Kate Romanenko, chief business officer at Evoplay Entertainment, which is licensed in Curaçao, said: “We’re proud to begin 2019 by announcing our partnership with SoftGamings, one of the industry’s most advanced platform providers.

“Our mission is to revolutionise the igaming user experience for players around the world and we are totally confident of being able to do that by partnering with a company that has such a strong focus on customer enjoyment.”

Irina Sazonova, director of partnerships at SoftGamings, said: “This is a fantastic partnership for us.

“Evoplay Entertainment is already famous for developing the industry’s first VR slots game and we are thrilled to offer our clients some of the industry’s most innovative content.”

The Evoplay Entertainment portfolio includes more than 50 slots, table and instant games. It unveiled the  3D/VR slot title Necromancer at ICE 2018, which was shortlisted in the Best Gaming Innovation category at the CasinoBeats Awards, and is now planning to repeat the same success again at ICE 2019.

With a presence in Malta and Ukraine, Evoplay Entertainment anticipates receiving additional licences from the Malta Gaming Authority and UK Gambling Commission “in early 2019”.

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Overhauling its free-to-play social casino video game created by PokerStars, the brand refresh brings with it “the next generation in the game’s evolution as a virtual entertainment destination”.

Vegas Infinite will usher in a “brand-new and bespoke 3D virtual cityscape for players to enjoy” with personal player suites, luxury casinos and exclusive rooftop escapes. The game will also soon be available for PC players with no headset required, joining current Steam VR and Meta Quest VR users.

PokerStars VR was initially launched in 2018, offering players a chance to play at a virtual poker table with their friends, chat and interact within different environments.

Following the acquisition of PokerStars from Flutter in 2021, the VR product’s development was accelerated, utilising the Flutter Edge approach of cross-sharing product and technology capabilities across the group.

Vegas Infinite’s offering includes blackjack, roulette, slots, craps, and Rocket Rush, as well as poker titles Spin & Go, MTTs and the flagship poker tournament series, the Metaverse Poker Tour. 

The virtual destination has grown to include personal suites and dressing rooms, a luxury casino floor in Casino One, The Gallery casino exclusive to high-rollers, and The Rooftop, a subscriber-only rooftop escape overlooking the soaring Vegas Infinite cityscape.

With player safety a focal point during development, Vegas Infinite also uses an AI live chat monitoring tool to assist its moderation team, as well as a variety of in-game safety tools including time out, spending limits, player reports and customising extent of interaction with others.

James O’Reilly, PokerStars Director of VR & Innovation, stated: “As we approach our fifth anniversary, it’s incredible to think how far our game has come.

“From a cutting-edge experiment in applying virtual reality to the poker table, we’ve grown to become a living entertainment destination with a full suite of games and experiences played in otherworldly environments that are home to an avid community of players. 

“Today, we’re much more than poker and much more than VR. Vegas Infinite is where we’re taking our players next and there’s lots more in store.”

Dan Taylor, CEO of International at Flutter Entertainment will dive into the Flutter Edge approach next week at SBC Summit Barcelona, taking place on 19-21 September at the Fira Barcelona Montjuïc.

Taylor will be providing the opening keynote of the event, titled ‘Co-Creating The Flutter Edge: Insights From Flutter’s International CEO’ on 20 September.

The post Flutter rebrands PokerStars VR into Vegas Infinite appeared first on CasinoBeats.

Looking into machine learning shortcuts, generative AI and VR improvements, our latest CasinoBeats 100 Club special asked the club what technological advancements they believe will sweep the casino industry. 

In this follow-up feature, David Brace, Innovation Director at Continent 8 Technologies, and Nick McDonald, Account Director at Fujitsu, give their answers to the initial question, while also providing a deeper dive into the impact of machine learning and quantum computing, including insights from AI itself. 

CasinoBeats: What is the next technological step that could sweep across the online casino industry? And why?

Nick McDonald: It has to be AI-related. AI can change the game in terms of analysing player behaviour, age verification and fraud detection. However, there needs to be a lot of focus on the ethical standards around this. 

AI is a huge talking point within the igaming industry and the wider tech world, and companies are going to need to work out ethical and sustainable ways of utilising it. How we collect, analyse, and store data will be essential, and we need to turn to technology to help us work on how to do this in a sustainable and ethical way. 

Technological advancements will help online casinos create their own AI platforms, which, in turn, will mean that they do not need to use as much outside technology. Operators being able to use AI tools on their own technology stacks will be excellent for sustainability and really help drive ESG initiatives, which is something that will be at the forefront of the industry for the next decade.

David Brace: The most obvious answer is artificial intelligence, which is already being integrated into a number of functions within the industry. However, I feel that AI/machine learning is here and already influencing the industry, and if we are looking at new technologies that will create a true step change for igaming, we should be looking towards quantum computing. 

