Baltics
“We’re moving and scaling our market presence worldwide”: Exclusive interview with Evoplay CCO
As the famous tech-first studio prepares to take the Baltic region by storm following its debut in Estonia, and soon Lithuania, we caught up with Evoplay’s CCO, Vladimir Malakchi to talk about the supplier’s expert insight into the CEE market and player profiles.
Congratulations on Evoplay’s latest market debut! How long have you had your eye on the Baltics?
Thank you, it’s a real milestone for us and we’re very pleased to be expanding and building a first-class network. The Baltics is an important market and we’ve been planning entry for some time.
The growth there has been astounding – in Latvia, for example, Euro 11.5 million was generated by the online casino sector just a few years ago. And in Estonia, a recent survey showed that 80% of adults said they had, at least once, placed bets on games of chance, which shows what a tech-savvy audience we’re dealing with.
Our games have proven to resonate really well with CEE players, and we first entered Romania with WinBet, as well as expanding into Croatia, Bosnia, and Serbia. Alongside that, we have already certified our games with local certificates and we’re about to enter Lithuania with one of its most credible casino operators to continue building our Baltic presence
Tell us about your latest deals – what do they encompass and what are you set to deliver?
We’re moving and scaling our market presence worldwide. The CEE region, Estonia and Lithuania are three markets we’ve been looking at this year, and I’m sure we’ll have plenty more exciting news to announce soon enough.
In 2021, we entered Estonia with Slots.io, and with our Lithuanian regulatory approval added to the mix, one can certainly say that our approach is globally local.
When it comes to our offering, we’ve hand-picked our very best to please not only the regulator but also our new players, including Ice Mania, Fluffy Rangers and Forest Dreams. Having really made a name for ourselves as one of the most tech-first suppliers around, we’re very confident that we’ll be able to bring a truly exciting gaming experience to the table that will showcase just how much we stand out as a unique supplier.
What’s your overall view of the three markets available? How do they compare to other CEE markets where Evoplay is live?
The preferences are similar to the typical CEE player, and accordingly relate to the European player profile. We find that CEE countries have similar tastes with regards to games, but with slightly differing needs from country to country.
What we need to remember here is that mobile is the key channel. This means each of our games need to be designed for a highly discerning audience that knows exactly what they should expect when it comes to next-gen gaming. This means flawless graphics, pitch-perfect sounds and an immersive atmosphere that can compete on a par with other types of mobile-based games that they’re accustomed to outside of gambling.
When it comes to the tech – what’s the primary channel of choice for Estonia and Lithuania, and how do you aim to tailor your offering?
As already mentioned, mobile is king – and this is where we really excel. Of course, we go far deeper than that when it comes to evaluating what we have to offer and tailoring our games accordingly. Now it’s too early to say, as we’re still testing and analysing the feedback from players from these markets and adjusting our offering based on the incoming data and each game’s performance.
This, is of course, means that we plan to bring plenty more of our games to the table as we continue to hone our offering, and we will share more specific data and feedback after six months in these markets, but the initial findings are interesting and positive. As everywhere, players choose quality, interesting games that they find familiar to the ones that they are used to seeing on the market.
So, this fits very well with Evoplay’s approach of giving the games you feel you know, but with a new spin based on stunning graphics, great mechanics, and incredible technological implementations.
Taking a look at the games you have prepared for your partners – what have you selected as the best in your catalogue? What can players look forward to?
For the Estonian and Lithuanian markets, we’ve certified a selection of 40 slot titles and we’re pleased to see that all of them have good performance rates in Estonia already, and in some cases – have knocked even our most optimistic expectations right out of the park. Players really like what we have to offer, and we’re delighted to be making a real difference when it comes to entertainment.
Delving into our titles, we think, for example, that Ice Mania, Forest Dreams and Fluffy Rangers are going to be big hits in Estonia, and we’re confident that this will carry over to Lithuania, too – especially, of course, our worldwide evergreen hits such as Hot Triple Sevens, Elven Princesses and Fruit Nova.
Last but not least, how do you see further CEE expansion fitting into Evoplay’s strategy? Should we expect plenty more news soon enough?
We’re exploring all opportunities with regards to our CEE market expansion – it’s a strong marketing that’s ripe for our gaming experience. In many ways, we’re only just getting started – with the Balkan markets proving especially exciting as player interest continues to surge there.
