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Kaizen Foundation Launches in Romania and contributes €350,000 to the Renovation of a Critical Section in the Pitesti Pediatric Hospital
The Kaizen Foundation together with the “Doctors for Romania” Association announced the completion of a major renovation project at the Pitesti Pediatric Hospital, modernising the whole area intended for the treatment of serious cases for children up to three years old. This initiative is the first project funded by the Kaizen Foundation in Romania, marking the launch of the Foundation’s activity in the country.
The Kaizen Foundation has been the main donor of the project, contributing €350,000 for the renovation of this critical facility of the Pitesti Pediatric. It is the largest of its kind in the area, also serving the counties of Argeș, Vâlcea and Dâmbovița, and providing care to over 30,000 children every year. It is the first renovation of this critical section since the establishment of the Pediatric Hospital in the city of Pitesti, 40 years ago. The project was initiated by the “Doctors for Romania” Association.
“A couple of weeks ago we announced the establishment of Kaizen Foundation and the start of our first project, the renovation of the Penteli Children’s General Hospital in Athens, Greece. We are very proud that our second major grant, this time in Romania, delivers a completed project. What we see here today gives us strength for the path that lies ahead for the Kaizen Foundation. This renovation will benefit the youngest of patients of the Pitesti Pediatric Hospital, helping them fight battles that they shouldn’t have to fight, especially at the beginning of their lives. We are grateful to the ‘Doctors for Romania Association’ for all their hard work to deliver the results we see today and of course, everyone else who contributed in making this project a reality, from the local authorities to the hospital’s medical staff. Through the Kaizen Foundation, we aim to respond quickly and with consistency to the pressing needs of local communities across the world,” Panos Konstantopoulos, President of the Kaizen Foundation, said.
The inauguration ceremony took place in Pitesti, in the presence of the Romanian Prime MInister’s State Counsellor, the Secretary of State at the Ministry of Health, other central and local authorities’ representatives and members of the business community that supported the project. The refurbishment of the space provides a safe, clean and modern environment for young children and their families to receive the necessary care, facilitating speedier recovery and completion of treatment. The renovation covered an area of over 1100 square meters, including major reconstruction work to create sanitary units for every ward, while maintaining the same number of beds.
“At first, the idea of renovating the Pitesti Pediatric Hospital’s sixth floor probably seemed like a bold vision. Today, with the generous support of our partners, we have been able to turn this vision into reality. Through our joint efforts, we have renovated this hospital floor, which will serve as a sanctuary of healing for children and their families. This renovation is not simply an improvement to the infrastructure, but a symbol of love, care and true commitment to the health and happiness of our children. I would like to thank our donors, especially our lead partner, the Kaizen Foundation, because without their generosity and dedication to our cause, this impressive accomplishment would not have been possible. We are deeply grateful for their involvement and for being part of this journey with us,” said Alexandru Costache, President of Doctors for Romania Association.
SYNOT Group has announced a new partnership with Lutrija Bosne i Hercegovine. Following the successful completion of all stages of the Public Call for Business Cooperation, SYNOT has been selected as an additional supplier for operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina for a period of up to five years.
“The announcement of the Public Call for the Submission of Offers for Business Cooperation represented a clear challenge for us, and we are very pleased to have succeeded. Immediately after its completion, we signed a contract with Lutrija Bosne i Hercegovine for the supply of up to 500 units of the latest gaming equipment,” said Roland Andrýsek, Sales Director of SYNOT Group.
“This is a challenge for the Lottery of BiH as well, a new partnership and an opportunity for further growth and development. SYNOT Group has excellent references and experience across many markets, and I am confident that we will achieve strong results,” said Edhem Pašukan, Director of Lutrija Bosne i Hercegovine.
Local players can soon look forward to the introduction of entirely new gaming systems, Gamifire Prime and Exclusive Games – the latest game mixes in SYNOT’s portfolio, offering dozens of engaging titles ranging from classic fruit and themed games to popular Hold & Win concepts. The delivery will also include the proven Explosive Games Premium+ systems. All game mixes will be supplied together with state-of-the-art SYNOT cabinets, including the most advanced models ST2-32, ST3-27, Eclipse FL-32, as well as the highly popular UP1-24.
