Eastern Europe

Parimatch appoints Dmitry Sergeev to lead Eastern European expansion

Published

4 years ago

November 22, 2021

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Parimatch Russia (a franchise-based partner of Parimatch Tech) has announced its latest move as it eyes further rapid expansion across the CIS and Eastern European (CEE) Regions, with the appointment of Dmitry Sergeev.

Formerly CEO of Parimatch CIS, Sergeev will be tasked with developing the brand in Russia, as well as taking charge of Parimatch Tech’s franchise implementation as Parimatch Russia separates from Parimatch CIS to develop independently, effective at the start of next year.

As part of its separation, Sergeev will also take charge of Parimatch Russia’s expansion across the CEE region based on local betting licences.

Parimatch CIS will now be headed by Yuliya Leshkova, current Deputy CEO Parimatch Belarus, a key veteran of the company for almost a decade, with her appointment following a track record of consistent outstanding quarterly growth across the Belarusian market.

Despite the changes, no additional structural transformations of the Russian based arm of the company are expected to be announced.

Led by its current CEO Ruslan Medved, Parimatch Russia will aim to continue to target its recent legacy of outstanding growth across multiple sectors. More specific development plans for the Eastern European regions will be announced later next year.

Commenting on his appointment, Dmitry Sergeev, who will be responsible for the development of Russia and new regions in Eastern Europe, said:

“Russia represents a huge potential for future growth, and our continued expansion across the region increasingly demands more and more from each of us on the team, which I’m delighted to be leading.

“Our franchise-based development in the Eastern Europe is a new direction and will prove a highly ambitious challenge massive that both myself and our team will relish. Always dedicated to delivering the best, we will do our utmost to deliver upon the expectations of our shareholders and raise brand awareness in Europe.

“I appreciate the cooperation on the part of the holding and stand proud of the achievements we have earned together. Each of our CIS regional markets have evolved into a strong business unit demonstrating great financial performance and exponential growth. I wish all the best to Yuliya in her new role and will support and help her in every way possible.”

Already considered an established figure at Parimatch, Sergeev was appointed to Parimatch CIS in May 2020 as part of the brand’s business development ambitions across its core markets – with his leadership proving integral to the company’s closing of 2021 with its key goals met.

Under Sergeev’s leadership, Parimatch CIS has recorded exponential growth across its core markets, while simultaneously tripling the base of active players across all CIS regions where the brand is live.

With extensive experience across marketing, business development, and commercial growth, Sergeev was the founder of “Championat” in 2005, which is now considered one of the major sports media platforms across Russia and the CIS region.

Between 2016 and 2019 Sergeev played a crucial role in establishing Parimatch as the first international betting player on the Russian market, having previously served as CEO for bwin Russia. In 2019 and 2020 Dmitry Sergeev was ranked among the leading top managers in the Top 1000 Russian Managers, a rating organised by the Association of Managers and Kommersant Publishing House.

Recipient of multiple additional accolades, the international Bispo Awards presented awarded Sergeev Discovery of the Year award for his work with Parimatch CIS in 2020, and later that year MarSpo Awards rated him one of the top 100 sports industry managers. In 2021 Sport Business Awards acknowledged him as Manager of the Year.

Bragg Gaming Group

Bragg Rolls Out Premium Content Suite with Napoleon Romania

Published

4 days ago

November 7, 2025

Niji Narayan

bragg-rolls-out-premium-content-suite-with-napoleon-romania

Reading Time: < 1 minute

Bragg Gaming Group has expanded its reach in Eastern Europe with the launch of its premium content suite with Napoleon Romania.

The company took to social media to declare that the move, as well as strengthening its presence in Romania, “expands our already fantastic partnership with the Superbet Group brand.”

“Napoleon Romania players now have access to a rich portfolio of Bragg’s exclusive online casino content and aggregated online casino content, featuring hit titles like Golden Gal’s Cash Towers, Almighty Pegasus and Big Roar. We’re also celebrating the launch of fan-favourite Royal Seven Deluxe,” the company commented.

The company particularly singled out Linda Zaumane, head of account management and Neill Whyte, Bragg’s chief commercial officer for thanks.

“Their hard work and leadership were instrumental in securing and executing this important launch!”

The post Bragg Rolls Out Premium Content Suite with Napoleon Romania appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Compliance Updates

Romania Bans Polymarket Over Illegal Cryptocurrency Betting Activities

Published

1 week ago

November 4, 2025

Niji Narayan

romania-bans-polymarket-over-illegal-cryptocurrency-betting-activities

Reading Time: < 1 minute

Romania’s National Office for Gambling (ONJN) has officially blacklisted Polymarket, a prominent prediction market that allows users to bet on future events, citing its operation as an unlicensed gambling platform. The decision comes amid heightened concerns over crypto-based betting during recent election cycles, where Polymarket reportedly saw trading volumes surpassing $600 million.

