Latest News

OKTO ready to answer industry’s cashless question, once and for all

Published

6 years ago

July 24, 2020

Reading Time: 4 minutes

Introducing a software-based solution carefully tailored to Britain’s retail gaming sector, Simon Dorsen, director of gaming at OKTO – joined by Gambling Business Group (GBG) CEO Peter Hannibal – explains how the financially licensed company has leveraged GBG’s new EFT protocol to provide operators with a cashless system that allows players to use, move and collect their funds instantly – whether it’s on a gaming machine, at the bar, or in their local high street shops.

International fintech provider OKTO is ready to give Britain’s retail gaming sectors a much needed post-lockdown boost by offering the definitive solution to the longstanding challenge of cashless payments.

While there remains competition to provide the sector-wide cashless solution the industry requires, OKTO’s director of gaming Simon Dorsen, an 18-year veteran of the gaming industry, believes the company’s strict financial licenses, vast technological expertise, and unrivalled wallet universality all put OKTO’s secure and complete cashless solution ahead of the pack.

“Cashless and digital payments in the UK is the norm now and today’s consumers demand the digitisation of payments across the economy, and in gaming as well. We have tailored our wallet towards the unique requirements of gaming, but we’re not just a gaming wallet,” explained Dorsen. “Money in the OKTO ecosystem can be moved or spent anywhere that accepts digital payments, whether it’s pubs, bingo clubs or high street shops – and our licenses, upholding the strictest of security standards, mean that any funds with us are always fully protected. The fact that we are financially licensed is very important, as it means both merchants and users can be confident that OKTO is backed by central banks across Europe.”

In addition to its licenses and software-based solution, a recently developed Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) protocol, made publicly available by Gambling Business Group (GBG), has given OKTO an advantage over the industry’s false-starts at a cashless solution. Without the need for any additional hardware or upfront costs, the protocol makes it possible for OKTO to bring any digital gaming machine into its payments ecosystem – finally putting the retail gaming sector on a level playing field with the rest of Britain’s high street economy.

“We are thrilled to be working on established industry protocol which is fully supported by the principle manufacturers of digital machines in pubs and AGC’s. It enables our truly cashless solution to allow users to go up to a gaming machine in the pub, press a button to use OKTO, and deposit funds to start playing. When they cashout, they get the money back in their cashless wallet instantly. Additionally, we are able to onboard pubs as merchants, so if the users want to immediately spend on food and drink in the pub, they can; either through their OKTO.WALLET app or, in the near future, from their OKTO debit card that is linked to the wallet.”

Indeed, much like increasingly popular neo-banks such as Monzo and Revolut, OKTO allows users to move and use their funds instantly, as they wish, putting the power directly in the user’s hands. It’s not just a “one-use” wallet, as users can extend the wallet usage beyond gaming machines and into the wider economy. This is not only ideal for giving players the most frictionless experience possible, but also for allowing operators to easily move, manage and count their digital cashboxes, detailed Dorsen.

“Because the transactions are instant within our ecosystem, you can dramatically move to a settlement time that is instant,” he continued. “We can automate and move towards an instant settlement process. Compared to the traditional cash dependent system, this will allow operators to reimagine the way they operate.”

GBG CEO Peter Hannibal, whose open EFT protocol allows payment providers to ‘talk’ to any connected digital gaming machines, believes that OKTO’s entry into the retail gaming sectors has come at the perfect time. Not only has the protocol made it so much easier from a technical perspective, but with Covid-19 creating a sentiment of fear around the use of cash, the increasing trend of cashless payments is affecting all sectors of the industry more than ever.

“During lockdown we learned that bingo customers were concerned about using cash after the clubs reopened,” Hannibal explained. “The operation of traditional bingo has always been dependent upon coins and cash, but that clearly needs to change, and companies like OKTO will enable them to do that. Products like OKTO’s cashless solution have the potential to transform many gambling activities including bingo – and there’s an existential need for it now, even if there wasn’t before.”

