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UK Game Developer Kwalee Surpasses 100 Employees In Year of Explosive Growth

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  • Leamington Spa-based mobile game developer and publisher hits milestone with overseas studios in Bangalore and Beijing underway

  • Kwalee has grown rapidly in 2020 despite the COVID-19 pandemic, recruiting globally while embracing remote work for the first time

  • After tripling in size over the past two years, Kwalee sets sights on more hit games and more growth, with 60+ current vacancies

 

Kwalee, a leading developer and publisher of hyper-casual mobile games, has expanded its team to more than 100 people after maintaining a rapid rate of growth throughout 2020.

Despite the company’s Leamington Spa headquarters lying empty for much of the year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Kwalee team adapted quickly to temporary remote working measures and released multiple hit games in 2020, including Bake It, Line Up: Draw the Criminal and Let’s Be Cops 3D.

This facilitated growth across all disciplines and departments, from Publishing Managers to Game Designers, with Kwalee welcoming team members from as far afield as Turkey, the Philippines, India, Spain and China. And while Kwalee has always recruited internationally, 2020 was the year in which the company cemented its global outlook by permanently opening several positions to remote workers and committing to open new studios in Bangalore and Beijing. Across all locations, Kwalee has more than 50 open positions.

Founded and led by games industry legend David Darling CBE, a co-founder and former CEO of Codemasters, Kwalee has become one of the UK’s biggest gaming success stories while specialising in hyper-casual games – a style of mobile games that are defined by their accessibility and designed to be played in short bursts. Kwalee has become a leading developer and publisher in this space and has racked up nearly half a billion downloads worldwide.

Kwalee has also earned itself a reputation for being a rewarding workplace, not least for the weekly ‘Creative Wednesdays’ where anyone in the company can pitch their game ideas and vote on which ones get made. This also ties into a generous profit share bonus scheme, which surpassed £1 million in payouts in February 2020.

“We’re extremely proud to have expanded the Kwalee team to more than 100 people – particularly in such a challenging year,” said CEO David Darling. “Our rate of growth has been phenomenal and we all look forward to that continuing, both in Leamington Spa and internationally.

With so many vacant positions still open and big plans for 2021 and beyond, we can’t wait to welcome many more great people to help us release many more great games. Between remote working and the overseas studios we’re building, there are now more options than ever for the world’s best talent to work with us, which is very exciting indeed.”

Jithin Rosh, based in Bangalore, became Kwalee’s 100th team member. Joining as Marketing Artist & Animator, he commented:

“Working for a gaming studio like Kwalee is truly exciting! All my life I’ve been playing games – now I’m part of that process, making games with fun and talented people. I’m very happy to be here and to be Kwalee’s 100th employee!”

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298/2026

New CMN and SPA rules reorganize the iGaming and sports betting landscape in Brazil

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Rafael Brunati and Celso Basílio, lawyers at Silveiro Advogados specializing in regulated markets, corporate law, and competition law, analyze the recent measures adopted by Brazil’s National Monetary Council (CMN) and the Secretariat of Prizes and Betting (SPA/MF) and their impact on the iGaming and sports betting industry.

In this article, they examine how the new regulatory framework reshapes the boundaries between betting, financial instruments, and emerging digital market models, while reinforcing Law No. 14,790/2023 as the central pillar of regulation in the sector.

ByRafael Brunati and Celso Basílio

The set of measures recently adopted by the National Monetary Council (CMN) and the Secretariat of Prizes and Betting of the Ministry of Finance (SPA/MF) marks a new chapter in the regulatory consolidation of Brazil’s iGaming and sports betting market.

More than a targeted response to so-called predictive markets, these initiatives signal a broader effort to redefine the boundaries between authorized betting activities, financial instruments, and operations considered irregular in the country.

CMN Resolution No. 5,298/2026 prohibited the offering and trading of derivatives linked to betting, sports events, online games, and political, electoral, cultural, or entertainment themes without a financial-economic reference.

