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SoftGamings, an online casino platform provider and games aggregator based in Malta, has signed a partnership deal with Wazdan, an innovative games provider from Malta itself. The company expects the deal to power up the slots available on SoftGamings casino platform.

SoftGamings products portfolio boasts of more than 40 gaming suppliers and over 3000 games, with the addition now of Wazdan’s catalogue that incorporates the Unique Wazdan Features.

These include the world’s first Volatility LevelsTM, Energy Saving Mode, Double Screen Mode and Unique Gamble Feature which deliver outstanding player engagement and casino revenue across Wazdan’s HTML5 slots for mobile, tablet and desktop.

Wazdan joins a who’s who of game developers on SoftGamings platform including NetEnt, Microgaming, BetSoft, Endorphina, Habanero, Booming Games and WorldMatch, amongst others.

Wazdan’s portfolio of over 110 HTML5 slots including 2018 iGB Live! releases Fruits Go BananasTM and Spectrum will be available along with recent releases.

These include Great Book of Magic Deluxe, 9 Lions, Double Tigers, Sizzling 777 Deluxe, Hot Party Deluxe, Corrida Romance Deluxe, Football Mania Deluxe, Corrida Romance Deluxe and Highway to Hell Deluxe.

Upcoming games include the eagerly anticipated Los MuertosTM, a game which celebrates the unique Mexican holiday Day of the Dead, Mayan Ritual a slot that explores the mystery of the lost ancient culture of the Maya, and Slot Jam, a fruity game with juicy cash prizes.

Irina Sazonova, director of partnerships at SoftGamings, said: “Online casino is increasingly important, and our partnership with Wazdan ensures we keep highlighting that.”

“Wazdan’s high-quality games, especially their mobile-friendly technology and award-winning content will significantly enhance our players’ casino gaming experience as well as satisfying operators with the world’s first Volatility LevelsTM, a feature we’ve been wanting to introduce on the B2B side since we saw it at ICE.”

Head of sales at Wazdan Andrzej Hyla said: “We’re very excited to see our casino portfolio go live on SoftGamings platform, and we’re confident that our cutting-edge technology and content will add additional dimensions to the casino offering.”

“We are also delighted to start working with such a respected and well-established platform as SoftGamings. Our mission of making Wazdan’s games available to the biggest operators in the industry is closer with deals like this one, 2018 is a great year for us to keep expanding our reach.”

This year Wazdan has signed with some of the biggest names in the industry including EveryMatrix, Videoslots, SlotMillions, Tipbet, Iforium, iSoftbet, Evenbets, Groove Gaming, Globalplay, Tipbet, Rabbit Entertainment and now SoftGamings, among others.

Source: Press Releases Published on European Gaming Media Network…

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AMATIC Industries has found success in Hungary with its land-based casinos and an attractive array of traditional, tried-and-tested games through Grand Casino and Onyx Casino Debrecen, which together attract more than 100,000 customers each year.

The flagship casino has obtained license from the Hungarian Gaming Commission to operate a brand-new online casino including games from AMATIC’s online division Amanet. Grand Casino underwent a long and stringent auditing process with a prominent, internationally recognised auditing company to ensure that it more than adequately made provision for the strict guidelines established by the commission.

The Amanet online games take up a prominent position in new online gaming business. The online casino www.grandcasino.hu has just been successfully launched. With a young team supported by international iGaming veterans, Grand Casino recognises the importance of not just acquiring new players, but retaining existing players by providing them with an unforgettable and entertaining experience. Thus, the new online casino offers a wide range of popular AMATIC games, including All Ways Fruits, Bells on Fire, Billy’s Game or Hot Twenty, just to name a few.

 “AMATIC Industries is a key partner for our casino,” explained the Grand Casino Management Team. “The stylish cabinets with MULTI GAME have been a success since day one. The real difference that AMATIC makes is the games. AMATIC has a great mix of game titles that have been excellently designed and proven very popular with our customers. We are very pleased that we can offer these games for our online business as well.”

“We create each and every game ourselves,” explained Mrs. Tatjana Bauer-Engstberger, responsible for the Amanet online gaming division at AMATIC Industries. “We have proven that popular land-based games can be popular in online gaming as well. Our online business is key for us and we are investing in creating new games for the online market to go hand-in-hand with the well-known land-based games. In that way, we believe we have a very strong game offer. We thank the management team at Grand Casino for foreseeing the success of taking our land-based games to the online players.”

Source: focusgn.com

Source: Latest News on European Gaming Media Network…

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Merry video slot contains a host of classic features

9^th August 2018: Pragmatic Play, one of the leading online games providers for casino slots and Live casino products, has unveiled Leprechaun Song, the latest addition to its premium portfolio of video slots.

Set in the green fields of the Leprechaun’s homeland, the 3×5 game captures the merriment that leprechauns are known for, with a jaunty Celtic tune playing as the reels spin. Colourful Irish themed symbols, such as a leprechaun’s hat, pots of gold and pints of stout line the reels.

