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Scaling Up in iGaming: Strategic Role of Platform Migration with SOFTSWISS

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Platform migration has emerged as a critical strategy for operators looking to scale their operations, enter new markets, or address technical shortcomings. In an interview with European Gaming, Vitali Matsukevich, Chief Operational Officer at SOFTSWISS, delves into the intricacies of the migration process, the challenges operators face, and how SOFTSWISS has positioned itself as a leader in ensuring seamless transitions.

 

What drives operators to consider migrating from one platform to another? Could you explain the key issues they aim to resolve and why migration becomes necessary?

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Vitali Matsukevich: The most popular reason is that the current platform no longer meets technical requirements, especially in terms of scalability and reliability. Operators often face issues like handling user loads they are currently experiencing or planning for. This often forces operators to seek a more stable and technically advanced solution to support their business growth. For example, in LatAm, we know of cases where operators face significant challenges due to downtime or unreliable operations. In some cases, this situation becomes unmanageable, and operators realise they need to migrate to a platform like ours, which offers 99.9% uptime and a seamless user experience.

Another reason for migration is the desire to expand to new geographies. For instance, if the current platform is not certified in a particular country, the operator may consider migrating to a platform that already has the necessary certification. While launching a new project on a different platform is an option, it can lead to operational challenges, such as managing two different projects on different platforms, which is not always convenient. In such cases, if the new market is attractive enough, it may be simpler to migrate to a platform that is already certified, obtain the necessary licence, and continue developing the project.

The third reason is dissatisfaction with the current software provider. This could be due to poor communication with business account managers, slow response times, lack of support, or the provider’s failure to implement client feedback. In the case of SOFTSWISS, we not only offer better service – as confirmed by various studies – but prioritise collaborative partnerships. Our partners highly appreciate our flexibility, openness to their suggestions, and commitment to developing the business together.

Moreover, operators who choose platforms used by major industry players benefit from being part of a community and gain access to features requested by those larger brands. For example, when large operators asked for specific product updates, we later rolled them out to all clients, which received positive feedback. We also have a well-structured workflow for managing client requests, where we gather all ideas, suggestions, and comments from our partners, and our product team evaluates which of them will have the most impact.

 

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What specific technical and operational advantages does the SOFTSWISS platform offer to operators who decide to migrate?

Vitali Matsukevich: I would highlight two key advantages: the high technical performance of our platform and the well-established interaction with our partners. Because our partners don’t experience technical difficulties, they can scale their projects without worrying about the technical aspects of their business. Our recent migration case, where we transitioned over a million players to our casino platform and sportsbook within five hours, further confirmed the high technical level of our solution and well-defined migration process. 

A unique feature of migration is that after reopening a project post-update, there’s often a surge in user activity, with more people visiting the platform than usual. This contrasts with the gradual user growth seen when launching a new project, where users join the platform over time.

After migration, a large number of users might access the platform simultaneously. To prepare for this, we conducted numerous stress tests before the launch and executed the migration flawlessly. The number of issue reports was even lower than we expected.

 

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What are the main challenges operators may face during migration, and how does SOFTSWISS help minimise these risks?

Vitali Matsukevich: The main challenge is the inevitable player churn. Before the transition, operators conduct extensive information campaigns about technical changes and migration to a new platform, but not all users take the necessary actions to transfer their accounts. On our side, we assist in communication, share experiences from previous migrations, and make the process as easy as possible for users. 

Another challenge is that users might notice differences between the two platforms. For example, even if both platforms offer the same types of bonuses, they might be implemented differently or might have other slight differences. In this case, we strive to visually adapt the new platform to resemble the previous software. We also transfer all possible and significant information about players’ gaming preferences, for example. 

Overall, this is a complex process. We need to assess which aspects of the previous user experience should be transferred to the new platform. Sometimes, it may also be decided to enhance certain features. 

Another important challenge is maintaining SEO rankings so that the project continues to receive stable traffic from this channel. Our experienced specialists help transfer all necessary information, adapt pages, and take other actions to ensure that search engines either don’t notice the difference or even improve the project’s search ranking.

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What steps are taken to minimise player churn and ensure their loyalty after migrating to the new platform?

