High 5 Games

High 5 Games newest entry is a twist on its The Amulet and the Charm title, with the latest incarnation coming complete with the power bet feature for the first time. 

The 4×5, 40 payline slot contains all characters and symbols from the original release, as it strives to utilise the new introductions to raise engagement levels as players seek the precious amulet.

Anthony Singer, CEO and founder of High 5 Games, said: “Power bet has become hugely popular with players looking to boost their wins, and we’re sure the addition of this exciting new feature to one of our most successful games will raise excitement levels even further.

“For those looking for good fortune in their life, this is the perfect game to find the luckiest charm of them all with the gameplay packed full of fun features and bonus rounds to win big.”

Playson

Revealing the latest entry to its portfolio Playson has introduced Fruit Supreme: 25 Lines, which becomes the newest title to bolster its ever growing Timeless Fruit Slots series.

The 4×3 slot developed in the classic fruit machine format features increased wins with 25 paylines, and includes a variety of fruits to get the juices flowing for players.

Vsevolod Lapin, head of product at Playson, commented: “Fruit Supreme: 25 Lines is a dynamic new take on our classic fruits style slot and a deserving addition to our Timeless Fruit Slots series.

“We have capitalised on our growing games portfolio with a series of significant operator in new markets integrations, and we are sure Fruit Supreme: 25 Lines will prove a big hit with both our new and loyal players.”

OneTouch

Mobile-first games developer OneTouch has followed up the releases of Juicy 7, Sumo Showdown, Wheel Of Fortune, and Andar Bahar, by adding Golden Stripe to its suite.

The game, set in the Far East, aims to take “slot action back to its purest form”, and features symbols and player rewards visible around the temple in which the game is set, tracking the player’s progress.

Ollie Castleman, head of marketing at OneTouch, stated: “Golden Stripe is a throwback to a classic era, offering simple-to-play mechanics while still offering the kind of quality you would expect from OneTouch.

“We know players will enjoy its stripped back nature and find themselves truly immersed with aptly-themed backdrops and sounds. It’s a great addition to our ever-growing content offering.”

Play’n Go

Arthurian themed slot The Sword and the Grail becomes the second offering based around the legend of King Arthur, following the release of Rise of Merlin earlier this year.

While rise of Merlin entered on the legendary wizard attached to the Mythology, The Sword and the Grail’s focus is very much upon the wider Arthur and his court. 

Merlin, King Arthur, Lady Guinevere and his trusted knight Lancelot are all evident as in-game symbols, while the scatter and wild symbols are represented by the Holy Grail and the Sword in the Stone, 

“The great thing about the Sword and the Grail is its challenging aspect. Winning is one thing, but you also have the chance to conquer the game by becoming the King of the Knights!

Players are going to want to achieve that title and they’ll have lots of fun doing it so, let the games begin,” noted Johan Törnqvist, Play’n Go CEO.

Relax Gaming

All aboard the Money Train, as content provider Relax Gaming offers players a journey to the Wild West in its latest slot offering.

The 5×4, 40 fixed payline slot, promises to take players on a trip through lawless lands full of wins of up to 20,000x the original bet.

The launch of Money Train, which is certified in Alderney, Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, Malta, Romania, Sweden and the UK, boosts Relax’s own-games library and follows the recent growth of the company’s Powered By and Silver Bullet partnership network.

Simon Hammon, CPO at Relax Gaming, said of the new title: “With buy-in features that offer players gunning for excitement a chance to win lock, stock and barrel, Money Train’s combination of high volatility and dynamic gameplay make it a great addition to any portfolio.

“Our in-house game content is going from strength to strength and Money Train is set to propel that momentum by offering our partners’ customers an immersive gameplay which drives retention and engagement rates.”

The post Part 3 | On the spin: Slot launch round-up appeared first on CasinoBeats.

Hammon spoke alongside Alex Cohen, COO and co-founder of Kalamba Games, David Flynn, CEO at Swintt, Ewa Kazmierska, COO at LVBet, James Ford, head of casino at LeoVegas and Kim Larsen, igaming consultant at Agrippa Consulting to discuss the topic of innovation, and the debate as to whether we even need innovation. 

Speaking about the panel session, Hammon pointed out that the most enjoyable element was the topic of discussion itself: “It’s a very hot topic in the industry, and I think we’re suffering from a lot of the problems that were raised in that room. 

“I think that there was a good mix of operator and supplier viewpoints which is really healthy for a common discussion and so I like the dynamic of the operator and supplier input.”

When quizzed about how the CasinoBeats Malta event has helped address the topic of innovation, Hammon commented: “I think that events such as this are very important, and I think that what they do is they encourage discussionary topics which you might already be having behind closed doors, or with colleagues, and so you get a wider perspective. 

“It’s a calibration largely of what the market is feeling, and acts as a temperature check, which I think is super healthy. Events like this offer good networking opportunities, and you get to discuss those with competitors, with operators, fellow suppliers, colleagues and I think that’s a healthy mix. 

“They draw the kind of discussion as to where the market is heading, and so I think that’s a key thing for these events.” 

The post Relax Gaming’s Simon Hammon discusses CasinoBeats Malta appeared first on CasinoBeats.

As a result of the agreement, Relax Gaming is now set to initially launch five Spearhead Games on its platform, including the successful ‘Book of Souls‘ slot title.  

