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Football for Friendship eWorld Championship to be held for the second time in F4F World multiuser simulator

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The Football for Friendship eWorld Championship (eF4F) will be taking place for the second time at the end of May. After sports fans from over 100 countries took part last year, 211 countries and regions will be represented this time round.

The important events in Gazprom’s International Children’s Social Programme Football for Friendship (F4F) will be taking place in a digital format this year too because of the pandemic. Following established tradition, a few highlights are being organised to take place in Istanbul, the host city for the final of the UEFA Champions League, from 28th to 30th May.

The 2021 Football for Friendship eWorld Championship (eF4F) will take place on the multiplayer simulator Football for Friendship World (F4F World), which was specially developed for F4F. International team matches can be organised on this platform in real time. The individual users, each of whom is a player on the team, come from different countries. The team consists of a goalkeeper, a defender, two midfield players and two attackers. There is also a trainer and some substitutes. A game runs for 2 halves of 3.5 minutes.

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Since 19th April, football academies all over the world have been invited to nominate girls and boys aged 12 to 14 as players. The draw that will put the kids into International Teams of Friendship will be in the middle of May. The Football for Friendship eWorld Championship (eF4F) will take place from 27th to 29th May.

The winners of the 2020 Football for Friendship eWorld Championship were the team “Granular salamander”, whose players came from Bosnia Herzegovina, Kazakhstan, Latvia, the United Arab Emirates, Russia, and Turkey. In the course of the final events in the 8th season of “Football for Friendship”, a new GUINESS WORLD RECORDSTM title was set for the most users in a football video hangout. This year too F4F is aiming once more to set what would be a third GUINESS WORLD RECORDSTM title.

Since December 2020, F4F World has been available to anyone interested, outside of the eF4F tournament as well, free of charge in 27 different languages. An exciting match, in which the Nine Values of Football for Friendship: friendship, equality, fairness, health, peace, devotion, victory, traditions, and honour, are emphasised, awaits F4F World players. The particular features of F4F World include an original, hand-drawn design, a unique profile modification function, the option of playing in various divisions and leagues, of founding one’s own club or of inviting randomly selected players from around the world to take part in the match. In addition, participants can design their own player as they wish. For example, the players’ hairstyles show the colours of their respective national flags. The 2021 version will also offer some new features like training sessions. The F4F World game is available on MS Windows, Apple MacOS and iOS and was developed by the company DataArt.

Andrey Trusov, DataArt: “It was very interesting and motivating to have the opportunity to contribute to the development of F4F. For me, it was a new experience that there is such a competition for children – one that also promotes values like friendship, fairness, and peace. My colleagues and I engaged very intensively with the whole F4F concept in order to be able to give it form and expression in virtual reality.”

About the programme:
The International Children’s Social Programme Football for Friendship has been run by Gazprom since 2013. Over the previous eight seasons, the programme has brought together over 15,000 participants from 211 countries and regions and over 6,000,000 supporters.

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Young Players and Young Journalists are the participants in the programme – boys and girls aged 12 including children with disabilities. Young Players represent different countries and cultures united in the mixed teams of the Football for Friendship World Championship. They show that nationality, gender, and physical abilities aren’t a barrier to becoming a team. Young Journalists cover the events of the programme in the International Children’s Press Center. All participants become Young Ambassadors of the programme and continue to share their Football for Friendship experience and promote universal human values: friendship, equality, fairness, health, peace, devotion, victory, traditions, and honour.

In 2020, Football for Friendship was held online. A special digital platform connected over 10,000 players of all ages. It has become the home for international children’s competitions and a playground where anyone can train, join in the international mixed teams and play their favourite game in the Football for Friendship format without leaving the comfort of their home.

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Industry Awards

Soft2Bet’s Quickcasino Wins at EGR Europe Awards 2025

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Soft2Bet’s Quickcasino has been awarded “The Nordics and Baltics – Rising Star” at the prestigious EGR Europe Awards, reinforcing its status as one of the region’s most innovative and fast-growing online gaming brands.

This recognition is a testament to Soft2Bet’s commitment to market-leading technology, data-driven gamification, and player-first experiences. By combining cutting-edge mechanics with a highly localised approach, Quickcasino has established itself as a force in Sweden’s competitive iGaming landscape.

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A Market Leader in Innovation and Gamification

Quickcasino.se has redefined the Nordic and Baltic iGaming experience, blending seamless UX, high-speed transactions, and a unique gamification ecosystem to keep players engaged. Powered by Soft2Bet’s proprietary MEGA (Motivational Engineering Gamification Application) solution, the platform delivers dynamic challenges, real-time progression, and personalised incentives, creating an experience that is both immersive and rewarding.

