Under the new partnership, Big Wave has developed the front-end and game mechanics for the game, while FunFair has utilised its blockchain experience to adapt the back-end for smart contracts. 

Fred Kessler, CPO at FunFair Technologies Europe Ltd, said: “Big Wave are delivering first-class content which we’re confident will be a big hit with our growing Japanese audience and crypto-gamers alike.

“Cho Han has the winning combination of simplicity and lucrative wins, and coupled with a premium aesthetic and Guaranteed Fair back-end, we’re delighted to integrate it into our burgeoning games portfolio.”

Cho Han has been a favoured pastime in Japanese culture for centuries and the collaboration is expected to resonate well with the country’s players, as well as with a wider crypto-gambling audience who enjoy the instant dice genre.

The straightforward gameplay sees players place bets on whether the sum of two six-sided dice will be odd (cho) or even (han), or for bigger wins they can stake on a double or the ‘Lucky 8’.

Ivan Rungkat, Managing Director at Big Wave Gaming, said: “Partnering with FunFair over the past year has put our games in-front of a brand new audience which we may not otherwise have reached and we fully expect Cho Han to complement our growing blockchain offering.

“With an already strong foundation in Japanese culture, we believe Cho Han’s simplicity and instant nature will be a perfect fit for many demographics across the FunFair casino network.”

The post FunFair Technologies rolls out Cho Han feature with Big Wave appeared first on CasinoBeats.

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

What is RPG-Style gaming? 

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

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

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

What else is on offer? 

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

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

Customer service and security

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

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

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

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

The post How Casitabi is driving player engagement through RPG-style gaming appeared first on CasinoBeats.

Through the new acquisition, which is expected to be close in time for Red Tiger’s performance to be consolidated in NetEnt’s Q3 results, NetEnt is striving to utilise the opportunity to capitalise on its scalable technology to support future growth.

Speaking on the conference call, Hillman explained: “Red Tiger has been very successful since it has started. It has quickly established itself as one of the top suppliers in the online gaming market. We have been very impressed by them over the years.

“What is appealing about Red Tiger is their very strong market presence in the UK, as well as in Northern Europe, and we think that they are a very good fit with our current strategy,” she continued.

Setting out the rationale behind the deal, the NetEnt CEO said: “Their revenues come from a broad range of customers, and they have a very large portfolio of games especially given that they’re a very young company.

“Red Tiger is licensed in the UK, in Malta, Gibraltar and Alderney. They are also certified in other regulated markets such as Italy, Denmark and Sweden. The company is also certified as a supplier in the Swiss market as of 1 July this year.”

In order to complete the acquisition, NetEnt has agreed to pay approximately £197m for all Red Tiger shares, with the remaining sum potentially becoming payable in 2022 based upon an earn-out basis, subject to financial performance over the coming two years.

This corresponds to a multiple of approximately 12 times current year EBITDA, with NetEnt’s income for the third quarter of 2019 set to include approximately SEK 55m (£4.6m) of transaction and financing related costs.

As explained on the conference call, Hillman expects that the integration of Red Tiger’s portfolio into NetEnt’s business model will create a “significant synergy” between the two, encouraging a new drive for innovation.

Hillman added: “Looking at their slot games, their table games and the other products that they have to offer, I would like to highlight that their slot games fit perfectly into our strategy with a growing portfolio that we can provide and offer into a number of different markets.

“We are very impressed by the big portfolio that they have. They also have great table games and their is a demand for more table games, especially across the US which offers a new opportunity for us.

“Red Tiger has strong jackpot products overall, they have SmartSpins, they have tournaments, and they have lots of interesting tools that we find will be great for a combined product.”

What came as a surprise to NetEnt, however, was the overlap in customers between the duo. Hillman expressed that the shared network of customers was not as large as initially predicted, which according to the NetEnt CEO, offered a number of new opportunities for the casino content developer.

The post Hillman: Red Tiger ‘a very good fit’ with NetEnt’s growth strategy appeared first on CasinoBeats.

The machines will be located in a private room at Hard Rock Atlantic City, with Softweave’s technology being implemented to allow slot players to experience some of the most popular land-based slot games that are not available in the virtual world.

Kresimir Spajic, senior VP of online gaming and sports betting at Hard Rock International, stated: “We are excited to introduce an entirely new way to play floor favourites without being there. With live slots, you can control real, physical slot machines located at Hard Rock Atlantic City from anywhere in New Jersey using your PC, Mac, tablet or mobile device. It is a first-of-its-kind experience unavailable anywhere else on the planet.”

