Press Releases
Quickspin’s latest game is a great testament to their ‘portrait first’ focus
Swedish slot specialist Quickspin, a Playtech Group company, has just released Skulls UP! – the first slot of the year to be developed with their ‘portrait first’ focus.
Quickspin always develop their slots with a clear focus on mobile devices – a strategy they’re planning on ramping up even further this year, with a special focus on their new portrait mode. Last year, the company updated their UX design with this new portrait mode, as well as the layout in their engagement tool Tournaments.
Skulls UP! combines a tropical theme with expanding reels, high volatility and the opportunity to win big. The features include Flaming Free Spins, Flaming Respins (Respin until you win) and Flaming Skull Wilds. In addition, the reels can expand to up to 6 symbols in height. Every Wild symbol you get during a Flaming Respin will open up a new position above the reels, which can increase the number of bet ways from 243 all the way up to 1,944.
Daniel Lindberg, Quickspin CEO: “We’re really excited to kick-start 2020 with our first release! We’ve got a diverse roadmap planned out for the year, and we’ll continue to push the boundaries with one innovative, high-quality slot per month, with a clear focus on mobile devices. Skulls UP! is a great testament to our strategy. Making full use of our new portrait mode, it’s a beautiful example of a game that was developed with our ‘portrait first’ approach.”
Founded in 2011, Quickspin rapidly established itself as a leading development studio for real money and social casino gaming, and the company was acquired by Playtech in March 2016. Now licensed in multiple jurisdictions, its award-winning content has seen the company sign agreements with a long list of leading operators.
Blask reveal
US prediction markets surge 5x in eight months, Blask reveal
New data from Blask reveals that branded demand for prediction markets in the United States has increased more than fivefold since August 2025, signaling a sustained resurgence in interest toward event-based trading platforms. To support deeper analysis of this fast-growing segment, Blask has also rolled out a dedicated prediction market analytics feature, enabling operators to track demand dynamics, competitive positioning, and regional distribution in real time.
Despite this rapid growth, the category has not yet reached its historical peak. Current demand levels remain approximately 49% below the all-time high recorded during the November 2024 US election cycle — a spike largely driven by a single, high-impact event.
From event-driven spikes to sustained growth
Unlike the sharp, short-lived surge seen in 2024, the current rally has developed steadily over eight consecutive months without a comparable macro trigger. This shift suggests a structural evolution of the category, moving from episodic attention toward more consistent user engagement. At the same time, the competitive landscape has consolidated rather than diversified.
A tightening duopoly
As of March 2026, Polymarket and Kalshi jointly account for approximately 94% of all branded demand in US prediction markets. Both platforms have strengthened their positions during the growth period, increasing their respective market shares while the overall category expanded.
State-level data reinforces this dominance. In Kansas, Polymarket controls 95.5% of branded demand, compared to Kalshi’s 3.5%, representing the most extreme imbalance. Louisiana shows the closest competition, with Polymarket at 59% and Kalshi at 35.3%. Across all states, however, the two operators overwhelmingly dominate user interest.
These insights are now directly accessible through Blask’s prediction market analytics, allowing operators to benchmark performance not just nationally, but at the state level where competitive dynamics can differ significantly.
Challengers remain marginal — but signals are emerging
Beyond the leading duopoly, the rest of the market accounts for just 6% of total branded demand. Myriad currently ranks as the closest competitor, holding under 1% share.
Meanwhile, Robinhood presents the fastest growth trajectory in the category, with a year-over-year increase of +983.4%. While its absolute share remains low at 0.24%, the momentum indicates potential early-stage positioning in the space.
Demand concentrated in key states
The expansion of prediction markets is national in scope, but demand remains highly concentrated geographically. California leads with 15.9% of total US branded demand, followed by New York at 10.8%. Together, these two states account for over a quarter of the entire category’s interest.
This geographic distribution further highlights the importance of granular analytics, as operators competing in prediction markets increasingly need localized insights rather than relying on aggregate national trends.
A maturing category
The latest data points to a category transitioning from volatility to structure. While prediction markets are still influenced by major real-world events, the current growth pattern suggests increasing baseline demand – and a competitive environment defined by scale rather than fragmentation.