Beyond gamification, Quickcasino’s commitment to top-tier security, lightning-fast payments, and market-driven customisation has resonated strongly with Swedish players. Its ability to merge high-performance technology with a player-centric approach, via MEGA, has driven remarkable growth, reinforcing its status as a market leader.

Uri Poliavich, Founder and CEO of Soft2Bet, commented: “Receiving European recognition from one of the leading industry awards is a proud moment for Quickcasino and Soft2Bet. This achievement not only recognises Quickcasino’s rapid success but also highlights how our B2C experience acts as a proof of concept for B2B partners. As we investigate new ways to enhance our offerings, the results we achieve with our brands showcase the power of our technology and help operators elevate player engagement, retention, and performance in highly competitive markets. This award reinforces our ability to drive success for our brands and partners.”

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A Future Focused on Growth and Innovation

Quickcasino’s latest accolade adds to Soft2Bet’s growing list of industry recognitions. Looking ahead to 2025, the company is preparing for major market expansions, new strategic partnerships, and continuous advancements in gamification technology. With innovation at its core, Soft2Bet remains committed to pushing boundaries and delivering industry-leading solutions that shape the future of iGaming.

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The Lithuanian Gaming Control Authority (LPT) has completed its inspection: Olympic Casino has been fined almost 8.4 million euros

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The company Olympic Casino Group Baltija (OCGB) did not take sufficient steps to identify the origin of Šarūnas Stepukonis’ losing funds, and the monitoring of his financial transactions was only formal and ineffective. Such violations were identified by the Gaming Supervisory Authority, which conducted an inspection of OCGB’s activities in Lithuania. The company was fined almost 8.4 million euros.

The Gaming Supervisory Authority (LPT) investigated the actions taken by OCGB in response to Š. Stepukonis’ transactions on the company’s gaming website from December 2016 to the end of June 2021. The law obliges gaming operators to ensure that customer funds are not obtained from criminal activities or through participation in such activities. It is also mandatory to verify the origin of the funds. LPT found that the measures applied by OCGB were poor and insufficient, and the monitoring of Š. Stepukonis’ transactions was formal.

Gambling organizers must report suspicious transactions to the FNTT. Š. Stepukonis’ transactions had obvious signs that should have raised suspicions for the gambling organizer. However, the FNTT was not informed about this.

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During the inspection, evidence was also collected that Š. Stepukonis’ gambling was irresponsible. The gambling company should have noticed this, especially since the client was assigned a personal manager who saw all of his transactions.

“Instead of finding out whether Š. Stepukonis had a gambling problem or informing the supervisory authority, Olympic Casino encouraged him to gamble even more. An individual incentive package was prepared for him. A total of 1.3 million euros was allocated for this. This “bonus” could only be spent on gambling. Other incentives were also allocated,” – comments on the results of the inspection by LPT Director Virginijus Daukšys.

Since mid-2021, gambling companies in Lithuania have no longer been allowed to offer incentives to their customers that they would later lose. Just before this tightening came into effect, Š. Stepukonis’ virtual gambling was moved from Lithuania to Estonia, where it was still allowed to encourage gamblers.

In this way, it was possible not only to maintain incentives for gambling, but also to avoid supervision by the LPT. If an ordinary gambler from Lithuania tried to go and register on the Estonian Olympic Casino website, he would be redirected to the Lithuanian website. However, in the case of Š. Stepukonis, the redirection was not carried out. These circumstances are part of the pre-trial investigation.

During the inspection, a total of five violations of the provisions of the Law on the Prevention of Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism and the Law on Gambling were identified.

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The law allows for a fine of up to twice the amount of damage caused. The damage was determined to be 6.4 million euros – the amount Š. Stepukonis lost at the Olympic Casino in Lithuania. When calculating the fine, an aggravating circumstance was taken into account – the company did not cooperate during the inspection.

According to V. Daukšys, after this story came to light, steps were taken to prevent similar cases from recurring. The most important change is the law, proposed by the LPT, which obliges gambling companies to take action upon noticing irresponsible gambling and to provide information about it to the LPT.

“Until now, there was no such obligation. Therefore, the LPT did not have information that would allow it to take preventive actions in advance,” says V. Daukšys.

The new Gambling Law will come into force in November this year. Its aim is to reduce the accessibility, attractiveness and potential harm to personal health of gambling.

LPT also reviewed its procedures, adjusted internal procedures, allowing for more frequent scheduled inspections of the activities of gambling companies. In addition, the Ministry of Finance conducted an audit of LPT’s activities. No significant operational deficiencies were identified during the audit. LPT took into account the audit recommendations and allocated more human resources to money laundering prevention functions.

