AI
Smart, AI-enhanced customer service firm Tugi Tark selected for Pitch ICE Barcelona 2026
In what has become the most competitive selection process in the event’s history, Tugi Tark has been chosen as one of just 12 startups to present at Pitch ICE 2026 during ICE Barcelona, the iGaming industry’s flagship global event.
This year’s competition saw a 200% increase in applications compared to the previous year, reflecting the heightened interest in ICE Barcelona as a launching platform for emerging technology companies. From hundreds of applicants worldwide, Tugi Tark was selected to make its case for how AI agents purpose-built for iGaming can transform player support at scale.
What is Pitch ICE?
Pitch ICE has established itself as one of the industry’s most watched startup competitions. The event brings together emerging iGaming companies and a carefully selected jury of industry leaders, successful entrepreneurs, and active investors who shape the direction of iGaming innovation.
Previous Pitch ICE competitions have launched companies that went on to secure significant funding rounds and major partnerships. This year’s competition format gives each of the 12 selected companies three minutes to pitch, followed by a live Q&A session with the jury. The challenge isn’t just to explain what the technology does, but to demonstrate why it matters to the future of iGaming, and why now.
Standing out in a crowded field
The 200% increase in applications reflects the surge of innovation happening across the iGaming industry. Startups are tackling everything from payments and marketing to game development and player protection. The competition includes companies at various stages, working on diverse problems across the iGaming value chain.
The selection committee’s choice to include Tugi Tark among the 12 finalists signals recognition that customer service, often overlooked as infrastructure, is becoming a strategic differentiator as operators compete on player experience.
Rather than positioning AI as a replacement for human support teams, the pitch emphasizes how AI agents can remove friction from growth, enabling operators to scale across markets, languages, and brands without sacrificing service quality or regulatory compliance.
The Stakes: €15,000 in AWS credits and industry recognition
The winner of Pitch ICE 2026 will receive €15,000 in AWS credits, sponsored by AWS, along with the Pitch ICE 2026 Trophy. But for most participants, the real value extends beyond the prize.
Harpo Lilja, CEO of Tugi Tark, reflected on what the selection means for the company: “Pitch ICE is highly competitive, so being selected, especially in a year with such a sharp increase in applications, is a strong signal. It shows there’s real interest in AI solutions that are built specifically for iGaming, not adapted from other industries.”
He continued: “We’re not pitching AI as a buzzword or a futuristic concept. We’re showing operators how AI agents can realistically handle player support in a regulated, high-expectation environment, and where human oversight still plays a critical role. That balance is what operators are looking for right now.”
When and where to see Tugi Tark at ICE Barcelona
All 12 Pitch ICE finalists will present on Tuesday, January 20th, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on the Pitch ICE stage. Tugi Tark will present at 11:19am for exactly three minutes!
Following the pitches, attendees can meet the Tugi Tark team and explore the AI platform in person at Stand PI03 in the Pitch ICE exhibition area, located between Halls 4 and 5.
The post Smart, AI-enhanced customer service firm Tugi Tark selected for Pitch ICE Barcelona 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
AI
Slotegrator using AI tools to fight fraud, analyze performance, and smooth payments
When everyone has access to AI, the future belongs to those who use it strategically. Slotegrator’s updated platform has a suite of AI-powered tools that do the heavy lifting so clients can focus on strategy and business development.
Suppliers are racing to incorporate AI features. Instead of just keeping up with the hype, Slotegrator updated its platform with a suite of AI tools that help its clients by doing most of the heavy lifting and handling tasks that require large amounts of processing power. The company’s platform software now features AI tools for fighting fraud, analyzing essential business data, and reducing payment friction.
Fraud is a major concern for online casino operators, particularly when it comes to bonus abuse.
Bonus abusers are constantly developing new techniques and tactics to defraud casinos — even more so now that they have access to AI tools. Good deepfakes can potentially even pass liveness checks, and synthetic IDs (fake IDs made of real parts) are difficult to spot.
Slotegrator’s Anti-fraud module has an AI assistant to help operators combat fraud. The assistant provides summaries of real-time situations with just the touch of a button. Operators choose from one of three preset questions: 1. What is the overall risk situation? 2. Which risk categories are currently the most critical? And 3. What should be prioritized right now?
When they choose one of them, the assistant automatically analyzes the relevant data, yields structured conclusions, and makes recommendations for next steps. After you’ve made a selection, the AI assistant instantly processes dashboard metrics and provides a brief summary. The assistant works at both the project and individual level.
