Comment Archives - CasinoBeats https://casinobeats.com/features/comment/ The pulse of the global gaming industry Mon, 02 Jun 2025 14:18:20 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.1 https://casinobeats.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/cropped-favicon-32x32.png Comment Archives - CasinoBeats https://casinobeats.com/features/comment/ 32 32 Part 1 | CasinoBeats contenders: Innovation in Casino Entertainment http://casinobeats.com/2019/11/01/casinobeats-contenders-innovation-in-casino-entertainment/ Fri, 01 Nov 2019 09:38:17 +0000 http://casinobeats.com/?p=23300 As the annual SBC Awards fast approach, CasinoBeats is launching a series of feature articles previewing a select few of the gongs up for grabs.  Now in its sixth year and recognising the achievements of operators, suppliers and affiliates from across all the major disciplines. This latest entrant in the CasinoBeats contenders series delves into supplier categories as […]

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As the annual SBC Awards fast approach, CasinoBeats is launching a series of feature articles previewing a select few of the gongs up for grabs. 

Now in its sixth year and recognising the achievements of operators, suppliers and affiliates from across all the major disciplines. This latest entrant in the CasinoBeats contenders series delves into supplier categories as we look at those vying for the ‘Innovation in Casino Entertainment’ gong.

BetGames.tv

Invention and innovation are pillars in the gaming community and while there is a sameness in operators providing daily lotteries and traditional casino games, the freshness and fluid nature of our marketplace means breaking boundaries.

BetGames.TV provides an enhanced, modernistic vision. The company created a niche market in the dynamic, fluid, rapidly changing world of gaming. We showcase a unique live dealer experience and maintain the industry norm of efficiency, speed and revenue potential.

Betsoft

2019 has been a year of significant success and innovation for Betsoft. This stems from our unique and innovative approach to slot design. Our portfolio of Slots3 games has grown considerably, and our offering now boasts a multitude of best performing games including Spinfinity Man and Viking Voyage.

However, among our most exciting titles is Max Quest: The Wrath of Ra. This game is a departure from the traditional slot model offering players a completely new casino experience and operators a disruptive, highly original, revenue generating vehicle to both acquire and retain customers.

Design Works Gaming

Design Works Gaming has an enviable history of producing slot games for land-based and social casinos. After developing titles for some of the biggest names in land-based casinos, DWG turned its gaze to the social scene with its first social casino, Diamond Sky, which was launched in 2016. We experienced significant success with Diamond Sky, and since have launched a number of social casinos, including two more this calendar year.

Evolution Gaming

Monopoly live from Evolution Gaming — a unique live online game show based on the world’s best-loved board game. It is an all-new special edition of our player-favourite Dream Catcher and created in partnership with Hasbro. It blends live game action with augmented reality, creating an entirely new player experience and has opened up live casino to an entirely new segment of players!

Green Jade Games

Being a new studio, we believe our best chance is innovation. Our vision is to deliver the next generation of casino games. Green Jade Games’ ambition is to develop the next generation casino games, based on an innovative mix of features from slots, computer games and hyper-casual games.

Greentube

Step inside Greentube’s “Home of Games” as we deliver safe and secure casino entertainment to players around the world. As the Novomatic Interactive division, we offer a diversified game portfolio of video slots, table games, AWP reloaded slots, server-based gaming, social casino gaming, video bingo and more.

Our omni-channel technology is at the forefront of gaming innovation and converges online, mobile and land-based gaming. As a full service RNG supplier we offer both customised platform solutions as well as a complete range of operation services.

Iforium

Welcome to Iforium, join us in connecting the game. Founded in 2006 and based in the Isle of Man, Iforium are a leading B2B software development company focused on providing the next generation casino platform.

Gameflex, our multi-award winning casino aggregation platform delivers the largest gaming portfolio in the industry with a focus on the regulated markets. Our portfolio now extends to over 9,000 games from 100+ content providers and is growing month on month.

The Iforium platform is live in 12 regulated markets and we work with multiple household name operators. We are presently licenced and regulated by the UKGC, MGA, ONJN and New Jersey in the US.

Playtech

Unique to Playtech games, game modifiers are “unlockable” special features available within certain games, giving licensees a cost-effective way to boost engagement through tailored, semi-personalised gameplay.

Game modifiers can be activated either manually through Playtech’s IMS or automatically via rules set in the engagement centre, either for individuals or multiple players. As well as creating an enhanced player experience, Game modifiers are designed to offer licensees a fresh alternative to traditional bonusing that does not rely on financial incentives.

By delivering something extra for players with an element of exclusivity, licensees can tackle churn, reward VIPs, promote cross-brand or cross-vertical play and much more.

