Authentic Gaming

Live roulette specialists Authentic Gaming has strengthened its senior management team with the appointment of industry veteran Oliver Reid as chief operating officer.

Boasting over two decades of experience in the gambling sector, working across online, live dealer, land-based operations, business intelligence and product development, the move comes as the firm eyes global expansion.

As operations chief, Reid will be responsible for accelerating and enhancing the customer onboarding process, bolstering the customer operations departments and overseeing studio expansion.

Jonas Delin, CEO of Authentic Gaming, said: ““I’m very pleased to bolster what is already an incredibly strong management team.

“Authentic Gaming has a “player first” mentality and this, coupled with Oliver’s 20 years’ experience in Land Based and Online live table gaming operations, we will be ideally placed to further enhance, and optimise the overall player experience.”

Scientific Games Corporation

Eileen Moore Johnson is to join Scientific Games as executive vice president and chief human resources officer, where she will oversee the company’s global human resources organisation and report directly to president and CEO Barry Cottle.

Moore Johnson joins Scientific Games from Caesars Entertainment where she served as regional president of The Cromwell, Flamingo, Harrah’s and The LINQ resorts, overseeing more than 7,000 employees and operations at four Strip’s properties. During her career with Caesars she also held leadership roles at Horseshoe Southern Indiana and Harrah’s New Orleans.

“We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Eileen to our team. Not only is she a leading advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion in our industry, Eileen also believes in the strategic growth and power of human capital to inspire teams to work together to deliver world-class results. She brings a wealth of knowledge and insight to this role that will elevate our entire team,” said Cottle.

Jamul Casino

California’s Jamul Casino has promoted Benjamin Petell to the role of vice president of non-gaming operations after joining the property a year ago as director of food, beverage and retail.

In his new role at Jamul Casino, Petell will oversee retail, food & beverage, facilities, security, and environmental services. His focus will be on creating alignment across all departments by emphasising teamwork, communication, and consistency.

Mary Cheeks, Jamul Casino president and general manager, stated: “When we recruited Ben a year ago, we knew he had great potential. We’re excited to recognise his drive, creativity, and deep knowledge of the food & beverage and gaming industries, and offer him this well-earned promotion.”

Sportech

Sportech has announced several key changes to its Bump 50:50 team, including the promotion of Dave Kurland to the position of president, as the firm aims to create the charitable raffle industry’s “most experienced and innovative leadership team”.

The company has also announced the elevation of key commercial team members to senior roles to align with Bump’s growth and online raffle expansion strategy.

Dennis Sampier has been named vice president of Bump Nonprofit Division to spearhead the continued growth of non-sports related charity clients.  Jeff Schultz has been named as vice president of Bump Sports Division, where he will focus on delivering platforms and services for in-stadia and web-based 50/50 raffles.

Richard McGuire, CEO of Sportech, explained, “We are delighted to strengthen our Bump 50:50 team with an unmatched group of specialists who, combined, bring decades of direct experience in the sports, raffle and nonprofit fundraising sector. This team have been pivotal to the growth of Bump. Their dedication to client service and product innovation aligned with the highest level of integrity continues to deliver impressive results and stronger relationships.

“Sportech continues to invest in Bump’s talent, technology and infrastructure and as a result the division is recording unparalleled client growth, particularly online and with nonprofit organisations. I can think of no stronger professional than Dave Kurland to lead the division and of no greater commercial and technical team of dedicated professionals to propel Bump 50:50 forward.”

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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.

Included within the agreement are live roulette and live blackjack, as well as what are lauded as “popular variants on traditional classics” such as live speed roulette, with other titles in development.

Lena Yasir, vice president at Pragmatic Play, stated: “We are delighted to announce the expansion of our agreement with PlayFortuna, which will now offer our growing Live Casino portfolio alongside our award-winning slots offering.

“Expansion in regulated markets has been a priority for Pragmatic Play and this agreement further affirms our progress to become the leading multi-product provider in regulated jurisdictions across the globe.”

The announcement follows on from a “landmark agreement” recently signed between Pragmatic and LeoVegas that saw the provider take its live casino portfolio to the online gambling operator. 

