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Meet Casino Guru Awards’ Social Responsibility Initiative judges

Published

3 years ago

October 31, 2022

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Casino Guru has revealed the judges for the Casino Guru Awards “The Most Impactful Social Responsibility Initiative” category.

Casino Guru is happy to reveal the list of judges for “The Most Impactful Social Responsibility Initiative,” part of the upcoming Casino Guru Awards. After Casino Guru revealed the judges for “The Best Implementation of Responsible Gambling Tools,” the company is happy to introduce the new faces who will leverage their expertise to weigh on one of the most important categories for the project.

The Social Responsibility category will focus on distinguishing and recognizing the achievements of responsible gambling and problem gambling prevention initiatives. This category will seek to award the one industry specialist whose efforts in the field stand out and have had an impactful change on the issue, or stand to make an impact.

To help Casino Guru decide objectively, the Casino Guru Awards panel for this particular category will consist of a number of external judges and the company’s own team. The professionals that may apply for this category as participants may have completed projects or currently be developing one.

The judges will review each proposal based on the possibility of a positive impact, intentions, execution, results (when applicable), and more. The people making the final decisions are themselves extensive professionals in the field of social responsibility and responsible gambling. They include:

Ewa Bakun, Director of Industry Insight and Engagement of Clarion Gaming, who is a long-standing Clarion Gaming veteran and who introduced and oversaw the growth of the Consumer Protection Zone at ICE London.
Shelley White, CEO of the Responsible Gambling Council (RGC), whose responsibility is to help her organizaiton promote responsible gambling and reduce problem gambling using research and evidence-based approaches to implement innovative prevention, education, and social marketing programs.
Sarah Ramanauskas, Auditor for the US’ National Council on Problem Gambling’s iCAP RG standard, who works with gambling operators around the world to ensure that their corporate policies stay true to safer gambling.
Dan Iliovici, Vice-President of the Romanian Gambling Organizers’ Association (ROMBET), and of the Responsible Gambling Association, who is permanently involved in responsible gambling projects and committed to the transformation of the industry.
Eduards Jakubovs, Head of Responsible Gambling of Betsson Group, who has been in charge of the Betsson’s commitment to responsible gambling operations since 2015 and has extensive experience in the field.
Jo Abergel, Founder – Rock Learning, Co-Founder – Ethical Gambling Forum, who is focused on challenging the industry with some of its greatest ethical dilemmas and seeks meaningful conversation with operators who are in position to start tackling these issues.
Maris Catania, Head of Responsible Gaming and Research at Kindred, who has extensive experience in studying and understanding behavior related to problem gambling, and has used her career to advance the industry’s collective understanding of problem gambling and how it can be stopped at an early stage.
Stephen Aupy, VP of Strategic Partnerships Gamban, who is committed to collaborating with the industry to help establish responsible gambling practices with leading operators and entities across the industry, and who is committed to bringing more positive change in the sector.
James Mpiirwe, Genius Gaming Consult – Senior Consultant Regulatory frameworks, who is a seasoned legal practitioner and who has been a torchbearer and pioneer of responsible gambling practices in Uganda and helped establish the National Responsible Gaming Policy of Uganda.
Martin Lycka, SVP for American Regulatory Affairs and Responsible Gambling at Entain, whose impressive track record in responsible gambling and social responsibility spans the American Gaming Association, the Entain Foundation US, the National Council on Problem Gambling, and others.
Matt Smith, Head of External Affairs at Betknowmore, who seeks to provide support and training services that prevent and address personal and societal harms caused by gambling.
Vladimir Malakchi, Chief Commercial Officer of Evoplay, whose industry experience and drive for results have translated into creating compelling products that protect consumers and innovate iGaming.
Pieter Remmers, Founder of Assissa Consultancy Europem, who has extensive experience in helping businesses understand the importance of consumer protection, social responsibility, and how intervention can help business and players.
Jody Bechtold, CEO of The Better Institute, who is the author of The Gambling Disorder Treatment Handbook: A Guide for Mental Health Professionals, and who has spent considerable part of her professional life in promoting social responsibility and responsible gambling in the industry.
Paul Buck, CEO & Founder of EPIC Risk Management, and an individual with a distinct commitment to consumer protection and responsible gambling in the industry. Paul’s company works with some of the most dedicated iGaming stakeholders to date.

The categories will also be judged by Head of Content Maros Gasparik and Sustainable & Safer Gambling Lead Simon Vincze whose work in gambling over the years has pivoted towards creating safer and meaningful content, projects and initiatives that focus on bringing on more social responsibility to the industry.

Casino Guru will hold the official ceremony for Casino Guru Awards online in February 2023. You may stay up to date with the Awards progress by visiting the official page at Casino Guru Awards.

Gaming

58% of respondents like the“warmy” archetype. Rocket Match by RocketPlay became “ Valentine’s Tinder in Gaming”.

Published

12 minutes ago

February 17, 2026

Wladimir P.

58%-of-respondents-like-the“warmy”-archetype-rocket-match-by-rocketplay-became-“-valentine’s-tinder-in-gaming”.

This Valentine’s, RocketPlay tested a playful idea: players who seek thrills in gaming don’t necessarily want intensity in everything — including relationships. Instead of asking users to pick a “perfect partner,” RocketPlay launched Rocket Match, a fast, flirty quiz that matches players with a vibe: Bold, Sunny, Dreamy, or Adventurous.

