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Special panel discussion focusing on the Ukrainian gambling industry at #EGC2020VE

Published

6 years ago

September 14, 2020

Reading Time: 5 minutes

Highly informative panel discussion about the Ukrainian gambling industry has been added to the agenda at European Gaming Congress VE (Virtual Edition).

Little over 2 months ago, the Ukrainian gambling industry had a landmark moment for both the international betting industry and for liberalizing the economy.

“We’re currently seeing history in the making. In short, the Ukrainian gambling industry is coming back. While gambling peaked at almost $1.4 billion in revenue in 2008, the state monopolized the market into lotteries in 2009, making it the only legal form of gambling – and prohibiting anything else” were the words of Vladimir Malakchi, CBDO at Evoplay Entertainment, in a recent interview (read in full here)

Ukraine’s new gambling legislation would allow the functioning of ground casinos in five-star hotels in the capital city of Kyiv and four-star hotels in regions. The license fee for Kyiv would be $ 2 million for hotels with a capacity of more than 150 rooms and $ 1 million for hotels with a capacity of over 100 rooms but less than 150 rooms.

All-star hotels above three stars can host slot machine facility. The license fee for slot machines would be $ 250000 and $ 100 per month for each slot machine. The facilities can use 50-250 machines with a single license.

Online casinos too will be permitted. The license fee would be $ 230000 or $ 1.150 million for 5 years for one website.

Both online and offline bookmaking activities also will get the nod. The license will cost $ 1 million a year plus $ 500 per month.

As with every newly regulated market, there is information that needs to be digested and this is why we have decided to include a special dedicated panel about the Ukrainian gambling industry at the upcoming European Gaming Congress.

The virtual edition of European Gaming Congress 2020 is taking place between 6-7 October and gathers top names of the gaming industry who will present their insights to create Europe’s largest gaming compliance gathering.

THE EASY AND FREE REGISTRATION PROCESS IS SPONSORED BY ALTENAR AND YOU CAN REGISTER FOR FREE HERE NOW!

The conference covers +28 jurisdictions and as mentioned above, Ukraine is among them with a dedicated panel.

During the “GAMING REPORT: UKRAINE SPECIAL” panel discussion, you have the opportunity to hear more about how to apply for a license, what are the insights about the market, and more by the panelists under the moderation of Andrius Gabnys (Attorney At Law – Gabnys Law Firm).

The panel will be joined Ievgeniia Derbal (Chief Legal Officer at Parimatch), Vladimir Malakchi (CBDO at Evoplay Entertainment), Sergii Romanenko (Chief Operating Officer at GGPokerok.com), Dainis Niedra (Managing Director Central & Eastern Europe at Enlabs), and Artem Kuzmenko, MBA (Partner at ETERNA LAW).

You can find more details about the speakers’ and moderator bios below.

AS MENTIONED ABOVE THE EASY AND FREE REGISTRATION PROCESS IS SPONSORED BY ALTENAR AND YOU CAN REGISTER HERE NOW!

You can find more details about the Agenda here or you can register here!

For further inquiries about the speaking/sponsoring options, make sure to send an e-mail to Andrada Marginean (B2B Sales Executive at Hipther Agency) or subscribe to the weekly newsletter on the following link.

For media-related inquiries, please contact Alexandru Marginean (Marketing Specialist at Hipther Agency).

Ievgeniia Derbal – Chief Legal Officer at Parimatch

Evgenia is Head of Legal for Parimatch, and is responsible for the coordination of the legal function at Parimatch Holding. Evgenia is based at Parimatch’s head office in Cyprus, and is responsible for corporate structuring, tax planning, building commodity – cash flows, protecting the intellectual property of the Holding and coordinating with legal teams at local offices.

Evgenia’s expertise is in gambling taxation, intellectual property rights, and regulatory compliance. For seven years, she led Konnov and Sozanovsky’s tax practice and most recently, was Head of Legal at Media Group FILM.UA, where she was responsible for building and coordinating a team of 20 lawyers.

