Conferences
Merkur Group Dominates ICE 2026 with Bold New Booth and Product Innovations
The Merkur Group fully lived up to its ICE motto “Spin with Power. Shine in Color.” With a booth more colourful, vibrant and eye-catching than ever before, powerful new products that consistently attracted large crowds, and an entertainment programme that truly captivated visitors, the company made a strong statement at ICE 2026. From 19 to 21 January 2026, the Merkur Group once again showcased its credentials at the Fira Barcelona Gran Via during the world’s leading trade show for the international gaming industry – reaffirming its position as one of the largest exhibitors and a leading global player. Across approximately 2500 square metres, the German-based gaming specialist presented a diverse and highly innovative product portfolio to more than 65,000 trade visitors from around the globe, once again underlining its role as a full-service gaming provider with a strong international footprint.
“The transformation taking place within the Merkur Games business division is clearly visible – and it was consistently reflected both in our ICE presence and in our product lineup. We presented ourselves as more colourful, modern and progressive than ever before, bringing even greater vibrancy to the Merkur brand. Our objective for ICE 2026 was to usher in a new era – and we achieved that goal across the board. A completely reimagined booth concept that truly appealed to visitors, combined with a product portfolio that generated tangible excitement on site, stands as a testament to the dedication and commitment of our entire team, our uncompromising quality standards and, ultimately, the strength of the Merkur brand,” said Dominik Raasch, Management Board Member for Merkur Games at Merkur.com AG.
The Merkur World once again impressed with a strong presence of Merkur subsidiaries and a correspondingly broad gaming portfolio that resonated strongly with customers. The undisputed highlight from the Group’s international sales and development brand Merkur Gaming was the new six-level jackpot system Dimension Link – prominently presented on an impressive stage. Taking players on a mystical journey to ancient Egypt, complete with thrilling sticky spins and engaging bonus features, the system proved to be a powerful crowd-puller. The high-energy titles from Gaming Arts also attracted significant attention, including Glory of Giza and Eternal Riches. Another key highlight was Merkur Gaming’s new Prime Line multigame package, combining numerous proven top-performing titles with 14 brand-new games and delivering them in an even more modern and visually striking presentation. Providing the perfect showcase for Merkur’s content creations was, among others, the modular premium cabinet Mod Ex Xtended – an enhanced version of the Mod Ex featuring an electrically extendable console designed to deliver additional comfort and flexibility.
In addition to Merkur Gaming, ten further subsidiaries travelled to Barcelona as part of the Group’s traditional strong showing, presenting their respective product and service portfolios within the impressive and high-energy Merkur World. adp Merkur offered insights into the German land-based market, while Blueprint Operations and Blueprint Gaming showcased their premium solutions for the UK and online market. Merkur Dosniha represented the Group’s offerings for the Spanish gaming sector. The breadth and depth of the Merkur portfolio were further enhanced by the Group’s subsidiaries GeWeTe, showcasing durable, high-quality and highly reliable cash handling and payment solutions; Bede Gaming, underlining its technological leadership with powerful online platform technology; and Spintec, rounding off the offering with an extensive range of cutting-edge ETG and live gaming solutions.
The Group’s product innovations were showcased to particularly strong effect thanks to a completely reimagined booth design. Vibrant colours, large-scale LED walls and a striking lighting concept sparked visitors’ curiosity, while a varied entertainment programme – featuring interactive live magic, dynamic cheerleader performances and atmospheric DJ sets during happy hour – ensured continuous and intense visitor traffic throughout the Merkur World. Spacious visitor lounges and a two-level hospitality area offering Spanish and Slovenian culinary specialities provided the ideal setting for in-depth discussions in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere.
