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CasinoBeats Summit achieves a momentous triumph by doubling its numbers

Published

3 years ago

June 2, 2023

Reading Time: 3 minutes

SBC celebrates the resounding success of its 5th edition of the CasinoBeats Summit, which has shattered all previous records.

Witnessing an exceptional 50% surge in attendee participation, attracting over 3,000 registered delegates, this casino-focused event held from 23rd to 25th May at the InterContinental Hotel in Malta, also doubled the number of sponsors and exhibitors eager to showcase their brands and offerings.

Uniting the industry’s crème de la crème, the event presented a highly engaging conference agenda centred around product and market-focused discussions. The summit featured an exceptional lineup of over 200 distinguished speakers who delved into a wide range of topics, spanning from leadership, affiliation and market regulations to game mechanics and player psychology.

Among the notable speakers were Andrew Rhodes (CEO, UKGC), Silvia Hoppe (Group CMO, Wunderino & Mybet), Alexander Martin (CEO, SKS365), Dainis Niedra (CEO, Enlabs, Entain), Elena Shaterova (CCO, 7777 Gaming), Andrew Rushgrove (Managing Director – Gaming, Sky Betting & Gaming) and many other esteemed individuals.

“What stood out to me was the selection of topics and the variety, as well as the depth to which they were explored. I’ve noticed that other conferences often cover generic ideas, whereas here we delve into deep and specific subjects. We have people who actually work on sites, people who work constantly with regulatory commissions, so that was really a nice addition,” said Mariya Sayapina, Head of Performance at Game Lounge.

In addition, the Summit provided attendees with a dynamic show floor, featuring a diverse ensemble of 50 exhibitors. Notably, game providers were presented with the opportunity to showcase their work at the newly-introduced Game Innovation Stage, unveiling and pitching their latest titles and innovations to event attendees. Furthermore, attendees had the chance to deepen their engagement by visiting the presenting game studios in the dedicated Game Innovation Zone.

Rasmus Sojmark, CEO & Founder of SBC, “This year’s CasinoBeats Summit has surpassed all expectations, emerging as our largest and most successful edition to date. We embarked on a journey to reinvent the concept, striving to create a more engaging and immersive experience for the casino industry. Introducing game presentations, streamer sessions on the exhibition floor, six dedicated workshops, and roundtable discussions proved to be game-changers.

“Witnessing a bustling exhibition floor and packed conference rooms was truly incredible, as attendees fully embraced the myriad of business and educational opportunities offered by the event.”

This year’s CasinoBeats Summit also offered an extensive array of daytime and evening networking events, maximising opportunities for attendees to optimise their experience. The event lineup featured multiple gatherings and parties including the IMGL Breakfast Meetup, the Women in Gaming Breakfast, the Affiliate Lunchtime Meetup, the pre-registration and networking reception at SKYBeach, InterContinental, the official CasinoBeats Summit Networking Party at The Edge, Radisson and the CasinoBeats Closing Party at Infinity by Hugo’s.

“I found the networking elements to be extremely valuable, and what is truly amazing is that you provide the opportunity for all delegates to attend all the networking parties, which is crucial in this industry. I made numerous contacts and engaged in insightful conversations with many industry leaders. The entire experience was powerful,” said Dorota Gruszka, Marketing Manager at Booming Games.

Additionally, exclusive affairs such as the Affiliate Leaders VIP Dinner and the SBC Leaders & C-level VIP Dinner provided a perfect ambience for like-minded individuals to engage in meaningful conversations in a formal yet relaxed environment.

The Game Developer Awards marked the grand finale of the event, with Arsenal legend Gilberto Silva and returning host Trudy Kerr taking the stage. A total of 23 awards were presented, recognising outstanding achievements in the industry and honouring the best companies, casino titles, and individuals. Notable winners included Relax Gaming, BGaming, Brian Christopher, Barbara Bang and AvatarUX, among many other deserving recipients.

“We are extremely fortunate to have such a high calibre of game developer studios attending our event. This night presented a great opportunity to celebrate their work and contribute to further elevating the profiles of these studios,” Sojmark added.

Following the momentous success, the highly anticipated CasinoBeats Summit is set to make its return on 21 – 23 May 2024, once again taking place at the InterContinental Hotel in Malta.

eSports

Esports Foundation names Faker Game Ambassador for EWC and ENC through 2028

Published

10 hours ago

July 15, 2026

Wladimir P.

esports-foundation-names-faker-game-ambassador-for-ewc-and-enc-through-2028

Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok joins Cristiano Ronaldo and Magnus Carlsen in the Esports Foundation’s Ambassador Program.

The Esports Foundation (EF) has appointed Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok as a Game Ambassador for the Esports World Cup (EWC) and Esports Nations Cup (ENC) through 2028, the organization said on July 15, 2026 in a statement issued from Riyadh and Paris.

