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European Gaming Congress 2024

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Dr. Robert Skalina (Partner at WH Partners) will give a briefing about the Slovakian market

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We are honored to announce that Dr. Robert Skalina (Partner at WH Partners), who will be a key speaker about the Czech regulation, will also give a briefing about the situation of the online gambling industry in Slovakia.

The recent regulation of the markets in Eastern Europe show a clear sign that unlicensed online gambling will soon be eradicated from Europe.

Illegal gaming operations have been blocked recently in Poland, Slovakia and Czech Republic and the European authorities have announced major crackdown on illegal gaming operations as unlicensed platforms. Under recently approved regulations, three administrations decided to introduce ISP blocking to end unauthorised gaming operations just this year.

Although ISP blocking has been criticized by all involved companies, the European governments are reinforcing the legal battle against international gaming operators without license by banning the platforms in their jurisdictions. According to experts, the ban, however, is easy to break as ISP blocking is not very effective. Authorities from Poland, Slovakia and Czech Republic also stated that illegal operators could be charged with over US$587k fines.

Czech legislators have been holding a long discussion on gaming laws, as the government seeks stricter control on the industry. Furthermore, the new proposal would establish time limits for players’ participation in gaming services. Operators would have to comply with new amendment, which would set a maximum limit on hour basis.

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Poland has already blocked over 1k domains and is holding the stricter crackdown on online gaming platforms. Meanwhile, the Gambling Insider revealed that the Ministry of Finance of Slovakia announced last month a list of 16 operators which would be blocked, including William Hill, 888 and GVC.

In mid-July, the Slovak Financial Administration came out with a list of 10 naughty online gambling operators, including familiar faces like 888 Holdings, Bet365, Bet-at-Home, Bwin, William Hill and 1xbet, along with Curacao-licensed Eatsleepbet.com as well as Malta-licensed LVbet.com and Kajot-casino.com.

The list, however, has grown to 16 at the end of July, according to Slovak news outlet Zive.sk.

Slovakian authorities want the operators to take down the websites within 10 days, before they were issued a judicial order that will oblige the ISPs to block the sites based on DNS. Those who will not follow will have to pay a penalty of up to €500,000 ($587,107).

Most internet service providers said they are ready to block the websites, but they’re still waiting for a judicial order before proceeding. Tereza Molnar, spokeswoman for O2, told the news outlet that they have yet to receive “any regulation from the authorities on illegal gambling blocking.”

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The providers have also expressed frustration at the government for imposing fresh responsibilities on them without allocating any funding to account for the extra work. Network operators O2 and Telekom previously said they will bear the costs in full “as our contribution to the fight against illegal gambling.”

Some operators had already exited the Slovakian market in recent months after the government announced it would begin enforcing its new gambling regulations, under which online sports betting licensees must pay 27% tax on their gross gaming revenue from local punters. Online casino and poker activity remains the sole responsibility of the state-owned TIPOS national lottery.

Slovakia’s harshening attitude towards gambling isn’t limited to the digital realm. In April, officials in the nation’s capital Bratislava banned gambling—but not sports betting shops or lottery retailers—within city limits, although current casino and slots hall operators will be allowed to continue operating until their existing licenses expire.

The growth of regulated markets in the Eastern European region” panel is scheduled to be held between 11:00 – 12:00 (Budapest Local Time) on the 19th of September (Day 1) during the second edition of the Central and Eastern European Gaming Conference Budapest. (you can view the full agenda here).

The second edition of the Central and Eastern European Gaming Conference (CEEGC) will be held at the Kempinski Hotel Corvinus Budapest and as during first edition, it will bring together the cream of the online gambling industry for two days of fully packed unique networking opportunities.

We have set the dates of 19 and 20 September by carefully synchronizing with the top delegates that will be attending the event and we are looking forward to having you among our guests.

