Latest News

SBC Digital Italy to deliver timely assessment of Italian market opportunities

Published

5 years ago

February 16, 2021

Reading Time: 2 minutes

This week’s SBC Digital Italy conference and exhibition is set to deliver a timely and in-depth analysis of the latest developments in one of Europe’s largest betting and gaming markets.

The online event on Wednesday 17 February will bring together 750 executives from the Italian gambling industry to exchange ideas about the future of the sector at this time of both great uncertainty and great opportunity.

Italy’s popular retail betting outlets and slots halls continue to take a huge financial hit from enforced Coronavirus-related closures, while the change of government and the tough regulatory regime has created further doubts about the prospects for operators.

However, the online sector has provided a reason to believe that the Italian market continues to offer significant growth opportunities, as a surge in the popularity of igaming led a 45% increase in online GGR in 2020.

The agenda for SBC Digital Italy focuses on tackling the challenges faced by the industry, as well as how to build on the current favourable conditions for online gaming and achieve long-term success.

Pietro Lechiara, Betsson Group’s Managing Director Italy and a speaker at the event, said: “The online gaming industry is undergoing a deep and most interesting transformation. At SBC Digital Italy you can learn about this transformation from the players who are driving this change.”

The agenda includes panels dedicated to regulation and the prospect of further legislation being introduced, the igaming opportunity, adapting slots to the Italian audience, and effective marketing strategies within the current advertising restrictions.

There is also a fireside chat about the future of the industry in Italy with Fabio Schiavolin (CEO, SNAITECH) and Quirino Mancini (Partner, Tonucci & Partners), who are just two of the 25 high-level Italian market experts taking part in the conference.

The other senior executives and specialists on the speaker line-up include Carlo Di Maio (MD Betting Division, Gamenet Group), Alexander Martin (CEO, SKS365), Marco Castaldo (CEO, Microgame & Director for Betting & Online Gaming, ASTRO), Ludovico Calvi (Board Director, Lottomatica Betting Ltd & President, GLMS), Alessandro Grasso (COO, E-Play24), Natalie Berenato (Head of Online Marketing, Olybet Italia), and Cristiano Azzolini Di Maggio (Head of Casino, Signorbet.it).

Rasmus Sojmark, Founder and CEO of SBC, said: “We’re excited to be hosting our first event fully dedicated to Italy, which continues to be one of the most important markets for the European betting and gaming industry.

“It is also a highly complex market, which is in the midst of the transition that so many industries have had to face, as customers increasingly move online. The situation is further complicated by regulatory and COVID-related challenges, but our expert panelists will provide more clarity on the future direction of the industry and a host of valuable ideas about the best emerging opportunities for operators and suppliers.”

In addition to the panel sessions, delegates can take in market commentaries on payments, virtual sports, and esports from Mark Sperring (Head Of Sales and Account Management, MuchBetter), Giuseppe Donato (Country Manager Italy, Kiron Interactive), and Paolo Cisaria (General Manager & CRO, Mkers Srl) respectively.

The interactive product display area will allow attendees to connect with suppliers and media brands with offerings tailored to the Italian market, while there will be a further chance to meet new business contacts in a networking roundtable hosted by Alessio Crisantemi, Direttore Responsabile of GiocoNews.

For further information about the event and to register for free, please visit the official SBC Digital Italy website.

Behavioral Analysis

SCCG Bets on ‘Emotion AI’: New Tech Can Read Player Faces for Trust & Fraud

Published

8 minutes ago

December 23, 2025

Wladimir P.

sccg-bets-on-‘emotion-ai’:-new-tech-can-read-player-faces-for-trust-&-fraud

Editor’s Take

Why this matters: “Emotion recognition” usually raises immediate red flags regarding privacy and GDPR. However, Gotcha’s differentiator—processing micro-expressions in real-time without storing biometric data—could be the key to unlocking this tech for regulated markets. The potential use cases in iGaming are massive: from detecting distress for Responsible Gambling interventions (e.g., stopping a tilt) to identifying “tells” or stress indicators in potential fraud/bonus abuse scenarios.

The Full Story

SCCG Management, the global advisory firm led by Stephen Crystal, has announced a strategic partnership with Gotcha, a technology company specializing in real-time emotional intelligence and behavioral analysis.

The deal will see SCCG spearheading Gotcha’s go-to-market strategy, introducing its proprietary “Emotion AI” platform to a network of over 100 client partners across the sportsbook, iGaming, and digital entertainment sectors.

How It Works: The Science of Micro-Expressions Gotcha’s platform utilizes advanced behavioral science to analyze facial micro-expressions—involuntary muscle movements that reveal genuine emotions—in real-time. By detecting these subconscious signals, the software enables operators to look past what a user says or clicks and understand how they actually feel.

The technology targets critical operational areas including:

Customer Experience: Measuring genuine engagement levels.
Fraud Detection: Identifying behavioral stress markers associated with deceit.
Employee Performance: Evaluating service quality in support or VIP management roles.

The Privacy “Firewall” Crucially for the highly regulated gaming industry, Gotcha has designed its system with a “privacy-first” architecture. The technology delivers instantaneous emotional insights without retaining or storing biometric data. This “no-storage” approach is designed to keep operators compliant with stringent global data protection standards (such as GDPR), solving one of the biggest hurdles for biometric adoption in Europe and North America.

