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Innovation nurtures talents: PlanetPay365 offers two employees an experience at Viola Park’s Fiorentina Training Center
SKS365, through its multiservice platform PlanetPay365, partner of ACF Fiorentina – gifted two of its employees, Giuliano Ragno (Retail Tech Manager) and Nebojsa Nisavic (Automation Quality Assurance Engineer) with a unique experience characterized by technological innovation, inclusion, and talent growth under the common theme of sports, as they were guests for a day at Viola Park, the brand-new home of the Tuscan club.
The two winners of a special internal contest among the company’s employees had the opportunity to enter into the heart of one of the most advanced sports centres in Europe, noticing at Viola Park those same elements of technological innovation and inclusivity that distinguish the SKS365 entity, where approximately 600 people from over 20 different nationalities coexist across the four offices of the group (Italy, Serbia, Malta, and Austria).
From the training pitches of the Youth team and the Women’s team to the Media Center, from the TV studio to the Villa, the office of President Rocco Commisso, to the meeting points of the athletes such as the canteen, the gym, and the bar. Throughout the day, Giuliano and Nebojsa, guided by the staff of ACF Fiorentina, were able to immerse themselves in the atmosphere of Viola Park and live a 360-degree experience, by visiting 10 different locations of the sports center.
The highlight of the special tour was the meeting with some of the most important members of ACF Fiorentina. Ragno and Nisavic had the privilege of receiving Fiorentina jerseys from Nicolas Burdisso, Technical Director of ACF Fiorentina, and getting to know the team’s Match Analyst, who shared valuable insights with them on the technical-tactical analysis of the performances of the Viola players, emphasizing the importance of the work of each club member to achieve team success.
To end in style the day, the two employees were allowed to watch the first team’s training from a privileged position and meet some of the most representative players of ACF Fiorentina at the end of the session, including Andrea Belotti and Nico Gonzalez and take some photos too. In particular, Nebojsa, who works at the Belgrade office of SKS365, was excited to meet in person the defender of Fiorentina and of the Serbian national team Nikola Milenkovic, thus completing a truly unforgettable experience.
“I’m really thrilled”, comments Nebojsa Nisavic. “It was all fantastic: so many football pitches, auxiliary facilities in a magnificent environment and in a stunning location. I’m truly speechless”. For him, the trip had an even greater significance, as it was his first time in Italy. “It’s more than I expected. Italy is beautiful, I’m amazed by the nature, the people, and their hospitality. I thank SKS365 and PlanetPay365 for giving me this fantastic opportunity”.
“I come from years of sports, and visiting such an innovative facility, fully dedicated to football, was wonderful”, says Giuliano Ragno. “Understanding the mechanisms, assisting at the training, and everything revolving around such an important team was fantastic”.
“SKS365 and Fiorentina share the same values and drive for innovation that contributes to the creation of new ideas and products”, explains Gianfranco Pastore, Head of Sponsorships & Partnerships at SKS365. “With PlanetPay365, our brand of high-value-added services with high technological value, we have been Official Value-Added Service Partners of Fiorentina for three years, and we are happy to be here. At Viola Park, we find the same processes that we experience in our company for sharing ideas and living together, two points that encourage creative and operational processes”.
“We often connect the concept of innovation with technology. Many times, however, as happens at Viola Park, it can also be connected to rethinking behaviors, processes, and relationships differently from the past. Our sports center rewards the values of gender and generational inclusion and brings together all these values”, adds Enrico Peruzzo, Revenue Director of ACF Fiorentina.
“The first feeling is that of pride in working here, of being part of this family that had the great idea of thinking of a sports center like this”, continues Nicolás Burdisso, Technical Director of ACF Fiorentina. “On a practical level, this is reflected in the quality of work in the ranking, in the performance, and above all in generating a great sense of belonging. The fact that we are always together, that we bring together the youth team, or the women’s team, with the Serie A players – who represent the end point and with whom everyone can identify – is one of the dynamics that we should stimulate”.
The employer branding initiative of SKS365 at Viola Park further testifies the company’s commitment to creating a positive and engaging work environment, where the growth and the development of talents are fundamental aspects to achieve company successes.
The post Innovation nurtures talents: PlanetPay365 offers two employees an experience at Viola Park’s Fiorentina Training Center appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Asia
S8UL signs Team Question Mark roster for PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS ahead of EWC 2026
The CIS-based EMEA lineup brings past EWC experience and titles including PUBG Global Series 8 as S8UL targets Riyadh qualification.
S8UL has signed the Team Question Mark (QM) roster to represent the organisation in PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS on PC ahead of the Esports World Cup (EWC) 2026. The deal was announced April 16 from Mumbai as S8UL prepares for the tournament in Riyadh, scheduled for July 21 to 26.
The CIS-based EMEA lineup includes:
- captain Roman Zinovev (ADOUZ1E),
- Andrey Ionov (Bestoloch),
- Mansur Tsimpaev (f1lfirst),
- Nikita Odobesku (Molodoct),
- and coach Yermek Torebekov (Ermaak).
S8UL said the roster will compete through the qualification pathway for a place in the 24-team event, which has a $2 million prize pool.
S8UL is adding a roster with a proven record in top-tier PUBG competition, including wins at PUBG Continental Series 7 Europe 2022 and PUBG Global Series 8 in 2025. The team has also posted a Top 3 finish at PUBG Global Series 2 in 2023 and a Top 7 finish at PUBG Global Championship 2022. The organisation said the roster has competed at both previous editions of the EWC in 2024 and 2025 and has amassed approximately $713,000 in total prize winnings.
