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Outlook on the gambling industry in 2021 per region by selected Way Seers
European Gaming and Gaming Americas Way Seers share their opinion about the new year.
There is no doubt that 2020 has changed the industry in many ways and we can expect 2021 to have lots of surprises.
We have asked our Way Seers from European Gaming and Gaming Americas to share their opinion about what they are expecting from the year 2021 in Europe, in North and Latin America.
Here is what the European Gaming Way Seers are saying:
“With Germany and the Netherlands both planning to launch their new licensing regimes in 2021 we will see some long-anticipated markets opening. This will mean new opportunities and challenges for the industry and, in general, I believe 2021 will be a year in which the industry will be tested: AML compliance and social responsibility being on the top of the agenda. The pandemic, which we are still in, will increase the need for the industry to continue to step up their game and I expect a lot more focus and discussion around responsible product design and advertising. Affiliates and possibly also streamers will likely bear the brunt of this.” – JESSICA MAIER, Chief Risk Officer, Head of Legal and Compliance at Push Gaming
“We want to be positive going into a new year, wishing health, wealth, and prosperity. 2021 must be a better one for the gambling industry. On several key issues, I believe the industry manifested how quickly and adequately we can come together and respond, in times of dire crisis. We need to do much more of that in 2021 and beyond. Rigid market restrictions are being rolled out in existing markets, at the same time, 2021 will see market openings in Europe and beyond as well as ongoing innovation by the online industry. The crisis, which has hit State revenues, should yield more discussions on the benefits of proper regulation – in a sustainable way. 2021 should see research and evidence-based policy better guiding legislators and regulators, with industry more proactively wanting to provide credible evidence to inform policy, as well as match innovation and safer gambling.” – CHARMAINE HOGAN, Head of Regulatory Affairs at Playtech
“I expect 2021 to be about the product, both in terms of increased regulatory attention and the required creativity when it comes to innovation. It will be the product that will set companies apart from their competition, especially in mature regulated markets where we will likely see the 2020 re-regulation trend continuing. Increased attention to addressing player advancement, the use of AI and automation will likely play key roles in this. When it comes to how regulation will evolve, my hope is that we will see more focus on data-driven and evidence-based regulation rather than restriction being applied across the board. The UKGC’s call for evidence on remote customer interaction and affordability will be one to watch, and of course, the US will catch everybody’s attention in 2021.” – SISSEL WEITZHANDLER, Chief Compliance Officer at Play’n GO
“2021 will certainly be a challenging year as Europe is dealing with the health and economic consequences of the pandemic. In the gambling sector, the main objective will be to continue to look for innovative, secure solutions for the growing online sector and to withdraw the restrictions that were introduced as a result of the COVID-19 situation.” – RAFFAELA ZILLNER, LL.M, Secretary-General at Austrian Association for Betting and Gambling (OVWG)
“2020 was a year of becoming aware. Suddenly there were situations that we would never have thought possible. There were threats, existential threats that we were not prepared for. The incredible impact of restrictions on the land-based gambling industry revealed the strengths of online gambling in times of crisis – both for providers and to meet demand. Policymakers cannot ignore that.” – DR. JOERG HOFMANN, Partner at MELCHERS LAW
“For me as being a passionate representative of the online gambling industry, it is fascinating to observe how well these services function in a society under the kind of pressure we now face. The transition from land-based to online has received a boost, and I believe that the entertainment from our industry together with contributions from other platforms such as streaming media services truly make people’s lives better under these tough conditions.” – GUSTAF HOFFSTEDT, Secretary-General at the Swedish Trade Association for Online Gambling
To dive into quality knowledge and meet up with the top names of the industry in the EU/EEA/CIS and Balkans, make sure to signup and attend our virtual meetups in 2021.
The first virtual Quarterly Meetup of the European gaming industry will take place on February 11 and you can find more information/register on the following page: https://europeangaming.eu/meetups/
Here is what the Gaming Americas Way Seers are saying:
“In terms of jurisdictions, I would say that the advances on online gaming and sports betting regulations in several provinces of Argentina will have an important protagonist in 2021, as well as the market development of recently regulated jurisdictions that are strategically important such as Puerto Rico and Panama. In Brazil, the advances to the fixed odds sports betting regulation and concession or authorization process will continue to be closely followed by the industry as well as the role that the States will also have on the operation of Lotteries and possibly participating in the sports betting market.
