Admin, Author at BestCasinos.co.nz

Stakelogic goes live with a brand new studio

July 2, 2021 by Admin

Leading iGaming supplier Stakelogic has entered the live casino arena, armed with a premium selection of titles like blackjack, roulette, and a variety of game shows.

Stakelogic Live will be streamed from a newly-built ultra-modern studio in Birkirkara, Malta.

In an official statement, Stakelogic explained that the live studio has been kitted out with the latest technology including HD cameras and innovative broadcast and streaming facilities. The company stated that the resources and effort it has invested are geared at allowing it to provide a high-quality experience in a fiercely contested sector.

The company also stated that it enjoys support from its software factories in Belgrade and Kyiv, enabling it to “push the boundaries of live casino as it will come up with a range of new live dealer features and innovations.”

Stakelogic Live currently includes a selection of over seven live casino game types, including blackjack, roulette, auto roulette and some money wheel game show-style titles. The provider emphasised that its live dealer product catalogue would be receiving an influx of fresh content soon.

Opportune times

The new studio boasts 22 live tables, all of which are placed against a backdrop dripping with opulence. Pro dealers use their skills to host the games while maintaining rapport with players to make the experience all the more real

The CEO of Stakelogic, Stephan van den Oetelaar said that it makes perfect sense for the company to leap into the live casino sector. He also stated that several of Stakelogic’s top-tier operator partners have been asking for live casino products to make their offerings more alluring and added that Stakelogic would “hit the ground running, as many of our clients have already committed to go with Stakelogic Live.”

Anthony Sammut, the Head of Live Casino at Stakelogic Live, stated that the firm has “built an incredible reputation for designing and developing some of the most popular slot games” and that now they plan to repeat that success in the live casino sector.”

He also said that that the brand’s pioneering philosophy around games development shines through in its live casino offering, providing players with experiences across all its titles that bear the same high quality.

The news of this new development comes soon after Stakelogic recently embarked on a re-branding campaign revealing its transition from a B2B slot studio to a casino content provider for operators and players too. The company also recently acquired Belgrade-based developer Smart&Applied and the relatively new Hurricane Games.

Yggdrasil’s and ReelPlay show stony intent with Gargoyle Infinity Reels slot release

June 29, 2021 by Admin

Yggdrasil tapped the talents of YG Masters member ReelPlay for the development and release of its new slot title, Gargoyle Infinity Reels. In this cartoonishly gothic game where you spin the reels in a stone castle to wake the Gargoyle King from his slumber and claim your prize worth up to 888x your bet.

You begin with 3 reels where menacing gargoyles with glowing eyes feature as symbols. The Infinity reels mechanic means that winning combinations add extra reels to the grid with no upper limit and you can grab 10 free spins if three Portal Stones scatters appear. While the feature is active, the reels can grow to a height of up to six rows, triggered by the appearance of wild symbols.

This new game owes its existence to the YG Masters program and Yggdrasil’s GATI technology that offers a preconfigured, regulation-ready development toolkit that enables developers to develop and distribute top-shelf content.

Yggdrasil’s representatives relayed how Gargoyle Infinity Reels delivers entertainment in spades and that the company is looking forward to working with ReelPlay on more titles.

Stuart McCarthy, the Head of Product and Programs at Yggdrasil said,

“Gargoyle Infinity Reels offers beastly fun and monster prizes and is a great addition to the YG Masters portfolio. The program continues to produce hit after hit with the titles created by ReelPlay and their partner studios gaining a large following due to the fantastic win potential the games offer.”

ReelPlay’s official statement reveals that the company’s association with Yggdrasil is highly beneficial and that it has gained the potential to greatly boost its growth via the ability to rapidly produce and deliver premium content.

David Johnson, the CEO at ReelPlay said,

“Being part of the YG Masters program and utilising the GATI technology has allowed us to gain huge momentum in our game development and we are very pleased with the content we have created so far. Gargoyle Infinity Reels is a slot that takes a new spin on our Infinity Reels mechanics with a fun mystical theme and big wins on offer.”

Writing history

Since its launch in 2013, Yggdrasil has risen to the upper echelons of the iGaming industry by consistently delivering top quality solutions.

Operating in regulated remote gambling sectors, the company has consistently satisfied the licensing requirements of the jurisdictions it exists within. Yggdrasil holds licenses from the United Kingdom Gambling Commission, Malta Gaming Authority, and the Romanian regulator, ONJN. The company achieved its first license in 2013 and had rolled out Boost, its first in-game promotional tool by 2015.

