Conferences in Europe
Sponsors Spotlight: Winning the iGaming Technology Race – GR8 Tech Shares Winning Formula at the Prague Gaming & TECH Summit
Ahead of the highly-anticipated Prague Gaming & TECH Summit, organizer HIPTHER is thrilled to introduce and put the spotlight on the companies and people that help make the magic happen: our conference sponsors! These innovative, accomplished professionals and teams make magic happen everyday, and they will be joining us at the Prague Gaming & TECH Summit 2024 taking place on 26-27 March, to share insights, network and collaborate with you! Get to know them, connect, and meet them in Prague!
In this Sponsors Spotlight Interview, the #hipthers meet Artur Ashyrov, Chief Technology Officer at GR8 Tech, Main Stage Sponsor of the upcoming Prague Gaming & TECH Summit. Artur will be speaking at the Summit, offering an insightful exploration into the world of cutting-edge technology development.
EG: Hello Artur, thank you for taking the time for this interview. We are delighted to get to know you and introduce you to our readers! Speaking of introductions, let’s kick things off by hearing more about you and your role as a CTO at GR8 Tech.
AA: Thank you for having me! I’m thrilled to share insights into my journey and the impactful work we do at GR8 Tech. As the CTO, I focus on achieving revenue-driven company goals and developing our engineering team.
My overall journey in tech started in 2006, and since then, I’ve navigated through various sectors, from outsourcing projects to spearheading platform development in industries such as booking systems, CRM, media, iGaming, and more. I love solving complex challenges, driving meaningful tech advancement, and improving large, unwieldy projects to deliver great results, even if it goes along with challenging the status quo in technology, company culture, and mindsets.
At GR8 Tech, I’m also deeply involved in the GR8 Tech Academy, mentoring the next generation of tech professionals. This project, aimed at people entering IT and ensuring they have not just theory but hands-on experience, is very close to my heart. Many of the Academy’s graduates join our team and work to push the boundaries of what’s possible, using technology as a catalyst for growth and transformation.
EG: GR8 Tech’s “About” section on LinkedIn begins with the intro “GR8 Tech is an international iGaming solutions provider”. Breaking this description down, what are the solutions and products that GR8 Tech offers to clients?
AA: We create a full kit of iGaming products necessary to launch and run a long-term successful, profitable iGaming operation. The front and center of our product lineup is, of course, the high-performance GR8 Sportsbook platform, designed to handle high loads with ease and bring tangible financial results to the operators through unique margin management capabilities. The Sportsbook is complemented by many other products, from the Casino platform to the CRM system, payment gateway, iFrame, etc.
EG: So, GR8 Tech boasts a 360° suite for the iGaming industry, including a payment gateway and CRM system, as well as over 15 successful cases worldwide in its first year alone! What is the secret behind that vast and fast success? Something tells us it’s all about Tech – how do you make it “GR8”?
AA: Having a great background in technology, we are able to develop products that scale seamlessly but also evolve alongside our clients’ growing needs. Understanding that every business eventually requires increased processing capacity and flexibility, we preemptively integrate SDKs and APIs, and ensure data-sharing capabilities within our products, connecting and integrating it all into a unified, well-functioning ecosystem. It sets us apart from many competitors – and is rooted in our commitment to a data-driven approach, which creates additional value for our clients.
EG: In this first year of GR8ness in the industry, from your first steps till now, what are the most important milestones the company has conquered and its most significant updates?
AA: We are a young company but an experienced team with the long-standing, well-known tech behind the name. So, the biggest challenges for us were associated with finding our own B2B voice and our unique value proposition and presenting it to the market loud and clear. That’s exactly what we did last year, and I think the recognition our products received with nominations in several respectable industry awards, including the SBC Awards and SiGMA Awards, are our most significant milestones, showcasing the growing recognition of GR8 Tech in the industry. This year, we have already opened the business season exhibiting at ICE London, winning several new clients for GR8 Tech, and shortlisting in SiGMA Eurasia and SiGMA Africa. Quite a start – I’m excited for what comes next!
EG: GR8’s chosen brand language and communications are built around the concept of racing; in the race for innovation in the modern Tech scene – especially in iGaming – which emerging technologies are truly useful, and what’s overhyped?
