SUPPLIER SPECIAL REPORT

SBC INTRO | Mammoth digital conference

This year, Asia Gaming Brief was selected to be the Premier Media Partner - Asia for SBC Barcelona Digital Summit, held from 8-11 September, 2020.

A landmark event for the sports betting industry, more than 10,000 delegates from around the world tuned in over the four-day digital conference and exhibition, in what would have been a mammoth task for the organizers.

“Asia Gaming Brief is the premier B2B Media outlet in the Asian market and we are proud to have them as a partner and host for our largest and most global digital event,” commented Kelly Kehn, Global Relationships Director at SBC.

The four-day event claimed to have one of the strongest speaker lineups in its history, with a keynote speech from Carsten Koerl, CEO / Founder of Sportradar, Jason Robins, CEO & Co-Founder of DraftKings in the mix, along with hundreds of other experts from the sports betting field.

As part of the collaboration with SBC, Asia Gaming Brief co-founder Rosalind Wade moderated a panel during the “Global Gambling” track, focused on the future of the Asian market, titled “Asia – Adapting to the Future”.

Asia Gaming Brief also organized and hosted a networking session during the event, called the Asia Networking Roundtable. Around 45 people with interests in Asia joined in on the chat.

With 100 virtual exhibitors in attendance, and more than 10,000 delegates from around the world, the event would be seen as one of the most well-attended digital events in the gaming industry in 2020.

Over the next few pages, you’ll hear from some of SBC Barcelona Digital Summit’s key digital exhibitors and their plans in the sports betting industry over the next year.

Security, new games and exotic sports

1XBET

While many were taking a summer break, 1xBet worked on improvements and is ready to offer its users many new enhancements. This is what the bookmaker managed to accomplish over the past month:

1xBet is known for its wide betting line, but the bookmaker continues to develop further in this direction. Users now have the opportunity to bet in live mode on even more exotic sports such as Cross Volley.

This is an increasingly popular form of volleyball, which will surely appeal to fans of everything new.

1xGames are exclusive games available only at 1xBet. The bookmaker makes sure that these thrilling games can be enjoyed on as many devices as possible. Since August, visitors to the mobile version of the site have found new games such as Hi-Lo Triple Chance, GEMS ODYSSEY, OXO and others.

1xBet players now get the opportunity to bet not only on classic events like the outcome of a match or a handicap. For users of the desktop version, a new unusual betting format is available - “Duel between players”.

Users select a match and divide the players into two teams. Having assembled a team, you can place bets on whose “team” will score more goals! Messi and Ronaldo can be in the same team - this is possible with the “Duel between players” at 1xBet (if they overlap in the same game).

Security is one of the strengths of the 1xBet app. Players can relax about the safety of their data, comforted in the knowledge that they now enjoy even more options for authorization and registration.

IOS users can now register with their Apple ID. A handy feature that makes registration even easier and faster.

Modern apps come with colourful interfaces, but you rarely get the opportunity to customize the elements for yourself. Luckily, the 1xBet Android app has a ton of cool tweaks to improve your experience.

For example, connoisseurs of minimalism can activate the “compact type of bets” option, and in the tournaments section, there are more options for sorting and searching for desired events.

At 1xBet, we have made sure that our users can place bets with maximum comfort. Constantly working on and enhancing the product is a key focus for the company.

Become a partner of a leading bookmaker and conquer new heights with 1xBet.

Ainsworth’s A-STAR shines

AINSWORTH

As we emerge from the shadows of COVID-19 it’s time to revamp gaming floors with the brand new A-STAR cabinet by Ainsworth.

The A-STAR takes Ainsworth to the next level with a meticulously crafted cabinet that encompasses a sleek, modern, modular design, a dual screen format, dynamic LED lighting, and a state-of-the-art LCD touchscreen button deck.

The new A-STAR cabinet has a unique and elegant design that integrates effortlessly with any décor. This cabinet has an ultra-thin form factor, providing genuine space integration and an element of futuristic luxury.

The A-STAR has launched with the exclusive new brand Pan Chang! Pan Chang, a traditional Chinese decorative knot is also the Buddhist conception of continuity and the origin of all things. The series introduces the ‘Pan Chang’ Feature; a collection of ‘Pan Chang’ symbols where credit prizes, bonus prizes and the major progressive can be won. With three games approved in the brands portfolio - Long and Happy Life, Endless Fortune and Guan Yu it’s sure to bring excitement to any gaming floor.

Complementing Pan Chang, the next exclusive A-STAR brand is Rise Up! Rise Up encapsulates a multiladder feature with two jackpot progressive levels and two scalable bonus prizes. The Rise Up feature includes multiple awards during the ladder feature with chances to win the progressive jackpots. An additional free games feature provides an attractive feature hit rate desirable to players. Born Free and Wizards Wand are the first two games in this brand.

Ainsworth continues to develop its product portfolio with advanced technology and software that delivers aesthetically pleasing art and engaging content. The launch of A-STAR and two strong brands, Pan Chang and Rise Up aims to support current customer gaming floors and diversify business models. www.agtslots.com

Instant and secure deposits

ASTROPAY

AstroPay is the pioneer payment solution for thousands of consumers in Latin America, Asia and Africa, who want to purchase online on international sites, that helps merchants access new markets through its main product, AstroPay Card.

