Latest News

Conclusion of the 4th Safer Gambling Week in Cyprus

Published

4 years ago

October 19, 2021

Reading Time: 3 minutes

The events and actions held during the 4^th Safer Gambling Week were completed in absolute success and remarkable public response. The organisation of the Safer Gambling Week (SGW) is part of National Betting Authority’s efforts to foster a culture of Safer Gambling and create the conditions for a safer environment for the players and the public. The Week was under the auspices of the Minister of Finance and was supported by more than 50 entities and both public and private organisations.

Through various activities held during the Week, various stakeholders, such as bookmakers, casino employees, players, vulnerable groups, and the public, had the opportunity to learn more about safer participation in gambling, as well as explore effective ways to deal with the risks associated with problem gambling.

As highlighted by the President of the NBA, Mrs. Ioanna Fiakkou, “the Safer Gambling Week, running for the 4^th consecutive year, has now been established as an open dialogue platform, through which, the National Betting Authority encourages discussions about safer gambling practices, with input from academics, experienced trainers, industry professionals and everyday people. Our goal, as the regulatory and supervisory authority of the betting industry in Cyprus, is to engage the whole society in this dialogue, in order to ensure that gambling will remain a fun activity, thus avoiding problematic and pathological behaviours among society”.

As assured by Mrs. Fiakkou, “NBA’s mission was, and remains, the effective regulation and sustainable development of the industry. A precondition for achieving this goal is the creation of appropriate and effective mechanisms to minimize the risks posed by the illegal market and problem gambling. To this end, we pay great importance to prevention and the creation of further safeguards for the players and society. The strategic cooperation with stakeholders for the development and implementation of policies, and initiatives that protect both players and the wider society, is an important factor to the achievement of the NBA’s goals”.

The 4^th Safer Gambling Week launched with the Safer Gambling Conference, in which over 25 international speakers from 10 different countries, mainly industry professionals, distinct academics and representatives from European regulatory authorities, shared their experiences and expertise. The Conference covered a wide spectrum of subjects related to Safer Gambling, while it was attended by over 300 people.

During the Safer Gambling Week, there were more than 25 events being held. The main activities, such as interactive events at universities all over Cyprus, awareness events at military camps and the interactive game “Keep the game safe quiz”, were focused on young people. As part of the quiz, participants were urged to test their knowledge about Safer Gambling in an entertaining way. Τhe Week’s schedule also included the opening of the Prevention and Treatment Centre “PHAROS” for the problem and pathological engagement in gambling, which is established in Limassol by the Cyprus Gaming and Casino Supervision Commission and the Cyprus National Addictions Authority.

Furthermore, seminars by trainers from Cyprus and from abroad were held for specific groups such as parents, teachers/educators, human resources managers and CEOs, the Authority’s regulated entities and their staff, and the licensed casino’s personnel as well. Indicatively, licensed bookmakers and their personnel, attended the “Safer Gambling and AML” seminar.

It is worth noting that, the information and awareness campaign of NBA also included all the football matches of the First Division championship, in collaboration with the Cyprus Football Association.

The Week concluded with the 3×3 basketball tournament “Keep the Ball safe”, in collaboration with the Cyprus Basketball Federation. Beyond the competing part, children and their parents had the opportunity to participate in entertaining activities, such as face painting and basketball game for children. The monetary prize won by the first two teams, will be given to the Europa Uomo association, which aims to raise awareness about prostate cancer.

iQOO S8UL

iQOO S8UL crowned champions of Rai Star x Gyan Gaming Cup, one of India’s largest MOBA Legends 5v5 tournaments

Published

23 minutes ago

February 19, 2026

Wladimir P.

iqoo-s8ul-crowned-champions-of-rai-star-x-gyan-gaming-cup,-one-of-india’s-largest-moba-legends-5v5-tournaments

iQOO S8UL, the MOBA Legends 5v5 team of S8UL Esports, emerged victorious at the Rai Star x Gyan Gaming Cup, one of India’s largest MOBA tournaments, with a nail-biting 4-3 win in the grand final held in Kolkata on February 18. The championship secured the team INR 12.5 lakh in prize money and reinforced S8UL Esports’ dominance in the Indian competitive MOBA scene.