Simon Hammon, chief product officer of Relax Gaming, commented: “Spearhead Studios released several unique games that caught our eye in recent months. Its team’s commitment to quality and creative flair make it a perfect fit for us. We look forward to a fruitful year alongside our new partners.”

Spearhead Studios, which was launched in November 2019 as a part of EveryMatrix’s group of companies, is focused on producing premium content for local markets. 

Aside from producing content, the company also covers all the required capabilities which includes game concept design, development, production, audio to QA, certification and localisation.

Mathias Larsson, managing director at Spearhead Studios, added: “The agreement with Relax Gaming represents the start of a fantastic year for Spearhead Studios. Our collaboration seeks to help operators discover new high-quality casino games, as well as local content. 

“We are glad to be part of this exciting venture, and we look forward to consolidating our business partnership with one of the most reputable names in iGaming.”

Moreover, following its 2019 launch, Spearhead has now set itself the goal of releasing 20 more games by the end of 2020, including video slots and table games such as Blackjack and Roulette.

The post Spearhead to benefit from Relax distribution appeared first on CasinoBeats.

Having been the company’s CEO since 2022, following three years as its Chief Product Officer, Hammon will pass the torch to Stålros, who has been with the studio for almost a decade. 

Hammon said: “Martin is the natural choice to take the reins at this pivotal junction following my decision to move on from Relax Gaming. Having proudly invested the past five years in Relax’s outstanding growth journey, it is safe to say that I wholeheartedly believe in and will always cherish the company and team within it.

“As Relax moves into its next stage, Martin’s extensive understanding of the company’s DNA, offering and team, along with his passionate yet pragmatic approach, will enable him to successfully steer Relax to achieve all the goals set.”

As Relax CEO, Hammon has overseen the company’s progression of its Money Train series with flagship sequels, while launching the studio’s progressive jackpot campaign – Dream Drop.

The former CEO will stay with the company until October 2024 to ensure the handover process goes smoothly. 

Hammon continued: “It has been a true honour serving as CEO of Relax gaming for two years, and I look forward to seeing what the future brings them.”

Moving up from his position of COO to CEO, Stålros also brings over 15 years of industry experience to the position, having held roles with Kindred’s Unibet and Ladbrokes before joining Relax in 2015. 

Stålros commented: “Having the opportunity to step up as CEO after seeing the company grow from 30 to 350 people during my time as COO is tremendously exciting. I’m humbled by the task and it’s the strength of the team that surrounds me which makes me even more motivated about the challenge.

“My predecessors have built a stable ship and a close working relationship with both Patrik Österåker, the Founder, and Simon Hammon, the previous CEO, has given me great insight. 

“My aim is to combine their strengths with my own to drive Relax Gaming into further growth as we continue to expand to new markets and embrace opportunities, while always maintaining outstanding tech, exceptional service, strong relationships, and our core values.”

Relax Gaming’s new CEO will oversee the studio’s North American debut, having launched via BetMGM in New Jersey using US-focused sister brand RLX Gaming towards the end of last year. 

Instilling optimism into the new appointment, Patrik Osteraker, Chairman of the Board at Relax Gaming, added: “I am delighted to see Martin Stålros stepping up to the CEO role at Relax Gaming. Martin has been involved with Relax from the very early days and has had a material impact on the success of the company.

“As the business and organisation continues to mature and grow we feel that Martin has the ideal profile needed to support and guide us on our ambitious growth trajectory. Martin has full support from the Board to implement the strategy set out for Relax Gaming. 

“The Board and myself also wish to extend a heartfelt thank you to the outgoing CEO, Simon Hammon, who has been absolutely instrumental in building Relax to the position we are in today. We wish him all the best in life and in his new projects. Thank you, Simon.”

The post Martin Stålros named Relax Gaming CEO following Hammon’s departure appeared first on CasinoBeats.

We’ve all got a favourite series. Whether it’s a classic box set or a Netflix drama, there are certain entertainment franchises that resonate with individuals. For the gaming industry, one vertical that lends itself nicely to the creation of a series is the world of slots.

One slots series that has proven to be very popular among players is the Money Train franchise from Relax Gaming. With Money Train 4 recently making its debut, CasinoBeats sat down with Relax Gaming CEO Simon Hammon to discuss the launch of the title.

Hammon reflected on Money Train’s first journey into the world of slots, the challenges of creating multiple sequels and the platform of success that Relax Gaming has created for the Money Train franchise.

All aboard!

The original Money Train game first made its debut back in August 2019. With a Wild West theme and a soundtrack that wouldn’t seem out of place in a classic Clint Eastwood film, the title soon proved to be a firm favourite with players.

Its origin story is much more than just a brainstorming session between game designers, however. Hammon told CasinoBeats that the idea for Money Train came about after a trip to a conference back in 2018, where the team played a particular slot which left them feeling somewhat underwhelmed.

He began: “In short, the mechanic in Money Train 4 was born out of disappointment from what is available to players; mechanics weren’t responding as we expected. They were simply collecting symbols and nothing else. We wanted to change that.

“So, the team came back to the office and got to work. They wanted to create something engaging – so they added a lot more features, paylines and punch. When you’ve got something like that, which works so well even in prototype, it is really exciting. As a general rule of thumb, we never root a gaming in design. It’s always rooted in mechanics.”

Once the team had created the mechanic, they turned their attention towards the theme. For Hammon, there were two directions that Relax Gaming could take: create a design that is incredibly unique, or reinvent a classic.