With AstroPay Card users can make deposits easily, instantly and securely. This virtual voucher is ideal for customers who need to perform real-time operations in their local currency. With a focus on international transactions, we address the complexities of local markets, offering fast and efficient solutions through thousands of consumer-recognized payment methods.

From a single integration, operators can also give their customers the ability to make withdrawals from their site, easily and safely. The process is done in real time and is very simple as it consists of generating an AstroPay Card with the amount they want to withdraw, in the selected currency, and this is sent to the user. The withdrawal system we have developed was designed to facilitate the work of merchants, avoid the inconveniences of managing various integrations, lower maintenance costs of different payment platforms, remove restrictions on the use of different currencies and exchange rates, and reduce costs associated with rejected transactions. All this is done from strict compliance and high security procedures that guarantee the prevention of fraud.

Our extensive experience in managing the specificities of different markets, allows us to offer an efficient solution to all our customers: merchants, end customers and business partners. We are a B2C company, that has been operating in different countries for more than 11 years.

East meets West in virtual Expo

BETCONSTRUCT

Award-winning gaming and betting technology provider BetConstruct has announced the launch of the East & West Virtual Expo, September 29-30, 2020.

The free virtual expo will bring together exhibitors and visitors from across several industries including payments, iGaming, and blockchain technology. An estimated 300 exhibitors and 10, 000 visitors will join the two-day event, where they can connect and interact in a real-life environment.

Never one to shy away from a challenge, the BetConstruct team decided to use the most advanced technology and their extensive expertise to help the industry keep moving forward and parallelly saving resources – time, money, and nature.

“We are happy to welcome our peers and everyone interested in connecting with the iGaming industry. Using cutting-edge technologies and our knowledge, we hope to reinvigorate and reconnect the industry,” commented Vigen Badalyan, BetConstruct CEO.

The East & West Virtual Expo is special in the tools and resources that will back the event. PandaMR’s virtual halls and booths will create the impression of attending a real expo, where exhibitors will have the opportunity to showcase their products and offers. They will also be able to connect with visitors and other participants via voice and video chat, with spaces for private meetings. The main event, as well as a number of discussion panels and product presentations, will be held live. To make the expo even more unique, the organizers encouraged exhibitors to provide special offers and extras during the event.

To find out more about the East & West Virtual Expo, please visit eastandwest.com.

Up for a sustainable future

BBIN

Founded in 1999, BBIN has dedicated itself to the development and innovation of new technologies and system software. BBIN provides its professional platform integration services throughout Asia, including China, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and more. Currently, the company has successfully provided the market with 14 types of live casino, 40 lottery games, over 100 casino games and more than 50,000 sports betting products per month.

Crossing the twenty-year milestone and moving toward the next from 2020, BBIN demonstrates its ambition for sustainable development and growth. It actively expands itself and branches out to collaborate with world-renowned brands in different fields. This includes world champion car-racing team Theodore Racing/ Prema, famous football club Dortmund, and Ajax. BBIN has also become a long-term supporter of eSports since 2019. Moreover, BBIN foresees the importance of corporate responsibility and founded The Gaming Beat (TGB) charity brand to help raise awareness on different topics. BBIN has brought together the world’s Top 100 DJs to voice their support for charity and worked with Trees for the Future and Water.Org to promote environmental protection. Through these collaborations, BBIN connects with the world beyond Asia, hoping to give back to the society and build a better world for everyone.

BBIN welcomes collaborations from all the world, and provides the advantages of professional resources to partners who aim to map out their business in Asia. BBIN is ready to show the world its capability of bridging the eastern and western iGaming market. It will continue to communicate its core principle of “growing with partners” and hopes to light up a bright future with its worldwide partners.

Learning from the crisis

BETGAMES

When it comes to industry suppliers, innovation right now needs to be all about taking the lessons learned from the last few months and putting it into building a pandemic-proof portfolio, says Aiste Garneviciene, COO at BetGames.TV.

We’re not out of the woods yet when it comes to COVID, and while sports betting may be returning – I expect players’ approach to gaming to continue in the same trend that we’ve seen recently.

Players right now want content that offers extended entertainment. Suppliers need to be offering products that offer a lower spend with far more regular play – without emptying wallets in a matter of hours.

Games orientated towards betting on live outcomes, such as the live dealer proposition, have also far outperformed RNG-based betting gaming, such as slots.

The fact that our games intrinsically attract a lower spend with far more regular play (as well as lending themselves to the fixed odds outcome format), has ensured that we have been very popular with sportsbook customers over the past few months.

Looking ahead - key now for suppliers should be low spend, high engagement – and extended playing sessions that can sit alongside a regular stream of sport. Games that offer operators that all valuable retention factor in between matches without draining balances are going to be a winning strategy this year.

Diversification is also going to be essential moving forward. Pre-pandemic, we’d expect to see operators focusing up to 70 percent of their efforts on sports and nothing else. As betting habits have shown, there also needs to be far more focus on alternatives beyond just RNG-based gaming.

Most sportsbook players that have been converted to casino have proven unaccustomed to riding their luck on algorithms. As a result, live-betting products have proven to be a winning strategy, and anyone looking to engage and attract new players during the months ahead would do well to take note.