Moving southwards, of special interest to us is Greece – and we’re working hard to assemble a catalogue of regulation-friendly products as we undergo the suppliers’ licencing process, adapted this year. This changing nature of regulation is something I predict to continue to be a hot topic throughout 2021 on the continent, and it’s all about being innovative and agile to adapt to both the regulator and our partners’ needs.
Further afield, we’re open and looking to new markets to reach in Central Western Europe, LatAm and emerging markets. Having a global reach, but with locally relevant games, is a core driver for us, and we’re very much looking forward to keeping our momentum going from last year, which was a record-breaking time for us, across markets, launches and new games. Do stay tuned for plenty more exciting announcements soon enough!
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Betsson Group has today launched its flagship brand, Betsson, in Lithuania, marking a new chapter in the Group’s ongoing strategy to unify and elevate its brand presence globally. The rebrand sees the former Betsafe operation transition to the Betsson brand, further strengthening the company’s positioning in regulated markets.
Betsson Group first entered the Lithuanian market in 2016 through the acquisition of TonyBet, which was rebranded as Betsafe the following year. Since then, the brand has gone from strength to strength, establishing itself as one of the leading operators in the country. The transition to Betsson reflects the Group’s ambition to bring even greater consistency, scalability, and brand recognition to its operations across regulated markets. For Lithuanian customers, it ensures the same trusted and seamless gaming experience – now backed by the strength of a globally recognised brand, with expanded resources, international partnerships, and unique fan engagement opportunities.
Jesper Svensson, CEO at Betsson Group, commented, “Lithuania has been an important market for us over the years, and this rebrand is a natural next step in our journey. By aligning our presence in the market under the Betsson brand, we can tap into broader marketing synergies, strengthen our global identity, and continue offering the same great service that our customers know and trust.”
The rebrand reflects Betsson’s ongoing investment in Lithuania, where the company moved into a larger office in Vilnius’ Central Business District just over two years ago. Today, the office is home to around 40 employees working across commercial, payments and support functions.
Over the years, the Group has also built strong local partnerships that demonstrate its commitment to sport. Betsafe is the title sponsor of the Lithuanian Basketball League (Betsafe-LKL), one of the most competitive leagues in the region. The brand also supports both the men’s and women’s Lithuanian national basketball teams, and is a proud sponsor of football club FC Žalgiris.
This brand transition also aligns with Betsson Group’s broader international marketing strategy. The Group is actively investing in high-profile sports sponsorships, including partnerships with Boca Juniors and Racing Club in Argentina, Inter in Italy, Atlético Nacional in Colombia and several other clubs across Europe and Latin America. These global initiatives not only raise brand awareness but also bring added value to local markets like Lithuania through stronger brand recognition and cross-market campaigns.
The post Betsson Group Rolls Out Its Flagship Offering in Lithuania appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Tugi Tark, which literally translates as ‘smart support’, launches an intelligent platform with AI agents to help online casino operators transform customer service
Estonian start-up Tugi Tark has formally launched with a mission to modernise the iGaming industry’s approach to customer support.
According to the tech disruptor, which is only now emerging from stealth mode, the future of player support will be proactive and automated, rather than reactive and manual.
Tugi Tark uses a combination of large language models, machine learning, and a dataset of over 10 million iGaming customer service tickets resolved over the years.
Tugi Tark’s AI agents, available 24/7, resolve a significant percentage of cases independently, increasing each month as support teams train their AI agents. This streamlines the player experience and frees up human staff to focus on higher-value tasks.
Crucially, the agents can provide support in more than 250 languages, a key advantage for iGaming companies operating across multiple markets. Players are assisted in their native language, without the need for third-party translation tools or region-specific teams — reducing costs and breaking down language barriers.
Players parting with money expect fast, effective support at any time. Tugi Tark’s AI agents address this critical pain point. Slow response times remain one of the biggest frustrations in iGaming customer support — often due to staffing constraints.
Proactive support can improve the player experience across a range of issues, including failed payments. When a deposit fails, Tugi Tark receives an API call from the payment system with the error message. This instantly triggers a relevant chat with the player to clarify the reason and provide a solution. The result: improved customer satisfaction, successful deposits, and lower player churn.
Tugi Tark CEO Harpo Lilja said: “We’re convinced we can help operators transform player support from a cost centre into a strategic competitive advantage.
“Support isn’t just about answering questions. It’s about creating momentum, trust, and loyalty. The quality of customer service is critical — it can make or break a VIP programme.
“With human agents, the support times are inconsistent. Support staffing for a multi-market 24/7 operation is challenging and costly. High churn among staff is common, and the limit of talent is an unfortunate reality.
