Back in 2022, Betbazar strengthened its online casino content offering by adding Platipus’ range of proprietary slot releases to its aggregation platform. Now, Monotech has agreed to host the slot studio’s complete range of online casino content. 

Gordon Shkuropat, Business Development Manager at Betbazar, said: “We’re really happy to have facilitated the deal between Monotech and Platipus through our industry-leading B2B worldwide igaming marketplace and believe the new partnership will be incredibly beneficial to everyone involved.

“The ease with which Monotech were able to browse our range of innovative products and select the one that best suits their business needs is testament to the efficiency of our marketplace – and with one seamless integration, all Platipus titles have already been added to their casino library.”

Following the collaboration, Monotech players will be able to spin the reels on an array of Platipus slots, including Native American-themed title Spirits of the Prairies and Incan-themed slot Mystery Stones. 

Stanislav Mykhailov, CCO at Platipus, explained: “For an independent software provider like Platipus, it’s crucial to be able to connect with operators who are interested in your product – and being on Betbazar’s B2B worldwide igaming marketplace makes the whole process incredibly simple.

“Thanks to their sophisticated online hub that brings content providers and customers together, we were able to showcase our games to Monotech and they really liked what they saw. 

“With our full suite of slots now added to their library, Monotech clients will have more choice over the content they offer and we can’t wait to see how our games are received by players.”

Platipus’ complete roster of slot content is set to be made available to Monotech players, with the studio boasting over 120 games – including 29 jackpot titles with enhanced prizes. 

Slava Chernenko, Head of Commercial and Partnerships at Monotech, added: “As a young company seeking to find the best answers to clients’ B2C needs, Monotech is always on the lookout for exciting products that we can add to our line-up in order to provide a more comprehensive solution to our partners.

“Being able to use an industry-leading marketplace like Betbazar where some of the industry’s most innovative service providers sit under one digital roof makes this process incredibly easy and we’re delighted to have discovered Platipus through them. We’re now really looking forward to offering the studio’s games to our customers and think they’ll go on to be a big hit with players.”

The post Monotech leverages Betbazar’s third-party provision for Platipus slots appeared first on CasinoBeats.

These comments came on the showfloor at the recent SBC Summit Rio, and form the basis of the culminating chapter of a two-part CasinoBeats special alongside the igaming developer. 

Following an array of issues being tackled, such as the white and black markets and possible complications that could impact Brazil as regulation seemingly looms on the horizon, Garanko switches focus to look at how best to appeal to players across the country.

A lack of localised content

During a recent finale in London’s ExCeL, Garanko briefly touched upon a perceived lack of Spanish speaking content in gambling, in addition to questioning whether there is a demand for such titles and if these could indeed perform if, and when, live with an operator.

In short, Garanko voiced resounding agreement when quizzed on if findings received by the Platipus backs up these previous comments, with the group’s Brazilian roadmap potentially altered as a result.

“Yes, there is a certain lack of Spanish speaking content,” he began. “It is not as great as we thought it would be. But there is still a significant gap that we can squeeze in. 

“It is going to impact our portfolio and roadmap as we will focus on the new types of games to achieve a market fit.”

Citing the popularity of pachinkos in Japan, Garanko moved on to suggest there is a specific type of land-based gaming content that is prevalent across the LatAm ecosystem that Platipus is looking to utilise within the digital environment.

“It appears that we will have to adjust some themes that we have initially planned for,” he noted. 

“Let’s just say that the classical themes that we developed for LatAm originally do not seem to be as popular as we anticipated.”

Player preferences

As is customary with any potential new market entry, a series of tests and research is crucial to ensure that those initial steps have the desired impact, and ensure a solid foundation from which to build.

Despite acknowledging that the group has taken an educated guess on what themes and mechanics would be interesting to players within the nation, a series of findings have thrown up some surprises for Platipus.

“For example, we were looking at carnivals and other music/party related themes” Garanko continued. “Now, interestingly, as we run our short surveys and talked to local experts, it turned out that out guess was somewhat off the mark. 

“Instead, what we found was that players preferred, among other things, our older games with temples or the Amazonian rainforest.”

Despite acknowledging that further changes are expected to the Platipus roadmap, Garanko reiterated the importance of being on site to gain an indication of current trends, rather than aiming to gain an understanding from back in Europe.

“We are changing approximately 15 per cent of the roadmap that was created,” he said. “If that doesn’t sound like a lot, that’s just a misconception because it actually is. Despite most adjustments will only focus on graphic it will still take a considerable effort to put into works.

