Conferences in Europe
Nordic Gambling Keeps GamingTECH CEE Posted on Nordic Updates
HIPTHER Agency and the #hipthers are delighted to introduce the Nordic Updates Sponsor of the upcoming GamingTECH CEE Summit taking place in Budapest, on 26-27 September, 2023!
Nordic Gambling is the only legal firm in the Nordic countries specialising in gambling related law such as licensing, compliance advice and public affairs.
Having extensive experience in the industry through successful collaborations with operators, suppliers, service providers and Government regulators, Nordic Gambling is the ideal partner to keep the CEE region posted on the latest news from the Nordics! Especially since they have been closely involved in the development of the law and regulation in a number of European jurisdictions, including Denmark and Sweden.
We caught up with Maria McDonald, Founding Partner at Nordic Gambling, to find out more about the firm that helped shape gambling regulation in the Nordics, get their expert opinion on the current status of the industry, and hear their estimations for the future.
Hi, Maria, thank you for joining us today! Can you please introduce yourself to our readers and tell us a few things about your role at Nordic Gambling?
I am a Swedish lawyer and a founding partner of Nordic Gambling. I consider myself specialized in all legal matters related to gambling, including licensing, regulatory and general compliance matters. I also have worked extensively within media, sponsorships, dispute resolution, IT and data protection.
Previous experience includes roles as Head of Legal in Unibet and General Counsel Scandinavia in Lagardère Sports. I have also previously acted as Chairman of the Danish Online Gambling Association (DOGA) and treasurer of the Swedish Branschföreningen för Onlinespel (BOS).
How did the idea for a law firm specialising in the gambling industry occur? Did the founding partner(s) have any prior experience with the industry, or did they happen to spot a gap in the legal services market?
Yes, all founding partners have previous experience from the gambling industry. In addition to my own experience as Head of Legal for a leading operator, Morten Ronde has worked in the industry for more than 20 years, including for the Danish Gambling Authority and as head of the Danish trade group Spillebranchen (Danish Online Gambling Association). Furthermore Henrik Norsk Hoffmann has specialized in gambling law, corporate and commercial law and arbitration for over 14 years and has been the lead counsel for some of the most important court cases regarding gambling in the Danish market.
The idea to start a firm in the already re-regulated Danish market was originally founded between Morten and Henrik in 2017 and when the re-regulation in Sweden started to take shape, I decided to join the exciting opportunity to also offer an office in Stockholm.
Do the Nordic countries share a common legislative framework for gambling compliance and regulation, or are there notable differences among them?
Currently the Swedish and Danish markets are re-regulated and have a lot in common. The Swedish Gambling Act used the Danish Gambling Act as a starting point and even though there are some important differences these days, the similarities are striking.
Norway and Finland are currently markets with monopolies in place but as many will be aware, the Finnish market is moving and we can anticipate a re-regulation there in a not too distant future. It will be interesting to continue to follow these developments and you can rest assured that Nordic Gambling will be looking to provide services in Finland too.
What do you consider the most important legislative step for the gambling industry in the Nordics in the last few years?
Definitely the abolishment of the monopoly in Finland and hopefully eventually also Norway.
Hipther’s GamingTECH CEE that you are sponsoring, is the leading gaming industry event for the Central and Eastern Europe region. What are the fundamental differences (if any) between the legal framework and regulations of the Nordics and CEE for gambling?
I think it is very difficult to give specific examples. The European markets for online gambling are still so fragmented. The positive news and something that is a similarity is that more and more countries are moving towards regulated markets where there is not just one, state owned, actor in the gambling field. My hope is that the gambling markets will become more and more similar with common standards on e.g. how to counter problem gambling and that we will see implementation of best practices here.
Closing, what is your advice to the participants of GamingTECH CEE Summit, in terms of their operations in the Nordic region?
Make sure you have a good understanding of the legal and regulatory requirements. Sanctions are harsh, both under monopoly markets and the re-regulated Danish and Swedish regimes. A good start is to use Nordic Gambling for your legal advice 🙂
Outro:
Thank you very much for your time and insightful responses, Maria! We are thankful to Nordic Gambling for their continued support and for sharing their expertise with our readers.
For more information about the law firm, and to seek their legal advice, get in touch with Nordic Gambling here.
We look forward to seeing you in Budapest at GamingTECH CEE for the annual reunion of the best companies and professionals from Gaming and Technology in Central and Eastern Europe!
Join the #hipthers and Nordic Gambling in an event that will redefine the future of gaming in the CEE region! Get Your Tickets for GamingTECH CEE Now!
