Baltics
The importance of reg-tech for new market expansion
Mark Chakravarti, Investment Director at SportingWin, talks about the operator’s experience of securing a licence in Bulgaria and how it will now use its in-house regulatory platform to enter additional European markets
I would argue that a proprietary regulatory platform is the most important thing for operators looking to drive European market expansion. Without a modern, agile platform that provides the insight that regulators require, licence applications will be drawn out for months and even years.
At SportingWin, we came to learn this the hard way.
When we started the business back in 2019, we identified Bulgaria as being a market of huge potential and one that we were keen to make our debut. Based on our assessment, AGR would hit 20% a year for the next five years, leading to a market value of €500m per year.
We then set about compiling the legal paperwork required by the National Revenue Agency for the licence application – this was a significant task in its own right, but we would soon learn that this was just the very start of the process.
The Bulgarian regulator is one of the most stringent in the world, which of course is a good thing. It ensures that the operators that do secure approval to enter the market are of the highest calibre especially when it comes to responsible gambling.
Under its requirements, operators must be able to deliver certain insights and information to the regulator in real time and this in turn requires a powerful, agile regulatory platform. Ultimately, we took the decision to develop this technology in-house.
While this was the right course of action, it significantly slowed down our licence application process while the regulator and our in-house development team worked together to ensure that it was fully compliant with its requirements.
We eventually reached the point where the National Revenue Agency was happy with the paperwork we submitted and our proprietary reg-tech platform, giving us the green light to enter the market in January 2021. Since then, we have gained incredible traction with players.
As with most operators, we are now looking to take SportingWin into additional markets and our in-house developed regulatory platform will be the foundation for building out our presence across the region. It really is impressive and now that it has been certified in Bulgaria, it can be used elsewhere.
We have identified Romania as our next market and while we have yet to submit our application to the regulator, our proprietary regulatory platform will ensure it is a much easier – and faster – process than that in Bulgaria.
This is for several reasons. Given just how stringent the National Revenue Agency is with its standards and enforcing them, other jurisdictions are happy to approve our platform without subjecting it to the same level of scrutiny again.
The same applies to a lot of the paperwork that we completed as part of our application in Bulgaria – for example, the Romanian regulator is happy to carry this over as well as the technical and software certifications that we were granted.
Of course, local regulators will still carry out their own investigations and will want to test certain aspects of our platforms, tech and software, but much of the hard work has already been done and this will allow us to enter additional markets at pace – we anticipate being live in Romania in H1.
In addition to an in-house regulatory platform, approved paperwork and the experience of having been through a licence application, the final piece of the puzzle operators need is a European trademark for their brand/brands.
We have recently secured this for SportingWin and it really does put us in the driving seat to identify and enter regulated European markets with an incredibly strong brand, superior product offering and a powerful regulatory platform running in the background.
Because of this, SportingWin is an attractive proposition for investors looking to join our success story. Due to the technical foundations we have in place, the investment we secure is pumped into marketing our brand in each country, which in turn allows us to generate significant share quickly.
Despite having been live in Bulgaria for only a year, we have a large and loyal player base and in Q4, generated €500,000 in NGR. This is set to grow significantly off the back of our recently-announced partnership with Pinnacle, allowing us to add a betting exchange to our offering for the first time.
As with most small to medium-sized operators, the team behind SportingWin has a long-term plan for the business and that is to grow it into an exciting acquisition opportunity for one of the power players looking to build their presence in regulated markets across Europe.
Without our proprietary regulator platform, European trademark and growing collection of licences, SportingWin would simply not be on the radar of these organisations, let alone be considered a serious M&A opportunity.
Of course, there is still a lot of work to do before we reach that chapter of our story but given that the founders of SportingWin have built and sold betting businesses before, it is one that I am confident we will write in next to no time at all.
Meanwhile, we will continue to use our regulatory platform to launch our player-favourite brand and superior betting experience into markets across Europe, generating substantial revenues from each of the jurisdictions we target.
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The HIPTHER Team is proud to celebrate another highly successful event for Gaming and Tech, in a powerful edition of the MARE BALTICUM Gaming & TECH Summit in Vilnius!
The full-house conference was a fitting closure to the groundbreaking MARE BALTICUM Gaming & TECH series that united the Baltics and became a pivotal meeting point and beacon of ideas in the region for seven incredible years.
