Latest News

Veloce Racing primed for Ocean X Prix success as Newey praises rebuild effort

Published

5 years ago

May 26, 2021

Reading Time: 4 minutes

Veloce Racing is ready to get back on track this weekend (29-30 May) at the scene of the second event on Extreme E’s inaugural calendar – the Ocean X Prix – featuring yet another breathtaking landscape, this time in Lac Rose, Dakar, Senegal.

The opening round of the series was one to forget for fledgling outfit Veloce Racing, with its drivers – 2019 W Series Champion Jamie Chadwick and two-time Le Mans Series Champion Stéphane Sarrazin – having completed just one lap each in the exploratory Friday shakedown session before a spectacular barrel roll early in Sarrazin’s Q1 run forced the team to withdraw from the remainder of the competition.

Prior to the incident, the Frenchman was on course to match the pace of his adversaries during the opening stages of the lap, meaning the team carries plenty of optimism into the next round of the championship.

Thankfully, Sarrazin emerged from the incident unscathed but Chadwick was left stranded at Extreme E’s Desert X Prix Command Centre, missing the opportunity to log valuable time inside the cockpit of the all-electric ODYSSEY 21 SUV.

However, the format of the Extreme E calendar is more forgiving than other motorsport series with the unique characteristics of each location meaning many drivers will approach the upcoming events with a relatively similar lack of experience – meaning Chadwick won’t be playing catch-up for long.

Veloce Racing’s ODYSSEY 21, meanwhile, required an extensive rebuild post-Saudi Arabia. Following a thorough investigation by the team, it was revealed that a significant refit was required owing to a damaged roll cage and suspension.

A small team of mechanics from Competition Partner ART GP and Veloce Racing Team Manager Ian Davies will complete an estimated 75-100 hours of labour in Senegal to ensure the SUV is race-ready.

These repairs have sparked an unlikely collaboration between two Extreme E teams, as the ABT CUPRA XE car is also undergoing reconstruction in the build-up to the race. With some parts common across all Extreme E vehicles, Veloce Racing are working together with the German-Spanish outfit to share some of the workload required on both cars and minimise the environmental impact of both rebuilds.

With no spectators permitted on-site in Senegal – in-keeping with Extreme E’s sustainable ethos and commitment to minimise its carbon footprint – the racing will be broadcast all around the world on a variety of networks, including ITV, the BBC Sport website and Red Button application, Sky Sports and BT Sport in the UK, plus the championship’s official website.

The action will begin with the qualifying rounds from 11.30am local time (12.30pm BST) on Saturday, 29 May, with the semi-finals and final taking place from 10am local time (11am BST) the following day.

Jamie Chadwick, Driver, Veloce Racing commented:

“I feel like I have the same level of excitement for this race as I did for the Desert X Prix in Saudi Arabia. Obviously, I only got the one lap in during the shakedown session so that just gave me a little taste of what Extreme E is really like – and it was amazing! This weekend, I want more of that feeling and to really get my teeth into this series.

“I think in other championships my lack of track time would really hurt the team in this next race, but because each location is so different to anything the drivers have done before, I don’t think we’ll be at a huge disadvantage.

“The only goal I have this weekend is just to get some solid points on the board. You have some bumps in the road and difficult rounds every year so hopefully we got ours out of the way early on.”

Stéphane Sarrazin, Driver, Veloce Racing added:

“I can’t wait to be back in the Extreme E paddock. It’s so different to anything I’ve experienced before, and it’s fantastic! We had a difficult start to our season, but I think that has made us more determined than ever to deliver results.

“The other teams have a head start on us in the championship, but everyone will probably have issues at some point so it’s definitely not over yet! The pace we had looked promising, so I think we have a lot to be positive about this weekend.

“I’m also really looking forward to being involved with the Legacy Programmes again in Senegal, this is one of the things that sets Extreme E apart from any other sporting series – helping local communities and creating a positive and lasting impact.”

