The Roundhill Sports Betting & iGaming ETF (NYSE: BETZ) gained 6.1% last week and outperformed the S&P 500 Index, which rose 3.4%.

While the world’s most popular index hit record highs last week amid easing trade and geopolitical tensions, BETZ is outperforming it by a wide margin in 2025.

The Top Five Earners This Week

Super Group: Soaring in Europe Despite US Exit

Super Group, the parent company of Betway sportsbook, which exited the US last year, has thrived in Europe and continued its strong performance since the beginning of the year.

It rose 14.6% last week. The previous week, Super Group was the top gainer among gaming stocks in our coverage universe and has now extended its year-to-date gains to 78%.

The company did not make a significant announcement last week. However, earlier this month, BTIG analyst Clark Lampen raised the stock’s target price to $11 from $9 while maintaining his “buy” rating.

While analysts have gradually raised the stock’s target price over the last two months, among others in anticipation of strong EBITDA margins in key European markets, the stock now trades just 6.6% below its mean target price of $11.83. That signals limited upside.

Melco Resorts: Macau Momentum Lifts Shares

With gains of 12.5% last week, Melco Resorts & Entertainment was among the other major gaming gainers. The company has enjoyed solid recent months, highlighted by Macau’s strong May results. The stock has increased by 15% over the past month. 

However, the stock was trading lower in the US premarket after Wall Street Zen downgraded it from a “buy” to a “hold” over the weekend. The brokerage set a $7.1 target price on Melco Resorts, which is below the mean target price of $6.73.

Melco’s earnings could continue to grow this week as well, as the company has announced that its City of Dreams Sri Lanka casino resort will open in August.

Light & Wonder: Court Win Sparks Double-Digit Jump

Light & Wonder stock gained 12.3% last week, which helped it bridge its year-to-date losses and turn positive for the year. The stock jumped 10% on Wednesday following a favorable court ruling in its legal dispute with Aristocrat Leisure Limited.

The Nevada district court hearing the case ruled that Light & Wonder wasn’t obligated to disclose the math models for all the games that Aristocrat was seeking. 

While LNW stock rallied after the ruling, analysts don’t see the court’s decree improving the company’s financial situation.

Still, Jeffries analysts have a target price of $116, which is approximately 20% above the current price. Meanwhile, Macquarie has the stock as “outperform” with a $120 target, 25% higher than the current price.  

Codere & Genius: Regulatory Relief and NFL Optimism

Codere Online, the digital arm of the Spanish-based Codere Group, climbed 10% last week. The company was facing delisting by NASDAQ, its second such warning. However, it managed to file its annual report just in time to avoid the delisting.

The stock was having a lackluster week but rose 9.5% on Friday. In the past month, it has grown 15%. The company’s footprint in Latin America and Mexico could help it continue to grow.

Still, currencies across the region have weakened by almost 10% this year, showcasing potential volatility in the share’s price. 

Genius Sports gained 8% last week and was among the major gainers. The stock has been quite volatile over the past few weeks. While it lost 8% in the preceding week, it was among the major gainers in the week before amid optimism over the company’s expanded partnership with the NFL.

Top Weekly Losers

Esports Entertainment: Financial Woes Continue to Drag Shares Down

Esports Entertainment Group was the top loser among gaming stocks, falling 16.2% over the past week. Following last week’s drawdown, the stock now trades approximately 62% below its 52-week high.

The stock has been quite volatile this year. The company is in severe financial distress, experiencing perennial losses and mounting debt (over $100 million annualized). That is making markets wary about the company’s ability to stay afloat.

However, there have been intermittent rallies in between. The stock was among the top gainers in the previous week as a section of the market saw value in this beaten-down name.

Last year, the company voluntarily delisted from the Nasdaq and now trades on the OTC market. It also ceased publicly reporting its earnings, so we don’t get its updated financials, making the stock a risky proposition.

Century Casinos: Debt Concerns End Hot Streak

Century Casinos ended its growth streak over the previous few weeks, losing nearly 3% last week. The stock has shed over a quarter of its market cap this year, and it’s down 32%. Compared to its 52-week high, it has declined by 58%. 

Some analysts viewed the stock as undervalued, driving the growth over the previous few weeks. Still, the company is facing declining revenues, widening losses, and increased cash burn.

In the first quarter of 2025, it missed both top-line and bottom-line estimates. It is also saddled with a burgeoning debt pile that far exceeds its market capitalization.

Huya: China Crackdown Keeps Pressure On

Huya also closed in the red last week, continuing its dismal run from the previous week.

The stock has been a long-term underperformer and trades at just about one-tenth of its all-time high. The tech crackdown in China, coupled with a structural slowdown in the world’s second-biggest economy, has taken a toll on the stock.

Moreover, Huya faces intense competition from Chinese rivals. It has also posted GAAP losses for three consecutive years, which has made the market apprehensive about the company’s future.

Other Key Industry Developments: Analysts See More Gains Ahead for Penn Entertainment

Penn Entertainment also rose 7% last week amid positive commentary from analysts. That helped the share to climb over 20% in the past month. Still, year-to-date, Penn’s stock is down over 7%.

Earlier Monday, JPMorgan initiated coverage on the gaming sector. “The Gaming sector is rife with risks, but potential rewards are high,” noted analysts led by Daniel Politzer in their note.

The leading brokerage named three top picks in the report. It assigned Penn Entertainment an “outperform” rating, with a target price of $24, approximately 35% higher than the current price of $17.89. 

