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Opera buys owner of GameMaker and starts a Gaming division

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Opera, the browser developer and consumer internet brand, announced its acquisition of YoYo Games, creator of the world’s leading 2D game engine, GameMaker Studio 2, for approximately $10 million. The tuck-in acquisition represents the second building block in the foundation of Opera Gaming, a new division within Opera with global ambitions and follows the creation and rapid growth of Opera’s innovative Opera GX browser, the world’s first browser built specifically for gamers.

Krystian Kolondra, EVP Browsers at Opera, said: “With Opera GX, Opera had adapted its proven, innovative browser tech platform to dramatically expand its footprint in gaming. We’re at the brink of a shift, when more and more people start not only playing, but also creating and publishing games. GameMaker Studio2 is best-in-class game development software, and lowers the barrier to entry for anyone to start making their games and offer them across a wide range of web-supported platforms, from PCs, to, mobile iOS/Android devices, to consoles.

Annette De Freitas, Head of Business Development & Strategic Partnerships, Opera Gaming, added: “Gaming is a growth area for Opera and the acquisition of YoYo Games reflects significant, sustained momentum across both of our businesses over the past year. Our new Opera GX browser hit 7 million MAUs in December, 2020, up 350% year over year, while YoYo Games’ GameMaker engine achieved 400K new registered creators in 2020. We’re tremendously excited by the opportunities the combination creates not only for our combined users, but also for the expansion of Opera’s gaming community.”

Stuart Poole, GM at YoYo Games who will remain with the business alongside technical lead Russell Kay stated, “For over twenty years, the vision behind the GameMaker engine was to not just create more games, but expand development within and beyond the game studio. We think the transaction with Opera – whose products are known, trusted and used worldwide by millions of people every month- represents a massive opportunity to accelerate fulfilment of that founding vision, during a period of exceptional growth for both companies.”

“We are very excited to start working with the team at YoYo Games,” said Krystian Kolondra, EVP Browsers at Opera. “We see the Game Maker Studio platform as being an ideal acquisition to complement our global ambitions in gaming, and to help drive awareness and traffic to our Opera GX gaming browser.”

Opera GX, YoYo Games and GameMaker will unite under Opera Gaming, focusing on innovating across the gaming, game development, and browser experience. “We look forward to further growing Opera GX and driving the growth of GameMaker as part of a broader ecosystem, making it more accessible to novice users and developing it into the world’s leading 2D game engine used by commercial studios,” continued Krystian Kolondra. “Opera Gaming will be focusing on accelerating the growth of this emerging ecosystem, combining the 7+ million highly engaged gamers using Opera GX with millions of GameMaker creators. We are also thrilled to continue realizing synergies between YoYo Games’ products and Opera GX.”

GameMakerStudio is an integrated game development software, performance-tuned 2/2.5D engine that fuels many games, including multi-million hits like Risk of Rain, Undertale, or Hyper Light Drifter on an extensive range of mainstream platforms. Starting to build games with Game Maker Studio requires little to zero coding skills. Due to its extensive functionalities and ease of use Game Maker Studio lowers the barriers to entry and empowers a variety of creative people to make their games come alive and share them with the world.

Kolondra explained further: “Performance is essential to even 2D gaming, and sustaining that performance across mobile devices and laptops as well as variable bandwidth and connectivity requires thinking outside of traditional application silos. The line between building good games and good browsers has been eroding for years – with gaming interactivity across internet connections ramping up and browsers growing more multi-function and sophisticated. Traditionally the two types of technology compete for hardware and bandwidth resources. But as Opera GX proved, there was a better way to address that competition and improve the experience across both functionalities. YoYo Games’ team, development expertise and studio relationships lay the groundwork for turning the Opera GX vertical into a new kind of horizontal. This horizontal opportunity is why we’re building Opera Gaming and its infrastructure – so that we can further integrate gaming and browsing in ways beneficial to both in terms of not only monetization, but also experience.”

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Weekend Reels | Week 20: Slot Drops & Trends

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Here are this weeks latest slots releases compiled by Eastern European Gaming

Caleta Gaming has launched Cluster Cup, a new high-volatility slot inspired by football and pitched around major June sporting events. The title is now available to operators worldwide, the supplier said. Cluster Cup uses a 7×7 cluster grid and a Tumbler Feature, where winning symbols disappear and cascade with new ones until no further wins are formed.

Caleta Gaming launches Cluster Cup

PG Soft has launched Reel Royale Showdown, a wrestling-inspired video slot built for mobile play. The company says the title is set in a wrestling arena and uses a 6-reel layout. Reel Royale Showdown includes a Wild Addition mechanic and an escalating multiplier that increases with each win.

