Interviews
European Gaming Streamers Roundtable
Participants
Michael Pedersen, CCO at Livespins
Will Barnes, Owner at Hideous Slots
Bryan Upton, Founder at Lucksome
David Mann, Chief Commercial Officer at Swintt
There is no question that online slot streaming is enjoying a meteoric rise in popularity? What are you doing to leverage the potential it provides?
Michael Pedersen, CCO at Livespins
We have launched an entire company with the sole purpose of leveraging the meteoric rise of online slot streaming, Livespins. For a long time, people have been asking if online casino can be social, but you only have to look to Twitch to see that it absolutely can be. To date, there have been more than 280 million hours of streaming footage consumed in the slots category and the chat is on fire. With the hypothesis well and truly proved, we launched Livespins to take this a step further by allowing players to get in on the action by betting behind the streamer and to also offer operators and developers a reputable, compliant platform via which they too can capitalise on the popularity of streaming. We really are going all-in on this as, ultimately, we believe that it is the future of online casino.
Will Barnes, Owner at Hideous Slots
Hideous Slots was always meant to be about community, and the live streams themselves are really at the core of audience engagement. I consider that streaming and video promotion has already overtaken traditional methods of content discovery amongst key demographics. For me, this means using online streaming to achieve the things that would previously have been achieved elsewhere – for example, remembering to lead viewers to your website through streams, comments and Live Chat has now become just as important as traditional SEO. Working with game providers is becoming more common for streamers – as you’ve said, online slot streaming is massively on the rise, and streamers are now proving to be one of the most direct tools in marketing. But we still need to maintain our integrity and the trust of the audience – so commentary on specific products must always fair and balanced.
Bryan Upton, Founder at Lucksome
Not enough would be the honest answer. We are a small and new studio going through a normal start-up process of improvement, scaling and hitting our rhythm. I would say that we are building Slots that the streaming community would have an affinity for. Voodoo Temple, our latest slot has a lot of punch and enough big wins behind it in the first week of launch to have proven that. This is a starting point at least. Now, for us it’s about getting our games and brand in front of the streamers around the world and letting them do what they do best – play and entertain. We are just starting to push in this direction and learning how this part of the industry is working. With this meteoric rise, has come a premium for streamers’ time, and that is something smaller studios like Lucksome would need to understand in terms of return before taking that cost on. Is there some solid data on this to prove the business case? It would be great to be able to have those discussions, and how to help the younger, innovative studios into the limelight.
David Mann, Chief Commercial Officer at Swintt
I agree that the popularity of slot streaming is increasing every month. And for us, as a slot supplier, it is very important that the streaming community knows about our game releases so they can share our latest titles with their followers. A good relationship with the streamers that share the same culture and beliefs as the studio is key as this ensures they are aware of new games coming to the market. However, it is also important to release games that are liked by the community that follows the streamers, because ultimately big wins are what are people interested in. So high volatility games with high max wins should definitely be a part of the portfolio of anyone who wants to succeed in gaining visibility for their games among streamers and their audiences.
We are seeing some studios build out their own teams of streamers. What are the pros and cons of doing this?
Michael Pedersen, CCO at Livespins
I am a great believer in knowing what you are good at and making that your focus. Game studios are great at developing engaging and entertaining slots and that is where they should deploy their resources. They can then partner with streamers or platforms such as Livespins and get in on the action that way. Of course, this means that streamers and streaming platforms need to be driving progress.
The way I see it, live streaming consists of two parts – the technical and the human. Over time, everyone will nail the technology but because there is such a reliance on the human element this is where the real difference will be made. That is why at Livespins we provide our streamers with access to coaches, props, themes, etc and this is something that studios will struggle to do while also ensuring their games continue to top the charts.
Will Barnes, Owner at Hideous Slots
I think the biggest advantage of building your own team is that you’re going to have complete control over the content. Ultimately the engagement will always be with the individuals on screen and I think this might be difficult to manage if things become successful. The danger will always be that people are tuning in for the influencer and not the brand itself. An associated issue is that social media success often involves interaction across platforms and this can be a 24/7 job. Motivating a team to make personalised social media posts, and to be passionate about your product would be a challenge – especially when competing against streamers who are offering this with ease. To really enjoy success, you need to find someone who is not just passionate about entertaining, but also passionate about engaging with the audience, and passionate about the gambling!
