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.

Live casino and online gaming specialist, Evolution, recently dropped a press release, detailing financial standing after the acquisition of NetEnt.

The provider, which is also currently in the process of acquiring Big Time Gaming, reported a spectacular 105% year-on-year revenue increase for the first quarter of 2021 with its live casino offerings contributing 60% of the total growth.

The reported EBITDA was also significantly increased by an amazing 150% to €160.1 million across the first quarter of 2021, compared to the same period in 2020. This all translated to an increase in profit from 144% to €132 million.

Building capacity

Aside from Evolution’s acquisition of iGaming giant NetEnt, the company has also recently launched a live casino in Michigan and broken ground on the construction of two new live dealer studios in North America and the other in Europe.

The company’s consistent growth has made it one of the largest employers in the iGaming industry, with over 10,000 workers currently in the payroll.

Perhaps the most significant recent news for the brand is its in-progress acquisition of Big Time Gaming that is expected to be finalised near the second quarter of 2021.

Good omens

Evolution recently released its first online gaming collaboration with NetEnt in the form of the innovative Gonzo’s Treasure Hunt Live, a title that is generating serious industry buzz thanks to its advanced features and unique gameplay.

The company’s regional growth has also been overwhelmingly positive, with North America showing the most significant upswing with revenues that have more than doubled over the last quarter. Europe, Asia, and the United Kingdom have also displayed encouraging growth.

Evolution’s buoyant fortunes are expected to persist for the foreseeable future, particularly with the Big Time Gaming acquisition nearing completion. Since it managed to acquire NetEnt, Evolution’s has experienced remarkable revenue growth with an increase of 22.1.

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Australian gambling machine manufacturer, Aristocrat Leisure recently announced that it would be increasing its earnings forecast for the first half of the financial year. This follows a period of unexpectedly buoyant growth in its digital and gaming businesses. In the six months preceding 31 March, Aristocrat stated that its net profit after tax was projected at AUD 346 million.

The company’s NPATA (Normalised Net Profit After Tax and Before Amortisation of Acquired Intangibles), is expected to reach $412 million. This represents an increase of 12% when compared to the same period in 2020. This amount does not include the effects of a $19 million retention expense that emerged as an associated cost in the acquisition of Plarium.

Growth spurt

The past year has been full of plenty of unexpected developments and despite this Aristocrat reported that it produced above-average growth within the industry. This upswing in profits is due to bookings which created revenue and profit growth year-on-year. The company stated that this was made possible by a large investment in live operations, features, new online casino content and user acquisition.

Trevor Croker, Aristocrat’s CEO and MD explained that the results demonstrate the company’s ability to adopt winning strategies. He further stated that the company’s choices enabled it to maintain its investments in its products, people, customers, and culture amid a global health crisis.

Croker went on to say that the company expects that the year will see the economic conditions across key land-based and online casino remain on shaky ground. With this in mind, the firm will keep attending to key crucial factors like visitation at gaming venues, currency headwinds and consumer needs.

Fair weather ahead

The company elaborated that its EBITDA, or (Normalised Earnings Before Interest, Tax, Depreciation and Amortisation) is expected to hit $750 million, a growth of 6% compared to the first half of 2020.

Aristocrat revealed that it recorded phenomenal growth in its online casino segment thanks to ideal conditions in the US, New Zealand and Australia markets as well as increased customer engagement and product performance.

Mr Croker wrapped up, saying that the firm intends to aggressively pursue the remainder of its strategy in the second half of the fiscal year. Increased investment will bolster the releases of new games and strategic competencies which are geared towards cultivating Aristocrat’s projected long-term growth.

Casino operator SkyCity Entertainment Group Limited reportedly made the recent announcement that it will permanently halt its practice of using junket firms to draw in high-rolling foreign gamblers to its four properties.

In a report by Inside Asian Gaming, the firm which is listed in Wellington and Sydney and operates the New Zealand’s SkyCity Auckland, SkyCity Hamilton and SkyCity Queenstown properties, recently splashed out around $243 million for the renovation of its SkyCity Adelaide venue in Australia. The report detailed the upheaval in the operators interior processes, that came after an eight-week strategic review into its international business that identified possible ‘due diligence’ and ‘know your customer’ gaps associated with the use of junket firms.

Cautionary tale

This latest development at SkyCity was largely attributed to a ruling in early February by regulators in New South Wales against fellow operator Crown Resorts Limited that found it was unsuitable to hold a casino license for its new Crown Sydney property. This judgement by the New South Wales Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority came about as a result of allegations that the operator may have enabled a rash of money laundering offences directly related to its dependence on foreign junket enterprises.

Switching course

In a recent official filing, SkyCity Entertainment Group Limited stated it intends to adopt an adapted model for its international business that will prioritise direct interaction with foreign players after its completion of ‘appropriate know your customer and customer due diligence’ checks. The operator reportedly relayed that it would also ‘consult with its gaming regulators in New Zealand and South Australia’ regarding the finer details of ‘its revised operating model’ going forward.

A new start

In a related story, also from Inside Asian Gaming, the former Deputy Chairman for SkyCity Entertainment Limited, Bruce Carter, accepted the new role of a non-executive director at Crown Resorts Limited. Carter vacated his previous post after managing the expansion of the SkyCity Adelaide venue and will now dedicate his energy and skills in assisting his new employer to obtain a casino license for its $1.5 billion Crown Sydney development.

Carter’s move echoes that of Nigel Morrison, the previous Chief Executive Officer for SkyCity Entertainment Group Limited. The new hires come as Crown scrambles to cleanse itself of all allegations of impropriety in the hope that it can revive its dreams of bringing casino gambling to its Crown Sydney development.

