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Colt Canyon crowned ‘Best Game’ and LUNARK ‘Most Anticipated’ at GameMaker Awards 2021

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The judges have deliberated. Over 33,000 votes have been cast. And we can now reveal that Colt Canyon has been crowned ‘Best Game’ and LUNARK ‘Most Anticipated’ game of the year, at the GameMaker Awards 2021.

Created by German-based developer Retrific, Colt Canyon is a stylish western-themed pixel art shooter combining roguelike elements with real-time combat. The judges were impressed with Colt Canyon’s highly engaging gameplay and heavily pixelated artist style. While in the popular vote, members of the GameMaker and Opera GX communities voted Colt Canyon the clear winner.

The other finalists for ‘Best Game’ included: Chicory: A Colorful Tale, Jet Lancer, Post Void and Cook, Serve, Delicious! 3?!.

The winner of ‘Most Anticipated’ game is LUNARK, from Canari Games. LUNARK is a 2D cinematic platformer, designed in the vein of ’80s and ’90s classics. The game challenges players to run, jump, hang, climb, roll, and shoot their way through a kaleidoscope of different environments. These include mysterious alien ruins, a flying penitentiary, a high-tech megalopolis, and a majestic forest.

The judges were blown away with how the Canari Games team have pushed the creative limits of cutscenes and pixel art in GameMaker, to create a game that is both visually stunning and great to play. Set for release later this year, LUNARK also made a big impression with the voters – who overwhelmingly crowned it the ‘Most Anticipated’ game of 2021.

The other finalists for ‘Most Anticipated’ game included: NYKRA, Jitsu Squad, APICO and Toodee and Topdee.

The GameMaker Awards, in partnership with SpecialEffect, a charity that uses video games to enhance the lives of those people with physical disabilities, celebrate creativity and innovation in Indie game development, honouring the best games created using GameMaker Studio 2 as well as the Indies and Studios that designed them.

From over 200 entries, only 5 games for each category were selected by an expert panel of industry peers, including GameMaker Studio CTO Russell Kay, Opera GX Product Director Maciej Kocemba, and Into Indie Games Editor Harry Cole.

Russell Kay, CTO, GameMaker Studio, said: “This year’s GameMaker Awards has redefined what we’ve come to expect from the indies and studios that choose GameMaker as their creative engine of choice. Each of the finalists have demonstrated  both amazing creativity, plus the technical ability to harness GameMaker’s powerful functionality to design a game that really pushes the boundaries. Given the incredible standard of this year’s entries, I am only glad that the final decision was left in the hands of our loyal GameMaker and Opera GX communities.”

Jonathan Mannshoven of Retrific, said: “Colt Canyon wasn’t a bestseller when it launched last year. It wasn’t free from criticism either. But by working closely with the community, I’ve been able to make many improvements to the game which have helped turn a lot of criticism into positive feedback. Having all that hard work now paying off with Colt Canyon winning ‘Best Game’ at the GameMaker Awards 2021 is an overwhelming and surreal feeling – just incredible!

“GameMaker has always been my engine of choice as it is just so easy to use yet also powerful, enabling me to reach maximum productivity. Which as a solo developer is extremely valuable. Put simply – I wouldn’t be a game developer now if it wasn’t for GameMaker.”

Johan Vinet of Canari Games, added: “LUNARK started as a passion project to create a game in the genre I loved in my youth. Making it a reality became so clear that I decided to quit my job, start my own studio and launch a Kickstarter campaign. Winning the “Most Anticipated Game” award is an incredible recognition from the players and the GameMaker Community, which brings some welcome legitimacy and a massive confidence boost to actually finish the game! Thank you!”

Africa

Broadway Platform Partners with Ghanaian Operator Afrinova

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Broadway Platform, the all-in-one iGaming platform, has partnered with Ghanaian operator Afrinova as it further expands its footprint in the African continent.

The agreement will see Afrinova’s platform powered by Broadway’s full-service AI-powered product suite, including casino, as well as a complete payment, CRM and risk management solution, as the operator looks to grow its presence in its home market of Ghana.

Ghana, like many regulated African markets, offers significant growth opportunities, with increasing internet penetration, a young population and growing familiarity with betting products.

The Afrinova partnership is the latest commercial agreement secured by Broadway Platform, which has also strengthened its offering after a recent deal with Altenar.

