Latest News
LOUISE ULRICK WINS POKERSTARS x POKER POWER WOMEN’S BOOTCAMP SHOWDOWN IN CYPRUS
There was a thrilling conclusion to the PokerStars x Poker Power Women’s Bootcamp Showdown at European Poker Tour (EPT) Cyprus with British player Louise Ulrick emerging victorious, winning a full package to EPT Prague this December.
The 55-year-old former maths teacher, turned licensee consultant, had never played a hand of poker until a few months ago but came out on top defeating American Katie Hopkins heads-up.
“I can’t believe it,” Ulrick told the PokerStars Blog after her victory. “Obviously winning was the objective of coming, but you never quite think it’s going to happen. I didn’t feel confident when we were practicing live. I felt clumsy with all the cards and the chips and everything, but today came together.
PokerStars x Poker Power Women’s Bootcamp Showdown Results
- Louise Ulrick – Former maths teacher
- Katie Hopkins – Associate General Counsel at Nasdaq, focusing on securities law
- Laura Lebailly – French student studying Luxury Marketing
- Sabrina Chevannes – Women’s international chess master who runs a London-based creative agency
- Katerena Nowosad – Accountant for a financial services company
- Drea Renee – TV reporter and massage therapist
- Yvonne Mai – Actress
- Jenny Larson – Charity Associate Executive Director
- Patrice Gordon – Leadership Development consultant specialising in reverse mentoring
- Ines Lafosse – Photographer, content creator and hotelier
Ulrick was one of 40 women who took part in an eight-week female-only poker bootcamp hosted by PokerStars and Poker Power, which saw women from around the world – who had no previous poker experience – learn and hone their skills.
“Anybody who is thinking about learning poker, it is such a good game to play,” continued Ulrick. “You can learn so much about yourself. There are online resources that are great to have a go at. And have a go!”
Following the intense programme which included weekly practice games and mentoring from PokerStars Team Pro Jen Shahade, the 40 recruits battled it out in Home Games Tournaments with ten awarded the chance to travel to EPT Cyprus to compete in the Ultimate Showdown.
Rebecca McAdam Willetts, Director of Partnerships, PR and Consumer Engagement said, “We are thrilled to be celebrating Louise as this year’s Women’s Bootcamp Champion and can’t wait to see how she gets on at EPT Prague. It has also been incredibly inspiring and rewarding to watch this group of women, and the community of women in poker around them, supporting each other and shining a light. The response from women around the world to this year’s bootcamp has been wonderful, with the number of participants increasing by over 400%. This, and the research we conducted earlier in the year, shows how vital it is to continue supporting women and activating our long-term plans to see more women take part, have fun and above all feel safe and comfortable at the poker table.”
Erin Lydon, President of Poker Power said, “Our innovative bootcamp program with PokerStars provides women with the platform and opportunity to go from zero to hero in an inclusive and supportive environment. All participants worked diligently during the Bootcamp and we hope that they each take away the strategies and skills developed through playing poker and apply them to their everyday lives. We are excited to congratulate Louise as the winner of the Showdown and very proud of all women who have taken their seats and begun their poker journey with us. Louise is proof that anyone can devote time, effort and study to this great game and triumph.”
Research conducted by PokerStars earlier this year, revealed that 55 per cent of women did not feel poker was inclusive to them, despite almost half (42 per cent) of women who play believing it helped improve their focus, concentration and decision-making ability.
In response, PokerStars teamed up with Poker Power to launch their second female-focused bootcamp to help women build their confidence and skills in poker, as well as provide a safe space for them to learn and play. Each recruit was taught game-play skills over eight weeks, that can translate to real world success including negotiation, strategic decision-making, and capital allocation.
Diamond Coins
Wazdan enhances Hot Slot™ series with Hot Slot™: Diamond Coins
Wazdan, the gain-focused game developer, has bolstered its high-performing Hot Slot
portfolio with the launch of Hot Slot
: Diamond Coins, a vibrant new title that merges the series’ retro charm with mechanics from its flagship Coins
collection.
Staying true to the Hot Slot
format, the game spans 15 reels and features fan-favourite mechanics including Cash Infinity
and Hold the Jackpot
, alongside specially designed Bonus symbols to boost engagement.
In the Hold the Jackpot
Bonus Game, players compete for a Grand Jackpot of up to 3,000x their stake. Standard Hot Slot
symbols also remain active on any reel without a Bonus symbol, using two paylines to deliver consistent base-game wins.
The Chance Level
feature adds an extra layer of strategy and excitement, increasing the likelihood of triggering the Hold the Jackpot
Bonus Round and offering players a more personalised gameplay experience.
