Latest News
Gambling Commission Chief Executive Andrew Rhodes to open ICE Consumer Protection Zone
The central importance of the ICE Consumer Protection Zone (CPZ) has been put into sharp focus with confirmation that Andrew Rhodes, Chief Executive at the Gambling Commission will officially open the pioneering feature at 11.30am on Tuesday 6th February.
The official opening will follow the donation of £41,000 to a safer gambling charity selected by CPZ supporters and donors. The sum which has been generated courtesy of contributions made by leading brands comprising Light & Wonder, Flutter, Betsson Group, IGT, Novomatic, Neccton and Playtech takes the total raised by CPZ supporters to £238,000 over the last four years.
Reflecting on the development of the Consumer Protection Zone Ewa Bakun, Clarion Gaming’s Director of Industry Insight and Engagement said: “The CPZ was created at the suggestion of the Gambling Commission’s Tim Miller and it is therefore totally appropriate that the 2024 edition, the last to be held in London prior to our relocation to Barcelona next year should be opened by the Commission’s Chief Executive, Andrew Rhodes.
“ICE became the first b2b gambling exhibition to include an area on the show floor dedicated to safer gambling. Since its launch in 2018 the CPZ has grown in both size and status to the extent that post-show research has confirmed it as the most popular ICE feature by show visitors.
“The 2024 edition of the Consumer Protection Zone is the biggest on record comprising 20 booths showcasing technology and solutions providers alongside the industry’s leading safer gambling charities. It remains the perfect place for all sectors to learn and share insights as to how we can deliver safe gambling experiences for players.”
Tracy Skenandore, Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility at Light & Wonder, stated: “At Light & Wonder, we are committed to serving as responsible corporate stewards driven by purpose. With the best interest of our employees, players and communities at the forefront of our work, we are dedicated to investing in charities that support our communities, foster sustainability, support responsible gaming for our players, and which build a diverse and inclusive culture where equity and belonging can thrive. It’s for all of these reasons we have chosen to support the Consumer Protection Zone as a donor, alongside our industry partners, to support worthy charities in both the UK and internationally that will make a lasting impact.”
Dr Michael Auer, Managing Director of OpenBet’s Neccton, added: “We are delighted to support the Consumer Protection Zone at this year’s ICE London. The CPZ has the latest developments in player protection and safer gaming at its core, and its donations make a significant difference to charities supporting positive play and tackling gambling-related harm each year. At Neccton, we continue to develop the most up-to-date player protection tools and contribute to the wider discussion around responsible gaming using research-informed insights, which is why we are thrilled to be part of this year’s line-up of speakers at the CPZ. The last year has been pivotal in the global regulatory landscape and we expect the Zone to be a major focal point for many ICE attendees.”
Latest News
Tequity agrees RGS licensing deal with Fantasma Games
Listed Swedish studio to benefit from increased speed to market
Tequity, the up-and-coming iGaming software pioneer, has agreed an integration deal with innovative studio Fantasma Games.
The integration of Tequity’s agile, licensed modular platform is expected to boost the speed-to-market capabilities of Fantasma, as the studio aims to grow its presence in key markets including North America.
Tequity’s platform incorporates a Remote Gaming Server (RGS) that increases operational efficiencies. Once live, Fantasma will be able to reach the next level by adding partners at a quicker rate, as it looks to meet operator demand for fresh types of content including increasingly popular sweepstakes.
The latest deal, with a studio listed on the Swedish stock market, follows on from successful launches of Tequity technology with sports betting-focused Parlaybay, multiplayer specialist BeyondPlay and slots supplier AvatarUX.
Tequity offers founders, start-ups, scale-ups and established companies across the iGaming sector a wide range of software modules that can be hand-picked to meet the needs of specific projects.
Krzysztof Opałka, Chief Technology Officer at Tequity, said: “We are excited to be working with Fantasma Gaming, to help further their growth in key markets worldwide.
“This partnership illustrates the power of our platform in delivering an efficient RGS solution that speeds up the launch process of their top-quality content. The Tequity platform offers a strong foundation for licensees wishing to create and deliver unique content to operators.”
