Pragmatic Play has made its Live Casino products available to several EveryMatrix clients in Europe and LATAM. 

The online casinos now have access to the suppliers growing Live Casino offering, including the recently launched Roulette and Blackjack Azure, along with Mega Sic Bo, localised Roulette games, and Speed variants of a wide variety of casino classics. 

Commenting on the news Vice President at Pragmatic Play, Lena Yasir, said:

“Seeing our burgeoning Live offering made available across EveryMatrix’s clients is very exciting for us as we look to grow in the vertical. Our product range continues to excel, and we look forward to the response from EveryMatrix’s partners.”

While COO of CasinoEngine at EveryMatrix, Amund Stensland, added:

“We’re delighted to take Pragmatic Play’s Live Casino portfolio and offer it through our CasinoEngine platform to our clients. With a range of titles that appeal to players of varied demographics, we can’t wait to see how their games are received by our customers.”

In recent weeks, Pragmatic Play also announced similar agreements with BlueOcean Gaming and 888. 

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The SBC Digital Summit Africa virtual conference and exhibition will feature the strongest speaker line-up ever assembled for an African betting and gaming industry event, with 60 senior executives set to share their experiences of working in markets across the continent.

The speaker roster for the event on 6 – 7 October is packed with people who have hands-on experience of everything from securing a licence and launching a retail or online operation, through to leading operators to achieve significant growth in the differing regulatory and trading conditions of markets in the West and East Africa regions, and South Africa. 

There is a strong contingent of experts ready to offer their insights on doing business in West Africa and their ideas for the future of the betting, casino and lottery sectors in the region. They include Akin Alabi (Founder, Nairabet), Adekunle Adeniji (Managing Director, betBonanza), Ibukun Okeowo (CEO, Gibet), Dolan Beuthin (CEO, Betmonsta), Tayo Atoloye (Country Manager – Nigeria, Marathonbet), Youssef Kaado (CEO, Lottomania Nigeria), Dotun Ajegbile (Chairman, Betland Gaming), and Ilze Jansone (Managing Director – Online Gambling, West Africa Region, betBonanza).

Beuthin said: “I’m very excited to be part of the SBC Digital Summit Africa, and to hear leaders in the industry’s thoughts on the impact the last six months of COVID-19 has had on everyone, and how they feel it will affect us all going forward.”

Delegates keen to learn more about regulation and opportunities in East Africa will benefit from the significant expertise of speakers such as Bulent Boytorun (COO, BetLion), Jimmy Keneth (Chairman, Tanzania Sports Betting Association & Project Manager, Sokabet), Jeff Halloran (Managing Director, Sahara Games), and Ronald Louis (Head of Gaming, Mkekabet).  

Boytorun said: “SBC Digital Summit Africa is a very important and rich event bringing all the important minds together in a rapidly-changing region.”

South Africa’s well-established regulated betting sector and the lessons legislators and operators in other nations can learn from it is another key part of the agenda. The speaker line-up includes a host of people with in-depth knowledge of that market, including Tyrone Dobbin (Managing Director, Sportingbet South Africa), Sean Coleman (CEO, South African Bookmakers’ Association), Robin Bennett (Head of Department: Regulatory Compliance, Western Cape Gambling and Racing Board), and Ivan Zaltsman (CIO, World Sports Betting). 

Bennett said: “SBC Digital Summit Africa provides an opportunity for industry stakeholders to share ideas and possible strategies to address the challenges of the not so certain road ahead.” 

That expertise is augmented by a number of consultants and advisors ready to share their experiences of helping operators to obtain licences in multiple African nations, launch in new territories, establish payments set-ups, and introduce new product lines. They include Mark Tipping (CEO, Gaming4Africa), Martin Sack (Founder & Director, Brainstorm Online), Dan Phillips (CEO, NEL Advisory), David Moshi (Managing Partner, Gaming Advisory Africa), and Alan Weinrib (CEO, Web Gaming Consultants). 

Tipping said: “Africa is often an afterthought and given short time at international events. SBC Digital Summit Africa dedicates time to this emerging continent, allowing focused panels and workshops to start helping companies to understand the detail.”

The full speaker line-up and conference agenda is available at the event’s official website. 

In addition to the 18 conference sessions over the two days, 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 with other decision makers in the market. 

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

The UK’s Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has announced its members have agreed to a new code of conduct covering the design of online games. 

Designed to improve player safety and address problem gambling concerns, the new code will be implemented by BGC members from the end of this month. 

Specific points include a minimum game cycle speed of 2.5 seconds, a ban on ‘turbo’ or high speed modes, along with a ban on multi-slot play. Operators will also be obliged to carry out more checks on players’ activities, adding breaks to play, to ensure they can intervene quickly if needed. 

Commenting on the new code CEO of the BGC, Michael Dugher, said:

“The new Game Design Code of Conduct is yet another example of our determination to address concerns head on and meet our safer gambling commitments.

“I’m sure that our members will embrace this approach and commit to its objective of improving player safety.

“And as we prepare for the forthcoming Gambling Review, it is further evidence of our industry’s commitment to improving standards – unlike the completely unregulated black market.”

You can find the full Game Design Code of Conduct here.

Last month the BGC also introduced a new code of conduct for socially responsible advertising.

AYO.NEWS says:

Will the changes to online game design really make a difference to problem gambling, or just end up frustrating responsible players, operators and suppliers alike? Whatever happens, offering iGaming products in the UK now must be like navigating a minefield. 

‘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. 

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iGaming revenue continues to rise, with the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) anticipating iGaming generating as much as €29.3bn in the year 2022 – a rise of almost €5bn from 2019.

Whilst this is a huge positive, those within the industry will be well aware that the key to the long-term success of online casinos, is its interaction with the Millennial generation.

