Industry Awards
Plucky follows funding round success with EGR Innovator of the Year award
Plucky, the leading platform for monetising free-to-play games and modernising pool betting, has been awarded the Innovator of the Year award at the prestigious EGR Operator Awards 2024, emerging victorious from the headline category which included the likes of Entain, Kaizen Gaming, and PokerStars.
The UKGC-licenced operator was commended for its pioneering means of bringing new revenue streams to free-to-play and fantasy games providers, with its partnership with Genius Sports, powering the first publisher in its agreement – The Telegraph Fantasy Football game with paid leagues, one of its standout deals in the judging period.
The inaugural gaming award win for Plucky follows a successful funding round â which closed earlier in October â that has raised over ÂŁ500,000 and will provide strategic funding to facilitate the firmâs next stage of growth across its B2B and B2C arms.
The new financing will be used to accelerate Pluckyâs free-to-play monetisation arm, as well as expanding the footprint of its pool betting, which allow social circles to easily set-up randomised cash draws on any sporting event, such as the Grand National and Euro 2024. The UKGC-licensed operator is also exploring opportunities within live competitive socialising venues and has imminent ambitions to enter new regulated gaming markets.
Prominent investors entered in the latest round, demonstrating confidence in both the scalable business model that utilises existing partner audiences, and the Plucky team, consisting of serial entrepreneur Sebastian Lewis and fantasy sports expert Matthew Steer, amongst other industry and tech veterans.
Sebastian Lewis, CEO & co-founder at Plucky, said:Â âThe Plucky model has been refined over the past couple of years to ensure it can fully meet the vast demand that we know is there for more engaging free-to-play games and pool betting opportunities. To have this validated with the Innovator of the Year award is testament to the concept and rare capacity to bring new revenue streams and retention opportunities to such a competitive igaming sector.â
âThis latest funding round comes at a great time, having demonstrated what Plucky is all about with our partnership with Genius Sports. Weâve shown the appeal that paid leagues and app-first pool betting opportunities have for the end user, and the monetisation opportunities these bring to free-to-play and media partners is vast.â
Compliance Updates
IAGR announces International Regulatory Award 2024 winners
The winners of IAGRâs 2024 International Regulatory Awards have been revealed, with regulators from Australia, the Netherlands and Denmark taking home the trophies during the IAGR & IMGL Rome Conference.
This yearâs winners showcase innovative and effective regulatory efforts from across the globe.
- Regulatory Excellence Award:Â Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA)
For the launch of the BetStop National Self Exclusion Register, the ACMA was recognised for overcoming complex delivery and regulatory challenges to create Australiaâs first centralised exclusion register.
- Regulatory Innovation Award:Â Kansspelautoriteit (Ksa), Netherlands Gambling Authority
The Ksa was commended for its use of data to enhance consumer protection, fast-tracking advanced dashboards to improve regulatory oversight.
- Best Regulatory Campaign Award:Â Danish Gambling Authority
The Danish Gambling Authority won for its ‘One Armed Bandit’ campaign, which used humour and collaboration with influencers to engage the public on responsible gambling.
IAGR Vice President, Sarah Kelly, who was part of the judging panel, said:
âThis year saw one of the highest numbers of global nominations, with a diversity of entries reflecting the increasing efforts of our members to improve regulation of the gaming sector.
âOur winners have shown exceptional dedication in advancing regulatory standards for the benefit of the gaming industry and its consumers.â
ACMA Chair, Nerida O’Loughlin said:
âBetStop â the National Self-Exclusion Register represents a significant enhancement of consumer safeguards available to Australians who gamble. The IAGR award for regulatory excellence is recognition of the dedication and collaboration of ACMA staff in delivering this important safeguard which has supported the more than 30,000 Australians registered to date.â
Michel Groothuizen, Chairman of the Ksa/Netherlands Gambling Authority said:
âI was honoured to be in Rome on behalf of our organization. I greatly appreciate the international acknowledgement for âMarkers of riskâ. I would like to thank my dedicated and impactful colleagues Dr. FlĂłra Felsö and Dr. Judith Kas and their team for their hard work. The report about this project will be published later this year. A great contribution to our mission which states consumers must be able to play safely. We act to prevent misconduct.â
Anders Dorph, Director of the Danish Gambling Authority, said:
âOur campaign âThe One-Armed Banditâ targets underage persons to prevent them from gambling, which is why we took a quite unusual approach. For instance, our character uses a type of language which one does not normally hear in campaigns from public organisations. However, we found it necessary to use unorthodox methods to reach our target group and I am very thankful that the IAGR jury saw the value of our campaign.
