Ainsworth Game Technology has entered an exclusive partnership with Roar Digital, covering the launch of a series of online slots in New Jersey. 

The agreement will see 20 Ainsworth games go live with Roar Digital online casino brands BetMGM, Borgata, and Party. Roar Digital, a joint venture between MGM Resorts International and GVC Holdings, will benefit from a period of exclusivity when it comes to launching the various Ainsworth products. 

Commenting on the deal Ainsworth online general manager, Jason Lim, said:

“We are thrilled to be live across ROAR Digital’s network in New Jersey. Ainsworth games have been extremely popular with New Jersey land-based players for several years and we’re excited for online players to have access to our proven and high-performing content.”

While Roar Digital CTO, Kevin Allan, added:

“This was an incredible journey and we are proud that ROAR is providing the hosting solution from our New Jersey infrastructure to enable this great partnership with Ainsworth to come to life. This blueprint can be used for other providers, both in New Jersey and other legalized online gaming states with the US.” 

AYO.NEWS says:

The COVID-19 crisis and its decimation of sports betting has given an added impetus to the online casino vertical in the United States. This week alone we’ve seen DraftKings launch a stand-alone casino app in New Jersey, and arch-rival FanDuel launch a casino app in neighbouring Pennsylvania, while Evolution Gaming has said the North American market is a driving force for its NetEnt takeover bid. 

‘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

The Payment Expert track at CasinoBeats Malta Digital is set to provide an in-depth examination of the major payments challenges facing igaming operators, with input from specialists at William Hill, Flutter Entertainment, GVC Holdings, Parimatch, Rank Group and Pinnacle.

Delivered in conjunction with the PaymentExpert.com news portal and sponsored by Neosurf, the content track features eight panel sessions spread over 1 and 2 July, the final two days of the virtual conference and exhibition.

In addition to the content, there will be a Payments Social networking session on 2 July to provide a forum for operators and suppliers to connect, as well as a strong contingent of payments solutions providers showcasing their latest innovations in the interactive exhibition.  

Joe Streeter, News Editor of PaymentExpert.com, said:

“The relationship between operators and payments solutions companies is crucial to the success of the igaming industry, so we’re delighted to bring together key players from both sides to connect and engage in for some important discussions at CasinoBeats Malta Digital.

“We’ve compiled an agenda that covers the key payments-related issues that the gaming sector faces as regulations change and technology continues to evolve at pace. The speaker line-up is packed with experts ready to share their insights and ideas, so all delegates involved in payments and compliance will learn something valuable.”  

Gambling Payments & Self Governance

The track opens with Gambling Payments & Self Governance, which will look at the fallout from the UK Gambling Commission’s ban on credit card gambling and what can be done to prevent the unregulated market enticing the vulnerable players the ruling was intended to protect. The panel includes Paul Buck (CEO, EPIC Risk Management), Paloma Gonzalez Mascaraque (Head of Payments, BetConstruct) and Ievgeniia Derbal (Head of Legal, Parimatch), with David Clifton (Director, Clifton Davies Consultancy) in the moderator’s chair. 

It continues with an in-depth examination of how operators can cope with the enhanced regulatory burden they now face during the W2 Global: Harmony on Compliance session.

Speakers include Steven Armstrong (Group Director of AML, William Hill) and Warren Russell (CEO, W2 Global). 

Instant Play & Payments

The Instant Play & Payments session, sponsored by Trustly, will look at ways operators can offer a quick, user-friendly sign-up process while also complying with KYC regulations. Matthew Vassallo (COO, Hero Gaming), Beyza Orazova (Head of Sales, iGaming, Dimoco), Ana Stef (Group Head of Payments, NetBet) and John Mallia (Team Manager – Gaming Accounts, Trustly) feature on a panel moderated by Rahul Das (Head of Payments, LiveScore / VirginBet). 

Anticipating the Next Wave of M&A

The final Payment Expert session of 1 July is KPMG: Europe – Anticipating the Next Wave of M&A, which will provide a timely evaluation of whether the gaming industry is entering a new phase of consolidation. Hermione Arciola (Partner, KPMG Malta) will moderate a panel that includes Ben Robinson (Co-Founder, RB Capital Advisors), Grant Johnson (CEO, Esports Entertainment Group), Robert Andersson (CEO, Net Gaming Europe AB) and Cormac O’Brien (Chief Financial Officer, Flutter Malta). 