It expects ESPN Bet’s losses, which have been a point of contention with activist investor HG Vora, to narrow now that the investor has two directors on the company’s board.

The brokerage is also bullish on Red Rock Resorts and highlighted improved EBITDA visibility over the next two years. 

Furthermore, it assigned Caesars Entertainment an overweight rating with a target price of $47.65, which is 65% higher than the current price and close to its 52-week high.

Citizens JMP also upgraded Penn Entertainment to a “buy” rating on Thursday and assigned a target price of $24. The company sees a turnaround on the horizon, particularly for its loss-making sports betting venture. 

However, the brokerage downgraded MGM stock from an “overweight” to “equal weight,” citing an expected stagnation in the Las Vegas market.

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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.

The post Part 1 | CasinoBeats contenders: Innovation in Casino Entertainment appeared first on CasinoBeats.

Rich Wilde and the Amulet of Dead – Play’n GO

Rich Wilde makes his triumphant return as Play’n Go introduces the 5×3 Rich Wilde and the Amulet of the Dead, with the adventurer return to Egypt to face judgement for his past.

During the game, the pendant is a scatter symbol as well as the wild scatter and can appear on any reel. Scatter wins are multiplied by the total bet staked and are added to the payline wins.

Furthermore, the title includes thoth wilds which appear on reels two, three and four and can appear as a stack and will trigger the thoth multiplier.

Up to three fully stacked thoth wilds will activate a maximum of an x5 multiplier which will be applied to all wins on the triggering spin. Moreover, the thoth multiplier is always available in base game and free spins mode.

If the player lands three or more scatters, they will trigger the free spins round and be awarded 10 spins. Before the round commences, a random high-paying or royal symbol will be chosen to act as a special expanding symbol during the entire mode.

After evaluating the wins on every spin, the special expanding symbol may cover all three positions on its reel. This symbol will only expand when there are enough symbols on the reels to create a win.

“Our slot series’ like Rich Wilde, the Arthurian adventures, or our mythological slots give players an overall gaming experience, wrapped in individual titles.

“This means that they know what to expect from any new additions to a series and they can try out and find new favourites, safe in the knowledge they’re getting what they love while enjoying something new; like a sequel to a favourite movie or a new season of a TV show. As this industry matures, this is the next level of entertainment.” – Johan Törnqvist, Play’n Go CEO.

Eye of Dead – Blueprint Gaming

Continuing on the Egyptian theme is Blueprint Gaming’s latest release Eye of Dead, which becomes is the first title to feature the developer’s ‘Premium Play’ functionality.

The new quest involving treasure hunter Dr Wild sees the inclusion of four Premium Play upgrades, which become active dependent on stake and increases the number of high paying symbols on the reels.

Adjusting the stake changes the level of symbols that appear during the base gameplay, which are also carried over to the free games bonus round.

Free games are triggered with three or more scatters. Each time one or more expanding wild symbols appears on reel two, three or four, the symbol upgrade feature is activated, with free games awarded for each one that lands in view.

The all-powerful Eye of Dead upgrades each of the player’s high paying symbols for big wins, turning up to five of them into the next available highest paying icon.

“Grab your fedora and join Dr Wild on his latest adventure into the treasure-laden catacombs of our new take on the much-loved Egyptian genre.

“The exquisite visuals and evocative audio partners the absorbing gameplay, particularly enhanced by the premium play upgrades. Eye of Dead is set to bring new levels of engagement to players across multiple markets.” – Jo Purvis, Director of Key Accounts and Marketing UK, at Blueprint Gaming.

Before Time Runs Out – Habanero

Taking players on a magical quest to a faraway ancient Middle Eastern land, the 5×4 title comes complete with wilds, scatters, and a coin respin feature allowing ambitious adventurers to win prizes worth up to x50 their original bet.

The slot’s duel feature invites gamers to help Habanero’s  Prince battle the villainous Vizier and collect all six gems before time runs out, revealing up to five extra wilds.

Gems are awarded if the Prince beats the Vizier in the duel during free games, with players who collect six wining x1,000,000 the line bet.

“We are thrilled to launch Before Time Runs Out, a hectic Habanero adventure filled to the brim with enthralling features and world class mechanics, as well as inviting symbols and sounds.

“We’ve been racking up the wins in recent months, beginning the year with new accreditations, tier one operator partnerships and ground-breaking product rollouts. We can’t wait to maintain that momentum in the weeks and months to come.” – Toni Karapetrov, head of corporate communications at Habanero.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8sXaGe886gk

Power of Thor Megaways – Pragmatic Play

Centred around the fearsome Norse God of Thunder, Pragmatic Play’s Power of Thor Megaways is a 117,649 payline slot features runic symbols and several companions.

This latest title from Pragmatic Play contains tumbling wins and also sees the power of Thor’s Hammer come to life, with it acting as a wild on the top reel and turning every symbol on those directly below it into wilds.

The free spins mode is triggered when four or more scatter symbols land on the reels, spelling out Thor’s name. Up to nine scatters can land on any spin, triggering up to 30 free spins.

Before the bonus round starts, players have the option to gamble their spins, possibly winning more, but possibly losing it all, adding an extra element of danger to their adventure.

During the bonus round, a progressive multiplier is added, with each increasing the multiplier by 1x throughout the round as more wins and tumbles occur.

“Power of Thor Megaways is a fantastic new addition to our growing Megaways series. With huge win potential in free spins, as well as the possibility of receiving over 30 spins in the bonus round, the high-volatility title could be one of our most exciting yet.

