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SAZKA Group: COVID-19 update

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SAZKA Group wishes to give an update to its stakeholders regarding the measures our companies and retail partners have taken with regard to the COVID-19 virus outbreak.

First and foremost, in order to protect the health and safety of our customers, employees, partners and the public, all our companies have fully complied with all the decisions and recommendations of the public authorities in the countries of their operations. We have successfully implemented contingency and business continuity plans with no significant impact to our business processes, and almost all our employees are currently working from home.

While all our digital channels continue to operate without interruption, our physical retail networks have adopted various measures to safeguard public health and the health of our employees.

We anticipate that these developments will impact our financial performance. The extent of the impact will depend on factors including the duration of the outbreak, how longer current restrictions remain in place, further measures taken by governments, and the extent of economic disruption.

Robert Chvatal, CEO commented: “Management are working on mitigating steps to minimise the financial impact for our companies, our employees, and our partners. SAZKA Group is in daily contact with its local operating companies to coordinate timely response to the developments in individual markets.”

Below is a brief overview of the current situation in our markets:

Greece

On Friday 13 March 2020, the Greek government published its decision to impose a temporary ban on the operation of a wide range of shops, indoor venues and other locations. As a result, all of the OPAP stores and PLAY gaming halls in Greece will be closed for two weeks, from Saturday 14 March until Friday 27 March 2020 inclusive. The horseracing facility at Markopoulo Park will also be closed.

Consequently, during this period, the company’s gaming activities will only be operating through its online platforms, which offer sports betting and certain other lottery games, and via the street vendor network of Hellenic Lotteries, which offers scratch cards and passive lotteries.

OPAP’s stores in Cyprus have been temporarily closed as of.

Austria

On Friday 13 March 2020, the Austrian government published its decision to impose a temporary ban on the operation of a wide range of shops, excluding those providing basic services such as food retail, pharmacies, post offices, banks, petrol stations and tobacco stores. The decision went into force on Monday 16 March 2020. The ban has so far had only a limited impact on the availability of Austrian lotteries products through its main retail channels, as more than 90% of all point-of-sales are excluded from the ban.

Austrian Lotteries’ online gaming activities remain available to the public during the entire period. They include draw based games (including Austrian Lotteries’ major products Lotto and Euromillions), instant scratch cards, online casino, poker, bingo and sports betting.

In coordination with the authorities, Casinos Austria has decided to close all its casinos in Austria and its subsidiary Austrian Lotteries has decided to close all its 19 gaming halls on March 13, 2020. The casinos and gaming halls will be closed at least until April 13, 2020. The Austrian government is introducing measures to support part time work, which may allow reduce Casinos Austria and Austrian Lotteries to reduce the financial impact of the closure

Casinos Austria International, which operates casinos and VLT businesses in multiple countries, is closely monitoring the situation and acting in accordance with the instructions of local governmental bodies.

Czech Republic

As of Monday 16 March, the State Security Council of the Czech Republic has decided to severely limit free movement in the Czech Republic in order to limit the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus epidemic. Citizens are allowed going to work and shop for supplies limited to food, vital supplies, fuel and medicine, as well as use of necessary financial and postal services. We estimate that 70% of SAZKA’s Czech retail network, including newsstands and post offices, continues providing their services to the public.

At the same time, we are actively promoting the use of online platforms for lottery products as well as digital-only offerings. In recent weeks we have seen a 25-30% increase in sales via digital channels compared to previous weeks.

Italy

Most shops, restaurants and cafes in Italy are currently closed as a result of a number of recent measures. Tobacconists, which are a key channel for LOTTOITALIA, are allowed to remain open, however traffic has declined.

 

About SAZKA Group:

We are one of the largest pan-European lottery operators. Our businesses operate lotteries in all the major continental European countries where lotteries are privately operated, including the Czech Republic, Greece, Austria and Italy, and in Cyprus. Our businesses focus on the lottery segment, including numerical lotteries (draw-based games) and instant lotteries (scratch cards), and also provide complementary products, including sports-betting and digital-only games. They sell their products both through various retail networks and through digital platforms.

Blueprintx

Zingo Bingo Launches “Your Era” Nostalgia Series Featuring Kerry Katona and Pat Sharp

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Zingo Bingo Launches “Your Era” – A Social-First Nostalgia Series for 2026

Zingo Bingo has officially unveiled Your Era, a new short-form social media content series celebrating iconic throwbacks, shared nostalgia and the cultural moments that defined generations. The series launches in February 2026 and will roll out weekly across TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.

Designed to strengthen Zingo Bingo’s identity as a home of nostalgic fun, Your Era focuses on authentic conversation rather than traditional promotional content. The format highlights music, fashion, technology and pop culture milestones that shaped each guest’s personal journey.

Kerry Katona and Pat Sharp Headline Series One

The first confirmed guests include Kerry Katona, singer and media personality best known from Atomic Kitten, and Pat Sharp, the iconic radio and TV presenter associated with classic UK entertainment shows. Additional celebrity names will be revealed throughout the year.

Each episode features five themed nostalgia segments crafted to spark memories, conversation and emotional connections among viewers.


