Global Expansion

ProgressPlay Unveils Dual-Engine Strategy for 2026: Empowering Partners via Standalone and Sweepstakes Solutions

Published

1 day ago

January 9, 2026

In the fast-evolving world of iGaming, a platform’s future is defined not just by what it offers today, but by its vision for the growth of its partners tomorrow. ProgressPlay has set its sights on a future powered by two of its most dynamic and strategic offerings: Standalone and Sweepstakes verticals.

Alongside its robust and trusted traditional white-label and turnkey casino and sportsbook solutions, the company is placing a defining strategic emphasis on these two pillars. They represent a fundamental expansion of the partner growth playbook, offering distinct, powerful pathways to market share in the coming year.

The Launchpad: ICE Barcelona 2026

The ICE Barcelona event will serve as the official launchpad for this vision. ProgressPlay will be showcasing these innovations at Stand 2D12, where the conversation will pivot from providing a simple service to architecting a future for ambitious operators.

Pillar 1: The Standalone Solution – Autonomy and Legacy

For ambitious brands, the Standalone solution is the ultimate expression of autonomy. It transcends the traditional partnership model by empowering operators to launch their own fully owned entity—a distinct B2C brand—under the protective umbrella and robust infrastructure of ProgressPlay’s proprietary technology.

This offering is engineered for those who demand:

Complete Sovereignty: Full control over player data and commercial strategy.
Tailored Customer Journeys: A bespoke experience that goes beyond a branded front-end.
Asset Building: The ability to build a lasting legacy asset powered by a backend they can trust implicitly.

“The Standalone is for the visionary who demands full ownership to build a lasting legacy asset,” said Marina Nahhas, Head of B2B Sales and Marketing at ProgressPlay. “At ICE, we’re moving the conversation from what we provide to what our partners can achieve.”

Pillar 2: The Sweepstakes Solution – Capturing the Next Wave

Running in parallel is the dedicated Sweepstakes solution. This vertical addresses one of the most complex growth frontiers in modern gaming markets, providing a compliant framework to bridge the gap between social gaming engagement and regulated real-money play.

This focus on Sweepstakes demonstrates a deep understanding of modern player acquisition:

Low-Friction Entry: Build community and brand affinity in evolving markets.
High Engagement: Utilize specialized mechanics and an extensive content library.
Strategic Expansion: Ideal for capturing new demographics and testing markets with lower barriers to entry.

A Versatile Engine for Every Ambition

The power of this dual-strategy lies in its complementary nature. While Standalone caters to partners seeing iGaming as a core, owned vertical, the Sweepstakes vertical offers a strategic entry play for growth-focused strategists.

Itai Lowenstein, CEO of ProgressPlay, explained the precision required for success in 2026:

“The monolithic market is gone. Success in 2026 requires precision. One partner may need the autonomy of a Standalone, while another sees a goldmine in the scalable, community-driven model of Sweepstakes. Our role is to be the versatile, reliable engine for both journeys.”

By strengthening these two pillars alongside their proven turnkey and white-label offerings, ProgressPlay is building the comprehensive toolkit that will define the next generation of iGaming leaders.

Meet ProgressPlay at ICE 2026

Are you ready to choose your own strategic adventure for 2026? Join the ProgressPlay team in Barcelona to discuss how these solutions can drive your growth.

Book a meeting with ProgressPlay at ICE 2026 or visit them at Stand 2D12 to see the future of platform partnership in action.

The post ProgressPlay Unveils Dual-Engine Strategy for 2026: Empowering Partners via Standalone and Sweepstakes Solutions appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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Activision Blizzard

BLAST Appoints Industry Veteran Steve Rossi as Senior Vice President of Brand Partnerships

Published

2 days ago

January 8, 2026

Wladimir P.

BLAST, a global leader in competitive entertainment, has officially announced the appointment of Steve Rossi as Senior Vice President of Brand Partnerships. Rossi joins the team at a pivotal moment, following a record-breaking 2025 that saw the company expand its footprint into New York City, Malta, and Mumbai.

With over 20 years of experience in strategic partnerships across sports, media, and gaming, Rossi is set to lead BLAST’s next phase of commercial evolution.

