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Spain Spotlight: Relax’s upcoming Spanish debut

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3 years ago

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Reading Time: 4 minutes

 

In the second of our two-part series on Spain, Alba Monroy, Regional Business Manager at Relax Gaming, talks through the award-winning provider’s plans for its Spanish debut – as well as the post-pandemic growth opportunities available to suppliers and operators.

Looking at Spain’s performance over 2021 and into the beginning of this year – how much has the market recovered post-pandemic and what are we seeing in terms of trends for verticals?

While 2021 proved to be a difficult year for almost every vertical within the gaming sector in Spain, there are signs for recovery, with online casino enjoying better fortunes than most. I believe this is down to the growing popularity of slots and live casino games, mostly driven by the shift of players moving from land-based to online.

What’s genuinely exciting about this part of the casino space is that there is still a lot of room for growth, especially given that there are some talented slot studios operating within the Spanish market, and I fully expect a number of new and established studios to begin operating in the region in the not-so-distant future.

With regards to live casino products, I feel that there’s still a notable gap in the market here and there aren’t too many suppliers that cater specifically to the Spanish market. This lack of offering means that there’s prime opportunity for someone to come in and take the initiative – as it’s certainly ripe for disruption.

When it comes to online do you see potential for this year to return to business as usual? Are there any strong growth areas our readers should be keeping an eye on?

There’s no doubt the environment for operators in Spain is a challenging one, things became even more difficult in 2020 when the Royal Decree on the Commercial Communications of Gambling Activities was introduced, significantly restricting all gambling advertising.

That being said, I still think that there’s significant space for the iGaming market to grow within Spain. New products and features within games are beginning to create notable trends within a certain demographic of players. The new demographics of players are also starting to appreciate and enjoy innovative content that provides them with that same videogaming they’re experience accustomed to.

Looking back, when iGaming was first regulated within the country more than a decade ago it was simple three-reel slots and table games that reigned supreme, mainly because that was all that was on offer. Nowadays that’s all different – casino players are inundated with exciting content that offers them added value such as table games with side bets and online slots with engaging bonus features and lucrative jackpots.

What’s the current climate for retail and how much do you see land-based players acquired by online to continue there? Is it a case of players returning to their preferred channel once most restrictions are lifted in the coming months?

The pandemic helped the gaming industry in Spain move from something that was primarily land-based towards more of an online landscape, very much resembling something we already see in established regulated markets across Europe.

There will always be players out there that prefer the experience of physically going into a casino and playing games surrounded by other people with real dealers, however, I think a lot of these players have now begun to realise the opportunities that the online casino brings.

The vast offering online casino can bring far outweighs its land-based counterpart, there are so many different games players can access in an instant through a computer or their mobile device. It’s evident that land-based casinos have no way of competing in this sense, you just can’t get the same vast range of products there as you can online.

In addition to this, with current restrictions we can’t predict when or if players will return to casinos en masse, and in many ways, there’s not really any reason for them to do so if they feel comfortable playing games at home or on-the-go when playing from their phone.

How do you see the enhanced marketing restrictions currently coming into force in Spain? Will it affect the jurisdiction’s development, and do you see it as a challenge for operators to differentiate themselves?

Marketing spend within Spain started to decline dramatically back when the pandemic first began, this can be pinpointed to when operators were banned from promoting their brands. Of course, the Royal Decree that followed then only made things even more difficult for operators and suppliers.

Frustratingly, things still aren’t getting any better for them. Advertising restrictions are getting tougher and tougher, pushing operators to focus on other areas such as their product selection and variety of games

That’s why at Relax Gaming we are trying to have the best slots content, as well as the best partners for Spain, so we can at least help them offer some differentiation.

Given Spain’s passion for sports betting, how much potential do you see for introducing sports fans to casino verticals? What’s key for attracting interest?

Cross selling is key regardless of the market, it’s certainly one of the best ways to drive growth. Even though instant sports games aren’t that popular in Spain, I do believe that this a good direction for operators to go. We’re currently entering the Spanish market with one of our partners that offers instant sports games. I believe they offer a great opportunity and with the right strategy can help introduce players to other verticals – it will be very interesting to see how they perform.

