Industry News
Digital Chain is a business statement. Iryna Kurochkina, Founder & CEO of DC, on the agency’s rebranding and ambitious plans
1. So, the first big gaming exhibition of the new decade, ICE London 2020, is here, and so is the crazy surprise: Digital Choo rebranding into Digital Chain! Tell us more about the idea and how long were you planning it.
The rebranding is a major change, and it came to us really naturally. Over the course of 3 years on the market we’ve developed an interconnected in-house infrastructure of services, won over great global companies as our clients, created many award-winning campaigns, and, in the end, we’ve changed. We have a larger grasp of understanding who we are and what value we present to our clients, partners, the advertising markets, and the world in general. So the aspiration for change came from the inside as a natural desire to match our external image with our internal values, the very essence of DC.
Digital Chain, ICE London 2020
What is Digital Chain? It is the power to break barriers and go above and beyond in pursuit of the outstanding results. It is intrinsically us — the international marketing agency that commits to using its complex knowledge and services to drive the process of brand establishment for every company that shares the same passion and beliefs with us.
2. Could you elaborate more on the practical implementation of the concept of rebranding?
The most obvious change is our brand identity embodied in all external branding, POS materials, merchandise and so on. However, Digital Chain is much more than visual changes. It is a business statement. It is about our plans, goals, and the services we bring to the market.
Every piece of our new image communicates exactly who we are and what value we carry to the world. Liquid metal is a key element of our renewed style: a symbol of the agency’s strength yet flexibility, the skills and expertise that complement the DNA chains of new strong brands that we help to create. Other new corporate colors add vibrancy to this philosophy, with Stark White to represent fearlessness, absolute freedom of action, purity of thought, the absence of chaos in our work processes, and Rich Black to reflect our passion for exploring the essence and solid, confident steps to conquer the unknown.
We are bold and daring in our aspiration to develop the international community, and this is essentially what the story’s about. In the near future, Digital Chain will connect even more markets all over the world, introducing its services to Asian and African clients. We will also contribute our expertise in niche verticals to the development of markets that have only recently adopted the global practices and undergo gambling legalization. And of course, we are about to expand our client portfolio both in niche and mainstream categories.
3. A general question on rebranding: If you are doing well, why should you rebrand? As they say in the US, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”. Isn’t this the mantra?
Change is the only constant thing in the world. To keep yourself in an old framework when you’ve grown, and become so, so much more, is simply wrong. True freedom comes from being sensitive – first of all, to yourself; from being honest; from accepting who and what you are and bringing the corresponding image into the world with responsibility and good intentions. This is how real difference is made- by being yourself to the fullest. It is exactly the same for businesses as for individuals.
4. A number of big companies have fallen off their hallowed perch in the last decade or so. Kodak, Thomas Cook, Nokia, the list goes on. Changing technologies played a big part in that. Do you think in this era of rapid emergence of disruptive technologies, just rebranding alone can help the companies to flourish?
In a fast-paced world that we live in today, visionaries and pathfinders set the reality that everyone else is battling to succeed in. So yeah, technological advancement must underlie any other changes, without a doubt!
Watching the global market closely, over some time you start to see the pattern of all sales, mergers, acquisitions – an ever-evolving live organism that aspires to reach its maximum potential. It is important to keep everything connected so if one part changes, the others naturally follow suit as well.
5. Specific to the gaming sector, how should a company go about rebranding? What should be the underlying factors a company should consider before making a decision to rebrand?
This company should answer a nominal question “Why?”. As indicated, one of the lasting trends in the gaming/gambling industry, which is highly relevant in 2020, is market oversaturation. Target audiences have difficult time telling companies apart from each other. You may ask if rebranding is the answer. It could be, but it also could not be the one. It is a combination of factors and external influences that have to be taken into account to decide whether rebranding is truly what a company needs.
During the process, you have to be true to your brand essence, consistent, and… there are really many ingredients to the development of a perfect rebranding. A reliable and proven marketing partner is highly recommended to ensure all the details are perfectly set, and that the new brand really stands out and communicates the right messages in the right tone of voice.
