Balkans – WireUp

Making a Bang in Bulgaria! Hacksaw Gaming goes live with Alphawin

April 12, 2024 Published by EuropeanGaming.eu

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Hacksaw Gaming and the swiftly up and coming Alphawin solidify their new partnership with the launch of 12 of Hacksaw’s top picks on their site.

As of the 10th of April, Alphawin’s players will be able to enjoy the likes of Chaos Crew, Wanted Dead or a Wild, RIP City and many others. Set to be a hit amongst Alphawin users in Bulgaria, we are anticipating the launch of even more of our fan favourite games in the near future. In a market that has been dominated by local well-known brands for a while, we look forward to seeing how Hacksaw games make waves with Alphawin’s players.

Founded in 2007, Alphabet Gaming now has a sizable network of over 10 land-based casinos and has easily been named one of the region’s industry leaders with its growth. Moving and adapting with the evolution of online gaming, they established Alphawin in 2021. They currently boast one of the largest online casino portfolios in the region, featuring 27 slots and 6 live casino providers. With hopes to add more before the close of 2024, the future is looking like a bright one for Alphawin.

“We are very excited to start our partnership with Hacksaw Gaming.” Alphawin’s spokesperson stated that “the company offers an innovative and unique take on the concept of casino gaming and is an excellent fit for us!”

Set for star positioning, Hacksaw Gaming’s games will see the spotlight in the initial launch with banners, targeted ads and top lobby positions. CEO Marcus Cordes shares Alphawin’s positive outlook on the partnership – “Another strong collaboration under our belts! We’re absolutely sure that the avid Alphawin players will enjoy our artistic visuals and enticing bonus features of our most loved games. With of course plans to expand the Hacksaw portfolio in the future”

As both parties broaden their horizons and look onwards, what do we foresee? Well, we see Hacksaw Gaming and Alphawin, a truly prime pairing.

The post Making a Bang in Bulgaria! Hacksaw Gaming goes live with Alphawin appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

SBC Summit Tbilisi Welcomes EGT Georgia as Presenting Partner for 2024

April 5, 2024 Published by EuropeanGaming.eu

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EGT Georgia has been revealed as the presenting partner for the upcoming edition of SBC Summit Tbilisi, jointly organised by SBC and SMH.

SBC Summit Tbilisi is scheduled for June 25 to 26 at the Sheraton Grand Tbilisi Metechi Palace. With over 1,500 senior sports betting and iGaming executives in attendance, this gathering in Georgia’s capital aims to strengthen ties and provide insights into the ever-changing dynamics of the industry within the rapidly growing markets of Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

Rasmus Sojmark, the founder and Chief Executive Officer for SBC, and Lasha Machavariani, the founder and Chief Executive Officer for SMH, both welcomed the opportunity to collaborate with the market leader.

“I’ve seen how devoted EGT Georgia is to nurturing innovation and prioritising client happiness,” Machavariani said. “It’s always at the forefront of technological advancements, elevating standards not only within our local market but across the entire industry. We’re thrilled to see a leader in the country’s land-based and online sectors step into the role of presenting partners in the upcoming edition of our Tbilisi event.”

“EGT Georgia is a market leader in the country, so its endorsement speaks volumes about its confidence in us and the opportunities presented by this event,” Sojmark said. “Likewise, our endorsement, reflected in welcoming it as a presenting partner, demonstrates our trust in it and its position within the industry.”

Established in 2007 as a subsidiary of the EGT Group, EGT Georgia has become a significant player in the local market, particularly in the land-based sector. Recently, the company ventured into e-gaming by establishing EGT Digital. According to company representatives, EGT Digital is receiving overwhelmingly positive feedback from operators.

“EGT Georgia holds an impressive market share of more than 70%, strengthening its position as a leader in the land-based casino sector,” the Chief Executive Officer for EGT Georgia and Amusnet Georgia, Radostina Valcheva, said. “Our influence also extends beyond our local stronghold as we successfully operate in markets throughout the Balkan Peninsula including Slovenia, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. Such a wide coverage makes us an ideal partner for an event focused on Eastern Europe and Central Asia.”

Indeed, apart from its status as a local market leader in Georgia, EGT Group is a member of the Bulgarian Gaming Association (BGA) and holds a variety of licenses including the Hellenic Gaming Commission license, which allows the company to supply gaming content to Greek operators, and a Class II License from the National Gambling Office in Romania (ONJN).