“That was unexpected. Very unexpected. But that is why we are here. We are here to test the theories, we are here to acquire knowledge and we are here to adjust our roadmap.” 

LatAm: A new dawn

Despite adopting a one country approach during an extensive conversation on the Rio De Janeiro show floor, the discussion drew to a close with a net being cast across the wider area.

“We have a number of points of entry” Garanko concluded, with it recognised that “there is really a lot of money here” with gambling “essentially being part of the lifestyle”. In the immediate future, a pair of jurisdictions form the primary targets for the supplier.

“First of all, we are looking at Chile,” he concluded. “That is going to be a quite interesting market. Then Peru definitely showed some strong growth, so it’s the next one in sight. These are the main points of entry.

“The Latin market is very unusual. Granted, most markets are unique, still it has a very particular feature. There is money in the system,  but you need to find it. Individual players are not as lucrative as they are in other regions, but on the whole, the market is very profitable.”

Adding: “We have a number of partners who are helping us with that. It’s still going to take a considerable effort to expand into this particular market.”

The post Platipus: surprising findings have caused a Brazilian rethink appeared first on CasinoBeats.

During a wide ranging conversation on the showfloor of the recent SBC Summit Rio, Garanko picked up where he left off in London earlier in the year in dissecting a market previously described as a lifetime opportunity for many across the industry.

In the first of a two-part CasinoBeats special, Garanko delves into how the white market can prove to be a fruitful playing ground compared to that of its illegal counterpart, potential struggles for smaller igaming studios and complications that could lie down the road for Brazil.

Vanquishing the black market

Black market obstacles continue to be a bane in the side of the industry across numerous jurisdictions, with Brazil certainly proving to be no stranger to this. With this in mind, how can stakeholders best cooperate to ensure white market success?

This, Garanko began, is the biggest question that all the governmental structures ask themselves. However, the simple answer when it comes to the black market is that “you can’t eliminate it entirely”. 

He continued: “What you can do is suppress it by making it seem that the white market is much better, and actually making the white market better.

“The point of the white market is that it has trust and credibility, which the black market lacks. If the open market banks on that, then it can push the black market down.

“But, if the white market is heavily oppressed by regulations or heavily taxed, the companies don’t have much of an incentive to advance that credibility.”

These current legislative moves represent the “perfect opportunity” to meet the needs of the industry, however, should this aforementioned incentivisation to enter the legal domain not be met, the illegal shadow cast across the country could swell further still, the Plaitpus CBDO cautioned.

This, it was added, would comprise truly hearing the voice of the industry, understanding any concerns and gaining an understanding of what kind of investment is ready to be made before proceeding with policy creation.

“It would be a very bad idea to simply copy and paste policies from Europe. The policies in Europe are not perfect, and adopting them without careful consideration could lead to a disaster,” Garanko commented

“Several excellent operators I know were forced to operate in the grey areas due to the domination of a few large companies in the market. Effectively oligopoly is not always a solution although most European regulators appear to be thinking that it is.

“Moreover, with lacklustre or absence of competition, the players are not always able to receive the best gaming experience. Ironically this is where the black market starts to dominate, offsetting the lack of credibility with being able to offer players much smoother experience.” 

Overcrowding

A congested online gaming ecosystem is not a prospect that would be unique to the Latin American nation, however, Garanko noted that seeing it with your own eyes is “very different” from any educated guesses made beforehand.

However, Platipus is relying on its current reputation that is born from being “an established player in the majority of jurisdictions” to squeeze into the market. 

“A lot of our partners are already operating in Latin America, and other countries,” he stated, with additional pick-up potentially coming from competing operational entities witnessing the success of titles elsewhere.

“So, for us, it’s easier,” Garanko said. “Smaller game studios may face problems due to lack of reputation, experience, game quality and other issues.”

The equation of legalisation

Looking further down the line, and taking a slightly presumptuous stance that the path to legalisation will be one that is lightly trodden, Garanko was quizzed on any significant challenges with regards to the legalised marketplace.

Acknowledging that the development of a legitimate ecosystem is “a heavy process”, a belief was stressed that a lot of obstacles will be faced as “the industry will push back regardless”.

Finding a natural middle ground is stipulated as the key aspect of the challenge, with regulation that is either too loose or too tight not going to be welcome.

