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Ygam host Parliamentary Reception to launch new strategy

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Ygam launched their new strategy at a Parliamentary Reception earlier this week, attended by MPs, Peers and a broad range of stakeholders.

Around 90 guests attended the event in the Houses of Parliament including representatives from Government, regulators, academia, charities, trade associations, and local authorities.

The reception was hosted by Damian Collins MP, the minister responsible for gambling in 2022 and the Chair of the DCMS Select Committee for three years between 2016 and 2019. As a passionate proponent of the prevention of online harms, the Conservative MP opened the event with a speech that praised the charity for the important work it does to safeguard children and young people.

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This was followed by a speech from Mike Wojcik, Chair of the Ygam board of trustees for the past six years and also Chief Executive of Queen Mary’s University London Student Union. He said: “I’ve seen the organisation grow and mature, and I couldn’t be prouder of where we are today. This year has been a transformative one for Ygam; we have defined our purpose, identified our unique remit and expertise, and worked to better understand the need so that we can offer the most effective programmes and services to those who have influence over the lives of young people, to enable them to safeguard against harm.”

MP’s and Peers from all political parties attended the reception to show their support for the charity, including Deputy Speaker Dame Rosie Winterton and Lord Clement-Jones. Organisations connected to the research, education and treatment of gaming and gambling harms were represented, as well as individuals with lived experience.

Ygam Chief Executive, Dr Jane Rigbye, addressed the reception outlining the charity’s new vision, mission, and ambitions. She said: “The digital world offers huge opportunities, but with those opportunities come risks, particularly for young people who live in an increasingly digitised world. We have a clear purpose, we deliver evidence-based programmes, and we are focused on understanding and continuously improving our impact.”

Dr Rigbye was clear on the important role of education saying “We want to ensure that universal education and prevention is seen as an essential part of the public health response to gambling and gaming, and that it is adequately funded over the long term. Ygam are here to demonstrate that delivering effective prevention education to all young people is achievable, worthwhile, and will save lives.”

Shadow DCMS Minister Jeff Smith MP closed the event with a keynote address, calling for the Government’s White Paper to support education and prevention. He said “It is absolutely vital that the White Paper gives a clear steer on funding for those in the sector, and we must also recognise that funding should not be limited to treatment provision alone. We need to be focused on preventing harm as well as tackling it when it has been able to develop. That is where charities like Ygam really come into their own, and part of the Government’s responsibilities in this White Paper is to address the concerns around the sustainability of their services and provisions.”

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The new strategy reiterates Ygam’s focus on educating children and young people aged between 7 and 25.  After appointing an independent facilitator to lead the strategic development process, Ygam has engaged with a diverse range of stakeholders and staff to develop a strategy which brings clarity and purpose to the future direction of the organisation.

The strategy outlines Ygam’s plans for the next three years and is a rolling strategy that will be reviewed and updated on an annual basis. This will enable the charity to adapt to the rapidly evolving context in which it operates, and to deliver its vision and mission beyond 2025. Ygam have committed to reporting on progress on a regular basis and intend to publish an annual impact report, and an annually refreshed strategic implementation plan.

Ygam also launched their new branding at the event which sees the charity change its logo, colours, and style. Daniel Bliss, Director of External Affairs at Ygam said: “The charity has evolved significantly since 2014 so we felt our branding should reflect where we are now. The new strategy was the perfect opportunity to refresh our look and we’re confident our new branding will to enable us to connect effectively with our audiences.”

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FANDOM DECODES THE TUG-OF-WAR FOR FAN ATTENTION BETWEEN GAMING & ENTERTAINMENT COMPANIES IN 2024 INSIDE ENTERTAINMENT STUDY

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Study Identifies a New Target Audience – The “Switchers” – and Why Dramas Could Be the Next Big Gaming Franchise

 

Forget the gaming vs. entertainment narrative. Fandom, the world’s largest fan platform, today released its annual Inside Entertainment study which reveals a nuanced reality: fans crave both immersive gaming worlds AND timeless storytelling across tv and film, NOT one or the other. Leveraging first-party data from Fandom’s extensive platform – 350 million monthly unique visitors, 45 million pages of content and 250k fan-powered wikis – coupled with a global study, Inside Entertainment: The Entertainment & Gaming Tug of War goes beyond industry headlines to:

  • Understand the dynamic coexistence between the gaming and TV/film industries
  • Identify a brand new audience – the “Switchers”
  • Detail why dramas and book adaptations present a huge opportunity to be the next hit video game franchise

“Every industry analysis refers to the battle for fans’ attention across entertainment and gaming but we’ve found that it’s not an either or. In fact, combined, entertainment and gaming experiences strengthen fan connection and deliver incremental engagement,” said Stephanie Fried, CMO of Fandom. “Understanding the interplay between these mediums is key to building authentic and enduring fan experiences; and understanding the value and role of each medium is essential for developing powerful marketing messaging to attract and retain fans.”

