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Movers and Shakers: Tereza Melicharkova: There’s no one-size-fits-all solution for creating sustained engagement
“Movers and Shakers” is a dynamic monthly column dedicated to exploring the latest trends, developments, and influential voices in the iGaming industry. Powered by GameOn and supported by HIPTHER, this op-ed series delves into the key players, emerging technologies, and regulatory changes shaping the future of online gaming. Each month, industry experts offer their insights and perspectives, providing readers with in-depth analysis and thought-provoking commentary on what’s driving the iGaming world forward. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or new to the scene, “Movers and Shakers” is your go-to source for staying ahead in the rapidly evolving iGaming landscape.
Writing for European Gaming, Tereza Melicharkova, Head of Marketing for Swintt, discusses the importance of knowing each individual target audience when creating a software portfolio that caters for the widest cross-section of players possible.
In an industry as dynamic as iGaming where new trends come and go, player preferences are constantly evolving and what constitutes the blueprint for a successful release can differ wildly from one market to the next, Swintt has always believed that the key to long-term success lies in creating a content portfolio that can appeal to as broad a cross-section of customers as possible.
While it’s true that there’s no one-size-fits-all solution for creating casino games that consistently hit the mark with players and create sustained engagement for the operators that host them, there’s definitely something to be said for diversifying your offering so that you always have the opportunity to tailor the content provided via your partnerships to account for all local audiences.
In doing so, you’ll ensure that you’re not effectively placing all your eggs in one basket by sticking to a single tried and tested formula, but are instead building a library that is capable of tapping into regional differences while still retaining the hallmarks of your brand. It’s precisely this line of thinking that led us to developing the multiple product lines that exist within the Swintt portfolio.
Balancing Legacy and Innovation
For those who are unfamiliar with how Swintt operates, we always sort our releases into one of three main categories. The two founding product lines in our software portfolio are SwinttPremium and SwinttSelect, but we’ve also diversified our offering further with Elysium Studios – Driven by Swintt titles that have arrived following our acquisition of the developer earlier this year.
Going through the different product categories one-by-one, the Swintt Premium range was developed with a view to appealing to audiences who have a fondness for the kind of slot you’d normally find in a land-based gaming venue. Typically combining classic casino-style graphics and sound with familiar fruit-based symbols, each Premium release offers a recognisable, easy-to-trigger feature such as our signature “Book” Free Spins or the popular “Pearl Respins” bonus.
Successful examples of SwinttPremium slots include releases in the aforementioned “Book” series like Seven Books Unlimited as well as games like Big Max Pots and Pearls – and what we’ve seen from these titles is that they generally perform well in markets like Germany and the Netherlands, where the average player is a little older and more traditional tastes typically prevail.
Of course, while it’s obviously important to cater for these “legacy” players, doing so should not come at the cost of innovation and supplying a more immersive slot experience to the newer generation – and this is where our SwinttSelect line-up comes in. Known for their state-of-the-art designs and pioneering bonus features, our Select games push the boundaries of what’s possible from a slot and have proved incredibly popular in tech-savvy markets like the UK and Scandinavia.
In particular, our XtraSeriesTM games – including our most successful release to date, Aloha Spirit XtraLockTM – have really helped showcase what a talented team of developers we have by providing a range of unique and engaging themes as well as bonus features players won’t find from any other provider. By offering these titles, we ensure Swintt is capable of catering to the needs of a wide range of players while also reflecting the demands of each market we operate in.
Having A Mobile-First Mindset
As I referenced earlier, Swintt’s acquisition of Elysium Studios in January this year really was a major step forward for the company, as it enabled us to not only further diversify the portfolio of content that we offer to partners, but also to double down on all of the things that have made our Select line-up such a success by introducing even more ambitious designs and thrilling features.
As a provider that has carved out a fairly specialist niche in the industry for creating game mechanics that draw on a variety of social, video and casino gaming factors, Elysium Studios was always going to be a key part of how Swintt looks to engage with the next generation of casino customer. Featuring cutting-edge designs, quirky themes and a huge variety of features in every release, the Elysium Studios – Driven by Swintt range really has taken our offering to new heights.
What is perhaps particularly notable about Elysium Studios is their mobile-first approach to game design – and while this has always been a big priority at Swintt, by working together with them, we’ve definitely taken things to the next level. With mobile now accounting for the majority of all online casino play, having immersive bonus features that utilise tap and swipe touch-screen functionality has been an incredibly powerful tool in helping us connect with modern audiences.
We’ve already seen from the success of games like Law of Gilgamesh and Fox Tale that there’s a real demand among newer players for titles that replicate the user experience of the popular mobile games that they’ve grown up with – and if the buzz around our upcoming release, I Hate Fairytales is anything to go by, we’ll have many more success stories with the studio in the future.