Millennials’ Gaming Education

A recent report suggested that the majority of young people are gaming in some capacity. From casual mobile games to more in-depth console/PC games, the report found that 22-36-year-olds still hold a keen interest in gaming, and whilst the evolution from video gamer to iGamer may not currently be an obvious one, the ability to play games while making real cash should prove appealing to Millennials.

To entice the Millennial age demographic, iGaming payouts are getting larger, and can, on occasion, be lifechanging, with those who play mega moolah sometimes attempting to land jackpots in the tens of millions. iGaming companies also create their content to specifically target Millennials, with well-known gameshows adapted to be used in an iGaming capacity, and popular celebrities brought in to market their products. Clearly, a new approach will be required to bring in this audience.

Appeal Increases With Tech Advances

Generations Y & Z were seen as the first to catch the gaming bug, and now it’s incredibly rare to see a member of this demographic unable to navigate their way around a smartphone. iGaming has adapted to this by tailoring their games to mobile and tablet devices, moving away from the traditional online casino websites which were only accessible on desktop or laptop.

As technology continues to evolve – with virtual reality and augmented reality gaming now two of the fastest moving in the genre – expect iGaming to continue to adapt their content to appeal to Millennials’ tastes.

Issues That Face The Industry

It is not just the issue of appealing to a younger demographic which currently faces iGaming, though, with video gaming giants Sony and Microsoft recently unveiling plans of a surprising partnership. The duo has spent the majority of Millennials’ lives competing for Playstation and Xbox sales, but Sony is now looking to Microsoft for help in powering its streaming services.

With competition in the video gaming industry greater than ever, the largest iGaming providers will need to guarantee that their content remains engaging, and innovative, to keep on the right side of Millennials.

Generational Gambling Habits

The main concern for the online casino sector though, is that Millennials do not seem to prioritize gambling as much as the slightly older Generation X.

In a study by Atlantic City’s Stockton University, the Generation Xers were found to spend on average 23.5% of their monthly budget on gambling, significantly more than the 8.5% wagered by Millennials. Of the Millennials who do gamble, the study showed that 40% who did not currently play slot games said that they would do so if there was an element of skill involved, and 38% would play if in a group.

iGaming may be a sector on the rise, but at this stage, there is little doubt that there is work to do to attract Millennials. However, should iGaming developers continue to adapt to changes in technology, and user experience, the industry will no doubt be confident of maintaining its upwards trajectory in the years to come.

Authorities in Buenos Aires have amended the proposed online gambling framework, opening licenses to local land-based operators. 

Under the original plans, local land-based operators would not have been eligible to apply for online gambling licenses. The rationale for this approach was to “avoid monopolistic practices”, and attract experienced international operators. 

However, those plans were initially approved in February, before Argentina was struck by COVID-19, which has significantly compounded the economic issues the country was already facing. As such, in a recent vote, the Buenos Aires City Legislature voted in favour of opening up online licensing applications to local land-based gaming operators. 

The changes mean that established local operators like Puerto Madero Casino and the Palermo Hippodrome will apply for online licenses. 

A ‘clean record clause’ was also added to the proposed legislation, banning anyone ever convicted of a serious crime, either in Argentina or abroad, from being involved in the management of a Buenos Aires-licensed gambling operator. 

Buenos Aires online licenses will be valid for five years, with no fixed fees, while all operators will be taxed on GGR at between 10-20% depending on the specific vertical, plus an additional 6% ta on net income duties. 

Buenos Aires City Lottery (LOTBA) is expected to be responsible for screening and regulating license holders, while the Buenos Aires Ministry of Finance will collect fees, taxes, and issue penalties. City Governor Horacio Rodríguez Larreta now needs to approve the final amendments to the legislation, after which Buenos Aires will be able to officially launch its licensing process. 

AYO.NEWS says:

It’s understandable that local land-based operators were a little bit miffed at being excluded from online opportunities, and we’re sure the pressure on legislators increased significantly as the COVID-19 economic crisis hit the land-based casinos hard. 

While it means established international operators won’t have it all their own way, the amendments also means there’s likely to be a bunch of local Argentine operators looking for experienced technical suppliers to partner with. 

‘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. 

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Gambling and entertainment solutions provider 888 Holdings has appointed Lord Jonathan Mendelsohn as non-executive director and chair designate. 

Lord Mendelsohn, who has more than 20 years of experience in the gambling industry, has taken up his new roles with immediate effect. Mendelsohn co-founded both gambling and sports M&A and strategic advisory boutique, Oakvale Capital LLP, and LLM Communications – which was later acquired by Financial Dynamics. 

Mendelsohn will succeed the current chair of the 888 Holdings board, Brian Mattingley, when he steps down at the next Annual General Meeting in May 2021. 

Commenting on the appointment, Mattingley, said:

“We are delighted that Jon has accepted the offer to join the Board and become the next Chair of 888. Jon has tremendous knowledge of the global online gaming industry, extensive deal-making experience and fantastic leadership qualities.  

“I am very confident that the Board will benefit significantly from Jon’s vast understanding of our sector as the Group continues its exciting long-term development.

“It has been a great privilege to Chair 888 and serve its stakeholders during more than 15 years with the Group. I am personally very pleased that someone of Jon’s experience and calibre will succeed me as Chair and I look forward to working closely with him over the coming months.”

While Mendelsohn himself added:

“I am very excited to join the Board of such a world-class gaming operator. 888 is a company that I have long admired during my more than 20 years working with companies in the gaming and gambling industries.”

Staying with 888 Holdings, earlier this month the company announced Yariv Dafna as Aviad Kobrine’s successor in the role of CFO.

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