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AMIQUS & Ukie’s #RaiseTheGame launch new EDI Platform, Empower Up

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Award-winning specialist games recruitment agency Amiqus and Ukie’s #RaiseTheGame initiative have today launched Empower Up, a comprehensive platform to equip games companies of all sizes with the knowledge, frameworks, guidance and resources they need to establish, improve or grow their Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) policies, practices and processes.

Empower Up is suitable for all games companies, wherever they are on their EDI journey. For those looking to gain more understanding about what EDI is and why it’s important, the Intro To EDI section provides an overview. It also provides a summary of different Diversity Characteristics and Under-Represented Groups, along with some specific advice and guidance on each.

At the heart of Empower Up is a practical Health Check tool that enables games companies to benchmark where they are on their EDI journey. This will then signpost those companies and individuals to specific areas of the website where they can gain relevant advice and actionable steps on how to move forwards.

The EDI Journey section provides just that information and guidance, covering a number of areas, including:

  • Getting Started
  • Your Workplace Culture
  • Recruitment & Hiring
  • Staff Development & Retention
  • Marketing & Communications
  • Accessibility & Representation
  • Activities & Outreach
  • Legal Requirements

Meanwhile, a Resources section will provide inspirational Case Studies from studios already doing great work in EDI; a Directory of EDI organisations and initiatives; and a Glossary of Terms area. News and Events will also be regularly updated.

Studios and individuals are encouraged to sign up to become Empower Up Members, which will provide additional benefits, namely:

  • Take the Health Check and save results, allowing you to monitor your progress
  • Access to informative Case Studies from other games businesses and organisations
  • Bookmark articles to save in your personal Reading List
  • Downloadable resources, such as document and policy templates
  • Receive a monthly newsletter
  • VIP invitations to Empower Up events

Empower Up is a not-for-profit, industry-led platform from Amiqus and #RaiseTheGame.

Amiqus is headed up by Business Manager Liz Prince. With 20 years industry experience as a woman in games, she is also the force behind the G Into Gaming campaign, a pro bono initiative to drive more diversity and promote gender balance in the games industry. She is also a Women in Games Ambassador and a regular speaker on EDI topics at industry events. She said:

“There are many studios and employees who know that making their organisations a more inclusive, equal and welcoming place is the right thing to do – but often they just don’t know where to start, or how to progress. That is where the idea for Empower Up was created. There are some brilliant organisations and initiatives out there, but nothing that pulls everything together in one place to help studios to take actionable steps in this area. Empower Up has been a real labour of love, and we’re really proud and happy that it’s now ready to help games companies in the UK push forward with their EDI efforts.”

Ukie’s #RaiseTheGame initiative aims to get games businesses of all sizes to pledge to improve EDI through diverse recruiting practices, building inclusive working environments and representing voices in their games. Dom Shaw is the Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Coordinator for Ukie, as well as managing #RaiseTheGame. He said:

“It’s really exciting to see Empower Up come to life, and we thank both Amiqus and our leading #RaiseTheGame partners for supporting this important project. We want the games industry to be a more diverse and inclusive community, in which people from all backgrounds are welcome, valued and can flourish in their careers. Empower Up exists to empower organisations and individuals in the UK games industry to take their EDI knowledge and practices to the next level, through measurable and actionable steps. We look forward to seeing it in action in studios around the UK.”

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Whale.io Introduces Crock Dentist Game and Exclusive RWA NFT Collection

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Whale.io, an online casino and sportsbook platform, has announced the launch of Crock Dentist, a new addition to its Whale Originals game series. This release marks the first time the classic game, known for its engaging tooth-pulling mechanics, has been adapted as an original online casino title. Alongside the game, Whale.io is minting 1,000 Crock Dentist NFTs, available on its platform, providing holders with access to airdrop rewards tied to the game’s performance. These digital collectibles are designed to connect in-game assets with real-world value, aligning with the broader Real World Asset (RWA) integration trend in gaming and blockchain.

Crock Dentist: A New Whale Original

Crock Dentist reimagines the traditional game as a digital casino experience, combining familiar gameplay with randomized outcomes and modern graphics. As part of the Whale Originals portfolio, it is designed to deliver a seamless and entertaining experience for players. The game operates with a 97% Return to Player (RTP), meaning 3% of each wager contributes to a house edge, which is redistributed to the holders through an airdrop system.

