Conferences in Europe
When 5 Votes Make All the Difference: A Special Moment at the GamingTECH CEE Awards

At this year’s GamingTECH CEE Awards, we witnessed something rare—and pretty remarkable—in the “Best iGaming CEO in CEE” category.
With 214 total votes cast across 9 nominees, two names clearly rose to the top, standing apart from a highly competitive field:
- Vlastimil Venclik, CEO at Oddin.gg
- Dario Jurčić, CEO at NSoft
But here’s where it gets interesting: the difference between them? Just 5 votes.
That’s right—after weeks of online voting and a live secret ballot from summit participants, the final count came down to a 5-vote margin. In a category filled with respected leaders, innovators, and visionaries, two CEOs clearly resonated with the industry in a big way.
And while only one person can technically take home the winner’s trophy, this razor-thin result was too significant to ignore. So, for the first time in the history of the GamingTECH CEE Awards, we decided to introduce something new:
- An Honorary Runner-Up Trophy for “Best iGaming CEO in CEE” awarded to Dario Jurčić, CEO of NSoft.
Why This Matters
The intent behind this decision is simple: When excellence is nearly indistinguishable, it deserves to be recognized.
Dario Jurčić has played a vital role in expanding NSoft’s influence, strengthening its presence in new markets, and leading with a people-first approach in a rapidly evolving sector. His visibility, leadership, and impact were clearly acknowledged by the voting community—and with just a handful of votes separating him from the top spot, it felt only right to shine a spotlight on that achievement.
A Testament to a Vibrant Industry
The closeness of this race also speaks volumes about the caliber of leadership we’re seeing in the Central and Eastern European iGaming space. With companies like Oddin.gg and NSoft pushing boundaries in their respective verticals, the region continues to establish itself as a dynamic force in the global gaming landscape.
We congratulate Vlastimil Venclik on his well-earned win, and we extend our heartfelt appreciation and applause to Dario Jurčić for standing out in such a competitive field.
Sometimes, even second place can tell a powerful story—and this year, it certainly did.
The post When 5 Votes Make All the Difference: A Special Moment at the GamingTECH CEE Awards appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Conferences in Europe
Avoiding black-market dominance? Get insights and remedies at next week’s GiH Conference!

As a result of growing regulatory pressure and increasing tax rates, black-market operators have made significant gains in the Netherlands in recent months.
The Netherlands Gambling Authority currently estimates that unlicensed operators have managed to capture more than half of total online GGR.
This year’s Gaming in Holland Conference – which takes place Thursday, June 5 – will feature many sessions specifically dedicated to understanding & avoiding (further) black-market growth:
- Nederlandse Loterij CEO, Arjan Blok will discuss (among other things) his company’s ongoing civil proceedings against Costa Rica-based operator LalaBet.
- Renske Fikkers, Head of Market Supervision at the Netherlands Gambling Authority, will further clarify the regulator’s approach to combating illegal gambling.
- Josh Hodgson, COO of H2 Gambling Capital, will share the latest estimates of the current size of the offshore online market, as well as future growth projections.
- Henk Willem Smits, investigative reporter at Follow the Money, will highlight ownership structures and methods of popular black-market operators.
- Christian Heins, Director iGaming at Tipico, will outline how licensed operators can effectively hurt illegal competitors by pressuring B2B suppliers.
All this, of course, in addition to a loaded program that will cover the latest political developments, the impact of further tax increases, M&A, AI, marketing & much more.
Breakout sessions, networking & additional information
Besides an impressive main-stage program, the 2025 GiH Conference also offers five highly practical breakout sessions to help our attendees deal with their day-to-day business concerns:
- B2B licensing for the Dutch market? (Magno Neiva, Head of Compliance, Altenar)
- Bonuses, promotional games & player protection: Navigating the regulatory landscape (Joris Crone, Lawyer, Franssen Tolboom Advocaten)
- Elevating the player journey: Sustainable growth through responsible engagement (Janez Dovžan, Commercial Director PAM – Turnkey Solutions, Bragg Gaming Group)
- Platform technology in the Netherlands (Brian Forth, Commercial Director, Finnplay Technologies)
- Lessons learned from compliance testing in the Netherlands (Sander Hoogendoorn, Business Development Manager, Trisigma)
Lastly, don’t miss our traditional boat tour through Amsterdam’s picturesque canals, festive networking drinks at Holland Casino Amsterdam, and the opportunity to meet the key decision makers in the Dutch regulated gambling market.
Check out our full program here: https://bit.ly/GiHC2025_Agenda.
Or click here to register now: https://bit.ly/GiHC2025!
The post Avoiding black-market dominance? Get insights and remedies at next week’s GiH Conference! appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Balkans
EGT Digital at Belgrade Future Gaming 2025: Get ready to be fascinated

