Conferences in Europe
Informative Fireside Chat at Prague Gaming Summit 2020 with Dr. Simon Planzer (PLANZER LAW) and Justin Franssen (Kalff Katz & Franssen)
Fireside Chat between important figures of the gambling industry at Prague Gaming Summit 2020.
There are just 3 days left until the 4th edition of the Prague Gaming Summit will open its doors and the organizer would like to point out that you lookout for a very informative Fireside Chat in the program.
As you may know, compared to other traditional presentation formats, a fireside chat is an informal, yet structured dialogue between a speaker and a moderator, who focuses on adding a casual tone to the conversation while providing massive value to the audience. And European Gaming Media and Events organized conferences have the best of them.
On the 6th of March at Vienna House Andel’s Prague, Dr. Simon Planzer (Founder and Partner of PLANZER LAW) and Justin Franssen (Partner at Kalff Katz & Franssen) will add another chapter in the history book of Fireside Chats of the industry. Expect a hot conversation, given the fact that the Dutch market is going through some important changes and Justin Franssen, is a key figure of the gambling industry in the Netherlands.
Make sure you take advantage of this unique opportunity of learning and networking with the gambling industry via the Prague Gaming Summit platform, book your ticket now in order to avoid disappointment. The seats are limited!
Order your Delegate Pass or VIP Package (Delegate Pass +Accommodation) now!
Dr. Simon Planzer is a partner at PLANZER LAW, a Zurich-based gaming law boutique.
PLANZER LAW’s team provides strategic, regulatory and legal advice to companies, regulators and other stakeholders across all areas of the gaming and entertainment industry.
The firm’s primary focus is on EU/EEA gaming law, compliance issues such as AML as well as Swiss gaming law and related commercial, corporate and financial matters.
Dr. Simon Planzer is a General Member of the International Masters of Gaming Law. An alumnus of the College of Europe, he specialized early on in EU affairs and gaming law, working at the EFTA Court, the legal service of the EFTA Secretariat and as a research fellow in European business law.
Dr. Simon Planzer is the author of the monograph (PhD) ‘Empirical Views on European Gambling Law and Addiction’(2014) and the book chapter ‘Gambling Law’ in The Handbook of EEA Law (2016), both published by Springer International Publishing. Simon also works as a Lecturer in Law at the University of St.Gallen where he teaches European Economic Law. He studied and did research i.a. at Harvard University, the College of Europe and the European University Institute.
Dr. Simon Planzer, founding partner of PLANZER LAW has recently received the recognition from Chambers & Partners and has been listed as a global gaming law expert. Clients and firms across many practice areas and geographies have trusted Chambers’ research for nearly 30 years.
Dr. Simon Planzer, founder of Planzer Law, is endorsed by interviewees (Chambers & Partners) as “absolutely excellent” and “the top Swiss lawyer” for gaming. He is actively involved in the shaping of gaming regulations in Switzerland, regularly interacting with the authorities, as well as providing regulatory advice to private clients. Based in Zürich, he is additionally active in representing fantasy sports companies.
Justin Franssen is an attorney at law and partner at Kalff Katz & Franssen, where he leads the Gaming Practice. His comprehensive advisory and litigation practice regularly deals with sector-specific acquisitions and complex public affairs processes.
Prior to his admission to the Dutch Bar, Justin acted as general counsel for a gaming developer in Amsterdam and New York. His career as an attorney at law began at an associate firm of KPMG, where he founded their European Gaming & Entertainment Services Group. He subsequently spent 12 years as head of the Gaming, Sports & Entertainment practice group at a medium-sized law firm in Amsterdam.
Justin regularly publishes in national and international professional journals, is a frequent speaker at sector events and conferences, and is on the editorial boards of Gaming Law Review & Economics and Online Gambling Lawyer. He is a board member of the International Masters of Gaming Law (IMGL). Justin is also a member of the International Association of Gaming Advisors (IAGA) and holds a seat on the Advisory Board of the International Research Institute for Gambling and Gaming in Bonn.
Justin has received no less than eight consecutive Band 1 ranking in the Chambers Global Guide.
