Conferences in Europe
Important IMGL MasterClass about the restrictions trend at Prague Gaming Summit 2020
A special IMGL MasterClass will be included in the agenda of the Prague Gaming Summit 2020.
The gambling industry restrictions have been trending in the news outlets and it seems that there is no limit which could not be crossed by legislators and regulators in order to keep the operators on a tight leash.
Whenever we are talking about payment restrictions or advertisement banning, the gambling industry has been the clear target of a masterplan that might change the industry forever.
At the 2020 edition of the Prague Gaming Summit, which will take place on the 6th of March at Vienna House Andel’s Prague, we are honored to announce that a special IMGL MasterClass has been included in the program.
Restrictions in payment methods, in advertising and payment processing as well as reducing the scope of games and betting types. Negative developments in various jurisdictions and how to approach this topic from different cross-border perspectives are the main topics of the discussion.
The IMGL MasterClass will be moderated by local and internationally recognized gaming expert, Dr. Robert Skalina (Senior Advisor at WH Partners) and will be joined by Dr. Joerg Hofmann (Partner at MELCHERS LAW), Justin Franssen (Partner at Kalff Katz & Franssen), Dr. Simon Planzer (Partner at PLANZER LAW) and Morten Ronde (CEO at Danish Online Gambling Association and Managing Partner at Nordic Gambling).
Dr. Robert Skalina (Senior Advisor at WH Partners) – panel moderator
Robert Skalina is a Czech Advocate as well as a Registered European Lawyer in Malta. He is based in Prague and works in Malta regularly.
He is a financial service and corporate lawyer and provides advice to a wide range of investment managers, advisors and funds, including private equity and hedge funds. Robert also regularly advises clients in the gaming/gambling industries and has vast experience in the area of mergers and acquisitions and complex cross border transactions.
Robert has previously held the position of head of legal of a London based investment advisor active throughout the EMEA region. Prior to that, he served as legal counsel for the largest retail bank in the Czech Republic.
Dr. Joerg Hofmann (Partner at MELCHERS LAW)
Dr. Joerg Hofmann is a Past President of the International Masters of Gaming Law (“IMGL”) and group leader of the Gaming & Betting Law Practice Group of Melchers Law Firm. He has been practicing gaming law since the mid-90s and Melchers’ legal advice is highly valued by global market leaders in all sectors of the gaming industry. A highly recognized expert in the field, Joerg has been consistently ranked as a leading individual and expert in gaming law by prestigious legal directories including Chambers Global and Best Lawyers for many years.
Justin Franssen (Partner at Kalff Katz & Franssen)
Justin Franssen is an attorney at law and partner at Kalff Katz & Franssen, where he leads the Gaming Practice. His comprehensive advisory and litigation practice regularly deals with sector-specific acquisitions and complex public affairs processes.
Prior to his admission to the Dutch Bar, Justin acted as general counsel for a gaming developer in Amsterdam and New York. His career as an attorney at law began at an associate firm of KPMG, where he founded their European Gaming & Entertainment Services Group. He subsequently spent 12 years as head of the Gaming, Sports & Entertainment practice group at a medium-sized law firm in Amsterdam.
Justin regularly publishes in national and international professional journals, is a frequent speaker at sector events and conferences, and is on the editorial boards of Gaming Law Review & Economics and Online Gambling Lawyer. He is a board member of the International Masters of Gaming Law (IMGL). Justin is also a member of the International Association of Gaming Advisors (IAGA) and holds a seat on the Advisory Board of the International Research Institute for Gambling and Gaming in Bonn.
Justin has received no less than eight consecutive Band 1 ranking in the Chambers Global Guide.
Dr. Simon Planzer (Partner at PLANZER LAW)
Dr. Simon Planzer is a partner at PLANZER LAW, a Zurich-based gaming law boutique.
PLANZER LAW’s team provides strategic, regulatory and legal advice to companies, regulators and other stakeholders across all areas of the gaming and entertainment industry.
The firm’s primary focus is on EU/EEA gaming law, compliance issues such as AML as well as Swiss gaming law and related commercial, corporate and financial matters.
Dr. Simon Planzer is General Member of the International Masters of Gaming Law. An alumnus of the College of Europe, he specialised early on in EU affairs and gaming law, working at the EFTA Court, the legal service of the EFTA Secretariat and as research fellow in European business law.