Rokas Benetis, head of live casino at LeoVegas, previously commented: “We’re excited to offer Pragmatic Play’s live casino games to our players. Pragmatic Play has done a great job to build strong selection of classic table games, and I think it will be a great addition to our product portfolio”

As well as the deal with LeoVegas, the integration with PlayFortuna also builds on the recent launch of Pragmatic’s specialised language-dedicated live casino tables which are available in German, Italian and Russian.

Each roulette will have its own dedicated environment, inspired from the culture of the countries they represent and the dealers will speak the language of the player, an aspect that is expected to greatly contribute to the atmosphere and level of engagement.

At the time Lana Bleichyk, live casino operations manager at Pragmatic Play, concluded: “The announcement of our language-dedicated live casino roulettes is something I am very excited for, as it gives Pragmatic Play fans an even more immersive live casino experience.

“We are consistently looking at ways to improve and enhance our live casino portfolio to make it the best in the market and one of the routes we have found is by offering a localised solution that stands out in a number of regulated territories.” 

The post PlayFortuna to integrate Pragmatic’s live casino suite appeared first on CasinoBeats.

Private Atrium, BetConstruct says, will offer players “exclusive experiences at blackjack and roulette tables”. 

The supplier emphasised that operators will be able to drive bettor engagement and create “unique gaming experiences” by integrating Private Atrium into their offering.

In a statement, BetConstruct said: “High limits are not the only premium feature available. Here players also have the freedom to control the table by deciding when to start the spin, deal a card or request a shuffle. 

“Naturally, with both games CreedRoomz offers its staple side bets opportunities to attract more bets and provide quick revenue growth to operators. 

“All that drastically boosts the level of individual approach, as Atrium offers the highest level of personal one-to-one service, where the player can be alone at the table and communicate with the deal via voice messages.”

If you are looking to learn more about CreedRoomz by BetConstruct and discover ways the brand can help you grow your business, visit Stand N4-600 at ICE London on April 12-14.

Last month, the UK Gambling Commission approved the distribution of BetConstruct’s Crash and Farkle games in “another major step” for the brand after being registered by its Maltese-based mother company, SoftConstruct.

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CasinoBeats spoke to Christoffer Ødegården, Head of Marketing at Bojoko.com, to get the answer to these questions. Bojoko tracks the success of casinos based on a number of criteria and can immediately see how well they promote on their roulette bonus page convert. In this interview, Ødegården breaks down his insights into how you can use roulette bonuses effectively.

CasinoBeats: Most bonuses mainly target slots. Is that a mistake? How essential are roulette bonuses in the UK market?

Christoffer Ødegården: It makes complete sense to tailor most bonuses to slots. They have lower RTPs and pose less of a risk. However, roulette is one of the most iconic and widely recognised casino games and has a huge following in the UK. Many players are specifically looking for roulette bonuses, and creating specific bonuses tailored for these players, or alternatively, more general table game or live casino bonuses, can give you a decent boost.

A well-structured roulette bonus incentivises discerning roulette players to sign up and your existing players to stick around. It’s about showing players that the casino values them and understands their preferences. In a crowded market, where many operators focus on slot bonuses, offering a roulette-specific bonus is a great way to stand out.

CasinoBeats: How can offering roulette bonuses help casinos stand out?

Christoffer Ødegården: Most players compare casinos before deciding where to sign up, and platforms like Bojoko are where they do this. Pages like our roulette bonus overview are specifically designed to highlight the best roulette experiences, and a strong bonus can really catch a player’s eye. Better roulette offers will also help you in the rankings.

A generic welcome offer might appeal to some, but a roulette bonus speaks directly to fans of the game. It shows that the casino is serious about catering to roulette players. Whether it’s cashback on losses or free bets on roulette, these tailored offers can be the deciding factor for players choosing between two otherwise similar sites.

CasinoBeats: What makes a great roulette bonus?

Christoffer Ødegården: A great roulette bonus needs to be both attractive and fair. There might not be too many great offers out there specifically for roulette, but it’s a big pond and experienced British players are generally discerning and know where to look. They also know to look beyond the headline offer and check the terms. A bonus with impossible wagering requirements or heavy restrictions won’t do you any favors.

