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The Challenges of Bridging the Gaming and iGaming Gap
With both forms of interactive entertainment experiencing their highest points yet, gaming and iGaming are still far from a visible plateau. As two parts of a digital market, they both illustrate fundamental differences, but they also experience undeniable crossover. Actually taking advantage of this crossover can be complicated, however, with key differences holding back what could potentially be a lucrative combination. Looking at the stats and the challenges, it’s clear there is something to be found here, but how could it come about?
Not Always a Young Man’s Game
As much as gaming is thought to be the primary domain of young men, the statistics show otherwise. A recent study of thousands of American and UK gamers by ExpressVPN found that the average age of gamers is incredibly broad, falling between players in their late 20s to their early 40s. The gap between women and men has been similarly unexpected, with 72% of men self-describing gamers versus 49% of women. In terms of games, the most popular for both sides was the Call of Duty series.
Turning now to iGaming, a study from Time2Play found that most players have similar ages between their late 30s and early 40s. Looking at inclusion, another study found that around 33% of men in Great Britain had gambled online in the last 12 months, versus 24% of women. In terms of games, there is again a lot of popularity, with both sexes turning to roulette as their go-to.
Finding Common Ground
Looking at these statistics, the inevitable question arises of what can be done to cater to men and women of all age grounds who enjoy both video games, and casino titles. With so much shared ground, there has to be a way to leverage one side to the other, and online casinos have been experimenting with the combination for years.
Video games, enjoying a long legacy on the digital front, as well as having much larger budgets than individual casino games, inevitably serve as much stronger starting points. You’ll often see translations like Tomb Raider and Resident Evil made into slot games, for example, thanks to having long stories and many titles to draw from.
Moving in the opposite direction from casino games to video games is possible on a broader scale, but it’s harder to leverage for individual properties. Video games based on casino titles tend to be generic, without themes of trademarks to go alongside them. Even the big names like Gonzo from Gonzo’s quest haven’t stepped out far, and this is unlikely to change.
Given these elements, it seems like the best combination of casino and video games would be to adapt the most popular video games towards the most popular, or best-suited, casino titles. As explored at Bloody-Disgusting, this has been tried many times in pachinko, with standout examples of Silent Hill and Resident Evil. Representation in the west is often lacking, however, especially when it comes to the big and obvious names.
Ultimately, the ripest game for exploration would have to be Call of Duty. Since the game has offered levels set in casinos before, this would be a more natural fit than most, though it seems a game like this would struggle to integrate with the most popular casino game of roulette. While a themed release would be possible, the most suitable combination would instead likely be found in slots, with bonus games taken from the series’ history.
The big takeaway here is that while there is so much shared between gaming and iGaming, finding a way to combine the two areas is tricky at best. While there’s no doubt multimedia and franchising pushes will further attempt, so far there’s been no killer apps to keep both sides happy. As for what comes next, unexplored potential in VR and AR could hold an answer, but only time will tell if this proves true.
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Match of LeGGends: Double Down. Highlights of the show match between NAVI and Team Vitality
On 5 October, the highly anticipated show match between NAVI and Team Vitality took place, organized by the betting brand GG.BET. Match of LeGGends: Double Down drew in more than 300,000 views on the official broadcast channels, becoming one of the most spectacular esports events of 2024.
The show match featured unique game modes not typically seen in tournaments, making it truly unforgettable.
The first legendary map, Tuscan, was played in an MR12 format. Team Vitality dominated the first half, but NAVI, in typical style, managed to make a comeback and secure victory with a 13:11 score.
In the second stage, the players faced off in Arms Race on the maps Shoots, Pool Day, and Baggage, where each kill leveled up the player and granted them a new weapon. The final item was a golden knife, with a frag scored using it guaranteeing victory for the team. The atmosphere was electric, with dynamic gameplay and breathtaking moments electrifying the audience. The crowd especially enjoyed the duels between the tournament’s S-Tier MVPs Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut and Justinas “jL” Lekavičius. Their battle was the highlight of the match, as jL snatched a win on the first map, Shoots, but ZywOo came out on top on the next two, Pool Day and Baggage, securing victory for Team Vitality.
The show match concluded with Hostage Rescue on the Italy map, where the Counter-Terrorists attempted to rescue the hostages, while the Terrorists tried to stop them. The teams fought so fiercely that they played three rounds of overtime, with Team Vitality finally winning 22:20.
The organizer, GG.BET, has put together the most exciting highlights of the NAVI vs. Vitality show match – Match of LeGGends: Double Down!
It’s worth noting that GG.BET also hosted a show match between the two legendary teams in July 2023.
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Paysafe launches strategic partnership with GiG
GiG selects Paysafe as strategic payment provider for global operators integrating its leading CoreX B2B iGaming solution
Paysafe (NYSE: PSFE), a global payments platform, today announced a strategic partnership with Gaming Innovation Group or “GiG” (First North: GIG SDB), a leading B2B iGaming technology company. Under the agreement, Paysafe becomes the GiG-endorsed payments platform for all UK, continental European, North American and Latin American operators integrating its market-leading CoreX solution.
