At the highly anticipated BEGE Expo 2024, EGT Digital will highlight its diverse portfolio of top-performing products and exciting innovations. Visitors can explore these offerings at booth 4.0 alongside the latest advancements from EGT.

The company’s extensive gaming solutions include popular instant games and its bestsellers Bell Link, Clover Chance, High Cash, and Single Progressive Jackpot, featuring over 120 in-house developed slots. Attendees can experience renowned titles like Burning Goals, Amazons’ Battle, and Sugar Duke, as well as the upcoming 5×6 Fruity Shots. This cocktail-themed game includes multipliers ranging from x2 to x500 and introduces Toppling Reels for enhanced win opportunities.

EGT Digital’s “all-in-one” betting platform X-Nave will also be on display with its four modular solutions: Sport Product, Gaming Aggregator, CRM Engine, and Payment Gateway.

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The Sport Product will debut its Customizable Tournament Page, designed to ensure effortless navigation and a personalized betting experience.

The Gaming Aggregator, offering over 12,000 titles, will present features like the Buy Bonus, Hot and Cold games category with live RTP insights, and tools for personalized content such as the Recommendation Engine and Casino as Widget.

The CRM Engine will showcase advanced player segmentation and AI/ML-driven tools for tailored game suggestions.

The Payment Gateway will emphasize its secure, player-focused design with options like deposit repeat, bonus selection, and two-factor authentication.

“We are delighted to participate in BEGE Expo once again,” commented Tsvetomira Drumeva, Head of Sales at EGT Digital. “During this 15th edition we will showcase a solid dose of innovations, sure to impress clients and partners in the region. We are also looking forward to the BEGE Awards, where EGT Digital is a finalist in numerous categories.”

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EGT Digital’s commitment to innovation and excellence continues to position the company among the leaders in the iGaming industry​​​.

Current State of the Market (2024)

How would you describe the current state of the iGaming market in Japan in 2024? Have there been any significant milestones or shifts this year?

Despite the uncertainty of how the future Police campaigns will change the iGaming landscape in Japan, the number of online casino users including sports bettors seems to be growing steadily, and more online casinos are entering the Japanese market.   One thing in common within the industry is that companies no longer hire anyone based in Japan for the Japanese market.   

What are the most popular types of games or gambling activities among Japanese players right now?

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Social casino games are on the up. Besides Pachinko-type slots, Plinko, Crash and Hi-Lo are increasingly popular among casino players.

How has the regulatory environment evolved in 2024? Have there been any notable changes that impacted operators or consumers?

In 2024, the Japanese Police arrested more people than the previous years in relation to use of online casinos. Streamers have become a clear target as well as payment providers based in Japan.  Encouraged by the current Prime Minister’s support, the Police declared in August that they would investigate more iGaming affiliates and online casino operators even outside Japan.  The Police made over 100 arrests so far in 2024 in relation to use of online casinos.  

With more risks associated with promoting online casinos, streamers command higher fees than ever.  Some YouTubers are migrating to other platforms trying to avoid detection by the Police.   

What role has mobile gaming played in shaping the iGaming market in Japan, and how does it compare to desktop or other platforms?

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Japan is a mobile market. Over 70% of players play on a mobile phone. As they are also technology-driven people, the usability of the casino platform on mobile phones could be the key to acquire and retain players. Those operators who study the Japanese mobile players’ behaviour and preferences would have enjoyed better results in both casino and sports betting in 2024.      

Have advancements in technology, such as blockchain or virtual reality, been widely adopted in Japan’s iGaming sector?

More and more people are shifting to using cryptocurrency when they play online casinos. The demographics of crypt users are also wider in Japan. User age could be up to 60. 

Challenges and Opportunities

What do you see as the biggest challenges currently facing operators and other stakeholders in the Japanese market?

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Japan is an affiliate-driven market. The affiliate/ streamer costs are expected to increase as the risks increase.  As direct marketing i.e. through local media is limited, boosting brand awareness can be tricky. You have to come up with creative ideas and catch the right moment. 

With increasing competition from both local and international operators, how are companies differentiating themselves to attract Japanese players?

To start with, operators tend to hire native Japanese speakers to make sure the site is fully localized and to meet the needs of Japanese users. Then the branding. They also tend to offer bonuses and promotions that are appealing to Japanese users.  

Are there any notable examples of successful partnerships between operators and local entities or institutions in Japan?

Live streaming providers and fighting event organisers are known to work with operators well.

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How do you think offshore and unlicensed operators affect the market landscape and trust among consumers?

