Conferences in Europe
iGaming Idol doubled in size and sets a new standard for Industry award events
NetEnt take home most awards whilst Mr Green and Jackpot Joy follow. Robin Ramm Ericson & Gustaf Hagman of Leo Vegas win Outstanding Contribution to the Industry.
The much-awaited second annual iGaming Idol gala awards dinner lit up the Industry with a full capacity attendance of 430 iGaming executives, employees, friends and 18 new ‘Idols of the Year’.
The event, which doubled in its attendance figures when compared to the 2016 edition, was held in the prestigious Grand Master Suite at the Hilton Hotel in St Julian’s, Malta.
Distinguished guests were welcomed to the black-tie event with red-carpet treatment and champagne on arrival, before being hosted to a three-course dinner and a night of glitz and glamour by industry personalities Michael Caselli, Editor in Chief of iGaming Business, and Rebecca Liggero from Calvin Ayre.
Michael Pedersen, CEO of iGaming idol, welcomed the guests, finalists and sponsors by thanking them for their support, whilst he reiterated that those attending were supporting the Industry and the local community in a major way.
Mr Pedersen said: “iGaming Idol is all about the recognition of individuals and giving employees within the industry their due importance. Supporting charity and giving back to the community is another pillar of iGaming Idol and we are thrilled to donate more than €12,000 to the Malta Community Chest Fund this year.”
Special guest, the Hon Silvio Schembri, Paliamentary Secretary for Financial Services, Digital Economy and Innovation, delivered the opening speech by praising the organisers for their innovative concept in recognising the talent behind the industry’s success.
He congratulated all the finalists, noting that it was encouraging to see a good number of Maltese nationals had made the list in several categories. Hon Schembri also announced that Government was taking measures to facilitate work permits and visas to attract more foreign talent.
The attendees were entertained throughout the evening with live music, and the hosts were on spectacular form.
The ceremony can be viewed here
The evening culminated in the awards ceremony and 16 winners taking home the title of ‘Idol of the Year’ within their respective categories. The finalists were put through a rigorous process including being interviewed by expert judges from the same category.
In addition to the 16 Idols, prestigious awards were given out to Robin Ramm Ericson and Gustaf Hagman of Leo Vegas for winning ‘Outstanding Contribution to the Industry’ as well as Catena Media for taking home ‘Employer of the Year’. The iGaming Idol Awards are fully audited by BDO Malta, an affiliate organisation of BDO International.
The winners were:
Category | Winner | Company |
Affiliate Manager Idol of the Year | Laura O Brien | Mr Green |
Business Intelligence Idol of the Year | Andrew Galea | NetRefer |
Casino Product Idol of the Year | Alan Brincat | Quasar Gaming |
Compliance and Regulated Markets Idol of the Year | Ewout Wierda | Videoslots |
Customer Service Idol of the Year | Viktor Mardberg | Jackpot Joy |
Design & User Experience Idol of the Year | Martin McDonald | Join Games |
Fraud & Risk Idol of the Year | Daniel Buttitieg | APCO Pay |
HR Idol of the Year | Roberta Geres | Mr Green |
Live Casino Dealer Idol of the Year | Joscelyn James Sims | NetEnt |
Manager Idol of the Year | Lahcene Merzoug | Evoke |
SEO/SEM Idol of the Year | Sean Bianco | Quasar Gaming |
Sports Product Idol of the Year | Tamara Caligari | Tipico |
Recruitment Idol of the Year | Jakob Wallof | NetEnt |
Tech Back-end Idol of the Year | Anthony Sammut | NetEnt |
Tech Front-end Idol of the Year | Kurt Aquilina | Play N Go |
VIP Manager Idol of the Year | Steve DeGiorgio | Jackpot Joy |
Outstanding Contribution to the Industry | Robin Ramm Ericson & Gustaf Hagman | Leo Vegas |
Employer of the Year | Catena Media |
Conferences in Europe
Aviatrix approved for Sweden take-off
Award-winning crash game Aviatrix has been certified and licensed in Sweden, as it continues its tour of major, regulated European jurisdictions.
As well as being certified, Aviatrix has been granted a B2B licence from the Swedish regulator Spelinspektionen, meaning it can now provide the game to licensed operators in the country.
Anastasia Rimskaya, Chief Account Officer at Aviatrix, said: “We’ve been busy over the last few months gaining the relevant licences and certifications to bring Aviatrix to regulated markets across Europe. Sweden was always a high priority. We know players there appreciate games that provide something a little different, and we’re always looking to innovate. We can’t wait to see players in the country enjoying Aviatrix.”