Of the many accolades Yggdrasil has won in recognition of its work, some of the more notable include the Innovation in RNG Casino Supplier Award that it claimed at the EGR Awards in 2019 and 2018, alongside the Innovator of the Year award at the International Gaming Awards in 2018 as well as 2019.

Skycity Casino investigation rolls on

June 25, 2021 by Admin

A world-famous Adelaide casino finds itself in a precarious position as it faces down an investigation into allegations of money laundering and other illicit activity. Skycity Entertainment Ltd. has been under scrutiny since September 2019 following the start of a review by the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC).

Reports of money laundering and links to the criminal underworld have marred the casino’s once-pristine reputation, however, the initiation of measures to address these issues have sparked hope among stakeholders that Skycity’s redemption is possible. AUSTRAC has also been investigating alleged irregularities around customer due diligence.

Cleaning the slate

Earlier in the year, Skycity announced that it had severed ties with junket operators. This move appeared to be prompted by the exposure of its rival Crown Resorts Ltd.’s links to organized crime operations. The relationships between casinos and junkets have historically drawn criticism because they often come dangerously close to skirting regulations. Their efforts to woo potential wealthy Chinese gambling connoisseurs pay handsomely, but may often involve shady business.

Skycity’s response to AUSTRAC’s inquiry has been appropriately unambiguous. The company has announced that it is cooperating fully with the investigation but has revealed little else in the way of fine details.

What the operator has said is that the attention of the inquest concerns the casino’s management of specific customers identified as “high risk” or “politically exposed”. The investigation is focused on the months from July 2015 to June 2016, and those between July 2018 and June 2019.

Ramping up regulation

The unprecedented growth of the international gambling industry has brought about the urgent need for intensified regulation and enforcement of said regulations, if illegal activities are to be curbed.

The damaging allegations against Skycity’s Adelaide casino have shed even more light on the fact that any industry can easily find itself adjacent to or engaged in unlawful practices. The company is undoubtedly hopeful that it can weather the process and outcome of the investigation relatively intact. Its trio of New Zealand casinos has not drawn the public attention of AUSTRAC, but there is no telling what the final findings of the probe will reveal.

The casino industry and gambling industry as a whole have suffered due to the global health crisis. Government-mandated closures of indoor entertainment venues and stay at home orders cut off the stream of customers that would regularly head out to play pokies and other games of chance.

In this volatile economic environment, casino companies that find themselves embroiled in criminal allegations may find their fortunes in even more jeopardy than the industry at large.

Skycity, Adelaide

Mega Moolah is a millionaire maker once again

June 22, 2021 by Admin

The latest Microgaming Mega Moolah winner has claimed a life-changing progressive jackpot prize of $6.5 million.

This is the fifth seven or eight-figure progressive prize paid out by Microgaming’s progressive jackpot network since the beginning of the year and brings the network’s total to an amazing one hundred.

The most recent prize was landed on June 4, paying out exactly $6,597,136.10. This comes mere weeks after a record jackpot of an astounding $19.4 million was claimed from Absolootly Mad: Mega Moolah, which was only recently added to Microgaming’s catalogue.

John Coleman, the CEO at Microgaming weighed in on the momentous event, saying that seeing the network create yet another life-changing win so soon after the $19.4 million prize was won makes him extremely happy. He stated that this is a significant event, as it is the progressive network’s hundredth seven or eight-figure prize paid out to a lucky winner.

More winners, more often

Microgaming, through its progressive jackpot network, has paid over $1.4 billion in prizes since its creation. In 2021 alone, over $103 million in prizes has already been won. As is the norm with Microgaming network prizes, the latest win was paid out as a lump sum.

The last 12 months have been generous ones for Microgaming. The record $19.4 million prize aside, a $14.2 million jackpot was claimed in August 2020 by a player in Sweden.

Microgaming to revolutionise its live casino offering with On Air Entertainment

June 18, 2021 by Admin

iGaming industry leader Microgaming has announced its intent to “reinvigorate the live casino industry” with the inking of a deal to power a new product by On Air Entertainment. The Malta-based On Air was founded in January 2021 by a crew of experienced industry professionals who specialise in live casinos.

Classic and custom

On Air Entertainment is 100% powered by Microgaming and the creative force behind a new live dealer suite that will launch on the studio’s custom-built platform. The launch will take place in early 2022 and will comprise a selection of classic and bespoke live casino games.

John Coleman, the CEO at Microgaming said,

“On Air Entertainment represents a new evolution of live casino gaming, possessing all the experience, talent and passion required to innovate in the live casino space. I am delighted that Microgaming is playing an integral part in their exciting journey.”

