Press Releases

Lara Jones returns in a new quest to win ancient Egyptian treasures

Published

6 years ago

March 30, 2020

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Spearhead Studios announces the launch of Lara Jones is Cleopatra, new high volatility, innovative title, which sets its action inside the tomb of the famous Egyptian Queen. The game sees the alluring treasure explorer, Lara Jones, in her new adventure to entertain video slots fans.

Fresh from her adventures in the highly successful precursor game, The Book of Souls^TM, Lara Jones is on a new quest to discover the remarkable treasures hidden deep inside the tomb of Egyptian Queen, Cleopatra.

The game, which was developed using Spearhead Studios’s proprietary game development technology and tools, is optimised for mobile gameplay and is highly responsive across devices. The UI responds fluidly to the device orientation, and the file size is best-in-class for premium-quality games of this type. It is available in a wide range of currencies and languages and is certified for all major jurisdictions.

Kevin Corti, Game Development Director at Spearhead, comments: “Our internal team has excelled, once again, in producing this game. The math model is highly engaging, the artwork and visual are stunning, and the audio effects close to a cinematic experience. I am very proud of everyone who worked on Lara Jones is Cleopatra and I am extremely confident that players will love it”.

Mathias Larsson, Managing Director at Spearhead, says: “I am thrilled that we are bringing our lead character, from our top-performing game The Book of Souls^TM into our latest title, Lara Jones is Cleopatra. She will continue to star in upcoming titles, along with many other entertaining characters which we plan to introduce in the forthcoming months.

“Lara Jones is Cleopatra is our 4th game release of 2020, demonstrating that we are truly delivering high-quality games in rapid succession. In Q2, we will maintain this momentum, releasing a minimum of 5 new titles”.

Lara Jones is Cleopatra is a high volatility, 5×3 video slot with ten pay lines and a maximum win approaching 17,000X. The base game offers single-line wins of up to 3,000X and the Cleopatra Spin which, when triggered, sees all Queen, Jack and 10 symbols being replaced with the top-paying Cleopatra symbol potentially generating wins in excess of 1,000X. All base and feature wins can be entered into the Gamble Ladder to potentially increase them up to €30,000.

The appearance of three scatters in the base game will transport the player to deep inside Cleopatra’s tomb and grant them an initial ten free spins. During free spins, any wilds that land on the reels become Sticky Wilds for all subsequent free spins – including any retriggers – building a tremendous sense of excitement when the right symbols land. The game has a Return to Player (RTP) of 96.46%.

If you want to test the game, please reach out to: [email protected].

Arizona Department of Gaming

Arizona Sports Betting Hits New Record: $967 Million Wagered in October 2025

Published

3 hours ago

January 7, 2026

Wladimir P.

arizona-sports-betting-hits-new-record:-$967-million-wagered-in-october-2025

The Arizona Department of Gaming (ADG) has released its sports betting report for October 2025, revealing a record-breaking month for the Grand Canyon State. Total wagers reached approximately $967.1 million, marking a significant 22.2% increase year-over-year and a 13.6% jump from September 2025.

This performance solidified Arizona’s position as a top-tier U.S. betting market, ranking 6th nationally in total handle for the month, just behind Pennsylvania.

October 2025 Performance Breakdown

The surge in betting activity was driven almost entirely by mobile operators, which accounted for 99.4% of the total handle.

Total Handle: $967,141,269 (New State Record)
Mobile Wagers: $961.4 Million
Retail Wagers: $5.7 Million
Gross Revenue: $82.0 Million (Before promotional deductions)
Privilege Fees (Taxes): $5.2 Million collected by the state.

Top Operators by Market Share

The “Big Three” continue to dominate the Arizona landscape, with FanDuel and DraftKings locked in a tight battle for the top spot.

Operator	October Handle	Mobile Handle	Adjusted Revenue
FanDuel	$317.1 Million	$317.1 Million	$13.4 Million
DraftKings	$297.8 Million	$293.7 Million	$22.7 Million
BetMGM	$102.9 Million	$102.0 Million	$5.0 Million
Fanatics	$88.2 Million	$88.2 Million	$4.8 Million
bet365	$55.0 Million	$55.0 Million	—

Note: While FanDuel led in total amount wagered (handle), DraftKings reported the highest adjusted revenue for the month at $22.7 million.

Fiscal Year-to-Date (FY26) Summary

Through the first four months of the 2026 fiscal year (July–October), Arizona has generated substantial revenue for state funds:

Total Privilege Fees: $20.7 Million
Event Wagering Fees: $20.2 Million
Fantasy Sports Fees: $462,576

The ADG also noted its continued focus on player protection, recently launching the “Too Young to Bet AZ” initiative to combat underage gambling and revoking Underdog Fantasy’s license due to concerns over its prediction market offerings.

