Issue: January 24, 2025

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All About ICE: Class is in Session

  Mon, Jan 27, 2025

A roundup of some of the top-level panels and sessions from last week's ICE Barcelona conference.

The 2025 edition of ICE saw gambling experts from around the world converge for the first time in Barcelona from Jan. 20-22. 

As the premier international gambling gathering, it should come as no surprise that all of the industry’s biggest trends and developments highlighted the show’s education program. 

Below is a roundup of some the most noteworthy sessions from throughout the week: 

California tribes won’t try for wagering legalization in 2026

On Jan. 21 a panel of California tribal leaders told ICE participants that they won’t put legal sports betting on the 2026 ballot. Indian Country has reached some consensus, but polling indicates voters aren’t interested.

California Nations Indian Gaming Association (CNIGA) Chairman James Siva said that tribes have “come too far and have too far to go to rush into this complex sports betting (issue) which is tied to iGaming.” His remarks led a chorus during the ‘State of Gambling in California: Current Trends and Future Prospects’ discussion at the ICE convention in Barcelona.

Siva was joined by Pechanga Band of Mission Indians Councilmember Catalina Chacon and San Manuel Band of Mission Indians Vice Chairman Johnny Hernandez. The panel was the last of four put on by the Indian Gaming Association (IGA). A how-to guide for working with Indian Country, a history of how San Manuel grew gaming and a discussion about remaining growth opportunities for tribal sports betting rounded out the conversation.

But the news was the tribes’ announcement that despite feeling pressure from the rise of sweepstakes, they would not pursue another ballot initiative so soon after spending nearly hundreds of millions to defeat a commercial proposal in 2022.

“It’s not going to happen in 2026,” Chacon said. “The data is telling us that the time is not right. Definitely not 2026, we’re looking more like 2028, but it has to include all tribal communities in California.”

Said Hernandez: “It has to include all tribes, including non-gaming tribes. I agree with Catalina that all tribes have to be in agreement. Gaming must go through the tribes.”

Consensus-building still a work in progress

Getting all of California Indian Country on the same page is no simple task. There are more than 100 tribes in the state. And they range from the wealthy and well known to rural tribes that struggle to get the most basic services. Pechanga and San Manuel were among the major contributors in the campaign to defeat Proposition 27 in 2022. Financed by seven commercial sports betting operators, Prop 27 would have legalized digital sports betting across California, but the tribes opposed it.

The tribal mantra continues to be that any gaming expansion must originate in Indian Country. Tribes have exclusivity for Class III gaming and they will not be rushed.

“We have come too far to rush into this to potentially damage the foundation that we have built,” Siva said. “For 2026 we’re being very patient. The outlook is looking toward the future.”

The somewhat hidden news from the session is that tribes appear to have reached at least a top-line consensus. Chacon repeatedly used the word “ownership” when talking about legalisation. She indicated that this means that all tribes must buy into a plan.

The discourse is slightly different than it had been previously, when the word used was “consensus.”

Sharing the wealth

California tribes have what’s called a Revenue Sharing Trust Fund (RSTF) from which gaming tribes currently funnel $1.1 million per year to non-gaming tribes. The RSTF will surely be up for discussion among tribes as they sort out how to share the wealth once sports betting—and eventually online casino—are legalized. The $1.1 million figure dates to 1999 and, given inflation and the changing economy, raising it seems to make sense.

The idea behind the RSTF is that tribes that are not geographically positioned to have land-based casinos can still get some benefit from legal gambling. An online component could change that.

In 2022, the tribes were aiming to legalize in-person wagering only while commercial operators were looking at digital betting. None of the tribal leaders made clear whether the next initiative would be in-person only or have a digital component.

Sweepstakes not welcome

The rise of sweepstakes continues to be a key issue for California tribes. Moderator Jason Giles, executive director of the Indian Gaming Association (IGA), asked if sweepstakes ads are putting pressure on the tribes to legalize. Multiple sweepstakes companies, which are unregulated in California, are advertising on television and other mediums.

“They are getting away with it by saying that it’s a non-play, that there is no money,” Chacon said. “But if you peel back, you see that there is. It’s not OK. It’s illegal in California. Sweepstakes casinos are just not what they say they are.”

