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The Unit and Red Knot Communications announce strategic alliance
The Unit, the leader in nearshore product development and marketing for sports betting and igaming, is entering a strategic alliance with Red Knot Communications, the PR and communications specialists in sports betting, igaming and general sports.
The partnership will allow both companies to align their strategies and expertise across several areas of operations, including PR and communications, branding, PPC, SEO, paid social, martech solutions and more. The Unit will expand its full-service marketing by adding Red Knot’s deep PR and media expertise, particularly in territories such as the US, Canada and LatAm.
Red Knot was founded in 2020 to operate at the intersection of sports, sports betting and gaming around the world with offices in the US, the UK, Latin America and the UAE. The Red Knot team works with the biggest media outlets and has amplified the profile of a diverse portfolio, including start-up sports leagues such as Major League Pickleball and Major League Cricket. Red Knot also works with sports betting and gaming companies such as 1st Technology, Angstrom Sports and PlayStar, as well as affiliate giants including Spotlight Sports Group and Playmaker Capital.
The first stage of the strategic alliance sees Mark O’Hare widen his responsibilities as Head of Business Development across both Red Knot and The Unit.
Mark possesses extensive industry experience in the betting and gaming sector, and since joining The Unit in 2018, he has spent time working and living in Ireland, France and the US. Mark manages several key client accounts for The Unit, assisting with SEO and PPC strategy and execution for the likes of Pala Interactive, NorthStar Bets and VIP Casino in Canada, LulaBet and PalaceBet in South Africa, Monkey Knife Fight and PlayStar Casino in the US, and BetRegal and Slotbox in Ireland.
Mark O’Hare said: “It’s a thrill to take on a new role with Red Knot as part of a very exciting project. I’ve really enjoyed my time with The Unit so far, and this collaboration with Red Knot feels like a fantastic opportunity to combine the strengths of both companies to the benefit of our clients. I look forward to working across both sides to ensure this partnership provides synergies and growth across a long-term period.”
Paddy Casey, Co-Founder at The Unit, said: “It’s fantastic to announce this strategic alliance with Red Knot. We have always found them to be a pleasure to work with, and their experience in PR and media in the gaming industry has already accelerated our own industry presence. At this point in the relationship, it feels like the perfect time to work together and make sure we can back each other in the best ways possible.
“Mark has been vital in supporting The Unit’s growth, having been with the company for most of its existence, and he will be the perfect figure to lead this new venture. I very much look forward to working with Mark further as this alliance gets off the ground.”
Andy Clerkson, Partner at Red Knot Communications, said: “I am delighted to launch our strategic alliance with The Unit. Our skill sets, target territories and client lists are totally complimentary. This global partnership crystallises a hive mind of two successful companies, comprised of very experienced gaming industry professionals who can super charge marketing for any B2C or B2B gaming or betting brand, anywhere in the world. We are very pleased to appoint Mark as Head of Business Development for the twin companies. It’s a clear signal of our intent.”
R. Franco Digital, the leading Spanish iGaming provider, has been officially shortlisted for Casino Platform Supplier of the Year at the prestigious EGR Europe Awards 2026. The nomination recognizes a landmark year for the company, characterized by the explosive growth of its IRIS Open Omnichannel Platform and a major commercial breakthrough into the Italian market.
The winners will be announced during a gala ceremony on February 18, 2026, at the Hilton Malta, where the industry’s top-tier operators and suppliers gather to celebrate European gaming excellence.
IRIS: The Engine of Omnichannel Growth
The core of R. Franco Digital’s success lies in its IRIS platform, a highly scalable, multi-jurisdictional solution that unifies casino, sports betting, and retail management.
IRIS Platform Milestones (2025-2026):
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Jurisdictional Reach: Certified in 6 jurisdictions and operational in over 10 regulated markets.
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Content Depth: Seamlessly integrated with over 1,600 games from global third-party providers.
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Operational Stability: Provides 24/7 multilingual support and advanced real-time analytics for operators.
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Commercial Momentum: Secured 50+ new operator partnerships and entered three new markets within the last 12 months.
Performance Highlights: 4 Billion Game Rounds
R. Franco Digital’s games portfolio has seen a massive surge in engagement, bolstered by 20 new high-performance slot releases in 2025. Standout titles such as Strange Spins, Aphrodite, Zorro: Final Duel, Ovomon, and The Phantom contributed to a record-breaking year.
| Metric | 2025–2026 Achievement |
| Total Game Rounds | 4 Billion+ across regulated markets |
| Revenue Growth | 30% Increase during the judging period |
| New Content | 20 New slot titles launched |
| Expansion | Debut in the Italian regulated market |
Strategic Italian Market Entry
A major factor in the EGR shortlisting was R. Franco Digital’s successful entry into Italy. The provider rapidly localized its content to meet the specific demands of Italian players through tier-one partnerships:
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Stanleybet.it: Launched 19 games, including the Italian-exclusive debut of Strange Spins.