“So it’s actually in the middle ground, and it’s tough to control. Find it and achieve it. Is it possible? Absolutely,” he said.

Adding: “Can the Brazilian market create something that has already been created but doesn’t exist yet? Yes, they can. So in the vacuum, there is a perfect system.” 

Honing in on potential sticking points post launch, whenever that date may be, an initial obstacle highlighted by Garanko concerns that of “rampant corruption”, which is underscored as “not a case unique for developing nations”.

“There were cases where government authorities were so corrupt that the entire legislative process became a farce,” he explained. 

“That is the first large question. Given Brazil’s average wage, it’s going to be very hard to find people who won’t be tempted to engage in corruption.”

A further potential sticking point is stipulated as “not that many people outside of the gambling industry understand how the industry works”, with the amount of expenditure required utilised as a way of backing up this second point.

“It’s a question of whether the regulator can set reasonable entrance barriers, a minimum amount of investment to protect the market without making it excessive, to ward off fraudulent companies from the real deals” he explained

“To put it plainly, fraudulent companies always use the same, hit and run tactics. If they short term profit that they can reap will be greater than the cost of entry, you can be sure they will charge in, consequences be damned.  ”

A final issue concerns the unity of land-based gaming and its digital counterpart. Primarily, Garanko pondered whether balance will be achieved across each of the aforementioned segments, or if they will be split. 

“We already have cases where land-based regulations and online regulations are entirely different and they are not even reflecting each other. And that causes a problem in itself,” he stated.

Concluding: “Governments oftentime still see land-based casinos as the main source of revenue for the industry. And for them, it makes sense. It is something tangible. Something they can control, or at least think that they can. 

“But the truth is, the world has already shifted to digital long ago. It is much harder to track, and neigh impossible to control in its entirety. 

!If the regulations are up to speed with reality, and take into account all the best practices as well as all lessons learned from the bad regulations, the market in Latin America can truly become a great example for the whole world. It’s a tightrope walking, but it can be achieved.”

In part-two, to be published on April 4, 2024, Garanko will look into a lack of Spanish speaking content and moves made by Platipus to rectify this, favoured themes, mechanics and features by Brazilian players and how, and where, the studio will deepen its footprint across the wider LatAm region

The post Vladyslav Garanko, Platipus: Brazil must create perfect system to ensure success appeared first on CasinoBeats.

The slot provider will tap into US audiences for the first time as its collection of slot content becomes hosted on Stake’s US-facing online casino lobby. 

Stanislav Mykhailov, Head of Sales at Platipus, stated: “This is a significant milestone for our team, and we are excited to see what great results this partnership will bring.”

The deal will allow Stake’s US player base to spin the reels on Platipus slot titles such as WondeReels, Ultra Disco, Xmas Avalanche, Hallowin and Pirate’s Map. 

Jessica Bishop, Head of Casino from Stake.us, commented: “We are thrilled to announce our partnership with Platipus. They offer engaging games that we are happy to add to our growing social casino portfolio, providing players an unforgettable experience.”

One Platipus slot that can soon be accessed on Stake.us is Urban Neon, a recent focus of an episode of Beyond the Reels in which the studio’s CBDO, Vladyslav Garanko, explained why fruit symbols are still so prevalent in the slot industry. 

“It is a self-fulfilling prophecy,” said Garanako. “The origins of slot machines came from these fruits and they’ve returned to fruits. When people think of what they’re going to have in a slot, they probably think of a bar symbol or a fruit in there, irrespective of what the actual theme is going to be.”

The post Platipus to provide ‘unforgettable experiences’ in US debut with Stake appeared first on CasinoBeats.

Speaking at a bustling ICE London, which presented the studio with an array of fresh opportunities, conversation inevitably turned to the elephant in the room, which proved to be a popular point of discourse throughout the week.

Brazil, the new land of opportunity, will undoubtedly prove to be a popular and fruitful hunting ground for many, with Garanko heaping praise on a lifetime opportunity across a nation that is exploding.

“A lot of companies are moving through,” he began. “The problem there is that effectively you are facing, again, the fierce competition and second, the language barriers.

“As yet there is not much Spanish speaking content in gambling. The question is, is there really a demand or can the localised games perform? This is exactly what we are testing out to see how successful that will be.”

Despite this, Garanko does point to an old and established ecosystem within the country as being a potential problem when it comes to market penetration.

“Now, a lot of companies are rushing in and it will be hard to stand out for the studios, even for the big ones such as ourselves,” he said.

