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SAZKA Group teams up with Sir Keith Mills in bid for Fourth UK National Lottery Licence

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SAZKA Group, Europe’s largest lottery operator, today announced it has appointed Sir Keith Mills as Bid Chair of the UK team for the Fourth National Lottery Licence Competition. Sir Keith, a successful entrepreneur whose creative talent conceived the loyalty programmes so ubiquitous today, brings a wealth of experience from his roles across sport, charities, and business. He played a pivotal role in London’s successful bid to host the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and subsequently, their successful staging. For the past six years he has chaired the Royal Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, a role he hands over to Lord William Hague next month. He is also Chairman of the Invictus Games, the international adaptive multi-sport event created by Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex.

Commenting on the announcement, Sir Keith said, “I am driven by organisations that make a real contribution to society. I chose to team up with Sazka for the Fourth National Lottery Licence Competition because I believe the UK National Lottery needs to grow and be engaging if it is to continue to fund the thousands of good causes every year. Our lottery is a national treasure with nearly 26 years of history; however, the landscape has changed immeasurably since it was first launched back in 1994. The challenge now is to ensure the lottery connects with people right across the country, making it fresh and exciting as it once was, bringing new ways that are relevant for today and tomorrow’s generation. I feel passionately that it needs to be restored to the nation’s hearts, especially in these difficult times. I teamed up with Sazka because they have a proven record of taking established lotteries, growing them and evolving them to be relevant for the future. I am cognisant that much has to be done for us to make a winning case in this competition, but I believe that over the course of this process we will be able to demonstrate how Sazka’s expertise coupled with the experienced British team that we are building in the UK will offer the right stewardship for the UKNL for 2023 and beyond.”

As Bid Chairman, Sir Keith will lead a team with world-class bidding and delivery experience, including for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and Comic Relief. Sazka has appointed former London 2012 employee, Alastair Ruxton, as the Bid Director, together with British experts in key areas such as Player Protection, Good Causes, Innovation, Digital, Retail and Customer Experience.

Commenting on the agreement, SAZKA Group CEO Robert Chvátal said, “We are thrilled to be partnering with Sir Keith Mills and have him lead our entry in the Fourth National Lottery Licence Competition. We are hugely excited to be participating in this competition and for the chance to take stewardship of the National Lottery, helping the UK to fall back in love with this vital institution. Operating in five different national markets (Czech Republic, Austria, Italy, Greece, and Cyprus) has given us an unprecedented level of insight and experience in running lotteries. In addition, we have consistently increased participation and revenues for the lotteries we operate. We want to bring this deep knowledge and customer insight to revitalise the UK National Lottery increasing sales and money raised for good causes, thereby providing a much-needed long-term boost to community, arts, sports and heritage institutions across the UK.”

After submitting the Selection Questionnaire earlier this month, SAZKA Group has been accepted into the competition by the Gambling Commission, the body running the Competition. The team will now review the final bid application documents and continue to assemble a strong consortium capable of submitting a winning bid in 2021.

About Sir Keith Mills
Sir Keith Mills GBE DL is a British business entrepreneur who founded the Air Miles and Nectar customer loyalty programmes and has established numerous businesses, both in the UK and internationally.  In September 2003, Sir Keith was appointed International President and CEO of London 2012 established to bid for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.  Having won the bid, he established LOCOG to organise the Games, where he was Deputy Chairman alongside Lord Sebastian Coe.  In 2007 Sir Keith established an Olympic related charity, International Inspiration, which he chaired, and in 2008 he established a UK charity, Sported, which he funded and chaired for 10 years. In 2014 Sir Keith established, and was Chairman of, the Invictus Games, working with Prince Harry to deliver a new major international sport event for wounded servicemen and women.  Sir Keith Chairs the Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and the Invictus Games Foundation.  Sir Keith is also a Director and an investor in a number of private companies.
Sir Keith has received numerous awards including: Master Entrepreneur of the Year, Chief Executive of the Year, and the Sports Industry Businessman of the Year, and was knighted by The Queen in 2006 and again in 2013 when he received the Grand Knight Cross for his services to sport.

About SAZKA Group
The SAZKA Group is a national lottery, instant lottery and digital gaming operator, with our trusted brands and industry-leading technology delivering over €17bn in annual sales. Established in 2012, SAZKA Group is already one of Europe’s largest and fastest growing lottery companies and our strong performance across our markets is helping to fund good causes in the Czech Republic, Greece, Cyprus, Austria, and Italy.
Since entering the lottery market in 2012, SAZKA Group has quickly expanded from the Czech Republic into four other European markets. SAZKA Group has consistently taken on established lotteries and made them better, while also expanding into new market segments through market-leading technology platforms. The Group’s unique experience of operating in different jurisdictions enables it to adopt a tailored approach to customer experience in each market, helping to increase sales and returns to good causes.
Responsible gaming and funding good causes are at the heart of SAZKA Group’s business and culture. it promotes responsible gaming in all of its markets and is committed to having a positive impact where it operates. From building children’s hospitals in Greece to support for the Czech Olympic Foundation, SAZKA Group has put its business skills to the benefit of the local community.

