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The long-awaited opening of the German market has arrived

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Catalin Negoita, Commercial Manager at Kalamba Games

The long-awaited German legislation allowing online gaming nationwide finally enters into force this week. Even before fully opening up, the market has become a key focus for many industry players, with a multitude of factors making the potential of the region an attractive proposition.

Firstly, there is the sheer size of the country itself. With a population second only to Russia in Europe and relatively high average earnings, the potential value of the player pool is vast. The second reason is perhaps more subjective, but we have found that German players are fairly easy to satisfy. Their preferences are well established, which makes it straightforward for an online casino supplier to adequately cater for this sizeable new clientele.

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Because of the country’s strong history of land-based gambling, classic games that resemble titles found in brick-and-mortar venues with popular themes like ancient Egypt and book games work very well with local players. Taking inspiration from what works in the land-based sector is therefore often a safe bet in Germany. Mobile usage is also a lot higher than your average market because of the good infrastructure so it’s worth considering creating games that are optimised for mobile.

Strict rules and regulations around responsible gaming and player protection have already presented some challenges for the industry with slot suppliers required to make fundamental changes to the makeup of their content.

Operators must adopt a €1 maximum stake limit on online slots, alongside a 5-second minimum duration on slot spins. Jackpots will be banned, removing an important acquisition and retention tool for operators. Monthly deposit limits of €1,000 will also be introduced and players must be offered tools to set spending and time limits, along with cooling-off periods.

These restrictions will influence the shape of the market with the main effect being that retention will have a greater focus than in many other markets with fewer restrictions.

Despite being a hot topic in the industry for quite some time, providers will now be trying even harder to retain more players for longer and will have to be creative in order to succeed. Legislative changes are part of every regulated market and it is key for operators and suppliers to embrace them and try to adapt as best we can. We are known to be a very innovative industry and I’m sure as the market matures, we will see pioneering new ways to acquire and retain players while ensuring maximum player protection.

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Basically gamification, customer service and the quality of games in general will be the differentiator in the German market, and that is for both providers and operators to address.

Gambling will become more of a social thing because the maximum limit is so low. It’s not exactly going to be the thrill of winning big – it will be the social aspect and making sure that retention factors, gamification side missions and different functionalities are top notch.

You could say a laser-like focus on promotional tools and social gaming elements, such as those that we are introducing on our own Kalamba Bullseye platform, are going to be very important. Basically, everything that enhances the player experience will be key such as promotional tools, UX elements, and/or in-game gamification features. Similarly, game production values will have to be high and match those of other entertainment media.

At Kalamba, we believe that Germany will be a very strong market. The way to monetise the market will just be a little bit different there. There won’t be VIP players, so the industry will have to adjust to a volume model. Player values will decrease but because of the social acceptance of gaming, and slots in particular, the player numbers will increase and that’s how it will balance itself out over time.

Initially, when the legislation comes into force, we will just have to analyse the player behaviour and see in what direction the market is going and how we can fully capitalise on this new opportunity. Germany will be a market that could completely change with providers having to adapt to the new conditions as there will be a lot of new players entering the market now that it’s completely regulated.

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We must work very closely with our partners to figure out the best way to make the player experience as engaging as possible and this will lead us to success in this new and exciting environment.

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Bragg Gaming Continues Global Expansion, Powers Kingsbet.cz Launch with an End-to-End iGaming Solution

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Bragg Gaming Group has launched its full turnkey solution with Czech land-based casino operator Kings Entertainment A.S. (Kings). Kings will operate their online business in the Czech Republic under the brand Kingsbet.

Under the terms of the agreement signed between the two parties, Bragg will provide Kingsbet with Player Account Management (PAM) technology, exclusive content from Bragg studios, aggregated online casino content via the Bragg HUB and a fully localised sportsbook integration in partnership with Altenar.

Bragg provides Kingsbet with an all-in-one solution with powerful automation and marketing tools to seamlessly run its casino and sportsbook operations.

