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Can any of the upcoming slots dethrone Starburst in 2021
Starburst is the video slot created by NetEnt back in 2012. Despite its age, it is still one of the most popular slots currently, and probably the most played video slot game of all time! What makes this classic 5×3 slot so special that is still played by millions today, and can anyone find the secret behind its success, and create the slot which can dethrone Starburst in 2021? We will analyze the facts of what makes Starburst that popular, and take a look at some of the upcoming slot releases from the first quarter of 2021 and try to give an answer to that question. Also, if some of you, by any chance, still haven’t tried this amazing slot, Starburst free play is available. Try it now and see why it is so popular.
The Building Blocks behind Starburst Popularity
At first glance, we can see that Starburst’s graphics and design are impeccable. It is still modern, although it is more than eight years old! Although this is just makeup, it is very important for slot longevity.
With the fast evolution of technology and the fact that graphics are becoming more sophisticated, even slots that are only two or three years old can look outdated. After that, their player counts go to the abyss. With Starburst this didn’t happen, and we even believe that it won’t, because graphics are that sophisticated, and yet so simple, that we won’t see a huge dip in their popularity anytime soon.
The second reason behind Starburst slot popularity is its simplicity. Some of the slot game providers experiment with a huge number of reels and rows, many different features, and various cosmetic additions to keep the players entertained and happy. Starburst makes all the things simple, with its classic 5×3 design. Some players argue that Starburst is boring, but it is not a coincidence that the 5×3 design is the most popular slot design ever. It is not too plain and boring, and not too complicated as well, because slot game players want to win some cash, and not feel overwhelmed by design and gameplay.
Starburst has a huge betting range, from €0.01 to €100. That allows both casual players and high-rollers to play this slot. Although high-rollers don’t like this slot very much, because it is not volatile, casuals adore it. There are many more casual players than high-rollers, so they again targeted a broad audience.
We mentioned that Starburst has low volatility and therefore is not that popular with the players who want to win big. However, casuals love to see many small wins, because they have a feeling that they are generally winning, although they actually don’t – the wins you will get will often be smaller than the bet you made, but some of the players somehow don’t notice it. The sessions are usually long if you play for the smallest amounts, so you can have fun, even if you lose money.
For all these reasons, Starburst retained its popularity over the last eight years. Although it is not the best slot in terms of the chances of winning big, all the reasons we mentioned make it appealing for most players, which happen to be casuals.
We will now take a look at some of the upcoming slot releases and try to guess whether or not they have a chance for dethroning Starburst.
The Most Anticipated Slot Releases 2021
January is not over yet, and we already got some exciting slots this year. For example, we got an exciting video slot from Gamomat, an independent slot game provider, called Crystal Strike. It is a highly volatile slot, beautifully designed, with classic features such as respins and wilds.
Nolimit City released San Quentin xWays. This slot is based on the infamous US jail, which is a theme that wasn’t widely used, so it can be hit or miss, but we expect to be popular, especially among the younger audience.
iSoftBet, another award-winning games supplier, released Mighty Stallion Hold & Win, the Wild West theme-based video slot. It is another slot that uses their Hold & Win mechanic, but the theme is not inventive, nor the slot itself is offering something new – it is basically the type of slot we get from them all the time, only with a slightly altered theme.
Play’n GO released Miner Donkey Trouble, while Pragmatic released Mysterious Egypt. These slots feel like they were already seen before, and there is no chance that slots that use the same, boring theme, such as the Ancient Egypt flourish and dethrone Starburst.
Pragmatic Gaming has a more interesting release scheduled for February – Dragon Kingdom: Eyes of Fire. This slot should be way better and way more popular than Mysterious Egypt because it has a flawless design and many features attached. Dragons are still a popular topic, and they aren’t overused in video slots such as Ancient Egypt, so we can see this release gaining popularity right off the bat.
Another highly anticipated release should be the Playtech Age of the Gods series’s next release – Book of Oracle. This slot should be the first to come from Playtech in 2021, and they decided to go big right away. Age of the Gods series gained a significant amount of players which is getting bigger with every new slot release. We expect that this slot will be masterfully done in terms of the graphics and interface (since we still didn’t have an opportunity to see it), and the features should be similar to the ones from the previous slots. This is a volatile, progressive jackpot slot, so it will draw attention from the high-rollers.
