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Why studios need to promote their games
Elliott Resnick, Head of First Look Games, says that due to the highly competitive nature of the industry studios need to get their games in front of players if they are to succeed in the long term
Slot studios are fighting for operator attention in a highly competitive marketplace. There are literally hundreds of developers pushing thousands of games with endless new titles launching every month. So being heard above the noise made by rivals is a vital key to success.
Developers also face fierce competition when it comes to directing players to their games. Operator lobbies are stocked with thousands of titles, with game positioning often the difference between whether a title sinks or swims.
But what if affiliates could not only fulfil their traditional objective of new traffic to operators but also drive awareness of a studio’s content and have players specifically look for the game regardless of where they are positioned in casino lobbies?
To do this, studios must promote their games to players as well as operators, but that isn’t easy given developers take a small proportion of the revenues made on their slots. Above-the-line marketing is simply not an option for the majority of studios, so they have to look to other ways of gaining the attention of operators and players.
But due to the expensive nature of traditional game development, and the time it can take to bring a slot from concept to market (this can take anywhere from four to twelve months) studios must not leave game discovery to chance and instead proactively promote each of their most anticipated titles.
It is also important for studios to provide operators with easy access to information and assets about their games, not just for the purpose of selling their titles but also for other areas such as inclusion in the operator’s marketing and CRM. Without this, developers are missing the final but crucial step in launching their game – which is proactively letting players know about it.
This has led several studios to partner with slot streamers but while that now hangs in the balance pending Twitch’s upcoming announcement on 18 October, others are leveraging the incredible reach that traditional affiliates can provide. But striking partnerships with publishers can be labour intensive – something that already stretched teams have little time to dedicate to unless they hire someone dedicated to affiliate outreach pretty much full-time.
That is where First Look Games comes in, providing the world’s first platform that directly connects studios with all registered affiliates in the iGaming space who regularly craft detailed new game reviews designed to generate referrals to one or more online casino partner.
A publisher’s access to First Look Games is free, allowing all game studios to deploy finished/approved creative packs direct to an entire affiliate community within minutes. It puts the power in the developer’s hands, giving them control over the information and assets they share, and when they share them.
Affiliate marketing allows studios of all sizes to put their games in front of players and potentially build anticipation around future releases. For established studios that have highly sought-after content coming, affiliate marketing can drive large numbers of reviews along with significant awareness that a new game is set to land. For small studios starting out, it can make a difference between being prioritised for an operator integration or being left out. For those in the growth phase, game promotion can assist with realising greater ROI.
Studios can additionally use the feedback they receive from affiliate game reviews to guide future slot development by understanding what has and has not hit the mark with the player community. This feedback is incredibly valuable.
What’s more, affiliates are very cost-effective when compared to other forms of B2C marketing and can help studios to reverse engineer interest in their games where reviews are strong and the audience has a clear appetite for their content.
But right now, studios are not maximising the potential that affiliates provide. The studio-affiliate relationship is still relatively new which is why this marketing channel can be overlooked in terms of the value it can deliver.
First Look Games has been designed to do much of the heavy lifting on behalf of the studio, providing them with access to more than 800 approved publishers with their combined reach being more than 20 million players around the world.
Studios simply upload game information and assets to their dedicated library, and then our network of approved affiliates can access these files and use them to produce content such as game reviews or video content. The entire platform has been designed to be easy to use by any member of a studio’s team.
Despite this, we often find the studios do not know where to position us within their business – sometimes we are seen as a marketing resource, other times as a tool to support the commercial team. We can be both, but it shows just how new this area of game promotion is.
Over time this will change, especially when studios start to see the incredible success their rivals are having in the affiliate space by unlocking more of the potential in their games.
Getting any title in front of more of the right people is simply good business and in such a competitive market, that can be the difference between a studio succeeding or failing.
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NeoGames S.A subsidiary Pariplay® has further expanded in Switzerland by bringing its games to Swiss4Win, the online brand of land-based operator Casinò di Lugano.
The deal marks an important step as the provider seeks further growth in the regulated Swiss market, with Pariplay®’s Fusion® platform providing access to leading Ignite® content, and best-performing games from its in-house studio, Wizard Games.
The partnership will form a key part in Swiss4Win’s upgraded casino website, which has a keen focus on putting UI and slots providers at its core, and dedicated pages showcasing premier game offerings.
Pariplay®’s Fusion® platform offers a unified, single approach to content delivery, with a focus on providing greater efficiencies and exceptional ROI for operators. It consists of over 14,000 games from 150+ suppliers, as well as a comprehensive suite of back-office conversion and retention tools that enhance player value.
Andrew Maclean, VP of Sales at Pariplay, said: “We are very pleased to further boost our presence in Switzerland through our collaboration with the online arm of the established land-based operator, Casinò di Lugano.
“It is a market where we feel our in-house content really excels, and we’re confident that this will be a strong partnership.”
