Gaming
Application phase for the Games Lift Incubator 2022 starts
Developers and games start-ups from Hamburg can apply for the extensive funding and support program Games Lift Incubator until June 14, 11:59 pm CEST. As part of the program run by the location initiative Gamecity Hamburg, five teams get financial support of 15,000 euros, three months of coaching and mentoring, slots in a co-working space as well as access to the Games Lift Network composed of numerous mentors from the international games industry. Upon completing the program, the teams will get continued support for twelve months with additional coaching and the help of a PR agency specializing in video games. A quick overview of the program and its benefits in only 30 seconds is available in this trailer video: https://youtu.be/VA5RxX_nq2A
Gamecity Hamburg has been organizing the Games Lift Incubator once a year since 2020 to support solo devs, developers, founders and start-ups in Hamburg with the development of digital games with high market potential.
„The development of digital games is a Herculean task – especially for young teams who have just begun working on their projects. With the Games Lift Incubator, we create the ideal environment to support the teams at each step of their way and help them to manage challenges as well as to reach milestones in the best way possible. The closely-knit network of developers and companies in Hamburg allows us to offer the teams a unique combination of expertise, coaching and public funding”, explains Amanda Förtsch, project manager at Gamecity Hamburg and member of the Games Lift Incubator 2022 Awarding Committee.
The timeline for the Games Lift Incubator 2022
Applicants and teams from Hamburg as well as devs and teams who aim to relocate to Hamburg can apply for the Games Lift Incubator 2022 until June 14. The Awarding Committee invites the most promising teams to pitch their projects online and five teams are subsequently accepted in the Incubator. The incubator program begins September 12 and runs until the beginning of December. Following the graduation event for the five teams on December 8, Gamecity Hamburg continues to support the graduates for another year of individual coaching with professional advisors and the help of a PR agency specialized in video games.
Further information about the Games Lift Incubator is available on the official website: https://www.gamecity-hamburg.de/incubator/. Applications can be submitted online until June 14, 11:59 pm CEST.
“Games Lift Insights” information event on May 24
To give an impression of what awaits participating teams in the workshop program of the Games Lift Incubator, Gamecity Hamburg will host the online workshop “Games Lift Insights” on May 24, 2022, 4:30 pm CEST. Cassia Curran, business development and strategic advisor specialized in games and Games Lift mentor, will share her knowledge on market analysis for indie games. Also, the Gamecity Hamburg team will join in to answer participants’ question about the Games Lift program and application process. More information and registration for the event: https://games-lift-insights-2022-market-analysis.eventbrite.de
The Awarding Committee
The Awarding Committee, composed of experts from the local games industry as well as representatives of Gamecity Hamburg and Hamburg’s Ministry of Culture and Media, decides which applications are accepted into the Games Lift Incubator 2022:
Mareike Ottrand is professor of Interactive Illustration and Games at the HAW Hamburg University of Applied Sciences as well as co-founder and art director at Studio Fizbin. The German development studio is known for titles like “The Inner World” and was awarded the title of “Best Studio” at the German Video Game Awards last year.
Ole Schaper is CEO and CTO of the mobile games studio Sviper, known for the game “Super Spell Heroes”, which was able to raise a seven-figure sum from international investors. He brings his experience from both developer and management positions at development studios as well as founder and CEO of his own companies to the table.
Wolf Lang is co-founder of the Hamburg-based indie studio THREAKS and CEO of the event agency Super Crowd Entertainment, which specializes in the games industry. Super Crowd Entertainment was awarded a special prize by the jury of the German Computer Game Award for its virtual exhibition concept called “Indie Arena Booth Online”, which allows indie developers to be digitally present at gamescom, the largest European video game exhibition.
Jens Unrau is Head of the Department of Media and Digital Economy at the Ministry of Culture and Media of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg and has been supporting the development of the local media and digital economy for over 20 years. He has been a point of contact for the games industry in Hamburg since 2003 and brings his experience as the initiator of the first Hamburg prototype funding program as well as member of the Awarding Committee of the new Gamecity Hamburg prototype funding to the table.