Crock Dentist NFTs: Minting, Earning, Trading

Whale.io’s Crock Dentist NFTs introduce a novel way for players to engage with the platform’s ecosystem. The NFTs, limited to a supply of 1,000, can be minted directly on Whale.io’s website. Key features include:

  • Minting: Users can acquire a Crock Dentist NFT to participate in the platform’s reward system.
  • Earning: Each NFT entitles holders to 0.1% of airdrops funded by the game’s 3% house edge. Airdrops are distributed in $WHALE, the platform’s native token, at random intervals..
  • Trading: NFT holders can retain their assets to receive ongoing airdrops or trade them on secondary markets, based on their preferences.

The first weekend was an exclusive mint for Battlepass owners. It has been said that the public mint will open up for the public on Tuesday. Each user can mint up to 5 Crock NFTs and the mint price will increase daily until all 1000 NFTs are sold out. The airdrop pool grows with every spin played in Crock Dentist, creating a direct link between game activity and NFT holder rewards. Based on previous Whale Originals releases, the game performance is expected to grow consistently which translates to bigger airdrops for the NFT holders.

Transparency and Accessibility

Whale.io emphasizes transparency by maintaining publicly accessible wallet on its site:

  • Royalty Wallet: Finding all the info related to aftermarket transactions, buybacks, collection royalty and airdrops from the blockchain.

This approach ensures users can verify all activities on the blockchain, fostering trust and accountability. Airdrops are automatically sent to NFT holders’ wallets, requiring no additional actions beyond minting and holding.

Integration with $WHALE Token

The $WHALE token serves as the native currency within Whale.io’s ecosystem. Currently, users can utilize $WHALE to play games, purchase battle passes, or stake for additional benefits. With the upcoming Token Generation Event (TGE), the platform plans to introduce further utilities, enhancing the token’s role across its offerings. The launch of Crock Dentist and its NFT collection arrives as Whale.io prepares for its $WHALE TGE, a milestone that will expand the platform’s ecosystem. By minting Crock Dentist NFTs, users can join the community early and participate in the evolving reward structure. The limited supply of 1,000 NFTs underscores the exclusivity of this opportunity.

About Whale.io

Whale.io is an online casino and sportsbook platform known for its proprietary Whale Originals games and community-driven reward systems. Crock Dentist is now live on Whale.io, with NFT minting open to all users. Committed to transparency and innovation, Whale.io serves a global user base with a focus on integrating gaming and blockchain technology.

Discovering the future of Whale.io Casino and Whale Token by checking them out here:

Website: https://whale.io/nft

Socials: https://linktr.ee/whalesocials_tg

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2026 iGaming Trends Report

SOFTSWISS 2026 iGaming Trends Report: Waitlist Available Ahead of November Launch

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SOFTSWISS 2026 iGaming Trends Report: Waitlist Available Ahead of November LaunchReading Time: 2 minutes

SOFTSWISS has opened the waitlist for early access to the 2026 iGaming Trends Report – a comprehensive playbook created to provide business leaders with data-driven insights into iGaming perspectives for 2026. 

The fourth edition of the leading industry playbook, developed in partnership with NEXT.io, brings together quantitative research by independent analytics agency Kantar, qualified opinions from over 350 iGaming experts, and AI analysis of more than 120,000 media headlines to outline the key discussions shaping the future of the iGaming industry. Powered by real cases, market analytics, and authoritative views, the report shares credible, data-backed forecasts for 2026. 

While the report itself will be released on 3 November, waitlist members will receive early notification and priority access to exclusive insights as soon as it goes live. 

“Autumn is the season for building annual strategies – and it’s also the fastest-paced business season of the year. That’s why we suggest joining the 2026 iGaming Trends Report waitlist now, so when you sit down to plan your strategy, you’ll be fully equipped with the latest data and insights,” – said Valentina Bagniya, Chief Marketing Officer at SOFTSWISS.

The 2026 iGaming Trends Report, created by SOFTSWISS in partnership with NEXT.io, will be presented live during the 2026 iGaming Trends Marathon at the SiGMA Central Europe Summit on 5 November. The Marathon will unveil the new edition live on stage through a high-impact programme packed with expert talks and industry insights.

