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game – the German Games Industry Association congratulates all winners of the German Computer Game Awards 2023

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The German Computer Game Awards were presented before a live audience for the first time since 2019. Around 600 guests from the game industry and the cultural, social and political spheres accepted the invitation to celebrate the best German computer and video games, as well as their makers, in Berlin.

The attendees were joined by hundreds of thousands of additional viewers who followed the event via live stream. A total of 800,000 euros in prize money was given out. ‘Chained Echoes’ from Matthias Linda and Deck13 Spotlight was honoured as Best German Game. The award for Studio of the Year went to Paintbucket Games of Berlin. The studio, founded in 2018, has in a period of just a few years made a name for itself with games that take up, and inspire players to reflect on, socially relevant topics through compelling experiences.

Examples include the games ‘Through the Darkest of Times’ and ‘Beholder 3’, the latter of which won in the category Best Serious Game this year. The award in the unendowed category Best International Game went to ‘God of War Ragnarök’ from Santa Monica Studio and Sony Interactive Entertainment. The jury and the community chose Pia Scholz, aka Shurjoka, as Player of the Year. Via live stream, she discusses with her fans not only games but also a broad range of current issues – from diversity to the problems of right-wing radicalism and sexism to mental health and her career as an influencer. With the German Computer Game Awards, the year’s best German-produced computer and video games are honoured by the federal government, represented by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK), jointly with game – the German Games Industry Association.

‘Congratulations to all winners of the German Computer Game Awards! Finally, we were able to present these awards before a large audience again. This year in particular, the creative minds behind the games more than deserve this large stage, because the nominated games were all created under the difficult conditions of the coronavirus pandemic. And despite these challenges, this period gave rise to outstanding games that have attracted a great deal of attention both in Germany and abroad,’ says Felix Falk, Managing Director of game – the German Games Industry Association.

 

Overview of all winners

Best German Game (endowed with 100,000 euros for the winning game)

Chained Echoes (Matthias Linda / Deck13 Spotlight)

 

The other two nominees each receive 30,000 euros:

Beholder 3 (Paintbucket Games / Alawar Entertainment)

SIGNALIS (rose-engine / Humble Games)

 

Best Family Game (endowed with 40,000 euros)

Die magische Bretterbudenburg (Meander Books)

 

Newcomer Award – Best Debut (endowed with 60,000 euros for the best debut)

SIGNALIS (rose-engine / Humble Games)

 

The other two nominees each receive 25,000 euros:

Chained Echoes (Matthias Linda / Deck13 Spotlight)

Dome Keeper (Bippinbits / Raw Fury)

 

Newcomer Award – Best Prototype (endowed with 50,000 euros for the best prototype)

Light of Atlantis (Alina Fasen, Luisa Höhne, Vincent Krenzke, Simone Mayer, Alexander Nham / HAW Hamburg)

 

The other four nominees each receive 25,000 euros:

A Sister’s Journey (Florian Lackner)

Mail Tail (Robin Heisterkamp)

Ova Magica (Claudia Gorsky)

Thief of Smiles (Robert Brand, Lars Hinnerk Grevsmühl, Alina Hies, Felix Kosian, Marcel Zurawka)

 

Best Innovation and Technology (endowed with 40,000 euros)

BEETHOVEN // OPUS 360 (agon e. V.)

 

Best Graphic Design (endowed with 40,000 euros)

ABRISS – Build to Destroy (Randwerk Games)

 

Best Audio Design (endowed with 40,000 euros)

SIGNALIS (rose-engine / Humble Games)

 

Best Game Design (endowed with 40,000 euros)

Dome Keeper (Bippinbits / Raw Fury)

 

Best Serious Game (endowed with 40,000 euros)

Beholder 3 (Paintbucket Games / Alawar Entertainment)

 

Best Mobile Game (endowed with 40,000 euros)

Dungeons of Dreadrock (Christoph Minnameier)

 

Best Expert Game (endowed with 40,000 euros)

