Industry News
Merkur’s latest launches bring the heat to ICE London
Whether sipping on sunshine from a tropical island or feeling the hot breath of a dragon, Merkur Gaming’s latest three games are set to catch fire at ICE London as the company prepares for a “big” show and an even bigger year ahead…
“Maximum performance and maximum entertainment,” is how Merkur Gaming has described its focus at the start of 2020 as the company prepares to enhance its online portfolio even further following a hugely successful year launching eye-catching and popular new titles. The launch of its three latest titles, Dragon’s Maid, Mojito Beach and Tri Piki, is testament to the Gauselmann subsidiary’s ongoing reel game line-up expansion with 2020 set to be a shining year for new releases according to Maja Cvetkovic, Business Development Manager – Online at Merkur Gaming.
Commenting on the company’s latest, sizzling reels, Cvetkovic said: “Our newest releases all deliver on our usual strong passion for details of classic casino games with an online twist and will for sure match players’ expectations as they combine unique mathematics and in-game features in fun and exciting ways.”
Dragon’s Maid is a 5-reel with 10, 20 or 40 win lines, which beckons players into a story of a special hero family of the titular maid and her dragons. “We developed a game which centred around the unbreakable bond between the Dragon’s Maid and these majestic blue Dragons. Have you ever seen lively creatures being there for each other, going through one adventure after the other and always holding their backs? This game will bring this unique story to life as players learn from their deep relationship.”
This medieval game features wilds and sticky wilds centred around the adventure whilst also bringing its fantasy creatures into a new free game feature. “The Maid and the Dragons help each other and use their strengths also for the other one’s benefit,” Cvetkovic explained. “Players can also make their way into the free game feature. The number of free games which are set off is based on a secret magical formula only the Dragons know: Depending on how many of his Dragon mates the blue Dragon summons, the number of free games is decided. This means that the Dragon’s Maid belongs to a big Dragon family and in a good family everyone does his best for the other family members!”
Merkur Gaming’s other latest release bring players in contact with a different kind of heat, the hot summer sun of the tropics filled with surfing, swimming and sipping on cocktails. Mojito Beach delivers a party in a glass with a 5-reel-10-win-lines-game which makes the famous rum-based beverage the star of the show.
“For this impressive slot we wanted to offer the feel of the bright sun, big waves on the shore and the famous Mojito Beach Party as well as big payouts and some winning wild features,” Cvetkovic said. “Players will meet a highly motivated barkeeper and his female co-worker who created her own Mojito recipe! She creates and serves them with all her talent as she is wild and expanding wild but her speciality is also to turn all the glasses of Mojito appearing on the reels into wild symbols as well. This is a game filled with good times from the music, stunning graphics and gameplay, bring out the ice and let’s get this party started!”
Finally, Merkur’s Tri Piki game brings the myths of a tropical island, which is a highly popular game theme in the reel game sector, into a winning formula of wilds and scatters for players of any type. The story unfolds of a dancing woman who uses spiritual magic to keep the sunset sparkling through the night which all combines with state-of-the-art game mathematics and a calming, meditative gameplay.
“Tri Piki is a 5 reels and 10 or 20 win line game in which the dancing woman is wild and scatter and sets off 10 free games when her symbol appears 3 times on the reels. Through her ritual dance she chooses 3 special symbols and hides all of the symbols under shells which then have to be picked by the player or her upon which she reveals the special symbols.”
Cvetkovic concluded: “Tri Piki is not a typical vacation destination and as a game it stands out for the variety of hidden in-game features tied into the idyllic setting. In daylight when the dancing Woman sleeps, you can sip on mango sunshine cocktails and bathe in the sun, doing a trip with the boat or swim with the dolphins in the sea. So this small island bears more hidden treasures than those which can be seen at first sight. The beautiful nature of Tri Piki is outstanding and definitely provides everything a player needs to forget the hectic life outside.”
