Press Releases

GVC Holdings and EPIC Risk Management Form Unique New Partnership

Published

6 years ago

March 12, 2020

Two organizations to deliver sports and education programs in 14 locations throughout the US

EPIC Risk Management, the world’s leading independent gambling harm minimization consultancy, and GVC Holdings, one of the world’s largest sports-betting and gaming groups, have formed a partnership which aims to minimize gambling related harm throughout the U.S.

The partnership, funded by GVC Foundation US, GVC’s unique non-profit subsidiary which is dedicated to promoting responsible gambling, will replicate EPIC’s successful European sports and education model. Programs will run in 14 locations across the U.S. in 2020 and 2021, covering New York, New Jersey, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Nevada, Tennessee, Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, North Carolina, Colorado, DC, and the New England region.

It is estimated that 7 million U.S. adults suffer from gambling problems.

“As the leading provider of advisory and education in problem gambling, EPIC Risk Management has done extraordinary work in Europe,” said Martin Lycka, trustee for GVC Foundation US and director of regulatory affairs at GVC Holdings. “Our partnership with EPIC in locations throughout the U.S. will continue that impactful mission.”

The educational sessions will be provided to up-and-coming and professional athletes and focus on lived experiences with problem gambling and the promotion of betting integrity. The program is fully funded by GVC Foundation US, who will provide $2.5 million in financing over the course of two years.

“For most people, gambling is entertainment – but for a small percentage of people it becomes uncontrolled, leading to devastating effects to both individuals and organizations,” said Paul Buck, CEO of EPIC Risk Management. “EPIC is excited to partner with GVC Foundation US to work in the hardest-to-reach sectors to prevent gambling-related harm.”

“There’s no better way to address problem gambling than by combining hard-hitting, lived experience with industry research and expertise,” said William J. Pascrell, III, trustee at GVC Foundation US and partner at Princeton Public Affairs Group. “By addressing athletes and other at-risk groups throughout the country, we’ll aim to implement the cultural change needed for the protection of at-risk gamblers and growth of the industry as a whole.”

“Athletes, especially African American athletes, are at a higher risk of becoming problem gamblers than the average person,” said Amani Toomer, trustee at GVC Foundation US and former New York Giants wide receiver and Super Bowl XLII winner. “I view EPIC’s program as crucial for maintaining integrity in sports.”

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Baltics

HIPTHER Baltics & Nordics: Tallinn 2026 Agenda Unites Digital Governance, AI, Fintech & Regulated Growth

Published

39 minutes ago

May 21, 2026

Wladimir P.

hipther-baltics-&-nordics:-tallinn-2026-agenda-unites-digital-governance,-ai,-fintech-&-regulated-growth

HIPTHER has officially revealed the Agenda for HIPTHER Baltics & Nordics: Tallinn 2026, taking place on 2 June at Hilton Tallinn Park, bringing together regulators, operators, fintech builders, founders, compliance leaders, legal experts, AI practitioners, and startup innovators for the grand finale of the HIPTHER Baltics 2026 series.

Tallinn is not just another conference destination for HIPTHER — it is home base. The city where the #hipthers story evolves, and the natural setting for a conference built around digital governance, startup ecosystems, operational resilience, and the future of regulated innovation.

The newly released program features:

16 sessions across one focused day
2 parallel stages
3 practical HIPTHER Academy workshops
40+ speakers & experts from across the Baltics, Nordics, and wider European ecosystem

One Agenda. Multiple Industries. Real Operational Conversations.

Tallinn 2026 brings together discussions that typically happen in separate rooms: AML supervision, fintech scaling, AI implementation, digital identity infrastructure, crypto payments, operational risk, behavioural science, startup growth, and commercial strategy.

Across the Compliance & Operations Lab and the TechXperience Stage, attendees will explore topics including:

AML supervision, financial intelligence & market trust
Operator-supplier partnerships under mature regulation
Digital identity infrastructure & eIDAS 2.0
AI-powered operations & compliance automation
Player acquisition after the easy-growth era
Stablecoins, Travel Rule & trusted payment infrastructure
Governance, board accountability & operational risk
VC, alternative finance & cross-border startup scaling
Agentic AI and production-ready AI workflows for regulated sectors

The agenda also includes a focused Finland regulatory update alongside keynote sessions examining CRM strategy under tightening Nordic regulation, behavioural science in regulated environments, and the realities of operational AI adoption beyond the hype cycle.

