Unibo’s Alexis Wicén to Moderate Panel on Player Engagement at iGaming Germany 2025

As the iGaming industry continues its expansion across Europe, Germany stands out as one of the most dynamic, fast-growing, and regulation-focused markets. That’s why, from April 1–2, 2025, hundreds of the industry’s brightest minds will convene in Frankfurt for the 5th Annual iGaming Germany Summit—an essential event on the continental gaming calendar.

Among the leaders shaping the future of iGaming at the summit will be Unibo’s CEO and Founder, Alexis Wicén, who has been invited to moderate a standout session titled:

“Building Player Engagement: Cultural Insights and Innovative Mechanics for Slot Games”

This expert-led panel takes place on Day Two of the summit and will explore how player preferences differ across cultures, and how game developers and marketers can use this knowledge—along with innovative mechanics—to deepen engagement, improve retention, and drive lasting brand loyalty.

Why iGaming Germany 2025 Matters

Now in its fifth year, iGaming Germany is more than just another conference—it’s a strategic summit at the intersection of innovation, compliance, and growth. As the German market matures under increasingly structured regulation, the summit provides a critical space for operators, affiliates, platforms, and technology providers to align their strategies for long-term success.

Set in Frankfurt, a global business and financial hub, the summit offers attendees two days of keynotes, panels, and networking opportunities with C-level executives, policy advisors, marketing leaders, and product developers. This year’s event focuses on both operational excellence and forward-thinking trends—ranging from AI integration to responsible gaming, regulatory adaptation, and cultural market tailoring.

With Germany solidifying its place as one of the largest online gambling markets worldwide, innovation is no longer optional—it’s the price of entry.

Spotlight on the Panel: Building Player Engagement

At the core of any successful iGaming operation is player engagement—and in today’s competitive environment, that means going beyond basic game mechanics or one-size-fits-all promotions. The panel Alexis Wicén will moderate addresses this exact challenge.

Session Title:

Building Player Engagement: Cultural Insights and Innovative Mechanics for Slot Games

Moderator:

• Alexis Wicén, CEO & Founder, Unibo

Panelists:

• Filip Janczak, Co-Founder & Head of Performance Marketing, Creatos Media

• André Root, Marketing Director

What This Panel Will Explore:

1. Cultural Variations in Player Behavior
Different markets require different approaches. What motivates a player in Germany may not resonate with someone in Italy or Scandinavia. This panel will explore how cultural and behavioral insights can drive the design of localized content, relevant bonuses, and region-specific engagement strategies.

2. What Makes a Slot Game “Sticky”?
It’s not just about flashy graphics or big jackpots. The panel will explore the underlying mechanics—like game progression, missions, tournaments, and interactive storytelling—that drive retention and repeat play in slot games. Expect a rich discussion on the tools and mechanics that are working in today’s markets.

3. Performance Marketing Meets Product Design
With Filip Janczak bringing deep experience in performance marketing, the panel will explore how data and campaign strategies can be tightly integrated with game development to ensure strong engagement from acquisition to long-term retention.

4. Balancing Innovation with Regulation
As Germany is one of the most tightly regulated gaming markets in Europe, the panel will also address the compliance dimension of engagement, asking how innovation can coexist with responsible gaming practices and data transparency.

5. Engagement Beyond the Game
The panelists will also touch on off-game mechanics that enhance player loyalty—such as achievement systems, loyalty tiers, in-game messaging, and event-based promotions. These innovations, many of which are at the heart of Unibo’s own platform, can make the difference between a fleeting player and a lifelong user.

Alexis Wicén’s Role as Moderator

As a recognized expert in retention strategies, gamification, and user engagement, Alexis Wicén brings a unique perspective to the moderator’s seat. Under his leadership, Unibo has pioneered solutions that empower operators to increase player value without relying on overused bonus mechanics.

With Unibo’s gamification layer powering missions, tournaments, and real-time rewards across multiple operator platforms, Alexis is ideally positioned to guide a discussion that spans product, marketing, and compliance.

Speaking ahead of the summit, Alexis said:

“I’m excited to be moderating this session in Germany, a market that’s at the frontier of regulated growth. Building meaningful player engagement today requires more than clever mechanics—it takes cultural understanding, marketing synergy, and a commitment to player wellbeing. This panel brings all of that together.”

Why Germany?

Germany’s place in the global iGaming industry is evolving rapidly. The Interstate Treaty on Gambling introduced a clear framework for online gaming in 2021, and while compliance requirements are high, the market opportunity is even greater.

With over 83 million residents and a digitally fluent population, Germany represents a massive and still-growing user base for licensed operators. But success in this market demands careful navigation of its cultural expectations, advertising rules, and game design constraints.

That’s why events like iGaming Germany are so essential: they provide a platform for open dialogue on how to succeed within the framework, while exchanging innovative ideas that work across Europe and beyond.

Key Themes of iGaming Germany 2025

While Alexis’s panel focuses on engagement, the summit’s broader agenda reflects the multifaceted nature of iGaming’s evolution. Some major themes include:

• Navigating German regulation and compliance frameworks

• Responsible gaming in a tech-driven era

• Data analytics for operational optimization

• Affiliate marketing adaptation in new regulatory environments

• Emerging traffic sources: Telegram, Discord, and beyond

• Integrating AI with human oversight for sustainable growth

These themes reflect a maturing industry—one that’s ready to go beyond acquisition and begin optimizing for longevity, sustainability, and experience.

Unibo’s Continued Thought Leadership

With appearances already lined up at Mare Balticum, SBC Summit Malta, and now iGaming Germany, 2025 is shaping up to be a milestone year for Unibo’s leadership team. Each event offers a different but connected lens on the future of gaming:

• In Vilnius, the focus is on content and innovation.

• In Malta, the spotlight is on data-driven retention.

• And in Frankfurt, the emphasis turns to culture, mechanics, and deep engagement.

This growing presence reflects Unibo’s commitment to not only building cutting-edge solutions—but also helping shape the broader conversation about where the industry is headed.

As regulators, marketers, developers, and operators look for answers to the engagement puzzle, Unibo continues to offer both technology and thought leadership that deliver real-world results.

Join Us in Frankfurt

Whether you’re a product manager, CRM strategist, operator, or content creator, iGaming Germany 2025 offers unmatched insight into how to succeed in this complex but rewarding market.

And if you’re attending, don’t miss the chance to sit in on “Building Player Engagement: Cultural Insights and Innovative Mechanics for Slot Games”—moderated by Unibo’s own Alexis Wicén. The discussion promises to offer practical, strategic, and cross-cultural insights you won’t find anywhere else.