Importantly, OKTO also provides a range of social responsibility tools to players through the fintech provider’s app, incorporating a strict age verification process, self-exclusion, betting limits, and profit and loss calculator tools that further enhance consumers’ protection. In addition, there is a section embedded in the app with national problem gambling helplines.

Hannibal summarised that OKTO’s solution presents a rare opportunity for the industry; a situation in which everyone’s a winner. The player gets more choice, the regulator gets responsible gaming tools in the players’ hands, and the operator gets a boost to business efficiency when it’s most needed. And with no upfront costs, it’s a boost that Dorsen believes operators will welcome.

“I have noticed a real change in operator’s mindsets over the past 18 months. There was a tipping point last year, even before COVID-19 came along, where operators realised that they need to learn about and adopt new cashless solutions. Now, naturally, we are seeing the consumer shift, and because of COVID-19 all demographics are becoming more comfortable using cashless payments,” said Dorsen. “The current economic circumstances are requiring operators to focus on efficiencies more than ever, and because our software based solution connects directly to the GBG/EFT protocol, we can provide fast deployment without any upfront capital expenditure. There’s not a big financial hurdle to implementing our cashless solution, so we think that operators will be eager to finally unlock the benefits they’ve been hearing about for so long, and we’re ready to show them exactly how our end-to-end cashless solution can help their business.”

Latest News

Hyprop backs mall esports events to bring online gaming communities offline

Published

22 minutes ago

July 16, 2026

Wladimir P.

hyprop-backs-mall-esports-events-to-bring-online-gaming-communities-offline

Brand manager Christie Stanbridge points to the MTN SHIFT Gaming Experience across Hyprop malls as a model for public, walk-up tournaments.

Hyprop is using shopping centres as host venues for public esports tournaments in South Africa, positioning mall-based events as a way to turn online gaming communities into local, in-person audiences. Christie Stanbridge, Brand and Campaigns Marketing Manager at Hyprop, set out the strategy in a statement tied to the MTN SHIFT Gaming Experience, which is hosted across Hyprop malls.

Stanbridge argued that public tournaments in malls lower the barrier for non-gamers and first-time spectators by placing competitive play in high-footfall, familiar spaces. The pitch: shoppers can stop to watch matches, see how organised play works, and experience the atmosphere of live competition without being part of an existing gaming community.

A second focus is access to equipment. Stanbridge said tournaments that supply their own setups can allow participants without consoles, gaming PCs or controllers to compete “on exactly the same kit as everyone else in the room,” at least for the duration of the event. She also framed the mall environment as a place where casual players, younger gamers and parents can observe before committing to entry.

Hyprop cited the MTN SHIFT Gaming Experience as an example of how the format plays out in practice, describing engagement around the play areas, first-time spectators, and in-person interactions between players who may previously have only known each other online. “All tournaments operated by ACGL,” the company said.

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content strategy

DuelBits says UFC creator campaign delivers 122m verified video views

Published

6 hours ago

July 16, 2026

Wladimir P.

duelbits-says-ufc-creator-campaign-delivers-122m-verified-video-views

DuelBits has published results from its JUSTIN2026 marketing campaign, saying the UFC-focused activation generated more than 122 million verified video views and contributed to one of the company’s strongest MMA betting events “in recent years.”

The crypto sportsbook and casino operator said the campaign launched ahead of UFC event Freedom 250 at the White House and centred on former UFC lightweight champion Justin Gaethje. DuelBits framed the partnership as an early bet on Gaethje, before broader commercial interest.

According to the company, the campaign set a KPI to exceed 100 million impressions across owned, paid and partnered media, and ultimately delivered more than 122 million verified clip views via a network of more than 140 creators. The asset mix included a hero film, six short-form cutdowns, behind-the-scenes content and still imagery, distributed via DuelBits’ social channels, MMA publishers, creator partnerships and clipping pages.

DuelBits said the hero content was also integrated into Gaethje’s “Art of Violence” YouTube series. The operator added that the activation drove promotional code engagement and helped convert attention into sportsbook activity.

