From January 20 to 22, 2025, the Fira Barcelona Gran Via became the global hotspot of the gaming industry as part of ICE 2025. As the largest exhibitor, NOVOMATIC set new standards with an unprecedented product variety, an outstanding booth design and a unique visitor experience that was unmatched at ICE. In addition to NOVOMATIC’s comprehensive 360° portfolio, numerous subsidiaries and technology partners – such as NOVOMATIC Spain, NOVOMATIC Gaming UK, NOVOMATIC Italia, LÖWEN ENTERTAINMENT, APEX and Ainsworth Gaming Technology – showcased their latest products. A dedicated area for visitors from Latin America was a particular highlight this year, underscoring NOVOMATIC’s commitment to addressing regional market needs with tailored solutions.

Brilliance Perfected: The Launch of the DIAMOND X 1.55J QUATTRO

NOVOMATIC’s sophisticated product portfolio has been expanded with the groundbreaking launch of the DIAMOND X 1.55J QUATTRO. This latest edition of the internationally popular DIAMOND X 1.55J impresses with exceptional features that take the gaming experience to an entirely new level. A sleek cabinet design, an innovative glass touch deck and a cutting-edge soundbar deliver a unique player experience and maximum immersion. The new DIAMOND X™ 1.55J QUATTRO was unveiled with an outstanding sign solution that created a sensation at the NOVOMATIC booth. Offered in attractive packages with four or six cabinets featuring the latest gaming content, the monumental signs delivered an audio-visual spectacle that thrilled visitors and operators alike. With this offering, NOVOMATIC once again reinforced its position as the “Diamond of the Industry.” In addition to this, the exclusive cabinets of the V.I.P. X series also attracted attention. The V.I.P. X Royal 1.85, V.I.P. X Dream 2.43/3.43 and V.I.P. X Lounge 2.32 are designed for discerning players and casino operators who are looking to offer their guests a premium gaming atmosphere. Another key attraction this year was, once again, the V.I.P. X Galaxy 2.65, which continues to generate excitement worldwide. Combining high-end comfort with a futuristic design, this luxury cabinet sets new standards in functionality and gameplay, delivering an unparalleled gaming experience.

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Next-Level Gaming: Linked Progressives, Multiple Feature Games, and Game-Mixes

NOVOMATIC captivated audiences at ICE 2025 with remarkable gaming content, premiering several new Linked Progressives and Multiple Feature Games. A standout highlight was XTENSION LINK Evolution, which created a buzz with two enticing new titles – Mighty Squad and Fu Flow. These Multiple Feature Games impress with engaging gameplay and innovative mechanics, delivering an unrivaled gaming experience. Volumes 3 and 4 of the popular XTENSION LINK were also introduced, each featuring 12 thrilling titles packed with engaging features such as Expanding Reels, Golden Spins and the Xpress Feature, ensuring maximum entertainment for players. On the NOVO LINE platform, the new Multiple Feature Game RISING TREASURES made its grand debut, offering five compelling titles packed with attractive features such as Free Games, Xtra Spins and Prize Upgrades. The Impera ProLink enthralled visitors with four new titles, including the legendary Book of Ra ProLink, delivering cutting-edge gameplay with features like Mega Spins, Double Reels and Chain Reaction. The event reached epic proportions with the launch of the EPIC GOLD Jackpot, an exclusive selection of five GOLDEN titles that introduce an additional Progressive Jackpot Level – the EPIC – offering thrilling new winning opportunities. And the NOVOMATIC classic Gaminator is receiving a stunning modern update with the launch of the GAMINATOR X5. This highly customisable mix features a total of 66 game titles across seven packages, offering unequaled flexibility to casino operators by enabling them to tailor the product precisely to the needs of their guests.

