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.
The BSA-AML Compliance Group has announced the return of the Annual BSA/AML Gaming Conference, the most respected and comprehensive anti-money laundering compliance event in the gaming industry. The 2026 conference will be held at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas from September 15–17, with a dedicated “Fundamentals Day” on Monday, September 14 for newer professionals and those seeking a refresher in core BSA/AML principles.
Headline Keynotes and Distinguished Guests Announced
This year’s event features presentations from some of the most influential figures in financial crime enforcement and policy:
Michael Dreitzer, Chairman of the Nevada Gaming Control Board, will deliver a keynote outlining how the gaming capital of the world has addressed illicit finance risk, including through a series of new rules for the casino industry as well as several significant enforcement actions.
Jarod Koopman, Chief of IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) and Chief Tax Compliance Officer, will address his dual leadership role overseeing IRS Criminal Investigation and all of civil tax compliance operations. His keynote will provide insights into emerging financial crime threats, compliance priorities, and financial crime enforcement trends. He will also discuss the critical role of Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) and Currency Transaction Reports (CTRs) in supporting federal investigations, including recent matters impacting the gaming industry.
Several other high-level government officials — state and federal, civil and criminal — will be announced in the near future. The conference will also host experts from commercial and tribal casinos, academia, and other practitioners focused on money laundering in the gaming industry.
Last year, more than 560 attendees from 40 states, six foreign countries, dozens of Native American tribes, and over 160 gaming entities attended with overwhelmingly positive feedback regarding speaker access, practical insights and networking.
The agenda will also feature in-depth studies and presentations regarding recent enforcement actions; emerging issues involving know-your-customer and source of funds; presentations regarding data analysis; artificial intelligence and innovation; and legal, regulatory, and money laundering issues surrounding prediction markets such as Kalshi and Polymarket.
“Thanks to our phenomenal speakers and amazing audience, we’re proud to host an event that brings together compliance officers and government officials to make it the premier event for AML and sanctions compliance in the gaming industry. With keynote speakers like Chief Koopman and Chairman Dreitzer, we’re looking forward to an excellent conference,” said Brian Lopez, Co-Founder of the BSA-AML Compliance Group.
The post Premier BSA/AML Gaming Conference Returns to Las Vegas appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
Baltics
HIPTHER Baltics 2026 Concludes Landmark Three-City Series, Bringing Together 430 Industry Leaders
HIPTHER proudly concludes the inaugural edition of its expanded HIPTHER Baltics 2026 conference series, successfully bringing together a total of 430 participants across three dedicated events in Vilnius, Riga, and Tallinn.
Building on the legacy of the MARE BALTICUM Gaming & TECH Summit and introducing a new, country-focused format, HIPTHER Baltics 2026 delivered three high-impact conferences designed around the most pressing regulatory, technological, and business developments shaping the Baltic and Nordic regions. The series focused on creating meaningful dialogue between regulators, operators, fintech leaders, technology innovators, legal experts, investors, and compliance professionals.
The 2026 edition featured:
- HIPTHER Baltics: Vilnius – iGaming Regulation & Fintech Integration
- HIPTHER Baltics: Riga – Cross-Border Compliance & Player Protection
- HIPTHER Baltics & Nordics: Tallinn – Digital Governance & Startup Innovation
Vilnius: Exploring Lithuania’s Regulatory Transformation
The series launched on 21 April in Vilnius, where discussions focused on Lithuania’s evolving regulatory landscape and the increasing convergence of fintech, payments, blockchain, and iGaming.
Industry leaders examined topics including MiCA implementation, AML requirements, digital assets, banking transformation, tokenisation, AI adoption in financial services, next-generation payments, and the growing role of compliance in sustainable business growth. The event marked the beginning of a new chapter for Baltic-focused industry conversations and set the tone for the months ahead.
Riga: Regulation, Risk and Growth in a Changing Market
On 11 May, HIPTHER Baltics arrived in Riga, bringing together experts from gaming, fintech, legal, compliance, and technology sectors for a day dedicated to practical business realities.
Key conversations addressed responsible gaming, player protection, AML implementation, fraud prevention, AI in supervision and taxation, payments innovation, cross-border licensing, data protection, affiliate marketing, and the transition from traditional SEO to AI-powered discoverability. The Riga edition highlighted how businesses can remain compliant while continuing to innovate and grow in increasingly regulated environments.