Amusnet Georgia, part of the Amusnet group of companies, will also be represented at the event. Specialising in online casino games, the company has established a robust presence in the Georgian market over twelve years and boasts a strong portfolio of over 195 titles including video slots, roulette, video poker and keno. Through its focus on technology and design, Amusnet Georgia has established numerous partnerships with leading local operators in Georgia and is currently working on its latest technological innovation in the land-based sector; the Type S slot cabinet series.

With a roster of more than 60 exhibitors and sponsors, this year’s exhibition floor is set to experience significant growth. Recognising the pivotal role of local knowledge in navigating Eastern European and Central Asian markets, the event will enrich its program by introducing a half-day conference on June 25 featuring insights from 60 top professionals from the covered regions. Attendees can also look forward to an abundance of networking opportunities including a poker tournament, VIP dinners and two evening networking receptions at Tbilisi’s leading venues.

“The exceptional teamwork between SBC and SMH last year successfully brought together key regional stakeholders, which is exactly what motivated our increased commitment this year,” Valcheva said. “We’re thrilled to participate in this journey and play a role in establishing SBC Summit Tbilisi as an essential event on everyone’s calendar this year.”

Tickets for the SBC Summit Tbilisi are available on the official event website. Currently, the active ‘early bird’ deal provides full access to the event at the price of $200 (a $100 saving from the regular ticket price). Operators and affiliates are eligible for complimentary admission to the event. Simply complete the operator form and the affiliate form and the relevant teams will be in touch with you.

The post SBC Summit Tbilisi Welcomes EGT Georgia as Presenting Partner for 2024 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

BEGE & EEGS Present Their New Concept for 2024

March 26, 2024 Published by EuropeanGaming.eu

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The upcoming EEGS conference, happening in parallel with the BEGE expo on November 27-28 in the Inter Expo Centre in Sofia, Bulgaria, is set to engage industry professionals from across Europe to discuss crucial topics in its 2024 edition. The events have now released the enhanced concept for this year’s meeting.

“This event creates a prime opportunity for networking, knowledge-sharing, and staying informed on industry trends,” its organisers said in a press release.

Among the topics that EEGS covers are Cryptocurrencies in gaming and Blockchain technology, Regulatory changes in the region, Implementation of new technologies, responsible gaming practice and many more subjects. Officials are preparing for pre-event initiatives to be announced soon.

Natalia Baevska, Project Manager of both events, said: “The Proximity idea from last year has undergone a significant evolution to consolidate our focus on fostering partnerships, exploring new opportunities, and nurturing innovative ideas within the industry.”

The revamped concept lies within the theme: “Proximity to business. Proximity to opportunities. Proximity to innovation.”

“These carefully crafted slogans mirror our dedication and commitment to uniting customers and industry professionals, fostering collaborations, and establishing a thriving hub for the gaming industry,” a press statement reads.

Already in its 15th edition, the BEGE Expo draws many of the globe’s leading gaming companies to showcase and promote their latest innovations and cutting-edge technology. Attendees will benefit from a range of features, network with industry experts, acquire valuable insights and stay ahead of the latest industry developments at this vital gaming event.

“Both the EEGS conference and BEGE Expo promise to offer an exceptional experience for exhibitors, attendees, partners, sponsors, and affiliates,” the events’ organisers concluded.

The post BEGE & EEGS Present Their New Concept for 2024 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Digitain Supplies Sportsbook to King.rs

March 19, 2024 Published by EuropeanGaming.eu

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Digitain supplies Serbian operator King.rs with turnkey sportsbook solution

Digitain, a global leader in sportsbook and iGaming solutions, has announced that it has signed a deal to provide its turnkey solution to Serbian-based operator King.rs.

The turnkey solution from Digitain includes a proprietary sportsbook empowered by over 1,000 in-house risk managers and sports traders for +100 sports, +130,000 real live monthly events, 80,000 pre-match events each month, +15,000 leagues, +3,000 betting markets as well as casino games, a payment gateway, sports data and statistics along with enterprise tools for mobile, desktop and retail channels and Digitain’s in-house virtual sports, which provide +20,000 daily events and +150 betting markets.

“We are delighted to sign this commercial agreement with King.rs and welcome it to the Digitain business,” the Chief Sales Officer for Digitain, Ani Mkrtchyan, said. “Digitain continues to lead the way in iGaming and sportsbook innovation and King.rs shall not only have access to our propriety and award-winning sportsbook but features such as auto bet, bet builder, sports jackpots, instant cashback, push notifications and a social feature called Sportchat to drive player engagement and revenue growth.

