Latest News
SCCG Management Announces Sponsorship Partnership with Thunder Fight Center
SCCG Management, a leading consulting and advisory firm in the gambling and sports entertainment industry, announced its new sponsor partnership with Thunder Fight Center, Brazil’s premier martial arts events venue. This collaboration coincides with the debut of Versus FC in mixed martial arts (MMA), scheduled for Wednesday 24 January at the Thunder Fight Center. The agreement includes the prominent display of SCCG branding within the octagon.
Thunder Fight Center, conceptualized in 2019 and inaugurated amidst the challenging times of the 2020 pandemic, has been a cornerstone in keeping combat sports active in the São Paulo region. As the only venue in Brazil dedicated exclusively to martial arts events, it has successfully hosted 79 events over the past three years, promoting an incredible 1335 bouts in its state-of-the-art cage and ring.
The center’s journey has been marked by continuous enhancements, boasting superior lighting, advanced audiovisual technology, and meticulously crafted interiors. This has established Thunder Fight Center as an unrivaled location for both fighters and spectators, offering everything necessary for a flawless martial arts event.
Additionally, the Thunder Fight Center has played host to a variety of unique sports events, including a major event by the Pillow Fight Championship (PFC). This event not only showcased the versatility of the venue but also highlighted its capability to support a diverse range of sports entertainment. The successful hosting of the PFC event at Thunder Fight Center is a testament to the venue’s adaptability and commitment to bringing innovative and engaging sports experiences to its audience.
The venue has seen the rise of numerous fighters to international acclaim. André Mascote, for example, debuted at Thunder Fight Center and has since ascended to the highest levels of the sport. Similarly, Jailton Almeida, now in line for a UFC belt, had his last two pre-UFC fights at this esteemed venue.
As a rising star in the global sports entertainment space, SCCG Management has been investing and advising on behalf of the next generation of sports leagues and fan engagement technology. This includes partnerships with niche sports leagues such as the Pillow Fight Championship and Major League Pickleball, demonstrating SCCG’s commitment to diversifying the sports entertainment landscape and championing emerging sports alongside traditional ones.
“We are excited about the partnership between SCCG Management and Thunder Fight Center, coinciding with Versus FC’s debut. This aligns with our commitment to nurturing sports entertainment. Thunder Fight Center’s dedication to martial arts complements our vision to support emerging talents. We anticipate this collaboration will enhance experiences for both fighters and fans, setting new standards in martial arts and sports entertainment,” Stephen Crystal, Founder & CEO of SCCG Management, said.
888.it
R. Franco Digital Shortlisted for Casino Platform Excellence at EGR Europe Awards 2026
R. Franco Digital, the leading Spanish iGaming provider, has been officially shortlisted for Casino Platform Supplier of the Year at the prestigious EGR Europe Awards 2026. The nomination recognizes a landmark year for the company, characterized by the explosive growth of its IRIS Open Omnichannel Platform and a major commercial breakthrough into the Italian market.
The winners will be announced during a gala ceremony on February 18, 2026, at the Hilton Malta, where the industry’s top-tier operators and suppliers gather to celebrate European gaming excellence.
IRIS: The Engine of Omnichannel Growth
The core of R. Franco Digital’s success lies in its IRIS platform, a highly scalable, multi-jurisdictional solution that unifies casino, sports betting, and retail management.
IRIS Platform Milestones (2025-2026):
-
Jurisdictional Reach: Certified in 6 jurisdictions and operational in over 10 regulated markets.
-
Content Depth: Seamlessly integrated with over 1,600 games from global third-party providers.
-
Operational Stability: Provides 24/7 multilingual support and advanced real-time analytics for operators.
-
Commercial Momentum: Secured 50+ new operator partnerships and entered three new markets within the last 12 months.
Performance Highlights: 4 Billion Game Rounds
R. Franco Digital’s games portfolio has seen a massive surge in engagement, bolstered by 20 new high-performance slot releases in 2025. Standout titles such as Strange Spins, Aphrodite, Zorro: Final Duel, Ovomon, and The Phantom contributed to a record-breaking year.
| Metric | 2025–2026 Achievement |
| Total Game Rounds | 4 Billion+ across regulated markets |
| Revenue Growth | 30% Increase during the judging period |
| New Content | 20 New slot titles launched |
| Expansion | Debut in the Italian regulated market |
Strategic Italian Market Entry
A major factor in the EGR shortlisting was R. Franco Digital’s successful entry into Italy. The provider rapidly localized its content to meet the specific demands of Italian players through tier-one partnerships:
-
Stanleybet.it: Launched 19 games, including the Italian-exclusive debut of Strange Spins.
-
888.it: Successfully rolled out the popular Super 7 3×3 title.
“We’re proud to be shortlisted for this award, which reflects the strength of our IRIS platform and the quality of the content we’ve delivered over the past year,” said Javier Sacristán Franco, International Business Director at R. Franco Digital. “Our team has worked hard to support operators with reliable, innovative solutions… we are delighted to see that effort recognised.”