If you’re looking to contribute to the iGaming industry’s most established events and expand your network in the industry, Become A Hipther Event Sponsor!
Central Europe
EGT will be a gold sponsor of Casino Operations Summit 2025

Euro Games Technology will partner with the Casino Operations Summit for another year in a row. The Bulgarian gaming equipment manufacturer will be a gold sponsor of this year’s event, taking place from May 13 to 15 in Nova Gorica, Slovenia.
The conference is tailored to European multi-channel casino operators and will traditionally bring together keynote speakers who will elaborate on the latest topics in the industry. This year’s main themes will focus on how land-based casinos can successfully address the challenges of the modern world, remaininng relevant and attractive to players, and navigate the ever-growing importance of Casino Online Systems and Casino Management Systems.
In addition, attendees will be able to enjoy a selection of EGT’s newest high-potential products. Among the highlights will be the S 32-32 ST cabinet, which is part of the latest Supreme slot series. Following the contemporary design trends with its 2 high-resolution 32-inch UHD 4K monitors and a frameless UHD 4K display, this model will offer visitors an engaging gaming experience thanks to its numerous ergonomic features. It will also present the Supreme Red Selection and Supreme Bonus Prize Bonus Buy Selection multigames. The mixes offer a rich variety of well-known and brand-new slot titles from the company’s portfolio, allowing everyone to find their preferred type of game.
The slot display will be complemented by the jackpot top performer Bell Link with the multigame Bell Link 2, Bell Link Boost, as well as the popular cabinet G 50 J2 ST.
The post EGT will be a gold sponsor of Casino Operations Summit 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Conferences in Europe
Portside Game Assembly announces talks and roundtables for June 27th’s premiere of the conference for indie game leaders
Gamecity Hamburg is setting sail with the premiere edition of Portside Game Assembly – a dedicated B2B conference for international indie game leaders – taking place aboard a ship cruising Hamburg’s famous harbour on June 27. With a carefully curated program of keynotes, impulse talks, and roundtables, the conference offers a rare opportunity for studio directors and decision makers to connect in a focused and collaborative setting. Designed to spark fresh perspectives and actionable insights, the event brings together voices from acclaimed indie studios worldwide like Benjamin Laulan (COO & Co-Founder Evil Empire), Philomena Schwab (Founder Stray Fawn Studio), Søren Lundgaard (CEO Ghost Ship Games), Mauricio García (Studio Director The Game Kitchen), Kevin Zuhn (Creative Director & Co-Founder Young Horses Inc.), and more speakers. Tickets for the full conference experience, including a Networking Brunch and the Games Industry Party, are available at portsideassembly.com.
As the premiere of the Portside Game Assembly on June 27 is approaching, the laser-focused program for indie game leaders takes shape.
Keynotes, impulse talks and roundtables: This is the program
By offering a confidential setting for studio directors, the Portside provides value through relevant conversations and strategic networking, which is also reflected in the diverse yet focused conference program. These are some of the program highlights:
- Keynote: Benjamin Laulan (COO & Co-Founder Evil Empire): The “Triple-i Initiative Deep Dive” keynote on how to create your own announcement space and talk directly to your audience when you can’t really relate to other existing showcases.
Impulse Blocks:Impulse Blocks consist of two to three impulse talks, all of which relate to an overarching topic, followed by an open discussion about the perspectives shown and an opportunity for participants to share their own experiences. The discussions will be moderated by Mariève Beauchemin (Programs Director & Co-Founder Indie Asylum) and Andreas Suika (Creative Director & Game Designer).
- Mining for Your Next Gem – How to Decide which Games to Develop
A defining and crucial decision for every indie game studio is: what of the (probably many) game ideas should be pursued? Where should studios allocate their resources – and what game will help a studio prevail? Three speakers will share their approaches to these questions in 10-minute impulse talks:
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- Philomena Schwab (Founder Stray Fawn Studio): Game Idea Validation
- Jonas Tyroller (Founder Grizzly Games): You Don’t Need a Hook
- René Habermann (Director bippinbits): Don’t Ship the Wrong Game
- Games Are Made by People – How to Foster a Good Company Culture
Founding and maintaining an independent game studio and managing a small to mid-size team comes with a lot of responsibility: from growing or having to downsize a team to maintaining a company culture where talent is nurtured, developed, and kept long-term.