Pragmatic Play

2019 has seen Pragmatic Play considerably strengthen its position as one of the leading providers of products and services in the igaming industry. Our expanding portfolio of video slots has grown in size and stature to be one of the most immersive offerings the industry has to give.

This has been supplemented by the highly successful launch of our live casino offering, and the roll-out of our pioneering Pragmatic Play Enhance tool. Much of our success has been the result of our unwavering commitment to innovation.

Red Tiger

We believe Red Tiger’s Daily Drop Jackpots Network is the greatest casino innovation for the judging period in question because, for the first time, a slots player can win an average of €56,000 every single day on our games making it the biggest daily jackpot in the industry.

This attractive prize has proved tremendously popular with players and operators alike. Unlike progressive jackpots, our daily drop jackpots are much more attainable for players and our clients have been able to harness this attraction to acquire customers and, most importantly, to retain them.

Scientific Games

Scientific Games understands its customers’ needs and always seeks to innovate to create business solutions to solve their pain points. Introducing Scientific Games’ player boutique, an innovative marketing and gift fulfilment program that is truly unique and enables operators to more seamlessly reward player loyalty, conduct special events, simplify program giving, enhance operations and improve the casino promotional environment.

Tom Horn Gaming

We make sure to create the best-in-class entertainment for those who are brave enough to embark on a thrilling journey to discover many fantastic worlds our video slots offer. 

Our slots always stimulate all your senses. Attractively done visuals with the soundtrack bouncing along, engaging gameplay with a host of amazing features just do the perfect job.

We are always setting ourselves new challenges as a brand in terms of growth, revenues, gaming concepts, innovation, technology. Our rigorous research of new technologies is always translated into our own in-house game development, that always features new game concepts and new technologies to attract new players and provide them with an unforgettable gaming experience.

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Full disclosure: Twin’s Line Peteri on igaming’s hidden gender pay gap http://casinobeats.com/2018/04/04/full-disclosure-twins-line-peteri-on-igamings-hidden-gender-pay-gap/ Wed, 04 Apr 2018 10:34:49 +0000 http://casinobeats.com/?p=2855 The number of females in the workplace has become a major statistical consideration in most global corporations, yet there is still a mysterious data gap in the igaming industry, writes Line Peteri, affiliate and marketing manager at online casino operator Twin.com THE vast majority of igaming companies have not disclosed their male-to-female ratios regarding employment and pay. Those […]

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The number of females in the workplace has become a major statistical consideration in most global corporations, yet there is still a mysterious data gap in the igaming industry, writes Line Peteri, affiliate and marketing manager at online casino operator Twin.com

THE vast majority of igaming companies have not disclosed their male-to-female ratios regarding employment and pay.

Those that did so in a 2017 study scored between 25 and 62 points out of a total of 100 across four categories. These were: gender composition and compensation, non-discrimination policies, internal support policies and community gender equality commitment.

And when you consider that those scores reflect only on the companies that were willing to comply, the unreported statistics do not fare well.

Yet with igamers being roughly 42 per cent female, surely it would make sense to have the gender input of the industry matching the output of the users?

“How can we sit and say we’re moving toward equality, when in fact we’re not moving at all?” asks Jan Jones Blackhurst, Caesars’ senior vice president for government relations and corporate responsibility.

“…talking about moving towards equality is not the same as actually doing it.”

Essentially, talking about moving towards equality is not the same as actually doing it. Transparency is key here, giving employees the knowledge to begin necessary discussions, and regulators need to ensure that they are supporting those willing to engage in the gender discussion too.

While the outlook across the board does not look good, the companies that are stepping in the right direction are leading by example for the rest. The women who do exist among this statistical dark matter are expending the biggest energy.

“The gender pay gap in igaming is unsubstantiated in a world crying out for disclosure and transparency.”

Take Ewa Kazmierska, chief operating officer of Oring/Twin, pictured, who is building up a strong team of both males and females in one of the industry’s fastest expanding companies, yet who remains one of less than a handful of women in the industry in CEO, CFO or COO positions.

The gender pay gap in online gaming is unsubstantiated in a world crying out for more disclosure and transparency.

Allowing the women that have found their way in to have their voices heard will encourage a greater talent pool to take interest.

Why build teams from only one resource, when you could build a stronger team from a broader range of resources that matches your consumer demand?