However, roulette players understand that bonuses for their favorite games are unlikely to have stricter terms than slot bonuses. A good roulette bonus can even be a standard offer that allows you to play roulette, just with a lower contribution. However, a customized offer is great and can be significantly smaller than your regular slot bonuses. 

You should also strongly consider live casino bonuses, as they are a great way to get serious players engaged.

CasinoBeats: How popular is roulette in the UK, and how does it compare to other games?

Christoffer Ødegården: Roulette is one of the most popular table games in the UK. It has a timeless appeal—its simplicity makes it accessible to beginners, while its strategic elements keep seasoned players engaged.

While slots dominate in sheer numbers, roulette attracts a different kind of player who’s often looking for a more interactive and social experience, especially with live dealer games. 

What I can tell you is that thousands of Brits search for casinos with great roulette selections each month, and in the same time frame, hundreds of Brits are specifically looking for roulette bonuses. These are big numbers and should not be ignored, regardless of how they may pale in comparison to slots.

CasinoBeats: How can casinos ensure their roulette bonuses stand out on platforms like Bojoko?

Christoffer Ødegården: To stand out, casinos need to offer bonuses that are not only generous but also tailored to the needs of roulette players. Being featured on Bojoko’s roulette-specific pages means getting in front of players who are actively looking for roulette-focused experiences. If your bonus is compelling and well-presented, you’re much more likely to convert those players into loyal members.We also recommend keeping the terms player-friendly. For example, lower wagering requirements, bonuses usable on live roulette, or cashback deals tied to roulette play are all very appealing. At Bojoko, we evaluate and rank casinos based on what they offer, and bonuses play a significant role in those rankings.

The post Bojoko’s Christoffer Ødegården on the Power Roulette Bonuses appeared first on CasinoBeats.

The title works as a Spanish sequel to the collaboration’s original Super Spin Roulette instalment, hoping to “resonate with the local audience” by offering the title specifically tailored to the nation’s players. 

Playtech Live Chief Product Innovation Officer, Kevin Kilminster, stated: “We are excited to announce the launch of the second version of Super Spin Roulette, specifically tailored for bet365 customers in the Spanish market.

“Highlighting our dedication to innovation and the creation of bespoke content, this game resonates with the local audience and we look forward to continuing our journey of growth and delivering exceptional gaming experiences to the end-user.”

Presented as a Spanish language title, the new ‘Ruleta Súper Spin’ game will offer random multipliers on selected numbers, enhancing each bet by up to x540. 

A representative from bet365 added: “Super Spin Roulette, the latest game collaboration with our long-standing partner Playtech, has already proven to be a hit with players.

“Now, we’re taking this successful formula and tailoring it to the Spanish market. We are committed to delivering thrilling and unique gaming experiences to players around the world, and this is just another step in that journey.”

The new release adds to an evolving relationship between Playtech and bet365, with the igaming supplier continuing to produce exclusive titles for the sports betting and casino operator.

Previous activations have seen games such as Super Mega Ultra produced by Playtech and taken to market by bet365.

The post bet365 increases Spanish appeal with Playtech’s Super Spin Roulette appeared first on CasinoBeats.

As Brazil’s regulated gambling market edges closer, Pragmatic Play is hoping to capture the nation’s players with its latest Roulette release, using Portuguese-speaking live dealers to target Brazilian audiences. 

The game presents a single-zero Roulette wheel with both inside and outside betting options. Players can take part in mega bets to enhance their game play, designed specifically for the Mega Roulette series. 

Irina Cornides, Chief Operating Officer at Pragmatic Play, commented: “Pragmatic Play is always searching for opportunities to tailor the gaming experience for unique audiences across the globe, and Mega Roulette – Brazilian is the latest example of that.

“Brazilian players can now enjoy an industry-leading Live Casino title with a native Brazilian Portuguese speaker hosting the action.”

Mega Roulette – Brazil will also feature mega multipliers, which sees some straight-up bets enhanced significantly by multipliers of up to x500 if they come through. 

Brazilian market taking shape 

The latest developments within Brazil’s ongoing push for regulation saw an influx of operators apply for a Brazilian licence last week, with 113 companies hoping to enter the nation’s regulated market once it goes live. 

Companies that made the initial registration process will get priority in terms of the reviewing of their registration. 