During Q2 2024, Swedish online gaming revenues reached almost 400 million euros, the highest quarter since records began. The market has quickly become one of the most appealing in Europe.
Operators in Sweden looking to find an edge will now be able to turn to Aviatrix, a unique product that combines a traditional crash game with innovative NFT mechanics.
Conferences in Europe
Head of Communications Eugene Ravdin to represent MightyTips at SiGMA Europe
MightyTips’ Head of Communications and Marketing, Eugene Ravdin, will be heading to Malta in mid-November to participate in four panels at the SiGMA Europe.
He will speak on a “Metaverse and gaming elements entering the world of traditional sports” panel on November 12th before moderating discussions on “Betting on Influence: How Social Media Stars Are Shaking Up the Game” and “Promoting responsible gaming through affiliate channels” the following day. The former UEFA.com editor will then host a “Community Casting and Esports 2.0” panel on November 14th.
“Four panels in three days will be intense but it is also a great chance to meet new people, broaden your outlook, and represent our company as a competent and trustworthy partner,” Eugene Ravdin said. “So I’m looking forward to attending SIGMA Europe. It’s an absolutely crucial event for our industry and one of those unmissable weeks of the year.”
About the panels
Ravdin’s first assignment will see him join a panel of experts at the AIBC Stage to speak on the subject of “Metaverse and gaming elements entering the world of traditional sports”. He will be joined by Dean Akinjobi (Football Media), Richard Bron (Concorde Media), and Tom Vechy Vecsernyes (Seyu Solutions).
The panel will be moderated by Blocksport AG’s COO Samir Ceric and will focus on how traditional sports such as football are undergoing a digital revolution and are being impacted by the latest cutting-edge technology.
The following day, Eugene Ravdin will move from speaker to moderator as he chairs two panels at the SIGMA Stage. The first one is “Betting on Influence: How Social Media Stars Are Shaking Up the Game” featuring Jon Vlogs (Jon Bet), Raquel “Freestyle” Benetti (ALOB Sports), and Seif El Hakim (The Alpha Movement).
This panel will ponder how influencers are reshaping the communication strategies of betting companies, positioning themselves as pivotal figures in engaging and expanding audiences.
Another panel is “Promoting responsible gaming through affiliate channels”. It will feature Jekaterina Dubnicka (Slotsjudge), Vasilii Gamov (PeakyAds), and Alessandro Gherardi (Fomento Agency).
This panel will ruminate on the subject of how affiliates can find ways to promote responsible gaming by utilising a variety of actionable approaches and techniques.
On November 14th, the MightyTips Head of Communications and Marketing will be back on the SIGMA Stage to moderate a panel on the subject of “Community Casting and eSports 2.0”. Joining him will be Daniel Finkler (Berlin International Gaming), Chris Cachia (Bloxx Bureau), and Kersten James Chircop (GMR).
Conferences in Europe
Salsa to showcase its LatAm gateway credentials at SiGMA Europe
Salsa Technology will attend SiGMA Europe, taking place from 12th to 14th November in Valletta, Malta, with the aim of establishing and strengthening partnerships with game providers expanding into the Latin American market. Representing the company at the event will be Head of Marketing & Sales, Eliane Nunes, and Operations & Support Manager, Cathiussa Canez.
Salsa Technology’s content aggregator, Salsa Gator, has positioned itself as a strategic bridge for providers seeking to replicate their success from other regulated markets in Brazil and other LatAm countries, such as Peru. With a specially curated content portfolio tailored for local players and features designed to simplify operations for local operators, the aggregator provides access to a library of over 19,000 certified games from top studios. Each is aligned with the regulatory requirements of the region, all through a single integration.
Expanding into Latin America, however, brings challenges that go beyond simple content translation. The region, much like Brazil, stands out for its cultural diversity and nuances that demand a personalised approach.
Eliane Nunes, Salsa Technology’s Head of Marketing & Sales, commented: “Simply reskinning games doesn’t work here. It’s essential for providers to adapt their offerings so content resonates with the local audience. Salsa offers far more than just a content distribution platform; we are a strategic partner focused on maximising operational impact in Latin America, building a solid connection between providers and operators.”
In addition to the advantages that Salsa Gator offers providers and operators, Salsa’s executives will be available to discuss other LatAm-focused solutions, such as Salsa’s PAM platform, Salsa Omni. Certified by GLI and already operational in Brazil’s regulated market, Salsa Omni provides operators with flexibility and autonomy through a robust and intuitive back office.
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