Connect with us

Interviews

Irina Laivina, Media 24: “Our content is meant to educate and entertain”

Published

on

irina-laivina,-media-24:-“our-content-is-meant-to-educate-and-entertain”
Reading Time: 4 minutes

 

We’ve sat down with Irina Laivina, Head of Content at affiliate marketing company Media 24, to discuss how iGaming content could evolve, the key elements of a successful content strategy, the traits of top content managers, and more.

 

Can you share a bit about your background and what led you to the iGaming industry?

Since childhood, I have been attracted to philology and the study of foreign languages. After university, I realized that content creation was where I could combine my passion for languages with creativity. When I moved to Latvia and changed my social circle, I became more and more drawn into the world of iGaming. Over time, this industry fascinated me so much that I found my professional niche there.

I started at Media24 as a senior content manager, where I introduced new ideas to improve both content and design. These changes had a positive impact on our business goals, eventually leading to my promotion to head of the content department. Now, I continue to optimize and shape our content strategy.

 

How do you see the role of content evolving in the iGaming affiliate marketing industry over the next five years?

In affiliate marketing content will still play a key role, especially for the SEO-driven affiliate companies. But the way we will create and deliver it will change. The average reader today is more demanding than ever, expecting more value in the content he consumes daily, and willing to spend less time doing it.

The number of content sources has also increased now, too, and that has created many additional angles and opportunities. There’s live streaming, new social media formats, short form videos, and everything in between. So you have to think outside of the traditional strategies and experiment with new ways to connect with your audience to keep up.

Mobile traffic dominance will require adapting for the relevant formats. This trend is already happening globally and will only develop further. Internally, we are following along and are aligning our design and content strategies. Everything must be optimized for mobile-first consumption today.

 

What are the key elements that make up a successful content strategy in your opinion?

The best content strategy starts with clear goals. At Media 24, we believe that our content should educate and entertain, not take advantage of players. We aim to be a source of helpful information for the reader, not just a platform to promote iGaming brands. In a world of informational overload, your content should be focused on providing real value. Users love it, and search engines prioritize this kind of content too.

We are thinking about the long-term perspective. If content that we produce helps a reader to find what he’s looking for, and is engaging, search engines will naturally rank it higher. So for us it’s not a question of how we can exploit the algorithms, but what is the best way to help a reader make an educated decision.

 

What role does SEO play in shaping the content strategy at Media 24, and how do both teams collaborate for the best results?

At Media 24 content and SEO departments always work hand by hand. It’s hard to imagine our success without close communication between the two teams. We work closely together to develop content plans, conduct competitor analysis, and rely on the SEO team to guide us in the right direction with their data-driven insights. From there, we apply our editorial expertise to make sure our content is relevant, valuable and helpful. So the SEO team navigates us strategically, while the content department is responsible for creating valuable content that keeps readers coming for more.

 

When building your team, what traits do you value most in a content manager, and why?

For a content manager, first of all, the key thing is attention to details. In content creation, even small errors can affect credibility, user experience, and performance, so precision is key. I also highly appreciate the initiative and the desire for learning new things. The industry does not stand still, so a good content manager is constantly exploring new tools, trends and working methods, offering fresh ideas and solutions.

We work with 90+ geos and with such a reach it’s very important for the content to be relevant to every country niche specifics and language. That’s why we prioritize hiring native speakers and local experts in every given market. The ones that have a deep understanding of cultural nuances, player preferences and market regulations. This guarantees our content is authentic and resonates with readers in every region.

 

Are there any long-term goals you’re focusing on at Media 24?

I would really like to optimize all our processes as much as possible. This is something that we are working on actively, and we see that the development of technology can assist us in that. For example, we are currently exploring how we can use the possibilities of AI agents to save time for our team. The main goal is to create smarter work processes.

AI will not replace human content creators, as it lacks originality and niche-specific expertise. But this technology can enhance how we work in many ways. That’s why we’re already developing AI-driven solutions to speed-up our operations and assist us in different repetitive tasks. Once we are able to automate routine and time-consuming parts of our work, this will allow the content team to focus more on creativity and strategy. So by experimenting with AI, we’re not replacing creativity. We are giving it extra space.

