“Movers and Shakers” is a dynamic monthly column dedicated to exploring the latest trends, developments, and influential voices in the iGaming industry. Powered by GameOn and supported by HIPTHER, this op-ed series delves into the key players, emerging technologies, and regulatory changes shaping the future of online gaming. Each month, industry experts offer their insights and perspectives, providing readers with in-depth analysis and thought-provoking commentary on what’s driving the iGaming world forward. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or new to the scene, “Movers and Shakers” is your go-to source for staying ahead in the rapidly evolving iGaming landscape.

When the UK’s new tax regime came into force on 1 April 2026, with Remote Gaming Duty rising from 21% to 40%, it was always going to force a reset. The scale of the increase meant this was never going to be treated as a marginal adjustment or another background cost for the industry to absorb quietly. It changed the economics of the market overnight, and with that, it changed the tone of the conversation too.

A month on, that pressure is real. Operators are having to look closely at where value sits, how promotional models hold up, which products justify their place, and where risk is now harder to carry. But if this first month has told us anything, it is that tougher conditions do not make the UK any less important. They simply make the market more revealing.

The UK remains one of the most significant regulated markets in our industry. It is mature, highly visible and intensely competitive, but it is also a market where product quality, commercial discipline and long-term thinking matter. That was true before the tax hike, and it is even more true now. For studios and suppliers, this is not the kind of market to retreat from just because the pressure has increased. It is the kind of market that shows who is serious.

At Gaming Corps, that is very much how we see it. The tax rise has clearly changed the environment operators are working in, but it has not changed our belief in the value of the UK market or in the importance of supporting it properly. If anything, it has sharpened that focus.

Backing the UK today is not just about continuing to supply content into the market as before. It is about understanding what operators now need from their partners. That means recognising that product decisions are under greater scrutiny. It means appreciating that flexibility matters more. And it means accepting that suppliers have a role to play in helping operators build a stronger and more resilient mix.

That support can take different forms. Sometimes it means continuing to invest in slot content that is proven, distinctive and capable of standing out on established casino floors. Sometimes it means bringing forward mechanics, themes and gameplay structures that give operators something genuinely different. And sometimes it means widening the conversation beyond the formats that have dominated for years.

That is one of the reasons why we are excited about Instant Blitz.

Instant Blitz is the first release in a new scratchcard-style series for Gaming Corps, and it reflects the kind of thinking that feels especially relevant in the current UK climate. It is designed as a fast, accessible format that blurs the lines between scratchcard and slot, while also giving operators a low-entry addition to their instant win range. With bets starting from as little as 5p, it offers operators greater flexibility at a time when product balance, player behaviour, and in particular bonus abuse, are under closer scrutiny.

That does not mean one format suddenly solves every challenge created by higher tax. But it does highlight a broader shift. In a tougher environment, innovation needs to be practical. New content has to offer operators real flexibility, not just novelty.

That is how we see Instant Blitz. It is not a departure from our wider portfolio, but part of a broader approach to helping operators build a more varied and adaptable mix. Strong slots still matter, as do distinctive mechanics and recognisable content, but there is also value in formats that widen the offer and support different play patterns.

It also reflects how we see our own future in the UK. We are continuing to invest in operator relationships and expand our portfolio in ways that match the market’s changing needs. The Instant Blitz series will grow from here, with future titles drawing on some of the familiar worlds and characters from across the wider Gaming Corps portfolio.

The first month of the tax hike has undoubtedly added pressure. But pressure also clarifies. It shows which products still make sense, which partnerships matter, and which markets remain worth backing, and the UK is still one of those markets.

By Graham Greensmith, CCO at Gaming Corps

The post Movers and Shakers – Why the UK tax rise has changed the conversation, not the opportunity appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

RAW iGaming announces today the launch of RAW Riches, a site-wide progressive jackpot overlay designed to deliver jackpot moments without adding operational complexity.

Launching as part of the RAWVerse ecosystem, RAW Riches introduces a new approach to jackpots, prioritising seamless integration, player engagement, and operator control.

A fully embedded experience

RAW Riches introduces a multi-tier progressive jackpot layer deployable across an operator’s entire portfolio, regardless of game supplier. Unlike traditional jackpot mechanics that require separate integrations or fragmented systems, RAW Riches operates as a fully embedded experience within the operator’s brand, creating a single, unified jackpot.

Tom Wood, CEO of RAW iGaming, said: “The industry built jackpots in silos. We built one that connects everything.

“RAW Riches gives operators a site-wide jackpot running across every entity and every game supplier, configured to their exact needs and brand, all from a single solution.

“We pride ourselves on producing the industry’s most distinctive and disruptive game concepts and RAW Riches is no different.

“This is the kind of product that changes how operators think about jackpots entirely.”

A seamless player experience

Players opt in and continue playing as normal. When triggered, the jackpot experience takes over instantly. Every trigger results in a win, with no losing outcomes, before the player is returned to their original game to continue playing.

Scaleable without complexity

RAW Riches solves one of the industry’s most persistent operational challenges in scaling jackpots across multiple providers, brands, and markets. Key features include:

• Single deployment across all games and brands

• Full operator control over jackpot configuration and branding

• Multiple delivery options, including bespoke branded game builds

• Seamless deployment within any existing RAW integration or delivery partner

RAW Riches is available today across regulated markets in Europe.

The post RAW iGaming unveils RAW Riches: A site-wide progressive jackpot overlay built for scale appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

MGA Games has launched a new video slot, Pharaoh’s Mystery, for the .com market on April 29. The game will also be released in Spain under the name Misterio del Faraón.

Pharaoh’s Mystery runs a 5×3 reel layout with 25 paylines. MGA Games said the game supports bets from €0.25 up to €25 and carries a top prize of €125,000.

The slot includes five special symbols: Wild, Scatter, Money, Collect, and Accumulative. It also features a Buy Free Spins option, enabling players to access bonus rounds directly.

MGA Games said the title includes a Super Respin mechanic that triggers at the end of the Free Spins screen, positioning it as a retention-focused release designed to increase engagement and average ticket for operators.

The post MGA Games launches Pharaoh’s Mystery slot with Super Respin feature appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.