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The game has changed for online casinos

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David Natroshvili, founder of SPRIBE, the company behind Aviator, assesses the state of play for online casinos as we come to the end of 2024

 

For me, 2024 will go down as the year that changed the game for online casinos.

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Over the past 12 months, a revolution has swept across the market in a way we’ve not seen before. From the games players play to the ways they pay, things are changing and they are changing fast.

Slots no longer dominate game lobbies and where once players used to prefer to deposit with debit cards, it’s now crypto such as Bitcoin and Ether.

The companies providing the games players play have changed, too, with some now considered among the most innovative technology and entertainment companies on the planet.

This includes SPRIBE, the company I founded.

So, what have been the biggest changes we’ve seen in 2024 and what impact have they had on the sector? Let’s get into it.

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Slots no longer dominate game lobbies:

For many years, it’s been blockbuster slots from the top-tier providers that have dominated online casino game lobbies and certainly topped the player charts.

But that’s not the case anymore.

Increasingly, players are being drawn to non-traditional content in the form of Mines, Hi-Lo, Goal, Plinko and of course, Crash.

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SPRIBE developed the original crash game, Aviator, which now has more than 42 million monthly players across the 4,500+ online casinos that offer it.

For those that give it a full marketing push at launch, it can account for more than 10% of total casino GGR – a remarkable figure when you think about it.

Online casinos must now offer non-traditional games if they are to engage Millennial and Gen Z players, but also meet the changing preferences of existing players.

Crash games in particular have broad appeal because of the fast-paced big risk/big reward gameplay. That Aviator is multiplayer and packed with social interaction has also been key to its success.

It’s why they are so popular with all player types and why titles such as Aviator can have a direct and significant impact on casino GGR.

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Crypto casinos setting the standard for others to follow:

Aviator gets much of its DNA from the fascinating world of crypto casinos which continue to push boundaries when it comes to engaging with players and the experiences they deliver.

Regulators remain cautious when it comes to crypto, but you only need to look at the runaway success of the biggest crypto casinos to see consumer demand is incredibly strong.

Crypto casinos gave birth to non-traditional content, wrapping gambling elements around popular video games such as Minesweeper and for me, they continue to set the benchmark.

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Not only that, but these casinos understand how to connect with players where their attention can be found – streaming, social media, etc – and have such powerful brand values and identities.

Then of course you have the way crypto is connected to the entire experience, and how these operators have ensured the smoothest UX.

Traditional online casinos need to take note and step up to the mark being set or risk losing more players to these brands.

 

Game providers entering multi-million-dollar marketing partnerships:

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One of the biggest changes for me has been how studios are now directly marketing their games to players – again, this is something we have pioneered with Aviator.

This includes our first-of-its-kind partnership with the UFC which sees the Aviator logo appear inside the Octagon at Fight Night and PPC events.

It also created a brand ambassador fund which allows us to run marketing campaigns with superstar athletes such as Alex Pereira.

Other studios – I won’t say who – have entered similar deals but not quite to the same degree. We are also close to unveiling another major deal in the coming weeks.

These marketing deals drive huge awareness for Aviator and ultimately mean operators must add it to their lobbies to meet player demand.

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So, there you have it – this is how the game has changed for online casinos in 2024, and I expect the pace of evolution to be just as fast in the coming 12 months.

The post The game has changed for online casinos appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Balkans

SYNOT Enters the Bulgarian Market

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SYNOT Group has successfully realized its first installation of land-based products in Bulgaria. The popular MAGIC BALL LINK jackpot system has been launched at IMPERIA Gaming Clubs in the city of Plovdiv, with three installations (a total of 12 Eclipse FL-32 machines) at three different locations.

“I would like to thank to IMPERIA Gaming Clubs for the trust and the opportunity to show the best performing products of SYNOT to the player’s audience in Bulgaria. I strongly believe that this is the beginning of a fruitful partnership which will grow in time,” said Stanislav Stanev, International Business Development Director of SYNOT Group.

MAGIC BALL LINK is a progressive jackpot system that has already gained popularity in several markets due to its attractiveness and performance. Bulgarian players can now enjoy eight exciting linked games that combine a entertaining gaming experience with the potential for significant winnings. This installation follows shortly after SYNOT Group recently obtained a license for the Bulgarian market, paving the way for further growth and expansion in the region.

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“We are happy to welcome SYNOT slot machines on our floors, and we really believe that SYNOT products will supplement our diverse offering to the players and will become an integral part of all our locations,” said Gavril Chetrafilov, Owner of IMPERIA Gaming Clubs.

The post SYNOT Enters the Bulgarian Market appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Compliance Updates

UKGC Publishes Update on Financial Risk Assessments Pilot

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The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has published a further update on the ongoing pilot of financial risk assessments.

Written by the Director of Major Policy Projects who is leading the pilot, Helen Rhodes, the update provides information on Stage two of the pilot and the issues being explored in the final stages of the pilot.