What Features Should a Slot Have to Beat Starburst
Since we know what is behind Starburst’s popularity, and we saw what the first slot releases are in January 2021, the question arises – does any slot from this list have the features and traits required to dethrone Starburst? We can never know for sure, but the answer is probably – no.
To be as popular as Starburst, the audience must be predominantly casual players. There are some amazing, volatile slots you can make a fortune on, but there are not enough people who would risk big money to try it out. Long, interesting sessions, with lots of small wins, which give you the false impression that you are an overall winner, are the key to the slot popularity.
After that, the slot must have an impeccable design that will age well, so it can stay relevant with time, and must have simple, but yet unique and interesting features. You should overcomplicate, but the slot can’t have a dull theme or average graphics.
Summary
We eagerly expect more great slot releases in 2021. In January and February, we should get several amazing slots from the biggest slot games providers, but in terms of popularity, we don’t think that any slot will be able to dethrone Starburst anytime soon.
However, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try out new slot additions, especially if you are a high-roller. There is a trend of more progressive jackpots, mega ways, and other great features incorporated in new slot releases, and in general, it seems that the average volatility is getting higher, which is excellent news for the ones chasing big wins.
iGaming
In-App Creatives in iGaming: How to Lower CPI and Scale Campaigns with Moloco Ads
Traffy, a performance marketing agency specializing in in-app traffic, together with Traffy media buyers, prepared this material to share practical insights, testing experience, and scaling strategies in the iGaming vertical.
iGaming Campaign Overview: Scaling Strategy and CPI Optimization
In the gambling vertical, the Traffy team faced a typical growth challenge: how to scale campaigns without losing control over CPI and without sacrificing traffic quality.
The main goal was to reduce CPI while maintaining conversion rates to registration and deposit. Special attention was given to the scaling phase and subsequent campaign relaunches, where performance most often begins to degrade.
Before implementing the new strategy, single-format, unique gameplay creatives were used. While effective initially, this approach started to limit scaling potential as volumes increased.
How to Scale iGaming Campaigns Without Increasing CPI
As advertiser conditions allowed for active scaling, the task was to reduce CPI in order to improve conversions and lower deposit costs on the offer. CPI is unstable when using single-format creatives — it increases when scaling active ad accounts. If you rely on only one format, there is no real optimization, which leads to faster creative burnout and makes it harder to find new references that perform as well as previous ones.
Intraday dynamics were quite illustrative. In the morning, CPI could increase by up to 100%, then partially stabilize by midday, and rise again in the evening, adding around 20–25% to daily values. At the same time, campaigns continued delivering — they didn’t break, but efficiency gradually declined.
The main reason was not classic audience saturation. This was not a typical scale → saturation → CPI growth scenario. The problem was deeper: the single-format approach itself was limiting the algorithm. Creatives burned out faster, and the optimization system became less effective due to the lack of alternative signals.
Format burnout also occurred because there are limited in-app ad intelligence tools, and only a small number of teams have access to them due to their high cost. As a result, the overall pool of proven working creatives is relatively small. When only one creative format is used, it quickly burns out, forcing the search for new references — but often there is nothing left to scale further.
Why Single Creatives Formats Lead to Higher CPI and Instability
During testing, the team reached an important insight: CPI growth and instability were directly linked to using only one type of creative.
In practice, the algorithm was constrained by a single format — it had no ability to redistribute budget or optimization signals. This increased CPI volatility and accelerated burnout.
This understanding came empirically through a series of tests. It also became clear that some formats, such as news-style creatives and playable formats, were underutilized, which limited scaling potential.
Creatives Testing Strategy to Reduce CPI in iGaming Campaigns
The team shifted focus toward creatives diversification.
They decided to run multiple creatives types simultaneously, giving the algorithm more flexibility. Three key formats were introduced:
- interview
- gameplay
- social gameplay

The main share of traffic was allocated to interview creatives (50%) with a CPI of about $8.58, while gameplay accounted for 25% with a CPI of ~ $6.5, and social gameplay — the remaining 25% with a CPI of ~ $10.23 (Moloco Ads).
Scaling was primarily achieved through relaunching campaigns with increased budgets.
The team tested 4 to 6 creatives per campaign with a $250 budget. If performance was strong, the campaign was relaunched with a higher budget, and its behavior was closely monitored.
How campaigns were launched:
If new campaigns included only new creatives, they were kept and scaled alongside existing active campaigns, or relaunched when needed.
