Interviews
Exclusive GAMING1 interview on Belgium, France and the Netherlands: “We must always remember this is an entertainment industry.”
In anticipation of the Belgian Royal Decree coming into effect on 1 July, we sat down with Emmanuel Mewissen, CEO at GAMING1, to talk about the operator’s commitment to responsible gaming, how it will be retaining customers in a ‘limitless’ digital landscape – as well as the company’s exciting future plans.
As one of Belgium, the Netherlands and France’s most exciting operators, can you tell us a bit about your business there and how are your brands Circus and 777 performing?
Thank you! Belgium, the Netherlands, France and Switzerland are our core markets – all of which offer some of Europe’s best opportunities. We want to focus on the areas in which we are currently present and see what we need to do to improve in these areas. Our mission is always to offer the best possible experience and for our customers to have fun and enjoy themselves in a responsible and controlled way.
Starting with land-based, our network across all three markets is very consistent. We own 12 casinos in Belgium, France and Switzerland. In Belgium, we have recently inaugurated our first resort, the Circus Casino Resort in Namur. This innovative formula combines casino activities with a wellness centre, restaurant, hotel and areas for receptions and conferences.
Of course, Circus and 777 are part of our multi-brand approach and they’re performing very well. In line with that, we are always looking to improve our service even more on the digital front, 777 is present in four countries (BE, CH, SP, NL) and Circus online in two countries (BE, NL). With Circus, we aim to offer a 360-degree customer experience with the combination of both our terrestrial and digital offerings.
As part of our approach to responsible gaming – which is a core brand ethos that we are truly committed to, we focus on the countries in which we are already present to solidify our value proposition. For a brand to perform well in a country, it’s like a mathematical equation. Setting up a local sales unit in the market where you are offering enables you to develop your local knowledge. This helps you to build a solid network and properly develop the business based on customer habits and needs.
With the advent of markedly strict advertising regulation coming into place in Belgium via the Royal Decree, how is GAMING1 preparing for such a major shift in market conditions?
Regulated Belgian operators like us agree with the desire to limit excessive advertising, but we must ensure that this decision does not drive players into the illegal industry – which is a real risk. We live in a limitless and ever-expanding digital world. As a result, independently to this Royal Decree, only legal operators will follow the law and, in doing so, they risk becoming weak and invisible, with the digital space offering plenty of opportunity for players to go offshore.
How can we protect consumers from illegal operators who do not respect these rules? It’s easy to observe illegal operators engaging in influence marketing on social media by promoting poker tournaments and celebrities with thousands of followers. This diverts the attention of players who go and play on unregulated sites. This is why visibility and competitiveness are important for a legal operator. The facts and figures will show in the future that these bans on marketing visibility will have the opposite effect, and that prevention will suffer as a result.
We, at GAMING1, didn’t wait for the Royal Decree to come into force to work actively on prevention and player protection. Prevention and protection are part of our corporate strategy. Years ago, we decided to develop a tool based on artificial intelligence that detects changes or risky behaviour at an early stage.
The detection tool is now operational and is based on indicators that were identified thanks to our collaboration with experts and university scientists specialising in addictive behaviour. In addition, we comply with legal measures such as the EPIS list, which is a legal protection list that bans certain types of customers (on the basis of certain functions, minors, debt mediation, etc.).
At a group level and for all our brands and partnered brands, we adopt a global approach to prevent addiction and make sure we only operate on regulated markets. In addition, we now comply with the Belgian Royal Decree, and we have adapted our websites, platforms, and marketing accordingly for our Belgian brands. This decree comes into force on 1st July 2023.
How do you believe this new set of regulations will affect the operating environment for local brands? Do you see it affecting the playing field significantly?
If you radically restrict advertising, including sponsorship, and lock the country into a narrow regulatory space, you will probably fail to see the desired result because you are out of touch with digital and international realities. Legal operators will become invisible with the next level of prohibition, and this will pave the way for the illegal market with all the risks associated with the absence of control. We can already see that 20% of Belgian players visit such sites.
