Industry News
Top 5 High Variance Slots For 2020 So Far
The high variance slots market is home to some of the most exciting gameplay in the casino industry right now. The popularity of these high risk slots has been driven by talented studios like Big Time Gaming who revolutionised this niche with their Megaways
So, to keep you up to date with the action so far we’ve chosen our top 5 high variance games for 2020.
Royal Mint Megaways
Popular slot game and casino site review magazine, The Casino Heat, recently referred to Royal Mint Megaways Enhanced Free Spins format first aired in their Lil Devil slot. The game has a 40,000x top advertised payout, making it potentially one of the biggest paying slots of the year.
Pink Elephants 2 – Thunderkick
Back in 2017 Pink Elephants was Scandanavian developer Thunderkick’s take on the 4,096 win ways format used in slots like Raging Rhino. But it had a twist – aside from the psychedelic theme, there were added thrills in the free spins round where collecting glowing ‘orbs’ led to symbol upgrades, enhanced reels, and much higher payouts. It’s a game that is particularly memorable to play and continues to be popular three years on. So of course slots fans are thrilled at the prospect of a follow-up, due for release in the first week of May. The action has moved to a mountain setting and meerkat symbols are replaced with goats, but apart from that the game works in pretty much the same way, only with an improved jackpot of 10,000x.
Punk Rocker – Nolimit City
The NoLimit City game studio is a relative newcomer to the scene in comparison to other names, but they are really starting to make their mark in 2020. Punk Rocker is one of their best releases to date, taking its theme from the London music scene that spawned bands like the Sex Pistols. It’s full of Banksy-type illustrations of English icons too, including Churchill, drawn against the backdrop of the London Underground. But graphics aside, it’s the stacks of features that have made Punk Rocker so popular. There are Mystery Symbols, Re-Spins, two Free Spins rounds, and Multipliers and Jumping Wilds to enhance the basic gameplay and push the win potential up to 8,000x.
Hellcatraz – Relax Gaming
Relax Gaming, who produce their own games as well as running the Silver Bullet platform, are starting to create some really top high variance titles too. They have three Megaways
Heroes Hunt Megaways
Fantasma Games partnered up with Relax Gaming to utilise their Megaways
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BC.GAME
BC.Game Names Kar Kheng Giam as CEO
BC.Game, a leading global crypto-focused online gaming platform, has announced the appointment of Kar Kheng Giam (“KK”) as its new Chief Executive Officer. Giam brings over 30 years of international leadership experience across gaming, technology, and consumer industries.
Before joining BC.Game, KK served as Vice President International at Coyote Bioscience, leading global expansion initiatives. He also co-founded Topgame and Tinymobi, developing successful mobile social and casino-style games. Earlier in his career, KK held executive positions including CEO roles at multiple organizations and regional leadership at Nabisco Asia.
In his role as CEO, KK will oversee BC.Game’s strategic direction, operational leadership, and financial performance, with a focus on scaling globally, expanding into regulated markets, and driving innovation in crypto gaming.
“BC.Game has built a strong global community by combining cutting-edge technology with engaging entertainment experiences,” KK stated. “With the rising adoption of crypto in online gaming, our focus will be on enhancing the platform, building trust, and strengthening our presence in licensed markets.”
BC.Game currently holds licenses in multiple jurisdictions, including Anjouan, Nigeria, Kenya, Mexico, and Tanzania, as part of its long-term strategy to expand into fully regulated markets worldwide. This appointment aligns with the company’s ambitions to grow its global footprint and strengthen compliance while delivering innovative gaming experiences.
The post BC.Game Names Kar Kheng Giam as CEO appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
2025 financial results
ZEAL Reports Strong Double-Digit Growth
ZEAL Network SE, Germany’s leading online lottery provider, closed 2025 with another year of robust double-digit growth.
Despite a weaker jackpot environment, the company significantly strengthened its core lottery business, accelerated diversification, and expanded its customer base—setting a solid foundation for long-term scalability.