HIPTHER is grateful to all of our extraordinary speakers who generously shared their expertise with our audience, and to all the fantastic participants dynamically engaging, connecting, and spurring the future of the local industries.
Panels, Workshops & Powerful Takeaways
From the very first session to the final farewell, MARE BALTICUM 2025 delivered two days packed with meaningful insight, future-facing dialogue, and high-impact learning.
Across the Compliance & Operations Lab and the TechXperience Stage, C-level executives, innovators, and thought leaders came together to unpack the most urgent topics shaping Gaming, Tech, Fintech, and Regulation today. From navigating multi-jurisdictional compliance and decoding AI’s role in iGaming, to understanding consumer protection under MiCA and mapping the rise of decentralized platforms, each panel reflected HIPTHER’s mission: to bring clarity, context, and challenge to every conversation.
A key highlight of this year’s edition was the HIPTHER Academy Workshops – a brand-new initiative designed to elevate professional skills through actionable, hands-on sessions. Participants engaged directly with experts in focused workshops, earning digital diplomas marking their attendance and new learning achievement.
Sessions included:
- Crypto Custody, Transparency & Consumer Protection Under MiCA with Anna Agu
- Creative Rights, Real Risks by Andrius Gabnys & Jovita Morta Gabne
- RegTech in Action with Viktorija Poluektova
- Neuroshift by Dr. Maria Loumpourdi
Each workshop offered a deep, hands-on dive into its subject matter, blending real-world scenarios with strategic tools for sustained professional growth.
Awards, Networking & the Signature HIPTHER Experience
The conference went beyond panels and progress: it was also a celebration of the people and companies driving the industry forward.
This year’s BSG Awards Ceremony honored excellence across the Baltic and Nordic regions, with standout winners including Betsson Group, Amusnet Gaming, Digitain, BETER, Coinspaid, and GLI, as well as individual honors for visionaries like Daniel Gunba, Irakli Davarashvili, and Vladimir Malakchi.
Every evening brought the HIPTHER community together in unforgettable venues: from the cozy buzz of the Welcome Meet at Piano Man Bar, to the jazz-infused elegance of the Awards Night at Jazz Cellar 11, and finally the intimate conversations and clinking glasses of the Closing Party at Invino Vilnius. As always, HIPTHER’s signature hospitality turned networking into genuine connection, where business cards meet genuine moments, and partnerships are sparked over stories instead of mere pitches.
What’s Next: 2026 and Beyond
2018 – 2025: MARE BALTICUM SUMMIT ➝ 2026 → ???
For seven unforgettable years, the MARE BALTICUM GAMING & TECH SUMMIT brought the Baltic region together, uniting industries, people, and progress under one roof. The 2025 edition in Vilnius marked the summit’s grand finale, and it did not disappoint: a full house, full hearts, and a bold step forward.
So… is that the end?
Not quite.
In 2026, something new is coming! Something grounded in the values that defined MARE BALTICUM, but reimagined for a new era of regional collaboration.
More local. More focused. More connected.
We’re not ready to say too much (yet).
But if you’ve ever been part of the #hipthers journey… you’ll want to be part of what comes next. Stay tuned!
The post MARE BALTICUM 2025 Wrapped: Paving the Way for Gaming & Tech in the Baltics appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
CT Interactive continues its strategic growth across Europe by expanding its certified portfolio within Lithuania’s regulated iGaming market. This move further solidifies the company’s presence in one of the most dynamic and rapidly developing jurisdictions in the region.
As part of the certification, several popular titles have been approved for launch in Lithuania, including top-performing games such as Chilli Madness, Hot 7’s x 2, Wild Clover, Giraffe Wild, and Win Storm. These titles have consistently delivered strong engagement across multiple international markets.
In addition, CT Interactive is bringing its latest Buy Bonus games to Lithuanian players, introducing titles such as Doctor Winstein Buy Bonus, Duck of Luck Buy Bonus, Fruits & Sweets Buy Bonus, Nanook the White Ghost Buy Bonus, Hyper Cuber Buy Bonus and 100x Coffee Hot BB. These games are developed to deliver thrilling bonus features and enhanced gameplay, offering a tailored experience that aligns with local player preferences.
