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Opera buys owner of GameMaker and starts a Gaming division

Published

5 years ago

January 22, 2021

Reading Time: 3 minutes

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.”

BC.GAME

BC.Game Names Kar Kheng Giam as CEO

Published

4 hours ago

March 26, 2026

Wladimir P.

BC.Game, a leading global crypto-focused online gaming platform, has announced the appointment of Kar Kheng Giam (“KK”) as its new Chief Executive Officer. Giam brings over 30 years of international leadership experience across gaming, technology, and consumer industries.

Before joining BC.Game, KK served as Vice President International at Coyote Bioscience, leading global expansion initiatives. He also co-founded Topgame and Tinymobi, developing successful mobile social and casino-style games. Earlier in his career, KK held executive positions including CEO roles at multiple organizations and regional leadership at Nabisco Asia.

In his role as CEO, KK will oversee BC.Game’s strategic direction, operational leadership, and financial performance, with a focus on scaling globally, expanding into regulated markets, and driving innovation in crypto gaming.

“BC.Game has built a strong global community by combining cutting-edge technology with engaging entertainment experiences,” KK stated. “With the rising adoption of crypto in online gaming, our focus will be on enhancing the platform, building trust, and strengthening our presence in licensed markets.”

BC.Game currently holds licenses in multiple jurisdictions, including Anjouan, Nigeria, Kenya, Mexico, and Tanzania, as part of its long-term strategy to expand into fully regulated markets worldwide. This appointment aligns with the company’s ambitions to grow its global footprint and strengthen compliance while delivering innovative gaming experiences.

The post BC.Game Names Kar Kheng Giam as CEO appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

2025 financial results

ZEAL Reports Strong Double-Digit Growth

Published

5 hours ago

March 26, 2026

Wladimir P.

ZEAL Network SE, Germany’s leading online lottery provider, closed 2025 with another year of robust double-digit growth.

Despite a weaker jackpot environment, the company significantly strengthened its core lottery business, accelerated diversification, and expanded its customer base—setting a solid foundation for long-term scalability.

The group delivered 16% revenue growth, reaching €218.5 million, while EBITDA rose 11% to €68.8 million. EBIT also climbed 12% to €60.1 million year over year. These results reinforce ZEAL’s strategic focus on building a multi-pillar digital entertainment ecosystem.

“At every level, our results confirm that our strategy works,” said Dr. Stefan Tweraser, CEO of ZEAL Network SE. “Expanding scalable products alongside our strong core lottery business increases resilience and positions us for ambitious future growth.”

CFO Andrea Behrendt highlighted continued investment in reducing jackpot dependence: “Our efforts create a sustainable and profitable growth structure.”

Core Lottery Business Continues to Lead Growth

ZEAL’s primary lottery brokerage remains its strongest revenue driver. Even with softer jackpot cycles:

Monthly active users climbed 8% to a record 1.558 million.
Lottery billings reached €1.1 billion, up 2%.
Gross margin increased to 17.7%.
Lottery-specific revenue surged 16% to €195.3 million.

These gains underline the brand’s ability to attract and retain large numbers of customers independent of jackpot volatility.

Dream House Raffle Becomes a Major Growth Pillar

The Traumhausverlosung (Dream House Raffle)—launched in 2024—has rapidly evolved into a strong secondary revenue stream. With guaranteed winners and high-appeal prize structures, the charity lottery generated:

€38.9 million in billings across four draws in 2025.

This success demonstrates the value of proprietary lottery products that complement ZEAL’s core business and enhance market differentiation.

Games Segment Accelerates With Expanded Portfolio

ZEAL also posted substantial growth in its digital Games division. The company extended its catalog to 650+ games, adding 400 new titles and strengthening collaborations with leading game developers.

As a result:

Games revenue increased 46%, reaching €14.4 million.
Active user numbers rose sharply.
Player protection remained a top priority, supported by AI-driven safeguards.

Customer Base Expansion Remains a Strategic Priority

ZEAL made targeted investments to grow its user base, acquiring 1.171 million new customers in 2025. As expected with aggressive acquisition:

Customer acquisition cost (CPL) increased to €46.47.
Marketing spending rose 20% to €68.6 million.

This investment is key to sustaining ZEAL’s long-term market position and unlocking additional cross-sell opportunities in games and charity lotteries.

2026 Outlook: Continued Growth and Diversification

Looking ahead to 2026, ZEAL aims to expand its German market leadership and scale its charitable lotteries freiheit+ and Traumhausverlosung, while continuing to strengthen its Games offering.

Forecasts for 2026 include:

Revenue between €250–260 million
EBITDA between €70–75 million

These projections already factor in increased investment to accelerate diversification and future-proof the business.

The post ZEAL Reports Strong Double-Digit Growth appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

GamingTECH CEE Awards 2026

WinSpirit wins Best Online Casino in CEE at the GamingTECH CEE Awards 2026

Published

10 hours ago

March 26, 2026

Wladimir P.

winspirit-wins-best-online-casino-in-cee-at-the-gamingtech-cee-awards-2026

Online casino brand WinSpirit has been announced as the winner in the Best Online Casino in CEE category at the GamingTECH CEE Awards 2026 — a respected industry event celebrating excellence across the iGaming sector.

Since launching in mid-2022, WinSpirit has rapidly gained recognition for its dynamic approach to product development, creative marketing, and a genuine player-first philosophy. The brand stands out by successfully combining innovative features, high-quality entertainment, and strong focus on player experience.

Over the past year, WinSpirit has demonstrated impressive growth across key metrics, significantly expanding its loyal player base, VIP segment, and overall betting activity. The brand has also introduced unique interactive formats, enhanced its loyalty system with the real-time Gift Shop, and continued to invest in smart personalisation across the platform.

This award adds to WinSpirit’s growing list of international recognitions. The brand also maintains excellent player ratings across major review platforms, consistently receiving high marks for service quality and user experience.

With this latest victory, WinSpirit continues to solidify its reputation as one of the most dynamic and player-oriented online casinos in the industry — combining rapid growth with innovation and a clear focus on player satisfaction.

The post WinSpirit wins Best Online Casino in CEE at the GamingTECH CEE Awards 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.