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Yggdrasil and Black Cow strike strategic global game engine partnership

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GDK platform integrated with Yggdrasil’s GATI to power YG Masters program allowing studios and game developers a rapid route to global markets

Yggdrasil has partnered with Black Cow in a deal that will see the open architecture specialists integrate its GDK platform into Yggdrasil’s new GATI solution – the power behind its successful YG Masters Program – enabling global and local studios and game developer partners with instant access to game engines and a rapid route to new markets.

The partnership is the first GDK partner for Yggdrasil’s new Publishing division, launched in January 2020, offering customers ‘the keys to its kingdom’enabling partners to cost effectively and with a short TTM (time to market) accelerate their business strategies, and revenue growth ambitions.

Black Cow will build game engines for best-of-breed studios who join the YG Masters program. They will achieve this by integrating their Games Development Kit (GDK) platform into Yggdrasil’s new Game Adaptation, Tools and Interface (GATI) solution.

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Once complete, studios and game developers who were previously unable to deliver their own game engines, will have the fastest and most efficient route to building and distributing content via YG Masters.

The collaboration also means that Black Cow’s existing studio partners can quickly and easily become YG Masters partners, seamlessly porting their games and benefitting from wide distribution and industry leading marketing tools.

The original YGS Masters program has been significantly upgraded with the introduction of Yggdrasil’s GATI, a disruptor to the existing iGaming industry and part of the new Yggdrasil Publishing value proposition.

GATI is a preconfigured, regulation-ready content development toolkit that powers YG Masters, enabling studios and game developers to use a standardised technology solution to develop and distribute games anywhere in the world. This means partners can source, build and distribute content and crucially accelerate global reach, finding new ways to increase revenues.

Using GATI, YG Masters partners will be free to build game engines in any way, language or method with Black Cow’s proven GDK acting as one conduit for delivery should game studios want that support.

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As part of its new strategic approach, Yggdrasil is franchising its entire business, from current and future content and industry-leading gamification to its advanced platform technology and new GATI product. This will enable partners to instantly create their own unique, end-to-end iGaming offering supported by, and in partnership with, Yggdrasil Publishing.

The roll out of the YG Franchise model will see strategic partners located in significant markets building games for their players that can also be sold back for global distribution via YG Masters at a stroke opening instant B2B opportunities. Franchise partners, thanks to the nature of standardised architecture and consistent game frameworks (GATI), will also be able to select games to offer their players from the YG Masters program. This is Decentralised Aggregation, a game-changing disruptive force that has the potential to revolutionise the content supply chain and business growth drivers.

The current three core value propositions for the Publishing arm are: YG Franchise (platform IP licensing) YG Masters (game development and distribution program), and YG Game IP (game IP licensing).

Stuart McCarthy, Head of Partner Strategy & Sourcing at Yggdrasil, said: “I’m delighted to be able to announce our partnership with Black Cow. Our revolutionary GATI solution allows studios and game developers to build directly onto our platform, thus benefitting from our global distribution, promotional tools and regulated market adaptors while taking control of their roadmap and retaining complete protection of their IP. 

“By adding Black Cow’s proven gold standard GDK technology for studios looking for game engine build we believe we have created the perfect go-to solution for any game studio looking to quickly, efficiently and securely get their games to market.”

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Tony Plaskow, Commercial Director at Black Cow Technology, said: “Black Cow is honoured and excited to be partnering with Yggdrasil in its new Publishing venture. By integrating our GDK into GATI we provide an efficient and rapid way for prominent game developers to build and distribute their games into Publishing’s valuable universe.”

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Raketech Announces Divestment of Casumba Assets

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Raketech Group Holding Plc announced an agreement to sell the Casumba assets due to regulatory developments affecting its markets.

The transaction, valued at a fixed consideration of EUR 12 million, will be paid in monthly instalments through December 2029, with no upfront cash payment. Under IFRS 9 accounting standards, the deferred consideration has been measured at the fair value of approximately EUR 7 million at closing. The EUR 5 million difference between the fixed consideration and the fair value reflects an element of ongoing credit risk and the extended payment schedule. Any further adjustments will be recognised through the profit and loss account over the payment period, in accordance with IFRS 9 requirements.

The consideration carries an 8% interest rate and will be paid in variable monthly instalments through December 2029.

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The sale supports Raketech’s platform-first strategy, focusing on core markets and sustainable growth in iGaming affiliation. The decision to divest Casumba stems from recent regulatory shifts in its markets. This move aims to remove regulatory risks, and redirect capital to Raketech’s leading iGaming affiliation platform, AffiliationCloud.

The Casumba assets generated annualised revenues of approximately EUR 4.0 million with an EBITDA of EUR 2.9 million, based on the Q2 2025 run rate.

Raketech will record a non-cash loss on disposal of approximately EUR 10 million in Q3 2025. This loss primarily arises from the difference between the book value of the Casumba assets and the IFRS 9 fair value of the consideration. The loss on disposal is a one-off, non-recurring loss and will not impact Raketech’s cash flow or operational performance.