IGA Conference Chairman Victor Rocha has been stunned by the rise of sweepstakes and last fall ran a series of webinars about them. The unregulated operators have served to galvanize the legal industry and even give tribes and commercial operators—often at odds—a common enemy.

“It is a violation of both our exclusivity and infringing on our sovereignty,” Hernandez said of sweepstakes.

 

Leading CEOs grapple with innovating, expanding alongside illegal market

Running and scaling a regulated business successfully is hard, especially alongside an evil twin who never gets in trouble. Such was the ethos of a CEO-studded panel at ICE Jan. 21.

GeoComply co-founder David Briggs was joined onstage by a who’s-who of European online operators, including newly minted Entain CEO Gavin Isaacs, Evoke CEO Per Widerström and Snaitech CEO Fabio Schiavolin.

Aptly named “The CEO Dilemma”, the quartet commiserated over the difficulties of growing and innovating new product when the black market can do it faster, without being tethered to regulatory obligations. Longtime peers and competitors, the panelists prodded each other and made light of the difficulties.

“All three of us would dream to be in the unregulated market just for a day,” Schiavolin joked.

Isaacs, whose career spans several major gambling companies, has seen the unregulated versus regulated debate become increasingly murky. Having taken the reins at online giants Entain in September, he now must navigate new technologies and gray markets.

“When I started, there were very clear black and white lines, but there’s much more gray now,” he said. Those who choose to operate legally make sacrifices to do so, he said, but it sometimes feels “unfair” to see others not do the same.

Always one step ahead

One of the central themes of the discussion was finding ways to innovate and protect IP with offshore platforms lurking closely behind. For Isaacs, the innovation is not necessarily the hard part. Rather, the latter point is the rub. “It’s the time to market that’s the issue,” he said.

To his credit, Briggs mentioned a few potential tools that might help with this. Among them were the adoption of artificial intelligence and the adoption of cryptocurrencies.

Widerstrom, whose firm oversees powerhouses William Hill and 888, was positive on AI while noting the high costs associated with it. But he asserted that off-the-shelf services make it so that “you don’t have to reinvent the wheel.”

Crypto is another story. None of the companies represented in the panel are able to accept the currencies, which are extremely popular among younger consumers. Many of them choose black market platforms because of that roadblock. As Isaacs pointed out, the tenets of a regulated market and crypto are somewhat at odds. Operators diligently fulfill KYC obligations, while crypto at its heart is a decentralised, anonymous medium.

Do players care about regulated protections?

As the black market continues to grow, legal operators must fight hard to convince players to stay above board. If the odds or markets aren’t superior, though, the regulated market must push its other arguments. Chief among them is the framework of consumer protections and harm minimization.

But in today’s era, do players even consider that argument? After all, it’s a hard sell to say that the best thing about the regulated market is that you are monitored more closely with fewer options.

“The consumers don’t care (about harm minimization) as much as the rest of the stakeholders do,” Isaacs surmised. “I don’t know if the player cares.”

 

Gambling Commission reveals ten-fold increase in illegal URL takedowns

Great Britain’s Gambling Commission has assisted in the takedown of 264 illegal gambling websites in the financial year to date, an increase of more than tenfold from the previous year.

Commission CEO Andrew Rhodes made the revelation during a speech Jan. 21 at the ICE World Regulatory Briefing. Rhodes discussed the state of the British gambling market and offered insight into the regulator’s recent activities.

He was keen to highlight the commission’s ongoing focus on and commitment to combating illegal gambling. On this, Rhodes revealed several statistics from the current financial year to demonstrate, with a focus on the online market.

This, Rhodes said, includes referring over 102,000 URLs to Google in reference to unlicensed online activity in Britain. Of this total, 64,000 sites have been removed by the search engine giant, while 264 websites have been taken down. The latter figure dwarves the total that were taken down in the previous financial year.

Rhodes also set out details of how the commission itself is addressing illegal gambling. He said in the financial year to date, the regulator has issued over 770 cease-and-desist and disruption notices. This includes 262 cease-and-desists to operators and 205 to advertisers.  

While pleased with this progress, Rhodes said there is “more to do” to tackle illegal activity.

“Our aim is to prevent the illegal market from operating at scale in Great Britain,” he said. “A significant part of our strategy in doing that is to target our efforts as far upstream as we can – at the level of hosts, payment providers, software providers, search engines and others.

