Industry News
QTech Games confirms Epic merger
Asia’s top distributor merges with leading games reseller Epic Media to secure a trailblazing leadership team for growth markets
QTech Games, Asia’s number-one games distributor, has announced a major merger with leading games reseller, Epic Media, in order to bolster its platform’s position at the forefront of the industry for taking the best online games to market across emerging territories.
Under the terms of the reseller agreement, every component of QTech’s digital one-stop shop will be made available, from slots and table games to instant win, virtual sports and live casino games.
Epic Media is headed by industry trailblazers Staffan Lindgren and Ulf Norder, both of whom have a proven record for business development and scale-up success. Norder is a former Director of Development at Yggdrasil and Evolution Gaming, while Lindgren was a co-founder of NYX, which now forms a key part of Scientific Games.
Thanks to a recent partnership with Ezugi’s live-dealer portfolio, QTech Games now has an all-inclusive service for global operators, particularly across developing gaming spaces where demand for a comprehensive-yet-localised product set is paramount against a diverse backdrop of cultural trends and player preferences.
Markus Nasholm, Chairman of the Board at QTech Games, said: “We’re thrilled to have finalised this milestone merger with Epic Media, and delighted to have the combined experience and expertise of Staffan and Ulf on board. To have two of the most successful people in the gambling join QTech Games is a ringing endorsement of all our team’s hard work in recent years.
“It’s been another year of sustained growth at QTech, and their partnership will prove invaluable as we grow further and faster in more international markets. It’s also a real validation that QTech adopted the correct strategy from the outset with our ‘two cornerstones’ model. Firstly, beyond the fantastic games, fully owning the technology sets QTech apart, which enables us to offer a number of flexible features which no competitor can rival. And secondly, outside of Asia, we’ve secured strongholds in virtually all the margin markets, demonstrating organic growth across channel and border.”
Staffan Lindgren, Strategic Adviser to the Board, said: “I’ve been active in Asia for a long time but this is the ideal time to consolidate my hard-won experience in a more structured way with QTech Games. QTech is clearly the leader in Asia, and other key growth territories are quickly falling in line. Their propriety technology means they’re the only aggregator that is not just delivering fantastic games but also adding engaging features (such as QT Play’s AI-powered recommendation engine, alongside their Tournament and Jackpot elements) which make QTech’s position in the market unique. The rapid growth since the start has also been extremely impressive with yearly double-digit gains immediately taking the eye.”
Ulf Norder, VP / Director of sales, added: “For me, having previously been more active in Europe’s ‘margin markets’, this role is a perfect opportunity. QTech Games is the only company that has been active in all such markets. Indeed, they’re not just an Asian aggregator but are also attracting clients from all over the world. Latin America, Eastern Europe and they’re already in position to stake a firm claim in the Indian market, stealing a match on the competition. Together, I’m confident we can be even more successful.”
As the fastest-growing distributor in Asia over the past few years, QTech’s platform boasts the the most comprehensive gaming portfolio around, tailored for each region, with native mobile apps, powerful reporting and marketing tools, and 24/7 local-language support.
The American Gaming Association (AGA) announced the Gaming Hall of Fame Class of 2026, recognizing four individuals whose careers have profoundly shaped the legal gaming industry:
• Holly Gagnon, Board Member, Bragg Gaming Group
• Bill G. Lance, Jr., Secretary of State, Chickasaw Nation
• Scott Olive, Principal & Founder, HRG Studios
• Timothy J. “Tim” Wilmott, Retired Chief Executive Officer, PENN Entertainment
“The Gaming Hall of Fame recognizes the individuals whose vision, innovation, and dedication have helped shape today’s legal gaming industry. Holly, Bill, Scott, and Tim have each left a lasting mark through decades of service and leadership. Their contributions have set a high standard for those who follow,” said AGA President and CEO Bill Miller.
“This year’s inductees reflect the remarkable breadth of the gaming industry – from commercial and tribal gaming operators to suppliers. Each of them has helped advance gaming in significant ways, and we’re proud to welcome them to the Gaming Hall of Fame,” said AGA Chairman Lou Jacobs.
Since 1989, the Gaming Hall of Fame has celebrated the achievements of industry legends who have driven the commercial and tribal gaming industry forward. The Class of 2026 will be formally inducted at an invitation-only ceremony during the Global Gaming Expo (G2E) in Las Vegas this fall.
This year’s selection committee members include:
• Eric Schippers, SVP, Public Affairs & Government Relations, PENN Entertainment Inc.
• Mark Fulton, President, Cherokee Nation Entertainment
• Trevor Croker, CEO & Managing Director, Aristocrat Technologies
• Sherri Sosa, SVP, Human Resources, Hard Rock Las Vegas Hotel & Casino
• Mark Lipparelli, Chairman Emeritus, International Center for Responsible Gaming
• Kirsten Clark, Executive Director, IAGA
• Siobhan Lane, Executive Vice President & Chief Executive Officer, Gaming, Light & Wonder; Chair, Global Gaming Women
• Dr. Brett Abarbanel, Executive Director, UNLV International Gaming Institute
• Lou Jacobs, Co-CEO, Delaware North; Chairman, AGA
About the 2026 Inductees:
Holly Gagnon, Board Member, Bragg Gaming Group
Holly began her 34-year gaming career on the opening team of Foxwoods Resort Casino in 1992, at the birth of modern tribal gaming in America. She went on to hold senior financial and operational roles at Caesars Entertainment and MGM Resorts International before serving as President and CEO of Pearl River Resort, CEO of Chumash Enterprises for the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, and CEO of Seneca Gaming Corporation for the Seneca Nation of Indians. Named NAFOA Executive of the Year in 2016, Gagnon is a recognized champion of tribal economic development. As a founding member of Global Gaming Women and Distinguished Fellow at the UNLV International Gaming Institute, she has helped develop more than 300 gaming executives. She currently serves as a board member of Bragg Gaming Group.