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The motto of the 2017 event is “Unfinished Business: Dare to attend” and it will focus on the Latest Innovations, Hot Topics, Eastern and Central European market updates and a special focus on the Balkans.

We are aiming to bring yet another opportunity to harvest a wealth of information about the hot topics and trends which shape the industry in 2017 and will look towards the future awaited regulatory updates.

Current state of the online gambling market in Slovakia” is the tile of Dr. Robert Skalina’s presentation and it will serve the most vital information which revolves around the opportunities Ukraine can bring for investors and operators.

Dr. Robert Skalina (Senior Advisor to WH Partners)

Dr. Robert Skalina is Czech Advocate as well as a Registered European Lawyer in Malta. He is currently a Senior Advisor to WH Partners, a Malta-based leading law firm with a business focus and expertise in gaming & gambling, technology, financial services, tax, M&A and corporate finance.

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Robert has vast experience advising clients in the gaming/gambling industries on all aspects of their operations. He also provides advice to wide range of investment managers and funds, and regularly advises clients on complex cross border transactions and mergers and acquisitions.

He has previously held the position of head of legal of a London based investment advisor active throughout EMEA region.

Robert holds LLM from the London School of Economics and a Master of Laws degree from the Charles University in Prague.


How to secure your seat?

Early Bird Rate is set for 299 EUR an can be booked with the 50% discount until September the 3rd, 2017. Limited seating! (Online payment, Bitcoin or Bank Wire Available)

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Source: CEEGC

2023 Global Technology Conference

Gambling.com Group to Participate in Citi’s 2023 Global Technology Conference on September 6 and September 7

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Gambling.com Group Limited (Nasdaq: GAMB) (“Gambling.com Group” or the “Company”), a leading provider of digital marketing services for the global online gambling industry, today announced that the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, Elias Mark, Vice President of Sports, Max Bichsel, and Vice President of Investor Relations, Peter McGough, will participate in Citi’s 2023 Global Technology Conference taking place at the New York Hilton Midtown in New York, NY.

Gambling.com Group’s executive team will be available to meet one-on-one with institutional investors on Wednesday, September 6th and Thursday, September 7th, to review the Company’s business strategy and long-term market opportunity.

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Events

Expanse Studios Set to Impress at Sigma Americas 2023 in Brazil

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Expanse Studios is thrilled to announce its participation in the highly anticipated Sigma Americas 2023, the gaming industry’s most distinguished exhibition of the Western Hemisphere. The event, to be held in Sao Paolo from June 14 to 18, will bring together the leading figures of the gaming industry in Latin America – a region brimming with opportunities and promise.

As part of the Studio’s commitment to expanding our reach in both emerging and established markets, their presence at this influential event underscores our dedication to innovation and unparalleled quality. This event serves as a perfect platform to engage with affiliates, suppliers, and operators within the thriving LatAm gaming ecosystem.

Why Expanse Studios Stands Out

Expanse Studios has been making waves in the industry since its inception in 2017, consistently delivering outstanding products. Their range of 42 in-house RNG games – from globally popular slots like Titan Roulette, Clown Fever, and Wild Icy Fruits, to engaging table games – are all developed in HTML5 technology. This allows them to ensure 100% mobile compatibility, catering to the ever-increasing demand for mobile gaming experiences.

A Thriving Presence in the Gaming Landscape

At the heart of Expanse Studios’ success lies a dual focus on old-school motifs and cutting-edge design, paired with high-quality soundtracks and animations. This unique approach has not only resonated with the existing fan base but also caught the eye of new players across the globe.

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The Opportunities at Sigma Americas 2023

Sigma Americas 2023 offers a unique chance for participants to tap into Brazil’s burgeoning iGaming market, projected to grow to around 2.6 billion over the next five years. The country’s recent strides towards legalizing both online and land-based gaming present a golden opportunity for industry players like us. Expanse Studios is keenly looking forward to making a significant contribution to this growth, leveraging our advanced and fully customizable promo tools.