That being said, underlining just how much appetite there is for the Brazilian gaming market, Plínio Lemos Jorge, President of the ANJL, revealed his belief that there will be an increasing number of companies that apply for a licence until the end of the year.  

“We are certain that next year we will have a completely different market. Honest, responsible and regulated, where bettors will be able to be sure that they are playing on a serious and safe platform,” Lemos Jorge said. 

The current submissions are expected to be approved or rejected by mid-November, with the wider regulated market set to launch on 1 January, 2025.

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We spoke to BetGames Chief Product and Business Development Officer Ian Catchick and Eeze Chief Commercial Officer Graeme Powrie to get their thoughts on the future of live dealer games, and how advancements in technology could affect the importance of finding a balance between classic gameplay and innovative new features.

When creating a successful table game, how important is it to balance retaining the elements and feel of classic games while introducing enough fresh features to make them unique? 

Ian Catchick: You need a balance of both, and this is typically the way we build any established table game. Everybody loves to see innovative new features, and it is important to balance these with the game that people know, trust and understand. When we design a table game, we always respect the game’s heritage and add features that we believe benefit the player. 

Additionally, taking the player on a gradual evolution instead of wholesale changes in one go is often the best way to onboard and retain them by keeping things simple and easy to understand, ensuring they don’t feel alienated by complex new mechanics.

Graeme Powrie: In short, it is incredibly important, because customers appreciate familiarity with products that they already know. If you have to spend time educating players, it is more likely they will pivot to a game they understand, rather than waste their valuable time learning complex mechanics. 

That is why wheel games are still so popular. They offer incredibly straightforward mechanics that players can understand without the need for audio or a written explanation. They get a feel for the entire game within a few spins.

How can evolved versions of classic favourites boost cross-selling opportunities to bring in new players and additional revenue?

Ian Catchick: Different player risk categories need to be catered for, so making the call to action and USP clear and understandable provides the space to target these specific player segments. For example, the low-risk player looking for regular returns will not get excited by features that create more volatility in the game, and vice versa. 

When a classic game is enhanced, it’s essential to know who this game will target to ensure clear communication as to how this addresses the player’s needs. Players should also be allowed to try and engage with the new product, with a focus on simplicity, ease of play and providing a fresh experience to empower them to decide for themselves. 

Furthermore, when building games at BetGames, we are always identifying ways in which products can be closely associated with sports bettor play journeys and behaviours. We have developed several titles with this demographic in mind to help us bridge the gap between sports and casino, onboarding them to our products. This means that we can cater to and address the needs of not only current casino players but also recreational sports bettors wanting an easy play experience as they discover casino games.

Graeme Powrie: With the exception of probably roulette, where multipliers have added huge interest in attracting players from a new demographic, variations of classics aren’t as attractive for cross-selling. We have found that gameshows are probably the most engaging way of attracting slots players into the live casino sphere, with a similar RTP, and bonus rounds which really drive engagement and anticipation – unlike the steady grind of a blackjack session. 

What makes the live casino genre unique is its social nature, and people naturally like to play with other people, so the community aspect is important. Even little details, such as live dealers historically being perceived as trusted more than RNG by many players, are key to understanding when developing a product that reaches new demographics, where they can all celebrate the wins together.

There is also a sense of occasion with the gameshow format. Each experience is different which adds to the excitement for players, particularly when those bonus rounds hit, the anticipation is key.

What table game trends have proven popular in previous years and what are your predictions for future trends? 

Ian Catchick: There has been a move towards quicker gameplay with bigger prizes, and to some extent, a greater emphasis on risk-reward gameplay. Community elements such as chat functions are also important trends. Even if players don’t regularly engage in chats, they often like to watch other players chat as part of their entertainment experience.  

Overall, games are getting faster as players’ time becomes more precious, and finding a simple way to bet, play and win for short sessions is a notable change in player behaviour. Also, finding new content ideas for players to trial allows them to get a unique experience that will either convert them to the new game, see them remain with the old one, or share and grow their play revenues across different variants.

Graeme Powrie: The only certainty I can give is the wheel will maintain its popularity and longevity. Gameshows are expensive to develop, but customers will quickly tell you if they’re bored of your product or love it. Everyone knows the wheel, which provides a perfect building block to then be creative in the bonus rounds around what is a familiar and recognised bonus delivery mechanic. 

