Spearhead Studios and Flow Gaming enter new partnership

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February 25, 2021

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Spearhead Studios and Flow Gaming have entered into a new partnership for gaming aggregation and distribution. Flow Gaming has made Spearhead Studios’ games available on its platform, giving their clients easy access to the supplier’s entire portfolio.

The gaming development company within EveryMatrix Group, Spearhead Studios, has positioned itself as a supplier of fresh content to iGaming operators looking to expand their current offerings for better player engagement and retention. Created under the vision of Local Games for Local Markets, the studios’ current portfolio amounts 29 titles, including Blue Diamond Book, which was released earlier this week.

Through Flow Gaming’s unique proprietary technology, casino operators receive access to a top selection of content providers. Built by a team of experienced iGaming veterans, the Flow Gaming system was designed from the ground up as a centralized, secure, high availability back-end.

Mathias Larsson, Managing Director at Spearhead Studios, says: “The team at Spearhead Studios is happy to make our games available to Flow Gaming’s clients. Their platform makes the integration an easy job and we are looking forward to seeing our games up and running with their clients. Through this partnership, we’re happy to deliver our content to operators in the Asian market and expand our footprint.”

Peter van Tuyl, Chief Operating Officer at Flow Gaming, comments: “We welcome Spearhead Studios to our network of gaming partners and we’re eager to start building a fruitful business relationship. Flow Gaming gives access to the best content available in the industry and paired with our suite of data tracking and real-time reporting, our operators have access to all the assets to attract players and grow their businesses.”

Spearhead Studios games are currently certified in Malta, Spain, Romania, Sweden, Denmark, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Colombia, Croatia, with more to be added by the end of 2021.

Bingo is officially attracting a younger audience – and more young men than ever before

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February 25, 2021

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Annual insight report from WhichBingo warns Bingo industry will need to reinvent itself as more young people enjoy pastime online

More young men have taken up online bingo in the past twelve months due to the Coronavirus pandemic, in a seismic shift in how the game is played in the UK. WhichBingo, the UK’s number one, independent online bingo reviews site, owned and operated by XLMedia, today releases its annual insight report which finds a significant shift in the Bingo industry to younger online consumers due to COVID-19.

Report researchers surveyed more than 800 adults who played online bingo in the UK between January 4^th – 15^th 2021, and results revealed that:

The percentage of men playing bingo more than doubled between 2020 and 2021
75% of online bingo users in the UK are now under the age of 44
More than three quarters of online bingo users spend up to £50 every month
Facebook is the social media platform of choice for bingo community groups
Online versus attending bingo halls is now at a 48:52 split amongst Brits

There has been a significant increase in younger men playing online bingo. Despite this rapid growth increase in interest and engagement, the report’s findings show that women between the ages of 25 – 54 are still more likely grouping to play online bingo but the overall shift to a younger player demographic confirms an industry step-change.

The findings show how brands need to rethink marketing and commercial activities to target younger millennial and generation Z demographics, rather than the traditional middle-to-old-aged British bingo consumer.

The WhichBingo Report is an anticipated annual insight tool for the UK online bingo industry and a unique collective analysis of shifting consumer trends in online gaming business. The report studies and forecasts online gaming trends in the bingo, sports betting and casino industries.

Stuart Simms, CEO of XLMedia PLC Group: “The global Coronavirus pandemic forced – or in some cases accelerated – a change in the way people enjoy themselves and pass their leisure time when not at work. Our report shows the remarkable shift in the make-up of the typical bingo player. Although many may look forward to the return of those Saturday nights at the bingo hall, the industry is evolving and technology’s influence has been essential in helping bingo keep up with the realities of busy, modern life.”

“These changing macro behaviours and innovations, together with the new expectations of a dedicated younger audience who want to experience the same thrills and spirit of the bingo hall without leaving the house, mean that online bingo is most definitely here to stay.”

The full 2021 WhichBingo Report can be found online at the dedicated microsite: https://www.whichbingo.co.uk/reports/2021/

Betkick and Betago Secure German Sportsbook Licences

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February 25, 2021

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Stoiximan-owned Austrian operator Betkick Sportwettenservice and Malta-licensed Betago have become the latest operators to secure federal sports betting licences in Germany.

