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Is Virgin Games Growing in Europe?

Published

2 years ago

March 29, 2022

Reading Time: 3 minutes

In 1970 Richard Branson and Nik Powell formed Virgin Group Ltd. Initially the company specialized in selling records, but over the years and decades it has gone on to put its name to a great many more endeavors.

The brand has, amongst other things, attempted to dominate the British radio industry, rival Coca-Cola, and become the number 1 spaceflight provider. One slightly less eye-catching, but much more successful Virgin venture is the ever-popular online casino site Virgin Games.

Founded in 2003, Virgin Games entered the market at just the right time. Within a few years of its foundation, online gambling would go from an uncommon pastime to a cultural phenomenon.

In 2013 the success of Virgin Games caught the eye of Gamesys, a multi-national software development, and gaming business. Since then the company has been focused on growing beyond British shores, with European development high on the priority list.

In this article, we take a look at how that expansion is working out for the relentlessly ambitious gambling provider.

Virgin Games Business Overview

At the time of writing Virgin Games are in an excellent place commercially speaking. In the UK revenue grew by 20% last year thanks predominantly to the performance of slot machine games offered by the provider.

The most exciting news from investors and shareholders though came from Asia, where Virgin Games’ revenues grew by a whopping 30%. Much of that growth has been credited to the work that the company has done in cementing its brand in the Asian market.

Domestically the trend of growth has continued into 2022 with the company reporting average monthly users of almost 750,000 and monthly revenues of just under £65 million. The European picture however is slightly less pleasing for Virgin.

Why is European Growth Slower?

The UK was one of the first countries in the world to open up a legal online gambling industry. Whilst the market is regulated here in the UK, it is subject to a lot less red tape than many countries in Europe.

Confusing legislation and restrictive regulations have been cited as a major reason for Virgin Games’ stalling fortunes on the continent. In addition to that, the continent seems to have bounced back from the pandemic less vigorously than the UK and Asia.

Whilst many British gamblers used lockdowns as an excuse to eschew their bricks and mortar casino visits for a few hours playing online, many Europeans curtailed their gambling habits altogether. As a result, the continent has seen much slower growth in the sector since the economy opened up again toward the end of 2021.

It’s also important to remember that expanding into Europe is a tough task at the best of times. Europe is a continent of around 50 countries, most of which have their own unique rules and regulations pertaining to gambling.

In addition to that, there are 24 official languages spoken on the continent and a great many more unofficial languages. So it’s only natural then that European expansion is going to be slower for Virgin Games and more costly.

What Makes Virgin Games Appealing?

European legislation and language compatibility are obstacles that, if history is anything to go by, Virgin Games should be more than capable of surmounting. The question at the end of that though is what about the company will prove appealing to European gamblers?

The answer is much the same that makes it popular here in the UK and Asia – slots, poker tournaments, and live casino facilities.

Like the wider gambling industry in general, slots are the main revenue driver for Virgin Games and they boast a large and varied selection to cater to almost every demographic. In recent years there has been a concerted effort to rekindle the popularity of their poker tournaments too.

At the beginning of the 2010s Virgin Games were one of the biggest names in online poker, a reputation they are keen to recapture. One feature of the company that could make it a success on the continent, where bricks and mortar casinos continue to fall into obsolescence is its Live Casino.

This facility allows players to interact with real-life dealers who stream all the latest action directly from the gambling tables to the player’s phones, tablets, or PC screens.

Finally, Virgin Games has something that many online casinos don’t – brand exposure. Despite being purchased by Gamesy in 2013, the company still retained the Virgin name, which has made it recognizable all over the world.

It’s impossible to travel to a country in the world where the company Virgin is unheard of. That doesn’t just bring exposure but it also brings a level of consumer trust. Virgin is not just a company people have heard of, but it is one that people know to be trustworthy.

Will Virgin Games Succeed in Europe?

