The agenda for HIPTHER Baltics: Vilnius 2026 has officially been revealed, marking a defining moment for the Baltic region’s iGaming, fintech, and regulatory landscape.

Taking place on 21 April 2026 at the Hilton Garden Inn Vilnius City Centre, the conference launches HIPTHER’s new Baltics-focused series, a bold evolution designed to bring deeper, jurisdiction-specific insight and high-level dialogue to one of Europe’s fastest-transforming digital markets.

At its core, the Vilnius edition is built around a powerful theme:
“iGaming Regulation & Fintech Integration” — a convergence shaping the future of compliance, payments, and digital innovation across the region.

A Defining Moment: Lithuania’s Regulatory Reset

Lithuania is entering a new phase — one where rapid fintech growth meets tightening regulatory expectations.

The agenda reflects this shift directly, capturing a market transitioning from accessibility to accountability, structure, and long-term sustainability. From post-MiCA realities and stricter AML frameworks to evolving iGaming controls, Vilnius becomes the place where these changes are not just discussed — but decoded.

The Agenda: One Day, Two Stages, Zero Filler

The newly released agenda delivers a high-density, decision-maker-focused experience, designed for professionals who need clarity.

Across two parallel tracks — Compliance & Operations Lab and TechXperience Stage — the program cuts straight to the pressure points shaping the industry:

On the Compliance & Operations side:

• Gambling Regulation in the Baltics: Enforcement, Gaps, and Political Pressure
• Post-MiCA Survival: Maintaining Your License Under the 2026 Strictures
• The Bank Pivot: SME Lending, EMI Stability & Financial Resilience
• AML 2.0 & MiCA in Practice: Building Compliance That Actually Works
• The iGaming Ad Ban: Survival Strategies in a “No Marketing” Era

On the TechXperience Stage:

• Next-gen Payments: A2A, Open Banking & Cross-border Infrastructure
• AI in Product & Workforce Transformation
• Blockchain Beyond the Hype: Infrastructure, Tokenization & Settlement
• Esports, Gaming & Digital Communities: Building Next-Gen Ecosystems
• AI in Product, Risk & Compliance: From Buzzwords to Deployment + Agentic AI & Data-Driven Organizations

Going beyond theoretical insight, this Agenda is a working blueprint for navigating what’s already unfolding.

Curated Networking & Meaningful Connections

The refreshing morning break and delicious complimentary lunch, will be followed by an evening social gathering at Jazz Cellar 11 –– offering rum, jazz, conversations, and the kind of networking that somehow becomes more productive after the formal agenda ends.

Spotlight on Speakers: The People Driving the Change

The Vilnius stage brings together a carefully selected lineup of regulators, compliance and fintech leaders, legal experts, and technology innovators — the very people operating at the frontlines of transformation.

These are just some of the speakers to take the stage:

• Rainer Osanik – Head of Fiscal Information and Intelligence Department in the Estonian Ministry of Finance
• Ineta Mačinskienė – CEO of Walletto
• Edgaras Abromavičius – President of the Lithuanian Esports Federation and Head of Esports and Gaming at the Lithuanian Football Federation
• Marija Nudga – Senior Lawyer at Tonybet and Legal Expert in iGaming & Fintech Compliance
• Kristina Vabinskaitė – Financial Markets Policy Department of the Ministry of Finance of Lithuania
• Saulius Racevicius – CEO of Pace App and Board Member of the Fintech Hub LT

From professionals securing MiCA licenses and building risk frameworks, to experts advising on international licensing, AML systems, and cross-border fintech operations, the speaker lineup reflects real, hands-on expertise.

These are the leaders and experts shaping how regulation and innovation coexist in real time.

Zoltan Tündik, Co-Founder and Head of Business at HIPTHER, stated about the Vilnius 2026 Agenda:

“Our dedicated Baltics series this year kickstarts in Vilnius and marks a strategic pivot in how we approach regional excellence. Having spent nearly two decades in the media and news sphere, we’ve learned that general insights are no longer enough; the market now demands jurisdiction-specific precision. Lithuania stands at a fascinating crossroads where fintech maturity meets a rigorous regulatory reset. Our 2026 agenda is designed to decode this convergence, helping leaders navigate the post-MiCA landscape and tighten iGaming frameworks. As we celebrate 10 years of HIPTHER impact, Vilnius represents our commitment to staying ahead of the curve, providing the high-level, boutique environment necessary for the industry’s most critical conversations.”

Boutique by Design — Powerful by Nature

HIPTHER Baltics: Vilnius 2026 is intentionally built as a boutique, high-value experience:

• A senior-level audience of decision-makers
• Focused, high-quality networking opportunities
• A premium central Vilnius setting designed for meaningful interaction

The format ensures that conversations don’t get lost in scale — they gain depth, relevance, and momentum.

Join the Conversation in Vilnius

The agenda is now live — and with it, the opportunity to be part of a room where regulation, technology, and strategy converge.

Explore the full agenda & secure your spot: https://hipther.com/events/vilnius/

Because in a year defined by regulatory change, the real advantage belongs to those in the room.

The post HIPTHER Baltics: Vilnius 2026 Agenda Sets the Stage for the Region’s Next Era of iGaming Regulation & Fintech Integration appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Expanse Studios, a subsidiary of Meridian Holdings, announced that it has received certification enabling the commercial deployment of its content across Estonia and Latvia.

