Admin, Author at BestCasinos.co.nz

SkyCity shutters all 5 Casinos

April 4, 2020 by Admin

The Coronavirus pandemic has had devastating effects on New Zealand-based SkyCity Entertainment Group. The virus has had so much of a negative impact on the group’s sustainability that it has opted to shut down all five of its casino venues. Four of the venues are in New Zealand, with one more in Adelaide, Australia. The resulting job losses will see hundreds of people losing their regular income.

SkyCity CEO Graeme Stephens relayed news of the layoffs in an official statement, citing unprecedented circumstances as the reason that thousands of workers have had their fixed monthly income compromised. Closing the groups’ casinos was its only avenue as it has to obey regional safety guidelines designed to slow and hopefully eliminate the propagation of the deadly virus.

Income apocalypse

In the statement, Stephens goes on to explain that the casino operator can’t keep paying its workforce with no money flowing into the enterprise since the closure of the 5 gaming venues. In addition to this, it is still liable for continuing overhead expenses. The company embarked on its down-sizing process in Australia with at least 90% of its Aussie-based employees sharing in the misfortune. SkyCity has additionally slashed salaries across the board for permanent senior staff to implement an employee aid fund for those cut down in the mass layoffs.

Waged staff have been asked to take up to 80% less of their usual monthly pay. If employees and their respective unions choose not to agree to this request, the group has said that it will be forced to shed at least 700 more employees.

Directors get half a paycheque

SkyCity’s executive team has agreed up to 40% salary cuts per person per month for the remainder of the current financial year in an attempt to balance out the equation.

The casino operator’s board of directors has also stepped up, volunteering to have their remuneration reduced by 50%. The executive cuts will bulk up efforts to create an NZ$1 million Employee Hardship Fund that will dish out emergency funds to former members of staff swept up in the layoffs resulting from the global crisis.

Microgaming swells its platform with new live dealer games.

March 27, 2020 by Admin

Microgaming, a powerhouse in the realm of online gaming developers has roped in the talent of BetGames.TV and LiveG24, to launch new live dealer games to its content aggregation platform. These efforts signal Microgaming’s official re-entry into live dealer games.

BetGames.TV: A world of live entertainment

Microgaming’s entry into the live dealer game market began in 2006. The live service provided classic casino games at tables hosted by real dealers, Microgaming eventually faded out of this segment of online gambling but has now returned, development partners in hand, with a renewed energy and vision for their platform.

Microgaming is hoping to duplicate the success of their online slot production by following their past practice of joining hands with developers who are ready to push out quality content. In this particular case, BetGames TV is one of those developers. BetGames TV produces live casino solutions as well as lottery and live game show games for companies across the globe. Microgaming will use this partnership to provide games including Wheel of Fortune, Lucky 5, Lucky 6 and Lucky 7, card games including War of Bets, Bet-on-Baccarat, Bet-on-Poker and 6+ Poker will be also available on the company’s platform.

“The link between our brands is obvious and the integration will be seamless,” said BetGames.TV COO Aiste Garneviciene.

Director of Global Operations at Microgaming James Buchanan was impressed with the innovation and imagination that BetGames.TV has displayed, saying “The addition of their engaging games to our platform ties in nicely with our strategy of providing our customers with a diverse and quality content portfolio,”

LiveG24: Full catalog of games open to regulated markets

LiveG24 will also have content on Microgaming’s platform. Based in Malta, the provider’s roster includes Live Blackjack, Roulette, and Baccarat tables. These will all be available at Microgaming-powered casinos in regulated markets including Isle of Man, Malta, Estonia, and the UK.

Microgaming’s representatives advised that the company’s strategy of working with a group of independent studios and content partners allows operators to play some of the best games in the industry.

“We’re confident that the addition of LiveG24’s live casino games will further elevate and diversify our content offering,” Buchanan commented on the new partnership.

LiveG24 has additionally announced a partnership with LeoVegas Casino that will see them add to the casinos existing collection of live casino games. LeoVegas will soon roll out Live Magic Card in partnership with LiveG24. This is a one-of-a-kind game that pays out up to 100x your bet with exciting multipliers.