Jasper Hoekert, Chief Marketing Officer at Duelbits, said: “We wanted to support Justin before everyone else recognised the opportunity. Instead of following the hype once he has already achieved greatness, we wanted to back a champion before anybody else did.

“The campaign wasn’t measured purely on views. Of course, surpassing 122 million verified views and exceeding our 100 million KPI was a huge achievement, but the real success was seeing that attention convert into one of our strongest UFC betting nights in recent years.

“It also reinforced something that’s key to DuelBits as a brand, which is that we don’t do small campaigns. Whether it’s the production quality, creator network, or distribution strategy, we want every activation to show what’s possible when sportsbook marketing is treated like premium entertainment.”

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iGaming

Slotegrator now provides native app experience for iGaming platforms with PWA function

Published

7 hours ago

July 16, 2026

Wladimir P.

slotegrator-now-provides-native-app-experience-for-igaming-platforms-with-pwa-function

Slotegrator’s platform solution now offers progressive web app (PWA) functionality, enabling operators to provide installable casino apps with push notifications, flexible branding, and seamless access across changing domains.

The Casino Builder module in Slotegator’s platform solution has been upgraded with a Progressive Web Application (PWA) feature that allows casinos to deliver an app-like experience without relying on the App Store or Google Play.

Native apps are powerful tools for building customer loyalty and enhancing engagement. However, iGaming brands face serious obstacles, such as strict marketplace policies, long review processes, geographic restrictions, and the constant threat of app removal. Slotegrator’s PWA functionality eliminates these barriers, allowing players to install a casino app directly from their browser and enjoy many of the same benefits as a native app.

After installation, the PWA opens from the user’s home screen, loads fast, and supports push notification integration that enhances player engagement and retention.

“Mobile is still the leading channel for user acquisition and retention; however, it’s difficult to distribute native apps in iGaming,” says Olga Ivanchik, COO at Slotegrator. “Our new PWA feature gives operators an alternative that will be familiar to their players, while eliminating the complications related to conventional app stores. Operators can launch quickly, retain full control over updates, and ensure a perfect mobile gaming experience for any market.”

Within the next 2 months, operators will also have the ability to determine when the PWA install bar will be visible to the player. For example, displaying the install bar immediately after the first deposit, as part of a broader retention strategy, helps drive long-term player LTV. The operator can also set up frequency of the install offer — daily, weekly, just once, etc.

Some operators have to consider UX for multiple frontends. Luckily, the installation widgets are highly flexible, helping them drive maximum conversion without sacrificing user experience. Operators can select a top bar or a top banner installation widget, both of which are fully customizable with branded icons, messaging, and backgrounds.

Operators can limit the visibility of their installation campaigns to specific devices — desktop, mobile, Android, or iOS — thanks to special targeting options. Operators can also design acquisition strategies specific to each platform, driving installs only where they offer the best user experience.

When players install the PWA, operators can connect it to push notification services, so they can re-engage them even when the application isn’t actively open.

Mirror domain compatibility addresses a common operational challenge in restricted markets. If an operator has to change domains due to licensing or regulatory requirements, players who have already installed the PWA will be able to continue using it without reinstallation.

Unlike native applications, PWAs don’t require App Store or Google Play approval, effectively eliminating possible delays and the risk of removal from the market. Instead, operators can deploy updates instantly to every user.

The new PWA functionality is now available in Slotegrator’s Casino Builder module, alongside other tools for improving mobile acquisition, engagement, and player retention.

ABOUT THE COMPANY

Since 2012, Slotegrator has been one of the iGaming industry’s leading software and business solution providers for online casino and sportsbook operators.

The company’s main focus is software development and support for online casino platforms, as well as the integration of game content and payment systems.

The company works with licensed game developers and offers a vast portfolio of casino content: slots, live casino games, poker, virtual sports, table games, lotteries, casual games, and data feeds for betting.

Slotegrator also provides consulting services in gambling license acquisition and business incorporation.

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