If you were to take bets on this question, the smart money would be on ‘yes’. Virgin Games have succeeded in the UK and Asia and are doing well in North America. It is only legislative and technical difficulties that are slowing down the company’s assault on mainland Europe.

Once these are surmounted, as they surely will be, Virgin Games will gain a foothold in Europe as it has in other international markets.

Related Topics:Nik Powell Richard Branson Virgin Games

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The MAC Europe Partner Marketing Conference is back!

Published

2 hours ago

April 19, 2024

Wladimir P.

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Top market experts, over 2,500 participants, pre- and after-parties until the morning, with an unlimited bar, hookahs, and a headliner that you definitely know.

When? May 30-31, 2024 in Yerevan.

The conference has everything for those who already earn or want to earn from traffic, and, of course, for those looking for profitable partnership opportunities!

Our guests:

– Partners

– Money makers

– Marketers

– Webmasters

– Online entrepreneurs

– Info-businessmen

– Direct advertisers

– Crypto enthusiasts

– Everyone who wants to learn how to earn from traffic

You can expect:

– Sports tournaments for webmasters

– Business meetings

– Stylish private parties

– Dinners from sponsors and event partners

– Not to mention the grand after-party

Join us and let’s make this conference an unforgettable experience!The main rule of our events is grand scale!

The main rule of our parties is grand scale! If it’s an Afterparty, it’s a huge event with 1500+ participants, and if it’s a headliner, it’s someone recognized by GQ as “Man of the Year”, topping the charts for many years 😉

And the conference is packed with surprises! For example, you’ll meet a real monk for the absolution of affiliate sins.

There will be an unlimited bar and hookah, along with snacks, during networking with industry leaders from around the globe.

Of course, there are two dance floors – one for techno enthusiasts.

Don’t forget about the pre-party the night before the conference (May 29 at 8pm). Meet the right people before anyone else!

Of course, there will also be numerous private parties hosted by friends and sponsors, including a closed pre-party from the legendary affiliate marketing expert, Eugene Ivanov.

⚠️ WARNING: Our parties set the bar high, and after MAC, regular gatherings will not be as impressive (of course).

Let’s take a look at what happened at MAC’21:

🔥 At MAC, you can expect the largest exhibition in Europe with over 100 companies:

– Leading affiliate networks

– Media buying teams

– Traffic sources

– Advertisers

– Services

– Crypto specialists.

Participation in the conference provides an opportunity to network with key market players and gain up-to-date insights into emerging trends and internet marketing approaches.

You have the chance to step-by-step explore the niche and achieve personal success thanks to presentations, networking with practicing partners, media buying managers, influencers, and market experts.

The conference speakers include affiliate specialists, heads and owners of media buying teams, opinion leaders, and market experts.

Van Oakes – the founder and CEO of a successful e-commerce company with a seven-figure annual income.

KJ Rocker – an internet marketer and business owner, CEO of “05 Media Ltd.”

Sergey Ovseenko – the owner of an iOS app development company.

Butch Hildebrand – Lifelong strategic thinker that uses personal and business networking as an eCommerce “broker” to grow multiple streams of revenue for clients ranging from startups to multiple 7-8 figure companies in online marketing

Due to popular demand, we will soon be increasing ticket prices. Please purchase tickets now at the best available price – with up to 30% off.

Tickets are on sale now!

Looking forward to seeing you at the conference,

The MAC’s Team.

Central Europe

Wazdan amplifies Swiss presence with Swiss4Win launch

Published

2 hours ago

April 19, 2024

George Miller

Wazdan amplifies Swiss presence with Swiss4Win launch

Reading Time: < 1 minute

Wazdan, the gain-focused developer behind some of the world’s most rewarding casino game experiences has further expanded in the regulated Swiss market, taking its games live with Swiss4Win.

The collaboration enhances Wazdan’s profile in the country with Swiss4Win’s leading online gambling platform revolutionising player experiences with the introduction of the studio’s exciting range of games.

As Wazdan continues to deliver the world’s most rewarding casino game experiences, this new partnership heralds a new era of entertainment. Players can look forward to a diverse selection of captivating slots designed to appeal to Swiss players.