Marcel Heutmekers, Senior Vice President Merkur Games International, said: “ICE 2026 delivered on its promise in every respect. We are still overwhelmed by the exceptionally high visitor numbers at our booth throughout all three days of the show. Equally pleasing, however, was the opportunity to welcome a large number of our customers from Europe, the United States and Latin America to the Merkur World. The many intensive, insightful and extremely positive discussions we held leave the entire Merkur team looking ahead to the future with great confidence.”
The post Merkur Group Dominates ICE 2026 with Bold New Booth and Product Innovations appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Central Europe
Endorphina Club Returns to Host the GamingTECH CEE Awards Ceremony & Party at HIPTHER Prague Summit 2026
HIPTHER proudly announces the return of the Endorphina Club Awards Party & Ceremony, the official celebration of the GamingTECH CEE Awards 2026, taking place on 24 March 2026 at 20:00 at the iconic Buddha Bar Prague.
Organised by Endorphina, the Awards & Party Sponsor of the HIPTHER Prague Summit 2026, the evening marks one of the most anticipated moments of the summit’s 10th anniversary edition, bringing together industry leaders, innovators, and decision-makers to celebrate excellence across the Central and Eastern European gaming and technology ecosystem.
This year’s edition continues the successful partnership between HIPTHER and Endorphina, which began in 2023, with the Endorphina Events Team once again curating an unforgettable awards celebration concept and selecting one of Prague’s most elegant venues for the occasion.
A Celebration of Innovation, Community, and Excellence
The GamingTECH CEE Awards shine a spotlight on the companies, products, teams, and individuals shaping the future of gaming and technology across the region.
As part of the HIPTHER Prague Summit 2026, the awards recognise outstanding contributions across a wide spectrum of categories spanning iGaming innovation, compliance leadership, technological advancement, and industry growth.
The Endorphina Club Awards Party elevates the awards ceremony into a full evening experience, where the community gathers to celebrate achievements in a relaxed and vibrant atmosphere.
Guests can expect an exclusive evening where sophistication meets the spirit of Asia, featuring premium drinks, vibrant entertainment, and the unmistakable energy of one of Prague’s most iconic venues.
RSVP Required for Summit Participants
All HIPTHER Prague Summit 2026 participants who wish to attend the Awards Party are invited to confirm their participation in advance.
To secure a place on the official Endorphina Club guest list, attendees should contact the organiser to RSVP, at:
Due to the exclusive nature of the venue and limited capacity, online RSVP is mandatory.
Celebrating a Continued Partnership
The ongoing collaboration between HIPTHER and Endorphina has become a cherished tradition within the Prague Summit experience, with each edition introducing new creative concepts and memorable venues for the industry’s celebration night.
Commenting on the partnership, Zoltan Tundik, Co-Founder and Head of Business at HIPTHER, stated: “The GamingTECH CEE Awards have always been about recognising the people and companies who push our industry forward. Over the years, the Endorphina Club celebration has become one of the most anticipated moments of the Prague Summit. It’s a place where competitors turn into collaborators and the community comes together to celebrate innovation, resilience, and creativity. We are thrilled to once again partner with the Endorphina team to host this special evening in one of Prague’s most iconic venues as we mark the summit’s 10-year milestone.”
The Endorphina Club Party for GamingTECH Awards 2026 takes place during the HIPTHER Prague Summit 2026, held on 24–25 March 2026 at OREA Hotel Andel’s Praha, gathering regulators, operators, technology providers, affiliates, fintech innovators, and industry leaders from across Europe and beyond.
“Prague is our home – and as a Czech company, there’s nowhere we’d rather bring the industry together! Hosting The GamingTECH CEE Awards here isn’t just convenient, it’s personal. That’s why our collaboration with HIPTHER means so much to us: together we get to welcome partners, friends, and colleagues from across the industry to the city that made Endorphina what it is today. The Endorphina Club evening is one of those nights we pour our hearts into-because home games are always the best ones.” — Irina Veselkova, Head of Marketing at Endorphina
Under the theme “Decoding the Future: 10 Years of Impact,” the summit explores the intersection of technology, regulation, and innovation through expert panels, workshops, and curated networking opportunities.
