Digitain debuts in Belgium via MagicBetting Online partnership

Europe

AGBrief Editorial

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January 15, 2026

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Digitain debuts in Belgium via MagicBetting Online partnership

Through a new partnership with MagicBetting Online, Digitain has strengthened its European footprint by entering Belgium’s regulated iGaming sector.

This move underscores Digitain’s commitment to regulated European markets and represents a significant step in its ongoing expansion strategy.

Under the agreement, MagicBetting Online — a leading online betting operator in Belgium — has integrated Digitain’s multi-award-winning Sportsbook and migrated to Digitain’s advanced Centrivo iGaming platform, gaining a full suite of engagement tools, including gamification features, a dynamic bonus engine, real-time tournament modules, and customizable multi-layer progressive jackpots.

Ani Mkrtchyan, Digitain — _{Ani Mkrtchyan, Chief Sales Officer at Digitain}

Ani Mkrtchyan, Chief Sales Officer at Digitain, commented: “We’re proud to bring Digitain’s technology to the Belgian market, one of the most strictly regulated in Europe. This partnership goes beyond simply launching a platform—it’s about taking full responsibility for the seamless migration of MagicBetting Online onto our award-winning Centrivo Dynamics platform. By upgrading their products and enhancing their offering, we’re enabling improved performance, scalability, and a stronger, more engaging player experience. This milestone truly highlights Digitain’s ongoing commitment to supporting operators in regulated European markets with reliable, flexible, and innovative solutions.”

Gert Haelterman, responsible for online at MagicBetting, added: “As part of our long-term development strategy, we carefully assessed the technology partners capable of supporting our ambitions in Belgium. Digitain stood out thanks to its proven track record in delivering seamless platform migrations and driving measurable growth from the very first month. Combined with their innovative, AI-powered solutions and forward-looking approach, Digitain provides exactly the next-generation technology foundation we were looking for. We are confident this partnership will play a key role in accelerating our growth and strengthening our market position.”

Digitain’s entry into Belgium exemplifies the company’s strategic focus on regulated European markets, demonstrating both its proven track record in operator migrations and its ability to support growth and innovation in highly competitive regions. This partnership highlights the alignment of Digitain’s technological capabilities with MagicBetting Online’s ambitions, creating a strong foundation for long-term success in Belgium.

Win Systems will unveil several key improvements for WIGOS, including new tools for player development within its Table Games management module. These offer an advanced solution for tracking and analyzing player activity, allowing operators to strengthen relationships and foster loyalty. Additionally, the company will present Multi-Vault, which enables casinos to manage interconnected vaults with full flexibility, adapting to the scale and needs of each operation.

“ICE Barcelona is the ideal stage to showcase our ongoing investment in innovation. Our Systems Division offers powerful tools that not only simplify operations but also generate tangible value for operators, adapting to the specific needs of each market,” said Eric Benchimol, CEO of Win Systems, inviting all industry professionals to visit booth 3M30 and discover how their solutions continue to set the standard in efficiency, engagement, and profitability in the gaming industry.

Adding even more value to its systems ecosystem, the company will also highlight InTouch Pro, its advanced communication tool that allows operators to interact directly with players through gaming machines, generating unique personalization and loyalty opportunities. Complementing this experience, Player Rewards introduces new themes for its Bonusing games and integrates Fun Play promotions in real time, which instantly refund bets, encouraging interaction and enhancing the gaming experience.

The Judiciary Police said the suspects allegedly promoted the scheme by claiming they could deliver monthly returns of 3 percent through investment in a casino VIP room. To bolster credibility, the pair allegedly presented forged documents purporting to show cooperation with a Macau casino and arranged site visits to a gaming venue, where they introduced the victim to staff and explained supposed operations.

According to police, the victim, a middle-aged non-resident man, was introduced to the couple through a friend in 2023. The male suspect reportedly claimed his Hong Kong-registered company had secured a contract to operate a VIP room at a casino in Macau’s NAPE district. Despite initial hesitation, the victim was eventually persuaded after receiving documents bearing company stamps and signatures, as well as repeated assurances of fixed monthly returns.

