Latest News
Hank Azaria Leads Star-studded Online Poker Home Game Series at PokerStars.net
Online poker unites stars from stage and screen for virtual battles and banter in the new Hank’s Home Game series at leading global online poker platform, PokerStars.net. The star-studded online PokerStars.net Home Game features six celebrities interacting and competing on camera to win their share of a $50,000 donation to the charities closest to their hearts.
Hosted by actor Hank Azaria, poker lovers and celebrity fans are invited to watch the action from the comfort of their own home. The first star-studded home game is live now on the PokerStars.net YouTube channel, and features Hank and friends Don Cheadle, Jon Hamm, Michael Ian Black, Josh Charles and Michael Cera competing to win the largest slice of $50,000 for their chosen charity. No charity chosen is left out as the amount donated by PokerStars.net on each celebrity’s behalf is determined by the amount of play money chips won by each player by the time the home game comes to an end.
Along with Azaria, there are plenty more guests set to take a hot seat at the Home Games table, including Amy Schumer and Jack Black.
Host Hank Azaria said: “Hank’s Home Game is all about great company and good conversation. Whilst we hope our Home Game will keep everyone entertained, it has also been a chance to continue raising money for charity. I am delighted that I have been able to work with PokerStars.net on this fun series, and I hope people enjoy it much as we enjoyed playing.”
Associate Director, Group Public Relations at PokerStars.net, Rebecca McAdam Willetts, said: “Providing entertainment for our community is at the heart of everything we do at PokerStars.net and Hank’s Home Game is a great reflection of this. Our Home Games are a great way for people to connect and compete for free from home. Hank and many of his talented guests’ natural passion for poker has made bringing them together for good causes a real pleasure. We hope it also provides entertainment for viewers at home.”
Hank’s Home Game follows on from Stars CALL for Action in May 2020 where more than $1 million was donated to charities as more than 90 celebrities came together to play poker. David Costabile took down the tournament and $100,000 was donated to his chosen charity World Central Kitchen to supply food to those who need it most.
PokerStars.net Home Games allow you to take your local home game onto the online felt, so you can play with friends and family from all over the world.
Play Free at PokerStars.net
This is not a gambling site and does not provide an opportunity to win real money.
Our games are intended for individuals aged 18 and above for amusement purposes only.
Practice or success at social games does not imply future success at real money gambling.
About PokerStars.net
PokerStars.net is ultimately owned by Flutter Entertainment plc. (LSE: FLTR) (EURONEXT: FLTR).
Play For Free at PokerStars.net. This site does not provide an opportunity to win real money. 18+ only. Play responsibly.
SOURCE PokerStars.net
Latest News
SOFTSWISS Developer Conference Highlights Engineering Strength in High-Load iGaming

SOFTSWISS, a global igaming software provider, has hosted one of its largest internal developer conferences. The closed-door event in Warsaw brought together over 100 product and engineering specialists to share their experience on building robust iGaming infrastructure, scalability, and technology resilience.
Designed to accelerate cross-functional collaboration and drive technical excellence, the conference agenda featured ten selected talks focused on mission-critical topics such as platform architecture, high-load performance, risk management, and structured thinking – all vital to the stability and success of modern iGaming operations.
“Behind every seamless gaming experience is a robust, well-architected platform that can perform under pressure,” said Sergey Kastukevich, Deputy Chief Technology Officer at SOFTSWISS. “This conference reflects our belief that high-performance technology is the foundation of long-term operator success. It’s where ideas are tested, knowledge is shared, and better systems are built.”
The speaker line-up was curated from a highly competitive pool, with three applications submitted for every available slot. The final agenda reflected both the technical depth and practical expertise required to operate at scale in the iGaming industry, offering value beyond core engineering topics.
“Most of the topics revolved around strategic challenges aimed at improving efficiency, stability, speed, cost, and process optimisation. That defines who we are as a company: we are a global tech company with 16 years of experience, our products are mature, and what matters now is how we process large volumes of data reliably and build scalable knowledge bases. These are applied, enterprise-level issues,” highlighted Stanislau Biarkovich, Principal Architecture Manager and one of the internal organisers of the conference.
Among the standout sessions were:
“An Economist’s Guide to Architecting and Building Web-Scale Platforms” – a talk connecting infrastructure decisions with economic principles, delivered by Brian Azzopardi, Head of Engineering.
“How Risk Management Techniques Could Make Business – and Your Life – More Effective” – a session by Sergei Laiter, Risk and Process Manager, highlighting the strategic thinking behind resilient tech systems.
Attendees included engineers and product leaders from SOFTSWISS offices across Europe.
As part of its broader commitment to innovation and community engagement, SOFTSWISS also participated in Code Europe 2025, one of the continent’s top tech festivals. Representing the company on the public stage, Artem Bychkov, Deputy Chief Security Officer, delivered a keynote titled “Groundhog Day: Lessons from 20 Years in Security”, shedding light on recurring cybersecurity blind spots and their impact on digital business resilience – including in iGaming.
With demand for stable, scalable, and secure platforms at an all-time high, SOFTSWISS continues to invest in its global engineering culture to ensure that its partners – including operators, aggregators, and affiliate programs – can grow with confidence.
About SOFTSWISS
SOFTSWISS is an international technology company with over 15 years of experience in developing innovative solutions for the iGaming industry. SOFTSWISS complies with a number of gaming licences and provides comprehensive software for managing iGaming projects. The company’s product portfolio includes the Online Casino Platform, the Game Aggregator with over 30,000 casino games, the Affilka Affiliate Platform, the Sportsbook Software and the Jackpot Aggregator. In 2013, SOFTSWISS revolutionised the industry by introducing the world’s first Bitcoin-optimised online casino solution. The expert team, based in Malta, Poland, and Georgia, counts over 2,000 employees.
The post SOFTSWISS Developer Conference Highlights Engineering Strength in High-Load iGaming appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Latest News
HIPTHER Launches Responsible Gambling Assessment Tool Across Its Global Gaming Media Network