AA: We are always looking at all emerging technologies, but we are very careful about implementing them for the sake of being “innovative.” We don’t enter the same race for innovation just to put a proud “AI-powered” sticker somewhere on our website for implementing Chat-GPT prompts in our products.
But we look at all trending technologies and implement them when they bring real value to customers. For example, AI has been in our systems for 4-5 years. Now, we are looking at LLM to enhance customer support and other functions.
It is also always interesting to find some useful applications for blockchain, but in our industry, it is really an overhyped technology because it is being pulled everywhere, just like Chat GPT. The metaverse is also very overhyped, and I don’t think this technology will change user habits dramatically because the convenience of AR/VR devices is still far behind the value of the experience. It will be interesting to see what kind of impetus the new Apple Vision Pro will give to this – it seems to me that this is the first step towards making these devices more convenient and mainstream.
EG: At the Prague Gaming & TECH Summit, you will be speaking about “Engineering Excellence”. Can you give our readers and the Summit’s participants an idea of what exactly constitutes Engineering Excellence in today’s Tech, and the key points you will be analyzing at the Conference?
AA: To understand engineering excellence, you should first think about what the industry is like nowadays. With technologies like Chat GPT, tech specialists can now super quickly do tasks for which before they were paid thousands – for their knowledge, expertise, and amazing coding. So these new technologies raise an interesting question: What is engineering excellence in the world where a machine can do a lot of ‘monkey jobs’ for you?
It turns out, today, technological excellence is not so much about technology but about the ability to think ahead, to design, to not overcomplicate things where they can be avoided, and so on. The latter is especially important, as it is a pressing issue in the industry, as everyone just loves to invent some problems and then create even more problems when trying to solve them.
Another interesting aspect is what engineering excellence is from the client’s point of view. I think that engineering excellence can be measured in how little you pay attention to your tech – everything just works, and that’s it. Not thinking about the number of cores in your processor or the capacity of RAM is the best indication that everything is just how it should be. But to make it so, developers should think rather broadly, investing in great technology and creating stable, scalable infrastructure that’s capable of providing this level of customer experience.
EG: Thank you for this very interesting and insightful interview, Artur! We look forward to seeing you in person at the Prague Gaming & TECH Summit, and hearing all about Engineering Excellence and the development process in your exclusive one-on-one session.
Join us in Prague to connect with Artur and the GR8 Tech Team:
Conferences in Europe
The iGaming Conference Boom: A Catalyst for Industry Growth or Event Overload?
As the iGaming industry rapidly expands, so too has the frequency of events, summits, and conferences held worldwide. While some within the industry have expressed concerns over the seemingly endless cycle of iGaming conferences, many organizers are now strategically responding by integrating multiple industry sectors into single events. This shift could mark a new era where iGaming conferences are not just more numerous but also more impactful, driving sustained growth and collaboration across the industry.
An Industry on the Rise
The iGaming sector has seen phenomenal growth in recent years, with new regions regulating online gaming, an influx of advanced technology, and changing consumer behaviors. Conferences are a direct reflection of this growth. In response to an industry that is evolving at breakneck speed, these gatherings allow professionals to stay informed, network, and showcase innovations in a competitive, fast-paced market. According to recent reports, 2024 has maintained a similarly robust lineup of conferences as seen in 2023, indicating a steady demand for these industry forums.
Consolidation: Bringing Multiple Industries Together
One of the biggest shifts in recent years has been the move towards event consolidation. Instead of organizing niche, standalone conferences, major event organizers are combining multiple related industries under one roof. For example, some organizers have extended their conferences to cover related fields such as emerging technologies, fintech, and affiliate marketing. This integrated approach creates a unique space for professionals across interconnected sectors to gather, learn, and share insights. This evolution aims to streamline event schedules while providing a more holistic experience for attendees.
Consistency in the Number of Conferences
While some expected the number of iGaming events to decrease in 2024 as the industry reaches a more mature stage, the calendar has remained steady with a full slate of global conferences. Sources highlight extensive lists of major iGaming conferences for the year, covering multiple regions and themes, from regulatory updates to technological advances and new market opportunities. This consistency signals that the demand for these conferences remains high, suggesting that attendees continue to find value in them as essential business and networking platforms.
