AI

Investor`s perspective: highlights from ICE Barcelona 2026

Published

1 hour ago

February 5, 2026

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The Investments team at RedCore held dozens of meetings at ICE Barcelona with projects from MarTech/Traffic, iGaming, AI/ML, and RegTech. We share our observations on the direction of the market and changes in the approach of startups.

Technology is the main trend

The products at the conference focused on offering fundamentally new solutions rather than competing head-on. There were a huge number of game providers, but the ones that attracted attention were those betting on technological innovation.

“The trend is clear: products are trying to offer something completely new, rather than just competing in their niche,” notes Andrei Alexandrov, Investment Portfolio Manager at RedCore.

The influx of incoming applications confirmed this: even without a targeted search, most projects fell within the fund`s priority areas — MarTech/Traffic, iGaming solutions, AI/ML, and RegTech.

AI and data are changing the traffic game

At iGB Affiliate, which ran parallel to ICE, AI solutions for traffic were everywhere: trackers, predictive models, player behavior analysis panels. This reflects the maturity of the market — traffic optimization is no longer possible without ML/AI approaches.

The main competitive asset today is data and segmentation. Those who segment more deeply, personalize, and truly understand the behavior of their audience will win. Granular data, behavior by micro-segments, is no longer a “nice-to-have” but a necessity.

“Affiliates are increasingly acting not just as CPA traffic partners, but as full-fledged marketing experts who use data and content to improve engagement,” notes Iryna Yeromenko, Investment Portfolio Manager at RedCore.

Startups have become more mature

Just a few years ago, conferences were often attended by teams with raw ideas. Now the situation has changed: founders come with well-developed pitches, clear business models, and a clear understanding of the market.

“Startups are particularly impressive this year: everyone comes prepared and tries to present themselves in the best way. There was almost no one who came with just an idea,” says Andrei Alexandrov. “Some said that we are their priority fund. This level of trust confirms that we are moving in the right direction.”

Record dealflow, but quality is more important

The volume of incoming applications for ICE Barcelona exceeded the total for all other events last year. But a large flow also means risk: without clear selection criteria, it is easy to waste time on irrelevant projects.

“There are a lot of introductions, pitches, and “let`s talk”. At the same time, it is important to remember that quantity does not equal quality. ICE reinforces the need for strict investment filtering, as without clear criteria, it is easy to get lost in the noise,” explains Oleksandr Briukhovetskyi, Investment Portfolio Manager at RedCore.

This principle also works in traffic: the best affiliates focus on data strategies, mobile-first and video-first content, as well as player behavior patterns. Affiliates get access to more metrics, which lets them buy better traffic.

Long-term value instead of quick deals

ICE Barcelona isn`t about closing deals on the spot. The main value of the conference lies in the opportunity to create the foundation for partnerships for the next 6–12 months.

“Conferences bring strategic value. In terms of the density of quality contacts, long-term deals, and relevant contextual conversations, they are confidently ahead of most other channels,” — notes Oleksandr Briukhovetskyi.

Industry boundaries are blurring

ICE attracts a large number of cross-industry projects that are not formally related to iGaming but seek to integrate into this market. This creates new opportunities for investors who can see synergies between different verticals.

“ICE is a rare case where all elements of the iGaming chain are gathered in one space: operators, providers, payments, RegTech, AI, traffic, media buying, crypto, Web3. The boundaries of the industry are blurring right in front of our eyes,” Oleksandr sums up.

Where is the market headed

The market is moving towards consolidation. The trend towards aggregators and super apps is growing stronger, and now AI has joined the mix. The greatest potential lies in automated management systems, data aggregators, big data products, and predictive analytics.

In iGaming, there is growing demand for infrastructure solutions: tools for Retention, Customer Support, Antifraud, Responsible Gaming, and regulation. There is particular interest in products that allow operators to independently create loyalty systems, custom games, and analytics.

