Season 4 of Bet It Drives is back, and Episode 2 features Akhil Sarin, CMO at Easygo and the marketing and partnerships mastermind behind Stake.

Sarin dives into the realities of iGaming marketing, sharing how some of the most cost-effective campaigns can deliver massive impact—including a low-budget idea that went viral with over 16 billion impressions.

Key insights from the episode include:

• Stake’s most valuable partnerships and why they worked

• What sets their sponsorship strategy apart

• Common mistakes iGaming marketing teams make

• The one thing Sarin wishes teams focused more on

• Biggest red flags and warning signs in partnerships

• Leadership lessons and internal trust challenges

The episode also features a fun “Confess or Call” segment, highlighting a late-night call to a senior exec about a high-stakes, unconventional idea—a true test of trust and creativity.

“This season is about open conversations, and Akhil was straight with us,” said Yevhen Krazhan, CSO at GR8 Tech and host of Bet It Drives. “iGaming marketers will rethink spend, partnerships, and what truly drives growth after this episode.”

Season 4 also includes a CEO debate with Cedomir Tomic (Founder, Alea) and Oleksandr Feshchenko (CEO, GR8 Tech), along with upcoming insights on crypto payments in iGaming and esports betting strategies.

Watch or listen to Season 4, Episode 2 on:

• YouTube
• Spotify
• Apple Podcasts

The post Akhil Sarin Joins Bet It Drives: Stake’s Growth and What iGaming Gets Wrong About Marketing appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

At SiGMA Eurasia on February 11, Marharyta Yerina, Managing Director of ELA Games, joined the panel “Progress Paths: Making Milestones Matter” to discuss innovative approaches to player retention and engagement. The session, moderated by Tim French (Commercial Manager, Greco Fast Track), explored how studios can design progression systems that go beyond conventional loyalty schemes.

Marharyta emphasized that maintaining player interest often comes from subtle design choices rather than overt progress bars. She highlighted how optimizing volatility and feature frequency creates natural anticipation, keeping players engaged through gameplay rhythm. She also advocated for micro-goals—short, intra-session milestones—and stressed the importance of audio-visual feedback to make moments feel rewarding in real time, rather than relying on long-term VIP systems alone.

The panel featured diverse perspectives from the industry, including Alena Tsuranova (CCO, Megafair) and Bulat Fakhrutdinov (Head of Partnerships, Betronic Software), who discussed how commercial strategies and partnerships shape the player journey.

Marharyta’s participation underscores ELA Games’ commitment to player-centric design and demonstrates how the studio’s “For Players, By Players” ethos translates into creating games that keep audiences coming back, while fostering long-term value in partnerships.

The post SiGMA Eurasia: ELA Games MD Marharyta Yerina Talks Progression Milestones in Dubai appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Blueprint Gaming has launched Frankenstein’s Fortune, a feature-rich 5×3 slot that combines an iconic theme with layered mechanics designed to drive sustained player engagement and strong operator performance in 2026.

Set in a vibrant laboratory inspired by Mary Shelley’s legendary creation, the game revolves around a Collect mechanic enhanced by dynamic in-game modifiers and a three-path bonus system.

In the base game, Cash symbols appear on reels two to five and are collected whenever a Collect symbol lands on reel one. The Frankie Time feature can randomly trigger one of four modifiers—Cash Reel, Wild Add, Lose to Win, or Bonus Boost—offering guaranteed wins or bonus opportunities.

The bonus round is activated by coloured scatter symbols filling their corresponding jars, each unlocking a unique feature:

• Red Jar – Frankie Spins: A 2×2 Special Collect symbol stays in view; landing symbols are awarded, and Level Up symbols expand the Collect area and grant extra spins.

• Blue Jar – Cash Spins: Extra Cash and Collect symbols are active, and any Collect landing on reel one applies a multiplier, boosting payout potential.

• Green Jar – Cash Trail: A multiplier trail starts with a wheel spin, ending with Frankie’s Big Money, awarding a random cash prize between 50x and 1000x the stake.

Players can also activate Express Bet at 0.5x the base stake to increase bonus trigger chances.

Jo Purvis, Director of Marketing, PR and Events at Blueprint Gaming, commented: “Frankenstein’s Fortune balances base game engagement with feature depth. Frankie Time modifiers keep gameplay lively, while the three-path bonus offers variety and replayability. It’s a versatile addition for operators, appealing to multiple player types in a single title.”

With its layered mechanics, dynamic modifiers, and multi-path bonuses, Frankenstein’s Fortune delivers a thrilling, feature-rich experience that strengthens operator lobbies and captures player attention.

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