“As artificial intelligence becomes commonplace, the companies that integrate AI into core aspects of their business will be the ones that get ahead,” explains Slotegrator COO Olga Ivanchik. “AI is capable of more than automation. Incorporating AI at a strategic level, making it a core part of the business architecture, is the only way to stay competitive in the long run.”
Slotegrator’s platform also has an AI business intelligence module.
The AI BI module not only tracks KPIs such as GGR, unique players, active players, average bet sum, average withdrawal sum, average FD sum, profitability, CPR, and others, but filters and presents them for the chosen period and the particular project. All the data are displayed in convenient and clear tables and diagrams and can be exported as CSV and XLS files for convenience.
Users can segment players and apply bulk actions, depending on whether they need to be encouraged with a bonus or blocked due to risky behavior. Additionally, the module can filter players by affiliate partner ID to see which partner sent them.
Payments always present complex issues. Slotegrator’s Moneygrator simplifies payments by providing a unified infrastructure for managing payment providers in different GEOs.
But the Moneygrator AI bot takes the service to a new level.
The Moneygrator AI Bot automatically processes up to 80% of standard requests that previously required the involvement of an account manager. Instead of studying documentation or waiting for a response, teams receive structured data in minutes, significantly accelerating time-to-market.
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.
AI
Slotegrator using AI tools to fight fraud, analyze performance, and smooth payments
When everyone has access to AI, the future belongs to those who use it strategically. Slotegrator’s updated platform has a suite of AI-powered tools that do the heavy lifting so clients can focus on strategy and business development.
Suppliers are racing to incorporate AI features. Instead of just keeping up with the hype, Slotegrator updated its platform with a suite of AI tools that help its clients by doing most of the heavy lifting and handling tasks that require large amounts of processing power. The company’s platform software now features AI tools for fighting fraud, analyzing essential business data, and reducing payment friction.
Fraud is a major concern for online casino operators, particularly when it comes to bonus abuse.
Bonus abusers are constantly developing new techniques and tactics to defraud casinos — even more so now that they have access to AI tools. Good deepfakes can potentially even pass liveness checks, and synthetic IDs (fake IDs made of real parts) are difficult to spot.
Slotegrator’s Anti-fraud module has an AI assistant to help operators combat fraud. The assistant provides summaries of real-time situations with just the touch of a button. Operators choose from one of three preset questions: 1. What is the overall risk situation? 2. Which risk categories are currently the most critical? And 3. What should be prioritized right now?
When they choose one of them, the assistant automatically analyzes the relevant data, yields structured conclusions, and makes recommendations for next steps. After you’ve made a selection, the AI assistant instantly processes dashboard metrics and provides a brief summary. The assistant works at both the project and individual level.
“As artificial intelligence becomes commonplace, the companies that integrate AI into core aspects of their business will be the ones that get ahead,” explains Slotegrator COO Olga Ivanchik. “AI is capable of more than automation. Incorporating AI at a strategic level, making it a core part of the business architecture, is the only way to stay competitive in the long run.”
Slotegrator’s platform also has an AI business intelligence module.
The post Slotegrator using AI tools to fight fraud, analyze performance, and smooth payments appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
21.com
21.com launches online casino and sportsbook led by ex-BetVictor CEO Michael Carlton
21.com has launched as an online casino and sportsbook, naming industry veteran Michael Carlton as Founder & CEO, the company said on 16 June 2026.
The operator said it is targeting a range of global jurisdictions and plans to differentiate through a “modern technology stack” and “AI-centric operations.” It did not disclose target markets, licensing status, launch territories, or product partners.
Carlton previously served 13 years at EY as a Chartered Accountant before entering gaming in 1997, according to the company. He later spent 17 years as CEO of BetVictor and has since invested in betting and gaming companies.
Carlton said 21.com is being built without legacy platform constraints. “Having started in the gaming industry prior to the launch of the internet and then having the privilege of being involved as the industry evolved and adapted to the opportunities, there is now a further revolution occurring with the power created by embracing AI helping us to move faster and tailor personalised experience to the player.
“One of 21.com’s greatest strengths is that it is being developed for the current market, rather than an after-thought adaptation of an existing one. Many operators have been around for a long time and continue to be defined by legacy platforms and pre-crypto payment customer journeys that existed long before the modern technical tools that exist now became a reality. 21.com has embraced AI to deliver unparalleled customer experiences.
“With a team of industry leading experts with the motivation and ability to achieve our goals but without any legacy systems, 21.com is able to take advantage of new technologies to become a market leader in the gaming industry”.
The company also set aggressive commercial targets. “21.com will be one of the top three operators in every market it operates and in the world within two years,” Carlton said.
The post 21.com launches online casino and sportsbook led by ex-BetVictor CEO Michael Carlton appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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