Latest News
European Casino Association Launches Strategic Supplier Partnership
During the ECA Casino Industry Forum, hosted by HIT universe of fun in Nova Gorica, Slovenia, the European Casino Association (ECA) announced the establishment of the ECA Strategic Supplier Partnership, an initiative to foster collaboration between the association and select partners supplying the land-based casino sector. This exclusive partnership aims to enhance industry cooperation and facilitate dialogue with policymakers and stakeholders on matters of mutual interest.
The ECA welcomed four major suppliers as its inaugural Strategic Supplier Partners: Aristocrat, IGT, Light & Wonder and Novomatic. This partnership marks a new era of cooperation within the European gaming landscape.
The partnership aims to advance responsible practices within the licensed gaming sector while fostering a collaborative environment for industry stakeholders. By facilitating dialogue with European authorities, the members seek to address crucial issues and promote fair regulatory frameworks.
This initiative will explore various aspects of the industry, including equipment standardisation, enhanced security measures, and strategies to combat illegal gambling. Additionally, the partnership will serve as a platform for networking and knowledge exchange, connecting suppliers with operators and promoting responsible gaming practices alongside compliance. Through these efforts, the ECA Strategic Supplier Partnership strives to contribute to the sustainable growth and integrity of the European casino landscape.
Erwin van Lambaart, Chairman of the European Casino Association, said: “We are pleased to welcome Aristocrat Gaming, IGT, Light & Wonder and Novomatic as the founding members of the ECA’s Strategic Supplier Partnership. This collaboration allows us to share diverse perspectives and work towards solutions that benefit the entire gaming community, while respecting the distinct roles of operators and suppliers.”
“Light and Wonder are honoured to be collaborating with the ECA on this strategic partnership. We have long considered that casino operators, trade bodies and suppliers need to work closely together on issues that impact the future of our industry and this partnership represents a great opportunity to actively address those challenges together,” said Jon Lancaster, Vice President of Sales, EMEA.
“As Europe´s largest gaming technology group, NOVOMATIC is pleased to join other major suppliers in laying the foundation for the ECA Strategic Supplier Partnership. In this exclusive collaboration, we look forward to shaping the future of European gaming in a responsible and sustainable way, fostering collaboration across the industry and upholding the highest standards of compliance and player protection. We are excited to partner with the European Casino Association and firmly believe that together we can promote the long-term success of the industry,” Stefan Krenn, Member of the Executive Board NOVOMATIC AG.
“Aristocrat Gaming is pleased to be a part of the newly formed ECA partnership. Our aim is to work alongside the ECA and other suppliers to expand our collective influence in the region when it comes to regulatory reform and the evolution of gaming in EMEA,” said Marcel Heutmekers, vice president of sales and operations EMEA for Aristocrat Gaming.
“IGT is pleased to join the European Casino Association’s Strategic Partnership Alliance and collaborate with other global gaming suppliers to help drive growth opportunities for our customers and to shape a positive framework for the future of casino gaming across Europe,” said David Flinn, IGT SVP EMEA, Canada and LatAm Gaming Sales.
The post European Casino Association Launches Strategic Supplier Partnership appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Casino-Groups
Sebastian Jarosch Becomes Head of AI at Casinos Groups
Sebastian Jarosch is no longer solely the founder and managing director of Casino Groups as he is also taking on the role of Head of AI, at least on an interim basis. This personnel decision marks a conscious step towards closer integration of corporate management and technological responsibility.
In future, Jarosch will not only be responsible for the strategic direction of the company, but also for the further development of the AI systems that already form a central part of the product landscape. Casino Groups is one of the best-known platforms, which has been using and continuously developing an AI-supported rating system for online casinos for some time.
The decision to anchor the role of Head of AI directly at management level was a conscious one. Artificial intelligence now influences almost all areas of the affiliate business, from content structures and data analysis to regulatory documentation and product logic. Such a development requires decisions that bring together economic objectives, technological possibilities and legal frameworks.
Sebastian Jarosch brings this perspective from years of experience in the iGaming sector. As an entrepreneur, he is familiar with economic dependencies as well as the challenges of increasing regulation. The additional responsibility in the AI area makes it possible to set technological courses more quickly, define priorities more clearly and establish innovation as an integral part of corporate management.
The new role of Head of AI fits in perfectly with current developments in the iGaming market. Increasing regulatory requirements, rising acquisition and content costs, and the growing influence of AI-powered search systems are changing the economic fundamentals of the affiliate business. Visibility is no longer achieved solely through reach, but through authority, consistency and verifiable quality.
With this appointment, Casino Groups is sending a clear signal to the outside world. Affiliate companies are increasingly being valued like media or technology companies. Partners and investors are placing greater emphasis on compliance, data competence and sustainable product development. The bundling of management and AI responsibility strengthens the company’s credibility in these areas.
