Month: April 2023

Ride the mine cart around the reels on any spin. Land on cash prizes, free spins, mystery squares or a chance to win a Dream Drop jackpot! Keep spinning the reels for chances to go further around the trail to scoop the biggest prizes – can you win 5,000x?

4ThePlayer’s new title features the Dream Drop jackpot system: spin for one of five amazing jackpots on the unique jackpot trail: Mega, Major, Maxi, Midi and Rapid!

Light the fuse and kick off a massive gold rush – the jackpot of your dreams awaits!

Dream Drop is available in all territories where regulations allow.

Download the affiliate pack for 5k Gold Mine Dream Drop at First Look Games.

Game type:Video slotGo-live date (expected):18/4/2023Game special features:Dream Drop jackpotNumber of paylines:1,024Number of reels:5RTP% (recorded/theoretical):94%Variance/volatility:HighNumber of symbols to trigger feature/bonus:–Can feature be retriggered?–Number of free spins awarded:–Stacked or expanding wilds in normal play?–Stacked or expanding wilds in feature play?–Number of jackpot tiers:5Auto-play function?Yes

The proposed 2024 Department of Behavioral Health budget shows that no money has been requested for preventing and combating gambling addiction. In the previous three years, $200,000 was approved for services although no money was ever actually spent.

Under the Sports Wagering Lottery Amendment Act of 2018, the first $200,000 in revenue collected from the sports betting industry “shall be used to fund programs through the Department of Behavioral Health to prevent, treat, and research gambling addiction”. Anything more than $200,000 raised annually is to be divided equally between the Early Childhood Development and Neighborhood Safety and Engagement funds.

Criticised by industry

American Gaming Association (AGA) senior vice-president Chris Cylke claimed the district has failed to meet its obligations in what is its latest “misstep” on gambling.

Cylke said in a statement: “Unfortunately, this is only the latest misstep by the DC Government in their effort to offer a viable legal sports betting market. The AGA will work with other stakeholders to ensure the district makes good on their obligation to provide problem gambling resources, as well as continue to highlight the need for a competitive mobile marketplace that will increase revenue to fund these important commitments.”

To read the full article, visit iGB North America.

This feature-packed game is played with dynamic reels that change the number of potentially winning ways every spin and delivers wins of up to 9,970x in free spins.

Download the affiliate pack for the Secret of Ali Baba at First Look Games.

Game type:Video slotGo-live date (expected):Already live!Number of paylines:243-16,807Number of reels:5RTP% (recorded/theoretical):85.24%-95.47%Variance/volatility:HighNumber of symbols to trigger feature/bonus:–Can feature be retriggered?–Number of free spins awarded:–Stacked or expanding wilds in normal play?–Stacked or expanding wilds in feature play?–Number of jackpot tiers:0Auto-play function?Yes

Rogue had been a thief for as long as he could remember, and he thought himself pretty damn good at it. Today was no exception. He had spotted his mark from the back of the crowd gathered to witness the public execution: a rich lady, dressed in fine clothes with a strange outmoded leather pouch tied to her belt which caught Rogue’s eye immediately.

He should have known better – thieving is never easy, especially when your target knows exactly who you are and why you’re there! Rogue soon realised that this wasn’t just any old purse; inside was a hoard of precious gemstones worth more than enough to buy him passage away from this city forever.

But his joy was short-lived; within moments of snatching up the purse, he felt an intense chill run through his body, freezing him in place like ice. A frail-looking beggar looked at him with tearful eyes. He knew what had happened – Rogue had stolen from a witch…

Download the affiliate pack for Book of Thieves at First Look Games.

Game type:Video slotGo-live date (expected):Already live!Number of paylines:10Number of reels:5RTP% (recorded/theoretical):90.21%-96.19%Variance/volatility:HighNumber of symbols to trigger feature/bonus:–Can feature be retriggered?–Number of free spins awarded:–Stacked or expanding wilds in normal play?–Stacked or expanding wilds in feature play?–Number of jackpot tiers:0Auto-play function?Yes

Atomic Slot Lab’s Mystery Mine is a 3×5, 25-line slot with a 25-credit minimum bet.

Players can experience free games where all wins are multiplied, including jackpots, and collect gold cart symbols to trigger multiple levels of jackpots in both the base game and free games. Land a dynamite stick and watch it explode into a free game trigger, wild or jackpot – or even trigger the Respin feature with locked wild stacks.

Mystery Mine is sure to provide a dynamite gaming experience for all players.

Download the affiliate pack for Mystery Mine at First Look Games.

