Latest News
RAPTOR PR HIRES AWARD-WINNING JAMES LAW AS PR DIRECTOR
Raptor PR, the specialist tech PR agency for the global video games industry, has appointed MCV/DEVELOP 30 Under 30 2023 winning PR and communications professional James Law as PR Director. James will play an instrumental role in the establishment of Raptor PR’s new consumer gaming PR division, and will be leading on key B2B accounts at the agency.
Since early 2021, Raptor PR has carved out a unique reputation as the world’s only specialist B2B tech PR agency for the global games industry. James’ appointment will see the agency expand its B2B offering with a fully integrated B2C PR service for ambitious game development studios and publishers from the worlds of mobile, PC and console gaming.
James was previously PR Manager at Heaven Media, a leading creative marketing agency specialising in the gaming and technology industries. His experience includes global brands such as Nexon, Fanatec, and PowerA, as well as indie darlings like OutOfTheBit, Wales Interactive, and Utomik. Prior to Heaven Media, James was an experienced consumer games industry journalist, having written for leading gaming outlets such as Eurogamer, NME, Rock Paper Shotgun, and PC Gamer. He has also been Managing Editor at Gfinity Esports.
Rana Rahman, Founder and CEO at Raptor PR, commented: “We’re beyond excited to have James come on board to help shape the next evolution of Raptor PR. We’ve spent the last three and a half years establishing ourselves as the leading B2B tech PR agency for the global games industry, with flagship clients such as The Games Fund, Sandsoft, Midjiwan, Stardust, and Metaplay. We implicitly understand the complexities of the businesses and technologies that are powering the games industry, hence it is a natural progression for team Raptor PR to voyage into the world of consumer gaming PR, immediately supporting our existing portfolio with consumer gaming consultancy and tactical execution.”
James Law, PR Director at Raptor PR, commented: “Raptor PR is in such an exciting place with the agency’s fantastic success and strength in the B2B gaming and tech sectors. The opportunity to lead the agency’s nascent consumer gaming division is one I couldn’t resist – I love the games industry and the people in it, and the Raptor team is one that shares my passion for gaming and drive to make the industry a better place. I can’t wait to get stuck in – meeting the brilliant Raptor team and working alongside them has already been a fascinating learning experience, and it’s been a treat to be able to contribute and deliver my own unique perspectives. Here’s to a successful new partnership!”
James’ work demonstrates a passion for the games industry community, and a desire to make it a better place. As co-founder of startmenu, a website and community dedicated to bringing new and upcoming writing talent together within the games industry, James has helped build bridges into the industry that previously didn’t exist. At Raptor PR, James will be supported in his voluntary roles, as an ambassador for Safe In Our World, the video games industry mental health charity, and as a mentor in the 2024 Limit Break mentorship scheme.
The post RAPTOR PR HIRES AWARD-WINNING JAMES LAW AS PR DIRECTOR appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Olga Levshina, CCO at BGaming, said, “This deal with PokerStars will provide massive exposure for BGaming and help us strengthen our presence in key regulated markets.
PokerStars has built a strong reputation as a leading operator over the years, and we’re thrilled to bring our content to more players worldwide”.
The post BGaming Secures Major Deal with PokerStars appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Key Findings
- Nevada recorded the highest combined casino game search interest nationally, achieving a perfect 500/500 score in 2025, the only state to do so.
- Home to Las Vegas—the world-renowned center of casino gaming and entertainment—Nevada recorded casino game searches 181% above the national average last year, reinforcing the city’s dominance in gambling culture.
- Michigan led all legal online casino states for overall search interest across major casino game categories.
- The most-searched casino games nationwide were slots.
- Search interest across legal online casino states was closely matched last year, led by Michigan.
- The District of Columbia showed the lowest search interest, searching 38% below the national average.
