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The game has changed for online casinos
David Natroshvili, founder of SPRIBE, the company behind Aviator, assesses the state of play for online casinos as we come to the end of 2024
For me, 2024 will go down as the year that changed the game for online casinos.
Over the past 12 months, a revolution has swept across the market in a way we’ve not seen before. From the games players play to the ways they pay, things are changing and they are changing fast.
Slots no longer dominate game lobbies and where once players used to prefer to deposit with debit cards, it’s now crypto such as Bitcoin and Ether.
The companies providing the games players play have changed, too, with some now considered among the most innovative technology and entertainment companies on the planet.
This includes SPRIBE, the company I founded.
So, what have been the biggest changes we’ve seen in 2024 and what impact have they had on the sector? Let’s get into it.
Slots no longer dominate game lobbies:
For many years, it’s been blockbuster slots from the top-tier providers that have dominated online casino game lobbies and certainly topped the player charts.
But that’s not the case anymore.
Increasingly, players are being drawn to non-traditional content in the form of Mines, Hi-Lo, Goal, Plinko and of course, Crash.
SPRIBE developed the original crash game, Aviator, which now has more than 42 million monthly players across the 4,500+ online casinos that offer it.
For those that give it a full marketing push at launch, it can account for more than 10% of total casino GGR – a remarkable figure when you think about it.
Online casinos must now offer non-traditional games if they are to engage Millennial and Gen Z players, but also meet the changing preferences of existing players.
Crash games in particular have broad appeal because of the fast-paced big risk/big reward gameplay. That Aviator is multiplayer and packed with social interaction has also been key to its success.
It’s why they are so popular with all player types and why titles such as Aviator can have a direct and significant impact on casino GGR.
Crypto casinos setting the standard for others to follow:
Aviator gets much of its DNA from the fascinating world of crypto casinos which continue to push boundaries when it comes to engaging with players and the experiences they deliver.
Regulators remain cautious when it comes to crypto, but you only need to look at the runaway success of the biggest crypto casinos to see consumer demand is incredibly strong.
Crypto casinos gave birth to non-traditional content, wrapping gambling elements around popular video games such as Minesweeper and for me, they continue to set the benchmark.
Not only that, but these casinos understand how to connect with players where their attention can be found – streaming, social media, etc – and have such powerful brand values and identities.
Then of course you have the way crypto is connected to the entire experience, and how these operators have ensured the smoothest UX.
Traditional online casinos need to take note and step up to the mark being set or risk losing more players to these brands.
Game providers entering multi-million-dollar marketing partnerships:
One of the biggest changes for me has been how studios are now directly marketing their games to players – again, this is something we have pioneered with Aviator.
This includes our first-of-its-kind partnership with the UFC which sees the Aviator logo appear inside the Octagon at Fight Night and PPC events.
It also created a brand ambassador fund which allows us to run marketing campaigns with superstar athletes such as Alex Pereira.
Other studios – I won’t say who – have entered similar deals but not quite to the same degree. We are also close to unveiling another major deal in the coming weeks.
These marketing deals drive huge awareness for Aviator and ultimately mean operators must add it to their lobbies to meet player demand.
So, there you have it – this is how the game has changed for online casinos in 2024, and I expect the pace of evolution to be just as fast in the coming 12 months.
The post The game has changed for online casinos appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Seneca Gaming Corporation has appointed Cynthia Liu, an accomplished brand leader with extensive experience in hospitality, travel and leisure, as its Chief Marketing Officer.
A key member of the senior management team, Liu will lead strategic marketing initiatives for the corporation and its three world-class gaming properties, Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino in Niagara Falls, NY, Seneca Allegany Resort & Casino in Salamanca, NY, and Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino in Buffalo, NY, as well as Seneca Hickory Stick Golf Course in Lewiston, NY. She will oversee areas including brand strategy, advertising, digital transformation, player development, revenue management, group sales, database marketing, entertainment, and loyalty programs.
“Cynthia is a dynamic executive and leader with a vision to bring renewed energy and elevated awareness to our properties and the experience we offer our guests. We know that our Seneca properties represent the best places to work, stay and play. With Cynthia’s vision, we are going to make our brands, and the promise behind them, stand out in new and exciting ways,” Seneca Gaming Corporation President and CEO Kevin Nephew said.
Liu brings more than 20 years’ experience to Seneca Gaming Corporation, including a wealth of expertise in launching new brands, creating impactful integrated marketing strategies, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to achieve shared business goals. She was most recently Vice President of Global Brand Management for Travel + Leisure Co., where she led brand marketing strategy supporting $2 billion in sales revenue and elevating brand awareness for over 20 brands. Throughout her career, she has held global marketing positions with companies such as Caesars Entertainment, Las Vegas Sands, and Wyndham Hotels & Resorts.
