Industry News

The science of gamification

Published

6 years ago

January 23, 2020

Andy Sekula, Head of Games at Kalamba Games talks about the science of gamification

Gamification is a term coined in the early noughties and is typically understood to be the application of gaming mechanics to non-gaming situations. For the online casino industry, however, the term can represent any gaming mechanic outside of the core game. For suppliers, gamification tools have become essential components of game design over the last few years. Endless time has been spent on trying to create the next big thing and improving the application of gamification tools in order to increase acquisition and retention rates, as well as the longevity of a title.

The traditional definition of gamification describes a science that aims to maximise enjoyment and engagement while motivating people to learn by using game elements. Dozens of books have been written about the topic exploring how the brain reacts to gaming components such as leaderboards, levels and progress bars in a learning environment. Simply put, when you achieve something, dopamine is released, lighting up your brain’s reward centre and encouraging you to do it again. This reaction is what makes gamification tools so effective across multiple industries, from language teaching and fitness apps, making it more fun to achieve your goals.

At Kalamba, we consider most of our game mechanics – certainly anything with RTP directly attached – as being core to the game play experience and not gamified layers ‘on top’. However, we have introduced certain elements such as missions and achievements which look to extend the gameplay beyond that of a classic slot. By maintaining player advances in our missions or other in-game progression features, players can always return to where they left off and continue to strive for their goal. This has delivered substantial improvements in player engagement and retention within our titles.

European Gaming Congress 2024 (Warsaw, Poland)

However, as players get used to the existing gamification offering, they will soon start demanding more, especially as technology advances. So how do we ensure we fully utilise the science of gamification in the gambling industry as we look at developing these tools in the future?

We believe that operators and suppliers could work better together in sharing data to get a better picture of player preference. Operators have a lot of information that suppliers don’t have access to, and vice versa, that could assist in the development process of a new title. Knowing your player and what makes them tick is key and with more data, we can improve the gamification tools offered in a game.

One thing that we believe is currently under-utilised in the industry is the possibility of adjusting the player experience to better match player preferences. The current offering is very much ‘one-size fits all’, but with the technology currently available we will soon be able to dynamically segment players and better cater to their individual requirements.

We also think there are still many things to be learned from social gaming. One concept which has not yet been developed to full potential, for example, is building engagement meta layers within a supplier’s entire portfolio. This means adding another gamification layer buy introducing achievements and missions that are connected between different titles offered by a supplier. Meta layers somewhat resemble the way players help Super Mario on his quest through different levels and worlds to save the princess in Nintendo’s super hit. Including portfolio-wide features would greatly enhance the time spent on each session and ensure players come back to complete their missions.

In our view, gamification is not just a buzzword in the industry but will continue to be an important tool as the casino game sector evolves. Focusing on improving these layers of gamification will no doubt be on the top of our agenda in 2020 and beyond.

Industry News

MediaX Agency Officially Launches Linkible

Published

3 days ago

September 12, 2025

Niji Narayan

mediax-agency-officially-launches-linkible

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MediaX Agency, a globally recognised leader in digital PR and growth marketing, has officially launched Linkible, an AI-powered link building agency engineered to help businesses in highly competitive and regulated industries achieve stronger online authority, higher search engine rankings and sustainable organic growth.

With AI-driven outreach and industry-specific link strategies, Linkible is redefining how brands secure high-quality backlinks, increase domain authority and dominate their niches in Google search.

Linkible is purpose-built for industries where credibility and compliance are critical:

• Law Firms & Legal Marketing – Earn authoritative legal backlinks to attract clients and improve local SEO.

• SaaS Companies – Accelerate organic growth with niche placements and product-led content strategies.

• Cannabis & CBD Brands – Gain SEO visibility while staying compliant in a restricted advertising environment.

• iGaming, Casino & Gambling – Drive traffic with white-hat link strategies tailored for high-competition keywords.

• E-commerce Businesses – Build scalable backlinks to boost product visibility and drive online sales.

Key Features of Linkible

• AI-Powered Prospecting & Outreach – Identify and connect with the right publishers at scale.

• Niche-Relevant Authority Backlinks – Secure placements on trusted websites that move rankings.

• Compliance-First Approach – Tailored strategies for industries facing strict regulations.

• Transparent SEO Reporting – Real-time dashboards to track backlinks, traffic and keyword improvements.

• Scalable Growth Solutions – Flexible link building packages for startups, enterprises and agencies.

“Traditional link building is outdated and ineffective in competitive industries. With Linkible, we’re combining the power of AI with our proven PR and SEO expertise to deliver smarter, faster, and compliance-friendly link building strategies that help businesses rank higher and grow sustainably,” said Rachita Chettri, Co-Founder of MediaX Agency.

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Industry News

Allwyn Launches Player Protection Lab

Published

4 days ago

September 11, 2025

Niji Narayan

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Allwyn, the lottery-led gaming entertainment company, has announced the launch of Allwyn Player Protection Lab, a global responsible gaming initiative aimed at supporting novel research and innovation to advance player safety.

Opening immediately for applications, the programme will support academics and experts working in the field of responsible gaming to explore new ideas, concepts and perspectives. Applicants are encouraged to submit proposals focusing on one of three key areas: digital innovation; using messaging to drive positive play; and developing effective safety tools.

Following the open call for applications, awards will be made for successful projects of up to €100,000, dependent on the scope of the prospective proposal.

The project demonstrates Allwyn’s commitment to developing global leading practice in responsible gaming. The call for applications will ensure Allwyn is casting the widest net and has the best chance to uncover new and interesting approaches to protecting players.

Nicole Garrett, Head of Responsible Gaming at Allwyn, said: “The Player Protection Lab is an exciting new avenue for Allwyn. Our responsible gaming team is seeking proposals that will encourage progress in player safety and break new ground in our industry. We hope that by opening the application process, we will have the opportunity to explore genuinely new ideas and draw lessons from other sectors.”

The call for proposals will run until 14 November.

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Industry News

Creedroomz Introduces Cashout Blackjack

Published

6 days ago

September 9, 2025

Niji Narayan

Reading Time: < 1 minute

Creedroomz has launched Cashout Blackjack, a new version of its popular Live Blackjack game designed to redefine player engagement. This major update features a groundbreaking Side Bet Gamble mechanic, a completely redesigned UI and other key enhancements that deliver a new standard of excitement.

The Side Bet Gamble is an industry-first feature that gives players total control over their side bet winnings. Unlike traditional bonus rounds that are passive or tied to specific game events, this optional decision occurs only for players who have won a side bet, right at the end of the round after the last dealer card has been dealt. Players are given a choice: Gamble their winnings for a chance to double their payout, or Skip and keep their original amount. This high-stakes, real-time decision point transforms every win into an exhilarating risk-reward moment.

Cashout Blackjack also includes a suite of powerful updates:

Sleek New UI: A fully redesigned interface built for seamless usability on all devices.

Rebalanced Side Bets: Payouts have been rebalanced to make side bets more compelling and rewarding.

Auto-stand applied on hard / non-splitable scores of 17, 18, 19 and 20.

The new Cashout Blackjack, complete with the Side Bet Gamble feature, is now available to all Creedroomz partners. This launch underscores Creedroomz’s strategic vision to provide partners with groundbreaking tools that ensure they remain at the forefront of the competitive iGaming market.

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