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3.5 Billion ‘Gamers’ Globally by 2024, but Cloud Gaming Must Evaluate Business Models in Order to Survive
Report by ABI Research and InterDigital confirms cloud gaming providers should favor subscription-based pricing models to take advantage of market potential
A new report from ABI Research has found almost half of the expected population in 2024 will be gamers. To take advantage of this huge market potential, telecommunications companies, internet service providers (ISPs), and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) must evaluate different business models to determine whether the service will succeed or fail.
Commissioned by InterDigital, the report “Cloud gaming: Enabling a next generation gaming and streaming paradigm” states that the video gaming market is now among the largest entertainment industries in the world. Currently, more than 2.3 billion individuals play video games, and the number of gamers is expected to grow substantially over the next four years to more than 3.5 billion gamers by 2024. The Asia-Pacific region represents the largest gaming base with 51% of the worldwide total. The Americas, at roughly 20% of the player base, represent the second largest revenue opportunity.
The report suggests that for cloud gaming operators to capitalize on this growing industry, they must evaluate their business models while the market is in the early stages of its life cycle. Over-the top media services, like online video streaming, offer the most pragmatic and consumer-friendly option thanks to monthly, quarterly, or annual subscription plans. Consumers favor unlimited subscription plans over time-based payment plans, even if they end up paying more than what they would on a usage payment plan.
Subscription models are also intended to shape user behavior. A parallel can be drawn with mobile data, where caps were implemented to increase revenue, but also to dictate usage. While usage-based fees are less popular, they could prove to be the optimal strategy for market players in early cloud gaming days, especially when it might be challenging to convert the core gaming audience from gaming PCs and consoles.
Furthermore, the future of cloud gaming doesn’t solely lie in traditional video games. According to the report, there are increasing opportunities for market players to add gaming elements to non-gaming activities and content. Gamification can increase flexibility in delivery and consumption, opening new use cases and applications, such as within workplace collaboration tools and fitness applications. Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) also have inherent synergy with gaming and, more specifically, with cloud gaming.
“The cloud gaming market is rapidly growing, and it’s clear those who act now will capitalize on this opportunity. But these players need to act fast if they want to take advantage of everything this exciting market has to offer,” said Laurent Depersin, R&I Senior Lab Director at InterDigital. “As developments in 5G and Wi-Fi penetrate the mainstream, enabling more products and services to become gamified, we’ll see Gaming-as-a-Service (GaaS) really come to life—pulling in new gamers, and encouraging existing ones to make the transition to the cloud, thanks to its user friendly business model. For cloud gaming and GaaS to succeed, players need to ensure they deliver both the right business model and the right user experience to drive mainstream adoption.”
To access the full report ‘Cloud gaming: Enabling a next generation gaming and streaming paradigm’ please click here.
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Bally’s Intralot
Intralot Ireland Limited Signs Seven Year Contract Extension with Premier Lotteries Ireland
Bally’s Intralot announced that its subsidiary Intralot Ireland Limited has signed a seven year contract extension, through November 2034, with Premier Lotteries Ireland (PLI). The agreement supports PLI’s continued operation of the Irish National Lottery through the remainder of its license period and reinforces Bally’s Intralot’s role as a trusted technology and services partner.
Under the terms of the agreement, Bally’s Intralot will modernise PLI’s technology ecosystem by deploying its next-generation LotosX Omni solution and PlayerX Player Account Management platform. The solution will provide a modern, cloud-based technology foundation supporting lottery operations across retail and digital channels, while incorporating advanced retailer management, instant games management, device management and content management capabilities. The agreement also includes comprehensive support and maintenance services, along with cloud operations and cybersecurity services for the first year, designed to ensure the long-term reliability, security and performance of PLI’s technology environment.
Through this partnership, Bally’s Intralot will support PLI in delivering a future-ready operating environment designed to enhance operational efficiency, accelerate innovation and strengthen player engagement. The modernisation will provide a secure, scalable and resilient platform that enables PLI to continue evolving its offerings while improving time-to-market implementation of new initiatives, along with maintaining the highest standards of reliability and service to players and retailers across Ireland.
“We are pleased to extend our partnership with Bally’s Intralot, a relationship built on trust, commitment to excellence, and shared ambition since 2014. As we look to the future, this agreement provides a strong platform for continued innovation and growth, ensuring we can deliver a modern, secure, and world-class National Lottery that places responsible play at its heart while continuing to benefit communities across Ireland,” said Cian Murphy, CEO of PLI.
