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HIPTHER Wraps Up the iGaming & TECH Fall–Winter Run-Off 2024–2025 Presented by GameOn
HIPTHER, media brand and organizer of renowned boutique networking events for the Gaming and Tech industries, is thrilled to announce the ending and the Big Winners of its iGaming & TECH Fall–Winter Run-Off 2024–2025, presented and sponsored by GameOn.
The results are in, and the iGaming and tech community has once again gone the distance! The iGaming & TECH Fall–Winter Run-Off 2024–2025, proudly presented by GameOn, came to a strong finish, celebrating movement, determination, and next-level endurance.
Over the past few months, dozens of industry professionals laced up and braved the rain, wind, and cold for a virtual challenge that turned kilometers into camaraderie – and competition. Participants from across the globe logged hundreds (and in some cases, thousands!) of kilometers in this season’s challenge, proving that the iGaming & tech world knows how to move.
A massive congratulations to our Top 5 Women and Top 5 Men, who truly embodied the spirit of the Run-Off and inspired us all with their dedication:
🏅 Top 5 Women:
🥇 1st Place: Lucy Owen (Playtech) – 1794.3 km
🥈 2nd Place: Stefania Nitulescu (Betfair Romania Development) – 1116.5 km (Winner of the 2024 Summer Run-Off Challenge, ASICS Frontrunner)
🥉 3rd Place: Galya Srugo (Paysecure) – 970.2 km
🏅 4th Place: Irma Kristic (NSoft ) – 859.7 km
🏅 5th Place: Ineta Macinskiene (WALLETTO) – 520.3 km (Also a top 5 finisher in the 2024 Summer Run-Off Challenge)
🏅 Top 5 Men:
🥇 1st Place: Hristijan Nasevski (Bragg) – 1678.7 km (Winner of the 2024 Summer Run-Off Challenge)
🥈 2nd Place: Rob Fell (RiskCherry) – 835.6 km
🥉 3rd Place: Krystian Kotynia (Relout) – 776.9 km (Also placed in the top 5 during the 2024 Summer Run-Off Challenge)
🏅 4th Place: Will Talbut (Playtech) – 763.4 km
🏅 5th Place: Heimar Lecht (Telesign) – 758.5 km (Another consistent top performer from the 2024 Summer Run-Off Challenge)
Zoltan Tuendik, Co-Founder at HIPTHER and Founder of the HIPTHER iGaming Strava Club, stated: “The iGaming Runners Strava Club has far surpassed our expectations, and we’re only just getting started. With Summer Runoff 2.0 on the horizon and even more exciting plans in the pipeline, this community is picking up serious momentum—one step at a time
From consistent champions to first-time participants, every single runner in this challenge has made a mark. Whether you were in it to compete or simply to stay active and motivated through the colder months – your passion and perseverance made this challenge unforgettable.”
HIPTHER and GameOn would like to thank each and every participant for bringing their A-game to this season’s challenge. Your energy keeps the iGaming & tech community strong and united—even while running solo.
The next iGaming & TECH Run-Off challenge returns in May 2025, so stay tuned for more! Until then – keep running, keep pushing, and keep leveling up.
About HIPTHER’s iGaming & TECH Run-Off
At HIPTHER, wellness and sustainability aren’t trends – they’re part of our DNA. The #hipthers were the first to introduce Fitness and Wellness Networking into boutique conferences, featuring Morning Networking Runs and Yoga Sessions that helped set the tone for mindful connection.
In 2024, inspired by the incredible dedication of participants, HIPTHER Co-Founder Zoltan Tuendik launched the HIPTHER Run-Off Club on Strava, a global community initiative to promote health, fitness, and camaraderie within the iGaming and Tech industries.
With the unwavering support of GameOn as main sponsor, the Club has since organized dedicated Run-Offs during major industry events like SiGMA Europe 2024 and ICE Barcelona 2025 – uniting passionate runners from around the world in a celebration of movement, connection, and shared momentum.
The post HIPTHER Wraps Up the iGaming & TECH Fall–Winter Run-Off 2024–2025 Presented by GameOn appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
888.it
R. Franco Digital Shortlisted for Casino Platform Excellence at EGR Europe Awards 2026
R. Franco Digital, the leading Spanish iGaming provider, has been officially shortlisted for Casino Platform Supplier of the Year at the prestigious EGR Europe Awards 2026. The nomination recognizes a landmark year for the company, characterized by the explosive growth of its IRIS Open Omnichannel Platform and a major commercial breakthrough into the Italian market.
The winners will be announced during a gala ceremony on February 18, 2026, at the Hilton Malta, where the industry’s top-tier operators and suppliers gather to celebrate European gaming excellence.
IRIS: The Engine of Omnichannel Growth
The core of R. Franco Digital’s success lies in its IRIS platform, a highly scalable, multi-jurisdictional solution that unifies casino, sports betting, and retail management.
IRIS Platform Milestones (2025-2026):
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Jurisdictional Reach: Certified in 6 jurisdictions and operational in over 10 regulated markets.
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Content Depth: Seamlessly integrated with over 1,600 games from global third-party providers.
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Operational Stability: Provides 24/7 multilingual support and advanced real-time analytics for operators.
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Commercial Momentum: Secured 50+ new operator partnerships and entered three new markets within the last 12 months.