Order your Delegate Pass or VIP Package (Delegate Pass +Accommodation) now!
Conferences in Europe
The Top Operators, Affiliates, and Affiliate Programs Head to the European Gaming Congress 2024
As the European gaming landscape continues to evolve at breakneck speed, all eyes are on the European Gaming Congress (EGC) 2024—an event that has solidified itself as one of the premier networking and knowledge-sharing platforms in the iGaming and affiliate marketing industries. Hosted in Warsaw this year, the event is set to bring together some of the most influential operators, affiliates, and affiliate program leaders to tackle the pressing challenges and opportunities the industry faces today.
With C-level executives and founders from leading gaming companies across Europe in attendance, the EGC 2024 is a must-attend for anyone looking to stay ahead of market trends, new technologies, and regulatory changes. Let’s take a closer look at some of the top CEOs and Co-Founders who will be joining the conversation, shaping the future of the industry, and driving the narrative at this year’s Congress.
Key Industry Leaders Attending EGC 2024:
Tomasz Szymanski – CEO at Betwinsoft
As the CEO of Betwinsoft, Tomasz Szymanski has positioned his company as a major player in the iGaming solutions space. Known for its advanced betting software and cutting-edge technology, Betwinsoft continues to lead innovations in sports betting and casino games.
Marina Astrautsova – CEO at BGaming
BGaming has quickly become one of the most dynamic and creative content providers in the iGaming world, and Marina Astrautsova is at the helm of this success. As CEO, Marina has overseen the company’s rapid expansion into new markets while maintaining its focus on delivering engaging, high-quality casino games.
Aneta Tylicka – CEO at Bukmacherska/Fuksiarz.pl
As the CEO of Fuksiarz.pl, Aneta Tylicka leads one of Poland’s most successful sportsbooks. Under her leadership, Fuksiarz.pl has seen impressive growth in the competitive Polish market. Aneta’s participation in the Congress is an exciting opportunity for affiliates and operators alike to gain insight into how localized strategies can capture market share and improve user engagement in regulated markets.
Piotr Rogowski – CEO at ETOTO Poland
ETOTO is a leading sports betting platform in Poland, and Piotr Rogowski has been instrumental in shaping its trajectory.
Marcin Doszczeczko – CEO at LVBet
Leading LVBet, one of Europe’s most trusted and recognized betting platforms, Marcin Doszczeczko is no stranger to navigating regulatory changes while ensuring operational excellence. At EGC 2024, Marcin will likely address the importance of adaptability in a rapidly evolving market and how LVBet continues to thrive by combining technology with a customer-first approach.
Adam Lamentowicz – CEO at Polish Gaming Chamber
Representing the broader interests of Poland’s gaming industry, Adam Lamentowicz heads the Polish Gaming Chamber and is a critical voice in regulatory affairs. With his background and influence, Adam’s contributions at the EGC will be vital in understanding how gaming companies can work collaboratively with regulators to foster growth, innovation, and responsible gaming.
Filip Sosnowski – CEO at SB Software
As the driving force behind SB Software, Filip Sosnowski has played a pivotal role in delivering innovative betting and gaming solutions. SB Software has become known for its robust technology, which helps operators streamline their operations and enhance user experiences. Filip’s insights will no doubt cover the intersection of software innovation and business scalability, topics critical for iGaming operators.
Dariusz Łęczyński – CEO at STATSCORE
STATSCORE is renowned for its cutting-edge sports data and analytics solutions, and Dariusz Łęczyński has been leading the charge. His appearance at the EGC will likely revolve around the growing importance of data-driven decision-making in sports betting and gaming.
Marcin Giera – CEO at Totalbet
Totalbet, another dominant player in the Polish betting scene, is led by Marcin Giera, whose expertise spans both operational leadership and regulatory compliance.
Lukasz Seweryniak – Country Manager at SUPERBET Poland
As the Country Manager for SUPERBET Poland, Lukasz Seweryniak plays a pivotal role in steering the company’s success in the Polish market. Superbet is well-known for its innovative customer engagement strategies, and Lukasz will bring valuable insights on balancing growth with regulatory compliance in a fast-paced environment.