PG Soft has launched Reel Royale Showdown, a wrestling-themed slot featuring Wild Addition in the base game and escalating multipliers in Free Spins

Amusnet has released Vizier of the North x1000, a captivating 6-reel video slot that immerses players in a world of ancient secrets, mystical kingdoms and extraordinary rewards. Designed to deliver both depth and excitement, Vizier of the North x1000 combines rich storytelling with advanced gameplay features.

Amusnet Releases its Latest Video Slot “Vizier of the North x1000”

Spinomenal has released the Desperado Drifter Hold & Hit 3×3, the latest addition to its Hold & Hit portfolio. The Western-themed slot uses a 3×3 bonus grid and features a Wild symbol (a bag of gems) that substitutes for all symbols except Bonus and Bonus Collect. Bonus coins land on reels one and three, while the Bonus Collect coin lands on reel two.

Habanero has launched Steampunk Plinko, a new 5×4 slot that blends traditional slot play with a Plinko-style ball-drop feature. The supplier positions the release as a hybrid format, built around a steampunk theme. The Plinko Feature triggers when players land three scatter symbols.

Reflex Gaming is making waves once again with the launch of Big Game Fishing Rapid Riches, the latest release in its hugely popular Big Game Fishing franchise. Powered by Yggdrasil, Big Game Fishing Rapid Riches is not just another fishing game. It takes a proven player-favourite brand and supercharges it with faster action, stronger feature depth and a heightened sense of chase from the very first spin.

Swintt has launched Fresh Fruits Deluxe Diamonds, a new fruit-themed slot in its SwinttPremium lineup, featuring a five-reel setup with 50 paylines and a coin-driven bonus mechanic. The title combines classic slot symbols including BARs, crowns and red sevens with a coin feature that triggers when six or more coin symbols land during the base game.

Playson has released a new slot title, 3 Supercharged Diamonds: Hold and Win, expanding its Hold and Win catalogue with three Diamond-driven bonus features and four jackpot prizes up to 1,000x. The game’s Hold and Win Bonus Game uses a “3 Pots” mechanic, triggered when green, yellow or violet Diamond symbols land alongside their respective Diamonds positioned above the reels.

Tom Horn Gaming will launch Giza’s Portals, a new online slot, on 19 May. The game will roll out across the supplier’s global partner network. Giza’s Portals runs on a 4×5 grid with 25 paylines and is positioned as a medium-volatility title. Tom Horn Gaming lists an RTP of 95.01% and a maximum win of up to x3,898.

The post Weekend Reels | Week 20: Slot Drops & Trends appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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1spin4win presents Lucky 1spin4win Hold and Win to mark its 5th anniversary

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1spin4win reached a significant milestone — five years on the iGaming market. The anniversary motto, The Gold Standard of Classic Slots, reflects the studio’s evolution into a recognized name in the classic slot niche, built on years of industry expertise and commitment to delivering authentic gambling experiences.

Today, its portfolio features more than 200 games combining timeless appeal, advanced mathematics, and strong performance. In 2025, 1spin4win achieved a 52.06% increase in bet count and a 56.62% rise in GGR compared to 2024. This growth has helped the provider earn the trust of over 1,000 global operators, including leading brands such as SOFTSWISS, EveryMatrix, Alea, SoftGaming, Digitain, and BetConstruct.

As part of the milestone celebration, 1spin4win introduces Lucky 1spin4win Hold and Win, a special slot highlighting the studio’s landmark titles and renowned characters. Alongside traditional fruit, bells, and sevens, the colorful 3×3 grid features Wild symbols shaped as red bezel-set diamonds. When activated, they illuminate the “5 Years” sign, reinforcing the game’s anniversary theme.

The celebratory atmosphere continues through the slot’s rewarding features. Landing nine identical symbols doubles the win, while three or more Coins trigger the exciting Hold and Win Bonus round. With three starting respins, players get the chance to claim two festive Jackpots — the x100 Minipot Coin and the x1000 Megapot.

To mark the 5-year anniversary, 1spin4win is also launching special promotional campaigns in collaboration with Olymp and Selector. To give players additional opportunities to join the celebration, the partners will distribute exclusive promo codes, which will also be available to the registered users of the provider’s Players Room platform.

 

Olga Hlukhovskaya, Business Development Director at 1spin4win, commented, “Five years in the industry is an important testament to how far 1spin4win has come. Since 2021, we’ve grown into an acknowledged iGaming brand trusted by top global companies. Looking ahead, we plan to keep expanding across African and Latin American markets, deepen our relationships with regional operators, and further strengthen our presence in Europe. For us, this anniversary is not only about celebrating past achievements, but also about building the next stage of 1spin4win’s journey.”