An area that the industry is yet to address is creating snackable content for live casino players, such as a game which provides short play sessions while waiting for a bus or train. That fast, digestible, quick-win gameplay hasn’t really been developed yet, and it’s an area where we can be inventive as providers.

What does the future of table games look like from your perspective? Will vintage games always attract players or could the emergence of AI and virtual reality lead to an entirely new style of gameplay?

Ian Catchick: Vintage games will continue to remain important to players, and the significance of these games should not be underestimated. AI and VR will become increasingly important in personalising the player experience, identifying more effective ways to entertain and engage players. New technology will also drive quicker and more cost-effective game development and launches, allowing more content to be tested in the market.  

Having the opportunity to personalise products with these tools will enable players to enjoy a completely customised gaming experience that is unique and compelling to them. The data that these tools can collect will also inevitably help drive greater and more enriching innovation in the future, in turn allowing providers to create a much larger portfolio of table game content that caters to the needs of both casino and sports bettors.

Graeme Powrie: There will always be a space for the traditional games as they are so well known and loved, but the future for operators is having something to offer their customers that is exclusive and bespoke, allowing them to stand out from their competitors. 

Using AI and cutting-edge video technology, operators should be able to customise everything they want. This can even include showing different versions of the same game to different segments of players. 

The future in this space should focus on giving operators as much creativity as possible within a framework. If we hand them the ability to spin out different versions of the base game through new tools, then it opens up lots more opportunities. This is a similar model to slots, where base games can be tweaked to create entire new genres, while also enabling rapid speed to market and a built-in level of familiarity.

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An overarching aim of shaking up the live casino environment lies at the heart of the Yolo Group’s latest B2B introduction, with the fully customisable Live88 promising to deliver full flexibility and the highest-quality games to operators.

CasinoBeats has caught up with Mark Taffler, Commercial Director of Live88 and Hub88, to get the lowdown on a latest venture that is described as a “social phenomenon where the player is a part of the action”.

In addition to elaborating on how the player helped to shape the newly launched products’ overall make-up and the importance of fostering a real sense of community, Taffler also goes into detail about a simultaneously launched Multiplier Roulette title that comprises an “industry-first” collection style bonus game.

CasinoBeats: Live88 represents a further foray in the burgeoning live casino space for yourselves. To begin, how will this compete with, or even exceed, the wave of offerings already on the market?

Mark Taffler: As with any new product or live casino vertical, Live88 can compete against more established ones by prioritising innovation, localisation and personalised experiences for our operators. 

By offering unique game variations, fully customisable lobbies, green screen technology throughout our tables (as well as uniquely branded tables) and providing seamless integration, operators can attract players seeking a more modern take on the tables. 

Additional to the level of differentiation, customisation and flexibility we offer, Live88 is committed to entering into strategic partnerships with established operators looking to expand into jurisdictions we hold licenses in. Increasingly, we’re hearing the demand for operators to move into LatAm. 

By giving them a gateway product that is flexible to precisely how they want to use it, we allow them to reach players and more effectively establish their presence in emerging markets.

CB: You speak of a reaction to the gaming community, as well as Live88 being born out of feedback gained, what processes did you undertake before, and while continuing, this development phase?

MT: Our customer is always, long after the consultation phase, at the centre of our universe. Consulting with customers early on during the development of Live88 allowed us to ensure our operators’ needs (and the needs of their players) and preferences are accurately captured. 

Surveys, interviews, focus groups, etc helped us gather direct feedback and insights. However, the common theme among these audits was that we were listening. 

Unlike other more conservative propositions we see on the market today, Live88’s development did not come out of a didactic experience where we told our operators what they could expect, it was very much the other way around. We asked them that if they were to create a product from scratch, what would that product look like? The answer was Live88. 

Furthermore, as the product began to take shape, prototype testing allowed us to make improvements based on operators’ experiences. The continual feedback cycle facilitated both an ongoing dialogue and idea generation. 

Maintaining transparency and responsiveness to our customers’ input throughout the development fostered trust and ultimately enhanced their satisfaction with the final product.

