Latest News
UNLV Announces $15M Gift from Las Vegas Sands to Establish Sands Institute for Chinese Language and Culture

UNLV and Las Vegas Sands are pleased to announce the creation of the Sands Institute for Chinese Language and Culture at UNLV, which was formally approved by the Nevada System of Higher Education Board of Regents at its quarterly meeting on Dec. 5, 2024.
Made possible by a generous $15 million donation from Sands to the UNLV Foundation, this initiative highlights a shared commitment to enriching the educational and cultural landscape of Las Vegas and beyond.
âThis partnership with UNLV reflects our dedication to global engagement and cultural exchange,â said Sands Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Robert G. Goldstein. âThe Sands Institute for Chinese Language and Culture at UNLV will serve as a vital resource for students, scholars, and the broader community to immerse themselves in the rich cultural heritage of China. We are honored to support an initiative that will enhance Chinese cultural literacy and provide significant opportunities for meaningful intercultural dialogue in one of the worldâs most visible cities and one of its most dynamic universities.â
The Sands Institute will offer a comprehensive range of programs designed to promote appreciation and understanding of Chinese language, traditions, and history. These offerings will include Mandarin language courses for students and community members; cultural programming such as film screenings, art exhibitions, musical performances, and lectures; and student and faculty exchanges.
As Las Vegas continues to grow as a global hub for tourism, hospitality, business, and sports, the ability to understand and engage with Chinese citizens and culture becomes increasingly important. The Sands Institute will serve as a platform for robust community engagement, strengthening the cultural fabric of the region and enhancing its connections with China. By offering educational programs and training for professionals, the Institute will equip industry leaders and workers with the cultural competence needed to navigate and succeed in an increasingly interconnected world.
âWe are excited to work with Sands in establishing the Sands Institute for Chinese Language and Culture at UNLV,â said Chris L. Heavey, Executive Vice President and Provost of UNLV. âThe Sands Institute will significantly increase learning opportunities for local students and community members, providing them with the tools to engage more effectively with the world around them. The incredibly generous support from Sands is crucial in bringing this vision to life, and we look forward to the opportunities it will create for our university and the wider Las Vegas community.â
The Sands Institute will be housed in UNLVâs newly renovated Maryland Administrative Building, offering a central location accessible to both university students and the broader Las Vegas community. The facility is equipped with state-of-the-art classrooms, exhibition spaces, and meeting venues designed to host a wide array of events.
With the substantial financial support from Sands, the Sands Institute for Chinese Language and Culture at UNLV is poised to become an internationally recognized center for the study and appreciation of Chinese language and culture.
âUNLV is proud to be one of the most diverse universities in the country, and launching the Sands Institute highlights our commitment to embracing all cultures,â said UNLV President Keith E. Whitfield. âThis fits right in with what weâre all about â giving our students and community opportunities to learn about the world and connect with people from different backgrounds. Itâs going to make a big difference in how we prepare our students for the global stage.â
Sands has been a long-time supporter of UNLV and its academic initiatives. âTheir nearly two decades of support have been essential to our university,â Whitfield continued. âFrom funding facilities and athletic programs to backing innovative student projects and the Sands Center for Professional Development, Sands has consistently shown a strong commitment to our campus and our students.â
Industry Awards
SOFTSWISS Named Online Casino Innovator in CEE 2025

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SOFTSWISS, a global tech provider, won the Online Casino Innovator in CEE title at the GamingTECH CEE Awards 2025 with its forward-thinking Game Aggregator. The award celebrated companies that drive innovation, excellence, and leadership in the iGaming and tech landscape across Central and Eastern Europe.
SOFTSWISS continues to lead online casino innovation in the CEE region with its Game Aggregator â one of the largest and most advanced game hubs in the iGaming industry. The solution offers over 27,800 exclusive games from 280+ leading providers, supporting more than 1,250 brands. Operators can integrate it via a one-time API as a standalone product for any third-party platform or as part of the SOFTSWISS Casino Platform.
The Game Aggregator offers a vast portfolio of RNG and live games for desktop and mobile, including slots, table games, crash, and casual games â many optimised for crypto gameplay. The content is fully localised to suit operatorsâ target markets, supporting multiple languages, currencies, and regional preferences.