Up and coming igaming jurisdiction

CEUTA

The Autonomous City of Ceuta has positioned itself as a low tax location within the European Union, integrated in general Spanish law. It has a very favourable framework of regulations within the Union, compensated with a system of Rules of Origin which are a link to Community Markets.

The recent tax measures approved, especially affecting gaming regulations, are truly favourable for the Autonomous City of Ceuta, allowing it to compete on a level playing field with other low tax territories in Europe, without the inconveniences of the territories classed as Tax Havens.

This significant tax reduction in gaming, a substantial reduction of Corporation Tax together with an indirect tax called IPSI (which is similar to VAT but has much lower rates), means that Ceuta has currently become a significant attraction pole of businesses, additionally boosted by its unique location, good climate and the fact that it is a cultural melting pot.

The likely exit of the United Kingdom from the European Union is raising doubts in the industry on the potential disappearance of many of the advantages situating Gibraltar as a leader in online gaming in Europe, and hundreds of British companies have spent months planning a move to other territories.

Ceuta has become a stable and up-andcoming attraction pole, additionally favoured by the full applicability of the legal system of the European Union, offering a greater degree of legal and financial security, as well as the fully applicability of the tax transparency treaties in agreement with the regulations of the OECD and G20 against tax evasion.

There are 24 iGaming companies that have already moved to the City of Ceuta and are profiting from the tax advantages. Enrique Reyes, Director of the Tax Service Office of Ceuta, has recently stated in an interview that the online gambling sector will create more than 250 jobs in Ceuta during Q4 2020 and Q1 2021.

In order to promote the advantages of Ceuta for the online gambling industry, the local Government has created an independent and non-profit association, iGaming Ceuta - igamingceuta.com -. Both Operators and Suppliers can address themselves to iGaming Ceuta to gather more information about the taxation system and other benefits for their companies and employees.

“Let’s Get Digital”

DIGITAIN

Founded in 1999, Digitain’s brand has continued to expand and now serves a growing roster of global betting and gaming partners in both regulated and international markets. Digitain has more than 1,700 employees and provides in-venue betting solutions to more than 400 retail betting shops.

September sees the launch of Digitain’s new marketing campaign; Let’s Get Digital, where the company is focusing on encouraging landbased operators to join with Digitain to take their existing brand online.

Lilit Azatyan, Digitain’s Head of B2B Marketing is excited by this campaign.

“Our multi-channel iGaming platform, along with Digitain’s experienced team of experts, offers new partners a quick, affordable and secure route to taking your brand online.

In these challenging times, it can only make sense to provide your existing customers - whether casino or sports betting – with additional channels to allow continual access to your services and to mitigate the potential risk to your brand through further lockdowns.

Digitain offers an affordable, trusted and effective solution – a one-stop-shop providing a quick and flexible casino and sportsbook software solution, enabling new partners to expand their business model and to offer their customers, old and new, a modern iGaming platform with a fantastic range of products and services.

By moving their brand online with us, new partners can be assured that we will meet their needs, help take any risk out of the equation and deliver a fantastic solution. We’ll enable them to protect and also grow revenues, providing a great unified customer experience via web, mobile and retail channels- for existing and new customers.”

As well as an award-winning sportsbook, available as a managed service if required, Digitain offers a great range of over 4000 casino and live dealer games, provided by some of the best suppliers in the iGaming industry.

Digitain’s platform also offers a comprehensive range of Skill and quick-play Bet-On games, as well as multiple payment options and marketing tools – to deliver a one-stop-shop solution to any business looking to take their betting and gaming brand digital.

Cloudbet takes a spin with Authentic Gaming

CLOUDBET

Cloudbet has announced a new partnership with Authentic Gaming, the specialist roulette provider, renowned for tables live-streamed straight from the floors of historic casinos, including Bad Homburg, the birthplace of single-zero roulette.

The live offerings are among 16 Authentic Gaming products unveiled by the pioneering crypto operator, and include the provider’s state-of-the-art Live Arena Studio with 24/7 Roulette, Grand Roulette and its unique flagship product, Blaze Roulette. Based in Malta, Authentic Gaming was acquired by the Genting Group late last year.

The new portfolio significantly amplifies what’s on offer at Cloudbet for players seeking the thrill of online roulette from the comfort of their homes or on the go, and adds to the swathe of new features the crypto casino and sportsbook has introduced since it relaunched its website in late April. Founded in 2013, Cloudbet is one of the world’s longest established bitcoin operators.

“Our prime objective is to help customers take their gaming experience to the next level,” a Cloudbet spokesperson said. “That’s why we’re constantly looking for new ways to upgrade our product, and this partnership is a prime example of that.”

The operator also launched Cloudbet Live Auto Roulette, a bespoke creation by Authentic Gaming that carries the provider’s signature “Bets on Stats” feature. This is the first time that Cloudbet is attaching its name - and its reputation as a highly trusted crypto-gaming site - to a casino table.

Cloudbet grabbed the attention of industry observers in June with an ambitious English Premier League campaign, under which its sportsbook charged no margin on prematch bets for the remainder of the season. That allowed customers to access the fairest prices -- and therefore the highest returns -- in the market.

The campaign was an extension of Cloudbet’s long-standing “best odds” campaigns on sports including soccer, basketball and tennis.