As a result, in the live slots section of HardRockCasino.com, players will see a row of real slot machines, as if they were walking through Hard Rock Atlantic City. This true-to-life experience means that players can find their own personal lucky slot machine and continue to return to it if the machine is not occupied.

Roy Greenbaum, CEO of Softweave Ltd, added: “The partnership with Hard Rock creates optimal settings for the delivery of the live slots product. Our cutting-edge technology will enable HardRockCasino.com to extend the real gaming experience from the casino floor directly to the players fingertips.”

Traditional land based slots such as Leprecoins, Buffalo, Spitfire Multipliers, Hotter than Blaze and 3x4x4x Double Times Pay are set to now be featured as a result of this new innovation. 

Joe Lupo, president of Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City, concluded: “We are thrilled to present ground-breaking and innovative technology as real-money, online gaming continues to evolve in New Jersey. 

“Similarly, to live table games dealers, live slots enables our players to have one seamless experience to earn wild card rewards including hotel rooms, entertainment and dining at Hard Rock Atlantic City. Bridging the gap to provide a ‘live’ experience to our online consumers is something we are not only excited for, but very proud to be the first in the world.”

The post Hard Rock Atlantic City to implement historic slot innovation appeared first on CasinoBeats.

That’s according to Stephan van den Oetelaar, CEO of Stakelogic, who spoke to CasinoBeats about the role that their Greenlogic partner platform can play in allowing smaller studios to do ‘what they do best’, and how a collaborative approach to game development can lead to more creative releases.

CasinoBeats: How does the Greenlogic platform help create added value for development studios, especially when it comes to international exposure? 

SvdO: Greenlogic offers a wide range of benefits to studios. First of all, Greenlogic is about joint game development. Stakelogic reviews and guides the development process and our partners appreciate the support they get from our team. In some cases, a minor ‘tweak’ of the gameplay or a slight re-arrangement of the UI lay-out can – and does – have a great impact on the commercial success of a game. Greenlogic partners can leverage our experience and proven track record to take their games to the next level.   

Greenlogic also enables studios to concentrate on game development. For most studios that is what they do best and what they like doing most. The area where studios often struggle is distribution and commercials, but under the Greenlogic program Stakelogic takes care of these areas. 

We undertake sales and marketing, the back-office administration and invoicing, the distribution of the games to over 500 operators around the world and the operating of the games via our ISO 27001 certified server environment. So, yes, each studio gains international exposure as well as a host of other benefits.

“This is ‘freedom of development’ for the game studio”

CasinoBeats: How has Stakelogic’s ‘enriched wrapper’ helped minimise disruption when it comes to back-end integration?  

SvdO: Most partner programs are based on either API integration or the studio needs to adopt the development environment of the partner. Through the ‘enriched wrapper’ integration, Stakelogic offers the best of both worlds. This is ‘freedom of development’ for the game studio and ‘control over the UI’ for Stakelogic.  

The ‘enriched wrapper’ integration also minimises disruption on the side of the studio. By integrating via the ‘enriched wrapper’, the studio can continue to develop games by using the same game development environment it was using before.

For us, the ‘enriched wrapper’ allows a certain level of control over the UI, which is important as some jurisdictions might not allow certain functionality like ‘auto spin’ or ‘fast spin’. To a certain extent, Stakelogic can ensure compliance without bothering the studio.

CasinoBeats: In your opinion, does the collaborative approach to game development result in more creative releases? 

SvdO: Yes, absolutely. Greenlogic partners have created games that are different from traditional Stakelogic content, attracting new player groups. What’s more, Greenlogic partners have already entered into exclusivity arrangements with certain operators as a result of the performance of some of the first games released via the platform.

Greenlogic is also leading Stakelogic into new markets and verticals, including live roulette. We are currently developing a series of live roulette games that are new and different as they use certain Stakelogic features to deliver a unique player experience. It is a great combination and we can’t wait to debut the first titles in the series. 

“…in the coming years the community aspect of online gambling will become more important”

CasinoBeats: With further industry consolidation expected in 2021, how important are platforms such as Greenlogic for smaller studios’ survival?

SvdO: Greenlogic is not about survival but rather about doing business differently and providing an environment where smaller studios can thrive.

From a business perspective, Greenlogic can offer studios two things. The first is better distribution, while also benefiting from the Stakelogic brand name; the second is changing the business model, from one-off payments for products and services to a continued revenue flow.

For Stakelogic, Greenlogic means increasing development capacity without losing focus on the core business. Following an M&A strategy often implies that the executive board and most of the underlying management layers become involved in the restructuring processes in order to integrate the acquired companies and to achieve synergy benefits. The executive board of Stakelogic is fully focussed on game development and client relationships, which is what we do best.

