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Round 1 rollercoaster triggers sensational comeback drive for Chadwick

Published

5 years ago

June 28, 2021

George Miller

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Reigning champion feels ‘mixed emotions’ after early contact and fightback to P6 during restart drama

The 2021 W Series season got underway this weekend (25-26 June) at the high-speed Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, Austria. Reigning champion Jamie Chadwick lined up alongside Brazilian rookie Bruna Tomaselli as Veloce Racing made its foray into single-seater racing for the first time.

Qualifying was held on Friday afternoon in the Styrian countryside but was far from straightforward for the fledgling W Series outfit. Chadwick was in the hunt for pole from the outset, setting eye-catching lap times throughout the session. However, a cracked pipe put pay to her efforts and meant she would spend the remainder of qualifying on the side-lines, with a time good enough for eighth place.

Tomaselli, meanwhile, acclimatised to a new series and team with ease, swiftly getting up to speed and qualifying just outside the top ten with the 11th fastest time.

Almost as soon as the lights went out in Spielberg, drama began to unfold. The reigning champion was swiftly on the attack making up ground on the opening lap, as the field reached turn one on the second tour, disaster stuck. Racing X’s Jessica Hawkins locked up under braking, careering into the back of Chadwick, leaving the 23-year-old facing the wrong way, and tumbling down the order.

Chadwick re-joined in 16th position with the bit between her teeth, recording the fastest lap of the race so far and setting about closing the gap to the #3 driver of Gosia Rdest. Once she had bridged the gap to the Pole, she made several lunges up the inside of the first corner as the pair battled it out lap after lap.

Further up the order, Tomaselli was embroiled in a tooth and nail battle for a place inside the top ten, putting everyone firmly on the edge of their seat going three abreast into turn three. Ultimately, she conceded the positions and dropped to 11th, before settling into a rhythm and held station comfortably.

At two-thirds race distance, the safety car was deployed to ensure Marta García’s stricken Puma car could be recovered safely. At the restart, Chadwick was all fired and looked to take advantage as chaos ensued further up the grid. Contact for Tomaselli at turn three spelt disaster for the Brazilian who subsequently fell down the timesheets, while sensational race craft amid the carnage helped the reigning champion Chadwick navigate her way to a seventh-place finish on the road.

Hawkins was eventually dealt a 30-second post-race penalty following her early contact with the Veloce car, this elevated Chadwick and Tomaselli to sixth and 11th respectively.

Jamie Chadwick, Driver, Veloce Racing said:

“I’m feeling mixed emotions after that race. Firstly, I’m happy to get points on the board but massively disappointed at the same time, I had a really good start and first lap but then got spun around.

“We got a bit lucky with the carnage that unfolded after the safety car but I think it was damage limitation today given the circumstances we found ourselves in. Our potential was much more than that this weekend. Luckily there isn’t long to wait so we’re already looking ahead to the next race.”

Bruna Tomaselli Driver, Veloce Racing said:

“From my side, I think the race was good. We were fast at the beginning to the middle of the race but at the restart, someone touched my rear and it put me out of the fight, these things happen. I know I was quick, and I know where I can improve to help bring better results, so I will try to be more consistent for the next race.”

Rupert Svendsen-Cook, Team Principal, Veloce Racing said:

“That was an entertaining race for the neutral but very stressful for Veloce! Jamie had an excellent start and pulled some blinding moves to progress on the first lap but was very unlucky to be punted out to the back.

“It looked likely there is still a straight-line speed issue which makes her recovery from last back to sixth even more impressive. We will get things fixed for next weekend and we’re excited to put our best foot forward.

“Bruna also showed her raw speed and with some more racing experience under her belt, we have every confidence in her ability. It’s great to see the W Series back in action at an F1 weekend and it’s certainly going to be a season of attrition based on today’s race.”

The drivers will have little time to catch their breath as W Series returns for the second instalment of the Austrian double-header in just seven days (3-4 June), Chadwick and Tomaselli will no doubt be looking to build on their promising pace from the opening round.

888.it

R. Franco Digital Shortlisted for Casino Platform Excellence at EGR Europe Awards 2026

Published

2 hours ago

January 8, 2026

Wladimir P.

r.-franco-digital-shortlisted-for-casino-platform-excellence-at-egr-europe-awards-2026

R. Franco Digital, the leading Spanish iGaming provider, has been officially shortlisted for Casino Platform Supplier of the Year at the prestigious EGR Europe Awards 2026. The nomination recognizes a landmark year for the company, characterized by the explosive growth of its IRIS Open Omnichannel Platform and a major commercial breakthrough into the Italian market.

The winners will be announced during a gala ceremony on February 18, 2026, at the Hilton Malta, where the industry’s top-tier operators and suppliers gather to celebrate European gaming excellence.

IRIS: The Engine of Omnichannel Growth

The core of R. Franco Digital’s success lies in its IRIS platform, a highly scalable, multi-jurisdictional solution that unifies casino, sports betting, and retail management.

IRIS Platform Milestones (2025-2026):

Jurisdictional Reach: Certified in 6 jurisdictions and operational in over 10 regulated markets.
Content Depth: Seamlessly integrated with over 1,600 games from global third-party providers.
Operational Stability: Provides 24/7 multilingual support and advanced real-time analytics for operators.
Commercial Momentum: Secured 50+ new operator partnerships and entered three new markets within the last 12 months.

Performance Highlights: 4 Billion Game Rounds

R. Franco Digital’s games portfolio has seen a massive surge in engagement, bolstered by 20 new high-performance slot releases in 2025. Standout titles such as Strange Spins, Aphrodite, Zorro: Final Duel, Ovomon, and The Phantom contributed to a record-breaking year.