Amanda Förtsch is project manager at Gamecity Hamburg and responsible for the concept and execution of networking events and funding programs like the Games Lift Incubator. She previously handled numerous clients and projects at Super Crowd Entertainment and was involved in the development of the Gamecity Online Hub as well as the organization of the community convention MAG! and the Hamburg Games Conference.
The mentors
A variety of professional mentors are available to the participating teams as part of the Games Lift Incubator. This year’s mentors include Heather Chandler, consultant in the games industry and former Senior Producer for Fortnite, as well as Jörg Luibl, experienced games journalist, amongst others. Additional supporters of this year’s Incubator program will be revealed soon.
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In an exclusive article for Gaming Americas, Udo Seckelmann, partner in the Gambling & Crypto department at Bichara e Motta Advogados, examines how the Brazilian iGaming market has entered a new phase of maturity following BiS SiGMA South America 2026.
Moving beyond regulatory expectations, the industry now faces real operational, political, and economic pressures, raising critical questions about sustainability, enforcement, and the balance between growth and consumer protection in one of the world’s most dynamic betting markets.
BIS SIGMA 2026 made it clear that the conversation around Brazil’s betting sector has fundamentally changed. The industry is no longer being discussed as a future opportunity shaped by regulatory expectations, but as a functioning ecosystem already subject to real-world pressures. With the framework in force and operators active, the focus has shifted to how the market actually behaves under regulation — and where that framework is being put to the test.
This shift was evident both in the quality of the discussions and in the profile of participants. In past editions, much of the debate focused on the ideal regulatory framework, taxation, and market entry strategies. In 2026, the focus moved toward more sophisticated — and, in many ways, more challenging — topics: regulatory implementation, enforcement, and the balance between growth and consumer protection.
An additional element that permeated many discussions was the recent hardening of political discourse toward the sector. Statements from the President suggesting the potential elimination of the regulated betting market, as well as initiatives in Congress aimed at broadly restricting betting advertising, reveal legitimate concerns about negative externalities but also a concrete risk of public policy being shaped in a way that is disconnected from the newly established regulatory reality.
The criticism here is not directed at the concern for consumer protection — which is undoubtedly essential — but rather at how this debate has been conducted. Prohibitive or overly restrictive measures, particularly in the field of advertising, tend to produce adverse effects already observed in other jurisdictions: reduced channeling capacity toward the regulated market, the strengthening of illegal operators, and a weakening of consumer protection mechanisms themselves.
In this context, advertising should not be viewed solely as a risk factor, but also as a public policy tool. It is through advertising that licensed operators can differentiate themselves from unregulated entities, communicate responsible gambling practices, and operate within auditable parameters. Disproportionate restrictions, in practice, reduce the visibility of those subject to regulation while simultaneously expanding the space for those operating outside it.
Moreover, the instability of political discourse — especially when it flirts with prohibition scenarios after years of efforts to structure a regulated market — creates significant legal uncertainty. Investments made based on a recent regulatory framework are reassessed, compliance costs increase, and the appetite of new entrants tends to decline. Ultimately, this undermines not only the development of the sector but also government revenue and the original regulatory objectives pursued by the Government.
Another key topic discussed during the event was the impact of increased taxation — particularly following the rise in the Gaming Tax — on the competitiveness of the regulated market. There is a legitimate concern that an overly burdensome environment, combined with severe advertising restrictions, may create an economically unviable scenario for licensed operators, once again encouraging migration to the unregulated market.
Another highlight of the event was the debate surrounding the role of technological intermediaries — including market makers in emerging segments such as prediction markets. The expansion of these models raises important regulatory questions: to what extent are existing frameworks sufficient to accommodate these innovations? And when will it be necessary to move toward specific regulatory regimes, potentially under the oversight of authorities such as the securities regulator?
