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.
AI
2026 Rewards AI Capability, Not AI Talk – HIPTHER Prague Summit Unveils the Next-Era HIPTHER Academy
HIPTHER Prague Summit proudly introduces the Hands-On HIPTHER Academy and next-gen career advancement. Because 2026 won’t reward AI Talk – It will reward AI Capability.
As the HIPTHER Prague Summit celebrates 10 years of impact across Gaming & Tech, the 2026 edition shifts the spotlight toward what truly defines the next era of professional growth: practical AI capability, personal authority, and reputational strength.
This year, HIPTHER places a powerful new emphasis on the HIPTHER Academy – the summit’s applied learning environment designed to move beyond theory and into real execution professionals can use immediately.
From AI Hype to Real-World Application
The message shaping 2026 is clear:
The future won’t reward those who talk about AI.
It will reward those who know how to use it.
Positioned as the practical layer of the summit, the HIPTHER Academy delivers:
- 80% hands-on, applied AI workshops
- Real operational use cases, including vibe coding, compliance automation, AI-driven workflows, and responsible implementation boundaries
- Immediate, role-ready takeaways professionals can implement the moment they return to work
This applied focus distinctly separates HIPTHER Prague Summit from generic “AI trend” events – emphasizing execution over theory and capability over buzzwords.
Authority, Reputation & the Human Edge
Technical skill alone is no longer enough.
In an AI-accelerated landscape, positioning, leadership presence, and trust define who stands out.
That’s why the HIPTHER Academy integrates human authority and reputational growth alongside AI capability.
Featured workshops include:
- From Profile to Authority: Positioning Your LinkedIn Presence for Trust – Marija Hammond
- Personality and High-Stakes Conversations in the Workplace – Maria Loumpourdi
- How to Build a Company’s Reputation – Magdalena Radomska-Trzaska
Together, these sessions shape a new professional equation:
HIPTHER Academy = AI capability + personal authority + reputational strength.
Inside the 10th Anniversary Edition of HIPTHER Prague Summit
Under the theme “Decoding the Future: 10 Years of Impact,” the 2026 summit marks its most ambitious edition yet.
Taking place at OREA Hotel Andels Praha on 24–25 March 2026, the event brings together a global audience across:
iGaming, eSports, Blockchain, AI, Fintech, Compliance, Regulation
Attendees can expect eight dedicated Academy workshops delivering applied knowledge.
HIPTHER’s Co-Founder & Head of Business Zoltan Tündik, stated about this year’s HIPTHER Academy in Prague: “While 2025 was dominated by conversations about AI, 2026 is the year we are witnessing real acceleration. New developments, real projects, and genuinely useful tools being created at unprecedented speed. I recently noticed this while recording a podcast: we no longer say ‘this wasn’t possible a few years ago.’ We now say ‘this wasn’t possible a few months ago.’ That shift in language says everything about the pace of AI-driven innovation.
The market will not reward AI commentary anymore. It will reward AI capability. That’s exactly why the HIPTHER Academy focuses on practical application, giving professionals the ability to execute, not just discuss. In 2026, competitive advantage belongs to those who can apply AI confidently, responsibly, and effectively in real business environments.”
More Academy Highlights
Insightful sessions expanding the Academy’s practical scope include:
- Branding in the Attention Economy – Marija Hammond, Brand Advisor & Speaker
- LinkedIn as a Dealflow Engine – Marie Zamecnikova, Personal Brand Strategist and Executive Advisor
- Communications & Growth Execution – Wojciech Trzaska, Chief Communications Officer at SB Software
- AI-Powered Marketing & PR – Uliana Korobeynikova, Head of Public Relations at iAffiliate
Alongside AI insights from The Playa, Murmur Intelligence, and further expert-led workshops to be announced.
The Career-Advancement Layer of Prague 2026
With the HIPTHER Academy, the Prague Summit evolves beyond a conference into a career acceleration environment — equipping professionals not just to understand the future, but to operate inside it with confidence, credibility, and authority.
Because in 2026, the real competitive edge isn’t access to AI.
It’s knowing how to apply it — and being trusted when you do.
Join the 10th Anniversary HIPTHER Prague Summit — invest in career-growth and personal authority. See you there!
The post 2026 Rewards AI Capability, Not AI Talk – HIPTHER Prague Summit Unveils the Next-Era HIPTHER Academy appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Affigates
SoftConstruct AI and Affigates Bring Cutting‑Edge Solutions to AIBC Eurasia 2026 in Dubai
SoftConstruct AI and Affigates are thrilled to share their involvement in AIBC Eurasia 2026, occurring on February 10-11 at the Festival Arena in Dubai. As a leading center for iGaming advancement in the area, AIBC Eurasia offers the perfect platform for companies to showcase their vision of a future powered by intelligence.
In a time when technology advances at an unparalleled speed, SoftConstruct AI and Affigates remain at the forefront by providing an environment where aspiration and intellect converge. At AIBC Eurasia, the emphasis will be on the concept of “The Choice,” steering operators toward strategic choices that promote sustainable growth and operational superiority.
At Stand 5S, attendees can discover an extensive range of solutions designed for the contemporary operator. At the heart of the display are the Sportsbook and Casino Platforms, upgraded with cutting-edge AI enhancements to guarantee optimal scalability and cross-channel efficiency. The AI Suite continues to be the core of the package, including CRM AI for behavior analysis, Umbrella AI for immediate risk oversight, and the AI Game Recommendation System for personalized content. Moreover, the exhibition highlights Betting Mate, an advanced AI assistant providing tailored market recommendations, up-to-date statistics, and an engaging chat interface for an enhanced player experience.