Adrian Newey, Lead Visionary, Veloce Racing, added:

“I’m really excited to see what the team can achieve at the Ocean X Prix. Obviously, we didn’t have the opportunity to show what we’re really capable of in Saudi Arabia, but I think it looked promising before Stéphane’s roll. The team are going to come back fighting, I know that much!

“I have seen plenty of set-backs throughout my career, and the team has reacted to adversity in exactly the right way. It takes hard work and dedication to recover from an incident like we experienced at the Desert X Prix, and both the drivers and the team are working flat out to be as prepared as possible for this weekend. I know that there is still a lot of work going on in Senegal to get the car ready, and don’t underestimate how much that will motivate our drivers.

“As far as the location goes, this is going to be a really interesting one (as they all are!). It looks like the terrain is going to be similar to Saudi Arabia but the course will be totally different and pose entirely new challenges for even the most experienced drivers!”

Following the Ocean X Prix in Senegal, the St. Helena – Extreme E’s floating paddock – will then set sail for Kangerlussuaq, Greenland (28-29 August) followed by Pará, Brazil (23-24 October) and finally Tierra Del Fuego, Argentina (11-12 December).

Latest News

Introducing Red Papaya – a studio powered by Microgaming

Published

41 minutes ago

November 24, 2025

George Miller

introducing-red-papaya-–-a-studio-powered-by-microgaming

Reading Time: 2 minutes

New developer promises to get player pulses racing with slots that blend creativity, features and data

There’s a new studio in town, and it’s a bold and bright one. Red Papaya is the flagship studio powered by Microgaming and blends creativity, features and data to craft edge-of-the-seat slot experiences that captivate players around the world.

The studio has been founded by an award-winning team with a proven track record in delivering top-performing, data-driven slots that have quickly risen to the top of the charts. When it comes to themes, features and markets, they’ve done it all.

Features will be an area of strong differentiation, with the studio incorporating formats such as Hold & Win, Cash Collect, Bonus Buy, Jackpot, Pot Link and Maxways into each of its titles.

The bar for production value will be set incredibly high, with cinematic visuals, superior sound design and compelling narratives, storylines and characters.

Red Papaya’s debut slot, Kong’s Jungle Tower, is set for launch in a matter of weeks, with players taken on an epic expedition where fortunes can be found hidden within a forgotten temple, hidden deep within the undergrowth.

New games will launch regularly with a strategic product roadmap aimed at meeting a wide range of player preferences. Red Papaya will also offer exclusive launch periods with custom branded game opportunities on the table, too.

Madelein Ozok, Head of Studio at Red Papaya, said: “We are so excited to finally break cover – Red Papaya has been built on many decades of industry experience, so we’re ready to hit the ground running. Of course, this would not be possible without the backing of Microgaming.

“Our product roadmap is incredibly strong with our first slot set to hit the market later this month. And make no mistake about it, our pipeline is packed with hits.

“Red Papaya is all about colourful disruption via cutting edge slots that combine creativity, features and data to deliver world-class experiences that hit the mark with players spin after spin. We are ready, but are you?

“In the meantime, make sure to learn more about Red Papaya on the newly-launched microgaming.io website”

The post Introducing Red Papaya – a studio powered by Microgaming appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Andrew Brown CEO Goma Gaming

EveryMatrix acquires Goma Gaming to boost front-end development firepower

Published

41 minutes ago

November 24, 2025

George Miller

everymatrix-acquires-goma-gaming-to-boost-front-end-development-firepower

Reading Time: 2 minutes

EveryMatrix has acquired UX specialist Goma Gaming to boost the Group’s front-end development firepower.

Specialising in delivering innovative front-end solutions for the betting industry, the Goma Gaming team bring 20 years consumer product design and digital UX experience.

The acquisition will instantly enhance EveryMatrix’s existing front-end capabilities with experience from both sports betting and casino projects that have included delivering bespoke solutions for tier-1 brands.

The Goma team will continue to operate as a standalone unit, side-by-side with the existing EveryMatrix front-end division.

Its capacity will be upscaled to provide additional bandwidth and capabilities to the Group’s sports and casino products with the objective of delivering superior customer experience and even more alternatives for EveryMatrix clients.

