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Political guests of honour open gamescom 2021

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Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. saw the official kick-off: gamescom 2021 was opened by the political guests of honour. The coronavirus pandemic means that this year’s gamescom is being held entirely online, as was last year’s. The official political opening ceremony was also live-streamed. The show lasted around half an hour and was presented from the studio by TV host Katrin Neumann. Ms Neumann spoke to Felix Falk, the Managing Director of game – the German Games Industry Association, which is a joint organiser of gamescom, in between the welcome addresses from the political guests of honour. These included Andreas Scheuer, Federal Minister of Transport and Digital Infrastructure; Dorothee Bär, Minister of State for Digitalisation; Armin Laschet, Minister-President of the federal state of North-Rhine Westphalia; as well as Henriette Reker, the Mayor of Cologne and Chairwoman of the Koelnmesse Supervisory Board, and COO of Koelnmesse Oliver Frese. In their welcome addresses, the political guests of honour embraced this year’s motto of ‘Games: The New Normal’ as they described the huge potential of games for Germany and explained the need to leverage this even further in future. Despite the extensive online programme of gamescom, the hope was expressed that next year could again be celebrated in Cologne with hundreds of thousands of visitors.

The video of the gamescom 2021 political opening ceremony can be watched on demand on the content hub ‘gamescom now’: now.gamescom.global

Andreas Scheuer, Federal Minister of Transport and Digital Infrastructure: ‘As the world’s biggest games event, gamescom is a valuable showcase. We want to build on that and make up lost ground in future as a development location on the international stage. Last year, at this very place, I gave the green light for the second phase of our games funding programme. Since then, the German government has provided millions of euros to support development studios in the games industry. That’s a real breakthrough. As things stand today, funding of 40 million euros has been approved – and we’re looking forward to receiving more applications. As well as the financial aspect, we have also overhauled our strategy and pooled the expertise to form a dedicated games unit within our Ministry. I am a firm believer that we can benefit from the innovative power of the games industry in many areas – be that the education sector, industry and science or simply in our leisure time.’

Dorothee Bär, Minister of State for Digitalisation within the federal government: ‘The motto of gamescom 2021 sums it up: games are the new normal. They have helped us stay in touch with friends and family during the coronavirus phase. Thank goodness we had games during this period! But games aren’t just the new normal as an entertainment medium, but also in the business, medical and education sectors. For example, increasing numbers of companies are “gamifying” their products– from fitness apps through cars up to videoconferencing tools. The deployment of games in education is particularly exciting: the motivation to play has a direct effect on learning success, not only for children, but also in further education and professional development. Games thus harbour immense innovative power that is demonstrated not least by the digital gamescom itself, and we need to exploit this potential even more rigorously. And that’s why we want to give the games sector in Germany even more support to become one of the best locations in the world. With the new games strategy, we have created an excellent basis for the coming years.’

Armin Laschet, Minister-President of North Rhine-Westphalia: ‘gamescom is a shining example of the strong social component of computer and video games, which has helped many people around the world through the coronavirus pandemic. This form of community is a fundamental building block of our society. The games industry also has enormous economic and social potential – both in the classical development of games and also beyond. The best example of this is in the field of digital education: using fun as a way of learning is part of human nature, which is why we need to be better at exploiting the available opportunities and not be afraid of blazing new trails. Here, too, the games industry will play an important role in future. Because of this huge potential, we need to keep working to improve the framework conditions for the games industry. For that reason, in North Rhine-Westphalia we have set ourselves the goal of wanting to become Germany’s top location for computer and video games some years ago. We also need this clear objective at national level in Germany so we can be the best among the international competition.’

Felix Falk, Managing Director of game – the German Games Industry Association, the joint organiser of gamescom, says: ‘gamescom is finally getting started with days full of announcements, news and shows that the fans are eagerly awaiting. Along with our partners, we are creating an event where millions of players around the world will again be able to celebrate the best games out there. However, at the same time, with the German parliamentary elections on the horizon, we don’t just want to talk about games at this gamescom, but also about what is the right games and digital policy for Germany. For that reason, I am especially pleased that we will be welcoming numerous top politicians not only during the political opening ceremony, but also at the Debatt(l)e Royale on Friday. Our intention with such formats is to give the younger generation above all an adequate opportunity to form an opinion, and to send out a clear message: go out and vote!’

Henriette Reker, mayor of the City of Cologne and chairwoman of the supervisory board of Koelnmesse: ‘I am really enthusiastic about what the entire Koelnmesse, the gamescom team, the association game and all partners created together for the second time in a row. This is exactly the innovative spirit and courage we need to move forward as a society in these challenging times. At the same time, I can hardly wait to see the numerous gamers back in town. First, because they always bring a very special flair with them and the whole city is infected by their enthusiasm. Second, because Cologne benefits from gamescom and its fans on many levels: Gastronomy, hotels and retail are just a few of the sectors that get an enormous boost during trade fair times.’