As we all know, Relax Gaming fired on all cylinders and went down the classic route, adding its own twist with the development of an extensive narrative and back stories to the individual characters within the title.

The next stop is …

After the success of Money Train, it was no surprise that Hammon and the team decided to build upon the title and create another in the series. This was soon followed by Money Train 3 and, most recently, the hit Money Train 4 which made its debut at SBC Summit Barcelona.

But making a sequel isn’t easy. We’ve seen it in the film industry – you just have to look at Blues Brothers 2000, Jurassic Park, Fast and Furious or even the Jaws franchise to see that a spin-off rarely becomes a box office hit.

But Relax Gaming has made it look somewhat easy to buck that trend, with the flankers continuing to outperform their predecessor.

Hammon continued: “Making a successful sequel is, arguably, much more difficult than creating an original idea because expectations are that much higher. As we’ve seen with films and even some slot titles, quite often the sequel can leave people feeling disappointed. I would actually say that is much more common than having a sequel which has been as strong, if not stronger, than the original.

“I say this, but Money Train 4 is different. We identified what has worked well, what we could improve, and from that we created something unique on so many levels. For the narrative, we wanted to develop this with every new iteration of the game.”

With each new title in the Money Train franchise, the Relax Gaming team has critically analysed each version to see what has resonated with players, and probably more importantly, what might need some work.

For Hammon, “daring to change the narrative and reinvent features” is what he believes to be the driving force behind the series’ success. He commented: “When you want to keep a series that keeps its momentum, I think you have to be critical about the previous launch. What was lacking? What were the players saying? What is being said on the different forums? And most importantly, how can we improve this for next time?

“You need to monitor that and make sure you address those challenges in the future. Dare to make changes, because you never know if it’ll work until you try it.”

Analysing players’ responses to each of the new titles has clearly paid off. Hammon highlighted that since the launch of the original Money Train game, each new iteration has outperformed expectations.

He said: “Money Train was a huge success, but then Money Train 2 steam rolled out of the gate. That was much bigger than the original, it was a huge success. But to make things even better, Money Train 3 then came along and exceeded all our expectations. It was bigger than we ever thought it would be.

“Money Train 3 really was a blockbuster success. We had a real challenge on our hands to beat that. But we did identify things that needed to be improved, so that’s exactly what we did. You can’t just release a sequel that is the exact same thing. We have changed the narrative quite heavily. We have not been afraid to rip up the rulebook and it’s certainly paid off.

“It is extremely difficult to create a sequel that is better than the one before. But we’ve actually managed to achieve that with every single Money Train release. We critically analysed what worked, what doesn’t, and we dared to create something different. Obviously when you do that, you can risk alienating some players who preferred the original, but I think we’ve managed to keep it engaging and keep players coming back for more.”

As Hammon explained to CasinoBeats, Relax Gaming isn’t the first studio to create a series of titles, nor will it be the last. But in his view, a successful series of games can act as a useful tool for casino operators looking to engage with new audiences.

“I do believe that the Money Train franchise has really ignited that love for a series within the gaming industry. We were very careful about ensuring that this was the right title to create a series though.

“In the wake of so much competition, some suppliers might think that because one title has been successful, it warrants a second, third or even fourth release. But a series isn’t necessarily a marker of success.

“I do, however, believe that the creation of a successful series can be an important acquisition tool. There tends to be a natural curiosity from players who enjoyed an original – they might want to see what is different.”

The decision to create a sequel isn’t one that should be taken lightly, Hammon explained, as he pointed out not every great hit needs a follow up.

There is one factor that he believes should determine whether or not a studio should create a series: the mechanics you’re using. “If we look at the wider industry trends, what we have seen is that when a supplier sees a successful game, they instantly think that they have to make a second, third or even fourth instalment. But the mechanics that they are using doesn’t always lend itself to that,” he said.

“You shouldn’t just create a series for the sake of it – it shouldn’t just act as a cheap marketing and quick acquisition tool because players will quickly notice and get bored.

“The difference with Money Train 4 is that we could have easily taken that mechanic in so many different directions. In fact, when we’ve developed games in the past, we’ve had a whole shopping list of features that we’ve wanted to include. But when it comes down to fine tuning, we end up removing a lot of those features – sometimes the features were too much, or the maths was uncontrollable.

“But for Money Train 4, there was so much we wanted to add. I think the key to developing that franchise was because the mechanic itself had so much depth. It wasn’t just thrown in there for the sake of including a mechanic. It was justified, and it has made the game what it is today.

“Relax Gaming has never been a studio that just churns out more of the same in the hope of racking up some easy wins. We’re not about that at all. I think we’ve done the Money Train series justice – it’ll go out on a high.”

On track to beat records

Since its launch, Money Train 4 has outperformed every other title in the Money Train franchise. The title has racked up 33 max wins to date, and even one player that won €149,924 during the first week.

It was evident just how proud Hammon was of the team behind Money Train 4 and the effort they have put into ensuring the title is a success. For him, the game has exceeded the “very high expectations” that he had set out before its release.

The CEO continued: “I initially thought we should perhaps be conservative in our outlook for monitoring, but it’s surpassed those expectations and then some. We’re seeing exceptional numbers each day and it has had a stronger day launch than Money Train 3, which was previously our best performing title.”