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Bragg’s FUZE player engagement toolset for casino and sportsbook is also included, helping boost acquisition, conversion and retention with tools such as Free rounds, Missions, Quests, Journeys, Recommendation engine and Jackpots.

Kingsbet will additionally be supported by managed marketing and operational services delivered by Bragg.

The agreement and subsequent launch is the latest in a string of deals that Bragg has struck to provide its technology solutions to operators across global regulated iGaming markets, and is the Company’s second PAM and turnkey partner in the Czech Republic.

Bragg Group Chief Executive Officer Matevž Mazij said: “We are proud to be chosen to support Kings Entertainment, a leading European entertainment, casino and poker brand with our full-service turnkey solution as they transition their market leading Czech operations online.”

“The new regulations make this an exciting time to be in the Czech market,” Mazij added.

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David Vaněk, Chief Executive Officer of Kingsbet, said: “Over the past 8 months, both teams worked very hard to prepare the launch of “kingsbet.cz” ahead of the EURO championship. I’m proud that we are the first licensed betting and gaming operator in the Czech Republic who have undergone a rigorous and very demanding licensing process and are currently the sole operator fully compliant with the new Gambling Act, effective as of January 2024.

“Kingsbet will offer players ‘The King’s experience’ in sports betting and casino, and we plan to launch a Live casino product by the end of this year. Bragg’s platform will enable us to enter the Czech market with powerful tools and a highly competitive product offering.”

Founded in 2003, Kings Entertainment operates three land-based casinos: the Kings Rozvadov, Admiral Rozvadov and Hilton Prague properties. At Kings casino in Rozvadov, known as the biggest poker arena in Europe and a premier gaming destination, a variety of poker tournaments including W.S.O.P. are held attracting more than 500,000 visitors per year.

Kings has a 40% share of the Czech land-based casino market and now has ambitious plans to expand into online gambling, an expansion which will be supported by Bragg technology and expertise.

The Czech online casino market is projected to achieve approximately $1 billion in gross win in 2024, according to H2 Gambling Capital. This figure represents growth of 30% on a year-over-year basis from 2023’s figures.

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Under previous Czech gambling regulations, operators were only able to offer online RNG games explicitly licensed under the Czech Gambling Act.

Following pressure from operators, this list was widened to include live dealer games (live casino), an amendment which came into force on January 1, 2024.

The inclusion of live dealer games was one of a number of amendments made to existing Czech gambling laws, the most wide-ranging of which was the introduction of a new streamlined licensing regime for operators.

The post Bragg Gaming Continues Global Expansion, Powers Kingsbet.cz Launch with an End-to-End iGaming Solution appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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GR8 Tech Opens New Hub in Warsaw, Poland

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An award-winning iGaming platform provider, GR8 Tech, opened its newest hub in Warsaw, Poland, on June 6, 2024. As a company committed to a remote-first model since the pandemic, GR8 Tech continues to support its diverse international staff by offering flexible and comfortable working conditions. In addition to assisting in home office arrangements, the company also provides local hubs in target locations where employees are concentrated and hiring activities are underway.

These hubs, available in several locations across Europe, including Cyprus, the Czech Republic, and, from now on, Poland, offer employees the opportunity to work in an office-like environment if they choose. This initiative is part of GR8 Tech’s ongoing efforts to ensure that its employees have the best possible working conditions in any location they choose to work from—efforts that have been recently recognized with the “Best Workplace 2024” title by SiGMA Americas Awards.

The new Warsaw hub will serve as a convenient workspace for the 80+ specialists already located in Poland and all new employees joining the company. It will also be available to any GR8 Tech employees traveling internationally who require a professional environment to work from.