Early Results Flip the Stereotype

Around 58% of participants matched with the Sunny archetype — defined by warmth, charm, and easy-going fun. The experiment suggests that when it comes to Valentine’s, RocketPlay’s community prefers light-hearted connection over drama or high stakes.

What Rocket Match Is

Rocket Match is a Valentine’s matchmaking quiz built inside the RocketPlay Universe. Players answer five simple, no-wrong-answer questions and instantly discover their match vibe.

The goal: move away from typical Valentine’s content that swings between overly serious romance or clichéd tropes. Rocket Match keeps it flirty, playful, and moment-focused, letting players discover a vibe rather than a label.

The four vibes include:

Bold – confident, high-energy, loves bigger sparks
Sunny – easy-going, playful, social, effortlessly charming
Dreamy – soft, romantic, focused on atmosphere and emotion
Adventurous – playful risk-taker, spontaneous, curious

Community Insights from Rocket Match

The quiz quickly gained traction, with 7,000+ completions, revealing a strong preference: Sunny, the archetype defined by warmth, lightness, and charm.

Alex Martin, PR Lead at RocketPlay, said:

“What we liked most about Rocket Match is how clearly it captured the mood people actually want on Valentine’s. It wasn’t about labels or big statements — it was about light energy, easy chemistry, and a feel-good kind of connection. That’s the vibe we try to build across the brand: simple to join, fun in the moment, and positive without the drama.”

Why It Matters

Rocket Match was more than a Valentine’s gimmick. It offered a snapshot of what RocketPlay’s community enjoys most: light energy, playful interaction, and feel-good connections. By turning a pop-culture moment into a small experiment, RocketPlay gained insight into player preferences, informing how the brand continues to design engaging, fun, and positive experiences.

The post 58% of respondents like the“warmy” archetype. Rocket Match by RocketPlay became “ Valentine’s Tinder in Gaming”. appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Kaizen Gaming

Player Safety Tips and Tools For International Responsible Gaming Day by Kaizen Gaming

Published

12 minutes ago

February 17, 2026

Wladimir P.

player-safety-tips-and-tools-for-international-responsible-gaming-day-by-kaizen-gaming

To mark International Responsible Gaming Day on February 17, leading GameTech operator Kaizen Gaming is reaffirming its commitment to safe and responsible play. The company has shared 10 practical tips to help players stay in control, along with an overview of the responsible gaming tools available on its Betano platform.

Responsible gaming is a core pillar of Kaizen Gaming’s strategy, embedded in technology, product design, and customer support. The approach focuses on prevention, education, and early intervention, ensuring gaming remains enjoyable, transparent, and safe.

10 Tips for Safe and Enjoyable Play

Kaizen Gaming encourages players to follow these key principles:

Play for fun, not to earn money
Monitor the time spent playing and take regular breaks
Set a budget and do not exceed it
Stay social and maintain balance with other activities
Play sober
Protect minors and prevent underage access
Do not chase losses
Avoid gambling under stress or emotional distress
When in doubt, stop playing
Use the responsible gaming tools available to you

These guidelines aim to promote awareness and help players make conscious, informed decisions while gaming.

Leadership Insight

Ismini Nasaina, Head of Responsible Gaming at Kaizen Gaming, said:

“Gaming can only stay fun when our players stay in control. Responsible Gaming is not a platform feature for us, it’s a core operating principle that shapes how we design our products and how we support players. Our focus is to help players stay in control through clear information, practical tools, and timely interventions where needed.”

Responsible Gaming Tools on Betano

Kaizen Gaming offers a comprehensive suite of tools to support player safety:

Financial limits – deposit, loss, and wager limits, plus withdrawal cancellation and blocking
Time management – session timers and personal time limits
Self-exclusion – for longer breaks
Time-out features – short, immediate pauses
Access to helplines – for external support organisations
Rigorous age verification – to prevent underage access
Educational content – clear, localised guidance
Self-assessment tools – evaluate gaming behaviour
24/7 specialised customer support – trained in responsible gaming

Ismini Nasaina added:

“Increasing awareness around responsible play and making safeguards easy to understand and use is essential. International Responsible Gaming Day is a good opportunity to reinforce these basics and remind players that protection tools and support are always available. Player awareness and control are what keep the gaming environment safe and sustainable.”

The post Player Safety Tips and Tools For International Responsible Gaming Day by Kaizen Gaming appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

BOS

BOS Lunch seminar with Minister for Financial Markets

Published

12 minutes ago

February 17, 2026

Wladimir P.

bos-lunch-seminar-with-minister-for-financial-markets

BOS – the Swedish Trade Association for Online Gambling – welcomes you to a lunch seminar regarding the gambling policy of the Government and the Moderates.

Guest speaker: Minister of Financial Markets Niklas Wykman (M).

In what way do the government and the Moderates describe the impending conclusion of the term regarding gambling policy? What goals do they aim to accomplish in gambling policy during the next term, should they be re-elected in the fall elections?

Minister for Financial Markets Niklas Wykman (M) delivers a speech on the subject and will subsequently respond to audience questions.

Observe the somewhat unusual time for a BOS lunch seminar. You can choose to participate in both the lunch and the seminar or only the seminar.

The seminar will take place in Swedish. It will be interpreted into English at the same time, and it is completely acceptable to pose questions to the Minister in English.

The lunch seminar is complimentary and available to all who are interested.

When: March 18 at 1:00 PM. Lunch will be provided at 12:15 PM. The seminar will conclude by 2:00 PM at the latest.

Location: Convendum, Brahegatan 10, Stockholm

The post BOS Lunch seminar with Minister for Financial Markets appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.