This new law also tackles sponsorship. As far as this part is concerned, we have been sponsoring various associations, teams and sporting events for many years. This goes well beyond a commercial positioning and allows us, among other things, to convey messages about responsible play, as shown by our latest messages with the EGR-Award winning ‘Time To Play Responsibly’ campaign with former footballer Ronaldinho during the 2022 Qatar World Cup. The Royal Decree provides for a total ban on sports sponsorship from 2028 and we believe sports clubs, medias and events in Belgium will suffer as a result of this measure.
In short, I see the royal decree as a real obstacle for Belgium’s regulated private operators because, with these drastic constraints and restrictions, we will lack visibility and competitiveness compared to illegal operators who will continue to capture Belgian customers.
It’s also a bad political decision, because it completely misses the real challenge, which is customer protection. The debate is not about banning advertising as such, but about how to protect players and, above all, what to protect them against. The people who want to play will always find out a way to play.
This is why the worst dangers are illegal operators who have no regulation or form of prevention. This royal decree does not take account of the economic and digital reality of our modern consumption patterns, and this observation is independent of our industry since it is a general and societal fact.
Onto one very exciting area to keep an eye on – there’s talk of France regulating online casino for the first time. What’s your take on this possibility and will you have big plans for the market if this becomes a reality?
Developing our CIRCUS brand in France almost six years ago was obviously with some hope that one day, France would finally adapt its casino law to address the digital challenges. We have eight operations in France – seven casinos and one club in Paris. Our club in Paris performs well and is one of the poker market leaders in France. Having our origin outside France, we felt proud in 2019 to be granted a licence to operate in Paris. It demonstrates that we are very serious about accepting our responsibilities as a business.
Nevertheless, we’re surprised France does not to allow online casinos despite being Europe’s largest market. As a consequence, France has become a huge casino black market – and this is detrimental to player protection of course, but also to the country’s economy and employment opportunities. Giving that unfair competition, this is also detrimental to the existing casinos and the budget of the numerous localities that host these regulated land-based casinos.
Last but not least, with six months to go in 2023, what are GAMING1’s upcoming plans and what can we look forward to?
To look forward to – we will continue improving our responsible gambling software and prevention tools which will ensure we are in a position that meets the regulator’s request in terms of customers’ protection. Responsible gaming has always been a core part of our philosophy, and one we take great pride in.
With that – we want to appear trustworthy to regulators so that we can showcase that we truly believe in a safe and responsible entertainment experience. With that, we also want to show that the legal sector is an expert and is also the solution to create prevention. Also, as a work in progress, we want the customer journey to be a unique omnichannel experience in the next two years.
Last but not least, our plan will always be to ensure that our customers have fun and enjoy their experience, as after all, we must always remember that this is the entertainment industry. We consider our activities in a sustainable way, and this will continue to shape a large part of our approach.
API integration
Reliability in Motion: Why Modern Digital Businesses are Abandoning the Single-Vendor Model
In the fast-paced environment of digital businesses, communication isn’t just a utility – it’s the heartbeat of the business. Whether it’s a high-stakes trade confirmation or a time-sensitive user’s notification, a lost message is often a direct precursor to lost revenue. Today, we sat down with Bohdan Bulatsan, CTO at CommsHub to discuss why the industry is shifting away from traditional messaging setups toward a more resilient, “strategic redundancy” approach. We explore how CommsHub is redefining delivery standards through intelligent routing and financial transparency.
In the high-stakes world of digital businesses, we often talk about “guaranteed delivery,” but the reality of infrastructure is that things break. From a technical leadership perspective, why is the “Single Vendor” model becoming a terminal risk for modern enterprises?
That’s right. No technical system is infallible. Downtime and glitches are inherent to infrastructure; the real differentiator is how you manage those failures to protect the business. Relying on a single vendor creates a “Single Point of Failure.” If that one provider goes down, your entire operation grinds to a halt.
At CommsHub, we address this by implementing a sophisticated provider cascading system. This architecture ensures that if one path is blocked, the traffic finds another. By eliminating the reliance on a single provider, we transform communication from a financial gamble on uptime into a stable, predictable business process.