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The opening of the Warsaw hub aligns with GR8 Tech’s broader strategic activities across Europe and specifically in Poland. Recently, GR8 Tech participated in the largest Polish IT festival, Code Europe, held on June 10-11 in Krakow, as the technology partner, with GR8 Tech’s Chief Talent Officer, Tetiana Davydova, holding a talk on “Mastering the Science of Negotiation: Secrets to Successful Dialogue in Tech” at the event. GR8 Tech will also participate in the Devoxx conference in Krakow on June 19-22 as a partner. The company’s Deputy CTO, Pawel Grzegrzolka, will hold a talk on “Integrating quality gates in IaC”.

To learn more about GR8 Tech and its upcoming activities, visit the company’s website and join its communities on LinkedIn and Facebook for business-related topics or Instagram for the highlights of the GR8 work environment.

 

About GR8 Tech

GR8 Tech is an international iGaming provider of high-performance Sportsbook and Casino platform. Holder of the “Best Workplace 2024” title by SiGMA Americas, “Best Online Sportsbook Provider 2024” by SiGMA Eurasia, and, most recently, “Rising Star Provider of the Year” by Affpapa iGaming Awards.

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GR8 Tech’s flagship product, GR8 Sportsbook, renowned for its exceptional event coverage and robust feed, manages heavy user loads with real-time anti-fraud processing and advanced margin management capabilities. Complementing the Sportsbook, GR8 Tech’s portfolio includes the GR8 Casino platform and vital standalone products like CRM, payment gateway, player account management, etc.

Focused on the personalized approach and lifetime partnership, GR8 Tech perfectly alleviates iGaming operators’ challenges by delivering customized, scalable solutions that evolve with business growth.

The post GR8 Tech Opens New Hub in Warsaw, Poland appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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KJM Endorses IDVerse to Tackle Rising Concerns Over Minor Protection

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The Commission for Youth Media Protection (KJM) has officially endorsed IDVerse, a leading provider of online age verification solutions, to address the growing need for enhanced minor protection. This endorsement comes in the wake of concerning statistics from the Javelin Report, which underscores the critical importance of safeguarding children online. With 54% of households not monitoring or restricting their children’s online activity, the risk of exposure to harmful content is significantly heightened. KJM’s endorsement of IDVerse is a significant step towards robust and comprehensive solutions for protecting minors online.

KJM, as the central oversight body for youth media protection in Germany, plays a crucial role in evaluating and endorsing effective age verification and protection systems. Comprises experts from federal and state media authorities, KJM ensures that digital content adheres to stringent youth protection regulations. The organisation’s endorsement is a significant mark of credibility and reliability for solutions like IDVerse.

The Javelin Report, a comprehensive study on online safety, reveals that more than half of households do not monitor their children’s online activities, leading to increased risks of identity fraud and exposure to inappropriate content. The lack of oversight amplifies the need for advanced technological solutions that can provide a safer online environment for minors.

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By endorsing IDVerse, KJM champions innovative solutions that prioritise the safety and well-being of minors in the digital age. IDVerse’s advanced age verification technology offers a proactive defense against online threats, ensuring that minors are protected from identity fraud and inappropriate content. This endorsement is particularly valuable for the iGaming market, where preventing underage gambling is a critical concern.

Peter Violaris, Head of Global Privacy at IDVerse, said: “We are honored to receive the endorsement of KJM, which validates our unwavering commitment to minor protection and online age verification. The alarming statistics on unmonitored online activity among children underscore the critical need for robust solutions.

“At IDVerse, we have developed cutting-edge technology that not only protects children but also respects the privacy of all users. Our system ensures that only the necessary information is shared and that data is securely handled and promptly deleted after verification. Together with KJM, we are dedicated to creating a safer online environment for children worldwide.”

The endorsement of IDVerse by KJM sets a precedent for future initiatives aimed at enhancing minor protection and safeguarding children from age-restricted or inappropriate content. It underscores the importance of collaboration between regulatory bodies and industry leaders in addressing the evolving challenges of the digital landscape.

The post KJM Endorses IDVerse to Tackle Rising Concerns Over Minor Protection appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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