Launched by GiG in January, CoreX is an AI-driven player account management (PAM) platform serving online casino and sports-betting brands, giving operators the flexibility to localize their operations to any regulated jurisdiction. GiG’s global reach will be further strengthened by integrating the highly robust processing capabilities of Paysafe’s local payment methods (LPMs).
Whether an operator is focused on the mature UK market or the evolving US or South American sports-betting spaces, GiG’s technology is complemented by connectivity to the Paysafe Gateway, supporting seamless debit or credit card transactions plus Paysafe’s suite of LPMs, including its Skrill and NETELLER digital wallets and paysafecard and Paysafecash eCash solutions. Beyond Paysafe’s own LPMs, the Gateway also enables access to 30+ third-party LPMs, including solutions with high brand-recognition in specific markets.
Aligned with GiG’s own ethos of agility, the Paysafe Gateway provides all operators with the flexibility to add new LPMs according to market needs and evolving player payment preferences.
“We’re delighted to partner with Gaming Innovation Group, which is one of the gaming industry’s true innovators when it comes to player account management platforms,” said Zak Cutler, President of Global Gaming at Paysafe. “With the global regulated iGaming space increasingly complex, we share GiG’s philosophy of providing operators with the ability to adapt their operations to each unique market while remaining nimble. Together, we look forward to giving our mutual operator partners a competitive edge to support their growth in new and existing markets.”
James Coxon, Chief Operating Officer at Gaming Innovation Group, commented: “Partnering with Paysafe marks another important step forward in ensuring that our operators have access to the most
seamless, flexible, and secure payment solutions available on the market, tailored to their specific market needs. As we continue to expand globally, leading innovation throughout the industry with our iGaming platform and sportsbook solution, Paysafe’s extensive payment capabilities provide the reliability and adaptability that align with our vision of delivering opportunities for growth.”
Coxon added, “This collaboration further strengthens what we can offer, providing more evidence of our commitment to empowering our partners’ success in an increasingly competitive and complex iGaming landscape.”
Paysafe will be exhibiting at Booth #3809 of the Global Gaming Expo (G2E) in Las Vegas from October 7th to 9th.
Industry News
FBMDS and FBM Foundation host solidarity keepy-uppy initiative at G2E Las Vegas 2024
FBM Digital Systems (FBMDS), a leader in iGaming innovation, and FBM Foundation are joining forces to host a special solidarity initiative linked to the Ronaldinho Crash game by FBMDS at this year’s Global Gaming Expo (G2E) in Las Vegas. From October 8th to 10th, visitors to booth 2848 will have the opportunity to participate in a Keepy-Uppy Challenge, designed to give back to communities in need while promoting the spirit of solidarity.
The initiative invites attendees to show off their soccer skills in a simple but meaningful way: for every successful keepy-uppy (juggle) a participant completes on the newest Ronaldinho Crash game, the FBM Foundation will donate $1 to support vulnerable communities around the world. These donations are going to be made to individuals affected by natural disasters, children in need of educational resources, and other vulnerable groups.
This is FBM Foundation’s first ever participation at an international casino gaming trade-show and the choice of G2E Las Vegas to make its debut was not random. Choosing a stage like the Global Gaming Expo was the right move to showcase the Group’s will to make a difference in the world, sharing its solidarity footprint with a broader, diverse audience of casino gaming enthusiasts, casino operators, players and industry professionals.
“We believe in the power of coming together for a greater purpose,” says Renato Almeida, Director of FBM®️ Group. “This initiative not only highlights the team-building spirit that defines FBMDS, but it also allows us to showcase the work of the FBM Foundation and our commitment to making a positive impact on the world with the help of G2E Las Vegas.”
FBM Foundation has long been dedicated to supporting causes that promote education, community development, and relief efforts for those impacted by crises in the Philippines, Brazil and beyond. “Through this keepy-uppy challenge, FBMDS and FBM Foundation aim to inspire action and demonstrate how collective efforts—whether on the field or off—can make a real difference in the lives of those who need it most”, shares FBM Foundation’s representative, Vítor Francisco.
The Ronaldinho Crash game is one of FBMDS’ latest product releases, featuring the global football legend Ronaldinho Gaúcho on a thrilling keepy-uppy crash gaming experience. The game, which was officially launched during the American Cup and will be available to try at the fair, is already winning over crowds in multiple countries around the globe.
In addition to Ronaldinho Crash, visitors to G2E Las Vegas 2024 will be able to experience for the first time the new Infinity Series video bingo line and the new Sapphire Fever bingo, the new Safe Blaster slot game, as well as the popular Champion Tales crash game, the famous Top+Plus table games collection and much more.
Attendees at G2E Las Vegas 2024 are encouraged to stop by booth 2848, take part in the challenge, and help support the initiative between FBMDS and FBM Foundation. Whether you’re an expert juggler or simply want to get involved, every attempt counts towards the greater goal of raising funds for global causes.
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