Industry News
Sports and Gaming – Playing by a New Set of Rules
The pandemic has brought the sports industry to its knees but against the backdrop of global crisis, opportunities have arisen for others. While the sports business is set to lose as much as US$61.6 billion1 in missed revenues by the end of the year, the gaming sector, on the other hand, will generate revenues of $159.3 billion, a +9.3% year-on-year increase.2
Although largely driven by unforeseen circumstances, the pandemic has highlighted the large gulf in the prioritisation of fan experience between the two. As OZ Sports CEO Gudjon Gudjonsson explains, the sports industry has much to learn from gaming if it is to maintain and grow its global fanbase.
If there is one positive element to come out of this all for the sports industry, it is that leagues, federations and teams have had to rethink their way of doing business. The pandemic has accelerated innovation on various fronts. This is especially the case with the return of sport behind closed doors, with the need to remotely manage the production of leagues and make fans feel part of the live experience from the comfort of their homes.
The temporary state of the live sports sector, with limited or no fans in stadiums, has only amplified a bigger and more recognisable challenge. Pandemic or no pandemic, studies show that 90% of fans are unable to watch their favourite team in their home stadium due to factors such as location or finance.
At OZ Sports, what COVID-19 has taught us is that we need to accelerate our vision in making the fan experience more interactive and engaging. The new generation of fans expects to be able to share their experiences without geographical boundaries. OZ is keeping sports more relevant, broadening the fanbase by opening up the physical stadium.
This is where we have looked to gaming. The prioritisation of user engagement has seen games companies constantly explore new ways to deliver content to consumers. As a result, gaming platforms are becoming social networks in their own right and established social platforms are seizing this opportunity to invest further in games to maintain and grow their user database. Gaming is driving forward the reality of the metaverse – virtual social spaces that are always open, always on, and always expanding.
So, what does that mean for the sports industry? We are still in the early days of sports broadcasting, and there is a lot we can learn from gaming. Our thinking around the intersection of sports and gaming can be seen everywhere in the OZ Sports strategy. It’s in how we think, how we work, and how we innovate as a company. As a tech business with influential investors from the gaming industry, we foster a different culture than traditional sports broadcasting companies.
Our tech stack is ours, from end-to-end. We mostly leverage technologies on how we do sports production that has until now mostly belonged to gaming companies, which opens up a totally new world for us. At the core, we have our gaming engine, built on a robust machine learning software stack that analyses what is going on in the game, in real-time. From there we further develop our broadcasting technologies, with a layer for services like augmented graphics and avatars, to applications like tracking or a more intuitive replay system, to name but a few. This allows us to work differently as a team of innovators and compete more creatively as a company.
By embracing everything that the gaming industry is positively doing to engage with its fans, we see the world of sports broadcasting becoming far more interesting than it is today. Out of the pandemic, we will see new companies that have succeeded, and these new leaders will foster far more vibrant communities around live events. Gen Z will have emerged with different needs and the more popular short format of sports storytelling will continue to rise.
New exciting technologies will continue to surface in the market that better serve fans’ sports esteem. Use of avatars will be the everyday normal, by representing the digital you in the new metaverse. Fans will be able to instantly express their emotions in the moment of the game, wherever they may be in the world, empowering fans to communicate in ways that are difficult to accomplish in today’s world.
The future of live sport is an exciting one; by embracing gaming technologies OZ Sports will continue to innovate at this intersection. Sports broadcasting as we currently know it is about to change forever, and we’re excited to be at the forefront of that transformation!
Industry News
Allwyn Launches Player Protection Lab

Allwyn, the lottery-led gaming entertainment company, has announced the launch of Allwyn Player Protection Lab, a global responsible gaming initiative aimed at supporting novel research and innovation to advance player safety.
Opening immediately for applications, the programme will support academics and experts working in the field of responsible gaming to explore new ideas, concepts and perspectives. Applicants are encouraged to submit proposals focusing on one of three key areas: digital innovation; using messaging to drive positive play; and developing effective safety tools.
Following the open call for applications, awards will be made for successful projects of up to €100,000, dependent on the scope of the prospective proposal.
The project demonstrates Allwyn’s commitment to developing global leading practice in responsible gaming. The call for applications will ensure Allwyn is casting the widest net and has the best chance to uncover new and interesting approaches to protecting players.
Nicole Garrett, Head of Responsible Gaming at Allwyn, said: “The Player Protection Lab is an exciting new avenue for Allwyn. Our responsible gaming team is seeking proposals that will encourage progress in player safety and break new ground in our industry. We hope that by opening the application process, we will have the opportunity to explore genuinely new ideas and draw lessons from other sectors.”
The call for proposals will run until 14 November.
The post Allwyn Launches Player Protection Lab appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Industry News
Creedroomz Introduces Cashout Blackjack

Creedroomz has launched Cashout Blackjack, a new version of its popular Live Blackjack game designed to redefine player engagement. This major update features a groundbreaking Side Bet Gamble mechanic, a completely redesigned UI and other key enhancements that deliver a new standard of excitement.
The Side Bet Gamble is an industry-first feature that gives players total control over their side bet winnings. Unlike traditional bonus rounds that are passive or tied to specific game events, this optional decision occurs only for players who have won a side bet, right at the end of the round after the last dealer card has been dealt. Players are given a choice: Gamble their winnings for a chance to double their payout, or Skip and keep their original amount. This high-stakes, real-time decision point transforms every win into an exhilarating risk-reward moment.
Cashout Blackjack also includes a suite of powerful updates:
Sleek New UI: A fully redesigned interface built for seamless usability on all devices.
Rebalanced Side Bets: Payouts have been rebalanced to make side bets more compelling and rewarding.
Auto-stand applied on hard / non-splitable scores of 17, 18, 19 and 20.
The new Cashout Blackjack, complete with the Side Bet Gamble feature, is now available to all Creedroomz partners. This launch underscores Creedroomz’s strategic vision to provide partners with groundbreaking tools that ensure they remain at the forefront of the competitive iGaming market.
The post Creedroomz Introduces Cashout Blackjack appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Industry News
Onlyplay Releases Gold Oktoberfest Video Slot

Onlyplay has released its latest game Gold Oktoberfest! This vibrant video slot takes you straight into the heart of the world’s most joyful celebration, where laughter fills the air, the smell of grilled sausages drifts through the crowd and every corner glitters with the promise of unexpected treasures. From the very first spin you are no longer just a player – you are a guest of honour at the grand Oktoberfest, with reels that shine like freshly polished beer mugs and symbols that dance with colour and flavour.
The reels are alive with frothy mugs of beer, golden pretzels, hunter hats with bright feathers, shining hops and bursting wursts, each symbol bringing a little more of that irresistible Bavarian charm to your screen. The mascot himself, a cheerful fellow in traditional costume with a hearty laugh and a stein in his hand, welcomes you into the game with warmth and good fortune, reminding you that this is not just a slot – this is a festival of joy, risk and reward. Every spin feels like another toast, another clink of mugs, another chance to step closer to the treasure hidden beneath the foam.
As the game unfolds, the atmosphere grows more intense. You feel the adrenaline rush with every coin that lands, the suspense when the reels slow down, the electricity of risk turning into triumph when the screen lights up with a jackpot win. Mini, Major or even Grand – each prize feels like the ultimate cheer from the crowd, a standing ovation of golden confetti and roaring applause. And when the bonus round begins, it’s like the music swells, the lights grow brighter and the party rises to a whole new level, carrying you on a wave of excitement that never seems to end.
The post Onlyplay Releases Gold Oktoberfest Video Slot appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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