Industry News
CasinoWebScripts Enables Direct Provider Connections and Eliminates the Need for Aggregators
CasinoWebScripts, a leading provider of iGaming software solutions, is drawing attention to a powerful infrastructure model already in use by several clients — one that enables direct integration between online casino operators and game content providers. As the industry evolves, the company is now actively promoting this approach as a smarter alternative to traditional aggregation.
In the conventional model, aggregators act as intermediaries between content providers and casino platforms. While convenient, this structure often limits operators’ control over technical and commercial aspects, introduces latency and adds additional costs. CasinoWebScripts’ model removes the need for an aggregator by enabling operators to connect directly to game providers using a simplified and consistent integration method.
“Our goal is to simplify the way operators work with game studios, regardless of the type of casino they operate — whether it’s real-money, crypto, or social sweepstakes. By providing the tools and infrastructure for direct connections, we empower both sides to negotiate directly, optimize performance, and reduce third-party dependencies,” said Oscar Stevens, Head of Business Development at CasinoWebScripts.
Key Features of the Model Include:
• Direct Integration: Operators connect with game providers through a unified framework, without using an aggregator.
• Faster Load Times and Lower Latency: The streamlined architecture improves game performance and platform responsiveness.
• Independent Commercial Agreements: Operators and providers manage their own contracts, pricing and terms with full autonomy.
• Easy Expansion: The system supports the quick addition of new providers, with minimal integration overhead.
• Technology-Only Role: CasinoWebScripts supplies the infrastructure but does not interfere in commercial relationships.
This infrastructure shift reflects growing demand from operators looking for more autonomy in their business models. It also addresses concerns about transparency and technical bottlenecks that often arise with aggregator-based systems.
“Our platform is designed to serve those who want to scale fast and retain control over their operations. With this model, operators no longer have to compromise on performance or commercial independence,” added Stevens.
The post CasinoWebScripts Enables Direct Provider Connections and Eliminates the Need for Aggregators appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Your recent AML Outlook report highlights over €36 million in fines issued across Europe in just one year. What recurring weaknesses or compliance gaps are regulators most commonly identifying in payments and e-money firms?
John Gidla (JG): Regulators continue to flag underinvestment in anti-financial crime controls as a key concern for payments and e-money firms. Common themes include weak governance, limited oversight, and fragmented controls, all of which increase vulnerability to financial crime. There’s a growing expectation that firms scale their compliance frameworks in line with their risk exposure and growth trajectory
The report mentions that AML compliance can be costly—yet the reputational and financial risks of non-compliance are even greater. What are the most cost-effective measures firms can implement today to strengthen their AML frameworks without overwhelming their budgets?
JG: While not all firms can afford advanced compliance tools, strong governance remains one of the most cost-effective ways to reduce risk. Practical steps such as training staff on emerging threats, embedding a culture of accountability, and regularly updating frameworks as the business grows can go a long way in strengthening AML resilience without major spend.
With the creation of the EU’s new AMLA authority, do you expect a more consistent and centralized enforcement approach across Europe? How might this change how firms prepare for inspections and adapt their compliance strategies?
JG: AMLA has the potential to bring greater consistency to AML enforcement across the EU, addressing long-standing issues caused by fragmented supervision and uneven implementation by national authorities. Its impact will depend on how much direct oversight it gains, how assertively it acts on cross-border risks, and whether it can close the regulatory gaps that have permitted high-profile scandals. Firms should expect more rigorous and standardised inspections and will need to ensure their compliance programmes are not only locally robust, but scalable across jurisdictions.
Vixio emphasizes the importance of a proactive rather than reactive compliance culture. In your view, what does a ‘proactive’ AML strategy look like in 2025, and what technologies or best practices are leading firms adopting to stay ahead?