“We have spent the last two years in particular not just targeting illegal activity but also building our own resources, skills and capabilities. There is more to do of course and that also is true of others in the sector.”

Commission chief urges more effort from licensees

On this point, Rhodes repeated calls from the commission for licensed operators to support the regulator with its efforts.

This week, the regulator issued a warning notice after flagging incidents of licensed games being used by illegal operators. It once again called on licensees to improve monitoring of business relationships to ensure partners are not facilitating illegal gambling.

Last November, he urged licensees to conduct due diligence on partners to ensure they are not engaged in illegal activity. Rhodes last week said the sector seemingly misunderstood his comments and that he could not understand why licensees would want to work with those supporting illegal competitors.

“While it is not the job of licensed operators to take action against illegal operators, I have firmly encouraged everyone to ensure they have undertaken due diligence regarding their own activities and those of any suppliers they rely on,” he said in his speech.

“If the commission detects illegal activity in any operator – B2C or B2B – we may well immediately suspend their licence. In any event, they face the very real prospect of having their GB licence revoked, which means anything they are supplying to anyone else in Britain will cease immediately.”

Rhodes sees bright future for gambling in Britain

While concerns over illegal activities remain, Rhodes is upbeat about the regulated market in Britain. He referenced the most recent gross gambling yield (GGY) figures which, published in October, revealed record results.

GGY in Q3 – covering the three months to the end of September – hit £1.32 billion ($1.63 billion). This was largely driven by a 16 percent uptick in online slots activity among U.K. gamblers, with this reaching a record high.

 

Casinos, pro sports team can create meaningful synergy

In Washington, DC or downtown Phoenix, sports fans can get a double whammy—go to a game and visit a casino. In Dallas, Miriam Adelson and Mark Cuban are hoping to create the same sort of destination. The model is good for both parties, said speakers at an ICE panel on Jan. 20.

Adam Sachs, counsel and senior policy advisor for Dentons, joined Brendan Bussmann of B Global Advisors to discuss the issue. The panel was entitled ‘From Sin City to Sport Central: Creating an Intercommercial Gaming Ecosystem.’

“Having a casino connected with professional sports… I think we all help each other,” said Sachs, whose law firm works with professional sports teams and gambling companies. “It’s all fan engagement or consumer engagement. We tend to bring each other to a destination. It’s also good for the economies.”

Sachs maintained that he believes that more is better. While it might seem like having a casino or sportsbook in or next to a sports venue could be at cross purposes, the reality he sees is different.

“Experiences matter, concerts matter, professional baseball games matter,” he said. “Being at a casino and experiencing that rather than doing it on your phone, that matters. From a community perspective and an economic development perspective, the only game in town, the biggest game in town is these experience-based developments and casinos provide a reason to go an area around a baseball stadium 365 days a year rather than 82 baseball games, 82 days a year provide an opportunity for people to pour into these venues before or after.”

In some states, partnerships mandated

Across the U.S., sports betting has proliferated since the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act was overturned in 2018. In some cases, lawmakers have required that wagering platforms and retail sportsbooks be tethered to professional sports venues. So far, at least seven states allow for sportsbooks at or adjacent to pro venues. The latest is Missouri, where voters legalized in November. In neighboring Kansas, digital betting has been legal since 2022.

In Missouri, as in Washington, DC, there will be exclusive zones around sports stadiums. In some of those zones, only the operator connected to the venue will be available.

Whatever the regulatory setup, Sachs is on the forefront of encouraging partnerships between professional sports and casinos in Kansas City.

“Frankly, (pro teams and casinos do) compete against each other in places like Kansas City, where you have four or five land-based casinos not tied to the stadium,” Sachs said. “People are not going to the ballpark as much as they used to because they have these other entertainment options, but if you concentrate that activity (you attract more people). The more people around, too, the safer a community is. So you get this vibe created by the gambling operations and the sports operations. You not only build up revenue for the public entities, you enhance public safety.”

Where sportsbooks and pro venues intersect

The new Missouri law requires that digital betting platforms be tethered to either existing casinos or professional sports venues. The question for cities in Missouri is which operators will partner with professional teams and if those operators will build out retail sportsbooks.