Stanisław Szostak – CEO and Founder at Astral Forest
Leading Astral Forest, a data analytics and consulting agency, Stanisław Szostak has deep experience in leveraging data to optimize operations, marketing, and compliance for iGaming operators. His appearance at the EGC promises to shed light on the importance of data governance and how it can shape the future of responsible gaming.
Adam Gontarz – CEO at CrustLab
CrustLab, under Adam Gontarz’s leadership, specializes in building software solutions for iGaming platforms. Adam’s insights on optimizing digital infrastructures and developing scalable iGaming products will be a valuable contribution to discussions on tech innovation in gaming.
Bartek Borkowski – CSO / CEO and Co-Founder at createIT.pl
Bartek Borkowski heads createIT.pl, a tech solutions provider with a strong focus on iGaming. His experience in crafting tailor-made solutions for operators will provide useful insights into the role of technology in shaping customer experiences and improving operational efficiency.
Irakli Davarashvili – CEO & Co-Founder at Promofy
As the Co-Founder of Promofy, a company that specializes in influencer marketing for the gaming sector, Irakli Davarashvili will offer a fresh perspective on how gaming companies can leverage influencer partnerships to boost brand visibility and customer engagement.
Vladimir Malakchi – CEO and Managing Partner at XANADA Investments
Vladimir Malakchi brings a wealth of knowledge in investment and scaling gaming companies. As Managing Partner at XANADA Investments, he has supported various successful ventures, and his insights at the EGC will be valuable for both operators and affiliates looking to scale their businesses effectively.
Alexis Wicén – CEO and Founder at Unibo/Scatters
Alexis Wicén, Founder of Unibo/Scatters, is known for driving innovation in gamification within the iGaming space. Alexis’ thoughts on enhancing player engagement and loyalty through gamification strategies will be highly anticipated at the EGC.
Get Ready for Game-Changing Discussions
The European Gaming Congress 2024 is shaping up to be a game-changing event, where the leading minds of the industry will gather to share insights, strategies, and innovations. This lineup of top CEOs, founders, and industry leaders promises to deliver unparalleled expertise, making EGC the place to be for anyone serious about iGaming and affiliate marketing.
Don’t miss your chance to be part of the conversation—final tickets are available here: EGC 2024 Tickets.
For a full list of attendees and agenda, visit EGC Attendees and Agenda.
Conferences in Europe
Can Fun Be Safe? The Role of Social Responsibility in Slot Game Design
The European Gaming Congress (EGC) returns to Warsaw for 2024 on 15-16 October, and organizer HIPTHER is proud to introduce the conference’s esteemed Sponsors – trailblazing companies and accomplished professionals that help make the magic happen! In this Sponsors Spotlight Interview, we welcome Maciej Makuszewski, iGaming Director at Promatic Group, parent company of the Platinum Sponsor for EGC 2024, Promatic Games.
For many people outside the gaming industry, putting social responsibility and online slot games in the same sentence might seem counterintuitive. What’s your perspective on this? How can a slot development company demonstrate responsibility?
You’ve hit on a very interesting point right from the beginning. From an outsider’s view, social responsibility and online gambling might seem like polar opposites—like water and fire. But within the industry, we understand that to succeed, all parties, and especially operators and game studios, need to cater to a broad audience. This includes not only players seeking excitement and adrenaline but also casual players who just want a bit of entertainment. We simply need to think about the mass market when designing the gaming experience.
From there, it becomes essential to safeguard ALL players by promoting responsible behaviors and minimizing risks. After all, even with a naturally risky activity like gambling, people still want a sense of security in their experience. This is where social responsibility becomes key. While the public often associates our industry with problem gambling or even addiction, this is a simplistic view. A problem gambler is not a good player—not for them, and certainly not for us. We aim to create a safe and enjoyable environment for all players, which ultimately benefits everyone involved.
So speaking of iGaming in general, what are the key areas when it comes to promoting responsible behavior and minimizing risks for players, as you rightly put it?
