Conferences

Building Beyond Trends: Tom Horn Gaming on What Really Drives Slot Success

Published

3 months ago

March 23, 2026

building-beyond-trends:-tom-horn-gaming-on-what-really-drives-slot-success

“The studios that last are those willing to experiment and try new things, while staying grounded in their core principles. It’s easy to follow trends, but what really matters is understanding players, trusting your instincts, and consistently delivering quality.”

As the iGaming industry continues to evolve, the pressure to innovate has never been greater. True success, however, goes beyond simply following the latest trends.

Ahead of the HIPTHER Prague Summit, where Tom Horn Gaming will take the stage as Grand Sponsor, our CEO, Ondrej Lapides, shares his perspective on what it really takes to build games that stand the test of time.

In this exclusive interview with Hipther, we explore how Tom Horn Gaming approaches product development, from balancing innovation with familiarity to designing games that resonate across diverse player segments and markets. The conversation also touches on the growing importance of player-centric design, long-term engagement, and the industry shifts shaping slot development in 2026 and beyond.

As Central and Eastern Europe gain increasing relevance in the global iGaming landscape, the Prague Summit provides a timely platform to exchange ideas, share insights, and look ahead at what’s next for the industry.

Tom Horn Gaming has been in the industry long enough to see trends come and go. From your perspective, what really separates studios that stand the test of time from those that simply chase what’s popular?

In my view, longevity in this industry comes down to balance and a genuine belief in what you do. The studios that last are those willing to experiment and try new things, while staying grounded in their core principles. It’s easy to follow trends, but what really matters is understanding players, trusting your instincts, and consistently delivering quality. When you combine creativity with discipline and a long-term mindset, you create products that resonate well beyond the latest industry buzz.

Your portfolio balances recognisable slot formats with proprietary mechanics like QuickX. How do you decide when to innovate and when to refine what already works?

It’s always a mix of data, experience, and intuition. Innovation is important, but it should never come at the expense of clarity or player enjoyment. Sometimes the right move is to take something that already works and refine it further. At other times, the market clearly shows that players are ready for something new. Finding that balance is partly analytical and partly instinctive, built over time through a deep understanding of how players engage with games.

Your games often combine modern mechanics with very recognisable slot DNA. Why do you think familiarity still plays such a strong role in player engagement today?

Player expectations vary a lot across markets and segments. Some players prefer classic slot gameplay that feels instantly familiar, while others are looking for something more experimental. Our role is to cater to both by offering a diverse portfolio. Familiarity makes games accessible and comfortable, while modern mechanics bring fresh excitement and new layers of engagement.

Player attention spans are getting shorter, yet expectations around engagement and excitement keep rising. How do you approach game design to make titles instantly accessible without sacrificing depth?

It really comes down to putting more thought and effort into the design process. We dedicate significant resources to balancing gameplay so the core experience is easy to understand from the first spin, while sustaining engagement over time. Achieving that balance requires close collaboration among designers, mathematicians, and product teams to make sure the experience feels both intuitive and rewarding.

Looking at your recent releases, there’s a clear focus on replayability rather than one-off novelty. How important is long-term player value when developing new games?

Long-term engagement is very important, but again, it’s about balance. Not every game is built with the same objective in mind. Some are designed to deliver quick excitement, while others aim for longer sessions. A strong portfolio needs both. The key is making sure each game delivers real value and keeps players coming back.

From your perspective as a slot supplier, which innovations do you believe will genuinely shape slot development in 2026 and beyond, and which current trends are unlikely to last?

We’re already seeing a growing demand for more layered gameplay and richer feature sets, and I expect that to continue. Players are looking for more dynamic experiences rather than purely static mechanics. At the same time, fast-paced formats like crash games have gained strong traction and are influencing expectations around immediacy and interaction. That said, not every trend will last. In the end, the games that succeed will be those that combine innovation with strong fundamentals and a clear understanding of player preferences across different markets.

Your recent partnerships significantly extend distribution across Europe and Latin America while reinforcing compliance-focused delivery. How can aggregation partnerships contribute to sustainable scaling across different regulated markets?

Scaling across regulated markets requires the right partnerships and strong technical foundations. For this to work properly, the technical integration needs to be robust, seamless, and fully aligned with regulatory requirements. When that connection is well implemented and continuously optimised, it allows content to reach operators quickly while maintaining the reliability and compliance that these markets demand.

As Grand Stage Sponsor of the HIPTHER Prague Summit, what message or mindset would you like operators, partners, and industry leaders to take away from your presence at the event?

