Online casino games distributor QTech Games has strengthened its cross-vertical spread through a deal with EsportsConstruct. 

The partnership makes EsportsConstruct’s full portfolio, including FIFA 2000, NBA 2K20, Tennis World Tour, and Mortal Kombat, available to QTech Games clients and their players in developing territories.

QTech Games and EsportsConstruct say they have collaborated to optimise the esports experience for traditional bettors with a raft of recognisable titles, whose format and betting markets scale in synergy with the head-to-head competition of ball sports or big fights. This approach is designed to help establish esports betting as a long-term vertical, rather than simply a short-term alternative.

Discussing the partnership QTech Games CCO, Ulf Norder, said:

“It’s rewarding to team up with EsportsConstruct, whose brand shares our own core values around premium content and innovation. Whatever the state of play, the QTech platform is committed to identifying player demand and delivering it, via a game lobby whose machine learning techniques speak straight to wide-ranging markets and varied player preference.

“Esports, virtuals and Augmented Reality represent the next frontier for igaming – and this period of adaptation is now fast-tracking that process for esports which is here to stay. QTech are again leading the way forward in growth markets with an array of breakthrough deals.”

While CCO of EsportsConstruct, Dan Gibas, added:

“As part of the wider entertainment industry, operators are learning to adapt their offerings to accommodate changing appetites.

“As strategies shift, our esports portfolio is winning the day, realising the vertical’s potential by either engaging dormant sports audiences or cross-selling casino players with an organic diversion of attention. QTech Games’ expansive platform was naturally the perfect vehicle with which to distribute our content across emerging markets, particularly on mobile.”

AYO.NEWS says:

Increasingly we’re seeing both suppliers and operators realise that iGaming needs to start seeing itself as part of a complex digital entertainment ecosystem, of which the combined video gaming/esports space is already the dominant part. Of course, this new reality was already forming before the COVID-19 crisis, but there’s no doubt it is acting as a catalyst for even faster change.

‘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

Scientific Games Corporation and Gamesys Group plc have launched MONOPOLY Casino in Spain. 

The new venture follows the success of the MONOPOLY Casino UK site, launched back in 2015, and will offer Spanish players a tailored offering based on the classic board game. 

The casino’s games portfolio leverages well-known Hasbro branded games from Scientific Games, many of which are localised for the Spanish market, including MONOPOLY Rising Riches and MONOPOLY Paradise Mansion. 

Players will also have access to MONOPOLY Daily Free Parking, a free-to-play game that has been customised to feature some of Madrid’s most famous properties. 

Discussing the launch Country Manager, Spain, at Gamesys Group plc, Raul Ibanez, said:

“We’re really excited to be working with Hasbro and Scientific Games once again, bringing the already successful MONOPOLY Casino to a new audience in Spain. 

“MONOPOLY is one of the most recognizable brands and continues to entertain players all over the world with new versions of casino games inspired by the classic board game. Together with Scientific Games, we’re taking the player experience to new heights with a truly localized offering for Spanish players.”

While SVP Gaming at Scientific Games Digital, Dylan Slaney, added:

“Combining the power of the MONOPOLY brand with the expertise of Gamesys is a no-brainer for us, and we can’t wait to build on the success we’ve already achieved together in the UK by extending our partnership into the Spanish market. 

“We’ve evolved the Hasbro brand in recent years by bringing fresh new gaming experiences that really resonate with players. We’re sure MONOPOLY Casino will be a big hit in Spain and look forward to working alongside Gamesys and Hasbro over the coming months.”

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Affiliates, lotteries and the US market take centre stage on day three of SBC Summit Barcelona – Digital, with a line-up of senior executives ready to share their insights on the future direction of these key areas of the betting & gaming industry. 

Following on from the first two days of in-depth insights and high-level discussions at the industry’s largest ever virtual conference and exhibition, delegates attending on Thursday 10 September can look forward to three conference tracks. 

The Marketing & Affiliation Track, sponsored by Clever Advertising Group, includes a Leaders Panel focused on the evolving relationship between affiliates and betting & gaming operators. Toby Bentall (CEO, Oddschecker Global Media), Simon Pilkington (CEO, KaFe Rocks), Christian De Cailleux (CEO, Skores), and Marcos Oliveira (Chief Affiliate Officer, Clever Advertising Group) are set to participate, with Lee-Ann Johnstone (CEO, AffiliateINSIDER) in the moderator’s chair. 

The track also features sessions on a number of topics crucial to driving business growth, such as social media, player retention, sports sponsorship, and alternatives to the traditional affiliate model. 