HIPTHER Academy Expands the Practical Layer

Tallinn 2026 continues the expansion of HIPTHER Academy with practical workshops designed for professionals operating inside fast-changing regulated industries.

This year’s Tallinn workshops focus on:

Digital body language & executive communication
Production-ready AI agents for regulated industries
Agentic AI workflows and orchestration systems

More Than a Conference Floor

HIPTHER Baltics & Nordics: Tallinn 2026 also brings back the curated social experiences that have become part of the HIPTHER DNA.

Welcome Drinks – Olympic Park Casino
1 June · 18:00–22:30

Meet & greet in the relaxed and luxurious atmosphere of the new flagship Olympic Park Casino – located at Hilton Tallinn Park hotel.

Nordic Flow: Morning Reset & Networking
2 June · 07:15–08:45

A gentle yoga and breathwork session inspired by the calm, grounded energy of the Baltics and Nordics. Designed for the conference guests and busy professionals, this session will help participants release tension, reconnect with the body, and start the day with balance, energy, and presence. No previous yoga experience is needed.

HIPTHER Baltic & Nordics Gaming Awards + Karaoke @ Fort Bar
Sponsored by Amusnet
2 June · 20:00 – Late Night

Recognising Excellence Across the Baltics & Nordics and connecting in a celebratory atmosphere. Because some of the best conversations happen long after the panels end.

A Baltic-Nordic Industry Room Built for Decision-Makers

HIPTHER Baltics & Nordics: Tallinn 2026 closes the 2026 Baltic series by bringing together the people shaping regulated growth across gaming, fintech, AI, compliance, payments, cybersecurity, and startup innovation — all inside one highly focused, boutique environment built for real conversations instead of expo chaos.

Zoltán Tűndik, Co-Founder & Head of Business at HIPTHER, commented: “Tallinn has always represented something unique for us. Not only because HIPTHER OÜ proudly calls Estonia home, but because the Baltic-Nordic region continues to prove that practical innovation, digital governance, and entrepreneurial resilience can coexist without unnecessary complexity.

With Tallinn 2026, we wanted to build more than another conference agenda. We wanted to create a room where operators, regulators, founders, compliance leaders, fintech innovators, and AI practitioners can have honest operational conversations about what comes next.

The future of regulated industries will not be shaped in isolated verticals. It will be shaped through collaboration between technology, compliance, governance, finance, and human decision-making. That is exactly why Tallinn felt like the natural grand finale for our Baltic series.

And frankly, there is no better city in Europe to host these conversations than Tallinn.”

As HIPTHER returns home to Tallinn, the final stop of the series promises a high-level gathering designed around substance, operational insight, and the future of the Baltic-Nordic innovation economy.

HIPTHER Baltics & Nordics: Tallinn 2026
2 June 2026
Hilton Tallinn Park

More information & registration:

https://hipther.com/events/tallinn/

The post HIPTHER Baltics & Nordics: Tallinn 2026 Agenda Unites Digital Governance, AI, Fintech & Regulated Growth appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Brazil

Z.ro anuncia aquisição da Paag em um movimento estratégico voltado à consolidação de mercado

Published

15 hours ago

May 20, 2026

GamingAmericas.com

z.ro-anuncia-aquisicao-da-paag-em-um-movimento-estrategico-voltado-a-consolidacao-de-mercado

Z.ro firma acordo com Paag em um negócio relevante que adiciona mais de 200 milhões de transações anuais à vertical de pagamentos da companhia.

O Z.ro Global Payments, que até abril operava como Z.ro Bank, anuncia a aquisição e incorporação da vertical de pagamentos da Paag, em um movimento estratégico voltado à consolidação de mercado e ao ganho de participação no setor de pagamentos digitais.

A integração será realizada por meio de um plano estruturado de migração, desenhado para assegurar continuidade operacional, com estabilidade e segurança para todos os clientes ao longo do processo.

Segundo Edisio Pereira Neto, presidente do Z.ro, a operação amplia de forma expressiva o volume processado pela empresa, que já supera 500 milhões de transações.

“A Paag tem forte presença em processamento de pagamentos, especialmente no mercado de jogos, com mais de 200 milhões de transações anuais que serão incorporadas ao nosso ecossistema, reforçando nossa liderança no setor”, afirma Edisio.

Como parte da operação, João Fraga, CEO da Paag, e Ricardo Vidal, CSO da empresa, passam a atuar também como sócios responsáveis pela vertical dedicada ao mercado de iGaming dentro da Z.ro Global Payments.

