Admin, Author at BestCasinos.co.nz

1×2 Network and GiG renew casino collaboration

May 25, 2020 by Admin

Leading online casino games developer, 1×2 Network, revealed the extension and expansion of its existing affiliation with Gaming Innovation Group, better known as ‘GiG’. Through the partnership, GiG has gained access to 1×2 Network’s award-winning collection of online pokies and casino games, a step up from previously only having access to 1x2r’s virtual sports integration.

GiG recently released details about its collaboration with 1×2 Network, an arrangement that was initially described as a virtual sports betting product launch with a distinct focus on a further extension to GiG’s existing sportsbook product and related support offerings.

Qualitative focus

The agreement between the two parties will see them continuously striving for the highest possible quality in iGaming products and support-solutions with the end user’s enjoyment being a top priority. GiG’s Chief Commercial Officer, Ben Clemens, stated that this intention is central to GiG’s relationship with 1×2 Network.

The stipulations of the extended partnership include that all casino games released under 1×2 Network’s 1x2gaming- and Iron Dog Studio brands are part of the agreement package. Both studios have built sterling reputations in their development of high-quality and engaging online pokies, casino games, and table games.

1×2 Network’s global aspirations

Some of 1×2 Network’s pokies that are now live via GiG’s iGaming platform include Blood Queen, Pirate Kingdom Megaways, Rainbow Wilds, and Book of Merlin. More games will be added as the developer makes them available.

1×2 Network’s CCO Kevin Reid weighed in on the deal, revealing that GiG is responsible for many world-renowned online casino brands and that 1×2 is excited at the chance to have its high-quality online pokie catalogue brought to GiG’s global player-base.

Reid called the deal with GiG a vital event for 1×2 Network, saying that the agreement is essential to the organisation enlarging its global distribution and brand footprint.

Mega Moolah delivers a mega sub-aquatic win

May 19, 2020 by Admin

Atlantean Treasures: Mega Moolah has awarded its first Mega jackpot win through Microgaming’s Mega Moolah progressive jackpot. The jackpot amount was an astounding $7,784,425.63, just a couple of months after the slot’s initial release on 25 February 2020.

The lucky player snagged the huge prize on 8 May 2020 at River Belle Casino, joining the growing list of millionaires created by Microgaming’s progressive jackpot network, which has paid out over $1.1 billion since its creation. As with all past wins, the $7.7 million win be paid to the player as a lump sum.

Atlantean Treasures: Mega Moolah is an aquatic adventure and was developed exclusively for Microgaming by Neon Valley Studio. This 5×3 reel, the ten-payline slot has an enchanting marine aesthetic, featuring detailed artwork and vividly coloured sea creatures, coupled with exciting features, including expanding wilds and respins. The potential of the Mega Moolah progressive jackpot is by far the most enticing feature. Since its release, Atlantean Treasures: Mega Moolah has paid out over $14.2 million across 238,594 jackpots, this includes 45 Major jackpots.

Microgaming’s partnership with its network of independent studios continues to bolster its industry-leading progressive jackpot network with a stream of new progressive titles. Atlantean Treasures: Mega Moolah and Absolootly Mad™: Mega Moolah (Triple Edge Studios) debuted in February and May, following the February release of the refreshed WowPot jackpot in Wheel of Wishes. This is just the first of a series of new games being placed on both the jackpot and the network. Triple Edge studios are responsible for Sisters of Oz, the next title in line.

Jean-Luc Ferriere Chief Commercial Officer at Microgaming came forward to applaud this latest win

“Congratulations to the winning player for hitting the first-ever Mega jackpot on Atlantean Treasures: Mega Moolah. The tremendous $7.7 million win marks another milestone for Microgaming’s progressive jackpot network, and we look forward to further enhancing our growing portfolio with additional progressive games to deliver even more entertaining gameplay experiences and opportunities to win.”

SkyCity Casino prepares to downsize

May 15, 2020 by Admin

Casino operator SkyCity Entertainment Group has revealed that it is planning to layoff even more employees due to the ongoing global economic crisis. The group is preparing for the eventuality of a smaller domestic market once it can resume trade. This, unfortunately, means that at least 700 employees could be facing the axe.

SkyCity briefed shareholders, investors, employees, and the local market earlier this week regarding its efforts to mitigate the continuing destruction caused by current national trade restrictions. The global pandemic required that the group suspend all its casino operations in Mid-March across New Zealand and Australia.

