The organizers of the Ortak x B.F.T.H. Arena Awards 2025 have announced that, due to overwhelming interest and a surge in high-quality submissions, the deadline for entries has been extended to 28 May 2025, 18:00 GMT+4
Taking place from 8 to 11 July 2025, Yerevan, Armenia during Harmony Meetup 7 featuring Fasttoken, the Awards represent one of the most prominent celebrations in the iGaming industry, spotlighting the creators, developers, and innovators shaping the future of digital entertainment.
The 2025 edition features three distinguished category groups. Ortak recognises excellence in NFT collections throughout the Ortak marketplace. FTN celebrates innovation in iGaming concepts and advanced payment technologies. YoDoor honours achievements in immersive virtual environments and pioneering tech experiences.
Organisations and individuals developing groundbreaking projects are encouraged to make the most of this extended opportunity to present their work on an international stage. Submissions will remain open until 28 May 2025.
Live88, an award-winning supplier of live casino content, has released underwater adventure Triton Multiplier Roulette, where up to four multipliers can be applied to straight up win bets.
Based on Live88’s roster of roulette tables, the supplier’s Olympian-themed green screen technology takes players to an immersive deep-sea environment where submerged statues stand guard. At least two multipliers appear in every game round, starting at 50x and extending up to a massive 1,000x win, adding an extra layer of excitement to this casino classic.
Live88 was launched in 2024 to shake up the live casino market, delivering premium titles to operators through dedicated tables that can be fully branded and tailored to suit specific needs.
Earlier this month, the supplier was recognised as the Rising Star in Casino at SBC Awards Americas, highlighting the company’s quick progress to establish itself as a significant force in the live casino space.
Natasha Giorgio, Head of Sales and Business Development at Live88, said: “Triton Multiplier Roulette dives into innovation, offering players an immersive underwater adventure with the potential for massive wins through up to four multipliers per round, reaching as high as 1,000x.”
“We continue to push the boundaries in the live casino sector and Triton Multiplier Roulette is a fantastic addition to our portfolio, further cementing our mission to offer a fun and captivating user experience.”
QTech Games, the leading game aggregator for emerging markets, has announced its victory as the 2025 Leader in Online Casino at the annual Sports Betting East Africa (SBEA+) Summit in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania—fending off strong competition from industry heavyweights such as Pragmatic Play, SA Gaming, and DST Gaming.
This sought-after award is perennially given to the best all-round online casino platform provider in the African space, one that has tailored innovative solutions for the East African igaming industry over the past 12 months and excelled in user engagement and sustained growth.
These SBEA+ Eventus Awards always recognise excellence and advancements in the East African igaming and sports betting sector. And this year was no different, celebrating a plethora of pioneers from outstanding operators, through progressive technological innovators and regulatory leaders, and on to distributors with the requisite scope and localised expertise to reliably ensure the provision of the most engaging and varied content for the planet’s second-most populous continent.
QTech Games’ CEO, Philip Doftvik, said: “We’re thrilled to have walked off with another notable award for the best overall digital casino provision in East Africa. Being shortlisted in such good company was already a result, but victory provides the real validation, particularly after running a great campaign at recent Eventus events in Africa.”
“This win is testimony to our diligent team at QTech, and to the constantly growing group of innovative suppliers that our offering represents. It’s a truly collaborative effort. We’ve made our name as the go-to aggregator for emerging markets and we remain committed to rolling out high-quality content that drives revenue for our worldwide partners across Africa and beyond.”
3 Oaks Gaming, an established distributor of iGaming content, is taking players beyond the stars with its latest release, Space Coins, a retro-style Hold & Win title packed with intergalactic prizes.
A celestial twist on the classic slot format, this 3×3 game brings together strong visuals, sound design and engaging mechanics to further diversify 3 Oaks Gaming’s content offering.
At the heart of the action lies the Hold & Win Bonus Game, triggered when Bonus Coin symbols land on reels one and three alongside the Collect symbol appearing in the centre. Once activated, players receive three respins, with only Bonus, Collect and Jackpot symbols appearing. Each new symbol resets the counter, while the Collect symbol remains sticky and accumulates all visible values.
Jackpot seekers can land fixed MINI, MINOR, MAJOR and GRAND prizes during this feature. When players land all three Collect symbols alongside the GRAND Jackpot symbol they will unlock a mammoth tripled prize.
