eSports

Game World and OKTO launch Romania’s first cashless-operated slot machines

Published

3 years ago

September 21, 2022

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Game World Romania, a leader in the entertainment industry in Romania, is rolling out OKTO’s cashless, mobile-first, responsible payments in its high-end Game World Bucharest Mall Vitan venue, the largest gambling hall in South-East Europe. The award-winning OKTO.WALLET payment app and platform are now available on the first set of slot machines and will gradually be available across all slot machines and electronic roulettes of the main venue, with further rollout across the entire Game World network to follow.

The new service introduced by Game World in the region is made possible thanks to OKTO’s expertise in e-money services and payment technologies for gaming operators and their customers. The rollout marks a significant step forward in the ongoing digital transformation of Romania’s entertainment industry, driving the adoption of digital payment solutions and providing customers with a secure, convenient, flexible, and affordable digital wallet to manage their funds at any time and from anywhere.

Simon Dorsen, OKTO CCO, says: “This is another major partnership and one that we are incredibly pleased to confirm with Game World, one of the most respected and recognized operators in the Romanian gaming market. OKTO views Romania as a core strategy territory and will seek to continue investing in the market.

We are glad to provide mobile-first cashless payment experiences in an extremely important and substantial market. OKTO.WALLET ticks a number of important boxes for operators, regulators, and players alike. Our solution is entirely software-driven, and because it provides a fast, smooth, and trouble-free digital experience, it connects with a younger adult demographic, which in turn will increase the level of consumer engagement, help to broaden the player base, and drive up gaming halls’ footfall.

Not only does the OKTO solution satisfy the exacting digital demands of today’s consumers, but it also satisfies the requirements set out by regulators in terms of safer gambling.”

“One of our main goals is to strengthen our leading position on the local market by constantly coming up with innovative actions in Romania and offering our customers the best entertainment experience and options to play, simply and easily”, says Attila Otto Török, Game World Romania Strategy Director.

“Everything we implement is based on the needs of our customers, offering them a wide range of options. It is no secret that the new generation of customers is looking for a fast, smooth and seamless digital experience. We are fully aligned with OKTO’s mission and values. OKTO’s market-leading digital payment solution enables us to offer seamless digital payment solutions that align with our responsible gaming commitments and compliance rules set by the authorities.”

OKTO.WALLET allows users to load credits directly from their mobile phones through the OKTO app to gaming machines, online or any other touchpoint and collect winnings straight into their OKTO account in real-time and in a secure and safe way. OKTO supports an easy, and fast mobile onboarding (KYC) while users can fund their account with multiple sources for free, like instant bank transfer, card-in and wire transfer. In addition, users can send and receive money from their friends for free while the OKTO app makes users’ life sweeter through rewards schemes.

Alongside, OKTO.WALLET is an open loop, giving players the freedom to move and use their funds as they wish instantly, while also as a universal wallet that has applications beyond gaming, consumers can make transactions anywhere.

Designed to protect the user and the operator and fully aligned with the modern requirements of gaming regulators, the wallet is fully equipped with a responsible gambling toolkit, incorporating all the major levels of safer gaming: age verification, gaming/betting limits, betting time-out period, P&L calculator, problem gambling helplines, aligned with social responsibility.

Berlin Gaming Industry

Tom Achsel Joins FACTORY-C to Spearhead “Home of Indies” Communications

Published

49 minutes ago

January 7, 2026

Wladimir P.

tom-achsel-joins-factory-c-to-spearhead-“home-of-indies”-communications

FACTORY-C, the Berlin-based communications powerhouse specializing in gaming and esports, has announced the appointment of Tom Achsel as Event Communications Manager. Achsel will join the “Home of Indies” team alongside project initiator Christiane Gehrke, focusing on the platform’s global expansion and upcoming presence at Gamescom 2026.

With over a decade of experience in the tech and gaming sectors, Achsel brings a massive professional network and deep operational expertise to the agency.

A Veteran of the Berlin Gaming Scene

Tom Achsel is a well-known figure in the German development community. His career highlights include:

Games Academy: Served as Head of Marketing & Events at one of Europe’s oldest game development institutions.
Games Ground Berlin: Co-founded and led communications for the Berlin Gaming Festival, curating impactful B2B programs and speaker lineups.
IGDA Berlin: Serves as Vice-Chairman, strengthening ties between local developers and the global gaming ecosystem.

Christiane Gehrke, Senior Event Communication & Sales Manager at Factory-C

“Tom knows the indie scene from multiple perspectives and has a sharp understanding of the needs of indie developers,” said Christiane Gehrke, Senior Event Communication & Sales Manager at FACTORY-C. “He brings everything needed to support the continued development of Home of Indies.”

Scaling the “Home of Indies” Platform

Since its debut in 2022, Home of Indies has grown into a central pillar of the Gamescom Indie Area. The platform provides a shared booth for independent developers, lowering the barrier to entry for international studios.

2025 Growth: The booth expanded to 440 square meters, featuring over 50 games from a dozen countries.
New Features: The project recently added a dedicated Spotlight Stage, streaming booths, and professional networking areas via MeetToMatch.

As Event Communications Manager, Achsel will lead the outreach strategy for Gamescom 2026, ensuring that the creative diversity of the global indie scene receives maximum visibility among press, influencers, and players.

