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Largest gaming trade show was a galactic success for NOVOMATIC
This year’s ICE, Europe’s largest gaming trade show, which took place from 6th to 8th February at ExCeL London, was a complete success for NOVOMATIC: With innovative products, state-of-the-art technologies and impressive new products on the largest stand at the ICE, NOVOMATIC set new standards in the gaming industry and received enthusiastic reactions from visitors and technology enthusiasts alike.
Modern gaming solutions for different industries and markets inspired both operators and visitors. The 360° portfolio presented included land-based casino products, AWP gaming machines, casino management systems including biometric access and player tracking technologies, secure cash handling kiosks as well as sports betting products and online gaming solutions that meet the highest standards of technology and quality. In addition, NOVOMATIC’s subsidiaries and technology partners such as Ainsworth Gaming Technology, APEX, FAZI, Greentube and LÖWEN ENTERTAINMENT presented their current product portfolios. The wide range of AWP products was presented by NOVOMATIC Netherlands, while NOVOMATIC Gaming UK showed a country-specific portfolio for their segments, including their groundbreaking NovoLive™ Studio.
Spotlight on the Very Important Player X-Perience
The newly launched V.I.P. X series from NOVOMATIC was the centerpiece of the elegant trade show stand in Black & Gold design. This sophisticated product line is aimed at discerning gaming guests and casino operators who want to offer their visitors a high-quality gaming experience. The impressive V.I.P. X Royal™ 1.85, the V.I.P. X Dream™ 3.43 and the V.I.P. X Lounge™ 2.32 offer exceptional luxury with exquisite V.I.P. comfort, extra high and wide gaming screens and a first-class sound system with comfortable seating.
NOVOMATIC also made a real statement for galactic gameplay at this year’s ICE: the world premiere of the exclusive V.I.P. Galaxy™ 2.65 took the gaming experience to a new level of immersion. This ultimate luxury lounge chair features two 65″ gaming screens and adjustable luxurious seating comfort.
“Our V.I.P. X Galaxy™ 2.65 luxury cabinet has to be experienced – it stands for the combination of high-end comfort and futuristic design. Functionality meets modern gameplay and transports every gamer to new gaming galaxies,” explains Thomas Schmalzer, Vice President Global Sales and Product Management NOVOMATIC AG enthusiastically.
Gaming highlights took visitors into new spheres
At the centre of the NOVOMATIC stand, the new V.I.P. X Royal™ 1.85 cabinet showcased an innovative product that has already become legendary: the four games of the GODS & LEGENDS™ link. Divine characters transported players to the mythical worlds of Ancient Greece, Egypt, Asia and the Scandinavian Viking Age. The mythically-authentic characters in the live photo corner at the NOVOMATIC stand proved to be an absolute crowd puller. The powerful Viking from Hammer Power™ by GODS & LEGENDS™ Link and Athena Goddess of War™, for Greentube’s iGaming segment, posed for legendary photos with the visitors.
Another gaming highlight at ICE was Secrets of Wealth™, Magic Cleopatra™ and Roll on Fire™, the new Linked Progressive trio from CASH FLOOD™ Link. The new multi-game mixes also offered a very special gaming experience – Impera Line HD™ Edition 9 in a new design with additional features and the brand new Superia Games™ Premium 3 mix.
The innovative Superia GOLDEN LINK™ Volume 2 rounded off the presented portfolio and guaranteed an inspiring gaming experience with five new titles and just as many all-time classics. The powerful jackpot XTENSION LINK™ returned as Volume 2 with five new titles and thrilled with NOVOMATIC classics such as Golden Book of Ra™ and Golden Charming Lady™ in their own XL version. The current IMPERA LINK™ Series 2 offers a unique variety of games with a total of 41 games in each category.
NOVOMATIC classics as well as new titles were included in the NOVOLINE™ Interactive Edition X4: From the underwater worlds of Lord of the Ocean™ and Dolphin’s Pearl™ deluxe to the hidden treasures of Book of Ra™ – Temple of Gold™ – this mix of games offered the perfect gaming experience for every guest.
The innovation highlight in the sports betting sector, the NOVOMATIC ActionBook™ Edge 1.43J, heralded the future of sports betting kiosks: more action, more bets, more options, an impressive screen and an attractive design that blends effortlessly into any environment. The “Beat the Champ” challenge was also sporty, with up to 8 people simultaneously competing against Chris Marks, the world table soccer champion. Thousands of visitors jumped at the chance to win – nothing ventured, nothing gained.
Other product innovations on display in the dedicated ETG area included the LOTUS Roulette™ Genius and LOTUS Roulette™ PRO as well as the new high-speed multi-roulette wheel for the Novo Unity™ platform.
Revolutionary on the booth was NOVOMATIC’s own casino management system: NOVOVISION™ once again presented visionary solutions for the casino requirements of the future based on state-of-the-art technologies that cover all areas of modern casino operations and enable operators to make informed data-based decisions for their business.
The iGaming offering from Greentube, the digital gaming and entertainment division of NOVOMATIC, complemented the land-based portfolio in its own stand area with a constantly growing range of iGaming content, including both NOVOMATIC classics and its own products and developments.