Betkick can now legally offer betting via the Betano.de domain. Originally founded in Austria, it was acquired by Kaizen Gaming, then Stoiximan, in July 2018.

Betago, meanwhile, has secured retail and online licences for the market.

The pair’s licences mean that 23 brands have been approved to offer sports betting in Germany since October 2020, when the first licences were awarded.

However, the number of approvals lags far behind the number of applicants. In February last year, the body responsible for licensing, the Regional Council of Darmstadt, said it had received 30 applications, with a further 20 operators signalling their intention to apply.

EGT Appoints Nadia Popova as CRO and VP Sales & Marketing

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February 25, 2021

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Euro Games Technology (EGT) has appointed Nadia Popova as its Chief Revenue Officer and Vice President of Sales and Marketing.

Mrs. Popova will be responsible for the revenue generation processes, driving better integration and alignment between all earnings-related functions, including marketing, sales, customer success and revenue management for the business verticals of EGT.

Nadia Popova has been part of EGT for 10 years, beginning her carrier at the company in 2011 as Sales Manager and reaching the position of Director of North and Central America, the Caribbean, Chile and Colombia.

“Nowadays, especially in the current world pandemic situation, the effective revenue generation is based on a more holistic approach, which involves the entire management team of the company. Having the support of all my colleagues and working as a team makes me confident that EGT will overcome the global crisis and become stronger than ever,” Mrs. Popova said.

“Our company is not only a supplier, but a trusted partner in our customer’s journey. Many of EGT’s clients need to transition part of their investments online, so we are glad to offer them the complete solution. As for the land-based business – we are planning our next strategic steps, according to the market openings. Our multiplayer terminals were a great success in Asia and having in mind that the region is expected to be one of the first to recover, we will focus on strengthening our local positions. We are also going to launch a new line of jackpots in North America, LATAM and Europe and our AWP and VLT divisions are making strong progress in developing more products for the route markets in Europe and South Africa,” Mrs. Popova added.

“Mrs. Popova has proven herself a valuable asset for EGT’s development throughout the years. Her expertise in the gaming industry has been widely acknowledged within our team and by our customers. I congratulate Mrs. Popova on her promotion and am confident that her business acumen, wide experience and inner drive will be a winning combination for EGT and for all gaming operators that trust our company,” Mr. Vladimir Dokov, CEO of EGT, said.

Soft2Bet hits the dance floor with Boka

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February 25, 2021

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Music-themed casino strikes a chord with gamified offering

Casino and sportsbook platform provider Soft2Bet has launched a new online casino, Boka.

Loaded with gamification features, the MGA-licensed operator brand allows users to collect musical notes, which can be exchanged for bonuses in the site’s shop as disk-spinning players try their hand at its enthralling slot collection.

Soft2Bet’s latest project marks the most recent addition to a multi-award-winning portfolio of more than 30 popular sportsbooks and casinos, including the travel-themed sports betting brand Betinia, launched to widespread acclaim earlier this year.

With a player reach extending through regulated markets across the globe, the company currently holds MGA, SGA and Curacao licences, with further certification from within the EU expected to follow.

Boris Chaikin, CEO at Soft2Bet, said: “We’re inviting players to put on their dancing shoes and feel the rhythm of the night in a musical jamboree named Boka.

“Jam-packed with slots, table games and tournaments of the highest quality, the new online casino provides fun-loving players with an unforgettable entertainment experience.

“Following on from a deserved win at last year’s SBC awards for the gamification-rich Wazamba, our casino offering has made a flying start to 2021.”

Dmitriy Prilipko, founder of BokaCasino, said: “Boogying bettors enjoying Boka are in for a fun-filled fiesta to remember, with slots, tournaments and gamification all included in a digital casino powered by Soft2Bet’s state-of-the-art platform.

“We look forward to introducing a wide range of players to the next-level gaming experience provided by this project.”