“We consistently look to add innovative titles with engaging themes to our product range and we’re looking forward to seeing how our fans receive our newest game.” – Yossi Barzely, chief business development officer at Pragmatic Play.

The post Part 77 | On the spin – slot launch round-up appeared first on CasinoBeats.

Bandits Thunder Link – Stakelogic

The 5×3 reel, 10 payline slots sees players board the train and speed towards potentially huge wins via expanding reels, multipliers powered by guns and dynamite and a free spins feature with the ability to choose one of three bonus games.

During the main game, free spins are triggered when landing at least three scatter symbols and players are given the choice of selecting wild wild wins, wild bonanza or thunder link.

Wild wild wins sees 12 free spins awarded with sticky wilds and a x2 win multiplier. Wild bonanza sees 12 free spins awarded with sticky wilds and multiplier wilds with the multiplier amount set by the number of wilds that land on each reel with a maximum of x3.

The thunder link mode starts with three re-spins. During the feature, thunder link symbols can land on the reels and when they do the re-spins reset to three. All thunder Llnk symbols have multipliers which accumulate until the end of the feature and are then applied to the win.

Lock symbols can also land and when they do an additional reel opens taking the game to a 6×3 matrix. An additional lock symbol can then land taking it to a 7×3 matrix. The dynamite and revolver symbols add their multiplier to all other symbols on the reels.

The money hat and safe symbols collect the multipliers of all other visible symbols on the reels and then add them to their own multiplier with a max win of x50,000 the player’s original stake.

“Bandits Thunder Link is our most explosive game to date and allows players to clean house with an incredible free spins bonus game that can see them land wins of up to 50,000x their original stake.

“This slot has all the hallmarks of a blockbuster title, combining a fun theme with striking design and volatile gameplay that will keep players on the edge of their seat with every spin.” – Stephan van den Oetelaar, CEO of Stakelogic.

Easter Island 2 – Yggdrasil

Yggdrasil’s Moai statue duo are back and embarking on a journey in Easter Island 2, with the voyage taking the pair to Venice Beach where they are surrounded by sand, palm trees and parasols.

Within the title. each winning spin awards one re-spin. If the winning symbol is a low value symbol, it replaces all other low symbols for the re-spin. Alternatively, if the winning symbol is a high value icon, it replaces all other high symbols on the re-spin.

During the colossal block mode, if the player lands between four or six-of-a-kind combinations, the grid features a reel with ‘colossal blocks’, boosting the chance of hitting bigger wins.

Moreover, if a spin produces a six-of-a-kind win, then the slot expands into a slot machine with an 8×6 layout and increases the paylines to 55.

“The mischievous Moai are back and full of action. Every win triggers a respin which can lead to exceptional rewards. Watch out for a six-of-a-kind win which will trigger expanding reels.

“They’ll boom to a sky-high 8×6 matrix with 55 paylines which means not only more, but bigger wins. Features aside, the game’s layout has been designed with players completely in mind. We understand players’ mobile-first, portrait preference, so we build the games’ UX totally around them.

“Easter Island 2 will see players enjoying every step with our favourite characters from a classic and well-loved Yggdrasil title.” – Asko Heiskanen, chief gaming and development officer at Yggdrasil.

Super Reel: Spin It Hot – iSoftBet

iSoftBet invites players to test their mettle in  Super Reel: Spin It Hot, after a ‘strong period’ of exclusivity with operators Rootz and Stoiximan.

Using the super reel, the 20-line game consists of a standard 5×3 reel set, but with an additional 10 slot super reels across the top, which can be triggered by landing six or more Spin It Hot symbols.

The game includes classic symbols such as red 7s, bells, cherries and diamonds on the reels, as well as features such as the free spins, respins and the super reel.

In addition, the Spin It Hot respins adds a hold and win element, guaranteeing a prize at the end of each respins round, while also adding hot prizes to the Super Reel, including mini, major and mega jackpots.

“We’re constantly looking for ways to innovate our product range and we’re delighted to add Super Reel: Spin It Hot to our portfolio.

“With a classic theme which we elevate to new heights, our latest game adds more variety than ever for our players to enjoy.” – Mark Claxton, head of games at iSoftBet.

Wild Fruit Super Wheel – Pariplay

Pariplay is inviting players to sink their teeth into its new 5×3, 243 payline slot Wild Fruit Super Wheel, which has been officially released following a period of exclusivity in the Swedish market with Svenska Spel.

The game consists of three wild multiplier symbols – 2x, 3x and 4x. These appear on reels two, three and four and when used to substitute for a win, multiply all winning combinations by the multiplier amount.

Moreover, if the player lands three scatter symbols the super wheel is activated where the prizes on offer include three super bonuses – mini, minor and major – that grow the more players spin the wheel.

Additionally, the title comes with three levels of progressive super bonus prizes that can be won, only during the Super Wheel feature.

“Wild Fruit Super Wheel is based on a familiar theme that players enjoy, but we have given the classic reel set a fresh squeeze with some innovative features.

“The Super Wheel feature adds a compelling new element, while the possibility of connecting wild multipliers on the reels is an enticing one for players looking to land big prizes.” – Christine Lewis, chief commercial officer at Pariplay.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJgl_rZwdn8

The post Part 76 | On the spin – slot launch round-up appeared first on CasinoBeats.

