Press Releases
Moving forward: Lessons learned for the lottery sector
As some countries start to ease back on nationwide lockdowns and restrictions, many are being hit with an increase in cases, with some areas renewing stay at home orders. In this time of instability, Spinola Gaming CEO Ade Repcenko takes a look at the realities that Covid-19 made businesses face over the past few months, what the ânew normalâ looks like for the lottery sector, and lessons learned that can help businesses prepare for what might be a second wave in the coming months.
What was the state of the lottery sector before the lockdown? How has it changed over the last few months?
Ade Repcenko, CEO of Spinola Gaming: The lottery sector traditionally operates through an extensive retail network, but had been taking a slow creep towards digital solutions over the past few years. Some lottery companies were exploring options to become more digitally focused in order to reach new global audiences and give their players the opportunity to purchase tickets on demand, wherever they may be. But this digital transformation was not being adopted as rapidly as other sectors, with some huge names in lottery shooting down any notion that lotteries should move online, and others such as some states in the US not able to go online due to legal frameworks.
Covid-19 removed all player access to lotteryâs established retail networks and forced companies to find digital solutions fast in order to find new ways of reaching their players, or risk not reaching them at all. Many were those who managed to make the switch, with others being forced to temporarily close and cease operations until restrictions were lifted.
How did operators adapt to the lockdown? Which ones were successful?
Lotteries which had digital sales available saw sustained revenue to see them through the pandemic, and also noted a marked increase in online sales during this period. American state lotteries whose offering included online lotteries saw online sales surge more than 10 percent. In New Hampshire, the state lottery saw a 38 percent surge in first-time digital lottery players in February and March. Â
This trend was also seen in Europe. In a very interesting online webinar titled âLotteries in COVID-19 Lockdownâ, the European Lotteries (EL) Secretary General Arjan vanât Veer reported that online lottery games were performing better than initially expected. Robert Chvatal, CEO of the Sazka Group also revealed that âmany lotteries have seen a significant increase in online sales shareâ due to the fact that retail options were no longer viable.
What will the ânew normalâ look like when countries reopen their retail businesses?
Some countries are slowly reopening and trying to go back to normal, but normal seems a very vague term, at least for the foreseeable future. The harsh social distancing imposed onto the public during the peak of Covid-19, although slowly lifting in some areas, still resonates with people. How we interact has changed, how we buy things has changed. Establishments are slowly re-opening, but patrons are choosing to visit physical retail less and less, especially as re-opening is resulting in a resurgence of cases. People got accustomed to getting all their needs met online from the comfort of their homes: groceries, restaurant deliveries, entertainment, and even gambling and playing the lottery – and this comfort is one that many will continue to seek long-term. The future, and what it holds in terms of a second wave and the possibility of renewed lockdowns, remains uncertain. Operators need to use this time to become more prepared and find ways to react to these market changes and player needs with long-term solutions.
How can the sector move forward following the impact of lockdown both on the market and on players? What solutions can help with this transition?
As the world becomes more digitally inclined, with Covid-19 forcing all demographics to become more digitally dependent, a unique opportunity has arisen where traditionally land-based players can easily be converted into digital ones without spending considerable time and resources educating them about the benefits of digital. The entire world has been forced into adopting a digital approach, and the lottery sector must therefore embrace technology in order to continue to reach their players and acquire new ones. Going digital would also give retail operators access to a new player base which already entertained themselves in an online gaming space, and who could easily be converted into lottery players.
In order to succeed long-term, lotteries must strive to provide a seamless, omni-channel player experience that merges digital and retail initiatives. Solutions such as those offered by Spinola Gaming are specialised in helping operators make the move to digital, while still maintaining their traditional retail operations through one seamless interface.Â
Our software allows operators to monitor all lottery ticket sales and track all online and offline purchases in real-time, complete with a myriad of marketing functions and analytics available at the touch of a button. The system is available across all markets, currencies and languages and is fully customisable.Â
Any land-based retail, national or state lotteries interested in learning more about Spinola Gamingâs lottery software solutions can book a demo by getting in touch on [email protected]
Latest News
Springbok Casinoâs Wild November Feature âBackyard Gangstersâ Offers 25 Free Spins on new Clue Chronicles: Mirror Mansion slot
Unravel the murder mystery and get 25 Free Spins on Clue Chronicles: Mirror Mansion, a feature-packed slot!
Springbok Casinoâs November feature article introduces the “Backyard Gangsters” a playful look at the diverse animals that inhabit our gardens, highlighting their unique roles in maintaining ecological balance.
“Our backyards are teeming with life, and itâs fascinating to see how these cheeky animals each play a vital role in the ecosystem. From flashy sunbirds to silent assassin geckos, these creatures are portrayed as the true rulers of our garden turf, each contributing to the garden’s dynamic.” â Daniel Van Wyke, Springbok Casino Manager.
To celebrate these gang of wild characters, the leading South African online casino is offering all depositing players 25 free spins on the new RTG slot, Clue Chronicles: Mirror Mansion, until November 30th.
CLUE CHRONICLES: MIRROR MANSION – 25 FREE SPINS
Available to all players until November 30, 2024
25 Free Spins for âClue Chronicles: Mirror Mansionâ
Coupon Code: BACKYARD
Clue Chronicles: Mirror Mansion is a new high-stakes murder mystery slot with a Reel Copy feature and a choice of up to four modes for its Free Games bonus round. When matching symbols stack on the first reel, the Reel Copy feature is triggered, mirroring the stacked symbols on up to four more reels, increasing chances of a killer payout!