The post Irina Laivina, Media 24: “Our content is meant to educate and entertain” appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Conferences

2026 Gaming in Holland Conference: #ReclaimTheMarket & More

Published

on

2026-gaming-in-holland-conference:-#reclaimthemarket-&-more

Next week, the annual Gaming in Holland Conference returns to Amsterdam. Willem van Oort, independent iGaming consultant and founder of Gaming in Holland shares what attendees can look forward to at this year’s event.

What can attendees expect from this year’s conference?

As in previous years, the Gaming in Holland Conference will bring together the leading decision makers from the Dutch regulated gambling industry. Licensed operators, regulatory representatives, and key stakeholders from across the sector will all be in attendance.

This year’s speaker lineup includes the CEOs of Nederlandse Loterij and Holland Casino. In addition, FDJ, the new owner of Unibet, will be represented by a senior executive who will discuss the company’s perspective on the current Dutch market landscape.

The Netherlands Gambling Authority will also contribute two separate presentations: one focused on the regulator’s approach to upcoming legislation, and another dedicated to its new approach to player protection.

Alongside an extensive conference agenda, attendees will have plenty of opportunities to network and connect with industry leaders – including during the event’s traditional boat tour through Amsterdam’s iconic canals.

Apart from these highlights, are there other sessions you are looking forward to?

Like other years, H2 Gambling Capital will be sharing its latest growth projections of the Dutch market. This always offers a solid departure point for other discussions.

I am also looking forward to the presentation by Blask, which will offer an in-depth look at what kind of games Dutch players are interested in, as well as which game categories are featured prominently by both licensed and unlicensed operators. Do player demand and operators’ offerings actually match up? We will find out at the Conference.

Even more importantly, the Dutch government is expected to imminently publish a specific set of proposals to amend the Remote Gambling Act – including cross-operator deposit limits, an increased minimum age for high-risk games of chance, and much more.

Right now, we still think this will happen before this year’s conference kicks off. In that case, we will be hearing directly from the regulator how, exactly, the rules will change.

In addition to these specific sessions, tell us a little bit more about the idea behind Gaming in Holland’s new “Reclaim the Market” mission statement.

As is often the case in regulated markets facing stricter compliance measures, the Dutch regulated iGaming sector has seen market share shift toward increasingly aggressive offshore operators. This is a trend we want to halt – and ideally reverse. That ambition is at the heart of our “Reclaim the Market” initiative.

The good news is that licensed operators collectively possess a considerable amount of market power, enabling them to apply meaningful pressure on suppliers, payment providers, marketing affiliates, and other service providers that continue to facilitate the day-to-day operations of offshore operators. The key challenge lies in coordinating these efforts effectively so that this influence delivers tangible results.

Regulatory involvement is also essential. Neither licensed operators nor regulators benefit from the continued growth of the offshore market, making this an area where all parties share a strong common interest.

Looking a bit farther ahead, what do you think is necessary to keep the black market in check long-term?

I think that B2B licensing will become inevitable. It will be a lot of work for regulators, but I am convinced that this is the only way to introduce a meaningful separation, as well as a qualitative difference between licensed and unlicensed offerings. Players can tell that the onshore product is not evidently superior, but still, we expect them to accept worse RTP percentages due to the tax obligations and higher compliance burdens of licensed operators. While players generally prefer to play in the legal market, they will not do so at any price. That is just basic economics.

Even so, I believe the greatest opportunity for change lies in shifting societal attitudes toward gambling. In the Netherlands, for example, gambling is still generally viewed as somewhat taboo or socially questionable. In my view, that stigma can make it easier for players to drift toward illegal operators.

But what if gambling were treated as a fully legitimate and transparent form of entertainment? If it became more normalized and openly accepted, players might naturally gravitate toward licensed operators as the obvious and responsible choice.

That, I believe, is where significant progress can still be made.

The 2026 Gaming in Holland Conference takes place on June 4 at the KIT Royal Tropical Institute in Amsterdam. The full conference agenda is available here. Or click here to register.