I would consider Responsible Gaming as an umbrella term that encompasses a range of measures. I usually break these down into several key categories:
- Identifying and protecting vulnerable players
- Game mechanics
- Transparency and communication
- Youth exposure
- Game design and incentives
- Financial limits and self-exclusion mechanisms
- Utilization of player data
Of course, this list can evolve depending on specific market needs, but these are the core elements. I haven’t included aspects like fairness or certification, as these are typically viewed as basic prerequisites in most regulated markets—they aren’t specific to Responsible Gaming but rather fundamental requirements for offering games to customers. Additionally, technical standards can also play a supporting role in fostering a responsible gaming environment.
Given that your role as a game studio is to provide the games themselves, how can you contribute to making the experience as responsible as possible? You’re not in full control over all of the seven areas you mentioned earlier.
You’re right—our role is narrower compared to operators, but we still have a significant impact in key areas. We can influence game mechanics, transparency and communication, youth exposure (to some extent), and game design and incentives. While we don’t manage player data, we can still support the identification of problem gambling behaviors.
Take game mechanics, for example. As a studio, we invest a lot of time in balancing the speed of gameplay with clear, accurate visualizations of the spin results. One of our key principles is ensuring that all our designs and developments are configurable to meet Responsible Gaming requirements. For instance, our games were recently certified in the Czech Republic, where the regulator mandates that each spin lasts at least two seconds. This is a Responsible Gaming measure, and our configurable software allowed us to implement this requirement quickly.
Another area that’s been a focus of many regulators is the Bonus Buy feature. We were hesitant to introduce it because some of the behaviors associated with this feature may heighten the risk of problem gambling. After months of careful consideration, we decided to launch it only with the ability to monitor every player action related to this functionality. We are committed to tracking this feature closely to ensure it aligns with responsible gaming standards.
You’re also going to touch on game design and incentives at the European Gaming Congress (EGC), correct?
Yes, that’s right! We’re excited to share the story behind one of our most innovative games, Ale Fajny BOBER. The game’s theme is inspired by a popular viral video, and it was a fascinating challenge for our team to translate the essence of a two-minute YouTube clip into an engaging slot experience. We had many discussions on how to best capture and visualize that story within a slot game format. But I’ll save the finer details for the conference—we’ll be talking about it on Day 1 during our presentation! Feel free to join and ask questions!
You mentioned the game Ale Fajny BOBER. Could our readers be familiar with other titles that have come out of your studio?
Ale Fajny Bober is indeed a new game, which had its premiere in Poland on September 26. Promatic Games has a portfolio of hundreds of exciting slot games that have been both successful and widely appreciated by players. Some of these include: Mummy’s Treasure Deluxe, Janosik 30 and Miss Joker Show – the latter has even been shortlisted for the Best iGaming Product category at the EiGE2024 awards, with the final taking place at the upcoming conference. I warmly invite to join us at the event and cast your vote for our title. See you there!
Promatic Group’s iGaming Director, Maciej Makuszewski, and Product Design Manager, Luka Oblak, will be presenting a workshop at the European Gaming Congress on ‘Mastering the Art of Balanced Slot Development.
Join us in Warsaw and meet the Promatic Games Team in person:
Conferences in Europe
Promatic Group: Pioneering Innovation in Slot Gaming for Over 25 Years
The European Gaming Congress (EGC) returns to Warsaw for 2024 on 15-16 October, and organizer HIPTHER is proud to introduce the conference’s esteemed Sponsors – trailblazing companies and accomplished professionals that help make the magic happen! In this Sponsors Spotlight Feature, we welcome Piotr Fedak, CEO at Promatic Group, parent company of the Platinum Sponsor for EGC 2024, Promatic Games.
To start off, thank you for becoming the Platinum Sponsor of the upcoming EGC in Warsaw. We truly appreciate your trust! What inspired your decision to participate and sponsor this event?
The European Gaming Congress is a very important event for us, we have participated in the past edition. The congress creates an opportunity to meet, exchange experiences, discuss trends between industry professionals as it gathers representatives from all over Europe. Being a Partner in such events is also part of our organization’s strategy. And the fact that the conference is held in Warsaw, Poland, is of great importance – we are a local company and the Polish market is extremely important to us, hence our strong involvement in EGC.
