Latest News
Paf Recruits Students from Grit:lab
Paf hires eight students from the grit:lab tech programme. After only 18 months of study, grit:lab can deliver competent developers. The programme is now accepting new applicants.
The tech training programme grit:lab is a pioneering training method that was launched in Åland in 2022 by Paf together with Ålands Yrkesgymnasium. About ten tech companies have hired students directly from the tech programme after only 18 months of study. Paf has hired eight of the students.
“The tech programme’s campus is located in our head office, which gives us a natural connection to the students and a good knowledge of the skills they have acquired. Paf has a strong focus on tech development and a need for new hires, the students from grit:lab have given us a good opportunity for new recruitment,” Daniela Johansson, Deputy CEO and CRO of Paf, said.
Of the 60 students who are now on the programme, several have already started getting jobs at Åland tech companies. During the last 6 months of studies, students are given the opportunity to specialise in a particular subject such as cyber security, AI & machine learning, mobile development or by working as a developer at a company in Åland.
“The fact that many of the students have already managed to get a job is clear proof that the level of knowledge they have achieved in just 18 months is in demand in the tech cluster we have in Åland,” Anna-Lena Svenblad, Director of grit:lab, said.
Axel Wallström and Tommy Mathisen are two of the students who have found employment at Paf.
“You can’t say that we haven’t learnt a lot at grit:lab. It has been tough and intense at times but also really fun. Getting a job has always been my ultimate goal, so I’m looking forward to starting work,” Axel Wallström said.
“The best part of grit:lab is the community in the group, it’s special and we have learnt a lot from each other,” Tommy Mathiesen said.
Julia Chipsanova said it is especially good that the companies have set up trainee positions for new employees because many companies usually look for people with a few years of experience. Julia is looking forward to working at Paf.
“We have studied here at Paf’s head office, so we know how the work process at Paf works. This job is a great start for me and I can also see that all of us in grit:labs are doing really well,” Julia Chipsanova said.
The tech programme is currently accepting new students for the autumn of 2024. There has been great interest from foreign nationals.
“We currently have applications from over 70 different countries. The programme has proven to have the potential to really attract and integrate driven people from other countries,” Anna-Lena Svenblad said.
The grit:lab programme is open to anyone who is at least 18 years old. Many of the students have completely changed careers when they started their studies at grit:lab. The average age of students is 30 years. No prior knowledge of coding is required to apply but an interest in tech and a willingness to learn something new is essential.
Latest News
WinSpirit Partners with The Digital Wellness Center to Support Player Well-Being
For years, responsible gaming meant telling players to stop, but the industry is slowly learning that’s not enough. WinSpirit’s new partnership with The Digital Wellness Center takes a different angle. Instead of warnings, players get short mental breaks built into their sessions. These small pauses are designed to help users stay in control without killing the fun.
The Digital Wellness Center works at the crossroads of technology and mental health. They build tools that reduce mental overload and help people deal with digital products mindfully. Their approach is notably free of judgment, lecturing, and restrictions, just practical support that fits into how people actually behave online.
How It Works
Instead of restricting players, WinSpirit introduces mild wellness prompts. When a player has been active for a long period, they receive a short, friendly email. Not a warning, but just a reminder. It invites them to visit a dedicated page built by The Digital Wellness Center.
That page features a droodle, which is a quirky, abstract picture with no right or wrong answer. A droodle asks one question: what do you see? There’s no timer, no score, no right answer, but a brief cognitive shift, pulling the brain out of autopilot and into a different mode of thinking. Simple by design, effective by the same logic.
The idea is not to pull players away from the game, but rather to help them come back to it in a better, less impulsive state of mind. Most responsible gaming tools are built around one idea: less is more. Play less, spend less, log off sooner. WinSpirit is working from a different premise: that the mental state of the player is what affects the decisions. Short, intentional breaks are designed to come back calmer, more in control, and less reactive. It’s not about limiting the player. It’s about managing the moment.
Initiative Highlights
The partnership rolls out over two months in structured communication waves, reaching players at the moments that matter most: long streaks and high-frequency play, when the risk of impulsive decisions is the highest. From there, players are guided to co-branded wellness landing pages meant for slowing down without switching off.
The tools themselves are intentionally light. Doodle activities shift the brain into slower thinking, quick self-check surveys, and light mental reset games. The kind of break you might actually take.
Early Results
Early results from the first outreach wave point to real interest. Players opened the emails, clicked through to wellness content, and completed the self-checks. Some users returned for a second interaction without being prompted. The response reflects less a surprise and more a gap finally being addressed.
That readiness connects to a broader shift in how WinSpirit operates. The platform’s AI-powered support already processes more than half of its 50,000+ monthly player requests, with part of its function used to detect behavioral patterns before they develop into problems. The wellness partnership extends that logic further — from reactive support to something closer to prevention.