In the same direction, SPA/MF Technical Note No. 2,958/2026 classified predictive market platforms as illegal fixed-odds betting operations, leading to the blocking of dozens of platforms by Anatel.

The move clearly reinforces Law No. 14,790/2023 as the exclusive regulatory framework for fixed-odds betting in Brazil.

In practice, the government has begun to draw a sharper line around who can operate in this market and under what conditions.

Platforms that previously positioned themselves as financial markets, event-based contracts, or alternative technological structures are now being materially treated as betting operators.

The regulatory message is direct: if a product targets the same audience, uses similar economic logic to betting, and involves risk linked to future events, it is likely to fall within the SPA’s regulatory perimeter.

From a competitive and regulatory standpoint, this produces a meaningful effect for licensed operators. Companies that have invested in licensing, compliance, anti-money laundering controls, sports integrity, responsible gaming policies, and regulatory infrastructure are no longer competing with platforms operating outside these requirements under alternative legal interpretations.

This indirectly strengthens the economic value of the license granted by the SPA.

At the same time, this strengthening comes with a significant increase in operational and compliance obligations.

The recent measures also reopen an important discussion on the regulatory limits of so-called betting exchanges and peer-to-peer models.

SPA/MF Technical Note No. 2,958/2026 itself acknowledges that betting between users and the existence of dynamic pricing do not necessarily alter the nature of fixed-odds betting.

This interpretation is relevant because it brings predictive markets closer to exchange-style betting structures already contemplated under Law No. 14,790/2023.

This point could, in the future, open space for regulated betting exchange models in Brazil, provided they fall within the SPA’s authorized perimeter. However, operational rules for such formats have not yet been defined by the regulator, leaving a significant area of uncertainty for operators seeking product innovation.

From another perspective, these measures are also likely to generate substantial litigation.

There are important debates regarding the limits of the CMN’s authority to restrict certain types of derivatives, the SPA’s interpretative role regarding predictive markets, and even the blocking of platforms without judicial orders.

Regardless of the outcome of these disputes, the fact is that Brazil’s iGaming and sports betting market is entering a new phase.

Regulatory logic is no longer focused solely on formal authorization to operate, but increasingly incorporates issues such as financial integrity, protection of vulnerable users, data governance, payment traceability, and continuous operational supervision.

The sector continues to grow, but now within a significantly more sophisticated—and more demanding—environment. For licensed operators, this simultaneously creates a barrier to entry for unregulated competitors and increases compliance costs.

In an increasingly regulated market, competitive advantage is likely to depend less on the ability to offer bets and more on the capacity to operate with regulatory security, operational integrity, and rapid adaptation to new state requirements.

Rafael Brunati is a lawyer specializing in Corporate Law, Contracts, M&A, Private Equity, and Banking Law at Silveiro Advogados.

He holds a Law degree from Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie, an LL.M in Corporate Law from INSPER, and is a member of the Banking Law Commission of the São Paulo Chapter of the Brazilian Bar Association (OAB/SP).

Celso Basílio is a lawyer specializing in Regulated Markets, Telecommunications, Contracts, and Competition Law at Silveiro Advogados.

He holds a Master’s degree in Law from FGV Direito SP, an LL.M in Contract Law from INSPER, and a Law degree from Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie.

The post New CMN and SPA rules reorganize the iGaming and sports betting landscape in Brazil appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

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HELL Partners

Every FTD Counts HELL Partners Launches €20,000 World Cup Race 2026

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HELL Partners (IVIBET / Hell Spin) is kicking off its biggest affiliate competition to date — the World Cup Race 2026 — a two-month performance sprint running from May 15 to July 15, 2026, with winners announced on July 31.

The competition is open to all affiliates, new and existing, and is built around one simple idea: drive first-time depositors to IVIBET / Hell Spin Sportsbook (plus an additional brand that may be launched during the campaign), climb the leaderboard, and take home a share of a €20,000 prize pool — plus guaranteed revenue share bonuses on top.

