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Praesepe, Blueprint and Bacta move quickly to answer charity SOS

Published

6 years ago

April 16, 2020

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Gauselmann owned brands, Praesepe and Blueprint have joined forces with UK trade association, Bacta to donate £12,000 to fund 100 Amazon Fire tablets and care packages to industry charity, Rays of Sunshine (ROS). The tablets, described as a ‘god send’ by ROS chief executive Laura Barnett, will be distributed to children who, due to restrictions introduced to help stem the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic, find themselves isolated from friends and family in hospital.

Explaining the impact and the importance of the donation, Laura Barnett said: “We’re so thankful to Gauselmann and Bacta for their incredibly generous donation of £12,000 which will enable us to continue brightening the lives of seriously ill children during this incredibly challenging time. The money donated will fund Amazon Fire tablets and care packages for hospitals, who we know have an immediate need due to the Covid-19 global pandemic. For children who are currently isolated in hospital receiving treatment, the tablets will help to alleviate their anxiety and distract them from the uncertainty related to their condition by enabling them to access virtual entertainment and, most crucially, keep connected with their friends and family.”

Praesepe Chief Operating Officer, Mark Schertle explained: “We have a close relationship with the Bacta Charitable Trust donating some £45,000 over the last nine months, so we know of the fantastic work undertaken by Rays of Sunshine in terms of granting wishes to children with serious or life-limiting illness. When we were made aware of how the pandemic was impacting the ability to continue their work, we thought there must be a way of doing a little bit more at this important time. We then spoke with our colleagues at Blueprint and John White at Bacta and I’m delighted that we have been able to move quickly and to be of some practical use. Laura and her team are budgeting for a seven figure loss of income this year, which is a massive blow for everyone connected to the charity, especially the children and their families.”

David Purvis, Managing Director of Blueprint Operations added: “We are all currently facing challenging impacts to our lives and businesses. Sadly, we have all borne witness to how this insidious virus is impacting our families, our communities and our very way of life. We hope that our donation of 100 Amazon Fire Tablets to the children of Rays of Sunshine will make a positive difference to their lives and the challenges they have at this time. Although these are trying times for us all, we remain optimistic that the UK will thrive again soon.”

John White believes this latest contribution to good causes shows the industry at its very best. He said: “The Bacta Charitable Trust was contacted by Praesepe/Blueprint to see if we would be able to jointly fund the 100 tablets and the answer was an unequivocal yes. In less than a week we’ve moved from reading about the issues faced by Rays of Sunshine to doing something really positive and helping to brighten the lives of children who have been cut-off from their loved ones. Not only does the industry have a massive heart but it also has a remarkable ‘can do’ attitude and the ability to make things happen – irrespective of the circumstances. I think the industry should be extremely proud.”

ACR Poker

MONSTER VENOM TOURNAMENTS ON ACR POKER AWARD OVER $11 MILLION IN PRIZE POOLS TO PLAYERS AND DELIVER BIG POKER ACTION

Published

18 seconds ago

February 9, 2026

Wladimir P.

monster-venom-tournaments-on-acr-poker-award-over-$11-million-in-prize-pools-to-players-and-deliver-big-poker-action

ACR Poker has wrapped up its flagship Dual Mystery Bounty Venom tournaments, delivering more than two weeks of high-octane online poker action and awarding over $11 million in total prize pools to players from around the world.

The hugely popular series once again surpassed expectations, smashing guaranteed prize pools and cementing the Venom brand as one of the biggest and most exciting events on the online poker calendar.

The Venom No-Limit Hold’em (NLH) event comfortably exceeded its $8 million guarantee, generating a massive $9,182,500 prize pool, with $4,591,250 allocated to mystery bounties. Meanwhile, the Venom Pot-Limit Omaha (PLO) tournament surpassed its $2 million guarantee, creating a $2,092,500 total prize pool, including $1,046,250 in bounties.

In the NLH event, 28-year-old Portuguese poker professional Pedro “MatasSembolas” Neves emerged victorious after outlasting a formidable field of 3,673 entrants. Following a three-way deal with ‘BALDOUS’ and ‘basaboy’, Neves captured the Venom title and secured a total payout of $728,281, made up of $630,327 in prize money and $97,953 in bounties.

Reflecting on his victory, Neves said:

“It feels great to win such a big tournament. The Venom is one of the most well-known events on the schedule, so finishing in first place is very satisfying and something I’m really happy about.”

Despite finishing runner-up, UK player ‘BALDOUS’ claimed the largest overall payday of the tournament. By landing the top $500,000 and $150,000 mystery bounties, ‘BALDOUS’ walked away with $510,378 in prize money and an incredible $729,931 in bounties, totaling $1,240,310.

In the PLO Venom, ‘StickyMinaj’ topped an 837-player field, earning the $209,860 first-place prize along with $104,062 in bounties to cap off an impressive performance.

ACR Pro Chris Moneymaker praised the series, saying:

“The Mystery Bounty Venoms had it all — huge fields, nonstop action, and unforgettable moments — and showed why it’s one of the most exciting formats in online poker. Congratulations to all the winners and to everyone who landed those incredible bounties — now bring on the next one!”