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- Mauricio García (Studio Director The Game Kitchen): Keeping the Indie Mindset while Going Big
- Kevin Zuhn (Creative Director & Co-Founder Young Horses Inc.): Hold Your Horses: Why Slow is How We Grow
- From Dev to Dev – Why to Invest in Other Studios
More and more indie studios take the leap to market not only their own games but also put their resources and experiences on games from other developers. Two speakers will share their motivations and learnings from investing in games and studios that are not their own:
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- Søren Lundgaard (CEO Ghost Ship Publishing): Developer by Day, Publisher by Night
- Christian Nyhus Andreasen (COO Fair Games): How to Lose 50% and Still Prosper – Angel Investment Lifestyle
Roundtables:
Roundtables have a more interactive concept than impulse blocks and encourage participants to discuss all aspects of the overarching question from the very beginning
- Roundtable 1: Mobile Ports – When, Why & How? Moderated by Ali Farha (Senior Producer Star Stable Entertainment)
- Roundtable 2: Stronger Together – Business Cooperations Between Indies. Moderated by Manny Hachey (Creative Director Positive Impact Games)
- Roundtable 3: (Self-)Publishing – The Good, the Bad, the Ugly. Moderated by Sophie Atkin (Director & Founder Secret Sauce)
- Roundtable 4: Longtail FTW – How to Make the Most out of Your Game. Moderated by Leonie Wolf (Associate Art Director Maschinen-Mensch)
The Portside Game Assembly website offers a detailed view on speakers, program topics and participating studios: https://portsideassembly.com/program/
The premiere of the Portside Game Assembly is supported by these great sponsors and partners: Photon and Twin Harbour Interactive!
Selection of already confirmed participants:
More than 60 studios from over 15 countries have already registered for the Portside Game Assembly conference on board the MS Princess. Besides already announced participants like Evil Empire, Stray Fawn Studio, The Game Kitchen, Toukana Interactive, Ghostship Publishing, and others, further acclaimed studios join the conference:
- Digital Sun (Moonlighter, Cataclismo) / Spain
- Keen Games (Enshrouded) / Germany
- Young Horses Inc. (Bugsnax, Octodad) / USA
- Gamious (Lake, Turmoil) / Netherlands
- Color Gray Games (The Case of the Golden Idol) / Latvia
- Massive Damage (Star Renegades) / Canada
- Beam NG (BeamNG.drive) / Germany
Further participating studios can be found on the Portside Game Assembly.
The post Portside Game Assembly announces talks and roundtables for June 27th’s premiere of the conference for indie game leaders appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Conferences in Europe
Inaugural iGaming Event for Technology Leaders: Technology in Gaming Conference 2025

The iGaming industry is getting a dedicated space for its most forward-thinking technical leaders with the launch of the Technology in Gaming Conference 2025 (TiG 2025) — an exclusive new event created specifically for CTOs, CIOs, and senior technology stakeholders in the iGaming world.
Taking place on 1st July 2025 as part of London iGaming Week in partnership with iGB Live!, this specialist conference will bring together some of the most innovative minds in technology to explore the future of cybersecurity, infrastructure, artificial intelligence, compliance, and scalability. TiG 2025 is designed to give technical leaders a forum tailored to the real challenges and opportunities shaping iGaming today and in the years to come.
“I am delighted to see other organisers bringing their own events that meet the need of specialist verticals within the industry as part of London iGaming week. The team at iGB L!VE are pleased to be able to support this event, and encourage iGaming senior IT professionals to join what we know will be an event that offers excellent content and networking opportunities for them” said Naomi Barton, Portfolio Director at Clarion – Organiser of iGB Live!
Topics on the agenda include:
- Scalable architecture & infrastructure
- AI & machine learning in iGaming
- Compliance & security in regulated markets
- Future-ready platform innovation
- Engineering teams, DevOps, and automation
“As an industry driven by technology I think it’s important to create a space that speaks specifically to the leaders developing and driving the change that has such a big impact on the growth and development of such an exciting sector” commented Shona ODonnell, Event Director.
Pretty Technical, a leading provider of iGaming software and platform solutions, is proud to be named the headline sponsor of this inaugural event. The company’s commitment to innovation and modern architecture makes it a natural fit for an event designed to shape the next chapter of gaming tech.
“As a business that thrives on building technology designed for the next decade, not the last, we’re thrilled to support TiG 2025 and connect with the talented tech leaders shaping the future of iGaming,” said Emma Blaylock, CEO Pretty Technical.
The event is also sponsored by Claranet, experts in modernising and managing critical applications and infrastructure 24×7, and Marshall Wolfe, a dedicated hiring consultancy specialising in digital and technology sectors.
Registration is now open with tickets currently discounted by £200 until 31st May.
The post Inaugural iGaming Event for Technology Leaders: Technology in Gaming Conference 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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