Industry News
US iGaming: Three predictions for 2024
Paddy Casey, Co-Founder at sports betting and iGaming developer The Unit, lists what we can expect from US iGaming in the coming year, covering regulation, the battle for market share and the importance of martech.
- iGaming continues to flex its muscles
Internet gaming continues to generate extraordinary revenue in the states that have legalized and embraced it. In October, for example, Pennsylvania’s iGaming revenue was up 24% month-on-month to $154.8m; a record month for the state where the total equates to a whopping 3x the sports-betting take. Pennsylvania is by no means a standout state, as New Jersey reported a 13% year-on-year increase in iGaming revenue for September, to $166.8million.
Where iGaming is fully regulated (as we’ve seen in the six states where it is live currently, with Rhode Island expected to launch fully in Q1 or early Q2 in 2024), it drives significant revenue for the state and offers a safe and protected environment for entertainment versus offshore, unregulated casinos. As states look to plug holes in the post-pandemic era, we anticipate at least two or three states will legalize igaming in 2024, with Indiana and New York being the obvious contenders to begin that process early in the year.
As has been the case since the birth of online gaming in the late 1990s and early 2000s, there are obvious fears about problem gaming and revenue streams moving away from bricks-and mortar casinos. Legislators will drive tough, and hopefully innovative, legislation to protect land-based casinos while paving the way for iGaming, which should in fact complement the land-based casinos. Players, much like music fans, will demand access to ‘live entertainment’; whether that’s in Madison Square Garden cheering on Billy Joel, or listening to Piano Man at home while watching the NFL.
The omni-channel experience with iGaming will become more important as BetMGM for example, can deepen its relationship with players through innovations such as its New Jersey Dual Play Roulette, which offers a truly immersive omni-channel experience. Add this to possibilities around loyalty schemes for resort stays, and this will prove super crucial in the CRM and LTV lifecycles.
Aside from the obvious heavyweights, brands which put players first, treat them like the central stakeholder they ought to be, and personalize the user experience through unique and engaging product and gaming content will be the winners.
- Competition creates cash
This year has been a rollercoaster, in terms of acquisitions and market exits. Kindred recently announced it will be leaving its North American experience behind as quickly as possible. Fanatics can now access every key sports betting state via its PointsBet USA acquisition and Penn Entertainment is planning to shoot for the stars by rebranding its sportsbook as ESPN Bet. Add DraftKings, FanDuel, Bet365 and BetMGM into the ring, and that is one hell of a battle for a share of players’ wallets.
Fanatics and ESPN Bet will most likely use their huge marketing budgets to attract the Gen Z bettors and casual sports fans. Winning the battle to attract, and more importantly retain, this key cohort of players will be significant. Marketing dollars will not be enough; product innovation will be crucial in the attempt to give players the experience they demand. They will demand to be entertained in ways they experience elsewhere.
Outside the ‘big three’ of FanDuel, DraftKings and BetMGM, in terms of US gaming market share, it will only be companies who continue to evolve and innovate their own offering that can close the gap. The likes of Entain and Angstrom, who are well known and have large wallets, can buy the maturity and experience needed. They can make inroads with the quality of their product and people, as well as via the acquisition of operators and challenger brands (particularly when more states go live with iGaming).
- Marketing tech and needle-like focus on ROI
With the big three effectively owning the sports-betting market and making gains in the iGaming space, the chasing pack will need to innovate with needle-like focus on ROI.
Martech is crucial for success in an industry that is seeing shifts in CPAs and one that has historically not merged fragmented data very well. As there is no real single view of acquiring through to retention, and almost zero real data, technology is holding operators back in the battle to retain Gen Z bettors and give them the experiences they demand; i.e. personalization.
Therefore, a holistic 360-view of customer data which is then deployed across multiple marketing channels is the key to being competitive in this landscape. As biddable platforms rely more and more on AI, it is essential that data which is representative of quality customers is used. As experienced industry veterans know, standard first-time depositor data is not enough. In fact, relying on incomplete customer insights can be detrimental to revenue.
