Industry News

Red Knot flies in for a new take on sports betting and gaming PR From

Published

6 years ago

May 20, 2020

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Red Knot Communications, a new boutique PR and marketing agency, has been launched to breathe new life and innovative content into both B2B and B2C campaigns.

Kick-started by a senior team of media and industry specialists whose combined experience spans the overlapping domains of sports, betting and gaming – alongside broader backgrounds in multimedia entertainment, sponsorship and publishing – Red Knot is bringing a fresh approach to public relations and marketing solutions in a sometimes staid sector.

Red Knot’s range of services includes digital communications, design and PR, including crisis communications, brand development, ambassador management, tactical thinking and strategic global marketing campaigns.

The start-up’s idea was realised by Rich Thorp, former biz-dev director of FSB, and Camilla Wright, co-founder of influential media and entertainment brand Popbitch and regular contributor across digital, broadcast and print media. Red Knot already has an international scope, thanks to offices in London, Manila and Hong Kong, while its senior management team brings unrivalled cross-platform expertise, covering established and emerging markets in Europe, Asia, and North and South America.

Romilly Evans, former head of sports and betting content at IG Group, joins as content partner, having worked in PR and multimedia with companies as varied as The Telegraph, ITV Sport, talkSPORT, Bloomberg and The European Tour. Red Knot’s team is completed by Andy Clerkson, an expert in technology development and product strategy, who has overseen many companies’ successful transition from start-up to scale-up stage. Clerkson has spent three decades building global brands in media, sports betting and gaming, notably managing Maxim magazine at its height, founding Grand Parade and helping The Stars Group and FOX Sports set up FOX Bet in 2019.

This eclectic blend of backgrounds is unique in the industry, allowing Red Knot to draw from decades’ worth of experience working with some of the biggest names in media, while also standing at the intersection of the global growth that was accelerating across the betting and gaming worlds before the slowdown hit. Red Knot operates across channels and worldwide markets, enabling its clients to tell the story of their varied businesses to targeted audiences via exactly the right platform.

Camilla Wright, partner at Red Knot, said: “The gaming and sports betting industry across the world was facing unparalleled headwinds in 2020 even before the COVID-19 outbreak. Media, public opinion and regulatory challenges haven’t gone away, but brands will increasingly be judged on how they behave during these uncertain times. Red Knot can help you understand and respond to this evolving environment, helping you shape the way the world sees you – wherever you are and wherever you want to do business.”

Rich Thorp, partner at Red Knot, added:“PR and marketing have always been a logical extension of my business development background, so it’s great to assemble a team which is equally passionate about PR. Our sector has always been so resilient and innovative that we stand a better chance of quickly adapting to a new normal. As with any period of uncertainty, there are both challenges and unexpected opportunities, so the key is marshalling your resources to make your business as anti-fragile as possible. And Red Knot is perfectly placed to assist with both messaging and strategy, working as we do from a nimble, distributed model which already extends from East to West.”

AI

Tugi Tark whitepaper puts AI iGaming support at €0.15 per ticket

Published

6 days ago

May 6, 2026

Wladimir P.

tugi-tark-whitepaper-puts-ai-igaming-support-at-e0.15-per-ticket

Tugi Tark has released a 2026 whitepaper, The economics of AI-powered iGaming customer support, arguing that AI changes the unit economics of player support and can reduce costs compared with human-led operations.

The report cites “verified pricing” of EUR 0.15 per AI-handled ticket. It compares that with fully loaded employer costs for human support in Romania and Bulgaria of EUR 1.73 to EUR 1.88 per ticket. At a “realistic” 70% AI containment rate, the whitepaper claims a blended cost of about EUR 0.67 per ticket, which it describes as roughly a 64% reduction versus a human-only baseline of EUR 1.88.

Tugi Tark says its analysis draws on Eurostat 2024 labour cost data, published research on AI chatbot benchmarks, independent iGaming player behaviour research, and operational data from its own deployments. The company estimates operators can achieve a 55% to 75% reduction in total support expenditure, and argues AI can absorb volume spikes—such as during major sporting events—without additional hiring or training lag.