Management Commentary Stephen Crystal, Founder and CEO of SCCG Management, highlighted the regulatory fit of the tech:

“Emotion-driven insights represent a powerful next step in how gaming and digital platforms understand trust, engagement, and user experience. Gotcha has developed a scientifically grounded, privacy-first technology that aligns well with the needs of regulated gaming markets… We’re excited to support their expansion.”

The partnership signals a broader industry trend toward AI-driven behavioral intelligence, moving beyond simple transactional data to deeper, psychological metrics for decision-making.

The post SCCG Bets on ‘Emotion AI’: New Tech Can Read Player Faces for Trust & Fraud appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry Newsroom.

Behavioral Analysis

Gotcha Joins SCCG Network: Using Micro-Expressions to Measure Player Engagement

Published

9 minutes ago

December 23, 2025

GamingAmericas.com

gotcha-joins-sccg-network:-using-micro-expressions-to-measure-player-engagement

SCCG Management, a leading advisory firm in the global gaming industry, today announced a strategic partnership with Gotcha, a pioneering emotion recognition technology company specializing in real-time emotional intelligence and behavioral analysis.

Through this partnership, SCCG will support Gotcha’s go-to-market strategy and business development efforts across gaming, digital entertainment, and adjacent technology-driven sectors. Gotcha’s proprietary platform leverages advanced behavioral science and facial micro-expression analysis to detect subconscious emotional signals in real time, enabling organizations to gain deeper, unbiased insights into customer behavior, trust, and engagement.

Designed with privacy and compliance in mind, Gotcha’s technology delivers instant emotional insight without retaining or storing biometric data. This approach allows operators and enterprises to enhance customer experience measurement, employee performance evaluation, fraud detection, and service quality while maintaining alignment with global data protection standards. The platform has already demonstrated success across multiple industries, including retail, public services, healthcare, and gaming.

SCCG’s role in the partnership includes sales support, strategic introductions, and go-to-market execution, leveraging its global network of more than 100 client partners across sportsbook operators, iGaming platforms, content studios, sports leagues, data providers, and B2B technology vendors. By integrating Gotcha into SCCG’s advisory and business development ecosystem, the partnership aims to accelerate adoption of emotion recognition solutions within regulated gaming environments and other high-interaction digital platforms.

“Emotion-driven insights represent a powerful next step in how gaming and digital platforms understand trust, engagement, and user experience,” said Stephen Crystal, Founder and CEO of SCCG Management. “Gotcha has developed a scientifically grounded, privacy-first technology that aligns well with the needs of regulated gaming markets and enterprise operators. We’re excited to support their expansion and introduce this capability to our global partner network.”

The partnership reflects a broader industry shift toward AI-driven behavioral intelligence designed to improve transparency, engagement, and operational decision-making without compromising privacy, ethics, or regulatory compliance.

The post Gotcha Joins SCCG Network: Using Micro-Expressions to Measure Player Engagement appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

AI Casino Recommender

Meridianbet Doubles Down on Belgium: New Casino License Unlocks €455m Market Segment

Published

18 hours ago

December 22, 2025

Wladimir P.

meridianbet-doubles-down-on-belgium:-new-casino-license-unlocks-e455m-market-segment

Editor’s Take

Why this matters: This is a classic “Cross-Sell” play. Meridianbet has already spent seven years building a sports betting database in Belgium. By securing this B+ license, they can now monetize those same users with higher-margin casino products (slots, table games) without needing to acquire new traffic from scratch. With the Belgian casino sector growing at 20% year-over-year, this is a significant revenue unlock for the GMGI portfolio.

The Full Story

Meridianbet, the sports betting and gaming operator owned by Golden Matrix Group Inc. (NASDAQ: GMGI), has successfully expanded its regulatory footprint in Europe by securing a B+ online gaming license in Belgium.

The new license (B+ 4016) authorizes the company to launch a comprehensive online casino platform—featuring slots, table games, and automated live games—starting in January 2026. This move significantly broadens the operator’s capabilities in the country, complementing its existing sports betting operations which have been active in the Belgian market for seven years.

Targeting the Largest Market Segment The strategic rationale behind the license is clear: Casino is now the dominant force in Belgian gambling. According to the Belgian Gaming Commission, the online casino vertical generated €455 million in Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) in 2023, representing a 20.2% year-over-year increase.

By entering this vertical, Meridianbet gains access to the largest and fastest-growing segment of a market that generated a total of €944.6 million last year.

Tech-First Entry Meridianbet plans to deploy its proprietary AI Casino Recommender technology for the Belgian launch. This system analyzes player behavior and preferences in real-time to deliver personalized game suggestions, a crucial differentiator in a highly concentrated market where just ten operators account for 94% of all online wagers.

Regulatory Context Belgium is known for having one of Europe’s strictest regulatory frameworks, characterized by rigorous compliance standards and player protection protocols. Securing this license validates Meridianbet’s operational standards and deepens its foothold in a “mature” market that is notoriously difficult for new entrants to penetrate.

The post Meridianbet Doubles Down on Belgium: New Casino License Unlocks €455m Market Segment appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry Newsroom.