EurAsia
Groove Technologies Shines in Georgia at SmartSoft Partner Event: Culture, Connection, and Collaboration Take Centre Stage
Groove Technologies’ Account Manager Nathalie brought signature energy and excellence to the heart of the Caucasus during a vibrant industry gathering hosted by SmartSoft, one of the region’s most innovative gaming providers.
The event, held under the guidance of SmartSoft’s Regional Commercial Head, Beka Kipiani, unfolded in Tbilisi against a backdrop of Georgian tradition, art, and world-renowned hospitality. Far more than a business meeting, this immersive experience showcased the fusion of iGaming innovation and cultural celebration, reinforcing strong ties between Groove, SmartSoft and other participants.
From high-level strategy discussions to a glamorous Gala Dinner, Nathalie represented Groove with style, joining fellow iGaming leaders for an evening of fine cuisine, live music, and the unmistakable warmth of Georgian camaraderie.
The itinerary didn’t stop at the ballroom. A rich cultural programme took guests through historic landmarks, arts showcases, and curated experiences that brought Georgian heritage to life, echoing the fusion of legacy and future-forward thinking that defines both Groove and SmartSoft.
As part of her visit, Nathalie also took part in a focused meeting and dinner with Groove Georgia’s team, strengthening regional alignment and celebrating the local team’s fast-growing contributions to Groove’s global strategy.
SmartSoft’s innovative collection of arcade-style casino games and premium slots is redefining the casino experience by blending skill-based mechanics with immersive gameplay to create groundbreaking crash-style games and other non-traditional casino content. Among SmartSoft’s most popular titles is JetX, an adrenaline-fueled crash game where players bet on the soaring trajectory of a jet plane. With its thrilling risk-reward mechanics and social multiplayer appeal, JetX has captured the attention of gamers across the world.
Beka Kipiani, SmartSoft’s Regional Commercial Head, added: “Hosting Groove’s Nathalie and our many other industry friends in Georgia was both a pleasure and a privilege. We believe in the power of local pride and global ambition, Groove understands that language. This wasn’t just a company event; it was a celebration of partnership, trust, and shared growth.”
As Groove continues to expand its global network of premium gaming partners, experiences like these highlight the power of in-person collaboration in crafting tomorrow’s success stories. Groove’s 15,000+ game portfolio, powered by 150+ elite providers including SmarttSoft, already stands as one of the most comprehensive in iGaming.
Yahale Meltzer, Co-Founder and COO of Groove Technologies, said: “Groove thrives on relationships; real, human partnerships that evolve beyond emails and dashboards. Events like this give our people, like Nathalie, the chance to connect deeply with partners like SmartSoft, to understand their market, and to share a bit of our Groove DNA while embracing theirs. Georgia delivered beauty, insight, and opportunity in equal measure.”
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Crystalbet
Octoplay goes live with Entain-owned Crystalbet in Georgia
The launch marks Octoplay’s second operator integration in Georgia and extends its wider Entain distribution partnership.
Octoplay has gone live with Crystalbet in Georgia, extending its partnership with Entain into another regulated market.
Crystalbet, which operates in Georgia and is part of the Entain group, is Octoplay’s second integration in the country, according to the supplier. Octoplay said the rollout establishes it as an active supplier across the country’s top operators within weeks.
The companies said the wider relationship spans multiple markets, including the UK and Canada, and includes BetMGM in the US. Octoplay also pointed to co-development work with Entain, including Jackpot Blitz, described as a custom jackpot engine built for Entain brands, and four bespoke game projects delivered in 2025. It added that an Elvis Presley
themed game for BetMGM is planned for 2026.
“Crystalbet represents the continued evolution of our partnership with Entain, which has been one of the strongest commercial relationships behind our growth over the past year,” says Ralitsa Georgieva, CEO at Octoplay. “Entering Georgia is an important step in our European roadmap, and doing so with a leading operator like Crystalbet sets the right foundation for our presence in the market.”
“Octoplay is one of the fastest-growing studios in the industry, and their content has performed strongly across the Entain group’s markets,” says Jaba Peikrishvili, CEO at Crystalbet. “Bringing their portfolio to Crystalbet is a natural extension of that relationship and adds proven titles to our casino lineup in Georgia.”