Red Tiger ramps up the excitement with Wings of Ra online pokie

March 24, 2020 by Admin

Red Tiger Gaming has expended a lot of energy and effort into the development of its Ancient Egypt-themed Wings of Ra pokie. Ancient Egypt is a popular theme with online pokies. The mystery and magical allure of this place and time in history lend themselves perfectly to the intrigue-filled world of online gambling. Red Tiger has ensured that its approach to the theme is fresh and novel enough to ensure this title’s success.

Winning wings

Wings of Ra has 5 reels and 10 paylines and runs on desktop and mobile devices, with a full range of betting options to ensure anyone can play.

In addition to the betting range making the game widely accessible, there are exciting bonus features in store for you. One of the game’s stand-out features is the Mystery Coin symbol. These symbols change standard symbols into high paying symbols, increasing their value and ultimately your payout.

The free spins bonus feature enhances the effects of the Mystery Coin symbols to create the possibility for big wins. The pokie has an RTP of 95.69%, providing an impressive potential winning margin.

Simplicity breeds success

Wings of Ra follows a tried and tested model of game creation. The gameplay remains relatively simple with a focus on maximizing player entertainment and engagement.

The pokie features an array of colourful symbols, a main differentiating factor between this and other Egypt themed slots which typically opt for more of a monotonous visual approach. The highest paying symbol is represented by a Pharaoh, 5 of these symbols will award 30 times your current bet for the win.

A minimum of three special symbols anywhere on the reels is what it takes to activate free spins. 12-18 free spins can be awarded, depending on how many scatter symbols you land.

Wings of Ra is live and available right now. , Fans of Ancient Egypt will relish the chance to dive into a fresh depiction of this intriguing civilization.

The Stars Group & Flutter Entertainment casino merger still on the books

March 20, 2020 by Admin

News of The Stars Group and Flutter Entertainment’s merger has been raising brows since the two parties first openly discussed the agreement in 2019. The merger is all but concluded, with its approval by the Competition and Markets Authority still pending. The two organizations are excited about the prospect of joining forces to provide a centralized entertainment portfolio for gamblers of all types to enjoy sports betting, poker, slots, various other casino games, and fantasy sports betting.

Coronavirus has put pressure on a lot of land-based casino operators and bookies as social distancing has thinned regular customer crowds out to almost nothing and halted many sports games and tournaments. Fortunately, some have responded to the challenge by innovating their way around and through the obstacles that a global pandemic can put in your path.

Top Speed

Rapid acceleration is an ideal business strategy at times like these where maintaining your company and protecting your investors’ interests are of paramount importance. Flutter Entertainment has adopted this approach by accelerating its “four-pillar strategy”; taking advantage of any new commercial growth opportunities in existing casino markets and making bold moves for massive incursions into the USA market.

Flutter has is focused on achieving this in the most financially viable manner, deciding to mitigate the effects of COVID-19 by suspending all 2020 dividend payments. With the group reporting a downward trend across all its betting products due to the cancellation of many sporting events, they have said that they will still be paying 2019 dividends in the form of normal shares.

Dividends will carry over

Any Pro-rata dividends payable for the period that commenced on January 1st, 2020, will remain on hold until the financial effects of the Coronavirus have been relieved. The expectation now is that all current and future dividends will only be paid in 2021.

The casino group has advised that it is sparing no effort in securing the outstanding permissions necessary for the merger to proceed as planned.

SkillOnNet unleash Casino Online Responsible Gaming Tool

March 17, 2020 by Admin

Some Players who can’t consistently adhere to their gambling-moderation resolutions have had to self-enforce either (or both) their deposit or betting limits, self-exclude, or join a support group. Neccton is at the forefront of instituting measures to provide players on the SkillOnNet network with ground-breaking, tools that could help modify problem behaviour.

Data science specialists and Mentor, the tool provider, have established mechanisms to detect risky player behaviour and are attempting to turn this situation around by guiding problem players towards constructive behaviour changes. This process is initiated by a curated counselling approach. SkillOnNet ‘s platform sites will adopt this measure, with brands such as AHTI Games, Lucky Vegas, PlayOJO, Royal Bet, and Slots Magic all to be affected.