Speakers ready to share their expertise with the audience include Neill Simpson (Brand Director, Mr Green), Eitan Gorodetsky (Acquisition Director, Betsson Group), Dan Towse (Head of Brand, Marathonbet), Yaroslav Stanev (Head of Marketing, Oddspedia), Chris Harrison (Industry Head – Finance Trading & Egaming, Google), and Thomas Ash (Sr. Client Partner – Sports Betting & Gaming, Twitter). 

Completing the track is Parimatch’s CMO Ivan Liashenko, who will deliver a presentation detailing how the company developed into a global brand. 

The Lottery Daily Track, sponsored by GLMS, will take an in-depth look at a crucial part of the gambling ecosystem, addressing topics such as player protection and the role of lotteries now that many of them also offer betting and casino games. The expert speaker roster includes Jens Nielsen (Sportsbook Director, Danske Spil), Camilla Folladori (Head of Lotteries Concession Renewals, SISAL), Vincent Perrotin (Head of CSR, FDJ), Tay Boon Khai (Chief Risk & Compliance, Singapore Pools), and Thanos Rigas (Sports Team Director, OPAP). 

As the business day gets underway in North America, so does the US Market content. It features four sessions addressing how brands can reach American bettors, the progress of state-by-state regulation, the potential investment gold rush, and the future of sports betting.  

The expert panelists ready to analyse the next steps in the evolving US market include Greg Carlin (CEO, Rush Street Gaming), Todd Kobrin (CEO, Oddsium), Max Bichsel (VP of US Sales, Gambling.com Group), Bill Pascrell III (Partner, Princeton Public Affairs Group & Trustee, GVC Global Foundation), Daniel Politzer (VP, Equity Research. JP Morgan), and Richard Schwartz (President, Rush Street Interactive). 

Outside the virtual conference rooms, KPMG and Pinnacle will be staging workshops on the benefits of automation and the prospects for esports betting in the US, respectively. There are also themed networking roundtables for the Asian, CIS, and LatAm markets, as well as a casino industry session and a gambling affiliate meet-up, all of which will provide an easy way to find and connect with fellow delegates with shared business interests. 

Delegates who missed the opening two days will also be able to use the event platform’s on-demand feature to catch up with the conference content they missed. The second day saw a focus on international markets, including the Australia – Pushing Back On Restrictions session, which examined whether online operators would be permitted to join retail bookmakers in offering in-play betting. 

Jake Henson, COO of BetMakers Technology Group, suggested that a change in legislation would only be possible if professional sports lobbied for it, something that would only happen if TV ratings began to dip. He said:

“As we know, with time-sensitive millennials, a two-hour field game is difficult to sit through, and they would like to be doing something else. In-play wagering could be a patch-up for that issue – something which the AFL and NRL are going to have to address at some point.” 

In the same session, Peter Cohen, Director of The Agenda Group, outlined why online casinos are unlikely to be legalised in Australia in the near future. He said:

“The federal government isn’t going to amend its Interactive Gambling Act to allow online casino games – largely because they won’t get any of the revenue from lifting the ban. The tax revenue is directed towards the state, so there is no incentive for the federal government to have a fight with anti-gambling people to allow online casino games. 

“I can’t see it happening. I actually think that getting rid of the ban on in-play betting has a miniscule chance of happening – but lifting the ban on online casinos has no chance.”

SBC Summit Barcelona – Digital takes place over four days this week (8 – 11 September) and features four main zones – Sports Betting, Casino & Gaming, Payments & Compliance, and Affiliate & Marketing – each of which have their own conference tracks, networking roundtables and interactive expo halls. 

Click here to secure your free pass for the betting & gaming industry’s largest ever virtual event.

Gaming platform provider The Mill Adventure and Casinobud have teamed up to launch a new casino syndicate product.

The new product, Casinobud.com, launched in Finland in July and went live in other European markets last month. It claims to be the world’s first proposition offering online syndicate betting on video slots and live casino products. 

At Casinobud.com players can play casino games together in group sessions, pooling money to aim for collaborative wins. Users can either play with a group of friends, or other Casinobud players online. One member of the group takes charge as captain, and the others are able to follow the progress, chat, and interact via a sophisticated interface. Sessions can also be streamed live via Twitch, giving non-users the chance to watch the action.

Discussing the new product Co-founder and CEO of The Mill Adventure, Dario Arruda, said:

“Casino players have been craving that social interaction, and Casinobud offers them exactly that. I definitely believe this industry first product has a huge future in the casino vertical, and can’t wait to see how it evolves over time. Together with Casinobud, I believe we have created something new and unique here, while making sure it’s done in the right way.

“Our mission at The Mill Adventure is to provide world-class and innovative iGaming platforms, solutions and services that allow companies – from startups to top-tier brands – to remain relevant to their players. We’re doing this by inventing new concepts, operating with an expert team and improving efficiency in all sectors.