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PropellerAds Unveils Multi-Format Advertising Suite for Scalable User Acquisition (January 2026)

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PropellerAds, a leading multi-source performance advertising platform, today launched a deeply integrated multi-format traffic strategy designed to deliver predictable conversions and scalable growth as acquisition costs climb and user attention fragments across devices and platforms.

Since 2011 PropellerAds has expanded beyond its Popunder roots into a full-service adtech platform that now includes Push, In-Page Push (IPP), Native/Display, Survey Traffic, and Telegram Mini Apps (TMA). This move positions the company as one of the few global providers offering integrated reach across traditional web placements and growing social/in-app ecosystems.

Why this matters for advertisers

Rising acquisition costs and cross-device fragmentation make single-format campaigns unreliable. PropellerAds’ multi-format suite lets brands, agencies and affiliates:

  • Mix high-volume formats for rapid testing (Popunder) with high-intent formats (Survey Traffic).
  • Reach audiences across Android, iOS and desktop with native-style creatives (IPP and Push).
  • Tap emerging social channels via in-app experiences (Telegram Mini Apps) for engaged, low-disruption traffic.
    The result: more stable scaling, flexible reach, and higher conversion predictability.

Key formats powering the platform

  • Popunder Ads — volume and scale
    Popunder remains a workhorse for large-scale acquisition, offering massive coverage, direct-click placements and cost control. It’s ideal for fast market tests and high-volume conversion funnels.
  • Telegram Mini Apps (TMA) — social traffic growth
    TMA brings in-app interstitials, banners and task-based units inside Telegram’s Mini Apps. Advertisers gain access to highly engaged social users with performance optimization that preserves user experience.
  • In-Page Push (IPP) — native, cross-device reach
    IPP delivers notification-style creatives embedded within webpages without opt-in, covering Android, iOS and macOS. Its native look and wide device support increase engagement and CTR while filling gaps left by traditional push.
  • Push Format — persistent outreach
    PropellerAds’ Push ads reach users outside browsing sessions via browser notifications. As an early mover in push ads, PropellerAds now delivers billions of daily impressions to support remarketing and time-sensitive campaigns.
  • Survey Traffic — high-intent audiences
    Survey Traffic funnels users who actively participate in surveys to advertiser landing pages, producing audiences with elevated intent—especially effective for finance, subscriptions, rewards, and lead generation verticals.

PropellerAds’ strategic edge

By combining multiple traffic types and automated optimization, PropellerAds aims to protect campaigns from volatility in any single channel. The platform’s cross-format approach helps advertisers adapt to shifting traffic patterns while maintaining ROI targets.

“With user behavior shifting across screens and contexts, PropellerAds’ multi-format synergy is now essential for scalable growth,” says Julia Larionova, Head of Marketing at PropellerAds. “Platforms with integrated formats and automated optimization will gain a competitive advantage as traffic continues to diversify.”

Bottom line

PropellerAds’ multi-format expansion reflects the adtech industry’s shift toward integrated, cross-device acquisition. For marketers facing rising traffic costs and fragmented attention, the platform offers diversified ad formats and performance tools to scale more reliably in 2026 and beyond.

The post PropellerAds Unveils Multi-Format Advertising Suite for Scalable User Acquisition (January 2026) appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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Team Vitality Enters Age of Empires II Esports with Star-Studded Roster

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Team Vitality, one of the most influential names in modern esports, has officially announced its entry into the Age of Empires II competitive scene. This marks a major milestone: the merging of a contemporary esports powerhouse with one of the most iconic real-time strategy franchises in history.

Aiming for the Throne: Star-Studded Roster

Team Vitality isn’t just entering for exposure — they are targeting dominance. The team has assembled a roster featuring three of the most decorated players in Age of Empires II history:

  • Hamzah “Hera” El-Baher – The Golden Boy
    Known for his unmatched consistency and strategic mastery, Hera defines the modern AoE era. In 2023, he achieved a historic 14-tournament winning streak in S-Tier events. Fresh off his Red Bull Wololo: El Reinado 2024 victory, the current Player of the Year is set to continue his reign under the Vitality banner.
  • Kai “Liereyy” Kallinger – The Archer God
    Renowned for exceptional micro-management and aggressive play, Liereyy brings mechanical perfection and explosive strategies to the squad. A multi-time Red Bull Wololo Champion (II & IV), the Austrian star is widely regarded as one of the most spectacular talents in the game’s history.
  • Hernán “Hearttt” Pizarro – The Veteran Strategist
    With a professional career dating back to 2012 and 80+ tournament appearances, Hearttt is the rock of the team. Named Comeback Player of the Year 2023, the Peruvian strategist provides depth, resilience, and unparalleled tactical insight.