Further reading: Time for change – Jan Jones Blackhurst on gaming’s fight for gender equality

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How Casitabi is driving player engagement through RPG-style gaming http://casinobeats.com/2021/04/27/how-casitabi-is-driving-player-engagement-through-rpg-style-gaming/ Tue, 27 Apr 2021 12:00:58 +0000 https://casinobeats.com/?p=48026 With more and more operators joining the online casino market on a near-daily basis, it’s now more important than ever for gambling companies to ensure that they are delivering a smooth and fun gaming experience.  The way in which Casitabi plans to stand out from the crowd is by delivering a “unique RPG-style gaming experience” […]

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With more and more operators joining the online casino market on a near-daily basis, it’s now more important than ever for gambling companies to ensure that they are delivering a smooth and fun gaming experience. 

The way in which Casitabi plans to stand out from the crowd is by delivering a “unique RPG-style gaming experience” for its players through a variety of slot games, its highly graphic website and 128-bit SSL encryption.

What is RPG-Style gaming? 

RPG-Style Gaming, or role-play games, is often associated with games that have an in-built adventure storyline. In most cases, bettors can sign up as a character, or create their own to compete in, and potentially win, various quests. As the player progresses through the levels, they win rewards. 

So how is Casitabi ‘keeping things interesting’ for its players? Firstly, the online casino explained that through the continual addition of new quests and characters, it aims to deliver a fresh gaming experience for bettors who want to take a virtual casino trip (カジ旅). 

A spokesperson for Casitabi said: “As soon as you open up the website, you’re greeted by several high-quality anime graphics which is in keeping with the rest of the website. The whole website is designed to be exciting and fun and you can see this immediately – with a range of characters pictured on the front page, all of whom players can choose to play with once they’ve signed up.”

What else is on offer? 

In addition to RPG-style gaming, Casitabi prides itself on offering a range of slot games – with titles including Pearls of India and Mega Moolah. The online casino explained that it decided to make a number of video slots available to its players, a decision which it believes helps “keep things as exciting as possible”.

Aiming to meet the needs of as many players as possible, Casitabi noted that its range of table games – including roulette and Baccarat – helps ensure that as many players as possible can enjoy their experience.

Customer service and security

Engaging games do form a large part of the overall player experience, however the provision of a streamlined customer service alongside player security is key to retaining bettors.

Casitabi pointed towards its customer service which offers players a live chat function and online contact form – something which it highlighted is “known for its quick and helpful replies” –  giving bettors the means to contact the online casino if any issues do arise. 

Alleviating players’ concerns over security breaches, the spokesperson pinpointed the platform’s 128-bit SSL encryption as a key feature in making sure that bettors feel secure when gambling. 

The encryption, the spokesperson disclosed, means that when a player enters text on the website, it is scrambled immediately, thereby keeping personal details safe.

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Nicola Longmuir: scaling up AvatarUX’s ambitious growth plans http://casinobeats.com/2022/05/19/nicola-longmuir-scaling-up-avataruxs-ambitious-growth-plans/ Thu, 19 May 2022 08:30:00 +0000 https://casinobeats.com/?p=66645 Reflecting on the three years since the company made its debut, Nicola Longmuir, CEO of AvatarUX, gave SBC Leaders a sneak peak into what we can expect from the gaming software provider as it ramps up its plans for global expansion. For any start-up company, there comes a point when the focus must shift to […]

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Nicola Longmuir, AvatarUX CEO

Reflecting on the three years since the company made its debut, Nicola Longmuir, CEO of AvatarUX, gave SBC Leaders a sneak peak into what we can expect from the gaming software provider as it ramps up its plans for global expansion.

For any start-up company, there comes a point when the focus must shift to ‘scaling-up’ in an effort to take the business to the next level. In the three years since its launch, AvatarUX has had great success, mainly driven by the PopWins mechanic which has been a hit with players across the globe.

Having introduced ten PopWins titles to our portfolio since inception in 2019, we are now significantly increasing the rate at which we release games to ensure we maintain our momentum and stay relevant in an ultra-competitive industry.

This year alone, we will bring at least ten new games to market with the aim to further increase the number in 2023. This acceleration will require further organisational flexibility and we have already reviewed and adapted our internal process with the aim to become more efficient.

We are able to scale up quickly and speed up our development processes without compromising on the quality of our products that operators and players have come to appreciate. We will also implement further strategic growth plans to make sure we reach new players in both existing and new markets.

We have quickly established our brand and cemented our identity as a true innovator and disruptor, something we are extremely proud of in a sector where these terms are often used as buzzwords.

We are now at a stage where we need to continue to be at the forefront of innovation and not rest on our laurels. With a winning concept such as PopWins we have already set the bar high, but we are now looking to evolve this product further, so we are focusing on various iterations of the core mechanics by adding on other interesting gameplay options.