Ryszard Presch, Member of the Executive Board of NOVOMATIC AG, said: “The impressive demand at the trade show underlines the effectiveness of our development strategy in the areas of hardware, content and international gaming solutions. As an important meeting point for the industry, the trade show is also a valuable platform for exchange. We would like to thank all our employees for their commitment and dedication.“
Thomas Schmalzer, VP Global Sales and VP Product Management NOVOMATIC AG, adds: “We look forward to establishing the new products on the international markets in the coming months and continuing to present groundbreaking technologies. We proudly look back on highly successful decades at ICE in London and look forward to continuing this success story in Barcelona. Last but not least, we would like to thank our customers and partners for the very positive feedback and good cooperation.
The slow death of grey markets in Europe and the increasingly clear line between regulated spaces and the black market is set to divide the entire industry in two, including suppliers.
With almost all major European markets having adopted or being well on their way to enacting a full licensing regime for online gambling, the battle lines between what is on- and off-shore are clearer than ever.
For those nations that persist with restrictions on some sectors, like the continued monopoly in Norway or France’s ban on online casinos, it’s becoming nearly impossible to justify doing business in spite of these prohibitions – even for suppliers.
Regulators in the rest of Europe increasingly expect their licensees to follow not just their rules, but those of their fellow authorities across the continent.
Where once expectations of good behaviour were reserved exclusively for operators, B2B companies are now subject to the same scrutiny.
For the past few years, there has been a general building of pressure on suppliers, but this year B2B compliance has moved from a growing trend to become the status quo for the sector.
Where do you stand?
The industry is being asked to pick a side and even to play the role of regulator itself, in some cases.
“We understand that at least one piece of recent B2B regulatory enforcement [in the UK] may have come as a result of a B2C operator effectively reporting one of its suppliers,” said Andy Danson, the head of Bird & Bird’s international gambling practice.
It’s becoming clear that a meaningful percentage of operators have fully bought into the idea that those who continue to exist in European black or grey are threats to their bottom line.
Speaking on a recent webinar organised by his firm, Danson added: “There is an increasing use of commercial pressure and accountability alongside regulatory enforcement, and there is this growing expectation that licensed businesses consider who they support.”
Danson notes that, in his view, the burden on operators to self-police their industry is probably becoming too large.
“How much can a regulator really expect B2C licensees to regulate their suppliers? It is ultimately the regulator’s job to do that, and B2C really should be able to rely on their suppliers having a local license.”
This backwards pressure is also being exerted on suppliers in jurisdictions where they are required to obtain their own licenses.
Regulators expect suppliers not to sell their content to operators who service their local black market and look dimly on supplying companies active in illegal markets in any part of the world.
Gone are the days when these authorities would accept the excuse that aggregators are ultimately responsible for providing game content to these offshore operators. Instead, suppliers risk enforcement if they do not have oversight of the entire supply chain their products exist in.
Dealmakers
This pressure coming in from every angle leads to only one inevitable conclusion: M&A activity.
As suppliers are forced to choose either to abandon their high profit margin offshore clients or their reliable onshore customers, the possibility of dividing into two parts becomes more and more compelling.
“I think businesses will very likely look to separate and restructure, particularly where they currently have a real mix of regulated and unregulated market activities,” said Danson.
“We certainly saw similar trends five to ten years ago when the regulatory focus on this sort of issue was more on the B2B side,” he added.
This move would be driven partly by modern regulatory complexities, but also the impact of US investors entering the gambling market more prominently over the past five years.
US-based capital tends to be more skittish about any activity with uncertain regulatory backing and its law enforcement authorities are not shy about exerting their authority extraterritorially.
“International market exposure is becoming more and more relevant in an investment and M&A context,” Danson confirmed.
A dilemma
Those gambling businesses choosing the regulated environment are at least finding their authorities more willing than in previous years to take proactive action against the black market.
In the UK, the Gambling Commission has received a grant of £26m from the government to step up its work against illegal online gambling, for example.
Regulators are also understood to be sharing more information than ever before about the main bad actors afflicting their markets, through organizations like the Gambling Regulators Europe Forum (GREF).
Although it’s worth noting that officials also say they are swapping notes on the activities of their licence-holders as well, in yet a further example of international compliance becoming a local issue.
This, along with an atmosphere of zero compromise when it comes to tightening regulations, has created a situation where the choice between on- and off-shore is not a simple one.
Andy Danson summed up the problem: “By creating an environment which has become so burdensome and challenging for regulated markets to operate, and then challenging operators and suppliers to pick a side, regulators perhaps shouldn’t be all that surprised when some operators out there might not necessarily choose the side that they want them to.”
The post European Online Gambling Industry Faces Tough Offshore Choice appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Brazil
EGB Group launches institutional portal to strengthen corporate presence in iGaming in Brazil
EGB Group (Esportes Gaming Brasil), owner of Esportes da Sorte, Onabet and Lottu, has launched its new institutional portal, bringing governance, strategy and corporate operations together in a single digital environment.