Arcade Heist
GoldenRace’s new Hit&Win games, Arcade Heist & Fortune Fighters
In an industry that never stands still, the race for innovation is constant. GoldenRace identified a shift in player behaviour: the modern audience craves more than just a bet; they want innovation, simplicity, gamification, fun, excitement, rewards and speed.
This realisation led to the birth of a brand-new vertical designed to bridge the gap between traditional betting and casual arcade gaming: Hit&Win.
GoldenRace’s first titles in this category are Arcade Heist, which takes the concept to a whole new level by introducing the essence of gaming: a community experience; and Fortune Fighters, a combat-themed experience that brings the intensity of a tournament arena to the palm of a player’s hand.
Arcade Heist moves away from the solitary nature of traditional betting and introduces a raid mechanic. In this game, the high-stakes world of undercover robberies meets classic arcade fun, but with a revolutionary twist.
On the other hand, what sets Fortune Fighters apart is its narrative depth. Players step into the shoes of Kai, a disciplined student fighting to restore his master’s honour against the reckless and loud Brotus. By entering “The Fortune Tournament”, players participate in a quest where every strike, dodge and move is a wager. This storytelling drives long-term engagement and player loyalty, turning a standard betting session into an immersive journey.
ICE 2026 Encore webinar: Reviewing Softquo’s major highlights
Want to know more about GoldenRace and the rest of Softquo companies’ revolution?
If you couldn’t make it to ICE Barcelona 2026, or if you want a strategic replay of the biggest announcements, you won’t want to miss this exclusive webinar!
Join Martin Wachter, Softquo’s CEO and Founder, Joey Kordahi, Softquo’s Project Manager and Simone Suppa, Novusbet’s Managing Director, as they review the essential topics and news introduced by the Softquo Holding at ICE 2026.
The post GoldenRace’s new Hit&Win games, Arcade Heist & Fortune Fighters appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Bruce Smith Enterprise
The Cordish Companies, Bruce Smith Enterprise and Live! Casino Virginia Celebrate Opening of Central Virginia’s First Full-Scale Casino
The Cordish Companies and Bruce Smith Enterprise celebrated the highly-anticipated grand opening of Live! Casino Virginia, the region’s first full-scale casino. The opening of the temporary gaming facility marks an important milestone in bringing new jobs, economic development, and tourism to the region while construction advances on the permanent resort destination next door.
Located just 25 miles south of Richmond and only 45 miles north of the North Carolina border, Live! Casino Virginia is conveniently off I-95 at Exit 48B. Live! Casino Virginia delivers a full-scale gaming experience 24 hours a day, seven days a week, featuring 75,000 square feet of gaming space with more than 900 state-of-the-art slot machines and over 30 live-action table games. Guests also can enjoy a signature bar and quick-service restaurant, with more than 1000 free parking spaces for added convenience. Combined with the signature excitement and superior hospitality only Live! can provide, the casino promises an unmatched entertainment experience for locals and out-of-town guests.
“We are proud to introduce an unparalleled entertainment experience to this market – the area’s first full-scale casino, offering the pulse-pounding excitement of Vegas-style slots, dynamic table games, and the unmistakable energy that defines the Live! Brand. Live Casino Virginia is a game-changing development, positioned to be a catalyst for entertainment, hospitality, and sustained economic growth throughout the region for decades to come,” said Jon Cordish, Principal of The Cordish Companies.
The Cordish Companies and Bruce Smith Enterprise were joined by Virginia Lottery Board Chairman Ferhan Hamid; Virginia Lottery Executive Director Khalid Jones; Petersburg Mayor Samuel Parham and members of Petersburg City Council; Pro Football legend Joe Theismann; and many community and business leaders from around the region to celebrate the opening.
“For far too long, this area has been a place people passed through rather than stopped to explore; today, that changes. Live! Casino Virginia will stand as a destination in its own right, and as someone deeply committed to this region and its people, I’m proud to help create opportunities that strengthen, inspire, and invest in the community for generations ahead,” said Bruce Smith, founder of Bruce Smith Enterprise.