Not many unlicensed operators are known or promoted in the Japanese market. 

Looking Ahead to 2025

What key trends or developments do you expect to emerge in Japan’s iGaming market in 2025?

More new Japanese players via social media would play at online casinos in 2025.  More deposits will be made in cryptocurrency.

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Are there specific regulatory reforms or discussions that might significantly impact the market next year?

The Police investigation efforts might impact the market, depending on who is involved and when they happen.

With the market’s growth, do you foresee new entrants, both local and international, establishing a foothold in Japan?

I expect to see more newcomers in the Japanese market, as they have room for growth.  Having said that, they might struggle in the competition unless they have strong branding and region-specific strategies.   

How important is localization for operators planning to enter or expand in the Japanese iGaming market? What should they prioritize?

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It is extremely important to have the site fully localized. It is the top priority.  Some affiliates don’t even work with you unless your site is fully localized and provides good Japanese customer support. 

What technological innovations do you believe will drive growth in the iGaming sector in Japan in 2025?

Any functionality that brings about a community feel and better usability for users. 

Insights and Predictions

Do you think Japan will ever move towards a more unified or liberal regulatory framework for online gambling? If so, what might catalyze this change?

Land casinos have been legalized and one is expected to be built in Osaka by 2030. Unfortunately, there is no sign of this new move being extended to online gambling in the near future. The government is opposed to it.

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What advice would you give to iGaming companies looking to launch in Japan or expand their presence in 2025?

Look out for any new on the Police investigations on operators based outside Japan and any arrest of affiliates. You make sure to have native Japanese speakers to oversee the latest developments.  

How do you see Japanese consumers’ preferences evolving in terms of gameplay, payment systems, and interaction with platforms?

Players always liked everything fast, but now they like it faster.  Expectation of faster service in payments, game loading, support’s response, etc is higher than ever. 

They also tend to like the feeling of ‘belonging’ whether as in VIP, community chat, player-to player activities. 

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Broader Market Perspectives

Lastly, what excites you the most about the future of iGaming in Japan?

As Japanese people are more familiar with international sporting events with live streaming services, I believe that the sports betting market will grow in the future.  There have been talks within the government to legalize sports betting, too.  

Popular iGaming content provider BGaming has discovered a brand-new moon where Christmas-loving spiders are ready to party. Wild Moon Thieves X-Mas Edition is a charming seasonal slot which features a whole host of special symbols, including Collector, Booster and Cleaner symbols, two Bonus games and an inviting mini-game.

With the lunar glow shining over the 5×4 game field, friendly Wild Moon spiders come out to unleash mischief on the reels, delivering a delightful bundle of festive treats. Donning their party hats, smiling arachnids can appear in the form of Scatter symbols, with three of their symbols on reels 1, 3 and 5 triggering three Free Spins.

The endearing mini-game starts before the Free Spins Bonus game. Players are faced with 16 closed doors and can click each one, or use the Autoselect function, to reveal the number of Wild symbols that will appear in the Free Spins round. Doors are opened until a Collector symbol appears, adding up the Multipliers.

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During the Free Spins round, spiders randomly replace the regular symbols with cobweb Wilds. The Wilds then complete any winning combination before the next spin starts.

To trigger the second Bonus game, Moon Respin, two iced gem Bonus symbols must land on reels 2 to 4. This Hold and Win game offers three starting respins and features special symbols, such as sticky Moon Multipliers with values of up to x100, a Collector, Booster and Cleaner. Respins can be retriggered if any of these symbols land on the reels. The more Moon symbols drop in this medium volatility slot, the higher the total win. This game ends when all the cells are filled or the respins run out. All dropped Multipliers are then summed up and applied to the bet.

The rocket Booster adds a random value to the Multipliers on the reels, while the Cleaner captures all Multipliers and then turns into a Moon symbol to display the sum of the Multipliers, erasing the other Moons.

Wild Moon Thieves X-Mas Edition offers attractive rewards, with the default max win of €250,000 and 97% RTP.

Alex Baliukonis, Game Designers Team Lead at BGaming, said: “As the holiday season approaches, we are excited to transport players to our magical winter wonderland set on the glistening Wild Moon. In Wild Moon Thieves X-mas Edition, we have not one but two Bonus games for players to revel in, resulting in an unforgettable gameplay variety.

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“With our unique mini-game adding a new layer of anticipation and welcoming a cast of adorable spiders to take the game in different directions, we expect this slot to engage players well beyond the month’s festivities.”