Global Excellence: NOVOMATIC Wins Four Prestigious Awards

ICE 2025 was accompanied by several award ceremonies, where NOVOMATIC reaffirmed its leading position in the gaming industry by securing four leading awards. At the European Casino Awards 2025, NOVOMATIC triumphed in three key categories: The V.I.P. X Galaxy 2.65 was honoured as the Best New Innovative Product; The NOVO CASH Casino Master secured the award for Best Cash Handling Product; and the company’s sustainability strategy was recognised with the Sustainability Initiative Award. In addition to this, NOVOMATIC received the highly coveted ICE Landmark Award 2025 in honor of its unwavering commitment to innovation, excellence and leadership in the gaming industry.

The Executive Board of NOVOMATIC AG Group said: “The premiere of the ICE in Barcelona in 2025 was an outstanding success and the perfect start to NOVOMATIC’s 45th anniversary year. The overwhelmingly positive feedback from our customers and partners clearly confirms our position as Europe’s leading gaming technology group with outstanding innovations and cutting-edge products. We are particularly proud of the four internationally renowned awards that recognize our continuous commitment to excellence in this industry. Our special gratitude belongs to our more than 25,000 dedicated employees, whose tireless efforts have made this success possible.”

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Thomas Schmalzer, VP Global Sales and VP Product Management NOVOMATIC AG, said: “ICE 2025 was, for us, one of the greatest and most successful shows ever. Not only did we exhibit at one of the best booths we have ever had, but we were also able to launch one of the largest ranges of products from gaming equipment to fascinating new game titles and jackpot families. This underscores our innovation and technology leadership in the industry. We are excited about rolling out our latest products in markets globally and ICE 2025 confirmed to us that our solutions are perfectly in tune with player preferences and customer demand. We would like to express our sincere gratitude to our customers and partners for their trust and the excellent collaboration.”

CT Interactive has appointed Todor Botsev as its Business Development Manager for ЕМЕА and Аsia.

With over 16 years of experience in the dynamic and rapidly evolving casino industry, Todor specialises in online and offline business operations. His career has encompassed a variety of roles and responsibilities, including managing online and offline casino operations, optimising gaming platforms and developing strategic business initiatives.

Throughout his career, Todor has gained extensive experience in the development and implementation of new gaming products for online and offline casinos, working with a diverse range of gaming platforms and systems. His expert approach to data analysis and market trends enables him to design and execute innovative strategies for customer acquisition and retention, driving sustainable growth and expanding the customer base.

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Todor’s strong leadership skills allow him to effectively manage teams and projects, with a focus on operational efficiency and staff development. His leadership philosophy is built on collaboration and a commitment to delivering the highest standards of customer service.

With his deep understanding of online casino operations and strategic thinking, Todor is a valuable addition to the CT Interactive team.

The chairman of Playtech, the London-listed gambling technology group, is to step down, triggering a search for a successor with a taste for stringent corporate governance challenges.

Egon Zehnder International, the boardroom headhunter, is being appointed to handle the search for Mr Mattingley’s successor, according to a source close to the situation.

A former chairman and chief executive of 888, the London-listed gaming company now known as Evoke, Mr Mattingley was also a founding director of Gala Leisure.

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At Playtech, he has overseen a frenetic period of corporate activity while also finding himself in the eye of a series of storms with shareholders over boardroom pay and wider corporate governance.

The most recent of those came in December when close to a third of investors rebelled over a €100m bonus plan for Mor Weizer, the company’s chief executive, along with other senior executives.

Shareholders give Mr Mattingley credit, however, for helping to navigate the company through a challenging period in the gambling industry, in particular his role last year in securing the sale of Snaitech, its Italian consumer gambling arm, for €2.3bn.

That represented a nearly threefold return on Playtech’s initial investment in the business, triggering total returns to shareholders of up to €1.8bn – a sum almost equivalent to all of the special dividends paid by London-listed companies in 2023.

The sale of Snaitech will transform Playtech into a pure-play business-to-business operation.

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During Mr Mattingley’s three-and-a-half year tenure, shares in the company have risen by about 60%.