First Major Appearance: Red Bull Wololo 2026

Team Vitality’s AoE II roster will make its competitive debut at Red Bull Wololo 2026: Londinium, one of the most prestigious events on the global RTS calendar. Fans can expect high-level strategic gameplay and the start of Vitality’s quest for world championship titles in the genre.

“At Team Vitality, our expansion is always driven by a certain ambition: to compete for and win World Championships in the world’s most iconic games. Age of Empires and our new superstar lineup align perfectly with that vision… We are honored to be part of this history and can’t wait to welcome AoE fans into the Vitality Hive.” — Danny Engels, Corporate Director, Global Operations, Team Vitality

Why This Matters

Team Vitality’s entry into Age of Empires II is a significant moment for the RTS esports ecosystem:

  • It bridges legacy RTS titles and modern esports organizations.
  • Brings global visibility to Age of Empires II tournaments.
  • Sets the stage for strategic showdowns at major international events.

With Hera, Liereyy, and Hearttt, Team Vitality is positioned to challenge for the top spots in competitive AoE II and potentially reshape the RTS landscape for years to come.

The post Team Vitality Enters Age of Empires II Esports with Star-Studded Roster appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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AFCON 2025

AFCON’s month of football did not lift iGaming demand — Blask data analysis

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AFCON 2025 ran from 21 December to 18 January, packing 52 matches across 19 matchdays. Given that schedule and the heavy interest in favourites such as Senegal, Morocco, Nigeria and Egypt, many expected a measurable boost in online gambling activity. However, Blask data shows the tournament produced only occasional deviations from normal patterns — even in the nations with teams that reached the final stages.

Key findings from Blask data

  • No broad uplift: Overall iGaming demand did not climb consistently across markets during AFCON.
  • Weekly rhythm dominated: The Blask Index largely followed pre-existing weekly patterns; matchday timings rarely overrode those cycles.
  • Host-country anomaly: Morocco — with more viewer-friendly kick-offs (five of seven on Sundays or Friday evenings) — recorded the largest single day-to-day Blask Index move (26 December, Morocco vs Mali at 21:00 local).
  • Vertical competition mattered: Live-match excitement often drew attention away from casino play rather than increasing it. Hourly Blask Index figures frequently fell or stayed flat during national-team matches.
  • Market-share stability: Dominant brands (usually 1–4 operators) retained their daily shares; AFCON did not reshuffle leaders in most markets.

Why AFCON didn’t create a sustained iGaming spike

  1. Calendar beats event noise. Daily and weekly user habits — workweek rhythms, prime-time viewing slots and local schedules — remained the strongest determinants of iGaming demand.
  2. Attention is finite. While live betting benefits from matchday attention, casino verticals compete for the same user time. In practice, watching matches often reduced casino activity.
  3. Operator strategy limits volatility. In markets controlled by a few large operators, firms manage audience attention by shifting promotions across verticals rather than expanding overall demand. That keeps market shares relatively steady.

Notable exception: Nigeria’s operator flip-flop

Nigeria bucked the broader trend: two brands controlling 70%+ of audience attention exchanged top positions frequently. Bet9ja was the 2025 leader overall, but SportyBet overtook it on most AFCON days, including all Nigeria team matchdays — showing how high-profile tournaments can temporarily reorder leaderboards where competition is extremely concentrated.

What this means for operators and marketers

  • Promotions should be tactical, not assuming scale. Expect matchday windows to deliver spikes in live-bet engagement but not necessarily a net rise across iGaming.
  • Vertical-specific offers perform better. Tailor live-betting promos during matches and protect casino revenues with off-peak incentives.
  • Local kick-off times matter. Host nations or markets with viewer-friendly schedules can see stronger short-term lifts — use that to time campaigns.

Conclusion

AFCON 2025 drew continent-wide interest, but Blask’s daily and hourly data indicate no broad, sustained iGaming uplift. Instead, the tournament rearranged attention — boosting live-bet engagement at times while leaving overall demand on its usual calendar-driven trajectory. For operators, the insight is clear: the calendar is king, and major sporting events tend to redistribute, not expand, iGaming activity.

The post AFCON’s month of football did not lift iGaming demand — Blask data analysis appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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