This technology is in its infancy right now but already shows signs that it could transform the way the industry operates. If we look at random number generators, for example, a switch to quantum-based technologies delivers a more secure RNG which cannot currently be predicted by anyone, including the operator. 

Quantum computing is ideally suited to analysing large datasets in true real-time, which could lead to massive improvements in the understanding of the patterns of play, delivering advances in responsible gaming, fraud detection and player personalisation. There are many more examples of implementation, which we will only begin to understand as the technology begins to be deployed within the industry. 

“opportunities provided by AI integration will more than makeup for the investment required to get it right. “

David Brace, Innovation Director at Continent 8 Technologies

CB: Keeping up with the rapidly evolving technology that surrounds the industry requires substantial levels of funding, do you think that high costs could outweigh the potential when it comes to AI and other advancements gaining mass adoption? 

NM: High costs are inevitable in AI adoption; the real measure will be how these costs are returned to the business. If the right level of ROI can be demonstrated and put back into the company, the initial funding becomes irrelevant. This is why partnering with the correct technology providers is essential. 

Companies must ensure they work with the most effective partners to help them build their AI developments correctly and efficiently from the beginning by using tried and tested modelling and frameworks. This is how companies will get ahead of their competitors.

DB: I believe that, unlike most new/emerging technologies, the opposite may initially be true with AI/ML integrations for companies. The cost of taking that first step into AI is very small with several companies offering consumption-based models on their AI/ML products. This will accelerate the initial adoption of the technology in many organisations. 

However, the extensive reliance on ‘as a service’ models, the majority of which are still branded as experimental or beta, means there is a risk of investment being made into technologies that may be cancelled or dramatically altered with very little notice. To balance this, I would say that the opportunities provided by targeted AI integration will more than makeup for the investment required to get it right. 

“if your competitors are going to embrace new technologies, then you don’t want to be left behind”

Nick McDonald, Account Director at Fujitsu

While providing his own answers to the AI-focused questions, Brace also inputted the questions into the AI chatbot Google Bard. 

Google Bard: It is true that the high costs of developing and deploying AI and other advanced technologies could outweigh their potential benefits in some cases. For example, small businesses may not be able to afford the upfront costs of implementing AI solutions, and even large businesses may find it difficult to justify the cost of AI projects that do not have a clear ROI. Additionally, the complexity of AI systems can make them difficult to maintain and update, which can add to the overall cost of ownership. 

However, I believe that the potential benefits of AI and other advanced technologies outweigh the costs in the long run. AI has the potential to revolutionise many industries, from healthcare to manufacturing to customer service. By automating tasks and making better decisions, AI can help businesses to save money, improve efficiency, and provide better products and services to their customers.

CB: As a lot of companies within the gambling space will be using the same models, tools and services provided by AI, is there a risk that this could cause some saturation in the products that are being delivered? 

NM: This is always a risk when a new technology emerges. Ultimately, if your competitors are going to embrace new technologies, then you don’t want to be left behind. However, gambling is a diverse industry, and everyone will adapt differently. We will see many bespoke adaptations by companies to fit their needs, stimulating innovation and growth.

Another upside is that if more companies embrace AI technology in the igaming space, it becomes more readily available and drives the prices down for the entire industry.

DB: There is a risk of convergence, especially on ancillary services such as AML/KYC/player protection leading to saturation and/or consolidation, which can lead to a lack of innovation in products. On the product front, we all operate in a heavily regulated industry with strict controls on many factors affecting gameplay and design, but that hasn’t impacted the variety or quality of the product in the market.

Integration of AI-based automation into the underlying technology could have the opposite effect in allowing companies to innovate on the creative side of the game, knowing that the nuts and bolts of the product are automatically produced in a technically compliant manner.  

Here’s what Google Bard had to say on AI adoption and industry saturation.

Google Bard: Yes, there is a risk that AI saturation could lead to product homogeneity in the gambling industry. If all gambling companies are using the same AI models and tools, they will all be able to offer the same types of products and services. This could lead to a situation where there is little to differentiate between different gambling companies, and customers may have a hard time choosing which company to use.

However, there are also some factors that could mitigate the risk of AI saturation in the gambling industry. For example, different gambling companies may use different datasets to train their AI models. This could lead to different companies offering different products and services, even if they are using the same AI models.

Additionally, gambling companies may use AI to personalise their products and services to the individual needs of their customers. This could also help to differentiate different gambling companies and make it easier for customers to choose the company that is right for them.

The post CB100: exploring AI with Continent 8 & Fujitsu appeared first on CasinoBeats.

The deal sees some of Evoplay’s most innovative titles made available to the platform provider’s casino customers.

