Monthly Archives: February 2020

Less than two months before the SPiCE Awards 2020!

Everyone in the gaming business is talking about SPiCE 2020! Have you registered yet? If not, you risk missing the biggest assembly of stakeholders from the gaming and betting industry in the Indian subcontinent and beyond! Best to make your move now as less than two months remain before kickoff on 25 March at the Goa Marriott Resort & Spa. To register, click here.

Entering its third annual edition, SPiCE has become an unparalleled platform for advancing the gaming industry in Asia and exploring emerging markets. Believe us when we say that this is the place to be if you are serious about expanding your business and growing your network!

We will be launching our Event App soon which will allow attendees to network and arrange meetings before the event. The app will serve as a consolidated virtual “brochure” filled with all the event information. Only Registered SPiCE attendees will have access.

But wait, it gets better!

Patrick Southon steps down as Gaming Realms CEO

Mobile Game Developer Gaming Realms announced that Chief Executive Officer Patrick Southon is stepping down from his position effective immediately. This will also include him stepping away from his position on the Board of Directors of the company.

In a statement, Southon explained that he is looking to take on new challenges. “During my six years as CEO, the main focus of the company was on B2C real money gaming. However, with the last of those assets disposed of in July 2019, and the company now stable and successfully implementing its new B2B focused game development and licensing strategy, I feel now is the right time for me to pursue a new challenge. It has been an honor to work alongside everyone at Gaming Realms and I wish them and the company every success in the future.”

Southon had been with Gaming Realms since 2013 when he and Simon Collins helped co-found the mobile developer. Collins left in October last year to take on a position with News UK.

Until a permanent replacement is found to fill the position of CEO, non-executive chairman Michael Buckley will serve as the executive chairman on an interim basis. He will work with chief financial officer Mark Segal to keep the company progressing in the absence of a permanent CEO.

Kwiff Announces Charles Lee as New CEO

On February 11, the sports betting app Kwiff confirmed that Charles Lee had been named as the new chief executive officer at the company. This move had already taken effect at the start of this year.

Lee had formerly served as the Head of Sportsbook at Kwiff, and will now be tasked with helping lead the company into their next stage of commercial development. This includes expanding operations to provide for B2B capability.

Lee is the third CEO to run Kwiff since it was established in 2014. He replaces Philip Lofgren, who served in this position for the last three years. Karl Engström helped to found the company and was its first CEO.

Lee takes over the position with a great deal of experience. He is the former head of trading of one of the leading private bookmaker operations in the United Kingdom, Fitzdares. According to his LinkedIn profile, Lee served as the Head of Sportsbook for eight months, following a four-month tenure as a consultant with Kwiff. The new CEO graduated with honors from Newcastle University in 2008 and finished an advanced development program at the Cranfield School of Management in 2017.

Lithuania passes legislation to put warnings on gambling ads

The Lithuanian parliament passed legislation that will require that all gambling advertisements contain warnings regarding issues related to gambling. This law becomes effective July 1 of this year.

The national legislature, the Vilnius Seimas, by an overwhelming majority passed the legislation during its first reading before the parliament. This new legislation gives the Lithuanian Gaming Control Authority the responsibility for determining what content will contain the warning, as well as requires them to set standards for how this determination will be made.

Mykolas Majauskas, one of the sponsors of the bill, explained: “Gambling is not an evil in itself, but as the sector develops, it is important to be able to control the risks involved and minimize the negative consequences.”

While wanting to provide a clear warning to people about the potential risks involved in gambling, he also wanted to make sure that the new law did not do anything to hamper the industry. “There is no need to jam poles into the spokes of the gaming market’s wheels in a way that would pull it off the road, but at least you need to attach reflectors.”

Anarchy ensues thanks to Nolimit’s Punk Rocker xWays

February 12th, 2020 – Ready to show its potential once more and push the limits of what the studio can do, the Malta based software provider, Nolimit City, announces their highly anticipated game, Punk Rocker xWays®. The Company also combine’s the game release with a brand-new Bet Panel face-lift, plus a promo interface housing all new promotional tools to be announced.

