Central Europe
Gaming Meets Business – Hamburg Games Conference 2024 brings the international games industry together
The 15th Hamburg Games Conference (HGC) gathered about 365 international trade visitors and 42 speakers from 255 companies in Hamburg on March 5 and 6. At the business conference, participants exchanged views on the status quo of the games industry and made valuable contacts in the historic Altonaer Museum. With a focus on current topics such as waves of layoffs and studio shutdowns as well as impulses for the future of the industry, the Hamburg Games Conference is once again positioning itself as a fixture in the games industry’s event calendar. On the first day of the conference, Hamburg’s First Mayor Dr. Peter Tschentscher gave a welcome address and took a tour of the conference to learn more about the current challenges facing the games industry.
The program offered a total of 17 talks, 5 panel discussions, the workshop “The Current Challenges for Public and Private Funding in Europe” with Prof. Odile Limpach, the roundtable “State of the Art of Artificial Intelligence Use Cases in the Games and Entertainment Industries” with Dr. Ralph Oliver Graef and Fabian Stösser, and the Indie Arena Booth Pitch Royal. In the Expo Area, 20 games companies and service providers, including Alibaba Cloud, Giants Software, Reactional Music, and several indie studios, presented themselves to trade visitors, who were also able to meet up in 470 meetings and an exclusive get-together event via the MeetToMatch matchmaking platform.
With the theme “Gaming meets Business”, the two stages focused on investments and licensing, current M&A trends, AI and technological innovations in game development, case studies on best practices, and panels on the state of the games industry.
Thanks to the free opportunity tickets sponsored by industry partners Plitch, InnoGames, Chrono Games, Marchsreiter Communications, Polaris, Immutable and IGDA, 70 people affected by layoffs were able to attend the HGC and benefit from the comprehensive program and matchmaking opportunities.
“In the current situation where waves of layoffs are the order of the day, our Opportunity Ticket campaign is our contribution to allowing those affected by layoffs to get in touch with potential employers. There is so much talent in the games industry and the industry needs to keep these experts,” says Wolf Lang, Managing Director of Super Crowd about the Opportunity Ticket campaign.
Exclusive in-person event with tailor-made matchmaking
“On its two conference days, the Hamburg Games Conference once again set topics, facilitated new collaborations, and made Hamburg the top choice for all things games. Whether in the lecture halls, in the Expo area, or the Meet to Match area, the need for exchange in the industry could be felt everywhere,” commented Dr. Ralph Graef, Managing Partner of GRAEF Rechtsanwälte.
Many international games companies on-site
The Hamburg-based companies Sunday, Bigpoint, The Sandbox, InnoGames, and 1SP Agency Holding supported HGC 2024 as enablers and on the Advisory Board. Many thanks also go to further sponsors Alibaba Cloud, 4Players, Bytro, Photon, Playa Games, Threaks, Tiny Roar, gamigo, Giant Games, Reactional Music, Neox Studios and Québec.
Speakers at this year’s Hamburg Games Conference came from the renowned companies Remedy Entertainment, Keen Games, Metacore, Thunderful Group, The Sandbox, Animoca Brands, Bigpoint, InnoGames, Sunday, Gamelight, London Venture Partners, Gamesindustry.biz, WINGS Interactive, Chrono Games, Lowbirth Games, Tabbler, Gamelight, Agnitio Capital, stillalive studios, Drake Star Partners, ROCKFISH Games, Spielworks, SpielFabrique 360°, Layer, The Sandbox, Rise and Play, Whow Games, 1SP Agency Holding, VIZTA Digital, Super Crowd Entertainment, GRAEF Rechtsanwälte, PATI, Dotemu, Team17, INSTINCT3 and Azerion.
Central Europe
NOVOMATIC Once Again Recognised as an “Austrian Leading Company”
NOVOMATIC AG has been recognised as an “Austrian Leading Company” for 2026/2027 by the independent excellence platform Leitbetriebe Austria.
NOVOMATIC has been a certified leading company since 2013 and this prestigious status has now been confirmed once again following a comprehensive screening. The evaluation process, which takes place every two years, ensures that certified companies meet the highest quality standards. Decisive criteria include sustainable corporate goals such as innovation, growth and targeted employee development. As one of Lower Austria’s largest employers and a substantial taxpayer, the international gaming technology group makes a sustainable contribution to Austrian value creation. At the same time, NOVOMATIC is pursuing a long-term ESG strategy that combines economic performance with ecological responsibility and social sustainability.