One of the biggest surprises since its release was the influx of new players enjoying Money Train 4 and the Money Train franchise itself.

Hammon added: “We predicted that there might be some cannibalisation of previous titles. But Money Train 4, in its own right, has been massive in terms of volume of new players trying the title as well as the previous iterations. Interestingly, I would say that the bet per round has been lower than other games.

“The reason for that, I believe, is because of the work we have carried out on the base game. People are playing the base game rather than buying as many bonus features, which was something we tried to target with Money Train 4.

“We have seen that it has also reactivated the interest with other Money Train games too which was quite a surprise, but something we’re also very happy about.”

Making a mark

In the run up to the release of Money Train 4, Relax Gaming poured considerable time and effort into elevating its marketing campaigns. This not only sought to ensure that new players knew about the game, but it also aimed to make existing Money Train players aware of the new release.

The additional marketing included creating teasers, interviews, visual advertising and even videos that tell the backstory of each of the characters in the franchise.

In Hammon’s view, he wanted to make sure that the Money Train franchise ended on a high. And judging from the game’s performance so far, they have achieved that.

“To have a successful sequel is difficult enough, but to have consecutive titles consistently outperform one another is almost unheard of. And I don’t see how anyone can match that,” Hammon added.

“As game designers, you want to be able to leave your mark on the industry. You want to be able to create something that is well known, something that people are going to look back on and say ‘wow, that was really awesome’.

“We had the Money Train: Origins Dream Drop title earlier this year which was the Dream Drop version of the game, making that five games in the Money Train series. Add the four Money Cart games as well, so that’s nine games – That’s a lot. There is only so much track that you can put in front of yourself before you have to bring the train to a halt.”

While this might be the end of the line for the Money Train franchise, Hammon turned his attention back towards the mechanics that inspired the series to begin with.

Relax Gaming, he noted, has found itself in a fortunate position in that it has created a mechanic and a range of features that could “easily be turned into other productions”.

He continued: “These features don’t just have to exist within the Money Train franchise. We have seen that they have been successful, we have seen what players have enjoyed and what they’ve latched on to. In the future, we could potentially use those features in another production. But for Money Train, this is the end of the line. And it’s the last instalment for a reason.

“I don’t see how another supplier has launched a more successful game on day one. We’ve had the number one and number two best launches from any supplier in the industry. And when you have that, you don’t want to spoil it. We’ve created something incredibly special here, it has smashed records and for that, I’m so proud.”

An emotional final journey

As the interview drew to a close, it was obvious that Hammon was extremely pleased with Money Train 4’s performance to date. But to end the journey here, he said, was somewhat of an emotional decision.

He highlighted that many players have seen the title grow and evolve since it was first released. But to end on a high was the right decision.

He concluded: “When the original was first released, that happened at a very similar time to when we started our own casino content journey. If you fast track to where we are now, we’ve grown so much. We’ve had the biggest ever launches in online slots history, and there has been so much hype from players too. So, I am unbelievably proud of what we’ve achieved.

“If I look back to when we started our casino journey and predicted where we could be in four or five years’ time, I would never have imagined that this is where we would be. I’d have bought a ticket for the Money Train there and then.

“It is also a testament to what Relax Gaming has achieved. We’ve not been concerned with what other people are doing; we’ve focused heavily on creating quality content that is fun and engaging for players. I strongly believe that quality will always rise to the top.”

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Volatile Vikings 2: Dream Drop – Relax Gaming

Relax Gaming has released its latest Dream Drop title with Volatile Vikings 2: Dream Drop, a 6×5 reel cascading slot with free spin, multiplier and Dream Drop modes.

“We’re delighted to introduce the world to the third game in our highly anticipated Dream Drop series, Volatile Vikings 2 Dream Drop,” explained Simon Hammon, CEO Relax Gaming. 

“Players absolutely loved the original Volatile Vikings for its gripping features and mechanics, so throwing a progressive jackpot into the mix is certainly going to be great cause for excitement.”

Volatile Vikings 2 has a multiplier reveal feature that sees the third and fourth reels offer a multiplier symbol on every turn. These symbols also have a counter which decreases on every winning turn. Once this counter reaches zero, the multipliers are applied to the player’s winnings and the symbols disappear to make way for the next multipliers. 

The game also offers a free spins mode which is triggered when three bonus symbols land on a turn. 

Relax’s Dream Drop jackpot is also offered, which gives the chance to win one of five progressive jackpots. The jackpot can be dropped randomly before any spin and players can win a rapid, midi, maxi, major or mega jackpot.

Bon Bomb Luxpot – Lucksome

Lucksome has revealed just how big its sugar cravings are in Bon Bomb Luxpot, a six-reel, 117,649-Megaways video slot that integrates a Luxpot prize ladder, as well as a free spins mode that includes a locking bomb and bomb multipliers.

Josefin Uppeke, Head of Creative and Game Designer at Lucksome, commented: “Bon Bomb Luxpots is a sweet treat for our players to enjoy. It is our take on the popular candy theme, but with the player experience given a major shot of sugar thanks to features such as our Luxpots Ladder.

“The free spins are especially thrilling with Candy Bomb Multipliers landing and increasing the big win potential, with multipliers totalling up to x30. We also know that players often want to jump straight to the bonus action, which is why they have this option to buy into the free games in the markets where it is permitted.”

