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Can Play’N GO Continue to Innovate in 2020?
Founded in Sweden back in 2005, Play’N GO is firmly established as one of the trail-blazing software houses that underpins the lucrative iGaming market in Europe.
The type of Play’N GO casinos found here offer a huge and diverse range of immersive games to players, and this is one of the key reasons why the iGaming market was able to produce a GGY of £5.3 billion in the year ending March 2019.
Play’N GO is also renowned as one of the most prolific and innovative software developers in the marketplace, as it looks to compete aggressively with rivals such as Microgaming, NetEnt and live casino giants Evolution Gaming.
In this post, we’ll appraise the success of this brand in 2019, while asking whether this can be sustained over the course of the next 12 months.
How Play’N GO Continued to Thrive in 2019
There’s no doubt that Play’N GO upped the ante in 2019, as it continued to eclipse all of its major rivals (both in terms of the volume of games launched and their mass appeal on the market).
To this end, the brand took the unprecedented step of launching two new titles on the same day last December, including an immersive slot called ‘Infernal Joker’ and an innovative poker iteration named ‘3-Hand Casino Hold ‘em’.
This is certainly a testament to the depth and quality of their underlying technology, while it also shows that the Play’N GO team is multitalented and capable of conceiving and designing games across a number of different verticals.
The introduction of 3-Hand Casino Hold ‘em is particularly interesting, as it added to Play’N GO’s increasingly diverse range and leverages modern technology that enables competitors to play three hands simultaneously at a single table.
These launches represented just the tip of the iceberg for Play’N GO in 2019, however, as August also saw them nominated for two prestigious awards at the Global Gaming Awards.
These awards were in their sixth year in 2019, with Play’N GO nominated primarily for the coveted ‘Digital Product of the Year’ for their server-based gaming solution OMNY.
This flexible platform delivers seamless multichannel gameplay for both operators and players alike, creating a scenario where game progress can be transferred across any land-based or digital device (including mobile) in real-time.
This nomination was just rewarded for the efforts that Play’N GO has made to deliver a seamless and tech-led gaming experience to players throughout Europe, while it’s also worth noting that the developer was simultaneously nominated for the ‘Slot Provider of the Year’.
Play’N GO had won this award for three years’ running prior to 2019, with the brand now firmly established as one of the very best slot game providers in the world.
What Does 2020 Have in Store for the Brand?
If the formative weeks of 2020 are anything to GO buy, we’d expect Play’N GO to achieve similar success, growth and levels of innovation over the course of the coming months.
This year is certainly set to be a record-breaking entity in terms of game launches, for example, with the five-reel ‘Legacy of Dead’ slot the first of 52 releases scheduled throughout 2020.
Staggeringly, this equates to launch for every single week of the year, while also highlights the incredible efficiency of the Play’N GO team and their ability to create easy-to-play slots with striking and popular themes.
Beyond this, 2020 will also see an evolution of the aforementioned OMNY platform, with this technology likely to gravitate towards the mainstream and create a more enjoyable gaming experience for players across the continent.
On a similar note, Play’N GO will continue to expand its scalable casino platform, which provides a secure and stable gambling solution for players who have a penchant for the developer’s slots and table games.
Having also partnered with Royal Casino back in 2018, the continued integration between these two entities will also offer players direct access to a huge range of games from trusted, third-party providers, ensuring that users can select from an ever greater choice GOing forward.
We will also see Play’N GO’s much-fabled Games Management Toolkit take center stage during the next 12 months, with this innovative platform providing administrative and promotional tools to help operators customize their players’ overall gaming experience.
This means that casino brands will most likely prioritize Play’N GO games over titles supplied by other providers, with players increasingly in the market for immersive games that offer genuine flexibility and can be easily configured.
ad formats 2026
PropellerAds Unveils Multi-Format Advertising Suite for Scalable User Acquisition (January 2026)
PropellerAds, a leading multi-source performance advertising platform, today launched a deeply integrated multi-format traffic strategy designed to deliver predictable conversions and scalable growth as acquisition costs climb and user attention fragments across devices and platforms.