Radka Bacheva, Head of Sales and Business Development at Wazdan, said:
“Hot Slot
: Diamond Coins marks an exciting milestone in the evolution of the Hot Slot
series. By combining the retro aesthetics players love with the proven performance of our Coins
mechanics, and layering in Cash Infinity
, Hold the Jackpot
, and Chance Level
, we’ve created a dynamic experience that immediately captures attention and delivers engaging, high-energy gameplay from the very first spin.”
Hot Slot
: Diamond Coins is now available for integration, designed to perform across global markets and appeal to a broad player base.
The post Wazdan enhances Hot Slot™ series with Hot Slot™: Diamond Coins appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
iGaming
PRAGMATIC PLAY BRINGS LEGENDARY SLOTS IP TO LIVE CASINO WITH GATES OF OLYMPUS ROULETTE
Pragmatic Play, a leading iGaming content supplier, has launched Gates of Olympus Roulette, a live casino experience that merges classic roulette with thrilling slot-action, delivering a game show truly fit for the gods.
Set in a temple-inspired studio with a marble-encased roulette wheel at its centre, the game immerses players in a Grecian fantasy world, complete with striking visuals, dramatic sounds, and charismatic presenters.
Each spin offers the chance to hit a Bonus Number and up to seven Lucky Numbers, carrying multipliers of 50x–250x to boost straight-up bets. The Super Booster feature further amplifies wins by multiplying the Bonus and selected Lucky Numbers 2x–10x, enabling potential payouts of up to 2,500x in the base game and 10,000x in the bonus round.
Landing the Bonus Number triggers the Gates of Olympus bonus game, where Zeus presides over a 6×5 slots grid. Starting with 15 spins, players win whenever 8–12+ matching symbols appear anywhere on the reels. Multipliers up to 500x can strike randomly on any spin or tumble, and three or more scatters award five additional spins.
Following the success of Sweet Bonanza CandyLand, which brought the iconic Sweet Bonanza slot to live casino audiences, Gates of Olympus Roulette underscores Pragmatic Play’s expertise in transforming beloved slot IPs into cross-vertical live experiences. The launch complements recent game show hits like Money Time and Mega Roulette 3000.
Sharon McHugh, Director of Public Relations at Pragmatic Play, said:
“Gates of Olympus Roulette is a spectacular addition to our portfolio, bringing one of our most celebrated IPs into the live casino spotlight. The epic studio design, dynamic roulette-slot fusion, and immersive Grecian theme showcase Pragmatic Play’s commitment to creating truly standout player experiences.”
The post PRAGMATIC PLAY BRINGS LEGENDARY SLOTS IP TO LIVE CASINO WITH GATES OF OLYMPUS ROULETTE appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
ELA Games
Thunder Ball: ELA Games Reinvents the Classic Fruit Slot
Exciting Multipliers, Electrifying Lightning Bonuses, and Four Impending Jackpots Are Ready in this Medium-Volatility 3×3 Game.
ELA Games reveals the launch of Thunder Ball, an energetic 3×3 slot that injects a vibrant boost into the classic fruit machine gameplay. Mixing nostalgic icons with a whirlwind of contemporary, unpredictable mechanics, this game encourages players to wield the force of lightning-like spheres for an opportunity to achieve a colossal 10,000x top prize.
A Roaring Central Gameplay
Operating on a small 3-reel, 3-row setup featuring 5 paylines, Thunder Ball quickly escalates the suspense. The excitement is driven by the Thunder Balls, which are the Bonus Symbols in the game, appearing on the first and third reels with multiplier values that vary from 1x to 15x the player’s bet. The voltage surges when the essential Collect Symbol falls with any of these orbs. This blend instantly activates the Boost Feature, a mechanism that promptly collects all visible Bonus values and Jackpots displayed on the screen, adding them straight to the player’s balance in a sudden burst of rewards.
Unexpected Hits and the Thunderball Reward
Even spins that don’t win can possess winning potential in this chaotic, unsettled environment. The Lucky Respin can randomly trigger after a dead spin, unexpectedly granting players a certain line win, a Boost feature, or immediate access to the Bonus Game.
To achieve the best effect, the Thunderball Feature can unexpectedly launch the Bonus Game directly from the regular spins and can even prepare the grid with Thunderball Multipliers prior to the start of the round. Upon entering the Bonus Game, players are granted three respins that reset each time a new Thunder Ball symbol secures its position.
While the storm continues, Thunderball Multipliers may randomly appear on the grid. When a multiplier lands in an already occupied cell, it increases by +2, progressively enhancing the value of any Bonus Symbols prior to their collection. Amidst the tempest of retro symbols, the Mini, Minor, Major, and Grand Jackpots await, where each flash of lightning holds the possibility of a flood of prizes.
Game Stats:
● Reels: 3×3
● Paylines: 5
● RTP: 96%
● Volatility: Mid
● Max Win: x10,000 (€250,000)
● Buy Bonus: No
The post Thunder Ball: ELA Games Reinvents the Classic Fruit Slot appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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