Bill G. Lance, Jr., Secretary of State, Chickasaw Nation
Bill has served the Chickasaw Nation for decades in senior leadership roles spanning commerce, healthcare, and governance. As Secretary of Commerce for more than thirteen years, he oversaw more than 60 gaming, hospitality, retail, media, manufacturing, and tourism businesses employing approximately 7000 people. He also served as Administrator of the Chickasaw Nation Health System, overseeing construction of the 370,000-square-foot Chickasaw Nation Medical Center in Ada, Oklahoma. Lance currently serves as Secretary of State, representing the Chickasaw Nation in civic, business, and governance capacities.
Scott Olive, Principal & Founder, HRG Studios
Scott is one of the most influential game designers in the history of the slot machine industry. His career spans more than three decades, beginning at Aristocrat Gaming in 1997, where he helped drive the adoption of penny and Australian-style slots in U.S. gaming markets. After co-founding True Blue Gaming in 2007, Olive established HRG Studios in 2012, where he went on to create some of the most commercially successful slot titles ever produced.
Timothy J. “Tim” Wilmott, Retired Chief Executive Officer, PENN Entertainment
Tim spent more than three decades as one of the gaming industry’s most respected operational leaders. He served as Chief Executive Officer of Penn National Gaming from 2013 until his retirement in 2019, having previously served as President and Chief Operating Officer from 2008 to 2013. Before joining Penn National, Wilmott served as Chief Operating Officer of Harrah’s Entertainment and Division President of its Eastern Division, holding a series of leadership positions at Harrah’s properties dating back to 1988.
The post AGA Announces Gaming Hall of Fame Class of 2026 appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
The operator-facing series runs 29 June to 13 September and uses Mystery Drop and Mystery Multiplier Drop mechanics.
Wazdan will launch a summer-long Network Promotion series for partner casinos, running from 29th June to 13th September. The campaign is structured in three stages with breaks between each phase.
The promotion will use Wazdan’s Mystery Drop
and Mystery Multiplier Drop mechanics. The supplier said the programme is designed to be easy for operators to activate and will be supported with marketing materials, including promotional assets, brochures and newsletter content for partners to use across their own channels.
Alongside the promotion, Wazdan has a summer content roadmap with three slot releases scheduled: Mighty Hot: Amazonia (30th June), Magic Fruit$: Cherries (30th July) and Mighty Crown: Empire of Gold (6th August).
Radka Bacheva, Head of Sales and Business Development at Wazdan, said: “Summer presents a valuable opportunity for operators to keep engagement levels high, and this promotion has been designed to deliver exactly that through Wazdan’s proven promotional tools.
“Combined with our upcoming game releases, we are excited to offer partners a strong seasonal campaign with plenty of player appeal.”
The post Wazdan schedules three-stage Network Promotion campaign for summer appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
ICONIC21 has rolled out three limited-edition Football Cup-branded casino games and launched its first network tournament, ICONIC Showdown Football Cup, running from 9th of July to 19th of July.
The new titles are Football Cup Roulette, Football Cup Blackjack 360, and Football Cup Gravity Blackjack. ICONIC21 said the releases showcase different customisation approaches, including green screen production for the roulette environment and an updated visual rebrand for its RNG blackjack table.
For Football Cup Gravity Blackjack, ICONIC21 said it used its latest LED technology and applied the Gravity Series multiplier mechanic, with a custom felt, a football gate, and bespoke 3D-printed decorations.
Alongside the three new games, ICONIC21 pointed to its previously launched slot Soccer World Championship, plus The Kickoff and Top Card, which it said received football-season branding and UI/UX updates.
The ICONIC Showdown Football Cup tournament covers 11 games in total and is positioned around the quarter finals, semi-finals and final period. ICONIC21 said 1,000 winners will share a €50,000 prize pool, and operators can enroll via their account manager or by contacting the company directly.
Edvardas Sadovskis, Chief Product Officer at ICONIC21, said:
“What I’m most proud of with this project is the turnaround. We built three fully branded, technically distinct games, enhanced existing ones with promotional branding, and launched our first-ever network tournament around them, all timed to coincide with peak player interest and traffic.
That kind of speed doesn’t happen by accident, it reflects how this team works. ICONIC Showdown is a meaningful first step for us as a provider, and launching it during the Football Cup, with this much energy around the game, feels like the right way to do it. We’re genuinely excited to see how the leaderboard shapes up and even more excited for the finals.”
The post ICONIC21 launches Football Cup-branded casino games and debut network tournament appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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