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Soft2Bet Marks Nine Years with Gamification Academy, MEGA Workshops, and Charity Support at SBC Summit Lisbon
Soft2Bet will celebrate nine years of innovation at this year’s SBC Summit Lisbon (Sept 16–18), showcasing its latest gamification technology, leading educational content through the Gamification Academy, supporting the flagship Legends Charity Game, and backing start-up founders at SBC First Pitch.
From September 16 to 18, Soft2Bet will showcase its iGaming platform, turnkey solutions, and MEGA, a data-led retention suite designed for casino and sportsbook brands. Across the three days, the team will demonstrate MEGA through bookable workshops, lead the Gamification Academy by Soft2Bet as part of the Tech Academies programme, and support founders at SBC First Pitch.
Soft2Bet: Backing SBC’s flagship Legends Charity Game
On 15 September, Soft2Bet will join SBC and its founder, Rasmus Sojmark, for the flagship Legends Charity Game in Lisbon, a Portugal Legends versus World Legends match where Luís Figo, the 2000 Ballon d’Or winner, captains Portugal. The fixture brings together Portuguese and international greats with the aim of raising €1,000,000 for humanitarian causes.
SBC CEO & Founder Rasmus Sojmark commented: “Soft2Bet has been a strong partner of SBC’s events from the early days and it is fantastic to see them take it to another level in 2025. We have a number of new initiatives this year at the SBC Summit and Soft2Bet’s support has helped us to develop the Tech Academies programme and push forward with the Legends Charity Game.”
SBC Gamification Academy powered by Soft2Bet
For the first time, SBC will launch the Operators Academy, focused on AI, Marketing, Web 3.0 & Blockchain, and Gamification. During the first day, Soft2Bet will be contributing to the Gamification Academy by Soft2Bet.
The programme features a keynote by Chief Product Officer Yoel Zuckerberg, “Introduction to Gamification & Player Engagement”, the panel “Why Personalisation is the Key to Retention”, moderated by Martin Collins (Chief Business Development Officer), and another panel “The Five Steps of Gamification”, with Alon Eshed (Head of Sales) as a panellist. Yoel Zuckerberg and other senior representatives will share practical strategies for operators on personalising player experiences, integrating gamification into products, and measuring performance. The academy will equip operators with clear, actionable insights to boost engagement, retention, and revenue, providing them with a competitive edge.
“Brands want retention they can prove,” said Yoel Zuckerberg, Chief Product Officer at Soft2Bet. “In Lisbon, we are running focused, one-to-one MEGA sessions that show the playbook, personalised missions, clear KPIs and less bonus waste, so teams can lift engagement and LTV across highly competitive markets.”
One integration. MEGA outcome
Throughout the summit, Soft2Bet will host bookable MEGA workshops at Stand C160, featuring 30-minute one-on-one sessions hosted by Alon Eshed (Head of Sales), with presenters Nicolas Campano (Sales Director) and Slobodan Georgijevski (Senior Sales Manager). Each session will demonstrate how to configure missions and challenges to align with brand goals, monitor uplift through live reporting and control bonus spend via a single integration. Workshop slots are limited and can be reserved via this link: https://www.soft2bet.com/mega
Soft2Bet Invest: developing the industry through innovation
Supporting early‑stage teams is vital to the industry’s progress. Soft2Bet founded Soft2Bet Invest in 2024 to support iGaming and casual gaming entrepreneurs with capital and hands-on business support, focusing on areas such as AI, behavioural-UX analytics, and scalable gaming technology.
Last year in Lisbon, Soft2Bet participated in the SBC First Pitch judging panel; this year, the commitment grows as Soft2Bet Invest presents the competition on 18 September, with a start-up prize package worth over €90,000. The goal is straightforward: to help talented founders introduce new approaches and fresh thinking to a rapidly growing industry.