The focus of investors has shifted. Previously, they pursued ideas, but now expertise and team stability matter more. The number of startups has grown, as it is easier than ever to create an MVP in the AI era. Therefore, Due Diligence is critical: how well does the product solve a real market problem, and whether the team is ready to develop and monetize it.

Are you building a product in MarTech, iGaming, AI/ML, or RegTech? Tell the Investments team at RedCore about your project: https://redcore.group/lets-cooperate/

The post Investor`s perspective: highlights from ICE Barcelona 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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AI

Wanted: Ambitious Tech Ventures — RedCore Investment Team Lands in Dubai

Published

2 days ago

February 3, 2026

Wladimir P.

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The investment division of international business group RedCore is joining AIBC Eurasia to connect with ambitious founders and tech teams. The summit runs February 23–25 at Dubai Festival City — find the team at booth 3D.

Investments at RedCore focuses on ventures in MarTech/Traffic, FinTech, RegTech, Web3, Gaming software vendors, and AI/ML. The team is especially interested in meeting game content suppliers, RegTech solution providers, and creators of AI-driven digital products.

RedCore’s investment philosophy centers on M&A and strategic partnership rather than traditional venture funding. The business group steps in as an active partner, not a passive investor. Portfolio companies gain access to experienced specialists, legal and operational support, technology infrastructure, proven marketing channels, and a broad industry network. Often, RedCore becomes a startup’s first customer — shortening the road to market validation. Where other founders spend years chasing product-market fit, RedCore-backed teams can land their first paying clients within three to six months.

The ideal project has a working MVP, early commercial traction, transparent unit economics, and global scaling ambitions. In exchange, RedCore offers not just capital — but a long-term strategic partnership built on shared expertise and active involvement in business growth.

Interested? To schedule a meeting with the Investment Portfolio Manager simply approach the reception desk and use the touchscreen available at the booth 3D. Or pitch your project here: Apply to RedCore

The post Wanted: Ambitious Tech Ventures — RedCore Investment Team Lands in Dubai appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

AI

Scientific Games Appoints Ovie Doro as SVP of Data, Analytics & AI

Published

3 days ago

February 2, 2026

Wladimir P.

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Scientific Games today named Ovie Doro as Senior Vice President of Data, Analytics & AI, a strategic hire that accelerates the company’s investment in data science, machine learning and AI-driven insights for its global lottery business. Doro will lead the expansion of SG Analytics, Scientific Games’ enterprise analytics group, to deliver stronger product performance, personalized player experiences and measurable ROI for lottery customers across retail and digital channels.

Driving analytics-led growth for lotteries

Scientific Games says the appointment marks a step-change in how it uses data and AI to inform lottery game development, optimize player engagement and support lottery beneficiaries. As head of SG Analytics, Doro will focus on turning large volumes of market and player data into actionable intelligence for product, sales and operations teams.

“Advanced analytics is critical to how Scientific Games supports our lottery customers and drives innovation and performance for sustainable growth,” said Pat McHugh, CEO of Scientific Games. “Doro brings deep experience understanding consumer behavior and building scalable analytics and data science capabilities at global organizations, and we’re excited to have him lead this mission-critical work.”

What Doro will lead at SG Analytics

Doro’s remit will include expanding capabilities in:

Market and channel intelligence to identify growth opportunities across regions and channels
ROI and growth modeling to quantify the value of product and marketing investments
Data engineering and standardized reporting to speed insights to decision-makers
Data science, machine learning and experimentation for personalization and cross-channel optimization
Visualization and business intelligence to make analytics accessible to commercial teams

These priorities are designed to better connect retail and digital play, enable experimentation-driven product improvements, and provide lotteries with measurable results that support their beneficiary missions.

Proven leader in enterprise analytics and ML

Doro brings more than a decade of experience building enterprise analytics and machine learning platforms for major consumer and e-commerce companies. Most recently he served as Senior Global Director of Data Science & Machine Learning Engineering at AB InBev, where he led the AI strategy for the company’s global B2B e-commerce platform. His prior leadership roles at Walmart and Jet.com focused on customer analytics, personalization, experimentation platforms and lifecycle modeling—translating applied research into production-grade analytics systems that drive growth and retention.

