Latest News

2021 has already overtaken 2020 with more female-led games

Published

5 years ago

January 25, 2021

Reading Time: 2 minutes

While women make up nearly half of all gamers, a continued study by Buzz Bingo has revealed that only 12% of next-generation video games exclusively feature a female protagonist, with 2020 being the worst year yet for female representation.

As part of this continued study, Buzz Bingo analysed every game released on PlayStation and Xbox since 2016 to see how female representation in the gaming industry has developed, as well as how this representation is unfolding in 2021.

1. PlayStation Games Year-on-Year

Our research showed us that 2020 was the lowest year in terms of the number of female-led games released on PlayStation consoles, with only 14 games (8.6%) released that year featuring a female protagonist.
2021 is already looking more promising in terms of the number of games set to be released featuring a female lead, with 23 games (18.4%) with a female protagonist having been announced so far.

Year	Female	Male	Mixed	Ambiguous/NA/TBC	Total
2016	27	120	97	62	306
2017	49	85	115	61	310
2018	27	90	98	42	257
2019	22	87	91	24	224
2020	14	53	67	29	163
2021	23	50	30	22	125

2. Xbox Games Year-on-Year

In three out of the six years we analysed, only 9 of the games that were released for Xbox consoles featured a female lead.
So far, 2021 already ranks second for the highest number of female protagonist led games for Xbox, with 14 games (12.8%) featuring a female lead having been announced or released.

Year	Female	Male	Multiple Options	Ambiguous/NA/TBC	Total
2016	16	83	54	34	187
2017	9	49	65	21	144
2018	10	46	56	29	141
2019	9	49	74	16	148
2020	9	27	49	22	107
2021	14	43	30	22	109

3. The New Generation: Xbox Series X/S and PS5

Research from Buzz Bingo has revealed that only 51 games (12%) out of the 414 confirmed PS5 and Xbox Series X/S exclusively feature a female protagonist compared to 139 (34%) games with a male-only lead.
33% of all games had both male and female protagonists or allowed the user to customise the gender.

Gender of Lead(s)	Xbox Series X/S	PlayStation 5	Xbox %	PS5 %	Total %
Female	21	30	11%	13%	12%
Male	58	81	31%	35%	34%
Multiple Options	68	68	37%	30%	33%
Ambiguous/NA/TBC	38	50	21%	22%	21%

Methodology

We analysed every game released on PlayStation and Xbox since 2016, and then manually checked each game to find out whether the playable character was male, female, ambiguous or had mixed options.
We then broke this down to find out the best and worst years for female representation in video games.
To determine gender, we researched wiki pages for the individual games and searched for the corresponding pronouns when necessary.

Source

AI in gaming

ZingBrain AI Boosts Hondubet Engagement

Published

3 hours ago

April 9, 2026

Wladimir P.

ZingBrain AI Drives Hondubet Growth with Real-Time Personalisation

ZingBrain AI is reshaping the iGaming landscape by delivering measurable performance gains for Hondubet through advanced real-time personalization technology.

By replacing its manually curated casino lobby with a fully automated, API-driven solution, Hondubet has unlocked a new level of player engagement and operational efficiency. The AI-powered system dynamically adapts content to individual player behaviors, ensuring that each user encounters games tailored to their unique preferences.

Significant Performance Gains Across Player Segments

Data from a controlled A/B test comparing the legacy manual lobby with the new personalized system highlights substantial improvements:

A 25% increase in Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) and turnover among newly registered players
A 10% rise in total bets placed by returning users
A 25% boost in the number of unique games explored across the player base

These results underscore the effectiveness of AI-driven personalization in enhancing both user engagement and revenue generation.

From Manual Management to Intelligent Automation

Previously, Hondubet relied heavily on manual processes to manage its casino lobby, requiring constant updates and resource-intensive oversight. According to Julian Pareja Garcia of Hondubet, the shift to ZingBrain AI has been transformative.

The automated system continuously learns from player interactions, refining game recommendations and lobby sections without human intervention. This allows the operator’s team to focus on strategic initiatives rather than routine maintenance.

Smarter Player Experiences Through AI Innovation

Oleg Smolerov emphasized the collaborative approach between the two companies, highlighting a shared commitment to innovation and product excellence.

