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Marc Etches to step down as CEO of GambleAware
After almost a decade as Chief Executive, Marc Etches has announced he will step down from his role as Chief Executive of GambleAware at the end of March 2021.
Under Marc Etches’ leadership, GambleAware has evolved to become the primary commissioner and convenor of services dedicated to reducing and preventing gambling harms in Great Britain. Formerly known as the Responsible Gambling Trust, the charity is now guided by a public health approach, overseen by a wholly independent and expert Board of Trustees, and works collaboratively with those in the public health sector, including the NHS, public health agencies, local authorities and voluntary sector organisations.
Marc Etches has led a substantial increase in funding and donations during his time as CEO and leading members of the Betting and Gaming Council have recently committed further funding of £100 million for the next four years. The charity now has £40m of grant funding under active management and the additional pledged funding will help GambleAware to continue to develop the National Gambling Treatment Service with its partners across England, Scotland and Wales.
The process to select a new Chief Executive will be led and overseen by GambleAware’s Board of Trustees. As GambleAware enters into the next stage of its evolution, the independent Board will look to appoint someone with appropriate expertise, including in commissioning healthcare services, who will be able to continue to ensure gambling harms are understood and tackled as a matter of public and individual health and wellbeing.
Commenting on Marc Etches’ departure, Kate Lampard CBE, Chair of GambleAware said:
“It has been a pleasure working with Marc over the past four years and he has taken the charity from strength to strength. As a result of his hard work, GambleAware has developed the expertise and sustainability to continue to deliver and work with partners across the healthcare spectrum to prevent and protect against gambling harms. I look forward to continuing this important work with a new Chief Executive next year.”
Marc Etches also commented: “It has been an extraordinary privilege to serve as CEO for nearly a decade and I am enormously proud of the charity’s development and the contribution it makes, in partnerships with others, to keeping people safe from gambling harms.
With the prospect of a new era of increased funding and wider commissioning responsibilities, it is the right time for the charity to find someone with the skills and expertise necessary to take it into the next stage of its evolution.
I want to thank the Board of trustees and the entire staff team at GambleAware for their hard work and commitment to the charity’s purpose as well as for their magnificent personal support of me.”
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Andrew Cochrane
Soft2Bet Wins in Two Categories at the EGR B2B Awards 2026
Soft2Bet has won two major honours at the EGR B2B Awards 2026. The igaming company took home titles for Innovation in Mobile and Innovation in Casino Software.
The awards recognise Soft2Bet’s ability to turn product development into practical growth tools for operators, from native mobile apps and platform migration to MEGA and back-office control. Its technology is shaped by local market needs, partner strategy and strict compliance standards, helping operators launch securely, adapt quickly and grow in competitive markets.
The Innovation in Casino Software award highlights Soft2Bet’s casino platform, back-office tools and MEGA, its Motivational Engineering Gaming Application. The platform brings casino, sportsbook, CRM, CMS, KYC, payments, risk, promotions and player engagement into a single operating setup, giving operators greater control and reducing the need to manage multiple suppliers.
MEGA adds gamification engines to casino and sportsbook journeys through missions, challenges, rewards, segmentation and player progression. For operators, this supports stronger retention, higher LTV and clearer commercial performance. Recent network performance figures show 190% year-on-year Casino Games GGR growth, 173% year-on-year Sportsbook GGR growth, more than 200 million game rounds processed each day and 99.99% platform uptime.
Andrew Cochrane, Chief Commercial Officer at Soft2Bet, said: “Recognition from EGR is a strong endorsement of the product development our teams are delivering across mobile, casino software and gamification. Operators want technology that helps them compete, retain players and improve performance without adding unnecessary complexity. These awards support that direction and give us added momentum as we bring MEGA and our platform to more partners.”
The Innovation in Mobile award highlights Soft2Bet’s native app delivery and mobile-first design. Its edge-optimised mobile architecture supports fast load times, stable gameplay, simple one-thumb navigation, haptic feedback, adjustable text sizes and voice-enabled navigation.
Recent mobile work across Betinia and Swiper shows how Soft2Bet creates distinct app journeys for different brands and markets. Betinia reached No. 1 in Sweden and Denmark, and QuickCasino Sweden recorded a 30% improvement in conversion following an App Store Product Page test.
Soft2Bet’s two wins at the EGR B2B Awards 2026 add further recognition to 10 years of building iGaming technology for operators. The company continues to expand its B2B turnkey offering for operators seeking platform migration, native mobile apps and support for new market launches.
