Monthly Archives: August 2017

SKS365 chips away at Bet365’s Italian online sports betting lead

Online gambling operator Bet365’s stranglehold on Italy’s online sports betting market is loosening, according to July’s official results.

Figures shared by Italian gaming news outlet Agimeg show Italian-licensed bookmakers generated total sports betting revenue of €86.5m in July, up 4% from June’s total. SKS365 topped the operator charts with a combined retail/online tally of €11.7m, just ahead of Snaitech’s €11.5m, while Eurobet ranked third with €9.8m.

Bet365 ranked sixth on the overall chart with €7.9m, but this was enough to put it atop the online betting chart. SKS365’s Planetwin365 brand wasn’t far behind with €6.5m, while Snaitech and Eurobet tied for third place with €3.3m. Total online betting revenue amounted to €38.3m, up 11.3% from June.

Italian-licensed bookies will get a further boost now that the country’s economy and finance ministry has approved them offering Asian handicap betting and cash-out features.

Black-market Asian online ops drive Playtech’s H1 gains

Gambling technology provider Playtech reported double-digit gains in revenue and earnings in the first half of 2017 thanks to a strong performance by its online casino division.

Figures released Thursday show the UK-listed Playtech’s revenue hitting €421.6m in the six months ending June 30, a 25% rise over the same period last year. Adjusted earnings rose 19% to €171m while net profit jumped 84% to €89.6m.

Playtech’s mainstay casino operations continued to lead the revenue pack, rising 26% to €235.5m, for which the company credited a “particularly strong performance” by its Asian grey- and black-market online gambling licensees. Despite this reliance on legally sketchy markets, the company’s share of total revenue from regulated markets rose two points to 50% during H1.

In other positive developments, sports betting revenue more than doubled to €19m following last year’s BGT acquisition, bingo improved 70% to €9m following last year’s Eyecon deal and ‘other’ revenue shot up 148% to €10.3m. The only negatives were services (€76.5m, -6%) and the iPoker division (€5m, -5%). Mobile channels accounted for 38% of online software revenue, up from 29% a year ago.

Glück Games partner with SidePlay

‘Casual real-money games’ aggregator announces another new games portfolio partnership

Gibraltar, 24th August 2017

Glück Games, the Gibraltar and Berlin-based ‘casual-real money games’ developer, aggregator and technology provider, has announced a new partnership with Jersey-based iGaming studio, SidePlay Entertainment.

SidePlay Entertainment has a catalogue of 170+ games created over 14 years, which have received over 60million plays. This new partnership will provide SidePlay with distribution to Glück Games’s rapidly-growing list of operator partners. The first games that this partnership will lead yield are Sushi Master and Clusters.

Betting on Data track explores the implications of artificial intelligence at #BOSCON2017

The latest developments in Artificial Intelligence, Live Betting Data and CRM will be tackled on the Betting on Data track – part of the Betting on Sports Conference by SBC Events (12-15 September).

Asking the question: ‘How can AI be effective in terms of a sports betting environment?’, the first Betting on Data panel features the insight of CEOs from some of the leading companies in the field, including Quibit CEO Graham Cook, whose company has introduced machine learning to a number of processes that it provides to the industry.

Also on the panel, which is being moderated by Ficom Leisure’s Christian Tirabassi, is David McDowell, CEO of platform provider FSBTech, and Paul Reilly, CEO of media agency Media Skunk Works, who have both been using AI to improve their services.

Completing the panel is James Waterhouse, Founder of horseracing analysis firm Equotion, who commented: “I want to share my experiences as a big data / AI entrant into the market, and look to find partners with whom we can work to deliver on the commercial possibilities of this great new technology.”

Travellers seeks US$14.11M in insurance

Philippine-listed casino operator Travellers International Hotel Group Inc. (TIGHI) is running after a PHP721 million (US$14.11 million) in insurance claims to offset the big chunk of PHP921 million (US$18.03 million) worth of losses from the Resorts World Manila arson attack in June.

The Manila Standard reported that the insurance money will help recover most of the multi-million losses that TIGHI incurred from extending assistance to affected families and repairs to the physical damage to a portion of its property, including gaming furniture and equipment in the casino area.

