Latest News
Kimi Räikkönen and Paf will begin Partnership
Paf, the Åland-based gaming company and pioneer in responsible gaming, has signed a multi-year partnership with Formula 1 World Champion Kimi Räikkönen.
The agreement is conditional upon Paf obtaining a license in Finland and will take effect once Finland’s gambling market is opened to competition and the current system transitions to a licensing model. At present, the authorities goal is to implement the licensing system at the beginning of 2027.
Thomas Näsman, Manager, Paf: “We’re proud to welcome Kimi to the Paf team. He’s a true Finnish icon, and we value his honesty and no-nonsense approach, qualities that align perfectly with our brand. At Paf, we have bold ambitions to be the most responsible gaming company in the world while continuing to generate funds for the public good. As Finland moves into a licensed market, we’re excited to have Kimi with us on this journey.”
Kimi Räikkönen said: ”To be honest, we were contacted by a few gaming companies that did not arouse our interest, but Paf’s contact did. Paf’s history, openness, responsibility and Finnishness were the most important factors for me, not forgetting the directness, determination and fast working method of the people with whom the agreement was quickly concluded. As new opportunities are opening up for Paf in mainland Finland as well, I hope that our cooperation will be beneficial for Paf.”
Paf – For the benefit of society, Since 1966
Founded by charities in 1966 on the Åland Islands, Paf was built with a clear mission: to generate funds for the benefit of society. Today, Paf continues to lead by example, combining world-class gaming experiences with a bold commitment to social responsibility and transparency. As pioneers in responsible gaming, Paf were the first international gaming company to set annual loss limits for all players in 2018 — We believe great entertainment should be delivered responsibly and sustainably.
Paf stands for no-nonsense honesty, doing what’s right, and setting the standard in everything we do. We’re not here to follow the industry — we’re here to change it.
The post Kimi Räikkönen and Paf will begin Partnership appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
888.it
R. Franco Digital Shortlisted for Casino Platform Excellence at EGR Europe Awards 2026
R. Franco Digital, the leading Spanish iGaming provider, has been officially shortlisted for Casino Platform Supplier of the Year at the prestigious EGR Europe Awards 2026. The nomination recognizes a landmark year for the company, characterized by the explosive growth of its IRIS Open Omnichannel Platform and a major commercial breakthrough into the Italian market.
The winners will be announced during a gala ceremony on February 18, 2026, at the Hilton Malta, where the industry’s top-tier operators and suppliers gather to celebrate European gaming excellence.
IRIS: The Engine of Omnichannel Growth
The core of R. Franco Digital’s success lies in its IRIS platform, a highly scalable, multi-jurisdictional solution that unifies casino, sports betting, and retail management.
IRIS Platform Milestones (2025-2026):
-
Jurisdictional Reach: Certified in 6 jurisdictions and operational in over 10 regulated markets.
-
Content Depth: Seamlessly integrated with over 1,600 games from global third-party providers.
-
Operational Stability: Provides 24/7 multilingual support and advanced real-time analytics for operators.
-
Commercial Momentum: Secured 50+ new operator partnerships and entered three new markets within the last 12 months.
Performance Highlights: 4 Billion Game Rounds
R. Franco Digital’s games portfolio has seen a massive surge in engagement, bolstered by 20 new high-performance slot releases in 2025. Standout titles such as Strange Spins, Aphrodite, Zorro: Final Duel, Ovomon, and The Phantom contributed to a record-breaking year.
| Metric | 2025–2026 Achievement |
| Total Game Rounds | 4 Billion+ across regulated markets |
| Revenue Growth | 30% Increase during the judging period |
| New Content | 20 New slot titles launched |
| Expansion | Debut in the Italian regulated market |
Strategic Italian Market Entry
A major factor in the EGR shortlisting was R. Franco Digital’s successful entry into Italy. The provider rapidly localized its content to meet the specific demands of Italian players through tier-one partnerships:
-
Stanleybet.it: Launched 19 games, including the Italian-exclusive debut of Strange Spins.
-
888.it: Successfully rolled out the popular Super 7 3×3 title.
“We’re proud to be shortlisted for this award, which reflects the strength of our IRIS platform and the quality of the content we’ve delivered over the past year,” said Javier Sacristán Franco, International Business Director at R. Franco Digital. “Our team has worked hard to support operators with reliable, innovative solutions… we are delighted to see that effort recognised.”
The post R. Franco Digital Shortlisted for Casino Platform Excellence at EGR Europe Awards 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Big Hot Flaming Pots
Big Hot Flaming Pots: Tasty Treasures – Lightning Box Brings Land-Based Hit Online
Light & Wonder has officially launched Big Hot Flaming Pots: Tasty Treasures, the digital debut of its highly successful land-based franchise. Developed by in-house specialist studio Lightning Box, this 3×5 slot offers 243 ways to win and a high-energy “three-pot” mechanic that has already become a staple on casino floors worldwide.