Game type:Video slotGo-live date (expected):20/4/2023Game special features:–Number of paylines:25Number of reels:5RTP% (recorded/theoretical):88.05%-95.44%Variance/volatility:MediumNumber of symbols to trigger feature/bonus:–Can feature be retriggered?–Number of free spins awarded:–Stacked or expanding wilds in normal play?–Stacked or expanding wilds in feature play?–Number of jackpot tiers:0Auto-play function?Yes

The operator will also sponsor two other races over the two days of the Derby in June, however these are yet to be determined. Betfred notes that this is the first of a series of announcements regarding the partnership to be released in the forthcoming weeks.  

Betfred previously has been involved in British racing as the sponsor of a number of racing events, including the Cheltenham Gold Cup from 2012 to 2015, as well as the Group One Sprint Cup at Haydock Park.

Betfred founder Fred Done said he was “immensely proud” to be sponsoring the races.

Done said that “for me, the Derby remains the greatest flat race in the world.” 

“When you look at some of the horses and characters that have won this great race, Sea-Bird, Mill Reef, Nijinsky, Sir Gordon Richards, Lester Piggott, and Frankie Dettori, it has an amazing history, and I am delighted to become a part of it for at least the next three years.” 

“Betfred’s support of British racing over many years has been superb and we’re proud to be working with Fred Done and his team on its next chapter to promote these two iconic races on the first weekend in June,” added chief executive of the Jockey Club Nevin Truesdale.

Amy Starkey, managing director for Jockey Club Racecourses expressed her gratitude towards Betfred for its “generous support.” 

“As a bookmaker with a long and established history in horseracing and numerous other sports, I’ve worked with Fred and the team at Betfred for more than 20 years and know how deeply committed they are to British racing.  

On this revenue, the business reported net income of €11.9m, a 31.9% decrease from the €17.5m the company achieved in 2021.

Intralot’s net debt fell by €6.7m to €490.5m, standing now at 4.0x EBITDA, as opposed to the 4.5x that the company announced the previous year. The majority of the business’ debt is the result of Covid-era financing in which large parts of the company’s operations were unable to function.

The provider’s operating expenses rose 3.9% from €96.0m to €99.8m, which Intralot put down principally to a negative result of foreign exchange movements. In 2022, the dollar rose against the euro, increasing costs for the business’ US operations. Intralot said that this movement offset other cost saving at the company’s head office.

Successful restructuring efforts

The business’ chairman and CEO, Sokratis P. Kokkalis, framed the results as the consequence of successful restructuring efforts in 2021-22.  

“Intralot’s 2022 financial year results reflect robust performance and continuous improvements in all key financial indicators as the company delivered on its main business goals and as a result of intense efforts for capital structure optimisation and management reorganisation to boost growth and efficiencies,” he said.

Kokkalis also pointed to the company’s 2022 €129m share capital raising as playing a key role in attracting US-based fund Standard General as a strategic investor. According to the executive, the proceeds from these activities was put towards regaining 100% control of the business’s US subsidiary Intralot Inc.

In the company’s 2022 Q3 financial report, the company outlined its long-term strategy, which involves the expansion of Intralot’s digital presence, particularly in North America. Subsequently, Kokkalis said that this growth would be the business’ priority, as well as repaying the company’s outstanding debt.     

“In the light of our significantly improved position, we look forward to tapping new growth opportunities in the US and the rest of the world as one of the top gaming technology providers worldwide and working towards refinancing the 2024 Notes.”   

Outlook for the year

Intralot emphasised the challenging economic environment in its 2023 outlook, highlighting the continuing twin issues of inflationary pressure and central banks tightening interest rates. Intralot – which has significant debt – has been in particular affected by the changing interest rates regime. The business said it has had a “direct impact” on the company’s financial serving costs.     

“The indirect effects on our Group’s business activities from the flagging economic growth and the increase in operating expenses due to wage inflation pressures cannot be overlooked,” said the business. “The management of the company closely monitors geopolitical and economic developments and is ready to take all the necessary measures for protecting its operations.”

The Malta-headquartered B2B sports betting service provider, which operates in more than 30 countries, said it has signed up to the UN Global Compact initiative as it wants to be a champion of responsible business action across the social betting and gaming sector.

The UN Global Compact is a call to businesses to align their operations and strategies with 10 universally accepted principles in the areas of human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption, and to take action in support of UN goals and issues embodied in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“We are thrilled to join the UN Global Compact, as it reinforces Meridian Gaming Group’s dedication to responsible business practices and sustainable growth,” said Zoran Milosevic, chief executive of Meridian Gaming Group. “This commitment is an essential step in our ongoing journey towards positively impacting our industry and creating added value to the communities and the environment.”

