AI
Yaspa becomes founding member of UNLV’s AI Research Hub to advance responsible AI adoption in the gambling industry
Yaspa, a leading fintech specializing in payments and identity solutions, today announces it has become a founding member of the newly launched AI Research Hub (AiR Hub) at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) International Gaming Institute (IGI). This collaboration underscores Yaspa’s commitment to integrating next-generation financial technology with academic research to foster a safer, more sustainable gambling environment.
The UNLV International Gaming Institute (IGI) established the AiR Hub to advance the industry’s understanding of the impacts, risks, and opportunities presented by artificial intelligence. Co-founded by Kasra Ghaharian, IGI Director of Research, and industry veteran Simo Dragicevic, the initiative serves as a collaborative ecosystem designed to accelerate the adoption of trusted, responsible AI across the global gaming sector.
Yaspa joins a prestigious group of founding members, including Aristocrat, Evoke Plc, Playtech Plc, and the Responsible Online Gaming Association (ROGA). This diverse coalition is tasked with ensuring that AI development in the sector is grounded in cross-disciplinary expertise.
AiR Hub’s flagship project is the “State of AI in Gaming” report, a first-of-its-kind annual study indexing company AI maturity, as well as tracking regulatory and policy developments. Through this and related projects, AiR Hub seeks to drive innovation and help ensure AI-driven systems are governed appropriately within this highly regulated industry.
As a founding member, Yaspa brings its in-house AI expertise to guide the Hub’s research initiatives, drawing from its experience in developing the technology behind its Intelligent Payments platform and proprietary machine learning categorizer. To support this mission, Max Collinge, Yaspa’s Vice President of Product, will join the AiR Hub Advisory Panel. Collectively, panel members help steer the Hub’s initiatives, ensuring they maintain deep industry relevance.
“Joining AiR Hub as a founding member reflects Yaspa’s commitment to leveraging the synergy between AI and open banking data to drive a more sustainable gambling ecosystem,” said Max Collinge.
“By utilizing deep financial insights through AI-driven analysis, we can deliver significantly better outcomes for players and operators alike. I am personally thrilled to join the Advisory Panel to help shape this next phase of collaboration and ensure research leads to practical, responsible innovation.”
Kasra Ghaharian, Director of Research, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, International Gaming Institute, commented, “Fintech and AI are two of the most transformative technologies in the world today, and their impact on the gaming industry will undoubtedly continue to be profound. The richness of this data provides intriguing potential across the value chain, particularly regarding consumer protection and compliance. I am excited to see how we can help drive thought leadership for the industry at the intersection of these two technologies.”
Simo Dragicevic, IGI Adjunct Fellow, said, “Yaspa is building the industry’s open banking orchestration layer for player insights and risk assessment. Their expertise in payments, technology and risk will add significant value to the AiR Hub Advisory Panel and we look forward to collaborating with Yaspa as we execute our mission to develop the industry’s ecosystem for collaborative AI research.”
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2026 summit
HIPTHER Prague Summit Unveils 50% of Its Dynamic 2026 Agenda
The HIPTHER Prague Summit is shaping up to be one of the most comprehensive events of the year, with an agenda that reflects the fast-evolving landscape of iGaming, fintech, compliance, AI, media, and beyond. With four distinct stages and content spanning two days, the summit promises high-impact insights, cutting-edge knowledge sharing, and actionable strategies for stakeholders across the digital industries.
While only half the agenda has been released so far, what’s already on the table reveals an ambitious and future-forward program. Attendees can expect the remaining schedule—focused on the Expert Panel Stage and HIPTHER Academy—to further raise the bar with industry-leading panels and advanced learning formats.
Stage 1: Compliance & Regulation
This track offers a robust dive into both regional and global regulatory trends, aimed at compliance professionals, legal experts, and decision-makers navigating complex frameworks.
Day 1 will focus on market updates, regulators’ panels, and regional compliance outlooks. Highlights include a Czech Market update, a panel featuring European regulators, and regional overviews from Germany and the Balkans.
Day 2 expands into the global picture, covering enforcement trends, jurisdiction updates from Southern Europe, the USA, and LatAm, and a deep-dive GLI session on certification and trust. The day wraps with an IMGL-led masterclass exploring the intersection of AI, automation, and accountability.
Stage 2: Expert Panels Stage
This track is a powerhouse of innovation-focused dialogue.
Day 1 will feature panels on iGaming, fintech, AI, media, SEO, esports, and business growth. Industry disruptors and thought leaders will gather to unpack the trends driving momentum across verticals.
Day 2 will turn the spotlight to deep-dive panels with operators, suppliers, and advisors sharing battle-tested strategies, future bets, and lessons from scaling globally.
Stage 3: Main Focus Stage
This stage is split into two powerful themes across both days.
Day 1 is the Keynote Arena, with standout talks on branding, visibility, growth, and deal-making. Sessions like “LinkedIn as a Dealflow Engine” and “Branding in the Attention Economy” offer tactical insights for companies looking to sharpen their competitive edge.
