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!
BC.Game, a leading global crypto-focused online gaming platform, has announced the appointment of Kar Kheng Giam (“KK”) as its new Chief Executive Officer. Giam brings over 30 years of international leadership experience across gaming, technology, and consumer industries.
Before joining BC.Game, KK served as Vice President International at Coyote Bioscience, leading global expansion initiatives. He also co-founded Topgame and Tinymobi, developing successful mobile social and casino-style games. Earlier in his career, KK held executive positions including CEO roles at multiple organizations and regional leadership at Nabisco Asia.
In his role as CEO, KK will oversee BC.Game’s strategic direction, operational leadership, and financial performance, with a focus on scaling globally, expanding into regulated markets, and driving innovation in crypto gaming.
“BC.Game has built a strong global community by combining cutting-edge technology with engaging entertainment experiences,” KK stated. “With the rising adoption of crypto in online gaming, our focus will be on enhancing the platform, building trust, and strengthening our presence in licensed markets.”
BC.Game currently holds licenses in multiple jurisdictions, including Anjouan, Nigeria, Kenya, Mexico, and Tanzania, as part of its long-term strategy to expand into fully regulated markets worldwide. This appointment aligns with the company’s ambitions to grow its global footprint and strengthen compliance while delivering innovative gaming experiences.
The post BC.Game Names Kar Kheng Giam as CEO appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
ZEAL Network SE, Germany’s leading online lottery provider, closed 2025 with another year of robust double-digit growth.
Despite a weaker jackpot environment, the company significantly strengthened its core lottery business, accelerated diversification, and expanded its customer base—setting a solid foundation for long-term scalability.
The group delivered 16% revenue growth, reaching €218.5 million, while EBITDA rose 11% to €68.8 million. EBIT also climbed 12% to €60.1 million year over year. These results reinforce ZEAL’s strategic focus on building a multi-pillar digital entertainment ecosystem.
“At every level, our results confirm that our strategy works,” said Dr. Stefan Tweraser, CEO of ZEAL Network SE. “Expanding scalable products alongside our strong core lottery business increases resilience and positions us for ambitious future growth.”
CFO Andrea Behrendt highlighted continued investment in reducing jackpot dependence: “Our efforts create a sustainable and profitable growth structure.”
Core Lottery Business Continues to Lead Growth
ZEAL’s primary lottery brokerage remains its strongest revenue driver. Even with softer jackpot cycles:
- Monthly active users climbed 8% to a record 1.558 million.
- Lottery billings reached €1.1 billion, up 2%.
- Gross margin increased to 17.7%.
- Lottery-specific revenue surged 16% to €195.3 million.
These gains underline the brand’s ability to attract and retain large numbers of customers independent of jackpot volatility.
Dream House Raffle Becomes a Major Growth Pillar
The Traumhausverlosung (Dream House Raffle)—launched in 2024—has rapidly evolved into a strong secondary revenue stream. With guaranteed winners and high-appeal prize structures, the charity lottery generated:
- €38.9 million in billings across four draws in 2025.
This success demonstrates the value of proprietary lottery products that complement ZEAL’s core business and enhance market differentiation.
Games Segment Accelerates With Expanded Portfolio
ZEAL also posted substantial growth in its digital Games division. The company extended its catalog to 650+ games, adding 400 new titles and strengthening collaborations with leading game developers.
As a result:
- Games revenue increased 46%, reaching €14.4 million.
- Active user numbers rose sharply.
- Player protection remained a top priority, supported by AI-driven safeguards.
Customer Base Expansion Remains a Strategic Priority
ZEAL made targeted investments to grow its user base, acquiring 1.171 million new customers in 2025. As expected with aggressive acquisition:
- Customer acquisition cost (CPL) increased to €46.47.
- Marketing spending rose 20% to €68.6 million.
This investment is key to sustaining ZEAL’s long-term market position and unlocking additional cross-sell opportunities in games and charity lotteries.
2026 Outlook: Continued Growth and Diversification
Looking ahead to 2026, ZEAL aims to expand its German market leadership and scale its charitable lotteries freiheit+ and Traumhausverlosung, while continuing to strengthen its Games offering.
Forecasts for 2026 include:
- Revenue between €250–260 million
- EBITDA between €70–75 million
These projections already factor in increased investment to accelerate diversification and future-proof the business.
The post ZEAL Reports Strong Double-Digit Growth appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
iGaming Select, a fresh supplier hub dedicated to highlighting and evaluating iGaming technology, is now operational with a distinct goal to simplify the process for operators in finding the top products within an ever-growing and marketing-focused environment.
iGaming Select, created by BetComply CMO Martin Hodges, iGP CMO Michael Baker-Mosley, and Digital Footprints founders Sharon McFarlane and Steve Lee, gathers authenticated reviews of numerous iGaming products, allowing truly innovative solutions the opportunity to rival bigger players.
Martin Hodges, Co-Founder at iGaming Select, said: “The way operators select suppliers is no longer working. It has become less about technology and product, and more about visibility, marketing budgets and noise. iGaming Select is founded on the simple principle that great technology should be easy to identify, giving operators a place to evaluate and compare suppliers based on what they actually offer.”
Operators are now confronted with numerous suppliers presenting similar solutions, and iGaming Select assists decision-makers in discerning valuable information through clear product capability descriptions, organized categorization, relevant operational details, and reviews based on actual usage.
The platform will also offer perspectives on how innovation can grow sustainably, giving operators, suppliers, and investors a better grasp of where lasting value is generated.
The post iGaming Select launches initiative to champion product and tech innovation appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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