During the expo, guests will have the chance to experience firsthand the superior design and functionality of our top games. Among them are the classics like Titan Roulette and Clown Fever, along with our most recent releases: Pia, Zombie Apocalypse, Wild White Whale, God of Coins, as well as the most recent releases like Pia and Spinning Buddha. Visitors can also look forward to the thrilling excitement offered by our popular features, including Bonus buy and sticky symbols.

The Sigma Americas 2023 expo is perfectly timed to cater to the ever-growing LatAm market, and Expanse Studios is proud to take part in it. Our goal is to provide the most engaging and immersive gaming experience to our players.

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Events

Post Event: CEEGC2017 reports considerable growth and becomes the key event in Central and Eastern Europe

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The second edition of the Central and Eastern European Gaming Conference (CEEGC) took place last week in Budapest at Kempinski Corvinus Budapest. Delegates took full advantage of the extended agenda which this year has been rolled out between 19 and 20 September (2 days).

As organizers, we would like to thank the supporters of the event for their contribution to helping make this great event reach the next level in terms of content and networking opportunities. Our grateful thank you goes for the following companies:

Second, but also as important, we would also like to thank the delegates who have attended the event, the speakers for their great contribution to the contents and all our media partners for helping spread the important news of the event. With your help, CEEGC has become the most prestigious boutique gaming event which gather C-level executives every year to network and gather information about the Central and Eastern European markets.

From beginning to the end…

The conference kicked off with a short networking session among the delegates who have bumped into each other while registering for the event at the luxurious Kempinski Corvinus. As organizers we were delighted to see that the networking among the attending professionals started straight away and we received a positive feedback about the diversity of the companies which were present at the event. This is the direct result of the quest we have embarked on when starting to organize our events. The mission is to build a strong community and a platform for the online and land based gambling industry, where every company can benefit of exposure and of course take advantage of the educational sessions.

Click to view slideshow.

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As the first business card batch was exhausted we have introduced the first panel discussion of the day, which focused on bringing a wealth of information about the current state of the gambling market in Serbia and Croatia. The panel was moderated by Bogdan Coman (Executive Director at Rombet) and featured keynote speakers such as Mirjana Acimovic (President of JAKTA and Chair at EUROMAT) and Hrvoje Vincetic (Managing Director of Casino Adriatic). Both speakers have brought a large volume of updates about the activity in the region. Hrvoje Vincetic stressed on the land-based sector of the gambling market in Croatia which is growing exponentially due to the high volume of tourists. Gambling tourism is an important part of the Croatian gambling sector and has been the main driver of incomes for the state.

Click to view slideshow.

Mirjana Acimovic has highlighted the main facts about why the possibilities of Serbia to become an attractive gambling market are real and what is the main evolution factor. The main takeaways of the topic was that the traditional model of gambling is disappearing and the online business is growing. This is due to joint business options where investors can invest in online gambling companies which are already established in the region. Ms. Mirjana also addressed concerns about the fact that the state doesn’t have a well structured regulation and the laws are outdated and in some cases inapplicable. This is a clear call for a new and modern regulation framework. The PowerPoint Presentation can be requested by e-mail at [email protected]

The 2nd program on the Agenda was the CEEG Awards Contest, where the assigned delegates of the shortlisted companies took advantage of the chance to give a short speech about their activity and of course asked for the votes. The presentations were limited to a short 2 minutes speech and it was among the highlight moments of the morning. The personal touch of the presenters created a magical moment for the audience as they were getting ready to start the first Networking Break of the day.

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Click to view slideshow.


Roy Pedersen – CEO & Chief EditorRoy Pedersen – CEO & Chief EditorAll In Translations

“For All-in Translations’ 10 Year Anniversary Tour we decided to attend more smaller conferences. Zoltan and Betty are much of the reason for this. They have a unique way of giving a personal touch to the events they organise while at the same time keeping them highly relevant. CEEGC Budapest was another great example where we felt truly welcome, and at the same time it was great for business.”


