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European Gaming Q1 2024 Meetup: Exploring Innovation, Marketing, and the iGaming Industry Hubs

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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!

 

Digital Games

Scientific Games Partners with LEIA to Drive Digital Innovation Across European Lotteries

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Scientific Games has strengthened its position in the European digital lottery market after being selected as a strategic digital partner by the Lotteries Entertainment Innovation Alliance (LEIA). The alliance brings together five of Europe’s most prominent lottery operators: Danske Spil (Denmark), FDJ United (France), Norsk Tipping (Norway), Svenska Spel (Sweden), and Veikkaus Oy (Finland).

The partnership positions Scientific Games at the center of LEIA’s mission to accelerate digital transformation across member lotteries. By fostering collaboration and shared innovation, LEIA aims to enhance digital growth, strengthen market positions, and ensure responsible engagement with modern and younger adult audiences.

According to Morten Eriksen, CEO of LEIA, innovation is a cornerstone of the alliance’s strategy. The selection of Scientific Games reflects LEIA’s commitment to developing digital experiences that align with evolving consumer expectations while maintaining responsible gaming standards. Through this collaboration, LEIA seeks to balance technological advancement with social responsibility, a growing priority for European lottery operators.

Formed as a shared innovation platform, LEIA enables its members to access a collective marketplace for digital games and services. This structure allows participating lotteries to benefit from improved scalability, faster time-to-market, and reduced development costs through shared resources and purchasing power. The alliance model is designed to streamline operations while encouraging creativity and experimentation in digital lottery content.

Under the newly signed two-year agreement, Scientific Games will deliver digital game projects aligned with LEIA’s strategic initiatives. As the world’s largest creator and supplier of lottery games, Scientific Games will also provide localized digital titles from its extensive portfolio of more than 270 premium games developed by SG Studios. In addition, the company will design bespoke digital games tailored to the unique preferences and regulatory environments of individual LEIA markets.

Matt Lynch, President of Digital at Scientific Games, highlighted the long-standing relationship between the company and LEIA’s member lotteries. He emphasized that the expanded partnership will support lotteries in reaching new audiences, enhancing engagement, and shaping the future of digital lottery entertainment across Europe.

Through this collaboration, LEIA will gain access to Scientific Games’ expansive library of over 100 licensed brands, alongside a growing catalog of digital instant games distributed via the SG Content Hub. This platform connects innovative third-party studios with lottery operators worldwide, expanding content diversity and accelerating innovation. Studios such as Random State, BWLoto EHF, and Harman Connected Services GmbH have also been selected as part of the LEIA collaboration, further enriching the alliance’s digital ecosystem.

Scientific Games currently serves more than 30 iLottery customers globally, delivering advanced digital solutions including CRM systems, loyalty programs, promotions, mobile and web applications, and second-chance initiatives. With operations spanning 150 lotteries in 50 countries, the company continues to play a pivotal role in shaping both retail and digital lottery experiences worldwide.

The partnership with LEIA underscores Scientific Games’ commitment to driving digital innovation at scale while supporting responsible growth in the European lottery sector.

The post Scientific Games Partners with LEIA to Drive Digital Innovation Across European Lotteries appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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Scientific Games Enters Digital Collab with Lotteries Entertainment Innovation Alliance

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Company Will Deliver Digital Game Projects to European Lotteries Group LEIA

Scientific Games has been selected as a digital partner to Lotteries Entertainment Innovation Alliance (LEIA), a collaboration between five leading European lotteries: Danske Spil in Denmark, FDJ United in France, Norsk Tipping in Norway, Svenska Spel in Sweden and Veikkaus Oy in Finland.

“LEIA is an international collaboration between lotteries sharing the same goal to foster open innovation, strengthen market position and boost digital growth locally” said Morten Eriksen, CEO of LEIA. “Our focus on innovation has naturally led to the selection of Scientific Games as our digital partner. We support digital development that meets modern customer expectations, including younger adult audiences in a responsible way.”

LEIA was formed to help its partner lotteries accelerate digital innovation by creating a shared marketplace for relevant games and services. The alliance aims to increase operational efficiency and scalability, enabling each lottery to launch new content faster while reducing costs through collective purchasing power and shared development.