Bryan Upton, Founder at Lucksome
The pros are pretty obvious, if you set up something well, you gain influence and the exposure of your games, which all studios, big and small need and want. It would also create a stream of solid and direct feedback on a segment of the market to allow you to hone your product even more. The cons, personally I think the truly GREAT streamers are not just the ones that are fun to watch but are also authentic and independent. Meaning they play everyone’s games, they play the games they love, the games their audience love. Asking them to play a game they don’t like falls flat on the stream and the watchers feel it. If you have your own streamer set up, you need to make sure what you’re producing in terms of content is spot on for the community you are serving and your streamers really need play other competitor games as well – otherwise you’ll lose the audience. I guess another con is scale. You’ll need a lot of people to tackle those important local markets, Italy, German speaking, Spanish etc etc. In the same way as a provide you try to push your games all over the world, you would want your reach and influence to match. I would say that is out of reach for smaller studios and a different business to that of running a game studio. I think it would be great to see some stronger relationships between streamers and suppliers to produce some great original content and experiences – so there is something to be had there.
David Mann, Chief Commercial Officer at Swintt
I believe studios that build a team of their own streamers lose the legitimacy and trust of the viewers because it is very probable that in-house streamers will not criticise the studios’ games even if they are not up to standard. However, by having your own team of streamers, you a studio can ensure that all of their games are played and see the light of the streaming community. So, there are pros and cons to both, but if studios want to engage and entertain players in an authentic way it is important for streamers to remain independent.
Just how difficult is it to launch streaming channels and build sizable audiences? What are the key challenges faced and how can they be overcome?
Michael Pedersen, CCO at Livespins
Livespins is a very different beast. We are not an affiliate streamer and we do not depend on building large audiences and a loyal community of fans. This is because we integrate directly with an online casino operator and engage with their existing player base. For affiliate streamers, it is insanely difficult to launch a channel and build a sizeable following, and then also convert that following into paying players at partner online casino brands. That is why Livespins is so innovative – it allows operators to capitalise on the popularity of streaming by offering it to their players and by also letting them bet behind the action taking place across the reels.
Will Barnes, Owner at Hideous Slots
Launching a channel comes with a number of challenges, and the most significant challenge is building an audience. Often, finding those first 20-30 viewers comes quite easily – friends, friends of friends, or those who enjoy the high level of engagement that a smaller stream can provide. Again, once you surpass 150-200 viewers, growth is more consistent, as your content is pushed out by YouTube and Twitch organically. But between 30-150 viewers is a real struggle, and I think the quickest way to overcome this hurdle is to try and offer something a bit different, and to keep trying. Keep showing up, keep offering somewhere for people to join together, and hope that eventually these numbers continue to grow. There’s no shortcut to building huge numbers – it’s about being authentic, and if you have something interesting or unique enough, eventually it will pay off.
Bryan Upton, Founder at Lucksome
We are seeing this continued trend in European markets of high volatility game play – but we have hit the ceiling in terms of how much we can push this, factors from high exposure to the Operators and squeezing of margins with very harsh, high risk math profiles are, in my opinion, creating the beginnings of player fatigue and burnout and reticence from the industry. I feel player tastes are settling into a happy medium between the extremes that our industry tends to have an affinity with, with is a good thing. From our side, we continuously have to avoided falling into the noise of all the other game releases, and having something to talk about directly to players and through influencers I think is key. We pride ourselves on being more transparent on the games we’re producing and how they work, as we think it is key to attracting the right players to your games. We keep an eye on new trends in and outside our industry and how we can utilise or jump on them to make better gaming experiences, which is our life blood, as is as adjusting our design processes looking at the new generation of players out there.
David Mann, Chief Commercial Officer at Swintt
This is definitely not the easiest task. You need to be trustworthy, entertaining and stream on a regular basis to gain a sizable audience. But trust is really key here. Viewers follow streamers to see their reactions so during a stream they need to interact with the audience and react to the important moments when they play. Streamers are also trying to help to change the perception of gaming, so it is important to set the key goals when launching a streaming channel. I see it being of huge importance to be a legit streamer and to stay away from adopting the practices of so-called fake streamers.
What tactics are you using to drive growth? Are audience demands changing? If so, how? And what impact is this having on streams?
