Eastern Europe
SBC Summit Tbilisi 2024 Promises Growth and a Deep-Dive into Eastern Europe & Central Asia
SBC Summit Tbilisi is poised to reclaim the spotlight on 25-26 June at the Sheraton Grand Tbilisi Metechi Palace, marking its early return after a highly successful inaugural edition in October 2023.
1,500 senior sports betting and iGaming executives will reconvene in the heart of Georgia’s capital, to solidify their foothold in the promising markets of Eastern Europe and Central Asia, while gaining invaluable insights into the nuances that shape industry dynamics.
SBC has once again partnered with SMH to organise SBC Summit Tbilisi, continuing the event’s partnership that began with the SBC Summit CIS in Kyiv in 2021. SMH is an international iGaming and sports management organisation based in Georgia, bringing valuable local knowledge to an event that incorporates unique elements reflective of the vibrant Eastern European and Central Asian markets.
Lasha Machavariani, Founder and CEO of SMH, said: “I’m thrilled that the SBC Summit Tbilisi is making a comeback to my beautiful home country of Georgia. Witnessing all the engaging conversations and networking that took place last year filled me with pride, affirming that the effort that goes into organising an event of this calibre is absolutely and undoubtedly worthwhile.
“Offering a platform for those keen on Eastern European and Central Asian markets feels not only rewarding but also essential, especially given all the buzz in these markets we’re diving into. If this event wasn’t on your radar yet, now’s the perfect time to start considering it.”
Andrew McCarron, Managing Director at SBC, commented: “Operators, suppliers and affiliates who want to make a mark in the region simply have to attend SBC Summit Tbilisi if they are going to compete successfully. These markets are tricky to thrive in without local knowledge, which is why SBC has partnered with SMH in order to provide the platform for companies to perform effectively.”
Centered on these dynamic regions, the event promises an in-depth exploration of key markets, including Georgia, Romania, Serbia, Bulgaria, Kazakhstan and Slovenia among others, and guarantees to be a melting pot of ideas and strategies tailored for these geographically diverse regions. The conference agenda will focus on trends including the new regulatory landscapes in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, the influence of innovations from crypto to AI, and new developments in eSports, payments, and influencer marketing, among other topics.
Last year, the host country had a strong operator presence during the inaugural summit, with industry leaders like Adjarabet, Betlive, Crocobet, Europebet, Leaderbet, LVBet, Superbet, TotoGaming and Vbet making their mark.
Past event attendees responded exceptionally well to the inaugural edition of the event. Tereza Tokmajyan, CMO of TotoGaming, called it an ‘excellent opportunity for operators and service providers from the region.’ Dmitry Starostenkov, CEO of EvenBet Gaming, described it as “featuring a very active and representative audience, outstanding topics, and speakers”. Additionally, Vakhtang Mdivani, CPO and Co-Founder of Promofy, praised the event, expressing: “Hosting such an exceptional event in Georgia for the first time and setting the bar so high was truly awesome”.
This year’s show floor is set to be significantly larger, featuring over 60 exhibitors and sponsors, effectively doubling the count from the previous year. Moreover, there is an anticipated 70% growth in the count of operator representatives, and affiliate representatives are poised to experience a 50% increase compared to the figures reported last year.
To cater to the growing interest, this year’s event will expand its agenda, commencing with a half-day conference on the opening day (25 June). This addition brings the total number of featured speakers to 60, marking a significant 50% increase from last year.
The first day will feature a poker tournament followed by the Official Opening Party sponsored by Setanta Sports, taking place at Stamba Hotel. On the second day, a VIP dinner exclusively for C-level executives will be held at the Republic Restaurant, followed by a Closing Party at the Republic Event Hall.
Eastern Europe
EveryMatrix launches ‘Academy for Heroes’ to help Ukraine military veterans develop IT careers
A new fully EveryMatrix-funded project aimed at helping veterans of the war in Ukraine transition to develop new careers in technology has launched in Lviv.
The NGO, entitled ‘Academy for Heroes’, is spearheaded by EveryMatrix and was inspired by its 300+ employees, based in Lviv in Ukraine, some of whom are fighting in the war.
There are hundreds of thousands of combatants in Ukraine, a number that is rising every day. Following their return from war, sometimes with serious injuries, many need social adaptation and work that can provide a more certain future.
The Academy will organise courses designed by leading experts in the IT industry, enabling former military personnel to gain the knowledge and skills needed for successful IT careers.
Beyond its primary goal of equipping veterans with IT skills, it also aims to help them successfully integrate into today’s labour market. EveryMatrix and several other local IT companies will be involved in the employment of veterans after they have completed courses.
Ebbe Groes, Group CEO and Co-Founder, EveryMatrix, said: “Our Lviv office is central to our continued success and growth. Ever since the country has experienced conflict we have supported our friends and colleagues, as well as charities, with much needed funds committing more than €2 million to date, and we will continue to help them.
