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UK Game Developer Kwalee Surpasses Half a Billion Downloads of Hyper-Casual Mobile Games

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  • Leamington Spa-based mobile game developer and publisher hits milestone following 2020 successes including Bake It, Let’s Be Cops 3D and Teacher Simulator

  • 90% of downloads have come in past two years, with Kwalee growing rapidly and recently passing 100 employees

  • Many more internally-developed and published titles in the works as the race to a billion begins

Kwalee, a leading developer and publisher of hyper-casual mobile games, has surpassed half a billion downloads across its portfolio of hyper-casual games on the App Store and Google Play.

After a strong year in which the company has grown to more than 100 employees and launched hit games including Bake It, Line Up: Draw the Criminal, Let’s Be Cops 3D, Teacher Simulator and Blade Forde 3D, Kwalee’s 500 million milestone positions it firmly among the world’s premier mobile game publishers.

Underscoring the incredible reach of Kwalee’s games, latest releases Let’s Be Cops 3D and Teacher Simulator have consistently featured alongside one another in the top 5 most downloaded iOS games in the USA, since launching in October and November respectively.

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Headquartered in Leamington Spa and with growing teams in Bangalore, India and Beijing, China, Kwalee is led by CEO, founder and games industry legend David Darling CBE. Darling previously co-founded and ran Codemasters, a company reportedly the subject of a $1 billion acquisition, so his track record in the industry is beyond question. He recently won the Outstanding Leadership Award at the 2020 TIGA Awards.

Kwalee has firmly established itself as a leading developer and publisher of hyper-casual games – a style of mobile games that are defined by their accessibility and designed to be played in short bursts – and this half a billion milestone is the ultimate confirmation of that.

The single biggest contributor to the half a billion download total is Draw It, a rapid-fire and evergreen drawing game which has been downloaded 87 million times. Other major releases for Kwalee have included Jetpack Jump (42 million downloads), Bake It (38 million downloads), Shootout 3D (35 million downloads) and Rocket Sky! (30 million downloads).

Kwalee’s varied catalogue of releases includes both those developed internally and by brilliant third-party developers of all sizes, with an equal commitment and investment given to each. The company is always looking to enter partnerships with developers and will offer them genuine support and coaching on all aspects of their games, from game design to monetisation.

And when it comes to internal development, the vast majority of Kwalee hits begin with a pitch on ‘Creative Wednesdays’, a weekly opportunity for anyone in the company to pitch their dream game ideas and vote on which ones get made. This formula has powered Kwalee to 500 million downloads with countless great concepts and there is a firm belief that it will take the company to one billion and beyond.

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“Kwalee was founded with a belief in the power of digital distribution and great digital marketing to propel games to a massive global audience,” said CEO David Darling. “That’s not something that can be accomplished overnight, but achieving half a billion downloads by sticking to these principles is a very proud moment for all of us. Our approach to launching hit games is always being refined, we’re getting better all the time and we’re already setting our sights on one billion!”

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Conferences in Europe

EGT Digital to present its brand-new products designed to perform at iGB Live 2025

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This year’s iGB Live is the next destination where EGT Digital will present a selection of impressive new releases, product upgrades and popular bestsellers from its portfolio. Visitors will have the opportunity to explore the company’s latest innovations at stand N50.

Part of the exciting new lineup is the upcoming slot Power & Glory: Athena, which will be launched as part of the popular Clover Chance jackpot series. The game invites players to challenge the Greek goddess in exchange for a rich mix of cascading wins and dynamic bonus features.

Together with it, guests can explore EGT Digital’s extensive portfolio of over 140 in-house developed casino titles, covering a wide variety of themes and mechanics. On display will be also the company’s standout jackpot solutions Bell Link, High Cash, Single Progressive Jackpot, and the latest Gods & Kings Link.

