Latest News

Savvy Gaming Group announces three senior hires

Published

4 years ago

April 13, 2022

George Miller

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Senior hires have been made across three operating companies: the ecosystem company, the games studios company, and the infrastructure company.
New hires bring over 40 years of combined industry and business expansion experience to propel SGG in its mission to grow the sector globally.
SGG is comprised of five operating companies, each of which has a separately defined mandate and set of core objectives.

Savvy Gaming Group (SGG) today announced the appointments of Kadri Harma, Yannick Theler, and Jerry Gamez as operating company CEOs of the games and esports company.

Bringing a wealth of industry experience to the newly formed Savvy Gaming Group, the CEOs will lead Savvy’s ecosystem company, the games studios, and the infrastructure company.

Kadri Harma, CEO of Savvy’s ecosystem company, is an entrepreneur and investor with over 20 years of experience building start-up ecosystems, half of which were spent specialising in the games industry. Building on her track record of creating, launching, and fundraising for four funds across Europe, Asia, and the USA, Harma will lead the Savvy ecosystem company, providing infrastructure, upskilling, network, capital and advisory to promising games start-ups.

“Looking not just at the market size, but the young, creative, and ambitious population, there is huge untapped potential in Saudi Arabia and across the Middle East within the gaming industry.

It is a unique opportunity to connect global partners into the ecosystem and provide support for this talent to flourish both domestically and in the international market.”

Yannick Theler, CEO of Savvy’s games studios company, joins from Ubisoft where he worked for 19 years across Europe, China and the Middle East covering all facets of the company, most notably establishing Ubisoft’s Abu Dhabi studio ten years ago, a studio that is today the home of CSI Hidden Crimes, NCIS Hidden Crimes, Growtopia and Clash of Beasts. At SGG, Theler will lead Savvy’s games studios – a company with the mission to make the most exciting game franchises in the world.

“I’m thrilled to be part of this newly created group that is committed to learning, talent, and fast growth. I’m looking forward to putting my leadership and vision to work with Savvy Games Studios building a global powerhouse of developers and studios that will bring distinct and memorable experiences into the industry, now and in the future”.

Jerry Gamez, CEO of Savvy’s infrastructure company, brings over 20 years of senior executive, entrepreneurial, and direct investment experience. He has worked with global B2B and B2C brands such as Walmart, Restaurant Brands International, as well as various Food/Consumer Technology companies. Joining SGG with a wealth of experience in international development and expansion, Gamez will lead the development and investments in an extensive global footprint of innovative gaming venues.

“I am excited to join a group that is set to make a huge impact across both the region and global industry. Looking at our infrastructure endeavours, I am proud to be leading a company that is focusing on a holistic user experience that will redefine how people come together and experience gaming.”

SGG is 100% owned by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, PIF, and is comprised of five operating companies, each of which has a defined business and strategy. The further two operating companies are the ESL FACEIT Group, led by Craig Levine and Niccolo Maisto as co-CEOs, and the Savvy Games Fund.

Each operating company has a separately defined mandate and set of core objectives which will be further developed as the CEOs continue to hire their teams and develop their company brands.

Brian Ward, Group CEO said:

“At Savvy Gaming Group we are dedicated to driving the growth of the sector globally, leading with significant investment, enabling more game developers and technology innovators, and facilitating broader, more equitable access to this fast-growing, dynamic sector.

In order to achieve this mission, we must bring the best minds to join us, and I am thrilled to be welcoming such accomplished executives to our leadership team. With their wealth of experience and their complementary companies, we will drive long-term growth and development of esports and the wider games industry worldwide.”

On his hiring ambitions, Ward added:

“At Savvy we champion inclusivity and hire the best people. In our industry, despite 46% of gamers being women, only 16% of executives at the top games companies are women. We’re already ahead of this at 20% of our C-suite but our target is much higher – 50%.”

game releases

Greentube launches Cash Connection – Golden Sizzling Hot with guaranteed Winning Spins

Published

57 minutes ago

July 14, 2026

Wladimir P.

greentube-launches-cash-connection-–-golden-sizzling-hot-with-guaranteed-winning-spins

Greentube, the NOVOMATIC Interactive division, has launched Cash Connection – Golden Sizzling Hot on 14th July 2026. The new title extends the supplier’s Cash Connection series and introduces a gold-themed variant with updated bonus mechanics.

Cash Connection – Golden Sizzling Hot is played on a 5×3 grid with five win lines. Landing six or more disc symbols triggers a Lock & Spin feature, with access to four jackpots across the game and two bonus prizes. The Grand Jackpot can be triggered by landing 15 discs during the feature, which also ends the round.

