Africa
MERKUR sun shines over the roof of Africa
Gauselmann employees from Serbia climb Kilimanjaro
To experience the sunrise from the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro: this was the goal of four employees from Gauselmann subsidiary MERKUR Games d.o.o., which consolidates the Group’s activities in Serbia. During a six-day expedition, together with ten other adventurers, they climbed the highest mountain on the African continent – to be rewarded with a breathtaking view from Uhuru Peak, at 5,895 metres above sea level.
“It was an incredible battle of wills, with the forces of nature, patience and our own endurance,” says Branko Kokir, Managing Director at MERKUR Games d.o.o. and initiator of the expedition, looking back on the feat. Climbing for six to eight hours, the team covered ten kilometres on foot and overcame a difference in altitude of 1,000 metres each day. From grasslands, alpine meadows and tropical rainforests, moorlands and desert plateaus, to snow- and ice-covered regions: day by day, the team pressed onward through different climatic zones in their quest to reach the summit of Kilimanjaro. At an altitude of 4,700 metres above sea level, the adventurers set off on the final leg: the ascent to Uhuru Peak. In the final nighttime push, the team covered 5.8 kilometres in 7.5 hours before reaching the cross on the summit in time for sunrise just before 7 a.m. and proudly displaying a flag with the MERKUR sun symbol over Uhuru Peak.
A cameraman who documented the expedition with his camera and interviews was also part of the 14-member team. The material is being broadcast in six 30-minute episodes on “Sport Klub”, the leading sports channel in the Balkans. The MERKUR sun also features as a faithful companion on the trek to Africa’s highest peak: during the entire journey, the team members wore T-shirts, sew-on badges, caps and carried flags. The local population was thrilled to be given T-shirts and footballs with the MERKUR sun as a gift from the Gauselmann Group. “Climbing Kilimanjaro is a remarkable feat of will. I am immensely proud that our Serbian employees took the MERKUR sun along for the trip and shone it over the roof of Africa,” says company founder and Chairman of the Management Board Paul Gauselmann.
The Gauselmann Group is represented in Serbia by its MERKUR Games d.o.o. subsidiary. The company opened the first gaming arcade there in 2012 under the MERKUR Automat Klub brand. In 2017, business activities in the Serbian market were systematically expanded through strategic partnerships. With a 50 per cent equity holding respectively in the two companies Balkan Bet and MERKUR Xtip, the Gauselmann Group is optimally positioned with some 140 land-based venues as well as online in the Serbian Republic.
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Africa
QTech Games launches more fast-paced content from Shacks Evolution Studios for Africa
QTech Games, the leading game aggregator for all emerging markets, has signed its latest supplier partnership with global B2B content developer and provider Shacks Evolution Studios, enabling its platform customers to access the supplier’s expansive catalogue. The portfolio is specifically tailored for Africa, featuring an array of instant-win, crash, and virtuals content.
Shacks Evolution Studios was founded in 2021, and is dedicated to delivering localized quality casino content for African and other previously untapped international markets. Styling itself as Africa’s first iGaming studio, the supplier’s content is carefully curated and developed, with a strategic outlook to surmount barriers to entry such as local languages, currencies, low end phones or latency issues.
Popular hits include crash games like Busly or Matatu, virtuals like Penaldo, wheel games such as Reel Wheel or Spin The Bottle, instant games like Coin Toss, and leading mines game Citadel, alongside more traditional table games. These titles are light and fast to load, providing a ready solution to overcoming local obstacles to engagement in emerging markets, such as handset quality limitations, restricted access to fast networks, and high data costs.
This breakthrough announcement with QTech now affords the supplier wider reach across Africa’s emerging markets, where QTech has already staked multiple jurisdictional flags, and beyond. In turn, incorporating this ever-evolving production line emphasizes QTech Games’ diverse range of gaming options, providing a definitive one-stop shop, which has fast become the “go-to” solution for operators across the ripening African marketplace.
As the fastest-growing aggregator over the past few years, QTech’s platform offers the most expansive gaming portfolio around, localised for each region, with native mobile apps, powerful reporting and marketing tools, and 24/7 local-language support.
QTech Games CEO, Philip Doftvik, said: “We’re committed to rolling out more and more high-class content for Africa, and this exciting new deal with Shacks Evolution Studios showcases an agile array of content which solves for fine-grained, local requirements in countries where light, rapid-load games are a must.
“Being local is always vital, and it’s a domain of igaming activity in which QTech excels. In high-growth regions like Africa, content diversity matters enormously because player demand evolves very quickly — and it’s also shaped by local realities such as mobile usage, data costs, device types, and payment preferences.
