Industry News
Zendesk’s 2020 Messaging Report reveals focus on mobile and LatAm growth
The international CRM giant Zendesk released its Annual State of Messaging Report 2020 last month providing key data and insights on the most important conversational business and messaging trends ahead. The coming months will see core expansion in the global messaging landscape with strong advances ahead for the industry in mobile, integrated resorts and Latin American expansion, as messaging finally moves beyond boundaries according to Zendesk’s VP of Conversational Business, Warren Levitan.
In 2019, the number of messages exchanged between businesses and customers on Zendesk’s Sunshine Conversations platform increased 500%, and if the data revealed in the company’s third annual State of Messaging report is anything to go by, this is just the tip of the iceberg for the year ahead. “2020 will be the year of connecting conversations in the enterprise,” explained Warren Levitan. “We are seeing businesses embrace messaging as a shared platform for customer engagement, allowing them to truly unify sales, marketing and service interactions for the first time. This is a massive step toward putting customers at the centre of our businesses.”
Zendesk’s 2020 report combines interviews with more than two dozen customer experience product, sales, and marketing leaders from companies such as Google, Twitter, Hootsuite, Birchbox, and more, providing a measured analysis on the future of messaging across online, mobile and social platforms. Featuring expert commentary and in-depth analysis alongside original Zendesk research and third-party data, the report provides key insights into how messaging is changing the face of business with some notable parallels with the gaming industry in the coming decade.
As the international gaming industry continues to expand into emerging markets such as Brazil and Argentina, one significant area of focus within the report is that the LatAm region is leading the way. “Latin America – where WhatsApp is queen – is embracing conversational business faster than other regions, with Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa following closely,” states Levitan. “In many developing countries, messaging has leapfrogged web, email, and mobile apps to become the digital commerce channel.”
The companies dominating the messaging landscape and the vast differences between countries and continents when it comes to who is winning the messaging race is just one aspect of the research. 2020 will also see evolving and emerging conversational business trends such as AI, machine learning and in-chat payments unlocking huge opportunities for online brands across all sectors. Facebook has revealed that 150m people on Instagram have a conversation with a business every month and so for gaming brands the focus on in-chat payments is essential going forward.
“In-chat payments may be the key to unlocking conversational commerce at scale in the west,” Levitan added. “Apple Business Chat has Apple Pay built in and Facebook has several projects in the works with WhatsApp Pay, Facebook Pay and, most controversially, Libra — its planned cryptocurrency. Kakao, Line, and Telegram also boast their own crypto coins in various stages of development. Buying stuff is a crucial part of the conversational customer journey and it’s about to get a whole lot easier.”
Over the past decade, messaging has fundamentally changed the way people interact with friends, family, colleagues, and companies. According to Business Insider, messaging apps have surpassed social media in global monthly active users. Since 2018, nearly every major messaging channel, including WhatsApp, WeChat, Facebook Messenger, Google’s RCS, and Apple’s iMessage, has extended beyond the consumer to businesses. At the same time, businesses of all sizes in every industry have embedded modern messaging experiences into their own apps and websites.
Speaking as part of Zendesk’s 2020 report, Rob Lawson, Global Partnerships, Google, explained: “We’ll start to see the pendulum swing from customer care being the primary driver for business messages towards marketing, lead generation and sales. To date we’ve seen businesses primarily motivated by reducing call centre costs and frustrations for existing customers. In 2020 we’ll see increasing activity from brands deploying conversational techniques to engage new customers and drive incremental business value.”
Bringing the report’s focus back to gaming and integrated resorts, recent data from global research and advisory firm Gartner predicts that by 2022, 70% of all customer interactions will involve emerging tools like chatbots, machine learning, and mobile messaging, up from 15% in 2018. The impact of this for the land-based sector will be keenly felt as Zendesk’s report highlights how live chat remains an effective channel for real-time conversations and a growing number of hotels, resorts and other customer-centric brands are creating bespoke messaging experiences within their mobile apps and websites.
Warren Levitan, VP Conversational Business, Zendesk, added: “Intent and sentiment engines will be connected to every messaging channel, with businesses intelligently routing each message to the right system and person or bot. Once messaging penetrates the business, we will see that it knows no boundaries.“
To read Zendesk’s full interactive State of Messaging 2020 report, visit: zendesk.com/message/state-of-messaging-2020/
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Welcome to our weekly roundup of American gambling news again! Here, we are going through the weekly highlights of the American gambling industry which include the latest news and new partnerships. Read on and get updated.
Latest News
Jackpot Digital Inc. has announced that it has been granted a Manufacturer and Distributor License by the Mississippi Gaming Commission. This approval authorizes Jackpot Digital to supply gaming equipment to licensed casino operators throughout Mississippi. This marks the Company’s second state-level manufacturer’s license in the US. Additional licensing applications are currently pending in other jurisdictions as part of the Company’s ongoing growth strategy. Mississippi is one of the nation’s premier destination gaming markets, generating over $2.4 billion in gross gaming revenue in 2023. The state’s Gulf Coast and Biloxi regions are particularly well known for their vibrant casino tourism and established gaming brands.
iDEA (iDevelopment and Economic Association), the leading trade association representing the U.S. online gaming industry, launched the definitive online destination for all things online gambling: ideagrowth.org. The new website provides the media, and U.S. legislators and regulators, a comprehensive resource for data-driven research, policy insights, and responsible gaming resources. The new website provides the industry’s most vital statistics and research — from consumer protections to economic development — in an engaging, accessible format designed for maximum impact.