The team behind last year’s string of surprise hit games have worked tirelessly to bring forward a new title that combines ingenuity along with pure adrenaline and unparalleled character. Punk Rocker xWays®, brings an arsenal of features packed in a heart racing, bonkers game that can deliver a punchy potential. As the title suggests, Nolimit is reintroducing it’s registered trademarked mechanic ‘xWays®’ by combining a non-stop possibility in way-line altering combinations and upward growing ‘Molotov wilds’. Set in the iconic mid-70’s London-Punk Era, you’ll be tempted to break and pierce something.

Per Lindheimer, Product Owner at Nolimit City, said: “We hope to make games that stick out and want to get noticed for our innovative game design – this game brings this to the extreme, especially with its rowdy graphical approach that is loud and extremely up-tempo. Make sure to try out the Nolimit Bonus tool – a feature buy shortcut for you who doesn’t want to earn the Freespins through the regular grind.”

Accompanying a landmark release, Nolimit City also unveils an updated Mobile friendly Bet-Panel that’s customised to a future of mobile first game development. Additionally, the company presents a new player facing Promo tool interface which includes the possibility of buying in-game features, accessing global game results across a network of Nolimit games and more engaging player tools that will be presented over at this year’s ICE Totally Gaming conference.

Campeón Gaming Partners wins Best Affiliate Program: Casino award at the iGB Affiliate Awards 2020

Campeón Gaming Partners was awarded the Best Affiliate Program: Casino award during a highly prestigious event at this year’s iGB Affiliate Awards in London! Hard work, effort, constant focus on our affiliates and continuous development of our affiliate program, put Campeón on the winners’ pedestal for its affiliate program.

The award was received by the company’s CEO, Marinos Shiapanis, CFO, Avraam Tosounidis, and the affiliate team, comprised of Konstantinos Sarikakis, Head, and Andreza Majela, Manager. This was the very first time that Campeón Gaming Partners was nominated at the iGB Affiliate Awards, managing to stand out from the crowd and win the award! Our program’s transparency and inclusiveness were recognized, while our team’s continuous support and creation of tailor-made programs to each affiliate’s needs stood out. Our Head of Affiliates & Partnerships, Konstantinos Sarikakis, was also nominated with Campeón Gaming Partners, in the category Best Casino Affiliate Manager.

“It is a tremendous moment for Campeón Gaming Partners; we know our worth, how hard our affiliate team and the whole company has worked to get here, and how important is each and every affiliate to us.

We create tailor-made programs, based on transparency, but – on top of it all – we are there for our partners. It doesn’t matter if their requests are big or small – we treat every request with the same respect and urgency. We owe this award to our people, and we want to thank each and every single one of Campeón’s team members and especially our affiliate team for their hard work and dedication”, said Avraam Tosounidis, Campeón’s CFO.

Former Cornhuskers head coach leads group opposed to gambling

He spent the better portion of his coaching career leading the Cornhuskers football team to three national championships, but on February 11, legendary head coach Tom Osborne was in front of a Nebraska legislative committee speaking against a bill that would legalize commercial gambling in the state.

Osborne joined 1972 Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Rodgers in encouraging the legislative body to vote against the gambling expansion. “I’m just a little concerned with some of the problems that might happen in our community as far as expanding the opportunities for people to risk their savings accounts, their mortgage payments, their children’s food money,” Rodgers explained to the committee.

Osborne agreed. “Most of the really unpleasant interactions I had with fans were people who had lost a bet. I think this will change the nature of the stadium, the nature of athletics, and damage it to a significant degree.”

