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Betting Brands may Shift Focus from Sports to Casino Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

Published

6 years ago

April 14, 2020

Reading Time: 3 minutes

COVID-19 has shaken up the world. No one and no business has been left unaffected by the virus, and that includes the betting industry. Land-based casino and betting shops have especially felt the impact of the novel coronavirus, which has forced these establishments to close to help stop the spread of the disease. Even the biggest sports betting brands in the UK have suffered online and offline from the widescale suspension, postponement or cancellation of major sporting events.

There’s no question that as far as the gambling industry is concerned, brick and mortar betting shops and casinos have taken the hardest hit, with one of the worst cases being in Nevada, which shut down every casino on its famous Las Vegas strip back in mid-March. Nevada depends on tourism more than any other U.S. state and is used to catering to tens of millions of visitors annually. Unemployment rates are expected to go up by a minimum of 30% in the state, according to the Nevada Resort Association. This has left many to wonder and worry if Vegas’ big names like Wynn Resorts, MGM Resorts, and Sand Crop. will survive the virus’ economic impact, even with help from the financial relief plan.

That said, the closures caused by the coronavirus have been felt across the industry. For instance, the impact on big groups like GVC has resulted in the company taking steps to do what it can to alleviate the strain that has been placed on its operations. Like other companies, GVC has been working hard to lower costs and re-prioritize activity to preserve free cash while making sure its customers continue to be able to enjoy great experiences. Among these re-prioritisations has been reducing the amount spent on sports content, online sports marketing, and trading costs.

Photo source: Shutterstock

Even online Sportsbook is not Immune to Coronavirus

Naturally, the online gambling industry has a massive advantage over its land-based counterparts. No one needs to social distance online and gambling can be enjoyed safely from home 24/7 via a computer or mobile, whether one is self-isolating or in full quarantine. However, in spite of this fact, online sportsbooks continue to find it a challenge to make the most of the internet advantage.

With no active mainstream sports, online bookies have been forced to fill the void with more emphasis on the virtual world of sports, including animated versions of major horse races like the Grand National, which was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Virtual Grand National, like other virtual races, was a computer-simulated race. It included virtual spectators and virtual ambulances that followed the runners and riders around the courses.

Beyond virtual sports, digital bookmakers have also placed greater focus on eSports as well as other lesser known events. Still, even with the focus on these other events, all online bookmakers have seen a dramatic decline in depositors and increased churn rates because it is simply far too difficult to retain players when the major sports betting markets are at a standstill.

Many of the big name gambling operators have watched the value of their shares suffer from the COVID-19 outbreak. Some of these include:

William Hill shares have dropped by more than half since the 21st of February 2020
GVC Holdings (owner of Ladbrokes Coral) has seen a drop in share prices by more than 20%
Flutter Entertainment (owner of Paddy Power Betfair) has seen its share value tank by over 15%

Sportsbooks May Shift their Focus to Online Casinos

Online casinos, which offer online slots, virtual table, and card games, scratch cards, live casino games, etc. are in much better shape than their sportsbook cousins and that’s because they don’t depend on sports or other major events to continue carrying on with business as usual.

As such, many bookies that also offer a casino platform may consider cross-selling their online casino products to their existing sports betting customers in an attempt to recoup some of the money they’ve lost. This tactic could work as bored housebound punters, who previously focused solely on sports, can be keener to engage in casino entertainment until they can bet on their favorite football matches or horse races again.

Since March, COVID-19 has shut down most economies and sent more than a billion people into lockdown. Like many other businesses considered non-essential, land-based gambling establishments have closed their doors until the outbreak and restrictions ease. While only time will tell how well gambling operators will fare once the worst of the pandemic has run its course, for now, all they can do is focus on their online operations and survive as best they can. For some, online casinos could potentially provide the life raft they need to stay afloat.

game launches

Spinomenal releases 3 Magical Genies slot with Hold & Hit bonus

Published

1 hour ago

May 5, 2026

Wladimir P.

spinomenal-releases-3-magical-genies-slot-with-hold-&-hit-bonus

Spinomenal has released a new slot title, 3 Magical Genies, expanding its content portfolio with an Arabian-themed game built around a Hold & Hit-style Bonus Game.

The supplier said the game’s Wild symbol substitutes for all symbols except the Bonus, Boost, Collect, Multi and Jackpot symbols, with five Wilds on a winning line paying x10 the bet.

3 Magical Genies includes four Special Bonus symbols—Bonus, Boost, Multi and Collect—designed to affect symbol values during the Bonus Game. Spinomenal said a Mystery symbol can also appear in the feature, transforming into a Boost, Multi, Collect or Jackpot symbol.

According to the company, landing six or more qualifying symbols triggers the Bonus Game with three bonus spins and locked triggering symbols. During the feature, prizes can range from x1 to x10 multipliers of the total bet, alongside a Mini Jackpot (x20), Minor Jackpot (x50) or Major Jackpot (x150). Filling the grid awards the Grand Jackpot, set at x3,000 the total bet, Spinomenal said.

Spinomenal CO-CEO, Omer Henya commented: “3 Magical Genies brings the magic of the Arabian world to life, where riches are within reach for those with luck on their side. The Hold & Hit mechanic, alongside the four Special Bonus symbols, makes this a magical ride full of golden promise.”

