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Hamburg Games Conference 2022 sets course for new markets – and confirms first speakers

Published

5 years ago

December 10, 2021

Reading Time: 4 minutes

The hybrid conference’s program under the overarching topic “Moving Markets” on March 2 and 3, 2022 will revolve around the challenges and opportunities of the international games industry. Participants can join either on-site in Hamburg or from anywhere in the world via a custom developed, playable online conference platform. The first international experts who will contribute to the program with keynotes, talks and discussion panels have been announced. A new trailer video (https://youtu.be/e9mSPhEbqgE) gives first impressions of the extended hybrid concept of the conference.

With Joost van Dreunen (New York University), Alex Nichiporchik (tinyBuild Games), Kerstin Schütt (Twisted Ramble), Jakub Stokalski (11 bit studios), Jared Gerritzen (IllFonic) and Jana Grünewald (Kreativ Transfer), the first experts from academia, games industry and public funding institutions are confirmed for the conference program. More will be announced shortly.

An additional conference track is dedicated to the topic of “Games Funding” with news and best practices regarding Germany’s federal government games funding and regional funding offers of the federal states, such as the Games Lift Incubator and prototype funding in Hamburg.

The latest trailer for the Hamburg Games Conference 2022 showcases a new central element of the hybrid event’s concept: The virtual cruise ship, which serves as an interactive conference platform playable in the browser, will call port at various international games hotspots. In line with the conference theme “Moving Markets”, users can explore different international markets and get to know the conference’s partner companies and speakers from these markets.

There will also be extensive networking and matchmaking opportunities for conference participants, both online via the conference platform and on-site at Hamburg’s Zeise cinemas.

The first speakers for the Hamburg Games Conference 2022:

Joost van Dreunen is an Adjunct Assistant Professor at NYU Stern School of Business in New York and is one of the most internationally recognized games industry researchers. In addition to teaching at New York University, he serves as advisory board member for several games companies and start-ups and covers background topics from the games, tech and entertainment industries in his weekly newsletter SuperJoost Playlist. In his conference talk, he will assess the current state of the blockchain gaming market – whose top companies are currently collectively valued at over $12 billion. He will highlight recent successes and failures, drivers and trends, as well as how industry players look at the developments and make an outlook into the future of this market.

Alex Nichiporchik is CEO of the US-based publisher and developer “tinyBuild Games”. In his conference presentation, he will recap the development of the “Hello Neighbor” franchise: A journey from a small 7-person studio with a failing crowdfunding campaign to a successful multimedia franchise that now has a team of over 100 people across multiple studios working on the series, including five games, merchandise, books and an animated series.

Kerstin Schütt is co-founder and CEO of the Berlin-based startup game studio “Twisted Ramble”, which puts socially marginalized and stigmatized topics at the center of its games – balancing serious subject matter and playful entertainment. In her presentation for the Hamburg Games Conference, Kerstin Schütt will share her experiences on how challenging it is to master this balance and how their game “Duru“, which addresses depression in a playful manner, finds its place in the market.

Jakub Stokalski is game co-director for 11 bit studios game “Frostpunk 2“. His aim is to create meaningful experiences in a language native to the medium of games. For the Hamburg Games Conference 2022, he will examine how the medium of video games has matured: games enable forms of storytelling that are not possible through movies or books. Games are an integral part of (pop-)culture and, with their inherent interactivity, can pull players into a dialogue and convey a thoughtful message in their own unique way. In his talk, Jakub Stokalski will shed light on what this mature storytelling can do.

Jared Gerritzen, Head of Creative & Design at the Colorado-based development studio “IllFonic”, will address the question of how a studio can make the transition from working on well-known IPs to creating and marketing its own IP from scratch – from idea development, to design, to the finished product.

Jana Grünewald is project coordinator of the funding program “Kreativ Transfer” at the “Dachverband Tanz Deutschland”, through which games companies can receive funding for participation in international trade fairs and conferences as well as for international networking. In her presentation for the funding track of the Hamburg Games Conference 2022, she will present the “Kreativ Transfer” program in detail.

More speakers for the Hamburg Games Conference 2022 will be announced shortly. In addition to international experts from the games industry, companies who received support through various state and federal funding programs will give first-hand-insights into their experiences and share best practices in the funding track of the conference.