Industry Recognition
The approach is starting to get noticed beyond the platform itself. When Casino Guru put WinSpirit forward for Rising Star in Responsible Gambling, it reflected something bigger than one platform’s initiative. It is an early signal that the industry is beginning to recognize a shift from compliance-driven messaging to well-being built into the product. This isn’t a niche experiment but a direction the broader market is moving toward.
For WinSpirit, this partnership is not a one-off. It is part of a wider message that responsible gaming and fun can work together. When you genuinely care for a player’s state of mind, that is good product design. Supporting player well-being ultimately improves trust and long-term engagement.
The goal was never to play less. It was always to play better. A player who feels cared for trusts the platform, and that’s what the industry has mostly been missing.
Latest News
Kate Chambers for Slotegrator: how to cut through the noise in iGaming
Today’s iGaming leaders must contend with a vast amount of data, analysis, and industry news while making swift, informed strategic decisions. Kate Chambers, Founder of The Gaming Boardroom and former Director at Clarion Gaming, has been helping industry leaders navigate this complexity for years. Slotegrator spoke with her about bridging the gap between analysis and decision-making, leveraging the power of AI, and why building the right relationships is just as important as having the right tools.
Kate Chambers’ decades of leadership, including building ICE into one of the most influential iGaming events, reflect her emphasis on practical value. “The biggest lesson for me was that people don’t come for content; they come for confidence. Whether it’s a conference or a professional platform, what people are really looking for is the feeling that they understand what’s happening, they know what to do next, and they won’t be caught off guard,” she explains.
Kate highlights that AI is quietly changing the industry — not through flashy features for customers, but by making robust operations more efficient. She says, “The operators who are benefiting most are those using AI to reduce the cognitive load on their teams.” AI tools that filter, summarise, and flag what matters are changing how decisions are made, from compliance monitoring to gathering market intelligence.
Kate also emphasizes that technology alone isn’t enough. According to her, the business relationships and professional networks remain critical: “The most powerful combination right now is sustained digital presence, being visible where operators go when they need answers, plus selective, high-quality in-person moments. Neither alone is enough,” she notes.
Looking ahead, Kate identifies key trends shaping iGaming: increasing regulatory complexity, more proactive approaches to responsible gambling, and a growing need for leaders who can help their teams navigate change without losing strategic focus.
Read the full interview to learn from Kate Chambers’ experience and perspectives on cutting through noise, leading with confidence, and executing strategy in a rapidly changing iGaming industry.
Get in touch with Slotegrator to learn practical ways to accelerate your growth.
ABOUT THE COMPANY
Since 2012, Slotegrator has been one of the iGaming industry’s leading software and business solution providers for online casino and sportsbook operators.
The company’s main focus is software development and support for online casino platforms, as well as the integration of game content and payment systems.
The company works with licensed game developers and offers a vast portfolio of casino content: slots, live casino games, poker, virtual sports, table games, lotteries, casual games, and data feeds for betting.
Slotegrator also provides consulting services in gambling license acquisition and business incorporation.
Arkansas
CATALIST SPORTS SECURES NEW SUPPLIER LICENSES IN ARKANSAS AND NEBRASKA
Catalist Sports, a licensed supplier of sports betting content to the regulated U.S. market, has strengthened its North American presence with newly secured supplier licenses in Arkansas and Nebraska, alongside fresh applications submitted in Ontario and Alberta, Canada.
Arkansas is expected to see significant growth in its regulated sports betting market, with major operators such as DraftKings and FanDuel set to enter in March 2026. Alongside this, Catalist Sports has also successfully obtained a supplier license in Nebraska, further extending its reach across key U.S. jurisdictions.
Following its recent approval in Missouri—the latest state to regulate online gambling—Catalist Sports is now licensed in 30 U.S. jurisdictions, with Canadian expansion expected to follow pending approvals.
These developments reinforce the company’s commitment to delivering compliant, high-quality betting content and services across regulated markets in both the U.S. and Canada.
“Securing licenses in new jurisdictions and strengthening our regulatory position is essential to supporting our operator partners,” said James Monk, Vice President and General Manager of Catalist Sports. “Arkansas represents an exciting opportunity, particularly as major brands prepare to enter the market. Combined with our Nebraska license and Canadian applications, we are well positioned to deliver scalable, compliant, and differentiated services.”
Catalist Sports’ continued expansion supports its broader strategy of providing operators with premium data, live streaming, and advanced trading capabilities, helping to drive in-play engagement, product innovation, and long-term growth.
The company distributes official data and live streaming rights from a wide portfolio of events to licensed U.S. sportsbooks, including leading tennis competitions such as the Australian Open, ITF World Tour, Davis Cup, and Billie Jean King Cup, alongside coverage across soccer, basketball, and ice hockey to power year-round betting engagement.
The post CATALIST SPORTS SECURES NEW SUPPLIER LICENSES IN ARKANSAS AND NEBRASKA appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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