Why More Conferences Might Actually Be Beneficial
The prevalence of iGaming conferences can be viewed positively when considering the growth trajectory of the industry. These events provide valuable exposure for startups, facilitate knowledge sharing, and foster collaborations that might not happen otherwise. For industry veterans, they’re an opportunity to reconnect, reassess strategies, and stay informed about the latest trends. For newcomers, conferences offer a way into the industry through educational sessions, networking, and visibility.
Furthermore, the diversity in conference topics allows professionals to choose events that best align with their interests or expertise. The range of events caters to everyone from affiliate marketers and game developers to regulators and financial specialists. The right conference can provide insight into specific challenges or growth areas, helping companies refine their strategies.
Balancing Act: Growth Without Saturation
While it’s clear that iGaming conferences play a crucial role in the industry, there’s an argument to be made for balancing quantity with quality. Some attendees feel that with too many events, resources and attention can become stretched thin. To counteract this, organizers who offer integrated, multi-industry conferences are not only addressing the issue of event overload but are also creating more comprehensive forums that offer greater value and insight. A well-curated, diverse conference can draw higher-quality attendance and provide a richer experience for those participating.
Conclusion
The iGaming conference landscape in 2024 reflects an industry that continues to expand, innovate, and adapt to the demands of a global, interconnected world. While the sheer number of conferences may be daunting to some, the strategic consolidation of industries within these events speaks to a forward-thinking approach by organizers. The trend toward integrated, multi-focus conferences provides an opportunity for even greater collaboration, allowing the industry to continue thriving. As long as these events evolve to meet the needs of their audiences, the iGaming industry stands to benefit immensely from its vibrant and active conference ecosystem.
The post The iGaming Conference Boom: A Catalyst for Industry Growth or Event Overload? appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Conferences in Europe
Soft2Bet celebrates a year of growth and innovation at SiGMA Malta Europe 2024
Soft2Bet is set to make a major impact at SiGMA Malta Europe, focusing on MEGA, turnkey solutions and key speaking engagements from senior executives from 12-14 November.
Soft2Bet, the iGaming industry’s leading turnkey solutions provider, is gearing up to unveil a new format for its MEGA Workshop during 4 closed sessions on 12 and 13 November at SiGMA Malta Europe. After a highly successful MEGA Workshop experience at the SBC Summit Lisbon for more than 250 visitors, Soft2Bet intends to showcase how its solution drives engagement, activity and revenues for Soft2Bet and its B2B partners.
Turnkey solutions and new launches driving growth
Soft2Bet will also unveil its latest turnkey solution, newly-launched gaming engines and casino solutions that are delivering impressive results for partners as they increase player engagement, retention and drive revenue growth in the most competitive iGaming markets. As Soft2Bet continues to expand into new markets, it will provide exclusive insights into its recently-launched partnerships and brands.
Product focus
The Soft2Bet MEGA workshop will also demonstrate how MEGA seamlessly integrates as a standalone solution through an API, providing the best UX to its players, ensuring quick and efficient deployment for operators looking to elevate their platforms.
The results of these efforts speak for themselves, with the group’s Scandinavian brand Betinia reporting strong growth in Q3 2024.
- Denmark: active player numbers increased 129%, deposits increased 213% and GGR climbed 200%.
- Sweden: active player numbers increased 85%, deposits increased 129% and GGR climbed 58%.
Soft2Bet SiGMA Speakers
Soft2Bet’s founder and CEO, Uri Poliavich, will deliver an exclusive Keynote on 12 November at 11:45 where he will update the market on his latest insights.
Senior executives will be joining key industry panels:
- David Yatom Hay, General Counsel, will join a panel discussing the future of player protections in light of potential advertising bans in Northern Europe.
- Yoel Zuckerberg, Chief Product Officer, will lead a discussion on using collectables to enhance loyalty programmes and increase player retention.
Expansion and growth
Soft2Bet is rapidly expanding and holds more than 13 licences across nine different jurisdictions, while launches in Romania (Don.ro) and Ontario, Canada (Tooniebet), and upcoming expansions into Mexico, Greece and Nigeria demonstrate the company’s continued focus on growing its commercial and regulatory footprint.
