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Prostrate Travel and Tourism Sector & Legal Restraints to Challenge Growth Even as Casinos Reopen

Published

6 years ago

July 28, 2020

George Miller

Reading Time: 3 minutes

The “Casinos – Global Market Trajectory & Analytics” report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com’s offering.

While the pandemic and lockdowns have largely benefitted the gaming industry, the gambling sector has been less lucky faced with a tepid outlook and a mixed bag of opportunities and challenges. With 74.6% of revenues coming from the offline brick and motor sector, the closure of entertainment centers and casinos as part of the lockdowns imposed in 1st Q 2020 impacted revenues and profitability for companies. The global market for casinos is expected to decline by 10.8% in the year 2020. The abrupt halting of economic activity has pushed businesses across all industries into financial distress. Sudden fall in revenues and profits as a result of demand disruptions has resulted in workforce pruning and layoffs. Unemployment rates have hit never-before highs with the US topping the charts with 12.5% unemployed as a % of total labor force. Social outlook against this background remains grim with households expected witness erosion in wealth. Personal financial outlook, community, economy, job security confidence, purchasing and investment confidence are all tumbling as the human and economic cost of the global pandemic rises. While brick and motor casinos stagnate, online casinos are faring better although limited by lower discretionary spending. The increase in spending is coming largely from gaming addicts and from consumer clusters spending more on online retail and entertainment during the pandemic.

Even as casinos begin to reopen as lockdowns are cautiously eased in countries worldwide, they face the challenge of falling consumer confidence and spending and the still prostrate travel and tourism sector. In Las Vegas for instance which is the gambling Mecca of the world, millions of tourists and visitors make up for the large customer base at casinos. Gaming operators from Macau to Las Vegas are all anticipating a rough restart after gaming properties are allowed to reopen. In Macau, a few gaming properties have reopened but could not see desirable outcomes. In gambling destinations such as Parisian Macao, Venetian Macao, Sands Cotai Central, Wynn Palace, City of Dreams, Galaxy Macau, MGM Cotai, Grand Lisboa, MGC Macau, Star World and Wynn Macau, customer turnover still remains low. During pre-COVID-19 times, each of those casinos attracted around 200 thousand visitors every day. This extreme drop in visitor numbers is due to stringent border restrictions being followed since the month of March. Limited options for transportation and quarantine rules make it difficult for players to visit gambling destinations. With the global economy now in recession, recovery will be delayed further. Although online casinos are well suited for safe indulgence in gambling in the midst of a pandemic situation, this sector is still fledging and is plagued with legality issues. Online casinos are illegal in most parts of the United States and in countries where online casinos are legal confusion over legal boundaries of betting and gambling is a chief restraint to growth. Underdevelopment online funds transfer platforms also adds another layer of challenge to growth. In younger markets like the U.S. and Asian countries where digital prize money disbursement platforms are still underdeveloped, the challenge is bigger and more difficult to overcome. In Europe, the region with a well-developed online and offline gambling infrastructure, casino owners are innovating in digital payments by using digital wallet services to transfer funds to customers.

A return to complete normalcy will begin only after barriers to access gaming destinations are completely removed. The market is projected to reach US$159.3 billion by the year 2027, trailing a CAGR of3.7%. Offline Casinos, one of the segments analyzed in the report, is projected to grow at a 3.4% CAGR to reach US$116.3 million by the end of the analysis period. Few of the factors expected to drive growth in the post pandemic period include migration from cards to crypto currency gambling; continued evolution of online casinos supported by rapid proliferation of mobile devices and growing penetration of smart phones and tablets; development of supplicated gambling apps; growing participation of women in casinos; resurgence in casino tourism; relaxation in gambling regulations and legalization of gambling in several nations given their contribution to national income and development of local tourism.

