Press Releases
UK Game Developer Kwalee Pledging Profits From Hit Title ‘Teacher Simulator’ to Help Tackle Child Food Poverty
With UK schools shut once again, profits from classroom-based mobile game will support the country’s most vulnerable children
This move was inspired by the campaigning of Marcus Rashford MBE, who is an Ambassador for FareShare, on the issue of free school meals. With Teacher Simulator riding high in the mobile game charts, offering lighthearted gameplay in a classroom setting, this felt like the perfect opportunity for Kwalee to contribute to the cause.
Launched towards the end of 2020 on iOS and Android devices, Teacher Simulator is completely free to download and has already reached more than 6.5 million players worldwide, becoming a top-3 game on the Apple App Store in the UK and US. On the UK Google Play Store, Teacher Simulator has gone one further by ranking at #2 in the Games category. This highlights how much the game resonated with the mobile gaming public, at a time when real-life classrooms have been closed in many parts of the world.
“Teacher Simulator was partly inspired by our own experiences at school, from the mundane to the bizarre,” commented Simon Platt, Head of Development at Kwalee. “These were largely fond memories for us, fortunately, but no child should have to worry about where their next meal is coming from when they should be learning and playing, whether in or out of the classroom.”
David Darling CBE, CEO of Kwalee, added: “We’re huge admirers of Marcus Rashford’s campaigning and strongly believe in the work done by FareShare. Now more than ever, as the country enters another testing lockdown, no child should have to go hungry. With Teacher Simulator having been such a success for its cheerful depiction of school life, we want to do our bit to support those for whom that is not necessarily the reality – especially with the added strain of remote schooling on kids and families.”
Darling – co-founder and former CEO of Codemasters, a company recently the subject of a $1.2 billion acquisition by gaming giant EA – has been making games professionally since he was a teenager. He was awarded a CBE in 2008 for services to the computer games industry and was more recently given the ‘Outstanding Leadership Award’ at the 2020 TIGA Awards.
He now runs Kwalee, which has recently surpassed 100 employees and recorded well over half a billion game downloads across its catalogue. Officially Britain’s biggest developer and publisher of hyper-casual mobile games – yet another success story to emerge from Leamington Spa, the town known widely as ‘Silicon Spa’ for its thriving games industry – Kwalee has been a prominent supporter of charities in the past, most notably of the gaming accessibility charity SpecialEffect.
FareShare has welcomed the support as it continues its appeal for donations. “After a year where understanding the importance of school-aged children receiving nutritious food has come under the spotlight, we are extremely grateful to Kwalee for donating 100% of UK profits from their Teacher Simulator game as children return to remote schooling,” said FareShare Commercial Director Alyson Walsh. “FareShare’s work with Breakfast, After School and Holiday Clubs each year help vulnerable children access the food they need to learn, grow and thrive.”
To learn more about the great work done by FareShare and to find details on how to donate directly, you’re encouraged to check out their website.
Kwalee is always looking for new developers to collaborate with and new games to publish, and developers can find out more information here: There are also more than 50 vacancies available at Kwalee across the UK, India, China and even remote opportunities, which you can learn more about here.
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Affiliate Management
N1 Faces: Daria Maichuk — “Communication as the Key to Strong, Effective Partnerships in Affiliate Marketing”
In iGaming, many things start with a simple “hi” in chat. Messages turn into long conversations, calls follow one after another, yet the goal remains the same — to make traffic profitable. Behind every dialogue is a person with their own background, approach, and communication style — and that’s exactly what defines the success of any partnership.
Partners need to see more than just a messenger account — they need to see a real person they can trust with their traffic and their goals.
N1 Faces is a series of short and lively interviews where N1 Partners introduces the managers behind the affiliate program: their values, their workflows, and their unique management styles.
Today’s spotlight is on Daria Maichuk, Affiliate Manager at N1 Partners, who shares her journey into the industry, her approach to building reliable long-term partnerships, and how she maintains internal balance while working at a fast pace.
Daria Maichuk
Affiliate Manager, N1 Partners
Daria is the kind of manager whose calm mindset, attentiveness, and quick reaction become obvious within the first minutes of communication. She maintains a fast pace, yet always leaves room for a genuine conversation — and that’s what makes working with her both easy and productive.
How did you get into the affiliate industry, and when did you realize it was the right fit for you?
I entered the industry in 2019, starting as an account manager at an advertising network. We worked with push, pops, native — and I had the chance to dive into each vertical.
After four years, I felt the need to focus on one direction and look at the market from another angle — to understand how different traffic sources operate. The role of an affiliate manager offered exactly that: an opportunity to explore the product in depth, build long-term relationships with partners, see campaign launches from the inside, and directly influence performance.
Why N1 Partners? What aligned in terms of values and approach?