Gaming Associates, a UKAS-accredited testing laboratory (accreditation number 9263), certified Candy’s Bonanza and Leprechaun’s Wish as compliant with the technical standards established by Baltic regulatory authorities. This certification allows the games to be deployed on licensed gaming platforms operating within these jurisdictions.

The Baltic certifications advance Expanse Studios’ systematic expansion across regulated European markets where formal certification processes create entry barriers for B2B content providers. Estonia and Latvia operate structured regulatory frameworks requiring independent technical verification before content deployment on licensed platforms.

Regulatory certification processes in European markets typically require 8-12 months and substantial compliance investment, creating competitive advantages for studios maintaining multi-jurisdictional certification capabilities.

“This certification gives us a solid foundation for further growth in this part of Europe. The approvals in the Baltics allow operators to go live more quickly, and they reflect the way we approach regulated markets. We focus on building compliant, reliable distribution capabilities that create real long-term value,” said Damjan Stamenkovic, CEO of Expanse Studios.

The post Expanse Studios Secures Certification for Estonia and Latvia Markets appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

A new Baltic-focused conference era begins on 21 April 2026, uniting iGaming, fintech, compliance, and innovation leaders in Lithuania’s digital-first capital

HIPTHER officially announces the agenda for HIPTHER Baltics: Vilnius 2026, the inaugural event of its newly launched Baltic conference series, taking place 21 April 2026 at the Hilton Garden Inn Vilnius City Centre.

Marking the evolution of the landmark MARE BALTICUM Gaming & TECH Summit, the new HIPTHER Baltics format introduces targeted, country-focused gatherings designed to deliver deeper regulatory insight, stronger regional dialogue, and practical strategic value for decision-makers operating across gaming, fintech, and digital innovation.

At the heart of the Vilnius edition lies a defining theme: Lithuania’s Great Regulatory Reset — a decisive transition toward stricter supervision, strengthened compliance frameworks, and sustainable, quality-driven growth across financial services and iGaming.

Lithuania 2026: From Easy-Access Hub to Compliance-Driven Ecosystem

As Lithuania sharpens oversight across banking, fintech, blockchain, and gaming, the conference agenda explores four structural shifts shaping the market:

• Banking: Cyber-resilience stress testing, the rise of specialised institutions, and a pivot toward sustainable profitability
• Fintech: Account-to-account dominance, international B2B expansion, and the emergence of agentic AI beyond chatbot automation
• Blockchain: Post-MiCA enforcement, strengthened AML leadership requirements, and institutional tokenisation of real-world assets
• iGaming: Advertising restrictions, ISP blocking acceleration, and intensified identity and source-of-funds compliance

Together, these forces signal a new operational reality for regulated digital industries in the Baltics.

Agenda Highlights Across Two Strategic Stages

Stage 1 — Strategy, Compliance & Banking

Key discussions will include:

• Regulators’ Panel: Bank of Lithuania and FNTT on MiCA transition and new iGaming ISP-blocking protocols
• Banking Transformation: How credit unions and specialised banks challenge Nordic incumbents
• Post-MiCA Survival: Maintaining VASP licensing under 2026 regulatory structures
• iGaming Advertising Ban: Operator strategies in a zero-marketing environment
• AML 2.0: Implementing enhanced source-of-wealth requirements for high-stakes players
• Cross-Industry Debate: Can tokenisation solve transparency challenges between blockchain and iGaming?

Stage 2 — Innovation, Blockchain & iGaming Tech

• Agentic AI in Fintech: From conversational tools to autonomous financial advisors
• Tokenising the Real World: Real-estate and debt instruments on-chain in the Baltics
• Next-Generation Payments: A2A integration across gaming and retail ecosystems
• Digital Euro & CBDCs: Technical readiness for the European Central Bank’s 2026 roadmap

A Boutique Summit Built for Decision-Makers

HIPTHER Baltics: Vilnius 2026 will gather 100+ senior attendees, 30+ expert speakers, and 15+ key industry topics in a one-day, high-impact format combining:

• High-level regulatory and industry panels
• Curated networking among operators, fintech leaders, regulators, legal experts, and investors
• A premium, centrally located boutique conference environment

The event is designed for iGaming operators, fintech and payment providers, compliance professionals, regulators, affiliates, startups, and regional investors seeking actionable intelligence in a rapidly tightening regulatory landscape.

From MARE BALTICUM Legacy to HIPTHER Baltics Future

Reflecting on the transition, Zoltán Tűndik, Co-Founder & Head of Business at HIPTHER, stated:

“Lithuania is entering one of the most defining regulatory transitions in its modern digital economy. With HIPTHER Baltics in Vilnius, we are creating a focused platform where regulators, financial institutions, fintech innovators, and iGaming leaders can engage in honest, high-level dialogue about what sustainable growth truly means in 2026 and beyond.”

With HIPTHER Baltics launching in Vilnius, the Baltic region enters a new phase of dialogue — closer to local markets, deeper in expertise, and stronger in cross-industry collaboration.

The journey begins in Vilnius on 21 April 2026.

The post HIPTHER Baltics Launches in Vilnius with Agenda Revealing Lithuania’s 2026 Regulatory Reset appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.