“The influence Live! Casino Virginia is already having on Petersburg cannot be overstated. From the temporary casino to the future permanent resort, this project is poised to redefine the Tri-Cities and help shape the long-term trajectory of our region. This moment marks the beginning of a powerful new era,” said Mayor Samuel Parham, City of Petersburg, VA.
During the grand opening celebration, $15,050,000 was presented to the City of Petersburg and local charities in support of city initiatives, community programs and nonprofit organizations. The $15 million donation to the City is part of a broader commitment by The Cordish Companies and Bruce Smith Enterprise, which includes additional scheduled contributions. Through the establishment of a Community Advisory Board, a portion of these funds will be designated to support city initiatives including services for the elderly, childcare, affordable housing, parks and recreation facilities, support for education, healthcare, and housing and workforce development for disadvantaged populations, ensuring a meaningful and lasting impact on the community. On January 20, the property’s Charity Test Day generated $50,000 in proceeds, which were split evenly between two local organizations – Feed More and the John Randolph Foundation – providing $25,000 to each.
Additionally, the Virginia State University Foundation is the recipient of the inaugural “Live! Change Maker” program, a charitable initiative that allows guests to donate remaining change from their winnings to a local nonprofit through its cash-out kiosks. Funds collected through the program through March 31, 2026, will directly support the Virginia State University Foundation’s mission to advance educational opportunities, student success, and institutional excellence at Virginia State University. Live! Casino Virginia’s program is part of the casino’s ongoing community engagement and corporate social responsibility efforts, designed to make giving back simple and impactful for guests. Last year, Live! Casinos across the country distributed millions of dollars to local charities through the initiative. Each quarter, a new local nonprofit will be selected as a recipient of the program.
The post The Cordish Companies, Bruce Smith Enterprise and Live! Casino Virginia Celebrate Opening of Central Virginia’s First Full-Scale Casino appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
casino apps
CasinoRank Data Reveals an Attention Crisis in Online Casino Gaming
Online casino engagement is breaking down faster than operators anticipated, according to new research by CasinoRank. The analysis tracked player behaviour across 847 slot, crash and live dealer titles over 18 months and shows that while players are logging into casinos more frequently, their willingness to stay and engage is declining. Session frequency rose 23% year over year, while median session duration fell 18%, pointing to a shift towards shorter, faster interactions rather than sustained play.
The research draws on aggregated session data from 40 operators across Europe, Latin America and Asia between Q2 2024 and December 2025. Across markets, a consistent pattern emerged: platforms that introduced additional layers between app open and first gameplay experienced higher early-session abandonment, even when traffic increased. Personalisation layers, lobby restructuring, promotional overlays and navigation changes that delayed the first meaningful interaction were repeatedly linked to players exiting before placing a bet.
Key patterns:
• Players opening casino apps more often but exiting earlier
• Higher abandonment when friction appears before first gameplay
• Steeper retention declines as response times reach double-digit seconds
• A growing share of session losses occurring before gameplay begins.
The findings suggest the window to earn engagement has collapsed to seconds. Mobile-first behaviour has reduced tolerance for slow loading, unclear navigation or delayed gameplay. Retention declines steadily as response times increase, with the sharpest drop once delays extend into double-digit seconds.
Game performance data reflects the same shift. Titles built around immediately understandable mechanics consistently maintain top-ranking visibility longer than feature-heavy games with layered bonus structures or complex progression systems. As engagement windows shorten, complexity is increasingly perceived as friction rather than innovation.
Dylan Thomas, credibility lead at CasinoRank, said the findings point to a structural change rather than a temporary fluctuation. “Engagement is not falling. It is fracturing. Players are returning more often, but committing less time per visit,” Thomas said.
“Platforms now have seconds, not minutes, to earn the first meaningful action.”
The post CasinoRank Data Reveals an Attention Crisis in Online Casino Gaming appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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