Evgenia has experience in the development of legislative and regulatory acts and has participated in public councils. Evgenia has diplomas in law and economics from the International Science and Technology University in Kiev.

A keen sportswoman, Evgenia enjoys skiing, snowboarding, wakeboarding, surfing, and windsurfing. She loves to travel, and spend as much time as possible with her family and two-year-old son.

Vladimir Malakchi – CBDO at Evoplay Entertainment

Heading up Evoplay Entertainment’s rapidly expanding global presence, Vladimir Malakchi has been key to the studio’s outstanding success in 2020 as it continues to go from strength-to-strength as one of the industry’s most revolutionary suppliers.

A start-up entrepreneur at heart, Malakchi has brought a wealth of experience to Evoplay Entertainment since joining the company earlier this year, having successfully scaled multiple early-stage companies across the tech space, including one of the world’s top five blockchain developers.

Ready to offer his insights on all things global and Ukraine, he holds an extensive track record across the country’s venture capital and investment environment, having guided multiple firm through the product development and strategic development process – raising in excess of $60 million.

Sergii Romanenko – Chief Operating Officer at GGPokerok.com

He has been in the gambling & casinos industry, holding several operations and management positions since 2002. He focuses on the day-to-day administration and operation of the business and also responsible for product development. Now, Sergii helps GGNetwork, the world’s largest poker network, developing its business in Eastern Europe.

Dainis Niedra – Managing Director Central & Eastern Europe at Enlabs

15 years of international experience in the B2C gambling/gaming in Baltics and CIS countries. Now is a Managing Director for Central and Eastern Europe for the Baltics’ biggest online gaming operator Enlabs.

Artem Kuzmenko, MBA – Partner at ETERNA LAW

Mr. Kuzmenko has over 10 years of experience in the practice of corporate law and M&A, specializes in advising national and international companies.

He is a member of the working group of the Law on Legalization of Gambling Business in Ukraine.

Mr. Kuzmenko has extensive experience in corporate, commercial and regulatory matters related to the activities of companies in the food industry, telecom, pharmaceuticals, retail and financial services, IT, manufacturing companies. He has a broad experience in establishment and liquidation of the companies. He participated in international projects, provided corporate projects and M&A transactions, was responsible for project management, legal support at all stages, including preparation of project documentation and contracts, advising on corporate structure, support and legal support of the work of the food industry, metallurgy, mining companies and agricultural companies.

Mr. Kuzmenko was involved in the organization of the ‘due diligence’ and ‘vendor due diligence’ checks, as well as consulting in the field of real estate.

Prior to joining in ETERNA LAW Mr. Kuzmenko worked in “Prime” law firm.

Andrius Gabnys – Attorney At Law – Gabnys Law Firm

Andrius Gabnys is an attorney-at-law and a managing partner at Gabnys Law Firm, a legal boutique based in Vilnius, Lithuania, and Tallinn, Estonia. The Firm specializes in entertainment (gambling, media, arts) and technology (IT, cybersecurity) legal aspects. Andrius Gabnys has been working in the online gambling sector for over 10 years and focuses on the multijurisdictional licensing, IP and related matters. He has extensive experience dealing with the gambling authorities in Europe, CIS countries, Africa and South America.

Blueprint Gaming

Weekend Reels | Week 30: Slot Drops & Trends

Published

1 day ago

July 24, 2026

Wladimir P.

weekend-reels-|-week-30:-slot-drops-&-trends

Here are this weeks latest slots releases compiled by Eastern European Gaming

Spinomenal has released 3 Fuego Chillies, a new 5×3 video slot themed around a Mexican street fiesta. The game ships with a feature-led Bonus Game and a top prize billed as a Grand Jackpot of x3,000 the total bet.

CT Interactive has released its latest slot game, 40 Mega Star. As the night sky comes alive with countless shimmering lights, only a select few stars have the power to capture attention and become true Mega Stars.

