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European Gaming Q1 2024 Meetup: Exploring Innovation, Marketing, and the iGaming Industry Hubs
HIPTHER’s staple Quarterly Meetups for the Gaming industry have officially returned for 2024! The European Gaming Q1 Meetup 2024 took place on February 28 online, featuring an incredible lineup of speakers, including Ilya Machavariani, CEO and Senior Partner at 4H Agency, Krysta Muscat and Kevin Perks, International Recruiters at Van Kaizen, Jekaterina Dubnicka, Marketing & Communications Manager at Slotsjudge, Eberhard Dürrschmid, CEO at Golden Whale Productions, and John Chyriwsky, Head of Marketing at Fincore Ltd. HIPTHER’s Co-founder and Host-Extraordinaire, Zoltan Tuendik, moderated the panel discussions.
The Meetup sessions explored the gaming and technology industry, focusing on various topics such as the importance of innovation and transformation in the sector, strategies to combat offshore gambling, the emergence of Malta and the Isle of Man as iGaming industry hubs, potential future hubs for the gambling industry, marketing strategies in the gaming industry, and innovation in the gaming with a particular emphasis on personalization.
Gaming and TECH: Future Journey and Fight Against Offshore Gambling
The meeting kicked off highlighting the importance and intersection of gaming and technology industries, which will be explored at the upcoming MARE BALTICUM and Prague Gaming & TECH Summits by HIPTHER. Our first guest, Ilya Machavariani, CEO and Senior Partner at 4H Agency delved further into technology and the latest strategies in the global fight against offshore gambling.
Ilya discussed strategies to combat offshore gambling, proposing a separation into active and passive instruments. He suggested that governments should legalize all verticals of the industry and ensure operators obtain licenses. Ilya also emphasized the importance of transparent and sensible regulations and the role of technology in identifying and preventing access to offshore gambling sites. He highlighted the challenges of regulating and blocking websites from a governmental perspective and the need for international cooperation.
The discussion ended with a focus on improved consumer protection measures and the importance of educating consumers about potential risks associated with illegal gambling activities.
Gaming Industry Hubs: Malta, Isle of Man and Beyond
For the 2nd Session of the European Gaming Q1 Meetup, we welcomed Krysta Muscat and Kevin Perks, International Recruiters at Van Kaizen, to discuss iGaming hubs and hotspots of the Gaming Industry. Kevin introduced their global headhunting company that primarily serves the gaming sector, recruiting for approximately 140 businesses. The discussion revolved around the factors contributing to Malta and the Isle of Man emerging as hubs for the iGaming industry, with Krysta highlighting Malta’s modernized infrastructure and highly regulated environment, and Kevin pointing out the supportive government and dedicated government agency in the Isle of Man, along with its tax breaks. Both islands were found to have a skilled workforce and a multilingual population. Kevin also discussed the benefits of living on the Isle of Man, emphasizing the slower pace of life, the island’s 40% open space, and its status as one of the safest places in Europe. The discussion ended on the topic of the government’s efforts to promote the island and attract businesses, with a focus on recruitment strategies for gaming companies in competitive markets.
The session concluded with a discussion on potential future hubs for the iGaming industry, with Krysta and Kevin emphasizing on the US, Canada, Spain, Portugal, the UK, and Bulgaria, highlighting the significant interest and potential opportunities in these regions.
Marketing, Communication, and Community building in iGaming
In this first Marketing-focused session, Zoltan hosted our special guest Jekaterina Dubnicka – Marketing & Communications Manager at Slotsjudge. The conversation focused on marketing strategies in the gaming industry, with Jekaterina explaining the shift towards more interactive and immersive content by leveraging social media and video interviews, and focusing on SEO tools to gain insights into audience interests. She also provided insight into the role of community in the gaming experience, the importance of navigating strict regulatory environments while maintaining compliance and a strong brand voice, the importance of innovation in content creation and delivery, and emerging trends in the gaming industry.