Michael Pedersen, CCO at Livespins
Because we are coming at live streaming from a B2B perspective, we are driving growth by integrating with more operators and partnering with more slot providers. Audience demands are changing – no longer are players happy sitting at home just spinning the reels. They want to engage and interact with streamers and other players, and they also want to be involved in a more direct way and that is why we offer the option to bet behind.
The quality of streams is going to have to improve, and that is why we offer our streamers coaching and the tools they need to create entertaining environments. I think we will also see players demand more transparency from streamers and ultimately concerns about responsible marketing and safe gambling will probably lead to regulatory oversight. Of course, this is something that has already been built into the Livespins platform.
Will Barnes, Owner at Hideous Slots
As I’ve said previously, I always try to put a unique spin on any content I produce, which in itself can be difficult when working within a niche category. I recognise that a commonality amongst successful influencers is to share as much as possibly – and so I endeavour to put myself out there, engaging with social media at every opportunity. Over time, the audience changes. You bring in new viewers, and you begin to notice some of the older ones drop off – this is natural, but as a result of a changing audience, sometimes we have to move along with content too. Some months our viewers primarily want to see bonus buys, and at another time there may be a demand in the chat for an exciting new release. What endures is the desire to have a say in the content – taking requests from the chat, so we keep this at all times. There’s no denying this has a huge impact on streams – our bonus hunt streams receive the most engagement, especially in terms of live viewers when we open the bonuses we have saved. Often it’s about weighing up what gets the most viewers against the cost of producing the content, and keeping the majority of viewers happy with the decisions made.
David Mann, Chief Commercial Officer at Swintt
To have your game streamed by popular streamers introduces the game to a much wider audience and can bring potential players, therefore we like to team up with the streamers and run promotions together to reward the players for trying out our games. We believe that by doing this it’s fun for the players, streamers, and ourselves as well. The audience loves to see huge wins but at the same time, it is important to keep bets within a realistic range so the streamer can show their followers that they can hit nice multipliers with affordable bets.
Where is slot streaming ultimately headed? And what role will you/your organisation play in pushing the sector towards its ultimate destination?
Michael Pedersen, CCO at Livespins
I touched on it in the last question, but I believe that affiliate slot streamers are heading into troubled waters. It is only a matter of time before regulators, operators and providers in regulated markets and even Twitch distance themselves from some of the more unsustainable practices that we are unfortunately seeing many affiliates adopt today.
For example, many have their gameplay sponsored in some way, but do not always disclose this to their viewers, essentially misleading their community into thinking their often-lavish lifestyle can be afforded due to gambling winnings, which is not the case.
As affiliate streamers have their income strongly correlated with the size of their community, unfortunately, we often see practices like view botting, very large bet amounts and extreme studio behaviour, often engineered to create virality and subsequently, increase their following.
Again, this is where Livespins comes in. We really do not like what we are seeing right now with affiliate streamers on Twitch, and we do not think that it is a sustainable platform or practice in the long term. Of course, the appetite for streaming content is only going to intensify. Livespins is an alternative to this; it is regulated, and all of the streaming and betting is taking place inside a licensed entity. We are also leaving unsustainably large bet amounts behind.
Ultimately, the experience that we offer means that we don’t need to wager irresponsibly to create viral videos that engage audiences and allow us to monetise.
Will Barnes, Owner at Hideous Slots
As time goes on and streaming continues to build in popularity, I think we will only see growth and diversification within video promotion. Even outside of slot streaming, influencers are leading the charge in marketing. Long gone are the days of radio or television advertising driving the majority of sales – nowadays, the endorsement by a trustworthy influencer, can make a real difference. What’s most interesting about this is that for a person to earn that position of trust, they just have to be well known, even if no one is quite sure why they’re well known. I believe slot streaming will go in the same direction.
I think we all play a part in this by continuing to build the streaming community, but on a personal level I’d like to play a role in showing viewers that yes, I advertise a product, and yes I am an ‘influencer’, but I take that position of trust seriously. I want my viewers to know that whether they’ve watched me for a week or for three years, I stand by the things that I say, the content I produce, and the products that I advertise, and I think it’s important that anyone involved in the streaming community shares this goal. Streaming will continue to drive marketing, and it’s up to those of us currently involved to decide how we are viewed in this time.
