Central Europe

The long-awaited opening of the German market has arrived

Published

4 years ago

June 30, 2021

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Catalin Negoita, Commercial Manager at Kalamba Games

The long-awaited German legislation allowing online gaming nationwide finally enters into force this week. Even before fully opening up, the market has become a key focus for many industry players, with a multitude of factors making the potential of the region an attractive proposition.

Firstly, there is the sheer size of the country itself. With a population second only to Russia in Europe and relatively high average earnings, the potential value of the player pool is vast. The second reason is perhaps more subjective, but we have found that German players are fairly easy to satisfy. Their preferences are well established, which makes it straightforward for an online casino supplier to adequately cater for this sizeable new clientele.

European Gaming Congress 2024 (Warsaw, Poland)

Because of the country’s strong history of land-based gambling, classic games that resemble titles found in brick-and-mortar venues with popular themes like ancient Egypt and book games work very well with local players. Taking inspiration from what works in the land-based sector is therefore often a safe bet in Germany. Mobile usage is also a lot higher than your average market because of the good infrastructure so it’s worth considering creating games that are optimised for mobile.

Strict rules and regulations around responsible gaming and player protection have already presented some challenges for the industry with slot suppliers required to make fundamental changes to the makeup of their content.

Operators must adopt a €1 maximum stake limit on online slots, alongside a 5-second minimum duration on slot spins. Jackpots will be banned, removing an important acquisition and retention tool for operators. Monthly deposit limits of €1,000 will also be introduced and players must be offered tools to set spending and time limits, along with cooling-off periods.

These restrictions will influence the shape of the market with the main effect being that retention will have a greater focus than in many other markets with fewer restrictions.

Despite being a hot topic in the industry for quite some time, providers will now be trying even harder to retain more players for longer and will have to be creative in order to succeed. Legislative changes are part of every regulated market and it is key for operators and suppliers to embrace them and try to adapt as best we can. We are known to be a very innovative industry and I’m sure as the market matures, we will see pioneering new ways to acquire and retain players while ensuring maximum player protection.

Basically gamification, customer service and the quality of games in general will be the differentiator in the German market, and that is for both providers and operators to address.

Gambling will become more of a social thing because the maximum limit is so low. It’s not exactly going to be the thrill of winning big – it will be the social aspect and making sure that retention factors, gamification side missions and different functionalities are top notch.

You could say a laser-like focus on promotional tools and social gaming elements, such as those that we are introducing on our own Kalamba Bullseye platform, are going to be very important. Basically, everything that enhances the player experience will be key such as promotional tools, UX elements, and/or in-game gamification features. Similarly, game production values will have to be high and match those of other entertainment media.

At Kalamba, we believe that Germany will be a very strong market. The way to monetise the market will just be a little bit different there. There won’t be VIP players, so the industry will have to adjust to a volume model. Player values will decrease but because of the social acceptance of gaming, and slots in particular, the player numbers will increase and that’s how it will balance itself out over time.

Initially, when the legislation comes into force, we will just have to analyse the player behaviour and see in what direction the market is going and how we can fully capitalise on this new opportunity. Germany will be a market that could completely change with providers having to adapt to the new conditions as there will be a lot of new players entering the market now that it’s completely regulated.

We must work very closely with our partners to figure out the best way to make the player experience as engaging as possible and this will lead us to success in this new and exciting environment.

Central Europe

GamingTECH CEE Awards 2025: The Online Voting Battle Begins February 12!

Published

2 weeks ago

February 10, 2025

George Miller

gamingtech-cee-awards-2025:-the-online-voting-battle-begins-february-12!

Reading Time: 3 minutes

The highly anticipated GamingTECH CEE Awards 2025 is entering its next thrilling phase as the online voting period kicks off on February 12 and runs through February 28, 2025. Nominees, get ready to enter the spotlight and prepare your communications campaigns! From the moment voting opens, all nominated companies and individual professionals will be visible, giving them the opportunity to rally support via social media and beyond to secure votes.

The GamingTECH CEE Awards celebrates outstanding achievements, embracing the latest advancements and industry trends in the region. Following a rigorous nomination process that concluded on January 19, the upcoming online voting session will determine the shortlists.

Key Dates:

Online Voting Period: February 12–28, 2025
Shortlist Announcement: March 4, 2025
Final Live Vote & Awards Ceremony: March 25, 2025, at the Prague Gaming & TECH Summit

New Rule for 2025:

This year, the GamingTECH CEE Awards introduces an important update: Each voter will only be allowed one vote for the entire online voting period. Nominees are encouraged to actively engage their industry peers and supporters to maximize their chances of advancing to the finals.

From “Shortlisted” to “Finalist”

Additionally, only shortlisted nominees who confirm their attendance at the Awards by purchasing a ticket for the Prague Gaming & TECH Summit will be eligible to advance to the final voting stage. This ensures a fair competition for the Awards between equally committed finalists, and a strong industry presence at the Summit to foster greater networking and engagement.

The final live vote will take place at the Prague Gaming & TECH Summit on March 25, 2025, where all event participants will have the opportunity to cast their votes and determine the ultimate winners. The winners will then be officially announced at the GamingTECH CEE Awards Ceremony, proudly sponsored and presented by Endorphina.