The game transitions the whimsical “dumpling-tossing” theme to online audiences, combining vibrant Asian-inspired aesthetics with a deep mathematical model designed for high-engagement sessions.
The Three-Pot Mechanic & Seven Feature Combinations
At the core of the gameplay is the persistent pot system. Landing specific colored coins fuels three separate pots—Yummy, Spicy, and Upsized. These pots can trigger individually or in any combination, leading to seven distinct bonus paths.
| Feature Mode | Gameplay Enhancement |
| Yummy Mode | Increases the Hold & Spin respin counter from 3 to 4, significantly extending bonus life. |
| Spicy Mode | Introduces Chilli multipliers; landing a pepper adds its cash value to every symbol currently held on the board. |
| Upsized Mode | Unlocks a Dual Grid (two reel sets) for the Hold & Spin round, doubling the win potential. |
| Combined Modes | Triggering all three at once creates the “Mega Bonus,” featuring dual grids, 4 respins, and value-boosting peppers. |
Innovation: The Stack N’ Hit
Feature
Unlike traditional Hold & Spin mechanics where symbols simply lock until the round ends, Tasty Treasures introduces the Stack N’ Hit
evolution.
-
Reel Clearing: When a vertical reel is filled with Bun symbols, the prizes are instantly collected, and the reel is cleared.
-
Persistent Respins: Clearing a reel creates open spaces for new prizes to land, allowing the bonus round to continue far longer than standard industry alternatives.
-
The Path to Grand: Each cleared reel activates a “Pepper Tracker” above it. Lighting up all five trackers awards the Grand Progressive Jackpot.
Jackpot Tiers & Base Game Depth
Operators benefit from a versatile math model that supports both consistent base-game performance and high-volatility jackpot chases.
-
Progressive Jackpots: Grand and Major tiers for life-changing win potential.
-
Fixed Jackpots: Minor and Mini tiers awarded through symbols landing during features.
-
Nudge Wilds: In the base game, Wild symbols can nudge to cover entire reels, assisting in achieving the 243-way payouts.
“Big Hot Flaming Pots: Tasty Treasures carries forward a brand that has already made its mark in land-based venues,” says Michael Maokhamphiou, Studio Director at Lightning Box. “This release offers operators a flexible, high-performing title that combines familiarity with fresh layers of engagement.”
The post Big Hot Flaming Pots: Tasty Treasures – Lightning Box Brings Land-Based Hit Online appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Blask Index
How Venezuela’s iGaming market is reacting to US pressure
Blask data indicates Venezuela’s iGaming demand remained stable in the initial days following the US operation in Caracas.
On 3 January, US forces detained Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro, transporting him from Caracas to face prosecution in New York. The raid came after months of intensifying American pressure throughout 2025 — naval presence, targeted strikes, and a fresh sanctions package.
For Venezuela’s iGaming sector, the disruption poses a critical question: will demand collapse, or adapt?
First results
Blask’s daily Index remained within a tight corridor from 1–4 January, hovering in the high-200K zone. It dropped 5% to 257.4K on the day of the operation, before recovering the next day.

The data reveals no abrupt demand shift during this period. A slight decline sits within Venezuela’s normal daily fluctuations and does not point to a fundamental market change.
Rapid expansion, growing dominance
Venezuela stood out as one of iGaming’s strongest demand gainers in 2025. Blask Index surged 134.9% year-on-year — the second-highest growth worldwide.

This expansion came alongside increasing market dominance. By December, Triunfo Bet commanded 59% of Blask’s BAP (Brand Accumulated Power, measuring a brand’s portion of total user interest nationally), gaining 15 percentage points since January. The top three brands collectively reached over 85%, up 11 points.
The post How Venezuela’s iGaming market is reacting to US pressure appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
-
iGaming News 20263 days agoSpinomenal Rings in 2026 with Japanese-Inspired “Kami Reign Ultra Mode”
-
Hold and3 days agoPragmatic Play Rings in 2026 with Joker’s Jewels Hold & Spin™
-
Five Elements Slot3 days agoPG Soft Concludes 2025 with High-Volatility Launch: Mythical Guardians
-
Latest News3 days agoFrom ‘Mummyverse’ to Crash Games: Belatra Reviews a Landmark 2025
-
Bespoke Gaming Studio3 days agoCreedRoomz and Casumo Forge Strategic Partnership to Elevate Live Casino Experience
-
B2B gaming software3 days agoGamblers Connect and BetOxygen Announce Strategic B2B Partnership
-
Akshat Rathee2 days agoIndian Esports 2026: Strategic Growth and the Asian Games Milestone
-
Aztec Slot2 days agoEvoplay Unveils Sunstone Riches: An Aztec Adventure Powered by the Sun



