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Having a responsible gaming strategy is good for prospective buyers, advises Blackstone MD, Haide Hong ahead of appearance at iGB Live! HQ

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Having a responsible gaming strategy is good for prospective buyers, advises Blackstone MD, Haide Hong
Haide Hong, Managing Director of The Blackstone Group
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London, July 6, 2018 – Gaming owners wishing to make their businesses more attractive to potential buyers, would be well advised to have in place a credible strategy around responsible gambling, according to Haide Hong, Managing Director of The Blackstone Group and a key note at The Boardroom, one of four immersive learning environments being featured at the first iGB Live! (17th – 20th July 2018, Amsterdam RAI).

Mr Hong, who has been involved with the analysis and execution of  a number of  high profile private equity investments, believes Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) is becoming more of a consideration for prospective buyers.  He explained: “Businesses should focus on having a cogent strategy and delivering on that. Prospective buyers will care about financial performance, scalability – but also the quality of the management team and assets they will be acquiring, and if there is a differentiated ‘story’ they are buying into. But ESG is also an important factor – buyers would like to know that prospective acquisitions care about responsible gaming and that companies have a credible strategy around that.

Despite its vulnerability to regulatory control he believes that gaming remains attractive to investors. “Gaming is a large, global business with strong cashflow generation and opportunities to buy/create scale market leaders – hence the interest to private equity” he advised. “It is right that regulation is a key risk and consideration whenever one evaluates investments in gaming – and we have a strong focus on that as part of our diligence process on every potential investment.

There is general consensus that online gaming will grow faster than land based – but land based will continue to grow.  As such, one should expect to see more investment in online, but land based gaming can still offer attractive opportunities.

He confirmed the rule that multiples ultimately have reference to the prospects and qualities of each individual business and that they have in general increased relative to the crash years of 2008 – 2011, with Blackstone typically triangulating between EV / EBITDA, P/E and EV / EBITDA-Capex multiples.

Mr Hong will be the keynote speaker in The Boardroom and his session will be taking place between 14:00 – 15:00 on the 18th July 2018 in the iGB Live! HQ area. iGB Live! HQ is the paid for conference and networking area with The Boardoom hosting the keynote sessions.

Sadie Walters part of the Clarion Gaming team responsible for creating the feature, said: “While The Boardroom may be the most conventional of the events four learning areas, its content is far from ordinary. Attendees will be able to see how the rest of the world innovates, learn from elite level influencers and innovators, be inspired by those outside the industry who are ripping up the rule book and rewriting the way we work and leave The Boardroom with a head full of new ideas and a pocket full of tools to put them into action.

iGB Live!, is a consolidated three brand event and the biggest dedicated igaming exhibition and conference in the world. Part of Clarion Gaming’s commitment to streamline the events calendar, iGB Live! has been curated to meet stakeholders networking, education and business needs, in the process delivering a unique opportunity to engage across the entire igaming space.

For more information on The Boardroom and the featured elite level influencers and innovators, visit: www.igblive.com/igb-live-hq

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Saroca Unveils the Transformational Leadership Program for 2025

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Saroca, a leader in professional development for the gaming industry, is proud to announce its Transformational Leadership Program, launching February 2025.
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Saroca Reimagines Leadership Development for the Gaming Industry

Saroca, a leader in professional development for the gaming industry, is proud to announce its Transformational Leadership Program, launching February 2025. Building on the success of the 2024 LeadHERship Program—a pioneering initiative for women in gaming—the new program expands its reach with two distinct cohorts: one exclusively for women and another open to all genders.

The Legacy of LeadHERship

The 2024 LeadHERship Program achieved an exceptional Net Promoter Score (NPS) of 90, with participants citing transformative growth. With participants like Clemence Dujardin citing it as a “game-changer”. Confidence in leadership abilities rose by 46%, resilience increased by 27%, and imposter syndrome diminished by 39%.

Participants praised the program’s focus on emotional resilience, feedback mastery, executive presence and communication all in a supportive community.

Leadership Development: A Game-Changer for Gaming

In a rapidly evolving and diversifying industry, strong leadership is essential. Saroca’s programs go beyond skill-building to foster resilience, trust, and inclusivity—key traits for thriving in the global gaming market.

“We believe leadership is not about hierarchy—it’s about transformation,” said Emily Leeb, CEO of Saroca. “The Transformational Leadership Program reflects our commitment to cultivating leaders who will shape the future of gaming.”

Transformational Leadership Program Highlights

The program builds on the proven curriculum of its predecessor, featuring:

  • Two Cohorts: A women-only cohort and a new all-gender cohort to enrich perspectives.
  • Eight Modules: Covering topics such as emotional intelligence, self-advocacy, and radical candor.
  • Community and Growth Tracking: Strengthening connections and measuring individual progress.