However, confidence was stressed that success will come, with the importance of squeezing yourself into the market to achieve your ultimate ambitions stressed as a key to success.

“Once you are there, once you are slowly appearing with the smaller operators, not the big boys, you then are starting to get noticed and it gets easier from there,” it was added.

“But until that point it’s an uphill battle and to find a partner who is willing to vouch for you, to help you with meeting the right person, is crucial in this time and stage.”

Sticking on the geographical theme, Garanko also moved on to what was dubbed as the “small elephant in the room”, with attention subsequently switched to Asian countries, as well as a potentially regulatory shake up across the next two years.

“You can see how the Curacao is shaking,” he explained. “You can see how the Philippines are always rethinking their strategy. Effectively, it will be a trend for 2024, at least 2025 for sure, that a lot of other countries will develop their own regulations.

“We will probably see regulation in Japan, we will probably see some changes in regulation in Macau, that’s for sure, and we will definitely see changes in regulation in the Philippines. 

“Those markets are very remote, like LatAm, and they are extremely heavy and they are extremely localised. “

With significant geographical expansion the logical ambition for many across the igaming space, attention turned to the associated challenges being faced by slots studios.

This, Garanko noted, primarily centres around developing content that players truly want to see.

“The problem is the players are very diverse, they’re very diverse in their demographic, in their amount of spend on what type of game they would like to see,” he commented.

“Somebody wants to see feature heavy games, somebody wants to see a very safe game. It’s very hard to cut it for everyone. 

“So to properly slice, dice, and understand the market is a very tricky part which every studio is struggling with.”

To help achieve its own global goals, Platipus will only be adding 13 games to its portfolio, but will complement this with a new gamification feature, crash games and the launch of its own live casino studio.  

Despite acknowledging that a number of other entities are going strong within the space, Platipus believes that it has spotted a potential niche that it can take full advantage of.

“We will start with a juxtaposed couple of roulettes, blackjack and with baccarat, and we’ll see how receptive the market is to our understanding. We’ll see if we make the right call from the second quarter.”

To conclude, Garanko reflected on his participation at the aforementioned bustling London-based event, with optimism expressed for developments across a range of jurisdictions.

“Everybody who comes to this event expects to sign the contract and start earning money,” he concluded.

“We aim to forge new strategic relationships. It’s way too early to talk about any results, because it’s the initial impact that counts. For now, I will keep that a bit more quiet and it will be more properly and publicly addressed.

“For the time being, we are looking not only in South America, but also in North America. And if all the partnerships that we hope to forge today will be proceeding as we plan, we are looking at a massive expansion for 2025. An absolutely massive one.”

The post Vladyslav Garanko, Platipus: regulatory shake-ups to define industry agenda appeared first on CasinoBeats.

Below, Viktoriia Zabarylo, Marketing Manager of Platipus, addresses just how the solution will differ, what impacts will be felt when it comes to revenue, retention and engagement, the importance of customisation and these associated effects and much more.

CasinoBeats: Could you talk us through the decision to develop and ultimately introduce a tournament tool?

Viktoriia Zabarylo: This decision stems from our idea of delivering the best gaming experience for the players and cultivating successful partnerships with our clients. To achieve this, we’ve found new solutions such as leveraging the tournament tool.

By doing so, our clients can benefit greatly as it increases player engagement and retention rates. Simultaneously, players will enjoy a more exciting and delightful gameplay experience. This integration is perfectly aligned with Platipus’ goals, and we’re delighted to see proof of it.

CB: On the surface, it could be argued that the industry has an array of similar such offerings. How will Platipus’ solution differ from those already in the market?

VZ: Platipus’ tournament tool offers 100 per cent customisation, allowing clients to tailor tournaments to their unique needs. Operators enjoy flexibility in parameters like timing, duration, minimum bet, prize pool allocation, game selection and more.

The tool supports all our games, including themed ones for special events, and accepts various currencies, including cryptocurrency. Moreover, it provides multiple rules for determining winners, simplifying the player experience.

This ensures even less experienced players can easily understand and enjoy participating in tournaments.

CB: What findings have been discovered thus far, through either testing phases or beyond, when it comes to revenue, retention and engagement as a direct result of the tool?

VZ: We have observed that running regular tournaments is very likely to significantly improve player retention and player engagement. On average the monthly total bet amounts for projects that started running tournaments on a regular basis have increased by 30 per cent. This also leads to an average increased GGR of 20 per cent.

