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The online gaming sector around the world connects with MGA Games Day

Published

3 years ago

November 10, 2022

Reading Time: 5 minutes

MGA Games, opened its doors again with the 3rd edition of MGA Games Day. The virtual meeting presented the company’s latest news and plans for the future. In 2023 the company will double the number of games and commit heavily to its 5-reel and Megaways products internationally. MGA Games will also present a new series of games developed from land-based machines and will be expanding strongly in Portugal, The Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, and Italy with leading partners in the market.

All of this in keeping with the essence of the company and its localized product strategy.

“Being a leader is not easy. It requires maximum effort and perseverance, which is the DNA of MGA Games”, said its CEO and founder, Joan Sanahuja. This is how MGA Games has become a leading provider in the industry. It is the result of “our commitment to innovation and the creation of unique content” he said. Joan also highlighted MGA Games’ “unique positioning vision in the gambling industry” – a factor that adds to “the perfect execution of our strategic plan year after year to position ourselves as leaders”.

The company, created in 2001, with a portfolio of more than 100 titles, has had a year-on-year growth of 35% over the last 5 years. MGA Games currently leads the Spanish market with a penetration of 99% and a 15% market share. “The incorporation of highly qualified personnel to provide the best service to our clients is key and one of our priorities,” said the CEO of MGA Games. And the fact that the company is considered a great place to work in the sector makes it easier to “count on top-level, expert, and qualified personnel.” The quality is in the company’s products, with excellent animation, graphics, and great download speed.

José Antonio Giacomelli, General Manager at MGA Games, explained the company’s news and plans for the coming year. In 2023, MGA Games will double the number of productions launched in 2022. It will also be heavily committed to its 3-reel product, with more than 24 games, and above all and following its international strategy: its 5-reel and Megaways products, with 28 new productions.

As in 2022, MGA Games will continue to bring successful land-based games to the online world, a product that has received great acclaim. In the Spanish market, the company will release R. Franco classics such as El Habanero, Reinas de Africa, Cavernícola, Jazz & Blues, and the star game: El Lejano Oeste.

But perhaps one of the most striking novelties within the localised product strategy is the addition of the best Spanish television games to the MGA Games online catalogue. For the Spanish market, this means prime-time productions such as La Voz, number one in audience viewings in its time slot; Pasapalabra, a Spanish TV classic and Mask Singer: adivina quién canta, the TV program currently featuring the most celebrities.

The Spanish Celebrities catalogue will, of course continue to grow and will feature famous faces such as Gemma Mengual, the important Spanish athlete with more than 24 Olympic medals; Sofía Cristo, the well-known DJ, and producer, and one of the most popular celebrities on television at the moment, Makoke.

Internationally, MGA Games will continue its expansion plans, with important agreements for continued growth in Sweden, Denmark, Italy, Colombia, and Portugal. These countries already have more than 200 localised products to which MGA Games will add more mini-games, Free Spins, multipliers, and Wilds. And in 2023, 4 new Megaways slot games will also be available.

Localised product will be created for each of the international markets, focusing on famous people from each country but also on productions with local themes. For Portugal, Portuguese Celebrities joining the series include the famous actress Sofia Sousa; the renowned influencer Andreia Da Silva; Elisabete Moutinho, one of the country’s top models, and the star influencer Maria Nunes.

For the Dutch market, the Netherlands Celebrities will feature top celebrities such as the Dutch Instagram star Aylin Hayret and the TV personality Bobbi Eden. While in Italy, with 50 new operators thanks to agreements with Microgame, 2023 will see Italian Celebrities of the magnitude of actress and dancer Marina Evangelista, the revolutionary influencer Elena Rizzello, presenters Floriana Messina and Jolanda de Rienzo and the showgirl Elena Morali.

All these productions will undoubtedly be impressive and surprising. The company is determined to make 2023 mark ‘a before and after’. The company is also exploring the Markets in Asia and North America, and “There will be news on these developments very soon,” Giacomelli said.

The leitmotif for this year’s event was about connectivity. “We are all connected” and “in 2023, everything will be connected.” This connectivity was made evident by the participation of the company’s principal partners and clients in the MGA Games Day. These big players in the gaming sector who give paramount importance to the continued improvement of their results connected with the event to share their views. Javier Lanfranchi, Sales Director at MGA Games, presented the event and spoke with these important MGA Games partners to “know what the sector thinks from different places on the planet”.

Paul Guyton, Marketing Coordinator at Finnplay, from Finland talked about MGA Games’ great product and table games. Finnplay has been in the business as a platform provider for 15 years, mainly in regulated European markets such as the Netherlands, Romania, and Lithuania. “When I first came across MGA and their team I was very taken aback by their diverse portfolio with the likes of their table games, their 3-reel slots, their 5-reel slots, their online Bingo and my personal favourite, the premium Celebrity games as well as the Megaways slots,” reflected Guyton.

