Latest News
Microgaming CEO Steps Down After 17 Years’ Service to the Company
It was recently announced that Microgaming CEO John Coleman is planning to step down at the end of 2021. The former leader of one of the world’s most prominent iGaming brands has decided that he needs a fresh challenge after working for the company for the last 17 years. He will be replaced by another long-term servant of the brand, Andrew Clucas, who is currently working as Microgaming’s chief operating officer. This spells a new era for the company, but there is no reason why it can’t continue setting the standard in the online casino industry.
John Coleman to Step Down as CEO
Coleman has been the CEO of Microgaming for the last three years, having been appointed in June 2018. Prior to that, the Irishman had been the chief financial officer for almost 14 years. After a hugely successful tenure with the iGaming company, Coleman decided that it was time to step down and pursue other projects. In a recent statement on the Microgaming website, Coleman said:
“I am honoured to have led Microgaming as CEO – such an incredible business and people. After 17 years at the company, this is a natural time for me personally to embark on the next adventure. Microgaming has a strong leadership structure in place and an exciting future ahead, and I am delighted to announce Andrew Clucas as my successor. – Andy is a brilliant colleague, friend and leader, and I have every confidence that he will steer Microgaming to new success.”
The successor that Coleman mentioned in his announcement is Clucas, a former Royal Airforce pilot who joined Microgaming in 2009. Clucas’s rise within the company has been astounding. After heading up various divisions throughout his first decade, he took on the role of chief operating officer in 2018. He was clearly the natural replacement for Coleman, with the two having worked closely together over the last few years. Clucas stated that it was a high honour to be named the CEO of such an esteemed company and pledged to continue the amazing work done by his predecessor with the same levels of passion and drive.
The handover of responsibilities will take place at the end of December, and Clucas will take the company forward in 2022 and beyond. He will be tasked with maintaining Microgaming’s position as an industry behemoth, and in ensuring that the company continues evolving and progressing in the future.
Coleman a Big Part of Microgaming’s Continued Success
Microgaming has achieved an incredible amount in its history, with Coleman’s contributions over the last decade helping towards that success. The CEO has overseen a few of the company’s most recent achievements as it has innovated with upcoming technology, including virtual reality. For its VR Roulette game, Microgaming won the Innovator of the Year award in 2016 at the International Gaming Awards.
While Coleman has been CEO, the Isle of Man-based software provider has won innumerable accolades. In 2019, Microgaming picked up the CasinoBeats Pride of Gaming award, the Women in Gaming Diversity Award for Diversity and Inclusion, the EGR B2B award for Innovation in slot provision, and the Best Leadership Event at the ICE Awards. There are numerous other achievements that Microgaming accomplished while Coleman was in charge, but these are a few of the highlights.
On top of overseeing awards for the company, Coleman and Clucas have picked up some credit for themselves. The former won the Gaming Intelligence Hot 50 in 2019, while the latter claimed the same trophy the following year.
Microgaming was already well-established before Coleman joined the company. Indeed, it’s one of the oldest and best-known software providers in the iGaming industry. Founded in 1994, Microgaming claims to have developed the first online casino platform, thus sparking the industry that went on to achieve global domination. To survive for so long in such a cutthroat sector is commendable and is a testament to the running of the company behind the scenes. The Isle of Man-based business is constantly moving with the times and ensuring that it remains as one of the leaders that others look to for inspiration.
Best Known for Slots and Forward-thinking Ideas
Microgaming is best known for being one of the most successful slot developers on the planet. It has produced some iconic games which have driven the genre forward, including Tomb Raider, Jurassic World and Immortal Romance. It is still pushing the boundaries and creating new offerings, with titles like Game of Thrones Power Stacks among the best new slots alongside up-and-coming developers like ELK Studios and Nolimit City. The fact that Microgaming is still considered one of the best in the business for reel spinners highlights how the company is always looking to move with the times.
