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FIA and IESF announce partnership in coalition against online abuse in sport
The Fédération Internationale de L’Automobile (FIA) is proud to announce its latest partnership with the International Esports Federation (IESF) in the fight against online abuse in sport. The agreement ceremony occurred at the 8th World Esports Summit in Busan, Republic of Korea, between General Secretary Boban Totovski and UAOA Campaign Leader Erin Bourke on behalf of FIA President, Mohammed Ben Sulayem.
As the digital world becomes increasingly ubiquitous, the IESF is central to this movement; uniting technology and competitive sports under one banner. Since its inception, the IESF has expanded to represent over 140 nations. It consistently promotes Esports as an actual sport beyond language, race, and cultural barriers, culminating in eight world Esports summits and several world championship events.
The collaboration between the FIA and IESF signifies a commitment to fostering a safe and inclusive environment for all stakeholders engaged in competitive sports. By leveraging their collective expertise and resources, both federations have pledged to:
- Support the development of scientific research and promote the organization of knowledge sharing.
- To establish effective frameworks in the response to online abuse including clear guidelines for stakeholders.
- To develop and implement educational programs aimed at competitors, officials, entourages, and fans to raise awareness about online abuse and best practices.
Mohammed Ben Sulayem, FIA President said:
“We deeply appreciate the IESF’s support as we advance our mission to drive out online abuse in sport. The IESF stands as a crucial partner, epitomizing connectivity and inclusivity through Esports and the digital realm. Together, through collaboration and commitment to action, we remain dedicated to paving the way for a safer, more respectful online environment for all.”
Boban Totovski, IESF General Secretary said:
“The process of building and developing the Esports ecosystem requires continual commitment and devoted Partners, and I’d like to use this opportunity to announce our new partnership with FIA, an organization sharing the same values as IESF, willing to participate and contribute to the long process of establishing a sustainable Esports platform.”
The IESF and FIA invite fellow federations and stakeholders passionate about preserving the integrity of the sporting ecosystem to join them in this coalition.
About the FIA United Against Online Abuse campaign
The ‘United Against Online Abuse’ campaign (UAOA), pioneered by FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem, is a collective stance against the growing epidemic of online abuse and hate speech in sports within the sporting ecosystem. The campaign is supported by the FIA Foundation. By uniting fellow Sports Federations, National Governments, Regulatory Institutions, and Technological Platforms, the coalition aims to bring about regulatory and behavioral change. We are research-led in our approach, and we are committed to action for the protection of our competitors, officials, fans, volunteers, and entourages. To date, the UAOA coalition has welcomed endorsement from the Governments of France, Greece, and Slovenia, alongside extensive discussions with the Governments of Belgium, Brazil, Malaysia, Spain, Mexico, Monaco, Singapore, China, Japan, Jamaica, and the UK. In academic, technological, and institutional relations, our lead research partner is Dublin City University, with ongoing discussions between UNESCO, the Council of Europe, Mozilla Firefox, and TikTok. In sporting relations, FIM, the International Esports Federation, ASETEK Sim Sports and Peace and Sport Monaco have signed the campaign’s Charter. Whilst a further 17 federations, including FIFA, the IOC, the ITF, World Athletics, World Netball and World Squash are expected to be welcomed into the coalition in due course.
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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