Gambling and entertainment solutions provider 888 Holdings has partnered with Slovenia-based ORYX Gaming.

The agreement will see ORYX’s content integrated on 888’s platform across a number of regulated markets. Specifically, the partnership covers ORYX’s RGS platform content, which includes both proprietary games and those from partner studios Gamomat, Kalamba Games, Givme Games, and Golden Hero Games. 

ORYX is licensed by the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA), and the Romanian National Gambling Office (ONJN), and its content is certified and approved in 16 major jurisdictions around the world. 

Discussing the partnership Managing Director of ORYX, Matevz Mazij, said:

“Partnering with such a premium brand as 888 is an important step for us as we continue to focus on growing and expanding our business. The first half of this year has been strong for us and this deal will see our casino content reach new audiences that we are certain will enjoy the large, diverse and exciting offering we provide. We’ve got no doubt that it’ll prove a hit with the 888 audience.”

While SVO B2C of 888 Holdings, Guy Cohen, added:

“Our customers expect the best and most engaging casino experience and, by partnering with ORYX, we continue to strengthen our wide portfolio of premium games. ORYX has a locally tailored approach to games and a strong reputation for delivering top quality content and player engagement tools. We believe their content will perfectly complement our existing offering and help enhance our user experience even further.”

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Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), the Dutch gambling regulator, has issued 14 warnings to operators for using the COVID-19 pandemic in advertising. 

Though online gambling is still illegal in the Netherlands, the KSA says it has nevertheless seen a number of operators use the COVID-19 crisis in marketing materials directed at Dutch residents. Specifically the KSA cited examples of operators using phrases such as “Coronavrij gokken” (Corona-free gambling).

According to the KSA, all operators removed the offending adverts when threatened with financial penalties of at least €250,000 if they did not do so. 

Any iGaming operators or affiliates targeting Dutch customers are already acting illegally in the view of Dutch authorities, but the latest action makes it clear there will be even harsher punishment for those found to be exploiting the COVID-19 crisis.

AYO.NEWS says:

Despite a brief reprieve in Northern and Western Europe, it looks like COVID-19 is back with a vengeance, with each day bringing record levels of infection, and some countries now teetering on the brink of chaos. 

Even in Europe, a few weeks after lockdowns and travel restrictions were eased we are seeing a resurgence of infections – to the point where several countries, including the UK, dramatically ended their much celebrated quarantine-free “air bridges” to Spain with just a few hours notice. 

Malta, the iGaming hub of Europe, which had virtually eliminated the virus thanks to the closure of its only airport and ferry port, is also now seeing new outbreaks. In absence of a vaccine, it seems lockdowns are the only way to control this virus, so iGaming operators should dig-in for the long-haul and get used to the “new normal.” 

‘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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Netherlands-based online casino game developer Stakelogic has partnered with online casino operator LeoVegas. 

The deal will give LeoVegas’ players access to the developer’s full portfolio of slot games, including its top-performing title Book of Adventure Super Stake Edition, and Stakelogic’s in-demand features like Quattro & Super Stake. 

Commenting on the partnership Sales Director at Stakelogic, Salvatore Marino, said:

“Going live with LeoVegas, Stakelogic clearly has a louder ROAR than our closest competitors which is a testament to the calibre of our future partnerships.”

While Casino Operations Manager at LeoVegas, Johan Ekberg, added:

“We are delighted to have boosted our casino offering with the addition of Stakelogic’s content. This is an important step for LeoVegas as we continue to strategically diversify our content portfolio. At LeoVegas Mobile Gaming Group, we strive to offer our players the latest and greatest gaming experience and by partnering with Stakelogic our customers will be able to enjoy a new range of exciting and engaging titles.”

Staying with LeoVegas, earlier this month the operator announced the launch of its GoGoCasino brand in Finland. 

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Gambling and personal finance affiliate marketing publisher XLMedia is struggling to claw its way back from its Google deranking in late January. 