“Casinobud is a fantastic example of our commitment to this mission, and I’m thrilled to showcase this cutting-edge concept as part of our ever-growing portfolio of innovations.”

While CEO of Casinobud, Fredrik Sehlstedt, added:

“The concept itself has existed in other verticals within gaming like sports betting and lottery for some time, both in physical shops and online to a certain extent, but it has not yet been made available for all product verticals such as online casino.

“This is a very exciting moment for us and the cooperation we have had with The Mill Adventure, from the planning stage to execution, has exceeded our expectations.

“The strong technical experience and knowledge from The Mill Adventure, and our product vision, was a perfect and essential match to reach the mutual goal for this exciting, yet challenging feature to become a reality.

“What we have launched is just the tip of the iceberg. Together, we are exploring new features, as well as new market opportunities. We have some very exciting times ahead of us and expect to make a big impact on the online casino industry.”

AYO.NEWS says:

Online casino has been crying out for some truly groundbreaking new concept for years. Will this social syndicate model be it? Well, the COVID-19 crisis has definitely increased the demand for both online gaming and online social interaction, so we wouldn’t be surprised if this takes off. 

‘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

SBC Digital Summit Africa, the new dedicated African edition of the world’s leading virtual event for the betting & gaming industry, has unveiled its agenda. 

The virtual conference and exhibition on 7 – 8 October is free to attend, providing everyone with an interest in the region with an opportunity to learn from 60 senior executive speakers with hands-on experience of working in African markets.

The opening day’s content track is Gambling in Africa, which will focus on the regulatory and operational challenges faced by sports betting, online casino and lottery operators in markets across the continent.   

Sessions include an examination of developments in East Africa, an in-depth look at regulation in West Africa, and an evaluation of whether the regulatory framework in South Africa is the right model for its neighbours to emulate. 

The day also has sessions about the prospects for online casinos, payments innovations, lotteries, developing tailored marketing strategies for local markets, and whether the European affiliation model can be effective in Africa. 

Day two’s track is Betting on Sports, which will take a detailed look at the landscape for football, horse racing, rugby, cricket and esports betting, and how sportsbook operators can develop attractive offerings for audiences in African markets. 

Additionally, there will be a panel analysing the rapidly changing profile of African sports consumers, along with sessions focusing on the prevention of problem gambling, the future of retail betting, and the technical challenges for suppliers working in the region. 

The speaker line-up for SBC Digital Summit Africa will be announced shortly.

Rasmus Sojmark, Founder and CEO of SBC, said:

“Africa is home to some of the most exciting emerging markets in the world, and international betting & gaming operators, affiliates and suppliers are eager to learn more about the opportunities available.

“For our first ever dedicated African event, we have compiled a conference agenda that will deliver valuable insights about doing business in the different territories in the region, examining both the challenges faced by new entrants to the markets and the successes of the established local operators.” 

In addition to the conference, the event will also feature an interactive product display area with leading suppliers showcasing innovations tailored for local markets, together with a programme of networking roundtables to make it easy for delegates to connect and talk business. 

Click here to register for your free pass for SBC Digital Summit Africa.

SolutionsHub has announced a partnership with Dutch casino games developer Stakelogic, as it expands its Isle of Man presence. 

Stakelogic develops iGaming content, including slots and mobile games, and its portfolio includes branded games inspired by major movies like Rambo and The Expendables. 

SolutionsHub are experts in regulatory approvals and obtaining banking for blockchain and gaming businesses, and is ramping up its business activity on the Isle of Man. 

Commenting on the partnership SolutionsHub COO, Nick Wright, said:

“Stakelogic are a hugely respected company within the igaming industry and we’re proud to be working with them. They are a hugely talented team who make brilliant casino content for their clients and we’re looking forward to supporting them as they continue to grow.”

While Stakelogic CEO, Stephan van den Oetelaar, added:

“SolutionsHub have a great reputation in the igaming business for their expertise in licensing and regulatory affairs, and we’re delighted to be able to call on this. 

“We are a growing and ambitious company and I’m sure the support of SolutionsHub will be crucial to our plans going forward.”

And, Digital Isle of Man Chief Executive, Lyle Wraxall, said:

“The Isle of Man Digital Agency is delighted to welcome Stakelogic to our growing ecosystem of gaming content providers.

“The partnership with SolutionsHub will undoubtedly bring new opportunities and growth and we look forward to supporting both Stakelogic and SolutionsHub through their future development plans and exciting games release roadmap.”

Staying with the Isle of Man, in July Digital Isle of Man appointed Chris Kissack as Head of Esports, as the self-governing British Crown Dependency looks to diversify its gaming and tech sector by attracting more esports businesses. 

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