Last but not least, talk us through the Spanish online environment when it comes to online tech – do the likes of platform provision vary at all when compared to neighbouring markets such as Italy and the UK?

iGaming, just like the rest of the world, has experienced large-scale disruption due to the pandemic. These disruptions have brought in some significant changes in terms of both employment, delivery execution and restrictions to growth potential.

It’s encouraging to see that we’re starting to get back to some degree of normality now as restrictions soften, both of us as individuals and as professionals within the iGaming industry. We’re under no illusions that it might take a while, but we’re slowly returning to business as usual.

There are huge growth areas within iGaming in Spain, and now trends are starting to set in amongst players, however this is mostly rooted in existing factors that have been on the table for the last year or two, so we’re still waiting for greater innovation, as we’ve already mentioned, it is in many ways ripe for disruption!

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The White Label Dilemma: Finding the Right Balance for Your iGaming Business

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1 day ago

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August 27, 2025

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It’s not just black and white label

Yoni Sidi, CEO at Wiztech, says white labels are all about striking the balance between pros and cons, but for some, it’s impossible to achieve and that’s why it’s important to consider other options.

 

For most operators, a white label solution seems to offer the best route to market. But is that actually the case?

I’ve been working in the industry for more than two decades now, and over that time, I’ve worked on both sides of the fence – so on the white label operator side and on the white label provider side. This gives me a deep understanding of the pros and cons of white label solutions, and this understanding ultimately led me to launch Wiztech. To answer your question more directly, white labels are always about striking the balance between the pros and cons they present – for some operators, a balance can be found, but for others, it can’t. Ultimately, it comes down to knowing what you want from your platform or technology stack, and whether a white label can meet those requirements with the budget and resources you have available to you.

 

So, what are the pros and cons of a white label platform?

There are plenty of upsides to white labels, and that’s why they’re used by so many operators. The main advantages are speed to market and cost effectiveness – you can literally go from first discussions to your online casino being live in a matter of weeks. The upfront fees are relatively small, and, in most cases, you pay a revenue share back to the platform provider. This can tighten margins a little, but it means you don’t have to have a large capital reserve to get going. Another benefit is that you can take on as much or as little of the operation as you like – for some, they will let the platform provider take care of the operational aspect while they focus solely on marketing and customer acquisition. Other upsides include licensing, with the white label partner securing and being responsible for the licences they hold.

Drawbacks. The biggest for me is the lack of differentiation you get with a white label. The many brands that run on the platform often look very much the same, just with different logos and branding. After a few months of operating your online casino, you’ll likely notice friction points that you’ll want to address, but the rigid nature of white-label platforms means it’s incredibly difficult to smooth out even the smallest of bumps in the road. It’s also incredibly difficult to roll out unique features and functionality as the development team is usually working through a backlog of requests – most of which are for the friction bumps that need ironing out. Factor in the frequent regulatory changes that happen, and the need for the development team to respond to them, and it’s easy to see how hard it can be to improve the experience being offered to players.

 

How can operators strike a balance between the pros and cons of white labels?

It comes down to understanding the capabilities of the platform provider and whether they offer customisation and localisation. If they don’t, the operator needs to determine if this is a price they’re willing to pay in exchange for the speed to market and cost effectiveness that white labels provide. Of course, some white label providers do offer support and are happy to help when it comes to developing and deploying bespoke features and functionality. But in my experience, most don’t have the capacity for this, even if they say they do. For me, the balance is found by accepting the limitations of white labels and working within the (often pretty rigid framework) they provide. There are plenty of examples of operators that have done this and have gone on to run very successful brands in highly competitive markets.

 

Is there an alternative to white labels?

The most obvious alternative is to develop a proprietary technology stack, but this approach comes with just as many, if not more, pitfalls. Building a platform from the ground up is incredibly expensive and tremendously risky, and this is why so few operators outside of the industry power players have been able to pull it off. And even those that do often encounter issues such as ongoing maintenance, tech debt, staffing and compliance. But there is a middle ground between white label and proprietary, and it can be found with smaller platform providers whose technologies offer the agility, flexibility and adaptability required for operators to launch highly customised, almost bespoke, online casinos and sportsbooks.