When the Leprechaun sings, treasure chests can be triggered raining wilds and giant symbols. On entering the bonus round, a random feature will be triggered, including giant roaming symbols or free spins, and a progressive free spin cycle can occur, leading to the biggest wins.

Melissa Summerfield, Chief Commercial Officer at Pragmatic Play, said: “We are delighted to unveil our new slot game, Leprechaun Song. Its exhilarating and uplifting nature makes us confident that it will be a hit with players.

“With exciting wilds that can be triggered at any time, and a host of exciting bonus features, it is a worthy addition to our premium suite of games.”

Pragmatic Play’s game portfolio contains more than 80 proven HTML5 video slots, including Wolf Gold, Madame Destiny and Jade Butterfly. These titles are now live with a growing list of leading casino brands, including The Rank Group, GVC Holdings and Lottoland.

About Pragmatic Play

Pragmatic Play is one of the leading providers of mobile and desktop casino games for the online gaming industry. Our passion for premium entertainment is unrivalled and we strive to create only the most engaging and evocative gaming experiences. Pragmatic Play’s Games Library contains unique in-house content consisting of over 80 proven slot games, supporting 26 languages and all major currencies. We employ our extensive expertise to ensure that each high-quality game developed in our studios represents our mantra of innovation and dedication.

For more information please visit http://pragmaticplay.com/

Source: Press Releases Published on European Gaming Media Network…

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Gaming software and services provider Nektan has unveiled a new deal with Yggdrasil, which will see content from the slot developer go live on its operated online casinos. Expanding its suite of games, Nektan details that this latest agreement “greatly increases the variety of games” at the disposal of its operator partners. Michael Byrne, chief operating officer of …

The US Golf Association (USGA) is partnering with the popular game World Golf Tour to start a new esports tournament. The game, likely to start next month, will offer real-life head-to-head competitions for the users.

The USGA is no stranger to virtual real-world tournaments, as it is one of the earliest organisational supporters of esports.

During the past decade, USGA has played an active role in supporting the Virtual U.S. Open, which is available on the popular World Golf Tour (WGT) app. The association has recently extended its relationship with Topgolf, the owners of the app and a chain of golf-themed entertainment venues, to launch a brand-new tournament that offers players something new: a step out of the virtual world.

WGT is currently hosting its first Virtual U.S. Amateur tournament, which will culminate next month in a championship round with both a virtual location – a tournament on a digital representation of the Pebble Beach Golf Links – and a physical location, at Topgolf’s Atlanta venue.

The event, currently underway in qualifying rounds, will feature an online tournament for the top 32 scores. The top two players will compete in person in a head-to-head tournament. The winner will receive gift cards – $500 from Topgolf, $500 from USGA – and an exemption for the next Virtual U.S. Open, just like the actual amateur tournament.

“The U.S. Amateur-style format of this new tournament and live championship at Topgolf Atlanta Midtown will create an exciting virtual golf experience for competitors and spectators alike,” Topgolf Media President YuChiang Cheng said in a news release.

It is the first time that a virtual event hosted by WGT and USGA has included a physical component. Navin Singh, who heads global content and media distribution for the association, says it is a key way for the USGA to reach a new audience.

“Today, millions of people play and watch esports, making it the fastest-growing phenomenon in media and entertainment,” Singh said in the release. “With the support of WGT and Topgolf, the inaugural Virtual U.S. Amateur will bring the esports experience to golf. This is the next step in the USGA’s continued efforts to innovate and connect with new audiences worldwide.”

In case you’d like to try your hand at the virtual links, the app is available for iOS, Android, and on the PC.

Source: associationsnow.com / ERNIE SMITH

Source: Latest News on European Gaming Media Network…

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Peter Jackson, chief executive officer of Paddy Power Betfair, said that the company is “well positioned to achieve scale in the US quickly” after a 20 per cent rise in revenue in the second quarter.

The company’s Q2 results were boosted by the activity around Fifa World Cup, as the sales showed a 13 per cent increase. This is encouraging after a weak first quarter showing for the company.

The highlight of the second quarter, though, was the completion of the deal to acquire US daily fantasy sports operator FanDuel.

Although the takeover was only completed last month, after the end of the second quarter, Jackson said in an earnings call that the operator can be justifiably optimistic about growth opportunities in the US, having already established a presence in the country prior to the FanDuel deal.

Sports revenue spiked by 22 per cent in Q2 in the US, with gaming revenue increasing by 18 per cent.

“Fantasy sports will continue to be an important feature in the US market, especially in states where it could take a while for sports betting to be regulated,” said Jackson, who mentioned the “cross-selling” opportunities.

Jackson added that he envisages a “different market construct” in the US in terms of the balance between free-to-play games and sports betting, given the strength of the DFS market.

“Having 100,000 customers in New Jersey is a good starting point,” he said.

“Our US strategy is to go after the B2C market under the FanDuel brand. We have secured market access agreements covering 15 states and 36 per cent of the US population, including markets where regulation is expected by the end of 2019.