Within the base game, if the player lands three or more candy bombs, it will activate the Luxpot prize ladder, which could see wins of up to x5,000 in the base game and x25,000 in the free spins mode. 

Moreover, the title comes with an ice cream scatter symbol. Landing four of these in a single spin will trigger the free spins feature. During this mode, bombs will lock and drop for the next game until no more bombs are dropped.

If the player lands three or more bombs in this round, a prize is won from the Luxpots prize ladder. 

In addition to the above, the free spins mode also includes bomb multipliers, which sees bombs with multipliers attached land on the reels. These can be applied to any wins where there are three bombs or more in view activating Luxpots.

Bryan Upton, Founder and Director at Lucksome, added: “This is a really delicious addition to our portfolio of engaging slot games, and we look forward to seeing players unwrap some potentially large wins.”

Cash of Command – Play’n GO

Play’n GO takes the battle to the sea and skies in Cash of Command, a 6×6, cluster naval slot that includes a Baron Turrets mode, as well as individual characters which offer unique power-ups.

“Everything from the way the features play out on the grid to the visuals in the game, Cash of Command is a shining example of why Play’n GO games stand out in the industry,” stated Charlotte Miliziano, Head of Games at Play’n GO.

“Our commitment to entertainment is in every ounce of what we create and that’s evident more than ever in this creative grid slot.”

In the game, commanders sit to the side of the reels and appear once a specific number of symbols have been collected through winning clusters, until finally battling with Baron Fusco. 

Each naval hero adds their respective ship or submarine to the grid. Once this happens, the different ships or submarines will fire unique power-ups onto the grid. 

After reaching Baton Fusco, he will destroy two of the three naval hero ships on the grid. The remaining ship will turn into a super version of itself.

Moreover, players can unlock Commander Wilder, who will deploy a blue ship. When this happens, the ship will fire eight wilds across the grid. 

On the opposite, Captain Verto will send out a green ship. This will fire onto two symbol types, converting them into the same symbol. Additionally, Admiral Magna will deploy a red submarine, which fires four mega symbols onto the grid. 

On any non-winning spins, Baron’s Turrets can be activated. This will remove symbols and add wilds to the grid.

Wolf Canyon: Hold & Win – iSoftBet

iSoftBet has expanded its Hold & Win series with its latest slot Wolf Canyon, a 3×5 reel, 25-payline slot with bonus features that include expanding wilds, Hold & Win and a lucky dreamcatcher symbol.

Mark Claxton, Head of Games at iSoftBet, stated: “Our latest release, Wolf Canyon: Hold & Win, delivers a rural experience built around the interaction between indigenous peoples and their surroundings.

“The vibrant theme pairs brilliantly with the soundtrack and unique features, and with free spins as well as a Hold & Win bonus round to multiply the excitement factor, players are in for a real treat!”

A totem is pictured for the wild symbol which substitutes for all symbols except cash moons and wolf canyon scatters and can expand to fill their column, while also offering free spins. The cash moon is a full moon that triggers the Hold & Win feature when five or more drop on a single turn. Wolf Canyon symbols can drop on reels one, three and five and can trigger a wolf feature pick where players can either win free spins or Hold & Win spin.

Hold & Win gives players the chance to win a mini, minor, major or grand prize, ranging between x30 and x1000 the player’s total bet. Three respins are awarded and any further cash moons that land will stay in place and increase the win potential.

A dreamcatcher feature can be triggered randomly on any paid spin, offering up to x8,888 the player’s bet in an instant cash prize.

The post Relax, Play’n GO, Lucksome & iSoftBet: on the spin appeared first on CasinoBeats.

Banana Town – Relax Gaming

Enter the world of organised crime run by a troop of monkey robsters in Relax Gaming’s 6×3, cluster-pays title, Banana Town. 

Starting with the multiplier upgrade, each symbol type has a multiplier associated with it. This multiplier is applied to all wins. The multiplier value starts at x1 and is doubled after each win on the symbol. 

The feature can also trigger randomly by assigning a random upgrade of multipliers to a random number of symbols at the start of a new spin. The maximum multiplier on any symbol is x64. 

Furthermore, landing three or more bonus symbols will trigger the free spins mode and award the player with eight initial spins. 

During the free spins bonus, the multiplier levels that have been reached in the main game will be kept, and the multiplier upgrade feature is persistent throughout the feature. Landing a bonus symbol in the free spins will award one additional spin. 

Simon Hammon, Relax Gaming’s new CEO, stated: “Head on down to Banana Town for what we promise will be an unforgettable visit. This retro-style slot not only looks fantastic, but it also boasts some truly memorable features and mechanics. 

“If you like big multipliers and impressive wins then we’re confident you’ll go bananas for this new release.”

Wild One – Peter & Sons

It’s a dystopian adventure in Peter & Sons’ most recent title Wild One, a 5×3, 4,096-payline video slot that incorporates cascading reels, a free spins bonus, a scatter blast feature and a wild reel.

The title includes a top reel above the game which can see wilds queued up, these may land onto the reels below if there is space.

Moving onto the scatter blast feature, this is triggered when landing two scatter symbols, removing all symbols in a 3×3 square around the scatter and triggering an additional cascade for an increased chance of launching the bonus round. Two scatter blasts will increase the wild level as well, unlocking the different styles of wilds.

Finally, should players land three or more scatters, they will activate the free spins bonus, awarding at least 10 spins. 