Dr. Simon Planzer is the author of the monograph (PhD) ‘Empirical Views on European Gambling Law and Addiction’(2014) and the book chapter ‘Gambling Law’ in The Handbook of EEA Law (2016), both published by Springer International Publishing. Simon also works as a Lecturer in Law at the University of St.Gallen where he teaches European Economic Law. He studied and did research i.a. at Harvard University, the College of Europe and the European University Institute.
Dr. Simon Planzer, founding partner of PLANZER LAW has recently received the recognition from Chambers & Partners and has been listed as a global gaming law expert. Clients and firms across many practice areas and geographies have trusted Chambers’ research for nearly 30 years.
Dr. Simon Planzer, founder of Planzer Law, is endorsed by interviewees (Chambers & Partners) as “absolutely excellent” and “the top Swiss lawyer” for gaming. He is actively involved in the shaping of gaming regulations in Switzerland, regularly interacting with the authorities, as well as providing regulatory advice to private clients. Based in Zürich, he is additionally active in representing fantasy sports companies.
Morten Ronde (CEO at Danish Online Gambling Association and Managing Partner at Nordic Gambling)
Morten Ronde has 20 years of experience from working in the gambling industry.
His background is in gambling regulation. He started his career in the Danish State Lottery and worked later 12 years as legal counsel for the Danish Gambling Authority. During his time as a regulator, he drafted the Danish online gambling reform that allowed for open licensing of betting and online casino operators in Denmark. The Danish gambling model is still considered one of the best gambling regimes in the world and has inspired many countries to adopt similar regulations.
Morten received the ”European Regulator of the Year Award” in 2010 from the International Masters of Gaming Law.
Since 2012 Morten has been working in the private sector of the gambling industry and has been advising clients in all sectors of the industry on regulatory affairs issues.
Morten acts as CEO of the Danish Online Gambling Association (DOGA), a trade association for online gambling operators in Denmark and as Director of Education and Association Development of the International Masters of Gaming (IMGL), the pre-eminent global gambling law network.
Make sure you take advantage of this unique opportunity of learning and networking with the gambling industry via the Prague Gaming Summit platform, book your ticket now in order to avoid disappointment and also book a meeting with their team. The seats are limited!
Order your Delegate Pass or VIP Package (Delegate Pass +Accommodation) now!
Conferences in Europe
HIPTHER’s European Gaming Congress 2025 Marks Record Attendance and Announces Marek Plota as Ambassador of the HIPTHER Warsaw Summit
Reading Time: 3 minutes
The 2025 edition of the European Gaming Congress (EGC) closed its doors in Warsaw with record-breaking attendance, a strengthened industry footprint, and an announcement that marks a new chapter for HIPTHER’s European expansion: in 2026, EGC officially evolves into the HIPTHER Warsaw Summit with renowned legal expert Marek Plota appointed as its first Ambassador.
Held across two content-rich stages – the Compliance & Operations Lad and the TechXperience Stage – alongside the hands-on HIPTHER Academy Workshops, EGC 2025 delivered its most ambitious program to date. Attendance has now tripled compared to its reintroduction in 2023, establishing Warsaw as one of the most dynamic conversation hubs for gaming, compliance, and tech in Europe.
A European Outlook With Global Relevance
The Compliance & Operations Lab brought together regulators, lawyers, and industry specialists for a panoramic review of the evolving European ecosystem. Discussions spanned the Polish market’s legal framework, cross-border compliance from Paris to Berlin, key CEE territories, the Czech Republic and Romania, and an outlook on emerging priorities in the Baltics. Experts also explored global trends with a timely update on several LATAM jurisdictions.
A highlight of the Agenda was the IMGL Masterclass – “Regulators, Legislators, and the Power of One Voice: A Legal Strategy for Industry Unity” – which explored the future of collaborative governance and harmonization.
Fintech, taxation, licensing, and responsible gaming standards added essential layers to a program designed to help operators and suppliers navigate an increasingly interconnected regulatory landscape.
Tech, Innovation, and the Human Factor
On the TechXperience Stage, conversations shifted to the future:
– AI for competitive advantage
– The evolution of esports and startup innovation
– AEO & SEO trends redefining discoverability
– Personalization and the new player journey
– Cyber resilience in iGaming
– Strategic Event Preparation in B2B PR, Marketing & BizDev
These sessions brought together marketing leaders, technologists, founders, and innovators across iGaming, fintech, digital entertainment, and cybersecurity, underlining Warsaw’s emerging status as a cross-industry meeting point in Europe.
