Connect with us

Industry News

How casino offers evolved throughout the years

Published

on

 

Gambling has always been an innate behaviour in humans. It can be traced as far back as in Egyptian civilization where the first dice was discovered, in Chinese gambling houses, or in the life and death amphitheatres of Rome among others. Gambling provides a lot of incentives for companies to make money, as well as providing entertainment and a chance to win big for gamblers. Most governments understand the benefits that it can bring, and this is why they license and regulate casinos. On the other hand, the gambling market is very competitive, which is why casinos have to come up with offers to attract new customers, as well as retain their existing ones. With technological advances continuing to shape the gambling market, casinos now realize the need to employ effective marketing strategies to tap into this multi-billion market. Here are the types of casino offerings and how they continue to evolve.

Prize giveaways

Gambling is in itself is a risky affair. It is not uncommon to hear stories of how some gamblers have lost huge amounts of fortune through gambling. On the other hand, we will often see stories of people who have made a fortune out of gambling. While a player will be enticed by the idea of having fun and a chance to win, the casino needs to attract new customers if they are to exist in this market characterized by cutthroat competition. One such marketing strategy that has continued to work for casinos is through prize giveaways. Some casinos may offer incentives such as a chance to win cars, go on destinations, or win cash prizes among others. These giveaways may be earned by playing particular types of games.

Welcome bonuses

Welcome bonuses have been in place for a long time in brick and mortar casinos, with this trend continuing to thrive in online casinos. Welcome bonuses are a way for casinos to welcome new customers. Almost all renowned casinos offer this type of incentive to new customers. New customers can use this offer to get to know the casino and even stand a chance of winning. It is thus no surprise to see casinos competing with each to offer the most lucrative package to its customers. While casinos will offer different types of welcome packages, the most common offer is to match your deposit amount up to a certain percentage. When looking for the best welcome bonus, it is important to go through the terms and conditions so you can know what to expect.

Jackpots

One of the ways casinos attract customers is giving them the opportunity to make huge winnings through jackpots. The history of jackpot winnings can be traced back to 1870’s when it was used in a poker game known as “Jacks or Better.” If a player in this game did not have cards that could beat a pair of tens, then they were required to pass. If no one had “jacks or better,” the hand was to be re-dealt, resulting in the pot growing. The term “jackpot” was first used as a slang term meaning trouble with the law. However, it started being used more figuratively to mean winning a big prize. Casino jackpots are similar to lotteries, with the allure of walking away with a mammoth payment being a major attraction. Casinos usually offer two types of jackpots; fixed or progressive jackpots. Fixed jackpots usually have a fixed amount that does not change. Progressive jackpots on the other hand continue growing until someone wins it. Most casinos share progressive jackpots, which means that a person playing a particular game in one online casino will have access to the same jackpot as a person playing that particular game in another casino. This means that these types of jackpots can grow very quickly, making them very lucrative.

Drinks and food

While this may not be possible in online casinos, this trend remains popular in brick and mortar casinos. Casinos often offer their customers these types of offers to keep them happy when they are engrossed playing their favourite games. One of the advantages of this offer is that customers will not be distracted looking for something to eat or drink.

Free spins

Free spins have become one of the most commonly used marketing strategies for casinos to attract and retain customers. You can use them to test games, and some instances even stand a chance of making winnings if you fulfil certain terms and conditions. One of the reasons why free spins are attractive to customers is that players can use them without risking their own money. Most casinos usually offer free spins when they introduce new games. This is to allow customers try them out before committing to playing them with their own money. Today you can get free spins with no deposit and win real money.

Cashback bonuses

When playing games at casinos, players aim to make as much money as they can, while also minimizing loses. This is why some casinos offer their customers cashback offers. This is a type of refund where a player gets back some money if they have lost. Cashback offers are usually some type of percentage of cash a player gets back when they lose. Casinos usually run promotions on specific types of games that customers will be eligible to get this bonus. An advantage of this kind of offer is that customers can enjoy their favourite games with reduced risk. Most of the casinos offer a limit to the amount a customer will receive if they qualify for a cashback reward.

Loyalty programs

With the huge number of online gambling options, casinos are always aiming to keep their existing customers happy. This is why most of them have loyalty programs to reward their loyal customers. Most casinos have a system where customers can earn bonuses depending on how much they play and spend on the casino. These points can then be redeemed for a number of rewards such as free spins, cash, or prizes among others.

AI

Tugi Tark whitepaper puts AI iGaming support at €0.15 per ticket

Published

on

tugi-tark-whitepaper-puts-ai-igaming-support-at-e0.15-per-ticket

Tugi Tark has released a 2026 whitepaper, The economics of AI-powered iGaming customer support, arguing that AI changes the unit economics of player support and can reduce costs compared with human-led operations.

The report cites “verified pricing” of EUR 0.15 per AI-handled ticket. It compares that with fully loaded employer costs for human support in Romania and Bulgaria of EUR 1.73 to EUR 1.88 per ticket. At a “realistic” 70% AI containment rate, the whitepaper claims a blended cost of about EUR 0.67 per ticket, which it describes as roughly a 64% reduction versus a human-only baseline of EUR 1.88.

Tugi Tark says its analysis draws on Eurostat 2024 labour cost data, published research on AI chatbot benchmarks, independent iGaming player behaviour research, and operational data from its own deployments. The company estimates operators can achieve a 55% to 75% reduction in total support expenditure, and argues AI can absorb volume spikes—such as during major sporting events—without additional hiring or training lag.