Blending old and new payment methods

EVERI

Despite a seemingly rapid shift towards digital payments methods outside of the casino industry, cash is not going anywhere. Cash is often the preferred method of funding for many reasons; It can be easier to use cash for sheer convenience, older gamblers may be wary of digital payment methods, and avoiding credit can help patrons stay within budget means. But unlike the retail sector, where going cashless at the coffee shop has a level of complexity, deployment of a digital payment solution in a sophisticated integrated casino resort requires a need to address the regulatory requirements from both a payments and gaming perspective. Regardless of the source of funding, a foundation based upon convenience, accessibility, usability, security and enhanced trust needs to be established.

Leveraging industry expertise on payments in gaming and strategic relationships with social gaming payments partners, Everi’s omni-channel CashClub Wallet will both integrate and extend payments throughout the gaming enterprise using traditional, alternative and mobile technologies, producing expected increased funds to the floor and an enhanced, streamlined guest experience. The infrastructure of the Wallet is designed to be the hub of all payments within the gaming enterprise.

The gaming industry has cash access as part of the desired experience – not just a retail payment transaction. Compounded with legacy systems, gaming and payments regulations, and limited players who understand the unique nature of payments in the gaming space – Everi eliminates significant challenges to help casinos transform today’s gaming ecosystems into a digital one. Everi allows easy and secure self-service loading and unloading of value, transaction history and more. Funding can occur with a player card and PIN or mobile access, providing expanded choices for casino patrons with access via a self-service kiosk, cashier’s cage or with mobile application.

Everi has succeeded in developing financial technology and services to the casino industry. By working across all channels, enabling card and mobile scenarios, being agnostic in third party integrations, and leveraging their extensive FinTech/Loyalty product line, Everi brings a superior set of solutions to their customer base. The introduction of mobile wallet technology represents an opportunity to deliver a fuller spectrum of digital services via the mobile channel. Everi’s CashClub Wallet will extend this influence, delivering more services and driving additional value into the patron’s hands

Automation is key

G&D CURRENCY

The corona pandemic poses new challenges to our daily lives and our health. In addition to the challenges, the crisis also has enormous implications for the global economy. Cost control and reduction and efficiency gains are required across all industries. Within the entire cash cycle intelligent automation is one of the key success factors for safe and efficient handling of cash.

G+D Currency Technology has a wide range of banknote processing systems and solutions to cater to different casino requirements based on volume, currencies, policy and procedures. Our high-speed, advanced sensor technology, modular and scalable banknote processing system - BPS M5 and BPS C5 - with dedicated casino count room software BPS Connect Casino, can be customized to the specific needs and requirements for the casino count room.

BPS Connect Casino has built-in interfaces to all relevant components. Reports are generated directly and also have connectivity to the customer casino accounting system.

In addition, the NotaTracc loading module for automated feeding of banknotes into BPS systems assures less human contact points to cash.

Banknotes can be processed efficiently and cost-effectively at cage windows with desktop systems – BPS C2, BPS C1 and BPS B1. Consistently high throughput of 1,050 banknotes per minute ensures superior productivity, while best-in-class sensors combine peak performance with a high level of flexibility.

The efficiencies achieved with integrated automation solutions improve counting processes and time, and are more secure and accurate. G+D partners with our customers in this challenging time and continues to provide technical support. Most importantly, we truly understand the casino’s specific operation and needs, and provide the best solution.

Underwater adventure

HABANERO

While sports may have come back this summer – it’s fair to say these months haven’t been an ordinary period! Much of the industry’s focus has been on engagement and retention, with slot developers focusing hard on retaining the sports bettors and land-based players who switched to online casinos during the pause on live fixtures.

Whatever your strategy for a potential crosssell, however, one thing remains clear: to retain newly migrated customers, you have to offer them the right content. That means providing premium quality gaming experiences that go beyond the recycled themes that continue to flood today’s slot market.

Cue Habanero’s latest immersive release, Jellyfish Flow. Filled with underwater wonders, the slot can expect to find pulsating wilds in the form of jellyfish, which expand the reels by 1 for each that appears on the screen all the way up to 7x7.

Boasting a huge 823,543 ways to win, it’s a luminous aquatic adventure not to be missed. In a proud first, we also launched our new optional ‘Ultra Mode’ feature with the game, giving players a chance to really dive into a high-stakes underwater escapade. With up to 9x more volatility, it offers wins that are less frequent, but higher paying.

Offering an action-packed armoury of more than 130 slots, table and video poker games, we’ve also signed a raft of deals in recent weeks with the likes of Marathonbet and RushStreet, enabling an ever-greater legion of fans across the globe to enjoy our titles.

Boasting some of the industry’s most talented designers, developers and mathematicians, we’ve quickly become one of the industry’s leading suppliers of slots and table games with good reason. Proud of our hard-earned reputation for great products and a world-class back office, along with our unique trademarked jackpot system, we’re looking forward to plenty more new announcements to come.

Growth and diversification during COVID

Jade Entertainment

In battling the impact of the Covid-19 outbreak, Jade is adjusting to the new normal because failing to respond fast could result in great losses.

Put succinctly, in the face of a pandemic, business model innovation is unavoidable. At its simplest, a business model is the way a person or a company creates, delivers and captures value.

Jade for many years has been a gaming products distributor and service provider with a pan Asian presence.