Metric	2025–2026 Achievement
Total Game Rounds	4 Billion+ across regulated markets
Revenue Growth	30% Increase during the judging period
New Content	20 New slot titles launched
Expansion	Debut in the Italian regulated market

Strategic Italian Market Entry

A major factor in the EGR shortlisting was R. Franco Digital’s successful entry into Italy. The provider rapidly localized its content to meet the specific demands of Italian players through tier-one partnerships:

Stanleybet.it: Launched 19 games, including the Italian-exclusive debut of Strange Spins.
888.it: Successfully rolled out the popular Super 7 3×3 title.

“We’re proud to be shortlisted for this award, which reflects the strength of our IRIS platform and the quality of the content we’ve delivered over the past year,” said Javier Sacristán Franco, International Business Director at R. Franco Digital. “Our team has worked hard to support operators with reliable, innovative solutions… we are delighted to see that effort recognised.”

The post R. Franco Digital Shortlisted for Casino Platform Excellence at EGR Europe Awards 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Big Hot Flaming Pots

Big Hot Flaming Pots: Tasty Treasures – Lightning Box Brings Land-Based Hit Online

Published

3 hours ago

January 8, 2026

Wladimir P.

big-hot-flaming-pots:-tasty-treasures-–-lightning-box-brings-land-based-hit-online

Light & Wonder has officially launched Big Hot Flaming Pots: Tasty Treasures, the digital debut of its highly successful land-based franchise. Developed by in-house specialist studio Lightning Box, this 3×5 slot offers 243 ways to win and a high-energy “three-pot” mechanic that has already become a staple on casino floors worldwide.

The game transitions the whimsical “dumpling-tossing” theme to online audiences, combining vibrant Asian-inspired aesthetics with a deep mathematical model designed for high-engagement sessions.

The Three-Pot Mechanic & Seven Feature Combinations

At the core of the gameplay is the persistent pot system. Landing specific colored coins fuels three separate pots—Yummy, Spicy, and Upsized. These pots can trigger individually or in any combination, leading to seven distinct bonus paths.

Feature Mode	Gameplay Enhancement
Yummy Mode	Increases the Hold & Spin respin counter from 3 to 4, significantly extending bonus life.
Spicy Mode	Introduces Chilli multipliers; landing a pepper adds its cash value to every symbol currently held on the board.
Upsized Mode	Unlocks a Dual Grid (two reel sets) for the Hold & Spin round, doubling the win potential.
Combined Modes	Triggering all three at once creates the “Mega Bonus,” featuring dual grids, 4 respins, and value-boosting peppers.

Innovation: The Stack N’ Hit Feature

Unlike traditional Hold & Spin mechanics where symbols simply lock until the round ends, Tasty Treasures introduces the Stack N’ Hit evolution.

Reel Clearing: When a vertical reel is filled with Bun symbols, the prizes are instantly collected, and the reel is cleared.
Persistent Respins: Clearing a reel creates open spaces for new prizes to land, allowing the bonus round to continue far longer than standard industry alternatives.
The Path to Grand: Each cleared reel activates a “Pepper Tracker” above it. Lighting up all five trackers awards the Grand Progressive Jackpot.

Jackpot Tiers & Base Game Depth

Operators benefit from a versatile math model that supports both consistent base-game performance and high-volatility jackpot chases.

Progressive Jackpots: Grand and Major tiers for life-changing win potential.
Fixed Jackpots: Minor and Mini tiers awarded through symbols landing during features.
Nudge Wilds: In the base game, Wild symbols can nudge to cover entire reels, assisting in achieving the 243-way payouts.

“Big Hot Flaming Pots: Tasty Treasures carries forward a brand that has already made its mark in land-based venues,” says Michael Maokhamphiou, Studio Director at Lightning Box. “This release offers operators a flexible, high-performing title that combines familiarity with fresh layers of engagement.”

The post Big Hot Flaming Pots: Tasty Treasures – Lightning Box Brings Land-Based Hit Online appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Blask Index

How Venezuela’s iGaming market is reacting to US pressure

Published

3 hours ago

January 8, 2026

GamingAmericas.com

how-venezuela’s-igaming-market-is-reacting-to-us-pressure

Blask data indicates Venezuela’s iGaming demand remained stable in the initial days following the US operation in Caracas.

On 3 January, US forces detained Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro, transporting him from Caracas to face prosecution in New York. The raid came after months of intensifying American pressure throughout 2025 — naval presence, targeted strikes, and a fresh sanctions package.

For Venezuela’s iGaming sector, the disruption poses a critical question: will demand collapse, or adapt?

First results

Blask’s daily Index remained within a tight corridor from 1–4 January, hovering in the high-200K zone. It dropped 5% to 257.4K on the day of the operation, before recovering the next day.

The data reveals no abrupt demand shift during this period. A slight decline sits within Venezuela’s normal daily fluctuations and does not point to a fundamental market change.

Rapid expansion, growing dominance

Venezuela stood out as one of iGaming’s strongest demand gainers in 2025. Blask Index surged 134.9% year-on-year — the second-highest growth worldwide.

This expansion came alongside increasing market dominance. By December, Triunfo Bet commanded 59% of Blask’s BAP (Brand Accumulated Power, measuring a brand’s portion of total user interest nationally), gaining 15 percentage points since January. The top three brands collectively reached over 85%, up 11 points.

The post How Venezuela’s iGaming market is reacting to US pressure appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.