During this mode, players are transported to an underground reelset, where wilds appear more often throughout the round and modified wilds can land on any reel.

Yann Bautista, Business Development Manager at Peter & Sons, explained: “We look to bring immersive, exciting content to the market with all our games, while telling a thrilling narrative, and Wild One is no different.

“Packed with multiple styles of wilds, we’re able to bring huge win potential alongside a unique theme to create one wild ride.” 

Rise of the Genie – iSoftBet

Players need to steal iSoftBet’s magic lamp to unveil its mystical riches in Rise of the Genie, 3×3, five-payline video slot that comes with a max win of x500 the bet.

The game follows a risk and reward system, where the longer the player holds out, the bigger their winnings could be. 

Depending on the symbols in the combination, each winning spin will advance one of the three cash pots on the reels. Magic lamp symbols will fill up the biggest cash pot in the middle of the reels. Book symbols fill up the medium sized cash pot, and star symbols fill the smallest of the pots.

Players can collect the cash pots at any given time, but the more they spin, the more they can fill them, with the goal being to reach the top of the cash pot ladders, where instant pays are triggered, and the remaining full cash pots can generate additional wins.

However, at any time during the game – even when the top of a ladder has been reached – the genie can pop up to ruin any progress, causing all cash pots to be emptied and players to start from the bottom.

Mark Claxton, Head of Games at iSoftBet, noted: “Straying from our usual style of games, Rise of the Genie explores an exciting new theme with a unique risk and reward system that neatly complements the gameplay.

“Players will need to hold their nerves and add to a selection of collection pots in order to take home the riches, but the evil Genie has some tricks up its sleeve to halt their progress.”

Duelbits Quest – BGaming & Duelbits

BGaming, in collaboration with Duelbits, has launched a branded exclusive slot named after the crypto casino. 

Duelbits Quest is a 5×3, 25-payline video slot that comes with in-game jackpots, a free spins bonus, coin respins and a buy bonus option.

During the base game, players can activate the free spins mode by landing three scatters in a single spin, which in turn awards five initial spins.Within this mode, a giant scatter symbol awards three additional spins.

Additionally, featuring blazing reels, during the free spins round, reels two, three and four combine and have one spinning giant 3×3 symbol, which pays as if nine same symbols appeared on the reels. 

Alexandr Shavel, Head of Business Development Department at BGaming, expressed: “The idea of creating custom games is not unique. But the solutions the market offered have always looked complicated and expensive for game developers and operators.

“We successfully overcame all the challenges and are currently producing high-quality branded games in a short time, keeping a deep level of customisation.” 

The post Peter & Sons, Relax, iSoftBet & BGaming: on the spin appeared first on CasinoBeats.

Replacing Maijala, who held the position since November 2019, Hammon’s responsibilities will include continuing to build the firm’s presence as a B2B supplier. 

“I’m truly honoured to take on the position of Chief Executive Officer at Relax Gaming,” Hammon stated. “As a company, we’ve continued to grow from strength to strength over the last few years and we represent a world class offering across all verticals.

“Of course, a company is only as strong as the people who embody its mission, and I’m blessed to have a team who are so passionate about what they do and want to see Relax taken to the next level.

“Relax has grown in terms of people but also in terms of market power and brand. This is something I’m keen to continue and help drive. Relax has a bright future filled with global expansion, exciting new product offerings and a positive working culture. I look forward to continuing on this journey with you.”

Hammon moves into his CEO role after serving 10-years within the company’s executive management teams, with five years as Relax’s Chief Product Officer.

Commenting on Hammon’s appointment, Patrik Österåker, Chairman of the Board, noted: “We’re absolutely delighted to announce Simon Hammon as Relax Gaming’s newest Chief Executive Officer. Relax is continuing steadfast on its journey to claim an ever-larger footprint in the gambling industry, and we believe Simon with his experience, knowledge and vision is the perfect person to lead the team in the coming years.

“Simultaneously, we’d like to take the opportunity to extend our gratitude to our outgoing CEO Tommi Maijala, who has been instrumental in guiding the company through arguably the most pivotal years of our history. 

“Simon will be able to continue building boldly, supported by the confidence that a rock-solid foundation provides.”

Maijala will remain with Relax Gaming until the end of 2022 to aid Hammon in his transition from Chief Product Officer to CEO.

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The Treasures of Tizoc – Lady Luck Games

Players gear up and head off on ‘an unforgettable escapade’ in this 6×3-5, 3,600 to 15,625-payline video slot that incorporates a maximum win potential of over x15,000 the bet.

The title comes with a ‘The Hunt for Lost Treasure’ bonus game, respins, gargoyles, coins and a buy bonus option.

In the game, should players manage to connect the entrance to the pyramid by landing bonus symbols on reels three and four on the same row, they’ll open the doors to a pyramid starting The Hunt for Lost Treasure bonus game.

This bonus feature sees players roll a dice and work their way around a path inside an ancient Aztec pyramid in an attempt to make it into the treasure room, all whilst avoiding ghosts that can end the bonus.

“We’ve spent months developing The Treasures of Tizoc and we’re confident this is going to be one of our biggest game releases this year,” stated Mads Jørgensen, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of LL Lucky Games AB.

“This adventure-themed slot is filled with engaging features, as well as a buy bonus option for the first time, we hope players enjoy it as much as we enjoyed creating it.”