CasinoBeats: And finally, what plans does Stakelogic have in the pipeline for 2021? 

SvdO: As the world leading provider of classic slots, 2021 will be a very special year for Stakelogic as numerous operators will go-live in the newly regulated Dutch market with our content. In addition to the Stakelogic game portfolio and roadmap, we have developed a large number of classic games on an exclusive basis allowing our operator partners to increase player retention. 

Such is the opportunity in The Netherlands, Stakelogic has become a co-founder of the Dutch Gaming Association. The DGA is a casino platform that provides a full suite of products and services to operators targeting the market, including the creation, maintenance and hosting of the casino website, the integration with game studios and payment service providers, back-office administration and customer support. And, of course, a large portfolio of Stakelogic classic slot games.

This year we will also make our debut in the live casino market. By introducing advanced live roulette games, whereby typical Stakelogic features and technologies are applied, we believe we will take this traditional and hugely popular casino table game to the next level.

We are also of the opinion that in the coming years the community aspect of online gambling will become more important. In the first half of 2021 we will introduce a new line of game features, to be implemented in both new and existing games, adding community elements to our titles. 

The post How Greenlogic is driving creativity among Stakelogic partners appeared first on CasinoBeats.

Publishing its year end report for January – December 2019, Kindred revealed that it has placed a significant focus upon delivering five key ‘ambitions’ in its sustainability framework, highlighting that the ‘lasting economic success of any company these days is based increasingly on acting responsibly and ensuring social acceptance.’

Changes to the taxation structure in France have continued to impact Kindred’s financial results, combined with the sustained effect of increasing restrictions in both Sweden and the Netherlands, although performance in Sweden is said to have ‘improved significantly compared to prior quarters.’

Gross revenues saw a drop during Q4 from £250.1m in 2018 down to £236.2m in 2019. However, this contrasts the full-year increase in revenues, with Kindred reporting figures of £912.8m, up from £907.6m in 2018.

Henrik Tjärnström, CEO of Kindred Group, commented on the results: “Some of the factors that impacted the fourth quarter of 2019 were the same as we reported in previous quarters, such as the Swedish regulation and increasing restrictions in the Dutch market. These and other headwinds are a normal part of our business that we address, adjust to and, over time, use as a competitive advantage.

“The initiatives we have taken in Sweden to return to growth has resulted in continued recovery from the low EBITDA in the first half of the year; however, compared to the fourth quarter of 2018 the EBITDA from Sweden was still down by GBP 6.6 million.”

“As we noted in our trading update on 13 January 2020, there were some temporary factors that reduced the profit for the fourth quarter. We had below average sports betting margins in many markets, including France. The French turnover-based gambling tax increased the negative effects of the low margins significantly, however the tax system in France changed on 1 January 2020 to a tax on revenues.”

During Q4, Kindred Group saw an increase in its net income taxes paid, jumping from £4.3m in 2018 up to £13.8m in 2019. Meanwhile it’s full year results saw net income taxes almost double, with the group paying £26.9m in 2019 compared to £15m in the previous year.

The Group also lauded successes across its casino, poker and bingo divisions. With the launch of higher payback in Sweden during Q4 2019, Kindred pointed out that the feature has been ‘very well received by players.’

Poker has also been praised as ‘one of the fastest growing licensed poker networks in the industry’, having released its newest poker format HexaPro in early December.

Kindred Group has also continued to grow its market presence across the US, having expanded operations in both New Jersey and Pennsylvania via its Unibet brand. Gross winnings revenue across both states amounted to £1.7m for the quarter, whilst the negative impact on the underlying EBITDA was £6m (largely impacted by £5m of marketing investments).

Tjärnström concluded: “We also had the first full quarter of trading in the locally regulated US states of New Jersey and Pennsylvania. It was expected that the first months of trading in the US would be loss-making which is completely in line with Kindred’s experience of launches into other new markets.

“This is logical as revenues grow from zero in response to our marketing investments, which includes initial marketing production costs (USD 2 million) to go live that will be used longer term.

“I am confident that we will see continued improvements in 2020 as our business in the US grows and our revenues increase. The US is the market with the largest long-term growth potential as regulation gathers pace, with the US online sports betting market estimated to be $13.6bn by 2023 (by the independent research firm Eilers & Krejcik Gaming).”

The post Kindred Group lauds casino successes despite regulatory headwinds appeared first on CasinoBeats.