The post 2026 Gaming in Holland Conference: #ReclaimTheMarket & More appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Continue Reading

BiS Awards

“Para EGT, el crecimiento sostenible en Brasil depende de la transparencia”

Published

on

“para-egt,-el-crecimiento-sostenible-en-brasil-depende-de-la-transparencia”

EGT y EGT Digital llegaron a Brasil con una trayectoria consolidada en más de 85 jurisdicciones, bajo la firme decisión de no replicar un modelo internacional en un mercado que exige una adaptación local.

Al frente de esa estrategia se encuentra Celina Guedes, quien lidera la expansión de la compañía en los mercados brasileños de juego, casinos y VLT.

Con más de 20 años de experiencia en los segmentos de casinos físicos y online en Brasil y América Latina, Guedes ha estructurado su enfoque en torno a lo que denomina “glocalización”: aplicar estándares tecnológicos globales al comportamiento, la regulación y las expectativas específicas del jugador brasileño.

Los resultados ya son visibles. EGT ganó la categoría de Mejor Solución VLT en los BiS Awards 2026. El despliegue en Paraíba validó el modelo VLT a escala operativa, con una recurrencia y un compromiso (engagement) por parte de los usuarios que superaron las proyecciones iniciales. En Río de Janeiro, la solución superó la Prueba de Concepto con Loterj, abriendo las puertas a uno de los mercados de juego más estratégicos del país.

In esta entrevista, Guedes analiza qué diferenció a EGT en el competitivo mercado brasileño, cómo funciona la integración omnicanal en la práctica y por qué cree que el crecimiento a largo plazo de la industria depende de la regulación, la transparencia y el juego responsable; no a pesar de ellos, sino gracias a ellos.

Celina, ¡felicitaciones por los BiS Awards 2026! EGT y EGT Digital ganaron en la categoría de Mejor Solución VLT. En tu opinión, ¿cuál fue el “factor X” que diferenció a su producto en un mercado tan competitivo como el de Brasil este año?

Celina Guedes – Creo que nuestro principal diferenciador fue la combinación de una tecnología robusta, la experiencia del jugador y la adaptabilidad al mercado brasileño. EGT ya cuenta con una trayectoria global consolidada en más de 85 jurisdicciones, pero en Brasil no nos limitamos a replicar un modelo internacional: localizamos la solución.

El mercado brasileño exige rendimiento, estabilidad, seguridad regulatoria y, al mismo tiempo, un entretenimiento accesible e intuitivo. Logramos entregar exactamente ese equilibrio a través de una solución VLT omnicanal que es altamente escalable y cuenta con una amplia aceptación por parte de los jugadores.

Además, la integración entre EGT y EGT Digital nos permitió ofrecer un ecosistema completo para operadores y loterías estatales, lo cual es esencial en un entorno cada vez más competitivo y regulado.

Mencionaste que EGT busca establecer “nuevos estándares más altos”. ¿Cómo equilibra la compañía la tecnología global proveniente de Bulgaria con las especificidades culturales y regulatorias del jugador brasileño?

Este equilibrio se logra precisamente porque EGT cuenta con experiencia global pero opera localmente con equipos que entienden profundamente cada mercado.

Brasil tiene características muy específicas: el comportamiento del jugador, el perfil de consumo, una legislación en evolución e incluso preferencias visuales y de jugabilidad. Es por eso que trabajamos en estrecha colaboración con los operadores y los organismos reguladores para adaptar las interfaces, los recorridos del usuario, los métodos de pago, la comunicación y las funciones a las expectativas brasileñas.

Al mismo tiempo, mantenemos los estándares internacionales de seguridad, cumplimiento y estabilidad tecnológica, los cuales son reconocidos a nivel mundial. Esta combinación de experiencia global e inteligencia local es uno de los pilares de nuestro crecimiento en el país.

La operación de Paraíba fue un hito en cuanto a despliegue a gran escala. ¿Cuáles fueron los principales aprendizajes de este proyecto y qué dicen los números iniciales de rendimiento sobre la aceptación del formato VLT por parte de los usuarios?

Paraíba fue extremadamente importante porque validó, en la práctica y a escala operativa, el potencial del modelo VLT en Brasil.

El principal aprendizaje fue la fuerte demanda que existe por un producto regulado que sea seguro y ofrezca una experiencia de entretenimiento de alta calidad. El público respondió de manera muy positiva desde los primeros meses de operación.

