Latest News
ESL Gaming and Maincast extend media rights agreement for four years
ESL Gaming, the world’s leading esports company, has today announced that it will extend its exclusive collaboration with Maincast for a further four years. With the current agreement running until 2023, the addition of multiple years ensures fans in Russia and the rest of the CIS region can keep enjoying ESL Gaming’s full premium product portfolio in their local language until Intel® Extreme Masters (IEM) Katowice 2027.
As part of the extension, Maincast keeps the exclusive rights to broadcast ESL Gaming’s tournaments on its Twitch channels in Russian and other CIS languages. Moreover, the agreement covers the complete product portfolio consisting of ESL Pro Tour Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO), ESL Pro Tour StarCraft® II, and ESL Mobile, as well as ESL Gaming’s competitions for Dota 2.
ESL Gaming and Maincast joined forces in 2020, and their partnership has already seen ESL Gaming’s audience in the CIS region grow vastly, and the total amount of views doubled since then. Hitting a peak of 382,000 concurrent viewers during IEM Katowice 2020, Maincast delivered some of the best numbers for CS:GO globally. Additionally, ESL One Los Angeles 2020 became the most-watched online tournament in Dota 2 on Maincast’s Twitch channels with over 13 million views. These are but a couple of the success stories that show how Maincast excels in Russian-language broadcasts.
“Maincast is one of our biggest media partners and expertly localizes our competitions to fans all over the CIS region,” said Frank Uddo, Senior Vice President Global Media at ESL Gaming. “They are great to work with and we are particularly excited to see, through this seven-year partnership, how committed they are to significantly invest in esports long-term. It is a testament to how integral esports has become within the region and we look forward to building even more success in the future with them.”
“In 2020 Maincast signed a multi-year partnership agreement with ESL Gaming to broadcast their tournaments in Eastern Europe. In this period we’ve created an industry-defining product, finished numerous projects in close collaboration and provided on-site coverage of dozens of events,” said Andrii Grygoriev, CEO and co-founder of Maincast. “We are excited to announce that our partnership with ESL Gaming is extended up till Q2 2027. We’ve already begun working on long-term projects and looking for new ways of refining and improving our product. We will do our best to give our viewers even more high-quality broadcasts and on-site content, which you’ll always be able to find on our channels.”
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Bryndís Hrafnkelsdóttir
NOVOVISION Implemented at the University of Iceland Lottery
The University of Iceland Lottery UIL (Happdrætti Háskóla Íslands) was established in 1933 for the purpose of funding the university buildings as well as the purchase of research equipment and other supplies. It is licensed to operate three types of lotteries in the Icelandic market: the traditional class lottery that was established upon its foundation, instant scratch cards, and some 500 gaming terminals which are currently operated in 19 venues across Iceland. Lottery games are very popular in Iceland and generally used as a means of raising money for community purposes.
The University of Iceland Lottery UIL (Happdrætti Háskóla Íslands) has implemented a new platform for gaming terminals in an aim to improve operational efficiency while ensuring a responsible approach to gaming. In a public tender, NOVOMATIC was chosen as the provider of the new CMS: NOVOVISION is the selected management solution, comprising in phase one a variety of functionalites including slots accounting, TiTo, AML, Business Intelligence and the NV smart Staff App in addition to providing the required IT infrastructure for all UIL venues. More system functionality is to be added at a later stage.
The system roll-out across all 19 venues was achieved in a timely manner during ongoing operations and with minimum disruption to the players. Apart from the manifold new functionalities on the operator side, the high level of system integration allows UIL customers to now redeem their tickets online via the UIL Players’ App directly to their bank accounts.
Fabian Schnötzinger, Market Coordination NBS, said: “This was a very special project that yielded immediate progress in ongoing operations. Gaining an in-depth understanding of the on-site requirements and implementing the integration together with the UIL team was a very positive experience for us, knowing that NOVOVISION would generate significant value in several areas. It was also the expertise and high level of commitment of the UIL team that made this project special: They addressed topics openly, provided quick feedback and made time in their schedules for implementation. This reliability and hands-on approach were real success factors. I am already looking forward to our cooperation in the next stages of the NOVOVISION implementation.”