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888.it: Successfully rolled out the popular Super 7 3×3 title.
“We’re proud to be shortlisted for this award, which reflects the strength of our IRIS platform and the quality of the content we’ve delivered over the past year,” said Javier Sacristán Franco, International Business Director at R. Franco Digital. “Our team has worked hard to support operators with reliable, innovative solutions… we are delighted to see that effort recognised.”
The post R. Franco Digital Shortlisted for Casino Platform Excellence at EGR Europe Awards 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Big Hot Flaming Pots
Big Hot Flaming Pots: Tasty Treasures – Lightning Box Brings Land-Based Hit Online
Light & Wonder has officially launched Big Hot Flaming Pots: Tasty Treasures, the digital debut of its highly successful land-based franchise. Developed by in-house specialist studio Lightning Box, this 3×5 slot offers 243 ways to win and a high-energy “three-pot” mechanic that has already become a staple on casino floors worldwide.
The game transitions the whimsical “dumpling-tossing” theme to online audiences, combining vibrant Asian-inspired aesthetics with a deep mathematical model designed for high-engagement sessions.
The Three-Pot Mechanic & Seven Feature Combinations
At the core of the gameplay is the persistent pot system. Landing specific colored coins fuels three separate pots—Yummy, Spicy, and Upsized. These pots can trigger individually or in any combination, leading to seven distinct bonus paths.
| Feature Mode | Gameplay Enhancement |
| Yummy Mode | Increases the Hold & Spin respin counter from 3 to 4, significantly extending bonus life. |
| Spicy Mode | Introduces Chilli multipliers; landing a pepper adds its cash value to every symbol currently held on the board. |
| Upsized Mode | Unlocks a Dual Grid (two reel sets) for the Hold & Spin round, doubling the win potential. |
| Combined Modes | Triggering all three at once creates the “Mega Bonus,” featuring dual grids, 4 respins, and value-boosting peppers. |
Innovation: The Stack N’ Hit
Feature
Unlike traditional Hold & Spin mechanics where symbols simply lock until the round ends, Tasty Treasures introduces the Stack N’ Hit
evolution.
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Reel Clearing: When a vertical reel is filled with Bun symbols, the prizes are instantly collected, and the reel is cleared.
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Persistent Respins: Clearing a reel creates open spaces for new prizes to land, allowing the bonus round to continue far longer than standard industry alternatives.
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The Path to Grand: Each cleared reel activates a “Pepper Tracker” above it. Lighting up all five trackers awards the Grand Progressive Jackpot.
Jackpot Tiers & Base Game Depth
Operators benefit from a versatile math model that supports both consistent base-game performance and high-volatility jackpot chases.
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Progressive Jackpots: Grand and Major tiers for life-changing win potential.
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Fixed Jackpots: Minor and Mini tiers awarded through symbols landing during features.
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Nudge Wilds: In the base game, Wild symbols can nudge to cover entire reels, assisting in achieving the 243-way payouts.
“Big Hot Flaming Pots: Tasty Treasures carries forward a brand that has already made its mark in land-based venues,” says Michael Maokhamphiou, Studio Director at Lightning Box. “This release offers operators a flexible, high-performing title that combines familiarity with fresh layers of engagement.”
The post Big Hot Flaming Pots: Tasty Treasures – Lightning Box Brings Land-Based Hit Online appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Blask data indicates Venezuela’s iGaming demand remained stable in the initial days following the US operation in Caracas.
On 3 January, US forces detained Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro, transporting him from Caracas to face prosecution in New York. The raid came after months of intensifying American pressure throughout 2025 — naval presence, targeted strikes, and a fresh sanctions package.
For Venezuela’s iGaming sector, the disruption poses a critical question: will demand collapse, or adapt?
First results
Blask’s daily Index remained within a tight corridor from 1–4 January, hovering in the high-200K zone. It dropped 5% to 257.4K on the day of the operation, before recovering the next day.
The data reveals no abrupt demand shift during this period. A slight decline sits within Venezuela’s normal daily fluctuations and does not point to a fundamental market change.
Rapid expansion, growing dominance
Venezuela stood out as one of iGaming’s strongest demand gainers in 2025. Blask Index surged 134.9% year-on-year — the second-highest growth worldwide.
This expansion came alongside increasing market dominance. By December, Triunfo Bet commanded 59% of Blask’s BAP (Brand Accumulated Power, measuring a brand’s portion of total user interest nationally), gaining 15 percentage points since January. The top three brands collectively reached over 85%, up 11 points.
The post How Venezuela’s iGaming market is reacting to US pressure appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
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