Tallinn: Digital Governance Meets Innovation
The series concluded on 2 June in Tallinn, one of Europe’s most digitally advanced capitals.
The event explored the intersection of digital governance, startup ecosystems, digital identity, compliance, investment, fintech innovation, and iGaming. Discussions ranged from eIDAS 2.0 and trusted digital onboarding to sustainable player acquisition, operational partnerships, AI-powered business growth, and the future of digital societies.
Tallinn also hosted the HIPTHER Baltic & Nordics Gaming Awards 2026, celebrating excellence across operators, suppliers, technology providers, and industry leaders from the Baltic and Nordic regions.
Beyond Conferences: Building a Regional Community
Throughout all three events, participants benefited from curated networking opportunities and practical learning sessions through the HIPTHER Academy, HIPTHER’s educational platform focused on delivering hands-on skills, professional development, and industry certifications.
The combination of boutique-format events, high-level content, and meaningful networking once again demonstrated why the Baltics continue to attract increasing attention as a hub for innovation, regulation, and cross-border collaboration.
Looking Ahead – HIPTHER Baltics 2027
Reflecting on the success of the series, Zoltan Tündik, Co-Founder and Head of Business at HIPTHER, commented: “We are incredibly proud of what we achieved across the Baltics in 2026, but this is only the beginning. The success of the three-city series has provided us with valuable insights, feedback, and inspiration that we are already incorporating into the planning of HIPTHER Baltics 2027. The Baltics have a unique energy when it comes to business events, innovation, and networking, and we are excited to continue growing alongside this vibrant community. Our commitment remains the same: delivering meaningful conversations, practical learning opportunities, and exceptional networking experiences that bring together the region’s most influential stakeholders.”
After the successful completion of HIPTHER Baltics 2026 and the overwhelmingly positive feedback received from participants, the #hipthers team is already working on an exciting and enhanced next edition.
With the HIPTHER Warsaw Summit set to take place on 27–28 October 2026 and an ambitious roadmap for 2027–2030 already taking shape, HIPTHER continues its mission of connecting industries, markets, and ideas through premium learning, meaningful networking, and cross-border collaboration across Europe.
About HIPTHER
HIPTHER is a media hub and events organizer serving the Gaming and Technology industries, including Fintech, Blockchain, Crypto, AI, Cybersecurity, Compliance, and Digital Innovation. Through its conferences, media platforms, awards programs, and community initiatives, HIPTHER connects decision-makers, innovators, regulators, and business leaders across Europe and beyond.
The post HIPTHER Baltics 2026 Concludes Landmark Three-City Series, Bringing Together 430 Industry Leaders appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Free virtual event focuses on content overload and the fight for player attention, with speakers from Print Studios, SOFTSWISS, Stake and more.
BGaming will run the second edition of its TRUE WAYS online conference on July 15 at 15:00 CET. The virtual event is free to attend with advance registration via the conference website.
This year’s theme is “Content Overload in iGaming: Who Wins the Player’s Attention?”. BGaming said the sessions will examine market saturation and what content and engagement strategies are most likely to perform in 2026 and beyond.
The agenda includes six sessions of up to 20 minutes each, followed by live Q&A. Confirmed speakers are Carl Wiggman, CEO at Print Studios; Gretta Kockonan, Head of Business Development and Partner Studios at SOFTSWISS; Caelum Ferrarese, Casino Product Specialist at Stake; Mike Danshin, CMO at 1w Crypto; Leonardo Benites, CEO at Propane; and BGaming Product Owner Igor Bondarenko. The event will be hosted by Surya Palli, creator of iGaming Real Talk.
BGaming is positioning the event as a follow-up to its inaugural TRUE WAYS conference in 2025, which the company said drew more than 400 approved attendees, with nearly 50% holding C-level positions, spanning Europe, LatAm, North America, and Africa.
Marina Ostrovtsova, CEO at BGaming, said, “Last year’s TRUE WAYS proved there is a strong appetite within the industry for honest conversations and practical insights, and we are excited to bring the conference back for a second edition.
Content overload is one of the biggest challenges facing iGaming today. With more games competing for attention than ever before, businesses need to think differently about how they engage players and build long-term loyalty.
This year, we have brought together experienced professionals from across the industry to share their perspectives on this challenge, discuss what is actually working in today’s market, and explore the strategies that will shape the future of player engagement.”
The post BGaming brings back TRUE WAYS online conference on July 15 appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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