Performance Highlights: 4 Billion Game Rounds
R. Franco Digital’s games portfolio has seen a massive surge in engagement, bolstered by 20 new high-performance slot releases in 2025. Standout titles such as Strange Spins, Aphrodite, Zorro: Final Duel, Ovomon, and The Phantom contributed to a record-breaking year.
| Metric | 2025–2026 Achievement |
| Total Game Rounds | 4 Billion+ across regulated markets |
| Revenue Growth | 30% Increase during the judging period |
| New Content | 20 New slot titles launched |
| Expansion | Debut in the Italian regulated market |
Strategic Italian Market Entry
A major factor in the EGR shortlisting was R. Franco Digital’s successful entry into Italy. The provider rapidly localized its content to meet the specific demands of Italian players through tier-one partnerships:
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Stanleybet.it: Launched 19 games, including the Italian-exclusive debut of Strange Spins.
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888.it: Successfully rolled out the popular Super 7 3×3 title.
“We’re proud to be shortlisted for this award, which reflects the strength of our IRIS platform and the quality of the content we’ve delivered over the past year,” said Javier Sacristán Franco, International Business Director at R. Franco Digital. “Our team has worked hard to support operators with reliable, innovative solutions… we are delighted to see that effort recognised.”
The post R. Franco Digital Shortlisted for Casino Platform Excellence at EGR Europe Awards 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Big Hot Flaming Pots
Big Hot Flaming Pots: Tasty Treasures – Lightning Box Brings Land-Based Hit Online
Light & Wonder has officially launched Big Hot Flaming Pots: Tasty Treasures, the digital debut of its highly successful land-based franchise. Developed by in-house specialist studio Lightning Box, this 3×5 slot offers 243 ways to win and a high-energy “three-pot” mechanic that has already become a staple on casino floors worldwide.
The game transitions the whimsical “dumpling-tossing” theme to online audiences, combining vibrant Asian-inspired aesthetics with a deep mathematical model designed for high-engagement sessions.
The Three-Pot Mechanic & Seven Feature Combinations
At the core of the gameplay is the persistent pot system. Landing specific colored coins fuels three separate pots—Yummy, Spicy, and Upsized. These pots can trigger individually or in any combination, leading to seven distinct bonus paths.
| Feature Mode | Gameplay Enhancement |
| Yummy Mode | Increases the Hold & Spin respin counter from 3 to 4, significantly extending bonus life. |
| Spicy Mode | Introduces Chilli multipliers; landing a pepper adds its cash value to every symbol currently held on the board. |
| Upsized Mode | Unlocks a Dual Grid (two reel sets) for the Hold & Spin round, doubling the win potential. |
| Combined Modes | Triggering all three at once creates the “Mega Bonus,” featuring dual grids, 4 respins, and value-boosting peppers. |
Innovation: The Stack N’ Hit
Feature
Unlike traditional Hold & Spin mechanics where symbols simply lock until the round ends, Tasty Treasures introduces the Stack N’ Hit
evolution.
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Reel Clearing: When a vertical reel is filled with Bun symbols, the prizes are instantly collected, and the reel is cleared.
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Persistent Respins: Clearing a reel creates open spaces for new prizes to land, allowing the bonus round to continue far longer than standard industry alternatives.
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The Path to Grand: Each cleared reel activates a “Pepper Tracker” above it. Lighting up all five trackers awards the Grand Progressive Jackpot.
Jackpot Tiers & Base Game Depth
Operators benefit from a versatile math model that supports both consistent base-game performance and high-volatility jackpot chases.
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Progressive Jackpots: Grand and Major tiers for life-changing win potential.
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Fixed Jackpots: Minor and Mini tiers awarded through symbols landing during features.
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Nudge Wilds: In the base game, Wild symbols can nudge to cover entire reels, assisting in achieving the 243-way payouts.
“Big Hot Flaming Pots: Tasty Treasures carries forward a brand that has already made its mark in land-based venues,” says Michael Maokhamphiou, Studio Director at Lightning Box. “This release offers operators a flexible, high-performing title that combines familiarity with fresh layers of engagement.”
The post Big Hot Flaming Pots: Tasty Treasures – Lightning Box Brings Land-Based Hit Online appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Blask Index
How Venezuela’s iGaming market is reacting to US pressure
Blask data indicates Venezuela’s iGaming demand remained stable in the initial days following the US operation in Caracas.
On 3 January, US forces detained Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro, transporting him from Caracas to face prosecution in New York. The raid came after months of intensifying American pressure throughout 2025 — naval presence, targeted strikes, and a fresh sanctions package.
For Venezuela’s iGaming sector, the disruption poses a critical question: will demand collapse, or adapt?
First results
Blask’s daily Index remained within a tight corridor from 1–4 January, hovering in the high-200K zone. It dropped 5% to 257.4K on the day of the operation, before recovering the next day.

The data reveals no abrupt demand shift during this period. A slight decline sits within Venezuela’s normal daily fluctuations and does not point to a fundamental market change.
Rapid expansion, growing dominance
Venezuela stood out as one of iGaming’s strongest demand gainers in 2025. Blask Index surged 134.9% year-on-year — the second-highest growth worldwide.

This expansion came alongside increasing market dominance. By December, Triunfo Bet commanded 59% of Blask’s BAP (Brand Accumulated Power, measuring a brand’s portion of total user interest nationally), gaining 15 percentage points since January. The top three brands collectively reached over 85%, up 11 points.
The post How Venezuela’s iGaming market is reacting to US pressure appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
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