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THE FUTURE IS PROMISING. THE WORLD OF LOTTERIES AND BETTING IS EVOLVING, CREATING ASTOUNDING CROSSOVERS WITH THE RETAIL INDUSTRY

Published

2 years ago

January 29, 2024

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Reading Time: 4 minutes

Custom Group presents an unexpected market overview: new technology trends with specific modular and scalable requirements, unprecedented integrated solutions, demand for a global presence with service centres and multi-sector expertise to support partners, distributors, customers and industry players.

The gaming industry is going through an unprecedented revolution. Custom presents the latest innovations and a thorough scenario overview focusing on ICE TOTALLY GAMING – booth S5-211. With more than two decades of experience, Custom is positioned as a leader in the evolution of the Lottery, Gaming and Betting industry. The Group forecasts a +180% increase in turnover for the two-year period 2024-25 based on market data and internal forecasts in the wake of online gaming, which has been growing rapidly for the past two years. In fact, the sports betting sector recorded a 30 percent increase in 2022, winnings amounting to 69 billion € online, once again highlighting the positive trend that will also include the Lottery world by virtue of the 20 new licensing tenders which will ensure further global growth. Custom comes across as strong to ICE with a global and diversified presence, offering the widest range of integrated solutions to multiple markets and enabling all types of stakeholders to choose from the Group’s different solutions and technologies based on unique and synergistic know-how. This -one stop shop- approach opens new horizons and expands opportunities by providing unique services throughout more than 76 different countries.

INDUSTRY TRENDS

Expertise, Global Presence & Service. Custom, which operates in 76 countries, provides innovative and sustainable technology solutions for different but now increasingly synergistic fields such as Lottery&Betting and Retail. Custom’s global presence ensures total and comprehensive value chain management, guaranteed throughout all stages: design, customisation, pre/after sales and services. 5 Production plants and more than 680 employees including 280 engineers.
Phigital: Self-Service evolution and convergence of online and physical. The U.S. market for self-service systems is estimated at $4.5 billion by 2026. Custom provides advanced self-service solutions capable of ensuring high security standards, including smart lockers as well as anti-corruption and anti-fraud technologies. In fact, Custom has a track record of more than 3 decades in providing kiosk technology solutions in several different markets.
POS Refresh – Point of Sale (POS) modernisation: attended & unattended solutions. Custom presents advanced POS solutions to optimise the point of sale. POS Refresh” has been an IT investment priority in 2023 for 50 percent of retailers. Digital Environment: Audio-video and multimedia solutions to make environments interactive and engaging. Custom offers multi-sensory experiences with solutions such as content management players, interactive tables and custom touch monitors.

Custom is a player that can best serve all kinds of stakeholders and different markets. Custom Group now has more than 300,000 installations in Gaming, Lottery and Betting in 76 countries, registering a convergence of the Lottery & Betting sector with the retail sector in the last two years.

HIGHLIGHTS

Attended & Unattended solutions which focus on traditional and hybrid cashpoints. DAYTONA and ARAGON POS terminals, Custom’s reliable Retail Lottery printers, and ultra-fast devices for scanning different ticket sizes. This portfolio ensures a fast and error-free service. Custom’s self-service solutions are the most technologically advanced devices to date, made for customers who want to play autonomously.

Trend for Self-Service and “customised and integrated” experiences thanks to the Group Solutions. For more than 3 decades, Custom has worked behind the scenes providing printing and scanning technologies that power kiosks in aviation, parking, lotteries, gaming, and retail. Custom’s solutions aim to engage players where and how they want, offering personalized gaming experiences. For 2024, Custom has expanded its product range with modular kiosk components, all-in-one solutions, and smart lockers that enable retailers to quickly deploy self-service terminals throughout the store. CONNECT is designed to meet the needs of different applications – unattended or attended – in the countertop or floor standing version, in a compact and stylish design. ARAGON is the POS Terminal for the future with a range of processors for any task: from entry level Intel® Celeron®, up to Core i3, and high performing Core i5. This device boasts a modern and slim design with futureproof full HD touch display and a full glass front.

SILK II is a POS Terminal with standard Android 11 and Google Play Store. A full set of USB interfaces will allow you to connect all your accessories. Bluetooth® and Wi-Fi® are also integrated. GLASS27 is Custom’s newest Advanced Solution. Thanks to the revolutionary FHD full glass technology with built-in monitor and receipt printer, GLASS27 combines style and function, supports both Windows and Android operating systems, and is capable of integrating the market’s most frequently used PinPads. This solution is available in desktop, pedestal and wall mount, thus becoming the perfect match for the needs of multiple markets and businesses.