Since 2011 PropellerAds has expanded beyond its Popunder roots into a full-service adtech platform that now includes Push, In-Page Push (IPP), Native/Display, Survey Traffic, and Telegram Mini Apps (TMA). This move positions the company as one of the few global providers offering integrated reach across traditional web placements and growing social/in-app ecosystems.
Why this matters for advertisers
Rising acquisition costs and cross-device fragmentation make single-format campaigns unreliable. PropellerAds’ multi-format suite lets brands, agencies and affiliates:
- Mix high-volume formats for rapid testing (Popunder) with high-intent formats (Survey Traffic).
- Reach audiences across Android, iOS and desktop with native-style creatives (IPP and Push).
- Tap emerging social channels via in-app experiences (Telegram Mini Apps) for engaged, low-disruption traffic.
The result: more stable scaling, flexible reach, and higher conversion predictability.
Key formats powering the platform
- Popunder Ads — volume and scale
Popunder remains a workhorse for large-scale acquisition, offering massive coverage, direct-click placements and cost control. It’s ideal for fast market tests and high-volume conversion funnels. - Telegram Mini Apps (TMA) — social traffic growth
TMA brings in-app interstitials, banners and task-based units inside Telegram’s Mini Apps. Advertisers gain access to highly engaged social users with performance optimization that preserves user experience. - In-Page Push (IPP) — native, cross-device reach
IPP delivers notification-style creatives embedded within webpages without opt-in, covering Android, iOS and macOS. Its native look and wide device support increase engagement and CTR while filling gaps left by traditional push. - Push Format — persistent outreach
PropellerAds’ Push ads reach users outside browsing sessions via browser notifications. As an early mover in push ads, PropellerAds now delivers billions of daily impressions to support remarketing and time-sensitive campaigns. - Survey Traffic — high-intent audiences
Survey Traffic funnels users who actively participate in surveys to advertiser landing pages, producing audiences with elevated intent—especially effective for finance, subscriptions, rewards, and lead generation verticals.
PropellerAds’ strategic edge
By combining multiple traffic types and automated optimization, PropellerAds aims to protect campaigns from volatility in any single channel. The platform’s cross-format approach helps advertisers adapt to shifting traffic patterns while maintaining ROI targets.
“With user behavior shifting across screens and contexts, PropellerAds’ multi-format synergy is now essential for scalable growth,” says Julia Larionova, Head of Marketing at PropellerAds. “Platforms with integrated formats and automated optimization will gain a competitive advantage as traffic continues to diversify.”
Bottom line
PropellerAds’ multi-format expansion reflects the adtech industry’s shift toward integrated, cross-device acquisition. For marketers facing rising traffic costs and fragmented attention, the platform offers diversified ad formats and performance tools to scale more reliably in 2026 and beyond.
The post PropellerAds Unveils Multi-Format Advertising Suite for Scalable User Acquisition (January 2026) appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Age of Empires competitive
Team Vitality Enters Age of Empires II Esports with Star-Studded Roster
Team Vitality, one of the most influential names in modern esports, has officially announced its entry into the Age of Empires II competitive scene. This marks a major milestone: the merging of a contemporary esports powerhouse with one of the most iconic real-time strategy franchises in history.
Aiming for the Throne: Star-Studded Roster
Team Vitality isn’t just entering for exposure — they are targeting dominance. The team has assembled a roster featuring three of the most decorated players in Age of Empires II history:
- Hamzah “Hera” El-Baher – The Golden Boy
Known for his unmatched consistency and strategic mastery, Hera defines the modern AoE era. In 2023, he achieved a historic 14-tournament winning streak in S-Tier events. Fresh off his Red Bull Wololo: El Reinado 2024 victory, the current Player of the Year is set to continue his reign under the Vitality banner. - Kai “Liereyy” Kallinger – The Archer God
Renowned for exceptional micro-management and aggressive play, Liereyy brings mechanical perfection and explosive strategies to the squad. A multi-time Red Bull Wololo Champion (II & IV), the Austrian star is widely regarded as one of the most spectacular talents in the game’s history. - Hernán “Hearttt” Pizarro – The Veteran Strategist
With a professional career dating back to 2012 and 80+ tournament appearances, Hearttt is the rock of the team. Named Comeback Player of the Year 2023, the Peruvian strategist provides depth, resilience, and unparalleled tactical insight.