In Washington, DC the William Hill Sportsbook at Capital One Arena in July 2020 became the first book in a pro sports venue.

Since then, others have opened. Caesars Sportsbook has opened at Chase Field in Phoenix, FanDuel has opened at Footprint Center in Phoenix and at the United Center in Chicago, Penn Entertainment has a sportsbook at Kansas Speedway and DraftKings has opened retail sportsbooks at Wrigley Field and TPC Scottsdale.

Pro sports remaking Las Vegas

In Las Vegas, T-Mobile Arena opened in 2016, marking a key change in the politics of America’s gaming capital. Home to the NHL Golden Knights, the arena was wedged between the then Monte Carlo and New York, New York. The location puts fans steps from casinos and sportsbooks. Since then, the NFL Raiders moved into Allegiant Stadium in 2020. That venue is across the highway from the Strip.

In 2028, a second Strip sports venue will debut. The Oakland Athletics’ $1.75 billion ballpark will open on property the team will share with a Bally’s casino resort. The land is owned by Gaming and Leisure Properties.

“I saw what happened when we built T-Mobile, I saw what happened when we built Allegiant,” Bussmann said. “T-Mobile was really about bringing locals back to the Strip. Not necessarily for a game, but for dinner or for other things along the way when they go to a Golden Knights game.

“You see the same thing with Allegiant, but it is much more with the tourists. You go into a Raider game and there is tremendous energy in the city that day, not just from the locals, but from the people from where the (opposing) team is. It’s creating those synergies from between those different sectors that comes from drawing people more to a venue offering a complete entertainment experience, whether that be gaming or sports or F&B… it gives something for everyone in that center of entertainment.”

Sachs: Better together

In Sachs’ experience, sports franchises get the “benefit of the doubt” from government and citizens for all of the “goodwill,” economic investment and growth and philanthropy that they provide to communities. Gambling companies have an “opposite” experience. The industries can learn from each other and create a whole that it is bigger than the sum of its parts.

Sachs said: “If you get those two together on the same page and get the public relations strategy together synergistically, the chances of success in the long run are far greater.”

 

How should regulators address the illegal market? With collaboration and enforcement, panellists say

A group of international gaming experts converged at ICE Barcelona on Jan. 20 to discuss the enigma of the illegal market and how to combat it. The biggest priorities, they said, were open lines of communication and sufficient resources.

The discussion, moderated by H2 director David Henwood, featured panellists from around the world:

  • Isabelle Falque-Pierrotin, chair of the French Gambling Authority (ANJ)
  • Bashir Are, CEO of the Lagos State Lotteries & Gaming Authority
  • Gilbert Remulla, director of the Philippine Gaming and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor)
  • Lisa Osofsky, former director of the U.K. Serious Fraud Office

“Is (the illegal market) growing? Yes, in most European jurisdictions,” Falque-Pierrotin lamented at the top of the discussion.

Citing Covid and more competitive offerings as reasons for this growth, she acknowledged the difficulty of fighting an uphill battle. Regardless, the fight is necessary.

“If you don’t fight, the legitimacy of the regulation is damaged,” she maintained. In terms of comparable size, she estimated the black market to be about 10 percent of the regulated market. In the Philippines, Remulla said it’s about half, down from previous levels of 90 percent or higher.

Communication, cooperation key to success

All panellists spent time detailing the importance of working together to tackle a global conundrum. Each regulatory body by itself has finite resources, they said, but the whole is greater than the sum of the parts.

“If there’s no cooperation, there’s no way you can fight illegal gambling,” Are asserted. “The illegal industry is always going to be ahead of the regulation.”

Osofsky gave input from a law enforcement perspective and noted that part of the problem is fighting against an enemy that is hard to define effectively. A presentation slide gave examples of black-market revenue estimates from around the world and how much they varied.

In addition to international communication, domestic teamwork is also key to stopping the momentum of the illegal market – Remulla explained that Pagcor is limited in its police powers but has made great strides thanks to help from other government agencies. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. last year shut down the country’s offshore gaming industry, and Pagcor is divesting its gaming operations to focus solely on regulation.

Solution can include both business and regulation

In addition to federal buy-in, Remulla also advocated for a more favorable business environment. Dangling the carrot of lower tax rates can be more effective than the fear of prosecution, he argued.