“We are pleased to announce our collaboration with NOVOMATIC on this project. Slot machines are an important part of our business, and this technology will provide us with better access to information, helping us to responsibly manage our operations and enhance the player experience,” said Bryndís Hrafnkelsdóttir, CEO of UIL.
“The integration of the NOVOVISION platform has proceeded smoothly due to effective planning and great collaboration between UIL and NOVOMATIC. This platform offers features that will support us in making informed decisions without compromising our commitment to responsible gaming. As we move forward, we see opportunities to expand our service offerings and develop new solutions, including the upcoming implementation of electronic player cards. With NOVOVISION, we are well positioned to address the evolving needs of our customers while maintaining our focus on responsible gaming practices. This new platform is a key element of our strategy to enhance our operations and support our mission in the gaming market,” she added.
The post NOVOVISION Implemented at the University of Iceland Lottery appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Balkans
Expanse Studios Signs Content Distribution Deal with Lobbet
Expanse Studios, a subsidiary of Golden Matrix Group, has signed a content distribution agreement with Lobbet, a licensed sports betting and iGaming operator in Montenegro and part of the Fortuna Entertainment Group (FEG). The distribution will be delivered through DualSoft, a leading aggregation platform with an established footprint across regulated European markets.
Under the agreement, Lobbet will integrate Expanse Studios’ proprietary iGaming content into its online offering, expanding the availability of Expanse titles within the Montenegrin regulated market. DualSoft will facilitate distribution and technical integration, enabling scalable deployment across its broader operator network.
The transaction further strengthens Expanse Studios’ presence in regulated European markets and supports Golden Matrix Group’s broader B2B growth strategy. DualSoft represents a high-potential distribution channel, serving more than ten active operators across multiple regulated jurisdictions, with additional expansion planned.
Lobbet operates in Montenegro as part of Fortuna Entertainment Group, one of the largest betting operators in Central Europe, which recently entered the Montenegrin market through the acquisition of Lob, reflecting growing institutional confidence in the country’s regulated gaming sector.
“This agreement reflects our approach to regulated market expansion across Europe, through scalable B2B distribution. Working with DualSoft allows us to reach high-quality operators such as Lobbet while creating optionality across a broader network of regulated markets. Our focus remains on disciplined growth through partners that operate within clear regulatory frameworks,” said Damjan Stamenkovic, CEO of Expanse Studios.
The post Expanse Studios Signs Content Distribution Deal with Lobbet appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Andrew Rhodes
Andrew Rhodes to Step Down as CEO of UK Gambling Commission
The UK Gambling Commission has announced that Andrew Rhodes has decided to leave the Commission on 30 April 2026, to take up a new role, which will be announced in due course.
Andrew has provided outstanding leadership of the Commission for almost five years and has overseen a transformation of the Commission and how it regulates the gambling Industry.
Andrew has led the work required from the Commission to implement the Gambling Act Review, with a strong focus on consumer safeguards. This has included the introduction of financial vulnerability checks, reducing the intensity of online games, and banning potentially harmful marketing offers. He has also overseen the introduction of the Gambling Survey for Great Britain, now one of the largest surveys of gambling behaviour in the world.
Amongst his other achievements, Andrew oversaw the successful implementation of the Fourth National Lottery licence and transformed the Commission’s approach to regulation through more robust and outcome-focused strategies.
He said: “It has been a privilege to lead the Gambling Commission through such an important period of change. I am proud of the progress we have made to strengthen regulation, improve consumer protections, and ensure gambling is safer and fairer. I leave with confidence in the organisation, its people, and the work still to come.”
Charles Counsell, Interim Chair of the Gambling Commission, said: “Andrew has provided outstanding leadership for nearly five years and leaves a strong legacy. He has led the Commission through major reform, strengthened our regulatory approach, and ensured consumer protection has remained at the heart of our work. On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank Andrew for his dedication and wish him every success in the future.”
The Commission will shortly begin the process of recruiting a Chief Executive for an interim period. Deputy Chief Executive Sarah Gardner will step up as Acting Chief Executive to cover the areas of work that Andrew will step back from during this transitional period.
The post Andrew Rhodes to Step Down as CEO of UK Gambling Commission appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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