Key Findings

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  • 67% of fans are spending the same or more time consuming content or playing video games, but their behavior is shifting:
  • 33% are spending less time on cable or in theaters – and the number one activity they’re switching to is gaming (59%

Switchers’ refers to the audience moving away from watching movies & binging TV shows in their free time to do other activities. Outside of gaming, switchers are also spending time:

On social media (47%), reading (56%) and doing hobbies (37%)
With 56% of the switcher audience spending time reading, it presents an opportunity to re-engage this audience and pull them back into the ecosystem with new content strategies, like book-to-game or book-to-film cross over adaptations

But don’t worry entertainment companies. Just as gaming is the #1 activity for entertainment fans, watching TV and movies is the #1 activity gamers turn to when taking a break from gaming – which means these industries are inevitably intertwined and could benefit from joint endeavors or conquest/win-back strategies

Drama could be #1 untapped genre for gaming companies to explore when looking for their next big hit. Our data uncovers that drama fans who also game gravitate towards genres like:

  • Role-Playing (RPG): 73%
  • Adventure: 72%,
  • Simulation: 62%,
  • Sandbox/Open World: 62%,
  • Puzzle: 60%

Gaming wins on super serving the emotional needs of fans, identifying a niche area streamers & studios should not only be aware of – but double down on:

  • 82% of gamers think video games are more interactive & engaging than movies and TV
  • 59% feel more accomplished when playing a video game
  • 53% like that they have more control in the story when playing video games
  • 45% feel more invested in the storylines in video games

Top 3 Takeaways For Advertisers and Marketers

1. Gaming is a Friend vs. a Foe

  • Despite common misconceptions, there is a true symbiotic relationship between the gaming and entertainment industries – they both serve different emotional needs for fans and can actually complement each other – with the right fan strategy.
  • Therefore, if studios, networks and streaming companies cater to the distinct emotional desires of their specific audiences, they can successfully influence a fan’s choice between mediums and content types and build out a more robust conquest strategy for both retention and acquisition.

2. Sway the Switchers

  • Switchers are the audience entertainment companies should be first and foremost targeting in this “tug of war” to capture fan attention, because switching to watching TV & movies is the first activity gamers engage in after they stop playing.
  • This underscores the importance for entertainment companies to develop strategies that resonate with these “switchers.”

3. Find your Niche

  • With the growing intersection between gaming and entertainment, it’s crucial for studios, networks, and streamers to align on a gaming strategy that drives viewer engagement and retention.
  • While many entertainment companies know they need a focus on gaming to drive their business forward – how and where are often barriers. Developing a gaming-specific fan strategy by finding niche pockets in the vast ecosystem – like targeting drama fans or creating book adaptations – is key for reaching a high affinity target at scale.

For an interview with a Fandom executive to discuss the study in more detail, please contact Rachelle Savoia at [email protected]

Methodology

The 2024 Inside Entertainment study regionally analyzes the dynamics between diverse forms of entertainment based on a survey of 5,500 entertainment and gaming fans aged 13-54 These insights were validated and deepened through Fandom’s proprietary, first-party data from 2024 – more than 350 million monthly unique visitors, 45 million pages of content across 250,000 wikis. This methodology provides a 360-degree view of franchises and fan interest across the entertainment and gaming landscape through the eyes of Fandom.

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BOLDPLAY TITLES DEBUT ON MARATHONBET

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Over 50 innovative titles have been added to the popular online betting platform’s casino game line-up.

Boldplay, the renowned developer of premium online casino content and innovative casino software solutions, has announced that it has formed a new partnership with Marathonbet that will see its full suite of 100+ titles added to the operator’s casino game line-up, with 50+ of those games available now.

As a result of the deal, games from Boldplay’s state-of-the-art slot selection and range of virtual scratch cards have already been added to Marathonbet’s lobbies, but the provider will also be offering table games, virtual bingo and keno releases on the platform going forward.

