Africa
World Sports Bodies raise Concern Over Kenya Copyright Bill
Kenya’s 2019 Copyright Amendment Bill, incorporates principles from the WIPO Internet Treaties of 1996, aimed at preventing unauthorised access to and use of creative works
A coalition of global sports bodies has written an open letter to the Kenyan government, expressing concern about the Copyright Amendment Bill currently before parliament, and its potential impact on the availability of international sports content in Kenya.
The Sports Rights Owner Coalition (SROC) is an alliance of more than 50 international and national sport bodies, representing some of the world’s leading sport codes and competitions – including the English Premier League, the FA Cup, Wimbledon, MotoGP, and the Rugby World Cup.
In the recent letter, signed by Chairman Mark Lichtenstein, the SROC says its members are “extremely concerned” at changes that will be made to Kenya’s Copyright Act if the Copyright Amendment Bill becomes law.
The SROC is particularly worried about proposals to repeal sections 35B, 35C and 35D of the Copyright Act, which allow for take-down notices issued to internet-based service provider platforms which enable content piracy to flourish.
A take-down notice is a widely used remedy employed by copyright owners worldwide, compelling online platforms to rapidly remove content from their websites if it is suspected that the content infringes copyright.
The Kenya Copyright Board (KeCOBO) champion of the Partners Against Piracy (PAP) initiative, has come out in support of the SROC letter.
“Take-down notices are a critical tool for copyright holders and related rights holders to fight digital content piracy by controlling the distribution and economic viability of their work and how it is accessed online,” says Edward Sigei, KeCOBO Executive Director.
“Across the world, they help to safeguard the intellectual property rights of sports rights owners. If rights owners cannot request that pirated sports content is taken down immediately, that will threaten the future of live sports broadcasts in Kenya. Why would international sports media allow sports broadcasts in Kenya, if they have no way of stopping them from being pirated!”
Kenya’s 2019 Copyright Amendment Bill, incorporates principles from the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) Internet Treaties of 1996, aimed at preventing unauthorised access to and use of creative works. Takedown notices are among these principles and are necessary tools to enforce copyright protections for rights owners and distributors.
If the Amendment Bill is passed into law, Kenya will be out of step with global trends, the average Kenyan will lose out on great sports entertainment. A further negative consequence of this Amendment Bill passing would be the reputational and economic investment quagmire it would create is jeopardising Kenya’s ability to renew participation in the Africa Growth and Opportunity Agreement (AGOA) program, as one of the additional provisions of renewal requires a demonstrated commitment to copyright protection as a prerequisite to signing. Repealing section 35 of the Copyright Act, would do the exact opposite and threaten investor confidence.
The SROC points out that in Europe, policy makers are strengthening not weakening the effectiveness of take-down notices, particularly regarding live content. New proposals to protect live content more effectively in Europe are expected in the first half of 2022.
“Were the Copyright Amendment Bill to be enacted, it could have devastating consequences for both the Kenyan economy and Kenyan consumers,” says the SROC letter. “Rights holders from sport and other creative industries are extremely unlikely to license their content in a jurisdiction that effectively legitimises piracy. Consumers would therefore be deprived from watching their favourite sports and television shows, and leave Kenya isolated on the global copyright stage.”
The coalition – which includes the English FA, UEFA, the IAAF, and the International Tennis Federation – goes on to ask that the proposed new law be urgently reconsidered “so as not to harm Kenyan consumers and threaten the availability of sports and entertainment content in Kenya.”
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Africa
SmartSoft’s expertise and future vision for the African market
In recent years, the online gaming landscape has witnessed a surge in innovative and engaging titles that capture the interest of players worldwide. Among these, first ever flying crash game by SmartSoft – JetX emerged as a standout game, particularly gaining substantial traction in Africa. This article provides an in-depth examination of JetX, a popular online crash game, and explores the expertise behind its creation. By focusing on the game’s features, the developer SmartSoft Gaming, and insights from an interview with the Vice President Commercial, we aim to highlight the factors contributing to JetX’s success and its impact on the gaming industry.