Point of Sale (POS) Modernisation and Mobile Solutions. The POS remains at the heart of every retail store, and Custom is ready to help retailers in the process of upgrading POS hardware and software. ARAGON POS terminal is the perfect solution for enhancing point-of-sale transactions, adding style to any counter with power and reliability for Windows and Linux. Mobile is having a major impact on in-store sales. According to a study by the IHL Group, companies whose staff used mobile sales tools experienced a 77% growth in sales. Mobile POS continues to play a major role in today’s shopping experience, not only for the customer, but also for the store clerk. Custom’s Ranger family of mobile devices, tablets and mobile printers enables retailers to engage customers throughout the entire in-store shopping process: at the sidewalk, in the hallway, in the shop floor, or next to the car. T-RANGER is a 10.1-inch multifunctional tablet for store and warehouse use. Extremely robust and powered by a 10,000 mAh battery, T-RANGER is designed to withstand the impact of your activity all day, every day.

Transparency and Trust: Veriprint® technology enables transparency and traceability of all lottery transactions. Each ticket can be scanned and stored, ensuring that lottery results are tamper-proof. This transparency builds user-trust and eliminates doubts of fraud or manipulation.

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Agganis Arena

RLCS Boston Major Becomes Most Watched Event in Rocket League History

Published

3 hours ago

February 25, 2026

Wladimir P.

rlcs-boston-major-becomes-most-watched-event-in-rocket-league-history

The Rocket League Championship Series (RLCS) Boston Major 2026 has officially become the most-watched event in Rocket League esports history, setting a new benchmark for global engagement and competitive excellence.

Held at Agganis Arena in Boston, the Major concluded with a thrilling all-French Grand Final, where Gentlemates defeated tournament favourites Team Vitality 4:2 to claim the first Major title of the 2026 season.

Record-Breaking Viewership Milestone

The RLCS Boston Major 2026 delivered unprecedented audience numbers:

Peak Viewers: 624,316 concurrent viewers
Average Viewership: Over 270,000 viewers
First RLCS event ever to surpass 600,000 concurrent viewers

This milestone represents a 33.3% increase over the previous all-time peak recorded at the 2022–23 RLCS World Championship, highlighting sustained year-over-year growth and expanding global interest in Rocket League esports.

The event’s performance reinforces RLCS as one of the fastest-growing competitive circuits in modern esports.

A Grand Final Worthy of the Record

The Boston Major culminated in a high-stakes French showdown between Gentlemates and Team Vitality. The 4:2 victory secured Gentlemates’ first Major trophy of the season and signaled a shift in competitive power dynamics heading deeper into 2026.

The all-French final further amplified international audience engagement, particularly across European broadcast markets, contributing significantly to the event’s record-breaking concurrent viewership.

Global Broadcast Reach and Multi-Language Coverage

Beyond peak numbers, the Boston Major showcased:

Multi-language broadcast streams
Cross-platform digital distribution
Strong in-arena attendance
Expanded regional fan engagement

Hosted in front of thousands of live fans at Agganis Arena, the event combined traditional arena esports spectacle with robust online streaming performance — a formula that continues to fuel RLCS’s accelerating global momentum.

What This Means for Rocket League Esports

The 2026 Boston Major marks a defining moment for the RLCS ecosystem:

Sustained Global Growth – The consistent upward trend in viewership confirms Rocket League’s staying power within the esports landscape.
Mainstream Momentum – Breaking the 600K peak threshold positions RLCS among elite-tier esports events globally.
Competitive Depth – The diversity and intensity of international competition continue to elevate the broadcast product.
Commercial Validation – Record audience metrics strengthen sponsorship, media rights, and long-term circuit investment potential.

As the 2026 season progresses, the Boston Major sets a new performance benchmark that future Majors and the World Championship will aim to surpass.

The post RLCS Boston Major Becomes Most Watched Event in Rocket League History appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Competitive Poker

David Lappin Named PokerStars Ambassador

Published

3 hours ago

February 25, 2026

Wladimir P.

david-lappin-named-pokerstars-ambassador

PokerStars has officially named Irish poker professional David Lappin as the winner of its inaugural Live League ambassadorship, marking a major milestone for both the seasoned pro and the global poker brand. The announcement follows the conclusion of the 2025 PokerStars Live League season, where players competed across European events for leaderboard supremacy and a coveted ambassador position.

Lappin, widely respected as a poker player, writer, commentator, and industry voice, now joins the prestigious PokerStars ambassador roster after emerging as the standout candidate among top leaderboard performers.

A Season-Long Path to Representation

The 2025 PokerStars Live League introduced a structured, merit-based pathway for players to earn ambassador status. Competitors accumulated points across three buy-in-based leaderboard tiers — High, Medium, and Low — throughout major European live events.

Qualifying tournaments included stops on the renowned European Poker Tour (EPT), regional PokerStars Open events, and even the iconic Irish Poker Open, a long-standing highlight of the European poker calendar.

At the end of the season:

Top 30 players (Top 10 per tier) earned the right to audition.
A PokerStars judging panel selected the ultimate ambassador.
Lappin was chosen for his consistency, credibility, and player-first approach.

This structure reflects PokerStars’ growing emphasis on meritocracy and community representation rather than purely promotional appointments.