The insurance money will cushion TIGHI’s total losses from the incident to PHP158.8 million (US$3.11 million) from the total PHP921 million (US$18.03 million).

“As opined by external counsel, based on the reports from the insurer’s adjusters, and taking into consideration the reports of the pertinent government agencies, there is strong legal ground to believe that the claim related to the June 2 incident will not be disallowed,” TIHGI said.

Yggdrasil’s best kept secret unearthed in the Valley of the Gods

24th August, 2017 ­­–  Egypt’s hidden past comes to life in Yggdrasil Gaming’s latest slot, Valley of the Gods, featuring an army of flying scarab beetles ready to dig up huge treasures.

The epic game sees the scarabs scuttle around the game field, initially removing blockers and later granting multipliers and extra lives.

Players will look to hit winning combos throughout the game to release the holy golden scarabs. Once the scarabs have helped to clear the board, ancient incantations are invoked and the legendary beetles help players gain immortality through extra lives and multiplier bonuses. Multipliers bestow a boost to wins and extra lives grant players additional shots at extending their winning runs.

Valley of the Gods also showcases premium graphics, with in-depth detail bringing the mysterious tombs of the ancient Egyptians to life. It features a finely crafted soundtrack, fully immersing players in the action.

Genting Singapore shifts business priority to mass market

Genting Singapore PLC, which has been reliant to VIP high rollers in the past years, is moving to lure more mass players to its facilities amid dampening VIP credit quality.

Bloomberg Intelligence reported that the Genting Singapore is pivoting away from the VIP segment in casino gaming as the number of heavy-hitting gamblers from China dwindles as a result of the on-going crackdown from their government on corruption and capital outflows.

Data showed that the volume in Genting’s VIP segment has significantly dropped 76 percent since the first quarter of 2014. The data is in contrast with the casino operator’s mass market segment which is slowly becoming its bread and butter.

The same data showed that most of Genting’s casino revenue since the final quarter came from the mass market segment, with turnover of US$250mil to US$300mil.

We’re back: FanDuel, DraftKings re-enter Delaware market

Daily fantasy sports giants DraftKings and FanDuel are back in the state of Delaware – just in time for the Sept.7 NFL season kickoff.

The Boston-based and New York-based firms are heading back to Delaware this Friday after House Bill 249 takes into effect.

Gov. John Carney’s signed enabling legislation last month to make Delaware the 14th state to legalize and regulate fantasy sports in the US.

Of course, it is a natural reaction for both FanDuel and DraftKings to become super excited to return to Delaware, especially when they think about the money they could earn from the state.

Nepal casino construction delays take a toll on Silver Heritage

Australian-listed casino operator Silver Heritage Group Ltd. continues to take a beating from the construction delays of its Nepal casino project, with losses ballooning by as much as 114 percent in the first half of the year.

Silver Heritage Group Ltd. on Wednesday told the Australian Stock Exchange that its net loss swelled to US$3.5 million in January to June 2017 from U$1.6 million in the previous year.

The company attributed the losses to the construction of Tiger Palace Resort in Bhairahawa, Nepal, which was initially projected to open last February. It would be recalled that the Group postponed the opening of Tiger Palace to August due to financing issues.

Silver Heritage, however, announced that the opening date of its hotel segment will again be pushed back to September, spelling yet more losses for the firm. Tiger Palace Resort Bhairahawa’s original cost had been estimated at $40 million but construction delays have pushed the Nepal casino resort’s price tag to $51.8 million.

Becky’s Affiliated: How Bitcoin is set to transform the online poker world and beyond

Bitcoin, blockchain tech and crypto in general are set to disrupt the entire world and the process has already begun.  Today I wanted to take a look at the poker world in particular and how the ability to use a decentralized currency and build on the blockchain promises to transform the industry.

There are a number of blockchain enthusiasts within the poker community, some who have made a lot of money in trading crypto, some who enjoy playing in Bitcoin, some who can see how blockchain tech will ensure fairness of their game and some who simply recognize just how big this technology is and how it will change the world.

