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Forza Kalamba!

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Tamas Kusztos, Head of Sales and Account Management at slots developer Kalamba Games gives us some insight into the company’s recent entry into the vibrant Italian market and what it hopes to bring to the well-established territory.

The Italian market for gambling is one of the most proven and lucrative in Europe, if not globally. From land-based and online to esports and sports betting, there’s little that a bettor can’t wager on in the country thanks to the regulated landscape it operates in. But what about newcomers like Kalamba? Is it actually advantageous for us to make our debut now? Well, there are certain benefits in that we have been able to identify some player preferences and trends which will help us hit the ground running. The market being as mature as it is also helps us to quickly get a handle on general market conditions and how regulation has progressed.
As it’s turned out, it’s actually been a very good time to do it, as online casino has grown to become the most lucrative product vertical in the Italian online market, with slot products now accounting for upwards of two-thirds of overall segment revenue of €831m in 2019 and €837m in the first nine months of 2020. As recently as last November, the 2 billion revenue mark was surpassed by regulated operators for the first time ever and that was followed by another record-breaking December, which saw a 40 per cent month-on-month increase.
Given our success in other European markets, we are sure that there will always be an appetite for fresh content such as ours and we are excited to introduce it to the Italian players.

But of course, not all European territories are the same – Italy has a very strong land-based heritage and many online operators also run betting shops. This gives us a good insight into what this slightly different player demographic enjoys. We will be looking to develop new content for the Italian market that offers the mechanics, features, and themes that the local player base knows and loves. It is all about knowing your customer and making sure our content is tailored to attract them and we will learn as we go and improve our content along the way.

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Getting us off to a good start, we have a really broad portfolio of titles with our 50th game being launched later this year. We offer players a range of different themes and have been working hard to develop our signature features. Some of our best loved ones are HyperBet and HyperBonus, which allow players to adjust the volatility level of the game and to shortcut into bonus rounds. Coupled with exciting themes and a slick user interface, this means we can really cater for all demographics. We have a packed roadmap for 2021 which will see us take our content to new heights.

But having those games alone isn’t the whole picture, we need to align ourselves with the right local partners to gain the best possible insight. As a supplier, you only have access to part of the performance data of your games with operators holding the other important piece of information. It is therefore crucial to work closely with operators to get a 360 view of how well our content is performing in the market and what kind of content players prefer. We have talked with some of our partners in detail about the market trends and we will certainly take it into consideration when creating games. We are however confident that our unique offering will carve out a decent market share with our fresh approach towards slots.

That approach is also evident in our player engagement and part of our Bullseye RGS, which has been doing particularly well since its introduction last year. We have already released Big Win Replay, where players can go back and watch their big wins repeatedly. Our data shows that this significantly increases the engagement levels compared with players who choose not to use it. Building on that, we’re soon to include our own unique take on the classic Jackpots feature, while later this year, we’re set to introduce some really fresh and exciting gamification tools that will increase engagement and retention levels with players.

So all in all, it’s exciting times in Italy and with our powerful combination of innovative games and promotional tools, we’re confident we can take advantage and push forward to become one of the leading suppliers there.

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Evoplay expands Baltic presence with new Optibet collaboration

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Evoplay, the award-winning game development studio, has announced its latest partnership with leading Baltic operator Optibet, part of Entain, marking a strategic expansion in Lithuania and Estonia.

Through the agreement, Optibet now offers over 70 of Evoplay’s premium slot titles to its customers in both markets, including popular games such as The Greatest Catch Bonus Buy, Elven Princesses, and Fruit Super Nova.

Optibet, part of global gaming giant Entain, is a trusted operator across the Baltics, providing Evoplay with a solid foundation to grow its presence in the region.

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This exclusive partnership underscores both companies’ commitment to delivering top-tier gaming experiences and increasing engagement within these key markets.

Ihor Zarechnyi, CBDO at Evoplay, said: “We’re thrilled to partner with Optibet, a trusted name across the Baltics, to bring our games to players in Lithuania and Estonia.”

“This collaboration marks an important step in our commitment to expanding in regulated markets and offering tailored experiences that resonate with local audiences.”

Janis Bariss, Entain Head of Gaming Baltics & Nordics, said: “Optibet is dedicated to providing our players with the best in gaming entertainment and partnering with Evoplay allows us to deliver an exciting range of content that adds real value to our portfolio.”