 

How does Wiztech fit into the platform mix, and how do you support your partners in achieving their goals in often highly competitive markets?

At Wiztech, we champion modular tech and the likes of AI and automation. By embracing these, we have been able to build powerful yet highly customisable casino and sportsbook solutions that are also fully compliant in tightly regulated markets. In our experience, being able to quickly respond to regulatory changes provides a competitive advantage to our customers. In Mexico, for example, our client Winpot has been able to deliver a unique player experience while always ensuring compliance. And this is against a backdrop where regulatory changes often come with very little notice. Our technology can adapt quickly while Winpot continues to capitalise on the growing demand for entertaining online casino products and experiences.

But just as important as our technology is our approach to our partners. This sees us undertake a comprehensive onboarding process where we spend a lot of time understanding the client’s “why” before we map out the “what” and the “how”. This has proved to be incredibly effective and ensures that our clients can get the most out of the flexibility of our platform and the high levels of customisation and personalisation it provides.

The post The White Label Dilemma: Finding the Right Balance for Your iGaming Business appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

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The UX Revolution: Why Gaming Corps’ Website Redesign Reflects the Industry’s Digital Shift

Published

3 days ago

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August 26, 2025

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Reading Time: 3 minutes

How Gaming Corps’ Website Redesign Mirrors the Industry’s Shift Toward Seamless Digital Journey

The online gaming industry is a whirlwind of constant change, and to stay ahead, companies must evolve their digital presence. Juha Kauppinen, CEO of Gaming Corps, explains why the company’s recent website redesign was more than a simple visual update. It was a strategic move to better reflect the company’s growth, showcase its expanded portfolio, and create a seamless digital experience for partners and stakeholders.

 

 

What prompted the decision to redesign the website?

We had clearly come to a natural point in Gaming Corps’ growth, so the need for a redesign just naturally became obvious.

We’ve had many new game releases, record-breaking quarters, and the launch of our Remote Gaming Server, so it became clear to the team that we needed a website which better reflected who we are today.

It wasn’t just about a fresh look, it was about making it easier for partners to explore what we offer and connect with us in a more intuitive, seamless way.

 

How does the new site better reflect who you are as a business today compared to a year or two ago?

A year or two ago, we were still finding our footing and growing our portfolio.

But today, we’re a more established, ambitious company with a clear identity and vision. The new site reflects that shift – it’s more polished, more dynamic, and built to showcase not just our games, but our capabilities as a partner and platform provider.

 

What were the most important improvements you wanted to make during the redesign — and why were they important for your users or partners?

We wanted to ensure the website reflected how we present ourselves as a modern, innovative studio.

So, we now have a more modern, user-friendly design and a UX that’s more intuitive. What this means is that the site is easier to use, whether you’re a client, partner or stakeholder.

Speaking of partners, it’s now easier for them to understand what we do and explore our games.

We’re very proud of the Gaming Corps portfolio, so now we can showcase it much better, with clearer vertical distinctions between our Mine, Smash4Cash and Plinko games, etc.

When it comes to us as a company, we can now highlight our careers section to support our drive for talent acquisition and to keep growing our fantastic team.

Finally, the new site also gives more prominence to our investor relations, reflecting our position as a listed company and offering clarity on that.

 

Were there any common pain points, feedback, or gaps in the old site that influenced your approach to the new one?

The main product offering wasn’t clear to partners or visitors. The site design felt outdated and more suited to an early-stage company, and those days are long behind us now.

Our investor relations content wasn’t visible or prioritised enough, considering that we’re a PLC, and existing partners weren’t highlighted.

The old site just didn’t reflect who we are, what we do and what we can do. The new one does all of those things.

 

How important is your website today in terms of attracting or informing potential partners, clients, or stakeholders? Has that role changed in recent years?

Our website has become a much more important touchpoint for us, especially as we’ve grown internationally and have expanded what we offer to our B2B clients.