“From what we’ve observed in Africa to date, localised design drives player behaviour when it comes to: familiar mechanics reducing friction and increasing adoption; local themes and culturally relevant formats significantly lifting engagement; and faster game cycles increasing repeat play among younger cohorts. And Shacks Evolution Studios’ varied content embodies these requirements.”
Esther Osifo, Growth and Operations Manager at Shacks Evolution Studios, added: “Shacks is all about giving promising African developers the chance to shine. It’s about building a full ecosystem from virtuals and crash games to homegrown titles that defines Africa’s ascendant position on the igaming map.
“QTech’s platform is a gateway to fresh audiences, and nowhere does that apply more in Africa, where they are already a mature player. We can’t wait to see how our highly engaging games perform for a host of new local operators, including both established and challenger brands.”
The post QTech Games launches more fast-paced content from Shacks Evolution Studios for Africa appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Africa
Virgin Bet goes live in South Africa
Virgin Bet is excited to reveal the start of its operations in South Africa, signifying the brand’s inaugural expansion beyond the UK.
Launching in 2019, Virgin Bet has developed into a top betting brand in the UK. Its expansion into the South African market signifies a significant milestone in the brand’s development, marking its debut in an international market.
Virgin Bet operates under LiveScore Group, a worldwide frontrunner in sports media and betting, which includes renowned brands such as LiveScore, LiveScore Bet, and Virgin Bet. The introduction in South Africa enhances the company’s presence in Africa, expanding on LiveScore Bet’s current operations in Nigeria.
Responsible gambling is fundamental to the virginbet.co.za platform, prioritizing player wellbeing as a key element. The brand provides an extensive array of responsible gambling resources, such as deposit caps, time-outs, and self-exclusion choices for every customer, along with strict age verification measures. Dedicated local customer support teams back these measures, and additional initiatives are set for South Africa to promote safer gambling, aligning with Virgin Bet’s overall corporate social responsibility (CSR) commitments.
Ahead of its launch, Virgin Bet has been consistently forming a robust local leadership team to assist its long-term goals in South Africa, featuring Gail Odgers, recognized as one of iGaming South Africa’s most “influential women in gaming,” as the Head of Marketing.
Virgin Bet is driven by its brand mission, “A Good Bet,” signifying that every wager should be thrilling and beneficial regardless of the result, as players maintain control and gamble responsibly.
Virgin Bet is dedicated to providing its customers with outstanding rewards. Spanning from wagering promotions to unique deals within the broader Virgin ecosystem, the brand seeks to provide exceptional experiences while keeping betting enjoyable and secure.
Gail Odgers, Head of Marketing, Virgin Bet South Africa, said: “Launching in South Africa is a proud moment for us. At Virgin Bet, we believe that ‘A Good Bet’ means delivering standout experiences for our customers, while also taking our responsibility to players and communities seriously.
South Africans care deeply about sport. Whether it’s football, rugby or cricket, sport is part of everyday conversation. That passion is what makes this market so exciting for us.
Our role is to enhance that experience responsibly, offering standout moments and exceptional rewards, while setting a high standard for responsible gambling from day one. We’re focused on building trust and introducing Virgin Bet in a way that South Africans can feel confident in.”
The post Virgin Bet goes live in South Africa appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
40 Sparkling Crown
TaDa Gaming Enters South Africa via Strategic Betway Partnership
TaDa Gaming marks its entry into the South African iGaming market through a landmark partnership with Betway, bringing premium casino content to local players.
With slots tailored for the SA market, Betway players will have immediate access to releases including Crazy 777, Coin Tree, 40 Sparkling Crown, Devil Fire 2 and Rapid Gems 777 as well as the Fortune Gems series. Distribution is through Light & Wonder Inc.
TaDa is renowned for attracting new and younger demographics with its immersive content. As winner of the SiGMA Africa Slot Newcomer of the Year, 2025, all games are expertly localised and mobile first for lightweight deployment and swift loading times, a critical factor for success.
Taking a glocalised approach has enabled TaDa to build a transnational brand across the continent for delivering scalable, regulated business success in emerging and high growth countries.
This experience gained from operating in over 15 countries including Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Uganda and Tanzania makes TaDa a valuable partner in South Africa, a key destination for the ambitious content provider.
Ray Lee, Director of Business Development at TaDa Gaming, said: “Building our brand for immersive and tailored gaming in South Africa has been enhanced through securing collaborations with key operators like Betway. We are delighted to be working together to deliver new and exciting experiences for players across the SA market.”
The post TaDa Gaming Enters South Africa via Strategic Betway Partnership appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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