In its simplest terms, the original PopWins mechanic sees every winning combination on a reel ‘Pop’ to create two new icons – creating the potential for another win. The PopWins sequence can create multiple wins, since the feature continues to roll, if the Pops keep creating new wins. This ensures that both the spin sequence and reel potential is instantly enhanced.

Player satisfaction from PopWins is further boosted by our slots being designed with impressive average hit rates in the base game – meaning the feature is frequently triggered with standard luck during a slot session.

By analysing data and listening to player feedback, we can ensure we further evolve our offering. A recent example of this is our latest releases, Monkeypop, which was enriched with fantastic new features; Scatter Collection, High Pay Upgrade and Pre-bonus Rewards as well as low symbols removal.

This success has made us more certain than ever that this is the approach we will continue to take going forward – PopWins being the focal point of our titles but boosted by thrilling elements to keep players at the edge of their seats.

Later we will introduce other iterations to our proprietary mechanics to further enhance the player experience. Multipop is the first one we are planning to bring to market this year. Nominally similar to the PopWins mechanic, winning symbols in any combination will be replaced by one symbol, rather than two, but this fresh icon will have a multiplier attached. This can happen again and again, as long as wins are possible, so a mammoth multiplier can occur for gigantic wins.

But why stop there? Although we have so far been a pure slot provider, we are now broadening our horizons to also provide industry-first player engagement tools. Being able to offer our operator partners additional value is becoming increasingly more important as the next generation of players is demanding more than just a solitude slots experience.

Having focused on key distribution partners as we first set off, we are now in a position to extend our direct integration roadmap to further broaden our revenue streams. We have already amassed a great following with content now live across hundreds of brands, but we want to reach new audiences and territories and we see the US and North America as key markets for our games as regulation continues to progress across the pond.

As a result of our intentions to grow, not just our games portfolio but the wider product offering, as well as our distribution network, we will continue to expand with experienced and dedicated professionals that will help us add value and take the company to new heights. Our goal is to continue to create entertaining products and experiences players want and look for, and I strongly believe that keeping the players’ interests in mind is what makes us stand out.

With an exciting roadmap for 2022 and more to come in 2023, we are truly excited to further establish ourselves in the igaming sector and to move from being a start-up company that few have heard about to becoming more of a mainstream name whose content players immediately recognise and love.

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Player retention 2.0: How SoftSwiss is customising the player experience http://casinobeats.com/2021/09/01/player-retention-2-0-how-softswiss-is-customising-the-player-experience/ Wed, 01 Sep 2021 08:20:00 +0000 https://casinobeats.com/?p=53868 In the second part of a player retention mini series, Anna Loiko, product owner at SoftSwiss, takes a look at the more advanced tools available on the SoftSwiss online casino platform and how these can help keep players coming back.  Every platform has its own set of tools on how to engage and retain players. […]

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In the second part of a player retention mini series, Anna Loiko, product owner at SoftSwiss, takes a look at the more advanced tools available on the SoftSwiss online casino platform and how these can help keep players coming back. 

Every platform has its own set of tools on how to engage and retain players. However, I wanted to shine a light on the more advanced type of these features available on the SoftSwiss platform – such as segmentation including groups and filters, as well as retention emails – and how these can help keep your players in the game.

Starting with groups, the first question you might have is ‘what are these?’. They can be used to create multiple categories that will be assigned to users upon completion of a certain event (registration, bet, deposit, etc) in accordance with the applicable filters. The filters can then provide the conditions of which will be applied to the group. 

Filters form a more personal approach and tend to help to generate and increase loyalty to the casino brand. It’s an amazing tool that allows you to navigate through your player base. There are five reasons for this:

In general, filters allow to create a segmentation of players on various metrics, including one of the most popular types segmentation by the amount of their deposits, withdrawals, and the frequency of the game.

Players can be segmented by the number of total deposits deposits/withdrawals to offer them the corresponding bonuses. For example, if a player has made a lot of funds, but almost did not withdraw, you can offer free bonuses or cashbacks to increase their motivation as well as loyalty to the brand.

Secondly, by using filters, you can segment players who have not entered the casino for a couple of days and send them a so-called “retention letter”, potentially reactivate them, as well as send them personalised bonus offers. 

A great example here may be the welcome letters, when the player has just created an account, and they’re greeted with a bonus offer for one deposit. If then they suddenly disappear, a reminder of the standard 2nd deposit will be sent and so on. 

The third reason as to why filters can help drive both engagement and retention is that there is also an option of special filtering on the SoftSwiss online casino platform. What’s special filtering, you ask? 

Special filtering allows you to track players by country and, together with statistics on the popularity of games for specific regions, offer them bonuses for the most popular games in their country. This, we believe, can help deliver a more personalised player experience.