Vitali Matsukevich: An individual strategy is developed for each project and specific user groups. This can include additional email campaigns offering players bonuses or other unique personalised offers during the transition period. This approach helps retain users and makes the migration process as attractive and seamless as possible for them.

 

What metrics do you use to evaluate the migration success, and how do you measure its impact on the operator’s business?

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Vitali Matsukevich: The key metrics we use to evaluate the migration success include the speed, downtime, player retention rate (how many users successfully transitioned to the new platform), and the load on customer support. These metrics allow us to objectively assess how smoothly the migration went and identify any areas that may need improvement in future migrations.

 

What are SOFTSWISS’ plans for further developing and improving the migration process?

Vitali Matsukevich: After each migration, we refine our current workflow, adding new elements based on the experience gained. We are also actively working on obtaining additional certifications, as we are currently doing in Brazil so that our partners can quickly and seamlessly launch their projects as soon as they have the necessary licence.

 

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How does operator feedback play a role in improving the migration process, and how does SOFTSWISS incorporate their suggestions and feedback?

Vitali Matsukevich: We actively gather feedback from our partners and conduct retrospective discussions within our team. During these meetings, we analyse the metrics and identify any delays or issues. It’s important to note that each migration is a unique project, and while the core steps remain the same, the workflow is always adapted to the specific case. This approach allows us to continuously improve our migration process and ensure successful collaboration with our partners.

 

Can you provide examples of successful migrations where your approach led to significant improvements for the operator?

Vitali Matsukevich: Yes, one of the most compelling examples of a successful migration is when we transitioned over a million players from a competitor’s platform to the SOFTSWISS Casino Platform and the SOFTSWISS Sportsbook in just five hours. This migration was a significant achievement, showcasing our platform’s technical robustness and our team’s ability to manage complex, large-scale transitions with minimal downtime.

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During this process, we meticulously planned and executed the migration to ensure that player accounts, balances, and gaming histories were seamlessly transferred without any data loss. 

The post Scaling Up in iGaming: Strategic Role of Platform Migration with SOFTSWISS appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Interviews

Getting to Know Incline Gaming Marketing with Chief Commercial Officer Jo Dennis

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Incline Gaming Marketing is redefining how gambling brands scale and succeed worldwide. Founded by industry veteran Peter Laverick, the agency delivers end-to-end digital marketing services across user acquisition, CRM, and creative. In this interview, CCO Jo Dennis explains how Incline acts as an extension of operators’ in-house teams, helping them acquire players, boost retention, and compete globally.

 

Incline Gaming Marketing. Tells us what we need to know about the business.

Incline Gaming Marketing (Incline) is a full-service digital marketing partner dedicated exclusively to the regulated gambling industry. We’re not just a supplier of campaigns or assets, we run marketing operations end-to-end for our partners, functioning as an extension of their in-house team.

Our expertise spans user acquisition, CRM, and creative, delivered by specialists who’ve worked inside top operators and suppliers. With offices in San Francisco, Philadelphia, and London, we provide market-specific strategies and execution for brands in North America, Europe, Africa, Australia, and beyond.

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Founded by industry veteran Peter Laverick in 2020, Incline is part of The Conexus Group alongside Pentasia (recruitment) and Partis (strategy and M&A). Our partners range from household-name operators to ambitious new entrants, all looking for a team that can step in, own the process, and deliver measurable results from day one.

 

Who are the main players running the business day to day?

Peter Laverick, our CEO and founder, has led marketing at some of the industry’s biggest names, including BetVictor, Aristocrat, and PlayStudios. Chief Commercial Officer Jo Dennis joined through our acquisition of Random Colour Animal in 2024 (RCA was originally founded in 2018) and brings more than 25 years in brand and marketing strategy.

Chief Marketing Officer Oren Langburt has over 15 years’ experience in real-money gaming, including leading marketing at FanDuel. VP Partner Success Haig Sakouyan is a 20+ year industry veteran, ensuring our partnerships deliver beyond marketing.

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Talk us through Incline Gaming Marketing’s core service offering.

