Latest News
Pragmatic Play Appoints New VP of Strategy and Operations: Bhotesh Maheshwari
Pragmatic Play, a leading content provider to the gaming industry, has appointed former Rank Digital Head of Gaming Product, Bhotesh Maheshwari, as its new Vice President of Commercial Strategy and Operations as the company looks to further cement its position as a top tier supplier in regulated markets.
His core responsibilities will include overseeing commercial operations and building closer product partnerships with leading operators across Europe while expanding Pragmatic Play’s footprint in newly regulated territories across the globe.
The 39-year-old will also head Pragmatic Play’s Gibraltar office which serves UK, German, Spanish and Portuguese operators with a team of three executives working to achieve the supplier’s goals in the region.
Maheshwari has a long history in the gaming industry, working for both top tier operators and suppliers during his 15-year career. Since starting out as a retail manager for William Hill in 2006, he has worked closely with product teams to deliver gaming propositions customised for local player bases across UK, Europe, Latin America, and Asia.
Having spent eight years in a variety of commercial and product roles in the land-based gaming space for William Hill and Inspired Gaming, he moved to Betfair in an online gaming role supporting its arcade product and built an in-house gaming proposition and the innovative timed jackpot offering.
He eventually joined the Rank Group in Gibraltar in 2016 heading casino revenue and product development for online brands Grosvenorcasinos.com and Meccabingo.com.
Julian Jarvis, Chief Executive Officer at Pragmatic Play, said: “We are thrilled to have Bhotesh join us, and look forward to his impressive industry experience benefiting our growing team.
“The projects he has previously been involved with and the impact they have had on development in his previous roles bode very well for his future with us.”
Bhotesh Maheshwari added: “I look forward to working closely with the founders and management team at Pragmatic Play which has established itself as a leading multi-product provider in our industry in a very short time.
“We have hugely exciting expansion plans within regulated regions and new product verticals and it’s fantastic to be embarking on this next phase of growth for the company.”
Pragmatic Play currently produces up to five new slot titles a month, while also delivering Live Casino and Bingo games as part of its multi-product portfolio, available through one single API.
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Acquisitions/Merger
Clever Advertising buys strategic stake in SEO affiliate iGaming Nuts
Deal targets regulated Poland market by combining global media buying with local SEO and compliance expertise.
Clever Advertising has taken a strategic investment stake in iGaming Nuts as it looks to expand player acquisition in Poland. The companies said the deal brings iGaming Nuts’ Polish SEO affiliate portfolio into Clever Advertising’s global multi-channel network.
Clever Advertising positions the move as a faster route into a regulated market where compliance and localization are critical, and where paid acquisition costs can move quickly. iGaming Nuts operates across several European markets, including the United Kingdom, Italy, and Spain, with Poland as its lead market.
Marcos Oliveira, COO of Clever Advertising, said: “Poland is one of Europe’s most demanding regulated markets, and iGaming Nuts is the most solid base we could build on there. They lead in local SEO, they know the rules, and they open commercial relationships that would take years to build alone. Together, we give our operator partners a compliant route into the market.”
Adam Bieliński, CEO of iGaming Nuts, added: “Working with Clever Advertising is a big step for our team and our users. We’ve built tools and content for Polish regulations and player preferences. With Clever Advertising’s infrastructure and scale behind us, we can develop our product faster, improve the user experience, and strengthen our position in legal sports betting affiliate traffic in Poland.”
The companies also said they plan to extend the partnership into a financial trading media vertical. No financial terms, stake size, or closing timeline were disclosed.
The post Clever Advertising buys strategic stake in SEO affiliate iGaming Nuts appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
igaming-conte
PokerStars Casino adds Skullapalooza as fifth 2026 Slotlist pick
Psiclone Games and Playtech-built title features three Free Spins modifiers, including expanding reels, sliding wilds and jackpots up to 500x bet.
PokerStars Casino has released Skullapalooza as the fifth game in its 2026 The Slotlist series, making the title the featured slot on the operator’s Casino tab for the month.
Skullapalooza is developed by Psiclone Games and Playtech. The game’s core hook is a Free Spins system built around three “Skull” features that can be triggered individually or in combination: expanding reels, jackpot accumulators and stacked sliding wilds.
According to the company, players can land different coloured gems to randomly trigger one or more Free Spins variants. Pink gems may trigger Free Games with Expanding Reels, blue gems may add Sliding Wilds, and purple gems may activate pots with a grand prize of up to 500x total bet. The company said all three variants can be active at once.
“The Slotlist is designed to spotlight games that deliver a well-rounded player experience, combining innovative features, striking visuals, and immersive gameplay”, said Ed Fogarty, Associate Director of PokerStars Casino Commercial. “Skullapalooza embodies all these qualities, and we’re thrilled to feature it prominently in The Slotlist this month.”
Skullapalooza joins earlier 2026 Slotlist picks including Baozang Empire of Plenty, Magnificent Power Leprechaun, and 12 Burning Baseballs.
The post PokerStars Casino adds Skullapalooza as fifth 2026 Slotlist pick appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Arizona
Arizona extends Gaming Department for six years; problem gambling budget rises 20%
Governor Hobbs signs SB 1671; new budget sets $4M spend authority plus $500K a year from event wagering funds.
The Arizona Department of Gaming has secured a six-year continuation after Governor Hobbs signed Senate Bill 1671, following the 2026 legislative session that adjourned June 12, 2026. The continuation also covers the Arizona State Boxing and Mixed Martial Arts Commission and the Arizona Racing Commission.
The Department said SB 1671 affirms its authority to regulate tribal gaming, event wagering and fantasy sports, horse racing and simulcast wagering, and boxing and mixed martial arts.
In parallel, the Department said Senate Bill 1847 and the state’s Fiscal Year 2027 budget expand expenditure authority for its Division of Problem Gambling. The budget authorizes $4,000,000 in total spending for the Division, which the agency said is a 20% increase from FY26.
The Department also said the legislature granted an annual $500,000 expenditure authority to use Event Wagering funds to support problem gambling, and that the Division will have grant oversight authority for the first time.
“Arizona first established the Department of Gaming in 1995 – and more than thirty years later, we remain excited about world-class regulation benefiting the entire state,” said Jackie Johnson, Department Director. “I’m grateful to Governor Hobbs and leaders in the state legislature, particularly continuation bill sponsor State Senator Shawnna Bolick, who thoroughly reviewed our agency with a deep commitment to public service, and I am pleased that the Department secured its continuation, which will allow us to strengthen our focus points in robust consumer protection and integrity.”
“The new state budget will strengthen longstanding investments in problem gambling assistance made possible through partnerships with Arizona’s Tribal Nations and the Arizona Lottery,” said Elise Mikkelsen. “We continue to see strong demand from individuals and families seeking information, resources, and treatment for gambling-related harm. This increased funding will help us expand the continuum of care and ensure more Arizonans have access to effective, inclusive, and timely support.”
The post Arizona extends Gaming Department for six years; problem gambling budget rises 20% appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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