Latest News
New Global Sport Conference 2025 Announces Official Theme and First Leadership Speaker Lineup
“The Next Game – Building the Future of Gaming, Esports, and Sports” sets the stage for a gathering of global decision-makers in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from August 23-24
Executives from Sony, Activision, SEGA, Bandai Namco, Disney, and LA28 to participate in flagship event at the intersection of sport, esports, gaming, and entertainment.
The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) has officially announced the theme and the first speaker lineup for the New Global Sport Conference (NGSC2025), the leading B2B platform for decision-makers across sports, esports, gaming, and entertainment. Held on 23–24 August 2025 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Riyadh, NGSC2025 will take place during the Closing Weekend of the Esports World Cup 2025, the world’s largest esports event.
This year’s official theme is “The Next Game – Building the Future of Gaming, Esports, and Sports,” reflecting the rapid convergence of competitive gaming and global sports. The New Global Sport Conference is the flagship event of the Esports World Cup Foundation, designed as the premier global forum where these worlds intersect, and built for leaders focused on the future and committed to meaningful strategic collaboration.
As part of its 2025 programme, EWCF has confirmed the first group of speakers and participating brands representing the forefront of industry innovation and leadership:
-
HRH Prince Faisal Bin Bandar Bin Sultan – President, Saudi Esports Federation
-
HRH Prince Fahad bin Mansour bin Nasser Al Saud – President, Saudi G20 Young Entrepreneurs Alliance & Founder of Entrepreneurship Vision (NGO)
-
Ralf Reichert – Chief Executive Officer, Esports World Cup Foundation
-
Casey Wasserman – Chairman, LA28
-
Peter Moore – Owner, Santa Barbara Sky FC & Former Liverpool FC CEO
-
Toshimoto Mitomo – Chief Strategy Officer, Sony
-
Brian Ward – Chief Executive Officer, Savvy Games Group
-
Joshua Taub – Chief Operating Officer, Activision
-
Shuji Utsumi – President, SEGA
-
Katsuhiro Harada – Executive Game Director & Chief Producer, Bandai Namco Entertainment
-
Magnus Carlsen – World Chess Champion
-
Danny Tang – Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Hero Esports
-
Taewon Yun – Senior Vice President & Head of Game Strategy, NCSOFT
-
Jan Alessie – Co-Founder & Managing Director, World Football Summit
-
Je Alipio – Director & Head of Business Development (Games) APAC & MENA, Disney
-
Marat Karpeko – Partner, NVO Capital
-
Jens Hilgers – Founding General Partner, BITKRAFT Ventures
-
Pete Radovich – Vice President of Production & Senior Creative Director, CBS Sports
-
Bruce Stein – Co-Founder, aXiomatic
-
Kartik Prabhakara – Founding Partner, Aream & Co
-
Michael Murray – Producer, Bandai Namco Entertainment
-
Mike McCabe – Chief Operating Officer, Esports World Cup Foundation
-
Faisal Bin Homran – Chief Product Officer, Esports World Cup Foundation
-
Fabian Scheuermann – Chief Games Officer, Esports World Cup Foundation
-
Mohammad Al Nimer – Chief Commercial Officer, Esports World Cup Foundation
Ralf Reichert, CEO of the Esports World Cup Foundation, said, “The 2025 edition of the New Global Sport Conference arrives at a moment of unprecedented change and opportunity for competitive gaming. As the boundaries between sports, esports, entertainment, and technology dissolve, this event becomes the premier global stage for leaders to explore new horizons and create groundbreaking collaborations. At NGSC2025, we’ll challenge conventional ideas, pioneer innovative business models, and unlock powerful possibilities in storytelling and competition. Together, we define the next chapter of how the world plays, competes, and connects.”
The New Global Sport Conference will bring together 1,500 industry leaders and decision-makers from across sports, esports, gaming, and entertainment. The curated programme, featuring world-class experts, challengers, and disruptors through keynotes, panels, strategic roundtables, and private forums, will drive transformative global initiatives and foster collaboration on the growth and future of these dynamic industries.
Additional speakers and full programming details will be announced in the coming weeks.
The post New Global Sport Conference 2025 Announces Official Theme and First Leadership Speaker Lineup appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Golf
Soft2Bet Gathering: An Elite Golf & Padel Experience
Soft2Bet, a leading iGaming turnkey solutions provider, recently brought together industry connections for an exclusive two-day golf and padel experience at the Gleneagles Hotel in Scotland. The event brought Soft2Bet’s friends and connections together to enjoy a relaxed day of golf and padel, meaningful conversations, and shared moments in an inspiring setting, celebrating the spirit of connection and community that defines the company’s approach.
Set against the backdrop of one of Scotland’s best-known sporting estates, the day paired competitive play with the camaraderie and shared spirit that are such a valued part of the game. Attendees enjoyed access to Gleneagles’ most exclusive Ryder Cup & Solheim courses, where the relaxed setting encouraged genuine connection and reflected the supportive atmosphere that made the gathering especially memorable.
Gleneagles was a fitting venue for the occasion. With more than a century of golfing history, three championship courses and a reputation built on world-class hospitality, it remains one of Scotland’s standout golf destinations. Its PGA Centenary Course hosted the 2014 Ryder Cup and the 2019 Solheim Cup, making Gleneagles the only golfing destination in Europe to have staged both events.
