It’s a move that the group has emphasised will deliver an ‘unparalleled, immersive gaming experience’, as Digitain looks to continue its evolution in the new year. 

Edmond Ghulyan, Group Chief Strategy Officer, and Chief of Centrivo Product Solutions, commented: “We are thrilled to introduce the all-new native applications for Centrivo. This marks a significant milestone in our ongoing efforts to provide cutting-edge solutions for our users. 

“The immersive, all-in-one experience across iOS and Android platforms, coupled with innovative features like push notifications and cross-product navigation, reflects our dedication to delivering a superior gaming experience.” 

One of the core ambitions of Centrivo’s native applications is to deliver a seamless, unified gaming experience across both iOS and Android. As well as this, the new application benefits from seamless integration. 

Before the holiday period, Digitain appointed Ghulyan as Group CSO and Chief of Centrivo Product Solutions to expand his senior management role as he takes charge of the firm’s igaming platform. 

Speaking on his expanded role, Ghulyan added: “I am excited to assume this new and more comprehensive role of leading Digitain Group towards its strategic goals and building upon the strong foundations of the Centrvio product solutions for our existing and potential partners to meet the ever-changing demands of their businesses today and for the future. 

“As a business and team, we are well placed to continue to deliver robust, scalable, and highly compliant technology and product solutions for any market and ensure that our partners can focus on building a competitive, unique and highly automated brand across multiple channels and markets.

“With the company’s rapid expansion and ambitious plans for the future, I would like to especially thank Mr Vardanyan for the incredible support during the past six years and for the new opportunity to lead Digitain Group’s Strategy.”

The post Digitain deepens offering with fresh application for Centrivo  appeared first on CasinoBeats.

RELEASE DATE

Available from the Apple App Store

COST

Download for free

THE PITCH

“JackpotHunter is a smart gambling app that leverages data in the pursuit of jackpots, powered by a proprietary algorithm that seamlessly predicts the times at which jackpots will be won.”

APP DETAIL

JackpotHunter constantly tracks and prognosticates online casino jackpots.

The progressive jackpot games at online casinos continue to enjoy popularity. This has led to a massive increase in jackpot totals, with one player even taking home a record jackpot of approximately $22,112,600 (€18,910,668).

JackpotHunter is an app that takes aim at these jackpots. JackpotHunter’s proprietary algorithm compiles and analyses data on past jackpots. It allows users to search for the games that offer the biggest jackpots, and to view lists of games sorted by the estimated probability of a win.

Also among the app’s exhaustive range of features that are sure to prove indispensable to jackpot game players are the push notifications that it sends to users whenever the likelihood of a win reaches a certain level.

The post Launch: JackpotHunter app appeared first on CasinoBeats.

Joining Diamond Sky Casino, Spin Vegas Slots and Super Scratcher Casino under the DWG banner, the offering is pencilled in to launch across the UK market later this summer.

The company’s fourth free to play brand is said to come complete with a new set of retention and engagement tools inspired by popular social network games such as FarmVille and Island Experiment.

DWG, who has seen over three million downloads of its social casino via Facebook, iOS and Android, is also set to utilise insight from its prior casinos in order to best develop a compelling new range of real money gaming titles.

Through Cash River the firm is striving to introduce a suite of “high quality proven content” to operators, as it makes use of titles that have been validated by millions of players in social and land-based casinos.

Combining a mix of “classic Las Vegas-style slots and video slots,” players are to also have the option to purchase and plant ‘money trees’ that reward coins in various amounts at different times.

Furthermore, consumers can also use gems as a secondary currency to buy more trees or upgrade existing trees, or to access the VIP area to unlock games, coins and premium trees.

Different reward levels on the site and its app are designed to encourage players to return to the game, and to promote in-play purchases.

Troy Zurawski, president and CEO of DWG, commented: “We are thrilled to launch our fourth social casino and are especially proud of our money tree retention mechanism, which gives players the possibility to redeem free virtual currency every few minutes instead of the traditional hourly bonus, proving that money really does grow on trees.

