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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.
Alex Fonseca
Superbet expands football presence with naming rights deal at Bahia-based club
ANJL
Semana regulatoria en Brasil: bloqueos, integridad deportiva y LatAm en Washington
Lula vincula Novo Desenrola a un bloqueo obligatorio en plataformas de apuestas
La semana regulatoria en Brasil empezó con el anuncio del gobierno brasileño de una profunda reformulación del programa de renegociación de deudas, Novo Desenrola Brasil, introduciendo una medida que afecta directamente la operación de plataformas de apuestas online en el país.
El presidente Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva confirmó que cualquier ciudadano que se adhiera a la iniciativa para saldar deudas será automáticamente bloqueado del acceso a sitios de apuestas durante un año.
La medida entra en vigor el próximo lunes y tiene como objetivo evitar que el alivio financiero generado por descuentos de hasta el 90% y tasas de interés reducidas del 1,99% mensual vuelva al mercado de apuestas.
La decisión estuvo acompañada de un discurso enfático del presidente sobre el impacto de las apuestas en el presupuesto de las familias de bajos ingresos, con ingresos de hasta cinco salarios mínimos.
“No es justo que las mujeres tengan que trabajar aún más para pagar las deudas de apuestas de sus maridos”, afirmó Lula.
El bloqueo se aplicará únicamente a los 84 operadores autorizados por el Ministerio de Hacienda. Las loterías y los sitios ilegales quedan fuera del alcance de la medida.
A pesar de la narrativa del gobierno que posiciona a las apuestas como un factor de endeudamiento de los hogares, datos recientes de la Secretaría de Premios y Apuestas y de LCA Consultoría Económica ofrecen una visión más analítica.
En 2025, el mercado regulado registró un GGR de R$ 37 mil millones, lo que representa apenas el 0,46% del consumo total de los hogares.
Con un 53,3% de los apostadores gastando hasta R$ 50 al mes, especialistas sostienen que el impacto financiero no justifica el diagnóstico de que el sector sea el principal responsable del 29,7% de los ingresos familiares comprometidos con deudas.
Brasil concluye reunión técnica de tres días sobre integridad deportiva
El gobierno brasileño concluyó en Brasilia el II Encuentro Técnico Nacional para el Combate a la Manipulación de Resultados Deportivos. El evento, de tres días de duración, reunió a los ministerios de Hacienda, Deporte y Justicia, consolidándose como el principal foro interinstitucional de políticas de integridad deportiva.
Uno de los puntos destacados fue el anuncio de un sistema de análisis de apuestas sospechosas desarrollado por la Policía Federal, destinado a organizar datos estratégicos y apoyar investigaciones complejas de fraude.
El gobierno también lanzó la segunda edición del Manual Nacional de Combate a la Manipulación de Resultados Deportivos.
La formalización de la Política Nacional de Prevención y Combate a la Manipulación (Portaria 1/2026) fue presentada como un resultado concreto del grupo de trabajo.
La secretaria Daniele Cardoso afirmó que la medida convierte la integridad en una política pública de Estado.
El encuentro también anunció el primer curso de educación a distancia sobre el tema, ofrecido por la Academia Nacional de Policía.
La presencia del director general de la Policía Federal, Andrei Rodrigues, y de representantes de la United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime subrayó la dimensión internacional del marco de cooperación.

ANJL cuestiona el bloqueo del Desenrola 2 y señala contradicciones
Un deudor con R$ 20.000 en deuda de tarjeta de crédito que apuesta R$ 50 al mes será bloqueado de las plataformas licenciadas bajo Desenrola 2, pero seguirá teniendo acceso a bancos y entidades financieras con tasas de interés aún más altas.
Esta asimetría está en el centro de las críticas de la Associação Nacional de Jogos e Loterias, que representa a los operadores licenciados en Brasil.
La asociación reconoce la intención del gobierno, pero señala lo que califica como contradicciones “extremadamente relevantes”.
Estudios de Pay4Fun y LCA Consultoría indican que el gasto en apuestas no se encuentra entre los principales factores de endeudamiento de los hogares en Brasil. Las causas principales, según la ANJL, son los intereses del crédito rotativo de tarjeta y del descubierto bancario, que no están restringidos por el Desenrola 2.
La preocupación más concreta de la entidad es operativa: los apostadores bloqueados en las 84 plataformas licenciadas tienden a migrar hacia los miles de sitios ilegales que aún operan en el país, fortaleciendo un segmento sin compromiso con la salud financiera o mental de los usuarios.
La ANJL afirma apoyar medidas que combatan la percepción de las apuestas como dinero fácil o inversión, pero sostiene que dichas iniciativas deben ser proporcionales a las causas reales del endeudamiento.
Abogados de LatAm se destacan en el principal evento jurídico del sector
Un panel con especialistas en derecho del juego de cuatro países fue uno de los puntos destacados de la International Masters of Gaming Law Spring Conference, celebrada del 29 de abril al 1 de mayo en el Ritz Carlton Pentagon City, en Arlington, Virginia (región de Washington).

