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“‘The Wall’ is just a mental hurdle”: FGN founder Fernando Saffores shares his core business values
Fernando Saffores, founder of Focus Gaming News, shares the core values that have guided him through over 20 years of success in the iGaming industry in a new interview with Slotegrator. He also highlights what business leaders can learn from running marathons and flying private planes, as well as the biggest challenges new operators face and the markets and trends that will shape the future of iGaming.
Fernando Saffores, founder of Focus Gaming News, has seen some massive changes in the iGaming industry in his 20+ years of experience: the shift from an unregulated “Wild West” to a sophisticated, multi-billion dollar industry, the overturning of PASPA, and the introduction of AI tools, which his company quickly adopted. He shares the core values that have guided him to success throughout it all in a new interview with Slotegrator.
The wisdom you need to rise to the top of an industry like iGaming can come from anywhere: In addition to running one of the industry’s most prominent media brands, Fernando finds time to run marathons. In his view, the planning, discipline, and mental fortitude it takes to run 42 km mirror what it takes to run a business. One key is consistency: “You don’t run a marathon on the day of the race; you run it during the months of training at 5:30 AM.”
Another parallel is Fernando’s experience as a private pilot. Flying requires extreme focus and an ability to make split-second decisions under pressure, skills that belong in the boardroom as well as in the cockpit — he shares other concrete takeaways in the interview.
Fernando also breaks down the biggest challenges facing new operators today: “meaningful differentiation in a saturated market.” New iGaming businesses have to contend with soaring CAC, complex compliance requirements, and the struggle of finding the right unique niche — whether that’s through hyper-localized content, superior UX, innovative gamification, or something else. In the interview, Fernando shares the one approach he sees making the biggest difference for emerging operators.
Every business makes scaling a priority, but navigating varying laws, tax structures, and cultural nuances across global jurisdictions is no small task; in the interview, Fernando highlights the one strategic misstep he sees operators make again and again that stops them from becoming a global player.
Fernando also covers the markets and trends that will shape the near future of the iGaming industry, the brands he first turned to for support when founding FGN, the extent of FGN’s reach, his thoughts on the global AI boom, and more — read the full interview here to learn more about Fernando’s lessons in resilience, inspiration, and commitment.
ABOUT THE COMPANY
Since 2012, Slotegrator has been one of the iGaming industry’s leading software and business solution providers for online casino and sportsbook operators.
The company’s main focus is software development and support for online casino platforms, as well as the integration of game content and payment systems.
The company works with licensed game developers and offers a vast portfolio of casino content: slots, live casino games, poker, virtual sports, table games, lotteries, casual games, and data feeds for betting.
Slotegrator also provides consulting services in gambling license acquisition and business incorporation.
Crash Games
Evoplay launches Caramelo Dog Lucky Run crash game for Brazil
Evoplay has launched Caramelo Dog Lucky Run, a new crash-style instant win game themed around Brazilian street culture and the widely recognised “Caramelo Dog” reference.
The title follows Taco, a dog navigating a neighbourhood filled with obstacles. Players move step by step across roads as the multiplier increases, choosing to cash out or keep going.
Evoplay said the game uses randomised obstacle patterns so each round plays differently. Players can choose between four difficulty settings — Easy, Medium, Hard, and Hardcore — with higher difficulty increasing obstacle intensity and the multiplier.
Caramelo Dog Lucky Run also includes a cash-out function that can be triggered after Taco safely stops, plus customisable autoplay settings for stake preferences and stop conditions.
Ivan Kravchuk, CEO at Evoplay, said: “Caramelo Dog Lucky Run brings a completely fresh personality to our portfolio through its vibrant Brazilian-inspired setting and charming main character.
“Players in Brazil need games that feel familiar, authentic and culturally connected to them. When a player recognises something that reflects their everyday life and online culture, it creates a far deeper level of engagement than entertainment alone, and that is exactly what Caramelo does in this game.”
The post Evoplay launches Caramelo Dog Lucky Run crash game for Brazil appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Bally’s Intralot S.A
Bally’s Intralot Signs New Lottery Contract with Hellenic Lotteries
Bally’s Intralot S.A. has signed a new contract with Hellenic Lotteries S.A., part of Allwyn Hellas (formerly OPAP), to deploy its industry-leading lottery technology solutions.
Following an international tender, Hellenic Lotteries was recently awarded the exclusive right to operate and manage Greece’s state lotteries (passive lotteries and instant games) for a period of 12 years, starting as of May 2, 2026. It is noted that the company also held the previous state lotteries’ license for a period of 12 years.
Bally’s Intralot has been awarded a contract to seamlessly migrate Hellenic Lottery’s existing Bally’s Intralot lottery system to its latest technology stack. Specifically, Bally’s Intralot will deploy a turnkey lotteries and instant games management solution based on its flagship LotosX Omni ecosystem. Bally’s Intralot will continue to support Hellenic Lotteries in delivering games, through its broad retail network while providing for digital integration. The contract covers an initial one-year base period, with the option to either extend annually for up to 3 years, or to continue for the full duration of the Concession.
Jan Karas, Chairman and CEO of Allwyn Hellas, said: “We are pleased to be cooperating with Bally’s Intralot, in the new era of Hellenic Lotteries. Ensuring business continuity, revamping and evolving our products, and upgrading customer experience are key pillars of our plans for the new 12-year concession. We look forward to continuing to work with Bally’s Intralot on technology solutions that will help us meet customer expectations, offer innovative propositions and drive business, while improving our efficiency, productivity, and responsible operations.”
“Allwyn Hellas and Hellenic Lotteries are valued long-standing partners and we are honored to renew and strengthen our collaboration. This agreement reflects the trust placed in our technology, our people, and our long‑term commitment to supporting regulated lottery operators. Working closely with Hellenic Lotteries, we aim to deliver a modern, secure, and scalable gaming ecosystem that enables sustainable growth and innovation,” said Robeson Reeves, CEO of the Bally’s Intralot Group.
The post Bally’s Intralot Signs New Lottery Contract with Hellenic Lotteries appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Daniel Cuc
REEVO Announces New Partnership with ReelPlay
REEVO has announced a new partnership with ReelPlay, an established and highly experienced games studio known for delivering premium digital gaming content to leading casino operators worldwide. This collaboration marks another important step in REEVO’s growth as it continues to build one of the industry’s most competitive and high-performing aggregation platforms.
Through this partnership, ReelPlay’s portfolio is now available on the REEVO aggregation platform, giving operators seamless access to some of the most recognizable and high-performing slot titles in the market through a single integration. The addition of ReelPlay further strengthens REEVO’s ecosystem with content that has already demonstrated strong success across regulated markets.
For REEVO, this partnership reinforces its commitment to working with top-tier studios that bring both scale and performance to its platform, while continuing to deliver value to operators through a growing and carefully curated content network.
Daniel Cuc, Head of Account Management at REEVO, said: “Partnering with ReelPlay is a major step forward for REEVO as we continue to strengthen our aggregation platform with globally recognized and high-performing content. ReelPlay has built a reputation for delivering games that stand out and perform at scale, and that is exactly the kind of content we want to bring to our partners. At REEVO, we are focused on building an ecosystem that gives operators access to the best content in the market, and this partnership is a strong reflection of that ambition.”
Niki Longmuir, Chief Commercial Officer at ReelPlay, said: “ReelPlay are delighted to launch our content on REEVO’s established network. We are looking forward to expanding our distribution through this exciting new partnership and enabling our top-performing and innovative games to reach new operators, players and markets.”
The post REEVO Announces New Partnership with ReelPlay appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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