Eastern Europe
Merkur to Participate in Entertainment Arena Expo 2022
Merkur is in preparations to participate in the 14th Entertainment Arena Expo (EAE) in Bucharest.
Being held from September 6 to 8 at the Romexpo Fair Ground in Romania’s capital city, Bucharest, EAE 2022 will have a major exhibitor presence from MERKUR. On booth 306, the German gaming giant will indeed “entertain” with a strong presence of its top jackpots, cabinets and new games; backed up by the presence of cash handling experts GeWeTe and next-generation payment options from Merkur eSOLUTIONS.
Bucharest in Romania has been the country’s capital city since 1862 and, through its long history, has been known as both the “City of Joy” and the “Paris of the East”. It is also the centre of the country’s gaming industry where both casinos, gaming arcade premises and venues in the sports betting and gastronomy sectors are hugely popular.
Romania has the largest number of slots in operation in east Europe, currently well over 70,000 machines. The Merkur brand has been active in Romania since 2004 and has a Group subsidiary company, Merkur Gaming Distribution, based in Bucharest and with Hannelore Fuica as its managing director and team leader.
Speaking ahead of EAE Ms Fuica confirmed her belief that the two most popular game types with Romanian players are Fruit games and, in recent years, Roulette. Already in both slot hall and sports betting operations throughout the country, the new MERKUR Roulette features stunning 3D graphics, a new animation of the roulette wheel itself and an enhanced speed of play.
This will be a significant highlight of Merlur’s EAE presentation, as will the new linked progressive jackpots Link Zone (shown in the Avantgarde Max Trio cabinet) and Solar Link (featured on the stylish Allegro Trio cabinet) plus the innovative MERKUR Mystery jackpot that will display on the Avante Trio cabinet that hosts a multiplicity of new multigame titles powered by the latest software and boasting a brand new player interface.
EAE’s ambition is to become internationally recognised as THE standout gaming show for the Eastern Europe and Balkan region, something on which Athanasios “Sakis” Isaakidis, Chief Executive, International commented: “We are all anticipating a really great EAE show in Bucharest.
And he added: “Romania is a significant and highly successful market for MERKUR and we are set to make a great representation of our history, experience and great products at EAE in Bucharest as we demonstrate, as the show’s title exemplifies, our commitment to gaming Entertainment across Romania, and beyond.”
Eastern Europe
EveryMatrix opens new eco-friendly HQ in Bucharest as it announces 1,000th employee
EveryMatrix has officially inaugurated its new development hub, located at the heart of Bucharest, Romania, while also reaching a milestone of 1,000 employees.
In collaboration with STRABAG Real Estate, construction on the cutting-edge business hub commenced in 2022 with the building now open, providing the tier-1 iGaming supplier’s Bucharest-based team of 400+ staff and growing with a modern, eco-conscious workspace.
EveryMatrix has also surpassed the 1,000-employee mark, just 16 years after it was founded in 2008. The company’s purely organic growth has sky-rocketed in the last four years, with the number of staff increasing by 90%, up from 525 employees in 2020 to 1,000 today. The business announced record profitability in 2023.
The new office is situated near University Square, the city’s focal point with the central location streamlining commute times, making it easily accessible to employees, clients, and partners.
Equipped with a large in-house gym, spa, pool, garden and state-of-the-art amenities across six dedicated floors, as well as free electric car charging points for all staff to encourage switching from fossil fuelled transport, Arghezi 4 was designed to offer the best working experience and environment, catering to the diverse needs of EveryMatrix’s employees.
Click here for an exclusive glimpse into the office and the benefits and features of the building’s beautifully crafted interiors.
The building meets rigorous LEED V4 Gold green certification using sustainable construction practices to minimise environmental and human health risks. Employing building materials and construction methods that are not harmful to the climate and environment, the new office sets a new standard for corporate and environmental responsibility.
Ebbe Groes, Group CEO, EveryMatrix, said: “Building our own HQ has been very exciting but has equally involved a great deal of work. This is our first purpose-built office here, so its opening, combined with our 1,000th employee represents a special moment in the company’s 16-year history.