Alexander Levchenko, CEO at Evoplay Entertainment, said: “We are delighted to partner with BetConstruct, one of the industry’s best-known platform providers.

“Our mission is to revolutionise the igaming user experience for players around the world and we are confident of being able to do that in far more markets thanks to the scope of this deal.”

Edgar Mkrtchyan, gaming group product manager of BetConstruct, said: “Evoplay Entertainment’s games are a fresh update to the BetConstruct casino aggregator.

“The innovative 3D/VR slots of the provider will be available for our existing and rapidly expanding list of international partners and their players.”

The Evoplay portfolio includes more than 50 slots, table and instant games, the first of which – Necromancer – was unveiled at ICE 2018 in February. The game is also shortlisted in the Best Gaming Innovation category at the CasinoBeats Awards.

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SlotsMillion offers players a selection of more than 2,500 titles, with the integration with Evoplay Entertainment following recent content deals with leading game providers including Novomatic, Scientific Games and IGT.

The Evoplay Entertainment development studio, which launched in January, 2017, adds 40 titles to the SlotsMillion collection, including Evoplay’s 3D/VR slot Necromancer.

SlotsMillion co-founder Alexandre Tomic (pictured) said, “We are thrilled to have Evoplay’s games on SlotsMillion and especially to be able to offer Necromancer to our players, as virtual reality is at the heart of what we do and we pride ourselves on delivering cutting-edge gaming experiences to our players.

“We are sure that this is what Evoplay will bring us and are delighted to have them on board.”

Necromancer requires no app or download to use and runs in browser on smartphones, making it straightforward to switch between mobile and virtual reality without affecting the game session at all.

Innovative 3D technology is used in the camera rotation effect and lets players see the characters from various angles, allowing them a more immersive experience.

Alexander Levchenko, CEO of Evoplay Entertainment, added: “Joining forces with Alea means a lot to us and partnering with the igaming industry’s leader in virtual reality is really exciting, given that we have just released our first 3D virtual reality slot.

“We are looking forward to working alongside Alea and to delivering more of our unique content to SlotsMillion in the very near future,” he said.

The post SlotsMillion adds Evoplay slots to VR casino appeared first on CasinoBeats.

PokerStars VR is a free-to-play, authentic and immersive social poker game, which will  give players the chance to play poker in visually engaging game environments, handle chips and cards, study opponents and pick up tells, chat in real time, and keep the tables fun with a host of interactive props.

Initially offering the No-Limit Hold’em version of poker, the multiplayer game is currently in a closed beta with around a hundred invitees playing and testing the game using Oculus Rift, HTC Vive and Steam. PokerStars plans a commercial launch of the free-money game later this year.

The product was previewed this week in Birmingham, UK, at the EuroGamer games event. PokerStars VR, developed with Lucky VR, features intuitive controls for easy gameplay, voice-command controls, integrated Twitch broadcasting, video streaming and social media integration on Oculus Rift for those who wish to play and stream.

“PokerStars VR is a chance for us to take this amazing technology and bring something totally unique to poker players,” said Severin Rasset, director of poker innovation and operations at PokerStars.

“Poker is about interaction. It’s been bringing people together for well over a century. We’re really excited to invest in the next generation of the game and to give players the opportunity to meet in a brand new virtual reality dimension.”

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Taking place at the Ritz-Carlton, Macau, on May 14 , this will be the third event in the Innovations Workshop series conducted by BetConstruct.

The evening will combine an informative showcase of the company’s latest launches and solutions, as well as food and entertainment.

BetConstruct will demonstrate a number of compelling solutions developed in response to the needs of the Asian market. These includes SpringBME, with its gaming products marketplace; FeedConstruct’s data feed solutions; and the Friendship platform for streaming distribution.

Participants will also have the chance to learn about new products from BetConstruct. To register for the workshop, click here.

With the slogan Connecting People and Innovations in the Asian Entertainment Industry,
G2E Asia is a great opportunity for industry professionals to network and tap into the regional market.

At stand 2841, BetConstruct will be showing its enhanced data-feed solutions and its
Asian view sportsbook. In addition, the company will demonstrate its Virtual Football Penalty Kicks and, via recent release Dragon Hall for Baccarat, its new live casino software.

However, BetConstruct hopes the highlight of its showcase will be its innovative
virtual reality solutions: VR Casino, VR Live Dealer and VR Slot. “To make sure our visitors
find their stop at our stand exciting, during the days of the expo we will suggest them to
play VivaroGo, a location-based game,” the company said in a statement.

“Hunting for QR codes and scanning them, our guests can win real prizes. Not only is VivaroGo a highly engaging game but it is also a powerful customisable tool for commercial campaigns and business promotion in general.”

To book a meeting with BetConstruct at G2E Asia, follow this link.

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