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Pragmatic Play Donates Over €40,000 to Good Causes in Malta, Gibraltar and Romania in Q3 2021
Pragmatic Play, a leading content provider to the iGaming industry always strive to give back to the local communities where they are based and to recognise the immense difference that charities and non-profits make to help those in need. It is Pragmatic Play’s mission to be a proactive contributor towards society and to assist the missions of those who strive to make the world a little better each day
You can read a roundup of its latest CSR activities below.
Homeless Animal Hospital (Romania)
After a previous contribution, Pragmatic Play gave a further donation of €7,000 to the team at the Homeless Animal Hospital just outside Bucharest, Romania.
The team there does immense work in caring for and providing medical treatment to homeless animals that do not have anyone to look after them. Representatives from Pragmatic Play saw first-hand, how a small amount of love and affection goes such a long way in giving these animals a better quality of life.
ANAIS Association (Romania)
The ANAIS association was founded at the end of 2011, with its main purpose being to promote, respect and defend the rights of abused women, children, and young people.
Pragmatic Play recently donated the amount of €10,000 to this incredible association.The Anais Association’s team was so generous to offer in return for the ladies at Pragmatic Play, an information and education workshop to prevent and combat violence against women. Pragmatic Play hopes their donation can assist the ANAIS organisation in their fight both at local and national levels of government to have the rights of women prioritised.
Step Up For Parkinson’s (Malta)
Pragmatic Play was delighted to visit the Step Up For Parkinson’s team at their centre in Malta.
The team there does terrific work in raising awareness for and supporting those who suffer from the effects of Parkinson’s disease in their lives. One innovative approach the team uses is to host free specialized movement classes for sufferers of the disease. These classes involve light exercise, dance and general movement for the group, creating a feel-good factor and plenty of smiling faces in the room!
Pragmatic Play donated €5,000 to the foundation in the hope it can bring a better quality of life to all those affected by Parkinson’s in the local community.
YMCA (Malta)
Pragmatic Play recently supported the YMCA Malta, an NGO that offers shelter and other services to the homeless and socially disadvantaged community, by making a €10,000 donation.
Offering a spectrum of services to the underprivileged, including opportunities to help find work, food schemes, counselling services and so much more, YMCA Malta is at the forefront of assisting and reintegrating the homeless community in Malta.
Julian Jarvis, Pragmatic Play Chief Executive Officer, said: “The past 18 months have been a leveller for people from all walks of life, but none have suffered more than the homeless community.
“With mental health being put in sharper focus than ever before, YMCA Malta is a fitting destination for our donation, appreciated for the wide range of services they provide to disadvantaged people.”
Calpe House (Gibraltar)
Pragmatic Play teamed up within Calpe House in Gibraltar and donated £11,000 to the team there. Calpe House provide accommodation and support for patients and escorts sent to the UK under the Gibraltar Health Authority. Pragmatic’s donation will be used by Calpe House to build a dedicated business suite at their premises at 19-23 Norfolk Square, London. The business suite will allow sponsored patients and/or their escorts to have a space in which to carry out remote working whilst they are away from Gibraltar. As a digital business, enabling remote working and tech capabilities very much aligns with the values of Pragmatic Play.
Pragmatic Play currently produces up to five new slot titles a month, as well as delivering Live Casino and Bingo products through its multi-vertical offering. The company’s entire portfolio is available through a single API integration.
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BetMGM
BetMGM and FashionTV Gaming Group Bring Luxury Lifestyle to North American iGaming
BetMGM, a leading iGaming and sports betting operator, has officially partnered with FashionTV Gaming Group to launch a curated portfolio of luxury-branded games. This strategic collaboration marks the entry of FashionTV’s iconic aesthetic into the North American iGaming market, exclusively through BetMGM’s platforms.
The partnership merges FashionTV’s global prestige in the worlds of fashion and high-society entertainment with BetMGM’s award-winning digital casino infrastructure.
Immersive Luxury Table Games
The initial rollout features two high-gloss table games designed to provide players with an “immersive, lifestyle-driven” experience that mirrors the sophistication of the FashionTV brand.
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FashionTV Blackjack: A premium take on the casino classic, featuring refined visual assets and high-end production values.
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FashionTV Roulette: A sleek, stylized version of the iconic wheel, bringing a “fashion-forward” energy to every spin.
The titles are currently live in Michigan, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, with a wider rollout planned for all jurisdictions where BetMGM Casino is active.
Strategic Vision and 2026 Roadmap
For BetMGM, the partnership is part of a broader “branded content” strategy that includes previous successes with major TV and movie franchises.
“At BetMGM, we have redefined what it means to deliver entertainment in iGaming,” said Oliver Bartlett, VP of Gaming at BetMGM. “By partnering with FashionTV Gaming Group, we’re creating experiences that go beyond gameplay and connect players to the brands they love.”
Moshe Cohen, Founder & President of FashionTV Gaming Group, added: “BetMGM’s leadership and scale make them the perfect partner to transform our vision into a North American success story.”
Looking ahead, BetMGM has confirmed that additional FashionTV-branded titles—including slots and potentially live dealer variants—will be released throughout 2026 as part of an expanding content pipeline.
