Latest News
Casinomeister’s 23 Year Anniversary
Casinomeister, the advocate of fair play, has reached a significant milestone: twenty-three years since the launch of the website – 10 June 1998.
What began initially as a hobby site was transformed into a one-man business in the early years of the Internet. Since 1998, Casinomeister has stuck to its original mission statement:
“Trust is what it’s all about. Our mission at Casinomeister is to provide verified information; information that enables players to make smart choices. Since trust is generated by information, the more players know about online casinos, the more at ease and safer they will be.”
And so it began. Casinomeister was run primarily by Bryan Bailey, the director and owner of the website, and it was his unique vision that drove the mission of the site. In the first two months a forum was created – which is now the one of the largest and most active gamblers’ forums on the Internet. Casinomeister began publishing newsletters and a news section, and Bailey began his podcasting before “podcast” was a word in the year 2000.
Within the first few months, “Standards for Online Casinos” were established. This was a first – no other website had established any standards for advertising partners, in fact – no licensing jurisdictions were doing this either. Casinomeister thus established itself as a beacon of light for the player of online casinos. These standards have evolved into the “Standards for Casinomeister Accredited Casinos”, and now Casinomeister is one of the only sites that requires these casinos to be vetted by its membership.
Most importantly, by Casinomeister’s reach and influence within the online casino industry, he began solving players’ complaints, and is now recognized as a leading and certified Alternative Dispute Resolution service for the player community. The pioneers of the online gaming industry wanted to work with Casinomeister since it was the heartbeat of the players.
It was not until 2007 that Casinomeister evolved into a two-man band taking on Max Drayman as the Complaints Manager. This freed Bailey up to manage the other areas of areas of the website, the Rogue Casino section (“Rogue Casino” was coined by Bailey in 2000), casino reviews, webcasts, newsletters, news, the forum, and attending and speaking at iGaming Conferences around the world.
Casinomeister has since evolved into a small business with a handful of full-time employees, part-timers, and a couple of other webmasters who assist in the forum. After 23 years, Casinomeister remains a viable and leading influence on the iGaming community.
Director of Casinomeister Bryan Bailey stated, “It’s hard to fathom that an idea that was initiated during a lunch at Oscars in San Diego became what it is today. To me it’s not only a business, but a service and a gathering of like-minded people – many of whom I have grown close to. I am humbled by the fact that Casinomeister has brought so many folks together, spawned friendships, romances, and in one instance (that I know of) – a marriage. I take pride in the site, and will always stay true to my vision, my community, and to my friends. It’s been an amazing ride these past 23 years, and I’m planning to ride this out until the end of the Internets.”
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casino
Plaza adds Monday Night RAW ticket raffle to WrestleMania 42 viewing party
Downtown Las Vegas casino also brings in WWE Hall of Famer Rob Van Dam for a live Q&A on April 18.
Plaza Hotel & Casino will host WrestleMania 42 viewing parties on April 18 and April 19 in its showroom in downtown Las Vegas, adding a ticket giveaway for WWE Monday Night RAW on the second night.
The casino said all guests attending the Sunday, April 19 viewing party can enter a free raffle to win two tickets to Monday Night RAW on Monday, April 20 at T-Mobile Arena, seated in one of the venue’s premier Loge Boxes.
On Saturday, April 18, the Plaza will feature WWE Hall of Fame wrestler Rob Van Dam (RVD) as a special guest. The property said RVD—also billed as “Mr. Monday Night”—will lead a live Q&A at 1:30 p.m. ahead of the WrestleMania 42 start time at 3 p.m., and will be available for autographs and photo ops.
Both events are 21+ and run in the Plaza showroom, with doors opening at 1 p.m. and the viewing party starting at 3 p.m. The Plaza said it will offer drink specials and buckets of beer priced at $30 for domestic brands and $35 for imported.
Tickets with seat selection are priced at $40 per person (plus fees and taxes), according to the casino, with details and purchasing available via the Plaza’s website.
Relevant data as follows:
- Plaza Hotel & Casino WrestleMania viewing party details: https://www.plazahotelcasino.com/entertainment/wrestlemania-viewing-party/ Primary source for ticketing, schedule, and pricing referenced in the article.
- WWE Monday Night RAW: https://www.wwe.com/shows/raw Official WWE show page to support the RAW reference and event context.