Top of the world

In its short time of operation, On Air has established a studio in Riga, Latvia staffed with developers based in both Latvia and Estonia. Microgaming has stated that it is preparing for a period of “rapid growth” in the near future as it strives to achieve its mission of bringing “competitive, customisable and world-leading content to the table.”

Andres Rengifo, Managing Director at On Air Entertainment said,

“Our vision is to be the global innovator of choice for tailored live casino experiences and to achieve this we’re bringing together the very brightest and best live casino talent from across the industry. Powered by Microgaming, we will have access to unrivalled customer and market reach, this is a game-changer for us, and we can’t wait to begin broadcasting together.”

Microgaming has been highly productive lately, with a series of commercial deals which were announced towards the end of May. Notable partnerships established during this period include those with Gold Coin Studios, the Solverade Group, and the platform and content provider Blox.

Mobile Casinos are the wind beneath iGaming’s wings

June 15, 2021 by Admin

The growth of the online gambling and gaming industry is unsurprising, considering rapidly increasing levels of smartphone and tablet use. Mobile casinos have become ubiquitous with any operator worth their salt making sure they have one up and running to remain competitive. Leovegas is a prominent example of an online casino that has embraced the new tech and it is now known as the “King of Mobile Casinos.”

The rise of the popularity of mobile gaming has buoyed the iGaming industry’s fortunes and technological innovations like blockchain technology are also contributing to its continued success.

Operators like All Slots casino have ensured that their mobile offerings match the variety offered by the more traditional webpage based versions, with a full range of games on offer including slots, roulette, blackjack, and poker.

The numbers tell the story of a sector in bloom with the global iGaming industry projected to reach a value of $58.34 billion by 2022, with a compound annual growth rate of 8.52%.

Global pandemic restrictions also played into the hands of the online sports industry that has seen a flood of interest. People seek out alternative forms of entertainment as sports stadiums stand empty and the industry is projected to hit a global value of $90 billion by 2025 with mobile casinos that feature sportsbooks experiencing a significant jump in activity. Spin Casino has a dedicated “Spin Sports” mobile facility that allows punters to bet on a wide selection of sports including tennis, baseball, soccer, and esports.

Online casinos in general, are expected to grow by the same factor, and this includes online Poker and Bingo.

Future perfect

With international jurisdictions getting more familiar with the digitization of the gambling industry, regulations in most territories are being adjusted to account for the rising trends. New gambling licences are being granted across the globe to place economies and the iGaming industry in mutually beneficial positions, as taxation collected from legalised gambling can be funnelled into social projects.

The challenges many local economies have faced over the past year and a half have inspired growing awareness that many industries are moving towards increasingly digital ways of doing business. Before the global health crisis, digitisation was already in rapid development in many societies with technology like smartphones, smartwatches and online profiles rendering old innovations like landlines and physical documents largely obsolete. The fact that many people conduct a large part of their lives on smart devices means that mobile casinos are ideally suited to the modern age.

Casinos like Jackpot City are poised to meet the demands of an increasingly sophisticated market, with both online and app-based mobile casino options to suit players’ needs.

The iGaming industry appears to show no signs of slowing its exponential growth. Previous obstacles to its spread have begun to fall away as perceptions shift. For example, Apple is now receptive to allowing gambling apps in its app store, meaning developers and operators have a whole new market to cater to.

The ever-changing gambling industry is always full of surprises, so it’s impossible to say what the ‘next big thing’ will be, however, the accelerated digitization of the iGaming industry will certainly be central to it and the financial rewards will be profound.

Evolution’s first quarter shows phenomenal growth

June 11, 2021 by Admin

Live casino and online gaming specialist, Evolution, recently dropped a press release, detailing financial standing after the acquisition of NetEnt.

The provider, which is also currently in the process of acquiring Big Time Gaming, reported a spectacular 105% year-on-year revenue increase for the first quarter of 2021 with its live casino offerings contributing 60% of the total growth.

The reported EBITDA was also significantly increased by an amazing 150% to €160.1 million across the first quarter of 2021, compared to the same period in 2020. This all translated to an increase in profit from 144% to €132 million.

Building capacity

Aside from Evolution’s acquisition of iGaming giant NetEnt, the company has also recently launched a live casino in Michigan and broken ground on the construction of two new live dealer studios in North America and the other in Europe.

The company’s consistent growth has made it one of the largest employers in the iGaming industry, with over 10,000 workers currently in the payroll.

