Canada
Reflecting on Evoplay’s LatAm success: Exclusive interview with Vladimir Malakchi, CCO
Award-winning heavyweight studio Evoplay has made a serious impact in LatAm in 2022 – with its smash-hit Penalty-Shootout quickly becoming one the continent’s fastest-growing games by popularity and engagement.
Our team at Gaming America took the chance to sit down with Evoplay’s legendary CCO, Vladimir Malakchi to talk through the studio’s 2022 success, new releases and plans for the LatAm region in the year ahead. Read on to find out more!
First off, congratulations to Evoplay on a fantastic 2022! For our readers, can you tell us a bit about your success over the last year and what that means for LatAm?
2022 became another outstanding and rewarding year for Evoplay, with so many goals achieved and milestones reached, thanks to our business strategy. We grabbed seven prestigious industry awards, again proving that we are moving towards being one of the most innovative studios in the industry.
Looking at our work – the task of creating top-tier iGaming content and delivering it worldwide was performed at the highest level. We released forty-six new titles, the biggest hit being a World Cup-inspired football package that helped Evoplay’s stats skyrocket. One of our games, Penalty Shoot-out, gained significant popularity in the LatAm market, which comes as no surprise, as we developed it with football fans in mind!
Looking back, I can’t but mention that 2022 is also marked by a line of fruitful partnerships with top-notch iGaming providers. We established deals with companies operating in the Italian, Irish, Romanian, Croatian, and, of course, LatAm markets, as well as obtained the opportunity to work with the markets under the MGA jurisdiction.
Given that football is so popular in South America, how much are you looking to develop your games with a sporting slant?
We have done thorough research and analysis to study the LatAm iGaming audience and its preferences and cater to its exact needs. It’s no secret that sports are prevalent among LatAm residents, with football being their greatest passion. The region’s betting GGR is over $1.3 billion, which is forecasted for continuous growth. Sports betting constitutes 75% of sportsbooks’ GGR, which reflects strong demand for such content.
Our football package, consisting of 3 titles, Penalty Shoot-out, Football Bet, and Penalty Series, is a product to cover a broad audience of LatAm players, from sports bettors and football fans, to iGamers seeking fresh, sports-based games. This collection is a perfect mix of casino and betting entertainment, and we definitely have more football-themed products on our roadmap.
With Argentina proving to be the World Cup champions, how much increased traffic did you see over the World Cup, and were you impressed with the numbers?
We were impressed with the figures before, during and after the World Cup. You could say that it became a true goalscorer in our business metrics! During the World Cup, for the football package, we saw impressive growth in our key metrics. In particular, Penalty Shoot-out and Penalty Series showed a considerable spike in Bet Sum, GGR, User and Round Count – up to 600%! These results demonstrated the special atmosphere of football celebration a sporting tournament creates, and iGaming providers should be on the ball with their products and their marketing.
Looking to player preferences – what’s your take on what LatAm players are looking for right now, and how is Evoplay looking to cater to this demand?
LatAm is a very diversified region, however, an active interest in football is a common feature for its audience. Evoplay is ready to supply it with the gaming experience they search for. We studied the nature of sports betting, segregated its key elements and implemented them in our titles, giving players the same excitement, but with a casino twist. As a result, they are not bound to football fixtures and can enjoy the same pastime within reach of their smartphones.
Aside from that, we have an assortment of other titles in our gaming portfolio that will perfectly match LatAm players’ interests. Evoplay produces many games with a LatAm flair, such as the Mexico-inspired Rueda De Chile or Hot Rio Nights with its Brazilian carnival theme. Our research proves that the LatAm audience prefers dynamic and action-packed games, which aligns with our product vision. There is more in the pipeline, as we have some interesting titles in the making!
Looking ahead to 2023, we bet you’ve got plenty of exciting things in store to wow players! Can you give us a hint as to your plans?
Evoplay will continue rocking the iGaming industry with innovative games and solutions. Rest assured, we have much in our product pipeline and business strategy to make 2023 a year to remember. Our mission is to revolutionise traditional iGaming and bring a fresh perspective to its products, offering more gamification and fun. On top of that, we see our global reach considerably growing this year, including enhancing our presence in the LatAm market with even more new partnerships established.
Last but not least, what’s your take on the development of mobile on the continent, and how much are we seeing enhancements in data capacity and smartphone playability?
Without a doubt, the level of mobile penetration in LatAm is growing, which holds a lot of potential for developers and providers, with 75% of subscribers using a smartphone to engage with a product. I am more than confident this trend will continue and build momentum for smartphone playability.
We have always been focused on mobile iGaming, with our in-house game engine, Spinential, being an excellent solution, accelerating loading speed by up to 10x and saving digital storage space. It makes our games accessible to players on a wide range of devices, regardless of their technical specifications and the quality of their internet connection.
