Latest News

METANOMIC LAUNCHES ‘THUNDERSTRUCK’ – 1st gamer analysis tool powered by AI

Published

4 years ago

September 6, 2022

Reading Time: 4 minutes

Metanomic, the complete game economy and player analytics company, today proudly announces the global launch of its Thunderstruck player analytics platform; which is poised to revolutionise game developers’ use of behavioural data to improve retention and monetisation.

Thunderstruck is the first ever video game analytics platform to leverage AI-powered behavioural analytics. It makes use of Bayesian inference-backed AI to understand data from real in-game events, drawn directly from game servers. Thunderstruck analyses player motivations, play styles, and reward preferences, providing developers with live information on who their game is for, what types of players have the highest retention, and which players spend the most in-game. Until now, game creators have had to rely on outdated player classification models combined with market research, and plug gaps in insight with assumptions and guesswork.

Metanomic was founded in 2021 by veteran game designers, AI experts, and professional economists, and has successfully secured USD $2.9 million pre-seed funding to-date. Thunderstruck is launching with 7 player types – Killers, Achievers, Explorers, Socialisers, Speedsters, Conquerors, and Scientists – which can be tailored to the priorities of individual game titles. Player types will be refined and added to as the platform analyses data from more titles, while its Bayesian AI means Thunderstruck can even identify the series of events that lead to specific player actions.

Announcing the launch of Thunderstruck, Theo Priestley, CEO and Founder of Metanomic, said:

“For too long, game developers have relied on blunt instruments to understand their players. It’s no exaggeration to say that the bulk of the games industry’s framework for player classification dates back to a 1996 essay by Richard Bartle. A generation later, Thunderstruck is the next big leap forward, taking just a few days to generate more insight than a team of analysts could in a month. We understand that players can straddle multiple personas or even change persona based on their motivations, and use custom AI and live data to accurately anticipate how they’ll respond to metagame changes. Thunderstruck is all about empowering game developers with a better way to identify, acquire, and impact the right players for their game.”

Thunderstruck is equally suitable for mobile, console, and PC; existing as well as new games; and web3 as well as traditional web2 games. It works in tandem with Metanomic’s free Economy Engine platform, which was launched earlier this year to help studios to build, simulate and monitor their game economies.

Thunderstruck is launching with 7 player types.

Killers

These players enjoy killing, creating chaos, and competitive elements most of all. They focus on winning, climbing player rankings, obtaining status, provoking, and imposing drama onto others.

Achievers

These players are competitive and enjoy overcoming difficult objectives, whether set by the game or themselves, in order to obtain prestige, prizes, and other types of material possessions.

Explorers

Those that like to learn as much about the game as possible, Explorers seek to understand the finer details of game mechanics. The thrill of discovery and uncovering hidden areas or objectives motivate these players over points or prizes.

Socialisers

Players that experience fun in interacting with other players through social systems like using chat, managing guilds, or role-playing rather than playing the game itself. They tend to collaborate or join forces with others to achieve objectives than they could on their own.

Speedsters

Cheetahs race to objectives in order to be among the first to reach the end-game content or the highest level. They spend most of their time grinding experience and playing for long hours.

Conquerors

Conquerors enjoy the struggle against adversity and beating impossibly difficult odds. They are persistent, forceful, and repetitive in their pursuit to overcome their objectives.

Scientists

Commonly referred to as ‘Crafters,’ Scientists seek to improve their skills by gathering resources and creating or improving items for themselves and to sell to others. They find enjoyment in more passive forms of game mechanics and objectives.

The Thunderstruck player personas are also influenced by ‘passion’ – how often and how well they play.

They can also be tailored by the game developer or publisher depending on their priorities. For example, in different types of game, ‘Achiever’ could mean the highest skilled, the richest, or the players with the most wins.

In future, Metanomic will frequently add additional and more granular player types to further studios’ understanding of their players.

Boston

Global Experts to Gather in Boston for First US Symposium on Online Gambling and Public Health

Published

2 hours ago

April 10, 2026

Wladimir P.

global-experts-to-gather-in-boston-for-first-us-symposium-on-online-gambling-and-public-health

A major international discussion on the future of online gambling regulation is set to take place in the United States later this month, as the Public Health Advocacy Institute (PHAI) prepares to host its first global symposium dedicated to the sector’s public health impact.

The event, titled “Online Gambling and the Public Health Movement,” will be held on April 24, 2026, at Northeastern University in Boston, bringing together policymakers, researchers, and industry observers from across the US, Europe, and Australia.

The symposium comes at a time of rapid expansion in online betting markets, particularly in the United States, following the 2018 Supreme Court decision that opened the door to state-level sports betting regulation. Since then, mobile-first platforms, micro-betting features, and AI-driven betting tools have significantly reshaped the landscape.

Focus on Regulation and Risk

According to the organisers, the event will focus on the growing calls for stronger consumer protections, as well as the broader societal impact of digital gambling products.

Discussions are expected to cover:

The rise of micro-betting and real-time wagering
The role of AI and data-driven betting systems
The effectiveness of current responsible gambling frameworks
The need for federal and state-level safety standards

Recent legislative proposals in the US, including the SAFE Bet Act and similar initiatives across multiple states, signal increasing political attention on the issue.

Global Experts and Policymakers to Attend

The speaker lineup includes a mix of academic, clinical, and political voices, such as:

Public health researchers from Monash University and the University of Bath
Representatives from the US federal and state governments
Specialists in gambling addiction and behavioural research

The goal, according to PHAI, is to explore evidence-based approaches to regulation and harm reduction.