Robeson Reeves, CEO of the Bally’s Intralot Group, said: “We are proud to extend our long-standing partnership with Premier Lotteries Ireland for a further seven years. This agreement reflects the strength of our technology and the trust we have built with PLI over more than a decade of collaboration. We look forward to continuing to support the National Lottery of Ireland and to delivering innovative, responsible gaming experiences to players across the country.”
The post Intralot Ireland Limited Signs Seven Year Contract Extension with Premier Lotteries Ireland appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Artificial Intelligence
Kambi Delivers Record-breaking World Cup with More Than 100 Million Bets as Bet Builders and Player Props Take Centre Stage
Kambi, the home of premium sports betting solutions, and its global network of Turnkey Sportsbook partners have exceeded 100 million bets placed during the ongoing FIFA World Cup, with data showing the continued evolution of player betting preferences towards higher-margin products.
Data from Kambi’s global partner network shows the continued growth of player props and Bet Builder, reducing the dependency on traditional core markets to drive engagement and margin performance. This is illustrated by last week’s semi finals which had more than 700,000 unique combinations placed on each game.
The expanded tournament has delivered on the increased turnover potential that was anticipated, yet Kambi has also exceeded average turnover per match and seen an increase in average stake compared to 2022. Kambi’s geographically diversified partner network has driven betting volume across a wider range of markets and time zones, while diversifying risk and liabilities across its broad global partner base.
Key World Cup 2026 betting trends (versus 2022) across Kambi’s Turnkey Sportsbook include:
• Pre-match Bet Builder turnover up 3.6x
• Average pre-match Bet Builder selection size now 3.5 compared to 2.9
• Player shots on target is the top pre-match Bet Builder offer by turnover, generating 2x the turnover of match winner market
• Share of pre-match turnover from bets other than match winner up from 57% to 63%
• Live Bet Builder turnover up 10x
• Player shots on target is the most popular live bet, accounting for 15% of live turnover
Together, these trends underline the transition to more complex, higher-margin recreational play, helping Kambi sustain a strong tournament margin despite a competition in which the top four seeds reached the semi-finals and leading strikers frequently scored.
This shift has been facilitated by Kambi’s AI trading system, with the tournament becoming the first World Cup where bet offers across both pre-match and live were fully compiled and traded by Kambi’s proprietary algorithmic capability. This has supported greater efficiency and scalability while enabling a broader, deeper betting offer.
Combining advanced AI-driven technology with the vast data generated by its global network has enabled Kambi to deliver a wide range of product improvements, from expanded player props markets and increased Bet Builder combinability to reduced suspension times, lower live delays and enhanced uptime.
Werner Becher, CEO of Kambi, said: “Surpassing 100 million bets before the final demonstrates both the scale of our network and the progress we are making in sportsbook innovation. This is the first World Cup fully traded by our AI-powered capabilities and we’ve seen the impact in stronger product performance, greater engagement with player props and Bet Builder, and a betting mix that continues to evolve beyond traditional markets. At a tournament where results have not always been favourable for some bookmakers, these advances have enabled us to continue performing strongly and delivering for partners.”
Kambi will publish its Q2 2026 Report on 22 July, when it will share further insights from the World Cup and provide additional detail on the performance of its sportsbook products during the tournament.
The 100 million bet milestone applies to Kambi’s Turnkey Sportsbook only and does not include the millions of bets driven by Kambi’s Odds Feed+ product.
The post Kambi Delivers Record-breaking World Cup with More Than 100 Million Bets as Bet Builders and Player Props Take Centre Stage appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Compliance Updates
The MGA Publishes Notice on Websites Impersonating Licensed Operators
The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) has observed a pattern of websites impersonating MGA-licensed operators and misleading consumers into believing that they are licensed, regulated or otherwise authorised by the Authority in accordance with the Gaming Act (Chapter 583 of the Laws of Malta) and the regulatory instruments issued thereunder.
In light of this, the MGA published a list of three websites impersonating licensed operators. The websites are:
• www.manekicasino.bet
• www.dragonaracasino.uk.com
• www.slot-hunter.at
“The MGA is hereby declaring that it has no connection with the above listed URLs and any other website, platform and/or entity impersonating the Authority and/or MGA-licensed operators. Any reference to the MGA and/or gaming licence/s said to be issued by it, as stated on these domains, are false and misleading,” the MGA noted.
“The MGA would like to remind consumers not to utilise services provided by an entity unless they have ascertained that the entity in question is duly authorised to provide such services by the Authority. Whereas MGA-licensed operators comply with strict legal requirements in the interest of consumers, the activities of unlicensed entities are unregulated, and do not provide the necessary safeguards delineated by virtue of the gaming regulatory framework, making transactions with such entities risky for consumers.”
The post The MGA Publishes Notice on Websites Impersonating Licensed Operators appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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