BF Games launches Stunning 27 Remastered

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February 25, 2021

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Dynamic games development studio BF Games has launched Stunning 27 Remastered, a revamped rendition of the fan-favourite gem.

The latest addition to the popular Remastered series, Stunning 27 Remastered is a 3×3 slot featuring 27 ways to win and retro appeal within its blazing hot gameplay. Enhanced with modern graphics and a refreshed soundtrack, this high-volatility slot includes the classic symbols players know and love.

Three identical symbols landing on the reels triggers a win and the Lucky 7 is the game’s most valuable symbol, with blazing payouts of up to 100x. Fill the reels with nine identical symbols and winnings are tripled.

In addition, the Gamble mode feature again offers an additional optional feature after each win, offering players the chance to increase their winnings through a simple mini-game.

Stunning 27 Remastered series, following the launches of Stunning Hot and Stunning Snow.

Piotr Szpoton, CEO at BF Games, said: “The enduring appeal of Stunning 27 Remastered lies within its big win potential and the simplicity at the heart of its design.

“While there is a place in the industry for complex new mechanics, within the Remastered series we are focusing on giving players what they know and love, while also adding extra sparkle through a slick and modern refresh of the overall presentation.”

Booongo releases riches-filled Lord Fortune

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February 25, 2021

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Booongo, the global content developer, has rolled out its latest thrilling ancient adventure, Lord Fortune.

As players are guided by the sound of the Dragon Bell to the Lord’s treasure-filled palace, the 5×3, 25 payline slot combines both free spins and Hold and Win respins modes.

The free spins mode can be triggered when three Dragon Bells land on any single spin, with six spins granted to players, which can also be reset. During the bonus round, only top-paying symbols are available, rewarding players with princely sums.

Lord Fortune’s Hold and Win round is triggered if six Pearls of Dragon hit the reels at the same time, giving players a 15-slot grid. During the three respins familiar in Booongo’s Hold and Win series, if they can collect all 15 pearls, a Grand Jackpot of 1,000x will be awarded.

Incorporating the supplier’s newly-upgraded UI/UX interface, optimised for all Booongo games regardless of device, and top-quality gamification tools, Lord Fortune joins the provider’s growing slot offering aimed at players all over the globe.

Yuriy Muratov, Head of Account Management and Business Development at Booongo, said: “Lord Fortune takes a thrilling Asian theme and adds our dynamic Hold and Win mechanics to create a truly unforgettable gaming experience.

“Our portfolio continues to add enviable depth and we can’t wait to see how this game is received by our fans worldwide.”

Betting and Gaming Council Calls for Grand National Delay Until Betting Shops Reopen

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February 25, 2021

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The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) in the UK has called for the Grand National event to be delayed until betting shops can reopen.

This comes after UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson revealed that non-essential retail, which includes betting shops, could be allowed to reopen from April 12.

BGC claims that delaying the event will provide a boost to the retail betting shops that were forced to close during the pandemic.

An estimated £125 million is traditionally staked on the world-famous race by millions of punters – with nearly half of all bets being placed in high street betting shops, making it their busiest day of the year.

Figures also show that the money staked on the Grand National in betting shops is worth an extra £1million in levy payments for racing.

But if betting shops remain shuttered when the race takes place, much of this money will not be staked at all, depriving racing of much-needed funding and the opportunity to promote racing to the widest audience possible.

Many customers only visit a betting shop once a year for their annual flutter on the National and will simply choose not to place a bet online.

Michael Dugher, chief executive of the BGC, said: “Delaying the Grand National until betting shops are open is definitely an idea worth exploring.

“I appreciate that this is not without its challenges, but we are willing to do all we can to help iron out any difficulties.

“Ensuring that the once-a-year punters are able to pop in to their local bookies to have a flutter, supporting their local high street, on the world’s most famous horse race would also help make the Grand National a truly national celebration as we begin to reopen the economy. And it would ensure that we engage as many people as possible in this great British event, showcasing the fabulous sport of racing.

“This would also provide a much-needed and timely boost for racing and the high street after such a torrid year for both.”

National Party Opposes Proposal for Prepaid Gambling Cards in NSW

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February 25, 2021