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Playing Across the Divide: Lessons that iGaming Can Learn from the Video Game Industry

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In the rapidly evolving world of iGaming, the industry finds itself at a fascinating crossroads. Gameplay mechanics, social gaming options, player-to-player competitions, and bonus features have become increasingly complex, and player demand continues to grow.

The days of creating slot games with the same old themes and gameplay features are long gone. Players want a more engaging experience, and one place the industry can find this is by looking across the virtual divide into the world of video games.

A Source of Inspiration

Video games are, in many ways, the defining entertainment medium of this generation, and there are a lot of lessons that iGaming can learn from them.

One thing that has become clear in recent years is that players want a more enriching and engaging iGaming experience. There are several ways to do this; one is through incorporating engaging characters, themes, and narratives into gameplay, and the other is through social features, rewards and interactions.

Video games have succeeded in both areas, with the online gaming boom of the last decade or so highlighting how effective community building and player competition can be. Leaderboards, multiplayer options, tournaments, and social interactions drive player engagement and have been effectively utilised.

A More Personalised and Social Experience

iGaming has, for years, been a solitary experience. Players log in to their online casino accounts, hit spin and play alone. The invention of crash games and more enhanced live-casino games has begun to change this, but there is still much room for growth. Developers can take their game offerings to the next level by incorporating these social, interactive elements.

To make these social experiences feel all the more personal, games and casinos can offer players the chance to customise avatars, profiles, and themes. We have seen this be a massive success in many free-to-play battle royale-style games that have dominated the online gaming world for the last decade.

Adding a personalised touch or striving towards more unlockable content keeps players engaged and returning for more. The latter point is something that is easy to imagine entering the world of iGaming, with players tracking progress and unlocking bonuses/features as games progress.

Developers do not need to wait to make these changes regarding compelling themes and narratives. More intriguing characters or stories in gaming can be an incredibly effective way of gaining traction. Story-based game progression, such as what we offer in our Gates of Hellfire slot, can significantly impact the gaming experience.

A Shift in Mindset

These changes must be implemented from the beginning of the creative process.  Slot developers, to truly get the most out of their games, must be looking at their games as a form of entertainment right from the very beginning.

If you look at your slot game as a standard slot, that is all it will be. By approaching the creative process differently, developers can find new ways to entertain their audiences and stand out in an incredibly crowded marketplace.

Of course, pretending there are no obstacles to overcome would be foolish. The gaming industry has vast budgets and many more resources than your standard iGaming company. There is also a much stronger demand for regular content in the iGaming space, with many studios streamlining their creative processes and being able to churn out games regularly. These are all obstacles that developers will need to work around, with advancements in technology no doubt playing their part.

Players’ expectations will continue to rise in the coming years, and iGaming companies must be prepared to adapt. The video game industry is an obvious source of inspiration, not just in terms of gameplay and narrative but also for player retention and marketing. Online slots and games must now be able to offer a more complete experience than ever before, and at Gaming Corps, we aim to be a part of that movement.

 

Author: Connor Blinman, Head of Games at Gaming Corps

The post Playing Across the Divide: Lessons that iGaming Can Learn from the Video Game Industry appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Carlo Santarelli

Gaming and Leisure Properties Inc. Names Carlo Santarelli Senior Vice President, Corporate Strategy and Investor Relations

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Gaming and Leisure Properties Inc. announced that Carlo Santarelli has been appointed Senior Vice President, Corporate Strategy and Investor Relations, a new position at the Company. Mr. Santarelli will begin his new position on August 18, 2025 and will report to GLPI President and Chief Operating Officer, Brandon Moore.

Mr. Santarelli brings over 25 years of Wall Street experience in Equity Research and Investment Banking to his new role and joins the Company from Deutsche Bank where he was Managing Director of Gaming & Lodging Equity Research. Prior to Deutsche Bank, Mr. Santarelli held similar positions at Bear Stearns, JP Morgan and Wells Fargo. He consistently ranked highly in Institutional Investor and other sell-side analyst research polls as a thought leader in the space, providing unique perspectives on industry events and trends with his data-driven approach and stock picking talent. Carlo Santarelli graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a B.A. in Economics in 2000.

