Latest News

Forza Kalamba!

Published

5 years ago

February 26, 2021

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Tamas Kusztos, Head of Sales and Account Management at slots developer Kalamba Games gives us some insight into the company’s recent entry into the vibrant Italian market and what it hopes to bring to the well-established territory.

The Italian market for gambling is one of the most proven and lucrative in Europe, if not globally. From land-based and online to esports and sports betting, there’s little that a bettor can’t wager on in the country thanks to the regulated landscape it operates in. But what about newcomers like Kalamba? Is it actually advantageous for us to make our debut now? Well, there are certain benefits in that we have been able to identify some player preferences and trends which will help us hit the ground running. The market being as mature as it is also helps us to quickly get a handle on general market conditions and how regulation has progressed.
As it’s turned out, it’s actually been a very good time to do it, as online casino has grown to become the most lucrative product vertical in the Italian online market, with slot products now accounting for upwards of two-thirds of overall segment revenue of €831m in 2019 and €837m in the first nine months of 2020. As recently as last November, the 2 billion revenue mark was surpassed by regulated operators for the first time ever and that was followed by another record-breaking December, which saw a 40 per cent month-on-month increase.
Given our success in other European markets, we are sure that there will always be an appetite for fresh content such as ours and we are excited to introduce it to the Italian players.

But of course, not all European territories are the same – Italy has a very strong land-based heritage and many online operators also run betting shops. This gives us a good insight into what this slightly different player demographic enjoys. We will be looking to develop new content for the Italian market that offers the mechanics, features, and themes that the local player base knows and loves. It is all about knowing your customer and making sure our content is tailored to attract them and we will learn as we go and improve our content along the way.

Getting us off to a good start, we have a really broad portfolio of titles with our 50th game being launched later this year. We offer players a range of different themes and have been working hard to develop our signature features. Some of our best loved ones are HyperBet and HyperBonus, which allow players to adjust the volatility level of the game and to shortcut into bonus rounds. Coupled with exciting themes and a slick user interface, this means we can really cater for all demographics. We have a packed roadmap for 2021 which will see us take our content to new heights.

But having those games alone isn’t the whole picture, we need to align ourselves with the right local partners to gain the best possible insight. As a supplier, you only have access to part of the performance data of your games with operators holding the other important piece of information. It is therefore crucial to work closely with operators to get a 360 view of how well our content is performing in the market and what kind of content players prefer. We have talked with some of our partners in detail about the market trends and we will certainly take it into consideration when creating games. We are however confident that our unique offering will carve out a decent market share with our fresh approach towards slots.

That approach is also evident in our player engagement and part of our Bullseye RGS, which has been doing particularly well since its introduction last year. We have already released Big Win Replay, where players can go back and watch their big wins repeatedly. Our data shows that this significantly increases the engagement levels compared with players who choose not to use it. Building on that, we’re soon to include our own unique take on the classic Jackpots feature, while later this year, we’re set to introduce some really fresh and exciting gamification tools that will increase engagement and retention levels with players.

So all in all, it’s exciting times in Italy and with our powerful combination of innovative games and promotional tools, we’re confident we can take advantage and push forward to become one of the leading suppliers there.

Casino Malta

EvenBet Gaming and SBC set private poker tournament for SBC Summit Malta

Published

26 minutes ago

April 21, 2026

Wladimir P.

evenbet-gaming-and-sbc-set-private-poker-tournament-for-sbc-summit-malta

Invite-only No Limit Hold’em event runs 30 April at Casino Malta, InterContinental Hotel, with prizes for SBC Summit attendees.

EvenBet Gaming will host an invite-only No Limit Hold’em poker tournament with SBC on 30 April, the final day of SBC Summit Malta. The event will take place at Casino Malta at the InterContinental Hotel and is restricted to conference delegates.

The companies are positioning the tournament as a networking format built around a “premium, fast-paced poker experience,” with professional hosting at the venue.

Prizes listed for the event include an iPad Air, Apple Watch 11, and AirPods Pro 3.