Finding a regulatory balance that protects players and allows companies to innovate is also part of the overall puzzle. Often the biggest allure of the illegal market is better odds or offerings unavailable elsewhere. This is despite the lack of KYC protocols and other risks, one panellist said.

Artificial intelligence is a unique technology that can help solve the problem or add to it. It is expected to become a useful tool in regulators’ arsenal but the consensus was that this will take time and experimentation.

Suppliers also have role to play in combating illegal market

The role of suppliers and the need to enforce their licensing and vetting was another theme noted by all. Are in particular was adamant that suppliers must be held to the same standards as operators to ensure that the fight is prioritized industry-wide.

When asked by iGB about payment providers, Falque-Pierrotin said it is important to start having conversations with all stakeholders in online gambling. In order for things to improve, she said, regulators have to have “the power and the resources” to command respect from all involved. This includes not just payment providers but also search engines, social networks and more.

“They understand it’s in their interest as well,” she said.

 

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All About ICE: Games Galore

By Frank Legato   Mon, Jan 27, 2025

A roundup of the latest releases from major slot suppliers at last week's ICE Barcelona conference.

ICE Barcelona filled the massive Fira convention facility with displays of every category of casino supply for the three-day event January 20-22, but for brick-and-mortar casino operators, as usual, special attention was paid to the top worldwide slot suppliers.

For slot manufacturers, the October Global Gaming Expo (G2E) in Las Vegas is normally the venue where the new portfolio of games for the year is revealed. At ICE, the emphasis is on first-time releases for the U.K and EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) markets—new versions of G2E game releases debuting for these markets, plus a few ICE show reveals of new games.

Here are some of the highlights from major slot manufacturers among games revealed for the first time for British and EMEA markets at the ICE Barcelona show.

 

Ainsworth Game Technology

While Ainsworth did not have a dedicated stand at ICE, several of the manufacturer’s games were featured at the huge stand of Novomatic AG, the company’s majority shareholder.

Featured were games on the new dual-screen version of the A-STAR Raptor cabinet, which expands the hardware series beyond the original 49-inch portrait version.

Featured games included Mariachi Mice, a three-pot game with a free-spin round called the “Mariachi Bonus” that features one or more enhancements attached to the funny mice characters. Depending on the pot trigger, the Mariachi Bonus awards eight free spins enhanced with sticky wild symbols, extra free games, or a “Jackpot Chance” feature.

The latter feature displays all four jackpots at the top of the screen, including the top Grand Jackpot. Each jackpot has a row of circles underneath, and any time a jackpot symbol lands during the free spins, one of the circles is filled. Thus, players can win multiple jackpots in a single feature.

Other highlighted games included the two-game family of Rising Bull and Rising Rooster. Each is a three-pot game in which the pots—represented by the title character—enhance a hold-and-spin feature. During this feature, reaching various coin thresholds unlocks extra symbol rows—up to four additional rows for an eight-row feature.

Enhancements include Extra Spins, which adds a fourth spin to the normal three-spin cycle; Growing Credit Prizes, which enhances the cash-on-reels symbols; and Instant Locks, which dispenses with the thresholds to instantly add the four extra rows for an entire feature played out on eight rows of symbols.

 

Aristocrat Gaming

Aristocrat rolled out many of its top games in packages for the U.K. and EMEA markets, including Bao Zhu Zhao Fu, a refresh of the elegant classic Asian Festival theme with a firecracker spin, enhancing the Aristocrat signature Hold & Spin bonus.

The game was presented on Aristocrat’s new Baron cabinet, which was launched at the G2E show in October. It features dual 27-inch ultra-high-definition 4K display monitors, a 27-inch LCD topper that integrates play and jackpot features, and technological innovations including never-before-seen integrated dynamic lighting, advanced display monitors, and sleek design elements.

Aristocrat also showed several multi-game packages for U.K. and EMEA markets that are available on either the Baron or the MarsX cabinet. One, the Royal Collection III, includes a collection of top-performing games first introduced in the Australian market. Another, Fortune’s Choice, features up to eight popular Asian-themed games. In the latter collection, the player can select not only the denomination, but the bet, with no pre-set forced bets.

Also launched for U.K. and EMEA markets at ICE were popular games including Phoenix Link, Buffalo Gold and Whisker Wheels, all available on either the Baron or the MarsX.