BACKYARD GANGSTERS: THE SECRET RULERS OF YOUR GARDEN TURF
Tiny Titans: The Insect Underbosses maintain order in the garden with their clever strategies and ruthless efficiency. For instance, the “Bees: the Buzzing Businessmen” and the “Butterflies: the Glamorous Gangsters” ensure that plants and flowers are pollinated, keeping the garden lush and vibrant.
Feathered Mobsters: Birds that Rule the Backyard Skies are always on the hunt for territory and food to snatch. The vigilant Hadeda Ibis doesnât just feast on worms and insects; its incessant squawking serves as a warning to any trespassers in its domain.
The Night Watchers: Nocturnal Gangsters features stealthy bushbabies expertly bouncing between trees, raiding your fruit with finesse, while owls silently stalk the night, watching and waiting for rodents and insects from their perches.
Youâll also find the diligent clean-up crew of ants and dung beetles, the undercover enforcers like ladybugs and assassin bugs, and the camouflaged tricksters such as snails and slugs!
Springbok Casino provides customer service in English and Afrikaans, offering hundreds of slots and table games from Spin Logic, all played in rands. Games are playable on mobile devices or on your desktop as download, instant.
Latest News
hinterzimmer.io Partners with Tangelo Games to Deliver Engaging Social Slots Content to Sweepstakes and RMG Casinos
hinterzimmer.io, a cutting-edge Remote Gaming Server (RGS) platform provider designed and created by industry veterans, is excited to announce a new partnership with Tangelo Games, an award-winning leader in social casino gaming. This collaboration will enable online casino operators and publishers to bring best-in-class social slots content to sweepstakes and real-money gaming (RMG) casinos. Tangelo Gamesâ extensive library of popular, proprietary social slot titles has captivated players in the U.S. and Europe for over a decade. With studios in Barcelona and Tel Aviv, Tangelo is widely recognized for its engaging, high-quality social casino experiences.
The partnership allows Tangelo Gamesâ content to be ported, hosted, and distributed through hinterzimmer.io for both RMG and social casino operators and publishers, simplifying the integration and delivery processes.
By leveraging their combined expertise, hinterzimmer.io and Tangelo Games have curated an exclusive selection of premium game titlesâsuch as Goddess of Love, Get Rich, and Golden Unicornâfor an expanded global audience. Each of these games has achieved widespread success within the social casino sphere, and now hinterzimmer.ioâs integration partners can offer this unique content to their player base, leveraging their access to exclusive content to differentiate their offering to players.
Robert Lenzhofer, CEO of hinterzimmer.io, said âThis partnership is especially meaningful, as it allows us at hinterzimmer.io to distribute slot games that have been enjoyed by millions of social casino players worldwide. These titles are bound to be a hit across all gaming platforms. Weâre thrilled to help Tangelo Games reach a broader audience, leveraging our distribution network to introduce their beautifully crafted games to even more players and to provide our partners with unique, exclusive content.â
Latest News
QiH Group completes C-suite hiring spree with new CFO appointment
QiH Group has been in the betting and gaming trade press frequently for its exciting yet steady growth the past few months â mainly in scouting and appointing the best-in-class talent from within the industry.
The latest talent acquisition in the iGaming groupâs repertoire is finance and industry stalwart Simon Winder, who joins after seven years with Spotlight Sports Group (SSG). Winder, who has an impressive record in finance, including half a decade with the Football Association as well as time in the music and television industry.
As part of the new C-suite layer in the UK side of QiHâs business, Winder will use his growth-oriented financial expertise to support the businessâs rapid growth, set out longer-term finance strategies and work with each department to achieve overall P&L goals.
Jamie Walters, CEO and co-founder of QiH Group, said that Winderâs appointment completes the C-level scaling the business set out to achieve at the beginning of FY 2024-2025.
âWeâve made no secret of the fact that our business is growing fast. FY2023 delivered 75 percent growth in both revenue and profit and 2024 is on track to achieve the same again,â Walters explains. âSimon is an integral part of the formula we need to support this growth and to help take QiH Group into the next phase of our business. Massive thanks to our incredible HR Director, Andrea Talreja, and her incisive and insightful executive search that has brought us the support at C-level that we need to forge ahead.â
Winder, who will take up his post 1 November 2024, said: âAfter a wonderful and rewarding seven years with SSG, itâs great to be moving to a young company with the reputation for innovation, growth and compliance that QiH Group has. Having watched the affiliateâs progress from the outside these past four years, it will be extremely fulfilling to be part of the action!â
Winder joins newly appointed CMO David Murphy, CTO Sachin Saxena and COO Andrew Lee in managing the company from the London office, but across both the Skopje and London teams.
* * *
For more information on QiH, Simon or to arrange an interview, please contact: [email protected] or [email protected]
About QiH Group
Founded in 2014, QiH is an innovative and industry-leading digital marketing business in the iGaming industry. With offices in London, UK and Skopje, North Macedonia, we specialise in digital marketing within the iGaming industry in multiple markets around the globe. Our companies include: Digital Adventures, with its suite of iGaming aggregator brands that deliver traffic to the biggest operators in the industry; Wizard Interactive, an affiliate partner for top-tier US-based online casinos looking for high-quality traffic and Tau Marketing Services, a suite of three consumer-facing, multi-geo casino brands run through the Aspire network.
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