Innovation and Personalization in Gaming Industry
The last panel discussion focused on innovation in the gaming industry, with a particular emphasis on personalization. Eberhard Dürrschmid, CEO at Golden Whale, and John Chyriwsky, Head of Marketing at Fincore Ltd joined us to discuss innovation in iGaming and Sports Betting. John highlighted the potential for improvement in the area of personalization and user experience, suggesting that platforms should “step up” to respond better to user needs. Eberhard pointed out the industry’s flexibility and the importance of meeting customer expectations, while John emphasized the need to enhance customer experience, suggesting the use of real-time data to create personalized experiences. He cited examples of successful companies that prioritize customer experience, such as Amazon and Uber. Eberhard also discussed the potential of AI and machine learning in the industry. The conversation concluded with a group exercise where participants shared their hopes for technology implementation in the gaming industry by the end of 2024.
Coming up Next:
Watch the recording of the European Gaming Q1 Meetup on HIPTHER TV, and keep an eye out for our next European Gaming Quarterly Meetups!
BETANO
Betano inaugura canchas revitalizadas en Brasilia con obras firmadas por artistas locales
Evento en el Parque da Cidade contó con la presencia de autoridades, deporte y arte, con obras de Mão y Toys; la acción forma parte de la iniciativa Betano en Movimiento
Con motivo de su 66.º aniversario, Brasilia recibió un regalo especial de Betano: dos canchas revitalizadas en el Parque da Cidade Sarah Kubitschek, en el corazón de la capital federal.
El nuevo espacio, que cuenta con obras de los artistas locales Toys (@toys) y Mão (@mao.arte), fue inaugurado en un evento este sábado (11) y contó con un circuito de básquet 3×3 organizado por CUFA-DF y presentaciones culturales.
El evento marcó un nuevo capítulo en la historia del parque, reconocido como el mayor parque urbano de América del Sur y uno de los más grandes del mundo.
La revitalización de las canchas forma parte de la iniciativa Betano en Movimiento, que busca ampliar el acceso al deporte y a la actividad física mediante la recuperación de espacios públicos y la promoción de actividades deportivas comunitarias.
“Es una alegría estar en un momento tan simbólico, entregando un regalo que será un legado para la ciudad. Para las obras de las canchas, buscamos valorar artistas locales que aportaran la identidad de Brasilia al espacio, conectando arte y deporte”, afirmó Guilherme Figueiredo, Director de Relaciones Institucionales de Betano.
Inauguración con canasta y corte de cinta
La inauguración comenzó con una primera canasta anotada por Renato Junqueira, Secretario de Deporte y Ocio del Distrito Federal.
Tras recibir una asistencia de los artistas Mão y Toys, el secretario encestó en ambas canchas.
“Nos sentimos muy honrados de recibir este regalo de Betano para nuestra ciudad.
Este parque es icónico, democrático y accesible, y esta alianza es fundamental. Estoy seguro de que todos los que vengan a jugar aquí luego comentarán lo bonito y colorido que es el espacio.
Se convertirá en una referencia dentro del parque”, declaró durante la ceremonia.

También presente en el evento, la gobernadora del Distrito Federal, Celina Leão, destacó la importancia de la revitalización.
“Queremos sumar aliados que aporten valor. Hoy aquí se puede ver movimiento, arte y deporte ocurriendo al mismo tiempo. Estoy muy feliz de participar. Soy atleta, me gusta el deporte y lo practico todos los días.
Estoy segura de que abre puertas y cambia la mentalidad de las personas. Agradezco a los socios que hicieron posible este momento.
Las canchas están tan bonitas que dan ganas de quedarse”, comentó, tras también encestar en las canchas.
Obras inspiradas en Brasilia
Con colores vivos en tonos de azul, naranja y amarillo, las intervenciones artísticas rinden homenaje a los íconos, la arquitectura y el paisaje de Brasilia.