Crypto: The Next Chapter

Crypto: The Next Chapter will get things underway on 2 July, as a group of legal experts assess the Malta Gaming Authority’s efforts to develop a framework that accepts digital currencies and share their insights on whether crypto really has the potential to become a mainstream option for operators and players. The panel includes Matthew Dickson (CEO, BitBoss), Ian Gauci (Managing Partner, GTG Advocates) and Brandon Debattista (Legal Counsel, MGA), with Genia Gurevitz (Head of Banking, Compliance & Payments Services, Tal Ron, Drihem & Co) acting as moderator. 

Cashless: The New Normal

Attention then tCashless: The New Normalurns to the growing pressure on betting shops and brick-and-mortar casinos to go digital in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, and what steps operators need to take to remain compliant and keep customers engaged as they introduce new payments technology. Joe Streeter will chair the Cashless: The New Normal panel, which features Martin Lycka (Director of Regulatory Affairs, GVC Holdings), Dan Waugh (Partner, Regulus Partners) and David Williams (Director Of Public Affairs, Rank Group). 

Future of PSPs

It is followed by the Future of PSPs, which will investigate how the role of payment services providers will develop as the gaming industry continues to evolve. The panel includes Olga Golikova (Head of Billing, Parimatch), Isabelle Delisle (Global Head of Payment Solutions, Pinnacle) and Liutauras Varanavičius (Head of Business Development, ConnectPay), with Andrea McGeachin (CCO, Neosurf) on moderating duties. 

The 6AMLD Challenge

The final panel of the track, which takes place directly before the Payments Social networking event, is The 6AMLD Challenge. Thees Buschmann (Head of Compliance, Red Rhino), Philip Bugeja (AML Consultant) and Matthias Schüller (MD, Run It Once Poker) will look at what the directive means for gambling operators, with James Myles (Analyst, Eta Delta) asking the questions. 

Working in Malta, the Future of Gaming, Technology & Innovation, and Regulation & Compliance

The CasinoBeats Malta Digital agenda also includes tracks about Working in Malta, the Future of Gaming, Technology & Innovation, and Regulation & Compliance. 

Away from the conference rooms, delegates will have multiple opportunities to make new contacts. In addition to the schedule of themed networking sessions, attendees can take part in workshops with sector experts, join in group discussions in the virtual networking bar or use the event platform’s chat facility for one-to-one conversations. 

There is also a 40-booth interactive exhibition showcasing the latest products from major suppliers, the SlotBeats Lounge where new offerings from leading games studios will be on display, and a programme of product presentations and exhibitor competitions.

Find full details of CasinoBeats Malta Digital, including information about how to register and the discounts available on company group passes, at the event’s official website.

Retention-as-a-Service platform Enteractive has partnered with SuprNation. 

The collaboration is aimed at activating NRCs and NDCs, and reacquiring lapsed or dormant player accounts across the brand portfolio, including flahship VoodooDreams.com and mobile-optimised casino, Duelz.com. 

By integrating the (Re)Activation Cloud platform, SuprNation will retain Enteractive’s skilled agents to engage in one-on-one conversations with players by phone, providing a personalised service that perfectly fits the SuprNation brand culture. Enteractive says the collaboration will drive more customer deposits and boost the company’s bottom line through re-activation of stalled registrations and lapsed player accounts.

Discussing the news Casino Manager of SuprNation, Rasmus Hammar, said:

“With this new partnership, we are entrusting Enteractive with our unique brand values to re-energise our player engagement and activity. Their agents have all the right skills to remind our lapsed and dormant players about SuprNation’s one-of-a-kind entertainment services. This is a crucial component of our ongoing success.” 

While Enteractive founder and CEO, Mikael Hansson, added:

“SuprNation is a super-cool brand which requires only the best service to engage with their customers, and Enteractive has the cultural minerals to deliver on-the-money customer retention and reactivation strategies that resonate with the brand.  Our agents are super excited about bringing players back to this iGaming trailblazer!”