Microgaming is renowned for having broken various records with Mega Moolah, which was one of the first ever progressive jackpots. The game famously paid out lottery-like wins of more than £7 million in 2009 and £13.2 million in 2015. Both results set the Guinness World Record for largest online casino pay out. The game also spawned a thriving offshoot of traditional slots. Nowadays, when players log on to online casinos, they will see various games with rolling jackpots that pay out randomly to lucky winners over a network.
Aside from slots, Microgaming has one eye on the future and is ensuring that it is positioned to take care of any emerging technology that may go mainstream. This was highlighted with its creation of VR Roulette in 2015. At this time, many analysts expected virtual reality to go mainstream the following year. This hasn’t come to fruition yet, but Microgaming is well-placed to capitalise on the platform if it becomes an essential household item.
Microgaming has gone through various CEO changes over its 27-year history, and this has never had a negative effect on its dominance in the online casino industry. Clucas will be expected to continue steering the ship in the right direction, adjusting course where he sees fit to ensure that the company stays ahead of the competition.
Industry News
BetBlocker named Clarion Gaming charity partner for ICE, iGB Affiliate and iGB L!VE
BetBlocker the ground-breaking initiative which provides a free, anonymous, accessible, and robust gambling-blocking tool that empowers users to control their gambling behaviour, has been named Clarion Gaming’s charity partner for 2024/25.
The Award will cover the first editions of ICE and iGB Affiliate to be held in Barcelona as well as the July 2025 edition of iGB L!VE, the first to take place at ExCeL London.
Responding to the news Pedro Romero Chief of SG Partnerships at BetBlocker said: “Being named Clarion Gaming charity partner is a fantastic honour and is recognition of our commitment to promoting safer gambling worldwide. This partnership also underscores the gaming industry’s growing awareness and commitment to social responsibility.”
He added: “ICE, iGB Affiliate and iGB L!VE provide us with a trio of powerful global platforms which will enable us to amplify our message, connect with key stakeholders, and showcase how BetBlocker can make a real difference in minimising gambling harm. This opportunity strengthens our resolve to collaborate with all stakeholders, including the gambling industry, to prioritise the well-being of players.”
Focussing on how BetBlocker plans to activate its presence Pedro Romero explained: “At the three sector-leading events we intend to host engaging sessions on safer gambling to highlight BetBlocker’s role and its impact, demonstrate the functionality and effectiveness of the BetBlocker tool through live demos from our stand and facilitate networking opportunities with stakeholders to explore collaborations and funding opportunities.
“Throughout the year, we’ll leverage the visibility and connections arising from this partnership in order to expand awareness campaigns globally, develop educational materials and initiatives targeting operators, affiliates, and players and enhance our technology to ensure that BetBlocker remains at the forefront of innovation in player protection.”
The 2025 editions of ICE and iGB Affiliate will welcome a projected 55,000 gambling industry professionals from throughout the world. Comprising 120,000 square meters (sqm) of space compared to the 100,000 sqm at ICE 2024 Fira Gran Via Barcelona will be home to the industry’s best ever line-up of exhibitors comprising the world’s biggest and most respected innovator brands from every gambling vertical. The industry’s leading trade associations, strategic bodies, regulators, CEOs of tier-1 operators and games creators will all be at Barcelona in record-breaking numbers underlining the show’s reputation for being the ‘Davos of Gambling’.
For more information on ICE Barcelona and iGB Affiliate Barcelona and to register visit: icegaming.com and barcelona.igbaffiliate.com
Latest News
Soft2Bet Recognised as Best iGaming Solutions Provider in Romania
Soft2Bet, a leading provider of iGaming turnkey solutions, has been recognised as the Best iGaming Solutions Provider in Romania at the 12th edition of the Reunion of Gambling Professionals. Highlighting its excellence in the region, the company’s brand, Don.ro, received the title of Best New Launch of 2024, reinforcing Soft2Bet’s reputation for delivering innovative and tailored solutions to Romanian players.
