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 ‘new normal’ 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 lottery’s 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.
This trend was also seen in Europe. In a very interesting online webinar titled “Lotteries in COVID-19 Lockdown”, the European Lotteries (EL) Secretary General Arjan van‘t Veer reported that online lottery games were performing better than initially expected. Robert Chvatal, CEO of the Sazka Group also revealed that “many lotteries have seen a significant increase in online sales share” due to the fact that retail options were no longer viable.
What will the ‘new normal’ 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.
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.
Any land-based retail, national or state lotteries interested in learning more about Spinola Gaming’s lottery software solutions can book a demo by getting in touch on [email protected]
Latest News
Tom Horn Gaming to showcase its rich portfolio of iGaming Solutions at SBC Summit Lisbon
Horn Gaming, the award-winning iGaming supplier, is gearing up for its debut at the SBC Summit in Lisbon, happening from September 24-26, 2024, at the Feira Internacional de Lisboa & MEO. At stand B900 the supplier will be showcasing its full range of products and services
15 Years of Expertise in iGaming
With 15 years of experience under its belt, Tom Horn Gaming has become a major player across various casino verticals – from slots to live casino solutions, and aggregation services. The company’s diverse offering is designed to meet the needs of operators across various markets, enhancing player engagement and boosting revenue growth.
Data -Driven, Player-Centric Slot Games
At SBC Summit Lisbon, Tom Horn Gaming’s RNG slot games will take centre stage, giving attendees the chance to check out popular titles like the signature slot series, Crystal Fruits and get an exclusive sneak peek at upcoming games, including 27 Crystal Fruits and 256 Frutas Grandes. These games blend the timeless appeal of classic slots with exciting proprietary mechanics like QuickXTM and BlastXTM,
Every game in the supplier’s portfolio is crafted with players’ preferences in mind, ensuring market-specific, localised experiences that resonate with players globally. This gives operators a solid competitive advantage in both established and emerging markets.
Leading Live Casino Solutions in Regulated Markets
Tom Horn Gaming has led the charge in live casino gaming, being the first to launch live casino products in the highly regulated Slovak_market. The supplier continues to expand its live dealer studio solutions to other heavily regulated markets in the Czech Republic and Spain. Tom Horn Gaming prides itself on offering jurisdiction, operator, and studio-agnostic live dealer solutions that leverage the latest technological advancements.
These studios are specifically tailored to meet the unique demands of each market, delivering a seamless and engaging player experience. Additionally, operators benefit from exclusive branding options allowing them to stand out in a competitive landscape.
Global Distribution Network
With over 200 global technical connects within igaming industry, Tom Horn Gaming has built a powerful distribution network, offering an attractive mix of exclusive third-party content and in-house titles. Designed for fast integration and quick time-to-market, the supplier’s content aggregation platform helps operators deliver high-quality content efficiently. Content partners can also benefit from the platform, expanding their reach to a global audience.
Tom Horn’s aggregation services are highly efficient and are perfect for bringing diverse content to players, helping operators meet the needs of a broad range of markets
Meet Tom Horn Gaming at SBC Summit Lisbon – Stand B900
“We’re excited to be part of SBC Summit Lisbon and show off our full suite of solutions to industry partners and potential clients,” said Ondrej Lapides, CEO of Tom Horn Gaming. “At stand B900, we’l be delighted to chat to existing and potential partners about our extensive range of slot games, dedicated live dealer solutions and other product verticals, all designed to help operators thrive in today’s highly competitive iGaming landscape.
If you’re attending SBC Summit Lisbon, visit stand B900 to meet with Tom Horn Gaming’s team to learn more about how Tom Horn Gaming’s slot igaming solutions can boost your revenues and player engagement.
Latest News
PG Soft releases games verification tool to ensure authentic player experiences
PG Soft, a world-class digital mobile games company, is proud to announce the launch of its new games verification tool. This robust system has been designed to enable players to quickly verify the authenticity of any PG Soft title to confirm they are playing the genuine, certified content.
Before all PG Soft games reach the market, they must go through rigorous dual certification and testing by leading authorities BMM and GA. Each RNG algorithm, game mathematics, and set of rules is tested to meet the highest industry standards for fairness and integrity.
The PG Soft verification tool is intuitive to use and available through the casino lobby. Players just need to click the “Accept” button to verify their Transaction ID, select the matching ID, and click “Verify.” A confirmation screen will then appear to confirm that the verification is successful. If players are not automatically redirected to the browser, they can copy the verification link.
This new tool follows PG Soft’s recent commitment to safe and regulated gaming by officially joining Brazil’s National Association of Games and Lotteries (ANJL).
PG Soft’s spokesperson said: “The introduction of this new verification tool further solidifies PG Soft’s dedication to maintaining the highest standards of protection and security for players. The verification tool consolidates our company’s commitment to providing a safe and regulated gaming experience.”
Asia
QTech Games wins Online Casino Provider of the Year at SPiCE Awards
QTech Games, the leading game distributor for all emerging markets, has won the Online Casino Provider award at the annual SPiCE Philippines Awards 2024 in Cebu.
The Online Casino Provider of the Year celebrates the supplier or platform which has created or corralled the most innovative casino games tailored for the Asian igaming industry over the past 12 months. And QTech Games was again chosen by the judges to have superseded and surpassed an array of proven performers in this category, fending off strong competition from other leading lights, including international powerhouses and local champions.
This sought-after award is perennially given to the best overall online casino provider in the Asia space and is awarded at a coveted ceremony held at the Shangri-La Mactan. This Awards Gala forms part of a wider must-attend conference that showcases a dynamic mix of panel discussions, masterclasses and networking events which bring together sectoral leaders and pioneers in the Southeast Asian gaming and entertainment landscape.
More broadly, the SPiCE Philippines Awards judging panel voted on some of the most consequential categories of igaming activity, denoting progressive domains that are shaping the industry’s future across the region.
QTech Games’ CEO, Philip Doftvik, said: “We’re naturally delighted to have walked off with another flagship award for the best digital casino provider – and we’ve also been promoting QTech Hybrid, our breakthrough retail solution, to great effect at the Shangri-La Mactan. It’s already been a great week.
“This win is a glowing tribute to our sedulous team at QTech Games, and to the constantly growing group of innovative suppliers that our platform represents. It’s a truly collaborative effort. We remain committed to rolling out high-quality content that drives revenue for our worldwide partners – from Asia to Africa, and Eastern Europe to LatAm.”
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