Latest News

Innovation nurtures talents: PlanetPay365 offers two employees an experience at Viola Park’s Fiorentina Training Center

Published

2 years ago

April 3, 2024

innovation-nurtures-talents:-planetpay365-offers-two-employees-an-experience-at-viola-park’s-fiorentina-training-center

Reading Time: 3 minutes

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.

Related Topics:latest-news Press Releases

Up Next

Setting Sail in Montenegro, Hacksaw Gaming and Admiral Bet Celebrate Another Milestone Together

Don't Miss

Canadian Gaming Summit: Providing the Framework for Sports Betting Success

Agganis Arena

RLCS Boston Major Becomes Most Watched Event in Rocket League History

Published

49 minutes ago

February 25, 2026

Wladimir P.

rlcs-boston-major-becomes-most-watched-event-in-rocket-league-history

The Rocket League Championship Series (RLCS) Boston Major 2026 has officially become the most-watched event in Rocket League esports history, setting a new benchmark for global engagement and competitive excellence.

Held at Agganis Arena in Boston, the Major concluded with a thrilling all-French Grand Final, where Gentlemates defeated tournament favourites Team Vitality 4:2 to claim the first Major title of the 2026 season.

Record-Breaking Viewership Milestone

The RLCS Boston Major 2026 delivered unprecedented audience numbers:

Peak Viewers: 624,316 concurrent viewers
Average Viewership: Over 270,000 viewers
First RLCS event ever to surpass 600,000 concurrent viewers

This milestone represents a 33.3% increase over the previous all-time peak recorded at the 2022–23 RLCS World Championship, highlighting sustained year-over-year growth and expanding global interest in Rocket League esports.

The event’s performance reinforces RLCS as one of the fastest-growing competitive circuits in modern esports.

A Grand Final Worthy of the Record

The Boston Major culminated in a high-stakes French showdown between Gentlemates and Team Vitality. The 4:2 victory secured Gentlemates’ first Major trophy of the season and signaled a shift in competitive power dynamics heading deeper into 2026.

The all-French final further amplified international audience engagement, particularly across European broadcast markets, contributing significantly to the event’s record-breaking concurrent viewership.

Global Broadcast Reach and Multi-Language Coverage

Beyond peak numbers, the Boston Major showcased:

Multi-language broadcast streams
Cross-platform digital distribution
Strong in-arena attendance
Expanded regional fan engagement

Hosted in front of thousands of live fans at Agganis Arena, the event combined traditional arena esports spectacle with robust online streaming performance — a formula that continues to fuel RLCS’s accelerating global momentum.

What This Means for Rocket League Esports

The 2026 Boston Major marks a defining moment for the RLCS ecosystem:

Sustained Global Growth – The consistent upward trend in viewership confirms Rocket League’s staying power within the esports landscape.
Mainstream Momentum – Breaking the 600K peak threshold positions RLCS among elite-tier esports events globally.
Competitive Depth – The diversity and intensity of international competition continue to elevate the broadcast product.
Commercial Validation – Record audience metrics strengthen sponsorship, media rights, and long-term circuit investment potential.

As the 2026 season progresses, the Boston Major sets a new performance benchmark that future Majors and the World Championship will aim to surpass.

The post RLCS Boston Major Becomes Most Watched Event in Rocket League History appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Competitive Poker

David Lappin Named PokerStars Ambassador

Published

49 minutes ago

February 25, 2026

Wladimir P.

david-lappin-named-pokerstars-ambassador

PokerStars has officially named Irish poker professional David Lappin as the winner of its inaugural Live League ambassadorship, marking a major milestone for both the seasoned pro and the global poker brand. The announcement follows the conclusion of the 2025 PokerStars Live League season, where players competed across European events for leaderboard supremacy and a coveted ambassador position.

Lappin, widely respected as a poker player, writer, commentator, and industry voice, now joins the prestigious PokerStars ambassador roster after emerging as the standout candidate among top leaderboard performers.

A Season-Long Path to Representation

The 2025 PokerStars Live League introduced a structured, merit-based pathway for players to earn ambassador status. Competitors accumulated points across three buy-in-based leaderboard tiers — High, Medium, and Low — throughout major European live events.

Qualifying tournaments included stops on the renowned European Poker Tour (EPT), regional PokerStars Open events, and even the iconic Irish Poker Open, a long-standing highlight of the European poker calendar.

At the end of the season:

Top 30 players (Top 10 per tier) earned the right to audition.
A PokerStars judging panel selected the ultimate ambassador.
Lappin was chosen for his consistency, credibility, and player-first approach.

This structure reflects PokerStars’ growing emphasis on meritocracy and community representation rather than purely promotional appointments.

Player-Led Representation at the Core

As a PokerStars Ambassador, Lappin’s role extends beyond brand visibility. His focus will center on:

Competing in flagship EPT Main Events
Participating in PokerStars Open stops
Promoting online-to-live qualification routes
Engaging directly with the player community

PokerStars has made clear that this ambassadorship is rooted in authentic player representation. Lappin has long advocated that ambassadors should serve as bridges between operators and players — not simply brand spokespeople.