Under the new two-year agreement, Scientific Games—the world’s largest creator and provider of lottery games—will deliver digital games projects to LEIA based on strategic initiatives determined by the Alliance. Scientific Games will also offer localized games from its portfolio of more than 270 premier digital titles developed by SG Studios, and develop bespoke games tailored to specific LEIA markets.

“Scientific Games is a long-time, trusted business partner to the individual lotteries in the alliance, providing a broad portfolio of products and services. We’re thrilled to further extend our collaboration through this strategic digital partnership with LEIA, helping these lotteries expand their reach, engage new audiences and continue shaping the future of lottery entertainment,” said Matt Lynch, President of Digital for Scientific Games.

Through the partnership, LEIA will gain access to Scientific Games’ portfolio of more than 100 licensed brands, as well as a growing library of digital instant games created by partner studios made available through the company’s SG Content Hub, which connects innovative studios and their content to lotteries around the world.

Lynch added, “Scientific Games congratulates our game studio partners, Sweden-based Random State, BWLoto EHF and Harman Connected Services GmbH, who have also been selected for this LEIA collaboration.”

Serving more than 30 iLottery customers globally, Scientific Games offers world-leading digital programs including CRM, loyalty, promotions, second-chance, mobile and web applications. The company provides retail and digital games, technology, analytics and services to 150 lotteries in 50 countries worldwide, offering entertaining game content featuring the largest portfolio of licensed brands in the lottery industry.

© 2026 Scientific Games, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

 

The post Scientific Games Enters Digital Collab with Lotteries Entertainment Innovation Alliance appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

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EMEA ESPORTS

MOVEMBER TEAMS UP WITH RIOT GAMES EMEA ESPORTS

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TLDR:

  • Movember is partnering with the League of Legends EMEA Championship (LEC), VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT) EMEA, and Game Changers EMEA Championship as the Official Mental Health Partner, supporting players, team staff and the wider community for the 2026 and 2027 seasons.

Date: January 20, 2026 [London]

What you need to know:

  • Riot Games and Movember announce a multi-year partnership focused on embedding mental health and wellbeing into the EMEA esports ecosystem.
  • The partnership will integrate mental health and wellbeing frameworks, support systems, and initiatives across the leagues.
  • Movember will provide tools and resources to better manage competitive pressure, build healthier habits, and be encouraged to discuss mental health openly.
  • Planned initiatives for the upcoming year include mental health training for players and staff, and player-only roundtables on stress and coping strategies, with a view to use this to cascade content and guidance to the wider esports community.
  • Movember will share messaging on the broadcasts and on-site during events that highlight the importance of mental health and help reduce the stigma around honest discussions and seeking help when needed.
  • Together, Movember and Riot Games aim to make the gaming environment a healthier environment for all.

Quote from Daniel Ringland, Head of VALORANT Esports, EMEA:

“Supporting the wellbeing of the VCT EMEA community, our players, and team staff is something we are committed to strengthening, so we’re thrilled to welcome Movember as a partner. While supporting open conversations and ensuring our players know trusted resources are available is a priority, this partnership also helps raise awareness around mental health and wellbeing across the wider VCT EMEA community. Movember’s expertise will help normalize these discussions beyond the competitive stage, and provide the tools so everyone connected to our ecosystem feels supported by professionals committed to making a positive impact.”

Quote from Maximilian Peter Schmidt, Director of League of Legends Esports, EMEA

“Partnering with Movember allows us to take our commitment to supporting the wellbeing of our players and teams to the next level. We want our community to feel empowered to speak openly about the challenges they face and know resources are available if needed. Gaming should be a safe and healthy space for everyone, and this partnership will help us ensure that the environment is maintained and strengthened.”

Quote from Dan Cooper, Global Director, Innovations at Movember:

“Movember is committed to bring community first solutions to today’s most urgent mental health challenges. Esports is a focus area for our work in mental health, and by working with Riot Games we aim to have a real impact and drive positive change in esports.”

The post MOVEMBER TEAMS UP WITH RIOT GAMES EMEA ESPORTS appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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