Latest News
Evolution launches Funky Time, a disco-themed live game show and its biggest new development since Crazy Time
Evolution today announced the launch of its unique new Funky Time live game show, a ’70s disco-themed, bonus and multiplier-laden extravaganza, and the company’s biggest new game show since Crazy Time.
This innovative online game with live presenter celebrates the iconic disco era with a retro club ambience, funky beats, daring dancefloor moves and the chance for players to accumulate multipliers in all phases of the game.
At the heart of the main game a spinning DigiWheel money wheel generates numerous random multipliers per round, which can further multiply winnings on either numbers, letters or bonus games. The 64 segments on the wheel, which spell out the words PLAY, FUNK and TIME, and which also feature a series of number 1s and various bonus game segments, offer different ways to win and progress in the game.
Win on any of the number 1 or letter segments of the wheel and players can cash out instant wins. Win on a bonus segment and they proceed to one of four unique bonus games – Bar, Stayin’ Alive, Disco, and VIP Disco — in which multipliers are guaranteed. While all bonus games offer great entertainment, Disco and VIP Disco really put the FUN in FUNKY, as both see the cool Mr Funky character step out onto the virtual dance floor to collect even more multipliers while avoiding toppling off the edge of the floor.
Todd Haushalter, Evolution’s Chief Product Officer, said: “At Evolution, we invented the live Game Show gaming category with Dream Catcher, and since then we’ve never looked back. We have created most of the top 10 new games of the last five years, many of which are our live game shows, and we’re confident that Funky Time will achieve similar success. When I first saw the DigiWheel, a big vertical revolving wheel with an electronic LED centre, I knew there was a great game show to be built around it. Then the team and I started brainstorming what that game could be, and we knew we were onto something very special with Funky Time.”
Haushalter continued: “Around 100 people were involved in getting Funky Time live, and I’m incredibly proud of their achievements. It’s the most expensive and complex game we’ve ever created, but most importantly, it’s a game that just oozes fun. I’m often asked, ‘what’s the inspiration for new game ideas?’ The answer comes from literally asking ourselves the question, ‘what is the most fun game we can make?’ While different players look for different things, Funky Time is sure to have broad appeal. We believe it’s every bit as entertaining as Crazy Time, but it’s got a completely different feel and it adds a few extra goodies too. I hope players enjoy it as much as we enjoyed making it.”
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Austria
Austria Could Force Offshore Operators To Sit Out Market Launch
Debate is raging within the Austrian government about whether to impose a cooling off period and freeze ex-grey market operators out of its upcoming open online casino market, with local operators looking to inflict maximum punishment and legal experts arguing that the proposal would be self-defeating.
Austria is on course for an historic opening of its long monopolized online casino market. Currently, only Casinos Austria, via its brand Win2Day, has the approval of the Austrian government to offer online casino games to the general public.
But for many years, that legal status was ignored by operators based largely out of Malta, who populated a vibrant grey market by leaning on the controversial argument that Austria’s monopoly model is in violation of EU law.
These offshore operators were eventually forced to retreat by a series of high profile court rulings that found Austrian consumers have the right to reclaim any and all losses to an operator without an Austrian licence.
Facing potentially hundreds of millions of euros in compensation claims, grey market providers have largely retreated to Malta, where Bill 55 continues to protect them.
With liberalisation now on the horizon, some forces within the Austrian government and the local gambling industry are insistent that companies which took part in the grey market should not be allowed to simply apply for a licence and wipe the slate clean.
Who’s in favour?
Those lobbying the hardest for a cooling off period are Austrian incumbents.
“One day you’re offering illegal services and the next day you get a license – that’s absurd,” a spokesperson for Casinos Austria told the Kronen Zeitung newspaper.
They are joined by German-headquartered gambling giant Novomatic, which operates a number of land-based venues in Austria under the brand Admiral.
Having sat on the sidelines of the online market for many years, Admiral is incensed by the idea that it could be competing on day one of a new market with operators who did not take the same approach.
The three parties that form Austria’s coalition government are still debating the issues, according to reports.
The only major practical example of a true “cooling off” period occured in the Netherlands, where an 18-month prohibition was in place that prevented many companies from entering the market when it opened in 2021.
At the time, Kindred reported that being forced to sit out market launch had cost it $16.2m a month, wiping out effectively 50 percent of the group’s EBITDA.
Kindred, which has since transformed into FDJ United following an acquisition by the French lottery giant, subsequently regained its strong Dutch position following the end of the cooling off window.
Likely to cool
At least one Austrian legal expert believes that there is a good chance that some form of cooling off, or an equivalent punishment, will be enacted as part of the new law.
