Petrauska also underpinned her belief that player trends will remain authentic and why AI can continue to accelerate its evolution into the mainstream. 

CB: What strategies must an operator take to ensure that they are offering a well-balanced online casino offering? 

LP: That is a great question. I think that the word balance here is key. How do you offer sustainable entertainment in today’s competitive online gambling space? From an operator perspective, we provide a wide variety of casino content, allowing players to find the right content for their individual preferences. 

From high volatility slots and slots with bonus buy features to medium variance games, crash games and live dealer casino games, our game selection caters to a modern day player.

Of course, we can’t talk about sustainability without mentioning responsible gaming. At BET99, Responsible Gaming is of utmost importance, and we provide our players with responsible gambling tools and information about local support resources. 

CB: Since we’ve looked at how player preferences have changed in the past year, how do you think they could change in the next 12 months? 

LP: I think that player preferences will continue to remain authentic to the current trends we see in gaming. To start off, I’m confident players will continue to seek slots with high volatility and large winning multipliers. I’d even add that this trend is not exclusive to only slots – which is why live dealer games like Xxxtreme Lightning Roulette and Crazy Time are consistently amongst players’ favourite titles.

At the same time, with so many options in slots offerings, players may oftentimes feel overwhelmed. That’s why many players stick to slots they are familiar with, with classics like Book of Dead, Starburst and Gates of Olympus taking the lead. Additionally, it’s no secret that crash games have become quite popular and I foresee this trend to grow even further.

“the market is saturated with slots that offer gameplay that’s way too simplistic”

Laura Petrauska, Head of Casino at BET99

CB: Ahead of last year’s event, you referred to AI as the next technological step that could sweep across the online casino industry. How have you seen AI’s impact on the igaming space increase in 2024? 

LP: I think it’s safe to say that AI has become a part of our daily lives and its potential is uncapped. When it comes to igaming, AI can be an incredible resource if used correctly. For example, using a virtual customer assistant to speed up the customer waiting time in live chats. 

Also, AI generated casino lobbies can help tailor casino content not only based on a specific market, but individual preferences. These two are the areas I’ve seen AI’s impact the most in the gaming space. I believe that AI will continue to play an important role in automating data-driven tasks to help casino operators with daily operations while allowing them to focus their human resources in other areas. However, in my opinion, a casino product – whether we’re talking about slots, table games or even live casino games – is a product of art, and I hope that it won’t ever be replaced by AI.

CB: As an operator, do you prefer to see slots with fresh and innovative features, or slots with more straightforward gameplay, what impact do both have on player retention?

LP: I believe that everything in life should be in balance. As someone who’s seen the gaming industry evolve throughout the last decade, I’m always excited to see what new concepts and innovations game studios can offer with their games. However, there’s a tight line where too complex features can take away a games’ true appeal. At the end of the day, our players play slots to gain entertainment, which gets lost while reading pages upon pages of game rules.

That said, in my opinion, the market is saturated with slots that offer gameplay that’s way too simplistic, which doesn’t leave too much excitement for players. As an operator, we’re looking for the right balance in our offering – slots with engaging features while not having overly complicated mechanics.

CB: Can you tell us what you are looking forward to and why the SBC Summit in Lisbon is such a key event in the calendar? 

LP: I have to be honest – I’m really excited for this years’ event in Lisbon for a number of reasons. I’ve had the pleasure to attend a few SBC Summit conferences and my experience has been nothing but delightful. Events like these allow me to meet my fellow igaming colleagues and partners, and it’s also the perfect opportunity to create new synergies. What I also really enjoy about the SBC Summits are the different panels led by other industry experts. It’s a fantastic way to gain new knowledge and delve into various exciting igaming topics. Besides, with SBC moving to Lisbon, I think it opens fantastic opportunities for Lisbon to become another igaming hub.

Furthermore, I think that the SBC Summit in Lisbon is the perfect event to close out the summer season and catch the last glimpses of the Mediterranean sun before heading into the fall season. I, for one, can’t wait to explore the beautiful streets of Lisbon and learn about its history.

Operators and affiliates looking to attend SBC Summit can apply for free passes to the event. If you are an operator, you can apply for a free pass here, if you are an affiliate, you can apply for a free pass here.

