Canada
“Some of our games have registered performance increases of up to 300%” Exclusive LatAm interview with BetGames.TV’s Eddie Morales
While live casino has already been a strong performer in LatAm this year given the cancellation of sport – BetGames.TV has netted some of the industry’s highest surges in bet counts this year to make it one of the region’s standout suppliers.
Keen to find out more about the keys to their success, we had a virtual chat with BetGames.TV’s LatAm Sales Director to get the latest on the company’s expansion – as well as his insights on how we should expect the market to play out in the coming months.
It’s clear that certain verticals have taken a hit in recent months. How have live dealer games performed from BetGames.TV experience?
From our understanding, our live dealer titles have outperformed the average comparative title of late. We believe this is down to their unique fixed odds nature, which brings them closer to the sports betting audience which has been prime for cross-selling into casino this year.
Some of our games have registered performance increases of up to 300% in the first half of 2020, and this correlates with the same period that the global sporting calendar was limited and players were locked down and looking for new, vibrant content on digital and mobile channels.
Is the online gaming space catching up with the region’s long-held land-based focus in recent months?
Pre-pandemic, it had showed signs that the trend was changing in favour of online, but the sudden shock of lockdown has given many operators a reality-check that the transition needs to be prioritised.
Saying that, online gaming laws remain an important factor in this shift, and these too need to progress sustainably to develop a safer, regulated, and balanced marketplace. I personally don’t see the move to digital occurring as fast as some have predicted, but I expect it to play out with a form of natural selection where only the strongest, best prepared suppliers and operators will survive.
How has your experience with regulators been in terms of the roll-out of live dealer games?
If you look at the LatAm region, there has tended to be a lag in Live Casino product regulation. It tends to come after teething problems have been ironed out in the likes of casino and sportsbook, which almost always become the first to be regulated in newly opened markets.
There’s a lot to learn from various European markets, like the UK or Italy, where the variety of product offerings and certification processes protect both business and players in a more controllable, transparent online setting.
Is there a certain demographic uptake that explains your recent success? Is this a new audience your products have targeted, or do you think you’ve attracted players from other verticals?
Our games’ characteristics, namely being fast-paced, simple to pick-up, visual, and low-risk with regular reward, appeal to both sports and casino players from both player feedback and data analysis.
The key to our success is arguably a combination of both appealing to the expected base, but also not creating game environments that rule out gambler interaction from other verticals. We know we still have a long way to go, and we’ll continue to hone this wider market strategy, working with partners to build further product knowledge and make improvements that work across multiple borders.
With many players in the region relatively new to online gambling, let alone live dealer games, how do you go about building that initial trust?
Building trust with a new player in the digital space relies heavily on their local environment and the interaction with the operators that first serve them. A regulated country gives that first ‘plus’ mark to the player, but this can also be achieved by a strong, respected brand, or via associated partners and sponsors.
As a game supplier, we can assist by providing games that are recognisable to the local user, while also making them easy to play, entertaining and low risk, which is key to driving long term gaming longevity. We can also work with operators on tutorials, promotional and marketing tools, and offer our local expertise wherever we can to partners, so they can deliver a safe gaming environment that players will feel comfortable in.
Are there learnings from other geographies that you can take to LatAm or do you need a wholly localized approach?
Of course. There is always general learning that can be introduced to the region, particularly from Europe. It has instilled country-by-country localisation successfully, and I believe the “think global and act locally” mantra can be perfectly applied here. Although there is no reason why we cannot go further and add some local ‘spice’ and knowhow, especially on aspects affecting player lifecycle behaviour, marketing and in operations.
How do you see the wider market performing as it comes out of this pandemic? Are there certain territories or verticals that could significantly benefit or struggle?
I see the retail channel as the clear ‘loser’ from this pandemic. This applies to territories and companies where their online evolution has not been sufficient, or where they maintain high dependencies on a small number of territories with overly concentrated retail cashflow.
In terms of who might come out of this better, I have to say we are looking good at BetGames.TV, while virtual sports suppliers look to be the most improved of late. On a macro level, it’s also clear that online and mobile are those who have won big from bricks-and-mortar casino’s recent hiatus.
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Canada
Revolver Gaming Partners with Blazesoft to Expand in the Social Sweepstakes Market
Revolver Gaming, a leading developer of premium online slot games, is excited to announce its latest partnership with Blazesoft, a leading provider of online social casinos with sweepstakes elements. This partnership will see Revolver Gaming’s acclaimed portfolio of slot games delivered to Blazesoft’s brands, enriching their offering and providing players with cutting-edge entertainment.