As is tradition, could you tell us a bit about yourself? How long have you been with Promatic Group and in the gambling industry overall?
I have been associated with Promatic Group nearly 20 years now, the vast majority of my professional experience in the industry. In our organization I have held various positions related to operational areas, later I became a Managing Director and currently I am the CEO of the company being responsible for strategic, operational and organizational management.
You describe Promatic Group as a “one-stop solution provider for the gambling industry.” How should we interpret that? Tell us more about the company and its journey.
Correct, hard to believe it’s been almost 30 years now! We started as a distributor and over the course of almost 3 decades we have been developing our products – at the beginning we only offered EGM Terminals with slot games produces in Austria Later, we started producing our own game collections which naturally led us to developing a fully professional games studio that delivers own, developed in-house products to both the retail and online markets.
Our conference focuses on the European market, but you have a presence beyond Europe as well. Which markets are most important for you, and what offerings do you bring to Europe versus other regions? Which market is easier or harder to operate in, and how do they differ?
As I mentioned, Poland is a key market due to our origin. However, with nearly 30 years of experience, we now operate under two flagship brands, Promatic and Promatic Games, and we are present in various locations globally, including Europe, Africa, and Latin America.
European markets are definitely more saturated and are characterized by high competition. In Africa, for instance, there is much more space for business development, but also more organizational challenges than in European countries. It is difficult to say which market is easier as they differ significantly. Yet, our diverse offer allows us to operate in many regions, and although each market has different regulations we deal with in our daily activities. That is why we are always flexible and able to adapt to a given region and its specific requirements.
Like any company, you surely have competition. If you had to pinpoint what sets you apart, what would you say is your competitive advantage?
Our industry is characterized by very strong competition. Yet, we always try to use our competitive advantage – we are an independent manufacturer with our own resources and capital, we have an autonomous game studio and we are self-sufficient in every aspect of our activity.
Besides, Promatic Group is a local company quite different from big enterprises, not limited by corporate complications, intricate processes and complex internal regulations. We do not follow extensive bureaucracy and we adapt faster to changes in the business environment. Consequently, we can create new products and complete business agreements faster and more agile, easily competing with large corporations.
On top of that, we offer a very competitive product with excellent value for the money. We create top-engaging content as our games always respond to individual needs of the market, local players and that definitely distinguishes us from the competition.
And what do you admire in other companies? Do you have any role models or best practices that you follow? Is there someone/some company worth emulating—even if you don’t want to name names?
Like most companies we follow industry trends as well as competing businesses and wish to be one step ahead. We are confident that with such an approach the industry can develop, and direct, open competition creates opportunities for growth.
In our organization, we act as a participant in the gaming industry – we observe others, but we also want to have a significant impact and set the trends based on our capabilities and resources. What characterizes large companies is a strong distribution and operational authority in the countries they come from as it allows to scale global operation.
Let’s talk about branded games. Do you have any other themed games in your portfolio? If so, what are they like? What guides your choices when selecting these themes?
Games featuring celebrities, such as Mariusz Pudzianowski – the brand ambassador of Promatic Group, allow us to stand out on local markets and create unique, dedicated content, responding to individual needs of players in a given region. Apart from Pudzian, our games feature other famous figures who are popular in Slovakia, Romania or Ukraine. But celebrity games are not the only trend we use in our slots, we also focus on popular and well-known historical, cultural or social themes, examples include titles like Janosik, Husaria, Golden Train or Copernicus dedicated to Polish players or games with African themes, very popular in Nigeria: Naija Wheels or African Carnival. The ability to create branded games is a great added value of our brand and we are happy that we can promote themes and motives that are important to players in local regions
What opportunities and challenges do you see for the gaming industry in Europe? How is Promatic Group preparing for changing trends (do you notice any, e.g., in customer behavior, industry needs, legal regulations, etc.)?
Our industry is defined by very strong legislation, also in Poland.
