Conferences in Europe
Can Fun Be Safe? The Role of Social Responsibility in Slot Game Design
The European Gaming Congress (EGC) returns to Warsaw for 2024 on 15-16 October, and organizer HIPTHER is proud to introduce the conference’s esteemed Sponsors – trailblazing companies and accomplished professionals that help make the magic happen! In this Sponsors Spotlight Interview, we welcome Maciej Makuszewski, iGaming Director at Promatic Group, parent company of the Platinum Sponsor for EGC 2024, Promatic Games.
For many people outside the gaming industry, putting social responsibility and online slot games in the same sentence might seem counterintuitive. What’s your perspective on this? How can a slot development company demonstrate responsibility?
You’ve hit on a very interesting point right from the beginning. From an outsider’s view, social responsibility and online gambling might seem like polar opposites—like water and fire. But within the industry, we understand that to succeed, all parties, and especially operators and game studios, need to cater to a broad audience. This includes not only players seeking excitement and adrenaline but also casual players who just want a bit of entertainment. We simply need to think about the mass market when designing the gaming experience.
From there, it becomes essential to safeguard ALL players by promoting responsible behaviors and minimizing risks. After all, even with a naturally risky activity like gambling, people still want a sense of security in their experience. This is where social responsibility becomes key. While the public often associates our industry with problem gambling or even addiction, this is a simplistic view. A problem gambler is not a good player—not for them, and certainly not for us. We aim to create a safe and enjoyable environment for all players, which ultimately benefits everyone involved.
So speaking of iGaming in general, what are the key areas when it comes to promoting responsible behavior and minimizing risks for players, as you rightly put it?
I would consider Responsible Gaming as an umbrella term that encompasses a range of measures. I usually break these down into several key categories:
- Identifying and protecting vulnerable players
- Game mechanics
- Transparency and communication
- Youth exposure
- Game design and incentives
- Financial limits and self-exclusion mechanisms
- Utilization of player data
Of course, this list can evolve depending on specific market needs, but these are the core elements. I haven’t included aspects like fairness or certification, as these are typically viewed as basic prerequisites in most regulated markets—they aren’t specific to Responsible Gaming but rather fundamental requirements for offering games to customers. Additionally, technical standards can also play a supporting role in fostering a responsible gaming environment.
Given that your role as a game studio is to provide the games themselves, how can you contribute to making the experience as responsible as possible? You’re not in full control over all of the seven areas you mentioned earlier.
You’re right—our role is narrower compared to operators, but we still have a significant impact in key areas. We can influence game mechanics, transparency and communication, youth exposure (to some extent), and game design and incentives. While we don’t manage player data, we can still support the identification of problem gambling behaviors.
Take game mechanics, for example. As a studio, we invest a lot of time in balancing the speed of gameplay with clear, accurate visualizations of the spin results. One of our key principles is ensuring that all our designs and developments are configurable to meet Responsible Gaming requirements. For instance, our games were recently certified in the Czech Republic, where the regulator mandates that each spin lasts at least two seconds. This is a Responsible Gaming measure, and our configurable software allowed us to implement this requirement quickly.
Another area that’s been a focus of many regulators is the Bonus Buy feature. We were hesitant to introduce it because some of the behaviors associated with this feature may heighten the risk of problem gambling. After months of careful consideration, we decided to launch it only with the ability to monitor every player action related to this functionality. We are committed to tracking this feature closely to ensure it aligns with responsible gaming standards.
You’re also going to touch on game design and incentives at the European Gaming Congress (EGC), correct?
Yes, that’s right! We’re excited to share the story behind one of our most innovative games, Ale Fajny BOBER. The game’s theme is inspired by a popular viral video, and it was a fascinating challenge for our team to translate the essence of a two-minute YouTube clip into an engaging slot experience. We had many discussions on how to best capture and visualize that story within a slot game format. But I’ll save the finer details for the conference—we’ll be talking about it on Day 1 during our presentation! Feel free to join and ask questions!
You mentioned the game Ale Fajny BOBER. Could our readers be familiar with other titles that have come out of your studio?
Ale Fajny Bober is indeed a new game, which had its premiere in Poland on September 26. Promatic Games has a portfolio of hundreds of exciting slot games that have been both successful and widely appreciated by players. Some of these include: Mummy’s Treasure Deluxe, Dracula’s Treasure, Janosik 30 and Miss Joker Show – the latter has even been shortlisted for the Best iGaming Product category at the EiGE2024 awards, with the final taking place at the upcoming conference. I warmly invite to join us at the event and cast your vote for our title. See you there!
Promatic Group’s iGaming Director, Maciej Makuszewski, and Product Design Manager, Luka Oblak, will be presenting a workshop at the European Gaming Congress on ‘Mastering the Art of Balanced Slot Development.
