Eastern Europe
Covid-19 Sets Back Romanian Gambling Industry by Five Years
Covid-19 pandemic has set back the Romanian gambling industry by five years, according to the data from the National Institute of Statistics (INS).
The Romanian gambling operators experienced one of the most severe declines of the last 30 years between March and May this year. The local gambling and entertainment industry fell by about 24% in March 2020 compared to the same period of 2015. The gambling sector’s March turnover was only 57 % of February’s. Then, in April and May, gambling businesses reported almost zero revenue.
“Given the situation, we made the necessary business continuity decisions and decided that the safety of our customers and employees was our main priority. We focused on the long-term business principles and we organized our activity so that we would be able to adapt as quickly as possible to the multitude of changes that occurred during this period. For example, over the past three months we went from ‘closed until further notice’ to being open round the clock and then back to limited opening hours (until 11 PM, later extended to midnight), and we hope to be able to return to our non-stop hours as soon as possible. During all this time, we’ve been focusing on communicating with our clients and employees, for whom we’ve taken extra health and safety measures. Maintaining communication with professional associations and the authorities for accurate information on the latest developments concerning gambling halls was equally important,” Attila “Otto” Török, strategy director at Game World Romania, said.
According to the latest data provided by the National Gambling Office (ONJN), 250 gambling operators are currently active on the Romanian market. They contribute about EUR 600 million to the state budget every year. At the beginning of 2020, there were about 45,000 direct employees of the local gambling industry and a few other thousand worked in related and dependent fields.
“According to Romslot data, for each RON the Romanian gambling industry generates, the upstream and downstream industries – HoReCa, IT&C, security – generate another 5 RON,” Török said.
He added that Game World currently has about 400 employees, while the parent group has a workforce of about 2000.
When talking about the biggest challenges the gambling industry is now facing, Török says these are related to the coronavirus pandemic and the health crisis, even though all operators have strictly implemented all the measures required by authorities to limit the spread of the virus.
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Eastern Europe
EveryMatrix launches ‘Academy for Heroes’ to help Ukraine military veterans develop IT careers
A new fully EveryMatrix-funded project aimed at helping veterans of the war in Ukraine transition to develop new careers in technology has launched in Lviv.
The NGO, entitled ‘Academy for Heroes’, is spearheaded by EveryMatrix and was inspired by its 300+ employees, based in Lviv in Ukraine, some of whom are fighting in the war.
There are hundreds of thousands of combatants in Ukraine, a number that is rising every day. Following their return from war, sometimes with serious injuries, many need social adaptation and work that can provide a more certain future.
The Academy will organise courses designed by leading experts in the IT industry, enabling former military personnel to gain the knowledge and skills needed for successful IT careers.
Beyond its primary goal of equipping veterans with IT skills, it also aims to help them successfully integrate into today’s labour market. EveryMatrix and several other local IT companies will be involved in the employment of veterans after they have completed courses.
Ebbe Groes, Group CEO and Co-Founder, EveryMatrix, said: “Our Lviv office is central to our continued success and growth. Ever since the country has experienced conflict we have supported our friends and colleagues, as well as charities, with much needed funds committing more than €2 million to date, and we will continue to help them.
“Now, we’re taking that one step further by setting up our second company NGO to ensure veterans receive the training and skills they need to return to work and develop successful careers in technology.
“The IT industry is one of the strongest parts of the Ukrainian economy, renowned worldwide for technical skills. I hope many will either join us or go on to join other IT companies, giving them hope and a more certain future for themselves and their families.”
Professor Oleksiy Druhov, CEO, Academy for Heroes, said: “This is the only continuously operating project of its kind in Ukraine for military veterans. Our goal is to teach four groups of veterans every year.
“Each group will have its own specialisation such as Project Management, Quality Assurance and Full stack to name just a few areas. We carefully monitor the Ukrainian IT market and only train the specialisms required.
“All participants will undergo internships at EveryMatrix and other leading Ukrainian IT companies during their studies and they will have the best teachers from the IT Industry. We are also planning to open a specialised, inclusive-friendly training centre at the end of 2024.”
This is the second fully funded NGO that EveryMatrix has initiated. In 2015 the iGaming technology provider established TeachStream supplying much needed funds and resources to disadvantaged children in Romania who might otherwise never have the opportunity to develop IT, computer science, mathematics and English skills.
The post EveryMatrix launches ‘Academy for Heroes’ to help Ukraine military veterans develop IT careers appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Eastern Europe
Imagine Live Expands Partnership with Betera: Launching a Dedicated Studio for the Belarusian Market
Imagine Live, a live casino solutions provider, announces a significant expansion in its partnership with Betera, a leading iGaming operator in Belarus. This collaboration will see the launch of a dedicated studio designed to deliver a highly competitive gaming experience for Betera’s players featuring a branded studio offering both Roulette and
Blackjack tables.
Strengthening Ties and Presence in the Belarusian Market
This new collaboration marks a milestone for Imagine Live as it further demonstrates its commitment to the Belarusian market. The beautifully designed studio provides a gaming experience that aligns perfectly with Belarusian players’ expectations.
Betera Studio Features
Standards in the Live Casino space are extremely competitive and as expected imagine live HD Streaming, Multi-lingual dealers and superb back office combined with the best studio designs in the market will surpass expectations of the both the partner and their players.
“We are delighted to expand our partnership with Betera through the launch of this dedicated studio,” said Hakob Manukyan, CEO of Imagine Live Armenia. “This initiative underscores our commitment to delivering top-quality, localized gaming experiences. By leveraging our bespoke technology and industry knowledge, we are poised to set new standards in the Belarusian iGaming market.”
Pavel Chernik, Head of Gambling Products at Betera, shared: “Our collaboration with Imagine Live, a live casino solutions provider, continues to expand. We are proud to unveil the launch of the dedicated studio, designed to deliver superior gaming experience featuring exclusive branded tables – Betera Blackjack 1 and Betera Roulette. This is a significant step for both companies, and we are thrilled about the opportunities that lie ahead with this collaboration.”
The post Imagine Live Expands Partnership with Betera: Launching a Dedicated Studio for the Belarusian Market appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Eastern Europe
EGT Digital has been awarded with “Best Game Soundtrack 2024” accolade from SIGMA Awards East Europe
EGT Digital’s top-performing game Sugar Duke has been distinguished in the “Best Game Soundtrack 2024″ category of the SIGMA Awards East Europe. This year’s edition of the competition, honoring the leaders who bring change and progress in the gaming industry, took place on 02 September in the ballroom of the InterContinental Hotel in Budapest.
“I am extremely happy to accept this award on behalf of EGT Digital,” shared Tsvetomira Drumeva, Head of Sales at the company. “Sugar Duke is among our most popular slot games, and along with the attractive characters and numerous bonuses, it undoubtedly owes its impressive performance to its original and memorable soundtrack as well. This achievement is a result of the hard work and the innovative ideas of our team of devoted professionals, without whom our success would not have been possible. We would like to extend our gratitude to our partners and clients, who give us unwavering support.”
The post EGT Digital has been awarded with “Best Game Soundtrack 2024” accolade from SIGMA Awards East Europe appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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