The post R. Franco Digital Shortlisted for Casino Platform Excellence at EGR Europe Awards 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Big Hot Flaming Pots
Big Hot Flaming Pots: Tasty Treasures – Lightning Box Brings Land-Based Hit Online
Light & Wonder has officially launched Big Hot Flaming Pots: Tasty Treasures, the digital debut of its highly successful land-based franchise. Developed by in-house specialist studio Lightning Box, this 3×5 slot offers 243 ways to win and a high-energy “three-pot” mechanic that has already become a staple on casino floors worldwide.
The game transitions the whimsical “dumpling-tossing” theme to online audiences, combining vibrant Asian-inspired aesthetics with a deep mathematical model designed for high-engagement sessions.
The Three-Pot Mechanic & Seven Feature Combinations
At the core of the gameplay is the persistent pot system. Landing specific colored coins fuels three separate pots—Yummy, Spicy, and Upsized. These pots can trigger individually or in any combination, leading to seven distinct bonus paths.
| Feature Mode | Gameplay Enhancement |
| Yummy Mode | Increases the Hold & Spin respin counter from 3 to 4, significantly extending bonus life. |
| Spicy Mode | Introduces Chilli multipliers; landing a pepper adds its cash value to every symbol currently held on the board. |
| Upsized Mode | Unlocks a Dual Grid (two reel sets) for the Hold & Spin round, doubling the win potential. |
| Combined Modes | Triggering all three at once creates the “Mega Bonus,” featuring dual grids, 4 respins, and value-boosting peppers. |
Innovation: The Stack N’ Hit
Feature
Unlike traditional Hold & Spin mechanics where symbols simply lock until the round ends, Tasty Treasures introduces the Stack N’ Hit
evolution.
-
Reel Clearing: When a vertical reel is filled with Bun symbols, the prizes are instantly collected, and the reel is cleared.
-
Persistent Respins: Clearing a reel creates open spaces for new prizes to land, allowing the bonus round to continue far longer than standard industry alternatives.
-
The Path to Grand: Each cleared reel activates a “Pepper Tracker” above it. Lighting up all five trackers awards the Grand Progressive Jackpot.
Jackpot Tiers & Base Game Depth
Operators benefit from a versatile math model that supports both consistent base-game performance and high-volatility jackpot chases.
-
Progressive Jackpots: Grand and Major tiers for life-changing win potential.
-
Fixed Jackpots: Minor and Mini tiers awarded through symbols landing during features.
-
Nudge Wilds: In the base game, Wild symbols can nudge to cover entire reels, assisting in achieving the 243-way payouts.
“Big Hot Flaming Pots: Tasty Treasures carries forward a brand that has already made its mark in land-based venues,” says Michael Maokhamphiou, Studio Director at Lightning Box. “This release offers operators a flexible, high-performing title that combines familiarity with fresh layers of engagement.”
The post Big Hot Flaming Pots: Tasty Treasures – Lightning Box Brings Land-Based Hit Online appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Blask Index
How Venezuela’s iGaming market is reacting to US pressure
Blask data indicates Venezuela’s iGaming demand remained stable in the initial days following the US operation in Caracas.
On 3 January, US forces detained Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro, transporting him from Caracas to face prosecution in New York. The raid came after months of intensifying American pressure throughout 2025 — naval presence, targeted strikes, and a fresh sanctions package.
For Venezuela’s iGaming sector, the disruption poses a critical question: will demand collapse, or adapt?
First results
Blask’s daily Index remained within a tight corridor from 1–4 January, hovering in the high-200K zone. It dropped 5% to 257.4K on the day of the operation, before recovering the next day.

The data reveals no abrupt demand shift during this period. A slight decline sits within Venezuela’s normal daily fluctuations and does not point to a fundamental market change.
Rapid expansion, growing dominance
Venezuela stood out as one of iGaming’s strongest demand gainers in 2025. Blask Index surged 134.9% year-on-year — the second-highest growth worldwide.

This expansion came alongside increasing market dominance. By December, Triunfo Bet commanded 59% of Blask’s BAP (Brand Accumulated Power, measuring a brand’s portion of total user interest nationally), gaining 15 percentage points since January. The top three brands collectively reached over 85%, up 11 points.
The post How Venezuela’s iGaming market is reacting to US pressure appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
-
iGaming News 20263 days agoSpinomenal Rings in 2026 with Japanese-Inspired “Kami Reign Ultra Mode”
-
Hold and3 days agoPragmatic Play Rings in 2026 with Joker’s Jewels Hold & Spin™
-
Five Elements Slot3 days agoPG Soft Concludes 2025 with High-Volatility Launch: Mythical Guardians
-
Bespoke Gaming Studio3 days agoCreedRoomz and Casumo Forge Strategic Partnership to Elevate Live Casino Experience
-
Latest News3 days agoFrom ‘Mummyverse’ to Crash Games: Belatra Reviews a Landmark 2025
-
B2B gaming software3 days agoGamblers Connect and BetOxygen Announce Strategic B2B Partnership
-
Akshat Rathee2 days agoIndian Esports 2026: Strategic Growth and the Asian Games Milestone
-
Aztec Slot2 days agoEvoplay Unveils Sunstone Riches: An Aztec Adventure Powered by the Sun



