Tony Plaskow, Commercial Director at Black Cow Technology, says that it won’t be long before multiplayer iCasino games will become their own genre, a similar effect to the explosion of multiplayer video games like Fortnite and Call of Duty.  

If you look at the most popular mobile and video games, it’s massively multiplayer online titles such as League of Legends, Dota2 and Fortnite that dominate the charts. What makes these games so popular? The multiplayer, interactive gameplay they provide.

Take a side glance at the online gambling industry and, until now at least, there hasn’t been a truly multiplayer experience available to players. But basic multiplayer experiences are starting to appear in different forms in the iGaming space – recent news of FanDuel’s acquisition of Beyond Play being an example.

The iGaming industry has been a little slow when it comes to keeping pace with the mobile and video games industry, but this is because multiplayer online casino games present significant technical challenges that we have had to work hard to resolve.

At Black Cow we have spent almost four years – and a lot of money –building a powerful and flexible multiplayer technology suite that can be used by any operator or supplier to develop any type of multiplayer game. This has been done with regulatory and compliance requirements in mind, too.

It’s great to see different companies taking different approaches to multiplayer games, and I’ve been lucky to work with several to help in their efforts to overcome the challenges presented – I was a Founding Director and Advisor to BeyondPlay and have seen Black Cow’s innovative Multiplayer Remote Gaming Server develop.

Multiplayer presents a massive opportunity for developers and operators. Why? Because consumer preferences are changing and this type of content is exactly what they are looking to engage with.

Outside of iGaming, people are seeking entertainment experiences that are social and interactive. They want to play with their friends, in collaborative teams, to enhance their gaming experiences. Applied to gambling, this means they want to enjoy the way they play in real-world casinos:playing side by side on a blackjack table, sharing a roulette spin or craps roll, or hitting a slot spin next to others. Why shouldn’t people have this kind of experience when playing online?

Suppliers and operators must now bring these experiences to desktop and mobile play if they are to meet player expectations, especially among the lucrative Millennial and Gen Z cohorts who are not interested in traditional, single-player, casino games like blackjack, roulette, and slots. Black Cow’s MultiPlayer Remote Gaming Server can be used to develop interactive multiplayer casino games to attract this younger demographic.

Just how operators and suppliers go about this will depend on the technology solutions available. For example, Black Cow’s interactive event-driven gameplay approach is diametrically different to BeyondPlay’s pooled stake concept.

Black Cow’s Multiplayer RGS allows multiple players to share an interactive experience on the very same game at the same time. This makes our product the only transactional multiplayer server in the market right now – players can enjoy the same base game in real time whether the same deck of cards, the same slot, to share a bonus round and winning experience together.

It can support any game type and provides a robust foundation for easily adding features and functionality such as community jackpots, bonus rounds and tournaments.

The advantages that can be unlocked through this content are significant. Multiplayer games help operators and suppliers create compelling experiences that foster strong player loyalty and brand awareness, in addition to the social, interactive, and ultimately more enjoyable gaming they provide.

For example, our technology is being used right now by the likes of Pixiu Gaming, PlayJeux Studios and Light & Wonder to create multiplayer slots. Playing in pods of 4 players, each player plays their own base game but, once one of the players in the pod triggers the bonus, everyone goes in and plays the bonus round together.

The first title to launch will be Light & Wonder’s Raging Rhino Multiplayer Wonderverse, set to hit online casino lobbies in the summer. This will appeal to fans of the original game, who can experience it in multiplayer for the first time while welcoming new players to the title and the format.

Using existing, player-favourite titles to introduce the multiplayer format allows players to familiarise themselves with how it all works through a game they already know well. This is the approach Light & Wonder is taking, with two huge classic titles to follow hot on the heels of Raging Rhino.

With each, the standard game is taken to the next level with a thrilling, interactive and fun set of multiplayer bonus rounds.

But this is just the start of what can be achieved via the Black Cow Multiplayer RGS and with multiplayer games in general. For me, the idea of launching multiplayer online casino games, with an experience similar to Fortnite and Roblox, is no longer a fantasy. The technology is now available to develop such a player experience, an experience that players are calling out for.

This is why multiplayer games are now hitting the headlines, and why the entire Black Cow team and I are so excited to be pioneering the tech required to deliver this content and the endless opportunities it provides.

CT Interactive has appointed Monika Zlateva as its Chief Commercial Officer (CCO).

Equipped with a strong background in business development and strategic marketing, Monika has a proven track record of driving growth and managing high-level business communications across various regions, including EMEA and Greece.

Throughout her career, Monika has showcased leadership by taking ownership of business strategy, sales initiatives and marketing campaigns. Her expertise lies in new business development, customer acquisition and retention, aligning these strategies with company values and objectives.

Monika has been instrumental in successful business strategies and upselling initiatives within the iGaming industry. Her strategic vision has consistently led to remarkable increases in sales and market presence in her previous roles. She has focused on enhancing the understanding of customer needs, expectations, and demands in both B2B and B2C environments through market research, successfully identifying insights that drive business behaviour and opportunities.

Possessing relevant international experience, including leadership roles such as Business Development Partner, Business Development Director and Regional Director of Business Development, Monika has developed and executed innovative strategies that have led to successful product launches and relaunches. Her ability to manage complex business communications and PR strategies further enhances her capabilities.

Monika holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Business Administration and Management from the University of National and World Economics in Sofia, Bulgaria. She also has a Master’s degree in Language Interpretation and Translation and a Bachelor’s degree in Modern Greek Language and Literature from Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski.

Industry professionals attending July’s edition of iGB L!VE will have access to a vibrant new feature which will showcase ground-breaking tech and innovation courtesy of the brightest start-ups and small businesses in gaming.

The iGB L!VE LaunchPad (Pulse Stage: 18 July 16.30hrs – 18.00hrs) will feature five companies to present their innovations to a panel of judges with each presentation followed by a probing Q&A session designed to interrogate the viability and commercial prowess of each product pitch.

Introducing the new feature Portfolio Director Naomi Barton, said: “iGB L!VE is constantly evolving in order to meet the business needs of stakeholders. The research programme that we undertake with customers has consistently highlighted a shared desire to always be ahead of the curve, being the first to access the very latest innovations from the start-up community is part of what iGB L!VE 2024 will deliver.

“In addition, we want to provide a platform for new talented businesses to grow by giving them extra exposure in front of an influential C-Level audience of industry investors and influencers.

“The top five products will be hand-selected by the iGB L!VE team and invited to present from the Pulse Stage. In order to help these businesses, we are providing cash prizes of £5,000 for the winner, £2,500 for second place and £1,000 for third.”

She continued: “We will be giving the feature an authentic iGB L!VE twist with the emphasis on competitive fun. To ensure this, I am delighted to confirm that 25+ year industry veteran and non-exec Clarion Gaming Chairman Michael Caselli has agreed to be our MC and will also head a panel of judges drawn from across the iGB L!VE community of industry professionals, investors and sponsors.

“Start-ups and small businesses which have innovation in their DNA can sign up for iGB LaunchPad at igblive by the 28 June deadline.”

iGB L!VE is the home of the igaming community and the only event that connects the leading igaming affiliates, operators, tech vendors, game providers and suppliers in order to maximise performance and drive tangible business growth in the following 12-18 months. iGB L!VE, which is the fastest growing igaming event, delivers unparalleled business opportunities with attendees having free access to in excess of 300 exhibitors and sponsors occupying 21,000+ square metres of gross space, a figure which is 35% higher than in 2023.

For more information on iGB L!VE (16-19 July 2024: Expo Days 17-18 July) and to register for free visit: igblive website