The Game Aggregator is certified to operate across key markets in Europe, Africa, and Latin America, with licenses or compliance in countries like Greece, Romania, Spain, Brazil, Nigeria, and South Africa. The platform provides powerful innovations that help operators grow their business effectively:
- Tournament Tool: A versatile tool that enables operators to launch custom competitions in five simple steps. With mechanics like total bets, highest multiplier, and total wins, this solution saw an 80% growth in adoption by operators in 2024.
- Crash Games in Tournaments: A new integration that elevates engagement.
- Non-Monetary Prizes: Enhances reward variety with trips, gadgets, and more.
- GGR Report Builder: Aggregates performance data across all games and providers.
- Jackpots for Crash and Live Games: Implemented via the Jackpot Aggregator integration, leading to over 50% growth in average total player value.
Alena Bekus, Deputy Head of SOFTSWISS Game Aggregator, comments on the win:
âThis award is a meaningful recognition of our teamâs continuous efforts to build not just a product, but a powerful ecosystem that supports our partnersâ growth. We constantly listen to our clients, innovate based on their needs, and work to deliver a flexible, scalable, and forward-thinking solution that meets the evolving demands of the iGaming market.â
By focusing on operator success, player engagement, and industry adaptability, SOFTSWISS continues to deliver forward-thinking solutions that set new benchmarks. Winning this award reaffirms the companyâs role as a true innovator in iGaming.
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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 holds a number of gaming licences and provides comprehensive software for managing iGaming projects. The companyâs product portfolio includes the Online Casino Platform, the Game Aggregator with over 27,800 casino games, the Affilka Affiliate Platform, the Sportsbook Software and the Jackpot Aggregator. In 2013, SOFTSWISS revolutionised the industry by introducing the worldâs first Bitcoin-optimised online casino solution. The expert team, based in Malta, Poland, and Georgia, counts over 2,000 employees.
The post SOFTSWISS Named Online Casino Innovator in CEE 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Latest News
BAFTA and DCM release star-studded cinema trailer to celebrate the art of video game storytelling

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- Actress Susan Wokoma stars alongside Baldurâs Gate 3 duo, Samantha BĂ©art and Neil Newbon, Doug Cockle (Witcher 3), Jane Douglas (games presenter), and Sir Ian Livingstone, co-founder of Games Workshop. Â
- The trailer launches in cinema ahead of the 21st BAFTA Games Awards on Tuesday 8 April.Â
- Research conducted by BAFTA found young adults say video games are important to their wellbeing and a form of social connection (YouGov)Â
BAFTA and DCM (Digital Cinema Media) have teamed up with award-winning actress Susan Wokoma to create a national cinema advertising campaign that promotes and celebrates the art of storytelling in video games. Itâs the third campaign delivered by the partnership and is releasing in cinemas ahead of the 21st BAFTA Games Awards on Tuesday 8 April 2025.
The 105 second trailer was produced by Common People Films and DCM Studios, with Jennifer Sheridan directing the film. Susan features alongside famous faces from games â such as Samantha BĂ©art and Neil Newbon from Baldurâs Gate 3 â who share their love for video games with cinema audiences nationwide.
Jeremy Kolesar, Creative Director, DCM Studios, âWeâve seen a flourishing intersection between games, film and TV in the UK. Whether itâs a franchise-inspired series or film, a narrative-driven game, or an engaging acting performance, each medium strengthens the other. Weâve tried to capture this in our third cinema campaign with BAFTA, which draws from the diverse UK games industry to inspire the next generation of talent with an adventurous cinematic experience.â
World-renowned for its annual Film Awards, BAFTA has been celebrating the craft, skill and creativity of the games industry for over 20 years, spotlighting the best games and talent in its annual Games Awards ceremony.
The cinema trailer explores the connectivity between film, games and TV, highlighting the depth of video game storytelling and the many varied games that captivate audiences worldwide.
Tony Roberts, Founder/ EP, Common People Films: âThis is the second time BATFA and DCM have asked us to bring their brand and message to life and weâre incredibly proud of the work we deliver for both of them. Having a diverse roster of talent, it was exciting to get our directors to write with a focus in games this time round and we think Jennifer has captured something very special. The games industry is a jewel in the crown of British industry and should be celebrated. Another great collaboration.â
BAFTA and YouGov researchÂ
As an arts charity, BAFTA supports the next generation of screen talent through various initiatives, bursaries and scholarships. Three alumni of BAFTAâs programmes were given paid roles on the production of this trailer â Jade Fabiyi (camera), Reece Grant (Art Department) and Shona Hart (Stagehand).