“The levelling-up and VIP system is also unique with different paths a player can take to experience the various worlds in the game, creating an engaging and interactive experience.”

The post Cash River debuts as new Design Works Gaming brand appeared first on CasinoBeats.

On June 3, Apple updated its App Store review guidelines, which included a revision of the 4.7 rule which further imposes restrictions on gambling apps.

The updated guideline now stipulates that from September 3, “HTML5 games distributed in apps may not provide access to real money gaming or lotteries”.

This new requirement follows an update earlier this year which required apps to have a “minimal level of nativity”, meaning that sportsbooks, casinos, bingo and lotteries can no longer simply repackage their websites as apps.

“The hardening of the 4.7 rule has more immediate impact”

CasinoBeats spoke to Stuart Godfree, managing director and co-founder of apps and digital agency mkodo, to understand what this latest update will mean for operators.

CasinoBeats: What does the 4.7 guideline actually mean?

Stuart Godfree: The key item in the update is that “real money” games have to be included in the binary.

Apple are not mandating that these real money games are iOS binaries (i.e. written in Objective-C or Swift) but have to be part of the original distribution. So, this means that from September 3, your HTML5 real money games have to be built into the app.

This is entirely possible, but it does mean you will be limited to how many games you can include in the binary. Optionally developers may choose to port their games to a native binary and review how they optimise code re-use.

CB: What implications will it have for operators in the gambling industry?

SG: We are still reviewing the implications of what this means. Operators have rightly been worried about the 4.2 issue, where the app must be more than an HTML website wrapped in a native container.

The hardening of the 4.7 rule has more immediate impact, especially for those apps that had a high level of native functionality but included third party (casino) games. It’s difficult to see how operators will react. In my opinion they have two choices.

“Put simply, existing apps will be kicked off the App Store or new ones will be rejected when submitted”

To abandon the iOS apps entirely and move only to web delivered solutions; or move their sportsbook, casino, table games, bingo, lottery instants etc over to be either embedded or native.

However, he first option is going to be difficult as the App Store is one of the world’s largest advertising and distribution networks. Not being part of this is going to force great advertising spend to recoup for the lost natural discovery that the App Store provides.

Plus, customers are demanding and expecting their favourite betting, gaming, bingo app to be native and installed on their phone, not delivered over a web page.

Alternatively, operators may choose to use the app as a “launch vehicle” and launch applications outside of the app, though this is not explicitly against Apple’s Guidelines, interpretation is the key on how this could or should be implemented.

Of course, there is a third option and that is to lobby Apple to alter their view on this revision to 4.7. This has proven difficult in the past, however.

CB: What happens if operators do not comply with these guidelines?

SG: Put simply, existing apps will be kicked off the App Store or new ones will be rejected when submitted. It is important to remember that although this will cause the industry some headache, Apple is introducing these new guidelines to protect the consumers.

Apple is becoming stricter in ensuring the guidelines are adhered to so if operators choose to stay in the App Store, they should comply with the rules or risk getting a bad reputation with Apple.

The post Dissecting Apple’s updated HTML5 App Store guidelines appeared first on CasinoBeats.

San Francisco was the base for the Fort Mason Games, a mobile, social games organisation led by Kate Gorman, who boasts an extensive 25-year pedigree at Zynga.

It’s Vegas style mobile app Confetti Casino was released in September, as Fort Mason stressed a focus on creating titles that are artificial intelligence-based, social and designed to aid players to relax and de-stress.

CasinoBeats has been speaking to Gorman about its operations thus far, developments in its short life span and goals looking ahead to 2019.

CasinoBeats: Fort Mason Games is still very much in its infancy, how would assess these first few months of operation?

Kate Gorman: Things are going really well. We’re hearing from players that they love our games. We’ve introduced a fresh, innovative product and made waves in the market by doing so.  

Our flagship game, Confetti Casino, has earned high star ratings from players with 4.6 stars on Google Play, 4.5 stars on iOS, and 5.0 stars on our Facebook page. We love hearing that players enjoy our games.  