Industry Under Increasing Scrutiny

The symposium also follows a series of legal actions initiated by PHAI targeting major industry stakeholders, highlighting growing scrutiny around business practices and consumer protection.

As online gambling continues to scale globally, events like this reflect a broader shift toward cross-sector dialogue between regulators, public health experts, and industry participants.

The post Global Experts to Gather in Boston for First US Symposium on Online Gambling and Public Health appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

betting platforms

US Public Health Debate Intensifies as Boston Hosts Landmark Online Gambling Symposium

Published

2 hours ago

April 10, 2026

GamingAmericas.com

us-public-health-debate-intensifies-as-boston-hosts-landmark-online-gambling-symposium

As scrutiny around online gambling intensifies in the United States, a landmark symposium in Boston is set to bring the issue of public health and regulation into sharper focus.

The Public Health Advocacy Institute (PHAI) has announced it will host the country’s first international symposium dedicated to the public health impact of online gambling on April 24, 2026, at Northeastern University.

The event comes amid growing concern over the speed at which digital betting has expanded across the US, particularly in the years following the legalization of sports betting in multiple states.

From Market Growth to Public Health Debate

What began as a state-driven expansion of sports wagering has evolved into a broader ecosystem that now includes:

Mobile-first betting platforms
Micro-betting and in-play wagering
Algorithm-driven and AI-supported betting tools

Public health experts argue that these developments have outpaced regulation, raising concerns about addiction risks, accessibility, and consumer safeguards.

Survey data continues to reflect mixed public sentiment, with a significant portion of Americans expressing concerns over the integrity of sports and the social impact of betting.

Policy Momentum Building Across States

The symposium will also highlight a wave of legislative efforts aimed at tightening controls on the industry. Proposals such as the SAFE Bet Act, alongside state-level initiatives in Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, and Ohio, indicate a shift toward stricter oversight, including potential limits on high-risk betting formats like micro-betting.

Bringing Together Key Stakeholders

The Boston event will gather a broad coalition of stakeholders, including:

US lawmakers and regulators
Public health professionals
Academic researchers specialising in gambling behaviour
Policy advocates and legal experts

Key discussion points will include the limitations of current responsible gaming models, the need for federal safety standards, and strategies to reduce gambling-related harm.

Legal Pressure Adds to Industry Tensions

The symposium follows recent legal action involving major operators and sports stakeholders, underlining the increasingly complex relationship between rapid market growth and regulatory accountability in the US gambling sector.

As the conversation evolves, the Boston gathering is expected to play a role in shaping how policymakers and stakeholders approach the next phase of online gambling regulation in America.

The post US Public Health Debate Intensifies as Boston Hosts Landmark Online Gambling Symposium appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

AI in gaming

ZingBrain AI Boosts Hondubet Engagement

Published

16 hours ago

April 9, 2026

Wladimir P.

ZingBrain AI Drives Hondubet Growth with Real-Time Personalisation

ZingBrain AI is reshaping the iGaming landscape by delivering measurable performance gains for Hondubet through advanced real-time personalization technology.

By replacing its manually curated casino lobby with a fully automated, API-driven solution, Hondubet has unlocked a new level of player engagement and operational efficiency. The AI-powered system dynamically adapts content to individual player behaviors, ensuring that each user encounters games tailored to their unique preferences.

Significant Performance Gains Across Player Segments

Data from a controlled A/B test comparing the legacy manual lobby with the new personalized system highlights substantial improvements:

A 25% increase in Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) and turnover among newly registered players
A 10% rise in total bets placed by returning users
A 25% boost in the number of unique games explored across the player base

These results underscore the effectiveness of AI-driven personalization in enhancing both user engagement and revenue generation.

From Manual Management to Intelligent Automation

Previously, Hondubet relied heavily on manual processes to manage its casino lobby, requiring constant updates and resource-intensive oversight. According to Julian Pareja Garcia of Hondubet, the shift to ZingBrain AI has been transformative.

The automated system continuously learns from player interactions, refining game recommendations and lobby sections without human intervention. This allows the operator’s team to focus on strategic initiatives rather than routine maintenance.

Smarter Player Experiences Through AI Innovation

Oleg Smolerov emphasized the collaborative approach between the two companies, highlighting a shared commitment to innovation and product excellence.

Rather than static content placement, the AI engine ensures that every element of the lobby evolves in response to real-time data. This creates a more intuitive and engaging user experience, where players are presented with content that feels both relevant and natural.

Aligning Commercial Goals with User Experience

Beyond engagement metrics, the integration also supports Hondubet’s commercial strategy. Through ZingBrain AI’s Game Promotion tool, priority titles can be strategically surfaced within personalized sections.

Crucially, the system evaluates performance continuously. Games that fail to resonate with players are automatically deprioritized and replaced with more relevant options. This ensures a balance between promotional objectives and player satisfaction, maximizing both retention and monetization.

A New Standard for iGaming Personalisation

The success of this integration signals a broader shift within the iGaming industry toward intelligent automation and data-driven experiences. By leveraging AI to personalize every touchpoint, operators like Hondubet are setting new benchmarks for engagement, efficiency, and revenue growth.

As competition intensifies, solutions like ZingBrain AI are poised to become essential tools for operators seeking to deliver meaningful, high-performing user experiences at scale.

The post ZingBrain AI Boosts Hondubet Engagement appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.