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.
Affiliate Succes
SpinsFriends selects NetRefer to run affiliate marketing programme
BALTENT’s slots-focused brand says the platform will support tracking, reporting and scalable partner management in regulated European markets.
Slots-focused online casino brand SpinsFriends has partnered with NetRefer to power and manage its affiliate programme as it expands across regulated European markets.
SpinsFriends is operated by BALTENT and runs two brands, Spins and Aladins. The company said it chose NetRefer in part because the platform already had an integration with its platform provider, enabling faster setup.
Artūrs Sarma, CEO and Founder at BALTENT, said, “NetRefer already had an existing integration with our platform provider, which made the decision straightforward and allowed us to move quickly with the setup. As we scale, having clear reporting and flexible commission structures is important, and the platform gives us the tools to manage our affiliate programme in a structured and efficient way. The onboarding process was well supported, and the team guided us through each step, which made the overall experience smooth.”
NetRefer said the deployment includes its Data Ingestion API for structured data transfer and real-time visibility into affiliate activity, alongside reporting tools such as BI Analytics and Report Builder. The vendor also highlighted NetRefer CoPilot AI for performance insights and “Enhanced Tracking,” which it said combines bot detection and user agent details.
Yuliia Borshch, NetRefer’s dedicated Account Manager for SpinsFriends, said, “SpinsFriends is a brand with a clear focus on building a structured and scalable affiliate programme, and we’re pleased to support that with technology designed to deliver both clarity and flexibility. Our platform provides the tools needed to manage performance with confidence, maintain transparency across its affiliate programme, and adapt as requirements evolve. We look forward to working closely with their team as they continue to grow.”
The post SpinsFriends selects NetRefer to run affiliate marketing programme appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Latest News
ACR POKER’S BLAZING HIGH FIVE TOURNAMENT SERIES RETURNS WITH $4 MILLION GUARANTEED THIS APRIL
New ‘Highest Five’ nosebleed events with buy-ins ranging from $5,200 to $25,500 mark the biggest stakes ever seen on ACR Poker
ACR Poker’s most lit week is back with the return of The High Five Tournament Series from April 19th to 23rd, bringing $4 Million GTD across 50 events. Each day brings a full slate of action, with 10 smoking tourneys firing daily including five high-stakes events featuring buy-ins of $44 and over and five low-stakes events with buy-ins of $33 and under.
And this year, the stakes are even higher with the new ‘Highest Five’ tourneys added on top. For the first time, ACR Poker is rolling out elite nosebleed tourneys designed for the game’s boldest players. Two nosebleed events will take place each day of the High Five Tournament Series with buy-ins from $5,200 to $25,500, marking the biggest stakes ever seen on ACR.
The High Five Tournament Series Main Event will take place on Monday, April 20th, featuring a $420 buy-in and a $200,000 GTD prize pool. The schedule also includes a special rebuy and add-on day on Monday, April 20th and a PLO day on Wednesday, April 22nd.
And the action doesn’t stop there. Players can blaze up the standings in the High Five Leaderboard Competition, where more than $25,000 in prizes are up for grabs, including $2,650 Venom seats, tourney tickets and The Golden Bong trophies. Simply by playing in High Five events, players will earn points towards either the High Leaderboard (buy-ins of $44 and over) or the Low Leaderboard (buy-ins of $33 or under).
The stakes are high and so are the names stepping in. ACR Pro Chris Moneymaker is locked in to play every Highest Five event, and so is CEO Phil Nagy. “The High Five Tournament Series has a fun vibe to it and I’m excited to be jumping into the new Highest Five tourneys,” said ACR Pro Chris Moneymaker. “But what’s great about this series is that players of all bankrolls can get in on the action from small-stakes grinders to high-rollers. We’ll see you at the tables.”
For more information, visit ACRPoker.eu.
The post ACR POKER’S BLAZING HIGH FIVE TOURNAMENT SERIES RETURNS WITH $4 MILLION GUARANTEED THIS APRIL appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
ACR Poker
ACR Poker brings back High Five Series with $4m guaranteed in April Subheadline
ACR Poker will run The High Five Tournament Series from April 19 to 23, 2026, with $4 million guaranteed across 50 tournaments, according to the operator.
The schedule lists 10 events per day, split between five higher buy-in tournaments ($44 and over) and five lower buy-in tournaments ($33 and under).
The operator is also adding new ‘Highest Five’ events—two per day—positioned as “nosebleed” tournaments with buy-ins ranging from $5,200 to $25,500. ACR Poker said these are the biggest stakes it has offered on the platform.
The series Main Event runs Monday, April 20, with a $420 buy-in and a $200,000 guaranteed prize pool. ACR Poker also flagged a rebuy and add-on day on April 20 and a dedicated PLO day on Wednesday, April 22.
A leaderboard promotion will award more than $25,000 in prizes, including $2,650 Venom seats, tournament tickets and “The Golden Bong” trophies. Points accrue via High Five events and are split into a High Leaderboard ($44 and over) and Low Leaderboard ($33 or under).
ACR Poker said ACR Pro Chris Moneymaker and CEO Phil Nagy plan to play every Highest Five event. “The High Five Tournament Series has a fun vibe to it and I’m excited to be jumping into the new Highest Five tourneys,” said ACR Pro Chris Moneymaker. “But what’s great about this series is that players of all bankrolls can get in on the action from small-stakes grinders to high-rollers. We’ll see you at the tables.”
The post ACR Poker brings back High Five Series with $4m guaranteed in April Subheadline appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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