CT Interactive has received Silver in the Best Exclusive Game Partnership category at the SBC Awards Europe 2025, recognizing the exceptional impact of its collaboration with Palms Bet for the launch of the hit game Doctor Winstein Buy Bonus.

As a global provider of online gaming content, CT Interactive was distinguished among top finalists for its innovative, immersive contributions to the iGaming sector. The award-winning entry showcased the outstanding success of Doctor Winstein Buy Bonus, a product of a close and exclusive partnership with Palms Bet. Following its success, CT Interactive launched a dedicated line of Buy Bonus Games, further expanding its unique offering in the market.

The SBC Awards Europe celebrate the companies shaping the future of gaming through innovation and excellence. The 2025 ceremony took place on Thursday, 12th June at the Hilton Malta, during the closing evening of the SBC Summit Malta.

“We are honored to be recognized in such a prestigious and competitive category. Partnerships are at the heart of our mission, and this award is a testament to the creativity, commitment, and trust that define our team and our collaborators. We’re proud to share this success with our trusted partner, Palms Bet,” said Martin Ivanov, COO of CT Interactive.

In a fragmented and fast-evolving regulatory landscape, geolocation has become a critical pillar of compliance, fraud prevention, and operational strategy. But as new formats like sweepstakes, prediction markets, and DFS+ gain traction, and new global markets opening up, operators face increasing pressure to adopt location solutions that are not just accurate, but adaptive.

Ron Braunfeld, Chief Revenue Officer at Xpoint, shares his perspective on how operators can navigate this complex ecosystem, what trends are shaping demand, and how early client feedback has helped define a smarter approach to geo-compliance.

In a market crowded with both low-cost entrants and premium vendors, how should operators navigate the geolocation landscape to ensure they get the best solution for them?

Operators should look beyond sticker price and evaluate geolocation providers on overall value and risk mitigation. It’s easy to be tempted by bare-bones, bargain offerings that perform only basic location checks, but those can leave compliance gaps or blind spots. In contrast, premium solutions tend to bundle critical features like fraud detection, high uptime, and real-time support as standard features, turning geolocation from a mere checkbox into a comprehensive compliance tool.

Operators should select a partner that scales with their business. For example, a startup might start with a usage-based plan and expand as it grows, while a large multi-state operator should see volume-based discounts. In short, the best approach is to weigh long-term reliability and capability over rock-bottom cost, ensuring the geolocation service can prevent costly missteps and even unlock useful insights, not just verify a location.

Which verticals or regions have shown the biggest, unexpected appetite for precise location verification?

One surprising vertical has been daily fantasy sports (DFS). Initially, DFS platforms weren’t under the same strict state-by-state regulations as sportsbooks or online casinos, so many assumed they’d take a minimal compliance approach. Instead, as DFS grew, operators became highly proactive. Mature DFS companies began demanding the same level of precision and fraud resistance as regulated betting operators, recognizing that even a small number of out-of-state users slipping through could pose serious legal and reputational risks​.

Another unexpectedly hungry segment is sweepstakes and skill-gaming platforms. These businesses occupy a gray area in terms of gambling law – sweepstakes-based casinos or prize games aren’t clearly ‘gambling’ in the traditional sense. With legal scrutiny mounting, states are already debating whether sweepstakes constitute gambling, proactive operators have implemented precise geolocation controls. Some have even asked providers for state-by-state geofencing to ensure they don’t inadvertently allow play from jurisdictions that might challenge their model​. It’s essentially anticipating regulation. By acting as if they are regulated and rigorously geofencing where users can participate, they demonstrate a commitment to operating above board. It shows that across the board, from fantasy sports to sweepstakes games, the industry increasingly views precise location tech not just as a legal hurdle, but as a foundation for a trustworthy, scalable operation.

Which upcoming innovations or market trends do you expect will have the biggest impact on geo-compliance demand over the next two years?