The two may have had great success on the gridiron, but they face a tough battle on this issue. Many within the legislature feel that gambling is a necessary evil, primarily because residents are heading across the border to Iowa to make wagers on sports. A recent survey found that 80% of Nebraskans were headed to Iowa to gamble. This is denying Nebraska the opportunity to reap the benefits of that tax revenue, and this is one of the primary forces pushing the bill forward.

Partner Benefits: Special Offer on Double Tickets to Minsk iGaming Affiliate Conference 2020 Is Valid Until February 14!

Minsk iGaming Affiliate Conference 2020 dedicated to affiliate marketing trends in the gambling sector will take place on March 5. The event will bring together top arbitrage specialists and webmasters, CIS and EU operators, representatives of СРА networks and affiliate programs, marketers, SEO experts, and many other professionals.

There is a discount on tickets for iGaming lovers:

A special offer on MiAC 2020 Business tickets is prolonged until February 14.

• 1+1 = 100 BYN more profitable.

Partner Benefits: Special Offer on Double Tickets to Minsk iGaming Affiliate Conference 2020 Is Valid Until February 14!

Minsk iGaming Affiliate Conference 2020 dedicated to affiliate marketing trends in the gambling sector will take place on March 5. The event will bring together top arbitrage specialists and webmasters, CIS and EU operators, representatives of СРА networks and affiliate programs, marketers, SEO experts, and many other professionals.

There is a discount on tickets for iGaming lovers:

A special offer on MiAC 2020 Business tickets is prolonged until February 14.

• 1+1 = 100 BYN more profitable.

Matchbook strike gold again in 2020 Smart Betting Club Awards

12th February 2020

The Matchbook Betting Podcast has beaten stiff competition to win the 2020 Smart Betting Club’s Best Betting Podcast award for a second consecutive year, securing 23.5% of the votes in the process.  The award, which recognised the Matchbook Betting Podcast for its consistent expertise and insight on football, horse racing, the NFL, and a wide range of other sports, is voted for by the betting public.

Hosts Ali Maxwell (Weekend Football), Tom Stanley (Horse Racing), Aidan O’Sullivan (NFL) and Phil Kitromilides (Champions League) have delivered weekly focused previews and insights for bettors and sports fans throughout 2019.

In 2019 Matchbook added live broadcasts to their podcast output which has added an extra community element with subscribers interacting live with hosts and guests.

Online Casino and Sportsbook BETZEST goes live with payment providers Skrill and Neteller

Malta, 12th February 2020 – Online Casino and Sportsbook Betzest announced a new partnership with leading payment providers Skrill and Neteller offering instant, safe transactions for online iGaming industry.

Skrill and Neteller are already available on Betzest cashier for both deposits and the withdrawal of winnings, offering real-time payments for players.

Online sportsbook and Casino Betzest continues increasing its operations since its launch in July 2018. Betzest is quickly becoming one of world’s leading online gambling company offering best sports betting and casino games.

Marius Filip, Founder/CMO at Betzest, said: We are delighted to conclude another new partnership with Skrill and Neteller. These innovative and safe global payment solutions providers will play an essential part in helping Betzest to facilitate transactions in key European & International target markets. A massive thank you to our Betzest team for this great accomplishment and to Skrill &Neteller Teams for their constant support during the process. We’ve had a tremendously pro-active start to 2020 with a remarkable collection of world-class payment and casino providers on the way. I’m certain the best is yet to come.”

Kamari and ZeU announce digital medical data marketplace and incentivization program for Africa

The two companies will collaborate on deploying a blockchain-based medical record and identity system across Africa

Valletta, Malta, February 11 – Kamari, an infrastructure project building a network of payments across the African continent, and ZeU Crypto Networks (CSE: ZEU), a leading Canadian blockchain technology innovation and development company, have announced a plan to roll out a new blockchain-based identity and medical record system across the African continent. This technology combined with the mobile blockchain wallet and incentive programs being built by Kamari, in collaboration with ZeU, looks to advance public health initiatives, enable individual data ownership, and drive preventative medicine for millions of people without bank accounts and digital records.