4 Fantastic Fish – 4ThePlayer

4ThePlayer calls upon keen anglers to grab their best rods and head out to sea in this 6×4, 4,096-payline video slot that incorporates a maximum win potential of up to x15,000 the bet.

The title comes with a respin bonus, a giant squid feature, cash prizes, big game fish and a buy feature.

In the game, fish symbols can land in view on any reel with cash prizes attached to them, and they can win like any other normal way win on adjacent reels from left to right. When a win occurs, any fish symbols involved will award the total prize displayed. 

Moreover, big game fish can land on reel six, awarding one of four large big game fish prizes if they are involved in a fish symbol way win. 

Should players land three or more respin scatters, they’ll activate the respin bonus. Each reel that a scatter lands on will be open; all other reels will be closed. 

“We’ve been enjoying a run of strong game releases alongside Yggdrasil in the last few months, and we fully expect that will continue with the launch of 4 Fantastic Fish,” commented Chris Ash, Founder and Business Development Director at 4ThePlayer.

“With a whole host of exciting bonus features and mechanics and a set of impressive fixed jackpots, players are sure to love this fishing-themed slot.”

Relax Gaming – Snake Arena Dream Drop

Relax Gaming immerses players in a battlefield where brave knights go head-to-head with a slithering serpent in this 5×5, 30-payline video slot that incorporates a maximum win potential of up to x2758.8 the bet. 

The title comes with a Dream Drop bonus, a free spins round and a wild chase feature.

The game allows players to land five Dream Drop symbols in the jackpot spin and enter the Dream Drop bonus. Here, a giant wheel listing five different jackpots will appear on the display, offering the chance to win jackpot prizes.

During free spins, the snake chases the knight and grows in length at every catch until it runs into its own body, bringing the free spins to a halt. Players who succeed in defeating the snake are awarded the maximum win of an additional x1,000 their bet.

“Snake Arena was designed from the ground up to get hearts racing and now with the addition of our innovative Dream Drop Jackpots we have made this game a truly thrilling experience,” noted Simon Hammon, Chief Product Officer at Relax Gaming.

“Our new jackpot has performed fantastically since its launch, and Snake Arena Dream Drop is feature-rich, offers immersive gameplay and is a testament to the quality in game development that Relax Gaming’s proprietary catalogue is well known for.”

Dynamite Strike – Stakelogic

Stakelogic sees players grab sticks of dynamite and venture deep into the gold mine in this 6×3-3-4-4-5-5, 3,125-payline video slot that incorporates a maximum win potential of over x5,468 the bet.

The title comes with respins, bonus carts, a free spins bonus, an increasing multiplier and a Super Stake option.

In the base game, any winning combination triggers one respin and, with each one, two stone blocks are removed from the reels and the number of ways to win increases. Bonus cart symbols are revealed behind each block before the respin gets underway.

Each cart’s bonus could be a multiplier with x1 added to the next respin or a coin with the value added to the total win. Otherwise, players might be unlucky and reveal a duff cart which contains no bonus.

“Dynamite Strike has been designed to offer truly explosive gameplay and that it most certainly does,” remarked Salvatore Campione, Head of Greenlogic at Stakelogic. “Players will want to venture down into the gold mine in search of Wilds, Multipliers, Free Spins and those all-important bonus carts.

“This is yet another great slot developed in partnership with Hurricane Games via our Greenlogic Partner Program. I look forward to seeing players grabbing their sticks of dynamite and returning from the mine with plenty of gold.

The post Lady Luck, 4ThePlayer, Relax & Stakelogic: on the spin appeared first on CasinoBeats.

However, the importance of the word should not be underestimated as it continues to raise the bar and move the industry forward – whether it is obvious to the naked eye or not. 

In this new roundtable series, we’ll hear from industry experts on all things innovation, with the first article focusing on where the most innovation is currently coming from.

Within the gaming sector, where do you see the most innovation? Alternatively, which areas do you believe are behind the curve when it comes to innovative technologies, and why might this be the case?

Jo Purvis, Blueprint Gaming: When you look at how the slots sector has evolved, the true innovation that disrupts the sector is ultimately driven by the mechanics and how they change the gameplay. 

We’ve gone from the classic style slot of three paylines, all the way through to over a million ways of winning during one single spin. That’s largely been thanks to Megaways and how the mechanic shifted the mindset as to how paylines can alter with every spin. 

Innovation can also come in the form of new bonus rounds and modifiers. Blueprint Gaming was ahead of the curve when we first introduced online games packed with multiple features for players to experience. We continue to build on this and explore new ways to evolve the core essence of a slot. 

Joey Hurtado, Wizard Games: Innovation is coming in all shapes and sizes across the sector. Over the last few years, we’ve seen a lot of movement in the live casino sector, with game show-style content becoming more creative and pushing its appeal to more non-traditional live dealer players. Slots have continued to push on with more iterations of traditional mechanics as well as new and imaginative plays on ways games. 

Innovation has to serve a purpose and improve the player experience. Innovation for innovation’s sake is often counterproductive, and it’s important to understand what the players want and what they are doing. 

For that reason, I believe some of the moves we’ve seen towards VR and AR solutions haven’t always delivered as they force the player to give all their attention to the games they’re playing. This removes their ability to multitask whilst playing, perhaps watching TV or other leisure activities that they combine with gaming.