As we all know, customer acquisition is only the starting point. Retention and cross-sell is essential to delivering the return on ad spend required to sustain campaigns in this competitive market.
The front-of-mind game is where the winners and losers will ultimately be determined. There is no personalization without sufficient marketing technology integration. Personalization is a key cog in the retention machine you must be leveraging.
As a result, a full martech stack is needed to operate an effective marketing department. The gap between the haves and have-nots in this space will widen not just year-on-year, but also month-on-month.
Reading Time: 2 minutes
Raketech Group Holding Plc announced an agreement to sell the Casumba assets due to regulatory developments affecting its markets.
The transaction, valued at a fixed consideration of EUR 12 million, will be paid in monthly instalments through December 2029, with no upfront cash payment. Under IFRS 9 accounting standards, the deferred consideration has been measured at the fair value of approximately EUR 7 million at closing. The EUR 5 million difference between the fixed consideration and the fair value reflects an element of ongoing credit risk and the extended payment schedule. Any further adjustments will be recognised through the profit and loss account over the payment period, in accordance with IFRS 9 requirements.
The consideration carries an 8% interest rate and will be paid in variable monthly instalments through December 2029.
The sale supports Raketech’s platform-first strategy, focusing on core markets and sustainable growth in iGaming affiliation. The decision to divest Casumba stems from recent regulatory shifts in its markets. This move aims to remove regulatory risks, and redirect capital to Raketech’s leading iGaming affiliation platform, AffiliationCloud.
The Casumba assets generated annualised revenues of approximately EUR 4.0 million with an EBITDA of EUR 2.9 million, based on the Q2 2025 run rate.
Raketech will record a non-cash loss on disposal of approximately EUR 10 million in Q3 2025. This loss primarily arises from the difference between the book value of the Casumba assets and the IFRS 9 fair value of the consideration. The loss on disposal is a one-off, non-recurring loss and will not impact Raketech’s cash flow or operational performance.
The transaction has been signed and closed on 24 September 2025.
Johan Svensson, CEO of Raketech, said: “This sale marks another step in refining our portfolio and concentrating on our core goal of creating the top commercial platform for iGaming affiliation. By divesting Casumba, we eliminate regulatory exposure and unlock resources for growth opportunities. This transaction reflects our dedication to sustainable shareholder value and financial discipline.”
The post Raketech Announces Divestment of Casumba Assets appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Reading Time: 2 minutes
Ten years after its quiet debut as a casino listing site, SlotsUp has reintroduced itself with a complete rebuild. What started in 2015 as a basic catalogue of online casinos has evolved into a structured, data-driven product designed around user needs and practical tools that actually help make smarter choices.
For years, SlotsUp relied on the industry-standard model. That formula worked, until it didn’t. So in 2025, the team behind SlotsUp tore it all down.
“We spent years chasing SEO. At some point, it became clear that the balance was off — too much energy went into ranking, and not enough into what players truly needed. That had to change. We shifted toward building a product where clarity, trust, and the user’s perspective always come first,” said a team lead at SlotsUp.
Not Just a Redesign — A New Product
SlotsUp 2.0 introduces a new brand identity, an updated interface and a new core principle: act like a correspondent, not a catalogue. That shift is reflected in a complete rethink of how casinos are added, rated and shown to users. Entry is no longer automatic — each listing must pass through a rigorous system of over 100 internal rules governing data quality, compliance, layout and trustworthiness.
The platform now filters and presents only what matters. Each casino is reviewed through 12 custom-built metrics, including:
Safety Index: Built on 4 criteria, from licensing transparency to user complaint volume.
SlotsUp Rating: A detailed breakdown of license, bonuses, payments, support and responsible gambling tools
Casino Match: A personalised alignment tool based on the user’s region, currency and language.