We operate in three connected disciplines that together form a complete managed marketing service:

  • User Acquisition (UA): We plan, execute, and optimise campaigns across Meta, Google, TikTok, Snapchat, Apple, and programmatic networks, managing multi-million-dollar budgets. As an approved Facebook Business Partner, we’ve been rated the most effective media buyer in North America’s online gaming sector, achieving a 99.9% efficiency score.
  • Customer Relationship Marketing (CRM): Our CRM specialists handle the full player lifecycle — from onboarding and first-time deposit conversion to long-term retention and reactivation. We combine data-led segmentation with targeted offers and creative to grow lifetime value while controlling bonus spend.
  • Creative: We produce more than 1,000 assets per month, from brand identities and websites to broadcast-quality TV spots, slot game creatives, supplier content packs, and conference materials. All creative is performance-driven and integrated into UA and CRM campaigns for maximum impact.

When combined, these services allow us to act as a partner’s complete marketing department – – strategy, execution, and optimisation under one roof.

 

Which markets are you focused on? Are you pushing into any new regions?

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We built our reputation in North America, where we work with leading land-based and online operators across casino, sportsbook, lottery, social gaming, and daily fantasy sports. We now deliver integrated managed services in Canada, the UK, continental Europe, Africa, and Australia, tailoring each approach to local regulations, player behaviours, and market dynamics.

For many partners, this means we handle all marketing in new markets from day one – avoiding the time and cost of building a local team – and then continue as their long-term, embedded marketing function.

 

Why are your services particularly valuable to operators in the current industry climate?

Player acquisition costs are rising, retention is harder than ever, and regulatory pressure is mounting. Building and managing an in-house team with the full range of skills required – from media buying to lifecycle marketing to creative production – is expensive and slow.

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Incline solves that. We provide an instant, proven marketing department with deep gambling expertise, multi-channel capabilities, and global reach. Our managed services model means we don’t just advise, we execute, optimise, and deliver results. Whether launching in a new jurisdiction or scaling in a mature one, we know the levers to pull for sustainable growth.

 

What can we expect from Incline in the second half of the year?

We’re deepening our presence in Europe, Africa, and Canada while cementing our leadership in North America. Several major launches and brand refresh projects are underway, alongside scaled acquisition and retention campaigns for our long-term partners.

Our focus remains the same — provide operators and suppliers with a high-performing, fully managed marketing function that delivers measurable results faster, and with more certainty, than building it in-house.

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The post Getting to Know Incline Gaming Marketing with Chief Commercial Officer Jo Dennis appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Legends Charity Game: Rasmus Sojmark on Football Icons, Lisbon, and Raising €1 Million for Charity

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On 15 September 2025, Lisbon will host the Legends Charity Game, a once-in-a-lifetime football match where Portugal’s greatest players face off against global legends—all to raise over €1 million for four life-changing charities. In this exclusive interview, Rasmus Sojmark, CEO & Founder of SBC, shares the inspiration, the star-studded lineups, and the powerful purpose driving this historic event.

Q: What is the Legends Charity Game?

RS: The Legends Charity Game is something we’ve been dreaming about for a long time, and now it’s finally happening. 

On Monday, 15 September, right in the heart of Lisbon, a team of Portugal’s greatest football legends will step onto the pitch to take on a global lineup of football legends from across the world.

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These legends are the players so many of us grew up watching, idols who shaped our love for the game, now coming together for a match that is about more than nostalgia. It’s about charity, and our goal is to raise over €1,000,000 for four incredible organisations: the Ukrainian Red Cross Society, which continues to support those affected by the war in Ukraine, the Portuguese Red Cross, International Alert, and Caritas Portugal, which all do vital work with vulnerable communities in Portugal and beyond. 

The match will welcome 60,000 fans to the stadium, either Estádio da Luz or Estádio José Alvalade, depending on Champions League scheduling announced at the end of August, and will be broadcast to millions around the world.

The Legends Charity Game is how we have chosen to open SBC Summit 2025. With real heart and purpose. So if you are planning to be in Lisbon for the Summit, please make sure to arrive before this Monday evening charity event. 

We’ve poured everything into making it special, not because we had to, but because we believe in it. The players believe in it too. It is going to be emotional and genuinely amazing, and we can’t wait to share it with everyone.

