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How NetEnt built an empire based on familiarity

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Initially founded as Net Entertainment in 1996, NetEnt is one of iGaming’s greatest and most recognisable online slot developers, a company that’s universally known for having a truly unbeatable catalogue of online slots.

But how did this gargantuan Swedish development studio grow in prominence over the years, casting an imposing shadow over the rest of the industry? The short answer, brand power!

That being said, we’re not exactly talking about NetEnt’s brand power here… We’re talking about the fact that NetEnt has traditionally utilised other recognised brands to boost their reputation within the world of iGaming.

In the beginning – NetEnt signs collaborative deal with Universal

NetEnt kick-started this incredibly smart strategy in 2010 when they entered into a landmark multi-year licensing agreement with Universal, the film studio behind some of Hollywood’s greatest movies and television shows.

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The first big-name IP that NetEnt developed into an online slot was none other than Mr. Tony Montana himself, the notorious drug lord Scarface. Looking back it’s quite understandable why NetEnt decided to go with an R-rated character.

Not only is Tony Montana all about big money, but it’s much easier to pair a classic bad boy with a form of entertainment such as online slots that have long been looked upon as risqué.

Once it was quite apparent that NetEnt had discovered a winning strategy they continued to sign deals with other major film and television studios such as Colombia Pictures, 20th Century Fox and Sony Entertainment to get access to some of the world’s biggest brands.

These brand partnerships gave NetEnt a competitive edge over other studios who were themselves releasing run-of-the-mill online slots themed around ancient Egypt, Las Vegas and Ireland… Nothing particularly exciting when compared to NetEnt’s slots that are based on hit movies and television shows.

Aggressive expansion – NetEnt’s television and movie-themed slots arrive at casinos across the internet

After the success of Scarface, NetEnt decided to stick with creating branded online slots that feature characters and IP that wouldn’t be ‘tarnished’ by being made into an online slot game. Whether this was a decision made by movie and television executives, or NetEnt themselves remains to be seen… Either way, it worked!

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Their next hit games were South Park and Creature from the Black Lagoon. Naturally, South Park featured all of the same rude and crude humour the famous animated show is known for, and as a result, it pulled in a whole host of players (old and new) that were interested in this new and unique crossover.

The same can be said for Creature from the Black Lagoon, a slot based on the unsettling 1954 horror movie of the same name. Despite the fact that not too many players will vividly remember the black and white film, players still flocked to this highly volatile slot.

In the months and subsequent years that followed NetEnt released a huge number of branded TV/movie-themed slots that pulled in huge audiences, these include: South Park: Reel Chaos, The Invisible Man, Frankenstein, Dracula, Universal Monsters: The Phantom’s Curse, Emojiplanet, Planet of the Apes and Conan.

NetEnt also used their successful partnership with Universal to muscle in on the world of music as part of the developers 20th-anniversary celebrations, they got their hands on the IP for some of the world’s biggest rock ‘n’ roll stars Guns N’ Roses, Motörhead and Jimi Hendrix.

Having seriously upped their game utilising big-name brands, NetEnt continued to pull out all the stops to wow audiences with new online slots based on iconic people, tv shows and movies.

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First came Jumanji Video Slot, then Narcos (based on the hit Netflix series), followed by Street Fighter II: The World Warrior Slot and most recently Gordon Ramsay Hell’s Kitchen Video Slot.

Building for the future – NetEnt supplement their success by creating their own brand icons

Despite having seen unprecedented success due to their branded slots, credit still must be given to their army of creatives as they’re also responsible for inventing some iconic brands of their own that have gone on to spawn multiple games and feature heavily in casino lobbies.

If you ask anyone today to name a handful of the most recognisable online slot games, odds are they’ll mention NetEnt classics such as Starburst, Gonzo’s Quest, Mega Fortune and Twin Spin. All of these games have spawned popular sequels and are often used as part of casino welcome bonuses due to how popular they are with players around the world.

NetEnt seems to be one of the very few successful online slot developers that have found the perfect balance between creating timeless classics of their own and utilising big-name brands from outside the world of iGaming to help grow their reputation.

Blueprint Gaming and Play’n GO are the only two studios that can hold a candle to NetEnt, and it’s hard to say whether any other developers will get remotely close to any of them at this point. Ultimately, the costs and intricacies involved in licensing are just far too great for up and coming developers to front.

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Looking back, it’s clear to see that NetEnt took a serious risk in signing expensive deals with Hollywood studios, but it’s one that paid off tenfold. NetEnt is without a doubt the biggest name in online slots, and has been for the last decade. 

We believe that their success is entirely down to the fact they’ve played host to the biggest names and therefore gained the attention of the biggest casinos, seeing their games front and centre of slot lobbies all over the world.

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LiveScore Group signs with Enteractive to boost active players

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LiveScore Group partners with Enteractive to run reactivation campaigns across its LiveScore Bet and Virgin Bet brands 

Enteractive, the industry leader in player conversion and reactivation services, has been engaged by LiveScore Group, home of a global sports updates provider and online sportsbook operations, to support their existing CRM services with bespoke reactivation campaigns aimed at winning back players from lapsed accounts.

Enteractive will run activation projects for LiveScore Bet and Virgin Bet, LiveScore Group’s sportsbook and casino brands, focusing on both activation of registered non-funded player accounts and reactivation campaigns to bring back lapsed players.

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LiveScore Bet offers customers in the UK, Ireland, Bulgaria, and Nigeria a refreshed betting experience within the LiveScore Group ecosystem. Meanwhile, Virgin Bet, operating exclusively in the UK as a sportsbook and casino brand, leverages the iconic Virgin brand to provide a sleek, user-friendly platform tailored for British bettors. Building on the trusted LiveScore brand, both LiveScore Bet and Virgin Bet offer top-line products, promoting a responsible and enjoyable betting option for its players.