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Source: Gambling Supervisory Authority under the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Lithuania

The post The Lithuanian Gaming Control Authority (LPT) has completed its inspection: Olympic Casino has been fined almost 8.4 million euros appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Forging Strong Partnerships: SYNOT Games on Market Growth & Client Success

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HIPTHER, organizer of the Prague Gaming & TECH Summit 2025, is proud to present SYNOT Games, our Lanyards Sponsor, and a leading force in the iGaming industry. SYNOT Games has built a reputation for innovative, high-quality slot content, boasting a portfolio of 180+ certified games and “unleashing digital delights” across over 40 jurisdictions.

In this exclusive Sponsors Spotlight interview, we sit down with Dagmar Cvrckova, Head of Strategic Partnership, to discuss their expansion across global markets, business-oriented approach to clients, and what’s next for their growing portfolio.

 

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SYNOT Games has successfully expanded into multiple regulated jurisdictions, from Europe to emerging markets. What factors drive your decision-making when entering new territories, and what challenges do you see in the current regulatory landscape?

Our expansion strategy rests on three core pillars: market potential, regulatory stability, and demand for unique content we develop. Before entering a new jurisdiction, we conduct comprehensive research to assess the player base, competitive landscape, regulatory requirements and operator demands.

Navigating compliance is one of the biggest challenges in the iGaming industry, as regulations are constantly evolving and changing. We take proactive steps by working closely with regulators, ensuring our games meet all certification standards, and staying ahead of legal changes. This approach ensures robust compliance and keeps us well positioned to capitalize on emerging opportunities in new markets.


With a portfolio of over 180 certified games, how does SYNOT adapt its content to meet the preferences of diverse player demographics across various regions?

Player preferences vary widely across regions, and our game development strategy is deeply rooted in data-driven decision-making. For example, while European players often favor classic slot mechanics and high-volatility games, Latin American markets prefer vibrant themes and engaging bonus features.

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We analyze player behavior, session data, and engagement rates to fine-tune our content. Our localization goes well beyond language translation; it encompasses a complete adaptation of the gaming experience, including themes, payout structures, and bonus mechanics – to align with regional trends. But we’re not afraid to experiment either.

This approach allows us to deliver games that resonate with a global audience while staying true to the distinctive SYNOT Games style.


Strategic partnerships are a key focus for SYNOT Games. How do you approach collaborations with operators to ensure mutual success and long-term growth?

Strong and strategic partnerships are built on flexibility, customization, and shared goals. We don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all model. Instead, we work closely with our partners to deliver customized offerings – including exclusive games and tailored promotional tools – that drive player engagement and retention.

The key to our success is our ability to adapt, whether through customized game offerings, innovation, marketing support or technical solutions. This collaborative approach ensures sustainable growth for both parties.

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SYNOT Games prides itself on “unleashing digital delights”: delivering original content adaptable to any operation configuration and needs.  How do you balance innovation with maintaining a consistent and engaging player experience?

Innovation is at the heart of everything we do, but our approach is always player-first. We continuously experiment with new mechanics, themes, and features, but we also maintain the core elements that players love – intuitive gameplay, engaging graphics, and rewarding experiences. However, it is essential to strike a balance between innovations and solutions that are both effective and engaging for players, whether they are directly part of the games or retention tools.

The PEAK (Player Engagement & Acquisition Kit) is a prime example of a powerful retention tool that unlocks exciting new reward options and simplifies promotion management. It allows operators to set promotions according to their needs. And the best part? We’re continuously enhancing it with new features to keep engagement at its peak.

Of course, every innovation must be developed with a deep understanding of the regulatory landscape, ensuring compliance while delivering an exceptional gaming experience across different markets.

 

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As a Lanyards Sponsor and key participant in this year’s Summit, what insights will SYNOT Games bring to the discussion, and what makes this event an essential platform for industry collaboration?

Innovation is at the heart of everything we do, but our approach is always player-first. We continuously experiment with new mechanics, themes, and features, but we also maintain the core elements that players love – intuitive gameplay, engaging graphics, and rewarding experiences. However, it is essential to strike a balance between innovations and solutions that are both effective and engaging for players, whether they are directly part of the games or retention tools.

The PEAK (Player Engagement & Acquisition Kit) is a prime example of a powerful retention tool that unlocks exciting new reward options and simplifies promotion management. It allows operators to set promotions according to their needs. And the best part? We’re continuously enhancing it with new features to keep engagement at its peak.

Of course, every innovation must be developed with a deep understanding of the regulatory landscape, ensuring compliance while delivering an exceptional gaming experience across different markets.

 

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With SYNOT Games leading the way in market expansion and client partnerships, the Prague Gaming & TECH Summit 2025 is set to offer exclusive insights into the evolving iGaming landscape. Don’t miss the chance to connect with top industry professionals, explore the latest trends, and engage in thought-provoking discussions.

Join us on 25-26 March 2025 in Prague – Register now and explore the full agenda!

 

The post Forging Strong Partnerships: SYNOT Games on Market Growth & Client Success appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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