HIPTHER, a leading media and events brand in the Gaming and Tech industries, has launched a new Responsible Gambling Assessment Tool, now live across all of its gaming media platforms. This quick, anonymous self-test is designed to help players better understand their relationship with gambling, encouraging safer play through awareness and early self-checks.
The “Play Responsibly” tool is backed by clinical research and built with user privacy at its core, based on the globally recognized Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI) – a 9-question framework used to assess gambling risk levels, from low to moderate or high.
No sign-up needed. No Cost. No data collected. No Judgement. Just honest insight.
Whether you’re simply curious or looking to take a proactive step toward support, this free tool delivers instant results and practical next steps – all in under two minutes.
Key Features:
- Completely anonymous – no registration or personal data required
- Instant results with tailored guidance
- Available in 5 languages
- Mobile-first and accessible across all devices
- Fully GDPR compliant
Designed to meet WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility standards, the tool ensures a smooth and inclusive user experience for everyone. With multilingual support and local resource integration, it helps diverse populations connect with trusted support networks in their region.
“While our media platforms primarily serve the B2B side of the industry, we know they’re also visited by players looking for insights and updates. That’s why it’s important for us to go beyond headlines and contribute real tools that support safer play. This assessment is one small, meaningful step toward that.” – Zoltán Tűndik, Co-Founder and Head of Business at HIPTHER.
Take the assessment today and share it with your community.
Because gambling should always be safe, informed, and fun.
Try it now on any of HIPTHER’s gaming media platforms:
By launching this tool, HIPTHER reaffirms its ongoing commitment to promoting transparency, responsibility, and player well-being in the global gaming industry. Together with our partners and audiences, we continue working toward a safer, more informed future for players everywhere.
The post HIPTHER Launches Responsible Gambling Assessment Tool Across Its Global Gaming Media Network appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Latest News
FC Bayern and Betano Sign Partnership Agreement

Premium Online Sports Betting and Gaming Brand Betano Joins Forces with Football Giant FC Bayern in a Landmark Three-Year Agreement
FC Bayern, the 34-time champions of Germany and six-time champions of Europe, has entered a three-year partnership with Betano, the leading international online sports betting and gaming brand owned by Kaizen Gaming. This strategic alliance designates Betano as an Official Partner of FC Bayern starting from the 2025-26 season and extending until the 2027-28 season.
Michael Diederich, FC Bayern Executive Vice Chairman commented: “We are delighted to have Betano as a new Official Partner of FC Bayern. Betano stands out as a global market leader in its field – highly innovative and always pushing forward – qualities that we hold in high regard and also claim for ourselves. With Betano at our side we have gained another reliable partner to help us reach our growth objectives and continue to strengthen our innovative edge”.
George Daskalakis, Kaizen Gaming CEO, stated: “Today marks an exciting new chapter for Kaizen Gaming and Betano, as we proudly join forces with FC Bayern. When we first set out on our journey, we could only dream of partnering with one of the most iconic clubs in world football. They stand at the top of the game and this partnership reflects just how far we have come as a company, with Betano now recognized among the top online gaming and betting brands worldwide”.
Julio Iglesias, Kaizen Gaming Chief Commercial Officer added: “Germany has always been one of the most important markets for us, the second where Betano ever launched. Now, we are announcing our biggest partnership in the country and we double down on our commitment to creating innovative, safe and responsible gaming experiences for German fans. Of course, FC Bayern exceeds the borders of Germany, with millions of fans across the world. As Betano expands its international footprint, this partnership empowers us to connect with people globally”.
The post FC Bayern and Betano Sign Partnership Agreement appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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