I had known about the company for a long time — since 2020. We ran push-traffic tests together, and met often at conferences. I always noticed the team’s energy, openness, and genuine passion for their work. N1 Partners felt like a place where people truly love what they do.
When the opportunity to join the team appeared, I immediately felt that the rhythm and atmosphere matched me perfectly.
What advice would you give yourself in your first month on the job?
Don’t be afraid of the information flow — trust yourself more. At first everything may seem overwhelming, but over time each puzzle piece falls into place, especially once real practice begins.
How do you usually start communication with a new partner? What’s important to understand in the first five minutes?
It’s ideal when both sides have time for a quick call — to meet, exchange expertise, and discuss all details and expectations for upcoming launches. We share the results we aim to see by certain deadlines, while the partner outlines their vision — which GEOs they want to run now and what conversion they expect.
For me, it’s important to understand how open the partner is, how willing they are to share details about their launch plans, and which approaches they intend to use. Our goal is always the same: find terms that are mutually beneficial.
How do you build trust with a partner to ensure productive cooperation?
Personal communication is key, and conferences help immensely. Face-to-face interaction allows you not only to discuss business but also to learn more about the person. Small details can significantly improve future communication and make it more trusting.
Sometimes one meeting is enough for the dialogue to become smoother, faster, and more efficient.
This personal contact becomes a bridge that simplifies any further work.
Are there cases when you need to give tough feedback? How do you do it while preserving trust and a good working relationship?
Yes, it happens — and in such situations I always rely on statistics and concrete data. Numbers speak for themselves, which keeps the conversation transparent, grounded, and efficient. We look at facts together and make decisions based on them.
Constructive feedback with clear recommendations often becomes the most valuable tool for mutual growth.
What personal communication rules help you maintain speed without sacrificing quality?
I follow several principles: be polite, listen carefully, ask the right questions, avoid interrupting, and clarify anything that may cause misunderstanding.
These simple rules help keep both the pace and the quality of communication high.
What energizes you outside of work, and how does it help in working with partners?
Anything connected to movement and social interaction: sports (three workouts a week), yoga, walking my dog, warm moments with family and friends.
Time spent outside work helps me recharge, stay balanced, and maintain my energy levels. Thanks to this, I remain attentive, calm, and ready for constructive dialogue with partners.
If not iGaming, then… who would you be?
As a child, I dreamed of becoming a flight attendant — I loved the atmosphere of travel and the feeling of being close to the sky.
Speaking of my current interests, I would probably choose marketing — maybe performance or targeted advertising. I’ve always been drawn to its dynamics and opportunities for creativity.
Name the Top-3 tools you can’t imagine an affiliate manager working without.
CRM systems and convenient communication channels
They structure daily workflow, simplify interaction, and help keep important details organized.
Monitoring dashboards and analytics tools
They make it possible to evaluate traffic quality, build reports, and make data-driven decisions.
Work devices & messengers
The backbone of daily communication — calls, quick discussions, approvals, and keeping constant contact with partners.
Phone, laptop, Telegram, and MS Teams are my essentials.
Join N1 Partners
To discuss a new launch, choose the right terms for your traffic, or test an offer, you can contact Daria directly.
N1 Partners provides everything partners need to stay ahead and achieve results: high-converting products, regular analytics with optimization recommendations, and full support from the team.
Become a partner: https://n1.partners/
N1 Partners is more than just an affiliate program. The company brings together 14+ casino and betting brands, operates in 10+ Tier-1 GEOs, delivers Reg2Dep rates of up to 70%, and offers competitive conditions for top partners — CPA up to €700 and RevShare up to 45%.
More than 14,000 partners trust N1 Partners for its transparency, flexibility, and an approach where people and communication quality play a central role.
The post N1 Faces: Daria Maichuk — “Communication as the Key to Strong, Effective Partnerships in Affiliate Marketing” appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Global Expansion
ProgressPlay Unveils Dual-Engine Strategy for 2026: Empowering Partners via Standalone and Sweepstakes Solutions
In the fast-evolving world of iGaming, a platform’s future is defined not just by what it offers today, but by its vision for the growth of its partners tomorrow. ProgressPlay has set its sights on a future powered by two of its most dynamic and strategic offerings: Standalone and Sweepstakes verticals.
Alongside its robust and trusted traditional white-label and turnkey casino and sportsbook solutions, the company is placing a defining strategic emphasis on these two pillars. They represent a fundamental expansion of the partner growth playbook, offering distinct, powerful pathways to market share in the coming year.
The Launchpad: ICE Barcelona 2026
The ICE Barcelona event will serve as the official launchpad for this vision. ProgressPlay will be showcasing these innovations at Stand 2D12, where the conversation will pivot from providing a simple service to architecting a future for ambitious operators.
Pillar 1: The Standalone Solution – Autonomy and Legacy
For ambitious brands, the Standalone solution is the ultimate expression of autonomy. It transcends the traditional partnership model by empowering operators to launch their own fully owned entity—a distinct B2C brand—under the protective umbrella and robust infrastructure of ProgressPlay’s proprietary technology.