“We are continually investing in the development of the business and its culture for both the well-being of our employees and to futureproof EveryMatrix, and I know from speaking to many of the teams here that it ticks all the boxes for our colleagues’ happiness.”
Marius Iancu, Global Head of HR, EveryMatrix, added: “This building is not just a new office; it also serves as an important part of our talent acquisition strategy from 2024 onwards. Every one of its elements has been designed to position EveryMatrix as an employer of choice and provide our teams with a work-life experience that goes beyond expectations.”
Eastern Europe
Wazdan boosts Romania footprint with Totogaming deal
Wazdan, the gain-focused developer behind some of the world’s most rewarding casino game experiences, has further bolstered its presence in the regulated Romanian market after partnering with Totogaming.
The agreement has initially seen Wazdan provide 12 of its most popular titles to the online casino, including Magic Spins™, Hot Slot™:777 Rubies, Sizzling Eggs™ and the player-favourite Coins™ series.
Following the first tranche of games, more will be rolled out over the coming months as the supplier continues to deliver proven titles that resonate well with local customers.
It is the latest commercial expansion by Wazdan, which has enjoyed a strong start to the year, launching a number of key titles as well as undergoing a rebrand, which was revealed at ICE London.
Andrzej Hyla, Chief Commercial Officer at Wazdan, said: “Our commercial expansion into key European regulated markets is a focal point for us, and we’re very happy to further grow our Romanian footprint in partnership with Totogaming.
“Our products have been well received in Romania already and we’re confident that we can add more value to Totogaming’s casino offering.”
Totogaming’s Product Directions Development Unit Manager, Kamօ Mayilyan said: “Wazdan has a reputation for creating exceptional, tech-friendly products and we’re delighted to add 12 of its best-performing games to our online portfolio.
With a long-term approach to our rollout collaboration, we look forward to enjoying an exciting relationship together.”
Eastern Europe
Betano and the Romanian Football Federation extend partnership until 2030
Betano, Kaizen Gaming’s premium brand, announced the extension of their strategic partnership with the Romanian Football Federation (FRF) until 2030. The announcement represents a major milestone in this partnership and demonstrates Betano’s and FRF’s shared commitment to promoting excellence in sport in Romania.
Over the past two years, Betano and FRF have combined their vision and expertise for the growth of the Cupa Romaniei Betano, one of the most loved football competitions in Romania. The current competition season introduced a new format of the Cup, bringing the game closer to the fans in the stands and at home.
As part of the collaboration, Betano has been actively involved in marketing efforts, working alongside an extensive ecosystem of partners, including FRF, media partners and representatives of the teams that qualified for Cupa Romaniei Betano’s group stage. Their common goal is to develop campaigns that will increase the visibility of the competition and facilitate engaging football fans even more. The latest initiative is the development of the TV and digital show Bate Cupa. This is the first show putting a spotlight on all 24 qualified teams and showcasing the players’ skills in an unconventional and entertaining way.
Both Betano and FRF are dedicated to delivering even more initiatives to support Romanian football within this year.
“During the past two years, we have shared a common vision with the Romanian Football Federation to take Cupa Romaniei Betano to new heights. The new format of the competition has been a great step down that route. We believe that the enthusiasm and the prestige surrounding Cupa Romaniei Betano will rise even higher. The new multi-year agreement shows the belief we have in this competition and our burning passion for football. At Kaizen Gaming we remain committed to supporting the growth of sports in Romania with integrity and responsibility”, said Julio Iglesias, Chief Commercial Officer of Kaizen Gaming, owner of Betano.
On his part, the President of the FRF, Răzvan Burleanu, commented: “This is a special moment, as it marks the longest extension of a partnership ever recorded by the FRF – a 6-year extension of our collaboration with Betano for the Romanian Cup. This new contract reflects the mutual trust between the Romanian Football Federation and Betano, as well as the recognition of our partnership’s essential contribution to the development and promotion of Romanian football. Together, we aim to take the Betano Romanian Cup to another level and consolidate the position of this competition as one of the most important sports events in our country. Our work with Betano reflects our common commitment to promoting sports values. One of the remarkable achievements of this collaboration is Betano’s sustained effort in marketing projects dedicated to increasing the visibility and popularity of the Betano Romanian Cup”.
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