Press Releases
YGAM welcomes former Gambling Commission executive as Head of External Affairs

YGAM, the national charity that works to inform, educate and safeguard young people against problematic gambling and social gaming, has confirmed the appointment of Daniel Bliss as the organisation’s new Head of External Affairs. Daniel joins YGAM from the Gambling Commission where he worked for three years in a number of roles within the communications team. During his time at the Commission, Daniel was involved in key projects including major policy announcements and the launch of the National Strategy to Reduce Gambling Harms. He previously held roles in politics and in regional media.
YGAM co-founder and chief executive Lee Willows said: “I am delighted to welcome Daniel to what is an agile, inspirational and committed team. He joins at a key point in the charity’s development as we scale to deliver the UK’s first national education programme with GamCare and supported by members of the Betting & Gaming Council which will see us collectively reach 7m young people over the next four years. Daniel brings valuable expertise to this dynamic role specialising in communications, marketing, public affairs and stakeholder engagement.
“His role at YGAM is to advance the organisation’s marketing and communications across all channels, help drive the successful workshops and programmes as supporting partnerships with commercial organisations operating in the gaming and gambling space. I am confident that in his role as part of the Senior Leadership team, he will play a crucial role in helping YGAM achieve its objectives.”
Reflecting on his new position, Daniel said: “I have worked closely with a range of stakeholders connected to the gambling industry over the last three years and I am thrilled to be joining YGAM at this exciting time in their journey. YGAM has an impressive track record for creating and delivering exceptional accredited education programmes to minimise gambling-related harm among young people. As gambling continues to climb up the news and political agenda, I am looking forward to working with a talented and committed team as they continue to make a positive impact on such an important issue.”
In collaboration with GamCare and supported by the Betting and Gaming Council, YGAM has announced a target of jointly delivering at least one session of gambling awareness to all 11-19 year olds in the country by 2024. To help achieve its short, mid and long-term objectives the organisation is developing its team from its January 2020 headcount of 26 to 42 by the end of Q1.
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AI-driven gaming analytics
Chris Barranco Joins Quick Custom Intelligence as Director of Business Development

Quick Custom Intelligence (QCI), a leading provider of AI-driven analytics and enterprise solutions for the gaming and hospitality industry, today announced the addition of Chris Barranco as Director of Business Development.
Barranco brings 25 years of experience leading high-performing teams, driving revenue, and building durable client relationships. He is adept at solution-selling methodology and full sales-cycle management, with a proven track record of mentoring top-tier account executives, delivering high-impact presentations, and retaining key accounts. Known for a tenacious approach to new-business development and customer loyalty, Barranco will focus on expanding QCI’s market footprint, strengthening the partner ecosystem, and advancing go-to-market execution across QCI’s product portfolio.
“I’m excited to join the clear market leader and work with the exceptional team at QCI,” said Chris Barranco, Director of Business Development at QCI. “QCI’s commitment to turning data into action aligns perfectly with my approach to helping customers achieve measurable revenue impact. I look forward to working closely with our clients and partners to accelerate growth and deliver exceptional outcomes.”
“We’re delighted to welcome an industry veteran of Chris’s caliber to the QCI team,” said Andrew Cardno, CTO and Co-Founder of QCI. “His leadership, mastery of solution selling, and passion for customer success will further strengthen our ability to scale, deepen client relationships, and deliver the operational results our customers expect.”
As Director of Business Development, Barranco will lead initiatives to expand QCI’s presence across key markets, refine sales enablement programs, and collaborate with product and customer success teams to ensure a seamless path from discovery to measurable value realization.
The post Chris Barranco Joins Quick Custom Intelligence as Director of Business Development appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
Press Releases
Soft2Bet’s MEGA Shortlisted for Product Innovation of the Year at Global Gaming Awards Americas 2025

Soft2Bet has been shortlisted in the Product Innovation of the Year category at the Global Gaming Awards Americas 2025, highlighting the innovative impact of its proprietary gamification engine, MEGA (Motivational Engineering Gaming Application). The solution’s first full-scale North American deployment with ToonieBet in Ontario has redefined the gaming experience by enhancing player engagement and retention.