Testing was conducted in parallel: different formats were launched simultaneously, and the decision-making cycle took 2–3 days. The primary evaluation metrics were CPI and cost per registration, followed by CPA.
Results: Lower CPI and More Stable Campaign Scaling
Switching to a multi-format strategy delivered a noticeable impact. Previously, overall CPI ranged between $13–18, but after implementing the new approach, it decreased to approximately $8.4.
The key improvement was scalability: campaigns could be scaled without sharp CPI spikes. Although CPI growth with increased volume remains inevitable, it became much more controlled and predictable.
From a performance perspective, different formats showed varying CPI levels. The best result was achieved by social gameplay, while other formats demonstrated higher CPI. However, this did not reduce their importance in scaling.
For scaling, social-style formats and interview creatives performed best. Interview creatives tend to burn out faster, while social gameplay creatives — being bright, visually engaging, and highly informative — scale more effectively.
No format proved to be universally best for growth. All three formats scaled effectively, and their combination gave the algorithm more opportunities for optimization.
Best Practices for Launching and Scaling iGaming Creatives
In practice, the most effective approach is straightforward: launch 4–6 creatives across 2–3 formats (interviews, social approaches) and run them either sequentially or simultaneously, as done at Traffy.
A specific recommendation from a Traffy buyer: use playable elements in the end card — this can significantly reduce CPI. Creating a unique end card for each creative in the same style also lowers CPI and increases engagement with the creative itself.
At the same time, it is important to understand that there are no “dead” formats: over time, any creatives will burn out regardless of their type.
Conclusion: Multi-Format Creatives Strategy for Predictable iGaming Scaling
Creatives format diversification proved to be the key factor for stable scaling. Instead of trying to control CPI within a single format, the team expanded the optimization space. This allowed for better traffic redistribution, slower creative burnout, and reduced performance volatility.
As a result, scaling became not only more efficient but also more predictable — without the sharp CPI spikes typical of single-format strategies.
If you have any questions or would like to apply these strategies to your campaigns, feel free to submit a request via our website or reach out directly at [email protected].
The post In-App Creatives in iGaming: How to Lower CPI and Scale Campaigns with Moloco Ads appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
iGaming
5 Platform Features That Only an Operator Would Have Built: Kanggiten’s Perspective
After spending 10+ years running your own casino brands, you develop a very specific frustration with the tools available on the market. You know exactly where the funnel breaks because you’ve watched it break on your own traffic. With your own money at risk.
That point is where the Kanggiten iGaming platform started. What would a platform look like if the people building it had already operated 50+ brands and managed over 3 million players?
It would look different. And it does. Here are five features that reflect that origin.
Modular Architecture with Conversion-Tested Components
Kanggiten is modular by design. Operators choose the components they need, whether that’s a casino engine, sportsbook, CRM, affiliate management, analytics, or game aggregation, and add more as their business grows. No platform migration, no rebuilding infrastructure from scratch. Each module is standalone, yet fully integrated when combined.
First, this removes platform lock-in. An operator can start with a Kanggiten white label iGaming platform setup and expand into a full turnkey model over time without switching providers. Second, every module ships with conversion logic already built in. Registration forms, deposit flows, lobby layouts, bonus mechanics. All of it has been A/B tested on live traffic across real projects.
Operators on the platform have reached registration-to-deposit conversion rates of up to 70% (results vary depending on geo and traffic source). That number comes from systematic UX research, continuous hypothesis testing, and a product team that treats every redundant click as lost revenue.
Retention as a Full Operating System
Nowadays, retention costs less than acquisition and scales more predictably. The harder question is how a platform supports it in practice. Most setups offer a bonus toggle here, a CRM email there. Kanggiten treats retention as a connected system that spans the entire player lifecycle.
That means onboarding sequences, CRM-driven reactivation flows, bonus economics with built-in anti-abuse logic, and weekly engagement mechanics like tournaments, prize wheels, and achievement systems. Layered, tested, and iterated based on live performance data.
Operators on the platform consistently reach retention rates of up to 39%, against an industry benchmark that typically sits between 30% and 35%.
“Retention is a system, not a single feature. It’s built on analytics, testing, and continuous optimization,” – says Ivan Korkin, Head of Account Management at Kanggiten. – “Our focus is on onboarding, CRM flows, bonus economics, and reactivation, because that’s where sustainable growth actually lives.”