In a trading update, the Jersey-registered company says it expects revenue for the first six months of 2020 to come in at around $27.5M USD, with a forecast EBITDA of $3.5M. This means monthly revenue is currently around $2M less than before the Google deranking. 

The company says approximately half of the revenue drop is due to the deranking of the predominantly casino websites, with the rest a result of the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on the sports betting and personal finance verticals, and the management decision to discontinue media buying. 

Unsurprisingly, the first quarter of the year, which included a period of normal trading immediately prior to the Google deranking, and was only slightly impacted by COVID-19, was more positive than the second. 

In May XLMedia announced staff cuts and a switch to automation and outsourcing in an attempt to make significant savings, and in June it confirmed plans to offload the majority of its Finnish casino assets, along with some other sites, and to refocus its portfolio towards regulated and high-potential markets, including the United States. 

The company says the measures have led to a “healthy cash position at the end of June,” and that despite the effects of the deranking and COVID-19, it is confident of maintaining a strong balance sheet, with cash balances amounting to approximately $27.9 million. 

 You can find the full trading update here. 

AYO.NEWS says:

The delisting of XLMedia’s casino sites by Google really couldn’t have come at a worse time, because they meant the company couldn’t take full advantage of the COVID-19 lockdown driven surge in online casino. Still, the difficult steps taken by the company seem to have enabled it to weather the storm, so far…

‘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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The government of Uzbekistan has formed a committee to select a national lottery operator. 

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s office has sanctioned the Capital Development Agency to select and appoint a national lottery operator and develop a governing framework. 

The agency has the mandate to work with various government departments, including the ministries for trade, foreign investment, treasure, sports, law, heath, and the Olympic Committee to define how the new lottery should be organised and run.

The various departments have also submitted thoughts for how to regulate risk-based games using modern technologies, and how the lottery can best support “socially significant” projects – which it will be distributing at least 60% of proceeds from ticket sales to. 

Reports suggest the Capital Markets Agency is now determining the basic requirements any potential operator will need to meet. 

Uzbekistan’s national lottery has a lot of political weight behind it, with Prime Minister Abdulla Nigmatovich Aripov overseeing its development. 

AYO.NEWS says:

Uzbekistan really isn’t somewhere you hear much about, but with a population of just under 33 million it’s got plenty of development potential. Perhaps most interesting is the fact that, as a predominantly Islamic nation (88% according to Wikipedia), it’s even considering a lottery! 

We’re presuming that, given the lack of local technology and platform providers, the Uzbek government will be looking to work with a foreign supplier, so it will be interesting to see who submits proposals. 

‘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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Malta-based Genesis Global has said it will “vigorously” appeal the UKGC’s decision to suspend its operating license. 

As we reported yesterday, the license suspension came into effect on 20 July and affects brands including Casoola.com, Casinoplanet.com, Kassu.com, Casinocruise.com, Casinogods.com, Casinojoy.com, Genesiscasino.com, Pelaa.com, Sloty.com, Spela.com, Spinit.com, and Vegashero.com. 

The UKGC said it had taken the decision to suspend Genesis Global’s license, while it conducted an investigation, because it suspected the company of breaching a condition of the license (section 116(2)(a) of the Act), and is unsuitable to carry on the licensed activities (section 116(2)(c)(i) of the Act). 

In response, Genesis Global has said it has sought legal advice, and considers the Gambling Commission’s actions to be “disproportionate” and “inconsistent” with previous regulatory enforcement action relating to other operators. 

While the company has said it will cooperate with the UKGC review, it will nevertheless be “vigorously appealing” against the UKGC’s actions “using all channels open to it,” and has expressed its “extreme level of disappointment” with the UKGC’s actions. 

AYO.NEWS says:

While the response of Genesis Global is perfectly understandable, we can’t help but suspect its not-so-subtle reaction to the UKGC’s actions will likely make things worse. Considering the UKGC is already under pressure from politicians for being “torpid” and “toothless,” and its very existence is under threat, it seems very unlikely it will back down or go easy on Genesis. In fact, its far more likely to try and make an example of the company. 

‘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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