A Proven Leader in Global Commercial Strategy

Rossi’s career is defined by his ability to bridge the gap between iconic intellectual properties and Fortune 100 brands. His previous roles include senior leadership positions at:

Activision Blizzard: Where he was instrumental in the commercialization and global expansion of Activision Blizzard Esports.
National Football League (NFL): Driving integrated sponsorships across the NFL Network and digital platforms.
Univision Communications: Designing and activating media partnerships across live and linear platforms.
PlayVS: Focusing on the intersection of youth esports and brand engagement.

Based in the newly established New York office, Rossi will oversee BLAST’s global Sponsorship Sales and Partner Management & Activation.

Building on a Record-Breaking 2025

The appointment comes as BLAST continues to scale at an unprecedented rate. In 2025, the company delivered:

15 Arena Events staged across eight different countries.
Broadcasts in 30+ Languages reaching fans in over 100 territories.
Expanded Portfolio: Continued investment in top-tier titles including Counter-Strike 2, Dota 2, Rainbow Six, PUBG, Rocket League, Fortnite, and Brawl Stars.

“BLAST has built a truly premium proposition at the intersection of entertainment, gaming, sport and culture,” said Steve Rossi. “I’m excited to work with the team to build long-term, high-impact partnerships that deliver real value for brands, publishers and fans alike.”

A Strategic Vision for 2026

Leo Matlock, Chief Business Officer at BLAST, emphasized that Rossi’s leadership will be instrumental as the company evolves its partnership offerings. “Steve brings deep experience across esports, sport, media and entertainment. His ability to scale global commercial partnerships makes him the perfect fit for BLAST at this incredibly exciting time.”

As BLAST enters 2026, the focus remains on delivering fan-first experiences and commercially impactful collaborations that maintain BLAST’s position as a pioneer in the competitive gaming space.

Learn More

To stay updated on BLAST’s upcoming arena events and commercial ventures, visit the official BLAST website.

The post BLAST Appoints Industry Veteran Steve Rossi as Senior Vice President of Brand Partnerships appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Activision Blizzard

BLAST Appoints Steve Rossi as Senior Vice President of Brand Partnerships

Published

2 days ago

January 8, 2026

GamingAmericas.com

Rossi joins BLAST following senior commercial leadership roles at Activision Blizzard, the National Football League (NFL) and Univision Communications
He will drive BLAST’s next phase of commercial growth following a record-breaking 2025, which included global expansion and new offices in New York City, Malta and Mumbai

BLAST, one of the world’s leading esports and competitive entertainment companies, has appointed Steve Rossi as Senior Vice President of Brand Partnerships, strengthening its commercial leadership team as the business continues to scale globally.

Rossi brings more than 20 years of experience building high-impact strategic partnerships across complex IP rights, sponsorship, and media portfolios. A commercially driven executive and recognised relationship builder, he has led strategic revenue growth initiatives for some of the world’s most iconic brands and IP holders across sport, gaming and entertainment.

In his new role, Rossi will lead BLAST’s global commercial brand partnerships strategy, overseeing Sponsorship Sales and Partner Management & Activation globally. He will be responsible for driving revenue growth and long-term value creation through strategic brand partnerships, as BLAST continues to expand its premium live events, broadcast content and competitive entertainment formats worldwide.

Throughout his career, Rossi has held senior leadership roles at Activision Blizzard, the National Football League (NFL), and Univision Communications, where he helped design, sell, and activate integrated sponsorship and media partnerships across digital, linear, and live platforms. Most recently, he served in a senior partnerships role at PlayVS, operating at the intersection of competitive gaming, youth esports, and brand engagement.

Most notably, at Activision Blizzard, Rossi played a key role in the global expansion of Activision Blizzard Esports, supporting commercialization efforts by working closely with global brand partners, agencies, and regional sales teams across North America, EMEA, and APAC. Earlier in his career, he helped drive integrated sponsorships for the NFL across NFL Network and digital platforms, collaborating with Fortune 100 marketers and leading media agencies.