Bryan Upton, Founder at Lucksome
It’s headed to a more interactive experience with the audience becoming more involved with the stream. New platforms will emerge that will add tools to allow this form of gambling interaction and socialisation. We are a fast-growing industry that is mainstreaming, and now, therefore, I believe can support this level of community that perhaps before would not have been impossible. We hope to be a content partner in this, supplying a core part of the experience, but also meaning that we are aware will may need to look at how to adapt our games design in this direction in the future. Until then we will watch, learn and see where we can add value in what we do best, games.
David Mann, Chief Commercial Officer at Swintt
In my opinion, streaming is undoubtably a very important part of the gaming industry and its future and it will only grow over the coming months and years. I hope that we will see an increase in legit and trustworthy streamers who will help to improve the perception of slots and gaming. Our plan is to release more games that will be liked by the streaming community and to cooperate with the streamers who we believe run their business in the right way.
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Izabel Hakim, Head Project Manager at 7777 gaming, joins us for an exclusive conversation ahead of HIPTHER’s European Gaming Congress – HIPTHER Warsaw Summit 2025.
A recognized professional with a strong background in Product Development and Business Management, Izabel has nearly a decade of leadership experience in the iGaming sector. At 7777 gaming, she plays a pivotal role in driving product innovation across the company’s two key verticals: lottery and online casino.
As a General Sponsor of EGC 2025, 7777 gaming will showcase its cutting-edge iLottery solutions and 200+ game portfolio, reflecting its mission to create games for every player, niche, and taste.
Izabel, as Head Project Manager at 7777 gaming, you’ve been shaping product development in both lottery and online casino. From your perspective, how is iLottery evolving today, and why is it becoming such a central pillar of iGaming?
iLottery has evolved far beyond its traditional image of paper tickets and live draws. What we’re seeing today is the transformation of lottery into a dynamic, digital-first experience, one that resonates with modern players who value interaction, instant results, and engagement.
At 7777 gaming, we see iLottery as a bridge between tradition and innovation. It retains the thrill of chance that people love, but now enhanced with engaging visuals, storytelling, and personalized digital features. This evolution makes iLottery not just another vertical, but a central pillar of iGaming’s future, one that connects generations of players through technology and creativity.
7777 gaming is known for its bold creativity – from cinematic storytelling and unique mechanics to the expansive 7777 Multiverse. How do these innovations translate specifically into your iLottery products?
Creativity is our universal language, it flows through everything we create. The 7777 Multiverse isn’t just a feature, it’s a philosophy that connects our entire portfolio. Within iLottery, that means moving beyond static experiences and turning every game into a journey.
We weave storytelling and visual immersion into lottery formats that feel alive, games where the player isn’t just waiting for numbers but engaging with dynamic worlds, symbols, and rewarding mechanics. Our goal is simple: To make every draw feel like part of a bigger, evolving adventure. You can already see that spirit in one of our newest fully customizable Raffle Lottery products.
Only five years after launching, 7777 gaming is certified in 14 regulated jurisdictions and continues to expand globally. How does compliance ensure your iLottery solutions fit the specific needs of each market?
Compliance is one of our strongest assets. We don’t view it as a limitation, we see it as the framework that allows sustainable innovation to thrive. Every product we build is designed with regulation in mind from day one, ensuring that creativity and compliance evolve hand in hand.
When working with lotteries, the regulatory landscape can be even more complex, as in many cases the country itself is the regulatory body. That’s where our experience truly shines. We’ve successfully customized our iLottery solutions for national operators such as the National Lottery in Moldova, Azerloterya, the National Ukrainian Lottery, and others, each with its own technical, legal, and local specifics.
This hands-on experience enables us to adapt quickly to diverse jurisdictions while maintaining the creative quality, reliability, and security that define 7777 gaming. Our compliance-first mindset ensures that wherever our partners operate, our products not only meet the highest standards but also deliver the same trusted, engaging experience to every player.
Lottery has traditionally been seen as more static compared to casino gaming. How are you and your team reimagining iLottery to make it more engaging for the next generation of players?
We’re reimagining iLottery as something vibrant, social, and interactive, but also as a bridge between traditional and digital play. Many players are still accustomed to the offline lottery experience, so our goal is to guide that transition online by offering products that feel familiar, yet reimagined with fresh, engaging, and interactive twists that keep them playing longer.
Our strategy is built on variety and adaptability. We offer everything from instant win games and keno, to bingo, raffle lotteries, and themed or localized content tailored to specific markets with over 70 games for our lottery vertical. This range ensures that every player, whether they’re just discovering iLottery or already part of the digital ecosystem, can find something that resonates with their habits and preferences.