I think gamifying the player experience is something the industry is behind on. There have been attempts from operators, studios and dedicated third parties to improve this but adoption hasn’t been great. There is still a lot of scope to improve here and we can expect to see some interesting innovations in the near future.

Fredrik Johansson, Fantasma Games: I believe that we have seen a lot of innovation within the slots space and especially with the introduction of new mechanics from various studios. This is evidenced by the number of trademarked mechanics that are now in the market. 

Megaways is the one that changed the game and that often comes to mind first, but there are loads more including Infinity Reels, XNudge and our very own Titanways, of course.

We have also seen great progress in terms of game design and the emergence of narrative-driven slots that deliver a more engaging and entertaining player experience. When this is combined with innovative mechanics and never seen before features, the result is games that deliver so much more value than a traditional 5×3 reel slot and that appeal to a much broader audience.

Shalva Bukia, Spribe: I think igaming is getting back to basics of casino play: socialisation. If we look at traditional casinos, especially in the early years, it was a place where people met and had fun together. 

Roulette, card games are social by definition. Slot games are a bit different: it’s about singular entertainment, it’s the player enjoying different worlds and imaginations of slot games. 

With the introduction of fast internet speeds live casino games became instantly popular and it was back to the basics – the joy of social play. In this regard, in my opinion, the biggest innovation was game shows by Evolution. Its popularity shows that people prefer social entertainment and interaction. We see the same in our products, Aviator’s live bets and chat are key features of the game.

David Mann, Swintt: The gaming sector is ultra-competitive and everyone is trying to find the next breakthrough innovation, mechanic, feature, etc. But finding true innovation is difficult – it is resource-heavy, expensive and ultimately there is no guarantee of success. 

I would say the shift to mobile has resulted in tremendous progress with operators and studios forced to fine-tune the player experience to ensure that it is just as engaging and entertaining as when playing from desktop. 

When you look at some of the latest games and especially live dealer content (including SwinttLive) to hit the market, it’s clear just how far we have come in a short space of time. 

The desire to be at the cutting-edge is pushing a lot of developers to try new things and this ultimately will lead to some hitting on the next revolutionary mechanic. I’d say the greatest room for this exists within how players play and by adding additional layers of entertainment that take the experience beyond the RNG base level. 

I also think we lag behind other entertainment options when it comes to how we serve content to consumers. When you look at the levels of personalisation offered by Netflix and compare it with your average online casino lobby, we still have a long way to go.

Simon Hammon, Relax Gaming: As a casino-focused product-veteran, naturally my attention is more focused in this area of the gaming sector. In the wake of increased competition within the landscape, there are certainly more interesting, innovative and diverse mechanics being brought to market – especially by younger and newer suppliers. 

To stand out in this crowded market, you need to innovate and provide something new to capture players’ attention and ensure retention. 

Jackpots are a key area that has been relatively under-served and with that comes a lack of innovation. Relax Gaming’s Dream Drop Jackpots has been launched with a mission to break the mould here and provide fresh thinking in the marketplace. 

There are several reasons why, on the whole, innovation and technology might not be perceived to be low in areas and this is likely down to market dominance of a few without need or desire to change. With the advent of high competition levels, fresh thinking is bringing in needed updates and change.

Indeed, the approach to regulated markets and the custom integration challenges required is another major area to solve, and although it is not visible to the player, it has not evolved with the times and its importance cannot be understated.  

In line with that, our Relax Apex system launched last year aims to remove a lot of these nuances and headaches, which means it can work perfectly in tandem with our newly launched Dream Drop.

Lahcene Merzoug, PressEnter Group: I think the industry often considers innovation to be a breakthrough mechanic or feature, or perhaps an entirely new gamification model or bonus system that changes the game. But innovation is often the result of progressive iteration and in that regard, there is plenty of room to keep pushing the boundaries. 

From the operator perspective, there is scope to do more to improve the player journey and that is where we focus a great deal of our attention and resources.  

An area of particular interest is payments, and PressEnter Group will continue to fine-tune deposit and withdrawal flows and augment the technologies and services that support them. We are taking the same approach to KYC to firstly ensure a smooth and seamless process for our players but to also ensure that we are verifying players accurately. 

These are not necessarily headline-grabbing updates, but ultimately, they are what leads to the superior player experience we have built our reputation on. 

Phil Lamb, Betsson Group: I believe we have seen quite a lot of innovation when it comes to applying various gamification features to online casinos over the years. When many online casinos offer the same games from the same game suppliers, it’s a good way to be able to stand out from the crowd and create more exciting and engaging player journeys.

However, applying such innovative gamification features has become more and more challenging for operators in recent years, and can also bring with it some inherent risk. For example, you could invest a lot of development resources and time creating amazing gamification journeys, and then overnight some new regulation comes in and suddenly a lot of the features that have been created are no longer compliant or able to operate under these new regulatory conditions. This can be a massive hindrance and risk from a commercial perspective.

This is certainly the case when operating in multiple markets, with some of these established markets now reaching a state of maturity and then seeing more and more local regulations being applied, which must always be adhered to. 

Likewise, the focus on responsible gambling and player protection is understandably as strong as it has ever been and with more responsibility in these areas sitting with operators.

As much as it is good to try to constantly stay ahead of the curve in terms of innovative technologies, there also needs to be a good balance that considers and respects local regulatory compliance requirements but that still leads to higher user engagement and, most importantly, in a responsible way.

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