Registration Now Open

The Transformational Leadership Program begins in February 2025, with limited spots available. Scholarships are also offered to ensure accessibility. For more information, visit Saroca’s website or contact [email protected].

About Saroca

Saroca is a leader in leadership development for the gaming industry, committed to empowering professionals through inclusive, high-impact programs that drive personal and professional growth.

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WEC24: PUBG MOBILE Tournament Concludes with Outstanding Success

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The PUBG MOBILE tournament at WEC24 has officially wrapped up, delivering three days of competition that exceeded all expectations. With 10 out of 16 teams securing Chicken Dinners throughout the tournament, every map brought its own excitement, with the final rounds determining the champions and medal placements. We saw impressive viewership numbers with 776,454 unique viewers achieving 89,675 hours watched throughout the three days of competition.

On the competitive front, the Indonesian team set a WEC24 record by securing a Chicken Dinner with an astonishing 18 eliminations, packing a remarkable 28-point round. 

Turkey stepped up to claim the title of WEC24 PUBG MOBILE Champions, delivering a fierce, precise performance and seizing the trophy in the final maps, a true champions’ style victory.

Congratulations are also due to Ukraine, who came very close to securing the gold. Consistent and determined to win, they kept fans and their nation on edge until the final rounds, ultimately securing the silver medal. Brazil took home the bronze, showcasing exceptional talent and positioning themselves as strong contenders for future titles.

Igor Nedeski, Esports Manager at IESF, praised the athletes, the tournament’s success, and the ongoing collaboration with Tencent: “The PUBG MOBILE tournaments have been one of the highlights of WEC for years now, and our ongoing collaboration and support from Tencent has played a huge role in its success. Congratulations to the medalists and to all athletes participating for their remarkable WEC24 performance.”

Micah Li, Senior Esports Manager at Tencent,  “Congratulations to Turkey on becoming the WEC24 PUBG MOBILE Champions. We greatly value our partnership with IESF and the success we have achieved together over the years. We look forward to continuing this collaboration and delivering many more exceptional PUBG MOBILE tournaments in the future.”

With the PUBG MOBILE tournament concluded, IESF looks forward to further PUBG MOBILE competitions, as national teams from around the world improve year by year.

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EGT Digital is shortlisted in 5 categories of BEGE Awards 2024

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EGT Digital is shortlisted in 5 categories of BEGE Awards 2024
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EGT Digital is proud to be among the finalists in the impressive 5 categories of BEGE Awards 2024. This year’s edition of the prestigious annual competition will be held on November 27 at Black & White Club, Palms Royale Sofia Complex. For the 15th consecutive year, the event will recognize individuals and companies for their outstanding contribution to the gaming and entertainment industry.

Burning Hot Instant, one of the newest offerings in EGT Digital’s ever-growing portfolio of games, is among the shortlisted titles in the Online Game of the Year category. It is also one of the latest additions to the top performer Clover Chance. Although it debuted only 2 months ago, Burning Hot Instant immediately became players’ favorite with its mystery jackpot and numerous rewards.

X-Nave, EGT Digital’s in-house developed “all-in-one” betting platform, is a contender in the Online Platform of the Year category. The product earned the nomination thanks to the fact that it provides operators with the technology and tools they need to build and maintain a successful online business. The X-Nave platform includes 4 main modules: Sport Product, Gaming Aggregator, CRM Engine, and Payment Gateway. Each module can be part of the complete solution or function independently, allowing seamless integration with developments of third-party providers.

Another prestigious nomination for EGT Digital is in the Online Provider of the Year category, recognizing its wide range of iGaming products and services. The company’s games are extremely popular in a number of markets around the world, where players appreciate their fascinating design, high winning chances, and many attractive bonus features. The X-Nave platform is becoming the preferred choice for an increasing number of operators who want to guarantee their business’ long-term success and sustainable development.

The company is a finalist in the Sports Betting Platform of the Year category as well. EGT Digital’s Sportsbook solution, part of X-Nave’s Sport Product, offers everything operators need to secure a competitive bookmaker position. It includes advanced betting, in-depth statistics, different bet types, back-office tools, a variety of jackpots, and 24/7 technical and trading support. It is provided with powerful management tools that allow betting sites to create personalized content and increase player engagement.

The last category for which EGT Digital has been nominated is Innovative Product of the Year, with its 360-degree retail betting solution. This product covers both software and hardware aspects of the business, including the design and management of devices, the company’s omnichannel solution, sports betting, lottery games, vouchers, online deposits, and commissions. Constantly evolving, EGT Digital’s 360-degree retail betting solution continues to add new tools and options for improving user experience.

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