Events like the Prague Summit are particularly valuable because they put a spotlight on Central and Eastern Europe, a region that is playing an increasingly important role in the global iGaming landscape but doesn’t always get the same attention as larger markets.

For us, the real value lies in knowledge exchange. It’s an opportunity to discuss the latest developments, share insights from real operations, and compare experiences across different jurisdictions. Bringing these perspectives together helps the industry learn from one another and take away practical insights that can support future growth and innovation.

The post Building Beyond Trends: Tom Horn Gaming on What Really Drives Slot Success appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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Baltics

HIPTHER Baltics 2026 Concludes Landmark Three-City Series, Bringing Together 430 Industry Leaders

Published

11 hours ago

June 15, 2026

Wladimir P.

hipther-baltics-2026-concludes-landmark-three-city-series,-bringing-together-430-industry-leaders

HIPTHER proudly concludes the inaugural edition of its expanded HIPTHER Baltics 2026 conference series, successfully bringing together a total of 430 participants across three dedicated events in Vilnius, Riga, and Tallinn.

Building on the legacy of the MARE BALTICUM Gaming & TECH Summit and introducing a new, country-focused format, HIPTHER Baltics 2026 delivered three high-impact conferences designed around the most pressing regulatory, technological, and business developments shaping the Baltic and Nordic regions. The series focused on creating meaningful dialogue between regulators, operators, fintech leaders, technology innovators, legal experts, investors, and compliance professionals.

The 2026 edition featured:

HIPTHER Baltics: Vilnius – iGaming Regulation & Fintech Integration
HIPTHER Baltics: Riga – Cross-Border Compliance & Player Protection
HIPTHER Baltics & Nordics: Tallinn – Digital Governance & Startup Innovation

Vilnius: Exploring Lithuania’s Regulatory Transformation

The series launched on 21 April in Vilnius, where discussions focused on Lithuania’s evolving regulatory landscape and the increasing convergence of fintech, payments, blockchain, and iGaming.

Industry leaders examined topics including MiCA implementation, AML requirements, digital assets, banking transformation, tokenisation, AI adoption in financial services, next-generation payments, and the growing role of compliance in sustainable business growth. The event marked the beginning of a new chapter for Baltic-focused industry conversations and set the tone for the months ahead.

Riga: Regulation, Risk and Growth in a Changing Market

On 11 May, HIPTHER Baltics arrived in Riga, bringing together experts from gaming, fintech, legal, compliance, and technology sectors for a day dedicated to practical business realities.

Key conversations addressed responsible gaming, player protection, AML implementation, fraud prevention, AI in supervision and taxation, payments innovation, cross-border licensing, data protection, affiliate marketing, and the transition from traditional SEO to AI-powered discoverability. The Riga edition highlighted how businesses can remain compliant while continuing to innovate and grow in increasingly regulated environments.

Tallinn: Digital Governance Meets Innovation

The series concluded on 2 June in Tallinn, one of Europe’s most digitally advanced capitals.

The event explored the intersection of digital governance, startup ecosystems, digital identity, compliance, investment, fintech innovation, and iGaming. Discussions ranged from eIDAS 2.0 and trusted digital onboarding to sustainable player acquisition, operational partnerships, AI-powered business growth, and the future of digital societies.

Tallinn also hosted the HIPTHER Baltic & Nordics Gaming Awards 2026, celebrating excellence across operators, suppliers, technology providers, and industry leaders from the Baltic and Nordic regions.

Beyond Conferences: Building a Regional Community

Throughout all three events, participants benefited from curated networking opportunities and practical learning sessions through the HIPTHER Academy, HIPTHER’s educational platform focused on delivering hands-on skills, professional development, and industry certifications.

The combination of boutique-format events, high-level content, and meaningful networking once again demonstrated why the Baltics continue to attract increasing attention as a hub for innovation, regulation, and cross-border collaboration.

Looking Ahead – HIPTHER Baltics 2027

Reflecting on the success of the series, Zoltan Tündik, Co-Founder and Head of Business at HIPTHER, commented: “We are incredibly proud of what we achieved across the Baltics in 2026, but this is only the beginning. The success of the three-city series has provided us with valuable insights, feedback, and inspiration that we are already incorporating into the planning of HIPTHER Baltics 2027. The Baltics have a unique energy when it comes to business events, innovation, and networking, and we are excited to continue growing alongside this vibrant community. Our commitment remains the same: delivering meaningful conversations, practical learning opportunities, and exceptional networking experiences that bring together the region’s most influential stakeholders.”

