SOFTSWISS, a global tech provider with over 15 years of iGaming expertise, announces that its Head of Anti-Money Laundering (AML) team, Eleni Panagiotopoulou, has been invited to deliver a lecture for AML Fundamentals, the newly launched training programme by Sumsub Academy. The course, which goes live on 15 September 2025, offers free online access to compliance professionals worldwide.

AML has become one of the most pressing topics for a wide range of highly regulated sectors. Regulators are intensifying oversight, and companies face increasing responsibilities to safeguard their operations and the wider financial system. Against this backdrop, Eleni’s participation underscores both SOFTSWISS’s expertise in compliance and its commitment to supporting the iGaming industry.

Drawing on her experience across operators, regulators, and compliance leadership roles, Eleni participates in the iGaming-focused module of the six-part course. Her sessions explore how money laundering risks manifest in casinos, betting platforms, lotteries, and online gaming environments, and how operators can strengthen their frameworks to meet evolving regulatory expectations.

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Speaking ahead of the course launch, Eleni Panagiotopoulou said: “iGaming is one of the fastest-paced and high-risk sectors when it comes to financial crime. In countries where gaming is a cornerstone of the economy, AML compliance isn’t just a regulatory requirement; it’s a business imperative. Through this course, I look forward to sharing practical, industry-specific insights that compliance teams can put into action straight away.”

Natalie Buraimoh, Head of AML Product at Sumsub, added: “We’re pleased to be working with leading partners like SOFTSWISS to bring additional iGaming expertise into this course, helping professionals address some of the sector’s most complex AML challenges. After ten years of helping businesses navigate compliance, we know how quickly AML requirements evolve, and our aim is to deliver accessible training that professionals at every level can apply in their daily work.”

The Sumsub Academy AML Fundamentals course brings together leading experts from across the financial crime prevention space, including specialists in fintech, payments, and crypto. Participants who complete the programme will receive a shareable AML certificate.

For SOFTSWISS, this appointment highlights the company’s growing influence in global compliance conversations, while reinforcing its deep roots in Malta’s iGaming ecosystem.

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About SOFTSWISS

SOFTSWISS is an international technology company with over 15 years of experience in developing innovative solutions for the iGaming industry. SOFTSWISS provides comprehensive software for managing iGaming projects. The company’s product portfolio includes the Casino Platform, the Game Aggregator with over 35,000 casino games, Affilka Affiliate Platform, the Sportsbook Platform, and the Jackpot Aggregator. The expert team, based in Malta, Poland, and Georgia, counts over 2,000 employees.

World’s largest online casino operator is first to introduce Animo’s live-action, animated hosts designed specifically for iGaming sector

Animo Studios, founded by top livestreamer and Fortnite champion Harley Fresh, has launched a suite of live, animated characters for live online games, exclusively on Stake for a limited time.

Through a combination of advanced motion capture, live broadcasting, machine learning, and proprietary software and hardware, Animo allows human hosts to transform into live-action characters with unique names, storylines, and personalities. These characters have been created to provide an incredibly immersive experience for online gamers and bettors.

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Animo’s proprietary technology is also designed to scale, with ambitions to extend beyond table games and into live game shows, with other products in development. This partnership unlocks vast potential for IP and branding in the live sector, where Animo’s team have joined forces with IP veterans, who have executed campaigns with Netflix, Warner Bros and Universal Studios, among others.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLe-iZdD0Sw

“Animo is set to reshape table games, game shows, and beyond, reimagining how we play, connect, and engage online,” said Animo CEO Fresh, who boasts almost 8 million subscribers on YouTube. “The live entertainment space has stagnated for too long, and we see enormous potential to bridge the gap between gaming and iGaming.”

Real-time interaction

Animo’s animated hosts interact with physical objects in immersive environments. Players can communicate directly with their hosts, creating a new level of engagement and trust.

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Animo will also offer celebrities and influencers the opportunity to insert IP-based characters into platforms, game shows, and other formats – bringing their profile to a wider audience.

“Animo’s innovative use of software and hardware pushes the entertainment experience to the next level,” said Brais Pena, Chief Strategy Officer of Easygo, the Melbourne-based tech powerhouse behind Stake. “It’s exactly the type of project we want to support.”

Animo is positioned to attract entirely new audiences and bring online players back to live table games. It has partnered with some of the world’s largest iGaming operators and aggregators, starting exclusively with Stake after going live for the first time on Monday 8 September.

The Finnish Ski Association and the Åland-based gaming company Paf (Ålands Penningautomatförening) have signed a long-term partnership agreement extending through 2030. Paf will become the official main partner of the Finnish Ski Association when the new Finnish licensing system enters into force, provided that Paf is granted a licence.

“This new partnership with Paf, a domestic company with a strong set of shared values, is of great importance to us and it provides a solid foundation for long-term development. Financially, it is one of the most significant sponsorship agreements in the history of the Finnish Ski Association,” says Marleena Valtasola, Executive Director of the Finnish Ski Association.

National teams and FIS World Cup events

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The agreement covers the national A-teams in cross-country skiing, nordic combined, and ski jumping, as well as the U23 and U20 national teams in cross-country skiing. In addition, Paf will be an official partner of the FIS World Cup events in Ruka and Lahti, as well as the Finnish Cup in cross-country skiing. The partnership will be implemented through concrete actions in line with the upcoming reform of Finland’s gambling legislation.

“Our new strategy clearly defines us as a high-performance sports organization, with success measured by the achievements of our athletes and stakeholders. In addition to domesticity and responsibility, a key value of this agreement is that it includes all our disciplines, the World Cup events in Ruka and Lahti, and the Finnish Cup. The long-term nature of the agreement enables us to build impactful cooperation over time,” says Marleena Valtasola.

Skiing is important to Finns

In recent years, Paf has experienced strong growth and is particularly recognized for its leadership in responsible gaming. Founded in 1966 by Save the Children, the Finnish Red Cross, and the public health organization Folkhälsan, Paf’s mission is to generate funds for the benefit of society. The company’s ambition is to become the most responsible gaming operator in the world.

“We are truly excited about this new main partnership with the Finnish Ski Association. The disciplines governed by the association are a major part of Finnish identity and deeply valued by the public, both as hobbies and as elite sports. From the perspectives of brand visibility and recognition, cross-country skiing, nordic combined and ski jumping are highly important to us. Our shared values provide an excellent foundation for building a long-lasting and successful collaboration. We aim to lead the industry in responsible gaming,” says Thomas Näsman, Manager at Paf.

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According to the proposed new gaming legislation, Veikkaus’ monopoly on online betting, bingo and casino games is set to end by the end of 2026. These markets are intended to open up to competition. Gaming operators would be able to apply for licences from early 2026, with licensed services expected to launch at the beginning of 2027.