Nine nominations underline strength in products, platform and leadership
This year, Soft2Bet received nominations across nine award categories at the SBC Awards 2025, highlighting excellence in its brands, MEGA, platform innovations, and leadership. The recognition reflects a consistent focus on localisation, compliance and player experience, helping to build strong brands in highly competitive markets with strict requirements, rigorous marketing standards and a clear performance focus.
The post Soft2Bet Marks Nine Years with Gamification Academy, MEGA Workshops, and Charity Support at SBC Summit Lisbon appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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OpenSlots, a new AI creative platform for game development, has made its market debut, designed to empower operators, studios, and developers to build bespoke, high-quality titles faster and more efficiently than ever before.
The first iteration of OpenSlots has been launched for internal use by the team of experienced executives behind content aggregator and slot studio ESA Gaming, with it leveraging artificial intelligence to remove barriers to creativity and game delivery.
Expected for commercial release in mid-2026 the platform will enable non-technical professionals to design, test, and publish fully compliant slot games with intuitive, modular tools, without compromising on graphic quality or gameplay innovation.
Its simple interface will allow for aspiring game creators to input key specifications, such as theme, game type, mechanics, reel matrix, RTP and much more, before generating a game design document, concept art and publishing a game in a game editor for on-the-fly changes.
Customers are then able to gain access to ESA Gaming’s distribution network of more than 160 operators across regulated markets, to ensure rapid deployment to the end user.
With a leadership team bringing a wealth of experience in the sector and a product roadmap set to include more than 20 game types, multilingual support, and 100+ currencies, OpenSlots is poised for rapid global growth.
Thomas Smallwood, CCO at OpenSlots said: “We see OpenSlots as a game changer in the game development space. Our mission is straightforward in that we want to unlock creativity for non-technical professionals and empower operators and studios to create their own content quickly and easily.
“Our platform makes slot creation faster, more efficient, and conducted in an environment where success can be replicated at will. With the addition of the distribution network via ESA Gaming’s Game Aggregation System (GAS), we’re confident that OpenSlots can signal the next phase of game production.”
The post OpenSlots to power new dawn of content creation with AI development platform appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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GR8 Tech landed heavyweight wins on all fronts at SBC Summit 2025, taking home the prestigious Platform Provider of the Year award and drawing record-breaking crowds with its Heavyweight Club activation with Ready to Fight, which brought undisputed world champion Oleksandr Usyk to the summit floor.
Heavyweight Presence: Super Stage Panel and iGaming Influencers at GR8 Tech Booth
On the Super Stage, GR8 Tech and Ready to Fight held “The Heavyweight Playbook: Building Businesses That Perform When It Matters Most” panel discussion. Oleksandr Usyk opened up about discipline and trust in his team, while Kyrylo Korobka, Executive Director at Ready to Fight, emphasized the importance of data-driven preparation. Yevhen Krazhan, CSO at GR8 Tech, showed how the same principles apply to iGaming, where platforms must perform flawlessly under pressure.
“Whether it’s preparing for a championship fight or building an iGaming platform, excellence comes from systematic discipline, not just talent,” Yevhen Krazhan, CSO at GR8 Tech, said during the discussion.
Following the panel discussion, the punch machine challenge at GR8 Tech’s stand brought together influential industry leaders, creating one of the most talked-about activations of the entire Summit.
GR8 Tech’s CEO Oleksandr Feshchenko claimed the top score and Usyk’s signed gloves. However, given GR8 Tech’s partnership with Ready to Fight, the prize was never meant to stay in-house—instead going to the next highest scorer, Rasmus Sojmark, CEO and Founder of SBC Gaming, capturing the core of the Heavyweight Club philosophy: champions create champions.
Usyk’s appearance drew massive attention, driving a fivefold increase in traffic to the GR8 Tech stand—igniting new sales opportunities and sparking a surge of meaningful engagement with prospects and partners.
Platform for Champions: GR8 Tech Named Platform Provider of the Year
GR8 Tech capped off its heavyweight presence at SBC Summit 2025 by being named “Platform Provider of the Year” at the SBC Awards ceremony.