Between November 2023 and April 2024, the victim transferred or handed over funds on multiple occasions, amounting to CNY8.4 million and HK$19 million, or roughly HK$28 million ($3.59 million) in total. During the early stages of the investment, the victim received about HK$4 million ($513,000) in purported “profits.” However, payments stopped after April 2024, with the suspects allegedly delaying responses and refusing refund requests.

The victim later reported the case to Macau police in November. Subsequent inquiries with the relevant casino confirmed there was no cooperation with the suspects’ company, nor any VIP room contract. Police also determined that the documents provided to the victim had inconsistencies in formatting and typography, confirming they were forged.

The suspects, both unemployed Hong Kong residents, were arrested when they re-entered Macau via the Border Gate. Officers seized company seals, two mobile phones, and HK$222,000 ($28,500) in cash. Police said the company involved was owned by the couple but had never been operational, and that the earlier “returns” paid to the victim were likely drawn from the original investment funds.

Police have charged the suspects with fraud involving a particularly large sum and document forgery. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are tracing the flow of the suspected proceeds.

Aviator by SPRIBE lands on Totogaming after high player demand

Europe

AGBrief Editorial

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January 15, 2026

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Aviator by SPRIBE lands on Totogaming after high player demand

The fan‑favourite Aviator title from SPRIBE is now live on Totogaming.am, ending a highly anticipated wait for players.

Aviator is SPRIBE’s #1 crash game, first introduced in 2019. In this fast-paced and dynamic format, the payout multiplier increases as the airplane takes off, while players independently decide when to cash out by pressing the “Cashout” button.

To make the launch of this already iconic game in the Armenian market more memorable, Totogaming initiated a creative teaser campaign, giving 10 users the opportunity to win a private flight for three.

“We wanted our users to experience the emotions, dynamics, and uniqueness of the Aviator game not only on the platform, but also in real life. This idea became the foundation of the teaser campaign, which resulted in a successful launch and strong interest from players,” said Victorya Harutyunyan, Head of Product Marketing at Totogaming.

Taras Kozovit, Head of Business Development at SPRIBE — _{Victorya Harutyunyan}

“Launching Aviator on Totogaming is an important milestone for SPRIBE in the Armenian market. This partnership allows us to bring our flagship crash game to a highly engaged local audience, while ensuring the premium level of experience that players worldwide expect from Aviator. We value Totogaming’s commitment to innovation and are delighted to see such a strong reception from players from day one,” said Taras Kozovit, Head of Business Development at SPRIBE.

SPRIBE’s Aviator is available exclusively on Totogaming in the Armenian market, reinforcing the company’s ongoing focus on expanding its portfolio with globally recognized games while delivering differentiated experiences to its local audience.

The global iGaming software provider SOFTSWISS has outlined its strategic vision for 2026, centred on several key priorities: expanding its presence in regulated markets, enhancing product maturity and technical performance, accelerating delivery for partners, and driving innovation through a stronger focus on AI‑enabled workflows.

SOFTSWISS will also continue to invest in client service, personnel, and industry education.

Regulated Market Footprint Expansion

SOFTSWISS has made expanding its footprint across regulated markets a core part of its strategy for 2026. As a mature tech partner with compliant, market-ready products, tailored service, and advanced analytics, SOFTSWISS will continue supporting operators with stable performance and innovation, without compromising security. This approach helps partners stay ready for regulatory updates, meet evolving player protection standards, and enter new markets with confidence.

Tech Excellence

A key operational focus for 2026 is technology execution: improving development speed, shortening delivery cycles for partners, and maintaining stable performance as products evolve. SOFTSWISS will continue refining processes from initial scope to production, aiming to accelerate feature development and implementation without compromising quality, reliability, security, or compliance readiness.