Many have said they think Confetti Casino is the best slots game out there, that’s high praise for a new title.

“We’re enabling this level of new social interaction and game play”

CB: What would you say are the major highlights/achievements thus far?

KG: We’ve built an incredible team, and we’ve created a game architecture that is amazingly scalable that will allow us to be super nimble as we grow.  

We’re also uniquely focusing on next generation social features, like our unique “Hearts” social currency for friends to give each other, and our “Confetti Cannon” group play feature where players work together to win bigger rewards, allowing players to be social and creating the feeling of a virtual game night.  

In our research, we found that 73% of Americans wished for the ability to have a virtual game night. We’re enabling this level of new social interaction and game play.

CB: Last time we spoke you outlined a market saturated with similar products and “lacking real customer insight and innovation,” what further developments have been made to this end?

“We are creating fun and innovative new ways for players to make and play with friends”

KG: We’re innovating in many different ways.  Here’s a few examples of how we are tapping into customer insight and innovation:  

1.  We are building next generation social features into our game architecture. For example, Fort Mason Games is unique in allowing players to take their in-game friends with them across game titles.
2. We are using AI and Machine Learning to create customised experiences that our data pipeline and architecture uniquely enable. 
3. We are creating fun and innovative new ways for players to make and play with friends like our Confetti Cannon feature that rewards players for working together.
4. And while we make games for everyone, we have designed our games to be respectful of female players. In our genre of social casino games, female characters are often portrayed in an overly sexualised way, we’re not not doing that.  We aim to be respectful to everyone. 

CB: Several developments were made just last month, when a belief that mobile gaming is to be increasingly buoyed by a growing rank of female players was stressed, what progressions do you see the future of mobile social gaming undertaking?

“Few companies design mobile games with this growing demographic of women in mind”

KG: Yes, more and more women are playing mobile games.  In fact, a recent study by Google showed that 65% of women in the US ages 10-65, play mobile games.  Yet, few companies design mobile games with this growing demographic of women in mind. We, at Fort Mason Games, are tapping into this segment, and designing games that will appeal to this growing segment of players entering the market.

Looking to the future, I see games incorporating more social features and capabilities that are relevant to players “right now.”  For example, during the holidays, players enjoy holiday-themed games and adventures. Our Confetti Casino game delighted players by releasing not one, but two new holiday slot machine games within Confetti Casino along with a Holiday Scavenger Hunt providing fun rewards.

Players love being able to engage with timely content, and we’re seeing really high levels engagement with our holiday content and great player feedback.  Over time, the challenge for game developers will be to deliver highly relevant and timely game content to a player in a way that is social and helps the player relax, de-stress, and enjoy the game.

CB: Further to the previous question, what is Fort Mason Games striving to achieve during the next 12 months?

KG: Since we’re a new studio, we want to continue to build out our game content, as well as continue to roll out new and delightful social features while pushing our data capabilities and personalisation efforts to new levels.

The post Kate Gorman – Fort Mason Games: “We aim to be respectful to everyone” appeared first on CasinoBeats.

Kindred has accused Lotteritilsynet of imposing unfair restrictions and regulatory overreach on its services, including the blocking of payment transfers and sanctioning a ban on Kindred apps listing on the Apple App Store for Norway.

The lawsuit is filed by Kindred Group’s Maltese holding company Trannel International, with representation from Oslo law firm Glittertind.

Anders Ryssdal, partner at Glittertind, has confirmed to Norwegian national broadcaster NRK that Kindred has “no choice but to move ahead with its lawsuit,” adding that his client’s services had been unfairly targeted by Lotteritilsynet actions.

During H1 2018 trading, a Norwegian parliamentary coalition demanded that an under-pressure Lotteritilsynet toughen its stance on unlicensed online operators deemed to be targeting Norwegian consumers and undermining the funding of state-owned gambling enterprises Norks Rikstoto and Norks Tipping.

Lotteritilsynet would enforce its strictest controls to date on bank/payment transfers, IP blocking, penalties and further advertising restrictions, which saw the regulator demand that Apple remove all gambling-related apps from its Norway App Store.

