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Casinomeister Awards 2021 Announced
This morning the online casino awards that matter, the 2021 Casinomeister Awards have been announced and there are some worthy winners, who no doubt will be popping the champagne corks, celebrating their recognition as some of the best operators in iGaming.
Released a little bit later in the year compared to years gone by, thanks in part to the conference season being put back due to the global pandemic, with the Casinomeister Awards usually having by now been announced just prior to the now rescheduled ICE London event, which is held in London usually every February.
Running since 2001, the annual Casinomeister Awards recognise the best and worst of online casinos and online gambling. Whereby these awards unlike many others out there in cyberspace are graciously received by operators and individuals alike, as they are not swayed by advertising dollars. In short, the Casinomeister Awards matter!
Best Casino 2021 – Bitstarz
The coveted Best Casino 2021 ‘gong’ goes to Bitstarz with Casinomeister Director Bryan Bailey stating: “Personally, it gives me great pleasure to give kudos to work well done. I have watched them grow over the years, and I have to admit that I was sceptical of any casino that was focused on bitcoins and cyber currencies a few years ago.”
Accredited back in 2018, Bitstarz have continued to receive solid reviews from the forum community on Casinomeister, which led them to receiving 2020’s ‘Best Customer Service’ award. The addition of the Best Casino 2021 award is a further demonstration of how far they have come since launching in the Spring of 2014.
You are Legends!
The Legend Group of Casinos which features the likes of CasinoMax and Roaring 21 have had bestowed on them the Best Casino Group 2021 award. With Bailey stating: “They are clearly the best casino group available to players.”
The award of Best Casino Group 2021 follows past Casinomeister awards made to the Legend Group of Casinos, who in 2018 were awarded the Best Affiliate Program.
Additionally, the casino management team headed up by Karolina were cited as being some of the best in the iGaming industry. With Karolina herself having won in the past the Best Casino Manager award back in 2014 and 2015.
Another feature of the Casinomeister Awards are those handed out to operators who fall markedly short of what is expected of them.
However, due to the current situation unfolding in Ukraine, Bailey took the decision to remove many of them from this year’s awards, due to many of their employees being directly affected by events there.
Bailey in explaining his reasoning behind this move, said: “I feel that it is inappropriate to be ragging on and poking fun at these entities due to the current situation there.”
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celebrity-partnerships
Pascal Gaming signs Ronaldinho for football-themed crash and slot titles
First release is Avinho R10, followed by June launch Fortune Ronaldinho as the studio lines up more titles ahead of the World Cup season.
Pascal Gaming has partnered with Brazilian football player Ronaldinho to launch a dedicated portfolio of games inspired by the athlete, the company said on 26 May, 2026.
The planned pipeline includes crash games, slots and additional titles set to roll out through the year. Pascal Gaming said the initiative is aimed at both Brazil and international markets, and will be supported by tournaments, promotional activity and special events tied to the Ronaldinho-branded portfolio.
The first game confirmed is Avinho R10, described as a crash-style title featuring Ronaldinho “above Brazil” in an aviation-themed experience. A second game, Fortune Ronaldinho, is scheduled for release in June and is positioned as a slot-inspired title.
“Ronaldinho is one of the most recognisable and loved football personalities in the world, so for us this collaboration is much more than a game launch. It is a global entertainment project that combines football culture, emotionally engaging gameplay and strong promotional activities ahead of the World Cup,” said Armen Mnaskanian, Head of Sales at SoftConstruct Gaming Content.
Pascal Gaming said it has been expanding its crash game portfolio during 2026 and investing in localised, character-driven content across Latin America, Africa and Asia. The company added that more Ronaldinho-themed titles and marketing campaigns will be revealed in the coming months.
The post Pascal Gaming signs Ronaldinho for football-themed crash and slot titles appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
brand-marketing
Duelbits signs Justin Gaethje for branded content ahead of UFC Freedom 250
The JUSTIN2026 campaign was shot in Denver and rolls out over four weeks ahead of the 14 June event at the White House.
Duelbits has launched a branded content campaign with UFC interim Lightweight Champion Justin Gaethje, timed to UFC Freedom 250 at the White House on Saturday 14th June.
The campaign, branded JUSTIN2026, was shot on location in Denver, Colorado by UK-based creative agency YRDS. Duelbits said the content is designed as a “premium, cinematic series” and will roll out in phases over the next four weeks, peaking on event day.
According to the company, the campaign was planned before UFC Freedom was officially confirmed. Duelbits framed the early commitment as part of a strategy to move faster than traditional sportsbooks around major cultural moments.
“We didn’t want to create another sportsbook promo,” said Jasper Hoekert, Chief Marketing Officer at Duelbits. “We wanted to create something that combat sports fans want to watch, content built around Justin’s authenticity and intensity, not just his fight record. We were planning this before the White House event was even officially confirmed. When you believe in the magnitude of a moment, you don’t wait for permission to act on it.”
“Duelbits came to me with a vision, not just a brief,” said Gaethje. “They wanted to create something that reflected the reality of what I do and who I am, with no smoke and mirrors. When a brand shows up with that kind of conviction and creative ambition, you back it. This campaign is going to be something people remember.”
The post Duelbits signs Justin Gaethje for branded content ahead of UFC Freedom 250 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Belgium
PokerStars Open Namur returns May 27 with €1m guaranteed Main Event
Belgium stop at Circus Casino Resort Namur runs May 27–June 7 and adds PokerStars Live League points toward a €157,500 credit pool.
PokerStars will bring PokerStars Open Namur back to Circus Casino Resort Namur from May 27 to June 7, with the festival returning one day after the operator’s May 26 announcement.
The stop follows a 2025 edition PokerStars said was record-breaking for Belgium, including 1,571 entries in the Main Event and what it called the largest live tournament prize pool in Belgian poker history.
This year’s schedule is headlined by the €1,100 PokerStars Open Main Event, which carries a €1,000,000 guaranteed prize pool. Other listed highlights include the €400 PokerStars Open Cup (May 27-31), €3,300 Super High Roller (June 1-2), €2,200 High Roller (June 5-6), and €800 Mystery Bounty (June 6-7).
“Last year’s turnout reinforced Namur’s place as one of the most exciting live poker stops in Europe,” said Cedric Billot, Associate Director of Live Events Operations at PokerStars. “What makes the event special isn’t just the size of the fields, it’s the atmosphere around the entire festival.”
PokerStars also positioned Namur as a scoring stop in the PokerStars Live League, which awards points across High, Medium and Low leaderboard tiers. PokerStars said players are competing for a share of €157,500 in PokerStars LIVE event credit, with the top 30 players in each tier qualifying for a €100,000 freeroll at the first European Poker Tour festival of 2027.
The post PokerStars Open Namur returns May 27 with €1m guaranteed Main Event appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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