Latest News
A New Star Is Born: Ukraine’s Role in the Future of the CIS and Eastern European Markets
International betting and gaming industry event organizer SBC launches a brand new in-person conference and exhibition for the CIS and Eastern European markets. Presented by Parimatch, SBC Summit CIS brings together regional market leaders, national state authorities, and international partners to discuss the future development of the region.
Holding an event of this magnitude in Kyiv confirms Ukraine is becoming a significant new player on the gambling industry map. On the summit panels, state authorities and business representatives discussed the prospects for the region’s development as a gaming hub for Eastern Europe and the increased interest in the Ukrainian market from global players.
The participation of the Olympic gold medal-winner and First Deputy Head of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Youth and Sports, Zhan Beleniuk, who opened the summit, served as a powerful reminder of the strong connection between sport, government, and the entertainment industry.
Oleksiy Kucher, Head of Executive Body, State Regulatory Agency of Ukraine:
“It’s our firm position that regulation needs to be simple, transparent, and understandable for business. The state approves such a positive goal as the step out from the shadow of the gambling business, but it can fail at the stage of implementation. If we do not regulate relations between clients, businesses, and regulators, gambling may step into the shadows again. We do not want this, and we will not let it happen. Gambling in Ukraine is doing well now, and it will be even more accessible, so keep it up and develop.”
Besides the latest developments in Ukraine, the conference sees renowned expert speakers examine the scale of the opportunities in other markets in the region and the potential impact of the latest technological developments that will filter through into next-generation iGaming products, and how could we forget the region’s leading suppliers who came to demonstrate their latest innovations.
Maksym Liashko, co-CEO at Parimatch Tech, said:
“The legalization of the market has opened up many opportunities for the development of the industry, attracting international capital and benefits for the state. The betting and gaming industry brings innovative technologies, high-tech jobs, and increasing technical expertise among Ukrainian specialists, thanks to the legalization. Proof of this was evident in the showcases presented at the exhibition. And this is just the beginning of Ukraine unleashing its potential.”
Another integral part of the in-person SBC Summit CIS was responsible gambling. The development of responsible gambling became essential in Ukraine to establish a legal market and comply with international industry standards.
Paul Dent, Gambling Therapy Manager:
“Gambling Therapy is very pleased to be working in partnership with Parimatch, the first of its kind in Ukraine to develop and progress more responsible gambling. Through Gambling Therapy, an online and international service offered by Gordon Moody, we will be offering free practical and emotional support to those struggling with gambling as well as supporting affected others. This will take the form of a helpline available in Ukrainian and Russian with access to highly experienced counselors, along with native-speaking groups and forums available 24 hours a day.”
Rostyslav Maikovich, Chief Analytics Officer, leader of the Parimatch’s Responsible Gambling Project:
“Responsible gaming is a significant part of Parimatch’s business development and caring for customers. We take experiences from successful world practices and European countries in this area: Parimatch’s Responsible Gambling Project is being implemented in development, analytics, and communications with clients. For example, the absolute world heavyweight boxing champion and gold medal-winner of the 2012 Olympics, Oleksandr Usyk, joins Parimatch brand as the Responsible Gambling ambassador. Oleksandr helps us to highlight the values of responsible gambling to audiences around the world.”
Powered by WPeMatico
Agreggator
Alea expands global content offering through partnership with FAZI
The leading iGaming aggregator Alea has announced a new partnership with FAZI, the internationally recognized gaming provider with more than 30 years of experience delivering casino entertainment across more than 60 markets worldwide.
Through this collaboration, FAZI’s portfolio of nearly 300 games will become available to Alea’s global operator network through a single API integration, supporting the company’s expansion across regulated markets in Latin America, Africa, and Europe.
The agreement brings a selection of FAZI’s best-performing titles to the Alea platform, including Wild Hot 40, Golden Crown, Wild Hot 40 Free Spins, Very Hot 5, and Wild Hot 40 Blow.
“We’re happy to welcome FAZI to the Alea platform,” said Eduard Verdaguer, Partnerships Manager at Alea.
“They have a strong portfolio with games that already perform well in different markets, and we’re looking forward to making their content available to our operators.”
“Alea’s strong operator network makes them a valuable partner in scaling our distribution globally,” said Bojan Mitic, CEO of FAZI.
“This collaboration allows us to reach new markets more efficiently and strengthen our position across key regions.”
The partnership further expands the range of content available through Alea’s aggregation platform, giving operators access to a wider variety of games through a single integration while continuing to simplify distribution across global markets.
Alea
Alea is a leading iGaming aggregator, offering a customizable platform that provides operators worldwide with seamless access to over 23,000 games from 170+ top-tier providers through a single API integration.
Known for its innovative technology, Alea simplifies the integration journey and delivers a flexible, scalable solution designed to enhance game variety, player experience, and operational efficiency.
Alea is highly committed to a security-first infrastructure, ensuring reliability and trust at every level.
In addition to game aggregation, Alea has introduced Alea Pay, an exclusive payment gateway that further optimizes financial transactions.