Reason number four relates to bonuses. By using filters, you can set up groups for automatic bonuses under certain specific conditions. For example, if the player did not make deposits and bets for several days – they will receive a letter with a bonus offer, or just free spins bonuses get delivered to their account. 

So filters allow for additional customisation of the overall process of player retention within online casino brands. This can also be done to send out special birthday bonuses – you can filter by date of birth and send birthday gifts, which players especially love!

Speaking of VIP clients, that brings us on to reason number five – filters enable you to segment VIP players (the number of deposits, the amount of losses, how long has he been playing in the casino) therefore providing even deeper personalisation and customised approach to the players. 

As a result, players feel an increasing sense of loyalty towards a particular casino brand, thereby encouraging them to stay in the game. 

Filters aren’t the only way to keep players coming back though. Retention emails can be a key method for online casino brands looking to follow up on a  player’s action – or in some cases, in action. 

These emails enable you to set up automatic email messages triggered by a player’s activity in order to follow-up and attract their attention. For example, if a player has not deposited for a while, you may set up an email type that will fire automatically after a certain period of time with a kind reminder.

This brings us onto “chains of letters”. For example, if the player does not enter the account for a few days, they will receive additional free spins as a kind gesture. If they still don’t come back to the game they may be offered a new good bonus or a feedback form to find out if something went wrong and the casino brand can improve it. 

By using the SoftSwiss online casino platform, clients can also set up tournaments or lotteries for a specific segment of players, for example, for high rollers, and position such tournaments as “invitation only”, which already gives the players the impression of a VIP approach and their value from the casino side.

There were even cases of reactivation of players who have not logged in for more than a year – this is also configurable in filters and offers.

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Mascot Gaming: Traffic versus profit – why both types of slot are important http://casinobeats.com/2019/11/28/mascot-gaming-traffic-versus-profit-why-both-types-of-slot-are-important/ Thu, 28 Nov 2019 09:45:05 +0000 http://casinobeats.com/?p=24494 Dmitry Malyshev, Chief Technical Officer at Mascot Gaming, says that operators must pack their portfolios with slots that bring in new players but that also generate stable revenues over time. Online gambling operators spend a lot of time building out their game portfolios and striking the right balance between the quality and quantity of slots and […]

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Dmitry Malyshev, Chief Technical Officer at Mascot Gaming, says that operators must pack their portfolios with slots that bring in new players but that also generate stable revenues over time.

Online gambling operators spend a lot of time building out their game portfolios and striking the right balance between the quality and quantity of slots and table games offered.

This is because game lobbies are a powerful acquisition and retention tool; players will go to certain operators because they stock a certain brand or type of slot.

They also want to be able to play a wide range of games from the classics right through to the most innovative and ground-breaking titles.

For operators, this means including different types of games and from different operators. But ultimately, games need to achieve two clear objectives.

They need to help operators attract new players to their online casino brand(s) and they also need to generate stable revenues over time.

Here at Mascot Gaming we place games in two clear categories – traffic games and profit games.

The purpose of traffic games is to bring new players to the slot and to the casino(s) offering them and this means being innovative and creative.

They need to offer complex math, unique features that land regularly, enticing volatility, be based around provocative themes and narratives and with stunning graphics and immersive audio.

The biggest challenge with traffic games is not knowing whether they will be a big hit with players or not – they are not based on existing blueprints and instead on the imagination of the developer.

Of course, developers can obtain a better idea of the trends and themes that excite players by engaging with the slots playing community and especially streamers.

With traffic games, it is also important to think outside the box and come up with a game or features within a game that are genuinely unique. This, combined with research, usually results in success.

If this can be achieved, players will play the game at scale and it also helps to spark their interest in other titles from that studio stocked in the operator’s portfolio.

This, of course, is why we categorise them as traffic games as their key purpose is to attract more players to the online casino brand that offers them.

As a result, the profit share for such games is often weighted in favour of the developer and not the operator as the game studio is the one exposed to the most risk.

But this is why it is important for operators to also stock the second category of online slot game – profit generators. So how do these differ to traffic games?

While traffic games push the boundaries of experimentation and innovation, profit games use tried and tested themes and game mechanics that have proved to be popular over many years.

Their purpose, as the name suggests, is to drive the maximum profit from the player by providing an online slot they can really get into and can play again and again and again.

This means creating the slot around a classic theme with simple math and not distracting from the base game with lots of features and bonus rounds.

The player needs to see that the game has big win potential and that by continuing to play the same game over time there is a good chance they will land a mega win.

It is often the case that new players are drawn to the casino brand because of the traffic game but after that they seek out more slots from the same developer.

