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BETSSON ACQUIRES SPORTS BETTING AND GAMING OPERATOR BETFIRST IN BELGIUM AND ENTERS INTO PARTNERSHIP WITH GROUPE PARTOUCHE TO LAUNCH ONLINE CASINO OFFERING ON THE BELGIAN MARKET

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Betsson AB today announces the Group’s acquisition of the leading Belgian sports betting and gaming operator betFIRST for a total value of EUR 120 million, of which up to EUR 3 million is an earnout payment subject to certain conditions being met, all payable in cash. At the same time, Betsson and Groupe Partouche, the publicly listed leading French casino operator, today announce a new strategic partnership in order to offer online casino services in regulated markets. A first joint online casino offering should be launched in Belgium during 2023, subject to officially obtaining the required licenses. These two strategic initiatives are fully aligned with Betsson’s ambitions to deliver profitable growth, with a preference for growth in locally regulated markets in the long term.

Betsson has agreed to acquire all shares in the betFIRST Group, which operates a sports betting and gaming business under the brand betFIRST in Belgium. The total up-front consideration of the acquisition is EUR 117 million on a cash and debt-free basis, payable in cash. In addition, Betsson may pay up to EUR 3 million as earnout, subject to delivery on certain agreed financial targets. The initial consideration for the acquisition is equivalent to a multiple of 10.0x betFIRST’s estimated EBITDA for the financial year 2023.

Established in 2011, betFIRST is a leading B2C operator in the locally regulated online gaming market in Belgium, offering sports betting and dice games. betFIRST is a leading brand for sports betting in Belgium with a proven track record of successful customer acquisition and revenue growth. betFIRST holds a license for online sports betting and a license for online dice games in Belgium. In addition to the online business, the company also operates across approximately 450 points of sale in Belgium and also owns a gaming arcade. In the last financial year ending 31 December 2022, betFIRST recorded net gaming revenue of EUR 51.2 million and adjusted EBITDA of EUR 10.0 million.

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The new partnership with leading French casino operator Groupe Partouche will combine Betsson’s expertise in the online gaming sector and Groupe Partouche’s market leadership in land-based casinos to deliver an attractive online casino offering tailored to the local market. Groupe Partouche operates land-based casinos in France and Switzerland and also holds an offline casino license in Belgium, which can be extended to an online casino license. With such a license, a full range of online casino products can be offered to the Belgian market. Subject to the required licenses being granted by the Belgian regulator, the aim is to launch the online casino offering in Belgium during 2023. Betsson and Groupe Partouche are committed to developing their new collaboration and exploring additional ways to expand the partnership.

The acquisition of betFIRST and the partnership with Groupe Partouche will provide Betsson with critical access to the competitive Belgian market, a further diversified geographical footprint and an increased share of revenue from locally regulated markets. Betsson intends to continue operating the betFIRST sports betting business as it is today while exploring potential synergies in the mid-to-long term.

Pontus Lindwall, CEO and President of Betsson AB, commented: “We are very excited about entering the Belgian market together with our partners Groupe Partouche and see a strong strategic fit with the acquisition of betFIRST. At Betsson, our growth strategy revolves around extending our presence into new markets, particularly in locally regulated or soon-to-be regulated markets. Belgium, where the online gaming market is regulated since 2011, aligns very well with this strategy. Our business model is highly scalable, and these initiatives will add revenue and strengthen our profitability over time.”

Betsson is able to finance the acquisition with existing cash from its balance sheet and within existing credit facilities.

Completion of the acquisition of betFIRST is not conditional on regulatory approvals and is expected to occur on or around July 5, 2023.

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Betsson has engaged Lazard as financial advisor and Gernandt & Danielsson as principal legal advisor (together with Van Bael & Bellis and Edson Legal as legal advisors in Belgium) in connection with the acquisition.

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Veikkaus, Finland’s National Lottery Operator, Selects Optimove, the #1 CRM Marketing Solution for the iLottery and iGaming sector, as its CRM Marketing Solution

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Veikkaus will leverage Optimove across all products and channels to maximize lottery, casino, and sports betting player lifetime value through personalized and relevant marketing campaigns, and meeting the highest standards of Responsible Gaming 

Veikkaus, Finland’s national lottery operator, has selected Optimove, the #1 CRM Marketing Solution for the iLottery and iGaming sector, as its CRM Marketing solution to elevate player experiences, loyalty, and lifetime value. Veikkaus operates all gambling activities in Finland, offering a diverse range of games across three main categories: Lottery, Casino, and Sports Betting. 