“SYNOT Group has a long-standing history and a strong position in the Balkan market. This region is of strategic importance to us, and establishing cooperation with another leading state lottery in the region represents an important milestone in our expansion and confirms our commitment to delivering top-quality gaming equipment to the region,” said Roland Andrýsek, Sales Director of SYNOT Group.
The post SYNOT Group Announces New Partnership with Lutrija Bosne i Hercegovine appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
A new report by Sweeps Pulse estimates American bettors will place total bets amounting to about $3.1 billion on the 2026 FIFA World Cup. This represents the most extensive single sport betting event ever conducted inside the US. The estimate also exceeds the $1.8 billion projected amount for wagers placed on the Super Bowl in 2024. Both amounts represent growth in the legal sports betting market. The 2026 football competition will be held in the US, Canada and Mexico.
Projected Betting Breakdown (2026 FIFA World Cup)
• $1.6 billion via licensed U.S. sportsbook apps
• $920 million via offshore and unlicensed platforms
• $380 million via retail sportsbook locations
• $200 million via sweepstakes and social sports formats
Why This Tournament is Different
There have been no previous World Cups where there is serious U.S. betting volume. This is due to the mobile sports betting being non existent in the U.S. for a large part of the time leading up to the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. There is now a huge difference when it comes to how mature (and big) the market is in 2026; all major players in the space are already established; they each have their own significant budgets to promote their brand(s); and users have developed four years worth of habits using the NFL, NBA, and College Sports to bet on games.
Another fact is that many of the 2026 World Cup games will be held in cities like New York, Los Angeles, Dallas, and Miami will generate much more local involvement.
The Mobile Factor
In terms of placement (mobile apps) it is estimated that 68% of all World Cup bets will be made using mobile apps. This is compared to an estimate of 41% of all bets taken in the 2018 World Cup. The sportsbooks have committed to spending an estimated $400 million on promotions related to the World Cup. These promotions include but are not limited to; Deposit Matches, Odds Boosts, Free-Bets, and other promotions targeting new soccer bettors.
Key mobile betting statistics:
• Average user session time per game is 23 minutes during major soccer events. Major soccer events average 38% longer than NFL regular season games.
• There is an expectation that live in-game betting will make up 44% of the total World Cup wagered amount.
• FanDuel and DraftKings are expected to take approximately 58% of the licensed app volumes.
The Soccer Audience is Younger and Growing
There are many factors that contribute to an increase in betting at this time. One major factor contributing to the surge in bets at this time is demographics. The data collected from surveys shows that 61% of Gen Z sports bettors have soccer as one of their top 3 wagering sports, while only 29% of bettors who are over 50 years old identify soccer as one of their top 3 wagering sports. This trend demonstrates how the demographics of the sports-betting population are changing.
The post Americans Expected to Bet More Than $3B on the 2026 FIFA World Cup appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
Dan Keene, who served as the interim CEO of the Alberta iGaming Corporation (AiGC), has been appointed to the role permanently, effective April 21, 2026. Under his leadership, AiGC will launch Alberta’s regulated iGaming market on July 13. Keene has played a pivotal role in shaping the province’s gaming landscape, both through his work standing up AiGC and in his previous roles at the Alberta Gaming, Liquor, and Cannabis Commission (AGLC).
“Dan brings deep operational experience and a strong track record in gaming and market development. His leadership will be essential as the Alberta iGaming Corporation prepares for launch and delivers a regulated market built on social responsibility and player protection,” said Sanjeev Kad, Board Chair, Alberta iGaming Corporation.
About Dan Keene
Serving as Vice-President, Gaming at AGLC since July 2022, Keene overseen a broad portfolio, including gaming retail services, technical operations, compliance, online gambling, player loyalty, supply chain, electronic gaming, and product development across Alberta. He has been instrumental in advancing consumer-focused initiatives. He co-led the creation of Winner’s Edge, Alberta’s first province-wide casino loyalty program, and guided the operations of PlayAlberta.ca, currently, the province’s only regulated online gambling platform. Previously, Keene worked at AGLC as Manager, Casino Products. In this role, he led a team of specialists responsible for selecting slot games and terminals for Alberta’s 30 casinos and 750 VLT locations. Before joining AGLC, he completed successful tenures with Molson Breweries and Century Casinos Inc.
The post Alberta iGaming Corporation Appoints Dan Keene as its CEO appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
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