Everyone else can secure their spot at the upcoming SBC Summit with a special offer granting access to all three core days of the event, including the exhibition floor, conference content, and evening networking parties, all for the discounted price of just €300.

The post Laura Petrauska, BET99: maximising market trends without overwhelming players appeared first on CasinoBeats.

Hosted in partnership with Soft2Bet, the event features five sessions that examine topics such as aggregation, harnessing casual players, the future of game shows, technological developments, and the next generation of slots games. 

SBC Digital Innovation – Casino comes just over a month before the CasinoBeats Summit in Malta, and offers an opportunity to discuss some of the major topics that will set the agenda at the Intercontinental from 21-23 May. 

Among the headline names on the agenda are Aaron Lowe (Director of Casino, Soft2Bet), Graciella Anthony (Global Head of Live and Table Games) and Gary Keaney (Bingo and Poker Director) both of Entain, Lourdes Lopez (Head of Casino, Rivalo), Mike Cini (Business Director, ELA Games), Matthew Curtis (Head of Responsible Gaming, L&L Europe) and Laura Petrauska (Head of Casino, Bet99).

Also on the agenda is Joe Streeter, Editor of CasinoBeats and SlotBeats, who will moderate two sessions on the day. Streeter said: “This conference is an unrivalled chance to delve deeper into some of the topics shaping the future of online casino, and perfectly sets the tone for the CasinoBeats Summit next month.” 

Streeter, who will be moderating ‘Beyond integration – adding value through aggregation’, joined by Lowe and Lopez, and ‘What next for game shows?’ where he will be joined by Anthony and Natalie Berenato, added: “I’m hugely looking forward to the opportunity to discuss some of the topics myself and my colleagues cover on CasinoBeats and SlotBeats, with the foremost experts in the industry. I’m sure we’ll have some fascinating conversations and reveal some information that is of real value to the audience.”

The event kicks off at 10AM BST with ‘Bringing simplicity to the next generation of slots’, where SlotBeats Senior Journalist Danny Lee hosts a packed panel including Cini, Petrauska and Curtis, as well as Hans Erland Ringsvold (Head of Gaming Operations, Norsk Tipping) and Steve Degiorgio (Director of Gaming Revenue, Enlabs). 

‘What next for game shows?’ follows that, while attendees can also look forward to ‘Keeping it casual’, where SBC Senior Media Manager Craig Davies moderates a discussion featuring Alexis Wicén (CEO & Co-founder, Scatters), Wesley Ellul (Founder/CCO, Quizando) and Entain’s Keaney. 

The digital conference concludes with ‘Does new technology really mean improved results?’, featuring Shahar Attias (CEO, Hybrid Interactive), joined by Nicole Schindler (Consultant, Stratenic Digital Marketing Consulting) and Delia Töpfer (Head of Customer Success Management, Stadtcasino Baden).

To view the conference live on 17 April, or watch the sessions on-demand anytime after the live airing, you can register for free here.

The post SBC Digital Innovation – Casino Event to delve into key casino talking points appeared first on CasinoBeats.

This will see the group, which is striving to attain “the very best customer experience”, gain solutions for desktop and mobile that are designed to help increase pass rates, detect fraud, and boost gross gaming revenue.

Lindsay Slader, GeoComply Senior Vice President, noted: “We are thrilled that Bet99 has adopted our new technology, which makes geolocation compliance easier than ever for players and easier than ever for BET99 to integrate, helping to keep them compliant, profitable and safe.”

Furthermore, the agreement will also comprise anti-fraud and geolocation solutions provider’s latest introduction. This aims to allow players to validate their location in one click without leaving the page or downloading a companion app or plugin. This, it hoped, will eliminate a key player pain point and boost conversion.

Paul Nyzuk, BET99 Chief Technology Officer, commented, “We are excited to partner with GeoComply. They have more experience than any other geolocation provider and a commitment to innovation, as evidenced by GeoComply’s new No Download Browser Solution. 

“Our priority is ensuring the best player experience while achieving the highest standards in compliance. GeoComply’s cutting-edge technology brings tremendous efficiencies so BET99 can achieve these goals.”

