Industry News
European Casino Association Awards Four EDP 2021 Diversity Scholarships
The European Casino Association (ECA) has announced the successful candidates for this year’s ECA Diversity Scholarship, sponsored by AGEM, Clarion, the University of Las Vegas International Gaming Institute and the ECA.
The Diversity Scholarship is open to all ECA member employees and in its fourth year since inception is to award more candidates than ever before to participate in the renowned Executive Development Programme (EDP).
The EDP is a prestigious gaming leadership course, a partnership between the UNLV International Gaming Institute and the University of Nevada, Reno College of Business and Extended Studies. The scholarship covers the full cost of the programme, which this year, as last, is to be staged online due to ongoing travel and Covid-19 restrictions.
Over three decades, the EDP has become a reference point for gaming executives seeking to take their careers to the next level, whose aim is to build leadership and management skills and develop strategic thinking. It is a unique occasion to learn and share best practices with peers from around the world. The jury from the sponsoring organisations has examined the applications and awarded four ambitious male and female colleagues from the European land-based casino industry aspiring to a leadership position and hoping to broadening their professional education.
“The ECA scholarship programme recognises the contribution individuals have made within their daily roles that embody the inclusive nature of our profession. The ECA has awarded four candidates working in Monaco, Slovakia, Sweden and Slovenia to take part in the programme to promote the individual growth of the gaming professionals who, through their actions, have supported and enhanced diversity and inclusion within the industry,” ECA Chairman Per Jaldung said.
The ECA’s Diversity Scholarships for 2021 have been awarded to the following candidates:
- Joanna Petit – American Games Supervisor, Casino de Monte-Carlo, Monaco. “Being a young female manager has not been easy in a masculine world. I found my place and I have been able to unite my team through enthusiasm, professionalism, listening and communication.”
- Shalini Kolling – Human Resources Manager, Casino Cosmopol, Sweden. “I believe that the EDP needs more applicants like me who come from minority categories, and possess the foundation quality, that is a genuine hunger to ensure that the individuals and their organisation succeed.”
- Jan Pecha – Casino General Manager, Olympic Casino, Slovakia. “I am very positive regarding diversity. Under my leadership, everyone has equal rights. I believe the EDP will be a very valuable experience.”
- Darko Devic – Table Games Manager, Casino Mond, Slovenia. “I was pleasantly surprised that male members of our team can apply for the scholarship. In my opinion, it is crucial to be aware of inequality in the workplace in order to prevent it.”
“The partnership formed with Clarion, the Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers (AGEM) and the University of Las Vegas has created an opportunity for the ECA to reward four industry colleagues for their outstanding contribution to diversity and inclusion with the gaming sector. Each of this year’s recipients personify the values of this award, having a passion for the industry and an understanding and empathy for the diverse make-up of both front and back-of-house in the European casino business. The EDP is a perfect reward for such dedication to further their personal and professional growth,” ECA Secretary Hermann Pamminger said.
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ESG
Play’n GO publishes 2025 Sustainability Report with emissions and governance updates
Play’n GO has published its 2025 Sustainability Report, framing the year as a milestone as the supplier marks 20 years in the gaming industry. The report covers performance across four pillars—Players, Partners, People and Planet—and positions sustainability as tied to product design, operations, and partner expectations.
On climate reporting, the company said it has “achieved and exceeded” its long-term 90% reduction target for Scope 1 and 2 emissions, and reported a 69% absolute reduction in Scope 3 emissions versus its 2023 base year. Play’n GO also said its total material emissions for 2025 were kept below 500 MTCO2e.
The report also points to a move into land-based delivery. In 2025, Play’n GO said it launched its first land-based gaming solution in partnership with Genting UK, positioning the rollout as part of a “player-first, low-footprint approach” for regulated venues.
On responsible entertainment, the company said it continues to reject game mechanics it believes “compromise player trust or wellbeing,” and highlighted participation in discussions on digital wellbeing and cognitive health, including at the United Nations and G7. “We have always believed that great entertainment should be fun, safe and fair,” said Vanessa Björkbacka, Director of CSR at Play’n GO.
The report also outlines internal development and reporting infrastructure. Play’n GO said 43% of employees engaged in AI-related learning during 2025 and that average training time exceeded seven hours per employee globally. It added that reporting was further aligned to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and World Economic Forum Stakeholder Capitalism Metrics, alongside investment in “secure, AI-supported carbon data management.” “As expectations on transparency and accountability continue to rise, we see it as our responsibility to lead,” Björkbacka added.
The post Play’n GO publishes 2025 Sustainability Report with emissions and governance updates appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
complaint resolution
Casino Guru CRC returns $5.3m to players in Q1 2026
Casino Guru’s Complaint Resolution Center (CRC) published 3,986 complaints in Q1 2026 and says it resolved 1,321 cases, returning $5,304,894 to players during the quarter.
Casino Guru said March was one of the CRC’s most active months on record, with the second-highest number of published complaints to date. The company added that ongoing cases exceeded 1,300, pointing to rising demand for third-party dispute mediation.
By volume, the most active complaint markets were Germany (657), the United Kingdom (270), Canada (240), Italy (207) and Australia (194), according to the CRC update.
Delayed payments remained the most common player-reported issue. Casino Guru also reported a March shift in complaint mix, with self-exclusion-related complaints rising to the second most frequent category for the first time in CRC history. KYC-related issues and blocked accounts were also among the most common complaint types, often linked to withdrawal delays.
Casino Guru said the quarter’s results reflect the increasing role of independent mediation as players look to third-party platforms to resolve disputes.
The post Casino Guru CRC returns $5.3m to players in Q1 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
branded content
RubyPlay launches Firerose studio for operator-specific casino games
RubyPlay has launched Firerose, a new studio aimed at building operator-specific casino game experiences, as suppliers and operators push for more branded content to stand out in crowded markets.
The company said Firerose is designed to let operators combine RubyPlay’s existing game catalogue with the studio’s technology and creative resources, using operator-led insight to shape games around an operator’s brand identity rather than standardised supplier content.
RubyPlay said Superbet is among the first operators to launch Firerose-powered titles. The supplier did not disclose game names or specific performance figures, but said early results showed “strong engagement metrics”.
Firerose becomes part of RubyPlay’s multi-studio structure alongside Koala Games, Mad Hat Games, Ruby Studio, and Xslots, which the company said share technology, infrastructure and distribution.
Dima Reiderman , Chief Commercial Officer at RubyPlay, said: ”Firerose represents a deliberate shift in how we think about content creation and partnership. The market is no longer driven solely by volume, but by identity. Operators want experiences that feel native to their brand and help them clearly differentiate in increasingly competitive casino environments.”
Dr. Eyal Loz, CPO at RubyPlay, added: “Firerose was created to put the operator’s voice at the centre of the creative process. Every game starts with their brand, their audience and their story, and our role is to bring that to life through the full weight of RubyPlay’s creative capabilities.
“We’re shaping experiences that players immediately associate with the operator itself. That level of ownership is what allows operators to stand out in increasingly crowded casino environments.”
The post RubyPlay launches Firerose studio for operator-specific casino games appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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