Africa
Multichoice Acquires 20% Stake in Betking
South African pay TV operator Multichoice has paid R1.3 billion ($81 million), and may still make more payments of R500 million, to acquire a 20% stake in the Nigerian sports bet company BetKing.
In a brief interim statement, it stated that the first payments were an upfront investment with Multichoice valuing BetKing at a minimum of R6.5billion ($31 million). The additional payment was dependent on earn-out targets which is undisclosed and lasting till the end of 2023.
BetKing which has been described by Multichoice as Pan-African and has, however, only had significant betting operations in Nigeria and Ethiopia. As of June 2020, they began operations in Kenya and bagged a sponsorship deal in the soccer league.
Multichoice stated that the deal is intent on pushing forward the revenue prospects by introducing new products and services that will create more growth opportunities.
However, Multichoice has no intention of making continuous payments to hold rights on European soccer. The partnership with BetKing is expected to push more prominent African players into the gambling industry.
Africa
SmartSoftās expertise and future vision for the African market
In recent years, the online gaming landscape has witnessed a surge in innovative and engaging titles that capture the interest of players worldwide. Among these, first ever flying crash game by SmartSoft – JetX emerged as a standout game, particularly gaining substantial traction in Africa. This article provides an in-depth examination of JetX, a popular online crash game, and explores the expertise behind its creation. By focusing on the gameās features, the developer SmartSoft Gaming, and insights from an interview with the Vice President Commercial, we aim to highlight the factors contributing to JetXās success and its impact on the gaming industry.
About SmartSoft Gaming
Founded in Georgia in 2015 by industry experts, SmartSoft set out to create a one-of-a-kind casino games provider that offers high-quality gaming experiences worldwide. By combining interactive features with captivating visuals, we blend gaming and gambling to deliver more engaging, entertaining, and superior experiences. Our mission is not just to attract players but to enhance their enjoyment.
To gain further insights into the development of JetX and the vision behind its creation, we spoke with the Vice President Commercial of SmartSoft.
Rusa Javakhishvili Vice President Commercial of SmartSoft shared insights and analytics from African countries, and outlined future plans. Rusa joined SmartSoft two years ago as Head of Finance and Strategic Projects. In early 2024, she transitioned to the commercial side as Head of Account Management, and is now Vice President of Commercials, overseeing several regions, including Africa.
What was the general concept and inspiration behind JetX?
In recent years, the online gaming landscape has witnessed a surge in innovative and engaging titles that capture the interest of players worldwide. Among these, JetX has emerged as a standout game, particularly gaining substantial traction in Africa. The main concept of the game is that it is easy to play, the player is involved in the decision as much as possible, it is fast and within the fast-paced world we think that it delivers exactly what players need for an enjoyable experience.
How does JetX differentiate itself from other crash games in the market?
At SmartSoft, we appreciateĀ our relationships with partners, itāsĀ very important to us. We constantly think and work to create a valuable product and maintain strong connections with them. SmartSoftās portfolio includes a diverse range of online casino games, each designed to offer unique features and interactive gameplay but JetX is the literal gem!
JetX is an online crash game that combines simplicity with excitement, offering players an engaging betting experience. This dynamic gameplay requires both luck and strategy, appealing to a broad audience seeking quick, high-stakes action. JetX stands out due to its user-friendly interface, real-time gameplay, and mobile compatibility, making it accessible and enjoyable for players on the go. Its growing popularity in Africa can be attributed to its exciting gameplay mechanics and the potential for significant winnings.
What strategies did you employ to ensure JetX appeals to a diverse audience, particularly in Africa?
When we expanded into the African market, we knew itās a big and diverse region, so itās important to understand each country individually instead of seeing it as one market. With our partners’ help, weāre working hard to learn about each country’s marketing practices and what types of games people enjoy. Itās a challenging task, but the African market is a top priority for us, and weāve allocated resources to quickly build our knowledge in this area.
How has JetX been received by African players compared to other regions? Are there any notable differences in player behavior or preferences?
The African market is one of the most interesting and significantĀ for us, and we believe it has great potential. It is a highly dynamic and exciting market, where players are exposed to a wide variety of games. Their enthusiasm for diverse content gives us inspiration and motivation to create games specifically tailored to their unique preferences and needs. Moreover, they are quick to engage with new releases, eagerly embracing fresh content when it aligns with their tastes and expectations. Although Crash products were introduced only recently, they have quickly become a favorite among consumers. We expect this trend to continue growing.
How do you assess player feedback and incorporate it into ongoing game improvements?
This is a crucial aspect for us. Thatās why, in collaboration with our partners, we consistently review key feedback on our games and strive to incorporate it as much as possible into new versions. We strive to bring enjoyment in everything we do ā whether it’s in our work environment, or for the end users. Our goal is to delight both the customers and ourselves with our work. Therefore, we integrate gaming’s fun elements into gambling to maximize enjoyment. This approach fuels our drive to innovate and create playful experiences, redefining the gambling industry and making it more entertaining;
What future developments or updates can players expect for JetX?
