Industry News

Merkur Gaming to Give Live Stream Presentation of New Product Developments

Published

5 years ago

October 19, 2020

Niji Narayan

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Merkur Gaming is going to implement new initiatives and strategies to recover from the Impact of COVID-19.

Merkur Gaming’s chief executive, International, Athanasios ‘Sakis’ Isaakidis, is at the forefront of supporting the Merkur Board and bringing to fruition new initiatives for the short term and also the strategies that will be necessary as more familiar business levels resume. “We are not on holiday and we are not sleeping” he said “we are working very hard to support our customers, in whatever they need, during these difficult times.”

Mr. Isaakidis went on to explain a brand new initiative that is just one example of the efforts being made to support Merkur Gaming’s customers.

He said: “What we will be bringing to our customers, starting in early November, will be a live stream presentation from our showroom in Luebbeke. This is not a ‘virtual’ event. Our invited customers will each be hosted by their own, familiar, company representative, and in real time. They will be able to see our new products, our new cabinets and our new games, discuss them one-to-one, ask any questions they have and so get a very valuable first insight into what will be available from Merkur Gaming. I promise you, it will intensive and it will be exciting. Exciting for us to be able to see our customers’ reactions and exciting for them to be up to speed with what we are very confident will be major hit products on gaming floors soon.”

Mr. Isaakidis went on to talk about where gaming is taking place successfully at present. “We are, of course, encouraging the industry to ‘Restart with Merkur’ and, in quite a few locations, that is already happening. Our business in Eastern Europe, in the Balkans particularly, is as healthy as it can be in the current situation. In Serbia, Croatia, Montenegro and Macedonia gaming entertainment is doing well. The recent announcement of the new gaming law in the Ukraine is truly exciting and we want all our customers and business partners to know that Merkur is coming, and we expect to be a major supplier there. Early 2021 will see the first installations in the Ukraine and there will be some exciting new developments in Bulgaria also.

In our home market, Germany, casino operations are doing well and the Gauselmann Group’s mainstay, the many gaming arcades that we operate, are active and providing players with the high class gaming entertainment that they have come to expect. In this the existing regulations that gaming arcades must comply with have helped meet the primary need of keeping both players and our staff safe and well. It is mandatory to provide ample space between each gaming machine and that, combined with the highest levels of social distancing, sanitation and protective shielding from machine to machine, has given our loyal players the confidence to return, and in ever increasing numbers.

Despite all of the difficulties of the past months the entire Merkur Gaming team is looking forward to the challenges, and the opportunities, that lie ahead. We have always been passionate about our place in the national and international gaming industry and, right now and into the future we are focusing on keeping that passion and looking forward to what will certainly be a bright future.”

Balkans

CT Interactive Appoints Martin Dimitrov as its New Commercial Manager

Published

2 days ago

January 16, 2026

Wladimir P.

ct-interactive-appoints-martin-dimitrov-as-its-new-commercial-manager

CT Interactive has appointed Martin Dimitrov as its new Commercial Manager. Martin brings over eight years of experience in sales, client management and business development, with the past two years dedicated to the dynamic iGaming industry.

Throughout his career, Martin has managed a diverse portfolio of clients and partners, successfully developing and strengthening long-term commercial relationships. His active participation in key industry events has enabled him to build an extensive professional network and maintain a strong, up-to-date understanding of market trends and dynamics.

Martin’s strong leadership and strategic thinking allow him to identify new business opportunities, drive sustainable growth and support partners with tailored commercial solutions. His collaborative approach and results-driven mindset make him a trusted point of contact for clients and colleagues alike.

With his deep understanding of the iGaming landscape and proven commercial expertise, Martin Dimitrov is a valuable addition to the CT Interactive team.

The post CT Interactive Appoints Martin Dimitrov as its New Commercial Manager appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

blask

Greece Led Europe’s iGaming Growth in 2025 — Now the Drivers Are Fully Explained

Published

3 days ago

January 15, 2026

Wladimir P.

greece-led-europe’s-igaming-growth-in-2025-—-now-the-drivers-are-fully-explained

In the second half of 2025, Greece emerged as Europe’s fastest-growing iGaming market. While several major jurisdictions slowed or declined, Greek market demand rose by more than 50% between June and December, standing out as one of the year’s clearest growth stories.

