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Allwyn Thanks Retailers for Their Continued Support During Upcoming Significant Upgrades

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Allwyn, the operator of The National Lottery, has thanked its 43,500 retail partners for their continued support and assistance, as it takes the next major step in its wide-ranging National Lottery transformation plan.

The National Lottery will undergo its biggest technology upgrade since 1994, transforming core gaming and retail systems. This will involve launching new terminal software and moving systems to new platforms, as well as a number of other crucial back-end tech upgrades. The upgrades also include the delivery of 30+ new systems and complex data migrations, including the transfer of tens of thousands of retailer records and millions of transactions.

The technology updates will take place from 2-4 August, taking National Lottery services offline from 11pm on Saturday until late Monday morning. Following Saturday night’s Lotto and Thunderball draws, The National Lottery website/app and retail lottery terminals will shut down at 11pm, preventing players from logging into their online accounts, buying draw tickets or claiming prizes – in-store or online – until Monday.

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Over the next 10 days, there are several activities to deliver before gaining final approval for this date. This includes final testing and helping retailers to understand how to use new National Lottery systems.

Players will still be able to check results until systems go offline on Saturday and will still be able to buy Scratchcards in shops for the duration. They’ll also be able to see the latest National Lottery draws and view the full results for the Saturday draws on The National Lottery’s YouTube channel.

Once services come back online on Monday, around 8000 National Lottery retailers will switch over to new state-of-the-art lottery Wave terminals – which have already arrived in their stores. These will allow them to process player transactions more quickly and provide them with more functionality. The remainder of National Lottery retailers will be using the new software that went live over the weekend on their existing terminal and will receive their own new Wave terminal in the coming months.

There are a number of actions that retailers should proactively take to streamline and speed up the process, including:

• Retailers should keep their terminal plugged in and powered on all weekend, to allow critical software updates to take place

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• All stores should activate sufficient Scratchcard stock to keep dispensers full until Monday

• Retailers can sign onto their terminal before 10am on Sunday morning to access their weekly invoice, but after they’ve done that, they should put the terminal cover (found in the support pack which will be sent to them) in place to prevent anyone from accessing the terminal

• On Monday, the way that all retailers sign-on to their terminal will change, so they should make sure they have their new sign-on details to hand (again, these can be found in their support pack).

Allwyn is providing retailers with customer-facing point of sale materials to keep players informed about the upgrade and distributing comprehensive support packs to the 43,500-strong estate.

It’s expected that a small proportion of legacy in-store terminals may experience delays coming back up on Monday if certain upgrade processes were interrupted for various reasons. Most retailers who follow the guidance in their support pack will experience a smooth return to service. To assist those who might need additional support, Allwyn has specialist teams standing by to get them back up and running as quickly as possible.

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Allwyn’s Director of Operations, Jenny Blogg, said: “These critical tech upgrades follow on from our continuous progress in modernising The National Lottery, which hasn’t had a major refresh since 2009. This includes introducing a fresh new look in our 43,500 retail partners with new stands, dispensers and signage, as well as rolling out state-of-the-art lottery terminals and a new in-store network provided by Vodafone.

“We’re very grateful for our retail partners’ continued support through these latest upgrades. We’ve been working hard to make sure retailers can get back up and running as quickly as possible after the weekend, so it’s really important that they follow the instructions in their support pack. While these significant updates will mean short-term disruption for players and our retail partners, they will allow us to deliver on our promise to bring new, exciting games to The National Lottery; a better player experience; and our commitment to double returns to Good Causes from £30m to £60m every week by the end of the 10-year licence.”

The post Allwyn Thanks Retailers for Their Continued Support During Upcoming Significant Upgrades appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Europe

Hölle Games Goes Live with Starcasino in the Netherlands, Bringing German-Crafted Slots to Dutch Players

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Hölle Games, the Berlin-based video slots studio with a proud “Made in Germany” identity, has officially launched its content with StarCasino.nl, one of the Netherlands’ most recognised online casino brands. This partnership marks an important step in the company’s expansion into regulated European markets and introduces Dutch players to Hölle Games’ distinctive blend of classic slot design and innovative creativity.

With this integration, StarCasino.nl’s Dutch customers can now experience Hölle Games’ most popular titles, including Fruits, Reel Wolf and Hellish Seven. Known for their striking character artwork, immersive themes and high-quality audio-visual design, the games combine a nostalgic slot feel with modern entertainment value.

The collaboration between Hölle Games and StarCasino.nl is built on a shared commitment to safe, responsible, and regulated entertainment. For StarCasino.nl, the addition of Hölle Games’ content strengthens its mission to offer Dutch players both variety and quality, with a focus on memorable gameplay experiences.

Robert Lenzhofer, CEO of Hölle Games, commented: “We are thrilled to bring our games to the Netherlands in partnership with StarCasino.nl. Dutch players will now be able to enjoy our titles, which combine German craftsmanship, creative design and reliable performance. This launch highlights our focus on delivering entertainment in regulated European markets and reflects our growing momentum as a studio.”

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A spokesperson for StarCasino.nl, Pieter van den Bos, Director at Starcasino, added: “At Starcasino we want to bring our customers the best that online slots have to offer. By adding Hölle Games to our library, we are enriching our portfolio with content that is fresh, visually distinctive and highly entertaining. We are confident that Dutch players will embrace these titles just as much as audiences in other European markets.”

The partnership underlines Hölle Games’ position as a rising force in the iGaming industry and confirms Starcasino’s dedication to offering its community access to leading international content. Together, both brands are set to deliver a more engaging and enjoyable experience for players across the Netherlands.