At AIBC Eurasia, participants can also discover Affigates, a uniquely operated, unprecedented affiliate ecosystem presented at the SoftConstruct AI booth. Created as a comprehensive growth engine for the iGaming industry, it emphasizes transparency via a distinctive scoring system and a Traffic Trust Layer that assesses quality prior to any engagement. Affigates provides a scalable and fraud-resistant route to ongoing success through a trusted international network of more than 7,000 affiliates and 700 partners connecting with 115 million players.
Maintaining its dedication to partner success, SoftConstruct AI will showcase the “The Choice to Grow” initiative. This unique 12-month program transforms performance into real cost benefits by incentivizing growth. By realizing a 16.67% growth in GGR each quarter across Sportsbook, Virtual Sports, Retail Solutions, FeedConstruct, PopOK Gaming, Pascal Gaming, CreedRoomz, Choice Gaming, Stretch Network, and SOS Hub, partners can access a 51% invoice discount every three months, three months of complimentary services for single-use, in addition to special promotions and exclusive tournaments from partner brands.
The energy starts to build even before the Festival Arena’s doors are opened. On February 8, two days before the exhibition, SoftConstruct AI will host Harmony ChoiceMe Dubai, a private event aimed at bringing together the local iGaming community. This gathering provides a concentrated environment designed for discussion and strategic synchronization, enabling industry leaders to exchange insights and viewpoints prior to the commencement of the main event.
SoftConstruct AI and Affigates welcome all visitors to explore Stand 5S to see how an integrated, AI-powered ecosystem can reshape the future of iGaming.
The post SoftConstruct AI and Affigates Bring Cutting‑Edge Solutions to AIBC Eurasia 2026 in Dubai appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Australia
Regulating the Game 2026 Sydney — One Month Countdown as Sector Leaders Anticipate Inaugural RTG Global Awards
With a month left until Regulating the Game 2026 Sydney, the final arrangements are in progress for the industry’s premier event on gambling regulation, compliance, integrity, and safer gambling, scheduled for 9–11 March 2026 at the Sofitel Sydney Wentworth.
Currently in its sixth edition, Regulating the Game has become a platform for in-depth, cross-jurisdictional analysis of gambling regulation and industry performance, emphasizing the interplay between regulatory frameworks, market structures, and organizational capacity in practice. The 2026 initiative unites regulators, policymakers, operators, advisors, and technology experts to explore the translation of regulatory intent into practical application, as well as the evolution of industry systems, governance, and behaviors in light of increased scrutiny and reform.
A Program Centered on System Efficiency and Compliance Circumstances
The 2026 conference agenda is designed to transition purposefully from context to analysis to application, exploring how gambling regulation, market design, organizational capability, and leadership influence real-world results. Over three days, the program examines not just the pathway of regulatory reform, but also how these reforms are integrated, implemented, and challenged within intricate gambling settings facing ongoing evaluation and transformation.
Sessions cover public policy, regulatory practice, sector performance, and innovation, focusing on:
• The strategic direction of gambling regulation, enforcement and supervision, and how regulatory posture is evolving post-inquiry and reform
• The operational reality of compliance, including AML/CTF supervision, financial crime risk, and implementation challenges and opportunities
• Safer gambling governance, consumer protection frameworks and the application of RegTech at scale
• Market structure, black and grey market dynamics, and the unintended consequences of regulatory design choices
• Technology, data governance, RegTech and the use of AI to support integrity, oversight and organisational decision-making
• Leadership, accountability, culture and the capability required to translate policy intent into durable operational outcomes
The agenda integrates keynote addresses, moderated panels, expert masterclasses and Industry Spotlight sessions, designed to support informed debate while grounding discussion in real-world regulatory and operational experience.
Global RTG Awards to Be Presented for the First Time
A key aspect of Regulating the Game 2026 is the introduction of the first Regulating the Game Global Awards, which honor leadership, stewardship, and measurable effects in areas such as sector direction and reform, compliance, safer gambling, technology, and community results.
The Global Awards were created to offer impartial, thorough acknowledgment of individuals, organizations, and solutions that are enhancing standards and leading to improved regulatory and social results. Finalists have been verified in six categories after an objective evaluation by a judging panel made up of senior leaders with extensive knowledge in regulation, law, integrity, governance, and responsible gambling.
The RTG Global Awards Gala Dinner will take place as a central event of the conference agenda, allowing finalists, peers, and industry stakeholders to engage in the Awards without needing to attend the entire conference.
Pitch! Showcase and Industry Interaction
The conference agenda includes Pitch!, a forum by Regulating the Game for exploring both new and traditional methods to tackle regulatory, compliance, and safer gambling issues. Pitch! highlights research, practical technologies, operating models, and concepts being implemented or tested in regulated settings, and analyzes how innovation is embraced, managed, and expanded in conjunction with current systems and controls.
Paul Newson, Founder of Regulating the Game and Principal at Vanguard Overwatch, stated that the 2026 event signifies the growth and significance of the existing regulatory landscape:
“Regulating the Game exists to engage honestly with how gambling regulation, sector performance and organisational capability intersect in practice – not just policy intent, but how expectations are interpreted, implemented and sustained over time.
The Global Awards sit alongside that purpose. They recognise and help surface leadership, stewardship and practical work that is lifting capability, strengthening governance and positioning organisations – and the sector more broadly – for more resilient and sustainable operation. The intent is to cultivate credible leadership voices and highlight work that is demonstrably improving outcomes.”
The post Regulating the Game 2026 Sydney — One Month Countdown as Sector Leaders Anticipate Inaugural RTG Global Awards appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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