Latest News
SBC Digital Italy to deliver timely assessment of Italian market opportunities
This week’s SBC Digital Italy conference and exhibition is set to deliver a timely and in-depth analysis of the latest developments in one of Europe’s largest betting and gaming markets.
The online event on Wednesday 17 February will bring together 750 executives from the Italian gambling industry to exchange ideas about the future of the sector at this time of both great uncertainty and great opportunity.
Italy’s popular retail betting outlets and slots halls continue to take a huge financial hit from enforced Coronavirus-related closures, while the change of government and the tough regulatory regime has created further doubts about the prospects for operators.
However, the online sector has provided a reason to believe that the Italian market continues to offer significant growth opportunities, as a surge in the popularity of igaming led a 45% increase in online GGR in 2020.
The agenda for SBC Digital Italy focuses on tackling the challenges faced by the industry, as well as how to build on the current favourable conditions for online gaming and achieve long-term success.
Pietro Lechiara, Betsson Group’s Managing Director Italy and a speaker at the event, said: “The online gaming industry is undergoing a deep and most interesting transformation. At SBC Digital Italy you can learn about this transformation from the players who are driving this change.”
The agenda includes panels dedicated to regulation and the prospect of further legislation being introduced, the igaming opportunity, adapting slots to the Italian audience, and effective marketing strategies within the current advertising restrictions.
There is also a fireside chat about the future of the industry in Italy with Fabio Schiavolin (CEO, SNAITECH) and Quirino Mancini (Partner, Tonucci & Partners), who are just two of the 25 high-level Italian market experts taking part in the conference.
The other senior executives and specialists on the speaker line-up include Carlo Di Maio (MD Betting Division, Gamenet Group), Alexander Martin (CEO, SKS365), Marco Castaldo (CEO, Microgame & Director for Betting & Online Gaming, ASTRO), Ludovico Calvi (Board Director, Lottomatica Betting Ltd & President, GLMS), Alessandro Grasso (COO, E-Play24), Natalie Berenato (Head of Online Marketing, Olybet Italia), and Cristiano Azzolini Di Maggio (Head of Casino, Signorbet.it).
Rasmus Sojmark, Founder and CEO of SBC, said: “We’re excited to be hosting our first event fully dedicated to Italy, which continues to be one of the most important markets for the European betting and gaming industry.
“It is also a highly complex market, which is in the midst of the transition that so many industries have had to face, as customers increasingly move online. The situation is further complicated by regulatory and COVID-related challenges, but our expert panelists will provide more clarity on the future direction of the industry and a host of valuable ideas about the best emerging opportunities for operators and suppliers.”
In addition to the panel sessions, delegates can take in market commentaries on payments, virtual sports, and esports from Mark Sperring (Head Of Sales and Account Management, MuchBetter), Giuseppe Donato (Country Manager Italy, Kiron Interactive), and Paolo Cisaria (General Manager & CRO, Mkers Srl) respectively.
The interactive product display area will allow attendees to connect with suppliers and media brands with offerings tailored to the Italian market, while there will be a further chance to meet new business contacts in a networking roundtable hosted by Alessio Crisantemi, Direttore Responsabile of GiocoNews.
For further information about the event and to register for free, please visit the official SBC Digital Italy website.
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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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