LiveScore Bet and Virgin Bet Director, Dominic Vye, commented, “Partnering with Enteractive allows us to broaden our service offerings and engage our audience in new and exciting ways. Enteractive’s personalised approach to player engagement stands out in its ability to deliver real impact. This one-on-one approach will help us re-engage audience segments which we’ve found respond better to the more personal touch.”

Enteractive engages one-on-one with millions of players around the world, and is recognised as one of the top revenue generators globally for the iGaming sector. Enteractive’s proprietary (Re)Activation Cloud™ technology platform allows a fast and seamless integration of selected player databases, with native-speaking agents able to engage with players in each market with real-human outreach by phone.

Pedram Padidar, Enteractive COO, added, “LiveScore Group has built a strong ecosystem for sports fans and bettors alike, and we’re pleased to bring our expertise into that space. Effective reactivation isn’t just about re-contacting players, it’s about knowing when and how to engage in ways that feel relevant and personal. That’s where we can add real value. Our role will be to complement their CRM strategy with a more personal approach, helping to reconnect with players in a way that puts the user experience first.”

Enteractive’s native-speaking call agents support iGaming brands across every time zone. In the last year, Enteractive engaged with over 12 million players, delivering over 350% ROI and generating over €60 million in additional revenues for global operators.

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With native speaking call agents supporting iGaming brands across the globe, Enteractive converts more than 20,000 players every month for a variety of leading operators.

The post LiveScore Group signs with Enteractive to boost active players appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Red Rake Gaming Unveils “Sherlock and the Stolen Gems,” a Slot Full of Mysteries and Big Wins

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Red Rake Gaming expands its slots portfolio with the launch of Sherlock and the Stolen Gems, an exciting new adventure starring the most famous detective of all time. This slot invites players to solve the mystery of the missing gems, combining an immersive atmosphere with innovative features that elevate the gameplay experience.

With a 6×6 reel format, Cluster Pays, and the thrilling “Cascading Reels” feature, each spin can trigger a chain of winning combinations that keeps the pace and excitement alive at every moment.

Among its key features are the “Sticky Clusters,” activated when clusters of seven or more identical symbols connect horizontally or vertically. These clusters lock in place on the screen and trigger a Respin on the remaining symbols. Furthermore, the locked clusters can expand during subsequent Respins, creating a highly attractive cumulative effect. The “Expanding Sherlock” feature kicks in after a win, expanding the reels to an 8×8 format and awarding an additional Respin, significantly increasing the winning potential.

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Sherlock’s eternal rival, Moriarty, also makes an appearance with a unique feature that transforms the symbols around him into one single powerful 3×3 cluster with great winning potential.

The Free Spins Round is triggered by landing three or more BONUS symbols and takes place on the expanded 8×8 reel grid. During this phase, the Big Ben meter comes into play, allowing players to collect BONUS symbols to earn extra spins and powerful multipliers, adding an extra layer of excitement and reward.

With a captivating storyline, high-quality graphics, and features designed to maximize player engagement, this slot is a must-have addition for operators seeking differentiated, high-performing content.

With this new release, Red Rake Gaming continues to strengthen its portfolio with dynamic and innovative titles tailored for all markets. Furthermore, this slot—like the rest of the company’s offering—is integrated into Red Rake’s well-established tournament tool, enhancing player engagement and entertainment even further.

The post Red Rake Gaming Unveils “Sherlock and the Stolen Gems,” a Slot Full of Mysteries and Big Wins appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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With Stake Engine, developers can launch a game in as little as 24 hours

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Stake Engine continues its path of innovation and transformation within the developer ecosystem. Today, as part of its official launch to everyone, the more than 6,000 developers who have signed up to be part of the new generation of iGaming creators will gain access to major innovations: an iGaming industry’s fully integrated developer testing tool – purpose-built for games running on the Stake Engine Remote Gaming Server (RGS) – a new developer forum designed to connect developers, share insights, and inspire creativity, and an accelerated approval process enabling games to go live in just 24 hours.

Instant game testing

The newly launched Stake Engine Developer Testing Tool allows developers to test their games directly within the Stake Engine RGS environment – eliminating the need for separate staging setups. Key capabilities include:

  • Instant toggling between currencies, languages, and device types.

  • Wallet balance simulation to test transaction scenarios across the player journey.

  • Seamless switching between local development builds and live published versions.

“This is the first time iGaming developers can test so flexibly and directly on the same system that powers their live games,” said Hayden Bruin, Engineer at Stake Engine. “We’ve built a tool that removes friction, speeds up testing, and makes creativity easier to execute.”

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Stake Engine Community forum: Officially live for collaboration

Launched in parallel, the “Stake Engine Community” forum will serve as a central meeting place for the Stake Engine development community, offering:

  • Expert insights and tailored recommendations.

  • A space for Q&A with peers and Stake Engine experts.

  • Discussion boards to share solutions, knowledge, and inspiration.

Empowering Speed, Quality, and Creativity

“With the launch of our testing tool and forum, we’re giving developers the speed, confidence, and collaborative environment they need to deliver exceptional gaming experiences,” added Hayden Bruin, Engineer at Stake Engine.

With the official launch of these two initiatives, Stake Engine takes a significant step toward streamlining development cycles and fostering a thriving creative ecosystem for iGaming.

Developers now benefit from monthly payments and a transparent view of their total bets, along with an accelerated approval process that gets games live in just 24 hours. This reduces barriers and speeds innovation. And this is only the beginning: provably fair and stateful games are on the horizon, set to open new possibilities for transparency, trust, and gameplay innovation.

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The post With Stake Engine, developers can launch a game in as little as 24 hours appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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