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Man City are the Hottest UCL favourites for Years
The 2023 UEFA Champions League campaign comes to a head on June 10th and you would struggle to find someone willing to stake their house on a Manchester City loss this weekend. With Inter Milan currently 7.03 to win, Manchester City [1.46] are the most dominant favourite in the betting market since way before Cloudbet launched in 2013. The only time in the last decade there was anything approaching this kind of imbalance in the odds in a Champions League final was back in 2015, when Barcelona were 1.66 to beat Juventus at 5.00 and their dominant performance resulted in a convincing 3-1 win.
This year, City are way hotter favourites. 12 successive wins saw them clinch the Premier League for a third year in a row, they just won an FA cup against bitter rivals Man United, and in the Champions League they’ve made light work of their competition. The Citizens annihilated European giants – and reigning champions – Real Madrid in the semi-final, winning 5-1 on aggregate.
However, while their form might tempt some punters to back a Mancunian romp in Istanbul, recent statistics suggest it might be a slightly more cautious and conservative game than most are expecting.
Crypto betting specialists Cloudbet have been taking European soccer bets since 2013, and for this UCL Final have been poring over the stats and crunching the numbers to predict what might happen.
Historically, the pre-match favourite has lifted the trophy eight out of the last 10 years – however – the exceptions to this were both in the last two years, both EPL teams, and, in 2021, Man City itself.
It’s true that these ties were much more closely paired, with Chelsea winning at odds of 3.75 and Real Madrid at 3.50, but It’s got to be remembered that this season opponents Inter are very much cup specialists, running out recent winners of the Coppa Italia against a Fiorentina side whose style of play is not unlike Man City.
Inter Milan will be looking to ensure City cannot play their expansive football on Saturday. As a team, Inter have committed the second highest amount of fouls in the competition so far with 150, and breaking up the play with a few tactical fouls may be one way for Inzaghi’s men to stop City’s free-flowing attack. In three of the last five years no side has managed to break the deadlock in the first half, and City themselves have failed to score in the first half in six of their 12 games this Champions League campaign, so the game could start out an altogether cagier affair than Man City aficionados might expect. Albeit they are playing straight off the back of last weekend’s FA Cup Final in which they scored an opening goal in a tournament record 14 seconds.
In four of the last five Champions League finals, the game has ended with fewer than 2.75 goals being scored and those goals coming from one team only. On only two occasions in the past decade has extra time been needed too – with one of these (Bayern Munich vs Chelsea) heading to a penalty shootout.
Only what happens in the match Saturday will, of course, count but statistics seem to point to a Manchester City win in 90 minutes by one or two goals.
Betting with crypto at Cloudbet allows for speedy, secure wagering, with lower fees and enhanced privacy thanks to blockchain’s decentralized system, and Cloudbet’s sophisticated platform. The UEFA Champions League Final averages around 400m viewers worldwide, fans are spread far and wide across the globe so Cloudbet’s localized offering – in 17 languages, including German, French, Spanish and Japanese – really comes into its own on betting events like this.
Diego Van Meerbeke
Diego Van Meerbeke Named Commercial Director at InsightPlay.ai
InsightPlay.ai has named Diego Van Meerbeke as Commercial Director as the firm speeds up its growth in Latin America and important regulated markets.
InsightPlay.ai is an AI-driven engagement platform that assists businesses in handling real-time customer interactions on a large scale, with significant momentum in the iGaming sector.
Van Meerbeke arrives from Better Collective, where he spearheaded commercial initiatives in Spanish-speaking LATAM, collaborating closely with operators and boosting revenue in a highly competitive affiliate landscape. He has held positions at The Walt Disney Company and ESPN, developing a solid foundation in media sales and collaborations.
His appointment coincides with InsightPlay’s transition from initial traction to commercial scale after its recent seed funding and implementation of AI-powered engagement solutions in various markets.
“Diego understands how this industry actually works, from both the media and operator side,” said Javier Troncoso, CEO of InsightPlay.ai. “We’re building the layer that manages real-time interaction between brands and their customers.”
InsightPlay’s platform allows operators to connect with users through voice, messaging, and digital channels, managing thousands of interactions each day and creating significant effects in reactivation, onboarding, and retention.