CB: Live88 is labelled as a “social phenomenon where the player is part of the product”. What facets have been included to ensure that is the case? And how will this be enhanced moving forward?

MT: To infuse a live casino product with a sense of community, it’s been in our minds since day one that Live88 must foster open communication and collaboration among our players. 

Implementing chat tools and social media in the mix encourages interaction and idea sharing. We feel the sense of collaboration over competition strengthens bonds among users and promotes a shared sense of belonging. 

That’s Live88 at its core, but it’s poised to get so much more interactive! Later this year, Live88 will be providing opportunities for some incredible user-generated content to be shared. 

Players incurring big wins on our tables will be able to use a facility to immediately cut and share the clip of their victory on their favourite social media platforms. 

It empowers the player and reinforces their involvement, but moreover it’s a great chance for operators to get more ‘citizen coverage’ of their brand! By recognising and rewarding active community members, we’re encouraging ongoing participation.

CB: Alongside this, the Royal Riches Roulette multiplayer title will officially be unveiled. Why did your data driven strategy direct you towards this being the correct approach regarding the title itself?

MT: Game shows are very en vogue right now and it would be foolish of a company with our attuned level of innovation to not take our slice of the market share. 

Multiplier Roulette, as we’ve seen from other studios in this space, adds a healthy dose of excitement by introducing elements of unpredictability and potential for even big wins. Unlike traditional roulette, where payouts are fixed, multiplier roulette offers dynamic multipliers that amplify winnings and suspense with each spin. It injects a fresh and exhilarating twist to the classic game, making it a captivating and entertaining experience for players seeking excitement and big wins. 

But that’s really only half of the story. Our data shows that players today spend 20-30x in wage more on live game shows than standard live dealer games. 

When asking ourselves why this is, we’ve come to acknowledge that these games’ graspable mechanics produce a low barrier to entry; the presence of a live presenter offers a considerable acquisition tool. Simply put, they’re more engaging.

CB: In keeping with the aforementioned social focus, could you elaborate on what has been included in RRR to keep players engaged, entertained and returning for more? How will the collection style bonus game help to facilitate this?

MT: One of the best retention tools is the base game’s multipliers. Four multipliers randomly land among the 37 standard numbers, with each multiplier worth up to 1,000x when landing on straight up wins. 

We think operators will keenly feel the benefit of this one. Meanwhile, eight coloured suits; two each in green, orange, blue and pink; will land during every game round, again on random numbers. 

A win on one of these numbers will add the suit to the player’s collection, with the collection in question remaining active on the account without expiration (ipso facto, an incomplete collection will not expire at the end of the game session). 

This feature we feel will be especially attractive to players since they’ll be able to keep netting some great multiplier wins whilst they hunt down the remainder of their collections. It’s fun and it’s engaging with its no limits attitude, we can’t wait for the network to get their hands on this one.

CB: What further titles can we expect to witness as developments continue?

MT: That card, unfortunately, we will need to play close to our chest for now! We’re currently scheming some incredible content including our scintillating social sharing features as well as more unique games in the vein of Royal Riches Roulette that players are really going to love. 

We’d hate to get ahead of ourselves but we really are doubling down on this proposition redefining live casino for now and for always.

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Table games have been a long standing staple of any casino offering for quite some time, however, one common theme witnessed across recent years has seen numerous studios crave a desire to develop differentiated products in a bid to transition casual bettors into regular players, and ultimately improve operators’ ROI.

One recent example of this was recently unveiled by BetGames, which stressed a mission of expanding its worldwide presence, as well as stamping its authority in emerging markets, through bespoke titles that are accompanied by customisable elements to add a more personal feel.

Following this, company CPO Ian Catchick spoke to CasinoBeats regarding the group’s latest introduction, what could potentially follow, the importance of uniquely crafted games and much more.

CasinoBeats: Classic and bespoke RNG versions of roulette are the latest games to debut in BetGames’ content roadmap can you tell us some more about what players can expect? What do your versions bring to the casino classic?

Ian Catchick: The games are built for an enjoyable player experience with a simple, easy-to-understand interface that features high-quality graphics and comprehensive statistics that help players plan their strategies.