CommsHub moves the conversation from “sending messages” to “strategic redundancy.” Can you walk us through the logic of your automated routing – how does the platform decide which path a message takes in milliseconds to ensure the highest delivery rate?
Our cascading logic functions as an intelligent safety net. When our system detects a failure signal from a provider, it triggers a reaction in milliseconds. The mechanism immediately consults a predefined routing roadmap and reroutes the message through the next optimal path in the chain.
Crucially, we allow clients to configure response wait times in both static and dynamic modes. This is a game-changer for businesses where speed is as vital as the delivery itself. Ultimately, our system is built for flexibility; we don’t just send messages – we architect a logic that supports virtually any messaging scenario a business requires.
Integration speed is often a bottleneck; you’ve managed to cut the industry standard from 45 days down to just 10. How does this technical agility impact a brand’s ability to scale into new, unpredictable international markets?
In the modern economy, standing still is the same as moving backward. Our clients are constantly expanding into new geographic territories and they need a partner that moves at their speed. By shrinking integration time to around 10 days, we allow businesses to respond to market opportunities almost instantly.
Our priority is the continuous onboarding of validated providers. This doesn’t just give our clients access to new GEOs; it gives them the power of choice within their existing markets, ensuring they always have the most competitive and reliable options available.
We’ve seen that “lost messages” translate directly to “lost revenue.” How does CommsHub’s unified dashboard bridge the gap between technical delivery logs and the financial transparency that C-level executives need?
Data is only useful if it’s actionable. C-level executives need to see the “why” behind the spend. The CommsHub analytics module is divided into two pillars: Performance and Finance.
The Performance section allows teams to monitor delivery rates and message statuses by country in real-time. Meanwhile, the Financial section provides total visibility into spending, broken down by provider and region. This bridge between technical performance and cost-efficiency allows Finance and Marketing departments to make data-driven decisions rather than educated guesses.
Looking at the mission of CommsHub – to make communication “simple, clear and predictable” what is the one technical myth about bulk messaging you want to debunk for businesses currently struggling with delivery stability?
The most dangerous myth is the belief that finding one “perfect” or “premium” provider is enough. The reality is that no provider – regardless of their size – is immune to regional outages, regulatory shifts or sudden performance drops.
If you want stability, stop looking for the perfect provider and start building a resilient strategy. True reliability comes from intelligent routing, multi-vendor redundancy and the ability to adapt to changing conditions in real-time. That is the mission we fulfill at CommsHub.
As we’ve discussed, the transition from a single-vendor dependency to a diversified, intelligent routing system is no longer a luxury – it is a necessity for survival in high-growth sectors. CommsHub continues to lead this charge, proving that when technical agility meets financial transparency, businesses can scale without the fear of silence. For those looking to turn their communication infrastructure into a competitive advantage, the path forward is clear: prioritize resilience over the illusion of a “perfect” single source.
The post Reliability in Motion: Why Modern Digital Businesses are Abandoning the Single-Vendor Model appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
AI
AI Meets Accountability: DSTGAMING on the Future of Regulatory Automation
As the Lanyard Sponsor of HIPTHER Baltics: Vilnius 2026, DSTGAMING brings more than a decade of iGaming technology expertise to the Baltic stage. Known for white-label and turnkey casino solutions, advanced game aggregation, secure payment gateways, and GLI-19 compliant platforms certified by BMM Testlabs, DSTGAMING represents the next generation of scalable and regulation-ready gaming infrastructure.
Ahead of the conference, we speak with John Tan, Digital Marketing Analyst at DSTGAMING, about one of the most important topics shaping regulated industries today: The role of AI and automation in regulatory processes.
Regulation is becoming faster, stricter, and more data-heavy. Where do you see AI making the biggest immediate impact in regulatory and compliance workflows?
AI is already proving valuable in areas where large volumes of operational data must be processed quickly and accurately. One of the most immediate impacts is in automated data validation, reporting preparation, and anomaly detection. Regulatory workflows often involve reviewing player activity logs, financial transactions, and system records, which can be time-consuming when handled manually.