“Long-term corporate success is based on stability, innovative strength, and a clear sense of responsibility towards employees, society, and the environment. This renewed recertification as a leading company confirms our strategic orientation and our commitment to combining economic strength with sustainable corporate management,” emphasised NOVOMATIC Executive Board Member Stefan Krenn as he received the certificate at the Group’s Lower Austrian headquarters alongside fellow Executive Board Members Ryszard Presch and Johannes Gratzl.
Monica Rintersbacher, Managing Director of Leitbetriebe Austria, also emphasised the significance of the award: “For many years, NOVOMATIC has been exemplary in the areas that define a leading company: international technological innovation on the one hand and a clear commitment to its location, employees, and society on the other. With this renewed award, the company is underscoring its role as a stable driving force for the economy and employment in Austria.”
This recertification confirms NOVOMATIC’s position as an economically reliable and responsible company both nationally and internationally.
The post NOVOMATIC Once Again Recognised as an “Austrian Leading Company” appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Central Europe
Gaming Realms expands into Switzerland through tie-up with Swiss Casinos
Gaming Realms, the inventor of the distinctive Slingo format, has strengthened its international standing by launching its market presence in Switzerland with top operator Swiss Casinos.
The provider’s renowned Slingo game is now accessible to local players for the first time, offering an engaging gaming experience that combines the thrill of slots with strategy.
Games with demonstrated worldwide success and a large fanbase, like Slingo Sweet Bonanza, Slingo Da Vinci Diamonds, and Slingo Gold Cash, are now accessible to patrons of Swiss Casinos, a top online casino brand in Switzerland.
The latest market entry represents another significant accomplishment for Gaming Realms, as the provider has recently broadened its presence to new areas in Europe.
Mariachiara Lagravinese, Regional Account Manager at Gaming Realms, said: “Entering the Swiss market for the first time marks another milestone in our global growth strategy across regulated markets.
“Swiss Casinos is a renowned operator with a deep understanding of the local landscape, making them the ideal partner to introduce our unique content to Swiss players.”
Patrick Mastai, Managing Director Online Casino at Swiss Casinos, said: “Partnering with Gaming Realms is a testament to our commitment to delivering world-class gaming content to our customers.
“Their Slingo titles have a proven track record of global success, and we are proud to be the first operator offering these games in Switzerland. Titles like Slingo Sweet Bonanza and Slingo Gold Cash provide exactly the kind of high-quality, engaging variety our players have come to expect from us, and we look forward to a successful partnership.”
The post Gaming Realms expands into Switzerland through tie-up with Swiss Casinos appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Central Europe
Hölle Games Partners with DAZN Bet
Hölle Games has expanded its footprint in the German online gaming market through a new partnership with DAZN Bet (daznbet.de), an innovative sports betting and entertainment platform.
This collaboration marks a significant milestone in Hölle Games’ ongoing growth within Germany. Having already established a strong presence in the regulated market, the addition of DAZN Bet as a distribution partner ensures that even more players will have access to Hölle Games’ portfolio of visually striking, character-driven slot titles.
Through daznbet.de, German players can now enjoy a broad selection of Hölle Games’ top-performing titles, which blend classic slot inspiration with contemporary visuals and smooth, intuitive gameplay. Developed in Germany, Hölle Games’ content is known for its attention to detail, local market resonance and commitment to player entertainment.
Robert Lenzhofer, CEO of Hölle Games, said: “We’re incredibly proud to see our games featured on DAZN Bet, a brand that is revolutionizing how fans engage with sports and entertainment. This partnership is another step in strengthening our local presence and making our uniquely German-crafted slots more accessible to players nationwide. At Hölle Games, we take great pride in combining creativity with compliance — building experiences that resonate with players while meeting the highest regulatory standards.”
Daniel Berthold, EVP Growth Markets at DAZN Bet, said: “We’re thrilled to enhance our offering with Hölle Games’ impressive portfolio. Their content is a perfect match for our mission to deliver high-quality, engaging, and locally relevant entertainment to the German market. We’re confident our players will enjoy the unique craftsmanship that Hölle Games brings to the table.”
The partnership underlines Hölle Games’ commitment to strengthening its relationships with key regulated operators in Europe and reinforces DAZN Bet’s reputation for delivering diverse, premium gaming content tailored to local preferences.
The post Hölle Games Partners with DAZN Bet appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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