888 Holdings has revealed that adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortisation (AEBITDA) for 2020 will be ahead of previous expectations.

The London-listed company has emerged as one of the strongest performers on the FTSE 250 index, with average daily revenue for the year-to-date 34% higher year-on-year. 

888 attributes the success to an increased level of customer acquisition in the second half of 2019, and its shift towards online gaming – which was significantly accelerated during the COVID-19 crisis over recent months.

Reflecting on the performance Chief Executive of 888 Holdings, Itai Pazner, said:

“We are pleased with 888’s trading during the year-to-date which has resulted in the board now anticipating that adjusted Ebitda for 2020 will be significantly ahead of its prior expectations. This performance builds on 888’s strong customer acquisition during 2019 and our continued focus during recent years on entertaining a greater number of recreational customers.

“888 is well positioned to continue to benefit from a potential long-term shift towards online services that we have seen accelerate across several consumer industries during the COVID-19 pandemic.”

However, the Gibraltar-based operator did sound a note of caution, pointing out that a prolonged period of global economic uncertainty could lead to lower discretionary spending by consumers. 

Staying with 888 Holdings, last week the company announced a global partnership with Betgenius, covering both in-play and pre-match content. 

AYO.NEWS says:

Given the unparalleled damage the COVID-19 crisis has wreaked on most industries, it’s encouraging to see this announcement from 888. It also underlines the wisdom of some of the changes the company made in the run-up to the crisis, which put it in a much better position to weather the storm than some of its rivals. 

Of course, we would have to concur with the warning about a prolonged economic crisis. After all, though online casino, virtual sports, and esports betting is doing very well right now, we should bear in mind that many workers haven’t actually lost their jobs yet due to companies getting emergency government support – especially in Europe. When that support is withdrawn, the true economic picture will emerge…

‘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

Multi-channel supplier of 24/7 betting services, SIS (Sports Information Services), has acquired the full shareholding of 49’s from GVC and William Hill. 

SIS will take ownership of 49’s live draws product and its virtual horseracing brands Portman Park, Sprint Valley, and Steepledowns, plus virtual greyhounds from Brushwood and Millersfield. 

The acquisition has expanded SIS’s product portfolio and fits within its existing 24/7 racing channels that have proved successful with both retail and digital betting operators. 

SIS says it is also developing a range of new numbers and virtual content which will be part of the 49’s brand, and that acquisition complements its progress in launching new products, including its esports competitive gaming product that recently launched with bet365. 

Discussing the acquisition CEO at SIS, Richard Ames, said:

“49’s has a long history of supplying high quality, market-leading content to UK and Irish bookmakers and the product range is much loved by consumers. Over recent years, SIS has successfully extended the brand worldwide and it makes perfect sense to now take the further step of acquiring the business. We have great plans for the brands and will announce shortly a range of new and extended products as part SIS’ numbers product strategy.”

While Chairman of 49’s Limited, Mike Jones, added:

“We’ve worked in partnership with SIS for the last 20 years and they are uniquely positioned to be able to further expand the 49’s brand internationally. We look forward to seeing how they build on the excellent work the team has done over the last few years to position 49’s as a leading numbers product.”

AYO.NEWS says:

Despite the gradual resumption of live sports, it’s clear that many companies have been spooked by the COVID-19 crisis, and the spectre of more waves and lockdowns, and are keen to invest in expanding their virtual and non-live sports offerings. 

‘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

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.