Commenting on the move, Naman Mathur, Co-founder, S8UL said, “Signing the QM roster is a significant step for us as we continue to strengthen our presence in global esports. PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS is one of the most competitive titles in the world, and this team has consistently proven itself against the very best. At a broader level, this move reflects the direction S8UL is heading in. Over the past year, we have focused on building depth across our rosters and competing consistently at the highest level. As we prepare for the Esports World Cup 2026, we are committed to providing the team with the right support and resources as they aim to make a strong impact in the qualifiers as well as on the global stage.”
Roman Zinovev aka ADOUZ1E added, “Becoming part of S8UL is a big opportunity for us as a team. As a team, we’ve always believed in our ability to compete with the best in the world, and having the backing of a global organisation allows us to push even further. With the Esports World Cup coming up, we’re focused on working through the qualifiers and making sure we deliver performances that match our potential.,”
S8UL said the announcement follows its selection as a Club Partner by the Esports Foundation (EF), placing it among 40 global organisations. The organisation has also listed 13 titles it plans to enter for EWC 2026, including PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS, Apex Legends, Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI), Call of Duty: Warzone, Chess, EA Sports FC, FATAL Fury, Fortnite, Honor of Kings, MOBA Legends 5V5, Street Fighter 6, TEKKEN 8, and Trackmania.
Relevant data as follows:
- S8UL Esports: https://s8ul.gg/ Official organisation site for roster and announcement verification.
- PUBG Esports (PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS competitive updates): https://pubgesports.com/ Authoritative source for PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS esports circuits, event results, and qualifiers.
- Esports World Cup (official site): https://esportsworldcup.com/ Event organiser site for EWC 2026 schedule, formats, and prize pool confirmation.
The post S8UL signs Team Question Mark roster for PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS ahead of EWC 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
AI
Former German Air Force officer launches Sparky Space AI platform for iGaming teams
Nils Ristau and Daniel Schmitz debut a work enablement platform aimed at day-to-day execution across product, retention and AI adoption.
Sparky Space, a new AI-powered work enablement platform founded by former German Air Force officer Nils Ristau and tech leader Daniel Schmitz, has launched and is now available globally for iGaming operators and suppliers.
The founders are positioning the product around execution support inside daily workflows as teams face tighter regulatory demands, faster product cycles and higher player expectations. The company cited industry research suggesting only 10-20% of learning is consistently applied in day-to-day work, creating a gap between training and on-the-job outcomes.
“In military operations, performance depends on clarity, structure, and disciplined execution in changing environments,” said Ristau. “The iGaming industry operates under similar pressure.
“Competitive advantage does not come from knowledge alone – it comes from how effectively teams apply it every day.”
Sparky Space said its platform supports areas including product development, player retention and AI adoption, with use cases spanning customer-centric experimentation, agile product and game development, decision-making and prioritisation, practical generative AI prompting, and cross-functional collaboration. The company said the tools are intended to help teams launch features, respond to regulatory change, and optimise marketing and support processes.
While initially focused on iGaming, Sparky Space said it has been built for broader use in other fast-moving, technology-driven industries.
Relevant data as follows:
- Sparky Space: https://www.sparkyspace.com Official company site for product and launch details.
- UK Gambling Commission: https://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk Regulatory context referenced in the article’s discussion of increasing compliance pressure.
- Malta Gaming Authority: https://www.mga.org.mt Key European regulator relevant to operators and suppliers navigating shifting regulation.
The post Former German Air Force officer launches Sparky Space AI platform for iGaming teams appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Gambling in the USA
GGPoker sets $300m guarantee for 2026 GG World Festival series
Online poker festival runs May 3 to June 9 and includes a $3m leaderboard plus three $10m guaranteed flagship events.
GGPoker has announced the return of its GG World Festival tournament series, set to run from May 3 through June 9, 2026. The operator said the schedule will offer $300,000,000 in guaranteed prizes across the series, up from the $250m guarantee it offered last year.
The festival is split into four buy-in tiers: Low ($3–$25), Medium ($26–$150), High ($151–$1,050) and Super ($1,051+). GGPoker said the series will include hundreds of tournaments over five weeks.
GGPoker is also bringing back its festival leaderboard with $3,000,000 in additional prizes across the four tiers: $300K (Low), $700K (Medium), $1M (High) and $1M (Super).
Three events will anchor the schedule, each with a $10,000,000 guarantee: the $525 World Bounty Festival (Day 2) on May 18, the $10,000 GGMillion$ Main Event (Day 2) on May 25, and the $1,500 GG World Championship (Day 2) on June 1.
“Last year we set the bar at $250 million, and the community response was legendary,” said Daniel Negreanu, GGPoker Global Ambassador. “But at GGPoker, we don’t just want to meet expectations; we want to smash them over and over again. This year, we’re going to $300 million. Whether you’re playing a $3 Low Tier tournament or the $10K GGMillion$ Main Event, you’re part of the biggest thing to ever happen in online poker. This is the stage where legends are made.”
Relevant data as follows:
- GG World Festival page on GGPoker: https://ggpoker.com/tournaments/ggpoker-world-festival Primary source for dates, schedule structure and guarantees referenced in the article.
- GGPoker tournaments hub: https://ggpoker.com/tournaments/ Supporting context on GGPoker’s tournament offerings and satellite qualifiers mentioned in the release.
- GGPoker homepage: https://ggpoker.com/ Company reference link for readers seeking broader operator information.
The post GGPoker sets $300m guarantee for 2026 GG World Festival series appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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