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EGT Digital’s iGaming platform X-Nave will demonstrate how its modular architecture helps operators build and grow successful online businesses. Its 4 main modules – Sport Product, Gaming Aggregator, CRM Engine, and Payment Gateway, can be used as part of the complete solution or integrated individually into third-party platforms. Each module has been upgraded with new functionalities, which will be showcased at iGB Live 2025.

New features are coming to the Sport Product module, bringing a more dynamic and personalized betting experience. Among the highlights is the Early Payout option for live events, giving players the chance to lock in a win as soon as their team takes a 2-goal lead. The updated eSports menu introduces a new visually engaging layout that makes browsing and navigation effortless. To further tailor the experience, the new Sports Recommendation Engine delivers real-time, personalized suggestions based on individual betting history and behavior. A predefined multiple bets container now appears in the Sports lobby, displaying both original and boosted odds. With the enhanced Quick Deposit feature, players can top up their accounts instantly while staying within their financial limits.

X-Nave’s Gaming Aggregator will present its expanded game library, which now includes more than 24,000 titles from over 150 providers. Attendees will get acquainted with the Client Hub, which offers easy access to game resources and features, jackpots, documentation, and certificates. In addition, now operators will be able to manage bonuses through the Aggregator, thanks to the module’s built-in bonus support.

The Payment Gateway will introduce several important upgrades designed to improve flexibility and player convenience. One of the latest additions is the Stacking Deposits feature, which allows multiple consecutive deposits to be combined toward activating a bonus. The PIX method now enables players to make deposits straight from the game window, while the Quick Deposit functionality continues to support fast and seamless top-ups. The platform users will also have at their disposal Google Pay as a deposit option and Apple Pay as a withdrawal option. Fully automated deposits and withdrawals via bank transfer will be also available.

Last but not least, the Standalone payment gateway will be presented too. This is a new separate product, which includes all features of the Payment Gateway: transaction monitoring, rule engine, integrations with payment methods, and allows integration with X-Nave and platforms of other providers.

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Tsvetomira Drumeva, Head of Sales at EGT Digital, commented: “I always look forward to iGB Live, as this event traditionally provides us with the chance to showcase our innovative solutions to a wide range of professionals from all over the world and to strengthen our existing partnerships, as well as start new high-potential collaborations. This year, my excitement is even greater as the show will be held in a new place – London, which has already established itself over the years as a preferred location for holding large-scale gaming exhibitions. I am confident that our participation in iGB Live 2025 will be a great success, meeting and even exceeding our expectations.”

The post EGT Digital to present its brand-new products designed to perform at iGB Live 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Compliance Updates

iGaming Trends 2025: First Half-Year Regulations Recap

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SOFTSWISS, a global tech provider of iGaming software solutions, releases a fresh regulatory update as part of its renowned iGaming Trends 2025 report. With regulation remaining one of the industry’s most pressing topics, the company highlights the latest developments from key markets worldwide.

The full recap is divided by countries, covering 24 jurisdictions in total. Below is a condensed selection of insights into the iGaming regulatory landscape by region – the complete breakdown is available for free in the full report.

Europe

  • The UK rolled out stake limits for slots, deposit prompts, bonus restrictions, and a new statutory levy. Tighter oversight of suppliers and affordability checks are also underway.
  • The Netherlands proposed universal spending limits, stricter ad rules, and gave regulators powers to block unlicensed operators.
  • Germany approved a state monopoly model for online table games in Baden-Württemberg, applying a progressive tax.
  • Curacao now shifts toward an EU-aligned, reputation-focused framework, operating under a revamped regime with on-site inspections, ad code updates, and mandatory compliance standards.
  • Malta faces EU infringement proceedings over a legal shield that protects Malta-licensed online operators from foreign claims, which could be overturned.

Asia-Pacific

  • The Philippines exited the offshore gaming model with a POGO ban and introduced domestic reforms, including a GGR tax cut and the launch of a verified list of licensed online operators
  • India awaits a Supreme Court ruling on €11.5B in back taxes and is cracking down on illegal gambling ads.