The only option was to stretch our creativity beyond the normal and grow beyond our traditional geographical and product boundaries.

In recent months, Jade has expanded its product portfolio to include artificial intelligence software from nQube and thermal access control and media management from Outabox.

Our suppliers, such as Novomatic, NRT, Sega Sammy, Synergy Blue, Game Code, Advanced Gaming and Walker Digital have all taken this time to focus on R&D and we can expect to have exceptional new products and games post Covid.

Jade has also diversified into sports betting and Jade Sportsbet will recommence operations with the opening of the Manila casinos. We will also be taking our retail Sportsbet product into new jurisdictions which will be announced soon.

We expect that the convergence of brick and mortar and internet gaming is imminent and Jade is preparing a large number of services within this area.

The virus may have also given us the rare opportunity to reflect and introspect, which could have been difficult in the usual pace of business. Pisano said that these days of the lockdown have been one of the busiest periods of his life, the number of decisions to be taken on a daily basis have increased exponentially during this time of lockdown.

Diversification and innovation will be key to Jade’s growth.

TITA Silver increases transaction options

JCM

TITA Silver brings the functionality of an ATM and a redemption kiosk to table games. TITA Silver provides three key benefits to operators: increasing transaction options; reducing contact points, fills, and lines; and giving operators increased oversight with live transaction management.

TITA Silver brings players more transaction options directly at the table game. Table games equipped with TITA Silver enable players to buy-in with a debit card POS transaction at the table, buy-in with a TITO ticket at the table, or convert chips to TITO tickets before leaving the table. Players can use TITO tickets they received from other areas of the casino and can also redeem promotional vouchers. Options to add bulk note bill validation and cashless card transfers are also available.

TITA Silver reduces contact points by keeping the chips at the table game and limiting the movement of chips around the casino. Fills are reduced because the chips do not need to leave the table. Lines at the casino cage are decreased because the player can convert their chips to TITO tickets and cash out a TITO ticket at the redemption kiosk.

Centrally managed with the ART Server package, TITA Silver enables operators to monitor live table game transaction activity with real-time data. Statistical performance dashboards are configurable and give operators an abundance of easy-to-read data. Financial reporting enables reduced fills and drops at the table games and audit capabilities for the contents inside the drop box. TITA Silver is also integrated with more than 60 systems and has remote configuration and remote software update capabilities, all of which give operators greater control and increased efficiencies.

Danish lottery deal

PINNACLE

September has been a big month for Pinnacle Solution in terms of both product and business development. Esports has been able to thrive despite the impact of Covid-19, and the industry has been even more interested in exploring the benefits that esports betting has to offer. Given that Pinnacle Solution is the gold standard of esports suppliers, as proven by its multiaward winning credentials, there has been an influx in interest from operators looking to add a high quality esports product to their portfolio.

This has culminated in the announcement of the Danish national lottery provider Danske Spil signing with Pinnacle Solution to enhance their esports offering. Broadening its growth beyond Asia and into the European market highlights the calibre of the Pinnacle Solution offering, with even more major deals expected soon.

Pinnacle Solution has also used the last few months to develop its product and bring something new to the table for existing clients. The launch of Euro View is another landmark for Pinnacle Solution as it marks a brand new UI that has been made available to clients. The simplified navigation with ability to search makes markets easier to find for customers, as well as an added favourites feature for personalisation. Work has also been done to improve the method of listing markets and optimise the user experience to help clients generate more revenue.

Jane Guan, Pinnacle CCO, commented on the B2B activity in recent months; “The Pinnacle Solution team have worked tirelessly throughout 2020. While there has been a lot of uncertainty in the air, we are proud to have delivered on our goals so far. It’s nice to reflect on success but our focus is solely on continuing to improve our product and build upon the impressive results we deliver to clients.”

More entertainment. In One GO

PLAY'N GO

Get “More Entertainment. In One GO” from suppliers Play’n GO as they give not only more games, but more value in those games as they endeavour to create new ways to reach the market and their audiences.

Their latest innovation is the upcoming September release of a collection of three new titles that, although they can be played alone, work together to bring a more rounded game experience to players.

The games, Celebration of Wealth, Beast of Wealth and Temple of Wealth all come together to create The Wealth Series, one big bundle of entertainment!

The titles centre around the idea of wealth, prosperity and good fortune and each game is a 5x3 video slot, based on a different theme. They all have their own free spin feature, each one giving a different experience.

All three titles share an exciting progressive jackpot feature. Throughout the game, a portion of each player’s stake is split between four different pots Grand, Major, Minor and Mini. Once the jackpot is triggered, it activates a click and pick feature, and whichever pots the player picks they win.

Having already built themselves up to be a leading supplier in the industry, Play’n GO continue to refresh and reframe their offerings to the market, keeping themselves ahead of the game.

Alongside this new Wealth Series, September also sees the release of the eagerly anticipated Golden Ticket 2, a sequel to their 2014 hit slot, already expected to be a popular release in multiple territories.

The year is inching towards its end but Play’n GO shows no signs of slowing down, with plenty to look forward to on the horizon.