Key Topics Covered:

I. INTRODUCTION, METHODOLOGY & REPORT SCOPE

II. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

1. MARKET OVERVIEW

2. FOCUS ON SELECT PLAYERS

3. MARKET TRENDS & DRIVERS

4. GLOBAL MARKET PERSPECTIVE

III. MARKET ANALYSIS

IV. COMPETITION

Companies Mentioned

888 Holdings Plc
Betfair Group Plc
Boyd Gaming Corporation
Caesars Interactive Entertainment, Inc.
Dover Downs Gaming & Entertainment Inc
Galaxy Entertainment Group Ltd.
Golden Nugget Atlantic City
Harrington Raceway & Casino
Ladbrokes Coral Group Plc
Las Vegas Sands Corporation
Mgm Resorts International
Penn National Gaming
Sjm Holdings Ltd.
William Hill Plc
Wynn Resorts Limited

Edvardas Sadovskis CPO at ICONIC21

ICONIC21 Reimagines Myth: Medusa vs. Perseus — The Stone Duel

Published

54 minutes ago

February 10, 2026

Wladimir P.

iconic21-reimagines-myth:-medusa-vs.-perseus-—-the-stone-duel

Intense volatility collides with player-led decisions in a quest for epic 10,000x rewards.

History is shaped by those who win, but in Medusa vs Perseus: Stone Duel, the new slot from sought-after iGaming creator ICONIC21, the result lies with the player.

Transforming one of history’s most renowned rivalries into a 5×5 grid format, ICONIC21 offers a game characterized by intensity, impressive visuals, and clear mechanics.

Central to the conflict are the Full Reel Wilds. When these giants collide, they showcase a potent Multiplier that affects each winning line it connects with. As more Wilds appear and line up, the effect becomes even greater.

The experience genuinely deepens when players select their champion during the Free Spins round:

Perseus’ Momentum: Each Wild fuels an increasing Global Multiplier, culminating in a peak of victories.

Medusa’s Control: Expanding Wilds secure their position, transforming the reels into a pathway of ongoing winning opportunities.

With a maximum win of 10,000 times the stake, the bets align with the magnitude of the legend. The title is crafted to attract a wide audience.

Edvardas Sadovskis, CPO at ICONIC21, said: “With Medusa vs Perseus: Stone Duel, we wanted to move beyond the standard ‘Ancient Greece’ tropes. By giving players the choice between Perseus’ scaling power or Medusa’s sticky persistence, we’re adding a layer of strategy to the volatility.

“This game is about the drama of the duel. For operators, this translates into deeper engagement and great performance, as players try to master both paths to the 10,000x treasure.

“This is a milestone addition to our portfolio. By delivering a diverse mix of math profiles and mechanics, we have firmly established ICONIC21 as a must-have supplier for any forward-thinking operator.”

The post ICONIC21 Reimagines Myth: Medusa vs. Perseus — The Stone Duel appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Gran Madrid | Casino Online

TaDa Strikes Partnership Deal with Spain’s Top Casino Operator Gran Madrid

Published

54 minutes ago

February 10, 2026

Wladimir P.

tada-strikes-partnership-deal-with-spain’s-top-casino-operator-gran-madrid

TaDa Gaming, a top content provider for the iGaming sector, and Gran Madrid | Casino Online, Spain’s inaugural DGOJ licensed casino, have entered into an agreement that enables Spanish players to access TaDa’s distinctive slot and crash games. Distribution occurs via Light & Wonder Inc.

This new partnership marks TaDa’s initial foray into Spain and strengthens the provider’s successful expansion in regulated European markets. Gran Madrid | Casino Online participants will have the opportunity to enjoy TaDa’s certified collection featuring the Fortune Gems, TriLuck’, and Hit the Cash’ branded games.

The Hit the Cash hallmark of Multipliers, Lock & Respin, and fixed Jackpots has generated considerable interest, with Joker Coins and Fortune Coins now leading releases in Europe.