Fans looking to relive the action can catch a full recap of the NLH final table on ACR Poker’s Twitch channel, featuring commentary from ACR Pros Chris Moneymaker and Jon Pardy, alongside ACR Team Online member Svitlana Dryha.

While the Dual Venom tournaments have concluded, the action on ACR Poker continues. Players can now take part in the $1 million guaranteed Moneymaker Mystery Million, the popular weekly high-stakes tournament Phil’s Thrill, and a packed schedule of additional events.

The post MONSTER VENOM TOURNAMENTS ON ACR POKER AWARD OVER $11 MILLION IN PRIZE POOLS TO PLAYERS AND DELIVER BIG POKER ACTION appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Uncategorized

Immense Group appoints Marcus Adler as Nordic Director for DBET

Published

19 seconds ago

February 9, 2026

Wladimir P.

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Immense Group has appointed Marcus Adler as Nordic Director for DBET, reinforcing its commitment to expanding its sports betting footprint across Sweden and other regulated European markets.

DBET is Immense Group’s first dedicated sports betting brand. Launched in August 2024, the brand has quickly established itself in the Swedish market by delivering a sports betting experience focused on popular sporting events, international pools and jackpots. DBET is available online and on mobile devices, while also boasting a strong retail presence through an extensive nationwide network of betting shop terminals.

Over the past year, DBET has significantly increased its brand visibility by forming strategic partnerships with key Swedish sports organisations, including the Swedish Bandy Association and the Swedish Basketball Association. These collaborations have strengthened DBET’s ties to local sport and helped position the brand as a trusted and recognisable name in a highly competitive landscape.

Based in Sweden, Marcus Adler brings extensive experience in commercial leadership, digital growth and sports gaming. He most recently served as Chief Commercial Officer at RoninSport.io, a Swedish sports TV data and digital engagement provider working with media companies, iGaming operators and sports platforms to deliver real-time sports content solutions. Prior to that, Adler led Online Acquisition at LeoVegas and held several senior commercial roles across the sports media and digital entertainment sectors.

Adler’s appointment comes at a pivotal moment for Immense Group as it continues to invest heavily in its sports betting capabilities. In 2025, the company selected Altenar as its global sportsbook partner, enabling scalable, localised and compliant sports betting operations across its portfolio of brands in regulated markets.

Commenting on his new role, Marcus Adler said:

“I am very pleased to join Immense Group at a time when the company is making significant investments in sports betting and DBET is gaining real traction in Sweden. The brand already has strong foundations, from its product offering to its partnerships within local sport. My focus will be to provide clear strategic direction for the Nordics, prepare DBET for its next phase of growth, and ensure we deliver a sports betting experience that feels trusted, intuitive and genuinely competitive for players in Sweden and across the wider region.”

The post Immense Group appoints Marcus Adler as Nordic Director for DBET appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Animo

Elantil and Animo Unite to Redefine Live Casino Gaming

Published

20 seconds ago

February 9, 2026

Wladimir P.

elantil-and-animo-unite-to-redefine-live-casino-gaming

Innovative platform solutions provider collaborates with specialized Live Casino supplier to offer clients real-time games featuring a pop culture flair.

Transforming the industry for operators through its cutting-edge technology and adaptable multi-currency choices, leading platform solutions provider, Elantil, has revealed the integration of a revolutionary studio into its online marketplace with Animo.

Centered on the commitment to employ actual dealers and genuine equipment to provide extraordinary experiences, Animo has revolutionized live entertainment by merging real-time table games with virtual broadcast production, resulting in an immersive format that harmoniously blends pop culture and iGaming.

Animo is presently providing various roulette versions and will expand into additional live gaming formats over the year, utilizing professional dealers in high-quality casino environments and applying its innovative technology to convert them into customizable virtual avatars that meet operators’ needs.

This opens the door to thrilling commercial collaborations that can enhance engagement; Animo’s product is anticipated to attract crypto operators, making the integration especially pertinent as Elantil will showcase at SiGMA Eurasia this month.

Due to the new collaboration, all Animo games will be highlighted in Elantil’s Marketplace, allowing customers to reach out to the supplier directly to establish their own tailored agreements; this eliminates any intermediary expenses and guarantees they receive the ideal package for their requirements.

After terms are settled, they will receive login credentials to access their games directly from Elantil’s Marketplace, while the company manages all technical aspects to ensure they are operational.

John Debono, Chief Technical Officer at Elantil, said: “As anyone who’s visited an Elantil stand at ICE will know, we’re a company that embraces the unconventional and loves to get creative. With this in mind, Animo is the perfect addition to our marketplace, and we believe their unique approach to Live Casino will prove incredibly popular with partners – especially those in the crypto space.”

Harley Fresh, Founder & Chief Executive Officer at Animo, said: “Like Elantil, Animo has forged its own path in the iGaming industry, the interactive experiences we provide are unlike anything else. By blending the real world and the virtual, we create a new level of engagement that supports both player acquisition and market penetration. We can’t wait to hear how our line-up can be tailored to Elantil’s customers’ needs and are excited to bring more brand IP to life.”

The post Elantil and Animo Unite to Redefine Live Casino Gaming appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.