Aristocrat also showed an EMEA version of Ultimate Fast Cash. This game features a Hold & Spin bonus in which thresholds unlock up to four additional rows for an eight-row grid in the feature, and includes a feature-in-feature symbol that triggers an extra bonus game after the Hold & Spin feature ends. A nine-row grid appears, in which players can land cash-on-reels symbols or Mini and Minor jackpots in a normal three-spin cycle. Filling all nine spots in this feature triggers the Super Jackpot, a second-level jackpot not available elsewhere in the game. It is available on the Neptune and MarsX cabinets.

The company also launched its hit Lightning Link series in versions designed for the U.K. and U.S. Army installations. These games are designed with the bet limits for those two markets built in—£5 for the U.K. and $10 for the U.S. Army.

Finally, Aristocrat launched its latest game in its NFL series, Triple Score, for U.K., EMEA and U.S. Army markets—the first appearance of the NFL series in these markets.

First launched at G2E in October, Triple Score features three metamorphic pots leading to an enhanced Hold & Spin feature, and a random feature during the main feature called Jackpot Kick, in which the player selects from three footballs for a kick that can result in credit prizes or any of the three progressive jackpots.

 

Aruze Gaming Global

Aruze Gaming Global (AG2) introduced its new MUSO Summit cabinet to EMEA markets at the show. Featured games included Cash Master Blaster, which offers a perceived-persistence collection bonus that throws coins landing on the primary-game screen to an image of dynamite above the reels.

Randomly, one of these symbols triggers a hold-and-spin bonus that includes cash-on-reels credit awards, icons for lower-level jackpots, and a “+1 Spin” symbol that adds a spin to the three-spin cycle. The bonus lasts until three spins occur with none of these symbols, or until the entire grid is filled, resulting in the top jackpot.

Also featured was AG2’s “Horrorific” game series, with the game family Monster Lab. The player can select from three games in the family, each themed on a famous monster—Wolfie’s Wild, Mummy’s Hold & Spin, and Frankie’s Hold & Spin. Each has a primary game with unique symbols and a bonus tied to the featured monster.

 

Gaming Arts/Merkur

Gaming Arts games were displayed on the stand of its strategic partner, Germany’s Merkur Gaming. The games displayed were slots designed by Gaming Arts in Las Vegas for Merkur’s MOD EX hardware, consisting of a triple-screen version and a 55-inch J-curve model. Featured was Wild Temple, in which three pots of gold coins trigger unique features in a free-game bonus round.

The Gaming Arts display was part of a huge Merkur stand that also included game offerings from a wealth of the German company’s other strategic partners, including the Spiel Banken arcade games, Blueprint in the U.K. market, the Bede platform for the Ontario lottery, Spintek electronic table games and more.

Merkur also launched its newest product, a live gaming solution designed for live-dealer ETGs.

 

IGT

IGT used ICE for U.K. and EMEA launches in several game categories. Among the highlights was Diamond Mania, the first perceived-persistence game it has released for AWP markets in the U.K.

The game is already a proven performer in the U.S. and other markets. It has a unique primary-game diamond collection feature called “Wild Stays, Charges Then Pays,” in which any diamond symbol that lands changes into a gold-framed spot. Every 10 spins, all gold-framed symbols turn into wild symbols.

The player selects from three free-spin options, to choose the volatility of the feature.

Elsewhere, IGT featured several multi-level progressive games for EMEA markets on the dual-screen PeakSlant32 cabinet. One standout was Magic Treasures (base games Dragon and Tiger), which is already the top-performing game in France, according to company officials.

It is a three-pot game, but the pot symbols each enhance the Lock & Spin bonus individually. One of the most clever involves “Money Balls,” which accumulate during the primary game. When the bonus is triggered, the Money Balls immediately change to credit awards, multipliers for cash-on-reels symbols, or one of the lower-level jackpots, and instantly award those prizes.

Other highlights at the IGT stand included Wheel of Fortune Big Money Week, a game designed specifically for the U.K. market. In addition to the signature wheel-spinning bonus, the player can trigger a feature called “Quadruple Up Free Spins.” This multiplies the screen to four independent reel arrays for 12 free spins.

