Industry News
Digital Chain is a business statement. Iryna Kurochkina, Founder & CEO of DC, on the agency’s rebranding and ambitious plans
1. So, the first big gaming exhibition of the new decade, ICE London 2020, is here, and so is the crazy surprise: Digital Choo rebranding into Digital Chain! Tell us more about the idea and how long were you planning it.
The rebranding is a major change, and it came to us really naturally. Over the course of 3 years on the market we’ve developed an interconnected in-house infrastructure of services, won over great global companies as our clients, created many award-winning campaigns, and, in the end, we’ve changed. We have a larger grasp of understanding who we are and what value we present to our clients, partners, the advertising markets, and the world in general. So the aspiration for change came from the inside as a natural desire to match our external image with our internal values, the very essence of DC.
Digital Chain, ICE London 2020
What is Digital Chain? It is the power to break barriers and go above and beyond in pursuit of the outstanding results. It is intrinsically us — the international marketing agency that commits to using its complex knowledge and services to drive the process of brand establishment for every company that shares the same passion and beliefs with us.
2. Could you elaborate more on the practical implementation of the concept of rebranding?
The most obvious change is our brand identity embodied in all external branding, POS materials, merchandise and so on. However, Digital Chain is much more than visual changes. It is a business statement. It is about our plans, goals, and the services we bring to the market.
Every piece of our new image communicates exactly who we are and what value we carry to the world. Liquid metal is a key element of our renewed style: a symbol of the agency’s strength yet flexibility, the skills and expertise that complement the DNA chains of new strong brands that we help to create. Other new corporate colors add vibrancy to this philosophy, with Stark White to represent fearlessness, absolute freedom of action, purity of thought, the absence of chaos in our work processes, and Rich Black to reflect our passion for exploring the essence and solid, confident steps to conquer the unknown.
We are bold and daring in our aspiration to develop the international community, and this is essentially what the story’s about. In the near future, Digital Chain will connect even more markets all over the world, introducing its services to Asian and African clients. We will also contribute our expertise in niche verticals to the development of markets that have only recently adopted the global practices and undergo gambling legalization. And of course, we are about to expand our client portfolio both in niche and mainstream categories.
3. A general question on rebranding: If you are doing well, why should you rebrand? As they say in the US, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”. Isn’t this the mantra?
Change is the only constant thing in the world. To keep yourself in an old framework when you’ve grown, and become so, so much more, is simply wrong. True freedom comes from being sensitive – first of all, to yourself; from being honest; from accepting who and what you are and bringing the corresponding image into the world with responsibility and good intentions. This is how real difference is made- by being yourself to the fullest. It is exactly the same for businesses as for individuals.
4. A number of big companies have fallen off their hallowed perch in the last decade or so. Kodak, Thomas Cook, Nokia, the list goes on. Changing technologies played a big part in that. Do you think in this era of rapid emergence of disruptive technologies, just rebranding alone can help the companies to flourish?
In a fast-paced world that we live in today, visionaries and pathfinders set the reality that everyone else is battling to succeed in. So yeah, technological advancement must underlie any other changes, without a doubt!
Watching the global market closely, over some time you start to see the pattern of all sales, mergers, acquisitions – an ever-evolving live organism that aspires to reach its maximum potential. It is important to keep everything connected so if one part changes, the others naturally follow suit as well.
5. Specific to the gaming sector, how should a company go about rebranding? What should be the underlying factors a company should consider before making a decision to rebrand?
This company should answer a nominal question “Why?”. As indicated, one of the lasting trends in the gaming/gambling industry, which is highly relevant in 2020, is market oversaturation. Target audiences have difficult time telling companies apart from each other. You may ask if rebranding is the answer. It could be, but it also could not be the one. It is a combination of factors and external influences that have to be taken into account to decide whether rebranding is truly what a company needs.
During the process, you have to be true to your brand essence, consistent, and… there are really many ingredients to the development of a perfect rebranding. A reliable and proven marketing partner is highly recommended to ensure all the details are perfectly set, and that the new brand really stands out and communicates the right messages in the right tone of voice.
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Raketech Group Holding Plc announced an agreement to sell the Casumba assets due to regulatory developments affecting its markets.
The transaction, valued at a fixed consideration of EUR 12 million, will be paid in monthly instalments through December 2029, with no upfront cash payment. Under IFRS 9 accounting standards, the deferred consideration has been measured at the fair value of approximately EUR 7 million at closing. The EUR 5 million difference between the fixed consideration and the fair value reflects an element of ongoing credit risk and the extended payment schedule. Any further adjustments will be recognised through the profit and loss account over the payment period, in accordance with IFRS 9 requirements.
The consideration carries an 8% interest rate and will be paid in variable monthly instalments through December 2029.
The sale supports Raketech’s platform-first strategy, focusing on core markets and sustainable growth in iGaming affiliation. The decision to divest Casumba stems from recent regulatory shifts in its markets. This move aims to remove regulatory risks, and redirect capital to Raketech’s leading iGaming affiliation platform, AffiliationCloud.
The Casumba assets generated annualised revenues of approximately EUR 4.0 million with an EBITDA of EUR 2.9 million, based on the Q2 2025 run rate.