With a strong focus on security, compliance, and ongoing support, Alea continues to empower operators with cutting-edge tools to thrive in the evolving iGaming market.
The post Alea expands global content offering through partnership with FAZI appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
fintech
Yaspa appoints US fintech and gaming veteran Justin Fears as US Sales Director
Yaspa, a leading fintech specialising in payments and identity solutions, today announced the appointment of Justin Fears as US Director, Enterprise Sales.
Fears joins the company during a period of rapid international expansion and will lead Yaspa’s strategic commercial growth across North America.
Based out of Yaspa’s Atlanta office, Fears will be responsible for supporting Yaspa’s expansion throughout North America, helping gaming operators modernise payment experiences through real-time bank payments, intelligent transaction solutions, and next-generation payment innovation.
He will work closely with Yaspa’s recently bolstered US and global commercial leadership teams to scale strategic partnerships and market adoption.
Fears brings more than 18 years of specialised experience spanning payments, fintech, SaaS, and AML compliance specific to the gaming industry.
Throughout his career, he has built a reputation for aligning emerging technologies with practical commercial outcomes.
Prior to joining Yaspa, Fears held senior leadership positions at prominent industry organisations including Kinectify, First Data Corporation, Glory Global Solutions, DiTronics Financial Services, NEXGEN Technology, and CASINOMONEY.
Notably, at Kinectify, he played a key role in expanding the adoption of AI-driven AML and KYC solutions purpose-built for the casino industry. Fears is also a veteran of the United States Air Force.
James Neville, CEO of Yaspa, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Justin to the team as we accelerate our footprint in the US market.
His deep operational understanding of gaming-focused financial infrastructure, compliance technologies, and enterprise sales leadership makes him an incredible asset.
Justin’s appointment further strengthens our local team and underscores our commitment to helping North American operators lower costs, reduce fraud, and elevate the player experience through open banking.”
Fears said: “I’m excited to join Yaspa at such an important stage in the company’s growth journey.
The combination of open banking, innovative payment solutions, and intelligent transaction data represents a significant opportunity within the US iGaming market, particularly as operators continue to prioritise player experience, fraud reduction, and payment efficiency.
Yaspa has built an innovative platform uniquely positioned to support the evolving needs of regulated operators, and I look forward to helping expand the company’s presence and strategic partnerships across the US.”
In the last 12 months, Yaspa was named winner of the Real-Time Payments Innovation award at the 2025 Payments Awards and one of the CB Insights Top 100 Fintechs, a global ranking that spotlights the most promising and innovative companies shaping the future of financial services.
This comes during a period of sustained growth for Yaspa in the past 18 months and closed a $12m investment round in July, led by Discerning Capital.
This growth has culminated in the opening of its new Atlanta office in the US, as well as the opening of its tech hub in Leeds, UK, in August 2025.
The post Yaspa appoints US fintech and gaming veteran Justin Fears as US Sales Director appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
Casino Content
Habanero launches Nuwa Deluxe slot with variable paylines and two-tier free spins
Habanero has launched Nuwa Deluxe, a 5×3 slot themed around Chinese mythology. The game introduces a variable payline system and a progression-style Free Games feature that can unlock a second-tier bonus, according to the supplier.
In the base game, paylines can upgrade at random on any spin, moving from 28 to 38, 58 or 88 active lines. The title also includes expanding Wilds that cover the entire first and third reels.
During Free Games, players collect five element symbols. Completing the set during the round unlocks Super Free Games, where full-reel Wilds are guaranteed on two reels on every spin.
Habanero said Nuwa Deluxe supports its Jackpot Race
and Buy Feature. The launch follows recent releases Steampunk Plinko and Raiden Shogun.
Toni Karapetrov, Head of Corporate Communications at Habanero, commented: “Nuwa Deluxe is an exciting new release that boasts a variable payline system to keep engagement high at the base game, while the element collection mechanic in free spins gives players something to work towards beyond simply triggering the bonus.
“The Super Free Games tier is where the action really kicks in with guaranteed full-reel Wilds on every spin. It is another strong addition to our portfolio and one we expect to have a genuine impact with players.”
The post Habanero launches Nuwa Deluxe slot with variable paylines and two-tier free spins appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
-
iGaming industry5 days agoPragmatic Play Releases its Latest Slot Game “The Big Dog House”
-
Aphrodite Legends of Olympus™5 days agoInspired Expands Portfolio with Three New iGaming Slots: THE GREAT EGGSCAPE™, APHRODITE LEGENDS OF OLYMPUS™, GOLD FEVER MINE ALL MINE™
-
betting market5 days agoBiS Brasília brings together experts and authorities to discuss the future of Brazil’s betting market
-
Altenar6 days agoPhilippine Sportsbook ArenaPlus Selects Altenar as Technology Provider
-
Aviator Studio6 days agoAviator Studio marks another major win in São Paulo court
-
Aviator Studio6 days agoAviator Studio Achieves Major Legal Victory in São Paulo
-
AGLC5 days agoAlberta iGaming Corporation Appoints Dan Keene as its CEO
-
BetGames5 days agoWeekend Reels | Week 21: Slot Drops & Trends