It’s All About Entertainment
Of course, while having several strings to our bow has been a key component of Swintt’s success in penetrating multiple regulated markets, it’s equally important that for all our different product lines, we’ve never lost sight of who we are and what we stand for. We see online casino gaming primarily as a form of entertainment – and whether they’re playing Premium, Select or Elysium Studios releases, our players can always be sure they’ll be getting a fun and exciting experience.
We pride ourselves on providing top quality titles with a real flair for the creative, and this definitely extends to the way that we market ourselves to partners. From our stand at SBC Lisbon that promoted I Hate Fairytales with a free-to-enter hammer strength competition to the Swinttopia board game we created to celebrate our five year anniversary, we’ve always tried to find inventive ways to promote our products and this has been a major factor in how we’ve grown.
By retaining this key creative strand across our entire portfolio, we’ve put together a product line-up that is varied enough to tap into the unique demands of each individual market without ever compromising the principles that have enabled Swintt to truly stand out as a brand – and in an industry as competitive as iGaming, that’s a really powerful thing to have working in your favour!
The post Movers and Shakers: Tereza Melicharkova: There’s no one-size-fits-all solution for creating sustained engagement appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
eSports
G2’s Otis Lawrence wins 2026 F1 Sim Racing World Championship
Welsh driver beats Ismael Fahssi by two points after a 12-round season running March 27 to May 28 with a $750,000 prize pool.
G2-backed Alpine Sim Racing driver Otis Lawrence has been crowned 2026 F1 Sim Racing World Champion after the season concluded on May 28.
The 2026 F1 Sim Racing World Championship ran from March 27 to May 28 and featured a $750,000 prize pool. Drivers representing Formula 1 teams competed across four events, starting with a live opener at DreamHack Birmingham.
The title was decided at the final event. Lawrence secured multiple race victories across 12 rounds and finished top of the standings.
Lawrence won the championship by two points ahead of Scuderia Ferrari HP Esports driver Ismael Fahssi. Reigning champion Jarno Opmeer of Oracle Red Bull Sim Racing placed third overall.
The post G2’s Otis Lawrence wins 2026 F1 Sim Racing World Championship appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Andréa Curral
“No iGaming, marcas sólidas dependem de consistência, experiência e relacionamento de longo prazo”
Com uma trajetória construída em grandes grupos globais de mídia, entretenimento e varejo digital, Andréa Curral chega ao Grupo Esportes Gaming Brasil para ocupar o cargo de Diretora de Marketing em um momento estratégico para o mercado brasileiro de apostas regulamentadas.
Após passagens por empresas como Privalia, Discovery e Warner Bros., a executiva assume o desafio de fortalecer o posicionamento institucional e a estratégia de marca das operações Esportes da Sorte, Onabet e Lottu em um cenário cada vez mais competitivo, regulado e orientado por experiência do consumidor.
Em meio ao amadurecimento do setor de iGaming no Brasil, temas como branding, jogo responsável, aquisição eficiente, reputação e conexão cultural ganham relevância crescente para operadoras que buscam crescimento sustentável e diferenciação de longo prazo.
Nesta entrevista exclusiva ao Gaming Americas, Andréa Curral fala sobre como sua experiência em mercados tradicionais contribui para a construção de marcas mais sólidas no iGaming, o papel do marketing na promoção do jogo responsável, os desafios de equilibrar branding e performance em um ambiente altamente dinâmico e as estratégias do Grupo EGB para ampliar presença durante grandes eventos esportivos e manifestações culturais no país.
Andréa, você construiu uma trajetória sólida em gigantes globais de mercados tradicionais como Privalia, Discovery e Warner Bros.
Como essa experiência em branding e experiência do consumidor contribui hoje para sua atuação no iGaming com o Grupo EGB?
Andréa Curral – O principal aprendizado que trago de empresas de mídia, entretenimento e varejo digital é que marcas sólidas não se sustentam apenas em grandes campanhas, mas em consistência, experiência e construção de relacionamento no longo prazo. No iGaming, isso é ainda mais relevante, porque a relação com o usuário passa diretamente por confiança, clareza e segurança.
No Grupo EGB, buscamos aplicar uma visão integrada entre branding, performance e experiência do consumidor.
Isso significa tratar conteúdo como um ativo estratégico, trabalhar comunicação com lógica editorial e segmentação inteligente, além de utilizar métricas e tecnologia para melhorar continuamente a jornada do usuário.
Minha experiência em ambientes altamente competitivos também contribui para equilibrar crescimento, posicionamento institucional e eficiência operacional em um momento de amadurecimento importante para o mercado brasileiro.