“Securing this new certification for Lithuania is crucial for our regional expansion strategy. The market is becoming increasingly well-structured, with major operators obtaining licenses and driving demand for certified, high-quality gaming content. Our portfolio is ideally positioned to meet these needs and provide immersive, compliant gaming experiences” said Martin Ivanov, Chief Operating Officer at CT Interactive.
With these new certifications, CT Interactive reinforces its role as a trusted provider of regulation-ready gaming solutions, offering Lithuanian operators access to a diverse portfolio that combines engaging design, technical reliability and compliance with local standards.
The post CT Interactive Expands Presence in Lithuania with New Game Certifications appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
At this year’s MARE BALTICUM Gaming & TECH Summit in Vilnius, NuxGame joins as the official TECH Trends, Innovation & Marketing Stage Sponsor – bringing with them not just cutting-edge technology, but a fully integrated platform built to help operators grow smarter, engage deeper, and stay ahead in a fast-evolving industry.
We caught up with Denis Kosinsky, Chief Operating Officer at NuxGame, to talk about personalized retention, real-world tech upgrades, and how the company is redefining success in a crowded marketplace.
Denis, thank you for joining us! Can you start by introducing yourself and telling us more about your role at NuxGame and the company’s core mission?
Thank you great to be here. I’m Denis Kosinsky, COO at NuxGame. My job in this game is to make sure the product doesn’t just work — it wins. That means constantly solving problems for operators, especially in fast-moving and emerging markets, and building solutions that are not only flexible but built to adapt to whatever the iGaming world throws at us.
At NuxGame, we power the engines behind some of the most competitive casino and betting brands worldwide. We partner with 140+ game providers across dozens of markets, delivering a modular platform that supports everything from game aggregation and payment systems to CRM and bonus engines. I work across product and operations to make sure our partners can launch fast, grow sustainably, and offer the kinds of player experiences that drive real retention not just short-term engagement.
In today’s industry, it’s not enough to be functional — you have to be responsive, scalable, and smart. Our mission at NuxGame is to give operators a platform that evolves with them — whether they need a turnkey launch or custom integrations — and to act as a real partner, not just a tech vendor. Because the way we see it, if our clients win, we win.
Retention is one of the hottest topics in iGaming right now. How can modern operators plan for a successful retention-first strategy?
Acquisition gets the headlines, but retention builds the business. In today’s iGaming landscape, where player acquisition costs are rising, a retention-first strategy is not optional — it’s essential.
At NuxGame, we equip operators with tools that drive sustained engagement: dynamic segmentation, real-time reward engines, personalized bonuses, and gamification systems that go beyond basic loyalty points. Operators using our tier-based achievements and contextual campaigns have reported up to 22% higher 30-day retention and 12% increases in average revenue per user (ARPU). Our platform also supports real-time feedback loops, so operators can adapt instantly to player behavior.
Retention starts with understanding the player — what they want, when they want it, and how they engage. It requires more than just reactivations; it’s about creating an ecosystem where players feel progression, personalization, and value. At NuxGame, we don’t just give operators the tools — we help them build the strategy, map the journeys, and monitor the data to retain players longer and increase lifetime value.
NuxGame has recently upgraded its foundation with technologies like Vue 3 and Kubernetes. How do these improvements translate into better day-to-day performance and results for casino operators?
Technology upgrades aren’t just backend improvements — they directly affect player satisfaction and operator results. Speed, stability, and scalability are what keep users engaged and operations running profitably.
By moving to Vue 3, NuxGame delivers a faster, smoother front-end experience with better responsiveness across devices — crucial for mobile-first markets. On the backend, Kubernetes allows us to scale platform services dynamically, ensuring high uptime, faster deployments, and better fault isolation. Operators benefit from reduced latency, quicker updates, and minimal downtime — especially during high-traffic events or promotional pushes. These upgrades aren’t just technical milestones — they’re business enablers. Operators using our upgraded stack report improvements in player session length, bounce rates, and overall platform stability. It gives them the infrastructure to support growth, launch faster, and deliver a modern user experience that meets rising player expectations. At NuxGame, we build tech that directly improves performance where it matters: in daily operations and long-term retention.
