Industry News
European Gaming Q3 Meetup Part II: The Importance of Company Culture in iGaming
The European Gaming Q3 Virtual Meetup that took place on 13 September had it all: from Commercial Marketing and the Player Lifecycle, to Employer Marketing, Talent Acquisition and Retention, industry experts from the European iGaming scene provided insights in two informative and honest panels that no professional should miss! Read on and find the link to the Livestream recordings to watch the EGQ3 Meetup on YouTube!
The European Gaming Meetups by Hipther Agency are designed to keep you up-to-date with what is fresh in the European gambling industry.
The meetups feature several panel discussions per region and topics that are joined by key industry experts, CEOs, C-Level Executives, Business Development Managers, and sometimes government officials/regulators.
The European Gaming Q3 Virtual Meetup featured two thought-provoking panels: “Mastering the Player Lifecycle” and “The Importance of Company Culture in iGaming”.
Panel 2: “The Importance of Creating a Company Culture in iGaming”
Speakers: Kevin Perks, Senior Talent Acquisition Partner at Van Kaizen | Nana Shneider, HRD at BETBAZAR | Tom Galanis, CEO at TAG Media & First Look Games
Moderated by: Zoltan Tundik, Co-founder and Head of Business at Hipther
Watch the Panel Discussion on YouTube and HiptherTV!
The panel discussion promptly emphasized the pivotal role of fostering a positive company culture within the iGaming sector.
Nana Shneider, HRD at BETBAZAR, initiated the conversation by underlining the significance of motivation and growth in the workplace, recognizing the impact of personal lives on employees’ well-being. She stressed that a positive company culture can contribute to achieving a harmonious work-life balance.
Tom Galanis, CEO at TAG Media & First Look Games, shared insights from companies that operate as remote workplaces. He highlighted the indispensability of strong communication, especially in remote work settings. While attractive salaries can incentivize talent acquisition, Tom emphasized that for talent retention, a company must offer something unique that motivates individuals to work and grow within the organization.
Kevin Perks, Senior Talent Acquisition Partner at Van Kaizen, offered insights from a recruiter’s perspective. He emphasized the essence of company culture both in general and from the job seekers’ viewpoint. Interestingly, he noted that candidates typically inquire less about “superficial” perks like game rooms or ping-pong tables and focus more on company culture. Key questions revolve around whether a company is people-centric, if employees are trusted to perform their tasks without micromanagement, and if there are ample learning and development opportunities. Kevin also stressed that while talent attraction involves marketing communications, the foundation for retention begins with building honest and strong relationships with candidates during the recruitment phase, where the company culture and values play a vital role.
The discussion then delved into the contemporary workspace and remote work environments. The panelists explored the role of company culture in these settings.
Nana emphasized the importance of motivation and connection. She contended that companies must motivate employees by fostering a sense of unity and support, even among remote workers. Tom, with his experience leading remote-work companies, highlighted the challenge of forming meaningful connections in remote work settings. He emphasized that a strong company culture provides meaning and motivation in such environments.
Kevin pointed out that company culture is fundamentally what the business stands for, making it essential for companies to establish a clear culture. In remote settings, effective communication becomes even more critical, with middle managers playing a crucial role in shaping and maintaining company culture.
The discussion also touched on employer marketing and the challenges of conveying company culture in media within a remote work context. Nana highlighted the need for clarity and conciseness in messaging and values to reach everyone, regardless of diverse backgrounds. She emphasized the value of democracy and finding common ground between the company and employees. Tom emphasized honesty and trust as fundamental values, while Kevin reiterated that a positive company culture equates to a people-centric culture, with every individual responsible for creating a safe environment, upholding company values, and advocating for them.
Regarding leadership and company culture, Nana stressed that leaders set the tone for the company and are crucial not only for business development but also for employee growth. Tom echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of leaders displaying soft skills and prioritizing training tools while fostering empathy in interactions with employees. Kevin agreed and reinforced the significance of managers in establishing company culture, emphasizing the promotion of people not just for task completion but also for their people management skills.