Middle East

  • UAE signals future digital expansion with iGaming-related hiring, although online licences are not yet issued.

Africa

  • Nigeria restructured gambling taxes and banned Google gambling ads, shifting regulation to states.
  • South Africa introduced a Remote Gambling Bill to establish a regulated online gambling framework, which is now pending approval.

South America

  • Brazil is raising its gross gaming revenue (GGR) tax to 18%, expanding betting regulations, tightening oversight of advertising and payment systems, and introducing new restrictions on influencer marketing, including a ban on the use of celebrities and athletes in gambling promotions.
  • Peru reduced its iGaming tax temporarily and expanded IP-blocking measures.

North America

  • The USA (New York) moved to ban sweepstakes casinos and passed legislation targeting social gambling models.

SOFTSWISS continues to monitor the global regulatory environment to guide its partners through compliance shifts and regional opportunities. 

 

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About SOFTSWISS

SOFTSWISS is an international technology company with over 15 years of experience developing innovative solutions for the iGaming industry. SOFTSWISS holds a number of gaming licences and provides comprehensive software for managing iGaming projects. The company’s product portfolio includes the Online Casino Platform, the Game Aggregator with over 30,000 casino games, the Affilka Affiliate Platform, the Sportsbook Software and the Jackpot Aggregator. In 2013, SOFTSWISS revolutionised the industry by introducing the world’s first Bitcoin-optimised online casino solution. The expert team counts over 2,000 employees.

The post iGaming Trends 2025: First Half-Year Regulations Recap appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Brightstar

Brightstar Capital Partners Completes Acquisition of PlayAGS for Approximately $1.1 Billion Dollars

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Brightstar Capital Partners (“Brightstar”), a private equity firm focused on investing in business services, industrials, consumer, and government services and technology companies, announced the closing of its acquisition of PlayAGS, Inc., a global full-service gaming supplier of high-performing slot, table, and interactive products. The transaction was first announced on May 9, 2024.

The closing follows approval of the transaction by AGS stockholders and the receipt of all required regulatory approvals. Under the terms of the agreement, AGS stockholders will receive $12.50 per share in cash, valuing the transaction at approximately $1.1 billion. As a result, AGS is now a privately held company, and its common stock will be delisted from the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).

The acquisition comes amid strong growth momentum for AGS. Over the past three years, the Company has more than doubled its global slot unit sales to over 6,100 units, grown online real-money gaming content revenue by over 150%, and increased Table Products revenue by more than 50%—collectively driving three consecutive years of record revenue performance. Powered by strategic investments in R&D and a deep and diverse suite of high-performing products, AGS has become a comprehensive solutions provider across multiple product categories and has a growing global presence both in land-based and online casinos.

“We’re excited to join forces with Brightstar, a partnership that marks both a pivotal moment and a transformative new chapter in AGS’ growth story,” said David Lopez, CEO & President of AGS. “With Brightstar as a strategic partner, we believe AGS is in an ideal position to accelerate growth and double-down on delivering focused, high-impact innovation across slots, table products, and online gaming. This partnership sharpens our ability to serve casino operators with differentiated content and solutions built to give them a winning edge.”

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“We are thrilled to officially welcome David and the AGS team to Brightstar,” said Andrew Weinberg, Founder, CEO & Co-Chair of Brightstar. “We believe that AGS’ full-spectrum product offering and customer-centric culture set it apart in a growing industry. Our goal is to help the Company expand into new markets and continue to use technology to create exciting games and products.”

Macquarie Capital served as financial advisor and Cooley LLP served as legal counsel to AGS. Jefferies LLC served as lead financial advisor to Brightstar. Barclays and Citizens JMP Securities also served as financial advisors to Brightstar. Kirkland & Ellis LLP and Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck served as legal counsel to Brightstar.

The post Brightstar Capital Partners Completes Acquisition of PlayAGS for Approximately $1.1 Billion Dollars appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

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