Awards Categories:

Individual Categories:

CEE iGaming Leader of the Year: Recognizing an individual from the CEE region who has demonstrated exceptional leadership, vision, and a strong impact in the iGaming industry. This person has driven growth and innovation in the region, setting the benchmark for others.
CEE Rising Star in iGaming: Celebrating an individual from the CEE region who has shown remarkable promise and potential in the iGaming industry early in their career. This award highlights emerging talent that is expected to shape the future of iGaming in the region.
CEE Innovator of the Year: Awarding the individual who has introduced the most groundbreaking innovations in the CEE iGaming sector. This person has significantly contributed to the evolution of the industry through unique products, services, or technologies tailored to the regional market.
CEE iGaming Influencer of the Year: Honoring a prominent individual whose influence and insights have significantly shaped the CEE iGaming community. Their thought leadership, content, or social presence has driven trends and fostered growth within the regional iGaming space.
Best iGaming CEO in CEE: Recognizing the CEO based in the CEE region who has led their company to new heights with outstanding strategic direction and business acumen. This award honors their ability to navigate the unique challenges of the CEE market and achieve exceptional business growth.

Get Involved & Secure Your Spot

Set your reminders and be ready for action on 12 February 2025! Encourage your peers, partners, and clients to participate in the voting process and ensure that your company or favorite nominee makes it to the final stage!

For more details on the awards, voting process, and ticketing information, visit https://hipther.com/events/prague/gamingtech-awards/ or contact HIPTHER at [email protected].

Join us in shaping the future of gaming and technology in CEE – Cast your vote and be part of the journey!

The post GamingTECH CEE Awards 2025: The Online Voting Battle Begins February 12! appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Central Europe

DFL and Tipico Extend Partnership Until 2029

Published

2 weeks ago

February 7, 2025

George Miller

dfl-and-tipico-extend-partnership-until-2029

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Tipico, Germany’s leading sports betting provider, will continue as the Official Partner of the Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga. Before the end of the current agreement, Tipico and the DFL (Deutsche Fußball Liga) have agreed to extend their partnership, which began in 2018, through to the end of the 2028/29 season.

As part of this agreement, Tipico will continue to use the logos of both competitions and the two Meisterschalen (championship trophies) in its advertising. The company will also retain its extensive advertising rights, including first-access rights included in DFL’s media contracts, as well as a “Matching Offer Right” for all special advertising formats with national partners, and exclusivity within the industry. Tipico will also be integrated into digital Bundesliga platforms.

“We’re thrilled to extend this long-standing collaboration built on mutual trust. Over the years, Tipico has proven itself as a highly professional and reliable partner with a deep passion for football,” said Tobias Thöne, Director of Commercial Partnerships at Bundesliga International GmbH.

Kajetan Strini-Brown, Director of Sports Brand at Tipico, said: “We’re incredibly proud to continue our partnership with the Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga! German football is at the heart of what we do, and that passion has always been deeply embedded in our DNA as a company. This extension is a key part of our strategic partnerships, which also include the DFB-Pokal, another major German football brand. Sponsorship, and the visibility it brings, plays an important role in guiding customers to the legal market.”

As outlined in the State Treaty on Gambling, the possibility to promote sports betting is an essential tool for guiding the deeply human drive to gamble into regulated and monitored channels. This plays a critical role in ensuring proper regulation of sports betting while counteracting illegal offerings. For more than 20 years, Tipico has been offering innovative, user-friendly, and secure sports betting products and has become the most popular brand for sports betting in Germany. In addition to continuous product development, Tipico has been working on modern player protection strategies for the last 15 years. The DFL has also long been committed to preventing match-fixing and gambling addiction in German professional football.

The post DFL and Tipico Extend Partnership Until 2029 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Central Europe

Promatic Games now live in Slovakia

Published

4 weeks ago

January 30, 2025

George Miller

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Promatic Games, a polish game-tech brand and a slots studio specializing in game design and software solutions for online casinos, officially entered the Slovak market on January 24^th, 2025. Eurogold, a long-time partner of Promatic Group in the land-based gaming sector, became the first online casino in Slovakia to launch 10 of the studio’s popular online slot games.

“Entering the Slovak market has been a significant milestone for us. This year, we are focused on strengthening our presence in Central Europe, with Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Romania, Croatia and other markets in the region as key strategic priorities. Our portfolio of over 100 online slot games is designed to meet the expectations of players in these markets, as proven by our success in Poland. Partnering with a long-time customer for our initial launch in Slovakia was a natural choice, but our ultimate goal is to become a widely recognized game provider in the country and a trusted partner for all operators “– says Maciej Makuszewski, Head of iGaming at Promatic.

The collaboration with Eurogold online casino marks a significant milestone in Promatic Games’ journey. This partnership brings a selection of top-tier games to Slovak players, including fan-favorites such as Jumping Fruits, Ultra Reels, 81 Show, and Miss Inferno Deluxe. As a highlight for this market, Promatic Games has developed an exclusive slot for Eurogold – Kmeťo King Deluxe – which is a tribute to a popular Slovak folk singer Igor Kmeťo. The game is available exclusively at Eurogold.sk and features some of Mr. Kmeťo’s music during the gameplay. The launch of Kmeťo King Deluxe underscores Promatic Games’ commitment to delivering localized and tailored gaming experiences for new audiences.

All ten games introduced to the Slovak market have successfully passed rigorous certification by TSU Laboratory, a local Slovak authority specializing in game testing and certification. TSU ensures that all gaming software complies with international standards, guaranteeing fairness, reliability, and security for players. Promatic Games’ adherence to these high standards emphasizes the company’s dedication to delivering trusted and quality experiences.

Promatic Games is already preparing its next lineup of titles, promising to bring even more unforgettable gaming experiences to Slovak players. The new games will include, amongst others, Janosik 30 game based on the character of both Polish and Slovak folk hero. This expansion signals the company’s dedication to growing its presence in the Slovak market while maintaining the exceptional standards it is known for.

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