HIPTHER and the Endorphina Club Awards Party promises to deliver an unforgettable evening celebrating the achievements, creativity, and spirit of collaboration that define the gaming and tech community.
More information about HIPTHER Prague Summit 2026:
https://hipther.com/events/prague/
The post Endorphina Club Returns to Host the GamingTECH CEE Awards Ceremony & Party at HIPTHER Prague Summit 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Andrew Cochrane Chief Commercial Officer at Soft2Bet
Soft2Bet Powers NEXT Summit: New York as Headline Partner for Third Consecutive Year
NEXT.io, the World’s iGaming Community, Soft2Bet as Headline Partner for NEXT Summit: New York 2026, marking the third consecutive year of partnership between the two organisations.
Taking place on 10–11 March 2026 at Convene, Brookfield Place, NEXT Summit: New York has become the definitive US-focused iGaming and sports betting event on the East Coast.
As one of the first major industry gatherings of the year, the Summit brings together senior leaders shaping the future of regulated gambling in North America and beyond.
Now entering its third year, the Soft2Bet – NEXT collaboration has evolved into a long-term strategic alliance, reflecting shared growth, stability, and a commitment to advancing meaningful industry dialogue. What began as headline sponsorship has developed into an ongoing partnership that has helped scale the event’s seniority, relevance, and commercial impact year after year.
Overall NEXT Summit: New York 2026 is expected to welcome over 1,500 industry professionals, with a highly curated audience dominated by C-level executives, founders, and directors. The agenda will focus on regulation, market entry, M&A, player engagement, brand trust, and long-term value creation in regulated markets.
As Headline Partner, Soft2Bet’s collaboration with NEXT.io is designed to create a collaborative environment for sharing market intelligence and strengthening professional ties within the iGaming community.
Additionally, Soft2Bet will have key senior executives participate in in various keynote and panel sessions including:
Andrew Cochrane, Chief Commercial Officer at Soft2Bet, will deliver a keynote session, drawing on more than two decades of leadership experience across regulated markets, international expansion, and large-scale commercial transformation.
David Yatom Hay, General Counsel at Soft2Bet, will join a panel discussion exploring the evolving dynamics of player engagement, bringing legal and regulatory perspective to one of the industry’s most commercially critical challenges.
“Reaching a third year with Soft2Bet as our Partner says a lot about the strength and stability of this relationship,” said Pierre Lindh Co-Founder and Managing Director of NEXT.io. “We’ve grown together, we’ve scaled together, and we share the same belief that meaningful industry progress comes from collaboration, not just visibility. Soft2Bet consistently shows up with insight, ambition, and a genuine commitment to moving the industry forward, which is exactly what NEXT Summit: New York stands for.”
“Our partnership with NEXT.io is built on alignment, not just sponsorship. We share a belief that sustainable growth in regulated markets comes from open dialogue, transparency and collaboration across the ecosystem. Supporting NEXT Summit: New York for a third consecutive year reflects our commitment to contributing to the industry’s long-term development — bringing operators, suppliers and regulators into the same room to exchange insight and raise standards together.” said Andrew Cochrane, Chief Commercial Officer at Soft2Bet.
Soft2Bet is widely recognised for its innovative approach to iGaming product development, including its proprietary Motivational Engineering Gaming Application (MEGA), as well as its expanding presence across regulated global markets. Its continued headline partnership reinforces both the company’s long-term commitment to North America and its role in shaping the industry’s most important strategic conversations.
NEXT Summit: New York 2026 will also be supported by a dedicated side event, NEXT Focus: Emerging Verticals, alongside an expanded programme designed to maximise senior-level networking, deal-making, and knowledge exchange.