What to Expect from “Your Era”

Every guest takes part in recurring throwback features designed to boost engagement and relatability:

  • The Memory Bag – Guests reveal five nostalgic items and share the stories behind them
  • Flashback Files – A rapid-fire interview covering music, fashion, tech and cultural trends
  • Mixtape Memories – Guests curate throwback tracks for the official Your Era playlist
  • Taste of the Past – Sampling retro sweets and snacks while rating nostalgia levels
  • Yesterday’s News – A humorous headline-guessing game using real throwback media stories

The series aims to tap into the growing popularity of nostalgia-driven digital content while positioning Zingo Bingo as a community-led entertainment brand.


Built by Kinetic Digital and Blueprintx

Your Era has been developed by Zingo Bingo’s operators, Kinetic Digital, in collaboration with long-term creative partner Blueprintx. Blueprintx has previously supported digital and television campaigns for Kinetic Digital brands including Prime Casino and Slingo.

The production strategy prioritises shareable, short-form content optimised for social discovery and influencer amplification, with episodes distributed across dedicated platform pages as well as guest channels.


A Strategic Play for Community Engagement

Jack Watson, Brand Manager at Zingo Bingo, said the series reflects the brand’s commitment to fun, familiarity and connection.

“Your Era is about celebrating the music we replayed, the fads we cringe at and the memories that still make us smile. It’s designed to bring people together through shared nostalgia while reminding audiences that bingo is about enjoying those moments collectively.”

Series one will feature six guests throughout 2026, with new weekly segments designed to drive audience engagement and repeat viewership.

The post Zingo Bingo Launches “Your Era” Nostalgia Series Featuring Kerry Katona and Pat Sharp appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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Ex-Paysafe VP Justin Fraser takes chief revenue officer role at Yaspa to drive global growth

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Yaspa, the renowned fintech focusing on instant payments and identity solutions, today reveals the appointment of Justin Fraser as its Chief Revenue Officer.

Fraser becomes part of Yaspa’s executive team during a crucial period of global growth. He has more than 20 years of commercial leadership experience in the payments ecosystem, having occupied senior leadership positions at notable industry companies like Cybersource, Visa, and Paysafe.

Having a career centered on maneuvering through intricate payment environments, he offers knowledge in rapidly expanding, regulated sectors such as iGaming, cryptocurrency, and financial technology.

As the new CRO, Fraser will manage Yaspa’s worldwide commercial strategy, concentrating on expanding the company’s Intelligent Payment platform, which integrates open banking with AI-powered customer insights, throughout the UK, Europe, and North America.

Yaspa CEO James Neville said: “We are thrilled to welcome Justin to the team during this period of rapid acceleration. His deep expertise in navigating complex regulatory environments and his proven track record in scaling payment solutions are invaluable assets as we expand our footprint in the US and beyond. Justin’s appointment further strengthens our leadership as we continue to help businesses lower costs, grow revenues, and enhance financial compliance through open banking.”

Justin Fraser said: “Yaspa is at the forefront of the shift toward real-time payments. The company’s unique blend of open banking and AI-verified insights solves genuine friction for merchants, particularly in industries like iGaming. I am excited to join such an innovative team and look forward to driving the next phase of our commercial growth globally.”

Fraser will collaborate closely with the recently strengthened US team, which includes the newly appointed US Sales Lead, Peter Kula, and US Senior Solutions Manager, Jackson Esoda.

This statement comes after a year of significant growth for Yaspa, highlighted by increasing its workforce from 15 to 75 employees and successfully securing a $12 million investment round spearheaded by Discerning Capital. In this timeframe, the firm broadened its international presence with new ventures in Atlanta and Leeds, while winning esteemed honors such as the 2025 Payments Award for Real-Time Payments Innovation and a spot on the CB Insights Top 100 Fintech list.

The post Ex-Paysafe VP Justin Fraser takes chief revenue officer role at Yaspa to drive global growth appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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Blueprint Gaming names Mattia Luchesini Head of International Account Management

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Blueprint Gaming has named Mattia Luchesini as Head of Account Management – International, enhancing its commercial leadership as the company continues to grow in regulated markets.

In his new position, Mattia will oversee Blueprint’s global account management function, prioritizing the establishment of strategic operator partnerships and fostering ongoing growth in vital regions. He will collaborate closely with commercial, product, and delivery teams to guarantee that partners receive support through a cooperative, value-oriented strategy.

Mattia comes to Blueprint from Games Global, where he dedicated more than two and a half years to senior account management positions, fostering robust relationships with operators throughout EMEA and acquiring substantial experience in international market dynamics.

This recent appointment demonstrates Blueprint Gaming’s ongoing investment in its commercial strengths, guaranteeing that partners receive support from seasoned leadership while the company advances its growth strategy.

Mattia Luchesini, Head of Account Management – International at Blueprint Gaming, said: “It’s a great opportunity to join Blueprint at a time of strong international momentum.

“The business has a clear vision and a reputation for working closely with its partners, and I’m looking forward to contributing to that approach while helping to drive growth across global markets.”

Matt Cole, Managing Director at Blueprint Gaming, added: “Mattia brings valuable international experience and a strong understanding of what operators need from a long-term content partner.

“His appointment supports our continued focus on strengthening relationships and delivering a high standard of account management as Blueprint grows its global footprint.”

The post Blueprint Gaming names Mattia Luchesini Head of International Account Management appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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