The program continued with the Eastern European focused panel which was titled as “The growth of regulated markets in the Eastern European region“, which was specially designed to bring the key information about the current state of the gambling market in Romania, Slovakia, Czech Republic and Ukraine. We have picked to extend to only the listed markets because these are the current hot topics of the industry in Eastern Europe.

The panel was moderated Rita McClelland (Content Manager at GamblingCompliance) and the keynote speaker were Dan Iliovici (President of the Romanian National Gambling Office ONJN – the Romanian gambling regulator), Dr. Robert Skalina (Senior Advisor to WH Partners), Jan Rehola (PS Legal) and Iryna Sergienko (CEO at Ukrainian Gaming Industry Association).

Click to view slideshow.

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The panel was rated among the top 3 panels of the event as its content has focused on the highly debated changes of the Czech Republic’s regulatory system and the awaited changes is the law, Slovakia’s possible market regulation, the key points on which the Romanian gambling sector wants to improve and of course the state of the Ukrainian gambling market.

Jan Rehola (PS Legal), has highlighted he’s main comments about the current regulation of the Czech Republic and he has encouraged the attending companies to show interest in the market as it will become one of the most competitive market in the region.

Dan Iliovici (President of the Romanian National Gambling Office ONJN – the Romanian gambling regulator) has pointed out that major amendments are coming to the regulatory framework on the Romanian market and he plans to focus also on the responsible gambling program implementations in the land based sector.

Dr. Robert Skalina (Senior Advisor to WH Partners) has stressed on the importance of paying attention of the Slovakian gambling market, a market which has recently been in the focus of many online newspapers that cover the industry. A possible new framework is to be announced soon.

Iryna Sergienko (CEO at Ukrainian Gaming Industry Association) expressed an open invitation for all the industry to join the upcoming event in Ukraine, where all burning questions about the market will be discussed with the government officials. The Ukrainian market will be regulated in 2018 and it is important for the regulator and legislator to understand the demands of the industry in order to create a competitive market for all.

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The PowerPoint Presentation can be requested by e-mail at [email protected]

After the “quality gambling industry update” (quoted from the event survey) the delegates got the chance to dive into the world of cryptocurrency, smart contract and blockchain.

The program continued with a new episode of the Innovation Talks series which was titled as “Innovation Talks – The Cryptocurrency Effect” and was moderated by Joseph F. Borg (Senior Advisor to WH Partners and VICE-PRESIDENT of BitMalta).

The delegates have rated the panel among the top 3 panels of the agenda and received a full scope around what Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies mean for the industry and that this is only the start of the blockchain revolution.

Keynote speakers of the panel were Jonathan Galea (Blockchain & cryptocurrencies lawyer, President of Bitmalta), Jarek-Górny (COO of SiGMA), Max Krupyshev (COO of Cubits), Dr. Andreas Glarner  (Partner at MME Legal Tax Compliance). The expert have tackled the potential effect and benefits of the blockchain technology in the remote gaming industry and the future of ICOs.

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Click to view slideshow.


Jonathan Galea – Legal Counsel at NetEnt & President of BitmaltaJonathan Galea – Legal Counsel at NetEnt & President of BitmaltaBitmalta

“Safe to say that CEEGC is quickly becoming the the go-to boutique gaming conference, with a fantastically balanced range of topics covered in sufficient detail. It is going from strength to strength, so I’m certainly very eager for next year’s event!”


The program continued with the traditional EEGEvents styleComplimentary Lunch Break” where as usual, the delegates have taken the advantage to feast with a great variety of food options, including vegan and dietary. The lunch break gave way for more networking as delegates got the chance to continue where they’ve left off while enjoying a good meal.

Click to view slideshow.