Perhaps the most significant recent news for the brand is its in-progress acquisition of Big Time Gaming that is expected to be finalised near the second quarter of 2021.

Good omens

Evolution recently released its first online gaming collaboration with NetEnt in the form of the innovative Gonzo’s Treasure Hunt Live, a title that is generating serious industry buzz thanks to its advanced features and unique gameplay.

The company’s regional growth has also been overwhelmingly positive, with North America showing the most significant upswing with revenues that have more than doubled over the last quarter. Europe, Asia, and the United Kingdom have also displayed encouraging growth.

Evolution’s buoyant fortunes are expected to persist for the foreseeable future, particularly with the Big Time Gaming acquisition nearing completion. Since it managed to acquire NetEnt, Evolution’s has experienced remarkable revenue growth with an increase of 22.1.

Microgaming stuns this summer with blistering slot releases

June 4, 2021 by Admin

As spring gives way to summer, Microgaming is matching the rising heat in the air with its June selection of premium slot releases from its network of independent developers and content partners.

The month’s last release is up first, with Blazing Mammoth by PearFiction Studios. On 30 June you get to embark on an ice-age adventure with Microgaming’s EpicStrike mechanic where you could win 2000x your stake for Mammoth symbols that you collect as they land on the reels during the base game and free spins. The more Mammoth Symbols you land, the bigger the prize and you’ll need a minimum of 3 to appear on a single spin to start winning. The Free Spins Wheel awards you between 10 and 30 free spins with an included 2X or 3X multiplier.

Microgaming bares its fangs on 24 June, with the release of a Mega Moolah-enhanced player favourite. Immortal Romance Mega Moolah retains all the smouldering vampire action and brilliant features of its predecessor, with the significant added incentive of the world-leading Microgaming progressive jackpot network. The jackpot wheel triggers at random in the base game and you will claim one of four progressive jackpot prizes; the Mini, Minor, Major, or Mega. The most lucrative of the prizes seeds at $1 million and many players have already been blessed with 7 and 8 figure rewards.

On 22 June, it’s all about the flash in Hyper Gold by Gameburger Studios. The slot immerses you in a neon wonderland of bright visuals with bonus features including Jumbo Blocks, a Win Booster, and Microgaming’s Link&Win mechanic. While free spins is active, potential boosting, large 3×3 blocks will appear on the reels and if you want to increase your chances of triggering Link&Win, the Win Booster feature is your friend.

A terrifying mythical beast with tragic origins is the star of All41 Studios’ Temple of Medusa that arrives on June 15. The Greek mythology-inspired game boasts a maximum winning potential of 5000x your stake and wilds that feature prominently in the bonus features. Spreading wilds activate when the wild symbol, which is represented by Medusa’s face, appears on reels two, three or four. The wilds randomly spread to adjacent reels and if they spread to a scatter symbol, it will transform into a dual-function scatter wild. When three scatters appear on the reels, you will be able to choose from one of four free spins options with variable combos of free spins and expanding wilds.

The sky is no limit on 8 June when you travel to the fabled Nordic heavenly Kingdom of Asgard in Odin’s Riches by Just For The Win. Cluster pays and Rolling Reels combine to deliver consistent wins and a surprising variety of mini-features offer you perks along the way. Claim the slot’s top potential of 5000x your stake with cluster wins that leave wild symbols in their wake while filling up a bonus meter. Filling the meter’s segments will activate Odin’s mini-features; Wolf’s Hunger, Dragon’s Riches, Serpent’s Wisdom, and Raven’s Flight. Fill the entire meter to claim seven Bonus Rounds where a mini-feature will activate on every spin. Bolster your bankroll with Odin’s Wilds, a base game feature that randomly adds between four and nine wilds to the reels.

The Ancient origins of South America inspired Maya U Max by Gong Gaming Technologies. This title, which releases on 3 June employs the special U MAX symbol that expands the reels, creating up to 248,832 ways to win when free spins is active. If you’re looking to start your month in glamorous style, check out Divine Diamonds by Northern Lights Gaming on 1 June. The clot’s classic theme is dressed up in opulent diamonds and features respins, free spins and the EpicStrike mechanic that could see you win up to 2000x your bet when 9 diamond symbols land on the reels.

There is more summer slot excellence in store from Microgaming’s content partners. Try your hands at cattle rearing in Beef Lightning by Big Time Gaming, in a 2-week Microgaming exclusive release starting on 16 June. Get your farming boots on and head to Mount Cashmore Dairy where you raise cows in the base game before activating the Cow Auction Multiplier with three scatters that spell “MOO.” When the auction is in progress, you can claim extra spins, extra cows and auction bids, as well as bronze, silver and gold awards worth up to 25,000x your stake.

