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SAZKA Group teams up with Sir Keith Mills in bid for Fourth UK National Lottery Licence

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SAZKA Group, Europe’s largest lottery operator, today announced it has appointed Sir Keith Mills as Bid Chair of the UK team for the Fourth National Lottery Licence Competition. Sir Keith, a successful entrepreneur whose creative talent conceived the loyalty programmes so ubiquitous today, brings a wealth of experience from his roles across sport, charities, and business. He played a pivotal role in London’s successful bid to host the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and subsequently, their successful staging. For the past six years he has chaired the Royal Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, a role he hands over to Lord William Hague next month. He is also Chairman of the Invictus Games, the international adaptive multi-sport event created by Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex.

Commenting on the announcement, Sir Keith said, “I am driven by organisations that make a real contribution to society. I chose to team up with Sazka for the Fourth National Lottery Licence Competition because I believe the UK National Lottery needs to grow and be engaging if it is to continue to fund the thousands of good causes every year. Our lottery is a national treasure with nearly 26 years of history; however, the landscape has changed immeasurably since it was first launched back in 1994. The challenge now is to ensure the lottery connects with people right across the country, making it fresh and exciting as it once was, bringing new ways that are relevant for today and tomorrow’s generation. I feel passionately that it needs to be restored to the nation’s hearts, especially in these difficult times. I teamed up with Sazka because they have a proven record of taking established lotteries, growing them and evolving them to be relevant for the future. I am cognisant that much has to be done for us to make a winning case in this competition, but I believe that over the course of this process we will be able to demonstrate how Sazka’s expertise coupled with the experienced British team that we are building in the UK will offer the right stewardship for the UKNL for 2023 and beyond.”

As Bid Chairman, Sir Keith will lead a team with world-class bidding and delivery experience, including for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and Comic Relief. Sazka has appointed former London 2012 employee, Alastair Ruxton, as the Bid Director, together with British experts in key areas such as Player Protection, Good Causes, Innovation, Digital, Retail and Customer Experience.

Commenting on the agreement, SAZKA Group CEO Robert Chvátal said, “We are thrilled to be partnering with Sir Keith Mills and have him lead our entry in the Fourth National Lottery Licence Competition. We are hugely excited to be participating in this competition and for the chance to take stewardship of the National Lottery, helping the UK to fall back in love with this vital institution. Operating in five different national markets (Czech Republic, Austria, Italy, Greece, and Cyprus) has given us an unprecedented level of insight and experience in running lotteries. In addition, we have consistently increased participation and revenues for the lotteries we operate. We want to bring this deep knowledge and customer insight to revitalise the UK National Lottery increasing sales and money raised for good causes, thereby providing a much-needed long-term boost to community, arts, sports and heritage institutions across the UK.”

After submitting the Selection Questionnaire earlier this month, SAZKA Group has been accepted into the competition by the Gambling Commission, the body running the Competition. The team will now review the final bid application documents and continue to assemble a strong consortium capable of submitting a winning bid in 2021.

About Sir Keith Mills
Sir Keith Mills GBE DL is a British business entrepreneur who founded the Air Miles and Nectar customer loyalty programmes and has established numerous businesses, both in the UK and internationally.  In September 2003, Sir Keith was appointed International President and CEO of London 2012 established to bid for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.  Having won the bid, he established LOCOG to organise the Games, where he was Deputy Chairman alongside Lord Sebastian Coe.  In 2007 Sir Keith established an Olympic related charity, International Inspiration, which he chaired, and in 2008 he established a UK charity, Sported, which he funded and chaired for 10 years. In 2014 Sir Keith established, and was Chairman of, the Invictus Games, working with Prince Harry to deliver a new major international sport event for wounded servicemen and women.  Sir Keith Chairs the Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and the Invictus Games Foundation.  Sir Keith is also a Director and an investor in a number of private companies.
Sir Keith has received numerous awards including: Master Entrepreneur of the Year, Chief Executive of the Year, and the Sports Industry Businessman of the Year, and was knighted by The Queen in 2006 and again in 2013 when he received the Grand Knight Cross for his services to sport.

About SAZKA Group
The SAZKA Group is a national lottery, instant lottery and digital gaming operator, with our trusted brands and industry-leading technology delivering over €17bn in annual sales. Established in 2012, SAZKA Group is already one of Europe’s largest and fastest growing lottery companies and our strong performance across our markets is helping to fund good causes in the Czech Republic, Greece, Cyprus, Austria, and Italy.
Since entering the lottery market in 2012, SAZKA Group has quickly expanded from the Czech Republic into four other European markets. SAZKA Group has consistently taken on established lotteries and made them better, while also expanding into new market segments through market-leading technology platforms. The Group’s unique experience of operating in different jurisdictions enables it to adopt a tailored approach to customer experience in each market, helping to increase sales and returns to good causes.
Responsible gaming and funding good causes are at the heart of SAZKA Group’s business and culture. it promotes responsible gaming in all of its markets and is committed to having a positive impact where it operates. From building children’s hospitals in Greece to support for the Czech Olympic Foundation, SAZKA Group has put its business skills to the benefit of the local community.