Oliver Frese, COO of Koelnmesse: ‘For the second year in a row, gamescom 2021 will take place purely digitally. But of course we have not been idle since last year and have made huge progress with gamescom 2021 and its digital offerings! Whether it’s our shows, our content hub gamescom now, or community activities like gamescom EPIX – everywhere we’ve taken advantage of the experiences of the last year and a half and further improved our program. Because our objective is clear: We want to be in pole position not only in the trade fair business in general, but also with regard to digital events in the future!’

 

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Mr.Booster to Showcase Growth-Driven Marketing Solutions at SiGMA Central Europe 2025 in Rome

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Full-service marketing agency mr.Booster is set to participate in SiGMA Central Europe 2025, taking place in Rome on November 4–6. With an interactive booth at the heart of the exhibition, mr.Booster will highlight its expertise in performance-driven digital marketing and invite partners to discover new ways to scale in iGaming, fintech and beyond.

Known for its integrated approach that combines media buying, SEO, influencer campaigns, creative production and data-driven retargeting, mr.Booster has established itself as a trusted growth partner for brands navigating highly competitive digital landscapes.

“SiGMA is a key meeting point for innovation and partnership. For us, it’s not just about showcasing services, but about sparking conversations and co-creating growth strategies with ambitious teams from across the world,” said Leonid Pudov, CEO of mr.Booster.

At Sigma Central Europe, the mr.Booster team will welcome visitors to explore how creativity meets performance. Guests will see the mr.Booster Ad Platform in action, learn how data-driven retargeting turns audiences into loyal players and dive into case stories that prove measurable growth is never accidental. The booth will also feature quick strategy sessions with mr.Booster experts, a vibrant entertainment corner with photo moments and exclusive merch — plus a few surprises for those ready to spin, snap and win.

This year also marks an important milestone for mr.Booster as the agency continues its expansion across European markets.

mr.Booster has been shortlisted for the SiGMA Central Europe Awards 2025 in the category INDUSTRY RISING STAR 2025, recognizing its innovative contributions to media buying, affiliate marketing and cross-channel performance strategies.

The post Mr.Booster to Showcase Growth-Driven Marketing Solutions at SiGMA Central Europe 2025 in Rome appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Betsson Group

Betsson to Attend SiGMA Central Europe 2025

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Betsson Group is going to participate in SiGMA Central Europe 2025, taking place in Rome, Italy, from 3–6 November. As one of the region’s most awaited iGaming conferences, SiGMA Central Europe brings together top industry leaders to explore new technologies, business opportunities and market trends shaping the future of the industry.

Betsson Group Joins the Stage at SiGMA Central Europe

Two of Betsson Group’s leaders will take the stage to discuss regulated markets, compliance and brand strategy.

4 November | 10:15–10:45 CET

Speaker: Dario Evangelista, Deputy General Counsel, Betsson Group

Panel: Licence to Launch: Winning Strategies for Entering Regulated Markets

This panel will explore key strategies for operators expanding from emerging to regulated markets, focusing on compliance, customer protection and cultural adaptation.

4 November | 13:20–13:35 CET

Speaker:Ronni Hartvig, Chief Commercial Officer, Betsson Group

Keynote: Global Power, Local Passion: Evolving Betsson’s Brand for a Regulated World

Ronni will discuss how Betsson Group has evolved its global strategy – rebranding, navigating regulation and uniting multiple brands under one identity while maintaining local relevance.

The post Betsson to Attend SiGMA Central Europe 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Central Europe

Palasino Group Preparing to Open Fourth Czech Republic Casino

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Palasino Group has revealed it will soon open its fourth casino operation in the Czech Republic.

The Hong Kong-listed casino operator was previously part of global real estate giant Far East Consortium – itself a partner and substantial shareholder of Australia’s Star Entertainment Group – before being spun off as a separate entity in March 2024.

In a social media update, Palasino said that the new branch, Palasino Mikulov, is scheduled to open in the coming months with construction already well underway.

The casino will, it added, feature a “modern, design-forward interior – bright, airy and welcoming” as well as a “premium gaming selection” including a wide range of slot machines and live table games such as roulette, blackjack and poker. The casino will also host a bar, buffet restaurant and social spaces

Mikulov, located close to the Austrian border, is described as a popular destination for both local and international visitors.

The group’s existing casinos include Palasino Excalibur City in South Moravia, Palasino Wullowitz in South Bohemia and Palasino Furth im Wald on the Bavarian and Czech border. It also operates five hotels.

The post Palasino Group Preparing to Open Fourth Czech Republic Casino appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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