From Poland, Nikita Keino, Partner Managers Team Lead Game Aggregator at Softswiss, talked about opening up to new international markets. SoftSwiss is an international igaming company founded in 2009 supplying certified software solutions for managing gambling operations. “MGA Games develops first rate games that are a perfect fit for Spanish and LATAM markets,” he said, adding that “this co-operation can be called a win-win.”

From Malta was Callum Harris, Director of Partnerships at Pariplay, who spoke about the value of having localised content. PariPlay is the number one aggregator in the business, with a market reach focused predominantly on regulated markets, “which is why MGA Games is so exciting to us,” he said. Pariplay, which is expanding in Latin America and North America, highly appreciates “how specialised MGAs’ content is for certain regulated markets. It is the localised content that MGA produces and develops that sets them aside from other suppliers in the market,” said Harris.

Finally, also from Malta, Luis Alberto López Acuña, Country Manager of Platin Casino, spoke. For him, customer service is paramount. “We have a natural passion for top-notch casino games and a vision, focus on player satisfaction,” he said, noting the excellent relationship between the two companies. Furthermore, he said “localised content is always a priority within our roadmap”.

MGA Games Day 2022 ended with an invitation to casino operators around the world to come and meet MGA Games in Barcelona. To live the MGA Games Experience. To get to know the passion, innovation, growth, hard work and aspiration and core values of the company. But also to get closer to the history, culture, creativity, gastronomy and leisure of the city of Barcelona. “We are waiting for you in Barcelona! We look forward to seeing you at the MGA Games Experience!” With this invitation, which is more of a ‘see you soon’ than a ‘goodbye’, Javier Lanfranchi bid farewell to those attending the event.

Belatra Games

From ‘Mummyverse’ to Crash Games: Belatra Reviews a Landmark 2025

Published

2 days ago

December 23, 2025

Wladimir P.

from-‘mummyverse’-to-crash-games:-belatra-reviews-a-landmark-2025

Editor’s Take

Why this matters: Belatra has been a steady hand in the slots world for a long time, but 2025 marked a distinct shift in strategy. By entering the Crash vertical with Goose Boom Bang and winning big at SiGMA Africa, the studio is clearly pivoting to capture the high-growth, high-frequency players in emerging markets. They are no longer just a “classic slots” developer; they are diversifying the portfolio to ensure relevance in regions like LatAm and Africa.

The Full Story

Belatra Games, the specialist online slots developer, has issued a strategic review of its 2025 operations, celebrating a 12-month period defined by entry into new game verticals, significant franchise expansion, and high-profile industry recognition.

The year was characterized by a dual strategy: deepening engagement in established markets while aggressively expanding its content portfolio to suit local preferences in emerging territories.

Portfolio Evolution: Crash and Battles 2025 saw Belatra move beyond its traditional slot roots. The company made its debut in the high-demand Crash game vertical with the launch of Goose Boom Bang, a title designed to tap into the fast-paced gameplay preference of younger demographics.

Additionally, the studio introduced a fresh game concept with the launch of Battles, a new format unveiled for the first time in 2025, with further development planned for 2026.

The ‘Mummyverse’ Expands For fans of classic slots, the highlight of the year was the aggressive expansion of the Mummyverse. Belatra nearly doubled the size of this franchise over the year, making it the most extensive game universe in their entire catalog.

The developer also focused on B2B localization, releasing a number of exclusive bespoke games created specifically for selected operator partners to meet specific local market tastes.

Awards and Recognition The company’s strategic shifts were validated by industry accolades. Belatra secured over 30 nominations throughout the year, with standout wins including:

Best Slot Provider (awarded by BitStarz).
Most Played Game of 2025 for Make It Gold at the SiGMA Africa Awards.
Player’s Pick Award.

Management Commentary Misha Voinich, Head of Business Development at Belatra, commented on the studio’s momentum:

“This year has truly defined who we are as a studio – ambitious, creative and focused on building long-term partnerships. We’ve expanded our universes, launched new ones and entered exciting new markets that will all help us carry this momentum into the New Year.”

The post From ‘Mummyverse’ to Crash Games: Belatra Reviews a Landmark 2025 appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry Newsroom.

BMM Testlabs

‘Chaos and Soul’: Ebaka Games Plots Global Expansion After Viral Launch

Published

2 days ago

December 23, 2025

Wladimir P.