Transcend the limitations of waking life on 29 June with The Dream Machine by Golden Rock Studios. Discover enchanting features like expanding reels, mystery symbols, random wilds, and seven different bonus rounds. From the realm of dreams to the expanse of space, Iron Dog Studio’s Astro Newts invites you to travel the cosmos with a group of alien amphibians on 2 June. Shoot for the stars with multipliers, locked reels and up to 235,298 ways to win. Finally, get into Viking mode and conquer amazing winnings in Valhalla Gold by 2by2 Gaming, arriving on 7 June.

Aristocrat’s online casino earnings way better than expected

June 1, 2021 by Admin

Australian gambling machine manufacturer, Aristocrat Leisure recently announced that it would be increasing its earnings forecast for the first half of the financial year. This follows a period of unexpectedly buoyant growth in its digital and gaming businesses. In the six months preceding 31 March, Aristocrat stated that its net profit after tax was projected at AUD 346 million.

The company’s NPATA (Normalised Net Profit After Tax and Before Amortisation of Acquired Intangibles), is expected to reach $412 million. This represents an increase of 12% when compared to the same period in 2020. This amount does not include the effects of a $19 million retention expense that emerged as an associated cost in the acquisition of Plarium.

Growth spurt

The past year has been full of plenty of unexpected developments and despite this Aristocrat reported that it produced above-average growth within the industry. This upswing in profits is due to bookings which created revenue and profit growth year-on-year. The company stated that this was made possible by a large investment in live operations, features, new online casino content and user acquisition.

Trevor Croker, Aristocrat’s CEO and MD explained that the results demonstrate the company’s ability to adopt winning strategies. He further stated that the company’s choices enabled it to maintain its investments in its products, people, customers, and culture amid a global health crisis.

Croker went on to say that the company expects that the year will see the economic conditions across key land-based and online casino remain on shaky ground. With this in mind, the firm will keep attending to key crucial factors like visitation at gaming venues, currency headwinds and consumer needs.

Fair weather ahead

The company elaborated that its EBITDA, or (Normalised Earnings Before Interest, Tax, Depreciation and Amortisation) is expected to hit $750 million, a growth of 6% compared to the first half of 2020.

Aristocrat revealed that it recorded phenomenal growth in its online casino segment thanks to ideal conditions in the US, New Zealand and Australia markets as well as increased customer engagement and product performance.

Mr Croker wrapped up, saying that the firm intends to aggressively pursue the remainder of its strategy in the second half of the fiscal year. Increased investment will bolster the releases of new games and strategic competencies which are geared towards cultivating Aristocrat’s projected long-term growth.

Yggdrasil stirs up the competition with new Cauldron pokie

May 25, 2021 by Admin

In the wake of the launch of Yggdrasil’s classic casino-themed masterpiece, The Hot Offer, the developer has followed up in sizzling style with the launch of its new pokie, Cauldron.

This 5-reel, 20-payline game adopts a mythological theme that was meticulously crafted by the development team at Peter and Sons, via the YG Masters program. Leap into a magical world and discover the riches that the cauldron holds.

In an official statement, Yggdrasil elaborated that the game is highly volatile with an RTP of 96.04%., Landing at least three scatter symbols will award you a maximum of 10 free spins. While the feature is active low-value symbols forming part of winning combinations will disappear and high-paying symbols forming part of winning combos will gain a 2x multiplier with an extra free spin thrown in.

The game’s progressive meter fills up with every scatter symbol you land and gives you access to a special super free spins bonus feature.

Something new

In an official press release, the head of Partner Programs at Yggdrasil Gaming Limited, Stuart McCarthy stated that Peter and Sons has more than proven its worth since joining the YG Masters program in October 2020. He added that Cauldron is wildly different to anything that players have experienced before, owed in large part to the game’s unique and intricate illustrations and animations.

McCarthy further stated that Yggdrasil is overjoyed with the release of the new pokie and that Cauldron’s look and feel offers an immersive and engaging fantasy world for players to explore. The world in question is a mythical land called Algorth, where you explore deep caverns to claim massive prizes.

Yggdrasil Gaming Limited was founded in 2013 and since then, the company has released more than 90 crowd-pleasing titles. The developer has advised that Cauldron is optimised for mobile and is also powered by its standardized and regulation-ready toolkit.