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Stakelogic’s Phoenix Queen: Hold ‘N’ Link pokie promises royal rewards

May 6, 2022 by Admin

Greenlogic’s gaming production division, Stakelogic, has teamed up with developer Net Game Entertainment to release Phoenix Queen Hold ‘n’ Link, a new pokie with a breath-taking mythical Asian theme and fantastic winning potential.

The legendary phoenix is the focus of this medium volatility game and the delicate beauty of the myth is finely woven into the gameplay experience.

Fabled Features

The paytable features Golden money trees and exotic birds alongside a gilded phoenix and the Queen wild symbol that substitutes for all regular symbols.

The blue lotus free spins symbols trigger the Hold ‘N‘ Link bonus feature when at least 6 of them land on a single spin. The grid clears and only the triggering symbols are locked in place while 3 respins are awarded. Every time a new free spins symbol appears, the respin count goes back to 3 and you could claim a maximum prize of 500x your stake if you fill the grid with 15 symbols.

Once this bonus sequence is over you will be transported to the free spins round where you will be awarded free spins equivalent to the number of blue lotuses you managed to land during the Hold ‘N’ Link round. Multiplier-boosted bonus symbols boost your winning potential, giving you a shot at the game’s maximum prize per spin of 4752x your stake.

Cooperation is Key

Salvatore Campione, the Head of Greenlogic at Stakelogic spoke about the new collaborative title, saying,

“Phoenix Queen Hold ‘N’ Link is another great example of how our Greenlogic Partner Program allows us to partner with some of the most exciting up and coming studios to produce thrilling slots that deliver exciting and entertaining player experiences. NetGame Entertainment have been able to stick to the phoenix theme and create a slot that takes players on a mythical adventure where big win potential can be discovered with every spin. This is a great addition to our portfolio and a game that will be a big hit with players.”

Win a dragon’s hoard of riches in Yggdrasil’s Megapearl Gigablox pokie

May 3, 2022 by Admin

iGaming giant Yggdrasil and ReelPlay have joined forces again to bring you another immersive online gaming experience in Megapearl Gigablox.

This freshly released six-reel, 40-payline pokie integrates Yggdrasil’s crowd-pulling Gigablox mechanic and is draped in a richly illustrated Chinese theme that features dragons winding around elaborate pillars that border the reels. At least one giant symbol appears on every spin and an imposing dragon represents the wild symbol.

Ferocious Bonus Features

Land six or more glistening pearls to trigger the bonus respins feature, where squares of pearls merge to create mega symbols.

You are given a starting tally of three spins and every time a pearl lands, the respin count will reset to 3. This is a ‘Hold and Win’-type bonus sees where every pearl has a multiplier based on your bet.

If you fill an entire square, all the values will combine and be multiplied for massive winning potential. If you are lucky enough to be in a selected region, you can skip the hassle and jump right into the respins round using the buy feature. The game’s winning potential comes in at over 16 000x your stake and the low volatility means you should brace for a flurry of wins.

Proud Pedigree

Megapearl Gigablox is Reelplay’s newest game launched via the YG Masters program. The game is powered by Yggdrasil’s cutting-edge GATI technology, which allows its partners to rapidly develop and deploy premium content utilising a preconfigured, regulation-ready, standardised development toolkit.

Stuart McCarthy, the Head of Product & Programs at Yggdrasil said.

“We’re very pleased to collaborate with ReelPlay again to launch an exciting, Hold and Win style Gigablox title. The licensing of our GEM’s has expanded the potential of the program significantly and we look forward to seeing what further innovations will be created.”

David Johnson, the CEO at ReelPlay added,

“Megapearl Gigablox is another strong addition to our portfolio through the YG Masters program. Combining the popular Gigablox™ mechanic with a rich Chinese theme, ReelPlay have produced an engaging and re-playable experience for a wide audience.”

LeoVegas-owned Blue Guru Games premieres its pilot pokie

April 29, 2022 by Admin

Leovegas’ independent iGaming studio, Blue Guru Games recently announced the launch of its first-ever pokie, The Nemean Lion.

The developer has a team of 30 and is housed under LeoVentures, LeoVegas’ investment subsidiary. The studio was founded in 2021, following a significant investment by the parent company.