A Crown Resorts Limited representative commented in an official statement, saying,

“Attracting someone of Bruce’s calibre to the board is an endorsement of our strategy, ambition and commitment to reform. Bruce’s appointment will enhance our governance as we continue to implement our ambitious reform program.”

Evolution has built a sterling reputation as a leading provider in the iGaming industry since its founding in 2006 and its Live Gaming offerings are highly popular. The brand is constantly focused on growth by reaching as many customers as possible, and to this end, Evolution recently signed a new deal with Cordish Gaming Group, a division of the Cordish Companies.

Perfect pair

Evolution’s Commercial Director, North America Jeff Millar stated in an official press release that the company is excited to work with Cordish Gaming and Play Live. He also said that Evolution‘s online casino and entertainment portfolio are a great fit for enhancing Cordish’s Live! Experience online.

The Executive Vice-President at Cordish Gaming Group, Joe Billhimer, also weighed in with comments about the new partnership.

“Our Live! Casinos and Hotels set a new standard in best-in-class customer experiences with highly acclaimed gaming, hotel, dining, and entertainment destinations throughout the Mid-Atlantic region,” he said.

Billhimer added that one of the main reasons for creating the PlayLive! online casino was delivering a matching online offering to draw in and entertain players. He also stated that choosing Evolution as a partner will further the firm’s strategy to achieve its goals through the provider’s eye-catching graphics and premium products.

Evolution is having a busy 2020 so far and in the second quarter of the year, it is due to deliver its catalogue of online casino games and First Person RNG-based games from its studios in Philadelphia to PlayLive! players in Pennsylvania.

The recent deal with Cordish Gaming Group marks a further push by Evolution to gain ground in the US market. The provider has gained popularity with Americans since its first incursion.

Following the announcement on 29th March, punters from Philadelphia are waiting with bated breath for the launch of PlayLive! Once the service is active, they will be able to access some of Live Casino’s most popular titles including Crazy Time, the epic Dream Catcher, Lightning Roulette, and Live Football Studio to name a few.

PlayLive! was launched in Pennsylvania by the Cordish Gaming Group in August 2020 via a GAN Restricted partnership. This gaming expertise agency conducts most of its business in Europe.

Thanks to the new deal, the gaming website now has an expanded range of live offerings, game-show content, and First individual options. For the moment, live games will be streamed from the corporate studio based in Philadelphia pending the opening of the new studio in the second quarter of 2021.

iGaming industry leader Microgaming has secured another lucrative content supply partnership and will provide its portfolio of titles to Wheelz, a brand under the operator Rootz. Microgaming’s content will now be available on the Wheelz site, giving the existing selection a significant boost.

The two companies have enjoyed a working relationship since 2019 and after an initial productive period, Microgaming has moved to expand their alliance.

Rising star

Despite being a relatively young company, Rootz has made a significant impact in the iGaming sphere. The operator’s first brand, Wildz Casino, launched in 2019 and soon gained a legion of fans after adding Microgaming content to its selection.

In the wake of the success of Wildz in the NZ and global online casino markets, Rootz launched Caxino in 2020. The brand’s bold expansion demonstrated its commitment to securing its slice of the market. This success inspired the brand to launch its newest site, Wheelz.

In addition to Microgaming’s premium content, Wheelz has appointed David Hasselhof to act as its spokesperson because a little bit of iconic celebrity pizzazz goes a long way.

Methodology of success

Head of Partnerships at Microgaming, Neil Bancroft, was enthused about the partnership expansion with Rootz. In an interview following the news, he said how much his company admires the operator, who he said had achieved the formula for success. He characterised the arrangement as a winning strategy and said that he anticipates it will generate even more success in the future.

The CEO of Rootz, Lasse Rantala also had his say, crediting Microgaming as playing a large part in his company’s achievements. He stated that while Wildz and Caxino had exceeded his expectations, with the bar this high, he is even more motivated to succeed.​

On Thursday, January 28, Google gave gambling app developers some of the best news they have heard in years. The company revealed its intention to update its policies regarding permitted wagering and betting in an expanded list of countries including New Zealand. Currently, gambling apps can only be found in the Brazilian, French, Irish, and United Kingdom Google Play Stores. The permitted apps include real money games, daily Fantasy Sports, lotteries, and sports betting, and online casinos.

Before this development, Android users in excluded territories had no choice but to download apps directly from licensed casino websites. This is a risky choice as it involves compromising the security measures on one’s device.

The new additions

The new countries that can now access gambling apps via the Play Store include NZ, Australia, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Mexico, Romania, Sweden, and Belgium, among others.

App owners will have the chance to advertise their products within certain limitations. The apps and their promotion must be legal within their specified region.

Adverts will have to be age-restricted and include information on responsible gambling. The apps may also not contain content that urges potential players to try real-money gambling services.

This change of regulations around app advertising follows a recent update of Google’s gambling policies. The company implemented a new policy in December 2020 allowing both search engine and YouTube users to opt-out of seeing betting adverts.

Getting on the shelf

Developers who want their apps featured on the Play Store will need to complete an application and have to meet numerous requirements.

Any NZ online casino must exhibit compliance with industry standards and the country’s legal requirements.

Applying developers must hold valid gambling licenses and their apps will have to be rated ‘Adult Only’ to ensure underage players cannot access them. App availability must be limited to the developer’s permitted territories.

All gambling apps must be free to download and Google’s in-app billing system will not be available.