 

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Soon after the delegates enjoyed a good meal, the program continued with the panel which focused on the Central European gambling market, particularly on Austria, Germany, Hungary and Slovenia. The panel which was titled as “Where is the Central European gambling industry heading?” highlighted the concerns of the market which are located in the region. Moderated by Mihnea Paul Popescu-Grisogono (Founder at Casino Life & Business Magazine) the discussions included the main stories which shape the industry in region. Keynote speakers of the panel were Gabor Helembai (Partner at Bird&Bird), Helmut Kafka (President at Automatenverband), Jaka Repansek (Founder at Republis) and Dr. Joerg Hofmann (Head of the Betting and Gaming Group of Melchers Law Firm).

Opposite to the Eastern European panel, where some anticipations were discussed, the panel has shown the critical situation in which the industry currently is and all speakers have concluded that they are mostly facing the same political issues when it comes to a clear regulation.

Click to view slideshow.

As the discussion unfolded and came to an end, delegates understood that there is a huge market which is waiting to be regulated accordingly and there is need for a better lobby.


Julia Peeva – Gambling Compliance OfficerJulia Peeva – Gambling Compliance OfficerEGT Interactive

“Attending all events of EEGMedia so far, we are pleased to share that the 2nd edition of #CEEGC showed us a huge growth and steps ahead in the online gaming industry.

All the three members of EGT Interactive compliance team, were grateful to participate in such dynamic and quality conference. The great speakers selection discussing the hot topics, future regulation updates and trends shaping the industry in 2017, and great organization on all levels, brought us essence update. These two days of attendance grabbed us every time when a new discussion / presentation was initiated.

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One of the most interesting parts was about the cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology.

For me personally, the honor to present this year’s #CEEGC edition winners in the company of Mr. Dan Iliovici – President of the ONJN Romania was a huge compliment and real excitement!

Looking forward to take part in the next big gathering organized by EEGMedia!”


The panel was followed by the final networking break of the day and the second Innovation Talks panel. The panel was titled as “Innovation Talks – World Cup, Technology Innovation, Affiliates Turning Operators – what are the challenges ahead?” and it focused on the latest innovation suppliers and affiliates are bringing to the table. Moderated by Tal Itzhak Ron (Adv. and Notary at Tal, Drihem and Co. Law Firm) the discussion was very constructive and gave way for the keynote speaker to address concerns about the technology which is being delivered and about super-affiliates taking over the industry.

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Keynote speakers of the panel were Assaf Stieglitz (Founder and owner of odds1x2.com), Angelo Dalli (CEO of Bit8/Lotto Hero), Kostandina Zafirovska (CEO at BtoBet) and Amnon Goldrat (Founder, VP Business Development at FinTech Logic).

Click to view slideshow.


Kostandina – Nina Zafirovska – CEOKostandina – Nina Zafirovska – CEOBtoBet

“CEEGC in Budapest was the event that brings together experts in the industry together with Central and Eastern European regulators to exchange thoughts and knowledge for development of iGaming in the region. Great experience with wonderful people.”


The constructive discussion gave way to move forward with the program as the final session of the day was announced. The education continued with the IMGL Masterclass which was titled as “The devil is in the details as regulators apply stricter rules” and was moderated by expert Dr. Joerg Hofmann (Head of the Betting and Gaming Group of Melchers Law Firm)

The panel way joined by Jaka Repansek (Founder at Republis), Dan Iliovici (President of the Romanian National Gambling Office ONJN – the Romanian gambling regulator), Dr. Robert Skalina (Senior Advisor to WH Partners) and Tal Itzhak Ron (Adv. and Notary at Tal, Drihem and Co. Law Firm)

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As Mr. Dan Iliovici was the only regulator in the panel, the panelist have managed to ask the vital questions about the creation of a regulatory framework and what is the impact of politics in regards to the design. Mr. Dan Iliovici was clear to express he’s experience when it comes to drafting a law or adding amendments. He also mentioned that the creation of a competitive gambling market is the key concern of the regulator however the legislator is the one who will make this happen.

