Following the 2025 Annual General Meeting, the Supervisory Board of ZEAL Network SE elected Carola Gräfin von Schmettow as its new Chairwoman. She succeeds Peter Steiner, who decided to step down as a member and Chairman of the Supervisory Board at the end of the Annual General Meeting after twelve years in office. Around 71% of the voting share capital was represented at the Annual General Meeting.

Gräfin von Schmettow has been a member of the company’s Supervisory Board since November 2024. She studied mathematics at Heinrich Heine University in Düsseldorf and began her career at HSBC Germany after graduating, where she worked for 29 years, including 17 years on the Management Board, six of which as its spokeswoman.

Peter Steiner stepped down from the Supervisory Board of ZEAL Network SE at the end of Annual General Meeting. CEO Dr. Helmut Becker paid tribute to Steiner’s services to the company: “We would like to thank Peter Steiner for his many years of dedicated and responsible work as a member and Chairman of our Supervisory Board. During this time, he was not only a reliable companion and valuable source of inspiration for the Management Board – he was a strategic compass, an anchor of integrity and a person who accompanied ZEAL with foresight and passion. Under his leadership, the Supervisory Board has accompanied key developments such as ZEAL’s return to Germany and the strategic expansion of our business. On behalf of ZEAL, I would like to sincerely thank Peter Steiner for his valuable work and wish him all the best for the future.”

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Independent auditor Peter Steiner has been a member of the ZEAL Supervisory Board since June 2013, initially as Chairman of the Audit Committee and since 2017 as Chairman of the Supervisory Board, with the exception of 2019, when he was Chairman of the Supervisory Board of LOTTO24 AG, which had previously been acquired by ZEAL Network SE.

In the dynamic landscape of online slots, a notable shift has recently occurred when it comes to game themes. Breaking away from tried and tested themes such as Ancient Egypt, Greek mythology, the Wild West, fishing and fruits, a new wave of tongue-in-cheek ‘adult-themed’ slots is emerging. With this controversial approach, pioneering suppliers aim to stand out in a crowded marketplace, capturing the attention of players and influencers alike by introducing playful yet potentially provocative content. While these games generate initial buzz and conversation, the critical question remains whether their novelty can translate into sustained player loyalty and long-term success.

We asked Wicked Games, a studio developing this genre of games, Thunderkick, a more classic slot developer, and a streamer, Fruity Slots, whether they thought the shift towards adult-themed content really is the future of iGaming.

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Karl von Brockdorff, Head of Brands at Wicked Games: “For years, slot providers have stuck to the same safe themes because they worked. And fair enough—people like what’s familiar. But familiarity gets boring. Players aren’t stupid; they’ve seen it all before.

At Wicked Games, we’re just making the kind of slots we’d actually want to play—ones that don’t take themselves too seriously, that make you laugh, maybe even make you uncomfortable. It’s not about being ‘edgy’ for the sake of it. It’s about giving players something with actual personality, something they’ll remember; something they would share.

Are adult-themed slots the future of iGaming? Maybe, maybe not. But games that feel fresh, that aren’t afraid to have a point of view? That’s where things are headed. And we’re all in for that.”

Johanna Backlund, Head of Marketing at Thunderkick: “In an industry where thousands of new games are released annually, the rise of playful, adult-themed slots is an intelligent PR move designed to make players and influencers take notice. When done the right way, it can be bold, fun, and spark conversation – a solid strategy to stand out in a competitive environment.

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The divisive question is whether these products have genuine staying power. They are entertaining to try and exciting to talk about, but do they encourage the kind of loyalty that drives player retention? These themes might capture the industry’s attention initially, but at the end of the day, it’s the gameplay, mechanics, math, and player experience, that determines longevity.

Rather than simply delivering the shock factor, the real challenge is ensuring the product itself has sufficient substance to keep players engaged session after session. The novelty may fade, and it is the overall quality of content that will ultimately define success.”

Josh Green, Managing Director of BetUp Media which operates influencer brands, Fruity Slots and Hideous Slots: “This reliance on well-known themes has arguably fostered a degree of stagnation within the iGaming ecosystem. While conventional genres undoubtedly retain broad appeal, their persistent repetition can lead to a lack of innovation and diversity, potentially tiring more seasoned players.

These make up a significant portion of our audience, those who engage with gambling content recreationally, and many now prefer adult-themed titles over traditional slots. Consequently, studios demonstrating a willingness to break free from this cycle have often experienced rapid growth and visibility, particularly among experienced players eager for novel and engaging content and across our streaming team seeking something new and entertaining to play to our audience.

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While some critics might attribute the success of adult-themed slots to mere shock value, their emergence represents a more nuanced strategy, a deliberate statement of differentiation that can capture the attention of players increasingly seeking alternatives in a saturated market. These studios’ success across our audience demonstrates that this approach is working.

Looking ahead, this push for differentiation raises the question of whether such widespread efforts will truly enable individual studios to stand out, or if the pendulum will begin to swing back towards more traditional approaches. The challenge will be maintaining a unique identity in a space that’s increasingly full of outliers.”

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Boomerang Partners hosted the highly anticipated Golden Boomerang Awards 2025 ceremony at the legendary San Siro Stadium. Over 400 partner teams worldwide participated in this landmark partner tournament, which has become one of the year’s top events in the affiliate marketing industry. It celebrated the brightest achievements in sports and other verticals of traffic performance.

The awards ceremony was attended by none other than Andrea Pirlo, AC Milan Legend and football icon. He personally congratulated the winners and presented the awards on stage, adding prestige and unforgettable energy to the evening.

Andrea Pirlo commented:

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“It’s a pleasure to be part of such an exciting event that brings innovation, performance, and community together. My congratulations to all the winners—your hard work truly stands out.”

11 awards were presented in key affiliate marketing categories. Kajino Media won the main award, the Grand Prix, for topping the sports leaderboard.

The owner of Kajino Media shared his joy and emotions: “Golden Boomerang Awards is a great test of our capabilities and expertise. This tournament allows us not only to evaluate our work but also to be recognized on a global level. For us, it’s just a great success to be a participant in this event. I had some expectations that we would win, but I wasn’t sure, to be honest. I’m happy!.”.

The event offered more than just an award ceremony.

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Guests enjoyed a VIP experience with exclusive access to the stadium, the Mondo Milan Museum, and the Official AC Milan Store. There, an Italian artist painted a T-shirt individually for all willing event participants.  The awards ceremony was accompanied by a show masterfully staged by renowned Italian director and showrunner Gabriele Rizzi, known for his work with top fashion houses and large-scale productions. Guests savored world-class entertainment from top DJs, fashion creatives, and Michelin-starred food.

One of the highlights was a charity auction featuring unique prizes:

• Commemorative watch celebrating the club’s 2003/2004 season victory
• Custom-designed ball with Andrea Pirlo’s autograph
• Exclusive Pirlo lot – premium wine
• T-shirt signed by the team forward, Rafael Leão

All proceeds — totaling 8,000 EUR — were donated to Fondazione Milan to support youth sports development

Benedetto Di Blasi, Fundraising and Digital Communication Officer of Fondazione Milan said: “Thanks to this fundraiser, in the next season 2025/26, Boomerang and its partners will support 27 children, either living with disabilities or in vulnerable environments, giving them the opportunity to play sports in safe and high-quality project spaces.”

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The Golden Boomerang Awards 2025 showcased how the worlds of sport, technology, and affiliate innovation continue to converge, with unforgettable moments, legendary guests, and record-breaking results. Boomerang Partners is already starting work on the tournament’s third season, which is rightly becoming an integral part of the industry.