Optimove, the only CRM Marketing Solution approved as an official European Lotteries Association Associate Member, is the #1 CRM Marketing solution used by digital lottery operators across the globe. The company empowers digital lottery operators – such as Sisal, Scientific Games, Connecticut Lottery, Kentucky Lottery, Pennsylvania Lottery, Maryland Lottery, La Tinka, and more – to achieve growth through their existing players. Optimove is used by 56% of iGaming operators in EGR’s Power 50 Ranking 2024, including bet365, Kindred Group, Lottomatica, and Entain. 

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Veikkaus gains the following key capabilities:     

  • Advanced marketing AI capabilities: Providing AI-driven Insights, Creation, and Orchestration for better player understanding, streamlining of content creation, and campaign optimization for enhanced personalized experiences across player touchpoints.
  • Enriched customer profiles: Unifying all historical, predictive, and real-time customer data from sources such as CRM, service clouds, and data warehouses via Optimove to create a comprehensive single customer view.  
  • Multichannel personalization and orchestration: Orchestrating hundreds of campaigns seamlessly across email, mobile, and web channels to deliver personalized customer communications across any channel.   
  • A continuous optimization loop: Measuring the incremental uplift of each campaign, journey, and strategy with productized experimentation tools to continuously optimize CRM Marketing performance.
  • Adherence to meet or exceed Responsible Gambling Standards: As a global CRM Marketing platform, Optimove meets the highest standards of Responsible Gambling worldwide.  

Additionally, Veikkaus will leverage Optimove’s Digital Experience Platform (DXP), Opti-X, to deliver personalized, dynamic content and product recommendations across multiple touchpoints, enhancing player satisfaction, engagement, and retention. 

Optimove’s data-driven approach will help Veikkaus fine-tune jackpot sensitivity and optimize the generosity of bonuses and promotions. Predictive models will support Responsible Gambling by anticipating player behavior. Furthermore, Veikkaus will receive ongoing support from Optimove’s Strategic Services team, ensuring tailored, data-driven marketing and monetization strategies to maximize business results. 

“This partnership with Optimove marks a significant step forward in driving our growth and Responsible Gaming initiatives. Optimove’s track record and industry experience are unparalleled in CRM marketing,” said Saara Pekkonen, VP of Marketing at Veikkaus. “Optimove’s proven ability to deliver personalized, data-driven player engagement at scale will be central to our continued drive to elevate our marketing strategy and execution. Optimove’s AI-powered capabilities enable us to offer players more relevant and engaging experiences, increasing satisfaction, loyalty, and maximizing player lifetime value.”  

“Veikkaus has an incredible legacy in delivering engaging and Responsible Gaming experiences to the people of Finland,” said Pete Miles, Director of Sales at Optimove. “We’re honored to partner with them to enhance player engagement through tailored, data-driven marketing strategies. Optimove will enable Veikkaus to personalize every touchpoint, increasing player loyalty and satisfaction while ensuring Responsible Gambling practices remain at the forefront. Working in partnership with the Veikkaus team, we’ll provide data and insights that help Optimove continually lead the CRM marketing space with other WLA Members.” 

The post Veikkaus, Finland’s National Lottery Operator, Selects Optimove, the #1 CRM Marketing Solution for the iLottery and iGaming sector, as its CRM Marketing Solution appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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QTech Games sharpens its elite live-casino suite with Live88

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Leading distributor further enhances its high-quality offering with new games from rising-star of live casino and slots developer 

QTech Games, the leading game distributor for emerging markets, has confirmed its latest premium provider partnership with Live88, allowing its platform customers to access the supplier’s wide-ranging live-casino portfolio.

Live88 is a fast-growing provider of customisable live-dealer games – such as Roulette, Blackjack, and Baccarat, imbuing traditional classics with real-time gameplay and added social features. LatAm-facing favourites like Betsul, JKBet and Arena Brasil have also recently been launched, introducing a new live casino vertical to engage new players and offering operators a broader cutting-edge for innovation across the ever-evolving landscape of emerging markets.