The Lucky Spin mechanic and Bonus Meter offer two alternative ways to unlock the feature, while Bonus and Super Bonus Buy options grant instant access to the main attraction for 75x and 150x the bet respectively, with the Super Bonus guaranteeing all three Collect symbols are active.
Combining nostalgic gameplay with immersive visuals and exciting win potential, Space Coins is another standout addition to 3 Oaks Gaming’s growing portfolio.
Yurii Muratov, CCO at 3 Oaks Gaming, said: “With Space Coins, we’ve given the classic 3×3 slot format a thrilling new identity, blending iconic gameplay with a cosmic setting and fast-paced bonus action. It’s a great example of how we continue to evolve and expand our fan-favourite portfolio of Hold & Win titles to deliver operators and their players exciting new experiences to explore.”
Pragmatic Play, a leading content supplier to the iGaming industry, has launched Gates of Hades, where wild multipliers can summon fiery wins of up to 10,000x.
The god of the Underworld presides over the reels in this 6×6 cluster-pays slot, where wilds can carry random multipliers of up to 100x in the base game. Each wild multiplier that hits is collected above the corresponding reel, boosting subsequent tumble wins that hit underneath.
During the feature, the maximum wild multiplier that can hit increases to 500x and collected multipliers above the reels remain in place for the entire round. Triggering the feature with 6+ scatters awards 20 Super Free Spins, where the minimum wild multiplier value is 10x, amplifying win potential.
Gates of Hades follows Gates of Olympus Super Scatteras the latest game from Pragmatic Play to explore the popular Greek mythology theme.
Irina Cornides, Chief Operating Officer at Pragmatic Play, said: “Hades takes centre stage in this epic slot offering 500x wild multipliers and wins of up to 10,000x – a standout addition to Pragmatic Play’s award-winning Greek Gods series.”
Play’n GO has released Dragonfate’s Favor, a 6×4 video slot where ancient dragons stir and the lost power of the Alpha is yours to command.
In Dragonfate’s Favor, players are transported to a land where dragons once soared and their sanctuary shimmered with power. With the realm lost to time, only the Dragon Amulet can rekindle their might. Now, players join Goldar, the formidable golden guardian, and his fiery Hatchlings on a quest to restore the dragons’ strength and unlock riches buried in myth.
Blending folklore and fire, this game stands out with its narrative cohesion and choice-led gameplay. Three distinct Free Spins paths mirror the dragons’ unique traits, offering replayability and strategy within its 4096 payways.
The Re-Spins mechanic ignites when Goldar lands fully in view. He becomes a sticky Wild that walks leftward across the reels – a commanding force followed by agile Hatchlings, who may join the fray, overtaking their leader for unexpected wins. These Re-Spins can precede Free Spins, ensuring layered engagement.
Players then choose from three Free Spins modes. Alpha Blessing focuses on Goldar’s might; Hatchling Reward turns to the smaller dragons with walking, multiplying Wilds; and Dragon’s Gift fuses both for maximum impact. This blend of interactivity, character-driven mechanics and volatility choice gives Dragonfate’s Favor lasting appeal.
Players who enjoyed titles such as Raging Rex 2 or Beast of Fire will recognise the studio’s commitment to rich worlds and dynamic mechanics. The walking Wilds and layered volatility recall previous hits, yet Dragonfate’s Favor carves a niche all its own through narrative depth and the interplay between characters on the reels.
Magnus Wallentin, Games Ambassador at Play’n GO said: “Dragonfate’s Favor isn’t just about big wins – it’s about meaningful choices. Players can shape their experience with distinct Free Spins paths, making every game session feel truly unique.”
With walking Wilds, fiery mechanics and character-led gameplay, Dragonfate’s Favor offers a fresh take on fantasy slots – one that players will return to again and again.
With a refreshed government in place, experts are calling for action on Australia’s rampant gambling issues. Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has recently secured a second term in office, making him the first Australian prime minister to win a re-election in two decades.
Albanese will now start his second term with at least 87 seats in the 150-seat lower house.
In an article originally published at The Conversation, Charles Livingstone, an Associate Professor at the School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine at Monash University, and Angela Rintoul, Principal Research Fellow in Gambling and Suicide at The University of Melbourne, state that “recent neglect of this pressing problem has allowed Australia to maintain its status as the world’s biggest gambling losers, primarily due to the overwhelming presence of gambling operators and their products”.