Los indicadores iniciales superaron nuestras expectativas en términos de recurrencia de usuarios, compromiso (engagement) y estabilidad operativa. Esto demuestra que los jugadores brasileños están abiertos al formato VLT cuando se presenta dentro de un entorno tecnológico regulado, transparente y confiable.

Respecto a Río de Janeiro: el producto superó la Prueba de Concepto (PoC) con Loterj. ¿Qué puede esperar el mercado de Río de este lanzamiento y cómo planea EGT escalar esta solución a otros estados que están configurando sus loterías en 2026?

Río de Janeiro es un mercado estratégico para toda la industria, y la aprobación de la PoC fue un paso muy relevante.

El mercado puede esperar una solución moderna y segura, diseñada para ofrecer una experiencia física y digital integrada. Nuestro objetivo no es solo desplegar terminales, sino construir un ecosistema sostenible para operadores, loterías y jugadores.

Creemos que muchos estados están observando de cerca los modelos que se están implementando ahora. Por lo tanto, nuestro enfoque es demostrar la eficiencia operativa, la capacidad de generación de ingresos y la responsabilidad regulatoria.

EGT está preparada para escalar rápidamente, ya que cuenta con la infraestructura tecnológica, la experiencia internacional y la adaptabilidad regulatoria necesarias para respaldar nuevos proyectos estatales en diferentes etapas de madurez.

La solución de EGT se describe como completamente omnicanal. Para nuestra audiencia, ¿cómo funciona en la práctica esta integración entre las terminales físicas y la plataforma digital? ¿El jugador se mueve entre ambos mundos con una sola cuenta?

Sí. Ese es uno de nuestros principales diferenciadores.

Los jugadores pueden comenzar su experiencia en una terminal física y continuar en el entorno digital utilizando la misma cuenta, billetera (wallet) e historial de interacción. Esto crea un recorrido fluido, moderno y conveniente.

La integración omnicanal permite a los operadores tener una visión unificada del comportamiento del usuario, lo que viabiliza campañas más inteligentes, programas de fidelización y mecanismos avanzados de cumplimiento.

En la práctica, conectamos lo mejor de ambos mundos: la conveniencia de lo digital con la presencia física y el alcance de las terminales VLT.

In un escenario donde el gobierno está bloqueando plataformas sin solvencia económica, ¿cómo protege la seguridad y transparencia del ecosistema de EGT Digital tanto a los operadores como a los usuarios finales?

Este movimiento regulatorio refuerza algo que EGT siempre ha defendido: el crecimiento sostenible depende de la regulación, la transparencia y la responsabilidad.

Toda la infraestructura de EGT Digital opera bajo estrictos estándares internacionales de cumplimiento, certificación y seguridad tecnológica. Trabajamos con sistemas auditables, controles antifraude, trazabilidad operativa, protección de datos y monitoreo continuo.

Esto protege a los operadores desde el punto de vista regulatorio y financiero, pero también brinda a los consumidores la confianza de utilizar una plataforma legítima, segura y supervisada. En un mercado que madura rápidamente, las empresas sólidas con una trayectoria internacional consistente ganan protagonismo de forma natural.

Estamos viendo un intenso debate en Brasilia sobre la ludopatía y el endeudamiento de los hogares. ¿Cómo incorpora la tecnología VLT de EGT mecanismos de Juego Responsable y controles de gasto para prevenir conductas compulsivas?

El Juego Responsable es un tema central para EGT a nivel global y también en Brasil.

Nuestra tecnología incluye herramientas para el control del tiempo de sesión, límites de depósito y de apuestas, alertas de comportamiento de riesgo y mecanismos de autoexclusión. Además, los operadores pueden monitorear patrones de comportamiento sospechosos de manera mucho más efectiva a través de nuestra tecnología.

Creemos que la regulación y la innovación deben ir de la mano. El objetivo de la industria debe ser proporcionar un entretenimiento seguro, sostenible y transparente.

Este es un debate importante y saludable para la madurez del sector, y EGT quiere ser parte de la construcción de un mercado responsable a largo plazo.

Celina, para cerrar: el Grupo EGT ya está presente en 85 jurisdicciones. Con Brasil alcanzando su madurez en 2026, ¿dónde ves a EGT Digital en el ranking nacional durante los próximos dos años?