It’s all about giving players agency, connection, and excitement. We want iLottery to feel not just like a game of chance, but an evolving experience that fits naturally into how people play, connect, and engage today.
Community engagement and mentorship are passions you’ve personally championed. How do these values influence the way 7777 gaming develops products and connects with players in the iLottery space?
I’ve always believed that great products come from great teams, and great teams are built on trust, mentorship, and shared curiosity. At 7777 gaming, we nurture that culture through open collaboration, cross-functional creativity, and constant learning. Every project is a collective effort, shaped by diverse ideas and perspectives.
This mindset directly influences how we build our iLottery products. When your team feels empowered and inspired, it reflects in the final result – games that are thoughtful, well-crafted, and full of personality. It’s that internal synergy that allows us to consistently innovate and deliver experiences that stand out in the market.
Looking ahead, what can we expect next from 7777 gaming in the iLottery vertical? Are there particular innovations, markets, or partnerships that excite you most as you expand further?
The next phase of our lottery journey is all about personalization and deeper player engagement. We’re using data-driven insights to understand what excites players most and to craft experiences that truly speak to their preferences, blending the best of both verticals we work with – lottery and casino into fresh, hybrid formats that feel modern and intuitive.
We’re also entering new regulated markets and strengthening strategic partnerships that reflect our vision of responsible, engaging, and borderless entertainment. The opportunities ahead are exciting and 7777 gaming will continue to set new standards for innovation and creativity in future.
Thank you, Izabel, for sharing your insights on how 7777 gaming is redefining iLottery with innovation, compliance, and a people-first approach. We look forward to hearing more from you on stage at the European Gaming Congress 2025!
Join us at the European Gaming Congress 2025 | 30–31 October | Warsaw
Meet 7777 gaming and discover how they’re shaping the future of iLottery and iGaming.
The post Shaping the Future of iLottery: 7777 gaming’s Izabel Hakim on Innovation and Engagement appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
AI in iGaming
Future-Ready iGaming: Denis Kosinsky, COO of NuxGame, Discusses AI, Innovation, and Scalable Growth
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Denis Kosinsky, Chief Operating Officer at NuxGame, joins us for an exclusive conversation ahead of HIPTHER’s European Gaming Congress 2025.
NuxGame, a leader in delivering powerful B2B iGaming solutions from turnkey casinos and sportsbooks to crypto gaming and modular aggregation, is a General Sponsor of this year’s Congress. With expertise spanning AI personalization, blockchain integration, and real-time analytics, Denis will bring his insights to the EGC panel “Leveraging AI for Competitive Advantage.”
Denis, as COO of NuxGame, you coordinate strategic growth and product innovation. What do you see as the most urgent priorities for iGaming operators today?
From our daily work with operators, we see personalization as one of the most urgent priorities in iGaming today. Players expect the same tailored experience they get from platforms like Netflix or Spotify, where everything feels made just for them the moment they log in. We work closely with our operators to make that possible. Whether it’s helping a slot-focused brand surface the right providers or enabling personalized campaigns by player behavior, our goal is to shorten the path from idea to go-live. With access to more than 16,500 games from over 130 providers, integrated loyalty and tier systems, and advanced analytics, operators can test, optimize, and launch personalized experiences quickly without heavy development cycles. This speed to market is critical. When operators can react fast and deliver relevant content at the right time, players stay engaged, retention grows, and brand loyalty follows naturally. That’s exactly where we focus on helping our partners move fast, personalize smarter, and scale sustainably.
NuxGame offers a multitude of solutions: casino, sportsbook, crypto integration, game aggregator. How do you make sure that your platform stays modular and scalable, and still manage to provide a stable experience for operators and players?
Our platform is built on a modular architecture that allows each business unit such as sportsbook, casino, payments, and back office to operate independently while remaining fully connected within a unified ecosystem. This structure ensures a stable and consistent experience for both players and operators, even when new features are introduced or updates are deployed. Each module can be developed, scaled, or maintained separately, which improves reliability and reduces the risk of system-wide issues. Through standardized APIs and controlled data flows, the business units collaborate efficiently while maintaining autonomy, ensuring high performance and a seamless experience across all platform components.