Also, how player behavior and preference post-Covid will shape the land-based operations, potentially propelling a faster way to the convergence of the online and land-based world, not only from the game content and player experience perspective but also in terms of possible partnerships. The Role that payment methods will play in all this will be key.
I believe operators will take much more informed decisions and give a higher priority not only to cost but also to the added value from their technological partners, especially with the significant rise of illegal gaming during the pandemic. It is crucial to bring the players back to the legal gaming offer with a better player experience and with the benefit of the protection to the vulnerable and all the related responsible gaming tools that are only available in the regulated operations.
I take the opportunity to wish everyone a happy, healthy and safe New Year!” – KAREN MARCELA SIERRA-HUGHES, Director, Latin America, and Caribbean Government Relations and Business Development at Gaming Laboratories International (GLI®)
“From a Canadian perspective, one item to look out for is Bill C-13, An Act to Amend the Criminal Code (Single Event Sports Betting). The First Reading took place in the House of Commons in November 2020. The House of Commons is in recess until February due to the holidays, but a Second Reading vote on Bill C-13 could be arranged as early as mid-February. Another exciting item in Ontario’s competitive iGaming regime, which will include private operators. The regime will be further developed over the coming months.
On the US side, we expect additional states to legalize sports betting and Mazooma is looking forward to expanding in those states.” – CHANTAL CIPRIANO, Senior Director, Legal & Compliance at Mazooma
“2021 will be a blockbuster year for all things sports betting. I am especially excited to see the innovative products brought to market by startups and early-stage companies that are just starting to break into the mass market.” – LLOYD DANZIG, Founder & CEO at Sharp Alpha Advisors
“2020 has been the most challenging and at times craziest year of our lives and we have all had to face and overcome unexpected situations. But there is now a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel and the future of the gambling industry is looking much brighter for 2021. Of course, we must still work together and look after one another if we are to ensure this great industry not only survives but thrives over the next 12 months. At Focus Gaming News we will continue to play our part, bringing you the latest news, interviews, and analysis.” – FERNANDO SAFFORES, Founder & Director at Focus Gaming News
“2020 – the year of the ‘lockdown’ — has shown a demand for interactive products. In the US, I expect 2021 will lead to increased offerings such as e-lottery and increased acceptance of e-sports as a betting market. We should also expect to see the industry leverage the commercial success (and accompanying increase in state tax revenue) of online sports betting to justify an expansion of online casino in additional US states.” – JEREMY KLEIMAN, Gaming Attorney and Member at Saiber LLC
“One of the most important things to look for is the continued rollout of sports betting across additional states in the US. Are states like Ohio and Georgia going to actually get across the finish line? Will New York finally legalize mobile betting?
I’m also looking at whether sports betting operators are able to continue to grow their base and reach the tens of millions of casual sports fans who don’t presently bet on sports.” – EVAN DAVIS, Managing Director, Sports Betting and Gaming for SeventySix Capital Sports Advisory
All through the year, you can tune in on quality discussions and meet up with the top names from the North and Latin American gaming industry. Make sure to signup and attend our virtual meetups which will take place on a quarterly basis in 2021 and make the most of them.
The first virtual Quarterly Meetup of the North and Latin American gaming industry will take place on January 28 and you can find more information/register on the following page: https://gamingamericas.com/meetups/
For further sponsorship/speaking and marketing inquiries, make sure to reach out to Andrada Marginean (B2B Sales Executive at Hipther Agency).
For media-related inquiries, please contact Alexandru Marginean (Marketing Specialist at Hipther Agency).
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Here are this weeks latest slots releases compiled by European Gaming
PG Soft, has crafted its latest mouthwatering title to celebrate the beginning of the holiday season, Chocolate Deluxe. The alchemy behind PG Soft’s game takes inspiration from a beautiful love story between two of the finest chocolatiers, Belgium’s Valentina and France’s Pierre. As a pair they have created the True Love Chocolate Collection- a masterpiece of flavor and romance. Chocolate Deluxe is presented on a 6×6 tray that features sticky winning symbols with multipliers reaching as high as x100.