When they start playing profit games from that developer the casino can drive more profit (the revenue share is more generous) from the new player that signed up via the traffic game.

In addition, depending on the developer behind the game, studios can help casinos create hard hitting marketing campaigns and particularly around traffic games.

Indeed, in some ways traffic games should be seen as a marking vehicle for online casinos – capturing the attention of players due to their uniqueness and pushing them towards the brand.

As with all marketing activity, you have to speculate to accumulate but so long as operators also stock a good selection of profit games they can bring in new customers and boost revenues.

Of course, by working with some of the smaller, newer online slot studios, operators can often strike more favourable revenue share deals across both types of game.

This is because these studios are keen to get their titles into online casino game lobbies and as such are open to negotiating different commercial agreements.

For the operator, this can result in them stocking the right games at the right price, driving both new players and revenues for a fantastic ROI.

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‘My dream is for the industry to be more entertainment led’ – Robinson opens SlotsFest http://casinobeats.com/2020/11/19/my-dream-is-for-the-industry-to-be-more-entertainment-led-robinson-opens-slotsfest/ Thu, 19 Nov 2020 08:45:50 +0000 https://casinobeats.com/?p=40122 Delivering the keynote for this week’s inaugural CasinoBeats Slots Festival, Nik Robinson, CEO and founder of Big Time Gaming, reflected on a remarkable year and looked ahead to ‘an exciting 2021’. It has been a turbulent year across the betting and gaming industry and beyond, but one also that has highlighted just how robust the online […]

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Delivering the keynote for this week’s inaugural CasinoBeats Slots Festival, Nik Robinson, CEO and founder of Big Time Gaming, reflected on a remarkable year and looked ahead to ‘an exciting 2021’.

It has been a turbulent year across the betting and gaming industry and beyond, but one also that has highlighted just how robust the online casino sector is. Something Nik Robinson, CEO and founder of slots developer Big Time Gaming, knows as well as anyone, as he told visitors to SlotFest.

“What a year it has been,” he began. “Who would have predicted back at ICE that within a month or so, we’d be in the midst of a worldwide pandemic?

“everyone has pulled together

“It’s an amazing credit to the industry to see how resilient we have been and have become, moving forward with everything that we have done this year. A lot of us have taken our staff out of the office environment, putting them at home and that it’s worked seamlessly, even more efficiently than previously – on the provider side and the casino side, everyone has pulled together.

“That’s a credit to everyone and their staff. Where we’ve needed to be responsible during this time, we have been,” he said.

“Indeed, we’ve seen responsibility come into a new light in Germany. Betting is €1 a spin maximum there and there are also deposit limits over a monthly period. I see that as only a good thing – we are seen as becoming a zero-harm industry. When we have deposit limits that strict and betting limits that low, it is very difficult to get into harm, and that will help the industry grow exponentially. 

“My dream is for the industry being more entertainment led, more of Netflix-style environment rather than a hardcore casino one. Germany is an example of that. Some might say ‘it’s too strict the numbers, won’t work for everyone’, but I disagree.

“If the industry markets itself in the right way there’s no reason we can’t increase our user base. We are an entertainment business. If we take that mantra and move forward with it then the industry will survive on its merits, on doing good work,” said the man behind the Megaways slot mechanic.

“It’s been an amazing year for innovation – smaller providers punching above their weight

“It’s been an amazing year for innovation in general. Lots of smaller providers really punching above their weight and the competition is fantastic – it’s healthy. Competition creates better product, it creates a bigger user base and – as stakes and deposit limits go down – we need more users, we need more entertainment. So the more providers coming into the field, the better.”

Robinson went on to highlight some of the big movers in slots this year and outline some key milestones for Big Time Gaming in the year ahead.

Watch the entire keynote video below to hear the full address, including some key collaborations and the Megapays project.

The content, including 13 unreleased slots and around 100 more, are still available to view and play on the Festival platform, just register for free here

 

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‘The new normal’: AMLGS on operators’ COVID response http://casinobeats.com/2020/07/21/the-new-normal-amlgs-on-operators-covid-response/ Tue, 21 Jul 2020 13:35:46 +0000 https://casinobeats.com/?p=34292 Ray Wilson, director of UK-based gambling compliance consultancy AMLGS, takes heart from the gambling sector’s response to the COVID-19 challenge Impressive and encouraging – two words that we do not hear often when referring to gambling operators and their approach to compliance but, nonetheless, two words that AMLGS feels best describe how the majority of […]

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Ray Wilson, director of UK-based gambling compliance consultancy AMLGS, takes heart from the gambling sector’s response to the COVID-19 challenge

Impressive and encouraging – two words that we do not hear often when referring to gambling operators and their approach to compliance but, nonetheless, two words that AMLGS feels best describe how the majority of operators have handled the huge challenge that was handed to them when COVID-19 impacted the UK.