About SmartSoft Gaming
Founded in Georgia in 2015 by industry experts, SmartSoft set out to create a one-of-a-kind casino games provider that offers high-quality gaming experiences worldwide. By combining interactive features with captivating visuals, we blend gaming and gambling to deliver more engaging, entertaining, and superior experiences. Our mission is not just to attract players but to enhance their enjoyment.
To gain further insights into the development of JetX and the vision behind its creation, we spoke with the Vice President Commercial of SmartSoft.
Rusa Javakhishvili Vice President Commercial of SmartSoft shared insights and analytics from African countries, and outlined future plans. Rusa joined SmartSoft two years ago as Head of Finance and Strategic Projects. In early 2024, she transitioned to the commercial side as Head of Account Management, and is now Vice President of Commercials, overseeing several regions, including Africa.
What was the general concept and inspiration behind JetX?
In recent years, the online gaming landscape has witnessed a surge in innovative and engaging titles that capture the interest of players worldwide. Among these, JetX has emerged as a standout game, particularly gaining substantial traction in Africa. The main concept of the game is that it is easy to play, the player is involved in the decision as much as possible, it is fast and within the fast-paced world we think that it delivers exactly what players need for an enjoyable experience.
How does JetX differentiate itself from other crash games in the market?
At SmartSoft, we appreciate our relationships with partners, it’s very important to us. We constantly think and work to create a valuable product and maintain strong connections with them. SmartSoft’s portfolio includes a diverse range of online casino games, each designed to offer unique features and interactive gameplay but JetX is the literal gem!
JetX is an online crash game that combines simplicity with excitement, offering players an engaging betting experience. This dynamic gameplay requires both luck and strategy, appealing to a broad audience seeking quick, high-stakes action. JetX stands out due to its user-friendly interface, real-time gameplay, and mobile compatibility, making it accessible and enjoyable for players on the go. Its growing popularity in Africa can be attributed to its exciting gameplay mechanics and the potential for significant winnings.
What strategies did you employ to ensure JetX appeals to a diverse audience, particularly in Africa?
When we expanded into the African market, we knew it’s a big and diverse region, so it’s important to understand each country individually instead of seeing it as one market. With our partners’ help, we’re working hard to learn about each country’s marketing practices and what types of games people enjoy. It’s a challenging task, but the African market is a top priority for us, and we’ve allocated resources to quickly build our knowledge in this area.
How has JetX been received by African players compared to other regions? Are there any notable differences in player behavior or preferences?
The African market is one of the most interesting and significant for us, and we believe it has great potential. It is a highly dynamic and exciting market, where players are exposed to a wide variety of games. Their enthusiasm for diverse content gives us inspiration and motivation to create games specifically tailored to their unique preferences and needs. Moreover, they are quick to engage with new releases, eagerly embracing fresh content when it aligns with their tastes and expectations. Although Crash products were introduced only recently, they have quickly become a favorite among consumers. We expect this trend to continue growing.
How do you assess player feedback and incorporate it into ongoing game improvements?
This is a crucial aspect for us. That’s why, in collaboration with our partners, we consistently review key feedback on our games and strive to incorporate it as much as possible into new versions. We strive to bring enjoyment in everything we do – whether it’s in our work environment, or for the end users. Our goal is to delight both the customers and ourselves with our work. Therefore, we integrate gaming’s fun elements into gambling to maximize enjoyment. This approach fuels our drive to innovate and create playful experiences, redefining the gambling industry and making it more entertaining;
What future developments or updates can players expect for JetX?
Our product has undergone numerous changes since its inception, with many more improvements planned. These changes are aimed at delivering the best possible user experience for players while ensuring the product remains of the highest technical quality.
How has the success of JetX influenced SmartSoft’s approach to game development?
JetX, the first Crash game created in 2018, holds a special place as one of the company’s most beloved titles. Its global popularity is evident, and we’re thrilled that players enjoy it. At SmartSoft, having a diversified portfolio is crucial, which is why we release new games every year. As pioneers in the Crash genre, we ensure that we continually expand our offerings. Our goal is to provide players with a wide range of high-quality games they can trust to deliver an enjoyable experience.