Our product has undergone numerous changes since its inception, with many more improvements planned. These changes are aimed at delivering the best possible user experience for players while ensuring the product remains of the highest technical quality.
How has the success of JetX influenced SmartSoftās approach to game development?
JetX, the first Crash game created in 2018, holds a special place as one of the companyās most beloved titles. Its global popularity is evident, and we’re thrilled that players enjoy it. At SmartSoft, having a diversified portfolio is crucial, which is why we release new games every year. As pioneers in the Crash genre, we ensure that we continually expand our offerings. Our goal is to provide players with a wide range of high-quality games they can trust to deliver an enjoyable experience.
Africa
SIS partners with leading operator 888AFRICA to provide live numbers draws
Regional reach increases through bespoke iframe with Bitville Gaming
SIS (Sports Information Services), the leading multi-content supplier of 24/7 live betting services, has partnered with 888AFRICA to provide its comprehensive numbers offering to the operator.
The integration with 888AFRICA, facilitated by a region-specific iframe developed alongside Bitville Gaming, will see the operator gain access to the full suite of over 200,000 live draws. These include the original 49ās live draw, 39ās and Fast 15ās.
The content is presented through a clean, attractive, and engaging front end to maximise the player experience. The launch will significantly enhance the reach of SIS across Africa, where the live numbers draw product suite has already enjoyed great success.
Operating for over 27 years, the SIS- owned 49ās is the original live draw and brings credibility and integrity to fixed-odds numbers betting. To complement this, 39ās and Fast 15ās offer high-frequency events that run every three minutes while maintaining healthy margins for operators.
Launched in 2022, 888AFRICA licences 888 Holdingsā world-class betting and gaming brands across Africaās regulated online markets. Currently live in Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique and Zambia through 888bet, the operator offers a unique betting experience with relevant products and features which will now include live draw offerings which have proven to be popular with audiences.
Joe Andrews, Head of Sales Africa at SIS, said: āThe appetite for live numbers draws in Africa has grown rapidly and partnering with 888AFRICA will significantly increase our product visibility. Bitville Gaming has great reach in the region, and we are thrilled that our partnership is already delivering the widest range of content to operators.ā
Ian Marmion, Chief Operating Officer at 888AFRICA said: āOur ability to widen our offering to our partners is always important to us, and the portfolio of live numbers draws from SIS will provide a huge boost in maximising engagement. The content is a proven performer across Africa and I am sure our audiences will welcome this enhancement to our offering.ā
Andrew von Hoesslin, Chief Executive at Bitville Gaming, said: āThe aim of our agreement with SIS was to provide a bigger operator network for its content and we are seeing this happen first-hand. We are sure that 888AFRICA and its players will be delighted with the influx of additional wagering opportunities.ā
Africa
BOOMING GAMES EXPANDS IN EAST AFRICA WITH MAYBETS LAUNCH
Booming Games, a premier provider of cutting-edge casino games, partners with Maybets to offer an exciting gaming experience to the East African market.
Booming Games has officially partnered with Maybets, a leading online betting and gaming platform in East Africa, to deliver a rich variety of innovative casino games to its players. This collaboration marks an exciting expansion for Booming Games into the growing East African market, particularly Kenya, where Maybets is one of the most popular platforms.
As part of the partnership, Maybets will now feature a broad selection of Booming Games’ top-tier titles, known for their engaging gameplay, premium graphics, and unique bonus features. Players on Maybets will have access to an ever-evolving portfolio of casino games designed to enhance their gaming experience with dynamic features such as free spins, multipliers, and interactive bonus rounds.
This move aligns with Maybets’ commitment to delivering the best gaming experiences to its users, ensuring a wide variety of content that caters to both seasoned players and newcomers.
Chris Onyango, Head of Product & Marketing at Maybets, said: āWe are thrilled to bring Booming Gamesā highly engaging and top-quality casino games to our platform. At Maybets, we are always looking to provide our users with an unparalleled gaming experience, and this partnership is a testament to that commitment. We are confident that the integration of Booming Games will not only enrich our casino offerings but also elevate player satisfaction and retention across the board.ā
Solomon Godwin, Head of Africa at Booming Games, said: āWeāre thrilled to continue our expansion in the East African market, and partnering with Maybets, a strong and trusted brand, allows us to strengthen our foothold even further. Their established reputation and commitment to quality perfectly align with our growth strategy, and weāre confident that this collaboration will enhance our presence and bring even more exciting opportunities to the region. We look forward to a fruitful partnership with Maybets as we work together to expand our offerings and reach more customers across East Africa.”
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