The initiative aims to structure the group’s institutional presence and increase transparency across its processes, operational pillars and expansion projects.
The portal features dedicated sections such as Compliance, ESG, Ecosystem and a fully structured Press Room, improving access for partners, media and regulatory authorities to compliance information and strategic initiatives.
According to Iury Tavares, Media Relations Manager at EGB Group, the launch reflects an already consolidated internal evolution.
“The launch of our institutional website materializes EGB Group as an ecosystem.
We are no longer seen only as isolated consumer brands, but as an integrated structure with different business fronts connected by a common purpose of innovation and market leadership.”
Camyla Lima, Branding and Creative Manager, added that the new platform also improves how this structure is communicated.
“The new corporate identity balances the energy of entertainment with the rigor of a structured operation.
We developed an interface that prioritizes institutional storytelling and ecosystem navigation, making it easier to understand how the brands are integrated.”
The more sober visual identity reinforces the group’s institutional positioning in a regulated market and reflects its organizational culture, recognized by its Great Place to Work certification and a workforce of around 1,000 direct and indirect jobs.
With employees placed at the center of the communication strategy, the launch was also supported by internal activations across offices in São Paulo and Recife and corporate channels.
Beyond governance, the portal highlights the group’s broader social impact initiatives.
It showcases support for street carnival blocks and official sponsorships of major Carnival celebrations across Brazil, including traditional hubs such as Recife and Olinda.
Social responsibility projects such as Costura Cidadã, support for waste pickers during major events, and partnerships with NGOs focused on river cleaning are also featured.
In sports, the group maintains sponsorships with clubs including Corinthians, Náutico, Ferroviária and Ceará, as well as support for inclusive sports initiatives.
A key highlight of the portal is the company’s investment in Brazilian technology development that underpins its operations.
The group details its use of proprietary platforms to ensure technical autonomy and compliance with requirements set by the Secretariat of Prizes and Betting (SPA/MF).
This structure also includes the use of artificial intelligence for personalization and security, contributing to formal job creation and revenue generation across digital advertising and sports-related sectors.
Esportes Gaming Brasil
Esportes Gaming Brasil is one of the leading betting groups in the country, operating under a fully Brazilian structure with an official licence granted by the Ministry of Finance through SPA/MF. The authorisation covers its three brands: Esportes da Sorte, Onabet and Lottu, with nationwide operations across Brazil.
A benchmark in innovation and a strong advocate of market regulation, the group is committed to responsible gaming and continuous investment in user protection technologies, while generating hundreds of jobs.
Beyond sports betting, Esportes Gaming Brasil invests consistently in sports, culture and social projects. It is a master sponsor of clubs such as Corinthians, Ceará, Ferroviária and Náutico, and supports major cultural initiatives.
This include Galo da Madrugada and Carnival celebrations across Recife, Olinda, Salvador, Maceió, Natal, Caicó, Belo Horizonte, Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, as well as the Parintins Festival. The brand also expands its digital presence through creative campaigns and influencer partnerships, strengthening its connection with audiences across online platforms.
The post EGB Group launches institutional portal to strengthen corporate presence in iGaming in Brazil appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
2026 FIFA World Cup
Media Troopers brings its sports betting expertise to Peru ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup
Media Troopers, the leading digital and customer acquisition group, has announced it will enter Peru’s regulated market to offer its sports betting and prediction market services ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be played from 11 June to 19 July across the US, Canada, and Mexico, is a defining moment for the global online wagering industry, and one that Media Troopers aims to help operators capitalize on.
Peru is one of LatAm’s newest regulated markets, launching in 2024.
It’s home to more than 60 online operators, with its gaming regulator having granted 120 licenses since the launch.
In 2024, Peru’s regulated market was valued at $2.7 billion, with analysts expecting projected growth to reach $7.6 billion by 2033.
Media Troopers CEO Shmulik Segal says that Peru’s current regulated market represents the early stages of regulated sports betting in the US, noting that it currently boasts strong consumer demand and rapid operator expansion.
“Media Troopers is bringing mature-market expertise into Peru at precisely the moment the market is ready to scale,” Segal said.
By entering Peru, Media Troopers can offer its wide range of marketing and acquisition tools to operators in the region.
That includes providing operators with soccer-focused marketing channels, access to a variety of existing publishers and affiliates, and localized features that help operators scale their platforms to reach a more tailored audience, increase engagement, and build a trusting brand presence in the area.
Media Troopers has positioned itself as the gateway between exporting North American betting infrastructure into new, emerging markets, as it prepares for the next evolution of online wagering.
MediaTroopers was founded in 2019 with the vision of providing legal, safe, and responsible gambling alternatives to sports bettors and casino players.
Since then, the company has grown to operate in over 40 jurisdictions across North America.
MediaTroopers leverages decades of digital marketing experience, extensive in-house media buying knowledge, mobile advertising expertise, a robust technical infrastructure, and an extensive network of in-house and affiliated publishers to acquire paying customers for the world’s top gambling operators, including BetMGM, Caesars, DraftKings, FanDuel, BetRivers and more.
The post Media Troopers brings its sports betting expertise to Peru ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
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