Early bird tickets extended until December 17

Business tickets for the Hamburg Games Conference are still available at the Early Bird price of 119 euros until December 17, 2021. After that, tickets will go on sale at the regular price. Ticket store: https://bit.ly/HGC22

Business Ticket holders can participate in the online and on-site program of the conference and benefit from additional opportunities to organize appointments with other participants via a digital matchmaking system, access to an exclusive business area, and guestlist spots for the networking event “Gamecity Treff” by Gamecity Hamburg.

The Basic ticket, priced at 25 euros, includes access to the conference program online and on-site.

Blueprint Gaming

Weekend Reels | Week 30: Slot Drops & Trends

Published

8 hours ago

July 24, 2026

Wladimir P.

weekend-reels-|-week-30:-slot-drops-&-trends

Here are this weeks latest slots releases compiled by Eastern European Gaming

Spinomenal has released 3 Fuego Chillies, a new 5×3 video slot themed around a Mexican street fiesta. The game ships with a feature-led Bonus Game and a top prize billed as a Grand Jackpot of x3,000 the total bet.

CT Interactive has released its latest slot game, 40 Mega Star. As the night sky comes alive with countless shimmering lights, only a select few stars have the power to capture attention and become true Mega Stars.

TaDa Gaming has expanded its popular Unlimited Fortune mechanic with the launch of Joker Coins Unlimited Fortune. Combining Lock & Respin, progressive bonus expansion, jackpots, multipliers and the signature Unlimited Fortune feature, this compact three-reel release delivers layered gameplay and win potential of up to 5000x.

Blueprint Gaming is releasing an upgraded version of Super Graphics Upside Down exclusively on Lottomart, giving Lottomart’s UK players early access to the title. Originally launched in 2021, Super Graphics Upside Down is being re-released with a new bonus wheel feature and an increased max win potential, rising from 250X to 3000X, according to the companies.

ICONIC21 has released Wild Gold Mine 2, a high-volatility sequel to its Wild Gold Mine slot. The game is played across 243 ways and launches with multiple RTP configurations, with a stated top prize of 10,000x.

Games Global has launched Rumble Kong CASHINGO, a new jungle-themed online slot developed with exclusive studio partner Alchemy Gaming. The title went live on 23rd July 2026. Rumble Kong CASHINGO is a 5×5, 3,125 ways-to-win game built around an expanding CASHINGO collection grid.

Swintt has released a new slot from its Elysium Studios label, titled Odyssey Hold & Win. The supplier said the game is built around a Hold & Win collection mechanic and features a stated maximum win of 3,317x. Odyssey Hold & Win runs on a 4×4 grid that can expand to 4×8 when Athena appears, according to the company.

ELA Games has released a new slot, Age of Cleopatra, adding another ancient-Egypt theme title to its portfolio. The studio positions the game as a medium-volatility release and says it is available to demo now. Age of Cleopatra runs on a 5×3 reel set-up with 25 paylines.

Endorphina has launched Zalatar, a new myths-and-legends themed online slot, expanding its recent run of fantasy-leaning releases. The supplier said Zalatar is a 5-reel, 3-row game with 25 fixed paylines, 96.03% RTP and high volatility.

The post Weekend Reels | Week 30: Slot Drops & Trends appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Awards

Slotsoo Awards 2026 Celebrate the Best Casinos and Game Providers

Published

10 hours ago

July 24, 2026

Wladimir P.

slotsoo-awards-2026-celebrate-the-best-casinos-and-game-providers

Slotsoo is proud to announce the winners of the Slotsoo Awards 2026, recognising the online casinos and game providers that have delivered the best player experiences over the past year. Now firmly established as an annual celebration of excellence, the awards continue to recognise the companies setting new standards for quality and innovation across the iGaming industry.

Spotlighting the Best Game Providers of 2026

Following last year’s successful debut, the Slotsoo Game Provider Awards returned for a second year to recognise the studios pushing online slots forward through original ideas, engaging gameplay, and consistently high-quality releases. This year’s winners are:

The Machine MVP – Pragmatic Play
Bonus Buyer – Eurasian Gaming
Volatility Virtuoso – 1spin4win
Jackpot Jumbo – Platipus Gaming
Symphony Spinner – Peter & Sons
Reel Renegade – TaDa Gaming
Promising Prodigy – EXCO Game Studio

Pragmatic Play retained the prestigious Machine MVP award for a second consecutive year, while every other category crowned a new winner, highlighting the emergence of fresh talent and new ideas among game providers.

