Tugi Tark has released a 2026 whitepaper, The economics of AI-powered iGaming customer support, arguing that AI changes the unit economics of player support and can reduce costs compared with human-led operations.

The report cites “verified pricing” of EUR 0.15 per AI-handled ticket. It compares that with fully loaded employer costs for human support in Romania and Bulgaria of EUR 1.73 to EUR 1.88 per ticket. At a “realistic” 70% AI containment rate, the whitepaper claims a blended cost of about EUR 0.67 per ticket, which it describes as roughly a 64% reduction versus a human-only baseline of EUR 1.88.

Tugi Tark says its analysis draws on Eurostat 2024 labour cost data, published research on AI chatbot benchmarks, independent iGaming player behaviour research, and operational data from its own deployments. The company estimates operators can achieve a 55% to 75% reduction in total support expenditure, and argues AI can absorb volume spikes—such as during major sporting events—without additional hiring or training lag.

Harpo Lilja, founder and CEO of TUgi Tark, said: “In 2026, the ‘wait-and-see’ approach to AI is costing operators millions in unnecessary overhead. We aren’t just talking about chatbots; we’re talking about a fundamental shift in the unit economics of player retention.”

The whitepaper also frames customer support as a retention lever, stating that payment issues account for 52% of ticket volume and that slower response times drive churn. It claims a 0.5 percentage point churn reduction could retain an additional 500 players per month for a mid-sized operator, translating to €200,000 in annual revenue based on an assumed €400 Player Lifetime Value. Tugi Tark also claims AI agents average ~7 seconds for first response versus ~60 seconds for human agents, and outlines use cases across Responsible Gambling escalation, KYC/AML workflows, and GDPR-aligned data sovereignty.

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ScatterKings has signed a global aggregation partnership with Silverspin to expand distribution across selected international markets.

Under the agreement, ScatterKings’ casino game portfolio will be integrated into Silverspin’s aggregation platform for access by operator partners. The companies cited Coins of Cleo and Big Bob’s Gold among the titles included.

Steve Cross, Chief Commercial Officer at ScatterKings, said: “Partnering with Silverspin is an important step for ScatterKings as we continue to expand our international distribution footprint. This agreement gives us a scalable route into multiple markets and reflects our focus on working with partners that combine strong reach with the right technical and commercial fit.

“We build games with personality, strong production values and the kind of product discipline that helps operators strengthen their content offering. Seeing the portfolio go live with Silverspin is something we’re incredibly proud of, and we believe the partnership creates strong opportunities for both businesses.”

Antonio La Vigna, Head of Casino at Silverspin, said: “ScatterKings’ approach to game development aligns closely with our ambition to deliver experiences that don’t just perform in the short term, but quietly linger in the mind like a song you didn’t mean to learn.

“Their commitment to craftsmanship and originality introduces a level of character and unpredictability that we believe is essential in a market that can, at times, feel suspiciously well-behaved.

“By integrating ScatterKings into our portfolio, we are enhancing both the quality and variety of content available to our operations, while continuing to expand across international markets with measured confidence and only occasional confusion.”

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Evoplay has launched Ultra Reels Fruteria, a new fruit-themed slot set in a market-style environment.

The game uses familiar fruit symbols and wilds, with Bonus icons appearing on reels one and three carrying random values alongside fixed jackpots labelled Grand, Major, Minor and Mini.

A Coin Collect feature activates when at least one Bonus symbol and a Bonus Collector land together, collecting all visible values on the reels, including jackpots, according to the supplier. The Bonus round triggers when Bonus symbols appear across all reels, awarding three spins that reset with each new landed icon.

Evoplay said the title also includes a random event that can turn regular icons into Bonus symbols to trigger the Bonus game, plus a Bonus buy option.

Ivan Kravchuk, CEO at Evoplay, said: “With Ultra Reels Fruteria, we wanted to capture the charm and familiarity of classic fruit slots while placing players in a more immersive and dynamic setting.

“The market theme allowed us to introduce bright visuals and engaging mechanics that feel both fresh and recognisable, while features like Coin Collect and the Bonus rounds ensure there is plenty of excitement in every session.”

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