Segmentation That Accounts for Geo and Behavior
Grouping players by deposit size or registration date only gets you so far. Kanggiten runs split tests across different traffic types and builds tailored monetization scenarios for each identified segment. The deeper the behavioral model, the more segments emerge. And this directly translates into the more precise revenue impact.
The geo-specific layer adds another dimension. The platform reflects local user behavior from the first interaction, including UI/UX patterns, number formatting conventions, payment preferences, and content expectations. Small details, but they compound.
“For example, in the Turkish market, users expect percentage values displayed before the number. Even that inconsistency can hurt conversion,” – Ivan explains. – “In LATAM, fraudulent registrations are a known issue, so we analyze behavioral patterns in those regions and apply AI-based verification. A localized product and a translated product are two very different things.”
AI Applied Across the Operations Stack
Kanggiten deploys AI only where it produces measurable operational gains:
- fraud detection,
- KYC and identity verification,
- content generation,
- customer support automation,
- cost optimization.
It works across the full stack, reinforcing every other module in the process.
In high-risk geos, AI-based smart verification reduces the burden on support teams and cuts fraud activity without adding friction for legitimate players. In content and support workflows, it accelerates turnaround and lowers cost per interaction.
Over 20 Communication Channels with Built-In Flexibility
It’s not a big secret that your channel reach has a direct impact on revenue. Kanggiten supports more than 20 active touchpoints, including Telegram, social platforms, push notifications, SMS, email, and webhooks. Operators get multiple paths to reach players where they already spend time.
This matters especially in markets where communication methods shift or get restricted without warning. Channel diversity at Kanggiten is part of the core infrastructure. When one path closes, others are already running.
Why It Adds Up
Together, these features make up a platform built around how operators actually work. The same thinking extends across the full ecosystem, including the Kanggiten Affiliate Platform (powered by FireAff) and the Kanggiten CRM & Marketing System (powered by InTarget).
And the industry has started to take notice. In March 2026, Kanggiten was named Best Live Casino Provider at the GamingTECH CEE Awards during the Hipther Prague Summit, an event that brought together 400+ attendees from 35+ countries.
Why? Because every feature was shaped by a team that has run brands, managed players, launched campaigns, and been held to the same KPIs their clients track every morning.
The post 5 Platform Features That Only an Operator Would Have Built: Kanggiten’s Perspective appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
GGPoker
GGPoker partners with Grosvenor Casinos on UK live tournament circuit
GGPoker and Grosvenor Casinos have agreed a live events partnership covering Grosvenor’s UK tournament schedule, including The Goliath, the Grosvenor UK Poker Tour (GUKPT) and the UK Open. The companies said the agreement is designed to link online qualification on GGPoker with live play across Grosvenor’s casino network.
Under the deal, GGPoker will sponsor more than 50 poker festivals annually across the majority of Grosvenor Casinos’ 35 poker rooms nationwide, with additional local and regional events also included.
The partnership includes added-value incentives for players who qualify or buy in via the GGPoker client. These include a 20% cash boost on winnings at The Goliath, G200 and G300 events, and a 10% cash boost at all GUKPT stops. Promotions also include a “£5,000 GGPoker x Goliath Last Longer competition,” plus on-site perks such as GGPoker merchandise.
Angela Martin, UK & Ireland Head of Marketing at GGPoker, said: “We are incredibly proud to partner with Grosvenor Casinos. At a time when rewards are being scaled back across much of the gaming industry, GGPoker is determined to do the opposite. Supporting the live poker scene is vital for the health of our favorite game, and we are thrilled to give real value back to this fantastic community. With our massive cash boosts and dedicated satellite tournaments, if you plan to play a Grosvenor Casinos event in the future, you’ll now have new pathways with added value for players qualifying through GGPoker.”
Sue Price, Director of Gaming, Grosvenor Casinos, added: “This is a hugely exciting partnership for us and the poker community in the UK. We’re confident that the strengths we both bring will result in improved experiences with more value delivered to our players. We also aim to grow our Poker offer over the duration of the partnership -whether that be through bigger events, more events or increased prize pools. We’ve very much looking forward to working with the team at GGPoker who’ve shown they have a very clearly aligned ambition to ourselves, which is exciting for our teams and our players alike.” Satellite qualifiers for The Goliath are already live in the GGPoker client, with qualifier schedules for the GUKPT and other events to be announced in the coming weeks.
The post GGPoker partners with Grosvenor Casinos on UK live tournament circuit appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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