This approach is already reflected in a record Sportsbook delivery completed in 14 calendar days – from contract signing to the first bet. In 2026, SOFTSWISS plans to build on this momentum by further optimising delivery workflows and strengthening cross-team collaboration, helping partners move faster from request to release.

AI-Driven Innovation

To support execution and innovation at scale, SOFTSWISS will increase the adoption of AI-powered tools across teams in 2026, embedding them into day-to-day workflows to improve speed and consistency from feature request to production. The company has already introduced the Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer role internally, reinforcing its commitment to AI as a strategic focus and setting a clear direction for further development in this area.

“Going into 2026, we are taking a very pragmatic view of what partners need from a technology provider: predictable delivery, resilient performance, and solutions that are ready for regulated markets,” said Ivan Montik, Founder of SOFTSWISS. “We are strengthening product maturity, speeding up execution through smarter tooling, including AI, and continuing to invest in the service and expertise that help operators grow with confidence.”

Elevating Partners Experience

SOFTSWISS will continue strengthening partner experience in 2026, building on regular research conducted with Kantar. Recent findings indicate high satisfaction levels across the company’s solutions, with an 8.3 out of 10 client satisfaction score for the SOFTSWISS Casino Platform and a Customer Satisfaction Score of 9 out of 10 for the SOFTSWISS Game Aggregator.

In 2026, the software provider plans to further raise the bar across all touchpoints – from technical performance and delivery to commercial support and day-to-day collaboration – reinforcing a partner-first approach where SOFTSWISS and its partners work as one team, aligned around shared outcomes and long-term growth.

Strengthening Thought Leadership and Industry Education

Alongside product and market priorities, SOFTSWISS will continue investing in internal culture, people development, and industry education, strengthening knowledge-sharing within iGaming and across adjacent technology communities. Following the release of 2026 iGaming Trends, the fourth edition of its flagship report, the software provider plans to publish its fifth anniversary edition this year, continuing its research-led work for operators, platforms, and partners.

The SOFTSWISS team will be attending ICE Barcelona 2026 and will be available for meetings at Stand 1B30.

Since then, he has worked closely with the leadership team in a non-executive advisory capacity, supporting the company’s commercial strategy, market positioning and long-term growth. His move into the Executive Chairman role formalises that relationship and reflects the agency’s evolution into a multi-million-pound operation serving some of the most prominent brands in gambling, sport and consumer sectors.

With more than two decades of experience across regulated gambling, sports betting and technology, Pettit is widely regarded as one of the industry’s most respected commercial leaders. He spent more than eight years at Playtech BGT Sports, including as Chief Commercial Officer, where he led global commercial strategy across both retail and digital channels, working closely with operators, regulators and partners in highly regulated markets.

More recently, as well as continuing to invest in and advise in a number of gambling, technology and property businesses, Pettit worked as a strategic advisor for Grosvenor Casino to maximise the opportunity of incorporating sports betting into land-based UK casinos.

In his role at Press Box PR, Pettit will continue to work closely with Donohue and the senior leadership team to guide the agency’s strategic direction, support client growth in regulated industries and help position Press Box PR as a leading PR and content partner for gambling operators, suppliers and adjacent fintech and technology businesses.

Alex Donohue, Founder and Managing Director of Press Box PR, said: “John has been part of the Press Box PR story from the very beginning. He backed the business at an early stage and has played a hugely important role behind the scenes as we’ve grown. Formalising his position as Executive Chairman is a natural next step and reflects both the scale we’ve reached and where we want to go next. His experience, judgement and understanding of the gambling industry are invaluable.”

About his new role, John Pettit added: “I invested in Press Box PR because I believed in the vision Alex had for building a modern, earned-first PR agency that truly understands regulated industries. I’ve enjoyed working closely with the team over the past few years and I’m delighted to step into the Executive Chairman role. Press Box PR has built a strong reputation in gambling and beyond, and I’m excited to help support the next phase of growth.”

