Casino & Slots
ALL CHANGE AT MR GREEN AS WILLIAM HILL REPLACES KÄRRBRINK WITH JONKER
Casino & Slots
ALL CHANGE AT MR GREEN AS WILLIAM HILL REPLACES KÄRRBRINK WITH JONKER
William Hill replace Mr Green’s Jesper Kärrbrink with Patrick Jonker, as MRG CEO Per Norman steps down to join esports project GHLF.
Following William Hill’s takeover of MRG, it has been announced that Mr Green’s Jesper Kärrbrink will be replaced by William Hill’s Patrick Jonker.
Jonker, who is William Hill’s incoming International Online Managing Director will take over as CEO of Mr Green’s Malta-based business, with a focus on growing the business is emerging markets.
He served as Managing Director of Betsson Group from 2014 until being snapped up by William Hill, in an appointment announced just last week, and has not yet started working for the company.
As for Kärrbrink, he will be staying with MRG in a new role at supplier Green Jade Games.
Other changes announced include Per Norman, CEO of MRG since 2015, stepping down from his position and taking up an advisory role as Chairman of esports community GHLF.
Commenting on the news, Kärrbrink explained:
“The past three years has been a fantastic journey with some of the most amazing people in the industry.
“I have planned to move back to Sweden for some time, so it is reassuring to know that the existing management team lead by Patrick Jonker as Mr Green Ltd’s new CEO will take the company forward to the next stage of the journey as part of William Hill. I look forward to continuing working closely with William Hill through Green Jade Games.”
And outgoing CEO Norman added:
“The strategic and logic of the acquisition is obvious, strong brands and size are prerequisites for future success. I am excited to be engaged and follow the William Hill group through my board position in GLHF.”
The moves follow William Hill’s purchase of 92% of MRG, Mr Green’s owners, for a sum of £245m ($315m) in January; a move which immediately gave the bookmaker an up and running base firmly within the borders of the EU – a smart hedge given the looming possibility of a so-called ‘No Deal’ Brexit.
AYO.NEWS says:
The changes announced by William Hill make sense, and further illustrate that despite being one the most established British bookies, the company recognises times are rapidly changing and is re-deploying focus, talent and assets to better reflect global realities – this is especially underlined by the increased focus on emerging markets and esports.
With several years experience in the igaming and sports betting industries in Malta under his belt, over the last few years Oliver has developed a passion for blockchain and an interest in esports. He’s also a published novelist and has a background in art and photography.

Image credit: Evolution
Live casino solutions provider Evolution has launched the world’s first online Live Craps game.
Evolution has given the new game extra retro appeal by setting it in an authentic underground, speakeasy-style studio, and added new features to make the game more accessible for new players.
Commenting on the launch Chief Product Officer at Evolution, Todd Haushalter, said:
“Craps completes the Evolution portfolio in terms of offering every game you can find in a land-based casino. Developing the game and capturing the unique excitement of the Craps table, but in an online setting, was a complex project.
“The team has done a phenomenal job and we now have a fantastic finished product that I know will thrill Craps enthusiasts in the US, Europe and beyond, as well as attracting legions of new fans.
“We understand that not everyone knows how to play Craps. That’s why the game has both an ‘Easy Mode’ and a simple online interactive tutorial that clearly explains how to play and enjoy the game. Craps has been our most requested new game by both players and operators for years – now it’s finally here. I think players are going to love it.”
Staying with Evolution, earlier this month the company announced a partnership with FanDuel, significantly expanding its reach in the United States.
AYO.NEWS says:
With the ‘new normal’ of the COVID-19 crisis severely disrupting land-based casinos around the world, and promoting people to look for online human interaction, live casino has seen significant growth over the past six months or so. But, despite this, most providers have simply expanded their capacity, so kudos to Evolution for bringing a totally new game to the virtual casino floor.
We wonder if the speakeasy theme is a subtle nod to the secret bars and clubs now springing up all over the world, as people attempt to avoid COVID regulations?
‘AYO.NEWS says’ features the opinion of the author and does not necessarily reflect the views of Pentagon Digital Limited or its affiliates or associates.
All original content featured on this site is © Pentagon Digital Limited, 2020.
888 Holdings has announced Vaughan Lewis will be joining the company as Chief Strategy Officer.
Lewis is currently with Flutter Entertainment, where he has been transformation lead following its acquisition of The Stars Group in May 2020, and is expected to join 888 early next year to take on the newly created role.
Before Flutter, Lewis held several senior positions, including SVP of Communications at The Stars Group, and Director of Corporate Development at Sky Betting & Gaming.
As Chief Strategy Officer, Lewis will be responsible for developing 888 Holdings’ long-term strategy, including mergers and acquisitions. He will also be managing investor relations, and work with the CFO to develop relevant strategies.
Commenting on the news 888 Holdings CEO, Itai Pazner, said:
“We are delighted to welcome Vaughan as 888’s first CSO. Vaughan is a highly experienced gaming industry professional with a wealth of relevant expertise across both strategic development and investor relations.
“I have no doubt that his skills and background will support 888 to identify and deliver further growth opportunities over the coming years.”
While Lewis himself added:
“888’s unmatched scalable technology, coupled with its strong brand and marketing expertise have supported its growth to become an industry leader, and provide a powerful platform that underpins the Group’s significant continued growth potential. I am delighted to join a great team and to help drive forward the compelling growth opportunities that lie ahead.”
Staying with 888 Holdings, in October the group confirmed its interest in acquiring William Hill’s European businesses from Caesars Entertainment, when its planned $3.72B USD acquisition of the British bookies has been completed. Caesars had previously announced it only intended to keep William Hill’s US operations.