The post Arizona Sports Betting Hits New Record: $967 Million Wagered in October 2025 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Family Feud Lottery

Scientific Games Unveils “GAME SHOW EXPERIENCE”: A Multi-Million Dollar Omnichannel Linked Game

Published

3 hours ago

January 7, 2026

Wladimir P.

Scientific Games Unveils “GAME SHOW EXPERIENCE”: A Multi-Million Dollar Omnichannel Linked Game

Scientific Games, the global leader in lottery games, has officially launched GAME SHOW EXPERIENCE. Announced on January 6, 2026, this new omnichannel “Linked Game” leverages the massive brand equity of three iconic Fremantle television properties to offer players across the United States a chance to win up to $10 million in cash.

This launch follows the company’s proven strategy of combining retail tickets with digital second-chance opportunities to drive incremental sales for state lotteries.

The Brands: TV’s Powerhouse Lineup

The promotion features a “triple-threat” of game show nostalgia and modern popularity, specifically chosen after a 2025 consumer study confirmed their high purchase intent across all demographics:

THE PRICE IS RIGHT: Television’s longest-running game show, celebrated for over five decades of Emmy-winning entertainment.
FAMILY FEUD: Currently the #1 rated syndicated show for adults 25-54, celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2026.
PRESS YOUR LUCK: A high-stakes favorite known for the legendary “Whammy” and strategic gameplay.

The Prize: An Exclusive Hollywood Experience

Lucky winners from participating U.S. lotteries will be awarded a “Linked Game” experiential prize package that takes them to the heart of the entertainment world:

Host City: Los Angeles, California.
Date: Fall 2027.
The Trip: A five-day, four-night “white glove” experience in the entertainment capital.
The Highlight: Winners will attend a live taping of The Price is Right as special guests.
The Event: Following the taping, the lottery winners will take center stage on the iconic set for a private GAME SHOW EXPERIENCE event, where they will compete for a share of up to $10 million.

Omnichannel Strategy and Market Impact

Scientific Games pioneered the “Linked Game” concept in 2007. To date, these programs—including hits like Willy Wonka and Deal or No Deal—have generated more than US$6.6 billion in retail value.

Feature	Details
Game Formats	Instant Scratch, Fast Play, and Digital (iLottery)
Prize Cap	Up to $10 Million
Target Audience	Omnichannel (Retail & Digital players)
Producer	Scientific Games in partnership with Fremantle

“The incredibly broad appeal of these classic TV game show brands makes the GAME SHOW EXPERIENCE a perfect promotion for lottery, bringing to life the surprise, joy, and wins that players love,” said Tina Hoover, VP of Licensing for Scientific Games.

The post Scientific Games Unveils “GAME SHOW EXPERIENCE”: A Multi-Million Dollar Omnichannel Linked Game appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

BetHero

BetHero Launch: Tackling Player Acquisition and Churn in 2026

Published

3 hours ago

January 7, 2026

Wladimir P.

bethero-launch:-tackling-player-acquisition-and-churn-in-2026

BetHero has officially announced the public launch of its mobile-first engagement layer, a strategic solution designed to address the iGaming industry’s most pressing twin challenges: skyrocketing acquisition costs and record-high player churn.

Already gaining massive momentum, BetHero has secured commercial agreements with several global operators and has been named a finalist for Mobile Sports Product of the Year at the 2026 International Gaming Awards.

Solving the “Leaky Bucket” Problem

In 2026, the iGaming market is more competitive than ever. Traditional sportsbooks and casinos are struggling with “leaky buckets”—spending heavily to acquire users only to lose them to complex interfaces or a lack of engagement.

BetHero’s platform is engineered to “plug the leaks” by introducing a simplified interaction model specifically for casual users. It integrates into existing tech stacks in just a few days, either as an add-on to a sportsbook or a turnkey entry point for casinos looking to offer sports betting without a full custom build.

“We didn’t want to tell the market that BetHero is different — we wanted to show it,” said Logan MacGillivray, CEO of BetHero. “Operators need immediate solutions… BetHero gives them a new solution to solve those challenges by helping them bring in more players and keeping them active longer.”

Core Features of the BetHero Platform

BetHero acts as a white-labeled engagement layer that matches an operator’s specific brand and regulatory compliance needs.

Mobile-Native UI: Designed for high speed and extreme ease of use, removing the friction typically found in “data-heavy” betting apps.
Social Mechanics: Features designed to drive sharing and community-led engagement, a key trend for the Gen-Z and Millennial demographics in 2026.
Free-to-Play (F2P) Entry: Low-barrier experiences that allow players to build confidence before naturally converting to real-money play.
Turnkey Flexibility: Can be deployed as a stand-alone layer for casinos or integrated into a complex sportsbook ecosystem.

The post BetHero Launch: Tackling Player Acquisition and Churn in 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.