Hard choices

The group expressed that making massive staff cuts was an extremely difficult decision, despite its inevitability. With no alternative solutions in sight, this drastic move seems to be the only one available to ensure the survival of the group.

Just over a month ago; estimated employee layoffs were much more conservative. A maximum of 200 Adelaide-based casino employees were expected to lose their jobs. The group had hoped to avoid making larger job cuts by requesting that its remaining employees accept a 20% drop in their salaries. This measure was only temporarily viable in the face of a steadily worsening economic landscape.

Necessary cuts

The vast majority of the group’s layoffs will be from the group’s Auckland operations. The casinos in this region have a staff complement of roughly 3,000 employees. Current projections mean that 10% of SkyCity’s Auckland-based casino staff could soon be facing unemployment.

SkyCity CEO, Graeme Stephens, expects the layoff processes to run their course in a matter of “some weeks”. Stephens emphasized that management would do whatever possible to ensure that the layoff processes are as considerate and painless as possible.

SkyCity is gearing up to resume its New Zealand operations within a week, but on a reduced scale and with only a percentage of its previous workforce.

Red Rake Gaming’s Secrets of the Temple Online pokie arrives

May 12, 2020 by Admin

Red Rake Gaming has been moving at a breakneck speed this year, releasing new pokies on a regular basis. The newest title from the developer, Secrets of the Temple has just gone live at all casinos powered by the brand and looks set to become a fan favourite.

The new pokie has a simple concept; you travel with an intrepid archaeologist through mysterious jungles to locate an ancient temple where you will discover hidden treasures. Red Rake Gaming has taken this simple concept and elevated it with brilliant execution.

Secrets of the Temple is rich in highly detailed HD graphics, the mysterious stone temples seem almost lifelike thanks to the meticulously created artwork and the eye-catching icons vividly tell a story of an adventure.

Gear up and venture forth

Secrets of the Temple is a 5×3 reel pokie, with 243 Ways to win. The game’s symbols include a plane, a climbing axe wedged into stone, a compass, and the game’s archaeologist character. The wild is a monolithic golden statue and the scatter is an ominous jungle temple. The low symbols are traditional 10, J, Q, K, and A icons.

Expect stacked Wilds and multipliers to add an exhilarating pace to the gameplay as they appear regularly. The stacked wilds benefit from a nudge feature, with the whole stack being pushed into view if it misses landing completely on the reels by one notch. This feature can transform a dud spin into a winning combo instantly.

The real prize, however, lies in the pokie’s special bonus rounds.

Pick, win, repeat

If you land 3 Scatters on the reels, you will be transported to a bonus mini-game. Mini, Minor, Major, and Maxi jackpots are displayed to the right of the reels, just waiting for you to snatch them up. A screen of golden coins appears and you will need to select them to reveal their values. Each coin conceals a jackpot and you will have to match 3 of the same coins to win the jackpot value.

Secrets of the Temple is live now for brave explorers and can be enjoyed across all platforms, including mobile.

Nolimit City launches new Harlequin Carnival pokie

May 8, 2020 by Admin

Nolimit City has revealed what may prove to be one of the best looking pokies yet, Harlequin Carnival. The pokie’s theme depicts the famous Venetian masked balls, or masquerade balls, where guests are required to attend with their faces covered. The masks themselves were often dazzling artistic pieces with some even eventually being displayed in art galleries.

This breathtaking spectacle has been meticulously duplicated for Harlequin Carnival in astounding style, which works equally well on desktop or mobile format.

A visual delight

The pokie’s background is a dusky Venetian scene of a lamp-lit stone arch. Mysterious masked party guests represent the high symbols, supported by intricately detailed, gold-patterned traditional playing card icons as the low symbols.

Looks aside, does Harlequin City’s gameplay live up to its image? This title integrates the Nudge system, which ensures that the stacked wild, represented as an exquisite Jester, always nudges up or down, forcing the whole image into view. Each nudge brings with it a 1x multiplier which can greatly increase the payout for any spin. The appearance of multiple stacked Wilds on the reels in a single spin, combined with nudges can cause the multiplier to soar to insane heights.

An abundance of respins

The features described so far are only a taste of things to come. The Jester Wilds, in addition to triggering multipliers, also trigger respins. Once a stacked Wild appears on the reels, it shifts from reel to reel, eventually exiting to left. Each moves it makes, triggers a respin. This coupled with the added multipliers creates a potentially huge win.