You’ll be joining the panel on AI in iGaming. How do you see artificial intelligence transforming the industry in the next few years – particularly in areas like player personalization, fraud detection, and operational efficiency?
AI is already reshaping iGaming in powerful ways. In fraud detection, it can uncover complex behavior patterns that traditional monitoring often misses, such as linked accounts or unusual bonus activity. These systems continuously learn from platform data, helping operators reduce losses and improve security. Predictive models are also becoming key in decision-making. They forecast player lifetime value, churn risk, and engagement potential, allowing operators to act early with targeted campaigns or retention offers. The same technology supports smarter CRM and marketing, helping teams focus on the players who matter most. Operationally, AI is improving efficiency through automated KYC verification, odds monitoring, and compliance checks. New AI agents now assist with platform configuration and content generation, enabling faster creation of campaigns, layouts, and recommendations. For players, AI brings true personalization. Instead of hundreds of random games, they see the few most relevant titles, offers, and providers. Operators who apply these capabilities effectively will build deeper engagement, trust, and long-term loyalty.
Gamification and blockchain are big parts of the NuxGame strategy. Could you share how these technologies are boosting engagement and retention for your clients?
Gamification and blockchain are redefining how operators drive engagement and retention, and at NuxGame we focus on turning every interaction into a reason for players to stay active. Our Achievements system rewards players for meaningful actions such as first deposits, login streaks, or consistent gameplay, while event-based notifications deliver these rewards at the right moment to sustain excitement. We extend engagement even further with loyalty programs, leaderboards, and platform chat that connects players directly within the gaming environment. Players can celebrate live wins, share achievements, and compete in real time, creating a social layer that strengthens the overall experience. Another popular feature is Spin Wheel, where operators can offer customized rewards ranging from free spins to bonus credits or unique prizes. It adds instant gratification and keeps players returning for another chance to win. Blockchain technology completes this ecosystem by powering fast, secure Web3 wallet onboarding and transparent crypto transactions, building player confidence from the very first interaction. Together, these features create a seamless, rewarding, and community-driven experience that keeps players engaged and operators growing.
With over 16,500+ games from 130+ providers on your platform, content aggregation is obviously your strength. How do you build partnerships that keep your portfolio diverse, compliant, and competitive?
Our goal at NuxGame is to provide operators with the same experience they would have if they integrated directly with each individual game provider, while delivering a much higher level of efficiency, automation, and control. What makes us different is not only the scale of our portfolio, with more than 16,500 games from over 130 providers, but the quality and depth of data we deliver for every game. We go beyond simple content aggregation by sending complete and enriched game metadata through our API. This includes detailed information such as bonus exposure, available provider promotions, tournament participation, and automated big-win checks. Most providers do not share this level of data, which makes it a key advantage for our partners. By providing it through the API, we eliminate a large amount of manual work for operators, simplify campaign management, and allow instant personalization and reporting. It is not just about having a large and diverse game portfolio. It is about giving operators the tools and real-time data they need to create dynamic, localized player experiences and make smarter business decisions. This is the foundation of our approach at NuxGame and what defines us as a true technology partner rather than just an aggregator.
NuxGame has been a pioneer in cryptocurrency integration. How do you balance the opportunities of Web3 with the obstacles of regulation, security, and user adoption in gaming?
Crypto and Web3 offer huge opportunities for iGaming, but success depends on security, compliance, and user experience. At NuxGame, we built our crypto solution to feel familiar to users of leading exchange platforms, with seamless wallet connections, real-time balances, and instant transactions. The system supports BTC, ETH, USDT, and other major assets, with Web3 wallet integration and direct crypto purchases for fast onboarding. For operators, it delivers built-in fraud prevention, risk monitoring, and compliance-ready reporting. This combination of trust, speed, and intuitive UX makes crypto adoption easy for players and expansion safe for operators.
So what’s next for NuxGame? Are there particular markets or partnerships you’re most excited about as you continue to expand?
We are putting a strong focus on the US market, particularly on enabling operators to launch faster within the sweepstakes model. This segment is growing rapidly but comes with complex regulatory and technical requirements. NuxGame is fully prepared for it with dual-currency logic, built-in compliance automation, and a complete payment orchestration layer that eliminates the typical setup delays operators face. Our platform provides a ready-made, legally tested foundation, so clients can go live without spending months on integrations or legal reviews. Combined with affiliate management, engagement tools, and modular scalability, operators can focus on growth rather than setup. The sweepstakes model is a major opportunity in the US, and our goal is to make NuxGame the go-to solution for fast, compliant, and profitable entry into that market.