His reputation as a thoughtful commentator and outspoken industry analyst positions him as a natural intermediary between grassroots competitors and event organizers.

Cédric Billot, Associate Director of Live Events Operations at PokerStars, emphasized Lappin’s longstanding presence on the circuit and deep understanding of the live ecosystem. According to Billot, Lappin’s authenticity and alignment with PokerStars values made him a “natural fit” for the role.

Strengthening the Online-to-Live Pathway

A key component of Lappin’s ambassadorship will be highlighting PokerStars’ satellite ecosystem — a system allowing online players to qualify for major live tournaments at a fraction of the standard buy-in.

This online-to-live funnel remains central to PokerStars’ brand identity. By promoting satellite qualifiers and digital routes into live events, Lappin reinforces PokerStars’ commitment to accessibility and upward mobility within competitive poker.

For aspiring players, this messaging underscores an important truth: online grinders can convert modest investments into major live opportunities.

The 2026 PokerStars Live League Expansion

The announcement coincides with the launch of the 2026 PokerStars Live League season, which began at PokerStars Open Campione.

Key highlights of the 2026 league include:

€157,500 in PokerStars LIVE credits awarded
Prizes distributed across High, Medium, and Low tiers
A new €100,000 live freeroll at the first EPT stop of 2027
Expanded rewards structure benefiting top 30 finishers in each tier

The second stop of the 2026 season is currently underway at EPT Paris, offering players additional opportunities to earn leaderboard points.

League standings and live updates are available through the PokerStars Live app, further integrating digital tracking with live competition.

Strategic Implications for PokerStars

Lappin’s appointment reflects broader strategic shifts in the live poker landscape:

Community Credibility Over Celebrity Marketing
PokerStars continues prioritizing ambassadors with deep player roots rather than purely mainstream appeal.
Reinforcing European Live Dominance
By strengthening the Live League and EPT ecosystem, PokerStars consolidates its hold on Europe’s premier live poker circuits.
Retention Through Gamification
The leaderboard structure encourages year-long engagement, incentivizing consistent participation rather than one-off tournament attendance.
Expanding Reward Distribution
The 2026 freeroll addition broadens prize accessibility, rewarding loyalty across all buy-in levels.

Why This Matters for the Poker Industry

The poker industry has increasingly leaned into hybrid engagement models — combining online platforms, live tours, community ambassadors, and digital content ecosystems.

Lappin’s appointment symbolizes this evolution. As a hybrid figure — competitor, analyst, content creator — he embodies the modern poker ambassador archetype: credible, vocal, accessible, and community-oriented.

The Live League format itself may also influence competitor operators to rethink how ambassador programs are structured, shifting toward performance-based selection models.

The post David Lappin Named PokerStars Ambassador appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Latest News

Plaza Hotel & Casino debuts the only live streaming service in Las Vegas to broadcast the excitement of its smoke free gaming area

Published

49 minutes ago

February 25, 2026

GamingAmericas.com

plaza-hotel-&-casino-debuts-the-only-live-streaming-service-in-las-vegas-to-broadcast-the-excitement-of-its-smoke-free-gaming-area

Three table games also added to the first and only smoke free gaming space in downtown Las Vegas

To highlight the excitement of its smoke free gaming area, the first and only one in downtown Las Vegas, the Plaza Hotel & Casino has partnered with Vegas Live Casino Network to launch the only live streaming channel dedicated to broadcasting casino play in Las Vegas, seven days a week.

The Plaza has long promoted social media posting by guests and created the smoke free gaming area as a social media friendly space with vibrant backdrops and copyright free music. Now, the Plaza is partnering with Vegas Live Casino Network to be the first Las Vegas property with its own dedicated YouTube channel to broadcast the excitement players are having in its smoke free gaming space at https://www.youtube.com/@VegasLiveCasinoNetwork.

Thanks to the new broadcast stream from Vegas Live Casino Network, guests will be able to subscribe and share the video stream of themselves playing the slots machines or the new table games with friends and family to show the fun they are having at the Plaza.

The broadcast will stream live Sunday through Thursday from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays from 6 p.m. to midnight. To learn more about the live streaming service, watch the launch video for the Vegas Live Casino Network at the Plaza at: youtube.com/watch?v=PfboeigVH_c.

The smoke free gaming space is home to dozens of the industry’s most popular slot machines, and now, the Plaza also added three table games, including blackjack, baccarat, and European roulette. Blackjack will offer bets starting at $25 to $2,000; baccarat will start bets at $25 up to $3,000; and European roulette will be a $200 progressive table. Outside bets: even money is $3,000 maximum and 2-1 is $1,500 maximum bet. The table games will be open from 6 p.m. to midnight daily.

To learn more about the new offerings in the Plaza’s smoke free gaming area visit: plazahotelcasino.com/casino/smoke-free-slots/.

The post Plaza Hotel & Casino debuts the only live streaming service in Las Vegas to broadcast the excitement of its smoke free gaming area appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.