Diante do atual momento de consolidação do mercado regulado no Brasil, quais são os principais focos e diretrizes da sua diretoria para o posicionamento institucional das marcas do grupo, Esportes da Sorte, Onabet e Lottu, dentro desse novo cenário?
O cenário atual exige marcas mais claras, operações mais eficientes e uma relação mais consistente com o público. Nossa estratégia está estruturada em três pilares principais: diferenciação de portfólio, experiência do usuário e construção de reputação.
Esportes da Sorte, Onabet e Lottu possuem posicionamentos distintos dentro do grupo, isso reduz a sobreposição e fortalece a identidade de cada operação. Mas um pilar comum a toda nossa empresa é o jogo responsável. É nossa responsabilidade garantir um ambiente controlado e saudável para a diversão.
Somos uma empresa com DNA brasileiro e nossos contratos de patrocínio vão além da exposição de mídia. Incentivamos a cultura nacional, gerando experiências relevantes, que conectam as marcas a territórios de grande relevância popular, como esporte, entretenimento e cultura.
Ao mesmo tempo, o aumento do custo de aquisição torna essencial uma operação integrada entre marketing, produto, atendimento e retenção, sempre alinhada às diretrizes de jogo responsável e à regulamentação vigente.
O Grupo EGB enfatiza o compromisso com o “jogo responsável”.
Como o marketing pode atuar de forma prática na educação do apostador e na promoção de bem-estar, transformando essa diretriz em comunicação efetiva para o público?
Para nós, jogo responsável não pode ser tratado apenas como uma obrigação regulatória ou uma mensagem complementar de comunicação. Ele precisa fazer parte da experiência do usuário, da operação e da construção de reputação da companhia.
O marketing tem um papel importante nesse processo ao comunicar com clareza, evitar promessas irreais e contribuir para uma relação mais consciente do usuário com o entretenimento.
Isso envolve reforçar mensagens sobre limites, autocontrole, pausas e transparência nas regras.
Também acreditamos que comunicação responsável ajuda a fortalecer um ambiente mais seguro e sustentável para todo o ecossistema. No longo prazo, confiança e reputação são ativos fundamentais para qualquer marca que queira crescer de forma consistente no setor.
Em termos de estratégia de crescimento, como você equilibra construção de marca de longo prazo (branding) com performance de curto prazo em um setor altamente dinâmico e competitivo como o iGaming?
Hoje Branding e performance trabalham em conjunto, de forma absolutamente integrada, para que os resultados de crescimento sustentável não dependam apenas de aquisição. Por isso, trabalhamos uma operação orientada por métricas, dados e otimização contínua, sem perder a visão estratégica de longo prazo.
A construção de marca passa por coerência, qualidade da experiência, clareza de comunicação e consistência na entrega. Esse mecanismo de relacionamento cria comunidade e reforça a confiança do usuário na marca.
A Copa do Mundo é um dos momentos mais disputados pela atenção do público.
Como o Esportes da Sorte está estruturando sua estratégia de mídia, conteúdo e transmissões oficiais para garantir presença forte e multiplataforma durante o torneio?
A Copa representa um dos maiores momentos de mobilização do entretenimento esportivo, então estruturamos uma estratégia multiplataforma que combina mídia, conteúdo e experiências presenciais.
O Esportes da Sorte fechou o patrocínio oficial das transmissões da Copa no SBT e na N Sports, garantindo presença em TV aberta, streaming, canais digitais e propriedades online das emissoras. Essa entrega amplia frequência e alcance de marca ao longo do torneio.
Mas entendemos que presença de mídia sozinha não é suficiente. Por isso, trabalhamos campanhas institucionais que conectam entretenimento, cultura popular e engajamento emocional.
“Torça como um Corinthiano”, por exemplo, usa a relação histórica da torcida do Corinthians com o clube para resgatar a conexão do brasileiro com a Seleção. Já “Convoque” aposta em humor, fantasia e linguagem digital para ampliar diálogo com diferentes públicos.
Tudo isso é desenvolvido mantendo o compromisso com comunicação responsável e alinhada às diretrizes do setor.
Dentro desse ecossistema de marca e entretenimento, quais serão os principais desdobramentos das ações de rua e patrocínios locais durante os períodos de grande consumo esportivo, como a Copa do Mundo?
Para os grandes eventos esportivos, nossa estratégia combina presença multiplataforma com experiências de proximidade junto ao público.
O objetivo é fazer com que as marcas do grupo estejam inseridas de forma orgânica na rotina e nos espaços de convivência dos torcedores, conectando entretenimento, conteúdo e experiência de marca.
Além da presença em mídia e transmissões oficiais, vamos trabalhar ativações proprietárias e ações presenciais em diferentes regiões do país, sempre buscando fortalecer relacionamento, engajamento e conexão cultural com o público.
