Latest News
NetEnt brings us back to the hot 80s Miami action in Hotline 2™
The crime-busting duo returns in the upcoming sequel of NetEnt’s hit title Hotline™ with a release date set to August 24th 2020. Following its roots, the video slot doesn’t stray too much from the original, but it brings plenty of new features and bonuses.
Detectives Quinn and Riviera are up again to investigate yet another jewellery store robbery in sunny Miami. But things get heated up when we realise that the beautiful Kitty Weiss is behind the curtain and this time, with a bang.
Just like in the first game, the soundtrack is absolutely sublime, fitting nicely into a colourful backdrop and spinning reels, bringing a new upgraded retrospective look to the hot 80s vibe we got already familiar with, in the original game.
The first Hotline™ slot was received well by players, because of unique in-game slot bonus feature which made it stand out from other slot games at the time.
For those eager to jump on the action while you wait for the sequel, you can play the original title with one of the most used casino bonuses like the 888casino welcome offer, where NetEnt is a featured brand.
The slot action takes place across a 5-reel 3-row layout with 243 win ways. However, this can expand to become a 3x6x6x6x3 grid with up to 1944 ways to play depending on the activated features. The volatility’s still set to medium level, and there’re no changes regarding it.
While creating the game NetEnt kept to the core of its predecessor, but they certainly did some quite exciting changes. There is a new reel set, a random modifier and a different free spin feature. Additionally, the Hotlines have been inverted into vertical lines, removing the to need to activate 1 to 3 hotlines we saw previously.
This time, the three middle reels make up the Hotline zone which can be activated separately. This feature increases a chance to win Expanding Wild for a higher bet. A Wild symbol landing on a Hotline reel expands to cover the entire reel if resulting in a bet way win.
The other reels can be turned into hotlines with bonus bets. The slot is played with the Base Bet, with reel 3 as a Hotline and two Bonus Bet levels:
- Double Bet: reel 3 and 4 become a Hotline, and the bet is doubled
- Triple Bet: reel 2 and 3 and 4 become Hotlines, and the bet is tripled
Playing around with the Hotlines will also alter the base game RTP value accordingly, resulting in 94.51%, 95.35%, or 96.05% with 1, 2, or 3 Hotlines activated. It is slightly lower from what we had in the first instalment, but it’s a bit higher than the industry average on 96.05%.
The main Hotline feature is especially important when we add in the wild symbols. If a wild symbol lands on any of the 3 middle reels, it will substitute as usual, but if it lands on Hotline, it expands to give you a fully wild reel. Known as the Expanding Wild feature, which you could end up with 3 wild reels per spin.
Landing 3 neon flamingo scatters anywhere on 2, 3 and 4 will trigger the Free Spins feature, with 7 free spins awarded. A wild symbol landing on a Hotline will always expand the actual height of the reel by 1 symbol, up to a maximum height of six.
Having all three centre reels reaching the max height will lead to a 3x6x6x6x3 game window, creating 1,944 ways to win. When a Hotline reel reaches its maximum height, 2 additional free spins are awarded.
But if you’d like to get straight to the action you can use the bonus buy option. Where for a price of 20x, 40x, or 60x, you can get to play the bonus with 1, 2, or 3 Hotlines activated respectively.
Our overall impressions of the Hotline 2™ slot is that it is much better than the original game. The additional ways to win with the Free Spins feature coupled with the expanding wilds option can lead to mega wins of up to 5,184 x your total bet on every free spin.
The game is beautifully designed and packed with a nostalgic soundtrack, boasting a retro atmosphere, that ultimately pays homage to hit tv-show Miami Vice. Even though it doesn’t bring any major changes, fans of the genre and especially those who loved the first game will be pleased with this sequel.
Industry News
MiFinity to Showcase Innovative iFrame at SiGMA 2024
MiFinity, a leading global payment services provider, is excited to announce its participation at SiGMA 2024, held in Malta from 12 to 14 November. Visitors can find MiFinity at Stand 2012, where the team will be showcasing its award winning PayAnyBank service, and the latest version of the MiFinity iFrame and demonstrating how it helps iGaming operators acquire and retain players with a seamless, flexible payment experience.
Paul Kavanagh, CEO of MiFinity, commented: “SiGMA is a fantastic opportunity for us to showcase our latest developments and engage directly with the iGaming community. The MiFinity iFrame is a game-changer for operators looking to streamline their payment processes and enhance the player experience. We look forward to demonstrating its capabilities and connecting with both existing and prospective partners.”
