Press Releases
BACTA: FOBT clampdown impact “exaggerated”
The British Amusement Catering Trade Association or BACTA, the body representing the UK’s amusement industry, suggested that the influence of the proposed cuts to stakes on Fixed Odds Betting Terminals (FOBTs) has been “exaggerated”.
Citing its self-assigned research, run by the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR), BACTA clings to the belief that the industry losses from deterioration in stake to £2 could be up to 47% lower than those proposed by the Government’s initial impact assessment.
The report further states that the decline in gross gambling yield to high street betting shops is estimated to be £335m, rather than £639m which is the Government’s estimated reduction.
CEBR’s further research suggests that this £335m figure could be offset by the coincident reduction in the estimated £210m spent on handling problem gambling directly arising from FOBTs in the UK.
Organisations from the Church of England to 93 local authorities across the UK and the Royal Society for Public Health have demanded the Government to order a reduction on FOBT stakes to £2.
BACTA’s research goes on to suggest that there would in fact be an overall benefit to the economy should FOBT stakes be reduced to £2, to a net increase of £45m to gross value added.
Announcing the research findings, John White, the CEO of BACTA, said: “This research puts into clear perspective the true impact of a £2 stake on FOBTs on our economy and should provide comfort to bookmakers that doing the right thing and reducing the maximum stake on FOBTs to £2 will still leave them with plenty of profit to invest in their businesses.”
“While there will be some cost to bookmakers from lower FOBT stakes, it is a necessary one to protect consumers from the everyday risk of gambling harm on the high street. “
“The £100 stake on FOBTs is a dangerous anomaly in gambling regulation that Government has rightly chosen to address. We urge a reduction to a £2 stake. That brings these machines in to line with the rest of the market, and puts the needs of player protection first.”
Oliver Hogan, the Director and Chief Economist at CEBR added: “In undertaking its independent assessment, CEBR has sought to monetise a wider range of potential impacts of a policy of maximum stake reduction on B2 machines. It goes beyond the revenue losses that might be imposed on the current operators of B2 machines (mainly the Licensed Betting Operators).”
“We demonstrate that, under different assumptions that better reflect the profile, circumstances and likely behaviours of B2 players, the policy would be not nearly as detrimental to the LBOs as has been portrayed.”
“In fact, there could even be a net boost to the economy and to employment if there is attrition from gambling and if the fall in demand for B2 leads to higher demand for more labour-intensive forms of gambling. Once the potential wider benefits to society that could be realised if a B2 stake reduction leads to a declining prevalence or severity of problem gambling, the case for the policy is even more favourable.”
Balkans
EGT’s Supreme Green Selection made its successful debut in Bulgaria
Supreme Green Selection, the latest multigame in EGT’s portfolio, had its debut installation in Bulgaria. The gaming establishments of the leading operator Inbet throughout the country now offer the mix which is available in General Series’ slot cabinets.
Supreme Green Selection is a part of EGT’s latest multigame series Supreme Selection. This mix features 50 exciting titles, including popular games like Rise of Ra, Amazons’ Battle, and Burning Hot, along with new additions such as Rainbow Hot, Mighty Heracle, and Book of Artifacts. They all present players with various themes, eye-catching designs, and many attractive bonuses.
Biserka Draganova, Sales Manager for The Balkans and Egypt at EGT, commented: “I am very happy that we accomplished the first installation of Supreme Green Selection in the gaming halls of the local leader Inbet. The mix has a new interface, different from the other multigames in our portfolio, and allows players to select game according to the category they prefer. It also includes user-friendly updates, making it easier to scroll through and select your preferred games. When presented at this year’s ICE London, Supreme Green Selection immediately caught the attention of operators, players, and industry experts, and its first good results are already a fact. I am confident that the mix will become one of the favorite products of Inbet’s customers.”
Mihail Hadzhiev, Casino Manager at Inbet, also gave positive feedback on the performance of Supreme Green Selection. He stated: “The selection of titles in the multigame is excellent as they keep players engaged for a long time, and during their next visit, our clients are looking for these slots again.” Mr. Hadzhiev added: “We can’t wait to try the other multigame from the series Mega Supreme Fruits Selection, as well as the new Bell Link Boost jackpot.”