Casino Game Online Search Results
| Game | Score
*Maximum 5,100 |
Search Interest |
| Slots | 2831 | 31.2% |
| Casino | 1717 | 18.9% |
| Roulette | 1607 | 17.7% |
| Poker | 1594 | 17.6% |
| Blackjack | 1329 | 14.6% |
Legal Online Casino States Where BetMGM Operates
| Legal Online Casino States | Casino Game Search Interest Score (Out of a total of 500) | National Ranking |
| Michigan | 172 | 20 |
| West Virginia | 171 | 21 |
| Pennsylvania & New Jersey | 169 | 22 |
Key Insights from Legal Online Casino States
Here are a few of the key findings from this research:
1. Slots Dominate Regulated Markets
Slots are the top-searched casino game in every legal online casino state except New Jersey, reinforcing slots as the primary driver of online casino interest in regulated U.S. markets.
2. New Jersey Stands Out with Roulette-Led Interest
New Jersey is the only legal online casino state where roulette outranked slots as the most searched game in 2025. This indicates a more diversified player base with a stronger interest in live dealer and table games.
3. Search Interest is Tightly Clustered Across Legal States
Michigan, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey all ranked closely together nationally (positions 20–22), with very similar search interest scores.
Methodology
BetMGM Casino analysed Google search trends to assess nationwide interest in casino games over a 12-month period, covering January 1 to December 31, 2025.
Search interest was measured across five core casino game categories:
- Casino
- Slots
- Poker
- Blackjack
- Roulette
Only the generic category terms (for example, “slots”, “poker”, and “casino”) were analyzed. No modifiers such as “online”, “real money”, or brand-specific keywords were included. This approach ensures the data reflects overall interest in casino games, rather than being influenced by regulatory differences, platform availability, or other variables in individual states. It is critical to note Google Trends is strongest when you compare high-volume, generic terms.
Google Trends scores were used to compare relative search interest by state, with values scaled from 0 to 100 per category, where 100 represents the highest level of search interest observed during the period analysed.
This methodology allows for a consistent, like-for-like comparison of casino game popularity across the United States, highlighting regional interest patterns and broader gambling trends rather than online-only behavior.
Play Your Favorite Online Casino Games at BetMGM
Whether you search for online slots, casino table games, or live dealer casino game experiences, you can find your favorite online casino games at BetMGM Casino.
When you sign up to enjoy any of these great games, you’ll also get access to great ongoing and limited-time promotions, as well as the BetMGM Rewards loyalty program that offers both online and in person benefits for BetMGM players.
The post BetMGM Reveals 2025’s Most Searched Casino Games appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
Betsson Group
Betsson Group Celebrates Multiple Wins; Jesper Svensson Takes Home GGA 2026 Executive of the Year
At the close of Day 1 of ICE 2026 in Barcelona, the Global Gaming Awards (GGA) took place, celebrating outstanding achievements across the gaming industry. The awards recognise excellence across the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region and remain one of the most prestigious honours in the sector due to their commitment to transparency and industry credibility.
Jesper Svensson, CEO of Betsson Group, was recognised as Executive of the Year, underscoring the impact of his leadership over the past year. What makes this accolade particularly significant is that it is determined by senior leaders from across the international gaming industry. Being selected by peers who understand the complexity of steering a large-scale, multinational operator highlights the respect Jesper commands and reinforces the influence he continues to have on the sector. This follows his Outstanding Contribution to Gaming award at the SiGMA Euro-Med Awards 2025.
Alongside Jesper’s individual recognition, Betsson Group was also honoured with multiple accolades at the Global Gaming Awards 2026:
- Social Responsibility of the Year – Winner
- Affiliate Programme of the Year – 1st Runner-Up
- Sports Betting Operator of the Year – 2nd Runner-Up
These achievements build on Betsson Group’s strong performance in 2025 at the same awards, when the company also won Social Responsibility of the Year and was recognised as Runner-Up for Sports Betting Operator of the Year.
The Global Gaming Awards are widely regarded as a benchmark of excellence within the industry, supported by a respected voting panel composed of experienced executives from across the EMEA region and independently adjudicated by KPMG to maintain the highest standards of integrity.
The post Betsson Group Celebrates Multiple Wins; Jesper Svensson Takes Home GGA 2026 Executive of the Year appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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