The post Soft2Bet celebrates a year of growth and innovation at SiGMA Malta Europe 2024 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Conferences in Europe
Almost 200 Participants Grace European Gaming Congress 2024, as Organizers Already Plan Warsaw Return
HIPTHER, organizer of the European Gaming Congress (EGC) and other renowned GameTech boutique conferences, is thrilled to announce the triumphant success of EGC 2024 and the exciting news of the conference’s return to Warsaw in 2025.
Building on the momentum from its 2023 edition, European Gaming Congress 2024 expanded its program into a multi-faceted, 2-day agenda packed with learning and networking opportunities. Attendance more than doubled to nearly 200 delegates, and all exhibitor spaces sold out.
EGC 2024 brought together the vibrant Polish iGaming market and the broader European GameTech industry for a series of insightful panels, unique networking opportunities, and unforgettable moments. The event educated and connected delegates in a meaningful and constructive way.
Distinguished experts from iGaming, Compliance, Technology, Blockchain, Fintech, Marketing, and Human Capital Management took the stage, offering invaluable insights and hosting workshops on the latest trends and strategies for business growth and success.
In an innovative move to validate expertise and reward continuous learning, all attendees were awarded a Certificate of Professional Distinction for their successful participation in the European Gaming Congress 2024.
One of the event’s highlights was the prestigious European iGaming Excellence Awards 2024, celebrating the best companies and brightest professionals in the European iGaming industry, as voted by their peers. And the winners are:
🏆 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒: Promatic Group
🏆 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐓𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐋𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒: Gaming Laboratories International, LLC
🏆 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐏𝐚𝐲𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒: CoinsPaid
🏆 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒: Miss Joker Show (by Promatic Group)
🏆 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐂𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒: SOFTSWISS Managed Services
🏆 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒: Evoplay (Adrenaline Rush)
🏆 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦 𝐢𝐧 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒: Mindway AI
🏆 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒: Evoplay
🏆 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐄𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒: Promatic Group
🏆 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐌𝐨𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒: Evoplay
🏆 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐋𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐫 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒: ICONIC21
🏆 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦 𝐢𝐧 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒: N1 Partners Group
🏆 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐞𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐁𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒: DATA.BET
🏆 𝐈𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐢𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒: SOFTSWISS
🏆 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐋𝐚𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐡 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒: Xanada Investments
🏆 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒: Superbet
🏆 𝐢𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒: Ivan Montik, Founder at SOFTSWISS
🏆 𝐑𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐢𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒: Gal Ehrlich, CEO at BETER
🏆 𝐈𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒: Ivan Kravchuk, CEO at Evoplay
🏆 𝐢𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐥𝐮𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒: Valentina Bagniya, CMO at SOFTSWISS
🏆 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐄𝐎 𝐢𝐧 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒: Aleksandra Mouton, CEO at Amarix
The illustrious event was Sponsored by top-tier companies, including:
- Promatic Games by Promatic Group – Platinum & Welcome Meet Sponsor
- Xanada Investments – Main Stage Sponsor
- BET – Badge, Bracelet and Networking Break Sponsor
- NSoft – Pen and Paper Sponsor
- Nordic Gambling – Scandinavian Legal Expertise Sponsor
- RM Legal – General Sponsor
- Gaming In Poland – General Sponsor
- Zondacrypto – Selfie Mirror Sponsor
- Superbet – General Sponsor
- LV Bet – General Sponsor
- PIGBRiB – General Sponsor
The European Gaming Congress has been warmly embraced by both the Polish gaming market and the wider European iGaming industry, solidifying its status as a must-attend event and key meeting point for the industry.
Zoltan Tuendik, Co-Founder & Head of Business at HIPTHER, commented: “We are thrilled with the incredible success of the European Gaming Congress 2024, and we are grateful to our esteemed sponsors, participants, and the remarkable Polish Gaming Community who made it possible. We’re excited to announce our return to Warsaw for another year, but stay tuned – we have a few surprises in the works for the years ahead!”.
The #hipthers team is already planning the grand return of the European Gaming Congress to Warsaw in mid-to-late October 2025. Stay tuned for more, and we’ll see you in Warsaw!
The post Almost 200 Participants Grace European Gaming Congress 2024, as Organizers Already Plan Warsaw Return appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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