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World Cricket Championship inks exclusive deal with Israel-based in-game ad solution provider Anzu to bring new-age blended ad technology
Nazara’s subsidiary, Next Wave Multimedia Pvt. Ltd., exclusively partners with Israel-based Anzu with the aim to bring advancement in blended in-game advertising for the second edition of their award-winning World Cricket Championship (WCC) franchise. The game will look to leverage Anzu’s blended in-game ad technology, bringing more opportunities for brands and advertisers in the Indian ecosystem.
Being a leader in this space, Anzu will now bring to WCC2 ad viewability, brand lift measurement, audience verification, data enrichment, and fraud detection in partnership with industry leaders such as Moat, Comscore, Kantar, and Nielsen, in addition to native ad placements with blended in-game banner ads across the game on Android and iOS devices.
The native advertising format that this collaboration brings will help advertisers reach their audiences in a seamless manner, without disrupting user experience, while integrating a brand’s message in the game’s environment.
On the exclusive partnership, Next Wave Multimedia co-founder and CEO P.R. Rajendran says, “We are glad to be able to bring more value to brands. We believe this collaboration will help us serve users and advertisers better by taking gaming and digital advertising a notch higher for enhanced experience.”
Anzu’s CEO and co-founder, Itamar Benedy, remarked, “Every region is seeing a growth in gaming, and advertisers realise that in-game ads can help them connect with a once elusive audience. We are thrilled to partner with such a well-established studio and help them achieve their goals while opening up the in-game advertising market for advertisers across India.”
The APAC region has always had a record number of players, with the current estimate at 1.5 billion. Now that Anzu has inked a deal with AdColony’s APAC division, advertisers across the region will have even more access to gamers. Amit Rathi, AdColony’s Country Manager for India, noted, “Gaming has transformed from an underground pastime to mainstream entertainment, and it is rivaling the reach of social media. Advertisers need to take note of this and treat gaming as an equal if not a more effective channel for communicating with consumers. Placing in-game ads in games like WCC 2 will allow advertisers to reach their desired audiences.”
Overall, WCC apps have garnered more than 140 million installs across devices. Earlier in 2020, WCC MAUs and Daily Active Users (“DAU”) hit a peak of 15 million and 3.5 million respectively (Next Wave Multimedia), gaining from the lockdown-induced surge in mobile gaming. WCC2 alone counts more than 50 million downloads on Google Play Store. The user engagement for the WCC games has increased considerably, evidenced by the fact that the average daily user engagement time for WCC2 was 45 minutes but this has increased to 55 minutes for the WCC3 title.
To help align in-game advertising with other media channels, Anzu has formed several strategic partnerships, including one with WPP to introduce in-game advertising standards. Through its affiliations with leading AdTech vendors, Anzu supplies in-depth measurements for campaign effectiveness and ad verification. It is these types of technologies that give big-name advertisers such as Vodafone, Samsung, and 7-Eleven the confidence they need to shift more of their budgets to in-game ads and game developers including Ubisoft, Toplitz Productions, and APB Reloaded the security to integrate ads into their games.
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Psiclone Games and Playtech-built title features three Free Spins modifiers, including expanding reels, sliding wilds and jackpots up to 500x bet.
PokerStars Casino has released Skullapalooza as the fifth game in its 2026 The Slotlist series, making the title the featured slot on the operator’s Casino tab for the month.
Skullapalooza is developed by Psiclone Games and Playtech. The game’s core hook is a Free Spins system built around three “Skull” features that can be triggered individually or in combination: expanding reels, jackpot accumulators and stacked sliding wilds.
According to the company, players can land different coloured gems to randomly trigger one or more Free Spins variants. Pink gems may trigger Free Games with Expanding Reels, blue gems may add Sliding Wilds, and purple gems may activate pots with a grand prize of up to 500x total bet. The company said all three variants can be active at once.
“The Slotlist is designed to spotlight games that deliver a well-rounded player experience, combining innovative features, striking visuals, and immersive gameplay”, said Ed Fogarty, Associate Director of PokerStars Casino Commercial. “Skullapalooza embodies all these qualities, and we’re thrilled to feature it prominently in The Slotlist this month.”