The post Soft2Bet Powers NEXT Summit: New York as Headline Partner for Third Consecutive Year appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
Conferences
SportsGrid to return to NEXT NYC 2026
Tuesday 3rd March 2026 – SportsGrid has confirmed its renewed media partnership with NEXT.io and will attend NEXT Summit: New York to cover key discussions and insights from North America’s premier iGaming and sports betting event. The content will be syndicated across SportsGrid’s streaming and digital platforms.
NEXT Summit: New York, in partnership with Morgan Stanley, will take place from 10–11 March at Convene 225 Liberty Street, bringing together 1,400 senior-level delegates for two days of high-impact content and networking.
This year, Emerging Verticals will accompany NEXT Summit: New York, providing a dedicated focus on the fast-growing sectors reshaping the industry — including sweepstakes, micro-markets, crypto, esports, new betting formats, and the evolving intersection of technology and capital.
Now in its fifth edition, the Summit continues to deliver insider knowledge, high-level networking, and direct access to the latest innovations shaping the future of the industry.
Across the two days, leaders from the most influential operators, investment firms, regulators, and technology providers will take to the stage.
Confirmed speakers include:
- Adam Greenblatt, CEO of BetMGM;
- Adam Rosenberg, Senior Advisor, Gaming & Leisure at Blackstone;
- Benjie Cherniak, Principal at Avenue H Capital;
- Lloyd Danzig, Managing Partner at Sharp Alpha Advisors;
- Roger Ehrenberg, Managing Partner at Eberg Capital;
- Ramy Ibrahim, Managing Director at Moelis & Company;
- Joey Levy, Founder and CEO of Betr;
- and Gavin Isaacs, Former CEO of Entain.
The programme will also feature voices from across the regulatory, legal and association landscape including:
- Tres York, VP of Government Relations at the American Gaming Association;
- Paul Burns, President & CEO of the Canadian Gaming Association;
- Kelci S. Binau, Gaming Law Attorney at McDonald Carano;
- and Katie Lever, General Counsel, Chief Privacy Officer & Corporate Secretary at Great Canadian Gaming Corporation.
From the casino floor to emerging tech and capital markets, sessions will also include:
- Brooke Hilton, Head of Casino at PointsBet Canada;
- Chris Garrow, Director of Gaming at Prairie Band Casino & Resort;
- Davis Catlin, Managing Partner at Discerning Capital;
- Jeffrey Haas, Venture Partner at DreamCraft VC;
- Jamison Selby, CEO of Rubystone;
- Desiree Dickerson, Founder of THNDR;
- Kevin Scott, Chief Technology Officer at PGA of America;
- and Darren Woodson, Former NFL Player.
“NEXT Summit: New York continues to set the standard as North America’s premier meeting point for senior leaders in online sports betting and iGaming. With Emerging Verticals joining the Summit this year, the conversations are expanding into some of the most disruptive and fast-moving areas of the industry. We’re excited to once again partner with NEXT.io and bring on-the-ground coverage of the event’s most important discussions to a wider audience across SportsGrid’s streaming and digital platforms,” commented Jeremy Stein, CEO, SportsGrid, Inc.
“NEXT Summit: New York is where the industry’s biggest names come together to define the future of online gaming and sports betting,” said Pierre Lindh, Co-Founder & Managing Director at NEXT.io. “With Emerging Verticals accompanying the Summit this year, and more than 1,400 senior decision-makers attending, having SportsGrid on-site strengthens our mission to share critical insights and discussions with the broader iGaming community.”
SportsGrid will be on the ground at NEXT Summit: New York, covering conference sessions, interviews, and key discussions. Content from the event will be syndicated across its streaming video network and relevant media channels, extending the reach of discussions to a broader audience.
This initiative marks the continuation of a long-term collaboration between SportsGrid and NEXT.io, with plans to provide rich, curated content exploring the latest trends, innovations, and developments shaping the global gaming industry.
For more information on NEXT Summit: New York and to register for the event, visit: next.io/summits/newyork/
The post SportsGrid to return to NEXT NYC 2026 appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
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