Finally, there is the bonus symbol, shown as a Jester’s face, which triggers 8 Free Spins if matched at least 3 times. While the free spins feature is active, a stacked Wild is added to the right-most reel, bundled with a 3x multiplier.

Harlequin Carnival is available to play now, already garnering a following among players who are drawn to feature-resplendent pokies.

Infinity Reels IP deal now a reality for Relax Gaming and ReelPlay

May 1, 2020 by Admin

Online casino content supplier and aggregator Relax Gaming revealed its intellectual property deal with ReelPlay for the application and licensing of the studio’s Infinity Reels trade dress and mechanic.

ReelPlay launched its Infinity Reels innovation in the fall of 2019, coinciding with the release of the El Dorado Infinity Reels slot.

The new mechanic adds the chance for an additional reel and re-spins with a progressive multiplier on each spin. The reel addition repeats, greatly increasing win potential. ReelPlay recently announced Giza Infinity Reels, its second Infinity Reels game, and has Odin Infinity Reels waiting in the wings for release in June 2020.

The recent partnership also gives Relax Gaming the rights to trademark and license the Infinity Reels mechanic for its partner network. The supplier’s in-house game development studios and third-party provider partners will now be able to integrate Infinity Reels into their future online slot games.

Strengthening Bonds

The intellectual property deal also serves to extend the previously formed partnership between Relax Gaming and ReelPlay. The duo of B2B gambling companies initially formed a partnership in 2019 when Relax Gaming integrated its branded titles onto Relax Gaming’s platform.

The two companies previously extended their distribution agreement, covering third-party content from ReelPlay’s selected studio partners, which include Gameslab and Boomerang Games.

ReelPlay’s brand new title, Giza Infinity Reels, was initially launched exclusively on Relax Gaming’s aggregator before its industry-wide debut.

Comments from the top

Relax Gaming’s Chief Product Officer Simon Hammon had only good things to say about the rollout of the Australian studio’s El Dorado Infinity Reels game, stating it “marked the introduction of a truly unique and original mechanic that we believe will be a big disruptor in the industry.”

Mr. Hammon added that the freshly-inked intellectual property deal displays their dedication to “enhancing value and passion for innovation” and that they are excited to bring a fresh catalogue of Infinity Reels to market via both their in-house and partner studios “that will push the boundaries even further.”

Chief Commercial Officer of ReelPlay, David Johnson revealed that their expectation of this deal is that it will “unlock a world of new potential for all involved” and that they are looking forward to how Relax Gaming and its partner studios will “incorporate the Infinity Reels IP into a wide variety of slot games.”

The news about ReelPlay and Relax Gaming’s deal came to light days after the Australian studio publicized its intellectual property partnership with Sweden’s NetEnt, designed to assist the two companies in bolstering their rights associated with their respective Infinity Reels and InfiniReels franchises.

LeoVegas joins hands with Nolimit City to launch Deadwood

April 27, 2020 by Admin

Deadwood will premiere exclusively on LeoVegas Mobile Gaming Group brands, following a previous collaboration to release the notoriously challenging Tombstone, a game renowned for its punishing yet rewarding gameplay. This high-potential title could bring even the most seasoned player to their knees and now its spiritual successor has arrived in the form of Deadwood.

Nolimit City will capitalize on the fame gained by their nudging wilds feature and a western theme that has proved immensely popular with players and streamers alike. The studio has an extensive list of recognizable titles such as Punk Rocker xWays®, Barbarian Fury and Dragon Tribe under its belt, but none so far have displayed the eye-watering potential of Tombstone.

Malcolm Mizzi, the Head of Sales for Nolimit City, said: “Having merely just discussed this over an informal catchup with our trusted partner LeoVegas, this turned out to be a great one-year reunion following our very first timed exclusive hit release! Hoping that history will repeat itself again and Deadwood will please fans of the original western classic”.

Deadwood brings back the now-iconic xNudge® mechanic with a recognizable setup. The reel set has been increased to a 3-4-4-4-3 formation and now offers even more potential with a max theoretical win of 13,950x. This new title also offers you the choice between two different bonuses, where you can have more frequent nudging wilds and less volatility or a sticky multiplier with every wild that appears.

Mega Moolah grows its millionaires’ club with €10.7m jackpot winner

April 24, 2020 by Admin

Microgaming’s Mega Moolah slot which is synonymous with awarding instant wealth has done it again with a massive €10,735,716.84 jackpot winner.