“Financial risk assessments are a proposed way of identifying high-spending remote gambling customers who may be in financial difficulties, in order to help support them,” the Commission’s latest update on the finance risk check pilot reads.

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“This is not the same as ‘affordability checks’ – the Commission does not have any regulatory requirements for affordability checks and is not proposing any. Financial risk assessments would be a much more targeted way of identifying potentially financially vulnerable customers. They would not affect a customer’s credit score if they were introduced in the future.”

Key Points Covered by the Update

The UKGC says that the pilot has given it a better understanding about the financial risk profile who met the thresholds. These customers were found to be between twice and four times more likely to have a debt management programme than those who didn’t meet the thresholds, and more between twice and five times more likely to have a default in the last 12 months.

The most remarkable is the fact that the data has reinforced the UKGC’s view that the finance risk checks will be as non-intrusive and frictionless as possible. According to the UKGC’s estimations, only 0.1% of customers would be subject to a non-frictionless assessment.

It also says that 95% of assessments carried out in stage one were possible in a frictionless matter, with this figure rising to 97% in stage two, where the total number of risk assessments carried out across three credit reference agencies rose from 860,000 to 1.7 million.

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The analysis phase of stage three of the pilot is expected to continue into the summer, after which the UKGC will move into stage four.

NatCen is continuing to work as the UKGC’s evaluation partner on this pilot and post-pilot analysis work.

Director of Major Policy Projects, Helen Rhodes, said: “These further findings from the pilot have helped us understand the extent that assessments could be conducted in a frictionless manner.

“Building on our staged approach to the pilot, we will now further explore data consistency across credit reference agencies, as well as how to support operators to identify the severity of financial difficulties that a customer may be experiencing and how they could support these customers.”

The post UKGC Publishes Update on Financial Risk Assessments Pilot appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Compliance Updates

Irish Politician Philip McGuigan Calls for Urgent Action on Gambling Harm Treatment

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Sinn Féin MLA Philip McGuigan, Chair of The All Party Group on Reducing Harm Related to Gambling, has called for urgent government action following the publication of a report presenting the findings from the 2024 Gambling Prevalence Survey, commissioned by Department for Communities, which reveals alarming levels of gambling-related harm in the north.

Speaking in the Assembly, McGuigan said what is perhaps most alarming from the survey’s findings, is the low number of people seeking help. Only 1% of those who gamble reported accessing support or information from gambling or mental health services.

He said: “The Minister of Health must act without delay to commission dedicated gambling treatment services. With existing addiction services already under pressure, additional funding is essential. The findings of this survey point to a serious gap in provision for addiction treatment in the north. The need is clearly there, but people aren’t getting the help they need.”

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According to the “Prevalence of Gambling in Northern Ireland 2024” report, 3% of the population are experiencing severe gambling-related harms, while a further 10% are considered low or moderate risk gamblers. Shockingly, approximately one in seven adults who gambled in the past year admitted to betting more than they could afford to lose. Additionally, one in eight reported needing to gamble increasing amounts to achieve the same level of excitement, and nearly one in 12 said gambling had caused health problems such as stress and anxiety.

McGuigan said: “These figures are deeply concerning and underscore the serious social and public health implications of gambling addiction. This isn’t just about individuals losing money; it’s about broken families, damaged relationships, and communities struggling with the fallout of gambling harms.”

The survey also found that 10% of people affected by gambling had experienced the breakdown of a close relationship due to someone’s gambling, highlighting the wider ripple effects of the issue.

To address the funding gap, McGuigan is also calling on the Minister for Communities to bring forward the promised levy on land-based gambling operators without delay.

“Calling the Minister for Communities to introduce a levy is a fair and necessary step. The industry profiting from gambling must contribute to the prevention and treatment of gambling harm,” he said.

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McGuigan also criticised the British Government for excluding Northern Ireland from the proceeds of the statutory levy on gambling operators introduced in Britain on 6 April. This levy is intended to fund research, prevention and treatment of gambling-related harm.

“Online gambling operators licensed by Britain’s Gambling Commission are freely advertising and profiting here in the North. Yet, our population is completely excluded from the financial benefits of the statutory gambling levy on these operators. That is unacceptable. Executive Ministers must demand that the North receives its fair share of this funding,” McGuigan said.

The survey further revealed that 66% of respondents believe there are too many gambling advertisements, and 71% support a watershed for gambling ads on TV and radio.

McGuigan is now urging the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Lisa Nandy MP, to use her powers to implement tighter advertising restrictions, including a TV and radio watershed to limit exposure to gambling content during peak viewing times.

“The public clearly wants action. The evidence is there. We must act now to protect individuals and families from the devastating consequences of gambling addiction,” he said.

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The post Irish Politician Philip McGuigan Calls for Urgent Action on Gambling Harm Treatment appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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