Latest News
Relax Gaming brings Christmas cheer with the release of feature-packed Money Sleigh
Relax Gaming, the iGaming aggregator and provider of unique content, is getting players into the festive spirit with its latest release, Money Sleigh, a Christmas-themed slot guaranteed to deliver stocking-filled fun and the chance to unwrap big wins.
Santa and his team of loyal helpers are ready to guide players through this exciting holiday adventure, with the potential to win up to 10,000x their stake.
Set against a 5×4 grid, Money Sleigh combines high volatility with a series of thrilling features, including re-spins, coin collections, and symbol enhancements that keep the action jingling towards snowy rewards.
The real excitement kicks off when three or more special symbols trigger the re-spin feature, where additional reels unlock as players gather more symbols, multiplying their chances of hitting it big.
Among the slot standout features is the Helper, which doubles the value of up to 8 other symbols, and Santa, who revives previously used symbols to further enhance the chance for big payouts. The dynamic Eternal Mystery symbol ensures that no two spins are alike, transforming into different special symbols with every spin to create a varied and unpredictable gaming experience.
Landing bonus symbols unlocks the lucrative bonus round, where players can collect up to 100,000 coins. Once the combined total of all values on the reels reaches this magic number, the round concludes with a massive payout, offering players a thrilling and satisfying reward to wrap up their festive gameplay.
Shelley Hannah, CPO at Relax Gaming, said: “We’re delighted to bring Money Sleigh to the market as part of our ever-growing portfolio of feature-packed games. The creative symbol mechanics offer the potential for truly festive wins, makes this game a perfect addition for the holiday season. We are confident that operators and players alike will enjoy the magic that it brings.”
Established as one of the industry’s leading B2B suppliers, Relax Gaming was awarded GGA’s Product Launch of the Year in February 2023 for Dream Drop Jackpots. Money Train 3 was named the 2023 CasinoBeats Game Developer Awards amongst its 6 Slot of the Year titles, while the brand also won the award for Skill Games Supplier at the 2023 EGR B2B Awards along with the Innovation in Mobile award at the 2023 SBC Awards.
Relax Gaming provides more than 4,000 online casino games, from its high-performing proprietary slots to a significant, varied library of content from hand-picked third-party studios via its partnership programmes.
Industry Awards
Galaxsys Wins SiGMA Europe Award for ‘New Casino Game of 2024’ with Tower Rush
Galaxsys is proud to announce that its latest game release, Tower Rush, has been named “New Casino Game of 2024” at the SiGMA Europe Awards.
The SiGMA Europe Awards celebrate the best in innovation and excellence across the iGaming industry, bringing together industry leaders to recognise the year’s top performers. Galaxsys is proud to be among this year’s winners, with its new turbo game, Tower Rush, receiving its first award as “New Casino Game of 2024”.
Tower Rush, a unique blend of strategy and thrill, has quickly gained popularity across multiple regions. The game’s unique mechanics challenge players to think strategically while keeping the gameplay fun and intuitive.
By making quick decisions and balancing risk and reward, players build an endless chain of floors, stacking them to achieve the highest possible odds. This combination of intuition and strategy has made Tower Rush a standout addition to Galaxsys’ portfolio.
Hayk Sargsyan, CEO of Galaxsys, expressed his excitement about the award: “Tower Rush is one of those games that we knew would be a hit from the start, but it has far exceeded our expectations by winning the SiGMA Europe Award less than six months after its launch. It’s incredibly rewarding to see the hard work and dedication our team put into this game recognized on such a prestigious stage. This award further strengthens our commitment to creating fun, innovative games that players truly enjoy.”
Galaxsys is passionate about developing innovative, engaging, and visually attractive games. Tower Rush exemplifies this dedication, combining exciting gameplay with interactive design to offer players a thrilling and rewarding experience.
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