Radar: A visual chart comparing a game’s win potential against industry averages.
And now there’s Multi Game Mode — a new way to test and compare slots side by side. Players can launch up to four games in demo mode simultaneously, making it easy to spot differences in features, pace and style. It’s a faster, smarter way to find the game that truly fits your preferences.
The result is a real product, not just a database — with tools that respond to where the player is, what they value, and how they play.
From a List to a Real Product
The company’s team of 28+ experts includes writers, developers, designers and gambling professionals. Every review is written or reviewed by individuals who are well-versed in the industry.
Now, every rating is based on a clear system. Information is sorted by what matters to players: safety, fairness, relevance and quality.
SlotsUp 2.0 is built to guide users, not push them. It focuses on clarity, responsibility and smarter choices — one player at a time.
The post SlotsUp 2.0 Launch: Transformed into a User-Centric Product appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Reading Time: 2 minutes
Vyking, the next-generation iGaming platform provider, has announced the appointment of João Soares as its new Chief Technology Officer (CTO).
João, a Portuguese native, is a highly accomplished engineering leader with more than a decade of senior experience in the iGaming sector, having held leadership roles at William Hill, BetVictor and White Hat Gaming. In a previous role, João served as Head of Engineering at White Hat Gaming, where he managed 120+ people and spearheaded the transformation of the company’s engineering function. He introduced scalable team structures, mentored managers and technical leads, and embedded Agile methodologies across the business. His leadership was pivotal in turning a flat engineering setup into a high-performing, resilient and delivery-focused organisation.
Prior to that, João spent over five years at BetVictor, where he held senior engineering roles and led the launch of eight native mobile apps across iOS and Android, supporting 60% of the company’s business in the UK, Germany and Asia. He also worked as Development Manager at William Hill, contributing to product and platform initiatives across multiple teams.
Beyond iGaming, João also gained senior leadership exposure in other technology sectors, including roles as Head of Engineering at Vision-Box and as Director of Engineering at Easyship, where he focused on digital transformation, QA implementation and leadership coaching.
João Soares, incoming CTO of Vyking, said: “I am thrilled to be joining Vyking at such an exciting time. The company’s platform vision, which combines flexibility, scalability and true product ownership for operators, is exactly the type of challenge I’m passionate about. My goal is to help accelerate innovation, build high-performing teams and ensure Vyking continues to set new standards for iGaming technology.”
Franz Gerhart, CEO of Vyking, said: “João brings the perfect blend of technical expertise, leadership capability, and proven industry experience. His track record of scaling engineering teams and driving transformation at leading operators will be invaluable as Vyking enters its next phase of growth. I also want to acknowledge Helmut Kleinhans, who has excelled in leading our technology function and is now stepping into a new senior role as Chief Software Architect. This transition reflects his passion for deep technology and innovation, enabling him to focus on advanced engineering across the wider business. Helmut’s impact has been pivotal in positioning Vyking for success, and we are thrilled he will continue to shape our technology future.”
The post Vyking Appoints João Soares as CTO appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
-
ACMA5 days agoACMA Blocks More Illegal Online Gambling Websites
-
ABSG5 days ago
UK Gambling Commission to close Advisory Board for Safer Gambling
-
ArenaPlus4 days ago
DigiPlus Announces Partnership with PhilFirst
-
Asia4 days ago
Gamban Now Available in Japanese
-
Baltics4 days ago
HIPTHER Baltics 2026: Powering iGaming & Tech Connections Through 3 Premier Events
-
BETBY5 days ago
BETBY CELEBRATES SUCCESS AT SBC SUMMIT LISBON 2025 WITH ESPORTS SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR AWARD
-
Johann Schembri5 days ago
National Lottery of Malta Joins ULIS
-
Latest News4 days ago
FROM PIXELS TO POLICY – THE ULTIMATE SHOWCASE OF EUROPE’S VIDEO GAMES SECTOR