“I am thrilled to be part of Seneca Gaming Corporation and its exceptional culture. I am passionate about brand building. SGC has great history, a solid brand portfolio, beautiful properties, efficient operations, and a loyal guest base. I look forward to working with our team members to tell compelling brand stories and cultivating lasting relationships with current and new guests,” Liu said.
The post Seneca Gaming Corporation Appoints Cynthia Liu as its Chief Marketing Officer appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
On 22 January 2025, the Sanctions Committee of the French National Gambling Authority (ANJ) met to examine a procedure referred by the ANJ Board concerning the operator SPS Betting, which had allegedly failed to comply with its obligations relating to the self-exclusion system offered to players on the Unibet website and application. The Committee confirmed the breaches and imposed a public penalty of €800,000, justified by the large number of players who were unable to benefit from this protection system. This decision, which is unprecedented in its scope, is a reminder of the Committee’s commitment to penalising operators who fail to meet their obligations to prevent excessive gambling.
In 2021, following reports, the ANJ services discovered a computer malfunction on the “Unibet.fr” application and website for devices using the iOS operating system. According to estimates by the ANJ and the operator, several thousand players who had requested self-exclusion for a period ranging from several weeks to several months were likely to have been able to play again within a few days. In fact, players self-exclusion requests made in months were automatically converted to days. Therefore, a player who requested a twelve-month self-exclusion was only self-excluded for twelve days.
For players who wish to take a break from gambling because they feel vulnerable or need to take a step back, the legislator has introduced a system of self-exclusion from gambling.
Online gambling operators must provide players with a mechanism enabling them to request their exclusion from gambling. Players are free to determine the duration of their exclusion, which must be a minimum of 24 hours and a maximum of 12 months.
The malfunction at Unibet occurred from 2 March 2021 to 11 December 2022 before being fixed by the operator. However, during an update, the malfunction reappeared and affected players playing on an iOS device from 29 December 2022 to 2 February 2023. In total, the anomaly persisted for almost 22 months.
In view of these repeated malfunctions and given their duration and seriousness, particularly regarding the prevention of excessive gambling, the Sanctions Committee confirmed the breaches observed and imposed the following penalties:
• A fine of 800,000 euros;
• The publication of the decision in the Official Journal of the French Republic;
• The display, from 17 to 31 March 2025, on the homepage of the ‘Unibet.fr’ website and the Unibet applications, of a box mentioning this sanction and referring to the press release published on the ANJ website;
• The publication of the non-anonymised decision on the ANJ website, from the date it is pronounced and for one year (until 3 March 2026). After this date, the decision published on the ANJ website and on Légifrance, as well as the associated press release, will no longer allow the operator to be identified.
This decision may be appealed to the Conseil d’État within two months of its notification.
The post ANJ Sanctions Committee Imposes €800,000 Fine on SPS Betting appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
International Game Technology has won seven awards at the 2025 EKG Slot Awards Show. The EKG Slot Awards Show is a performance-based, annual programme produced by Eilers & Krejcik Gaming (EKG) that recognizes excellence in slot game development in the casino gaming industry. IGT won the most awards of any gaming industry supplier, taking home trophies for seven of the program’s 25 categories.
IGT won the following categories at the 2025 EKG Slot Awards Show:
• Top Performing NEW Premium Game: Tiger and Dragon Cash on Reels
• Most Innovative Land-Based Game: Tiger and Dragon Cash on Reels
• Top Performing 3rd Party IP Branded Game: Whitney Houston Slots
• Top Performing Game – EMEA: Magic Treasures Dragon
• Top Performing NEW Video Poker/Keno Game: Mega Hot Poker
• Top Performing NEW Online Table Game: Blackjack Poker & Pairs Surrender
• Best Overall Supplier of Online Content: IGT PlayDigital
“IGT winning seven awards at the 2025 EKG Slot Awards Show is a significant achievement that speaks to our performance momentum across multiple product categories and the immense talent and dedication of IGT employees worldwide. We look forward to continuing to help our customers benefit from these strong IGT themes in 2025 and beyond via follow-up games for Tiger and Dragon, Whitney Houston Slots, Magic Treasures and Mega Hot Poker,” said Nick Khin, IGT President, Global Gaming.
“It was exciting to see IGT PlayDigital honored at the 2025 EKG Slot Awards Show in the most esteemed iGaming category, ‘Best Overall Supplier of Online Content,’ and recognized with the ‘Top Performing NEW Online Table Game’ award for Blackjack Poker & Pairs Surrender. Developing and delivering market-leading content and performance tools is a cornerstone of IGT PlayDigital’s strategy and I wish to congratulate the entire team on these remarkable accomplishments,” said Gil Rotem, IGT PlayDigital President.
The post IGT Wins Seven Awards at the 2025 EKG Slot Awards Show appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Seneca Gaming Corporation Appoints Cynthia Liu as its Chief Marketing Officer
ANJ Sanctions Committee Imposes €800,000 Fine on SPS Betting
IGT Wins Seven Awards at the 2025 EKG Slot Awards Show
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