According to data from Blask, the surge was not the result of a single tournament or seasonal spike. Instead, it reflected a structural shift driven by a combination of sports momentum, regulatory reform and casino market dynamics — factors that can now be traced in detail through Blask’s newly released Market Explanation feature.

Continuous sports momentum without demand gaps

Greece’s growth was underpinned by a tightly stacked sports calendar that sustained engagement across multiple months. EuroBasket 2025 in late August, the kickoff of the Stoiximan Super League, UEFA Champions League matchdays under the new league-phase format, and the EuroLeague season featuring Greek clubs created a continuous rhythm of high-interest betting cycles throughout autumn.

Rather than short-lived peaks followed by sharp declines, demand remained elevated well beyond individual events. This is a pattern clearly visible on the Blask Index trend line.

Casino reform reshaped demand behavior

One of the most significant contributors came from the casino segment. Greece’s decision to raise RNG stake limits from €2 to €20 altered the mechanics of the market, allowing online casinos to absorb demand during sports off-peak periods.

As sports-led acquisition increasingly converted into casino play, operators reported double-digit iGaming growth. Market Explanation analysis shows that this effect persisted over time, confirming the shift as structural rather than seasonal.

Enforcement redirected demand to licensed operators

Regulatory action further reinforced the upward trend. In December, Greek authorities blocked approximately 11,000 illegal gambling domains. Instead of suppressing demand, the move redirected player interest toward licensed platforms, strengthening regulated market performance.

The impact was amplified by the adoption of IRIS instant payments, which reduced deposit friction and improved conversion from interest to activity.

From tracking trends to understanding causes

To surface these drivers, Blask has introduced Market Explanation — an AI-powered layer within the Blask Index that allows users to click on any country’s trend line and instantly see a sourced breakdown of the forces behind the movement. Sports calendars, regulatory changes, casino dynamics and macro factors are analyzed together, turning raw demand signals into actionable market context.

Greece’s 2025 performance illustrates how this approach changes market analysis. Rather than simply observing that demand is rising, operators, suppliers and investors can now see why it is happening — and which levers are shaping the trajectory of a market in real time.

The post Greece Led Europe’s iGaming Growth in 2025 — Now the Drivers Are Fully Explained appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Crypto Turnkey

GR8 Tech Delivers 1.6× Higher Deposit Conversion and 3× Reduction in Transaction Costs for Crypto Turnkey Clients

Published

3 days ago

January 15, 2026

Wladimir P.

gr8-tech-delivers-1.6×-higher-deposit-conversion-and-3×-reduction-in-transaction-costs-for-crypto-turnkey-clients

Initial performance metrics from providers utilizing GR8 Tech’s Crypto Turnkey solution indicate notable enhancements in player conversion and operational efficiency within months of transitioning to cryptocurrency payments.

Operators utilizing Crypto Turnkey are indicating:

● 1.6 times greater conversion for initial and subsequent deposits

● Cost per transaction can be as much as 3 times lower than conventional payment methods.

● Withdrawal processing up to 2.5 times quicker

“The conversion improvements and cost reductions we see would take much longer to achieve through payment optimization alone,” said Denys Parkhomenko, GR8 Tech CPO. “Crypto Turnkey unlocks access to the fastest-growing and highly valuable player demographic in iGaming. When over half of your target audience is already using crypto for investments, offering it as a payment method is a must—numbers prove it.”

The findings confirm the business rationale presented at Crypto Turnkey’s inception: cryptocurrency eliminates reliance on payment providers and draws higher-value participants who deposit larger amounts and wager more often. With settlement finishing within minutes rather than days, operators are experiencing enhanced margins and clearly superior player satisfaction.

Crypto Turnkey is now accessible worldwide and can be implemented as a new option or transitioned from Hyper Turnkey.

Unlock Your Crypto Advantage at ICE Barcelona 2026

The post GR8 Tech Delivers 1.6× Higher Deposit Conversion and 3× Reduction in Transaction Costs for Crypto Turnkey Clients appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.