Launched in 2000, the UN Global Compact is the largest corporate sustainability initiative in the world, with more than 15,000 companies and 3,800 non-business signatories based in over 160 countries, and more than 69 local networks.

The European Casino Association (ECA) is among the organisations signed up to the initiative, while Betsson joined earlier this year.

The Online Gaming Industry Association (BOS) said it agrees with the Gambling Inspectorate’s plan to lift some fees and generate greater revenue beyond the additional SEK2.4m (£185,000/€210,000/$239,000) pledged by the Swedish Government last week.

BOS said it backs Spelinspektionen’s reasoning that the levied fees should cover the authority’s costs for licensing and supervision. It added that it is welcoming of a raise in fees as the Gambling Inspectorate must be “sufficiently funded” to live up to its overall commitment.

Underfunded regulator

BOS said that while it is satisfied with its dialogue with the gaming inspectorate, it believes the body is presently unable to provide a service to match those encountered in other jurisdictions.

In particular, BOS said it would like to see the Gambling Inspectorate offer a one-stop shop where licence holders can turn to with questions relating to rule compliance and other matters.

Gustaf Hoffstedt, BOS’s secretary general, said: “We believe that the Gambling Authority is underfunded, at least in terms of maintaining an acceptable dialogue with the industry the authority is set to monitor.

“More precisely, this lack of dialogue does not apply to the Spelinspektionen’s dialogue with BOS – it now works well – but the lack concerns the difficulty for an individual licence holder to establish a functioning dialogue with the authority.

“BOS would like to stress that we believe it is of great importance that the Gambling Inspectorate is sufficiently funded to live up to its overall commitment. It is of greater importance than keeping the licence fees paid by our members as low as possible. We note with satisfaction an increase in resources in the spring amendment budget of SEK2.4m, but we believe that more than that is needed.”

Fee increase proposals

Proposals, which were compiled in December 2022, include the increase of the fees for a public lottery licence during a period of five years from SEK3.525m to SEK3.995m. Svenska Spel’s licence fee for casino and lottery would rise by SEK50,000 to SEK200,000 and an extra SEK2,000 per slot across the country due to administration costs.

The fee for a license application for land-based casino gaming should be SEK25,000 if the applicant is a natural person (or sole proprietorship) and SEK80,000 if the applicant is a legal entity. An additional fee of SEK3,000 should be paid for each slot application.

Spelinspektionen has also proposed the removal of renewal fees and the SEK150,000 fee for amendments to licences, which the body described as excessive. The licence fee for commercial online gambling and betting should also be reduced as these have been shown to exceed the authority’s costs for handling.

Dawson – who served 23 years with the Federal law enforcement agency – will become a law enforcement liaison for the company after a career that saw him become a proficient investigator of cybercrime, fraud and money laundering in relation to crypto currency.

“While automating fraud alerts is a big part of what we do to protect our customers, we have found that machines still don’t learn as fast as fraud evolves,” said GeoComply director of risk services Danny DiRienzo. “Our fraud-fighting capabilities are therefore rooted in a blend of human analysis meshed with the very best that data science can provide.”

Secret Service investigator

The business said that its risk services team has experienced rapid growth over the past year to cover an increased portfolio of fraud, risk management, field compliances and law enforcement liaison. The company said that the team is designed to enable its customers to identify and address high-risk behaviour from customers, mitigate the risk, as well as escalating to law enforcement agencies when necessary.  

 “This feels like such a good fit for me because it allows me to continue the fight against fraud using GeoComply’s cutting-edge technology,” said Dawson. “Geolocation is such an effective tool. If more of the banks and platforms I helped had used GeoComply, it would have made investigations a lot simpler and the life of the criminals a lot harder.” 

The former special agent worked as the lead case agent for a multi-agency transnational organised crime investigation named “Operation Crypto Runner,” which concentrated on identifying, seizing illicit digital goods, arresting criminals as well as disrupting digital money laundering on a global scale.

In 1999, Dawson joined the US Secret Service as a member of the agency’s electric crimes taskforce. His career saw him working in liaison with a variety of different organisations including local and federal law enforcement, academia and the private businesses. According to GeoComply, Dawson’s career has seen him become a “recognised subject matter expert” and guest lecturer on the topics of fraud, money laundering, cryptocurrencies and organised crime.     

This is only the latest hire for GeoComply, having recently announced that former Meta director of engineering Vadim Jelezniakov would be taking over as the company’s new chief technology officer.