I could go on about this for hours, but here’s the short version. This is about celebrating football’s greats, uniting people through sport and charity, and raising money for those who need it most. I’m proud we’re making it happen.

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Q: What inspired you to launch the Legends Charity Game? 

RS: Football has been part of my identity since I was a kid. I played it from the age of 5, lived it, breathed it. Like so many kids of my generation, I grew up idolising the greats from the 80s, 90s, and early 2000s, whose names appeared on every magazine cover and match highlight.

I played on muddy pitches and even dreamed of a career in the sport. And in one way or another, I did build my career around it, didn’t I?

If you had told me as a kid, sitting in front of my screen for hours playing Championship Manager, picking the likes of Figo, Mendieta, Cafu, Zanetti, Hagi, Del Piero, and Schmeichel for my ultimate squad, that one day I would be organising a real-life legends match, I wouldn’t have believed it.

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But that is exactly what has happened.

At SBC and Sport Global, we have always focused on creating unique experiences, not just numbers. It has always been about making people feel something, creating memories, and bringing value and joy. The Legends Charity Game is a natural evolution of that mission.

Over the years, we have welcomed famous footballers to our events in many different ways. Some have played in the SBC Football Championship, like Mendieta. Others have hosted our awards, like Ruud Gullit, Marcel Desailly and Clarence Seedorf. We have had keynote speakers like Figo, Baresi and Peter Schmeichel, and visits from Brazil legends Cafu and Ronaldinho. Blending football with business has always been part of the SBC story.

Now, we are taking it a step further.

This game means a lot to me. It brings together everything I’ve loved since I was a kid. Football, community, and creating something memorable with people who share that same passion. But more than anything, it’s about doing some good and giving back. With so much conflict and hardship in the world, it felt important to use everything we’ve built to support others. It’s a way to give back and hopefully, make a real difference.

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Q: Tell us a bit more about the game. Which football legends are confirmed for Portugal?

RS: It still feels surreal seeing all these names on the same team sheet. The Portugal Legends include players like Luís Figo, Deco, Carvalho, Simão, Maniche, Fábio Coentrão, Vitor Baia, Nuno Gomes, Hélder Postiga, and many more who have given fans unforgettable moments over the years.

Portugal made perfect sense for this match. Over the last few decades, the country has produced some of the most ambitious, technical, and passionate players in the world. From the Euro 2016 win to this year’s comeback in the UEFA Nations League against Spain, and the star players in the PSG Champions League-winning side, they’ve built a footballing culture that consistently punches above its weight. Portuguese football is on fire, and it’s clear even just by looking at the number of top players in elite clubs.

We’ve been lucky enough to work closely with the FPF (Portuguese Football Federation) to bring some of these great players along, and it’s been amazing to feel the excitement building in Lisbon. Portugal will be co-hosting the World Cup in 2030, so this match also feels like a tribute to the road that brought them here and the legends who paved the way.

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Many of the players taking part were part of that legendary Euro 2004 squad. They made it to the final, only to lose to Greece in one of the biggest upsets in football history.

By the way, Georgios Karagounis, who captained that victorious Greek side in 2004, will now be lining up for the World Legends team, facing off against many of the same Portuguese players he beat in that final. Quite poetic.

 

Q: What about the World Legends squad?

RS: As mentioned, Karagounis will be lining up for the World Legends team, and I have no doubt some of the Portuguese players will be itching for a little revenge after that Euro 2004 final. That kind of history adds so much depth to this game. It’s not just about who’s playing, it’s about the stories, the rivalries, the shared memories that come flooding back.

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They’ll be managed by Peter Schmeichel, an absolute legend, with Diego Lugano serving as assistant manager. Lugano captained Uruguay to Copa América success in 2011 and, while a recent injury keeps him off the pitch, he’ll be bringing his defensive leadership.

In goal, we’ve got none other than Edwin van der Sar, the Dutch giant and Manchester United legend. Two more keepers are yet to be announced!

