Central Europe
Austrian Finance Minister Calls for New Gambling Regulator
Austrian finance minister Gernot Blümel has called for the creation of an independent gambling regulator in the country.
Blümel said he wanted to “untangle” multiple functions currently held within the Treasury. “Therefore, the areas of licensing and supervision should be outsourced to an independent gaming authority,” he said.
The minister was discussing the current state of affairs at Casinos Austria, the country’s gambling monopoly, which has been plagued by scandal in recent times.
Accusations made in relation to the betting operator’s appointment as the chief financial officer of Peter Sidlo, a Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) district councillor in Vienna, suggest that the move was designed to ensure that Novomatic could secure political favours from the party.
As per the whistleblowers, Novomatic, which held a 17.19% stake in Casinos Austria, was planning to secure a casino licence in Vienna. This would have essentially scrapped Casinos Austria’s monopoly. All associated parties have firmly denied the allegations.
In the wake of the scandal, Novomatic agreed to sell its share to Czech gaming conglomerate Sazka Group, which already holds a stake of almost 38% in Casinos Austria. Both companies stated that sharing joint control between the parties had not produced the anticipated results.
The deal would give Sazka a sizable majority, ahead of the Austrian state public investment body Österreichische Beteiligungs (ÖBAG), which retains a share of around 33%. While Sazka has promised to ensure ÖBAG will be represented on Casinos Austria’s executive and supervisory boards, the transaction has led to concerns that this may lead to loss of jobs and tax revenue.
While speaking with political discussion show Press Hour, Blümel mentioned he was aiming to negotiate an “Austria package” for the business, via ÖBAG, and secure commitments from Sazka to maintain its presence and staff numbers in the country.
“Casinos Austria is a traditional company in Austria that provides over 3,000 jobs. It is important to me that things settle down and that jobs, its location and tax revenue remain secure,” he said.
He added, “ÖBAG will, therefore, examine how best to ensure such an Austria package.”
Central Europe
Number of companies and employees in German games industry falls for first time in years
After years of growth, the number of companies and employees in the German games industry declined in 2025. This was announced today by game – The German Games Industry Association on the basis of data from gamesmap.de in cooperation with Goldmedia. According to the data, the number of companies in Germany that develop and/or publish games has dropped by 4 per cent within the past year, to 910. The boom in start-ups in the games sector, which was set in motion by the introduction of the German Federal Games Funding Programme in 2020, has now completely subsided. Last year’s figures already indicated a clear slowdown. This decline was due in particular to the consolidation of the global games market and the unreliable availability of games funding to date in Germany.
Three times since 2020, there have been months-long suspensions placed on funding applications. Despite the newly registered drop, the number of companies has risen by 46 per cent overall since the initial start of the games funding programme in 2020. Of the 910 present companies, 454 work exclusively in game development and 52 exclusively as publishers. The remaining 404 companies are active in both the development and publishing of games.
‘Last year was another very difficult one for the German games industry,’ says Felix Falk, Managing Director of game. ‘Germany’s international competitiveness was further decreased by the ongoing flip-flopping of the games funding policy, which ran right into the consolidation wave that swept the global games sector. Fortunately, the new federal government has already taken the necessary steps to level the playing field for companies in this country. The future funding budget is to be increased and thus adjusted to actual needs, and applications can be submitted from August onwards. These are crucial growth impulses that are urgently needed. The additional funds will not only give companies more planning security, but also time to implement additional tax breaks for games, as set out in the coalition agreement between the CDU, CSU and SPD. The improved conditions will finally give games companies a boost, which will hopefully soon be reflected in more start-ups and the creation of new jobs.’
The number of employees at games companies in Germany has also declined over the last year. Whereas game developers and publishers employed 12,408 workers in 2024, the current figure stands at just 12,134 – a drop of 2 per cent. As with the number of companies, the employee numbers had previously shown strong growth since the introduction of the games funding programme at the federal level: a rise of 23 per cent from 2020 to 2024. The recent decline indicates that the current conditions for the games industry, which offer limited scope for planning due to the repeated funding application stoppages and significant current funding restrictions, are having an impact on the job market. A year ago, there were still more companies with ongoing projects that were internationally competitive thanks to funding at levels comparable to those in other countries – financing that had stabilised Germany’s game sector, despite the global consolidation wave and a lack of funding certainty for the industry here. The game industry secures a total of over 30,000 jobs in Germany. In addition to jobs in development and publishing, these include, for example, skilled professionals in educational institutions, the media and the public and commercial sectors.