Mr. Jaka Repansek has stressed on the fact that the creation of a regulatory framework should focus on the cycle where the industry addresses the regulator and the regulator than heads to the legislator. The creation of this cycle is important and is a key ingredient of having a well regulated market.

The concerns of the affiliate industry were raised by Mr. Tal Itzhak Ron, who underlined the fact that applying for a second class license as an affiliate is only correct if the regulator is blacklisting non-compliant affiliates. Questions were also raised about the recent hot topics about the legal role of affiliates in media and advertising campaigns.

Click to view slideshow.

All attending keynote speakers of the IMGL Masterclass agreed that technology is way ahead of the regulatory frameworks and it usually takes about 5 year for the regulator and legislator to catch up with them. Thus, all regulators should attend technology conference to learn about the new methods that are implemented by operators and suppliers to keep up with the demand.

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The first day concluded with a Networking Party sponsored by iGamingRadio which was held at 4Bro Downtown, one the hippest venues in Budapest at the moment. The delegates got the chance to unwind, enjoy a few drinks and network in much more relaxed manner.

Click to view slideshow.


The second day of the event has been scheduled to start later because of the exhaustive networking session on which some of the delegates embarked after the Networking party. The program started with the 3rd Innovation Panel, which was rated among the top 3 panels of the event. We can certainly say that the Innovation Talks series has become a great platform where suppliers and operators can exchange information and even start collaborations to enhance the offer of the industry.

The final panel of the event was titled as “Innovation Talks – Latest innovations in the field of gambling and hot topics that shape the industry in 2017 and 2018” and was moderated by Konrad Gill(Founder at ViARsys) who expressed that these series of panels are an important part of the innovation which we witness in the industry.

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The keynote speakers and presenters of the panel were Andrew Cochrane (CCO at SBTech), Thomas Willomitzer (Founder and CEO at Snapscreen.com), David Gasparyan (CTO at BetConstruct), Valery Bollier (CEO and Co-founder at OulalaGames) and Borislav Borisov (COO of UltraPlay).

Click to view slideshow.

Contrary to other conferences, the speaker have discussed the hot topics of the industry and did not dive into sales pitches for the audience. Subjects such as Omnichannel, DFS, eSports and the options to customize your casino brand were discussed in a conversation that could have lasted for hours. We would like to add at least 1 Innovation Talks panel to all our events to continue this initiative.


 

The final session of the event was the announcement of the CEEG Awards 2017 winners where the hosts were Ms. Julia Peeva (Gambling Compliance Officer / EGT Interactive) and Mr. Dan Iliovici (President of the Romanian National Gambling Office ONJN – the Romanian gambling regulator).

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Click to view slideshow.

 

The winners for the CEEG Awards 2017 per category are as the follow:

B2B sector:

Sports betting providers

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  • Best Sports Betting Innovation in 2017: BtoBet
  • Best Sports Betting Customer Support in 2017: BetConstruct
  • Best Overall Sports Betting Provider in 2017: SBTech

Casino software providers

  • Best Casino Innovation in 2017: NetEnt
  • Best Casino Customer Support in 2017: Iforium
  • Best Overall Casino Software Provider in 2017: BetConstruct

Operators

Sports betting

  • Best Overall Sports Betting Operator in Central and Eastern Europe: Superbet

Casino

  • Best Overall Casino Operator in Central and Eastern Europe: LeoVegas

Connected services

  • Best Payment/Finance Solution Provider in 2017: Acapture
  • Best iGaming Press in Central and Eastern Europe: Casino Life & Business Magazine
  • Best iGaming Service Provider (translation, hosting, consulting, etc.): All-In Translations
  • Best Software Testing Laboratory in 2017: NMi Gaming

The team at EEGMediaEEGEvents would like to once again thank all attendees for their presence at the event and look forward to welcoming you at their next events:

 

 


Below is a short teaser video about the event:

 


Source: CEEGC

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