Our site is often the first chance we get to make an impression on potential partners or stakeholders, so it needs to communicate who we are, what we offer, and where we’re going.

The role of our website has evolved – it’s no longer just a digital brochure; it’s a core part of how we connect and do business.

 

What would you say to other companies in the B2B iGaming space thinking about refreshing their digital presence?

Don’t underestimate the impact of a strong digital presence, because it’s more than just visuals.

It’s about clarity, usability, and showing your value at a glance.

Also, involve your people from across the company early on, as this helps create something that truly reflects your brand and speaks to your audience.

The post The UX Revolution: Why Gaming Corps’ Website Redesign Reflects the Industry’s Digital Shift appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Scale isn’t everything: Why agility is the new advantage in live casino

Published

4 days ago

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August 25, 2025

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Reading Time: 3 minutes

Live casino’s rise has been meteoric, but the recent slowdown at the top end of the market suggests the next phase of growth won’t come from scale alone. As the sector matures, Ady Totah, CEO at LuckyStreak, explains why agility, hands-on management and a sharper product focus are fast becoming the new competitive edge.

 

There is a perception that the biggest live casino providers are the most capable. Is bigger always better?

It’s easy to assume that the biggest brands automatically deliver the best service, but with scale comes complexity. For larger organisations, adding new features or reacting to a regulatory update can take weeks or even months, especially when decisions span multiple time zones or teams have long approval chains.

At LuckyStreak, while we’re an established business with a large, dedicated workforce at our live dealer studio in Riga, our management team remains intentionally small and hands-on. In many ways, we operate more like a start-up, with fast, focused leadership at the core.

Myself and my co-founder Erez Cywier are closely involved in the day-to-day operations. This proximity shortens decision making processes, speeds up product assessments and empowers us to act quickly. We’re not tied down by long-winded protocols or bureaucracy.

A perfect example of this agility came when we saw an opportunity in the growing sweepstakes market. We already had the foundations but needed to adapt quickly. In just one quarter, we delivered compliant user interfaces, multi-coin virtual currency systems and configured both our own live games and third-party content to meet the unique needs of the sweepstakes audience. This is the kind of rapid pivot that is only possible when your decision-makers are hands-on.

 

How do boutique providers keep product planning sharp and strategic?

Knowing what matters and prioritising ruthlessly is what allows smaller providers to remain competitive in the market, when faced with more established, Tier 1 names. Speed, however, does not mean shortcuts.

We are sharpening our performance across the board and ensuring our roadmap gives us the flexibility to act when new opportunities arise. Effective product planning is all about focus. That means tuning out the industry noise, resisting trends for the sake of trends, and asking: what delivers real impact for our partners?

While some companies struggle under the weight of large and inflexible roadmaps, we have the luxury of being selective in what we build, and that makes our product roadmap  more actionable, more tailored and therefore more valuable to our partners.

 

How can providers keep up with rising regulatory pressures?

Operating across multiple jurisdictions means navigating a complicated patchwork of compliance frameworks, licensing rules and technical standards quickly.

Compliance is not a support function, but a core part of the business. For larger businesses, these regulatory changes may present disruptions, but our size and structure allow us to react quickly and stay ahead of the curve, without compromising on quality.

To maintain both speed and quality, we moved from traditional Agile sprints to a continuous integration and deployment (CI/CD) model. Instead of bundling releases every two weeks, we push updates multiple times a week. This means we can react quickly to feedback, ship improvements faster, and keep our platform evolving without unnecessary delays.

 

Why is a more focused approach the future of live casino?

The criteria for what operators need from their live casino provider is changing. Reliability, flexibility, speed and compliance support are becoming just as, if not more, important than table count. We design everything with these qualities in mind, and we back that up with a strong culture of ownership and continuous delivery. This mindset allows us to innovate quickly, without sacrificing the robustness our partners expect.

In this new landscape, being lean, focused and responsive isn’t a limitation. In live casino, a genre requiring significant on-going operational investment, the providers that thrive are not always the biggest, but the smartest and the ones who can adapt fastest.

The post Scale isn’t everything: Why agility is the new advantage in live casino appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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