Several forces are converging to reshape the future of geo-compliance. Geolocation is becoming deeply integrated into the broader security and personalization stack. The most forward-thinking operators are starting to link location intelligence with fraud prevention, responsible gaming, and even targeted marketing. In the next two years, the biggest differentiators won’t just be accuracy or uptime, they will be the ability to power multiple use cases from a single, trusted location platform.

Meanwhile, global market expansion is driving both scale and complexity. Jurisdictions such as Brazil and the UAE are rolling out or tightening their regulatory frameworks, often requiring location validation as a condition of licensure. This will push operators to adopt flexible, modular compliance infrastructure that can be customized market by market, as more areas continue to regulate.

How does early adopter feedback shape your commercial and product roadmap, and what’s a key lesson you’ve learned from client insights?

Client feedback is often the earliest signal of where the market is heading. Operators on the front lines, especially those pioneering new betting formats or entering emerging jurisdictions, tend to uncover challenges that aren’t yet on most providers’ radar. Listening to those early adopters can reveal opportunities to build products that solve real pain points, not just theoretical ones.

Another recurring theme is the need for transparency and flexibility in partnerships. Leading operators now expect their compliance agreements to function as living, breathing documents, regularly updated to mirror regulatory shifts, market developments, and evolving risk profiles. Providers that explain their data sources clearly, pivot swiftly when rules change, and scale support in lockstep with client growth earn lasting trust. This feedback loop, where operators push boundaries and providers refine solutions, has emerged as a core driver of innovation in geolocation. Partnerships are no longer static contracts, they’re collaborative roadmaps for confident, sustainable expansion.

Emerging-markets leader expands its content portfolio with standout games from a bold, impactful supplier

QTech Games, the leading game aggregator for emerging markets, has continued to build the strong momentum in its premium pipeline, thanks to its latest deal with Shady Lady, a bold disruptive force in the slots sector. The launch extends Shady Lady’s international footprint, unlocking untapped emerging markets for diversified growth.

This timely integration adds yet more creative muscle to QTech’s aggregation platform, which is taking the widest array of online games to emerging territories with established names sitting alongside the industry’s most exciting and innovative providers.

Accordingly, Shady Lady is already one of the most mercurial and exciting game studios in the industry. And this integration with a genuine emerging force pens another thrilling addition to QTech Games’ sprawling and well-curated library of immersive gaming experiences.

Think: enigma, wrapped in a riddle, parcelled into a variety of eye-catching packages – as evidenced by a string of recent hits like Brain Washed, Devil’s Finger and Office Party. In short, it’s all about daring to be different and norm-busting in an increasingly homogenised slots space. All of which makes Shady Lady a compelling new character in any portfolio – one that wins its audiences over by preferring nuance to clanging bells and whistles, upending outdated themes and copycat narratives with clever plot-twists and engaging story-rich features.

QTech Games’ CEO, Philip Doftvik, said: “At QTech, we’re about so much more than pure aggregation – just take our sought-after campaign tools, or AI-powered QT Play game lobby, which means that operators don’t have to build their own casino lobby. Naturally, we’re committed to rolling out high-quality content that drives revenue for our partners and creates unique experiences that users remember and return to play.

“Shady Lady understands this need and is already delivering in spades with some bold and beautiful games that reinvigorate tired themes and play with conventional expectations. Alongside immersive soundscapes, stunning visuals and inventive mechanics, Shady Lady excels at fusing creativity with maths to craft visually thrilling, high-performing games that push the envelope on player experience and online hang-time.”

Marla Singer, spokesperson for Shady Lady, added: “Shady Lady isn’t here to throw shade on traditional slots – we are here to disturb the peace a little. It’s a call to arms for fresh mechanics, striking design, and soundscapes that linger. We believe in games that surprise you, characters that don’t behave, and stories that veer off script. Others chase noise. We tune into the frequency beneath. It’s a quieter kind of rebellion – but it leaves a mark. We don’t follow the rules. We rewrite them. Sometimes in lipstick.”