Earlier in the year, Laura Petrauska, Head of Casino at BET99, spoke to CasinoBeats regarding the best-performing slot innovations for BET99, as well as the importance of striking a balance between offering popular and innovative titles.

“While it may not necessarily be an innovation, we definitely have seen cluster mechanics gaining popularity,” she said. 

“I think that while we are still seeing Megaways slots performing well, right now traditional slot paylines are becoming less and less common, with different cluster mechanics taking the lead.”

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Laura Petrauska, Head of Casino at BET99, has spoken to CasinoBeats ahead of her appearance on a slots innovation panel at SBC Summit Barcelona later this year, taking place on September 19-21 at the Fira Barcelona Montjuïc.

In preparation for her appearance on a panel titled ‘Keeping slots dynamic –  are crash games and loot boxes influencing slot innovation?’, Petrauska was asked about best-performing slot innovations for BET99, how the year has gone so far for the operator and the importance of striking that balance between offering popular and innovative titles.

CasinoBeats: Thank you for taking the time to talk to CasinoBeats. How has 2023 gone so far for yourself and for BET99?

Laura Petrauska: Thank you for having me and the pleasure is all mine! 2023 has been a busy year and I can’t believe we’re halfway through it already! My first half of the year has been quite busy while working on a couple of exciting projects. 

As for BET99, we’re rapidly growing and continue to solidify our position as Canada’s premiere online sportsbook and casino. And of course, it’s been more than eight months since we went live in the regulated Ontario market, so that has been one of our key focuses as well. 

CB: BET99 has quite a significant live casino offering. How does BET99 separate itself from its competitors in the live casino space?

LP: BET99 customers truly enjoy live casino games, which is why we work with industry-leading live casino suppliers. There are a couple of things we do to offer the best live casino experience. For example, we focus on UX – since we offer a large amount of live casino tables, we have made sure to display them in the most popular live casino categories, such as blackjack, baccarat, speed tables, and others. 

Also, we offer our players generous live casino promotions, early releases as well as a Drops & Wins network promotion from Pragmatic Play. Furthermore, BET99 offers the most personalised Loyalty & Reward program in the industry. With 24/7 direct one-to-one support, BET99 is able to suit all our customer needs through a variety of channels including email, text, and phone calls. 

As part of our white glove concierge service, BET99 provides exclusive access to sporting events, concerts, comedy shows, and watch parties – all befitting of our member’s interests and needs. Our Loyalty & Reward program puts relationships first, getting to truly know and build trust with our members.  

CB: We recently asked our CB100 club, ‘What do you think is the next technological step that could sweep across the online casino industry?’ – What do you think that next technological step will be?

LP: AI is especially adept at pattern recognition and prediction, which are crucial tasks for gaming companies. Fraud detection, responsible gaming, user experience personalisation, and bet recommendations all rely on the ability to detect patterns and make accurate predictions in real-time.

While many operators already utilise AI for lobby positioning, I think this is just the start of the next technological step that will sweep across the casino industry.

CB: What tools/services does BET99 have in place to support people that are suffering from gambling harm?

LP: Responsible gambling is at the core of BET99, therefore, we ensure that our players have all the necessary tools available to control their play. Players can set various limits to their accounts, including deposit and loss limits, bet limits, as well as take a break from gambling using time-out and self-exclusion tools. 

We also have a Responsible Gambling page, where players can find tips for betting sensibly as well as contact information for local gambling support services. Additionally, we understand that as the legalised online gaming industry continues to expand, it is vital that we not only equip players with tools and resources for how to play in a responsible and safe manner, but that we also make a commitment to showcasing responsible gaming in our advertising. 

CB: You will be attending our SBC Summit Barcelona event later this year in September and will be speaking on a panel as well. What are you looking forward to most about the event?

LP: There are several things that I’m looking forward to when it comes to SBC Summit Barcelona. First of all, it will be a great opportunity to meet both new and familiar faces from the igaming industry. Events such as SBC’s are wonderful for connecting with other industry professionals and establishing relationships.

Secondly, I’m looking forward to speaking on a panel about slot innovations amongst other industry professionals and discussing our opinions about the current and upcoming slot innovations. Last but not least – exploring the beautiful Barcelona! 

