Latest News
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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asia-pacific
Groove shortlisted for Best Aggregator at SiGMA Asia Awards 2026
Groove has been named a finalist for Best Aggregator 2026 at the SiGMA Asia Awards, with the ceremony scheduled for 2 June 2026 at the SMX Convention Centre Manila during the SiGMA Asia Summit.
The shortlist was announced by Global Gaming Insider, according to the company. Groove said its platform aggregates more than 15,000 games from over 150 providers via a single API.
Giusy Campo, Business Development Director at Groove, said: “This shortlist is external recognition of a truth we already feel internally: Groove is moving at a different pace. Asia is not a single market, it is a collection of distinct regulatory environments, player behaviours, and partnership opportunities”
Campo added: “Our platform is built to respect that complexity, not smooth it over. Being named a finalist for Best Aggregator tells us that our approach; deep integration, localised content strategies, and commercial precision; is resonating with the operators who matter most in this region. We are not just bringing games to Asia. We are bringing a roadmap for sustainable growth.”
Yahale Meltzer, Co-Founder and CEO of Groove, said: “The aggregation space is crowded. Differentiation is everything. This nomination confirms that our vision, transforming aggregation from a commodity into a strategic growth discipline, is taking hold.” He added: “Operators across Asia are no longer asking for just volume or speed. They are asking for structural resilience, data intelligence, and a partner who can execute across fragmented regulatory landscapes with precision. Groove delivers that. To be recognised alongside the best in Asia is a privilege, but the real work continues in Manila and beyond. We are here to win, not just awards, but the trust of the operators who build their businesses on our platform.”
The post Groove shortlisted for Best Aggregator at SiGMA Asia Awards 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
data providers
DATA.BET reports 168% turnover growth from virtual content in Q1 2025–Q1 2026
DATA.BET says turnover from its virtual content grew 168% between Q1 2025 and Q1 2026, with the supplier reporting the product accounted for 39% of total virtual sports turnover and 45% of profits over the period.
The company said the content is developed fully in-house and delivered through automated bot-vs-bot matches that run 24/7 without dependence on real-world fixture schedules. DATA.BET positioned the format as a way to provide continuous events and reduce operational overhead for operators.
Across the same period, DATA.BET reported +299% active users, +129% across clients GGR, +246% events per quarter, and +218% bets placed.
DATA.BET also said the audience profile overlaps with live football bettors, which it believes supports retention during seasonal breaks. The supplier added that the algorithm-driven format “carries no fraud exposure,” supports In-Stream Betting overlays, and provides near-zero latency between broadcast and market updates.
“Over the past year, our bot-vs-bot virtual content has delivered consistent, measurable results across every operator deployment. Building e-Football in-house gives us the flexibility to configure it to what each operator actually needs — whether that is a specific league structure, a particular mix of bot and player content, or a branded competition format,” mentioned Rostyslav Likhtin, Head of Product at DATA.BET.
The post DATA.BET reports 168% turnover growth from virtual content in Q1 2025–Q1 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
content studios
155.io makes fintech debut with Coverd partnership
155.io has signed a partnership with US-based fintech platform Coverd, marking the content studio’s first move into fintech. The deal was announced Thursday 21st May 2026.
Under the agreement, 155.io’s real-world games will be integrated into Coverd’s platform. Coverd said the integration is designed to turn everyday transactions into interactive experiences where users can win the chance to have purchases covered through 155.io gameplay.
Sam Jones, Founder & CEO of 155.io, said: “This partnership gives us the opportunity to bring our content to a completely new audience. We share a philosophy with Coverd around disrupting and modernising industries through more interactive experiences. They understand that younger audiences expect entertainment and engagement across every digital touchpoint, including finance, which is exactly how we think about design.”
Albert Wang, Coverd co-founder, added: “Today’s consumer is actively embracing gamified products across every category, so there’s no reason personal finance should stay in the stone age. We’re excited to work with 155.io to make financial experiences more interactive and give everyone a chance to live big by winning back their purchases. 155.io’s next-gen content fits perfectly with what we’re building at Coverd.”
155.io said the integration will bring its interactive content—built around live-action footage and real-time mechanics—to Coverd users. The studio’s portfolio includes Rush Hour from its CCTV Game
library, alongside Ducks.io and Snow Run.
The post 155.io makes fintech debut with Coverd partnership appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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