TaDa Gaming has expanded its popular Unlimited Fortune mechanic with the launch of Joker Coins Unlimited Fortune. Combining Lock & Respin, progressive bonus expansion, jackpots, multipliers and the signature Unlimited Fortune feature, this compact three-reel release delivers layered gameplay and win potential of up to 5000x.

Blueprint Gaming is releasing an upgraded version of Super Graphics Upside Down exclusively on Lottomart, giving Lottomart’s UK players early access to the title. Originally launched in 2021, Super Graphics Upside Down is being re-released with a new bonus wheel feature and an increased max win potential, rising from 250X to 3000X, according to the companies.

ICONIC21 has released Wild Gold Mine 2, a high-volatility sequel to its Wild Gold Mine slot. The game is played across 243 ways and launches with multiple RTP configurations, with a stated top prize of 10,000x.

Games Global has launched Rumble Kong CASHINGO, a new jungle-themed online slot developed with exclusive studio partner Alchemy Gaming. The title went live on 23rd July 2026. Rumble Kong CASHINGO is a 5×5, 3,125 ways-to-win game built around an expanding CASHINGO collection grid.

Swintt has released a new slot from its Elysium Studios label, titled Odyssey Hold & Win. The supplier said the game is built around a Hold & Win collection mechanic and features a stated maximum win of 3,317x. Odyssey Hold & Win runs on a 4×4 grid that can expand to 4×8 when Athena appears, according to the company.

ELA Games has released a new slot, Age of Cleopatra, adding another ancient-Egypt theme title to its portfolio. The studio positions the game as a medium-volatility release and says it is available to demo now. Age of Cleopatra runs on a 5×3 reel set-up with 25 paylines.

Endorphina has launched Zalatar, a new myths-and-legends themed online slot, expanding its recent run of fantasy-leaning releases. The supplier said Zalatar is a 5-reel, 3-row game with 25 fixed paylines, 96.03% RTP and high volatility.

The post Weekend Reels | Week 30: Slot Drops & Trends appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Awards

Slotsoo Awards 2026 Celebrate the Best Casinos and Game Providers

Published

2 days ago

July 24, 2026

Wladimir P.

slotsoo-awards-2026-celebrate-the-best-casinos-and-game-providers

Slotsoo is proud to announce the winners of the Slotsoo Awards 2026, recognising the online casinos and game providers that have delivered the best player experiences over the past year. Now firmly established as an annual celebration of excellence, the awards continue to recognise the companies setting new standards for quality and innovation across the iGaming industry.

Spotlighting the Best Game Providers of 2026

Following last year’s successful debut, the Slotsoo Game Provider Awards returned for a second year to recognise the studios pushing online slots forward through original ideas, engaging gameplay, and consistently high-quality releases. This year’s winners are:

The Machine MVP – Pragmatic Play
Bonus Buyer – Eurasian Gaming
Volatility Virtuoso – 1spin4win
Jackpot Jumbo – Platipus Gaming
Symphony Spinner – Peter & Sons
Reel Renegade – TaDa Gaming
Promising Prodigy – EXCO Game Studio

Pragmatic Play retained the prestigious Machine MVP award for a second consecutive year, while every other category crowned a new winner, highlighting the emergence of fresh talent and new ideas among game providers.

Casino Awards Return for a Fourth Year

Since their debut in 2023, the Slotsoo Casino Awards have celebrated the operators raising the standard for online casino experiences. This year’s winners continue that tradition, earning recognition for excellence across bonuses, withdrawals, gamification, and overall quality. The seven winners for 2026 are:

The Gambling GOAT – Lunar Spins
The Bonus Buff – Go4Casino
The Loyalty Lord – Valhalla Wins
The Withdrawal Wizard – Taste Vegas
The Gamification Guru – Lucky Fuel
The Payout Professor – Stupid Casino
The Noisy Newcomer – Kudos Bet

While the Game Provider Awards saw several first-time winners, the Casino Awards reflected the continued strength of a few established operators. C24 Partners enjoyed a particularly successful year, with four awards going to brands from its portfolio, including the main trophy The Gambling GOAT.