Casino Awards Return for a Fourth Year

Since their debut in 2023, the Slotsoo Casino Awards have celebrated the operators raising the standard for online casino experiences. This year’s winners continue that tradition, earning recognition for excellence across bonuses, withdrawals, gamification, and overall quality. The seven winners for 2026 are:

The Gambling GOAT – Lunar Spins
The Bonus Buff – Go4Casino
The Loyalty Lord – Valhalla Wins
The Withdrawal Wizard – Taste Vegas
The Gamification Guru – Lucky Fuel
The Payout Professor – Stupid Casino
The Noisy Newcomer – Kudos Bet

While the Game Provider Awards saw several first-time winners, the Casino Awards reflected the continued strength of a few established operators. C24 Partners enjoyed a particularly successful year, with four awards going to brands from its portfolio, including the main trophy The Gambling GOAT.

Recognition That Goes Beyond Popularity

Unlike many industry awards, the Slotsoo Awards are not decided by public voting. Winners are selected by the Slotsoo team after evaluating casino operators and game providers throughout the year. Each nominee is assessed on factors such as player value and innovation.

This approach ensures that both established industry leaders and ambitious newcomers have an equal opportunity to be recognised. Whether it’s a casino redefining loyalty rewards or a game studio introducing fresh mechanics, the awards highlight companies that genuinely move the industry forward.

Other News from Slotsoo.com This Summer

The Slotsoo Awards weren’t the only milestone for the company this summer. In June, the team attended the HIPTHER Baltics & Nordics Gaming Conference in Tallinn, connecting with industry professionals, exploring the latest developments in iGaming, and returning home with plenty of inspiration.

July marked the publication of Slotsoo’s first book, The Casino Player’s ABC, written by Markus Björk, Head of Content. This tongue-in-cheek ABC book for adults takes a humorous look at the ups and downs in slot gaming. Markus Björk comments:

“The awards and the book may seem like very different projects, but they share the same goal. Both are about celebrating what makes this industry unique and helping players navigate it with a sense of humour.”

With another successful awards season, the publication of their first book, and an active presence at industry events, 2026 has been one of Slotsoo’s busiest and most exciting years to date.

The post Slotsoo Awards 2026 Celebrate the Best Casinos and Game Providers appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

BETBY

BETBY Builds on a Strong Start to 2026 with Solid H1 Sportsbook Growth

Published

10 hours ago

July 24, 2026

Wladimir P.

betby-builds-on-a-strong-start-to-2026-with-solid-h1-sportsbook-growth

BETBY, the Tier 1 sportsbook supplier, has continued its strong start to 2026, delivering solid year-on-year growth across its business during the first half of the year. Building on the positive Q1 results reported in April, the supplier’s performance was supported by continued market expansion, product innovation, and strong activity across its operator partnerships.

During the first half of 2026, BETBY’s sportsbook Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) increased by 42.7% compared to H1 2025. The number of active players across the provider’s partner network grew by 47%, while the total number of bets placed rose by 21.2%, reflecting sustained growth across both new and existing operator partnerships.

The period also saw BETBY further expand its product ecosystem through several key launches and developments. Among them was BETBY Predictions, the industry’s first fixed-odds prediction markets feed, opening a new betting vertical for operators. The supplier also introduced Stories, an engagement feature built around a familiar, interactive content format and delivered directly within the sportsbook experience.

The FIFA World Cup provided an additional boost during the last three weeks of June, generating high levels of betting activity across BETBY’s partner network and demonstrating the scalability and reliability of its sportsbook during the world’s largest sporting event.

BETBY’s proprietary esports feed, Betby Games, also delivered continued growth during H1 2026, recording a 28% year-on-year increase in Gross Gaming Revenue. Active players grew by 46%, while the number of bets placed rose by 14.8%. These figures reinforce Betby Games’ importance within BETBY’s broader product portfolio.

Leonid Pertsovskiy, Chief Executive Officer at BETBY, said: “After a strong first quarter, we are pleased to see that the positive trend continued throughout the first half of the year. These results reflect the strength of our long-term strategy, combining continued market expansion with a clear focus on product innovation and helping our partners grow.

“The launch of products such as BETBY Predictions and features like Stories, alongside the continued evolution of Betby Games, demonstrate our commitment to delivering solutions and technology that create measurable value for operators. We are proud of what we have achieved so far this year and remain focused on continuing this progress throughout H2.”

The post BETBY Builds on a Strong Start to 2026 with Solid H1 Sportsbook Growth appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.