Peter Carlino, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of GLPI, said: “We’ve known and respected Carlo’s research work on the gaming, lodging and gaming REIT sectors for many years. Carlo brings to GLPI an in-depth knowledge of the industry and its participants, having experienced GLPI’s original formation of the gaming triple-net-REIT structure from a research analyst and capital markets perspective. We value his deep network of contacts among institutional investors, sell-side analysts and a wide range of gaming industry operators and we look forward to the value of his contributions.”

In his new role, Mr. Santarelli will work with Mr. Carlino and GLPI’s senior management to develop and evaluate growth opportunities and strategic relationships, and will oversee investor relations interactions.

The post Gaming and Leisure Properties Inc. Names Carlo Santarelli Senior Vice President, Corporate Strategy and Investor Relations appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

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VIP Play Announces Departure of Chief Financial Officer

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VIP Play, a technology-driven leader in interactive consumer engagement, announced that Jim Mackey, the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, will step down from his role, effective August 8, 2025.

The Company has initiated a transition process and is in the process of identifying a successor. Mackey will assist in an orderly transition over the coming weeks.

“We thank Jim for his contributions to the Company, particularly during a transformative period for our business. We remain focused on executing our strategic priorities, including financial visibility, operating efficiency, and delivering value to our stakeholders,” said Les Ottolenghi, CEO of VIP Play.

The post VIP Play Announces Departure of Chief Financial Officer appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

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eSports

Esports Charts Becomes Official Viewership Analytics Partner of StarLadder Budapest Major 2025

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Esports Charts, the leading esports viewership analytics provider, has partnered with StarLadder, a pioneering tournament organiser. The Budapest Major 2025 marks a highly anticipated comeback for StarLadder, as it is their first Counter-Strike Major since 2019 and a significant return to the top-tier esports arena.

As the official analytics partner of the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025, Esports Charts will provide comprehensive, real-time audience data and insights throughout the event. This will empower organisers, teams, sponsors and fans with unparalleled transparency and a deeper understanding of the tournament’s global reach.

Artyom Odintsov, Co-founder and CEO of Esports Charts, said: “We are thrilled and proud to provide viewership analytics for StarLadder for the Budapest Major 2025. Since both Esports Charts and StarLadder are Ukraine-born companies, we share similar values and deal with similar challenges, which brings us even closer.

“It’s genuinely exciting to follow how viewership will develop at this Major. But knowing the expertise, drive, and passion that the organizers are bringing, I have no doubt we’ll witness some incredible things happen in Budapest.

“Esports Charts has always been driven by a mission to provide the esports community with accurate, actionable data, and we look forward to showcasing the impact and audience engagement of this world-class event.”

StarLadder has been a driving force in global esports for almost 15 years now, since hosting its first tournaments in 2011. Renowned for its innovation and reliability, the company has organised some of the industry’s most iconic events. These include the StarLadder Berlin Major 2019, which accumulated over 44 million hours watched and remains in the top 10 CS events by this metric, and the legendary StarSeries tournaments which started back in 2012.

Viacheslav Shcherbakov, Sales and Partnerships at StarLadder, said: “We’ve been working with Esports Charts since their founding and have always valued their professionalism and integrity. In a market where reliable data is essential, Esports Charts provides honest, transparent numbers, exactly the kind of insights sponsors and stakeholders rely on when assessing the potential reach of a World Championship event.

“We’re confident that this partnership will result in a high-quality analysis of our tournament’s performance and the audience data we’ll report to our partners. It’s a collaboration built on trust, shared values, and a deep understanding of what it takes to elevate esports to the next level.”

The Starladder Budapest Major 2025 will be held from November 24 to December 14 in Budapest, Hungary. The event will bring together the world’s top 32 Counter-Strike 2 teams to compete for a $1.25 million prize pool and one of the most prestigious titles in esports.

The post Esports Charts Becomes Official Viewership Analytics Partner of StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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