Deep Dive

Dr Michael Auer, Neccton’s director offered his perspective on the initiative, expressing his excitement at the development of a machine-learning responsible gaming tool, developed for online casinos. His company’s primary objective, according to him, is exclusively focused on academic research, aimed at reinforcing Mentor’s development.

Dr Auer further revealed that his company is the leader in published responsible gambling studies and plans to engage in the tracking of players as Neccton has been doing for the past decade. Those studies added a direct benefit to the company, including the psychologists and behavioural scientists within its employ. This is aimed at determining the efficacy of various approaches. Andy Andrew, the compliance head revealed that the pursuit of responsible gambling was integral to any casino online operation and further stated that this is just a single reason why the provider was proud to offer Mentor, in conjunction with their other tools on offer.

Andrew advised that the machine-determined at-risk players would receive nudges with practical advice that could sway players towards the more reasonable side of the decision-making spectrum.

Inspiring behaviour change

The machine learning responsible gambling tool functions by tracking player data, enabling it to pick up a player’s behaviour changes. Additionally, the tool can identify at-risk patterns. The Mentor assessment will assist in determining whether a player is in trouble and identifying symptoms of problem gambling on online casinos. The tool will deliver appropriate messages to the player in an attempt to influence their behaviour.

Mentor‘s communications employ a counselling approach named ‘motivational interviewing’, partly created by psychologists William R. Miller and Stephen Rollnick. The prime focus of the approach attempts to assist individuals in overcoming ambivalent attitudes towards gaining the motivation required for enduring positive changes

Red Tiger reveals Rainbow Jackpots Power Lines pokie

March 13, 2020 by Admin

Renowned iGaming developer, Red Tiger Gaming, has unveiled their latest pokie. The fresh title is called Rainbow Jackpots Power Lines and is a mold-breaking production, boasting a truly unique design.

The slot machine adopts a leprechaun theme and the central character, with his buckled green top hat, bouncy red curls and a pipe clutched between his teeth fits the bill perfectly. The visuals are impressive but are only a precursor to some attention-grabbing special features.

Expanding Rows

The game’s grid is set at a permanent 6 reels, however, as you spin, this will change with the reel count being able to drop to as low as 2 or increase to as high as 7. This is a randomly triggered feature and you will be hoping for more reels as the more there are, the bigger your winning chances.

The expanding rows form a great foundation for a host of additional features, including, but not limited to the Beer Bonus, Symbol Swap and Free Spins. If luck is with you, you could walk away with 1000x your bet as a maximum prize.

Grab the Pot ‘o Gold

Free Spins symbols open a gateway to grandeur. If 3 of them appear, a free spins sequence is triggered and the probability of special symbols landing on the reels is greatly increased. If the Leprechaun blows his special symbol onto the reels you will receive super free spins

that turn double up you symbol swaps to create 2×2 symbol stacks.

It wouldn’t be a leprechaun tale without a tankard of ale. If 3 special beer symbols land, you will be up for the Beer Bonus where you test your fate and make your choice from 3 options and stand a chance to win either up to 100x your bet or 1000x your bet if you activate the Triple Bonus.

Rainbow Jackpots Power Lines is live and ready to play at Red Tiger powered casinos, find the gold at the end of the rainbow on desktop or mobile.

Microgaming teases March games launch

March 10, 2020 by Admin

Microgaming has five premium slot titles ready to launch this March. The new set of slots was created by its far-reaching network of independent game studios. There are also ten new games developed by their content partners for their online casinos. There is something for everyone in the new line-up. Get ready to encounter a wide range of characters and themes.

Presentation and gameplay

The five new slot games set for launch in March have been developed exclusively for Microgaming-powered online casinos. Triple Edge Studios are responsible for the vivid retro-futuristic slot, Attack on Retro. This title takes you on a wild, cyberpunk adventure ride with a juxtaposed throwback / futuristic theme. This 5×5 reel, ten payline creation introduces chic cyberpunk heroes, Billy and Jesse, their city’s last line of defense against robot attacks. 80’s references and aesthetics abound as you spin for the maximum win of 5,000x your bet. Your winning chances are enhanced by stacked and random wilds as well as the thrilling Hyperspins feature.