“At the moment, it is likely that some form of cooling-off period will be introduced, perhaps by introducing sanctions that apply prior to licensing, but the details are yet to be determined,” said Nicholas Aquilina, a partner at Brandl Talos law firm.
“Whether a cooling-off period will be introduced and how restrictive measures will be will have a substantial impact on the success of the long-overdue opening of Austria’s online gambling market,” he added.
The time pressures referenced by Aquilina relate to the expiry of Win2Day’s exclusive licence, which is set to run out in October 2027. The government intends to establish its new online gambling regime well ahead of that date, so that new licences can be issued in time.
Any attempt to extend Win2Day’s monopoly could run into challenges with EU tender laws and the other highly unpalatable option is to leave the nation in limbo with no legal providers at all.
Complications
Despite how the debate has been framed by some parties, the reality will not be as simple as either allowing ex-grey market offenders into the new Austrian online casino marketplace free of consequence or forcing them to spend time in the sin bin.
There is broad political agreement that any international operator looking to obtain a licence in Austria must pay back taxes owed on its former activity in order to be granted approval.
Operators will also need to settle any outstanding player refund claims, something which could cost companies huge sums and may ultimately keep some of them out of the market for good.
There are thought to be thousands of pending refunds, which operators have largely been refusing to pay while they take refuge behind Malta’s Bill 55.
Against that backdrop, lawyers Christian Rapani and Felix Hohenthanner argue that the penalties for returning to Austria will likely be harsh enough.
“A further exclusion of two to three years on top of that would, in our view, work against the reform’s own central objective. The operators currently holding the largest share of Austrian play are exactly the ones a cooling-off period would shut out. If they cannot offer a licensed product for two to three years, their customers, it is highly likely, will not migrate to the licensed providers,” they told EEGaming.
Ultimately, the two lawyers said, the push for a cooling off period is more about protecting the vested interests in Austria’s casino market than an attempt to keep gamblers safe.
“Our impression is that the proposal is supported essentially only by the land-based operators and by the single provider that already holds a licence in Austria, in other words by those who benefit from keeping new entrants out. We therefore see it less as a genuine player-protection measure than as a last attempt to preserve existing market positions,” they said.
The post Austria Could Force Offshore Operators To Sit Out Market Launch appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Africa
African iGaming Alliance names SPRIBE a Platinum Supplier Member
The African iGaming Alliance (AiA) has signed a strategic partnership with iGaming supplier SPRIBE, with SPRIBE joining the pan-African industry association as a Platinum Supplier Member.
AiA said the partnership will focus on regulatory engagement, industry research, responsible gaming initiatives, policy advocacy and stakeholder engagement aimed at strengthening regulated gaming markets across African jurisdictions.
According to AiA, the collaboration will also support efforts to promote effective regulation, combat illegal gambling, improve market channelisation and encourage evidence-based policymaking.
Peter Emolemo Kesitilwe, Chief Executive Officer of the African iGaming Alliance (AiA), said:
“SPRIBE’s decision to join the African iGaming Alliance as a Platinum Supplier Member represents a significant endorsement of our vision for a sustainable and well-regulated African gaming industry. As one of the industry’s leading technology innovators, SPRIBE brings valuable expertise, insight, and global experience that will strengthen our efforts to support regulators, governments, operators, and other stakeholders across the continent. We look forward to working closely together to promote responsible gaming, regulatory best practice, and long-term industry sustainability.”
The post African iGaming Alliance names SPRIBE a Platinum Supplier Member appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Digital Wallets
Neosurf partners with Mercado Pago to add betting deposits in Mexico
Neosurf has announced a partnership with Mercado Pago to expand wallet-based funding options for online betting customers in Mexico.
Under the integration, Mercado Pago wallet holders will be able to use their Mercado Pago balance to fund online betting accounts via the Neosurf wallet. Neosurf said the rollout is initially focused on the Mexican market and supports transfers to participating sports betting operators.
Mercado Pago described itself as Latin America’s leading fintech platform with more than 56 million active monthly users. Neosurf positioned the deal as part of broader growth in digital wallet adoption across Latin America, with customers seeking mobile-first payment experiences.
Sue Page, Neosurf CEO Americas, said: “Mexico represents a major growth market for both digital payments and online betting, and we’re incredibly excited to partner with Mercado Pago. This partnership creates a new, easy way for Mercado Pago wallet holders to use their balance to fund their online sports betting accounts through the Neosurf wallet. It reinforces our commitment to delivering secure, compliant and player focused payment solutions throughout Latin America.”
The post Neosurf partners with Mercado Pago to add betting deposits in Mexico appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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