Unfortunately, as so frequently witnessed by this industry, much of the hard work has been overshadowed by negative press and papers published by governing bodies that have minimal first-hand knowledge about gambling operations other than what they themselves have read.

“Since the COVID challenge
was laid out for operators,
they have risen to it

Often this represents unfair criticism from those without the appropriate level of knowledge and expertise – but let’s focus on the positives.

Since the COVID challenge was laid out for operators, they have risen to it. To manage what could have been a huge increase in problem gambling and instead see almost no difference in the ‘post-pandemic’ period has been great to see – noting, of course, that we are not out of the woods yet.

Many of the operators we work with have put in strenuous effort to protect consumers and meet regulatory requirements. Our launch of the Responsible Gambling Risk Assessment (RGRA) happened to come just in time, enabling operators to quickly assess their customer base and dynamically apply appropriate measures.

With several of our partners subject to regulatory compliance assessments, the RGRA – along with their Compliance Health Checks – allowed these companies to evidence their policies and procedures to the high standard required.

For those of you that attended our webinar with the Malta Gaming Authority and global customer onboarding, identification and investigation provider HooYu or listened to our interviews with global partners Arctic Intelligence, you would likely have heard of our Responsible Gambling Risk Assessment and our Compliance Health Check mentioned.

The RGRA is essentially a mandatory licensing requirement for all operators in emerging markets (which we anticipate will become a requirement across all of the major markets in the near future).

Operators will be expected to provide an accurate assessment of the risk to their customers from problem gambling, accompanied by the appropriate level of mitigation. This is exactly what our RGRA offers and which a number of partners have already undertaken.

The Health-Check is a compliance MOT and, of course, it is better to have this done before something goes wrong. Operators should not wait to be put on notice of an audit/assessment – conducting an annual health check delivers assurances that no skeletons will come out of the closet during an assessment.

At AMLGS, we conduct mock interviews using templates designed alongside regulators’ own auditors to get businesses ready for the environment that they will likely experience. AMLGS reviews every aspect of compliance procedures.

Better us identify a problem than the regulator, something which has proven beneficial for every operator that has utilised this service.

We work with many of those reading this along with other operators across Europe and again, we want to congratulate you them, all their efforts. In a time when the sector is faced with seemingly non-stop bombardment of legislative changes and negative media coverage, we believe it is our job as your partners to highlight the good side of the business as well.

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Sector ‘should look to technology’ to unlock safer gambling efforts http://casinobeats.com/2021/02/08/sector-should-look-to-technology-to-unlock-safer-gambling-efforts/ Mon, 08 Feb 2021 14:10:00 +0000 https://casinobeats.com/?p=44005 Adam Bradford, CEO of the Safer Online Gambling Group, discusses the increasingly important role of technology in bolstering the industry’s efforts to promote safer play. Behind the 140 characters of noise fizzing around the Gambling Act review, Gambling Commission advisories and the safer gambling debate, teams of people are still dedicated to preventing gambling-related harm. Those […]

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Adam Bradford, CEO of the Safer Online Gambling Group, discusses the increasingly important role of technology in bolstering the industry’s efforts to promote safer play.

Behind the 140 characters of noise fizzing around the Gambling Act review, Gambling Commission advisories and the safer gambling debate, teams of people are still dedicated to preventing gambling-related harm.

Those foot soldiers are the hard working folk in the gambling addiction support sector, a group of us that works steadfastly to innovate and provide effective solutions that can support gamblers and the industry to promote safer play.

We all know that gambling is a long-enjoyed form of entertainment and nobody across the political spectrum is calling for it to be banned or driven underground. There are however tactical actions the industry can take to continuously improve standards and make gambling safer for everyone.

The coronavirus pandemic has made every organisation think deeper, work harder and scrutinise its delivery. Education programmes have gone digital, customer service is led by advisors sat in their kitchens or in their home offices, and gambling still continues, more so online than before.

We’ve seen the big gambling firms report an increase in online revenues over the period of the pandemic; hence we are living in an increasingly digitised world where consumers now expect key services in the palm of their hands at a moment’s notice.

This made me and my team at the Safer Online Gambling Group think deeper – why can this not be the case for gambling support? Certain forms of virtual advice and guidance are beginning to take place digitally, in part forcibly so due to the impact of the pandemic. We have been pondering over a few key questions – how can this model become more integrated? How can it become more accessible to those who really need it, and how can we normalise safer gambling and not being afraid to reach out for help when it is required?

