Latest News
PUT YOUR ROLLERSKATES ON WITH LIGHTNING BOX™ SMASH NUDGE SKILLSTAR™
Exciting Free Games mode stars in modern-day throwback
Light & Wonder, Inc. has announced the release of Smash Nudge Skillstar, a compelling new title from specialist slot provider Lightning Box, one of Light & Wonder’s in-house studios.
Set in a futuristic roller derby arena, Smash Nudge Skillstar is a captivating 4×5 slot which showcases an enchanting Free Games round, where players are awarded up to 20 Free Games.
The Free Games round also exhibits a multiplier wheel, which multiplies any prizes up to 10x on that particular spin. A Wild Nudge also appears in this mode, as this can nudge adjacent symbols off the grid, allowing further Wild Nudge tiles to fill the reels.
To activate the Free Games feature, players must land either three, four or five Scatter symbols, with the maximum number granting 20 Free Games. Once the Free Games mode has been unlocked, Scatters can retrigger, meaning a further 20 Free Games are granted.
During the base game, the Wild Nudge operates exactly the same as in Free Games by replacing any adjacent symbol with other Wild Nudges, allowing users to collect wins as these top up the reels.
The SKILLSTAR ™feature is a play-for-fun bonus for players to enjoy and test their skills to see who can obtain the highest score on the leaderboard through dodging opposing players, oil spills and collecting gold trophies.
Smash Nudge Skillstar will be available to customers of Light & Wonder’s industry-leading OPENGAMING™ platform, alongside popular new titles such as STELLAR CASH DRAGON PALACE™ and BLOOMIN’ BUNNIES™.
This game is now available for online players, and it will initially be exclusively available to Kindred and 32 Red in Europe and UK, before being released in all markets thereafter.
Michael Maokhamphiou, Operations Manager at Lightning Box said: “Smash Nudge Skillstar is our newest hit release, and boasts a distinctive Free Games round that players can immerse themselves in.
“The aesthetics of this game are truly dazzling and this goes hand-in-hand with the thrilling gameplay that will keep players on the edge of their seats.”
Rob Procter, VP of Game Development at Light & Wonder said: “Lightning Box has delivered an epic title, one which will make a really big impact with players across the globe.
“The Free Games mode exhibits numerous ways to win some enthralling prizes and users will resonate with a modern twist on a classic feature.”
Awards
Esportes Gaming Brasil takes two ClienteSA Awards 2026 wins; exec named Personality of the Year
Esportes Gaming Brasil (EGB), the group behind the Esportes da Sorte, Onabet and Lottu brands, has won Gold and Silver at the ClienteSA Awards 2026, held during the ClienteSA X-Summit 2026.
EGB said it won Gold in the Customer Success category for its case study, “Customer Success through Responsible Gaming and Intelligent Monitoring”, and Silver in the Customer Service Operations category for its case study, “From Startup to Maturity”.
Maria Neves, Director of Customer Experience, Customer Support and Reputation Channels, was also named Personality of the Year, an award that recognises leaders in customer experience management in Brazil. “This recognition validates the work of many people, built through listening, team development and a commitment to delivering the best possible customer experience. In a constantly evolving market, putting the customer at the centre of every decision is fundamental to the way we operate,” Neves said.
EGB executives also took part in the summit programme. Neves moderated a panel titled “Responsible Gaming as Part of the Customer Experience Journey,” featuring Carol Luna, Head of Compliance at the company, and Ricardo Magri, co-founder of the Brazilian Support Company for Compulsive Gambling (EBAC), which EGB described as a partner organisation.
During the session, the panellists discussed Brazil’s regulated betting market and how customer service, compliance and responsible gaming processes are being positioned as part of a safer customer journey. EGB highlighted initiatives including specialist support teams trained to identify signs of customer vulnerability, self-exclusion tools, platform usage limits and referral processes to specialist partner organisations.
The post Esportes Gaming Brasil takes two ClienteSA Awards 2026 wins; exec named Personality of the Year appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
business development
Games Valley names Robert Dowling Chief Revenue Officer
Games Valley has appointed Robert Dowling as Chief Revenue Officer (CRO), effective July 15, 2026. The company said Dowling is joining full-time after working with Games Valley as a strategic consultant since the beginning of 2026.
In the CRO role, Dowling will lead Games Valley’s global commercial and marketing operations, including sales, strategic partnerships and revenue growth. The company said he will also support its expansion into regulated markets alongside the executive team.
Dowling has more than a decade of iGaming experience and has held senior commercial roles at technology providers including Ganapati, Singular and EveryMatrix.
Ariel Reem, CEO of Games Valley, said: “Robert has already made a significant impact on our business over the past six months. His strategic mindset, commercial expertise and deep understanding of the industry have helped strengthen our growth plans, making this a natural next step. We’re delighted to welcome him to the executive team as Chief Revenue Officer as we continue building one of the industry’s most modern aggregation platforms. As we continue expanding into regulated markets, Robert’s experience and commercial leadership will be instrumental in helping us achieve our long-term ambitions.”
Robert Dowling, CRO at Games Valley, added: “Working with Games Valley over the past few months has confirmed what I believed from day one, that this is a company with a clear vision, exceptional technology and an ambitious team. The platform has been built to solve real challenges for operators, while giving suppliers faster and more effective routes to market. I’m excited to officially join the business and help drive the next phase of growth as we continue expanding our global footprint and bringing our platform to more regulated markets.”
The post Games Valley names Robert Dowling Chief Revenue Officer appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Acquisitions/Merger
Merkur Group agrees acquisition of White Hat Studios
Merkur Group has agreed to acquire U.S. slots provider White Hat Studios, as the company moves to expand its operations in the regulated U.S. iGaming market. The agreement was announced Wednesday 15th July 2026 and is subject to regulatory approvals.
Merkur said the acquisition will support its U.S. expansion and complements its recent acquisition of Gaming Arts, the Nevada-licensed game and machine supplier. The group said it intends to use a combined portfolio spanning online-first and omni-channel games to support operator partners’ growth plans.
White Hat Studios launched in 2021 and the company said it was the first to launch online slots across all seven regulated states. Its portfolio includes the ‘House of Brands’ slot collection, the 7s Fire Blitz
game series, and the Jackpot Royale
progressive network.
Andy Whitworth, President of White Hat Studios, said: “Joining Merkur Group is an exciting moment for everyone associated with White Hat Studios and, fundamentally, it is the best possible move to realise our ambitions for future growth and product innovation. Working alongside the hugely experienced Merkur team will open new possibilities for us across iGaming and enhance our ability to develop a world-class omni-channel proposition that will benefit both operators and players.”
Lars Felderhoff, Chairman of the Merkur Management Board, commented: “White Hat Studios has delivered impressive growth since its launch. We look forward to working with the team to continue the U.S. success story and, in turn, Merkur’s expansion in regulated iGaming.” Michael Gauselmann, Chairman of the Merkur Supervisory Board, added: “Having made early inroads into the online space in Europe via our Blueprint acquisition in 2012, I am delighted by this latest development and am confident that White Hat Studios will be a great addition to our group.”
Merkur said the White Hat Gaming platform and white label businesses are not part of the transaction and will remain under their current ownership. White Hat Studios was advised by Oakvale Capital, with legal advisors CMS for White Hat Studios and Wiggin for Merkur.
The post Merkur Group agrees acquisition of White Hat Studios appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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