Under the updated policy, rummy and daily fantasy sports will no longer be included among Google’s permitted ad categories for India, effectively removing them from the company’s advertising ecosystem nationwide. While Google did not assign a reason for the change, it is widely viewed as linked to recent legislative developments affecting the online gaming sector.

The policy shift comes after the enactment of the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025 (PROGA), which was passed by the Parliament of India in August 2025. Although PROGA has not yet been formally brought into force—despite nearly five months having passed since receiving presidential assent—most real-money gaming operators halted operations soon after the law was passed.

Google’s new stance also follows earlier regulatory and competition scrutiny. In September 2022, the company launched a one-year pilot allowing rummy and daily fantasy sports apps on the Play Store, while excluding other skill-based gaming categories. That decision prompted multi-gaming platform WinZo to file an antitrust complaint with the Competition Commission of India.

In August 2025, Google submitted a commitment proposal to address the complaint, offering to allow other skill-based gaming apps and related advertising based on third-party certification. However, following PROGA’s passage and the subsequent ban on online money games, both the antitrust proceedings and Google’s proposal are now widely viewed as having become moot.

According to G2G News, the immediate impact of Google’s policy change is expected to be limited, as most real-money gaming (RMG) companies have already shut down operations. Attention has now shifted to the ongoing legal challenge to PROGA, with multiple petitions contesting the constitutionality of the law’s blanket ban on real-money gaming, including skill-based games such as rummy and fantasy sports. The cases are currently before the Supreme Court of India, which has deferred substantive hearings and any ruling to early 2026.

Thai People’s Party leader suspends candidate over online gambling arrest

Thailand

Nelson Moura

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January 15, 2026

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Thai People’s Party leader suspends candidate over online gambling arrest

The leader of Thailand’s People’s Party affirmed the party’s strict policy of zero tolerance for “grey-area” activities, including online gambling, after the arrest of one of the party’s candidates for the upcoming elections.

According to local media, Ratchapong Soisuwan was detained by the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau for alleged connections to an online gambling operation. The party learned of his arrest late the previous evening through his lawyer.

Ruangpanyawut decided to hold an urgent press conference to address the arrest, emphasizing the party’s strict policy of zero tolerance for “grey-area” activities, including online gambling, corruption, and other criminal behaviors. He announced that the party will not protect or conceal any wrongdoing and that all members are required to undergo legal processes to prove their innocence.

The People’s Party has faced scrutiny recently, as Ratchapong is the second candidate it has suspended in the lead-up to the elections. In December, the party replaced Boonyarit Raorungrot, who was arrested for money laundering linked to drug trafficking.

Natthaphong stated that the party conducts thorough background checks on its candidates, including police record requests and public consultations. However, he acknowledged that the party does not have the same level of access to information as law enforcement agencies.

Once Ratchapong’s case was revealed, the People’s Party took immediate action, with Natthaphong confirming that an investigation is underway to evaluate the evidence and ensure fairness. He stressed the importance of acting transparently to maintain public trust.

Ratchapong, a 32-year-old former MP, faces serious charges, including organizing illegal gambling and laundering money. He had recently returned to politics after the previous House dissolution to run for election in the same district.

Natthaphong also urged the government and relevant authorities to strictly address issues of criminal links among politicians, calling for real efforts to clean up the political landscape rather than using such matters for election tactics.

Hann Casino taps PhilWeb to scale regulated online gaming in the Philippines

Philippines

Viviana Chan

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January 15, 2026

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Hann Casino taps PhilWeb to scale regulated online gaming in the Philippines

Hann Casino Resort has entered into a strategic partnership with Philippines-listed eGames service provider PhilWeb Corp to strengthen and expand its regulated online gaming operations in the Philippines, as licensed operators increasingly seek established technology partners to scale their digital platforms amongst closer regulatory scrutiny.