Recognition That Goes Beyond Popularity

Unlike many industry awards, the Slotsoo Awards are not decided by public voting. Winners are selected by the Slotsoo team after evaluating casino operators and game providers throughout the year. Each nominee is assessed on factors such as player value and innovation.

This approach ensures that both established industry leaders and ambitious newcomers have an equal opportunity to be recognised. Whether it’s a casino redefining loyalty rewards or a game studio introducing fresh mechanics, the awards highlight companies that genuinely move the industry forward.

Other News from Slotsoo.com This Summer

The Slotsoo Awards weren’t the only milestone for the company this summer. In June, the team attended the HIPTHER Baltics & Nordics Gaming Conference in Tallinn, connecting with industry professionals, exploring the latest developments in iGaming, and returning home with plenty of inspiration.

July marked the publication of Slotsoo’s first book, The Casino Player’s ABC, written by Markus Björk, Head of Content. This tongue-in-cheek ABC book for adults takes a humorous look at the ups and downs in slot gaming. Markus Björk comments:

“The awards and the book may seem like very different projects, but they share the same goal. Both are about celebrating what makes this industry unique and helping players navigate it with a sense of humour.”

With another successful awards season, the publication of their first book, and an active presence at industry events, 2026 has been one of Slotsoo’s busiest and most exciting years to date.

The post Slotsoo Awards 2026 Celebrate the Best Casinos and Game Providers appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

BETBY

BETBY Builds on a Strong Start to 2026 with Solid H1 Sportsbook Growth

Published

2 days ago

July 24, 2026

Wladimir P.

betby-builds-on-a-strong-start-to-2026-with-solid-h1-sportsbook-growth

BETBY, the Tier 1 sportsbook supplier, has continued its strong start to 2026, delivering solid year-on-year growth across its business during the first half of the year. Building on the positive Q1 results reported in April, the supplier’s performance was supported by continued market expansion, product innovation, and strong activity across its operator partnerships.

During the first half of 2026, BETBY’s sportsbook Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) increased by 42.7% compared to H1 2025. The number of active players across the provider’s partner network grew by 47%, while the total number of bets placed rose by 21.2%, reflecting sustained growth across both new and existing operator partnerships.

The period also saw BETBY further expand its product ecosystem through several key launches and developments. Among them was BETBY Predictions, the industry’s first fixed-odds prediction markets feed, opening a new betting vertical for operators. The supplier also introduced Stories, an engagement feature built around a familiar, interactive content format and delivered directly within the sportsbook experience.

The FIFA World Cup provided an additional boost during the last three weeks of June, generating high levels of betting activity across BETBY’s partner network and demonstrating the scalability and reliability of its sportsbook during the world’s largest sporting event.

BETBY’s proprietary esports feed, Betby Games, also delivered continued growth during H1 2026, recording a 28% year-on-year increase in Gross Gaming Revenue. Active players grew by 46%, while the number of bets placed rose by 14.8%. These figures reinforce Betby Games’ importance within BETBY’s broader product portfolio.

Leonid Pertsovskiy, Chief Executive Officer at BETBY, said: “After a strong first quarter, we are pleased to see that the positive trend continued throughout the first half of the year. These results reflect the strength of our long-term strategy, combining continued market expansion with a clear focus on product innovation and helping our partners grow.

“The launch of products such as BETBY Predictions and features like Stories, alongside the continued evolution of Betby Games, demonstrate our commitment to delivering solutions and technology that create measurable value for operators. We are proud of what we have achieved so far this year and remain focused on continuing this progress throughout H2.”

The post BETBY Builds on a Strong Start to 2026 with Solid H1 Sportsbook Growth appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.