Player-Led Representation at the Core

As a PokerStars Ambassador, Lappin’s role extends beyond brand visibility. His focus will center on:

Competing in flagship EPT Main Events
Participating in PokerStars Open stops
Promoting online-to-live qualification routes
Engaging directly with the player community

PokerStars has made clear that this ambassadorship is rooted in authentic player representation. Lappin has long advocated that ambassadors should serve as bridges between operators and players — not simply brand spokespeople.

His reputation as a thoughtful commentator and outspoken industry analyst positions him as a natural intermediary between grassroots competitors and event organizers.

Cédric Billot, Associate Director of Live Events Operations at PokerStars, emphasized Lappin’s longstanding presence on the circuit and deep understanding of the live ecosystem. According to Billot, Lappin’s authenticity and alignment with PokerStars values made him a “natural fit” for the role.

Strengthening the Online-to-Live Pathway

A key component of Lappin’s ambassadorship will be highlighting PokerStars’ satellite ecosystem — a system allowing online players to qualify for major live tournaments at a fraction of the standard buy-in.

This online-to-live funnel remains central to PokerStars’ brand identity. By promoting satellite qualifiers and digital routes into live events, Lappin reinforces PokerStars’ commitment to accessibility and upward mobility within competitive poker.

For aspiring players, this messaging underscores an important truth: online grinders can convert modest investments into major live opportunities.

The 2026 PokerStars Live League Expansion

The announcement coincides with the launch of the 2026 PokerStars Live League season, which began at PokerStars Open Campione.

Key highlights of the 2026 league include:

€157,500 in PokerStars LIVE credits awarded
Prizes distributed across High, Medium, and Low tiers
A new €100,000 live freeroll at the first EPT stop of 2027
Expanded rewards structure benefiting top 30 finishers in each tier

The second stop of the 2026 season is currently underway at EPT Paris, offering players additional opportunities to earn leaderboard points.

League standings and live updates are available through the PokerStars Live app, further integrating digital tracking with live competition.

Strategic Implications for PokerStars

Lappin’s appointment reflects broader strategic shifts in the live poker landscape:

Community Credibility Over Celebrity Marketing
PokerStars continues prioritizing ambassadors with deep player roots rather than purely mainstream appeal.
Reinforcing European Live Dominance
By strengthening the Live League and EPT ecosystem, PokerStars consolidates its hold on Europe’s premier live poker circuits.
Retention Through Gamification
The leaderboard structure encourages year-long engagement, incentivizing consistent participation rather than one-off tournament attendance.
Expanding Reward Distribution
The 2026 freeroll addition broadens prize accessibility, rewarding loyalty across all buy-in levels.

Why This Matters for the Poker Industry

The poker industry has increasingly leaned into hybrid engagement models — combining online platforms, live tours, community ambassadors, and digital content ecosystems.

Lappin’s appointment symbolizes this evolution. As a hybrid figure — competitor, analyst, content creator — he embodies the modern poker ambassador archetype: credible, vocal, accessible, and community-oriented.

The Live League format itself may also influence competitor operators to rethink how ambassador programs are structured, shifting toward performance-based selection models.

The post David Lappin Named PokerStars Ambassador appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Latest News

Plaza Hotel & Casino debuts the only live streaming service in Las Vegas to broadcast the excitement of its smoke free gaming area

Published

3 hours ago

February 25, 2026

GamingAmericas.com

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Three table games also added to the first and only smoke free gaming space in downtown Las Vegas

To highlight the excitement of its smoke free gaming area, the first and only one in downtown Las Vegas, the Plaza Hotel & Casino has partnered with Vegas Live Casino Network to launch the only live streaming channel dedicated to broadcasting casino play in Las Vegas, seven days a week.

The Plaza has long promoted social media posting by guests and created the smoke free gaming area as a social media friendly space with vibrant backdrops and copyright free music. Now, the Plaza is partnering with Vegas Live Casino Network to be the first Las Vegas property with its own dedicated YouTube channel to broadcast the excitement players are having in its smoke free gaming space at https://www.youtube.com/@VegasLiveCasinoNetwork.

Thanks to the new broadcast stream from Vegas Live Casino Network, guests will be able to subscribe and share the video stream of themselves playing the slots machines or the new table games with friends and family to show the fun they are having at the Plaza.

The broadcast will stream live Sunday through Thursday from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays from 6 p.m. to midnight. To learn more about the live streaming service, watch the launch video for the Vegas Live Casino Network at the Plaza at: youtube.com/watch?v=PfboeigVH_c.

The smoke free gaming space is home to dozens of the industry’s most popular slot machines, and now, the Plaza also added three table games, including blackjack, baccarat, and European roulette. Blackjack will offer bets starting at $25 to $2,000; baccarat will start bets at $25 up to $3,000; and European roulette will be a $200 progressive table. Outside bets: even money is $3,000 maximum and 2-1 is $1,500 maximum bet. The table games will be open from 6 p.m. to midnight daily.

To learn more about the new offerings in the Plaza’s smoke free gaming area visit: plazahotelcasino.com/casino/smoke-free-slots/.

The post Plaza Hotel & Casino debuts the only live streaming service in Las Vegas to broadcast the excitement of its smoke free gaming area appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.