The international industry has thrown its support behind iGB L!VE with the latest data showing a 53% year-on-year uptick in registrations from industry professionals based in 121 countries. 

The breadth of the geographical support which stretches from the United States to the United Arab Emirates, South Africa to Slovenia and Brazil to Belgium, confirms iGB L!VE’s growing status as one of gaming’s most powerful and compelling international business events.

iGB L!VE Portfolio Director, Naomi Barton stated: “I am delighted that the numbers are looking so healthy. The great news for those attendees who will be making the journey to the RAI Amsterdam from throughout the world is that they will have access to in excess of 300 exhibitors and sponsors occupying 21,000+ square metres of gross space, a figure which is 35% higher than in 2023.

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“iGB L!VE is already igaming’s fastest growing business event and to be so far ahead of last year which culminated in a record unique attendance of 7,299 (+44% y-o-y)  and 14,500 on-site visits is massively encouraging.

“The geographic reach of the brand continues to grow with registrations received from literally all over the world. Whilst we need to see how this translates into physical attendance, iGB L!VE has I believe, underlined its status as a truly global brand and is now amongst the most international live events on the industry calendar.”

She added: “There’s a real buzz and energy about the brand and a level of engagement with the industry that’s off the scale. The combination of a dynamic show floor featuring so many of the industry’s most influential and exciting companies, new features, a compelling conference program, best in class networking opportunities and of course the opportunity to say a huge and heartfelt thanks to Amsterdam ahead of our 2025 relocation to London makes iGB L!VE 2024 simply unmissable.

“It will also fire the starting pistol on the countdown to London and all that means to the development of the brand and the opportunities it will deliver for its growing international stakeholder community drawn from every corner of the world.”

SOFTSWISS, a leading software supplier for the iGaming industry, announces its successful South African certification. The company has secured a Letter of Certification (LoC) from the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications (NRCS) for its Casino Platform and Sportsbook, now certified under the South African B2B manufacture licence. 

This licence was initially obtained by Turfsport, a seasoned South African software supplier with 35 years of industry experience. Earlier this year, SOFTSWISS strategically acquired a major stake in Turfsport, aligning their product portfolios. With this certification, SOFTSWISS expands its offerings in the burgeoning South African market.

Vitali Matsukevich, Chief Operating Officer at SOFTSWISS, comments: “South Africa will be one of the key markets for SOFTSWISS in the coming years. It has immense potential, driven by increasing internet penetration, lower mobile internet costs, and affordable mobile devices. Additionally, the local audience shows a strong interest in gambling, which further supports our decision to expand here.”

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According to the InfoQuest survey, sports betting is the most common form of gambling in South Africa, with people placing bets on sports about 12 times a month on average. Casino gambling and horse betting are most popular on weekends, while lottery and online betting happen throughout the week because they are easily accessible online. The survey also reveals that the average gambler engages in three different types of gambling multiple times a month, underscoring the significant role of gambling in South African society.

The recently published SOFTSWISS South African market review highlights a growing interest in esports and fantasy sports, particularly among younger, tech-savvy demographics. Statista reports that 51% of South African survey participants are interested in esports betting, while the National Gambling Board (NGB) notes that 39% are inclined towards fantasy sports betting, especially in popular sports like soccer, cricket, and rugby. These trends align with global patterns and suggest a promising future for these sectors in the region.

The comprehensive SOFTSWISS South African market review is available for free and offers valuable insights into these emerging trends.

About SOFTSWISS 

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SOFTSWISS is an international tech company supplying software solutions for managing iGaming projects. The expert team, which counts over 2,000 employees, is based in Malta, Poland and Georgia. SOFTSWISS holds a number of gaming licences and provides one-stop-shop iGaming software solutions. The company has a vast product portfolio, including the Online Casino Platform, the Game Aggregator with thousands of casino games, the Affilka affiliate platform, the Sportsbook Platform, and the Jackpot Aggregator. In 2013, SOFTSWISS was the first in the world to introduce a Bitcoin-optimised online casino solution.

‘The Chase Place’ will feature exclusive games, content, and a bespoke Crack the Code competition where consumers can enter to win money-can’t-buy The Chase themed prizes

Entain owned bingo brand Gala Bingo has launched ‘The Chase Place’, a new and exclusive online hub in partnership with ITV’s The Chase. Live on 1st July, this campaign celebrates Gala Bingo’s successful long-running official sponsorship of the flagship ITV game show as it enters its eighth year.

‘The Chase Place’ landing page hosted on the Gala Bingo website will offer players exclusive games and content, including slots, ‘slingo’, bingo, and new live game, all based on one of ITV’s most popular game shows, The Chase. The online hub will also host a blockbuster competition which will be live for three weeks in July, offering gamers the chance to win major money-can’t-buy The Chase themed prizes, only available through The Chase Place.

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The competition will run with a ‘crack the code’ mechanic in which videos of popular Chasers will appear on a dedicated landing page. Emulating The Chase, users will be presented with multiple-choice general knowledge questions. Players will then need to use their chosen answers to form a unique code; if the questions have been answered correctly to form the right code, the player will be entered into the prize draw for a chance to win. There will be a new series of questions uploaded each week for three weeks, giving players multiple chances to enter and win The Chase themed prizes.

First prize is an exclusive all expenses paid The Chase studio tour and meet and greet with a Chaser. The lucky runner up will win the opportunity to have a Chaser on their quiz team at the ‘Gala Bingo x The Chase Ultimate Quiz Night’ event which will be hosted in Manchester in August. Additional prizes include Gala rewards such as bingo tickets and free spins.

Gala Bingo will be promoting the competition and its unique prizes across multiple platforms, including digital and print advertising. The nationwide campaign will culminate with an in-person PR activation for the partnership, ‘Gala Bingo x The Chase Ultimate Quiz Night’. The event will be a bookable experience held in Manchester on 8th
August, offering consumers the chance to test their knowledge against a Chaser. With Anne Hegerty, Mark Labbett and Jenny Ryan in attendance, the prize winner will have a Chaser on their quiz team, whilst consumers will be able to interact with the other Chasers.

Sara Jolly, Head of Brand at Gala Bingo says: “We believe people that love The Chase will also love Gala Bingo, and the new ‘The Chase Place’ presents opportunities for us to reach a significant UK audience, and offer unique experiences for fans of the show that aren’t available anywhere else.

We are delighted to be working with ITV to bring the latest element of our partnership to life through ‘The Chase Place’. The Chase is an iconic show in the UK and we hope that our players, both old and new, will enjoy playing all the new themed games on the site, including cracking the code to enter our competition for a chance to win some incredible prizes.”

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Steve Watling, SVP Gaming, ITV Studios Global Partnerships, commented: “ITV’s partnership with Gala Bingo, Entain and The Chase, has been a long running success story. We are delighted to see the new Chase Live game and Gala’s showcase destination at The Chase Place with the chance for players to win amazing The Chase themed prizes. The Chase is on!’

The Chase Place is already live at https://promo.galabingo.com/en/promo/p/home-of-the-chase. The Crack the Code competition will be open for consumers to enter from 1st July 00:01am to 22nd July 2024 11:59pm. Competition entrants must be over the age of 18. UK & ROI. For T&Cs please see https://promo.galabingo.com/en/promo/p/the-chase.