Dmitry Starostenkov, CEO at EvenBet Gaming, said: “This tournament is sure to be one of the highlights of SBC Summit Malta, combining the thrill of competition with the social and strategic elements that make poker such a powerful connector.

“Taking place in Casino Malta, the event is reserved exclusively for conference attendees, and we look forward to welcoming them to the table to create new connections while enjoying one of the industry’s most iconic card games.”

The post EvenBet Gaming and SBC set private poker tournament for SBC Summit Malta appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Just Slots

QTech Games adds Just Slots to its aggregation platform

Published

26 minutes ago

April 21, 2026

Wladimir P.

qtech-games-adds-just-slots-to-its-aggregation-platform

Deal expands distribution for Just Slots titles via QTech’s operator network, with a focus on Africa and Latin America.

QTech Games has signed a new content partnership with slots studio Just Slots, adding the supplier’s catalogue to QTech’s aggregation platform for its operator clients.

The integration makes a range of Just Slots titles available via QTech, including Shogun Skylord, Rain and Ruin, Book of Abyss, and Shadow Pirates. The companies said the deal is aimed at extending distribution across emerging markets, particularly Africa and Latin America.

QTech Games CEO Philip Doftvik said: “We’re dedicated to rolling out more and more elite content and product innovation that drives revenue for our partners. So, this deal with Just Slots extends our impressive sequential pipeline into 2026 – and we’ve so much more to come this year! In today’s marketplace, only premium games of the highest standard separate you from the crowd. So, we look forward to sharing their wide spectrum of games with both leading and challenger operator brands in emerging markets worldwide.

“Just Slots’ stunning portfolio will assist any platform partner ensure a complete brand experience that players enjoy and return to, driving dwell-time and fresh revenue streams. Their games introduce compelling narrative twists to their features, appealing to the culturally varied proclivities of new players across a swathe of untapped territories.”

Nick Formosa, Head of Client Strategy at Just Slots, said: “This is a partnership we’re genuinely excited about. QTech has the reach, the operator relationships, and the on-the-ground expertise in markets where slot demand is growing fastest. Being part of their platform puts our content exactly where we want it to be, and we’re looking forward to seeing our games find new audiences across Asia, Africa, and Latin America.”

The post QTech Games adds Just Slots to its aggregation platform appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

BettingStartups

Defy the Odds partners with BettingStartups to boost early-stage igaming support

Published

26 minutes ago

April 21, 2026

Wladimir P.

defy-the-odds-partners-with-bettingstartups-to-boost-early-stage-igaming-support

The groups will collaborate on startup programming starting at SBC Summit Americas on June 9–11 in Fort Lauderdale.

Defy the Odds (DTO) and BettingStartups have announced a strategic partnership to support early-stage startups across igaming and sports betting. The first public collaboration is scheduled for SBC Summit Americas (June 9–11) in Fort Lauderdale, where both organisations said they will support startup-focused programming.

DTO, which advises early-stage founders in igaming, sports betting, sportstech and fintech, and BettingStartups, which focuses on the real money gaming early-stage ecosystem, said the partnership aims to improve access to community, collaboration and capital for founders.

The organisations said the combined effort is intended to increase visibility for emerging companies, improve connections across fragmented industry networks, and help founders become “investor-ready,” including support such as pitch preparation, financial modelling and introductions to investors active in the sector.

Kelly Kehn, Co-Founder of Defy the Odds said of the partnership, “Innovation doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It happens when founders connect, share ideas and push each other forward. That’s what community does. This partnership with BettingStartups is about bringing more startups together and making sure the wider industry pays attention to what they’re building. Because the future of our industry is being shaped by these founders.”

Jesse Learmonth, founder of BettingStartups, adds “We’ve always been about providing high-signal infrastructure for founders to scale. This partnership with DTO doubles down on that mission, linking our audience with a community that actually opens doors. Starting with the Startup Zone at SBC Americas, we’re giving founders a direct, affordable line to the operators and investors who define this industry.

Both organisations said additional joint initiatives are planned throughout 2026.

The post Defy the Odds partners with BettingStartups to boost early-stage igaming support appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.