“It’s worth remembering that our US business is not a start-up. We have established brands, with FanDuel in sports and TVG in racing, an extensive product suite, operational expertise and we already operate in 45 states, including real-money wagering in 33.”

“Scale is essential for generating sustainable returns in the long term.”

Jackson, referencing the company’s solid base in the US, added: “The group’s strong balance sheet gives us important firepower and could prove to be a competitive advantage.”

In the trading update, Paddy Power Betfair’s profit before tax edged up by 4 per cent to £106m (€118m/$137m), but underlying earnings slipped by 1 per cent.

Additionally, Paddy Power Betfair also said that full-year earnings before deductions and interest, “pre-US sports betting”, is now expected to be between £460m and £480 – down from the previous expectation outlined in the Q1 trading update of between £470m and £495m.

This was attributed to the introduction of point-of-consumption tax and new product fees in Australia and swallowing up Fanduel’s losses “in the high single digits.”

The company added that, with the “infrastructure” already in place to expand in the US, any expenditure in relation to the market would fall under the marketing column.

Jackson added: “In Europe, product enhancements and improved cross sell rates have led to stronger gaming revenue growth over the past few months for both brands, whilst customer satisfaction with the Paddy Power sports app has stepped up.

“Recent marketing campaigns have also been successful with the Betfair brand increasingly identified as having the best odds. The World Cup was a showcase event for Paddy Power, with a series of successfully executed marketing campaigns leading to it being one of the UK’s most talked about brands in social media conversations around the tournament.”

Source: Latest News on European Gaming Media Network…

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Unibet, the hugely popular betting arm of Malta-based Kindred Group, has signed a partnership with the famous Cheltenham Festival and the World Chess Championship, which will extend till 2023.

As per the deal, Unibet will be the official betting partner of the FIDE World Chess Championship Match London 2018 between defending champion Magnus Carlsen of Norway will meet American challenger Fabiano Caruana in November.

Unibet also sponsored The World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship in 2015, but this is the first time the World Championship match has signed a betting partner.

World Chess and Unibet will produce additional digital content for this year’s tournament. As part of the partnership, Unibet will receive a full suite of exclusive rights, including digital advertising, the use of exclusive photo and video content and the opportunity to take part in a round of the First Move Ceremony.

Richard Østrøm, country manager for Unibet Norway, said: “Since Magnus Carlsen became world champion, we have seen a large and growing interest in betting on big chess tournaments.”

“As the leading online bookmaker in Europe, we want to be a part of and contribute to big sporting events, and we are very happy to be the preferred betting partner for World Chess both before and during the World Championship.”

World Chess said Unibet will have “exclusive betting rights” to the event, with the company offering a range of markets from outright to next move. Unibet will also offer fans exclusive promotions on the championship rounds throughout the match.

Østrøm added: “We believe that this year’s World Championship showdown between Magnus Carlsen and Fabiano Caruana in London will establish chess as a permanent fixture in betting.”

Source: Latest News on European Gaming Media Network…

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Ireland’s Minister for Finance, Paschal Donohoe, revealed that the country has collected over €1 million (US$1.15 million) in taxes in 2017 as part of its crackdown on unlicensed gambling machines illegal casinos collected that were offering. The Office of the Revenue Commissioners collected these amounts by forcing the operators to legitimise the machines and obtain licenses.

In 2016, 6088 machines were licensed, giving the Revenue office €1.8 million (US$ 2.07 million) in tax money. The number skyrocketed last year to 9612, resulting in €2.7 million (US$3.11 million) being collected.

The Revenue office launched a national project last year that focused on the amusement and gaming machine sector. That project has resulted in a significant amount of locations being sent enforcement letters, advising them to either remove their machines or face seizures and fines.

A representative for the Office of Revenue Commissioners indicated that there had been over 300 “interventions” as a result of the project in response to a lack of compliance with regulations. Thanks to the interventions, more than €1.1 million (US$1.27 million) was collected. According to the representative, the Revenue office is “alert to, and proactive in addressing, the risks posed by the gaming and amusement sector.” He further stated, “Using a range of compliance interventions the project, which is operating on a national basis, has achieved a significant increase in tax and licensing compliance.”

The representative also indicated that the Revenue office has not relented in its pursuit of illegal operations. He told The Journal, “This project is ongoing and for that reason no further details of the operation can be provided at this time. However, I would like to assure you that Revenue is intent on addressing all forms of licensing non-compliance in the gaming and amusement sector.”

Gaming machines, per the Finance Act of 1975, must have a valid “Excise license” issued by the DOR. If a machine is available for play and does not have the proper license displayed, the operator can have the machine(s) removed. The current “intervention” programme includes routine visits to locations in an effort to verify the licenses are in order. If a license is not found, the machine(s) are confiscated and fines levied against the owner of the establishment.

Source: calvinayre.com

Source: Latest News on European Gaming Media Network…

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