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The studio picks up three major nominations going into 2026

ELA Games is proud to announce that it has received three major nominations at the European iGaming Awards 2026, reflecting the studio’s creative direction, performance-driven development, and leadership in innovation.

The nominations include:

• Most Innovative Slot Game — Joker Winpot
• Slot Game of the Year — Joker Winpot
• Rising Star — Marharyta Yerina, Managing Director of ELA Games

Joker Winpot Shines

Joker Winpot has continued to perform spectacularly, quickly becoming one of the studio’s standout titles. Its strong visual identity, simple-to-understand mechanics, and innovative format with the Winpot feature make it a game that gives players agency with high replayability.

Operators who have connected to the ELA Games catalogue have reported significant increases in key metrics following the adoption of Joker Winpot in their casino lobbies, including a GGR increase of +1128%, Actives: +878%, and Turnover: +1517%. These impressive results have helped the game gain recognition among peers, with it being shortlisted for two major categories at the upcoming European iGaming Awards.

Value in Creativity

ELA Games’ core operational philosophy of blending bold creativity with user- and operator-focused performance has propelled the studio to become a significant newcomer in the industry. Players recognise ELA Games’ signature visually rich art style and actively seek the studio’s games out in casino lobbies, as evidenced by impressive year-on-year growth.

Marharyta Yerina, Managing Director, was also nominated for the “Rising Star” individual award. Her contributions to the iGaming space and leadership in managing ELA Games as one of the fastest-growing studios have garnered her acclaim amongst her peers.

Marharyta commented on the nominations, “Receiving three nominations at an award ceremony reflects every one of our team members’ excellence and commitment to setting new standards in the industry. Joker Winpot continued to exceed our expectations and shows what’s possible when you develop a game with intention, user experiences, and operator performance in mind. I’m also honoured to receive the Rising Star nomination: we will continue delivering content that truly matters for players and partners alike.”

The post ELA Games Scoops Up Triple Nominations at the European iGaming Awards 2026 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Wrap up warm this festive season with some retro-inspired slot action

Popular iGaming content provider BGaming invites you to cosy up to the fire and hit spin with the release of Totally Hot. This dynamic new title combines classic slot elements with modern gameplay mechanics.

Taking into account its December launch, BGaming dressed up the game for the season: the action is brought to life with bold visuals and festive animations, with roaring hot flames filling the background and Christmas candy canes bordering the reels. Totally Hot will revert to its original version when the holiday season is over.

It is not only the game’s visuals that have been given a modern makeover. Totally Hot deploys a pay-both-ways payment mechanic across its 5×3 game grid, giving players the chance to win with matching combinations in both directions across the reels. Wins go from left-to-right, right-to-left, and even begin in the middle of the reels.

There is also the potential for a festive treat to drop in the middle of the grid in the form of an Expanding Wild, holding players’ attention with the action on every spin.

Totally Hot keeps the good times rolling thanks to a low-volatility maths model that entertains players with frequent wins. This is complemented by an extremely attractive RTP of 97.21%.

Vasili Pauliuchenko, Game Producer at BGaming, said, “The holidays are here, and we wanted to provide our players with the bright and warm gift of nostalgia this Christmas. Totally Hot has been designed to captivate new players and seasoned classic slot lovers alike, keeping them engaged with wins coming from literally every direction.

The game’s blazing vibes and low volatility serve up plenty of laid-back fun.”

The post Experience Classic Slot Thrills this Christmas With BGaming’s Totally Hot appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Evoplay, the award-winning game development studio, has launched Young Eagle Song, a dynamic new Hold & Win title set above the snow-capped mountains of North America.

The game follows the eagle as it soars through storm clouds, with each spin offering the chance to discover the treasures hidden in the sky. Landing six or more bonus icons instantly triggers the Hold & Win round, where gold coins lock onto the reels and players get closer to the Mini, Major, or Grand jackpots.

Young Eagle Song offers a classic Hold & Win experience with a sharp, focused rhythm. The feature starts with three spins, resetting to three each time another coin lands. Each Bonus icon reveals a prize value ranging from 1x to 15x the stake, or one of the game’s fixed jackpots. Collecting all 15 positions wins the Grand Jackpot worth 1,000x, reaching its climax.

Players seeking direct access can utilise the bonus buy option, worth 32x the total bet, which instantly activates the feature with six coins already secured on the reels.

Ivan Kravchuk, CEO at Evoplay, said: “Young Eagle Song captures the raw force of nature in a simple yet powerful format.

“We wanted to offer a clean, engaging Hold & Win experience with clear progression and strong win potential, brought to life through striking visuals and a bold atmosphere.”

The post Evoplay expands Hold & Win portfolio with Young Eagle Song appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.