“A criação dessa frente específica reflete a relevância do segmento e da necessidade de criar soluções cada vez mais customizadas para este mercado.

Nossos dois novos sócios trazem um know-how essencial para liderar esta frente”, afirma o CEO da Z.ro Global Payments.

“Estou muito motivado em assumir esse novo desafio. Com a união das expertises, consolidamos a maior operação de pagamentos voltada ao mercado de jogos no Brasil.

Tenho a convicção de que essa integração nos levará ao maior market share do setor. Literalmente, zeramos o game”, declara Vidal.

Para a Paag, o movimento também marca um novo momento estratégico da companhia.

Após anos de atuação no mercado de pagamentos para operações digitais, a empresa passa a atuar como Paag Shield, focada no desenvolvimento de soluções de gestão de risco, compliance e prevenção à fraude, e Paag Engage, focada em inteligência operacional, aquisição e retenção. Ambas sem vínculo societário com a operação realizada ao lado do Z.ro Global Payments.

“Esse movimento marca uma nova fase para a Paag. Construímos uma operação sólida de Payments ao longo dos últimos anos e temos confiança de que os clientes continuarão sendo atendidos com excelência dentro da estrutura da Z.ro.

A partir de agora, concentramos ainda mais nossos esforços na evolução do Paag Shield e Paag Engage, com soluções voltadas à inteligência de risco, compliance e eficiência operacional”, explica Fraga.

Nova vertical dedicada ao segmento de jogos no Z.ro

“A criação dessa frente específica reflete a relevância do segmento e da necessidade de criar soluções cada vez mais customizadas para este mercado. Nossos dois novos sócios possuem amplo know-how para liderar esta frente”, explica Edísio.

“Atualmente, o segmento já responde por aproximadamente 25% da nossa receita. Com a nova estrutura, deverá subir para cerca de 35% já no primeiro ano”, afirma.

A iniciativa reforça a estratégia do Z.ro de segmentação de negócios, permitindo maior profundidade nas operações, otimização de negociações e desenvolvimento de soluções adaptadas às demandas específicas de cada mercado.

O Z.ro International, responsável por recolher pagamentos na América Latina e enviá-los para qualquer país do mundo, e o Z.ro Digital Assets, de pagamentos internacionais com criptoativos, são outras duas verticais lançadas no último ano.

Aquisição não concluída

Em 2025, o banco BS2 chegou a anunciar negociações para a aquisição da Paag, em um movimento que indicava o interesse da instituição em ampliar a atuação no processamento de pagamentos digitais para o mercado de jogos .

Na ocasião, a estrutura do acordo previa a entrada inicial com uma participação minoritária na empresa.

O plano também contemplava a possibilidade de aquisição total da Paag em um prazo de até três anos.

No entanto, apesar do anúncio e das tratativas iniciais, a negociação não foi concluída e não avançou para a efetivação da operação.

Mudança de nome

Recentemente, o antigo Z.ro Bank alterou seu nome para Z.ro Global Payments, refletindo a estratégia de internacionalização da companhia, iniciada em 2025.

A mudança consolida o posicionamento da empresa como provedora de infraestrutura global de pagamentos, com soluções inovadoras voltadas para serviços de processamento de pagamentos locais e transfronteiriços, além de Bank as a Service.

The post Z.ro anuncia aquisição da Paag em um movimento estratégico voltado à consolidação de mercado appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

Las Vegas

Plaza Hotel & Casino books Bolero – The Show for June 20 one-night run

Published

16 hours ago

May 20, 2026

Wladimir P.

plaza-hotel-&-casino-books-bolero-–-the-show-for-june-20-one-night-run

Latin music-and-dance production led by Las Vegas-based producer Adan Alejandro plays the Plaza showroom at 7:30 p.m.

Plaza Hotel & Casino will host Bolero – The Show for a one-night performance in its showroom on Saturday, June 20 at 7:30 p.m.

The production is billed as a Latin music-and-dance show featuring a live band, singers, and dancers, with influences including bolero, flamenco, salsa, tango, mambo, and other Latin rhythms.

Bolero – The Show is led by Las Vegas-based producer, singer, and songwriter Adan Alejandro. The Plaza said the show’s production team and performers have roots in the Latin entertainment community and experience performing in Las Vegas and other venues across the US and Latin America.

Tickets are now on sale for the June 20 performance.

The post Plaza Hotel & Casino books Bolero – The Show for June 20 one-night run appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.