In the filing, Kindred and Glittertind state that with these actions Lotteritilsynet had “exceeded its power of attorney” by involving Apple to sanction a restriction “aiding its own political purposes”.

With regards to payments, Glittertind charges Lotteritilsynet of “overreach in its regulatory conduct” stating that it had enforced unfair blocks on a number “foreign intermediaries” processing transactions with Norwegian banks, a service that does not infringe upon the Lotteritilsynet gambling monopoly framework.

The post Kindred to fight Norway’s App Store ban appeared first on CasinoBeats.

Lauded as a “milestone agreement” for GiG, who has been developing its sports betting platform for almost two years, Hard Rock is to be one of Atlantic City’s final entries into the Garden State’s sports betting scene.

Making up the new offering is to be the full suite of the Malta headquartered organisation’s services, including GiG Sports Connect, GiG Trader and GiG Goal, with the offering set to be available online at HardRockCasino.com, on mobile via iOS and Android apps, and over the counter or at terminals inside the property.

Robin Reed, CEO of GiG, explained: “I am proud and delighted to have signed this agreement with our partner Hard Rock, our first inroad to sports betting in the exciting US market. It also headlines our continually strengthening partnership with Hard Rock, across our igaming ecosystem.

“It was a highly competitive pitch against the best sportsbooks in the world, all vying to open up the US market. Hard Rock choosing GiG to power its Sportsbook is a clear statement as to the quality of our cutting-edge sports betting services at this very early stage of their roll-out.

“Hard Rock is a strong brand with scale, wide reach and with the same high ambitions as us. We look forward, with excitement, to continuing to support Hard Rock’s expansion and geographical growth.”

Hard Rock, whose NJ online casino recently topped the $1m monthly revenue barrier for the first time, could also be set to target commercial partnerships within the NFL, as the firm is currently two-years into an 18-year stadium naming partnership alongside the Miami Dolphins.

Under the terms of the expanded agreement, there is also potential to expand the partnership to further US states in the future.

Kresimir Spajic, SVP online gaming at Hard Rock International, added: “The forthcoming launch of the Hard Rock Sportsbook in New Jersey, will mark another step towards becoming a significant player in the national and international sports betting and online gaming industry.

“In the past few months GiG has proven to be an innovative, capable, flexible and trustworthy partner. Such qualities together with vanguard sportsbook technology and services enabled GiG to win our New Jersey Sportsbook RFP.

“We are positive that the extension of our partnership with GiG together with “skin” partnerships with leading international operators, will enable Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City to reach its ultimate goal of becoming New Jersey’s sports betting and online gaming market leader.”

The post Hard Rock utilising GiG for NJ sports betting intro appeared first on CasinoBeats.

Launched on June 28 of this year, a day after the former Trump Taj Mahal property opened its doors to the public, Hard Rock Online Casino debuted within the Garden State almost four and a half year after it saw its first regulated online casino go live.

HardRockCasino.com, offering “an unparalleled online gaming experience and industry-first rewards program,” secured internet gaming win of $1.01m for the month of October, adding to year-to-date figures of $2.4m.

Promising New Jersey residents and visitors a choice of “more than 300 playable slot machines, all your favourite table games, live dealer games and more through the Hard Rock Casino app for iOS and for Android,” the firm also praised its Wild Card Rewards loyalty program.

Offering “first of its kind integration,” players can earn and use their online comps at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Atlantic City for luxury hotel rooms, meals at award winning restaurants, tickets to the hottest shows in town and more.

“When we launched HardRockCasino.com alongside our Atlantic City property four months ago, we did so with the goal of creating a fully integrated online and land-based experience unlike any other in New Jersey,” said Kresimir Spajic, SVP Online Gaming at Hard Rock International. “Hitting this milestone so quickly, in such a competitive market, is proof that we are giving players the offers, games and rewards they want when they play online, on mobile or on the boardwalk.”  