Harpo Lilja, founder and CEO of TUgi Tark, said: “In 2026, the ‘wait-and-see’ approach to AI is costing operators millions in unnecessary overhead. We aren’t just talking about chatbots; we’re talking about a fundamental shift in the unit economics of player retention.”

The whitepaper also frames customer support as a retention lever, stating that payment issues account for 52% of ticket volume and that slower response times drive churn. It claims a 0.5 percentage point churn reduction could retain an additional 500 players per month for a mid-sized operator, translating to €200,000 in annual revenue based on an assumed €400 Player Lifetime Value. Tugi Tark also claims AI agents average ~7 seconds for first response versus ~60 seconds for human agents, and outlines use cases across Responsible Gambling escalation, KYC/AML workflows, and GDPR-aligned data sovereignty.

The post Tugi Tark whitepaper puts AI iGaming support at €0.15 per ticket appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Continue Reading

Game Development

Games Global outlines May slot roadmap with Snowborn, AreaVegas and Just For The Win

Published

on

games-global-outlines-may-slot-roadmap-with-snowborn,-areavegas-and-just-for-the-win

Games Global has published its May content roadmap, highlighting new slot releases from Snowborn Games, AreaVegas Games and Just For The Win, and a continued push to reuse established mechanics across its studio network.

The supplier said Area Link™ and Power Combo™ will feature prominently in May’s launches. AreaVegas Games’ Area Link™ Chilli uses six chilli symbols above the reels tied to bonus modifiers that can trigger individually or together, including cash prizes and fixed jackpots, multipliers, instant collectors and value boosters.

Games Global also pointed to Just For The Win’s Bison Ridge Power Combo™, where Link&Win™ is combined with Power Combo™ to create what it described as a more varied bonus structure.

Snowborn Games’ Volcanic Fortune™ is positioned around bonus modifiers such as collectors and multipliers, plus a Treasure Chest meter designed to build towards higher-value bonus outcomes.

David Reynolds, Director of Games Strategy and Partner Management at Games Global, said: “Our studios bring the craft, and May’s roadmap puts that on full display. It’s built around extending global franchises into new titles across our network, which is how we deliver breadth without compromising quality. The result is a pipeline that gives operators choice and players variety.”

The post Games Global outlines May slot roadmap with Snowborn, AreaVegas and Just For The Win appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Continue Reading

charity-lotteries

ZEAL posts 6% Q1 2026 revenue growth as EBITDA dips on investment spend

Published

on

zeal-posts-6%-q1-2026-revenue-growth-as-ebitda-dips-on-investment-spend

ZEAL Network SE reported higher first-quarter 2026 revenue despite what it described as a weak jackpot environment, while profitability softened as the company increased investment. Revenue rose 6% year-on-year to €54.3 million (2025: €51.1 million). EBITDA fell to €15.5 million from €17.7 million.

“The first quarter of 2026 shows that we are consistently executing our strategy even in a weak jackpot environment: our core business is growing, and we have continued to invest in diversifying our business model,” says Andrea Behrendt, CFO of ZEAL. “Through targeted investments in new charity lotteries such as the Dream Car Raffle, we are laying the foundation for sustainable growth that is less dependent on jackpot cycles. The slightly lower EBITDA compared to the previous year is primarily a reflection of these measures.”

In the core lottery segment, ZEAL said average monthly active users increased 5% to 1,575 thousand (2025: 1,507 thousand), while new registrations climbed 11% to 274 thousand (2025: 247 thousand). Lottery billings edged up 1% to €268.0 million (2025: €264.7 million). The lottery gross margin improved to 17.8% (2025: 17.1%), with lottery revenue up 5% to €48.7 million (2025: €46.3 million).

ZEAL also used Q1 to prepare a new in-house charity lottery product. The company said it launched the Traumautoverlosung (English name: Dream Car Raffle) on 14 April 2026, its third charity lottery in Germany after freiheit+ and the Dream House Raffle.

In Games, ZEAL reported revenue up 14% to €3.9 million (2025: €3.4 million) after expanding its B2C portfolio to more than 740 titles. ZEAL said higher marketing costs (+13%) and personnel expenses (+21%) reflected continued investment in scaling charity lotteries and Games alongside the core lottery business.

The post ZEAL posts 6% Q1 2026 revenue growth as EBITDA dips on investment spend appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Continue Reading

Trending

Get it on Google Play

Fresh slot games releases by the top brands of the industry. We provide you with the latest news straight from the entertainment industries.

The platform also hosts industry-relevant webinars, and provides detailed reports, making it a one-stop resource for anyone seeking information about operators, suppliers, regulators, and professional services in the European gaming market. The portal's primary goal is to keep its extensive reader base updated on the latest happenings, trends, and developments within the gaming and gambling sector, with an emphasis on the European market while also covering pertinent global news. It's an indispensable resource for gaming professionals, operators, and enthusiasts alike.

Contact us: [email protected]

Editorial / PR Submissions: [email protected]

Copyright © 2015 - 2024 - Recent Slot Releases is part of HIPTHER Agency. Registered in Romania under Proshirt SRL, Company number: 2134306, EU VAT ID: RO21343605. Office address: Blvd. 1 Decembrie 1918 nr.5, Targu Mures, Romania