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Playtech successfully launches Retail Sports Betting on MSC Cruise Ships
Playtech announced the successful launch of its retail sports betting rollout across the MSC Cruises fleet. The deployment builds on a recently established partnership between the two companies earlier this year, marking Playtech’s entry into the cruise leisure sector and extends its innovative technology to a new frontier in entertainment.
As the world’s third largest cruise line and the market leader in Europe with a strong and growing presence in North America, MSC Cruises offers a powerful platform for Playtech’s global expansion into new verticals. This strategic collaboration introduces Playtech’s cutting-edge sports betting solutions to the cruise sector, enhancing the onboard entertainment experience for guests.
MSC Cruises’ onboard casinos are designed to deliver a dynamic mix of entertainment, featuring reel, video, and video poker slot machines, alongside timeless table games such as Roulette, Blackjack, Three Card Poker, and Texas Hold’em. With the addition of sports betting, guests now have even more ways to engage and enjoy their time at sea. Guests can place bets on a wide range of sports events through Self-Service Betting Terminals and Playtech’s newly developed mobile tills, all seamlessly integrated with guests’ onboard accounts for a smooth and secure experience.
Yori Arami, VP Sports at Playtech commented; “We are excited to partner with MSC Cruises and bring our retail sports betting solutions to their impressive fleet. This partnership represents a significant milestone for Playtech as we continue to expand our offerings and provide unique, engaging experiences for players around the world on land and sea.”
Mara Friso, Head of Casino at MSC Cruises said, “We are very proud to be able to deliver the excitement and engagement of sports gaming to our guests through our partnership with Playtech. Our fleet of modern cruise ships will provide our customers a wide array of immersive digital content as a complement to our state-of-the-art cruise casinos.”
The initial phase of the rollout is now live across seven MSC Cruises vessels, with additional deployments scheduled over the coming months. The integration leverages Playtech’s advanced retail sports betting technology, delivering a seamless and engaging experience for guests onboard.
The post Playtech successfully launches Retail Sports Betting on MSC Cruise Ships appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
affiliate marketing
BetConstruct AI confirms SiGMA Asia 2026 presence in Manila
Supplier plans to pitch a World Cup 2026 sportsbook bundle and its AI Suite at Stand 2572 on June 2–3.
BetConstruct AI will exhibit at SiGMA Asia 2026 in Manila, Philippines, on June 2–3, the company said, appearing at Stand 2572.
At the show, BetConstruct AI said it will highlight a “Best Sportsbook for the World Cup 2026” bundle built around “Special Bets, Powerfull, and Bet on League.” The company positioned the package as ready for operator activation without development work.
BetConstruct AI also said it will showcase its AI Suite, including “CRM AI, Umbrella AI, AI Game Recommendation System, and Betting Mate AI,” aimed at use cases such as churn prediction, risk consolidation, personalised casino experiences, and conversational sportsbook engagement.
As product context, the company cited its sportsbook and casino platforms, including “140,000+ pre-match events and 90,000+ live matches monthly” and “45,000+ games from 350+ providers via a single API.” It also highlighted its “Affigates Affiliate Ecosystem” with “7,000+ vetted affiliates and AI-based scoring.”
The company said new partners signing via the show can access commercial incentives, including “a 50% platform setup discount from day one,” “100% Core Suite Access free for the first 3 months (50% off for months 4–12), and third-party tools at 51% off for the first 3 months.”
The post BetConstruct AI confirms SiGMA Asia 2026 presence in Manila appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
celebrity-partnerships
Pascal Gaming signs Ronaldinho for football-themed crash and slot titles
First release is Avinho R10, followed by June launch Fortune Ronaldinho as the studio lines up more titles ahead of the World Cup season.
Pascal Gaming has partnered with Brazilian football player Ronaldinho to launch a dedicated portfolio of games inspired by the athlete, the company said on 26 May, 2026.
The planned pipeline includes crash games, slots and additional titles set to roll out through the year. Pascal Gaming said the initiative is aimed at both Brazil and international markets, and will be supported by tournaments, promotional activity and special events tied to the Ronaldinho-branded portfolio.
The first game confirmed is Avinho R10, described as a crash-style title featuring Ronaldinho “above Brazil” in an aviation-themed experience. A second game, Fortune Ronaldinho, is scheduled for release in June and is positioned as a slot-inspired title.
“Ronaldinho is one of the most recognisable and loved football personalities in the world, so for us this collaboration is much more than a game launch. It is a global entertainment project that combines football culture, emotionally engaging gameplay and strong promotional activities ahead of the World Cup,” said Armen Mnaskanian, Head of Sales at SoftConstruct Gaming Content.
Pascal Gaming said it has been expanding its crash game portfolio during 2026 and investing in localised, character-driven content across Latin America, Africa and Asia. The company added that more Ronaldinho-themed titles and marketing campaigns will be revealed in the coming months.
The post Pascal Gaming signs Ronaldinho for football-themed crash and slot titles appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
brand-marketing
Duelbits signs Justin Gaethje for branded content ahead of UFC Freedom 250
The JUSTIN2026 campaign was shot in Denver and rolls out over four weeks ahead of the 14 June event at the White House.
Duelbits has launched a branded content campaign with UFC interim Lightweight Champion Justin Gaethje, timed to UFC Freedom 250 at the White House on Saturday 14th June.
The campaign, branded JUSTIN2026, was shot on location in Denver, Colorado by UK-based creative agency YRDS. Duelbits said the content is designed as a “premium, cinematic series” and will roll out in phases over the next four weeks, peaking on event day.
According to the company, the campaign was planned before UFC Freedom was officially confirmed. Duelbits framed the early commitment as part of a strategy to move faster than traditional sportsbooks around major cultural moments.
“We didn’t want to create another sportsbook promo,” said Jasper Hoekert, Chief Marketing Officer at Duelbits. “We wanted to create something that combat sports fans want to watch, content built around Justin’s authenticity and intensity, not just his fight record. We were planning this before the White House event was even officially confirmed. When you believe in the magnitude of a moment, you don’t wait for permission to act on it.”
“Duelbits came to me with a vision, not just a brief,” said Gaethje. “They wanted to create something that reflected the reality of what I do and who I am, with no smoke and mirrors. When a brand shows up with that kind of conviction and creative ambition, you back it. This campaign is going to be something people remember.”
The post Duelbits signs Justin Gaethje for branded content ahead of UFC Freedom 250 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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