La International Masters of Gaming Law es una asociación por invitación con más de 300 miembros, incluidos abogados en ejercicio, directores jurídicos de las mayores empresas globales de gaming y asesores de reguladores nacionales.
Sus conferencias semestrales son consideradas el principal foro de intercambio intelectual y networking en el derecho global del juego.
Neil Montgomery, del estudio Montgomery, uno de los nombres más reconocidos en derecho de iGaming en la región, compartió el panel con Tomás Enrique García Botta, Luis Portela de Carvalho, Jaime Rivera-Emmanuelli y Juan Camilo Carrasco, representando a Argentina, Portugal, Puerto Rico y Colombia.
Montgomery calificó la recepción como positiva.
“Muy satisfecho de ver que el panel en el que participé fue aclamado por el público”, afirmó tras la sesión de cierre. “Fue una excelente conferencia. Gracias a los organizadores por otra experiencia impecable. Nos vemos en París.”
El protagonismo de un bloque latinoamericano en el IMGL refleja el creciente peso regulatorio de la región en el debate global. Brasil, Colombia y Argentina concentran algunos de los procesos de licenciamiento más activos del mundo en los últimos 24 meses, y sus especialistas legales comienzan a ocupar espacio en foros históricamente dominados por voces europeas y norteamericanas.
La próxima conferencia del IMGL se celebrará en París.

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Ivo Dimitrov
SCCG Management Appoints Ivo Dimitrov as Vice President of Strategy and Operations
SCCG Management, a leading global advisory firm specializing in the gaming industry, is pleased to announce the appointment of Ivo Dimitrov as Vice President of Strategy and Operations, effective immediately.
Ivo brings over 18 years of professional experience spanning sports betting, product management, trading, operations, and commercial strategy. He joins SCCG from Pragmatic Play Sports, where he served as Senior Sportsbook Operations Manager and established a new cross-functional role at the center of the company’s B2B sportsbook business. In that capacity, he built and led operational readiness processes, managed a portfolio of third-party vendor relationships, and drove measurable commercial impact through cost optimization, reporting improvements, and stronger alignment between product, trading, and finance.
Prior to Pragmatic Play, Ivo held product and operations leadership roles at Sportradar, where he spent over six years as a Product Owner and Product Manager across the company’s Managed Platform Services division. He led product launches across multiple jurisdictions and channels, managed the company’s omnichannel sportsbook solution, and drove retail innovation across international markets. Earlier, he served as Managing Director and Head of Online at a leading sports betting operator in South-East Europe, where he delivered a threefold increase in online business through digital marketing, customer acquisition strategy, and international expansion across the region.
Ivo’s earlier career includes roles in strategic consulting at Affinia Volo in New York and equity research at GLG Partners, a leading Mayfair-based hedge fund in London, giving him a grounding in commercial strategy and capital markets that he brings to his work in gaming today.
In his new role at SCCG, Ivo will focus on strategic advisory, go-to-market execution, and partnership development for SCCG’s client-partners across established and emerging regulated markets. A core part of his mandate will be driving the implementation of Operational AI across SCCG’s advisory practice, helping client-partners leverage intelligent automation, predictive analytics, and AI-driven tools to improve decision-making, streamline operations, and unlock new revenue opportunities across their sports betting and iGaming businesses.
Operating from SCCG’s European base, Ivo will strengthen the firm’s global presence while supporting its growing portfolio of sports betting and iGaming ventures.
“Ivo is exactly the kind of leader we need as SCCG continues to expand its global reach,” said Stephen Crystal, Founder and CEO of SCCG Management. “He combines deep sportsbook expertise with sharp commercial instincts and real operational credibility. He has built products, managed vendors, launched in new markets, and driven commercial results at every stage of his career. That end-to-end experience is rare and valuable. I am thrilled to welcome him to the team at a moment when SCCG is moving faster than ever.”
“SCCG’s ability to connect the right people, products, and opportunities across the global gaming ecosystem is unmatched, and the breadth of what the team is building right now is exactly the environment I want to contribute to,” said Ivo Dimitrov. “I am excited to bring my operational and strategic experience to the team and to help SCCG’s client-partners navigate the next wave of growth in sports betting, iGaming, and beyond.”
Ivo holds a BSc (Hons) in Economics and Management from Aston University, UK, and has completed the Software Product Management specialization from the University of Alberta.
The post SCCG Management Appoints Ivo Dimitrov as Vice President of Strategy and Operations appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
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