen in Ontario and Malta.

Strategy: Foreign studios that missed the December 2025 “early bird” three-year accreditation window must expedite their applications before March 31st to avoid a total blackout on Filipino-facing sites.

The post 2026 iGaming Regulatory Roadmap: Key Compliance Deadlines appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

AI in Gambling

2026 iGaming Outlook: Regulation, AI Personalization, and the Return of “Originals”

Published

1 day ago

January 6, 2026

Wladimir P.

2026-igaming-outlook:-regulation,-ai-personalization,-and-the-return-of-“originals”

The iGaming industry has officially entered a new era of discipline. As we move through the first quarter of 2026, the “wild west” growth of previous years has been replaced by a focus on sustainability, hyper-localization, and AI-driven player protection. From the finalization of the PROGA framework in India to the massive turnover records set by World Pool, the market is no longer just growing—it is maturing.

The Rise of “Explainable AI” in Player Retention

In 2026, AI has moved beyond simple game recommendations. Leading operators are now utilizing “Explainable AI” (XAI) to bridge the gap between engagement and compliance. Unlike traditional “black box” algorithms, XAI allows operators to understand why a player is being flagged for risky behavior or why a specific loyalty nudge was triggered.

This transparency is critical for maintaining trust in highly regulated markets like the UK and Ontario, where the UKGC’s 2026 Social Responsibility updates now demand more rigorous evidence of proactive player interaction.

“Originals” and the Rebirth of Video Poker

While high-volatility slots like Joker’s Jewels Hold & Spin continue to dominate headlines, a significant shift is occurring in the “non-slots” vertical.

The PowerPoker Revolution: Strategic partnerships, such as the recent QTech Games and Speedy Tomatoes deal, are revitalizing video poker. By adding features like “Swap-A-Card,” these games are capturing high-value player segments who prioritize skill and strategy.
Branded Originals: Platforms like MINT are proving that “Originals” (Mines, Crash, and Plinko) are no longer secondary products. Fully brandable house games are now a core foundation for crypto-first and Web3 operators, driving session frequency through provably fair mechanics.

Brazil and Ontario: The Battle for Market Supremacy

The geographic focus for 2026 remains firmly on Brazil and Ontario.

Brazil’s Advertising Evolution: With the newly regulated market in full swing, groups like Esportes Gaming Brasil joining IAB Brasil signal a shift toward responsible communication. Advertising is now a tool for helping consumers identify licensed platforms, moving away from aggressive acquisition tactics.
Ontario’s Content War: The region has become North America’s most dynamic hub. Agreements like the Peter & Sons and Casino Time deal highlight the demand for “indie-inspired” content that stands out in a saturated market.

Conclusion: The “Champion Mindset” for 2026

Success this year isn’t about volume; it’s about coherence. As highlighted by GR8 Tech’s “Champions Club” initiative for ICE Barcelona, the operators winning in 2026 are those who treat technology as a performance ecosystem. By aligning real-time data with compliant storytelling, brands are finding that “trust” is the most valuable currency in the modern iGaming world.

The post 2026 iGaming Outlook: Regulation, AI Personalization, and the Return of “Originals” appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.