Blazesoft is a well-established leader in the social sweepstakes market with leading brands in Fortune Coins, Zula Casino, Sportzino, Yaycasino.com who deliver engaging and compliant gaming experiences to players. By introducing Revolver Gaming’s innovative titles, Blazesoft strengthens its position as a prominent group operating the largest online social casinos in the U.S. and Canada for players seeking immersive and high-quality content.
As part of the collaboration, players on Blazesoft social gaming platforms will gain access to Revolver’s top-performing titles, including Badlands, Irish Coins, and Thor of Asgard. These games, celebrated for their stunning visuals, unique features, and dynamic gameplay, align perfectly with Blazesoft’s mission to offer exceptional entertainment to its users in North America.
Ryan Lazarus, CEO of Revolver Gaming, commented:
“We’re thrilled to partner with Blazesoft, a standout operator in the social sweepstakes sector. This collaboration highlights our commitment to bringing top-quality games to players in innovative and growing markets. The social sweepstakes space is booming, and Blazesoft’s platforms provide the perfect home for our titles to reach and engage new audiences.”
Yuliya Ivanisova, Chief Commercial Officer at Blazesoft said: “With Blazesoft’s established reputation and Revolver’s innovative content, this collaboration sets the stage for enhanced player experiences and strong market performance.”
The partnership underscores Revolver Gaming’s dedication to supporting operators in the social sweepstakes gaming industry, a market that continues to experience tremendous growth. With Blazesoft’s established reputation and Revolver’s innovative content, this collaboration sets the stage for enhanced player experiences and strong market performance.
Bally Bet Sportsbook & Casino app
Bally’s Interactive Launches the New Bally Bet Sportsbook & Casino App in Ontario
Bally’s Interactive, the digital and sports betting division of Bally’s Corporation, has launched the all-new Bally Bet Sportsbook & Casino app in Ontario, Canada. This latest release marks another significant milestone for the company, following the recent app update in New Jersey and a series of successful app launches in the past year, including the introduction of Bally Bet Sportsbook across multiple states and Bally Casino in Rhode Island.
The updated Bally Bet Sportsbook & Casino app represents a major step forward, as it combines the functionalities of the existing Bally Casino app and Bally Bet Sportsbook app into one comprehensive platform. Powered by White Hat Gaming, this new app allows players residing in or traveling to Ontario to conveniently place wagers on both sports and casino games using a single app, account, and universal wallet.
“We are thrilled to introduce the new Bally Bet Sportsbook & Casino app, marking a significant milestone for Bally’s. This integrated platform merges the features of our previous apps, providing players in Ontario with a seamless experience for both sports and casino betting. Our commitment to enhancing the player experience remains at the forefront as we strive to personalize the enjoyment of playing Bally Bet,” said Robeson Reeves, CEO of Bally’s Corporation.
BCLC
Be #GiftSmart: Scratch the Idea of Gifting Scratch & Win Tickets to Kids
BCLC reminds adults to gift responsibly this holiday season
With the holiday season in full swing, BCLC is reminding British Columbians to gift responsibly and scratch lottery products from their shopping lists for kids.
“Scratch & Win tickets can make great stocking stuffers for the adults in your life, but they’re not for kids,” said Ryan McCarthy, BCLC’s Director of Player Health. “The research shows that children who have early encounters with gambling are four times more likely to develop riskier gambling behaviour as they grow up. While people are out shopping for those last-minute gifts, BCLC wants adults to be aware of the potential risks associated with gifting lottery products to children and to consider safer alternatives.”
While Scratch & Win tickets are among the most common ways kids can be introduced to gambling, children are increasingly exposed to various online forms, such as gambling streams.
“With the convergence of gaming and gambling, youth are becoming more exposed to gambling content in online spaces like streaming sites, where creators are able to live-stream their own gambling, usually while playing online slots and instant games,” said Dr. Luke Clark, Director for Gambling Research at UBC. “Our research at the UBC Centre for Gambling shows that a higher frequency of watching online gambling streams is associated with a more positive attitude towards gambling and a high intention to gamble in the future.”
In B.C., it is illegal to sell lottery products to anyone under the age of 19 and BCLC encourages adults to have conversations with the kids in their lives about the risks associated with gambling.
“Open and honest conversations are crucial when it comes to navigating childhood exposure to gambling,” said McCarthy, who shared the following tips to adults:
- Monitor for gambling-related lifestyle changes. For example, developing a positive attitude towards gambling or a preoccupation with video games or streaming sites.
- Be a positive role model. Exhibit safer gambling behaviour and talk about the risks.
- Limit exposure. Monitor kids’ online activities and discourage engagement with gambling content. Explain how gambling is based on chance.
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