Essa atuação também conversa diretamente com a visão do Grupo EGB de transformar patrocínios em plataformas contínuas de experiência e conteúdo, indo além da exposição tradicional e construindo relevância de longo prazo para as marcas.
Além do futebol, o Grupo EGB também investe em grandes manifestações culturais e eventos populares, como Carnaval e festivais regionais.
Como essas ativações se conectam à estratégia global de marca e à construção de presença no território brasileiro?
Nossa estratégia de marca está muito conectada à cultura popular e aos grandes territórios de mobilização do público brasileiro. O esporte é um pilar importante, mas não é o único.
Hoje o grupo apoia iniciativas de grande relevância nacional, como o Galo da Madrugada, o Festival de Parintins e o Carnaval em diferentes capitais brasileiras.
Essas propriedades ajudam a ampliar a presença nacional, fortalecer relacionamento com diferentes comunidades e criar conexões mais orgânicas com o público.
Mais do que exposição, buscamos desenvolver projetos de longo prazo que integrem conteúdo, experiência e ativação local. Isso permite que os patrocínios deixem de funcionar apenas como mídia tradicional e passem a operar como plataformas de relacionamento e construção institucional das marcas.
The post “No iGaming, marcas sólidas dependem de consistência, experiência e relacionamento de longo prazo” appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
iGaming
How RocketPlay Closed 100% of Its Complaints in 2025: Inside the System
In the iGaming industry, bonuses and welcome packages are no longer a brand differentiator. At the same time, compliance pressure is growing, acquisition costs continue to rise, and player trust has become harder to earn — and easier to lose.
As a result, player feedback is becoming one of the industry’s most important operational signals — changing from “nice to have” to a necessary indicator.
According to RocketPlay’s internal research conducted in early 2026, more than 20% of players check review platforms before registering on a casino website. For many of them, community feedback now matters as much as bonuses or game selection.
This shift is changing the role of reviews entirely, as right now review platforms function as public diagnostics systems for operators — revealing where friction appears, how brands behave under pressure and whether communication feels fair when something goes wrong.
From rating to operational signal
For years, many operators treated reviews mainly as a reputation management task: answer complaints, improve ratings and move on.
Today, complaints often reveal operational weaknesses faster than internal dashboards. Delayed withdrawals, unclear bonus rules, verification issues or poor escalation logic usually become visible in player feedback first.
That is why more operators now treat complaint handling as an operational process, rather than a PR layer. Players expect speed, clarity and fairness: they want to understand what happened, why a decision was made and whether the operator is open to reassessing the case.
Currently, some brands are building complaint workflows around 3 key principles: speed, clarity and fairness. Automation helps prioritise sensitive cases and reduce friction, while final decisions remain human-owned — especially in Responsible Gaming situations or complex disputes.
One example of this approach can be seen in RocketPlay’s operational model. The platform applies this approach through a structured 2-stage resolution system that covers both internal complaint handling and external escalations via independent platforms. Instead of treating complaints as isolated support tickets, the company uses recurring player feedback to identify friction points, clarify mechanics and improve communication flows.
In 2025, they closed 100% public complaints across Casino Guru and AskGamblers, with no repeat complaints from the same player. Recurring themes from these cases are consolidated and turned into product priorities, so that the same issue does not reach the next player.
This approach has also been recognized by the industry. In 2026, RocketPlay was shortlisted at the Casino Guru Awards in the category “The Most Effective Handling of Complaints,” reflecting its focus on transparent communication and structured complaint resolution. RocketPlay also won “Innovator of the Year (Operator)” at The International Gaming Awards 2025 for its AI-driven support implementation.
Why speed alone is not enough
Fast responses still matter, but speed alone no longer defines good complaint handling. Players value transparency, contextual reasoning and communication that feels human
RocketPlay’s internal metrics show that around 95% of cases receive a first meaningful response within 24 hours, while approximately 90% are addressed within two hours. AI-powered chat and email automation additionally help resolve a significant share of repetitive requests without requiring agent intervention.
However, the company believes that automation only works when paired with explainability. A rigid “Terms-only” approach may technically protect the operator, but can still damage long-term trust if players feel ignored or unfairly treated.
What this means for operators in 2026
The broader lesson for the industry is clear: reviews are no longer just reputation management. They are operational input.
In 2026, the operators most likely to build sustainable trust will not necessarily be the ones with the largest bonuses or the most aggressive acquisition funnels. Instead, they will be brands capable of listening systematically, reacting transparently and treating player feedback as part of product development itself.
The industry is entering a phase where trust is becoming measurable in public — and increasingly, players are the ones defining what that trust actually looks like.
The post How RocketPlay Closed 100% of Its Complaints in 2025: Inside the System appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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