The post Hölle Games Goes Live with Starcasino in the Netherlands, Bringing German-Crafted Slots to Dutch Players appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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AI isn’t replacing creativity in gaming – it is democratising it

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Tom Smallwood, Chief Commercial Officer at OpenSlots

The growth of AI in the industry is a talking point you cannot ignore. From sceptics to those convinced it will have a big role to play, AI dominates discourse. However, it is widely accepted that it will play a significant role in product development. In our industry, the biggest misconception is that AI will replace creativity in game development. In my experience, it has the power to do the exact opposite. I’ve watched countless studios struggle with the same challenge of transforming creative vision into market-ready slot games without requiring a six-figure budget a six-month timeline only to fail to achieve distribution. Yet that’s exactly what the traditional route to market looks like now.

AI is removing the technical barriers that risk keeping creative minds locked out of our industry. At OpenSlots, we’re beginning to see firsthand how AI can help turn a game creator’s ‘napkin sketch’ into a playable prototype in a fraction of the time.

The hidden costs of traditional slot development

The harsh reality facing game creators today is staggering. Developing and distributing even a basic slot requires substantial budgets and months of specialised expertise. Factor in regulatory compliance, RNG certification, and multi-platform optimisation, and smaller studios face insurmountable barriers.

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These costs aren’t just financial, they affect the creative output too. When a single game requires months of mathematical modelling, extensive asset creation, development and technical integration it is inevitable that innovation stagnates. Game developers tend to play it safe, but even then, they risk not getting any ‘airtime’ in the face of the overwhelming quantity of games released by larger studios. The result is a market flooded with similar games, from the same providers, while innovative ideas never see daylight.

The OpenSlots approach

At OpenSlots, we are building a platform aimed at non-technical professions in which every element of the development process is optimised. Our AI-powered system lets operators and game designers create professional slot games through an agentic interface and AI-powered game creation workflows all on a tried and trusted RGS. You describe your vision, say, a high-volatility Norse mythology theme with cascading reels, and OpenSlots, backed by human expertise, handles everything from the creation of your game design document to the game build itself. We even have an WYSIWYG editor prior to publishing.

Real democratisation means accessible innovation

True democratisation isn’t just about making existing processes slightly easier, it is about changing who can participate. When we enable game creators to describe their vision in natural language and watch AI generate playable prototypes, we’re not replacing human creativity, we’re amplifying it. The most successful implementations don’t replace human expertise, they eliminate tedious and costly tasks that prevent creative professionals from focusing on innovation. This is as true for an operator as a studio. We do not see AI as a magic wand, to make everything easy, especially in a highly regulated industry. However, it is an enabler that can create a certain originality and independence for B2Cs and a voice to smaller game design studios.

Why this matters now

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The timing for this transformation couldn’t be more critical. The slots market generates over half of total casino revenue, with operators facing pressure to deliver personalised, engaging content at speed. As mobile gaming dominates consumer spending and competition grows, the traditional development model can’t keep pace with market demands.

This creates an opportunity for platforms that can democratise game creation while maintaining quality and compliance. The industry needs solutions that allow rapid iteration and testing, branded content creation, and market-specific customisation, all without the costs that have historically limited who can participate in game development.

Building the future of game creation

The winners in this transformation won’t be the companies with the most advanced AI algorithms. They will be the ones who best understand how to apply AI practically to real challenges.

The future belongs to platforms that combine industry knowledge with cutting-edge AI capabilities. It’s not about auto-generating second rate game assets, just to for the sake of speed and cost, but leveraging the power of AI to amplify human expertise and give the chance for innovation. In many ways we are giving people the chance to make mistakes. And that, of course, is how we grow.

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The question isn’t whether AI will transform gaming development. It’s whether we allow the broader ecosystem be part of that transformation or left behind by it.

The post AI isn’t replacing creativity in gaming – it is democratising it appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Aerobet

Bet on Games Presents Its Gaming Universe

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Bet on Games announces the expansion of its very own gaming ecosystem—positioned as a true “universe of games.” With a single API, operators gain access to more than a hundred titles across multiple genres: crash games, slots, lotteries, and hybrid formats. Each game is presented as a unique “planet” with its own character and dynamics, giving operators a broad spectrum of content and players a diverse gaming journey.

At the heart of this universe lie crash games—the driving force behind today’s industry growth.

  • Aerobet is all about takeoff and risk. Players place their bets before launch, and as the airplane climbs, the multiplier rises. The challenge is to cash out before the plane disappears from the screen. Its simple mechanic, built around an ever-increasing multiplier, makes every round unpredictable and full of suspense.
  • BarioJet takes players into an arcade-style adventure. Here, the hero with a jetpack keeps flying higher while the multiplier grows each second. The task is to secure the winnings before the character soars away. The fast pace and transparent mechanics turn every session into a thrilling test of reflexes.

In the slots category, Bet on Games continues to build on classic formats. A standout example is Monkey Magic 2: Choice—a 6-reel slot inspired by mythology. With its striking visual style and bonus features, it has become one of the central planets in the Bet on Games universe.

Bet on Games Brand Video

Key advantages of Bet on Games:

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  • Single API for seamless integration
  • 100+ titles in the portfolio
  • Familiar mechanics in a fresh format
  • Bonus features and in-game enhancements
  • Modern visuals and adaptive design

In this way, Bet on Games offers not just standalone products but an entire ecosystem—a universe where every game is part of a greater whole. For operators, this means streamlined integration and stronger player engagement. For players, it’s the constant thrill of discovering new worlds.

And the Bet on Games universe is still expanding—with new “planets” and ever-fresh gaming experiences on the horizon.

The post Bet on Games Presents Its Gaming Universe appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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