The post SmartSoft’s expertise and future vision for the African market appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Africa
SIS partners with leading operator 888AFRICA to provide live numbers draws
Regional reach increases through bespoke iframe with Bitville Gaming
SIS (Sports Information Services), the leading multi-content supplier of 24/7 live betting services, has partnered with 888AFRICA to provide its comprehensive numbers offering to the operator.
The integration with 888AFRICA, facilitated by a region-specific iframe developed alongside Bitville Gaming, will see the operator gain access to the full suite of over 200,000 live draws. These include the original 49’s live draw, 39’s and Fast 15’s.
The content is presented through a clean, attractive, and engaging front end to maximise the player experience. The launch will significantly enhance the reach of SIS across Africa, where the live numbers draw product suite has already enjoyed great success.
Operating for over 27 years, the SIS- owned 49’s is the original live draw and brings credibility and integrity to fixed-odds numbers betting. To complement this, 39’s and Fast 15’s offer high-frequency events that run every three minutes while maintaining healthy margins for operators.
Launched in 2022, 888AFRICA licences 888 Holdings’ world-class betting and gaming brands across Africa’s regulated online markets. Currently live in Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique and Zambia through 888bet, the operator offers a unique betting experience with relevant products and features which will now include live draw offerings which have proven to be popular with audiences.
Joe Andrews, Head of Sales Africa at SIS, said: “The appetite for live numbers draws in Africa has grown rapidly and partnering with 888AFRICA will significantly increase our product visibility. Bitville Gaming has great reach in the region, and we are thrilled that our partnership is already delivering the widest range of content to operators.”
Ian Marmion, Chief Operating Officer at 888AFRICA said: “Our ability to widen our offering to our partners is always important to us, and the portfolio of live numbers draws from SIS will provide a huge boost in maximising engagement. The content is a proven performer across Africa and I am sure our audiences will welcome this enhancement to our offering.”
Andrew von Hoesslin, Chief Executive at Bitville Gaming, said: “The aim of our agreement with SIS was to provide a bigger operator network for its content and we are seeing this happen first-hand. We are sure that 888AFRICA and its players will be delighted with the influx of additional wagering opportunities.”
The post SIS partners with leading operator 888AFRICA to provide live numbers draws appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Africa
Amusnet Announces Partnership with Mojabet
Amusnet has announced a partnership with Mojabet, one of the biggest online casino operators in Senegal. The collaboration is vital to the company’s broader strategic initiative to strengthen its market presence and drive expansion into the African region.
“Teaming up with Mojabet provides us with an invaluable opportunity to dive into their deep knowledge of the local market dynamics. Together, we can create unique gaming experiences that reflect the continent’s cultural diversity, making our top-notch offerings more accessible to local players,” said Hamed Rahimi, Regional Business Development Manager at Amusnet.
“We are excited to kick off our partnership with Amusnet, offering Mojabet’s customers a diverse selection of games with chances to win the big Jackpot prizes,” said Aris Filippopoulos, Head of Casino at Moja Group.
On Mojabet’s platform, local players can discover over 200 of Amusnet’s extensive portfolio, including top performers such as 20 Golden Coins, Candy Palace, Vampire Bites, Shining Crown and new titles like Coin Gobbler and Beer O’meter.
20 Golden Coins is one of the company’s signature titles, celebrated for its stunning visuals, elegant design and vibrant animations. This slot features 20 paylines over 5 reels, incorporating exciting elements like Bonus Coins and Mystery Nudge. Recognized as the Most Played Game for 2023 by the Sigma Africa Awards, it underscores Amusnet’s dedication to immersive gameplay and exceptional quality in the gaming industry.
Following the increased interest in cluster-pay slots, Amusnet presented the Coin Gobbler. The recently released cluster-pay game features a 6×6 reel layout, offering engaging gameplay with multiple chances to win. Players can collect Bonus Coins to unlock Free Spins while stashing their winnings in a shiny piggy bank for added thrills.
The post Amusnet Announces Partnership with Mojabet appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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