To learn more about poker’s relationship to crypto, I spoke with a professional poker player, Daniel, who wishes to remain anonymous.  Daniel first heard of crypto-currencies about five years ago when one of his friends got into mining, but due to the complexities of the practice, Daniel didn’t take much notice.  Shortly thereafter, professionals in Daniel’s circle starting buying Bitcoin to trade and make a profit using MTGOX, a platform that was also a bit complicated for Daniel’s taste.  It wasn’t until he heard of CoinBase that Daniel actually got involved with Bitcoin.

“This exchange seemed quite easy to operate, and at the time the only thing you had to do in order to buy Bitcoin was connect a bank account and place an instant order, similar to trading any sort of stock or security through E-Trade etc”, Daniel shared.

The Hand of Aces gets creative for The Zeal Network

The Hand Of Aces, Design Agency for the Gambling, Lottery and Casino sector, has designed cross-platform Digital Branding and Marketing collateral for myLotto24.ie; the Irish arm of The Zeal Network’s leading Global Lottery Betting Company.

Creatively assisting with myLotto24’s Rebrand from it’s previous Tipp24 identity, design solutions include engaging visuals for the main digital brand and it’s associated products; across multiple platforms including Social Media, Landing pages and Digital Advertising formats.

myLotto24 is part of The Zeal Network and the home of lottery betting. It is the biggest Lottery bookmaker in the world, offering players the chance to bet on the outcome of multiple global lotteries.

Matt Loomis, Creative Digital Director of The Hand Of Aces commented: “We’re thrilled to continue our involvement with this exciting brand and strengthen our relationship with the forward thinking Zeal Network. In this current climate, where the sector focus is on heavily on Digital Transformation, AI, eCurrencies, and being Disruptive, it’s important to recognise that engaging visual creativity is also paramount; it’s great to work with a company that shares the same values”.

iGaming Idol proudly presents iGaming Academy as Educational Partner

August 2017, MALTA – iGaming Academy will this year be supporting the innovative iGaming Idol event, which brings together the best of the best of the gaming industry. Happening on the 26th September 2017 at The Hilton, Malta, iGaming Idol recognises companies and individuals who have consistently excelled through ground-breaking strategies and progressive ideas in their working practices.

iGaming Idol aims to set a standard in the Gaming Awards Industry with the ultimate objective of promoting greater employer initiatives and attracting young talent towards an iGaming career. To this end, as the Educational Partner of iGaming Idol, iGaming Academy believes that by offering winners the chance to learn more about a different vertical of the industry through their courses, they will equip themselves with more knowledge to thrive further within their existing roles.

Jaime Debono, Managing Director of iGaming Academy commented by saying, “We are glad to support this rewarding initiative as it is in line with our company’s ethos, in that our existence is all about helping companies increase their chances of business success therefore improving the industry.”

The initial strategy behind the iGaming Academy was to build a knowledge bridge between the potential iGaming workforce and the companies within the industry. This concept grew over time and iGaming Academy expanded its client base not only from the general public, but also directly from gaming companies. Moreover, its range of courses has increased over the last year into the four key iGaming business pillars – Compliance, Product, Acquisition/Retention & Management training.

Lottoland relaunches affiliate programme with Income Access

Revamped affiliate programme for global online lottery betting brand is powered by Income Access affiliate platform

Montreal, QC – August 2017 – Lottoland, a Gibraltar-based online lottery brand allowing players to wager on a range of international jackpots, has relaunched its affiliate programme in partnership with Income Access, Paysafe’s iGaming-focused marketing software and services provider. The revamped Lottoland affiliate programme has migrated to Income Access’ award-winning affiliate platform.

Founded in 2013 and licensed by the UK Gambling Commission and Gibraltar Betting & Gaming Association, Lottoland allows players to bet on the outcome of some of the world’s largest lottery draws. Accessible in seven languages as well as English, the brand features transnational European lotteries EuroMillions and the EuroJackpot; American lotteries PowerBall and MegaMillions; the UK Lotto; the German national lottery; the Swedish national lottery; four Australian lotteries; and various other national lotteries in Europe, Asia and Latin America.

In April 2017, Lottoland added WorldMillions to its offering. The brand’s first independent lottery product offers players the chance to win guaranteed jackpots of up to £100 million twice a week.