Central Europe
Pixel Federation gains international recognition as it expands past Slovak borders with Czech office opening
Slovakia’s biggest game developer announces its expansion into Brno, Czech Republic with a new office opening this Summer.
28 June 2021, Bratislava: Slovakian based game developer Pixel Federation is continuing to soar to impressive heights: following a year of record-beating revenues, new game releases, and global launches, Pixel Federation is now expanding past Slovak borders to open its first international office in neighbouring Brno, Czech Republic.
With a decent fan base already in the Czech Republic, some of whom have been playing Pixel’s oldest games from the very beginning, and Brno only a short 90 minute commute from Bratislava, the move across the border is a natural progression for a games studio growing faster and further beyond expectations. The Czech language, culture and distance will offer a fresh perspective for the company but sit close enough to Slovakian that it seemed an instinctive choice for its first international base. Expanding into another country to open an office entirely dedicated to serving individual projects is no mean feat but the team at Pixel Federation is determined to make its mark on Europe and beyond.
‘We have by no means outgrown our Bratislavan offices, but we recognised an opportunity in our company for an international office and decided to start with beautiful Brno,’ says Daniel Duranka, COO. ‘The proximity means current employees can commute there easily whilst we are also looking to hire new talented individuals from the region, and expand our team culturally as well as physically. We’re truly excited to see what a move into Brno will bring for Pixel Federation this year and welcome new faces into the family.’
The last decade has been incredibly successful for Pixel Federation, growing dramatically from a small studio in a leaky warehouse to boasting 230 employees and a cumulative annual turnover of more than €50 million last year, there is little doubt that it is a studio to watch. However, Pixel has always been determined not to let success derail its ideology and values, and the new offices in Brno will be no different. The long lasting values of transparency, serving a dedicated community and individual development and education will be rooted within the new team and management in the Czech offices. Seeking fresh talent in Brno combined with existing employees means that Pixel’s impressive goal is for the offices to play host to full scale projects, centralising games and development directly within Brno inside of the first year. Despite expanding at a remarkable rate, there is no motivation within the leadership team at Pixel Federation to turn into a huge but soulless corporation; in fact the focus will be on remaining grounded with the uniting gaming passion of delivering games from players to players, growing the Pixel Federation family.
Following the recent decision to expand its CSR strategy from a host of education projects to also focus on the environment, as well as a shift towards a multi-person management team at the top tier, Pixel Federation is clearly demonstrating a strong dedication to empowering its community at all levels – from a collaborative leadership effort to its players and the world they live in. Pixel Federation is leading the charge for an era of game development that is rooted in community and a grounded passion, and now these values are expanding past Slovak borders into Brno, driving change in the gaming community and beyond.
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Central Europe
Poland to Classify Gambling Streaming as Serious Crime
The Polish Parliament is considering a landmark draft law to curb harmful digital content, specifically targeting the phenomenon known as “patostreaming.”
Patostreaming is recognised as a new term to categorise criminal offences related to the broadcasting of online violence, abuse and sexually degrading content.
The proposed legislation would criminalize the broadcasting of violence, abuse, and sexually degrading material. Additionally, the bill seeks to outlaw the promotion of online gambling by social media influencers. By amending the Penal Code, supporters aim to bridge the legal gap between digital behaviour and offline criminal acts, ensuring online offenders face the same accountability as those in the physical world.
The bill carries the backing of ministers of Poland’s new Civic Coalition (KO) government, formed in late 2025 by the union of the Citizens Platform (PO), Modern (Nowoczesna) and the Polish Initiative (iPL).
Supporters call for clearer enforcement powers to treat the online broadcasting of serious criminal acts as a punishable offence, aligning digital conduct with crimes already sanctioned offline.
If adopted, the legislation would introduce prison sentences ranging from three months to five years for individuals who publicly share real or staged content depicting serious criminal acts via online platforms.