Stage 4: HIPTHER Academy
Designed for hands-on learning and skill development, this stage blends education with real-world application.
Day 1 offers masterclasses, workshops, and practical learning sessions, setting the tone for deep engagement.
Day 2 will feature advanced education formats, including certification-oriented sessions, ideal for professionals looking to level up with verified credentials.
Don’t Miss Out – Secure Your Spot Now
With limited availability and high interest across the industry, now is the perfect time to register. Be among the first to access cutting-edge insights, connect with top-tier professionals, and help shape the future of digital industries.
Register today for HIPTHER Prague Summit 2026 and be part of the conversation that drives the next wave of innovation.
The post HIPTHER Prague Summit Unveils 50% of Its Dynamic 2026 Agenda appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
AI
Primero Games Uses XGENIA for Their First AI-Generated Slot Game
XGENIA, the creator-first AI platform revolutionising game development, and Primero Games, a leader in retail and online gaming solutions, today announced a landmark collaboration that brings to life Primero’s first AI-generated slot game: Blackbeard Bounty. Developed entirely using the XGENIA platform, the game will debut — fully playable — at ICE Barcelona 2026, showcased at Stand 2Y22, where XGENIA is co-exhibiting alongside Storm Games, a UK-based studio acquired by Primero in 2022.
This partnership marks a significant milestone in Primero Games’ strategy to expand aggressively into the digital iGaming market by leveraging cutting-edge tools that reduce development cycles and maximize creative output.
“With XGENIA, we didn’t just speed up development — we completely reimagined the process,” said Barry Rutherford, CEO of Primero Games. “Our new AI-built slot is more than a game — it’s a statement about how we’re blending tradition with technology to lead the next wave of interactive content. ICE Barcelona is the perfect stage to launch it.”
XGENIA’s AI-native platform allows studios like Storm Games and operators like Primero to build production-ready slot games using drag-and-drop workflows, AI-generated logic, and instant deployment tools — all without traditional coding.
“We built XGENIA for creators who move fast,” said Mark Flores Martin, CEO of XGENIA. “Primero Games immediately understood the vision. Their team saw that with AI-first tools, they could go from concept to playable slot in days — not months. That kind of alignment is exactly why this partnership works.”
Building on the 2022 acquisition of Storm Games — a move that brought UK development expertise and creative IP into Primero’s portfolio — this collaboration uses XGENIA’s latest features to bring Blackbeard Bounty to life, complete with AI-driven animation, compliance-ready maths, and backend logic.
Experience it Firsthand at ICE Barcelona
Visit Stand 2Y22 to play Blackbeard Bounty live and explore the XGENIA platform behind it.
Event: ICE Barcelona
Date: January 19-21, 2026
Location: Hall 2, Stand 2Y22
The post Primero Games Uses XGENIA for Their First AI-Generated Slot Game appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
AI
InsightPlay.ai Raises $500K Seed Round Backed by Leading Industry Veterans to Accelerate AI Transformation in iGaming
InsightPlay.ai, the enterprise AI transformation partner for the global iGaming industry, has announced the successful raise of a $500K Seed funding round, backed by an exceptional group of industry veterans and strategic angel investors with deep expertise across gaming, payments, data, marketing and SaaS.
The funding will support InsightPlay.ai’s mission to transform how iGaming operators acquire, retain and reactivate players through enterprise-grade conversational AI Agents, compliance-first architecture and real-time business intelligence. The company is already delivering measurable impact at scale across multiple regulated markets.
InsightPlay.ai currently works with leading operators and affiliates across Latin America, Europe and North America, achieving industry-leading results in player reactivation, engagement and operational efficiency, all while meeting the highest standards for data governance and strict compliance standards.
Javier Troncoso, CEO of InsightPlay.ai said, “The backing we’ve received reflects a shared belief that AI in iGaming must move beyond isolated features and into core infrastructures.
“Our focus is building technology that operators can trust, scale and govern across regulated markets.”
Cristian Barbosa, COO of InsightPlay.ai, added: “From day one, we set out to build a company driven by customer outcomes, not technology for technology’s sake. By combining innovation, product vision and deep gaming expertise, we’re positioned to create lasting, industry-wide impact.”
The Seed round brings together an exceptional group of angel investors, including Jeffrey Haas (ex-Evoke, DraftKings, PokerStars), Marc Pedersen (Former CEO, Better Collective North America) and Benjie Cherniak (ex-Scientific Games, Don Best Sports), alongside additional industry-backed angels.
InsightPlay.ai will showcase live AI activations at ICE Barcelona 2026, demonstrating real-world use cases of conversational AI in sports betting.
“ICE is where innovation becomes reality,” said Javier. “We’re excited to show what enterprise AI truly looks like in iGaming.”
The post InsightPlay.ai Raises $500K Seed Round Backed by Leading Industry Veterans to Accelerate AI Transformation in iGaming appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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