All original content featured on this site is © Pentagon Digital Limited, 2020.
Image credit: Real Dealer Studios
Casino game producer Real Dealer Studios has gained certification for launch in Belgium, Denmark, and Sweden.
Malta-based Real Dealer Studios creates games that combine Random Number Generator (RNG) mechanics with movie-style cinematography, using professional film crews and a real private casino as a set.
The studios’s roulette titles are now available to operators in Belgium, Denmark, and Sweden. Featuring named dealers (Sarati, Bailey, Holly, and Caroline), the company says its games create a one-on-one feeling between the player and the dealer, in sharp contrast to the typical live studio ambience.
Commenting on the news sales manager at Real Dealer Studios, Christoffer Melldén, said:
“We are delighted to have secured certificates for Sweden, Denmark and Belgium, which we have identified as key markets under our international growth plan.
“Our casino games are truly unique, combining cinema and casino in a way that has not been achieved before. We look forward to working with operators in this trio of markets and for their players to experience our titles for the very first time.”
All original content featured on this site is © Pentagon Digital Limited, 2020.
Omni-channel turnkey supplier Oryx Gaming has partnered with Maxima Compliance to assist new market entries.
The deal will give Slovenia-based Oryx Gaming access to the Complitech compliance database, which includes all technical compliance requirements for nearly 30 regulated markets, and a suite of tools to perform gap analysis.
According to Maxima Compliance, Complitech users are able to enter regulated markets on average 60% faster than others, and net considerable cost savings in the process.
Commenting on the news Oryx Gaming CEO Matevz Mazij, said:
“In regulated markets, meeting technical compliance requirements faster and more efficiently is a significant competitive advantage for Oryx Gaming.
“This is why we are so excited to be using Complitech, a one-of-its-kind tool which is already helping us make more informed strategic decisions about future market entries.”
While Maxima Compliance Managing Director, Antonio Zanghi, added:
“Oryx Gaming is not only one of the most innovative and fastest-growing suppliers around, but also a company which takes a modern approach to compliance.
“So, we are thrilled to see Oryx utilising Complitech to create additional efficiencies and cost-savings. We continue to build new features into Complitech, and will work closely with Oryx to ensure it delivers exactly what is required.”
Complitech launched earlier this year as the gaming industry’s first technical compliance database. It lists over 10,000 requirements from almost 30 regulated markets.
All original content featured on this site is © Pentagon Digital Limited, 2020.
Ardalan Shekarabi (Image credit: Kristian Pohl/Government Offices of Sweden)
The Swedish government has proposed to extend the current emergency online gambling restrictions through June 2021.
Originally introduced under the pretext of protecting players from developing gambling problems during the long hours stuck at home during the COVID-19 crisis, the restrictions have been repeatedly slammed by operators as cynical and politically motivated.
Now, a memorandum, which has been submitted for consultation until 23 November 2020, proposes the extension of the “temporary measures”, including the SEK 5000 deposit limit, until the end of June 2021.
Supporting the proposal, Minister of Social Insurance, Ardalan Shekarabi, said:
“We see that the development of covid-19 is going in the wrong direction in several parts of the country. The situation is very serious. In the wake of the pandemic, we see continued risks in the area of gambling, which means that we need to act to reduce the risks for vulnerable consumers.”
AYO.NEWS says:
When Shekarabi and co pushed these measures through, we predicted they would turn out to be less “temporary” than advertised, and it looks like we were right. Given the fact that all the restrictions have done is push vulnerable gamblers into the arms of unlicensed offshore operators, where they are completely unprotected, it is difficult to see how the extension of these restrictions can be justified.
Nevertheless, we expect they will be pushed through by zealots like Shekarabi, and furthermore, we wouldn’t be surprised if they are extended again when June comes.
‘AYO.NEWS says’ features the opinion of the author and does not necessarily reflect the views of Pentagon Digital Limited or its affiliates or associates.
All original content featured on this site is © Pentagon Digital Limited, 2020.
Image credit: High 5 Games
Online casino content provider High 5 Games has expanded its reach in the US through a partnership with GAN.
The deal will see High 5 Games products integrated onto GAN’s GameSTACK platform, making them available to players at online casinos in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Michigan, with more states set to be added as regulations allow.
Over 150 High 5 Games titles, including Double Da Vinci Diamonds, Triple Double Da Vinci Diamonds, and Secrets of the Forest, will be covered by the partnership.
Commenting on the news CEO of High 5 Games, Anthony Singer, said:
“As we look to make an impact in more markets across the United States, we’re thrilled to add GAN to our arsenal of distribution channels. Players in New Jersey have experienced the joy of our real-money casino games for years — since 2008 on the casino floor and since 2013 online.
“The GameSTACK platform immediately puts our content on more devices, and as additional states bring regulated casino gaming online, we now have an incredible opportunity to entertain even more players all over the map.”
While Chief Commercial Officer of GAN, Jeff Berman, added:
“As we look to strategically grow our RMG content offerings and complement GAN’s industry-leading technology platform, we believe partnerships with well-respected content providers like High 5 Games will help us expand our market share and build sustainable momentum.
“Launching and integrating new content on the GAN platform further differentiates our platform and brings a full-service internet gaming experience to our virtual casino operating partners and consequently to their customers. We are excited about this new partnership with High 5 Games, and look forward to expanding our collaboration and to winning greater collective market share for both companies in the future.”
All original content featured on this site is © Pentagon Digital Limited, 2020.
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