AYO.NEWS says:

With cost of acquiring players increasing it’s clearly more important than ever for operators to retain existing customers and reactivate lapsed accounts. Enteractive stands out in that it is using the human touch – something that seems to resonate with customers who face an ever more automated world. 

Only last week Hero Gaming integrated Enteractive’s (Re)Activation Cloud, while earlier in the month the company launched a localised version for the Japanese market. 

‘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

Simona catches up with one of the pioneers of the iGaming industry, Jesper Kärrbrink, Chairman at Green Jade Games, and former CEO of Mr Green and Svenska Spel,  for a chat about Swedish politics, how the industry can improve its public image, what the future holds for slots and skill-based games, and plenty more.

Jesper will be on the ‘Future of Gaming’ panel, along with Ariel Reem, CEO of Genesis, Alexander Martin, CEO of SKS365, and Pontus Lindwall, CEO of Betsson, on 2 July, at the upcoming CasinoBeats Malta virtual conference. Find out more at CasinoBeats Malta.

The Philippine government has warned offshore operators to pay their taxes or face being shut down.

It follows reports that despite the Philippine regulator (PAGCOR) and Bureau of Internal Revenue giving 11 POGOs the greenlight to resume operations after COVID-19 lockdowns, only two had paid their taxes. 

Addressing the issue, a government spokesperson said that it was not going to allow POGOs that owed tax to operate, and the Finance department has commenced investigations. In total there are 60 licensed POGOs in the country, with most still engaged in settling their taxes. 

Earlier this month PAGCOR also authorised casinos in Bacolor city, Iloilo city, General Santos city, and Ilocos Norte, to reopen at 50% capacity. However, casinos in the Metro Manila area have been ordered to remain closed until at least the end of June. 

AYO.NEWS says:

Considering the massive scale and disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting lockdowns, some confusion and misunderstanding is to be expected as businesses attempt to return to normal. 

However, with China breathing down the neck of the Philippine government over gambling, it would be very unwise if operators tried to take advantage of the confusion to avoid paying taxes. The industry really can’t afford to give any more ammunition to its enemies right now. 

‘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

Live casino supplier Evolution Gaming has extended its partnership with Rush Street Interactive with the launch of six first-person games in the Colombian market.

The extended agreement covers the roll out of First Person Roulette, Lightning Roulette, Blackjack, Dream Catcher, Baccarat, and Mega Ball – all RNG versions of popular Evolution Live Casino games – on RushBet.co over the next few weeks. 

Stockholm-listed Evolution Gaming has been partnered with Rush Street Interactive in the USA since 2018, when it launched a Live Casino for PlaySugarHouse.com in the New Jersey market. 

The PlaySugarHouse.com solution included a mix Evolution’s live Blackjack, Roulette, Slingshot Roulette, and Baccarat tables, plus Three Card Poker and Ultimate Texas Hold’em – exclusive firsts for the US market. A similar mix is expected to be rolled out by Evolution and Rush Street in the Colombian market within months.

Regarding the news President of Rush Street Interactive, Richard Schwartz, said:

“RSI partnered with Evolution Gaming because we wanted to offer our RushBet.co players in Colombia a premier Live Casino mobile playing experience. The breadth, variety and innovation of the Evolution games portfolio, and the Evolution services and operational excellence that surround it, give us full scope to achieve that objective.”

While Chief Commercial Officer at Evolution Gaming, Sebastian Johannisson, added:

“We are delighted to be growing our relationship with Rush Street Interactive, who are at the leading edge of gaming industry convergence, constantly innovating and pushing boundaries. Evolution shares the same ethos, and we look forward very much to building on the successes we have achieved together to date.”

As we reported yesterday, Evolution Gaming has announced a bid to acquire slot supplier NetEnt, in an all-share transaction that values NetEnt at approximately €1.86 billion.

And, staying with Colombia, earlier this week it emerged South Africa-based Kiron Interactive is set to become the first virtual sports supplier to launch in a regulated Latin American market, going live with Betplay in Colombia. 

AYO.NEWS says:

The Latin American market is rapidly emerging as one of the most promising for operators and suppliers alike, and there’s clearly a lot of room left for growth in what is still a very under-served but hungry market. 

‘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