Lastly, the discussion explored changes companies can implement to promote a positive company culture. Nana emphasized the importance of companies attending to employees’ needs, embracing flexibility, and fostering communication through calls, discussions, and meetings between top management and employees. Tom urged leaders and management to revisit their vision and culture, offering support and assistance to employees. Kevin emphasized that candidates now closely scrutinize a company’s culture during the recruitment process. They seek signs of culture, which are often not evident in a company’s media communications. Thus, the recruitment process and the relationships established during it are vital.
In conclusion, the panelists underscored that people should be at the heart of company culture, enabling them to derive satisfaction from their work and personal growth. They emphasized that everyone within a company shares the responsibility for shaping its culture.
Read more about the first part of this exciting and informative edition of the European Quarterly Meetups, a panel discussion on Company Culture in iGaming!
The Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers (AGEM) announced that its membership elected a new Board of Directors at its 2026 Annual Meeting. AGEM Board Chair Ryan Comstock, Acting Chief Executive Officer at Ainsworth Game Technology, was not up for election as he transitions into the second year of his two-year term as Chair and led the meeting which approved one-year terms on the Board of Directors for:
• Elaine Hodgson, DIRECTOR (President / CEO, Incredible Technologies)
• Lauralyn Sandoval, DIRECTOR (Vice President of Gaming Strategy & Business Development, Aristocrat Gaming)
• Phil O’Shaughnessy, DIRECTOR (Vice President, Global Communications, Government Relations & Sustainability, IGT)
• Steve DiMasi, DIRECTOR (Senior Vice President of Global Government Affairs & Business Development, Light & Wonder)
• Randy Gilbert, SECRETARY (Chief Executive Officer, TableTrac)
• Thomas Jingoli, TREASURER (President & Chief Operating Officer, Konami Gaming).
The AGEM Board of Directors also approved one-year terms as ex-officio/non-voting members on the Board of Directors for:
• Cassie Stratford, EX-OFFICIO DIRECTOR (Senior Vice President, Legal Operations & Compliance–Boyd Gaming Corporation; Global Gaming Women Advisory Board Member)
• Bob Parente, EX-OFFICIO DIRECTOR & ASSISTANT TREASURER (Executive Vice President & Chief Business Development Officer, Light & Wonder).
The post AGEM Announces Board Of Directors Elected at 2026 Annual Meeting appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
Industry News
QTech Games recruits banking and AI leader Jonny Youssef as CTO to drive next phase of its growth journey
QTech Games, the leading game aggregator for emerging markets, has appointed Jonny Youssef as Chief Technology Officer (CTO) to lead the next phase of the company’s technology organisation, innovation and technology strategy as QTech accelerates its global expansion. Jonny will lead the continued development of QTech’s platform architecture and engineering organisation, focusing on scalability, AI-driven capabilities and next-generation tools designed to support operators and content partners across fast-growing markets. Jonny brings more than 20 years of technology leadership experience across banking, fintech, SaaS platforms and AI-driven innovation. His background combines enterprise-scale infrastructure expertise with hands-on experience building and scaling digital platforms and emerging technology systems. Previously, Jonny served as Head of Innovation for Swedbank Group Lending & Payments, where he led digital initiatives across lending, payments, APIs and digital channels within one of the Nordic region’s largest banking groups. He has also held senior technology leadership roles at Entercard Group, overseeing technology infrastructure and mission-critical production environments supporting large-scale payment operations across Nordic markets. Alongside his enterprise leadership experience, Jonny has founded and scaled several technology ventures and digital platforms. As a technology founder and CTO, he has led the design and development of international platforms operating across Europe and Asia, building distributed engineering teams and scalable digital infrastructure.