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Tyga Enters 1win VIP Program, as Platform Blends Crypto and Entertainment

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1win continues to evolve its VIP ecosystem, bringing global rapper Tyga into its high-tier community while reinforcing its positioning as a crypto-first entertainment platform.

The update follows several days of speculation across social media, after the artist was spotted boarding a branded 1win private jet and later shared content featuring the brand. Confirmation was subsequently published via the 1win Owner’s official channels on X and Telegram.

According to sources close to the activation, Tyga was welcomed by 1win with a full-scale premium setup. This included a private jet flight and a genuinely VIP gift – a heritage model of Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 14700BA watch. The experience reflected 1win’s signature approach to its top-tier clients: personalized, highly exclusive, and luxury activations.

Tyga’s inclusion highlights how 1win is blending product, service, and culture, integrating high-profile figures directly into its ecosystem rather than relying on traditional endorsement models.

This philosophy is already reflected in 1win’s broader strategy of redefining VIP engagement. The company has previously made headlines for organizing private jet evacuations for its top users during global travel disruption in the Middle East. The brand also regularly cherishes 1win VIP users with extraordinary gifts and experiences, such as luxury cars and private tours to sports and art events.

While further details are undisclosed, the move signals continued expansion of 1win’s crypto-driven VIP strategy and growing influence across the iGaming and Web3 space.

1win operates as a crypto-first platform designed for a fast, seamless user experience. It offers a wide range of digital assets and quick transactions, including BTC, ETH, TRX, TON, and SOL, and grants unique incentives for crypto users, such as bonuses of up to 600% on deposits.

About 1win

Founded in 2016, 1win is a crypto platform in the global gaming industry. Operating across Asia, Latin America, and Africa, 1win offers a wide range of services adapted to regional audiences. In 2024, 1win partnered with actor Johnny Sins as its brand ambassador. In 2025, MMA legend Jon Jones joined 1win as its global ambassador. Rising UFC star and Tokyo 2020 Olympics gold medalist Gable Steveson stepped into the 1win global ambassador team earlier this year.

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“‘The Wall’ is just a mental hurdle”: FGN founder Fernando Saffores shares his core business values

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Fernando Saffores, founder of Focus Gaming News, shares the core values that have guided him through over 20 years of success in the iGaming industry in a new interview with Slotegrator. He also highlights what business leaders can learn from running marathons and flying private planes, as well as the biggest challenges new operators face and the markets and trends that will shape the future of iGaming.

Fernando Saffores, founder of Focus Gaming News, has seen some massive changes in the iGaming industry in his 20+ years of experience: the shift from an unregulated “Wild West” to a sophisticated, multi-billion dollar industry, the overturning of PASPA, and the introduction of AI tools, which his company quickly adopted. He shares the core values that have guided him to success throughout it all in a new interview with Slotegrator.

The wisdom you need to rise to the top of an industry like iGaming can come from anywhere: In addition to running one of the industry’s most prominent media brands, Fernando finds time to run marathons. In his view, the planning, discipline, and mental fortitude it takes to run 42 km mirror what it takes to run a business. One key is consistency: “You don’t run a marathon on the day of the race; you run it during the months of training at 5:30 AM.”

Another parallel is Fernando’s experience as a private pilot. Flying requires extreme focus and an ability to make split-second decisions under pressure, skills that belong in the boardroom as well as in the cockpit — he shares other concrete takeaways in the interview.

Fernando also breaks down the biggest challenges facing new operators today: “meaningful differentiation in a saturated market.” New iGaming businesses have to contend with soaring CAC, complex compliance requirements, and the struggle of finding the right unique niche — whether that’s through hyper-localized content, superior UX, innovative gamification, or something else. In the interview, Fernando shares the one approach he sees making the biggest difference for emerging operators.

Every business makes scaling a priority, but navigating varying laws, tax structures, and cultural nuances across global jurisdictions is no small task; in the interview, Fernando highlights the one strategic misstep he sees operators make again and again that stops them from becoming a global player.

Fernando also covers the markets and trends that will shape the near future of the iGaming industry, the brands he first turned to for support when founding FGN, the extent of FGN’s reach, his thoughts on the global AI boom, and more — read the full interview here to learn more about Fernando’s lessons in resilience, inspiration, and commitment.

ABOUT THE COMPANY

Since 2012, Slotegrator has been one of the iGaming industry’s leading software and business solution providers for online casino and sportsbook operators.

The company’s main focus is software development and support for online casino platforms, as well as the integration of game content and payment systems.

The company works with licensed game developers and offers a vast portfolio of casino content: slots, live casino games, poker, virtual sports, table games, lotteries, casual games, and data feeds for betting.

Slotegrator also provides consulting services in gambling license acquisition and business incorporation.

