Latest News
Blueprint Gaming set for international growth with new games studio Lucksome
Leading slot developer extends development capabilities with highly-experienced games design team
Leading slot supplier Blueprint Gaming has unveiled the industry’s newest development studio, Lucksome, which promises to bring exciting and innovative new content to the global gaming industry.
Joining Blueprint’s multi-studio strategy, Lucksome is led by a team with a collective experience of 29 years in games design from across the online, land based and social casino sectors on a worldwide market scale. The new venture has strong ambitions to deliver localised games that are built with the player in mind, as well as being packed with innovative concepts.
The Lucksome team based in Malta is headed by Bryan Upton, a games design, content strategy specialist and industry veteran, who most recently worked at NetEnt, running the company’s RNG games product development unit. He has over 14 years’ experience within the gaming industry, having previously worked for IGT, OpenBet and Inspired. The company also features former NetEnt and Yggdrasil employees Josefin Uppeke, who joins as Head of Creative and Games Designer, and Johan John, Senior Product Manager.
Lucksome is a wholly owned group company that will benefit from the distribution and reliability of Blueprint’s RGS platform. The team will work closely with Simon Thompson, one of its founders, who directs design for the group.
Simon Thompson, Director of Design at Blueprint Gaming, commented: “The Lucksome team have a strong background within the casino sector and we’re delighted to welcome them to the Blueprint family.
“With another games studio joining our portfolio, our design capabilities have elevated to a new level which will provide a strong base for us to bring fresh and engaging content to the market.”
The new studio will, in addition to online slots, be exploring other styles of games, as well as unveiling a new and innovative multi-game concept in Q1. The first games designed by Lucksome are set to be distributed through Blueprint’s RGS platform within Q2 of 2021.
Lucksome becomes the latest studio under Blueprint’s growing portfolio of games following in the footsteps of Games Warehouse, Livewire, Project, Reel Time Gaming (RTG) and Merkur Gaming. The addition of Lucksome is an important move in Blueprint’s efforts to extend its international footprint, providing operators with quality, localised content across multiple markets.
Bryan Upton, Director at Lucksome, said: We’re very excited to unveil Lucksome to the industry and to be part of the Blueprint family. Our studio’s team is highly experienced in designing great games that resonate with players in multiple regions. Coupled with the group’s prolific games development technology, I’m confident we’ll bring even more exciting and innovative content to Blueprint’s already rich portfolio.
“Building a presence in Malta is an important move for the group and shows the strong intent we have to work more closely with operators and broaden our reach.”
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asia-pacific
Groove shortlisted for Best Aggregator at SiGMA Asia Awards 2026
Groove has been named a finalist for Best Aggregator 2026 at the SiGMA Asia Awards, with the ceremony scheduled for 2 June 2026 at the SMX Convention Centre Manila during the SiGMA Asia Summit.
The shortlist was announced by Global Gaming Insider, according to the company. Groove said its platform aggregates more than 15,000 games from over 150 providers via a single API.
Giusy Campo, Business Development Director at Groove, said: “This shortlist is external recognition of a truth we already feel internally: Groove is moving at a different pace. Asia is not a single market, it is a collection of distinct regulatory environments, player behaviours, and partnership opportunities”
Campo added: “Our platform is built to respect that complexity, not smooth it over. Being named a finalist for Best Aggregator tells us that our approach; deep integration, localised content strategies, and commercial precision; is resonating with the operators who matter most in this region. We are not just bringing games to Asia. We are bringing a roadmap for sustainable growth.”
Yahale Meltzer, Co-Founder and CEO of Groove, said: “The aggregation space is crowded. Differentiation is everything. This nomination confirms that our vision, transforming aggregation from a commodity into a strategic growth discipline, is taking hold.” He added: “Operators across Asia are no longer asking for just volume or speed. They are asking for structural resilience, data intelligence, and a partner who can execute across fragmented regulatory landscapes with precision. Groove delivers that. To be recognised alongside the best in Asia is a privilege, but the real work continues in Manila and beyond. We are here to win, not just awards, but the trust of the operators who build their businesses on our platform.”
The post Groove shortlisted for Best Aggregator at SiGMA Asia Awards 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
data providers
DATA.BET reports 168% turnover growth from virtual content in Q1 2025–Q1 2026
DATA.BET says turnover from its virtual content grew 168% between Q1 2025 and Q1 2026, with the supplier reporting the product accounted for 39% of total virtual sports turnover and 45% of profits over the period.
The company said the content is developed fully in-house and delivered through automated bot-vs-bot matches that run 24/7 without dependence on real-world fixture schedules. DATA.BET positioned the format as a way to provide continuous events and reduce operational overhead for operators.
Across the same period, DATA.BET reported +299% active users, +129% across clients GGR, +246% events per quarter, and +218% bets placed.
DATA.BET also said the audience profile overlaps with live football bettors, which it believes supports retention during seasonal breaks. The supplier added that the algorithm-driven format “carries no fraud exposure,” supports In-Stream Betting overlays, and provides near-zero latency between broadcast and market updates.
“Over the past year, our bot-vs-bot virtual content has delivered consistent, measurable results across every operator deployment. Building e-Football in-house gives us the flexibility to configure it to what each operator actually needs — whether that is a specific league structure, a particular mix of bot and player content, or a branded competition format,” mentioned Rostyslav Likhtin, Head of Product at DATA.BET.
The post DATA.BET reports 168% turnover growth from virtual content in Q1 2025–Q1 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
content studios
155.io makes fintech debut with Coverd partnership
155.io has signed a partnership with US-based fintech platform Coverd, marking the content studio’s first move into fintech. The deal was announced Thursday 21st May 2026.
Under the agreement, 155.io’s real-world games will be integrated into Coverd’s platform. Coverd said the integration is designed to turn everyday transactions into interactive experiences where users can win the chance to have purchases covered through 155.io gameplay.
Sam Jones, Founder & CEO of 155.io, said: “This partnership gives us the opportunity to bring our content to a completely new audience. We share a philosophy with Coverd around disrupting and modernising industries through more interactive experiences. They understand that younger audiences expect entertainment and engagement across every digital touchpoint, including finance, which is exactly how we think about design.”
Albert Wang, Coverd co-founder, added: “Today’s consumer is actively embracing gamified products across every category, so there’s no reason personal finance should stay in the stone age. We’re excited to work with 155.io to make financial experiences more interactive and give everyone a chance to live big by winning back their purchases. 155.io’s next-gen content fits perfectly with what we’re building at Coverd.”
155.io said the integration will bring its interactive content—built around live-action footage and real-time mechanics—to Coverd users. The studio’s portfolio includes Rush Hour from its CCTV Game
library, alongside Ducks.io and Snow Run.
The post 155.io makes fintech debut with Coverd partnership appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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