The post Spinomenal releases 3 Magical Genies slot with Hold & Hit bonus appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

iGaming

Predictor by Slotegrator, a prediction market engine for iGaming brands, available for pre-order

Published

1 hour ago

May 5, 2026

Wladimir P.

predictor-by-slotegrator,-a-prediction-market-engine-for-igaming-brands,-available-for-pre-order

Predictor by Slotegrator is a prediction market engine packaged for iGaming operators that will bring the booming trend of event betting to any platform. Currently available for pre-order to a select group of Slotegrator’s clients, Predictor is a true prediction market, using a P2P model and updating odds after every bet. This model captures the appeal of the vertical while protecting operators’ margins.

Predictor by Slotegrator, a prediction market engine developed by leading iGaming software and business solution provider Slotegrator, is available for pre-order. By integrating Predictor, operators will allow their players to buy binary contracts on real-world events using a P2P exchange model. Odds are updated automatically, and operators earn a fixed commission on bets, providing zero-risk revenue.

“Predictor is a natural extension of our product philosophy. At Slotegrator, we believe that technology doesn’t follow trends but shapes them,” said Olga Ivanchik, COO. “The prediction market model is still in its early stages in iGaming, and we are among the first to package this mechanism for casino and sportsbook operators in a scalable, product-ready format. It marks a step toward a more adaptive and diversified operator offering.”

Prediction markets are a massive global trend. Bloomberg reported in February that Kalshi was handling more than $2 billion per week in bets, with Polymarket close behind. Players can bet on everything from sporting events to politics, the price of crypto, and celebrity tweets.

Sportsbook operators who are losing bettors to Polymarket, and want to bring them back by offering unorthodox bets, have the perfect solution in Predictor. Additionally, while classic sportsbooks carry risk on every bet, the P2P exchange model means they will earn on commission. It’s also fast and flexible, with new bets going live in 30 seconds.

Predictor is also ideal for online casino operators looking to increase retention by offering their players betting opportunities beyond traditional casino games, and new operators seeking to capitalize on the global prediction market trend will also benefit from the solution.

Predictor operates on an AMM/LMSR protocol, making it a true prediction market. The pressure created when increasing numbers of bettors select “yes” or “no” directly influences the odds, just like major platforms like Polymarket or Kalshi — and quite different from fixed-odds betting.

Prediction markets are popular not only for the vast array of bets available, but for their real-time data collection; more often than not, the favored outcome on Polymarket or Kalshi in fact comes to pass. This so-called “wisdom of the crowd” has a huge draw for bettors, and carries a huge part of prediction markets’ appeal.

“With Predictor, we are going beyond the usual ways of betting to a model where users actively shape the market. We are giving operators a new way to offer dynamic, event-driven experiences via a single iframe, and completely risk-free,” explained Product Owner Maksym Shtun. “Operators can also create completely unique betting experiences tailored to their own platform — the possibilities are endless.”

Slotegrator will present a demo of the solution at this year’s iGB L!VE, on 1-2 July.

ABOUT THE COMPANY

Since 2012, Slotegrator has been one of the iGaming industry’s leading software and business solution providers for online casino and sportsbook operators.

The company’s main focus is software development and support for online casino platforms, as well as the integration of game content and payment systems.

The company works with licensed game developers and offers a vast portfolio of casino content: slots, live casino games, poker, virtual sports, table games, lotteries, casual games, and data feeds for betting.

Slotegrator also provides consulting services in gambling license acquisition and business incorporation.

The post Predictor by Slotegrator, a prediction market engine for iGaming brands, available for pre-order appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

ATG

ATG Casino goes live with Fantasma Games slots via EveryMatrix in Sweden

Published

1 hour ago

May 5, 2026

Wladimir P.

atg-casino-goes-live-with-fantasma-games-slots-via-everymatrix-in-sweden

ATG Casino has gone live in Sweden with slots from Fantasma Games via EveryMatrix, extending an earlier agreement to integrate aggregated content from the supplier.

ATG’s Swedish customers now have access to Fantasma titles including Explosive Banana X, Thundra Hydra Coins Max and Mission Coinplete, among others. Fantasma Games is part of the EveryMatrix Group.

The rollout includes EngageSuite Jackpots. EveryMatrix said the product uses real-time, customisable in-game widgets and allows operators to configure up to four jackpots per game without impacting base bets, with built-in simulation tools to estimate win frequency.

Carl Gatt Baldacchino, Account Management Casino, EveryMatrix, said: “Expanding the ATG® Casino deal with Fantasma Games titles was the natural next step of our partnership. By combining our aggregated and in-house content with our premium jackpot solution, ATG® will deliver a more engaging and differentiated experience to its players.”

Jan Sonnevi, Head of Casino, ATG, said: “Partnering with EveryMatrix has allowed us to introduce high-quality content and innovative engagement features to our players. We already saw how successful these additions were thanks to the record-breaking win registered by one of our players in January.” EveryMatrix noted ATG previously recorded a 1.4 million MEGA Jackpot win earlier this year using EngageSuite Jackpots.

The post ATG Casino goes live with Fantasma Games slots via EveryMatrix in Sweden appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.