The post Tom Achsel Joins FACTORY-C to Spearhead “Home of Indies” Communications appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

BlueBottle

BlueBottle Launches “League Broadcast” SaaS for Streamlined Esports Production

Published

2 hours ago

January 7, 2026

Wladimir P.

bluebottle-launches-“league-broadcast”-saas-for-streamlined-esports-production

BlueBottle, the Munich-based esports technology innovator, has officially launched League Broadcast, its professional-grade production software, via a new Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) subscription model.

Announced on January 7, 2026, this B2C release moves the platform from selective partner deployments and its long-standing beta phase into a publicly accessible tool for leagues, tournament organizers, and individual content creators worldwide.

Professional Broadcast Tools for All Tiers

League Broadcast is designed to automate and elevate the visual storytelling of competitive gaming, specifically targeting the League of Legends ecosystem. The software bypasses traditional API limitations by using low-level game data collection to provide real-time, high-fidelity visualizations.

At launch, BlueBottle has introduced a tiered pricing structure to suit different operational scales:

Tier	Status	Key Features	Target Audience
Free	Available	Core overlays, essential team/player data, basic game stats.	Grassroots creators & amateur streamers.
Basic	Available	Commercial usage rights, customizable pre-game elements, professional draft tools.	Semi-pro leagues & small event organizers.
Pro	Coming Soon	Advanced analytics, event-driven automation, premium production tools.	Professional leagues & high-scale live operations.

Supported by Creative Europe Media

The transition to a scalable SaaS model was significantly bolstered by funding from Creative Europe Media, the European Union’s flagship program for the audiovisual and creative sectors. This backing allowed BlueBottle to invest in:

Enhanced Stability: Hardening the software for 24/7 live environments.
Improved Infrastructure: Faster development cycles and dedicated customer support.
Accessibility: Lowering the barrier for European creators to produce “broadcast-quality” content that competes with high-budget international productions.

“This launch represents more than a new pricing model — it’s the moment League Broadcast becomes accessible to the wider esports community,” said Lars Eble, CTO at BlueBottle. “We were able to invest in long-term product quality… ensuring that our B2C customers receive the same level of reliability previously reserved for large partners.”

Strengthening the European Esports Ecosystem

By providing affordable, automated tools for real-time data visualization—such as dynamic gold graphs, inhibitor timers, and 3D in-world branding—BlueBottle is positioning itself as a core infrastructure provider for the digital media age. The platform allows smaller organizations to monetize their formats more effectively through professional-looking sponsor placements and deeper viewer engagement.

The post BlueBottle Launches “League Broadcast” SaaS for Streamlined Esports Production appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Akshat Rathee

Indian Esports 2026: Strategic Growth and the Asian Games Milestone

Published

1 day ago

January 6, 2026

Wladimir P.

indian-esports-2026:-strategic-growth-and-the-asian-games-milestone

The Indian esports landscape is transitioning from a period of rapid “spectacle” growth to a phase defined by lasting institutional structure. Following the implementation of the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act (PROGA), 2026 is set to be the year where regulatory clarity, international competition, and domestic grassroots development converge.

The Impact of PROGA: Policy into Practice

The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act (PROGA), signed into law in August 2025, has officially moved from policy to practice. Its primary contribution to 2026 is the explicit separation of esports from money-based gaming.

Legitimacy: By categorizing esports as a legitimate competitive pursuit, PROGA has unlocked state-level adoption and cleared the way for schools and colleges to integrate gaming into their sports frameworks.
Commercial Confidence: With a clear regulatory environment, brands in sectors like FMCG, automotive, and BFSI are now viewing esports as a stable, long-term youth engagement platform rather than a risky experiment.
Athlete Pathways: PROGA facilitates the creation of standardized national registries for athletes, ensuring that competitive integrity is maintained across grassroots and professional tiers.

The Asian Games 2026: A Global Stage

The Asian Games 2026 in Aichi and Nagoya, Japan, serves as the most critical milestone for the ecosystem this year.

Medal Status: Esports will feature as a full medal event with 11 confirmed titles, including League of Legends, PUBG Mobile (Asian Games Version), and Pokémon UNITE.
Indian Prospects: India’s best historical result (quarter-finals in League of Legends at Hangzhou) has set a high bar. For 2026, the focus has shifted toward high-performance training camps and long-term athlete mentorship to secure a podium finish.
Multi-Sport Integration: Participation alongside traditional athletes reinforces the narrative that esports is a viable professional career, further encouraging government investment through schemes like Khelo India.

Market Evolution and Key Trends

The Indian gaming market is projected to reach approximately $5.02 billion in 2026, driven by a massive player base exceeding 500 million gamers.

Trend	Impact in 2026
Mobile Dominance	Over 95% of the market remains mobile-first, fueled by 5G expansion and affordable hardware.
Beyond BGMI	2026 is seeing a push to diversify the market into fighting games, sports simulations, and PC titles to avoid “one-title dependency.”
Monetization Shift	Revenue is shifting from pure advertising toward battle passes, subscription models, and in-game progression.
Tier II & III Growth	Most new user acquisition is coming from smaller cities, demanding more vernacular and localized content.