Volcanic eruptions

SEGA SAMMY

SEGA SAMMY CREATION INC., a Japan-based company established in 2013, is a member of SEGA SAMMY Group, consisting of 64 companies including SEGA, a global leader in entertainment and video game development, and Sammy, Asia’s leading creator of interactive Pachislot and Pachinko machines. Utilizing these diverse resources from the group, we manufacture exciting never-beforeseen gaming machines.

Our latest Linked Jackpot series “Volcano Link” kicks off with two titles, “Pride of Lion” and “Lucky Dolphin”. The most exciting bonus round in the series is the “Volcano Bonus feature” where each Volcano symbol appearing on the reels awards a jackpot, bonus award or credit prize. This feature fully utilizes both main and top game screens and is made up of exciting volcanic eruptions animations and sounds! This game series delivers unstoppable excitement and a captivating game experience for players!

“In the face of uncertainty surrounding COVID-19, SEGA SAMMY CREATION is dedicated to stay connected with our customers to provide support.”, said Masahiro Kurosaki, Managing Director at SEGA SAMMY CREATION. “It’s still unclear when our life goes back to normal and people can freely travel again as well. However, we are committed to supporting our global customers to overcome these difficult times. Furthermore, we will continue to gather and utilize feedback from our casino operator customers in the continuing development of our slot games that closely meet their player needs.”

Introducing GM Atlas and ShuffleStar Continuous

SCIENTIFIC GAMES

GM Atlas, Scientific Games’ next-level progressive platform, ties together all of the best functions from the previous Game Manager 1 and Game Manager 2 platforms and adds much more. GM Atlas supports linked progressive jackpot pools, multiple jackpot levels, and Must-Hit-By bonuses for more exciting player experiences. This system features a convenient and easy-to-use dashboard, one-click navigation to various reports and other helpful tools, and a robust offering of live information. It simplifies sign integration to promote table game jackpot meters property-wide to boost marketing efforts. GM Atlas operates on the upgraded NXS Command II table game hardware, which is compatible with multiple bet device options and includes an updated dealer terminal and a new 24” vertical progressive display. Operators can still have their favorite game titles and more with the GM Atlas progressive platform.

The ShuffleStar Continuous Shuffler is the only continuous shuffler available on the market with card recognition, including monitoring cards being inserted and dealt from the unit, and reporting real-time card inventory. This technology safeguards against card counting and tracking, and increases hands per hour by up to twenty percent. To further enhance game security and efficiency, the ShuffleStar is the first continuous shuffler to detect card feeding errors, and reject cards being fed incorrectly. Featuring an increased deck capacity of up to eight decks, the ShuffleStar provides casino operators with ultimate deck integrity and uninterrupted play, without downtime for loading a shoe or shuffling cards. Additionally, the ShuffleStar features a powered dealing mechanism that contains a revolutionary flat card dealing shoe, with a sleek flush mount, low profile design for improved ergonomics. This greatly enhances the dealer experience by improving lines of sight, and reducing fatigue or strain.

Different games and new features

SIMPLEPLAY

SimplePlay, one of the fastest growing slot providers, has been eager to provide its clients with different games and new features added to its lobby.

SimplePlay has released a number of titles recently, including “Three Musketeers”, a game based on the King’s Musketeers of 17th-century France; “Bomber Squad”, featuring two robbers breaking into a vault for gold; “Mystical Lamp”, where the famous Genie of the Lamp fulfils every wish! These titles come with different ways to play and various Free Game Features from picking lamps to win free spins, to locking a specific reel with an extra reel stop.

The innovation and diligence of SimplePlay are not limited to game titles. They have added several features to make its lobby more appealing and user-friendly.

The first one is the ranking system. Players can check the ranking of SimplePlay’s games in terms of jackpot sizes and biggest single game win across the platform. The performance of every game can be accessed, attracting players to spin more so clients can enjoy a greater turnover!

Then there is Split Mode for its Slot Games. At SimplePlay’s lobby, players can find the Split Mode buttons, allowing players to operate up to 4 Slot Games in one window. Players can freely add the games they would like to play and close games individually. With players having fun at different games simultaneously, Split Mode will create a lot more turnover!

The third one is a feature for operators. Free Spin Offer allows operators to set up customised events using SimplePlay’s back office system. Operators can give out free spins to their players for marketing purposes and to create more opportunities! This is a ready-to-launch feature at SimplePlay! Please expect more fun and innovation from SimplePlay!

Surveillance: casinos’ secret weapon in tackling Covid-19

SYNECTICS

Estimates suggest global casino GGR will be down significantly in 2020 and full recovery may take years to reach 2019 levels. In pursuit of reassuring players, casinos are seeking efficient ways to entice people back. What’s more, they need to do so in a way that safeguards customers and demonstrates public health and safety compliance, all while local regulatory requirements linked to COVID-19 continue to evolve.

Video surveillance solutions are ideally positioned to support this operational challenge and with an open architecture platform combined with integrations to best of breed solutions, this can be accomplished.

As an example, through Synergy 3, system dashboards can display the number of people entering and exiting a property, regardless of how many entry points there are, for a realtime gaming floor capacity status. The system automatically alerts if a maximum threshold is close to being (or has been) breached. Operators can also apply this capability to specific areas within the casino; i.e. slots, to ensure maximum occupancy thresholds are not exceeded. Likewise, if the system detects that the number of people is approaching maximum limits, Synergy 3 can trigger a workflow to immediately alert and deploy security personnel to disperse people from the area.