A Key Voice: Marek Plota’s Impactful Participation
Throughout the Congress, Marek Plota – Founding Attorney at RM Legal & Gaming in Poland – played a leading role as both moderator and speaker. His contributions spanned Poland’s gambling framework, European lessons for CEE markets, and strategic taxation and licensing standards. He also brought legal depth to the IMGL Masterclass, adding critical clarity to one of the most pressing topics for operators in the region.
Marek’s widely respected presence across national and international gaming markets, combined with his years-long collaboration with HIPTHER as panelist, moderator, sponsor, and advisor, made this year’s Congress a natural moment to formalize the partnership.
Introducing the Ambassador of the HIPTHER Warsaw Summit
HIPTHER is proud to announce Marek Plota as the Ambassador of the HIPTHER Warsaw Summit, beginning with the 2026 edition.
In his own words: “It’s a real honor to serve as an ambassador for the Hipther Warsaw Summit and the European Gaming Congress. My collaboration with Zoltan Tundik and the Hipther team goes back many years as a panelist, moderator, sponsor, and above all, as a friend. These events are truly unique in the global gaming and gambling conference calendar — intimate, insightful, and refreshingly personal. Unlike the vast expos, Hipther events give people a genuine chance to meet, talk, and exchange ideas without walking 50,000 steps from one meeting to another. We are already looking forward to the next editions and to working together to make these conferences a true must-have for everyone in the industry.”
Marek is a founder and a head of the legal team at RM Legal Law Firm and Gaming In Poland, jointly providing multidisciplinary and multijurisdictional support for leading international gambling operators in the Polish, European Union, and African markets. His gambling practice includes regulatory support at the pre and post-licensing stage, IT, and taxation services, as well as the unique service of performing a function of a gambling representative. RM Legal is the only law firm in Poland representing offshore companies operating legally in the Polish gambling market. Apart from gambling Marek specializes in corporate commercial law and international investment projects.
A New Era for Warsaw, Europe, and the Global Market
The transition from EGC to the HIPTHER Warsaw Summit marks a strategic evolution with HIPTHER enhancing the region’s growing importance: Poland now stands as a crossroads of regulatory influence, iGaming innovation, and international market expansion – connecting Western Europe, CEE, and fast-emerging global markets, from Africa to LATAM.
In 2026, the HIPTHER Warsaw Summit will continue shaping the conversations and connections that define the future of gaming and tech.
HIPTHER looks forward to welcoming the industry back to Warsaw next year for an even bigger, more influential, and more globally connected event – assisted by the expertise and vision of its new Ambassador.
The post HIPTHER’s European Gaming Congress 2025 Marks Record Attendance and Announces Marek Plota as Ambassador of the HIPTHER Warsaw Summit appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
ADMIRAL Pay
NOVOMATIC Italia Showcases Innovation and Responsible Growth at SiGMA 2025
Reading Time: 3 minutes
NOVOMATIC Italia played a key role at SiGMA Central Europe 2025, one of the leading international events for the gaming and digital technology industry, which was held in Rome from November 4 to 6. The Group showcased ADMIRAL Pay, the payment institution authorised by the Bank of Italy, and Quigioco, its online gaming brand, presenting an integrated and sustainable vision for the future of payments and digital entertainment.
The synergy between the Quigioco gaming platform and ADMIRAL Pay was at the heart of NOVOMATIC Italia’s presence at SiGMA Central Europe 2025 was. This integrated solution offers legal gaming operators a concrete response to the ongoing transformation of the market, particularly in terms of regulatory compliance.
The combined structure of Quigioco and ADMIRAL Pay ensures fully compliant financial flow management by providing operators with technologically advanced tools that are aligned with the latest Italian legislative requirements. This infrastructure represents an integrated payment system and a complete digital ecosystem that is designed to support operators in an increasingly regulated and competitive market. The model is complemented by B2C solutions, including APay E-Wallet and APay Card, which interface seamlessly with the B2B architecture to expand additional growth opportunities.
Driving the market with technology and security
The collaboration between ADMIRAL Pay and Quigioco marks a key milestone for the Italian market: by adopting integrated digital payment systems, online gaming platforms can now deliver increasingly personalized and secure experiences to their users.