In defence, we have a line of some of the best defenders the game has ever seen. Let’s start with Cafu, who captained Brazil to World Cup glory in 2002 and was also part of their 1994 winning squad. Cafu is joined by Marco Materazzi, who won five Serie A league titles in a row, a Champions League, and, of course, the 2006 World Cup. Then we’ve got Argentina’s Javier Zanetti, France’s Christian Karembeu — all Champions League winners — and another United and Champions League winner, Patrice Evra. But the rock in defence will be none other than Barcelona one-club legend and Spain 2010 World Cup winner Carles Puyol.

In midfield, we have a historic European dream lineup. Karagounis will be joined by Slovakia’s Marek Hamšík (Mr. Mohawk himself), a Napoli icon and Slovak captain who led his country to their first-ever World Cup. There’s also Gaizka Mendieta, a good friend of mine, representing Spain. I’ve admired Mendieta as one of the best playmakers in the world, especially during those unforgettable Champions League finals with Valencia, which made him the most expensive player in the world when he was sold to Lazio.

From France, we have Youri Djorkaeff, a World Cup winner and now CEO of the FIFA Foundation. Romania will be represented by Gheorghe Hagi, a player who, for me, ranks among the greatest of all time. Representing Bulgaria, we have Krassimir Balakov, a national legend and former national team manager. 

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And then there’s Kaka. One of the greatest players of all time. He is one of the nine players in the world to win the World Cup, Champions League, and Ballon d’Or.

Up front, we have the legendary Henrik Larsson from Sweden, and rest assured, he will be bringing his finishing touch. He is joined by Argentina’s Javier Saviola, who many Benfica fans will remember fondly (and many Sporting fans, maybe not so fondly)! Representing England, we have Michael Owen, Ballon d’Or winner and England striker ace. And from Italy, we have none other than Del Piero, Juventus superstar and Italy’s 2006 World Cup winner.

We wanted the World Legends squad to reflect the global spirit of football. To show that this is more than just a one-country tribute, but a celebration of the sport’s greatest names from every corner of the globe. Players who’ve shaped football history, brought joy to millions, and now come together for a cause that’s bigger than the game itself.

 

Q: Why do you believe football, and in particular the Legends Charity Game, is uniquely positioned to rally people behind meaningful causes? 

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RS: Football has this incredible, almost magical power to bring people together, often in ways nothing else can. I’ve seen total strangers become best friends (or mortal enemies) over a last-minute goal. It’s one of the only things that can make grown adults paint their faces, cry on live TV, and believe that “this year is our year”… every single year. But behind all the passion and drama, football also has a serious superpower: it connects people. That’s what makes it such a powerful platform for rallying people behind meaningful causes.

When legends of the game take to the pitch, people pay attention. And when that spotlight can be used to raise awareness, funding, and momentum for causes that truly matter, it becomes an opportunity to do something that goes beyond the pitch. That’s the spirit behind the Legends Charity Game.

The World Legends and the Portugal Legends appeal to generations. Many of us have grown up idolising these players and watching them play the beautiful game for decades.

Younger generations still admire the legends when they watch streams or YouTube clips of the likes of Ronaldinho bringing his magic to the game like few other players have ever been able to achieve. They are also playing with the Legends in the EA Sports FC game titles (former EA Sports FIFA series), and now they get to watch them play live at the Legends Charity Game. 

In a few words, the Legends Charity Game has a generational appeal. Father, son, and grandfather will want to watch the game together.

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Q: What guided your decision to aim for over €1,000,000 and choose the charities you’re supporting?

RS: Setting a goal of €1,000,000 was about being honest with ourselves about what this match could achieve. If we’re going to bring together global football icons, fill a stadium in Lisbon, and broadcast this around the world, then we owe it to the cause to aim high. We wanted a goal that felt bold, that actually moves the needle, and that reflects the power of football when it’s used as a force for good.

As for the charities, it was important for us to connect both globally and locally to honour the people in Lisbon welcoming us, and to stand with those who need solidarity the most. This game is our way of doing that. This landmark event supports four incredible charities working on the frontlines of crisis. 

  1. The Red Cross in Ukraine continues to provide emergency aid and medical care to civilians devastated by the war in Ukraine
  2. The Portuguese Red Cross brings relief to communities affected by natural disasters and economic hardship at home.
  3. International Alert is working tirelessly to build peace and protect vulnerable lives in conflict-affected regions around the world.
  4. Caritas Portugal ensures that families in Portugal facing poverty and displacement are given dignity, support, and shelter.