Gameburger Studios have the next release in hand. This developer has an illustrious portfolio, including 9 Masks of Fire and Break da Bank Again Respin. They have returned with 9 Pots of Gold, a 5 reel, 20 payline slot that takes its theme from the lucky leprechauns of Irish folklore. The slot’s release date has been announced as March 10, well-timed as this is a week before St. Patrick’s Day. The luck of the Irish is with you as you spin for Pot Pays and your chance at an emerald-hued Free Spins Wheel to win your pot ‘o gold.

Just For The Win is also on the roster with its title, Treasure Skyland which is ready for launch on 24 March. This slot takes you soaring through the clouds with a motley crew of treasure-hunting pirate monkeys. Play for golden bananas as Win Multipliers, Symbol Upgrades and Pick Bonuses raise you to new winning heights.

Rabcat has been busy as they have two new slot escapades being released in March. Treasure Heroes will debut on 5 March with Mining Fever landing on the last day of the month. Treasure heroes has a 5×5 layout and is a treasure-themed title featuring Cluster-Win mechanics. Features also include the Moving Wall and Treasure Chamber free spins. Mining Fever is a Dwarven adventure where you dig for spectacular treasure in the slot’s 5×3 reel grid. The game has 243 ways to win and you will be armed with Driler’s Dwarven Drill, Thundar’s Dwarven Hammer, Bombur’s Dwarven Bomb, and Dwarven Gold Tran to help you unearth bigger prizes.

Classic Blackjack and a slew of new slots on the horizon

Exclusive content aside, Microgaming has ten slots created by its content partners for their online casinos. These include:

Alchemy Blast (Skillzzgaming, 9 March)
Irish Love (1X2gaming, 11 March)
Amazon Gold (Ainsworth, 12 March)
Kanga Cash Extra (Ainsworth, 12 March)
Gladiator Arena (Booming Games, 12 March)
Wild Krakatoa (2By2 Gaming, 16 March)
Twice the Diamonds (Ainsworth, 19 March)
White Rabbit (Big Time Gaming, 23 March)
Hot Cross Bunnies Pull Tab (Realistic Games, 26 March)
Jessica Weaver Queen of the Seas (MGA, 26 March)

Over and above their compelling slots on offer, Microgaming has launched a new Blackjack title. Switch Studios were contracted to develop this game which is their seventh Blackjack variant. Classic Blackjack: Six Deck went live on 5 March. The classic, fluid gameplay is thanks to the combination of standard side bets including double down, insurance, and split hands with delightful graphics and sounds completing the experience.

Visit any of your favourite real money casinos and give these new games a try!

New Skrill Casino Payment Method Feature

March 6, 2020 by Admin

Until recently, players who use Skrill to make casino payments were limited to a single currency, but that has changed. The web wallet service announced that it has launched a multiple currency feature.

The news means that using the service has become much simpler for those who want to play pokies or make online payments in more than one currency. The new feature is available only in Skrill web wallets, and not those of its sister company, Neteller. Both brands are owned by the Paysafe Group.

Only One Account Needed

Before the launch of the new feature, the only Skrill users who were able to use multiple currencies were those who had achieved the service’s Silver VIP level. The feature has now been extended to all standard accounts.

Previously, if casino players wanted the option of multiple currencies, they would have needed to create several different web wallets with the service. A different currency would be linked to each of those accounts. Now, however, the new feature means that only one account is needed.

How It Works

When creating a Skrill web wallet, players can select a main or default currency, and they can store additional currencies as alternatives. If players want to add even more new currencies at a later date, they can do so when making a deposit with a credit card.

One of the benefits of setting up a new currency account is that conversion fees will not be applied to funds such as online casino withdrawals received in the web wallet. If players continue using their old accounts, funds received will be converted into the primary currency, and a conversion fee will be applied.

Closer Look At Conversion Fees

According to reports, standard Skrill users will be subject to a 3.99% conversion fee. Bronze VIPs will be subject to a 3.79% conversion fee, while those at Silver, Gold, and Diamond levels will be subject to 2.89%, 2.59%, and 1.99% conversion fees respectively.

Conversion fees will be applied to Skrill MasterCard and to cryptocurrency conversions irrespective of whether players have new or old accounts. Those conversions are connected to the core account and the primary currency.

Another Innovation For Skrill

The multiple currency feature is the most recent innovation of which casino players can take advantage. In 2018, Skrill made it easier for players to purchase various cryptocurrencies using Bitcoin.