In recent years, Jonny has contributed to the development of next-generation AI and sustainability technology initiatives, including work with Circular Living and Biotonomy, where advanced AI, IoT and Edge AI systems are used to power intelligent environments, autonomous infrastructure and real-time operational insights. Beyond his commercial initiatives, he is also a board member and early contributor to The AI Community of Sweden, a national innovation network connecting professionals, enterprises and academia to collaborate on AI innovation. At QTech Games, Jonny will focus on strengthening the company’s technology foundations as it continues to scale globally, enhancing AI-driven functionality, automation and analytics capabilities that enable partners to unlock greater value from the platform. He will also oversee QTech’s engineering and technology teams to ensure continued innovation while maintaining the speed, reliability and integration flexibility that have become hallmarks of QTech’s aggregation platform.
QTech Games’ CEO, Philip Doftvik, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Jonny to QTech at an important moment in our growth journey.
“He brings a rare combination of enterprise technology leadership, platform-building expertise and forward-looking innovation in AI and automation. His experience across banking infrastructure, global digital platforms and emerging technology ecosystems makes him uniquely positioned to guide us through its next phase of technological evolution.
“As we continue to expand across emerging markets, Jonny’s leadership will help ensure we remain at the forefront of innovation — delivering scalable infrastructure, AI-driven insights and powerful technology solutions that help our partners grow.”
Jonny Youssef added: “QTech Games has built a strong reputation as one of the most innovative and reliable aggregation platforms serving emerging markets.
“What impressed me most is the company’s focus on speed, simplicity and partner success — combined with a clear ambition to continue evolving the platform through technology. I’m excited to join the team at a time when AI, automation and data-driven capabilities are creating new opportunities to deliver even greater value to operators and game providers.
“My focus will be on strengthening the platform architecture, scaling our technology capabilities with AI and supporting the next phase of QTech’s growth.”
The post QTech Games recruits banking and AI leader Jonny Youssef as CTO to drive next phase of its growth journey appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
GameOn, the specialist iGaming marketing and PR agency, has added Roxana Nazalu to its growing GameOn CMO team.
Roxana joins as a Fractional CMO and in a consulting capacity. She will be responsible for supporting clients across campaign strategy, creation and implementation.
Roxana is one of the most experienced iGaming marketers in the industry, having worked for some of the biggest names in the business.
This includes the likes of Las Vegas Sands, Casimba Gaming, Aspire Global and Pragmatic Play.
This experience led her to launch Orange Synapse, a specialist agency serving iGaming providers in markets across the world.
Roxana’s appointment as a Fractional CMO Consultant marks a deeper collaboration between GameOn and Orange Synapse, allowing each to offer a wider range of products and services to its respective clients.
GameOn’s Fractional CMO service has gone from strength to strength since launching back in October 2024.
Led by Alex Wilson, it allows clients to unlock the benefits of a full-time CMO but on a fractional basis, making it the perfect option for start-ups and smaller organisations in growth phase. It’s also a great option for established organisations, allowing them to embrace marketing as a revenue engine and not just a support function, but with board-level accountability.
Alex Wilson, Head of Marketing Division at GameOn, said: “We are delighted to welcome Roxana to the GameOn CMO team at such a pivotal moment for our agency. Since launching our fractional service in 2024, the demand for high-level strategic leadership, without the overhead of a full-time executive, has exploded.
“Roxana is a powerhouse in the iGaming space and her track record with global giants like Pragmatic Play and Las Vegas Sands speaks for itself.
“By bringing her expertise into the fold, we’re not just adding a consultant, we’re significantly deepening our strategic offering and ensuring our clients have access to the very best marketing minds in the business.”
Roxana Nazalu, Fractional CMO Consultant at GameOn, added: “Joining forces with GameOn is a natural evolution for me and a fantastic opportunity for Orange Synapse.
“I’ve always admired GameOn’s reputation for delivering clear, results-driven PR and marketing within the iGaming sector. This collaboration allows us to offer a truly holistic service, bridging the gap between high-level strategy and technical implementation for slot studios, operators, affiliates, payment providers and other industry stakeholders.
“My focus will be on helping clients navigate complex markets and scale their brands with the agility that the fractional model provides. I look forward to working alongside Alex and the team to drive meaningful growth for our partners.”
The post GameOn Expands Fractional CMO Division with Appointment of Roxana Nazalu appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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