Similarly, facial recognition systems – commonly used for identifying high rollers or problematic gamblers – can be re-purposed for contact tracing. Analytic integrations within Synergy 3 provides the ability to do just that. If a casino learns a visitor has tested positive for COVID-19, operators can rapidly filter video footage to find the individual, and then automate their search to review any scenes where the person appears in to see where they went, and with whom they came in contact with.

Adapting without losing sight of the goal

SUZOHAPP

The beginning of 2020 started with so much promise. At SUZOHAPP, we had many plans for what was to be a great year of change and development. Following a few years of acquisitions and product development, 2020 was going to be the time for us to refine our focus on our core customers by bringing our customer experience and product offering to the next level. We had a terrific show at ICE London and were very excited for what the future held. Then everything changed when the pandemic shut down the world. Suddenly a singular focus emerged, like tunnel vision with a forward light. That goal was simple. Survive.

We stopped all travel, created hyper-vigilant sanitizing procedures for our operating facilities, shifted to remote work and looked at how to cut costs. Like most companies, we had some difficulty navigating the tumult that was the ever-changing guidelines as information about how to deal with the virus emerged. We were very fortunate, however. With a warehouse facility in China serving our Asia-Pacific customers, we learned best practices early and were able to implement them quickly to our global warehouses. Our lean team worked hard to get whatever business we could in the door. But we quickly learned that our traditional ways of working would not get us through these uncertain times. We had to figure out how to shift our mentality to adapt and change quickly while staying true to our brand, our goals and strategies, and our people. Often, the trouble with trying to be an “adaptable” company is that there is a fine line between simply being a reactive organization and being flexible with your plans but still retaining your company mission. Once the dust settled, and we realized that the “new normal” of the pandemic was going to be around for a while, we determined that to survive past the pandemic we’d have to continue our plan to refocus on our core customers but we’d have to navigate a constantly moving line to get there.

In that light, SUZOHAPP is more committed to serving our core customers than ever before. We know that our strength lies in our expertise of over 30 years in the business and our breadth of partnerships with suppliers and manufacturers. These strengths will help us continue to move forward. Though we have weathered what we hope is the worst of this storm, we know many companies, smaller manufacturers and suppliers specifically, were not so lucky. These closures have had a profound affect on our industry as they supply many OEMs and operators with their products. To fill this need, SUZOHAPP will be working with our engineers and network of suppliers to do all we can to source quality replacements for these key items to ensure our industry will not fall behind in production or innovation. Additionally, we have launched the Personal Protection Line— a collection of relevant anti-viral products sourced by our team of experts who know what makes sense for the gaming industry and where the pain points are. But like everything these days, we know these plans will likely change as our environment shifts around us. We want you to know that even as plans change, our focus will not stray. We are here to listen to your needs and to your feedback and help find a solution together. We continue to want to be your partner throughout this and simplify your sourcing so you can put your time and energy back into your company mission and spend a little less time adapting.

Free-to-Play growth leader

SPORTCALLER

The past 12 months has seen Free-to-Play grow and adapt as a genre, staking strong claims to becoming an industry vertical in its own right. This dynamic shift in status was highlighted in the Investor Presentation for the recently completed Flutter Entertainment / The Stars Group merger, where FTP was listed as one of six key product tent-poles (alongside more mature industry perennials such as Sports Betting, Casino and Fantasy).

As the market leader in the sector, SportCaller’s growth over the last year has eloquently demonstrated the strategic significance of FTP. We’ve launched a combined total of 44 new games, marking a step change on the 22 games rolled out across the previous three years. In this spell, we also doubled our active clients, emphasizing the fact that not only are more operators pressing FTP into service, but they are also finding more varied ways for it to be deployed. Accordingly, we now offer over 90 games across 37 countries and in 20 languages. The past year has seen us firmly establish a presence in the US, releasing 18 new games for five clients - including the likes of market-leading operator FanDuel and CBS, the top-ranked TV network.

FanDuel are a great example of the flexibility and strengths in FTP, releasing 15 games with SportCaller in just 18 months (including five games for the new NFL season) with a flair to innovate, evolve and refine their approach. Indeed, the Flutter Group’s recent interim results underlined this point, revealing that FanDuel had ‘kept customers engaged with innovative content [during the shutdown]’. FTP customers doubled on the prior year in Q2, while active customers remained impressively robust between NBA suspending and MLB starting at 75 percent of 2019’s engagement figures.

SportCaller recently retained its crown for Best Acquisition & Retention Partner at the EGR B2B 2020 Awards, cementing its position at the forefront of this progressive FTP vertical.

Optimising floor operations

TANGAM

When the pandemic hit, the gaming industry was particularly vulnerable as it’s based on tourism, entertainment and human interaction. Everything began to shut down worldwide with many furloughed workers. We were in uncharted territory with numerous unknowns.

As a software company that analyzes a lot of casino data, Tangam Systems had many conversations about the current shutdown and reopening plans with various stakeholders. We realized that many would, in essence, just turn the lights back on and resume operations. The problem with this approach is that with safety guidelines including less capacity, unknown demand and potentially more labor, it could really hurt operators’ bottom-line. Optimizing floor operations was crucial.