âPreventing underage children and young people from gambling and gambling harm is an important agenda for the Danish Gambling Authority which is why I am particularly proud of the award.â
These prestigious awards underscore the importance of collaboration, innovation and dedication in the global regulation of gambling.Â
Conferences in Europe
Almost 200 Participants Grace European Gaming Congress 2024, as Organizers Already Plan Warsaw Return
HIPTHER, organizer of the European Gaming Congress (EGC) and other renowned GameTech boutique conferences, is thrilled to announce the triumphant success of EGC 2024 and the exciting news of the conferenceâs return to Warsaw in 2025.
Building on the momentum from its 2023 edition, European Gaming Congress 2024 expanded its program into a multi-faceted, 2-day agenda packed with learning and networking opportunities. Attendance more than doubled to nearly 200 delegates, and all exhibitor spaces sold out.
EGC 2024 brought together the vibrant Polish iGaming market and the broader European GameTech industry for a series of insightful panels, unique networking opportunities, and unforgettable moments. The event educated and connected delegates in a meaningful and constructive way.
Distinguished experts from iGaming, Compliance, Technology, Blockchain, Fintech, Marketing, and Human Capital Management took the stage, offering invaluable insights and hosting workshops on the latest trends and strategies for business growth and success.
In an innovative move to validate expertise and reward continuous learning, all attendees were awarded a Certificate of Professional Distinction for their successful participation in the European Gaming Congress 2024.
One of the event’s highlights was the prestigious European iGaming Excellence Awards 2024, celebrating the best companies and brightest professionals in the European iGaming industry, as voted by their peers. And the winners are:
đ đđđŹđ đąđđđŠđąđ§đ đđźđ©đ©đ„đąđđ« đąđ§ đđđđ: Promatic Group
đ đđđŹđ đđđŹđđąđ§đ đđđđšđ«đđđšđ«đČ đąđ§ đđđđ: Gaming Laboratories International, LLC
đ đđđŹđ đđđČđŠđđ§đ đđ«đšđŻđąđđđ« đąđ§ đđđđ: CoinsPaid
đ đđđŹđ đąđđđŠđąđ§đ đđ«đšđđźđđ đąđ§ đđđđ: Miss Joker Show (by Promatic Group)
đ đđđŹđ đđźđŹđđšđŠđđ« đđđ«đŻđąđđ đąđ§ đđđđ: SOFTSWISS Managed Services
đ đđđŹđ đđđ«đ€đđđąđ§đ đđđŠđ©đđąđ đ§ đąđ§ đđđđ: Evoplay (Adrenaline Rush)
đ đđđŹđ đđđŹđ©đšđ§đŹđąđđ„đ đđđŠđąđ§đ đđ«đšđ đ«đđŠ đąđ§ đđđđ: Mindway AI
đ đđđŹđ đđđŠđ đđđŻđđ„đšđ©đđ« đąđ§ đđđđ: Evoplay
đ đđđŹđ đđŠđđ«đ đąđ§đ đąđđđŠđąđ§đ đđšđŠđ©đđ§đČ đąđ§ đđđđ: Promatic Group
đ đđđŹđ đđšđđąđ„đ đđđŠđąđ§đ đđ«đšđŻđąđđđ« đąđ§ đđđđ: Evoplay
đ đđđŹđ đđąđŻđ đđđđ„đđ« đđ«đšđŻđąđđđ« đąđ§ đđđđ: ICONIC21
đ đđđŹđ đąđđđŠđąđ§đ đđđđąđ„đąđđđ đđ«đšđ đ«đđŠ đąđ§ đđđđ: N1 Partners Group
đ đđđŹđ đđđ©đšđ«đđŹ đđđđđąđ§đ đđ«đšđŻđąđđđ« đąđ§ đđđđ: DATA.BET
đ đđ§đ§đšđŻđđđąđšđ§ đąđ§ đąđđđŠđąđ§đ đđđđĄđ§đšđ„đšđ đČ đąđ§ đđđđ: SOFTSWISS
đ đđšđŠđ©đđ§đČ đđđźđ§đđĄ đšđ đđĄđ đđđđ« đąđ§ đđđđ: Xanada Investments
đ đđđŹđ đąđđđŠđąđ§đ đđ©đđ«đđđšđ« đąđ§ đđđđ: Superbet
đ đąđđđŠđąđ§đ đđđđđđ« đšđ đđĄđ đđđđ« đąđ§ đđđđ: Ivan Montik, Founder at SOFTSWISS
đ đđąđŹđąđ§đ đđđđ« đąđ§ đąđđđŠđąđ§đ đąđ§ đđđđ: Gal Ehrlich, CEO at BETER
đ đđ§đ§đšđŻđđđšđ« đšđ đđĄđ đđđđ« đąđ§ đđđđ: Ivan Kravchuk, CEO at Evoplay
đ đąđđđŠđąđ§đ đđ§đđ„đźđđ§đđđ« đšđ đđĄđ đđđđ« đąđ§ đđđđ: Valentina Bagniya, CMO at SOFTSWISS
đ đđđŹđ đąđđđŠđąđ§đ đđđ đąđ§ đđđđ: Aleksandra Mouton, CEO at Amarix
The illustrious event was Sponsored by top-tier companies, including:
- Promatic Games by Promatic Group – Platinum & Welcome Meet Sponsor
- Xanada Investments – Main Stage Sponsor
- BET – Badge, Bracelet and Networking Break Sponsor
- NSoft – Pen and Paper Sponsor
- Nordic Gambling – Scandinavian Legal Expertise Sponsor
- RM Legal – General Sponsor
- Gaming In Poland – General Sponsor
- Zondacrypto – Selfie Mirror Sponsor
- Superbet – General Sponsor
- LV Bet – General Sponsor
- PIGBRiB – General Sponsor
The European Gaming Congress has been warmly embraced by both the Polish gaming market and the wider European iGaming industry, solidifying its status as a must-attend event and key meeting point for the industry.