Fredrik Johansson, CEO and Founder of Fantasma Games, added: “Thanks to the Tequity platform, Fantasma Games is working faster and smarter across a number of areas, allowing us to bring innovative content to our partners at speed.
“This integration significantly boosts our growth potential, as we look to increase the number of operator partners we work with around the world and deliver them relevant, localised and exciting games.”
Latest News
Realistic Games introduces endless spins in Maxiplier
Maxiplier combines a retro-inspired theme with revolutionary gameplay. Speedometer-style icons, on reels two and four, act as both wilds and multipliers that can increase wins up to 20x. Land two of these multipliers simultaneously for a potential max multiplier of 400x.
Maxiplier will launch with the highly anticipated 1-2-infinity ante bet mechanic. Land two scatters on the first two reels and trigger an infinite amount of respins. Collect wins until the third scatter lands, unlocking the thrilling free spins round.
The free spins round features enhanced multiplier wilds alongside the 1-2-Infinity respins, for even bigger wins. This exciting bonus builds upon the success of Realistic Games’ recent hits like Fortune Fortress and Chicken or the Egg? solidifying its position as an industry innovator.
Amy Brewis, Account Manager at Realistic Games, said: “We’re excited to be launching Maxiplier, a game with fresh mechanics that allows players the chance to win infinite respins. Multiplier wilds in both the base game and free spins keep things thrilling, and the 1-2-Infinity ante bet adds another layer of engagement.
“We expect players to love the chance for endless respins, a feature we’ve evolved from our popular Catch 22 slot. We can’t wait to see the response from players and operators alike!”
Latest News
Has mobile gaming continued to grow in 2024?
Here in the United Kingdom, it’s estimated that around 86% of us used a smartphone to go online and browse the internet last year. If you compare this to 2009, this is an increase of a staggering 58%. A study also found that 39% of people with smartphones use them for gaming. And so if you look at the trend year over year, it is certain that statistics in all areas of smartphone usage are going to keep increasing. By the time we reach 2025, experts have predicted that around 65 million of us here in the UK will be smartphone users. Today, we’re going to look at mobile gaming and how much that has grown last year and this year, as well as what the future holds.
Building momentum
From 2022 to 2023, the mobile gaming industry saw a year-on-year growth of 0.6%. There is no doubt that the demand for mobile gaming is continuing to grow. With millions being spent both on the games themselves, on in-app purchases, and also on nettcasino. The reason that we are seeing this growth is that smartphones and their capabilities are continuously growing. All of the tasks that we traditionally used to rely on a computer for are now able to be done mostly on a smartphone. This practicality and accessibility have meant that more people will now do most of their tasks on a smartphone.
Each year, it gets harder and harder for game developers to make the most of their latest inventions. Each day, new games get uploaded to the respective app markets, either on the Play Store or the App Store. This means that the marketplace gets more and more crowded, presenting more competition than ever before to developers. And it’s for this reason that consumers, more than ever before, are prioritising quality over quantity. They have more choice, but they don’t want to spend hours hunting through the apps. They will typically read reviews and go for a game that is highly rated and has top quality.
On the topic of developers, as they are seeing the increase in mobile gaming, including in 2024, they are starting to pivot their focus to cross-platform capability. Allowing those gaming on smartphones to play against their console- and PC-based counterparts. The reason this is such a big focus is that one thing that gamers love to do is play with their friends. But some of them may not have a console, for example. But if a game is available across multiple platforms, it then expands its player base.
A lot of people also drew to mobile gaming, as it gave them an opportunity to start gaming and playing at online casinos. It also meant that they could socialise either with their friends or with other players. This social aspect, for some, is hugely important. For those who don’t particularly go out, having a community and a shared interest and passion in a mobile game can be really great for their mental health and can help them grow as a person and in confidence.
In Summary
To conclude, it will be interesting to see what the rest of 2024 brings for the mobile gaming industry. Each previous year has brought along different trends. And this ever-changing and growing landscape also means that game developers are constantly having to change their strategies in order to stay competitive and keep growing their player bases. One thing we can guarantee for certain is that the number of people with smartphones and access to the internet on said smartphones will only continue to grow.
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