TaDa’s engaging crash titles include ice hockey, football, and space adventures, along with comical versions featuring a chicken crossing the road and a frog jumping over a lily pond. Go Rush, the dual betting rocket game will be the initial launch in Spain.

Established in 1981, Gran Madrid | Casino Online received its official online gaming license in 2011, becoming the first licensed and recognized online casino in Spain. The groundbreaking operator has since thrived, acquiring tier one content from international suppliers and now provides more than 4,000 titles to its clientele.

Sean Liu, Director of Product Development, TaDa Gaming, said: ‘Our successful growth strategy is based on working with leading operators in each new market. Gran Madrid | Casino Online’s deep heritage in Spanish gaming and reputation for innovative and quality experiences provide the optimum framework for our entry to the Spanish market.’

José Félix Herreros, Country Manager, Gran Madrid | Casino Online, followed: ‘Having built our brand for innovation, working with a provider of TaDa Gaming’s calibre reinforces our position as the leading online casino platform in Spain. We are looking forward to working together on some exciting new experiences for our players.’

The post TaDa Strikes Partnership Deal with Spain’s Top Casino Operator Gran Madrid appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Africa

State of the African Video Game Industry 2026: Xsolla Backs SpielFabrique’s Definitive Market Report

Published

12 hours ago

February 9, 2026

Wladimir P.

state-of-the-african-video-game-industry-2026:-xsolla-backs-spielfabrique’s-definitive-market-report

Xsolla today announced its support for State of the African Video Game Industry 2026, a comprehensive new report from SpielFabrique and researcher PhD Prince Oguguo that maps the size, structure, and growth dynamics of Africa’s fast-evolving games ecosystem. The study delivers data-driven insight into developer realities, market infrastructure, monetization trends and strategic recommendations for partners and investors.

Key findings at a glance

Market size: Africa’s video games industry generated approximately $1.8 billion in revenue in 2024, driven predominantly by mobile gaming (≈90% of the market).
Growth drivers: A young, mobile-first population, rising smartphone adoption and broader digital services are fueling above-average expansion across the continent.
Structural challenges: Persistent pain points include payment friction, limited funding, uneven internet and platform infrastructure, and the lack of a unified continental market.
Diverse ecosystems: The report stresses regional variation — with deep dives into Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, Egypt, and Morocco — showing how local payment systems, regulation and culture shape monetization and discoverability.

Why this report matters

“Supporting research like this helps ground industry conversations in real data and lived developer experience,” said Ilayda Bayari, VP of Business Development, MEA + Southern Europe at Xsolla. The report equips publishers, platforms, investors and policy-makers with actionable intelligence to build more sustainable partnerships with African developers.

Focus areas and recommendations

SpielFabrique’s study examines three critical levers for growth:

Payments & distribution: Local payment methods and mobile money are essential to improve conversion and lifetime value for African titles.
Funding & infrastructure: Targeted investment and improved developer tools/platforms are needed to scale studios beyond domestic markets.
Talent & esports: Clearer talent pathways, education programmes and esports ecosystems will strengthen local production and audience engagement.

Regional snapshots

The research highlights how national differences influence outcomes: strong indie scenes in Nigeria and Kenya, established studios and distribution channels in South Africa, and growing developer communities in North African markets such as Egypt and Morocco.

Launch and supporting activity

The State of the African Video Game Industry 2026 report became available on January 29, 2026, and was launched with a coordinated website feature, social media rollout and a post-launch community webinar to share insights and facilitate industry discussion.

Voices from the field

“After more than seven years working alongside African game makers and ecosystem builders, I’m proud to share this comprehensive overview of where the market stands today,” said Pr. Odile Limpach, Co-founder of SpielFabrique. The report aims to catalyze cooperation and make markets more visible — enabling partners to act on opportunities while appreciating local challenges.

The post State of the African Video Game Industry 2026: Xsolla Backs SpielFabrique’s Definitive Market Report appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.