Rather than static content placement, the AI engine ensures that every element of the lobby evolves in response to real-time data. This creates a more intuitive and engaging user experience, where players are presented with content that feels both relevant and natural.

Aligning Commercial Goals with User Experience

Beyond engagement metrics, the integration also supports Hondubet’s commercial strategy. Through ZingBrain AI’s Game Promotion tool, priority titles can be strategically surfaced within personalized sections.

Crucially, the system evaluates performance continuously. Games that fail to resonate with players are automatically deprioritized and replaced with more relevant options. This ensures a balance between promotional objectives and player satisfaction, maximizing both retention and monetization.

A New Standard for iGaming Personalisation

The success of this integration signals a broader shift within the iGaming industry toward intelligent automation and data-driven experiences. By leveraging AI to personalize every touchpoint, operators like Hondubet are setting new benchmarks for engagement, efficiency, and revenue growth.

As competition intensifies, solutions like ZingBrain AI are poised to become essential tools for operators seeking to deliver meaningful, high-performing user experiences at scale.

The post ZingBrain AI Boosts Hondubet Engagement appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Gambling in the USA

AGS Interactive Announces Launch of Cash Cow Bonus Wheel

Published

3 hours ago

April 9, 2026

GamingAmericas.com

ags-interactive-announces-launch-of-cash-cow-bonus-wheel

AGS yesterday announced the launch of Cash Cow Bonus Wheel marking the North American debut of AGS Interactive’s newest character-driven franchise, now available in all licensed real-money online gaming markets.

The title expands AGS’ stepper portfolio and introduces Bartholomoo the Cash Cow — a fresh, fully marketable character designed to anchor a multi-title franchise. Powered by AGS’ proven math models and player-favorite mechanics, Cash Cow Bonus Wheel delivers a contemporary take on the classic 3-reel stepper experience with energetic game play and an approachable design.

“We are so excited to introduce this innovative, character-driven game to the online gaming world,” said Zoe Ebling, Vice President of Interactive at AGS. “With Cash Cow Bonus Wheel, we are leveraging our proven performance-validated math models to reduce performance risk for operators, while pairing that strong foundation with a deliberate, recognizable character and IP strategy. This approach enables us to create franchise assets built for marketing impact, player delight, and scalable, long-term operator success – well beyond the lifecycle of a single title.”

The launch serves as the first chapter in AGSi’s new Cash Cow franchise, a long-term strategy built on character recognition, scalable assets, and compounding operator value. The franchise roadmap includes a buildable ecosystem designed to span multiple formats, channels, and promotional opportunities.

Additionally, Cash Cow Bounty Board will be available in all licensed real-money online gaming markets April 15, with the Cash Cow 3-pot game to follow later in the year.

For more information, visit newsroom.playags.com.

©2026 AGS LLC. All® notices signify marks registered in the United States. All notices signify trademarks, which are not registered on any country-wide basis. Products referenced herein are sold by AGS LLC or other subsidiaries of PlayAGS, Inc.

The post AGS Interactive Announces Launch of Cash Cow Bonus Wheel appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

Latest News

N1 Partners at Search iGaming Conference 2026 in Limassol

Published

8 hours ago

April 9, 2026

Wladimir P.

n1-partners-at-search-igaming-conference-2026-in-limassol

The N1 Partners team will attend the Search iGaming Conference 2026, held on April 16 in Limassol, Cyprus.

The conference will bring together more than 1,200 professionals in SEO and iGaming, including PPC experts, ASO teams, and affiliate programs representatives for networking and sharing insights.

At the event, the N1 Partners team will not only be an active participant but also a conference bags sponsor for guests. This is the part of a comfortable event experience that helps participants focus on networking and knowledge-sharing.

The conference is a perfect place to discuss profitable deals and SEO traffic, as well as learn more about the N1 SEO Traffic Cup, the first tournament in the N1 Traffic Cups global promo series from N1 Partners. The team will explain how to enter the promotion with highest efficiency at the final stage — there’s still a chance to join the tournament until April 30th.

Participate in the largest SEO tournament in the industry this spring and acquire generous prizes!

In addition to the current promo, N1 Partners affiliate managers will be happy to discuss working with any of the 14+ brands in the portfolio, top Tier-1 GEOs, as well as individual payment terms and payment models.