CB: You have included a number of customisation and personalisation aspects within the tournament tool. What additional benefits will these deliver from both a client and player perspective?

VZ: From a client’s perspective, the provided features enable them to customise tournaments based on their specific requirements, resulting in a unique and distinguished offering every time. 

For players, customisation and personalisation add value to their gaming experience by allowing them to participate in tournaments that align with their preferences. 

This ensures that players of all types can find the tournament that suits them, leading to increased player satisfaction and engagement.

CB: Do you have any further updates planned to heighten the impact of your tournament tool further still?

VZ: Our tournaments serve as the foundation for a larger gamification experience that includes missions, bonuses, and the unveiling of additional features. 

Our objective is not only to offer a tournament tool but an ecosystem that engages players with a diverse mix of challenges, rewards, and interactive elements.

CB: You state that tournaments are “just one of the many ways” to provide “an exceptional gaming experience”. With this in mind, what further introductions can we expect from Platipus?

VZ: More exciting and fun-filled slots are in our portfolio. Our team is continuously working on developing innovative and unique casino games that push the boundaries of entertainment.

We are committed to delivering new and captivating experiences to our players, including the introduction of new game genres, immersive storytelling elements, and advanced gameplay features. 

Our goal is to provide a comprehensive and exceptional gaming experience that keeps players engaged and entertained for years to come.

The post Platipus: tournaments serve as foundation for larger gamification experience appeared first on CasinoBeats.

This is the confident statement that concluded a wide ranging conversation with Stanislav Mykhailov, Head of Sales at Platipus, on the showfloor at the recent SBC Summit Latinoamérica.

In a global journey that covered a number of licences, countries and future ambitions, attention first turned to the continent that was capturing the attention of many across the industry, and was the focal point of the Miami-based event.

As regulatory matters continue to accelerate across the region, Mykhailov pointed to a number of jurisdictions that currently pose internal excitement at the content creator.

“Paraguay has quite a good position in Latin America. I would add that Argentina and Peru are now in our top ten biggest markets, and we see the huge growth and huge potential in this region,” he noted.

“Once it gets regulated, I think this market will grow each year. It will be skyrocketing”

Despite this, and perhaps of little surprise, it is another country that Platipus finds most interesting for expansion, with work being accelerated in an attempt to attain a crucial market share in what could become a competitive, and crowded, Brazilian online gaming landscape.

“We’re now doing multiple integrations in Brazil with huge platforms, and we see the biggest potential across Latin America is actually in the Brazilian market,” he noted.

With a population that is nearing 220 million, and mobile penetration soaring to new heights, Mykhailov believes that the country is set to make a landmark statement on a global scale.

“The internet penetration is quite good,” he stated. “The income levels are growing in this country and people are used to gambling. They love it. 

“I see a huge potential in Brazil, especially with the new regulation. Once it gets regulated, I think this market will grow each year. It will be skyrocketing.”

Despite adopting a LatAm focus for much of the conversation, Mykhailov was also keen to adopt a more worldwide approach to proceedings, with Platipus’ expansion efforts ongoing across a range of nations.

In addition to gaining Romanian certification earlier in the year, European efforts have been followed up with a “significant milestone”, ”remarkable achievement” and “great boost” in attaining the go-ahead to supply its portfolio of slots and table games to licensed operators in Sweden.

However, Europe isn’t the only point of focus beyond LatAm, as Mykhailov continued: “Actually, Platipus is mostly focusing on Canada and Northern European countries. These are our main markets. 

“…we see a tendency in Latin America for more complex mechanics”

“Still, as I said, Latin America has a huge potential, and that’s why we keep this region in our mind and on our radar.”

Adding: “We just got our Swedish licence and soon we will go live with the first operators in Sweden. And, as we announced before, we are now going live with multiple operators across Baltic countries and Balkans, which are currently our focus regions for regulated markets.” 

With a burgeoning portfolio of online slot titles boasted, attention swiftly turned to that of the newest game to swell the Platipus network as the company showcased its dancing feet in Ultra Disco.

“The dance floor awaits your moves as we transport you back to the electrifying 80s music scene, where every beat can make your heart race,” vowed Platipus, with activation of the Disco feature a key facet to ensure success.

Looking at where this game could potentially attain maximum reach, Mykhailov said: “We expect this game to be quite well performing across Canada and Northern Europe. But still, we see a tendency in Latin America for more complex mechanics and Megaways, so we expect that the younger generation in Brazil, Argentina, and Peru will love this game as well.”

