Leading distributor further enhances its offering with Pragmatic Play

QTech Games, the leading games distributor for Asia and all growth markets, has announced its latest premium provider partnership with Pragmatic Play.

Under the terms of the new deal, Pragmatic Play’s content (comprising its slots and live casino verticals) has been made available to QTech Games clients and their players, adding more muscle to a pioneering platform that is setting the pace for bringing the best online games to market across emerging territories.                                                 

Pragmatic Play’s wide-ranging suite of high-class content is now helping to drive differentiation, increasing engagement and player-retention levels in the process. This portfolio features popular titles like The Dog House Megaways™ and more recent launches such as the Emerald King series and Yum Yum Powerways, alongside a host of live casino games, including baccarat, blackjack and multi-lingual versions of roulette.

This ever-evolving production line consolidates QTech Games’ comprehensive catalogue of slot titles on a platform that delivers a definitive one-stop-shop for worldwide operators, thanks to its unrivalled localised depth and authentic gaming-vertical spread.

The agreement also expands Pragmatic Play’s global footprint, opening up an array of both established and emerging markets for accelerated growth. QTech’s platform boasts the broadest gaming portfolio around, localised for each region, with native mobile apps, powerful reporting and marketing tools, and 24/7 local-language support.

Ulf Norder, CCO at QTech Games, said: “We’re excited to have partnered up with Pragmatic Play, whose distinct and diverse portfolio needs no introduction. The QTech Games platform is integrated with the best games from the planet’s top providers – and Pragmatic’s unique content sits near the summit of this mountain.

“In short, we can’t wait to see how these games perform across a patchwork quilt of territories. Especially in developing gaming spaces where demand for a localised product set is paramount in tackling the diverse backdrop of cultural trends and player preferences.

Yossi Barzely, Chief Business Development Officer at Pragmatic Play, added: “QTech’s ever-expanding reach, from Asia and Eastern Europe to LatAm, is always eye-catching. Forming a strong partnership with a leader in the Asian market allows us to continue to expand our presence in the region by supplying operators with the compelling content for which we’re renowned.

“This collaboration has enhanced our speed-to-market and will set us up to deliver a defining digital gaming experience for all players, no matter where they set their scene on the world’s stage. With this reputation for delivering quality games to players in progressively diverse markets, we look forward to seeing our games form part of QTech’s wider offering.”

Earlier this year, QTech Games broke further ground as the leading distributor across emerging markets with the launch of an industry-first, cross-supplier rewards feature, Network Progressive Jackpot, unpacking a cutting-edge acquisition and retention toolbox for its global partners.

Pragmatic Play currently provides up to five new slot titles a month, as well as an extensive range of live casino and bingo products through its multi-vertical repertoire. The company’s entire portfolio is available through a single API integration.

NODWIN Gaming, South Asia’s leading esports company,  Samay Raina, one of the world’s top chess streamers and ChessBase India, India’s largest chess media company are partnering to launch a new and exciting online chess league called the Chess Super League (CSL).

The first season of the Chess Super League will run between 8-11 pm from 11th to 17th October 2021 featuring 6 top Grandmasters across the globe among Men and Women – 6 top men and women players from India and 6 top Indian junior boys and girls. The 6 teams of 6 players each will give viewers the rare opportunity to see players come together to battle for a prize pool of a whopping INR 40 Lakhs.

The teams will be spearheaded by franchise owners who will support and represent their squad through the Chess Super League. The franchise owners of the debut edition include the likes of Tanmay Bhat, Raftaar (Kalamkaar), Zakir Khan, MortaL (S8ul), Biswa Kalyan Rath and Shreyas Srinivasan (CEO, PayTM Insider). These franchise owners will act as ambassadors and will be the torch bearers for their teams for the entirety of the league.

This league will see Grandmasters like Ding Liren, Hikaru Nakamura, Anish Giri, Teimour Radjabov, Hou Yifan (the strongest female player in the world), Muzychuk sisters, Nana Dzagnidze, Alexandra Kosteniuk, Vidit Gujrathi, Sasikiran Krishnan, Koneru Humpy, Dronavalli Harika, Tania Sachdev and young grandmasters like Gukesh, Raunak Sadhwani, Savitha Shri and others.

The league will be broadcast on Samay’s YouTube channel, and will feature Sagar Shah (CEO, ChessBase India) and Samay as the hosts and commentators. Sagar and Samay began streaming chess together in early 2020. Their extremely entertaining yet highly informative streams have garnered over 650 million views till date as the unique chemistry they share creates chess content that can be understood and enjoyed by amateurs and professionals alike.

“I have enjoyed streaming chess with Sagar and have been incredibly lucky to have some of the best players in the world play chess on my channel and the best fans in the world watching us have fun week after week. The logical next step is to launch a league that will feature some of the best talent from India and around the world and I can’t be happier than to be able to do it now. Fans will love the competitive intensity of what we have planned and as always will enjoy the thrill of watching high quality chess with us,” said Samay Raina.

“Indian chess is on the rise and experts all across the world have dubbed India as the next powerhouse in the world of chess. We have many strong players, we have many young talents. This online league will give more exposure and opportunity to Indian players, especially the youngsters. Right since its inception, ChessBase India has tried its best to power chess in India and this online league is a step in the right direction.” said Sagar Shah, Founder, Chessbase India.

“Chess Super League is the first property that we are announcing after the acquisition of the gaming business of OML and is a testimony to the fact that gaming, eSports and comedy have significant synergies and shall come together in a big way. It is a sampling of many such collaborations between the different forms of gaming entertainment that the world will see.” said Akshat Rathee, Managing Director, NODWIN Gaming.

Esports has been officially recognised as a professional sport in Thailand meaning that players and organisations can now be supported by the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT).

Esports’ popularity has soared in the country with the Thailand E-Sports Federation (TESF) running regular competitions, seminars and workshops.

The sport’s global revenues are projected to surpass $1.5 billion (£1.096 billion/€1.279 billion) by 2023.

The Government involvement could help Thailand become a prime destination for groups like ESL and the Professional Gamers League (PGL) to host their events.

Esports is set to be a medal event at the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games in China after featuring in the 2018 edition as a demonstration sport.