Join us in Warsaw and meet the Promatic Games Team in person:
The post Can Fun Be Safe? The Role of Social Responsibility in Slot Game Design appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
The Gaming in Spain Conference, which will take place June 26 in Madrid, has added several new speakers to its agenda.
Regis Dudena, Secretary of Prizes and Bets at Brazil’s Ministry of Finance (through remote video link), and Ewa Bakun, Director of Industry Insight and Engagement at Clarion Gaming, will both make an appearance at the event.
Dudena and Bakun join an already impressive speaker lineup that includes Mikel Arana, Director General of the DGOJ; Xavi Muñoz, Partner at ECIJA Law Firm; Jorge Hinojosa, Director General of Jdigital; Ester Martin-Ortega, Head of Public Affairs and Sustainability at Flutter Entertainment; and Ed Birkin, Managing Director of H2 Gambling Capital.
Additionally, we are happy to welcome Dr. Andreas Ditsche, CEO of affiliate network iGaming.com, who will provide a deep-dive analysis of the search behavior (and preferences) of Spanish iGaming players.
Breakout sessions and networking opportunities
In addition to our main program, the Gaming in Spain Conference also features several highly practical breakout sessions, as well as three certificate-granting workshops (generously provided by Chevron Consultants) on internal audits and the EU’s AI Act, GDPR website checks, and establishing a learning culture in your organization.
The workshops will take place on June 25 – the day prior to the main event – and are free to attend for paying GiS Conference attendees.
Furthermore, the Gaming in Spain Conference offers plenty of networking opportunities during coffee breaks, lunch, and the after-event networking drinks.
Finally, all Gaming in Spain Conference attendees are cordially invited to attend the Jdigital Awards ceremony on June 26. The Jdigital Awards honor outstanding contributions to the improvement of Spain’s regulated online gambling sector.
Registration now open
Registration for the Gaming in Spain Conference is now open. Don’t miss it! Register today: https://bit.ly/GiSC2025.
See you in Madrid!
The post Gaming in Spain Conference announces new speakers, networking opportunities appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
SYNOT Group once again took part in the prestigious Belgrade Future Gaming exhibition, held on May 27–28, 2025, in Belgrade, Serbia. At booth A3, featuring a brand-new casino-inspired design, SYNOT presented its latest technologies and gaming solutions, which were met with positive feedback from both visitors and business partners.
This year’s presentation built on the successful introduction of the company’s new visual booth concept at the ICE exhibition in Barcelona. Representatives from SYNOT W, SYNOT Games and SYNOT Interactive brought a comprehensive range of products and solutions to the Serbian capital.
SYNOT unveiled its newest product innovations and technological advancements, including a broad portfolio of the latest gaming cabinets and systems. The world premiere of the ST3-27 cabinet, which features 27-inch monitors, attracted significant interest when it was unveiled to the public for the first time in Belgrade.
Among other presented models was the modular ST2-32 cabinet, the first of its kind in the SYNOT portfolio. It was showcased in a configuration featuring an LED jackpot display and the Gamifire Prime gaming system, offering 36 games. Also on display were the brand-new Firebird Gold system, offering a mix of 42 classic and Hold and Respin games, and Firebird Platinum, featuring a combination of 36 classic and linked games.
Visitors could also see other proven models, including the UP2-32, UP1-27, and Eclipse FL-32. The presentation was further enriched by updated jackpot systems, such as the new version of SUPER LINK for slot machines with 8 linked games, presented in the UP2-32 cabinet with LED display; MAGIC BALL LINK in the Eclipse FL-32 setup; and the well-known Firebird Red, Blue and Explosive Games Premium+, which drew significant attention.
A key part of the SYNOT presentation was the SYNNET Casino Management System, introduced by experts from SYNOT Interactive. The company also showcased its complete portfolio of iGaming software solutions. Meanwhile, SYNOT Games highlighted its growing offer of over 200 online games, including the innovative retention tool PEAK, which enables operators to launch targeted promotional campaigns.
“Belgrade Future Gaming is traditionally an important event for us. It provides the opportunity to present our latest innovations, meet with partners, and explore new business opportunities. We were very pleased with the high attendance at our booth and the positive reactions to both our new products and booth design. Throughout the exhibition, we held numerous productive meetings that opened up further opportunities for collaboration. This strong interest from industry professionals confirms that BFG remains a key platform for strengthening the SYNOT brand and expanding our business in the region,” said Roland Andrýsek, Sales Director of SYNOT GROUP.
The post SYNOT Group Showcased its Latest Products at Belgrade Future Gaming 2025 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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