We have been blessed to work with some of the industry’s key names and experts in this field and have been busy creating digital tools that aim to provide rich support to gamblers at any point in their journey. We are passionate about ensuring a problem is prevented before it escalates – this approach is heavily embedded in our family’s own very personal experience and that of so many others we have spoken to and worked with.

One asset that most operators across the UK have always-on access to is technology – it never goes away, you don’t need to get in a taxi or on a train to get to it, and its ability to connect customers with resources and tools is instantaneous. As more organisations in our sector begin to roll out digital toolkits and virtual delivery of their services to support at-risk gamblers and to educate the public, we know that operators can lead the way in preventing gambling harms through their already existing portfolios.

That is why, instead of waiting for policy to catch up, we are imploring operators and the sector to look inwardly to what they already have and how they can adapt and mould this to provide greater support, quickly and richly to their consumers with an injection of support from those with lived experience and a vision to make sure that support and guidance is available to anyone gambling at key points in the customer journey.

It is a targeted way of providing key safety and support across the spectrum of consumers in an evidence-based, non-invasive way.

The review of the Gambling Act will no doubt be a rocky ride for everyone involved in this sector, but we firmly take the view that every challenge poses an opportunity for something better to come and to add our two-penneth to the debate, every review should be seen as a platform to show that more can be done in a proactive and supportive way to support those we are all so focused on prioritising.

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Six years of SYNOT Games: Martina Hrabinska on new markets and a growing games portfolio http://casinobeats.com/2022/05/17/6-years-synot-games-martina-hrabinska-new-markets-growing-portfolio/ Tue, 17 May 2022 08:30:00 +0000 https://casinobeats.com/?p=66529 Celebrating six years of SYNOT Games, Chief Commercial Officer Martina Hrabinska looks back on the company’s highlights and outlines some of the plans for the next 12 months as the games developer continues to expand its international footprint. 2021 was an extremely busy and successful year for SYNOT Games. We kicked off the year with […]

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Celebrating six years of SYNOT Games, Chief Commercial Officer Martina Hrabinska looks back on the company’s highlights and outlines some of the plans for the next 12 months as the games developer continues to expand its international footprint.

2021 was an extremely busy and successful year for SYNOT Games. We kicked off the year with great news – we obtained the UKGC licence and entered the UK market, distributed our content portfolio in the German market and well-established markets such as Italy, Portugal, Romania, etc. through our partners operating there, leveraging the many opportunities we have out there. But it is important for us to maintain a stable position as a top provider in Slovakia and Czech Republic, our domestic markets.

Our game portfolio now boasts over 90 titles, with at least one-two games being developed per month. A lot of thought and effort went into their creation as they combine innovative concepts with different themes and designs, high-resolution graphics, and a rich array of in-game features such as variations of game volatility, an assortment of bonus wilds, multiplier symbols, the Hold and Win feature, not to mention the integration of our progressive bonus.

At SYNOT Games, we have a clear path ahead of us. We will continue to focus on regulated markets and maintain compliance throughout our operations. 

Our aim remains to continuously strive for industry standards showcasing product and technical excellence and powerful collaborations. So, networking and keeping up with our partners is an essential part of our business. 

Two exciting markets have a prominent position in our roadmap for this year – Bulgaria and Switzerland. These are regions to keep an eye on because the SYNOT Games logo will soon pop up much more often in these quarters.  

The SYNOT Games slot development roadmap for the first half of 2022 has been announced and there’s plenty of great content to look forward to – new themes and sequels of our top performers, like Respin Joker.  We are already unpacking a fantastic range of new games every month with still more to come. 

We are also expecting to see many more customers offering our content with an integrated SYNOT Progressive Bonus as we continue to integrate our proprietary bonus tool with their platforms. Plus, we have some surprises for our customers and players in the shape of holiday-themed slots, one launching very soon. 

We are about to launch a new Hold and Win feature, which has recently become very popular among slot lovers of all types. Hold and Win is regarded as one of the more accessible features and it’s equally appealing to fans of traditional games and those who prefer modern releases.

In the coming months, players can look forward to another hot news item in our portfolio, Buy Feature. This option is exciting from the perspective that it lets gamers play the bonus at any time and furthermore, gives them an opportunity to chase huge prizes whenever they feel like doing so.

Our focus for this year is to stand out in a crowded digital space and strive for new ways to truly be distinguished. We plan the team growth as well, not just in a product department but across the whole company. 

This year we celebrate the 6th year anniversary of SYNOT Games and it’s unbelievable to see that from just a small group of e-gaming enthusiasts we have grown into a team of 140 experts.

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