Blue Guru has already secured a series of distribution deals with numerous aggregators, such as Relax Gaming and Oryx Gaming, with its Blue Guru’s introductory title already live with a few major operators.

Blue Guru’s CEO, Andrew Braithwaite called this development an “important milestone” that is just the first in a planned series of releases scheduled to go live in the months ahead.

Reaching Out

In its push for optimal expansion, Blue Guru Games has turned its focus to the lucrative US market, which the company said it intends to make an impact in with the introduction of a premium selection of games later in 2022.

Braithwaite continued his thoughts, saying,

“It’s really nice to be releasing our first game. This is an important milestone of course and there’s so much more to come. We’re particularly excited about the US which provides such an exciting opportunity. We’re a great team having lots of fun making games, and we can’t wait to get our ideas out and see them played.”

Blue Guru is not LeoVentures’ only project, the subsidiary has invested in CasinoGrounds, Pixel.bet and BeyondPlay, to provide the LeoVegas Group with strategic resources.

Gustaf Hagman, the CEO at LeoVegas said,

“Blue Guru Games’ first game launch is a milestone. It is fantastic to see how quickly they have moved from concept to inception and a real testament to the strong commitment and entrepreneurship we have within the group and our portfolio companies,” said “We now have our eye firmly on the US market, where the thirst for high-quality games perfectly complements our aims and capabilities. I look forward to our continued development and growth.”

Yggdrasil eyes market share boost with new Slotbox distribution deal

April 27, 2022 by Admin

Yggdrasil, a global leader in the iGaming industry has recently finalised an agreement with Slotbox, allowing the provider the opportunity to widen the reach of its content. The partnership gives Slotbox access to Yggdrasil’s entire collection of core games and a selection of YG Masters titles.

Slotbox customers will now have access to a premium variety of top-performing games, enhanced by Yggdrasil’s powerful Game Engagement Mechanics.

Slotbox is an online division of Coastline, a prominent Irish casino and gaming operator that boasts eight locations across the Emerald Isle. Coastline launched Slotbox in 2020, employing Gaming Innovation Group’s platform, which operated as a springboard for the company to significantly expand its global presence.

Yggdrasil looks to gain greatly from the deal as its popular content will now be exposed to a wider market across the globe.

Andrew Pegler, the Director of Commercial Operations at Yggdrasil gave his take on the mutually beneficial alliance.

“This alliance with Slotbox will see us enhance our presence globally and it’s fantastic to work with such a renowned and established operator with a strong land-based history. We continue to strike important strategic partnerships and grow our global presence, taking our fantastic slot collection to even more players,” he shared.

A representative from Slotbox shared the company’s enthusiasm at the new arrangement, saying,

“Our online brand is going from strength to strength and we are thrilled to further bolster our offering with Yggdrasil’s premium slots. We aim to offer our customers engaging and entertaining experiences and Yggdrasil’s slots have proven longevity and a big fan-following.”

Have a festive Cinco de Mayo with Play’n GO’s new Puebla Parade pokie

April 22, 2022 by Admin

Play’n GO’s new Mexican-themed pokie, Puebla Parade, is an explosion of colour, culture, and music as traditionally-attired dancers twirl across the reels in celebration of Cinco de Mayo and your winning chances.

The game’s theme is a collection of sensory delights with vivid visuals and charming animations, paired with a selection of thrilling bonus features. The pokie’s Vihuela guitar-infused soundtrack is provided by an authentic Mariachi band with a song custom-composed for this premium gaming experience.

When the Señorita Wild and Señor Wild appear on the reels they join together to form a 2x Pareja Wild and trigger a pair of respins and expand the reel set up to seven rows high, generating even more ways to win.

The free spins round is even more rewarding with the Pajera Wilds being upgraded to a 3x multiplier and roaming across the reels, creating winning chances where they land.

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

“One of the reasons that our portfolio is the most diverse in the industry are the themes, celebrations, and culture we include in our games. We’re a community at Play’n GO and our games are a positive reflection of that. We’re dedicated to going the extra mile, you won’t find the Free Spins music in a sample library for instance. Everything from the lyrics to the music was devised and performed just for this game.”

Making Moves

Play’n GO has had a productive year so far, making its debut in two major iGaming markets. The provider was granted a Remote Gambling Operator’s License by the Licensing Authority of Gibraltar in late March. This gave its partners that hold B2C licences from Gibraltar access to its impressive catalogue of pokies.

The supplier was also granted a supplier licence by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario in the same month and made its entry into the province’s newly-launched iGaming market on 4 April.

Waikato district loses $8 million to pokies in a year

April 19, 2022 by Admin

Between 2020 and 2021, players in South Waikato collectively lost over $8 million to pokies, a situation that has created severely negative impacts on the area’s families.

These figures came to light when community members provided feedback to the South Waikato District Council regarding its Gambling Class 4 and TAB Venue Policy. In total, $8,057,439 across 160 class 4pokie machines was lost in the 2020-21 financial year.

A South Waikato woman, who asked to remain anonymous, described the impact of gambling on whānau as devastating.

“Growing up, both of my parents were gamblers and we knew that. They would always disappear to the pub to play the pokies. You don’t realise how impactful it is until you’re older and realise how abandoned you felt. It was really hard and lonely as a child when you have younger siblings who are wondering where their parents are or who is going to feed them,” she said.

“I’m a grown woman now and this issue has always existed here for us. It isn’t getting better, it has increasingly gotten worse over time. I’m sure pokies have economic benefits but it is devastating families here,” she continued.

Andree Froude, the Problem Gambling Foundation’s Communication Director expressed sympathy, stating that problem gambling is holistically detrimental to peoples’ lives.

“Harmful gambling has long tentacles – one person’s gambling can impact up to seven other people. Gambling can lead to job loss, relationship breakdowns, child neglect, and loss of homes, fraud and suicide. One of the most consistent findings is when children have a close family member with a gambling problem they are far more likely to develop problems themselves,” she explained.

A 2016 survey discovered that gambling harm was disproportionately represented in high deprivation areas.

An excerpt from the survey findings reads, “For those who gamble on pokies in pubs or clubs regularly, research shows that 49 per cent of participants experienced some gambling harm … Pacific and Māori peoples were also twice as likely to experience gambling harm.”

Public Testimony

The South Waikato District Council received 13 submissions as part of its public consultation process and ten of those who made the submissions are set to speak at the hearings on 5 May.

The district has also re-emphasised its commitment to its Sinking Lid policy, which has halted the issuing of any new licences for gambling activities in pubs and clubs while preventing existing ones from being shifted to different locations.

The South Waikato woman continued her statement, adding that she hopes for a future where her region is free from pokies, saying,

“I really hope that other whānau don’t experience harmful gambling. I also hope that one day, we don’t have to see these machines here. We’ve seen them for too long.

SkyCity thrilled at Orange status but isn’t quite ready yet

April 15, 2022 by Admin

Major casino and hotel operator, SkyCity has praised the country’s shift to the orange traffic light level, stating that this is a welcome development for the tourism and hospitality industry.

The status comes with a relaxed set of rules, including an end to gathering limits and the removal of the requirement for restaurant patrons to be always seated and separated.

The country’s Covid-19 Minister, Chris Hipkins, recently announced the transition to a less stringent pandemic response strategy, citing falling case numbers and saying,

“We are over the peak, we are coming down the other side; in some places we’re coming well down”

Callum Mallett, SkyCity’s CEO expressed the company’s excitement at the news but added that, even with increased capacity, it would still take a few days for the company to return to normal operations.

“The ability for customers to find those bookings in the time that we have could be challenging but most operators will move pretty quickly to ensure they can welcome as many guests as possible,” Mallett said.

Normalcy Returns

Australians are now permitted to enter New Zealand without the requirement of isolating, provided that they are vaccinated and test negative for Covid-19. As a result, booking figures for flights between the two countries have increased slightly, but the casino operator has remained realistic, predicting that an immediate huge influx of visitors is unlikely.

Mallet advised that while the current numbers are minimal low, this is a positive development, nonetheless.

“The Australian market being open is a significant step because now even if they don’t rush to book, the opportunity exists for them to book and as airlines increase frequency of flights we’re really confident that the Australian market over time will return to like it was pre-Covid,” he said.

The CEO concluded by stating that the Asian market still has a long road to recovery, with low expectations of the overall numbers returning to anything resembling pre-Covid levels in the coming summer.

Yggdrasil and AvatarUX line up some sweet rewards in new Lollipop pokie

April 12, 2022 by Admin

Industry-leading iGaming provider, Yggdrasil, recently partnered up with AvatarUX for a new -enhanced title, named Lollipop.

The game integrates the innovative PopWins mechanic that causes the reels to expand in height with every winning spin and the winning symbols are replaced by two more. The reels can grow up to five symbols high during the base game and up to seven while the bonus round is active. A progressive multiplier up to 6x also kicks in if you manage to unlock an extra reel.

PopWins is a highly popular mechanic that adds a unique spin to similar innovations like Rolling Reels or Cascading Reels by other developers.

Mouth-Watering Features

The new ScatterPops feature activates during Free Spins, upgrading matching Scatters symbols to higher values and boosting your winning potential. This means that you could set off a chain reaction that could result in wins up to 500x your bet.

There’s nothing regular about the bonus round either because when you trigger it with at least 3 scatters on the reels, a gamble wheel appears that lets you choose to gamble your existing free spins to potentially get more or lose it all in the process.

This is the newest title to emerge from AvatarUX, following the studio’s introduction of a series of premium titles, including CherryPop, PopRocks, and the more recent PapayaPop through the YG Masters program.

This new game exists thanks to Yggdrasil’s state-of-the-art GATI technology that gives YG Masters Partners access to a preconfigured, regulation-ready, standardised development toolkit that enables them to develop and rapidly distribute premium content.

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

“AvatarUX is another fantastic success story of the YG Masters initiative and we are very proud of the hugely innovative products they bring to market. The PopWins™ brand is recognised globally now and enjoyed immensely by players, and we look forward to another successful launch.”

Nicola Longmuir, the Chief Executive Officer at AvatarUX also shared her thoughts, saying,

“Lollipop is an action-packed title that incorporates the hugely exciting PopWins mechanic as well as our brand new ScatterPops chain reaction. We continue to look to add innovative, exciting games and this tasty treat is another fantastic addition to our offering through the YG Masters program.”

Microgaming April releases promise a thrilling month of winning

April 8, 2022 by Admin

If you’ve been holding on to hear what Microgaming has in store for you this April, then wait no longer. The global iGaming giant returns with another pulse-pounding line-up of lucrative themed pokies and innovative table game variants, courtesy of its exclusive studios and content partners.

North American wildlife takes centre stage in 25,000 Talons by Alchemy Gaming on 5 April. This highly volatile pokie features Cougars, Bison, Bears and the mighty Bald Eagle with a trio of free spins choices and Fire Spins that create symbol stacks and oversized 3×3 symbols. Activate the Wheel Bonus to claim fixed jackpots worth up to 25 000x your bet.

If you’ve ever wanted to stroll down the sunset-lit Vegas Boulevard and try your hand in a casino but you can’t be bothered to leave the house, Vegas Cash by Spinplay Games launches on 7 April, just for you. The double 5×3 reel sets display diamond-studded dollar signs, cash and roulette wheels and stacking Copycash wilds duplicate themselves for massive winning opportunities. Take on the free spins round with nudging wild stacks and win multipliers and jackpots with the VIP High Roller feature.

Get ready to play on 11 April when Premier Blackjack with Buster Blackjack by Switch Studios deals you in. Play up to 4 simultaneous Blackjack hands with side bets to boost your chances. A little later on in the month, on 20 April, the developer also has its new Auto Roulette title ready for release.

It’s time to dig deep and win once again on 12 April with the arrival of All41 Studios’ pokie sequel, Gold Collector: Diamond Edition. The unhinged miner returns in another subterranean quest for gold and gems with a 5×4 reel layout and high volatility gameplay. The Link&Win mechanic offers reward-rich respins while the free spins round is filled with coins and diamonds that you gather to claim jackpots worth up to 5000x.

Believe in the bling on 13 April in the opulent Royal League Spin City Lux by GONG Gaming Technologies. Watch exclusive supercars, glittering diamonds and wads of cash appear on the 5×3 reels and roll your way to a 10 000x jackpot prize when you take the dice in your palm for the Royal League Jackpot.

Just For The Win has some blazing wins in store on 19 April when it releases Wildfire Wins. This pokie adopts a fruit machine theme, filled with flames and red-hot wins land on the 5-reel, 50 payline grid. Burning symbols trigger Wildfire Respins where sticky wilds give you awesome winning chances and the Wildfire Wheel Bonus offers prizes between 5x and 10 000x at its highest tier.

Back again with another compellingly odd concept is Crazy Tooth Studios with its science-fiction inspired experience, Rhino Rilla Rex on 21 April. The game’s creature characters appear as premium symbols on a 5-reel, 3125 payline format where the Any Adjacent Pays mechanic allows you to land winning combis anywhere on the reels. Combine the monstrous strengths of the game’s gargantuans with the Team-Up feature with instant prizes and multipliers and the Team-Up Bonus Spins with a special Golden Frame.

It’s all about the magic as Northern Lights Gaming releases Magical Reels on 25 April. The enchanting reels fill with potions while stars symbols accumulate to conjure up the bonus round with multiplier-enriched free spin.

Pearfiction goes for weaponised enchantments on 26 April with its new Dungeons and Diamonds pokie. Join magic-wielding adventurers on the quest to slay a dragon and claim its riches. The 5-reel, 40 payline game offers over 56000x your bet in prizes and a free spins round packed with respin action.

Ireland invites you to view its beautiful landscape with the lovely Fiona at your side in Fiona’s Fortune by Gold Coin Studios on 27 April. Trigger the jackpot wheel to take home an enchanting 5000x jackpot prize.

The digital casino experience is taken to a new level on 25 April in Real Dealer Studios’ Dealers Club Roulette. This innovative title lets you choose your dealer, select up to 9 pre-set bets and experience it all in cinema-quality definition.

The selection of forthcoming titles from Microgaming’s partner network is just as thrilling with Hacksaw Gaming introducing its dark Gladiator Legends pokie on 07 April and Booming Games delivering Khan’s Wild Quest on 14 April. MGA goes live with Eugenio on 25 April and you can get howling with Iron Dog Studio on 27 April as its new Wolf Strike title debuts. The month closes with Inspired Gaming and its sweetly-titled Follow the Honey on 28 April.

Kiwibank reveals $30m monthly customer online gambling spend

April 5, 2022 by Admin

Data made available by Kiwibank and other sources reveal that the financial institution’s customers are spending close to $30 million every month on online gambling sites.

This information has emerged as the country’s Department of Internal Affairs is engaged in an ongoing review to regulate online gambling that is currently in its third year.

Julia Jackson, Kiwibank’s head of purpose and sustainability said,

“When we look at our own customers, what we see is there is about $30 million a month that’s being spent on online gambling and 80 percent of that is offshore. It really is [an incredible amount] and what’s a really interesting trend that we’ve seen is from the first COVID lockdown in 2020, that number has massively increased and it hasn’t gone down.”

The offshore sites mentioned are largely based in territories like Malta, Cyprus, Gibraltar, Estonia, and Lithuania, which are ideal environments for companies seeking low taxes and the ideal region to offer internet gambling to the world.

Kiwibank offers a voluntary exclusion system, where customers can choose to block themselves from using their accounts to play on offshore sites. Over $7.1 million has been saved by users of this block since its introduction.

Long-Running Review

While Kiwibank implements harm-minimisation measures, the government has drawn criticism for not demonstrating a similar sense of urgency.

Its review into online gambling was launched in July 2019 and public submissions were completed by mid-2020. With no final report announced, Internal Affairs has advised that the review is “ongoing and we are expecting Cabinet to consider options later this year”.

Maria Bellringer, a gambling addiction researcher at Auckland University of Technology pointed to other countries’ practice of only allowing players access to reputable sites.

“I’m well aware of the consultation that went on in 2019 and I was very surprised that nothing came of it to date and disappointed,” she commented.

“Something needs to be done, I think a lot of people don’t realise what they’re getting into with online gambling. Online gambling is a high-risk factor for developing problem gambling,” she continued.

The author of the official cabinet paper on the matter, former Internal Affairs Minister Tracey Martin stated that this is a controversial issue and that former Racing Minister Winston Peters had blocked its progress before the 2020 election.

“It was a meeting in his office, with his staff, where he explained that the timing was probably not the best,” said “That paper never found its way to Cabinet,” she said in an interview.