This ethos is reflected in the UK cinema placement of the campaign, which targets 16-34 year-olds during the preshow for multiple blockbuster releases. This includes the new A Minecraft movie, based on one of the best-selling video game franchises of all time.
Recent research conducted by BAFTA with YouGov found that:
- Adults aged 18-34 consider video games as important to wellbeing, with a third (31%) citing video games as a form of self-care (higher than Film â 28% or TV â 27%) and 39% of 18-34s consider video games as a form of social connection (compared to 30% Film/TV).
- Over half of UK adults see games as âa form of entertainmentâ (54%). However, only 1 in 5 consider games as great storytelling (20%) and there is lower awareness that games contain meaningful messages about todayâs world (9%) compared to TV (33%)
- Over half (53%) of 18-34s would trust the quality of a game that has been nominated or won a BAFTA Games Award.
- Two thirds (62%) of UK adults were not aware that some of the worldâs most celebrated games are made in the UK, and 1 in 5 would be more likely to play a game made in the UK (21%).
Donna Mathews, Executive Director of Engagement, Marketing and Communications at BAFTA said: âBAFTA is known for celebrating excellence in the screen arts and games are no exception. Our members recognise the craft, skill and creativity that goes into making every game and our Awards showcase the incredible variety of games on offer. Like TV and film, games are a way to explore stories and learn about the world around us and young adults see games as more than a form of entertainment, with many considering games important to their wellbeing and social connection. The UK games industry is a world-leading creative force, with talented people making games up and down the country, so with thanks to DCM and Common People Films we are putting games on the big screen to share our appreciation of this art form with audiences nationwide too.â Â
Susan Wokoma said: âFilm, TV and games are connected by the passion of the people who make it. It takes so many people to make these things and seeing people really take ownership of their story and their passion, thatâs the thing that threads throughout all of those mediums.âÂ
Jennifer Sheridan, director, said: âWhat makes gaming so captivating is its ability to fully immerse you in the story. It invites you to engage with the narrative interactively. The beauty of storytelling in games lies in how your experience can be completely unique, even if youâre playing the same game as someone else. This film celebrates that diversity and the incredible journeys that games can take you on.âÂ
The post BAFTA and DCM release star-studded cinema trailer to celebrate the art of video game storytelling appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Latest News
Relax Gaming roars into action with the release of Tiger Shrine

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Relax Gaming, the iGaming aggregator and supplier of unique content, invites players to take a walk on the wild side with the release of Tiger Shrine.
Set deep in the heart of the Asian jungle, this 6Ă4 slot introduces players to a world of fierce creatures and engaging features and mechanics, including Reel Expansion, stacked symbols, Multiplier Wilds and Free Spins that can push players towards a max win of 10,000x.
Landing three or more bonus symbols anywhere on the reels allows players to choose from one of three Bonus Game modes: Reel Expansion, Symbol Upgrade and Multiplier Upgrade.
Reel Expansion mode sees players collect coins to increase the number of symbols on the reel, unlocking up to 117,649 ways to win. Symbol Upgrade mode sees players hunt for coins that transform animal symbols into the highest-paying Tiger symbol. Multiplier Upgrade mode increases the values of all Multiplier Wilds whenever a coin is collected.
Wild symbols can land at any time carrying multipliers worth up to x5 during base gameplay, while the Multiplier Upgrade mode can push these values even higher.
The Bonus Game modes can be accessed immediately via a Buy Feature that offers players guaranteed entry at 60x their bet or a Super Bonus entry at 250x their bet, which grants 25 free spins.
Shelley Hannah, CPO at Relax Gaming, said: âTiger Shrine is a great addition to our award-winning portfolio of slots, and we canât wait to see players get stuck into it! The medium volatility and buffalo-style gameplay is accompanied by some fierce features and mechanics, which can make sure it lives up to the high expectations we have for it.â
The post Relax Gaming roars into action with the release of Tiger Shrine appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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