“Evoplay’s innovative approach and diverse game selection will be a fantastic addition to our online casinos in Lithuania and Estonia, and we’re looking forward to seeing the impact it has on our audience.”

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Revolver Gaming Welcomes Simon Hammon as Board Advisor

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Revolver Gaming is delighted to announce the appointment of Simon Hammon as its new Board Advisor.

With an illustrious career in the gaming and iGaming sectors, Simon brings an exceptional depth of expertise to support Revolver Gaming’s growth ambitions in the online gaming sector.

Simon Hammon is a seasoned leader in the gaming industry, having previously served as CEO of Relax Gaming, where he played a pivotal role in driving the company’s growth and cementing its position as a leading content aggregator and developer. Prior to his tenure at Relax Gaming, Simon held the role of Chief Product Officer (CPO) at NetEnt, where he oversaw the development of an award-winning portfolio of games and spearheaded major innovations in the sector.

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“We are thrilled to welcome Simon to the Revolver Gaming team,” said Ryan Lazarus, CEO at Revolver Gaming“His extensive experience at the helm of industry-leading organisations like Relax Gaming and NetEnt makes him uniquely qualified to help us strengthen our position in the iGaming landscape. Simon’s insights and strategic vision will be invaluable as we continue to push the boundaries of game design and expand our global presence.”

As Board Advisor, Simon Hammon will work closely with Revolver Gaming’s leadership team to refine the company’s strategic direction and expend its position in the fast-evolving iGaming industry. Under Simon’s guidance, Revolver Gaming aims to broaden its market reach, enhance its product portfolio and delivery service, and solidify its collaborations with operators across the globe.

“Revolver Gaming has established a strong foundation for growth and is a hidden gem on the verge of breaking through to the next level,” said Simon Hammon“The company has a well-earned reputation for creating innovative and highly engaging games, and I’m thrilled to join at such an exciting tipping point. The talent and vision within Revolver Gaming are exceptional, and I look forward to helping the team realise its ambitions and achieve its full potential.”

The post Revolver Gaming Welcomes Simon Hammon as Board Advisor appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Samurai Studio shoots for the stars in Babel Builder Accumulator

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Innovative indie developer invites players to stack up towering wins in an all-new cyber punk-themed slot released via the SwinttStudios partnership programme

Get ready to hit the neon streets of a space age city in Babel Builder Accumulator – the new cyber punk-themed slot from up-and-coming software provider, Samurai Studio, where scaling towering megastructures can lead to colossal wins of up to 8,082x the bet.

The third Samurai Studio game to be released via the pioneering SwinttStudios programme, Babel Builder Accumulator is a five-reel, 20-payline slot set in a gritty, urban landscape. Featuring a pulse-racing, techno-inspired soundtrack and high-tech cast of androids and augmented humans as its symbols, the game really does an outstanding job of conveying a dystopian future.

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Of course, this rampant advancement of technology is not without its perks – and Babel Builder Accumulator boasts a couple of standout features to help players stay ahead of the game. First of all, on any given spin Mirror Reels can trigger to turn two or more columns into identical copies of each other, significantly boosting the odds of landing multiple matching payout combinations.

Secondly, landing three or more scatter symbols in any position will activate the Accumulator Bonus. Whenever this happens, players will be granted three free re-spins with an initial in-game multiplier of 1x, 3x or 5x depending on the number of triggering scatters. With the reels now only displaying prize symbols worth between 1x and 50x the selected bet, whenever players land a prize, not only will the re-spin counter reset, but they’ll also fill one section of the progress metre.

Once six sections have been completed, a random multiplier of 1x, 3x or 5x will be added to the accumulator total – which can reach a maximum of 30x – with this process repeating until no new prizes arrive and the re-spin counter hits zero. In this manner, the feature can be prolonged indefinitely for truly epic wins, and players can also enter the bonus directly for an additional bet.

David Mann, Chief Executive Officer at Swintt, said: “We’ve already been treated to some incredible releases from Samurai Studio – and Babel Builder Accumulator might be the best yet!

“Featuring an eye-catching cyber punk aesthetic, atmospheric soundtrack and an incomparable Accumulator Bonus where players can scale their way to maximum wins of 8,082x their bet, the game really does have all the makings of a modern slot and we’re delighted to be able to use our existing network of casino partners to help Samurai Studio reach new audiences worldwide.”

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The post Samurai Studio shoots for the stars in Babel Builder Accumulator appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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