For platform providers like DSTGAMING, AI can assist operators by flagging irregular patterns, organizing compliance-related records, and improving the speed and consistency of reporting processes. This reduces the burden on compliance teams while helping ensure that submissions to regulators are more accurate and timely. The ability to turn raw operational data into structured insights is where AI delivers strong short-term value.
Many businesses still view compliance as reactive and manual. How can automation transform it into a smarter, proactive function?
Automation shifts compliance from a task-driven activity into a continuous monitoring function. Instead of waiting for scheduled checks or audits, automated systems can monitor key indicators in real time and notify operators when thresholds are exceeded or unusual activity is detected.
This proactive approach allows operators to address potential risks before they escalate into compliance issues. Over time, automation also creates consistent records and audit trails, making regulatory reporting more structured and transparent. From a platform perspective, embedding automation into workflows ensures that compliance checks become part of daily operations rather than a separate responsibility handled only during audits or investigations.
From AML monitoring to player protection and fraud detection, which regulatory areas are best suited for AI-driven decision support today?
Fraud detection and transaction monitoring are among the most mature use cases for AI-driven support, as they rely heavily on identifying patterns across large datasets. AI models are particularly effective at detecting irregular transaction behaviors, unusual login patterns, or activity sequences that differ from typical user behavior.
Player protection is another area where AI can add value by identifying behavioral signals that may indicate risk, such as sudden changes in activity intensity or spending patterns. While AML monitoring also benefits from AI, the most practical applications today involve supporting human analysts by highlighting suspicious cases rather than replacing manual decision-making entirely. The strength of AI lies in prioritizing risk signals so compliance teams can focus their attention where it matters most.
How can operators balance efficiency through automation while still maintaining human oversight, judgment, and accountability?
Automation should be viewed as a decision-support layer rather than a decision-maker. The most effective balance is achieved when automated systems handle repetitive tasks—such as monitoring, logging, and flagging—while human teams retain authority over final decisions and interpretations.
Clear governance frameworks are also essential. Operators should establish defined escalation paths, validation checkpoints, and audit procedures to ensure that automated outputs are reviewed when necessary. This hybrid approach preserves accountability while still benefiting from improved speed and efficiency. Human judgment remains critical, particularly in complex cases that require contextual understanding or regulatory interpretation.
What are the biggest mistakes companies make when trying to introduce AI into regulated environments?
One of the most common mistakes is adopting AI without clearly defining its role within regulatory workflows. Without structured objectives and validation processes, organizations risk creating systems that generate outputs without meaningful oversight or traceability.
Another challenge is underestimating the importance of data quality. AI systems depend heavily on reliable, well-organized datasets, and inconsistent data can lead to inaccurate outputs. Companies also sometimes move too quickly without aligning AI deployment with regulatory expectations, which can create compliance risks instead of reducing them. Introducing AI gradually, with clear documentation and validation processes, helps ensure responsible adoption.
As a technology provider, how does DSTGAMING approach building solutions that are both innovative and regulator-ready from day one?
DSTGAMING prioritizes architecture that supports transparency, scalability, and operational clarity. From the early stages of development, systems are designed to maintain structured logs, clear data flows, and configurable reporting capabilities that help operators meet regulatory expectations across different jurisdictions.
Innovation is approached with practicality in mind. New technologies, including AI-driven features, are integrated in ways that enhance performance and usability without compromising system reliability. The focus is on delivering tools that support operators in maintaining operational discipline, while also enabling flexibility to adapt to evolving regulatory standards.
By aligning technical development with industry compliance requirements from the outset, DSTGAMING ensures that innovation and regulatory readiness progress together rather than in conflict.
The post AI Meets Accountability: DSTGAMING on the Future of Regulatory Automation appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Interviews
Expanding on excellence: The power of sequels
Relax Gaming CEO Martin Stålros explores the growing power of slot sequels, revealing how data, player feedback and innovation are driving franchise success in today’s gaming landscape.