According to the researchers, poker machines, particularly prevalent in New South Wales, contribute significantly to the issue, with losses totaling “$15.8 billion annually”.
In contrast, “Western Australia, which restricts poker machines, experiences the lowest gambling harms”. The online betting sector is also booming, generating “an additional $8.4 billion”.
Livingstone and Rintoul highlight that gambling has severe consequences, including “relationship breakdowns, financial loss, and increased crime rates, as well as links to mental health issues and suicide”.
To address these challenges, experts recommend establishing “a national gambling regulator to standardize practices across states and prevent the Northern Territory from becoming the default regulator”.
They also suggest implementing “a national pre-commitment scheme, which has been effective in Europe for managing poker machine usage, although the powerful pokie lobby has hindered its progress”.
Additionally, limiting accessibility to poker machines by “closing venues after midnight could help reduce gambling-related harm”. Regulating political access is essential; “strengthening rules around hospitality and gifts from gambling operators would mitigate undue influence on politicians”.
Furthermore, there is a call to “ban online gambling ads, which a majority of Australians support, aligning with existing restrictions on other gambling forms”. Lastly, enhancing funding for independent research is crucial for effectively understanding and addressing gambling harm.
The researchers conclude that the Albanese government has the “political capital” to tackle these issues head-on and that implementing these “evidence-based strategies” could significantly reduce gambling-related harm by helping “people with existing problems, and stop many more from ending up in trouble”.
The Queensland Government has re-appointed Bruce Barbour – a former member of the NSW Casino Control Authority – as Chairperson, and Jen O’Farrell as CEO of the state’s Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC).
Authorities from the Australian state underscored that the decision underscores the government’s commitment to bolstering the CCC’s reporting powers following recent landmark legislation aimed at restoring integrity within the state.
Bruce Barbour’s re-appointment extends his tenure until July 1st, 2028, after a three-year term as Chair. Before this role, he served as an Ordinary Commissioner from May 2021 to January 2022 and acted as Chair in early 2022. Notably, Barbour also held the position of NSW Ombudsman for 15 years and was a member of the NSW Casino Control Authority.
Jen O’Farrell has also been re-appointed for another three years as CEO of the CCC, a position she has held since August 2018 in a new term that will last until August 23rd, 2028.
O’Farrell’s background includes roles as Executive Director of the Queensland Greyhound Racing Industry Commission of Inquiry, General Manager and Director of Legal Services at the Department of Transport and Main Roads, and experience as a solicitor.
“I am pleased to provide this key integrity agency with continued stability through these reappointments,” Attorney-General and Minister for Justice and Integrity, Deb Frecklington stated. “Mr. Barbour has served with distinction, demonstrating an independent and apolitical approach in his invaluable role.”
The Attorney-General emphasized the importance of the CCC as Queensland’s peak anti-corruption agency, highlighting the necessity for thorough investigations into allegations of corruption.
Queensland has been actively reviewing and taking action against casino operators in recent years.
One of the most significant investigations involved The Star Entertainment Group, which faced scrutiny over its governance and operational practices, with the Queensland Government deeming The Star unsuitable to hold a casino license and initiating disciplinary measures in response to findings from the Gotterson Review.
The state’s government has granted an additional six-month extension for The Star Gold Coast’s casino license suspension, deferring the decision until September 30th, 2025.
MGM makes money moves. And this latest intrigue from Thailand has executives hot and bothered to get into the environment, if it can prove lucrative. The company is looking to invest up to $5 billion if they can get a prime location in Bangkok – their preferred venue given infrastructure, transportation and tourism attractions. They’re not the only ones focusing on the potential however, and competition will be strong – if legislation goes ahead.
With over 30% of global gaming revenue projected to come from Asia soon, the window of opportunity is wide open. Bettorify’s white-label and turnkey solutions deliver what most platforms miss: sharp execution backed by real local expertise.
The proposal is aimed at bringing in hundreds of millions in tax revenue per year, while avoiding any type of association with a casino.
The jurisdiction previously handled the collapse of a (basically) junket operator that attempted to turn Imperial Pacific International (IPI) into an integrated resort. However, the company ultimately failed, leaving the region with millions in allegedly unpaid taxes.
The new effort is also part of a push to allow online gambling, with certain key top officials in strong opposition to the idea.
However, the legislature overrode the opposition, meaning the region could be paving the way to new, stable, gaming options aside from land-based.