How It Works

Affiliates drive traffic to IVIBET & Hell Spin Sportsbooks, generate FTDs, and get ranked on a live leaderboard maintained by affiliate managers. Rankings are based on FTD volume and traffic quality. The minimum threshold to qualify is 10 FTDs from Tier 1 or Tier 2 GEOs.

Prize Pool Breakdown

The top 10 finishers split €20,000 in cash prizes: 1st place takes €5,000, 2nd earns €4,000, 3rd receives €3,000, 4th and 5th get €2,000 each, and places 6 through 10 receive €1,000 apiece. Places 11 through 20 receive a limited-edition merch pack.

RevShare Boost — Guaranteed on Top of Prizes

Every qualifying affiliate also unlocks a guaranteed RevShare boost based on their FTD count — independent of their final leaderboard position. Affiliates who bring in 10 to 19 FTDs receive a +5% RS boost for one month. Those reaching 20 to 50 FTDs get +10% RS for two months. Affiliates who hit 51 or more FTDs earn +10% RS for three months. The logic is straightforward: the stronger the performance, the longer and more profitable the terms.

Built for Every Affiliate, Not Just the Top

The campaign is designed to reward volume at every level. There is no all-or-nothing mechanic — earnings scale directly with output, the rules are transparent from day one, and the playing field is genuinely open. Whether you’re an established partner or just joining the network, the structure is built to make participation worthwhile.

For more information or to join the competition, reach out to your affiliate manager or visit the HELL Partners website.

▪Oleh Affiliate Manager [email protected]

▪Max Affiliate Manager [email protected] 

The post Every FTD Counts HELL Partners Launches €20,000 World Cup Race 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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HELL Partners

Every FTD Counts HELL Partners Launches €20,000 World Cup Race 2026

Published

on

every-ftd-counts-hell-partners-launches-e20,000-world-cup-race-2026

HELL Partners (IVIBET / Hell Spin) is kicking off its biggest affiliate competition to date — the World Cup Race 2026 — a two-month performance sprint running from May 15 to July 15, 2026, with winners announced on July 31.

The competition is open to all affiliates, new and existing, and is built around one simple idea: drive first-time depositors to IVIBET / Hell Spin Sportsbook (plus an additional brand that may be launched during the campaign), climb the leaderboard, and take home a share of a €20,000 prize pool — plus guaranteed revenue share bonuses on top.

How It Works

Affiliates drive traffic to IVIBET & Hell Spin Sportsbooks, generate FTDs, and get ranked on a live leaderboard maintained by affiliate managers. Rankings are based on FTD volume and traffic quality. The minimum threshold to qualify is 10 FTDs from Tier 1 or Tier 2 GEOs.

Prize Pool Breakdown

The top 10 finishers split €20,000 in cash prizes: 1st place takes €5,000, 2nd earns €4,000, 3rd receives €3,000, 4th and 5th get €2,000 each, and places 6 through 10 receive €1,000 apiece. Places 11 through 20 receive a limited-edition merch pack.

RevShare Boost — Guaranteed on Top of Prizes

Every qualifying affiliate also unlocks a guaranteed RevShare boost based on their FTD count — independent of their final leaderboard position. Affiliates who bring in 10 to 19 FTDs receive a +5% RS boost for one month. Those reaching 20 to 50 FTDs get +10% RS for two months. Affiliates who hit 51 or more FTDs earn +10% RS for three months. The logic is straightforward: the stronger the performance, the longer and more profitable the terms.

Built for Every Affiliate, Not Just the Top

The campaign is designed to reward volume at every level. There is no all-or-nothing mechanic — earnings scale directly with output, the rules are transparent from day one, and the playing field is genuinely open. Whether you’re an established partner or just joining the network, the structure is built to make participation worthwhile.

For more information or to join the competition, reach out to your affiliate manager or visit the HELL Partners website.

▪Oleh Affiliate Manager [email protected]

▪Max Affiliate Manager [email protected] 

The post Every FTD Counts HELL Partners Launches €20,000 World Cup Race 2026 appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

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