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Yaspa wins Real-Time Payments Innovation award at the 2025 Payments Awards
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Yaspa, a leading fintech specialising in payments and identity solutions, has been named winner of the Real-Time Payments Innovation category at this year’s Payments Awards.
The award recognises Yaspa’s Intelligent Payments solution which combines open banking and AI to provide real-time bank payments (Pay by Bank) with verified customer insights, as well as a full suite of payment and account verification services.
The accolade is the latest in a landmark year for the company, during which, Yaspa was named one of the CB Insights Top 100 Fintechs, a global ranking that spotlights the most promising and innovative companies shaping the future of financial services.
The recognition comes during a period of sustained growth for Yaspa, which has expanded from 15 to 70 employees in the past 18 months and closed a $12m investment round in July, led by Discerning Capital. The company is now accelerating international expansion with a new US entity based in Atlanta, Georgia. Yaspa also announced the opening of a tech hub in Leeds, UK, in August.
Yaspa’s success has been driven by growing adoption of its real-time payments platform, which enables instant account-to-account deposits and withdrawals, automated KYC checks, and rapid verification flows that reduce friction for end users, particularly among gambling operators. Across the UK and Europe, merchants and operators are increasingly choosing Yaspa to improve customer experience, reduce operational overheads and strengthen financial compliance. This award is particularly timely with Safer Gambling Week starting today and Yaspa’s solutions adding extra player protection at the payment stage of the customer journey.
Yaspa CEO James Neville said: “We’re incredibly proud to receive the Payments Award for Real-Time Payments Innovation. It reflects the hard work of our team and the value our partners see in reliable, real-time money movement.
“This has been a milestone year for Yaspa, from being named a CB Insights Top 100 Fintech to gaining recognition at the EGR B2B Awards. Each achievement reinforces the momentum behind real-time payments and the impact it can have on both merchants and their customers.”
The post Yaspa wins Real-Time Payments Innovation award at the 2025 Payments Awards appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
€125
Platipus Launches €125,000 Network Tournament Series to Boost Player Engagement in 2026
Platipus Ltd., a leading developer of high-quality HTML5 slot games, has unveiled its 2026 Network Tournament Series, offering a total prize pool of €125,000. Designed to enhance player engagement and operator performance, the series will run across five thrilling stages, each with €25,000 in prizes and 150 winning positions per event.
The Network Tournament Series aims to provide players with an immersive and competitive gaming experience while delivering measurable benefits for operators. By encouraging extended play sessions, increasing retention, and boosting Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR), the campaign offers a strategic promotional solution for operators seeking to maximize performance and player loyalty.
Platipus confirmed that the tournament series will feature its most popular slot titles, including Wild Spin, Wild Spin Deluxe, Wild Crowns, 7 & Hot Fruits, alongside rotating feature games tailored to each stage. Each tournament stage promises unique excitement, rewarding players for skill and participation while fostering community engagement and competitive play.
The five tournament stages are scheduled as follows:
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Stage 1 (January 29–31): Santa’s Bag
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Stage 2 (February 5–7): Pirate’s Legacy
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Stage 3 (April 30 – May 2): Catch the Leprechaun
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Stage 4 (June 4–6): Jackpot Lab
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Stage 5 (September 17–19): Pirate’s Map
All events will be powered by Platipus’s proprietary tournament tool, ensuring seamless integration for operators, real-time leaderboard functionality, and a smooth player experience across all participating games.
According to the Platipus team, the tournament series is “not just about prizes — it’s about creating excitement, community engagement, and memorable experiences.” Operators can join the campaign effortlessly, leveraging a ready-to-deploy promotional framework that drives player engagement, retention, and long-term revenue growth.
With the launch of the €125,000 Network Tournament, Platipus continues to reinforce its position as a top-tier provider of HTML5 slot content and innovative iGaming solutions, offering operators and players a dynamic, rewarding, and highly engaging gaming experience throughout 2026.
The post Platipus Launches €125,000 Network Tournament Series to Boost Player Engagement in 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
AI in iGaming
BetConstruct AI Named Global Gaming Company of the Year at International Gaming Awards 2026
BetConstruct AI has been officially recognised as Global Gaming Company of the Year at the International Gaming Awards (IGA) 2026, marking a major achievement for one of the iGaming industry’s most influential technology providers.
The prestigious award highlights more than two decades of innovation, a rapidly expanding global footprint, and a bold, transformative approach to Artificial Intelligence in gaming.
