Category: Speakers 2025

James Illingworth serves as the Vice President of Sales EMEA at Gaming Laboratories International, heading up the European Business Development team across both land-based and online markets. With over 18 years of experience in the gaming industry, Illingworth brings a deep understanding of the market and a strong network across the continent. Throughout his career, he has held key roles at well-respected companies including Atronic, Magic Dreams SRL, Spielo International, and John Huxley. His journey in gaming began in publishing, providing him with a unique perspective on the industry’s evolution. For the past 12+ years, James has been a driving Read More

Gloria Borisova is Senior Analyst at Ficom Leisure, an M&A advisory and consultancy company specializing in the offline and online betting & gaming industry since 1996. Ficom Leisure has more than 80 years of combined experience and expertise in all segments of the B2B and B2C international gambling industry: Betting, Casino, Lottery, Live Casino, Bingo, Poker and Skill Games for land-based and online, mobile, social gaming and e-sports. Gloria is a betting, gaming and M&A analyst with over 10 years’ experience in the industry. Gloria works closely with Ficom Leisure partners on all prospective activities in identifying merger and acquisition Read More

Gjorgje Ristikj is the CEO and Founder of LinkDataMedia and iGamingWise.com, as well as the Co-founder and CEO of RankRadar.io. A visionary entrepreneur and strategic leader, Gjorgje has been an active force in the iGaming industry since 2009, working with top-tier professionals and consistently driving innovation. His journey began with the co-founding of PokerMacedonia.net – the first Macedonian poker affiliate website—where he delivered poker news, strategies, and in-depth reviews. His work played a pivotal role in developing the local poker scene, and his launch of the first Online Poker Leagues in Macedonia helped spread the game’s popularity across the Balkan Read More

Georgi advises well-known and creative businesses, both international and local, on complex legal and regulatory matters in the digital space and fast-moving sectors such as technology, iGaming, video games, and media. He has experience with cross-border mandates, market entries, and product launches, and his expertise covers intellectual property, AI, data privacy, digital regulations, consumer protection, online safety, e-commerce, advertising, unfair competition, and commercial law. Over the years, Georgi has been part of teams closing cross-border and domestic M&A deals exceeding EUR 4 billion in a range of sectors such as technology, iGaming, banking, telecommunications, video games, e-commerce, and retail, while Read More

Georgi Kandev has over 10 years of experience in digital marketing, specializing in performance strategies such as PPC, SEO, and Email Automation. He is a lecturer at SoftUni Digital, teaching Google Analytics, Conversion Rate Optimization, and Project Management. As a partner and brand ambassador of Ringostat Bulgaria, Georgi leads the sales and marketing departments at Netpeak Bulgaria, overseeing key clients and business operations. Throughout his career, he has managed hundreds of successful projects and contributed to the growth of leading brands in Bulgaria. Georgi is a frequent speaker and webinar host, mentor to junior managers, and a certified expert in Read More

George is an expert in legislation, taxation, and management with over 10 years of experience in the gambling industry. Since 2021, he has headed the Administration of the Georgian Gambling Association and has been an Executive Board Member since 2018. Previously, he served as CFO of one of Georgia’s leading gambling companies. He is the founder of the Gambling Consulting Authority (GCA), providing strategic guidance and solutions for industry growth. George holds a Gold Certificate in Tax Legislation and Audit Procedures (Ministry of Finance, 2017) and a Certificate in International Financial Reporting Standards under a World Bank & EU program Read More

Francesco, CEO of Casumo since February 2023, boasts over 16 years of experience in i-gaming and retail. Prior to Casumo, he held pivotal roles such as Managing Director of International Markets at Betclic, CEO of Napoleon Sports and Casino, and CEO of PSK. His dynamic leadership and strategic initiatives have solidified his reputation as a prominent figure in the i-gaming industry.

Elliot is a Responsible Gambling Product Owner at Playtech Managed Services, leading the AI-driven risk assessment platform BetBuddy that evaluates millions of players monthly across global jurisdictions. For over three years, he has spearheaded product strategy, AI model development, and responsible gambling consultancy, ensuring sustainable business practices while safeguarding player welfare. His expertise lies in leveraging artificial intelligence to detect behavioral patterns and risk indicators, translating complex data into actionable insights for operators worldwide. He manages cross-functional teams developing sophisticated RG solutions, providing strategic consultancy on responsible gaming processes and regulatory compliance. With a 20-year design career foundation, including service Read More

Ekaterina is the Director at the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA). She has been with EGBA for 12 years working on legal and regulatory issues in the field of gambling both on an EU and national level. Prior to working at EGBA, Ekaterina worked on complaint and infringement handling in relation to the legislation of DG Health and Consumers at the European Commission. Other work experience includes the European Parliament and in a Brussels-based consultancy. Ekaterina holds a Ph.D in Health Policy from the Medical University- Sofia as well as an LL.M in European Law and a B.A. in Read More

Dr. Joerg Hofmann is head of the Betting and Gaming Group of Melchers Law Firm in Germany. He is a Past President of the International Masters of Gaming Law (IMGL).  He has been consistently ranked as a “Leading Individual” in Gaming & Gambling by Chambers Global and listed among “Germany’s Best Lawyers” in the category “Gaming Law” by Handelsblatt and BestLawyers. Dr. Joerg Hofmann frequently publishes articles in international professional journals and speaks regularly on leading gaming law conferences around the world. Who’s Who Legal granted Joerg the global award “Gaming Lawyer of the Year” in 2023”. Dr. Hofmann lectures Read More