AI

Smart, AI-enhanced customer service firm Tugi Tark selected for Pitch ICE Barcelona 2026

Published

5 months ago

January 12, 2026

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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.

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Media Troopers adds AI automation tool to Media Cruiser DSP

Published

1 week ago

May 27, 2026

Wladimir P.

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Media Troopers has added a new artificial intelligence feature to its proprietary media buying platform, Media Cruiser DSP, introducing an automation layer called Automation Rules.

The company said Automation Rules is a rules-based automation engine designed to optimise campaigns using real-time data. Media Troopers said the tool can support actions including setting price ranges, highlighting and pausing underperforming metrics, creating exclusion filters, and adjusting bids without prior manual intervention.

Media Troopers positioned the release as a way to increase output while reducing operational costs, describing the workflow as “a single click” to apply automation.

Shmulik Segal, Chief Executive of Media Troopers, said, “Media Troopers is always looking to improve its systems to ensure that clients have the best technology available to help enhance their campaigns while also saving them time. This new AI feature is sure to be a game-changer among customers when it comes to increasing marketing output by taking on board and managing client data around the clock.”

The post Media Troopers adds AI automation tool to Media Cruiser DSP appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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BetConstruct AI confirms SiGMA Asia 2026 presence in Manila

Published

1 week ago

May 26, 2026

Wladimir P.

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Supplier plans to pitch a World Cup 2026 sportsbook bundle and its AI Suite at Stand 2572 on June 2–3.

BetConstruct AI will exhibit at SiGMA Asia 2026 in Manila, Philippines, on June 2–3, the company said, appearing at Stand 2572.

At the show, BetConstruct AI said it will highlight a “Best Sportsbook for the World Cup 2026” bundle built around “Special Bets, Powerfull, and Bet on League.” The company positioned the package as ready for operator activation without development work.

BetConstruct AI also said it will showcase its AI Suite, including “CRM AI, Umbrella AI, AI Game Recommendation System, and Betting Mate AI,” aimed at use cases such as churn prediction, risk consolidation, personalised casino experiences, and conversational sportsbook engagement.

As product context, the company cited its sportsbook and casino platforms, including “140,000+ pre-match events and 90,000+ live matches monthly” and “45,000+ games from 350+ providers via a single API.” It also highlighted its “Affigates Affiliate Ecosystem” with “7,000+ vetted affiliates and AI-based scoring.”

The company said new partners signing via the show can access commercial incentives, including “a 50% platform setup discount from day one,” “100% Core Suite Access free for the first 3 months (50% off for months 4–12), and third-party tools at 51% off for the first 3 months.”

The post BetConstruct AI confirms SiGMA Asia 2026 presence in Manila appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

AI

ICONIC21 launches iDealer Blackjack with a real-time AI dealer

Published

1 week ago

May 26, 2026

Wladimir P.

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ICONIC21 has launched iDealer Blackjack, a seven-seat RNG blackjack game that adds a “fully live, AI-powered dealer” to the traditional virtual table experience.

The iGaming content provider said the title was developed in collaboration with RAVATAR using its real-time interactive AI avatar technology, positioning the product as a response to demand for more interaction in RNG table games.

According to the companies, the dealer is real-time rather than pre-recorded or scripted, can welcome players by nickname, and can maintain conversation during play. ICONIC21 also said the dealer “remembers players and their past interactions,” while understanding players “in any language” and responding in English with localized touches.

The game’s background uses a live stream from one of ICONIC21’s studios, which the company said is designed to ground the AI dealer in a real-world environment.

Edvardas Sadovskis, Chief Product Officer at ICONIC21, said: “iDealer Blackjack is a natural progression for RNG tables. It’s important to highlight that this product is not a challenge to live casino as we know it. The AI-powered dealer is not trying to be human. It is exactly what it is: an expressive, well-built companion that makes the game more engaging.

One of the most interesting things we’ve already noticed is how players interact with it. Because they understand they are speaking to artificial intelligence, conversations go far beyond standard live casino chat. Players are asking about history, world facts, random trivia, jokes, and all kinds of unexpected topics during gameplay. This creates a completely different level of engagement around the table.

Also, the customisation roadmap is active and expanding. iDealer Blackjack is a strong foundation with a great deal still to be built on top of it.”

Ruslan Synytsky, CEO at RAVATAR, said: “The next decade of iGaming will be defined by AI-powered presence, personality, and interaction, not just better graphics or faster gameplay. ICONIC21 came to us with a strong sense of what their product needed to feel like for players.

iDealer Blackjack, built on our AI avatar platform, is the first step into that future and sets the direction for what RNG gaming can become.”

The post ICONIC21 launches iDealer Blackjack with a real-time AI dealer appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.