By supporting this game, fans and players alike are turning their love for football into a force for good. It’s a powerful reminder that the global football family can do more than entertain. It can heal, empower, and restore hope. Together, we can make this more than a game. We can make it a movement.

 

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Q: Will the match be streamed or televised? How can fans actively take part in this initiative before, during, or after the match?

RS: Yes, the match will be both streamed and televised. We’re working closely with broadcasters to make sure the Legends Charity Game can be watched by fans around the world, whether you’re in Portugal or elsewhere. The production is being handled by SBC, and we’re treating it like a top-tier broadcast. Think Champions League-level coverage, with multiple camera angles, spider cams, and a full stadium setup. We want people watching from home to feel every moment, just like those in the stands.

As for getting involved, there are lots of ways to be part of this. You can buy a ticket and join us in Lisbon. If you can’t be there in person, you can still support the cause: tune into the livestream, donate online, share the event with your network, or enter the charity raffle that will take place during halftime.

 

Q: How did you convince sponsors that this wasn’t just a “CSR checkbox” but a meaningful movement?

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RS: We’re incredibly grateful to the sponsors who believed in this from the very beginning.

Oftentimes, people view a sponsorship as just putting logos on a screen. This is when it’s hard to sell — if you can’t convince people that there’s something real and solid behind the idea. In this case, it was really easy. It was about standing behind something real.

We never approached sponsors with a slick CSR deck or a “feel-good” checkbox. That’s not what this is about. From day one, the Legends Charity Game has been something built with heart, purpose, and a real desire to use football for something greater.

We are building something with substance. A world-class lineup of true football legends. A clear, ambitious goal to raise €1,000,000. Four incredible charities. And most of all, a belief that football has the power to bring people together and inspire action.

What really made the difference with sponsors was the sincerity. They could see this wasn’t just a one-off. We’re not aiming for a press release headline and moving on. We’re building a tradition. That clarity, combined with the emotion behind the cause, is what resonated.

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So, a huge and heartfelt thank you to our early confirmed sponsors like Soft2Bet, Sportingtech, YO Health, Spribe, Amusnet, Vegas Legends, Alea, Playtech, Smartsoft, Superbet and iGP. You didn’t just sponsor a match. You became part of the Legends Charity Game. Your support is helping us do something that goes beyond football, something that will genuinely make a difference in people’s lives. So yes, for our sponsors, it was a show of solidarity. A reminder of what good football can do when we put our hearts into it.

 

Q: As Lisbon prepares to host 60,000 fans, what role are local and global partners playing in helping you spread the word across borders?

RS: Local and global partners have played a huge role in making this more than just a one-night event in Lisbon. From day one, our goal was to create something that resonated well beyond the stadium walls, and that wouldn’t be possible without the incredible support we’ve had across the board. The Portuguese Football Federation, Benfica, and Sporting CP have been instrumental in giving this project a true home in Portugal. They’re part of the country’s identity, and having their backing has rooted the event in local pride and credibility from the very beginning.

But to spread this message globally, we’ve also leaned on the strength of our media and strategic partners such as A Bola, Ringier Sports Media Group, MARCA, La Gazzetta dello Sport, Better Collective, Sport1, SofaScore, Flashscore, Record, Stats Perform, and more. They’re helping us tell the story, one about legacy, community, and purpose. With their help, we’re reaching fans in Spain, Italy, Portugal, Greece, Poland, Romania, Sweden, Denmark, Slovakia, the Netherlands, Mexico and beyond.

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We are working closely with MediaPro to create the live broadcast of the event, which we aim to share with millions of people around the world. Several broadcasting partners have been lined up across Europe, Brazil, and Latin America.

Our own experience as an events company helped us scale this quickly, but it’s the trust we’ve built over time, as SBC and through Sport Global, that opened doors and made people want to get involved. And of course, none of this would be possible without the unbelievable team behind the scenes who turned a big idea into something real in record time.

 

Q: The Legends Charity Game will take place on September 15, just a day before the SBC Summit 2025 kicks off. How do you envision the synergy between the charity game and SBC Summit? 