Betsoft Gaming has released Ultimate Golden Dragon InfernoTM – Hold & WinTM, the third installment in the incredibly popular Golden Dragon InfernoTM series. This new addition offers an immersive 5-reel, 3-row slot experience with the potential for massive wins. The game enhances the beloved Hold & Win feature, introducing a grid expansion mechanic where the screen can expand from a 5×3 grid to a maximum of 10×6, opening up even more opportunities to claim rewards.
PopOK Gaming is thrilled to unveil its latest creation, Yo Dragon – a dynamic slot game that brings the charm and mystique of classic Asian culture to players worldwide. Set on a vibrant 3-4-3 grid, Yo Dragon combines dazzling visuals, engaging features, and a playful dragon mascot for an unforgettable gaming experience.
This new release from MGA Games is a thrilling new game that beautifully combines excitement and nature. The game’s main character is the snow leopard, a majestic creature that serves as an Expanding Wild symbol. When the snow leopard appears, it not only captivates players but also enhances their chances of winning, adding to the excitement with every spin of the reels. Wild Snow Spin is a 5×3 slot game featuring a Scatter symbol and the opportunity to access a variable Free Spins screen, depending on the number of accumulated counters.
Gamzix proudly announces the release of its newest creation, Book of Zulu. This highly anticipated slot marries the timeless charm of classic “Book” games with an electrifying African theme, offering operators a game-changing addition to their portfolios. Featuring immersive visuals, culturally inspired details, and cutting-edge mechanics, Book of Zulu promises to captivate players and set new standards in the industry.
Play’n GO invites players to step into Sobek’s Godly Spins, a 5×3 slot set on a luxurious, deity-filled casino floor – where Gods like Sobek, Ra and Anubis compete for the spotlight. With a unique Nested Free Spins feature, this mythological-meets-Vegas adventure is unlike any other. In Sobek’s Godly Spins – players are transported to a realm where ancient Egyptian Gods enjoy the thrill of the casino floor, each with their own spin on divine glamour.
Evoplay has launched Mega Merry Gifts, a holiday-themed slot that combines the magic of the festive season with innovative gameplay mechanics. Set on a traditional 5×3 grid, the game immerses players in a cosy Christmas setting featuring Mr. and Mrs. Claus, their helpers Elf and Rudolf, Christmas wreaths, and gift-filled bags that act as Wilds. The unique feature of this game is the Free Spins Mega Symbols.
Tom Horn Gaming, the award-winning iGaming supplier, is turning up the temperature this winter with the release of Hot Blizzard Deluxe. This fery slot promises to deliver an electrifying gaming experience with explosive features, blazing visuals, and high-intensity gameplay that players love. At the core of the Hot Blizzard Deluxe’s gameplay is the Expanding Wilds feature, where Wild symbols not only fill entire reels but also come with blazing multiplier values of x1, x2, x5, or x10.
Nolimit City shows you what fighting for domination is really like in its latest release – Tanked. Witness the war between 4 power-hungry warlords who’ll stop at nothing for total domination! This Labs-branded slot is a chaotic masterpiece of destruction. This is the first of its kind for Nolimit City, even following their most recent experimental titles Munchies, Outsourced: Slash Game and Brick Snake 2000.
Red Rake Gaming announced the launch of its latest video slot, Christmas Wins, an unforgettable holiday experience that is now available on all the best online casinos. This spectacular game will immerse players in a world full of magic, joy, and big wins, with innovative features and a highly impressive visual layout and design. Christmas Wins offers a compelling gaming experience, with its 5×5 reel format and “Anywhere” wins in each spin.
He’s making a list, and checking it twice; he’s gonna find out who’s naughty or nice Santa Claus is coming to town… and he’s inviting YOU to take a special tour of his Christmas Factory in Vibra Gaming’s new holiday slot game. Plus, if you’ve been VERY good this year, you could walk away with up to x4500 times your stake!
Take to the African wilderness in Lion Saga Odyssey! This immersive new release takes players on a visually stunning quest, guided by the Lion Spirit and his loyal pride, as they traverse the parched savannah in search of life-giving waters. The latest addition to Play’n GO’s portfolio captures the raw beauty and power of the African ecosystem while offering exciting gameplay mechanics.