EF said Faker joins Cristiano Ronaldo, listed as the Foundation’s Global Ambassador, and Magnus Carlsen as part of the Esports Foundation Ambassador Program. The Foundation said Faker will represent “the perspective of esports players” across its international events, athlete initiatives, media engagements and leadership forums.

“You can’t talk about esports without mentioning Faker. He is the defining athlete of competitive gaming: a champion whose excellence, discipline and longevity have inspired an entire generation,” said Ralf Reichert, Chief Executive Officer of the Esports Foundation. “As our Game Ambassador, Faker represents something fundamental to the Ambassador Program: esports creates its own global sporting icons. Across EWC, ENC and NGSC, he will help ensure that the players who built this sport have a voice in shaping where it goes next.”

Faker said: “Competition has shaped my life, and I am proud to join the Esports Foundation as Game Ambassador. I want to continue competing for the biggest titles with T1 while representing the players and fans who have helped esports grow worldwide. Through the Esports World Cup, Esports Nations Cup and the Foundation’s wider platforms, I hope to inspire the next generation to pursue excellence, remain resilient and believe in how far competitive gaming can take them. There is still much more to achieve.”

EF highlighted Faker’s competitive record, describing him as a six-time League of Legends World Champion, EWC 2024 winner, two-time MSI champion and ten-time domestic champion with T1. The Foundation also said Faker became the first esports athlete to receive the Blue Dragon Medal in 2026, describing it as the Republic of Korea’s highest sporting honor awarded by President Lee Jae-myung.

The post Esports Foundation names Faker Game Ambassador for EWC and ENC through 2028 appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Brand Partnerships

Midnite signs as Middlesbrough FC principal partner for 2026/27 season

Published

17 hours ago

July 15, 2026

Wladimir P.

midnite-signs-as-middlesbrough-fc-principal-partner-for-2026/27-season

Midnite has agreed a partnership with Middlesbrough FC that will see the UK bookmaker become the club’s principal partner and front-of-shirt sponsor for the 2026/27 campaign, which Middlesbrough describes as its landmark 150th season.

The companies announced the deal alongside a fan activation at Riverside Stadium on Thursday, July 9, branded “This Season’s On Us”. The initiative offered supporters prizes including 2026/27 season tickets, 2026/27 shirts, match tickets, or a £25 club shop voucher, with fans required to answer Middlesbrough trivia and complete a football challenge.

Middlesbrough former players Craig Hignett and David Wheater attended the event, and, according to the company, took bonus attempts on behalf of participants who missed out.

Andrew Mook, Midnite’s Head of Brand Marketing, said:

“Middlesbrough have a storied history and we’re delighted to announce this partnership during such a monumental year with the club celebrating their 150th anniversary.

“It was great to see so many Middlesbrough fans at the “This Season’s On Us” activation, we hope they enjoyed taking part and meeting club legends, with David Wheater hitting top bins on several occasions and allowing fans to win big with season tickets.

“We can’t wait to get to Riverside Stadium in August to kick-off a new season and we’re excited to say that we have plenty of new and captivating campaigns planned.”

Lee Fryett, Middlesbrough FC Chief Commercial Officer, added:

“We’re delighted to welcome Midnite as our new Principal Partner.

“We’re looking forward to working closely with Midnite to develop engaging campaigns, content and unique experiences that bring our fans even closer to the club.

“We’re confident this partnership will provide real value for our supporters while supporting our ambitions both on and off the pitch.”

The post Midnite signs as Middlesbrough FC principal partner for 2026/27 season appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

AGCO

ThrillTech secures AGCO supplier licence for Ontario launch

Published

17 hours ago

July 15, 2026

Wladimir P.

thrilltech-secures-agco-supplier-licence-for-ontario-launch

ThrillTech has been awarded a Gaming-Related Supplier licence by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), clearing the company to launch in Ontario’s regulated market.

The licence allows ThrillTech to deploy its opt-in side bet jackpots technology with regulated online casino, sports betting and lottery operators across the province.

Benjamin Bradtke, Co-Founder of ThrillTech, said: “Securing our AGCO licence is a major step in our mission to transform how jackpots are delivered at scale across regulated markets. This latest certification is testament to our robust technology and trusted compliance frameworks, allowing us to continue our global growth trajectory. We are thrilled to bring our proven, compliant jackpot technology to Ontario, empowering locally licensed operators to uplift revenue without cannibalising existing spend.”

The company said its “ThrillPots” mechanics sit as an independent, player-funded side bet and do not alter the underlying game’s return-to-player mathematics.

ThrillTech said the Ontario approval enables its existing multinational partners that also operate in the province to launch its side bet jackpots locally, while it also holds talks with potential new operator partners. The company lists its regulated footprint as including the United Kingdom, Sweden, the Netherlands, Romania, Malta, Gibraltar, Brazil and Peru.

The post ThrillTech secures AGCO supplier licence for Ontario launch appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.