The event reflects Soft2Bet’s belief that strong connections are built through shared goals, trust and collaboration. Creating space for in-person connection allows the company to deepen those relationships and support long-term success.
Harrison Barrett, VP of Business Development at Soft2Bet, commented: “Bringing the industry together in a setting like Gleneagles allows us to go beyond day-to-day operations and focus on what truly drives success, while playing golf and padel. Events like this are an opportunity to align on vision, exchange ideas and celebrate the momentum.”
Stuart Trigwell, Director of Business Development at Play’n GO said: “The time spent at Gleneagles, enjoying the incredible courses and engaging in genuine, strategic conversations, was an absolute highlight. It is events like these that reinforce the trust and collaborative spirit at the core of our relations.”
The gathering reflects Soft2Bet’s wider approach to the iGaming community engagement, creating opportunities for stronger collaboration and supporting growth across key markets.
The post Soft2Bet Gathering: An Elite Golf & Padel Experience appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Booming Games
Booming Games releases Ultra Buffalo Hold and Win
Booming Games, a leading provider of premium gaming content, has launched Ultra Buffalo Hold and Win, an electrifying new slot that brings the energy of the plains straight to the reels. Featuring a classic 5×3 grid with 20 fixed paylines, the game offers a maximum win potential of 5,000x. Set against a striking desert backdrop, players encounter iconic wildlife symbols, including buffalo, eagles, and wolves.
The slot delivers a high-stakes experience with a suite of thrilling bonus features. Landing three Bonus symbols on reels one, three, and five triggers the Buffalo Bonus Wheel, offering Grand, Major, Minor, and Mini prize pots, as well as the enhanced Ultra Mode, which adds two extra rows to the grid.
Randomly, the Wild Buffalo Herd feature may activate to transform symbols into wilds and upgrade existing wilds to Wild x2, ratcheting up the excitement. Meanwhile, landing five or more coins triggers the Ultra Hold and Win feature, expanding the grid to 5×8 and raising the potential for massive payouts. Players who fill the extended grid capture the Grand Prize Pot, worth 2,000x their bet.
The intensity ramps up further with the Ultra Reel, unlocked by stacking a full 1×8 reel during Ultra Hold and Win. This dramatic addition multiplies or adds coin values to the rows below, pushing the game’s payout potential to a staggering 5,000x.
April will see Booming Games continue its high-octane release schedule with six new titles, including Fly On! and Fish Tales Monster Bass 10,000, boasting innovative features and maximum wins of 5,000x and 10,000x, respectively. These releases reinforce the studio’s focus on high-quality, high-volatility experiences designed for thrill-seeking players.
Craig Asling, Director of Games at Booming Games, said:
“Ultra Hold and Win is an exciting evolution of our classic Hold and Win mechanic. Every spin holds the promise of big rewards, and with features like the Ultra Reel and Buffalo Bonus Wheel, we’ve created a modern, pulse-pounding experience that players are going to love. Step into the herd and feel the charge!”
The post Booming Games releases Ultra Buffalo Hold and Win appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Conferences
R. Franco Digital to showcase next-generation solutions at SiGMA South America 2026
R. Franco Digital, the Spanish iGaming provider, is set to exhibit at the SiGMA South America 2026, following a landmark year of commercial expansion.
The company will return to São Paulo from April 6-9 to present its latest suite of highly engaging games and services, tailored specifically for the evolving Latin American landscape.
R. Franco Digital enters this year’s exhibition having solidified its market presence across Portugal, Italy, and Peru, and is focused on leveraging that international expertise to support operators within Brazil’s maturing regulated framework.
Central to the showcase at Booth P105 will be the provider’s most popular games, including recent standouts such as Strange Spins, Genie Triple Bonanza, Diamond King Gorilla, Luxury Blast, Zorro: Final Duel and The Phantom.
These titles are designed to deliver localised, highly engaging player experiences, setting new standards for content in regulated and emerging markets.
In addition, R. Franco Digital will highlight the latest evolution of its IRIS platform. As a comprehensive, GLI-certified solution for casino, sports betting, and retail operators, IRIS is certified in key markets including Portugal, Spain, Colombia and Puerto Rico.
Javier Sacristán Franco, International Business Director of R. Franco Digital, said: “Brazil continues to be a primary focus for our global strategy, and SiGMA South America is the perfect stage to showcase how our games and technology can drive operational success. Our content portfolio and IRIS platform have evolved to meet the specific demands of players across the LatAm region.”
The post R. Franco Digital to showcase next-generation solutions at SiGMA South America 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
-
Betnacional7 days agoOperational Leadership and the Driving Force Behind LatAm’s Largest Event
-
BIS SIGMA SOUTH AMERICA 20266 days agoVeliTech makes its Brazil debut at BiS SiGMA South America 2026
-
Canada6 days agoPeter & Sons Goes Live in Ontario with Ellipse Entertainment
-
AMUSEBOX6 days agoCasino Iveria Tbilisi Installs Amusnet’s Type S 50 F Slot Cabinets at its Gaming Floor
-
Austria6 days agoWazdan strengthens European foothold with Austrian market entry via win2day
-
Canada6 days agoPeter & Sons Goes Live in Ontario with Ellipse Entertainment
-
Aristocrat Interactive7 days agoCaesars Launches Aristocrat’s Online Slot Titles in West Virginia
-
Frooty Troupe – Game On7 days agoGAMOMAT powers up its Frooty Troupe series with new release Frooty Troupe – Game On!