ToonieBet uses the full range of MEGA’s innovative gamification features and data-driven iGaming solutions for player retention, including achievements, collectibles, long-term missions, and segmented rewards, to create personalized and localized experiences for every player.
Since launching, the brand has seen increased session frequency, stronger loyalty and sustained growth in lifetime value. These results have been further strengthened by ToonieBet’s partnerships with the Ottawa Senators and the Canadian Football League, where MEGA features prominently on rink-side LED boards and during broadcasts. This visibility highlights Soft2Bet’s highly focused approach, built around standout customer experience, performance and clean, adaptable design.
Already proven across Europe with brands , MEGA has consistently driven player retention and engagement. In Ontario, ToonieBet is seeing similar results by leveraging MEGA’s flexible tools, customizable UX/UI design and segmented features to deliver a deeply localized and highly personalized experience that attracts high-value players and supports sustainable profitability without disrupting daily operations.
“We are proud to be shortlisted for Product Innovation of the Year, as MEGA continues to enable us to deliver engaging, locally tailored player experiences, clearly demonstrated by ToonieBet’s success in Ontario. This nomination indicates that our approach is delivering big high performance results,” highlighted Martin Collins, Chief Business Development Officer at Soft2Bet.
In January 2025, during the Global Gaming Awards EMEA, MEGA won Product Launch of the Year and Soft2Bet was named Platform Provider of the Year, confirming B2B excellence in the industry.
About Soft2Bet
Soft2Bet is a leading provider of iGaming turnkey solutions, delivering high-quality products and services to online gambling operators. Soft2Bet is known for its Motivational Engineering Gaming Application (MEGA), proven to enhance retention and engagement. Soft2Bet has deployed numerous successful iGaming brands and holds more than 19 global licenses.
About Soft2Bet’s MEGA
Soft2Bet’s MEGA (Motivational Engineering Gaming Application) is a standalone, complete solution for integrating casino and sportsbook operator brands with gamification. MEGA provides a range of gamification engines and allows operators to customise gamification engines by setting rewards, bonus triggers, user segmentation, level of difficulty, and more.
The post Soft2Bet’s MEGA Shortlisted for Product Innovation of the Year at Global Gaming Awards Americas 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Latest News
WSOP® PARADISE 2025 REVEALS FULL TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE WITH NEW EARLY-BIRD PACKAGES

The record-breaking poker festival in the Bahamas adds fresh events and exclusive perks for players booking early
The World Series of Poker (WSOP®) today unveiled the complete schedule for the highly anticipated WSOP Paradise 2025, which will take place at Atlantis Paradise Island in the Bahamas from Dec. 4 through Dec. 18. This announcement also introduces two new, limited-availability early-bird packages, designed to provide players with unmatched value and exclusive benefits.
This year’s festival expands on its commitment to high-stakes action with a full slate of 15 WSOP gold bracelet events:
Event |
Date |
Buy-In |
#1 Circuit Championship Mystery Bounty NLH – $5M GTD |
Dec. 4 |
$2.5K |
#2 Triton PLO 6-Handed |
Dec. 4 |
$75K |
#3 Triton PLO Main Event |
Dec. 5 |
$100K |
#4 High Roller Turbo NLH |
Dec. 6 |
$50K |
#5 Triton Invitational – NLH |
Dec. 7 |
$250K |
#6 Super COLOSSUS NLH |
Dec. 7 |
$5K |
#7 Super PLOSSUS PLO |
Dec. 8 |
$10K |
#8 Triton NLH 7-Handed |
Dec. 8 |
$125K |
#9 Triton NLH Main Event |
Dec. 9 |
$100K |
#10 Triton NLH 8-Handed |
Dec. 10 |
$150K |
#11 Super Main Event NLH – $60M GTD |
Dec. 10 |
$25K |
#12 8-Game Mix 6-Handed |
Dec. 11 |
$10K |
#13 High Roller PLO |
Dec. 13 |
$50K |
#14 GGMillion$ NLH – $10M GTD |
Dec. 15 |
$25K |
#15 The Closer NLH Turbo Bounty |
Dec. 16 |
$10K |
This year’s WSOP Paradise features an expanded partnership with Triton Poker, the leading high-stakes tournament operator. In 2024, two gold bracelet events were curated by Triton; the number increases to six in 2025, with WSOP bracelets going to the winners of Event #2 Triton PLO, Event #3 Triton PLO Main Event, Event #5 Triton NLH Invitational, Event #8 Triton NLH 7-Handed, Event #9 Triton NLH Main Event and Event #10 Triton NLH 8-Handed.
