Latest News
OpenBet Welcomes Sam Depoortere as VP of Platform Products
OpenBet, a leading technology, content and service provider to the sports betting industry, has appointed Sam Depoortere as its new Vice President of Platform Products to drive continued innovation within the company.
Depoortere has a wealth of industry experience, most recently serving as Business Director for TOTO (Sportsbook & Casino) at Nederlandse Loterij, the largest gambling operator in the Netherlands. During his tenure, he oversaw the operator’s online sportsbook, casino, and retail sportsbook divisions.
Previously, Depoortere was Marketing & Sportsbook Manager at TOTO and held positions with renowned brands such as Betway and Media Odds. OpenBet is well-positioned to benefit from his extensive operator experience, providing a solid foundation for the company’s continued focus on its platform products.
In his new role, Depoortere will be responsible for driving the sports betting provider’s platform solutions product strategy, playing a vital role in executing the growth of its solutions in the coming years. Based in Athens, Depoortere will report directly to Nikos Konstakis, Chief Product Officer at OpenBet, taking charge of product lifecycle management.
Sam Depoortere, VP of Platform Products at OpenBet commented: “I am thrilled to step into this role at OpenBet, an industry leader known for its innovation and strong partnerships.
“Leveraging my experience and insights from the operator side, I am committed to steering OpenBet’s platform products to new heights and ensuring that we remain at the forefront of delivering safe and entertaining betting experiences for players worldwide.”
Nikos Konstakis, Chief Product Officer at OpenBet, added: “With Sam joining the ranks, we are poised for even greater success. His in-depth understanding of best practices and unparalleled industry experience makes him a valuable addition to the team.
“As we look to the future, we are confident that with Sam’s extensive experience and leadership qualities, OpenBet will continue to redefine the standards in sports betting entertainment.”
Anthony Dalla-Giacoma Chief Commercial Officer at Swintt
Swintt launches Wild Chicken slot with roaming wilds and free spins
Premium release features a 5×3 layout with 10 paylines, a Risk gamble option, and a stated max win of 10,000x.
Swintt has released Wild Chicken, a new Premium slot that introduces roaming wilds and a free spins feature, with the supplier stating a maximum win of up to 10,000x the bet.
The game runs on a 5×3 reel layout with 10 fixed paylines. Its key mechanic is a “roaming rooster wild” that remains on the reels and shifts one position to the left after each spin, potentially contributing to multiple wins.
Free spins are triggered by landing three or more grain sack scatter symbols in the base game. Players receive 10, 15 or 20 free spins depending on the number of triggering scatters, and any wilds on the reels add one extra free spin while they remain present. Swintt also says collecting four additional grain sacks increases the wild’s size from one to three symbol positions, before it becomes an expanding symbol that fills its reel when it appears. Three or more grain sacks can retrigger the feature.
Wild Chicken also includes an optional Risk feature, where players can attempt to double winnings by guessing the colour of a hidden playing card, up to the game’s maximum payout.
Anthony Dalla-Giacoma, Chief Commercial Officer at Swintt, said: “Combining classic visuals and sounds with a progressive prize mechanic, Wild Chicken is the Premium release that players have been waiting for. With unique rooster wilds roaming the reels during the base game and expanding in size during the main feature, there’s a ton of excitement to be had on every spin, and a maximum jackpot of 10,000x means its sure to be a popular entry in all operators’ line-ups.”
The post Swintt launches Wild Chicken slot with roaming wilds and free spins appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Brand Partnerships
Ronaldinho partners with CreedRoomz on football-themed live casino games
The former Brazil star visited CreedRoomz’ Yerevan studio as the supplier prepares Kickoff Roulette and Marble Cup.
Ronaldinho Gaúcho has partnered with live casino supplier CreedRoomz to develop two football-themed live games, Kickoff Roulette and Marble Cup. The company said the collaboration was officially unveiled in Yerevan, where Ronaldinho visited CreedRoomz’ headquarters and filming studios.
CreedRoomz said Ronaldinho toured the studio floor, met development and production teams, and took part in filming activity intended to integrate his on-screen presence into the live product.
According to the company, Kickoff Roulette is a live roulette title built around a football-stadium presentation and includes Ronaldinho-themed elements such as voiceovers. Marble Cup is positioned as a live game show in a football-themed studio environment, with gameplay designed around fast-paced rounds and betting options.
“It is amazing to be here. The incredible Yerevan energy and the warm welcome at the office have been fantastic. Stepping onto this digital pitch is a thrill because these are totally unique games. I am proud to be the ambassador for these games.” said Ronaldinho during the interview.
CreedRoomz said the timing is designed to align with increased football audience attention around major tournaments, with a focus on engagement and retention. No launch date, operator rollout plan, or market availability details were disclosed.
The post Ronaldinho partners with CreedRoomz on football-themed live casino games appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
eSports
Esports Foundation sets Esports World Cup 2026 venue at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles
Tickets go on sale May 29 for the seven-week Paris event running July 6 to August 23, with a $75 million prize pool across 25 competitions.
The Esports Foundation (EF) has confirmed Paris Expo Porte de Versailles as the venue for the Esports World Cup 2026, scheduled for July 06 through August 23 in Paris, France.
Ticket sales open Friday, May 29, 2026 via esportsworldcup.com/tickets. EF said the event will run for seven weeks and span 25 competitions, with more than 2,000 players from over 200 Clubs and more than 100 countries competing for a $75 million prize pool.
EF said Paris Expo Porte de Versailles will host competition arenas, broadcast operations, fan activations, and festival experiences. The organiser also pointed to the venue’s track record as the home of Paris Games Week since 2010 and as a site used during the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Ticketing includes Regular Tournament Passes and Premium Tournament Passes, alongside Daily Regular Tournament Passes. For select championship matches across VALORANT, League of Legends, Rocket League, and Counter-Strike 2, EF said “Final Day Seating Zones” will be split into Gold, Silver, and Bronze tiers.
The published schedule lists Week 1 events including VALORANT (July 9–12), ALGS Year 6 Split 1 Playoffs for Apex Legends (July 7–11), Dota 2 (July 7–12), and FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves (July 8–11), concluding in Week 7 with Counter-Strike 2 (August 19–23), Fortnite Reload Elite Series Championship (August 19–22), Trackmania (August 19–22), and CROSSFIRE (August 18–22).
The post Esports Foundation sets Esports World Cup 2026 venue at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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