Industry News
Paddy Power Co-founder Accuses Industry of Scaremongering Over Tax Hike Warnings
The co-founder of Paddy Power has accused industry chiefs of scaremongering after they warned new gambling taxes could push punters towards the black market.
Stewart Kenny, who resigned from the bookmaking giant in 2016 and has since become a vocal critic of the sector over problem gambling, claimed it was a red herring. He admitted using the “black market” argument during his time in charge, adding: “I’m embarrassed to admit this…we knew it was way exaggerated but it is the perfect way of saying ‘the government will lose money’ – but in fact it won’t.”
Among those issuing the black market warning is Paddy Paddy’s now owner.
His comments came as top bosses launched a fightback in the wake of calls for Chancellor Rachel Reeves to hike gambling taxes to fund welfare spending and tackle harmful gambling. It follows another round of bumper results from some of the industry’s big players who, together, are forecast to rake in profits of £4billion globally this year.
Peter Jackson, chief executive of Paddy Power parent company Flutter, which recently predicted annual profits would surge by around 40% to £2.45billion, said: “it’s really important (to) keep customers in the legitimate market where we can make sure we can look after them.”
Sean Wilkins, finance chief at William Hill owner Evoke, which analysts estimate will make £362million this year, said higher taxes will “only lead to a growth in the black market.” And Stella David, chief executive of Ladbrokes owner Entain, warned of “the law of unintended consequences”.
Pressure is growing for the government to use a consultation on updating the tax treatment of bookmakers to hit the sector with fresh levies. The Office for Budget Responsibility has forecast current levies will bring in £3.8billion for the Treasury this financial year.
The post Paddy Power Co-founder Accuses Industry of Scaremongering Over Tax Hike Warnings appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
game studios
Evoplay rolls out Season of Legends campaign with €512,000 spring prize pool
Evoplay has launched Season of Legends, a year-long network campaign built around four seasonal phases, starting with a spring edition carrying a €512,000 prize pool. The spring phase launched in March and runs across March, April and May.
The studio said the new format follows its previous Big Adventures network campaign and is designed to drive sustained engagement through a more structured seasonal approach. Each season runs for three months with new mechanics and prize pools.
A new mechanic, Infinity Prize Drops, will run daily throughout each month and is not tied to tournament windows. The spring edition also includes a Tournament and Wheel of Fortune, each operating in four monthly phases: 1st- 5th, 9th- 13th, 17th- 21st, and 25th- 29th.
Evoplay said the €512,000 spring prize pool will be distributed across the three-month period via a consolidated leaderboard spanning participating operators. Players earn points through qualifying spins on selected Evoplay titles including Hot Triple Sevens, Piggy Bank: 3 Pots Bonanza, and the Penalty Shoot-out series.
Diana Larina, Head of Marketing at Evoplay, said: “Season of Legends marks the next evolution of our network campaigns. With Big Adventures, we saw just how effective long-term engagement can be, and this new format takes that even further.
“By introducing seasonal structure and mechanics like Infinity Drops, we’re giving operators the tools to maintain consistent player activity, rather than relying on short-term spikes. This is just the beginning, and we’re excited to build momentum throughout the year.”
The post Evoplay rolls out Season of Legends campaign with €512,000 spring prize pool appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
executive-moves
Swintt appoints Etienne Azzopardi as Managing Director
Swintt has appointed Etienne Azzopardi as Managing Director, confirming its former COO in the permanent role after a three-month interim period that began in January. The move follows the departure of outgoing CEO David Mann, as the company continues a wider strategic restructure.
Swintt said Azzopardi will lead product strategy, future market expansion and team development. During his interim term, the company said it released 12 titles, including three games under its Elysium Studios label.
The supplier also pointed to two partnership deals signed during the same period: NetBet adding Swintt content for Greece, and SkillOnNet taking Select, Premium and Elysium Studios games across its .com, UK and MX brands.
Looking ahead, Swintt said it plans to maintain monthly content output and pursue further growth in regulated jurisdictions. The company added that Switzerland is scheduled to be its next major market target in 2026.
Etienne Azzopardi, Managing Director at Swintt, said: “I’m delighted to have been appointed Managing Director at Swintt. Since joining the company in 2021, I’ve had a hand in everything from operational management and roadmap optimisation to market licensing and game certification, and the experience I’ve picked up in those four and a half years will prove crucial in my new role.
Having spent three months acting as Interim Managing Director, I feel very privileged to be taking the role on a permanent basis and believe this will be the catalyst for Swintt to continue its outstanding recent growth in regulated markets worldwide. With a packed product roadmap already planned for 2026, it’s going to be an amazing journey and I’m excited to continue growing the Swintt brand.”
The post Swintt appoints Etienne Azzopardi as Managing Director appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Free spins
3 Oaks Gaming adds Flexible Free Spins to its promo tools
3 Oaks Gaming has added a new bonus mechanic, Flexible Free Spins, to its promotional tools offering, the company said.
The feature allocates free spins based on a total value rather than a fixed number of spins at a set stake. Players can then select how to use the award from up to 20 options, choosing between different combinations of bet size and spin count while staying within the same budget.
3 Oaks Gaming said each option is mathematically pre-calculated to remain within the defined value. When the award is issued, players see a modal pop-up with the available choices, with the default selection set to the median option.
Anna Nozdran, Acting Product Owner at 3 Oaks Gaming, said: “Flexible Free Spins deliver a fresh take on the traditional bonus setup within an online slot, providing players with greater control over their gameplay experience that suits their preferences.
“Every option is pre-calculated within the same budget, ensuring consistency for operators while offering a more dynamic experience for players. We firmly believe this new addition will complement the existing 3 Oaks Gaming portfolio and deliver greater value for our partners.”
The post 3 Oaks Gaming adds Flexible Free Spins to its promo tools appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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