Marathonbet is currently licensed by both the government of Curaçao and the Directorate General for Gambling Regulation in Spain, with a further internet gaming concession from the Customs and Monopolies Agency (ADM) also enabling it to provide services to Italian players.

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As such, the collaboration will now enable Boldplay to offer its titles to audiences in a wide range of global markets, many of whom will not previously have seen the signature range of Boldplay jackpots and engaging free spin features that have made the provider such a huge hit with fans.

Of the Boldplay games now available on Marathonbet, a standout highlight is the MMA themed Brute Force, which offers a choice of two hard-hitting bonuses and currently ranks as one of the studio’s most successful slots to date.
Speaking on the new partnership with Marathonbet, Boldplay Commercial Director Gary Francis said: “We’re very happy to have teamed up with Marathonbet in a move that will see our cutting edge game collection reach new audiences in a number of important markets around the world.

“With a wide range of Boldplay slots, scratch cards, table games and bingo and keno releases now available on the platform, our line-up already has something for everyone and will continue to get even stronger as we announce new releases in 2024. We hope that Marathonbet customers enjoy all that we have to offer and look forward to seeing how our games perform on the platform.”

 

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BMM INNOVATION GROUP TO SHOWCASE COLLABORATION WITH INTERNATIONALLY ACCLAIMED MASTER CHOCTAW ARTIST DG SMALLING AT INDIAN GAMING ASSOCIATION (IGA) TRADE SHOW APRIL 10-11

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The Company to Unveil Original Artwork Focused on BMM’s Mission to Protect Tribal Gaming and All Who Play

BMM Innovation Group (“BIG”, “BIG Group”, or the “Company”), a technology conglomerate providing world-class services and cutting-edge solutions to the global gaming industry through BMM Testlabs, BIG Cyber, and RG24seven Virtual Training, today announced a collaboration with internationally acclaimed Choctaw Nation Master Artist DG Smalling celebrating BMM Innovation Group’s relationship with Tribal suppliers, regulators, and operators. The artwork will be showcased at the IGA tradeshow April 10-11 at the Anaheim Convention Center in BIG’s Booth No. 628.

Smalling is best known for his single-line, continuous drawing technique in which his pen never leaves the paper until the image is complete. The piece he created with BIG is called ‘Hand to Hand’, representing the vital relationship between the BIG Group and Tribal gaming. Smalling will be giving away signed reprints of the piece from 2-4 pm on Wednesday, April 10 in BIG’s Booth No. 628.

BIG’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Martin Storm said, “We are honored to be able to work with such an internationally celebrated and recognized Tribal artist, DG Smalling, to create artwork that reflects our deep roots in Tribal gaming and the importance of the BIG companies in protecting Tribal gaming and all who play through best-in-class product testing and certification, cybersecurity protection solutions, and compliance-grade training.

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Smalling said, “I was excited to create this piece for the BMM Innovation Group. This artwork depicts the role of BMM as an agency of quality control to protect Tribal sovereignty from outside intervention; the intersection of Tribal nations, Indian Gaming, and BMM as a day-to-day presence securing Indian Gaming integrity, and thereby, its sovereignty.”

Prior to his collaboration with BIG, Smalling had already made a name for himself in the gaming industry. In 2022, he achieved the distinction of being the first artist to fully collaborate with a slot machine manufacturer when he teamed up with Incredible Technologies to launch Class II slot games showcasing his art. In addition, Smalling has played a key role in spearheading a number of corporate-indigenous partnerships with leading companies like Amazon, Gary Platt Manufacturing, Emser Tile Native Narrative Series, and APMEX. Smalling holds the distinction of being authorized by the Delaware Nation of Oklahoma — through statute — to create on their behalf.

Smalling’s art and honors include the Department of the Interior’s Operation Lady Justice; featured artist at Epcot Disney World: State of Oklahoma Centennial Show in 2007; Grand Palais “Salon du Dessin et de la Peinture á l’Eau” in Paris in 2011; and National Museum of the American Indian “Choctaw Codetalkers Celebration” in Washington, DC in 2012. In addition, Smalling has been commissioned to paint several portraits, including U.S. Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, U.S. Congressman Tom Cole, and Sir Tony Blair, the former Prime Minister of the UK, among many other notable dignitaries. Some of Smalling’s notable commissions include APMEX Coins’ Asian Zodiac Series: Year of the Dragon (2024) ; APMEX Coins’ Grand Buffalo (2023); and Lady Justice of California Proclamation (2020). For more information, visit dgsmalling.ai.

 

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