Yggdrasil and Reflex Gaming – Desperate Dawgs

Travel to the wild west in the latest YG Masters release, with Dodge City, Kansas, setting the scene, where gangs are up to no good and players are invited to join their mischievous antics and assist them on the reels with their heists.

The 5×3, 20 payline slot come complete with a number of features, including three separate bonus games available to trigger, including the wagon trail, crime spree and bank buster rounds.

The first is triggered by three or more ‘Chumdance Kid’ yellow character symbols appearing on the reels, with players given a selection of wagons to pick from. A hidden prize is then revealed and awarded.

Crime spree is launched if three or more green ‘Dog Holliday’ symbols land, awarding ten free spins with an increasing multiplier on every spin. If the mode is retriggered, the multiplier can reach as high as 30x.

Desperate Dawgs’ Bank Buster bonus triggers when three red ‘Josey Tails’ characters appear, presenting players with three safes – bronze, silver, and gold. Each safe has a unique code, which must be cracked to win the prize.

“Our newest hit adds plenty of bonus rounds into an action-packed slot and gives players a chance to enjoy multiple ways to win big.

“We’ve been able to scale new distribution heights as a YG Masters partner and we’re delighted to unveil our latest title.” – Mat Ingram, CPO at Reflex Gaming.

Swintt – Storm of Egypt

Embrace the sand dunes in Swintt’s latest Egyptian-themed slot entitled Storm of Egypt, as players rely on Anubis to award wins.

Storm of Egypt is a five-reel video slot which offers players 40 ways to win, along with a wild symbol which expands and also triggers the free spins round.

During the base game, if any top reel symbol matches with any symbol in the reel below the symbol, it will convert to the wild and expand in the entire column.

If the player lands three, four or five expanding wild symbols, it will award up to 15 free spins, depending on the number that lands. During the free game mode, the top reel symbols carry a fixed win multiplier with them which multiplies all the line wins after expanding the reels.

The paytable’s low-value symbols are nine to A, rewarding up to 30x to 150x the stake for five of them in a combination. Moreover, the high-value symbols – a pyramid, an ankh, a book, a scarab, and a Bastet – reward up to 200x the stake.

Pragmatic Play – Temujin Treasures 

Inspired by the Mongol empire and its great leader Genghis Khan, the 4×5 slot, which comes with a 1,024 ways to win mechanism, features a wheel of fortune filled with multipliers, jackpots and free spins.

The wild switch feature is triggered when six or more of the same symbols land on the middle reels, transforming them into wilds. Payouts are determined by the new wilds that appear in place of the old symbols.

For the bonus feature to be triggered in Temujin Treasures, players will need a scatter symbol to land on the three middle reels. If this is achieved, they are taken to the wheel of fortune, which is covered in a variety of prizes. These include multipliers, free spins, and the four fixed jackpots named mini, minor, major, and grand.

If a jackpot or multiplier is won, the wheel will spin again to award more prizes. Players can win anywhere between six and 50 free spins from the wheel. Whenever a firecracker symbol lands during the free spins feature, all players will receive a small bonus that arrives in the form of additional free games, money values, wild multipliers and jackpots.

“Taking inspiration from the Mongol Empire and its great leader Genghis Khan, our latest release puts an elegant twist on a ruthless chapter of world history.

“Introducing a host of fascinating bonus features that could lead to big wins, Temujin Treasures provides players with an experience that they will not be able to find anywhere else.” – Yossi Barzely, chief business development officer at Pragmatic Play.

Celestial Gems – Genesis Gaming

Genesis Gaming has launched its latest addition to its expanding slots portfolio with its new title, Celestial Gems.

The title comes with a Lightning Tally feature. During the base game, one bolt is added to the Lightning Tally in non-feature play, whenever at least one reel is covered in wilds.

If the player lands three bolts it triggers the first feature offer, where one of three feature bonuses can be selected and played.

Accumulating a further seven bolts (ten total) triggers a second feature offer, where two of three bonuses can be selected and played at the same time. Additionally, 20 more bolts (30 bolts total) triggers the ultimate feature, where all three bonuses can be played together.

Feature bonuses are an increasing multiplier, a bigger game grid, and a roaming wild reel. Players are awarded three to ten free spins are awarded when a feature is selected and played.

Moreover, three extra free spins are awarded when one or more reels are covered in wilds. When a roaming wild reels are activated, three extra free spins are awarded when at least two reels are covered in wilds.

“We are very excited to release Celestial Gems! This game is uniquely designed to appeal to players of all types. We have incorporated some of the most classic and popular slot features for players to pick and combine their favourite play style.

“From win multipliers, guaranteed stacked wild, to expanding reels, players can decide to either trigger the bonus whenever it happens, or save their chances and trigger all three features at once to try and hit enormous wins.” – Kenneth Weng, Genesis Gaming associate producer.

The post Part 75 | On the spin – slot launch round-up appeared first on CasinoBeats.

Wild Gold – Spearhead Studios

Spearhead Studios has debuted its 30th title via the 5×3, 10 fixed payline Wild Gold, which includes a multiplying wild and card gamble feature.

In the title, the Wild Gold symbol is the multiplying wild which exists on reels one, three and five. It substitutes any symbol to create the highest possible win on a payline.

Furthermore, if it is involved in a winning combination, the Wild Gold symbol will reveal itself to be either a x2, x3 or x7 wild multiplier. Additionally, if there are more than one multiplier involved in a win, the value of each will be combined to create a bigger multiplier.

Moreover, the game includes a card gamble mode which can be entered by clicking its name sakes button after any win. During this mode, the player can double or quadruple their win if they correctly guess either the suite colour or symbol.

“Wild Gold is an exciting slot that we are happy to bring into our portfolio. We are certain that players will very much enjoy the core feature of this 5×3, 10-payline slot, in which the first, middle and last reels can all become ‘all wild’, with each wild also carrying a win multiplier of up to x7.” – Kevin Corti, Game Development Director at Spearhead.

The Green Knight – Play’n Go

The gaming content supplier has delved into Arthurian legend for its first release in march, and the second in this series, with the release of The Green Knight.

Following in the footsteps of Lord Merlin & The Lady of the Lake, the title centres around the story of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, a tale based on chivalry and bravery.

The group asserts that “the focus here is on the potential,” with it possible to achieve 10,000x your bet as well as a guaranteed spin with a x100 multiplier in the free spins round, and the possibility of triggering shield spins with the x100 multiplier in play, giving a chance for heightened wins.

“We are always looking to innovate; be that varying the shapes of the grid, introducing new features, or playing with different themes too.

“Many others overlook narrative, but we believe that the story is an integral part of entertainment. You look at any popular game, film, or book, and the foundation is telling a great story. Once you have that, you can build a great game around it, and anything is possible.” – Martin Zettergren, Play’n Go CPO.

Wheel of Fortune Megaways – IGT & Big Time Gaming

International Game Technology has paired its Wheel of Fortune slots brand with Big Time Gaming’s Megaways mechanic to create its new title Wheel of Fortune Megaways.

Wheel of Fortune Megaways, which saw BetMGM become one of the first online casinos in New Jersey to offer the title, is a six-reel video that offers players 117,649 ways to win, increasing to one million paylines during the free spins round.

Throughout the game, players have the chance to trigger the wild megastacks whenever a symbol lands. Within the base game, up to three reels can be covered entirely in wilds, stacking to seven positions high. Additionally, in the free spins round, up to two reels can display 10 wilds each.

Furthermore, the Wheel of Fortune logo is the scatter symbol. If the player lands a minimum of three scatters they will be awarded up to 18 free spins, depending on the number of scatter symbols.

Before the free spins commence, the wheel turns to reveal the starting number of Megaways from 14,000 to 117,649. Moreover, the expansion symbol, once landed, is replaced by two new symbols, increasing the number of symbols in that reel by one.

When a reel reaches full height, the wheel spins again to award up to 12 extra free spins. If all six reels reach 10 rows high, then one million Megaways are produced.

“In partnership with Big Time Gaming, IGT PlayDigital created a spectacular online game by combining the legendary Wheel of Fortune slots brand with the Megaways game mechanic, which offers players one million ways to win in the free spins bonus.

“In a time when digital gaming growth is critical to so many IGT customers around the world, delivering unique games such as Wheel of Fortune Megaways helps our customers drive performance and differentiate their game portfolios.” – Enrico Drago, IGT PlayDigital senior vice president.

Wheel of Luck. Hold&Win – Tom Horn Gaming

The 3×5 slot, which invites players to experience the delights of the high life, features free spins, Hold&Win respin and the Wheel of Luck bonus round.

Land 3 or more scatters on the reels and you get to play 10 retriggerable free spins. Three or more scatters appearing during the feature award additional 10 free spins. Wheel symbols can appear during free spins and they trigger the Hold&Win Respin feature.

The feature starts when five or more bonus symbols appear on the screen. During Hold&Win Respin, only wheel and cash symbols are awarded.

Each new wheel or cash symbol gets locked in place and the respin count is reset to three. The feature ends when the respin count is zero. When the feature ends with at least three wheels on the screen, it triggers the Wheel of Luck feature. The Hold&Win Respin feature can be triggered also from free spins.

Wheel of Luck is initiated only during the Hold&Win Respin feature. Players have one chance to spin the Wheel of Luck, which has three levels. To get to another level players have to hit the arrow symbol on the wheel. The Wheel of Luck ends when the reward is a cash amount.

“We constantly look for ways to enhance our content offering. In 2021 we plan to deliver more fun and a variety of slots with thrilling features to engage and excite players in different markets. Wheel of Luck.

“Hold&Win is the first in line of many unique titles we have in the pipeline. We’re positive the game’s features, dynamic gameplay and well-known theme will resonate with players, keeping them entertained and immersed throughout the game,“ – Ondrej Lapides, CEO at Tom Horn Gaming.

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Professional Darts Corporation – Blueprint Gaming

Blueprint Gaming has promised a “blockbuster new slot game,” where players step up to the oche in order to win big in Professional Darts Corporation title.

Officially licensed from the PDC, the creation features the world’s leading darts players including ‘Snakebite’ Peter Wright, ‘Mighty Mike’ Michael van Gerwen and newly-crowned World Champion, ‘The Iceman’ Gerwyn Price.

During the base game of Blueprint’s first foray into the sporting theme genre, a minimum of three dartboard scatter symbols awards the free games feature, and five symbols triggers the maximum 180 spins.

Before entering the feature, users can select to play with all the top stars from the PDC or take the gamble on the mystery pick, which randomly chooses one of the famous throwers and potentially eliminates the lower value players to ensure bigger wins.

“The global popularity of darts continues to grow, shown recently with the thoroughly enthralling 2020/21 World Darts Championship, which even given the current situation and absence of our iconic Ally Pally crowds, didn’t fail to disappoint in the drama stakes.

“Partnering with Blueprint Gaming for the development of this unique game is another important step to broaden the appeal of the sport to more people across the globe. They have a fantastic reputation within the gaming industry for developing high quality content and we had no hesitation in partnering with Blueprint for this special game release.” –Barry Hearn OBE, Professional Darts Corporation chairman.

Rainbow Riches Race Day – Scientific Games

Continuing on the sports theme, Scientific Games has rolled-out Rainbow Riches Race Day, the latest creation utilising the popular gaming franchise.

Gamesys, who have a long-time association with the brand on their UK sites, launched Rainbow Riches Race Day exclusively to their UK players last week.

Inspired by the classic horse racing arcade machines, the familiar race format sits above the reels, with players required to collect horses to advance along the racetrack, with the first to cross the winning post awarded the associated prize.

The 6×4 slot features numerous ways of winning and includes cascading wins, while within the bonus round, players have the ability to choose how the free spins are played out.

“Rainbow Riches Race Day marks another stellar addition to our portfolio this year and offers a unique gameplay that evolves the Rainbow Riches franchise to a new level.

“Those familiar with horse racing arcade machines will appreciate the way in which we’ve incorporated the format into the game, while for Rainbow Riches fans there’s a new concept to experience that includes all the iconic characteristics they love.

“We believe Rainbow Riches Race Day will appeal to a wide audience and prove to be a huge hit with players.” – Rob Procter, content specialist director of digital at Scientific Games.

The Golden Sail – Silverback Gaming

Sail the seven seas in Silverback Gaming’s The Golden Sail, a 4×5, 40 payline igaming title that boasts features such as ‘Fire in the Hole’ which sees wilds fired out of a cannon and onto the reels where they expand.

Players can also set their course for the big wheel bonus if three scatter symbols land on the reels. They can then choose from four sectors to unlock a prize, such as 100 free spins with increasing multipliers, retriggers and canon shot wilds also awarded.

Players are also taken on a side adventure via the game’s trail bonus where they pick a coin and advance along the map towards the top 10,000x prize.

“The Golden Sail takes players on a thrilling high seas adventure, combining explosive gameplay and a trove of bonus features.

“The team has also done an incredible job when it comes to the design of the game, which is bold and striking, as well as the sound which comes together to create a truly immersive experience.

“We are thrilled to be launching The Golden Sail with our friends at Relax Gaming and can’t wait to see players heave ho, hoist the mizzen and win big.” – Raphael Di Guisto, founder and CEO at Silverback Gaming.

Reel Desire – Yggdrasil

Yggdrasil invites players onto a neon-inspired dancefloor, with the nostalgia-inducing Reel Desire offering the chance to transport to the days of love and disco.

The slot features double wilds, multipliers and free spins, offering jackpots of up to 20,480x the player’s stake when wilds cover all positions on the reel.

When playing the bonus game players must choose between two free spins modes, which can be retriggered during the Reel Desire feature.

During the feature wild reels can appear randomly during the base game, with the possibility of spreading from one to all five wheels. Once this happens, four regular wild symbols cover the reel, increasing the potential to win.

“The launch of Reel Desire will surely excite fans of volatile online slots and we’ll see it topping the charts – no question about it.

“The game presents palpable high win potential topped up with two different exciting free spins features. The frequently appearing Reel Desire feature keeps anticipation high as any given spin can transform into a payday for players.” – Jonas Strandman, senior games strategist at Yggdrasil.

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Trillionaire – Red Tiger, NetEnt and FashionTV Gaming Group

Players are invited to strut their stuff in this three-way collaboration, with the 5-reel video slot inspired by a song from the global fashion and lifestyle channel, and features ‘I Want to be a Trillionaire’ by FashionTV star, Anja J.

During the base game, when supermodel symbols appear fully visible on screen, they will turn into wilds and substitute for all paying symbols. Reels may at random nudge a partially visible Supermodel until she is fully visible.

Three wheel symbols on the first, third and fifth reels will activate the Fashion Wheel, where those that reach the fourth concentric circle will land a heightened win.

Additionally, three free spins symbols on the first, third and fifth reels will award eight free spins. All low-paying symbols will be removed during the free spins round.

“The combination of the high lifestyle and luxury of our brand and the unique excitement of the online casino experience is encapsulated in Trillionaire.

“We are thrilled with the results of our partnership with NetEnt and the amazing creative work of Red Tiger, and we are sure this world-class slot will serve to significantly enhance our gaming industry presence as we move into a new era of FashionTV-branded luxury experiences in igaming.” – Shai Kaplun, COO at FashionTV Gaming Group.

Book of Nile: Magic Choice – NetGame Entertainment

NetGame Entertainment’s Book of Nile: Magic Choice is a 3×5, 10 payline slot which sees players reunited with Egyptian pyramids as adventurers search for the magic free spins and expanding symbols to win big.

The most valuable symbol of the game is the Secret Book, which is both wild and scatter. If three or more books are found on the reels then ten free games will launch the magic free spins bonus game.

At the heart of the adventure is the chance for players to make a magic choice which will shape their destiny. Before the magic free spins bonus game begins, players choose one of nine symbols which becomes a special expanding symbol.

If three or more scatters land on the reels within the bonus game, players are rewarded with ten more free spins and they can choose another symbol. This retrigger feature gives players the chance to keep infinitely picking new expanding symbols all the way until activating nine special expanding symbols.

“The Book of Nile series continues to be a blockbuster performer and magic choice is a marvellous addition. Players have the magic in their fingertips to make a choice that will deliver their destiny on the reels.” – Andrey Vajdyuk, NetGame Entertainment’s head of business development.

Big Money Frenzy – Blueprint Gaming

Blueprint Gaming has introduced its classic-themed Big Money Frenzy, which encompasses a number of functions synonymous with Blueprint titles, such as transforming symbols, while also incorporating the hold and win mechanics within the money spins bonus round.

During this feature, players are given three spins to secure prizes, while each new money spins symbol in view resets the remaining spins to three. The frenzy spins mode is said to elevate the gameplay to a ‘whole new level’, where all cash values in view are awarded on every free spin.

“Big Money Frenzy is another example of how Blueprint is delivering quality content packed with a wide range of features that are in demand from both operators and players.

“With a simple yet absorbing gameplay containing fun and engaging concepts, the game is another important addition to our ever-expanding portfolio.” – Jo Purvis, director of key accounts and marketing UK, at Blueprint Gaming.

Sphinx Fortune – Booming Games

Sphinx Fortune by Booming Games is a five-reel video slot that offers up to 576 paylines alongside a pyramid hold and win feature, as well as a wheel of fortune and nudging wild multiplier and free spins.

During the base game, if the player matches symbols in any position on three or more adjacent reels, starting from the leftmost reel to the rightmost, they achieve a winning combination with only the longest matching combo per symbol being paid.

The 4×1 wild symbols can appear on reels two, three and four and will always nudge to be fully visible. For every nudge, the win multiplier will increase by one.

Several nudging wild multipliers will be added to a total wild multiplier. The nudging wild multiplier symbol will substitute for any other symbol except the free spin scatter and the pyramid bonus symbol.

Moreover, within the pyramid hold and win feature, which can be triggered by landing two pyramid symbols on reels one and five, once activated the previously mentioned reels will be removed during this round.

The feature always starts with three respins and each time a new value symbol lands, the respin count resets back to three. Furthermore, only the coin symbol and blanks can land in this mode.

When there are no respins left, or if all the 12 value symbols have landed, the coin values are added together and a Wheel of Fortune appears with the possibility of multiplying the players total winnings.

Additionally, if the player lands three scatter symbols on reels two, three and four, they will be awarded eight free spins.

“Sphinx Fortune is a really nice union of theme and mechanics. We fully expect this high volatility slot to be a huge success across all player groups due to the combination of exciting and entertaining features and the potential for huge wins,” – Moritz Blume, Booming Games’ head of product.

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Thunder Screech – Play’n Go

Play’n Go has added to its range of mythological themed slots, with its latest introduction based on a legend found in several Native American cultures.

The game centres around the story of the Thunderbird; a creature formed to protect humanity, a symbol of power and strength.

Within the game, wild symbols substitute for all symbols, except the scatter, and only appear on reels two, three, and four. The call feature is activated randomly and adds five to nine wild symbols. Moreover, the strike feature is activated similar to the call mode, upgrading all wild symbols to thunder wild symbols.

Furthermore, the thunder wild symbols substitute for all symbols and only appear on reels two, three, and four. Additionally, the symbol triggers re-spins when landing and is sticky until its multiplier reaches x3. The symbol multiplier always starts at x1, increasing by one between each re-spin.

When multiple thunder wilds are present on a payline, the multipliers are added together for a maximum multiplier of x9. The feature ends when no thunder wild symbol is present.

Scatter symbol on reels two, three, and five trigger five free spins. Wild symbols are upgraded to thunder wild. During free spins, at least one thunder wild is guaranteed to land.

“It’s important to give players new ideas and stories to explore while they’re playing; but, it’s also vital that the game itself is still good enough to keep them interested.

“Many games may be wrapped in a nice theme and have some fun artwork, but then, there’s nothing to hold the players’ interest when it comes to gameplay.

“So, while early numbers might be good, there’s a sharp decline as people play once and then move onto something else. We create games for people to enjoy over and over again.” – Martin Zettergren, Play’n Go CPO.

Labyrinth of Knossos MultiJump – Yggdrasil and DreamTech Gaming

Dreamtech Gaming in partnership with Yggdrasil and the YG Masters program, has debuted Labyrinth of Knossos and invited players on a journey into the depths of a Cretan temple as they look to avoid the fearsome minotaur.

The five-reel, 243 ways title is the first to incorporate the MultiJump mechanic, which sees randomly assigned win multipliers attached to symbols. These can multiply out as they jump from symbol to symbol across the reels, potentially leading to increased wins. The starting multipliers can vary between 2x, 3x and 5x, however these multiply to huge amounts as they jump.

To trigger the bonus game, players need to find three or more bonus symbols, in the form of an adventurous galley ship. In this round, every symbol is guaranteed to have a multiplier on, while the free games feature can be triggered again during the round to land mammoth wins in the mysterious labyrinth.

“The YG Masters program allows us to focus on creating fantastic slot experiences and we’re extremely proud to launch our first MultiJump game, Labyrinth of Knossos. We can’t wait to see how it is received by players all over the globe.” – Halvor Dahl, business manager at Dreamtech Gaming.

Bounty Belles – iSoftBet

The five-reel, 243 payline Bounty Belles follows the journey of iSoftBet’s three glamorous but deadly outlaws as they look to collect the lucrative wanted contracts on their heads.

On any spin, the bounty boost can be triggered with a wild bounty spin, expanding reels three, four and five to add extra ways-to-win, going all the way up to 1,125 paylines.