We’ve also localised the language selection options so players can choose from one of five different languages on offer as well as whichever dealer they prefer. While being RNG-based, it plays exactly like a live dealer product and benefits from a new round every 40 seconds. 

The realism continues with a dealer change every half hour, just like you see in a traditional casino and along with the personalisation scope, presents a flexible and realistic roulette experience available 24/7 that suits a wide range of markets. 

CB: Later in the year, you will be launching a true, live casino version of roulette. While this is a move closer to your roots of being a live entertainment provider, it’s also a slight step sideways into traditional products unlike the unique slants on classics that BetGames is famous for. What has prompted this move?

IC: We’re building on the RNG version of roulette, developing some other versions including bespoke projects for specific clients and also delivering some live varieties during the year. 

It’s partly a response to industry trends but also in response to player and operator feedback, giving us a fantastic mix of product options. Using the classic roulette release as a base, we’ll also be introducing new iterations slightly later in 2024 which will offer something different.

We’re proud of the high-quality graphics, ease of play and general game standards that we have in our live portfolio and enjoy a high level of trust from our loyal customer base that plays and engages with the BetGames brand.

This allows us to offer something with both the standard, classic game, but also some new innovative versions, which we’re confident will return strong results thanks to the designed performance characteristics.

We’ve got plenty of scope and the usual BetGames knack for innovation. While we’re not going to mess with the basic winning formula of what is a market-leading game in classic roulette, we will be evolving the line further and adding to it with variations on the player favourite.

CB: BetGames is becoming renowned for its provision of bespoke products, with two versions of roulette already having been developed for tier-one partners. Is the ability to offer this service a standard part of your new product development now?

IC: Yes, it is. These two partners are examples of where you can take advantage of branding and also localise the product to match their players’ needs. So, in both instances, the presenters and their clothing, the languages and the overall feel are all completely localised along with the design of the studio. This provides unique propositions for their players, just as we did with Skyward which launched a few months ago. 

We’re building all of our new games with an option to have localised and tailored solutions, and this is available for partners alongside the standard network games, so it offers something fresh in terms of differentiation. These products are completely bespoke to their players and suit their business needs. This will play a key part in our product development going forward.

CB: BetGames’ product portfolio is widening at an increasing rate. Is this a reflection of player trends, market-led, a mixture of both or neither?

IC: With every game launch, we evaluate market trends and needs. We engage with partners to get a feel from the ground and we’re always looking at different player trends and insight from a range of sources.

We’ve accelerated the speed at which we launch new content to the market, partly driven by our desire to stay relevant and inimitable but also to provide players with what we’re looking for – fast, unique, high-quality games – which is something we hear really clearly from players. 

Armed with that insight, we’ve created a range of different verticals to include game shows, crash games, casino titles, RNG and sports products, which perfectly complement our classic BetGames offer. With this kind of choice in our product offering, we’ve got a range of content that suits the ever-widening player preferences across global markets, so everyone can enjoy the content that’s most relevant to them. 

Of course, this is keeping us incredibly busy but gathering those learnings drives what we want to do and shapes our product roadmap. Adding in our signature BetGames sparkle provides us with a unique content library alongside some of the more popular, familiar games that operators and players demand.

CB: Can we expect more casino classics in the future? What does your development roadmap look like for the remainder of 2024?

IC: We’re launching several new games this year. While classic casino games are on the road map, we’ve got plans for new content to be introduced in our sport, RNG and game show verticals. Strengthening these and our entire portfolio, we’re planning to introduce several new customer development tools too.

Our goal is to further enhance the kind of the player experience and aid retention, while continuing to optimise our UIs, following what we did successfully with our wheel and dice games earlier in the year.

The refresh has allowed us to give players a choice as to what type of view they want to play with so they can have the sports view which gives a high range and volume of betting markets, or the casino view, which is where you can find a more populous selection of bets available, making play a more efficient, faster experience.

All these initiatives are set to significantly refine and elevate the player journey and, at the same time help our partners to increase lifetime value, reduce the cost per acquisition and balance cost. This sits very much with our vision of making BetGames the go-to gateway between sports betting and casino.

The post Ian Catchick: localised & tailored solutions central to BetGames’ strategy appeared first on CasinoBeats.