Reporting to chief compliance officer, Tim Dent, in her new role Thurmond will lead the expansion of DraftKings’ responsible gaming framework for its iGaming, Sportsbook, and Fantasy Sports products.

Having previously spent nearly 20 years working at Harvard Medical School, where she served in various leadership positions including on the original team that created the Division on Addiction, Thurmond now joins DraftKings from her most recent role as a senior business contributor at the Massachusetts Council on Compulsive Gambling. 

Discussing Thurmond’s appointment, Dent stated: “Our goal in hiring a Director of Responsible Gaming was to find an established expert with a deep knowledge of the issues and a track record of pushing our industry forward and that’s Chrissy. 

“We are committed to being a leader in responsible gaming and, given our foundation as a tech company, we think Chrissy can help DraftKings take an innovative approach to this critical issue.”

As part of its Responsible Gaming commitment, DraftKings is set to provide customers with responsible gaming tools, resources and services they need to play responsibly. 

These practices include deposit limits, voluntary restrictions on access and use of certain offerings, temporary self-exclusion and cooling-off periods, voluntary permanent exclusion from offerings and applications and data science technology, which is able to flag any suspicious or abnormal betting activity. 

As well as this DraftKings also participates in national self-exclusion and prominently promotes responsible gaming tools, resources and initiatives on its website and mobile applications.

Thurmond’s appointment follows on from the recent announcement that saw DraftKings announce a platinum partnership with the National Council on Problem Gambling that aims to further the development and implementation of responsible gambling practices in legalised sports gambling as it expands across the country.

At the time, Dent concluded: “We are proud to partner with a leading responsible gaming organisation like the NCPG to ensure our internal efforts are informed by independent experts. DraftKings is committed to being a leader in responsible gaming efforts as we continue to expand our product into new states and more Americans have access to legal, mobile sports betting and igaming.”

The post Latest DraftKings appointment to lead responsible gaming efforts appeared first on CasinoBeats.

The harsh rules of motorsports has helped shape Aleksandr Kosogov’s leadership style as CEO of Gamzix, he told CasinoBeats, as it taught him to take risks and to overcome any obstacles he might face. 

He believes that his sense of drive and determination is key to capitalising on the opportunities available within the gaming space.

CasinoBeats: Thank you for taking the time to talk to us! Can you give us a brief introduction to yourself – how did you become involved in the gambling sector?

AK: I started my career in gaming eight years ago when I took up a position of Brand Manager at National Lottery Company. After the first year I realized that I want to work in this field as it is well-suited for my strengths, qualifications and interests. iGaming attracts many specialists, because it is fast-paced, innovative and unpredictable. This industry is rife with investment, growth, innovation and opportunities.

CasinoBeats: How have your previous roles helped shape your leadership style as CEO of Gamzix?

AK: Being an ambitious specialist, I was always looking to fast-track my career in igaming. My pursuit, commitment and potential were rewarded over years of experience. The field of online gambling was an excellent place to learn essential and transferable skills in everything, so I was prepared to delve into an international and rapidly changing gaming culture and to establish my own company – Gamzix.

It’s also important to note that my hobby helps a lot in the development of the company – I have been involved in motorsport for the last six years. Furthermore, I am a two-time champion! Harsh rules of motorsport taught me to take risks and go until the end, regardless of any obstacles.

CasinoBeats: How does Gamzix ensure that it remains ahead of the curve with technology and game development?

AK: Except for a wide range of in-game features and API free rounds and jackpot, I’d like to mention Gamzix’s workshop. This is our constructor for creating games on the backend,  which allows a manager without programmer education to create a game – it provides higher efficiency and speeds up all processes.

We are also making a new front-end engine by using the cutting edge technologies. This engine will allow you to create the most complex and coolest games according to the latest trends.

CasinoBeats: And how does this help you reach new demographics of slot players? 

AK: Being a young company with a team of young professionals, we’re always trying to be on the wave. Gamzix is reaching new demographics of players by creating up-to-date games with the latest technologies, mind-blowing graphics, immersive engine and high payouts. 

I’m sure that Gamzix’s portfolio of 27 various themed slots attracts players of different interests and ages. Moreover, our team is doing its best to enter new markets and involve gamblers all over the world.

CasinoBeats: Gamzix recently launched its Rich Granny title. What would you say are the stand-out features of this slot?  

AK: One of the stand-out features of this slot is Granny herself! It’s not often that you see grannies in online slots, now we have one by Gamzix in the main role. That’s why Rich Granny is original, extraordinary and fresh!

The Bonus Game, when players land three Scatters, is known as the Robbery Bonus Game and includes three free respins. These respins consist of special icons that provide different rewards. There’s also an additional horizontal reel at the bottom which can give extra spins or increase the current win.