Giorgi Samkharadze, Director of Broadway Platform, said: “Partnering with Afrinova is a really exciting moment for us as we strengthen our presence in one of Africa’s most exciting regulated markets.

“Our commitment to exceptional product delivery is unmatched, and we look forward to powering Afrinova’s market-leading offering for many years to come.”

Imad Hawwach, Managing Director at Afrinova, said: “Broadway Platform’s comprehensive back-end offering allows us to seamlessly deliver a best-in-class experience to our customers across Ghana. It’s an extremely exciting partnership for us, and one that allows us to stand apart from our competitors.”

The post Broadway Platform Partners with Ghanaian Operator Afrinova appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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Africa

Amusnet Won Online Slot Supplier of the Year and Reinforced its Long-Term Vision at the iGaming Afrika Summit

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Amusnet arrived at the inaugural iGaming Afrika Summit with a clear position: it was not there to follow Africa’s iGaming growth, but to help shape it. Reinforcing that commitment beyond the exhibition floor, Cameron Green, Country Director South Africa at Amusnet, also joined the conference agenda as a featured speaker, contributing to key discussions around the future development of Africa’s gaming industry.

The company’s strong presence at the event was further recognised with the Online Slot Supplier of the Year award at the iGA Summit Awards, acknowledging Amusnet’s strong performance and growing impact across the African iGaming market.

Beyond the product showcase, Amusnet positioned itself as an active participant in Africa’s regulatory and commercial evolution. Across key markets including South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria and Tanzania, the company worked alongside operators, regulators and industry bodies to support a more structured and sustainable ecosystem.

Green took part in the panel discussion “Developed Markets: Strategies for Growing Africa’s Gaming Industry” alongside Thomas Nsongka, Managing Partner at Lion Bets, David Moshi, Managing Director of Velex Advisory Ltd, and Musa Mngadi, CEO of the African Lotteries & Gaming Association. The session was moderated by Job Weku, Business Development Manager Africa at FAZI Company.

Speaking during the panel, Green highlighted the increasing importance of localisation within African gaming markets.

“In the last 12–18 months, we’ve seen a clear shift from generic global content to locally adapted experiences that actually resonate with African players. It’s no longer enough to just translate a game, you need to localise mechanics, themes, volatility, even how jackpots are presented. The suppliers that understand cultural nuance and player behaviour are the ones driving stronger engagement and better lifetime value,” he said.

Addressing the relationship between operators and suppliers, Green also emphasised the need for stronger strategic alignment across the industry.

“Too many supplier–operator relationships in Africa are still transactional when they should be strategic. The operators winning today are the ones treating suppliers as growth partners, not just content vendors. That means sharing data, aligning on player value, and co-investing in performance. The reality is simple, if both sides aren’t making money sustainably, the partnership will break under pressure,” he noted.

At this year’s showcase, the focus moved beyond volume of content to performance that matters. Amusnet’s portfolio was built to deliver stronger session times, higher engagement, and improved player retention across regulated African markets. Proven titles like Shining Crown and Ca$hybara Ski Edition continued to perform consistently, while newer releases such as Caramelo Sortudo Crash Edition and Crazy Red reflected a sharper alignment with evolving player behaviour.

The Golden Coins Link Jackpot series further reinforced this approach, combining familiar mechanics with scalable jackpot structures that drove repeat play and sustained engagement. But the strategy did not stop online.

In a continent where retail still plays a dominant role, Amusnet’s ability to operate seamlessly across Land-based, Online, and Live casino environments gave operators a tangible edge. From immersive live products like Candy Wheel and Showtime Roulette 500, to Land-based solutions including Type S cabinets and the Amusebox platform, the offering was designed to bridge channels and maximise player value across touchpoints.

This hybrid strength proved particularly relevant in African markets, where infrastructure, regulation, and player habits differ significantly from one jurisdiction to the next.

For operators facing increasing pressure from taxation, compliance and rising acquisition costs, the focus remained straightforward: improving yield per player without increasing risk.

“We see Africa as a long-term build, not a short-term opportunity. Our role is to support regulated growth, build meaningful partnerships, and deliver products that genuinely move the needle for operators in this market,” added Green.