From Pronto Paga to crypto, payment flexibility seems to be a major focus. How is NuxGame adapting to global demand for diverse, seamless payment options, and what kind of impact does this have on player satisfaction and market reach?
Payment flexibility is no longer a bonus — it’s a necessity. Players expect to deposit and withdraw using the method they trust, whether that’s a local e-wallet like Pronto Paga or a decentralized crypto wallet.
At NuxGame, we’ve built a modular payment infrastructure that supports over 250+ global payment methods, including fiat gateways, local bank systems, crypto, and Web3 wallets. We partner with PSPs and KYC providers across different jurisdictions to ensure fast, secure, and compliant transactions. This flexibility directly impacts conversion rates — platforms offering localized and crypto payments report up to 35% higher deposit completion rates and a significant reduction in churn during onboarding and cashout.
It’s not just about supporting more payment methods — it’s about adapting to player expectations in every region. Whether it’s high-growth Latin American markets with strong demand for local cash-based systems or Gen Z users entering through USDT wallets, our goal is to give operators the tools to match payment preferences with minimal friction. This increases trust, shortens time-to-play, and opens the door to new markets.
Trust is crucial in this industry. What does your recent GLI-19 certification and Jumio integration mean for operators looking for both compliance and performance?
Operators primarily want peace of mind — that’s a fact. GLI-19 certification shows that our platform is tested, secure, and ready to meet regulatory demands across multiple jurisdictions. But compliance alone isn’t enough. That’s why we’ve integrated Jumio, with the aim of making KYC faster, safer, and easier for both players and operators. This kind of trust is similar to a good Wi-Fi: you don’t notice it when it’s working, but everything runs better because of it. If the signal’s strong, you stop checking it. At NuxGame, trust is built-in, so operators can move forward without second-guessing.
Let’s talk about gamification. From custom missions to tournaments and loyalty programs, how are these tools reshaping the player experience and operator revenue models?
Gamification is paramount: it transforms activity into habit. It’s the difference between a one-time visit and a reason to come back tomorrow. Instead of players dipping in and out, they start setting goals (and reaching them). This upgrade brings major advantages to operators. Players who feel progress are more likely to stay longer, get a taste for new content, and spend more over time. Such features as missions, loyalty programs, and dynamic campaigns can guide players naturally without pressure. And such tools as our Achievements feature can make that experience even more supportive, especially during onboarding. When players feel seen and rewarded, they engage more — and that leads to higher earnings. Gamification isn’t decoration anymore. It’s how serious operators make gameplay a business strategy.
NuxGame is also taking a practical approach to blockchain. Can you share an example of how Web3 or token-based systems are already improving transparency, fairness, or loyalty in your platform?
Blockchain can help with three big things: fairness, clarity, and loyalty. We’ve already built tools that let operators offer provably fair games, so players can see for themselves that the results are legit. On the loyalty side, we’re working with token-based rewards that don’t just vanish like typical points. Players can use them later, and that keeps them engaged. It’s basically giving players something they own, not simply borrow. We are not here to make Web3 sound fancy: we are here to use it where it makes your iGaming service stronger and keeps players happy. Simple as that.
You’re enjoying some major recognition in the industry’s global Awards scene – including winning “Best Platform Provider 2025” at the SiGMA Eurasia Awards and being shortlisted in multiple key categories at our Baltic & Scandinavian Gaming Awards, as well as the AffPapa iGaming Awards. What do these milestones say about where NuxGame is headed next?
Awards are great to receive, but receiving them is not where our focus lies. Awards are proof that our platform is bringing real results for operators. Winning “Best Platform Provider” at SiGMA Eurasia and being shortlisted across several major awards tells us one thing: the work we’ve been doing is being noticed. It means that software is trusted, and we’re moving in the right direction. But we’re only picking up speed. These turning points motivate us to go further, and we’re focused on building even more impactful solutions. Recognition tells us we’re on the right path, but the future is about staying useful, flexible, and fully focused on what operators need next.
Meet Denis Kosinsky and the NuxGame team at the MARE BALTICUM Gaming & TECH Summit 2025 on 27–28 May in Vilnius.
🔗 Register now to explore tech innovation, platform excellence, and the future of retention-first iGaming.
The post Retention, Recognition & Real Results: How NuxGame Powers the Future of iGaming appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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