- T-Mobile Arena events calendar: https://www.t-mobilearena.com/events Venue source to corroborate event location and provide broader event context.
- Plaza Hotel & Casino: https://www.plazahotelcasino.com/ Company homepage for readers seeking more information on the property hosting the viewing parties.
The post Plaza adds Monday Night RAW ticket raffle to WrestleMania 42 viewing party appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
eSports
MEGA hires Leapfox founder Patrick Collins as VP of Growth
The ex-Wasserman and former Excel Esports partnerships lead joins the London-based group behind the Esports Awards and MOBIES.
The Mobile, Esports and Gaming Alliance (MEGA) has appointed Patrick Collins as Vice President of Growth, the company said on April 15, 2026. Collins will lead growth strategy, including commercial partnerships and new business development, from London.
Collins joins from boutique agency Leapfox, which he founded in early 2022. Prior to that, he led commercial partnerships at UK esports organisation Excel Esports, securing deals with brands including BT, Sony, JD Sports, Neosurf and Chupa Chups, alongside partners such as HyperX, Anda Seat, Belong Gaming Arenas and Chillblast PCs.
Earlier in his career, Collins worked at sports marketing agency Wasserman, where MEGA said he helped secure EE’s six-year partnership with Wembley Stadium and advised brands including American Express, Vodafone and PepsiCo. The company also cited experience working with Premier League football clubs and brands including Barclays, Santander, Under Armour and Puma.
“I’m pleased to officially join MEGA at such an important time for esports and gaming,” said Patrick Collins, VP of Growth at MEGA. “Having worked across traditional sport, esports, and commercial partnerships, and founding Leapfox to bridge these worlds and guide my clients, I’m looking forward to applying my experience to support MEGA and our properties as we continue to grow.”
“We’re delighted to welcome Patrick to MEGA as our new Vice President of Growth,” said Michael Ashford, Co-Founder of MEGA. “His extensive experience, including founding Leapfox, uniquely positions him to shape the future of our company. With Patrick on board, MEGA is determined to accelerate our growth, embark on transformative partnerships, and deliver world-class experiences that will define the next era of esports entertainment.”
Relevant data as follows:
- MEGA (Mobile, Esports and Gaming Alliance): https://themega.global/ Official company site to support the appointment and provide background on MEGA.
- Esports Awards: https://esportsawards.com/ Official site for one of the properties referenced in connection with MEGA.
- MOBIES: https://mobies.com/ Official site for the Mobile Gaming Awards referenced alongside MEGA.
The post MEGA hires Leapfox founder Patrick Collins as VP of Growth appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
iGaming
Soft2Bet adds five brands in Q1 2026 and lines up Alberta licensing bid
Soft2Bet said it opened 2026 with five new brand launches and four sponsorship deals, alongside market planning for Q2 2026. The company shared the update from Malta on April 15, 2026 as part of its Q1 2026 results.
In Q1, Soft2Bet launched Lodur in Sweden and Zinx in Romania. In Denmark, it launched Betinia, Betoro and QuickCasino. The company said the rollouts were part of a localized approach aligned with player behavior and regulatory environments.
Soft2Bet also announced four sponsorships aimed at strengthening regional visibility. In Canada, it partnered with the Oshawa FireWolves and Rock League Curling. In Romania, it renewed its partnership with football club CFR Cluj. In Denmark, it cited brand exposure through the Betinia League and CampoBet Division.
For Q2 2026, Soft2Bet said it has submitted a license application in Alberta, Canada, and is evaluating Spain and Portugal. The company also said it plans to offer players a gamified tournament module for the upcoming FIFA World Cup, designed to extend engagement beyond traditional sportsbook formats.
Soft2Bet did not disclose revenue, active user metrics, or market-by-market performance data in the release.
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Soft2Bet: https://soft2bet.com/ Company site for background, brand portfolio, and corporate updates referenced in the release.
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Alberta iGaming (AGLC) – regulatory information: https://aglc.ca/ Official Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis information relevant to the stated Alberta license application.
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Swedish Gambling Authority (Spelinspektionen): https://www.spelinspektionen.se/en/ Regulator context for the Sweden brand launch mentioned (Lodur).
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Romanian National Gambling Office (ONJN):https://onjn.gov.ro Regulatory reference for Romania activity and brand launch (Zinx).
The post Soft2Bet adds five brands in Q1 2026 and lines up Alberta licensing bid appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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