Soft2Bet has established itself as a global leader in the iGaming industry by developing exceptional brands and delivering solutions tailored to the unique needs of local markets. With its innovative technology, deep market expertise, and unwavering commitment to quality, Soft2Bet has consistently exceeded expectations for both operators and players alike. In Romania, this dedication is exemplified by the remarkable success of Don.ro, a brand designed to set new standards in player experience and engagement.
Launched earlier this year, Don.ro offers players an intuitive design, a diverse gaming portfolio featuring over 3944 slot games, table games, live dealer options, and unique engagement tools. Powered by Soft2Bet’s proprietary Motivational Engineering Gaming Application (MEGA), the platform combines entertainment with cutting-edge technology to deliver an unmatched user experience.
Yoel Zuckerberg, Chief Product Officer at Soft2Bet, remarked: “These awards are a testament to Soft2Bet’s position as a leader in the iGaming industry. They highlight our commitment to innovation, quality, and creating solutions that resonate with local markets. The success of Don.ro reflects not only our ability to deliver tailored, high-quality brands for the Romanian market but also our broader vision of redefining gaming experiences. We’re proud to be recognised for our efforts and are excited to strengthen our presence in Romania with new and innovative offerings.”
Latest News
Week 49/2024 slot games releases
Here are this weeks latest slots releases compiled by European Gaming
PG Soft, has crafted its latest mouthwatering title to celebrate the beginning of the holiday season, Chocolate Deluxe. The alchemy behind PG Soft’s game takes inspiration from a beautiful love story between two of the finest chocolatiers, Belgium’s Valentina and France’s Pierre. As a pair they have created the True Love Chocolate Collection- a masterpiece of flavor and romance. Chocolate Deluxe is presented on a 6×6 tray that features sticky winning symbols with multipliers reaching as high as x100.
Betsoft Gaming has released Ultimate Golden Dragon InfernoTM – Hold & WinTM, the third installment in the incredibly popular Golden Dragon InfernoTM series. This new addition offers an immersive 5-reel, 3-row slot experience with the potential for massive wins. The game enhances the beloved Hold & Win feature, introducing a grid expansion mechanic where the screen can expand from a 5×3 grid to a maximum of 10×6, opening up even more opportunities to claim rewards.
PopOK Gaming is thrilled to unveil its latest creation, Yo Dragon – a dynamic slot game that brings the charm and mystique of classic Asian culture to players worldwide. Set on a vibrant 3-4-3 grid, Yo Dragon combines dazzling visuals, engaging features, and a playful dragon mascot for an unforgettable gaming experience.
This new release from MGA Games is a thrilling new game that beautifully combines excitement and nature. The game’s main character is the snow leopard, a majestic creature that serves as an Expanding Wild symbol. When the snow leopard appears, it not only captivates players but also enhances their chances of winning, adding to the excitement with every spin of the reels. Wild Snow Spin is a 5×3 slot game featuring a Scatter symbol and the opportunity to access a variable Free Spins screen, depending on the number of accumulated counters.
Gamzix proudly announces the release of its newest creation, Book of Zulu. This highly anticipated slot marries the timeless charm of classic “Book” games with an electrifying African theme, offering operators a game-changing addition to their portfolios. Featuring immersive visuals, culturally inspired details, and cutting-edge mechanics, Book of Zulu promises to captivate players and set new standards in the industry.
Play’n GO invites players to step into Sobek’s Godly Spins, a 5×3 slot set on a luxurious, deity-filled casino floor – where Gods like Sobek, Ra and Anubis compete for the spotlight. With a unique Nested Free Spins feature, this mythological-meets-Vegas adventure is unlike any other. In Sobek’s Godly Spins – players are transported to a realm where ancient Egyptian Gods enjoy the thrill of the casino floor, each with their own spin on divine glamour.