Paolo Sanvido, Chief Executive Officer at Casinò di Lugano and Swiss4Win, said: “Pariplay®’s distinguished reputation stems from its exceptional graphics and innovative features, which have resonated with players globally. This collaboration presents an incredible opportunity to expand our audience and brings our innovative and renewed platform to a broader Swiss audience.
“Not only do we believe our games will be well-received in Switzerland as a whole, but also that our new website will make a big splash.”
The post Pariplay® expands across Switzerland through Swiss4Win partnership appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Gaming1, the renowned casino and sports betting partner, has once again renewed its contract with ComplianceOne Group, marking the fifth consecutive year of collaboration between the two industry leaders.
This renewal underscores the trust and confidence Gaming1 has in ComplianceOne Group’s consulting services, highlighting their commitment to excellence and reliability in the iGaming sector.
Antonio Zanghi, CEO of ComplianceOne Group, said: “Entering our fifth year of working Gaming1 confirms our vision of how best to support clients in their journey.
“It is always a pleasure to discuss projects with their team, and we are humbled by the continued trust invested in our services and people.”
Thibaut Collard, Chief Compliance Officer of Gaming1, added: “We are excited to confirm our trust in ComplianceOne Group again. Our two teams have reached an excellent level of cooperation, and we consider ComplianceOne Group a part of our extended team.
“Over the years, we have collaborated in many different areas and found ComplianceOne Group to consistently provide top-notch support while also being a pleasure to work with!”
The ongoing partnership between Gaming1 and ComplianceOne Group exemplifies the strength of collaboration and dedication to mutual success.
As both companies continue to innovate and evolve, they remain committed to delivering exceptional services and solutions to the iGaming industry.
The post Gaming1 renews contract with ComplianceOne Group for fifth consecutive year appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
SOFTSWISS, a global tech expert with over 15 years of experience in iGaming, acquired a significant stake in Ously Games GmbH, the driving force behind the fastest-growing European social casino SpinArena.net.
As a result of these investments, SOFTSWISS partnered with the German enterprise Ously Games GmbH to develop a new comprehensive software solution for social casinos, aligning with recent iGaming industry trends.
Social casinos, a fast-developing trend in online entertainment, offer a unique fusion of popular casino games and social networking features. Unlike traditional casinos, they operate without real-money betting, utilising virtual currency for gameplay. Social сasinos revenue primarily stems from virtual goods sales, enriching gameplay without monetary risks.
The business model of launching a social casino has no licence requirements or advertising restrictions and grows globally year by year. As per modest estimates of Business Research Insights, the global social casino games market is projected to reach 10 billion euro by 2030. About 85 million people around the globe daily play at social casinos according to the Australian Communications and Media Authority.
The largest by the number of slot games European social casino, SpinArena.net, provided by Ously Games GmbH, has seen its player base triple since the beginning of 2023, surpassing 700 thousand players. With a collection of over 3,000 games from almost 40 providers, the casino reached a one million euro annual turnover.
Ivan Montik, Founder of SOFTSWISS, comments on the agreement: “Anticipating the development of social casinos within the iGaming industry, SOFTSWISS made strategic investments to diversify its portfolio. Together, we aim to create a comprehensive platform for social casinos, enriching the robust ecosystem of iGaming products provided by our company.”
Ously Games GmbH founder Jochen Martinez shares his expectations: “We are delighted to forge a strategic partnership with the global technology provider SOFTSWISS. This alliance brings invaluable insights, innovations, and profound expertise to both parties. The deal demonstrates our commitment to driving growth and mutual development. Collaborating with SOFTSWISS opens new horizons and ensures access to top-notch resources and support essential for thriving in the competitive iGaming landscape.”
Social casinos are not just a modern trend. They are revolutionising the future of online gambling. The phenomenon sets new industry standards and offers players an unparalleled, safer gaming experience by providing a unique blend of gaming, social engagement, and innovation. Players can engage in various activities, such as connecting with friends, sending gifts, and participating in tournaments, all while playing games like poker, slots, and roulette, with an emphasis on social interaction.
About SOFTSWISS
SOFTSWISS is an international technology company with over 15 years of experience in developing innovative solutions for the iGaming industry. SOFTSWISS holds a number of gaming licences and provides comprehensive software for managing iGaming projects. The company’s product portfolio includes the Online Casino Platform, the Game Aggregator with over 20,000 casino games, the Affilka affiliate platform, the Sportsbook Platform and the Jackpot Aggregator. In 2013, SOFTSWISS revolutionised the industry by introducing the world’s first Bitcoin-optimised online casino solution. The expert team, based in Malta, Poland, and Georgia, counts over 2,000 employees.
About Ously Games
Ously Games is a German enterprise, the provider of SpinArena.net, Europe’s largest social casino by number of slots. It boasts an extensive collection of over 3000 games from 40 renowned providers. With an annual turnover exceeding a million euros, Ously Games is driven by a team of 20 professionals.
The post SOFTSWISS Invests in Largest European Social Casino appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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