Africa’s GDP is predicted to increase from $2 trillion today to $29 trillion in today’s money by 2050. The “Blockchain Opportunity in Africa” will also have mobile technology at the center of its massive growth across the continent as the unbanked will gain access to new, life-changing financial services.

Kamari looks to develop the fundamental infrastructure that will serve Africa’s population as it doubles to two billion over the next several decades. The company has secured national lottery licenses across multiple African countries that, once built, will allow them to market to over 50 million adult customers exclusively.

A glimpse into what can be expected from AGU 2020 | Call for speakers now open

All-in Gaming Ukraine (AGU), the first of its kind will take place on 17 and 18 June 2020.

AGU is geared as an esteemed gaming summit and exhibition, with a focus on the current legalisation of gaming in the Ukraine, looking at operators, regulators and other key industry stakeholders. We foresee that AGU will be the first of many successful editions of this gaming event in the Ukraine.

Eventus International continues to keep their finger on the pulse of current developments in the global gaming industry. We are excited to share with you what will be covered at the two-day summit in Ukraine.

By attending AGU 2020 you will:

Enteractive expands partnership with Gaming Innovation Group to integrate three flagship brands into (Re)Activation Cloud®

12 February 2020, Malta (Press Release) – Enteractive has signed a deal which will see Gaming Innovation Group’s (GIG) flagship brands Rizk, Guts and Kaboo integrate with Enteractive’s reactivation platform.

The online gaming brands will enhance their reactivation performance through the addition of the Enteractive’s (Re)Activation Cloud® plug-and-play service.

The (Re)Activation Cloud® is driven by human interaction and boosts the operator’s P&L by activating inactive players. This is done by having personalised conversations on the brand’s behalf, which begins where the CRM processes end. High touch interactions require empathy and high awareness of human complexity which is lacking in automated services.

Enteractive’s tool will augment the GiG brands’ player retention rates but at the same time further strengthen the focus and work on responsible gaming that has been earlier communicated by GiG.

New progressives and branded slots, the return of legendary characters and more set for Microgaming in 2020

ISLE OF MAN – Amid the hustle and bustle at ICE London 2020, Microgaming showed that it is keeping its foot firmly on the pedal, with more than 100 exclusive titles and 240 partner games set to join its content aggregation platform.

The leading supplier took to one of the gaming industry’s must-see events to immerse guests in the range and diversity of its latest and upcoming games, which include new progressive slots, new branded content, and the return of some legendary characters.

Over three action-packed days, ICE attendees experienced a lively welcome to Microgaming’s world, with nine independent studios demonstrating some of their forthcoming exclusive creations set to provide Microgaming’s customers with even greater choice and innovation. These were complemented by an array of spectacular celebratory game reveals amped up by a professional DJ.

Kicking off ICE in its trademark style, Microgaming unveiled one of several new branded games set to launch on its platform this year with the announcement of its Game of Thrones Power Stacks online slot, developed exclusively by Slingshot Studios. The evening was followed by an exclusive party for Microgaming’s customers at the prestigious Peruvian restaurant COYA in the heart of Mayfair, London.

Environmental Institute for Golf announces new trustees

Philanthropic organization of GCSAA fosters sustainability

Lawrence, Kan. (Feb. 11, 2020) — Kevin P. Sunderman, certified golf course superintendent (CGCS) and director of grounds at Isla Del Sol Yacht & Country Club in St. Petersburg, Fla., has been appointed to the board of trustees for the Environmental Institute For Golf (EIFG), the philanthropic organization of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA).

Sunderman also serves on the board of directors for GCSAA. A 19-year GCSAA member, he is past president of the Florida West Coast GCSA and Florida GCSA. He was also previously a board member for the Environmental Research and Education Foundation.

“We are pleased to welcome Kevin to the EIFG,” John R. Fulling Jr., CGCS, GCSAA and EIFG president. “His experience and insight will help us move our mission forward.”