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Boomerang Partners brought TIME TO WIN to a close with 57 teams having competed for exclusive AC Milan-related rewards

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On March 31, Boomerang Partners concluded their exclusive affiliate tournament, TIME TO WIN. Top-performing affiliate teams competed for prizes and unique experiences linked to AC Milan, of which Boomerang is an Official Regional Partner

Participation metrics and performance results

Held from February 12 to March 31, the TIME TO WIN tournament brought together 57 affiliate teams. In total, they generated 1,611 sports FTDs across multiple brands within Boomerang Partners’ client portfolio. 40% of participants joined as new partners for this tournament.

Engagement levels varied across teams. 37% completed at least two tasks, while one team completed the full set of tasks.

Rossoneri Hub as the tournament’s central platform

All tournament activity was managed through the Rossoneri Hub – a dedicated platform developed as part of Boomerang Partners’ collaboration with AC Milan. During the tournament period, the Hub attracted 33,268 visitors. It served as the main entry point, hosting tasks and tracking participants’ progress.

A format built covering the full affiliate lifecycle

The structure of TIME TO WIN combined multiple aspects of affiliate activity within a unified platform. Participants completed tasks across five segments: performance, SMM, PR, brand surveys, and reviews. All of these contributed to their overall score.

The tasks were clearly defined, with fixed points awarded for each completed action:

  • Generating new sports users for brands within Boomerang Partners’ client portfolio – 10 points for each FTD
  • Completing the brand survey – 25 points
  • Contributing expert commentary as part of PR activities – 30 points
  • Participating in a dedicated SMM challenge – 25 points
  • Leaving a review on a selected platform – 20 points

The brand survey became the most popular task, while creative mechanics also played a role, including an AI-based challenge that resulted in 17 AC Milan kit concepts created by participants

AC Milan partnership as a value driver

A defining element of TIME TO WIN was its integration with AC Milan. All rewards were directly tied to the Club. This made the tournament more than a standard incentive program.

Participation gave affiliates access to experiences that reflect the level of the Boomerang Partners and AC Milan partnership – from merch packs and signed jerseys to matchday experiences and behind-the-scenes opportunities. These rewards cannot be replicated outside a top-tier football collaboration. They are designed as premium experiences.

Prize structure and winners

Winners will be determined across five prize tiers, each unlocked by reaching specific point thresholds. Notably, three teams (…) surpassed the 750-point threshold, qualifying for the top-tier experiences.

The prize structure included:

  • Prize 1 (150 points): TIME TO WIN Merch Pack for a team of five (3–5 sets)
  • Prize 2 (250 points): AC Milan official jerseys signed by players (five jerseys per set – 3–5 sets)
  • Prize 3 (350 points): A trip to the AC Milan v Cagliari match for five people (one set)
  • Prize 4 (550 points): A trip to the AC Milan v Juventus match, including pre-match access, for five people (one set)
  • Prize 5 (750 points): A trip to Milanello Sports Center, the heart of AC Milan, for five people (two sets)

In total, 15 partner representatives will attend the AC Milan v Juventus match. The main prize includes one winning team of up to five participants, while additional attendees will join through the Milanello experience.

To support this activation, Boomerang Partners expanded its ticket allocation based on demand. The company increased premium tickets by 300% and total ticket volume by 212% compared to the standard quota.

Anton Eshtokin, Chief Marketing Officer at Boomerang Partners, commented: “TIME TO WIN delivered exactly what we set out to achieve, bringing partners into an active phase at the right moment of the sports season and showing how teams performed under the same conditions.

The integration with AC Milan added a different layer to the tournament. The prizes were experiences tied directly to the Club – something affiliates don’t typically get through standard formats.

At the same time, the results carry into the third season of Golden Boomerang Awards, where the focus shifts to performance over time. This continuity is key to how we structure competition.”


From TIME TO WIN to Golden Boomerang Awards 2026

TIME TO WIN was designed as an entry point into a broader competitive framework. Participants who reached the 100-point threshold received bonus points toward the Golden Boomerang Awards 2026. The annual affiliate tournament, organized by Boomerang Partners, officially launched on April 3, marking the start of its third season

This year’s competition is built around the “Beyond the Moment” concept, reflecting a shift from short-term results to sustained performance over time. Rather than rewarding isolated spikes, the format emphasizes consistency, strategic execution, and the ability to remain competitive throughout the entire competition period. Further participation details are available on the official GBA 2026 website.

About Boomerang

Boomerang Partners is a rapidly growing global marketing agency offering a wide range of services. The Company is an Official Regional Partner of AC Milan. In 2024, it launched the inaugural Golden Boomerang Awards – a global tournament for affiliate teams. More than 400 affiliate teams participated in the second season of the tournament in 2025. Across its partner network, six new products were launched in 2024–2025, contributing to a nearly 1.5x growth in product users.

The company’s clients’ portfolio includes more than 10 brands operating across 40+ markets in compliance with local regulations. These products provide incentive programs and 24/7 multilingual support.

The post Boomerang Partners brought TIME TO WIN to a close with 57 teams having competed for exclusive AC Milan-related rewards appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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