During the 2026 iGaming Trends Marathon, leading iGaming experts will share their perspectives on key industry areas, including cybersecurity, brand management, responsible gaming and, of course, AI integration. The programme will also cover discussions on the future of iGaming in Latin America and Africa. 

Last year 2025 iGaming Trend Report was included into the Honorable mentions list at PR Daily’s 2025 Content Marketing Awards ranked alongside Bayer, McDonald’s and Epam. 

To stay ahead in 2026, interested professionals can join the waitlist and be among the first to receive the full 2026 iGaming Trends Report the moment it goes live.

 

About SOFTSWISS

SOFTSWISS is an international technology company with over 15 years of experience in developing innovative solutions for the iGaming industry. SOFTSWISS provides comprehensive software for managing iGaming projects. The company’s product portfolio includes the Casino Platform, the Game Aggregator with over 35,000 casino games, Affilka Affiliate Platform, the Sportsbook Software and the Jackpot Aggregator. The expert team, based in Malta, Poland, and Georgia, counts over 2,000 employees.

The post SOFTSWISS 2026 iGaming Trends Report: Waitlist Available Ahead of November Launch appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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AI customer service

Introducing the newest testing tool for AI-boosted customer engagement

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Is AI technology really at the point where it can truly add value to customer engagement? Tugi Tark’s new sandbox environment allows operators to find out. 

Tugi Tark, the Estonian-based international AI customer service company, has launched its sandbox this week with the aim of giving operators the ability to explore how AI could work for their players, using their specific casino policies and player profiles, all in a real-world scenario.

By testing an unlimited number of situations wherein players interact with AI agents, the sandbox allows operators to experience how conversations and escalation flows would work if they implemented Tugi Tark as their customer service solution.

Harpo Lilja, CEO of Tugi Tark, explains: “The sandbox is essentially a controlled environment we’ve created where operators can test the AI agent capabilities against their own needs. They can configure the sandbox to their specific casino policies and adjust the agent’s tone of voice  — which gives them a first-hand preview of how our AI agent can serve their players.

He continues: “One reason we built the sandbox is that we know from conversations with operators that people are still hesitant about whether AI solutions have reached a point in customer service where the impact is worth implementing – or if AI technology is still at a level where it risks alienating players due to poor quality. And people don’t want to commit if they don’t really know what they’re getting, which is often the case, as companies usually don’t provide enough testing to do so.

What does the sandbox allow operators to do?

Tugi Tark’s sandbox can mimic everything operators need to see how it actually works, including:

  • player frustrations

  • technical troubleshooting

  • KYC concerns, bonus requests

  • payment issues, and more.

Casinos can manually add synthetic player data without integration, which showcases how well the AI agent can handle player inquiries when it has access to both policy documentation, player data, and gaming history.

Tugi Tark’s hybrid AI model blends operational automation with human oversight, focused on compliance, emotional intelligence, empathy, service mindset, and player safety. And now, that’s available for operators to test fully using their own unique circumstances.

The testing environment allows manual casino player profile inputs, such as name, account creation date, birthday, KYC status, account limits, player segment, available bonuses, transaction and game history, and a brand’s all policies.

Using intuitive automation, the AI agent is contextually appropriate for each conversation – there are no drop-down menus or prompts, but rather, ‘natural’ language that mimics how humans communicate. For example, if users misspell, abbreviate, or use slang, the agent will understand, and if not, it will ask follow-up questions until it does.

Another feature that was integrated for customer comfort is that if a player is a little vague, rather than return the classic AI chatbot “I didn’t understand your inquiry”, the agent can check all the KYC documentation, including status, player history, exact amounts and date, so it can ask intuitive follow-up questions and arrive at a solution more quickly and thoroughly.

“With the sandbox up and running, any operator in dozens of languages and geos is able to test how Tugi Tark’s AI  agents will work, on their site, within their player base. That means without having to endure lengthy sales pitches or commit to a product, operators are able to test exactly what it’s like having our technology work for them,” concludes Lilja. “And the great thing is that the entire process has a setup time of 30 minutes.

The post Introducing the newest testing tool for AI-boosted customer engagement appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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