The same penalty range would also apply to influencers found to be illegally promoting online gambling activity that remains heavily restricted under Poland’s state-controlled gambling regime.
KO ministers have framed the initiative as part of a broader effort to strengthen online protections for Polish youth, citing rising exposure to violent digital content and illegal gambling promotions across social media platforms.
The post Poland to Classify Gambling Streaming as Serious Crime appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Casino-Groups
Sebastian Jarosch Becomes Head of AI at Casinos Groups
Sebastian Jarosch is no longer solely the founder and managing director of Casino Groups as he is also taking on the role of Head of AI, at least on an interim basis. This personnel decision marks a conscious step towards closer integration of corporate management and technological responsibility.
In future, Jarosch will not only be responsible for the strategic direction of the company, but also for the further development of the AI systems that already form a central part of the product landscape. Casino Groups is one of the best-known platforms, which has been using and continuously developing an AI-supported rating system for online casinos for some time.
The decision to anchor the role of Head of AI directly at management level was a conscious one. Artificial intelligence now influences almost all areas of the affiliate business, from content structures and data analysis to regulatory documentation and product logic. Such a development requires decisions that bring together economic objectives, technological possibilities and legal frameworks.
Sebastian Jarosch brings this perspective from years of experience in the iGaming sector. As an entrepreneur, he is familiar with economic dependencies as well as the challenges of increasing regulation. The additional responsibility in the AI area makes it possible to set technological courses more quickly, define priorities more clearly and establish innovation as an integral part of corporate management.
The new role of Head of AI fits in perfectly with current developments in the iGaming market. Increasing regulatory requirements, rising acquisition and content costs, and the growing influence of AI-powered search systems are changing the economic fundamentals of the affiliate business. Visibility is no longer achieved solely through reach, but through authority, consistency and verifiable quality.
With this appointment, Casino Groups is sending a clear signal to the outside world. Affiliate companies are increasingly being valued like media or technology companies. Partners and investors are placing greater emphasis on compliance, data competence and sustainable product development. The bundling of management and AI responsibility strengthens the company’s credibility in these areas.
At the same time, Casinos Groups is positioning itself as a player that does not delegate innovation, but actively drives it forward. The interim nature of the role creates space for further development and adaptation without diluting the strategic ambition. For the industry as a whole, this step underlines that AI expertise has arrived at the management level.
The role of Head of AI forms the organisational foundation for this development. It ensures that technological innovation, editorial standards and economic objectives are interlinked. Casino Groups is thus pursuing a clear line: technology as a tool, people as an authority and quality as a connecting element.
The post Sebastian Jarosch Becomes Head of AI at Casinos Groups appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Birgit Wimmer
Birgit Wimmer Named Chairwoman as NOVOMATIC AG Reshapes Supervisory Board
“As Chairwoman of the Supervisory Board, I look forward to working together with my colleagues on both the Supervisory Board and the Executive Board as we help to successfully shape the Group’s strategic and sustainable development,” says Birgit Wimmer.
Dr. Haig Asenbauer, an internationally experienced lawyer with particular expertise in cross-border M&A transactions, company reorganization, and complex investment structures, was elected to serve as Deputy Chairman. Martina Flitsch retains her position as a Member of the Supervisory Board. She has many years of experience in international group structures and in providing strategic and legal support for corporate investments. Dr. Robert Hofians, a recognized finance and capital markets expert who also has extensive experience in the fields of governance and regulation in his roles as a professor and public accountant, also remains a Member of the Supervisory Board.
As of January 1, 2026, the Supervisory Board of NOVOMATIC AG is now composed as follows:
- Birgit Wimmer, MSc., MBA (Chairwoman)
- Dr. Haig Asenbauer (Deputy Chairman)
- Martina Flitsch (Member)
- Dr. Robert Hofians (Member)
The post Birgit Wimmer Named Chairwoman as NOVOMATIC AG Reshapes Supervisory Board appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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