“At Digitain, we are committed to delivering solutions that cater to the unique needs of our partner operators and their players across multiple markets. We look forward to a long and successful partnership with King.rs.”

“Digitain has proven itself to be one of the leading B2B providers over the last 20 years in sportsbook and iGaming solutions,” the Operation Director for King.rs, Dragan Djordjevic, said. “We have been impressed with the depth and breadth of the turnkey solution and the level of account management and support throughout this process. We look forward to Digitain’s solution to elevate and amplify our brand positioning across our operational B2C markets.”

IntegriSport 3.0 Workshop Underlines Need for Cross-stakeholder Collaboration in Fight Against Match-fixing

March 16, 2024 Published by EuropeanGaming.eu

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Representatives from FIFPRO and the Association of Bulgarian Footballers (ABF) were present at the latest IntegriSport 3.0 workshop in Bulgaria, Sofia, where participants benefited from practical sessions on combatting match-fixing and safeguarding sporting integrity.

Co-hosted by CSCF Foundation for Sport Integrity and the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Bulgaria, the event on March 7-8 brought together Bulgarian government officials, law enforcement agencies, sport federations and player unions.

The message was clear: collaboration between stakeholders is vital in the fight against sport manipulation, and athletes require the unwavering support of law enforcement and judicial bodies to be protected in clean sports.

ABF’s Nikolay Hristozov and FIFPRO Senior Legal Counsel Loïc Alves, along with several domestic and European stakeholders, took part in the fruitful two-day seminar, which addressed education and prevention, technological challenges, and the need for support from national law authorities.

Alves was one of the event’s keynote speakers and his presentation highlighted how FIFPRO’s Red Button app is helping players report match-fixing approaches to national authorities securely and anonymously.

“Football is one of the most-targeted sports by international organised crime, who will often exploit footballers who are in financial difficulties, such as those not regularly receiving their salary from clubs,” said Alves.

“Ultimately, footballers want a clean sport and the right to a safe workplace. The Red Button app empowers players to safely report match-fixing approaches to competent authorities. That is why a unified approach amongst stakeholders and the support of law enforcement and judiciaries is crucial when it comes to tackling this international issue.”

The Red Button app is distributed by FIFPRO and member unions. It is recognised by FIFA’s dedicated integrity department and UEFA as a valid reporting tool.

IntegriSport 3.0 is a project established by the CSCF Foundation for Sports Integrity to provide theoretical and practical support for law enforcement and judiciaries in Austria, Bulgaria, Estonia, Greece, Romania and Spain, co-financed by the European Union, on fighting sport manipulation.

The event in Bulgaria marked the fifth under the present project, following on from the latest awareness raising practical sessions in Estonia, Austria, Spain and Greece.

EEGS hosted another captivating monthly webinar featuring esteemed speakers for an insightful discussion

March 7, 2024 Published by EuropeanGaming.eu

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On February 26th the Eastern European Gaming Summit (EEGS) held its Free Webinar on “Balkan Gaming Landscape: a Maze or Amaze? Deep dive in the markets” topic. Prominent experts and professionals in the gaming and entertainment industry gathered to discuss the latest trends, developments and challenges facing the Balkan markets.

Moderator of the webinar was Rossi McKee, Co-founder of Telematic Interactive Bulgaria and Honorary Chairman of the Association of the gaming industry in Bulgaria (AGIB). In the discussions input and comments were made by representatives of several Balkan countries – Angel Iribozov, Chairman of the Association of the gaming industry in Bulgaria (AGIB), Dan Iliovici, Vice-president of ROMBET, Romania, Ovidiu Iosif, Executive Director of “Joc Responsabil” Association in Romania, Zoran Puhac from Serbia, Secretary General of European Organization for Gaming Law (EOGL) and Vasko Ilijevski, President of Macedonian Sports Betting Association.

Throughout the webinar, the speakers provided insights into the prevailing market conditions in Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, North Macedonia, and Montenegro. Delving into crucial themes like gambling advertising, implementation of responsible gaming policies, and the reception of new laws and regulations in the industry, the discussions were both enlightening and comprehensive. To the moderator’s question „What are the key challenges faced by gaming professionals in the Balkans?”, Zoran Puhac responded: “The elections had the key challenge. During the election time all politicians try to find out something new to improve their image and that’s the problem.”. In this regard Angel Iribozov added: “Although the politicians in between might have a certain kind of misunderstanding around other sectors, gambling has always suffered from the tax ambitions of the politicians”.