Zoltan Tuendik, Co-Founder & Head of Business at HIPTHER, commented: âWe are thrilled with the incredible success of the European Gaming Congress 2024, and we are grateful to our esteemed sponsors, participants, and the remarkable Polish Gaming Community who made it possible. We’re excited to announce our return to Warsaw for another year, but stay tuned – we have a few surprises in the works for the years ahead!â.
The #hipthers team is already planning the grand return of the European Gaming Congress to Warsaw in mid-to-late October 2025. Stay tuned for more, and weâll see you in Warsaw!
Conferences in Europe
Promatic Games named Best Emerging iGaming Company at the European iGaming Excellence Awards 2024
Promatic Games has achieved a major milestone in the European gaming industry by securing three prestigious awards at the European iGaming Excellence Awards 2024. The awards ceremony took place during the highly anticipated European Gaming Congress (EGC), held this year in Warsaw, Poland. This recognition highlights our growing presence and innovation in the competitive world of iGaming.
At the event, Promatic Games proudly took home the following awards:
đ Best iGaming Product â “Miss Joker Show”
đ Best iGaming Supplier
đ Best Emerging iGaming Company
âBeing recognized at such a prestigious platform is a testament to our commitment to pushing the boundaries of innovation, creativity, and quality in iGaming. We are honored to be counted among the top performers and innovators in the industry, particularly in such a competitive landscapeâ states Maciej Makuszewski, Head of iGaming at Promatic.
âThese awards are a testament to the hard work and dedication of our entire team, and we couldnât be more proud of what weâve achieved. Winning Best iGaming Supplier reflects our commitment to providing state-of-the-art solutions to operators, while the Best Emerging iGaming Company award highlights our rapid growth and potential for even greater success in the futureâ – added Makuszewski.
Â
About the European Gaming Congress (EGC)
The European Gaming Congress is one of the most significant and influential events in the gaming industry calendar. It serves as a central hub for professionals, decision-makers, and innovators from across Europe to gather and discuss the future of gaming. This annual event attracts hundreds of industry experts, operators, and suppliers from around the world, offering attendees the opportunity to exchange ideas, network, and showcase their products and services.
This yearâs edition in Warsaw was a standout, featuring insightful panel discussions, expert-led workshops, and keynote presentations. Promatic Games organized a workshop titled âEngagement vs. Responsibility: Mastering the Art of Balanced Slot Developmentâ, led by Maciej Makuszewski and Luka Oblak, which captured the attention of all participants. The presentation featured not only interesting legal and regulatory cases, but the speakers also ensured an interactive element to engage the audience.
The congress provided a comprehensive look at key trends, emerging technologies, and the latest regulatory developments in the gaming sector. From esports to online casinos, and from regulatory challenges to breakthrough innovations, the EGC covers the entire spectrum of the gaming industry, making it an unmissable event for anyone involved in this dynamic field.
About Promatic Games
Promatic Games is a studio specializing in the design of games and software solutions for online casinos, with over 27 years of experience in creating slot machines for both land-based and online casinos. The companyâs long history and extensive experience allow it to create games that engage players in a unique way. Throughout its history, Promatic has designed hundreds of slot game logics that have been implemented in dozens of markets across four continents. Promatic Games continues to grow based on technologies developed in-house, including the state-of-the-art Remote Game Server (GamePRO), a platform for building game logics and mathematics named Promatic ONE, and its own random number generator, meeting the highest international standards.
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