Greentube said the Mini and Minor jackpots are tied to a separate Winning Spins feature. In this mode, played on a different set of reels without disc symbols, “every spin is a guaranteed win,” according to the company.

Richard Ganster, Director of Games Strategy and Games Portfolio Management at Greentube, said: “Cash Connection has grown into one of our most consistently popular game families, and Golden Sizzling Hot shows exactly why we keep coming back to expand it.

The Lock & Spin feature has always been a strong draw for players, but what really sets this edition apart is the guaranteed Winning Spins feature. Landing a Mini or Minor jackpot doesn’t just add a cash value; it opens the door to a round where every spin wins, and that’s a great incentive for players.

“Giving the game a golden makeover was about more than just a new look. It’s part of how we keep our most established franchises feeling fresh, and Golden Sizzling Hot is a great example of that balance between familiarity and evolution.”

The post Greentube launches Cash Connection – Golden Sizzling Hot with guaranteed Winning Spins appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

game-launch

Habanero releases Galaxy Babies slot with Black Hole Wild blocks

Published

57 minutes ago

July 14, 2026

Wladimir P.

habanero-releases-galaxy-babies-slot-with-black-hole-wild-blocks

Habanero has launched Galaxy Babies, a new 5×3 slot released on 14 July 2026, built around a Black Hole mechanic that randomly drops blocks of Wild symbols onto the reels.

The game runs on 25 paylines. In the base game, the Black Hole can appear at random and “warp in” Wild symbol blocks across the reels. Habanero said Wilds in the title are only triggered through the Black Hole feature.

A free spins mode triggers when three or more Scatter symbols land, with up to 50 free spins available and retriggers during the bonus round. In free spins, Habanero said the Black Hole “grows,” creating larger 3×3 and 4×4 Wild blocks.

Galaxy Babies also supports Habanero’s Jackpot Race, Buy Feature and Super Bet, which the supplier said gives operators options when configuring the game for different player preferences. The release follows recent titles including Happy Hatchlings, Nuwa Deluxe and Steampunk Plinko.

Toni Karapetrov, Head of Corporate Communications at Habanero, commented: “Galaxy Babies is a title with a lot of personality and a mechanic that delivers real impact. The Black Hole Wild is simple to understand but creates moments that feel genuinely exciting.

“It is a game that will appeal to a broad range of players, and we are looking forward to seeing how it performs across our operator network.”

The post Habanero releases Galaxy Babies slot with Black Hole Wild blocks appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

casino content

ICONIC21 distributes full casino portfolio via Blue Ocean Gaming

Published

57 minutes ago

July 14, 2026

Wladimir P.

iconic21-distributes-full-casino-portfolio-via-blue-ocean-gaming

ICONIC21 has signed a distribution agreement with Blue Ocean Gaming that makes the supplier’s full portfolio—live casino, slots and RNG titles—available through Blue Ocean Gaming’s operator network. The companies announced the deal on 14 July 2026.

Blue Ocean Gaming said it aggregates content from more than 140 providers and offers operators a catalogue of over 13,000 casino titles across categories including slots, live casino, virtual sports and sportsbook.

The integration includes ICONIC21’s live casino Gravity Series game-show formats, including Gravity Wheel. ICONIC21 said the title runs multipliers on every spin and includes four multiplier symbols—Saturn, Moon, Comet and Sun—with the Sun multiplier offering wins of up to 1,000x.

The agreement also covers ICONIC21 slots including Buffalo Wild Collection and Las Piggas, alongside RNG titles such as Chicken Run, Mines and Crash.

Alina Mihaela Popa, Chief Commercial Officer at ICONIC21, said: “Being distributed through a platform of this scale, alongside such a strong roster of providers, gives our content exceptional exposure and reach. What makes us proud is that our footprint keeps growing, and it keeps growing very quickly. Each new partnership is a reflection of our strength and potential, and Blue Ocean Gaming is a very meaningful addition to that journey.”

Dejan Jović , CEO at BlueOcean Gaming commented: “ICONIC21 is doing something truly exciting in the live casino space, raising the bar when it comes to player immersion and showmanship. Their ability to take classic table games and supercharge them with dynamic twists like the Gravity series adds a fantastic new layer of entertainment to GameHub. It’s exactly the kind of high-vibe, retention-driven content our operators look for to stand out in a crowded market, and we are thrilled to welcome them on board.”

The post ICONIC21 distributes full casino portfolio via Blue Ocean Gaming appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.