In a statement filed with the Philippine Stock Exchange on Thursday, PhilWeb said it had ‘entered into a strategic partnership with Hann Casino for the operation and management of Hann Casino’s regulated online gaming platform in the Philippines.’ Under the arrangement, PhilWeb will provide operational and technical support, drawing on its experience and track record in the local gaming industry.

PhilWeb said the partnership is intended to support the platform’s compliance with applicable regulatory requirements while enhancing operational efficiency and system performance. The company added that its involvement is expected to ‘enhance platform performance, improve player experience and boost overall operational efficiency.’

Hann Casino will continue to oversee its regulated online gaming business and remain responsible for governance, regulatory compliance, and responsible gaming standards.

According to PhilWeb, Hann Casino ‘remains responsible for ensuring adherence to responsible gaming standards, governance policies, and regulatory obligations,’ with PhilWeb’s role designed to complement these objectives through technical and operational capabilities.

The partnership follows Hann Casino’s acquisition in 2024 of a Philippine Inland Gaming Operators (PIGO) license from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp (PAGCOR), enabling it to operate a regulated online gaming platform. As of March 2025, the platform hosted 103 random number games, alongside remote gaming options for live table games and online slot machines under its unified Hann Live Online offering.

Hann Casino described the tie-up as a long-term collaboration focused on sustainable growth as the regulated digital gaming segment gains traction among licensed operators.

Operated by Hann Philippines Inc., Hann Casino Resort is the first fully integrated resort in Central Luzon. Located on an 11-hectare site at the Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga, the property features 274 table games and 1,721 gaming machines, as well as more than 800 hotel rooms under the Swissôtel Clark and Clark Marriott brands.

PhilWeb Corp is a gaming technology provider, listed on the Philippine Stock Exchange, which provides services to private clients as well as PAGCOR and the Philippines Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).

Digitain debuts in Belgium via MagicBetting Online partnership

Through a new partnership with MagicBetting Online, Digitain has strengthened its European footprint by entering Belgium’s regulated iGaming sector.

Table of Contents

Win Systems reveals next‑gen WIGOS CMS features at ICE Barcelona 2026

Following last week’s announcement of its participation at ICE Barcelona 2026, Win Systems has now revealed plans to exclusively showcase the latest enhancements to its WIGOS casino management system, which is installed in more than 660 casinos worldwide.

Table of Contents

Macau probes $3.6M casino investment scam tied to fake VIP room deal

Macau police have arrested a Hong Kong husband-and-wife duo on suspicion of running a large-scale investment scam involving a purported casino VIP room project, according to local media outlet Macau Daily.

Aviator by SPRIBE lands on Totogaming after high player demand

The fan‑favourite Aviator title from SPRIBE is now live on Totogaming.am, ending a highly anticipated wait for players.

Table of Contents

SOFTSWISS unveils 2026 strategy, focused on regulated markets and AI innovation

Regulated Market Footprint Expansion

Tech Excellence

AI-Driven Innovation

Elevating Partners Experience

Strengthening Thought Leadership and Industry Education

Table of Contents

Press Box PR names former Playtech CCO John Pettit as Executive Chairman

Digital PR agency Press Box PR, known for its rapid growth across betting, gaming, sports, consumer and tech, has strengthened its leadership team with the appointment of former Playtech CCO John Pettit as Executive Chairman.

Table of Contents

Google India bans rummy, fantasy sports advertising from January 21st

Google will stop allowing advertisements for rummy and daily fantasy sports on its platforms in India from January 21st, 2026, according to G2G News.

Thai People’s Party leader suspends candidate over online gambling arrest

The leader of Thailand’s People’s Party affirmed the party’s strict policy of zero tolerance for “grey-area” activities, including online gambling, after the arrest of one of the party’s candidates for the upcoming elections.

Hann Casino taps PhilWeb to scale regulated online gaming in the Philippines

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MGM China to raise salaries for 99% of staff in March

Macau gaming operator MGM China will implement a salary increase for 99 percent of its workforce starting March 23rd, the company announced Thursday, citing employee dedication and contributions.

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