“Now, we’re taking that one step further by setting up our second company NGO to ensure veterans receive the training and skills they need to return to work and develop successful careers in technology.
“The IT industry is one of the strongest parts of the Ukrainian economy, renowned worldwide for technical skills. I hope many will either join us or go on to join other IT companies, giving them hope and a more certain future for themselves and their families.”
Professor Oleksiy Druhov, CEO, Academy for Heroes, said: “This is the only continuously operating project of its kind in Ukraine for military veterans. Our goal is to teach four groups of veterans every year.
“Each group will have its own specialisation such as Project Management, Quality Assurance and Full stack to name just a few areas. We carefully monitor the Ukrainian IT market and only train the specialisms required.
“All participants will undergo internships at EveryMatrix and other leading Ukrainian IT companies during their studies and they will have the best teachers from the IT Industry. We are also planning to open a specialised, inclusive-friendly training centre at the end of 2024.”
This is the second fully funded NGO that EveryMatrix has initiated. In 2015 the iGaming technology provider established TeachStream supplying much needed funds and resources to disadvantaged children in Romania who might otherwise never have the opportunity to develop IT, computer science, mathematics and English skills.
The post EveryMatrix launches ‘Academy for Heroes’ to help Ukraine military veterans develop IT careers appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Eastern Europe
Soft2Bet Invest Wins the “Outstanding Contribution to Gaming 2024” Award at SiGMA East Europe
Soft2Bet is delighted to announce that its Soft2Bet Invest venture has won the Outstanding Contribution to Gaming 2024 award at this year’s SiGMA East Europe taking place this week in Budapest, Hungary.
The award celebrates executives and organisations that make significant impacts on the industry through technical innovation, advocacy or mentoring and investments. Winning the “Outstanding Contribution to Gaming 2024” award for this category is therefore fantastic recognition of Sof2Bet’s work and efforts in the field.
Soft2Bet Invest launched a €50m iGaming Innovation Fund to support innovative iGaming and casual gaming companies and provide financial and business support to entrepreneurs. It reaches across the corporate spectrum and is open to growth-stage and/or mature companies that are harnessing pioneering technologies in casual gaming, AI, traffic differentiators or behavioural-UX analytics.
Launched in 2024, Soft2Bet Invest has already attracted major interest from iGaming startups and visionaries wanting to innovate and revolutionise the sector. Its investment bracket ranges from €500K to €1m per individual project, with the investment strategy to be discussed on a case-by-case basis.
Martin Collins, Chief Business Development Officer at Soft2Bet, commented: “Winning this award is highly rewarding since we launched Soft2Bet Invest just this year. It shows the hunger there is among our industry peers for a specialist investment fund that can harness the energy within iGaming and turn entrepreneurial dreams into realities. Soft2Bet’s focus has always been innovation, of spirit, business and technology, and this award recognises those qualities. We’re truly delighted to have won it!”
The post Soft2Bet Invest Wins the “Outstanding Contribution to Gaming 2024” Award at SiGMA East Europe appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Eastern Europe
Imagine Live Expands Partnership with Betera: Launching a Dedicated Studio for the Belarusian Market
Imagine Live, a live casino solutions provider, announces a significant expansion in its partnership with Betera, a leading iGaming operator in Belarus. This collaboration will see the launch of a dedicated studio designed to deliver a highly competitive gaming experience for Betera’s players featuring a branded studio offering both Roulette and
Blackjack tables.
Strengthening Ties and Presence in the Belarusian Market
This new collaboration marks a milestone for Imagine Live as it further demonstrates its commitment to the Belarusian market. The beautifully designed studio provides a gaming experience that aligns perfectly with Belarusian players’ expectations.
Betera Studio Features
Standards in the Live Casino space are extremely competitive and as expected imagine live HD Streaming, Multi-lingual dealers and superb back office combined with the best studio designs in the market will surpass expectations of the both the partner and their players.
“We are delighted to expand our partnership with Betera through the launch of this dedicated studio,” said Hakob Manukyan, CEO of Imagine Live Armenia. “This initiative underscores our commitment to delivering top-quality, localized gaming experiences. By leveraging our bespoke technology and industry knowledge, we are poised to set new standards in the Belarusian iGaming market.”
Pavel Chernik, Head of Gambling Products at Betera, shared: “Our collaboration with Imagine Live, a live casino solutions provider, continues to expand. We are proud to unveil the launch of the dedicated studio, designed to deliver superior gaming experience featuring exclusive branded tables – Betera Blackjack 1 and Betera Roulette. This is a significant step for both companies, and we are thrilled about the opportunities that lie ahead with this collaboration.”
The post Imagine Live Expands Partnership with Betera: Launching a Dedicated Studio for the Belarusian Market appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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