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In a short period, Live88 has quickly established itself a trusted provider in the sector, with a number of unique tables recently added to its wide portfolio. The thriving live-dealer domain continues to go from strength to strength with a truly global fanbase – and Live88’s hit titles (e.g. Royal Riches Roulette, showcasing fresh takes and industry-first collectible features in our first gameshow) are now riding on the back of the fastest-growing distributor for all growth territories. QTech Games’ platform boasts the broadest gaming suite around, localised for each region, with native mobile apps, powerful reporting and marketing tools, and 24/7 local-language support.

Incorporating this ever-evolving production line emphasizes QTech Games’ diverse range of gaming options, providing a definitive one-stop shop, QTech ONE™, which has fast-become the “go-to” solution for worldwide operators across developing territories.

James Corrie, Head of Live Games and RNG at Live88, said: “Whether it’s custom-branded tables with dedicated live dealers in a range of different languages, or Live88 tables decked out to match any casino brand, we will equip QTech Games’ legion of partners with full flexibility and the highest-quality games.

“Live casino is a hugely popular product worldwide and our offering is taking this vertical to the next level, encouraging players to bond together and enhance each other’s experience on a truly social journey. This agreement naturally broadens Live88’s geographic footprint, targeting emerging markets from Asia and Eastern Europe to Africa and Latin America, and uncovering new revenue streams.”

QTech Games CEO, Philip Doftvik, said: “We look forward to monitoring how these games perform across a range of untested markets which, in most cases, represent new territory for Live88.

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“Thanks to a blend of classic appeal and modern social features, Live88 stands out as a breakthrough innovator for the live-dealer experience and a real revenue-driver revenue for digital casinos by offering their players a fresh-yet-familiar gaming journey. Ingenuity and creativity are central pillars of what we do, and we are pleased to have found a partner that shares these tenets. We can’t wait to deliver Live88’s games to our operator partners via the dominant platform for emerging markets.”

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Tom Horn Unveils Infinite Excitement in 27 Crystal Fruits

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Tom Horn Gaming, an igaming software solutions supplier, is introducing 27 Crystal Fruits, the latest instalment in their beloved Crystal Fruits series.

Packed with fresh twists, this classic slot game brings a vibrant new energy to the fruit machine genre. Players can look forward to the exhilarating Infinite 27 Wild Respin, powered by the supplier’s innovative proprietary feature, QuickX and a thrilling Bonus Buy option, making every spin a chance for massive rewards.

Experience the Infinite 27 Wild Respin

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Set across a 3×3 grid, 27 Crystal Fruits offers players 5 winlines in the base game, which transform into 27 criss-cross paylines when the Infinite 27 Wild Respin is triggered. This feature activates whenever a 27 WILD symbol lands on any of the reels, launching a respin where winning combinations explode to make way for new symbols and more chances to win. With each respin, the win multiplier begins at x2 and increases up to x4, keeping the excitement alive. Respins continue until no further wins are achieved.

Amplify the Action with QuickX

For players eager to dive right into the action, 27 Crystal Fruits offers the QuickX feature, allowing them to select their desired multiplier and instantly enter the respin mode. Players can choose a multiplier from x2 to x4, ensuring that the rewards match the thrill. This feature is available through the Bonus Buy option, where players can purchase a guaranteed respin with their chosen multiplier, ensuring high-octane gameplay from the start.

A Game for All Adventurers

27 Crystal Fruits is designed to appeal to both new and experienced players, offering medium volatility with an RTP of 95.07%. The game’s simple yet dynamic mechanics, coupled with its colourful visuals and crisp animations, create a highly engaging gaming experience, blending nostalgia with features attractive for contemporary gamers.

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Katarina Slaninova, Head of Marketing at Tom Horn Gaming, said: “27 Crystal Fruits is a fresh take on a classic theme. We’ve retained the familiar elements that our players love but added new dimensions with features like the Infinite 27 Wild Respin and QuickX. It’s fast-paced, engaging, and offers great winning potential – a perfect addition to our Crystal Fruits series.”

With its modern twists on a beloved format, 27 Crystal Fruits is set to become another fan favourite in Tom Horn Gaming’s impressive portfolio. Whether you’re looking to relive the charm of traditional fruit slots or dive into the innovative features of Infinite 27 Wild Respin and QuickX, this game promises non-stop action and rewards.

The game will be available worldwide from 17 October.

The post Tom Horn Unveils Infinite Excitement in 27 Crystal Fruits appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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