Monthly Archives: January 2018

NetBet launches Patagonia Entertainment video bingo content in LATAM

Tuesday 2nd January 2018 – Patagonia Entertainment has signed an exclusive agreement with NetBet to provide its localised video bingo content and third-party games.

The deal will enable NetBet to deliver exclusive video bingo solutions for its new casino launch in the LATAM region. iSoftBet is integrating the bingo content onto the NetBet platform.

On the back of this latest announcement, Patagonia’s portfolio includes over 200 titles and features third-party games from the likes of Ortiz, RCT, Zest, FBM, Spinomenal and MGA.

Patagonia Entertainment’s Pedro B said: “LATAM’s casino market is booming and we’re thrilled to be a part of NetBet’s expansion into the region. Patagonia prides itself on its unique bingo content and our games have been created with the LATAM audience firmly in mind to ensure they will be as popular as ever.”

Casino Gaming to be highlighted with 3 days of experts at Casual Connect USA 2018

At Casual Connect USA 2018, experts in social casino and real-money gaming (RMG) will be tackling major issues for both independent casino gaming developers and the casino industry as a whole. The conference’s casino track will span three days of content – including over 20 sessions from more than 45 speakers. The conference itself will include over 250 speakers and be attended by roughly 2,000 games industry professionals who work largely within the content-creation pipeline.

Attendees listen to a casino track speaker at Casual Connect Kyiv 2017.

INDUSTRY ISSUES

Several speakers will provide beneficial perspectives on the industry and magnify problems and solutions the industry will need to take in order to move forward and grow. Adam Krejcik of Eiler’s & Krejcik Gaming will provide an industry overview and experts from Partis Solutions, b spot, iGaming Capital, RSD Partners, and Flowplay will discuss what trends (blockchain, cryptocurrency, RMG legalization, sports betting, etc.) carry weight and which trends are unlikely to survive beyond the next few years.

CalvinAyre.com’s most read Bitcoin stories of 2017

There’s no question about it, 2017 is absolutely the year of Bitcoin. Over the last 12 months, the cryptocurrency underwent massive increase in value, as well as a surge in popularity all over the world. Bitcoin’s success will continue into 2018, but before we greet the New Year, let’s review the moments that shaped the fintech world’s 2017.

Bitcoin Cash is Bitcoin

It’s been a mammoth year for Bitcoin: In the past year, the cryptocurrency’s value has risen beyond analysts’—and naysayers—expectations, and resulted in wider mainstream adoption. Many of the important global retailers, including Starbucks, Subway, Dell, Expedia, Overstock.com and Microsoft, are already on board the cryptocurrency train.

2017, however, is also a year of hard forks for Bitcoin. It’s also the year that saw the rise of Bitcoin Cash.

SportPesa scrap Kenya sport sponsorships after tax ruling

Sports betting firm SportPesa has made good on its threat to scrap its sponsorship of Kenyan sporting bodies after the government’s increased gambling tax took effect.

On December 31, the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) confirmed receiving a letter from SportPesa CEO Ronald Karauri noting last week’s ruling by Kenya’s High Court that the government’s imposition of a uniform 35% tax on all gambling products was legit.

The new tax rate officially took effect on January 1. Accordingly, Karauri told the FKF that “all contracts between us stand terminated as from December 31, 2017.” SportPesa was less than two years into a five-year, Sh500m (US $4.8m) sponsorship of the Kenyan Premier League, and FKF president Nick Mwendwa said the loss of this revenue stream would be “a big blow to us.”

SportPesa is also scrapping “the full value” of its deals with Gor Hamia FC, AFC Leopards, Nakuru All Stars, Kenya Harlequins and the SportsPesa Super 8 League.

Macau annual casino revenue snaps three-year losing streak

Macau casinos completed their comeback in 2017, as the world’s top gambling hub recorded its first annual gaming revenue growth in three years.

On Monday, Macau’s Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ) released official gaming revenue figures for the month of December and for the year as a whole. The December total came to MOP 22.7b (US $2.8b), a gain of 14.5% over the same month last year and the 17th straight month of year-on-year monthly gains.

The annual figure rose 19.5% to MOP 265.7b ($33b), snapping the three-year streak of annual gaming revenue declines that the special administrative region of China has endured since the government in Beijing ramped up its anti-corruption measures in early 2014.

That year saw revenue fall 2.6% to MOP 351.5b, marking Macau’s first ever annual revenue decline since the market opened up to western operators in 2002. The decline accelerated in 2015, falling 34.4% to MOP 230.8b, and while the market began its turnaround in mid-2016, that year’s total was still down 3.3% to MOP 223.2b.