About the data
The data is drawn from a survey carried out by Goldmedia on the basis of entries on gamesmap.de. It was conducted on behalf of game – The German Games Industry Association for the period ending on 12 May 2025.
The post Number of companies and employees in German games industry falls for first time in years appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Promatic Group, a Polish manufacturer of slot machines and system solutions for the gaming industry, is launching a new collection of slots dedicated to casino customers – the Pro Selection multigame. The first devices have already been certified in Poland and stood in casinos in Warsaw and Krakow.
One platform, up to 55 games
Pro Selection is software with a collection of as many as 55 different titles, covering the full functional and stylistic range of games from the Polish company’s portfolio. Players will find both classic “fruits” games – traditional and simple in form – and modern adventure games, based on an elaborate narrative and unique logics. Branded productions that stand out for their original creations and high graphic quality are also worthy of special attention.
“In Pro Selection, we wanted to include our best titles and those that have proven themselves in both the land-based and online slot segments. That’s why players will find classics such as Miss Joker, one of the most popular games at Poland’s only legal online casino, or 81 Show, a popular hat game. There are also online hits of recent months such as Pixel Fruits and Ale Cool Bober. On top of that, we have added titles that have so far only been available in land-based slot machines and have been great in them, namely Golden Train, Aladdin or Magic Ladybird Mega,” says Piotr Fedak, CEO of Promatic. – “As for branded productions, games with Mariusz Pudzianowski remain a hit, and not only in Poland”, he adds.
Variability and mathematics for every player
One of the important features of Multigame Pro Selection is the mathematical diversity of the games available in it. The collection offers games with varying levels of volatility – from low to very high (on a scale of 1 to 5 stars). As a result, the package meets the needs of both enthusiasts of long session play with frequent, smaller wins, and players looking for higher risk and high wins.
Also new to Pro Selection is a revamped user interface. An intuitive lobby, it provides quick access to all titles, convenient filtering and easy navigation – both from the touch screen and traditional buttons. This is part of software that meets the highest industry technical standards and has been certified by a Polish testing laboratory accredited by the Minister of Finance as authorized to test gaming machines.
“As a product dedicated to casinos, i.e. the most demanding B2B customers, Pro Selection is designed to be fully integrated with the SAS protocol, which is standard in this market, giving compatibility with various casino management systems and providing full operational and billing transparency. It’s a product that is ready for deployment in casino environments where reliability and control are key,” explains Piotr Fedak. – We strive to ensure that Pro Selection’s multigame always goes hand in hand with our proprietary Royal Sevens Jackpot progressive jackpot system, which in itself is a huge asset and player magnet, Fedak adds.
Ease of maintenance and energy efficiency
Pro Selection software is available exclusively on the latest casino-class slot machines from Promatic Group – that is, the Casino 27 and PRO VIP 27 and 32 cabinets These are top-quality terminals equipped with HD monitors, state-of-the-art sound systems and RGB lighting to enhance the gaming atmosphere.
“Thanks to their modular design and intuitive service menus, our multigames are virtually maintenance-free – that is, technical service friendly. Interestingly also, our energy efficiency studies have shown that compared to the competition, Promatic machines consume significantly less energy,” says Piotr Fedak. – At the moment Pro Selection is fully certified for the Polish market, and work is already underway to obtain licenses for the Czech Republic, Slovakia where our goal is to implement this 100% Polish product in those very markets, says Piotr Fedak.
About Promatic Group
Promatic Group is a Polish company with more than 28 years of experience in the gambling industry, specializing in the production of gaming machines and providing dedicated software for gaming rooms and casinos, both land-based and online. The company’s headquarters and factory are located in Warsaw and Jelenia Gora.
