Australian Casino News Archives

Microgaming sheds its Quickfire Platform

November 16, 2021 by Admin

Microgaming made the recent announcement that it would be selling its globally-renowned Quickfire distribution business and portfolio. This deal encompasses the platform’s games and the buyer stepping up to the table is Games Global Limited.

As part of the deal, Games Global will also possess several games studios across multiple jurisdictions with the conclusion of this agreement expected to happen by the second quarter of 2022. Once it is done, the buyer will find itself in a highly advantageous position as it will be taking on regulation-ready assets across various jurisdictions.

The management of 25 studios and over 3,000 games, including the platform’s progressive jackpot network and distribution systems that have 260 customers and 980 brands will now pass to Games Global. With this, the previously-held balances of power and influence within the global iGaming industry have shifted enough to guarantee an interesting era ahead.

Starting from the Top

Walter Bugno, the CEO of Games Global, expressed excitement at being able to make such a spectacular entry into the industry as the company is a fairly new venture, having only been established in early 2021.

“We see a very vibrant gaming market at present across the world, with many new regulated markets coming online. The creation of a new large-scale independent supply chain that Games Global will be has not been witnessed for many years,” he said.

Bugno emphasised that his company’s mission is to offer a “best-of-breed product” that creates unmatched end-customer experiences.

Not All the Way Out

Microgaming’s CEO, John Coleman, appeared elated at what he characterised as mutually beneficial and advised that this deal was the conclusion of a lengthy process.

“Games Global will acquire the game IP and distribution business previously known as Quickfire, and Microgaming will continue to support its traditional core business while increasing its reach with the addition of new business and managed services,” he explained.

Quickfire’s influence appears to have rubbed off on Microgaming as the company intends to continue offering turnkey solutions to its key customers.

Evolution finds a new home at Fair Play Casino

October 12, 2021 by Admin

Evolution is making its mark in the freshly-regulated Dutch gambling market by allying with Janshen-Hahnraths Group and its Fair Play Casino brand. Evolution will supply the platform with its catalogue of premium games and products from its brands, NetEnt and Red Tiger.

The developer’s entire suite of products, including its live offering comprising games like Roulette, Blackjack, Baccarat Crazy Time, and Monopoly Live have set it apart from the competition in the iGaming sphere and will be included on its new partner’s online platform.

Under the partnership, Evolution’s pokies by NetEnt and Red Tiger like Starburst, Narcos, Gonzo’s Quest, and Gonzo’s Quest Megaways, among others, will also be available to Fair Play Casino players.

Mutual Benefit

Evolution’s commercial director, Gavin Hamilton commented on the new deal, explaining that Evolution has been waiting for the chance to enter the Dutch market and that working alongside Fair Play Casino and Janshen-Hahnraths Group is a great strategy to meet this end

Hamilton added that it was an ideal partnership, saying,

“Our extensive online offering is a great fit for further developing their exciting games portfolio, and we look forward to achieving great new things together.”

Janshen-Hahnraths Group was similarly thrilled at the new partnership, as exemplified by the statements of the organisation’s chief digital officer, Björn Fuchs, who said that the company has eagerly anticipated the opportunity to offer an online product in the Netherlands.

Fuchs stated that Fair Play is excited to offer Dutch players an extensive selection of “world-class online games.”

“We are sure players will agree that the sheer quality and variety of the online games now available to our players on desktop and mobile at the Fair Play website has been well worth the wait,” he added.

The Janshen-Hahnraths Group is a household name in the land-based Dutch gambling market and currently operates over 38 retail casinos as part of the Fair play Casinos brand. The venues showcase pokie and automatic roulette experiences.

Spinstars hits the big time with Microgaming content deal

October 3, 2021 by Admin

Globally recognised iGaming provider Microgaming has partnered with yet another innovative studio to grow the selection of content available on its aggregation platform.

The new addition to the Microgaming fold is the fledgling studio, Spinstars which will now have access to the provider’s extensive distribution channel and will be able to extend its reach across multiple markets, like Belgium, Germany, and all Malta jurisdictions. The developer will also be pleased that it will soon be able to get its foot in the door when the Dutch regulated market opens up.

Spinstars was founded in 2018 in Gibraltar. The company is run by a team of industry experts who share a wealth of combined experience in the iGaming sphere. The studio’s content is designed with mass appeal in mind and Spinstars has also launched a platform that offers operators a handy toolkit to assist with the implementation of its games.

The developer’s current slot portfolio includes ten exciting titles such as Wild Joker, Steampunk500, and the Netherlands-inspired The Voice of Holland. All of the studio’s content is licensed and regulated by the Malta Gaming Authority.

