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BIDSTACK EXPANDS US OPERATION WITH MAJOR HIRE FROM ADCOLONY
Bidstack, the in-game advertising and video game monetization platform, today announces that Jude O’Connor joins the company from AdColony as Chief Revenue Officer.
O’Connor’s appointment signals a significant acceleration of Bidstack’s expansion in the US market. The proven advertising leader is tasked with overseeing global revenue and growth, while leading the team across sales, publishing, marketing, and strategy. He will rapidly scale Bidstack’s local teams and steer a go-to-market strategy centered on educating the US market on Bidstack’s pioneering and revolutionary in-game technology.
A 20-year adtech professional, O’Connor joins Bidstack after more than seven years at AdColony, one of the world’s largest mobile gaming monetization platforms. During his AdColony tenure, he transformed the business into a two-time winner of AdWeek’s Mobile Ad Network of the Year award before leading the company to a $400 million exit in 2021. Prior to entering the gaming space, O’Connor worked at pioneering internet companies like Yahoo and AOL.
In 2022, the global gaming market as a whole will generate $196.8 billion. Mobile games, which make up 53% of the market ($103.5 billion) have been the proving ground for the native in-game format, which now is increasingly being explored by major cross-platform publishers of PC and console titles. Just last month, the IAB and MRC released updated guidelines for the measurement of in-game ads, heralding a new wave of mass adoption. As well as native in-game ads, Bidstack’s product offering includes in-menu and rewarded video formats that provide a powerful combination of brand awareness and performance for reaching the 3.2 billion global gamers.
Jude O’Connor, Chief Revenue Officer at Bidstack, commented:
“We’re approaching an inflection point where brands are ready to be part of the immersive, multi-touchpoint experiences that gaming offers at scale. Bidstack has spearheaded the growth of native formats, and its tech enables the cleanest and smoothest native in-game experience available in the market. I’m always attracted by the potential to build a business, and Bidstack is primed to power the next phase and evolution of video game advertising across all platforms.”
James Draper, Founder and CEO of Bidstack, said:
“I’m really excited to welcome Jude to Bidstack. Jude has an unrivaled track record of establishing and scaling businesses in the gaming and adtech space, and I look forward to working with him to help execute on our commercial vision, together. Attracting talent of this caliber is a testament to the growth of Bidstack as a business and the huge, untapped opportunity for in-game advertising within the market.”
Since launching into in-game advertising in 2017 with Sports Interactive’s legendary Football Manager series, Bidstack has run award-winning in-game campaigns for brands such as Marriott Bonvoy, Paco Rabanne, and Doritos, and works with world-leading game publishers such as Codemasters, and Take-Two Interactive.
Acquisitions/Merger
Clever Advertising buys strategic stake in SEO affiliate iGaming Nuts
Deal targets regulated Poland market by combining global media buying with local SEO and compliance expertise.
Clever Advertising has taken a strategic investment stake in iGaming Nuts as it looks to expand player acquisition in Poland. The companies said the deal brings iGaming Nuts’ Polish SEO affiliate portfolio into Clever Advertising’s global multi-channel network.
Clever Advertising positions the move as a faster route into a regulated market where compliance and localization are critical, and where paid acquisition costs can move quickly. iGaming Nuts operates across several European markets, including the United Kingdom, Italy, and Spain, with Poland as its lead market.
Marcos Oliveira, COO of Clever Advertising, said: “Poland is one of Europe’s most demanding regulated markets, and iGaming Nuts is the most solid base we could build on there. They lead in local SEO, they know the rules, and they open commercial relationships that would take years to build alone. Together, we give our operator partners a compliant route into the market.”
Adam Bieliński, CEO of iGaming Nuts, added: “Working with Clever Advertising is a big step for our team and our users. We’ve built tools and content for Polish regulations and player preferences. With Clever Advertising’s infrastructure and scale behind us, we can develop our product faster, improve the user experience, and strengthen our position in legal sports betting affiliate traffic in Poland.”
The companies also said they plan to extend the partnership into a financial trading media vertical. No financial terms, stake size, or closing timeline were disclosed.
The post Clever Advertising buys strategic stake in SEO affiliate iGaming Nuts appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
igaming-conte
PokerStars Casino adds Skullapalooza as fifth 2026 Slotlist pick
Psiclone Games and Playtech-built title features three Free Spins modifiers, including expanding reels, sliding wilds and jackpots up to 500x bet.
PokerStars Casino has released Skullapalooza as the fifth game in its 2026 The Slotlist series, making the title the featured slot on the operator’s Casino tab for the month.
Skullapalooza is developed by Psiclone Games and Playtech. The game’s core hook is a Free Spins system built around three “Skull” features that can be triggered individually or in combination: expanding reels, jackpot accumulators and stacked sliding wilds.
According to the company, players can land different coloured gems to randomly trigger one or more Free Spins variants. Pink gems may trigger Free Games with Expanding Reels, blue gems may add Sliding Wilds, and purple gems may activate pots with a grand prize of up to 500x total bet. The company said all three variants can be active at once.
“The Slotlist is designed to spotlight games that deliver a well-rounded player experience, combining innovative features, striking visuals, and immersive gameplay”, said Ed Fogarty, Associate Director of PokerStars Casino Commercial. “Skullapalooza embodies all these qualities, and we’re thrilled to feature it prominently in The Slotlist this month.”
Skullapalooza joins earlier 2026 Slotlist picks including Baozang Empire of Plenty, Magnificent Power Leprechaun, and 12 Burning Baseballs.
The post PokerStars Casino adds Skullapalooza as fifth 2026 Slotlist pick appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Arizona
Arizona extends Gaming Department for six years; problem gambling budget rises 20%
Governor Hobbs signs SB 1671; new budget sets $4M spend authority plus $500K a year from event wagering funds.
The Arizona Department of Gaming has secured a six-year continuation after Governor Hobbs signed Senate Bill 1671, following the 2026 legislative session that adjourned June 12, 2026. The continuation also covers the Arizona State Boxing and Mixed Martial Arts Commission and the Arizona Racing Commission.
The Department said SB 1671 affirms its authority to regulate tribal gaming, event wagering and fantasy sports, horse racing and simulcast wagering, and boxing and mixed martial arts.
In parallel, the Department said Senate Bill 1847 and the state’s Fiscal Year 2027 budget expand expenditure authority for its Division of Problem Gambling. The budget authorizes $4,000,000 in total spending for the Division, which the agency said is a 20% increase from FY26.
The Department also said the legislature granted an annual $500,000 expenditure authority to use Event Wagering funds to support problem gambling, and that the Division will have grant oversight authority for the first time.
“Arizona first established the Department of Gaming in 1995 – and more than thirty years later, we remain excited about world-class regulation benefiting the entire state,” said Jackie Johnson, Department Director. “I’m grateful to Governor Hobbs and leaders in the state legislature, particularly continuation bill sponsor State Senator Shawnna Bolick, who thoroughly reviewed our agency with a deep commitment to public service, and I am pleased that the Department secured its continuation, which will allow us to strengthen our focus points in robust consumer protection and integrity.”
“The new state budget will strengthen longstanding investments in problem gambling assistance made possible through partnerships with Arizona’s Tribal Nations and the Arizona Lottery,” said Elise Mikkelsen. “We continue to see strong demand from individuals and families seeking information, resources, and treatment for gambling-related harm. This increased funding will help us expand the continuum of care and ensure more Arizonans have access to effective, inclusive, and timely support.”
The post Arizona extends Gaming Department for six years; problem gambling budget rises 20% appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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