CT Interactive has further strengthened its international presence by expanding its certified game portfolio on the regulated Peruvian market with 20 new titles. This milestone underscores the company’s commitment to delivering high-quality, engaging gaming content tailored specifically to regional markets. The newly certified portfolio features titles from CT Interactive’s popular Buy Bonus product line, including fan favorites such as Duck of Luck, Fruits & Sweets, Doctor Winstein, and Nanook the White Ghost. These enhanced editions deliver dynamic gameplay with one- or three-level Buy Bonus options, giving players new tools for diverse strategies and greater control over the game’s pace and excitement. A highlight of the newly certified titles is the launch of Lucky Clover 10, the latest addition to the acclaimed Clover-themed series.
Partnerships
CT Interactive has entered a new phase of its Latin American growth by launching its complete portfolio of games on Rushbet in Mexico and Peru. This collaboration with Rush Street Interactive—one of the region’s leading online casino and sportsbook operators—marks a significant step in the company’s international expansion. Players on Rushbet now have access to proven favorites like Lucky Clover, 40 Treasures, Win Storm and Big Chilli, along with the engaging Hot Luck three-level jackpot, designed to enhance player excitement and retention. This partnership underscores CT Interactive’s commitment to long-term collaboration and delivering tailored gaming solutions across diverse Latin American markets.
Hard Rock International has announced its 26th annual PINKTOBER campaign in partnership with Sports Illustrated Swimsuit ahead of this Breast Cancer Awareness Month. As a global entertainment and hospitality brand guided by the principle “All is One,” Hard Rock is leveraging every touchpoint to support the cause throughout October, from a limited-edition retail collection to special menu items and events. A portion of proceeds from PINKTOBER sales each year are donated to the Hard Rock Heals Foundation, the charitable arm of Hard Rock, to support breast cancer awareness and research worldwide. The program has raised over $13 million for breast cancer research since its inception.
The post Gaming Americas Weekly Roundup – September 29-October 5 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Amusnet’s latest Live Casino portfolio addition, Candy Wheel, invites players on an unforgettable journey where every spin bursts with excitement. Candy Wheel dazzles with its vibrant gameplay centered around a colourful wheel divided into 50 dynamic sectors, each packed with unique payout possibilities. Players can jump into the action by placing their bets on six exciting sectors — also known as tickets — and predicting where the wheel will land next.
Led by a charismatic live presenter, every moment unfolds in real time with crystal-clear video streaming and multiple camera angles that capture each thrilling spin. The host keeps the energy sky-high — announcing results, chatting with players and turning every round into a full-on celebration.
And just when you think it can’t get any sweeter, Candy Wheel introduces a couple of special features to spice things up even more:
Candy Ticket
The Candy Ticket feature appears randomly during gameplay and rewards players with a free re-bet on one of the six tickets available. If you’ve placed a bet on the chosen ticket, you’ll automatically receive a free bet for the next round – same ticket, same value. Watch as your chip transforms into a candy-themed version and slides to the side, leaving you free to place new bets and double the fun.
Dynamic Multipliers
Dynamic Multipliers is a thrilling feature that can boost players’ payout up to 25x. Similar to the Candy Ticket feature, a multiplier and а sector are randomly selected and revealed on the circular screen. If you’ve placed a bet on that sector, your winnings will be multiplied by 2x, 5x, 10x or 25x. An electrifying twist that adds a whole new layer of suspense – and serious reward potential brought to every spin.
Jackpot Cards
The Jackpot Cards Bonus game is triggered at random during the gameplay to allow players to win impressive Jackpots.
The post Amusnet Releases Candy Wheel appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Amusnet has released Golden Goal Roulette, the latest title in its new generation of virtual roulette games. Blending the elegance of classic roulette with the electrifying energy of football, this release transforms the iconic casino experience into a matchday celebration.
Set against the backdrop of a vividly designed football stadium, Golden Goal Roulette creates an immersive environment that transports players right into the heart of the game. From the realistic ambient sounds of cheering crowds to the sleek design of the roulette wheel, every detail is crafted to heighten the atmosphere and capture the excitement of sport.
What sets Golden Goal Roulette apart is its interactive gameplay mechanics. Unlike traditional versions, this virtual roulette allows players to control the start of each spin, introducing a fresh and dynamic twist to the experience. The result is a modernised game that blends tradition with innovation while keeping the familiar structure of European-style roulette.
Golden Goal Roulette supports a wide variety of betting options to suit every preference:
Inside Bets: Straight up, Split, Street, Corner, Line bet
Outside Bets: Column, Dozen, Low/High, Even/Odd, Red/Black.
With its authentic football theme, versatility and interactive features, Golden Goal Roulette adds a new layer of energy and entertainment to Amusnet’s growing Live Casino portfolio. It’s a title designed for both roulette enthusiasts and football fans alike — an engaging blend of two worlds that never fails to capture attention.
Auto Rebet
The Auto Rebet function allows players to repeat a selected bet. When enabled, the game enters automatic mode, where bets are placed automatically for a set number of games.
Favourite Bets
This function allows players to save up to 10 personally tailored bets or bet combinations for quick access during gameplay.
Jackpot Cards
The Jackpot Cards Bonus game is triggered at random during the gameplay to allow players to win impressive Jackpots.
The post Golden Goal Roulette – Where Football Meets the Thrill of the Wheel appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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