Konami Enters New Gaming Territory

The European gambling market is one of the biggest in the world. It’s an established one that many other regions have looked to try and replicate, with its use of regulations being a key attraction.

It’s not just from a country perspective where the European gambling market has looked extremely attractive, with many businesses having tried to step into it. In fact, there have been many game developers who have tried to get involved in some capacity.

Konami Joins Other Game Studios in Gambling Industry

The online casino market is filled with games from reputable software providers. Some of these have brought classic games to life, with it possible to find options like Capcom’s Street Fighter II and now-defunct Edios Interactive and their Lara Croft: Tomb Raider series.

Now, it appears that a new player is getting involved, one that is arguably bigger than those mentioned. The legendary video game publisher Konami has been involved in traditional land-based gambling activities for decades in Japan and the rest of Asia, but it has recently made its first foray into the online market. Even, despite the company’s size and worldwide reputation, it’s questionable how easy they could come into a market that’s already dominated by other well-established and reputable operators, like BetMGM, with their own unique promo code offers like the one: https://www.actionnetwork.com/casino/reviews/betmgm, and customers that trust them.

Launching titles on Portugal’s largest online casino site, the company has continued to grow and is now looking to expand its operations into the rest of Europe’s gambling market. In a press release, the vice president of international gaming operations at Konami Gaming, Eduardo Aching, said: “Through Konami’s owned remote gaming server, there is a wealth of proven quality slot content that we’re ready to expand to more of Europe’s leading online operators very quickly.”

It’s just another step that demonstrates their seriousness in their mission to expand and become a major player in the market, as they are expected to open a new gaming headquarters in the European Union at some point in 2025.

Konami has been growing steadily in terms of its iGaming expansion, with the company boasting 73 options in its portfolio that are available to gamblers. Still, they are perhaps better known for being an arcade and video game provider, with huge hits having been released over the years. Pro Evolution Soccer was a popular franchise for European gamers who enjoyed the sport and wanted an alternative to FIFA, while Metal Gear and Silent Hill also appealed to many. Since 2015, though, the company has focused its operations on other markets, essentially withdrawing from the video gaming sector of the industry.

Could Konami’s Decision To Enter the European Market Force Others Into Action?

If Konami can effectively enter the European gambling market and achieve success, we could potentially see other major gaming companies consider diversifying their offerings to attract more players and boost revenues.

As noted, hit game franchises have already enjoyed success when turned into slot games. There are many who could enjoy that success if they were to be given the same type of treatment. With Konami being Japanese, perhaps we could see Nintendo get involved and make many of its Switch or classic Game Boy titles iGaming options? It’d be hard not to see Pokémon- or Super Mario-themed titles doing extremely well, given their place in popular culture and how they were first created and enjoyed by players of a generation that can play gambling-related games.

While there are markets worldwide still expanding in terms of regulations and legislation, Europe could be one that attracts many in the immediate present. American game studios could look to the European market to test out game ideas while their domestic market continues to undergo changes.

Opportunities For Providers

While there have been concerns around the gaming industry and the challenges that developers have been facing in recent times, Konami has perhaps highlighted how there are ways in which a studio can potentially diversify and withstand any challenges that they may face.

If they have a title that has already built itself a legacy and has a large following, who knows how receptive players could be if it were made into another game type? Indeed, with money being the main aim for developers, perhaps it’s an area where more of them will look to follow Konami in the future.