Latest News
James Bennett joins Receptional to launch “must-have” digital services for sports betting and iGaming brands

Receptional – the Bedford, UK-based digital marketing agency – has appointed James Bennett to the Board as PR Director. James brings 12 years’ experience in the iGaming industry, as Editor of eGaming Review, Head of Communications at Playtech and Director at Square in the Air.
In his new role, James will bolster Receptional’s digital marketing services for sports betting and iGaming firms. The agency already counts a tier-one bookmaker and leading brands, such as Betdaq, Casumo, Lottoland, Plus500 and Time2Play, among its clients. Its team of specialist sports writers and link builders create and place 7,000 pieces of content with 10,000 sites annually.
James will augment these services with a focus on digital PR, brand and creative strategy, and paid and social media for B2B companies in the sector. This includes Receptional’s latest proprietary tool, Decision Maker, which enables suppliers to gain both brand awareness across target media and measurable sales from target buyers, with bespoke campaigns that no other agency can offer.
He will also spearhead Receptional’s expansion into international markets, where changing regulations are creating new opportunities for sports betting and iGaming brands.
James says: “I’m delighted to have joined such a forward-thinking and dynamic agency as Receptional. We’ve already begun to take our new proposition to market and the feedback has been phenomenal.
“We’re launching a series of must-have digital marketing and PR services for the sports betting and iGaming industry that no other agency can offer, which will make a huge difference to brands and suppliers in 2022 and beyond.”
Justin Deaville, Managing Director at Receptional, adds: “James has built an extensive network of knowledge and contacts across the global sports betting and iGaming industry. Having him on board will elevate our knowledge of the sector, expand our already growing client base, and enable us to become the only specialist agency able to offer a complete range of digital services.”
Receptional will be showcasing these services in April at ICE London – the largest global gathering of iGaming operators and suppliers in Europe.
On Wednesday 13th April, the agency will host an exclusive research briefing, unveiling its latest analysis of bettors’ behaviour, with a panel of both players and operators discussing the trends.
James is the latest in a string of senior hires that Receptional has made to build its creative services division. Robin Smith joined as Creative Director in summer 2021, bringing 35+ years’ experience in some of the world’s top agencies – and more than 100 creative and effectiveness awards. Amy Canavan followed in the autumn, to lead Receptional’s consumer PR team, having held publicist roles at Pan Macmillan and Lionsgate UK.
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Industry Awards
Slotsoo Awards 2025: Celebrating Excellence Across Casinos and Game Providers

Summer is here and it is time for Slotsoo’s signature celebration of the iGaming industry. The Slotsoo Casino Awards return for its third edition, continuing the tradition of highlighting operators who excel in delivering a top-tier player experience. This year also marks an exciting expansion with the inaugural Slotsoo Game Provider Awards, giving long-overdue recognition to the creators of great slots.
The New Game Provider Awards and the Winners
Game providers are sometimes overshadowed by casinos, but in reality, both are equally important to the online casino experience. That’s why Slotsoo is proud to shine a spotlight on the studios behind the reels. The winners of Slotsoo’s first provider-focused awards were announced on 24 July 2025, and the honors went to:
- The Machine MVP – Pragmatic Play
- Bonus Buyer – Bullshark Games
- Volatility Virtuoso – Wazdan
- Jackpot Jumbo – Mancala Gaming
- Symphony Spinner – Gamzix
- Reel Renegade – Nolimit City
- Promising Prodigy – Slammer Studios
Please visit the Slotsoo Game Provider Awards page for detailed descriptions of each trophy and the motivations behind the winners.
The Anatomy of Slotsoo’s Trophies: Where Fun Meets Serious Recognition
At Slotsoo, each trophy is whimsical by design but grounded in real player values, making the Slotsoo Awards both entertaining and insightful. Every category has a clear purpose, recognizing what truly matters in iGaming today.
At the core of each awards lineup is a main trophy: The Gambling GOAT honors the top-performing casino operator, while The Machine MVP celebrates the best overall game provider. Surrounding these main awards are a collection of supporting trophies, spotlighting specific areas of excellence, from fast withdrawals and fun bonuses to volatility and winning potential.
These award categories offer a chance for actors who crush it in a certain area to be recognized, even if they don’t dominate across the board. Just like other iGaming awards, Slotsoo includes a category for newcomers, encouraging fresh talent and pushing established names to keep innovating.
The timing of the awards is also a deliberate choice. Markus Björk, head writer at Slotsoo, explains the team’s reasoning:
“After a hectic Winter and Spring packed with iGaming events, June and July offer a rare chance for the industry to slow down and reflect on the year so far. Let’s enjoy the cucumber season and appreciate what’s been achieved. This is when you can harvest the rewards of your hard work before autumn arrives with new challenges and opportunities.”
The Winning Casino Operators 2025
The Slotsoo Casino Awards 2025 took place in June, and these were the seven winners:
- The Gambling GOAT – Betizy
- The Bonus Buff – Sugarino
- The Loyalty Lord – Wisho
- The Withdrawal Wizard – Vauhdikas
- The Gamification Guru – Arctic Casino
- The Payout Professor – Wolfy Casino
- The Noisy Newcomer – Lunar Spins
This was the third time Slotsoo held the casino awards for its English-language site targeting the EU market in general. During the same period, the dedicated awards for the Finnish market, Slotsoo Kasinogaala 2025, celebrated its second year. These awards consist of seven trophies equivalent to the English ones, plus an eighth trophy dedicated to the casino operator with the best slot streaming offering.
The Nordic country is undergoing big changes, with a new gambling legislation and a licensing system planned to be introduced by 1 January 2027. The future will tell how this will affect the structure and categories of the awards.
The post Slotsoo Awards 2025: Celebrating Excellence Across Casinos and Game Providers appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Africa
SOFTSWISS Launches First South African Project with Mzansibet