Brasil se ha convertido en uno de los mercados de juegos y apuestas más estratégicos del mundo, y EGT ve un enorme potencial de crecimiento aquí.

Durante los próximos dos años, nuestro objetivo es consolidar a EGT y EGT Digital entre los proveedores líderes de tecnología y soluciones omnicanal en el país, expandiendo la presencia tanto en el segmento físico como en el digital.

Estamos invirtiendo fuertemente en expansión operativa, alianzas locales, innovación tecnológica y relaciones institucionales. Creemos que solo estamos al comienzo de la transformación de este mercado en Brasil.

Nuestro enfoque no es solo el crecimiento en números, sino construir una operación sólida y sostenible, reconocida por su excelencia tecnológica y la confianza del mercado.

The post “Para EGT, el crecimiento sostenible en Brasil depende de la transparencia” appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

Continue Reading

BiS Awards

“For EGT, sustainable growth in Brazil depends on transparency”

Published

on

“for-egt,-sustainable-growth-in-brazil-depends-on-transparency”

EGT and EGT Digital arrived in Brazil with a consolidated track record across more than 85 jurisdictions — and a deliberate choice not to replicate an international model in a market that demands local adaptation.

At the centre of that strategy is Celina Guedes, who leads the company’s expansion in Brazil’s gaming, casino and VLT markets.

With over 20 years of experience across land-based and online casino segments in Brazil and Latin America, Guedes has built her approach around what she calls “glocalization” ,  applying global technology standards to the specific behaviour, regulation and expectations of the Brazilian player.

The results are becoming visible. EGT won the Best VLT Solution category at the BiS Awards 2026. The Paraíba rollout validated the VLT model at operational scale, with user recurrence and engagement exceeding initial projections. In Rio de Janeiro, the solution passed the Proof of Concept with Loterj, opening the door to one of the country’s most strategic gaming markets.

In this interview, Guedes discusses what differentiated EGT in a competitive Brazilian market, how omnichannel integration works in practice, and why she believes the industry’s long-term growth depends on regulation, transparency and responsible gaming, not despite them, but because of them.

Celina, congratulations on the BiS Awards 2026! EGT and EGT Digital won in the Best VLT Solution category. In your view, what was the “X factor” that set your product apart in such a competitive market as Brazil this year?

Celina Guedes – I believe our key differentiator was the combination of robust technology, player experience, and adaptability to the Brazilian market. EGT already has a consolidated global track record across more than 85 jurisdictions, but in Brazil we did not simply replicate an international model, we localized the solution.

The Brazilian market demands performance, stability, regulatory security, and at the same time accessible and intuitive entertainment. We were able to deliver exactly that balance through an omnichannel VLT solution that is highly scalable and widely accepted by players.

In addition, the integration between EGT and EGT Digital allowed us to offer a complete ecosystem for operators and state lotteries, which is essential in an increasingly competitive and regulated environment.

You mentioned that EGT seeks to establish “higher new standards.” How does the company balance global technology from Bulgaria with the cultural and regulatory specifics of the Brazilian player?

This balance is achieved precisely because EGT has global expertise but operates locally with teams that deeply understand each market.

Brazil has very specific characteristics: player behavior, consumption profile, evolving legislation, and even visual and gameplay preferences. That is why we work closely with operators and regulatory bodies to adapt interfaces, user journeys, payment methods, communication, and features to Brazilian expectations.

At the same time, we maintain international standards of security, compliance, and technological stability, which are globally recognized. This combination of global experience and local intelligence is one of the pillars of our growth in the country.

The Paraíba operation was a large-scale rollout milestone. What were the key learnings from this project, and what do the initial performance numbers say about user acceptance of the VLT format?

Paraíba was extremely important because it validated, in practice, the potential of the VLT model in Brazil at operational scale.

The main learning was the strong demand for a regulated product that is safe and offers a high-quality entertainment experience. The audience responded very positively from the first months of operation.

Initial indicators exceeded our expectations in terms of user recurrence, engagement, and operational stability. This shows that Brazilian players are open to the VLT format when it is presented within a regulated, transparent, and reliable technological environment.

Regarding Rio de Janeiro: the product passed the Proof of Concept (PoC) with Loterj. What can the Rio market expect from this launch, and how does EGT plan to scale this solution to other states shaping their lotteries in 2026?