To conclude, glances were taken towards hopes of what can be achieved during the coming 12 months as the curtain gets set to be drawn in 2023. 

“In 2024, you will see us live in more regulated markets. That’s for sure. We are applying for an Ontario license and we are planning to apply with the UKGC,” he ended.

“As you saw this year in 2023, we finally got our MGA, ONJN, and Swedish licences, and that’s only the beginning. We are moving forward and we will cover more markets.”

The post Stanislav Mykhailov, Platipus: we will cover more markets, this is only the beginning appeared first on CasinoBeats.

Recent developments in AI art, although controversial to some, have introduced a plethora of time-saving opportunities for design artists to encompass, and with online slot machines being continuously pumped out week by week, suppliers can’t help but consider that AI models with fast-tracked designs could be the key to streamlined content provision. 

Looking at the role that AI could play in developing slot releases, operators, suppliers and affiliates appeared at SBC Summit Barcelona to discuss a range of topics surrounding AI and its impact on game design. 

Hosting a panel titled ‘AI disrupting slot design – Is this the future of game creation’ was Daniel Lindberg, CEO at Breakpoint Invest, who explained that the online casino industry, for both B2C and B2B companies, is “faced with a massive technology shift with the entrance of AI.” 

“I think we’re at the tipping point,” he continued. “The question is not if AI will affect the way we operate, I think it’s more around how much it will affect us.” 

“We don’t really know what is beyond the horizon of our understanding”

Vladyslav Garanko, CBDO at Platipus

Amidst explaining the difference between true AI and machine learning after being probed  by Lindberg, panellist Vladyslav Garanko, CBDO at Platipus, stated that most AI components being used today are actually “limited simulations” of true AI, naming ChatGPT, which he considers to be “quite dangerous, and quite impressive”. 

In response to the notion of current AI technology being referred to as limited, Lindberg stated that “it can’t be that limited” as he mentioned another panel that suggested ChatGPT-4 has an IQ equivalent to Einstein, and that its future successor, ChatGPT-5, will be 10 times as smart. 

To this, Garanko noted: “That’s the thing, we don’t really know what is beyond the horizon of our understanding. So from our limited understanding we see it as a very silly person talking to a very smart person. 

“But, if AI were to develop at such a stage it would start teaching us how to properly communicate with it. Suddenly you have a different level of communication and the master/servant relationship may turn any other way.” 

With the power of AI conveyed to the audience, Lindberg directed the conversation towards its impact on companies across the igaming industry, starting with an operator’s perspective from Philip Sultana, Head of Design & UX/UI at PressEnter Group. 

“Across the company, whether its finance, legal, design or purely casino, AI is being used,” said Sultana. “I would say AI is not the future, but it is actually the present.” 

“Speaking for my team, we tend to use generative AI, like Midjourney mainly, almost like a concept artist that’s in the room with us. We prompt it with ideas and it spits back an image, we then see the image and use it to gather an idea, so it’s almost like we’re playing table tennis.

“Unfortunately, we did not get satisfying results with ChatGPT. It did not cut our costs, it did not cut time”

Aleksandra Andrishak, Editor in Chief at Slotsjudge

“Currently it hasn’t replaced anyone, but it’s a huge benefit to the team and we feel that it’s actually improving quality. Other people then can be a bit lazy and think ‘ok we don’t need all of these design errors’ and only use Midjourney instead.” 

“But, that then limits the creativity because Midjourney or AI is based on a data set, so it copies what there already is. Inherently, it will give you more of what there is. The industry does not need that, there are plenty of games that look and feel the same.”

Bringing an affiliate’s perspective to the stage was Aleksandra Andrishak, Editor in Chief at Slotsjudge, explaining how the company has experimented with AI when writing reviews on the industry’s slot releases. 

“We don’t produce slots, but we do review them, so when ChatGPT became very popular, we experimented with it a lot,” she said. 

“Unfortunately, we did not get satisfying results with ChatGPT. It did not cut our costs, it did not cut time. ChatGPT finds it very hard to make opinions and this is generally what players look for when they read a slot review.”

“Another thing that we discovered is that ChatGPT does not deal with absences very well. Statistically, most of the slot games have wilds, and the particular one we were reviewing did not have them. But, it will still add descriptions of wilds just because all the other slots have them.” 