La ejecución técnica estuvo a cargo de Hoopers, dando continuidad a un proyecto iniciado en Río de Janeiro, con una cancha inaugurada por el jugador de baloncesto Giannis Antetokounmpo, estrella de los Milwaukee Bucks en la NBA.
El artista Daniel Morais, conocido como Toys, explicó que buscó trasladar al espacio las líneas rectas y angulares típicas de los edificios de la ciudad, además de rendir homenaje a su fundador.
“La historia de Brasilia y de sus pioneros es increíble. Juscelino Kubitschek fue el primer soñador: creyó en una idea y la hizo realidad al construir la capital. Es muy especial ver mi arte formando parte de la vida de las personas, como si ellas también participaran en la obra”, afirmó.
Por su parte, Luis Fernando Santos, conocido como Mão, incorporó elementos icónicos y de la fauna local, destacando el lobo-guará, el caracará y la Plaza de los Cristales.

“Fue una experiencia muy especial poder hacer un trabajo para Brasilia, aún más en el Parque da Cidade. Intenté representar los colores del lugar, la fauna, la flora y también sus monumentos. Es muy gratificante ver a la gente usando la cancha que pinté.
Espero que sigan aprovechando este espacio y que los inspire a conectarse cada vez más”, señaló.
Impulso al deporte y la cultura
El evento también incluyó un circuito de básquet 3×3 en colaboración con la Central Única de las Favelas (CUFA-DF). En esta modalidad, equipos de tres jugadores compiten en partidos rápidos en media cancha.

Gana el equipo que alcanza primero los 21 puntos o, si se cumple el límite de 10 minutos, el que haya anotado más canastas.
En la categoría masculina participaron equipos como Guariroba Raptors, ESCS, Capital Basquete y Gama 3×3, mientras que en la femenina compitieron Ipê Rosa, AAAESCS, PCDF y AVABRA.
Durante los intervalos, el público disfrutó de presentaciones de breaking con los b-boys Navarro 061, Breakmove y Nathan, y la b-girl Thaty. La música estuvo a cargo del DJ Afrika, y la conducción del evento por Alex Hadda y Cami Abreu.

Unidad móvil de mamografías ofreció exámenes gratuitos
Como parte de la acción, la unidad móvil de mamografías de la Fundación Laço Rosa ofreció exámenes gratuitos para la detección precoz del cáncer de mama.
La unidad también estará presente en Cidade Estrutural y en la Rodoviária los días 14 y 15 de abril. Para participar, es necesario registrarse previamente en el sitio www.mamografiasalva.com.br.
Sobre Kaizen Gaming | Betano
Kaizen Gaming es una de las mayores empresas de GameTech del mundo.
Con foco en tecnología y personas, busca mejorar continuamente la experiencia de juego online que ofrece a millones de clientes en todo el mundo, además de entretener a los aficionados al deporte de manera divertida y responsable.
Es propietaria de Betano, una marca premium de apuestas deportivas y juegos online con presencia en Europa, América y África.
La empresa cuenta con más de 3.000 empleados a nivel global.
En Brasil, Betano está presente en las dos principales competiciones del país, el Brasileirão Betano y la Copa Betano de Brasil, además de ser socio oficial del Flamengo.

Kaizen Gaming ha sido reconocida como una de las principales compañías del sector, recibiendo premios como “Operador del Año” en los EGR Operator Awards y en los SBC Awards 2025.
Vea más en www.betano.bet.br
The post Betano inaugura canchas revitalizadas en Brasilia con obras firmadas por artistas locales appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
casino
Plaza adds Monday Night RAW ticket raffle to WrestleMania 42 viewing party
Downtown Las Vegas casino also brings in WWE Hall of Famer Rob Van Dam for a live Q&A on April 18.
Plaza Hotel & Casino will host WrestleMania 42 viewing parties on April 18 and April 19 in its showroom in downtown Las Vegas, adding a ticket giveaway for WWE Monday Night RAW on the second night.