Relax has built a reputation for turning strong titles into even stronger sequels. What signals tell you a game has the potential to evolve into a franchise rather than remain a one-off success?
The main signal is the engagement response from both players and operators. Within the first couple of weeks following a launch, we get a clear indication of whether a game has long-term potential, as there needs to be strong demand for a sequel to even be considered.
From there, our in-house studios analyse behavioural patterns to understand what resonates with players, identifying how a game can be further developed while aligning with both player preferences and operator requirements.
We typically see franchise potential when player retention is driven by the core gameplay loop and the excitement of “near-miss” moments, rather than simply high RTP or jackpot size. Increasingly, the response from the streaming community also plays a role, with titles that deliver high volatility, watchable moments tending to sustain interest over time.
Mechanical versatility is another key factor, and we look for frameworks where the underlying math model is robust enough to support feature layering. If a mechanic can be expanded or refined without breaking the game’s logic, it becomes a strong candidate for a sequel.
Alongside this, distinct character and theme identity are crucial. Memorable protagonists, such as the Money Train crew or the duo in Bill & Coin, help build an emotional connection with players. For example, in Bill & Coin 2, we introduced Dicey and The Mummy to extend the narrative and integrate them into gameplay.
Looking at Relax’s most successful titles like Bill & Coin 2 and the Money Train series, how do you approach evolving mechanics and features without losing the simplicity and appeal that made the original resonate with players?
Our approach is to retain a familiar base game while introducing one major new layer or hero mechanic. This allows us to deliver an exciting experience that still feels natural and recognisable to players.
As mechanics become more complex, such as the addition of more symbols in Money Train 4, we rely on intuitive visual cues. We use distinct animations and sound design to ensure that players clearly understand why they have won, even if the underlying math behind it is more sophisticated.
At the same time, we focus on retaining the soul of a title and preserving what we consider the non-negotiables, which are the specific features that players loved in the original. These elements remain the anchor of the experience, even as we expand volatility or increase maximum win potential, maintaining that balance is key to evolving a game without losing the original appeal.
The Money Train series is often cited as a benchmark for sequel success. How important has player and operator feedback been in shaping each iteration of the franchise?
Operator feedback is crucial when it comes to technical and UI refinements, while player feedback directly influences feature frequency and volatility curves, and together these insights play an important role in shaping how each instalment evolves and improves on the last.
Building on this, each Money Train sequel has been developed using the data from its predecessor; for instance, the introduction of persistent symbols was a direct response to player desire for high-anticipation, long-tail bonus rounds. This allows us to refine the experience while continuing to build on what players already enjoy.
As a result, the Money Train series has become part of the Relax DNA, with each instalment somehow managing to take the game even further. Everyone has their favourite Money Train slot, and that is a testament to all of the teams involved in creating such a powerful series over a number of years.
With recognisable IP now proving so effective, how do you balance investing in established franchises versus taking risks on entirely new concepts?
Established franchises act as an anchor for stability and performance within our roadmap, which is carefully planned, and this foundation allows us to invest in new concepts and bring fresh ideas to market.
We believe taking risks on new titles is essential, as this is how future franchises are discovered. Without backing original concepts like Bill & Coin, we would not be able to create the “new classics” of tomorrow.
From a resource perspective, this balance is reflected in how we operate, with our core internal studios focus on developing flagship sequels, while our Silver Bullet and Powered By partners are empowered to explore more niche or experimental gameplay. This ensures we can continue to innovate while building on proven successes.
Looking ahead, do you think the industry is moving toward a more franchise-driven approach?
We are seeing a clear trend shifting from simple sequels to broader ecosystems, where a franchise can span multiple verticals, including slots, crash games, and even brand-integrated jackpot systems like Dream Drop. This reflects a move towards more connected, long-term player experiences, where a title can evolve beyond a single release into something more expansive.
Franchises will continue to play a dominant role, but the breakout hit will always come from a new concept, with the future belonging to those who can build a franchise around genuine innovation rather than simply reskinning existing ideas.
The post Expanding on excellence: The power of sequels appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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