To reward early registrants, WSOP is introducing two new early-bird packages for players looking to secure their seats, with both offering massive added value:
-
The $100K Paradise Package – limited to just 500 packages, includes a 13-night stay (Dec. 5 to Dec. 18), complimentary access to the WSOP buffet and a $500 food & beverage room credit. The deposit to secure is $10,000.
-
The $300K VIP Package – includes a 15 night stay (Dec. 3 to Dec. 18), complimentary access to the WSOP buffet, a $1,000 food & beverage room credit plus one á la carte meal from the Triton menu per day. The deposit to secure is $15,000.
For the first time at WSOP Paradise, resort fees are included in the package price, and the room credit is also provided for use throughout the resort. The full package amount must be played in WSOP Paradise events.
GGPoker will once again serve as the exclusive international satellite partner, aiming to send more than 1,000 players to the Super Main Event. WSOP Express and Road to Paradise qualifier tournaments are already underway in the GGPoker tournament lobby. Additionally, over 500 players are expected to qualify for the Circuit Championship through WSOP Circuit gold ring events (running from Jul. 1 through Dec. 2, 2025, both live and online), and ClubGG plans to send more than 400 players to the same event.
In an exciting new partnership, PokerStake will cover up to 50% of the unsold action for Circuit Package winners who choose to list their Super Main Event action on the platform.
“I said last year that a $50M guarantee was crazy, but adding another $10,000,000 on top is absolutely insane! The WSOP is bringing the biggest high rollers and the best poker experience possible back to paradise,” said Daniel Negreanu, GGPoker Global Ambassador. “With the new Super Mystery Bounty event and the expanded partnership with Triton, this is a can’t-miss festival for players of all levels. I can’t wait to be a part of it.”
“With the WSOP Paradise at Atlantis Paradise Island tournament schedule now set, the countdown to The Bahamas IS ON! This year’s lineup delivers an unbeatable mix of world-class events, record-breaking guarantees, and unforgettable poker moments in one of the most iconic destinations on the planet. From seasoned pros to newcomers, players from around the globe will find their place in paradise, and their shot at history,” added Joe Brunini, Chief Gaming & Customer Development Officer, Atlantis Paradise Island.
WSOP Paradise 2025 will feature a daily live stream from Dec. 12 through Dec. 18 on the WSOP YouTube channel, with CBS Sports Network television coverage planned for distribution in early 2026.
Further details on event structures and schedules will be available on the WSOP+ app. The WSOP reserves the right to cancel, change, or modify the tournament or any tournament event, in part or in whole, without notice. Entry fees will be added to all events, and up to 3% of tournament buy-ins will be withheld for staff and operational costs. Guaranteed events are paid out after deducting the percentage for costs from the total prize pool.
Please follow @WSOP on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram or check WSOP.com for more event news and updates: wsop.com/news/2025-wsop-paradise.
For more information on WSOP Express, please visit: ggpoker.com/tournaments/wsop-express/.
To book your Atlantis stay at exclusive WSOP rates starting from $199 per night, please visit: atlantisbahamas.com/wsop-in-paradise
The post WSOP® PARADISE 2025 REVEALS FULL TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE WITH NEW EARLY-BIRD PACKAGES appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
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