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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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BetConstruct AI offers operators three months free sportsbook access ahead of World Cup 2026

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The deal includes a fee waiver across its core suite plus setup and third-party integration discounts for the first three months.

BetConstruct AI has launched a World Cup 2026-focused commercial offer that waives fees for operators across its sportsbook and other core products for three months.

Under the terms published in the release, the company is offering “Complete fee waiver for the first 3 months across Sportsbook, CreedRoomz, Popok, Pascal, Choice, Virtual Sports, and Poker Network,” alongside a “SETUP DISCOUNT (50%)” for “all global market entry setups.” It is also applying a “3RD PARTY INTEGRATION (51%)” discount to “all 3rd Party Game Providers for the first 3 months.”

BetConstruct AI also included two complimentary add-ons it said would be available at “€0 cost” to partners. “Powerfull (Pre-Tournament)” is scheduled to run “8–10 weeks before kickoff” and is positioned around “weekly turnover challenges,” with prizes including “Free Bets (€1–€1,000) or a World Cup Final ticket,” which the company said are “100% funded by BetConstruct AI.”

The second product, “Bet on League (In-Tournament),” is described as an iFrame-based tournament hub that “requires no UI rebuilds,” with features including “an integrated module resembling a prediction market and personalized bet suggestions driven by AI.”

The company framed the campaign around operators preparing for what it called “the highest-concentration betting opportunity of the next four years,” referring to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

More data as follows:

The post BetConstruct AI offers operators three months free sportsbook access ahead of World Cup 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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Endorphina Now Licensed B2B Gaming Supplier in Ontario

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Endorphina Limited, a leading provider of certified online slot games, has successfully obtained a Gaming-Related Supplier registration in Ontario, Canada, one of the most regulated iGaming markets globally.

The registration, issued by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), authorizes Endorphina to supply its gaming content to licensed operators within the province. This milestone marks an important step in the company’s long-term expansion strategy focused on regulated markets, strengthening its presence in North America and enhancing its global footprint.

“Securing approval in Ontario is a significant achievement for Endorphina. It confirms the quality of our products, the strength of our compliance framework, and our readiness to operate in highly regulated environments,” said Head of Compliance at Endorphina, Džangar Jesenov.

Endorphina continues to invest in the development of proprietary online slot games, delivering innovative content tailored to the evolving requirements of international markets.

With a portfolio of 200+ premium slots, the company has built strong partnerships with 6,000+ operators worldwide. It holds an active presence in over 50 jurisdictions, ensuring compliance in regulated markets across Europe, Latin America, and beyond.

With the Ontario registration, the company is well-positioned to expand partnerships with licensed operators and further solidify its reputation as a trusted B2B supplier in the global iGaming industry.

 

The post Endorphina Now Licensed B2B Gaming Supplier in Ontario appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

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Ethical Gambling Forum lands in Leeds on 28–29 April, hosted by Flutter

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Organisers say the agenda will cover safer product design, regulation, data ethics and AI, with limited places still available.

The Ethical Gambling Forum will take place on 28/29 April in Leeds, UK, with Flutter hosting the event. Organisers say the annual gathering will bring together regulators, operators, technology suppliers, researchers and advocates to discuss ethical and responsible gambling.

According to the organisers, this year’s programme will focus on responsible product design, player protection, regulatory evolution, data ethics and the use of emerging technologies including AI. The agenda is set to include keynote sessions, panel debates, case studies and roundtable discussions.

“Ethical leadership isn’t optional anymore; it’s the foundation of the industry’s future,” said Adrian Sladdin, Co-Founder of the EGF. “This Forum is where meaningful progress happens.”

The organisers said limited spaces remain and directed interested attendees to the event website for registration and the full programme.

More data as follows:

  • Ethical Gambling Forum (EGF) event website: https://www.egf.events Official source for registration and programme details referenced in the release.
  • Flutter Entertainment: https://www.flutter.com Host company named in the release; readers may want corporate context.
  • UK Gambling Commission: https://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk Primary UK regulator relevant to discussions of compliance and regulatory evolution.

The post Ethical Gambling Forum lands in Leeds on 28–29 April, hosted by Flutter appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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