RS: The timing of the Legends Charity Game on September 15 is obviously very convenient. It’s a way to open SBC Summit 2025 with purpose, emotion, and meaning. The Summit is our biggest show yet, expecting 30,000 attendees from across the global gaming and tech industries. But before all the panels, meetings, and networking kick off, we wanted to ground everyone in what we are really passionate about: a genuine love for sport and a belief in its power to bring people together.

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The Legends Charity Game gives us a chance to pause and do something meaningful as a community. It’s about football, connection, and giving back. It brings together iconic players, fans, industry professionals, and local communities around a shared moment. And starting the week that way, not with a handshake, but with heart, changes the tone of everything that follows. Yes, we run major events for the iGaming world, but our mission is bigger than that. We’re here to grow not just the industry, but the impact it can have. That’s the synergy, and it’s what makes this week in Lisbon feel truly special.

And, by the way, on Tuesday, September 16, many of the players from both the Portugal and World Legends squads will appear live on the Super Stage at the MEO Arena. Hosted by Kirsty Gallacher, this will be a rare opportunity for attendees to hear directly from the legends, ask questions, and share a moment with some of football’s most iconic figures. It’s a continuation of the emotion from the night before, and for many, it will be the first time seeing these football greats. What an experience.

 

Q: Do you think this could become an annual tradition?

RS: Absolutely, it will. With Portugal set to co-host the World Cup in 2030, our goal is to make this an annual fixture, year after year, right here in Lisbon. Honestly, I couldn’t be more excited. It’s a passion project in every sense of the word.

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The Legends Charity Game is more than just a match—it’s a celebration of football, unity, and giving back on a global stage. With Portugal’s football heroes facing off against world legends, and a goal to raise over €1 million, this event promises to leave a lasting legacy both on and off the pitch. To hear more of Rasmus Sojmark’s insights into the business of sport, charity, and the iGaming industry, check out his recent appearance on the HIPTHER Talks Podcastlisten to the audio here or watch the video here.

 

The post Legends Charity Game: Rasmus Sojmark on Football Icons, Lisbon, and Raising €1 Million for Charity appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Interviews

Exclusive Interview: Firesand Shield – Combatting Account Fraud in iGaming

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exclusive-interview:-firesand-shield-–-combatting-account-fraud-in-igaming
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In an era where digital threats are becoming increasingly sophisticated, the iGaming industry faces a relentless battle against fraud and cyberattacks. To combat this evolving landscape, European Gaming recently spoke with Chris Blake, Director at Firesand, about their new product, Firesand Shield. This cutting-edge security solution has been developed to tackle the complex tactics of modern fraudsters and hackers head-on.

In this interview, Chris Blake provides an in-depth look at how Firesand Shield was created specifically to combat the rise of account fraud, explaining how these attacks are becoming more automated and stealthy. He details the product’s multi-layered approach that goes beyond traditional bot detection, integrating seamlessly with operator platforms while delivering powerful real-time intelligence. Blake also discusses how Firesand Shield not only protects against fraud but also helps operators meet stringent regulatory requirements in highly regulated markets. Finally, he shares his vision for the future, outlining how Firesand is committed to staying one step ahead of a constantly changing threat environment.

 

Firesand Shield was developed to combat the rise of account fraud within the iGaming industry. How are these attacks evolving, and what level of disruption are they causing?

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Account fraud is becoming more sophisticated. Attackers now use highly automated ‘low and slow’ techniques that avoid detection by mimicking normal user behaviour, which allows them to evade detection, as well as exploit platforms at scale.

In another change, rather than brute force attacks on platforms, we’re seeing credential stuffing attacks powered by breached data and botnets. This is where nefarious actors will use stolen databases of known usernames and passwords to try and gain access to accounts.

The outcome of this is that these attacks can cause significant impacts on operators. Compromised accounts lead to chargebacks, bonus abuse, regulatory issues, and player attrition.

Firesand Shield was built specifically to address these challenges at the level the industry demands. It goes beyond standard bot detection by recognising behavioural indicators that traditional tools miss, using a multi-layered approach that combines analytics, reputation intelligence, and real time risk profiling.