Belatra Games, the specialist online slots developer, has unveiled its festive treat this holiday season, Winter Thunder. Swapping the arid US plains for a wintery wonderland, Winter Thunder carries players into an enchanting atmosphere surrounded by snow-covered canyons and frosty forests. Players will be joined in the wilderness by lynxes, eagles, bears, and, the star of the show, the white wolf. This represents the Wild symbol replacing symbols and covering two reel positions.
Playzia is excited to unveil its fiery new slot game, Volcanic Coins. This sizzling hot game takes players on an explosive journey deep beneath the Earth’s crust, where bubbling lava guards hidden treasures just waiting to erupt into massive wins! Volcanic Coins features a classic style 3×3 grid layout with no paylines—which delivers big when it comes to rewards.
Relax Gaming has teamed up with CasinoDaddy to create its latest action-packed collaboration, Immortal 5. Following the success of their previous titles, Sloth Tumble and Epic Dreams, the pair have joined forces once more to introduce a team of five superheroes, guiding players on a quest for maximum wins worth up to 10,000x their bet.
You are going to love this game a lot if you are a dog lover! “Doggie Star” takes players into a world of dogs, where players can meet the doggie star and visit her house! Filled with dogs and many treasures, they are all yours to claim! “Doggie Star” is a 3×5 reel, 20-line slot. This game contains Wild Symbols with Multiplier Feature to allow bigger wins when the outcome involves Wild Symbols.
With the festive season now upon us and the magic of Christmas already thick in the air, sought-after software provider, Swintt, is inviting players to get into the holiday spirit this week with a seasonal reboot of a much-loved Premium slot, X-Max The Winner. Again starring the insatiable squirrel, Max, the new slot is played out across a 5×3 reel set and features 10 fixed paylines.
The post Week 49/2024 slot games releases appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Swedish gaming giant the only B2B company awarded Tier 2 seal in recognition of “aspirational level” of ESG reporting
Play’n GO, the world’s leading casino entertainment provider, has today announced it has received the Malta Gaming Authority’s ESG-C Tier 2 Seal in recognition of its efforts and reporting of ESG activities.
Earlier this year, the legendary games studio released its 2023 Sustainability Report, outlining its commitment to a sustainable future, both for the iGaming industry and the planet as a whole. The report covered everything from Play’n GO’s commitments to “Net Zero”, greener working practices, and the company’s “Culture of Belonging” in a Digital First world.
Play’n GO recently became the only iGaming business to be nominated at the 2024 Corporate Star Awards, where its Sustainability Report was recognised alongside global leaders such as SONY Entertainment and Globo.
Vanessa Arenram, CSR Director at Play’n GO, commented “We’re pleased to have our commitment to a sustainable world recognised in this way by the Malta Gaming Authority. Our commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility goes far beyond mere words- it’s reflected in our actions, initiatives, and the positive impact we strive to create, both within our industry and the wider world. Our 2023 Sustainability Report received very positive feedback, both internally and externally, and we look forward to publishing the 2024 version early next year. We would like to thank the Malta Gaming Authority for this award, and pledge to continue the work for many years to come.”
The post Play’n GO celebrates award of Malta Gaming Authority ESG-C Seal appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Kindred has officially launched its Kindred Sportsbook Platform (KSP) in the regulated market of Estonia.
KSP’s Estonia entry is part of the operator’s goal to develop new proprietary solutions and have full end-to-end control over its products, limiting the dependency on external suppliers.
During the sportsbook’s first week of operations in the Baltic country, players were given tailored profit boosts and other rewards tied to local teams and events, such as the EuroBasket game and an exhibition tennis event – both held at the Tallinn Unibet Arena.
KSP is built with an optimal player experience in mind, boasting features like BetBuilder and easy platform migration to mitigate customer disruption.
Additionally, the solution introduces dynamic cash-out and tenancy-based odds adjustments that complement local initiatives and brands, which will help Kindred scale KSP across all other available markets.
“As we celebrate this achievement, we remain focused on the journey ahead. Together, we are building a market-leading sportsbook that embodies Kindred’s values of innovation, responsibility, and excellence,” the company explained.
“The launch of KSP in Estonia is more than just a technological milestone; it’s a testament to what we can achieve when we innovate with purpose. We’re excited to continue delivering a world-class sports betting experience to our customers, one market at a time.”
The post Kindred Sportsbook Platform Goes Live in Estonia appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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