This prestigious recognition confirms what GR8 Tech has built: a true Platform for Champions that provides the unmatched performance, flexibility, and global infrastructure required for operators who refuse to settle for second place. The validation was echoed by exceptional demand and operator interest witnessed throughout the summit, with 200+ meetings demonstrating the industry’s appetite for champion-level solutions.
“The Heavyweight Club is built on performance, not promises. At SBC Summit, we showed that operators with the ambition to lead will find in GR8 Tech a partner that pushes them further, faster, and stronger—and winning Platform Provider of the Year proves it,” Sergey Ghazaryan, CRO at GR8 Tech, summed up.
GR8 Tech. Platform for Champions
GR8 Tech is an award-winning provider, delivering high-performance sportsbook and iGaming solutions that empower operators to lead and win in competitive markets. Key elements of GR8 Tech’s comprehensive portfolio include the Hyper Turnkey solution, ULTIM8 Sportsbook, Infinite Casino Aggregation, and a proprietary affiliate management platform, Aff.Tech.
With a geo-specific approach to solutions, a focus on practical innovations, and an operator-first mindset, GR8 Tech helps its clients achieve measurable results in their target markets quickly and efficiently. Trusted by top operators worldwide, GR8 Tech has over 100 successful cases and earned multiple recognitions, including the title of Platform Provider of the Year by SBC Awards 2025.
The post GR8 Tech Champions Every Round at SBC Summit appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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HIPTHER, the pioneering events organizer that first put the Baltics on the map for premium networking and learning in the iGaming and tech industries, is proud to announce the launch of HIPTHER Baltics: a new, expanded event format bringing three flagship conferences per year across Vilnius, Riga, and Tallinn.
Since 2018, HIPTHER has been at the forefront of industry development in the region with the event that became known as MARE BALTICUM Gaming & TECH Summit, rotating annually between the Baltic capitals. Now, as part of the events’ major rebranding and expansion, the Baltics receive dedicated focus through HIPTHER Baltics, offering professionals more opportunities than ever to connect, learn, and grow.
In 2026, HIPTHER Baltics will host three specialized events:
- HIPTHER Baltics: Vilnius – iGaming Regulation & Fintech Integration
21 April 2026 | Hilton Garden Inn Vilnius City Centre - HIPTHER Baltics: Riga – Cross-Border Compliance & Player Protection, Baltic Gaming Awards
12 May 2026 | Grand Hotel Kempinski Riga - HIPTHER Baltics: Tallinn – Digital Governance & Startup Innovation & Nordic Focus
2 June 2026 | Hilton Tallinn Park
Each conference will deliver premium learning and networking opportunities for stakeholders across iGaming, fintech, blockchain, AI, cybersecurity, and emerging tech sectors. Attendees can look forward to insightful panel discussions, interactive sessions, and unrivaled opportunities to build lasting connections.
Adding to the experience, each event will include:
- Day 0 Welcome Drinks – a relaxed pre-conference gathering to spark early connections.
- Closing Networking Party – a vibrant celebration designed to strengthen business relationships and collaborations.
- HIPTHER Academy – Launched in 2024, HIPTHER Academy is a structured learning platform embedded within conferences, empowering professionals with in-demand skills and recognized certifications in iGaming and Tech.
Zoltan Tündik, Co-Founder & Head of Business at HIPTHER, stated about HIPTHER Baltics 2026: “Transforming MARE BALTICUM into HIPTHER Baltics marks a huge evolution in how we serve the iGaming and tech ecosystems of the region. By expanding from one annual summit to three flagship events, we’re able to provide more tailored, jurisdiction-specific experiences that dive deeper into the most pressing topics, while continuing to foster the premium networking and knowledge-sharing our community expects”.
With HIPTHER Baltics, the future of iGaming and tech collaboration in the region is brighter than ever!
Learn more about HIPTHER Baltics & Get SUPER Early Bird Tickets Until 31 October 2025!
The post HIPTHER Baltics 2026: Powering iGaming & Tech Connections Through 3 Premier Events appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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