First Major Appearance: Red Bull Wololo 2026
Team Vitality’s AoE II roster will make its competitive debut at Red Bull Wololo 2026: Londinium, one of the most prestigious events on the global RTS calendar. Fans can expect high-level strategic gameplay and the start of Vitality’s quest for world championship titles in the genre.
“At Team Vitality, our expansion is always driven by a certain ambition: to compete for and win World Championships in the world’s most iconic games. Age of Empires and our new superstar lineup align perfectly with that vision… We are honored to be part of this history and can’t wait to welcome AoE fans into the Vitality Hive.” — Danny Engels, Corporate Director, Global Operations, Team Vitality
Why This Matters
Team Vitality’s entry into Age of Empires II is a significant moment for the RTS esports ecosystem:
- It bridges legacy RTS titles and modern esports organizations.
- Brings global visibility to Age of Empires II tournaments.
- Sets the stage for strategic showdowns at major international events.
With Hera, Liereyy, and Hearttt, Team Vitality is positioned to challenge for the top spots in competitive AoE II and potentially reshape the RTS landscape for years to come.
The post Team Vitality Enters Age of Empires II Esports with Star-Studded Roster appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
AFCON 2025
AFCON’s month of football did not lift iGaming demand — Blask data analysis
AFCON 2025 ran from 21 December to 18 January, packing 52 matches across 19 matchdays. Given that schedule and the heavy interest in favourites such as Senegal, Morocco, Nigeria and Egypt, many expected a measurable boost in online gambling activity. However, Blask data shows the tournament produced only occasional deviations from normal patterns — even in the nations with teams that reached the final stages.
Key findings from Blask data
- No broad uplift: Overall iGaming demand did not climb consistently across markets during AFCON.
- Weekly rhythm dominated: The Blask Index largely followed pre-existing weekly patterns; matchday timings rarely overrode those cycles.
- Host-country anomaly: Morocco — with more viewer-friendly kick-offs (five of seven on Sundays or Friday evenings) — recorded the largest single day-to-day Blask Index move (26 December, Morocco vs Mali at 21:00 local).
- Vertical competition mattered: Live-match excitement often drew attention away from casino play rather than increasing it. Hourly Blask Index figures frequently fell or stayed flat during national-team matches.
- Market-share stability: Dominant brands (usually 1–4 operators) retained their daily shares; AFCON did not reshuffle leaders in most markets.
Why AFCON didn’t create a sustained iGaming spike
- Calendar beats event noise. Daily and weekly user habits — workweek rhythms, prime-time viewing slots and local schedules — remained the strongest determinants of iGaming demand.
- Attention is finite. While live betting benefits from matchday attention, casino verticals compete for the same user time. In practice, watching matches often reduced casino activity.
- Operator strategy limits volatility. In markets controlled by a few large operators, firms manage audience attention by shifting promotions across verticals rather than expanding overall demand. That keeps market shares relatively steady.
Notable exception: Nigeria’s operator flip-flop
Nigeria bucked the broader trend: two brands controlling 70%+ of audience attention exchanged top positions frequently. Bet9ja was the 2025 leader overall, but SportyBet overtook it on most AFCON days, including all Nigeria team matchdays — showing how high-profile tournaments can temporarily reorder leaderboards where competition is extremely concentrated.
What this means for operators and marketers
- Promotions should be tactical, not assuming scale. Expect matchday windows to deliver spikes in live-bet engagement but not necessarily a net rise across iGaming.
- Vertical-specific offers perform better. Tailor live-betting promos during matches and protect casino revenues with off-peak incentives.
- Local kick-off times matter. Host nations or markets with viewer-friendly schedules can see stronger short-term lifts — use that to time campaigns.
Conclusion
AFCON 2025 drew continent-wide interest, but Blask’s daily and hourly data indicate no broad, sustained iGaming uplift. Instead, the tournament rearranged attention — boosting live-bet engagement at times while leaving overall demand on its usual calendar-driven trajectory. For operators, the insight is clear: the calendar is king, and major sporting events tend to redistribute, not expand, iGaming activity.
The post AFCON’s month of football did not lift iGaming demand — Blask data analysis appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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