Touch Type Tale – Strategic Typing (Pumpernickel Studio / Epic Games)

 

Best International Game (not endowed)

God of War Ragnarök (SIE Santa Monica Studio / Sony Interactive Entertainment)

 

Player of the Year (not endowed)

Pia Scholz (aka Shurjoka)

 

Studio of the Year (endowed with 50,000 euros)

Paintbucket Games (Berlin)

 

Special Jury Award (endowed with 10,000 euros)

#FemDevsMeetup

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Sportradar Extends its Data and Audiovisual Betting Rights Agreement with Deutscher Fussball-Bund

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Sportradar Group AG announced a multi-year extension of its data and audiovisual (AV) betting rights agreement with Deutscher Fussball-Bund (DFB), the German Football Association. The rights were originally secured as part of the company’s acquisition of IMG ARENA in 2025.

Under the renewed agreement, Sportradar acquires exclusive data and streaming betting rights for Germany’s prestigious cup competition, DFB-Pokal, worldwide outside of the DACH region, in addition to non-exclusive global media data rights. For the first time in this competition, skeletal data will be introduced to fuel fan engagement products in the same way Sportradar provides for partners including UEFA, Bundesliga and the NBA.

The deal represents the first direct agreement between the parties relating to DFB’s premium cup competition. The new agreement begins at the start of 2026/2027 c and Sportradar will cover all 63 DFB-Pokal matches per season. Sportradar and DFB have previously enjoyed a longstanding partnership including content production and editorial services.

With global Gross Gaming Revenue in soccer betting expected to increase by approximately 50% over the next four years, Sportradar is uniquely positioned to support its clients capture further market share through next generation, hyper-personalized, hyper-immersive experiences.

Sportradar continues to innovate in soccer, combining deep data with proprietary AI technology to create new dynamic betting products such as micro markets and live player markets, which its sportsbook operator clients can leverage to engage customers and generate more revenue.

Moritz Gloeckler, EVP of Rights and Strategic Projects at Sportradar, said: “Our extension of the agreement with DFB is a key addition to our already strong portfolio of global soccer rights. With more than five billion soccer fans worldwide, there’s massive appetite for content. Through partnerships with FIFA, UEFA, AFC, Bundesliga, CONMEBOL and more, Sportradar is well positioned to create the next generation of tech driven products and services for clients to use to engage fans, reach new audiences and open fresh revenue opportunities.”

Kay Dammholz, Director Media Rights at DFB GmbH & Co. KG, said: “With this agreement, we are further advancing the international media rights distribution of the DFB-Pokal. Together with Sportradar, we are ensuring a professional and safe global distribution of our betting streaming rights outside the DACH region, while upholding the highest standards of integrity and unlocking additional commercial potential for our premium cup competition.”

The post Sportradar Extends its Data and Audiovisual Betting Rights Agreement with Deutscher Fussball-Bund appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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Casino Interlaken teams up with Wazdan to bolster Swiss market presence

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Wazdan, the results-oriented developer, has further grown its notable European presence through a partnership with Casino Interlaken, a top operator in Switzerland.

The collaboration offers players at Casino Interlaken’s StarVegas.ch online platform access to Wazdan’s dynamic slot collection, showcasing its best-selling Coins™ and Hot Slot™ series, which emphasize engaging gameplay mechanics and consistently achieve high retention rates for compliant operator partners throughout Europe.

Inaugurated in 2020 by the renowned land-based Casino Interlaken, StarVegas.ch has emerged as a prominent online provider of engaging slot games, with its collection enhanced by numerous feature-rich titles from top global suppliers.

In addition to Wazdan’s launches, players at StarVegas.ch will be presented with the studio’s engagement-enhancing features, such as Hold the Jackpot™, Cash Infinity™, Collect to Infinity™, Sticky to Infinity™ and Cash Out™, which consistently enhance the slot experience with innovative improvements to gameplay.