Potential-Packed Partnership

Microgaming Director of Aggregation, Graeme Powrie, said that the company is ecstatic to welcome its new partner as it offers a “wealth of unique and exciting gameplay experiences with a classic slot machine feel.”

Powrie added that the new partnership coincides with other exciting developments as the provider readies for its entry into the Netherlands’ newly regulated iGaming market on October 1.

Spinstars CEO, Joeri Dikkeboom, stated that the operators are eager to get their hands on the company’s content as they are looking for unique titles that “strike the right note” in markets where traditional slots still dominate over video slots, with the Dutch market being one such example.

Dikkeboom also said that Microgaming is the ideal partner to help it meet this demand and that the firm has been very helpful in Spinstars’ goal to inject ‘new technology’ into ‘classic games.’

Microgaming’s library of content keeps growing at an exponential rate with intriguing and engrossing new titles. One recent notable release was Jurassic World: Raptor Riches, a Fortune Factory Studios production.

NetEnt celebrates EGR nomination

September 28, 2021 by Admin

The EGR Italy Awards are a celebration of excellence in the local iGaming industry where the efforts of front-running brands are recognised and rewarded. The ceremony focuses on the best of the best in betting and gaming software, mobile, payments, recruitment, IT, infrastructure, and many more.

NetEnt is in a jovial mood after finding itself nominated for the illustrious Casino Content Supplier award for the 2021 edition of this event, thanks to the developer’s brilliant pokie releases. The awards will take place on 27 October 2021

With measures to combat the global pandemic beginning to take effect, the event organisers have opted for a 100% in-person format this year, in contrast to the 2021 EGR B2B awards which were a hybrid between virtual and in-person.

Stiff Competition

NetEnt will be facing down other global iGaming giants as it competes for the accolade. Names like Betsoft, Microgaming, Scientific Games and Playtech appear on the shortlist, guaranteeing that the judges will have a hard time making their final decision among these titans of the sector.

The developer, however, has good reason to get its hopes up, after recently snagging the hotly-contested Mobile Gaming Software Supplier and Innovation in Slot Provision trophies at the 2021 EGR B2B awards.

Over the past year, the supplier has released a flurry of excellent pokies including Gonzo’s Treasure Hunt and Divine Fortune Megaways, making it a top contender to take home even more silverware before the year is done.

A Flourishing Brand

NetEnt is a leading supplier of iGaming content and is part of Evolution Gaming Group AB. Its pokies enjoy high levels of international popularity, drawing particular interest from markets in Europe and the US.

The company recently gained further ground in the actively regulating US market via a content supply deal with social casino specialist, High 5 games.

Winning chances explode at LeoVegas with progressive jackpot fiesta

September 24, 2021 by Admin

LeoVegas has once again established itself as a top online casino with another mind-blowing promotion. Visitors to the site have the opportunity to tackle 100 progressive jackpot slots bearing the LeoJackpot badge to win fabulous cash prizes.

The operator has introduced four different progressive jackpots with the largest seeding at $5,000,000. You just need to ensure that you’ve chosen a qualifying bet and you have to select ‘Yes’ to communications in your account settings to be notified of new tournaments.

Make sure you’re eligible

To get in the running to claim one of the LeoJackpots, you have to choose a game with the LeoJackpot badge. Slots without the badge are not linked to the progressive promotion. Next, you will be prompted to read the rules of the promotion and a ‘Join Now’ button will allow you to opt-in. You will have to wager $0.10 or more per spin as anything lower will disqualify you.

From each bet you make, a fraction is funneled into the progressive LeoJackpot. The jackpot feature is random and can activate on any spin. When this happens, a segmented Jackpot Wheel will emerge and you will spin it to see which prize is yours.

The Mini, Minor, Major, and Mega jackpots are up for grabs with the Mini jackpot seeding at $15, and the Mega seeding at the magical amount of $5,000,000. Click here and visit LeoVegas Casino if you want to try out the LeoJackpot promotion and win one of four progressive jackpots.

The Jackpot winnings will automatically be transferred to your account and with the progressive prizes having no upper limit, one winning spin could change your life forever.

New BLAST! engine explodes into action with Relax Gaming and LeoVegas

September 21, 2021 by Admin

Relax Gaming has announced a thrilling development that sees it team-up with premium online casino operator, LeoVegas. The two have come together to release an exciting new slot mechanic with game-changing capabilities.

The innovation is named BLAST! And it has been designed by the developers at Relax Gaming to boost player engagement.

BLAST! answers a need that was likely on the tip of many players’ tongues. The mechanic allows slot enthusiasts to skip animations and normal spins of the reels while simultaneously running multiple games on auto-play. So all you need to do is choose your bet level, hit BLAST! and watch the system take care of the rest.

Gaining access to the new engine only requires you to open a game and select the BLAST! icon situated at the top of the screen. A lobby will open that contains all available games with the feature integrated.

Once the game has been chosen, you will choose your number of auto spins and decide on your bet. The BLAST! progress bar will show how the game is doing as it runs in the background and notifications pop up whenever a bonus round is triggered.

At the moment, you will only be able to experience this feature is in selected Relax Gaming titles at LeoVegas Casino.

Explosive innovation

Simon Hammon, CPO at Relax Gaming followed up the announcement with his own comments, saying,

“BLAST! is a fantastically innovative feature, and it really is an exciting step forward in iGaming, we’re delighted to be working alongside such an innovative partner.”

“We’re always looking to offer the best and most pioneering ways possible for players to consume our content, and working with a top-tier operator and respected name like LeoVegas has provided us with that opportunity,” he added.

Sam Leggott, Head of Strategy and Business Development at LeoVegas, conveyed the operator’s excitement at the release of the new feature and the new partnership. He emphasised that the casino endeavours to provide its players with “the greatest gaming experience there is, and to do so, we continue to innovate.”

“By adding our BLAST! feature to Relax top-performing titles, we will offer LeoVegas players a thrilling new way to enjoy their favourite games. We’re delighted to have worked with Relax on this project,” Leggott said.

NZ Casinos close amid COVID scare

August 20, 2021 by Admin

New Zealand has displayed exemplary performance in its fight against the spread of COVID-19. With the country’s borders closed to non-residents over the past 18 months, fewer than 3,000 cases and 26 deaths have been recorded.

However, the first outbreak in six months has seen the country revert to an Alert Level 4 lockdown as of the 17^th of August. While most of the country will endure a three-day lockdown, Auckland and Coromandel will be shut down for an entire week.

This has had expected consequences for casinos and other non-essential businesses. SkyCity has had to close its Hamilton, Auckland, and Queenstown properties. One of the newly infected individuals confessed to previously being at SkyCity Auckland.

Alert Level 4

Under the level 4 lockdown, citizens are only permitted to leave home for healthcare, work, or local exercise. Heading out for groceries and COVID testing is also permitted. All public facilities have also been instructed to close and this includes cinemas, libraries, restaurants, and museums, to name a few.

The businesses and services still allowed to operate include supermarkets, petrol stations, healthcare facilities, and pharmacies with any customers visiting these places being legally required to wear masks, under threat of arrest.

Early childhood education centres and schools have been closed and the mask mandate, which also applies to public transportation and flights, as well as a mandatory 2 metres distance from others must be maintained.

SkyCity Auckland feels the heat

One individual who later tested positive for COVID-19 had visited the main casino gaming floor of SkyCity Auckland on August 14^th from 1.15 am to 3 am. This means that 1000 customers and 240 staff members could have been exposed and have been asked to self-isolate and get tested.

SkyCity CEO Michael Ahearne commented,

“This is an anxious time for some of the SkyCity team and their whanau, and we are extremely grateful to them for their cooperation in helping us protect the wellbeing of all our people and our guests.”

The casino is now receiving a deep clean from a team of specialists as the operator eagerly awaits the end of the lockdown.

Point of entry

Following an intensive operation, the country’s authorities soon discovered how the virus made its way into the country. It was traced to a 58-year-old man from Auckland who had just returned from a visit to Sydney. His test came back positive for the Delta variant on August 7th and he was quarantined by the next day. The subject was transferred to Middlemore hospital on August 16 as his condition deteriorated.

The number of infections is expected to grow for the foreseeable future and contact tracers have discovered that, in addition to SkyCity Adelaide, the identified infected have also visited schools, churches, restaurants, gas stations, and a hospital.

Safety first

The nation’s Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, recently stated that New Zealand intends to keep its borders closed to non-residents until 2022.

“While the pandemic continues to rage overseas, and the virus continues to change and mutate, the best thing we can do is lock in the gains achieved to date while keeping our options open and giving ourselves choices,” she declared.

Closed borders will enable the country to more effectively execute its vaccination program. New Zealand’s vaccinations have had a slow start with currently only 20% of the population having received the first jab and only 17% receiving both doses.

When the borders reopen, only fully vaccinated visitors from low-risk countries will be allowed to move around freely in the country, while those from medium to high-risk nations will be compelled to take precautions, including self-isolation to a fortnight under quarantine.

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.

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

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.