That approach was backed by a commercial model built on alignment. Through data-led optimisation, tailored volatility and rapid localisation, Amusnet worked closely with partners to improve performance at a market level. Co-investment in campaigns and a shared focus on measurable outcomes positioned the company as more than a supplier, but as a contributor to operator growth.

As Africa’s iGaming landscape continued to mature and move towards greater regulation and consolidation, the direction remained clear. Amusnet positioned itself on the right side of that shift: performance-led, locally aligned and built for the long game.

The post Amusnet Won Online Slot Supplier of the Year and Reinforced its Long-Term Vision at the iGaming Afrika Summit appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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Brazil

Why is Pix central to combating the illegal betting market?

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Published in Poder360, this opinion article by Leo Baptista, founder of Pay4fun,  explores why Pix has become one of the most strategic tools in combating Brazil’s illegal betting market and why financial tracking may be more effective than simply blocking websites.

There is currently a recurring question whenever we talk about the betting market in Brazil: why does the illegal sector continue to operate even after regulation?

The answer is simple and, at the same time, uncomfortable: because we still have not tackled the problem in the most effective way.

For a long time, efforts to combat illegal betting focused on blocking websites.

It is an important measure, but an insufficient one.

The dynamic is familiar: one domain is blocked today, another appears tomorrow with slight variations.

It is an almost endless task, often described by the industry itself as “a losing battle.”

If we truly want to be effective, we need to change the approach.

The path is different: follow the money, and this is precisely where Brazil has an enormous competitive advantage: Pix.

Today, Pix is the only payment method accepted in Brazil’s betting market.

For the first time, this gives authorities an instrument capable not only of tracking, but mainly interrupting, the financial flow that sustains these operations.

When you cut the payment flow, you cut the business itself.

This movement has already begun.

The Secretariat of Prizes and Betting (SPA) now has stronger enforcement tools against institutions operating illegally.

ines can reach extremely significant amounts. At the same time, the Central Bank has substantially increased requirements for payment institutions.

This second point is fundamental.

In recent years, Brazil witnessed a proliferation of smaller institutions, often with weak control structures.

With stricter requirements related to capital, compliance, and anti-money laundering measures, many of these operations have left the market.

In practice, this has already reduced space for illegal activity. But it is still not enough.

The irregular market continues to represent a significant share of the sector: illegal betting currently accounts for between 41% and 51% of Brazil’s betting market, according to research conducted by Instituto Locomotiva and LCA Consultoria Econômica.

In other words, we are talking about an enormous volume of resources that fail to generate taxes, jobs, and consumer protection, losses that could reach up to R$40 billion per year in tax revenue, according to the same industry estimates.

This leads to another important point: it makes little sense to discuss higher tax burdens or additional restrictions for companies operating within the regulated market while such a large portion continues operating outside the law.

If pressure increases on regulated operators, the effect is direct: operators, and often users themselves,  are pushed toward the illegal market.

The most efficient path to increasing tax revenue is not raising taxes.

It is bringing illegal activity into the legal market. If that happens, the regulated sector could practically double in size, and tax collection would grow accordingly.

That is why the focus must be clear: enforcement.

Supervision of payment methods, providers, and operators on both sides of the market is essential.

There is no longer room for companies to remain “on the fence,” simultaneously serving both regulated and illegal operations.

Another area that needs advancement is regulatory integration.

The Central Bank and the Secretariat of Prizes and Betting must work increasingly closely together. Combating illegal activity depends directly on this coordination.

Brazil has built a solid regulatory model for betting in a relatively short period of time.

The market is functioning, generating revenue, jobs, and user protection. Now, the country is entering a new phase: consolidation.

At this stage, there should be no doubt about where efforts must be concentrated.

The fight against the illegal market will not happen on the surface by simply taking down websites. It will happen through financial flows. Pix gives us that possibility.

Perhaps it is the most powerful tool we currently have. The question is not whether it can help. The real question is how willing we are to use it effectively.

Leonardo Baptista

Leonardo is the CEO & co-founder of Pay4Fun, a Brazilian payment institution recognized for its technology, security, and anti-money laundering prevention in Brazil’s regulated betting market.

With more than 20 years of experience in the gaming and IT sectors, he created Brazil’s first online bingo platform in 2004. In 2022, he was named one of the 10 most inspiring CEOs by CIO Business Review.

The post Why is Pix central to combating the illegal betting market? appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

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