Harpo Lilja, founder and CEO of TUgi Tark, said: “In 2026, the ‘wait-and-see’ approach to AI is costing operators millions in unnecessary overhead. We aren’t just talking about chatbots; we’re talking about a fundamental shift in the unit economics of player retention.”

The whitepaper also frames customer support as a retention lever, stating that payment issues account for 52% of ticket volume and that slower response times drive churn. It claims a 0.5 percentage point churn reduction could retain an additional 500 players per month for a mid-sized operator, translating to €200,000 in annual revenue based on an assumed €400 Player Lifetime Value. Tugi Tark also claims AI agents average ~7 seconds for first response versus ~60 seconds for human agents, and outlines use cases across Responsible Gambling escalation, KYC/AML workflows, and GDPR-aligned data sovereignty.

The post Tugi Tark whitepaper puts AI iGaming support at €0.15 per ticket appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Game Development

Games Global outlines May slot roadmap with Snowborn, AreaVegas and Just For The Win

Published

6 days ago

May 6, 2026

Wladimir P.

games-global-outlines-may-slot-roadmap-with-snowborn,-areavegas-and-just-for-the-win

Games Global has published its May content roadmap, highlighting new slot releases from Snowborn Games, AreaVegas Games and Just For The Win, and a continued push to reuse established mechanics across its studio network.

The supplier said Area Link and Power Combo will feature prominently in May’s launches. AreaVegas Games’ Area Link Chilli uses six chilli symbols above the reels tied to bonus modifiers that can trigger individually or together, including cash prizes and fixed jackpots, multipliers, instant collectors and value boosters.

Games Global also pointed to Just For The Win’s Bison Ridge Power Combo, where Link&Win is combined with Power Combo to create what it described as a more varied bonus structure.

Snowborn Games’ Volcanic Fortune is positioned around bonus modifiers such as collectors and multipliers, plus a Treasure Chest meter designed to build towards higher-value bonus outcomes.

David Reynolds, Director of Games Strategy and Partner Management at Games Global, said: “Our studios bring the craft, and May’s roadmap puts that on full display. It’s built around extending global franchises into new titles across our network, which is how we deliver breadth without compromising quality. The result is a pipeline that gives operators choice and players variety.”

The post Games Global outlines May slot roadmap with Snowborn, AreaVegas and Just For The Win appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

charity-lotteries

ZEAL posts 6% Q1 2026 revenue growth as EBITDA dips on investment spend

Published

6 days ago

May 6, 2026

Wladimir P.

zeal-posts-6%-q1-2026-revenue-growth-as-ebitda-dips-on-investment-spend

ZEAL Network SE reported higher first-quarter 2026 revenue despite what it described as a weak jackpot environment, while profitability softened as the company increased investment. Revenue rose 6% year-on-year to €54.3 million (2025: €51.1 million). EBITDA fell to €15.5 million from €17.7 million.

“The first quarter of 2026 shows that we are consistently executing our strategy even in a weak jackpot environment: our core business is growing, and we have continued to invest in diversifying our business model,” says Andrea Behrendt, CFO of ZEAL. “Through targeted investments in new charity lotteries such as the Dream Car Raffle, we are laying the foundation for sustainable growth that is less dependent on jackpot cycles. The slightly lower EBITDA compared to the previous year is primarily a reflection of these measures.”

In the core lottery segment, ZEAL said average monthly active users increased 5% to 1,575 thousand (2025: 1,507 thousand), while new registrations climbed 11% to 274 thousand (2025: 247 thousand). Lottery billings edged up 1% to €268.0 million (2025: €264.7 million). The lottery gross margin improved to 17.8% (2025: 17.1%), with lottery revenue up 5% to €48.7 million (2025: €46.3 million).

ZEAL also used Q1 to prepare a new in-house charity lottery product. The company said it launched the Traumautoverlosung (English name: Dream Car Raffle) on 14 April 2026, its third charity lottery in Germany after freiheit+ and the Dream House Raffle.

In Games, ZEAL reported revenue up 14% to €3.9 million (2025: €3.4 million) after expanding its B2C portfolio to more than 740 titles. ZEAL said higher marketing costs (+13%) and personnel expenses (+21%) reflected continued investment in scaling charity lotteries and Games alongside the core lottery business.

The post ZEAL posts 6% Q1 2026 revenue growth as EBITDA dips on investment spend appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.