At the end of the session, the panel of experts engaged with the audience by providing insightful responses to a variety of questions on topics regarding the total ban of gambling advertising and the key challenges faced by the companies directly involved in the sector. “We have the experience of Italy, which went on this total ban a few years ago and I haven’t seen any research on the impact of this ban on advertisement. But the governments nevertheless are not aware of any scientific approach or any kind of research. They are purely populistic…In fact nobody can bring some proofs that these measures are effective.” – said Dan Iliovici, in response to the question „Do you think that the total ban of gambling advertising is a good idea in any market?“

At the end of the webinar, each participant was awarded a Certificate of Attendance, recognizing their commitment to professional and continuous development in the field.

The topic gathered significant interest among the audience, which was active in the Q&A section. The speakers promised a follow-up session in order to delve deeper into the implementation and discussion of the forthcoming changes they shared were to come into force.

Amusnet Participated in the Next-Level Security Awareness Event Hosted by Digitall

March 6, 2024 Published by EuropeanGaming.eu

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Amusnet has participated in the Next-Level Security Awareness event hosted by DIGITALL in collaboration with Proofpoint. The company’s Chief Information Security Officer, Stoyan Popov, and Information Security Compliance Specialist, Krasimir Traykov, joined other Bulgarian esteemed security specialists at the DIGITALL office on February 28, 2024.

Amusnet has implemented Security Awareness Training to address rising cyber threats, crucial in the gaming industry for protecting intellectual property and customer data. Its strategic focus on fostering a security-aware culture aims to empower employees as the first line of defense, enhance cybersecurity knowledge, reduce data breach risks, foster collective responsibility and ensure compliance with global standards. This drove Amusnet’s participation in the Next-Level Security Awareness event, where its experts shared insights on cultivating a robust information security culture.

During implementation, challenges included technical integration, ensuring real-time data synchronisation, fostering employee engagement and overcoming resistance to change. Internal engagement was vital, demanding ongoing communication and demonstrating the value of training.

Post-implementation, improvements are evident with decreased number of security issues, heightened employee awareness, proactive employees’ behaviour and enhanced security measures.

Amusnet’s commitment to addressing cyber threats through DIGITALL’s input aligns with Amusnet’s strategic focus on fostering a security-aware culture.

The largest exhibition of the gaming industry in Bulgaria marks its 15 year

February 24, 2024 Published by EuropeanGaming.eu

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The largest trade exhibition of the gaming industry for Central and Eastern Europe – BEGE, which takes place in Sofia, marks its 15th anniversary this year. The event will be held on November 27th and 28th at the Inter Expo Center, Sofia, and dozens of companies from Europe, the USA, and Asia have already announced their participation.

The day before the start of the exhibition, the traditional BEGE Awards will be handed out. The glamorous ceremony will take place on 26 November 2024 in a sophisticated setting with the participation of representatives from across the sector. The awards are presented to individuals and companies with significant contributions to the gaming and entertainment industry.

During the exhibition, the Eastern European conference of the gaming industry – EEGS will be held, again at the Inter Expo Center. It is a preferred platform for experts who have the opportunity to learn about regulatory changes, technological developments and the latest trends in the sector.

In 2023, dozens of exhibitors from three continents presented their latest products. “We are glad that hundreds of professionals and experts visited BEGE and our expectations for this year are to welcome even more people. For 15 years, the event has become one of the most influential exhibitions in Europe for the sector, gathering experts, professionals and companies from all over the world, covering all verticals of the online and offline segments of the industry,” explained Natalia Baevska, Project Manager of the exhibition.

BEGE provides an opportunity to make business contacts, present the latest products from the industry, which successfully applies the latest technological innovations, including artificial intelligence.

Albanian Socialist Party Pulls Gambling Draft Law from Parliamentary Vote

February 15, 2024 Published by EuropeanGaming.eu

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Update at 15:30 CET (15 Feb. 2024):

Under the direction of the Speaker of the Assembly, Mrs. Lindita Nikolla, the Assembly convened today in the next plenary session.

Under the conditions of holding an abnormal session, caused by the actions of the parliamentary opposition, the session immediately began with the voting of bills according to the agenda.

The session adopted two bills and two project decisions.