Three or more special bonus symbols trigger the feature-packed free spins, where players can enjoy expanding reels, Wild bounty and deadman’s draw multipliers. The deadman’s draw sees cards dealt randomly, before they are shot and removed until only one remains, with that multiplier being added to the next win.

The wild bounty is triggered when wilds land on reels one and two, with the feature awarding any further bounty symbols that land on consecutive reels with a cash amount, which can be collected by players instantly.

“Bounty Belles sees players hunting the reels for our fearless female outlaws and the massive rewards that follow them.

“With innovative features and expanding reels to significantly increase the paylines, any spin can lead to players being awarded the significant bounty on their heads.” – Mark Claxton, head of games at iSoftBet.

Mighty Joker Arcade – Stakelogic

Mighty Joker Arcade is said to feature ‘bold and striking’ symbols that players will recognise from the banks of retro slot machines found in casinos and gaming arcades around the world, including fruits, bells and the Joker.

The title also boasts a progressive mystery jackpot that increases every time a player makes a bet with 0.5 per cent of every bet added to the pot. The minimum guaranteed payout is €500 but it must pay out when it hits €5,000.

Players can increase their chance of hitting the jackpot by placing higher stakes. The big win potential does not stop there – the base game has a max win potential of €4,000 and the top game has a max win potential of €12,000.

“Mighty Joker Arcade is a thrilling classic slot that hits the highest possible production value while also providing players with plenty of chances to land big wins in the base game, top game and via the progressive jackpot.

“We believe Mighty Joker Arcade will appeal to fans of classic slots in markets around the world and deliver the thrilling and exciting experience they are seeking each time they spin the reels and watch the fruit, bell and Joker symbols tumble.” Stephan van den Oetelaar, CEO of Stakelogic.

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Pinocchio’s Journey – Triple Cherry

Inspired by the classic tale of the wooden puppet’s dream of becoming a real boy, Triple Cherry’s latest introduction is 5×3 slot which includes 25 paylines along with a Pinocchio construction bonus round and free spins.

The former, which is accessed by filling up the progress bar, commences with six free spins and is played with special reels. Furthermore, some symbols increase in size to appear in three rows.

During Pinocchio’s journey, the free spins bonus round includes bonus sombra symbols which increase the progress bar by 12.5 per cent. Once the bar reaches 50 per cent, three free spins will be added. Once fully completed, four free spins will be awarded to the player.

“We wanted to develop a slot with a theme that everybody knows. The tale of Pinocchio is a beautiful childhood story which people from all over the world know about.” – Juan Antonio Galindo, CEO & co-founder of Triple Cherry.

Multiplier Odyssey – Relax Gaming

Players are invited onto an intergalactic battlefield for wins as large as 50,000x their bet as igaming aggregator and supplier Relax Gaming debuts Multiplier Odyssey.

Coins land across the game screen, displaying multiplier values that are added up and applied to a win each time a coin collector symbol appears. A x3 variant of the collector triples the amount won from all the collected coin icons, causing engagement to soar and serving up some fantastic wins.

Three bonus symbols blast the players off into free spins, where seven are awarded, represented as lives in this cosmic battle. Each winning spin applies a multiplier from the display above the reel area, while every losing spin reduces a life.

Once all 10 multipliers are applied, the super multiplier is unlocked, where the reels keep spinning until a win is scored. Additionally, a buy feature allows for those eager players to transport themselves straight to the action in the bonus round for intergalactic wins and free spins.

“Multiplier Odyssey takes players on an action-packed journey in pursuit of celestial wins. With immersive space-combat-themed design, explosive features and an achievable maximum win of 50,000x, we believe this game will be a hit amongst players and help to differentiate our clients’ lobbies.” – Simon Hammon, Relax Gaming CPO.

Ice Rubies – CT Gaming Interactive

CT Gaming Interactive looks to put the shine on the freezing winter days via its latest online casino slot introduction, Ice Rubies.

The game is a five-reel, 40-payline video offering that includes heart wilds that expand to make wild zones to boost players’ potential win.

Within the game the heart wilds which, when expanded, form the aforementioned wild zones to create an entire area of different characters becoming wilds. If the wild lands on the first reel, it will then expand to the second and third.

Additionally, when it does appear on the third reel, all symbols on that reel, along with the fourth and fifth, will become wilds.

Giza Infinity Reels – Yggdrasil & ReelPlay

Yggdrasil, in partnership with YG Masters partner ReelPlay, has unveiled its first Infinity Reels title, Giza, which becomes the latter’s second to be produced through the YG Masters program.

Enabling players to explore the land of the Pharaohs, Giza Infinity Reels brings users face to face with one of ancient Egypt’s most defining symbol; the Great Pyramid of Giza.

New reels can be added to the slot, with each increasing the multiplier for all symbols’ wins. Consecutive wins will push players up the multiplier trail.

Each spin offers the chance to continue adding new reels for bigger wins and a chance at reaching the jackpot. This is triggered when players reach the 15^th reel, where the jackpot prize of 888x the total bet is awarded in addition to any wins already achieved.

“The release of Giza Infinity Reels through our YG Masters program offers players another captivating game experience for the new year.

“The intricate artwork and immersive soundtrack provided by ReelPlay blend effortlessly with the fast pace of the game, which will leave players across the world delighted with their in-game experience.

“It is yet another title which was built using our proven GATI technology which allows Masters studios to quickly develop content followed by rapid distribution into global markets.” – Stuart McCarthy, Head of Partner Programs at Yggdrasil.

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