Thank you, Denis, for sharing your vision and perspective on how technology is shaping the future of iGaming. We’re excited to hear more from you live on stage at the European Gaming Congress 2025!
Join us at the European Gaming Congress 2025 | 30–31 October | Warsaw
Secure your spot, connect with NuxGame, and discover how leading innovators are redefining the industry.
The post Future-Ready iGaming: Denis Kosinsky, COO of NuxGame, Discusses AI, Innovation, and Scalable Growth appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Alea
HIPTHER Community Voices: It’s Cybersecurity Awareness Month – Interview with Product Principal of Secure Solutions at Continent 8 Technologies, Craig Lusher
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October marks Cybersecurity Awareness Month, a global initiative dedicated to promoting online safety and equipping enterprises with the knowledge needed to mitigate cyber threats.
To recognise this important occasion, we connected with Continent 8 Technologies – widely recognised as the trusted cybersecurity partner for the iGaming sector. In this Community Voices feature, we speak with Craig Lusher, Product Principal of Secure Solutions at Continent 8, as he shares expert perspectives on the evolving cybersecurity landscape within the iGaming and online sports betting industry, including emerging challenges, opportunities, and industry-leading best practices.
How have cyber threats changed in the iGaming world lately?
Historically, most attacks were single-vector events focused on individual organisations. Today, we are seeing a marked increase in complex, coordinated threats. For instance, distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks are often used to divert attention from concurrent credential stuffing attempts, and large-scale campaigns now target multiple entities – such as land-based casinos and online sportsbooks – simultaneously. Threat actors employ layered techniques to conceal their true objectives, executing multifaceted attacks across diverse groups.
Social engineering has emerged as one of the most prominent and rapidly evolving risks. Phishing techniques such as email scams, fake websites, text messaging or SMS and fraudulent voice calls have advanced significantly with the development of sophisticated AI language models and automation tools, empowering attackers to convincingly impersonate individuals or organisations. The capabilities of modern AI mean that realistic voice messages and video representations can now be created within minutes, underscoring the pressing need for organisations to enhance their security posture and maintain robust vigilance across all digital channels.
Are there any weak spots in the iGaming industry – like certain countries or regulations – that make it easier for cybercriminals to attack?
Jurisdictions with more rigorous cybersecurity regulations often see operators and suppliers achieving a higher standard of cyber resilience. However, one of the challenges that the industry faces is that regulatory frameworks are often inconsistent, particularly in multi-jurisdictional markets. For example, in the US, each state maintains its own regulatory body, resulting in varying cybersecurity standards across state lines. Gaming operators and suppliers should strive to not only meet but exceed regulatory requirements wherever possible.
We are also seeing a notable increase in third-party vulnerabilities within the iGaming and online sports betting industry. This sector operates within a highly interconnected environment, where the integration of third-party partner software and APIs can pose potential security risks. For example, our customer Alea leverages a single API integration, this helps reduce their attack surface area to introduce standardisation. Through our comprehensive suite of cybersecurity assessment services, we have partnered closely with Alea to test their infrastructure.
Learn more about the partnership here:
What are some of the best ways iGaming companies are protecting themselves from hackers today? Are there rules or systems we follow to stay safe?
To strengthen the cybersecurity posture of iGaming and online sports betting platforms, organisations must shift from a reactive response model to a proactive, defence-in-depth strategy. Rather than waiting for vulnerabilities to be exposed within systems, platforms or personnel, it is imperative to anticipate and mitigate risks through structured, preventative measures. Key best practices include:
- Conducting regular security audits and comprehensive risk assessments
- Utilising advanced threat detection and response technologies
- Establishing and maintaining well-documented procedures for identifying, responding to, and recovering from cyber incidents
- Providing continuous cybersecurity training and awareness programmes for all personnel
- Equipping staff to recognise phishing campaigns, social engineering techniques, and other prevalent attack vectors
- Enforcing timely software updates, effective patch management, and strong authentication protocols such as multi-factor authentication (MFA)
- Enhancing supply chain security by rigorously evaluating and monitoring third-party vendors and partners
- Investing in next-generation technologies and methodologies to address emerging threats, especially in the context of developments in AI and artificial general intelligence (AGI)
- Ensuring strict compliance with all relevant cybersecurity regulations and standards, moving beyond a checkbox approach to security
These initiatives establish a resilient security foundation, enabling organisations to effectively mitigate risks in an evolving threat landscape.