Octoplay said it now holds active licenses in 17 jurisdictions, including the UK, Malta, Romania, Sweden, Slovakia, Italy, Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, Greece, Spain, Finland, Georgia, Brazil, New Jersey, Michigan, and Ontario.
The post Octoplay goes live with Entain-owned Crystalbet in Georgia appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Compliance Updates
Armenia Launches Sweeping Gambling Payment Reform
Armenia accelerated one of the most aggressive gambling regulatory reforms in Eurasia after approving new measures to control digital platforms, advertising, payments and financial supervision across the betting sector. The strategy promoted by the government of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan aims to strengthen legal gambling operations, increase fiscal oversight and tighten control over offshore operators in a market that has expanded dramatically over the past decade.
The reform is being driven by the Ministry of Finance of Armenia led in 2026 by Vahe Hovhannisyan, together with the State Revenue Committee headed by Rustam Badasyan. The main political architect behind the changes is MP Hayk Sargsyan from the ruling Civil Contract party.
The core of the reform focuses on payments and financial monitoring. Armenia plans to block transfers to unlicensed gambling operators, strengthen AML/KYC requirements and connect licensed platforms directly to state monitoring systems operating in real time. Armenia is advancing the software operator selection for its centralised gaming monitoring center, following the legal framework established in early 2024 to connect platforms directly to state systems in real time.
The 2026 update focuses on accelerating the public tender for the private operator, rather than the initial creation of the monitoring infrastructure, with the State Revenue Committee (SRC) leading the technological implementation. The fiscal framework is also becoming stricter. Since July 1, 2025, Armenia has applied a 10% turnover tax on gambling operations, while online gaming license costs doubled in April 2025 and are scheduled to continue increasing annually through 2028.
According to official figures cited by lawmakers, Armenia’s gambling turnover reached approximately AMD 6.3 trillion in 2023, equivalent to nearly €14 billion, while online casino deposits climbed to AMD 811 billion during 2024.
The government also tightened gambling advertising restrictions, limiting promotions to luxury hotels, border checkpoints and authorised operator channels. Armenian authorities argue that the new regulatory model is designed to protect legal operators, reinforce financial traceability and modernise state supervision over one of Eurasia’s fastest-growing digital industries.
The post Armenia Launches Sweeping Gambling Payment Reform appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Armenia
TaDa to Participate in MAC Yerevan Summit
TaDa Gaming is going to participate in MAC Yerevan summit, one of the industry’s most influential gatherings for affiliate marketing and online gaming professionals, this 26-27 May.
With a strategic plan to: expand its footprint in Eastern and Eurasian markets; strengthen its partner and affiliate network; and demonstrate its 240+ portfolio of performance-driven content and award-winning gamification tools, TaDa will host live demonstrations, interactive play and one-to-one meetings at Stand G10.
In addition, the team will reveal TaDa’s seamless API integration capabilities, data-driven performance insights across key markets and the flexible collaboration models that make TaDa a valuable partner.
Speeding up successful outcomes in the conversion funnel is also critical. TaDa’s approach to Eastern and Eurasian markets has seen the provider expand from a supplier role into a “Growth Partner” for operators.
This has turned TaDa products into high-performance engines for traffic acquisition and business results and seen the company take the award for Game Studio of the Year 2026 at AIBC Eurasia.
Access to high growth markets across the region has been further enhanced by TaDa’s raft of gaming licences including the Romanian ONJN, UKGC and MGA and new player acquisition channels have already opened up for the ambitious content provider.
Visitors to Stand G10 will also be able to discover how TaDa combines its premium product content with integrated marketing strategies to optimise this traffic to amplify brand recognition and player engagement and retention; and to scale affiliate revenue engines.
Ray Lee, Director of Business Development at TaDa Gaming, said: “Our focus is on delivering content that performs. MAC Yerevan provides the ideal environment to connect with forward-thinking operators and affiliates who are looking for scalable, revenue-generating solutions.
“From our unique fish-shooting titles, trademarked slot series and award-winning Crash games, we are delivering next gen gaming that is shaping the future of iGaming. We welcome everyone to visit Stand G10 and find out more.”
The post TaDa to Participate in MAC Yerevan Summit appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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