

Latest News
Merkur Chooses Aberdeen for First UK Casino
High street bingo and adult gaming business Merkur has chosen Aberdeen as the location for its first casino in the UK.
Its purchase of Rainbow Casino on Summer Street has been hailed as a milestone for the group and will safeguard around 40 jobs in the city centre.
The casino is still in full operation and will officially reopen to the public on 23 June.
Mark Schertle, Chief Operating Officer of Merkur Casino UK, said: “We’re really excited to be opening our first casino venue in the UK and what better place to choose than Aberdeen.
“The city has a vibrant night-time economy, provides the perfect location to launch this new arm of our business and will successfully complement our portfolio of over 225 high street bingo and adult gaming centres across the UK.
“It will also be a welcome addition to our existing Merkur Slots venue on Union Street in Aberdeen, safeguard jobs and reinforce our continued investment in the local high street.
“Having already undergone a refresh and new layout of the casino, we now have some exciting plans to invest and develop the business further and look forward to welcoming new and existing customers.”
The new-look casino will include a selection of table games, including blackjack, poker and roulette, along with the latest slots products. It will also offer a range of corporate packages to the local business community.
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.
Africa
Play’n GO announces landmark South African partnership with Hollywoodbets

Play’n GO, the world’s leading casino entertainment provider, has today announced a new operator partnership in South Africa with Hollywoodbets.
The legendary games studio went live in South Africa in 2024, and this newly announced partnership will see classic Play’n GO titles such as Fire Joker, Rise of Olympus 100 and Boat Bonanza now available to Hollywoodbets players in South Africa.
Play’n GO enjoyed a landmark year in 2024, expanding its reach globally, and recently announced the launch of two brand new slots mechanics, Blitzways™ and Crashback™.
Stuart Trigwell, Director of Business Development at Play’n GO, commented “South Africa is a market of increasing significance in iGaming globally, and we’re very pleased to have gained such a strong foothold in the country with this partnership.
“The Hollywoodbets brand is synonymous with iGaming in South Africa, and this partnership reflects the commitment of both Play’n GO and Hollywoodbets to deliver the best casino gaming experience possible to players in the region. We’re excited for the opportunities that will come from this partnership, and we look forward to many years of success together.”
Wayde Dorkin, Head of Product at Hollywoodbets added “We’re looking forward to welcoming Play’n GO’s legendary games portfolio to our platform, and we know our players are just as excited as we are. We’re committed to being the number one operator in South Africa, and partnering with Play’n GO is a significant step forward on that journey.”
The post Play’n GO announces landmark South African partnership with Hollywoodbets appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
April Fool’s Day
No fooling! The All-Inclusive Hotel Room Package is back for summer stays at the Plaza Hotel & Casino
Tomorrow might be April Fool’s Day but this is no joke, the Plaza Hotel & Casino is bringing back Las Vegas’ only all-inclusive hotel room package starting at $125 per person per night.
The Plaza introduced its all-inclusive hotel room package last summer. It was so well received by guests that the iconic downtown Las Vegas property is bringing it back and extending it for all of June, July and August.
“At a time when tourists are concerned about increasing costs in Las Vegas, including resort fees and paying to park, we wanted to give our guests a more affordable summer vacation option by again offering our all-inclusive hotel room package,” said Jonathan Jossel, CEO of the Plaza Hotel & Casino.
The Plaza’ all-inclusive hotel room package waives all resort fees, but guests will still have free access to the fitness center, self-parking, and rooftop pool. It also includes bottomless drinks from the Omaha Bar and Sports Book Bar on the casino floor as well as breakfast and dinner from various dining outlets, and more.
The Plaza’s all-inclusive hotel room package is available for booking beginning today. Rooms must be booked online by Aug. 29 for a stay June 1 through Aug. 30.
The post No fooling! The All-Inclusive Hotel Room Package is back for summer stays at the Plaza Hotel & Casino appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
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