A comparison with previous BIS SIGMA editions clearly demonstrates the sector’s growing maturity. If Brazil was once seen as a major promise, it is now a complex reality that requires fine-tuning and institutional coordination. The agenda has shifted from market opening to governance — now under much more intense political and social scrutiny.
Finally, one aspect that deserves particular attention is the increasing professionalization of all stakeholders involved. Operators, regulators, service providers, and even the broader public debate have evolved significantly. There is now a clearer understanding that the success of the Brazilian market depends on its credibility and long-term sustainability.
Udo Seckelmann
Partner in the Gambling & Crypto department at Bichara e Motta Advogados
The post The iGaming Industry’s New Challenges in 2026 appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
Amusnet has released its latest crash game, Hot Racing. This high-energy game throws players straight onto the track, where every second matters and every decision can boost the win.
Place the bet and watch the race unfold. The multiplier starts climbing the second the cars hit the track, and every moment the player stay in pushes the potential win higher. Want to play it smart? Use the 50% Cash Out to secure part of your winnings while keeping the rest in the race. Push too far, though, and a car can drop out – taking your bet with it. It’s all about timing.
Every round brings a fresh shot of adrenaline. Ready to level up? Place an additional side bet and pick the car you think will surge ahead and win the race. It’s your chance to add more excitement and boost your strategy.
Prefer a more laid-back approach? Turn on Autoplay. Set your number of rounds and your target multiplier, and let the game do the work. Once your target hits, your win locks in automatically – smooth, simple, and stress-free.
The tension builds in seconds. The stakes keep rising. Every race puts you right on the edge – go bigger or cash out now? That’s where the real thrill kicks in.
Hot Racing brings speed, excitement and sharp decision-making into every round. Jump in, trust your instincts and grab your win before the race leaves you behind.
Gamble
Play the game and multiply the winnings through the Gambling feature.
Multipliers
The game starts with a multiplier set at 1x and rises gradually and can go up to a max coefficient of 1,000,000. Multiplier can potentially crash at 1x, ending the game round.
50% Cash Out
Players can cash out 50% of their bet during the game round and continue playing with the remaining 50%.
Side Bet
Add extra excitement with the Side Bet! Pick the car you think will be the faster in the race and increase the potential payout.
Jackpot Cards
The Jackpot Cards bonus game is triggered at random during the gameplay to allow players to win impressive jackpots.
The post Amusnet Releases its Latest Crash Game “Hot Racing” appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Wazdan, the gain-focused game developer, has bolstered its high-performing Hot Slot
portfolio with the launch of Hot Slot: Diamond Coins, a vibrant new title that merges the series’ retro charm with mechanics from its flagship Coins collection.
Staying true to the Hot Slot format, the game spans 15 reels and features fan-favourite mechanics including Cash Infinity and Hold the Jackpot, alongside specially designed Bonus symbols to boost engagement.
In the Hold the Jackpot Bonus Game, players compete for a Grand Jackpot of up to 3,000x their stake. Standard Hot Slot symbols also remain active on any reel without a Bonus symbol, using two paylines to deliver consistent base-game wins.
The Chance Level feature adds an extra layer of strategy and excitement, increasing the likelihood of triggering the Hold the Jackpot Bonus Round and offering players a more personalised gameplay experience.
Radka Bacheva, Head of Sales and Business Development at Wazdan, said:
“Hot Slot: Diamond Coins marks an exciting milestone in the evolution of the Hot Slot series. By combining the retro aesthetics players love with the proven performance of our Coins mechanics, and layering in Cash Infinity, Hold the Jackpot, and Chance Level, we’ve created a dynamic experience that immediately captures attention and delivers engaging, high-energy gameplay from the very first spin.”
Hot Slot: Diamond Coins is now available for integration, designed to perform across global markets and appeal to a broad player base.
The post Wazdan enhances Hot Slot™ series with Hot Slot™: Diamond Coins appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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