King of Progressive jackpot networks

Mega Moolah’s most recent major win happened at Jackpot City Casino on Sunday, 5 April. The player’s winning will be dished out to them as a lump sum by the operator after the standard verification checks have been performed.

Microgaming’s progressive jackpot network has enriched the lives of many, paying out more than €1.1 billion in prizes. Of this amount, over €26 million was paid out in 2020 with over 150 players winning €10,000 or more.

More Mega Moolah inbound

A press release published by Microgaming details the growth of its jackpot slot network. This year alone has seen two new titles already with Atlantean Treasures Mega Moolah in collaboration with Neon Valley Studios and Wheel of Wishes, a joint effort with Alchemy Gaming. Wheel of wishes features the WowPot jackpot which received an update in February 2020.

Not satisfied with these, the provider has revealed that there is more to come for the year. Absolootly Mad Mega Moolah is set for release across their network of operators on 5 May. Microgaming CEO Andrew Clucas advised that Mega Moolah’s global popularity continues to swell.

“We are thrilled for the victorious player who struck this staggering €10.7 million win congratulations!” said Clucas adding that they were excited to be adding more progressive games to the jackpot network throughout the year.

Booming Games explode into action at LeoVegas

April 18, 2020 by Admin

Booming Games, which is headquartered in Malta and licensed by MGA has over 6o HTML5 slot games within its portfolio and will now be making its entire casino game catalog available at the LeoVegas casino which enjoys accreditation from Casinomeister.

Booming Games have committed to two new game releases a month, allowing LeoVegas players to enjoy titles like Booming Seven Deluxe, VIP Filthy Riches, Gold Vein, and Booming Games latest release, Arabian Spins.

Frederik Niehusen, the Chief Commercial Officer at Booming Games said: “We are proud to launch our content on a leading and reputable client like LeoVegas, who is King of Casino. Our signature titles are now available to their players as Booming Games continue to expand in regulated markets. There is a lot to follow in 2020.”

LeoVegas Casino Operations Manager, Johan Ekberg had more to add, stating “We are committed to providing our players with the best games on the market and are excited to grow our portfolio with signature games from Booming Games.”

February saw Booming Games earning the Rising Star of the Year award at the International Gaming Awards hosted at the Savoy Hotel in London.

Anderthals Slot and other Microgaming April releases

April 11, 2020 by Admin

Microgaming has announced its April game release line-up. With its stable of independent studios and content partners, the new slots hold untold excitement and treasures and can be played at any of your favorite online NZ casinos.

Cavemen and cat burglars

Anderthals is April’s first release. This Microgaming exclusive 5-reel, 40-payline slot was created by Just For The Win. The story is that of a prehistoric cave couple, Andy and Annie Anderthal, whose adventurous tale is told through vivid graphics and an energetic soundtrack. The game boasts randomized feature spots that sit above the reels and dish out expanding Wilds, multipliers, respins, and free spins to name a few. This slot’s maximum win potential is 2,219x your wager.

14 April will see the debut of Diamond Force. In this online slot, you join up with four superheroes to defend their city. This is a 5-reel slot with 1,024 ways to win and was developed by Crazy Tooth Studio. The Team-Up Feature and Team-Up Bonus Spins will help you reveal immense superhero-level fortunes.

All41 Studios is next, with Arena of Gold, a Roman gladiator-themed title launching on 21 April. This ancient adventure has 5 reels and 25 paylines. Free Spins and merged reels as well as the exciting Golden Re-Spins all feature.

On 28 April, Snowborn games’ The Vault slot will debut. The game takes place in an elegant Parisian art gallery. Jewel is a sneaky burglar who needs your nimble-fingered help to carry out a daring heist. This slot features 5 reels and 20 paylines with bonus features such as respins, expanding Wilds, and free spins.

Another Seven Titles Coming to Microgaming Online Casinos

Exclusive content aside, Microgaming has several other new slots to their roster:

Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1X2gaming, 1 April)
Cheeky Fruits 5 (Gamevy, 2 April)
Arabian Spins (Booming Games, 2 April)
Hot Cross Bunnies Game Changer (Realistic Games, 9 April)
Spinosaurus (Booming Games, 23 April)
La Mina de Oro Plus (MGA, 27 April)
Psycho Candies (Gamevy, 30 April)
Microgaming sent out a press release, enthusing about the growth of its portfolio.

“Rich in rewarding features, stunning visuals, and diverse characters and styles, there is plenty of choices available for our customers this month,” said James Buchanan, Director of Global Operations at Microgaming.