Latest News
Swintt lifts the lid on super-sized prizes in Jackbox Pearl Upgrade
Action-packed Premium release takes popular software provider’s signature Pearl Free Spins feature to the next level with four local jackpots and a brand-new upgrade feature
Just when you thought Swintt’s fan favourite Pearl feature couldn’t get any more exciting, the sought-after software provider has once again up the ante with a new and improved version of the popular bonus round in its latest Premium slot release, Jackbox Pearl Upgrade.
Being part of the SwinttPremium collection, the game once again features the staple fruit symbols and iconic casino sounds that have made the series such a huge hit with players, with cherries, lemons, oranges, plums, grapes and lucky red sevens all jostling for space with those all-important pearl icons.
Initially played out across three reels and five fixed paylines, the real fun begins whenever double pearl symbols appear in all three columns. Whenever this happens, the reels will split into a new 6×3 format, with all triggering pearls remaining locked in place in their respective positions as the feature begins.
Players will now receive three free spins to get them started as they begin spinning on a new gameboard that only contains pearl values and jackpot prizes. Whenever a new pearl appears during a spin, the counter will reset back to its starting amount, with the feature only ending when all available spins have been used or all 18-reel spaces have been completely filled with prize amounts.
At first, prizes can range from 1 to 100x the selected bet or one of the Minor, Major or Maxi jackpots displayed above the reels, but this being Jackbox Pearl Upgrade, the feature comes with an additional twist. Now whenever a purple pearl symbol appears, it has the power to upgrade the value of all pearls on the same row, column, or both, with these increases growing substantially larger with each upgrade.
Not only that, but if players do manage to achieve the aforementioned 18-reel space full table win, they’ll automatically activate the slot’s 1,000x Mega jackpot on top of any other regular wins they’ve collected during the bonus, with this resulting in potentially huge prize payouts on each feature trigger.
As a final couple of sweeteners, players who don’t wish to try their luck at triggering Pearl Free Spins during the base game can instantly enter the bonus for an extra stake by using the ‘Buy Feature Games’ button and any wins collected in either mode can be increased in an optional ‘Risk’ card picking game.
David Mann, Chief Executive Officer at Swintt, said: “While our SwinttPremium slots have certainly proved a huge hit with players, one feature that undoubtedly stands alone in terms of its popularity is the Pearl Feature – and in Jackbox Pearl Upgrade, we’ve taken this exciting bonus round to all-new heights!
“Now, not only can players collect instant cash prizes, local jackpots and gigantic full table wins, but any purple pearl symbol that appears has the power to upgrade all collected payouts even further. As such, we expect this innovative twist on the classic Pearl Feature mechanic to be a major success with new players and existing Premium fans alike when the slot goes live at our partner casinos this month”
Arizona
Arizona Department of Gaming Reports $44.9 Million in Tribal Gaming Contributions for the Second Quarter of Fiscal Year 2026
The Arizona Department of Gaming (ADG) announced today $44,891,270 in tribal gaming contributions to the Arizona Benefits Fund for the second quarter of Fiscal Year (FY) 2026. This represents an approximate 5.6 percent increase when compared to the same quarter of FY 2025.
“The financial support that tribal gaming provides the state of Arizona continues to power local and statewide needs that are vital to healthy and safe communities,” said Jackie Johnson, Director of the ADG. “With nearly $45 million in tribal gaming contributions in the most recent period, the Department is proud to ensure the continuation of important revenue streams that positively impact Arizonans.”
The Arizona Benefits Fund receives 88 percent of tribal gaming contributions, providing significant dollars to support instructional improvement for schools, trauma and emergency care, tourism, and wildlife conservation throughout the state. If interested in viewing the cumulative tribal gaming contributions by year, please visit our reports webpage: gaming.az.gov/resources/reports.
Tribal gaming contributions to the Arizona Benefits Fund for the second quarter of the State’s FY 2026 are as follows:
Instructional Improvement Fund/Education………………………………………………..$22,373,810
Trauma and Emergency Services Fund………………………………………………………..$11,186,905
Arizona Department of Gaming Operating Costs………………………………………….$4,040,214
Arizona Wildlife Conservation Fund……………………………………………………………$3,196,258
Tourism Fund…………………………………………………………………………………………..$3,196,258
Problem Gambling Education, Treatment and Prevention……………………………..$897,825
Total: Tribal Gaming Contributions to the Arizona Benefits Fund……………………..$44,891,270
Per the Arizona Tribal-State Gaming Compact, the remaining 12 percent is distributed by the tribes to the cities, towns, and counties of their choosing for community services and public safety programs for local governments. Since FY 2004, cumulative contributions have totaled approximately $2.5 billion, benefitting both the state and its cities, towns, and counties.
Currently, there are 26 Class III casinos in Arizona, which ADG regulates in partnership with Arizona tribes. For more information, view our tribal gaming webpage: gaming.az.gov/tribal-gaming-page.
The post Arizona Department of Gaming Reports $44.9 Million in Tribal Gaming Contributions for the Second Quarter of Fiscal Year 2026 appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
R. Franco Digital, the leading Spanish iGaming provider, has been officially shortlisted for Casino Platform Supplier of the Year at the prestigious EGR Europe Awards 2026. The nomination recognizes a landmark year for the company, characterized by the explosive growth of its IRIS Open Omnichannel Platform and a major commercial breakthrough into the Italian market.
The winners will be announced during a gala ceremony on February 18, 2026, at the Hilton Malta, where the industry’s top-tier operators and suppliers gather to celebrate European gaming excellence.
IRIS: The Engine of Omnichannel Growth
The core of R. Franco Digital’s success lies in its IRIS platform, a highly scalable, multi-jurisdictional solution that unifies casino, sports betting, and retail management.