Skullapalooza joins earlier 2026 Slotlist picks including Baozang Empire of Plenty, Magnificent Power Leprechaun, and 12 Burning Baseballs.
The post PokerStars Casino adds Skullapalooza as fifth 2026 Slotlist pick appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Governor Hobbs signs SB 1671; new budget sets $4M spend authority plus $500K a year from event wagering funds.
The Arizona Department of Gaming has secured a six-year continuation after Governor Hobbs signed Senate Bill 1671, following the 2026 legislative session that adjourned June 12, 2026. The continuation also covers the Arizona State Boxing and Mixed Martial Arts Commission and the Arizona Racing Commission.
The Department said SB 1671 affirms its authority to regulate tribal gaming, event wagering and fantasy sports, horse racing and simulcast wagering, and boxing and mixed martial arts.
In parallel, the Department said Senate Bill 1847 and the state’s Fiscal Year 2027 budget expand expenditure authority for its Division of Problem Gambling. The budget authorizes $4,000,000 in total spending for the Division, which the agency said is a 20% increase from FY26.
The Department also said the legislature granted an annual $500,000 expenditure authority to use Event Wagering funds to support problem gambling, and that the Division will have grant oversight authority for the first time.
“Arizona first established the Department of Gaming in 1995 – and more than thirty years later, we remain excited about world-class regulation benefiting the entire state,” said Jackie Johnson, Department Director. “I’m grateful to Governor Hobbs and leaders in the state legislature, particularly continuation bill sponsor State Senator Shawnna Bolick, who thoroughly reviewed our agency with a deep commitment to public service, and I am pleased that the Department secured its continuation, which will allow us to strengthen our focus points in robust consumer protection and integrity.”
“The new state budget will strengthen longstanding investments in problem gambling assistance made possible through partnerships with Arizona’s Tribal Nations and the Arizona Lottery,” said Elise Mikkelsen. “We continue to see strong demand from individuals and families seeking information, resources, and treatment for gambling-related harm. This increased funding will help us expand the continuum of care and ensure more Arizonans have access to effective, inclusive, and timely support.”
The post Arizona extends Gaming Department for six years; problem gambling budget rises 20% appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Ed Fogarty Associate Director of PokerStars Casino Commercial
Time to Fiesta with PokerStars Casino’s Latest The Slotlist Pick ‘Skullapalooza’ from Psiclone Games and Playtech
PokerStars Casino has unveiled the fifth game release in its 2026 The Slotlist series, Skullapalooza, a vibrant, high-energy slot game which brings a Mexican fiesta to life, combining bold visuals with layered mechanics.
Developed by Psiclone Games and Playtech, Skullapalooza offers classic slot action combined with a dynamic Free Spins system built around three distinct Skull features, allowing players to trigger and combine expanding reels, Jackpot accumulators, and stacked sliding wilds for enhanced gameplay depth and variety.
Players land different coloured gems on reels to randomly trigger one or more of the Free Spins Skulls. Pink gems might trigger Free Games with Expanding Reels; Blue gems might come with Sliding Wilds; and Purple gems might activate pots with a grand prize of up to 500x total bet. All three variants can be active at once for the ultimate Free Games experience.
The Slotlist curates a single headline slot game on the PokerStars Casino tab each month, hand-picked for its creativity, visual appeal, and engaging gameplay. PokerStars Casino continues to offer the broadest and most exciting selection of new slot releases every month.
“The Slotlist is designed to spotlight games that deliver a well-rounded player experience, combining innovative features, striking visuals, and immersive gameplay”, said Ed Fogarty, Associate Director of PokerStars Casino Commercial. “Skullapalooza embodies all these qualities, and we’re thrilled to feature it prominently in The Slotlist this month.”
Skullapalooza is now available to play on PokerStars Casino, joining titles such as Baozang Empire of Plenty, Magnificent Power Leprechaun, and 12 Burning Baseballs as part of The Slotlist’s standout picks for 2026.
For more information about PokerStars Casino The Slotlist visit the website.
The post Time to Fiesta with PokerStars Casino’s Latest The Slotlist Pick ‘Skullapalooza’ from Psiclone Games and Playtech appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
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