The bill “For an addition to law no. 7651, dated 21.12.1992 ‘On official holidays and memorial days’”, as amended, was approved with 74 votes in favor.

The bill “For some additions and amendments to law no. 155/2015, ‘On gambling in the Republic of Albania’”, as amended, was approved with 72 votes in favor. Also, the respective amendments for this bill were approved with 72 votes in favor.

The project decision “For some changes in the Assembly decision no.127/2018 ‘On the approval of the structure, staff, and categorization of job positions of the Institute of Statistics, INSTAT’”, was approved with 74 votes in favor.

The project decision “For the approval of the organizational structure, staff, and classification of salaries of part-time employees of the Central Election Commission”, was approved with 74 votes in favor.

The Albanian parliament was about to vote to reverse a five-year-old ban on online sports betting as the government admitted that it had failed to control the illegal activity. The proposed draft law, which would permit licensing for ten betting companies with prior experience, was scheduled to be voted on Thursday, February 8, 2024, during the plenary session. However, Bledi Cuci, the Chairman of the Socialist Party, unexpectedly withdrew the said law without providing an explanation.

“At the request of the Socialist Party, it was requested to withdraw from the discussion of the draft law on gambling,” the Speaker of the Parliament, Lindita Nikolla, said. “It was approved with 74 votes in favor.”

Nevertheless, the law on allowing online betting activities in Albania shall be returned for a vote in the parliament. After withdrawing from the vote in the session, the parliamentary group of the Socialist Party has decided to modify at least two of the 33 articles.

Among the proposed amendments, the revised draft includes a minimum requirement for foreign shareholders to hold a minimum of 30% stake in competing companies and/or organisations alongside a mandate for substantial experience in the gambling sector across at least three European countries over a period of no less than three years.

Moreover, adjustments to the re-establishment fund have been proposed, with an increase from the initial allocation of 20 million lek to a minimum of 40 million lek. Additionally, several provisions have been also introduced aiming to limit the influence of betting organizers by prohibiting them from sponsoring sports clubs. Furthermore, the roles of the President of the National Football Federation as well as the President of the Olympic Committee in the Licensing Commission have been eliminated.

Additionally, the proposed legislation act is also trying to strengthen oversight with a new clause that mandates state supervision over the activities of concessionary companies responsible for developing and maintaining the central online monitoring system. This oversight will be carried out by the Licensing Commission through regular audits.

Finally, changes were also made in the articles on the winning rate of national lottery players, which was reduced from 80% to ‘not less than 50%’.

This article has been written by Efstathios Pappas – Business Development Associate at Novibet

EGT Digital’s Games with Debut in North Macedonia

January 20, 2024 Published by EuropeanGaming.eu

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EGT Digital announced its partnership with the popular North-Macedonian operatоr MEGAWIN, thanks to which its content is already available to the local gaming audience. The visitors to www.megawin.mk now are able to try their luck with the titles from the top performers Bell Link, Clover Chance, Single Progressive and High Cash.

“We are very glad to collaborate with such a reputable online casino like MEGAWIN. This cooperation will allow us to present our slots to numerous domestic players and will pave the way for us to the rest of the main operators in the country,” Tsvetomira Drumeva, Head of Sales at EGT Digital, said.

“Our top priority is working with well-established gaming content providers, so we can constantly update our portfolio with innovative and fresh content. That’s why we decided to integrate EGT Digital’s games, some of which are very popular among local players thanks to their land-based versions. I believe that in the near future, it will offer us many more attractive games to both diversify the choice of our current customers and attract new ones,” Vlado Petkovski, Chief Coordinator of Interdepartmental Affairs at MEGAWIN.mk, said.

Tag: Balkans

Making a Bang in Bulgaria! Hacksaw Gaming goes live with Alphawin

SBC Summit Tbilisi Welcomes EGT Georgia as Presenting Partner for 2024

BEGE & EEGS Present Their New Concept for 2024

Digitain Supplies Sportsbook to King.rs

IntegriSport 3.0 Workshop Underlines Need for Cross-stakeholder Collaboration in Fight Against Match-fixing

EEGS hosted another captivating monthly webinar featuring esteemed speakers for an insightful discussion

Amusnet Participated in the Next-Level Security Awareness Event Hosted by Digitall

The largest exhibition of the gaming industry in Bulgaria marks its 15 year

Albanian Socialist Party Pulls Gambling Draft Law from Parliamentary Vote

EGT Digital’s Games with Debut in North Macedonia

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