 

Olga Bogdanova, Art Director at 1spin4win, shared, “Lucky 1spin4win Hold and Win is dedicated to the 1spin4win 5th anniversary in the casino industry. The game’s design brings together iconic characters and signature symbols from our previous releases, well-known to both our players and partners. The result is a vibrant product featuring engaging Hold and Win mechanics and the recognizable 1spin4win classic style. We invite everyone to join the celebration of our anniversary, test their luck in the slot, compete for festive jackpots, and revisit their favorite 1spin4win games!”

The post 1spin4win presents Lucky 1spin4win Hold and Win to mark its 5th anniversary appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

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BC.Game’s new CEO Kar Kheng Giam on strategy, structure and growth

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Following his appointment as CEO of BC.Game in March, Kar Kheng Giam (KK) speaks about the strategic priorities shaping the company’s next phase, from strengthening operational foundations to navigating the evolving role of crypto within regulated gaming markets.

 

 You’ve stepped into the CEO role at a pivotal time for the industry. How do you assess the current position of BC.Game?

BC.Game enters this stage from a position of strength in terms of product, user engagement and global reach.

At the same time, the broader industry is evolving. Expectations around governance, regulatory alignment and operational maturity are increasing, particularly for businesses operating across multiple jurisdictions.

So while the foundation is strong, there is a clear opportunity to further strengthen the structure of the business to support long-term, sustainable growth.

That foundation is reflected in the scale of the business today, with more than 9 million registered users and over 500,000 monthly active players, and in the progress we’ve made across licensed markets such as Anjouan, Kenya, Nigeria and Mexico.

How would you define the strategic focus for BC.Game over the next 12 to 24 months?

It comes down to three interconnected areas. First, reinforcing the operational and governance framework of the business, ensuring we are well aligned with the expectations of more established regulatory environments.

Second, continuing to invest in the product – not just in terms of content, but in the overall user experience and platform reliability.

And third, taking a disciplined approach to market expansion, focusing on jurisdictions where we can build a sustainable and compliant presence.

It’s about evolving the business in a structured and deliberate way.

You’ve highlighted governance and structure. What does that mean in practical terms?

It means putting in place the systems, processes and organisational clarity needed to operate at scale.

As companies grow internationally, complexity increases – across regulation, payments, technology and operations. Strengthening governance is about ensuring those elements are well coordinated and consistently managed.

This is not about changing what BC.Game is, but about building the framework that allows it to grow more effectively.

Why has trust become so important at this stage?

At BC.GAME’s scale, trust is no longer just about brand but increasingly becomes a business issue – it affects retention, partnerships, market entry and long-term growth.

And trust is built in very practical ways. People judge a platform by whether the rules are clear, whether communication is smooth, and whether issues actually get resolved. That’s why growth on its own is no longer enough.

Where is the most immediate trust pressure on BC.GAME showing up today?

The pressure shows up most clearly in user experience and issue handling because that’s where people feel it first.

Some of the feedback does point to response times and cases where issues stay in the same entry point for too long. When that happens often enough, it becomes bigger than a service issue, it starts to shape trust.

What changes is BC.GAME putting in place in response to these issues?

 We’ve already started making changes. That includes upgrading how user issues are handled, bringing cross-functional teams in earlier, and improving how issues are identified and coordinated internally.

As the business has grown, relying too heavily on a single customer support entry point is no longer enough. The focus now is to make issue handling clearer, more stable, and better suited to the scale of the platform.

What role does organisational development play in this next phase?

As the business grows, it’s important to ensure that the organisation evolves alongside it. That includes strengthening leadership structures, clarifying roles and responsibilities, and building capabilities in key areas such as compliance and market operations.

Ultimately, strategy is only as effective as the organisation delivering it.

From a leadership perspective, how do you approach guiding a globally distributed business?

In a global organisation, alignment is critical – everyone needs to understand the strategic direction and how their role contributes to it. At the same time, there needs to be flexibility to adapt to local market dynamics.

My role is to create that balance – providing clear direction while enabling teams to execute effectively within their markets.

Finally, what does success look like for BC.Game over the next few years?

Success is about building a more structured, resilient and trusted business.

That means strengthening our position in regulated markets, continuing to evolve the product, and ensuring the organisation is equipped to operate at scale. This current period is a crucial one for us as we introduce multiple product rollouts at BC.GAME, with several key updates scheduled to go live. These include BC Engine, along with a broader upgrade to the bonus system and, of course, the World Cup.

If we can achieve that through consistent, incremental progress, then we will be well positioned for the long term.

The post BC.Game’s new CEO Kar Kheng Giam on strategy, structure and growth appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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