After the successful completion of HIPTHER Baltics 2026 and the overwhelmingly positive feedback received from participants, the #hipthers team is already working on an exciting and enhanced next edition.

With the HIPTHER Warsaw Summit set to take place on 27–28 October 2026 and an ambitious roadmap for 2027–2030 already taking shape, HIPTHER continues its mission of connecting industries, markets, and ideas through premium learning, meaningful networking, and cross-border collaboration across Europe.

About HIPTHER

HIPTHER is a media hub and events organizer serving the Gaming and Technology industries, including Fintech, Blockchain, Crypto, AI, Cybersecurity, Compliance, and Digital Innovation. Through its conferences, media platforms, awards programs, and community initiatives, HIPTHER connects decision-makers, innovators, regulators, and business leaders across Europe and beyond.

The post HIPTHER Baltics 2026 Concludes Landmark Three-City Series, Bringing Together 430 Industry Leaders appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

BGaming

BGaming brings back TRUE WAYS online conference on July 15

Published

12 hours ago

June 15, 2026

Wladimir P.

bgaming-brings-back-true-ways-online-conference-on-july-15

Free virtual event focuses on content overload and the fight for player attention, with speakers from Print Studios, SOFTSWISS, Stake and more.

BGaming will run the second edition of its TRUE WAYS online conference on July 15 at 15:00 CET. The virtual event is free to attend with advance registration via the conference website.

This year’s theme is “Content Overload in iGaming: Who Wins the Player’s Attention?”. BGaming said the sessions will examine market saturation and what content and engagement strategies are most likely to perform in 2026 and beyond.

The agenda includes six sessions of up to 20 minutes each, followed by live Q&A. Confirmed speakers are Carl Wiggman, CEO at Print Studios; Gretta Kockonan, Head of Business Development and Partner Studios at SOFTSWISS; Caelum Ferrarese, Casino Product Specialist at Stake; Mike Danshin, CMO at 1w Crypto; Leonardo Benites, CEO at Propane; and BGaming Product Owner Igor Bondarenko. The event will be hosted by Surya Palli, creator of iGaming Real Talk.

BGaming is positioning the event as a follow-up to its inaugural TRUE WAYS conference in 2025, which the company said drew more than 400 approved attendees, with nearly 50% holding C-level positions, spanning Europe, LatAm, North America, and Africa.

Marina Ostrovtsova, CEO at BGaming, said, “Last year’s TRUE WAYS proved there is a strong appetite within the industry for honest conversations and practical insights, and we are excited to bring the conference back for a second edition.

Content overload is one of the biggest challenges facing iGaming today. With more games competing for attention than ever before, businesses need to think differently about how they engage players and build long-term loyalty.

This year, we have brought together experienced professionals from across the industry to share their perspectives on this challenge, discuss what is actually working in today’s market, and explore the strategies that will shape the future of player engagement.”

The post BGaming brings back TRUE WAYS online conference on July 15 appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

BMM Testlabs

BMM Innovation Group confirms Perú Gaming Show presence in Lima

Published

6 days ago

June 9, 2026

Wladimir P.

bmm-innovation-group-confirms-peru-gaming-show-presence-in-lima

BMM Testlabs, BIG Cyber and RG24seven plan meetings at Booth 31-32 on June 17-18 at the Jockey Exhibition Center.

BMM Innovation Group (BIG) says it will exhibit at the Perú Gaming Show (PGS) on June 17-18 at the Jockey Exhibition Center in Lima, Perú.

The company will be located at Booth No. 31-32, where it plans to meet with gaming suppliers, operators, and regulators to discuss testing and certification through BMM Testlabs, cybersecurity services under BIG Cyber, and compliance-focused online training via RG24seven Virtual Training.

BMM Testlabs’ Senior Vice President Rubén Baptista said, “Perú has been an important market for BMM for many years, and we are proud to continue supporting the country’s growing gaming industry. At BIG, we help our customers with more than just product compliance. We also help them strengthen cybersecurity, train employees, and prepare for long-term success in regulated gaming markets across the globe.”

BIG said it has supported the Peruvian gaming industry for nearly two decades and was among the first laboratories approved to test and certify online gaming and sports betting products under Perú’s new regulatory framework. The company is directing attendees to Booth No. 31-32 to schedule meetings during PGS 2026.

The post BMM Innovation Group confirms Perú Gaming Show presence in Lima appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.