Goma Gaming’s UX player experience platform has delivered strong results for tier-1 operators, generating higher retention and longer engagement with an average 30% margin uplift, while adding enhanced functionality for next generation players.

Ebbe Groes, Group CEO & Co-founder EveryMatrix, said: “Our front-end development has made huge strides, creating bespoke sites and features for some of our largest customers such as Bet-at-home and the Hungarian Lottery.

“The addition of Goma means we will immediately have more front-end firepower to deploy and deliver to both existing and new sports and casino turnkey customers who require differentiation that moves the dial when it comes to higher retention, engagement, margin and revenues.”

“I’d like to welcome Andrew and his team and look forward to having them with us to further accelerate our rapid business growth.”

Andrew Brown, CEO, Goma Gaming, said: “We’ve made great progress developing Goma in the last five years, but joining the EveryMatrix Group now means we have greater resources to rapidly scale our capacity whenever it’s needed and to make an even bigger impact.

“Thank you to everyone who has supported us along the way and enabled us to get us to this stage. We can’t wait for the next phase of our journey as part of EveryMatrix.”

The post EveryMatrix acquires Goma Gaming to boost front-end development firepower appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

AML or MLR Professional of the Year

SOFTSWISS’ Eleni Panagiotopoulou Becomes Best AML Professional 2025

Published

41 minutes ago

November 24, 2025

George Miller

softswiss’-eleni-panagiotopoulou-becomes-best-aml-professional-2025

Reading Time: 2 minutes

SOFTSWISS, a leading iGaming software provider, proudly announces that Eleni Panagiotopoulou, Head of the Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Team, has been named AML or MLR Professional of the Year at the Global Regulatory Awards 2025.

The award honours individuals who make exceptional contributions to compliance and responsible gambling in a demanding, ever-changing regulatory landscape. Winners are recognised for their expertise, leadership, and dedication to maintaining the highest industry standards.

“It’s an honour to receive this award, but even more so to see AML excellence recognised on an industry stage,” said Eleni Panagiotopoulou, Head of AML at SOFTSWISS. “This recognition belongs to our entire team – every analyst, every partner, and every department that supports compliance as a shared responsibility. Together, we’re building not just safer systems, but a stronger and more trustworthy industry.”

Under Eleni’s leadership, the SOFTSWISS AML team has set new benchmarks for operational efficiency and compliance integrity. Over the past year, her key achievements included:

Strengthening the AML function by expanding the team and increasing capacity for transaction monitoring and case reviews
Driving a 75% rise in suspicious activity reports submitted, ensuring timely escalation and regulator engagement
Implementing automated transaction-screening tools and real-time analytics to improve fraud detection accuracy
Representing SOFTSWISS on international panels and industry forums, promoting ethical approaches to financial crime prevention

Eleni also managed updates to SOFTSWISS AML policies across multiple jurisdictions, such as Brazil, Peru, South Africa, Malta, Curacao, Serbia, and Nigeria. She helped SOFTSWISS remain fully aligned with regulatory requirements for smooth market entry worldwide.

Her industry impact is confirmed through the delivery of more than 25 hours of AML and responsible gambling training, benefiting both SOFTSWISS employees and the broader iGaming community.

Eleni’s insights on the current state of AML and Responsible Gambling can be found in the 2026 iGaming Trends Report. There, she shares how AI systems detect risky behaviour early and support safer play across regulated markets, helping operators protect their reputation and revenue.

Operators and industry professionals can download the 2026 iGaming Trends Report here.

About SOFTSWISS

SOFTSWISS is an international technology company with over 15 years of experience in developing innovative solutions for the iGaming industry. SOFTSWISS provides comprehensive software for managing iGaming projects. The company’s product portfolio includes the Casino Platform, the Game Aggregator with over 36,700 casino games, Affilka Affiliate Platform, the Sportsbook Software and the Jackpot Aggregator. The expert team, based in Malta, Poland, and Georgia, counts over 2,000 employees.

The post SOFTSWISS’ Eleni Panagiotopoulou Becomes Best AML Professional 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.