Our proactive, intelligence-led defence ensures that operators have a significant advantage in preventing fraud, maintaining platform integrity, and crucially, preserves a seamless player experience.

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How does Firesand Shield integrate with operator platforms and back ends to deliver a seamless solution? 

Integration can take part via two methods, that are both unobtrusive to the day-to-day activities of a platform. A classic API integration sees operators connect core user workflows, including login, registration, password reset, to Firesand via RESTful APIs. Firesand returns risk scores based on credential health, unusual behaviour, and IP location mismatches.

In addition, through both OAuth for enterprise SSO and simple username and password logins, we can facilitate access to a live dashboard provides visibility into login trends, potential attacks, and detailed metrics.

 

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How can Firesand Shield help operators reduce regulatory risk, especially in highly regulated jurisdictions like the US, UK, or mature European markets?

Modern regulations demand active threat detection, prevention, and response, not just passive tools like firewalls or CAPTCHAs. There are demands now to prove you can detect, prevent, and respond to credential-based threats that potentially compromise platform integrity.

Firesand Shield supports this with real-time detection of threats, human-led attack identification, and unwanted actors.

As well as identifying potential threats, our built-in dashboards offer real-time reporting, instant access to logs and forensic data, and are created to ensure that all reports are audit-ready, with one-click data exports. This removes the operational burden of post-incident analysis, and allows operators to demonstrate control across their estate, satisfying regulators and clients alike.

It all aligns with best practices under various regulations, such as GDPR, gambling commission rules, and state-level cybersecurity legislation in the US. Firesand Shield is not just a fraud prevention tool, but a powerful compliance ally.

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What kind of real-time fraud intelligence and threat response capabilities does Firesand Shield offer for operators managing large-scale player traffic during peak events?

Big sporting events, casino promotions, or game launches are prime targets for attackers. They use the surge in traffic as cover for credential stuffing, account takeovers, and bonus abuse. These aren’t just bot driven, but increasingly human-led or blended threats designed to bypass legacy defences.

Firesand Shield is built for high-volume, high-risk environments, delivering real time results under pressure, and automated mitigation at scale.

With traffic pattern monitoring that detects abnormal spikes in activity, or dynamic reputation scoring, where traffic from known malicious sources can be blocked, the product allows for real time decision making that assists operators. Firesand Shield goes beyond detection, allowing for immediate responses all controlled from our dashboard.

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Even during peak events, Firesand Shield ensures system performance is unaffected while delivering the fraud protection and data required to protect players, satisfy regulators, and maintain operational integrity.

 

With an outlined roadmap of improvements to Firesand Shield, can security software keep pace with the ever-changing landscape of bot-driven fraud attacks?

Absolutely, and it must. The landscape of account fraud, particularly bot-driven attacks, is evolving faster than ever. Attackers continuously adapt, using more advanced automation, machine learning, and even human fraud farms to bypass traditional defences. Static, rules-based systems quickly become outdated. That is why Firesand Shield is built as a living platform with agility at its core.

Our development roadmap is shaped by continuous threat intelligence, client feedback, and industry trends. Upcoming enhancements include:

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  • Additional bot detection
  • VPN detection
  • Adaptive risk-scoring algorithms, tuned in real time to each operator’s unique traffic patterns
  • Machine learning models that evolve as attacker tactics change
  • Expanded breach intelligence feeds to flag compromised credentials faster
  • Operator-led rule customisation, allowing real-time tuning without code or downtime
  • User hygiene scoring, offering visibility into the health of player credentials across your platform

What makes Firesand Shield different is that it is not just reactive, but proactive and predictive. We’re not waiting for attackers to act. Instead, we are constantly learning from data across the iGaming ecosystem and pushing updates to stay ahead.

Built with regulatory frameworks in mind, we have strived to produce a solution that counters multiple pain points experienced across the industry that can have severe effects on operations if bad actors are successful with their intentions.

For operators and regulators alike, this means confidence that Firesand Shield is not just fit for today, but also ready for what’s next. Security software can and must keep pace, and our roadmap ensures that Firesand Shield leads that charge.

The post Exclusive Interview: Firesand Shield – Combatting Account Fraud in iGaming appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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