On 27 and 28 May the Serbian capital will once again host Belgrade Future Gaming exhibition. EGT Digital will participate in it along with EGT for another year in a row. Both companies will expect their guests on stand E1.
EGT Digital will reveal its rich gaming world, including the jackpot bestsellers Bell Link, Clover Chance, High Cash, and Single Progressive Jackpot, as well as over 140 casino games on different themes, which have presence in more than 50 markets worldwide. Visitors will also be able to learn more about the newest addition to the provider’s jackpot portfolio: the 4-level multi-denomination Gods & Kings Link. Currently including 2 games: Glorious Alexander and Ape of Luck, it will offer players an exciting experience full of great winnings, attractive bonuses, and a lot of fun.
The company’s iGaming platform X-Nave will also be on display. Featuring 4 main modules: Gaming Aggregator, Sport Product, CRM Engine, and Payment Gateway, it stands out with great flexibility, thanks to which each of the modules can function as part of the turnkey solution or operate independently, as they allow integration with third-party developments.
The Gaming Aggregator will present its vast range of over 13,000 titles from more than 130 popular providers together with numerous functionalities for content customization. The Sport Product will demonstrate its rich sports and esports content across a number of markets globally. The CRM Engine with its player management tools and bonus features, as well as the Payment Gateway, covering a rich diversity of payment methods, will further expand operators’ options to create more personalized and engaging offerings for their clients.
“Participating in Belgrade Future Gaming has always been very rewarding for us and I have every reason to believe that this year’s edition will once again bring us excellent results,” said Tsvetomira Drumeva, Head of Sales at EGT Digital. She added: “We can’t wait to meet with our valued current partners and potential future customers from the region and show them our latest innovations, that can make their business even more successful.”
The post EGT Digital at Belgrade Future Gaming 2025: Get ready to be fascinated appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Balkans
EGT’s high-potential novelties to fascinate operators and players at Belgrade Future Gaming 2025

Belgrade Future Gaming 2025 is just around the corner. EGT will traditionally participate in the event, showcasing a well-curated selection of brand-new and top-performing products, which will be available at stand E1.
The company will showcase its latest series of slot cabinets Supreme, presented by the S 32-32 St and S 32-32 Up models. Powered by the Exciter IV platform, they will captivate visitors’ attention with their 2 high-resolution 32-inch UHD 4K monitors and a frameless UHD 4K display. The machines will dive players into the fascinating world of Supreme Selection multigames – Supreme Green Selection, Mega Supreme Fruits Selection, Supreme Red Selection, and Bonus Prize Bonus Buy Supreme Selection, offering a wide diversity of new games and well-known classic titles from EGT’s portfolio.
The guests will also be able to try out the Phoenix cabinets PH 27-27 St and PH 50 V St. These models will be among the highlights at EGT’s stand, standing out with their attractive design and numerous ergonomic features. They will be supplied with the jackpot bestseller Bell Link with its popular mixes Bell Link 1 and 2.
EGT will showcase its ETG solutions. The G R6 C roulette will be on display to provide visitors with an exciting gaming experience with its 6 27-inch HD touchscreen monitors and the option to choose between European and American wheels.
The company’s casino management system Spider will introduce its latest modules, allowing operators to make managing the daily activities in their gaming establishments easy and effective.
EGT Digital will also present its wide range of iGaming solutions. The provider will showcase its rich variety of instant and slot games, jackpot products, as well as the in-house developed “all-in-one” betting platform X-Nave with its 4 main modules, giving operators everything they need to build and grow their online business.
Aleksandar Kliska, General Director of EGT Group d.o.o. Serbia, commented: “I am very glad that we will participate in Belgrade Future Gaming once again, as it is among the most important gaming exhibitions not only in Serbia, but also in the region. The event will allow us to showcase our latest products to the key players in the industry, strengthen our current partnerships, and start new collaborations.”
The post EGT’s high-potential novelties to fascinate operators and players at Belgrade Future Gaming 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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