The IGA 2026 accolade underscores BetConstruct AI’s position as a truly global iGaming technology leader. The company delivers fully localised, multi-currency, and multi-lingual solutions designed to meet the specific regulatory, cultural, and operational requirements of markets across every continent. This global adaptability has become a defining strength, enabling operators to scale efficiently while maintaining compliance and player relevance.
The recognition follows a year of significant growth and strategic expansion for BetConstruct AI. The continued evolution of its AI-powered ecosystem has introduced new benchmarks for operational intelligence, automation, and player engagement, reinforcing the company’s reputation for forward-thinking innovation in a highly competitive sector.
At the heart of BetConstruct AI’s success is a strong partner-first philosophy combined with a deep commitment to in-house product development. By building the majority of its technology internally, the company ensures a robust, open ecosystem that supports seamless integrations and provides operators with full control over their platforms. This approach allows BetConstruct AI to maintain consistently high quality across its extensive product portfolio while remaining flexible to partner needs.
Winning the Global Gaming Company of the Year award reflects BetConstruct AI’s long-term vision of shaping the future of iGaming through advanced localisation and continuous technological innovation. By pairing global infrastructure with locally adapted solutions, the company enables its partners to overcome regulatory and administrative complexities, allowing them to focus on acquisition, retention, and sustainable long-term growth.
As the iGaming industry increasingly prioritises transparency, intelligence, and efficiency, BetConstruct AI continues to lead the way. By combining human expertise with AI-driven precision, the company empowers partners to build and manage their own unique “universe” within the global iGaming landscape, setting a new standard for scalable, intelligent gaming solutions.
The post BetConstruct AI Named Global Gaming Company of the Year at International Gaming Awards 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
always-on betting
Highlight Games Partners with OpenBet Trading System to Expand Video Virtual Sports Offering
Highlight Games, the London-based specialist in video virtual sports and instant win games, has announced a landmark long-term partnership with OpenBet, one of the sports betting industry’s leading content, platform, and services providers.
The collaboration marks a significant step forward in expanding access to premium video virtual sports across regulated betting markets worldwide.
Under the agreement, Highlight Games’ extensive content portfolio will be fully integrated into OpenBet’s Trading System, widely regarded as one of the industry’s most powerful aggregation networks for elite trading and sports betting content. This digital integration will allow operators using OpenBet’s platform to seamlessly offer Highlight’s award-winning video virtual sports alongside live sporting events.
The partnership is designed to help operators deliver a continuous and engaging sports betting experience, even during periods when live events are unavailable. By blending virtual sports with live markets, operators can maintain player engagement, optimise betting uptime, and enhance overall product variety.
Highlight Games’ video virtual sports are powered by authentic archive footage from some of the world’s most recognisable sporting competitions. Available titles include virtual sports content featuring Serie A, LaLiga, England’s Premier League — with historic footage from iconic clubs such as Liverpool, Manchester United, and Arsenal — as well as the Turkish Süper Lig. Additional sports coverage includes ATP Tour Tennis, PDC Darts, and MotoGP, offering a broad and diverse range of betting opportunities.
Unlike traditional computer-generated virtual sports, Highlight Games’ products use real broadcast-quality footage, delivering a level of realism that closely mirrors live sport. This authenticity has become a key differentiator in the video virtuals market, appealing to bettors seeking immersive, lifelike betting experiences that reflect the pace and excitement of real-world competitions.
For OpenBet, the integration further strengthens the capabilities of its Trading System, reinforcing its position as a next-generation data and trading solution. By expanding its content ecosystem with premium video virtual sports, OpenBet continues to enhance product quality, improve content diversity, and support operator competitiveness across global markets.
Steven Holmes, Chief Executive Officer of Highlight Games, described the partnership as a major milestone for the company. He noted that Highlight’s video virtual sports are specifically designed to replicate the excitement and unpredictability of live sports betting. By integrating with OpenBet’s industry-leading Trading System, Highlight Games is enabling operators to deliver always-on sports entertainment that keeps customers engaged beyond traditional live event schedules.
Jason Ayton, Chief Business Development Officer at OpenBet, also welcomed the partnership, highlighting its strategic importance. He emphasised that adding Highlight Games’ premium video virtual sports further enhances OpenBet’s sophisticated content aggregation network. According to Ayton, the collaboration empowers operators to better bridge the gap between live events by offering high-quality, engaging betting content at all times, reinforcing Trading System’s status as a premier platform for world-class sports betting entertainment.
The post Highlight Games Partners with OpenBet Trading System to Expand Video Virtual Sports Offering appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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