Latest News
AGHANIM RESEARCH GAUGES DMA AWARENESS AND POTENTIAL IMPACT ON DIRECT-TO-CONSUMER DISTRIBUTION
Aghanim, a mobile gaming fintech company founded by the former CEO and CTO of Xsolla, today reveals fascinating new research among mobile game developers relating to the recently launched Digital Markets Act (DMA).
The research is based on interviews with 300 mobile game developers across the US, UK and Germany in the weeks leading up to the introduction of the Act. The new European Union legislation aims to ensure a higher degree of fairness and competition in European digital markets and designates a number of major tech corporations including Apple and Alphabet (Google) as “gatekeepers”.
The key findings of the study shows:
- 62% of mobile game developers are aware of the Digital Markets Act
- 82% have at least some understanding of how it will impact their business. Almost a fifth (19%) feel they have a complete understanding of the DMA’s impact
- 31% of mobile game developers feel they will have more freedom under the DMA, though just 9% are confident they’ll be able to keep more of their revenue
- Only 13% have ruled out making changes to their payment processes. A third (33%) have begun implementing them
- Awareness of the DMA is highest in Germany (70%), followed by the UK (68%). Less than half (47%) of US developers are aware of the legislation. While the DMA is a European framework, it applies to US developers operating in the EU
Constantin Andry, Co-founder and Co-CEO at Aghanim, commented: “This data shows that there’s an appetite for change among game developers. Yes, the platform holders instigated the $92 billion mobile games industry, but we need to be asking why game developers – the people who make the games – now only see about 10% of this. With direct-to-consumer distribution, there’s an opportunity to ensure a further $18 billion of annualized value remains within the video games industry, with game creators, which will help soften many ongoing issues including layoffs. Otherwise, the business of making mobile games could soon become unviable.”
Konstantin Golubitsky, Co-founder and Co-CEO at Aghanim, added: “The opportunity for game developers is to create a web-based game hub for their titles which provides added value for their most engaged and valuable users, keeping them coming back regularly. Ultimately, players spend where they see the most value, and our goal is to help developers provide them with the greatest value at the lowest cost.”
A key promise of the Digital Markets Act is to provide fairer competition and greater choice to gamers and game studios. However, Apple’s latest business terms introduced a Core Technology Fee which, for many game developers, cancels out the potential benefits of third-party distribution. Despite the game developers being surveyed before the introduction of the Core Technology fee, just 40% said Apple is a positive force for the games industry. 39% were neutral, while 21% felt Apple was having a negative impact. Since the introduction of App Tracking Transparency in 2021, game developers have increasingly explored direct-to-consumer platforms such as browser stores to supplement on-platform monetization with lower-fee options.
An online survey was conducted on behalf of Aghanim by Atomik Research among 305 mobile game developers in the UK (101), Germany (103), and the USA (101). The research fieldwork took place between 18-22 February 2024. Atomik Research is an independent creative market research agency that employs MRS-certified researchers and abides by MRS code.
Azerbaijani Parliament
Azerbaijan to Impose Tougher Penalties for Illegal Online Gambling
The Azerbaijani Parliament (Milli Majlis) has officially cleared the first reading of a bill to heavily increase criminal penalties for organising and operating illegal gambling.
The proposed amendments to the Criminal Code were discussed during an extraordinary parliamentary session.
Under the bill, organising gambling in virtual formats-including via the internet, mobile communications, social media platforms, electronic communication tools or other internet- and mobile-based applications-would carry tougher penalties. The same applies to offenses involving minors, crimes committed by a group acting in prior collusion or activities generating substantial illegal income.
Such offenses would be punishable by a fine of up to twice the amount of the income obtained through the crime, restriction of liberty for a term of two to four years, or imprisonment for the same period.
The proposed amendments also introduce stricter penalties for offenses committed by organised criminal groups or criminal organisations, as well as those generating large-scale illegal profits. These would be punishable by restriction of liberty or imprisonment for a term of three to five years.
The bill would also change the way fines are calculated. Instead of the current fixed range of AZN 10,000 to AZN 15,000, courts would be able to impose fines of up to twice the amount of the criminal proceeds.
In addition, the legislation proposes harsher punishment for repeat offenses involving the organisation or operation of gambling activities or gambling venues, particularly where minors are involved or where the offenses generate substantial, large-scale or especially large-scale illegal income.
Under the current legislation, repeat offenses are punishable by restriction of liberty for four to five years or imprisonment for four to eight years. The proposed amendments would make imprisonment for five to eight years the sole penalty for such offenses.
The post Azerbaijan to Impose Tougher Penalties for Illegal Online Gambling appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Amusnet
Amusnet Releases its Latest Video Slot “Golden Snake”
Amusnet has released Golden Snake, a captivating new video slot that blends the timeless appeal of Asian symbolism with innovative mechanics and high-impact gameplay. Designed for players who enjoy immersive themes and thrilling volatility, the title delivers a fresh interpretation of one of the industry’s most enduring and successful game styles.