Moving onto the slot development process, Garanko was first to give insights from a supplier’s experience with AI when using it for content provision. 

“Our team has been using AI in the past, for a couple of years if I recall correctly. The result is a bit of a mixed bag to be honest,” he explained. 

“It is very effective in terms of visualisation. When you have an understanding of the concept, and you want to relay this concept to a designer who will have to draw it properly, with ChatGPT it is possible to nail down a perfect description, making it possible to visualise it for the designer to understand and proceed.

“this is something that for sure will change the future, as it has already started”

Gretta Kochkonyan, Head of Account Management at Endorphina

“But, at the same time, the results may vary, some of them are hilarious, some of them are absolutely horrible. Can AI truly create a slot game from scratch? Yes. It will not work, it will be absolutely horrible. But yes, it can.

“AI is just another tool. I would even say AI is a giant hammer, while we humans are the chisel used to make a perfect sculpture. It’s a giant hammer that you need to carve out the marble and make it into a perfect shape, so that a human can visualise it and liberate the beauty within.”

Prague-based slot developer Endorphina was also represented on the stage, as Gretta Kochkonyan, Head of Account Management, told how the supplier used AI to create recent slot release, Joker Ra, explaining that slight mistakes made by generative AI art models can actually add character to a game. 

“We played with it a lot,” she stated. “We created the game Joker Ra with the help of AI, basically for the graphics. Yes, it’s funny. Yes, it’s not like someone has drawn it. For example, we have a cat – a symbol within the game – that has five legs, crazy right?

“We can accept that it is crazy, but what then are the emotions that the players are having from this? They are taking a look, they know that it is AI, but the result itself showed that people are interested, they really wanted to see something fresh, something new, something crazy.”

To define AI technology’s current impact on slot suppliers, Kochkonyan added: “This is something that will for sure change the future, because it has already started. With Endorphina, the result was good, we liked it and we wanted to do more, and more, and more.”

The post ‘AI isn’t the future, it’s the present’ – automating igaming at SBC Summit Barcelona appeared first on CasinoBeats.

Through the deal, Platipus’ portfolio of over 80 slots and table games will initially be made available to operators across the Baltics, Romania, Croatia and Italy via IGT PlayDigital’s global network.

Stanislav Mykhailov, Head of Sales at Platipus, commented: “IGT PlayDigital has already become the industry’s benchmark of success. 

“With the team of experts and the company’s wide distribution network, we believe this cooperation will both bring new opportunities to Platipus and empower IGT PlayDigital’s product portfolio. We are more than excited to get started and show what we can really do together.”

Later in the second quarter, four more markets will be added to the deal with more than 30 additional games from Platipus included in the partnership. 

“IGT PlayDigital is always looking to expand our offering and this agreement with Platipus allows us to deliver new, high-quality games to our customers,” added Gil Rotem, IGT President of Igaming.

“IGT PlayDigital content is a key component of our customers’ portfolios and we expect their players will enjoy premier gaming experiences with our enhanced game library.”

Back in March, IGT CEO Vince Sadusky explained how double-digit revenue growth for PlayDigital will be achieved in 2023, emphasising an engaging platform and games and the importance of the North American market.

Meanwhile, during the same month, Platipus signed an agreement with Hub 88 to further grow distribution channels.

The post Platipus expands into more regulated markets with IGT PlayDigital appeared first on CasinoBeats.

This comes as the former, which was created by the Yolo Group, looks to “further cement its position as a leading platform provider”.

Under the terms of the agreement, Platipus will integrate a range of 90 table games and online slots, which includes titles such as Wild Spin, Catch the Leprechaun, Wild Crowns and Fruit Boost.

Stanislav Mykhailov, Head of Sales at Platipus, said: “We are extremely happy to join Hub88’s distribution network.

“Our companies share a lot of core values and believe that innovation and adaptation are the key pillars for commercial success. 

“I am sure that our original game features, alongside with different volatility options, will definitely satisfy even the most selective players.”

This becomes the latest similar such deal entered into by Hub88 during the current year, with Platipus following in the footsteps of 7777 gaming, G Games, Lady Luck Games and Urgent Games.

“Platipus delivers original and pioneering slots and table games that offer innovation and eye-catching art and design,” commented Ollie Castleman, Head of Hub88.

“We are thrilled to welcome them to our platform and to work together to offer operators and their players premium entertainment.”

The post Platipus adds igaming content to Hub88 distribution network appeared first on CasinoBeats.