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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.

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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:

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“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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Evoplay starts a big fiesta in spicy new title Don Juan Peppers

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Evoplay, the award-winning game development studio, has released Don Juan Peppers, a fiery new slot that blends bold bonus features with festive flair.

Set in a sun-soaked Mexican town bursting with colour, rhythm and celebration, the game invites players to join the charismatic Don Juan himself for a lively fiesta across 20 fixed paylines.

The action centres around two types of bonus symbols. Landing three Chili Bonus icons on reels two, three and four triggers seven Free Spins. During Free Spins, each appearance of a Chili Bonus symbol awards an Instant Chili Prize corresponding to the value shown above its reel.

Meanwhile, landing six or more Bonus symbols activates the bonus game. In this mode, all Bonus and Chili icons lock in place and reset the spin counter to three. Chilis in this round boost the value of up to four Bonus symbols before transforming and continuing the chase for bigger wins.

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The bonus game also gives players a shot at four fixed jackpots: MINI, MEGA, SUPER, and the GRAND prize of 3,000x the bet. For players who want to skip straight to the fiesta, a Bonus Buy feature offers direct access to either the Bonus Game or Free Spins.

Don Juan Peppers is the latest release in Evoplay’s growing portfolio of standout slots, blending engaging gameplay with vibrant storytelling and proven features.

Ivan Kravchuk, CEO at Evoplay, said: Don Juan Peppers is a celebration of bold design and dynamic mechanics. By blending familiar bonus features with a distinctive aesthetic and rhythmic theme, we’ve created a slot that feels both familiar and fresh.

“It’s a fantastic showcase of our approach to delivering high-performing content with real personality.”

The post Evoplay starts a big fiesta in spicy new title Don Juan Peppers appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Greek Casino Industry Undergoes Major Transformation

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The Greek casino industry is undergoing a major transformation, with high-profile investments and relocations redefining the market.

While casinos now account for a smaller share of the broader gambling industry, with the total Greek gambling market reaching $31.5 billion in wagers in 2023 and gross gaming revenue of $2.8 billion, the flurry of new licenses, relocations and integrated resort projects is reshaping the sector and attracting international attention.

Following global trends, Greek casinos are evolving into integrated resorts, where gambling is just one part of a broader entertainment and hospitality experience.

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These resorts aim to attract high-end tourists, generate consistent visitor flows, boost tax revenue and enhance Greece’s international brand in luxury tourism. The next five years will be critical in establishing Greece as a leading Mediterranean destination for integrated resorts.

Leading the wave is the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Athens at the former Ellinikon site, a project valued at $1.6 billion. The venture is a partnership between Hard Rock International (51%) and GEK TERNA (49%), a major Greek construction and energy company, set to create one of Europe’s largest integrated resorts.

Standing 646 feet (197 meters) tall with 42 floors, the resort will include a five-star hotel, a conference center, event spaces and a casino built to international standards. Completion is expected within three years, creating three thousand construction jobs and three thousand permanent positions once operational.

Another key development is the relocation of Parni­tha Casino to Marousi. The plan, initially proposed thirteen years ago, overcame legal hurdles after the Council of State approved Presidential Decree No. 36 (FEK 79/A/30-3-2023), which permits the transfer and modernisation of the casino into a multifunctional complex.

This Voria complex will occupy 52 acres near Golden Hall—an upscale shopping mall in Marousi—with 27 acres allocated for public spaces and 25 acres housing the casino, a five-star hotel with 150 rooms, a 1400-seat auditorium, dining, entertainment areas and a 636-space underground parking garage.

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The $270 million investment is projected to create three thousand construction jobs and three thousand permanent positions, with completion expected three years after the building permit, anticipated in September 2025.

Three other casinos—in Rio, Alexandroupolis and Corfu—are undergoing financial restructuring.

Saint George Participations, linked to the Arfani and Chioni families, secured operational approval from the Hellenic Gaming Commission (EEEP) and plans to acquire licenses and control by purchasing existing loans and shares.

Although legally and financially complex, investors have already committed $13 million, signaling long-term involvement even before taking equity stakes.

The EEEP is also preparing to award a new casino license in Gournes, Heraklion, Crete, independent of the broader redevelopment of the former US base managed by Dimand.

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Crete’s strategic location, strong tourism and new infrastructure make it highly attractive. The license is expected to be offered via tender by early 2026, drawing international interest.

The post Greek Casino Industry Undergoes Major Transformation appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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UGC Calls for Global Teamwork to Stop Illegal Gambling

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The Ukrainian Gambling Council (UGC) has called for a united, tech-based plan to tackle the worldwide increase in illegal online betting.

Viktoriya Zakrevskaya, UGC’s Deputy Chair, said the quick growth of digital platforms has led to more unlicensed operators. These operators often use cryptocurrencies and social media to avoid getting caught and to attract users.

Illegal operators now make up a big part of the $618.7 billion global iGaming market expected by the end of 2025. These platforms often register offshore, use anonymous payments and market online, making it harder to enforce laws against them.

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Zakrevskaya pointed out that nations across the globe are trying out solutions that mix rules, tech and people’s involvement. Argentina, for example, has put in place tough age-checking systems and stops blacklisted websites on public Wi-Fi networks. This method, she explained, has made illegal sites harder to reach for at-risk groups such as kids.

In Indonesia, where betting is outlawed, officials have started watching money flows to cut off unlawful activity. Just last year, they froze 26,000 bank and e-wallet accounts tied to illegal betting operations, showing how focused money controls can limit unregulated gambling.

The US struggles with a unique problem because of its scattered rules. Unlawful betting websites are growing almost twice as fast as legal ones in the US. Over 80% of users see ads for unlicensed sites. People are now trying to tighten control on digital money and push big tech companies to better manage gambling content.

Ukraine has stepped up its crackdown. The country’s new watchdog PlayCity, which started after KRAIL was shut down, is teaming up with global tech firms like Meta to take down social media accounts that promote illegal casinos. The government has also blocked more than a hundred unlicensed sites thought to be sending money to Russia. Kyiv thinks Moscow uses the underground gambling world to fund its ongoing war.

A crucial element of Ukraine’s long-term plan involves creating a system to monitor bets and tax income in real time with transparency. The Ministry of Digital Transformation is working with tech experts to construct the platform, which should enhance supervision and boost public confidence in the regulated market.

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