Latest News
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!
Gambling in the USA
Gaming Americas Weekly Roundup – May 5-11

Welcome to our weekly roundup of American gambling news again! Here, we are going through the weekly highlights of the American gambling industry which include the latest news and new partnerships. Read on and get updated.
Latest News
Bragg Gaming Group confirmed that it will release its first quarter 2025 financial results prior to the opening of the financial markets on Thursday, May 15, 2025. The release will be followed by a conference call at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time, hosted by Bragg Chief Executive Officer, Matevž Mazij and Chief Financial Officer, Robbie Bressler, to discuss the Company’s financial results and provide a business update. During the call, management will review a presentation that will be available on the day of the call.
Context Networks Inc, the first programmatic advertising platform engineered for the gaming industry, has announced the rollout of its groundbreaking Deep Intelligence Marketing strategy, redefining how brands engage consumers in bars, taverns and on-premise slot route operations. Leveraging the power of AI-driven data analytics, machine learning and context-aware digital couponing, Context Networks is turning local venues into the next frontier of high-impact retail media. Through its Contextual Promotions Media Network (CPMN), Context is converting digital screens—such as slot machines in bars—into dynamic, smart advertising surfaces. These systems use advanced data signals to deliver highly targeted promotions based on real-time factors like venue type, consumer behaviour, time of day, and even emotional context, moving far beyond traditional static or cyclic Digital Out-of-Home (DOOH) advertising.
ACR Poker’s Blitz Bonus Boost promotion is back by popular demand to supercharger players’ bankrolls, offering a 50% bonus up to a sizzling $500. To take advantage, players need to deposit $25 or more by 11:59 pm ET on Saturday, May 31 using bonus code: BLITZ and ACR Poker will match 50% of it, up to $500.
Partnerships
International Game Technology PLC announced that IGT PlaySports technology is now powering retail sports betting at Silver Reef Casino Resort in Ferndale, Wash. This technology agreement builds on IGT PlaySports’ leadership in the region, marking the 11th casino in Washington State to deploy the Company’s award-winning sports betting platform, and the 10th casino in the State to leverage its trading advisory services.
Playtech and Hard Rock Digital (HRD) have launched New Jersey’s first-ever dedicated trivia experience on the top-rated Hard Rock Bet online casino platform. This milestone establishes Hard Rock Bet as the first operator to launch a dedicated Live Trivia Game Show in the state. Since the announcement of their strategic partnership in 2024, Playtech has provided a wide range of gaming content through Hard Rock Bet, including slots, card & table games, and live dealer games.
Everi Holdings Inc. announced the Company’s digital CashClub Wallet technology is powering Penn Entertainment Inc’s (PENN) “PENN Wallet” at M Resort Spa Casino in Henderson, NV. The “PENN Wallet” offers M Resort guests the ability to access cashless payments throughout the gaming floor via integrations with existing loyalty and payments systems. PENN currently utilises CashClub Wallet technology across 22 properties in 11 jurisdictions. CashClub Wallet elevates patron engagement with frictionless, omni-channel payments. Everi’s industry-leading cashless payments solutions drive additional volume, improve operational efficiencies and transform the traditional casino cash-centric environment into a modern, seamless experience for an enhanced player journey.
The post Gaming Americas Weekly Roundup – May 5-11 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Latest News
SBC Summit’s INFINITY Lisbon Levels Up with Timmy Trumpet on the Decks