Rio de Janeiro is a strategic market for the entire industry, and the PoC approval was a highly relevant step.

The market can expect a modern, secure solution designed to deliver an integrated physical and digital experience. Our goal is not only to deploy terminals, but to build a sustainable ecosystem for operators, lotteries, and players.

We believe many states are closely observing the models being implemented now. Therefore, our focus is to demonstrate operational efficiency, revenue generation capacity, and regulatory responsibility.

EGT is prepared to scale quickly, as it already has technological infrastructure, international experience, and regulatory adaptability to support new state projects at different stages of maturity.

 The EGT solution is described as fully omnichannel. For our audience, how does this integration between physical terminals and the digital platform work in practice? Does the player move between both worlds with a single account?

Yes. That is one of our main differentiators. Players can start their experience on a physical terminal and continue in the digital environment using the same account, wallet, and interaction history. This creates a seamless, modern, and convenient journey.

The omnichannel integration allows operators to have a unified view of user behavior, enabling smarter campaigns, loyalty programs, and advanced compliance mechanisms.

In practice, we connect the best of both worlds: the convenience of digital with the physical presence and reach of VLT terminals.

In a scenario where the government is blocking platforms without economic substance, how does the security and transparency of the EGT Digital ecosystem protect both operators and end users?

This regulatory movement reinforces something EGT has always supported: sustainable growth depends on regulation, transparency, and responsibility.

All EGT Digital infrastructure operates under strict international standards of compliance, certification, and technological security. We work with auditable systems, anti-fraud controls, operational traceability, data protection, and continuous monitoring.

This protects operators from a regulatory and financial standpoint, but also gives consumers the confidence of using a legitimate, secure, and supervised platform.

In a rapidly maturing market, solid companies with a consistent international track record naturally gain prominence.

We are seeing an intense debate in Brasília about gambling addiction and household debt. How does EGT VLT technology incorporate Responsible Gaming mechanisms and spending controls to prevent compulsive behavior?

Responsible Gaming is a core topic for EGT globally and also in Brazil.

Our technology includes tools for session time control, deposit and betting limits, risk behavior alerts, and self-exclusion mechanisms. In addition, operators can monitor suspicious behavioral patterns much more effectively through our technology.

We believe regulation and innovation must go hand in hand. The industry’s goal should be to provide safe, sustainable, and transparent entertainment.

This is an important and healthy debate for the sector’s maturity, and EGT wants to be part of building a long-term responsible market.

Celina, to close: EGT Group is already present in 85 jurisdictions. With Brazil reaching maturity in 2026, where do you see EGT Digital in the national ranking over the next two years?

Brazil has become one of the most strategic gaming and betting markets in the world, and EGT sees enormous growth potential here.

Over the next two years, our goal is to consolidate EGT and EGT Digital among the leading technology and omnichannel solution providers in the country, expanding presence in both physical and digital segments.

We are heavily investing in operational expansion, local partnerships, technological innovation, and institutional relationships. We believe we are still at the beginning of the transformation of this market in Brazil.

Our focus is not only growth in numbers, but building a solid, sustainable operation recognized for technological excellence and market trust.

The post “For EGT, sustainable growth in Brazil depends on transparency” appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

Continue Reading

Trending

Get it on Google Play

Fresh slot games releases by the top brands of the industry. We provide you with the latest news straight from the entertainment industries.

The platform also hosts industry-relevant webinars, and provides detailed reports, making it a one-stop resource for anyone seeking information about operators, suppliers, regulators, and professional services in the European gaming market. The portal's primary goal is to keep its extensive reader base updated on the latest happenings, trends, and developments within the gaming and gambling sector, with an emphasis on the European market while also covering pertinent global news. It's an indispensable resource for gaming professionals, operators, and enthusiasts alike.

Contact us: [email protected]

Editorial / PR Submissions: [email protected]

Copyright © 2015 - 2024 - Recent Slot Releases is part of HIPTHER Agency. Registered in Romania under Proshirt SRL, Company number: 2134306, EU VAT ID: RO21343605. Office address: Blvd. 1 Decembrie 1918 nr.5, Targu Mures, Romania