Each project is shaped around local player behaviour, partner strategy and strict compliance standards, helping operators enter markets securely and reduce operational complexity. MEGA, Soft2Bet’s API-based gamification product for casino and sportsbook, adds missions, rewards, segmentation and player progression, supporting stronger engagement, retention, LTV and long-term commercial performance.
The post Soft2Bet Wins in Two Categories at the EGR B2B Awards 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Amusnet
Amusnet Brings Football Passion to New Heights with Stoichkov #8 Crash Edition
Feel the intensity of the stadium lights and the thrill of split-second decisions with Stoichkov #8 Crash Edition, a high-energy crash game from Amusnet where football excitement and rising multipliers collide. Inspired by legendary football icon Hristo Stoichkov, this adrenaline-fuelled experience places players right at the heart of the action, where instinct, timing and courage define every round.
From kickoff, the tension builds fast. Players place their wager and watch as the multiplier begins climbing higher and higher, increasing with every passing second. The challenge is simple but intense: cash out before the multiplier crashes. Wait too long, and the opportunity disappears in an instant.
Adding a strategic twist to the gameplay, the 50% Cash Out feature allows players to secure half of their progress mid-round while leaving the rest in play. It creates a dynamic balance between cautious play and daring ambition, turning every decision into a defining moment on the virtual pitch.
Driven by a Provably Fair algorithm, every round delivers transparent gameplay and unpredictable excitement, ensuring that each multiplier rise feels authentic and engaging. Combined with energetic visuals, football-inspired design and the unmistakable presence of the football legend Hristo Stoichkov himself, the game captures the emotion and pressure of a decisive match moment.
Fast-paced, competitive and packed with atmosphere, Stoichkov #8 Crash Edition transforms every round into a battle of nerves where football spirit meets high-voltage crash action. The whistle has blown, the crowd is roaring and the next legendary moment is only seconds away.
Multipliers
The game starts with a multiplier set at 1x and rises gradually and can go up to a max coefficient of 1,000,000. Multiplier can potentially crash at 1x, ending the game round.
50% Cash Out
Players can cash out 50% of their bet during the game round and continue playing with the remaining 50%.
Gamble
Play the game and multiply the winnings through the Gambling feature.
Jackpot Cards
The Jackpot Cards bonus game is triggered at random during the gameplay to allow players to win impressive jackpots.
The post Amusnet Brings Football Passion to New Heights with Stoichkov #8 Crash Edition appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Daniel Fischer
Fennica Gaming Goes Live in Germany with Lotto Baden‑Württemberg
Fennica Gaming, a leading provider of innovative lottery entertainment, announced the successful launch of its first interactive games with Lotto Baden‑Württemberg, a trusted state lottery serving millions of players in southwest Germany. The collaboration marks for Fennica a significant step in bringing a modern and player‑centric experience to the German lottery market while maintaining the highest regulatory standards.
The rollout of the interactive game takes Lotto Baden‑Württemberg’s digital product portfolio to the next level. Until now, Lotto Baden‑Württemberg has successfully offered digital versions of its popular instant products; with Fennica Gaming, the portfolio now expands to include engaging content designed to meet today’s players’ preferences.
“We are happy moving forward with our strategic market expansion. This partnership adds another major German lottery to Fennica Gaming’s growing European footprint. We have had good connections with Lotto Baden-Württemberg for a long time and now it led to this mutually desired outcome,” said Joni Hovi, SVP Customers & Marketing at Fennica Gaming.
The cooperation was characterised by close alignment and efficient joint execution between teams. Fennica Gaming’s flexible architecture enabled a straightforward rapid technical onboarding, enabling Lotto Baden‑Württemberg to broaden its portfolio quickly and responsibly.
“With this cooperation, we are strengthening our digital portfolio and laying the foundation for continuous development across all platforms. Our top priority is to ensure that our offerings meet the highest standards of player protection, transparency, and regulatory compliance. In Fennica Gaming, we have found a strong partner who meets both our own requirements and those of our customers, enabling us to provide a secure and reliable gaming experience for the long term,” said Daniel Fischer, Product Manager Instants at Lotto Baden‑Württemberg.
“We’re proud to partner with Lotto Baden‑Württemberg, a highly respected and innovative German lottery. Together we’ll deliver a modern, entertaining player experience with rapid time‑to‑market, compliant operations, and simple integration. We are welcoming the Lotto Baden-Württemberg’s approach to meet the players there where they are,” said Marcus Bischoff, Sales Director Europe at Fennica Gaming.
The post Fennica Gaming Goes Live in Germany with Lotto Baden‑Württemberg appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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