Set in a world inspired by prosperity, luck and ancient Asian traditions, Golden Snake immerses players in a vibrant atmosphere filled with glowing money bags, firecrackers, blue envelopes, golden coins and the majestic Golden Snake. Rich visuals, authentic sound design and a fully animated snake companion create a lively experience that reacts to every spin, adding personality and emotion to the gameplay.
Moving beyond the traditional slot layout, Golden Snake introduces a distinctive 3x4x3 reel configuration that offers a fresh gameplay dynamic while remaining intuitive and engaging. The excitement builds with the Respin Feature, which can trigger randomly on any spin by selecting a paying symbol – or even the Wild – to set a chain of consecutive respins in motion. During the feature, the second reel could be locked with stacked Wild symbols while the first and third reels spin exclusively for the chosen symbol. Еvery new Wild symbol or matching symbol could be extending the action and increasing the anticipation.
The game’s momentum is further amplified by a powerful multiplier system. During the base game, multipliers of 3x, 5x and 10x can instantly enhance winning combinations. When the Respin Feature is activated and the middle reel fills with stacked Wild symbols, it expands to unlock multiplier values of up to 20x, creating exhilarating moments with a maximum win potential of 5000x the bet.
Beyond its engaging mechanics, Golden Snake has been designed to encourage longer play sessions through responsive character animations, dynamic win celebrations and continuous respin opportunities. Combined with its culturally inspired theme, the title is well positioned to appeal to audiences across Asia, LATAM and other regulated markets where Asian-themed content continues to perform strongly.
With Golden Snake, Amusnet reinforces its commitment to creating premium gaming experiences that combine recognisable themes, innovative mechanics and outstanding production quality. The new release provides operators with a compelling addition to their portfolio, helping them diversify their offering with content designed to drive player engagement and long-term performance.
Respin Feature
Watch the excitement build as stacked Wild symbols lock the second reel and matching symbols trigger consecutive respins, creating thrilling opportunities for bigger payouts.
Multiplier Feature
Base game multipliers of 3x, 5x and 10x evolve into enhanced Respin multipliers of up to 20x when the middle reel expands with stacked Wild symbol.
Gamble
Play the game and multiply the winnings through the Gambling feature.
Jackpot Cards
The Jackpot Cards bonus game is triggered at random during the gameplay to allow players to win impressive jackpots.
The post Amusnet Releases its Latest Video Slot “Golden Snake” appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Brightstar Lottery PLC
Brightstar Lottery Signs Five-Year Extension with Sony Pictures for Exclusive Omnichannel Lottery Licensing Rights to Ghostbusters
Brightstar Lottery PLC announced that it has signed an exclusive five-year extension agreement with Sony Pictures to continue developing and distributing Ghostbusters-themed omnichannel lottery games globally.
“Ghostbusters is an iconic global franchise with lasting popularity, and Brightstar has been instrumental in helping us connect with both lifelong fans and new audiences. We look forward to continuing to collaborate on dynamic, high-quality lottery experiences that resonate with players worldwide,” said Stacey Kerr, Sony Pictures Entertainment Senior Vice President, Global Licensing.
“Brightstar has been a proud licensee of Sony Pictures’ Ghostbusters since 2015, and we’re excited to continue bringing this fan-favorite franchise to life for players in new and engaging ways. To date, this collaboration has launched more than 25 games with over 20 lotteries globally. The variety of games includes traditional instant tickets with high-definition symbols, Brightstar’s patented Infinity Instants lottery tickets, Fast Play games, and an exclusive eInstant game. With this contract extension, we’re focused on expanding the Ghostbusters franchise through new, immersive omnichannel experiences that push the boundaries of fan engagement,” said Matthew Whalen, Brightstar Senior Vice President, Global Instant Ticket Services.
The post Brightstar Lottery Signs Five-Year Extension with Sony Pictures for Exclusive Omnichannel Lottery Licensing Rights to Ghostbusters appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
-
Casino Content7 days agoPopOK Gaming secures Argentina certification to supply iGaming content
-
Argentinian market7 days agoPopOK Gaming Strengthens Latin American Expansion with Argentina Certification
-
Canada7 days agoTonybet pays first $15,000 CAD prize in World Cup Card Collection Canada promo
-
Canada7 days agoTonybet’s World Cup Card Collection campaign lands first $15k Bronze winner
-
Alberta4 days agoOctoplay secures conditional Alberta iGaming supplier approval from AGLC
-
Canada4 days agoWhat Canadian Slot Players Are Really Comparing in 2026: Payout Speed, Interac and RTP Transparency
-
Africa3 days agoSpringbokCasino ties July free spins to ‘Minions in the Wild’ campaign
-
content-supply4 days agoMillion Games launches Skull King’s Treasure with partner studio Arcane Pixel



