Latest News
Marcel Elfersy appointed new CCO of Platform and Sportsbook for GiG
Gaming Innovation Group (GiG) has announced the appointment of Marcel Elfersy as its new Chief Commercial Officer for Platform and Sportsbook, as the group looks to strengthen its position as a leading tier 1 platform and sportsbook provider in regulated markets.
Marcel brings with him an impressive resume, with decades of senior and c-level experience, of which the most recent 14 years have been as a key player, developing and strategically advising within the iGaming industry. After leaving 888 in 2021 as Vice President of Business Development spearheading 888’s re-entry into the US regulated igaming market along with a successful track record of growing their their B2B business, overseeing the Delaware Lottery partnership and the Betbright sportsbook acquisition, Marcel was also the CEO for Entain’s Africa JV, B2B and B2C Impala Digital.
Given his extensive previous experience within the industry, it is anticipated that Marcel’s arrival within the sales and commercial team will help further drive the unique potential of GiG’s leading technology, and maximise the opportunities of its continued strategic commitment to global expansion in regulated markets.
GiG’s localised platform and sportsbook has been designed around flexible architecture, aiming to provide unparalleled speed to market and quality of product in up to 36 markets. The technical capabilities provide a complete omnichannel solution, real-time data platform and rules engine, compliance tool Comply, together with a frontend and managed services providing full operational service, with marketing and CRM.
Marcel Elfersy, CCO said; “I’ve been really impressed by GiG’s strategic growth and development as a top tier B2B provider in recent years. With their market agility, unrivalled regulated omnichannel portfolio and full stack of proven products and services, I’m super-excited to be joining Richard and the all-star team at GiG to help drive and accelerate growth across the global iGaming and Sportsbetting space.”
Richard Brown, CEO of GiG added; “We have a continued emphasis on improvement as an operating principle at GiG. Given the business’ strong position within diverse and high value areas of the B2B supply chain in the iGaming and Sportsbetting industry, the appointment of someone of Marcel’s’ calibre and experience is a significant step forward for leveraging our full potential, as we enter 2023 with real excitement.”
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asia-pacific
Groove shortlisted for Best Aggregator at SiGMA Asia Awards 2026
Groove has been named a finalist for Best Aggregator 2026 at the SiGMA Asia Awards, with the ceremony scheduled for 2 June 2026 at the SMX Convention Centre Manila during the SiGMA Asia Summit.
The shortlist was announced by Global Gaming Insider, according to the company. Groove said its platform aggregates more than 15,000 games from over 150 providers via a single API.
Giusy Campo, Business Development Director at Groove, said: “This shortlist is external recognition of a truth we already feel internally: Groove is moving at a different pace. Asia is not a single market, it is a collection of distinct regulatory environments, player behaviours, and partnership opportunities”
Campo added: “Our platform is built to respect that complexity, not smooth it over. Being named a finalist for Best Aggregator tells us that our approach; deep integration, localised content strategies, and commercial precision; is resonating with the operators who matter most in this region. We are not just bringing games to Asia. We are bringing a roadmap for sustainable growth.”
Yahale Meltzer, Co-Founder and CEO of Groove, said: “The aggregation space is crowded. Differentiation is everything. This nomination confirms that our vision, transforming aggregation from a commodity into a strategic growth discipline, is taking hold.” He added: “Operators across Asia are no longer asking for just volume or speed. They are asking for structural resilience, data intelligence, and a partner who can execute across fragmented regulatory landscapes with precision. Groove delivers that. To be recognised alongside the best in Asia is a privilege, but the real work continues in Manila and beyond. We are here to win, not just awards, but the trust of the operators who build their businesses on our platform.”
The post Groove shortlisted for Best Aggregator at SiGMA Asia Awards 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
data providers
DATA.BET reports 168% turnover growth from virtual content in Q1 2025–Q1 2026
DATA.BET says turnover from its virtual content grew 168% between Q1 2025 and Q1 2026, with the supplier reporting the product accounted for 39% of total virtual sports turnover and 45% of profits over the period.
The company said the content is developed fully in-house and delivered through automated bot-vs-bot matches that run 24/7 without dependence on real-world fixture schedules. DATA.BET positioned the format as a way to provide continuous events and reduce operational overhead for operators.
Across the same period, DATA.BET reported +299% active users, +129% across clients GGR, +246% events per quarter, and +218% bets placed.
DATA.BET also said the audience profile overlaps with live football bettors, which it believes supports retention during seasonal breaks. The supplier added that the algorithm-driven format “carries no fraud exposure,” supports In-Stream Betting overlays, and provides near-zero latency between broadcast and market updates.
“Over the past year, our bot-vs-bot virtual content has delivered consistent, measurable results across every operator deployment. Building e-Football in-house gives us the flexibility to configure it to what each operator actually needs — whether that is a specific league structure, a particular mix of bot and player content, or a branded competition format,” mentioned Rostyslav Likhtin, Head of Product at DATA.BET.
The post DATA.BET reports 168% turnover growth from virtual content in Q1 2025–Q1 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
content studios
155.io makes fintech debut with Coverd partnership
155.io has signed a partnership with US-based fintech platform Coverd, marking the content studio’s first move into fintech. The deal was announced Thursday 21st May 2026.
Under the agreement, 155.io’s real-world games will be integrated into Coverd’s platform. Coverd said the integration is designed to turn everyday transactions into interactive experiences where users can win the chance to have purchases covered through 155.io gameplay.
Sam Jones, Founder & CEO of 155.io, said: “This partnership gives us the opportunity to bring our content to a completely new audience. We share a philosophy with Coverd around disrupting and modernising industries through more interactive experiences. They understand that younger audiences expect entertainment and engagement across every digital touchpoint, including finance, which is exactly how we think about design.”
Albert Wang, Coverd co-founder, added: “Today’s consumer is actively embracing gamified products across every category, so there’s no reason personal finance should stay in the stone age. We’re excited to work with 155.io to make financial experiences more interactive and give everyone a chance to live big by winning back their purchases. 155.io’s next-gen content fits perfectly with what we’re building at Coverd.”
155.io said the integration will bring its interactive content—built around live-action footage and real-time mechanics—to Coverd users. The studio’s portfolio includes Rush Hour from its CCTV Game
library, alongside Ducks.io and Snow Run.
The post 155.io makes fintech debut with Coverd partnership appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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