IRIS Platform Milestones (2025-2026):
-
Jurisdictional Reach: Certified in 6 jurisdictions and operational in over 10 regulated markets.
-
Content Depth: Seamlessly integrated with over 1,600 games from global third-party providers.
-
Operational Stability: Provides 24/7 multilingual support and advanced real-time analytics for operators.
-
Commercial Momentum: Secured 50+ new operator partnerships and entered three new markets within the last 12 months.
Performance Highlights: 4 Billion Game Rounds
R. Franco Digital’s games portfolio has seen a massive surge in engagement, bolstered by 20 new high-performance slot releases in 2025. Standout titles such as Strange Spins, Aphrodite, Zorro: Final Duel, Ovomon, and The Phantom contributed to a record-breaking year.
| Metric | 2025–2026 Achievement |
| Total Game Rounds | 4 Billion+ across regulated markets |
| Revenue Growth | 30% Increase during the judging period |
| New Content | 20 New slot titles launched |
| Expansion | Debut in the Italian regulated market |
Strategic Italian Market Entry
A major factor in the EGR shortlisting was R. Franco Digital’s successful entry into Italy. The provider rapidly localized its content to meet the specific demands of Italian players through tier-one partnerships:
-
Stanleybet.it: Launched 19 games, including the Italian-exclusive debut of Strange Spins.
-
888.it: Successfully rolled out the popular Super 7 3×3 title.
“We’re proud to be shortlisted for this award, which reflects the strength of our IRIS platform and the quality of the content we’ve delivered over the past year,” said Javier Sacristán Franco, International Business Director at R. Franco Digital. “Our team has worked hard to support operators with reliable, innovative solutions… we are delighted to see that effort recognised.”
The post R. Franco Digital Shortlisted for Casino Platform Excellence at EGR Europe Awards 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Big Hot Flaming Pots
Big Hot Flaming Pots: Tasty Treasures – Lightning Box Brings Land-Based Hit Online
Light & Wonder has officially launched Big Hot Flaming Pots: Tasty Treasures, the digital debut of its highly successful land-based franchise. Developed by in-house specialist studio Lightning Box, this 3×5 slot offers 243 ways to win and a high-energy “three-pot” mechanic that has already become a staple on casino floors worldwide.
The game transitions the whimsical “dumpling-tossing” theme to online audiences, combining vibrant Asian-inspired aesthetics with a deep mathematical model designed for high-engagement sessions.
The Three-Pot Mechanic & Seven Feature Combinations
At the core of the gameplay is the persistent pot system. Landing specific colored coins fuels three separate pots—Yummy, Spicy, and Upsized. These pots can trigger individually or in any combination, leading to seven distinct bonus paths.
| Feature Mode | Gameplay Enhancement |
| Yummy Mode | Increases the Hold & Spin respin counter from 3 to 4, significantly extending bonus life. |
| Spicy Mode | Introduces Chilli multipliers; landing a pepper adds its cash value to every symbol currently held on the board. |
| Upsized Mode | Unlocks a Dual Grid (two reel sets) for the Hold & Spin round, doubling the win potential. |
| Combined Modes | Triggering all three at once creates the “Mega Bonus,” featuring dual grids, 4 respins, and value-boosting peppers. |
Innovation: The Stack N’ Hit
Feature
Unlike traditional Hold & Spin mechanics where symbols simply lock until the round ends, Tasty Treasures introduces the Stack N’ Hit
evolution.
-
Reel Clearing: When a vertical reel is filled with Bun symbols, the prizes are instantly collected, and the reel is cleared.
-
Persistent Respins: Clearing a reel creates open spaces for new prizes to land, allowing the bonus round to continue far longer than standard industry alternatives.
-
The Path to Grand: Each cleared reel activates a “Pepper Tracker” above it. Lighting up all five trackers awards the Grand Progressive Jackpot.
Jackpot Tiers & Base Game Depth
Operators benefit from a versatile math model that supports both consistent base-game performance and high-volatility jackpot chases.
-
Progressive Jackpots: Grand and Major tiers for life-changing win potential.
-
Fixed Jackpots: Minor and Mini tiers awarded through symbols landing during features.
-
Nudge Wilds: In the base game, Wild symbols can nudge to cover entire reels, assisting in achieving the 243-way payouts.
“Big Hot Flaming Pots: Tasty Treasures carries forward a brand that has already made its mark in land-based venues,” says Michael Maokhamphiou, Studio Director at Lightning Box. “This release offers operators a flexible, high-performing title that combines familiarity with fresh layers of engagement.”
The post Big Hot Flaming Pots: Tasty Treasures – Lightning Box Brings Land-Based Hit Online appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
-
iGaming News 20264 days agoSpinomenal Rings in 2026 with Japanese-Inspired “Kami Reign Ultra Mode”
-
Hold and4 days ago
Pragmatic Play Rings in 2026 with Joker’s Jewels Hold & Spin™
-
Five Elements Slot4 days ago
PG Soft Concludes 2025 with High-Volatility Launch: Mythical Guardians
-
Latest News4 days ago
From ‘Mummyverse’ to Crash Games: Belatra Reviews a Landmark 2025
-
Aztec Slot3 days ago
Evoplay Unveils Sunstone Riches: An Aztec Adventure Powered by the Sun
-
Bespoke Gaming Studio4 days ago
CreedRoomz and Casumo Forge Strategic Partnership to Elevate Live Casino Experience
-
Akshat Rathee3 days ago
Indian Esports 2026: Strategic Growth and the Asian Games Milestone
-
B2B gaming software4 days ago
Gamblers Connect and BetOxygen Announce Strategic B2B Partnership