ONJN asserts that Polymarket’s “counterpart betting” model – where users wager against each other on future outcomes – falls squarely within the scope of Romanian gambling regulations. The regulator clarified that regardless of whether bets are placed using fiat currency or cryptocurrencies, they are legal gambling activities that require appropriate licensing. ONJN President Vlad-Cristian Soare emphasised that the issue is about compliance with the law, not technology, stating, “It’s about the law, not the platform’s blockchain foundation.”

Although Polymarket promotes itself as an “event trading” platform, ONJN concluded that its operational structure – where users place bets on the outcomes of unpredictable events and the platform earns commissions – meets the legal criteria of gambling. Consequently, Romanian internet providers are now mandated to block access to the platform.

The post Romania Bans Polymarket Over Illegal Cryptocurrency Betting Activities appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Eastern Europe

Soft2Bet Unveils Romania’s First Social Media-Inspired Casino and Betting Platform

Published

1 month ago

October 6, 2025

George Miller

soft2bet-unveils-romania’s-first-social-media-inspired-casino-and-betting-platform

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Soft2Bet has launched Swiper, Romania’s first online casino built around the swipe-driven design of social media apps. Designed for mobile users, Swiper blends intuitive navigation with casino gaming, making it easy for players to browse, choose, and enjoy thousands of titles with a simple swipe.

The product embraces a rising trend that brings together the best of casino entertainment and mobile gaming dynamics — fast, engaging, and tailored to today’s digital habits. At the heart of the project is short-form video content, a format familiar to all mobile users, which enhances interactivity and keeps the experience dynamic and immersive.

With over 75% of global users engaging with mobile applications for entertainment, Swiper meets players where they already are. Its interactive interface replicates intuitive gestures from known social apps, enabling users to effortlessly explore and customize their gaming universe, while the design caters to the mobile-native generation and reflects a keen awareness of evolving digital user behavior.

Fully powered by Soft2Bet’s proprietary MEGA (Motivational Engineering Gaming Application) technology, Swiper redefines user engagement, creating immersive, personalised interactions with every swipe. MEGA, developed entirely in-house by Soft2Bet, represents an independent and innovative technology dedicated to enhancing traditional gaming experiences with missions, challenges, and quests that encourage players to stay engaged for longer, increasing screen time and LTV.

The launch in the Romanian market builds upon Soft2Bet’s recent success with Don.Ro, a brand that was recently recognised as the “Best Launch of the Year 2024” at the 12th Meeting of Gambling Professionals by Casino Inside magazine. Leveraging the same powerful technology stack that propelled Don.Ro to prominence, Soft2Bet again demonstrates how its platform excellence consistently translates into compelling new market entries.

“As a leader in the iGaming industry, we know how to build strong brands, understand what our players truly want, and deliver products that resonate,” highlighted Yoel Zuckerberg, Chief Product Officer at Soft2Bet. “Our B2C launches serve as proof of concept for the strength of our technology, data-driven insights, and market knowledge. Swiper is a clear example of this approach in action, offering a standout experience tailored to Romanian players.”

Swiper introduces several key features to local players :

One-handed swipe navigation for rapid game discovery
Over 3000 Games, 50 Roulette tables, 120 Blackjack tables, table games, and live casino offerings
Over 85,000 live and 70,000 pre-match sports betting events covering diverse sports markets with competitive odds
Localised promotions tied directly to Romanian events and holidays
The design is adapted to local player preferences and cultural context

Zuckerberg further commented, “Customer experience is our top priority. We know what today’s players want—they value speed, simplicity, and familiarity. With Swiper’s social approach, we’re excited to see how this fresh UI/UX impacts engagement and loyalty.”

Operating under a Class I licence from Romania’s National Gambling Office (ONJN), Swiper, powered by Soft2Bet’s expertise across 19 licences and 11 jurisdictions, guarantees a regulated, safe, and responsible gaming environment that meets stringent international standards. This strong regulatory foundation not only builds credibility for Swiper but also reflects Soft2Bet’s commitment to redefining modern gaming through scalable, innovative, data-driven solutions that enhance player retention across regulated markets, as evidenced by the success of brands like Betinia, CampoBet, QuickCasino, Don.ro, ElaBet, ToonieBet and others.

Launch video: