Australian Casino News Archives - Page 5 of 9

Stakelogic and LeoVegas finalise tier-one operator partnership

July 24, 2020 by Admin

Online gaming content supplier Stakelogic and gambling operator LeoVegas both enjoy tier-one status and have recently joined hands, allowing Stakelogic to enhance its reach across markets and gain a larger gaming audience.

The content delivery deal between the two parties will see Stakelogic provide LeoVEgas and its client base with access to its vast catalogue of titles.

As a result of the new deal, LeoVegas will be rolling Stakelogic’s highly popular game, Book of Adventure Super Stake Edition across several jurisdictions. The entire Stakelogic portfolio will then be gradually introduced across the operator’s markets.

The deal also covers the supplier’s in-demand features; Quattro and Super Stake which are designed to maximize player engagement and retention. Super Stake gives slot players a second shot at winning after a losing spin by allowing a side bet that doubles the original stake. This activates extra chances for a big win about every 44 spins.

The arrangement with LeoVegas is just one of a few tier-one partnerships that Stakelogic has recently forged. The operator has a wide market reach with a game lobby that includes over 700 casino titles from the industry’s top content providers.

A sign of things to come

Stakelogic Sales Director Salvatore Marino commented on the new partnership, saying that going live with the operator “clearly has a louder ROAR than our closest competitors” and that their latest supply deal is a testament to “the caliber of our future partnerships.”

Stakelogic also recently joined up with massive operator GVC Holdings in May in a deal that will see it roll its games portfolio out across GVC’s online gaming brands.

LeoVegas Casino Operations Manager Johan Ekberg said that the deal with Stakelogic “is an important step for LeoVegas as we continue to strategically diversify our content portfolio.”

Mr. Ekberg further elaborated that at LeoVegas, they always strive to provide “the latest and greatest gaming experience” to their players, and “by partnering with Stakelogic our customers will be able to enjoy a new range of exciting and engaging titles.”

GiG and GS Tech seal online casino deal

June 23, 2020 by Admin

Gaming Innovation Group (GiG), an Online casino platform provider and iGaming and Lottery games industry leader has cemented a partnership deal with iGaming marketing and networking specialist, GS Technologies. GiG revealed that they have been allocated the role of official iGaming platform provider to a brand new online casino brand currently under development by GS Technologies.

The deal which will run for 3 years (with 2 optional 1-year extension periods), puts GiG in a position to officially launch its online casino by December 2020 at the latest. The GS / GiG deal has a fixed-fee schedule and will be served by GiG’s existing license, issued by the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA).

Not GS’s first rodeo

GS Tech currently administrates numerous popular iGaming platforms as well as owning and running the 2012 Alpha Affiliates programme where it coordinates specialised marketing efforts for prominent partner casino brands. Alpha CEO Nic Prokofev, commenting on the new deal stated, that since GiG as regarded as “reliable and trustworthy” the world over, Alpha is proud to be connected to GiG’s journey and ongoing success.

GS Technologies’ sterling reputation in real money online casinos and related technology services ensures that the deal will signal the beginning of an exciting new path in both GiG and GS Tech’s journey.

A big deal-deal

GiG CEO Richard Brown had nothing but praise for Alpha Affiliates, saying the marketing provider would be a central component to the continued success of GS Technologies. Brown further stated that having GiG named as the partner of choice for GS Tech and Alpha is a huge honour.

With Alpha’s expected launch of its new online casino set for the end of 2020, GiG can look forward to profits and benefits resulting from the partnership deal from as early as 2021. This agreement brings together two of the most prominent and reputable brands in the industry today.

SkyCity Casino prepares to downsize

May 15, 2020 by Admin

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

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

Hard choices

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

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

Necessary cuts

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

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

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

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

May 1, 2020 by Admin

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

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

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

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

Strengthening Bonds

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

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

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

Comments from the top

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

Evolution Gaming to debut Live Casino Games

February 9, 2020 by Admin

Evolution Gaming is a household name when it comes to live casino games. So, their announcement of the upcoming release of 12 new games has been met with no small measure of enthusiasm from the industry and players alike. The developer is set to unveil their new releases at the International Casino Exhibition (ICE) London event, as part of the company’s 2020 official corporate strategy.

Out of all the new titles, Evolution seems most excited about Crazy Time. A company rep described the upcoming release as the “craziest, most entertaining live casino game ever developed.”

Here’s a glimpse of what to expect from Crazy Time

Evolution Gaming is adding to an already impressive catalogue of titles with this new influx and they expect a positive response from the market.

Brand new horizons

Many fans are likely anticipating new Game Show tie-ins, which are Evolution’s most popular titles; however, the company rep remained tight-lipped regarding specifics. The studio did reveal that they are aiming for significant growth in 2020 and will maintain their classic casino game focus while also making use of the latest technology to boost the appeal and functionality of their offerings.

A taste of things to come

Evolution broke their veil of secrecy to reveal a few choice titbits. The names and details of a few of their new batch of game creations were unveiled. Mega Ball is a lottery-Bingo mashup, with the chance for players to walk away with an earth-shaking 1,000,000 times their original bet jackpot.

The first-ever Live Casino Craps is also set to emerge from the new releases. No further details regarding how exactly the dice game will play out online were made available.

Instant Roulette is another exciting title waiting in the wings and has been touted as the fastest live casino game version of this classic gambling pastime in creation.

Power Blackjack and Speed Blackjack will also feature in the mix, with the first allowing players to multiply bets on their initial two cards, and the second being a ‘speed’ version with traditional rules.

The last on the list of current disclosures is Lightning Baccarat. Everyone will have to remain in suspense for details about the as-yet unrevealed titles until their official debuts.