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.

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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:

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• 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.

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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.

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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!

Merkur Group has showcased its latest product portfolio at the Belgrade Future Gaming 2025, held on May 27-28.

“Our confidence and optimism regarding the future of gaming in the Balkans remain strong. Our successful presence at the fair has reaffirmed this. Serbia is a market with great potential and continues to be one of our key markets. We look back on two successful days filled with substantive discussions, fresh ideas, and promising new contacts,” said Athanasios “Sakis” Isaakidis, Chief Executive International at Merkur Gaming.

As usual, Merkur Gaming arrived in the Serbian capital with a tailored portfolio to meet the specific preferences of customers and players in the country. Among other offerings, the company introduced its proven multi-game package, Merkur Prime, distinguished by a modern menu interface, an enhanced player experience and additional game titles. Also featured on the exhibition stand was the highly popular Game Ring platform by Reel Time Gaming, tailored for the Balkan market and showcasing the latest and most beloved RTG games on the Mod Ex cabinet.

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Given the immense popularity of Linked Progressive Jackpot systems in the Balkans, Merkur Gaming presented Clash Link as another highlight at Belgrade Future Gaming. The system stands out with its unique jackpot mechanics and high frequency of diverse features, capturing the attention of numerous visitors at the Merkur booth. Equally impressive was Link Overdrive, featuring Hold ‘n Spin mechanic, enticing free spins with additional reels and the spectacular Big Reel feature, proving to be a major attraction for attendees.

Borivoje Rajšić, Sales Director at Merkur Gaming Serbia, said: “I am delighted with the overwhelming customer feedback on our exhibition portfolio. It demonstrates that our strategy for the Serbian market is spot on. We have a strong customer base and long-standing partnerships here, which gives us confidence for the future.”

As a result of growing regulatory pressure and increasing tax rates, black-market operators have made significant gains in the Netherlands in recent months.

The Netherlands Gambling Authority currently estimates that unlicensed operators have managed to capture more than half of total online GGR.

This year’s Gaming in Holland Conference – which takes place Thursday, June 5 – will feature many sessions specifically dedicated to understanding & avoiding (further) black-market growth:

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• Nederlandse Loterij CEO, Arjan Blok will discuss (among other things) his company’s ongoing civil proceedings against Costa Rica-based operator LalaBet.
• Renske Fikkers, Head of Market Supervision at the Netherlands Gambling Authority, will further clarify the regulator’s approach to combating illegal gambling.
• Josh Hodgson, COO of H2 Gambling Capital, will share the latest estimates of the current size of the offshore online market, as well as future growth projections.
• Henk Willem Smits, investigative reporter at Follow the Money, will highlight ownership structures and methods of popular black-market operators.
• Christian Heins, Director iGaming at Tipico, will outline how licensed operators can effectively hurt illegal competitors by pressuring B2B suppliers.

All this, of course, in addition to a loaded program that will cover the latest political developments, the impact of further tax increases, M&A, AI, marketing & much more.

Breakout sessions, networking & additional information

Besides an impressive main-stage program, the 2025 GiH Conference also offers five highly practical breakout sessions to help our attendees deal with their day-to-day business concerns:

1. B2B licensing for the Dutch market? (Magno Neiva, Head of Compliance, Altenar)
2. Bonuses, promotional games & player protection: Navigating the regulatory landscape (Joris Crone, Lawyer, Franssen Tolboom Advocaten)
3. Elevating the player journey: Sustainable growth through responsible engagement (Janez Dovžan, Commercial Director PAM – Turnkey Solutions, Bragg Gaming Group)
4. Platform technology in the Netherlands (Brian Forth, Commercial Director, Finnplay Technologies)
5. Lessons learned from compliance testing in the Netherlands (Sander Hoogendoorn, Business Development Manager, Trisigma)

Lastly, don’t miss our traditional boat tour through Amsterdam’s picturesque canals, festive networking drinks at Holland Casino Amsterdam, and the opportunity to meet the key decision makers in the Dutch regulated gambling market.

Check out our full program here: https://bit.ly/GiHC2025_Agenda.

Or click here to register now: https://bit.ly/GiHC2025!