The post BetMGM and FashionTV Gaming Group Bring Luxury Lifestyle to North American iGaming appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Brazil Betting Law
2026 iGaming Regulatory Roadmap: Key Compliance Deadlines
As the industry gathers for ICE Barcelona 2026, the regulatory landscape has shifted into a high-execution phase. The following roadmap outlines the critical compliance dates for three of the most influential markets currently undergoing major transitions: the United Kingdom, Brazil, and the Philippines.
| Date | Jurisdiction | Regulatory Milestone | Action Required for Operators/Suppliers |
| Jan 19, 2026 | United Kingdom | LCCP Social Responsibility Code 5.1.1 Update | Ban on Mixed-Product Incentives: Offers like “Bet £10, get 20 free spins” are now prohibited. Wagering Caps: Bonus wagering is capped at a maximum of 10x. |
| Jan 19-21, 2026 | Global / EMEA | ICE Barcelona 2026 | Flagship event for showcasing 2026 compliance technology and real-time auditing solutions. |
| Mar 19, 2026 | United Kingdom | LCCP Condition 15.2.1 Reporting | Key Event Reporting: Threshold for reporting operator status/shareholder changes raised from 3% to 5%. All loans must be reported regardless of written agreements. |
| Mar 31, 2026 | Philippines | PAGCOR B2B Accreditation Deadline | Final Compliance Date: All B2B providers (studios, aggregators, affiliates) must be accredited. Unaccredited foreign content will be blocked from licensed platforms. |
| Apr 6, 2026 | United Kingdom | DMCC Act 2024 Alignment | Fair & Transparent Terms: Consumer Protection regulations replaced by the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024. Terms must align with new definitions of “misleading actions.” |
| June 30, 2026 | United Kingdom | RTS 12 (Financial Limits) | Technical changes to Remote Technical Standards (RTS) regarding how customers set and view financial limits on their accounts. |
| H2 2026 | Brazil | Betting Deposit Tax Vote | Proposed 15% tax on gambling deposits is expected to return to the Senate for a final vote after being pushed back in late 2025. |
Regional Deep Dive: Strategic Compliance
1. United Kingdom: The “Safety & Simplicity” Era
The UKGC’s January 19th update is the most immediate challenge for marketing teams. By decoupling sports betting from casino bonuses, the regulator aims to reduce “cross-product friction” that could lead to unintended gambling harm.
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Strategy: Pivot toward product-specific loyalty programs (e.g., “Bet £10 on Football, Get a £5 Free Bet”) to maintain compliance while driving retention.
2. Brazil: Sustaining the .bet.br Ecosystem
Following the January 1, 2025 launch of the regulated market, 2026 is about operational maturity. The focus has shifted to the mandatory use of the .bet.br domain and rigorous AML/KYC reporting to the Secretariat of Awards and Betting (SPA).
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Strategy: Ensure all advertising features the mandatory license logo and that all protagonists in marketing materials are visibly over 21 years of age.
3. Philippines: The B2B Supply Chain Lockdown
PAGCOR’s new framework is a move to professionalize the region, mirroring the supplier-licensing models seen in Ontario and Malta.
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Strategy: Foreign studios that missed the December 2025 “early bird” three-year accreditation window must expedite their applications before March 31st to avoid a total blackout on Filipino-facing sites.
The post 2026 iGaming Regulatory Roadmap: Key Compliance Deadlines appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
AI in Gambling
2026 iGaming Outlook: Regulation, AI Personalization, and the Return of “Originals”
The iGaming industry has officially entered a new era of discipline. As we move through the first quarter of 2026, the “wild west” growth of previous years has been replaced by a focus on sustainability, hyper-localization, and AI-driven player protection. From the finalization of the PROGA framework in India to the massive turnover records set by World Pool, the market is no longer just growing—it is maturing.
The Rise of “Explainable AI” in Player Retention
In 2026, AI has moved beyond simple game recommendations. Leading operators are now utilizing “Explainable AI” (XAI) to bridge the gap between engagement and compliance. Unlike traditional “black box” algorithms, XAI allows operators to understand why a player is being flagged for risky behavior or why a specific loyalty nudge was triggered.
This transparency is critical for maintaining trust in highly regulated markets like the UK and Ontario, where the UKGC’s 2026 Social Responsibility updates now demand more rigorous evidence of proactive player interaction.
“Originals” and the Rebirth of Video Poker
While high-volatility slots like Joker’s Jewels Hold & Spin
continue to dominate headlines, a significant shift is occurring in the “non-slots” vertical.
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The PowerPoker
Revolution: Strategic partnerships, such as the recent QTech Games and Speedy Tomatoes deal, are revitalizing video poker. By adding features like “Swap-A-Card,” these games are capturing high-value player segments who prioritize skill and strategy. -
Branded Originals: Platforms like MINT are proving that “Originals” (Mines, Crash, and Plinko) are no longer secondary products. Fully brandable house games are now a core foundation for crypto-first and Web3 operators, driving session frequency through provably fair mechanics.
Brazil and Ontario: The Battle for Market Supremacy
The geographic focus for 2026 remains firmly on Brazil and Ontario.
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Brazil’s Advertising Evolution: With the newly regulated market in full swing, groups like Esportes Gaming Brasil joining IAB Brasil signal a shift toward responsible communication. Advertising is now a tool for helping consumers identify licensed platforms, moving away from aggressive acquisition tactics.
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Ontario’s Content War: The region has become North America’s most dynamic hub. Agreements like the Peter & Sons and Casino Time deal highlight the demand for “indie-inspired” content that stands out in a saturated market.
Conclusion: The “Champion Mindset” for 2026
Success this year isn’t about volume; it’s about coherence. As highlighted by GR8 Tech’s “Champions Club” initiative for ICE Barcelona, the operators winning in 2026 are those who treat technology as a performance ecosystem. By aligning real-time data with compliant storytelling, brands are finding that “trust” is the most valuable currency in the modern iGaming world.
The post 2026 iGaming Outlook: Regulation, AI Personalization, and the Return of “Originals” appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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