How can new technologies like AI or machine learning help detect suspicious activity, prevent fraud, or keep the platform safe for players?
Artificial intelligence is enabling threat actors to increase the speed, scale and effectiveness of their attacks – malicious actors are leveraging AI to rapidly identify vulnerabilities, automate exploit generation, develop advanced malware that evades detection and execute attacks on a global scale.
The good news is that AI is also a powerful ally for cybersecurity teams that can be used to counter these threats. Strategic applications include:
- Deploying AI-driven threat detection for real-time identification of security incidents
- Automating incident response processes to isolate compromised devices, block malicious traffic, and implement mitigation measures swiftly
- Using AI to proactively identify and address vulnerabilities within internal systems before adversaries can exploit them
- Implementing automated patch management to remediate security gaps as soon as they are discovered
- Utilising threat intelligence platforms powered by AI to analyse and disseminate emerging attack patterns, equipping organisations to prepare for future threats
By embracing these advanced capabilities, organisations can strengthen their posture and stay ahead of sophisticated AI-driven threats and attacks.
How often should employees across departments get cybersecurity awareness training, and what should it include?
Human error remains a primary vector for cyber threats – 70% of security breaches are caused by the human element.
To effectively counteract this risk and build up the ‘human firewall’, organisations must implement a comprehensive, layered cybersecurity strategy, comprising the following components:
Employee training and awareness: People represent the first and most critical line of defence. Regular, organisation-wide cybersecurity training is essential to ensure all staff can identify the latest phishing tactics and practice strong cyber hygiene. This training should encompass the recognition of suspicious communications, the risks of interacting with unknown links or attachments, and the importance of vigilant online behaviour.
Simulated phishing attacks: Leveraging targeted simulations such as our SafeBait solution empowers employees to safely experience and recognise a variety of attack scenarios. These simulations can be customised to reflect real-world phishing attempts across multiple attack vectors, including SMS, WhatsApp, voice and QR code-based attacks.
Endpoint protection: Deploying robust endpoint security – such as our Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) service – protects devices from malware and phishing attempts by offering real-time monitoring, rapid anomaly detection and immediate threat response.
Mobile protection: As mobile usage continues to rise, the deployment of advanced mobile security solutions is essential. Our Mobile Protect service delivers comprehensive protection for iOS and Android devices, effectively mitigating mobile-specific attack vectors.
At Continent 8, as well as our cybersecurity specialist division, C8 Secure, we prioritise ongoing internal security assessments with our own teams, upholding the standards we recommend to our customers through continuous practice and vigilance.
What trends or best practices do we anticipate will influence and shape the industry in 2025 and beyond?
There are a couple of developments that we should monitor.
First, threat intelligence. This has been an underutilised practice, due to the complexity of managing and analysing large-scale, complex datasets to effectively detect and correlate emerging, sector-specific threats in real time. I
We recently announced how we are able to address these requirements through the launch of our Threat Exchange solution – the industry’s first dedicated cyber threat intelligence (CTI) platform. This game-changing solution delivers actionable, real-time intelligence, enabling gaming operators, platform providers and B2B gaming technology companies to proactively detect emerging threats, improve indecent response and understand the threat landscape
Secondly, as we’re aware, regulatory frameworks are always evolving, gradually introducing changes that will further impact and strengthen industry security requirements. Importantly, these regulatory advancements are being applied not only to organisations but also to individual users, encouraging best cybersecurity practices and hygiene to protect systems at every level. It is essential for iGaming operators and suppliers to deliver comprehensive training platforms that incorporate realistic simulations, such as phishing exercises, to ensure staff are well-prepared for current and emerging threats.
October is recognised as Cyber Awareness Month – a reminder of the importance of cybersecurity and adherence to best practices. However, cyber threats remain persistent, and it is essential to embrace an always-on, 2/7 cyber-defence strategy that delivers comprehensive, year-round, end-to-end protection.
The post HIPTHER Community Voices: It’s Cybersecurity Awareness Month – Interview with Product Principal of Secure Solutions at Continent 8 Technologies, Craig Lusher appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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