‘chaos-and-soul’:-ebaka-games-plots-global-expansion-after-viral-launch

Editor’s Take

Why this matters: The “Instant Game” vertical (Crash, Plinko, Mines) is becoming crowded, but Ebaka Games is cutting through the noise with a distinct brand personality. By securing BMM Testlabs certification so quickly after launch, they are signaling to Tier 1 operators that despite their “chaotic” marketing vibe, the math underneath is solid and compliant. The backing of industry veteran Dmitry Belianin also adds immediate commercial credibility to the startup.

The Full Story

Ebaka Games, the fledgling studio that promises to bring “chaos and soul” to the iGaming sector, has outlined an aggressive growth strategy for 2026 following a landmark launch period in late 2025.

The studio, which officially debuted in November, reports that its initial rollout reached more than five million people worldwide. The launch saw its portfolio go live with the operator Menace, serving as the initial testbed for its mechanics and “Ebaka modes.”

The Product: Instant Games with Personality Ebaka is bypassing traditional slots to focus on the high-growth vertical of fast-paced, instant-win games. Their initial lineup includes:

Plinko
Mines
Tower
Limbo
Crash

Differentiation is achieved through unique mascots and signature gameplay tweaks designed to offer high win potential and distinct visual identities, moving away from the generic interfaces often found in this genre.

Regulatory Milestone Crucially for its 2026 roadmap, Ebaka Games has confirmed it has secured certification from BMM Testlabs. This accreditation validates the fairness and integrity of its RNG (Random Number Generator) and game engines, removing a major barrier to entry for regulated markets. With this certification in hand, the studio plans to launch with a number of “major brands” in the coming year.

Management Commentary Vitalii Zalievskyi, CEO of Ebaka Games, commented on the studio’s unorthodox approach:

“It’s only been a few weeks since we first introduced Ebaka Games to the world. The feedback has been breathtaking, and it vindicates the decision for us to take a different path to the rest of the industry. You don’t need huge marketing budgets to grab people’s attention if you are building something truly innovative.”

Industry Backing The studio describes itself as being “created by players for players” but boasts significant industry firepower in its corner. The team includes Dmitry Belianin, a well-known figure in the sector who is the co-founder of Blask and Menace, as well as Managing Partner at Already Media.

The post ‘Chaos and Soul’: Ebaka Games Plots Global Expansion After Viral Launch appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry Newsroom.

ARC

Racing Meets Nightlife: SBK Backs ARC’s New ‘Friday Night Live’ Series

Published

2 days ago

December 23, 2025

Wladimir P.

racing-meets-nightlife:-sbk-backs-arc’s-new-‘friday-night-live’-series

Editor’s Take

Why this matters: British racing has a well-documented demographic problem; its core audience is aging. “Friday Night Live” is a direct attempt to fix this by blending high-stakes racing with the “experience economy” (DJs, nightlife vibes) that appeals to Gen Z and Millennials. Bringing SBK on board—a mobile-first, app-only sportsbook—is a perfect demographic fit, while the Racing Post adds the necessary credibility to ensure the actual racing product remains the focus.

The Full Story

Arena Racing Company (ARC) has unveiled the strategic commercial lineup for its upcoming Friday Night Live series, confirming SBK as the Exclusive Betting Partner and The Racing Post as the Official Media Partner.

Set to launch in January 2026, Friday Night Live is a new initiative created in collaboration with youth-focused events company INVADES. The series is designed to overhaul the traditional race day experience, featuring fast-paced fixtures under floodlights, DJ sets, and significant entertainment elements sandwiched between races.

The Commercial Deal

SBK: As the exclusive betting partner, the Smarkets-owned sportsbook will take naming rights and on-course branding for all 35 races. Crucially, these races will be broadcast live on mainstream television via ITV Racing as well as Sky Sports Research.
The Racing Post: As the Official Media Partner, the publication will provide content, coverage, and promotion across its digital platforms, aiming to bridge the gap between established racing purists and the new audience ARC hopes to attract.

A High-Stakes Experiment The series is not just a marketing exercise; it carries serious sporting weight. Each of the five scheduled nights will feature over £200,000 in prize money. The fixtures will rotate across three of ARC’s all-weather tracks: Wolverhampton, Newcastle, and Southwell.

Management Commentary David Leyden Dunbar, Group Director of Commercial Strategy at ARC, was clear about the target audience:

“We have been very clear that one of the aims of Friday Night Live is to engage the next generation of racing fans… Both [partners] have shown real enthusiasm to work with us… as well as using the platform that these fixtures will offer them to also engage with more established racing and sports fans.”

Adam Baylis, Marketing Director at SBK, added:

“Friday Night Live [is] a fresh and engaging concept that brings a new energy to British racing. SBK has always been built around sport… our focus is on enhancing the live race day experience in a fun, social and responsible way.”

The 2026 Schedule The series kicks off immediately in the new year: