Admin, Author at BestCasinos.co.nz

SkyCity soars as Covid restrictions fall

June 14, 2022 by Admin

Major casino operator SkyCity Entertainment Ltd. Recently reported that its New Zealand and Australian businesses have started seeing signs of recovery as Covid-19 restrictions have fallen away and borders are reopened.

The company recently revealed that it predicts a normalized net profit of $3.5 million to $7.0 million for its financial year ending June 30.

In an official release, the operator stated,

“Following recent relaxation of Covid-19 operating restrictions, SkyCity has seen strong performance from its local gaming businesses, particularly in New Zealand.”

The company added that Hotels and other non-gaming businesses were also seeing an increase in domestic tourism.

Change of Fortunes

This development is a profound improvement from February 2022, when SkyCity revealed that it had suffered a $337 million loss for the first half of the financial year. At the time, its flagship SkyCity Auckland Casino had been closed for 107 days up until December 2021. Over the lockdowns, SkyCity Hamilton was shut down for 65 days, SkyCity Queenstown for 22 days, and SkyCity Adelaide fared best, only being shuttered for eight days.

Once the casinos received their respective reopening dates, they were all subjected to government-related restrictions. Mask mandates were enforced along with capacity restrictions and social distancing.

In March of 2022, with the promise of reduced restrictions on the horizon, SkyCity embarked on a massive recruitment drive as it sought to fill hundreds of positions.

Capacity restrictions were eventually lifted in New Zealand, and its borders reopened in April 2022, triggering the operator’s path to recovery as fully vaccinated Australian tourists were granted access to the country.

New Attraction

SkyCity recently debuted a brand new multi-sensory attraction in its Auckland Sky Tower. The Skyslide is a 360-degree virtual reality tour of the city skyline via a glass slide that will give those visiting the experience a full view of the glory of Auckland.

SkyCity’s Chief Operating Officer, Callum Mallett, commented on the launch of the new attraction, saying,

“We’re really excited to be opening such an adrenaline-pumping attraction at the Sky Tower. There is nothing like this in Auckland or even New Zealand. The Sky Tower is a much-loved New Zealand icon, and now Kiwis can use virtual reality to fully immerse themselves in an experience that would have previously only been available in their imagination.”

Skycity, Adelaide

LeoVegas grows its pride with Kalamba integration

June 10, 2022 by Admin

Industry-leading online casino specialist LeoVegas has finalized a deal to add premium iGaming content from top supplier Kalamba Games. The agreement serves to boost the online casino provider’s offering while giving Kalamba increased exposure to a massive market of international players.

Kalamba Games has a long-running reputation for delivering immersive and rewarding online casino games and recently launched its new Blazing Bull: Cash Quest pokie. Kalamba’s top-performing titles, including games from its Blazing Bull and Joker series, are now available for players to discover and enjoy at LeoVegas.

Mutual Growth

In an official statement, Steve Cutler, the CEO and Co-Founder of Kalamba Games, said,

“Delivering to players the widest variety of high-quality entertainment and cutting-edge technology is a key goal within our growth strategy at Kalamba. This latest partnership will help deliver and exceed this ambition as we move to the next phase of the Kalamba journey.”

The deal enables the studio to establish a wider presence across key regulated European regions and the LatAm region.

Andrew Crosby, the CCO for Kalamba Games, added,

“Delivering our slot titles to a prestigious and well-known casino like LeoVegas is a testament to our rapid growth in recent years. Its reputation as the go-to mobile-focused casino for players globally represents a true growth opportunity for our games to be played by many new customers.”

New Horizons

Ownership of LeoVegas may soon change hands if recent acquisition efforts by land-based casino giant MGM are successful. MGM has bid US$607 million to acquire all of Leovegas’ share capital. It plans to extend its reach and profitability by leveraging the operator’s existing access to the European online gambling market.

Bill Hornbuckle, chief executive and president of MGM Resorts, commented on the offer, saying,

“Our vision is to be the world’s premier gaming entertainment company, and this strategic opportunity with LeoVegas will allow us to continue to grow our reach throughout the world,” he said. “We have achieved remarkable success with BetMGM in the US, and with the acquisition of LeoVegas in Europe, we will expand our online gaming presence globally.”

“We believe that this offer creates a compelling opportunity that allows the combined teams of MGM Resorts and LeoVegas to accelerate our global digital gaming growth and fully realize the potential of our omnichannel strategy. We look forward to being able to welcome the LeoVegas team to our MGM Resorts family,” Hornbuckle concluded.

The deal has drawn positive reactions from LeoVegas’ leading shareholders and, if successful, is expected to close in the second half of 2022.

Christchurch Casino Invites you to win daily with Colossus

June 7, 2022 by Admin

From Friday 24th to Sunday 26th June, Christchurch casino is giving you the chance to win big with Colossus over the Matariki long weekend.

To get started, you just need to earn a minimum of 5 Base Points on any Gaming Machine or Table Game during the promotional period. You will be awarded your maximum of 1 Colossus game per day. Remember to make sure that your Player’s Club card is correctly inserted into the gaming machine or promptly presented at the table game you are playing.

Each day you play the game could see you claim up to a $25 Casino Dollar prize but stay on top of your game because your un-played Colossus Games will expire at the end of each promotional day.

Pokies Paradise

Christchurch Casino currently hosts the largest selections of pokies in New Zealand, with over 454 Slot Machines available on the two gaming floors.

You’ll find the Valley area on the first level, and you’ll have to head upstairs for the Gallery and Privé areas that feature more variety. Christchurch Casino uses a TiTo (Ticket in, Ticket out) process, making your pokie play near effortless.

The casino’s Players Club program is also a great reason to visit the property. Once you sign up for free, you will receive $20 casino dollars without spending a cent and up to $20 additional casino dollars a week for the next three weeks. The points you earn from gaming on pokies or table games can earn you extra casino dollars, rebates on food and beverage purchases, and access to exclusive promotions and events, among others.

Christchurch Casino was New Zealand’s first establishment of its kind when it opened in 1994 and is still the destination of choice for Kiwis looking to satisfy their thirst for top-notch casino entertainment, live shows and a range of eating and drinking establishments.

Pragmatic Picks up the Pace with new Live Speed Blackjack Tables

June 3, 2022 by Admin

Pragmatic Play’s live casino offering has grown with an exciting addition guaranteed to thrill table game enthusiasts. The provider’s new Speed Blackjack product is now part of its Live Casino portfolio.

The game integrates side bets, auto-decisions and more features to give you a faster and more rewarding Blackjack session, coupled with the immersion of interaction with a professional live dealer. The company advised that the new title delivers a “fast-paced play session for those looking to enjoy a live casino experience”.

Yossi Barzely, the Chief Business Development Officer at Pragmatic Play, appeared highly pleased at the new addition to the developer’s portfolio, saying,

“Bringing new gaming opportunities to players is at the core of what we aim to do at Pragmatic Play, and we’re very pleased to grow the footprint of our catalogue further with the launch of our new product, Speed Blackjack. The performance of our Live Casino offering is a great success story, and we are keen to capitalise further on the luxury environment it offers.”

Speed Test

Among its many innovations, Pragmatic’s Speed Blackjack reduces game round times by up to 30%. The game permits you to use simultaneous decision offers, with pre-set auto-decisions based on your strategy, including stands or hits.

The new game also boasts an enhanced user interface designed to accommodate the rapid pace of play. Players will be happy to note there is quick seating which means you can get into the game almost immediately with the assistance of a friendly and engaging game host. The game is streamed from Pragmatic Play’s new Ruby, which employs cutting-edge game streaming technology to bring you the best possible experience.

Unearth the King’s Mask with Play ‘n GO

May 31, 2022 by Admin

Play’n GO is headed back to Ancient Egypt for even more rewarding adventures in the provider’s brand new pokie, King’s Mask.

The golden mask of the iconic King Tutankhamun is featured for the first time ever in a Play’n GO game. The legendary artefact is world-famous, not only for its rarity but the legend that says anyone who touches it will gain unimaginable power and immense fortune.

Enter the Palace

You will be greeted by an opulent open-air bathing room where treasure is piled up against ornate pillars when you start the game. Sand dunes spread out into the distance under a dramatic dusk desert sky. The startlingly beautiful theme adds a glossy, modern veneer to classic imagery.

The simple 5×3 reel, 20 payline layout play host to an assortment of Egyptian symbols such as scarabs, cats and lotus flowers. Tutankhamun ‘s instantly recognizable mask is the wild symbol, and the scatter is a jewelled pyramid that kicks off a rewarding bonus round.

There are three Free Spins options available where you can pick from 15, 10, or 5 free spins, with 3x, 5x, or 10x win multipliers. You can decide your strategy and stand a chance to land the game’s maximum potential of 10 000x your stake.

Charlotte Miliziano, the Head of Games at Play’n GO commented,

“The opulence that Ancient Egypt narratives gods and pharaohs are forever popular among players as the content is so rich. But none is quite so famous as King Tut, minus Cleopatra of course. As much as we like to explore narratives and character dynamics, we also like to make classic styles of games. This dedication to variety within our portfolio is why players come back to our games time and time again. They know they’ll be something for them.”

Stakelogic invites you to hook a huge win in Wild Wild Bass

May 27, 2022 by Admin

Stakelogic’s brand new pokie is a fishing fiesta filled with amazing prize potential. Wild Wild Bass was developed in collaboration with Hurricane Games as part of the company’s Greenlogic Partner Program.

Casting Your Line

The game sports an intriguing layout with 5 reels and a 3-3-4-4-4-4 row formation. The crisp visuals depict bubble-bordered submerged reels in crystal clear water where icons like tackle boxes and life preservers act as symbols. When you launch the base game, you will have 2304 ways to win, but the lucrative Big Catch feature increases that value to 5625, giving you a welcome winning boost.

Speaking of the Big Catch, you will need two cash value-bearing bass wild symbols to appear on the same spin to activate the feature. Reels three to six will expand and give you those precious extra ways to win. While the feature is active, the bass symbol values in view will be collected, and the Insane Catch symbol, which only appears on reel six, can award you up to five Insane spins.

When you trigger Insane spins, the first two reels merge into a single reel that displays multiplier values up to 5x. On the remaining reels, only bass symbols or blank spaces can land for the duration of the feature, and the multiplier on the mega-reel will be applied to all the bass values in view. You can add more spins by landing more Insane symbols while the feature is still going.

You can also engage Wild Wild Bass’ Super Stake feature that doubles your bet while increasing your chances of triggering the game’s bonus features. Super Stake also doubles the chance of Wilds appearing in the base game, giving you a great boost to your winning chances.

The Head of Greenlogic from Stakelogic, Salvatore Campione, said,

“This is yet another great example of the incredible slots that can be created when we join forces with studios such as Hurricane Games via our Greenlogic Partner Program. Wild Wild Bass is visually striking and feature-rich, allowing players to hook in potentially massive wins with each spin. We look forward to seeing players hang up their Gone Fishing signs and for them to reel in some major prizes.”

Yggdrasil and Bang Bang Games turn back the clock with Jokrz Wild ULTRANUDGE

May 24, 2022 by Admin

Leading iGaming content provider Yggdrasil recently announced that it had collaborated with Bang Bang Games to develop and launch a new title featuring classic gameplay and a retro theme. The name of the new pokie is Jokrz Wild ULTRANUDGE, and its debut follows soon after the successful release of Water Blox Gigablox.

This new title was made possible by the company’s YG Masters program, which has been running for 3 years now and has produced a flurry of entertaining, high-quality pokies. The programme empowers independent game developers and operators with cutting-edge development and distribution resources, like its GATI technology, enabling them to produce, promote, and rapidly distribute premium content.

Classic Feel

Jokrz Wild ULTRANUDGE sports a 5×4 reel layout with 40 paylines, high volatility gameplay, and an impressive winning potential of 25 000x your stake.

The paytable reveals a series of classic game symbols, including diamonds, various fruits, BARS, and of course, the lucky 7. When the Jokrz Wild symbol forms part of a winning combo, the ULTRANUDGE feature will activate, nudging all the symbols in view down by a single position. This action will repeat until no more wins are possible.

If you land three diamond symbols and a ULTRANUDGE symbol on the same spin, you will activate the Jokrz Free Spins mode. While this feature is running, all wins will trigger the ULTRANUDGE, and an increasing multiplier that does not reset between spins boosts your wins.

The Jokrz Gamble Wheel allows you to double the value of your multipliers and increase the bonus round’s potential to 23 000x your stake.

Retro Respect

Yggdrasil’s head of product and programs, Stuart McCarthy shared that he feels the ULTRANUDGE game mechanic is a valuable addition to the gaming giant’s existing catalogue. He described the new pokie as “an exciting retro hit” that is sure to stand out and attract an enthusiastic player base.

The managing director of Bang Bang Games, Frank McPolin, added that the company’s partnership with Yggdrasil gives it the ability to evolve its portfolio dynamically. He described the new release as the ideal combination of “innovation and immersion” that pays homage to classic games.

Casumo player roars to victory with Red Tiger pokie jackpot

May 20, 2022 by Admin

Something great happened at Casumo online casino on May 12^th.One lucky winner from Auckland claimed a massive Mega Drop Jackpot of $194,824.69 while playing Wild Wild Chest by Red Tiger Gaming.

The winner, only identified as K, was in a state of shock following their momentous win and has said that he still needs some time to absorb the news.

Wild Wild Chest is a popular Western-themed Red Tiger title where special golden boxes can award you an array of modifiers, including cash prizes, respins, reel swaps, and transforming symbols. The jackpot aside, you could claim wins of worth up to over 1500x your stake from a single spin.

Mega Rewarding

The Mega Drop is one of Red Tiger’s trio of progressive jackpot offerings that increases with a small percentage of every bet placed on games at online casinos that include the feature. The jackpot value keeps increasing until it is won, after which it will reset in anticipation of the next lucky player.

The Must Drop jackpot has to pay out before it hits $1000 so if a lot of players are active, there could be many winners in a single day. The Daily Drop Jackpot is guaranteed to pay out before a specified time each day, and mostly reaches values of a few thousand each time.

Mega Drop is the largest of the three jackpots, and as you read above, it can dish out huge multi-million-dollar prizes to fortunate players.

There’s not telling at what point these prizes will drop or how much they could be worth so every second that you’re not playing could be a major missed opportunity.

All you must do to be eligible to receive these amazing prizes is make sure you have an account at Casumo Casino and play any qualifying Red Tiger game.

Yggdrasil’s LatAm journey begins with a new RSI agreement

May 13, 2022 by Admin

Yggdrasil has confirmed its imminent debut in the Latin American market after the iGaming provider signed a deal with Rush Street Interactive’s Colombian brand, RushBet.co.

Yggdrasil ‘s catalogue of slot titles will go live on the site allowing players to enjoy top titles like Raptor Doublemax and Hades Gigablox, as well as the popular Vikings Trilogy and other titles from its YG Masters collection.

Andrew Pegler, the Chief of Commercial Operations at Yggdrasil, said,

“RSI is a market-leading operator in Colombia, and we are very proud to have been given the trust and confidence to introduce our best-in-class games to their local audience. We are excited about this opportunity and look forward to growing our presence in the region together with RSI.”

A statement from Yggdrasil added that the new deal with RSI would enable it to make inroads into Latin America via Cambodia and was “yet another milestone achievement” in its strategy to expand into key markets.

Richard Schwartz, the CEO at RSI, stated,

“Yggdrasil is well-known for its high-quality slots content and offers a diverse portfolio of fan-favourite and new games that is sure to impress our growing customer base in Colombia. We are excited to be the first to offer Yggdrasil’s impressive games portfolio in Colombia and look forward to a long-term successful partnership.”

Building on Progress

This new development follows a productive April for Yggdrasil. The provider signed partnership deals with Slotbox and Livespins while also making changes to its leadership. Fredrik Elmqvist vacated his CEO position and handed the reins to Björn Krantz.

Krantz comes to the table with over 12 years of C-level experience, and he previously worked at major iGaming provider NetEnt for ten years. His transition to Yggdrasil came in January 2020, when he was appointed to manage the group’s publishing arm. He also recently filled the role of Chief of Global Market Operations.

Pragmatic Play elevates its Drop & Wins live casino promotion with exciting upgrades

May 10, 2022 by Admin

Pragmatic Play is one of iGaming’s leading providers and is famous for its crowd-pulling promotions that reward players for playing across its two most popular verticals.

Randomly awarded wins will go to lucky players from 4th May 2022, with the freshly-launched Prize Drops, Mega Drops, and Daily Blackjack draws, comprising a weekly pool of $125 000 for the Drops & Wins Live Casino edition.

Regular Rewards

Players can win Prize Drops five days out of the week on engaging Live Casino games like Mega Roulette, Sweet Bonanza Candy Land, and Mega Wheel to mention a few. Fridays and Saturdays will see a special boosted prize pool and the Daily Blackjack Prize Drops are a card player’s dream come true.

Until 8 February 2023, players will have a shot at claiming their share of a $1,000,000 monthly prize pool, across the provider’s Pokies and Live Casino verticals. The Drops & Wins promotion offers a flurry of cash rewards, multipliers and free round bonuses as rewards. The free round bonuses will apply to Drops & Wins Pokies and will be instantly credited so that players can continue with their games uninterrupted.

A selection of premium live casino and pokie content, including titles like Gates of Olympus, Sweet Bonanza, Big Bass Bonanza, and Starlight Princess are included in the promotions. As with Drops & Wins promotions of the past, Pragmatic Play is funding the entire prize pool.

Yossi Barzely, the Chief Business Development Officer at Pragmatic Play said,

“We are always looking for new and innovative ways to engage our audience, and the Drops & Wins promotion does exactly that. By February 2023, we will have awarded players millions in cash prizes over the lifespan of the initiative, a testament to our dedication to customers and clients.”

Pragmatic Play delivers up to six new pokies per month while maintaining its varied portfolio that is available through a single API and includes Live Casino, Virtual Sports, and Bingo.