GR8 Tech CEO Oleksandr Feshchenko has been named Global CEO of the Year 2026 in the Technology Industry by European CEO magazine—the second consecutive year he has received the honour. The judging panel’s decision was unanimous.

The award recognised Feshchenko’s leadership across three areas the panel identified as defining:

• Track record of turning technological strategy into scalable commercial outcomes;

• Focus on building an organization designed to last, not just perform;

• Consistent investment in people and culture as core business levers rather than afterthoughts.

What distinguished Feshchenko from a competitive field, according to the panel, was the combination of all three. Individual strengths are common at the CEO level, but the consistency across strategy, execution and organisational health is rare.

Under Oleksandr Feshchenko’s leadership, GR8 Tech has grown into a recognised provider of technology solutions for the iGaming sector, with an approach that the panel described as forward-looking without sacrificing operational discipline.

“Receiving this recognition two years in a row means a great deal, but if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that success is most dangerous when it makes you comfortable. This award belongs to the team at GR8 Tech as much as it does to me, and what it really does is raise the bar. The technology industry doesn’t stand still, and neither do we. There’s a lot we’re building toward, and that’s exactly where our focus stays,” Oleksandr Feshenko said.

The Global CEO of the Year award is presented annually by European CEO magazine following an evaluation of international candidates across various industries.

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XR Global Inc, the first Extended Reality (XR) technologies casino games developer with Patent Pending Technology on its Cross-XR Platform, announced the official launch of the world’s first Augmented Reality (AR) online casino games available across iOS, Android and the Immersive Web. This groundbreaking milestone positions XR Global at the forefront of innovation in the global iGaming industry, delivering a next-generation gaming experience that goes far beyond traditional 2D online casino platforms.

By leveraging cutting-edge Extended Reality (XR) technologies—including Augmented Reality (AR), Mixed Reality (MR), Virtual Reality (VR) and 3D immersive environments—XR Global enables players to step into fully interactive casino worlds from their mobile devices or web browsers, without the need for specialised hardware.

Unlike conventional online casino games confined to flat, 2D interfaces, XR Global’s platform allows users to engage with games such as slots, roulette, blackjack and crash games in a real-world environment. Players can place games on their tables, walk around them, interact with live elements and experience a level of realism and immersion previously only possible in physical casinos or high-end VR setups.

“XR Global is redefining what online gaming looks and feels like. We are bridging the gap between physical and digital entertainment by bringing casino experiences into players’ real-world environments. This is not just an evolution—it’s a transformation of the entire gaming paradigm,” said Dan Martinez, Founder & CEO of XR Global.

The launch marks a significant leap forward for player engagement, retention and monetisation. XR Global’s immersive experiences are designed to increase session times, deepen emotional connection and create highly differentiated offerings for operators in an increasingly competitive market.

The company plans to license its XR-enabled gaming portfolio globally, enabling partners to integrate immersive gaming into their existing platforms and attract a new generation of players seeking more interactive and engaging experiences.

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London-based video virtuals and instant win games specialist Highlight Games Limited has announced a new partnership with Bulletproof Games to develop a Serie-A themed slot product for the Italian Market.

Highlight Games will license content from its rich archive of Serie A footage to Bulletproof who will build the slot game. The product will be deployed in Italy by Yggdrasil Gaming.

Steven Holmes, CEO of Highlight Games, said: “I’m delighted to announce this exciting development in our roadmap, which allows us to extend the reach of our premium content beyond virtual sports. SOCCERBET is the number one performing virtual sports product in Italy, and we are confident that the popularity of featuring archive Serie A footage in games will translate equally well into slots and casino environments, as it has already proven to do in sportsbook.”

Craig Ball, Managing Director of Bulletproof Games, said: “This partnership allows us to combine Highlight Games’ rich archive of Serie A content with Bulletproof’s expertise in building engaging slot experiences. We are confident that together we will create a product that will strongly appeal to Italian slots players and look forward to going live later this year.”

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