Blending classical training, jazz roots, and EDM firepower, Timmy Trumpet will take the stage at the INFINITY Lisbon closing party with a high-energy set that promises to close SBC Summit with a bang.
Taking place on Thursday, September 18th at the MEO Arena—which serves as the Super Stage during the day—the venue will transform into the ultimate party setting for the Australian DJ and producer, widely regarded as one of the most explosive live performers in EDM.
Known for his trumpet solos and crowd-hyping energy, his headline set will be open to VIP attendees and complimentary operator and affiliate pass holders.
“The Greatest Show in Gaming couldn’t happen without the greatest showman in EDM! Jokes aside, no one brings the fire quite like Timmy Trumpet,” said Rasmus Sojmark, CEO & Founder of SBC. “He’s that rare artist who can blend high-energy drops with live instrumentation and still keep the crowd bouncing from start to finish.”
Timmy Trumpet’s musical journey began at just four years old when he picked up the trumpet. By thirteen, he was named Young Musician of the Year and earned a full scholarship to the Conservatorium of Music, studying under the Sydney Symphony Orchestra’s Anthony Heinrich. Within two years, he became the lead soloist for the Australian All-Star Stage Band, touring Europe and performing at some of the world’s top jazz festivals.
His evolution into the electronic music scene came naturally, blending live trumpet with high-energy EDM—culminating in his breakout hit Freaks in 2014, which has since surpassed a billion streams across all platforms and contributed to a discography that has amassed over 5 billion streams worldwide.
Trumpet’s Tomorrowland debut in 2017 remains the most-streamed set in the festival’s history. In 2024, he reached a new career high, ranking 5th on DJ Mag’s Top 100. That same year, he closed the main stage at Tomorrowland in both Belgium and Brazil—his Belgium set becoming the most-viewed performance of the year and further cementing his legacy as one of the festival’s most iconic acts.
The DJ’s genre-blending style and electrifying energy have also led to collaborations with some of the biggest names in electronic music. His discography includes powerhouse tracks with global stars like Steve Aoki, Armin van Buuren, Afrojack, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, Hardwell, KSHMR, R3HAB, W&W, and ALOK, among others.
“We already announced Alok last month as part of the INFINITY Lisbon lineup, and now confirming Timmy Trumpet means we’ll have two powerhouse DJs headlining the closing party—an experience I’m sure our attendees will truly appreciate,” said Sojmark.
This won’t be the first time SBC event attendees are treated to electrifying DJ performances. The tradition began last September during the debut edition of SBC’s flagship show in Lisbon, with headline acts including Darude, Miss Monique, and Don Diablo. It continued earlier this year at SBC Summit Rio, where Afrojack and Brazilian duo Dubdogz brought the energy behind the decks. Next, the tradition heads to SBC Summit Americas, where Steve Aoki will headline the INFINITY Florida closing party in Fort Lauderdale.
“It’s becoming a tradition—and one that both we at SBC and our delegates absolutely love,” Sojmark added. “Industry events are fantastic in so many ways. But they’re also demanding. Closing them with world-class acts creates an experience that’s both celebratory and memorable, which is exactly what SBC Summit is all about.
SBC Summit will return to the Feira Internacional de Lisboa and MEO Arena on 16–18 September. Set to welcome 30,000 industry professionals from around the world, the event will offer three days of in-depth educational content, a comprehensive exhibition floor, and networking opportunities.
The post SBC Summit’s INFINITY Lisbon Levels Up with Timmy Trumpet on the Decks appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Latest News
Wikibet.com Partners with iConvert to Power Smarter Conversion Across its Markets

iConvert, the conversion platform built specifically for iGaming, is partnering with online casino and sportsbook Wikibet.com operated by Geeker Technology N.V., to ramp up first-time deposits (FTDs) across all its markets and English-speaking territories worldwide.
Wikibet.com is built for players, including VIPs, who value speed, simplicity, and real rewards. But even the best user experience needs to be matched with conversion flows that deliver. That’s where iConvert steps in.
The goal? Maximise player acquisition without maxing out marketing budgets.
By using iConvert’s behavioural overlays which are tailored by traffic source, GEO, and device, Wikibet.com is now optimising every visit in real-time, ensuring more of the right players convert the moment they land.
Wikibet gets it. They’ve built an operator brand with sharp UX, live dealers, and serious player rewards. Our job is to make sure every marketing dollar they spend results in deposits, not dead ends. This partnership is about precision, targeting bounce points, streamlining the journey, and turning intent into revenue
Ashley Wood, CEO, iConvert: “We built Wikibet for players who care about quality and speed, so it made sense to work with a partner who could bring that same mindset to conversion. iConvert gives us real-time insight, clean integration, and tangible FTD uplift. We’re excited to scale this across multiple markets and see what’s possible.”
Idan Levy, CEO of Wikibet.com: “This partnership marks another strategic step in iConvert’s global expansion, now powering over 140+ operators across 50+ markets, with over 3 million FTDs delivered to date.
Because in 2025, traffic alone isn’t enough. Conversion is the edge.”
The post Wikibet.com Partners with iConvert to Power Smarter Conversion Across its Markets appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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