The slot is filled with 10 fixed lines, 8 common Symbols and 3 Bonus Games: classic, with one or two extra rows.

Rich Granny incorporates a high volatility level and a maximum win potential of up to x40,000 the bet. The game attracts a lot and keeps players on edge. 

CasinoBeats: Finally, can you give us a sneak peak into some of the company’s plans for 2022? Are there any new titles in the pipeline?

AK: Gamzix team has expanded from 15 to 40 employees over the last year. So we have huge plans and results to achieve – we’re planning to participate in several great igaming exhibitions with our branded stand, and release 15 more games by the end of the year. 

The roadmap will have both classic and mini-games, crash games with innovative features and slots with new mechanics. This year we’re also planning to obtain MGA and local European markets licenses. I’m sure you will hear from Gamzix more than once, stay tuned!

The post Motorsports and igaming: Aleksandr Kosogov spotlights Gamzix’s growth plans appeared first on CasinoBeats.

CasinoBeats spoke to several sources after a number of members of staff were notified of redundancy. Commenting on the job losses, one shocked source said: “Nobody saw it coming,” while another called the move “absolutely disgusting”.

It is understood that 10 to 15 employees lost their jobs, each receiving a letter signed by Multilotto CEO Christian Hellbjer that confirmed their position was no longer needed. One employee said they felt “forced” to sign the letter, thus accepting its terms.

The letter, addressed individually to affected employees opened:

“The purpose of this letter is to confirm the outcome of a recent review by the Board of Directors of The Multi Group Ltd of its operational requirements, and what this means to you.

“As a result of surrender of UKGC licence and MGA licence [sic], the position of [job title] is no longer needed. Regrettably this means your employment will terminate.”

The one-page letter, a redacted copy of which can be viewed below, then set out the terms on which any final payments would be made to the affected employees.

In June, 2017, it was announced that Chinese lottery solutions provider 500.com was to acquire a majority stake in The Multi Group, operator of the Multilotto brand, for a reported €50m. Hellbjer was promoted to the position of CEO in January, 2019, having joined The Multi Group from university as financial controller, eventually taking on the position of CFO.

Speaking to CasinoBeats yesterday, Hellbjer wrote in an email: “I can confirm that we are doing a restructuring at the moment and are scaling down our workforce.

“Unfortunately this meant that we had to make several roles within our company redundant,” he said, going on to add that there are presently “no further plans of more redundancies”.

Questioned about the .co.uk and .com operations, licensed respectively by the UKGC and the MGA – and which remain live and accepting bets – Hellbjer wrote: “We always put our customers first and have taken all necessary precautions to protect their interests.

“Once we come to a date with the regulators regarding our exit, our customers will have the chance to withdraw their funds in a timely manner.”

CasinoBeats has also approached both the UK Gambling Commission and the Malta Gaming Authority regarding the news.

A UKGC spokesperson said it would not comment on individual operators while, at the time of publication, no comment had yet been received from the MGA.

The post Multilotto cuts half its Malta workforce based on ‘surrender’ of UK and MGA licences appeared first on CasinoBeats.

The data for April was collected from the UK’s biggest operators combined with YouGov‘s ongoing ‘COVID-19 tracker’ measuring public trends and habits during the lockdown, covering a representative sample of circa 2,000 adults in Great Britain.

It was revealed that 75 per cent of active players had ‘no increase in time or money spent gambling’, which is inclusive of National Lottery products, while operator data revealed a five per cent decrease in ‘overall activity’ between March and April.

The lockdown, according to the UKGC, has not attracted new players – with only 0.2 per cent of adults admitting that they had taken up gambling during the lockdown.

However, data has shown that UK gambling consumers appear to be engaging in new products – a figure which has increased to 42 per cent during April. This has largely been driven by an increase in weekly draw participation, with one in five revealing they had taken part during the last four weeks.

The UKGC explained that data is consistent with the first set of findings – “Overall participation has decreased but some engaged players are spending more time and money gambling on certain products”.

Operator data revealed that the number of poker players had increased by 53 per cent since March, while those participating in other gaming activities – including online casinos – grew by five per cent.

According to the UKGC, ‘this shift is against the backdrop of relatively stable advertising awareness, where the YouGov research shows that 34 per cent of adults recalled seeing marketing for online bingo, casino or slots games in the last four weeks’.

Closing its statement, the UKGC said that it will continue to track and monitor risks by collecting the data to protect national consumers.

The post Overall gambling participation down during lockdown says UKGC appeared first on CasinoBeats.