JG: A truly proactive AML strategy in 2025 extends beyond technology to encompass a strong compliance culture at every level of the organisation. Leading firms understand that combating financial crime isn’t just the responsibility of the compliance team — it’s integrated into day-to-day operations, with senior leadership driving risk awareness across departments. In terms of technology, firms are increasingly adopting AI, machine learning, and automated monitoring systems to detect suspicious activity early and reduce human error. However, culture plays a critical role; firms that foster a compliance-first mindset and invest in ongoing staff training are better positioned to adapt to emerging threats and ensure that their compliance frameworks evolve in step with business growth and digital transformation. A proactive approach also means constantly reassessing risk and using data to predict and prevent issues, rather than just reacting to them. With regulations in constant flux, and regulators ramping up enforcement, proactive compliance looks like implementing strategies to anticipate regulations, not just react to them. In Vixio’s PC Outlook Report, we found that a clear majority of firms surveyed are using some form of outsourcing for their compliance functionality, turning to firms like Vixio to get ahead of regulatory change.
Thanks to John Gidla, Head of Payments Compliance at Vixio, for his insightful responses.
The post Exclusive Commentary from Vixio On Their AML Outlook Findings appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Welcome to our weekly roundup of American gambling news again! Here, we are going through the weekly highlights of the American gambling industry which include the latest news and new partnerships. Read on and get updated.
Latest News
Bragg Gaming Group announced it has reached an agreement with its lenders, certain entities controlled by Doug Fallon, to repay USD 5 million of its outstanding USD 7 million secured promissory note and to extend the maturity of the remaining USD 2 million until June 6, 2025 (the Note). The company is in the process of securing a new revolving credit facility from a third-party lender. This facility is expected to offer more favourable terms than the existing Note, including lower borrowing costs and improved drawdown flexibility. All other terms of the original Note remain unchanged.
PENN Entertainment Inc announced plans for an expected $180–$200 million project to relocate its Ameristar Casino Hotel Council Bluffs (Ameristar) riverboat casino operations to a new, state-of-the-art land-based property to be rebranded as Hollywood Casino Council Bluffs (Hollywood Council Bluffs). The proposal is approved by the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission in conjunction with a 15-year extension of Ameristar’s partnership with the nonprofit Qualified Sponsoring Organisation (QSO) Iowa West Racing Association. All commercial operators in Iowa are required to have an operating agreement with a QSO licensed to conduct gaming operations. Under the proposed plan, the new Hollywood Council Bluffs is expected to include roughly 125,000 square feet of new development with approximately 58,000 square feet of gaming space.
PENN Entertainment Inc announced that it intends to nominate Johnny Hartnett and Carlos Ruisanchez for election to its Board of Directors following discussions with HG Vora Capital Management LLC (HG Vora). Ron Naples has informed the Board that he will retire from the Board, effective immediately. Barbara Shattuck Kohn and Saul Reibstein have notified the Company that they will not stand for reelection at the 2025 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. The Board now comprises eight directors, seven of whom are independent.
Partnerships
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and Genius Sports Limited have announced a significant extension of their long-term partnership, reinforcing their shared commitment to innovation, transparency and the integrity of college athletics. Under the expanded agreement, Genius Sports has been appointed as the exclusive distributor of official NCAA data to licensed sportsbooks for all post-season tournaments, including March Madness, through 2032. This long-term agreement ensures the delivery of fast, accurate and secure data to the regulated sports betting market.
PrizePicks, the largest daily fantasy sports operator in North America, announced that it has been named the Official Daily Fantasy Partner of the San Francisco Giants. The new partnership strengthens the DFS leader’s presence in professional baseball and features digital and in-park activations at Oracle Park. As part of the multi-year partnership, PrizePicks branding will be showcased prominently throughout Oracle Park with rotating signage behind home plate and LED signage on each baseline. PrizePicks logos will be featured across the K-Counter in right field, creating an interactive experience for fans in the ballpark. Fans seated on top of the right field wall near the strikeout counter will have the opportunity to flip over the PrizePicks branded signs, revealing a “K” for each strikeout earned by a Giants pitcher.
The post Gaming Americas Weekly Roundup – April 28-May 4 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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