CB: Your panel at the event will examine slot innovation. What is the one slot innovation that has caught your attention or has performed well for BET99 over the last year?

LP: While it may not necessarily be an innovation, we definitely have seen cluster mechanics gaining popularity. I think that while we are still seeing Megaways slots performing well, right now traditional slot paylines are becoming less and less common, with different cluster mechanics taking the lead. Slots like Sweet Bonanza, or in our case, our branded BET99 Bonanza, Sugar Rush and other cluster slots with multipliers have been our players’ favourites.

CB: How does BET99 balance adding slots to their offering that are popular amongst players vs slots that are providing innovation?

LP: I think the answer here is – balance. Our players have different tastes, so while some players are on the lookout for the newest titles with innovative features, other players prefer classic games. Therefore, we make sure that the casino offering is tailored to various tastes. 

At BET99, we offer content from more than 20 game providers and our casino lobby is managed by the casino product team, which gives us the control to display both – innovative slots and popular titles.

CB: Finally, what’s to come from BET99 in the rest of 2023?

LP: In FY2022, we achieved a major business milestone with our approval for registrations as an internet gaming operator with the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario. We also signed several new and exciting marketing partnerships that we believe will continue to drive profitable userbase expansion over the next several years. Some of the more notable partnerships include: 

• A multiyear deal with the NHL to become the official partner of the NHL’s free-to-play game and an official league partner in the igaming category.
• A multiyear category exclusive partnership with Live Nation, marketing our brand through live events and music festivals across Ontario.

Our product and marketing roadmap for the rest of FY2023 continues to leverage and enhance our key differentiating features and values that have resulted in the success we have achieved to date including:

• A tier one product.
• Best in class customer experience and engagement.
• Hyper localised approach to marketing.
• Commitment to integrity.

We look forward to a very bright future for BET99 and our incredible existing customers and new ones to come.

The post Laura Petrauska: Balancing innovative slots with classic titles appeared first on CasinoBeats.

As part of the partnership, Bet99 will launch its free-to-play game, titled ‘NFL PrePlay’, which Canadian fans can currently access. 

In addition, the Canada-based firm will also receive broadcast exposure for its various brands through Digitally Enhanced Dasherboards throughout the US-based NHL regular season and Stanley Cup Playoffs broadcast on Rogers Sportsnet throughout the agreement’s term.

“This partnership is groundbreaking for Canadian hockey and sports fans,” said Jared Beber, CEO of BET99. “NHL PrePlay will amplify fan engagement and excitement around NHL games, especially the prizes, which include access to once-in-a-lifetime experiences. 

“Designed to support our focus on education within the gaming space, the game offers opportunities for players to explore the space and become more knowledgeable without making real-money wagers. 

“Not only is the NHL PrePlay program innovative and a great access point for new and potential bettors, but the educational aspect also fits well with our focus on responsible gaming. We’ll also leverage our partnership with NHL star Auston Matthews, taking this agreement to the next level.”

Each game day during the NHL season, fans will be provided a set of predictive outcome-based questions. These will include “Who will win tonight’s game?”, as well as queries using NHL Edge (Puck & Player Tracking) data, such as “Which of these players will have the hardest shot?” 

Fans will be awarded points based on correct answers and the top points recipient for the 2022-23 NHL season will be crowned the Grand Prize winner and receive CA$100,000.

Additional prizes include NHL Shop gift cards, weekly ticket giveaways and a monthly trip giveaway to an NHL tentpole event (e.g., NHL Winter Classic) of the winner’s choice.

The new agreement also provides an array of exclusive marketing rights and designations that will connect Bet99’s brands with NHL fans through the NHL’s vast marketing, digital, and social media channels.

“We’re thrilled to partner with BET99 and to promote Bet99.ca and Bet99.net on this unique and innovative free-to-play platform,” added Jason Jazayeri, NHL Vice President, Business Development. 

“This collaborative partnership has allowed us to create an entirely new free-to-play game that will focus on delivering a fun and immersive game to our fans, while also providing a level of access and prizing that we haven’t seen before in our sport.”

The post Bet99 inks multi-year NHL partnership to launch F2P game appeared first on CasinoBeats.