SOFTSWISS, a global tech provider with over 15 years of iGaming expertise, proudly announces the launch of its major South African project with Mzansibet. It marks the first project in the country to utilise both the SOFTSWISS Sportsbook and the SOFTSWISS Casino Platform.
According to the recently released South Africa: iGaming Market Overview 2025 by SOFTSWISS, the country’s iGaming sector is growing at an impressive annual rate of 20–25%, driven by increasing mobile penetration. In line with this trend and evolving player needs, SOFTSWISS strongly focuses on mobile optimisation across its platforms, enabling seamless and enjoyable gaming experiences for Mzansibet players.
The launch in South Africa, ensuring full compliance with local technical standards, required meticulous preparation. SOFTSWISS products – including its sports betting software and online casino platform – underwent rigorous certification with Gaming Laboratories International (GLI), one of the most reputable and globally recognised independent testing laboratories in the iGaming industry. Following this process, the solutions were officially approved for local operation by the Western Cape Gambling and Racing Board – a respected and influential regulator in the region – affirming the high quality and compliance of SOFTSWISS software.
Max Trafimovich, International Non-Executive Director at SOFTSWISS, shares: “Mzansibet entered the market with a bold ambition to become a top-tier brand – and we are not only proud to support that vision from day one, but also well-equipped to ensure its sustainable growth. Leveraging our global and local expertise, we provide the technical, business, and service tools necessary for a smooth launch and scalable development. This is made possible thanks to our robust and stable architecture with 99.999% uptime and a flexible platform ecosystem. In addition, the brand launched a nationwide TV advertising campaign and has already attracted tens of thousands of players across the country – a powerful testament to its growing presence and trust.”
In addition to backend certification, the SOFTSWISS team invested heavily in frontend localisation to align with the partner’s vision and market requirements. The Mzansibet project has been fully adapted to meet South African player behaviour and betting patterns.
About SOFTSWISS
SOFTSWISS is an international technology company with over 15 years of experience developing innovative solutions for the iGaming industry. SOFTSWISS provides comprehensive software for managing iGaming projects. The company’s product portfolio includes the Online Casino Platform, the Game Aggregator with over 35,000 casino games, the Affilka Affiliate Platform, the Sportsbook Software and the Jackpot Aggregator. In 2013, SOFTSWISS revolutionised the industry by introducing the world’s first Bitcoin-optimised online casino solution. The expert team counts over 2,000 employees.
The post SOFTSWISS Launches First South African Project with Mzansibet appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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The post Lee Hills Joins the International Association of Gaming Advisors appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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