Latest News
From smashing particles together to driving data strategy and innovation – Skrmiish welcomes Dr. João Pela as new Head of Data
João Pela (PhD) has recently been appointed as Skrmiish’s new Head of Data. Pela comes from a strong background in the field of data science and machine learning, working as a researcher and experimental physicist at CERN before moving to tech startups Rotageek and Seatfrog as a data scientist and quickly ascending to leadership roles. He now joins Skrmiish to focus on data-driven innovation and help deliver exceptional experiences to its global community of gamers.
Speaking about his new role, Pela said: “I am joining Skrmiish at a key moment in its journey and I will be focusing on building up our data practice and making sure we have a data-driven culture in all we do. I plan to help the company shape its strategy by building a modern and effective data infrastructure, democratising data access, and introducing machine learning where relevant.”
From CERN in Switzerland to a global tech startup
Pela spent nine years working at the world’s largest particle physics lab, CERN, helping to discover the famous Higgs Boson – the so-called “God particle”. This discovery was awarded the Physics Nobel Prize in 2013. Pela left academia and research in 2016 to join Rotageek as a Data Scientist and quickly took the lead building their flagship auto-scheduling products. In 2018, he moved to Seatfrog as Head of Data where he built their engineering and analytics teams. Both Rotageek and Seatfrog have successfully raised over $40-million between them and are high growth tech businesses. Pela has a strong background in algorithm and model building, forecasting, analytics and also strategic and project planning.
“João comes from an incredible background of data, science and smashing particles together deep underground in CERN,” says Skrmiish co-founder and MD, Chris Heaton. “We are all very excited to have someone with his expertise in the business. He is another weapon in our armoury helping Skrmiish to achieve incredible success.”
Unique play-to-earn model
Based in the Isle of Man, but building with a strong tech team out of Cape Town, Skrmiish is the world’s first app that gives any gamer the opportunity to monetise their matches in the games they love to play.
Boasting the world’s first competitive blockchain-based gaming wallet, the company is pioneering play-to-earn technology for the AAA gaming market. Over half a million GBP in earnings has been paid out to-date and Skrmiish has more than 75,000 active players earning money gaming every month.
Creating a data-driven gaming tech culture
“João’s appointment marks a significant milestone for Skrmiish as it continues to expand its capabilities in the gaming industry,” says Heaton. “Pela is well-positioned to lead Skrmiish’s data initiatives and drive innovation across the organisation, ensuring that Skrmiish maintains its competitive edge. He will join our CEO Luke Grob and team in the London office.”
Pela concludes: “I will be Skrmiish’s data voice as we grow into a major player in how gamers can generate income from doing what they love. I’m excited about joining a fast-growing business with a lot of potential, where I feel I can make a real impact!”
Carl Gatt Baldacchino Head of Account Management SlotMatrix
High-Voltage Reels: SlotMatrix Debuts Salty Sam’s Rage Bait
SlotMatrix, the premier casino content aggregator globally, is enhancing its unique portfolio by introducing Salty Sam’s Rage Bait, an energetic fishing experience that merges character-focused gameplay with dynamic Spin & Win features.
Situated in the chaotic waters overseen by fisherman Salty Sam, the game invites players to throw their lines over colorful reels filled with Wilds and Bonus icons. Each Wild that appears intensifies Sam’s fury, bringing him nearer to exploding with rage, activating the Spin & Win feature.
The core game offers thrilling speed, while hitting three, four, or five Bonus symbols triggers the Free Spins Bonus, granting eight, ten, or twelve complimentary spins. In this mode, extra Wilds fill the reels, enhancing the likelihood of triggering the Spin & Win feature and forming powerful combinations.
The Spin & Win function includes fish multipliers and bait symbols that work together to enhance nearby values via dynamic chain reactions. Multipliers can increase significantly, resetting spins and revealing substantial possibilities as the grid becomes populated with enhanced symbols.
Available solely via SlotMatrix, Salty Sam’s Rage Bait features EveryMatrix’s unique gamification features, such as leaderboards and free spins, and can be effortlessly incorporated with EngageSuite, the comprehensive player loyalty system.