To help with casino reopenings and operating in a ‘new normal’ during the pandemic, Tangam launched the Bouncing Back from COVID-19 Webinar Series. It focused on actionable, low effort, high return strategies to hit the ground running once a property reopens and begins to operate under new safety guidelines.

The webinars:

1. Learnings from Macau, Optimal Staffing & Game-Mix - creating a successful reopening strategy with an emphasis on optimizing labor costs while maximizing revenues

2. Optimizing Operational Procedures for Baccarat & Roulette - low cost, high return strategies to optimize operating procedures for Baccarat and Roulette.

3. Table Games Strategic Yielding Levers - Combining Operational Expertise with Data - an open discussion with a panel of industry experts on how they marry their operational expertise with data to manage their table games business

4. Tangam Reopening Best Practices - best practices on how to design an open hour, game-mix and pricing strategy using TYM (Tangam’s flagship software) for a successful casino reopening.

Tangam Systems, a global leader in table games optimization, is trusted by some of the largest casinos to maximize profit and improve patron experience for over 7,000 tables in 9 countries. All of these webinars received overwhelmingly positive feedback and are still available at www. TangamSystems.com to view.

Epicentral keeps your players safe and expands revenue

TRANSACT

Casinos are working hard to adhere to the new health guidelines, so it is crucial to have products that support social distancing and sanitation. However, we understand that it can be challenging to avoid crowding when there are long lines of players at the rewards kiosk.

Alternatively, with resorts limiting guest capacity, it is more important than ever to maximize the plays taking place. Thankfully, TransAct’s Epicentral 4.0 is a multifaceted solution that tackles both issues.

Epicentral is the only promotional software suite in the industry that essentially transforms every slot machine into a kiosk by targeting customers in real-time with unique, custom-designed coupons. Because Epicentral pushes promotions directly to guests at the slot machine, this ensures that players are safely distanced on the slot floor with no need to wait in line at the kiosk to redeem their awards.

The software system is an ideal solution because it extends timeon-device, increases player spend, and generates customer loyalty – all leading to more proceeds for casinos. As a result, guests are kept socially distanced and casino floors increase their earnings in the safest way possible.

Additionally, version 4.0 offers a sleek interface and a variety of new and improved features strategically designed for operators to grow their proceeds while using the most effective and user-friendly software. Epicentral 4.0 is also web-based, which makes it easier to install, update, and keep secure.

Improving efficiency and easing onboarding

W2

W2 is a provider of KYC, AML, and fraud prevention software solutions based in Newport, Wales. Since 2011 we have been changing the game by taking the focus from the check, to the technology that supports it and improving ease and efficiency of the onboarding journey for a multitude of industries.

The last few months have been transformative for W2. With a global lockdown halting operations for most businesses globally, W2 has continued to thrive by developing a core group of products through innovative advancements and putting the focus solely on improving the efficiency and ease of the onboarding journey. W2 understands that customers and companies are completely different in their need for regulatory compliance; our agile products and services satisfy that need.

Complexity should never be a barrier to business, so it is the W2 mission to make the complex simple by adapting its platform to ensure all services can be consumed easily via a single API. W2 have added extra suppliers and streamlined the process with the development and introduction of new innovative services and functionality such as our ‘bundle builder’, which allows clients to make sure their services are customisable, robust and adaptable in order to meet their individual needs.

From clients that use PEP’s and Sanctions checks to those investing in Document and facial recognition to streamline the onboarding process, W2 has seen advances and adoption across all our sectors including but not limited to financial services, gaming, cryptocurrency, FX, and beyond. The future looks bright for W2, with a committed and talented team surrounding CEO Warren Russell and CCO Sara West, we are on a journey to providing the best regulatory compliance solution in the market, and are constantly working towards true customer satisfaction.

YGAM and Betknowmore promote safer gambling

YGAM

The Young Gamers & Gamblers Education Trust (YGAM) and Betknowmore UK have joined forces to launch Safer Gambling Training, a purposeful new programme to provide gambling industry employees with specialist online training to strengthen play protection standards and effectively safeguard consumers from gambling-related harm. The resources have been developed using a methodology known as ‘flipped learning’ derived from Neuroscience studies on how the brain learns.

The collaboration combines specialist knowledge, lived experience insight and research to create what is believed to be the most advanced and comprehensive training programmes globally. Six interactive digital training modules have been released which cover key topics including customer vulnerability, safeguarding, customer interaction, identifying harm and employee mental health and well-being.

The training content is all relevant to the Gambling Commissions latest LCCP requirements and has received funding from regulatory settlements to support the delivery of the National Strategy to Reduce Gambling-related Harms. The Canada-based Responsible Gambling Council (RGC) is also involved in the alliance acting as independent evaluation partners.

Lee Willows, Chief Executive of YGAM said “Our journey with Betknowmore UK has been humbling. Together we have been fortunate to work with a number of operators to deliver face-to-face training over the last twelve months and so having a strategic alliance to continue this and combine with digital learning seems a good natural progression. Player protection and understanding customer vulnerability is an area we know operators want to upskill their staff in.”

Frankie Graham, Chief Executive of Betknowmore said: “Companies operating in the gambling space require trained employees providing consistent, high level and trusted customer service. Our aim with this new training programme is to help raise standards and create a benchmark of knowledge and understanding of gambling-related harm.