MiFinity’s Business Development and Account Management teams will be on-site to discuss the new iFrame features in-depth and highlight how MiFinity can optimise payments for iGaming operators. They will also be showcasing MiFinity’s innovative suite of payment solutions developed specifically for the iGaming sector, including MiFinity PayAnyBank — a powerful tool that enables operators to send payouts directly to players’ bank accounts in multiple countries and currencies, enhancing the user experience with faster, more localised transactions and reduced FX fees.
The MiFinity Affiliates team will also be available to explain the benefits of MiFinity’s affiliate program, which offers some of the highest commissions in the industry and unique promotional opportunities via the MiFinity Bonus website.
Meet the MiFinity team at Stand 2012 at SiGMA 2024 to learn more about the company’s solutions and how they are transforming the iGaming payment landscape. Pre-book a meeting with the MiFinity team or drop by the stand during the event to explore how MiFinity can support your business.
Book a meeting here > outlook.office365.com/book/[email protected]/
Latest News
ECA and AGEM applaud creation of Association Assembly at ICE Barcelona
The news that January’s ICE Barcelona will include a major new feature dedicated to global gaming’s most influential trade associations has been welcomed by organisations in Europe and abroad.
Making full use of the additional space at the Gran Via Fira de Barcelona, the first ICE Association Assembly has been created to enable trade bodies to promote their values and create new opportunities for the gaming community across every sector and geography, including both the Brussels-based European Casino Association (ECA) and the Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers (AGEM), the global trade association for gaming equipment suppliers with its primary headquarters in Las Vegas.
Erwin Van Lambaart, Chair of the ECA confirmed: “Our members are already planning their week in Barcelona and they will be at this historic edition of ICE in great numbers. ICE is a pivotal event for the global gaming community and having a show floor feature which will enable us to engage directly with all sectors is a unique opportunity.
“Traditionally, our association’s involvement at ICE and its Conference program has primarily centred around networking and product development orientation—connecting with our members, regulators, suppliers, and fellow trade bodies. However, ICE 2025 marks a significant milestone. For the first time, the ECA will have the chance to fully interface with the global industry supply chain in its entirety. We are looking forward to this unique opportunity to articulate our vision for the future to a diverse and comprehensive audience, where innovation, responsibility and significant partnerships for guest and customer centricity will have centre stage.”
Daron Dorsey, CEO of AGEM added: “We represent the interests of our gaming suppliers whose well-known brands are global in reach, so to be given the opportunity to explain our agenda and engage with what is a truly international audience of association colleagues on the ICE show floor is invaluable.”
January’s editions of ICE and iGB Affiliate will occupy 120,000sqm of space compared to the 100,00sqm at ICE 2024. In a major endorsement of the opportunities offered by the relocation to Barcelona 72% of the 25 biggest exhibitors will have an increased stand presence at ICE 2025.
Industry Awards
Blask Wins Prestigious “Startup of the Year” at 2024 Starlet Awards
Blask, the pioneering AI-powered analytics ecosystem for iGaming, has been named “Startup of the Year” at the prestigious 2024 Starlet Awards. The company earned this recognition for developing a groundbreaking market intelligence platform that has redefined how gaming operators leverage data and market insights.
Award Recognition
The award confirms Blask’s revolutionary approach to market analytics and its significant impact on how iGaming companies access and utilise market intelligence. Powered by AI models including Computer Vision and Natural Language Processing, Blask analyses billions of data points across 2000+ active brands to provide unprecedented market insights.
The Starlet Awards recognition follows Blask’s recent SiGMA Asia Startup Pitch 2024 Award victory. “Winning these awards affirms our belief that innovation and bold ideas can reshape the iGaming landscape. The recognition underscores the impact of our cutting-edge AI technology and our relentless pursuit to transform data into actionable insights”, reflects Max Tesla, CEO and Co-founder of Blask
Blask provides operators with a strategic edge across multiple critical areas. Its real-time market analysis capabilities deliver instant access to crucial market metrics, while the high-granularity data available at one-hour intervals enables swift, informed decision-making. The sophisticated AI modelling system estimates GGR and FTD by analysing a comprehensive range of inputs, including historical data, third-party OSINT data, market performance, competitor metrics, historical brand performance, market reports, and public company disclosures.
Beyond analytics, Blask offers robust brand monitoring and competitor analysis tools, alongside strategic and tactical planning capabilities particularly valuable for market entry decisions and maximising performance during major events. The recently introduced customer profile feature harnesses AI to generate detailed, country-specific user profiles, adding another layer of strategic insight for operators.
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