Carl Gatt Baldacchino, Head of Account Management, SlotMatrix, said: “Salty Sam’s Rage Bait is a highly entertaining title and a strong addition for operators looking to keep engagement high. I’m confident it will be especially popular with players who are fans of fast paced, all action content.”
The post High-Voltage Reels: SlotMatrix Debuts Salty Sam’s Rage Bait appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
James Jelliffe Head of Slots at Stakelogic
Stakelogic reinvents vintage slot thrills with Mega Fortune’s Hold ’n’ Win twist
From fruit to wealth, traditional slot icons reappear alongside Coin collections and bonus elements.
Stakelogic has broadened its slot collection with the launch of Mega Fortune, a Hold ’n’ Win game that embraces traditional slot design while incorporating bonus features to maintain the momentum from one spin to the next.
Set on a traditional 5×4 grid featuring 20 paylines, Mega Fortune combines fruit, BARs, and sevens symbols with Gold and Silver Coins that are central to the game’s winning possibilities. The game has an RTP of as high as 96.03% and a top multiplier of x1,000.
Coin symbols enhance the primary experience, showcasing fixed values of up to 25 times the total wager and replacing each other to assist in forming winning combinations. The Hold ’n’ Win Bonus activates when five or more Coins appear anywhere on the reels during a single spin. In the feature, Coin symbols become固定不变, enabling wins to accumulate as more Coin values are gathered and summed to the total.
Aside from the bonus round, the game features the Sevens Sweep mechanic, in which a Red 7 Chest symbol can gather visible Coin values from the reels, generating chances for quicker win accumulation and maintaining excitement even when not in the Hold ’n’ Win feature.
For those wanting to speed up the gameplay, Mega Fortune features a Buy Bonus option, granting instant access to the Hold ’n’ Win feature, along with Super Stake
, which increases the likelihood of activating Free Spins for half of the wager.
James Jelliffe, Head of Slots at Stakelogic, said: “Mega Fortune is a game that players who appreciate our classic slot catalogue will enjoy and we have enough new gameplay features involved to keep the game rewarding. The core mechanics, multipliers and collection lock in with the Hold n Win bonus and make this game a winner for both old and new players.”
The post Stakelogic reinvents vintage slot thrills with Mega Fortune’s Hold ’n’ Win twist appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Deron Hunsberger
Konami Gaming Appoints Deron Hunsberger as Vice President, North American Game Sales
Konami Gaming Inc. has appointed Deron Hunsberger as its vice president, North American game sales, bringing a 25-year track record of customer partnership and business results. In this role, he is responsible for developing and executing strategic sales initiatives in land-based casino games markets across the US and Canada. Formerly appointed director of slot sales from 2000 to 2006, Deron Hunsberger returns to Konami Gaming with a significant prior term as one of the organization’s earliest employees.
“Deron Hunsberger’s demonstrated customer commitment, solutions-driven approach, and passion for continuous improvement algin with our organization’s enduring values and key objectives. Hunsberger’s prior experience with Konami further positions him for success in this role, leading an incredibly talented and dedicated team of representatives serving casinos from coast-to-coast,” said Tom Jingoli, president & chief operating officer at Konami Gaming Inc.
The post Konami Gaming Appoints Deron Hunsberger as Vice President, North American Game Sales appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
-
Latest News6 days ago
N1 Partners Hosts the N1 Puzzle Promo Grand Final and Reveals the Helicopter Winner at iGB Affiliate 2026 in Barcelona
-
Games Global6 days agoGames Global and Stormcraft Studios extend the supernatural franchise with Immortal Romance: Sarah’s Secret Power Combo
-
Amusnet6 days ago
Week 4/2026 slot games releases
-
ADG7 days ago
Arizona Department of Gaming Names Juan Carlos Estrada as Boxing and Mixed Martial Arts Executive Director
-
Anton Ivannikov CPO at Playson7 days ago
Playson’s Vegas Glitz Shines with Dual Bonus Features
-
Battle Royale7 days ago
Prime Rush Goes Live in Early Access, Bringing a Brazil-First Mobile Battle Royale to Players
-
AFCON 20257 days ago
AFCON’s month of football did not lift iGaming demand — Blask data analysis
-
Blueprint Gaming7 days ago
Unlock Features and Riches with Blueprint Gaming’s Gold Strike Express™
