Conferences in Europe
CEEGC Budapest brings back the magic to the CEE and Balkans region with the 2022 comeback conference
CEEGC Budapest and CEEG Awards shine again as comeback event brings magic back to the region
Two weeks ago, on 16 September, industry experts of the CEE and Balkans region gathered in Budapest for the 7th edition of the Central and Eastern European Gaming Conference (CEEGC). The conference was held at its now traditional location, The Ritz-Carlton in Budapest, and the participants enjoyed quality learning and networking sessions throughout the day.
The team at Hipther Agency would like to thank the excellent support of the conference sponsors: Nordic Gambling, Endorphina, UltraPlay, Oddin.gg, Global Bet and NETSHOP ISP.
There have been many hand-shakes, business cards exchanges, hugs, and smiling faces in Budapest during the event and you can find the full photo gallery at the following link: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjA7Vif
The panel discussions approached regulatory, tax, and operations in markets such as Hungary, Romania, Czechia, Poland, Bulgaria, Montenegro, Serbia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Sweden, Denmark, and Ukraine.
The experts who joined the panel outlined some of the main aspects of each market and here are headlines:
Czechia: “The first step was made, but the improvement will take time.” – Petr Kozák – IFGR Lawyer and Secretary General
Hungary: “It will be a very tricky position for new online gaming operators.” – Gábor Helembai – Counsel in the Corporate Practice Group of the Budapest office of TaylorWessing
Romania: “The good news in Romania is that the law is going to change and hopefully it will change for the benefit of the operators.” – Dan Iliovici – Vice President at Rombet
Romania: “Taxes are really high in the iGaming industry. That’s the bottom line.” – Andrei Cosma – Managing Associate at SIMION & BACIU
Sweden: “We [Sweden] are going from a left-wing government to a centre-right-wing government, so I am expecting some changes.” – Gustaf Hoffstedt – Secretary-General at the Swedish Trade Association for Online Gambling
Denmark: “We really find these regulatory steps [in Denmark] counterproductive.” – Stephan Normann Østergaard – Nordic Gambling team Denmark
Poland: “I’d like to debunk some of the myths saying that it is difficult to enter the Polish market.” – Marek Plota – Founding Attorney at RM Legal & Gaming In Poland
Ukraine: “I’ve heard some good things about Poland. (…) We [Evoplay] are looking to enter Sweden and Denmark as well.” – Vladimir Malakchi – Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) at Evoplay Entertainment
Serbia, Bosnia & Herzegovina: “I believe, the biggest problem we have is the education of the players. (…) That’s also why land-based casinos are so popular.” – Lazar Miučin – CEO and Co-Founder of iGaming Advisor
Serbia, Montenegro: “There is a similar political uncertainty in Montenegro as well. There is a big chance that after the potential elections, the situation will be the same as now, which means the same parties would have to negotiate.” – Luka Popović – Partner at BDK Advokati
Bulgaria: “Despite the new players on the [Bulgarian] market, the competition is still very low.” – Silviia Baykoucheva – Senior Compliance Officer at Amusnet Interactive
The technological advancements of the online gaming industry: “We need to understand where this [AI, NFT, Crypto, Blockchain] is going (…) and how it will effect us.” – Robert Dowling – Chief Commercial Officer at GlobalBet
The technological advancements of the online gaming industry: “It is very likely that crypto will be regulated in some form, and players will understand that it is not anything illegal. (…) Once that happens, the industry will experience a new boost.” – Péter W. Szabó – CEO of AceTech
The technological advancements of the online gaming industry: “[In eSports] most of the betting volume (86%) comes in live. (…) The prize pools of eSports are coming to match normal sports.” – Vladan Blagojevic – Oddin.gg’s Marketing Project Manager
Responsible Gaming: “I think we should let the academics sit down and work out a system that provides information [on problem gaming] that is beyond any doubt.” – Dan Iliovici – Vice President at Rombet
Responsible Gaming: “Entain (…) is getting more and more involved in the prevention of problem gaming.” – Bill Pascrell, III – Partner at Princeton Public Affairs Group, Inc.
The video recordings of the panel discussions are available on-demand on HIPTHER TV. You can access it here: https://hipther.com/tv/premium-access-ceegc-budapest-2022/
– You can also order the 2022 full collection of conference recordings (4 conferences) and benefit from a substantial discount. You can find more details here: https://hipther.com/tv/premium2022/
“We are delighted about the outcome of CEEGC Budapest and being the final in-person event we host this year, I would personally like to thank all participants who joined us over the course of 2022 in Vilnius, Prague, and recently in Budapest. It has been a very busy year with many conferences colliding in several months, but it is important that the industry has evolved to a new level. We would also like to thank our media partners for the coverage throughout the year. We are looking forward to hosting our final virtual event this year, The HIPTHER FESTIVAL, and will soon announce the 2023 calendar with many new changes coming to our portfolio of in-person events and virtual meetups. So, watch this space for our upcoming announcements,” stated Zoltán Tűndik, Co-Founder and Head of Business at Hipther Agency
Besides the panel discussions and networking session, the winners of the 2022 edition at the CEEG Awards have also been revealed, after a final secret vote by the attending participants.
With all this been being said, the #hipthers are busier than ever and many new announcements will land soon in your inbox, social media channels, and news outlets.
Hipther Agency is the parent brand of European Gaming, PICANTE, WireUp Zone, Gaming Americas, eSports Connect, the HIPTHER news app, and the WireUp networking app found on the Play Store.
To receive constant updates from Hipther Agency and conference agenda updates, subscribe here: http://eepurl.com/hfyZxf
For sponsorship/speaking inquiries, make sure to reach out to Zoltan Tuendik (Co-Founder and Head of Business at Hipther Agency) at [email protected] / [email protected]
For media-related inquiries, please contact Alexandru Marginean (Marketing Specialist at Hipther Agency) at [email protected]
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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