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

Published

5 years ago

November 20, 2020

George Miller

Reading Time: 2 minutes

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!”

eyeDP

Promofy Wins This year’s Pitch ICE Award

Published

8 minutes ago

January 22, 2026

Wladimir P.

promofy-wins-this-year’s-pitch-ice-award

AI-gamification specialist Promofy emerged victorious at this year’s Pitch ICE competition. The company’s CEO and founder Irakli Davarshvili fended off competition from 11 other companies bidding to win the prize money of €15,000 provided by the competition’s lead sponsor AWS.

In a pitch lasting three minutes followed by a three-minute Q&A, Davarshvili wooed the panel of judges, consisting of Adam Rosenberg, senior adviser, gaming & leisure, Blackstone; Meir Shachar, gaming advisor and CEO at Digicode and RUNWAI, respectively; igaming adviser and gaming industry expert Paris Smith; Maxime Sbeghen, head of investment at FDJ United Ventures; and Jeff Millar, managing partner at JJK Partners.

Davarshvili emphasised how “innovative, customisable and easy to use” Promofy’s gamification engine was, highlighting its AI flow and ability to rapidly build gamified campaigns.

He described 2025 as having been a “foundational year”, outlining how the company had achieved $800,000 in revenue, had more than 20 customers and was now looking to raise $2m to support Promofy’s further growth.

Other pitch participants included eyeDP, an AI-powered solution to help operators process and analyse unstructured data and documents; Whizdom AI, designed to personalise game recommendations for players; Swiss Shufflers with its patented card-shuffling deck; and fantasy sports platform Loserball which “makes losing as cool as winning”.

The post Promofy Wins This year’s Pitch ICE Award appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Betsson Group

Betsson Group Wins Top Safer Gambling Recognition at IGA 2026

Published

8 minutes ago

January 22, 2026

Wladimir P.

betsson-group-wins-top-safer-gambling-recognition-at-iga-2026

Betsson Group has triumphed at the International Gaming Awards (IGA) 2026, winning the Safer Gambling Award, emphasizing that responsible gaming is crucial to the company’s operations. Responsible gaming is fundamental to Betsson Group’s sustainability approach and propels its goal of delivering entertainment in a responsible and sustainable way. The Group acknowledges that enduring success hinges on upholding the confidence of customers, employees, and regulators by guaranteeing that gaming stays secure, equitable, and pleasurable.

This marks the sixth consecutive year that Betsson Group has received the Safer Gambling Award at the International Gaming Awards. The recognition highlights the Group’s consistent efforts in this area, which are further strengthened through internationally recognised certifications and accreditations that externally validate its commitment to safer gambling.

Responsible gaming at Betsson Group begins internally, with mandatory training for all employees during induction, annual refresher courses for staff and contractors, and specialised training for customer-facing teams to support and protect at-risk players.

Hosted on the eve of ICE Barcelona 2026, the International Gaming Awards brought together iGaming industry leaders from across the globe. The event celebrated excellence across multiple categories, including online operators, land-based casinos, suppliers, and providers, making it a standout evening for the industry.

Betsson Group extends its heartfelt gratitude to its employees and partners who have played a pivotal role in this achievement.

The post Betsson Group Wins Top Safer Gambling Recognition at IGA 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Agrupación de Plataformas de Apuesta en Línea

BGC Enters Cooperation Agreement with Chile’s Online Operators’ Group

Published

8 minutes ago

January 22, 2026

Wladimir P.

bgc-enters-cooperation-agreement-with-chile’s-online-operators’-group

The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has signed a Cooperation Agreement with Chile’s Agrupación de Plataformas de Apuesta en Línea (aPAL), as part of ongoing efforts to support the development of a sustainable and well-regulated online gambling market in Chile.

The agreement brings together the BGC, which represents around 90% of the UK’s regulated betting and gaming industry, and aPAL, a group of international online betting operators that have been working since 2022, to support the introduction of modern gambling regulation in Chile.

While online gambling is currently not prohibited but also unregulated, Chile already has a land-based casino sector, horseracing and a lottery duopoly, and a draft bill to regulate online operators has been under discussion for several years. Following recent elections, a new Chilean Government is now in a position to advance with the legislation, potentially introducing a licensing regime as early as 2027.

Under the Cooperation Agreement, the two organisations will work together to share international experience and evidence, strengthen the knowledge base around gambling regulation, and engage constructively with policymakers and stakeholders on the development of a sustainable licensing framework in Chile.

Carlos Baeza, Chilean lawyer and representative of aPAL, said: “Chile has a real opportunity to introduce a modern, robust regulatory framework for online gambling that protects consumers, tackles illegal activity and delivers meaningful public benefits. At present, online gambling operates entirely outside any regulatory oversight, leaving players without safeguards and the state without visibility or control.

“By working with the BGC, we can draw on international best practice and ensure policymakers have access to high-quality evidence and experience from well-regulated markets.”

Grainne Hurst, Chief Executive of the Betting and Gaming Council, added: “The BGC is pleased to be working with aPAL at a pivotal moment for gambling reform in Chile. Well-designed regulation is essential to protect players, raise standards and drive out the harmful black market.

“The UK’s regulated market shows how robust licensing, high standards and effective oversight can support safer gambling while allowing a well-regulated industry to thrive. This agreement reflects our commitment to sharing that experience and supporting evidence-based policymaking internationally.”

The Cooperation Agreement will initially run for one year and forms part of the BGC International Committee’s ongoing programme of engagement with global partners.

The post BGC Enters Cooperation Agreement with Chile’s Online Operators’ Group appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.