Evoplay has launched Mega Merry Gifts, a holiday-themed slot that combines the magic of the festive season with innovative gameplay mechanics. Set on a traditional 5×3 grid, the game immerses players in a cosy Christmas setting featuring Mr. and Mrs. Claus, their helpers Elf and Rudolf, Christmas wreaths, and gift-filled bags that act as Wilds. The unique feature of this game is the Free Spins Mega Symbols.
Tom Horn Gaming, the award-winning iGaming supplier, is turning up the temperature this winter with the release of Hot Blizzard Deluxe. This fery slot promises to deliver an electrifying gaming experience with explosive features, blazing visuals, and high-intensity gameplay that players love. At the core of the Hot Blizzard Deluxe’s gameplay is the Expanding Wilds feature, where Wild symbols not only fill entire reels but also come with blazing multiplier values of x1, x2, x5, or x10.
Nolimit City shows you what fighting for domination is really like in its latest release – Tanked. Witness the war between 4 power-hungry warlords who’ll stop at nothing for total domination! This Labs-branded slot is a chaotic masterpiece of destruction. This is the first of its kind for Nolimit City, even following their most recent experimental titles Munchies, Outsourced: Slash Game and Brick Snake 2000.
Red Rake Gaming announced the launch of its latest video slot, Christmas Wins, an unforgettable holiday experience that is now available on all the best online casinos. This spectacular game will immerse players in a world full of magic, joy, and big wins, with innovative features and a highly impressive visual layout and design. Christmas Wins offers a compelling gaming experience, with its 5×5 reel format and “Anywhere” wins in each spin.
He’s making a list, and checking it twice; he’s gonna find out who’s naughty or nice Santa Claus is coming to town… and he’s inviting YOU to take a special tour of his Christmas Factory in Vibra Gaming’s new holiday slot game. Plus, if you’ve been VERY good this year, you could walk away with up to x4500 times your stake!
Take to the African wilderness in Lion Saga Odyssey! This immersive new release takes players on a visually stunning quest, guided by the Lion Spirit and his loyal pride, as they traverse the parched savannah in search of life-giving waters. The latest addition to Play’n GO’s portfolio captures the raw beauty and power of the African ecosystem while offering exciting gameplay mechanics.
Belatra Games, the specialist online slots developer, has unveiled its festive treat this holiday season, Winter Thunder. Swapping the arid US plains for a wintery wonderland, Winter Thunder carries players into an enchanting atmosphere surrounded by snow-covered canyons and frosty forests. Players will be joined in the wilderness by lynxes, eagles, bears, and, the star of the show, the white wolf. This represents the Wild symbol replacing symbols and covering two reel positions.
Playzia is excited to unveil its fiery new slot game, Volcanic Coins. This sizzling hot game takes players on an explosive journey deep beneath the Earth’s crust, where bubbling lava guards hidden treasures just waiting to erupt into massive wins! Volcanic Coins features a classic style 3×3 grid layout with no paylines—which delivers big when it comes to rewards.
Relax Gaming has teamed up with CasinoDaddy to create its latest action-packed collaboration, Immortal 5. Following the success of their previous titles, Sloth Tumble and Epic Dreams, the pair have joined forces once more to introduce a team of five superheroes, guiding players on a quest for maximum wins worth up to 10,000x their bet.
You are going to love this game a lot if you are a dog lover! “Doggie Star” takes players into a world of dogs, where players can meet the doggie star and visit her house! Filled with dogs and many treasures, they are all yours to claim! “Doggie Star” is a 3×5 reel, 20-line slot. This game contains Wild Symbols with Multiplier Feature to allow bigger wins when the outcome involves Wild Symbols.
With the festive season now upon us and the magic of Christmas already thick in the air, sought-after software provider, Swintt, is inviting players to get into the holiday spirit this week with a seasonal reboot of a much-loved Premium slot, X-Max The Winner. Again starring the insatiable squirrel, Max, the new slot is played out across a 5×3 reel set and features 10 fixed paylines.
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