This offering is engineered for those who demand:
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Complete Sovereignty: Full control over player data and commercial strategy.
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Tailored Customer Journeys: A bespoke experience that goes beyond a branded front-end.
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Asset Building: The ability to build a lasting legacy asset powered by a backend they can trust implicitly.
“The Standalone is for the visionary who demands full ownership to build a lasting legacy asset,” said Marina Nahhas, Head of B2B Sales and Marketing at ProgressPlay. “At ICE, we’re moving the conversation from what we provide to what our partners can achieve.”
Pillar 2: The Sweepstakes Solution – Capturing the Next Wave
Running in parallel is the dedicated Sweepstakes solution. This vertical addresses one of the most complex growth frontiers in modern gaming markets, providing a compliant framework to bridge the gap between social gaming engagement and regulated real-money play.
This focus on Sweepstakes demonstrates a deep understanding of modern player acquisition:
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Low-Friction Entry: Build community and brand affinity in evolving markets.
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High Engagement: Utilize specialized mechanics and an extensive content library.
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Strategic Expansion: Ideal for capturing new demographics and testing markets with lower barriers to entry.
A Versatile Engine for Every Ambition
The power of this dual-strategy lies in its complementary nature. While Standalone caters to partners seeing iGaming as a core, owned vertical, the Sweepstakes vertical offers a strategic entry play for growth-focused strategists.
Itai Lowenstein, CEO of ProgressPlay, explained the precision required for success in 2026:
“The monolithic market is gone. Success in 2026 requires precision. One partner may need the autonomy of a Standalone, while another sees a goldmine in the scalable, community-driven model of Sweepstakes. Our role is to be the versatile, reliable engine for both journeys.”
By strengthening these two pillars alongside their proven turnkey and white-label offerings, ProgressPlay is building the comprehensive toolkit that will define the next generation of iGaming leaders.
Meet ProgressPlay at ICE 2026
Are you ready to choose your own strategic adventure for 2026? Join the ProgressPlay team in Barcelona to discuss how these solutions can drive your growth.
Book a meeting with ProgressPlay at ICE 2026 or visit them at Stand 2D12 to see the future of platform partnership in action.
The post ProgressPlay Unveils Dual-Engine Strategy for 2026: Empowering Partners via Standalone and Sweepstakes Solutions appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
AI in iGaming
BetConstruct AI Hosting “Harmony Choice 2026”: The Strategic Prelude to ICE Barcelona
BetConstruct AI has officially announced its upcoming flagship gathering, Harmony Choice 2026. Set to take place on January 17, 2026, in Barcelona, the exclusive event serves as the strategic opening of the iGaming calendar, occurring just two days before the industry converges for ICE Barcelona.
Designed as a high-level networking and insight-sharing meetup, Harmony Choice provides a vital space for reflection and connection before the intensity of the world’s largest iGaming exhibition begins.
Setting the Strategic Tone for 2026
The event is themed around BetConstruct AI’s 2026 core philosophy: “The Choice.” This concept emphasizes that in a rapidly evolving market, the decisions made today—regarding technology, partners, and direction—define long-term success.
Event Highlights:
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Exclusive Networking: Gathering leading representatives and decision-makers from the global iGaming sector.
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Strategic Insight: A program dedicated to early clarity, aligning on industry trends, and discussing the future of AI-driven gaming solutions.
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Iconic Venue: The evening will be hosted in one of Barcelona’s most prestigious and “inspiring” settings, offering a sophisticated environment for meaningful interaction.
Event Summary: Harmony Choice 2026
| Feature | Details |
| Date | January 17, 2026 |
| Location | Barcelona, Spain (Iconic Venue) |
| Purpose | High-level networking and strategic alignment |
| Philosophy | “The Choice” (Direction, Decision-making, Intention) |
| Preceded By | ICE Barcelona (Jan 19–21, 2026) |
“Harmony Choice creates a vital space for reflection and connection just days before the industry converges for ICE Barcelona,” a spokesperson for BetConstruct AI stated. “We invite industry leaders to join us for an evening of early clarity and thoughtful exchange.”
The Road to Stand 4A20
Harmony Choice is the first step in a major Barcelona circuit for the provider. Following the gathering, the company will showcase its full ecosystem at ICE Barcelona (Stand 4A20), where it plans to highlight:
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“The Choice to Grow” Program: A unique 12-month commercial offer linking performance to real cost advantages.
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AI-Infused Products: Updates to CRM AI, Umbrella AI, and their proprietary AI Game Recommendation System.
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Special Bets Module: A new dynamic engagement tool giving operators unprecedented freedom in market creation.
The post BetConstruct AI Hosting “Harmony Choice 2026”: The Strategic Prelude to ICE Barcelona appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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Daria Maichuk