Wazdan’s newest partnership strengthens its dedication to collaborating with reputable brands in regulated markets across the globe. Players throughout Switzerland are poised to gain from an enhanced content selection by merging its top-notch portfolio with StarVegas.ch’s standing for outstanding entertainment and technical proficiency.

Radka Bacheva, Head of Sales at Wazdan, said: “StarVegas has built a strong reputation for premium entertainment, making it a fantastic platform for our vast range of titles and engagement tools. Combining the company’s strong market positioning with our rewarding experiences ensures we can deliver measurable growth and rewarding entertainment for players nationwide.”

Mayke Wolf, Chief Operating Officer at StarVegas, said: “As one of the first licensed Swiss online casinos, StarVegas offers a wide selection of games from leading international providers. Players can access the full portfolio via Starvegas.ch as well as through the StarVegas mobile apps, which are among the most popular casino apps in Switzerland. With the addition of Wazdan’s content, StarVegas further expands its portfolio with innovative titles and new gaming highlights. This step underlines StarVegas’ commitment to continuously developing its offering and providing Swiss players with a diverse and high-quality online gaming experience.”

Oliver Grimm, Chief Executive Officer at Casino Interlaken, said: “Casino Interlaken stands for personal service and Swiss quality in the heart of the Alps, values that we carry into the online space with StarVegas through a technologically advanced and trusted platform. By partnering with Wazdan, we are further enhancing our offering with innovative slot content that delivers engaging experiences for players across Switzerland.”

The post Casino Interlaken teams up with Wazdan to bolster Swiss market presence appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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GGL Study Says Regulated Online Offerings Make Up the Majority of the Market

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The Joint Gambling Authority of the German Federal States (GGL) has published the results of the study “Investigation of the Black Market and Channeling of Online Gambling Based on a Survey of Gamblers”. The study was commissioned by the GGL and conducted by Blockchain Research Lab gGmbH.

The study concludes that the market volume of illegal and unregulated online gambling is 22.97%. This results in a channeling rate of 77.03%, meaning that legal or regulated offerings account for more than three-quarters of the online gambling market.

“The scientifically calculated channeling rate confirms our previous assumptions about the size of the black market. The results support the fact-based regulatory approach within the framework of the 2021 Interstate Treaty on Gambling,” said Ronald Benter, CEO of GGL.

The study also confirms the methodological approach of the GGL.

The investigation also confirms the GGL’s methodological approach to analysing the black market. The study’s findings are essentially consistent with the agency’s existing knowledge.

In particular, the method of reference value-based analysis, which has been used by the countries so far and adopted by the GGL, has been scientifically assessed as suitable for estimating the size of the illegal gambling market on the Internet.

Contribution to the evaluation process of the State Treaty on Gambling

The study has already been presented to the state gambling authorities. The results will be incorporated into the ongoing evaluation process of the 2021 Interstate Treaty on Gambling.

“We are in discussions with the states regarding the extent to which the results of this study may necessitate adjustments to the legal requirements. Furthermore, we are awaiting the results of the currently ongoing study on online player protection,” said Benter.

Consistent fight against illegal online gambling

The GGL’s aim is to further reduce the share of illegal online gambling offerings. The authority pursues a holistic approach, addressing the entire value chain of illegal online gambling, from game developers and providers to payment service providers and marketing and platform structures.

“Our measures will also be reflected in market shares in the medium term. However, the fight against illegal online gambling is a marathon, not a sprint,” explains Benter.

Networking and coordinated approaches are crucial here. A key component of the strategy is therefore cooperation with legal providers and other European regulatory authorities to limit the reach of illegal operators. The GGL reiterates its appeal to legal providers to make greater use of their options to curb illegal services.

In order to be able to observe developments over time, the GGL plans to continue the survey in a suitable form.

“A reliable database is crucial for effective regulation of the gambling market. Therefore, we will continue to systematically incorporate scientific findings into our work,” said Benter.

The post GGL Study Says Regulated Online Offerings Make Up the Majority of the Market appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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