Based in New York, Rossi will lead BLAST’s global brand partnerships group, supporting the company’s continued growth across key international markets and working closely with publishers, partners, and internal teams to deliver commercially impactful, fan-first experiences and partnerships.

Steve Rossi, Senior Vice President, Brand Partnerships at BLAST, said: “BLAST has built a truly premium proposition at the intersection of entertainment, gaming, sport and culture. The team has established real global momentum, and the opportunity to build on that foundation and lead the next phase of global partnerships strategy at a company with such creative ambition and international scale was incredibly compelling. I’m excited to work with the team to build long-term, high-impact partnerships that deliver real value for brands, publishers and fans alike.”

Leo Matlock, Chief Business Officer at BLAST, added: “Steve brings deep experience across esports, sport, media and entertainment, combined with a proven ability to scale global commercial partnerships. As BLAST continues to grow its international footprint and evolve its partnership offering, Steve’s leadership will be instrumental in driving sustainable revenue growth and long-term value creation. The last 12 months have seen us expand globally while delivering record output in the process, Steve is joining BLAST at an incredibly exciting time.”

The appointment follows a record-breaking year for BLAST in 2025, with increased broadcast hours and more world-class arena events. The company staged 15 arena events across eight countries, broadcast to millions of fans across more than 100 territories and 30 languages, while expanding its global footprint with new offices and studios in key gaming and media hubs including Mumbai, New York City and Malta. Alongside continued investment in core esports titles such as Counter-Strike 2, Dota 2, Rainbow Six, PUBG, Rocket League, Fortnite and Brawl Stars.

The post BLAST Appoints Steve Rossi as Senior Vice President of Brand Partnerships appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

B2B Gaming

Playnetic Appoints David Mann as CEO to Spearhead Global Expansion

Published

6 days ago

January 5, 2026

Wladimir P.

playnetic-appoints-david-mann-as-ceo-to-spearhead-global-expansion

Playnetic, the immersive B2B iGaming content provider, has announced the appointment of industry veteran David Mann as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective January 2026. Mann joins the company at a pivotal moment, tasked with leading Playnetic through its next phase of strategic global growth.

A Proven Leader for a Rising Star

David Mann brings nearly 20 years of experience to Playnetic, with a distinguished track record of scaling iGaming brands. Most recently, he served as CEO of Swintt, where he was instrumental in transforming the studio into a globally recognized software provider. His previous experience also includes senior commercial and leadership roles at Wazdan, Spigo, and Betway.

Since its inception in January 2024, Playnetic has rapidly established itself as a “must-watch” provider. Under the initial guidance of the founding team, the company has already:

Secured Key Licenses: Operations are live in Malta, Sweden, Romania, Greece, and Ontario (Canada).
Built a Massive Library: Launched over 40 original titles alongside 100+ historical games.
Grown a Global Team: Now employs over 100 professionals across its three in-house studios.

“David’s appointment marks a new chapter for Playnetic,” said Dan Phillips, Non-Executive Director at Playnetic. “His strategic vision and passion for innovation make him the ideal leader to guide us through this next stage of global growth.”

2026 Strategy: Innovation and Partnerships

Mann’s immediate focus will be on strengthening existing partnerships and exploring new market opportunities. His leadership comes just as the company prepares for its most ambitious year yet.

“I’m honored to join Playnetic at such an exciting stage,” said David Mann. “The achievements in such a short time are a testament to the team’s talent. Our focus will be on driving growth and delivering exceptional gaming content to our partners and players worldwide.”

Showcasing at ICE Barcelona 2026

Playnetic is set to make a significant impact at ICE Barcelona 2026 (January 19-21). Exhibiting at Hall 2, Stand 2R70, the company will:

Unveil 8 New Titles: Exclusive games launched specifically for the event.
Feature Game: Paws of Egypt: A highlight of their new roadmap, featuring a “Wilds Ladder” mechanic.
Engage Visitors: Host daily tournaments where attendees can win a holiday for two.
Live Creative Sessions: Artists from their in-house studios will be on-site performing live sketching and caricature drawings.

The post Playnetic Appoints David Mann as CEO to Spearhead Global Expansion appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.