Although the company’s early expansion has been fueled by iGaming, the existing framework is currently being investigated in various sectors where immediate customer engagement directly influences earnings.
Most of the industry is still focused on acquisition,” said Diego Van Meerbeke. “The real opportunity is what happens after that.”
The post Diego Van Meerbeke Named Commercial Director at InsightPlay.ai appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Alea
Alea Returns to SiGMA South America as Brazil’s iGaming Market Enters a More Demanding Stage
Alea, the leading aggregator with the largest portfolio of certified games in Brazil, is returning to SiGMA South America 2026, held from April 7–10 in São Paulo, as the country’s regulated landscape continues to settle into a more structured and competitive phase.
After the initial excitement of market entry, operators are now focusing on the everyday realities of running in a formalized environment: keeping systems stable, ensuring games and platforms are certified, and meeting the expectations of a maturing player base. The conversation has shifted from launch milestones toward long-term growth and sustainable operations.
Alea CEO Jordi Sendra is attending the event alongside teams from partnerships, account management, business development, and marketing. The group will be based at Booth N145 throughout the week, meeting with operators and studios to discuss ongoing projects and the practical challenges they are facing in Brazil.
Bridging the Gap: The Future of Land-Based and Digital Gaming
On Wednesday, 8 April at 12:45, Jordi Sendra will join the panel “Physical or Digital? Between Boundaries and Convergences in the Casino Industry.” Alongside representatives from ANCASSINOS, Sportradar, Zitro Digital, Amusnet, and Maia Yoshiyasu Advogados, the session explores how operators can stay competitive as the lines between land-based and online gaming continue to blur.
Oxygen Bar and Award Recognition
Alea will once again host its signature oxygen bar on the exhibition floor, offering a space to recharge and have focused conversations. The event also marks a milestone for the company, as Alea is shortlisted for Best Aggregator at the SiGMA South America Awards on 6 April.
“Being nominated in Brazil this year carries a lot of weight for us,” says Jordi Sendra. “The market has raised the bar for everyone. It’s pushed us to be more disciplined, more present, and more focused on what the local player actually needs. For our team, this is a great recognition of the miles we’ve put in on the ground and the relationships we’ve built with our partners across the region.”
Supporting Growth in a Maturing Landscape
Between the panel session and the meetings at the booth, the week is centered on providing the practical guidance and technical support that operators now need to grow with confidence. As the aggregator with the largest portfolio of certified games and game providers in the territory, Alea’s focus remains on helping its partners navigate the complexities of a more structured environment, ensuring both studios and operators stay competitive as the landscape continues to mature.
The post Alea Returns to SiGMA South America as Brazil’s iGaming Market Enters a More Demanding Stage appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Diamond King Gorilla
R. Franco Digital claims the jungle crown with Diamond King Gorilla
R. Franco Digital, the Spanish iGaming provider, has launched its latest high-energy slot, Diamond King Gorilla, taking players deep into the jungle for a thrilling adventure.
This 5×3, 243-ways-to-win slot features a sophisticated collect mechanic and progressive multiplier system designed for big rewards. Players can trigger the Free Spins round by landing three or more Scatter symbols, where the Wild symbol collects values from Direct Prize and Special Prize symbols.
The Level Indicator enhances the action by tracking every Wild, awarding extra spins and increasing multipliers at key milestones. For those seeking immediate excitement, a direct purchase option lets players jump straight into the bonus round.
Certified for eight regulated markets, including Spain and Portugal, Diamond King Gorilla also offers four jackpots — Mini, Minor, Major, and Grand, which pays up to 1000x the stake.
Javier Sacristán Franco, International Business Director at R. Franco Digital, said:
“With Diamond King Gorilla, we’ve focused on creating a high-velocity experience where every Wild symbol carries the potential for a massive payout. It captures the raw energy of the jungle while providing the sophisticated features our partners and players expect.”
With its fast-paced mechanics, multiplier-driven gameplay, and jackpot potential, Diamond King Gorilla delivers an immersive jungle adventure with every spin.
The post R. Franco Digital claims the jungle crown with Diamond King Gorilla appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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