“Doro’s appointment strengthens our ability to translate data into action and value for our customers,” said Carrie Galvin, Chief Transformation & Strategy Officer at Scientific Games. “His experience building analytics capabilities that deliver real-world business outcomes will help us better serve lotteries through smarter products and performance insights.”

Background and reporting

Doro holds a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology and a Master’s degree in Applied Mathematics from KTH Royal Institute of Technology. At Scientific Games, he will report to Carrie Galvin and collaborate closely with leaders across product, technology, sales and operations.

With this hire, Scientific Games positions SG Analytics to accelerate AI-driven product development, deepen personalization, and deliver clearer ROI for lotteries worldwide—strengthening the company’s role as a data-first partner to the lottery industry.

The post Scientific Games Appoints Ovie Doro as SVP of Data, Analytics & AI appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

AI

Yaspa becomes founding member of UNLV’s AI Research Hub to advance responsible AI adoption in the gambling industry

Published

3 days ago

February 2, 2026

GamingAmericas.com

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Yaspa, a leading fintech specializing in payments and identity solutions, today announces it has become a founding member of the newly launched AI Research Hub (AiR Hub) at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) International Gaming Institute (IGI). This collaboration underscores Yaspa’s commitment to integrating next-generation financial technology with academic research to foster a safer, more sustainable gambling environment.

The UNLV International Gaming Institute (IGI) established the AiR Hub to advance the industry’s understanding of the impacts, risks, and opportunities presented by artificial intelligence. Co-founded by Kasra Ghaharian, IGI Director of Research, and industry veteran Simo Dragicevic, the initiative serves as a collaborative ecosystem designed to accelerate the adoption of trusted, responsible AI across the global gaming sector.

Yaspa joins a prestigious group of founding members, including Aristocrat, Evoke Plc, Playtech Plc, and the Responsible Online Gaming Association (ROGA). This diverse coalition is tasked with ensuring that AI development in the sector is grounded in cross-disciplinary expertise.

AiR Hub’s flagship project is the “State of AI in Gaming” report, a first-of-its-kind annual study indexing company AI maturity, as well as tracking regulatory and policy developments. Through this and related projects, AiR Hub seeks to drive innovation and help ensure AI-driven systems are governed appropriately within this highly regulated industry.

As a founding member, Yaspa brings its in-house AI expertise to guide the Hub’s research initiatives, drawing from its experience in developing the technology behind its Intelligent Payments platform and proprietary machine learning categorizer. To support this mission, Max Collinge, Yaspa’s Vice President of Product, will join the AiR Hub Advisory Panel. Collectively, panel members help steer the Hub’s initiatives, ensuring they maintain deep industry relevance.

“Joining AiR Hub as a founding member reflects Yaspa’s commitment to leveraging the synergy between AI and open banking data to drive a more sustainable gambling ecosystem,” said Max Collinge.

“By utilizing deep financial insights through AI-driven analysis, we can deliver significantly better outcomes for players and operators alike. I am personally thrilled to join the Advisory Panel to help shape this next phase of collaboration and ensure research leads to practical, responsible innovation.”

Kasra Ghaharian, Director of Research, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, International Gaming Institute, commented, “Fintech and AI are two of the most transformative technologies in the world today, and their impact on the gaming industry will undoubtedly continue to be profound. The richness of this data provides intriguing potential across the value chain, particularly regarding consumer protection and compliance. I am excited to see how we can help drive thought leadership for the industry at the intersection of these two technologies.”

Simo Dragicevic, IGI Adjunct Fellow, said, “Yaspa is building the industry’s open banking orchestration layer for player insights and risk assessment. Their expertise in payments, technology and risk will add significant value to the AiR Hub Advisory Panel and we look forward to collaborating with Yaspa as we execute our mission to develop the industry’s ecosystem for collaborative AI research.”

The post Yaspa becomes founding member of UNLV’s AI Research Hub to advance responsible AI adoption in the gambling industry appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.