Industry News
Yalp is ‘social responsibility by design’
John Rozek, Financial Compliance Director at Game Payment Technology to explain the depth of Yalp’s commitment to social responsibility at EAG Seminar
In addition to making its debut appearance at EAG, Game Payment Technology (GPT), the joint venture established by bacta, will be using its time at the ExCeL Exhibition Centre to participate in the EAG Seminar Programme. John Rozek, GPT’s Financial Compliance Director and a member of the team responsible for creating Yalp the cashless payments app which is being officially launched at EAG, will be drawing on his vast experience gained working in the payments sector to highlight how social responsibility lies at the heart of what Yalp is all about. He explained: “When we embarked on the development programme we were very aware of how a cashless payments app could, and should, incorporate key social responsibility initiatives in order to help players to take greater personal control of their gambling activities.
“In many ways I would describe Yalp as being a case of ’social responsibility by design’. It enables players to establish their own breaks in play, it provides session spend reminders and it has safe bet limits. Although players can reduce these limits at any time, it takes 24-hours to increase them. There is a period between when a player loads funds to when those funds are available for play and there’s the ability to set a cooling off period of between one week and six months. In terms of reporting features Yalp can provide a transaction history for both the individual’s card and his/her machine. Armed with the Yalp app players are able to take control and it is a case of providing them with all of the tools and mechanisms necessary to create their own social responsibility framework. The inclusion of secure biometric technology helps operators meet age verification requirements and promote safer gaming and data minimisation.”
Rozek, who has a long pedigree in the payments sector playing a major role in the integrated Chip and Pin solution, for which he won the Queens Award for Industry (Innovation) in 2004, has been taken back by the level of engagement there is with Yalp. He confirmed: “The response to the Yalp project has been extremely positive right from the outset but the extent and the depth of interest from the entire industry really struck home when we attended the Autumn Coin-Op Show. This was the first occasion that I was able to meet with members of the industry and demonstrate how far we had come with Yalp, listen to their operational needs and outline the road map moving forward. There is a level of genuine engagement that I’ve not necessarily experienced working in other industry sectors. Having a secure cashless payments app has moved from a ‘nice to have’ to a ‘must have’ and I look forward to once again meeting with the industry next week at EAG.”
Balkans
CT Interactive Appoints Martin Dimitrov as its New Commercial Manager
CT Interactive has appointed Martin Dimitrov as its new Commercial Manager. Martin brings over eight years of experience in sales, client management and business development, with the past two years dedicated to the dynamic iGaming industry.
Throughout his career, Martin has managed a diverse portfolio of clients and partners, successfully developing and strengthening long-term commercial relationships. His active participation in key industry events has enabled him to build an extensive professional network and maintain a strong, up-to-date understanding of market trends and dynamics.
Martin’s strong leadership and strategic thinking allow him to identify new business opportunities, drive sustainable growth and support partners with tailored commercial solutions. His collaborative approach and results-driven mindset make him a trusted point of contact for clients and colleagues alike.
With his deep understanding of the iGaming landscape and proven commercial expertise, Martin Dimitrov is a valuable addition to the CT Interactive team.
The post CT Interactive Appoints Martin Dimitrov as its New Commercial Manager appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
blask
Greece Led Europe’s iGaming Growth in 2025 — Now the Drivers Are Fully Explained
In the second half of 2025, Greece emerged as Europe’s fastest-growing iGaming market. While several major jurisdictions slowed or declined, Greek market demand rose by more than 50% between June and December, standing out as one of the year’s clearest growth stories.
According to data from Blask, the surge was not the result of a single tournament or seasonal spike. Instead, it reflected a structural shift driven by a combination of sports momentum, regulatory reform and casino market dynamics — factors that can now be traced in detail through Blask’s newly released Market Explanation feature.
Continuous sports momentum without demand gaps
Greece’s growth was underpinned by a tightly stacked sports calendar that sustained engagement across multiple months. EuroBasket 2025 in late August, the kickoff of the Stoiximan Super League, UEFA Champions League matchdays under the new league-phase format, and the EuroLeague season featuring Greek clubs created a continuous rhythm of high-interest betting cycles throughout autumn.
Rather than short-lived peaks followed by sharp declines, demand remained elevated well beyond individual events. This is a pattern clearly visible on the Blask Index trend line.
Casino reform reshaped demand behavior
One of the most significant contributors came from the casino segment. Greece’s decision to raise RNG stake limits from €2 to €20 altered the mechanics of the market, allowing online casinos to absorb demand during sports off-peak periods.
As sports-led acquisition increasingly converted into casino play, operators reported double-digit iGaming growth. Market Explanation analysis shows that this effect persisted over time, confirming the shift as structural rather than seasonal.
Enforcement redirected demand to licensed operators
Regulatory action further reinforced the upward trend. In December, Greek authorities blocked approximately 11,000 illegal gambling domains. Instead of suppressing demand, the move redirected player interest toward licensed platforms, strengthening regulated market performance.
The impact was amplified by the adoption of IRIS instant payments, which reduced deposit friction and improved conversion from interest to activity.
From tracking trends to understanding causes
To surface these drivers, Blask has introduced Market Explanation — an AI-powered layer within the Blask Index that allows users to click on any country’s trend line and instantly see a sourced breakdown of the forces behind the movement. Sports calendars, regulatory changes, casino dynamics and macro factors are analyzed together, turning raw demand signals into actionable market context.
Greece’s 2025 performance illustrates how this approach changes market analysis. Rather than simply observing that demand is rising, operators, suppliers and investors can now see why it is happening — and which levers are shaping the trajectory of a market in real time.
The post Greece Led Europe’s iGaming Growth in 2025 — Now the Drivers Are Fully Explained appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Crypto Turnkey
GR8 Tech Delivers 1.6× Higher Deposit Conversion and 3× Reduction in Transaction Costs for Crypto Turnkey Clients
Unlock Your Crypto Advantage at ICE Barcelona 2026
The post GR8 Tech Delivers 1.6× Higher Deposit Conversion and 3× Reduction in Transaction Costs for Crypto Turnkey Clients appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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