In a development that is lauded as “an important step,” the acquisition of the parent company of sportsbook and online casino operator Bet99 is said to be “fully aligned” with growth objectives.

Furthermore, Kings Entertainment has also announced that it has called a meeting of its shareholders to be held on October 25, 2022, for the purposes of seeking, among other things, shareholder approval of the business combination in accordance with the policies of the CSE.

The board of directors of the company have unanimously approved the transaction, and have recommended that shareholders vote in a similar fashion.

When the deal was first disclosed in May 2022, it was said that the merged company’s leadership structure would see Jared Beber, CEO of Bet99, occupy the same role in the enlarged group, with current Kings leader Steve Budin continuing to manage the LottoKings operations and act in an advisory role.

“We remain excited to proceed with the previously announced business combination with Bet99 to create Interactive Entertainment Group,” explained Budin. 

“Our goal has always been to grow our business organically and through the acquisition of complementary businesses. We believe the acquisition of SVH is fully aligned with our business objectives and serves to further bolster our position as a market leader and innovator.

“Receipt of the CSE conditional approval is an important step forward in the completion of the business combination. 

“We now look forward to holding our shareholder meeting on October 25, 2022 so that we hear from our shareholders and share our excitement about our future with Bet99. We hope to close this transformational transaction shortly following our shareholder meeting.” 

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Bet99.ca is due to launch in the Canadian market after an SVH subsidiary received approval for registration as an igaming operator from the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario. 

This will see the brand operate as Bet99.ca to players within the province after it has successfully carried out an operating agreement with iGaming Ontario.

Jared Beber, CEO of Sports Venture Holdings, stated: “Receipt of our licence as a regulated gaming operator with the AGCO is an important milestone for SVH and the BET99 brand,” 

“Ontario is a key market within the emerging Canadian online sports betting and casino space and as the sports betting season heats up with summer sports peaking and the football, hockey, and basketball seasons getting started shortly, this is perfect timing for us to hit the ground running.”

Kings Entertainment and Sports Venture Holdings formed a merger agreement earlier this year, a move which will see Beber promoted to CEO of the enlarged company. 

This will also see current Kings leader Steve Budin continue to manage the LottoKings operations and act in an advisory role, while former CEO and Founder of Bragg Gaming, Adam Arviv, joined as Executive Chair.

Commenting on the amalgamation, Kings CEO, Steve Budin, explained: “The combination of Kings Entertainment, a company led by pioneers of the international online sports gambling industry, and SVH, the parent company of operators of the market-leading Bet99 brand, will be transformative for the Canadian sports betting sector.”

The post SVH to ‘hit the ground running’ as Bet99 prepares to enter Ontario appeared first on CasinoBeats.

The merged company’s leadership structure will see the CEO of Bet99, Jared Beber, become the CEO of the merged company, whilst current Kings leader Steve Budin will continue to manage the LottoKings operations and act in an advisory role.

Additionally, the senior leadership team will feature former CEO and Founder of Bragg Gaming, Adam Arviv, who will join as the Executive Chair.

An experienced gaming executive, Arviv was credited with transforming the balance sheet at Bragg, eliminating $50M of debt, and ensuring $45M in cash and zero debt.

“The combination of Kings Entertainment, a company led by pioneers of the international online sports gambling industry, and SVH, the parent company of operators of the market-leading Bet99 brand, will be transformative for the Canadian sports betting sector,” commented Budin, CEO of Kings Entertainment.

“Our vision for Kings has always been to build leadership positions within each of the regulated jurisdictions that we enter, and this agreement will certainly accelerate that goal within the Canadian landscape and beyond.”

The deal remains subject to terms and conditions, which include both shareholder approval and the approval of the Canadian Securities Exchange. 

This year, Kings was listed on the CSE under the ticker JKPT, as it aimed to ‘attract and engage an international player base and expand into the live dealer casino games and sportsbook sectors’.

“Merging with an internationally recognised online betting veteran such as Kings is a natural next step for SVH,” said Jared Beber, CEO, of Sports Venture Holdings. 

“Bringing the Bet99 brand to the public capital markets, through Kings’ CSE and OTC listings, will not only support expansion by engaging a much broader investor base, but will also build the Bet99 brand with an even wider audience of betting enthusiasts.”

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