In Poland, Promatic’s devices can be found in Totalizator Sportowy’s legal gaming salons, casinos of the WinCasino chain and selected Casinos Poland locations. The company also operates in Latin American and African markets.
Promatic Group is certified to ISO 27001 for information security and ISO 9001 for slot machine manufacturing quality.
Since 2021, the company has also been developing its online gaming segment under the Promatic Games brand, offering online slots in regulated markets in Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. It also holds B2B licenses issued by regulators in Romania (ONJN) and Malta (MGA) and plans to enter more than a dozen new markets in the next few months.
The post Pro Selection – next generation casino multigame from Promatic Group appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
WinCasino network has officially launched its newest casino in the heart of Warsaw, marking a significant expansion of the Polish casino chain. Located at 40 Smolna Street, within the elegant interiors of Hotel Indigo near the De Gaulle Roundabout, the venue brings over 100 new jobs to the capital and introduces a new premium destination to Warsaw’s gaming and entertainment scene. This is the fifth WinCasino in Poland and the first casino to open in Warsaw in nearly two decades under a new license. Developed by the Wintoro company with an investment of approximately 5 million euros, the Warsaw casino is the largest and most exclusive venue in the WinCasino network.
“This is our fifth casino in Poland, but undoubtedly the most important and prestigious one. We wanted to create a space that offers top-tier gaming while also setting new standards in guest experience — from interior design to customer service. WinCasino Warsaw is part of a broader strategy to integrate casinos into the urban landscape and to redefine them as modern social and entertainment venues. It’s an approach that, until now, has been more the exception than the rule in Poland. Guests nowadays are looking for unique, relaxing, high-end experiences. Our ambition is to meet those expectations and help shape the future direction of the industry in Poland” – comments Monika Paliwoda, CEO of E-fun, owner of Wintoro.
The WinCasino brand, over the past few years, has been steadily building its presence in Poland’s major cities, offering gaming that reflects the latest trends and meets the expectations of a quality-conscious clientele. As a result, the Warsaw-based WinCasino offers the most modern and exclusive VIP zones in Poland, designed for the most demanding players. It features the highest level of luxury, privacy and personalized service with limited yet automatic access control. Key highlights include Poland’s first gold gaming table and gold slot machines modeled on those in Monte Carlo casinos and developed specifically for this venue by Polish manufacturer Promatic, what underlines the luxurious character of the entire investment. In addition, the newest WinCasino in the capital of Poland is outfitted with wooden gaming tables from the renowned Italian brand Abbiati, a supplier to some of the world’s most prestigious. The venue also offers state-of-the-art slot machines, including Poland’s largest selection of VIP machines — featuring oversized monitors and surround-sound seats for a truly immersive gaming experience. WinCasino at Hotel Indigo in Warsaw also stands out with the largest slot machines in the country, each featuring dual 65-inch screens.
“Warsaw is a key market for us — demanding, yet incredibly inspiring. Opening the casino on Smolna Street is the result of long-term planning and a commitment to quality. We want everyone who visits our casino to feel like they’re in a place unlike any other — and to want to come back” – says Mariusz Grzejszczak, CEO of Wintoro.
WinCasino Warsaw operates under a license granted by the Polish Minister of Finance, following a competitive tender process and compliance with stringent regulatory standards. It
stands out for its atmosphere and carefully curated interior design, where modern aesthetics blend seamlessly with elegance and comfort. Clearly designated smoking and non-smoking areas, optimized acoustics, subtle lighting, refined materials, and spacious interiors create an environment friendly both to gaming and socializing. The overall concept draws inspiration from the standards of London, Singapore, and Las Vegas. One of key assets of the new casino is its location, right in the heart of the city, surrounded by renowned restaurants, clubs, and hotels. The casino is open 24/7, providing flexibility and access at any time of day or night. During their stay guests can enjoy a spacious bar offering a wide range of cocktails and premium beverages. A part of the infrastructure of WinCasino Warsaw is also parking for guests – which is a rarity in the city center locations in Warsaw.
The post WinCasino debuts in Warsaw with a new flagship venue appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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