The transaction has been signed and closed on 24 September 2025.

Johan Svensson, CEO of Raketech, said: “This sale marks another step in refining our portfolio and concentrating on our core goal of creating the top commercial platform for iGaming affiliation. By divesting Casumba, we eliminate regulatory exposure and unlock resources for growth opportunities. This transaction reflects our dedication to sustainable shareholder value and financial discipline.”

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The post Raketech Announces Divestment of Casumba Assets appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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SlotsUp 2.0 Launch: Transformed into a User-Centric Product

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Ten years after its quiet debut as a casino listing site, SlotsUp has reintroduced itself with a complete rebuild. What started in 2015 as a basic catalogue of online casinos has evolved into a structured, data-driven product designed around user needs and practical tools that actually help make smarter choices.

For years, SlotsUp relied on the industry-standard model. That formula worked, until it didn’t. So in 2025, the team behind SlotsUp tore it all down.

“We spent years chasing SEO. At some point, it became clear that the balance was off — too much energy went into ranking, and not enough into what players truly needed. That had to change. We shifted toward building a product where clarity, trust, and the user’s perspective always come first,” said a team lead at SlotsUp.

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Not Just a Redesign — A New Product

SlotsUp 2.0 introduces a new brand identity, an updated interface and a new core principle: act like a correspondent, not a catalogue. That shift is reflected in a complete rethink of how casinos are added, rated and shown to users. Entry is no longer automatic — each listing must pass through a rigorous system of over 100 internal rules governing data quality, compliance, layout and trustworthiness.

The platform now filters and presents only what matters. Each casino is reviewed through 12 custom-built metrics, including:

Safety Index: Built on 4 criteria, from licensing transparency to user complaint volume.

SlotsUp Rating: A detailed breakdown of license, bonuses, payments, support and responsible gambling tools

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Casino Match: A personalised alignment tool based on the user’s region, currency and language.

Radar: A visual chart comparing a game’s win potential against industry averages.

And now there’s Multi Game Mode — a new way to test and compare slots side by side. Players can launch up to four games in demo mode simultaneously, making it easy to spot differences in features, pace and style. It’s a faster, smarter way to find the game that truly fits your preferences.

The result is a real product, not just a database — with tools that respond to where the player is, what they value, and how they play.

From a List to a Real Product

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The company’s team of 28+ experts includes writers, developers, designers and gambling professionals. Every review is written or reviewed by individuals who are well-versed in the industry.

Now, every rating is based on a clear system. Information is sorted by what matters to players: safety, fairness, relevance and quality.

SlotsUp 2.0 is built to guide users, not push them. It focuses on clarity, responsibility and smarter choices — one player at a time.

The post SlotsUp 2.0 Launch: Transformed into a User-Centric Product appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Vyking Appoints João Soares as CTO

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Vyking, the next-generation iGaming platform provider, has announced the appointment of João Soares as its new Chief Technology Officer (CTO).

João, a Portuguese native, is a highly accomplished engineering leader with more than a decade of senior experience in the iGaming sector, having held leadership roles at William Hill, BetVictor and White Hat Gaming. In a previous role, João served as Head of Engineering at White Hat Gaming, where he managed 120+ people and spearheaded the transformation of the company’s engineering function. He introduced scalable team structures, mentored managers and technical leads, and embedded Agile methodologies across the business. His leadership was pivotal in turning a flat engineering setup into a high-performing, resilient and delivery-focused organisation.

Prior to that, João spent over five years at BetVictor, where he held senior engineering roles and led the launch of eight native mobile apps across iOS and Android, supporting 60% of the company’s business in the UK, Germany and Asia. He also worked as Development Manager at William Hill, contributing to product and platform initiatives across multiple teams.

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Beyond iGaming, João also gained senior leadership exposure in other technology sectors, including roles as Head of Engineering at Vision-Box and as Director of Engineering at Easyship, where he focused on digital transformation, QA implementation and leadership coaching.

João Soares, incoming CTO of Vyking, said: “I am thrilled to be joining Vyking at such an exciting time. The company’s platform vision, which combines flexibility, scalability and true product ownership for operators, is exactly the type of challenge I’m passionate about. My goal is to help accelerate innovation, build high-performing teams and ensure Vyking continues to set new standards for iGaming technology.”

Franz Gerhart, CEO of Vyking, said: “João brings the perfect blend of technical expertise, leadership capability, and proven industry experience. His track record of scaling engineering teams and driving transformation at leading operators will be invaluable as Vyking enters its next phase of growth. I also want to acknowledge Helmut Kleinhans, who has excelled in leading our technology function and is now stepping into a new senior role as Chief Software Architect. This transition reflects his passion for deep technology and innovation, enabling him to focus on advanced engineering across the wider business. Helmut’s impact has been pivotal in positioning Vyking for success, and we are thrilled he will continue to shape our technology future.”

The post Vyking Appoints João Soares as CTO appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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