This comes after HRI announced it is to ramp up its global CSR initiatives after appointing Paul Pellizzari as vice president of global social responsibility, who is to hold overall accountability for the growing entertainment brand’s social responsibility programmes, initiatives and strategies.

The post Hard Rock’s New Jersey online casino tops $1m revenue for first time appeared first on CasinoBeats.

The first steps towards achieving such expansion comes via the release of a brand new social card game, titled Teen Patti, designed to raise player numbers within the emerging casual gaming market.

Played between four players, who are each dealt three cards face down, as the game progresses, subsequently the pot also grows in value, with the winner being ultimately determined by the player who remains in the game until the completion of the hand, or has the best cards.

Detailed the timing of its new launch, KamaGames states that it comes in a period “when the Indian market is experiencing booming growth, and being currently listed as the fastest growing major economy in the world.

Adding in a media release that “this growth drives an opportunity for the development of more regional based games, to stimulate local player growth and to further diversify the KamaGames gaming portfolio.

“At launch, Teen Patti will no-doubt draw the attention of the existing Indian player base as it is already a very established and popular game in the region.”

Andrey Kuznetsov, KamaGames’ CEO, explained: “As a forward-thinking casual games developer, KamaGames have always strived to offer something new and exciting to our global and regional audiences, and the launch of Teen Patti is a perfect example of this.

“This latest addition to our gaming lineup reflects our ongoing plans to expand our portfolio to include not only social casino games, but also certain social card games which are popular in specific regions.

“It’s an opportunity for us to show how KamaGames is committed to embracing unique and diverse gaming variants from the emerging markets, and popularising them on our own world stage.”

Teen Patti, also available globally on both iOS and Android platforms, originated in India and is hailed as “hugely popular” by KamaGames.

The post Teen Patti to bring KamaGames Indian growth appeared first on CasinoBeats.

Group NGR growth of +14 per cent was particularly boosted by strong digital momentum of +28 per cent, driven in large part by its sports (+31 per cent) and gaming (+19 per cent) divisions.

“Extensive live event tournaments and continued marketing investment” was lauded for a +43 per cent growth of GVC’s partypoker brand, whilst “strong levels of first-time-depositors” helped drive Gala and GVC casino (+18 per cent) interests.

Boosted by the closing stages of World Cup Russia 2018, GVC sports brands NGR grew 31%, with the company maintaining double-digit growth for its acquired Ladbrokes (+24%) and Coral UK (+29%) digital properties.

The organisation also provided an update on its US operations, with its joint enterprise alongside MGM Resorts seeing the soft-launch of its New Jersey Android mobile app.

The launch of an iOS version is imminent, and is currently awaiting Apple Store approval, following which a full ‘playMGM’ marketing campaign will commence.

The joint venture has also signed a market access agreement with the United Auburn Indian Community,  which in the event that California legislates sports-betting, will enable access to the Californian market with its brands.

Regarding the updates, Kenneth Alexander, GVC CEO, explained: “The group’s performance in the quarter was very pleasing, with momentum continuing across the online and European retail divisions.

“As highlighted in our H1 results, we will look to consolidate our position in markets where we are taking market share through the reinvestment of excess returns, and the board is confident in its full year expectations.

“We believe our sports-betting joint venture with MGM is best placed to be the market leader in the US, and we have taken the first steps on that journey with the soft-launch of our sports-betting app in New Jersey.

“We have also recently announced a series of CSR measures, including a multi-million pound commitment to responsible gambling initiatives, and a call for a pre-watershed ban of TV advertising in the UK around football and other live sports.

“The industry continues to evolve and whilst there are challenges, there are also many exciting opportunities. Through our proprietary technology, portfolio of brands, leading product and talent, GVC is well placed to continue to deliver shareholder value.”

GVC also details that Rob Wood has been appointed deputy CFO with immediate effect, with the longer term goal of succeeding Paul Bowtell as GVC’s CFO, following his decision to step down from the board on 5 March 2019.

The post “Pleasing” Q3 sees GVC on-track for full-year success appeared first on CasinoBeats.