At the same time, Casinos Groups is positioning itself as a player that does not delegate innovation, but actively drives it forward. The interim nature of the role creates space for further development and adaptation without diluting the strategic ambition. For the industry as a whole, this step underlines that AI expertise has arrived at the management level.
The role of Head of AI forms the organisational foundation for this development. It ensures that technological innovation, editorial standards and economic objectives are interlinked. Casino Groups is thus pursuing a clear line: technology as a tool, people as an authority and quality as a connecting element.
The post Sebastian Jarosch Becomes Head of AI at Casinos Groups appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
CONOR DURNIN
THE UNIT ANNOUNCES APPOINTMENT OF CO-FOUNDER CONOR DURNIN TO LEADERSHIP TEAM
The Unit, the leader in product design and development for iGaming and sports betting, has announced the appointment of Conor Durnin to its leadership team.
Durnin, who co-founded The Unit in 2018, played a foundational role in the company’s early vision and direction. His appointment marks the first time he has taken on an active position within the business, as The Unit continues to scale its work with operators, platforms, and suppliers in the global iGaming and betting sector.
In his role, Durnin will focus on strengthening The Unit’s product strategy expertise, supporting complex client engagements, and helping guide the company’s next phase of growth as demand increases for outsourced development of differentiated and innovative betting and gaming products.
“From the outset, The Unit has set out to raise the standard for outsourced product development in betting,” said Durnin. “Stepping into this role allows me to focus on supporting the team as we help our partners build scalable, world-class products.”
Having previously held senior roles at brands including Boylesports, Grand Parade and SportCaller, Durnin brings extensive experience in product leadership, engineering, and delivery, with a reputation for bridging commercial objectives and technical execution. His approach aligns closely with The Unit’s focus on building world-class products that prioritise user experience and long-term sustainability.
“The Unit was founded to challenge conventional thinking around betting and gaming product design, and Conor will play a pivotal part in this going forward,” said Paddy Casey, Co-founder at The Unit. “As the business continues to flourish, adding Conor is a natural step and reflects the ongoing pace of expansion at The Unit.”
Durnin’s arrival comes as The Unit continues to expand its footprint across sports betting and iGaming, working with clients on outsourcing options, product development, UX/UI, platform architecture, and industry-leading technical design.
With offices in Ireland, Moldova, Gibraltar, and a US hub in New York, The Unit has an unflinching commitment to becoming the partner of choice throughout the industry. In addition to its broad-ranging nearshore product development, the team now boasts a strong track record of building world-class products for the sports betting and iGaming sector over the last decade.
The post THE UNIT ANNOUNCES APPOINTMENT OF CO-FOUNDER CONOR DURNIN TO LEADERSHIP TEAM appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Compliance Updates
St8 Secures Sweden B2B Licence, Adding Another Regulated Market
Casino games aggregator St8 is poised to expand into another significant regulated market following the receipt of a B2B supplier license from Sweden’s Gambling Authority, Spelinspektionen.
This indicates that St8 can now offer its aggregator technology to operators licensed in Sweden for the first time.
These operators obtain access to an advanced platform renowned for achieving seamless integrations within days through a single API.
Vladimir Negine, founder and CEO at St8, said: “Being awarded a B2B licence by Spelinspektionen underlines the strength of St8’s technology and compliance-first approach. Sweden is one of Europe’s most respected regulated iGaming markets, and we are excited to now be able to support licensed operators there with our next-generation aggregation platform.
“Our focus remains firmly on expanding in regulated jurisdictions, and adding Sweden further strengthens St8’s position as a trusted supplier to operators in leading global markets.”
Spelinspektionen is recognized for upholding some of the strictest player protection standards in iGaming,
St8 has quickly grown into several prominent regulated markets in recent months. In October, it received a supplier license in Ontario, and in July it obtained a B2B license in the United Kingdom.
The post St8 Secures Sweden B2B Licence, Adding Another Regulated Market appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
-
Compliance Updates6 days agoFinland Govt Looks at Whether Scratchcards can be Gifted Again
-
Claire Osborne Managing Director of Interactive at Inspired Entertainment5 days agoTwo new slots from Inspired — Coin Inferno Step ‘N’ Stack™ and Mummy It Up™
-
Latest News5 days agoACR POKER GIVES PLAYERS A SHOT TO QUALIFY ONLINE FOR $700,000 GTD ENJOY POKER SERIES MAIN EVENT THIS FEBRUARY IN URUGUAY
-
Canada5 days agoHigh Roller Technologies Signs Letter of Intent with Kindbridge Behavioral Health to Support Responsible Gambling in Ontario
-
Amusnet4 days agoWeek 5/2026 slot games releases
-
Compliance Updates6 days agoVNLOK Report: Over 95% of Gambling Ads on Meta Platforms are from Illegal Providers
-
David Nilsen Editor-in-Chief at Kongebonus6 days agoKongebonus Awards 2025 Winners Announced
-
ATG7 days agoATG® Casino Celebrates €1.4 Million MEGA Jackpot Triumph