Raketech will record a non-cash loss on disposal of approximately EUR 10 million in Q3 2025. This loss primarily arises from the difference between the book value of the Casumba assets and the IFRS 9 fair value of the consideration. The loss on disposal is a one-off, non-recurring loss and will not impact Raketech’s cash flow or operational performance.
The transaction has been signed and closed on 24 September 2025.
Johan Svensson, CEO of Raketech, said: “This sale marks another step in refining our portfolio and concentrating on our core goal of creating the top commercial platform for iGaming affiliation. By divesting Casumba, we eliminate regulatory exposure and unlock resources for growth opportunities. This transaction reflects our dedication to sustainable shareholder value and financial discipline.”
The post Raketech Announces Divestment of Casumba Assets appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Ten years after its quiet debut as a casino listing site, SlotsUp has reintroduced itself with a complete rebuild. What started in 2015 as a basic catalogue of online casinos has evolved into a structured, data-driven product designed around user needs and practical tools that actually help make smarter choices.
For years, SlotsUp relied on the industry-standard model. That formula worked, until it didn’t. So in 2025, the team behind SlotsUp tore it all down.
“We spent years chasing SEO. At some point, it became clear that the balance was off — too much energy went into ranking, and not enough into what players truly needed. That had to change. We shifted toward building a product where clarity, trust, and the user’s perspective always come first,” said a team lead at SlotsUp.
Not Just a Redesign — A New Product
SlotsUp 2.0 introduces a new brand identity, an updated interface and a new core principle: act like a correspondent, not a catalogue. That shift is reflected in a complete rethink of how casinos are added, rated and shown to users. Entry is no longer automatic — each listing must pass through a rigorous system of over 100 internal rules governing data quality, compliance, layout and trustworthiness.
The platform now filters and presents only what matters. Each casino is reviewed through 12 custom-built metrics, including:
Safety Index: Built on 4 criteria, from licensing transparency to user complaint volume.
SlotsUp Rating: A detailed breakdown of license, bonuses, payments, support and responsible gambling tools
Casino Match: A personalised alignment tool based on the user’s region, currency and language.
Radar: A visual chart comparing a game’s win potential against industry averages.
And now there’s Multi Game Mode — a new way to test and compare slots side by side. Players can launch up to four games in demo mode simultaneously, making it easy to spot differences in features, pace and style. It’s a faster, smarter way to find the game that truly fits your preferences.
The result is a real product, not just a database — with tools that respond to where the player is, what they value, and how they play.
From a List to a Real Product
The company’s team of 28+ experts includes writers, developers, designers and gambling professionals. Every review is written or reviewed by individuals who are well-versed in the industry.
Now, every rating is based on a clear system. Information is sorted by what matters to players: safety, fairness, relevance and quality.
SlotsUp 2.0 is built to guide users, not push them. It focuses on clarity, responsibility and smarter choices — one player at a time.
The post SlotsUp 2.0 Launch: Transformed into a User-Centric Product appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Vyking, the next-generation iGaming platform provider, has announced the appointment of João Soares as its new Chief Technology Officer (CTO).
João, a Portuguese native, is a highly accomplished engineering leader with more than a decade of senior experience in the iGaming sector, having held leadership roles at William Hill, BetVictor and White Hat Gaming. In a previous role, João served as Head of Engineering at White Hat Gaming, where he managed 120+ people and spearheaded the transformation of the company’s engineering function. He introduced scalable team structures, mentored managers and technical leads, and embedded Agile methodologies across the business. His leadership was pivotal in turning a flat engineering setup into a high-performing, resilient and delivery-focused organisation.
Prior to that, João spent over five years at BetVictor, where he held senior engineering roles and led the launch of eight native mobile apps across iOS and Android, supporting 60% of the company’s business in the UK, Germany and Asia. He also worked as Development Manager at William Hill, contributing to product and platform initiatives across multiple teams.
Beyond iGaming, João also gained senior leadership exposure in other technology sectors, including roles as Head of Engineering at Vision-Box and as Director of Engineering at Easyship, where he focused on digital transformation, QA implementation and leadership coaching.
João Soares, incoming CTO of Vyking, said: “I am thrilled to be joining Vyking at such an exciting time. The company’s platform vision, which combines flexibility, scalability and true product ownership for operators, is exactly the type of challenge I’m passionate about. My goal is to help accelerate innovation, build high-performing teams and ensure Vyking continues to set new standards for iGaming technology.”
Franz Gerhart, CEO of Vyking, said: “João brings the perfect blend of technical expertise, leadership capability, and proven industry experience. His track record of scaling engineering teams and driving transformation at leading operators will be invaluable as Vyking enters its next phase of growth. I also want to acknowledge Helmut Kleinhans, who has excelled in leading our technology function and is now stepping into a new senior role as Chief Software Architect. This transition reflects his passion for deep technology and innovation, enabling him to focus on advanced engineering across the wider business. Helmut’s impact has been pivotal in positioning Vyking for success, and we are thrilled he will continue to shape our technology future.”
The post Vyking Appoints João Soares as CTO appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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