Industry News
ODJ Survey Reveals France’s Gambling Activity Declines, Problem Gambling Rises
The latest survey by Observatoire des jeux (ODJ), the regulating body that monitors the gambling activity of France, has revealed that gambling activity in the country is declining, but the cases of problem gambling rise.
Problem gambling is one of the biggest setbacks of the gambling industry. Protocols that ensure that players are protected from themselves are required for every company before approval of their licenses.
The decline in gambling activity for a country could mean two things. First, the country gets lesser revenue from the industry. And it also means that fewer people are attracted to gambling which means more money for their families.
ODJ reported that 47.2% of the ten thousand respondents are engaged in some gambling last year, a decline from the 2014 survey’s 57.2%.
The report also showed that the country’s excessive gambling activity doubled from 0.8% in 2014 to 1.6% in 2019. Gamblers at risk of becoming problem gamblers rose from 3.8% in 2014 to 4.4% last year.
The regulating body concluded that around 370 thousand French adults are problem gamblers, while about 1 million are at risk of becoming one. ODJ also claimed that 6% of spending on problem gamblers and those at risk of becoming one contributed 38.3% of all gambling spending in 2019.
The survey also revealed that lottery games lead France’s gambling activity, but problem gambling among lottery players remained low at nearly 1%. The report revealed that lottery scratch games are twice more addictive than traditional draw games. Poker and casino players are four times more prone to problem gambling compared to lotteries, while sports and race betting is six times more addictive.
Powered by WPeMatico
Expanse Studios
Expanse Studios Launches Proprietary Jackpot and Tournament System
Expanse Studios, a subsidiary of Meridian Holdings Inc., announced the deployment of proprietary jackpot and tournament mechanics across its portfolio, providing B2B operator partners with engagement tools designed to enhance player entertainment value.
The system introduces two jackpot formats—Happy Hour Jackpot and Mystery Jackpot—alongside four tournament competition variants. Operators can control prize structures, scheduling parameters and promotional configurations through platform interfaces.
Happy Hour Jackpot provides scheduled jackpot events aligned with operator promotional strategies, enabling coordinated marketing campaigns and player communication around jackpot opportunities.
Mystery Jackpot delivers multi-tier progressive prize mechanics integrated into gameplay, with operator-configurable prize values and event parameters that support diverse promotional objectives.
Tournament mechanics include four competition formats:
• Bonus Buy tournaments create competitive environments for players who choose to engage with bonus purchase features, with scoring designed to reward strategic gameplay decisions.
• Spin Count tournaments track player activity across gameplay sessions, offering multiple entry opportunities and achievement-based progression that accommodates different play styles.
• Combo tournaments combine multiple competition elements, enabling operators to design promotional events that appeal to diverse player preferences and gaming behaviours.
• Time-based tournaments operate within defined promotional windows, allowing players to participate according to their own schedules while competing for tournament prizes.
“Content providers increasingly compete on operational capabilities, not just game quality. This positions our portfolio as solutions-oriented infrastructure that helps operators execute diverse promotional strategies while maintaining control over player engagement parameters,” said Damjan Stamenkovic, CEO of Expanse Studios.
Tournament formats integrate with game interfaces through standardised promotional systems designed to enhance entertainment value while providing operators with promotional flexibility.
For Expanse Studios, the deployment strengthens competitive positioning in B2B partnerships where operators increasingly evaluate content providers based on promotional feature capabilities in addition to game performance metrics.
The post Expanse Studios Launches Proprietary Jackpot and Tournament System appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
AI
Former German Air Force officer launches Sparky Space AI platform for iGaming teams
Nils Ristau and Daniel Schmitz debut a work enablement platform aimed at day-to-day execution across product, retention and AI adoption.
Sparky Space, a new AI-powered work enablement platform founded by former German Air Force officer Nils Ristau and tech leader Daniel Schmitz, has launched and is now available globally for iGaming operators and suppliers.
The founders are positioning the product around execution support inside daily workflows as teams face tighter regulatory demands, faster product cycles and higher player expectations. The company cited industry research suggesting only 10-20% of learning is consistently applied in day-to-day work, creating a gap between training and on-the-job outcomes.
“In military operations, performance depends on clarity, structure, and disciplined execution in changing environments,” said Ristau. “The iGaming industry operates under similar pressure.
“Competitive advantage does not come from knowledge alone – it comes from how effectively teams apply it every day.”
Sparky Space said its platform supports areas including product development, player retention and AI adoption, with use cases spanning customer-centric experimentation, agile product and game development, decision-making and prioritisation, practical generative AI prompting, and cross-functional collaboration. The company said the tools are intended to help teams launch features, respond to regulatory change, and optimise marketing and support processes.
While initially focused on iGaming, Sparky Space said it has been built for broader use in other fast-moving, technology-driven industries.
Relevant data as follows:
- Sparky Space: https://www.sparkyspace.com Official company site for product and launch details.
- UK Gambling Commission: https://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk Regulatory context referenced in the article’s discussion of increasing compliance pressure.
- Malta Gaming Authority: https://www.mga.org.mt Key European regulator relevant to operators and suppliers navigating shifting regulation.
The post Former German Air Force officer launches Sparky Space AI platform for iGaming teams appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Belatra
Belatra marks 33 years with April anniversary campaign
The slots supplier says its portfolio now exceeds 150 games and highlights recent LatAm expansion from its Buenos Aires base.
Belatra is marking its 33rd birthday with an anniversary campaign running throughout April, the iGaming slots developer said.
The company said it was founded in 1993 and has since transitioned from building gaming machines for land-based casinos to producing digital content. Belatra added that its portfolio has grown to more than 150 games.
Belatra also pointed to its strategic Latin American headquarters in Buenos Aires as a key base for regional partnerships and growth.
Misha Voinich, Head of Business Development at Belatra, said: “We’re only just getting started, but birthdays provide the perfect chance to reflect on our successes and the path that’s brought us here. From launching our innovative ‘multi-universe’ content strategy to our rapid expansion in Latin America, the successful launch of our first Crash game, and multiple high-profile industry award wins — we are always developing, creating, and evolving. 33 years of innovation, dedication, and gaming excellence — and the best is yet to come.”
Belatra did not provide additional detail on upcoming releases or the timing of any new product announcements beyond saying updates will land during April.
The post Belatra marks 33 years with April anniversary campaign appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
-
8bit Binks7 days agoS8UL Esports Triumphs in VCSA 2026 Split 1: A Grand Final Masterclass
-
betting innovation6 days agoDATA.BET Expands at SiGMA South America 2026
-
BiS Awards 20267 days agoBrazil’s Gaming Evolution: EGT and EGT Digital Claim Top Honors at BiS Awards 2026
-
BiS Awards 20267 days agoEGT and EGT Digital have been honored with the Best VLT Solution prize at the BiS Awards 2026
-
Brazil4 days agoFernando Carvalho outlines new era for prediction markets in Brazil with VoxFi white label technology
-
appointments4 days agoGolden Whale names Jaime Ocampo Managing Director, Asia
-
Brasil4 days agoFernando Carvalho define una nueva era para los mercados de predicción en Brasil con VoxFi
-
casino software7 days agoQTech Games Expands Emerging Markets Portfolio with Sneaky Slots Integration