“Combining both human and AI agents is the solution to the problem. AI agents can resolve many queries independently, and the rest are automatically routed to the most suitable human agent to guarantee a fast and effective resolution.”
Tugi Tark is a remote-first company headquartered in Tallinn, Estonia. The business has doubled its headcount in less than a year and is scaling rapidly to meet growing demand.
Five iGaming clients are set to onboard imminently, with further partnerships to be announced before the end of 2025.
“We understand high-value players, compliance, cost optimisation, player safety, and the nuances of iGaming support — because we’ve lived it,” added Lilja, who brings over a decade of experience in iGaming and a proven track record of elevating customer support across hundreds of brands.
“Every feature is designed to solve real-world challenges: regulatory pressure, global player bases, multi-brand operations, and 24/7 VIP care.”
The post Estonian start-up vows to revolutionise iGaming customer support with AI appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
The HIPTHER Team is proud to celebrate another highly successful event for Gaming and Tech, in a powerful edition of the MARE BALTICUM Gaming & TECH Summit in Vilnius!
The full-house conference was a fitting closure to the groundbreaking MARE BALTICUM Gaming & TECH series that united the Baltics and became a pivotal meeting point and beacon of ideas in the region for seven incredible years.
HIPTHER is grateful to all of our extraordinary speakers who generously shared their expertise with our audience, and to all the fantastic participants dynamically engaging, connecting, and spurring the future of the local industries.
Panels, Workshops & Powerful Takeaways
From the very first session to the final farewell, MARE BALTICUM 2025 delivered two days packed with meaningful insight, future-facing dialogue, and high-impact learning.
Across the Compliance & Operations Lab and the TechXperience Stage, C-level executives, innovators, and thought leaders came together to unpack the most urgent topics shaping Gaming, Tech, Fintech, and Regulation today. From navigating multi-jurisdictional compliance and decoding AI’s role in iGaming, to understanding consumer protection under MiCA and mapping the rise of decentralized platforms, each panel reflected HIPTHER’s mission: to bring clarity, context, and challenge to every conversation.
A key highlight of this year’s edition was the HIPTHER Academy Workshops – a brand-new initiative designed to elevate professional skills through actionable, hands-on sessions. Participants engaged directly with experts in focused workshops, earning digital diplomas marking their attendance and new learning achievement.
Sessions included:
- Crypto Custody, Transparency & Consumer Protection Under MiCA with Anna Agu
- Creative Rights, Real Risks by Andrius Gabnys & Jovita Morta Gabne
- RegTech in Action with Viktorija Poluektova
- Neuroshift by Dr. Maria Loumpourdi
Each workshop offered a deep, hands-on dive into its subject matter, blending real-world scenarios with strategic tools for sustained professional growth.
Awards, Networking & the Signature HIPTHER Experience
The conference went beyond panels and progress: it was also a celebration of the people and companies driving the industry forward.
This year’s BSG Awards Ceremony honored excellence across the Baltic and Nordic regions, with standout winners including Betsson Group, Amusnet Gaming, Digitain, BETER, Coinspaid, and GLI, as well as individual honors for visionaries like Daniel Gunba, Irakli Davarashvili, and Vladimir Malakchi.
Every evening brought the HIPTHER community together in unforgettable venues: from the cozy buzz of the Welcome Meet at Piano Man Bar, to the jazz-infused elegance of the Awards Night at Jazz Cellar 11, and finally the intimate conversations and clinking glasses of the Closing Party at Invino Vilnius. As always, HIPTHER’s signature hospitality turned networking into genuine connection, where business cards meet genuine moments, and partnerships are sparked over stories instead of mere pitches.
What’s Next: 2026 and Beyond
2018 – 2025: MARE BALTICUM SUMMIT ➝ 2026 → ???
For seven unforgettable years, the MARE BALTICUM GAMING & TECH SUMMIT brought the Baltic region together, uniting industries, people, and progress under one roof. The 2025 edition in Vilnius marked the summit’s grand finale, and it did not disappoint: a full house, full hearts, and a bold step forward.
So… is that the end?
Not quite.
In 2026, something new is coming! Something grounded in the values that defined MARE BALTICUM, but reimagined for a new era of regional collaboration.
More local. More focused. More connected.
We’re not ready to say too much (yet).
But if you’ve ever been part of the #hipthers journey… you’ll want to be part of what comes next. Stay tuned!
The post MARE BALTICUM 2025 Wrapped: Paving the Way for Gaming & Tech in the Baltics appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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