In conjunction with this partnership, Swiss4Win unveils its new website, meticulously crafted to enhance user engagement. The platform boasts a cutting-edge SEO-oriented design, complemented by a sleek dark mode interface. With a heightened focus on slot providers, the website features a dedicated page showcasing premier gaming offerings.

Radka Bacheva, Head of Sales and Business Development at Wazdan, said: “We’re excited to join forces with swiss4win.ch to introduce our latest games to players worldwide. This collaboration represents a shared commitment to innovation and excellence in the iGaming industry.”

Paolo Sanvido, Chief Executive Officer at Casino Lugano and Swiss4Win, added: “Wazdan’s distinguished reputation stems from its exceptional graphics and innovative features, which have resonated with players globally. Its dedication to crafting enriching casino experiences offers players greater control over their gaming preferences and seamlessly aligns with our audience’s interests.”

Industry Awards

WhichBingo Reveals 2024 Award Winners at 10th Anniversary of the WhichBingo Awards

Published

2 hours ago

April 19, 2024

Niji Narayan

Reading Time: 2 minutes

WhichBingo, one of the UK’s best-known and most trusted online bingo review and affiliate sites, owned and operated by Gambling.com Group, has announced its 2024 WhichBingo Award winners at an action-packed event aboard the Sunborn Yacht Hotel in Gibraltar. The headline sponsor of the event was Pragmatic Play, a prolific provider of slot games and a powerhouse bingo platform. Other big-name sponsors included Eyecon and its parent company, Playtech.

Gala Bingo and Buzz Bingo were the big winners of the night, picking up four awards each. Popular choice awards for Gala Bingo included Best Bingo Site, Best Proprietary Bingo Site and Best Slots site for its Gala Spins game. In addition, Gala Bingo was awarded Best Marketing Campaign by an expert panel of judges. Buzz Bingo walked away with the trophies for Best Chat Team, Best Exclusive Bingo Game and Best Playtech Bingo site thanks to the player votes – and Best Livestream Entertainment from the judging panel.

There were several new features to mark the 10th anniversary of the WhichBingo Awards, including the first WhichBingo Player Panel. Designed to bring real players and their insights to industry insiders, and hosted by WhichBingo safer gambling partner Better Change, the panel was a highlight of the event. Themes included what players value most in online bingo games and a deep dive into their preferred play styles. In another first, the inaugural Better Change Positive Play Award was presented to PlayOJO in recognition of its efforts to ensure players stay safe while still having fun.

The night’s entertainment included the UK’s own Dabbers Social Bingo, famous for its annual contest to find the best comedy bingo caller. The bingo operators were the ones dabbing the bingo cards for a change, and the winners walked away with some enviable prizes.

“Congratulations to all of the winners of the 2024 WhichBingo Awards. It’s truly inspiring to see the passion and dedication of the bingo community celebrated in such a spectacular fashion. At Gambling.com Group, we value our partnerships with operators, affiliates, and industry leaders, and we are proud to be part of such an engaged and vibrant community,” Owen Watters, Vice President Commercial at Gambling.com Group, said.

WhichBingo was founded more than two decades ago, and the WhichBingo Awards remain one of the annual highlights in the UK’s online bingo industry calendar, a unique celebration that recognizes the best brands in the gaming business.

All the Award Winners in Full:

Best Bingo Site: Gala Bingo

Best Slot Game: Big Bass Amazon Xtreme (Pragmatic Play)

Best Exclusive Bingo Game: Buzz Bingo Live Bingo

Best Pragmatic Play Bingo Site: Heart Bingo

Best Dragonfish Bingo Site: 888Ladies

Best Playtech Bingo Site: Buzz Bingo

Best Proprietary Bingo Site: Gala Bingo

Best Bingo Chat Team: Buzz Bingo

Best Slots Site: Gala Spins

Judged Awards

Better Change Positive Play Award: PlayOJO