ADMIRAL Pay technology enables rapid conversion between cash and digital currency, ensuring instant and secure transactions that meet the highest international standards. For PVRs (Punti Vendita Ricarica: venues authorised to sell recharges for online gaming) and operators, this means access to an advanced payment tool that simplifies operations and guarantees efficiency, even during peak periods.
Meeting new regulatory and market demands
The digital payments and gaming sector in Italy is now subject to increasingly stringent regulatory standards that are designed to ensure maximum security, traceability and transparency. The integration of Quigioco and ADMIRAL Pay fully meets these requirements, offering a unique solution that strengthens compliance while enhancing the customer experience. By managing financial flows in a compliant manner, operators can reduce risks and provide players with immediate and secure access to their funds. This model translates into trust and long-term loyalty, creating value across the entire supply chain.
Responsibility and leadership: the pillars of the future
SiGMA Central Europe 2025 was also an opportunity to highlight NOVOMATIC’s commitment to promoting responsible gaming and continuous product innovation. The target is to maintain industry leadership by investing in technologies that not only enhance the user experience but also ensure maximum player protection and operator transparency.
“Our goal is to extend the success and expertise that have always defined NOVOMATIC Italia in the land-based sector into the digital world. We want to offer operators and players an integrated ecosystem that combines technology, security, and innovation, reaffirming our Group’s leadership in online gaming,” said Markus Buechele, CEO of NOVOMATIC Italia.
This strategic vision was recognized when NOVOMATIC Italia received the “B2B Industry Leader Italy 2025” award at the SiGMA B2B Awards, in honour of the company’s excellence and ongoing commitment to an innovative, responsible and sustainable approach to development. The Group is not only addressing evolving market and regulatory challenges but also paving the way for a future in which innovation and sustainability move forward together.
Through ADMIRAL Pay, Quigioco and the major innovations showcased at SiGMA, NOVOMATIC Italia demonstrates how the convergence of digital payments and online gaming can drive growth, security, and long-term sustainability across the industry. By being built on innovation, responsibility and strategic vision, this model is positioning the company at the forefront of a tech-driven and sustainable future.
The post NOVOMATIC Italia Showcases Innovation and Responsible Growth at SiGMA 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
2026 iGaming Trends Report
Presenting Industry Trends and Celebrating 100 Brands: SOFTSWISS Shines at SiGMA Central Europe
Reading Time: 2 minutes
SOFTSWISS, a global tech leader in iGaming solutions, has wrapped up a remarkable showcase at SiGMA Central Europe 2025. From the launch of the 2026 iGaming Trends Report to the live-built Alfa Romeo 4C handover, the company once again demonstrated why it stands as the industry’s leading technology provider and creative pioneer.
One of the main highlights of the event was the official release of the 2026 iGaming Trends Report. The fourth edition offers a data-driven overview of the macro- and microtrends shaping the future of iGaming – from the industrialisation of AI to regulatory shifts, cybersecurity evolution, and the rise of brand trust.
To mark the launch, SOFTSWISS hosted the 2026 iGaming Trends Marathon, a four-hour live event featuring global thought leaders. In the opening panel discussion, Ivan Montik, Founder of SOFTSWISS, Heathcliff Farrugia, COO of SiGMA, and Pierre Lindh, CEO of NEXT.io, arranged the ‘Ultimate Forecast Duel,’ exploring which trends will define the industry’s next chapter.
Another key moment was the Alfa Romeo 4C gifting, organised to celebrate the launch of the 100th brand powered by SOFTSWISS software in 2025. The sports car, assembled live during the expo at the SOFTSWISS stand, became a symbol of the company’s engineering precision and team spirit.
During a special ceremony, Ivan Montik handed over the keys to one of SOFTSWISS’ valued partners, Lottu, represented by Hugo Baungartner, Chief Business Officer, marking another milestone in a long-standing partnership based on trust and shared success.
About SOFTSWISS
SOFTSWISS is an international technology company with over 15 years of experience in developing innovative solutions for the iGaming industry. SOFTSWISS provides comprehensive software for managing iGaming projects. The company’s product portfolio includes the Casino Platform, the Game Aggregator with over 36,700 casino games, Affilka Affiliate Platform, the Sportsbook Software and the Jackpot Aggregator. The expert team, based in Malta, Poland, and Georgia, counts over 2,000 employees.
The post Presenting Industry Trends and Celebrating 100 Brands: SOFTSWISS Shines at SiGMA Central Europe appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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