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Alberta iGaming Corporation
Alberta iGaming Corporation Partners with Responsible Gambling Council
The Alberta iGaming Corporation (AiGC) has announced a partnership with the Responsible Gambling Council (RGC) that will make RG Check accreditation a mandatory requirement for all internet gaming (iGaming) sites entering Alberta’s regulated market.
This collaboration demonstrates Alberta’s commitment to player protection by ensuring every regulated operator meets the highest evidence-based standards for responsible gambling.
“Alberta is committed to building a safer, regulated iGaming environment where player protection comes first. By requiring RG Check accreditation, we’re ensuring that every iGaming operator in our market has demonstrated their commitment to player safety through independent verification of their responsible gambling programs,” said Dan Keene, Interim AiGC CEO.
RG Check is a Canadian-made, globally trusted, independent responsible gambling accreditation program. Developed by RGC more than a decade ago, RG Check evaluates sites against rigorous, evidence-based standards, covering governance, player safeguards, staff training, and marketing practices. The accreditation provides clear, measurable accountability and has become the gold standard for responsible gambling across multiple jurisdictions.
“This partnership with AiGC demonstrates the power of regulators and responsible gambling experts working together to protect players from day one. Alberta is building on a strong foundation established in Ontario, where RG Check has proven its value in creating safer gambling environments. This proactive approach ensures that player protection isn’t an afterthought; it’s built into the market from the ground up,” said Sarah McCarthy, CEO of RGC.
Alberta’s requirement will ensure that:
• All iGaming sites must achieve RG Check accreditation
• Operators must maintain their accreditation in good standing while operating in Alberta
• RGC will conduct assessments based on internationally recognized responsible gambling standards
• AiGC will work closely with RGC to ensure ongoing compliance and continuous improvement.
Requiring accreditation in Alberta’s market reflects AiGC’s commitment to promoting responsible gambling, and will create a level playing field where protecting players is a competitive advantage, not just a compliance checkbox.
For operators who currently hold RG Check accreditation in another jurisdiction, the transition to Alberta will be streamlined. While a distinct Alberta accreditation is still required, existing accreditations will be recognized to simplify the process and reduce costs. Operators will benefit from an efficient onboarding process that reduces administrative burden while maintaining the same rigorous standards for player protection.
The post Alberta iGaming Corporation Partners with Responsible Gambling Council appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
Canada
St8 launches in Ontario through partnership with Tonybet
Casino games aggregator and full-service technology provider, St8 has officially gone live in Ontario’s regulated market through a new partnership with international brand Tonybet.
Through the partnership, Tonybet gains access to St8’s casino games aggregation platform, offering a wide range of premium titles from leading providers through a single API, alongside bonusing and promotional tools, compliance and licensing solutions, advanced reporting and data capabilities.
Built as a single scalable platform, St8’s products are designed to help operators launch and grow across regulated markets with fast, flexible technology solutions while maintaining full compliance.
The agreement marks a further step in St8’s global growth strategy as the company continues to expand its presence across regulated jurisdictions.
Vladimir Negine, CEO at St8, said: “Going live in Ontario is an important milestone for St8 and reflects our continued commitment to growth in regulated markets. Since receiving our Ontario licence, we have focused on building strong local partnerships and delivering a platform that combines scalability, speed and compliance.
“As a respected international brand, Tonybet shares our commitment to building reliable solutions for regulated markets, and we look forward to working closely together as we continue to expand our presence in regulated jurisdictions worldwide.”
Kiryl Liudvikevich, Head of Product at Tonybet, added: “As we expand our presence in Ontario, it is important for us to work with technology partners that support continued growth while meeting the highest regulatory standards.
“St8’s platform gives us the flexibility to integrate a wide range of content and tools through a single connection, helping us scale smoothly while maintaining a strong focus on player experience.”
St8 continues to lead the way as a partner of choice for regulated markets. In addition to its Ontario licence, the company holds licences in key regulated jurisdictions like the United Kingdom, Sweden and Romania, among others.
The post St8 launches in Ontario through partnership with Tonybet appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
Canada
Rivalry Corp. Announces Significant Reduction in Operations and Evaluation of Strategic Alternatives
Rivalry Corp. announced that its Board of Directors has approved a significant reduction in operating activity as the Company evaluates strategic alternatives in respect of its assets and operations.
The Company is engaged in discussions with third parties regarding potential transactions. However, in light of recent performance volatility, the Board has determined to materially reduce the scale of operations while assessing whether a strategic transaction or other alternative can be advanced.
Effective immediately, the Company is implementing substantial cost reductions, including a significant workforce reduction and reduced operating expenditures. The Company has paused player activity on its platform and is facilitating player withdrawals in the ordinary course.
The Company is assessing a range of potential alternatives, which may include asset-level transactions, corporate transactions, restructuring initiatives or other strategic outcomes.
Given the Company’s reduced operating scale and the ongoing evaluation process, there can be no assurance that any strategic alternative will be completed or that operations will continue in their current form.
The post Rivalry Corp. Announces Significant Reduction in Operations and Evaluation of Strategic Alternatives appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
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