As the market continues to evolve, the key question is no longer whether interest will return, but how it will be distributed – and whether new entrants can meaningfully challenge an increasingly entrenched duopoly.
The post US prediction markets surge 5x in eight months, Blask reveal appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
BETANO
Betano signs sponsorship deal with Argentina national football team
Kaizen Gaming brand becomes an Official Regional Sponsor as World Cup 2026 approaches, with campaigns planned across digital, TV and OOH.
Betano has signed a new sponsorship agreement with the Argentina National Football Team, joining as an Official Regional Sponsor, the company said on April 29, 2026.
The deal was announced from Athens, Greece and Buenos Aires, Argentina, with the Kaizen Gaming-owned sports betting and gaming brand positioning the partnership ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026.
According to the company, the sponsorship will include “local 360° campaigns” featuring Betano’s tagline “Confiá” across digital media, television, and out-of-home (OOH) advertising. Betano also said it plans “high-engagement activations” intended to connect fans with the team.
In the release, Kaizen Gaming framed the agreement as part of a broader strategy to invest in top-tier sports partnerships to support international brand growth and “responsible gaming experiences.” Financial terms, territories covered under the “regional” designation, and contract duration were not disclosed.
More relevant data as follows:
- Betano (Kaizen Gaming) official website; https://www.betano.com/ Primary source for brand and market presence details related to Betano.
- Kaizen Gaming official website; https://kaizengaming.com/ Company background and corporate announcements for Kaizen Gaming, the owner of Betano.
- AFA (Argentine Football Association) official website; https://www.afa.com.ar/ Authoritative reference for Argentina national team commercial partnerships and federation announcements.
- FIFA World Cup 2026; https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/tournaments/mens/worldcup/canada-mexico-usa2026 Official tournament page to ground the timing reference to the FIFA World Cup 2026.
The post Betano signs sponsorship deal with Argentina national football team appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
EPT
PokerStars adds PokerStars Open Aix-en-Provence and confirms EPT Prague for 2026
New France stop runs Nov 2-8; EPT Prague returns to the Hilton Prague on Dec 2-13, both counting toward the PokerStars Live League.
PokerStars has added two stops to its 2026 live poker calendar: EPT Prague returns on Dec 2-13 at the Hilton Prague, and a new PokerStars Open event will debut in Aix-en-Provence, France, on Nov 2-8. The operator announced the dates on April 22, 2026.
Both events will award points in the PokerStars Live League, PokerStars’ annual leaderboard system across High, Medium, and Low tiers. PokerStars said more than €150,000 in PokerStars LIVE credit will be paid out to the top three finishers in each tier at year-end, plus a live freeroll with a €100,000 prize pool at the first EPT of 2027 for the top 30 finishers in each tier.
EPT Prague is set to run as an 11-day festival, with PokerStars flagging the High Roller and EPT Main Event among the headline tournaments. PokerStars cited last year’s Prague Main Event at more than 1,200 entries for a prize pool of more than €5.9 million, with Matan Krakow winning for more than €770,000.
The new PokerStars Open Aix-en-Provence stop will run in partnership with Texapoker at Pasino GRAND Partouche Aix-en-Provence. It becomes the latest confirmed date in PokerStars’ 2026 live lineup, which also includes EPT Monte Carlo (April 30 – May 10), PokerStars Open Namur (May 27 – June 7), PokerStars Open Malaga (June 22-28), and EPT Barcelona (August 16-29).
“We’re delighted to bring players two more incredible live events and welcome the return of EPT Prague,” said Cédric Billot, Associate Director, Live Events. ”Each stop offers a unique experience and world-class competition and strengthens an already exciting 2026 schedule. We look forward to welcoming everyone for another standout year of live poker.”
More relevant data as follows:
- PokerStars Live; https://www.pokerstarslive.com/ Official schedule and event information source referenced in the announcement.
- PokerStars blog; https://www.pokerstars.com/poker/learn/news/ PokerStars’ news hub cited for additional details on live events and updates.
- European Poker Tour (EPT) – PokerStars Live; https://www.pokerstarslive.com/ept Background and official overview of the EPT brand and tour stops mentioned in the release
The post PokerStars adds PokerStars Open Aix-en-Provence and confirms EPT Prague for 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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