The service allows cryptocurrency purchases to be made without the need to convert Bitcoin into regular currency first.

NetEnt unleashes Ocean’s Treasure Pokie

February 21, 2020 by Admin

iGaming development studio NetEnt is globally renowned as the creators of some of the most enjoyable online pokies in the industry. When their latest title, Ocean’s Treasure made its debut, it made a significant splash in the iGaming world and garnering lots of attention. True to the studio’s form, the pokie is an absolute triumph. The game features a dynamic gameplay grid that transforms as you spin and a menacing Kraken that lurks above the reels. This pokie is definitely a must-play for fans of all types.

True to its name, Ocean’s Treasure plunges you into the depths of the lost city of Atlantis. The pokie sports 5 reels and 3 rows which are surrounded by stone sculptures and other remnants of the fabled civilization. The visuals shift and morph as you play, telling the story of descent, deeper into the mythical core of the lost citadel. The engrossing imagery is a fitting accompaniment to the rich offering of features, which include Stacked Wilds, Free Spins, and Level Multipliers.

Deeper descent

The most prominent feature of Ocean’s Treasure is undoubtedly the Level Multipliers. Other than a guaranteed way to line your pockets with treasure, it is a visual delight. A combination of 3 or more Scatter Symbols activates this feature, hurling you into Atlantis. Keep your wits about you, a beast lurks in the watery shadows.

If a Wild makes an appearance during a free spin, the game’s appearance changes as you transition to a new level. The multiplier is also enhanced, increasing with each successive level ascension. This progression has a limit of 5 levels, where the multiplier increases to a mammoth x12. Arriving at the 5^th level awakens the Kraken who looms over the reels until your free spins are depleted.

NetEnt’s feverous dedication to art direction is apparent in the visual execution of this pokie.

Ocean’s Treasure demo play

A rising tide

Bryan Upton, director of games at NetEnt explained that the gameplay experience was constructed to ignite anticipation. Upton further stated that Ocean’s Treasure was an in-house experiment, framed by the intent to seize the player’s attention.

Upton wrapped up by calling the experiment a success and citing the pokie’s status as one of the studio’s biggest achievements to date.

Ocean’s Treasure is available now on desktop and mobile. Put your bravery to the test and descend to the darkest depths and face The Kraken of legend.

NZ casino study panned as unsound & unbalanced

February 14, 2020 by Admin

Juxtaposing the potential downfalls associated with low-risk gambling like occasionally playing the Lottery or casino games from time to time against severe physical disorders such as cancer and physical bodily harm is purely salacious, according to leading New Zealand economic advisor, TBD Advisory.

TBD recently distributed a video commentary, addressing a report on the effects of low-risk gambling, commissioned by the national Ministry of Health. The report, “Measuring the Burden of Gambling Harm in New Zealand” has been characterized by TBD as essentially flawed and possibly even purposefully misleading and biased.

A waste of time and resources

The report reportedly cost the health department NZ$319,000, but this may have been an ill-advised splurge as the research value is highly questionable. According to TBD Advisory, the analysis of low-risk gambling detailed in the report contains no fewer than 10 glaring research flaws.

The research in the report suggests that low-risk gambling is comparable to various diseases and complete physical incapacity due to mutilation. A severe addiction to casino games, sports betting or any other type of gambling is placed alongside suffering from terminal cancer or even the long-lasting effects of a major stroke.

Another identified error purported by the hypothetical “research” is the supposition that gambling is a unique addiction unto itself and is, therefore, damaging and even capable of robbing the addict of up to 20% of their quality of life. This position, unfortunately, disregards the fact that any addiction is rooted in deep, fundamental causes and cannot be seen as stand-alone harm all unto itself.

Questionable survey techniques

The findings of the report are also suspicious because the survey respondents may have been biased towards particular leanings regarding gambling-related harm. The participants were also allegedly not selected completely at random.

The Gaming Machine Association of New Zealand has demanded either the complete withdrawal of the report or that it should be re-published, accompanied by a warning, detailing the potential flaws and biases contained therein. The organisation’s position is that the research report does not paint an accurate picture of the casino industry and is, therefore, of little to no value.