The month-long tournament featured 1,024 teams in open qualifiers, culminating in a top-16 main event. Led by in-game leader Mohammad Saad (Apex), alongside Abhijeet Katkar (Abhi), Mehta Jay (J), Chirag Singh (Radium), Debasish Sana (Anti), and Joseph Nehhunjang (Kakarot), iQOO S8UL displayed remarkable composure and strategic execution throughout.

The team’s path to victory included:

Quarterfinals: 2-0 win over Megatron Esports (Bo3)
Semifinals: 3-1 victory over PEAK (Bo5)
Group A Finals: 4-0 sweep of Elusivity Esports (Bo7)
Grand Final: 4-3 triumph against Godlike Esports (Bo7)

Animesh Agarwal, Co-founder of S8UL Esports, commented: “This win is a testament to our long-term vision and structured support system for elite players. The Indian MOBA ecosystem is growing rapidly, and victories like this validate our investment in building top-tier lineups and nurturing talent.”

IGL Mohammad Saad (Apex) added: “The grand final was one of the most intense series we’ve played. This title belongs to everyone who believed in us.”

The victory strengthens S8UL Esports’ reputation as a leading Indian esports organization, highlighting its commitment to developing elite talent and elevating India’s presence in both national and global esports arenas.

The post iQOO S8UL crowned champions of Rai Star x Gyan Gaming Cup, one of India’s largest MOBA Legends 5v5 tournaments appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Latest News

PG Soft returns with dual sponsorship for SiGMA Africa 2026

Published

23 minutes ago

February 19, 2026

Wladimir P.

pg-soft-returns-with-dual-sponsorship-for-sigma-africa-2026

PG Soft, a leading mobile games developer, returns to SiGMA Africa 2026, taking place from March 3–5 at The Grand Arena, GrandWest Casino and Entertainment World in Cape Town, South Africa, with two high-profile sponsorships.

Africa remains a rapidly growing and increasingly savvy iGaming market, forming a key part of PG Soft’s long-term expansion strategy.

The HD Screen at Entrance Sponsorship puts PG Soft’s logo on giant screens next to registration, accompanied by a looped promotional video showcasing its diverse game portfolio to every attendee.

Meanwhile, the Registration Counter Sponsorship gives the brand prominent exposure at the start of the SiGMA experience, featuring full branding and two dedicated screens for maximum visibility.

The dual sponsorship underscores PG Soft’s commitment to the African iGaming market and its ongoing strategic growth in the region.

A PG Soft spokesperson said: “Africa continues to be an exciting frontier for iGaming innovation and growth. By sponsoring SiGMA Africa once again, we’re reaffirming our dedication to this vibrant market and our belief in its potential. We look forward to connecting with industry leaders and partners at one of the continent’s premier gaming events.”

The post PG Soft returns with dual sponsorship for SiGMA Africa 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Belatra

Rods at the ready for Belatra’s Ice Bass slot

Published

23 minutes ago

February 19, 2026

Wladimir P.

rods-at-the-ready-for-belatra’s-ice-bass-slot

Belatra, the innovative online slots developer, is back with the highly anticipated sequel to its hit Blast the Bass, introducing Ice Bass.

The familiar fisherman returns, swapping summer gear for a heavy-duty parka and an ice drill, ready to fish beneath a frozen lake for a maximum win of 5,000x. Each spin is accompanied by an energetic soundtrack that intensifies as players progress through the game’s new levels.

Fish icons represent both standard payline elements and credit symbols, with multipliers ranging from 2x to 1000x. The Fisherman-Wild, appearing exclusively in Free Games, collects all visible values on the screen, with multiple Fishermen multiplying the haul.

Players can unlock boosters during the pre-game fishing phase—triggered by three or more Scatters in Free Games—that add Fishermen, extra spins, or guaranteed Fish symbols. The round continues until the dreaded Old Boot is hooked, with the Booster panel stacking rewards and multipliers as the feature progresses.

Hot Mode, activated by five Scatters in the base game, immediately awards active multipliers and additional games. Players can increase Scatter frequency with the Bet +25% option or jump straight into Free Games or Hot Mode using the Buy Bonus feature.

Misha Voinich, Head of Business Development at Belatra, commented: “Get your winter gear ready for our slick new Ice Bass, a worthy follow-up to the much-loved Blast the Bass. We wanted to create a game that packs the same punch as the original but in a thrilling winter setting—and the team has delivered a game that’s scorching hot even below zero!”

The post Rods at the ready for Belatra’s Ice Bass slot appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.