The European market as a whole is already very regulated and saturated and most of our neighboring markets have increasingly restrictive regulations that do not translate into sales opportunities in the retail segment. Online market currently offers greater space for development and this is one of the trends that Promatic focuses on – we want to deliver products to the online sector in Poland and other European markets.
But regulatory restrictions and differences are not the only challenge, players’ preferences are changing too and we want to follow them by modifying the ergonomics of the machines following waving popularity of games, and user behaviors, which is why we constantly develop new products, providing new, engaging content that is both safe and compliant with Responsible Gaming policy. It is our highest priority to deliver safe products, our production process is always well-thought-out from the early design stage to publishing aspects, ultimately leading to the certification of our products according to the highest European standards.
It is difficult to say which market is easier as they differ a lot. On the other hand, despite discrepancies, our diverse product offer and ability to adapt to specific market requirements allow us to operate in many regions with changing regulations.
You were nominated in four categories for the EiGE awards:
- Best iGaming Supplier > Promatic Group
- Best iGaming Product > Miss Joker Show (Promatic Group)
- Best Game Developer > Promatic Group
- Best Emerging iGaming Company > Promatic Group
From what we see in the results of the first stage, you have a chance in several categories. Winning in which category would make you the happiest, and why?
We proudly received nominations in four different categories and in each of them we were among the finalists, which makes us very happy. The categories are very diverse, and the nominations in all of them confirm the hard work of all our teams in our organization, show our versatility and motivate us to continue the good work. The nomination in the Best Product category is certainly very important to us, we know that Miss Joker Show is very well received by players in many markets, but of course we keep our fingers crossed for any award in any category.Each will make us equally happy.
Engagement vs. Responsibility – will you be discussing this at the congress? What is your opinion on the topic, and how does Promatic approach it?
All aspects of Responsible Gaming are always significantly important to us. We adapt the policies already at the design stage of our products. We want our games to be engaging, but at the same time not to extend any negative patterns, so we implement a number of features and mechanisms to our products to be fully compliant with principles of Responsible Gaming.
During the European Gaming Congress, Promatic representatives: Maciej Makuszewski – Head of iGaming and Luka Oblak – Product Manager will present a very interesting workshop showcasing how to capture such balance between user engagement and policies compliance. The presentation ‘Mastering the Art of Balanced Slot Development’ – we kindly invite all the attendees of EGC to participate.
As we approach the final quarter of 2024, it’s a good time to start reflecting on the year.
What are your plans and goals for Q4 and the upcoming year, 2025? What challenges do you foresee?
Although it is still too early to sum up, this year was very successful for us – we managed to complete many key business projects, we keep developing our online product, receiving new relevant certifications and we would like to maintain this trend. In the coming months, we plan to expand to new markets and grow our team of experts. We also focus on the development of new technologies, we expand the retail network while focusing on further development of the online product. We concentrate a lot on diversifying our product offer, which will certainly be much wider next year.
EGC is not the only conference where we can meet you at industry events in the near future. Can you share any plans in this regard?
Industry events are an important platform enabling valuable discussions and meetings. This week we are participating in SBC in Lisbon, we will also be at iGaming in Malta.
Next year, we are exhibiting at ICE 2025 in Barcelona and warmly invite you to visit Promatic Group’s stand. All the above events are very inspirational as we are committed to following trends, developing know-how and new technologies in gaming, and exchanging experiences with industry experts, which certainly contributes to our development.
PIOTR FEDAK
CEO of Promatic Group
Actively working in the gaming industry for over 20 years.
Associated with Promatic Group for most of his professional career, solely involved in operational processes.
He held the positions of Operations Director and Managing Director, supervising operations on domestic and global markets, also managing introducing innovations.
In 2023, he took the position of the CEO of the company, leading and managing the organization in the scope of operational and strategic processes.
Promatic Group’s iGaming Director, Maciej Makuszewski, and Product Design Manager, Luka Oblak, will be presenting a workshop at the European Gaming Congress on ‘Mastering the Art of Balanced Slot Development.
Join us in Warsaw and meet the Promatic Games Team in person:
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