The group delivered 16% revenue growth, reaching €218.5 million, while EBITDA rose 11% to €68.8 million. EBIT also climbed 12% to €60.1 million year over year. These results reinforce ZEAL’s strategic focus on building a multi-pillar digital entertainment ecosystem.
“At every level, our results confirm that our strategy works,” said Dr. Stefan Tweraser, CEO of ZEAL Network SE. “Expanding scalable products alongside our strong core lottery business increases resilience and positions us for ambitious future growth.”
CFO Andrea Behrendt highlighted continued investment in reducing jackpot dependence: “Our efforts create a sustainable and profitable growth structure.”
Core Lottery Business Continues to Lead Growth
ZEAL’s primary lottery brokerage remains its strongest revenue driver. Even with softer jackpot cycles:
- Monthly active users climbed 8% to a record 1.558 million.
- Lottery billings reached €1.1 billion, up 2%.
- Gross margin increased to 17.7%.
- Lottery-specific revenue surged 16% to €195.3 million.
These gains underline the brand’s ability to attract and retain large numbers of customers independent of jackpot volatility.
Dream House Raffle Becomes a Major Growth Pillar
The Traumhausverlosung (Dream House Raffle)—launched in 2024—has rapidly evolved into a strong secondary revenue stream. With guaranteed winners and high-appeal prize structures, the charity lottery generated:
- €38.9 million in billings across four draws in 2025.
This success demonstrates the value of proprietary lottery products that complement ZEAL’s core business and enhance market differentiation.
Games Segment Accelerates With Expanded Portfolio
ZEAL also posted substantial growth in its digital Games division. The company extended its catalog to 650+ games, adding 400 new titles and strengthening collaborations with leading game developers.
As a result:
- Games revenue increased 46%, reaching €14.4 million.
- Active user numbers rose sharply.
- Player protection remained a top priority, supported by AI-driven safeguards.
Customer Base Expansion Remains a Strategic Priority
ZEAL made targeted investments to grow its user base, acquiring 1.171 million new customers in 2025. As expected with aggressive acquisition:
- Customer acquisition cost (CPL) increased to €46.47.
- Marketing spending rose 20% to €68.6 million.
This investment is key to sustaining ZEAL’s long-term market position and unlocking additional cross-sell opportunities in games and charity lotteries.
2026 Outlook: Continued Growth and Diversification
Looking ahead to 2026, ZEAL aims to expand its German market leadership and scale its charitable lotteries freiheit+ and Traumhausverlosung, while continuing to strengthen its Games offering.
Forecasts for 2026 include:
- Revenue between €250–260 million
- EBITDA between €70–75 million
These projections already factor in increased investment to accelerate diversification and future-proof the business.
The post ZEAL Reports Strong Double-Digit Growth appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
iGaming Select
iGaming Select launches initiative to champion product and tech innovation
iGaming Select, a fresh supplier hub dedicated to highlighting and evaluating iGaming technology, is now operational with a distinct goal to simplify the process for operators in finding the top products within an ever-growing and marketing-focused environment.
iGaming Select, created by BetComply CMO Martin Hodges, iGP CMO Michael Baker-Mosley, and Digital Footprints founders Sharon McFarlane and Steve Lee, gathers authenticated reviews of numerous iGaming products, allowing truly innovative solutions the opportunity to rival bigger players.
Martin Hodges, Co-Founder at iGaming Select, said: “The way operators select suppliers is no longer working. It has become less about technology and product, and more about visibility, marketing budgets and noise. iGaming Select is founded on the simple principle that great technology should be easy to identify, giving operators a place to evaluate and compare suppliers based on what they actually offer.”
Operators are now confronted with numerous suppliers presenting similar solutions, and iGaming Select assists decision-makers in discerning valuable information through clear product capability descriptions, organized categorization, relevant operational details, and reviews based on actual usage.
The platform will also offer perspectives on how innovation can grow sustainably, giving operators, suppliers, and investors a better grasp of where lasting value is generated.
The post iGaming Select launches initiative to champion product and tech innovation appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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