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Allwyn Thanks Retailers for Their Continued Support During Upcoming Significant Upgrades
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.
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
• 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.
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.
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Belatra, a leading developer of innovative online slots, has reached new heights with its brand-new release, Long Neck Fortune.
This latest title from Belatra’s studio places players in the heart of the gritty backstreets ruled by
swaggering geese. The 5×5 game sits within a backdrop of graffiti-covered walls and pimped-up cars, setting the stage for a high-stakes hustle. A slick, hip hop-inspired soundtrack amps up the energy and keeps the vibes flowing.
Central to Long Neck Fortune is the cool Wild Goose symbol. He substitutes for all symbols and will stretch its neck skyward if a multiplier hits on the top reel above, transforming its reel into a stack of Wilds. The goose neck extension only happens when the goose becomes part of at least one winning combination. Once this happens, the multiplier is applied to the line win, and if multiple expanded geese join the party, their multipliers add up before being applied. If no multiplier hits above, the goose will play as a regular Wild. Multipliers range from 2x to an astonishing 100x, making every spin a potential game-changer.
The action amps up with Free Games and these can be activated by hitting three or four Scatters triggers 10 Free Games, while five Scatters award 12 Free Games in the special Hot Mode. Once Free Games are live, the geese remain sticky on the reels until the feature ends, boosting chances for massive combinations. Every Scatter in Free Games triggers an additional Free Game.
During Free Games, bags weighing 5, 10, or 25 kg can drop on the top reel. If a Goose is beneath the bag, it falls onto its head, knocking the Goose down one, two, or three positions. The bag’s weight then transforms into a multiplier of 5x, 10x, or 25x.
Players who want to jump straight into the action can activate the Buy Bonus feature, which includes 10 standard Free Games, 12 Hot Mode Free Games, or a base game spin with at least two or three geese guaranteed.
Misha Voinich, Head of Business Development at Belatra, said: “With Long Neck Fortune, we wanted to create a slot unlike any other — a world where geese trade ponds for fast cars, golden chains, and stylish tracksuits. We’ve created an atmosphere that is playful yet bold, inspired by the pulse of street life, where style, power, and rivalry set the rules of the game. These geese are more than just symbols — they’re tough characters caught up in flashy showdowns and underground clashes, and they’re here to turn every spin into a story of their own.”
The post Belatra reaches new heights with Long Neck Fortune slot appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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SOFTSWISS, a global tech provider of iGaming software solutions, reports strong results from its Anti-Fraud team for 2025, highlighting its ongoing commitment to help operators create a more secure operating environment.
The SOFTSWISS Anti-Fraud team played a pivotal role in safeguarding operations, addressing complex cases with growing efficiency and ensuring a safer environment for operators and players. From January through August 2025, the Anti-Fraud team:
- Prevented over €15 million in fraudulent transactions
- Closed more than 56,000 tasks
- Processed 70 player complaints submitted to gaming regulators and forums
While fraudulent behaviour patterns are largely similar to those seen in previous years, a new trend has emerged involving artificial intelligence. According to the SumSub Identity Fraud Report 2024–2025, the use of AI-generated deepfakes to bypass verification has become a growing challenge. SOFTSWISS is strengthening its internal tools and processes to address this emerging threat.
Ilya Nesterov, Anti-Fraud Team Lead at SOFTSWISS, comments: “This year, our team not only safeguarded €15 million for our clients but also handled tens of thousands of cases with precision and responsibility. Fraud tactics are evolving, but so are our secure data protection practices. For operators, this means a safer, more transparent environment to build trust and long-term success.”
As a core part of SOFTSWISS Managed Services, Anti-Fraud Support plays a crucial role in fostering the success of iGaming brands. Together with First Line Support, VIP Player Support, Player Retention and Reactivation, and Content Management, these services ensure smooth communication between operators and their audiences, streamline casino operations, and guarantee a flawless player journey.
With extensive expertise in fraud prevention and responsible gambling, the company keeps software security and player safety at the core of its ecosystem, making it a trusted partner for operators entering regulated markets.
Partners can book a meeting at stand 4016 G at the Sigma Summit Central Europe 2025 on 4-6 November to gain more insights on best responsible gambling practices and SOFTSWISS innovative solutions.
About SOFTSWISS
SOFTSWISS is an international technology company with over 15 years of experience in developing innovative solutions for the iGaming industry. SOFTSWISS provides comprehensive software for managing iGaming projects. The company’s product portfolio includes the Casino Platform, the Game Aggregator with over 35,000 casino games, Affilka Affiliate Platform, the Sportsbook Platform and the Jackpot Aggregator. The expert team, based in Malta, Poland, and Georgia, counts over 2,000 employees.
The post SOFTSWISS Helps Operators Save €15M in 2025 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.”
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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