The casino said all guests attending the Sunday, April 19 viewing party can enter a free raffle to win two tickets to Monday Night RAW on Monday, April 20 at T-Mobile Arena, seated in one of the venue’s premier Loge Boxes.
On Saturday, April 18, the Plaza will feature WWE Hall of Fame wrestler Rob Van Dam (RVD) as a special guest. The property said RVD—also billed as “Mr. Monday Night”—will lead a live Q&A at 1:30 p.m. ahead of the WrestleMania 42 start time at 3 p.m., and will be available for autographs and photo ops.
Both events are 21+ and run in the Plaza showroom, with doors opening at 1 p.m. and the viewing party starting at 3 p.m. The Plaza said it will offer drink specials and buckets of beer priced at $30 for domestic brands and $35 for imported.
Tickets with seat selection are priced at $40 per person (plus fees and taxes), according to the casino, with details and purchasing available via the Plaza’s website.
Relevant data as follows:
- Plaza Hotel & Casino WrestleMania viewing party details: https://www.plazahotelcasino.com/entertainment/wrestlemania-viewing-party/ Primary source for ticketing, schedule, and pricing referenced in the article.
- WWE Monday Night RAW: https://www.wwe.com/shows/raw Official WWE show page to support the RAW reference and event context.
- T-Mobile Arena events calendar: https://www.t-mobilearena.com/events Venue source to corroborate event location and provide broader event context.
- Plaza Hotel & Casino: https://www.plazahotelcasino.com/ Company homepage for readers seeking more information on the property hosting the viewing parties.
The post Plaza adds Monday Night RAW ticket raffle to WrestleMania 42 viewing party appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
eSports
MEGA hires Leapfox founder Patrick Collins as VP of Growth
The ex-Wasserman and former Excel Esports partnerships lead joins the London-based group behind the Esports Awards and MOBIES.
The Mobile, Esports and Gaming Alliance (MEGA) has appointed Patrick Collins as Vice President of Growth, the company said on April 15, 2026. Collins will lead growth strategy, including commercial partnerships and new business development, from London.
Collins joins from boutique agency Leapfox, which he founded in early 2022. Prior to that, he led commercial partnerships at UK esports organisation Excel Esports, securing deals with brands including BT, Sony, JD Sports, Neosurf and Chupa Chups, alongside partners such as HyperX, Anda Seat, Belong Gaming Arenas and Chillblast PCs.
Earlier in his career, Collins worked at sports marketing agency Wasserman, where MEGA said he helped secure EE’s six-year partnership with Wembley Stadium and advised brands including American Express, Vodafone and PepsiCo. The company also cited experience working with Premier League football clubs and brands including Barclays, Santander, Under Armour and Puma.
“I’m pleased to officially join MEGA at such an important time for esports and gaming,” said Patrick Collins, VP of Growth at MEGA. “Having worked across traditional sport, esports, and commercial partnerships, and founding Leapfox to bridge these worlds and guide my clients, I’m looking forward to applying my experience to support MEGA and our properties as we continue to grow.”
“We’re delighted to welcome Patrick to MEGA as our new Vice President of Growth,” said Michael Ashford, Co-Founder of MEGA. “His extensive experience, including founding Leapfox, uniquely positions him to shape the future of our company. With Patrick on board, MEGA is determined to accelerate our growth, embark on transformative partnerships, and deliver world-class experiences that will define the next era of esports entertainment.”
Relevant data as follows:
- MEGA (Mobile, Esports and Gaming Alliance): https://themega.global/ Official company site to support the appointment and provide background on MEGA.
- Esports Awards: https://esportsawards.com/ Official site for one of the properties referenced in connection with MEGA.
- MOBIES: https://mobies.com/ Official site for the Mobile Gaming Awards referenced alongside MEGA.
The post MEGA hires Leapfox founder Patrick Collins as VP of Growth appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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