IGT also displayed several of its industry-leading video poker games with a new responsible-gaming feature called the “Bank.” When players buy in, the credits appear in a “bank,” and must be withdrawn to the credit meter—an extra step to encourage responsible wagering.

Finally, IGT did an ICE reveal of a new electronic table game setup, Synchronized Auto Roulette. The screen displays two roulette betting layouts, with special betting features like “Neighbor Bets,” in which players can automatically place bets on up to nine neighboring spots with one move; hot-number bets, and “Copy Bets,” which duplicates bets on one wheel to the neighboring wheel.

The two wheels spin on a quickly staggered timeline, so wagers can be made quickly on both physical wheels, resulting in a game speed reaching 1.5 spins per minute.

 

Konami Gaming, Inc.

Konami Gaming used ICE to launch a new game series titled “From the Universe.” Amid a sea of three-pot games, this new series, consisting of base games Starlight Alaska and Sparkling Egypt, each features unique free-game rounds triggered by line combinations.

The free-spin bonuses start with five free games, and can be extended during the features. Players can win cash-on-reels awards, lower-level jackpots and extra spins during the free games, with each award granted instantly. None of the symbols lock in place.

Each of the two games awards its top Mega jackpot, a progressive resetting at €10,000 ($10,493), in a unique manner. In Starlight Alaska, accumulating 100 star symbols during the free-game feature triggers the top prize. In Sparkling Egypt, the top prize is triggered if cash-on-reels symbols land in all reel spots on a single spin.

 

Light & Wonder

Light & Wonder (L&W) rolled out its new Cosmic Upright cabinet for EMEA markets. Introduced at G2E in October, it is a portrait version of the successful Cosmic cabinet with the same 49-inch screen and distinctive edge lighting as the original slant-top version, on an upright base.

The company displayed seven different games on the new cabinet, including Hot Hot Double Blazing Lock, a three-pot game with the pots adding enhancements to a free-spin round that include “Jackpot Spins,” “Royal Replace” and “Extra Flamey.”

Jackpot Spins places circles under each of the four jackpot meters, and each jackpot symbol that lands on a free spin goes toward completing the rows and awarding what can be multiple jackpots. Royal Replace transforms up to three lower-paying royal symbols to cash-on-reels symbols for immediate awards. In Extra Flamey, one or two “Flamey” symbols—animated flame characters—is added to the reels to multiply all cash-on-reels symbols by two or three, respectively.

Also launched for EMEA markets was Huff & Puff Highrise, the newest entry in one of L&W’s most popular game families. First released at G2E, it features White Hat symbols that expand the reels, and Gold Hat symbols—six trigger a free game round. The Three Little Piggies sit on a scaffold above the reels, and frequently travel down to the reels to add wild symbols or upgrade reel awards.

The game also includes the original Huff & Puff bonus, in which the wolf character “blows down” the pigs’ houses to reveal jackpot awards.

Other games launched for EMEA markets included Huff & Puff Money Mansion, with its bonus awarding several levels of jackpots; and Lion Link Fortunes, a three-pot game with a hold-and-spin bonus.

Finally, L&W released its latest game in the hilarious Planet Moolah series, Invaders Attack Again from Planet Moolah, to EMEA markets. It is a sequel to the theme involving flying saucers attacking a farm, abducting cows and other farm animals with tractor beams. 

 

Novomatic

Novomatic AG featured new games in its Xtension Link progressive slot series. One of the prominent games was Fu Flow, an Asian-themed game featuring a hold-and-spin bonus in which coin thresholds reached during the three-spin cycle expand the reels from four to eight rows.

Also featured were a new group of three-pot games—Tiger Rise, Griffin Catch and Dragon Boost. All feature themed pots into which symbols are collected, triggering free-game and hold-and-spin features.

 

Zitro

Zitro introduced its new Deluxe Concept Prime cabinet to EMEA markets. The cabinet is available with either a 55-inch flat-screen monitor or a 55-inch J-curve version.

Featured games included Wonder Dream and Dragon Koi, both first previewed at G2E in October. The games feature multiple jackpots that can each be won with a single symbol, and a free-games feature that plays out simultaneously on two independent reel sets.

Both are three-pot collection games. Depending on which pot bursts to trigger the bonus, the player is awarded six, nine or 12 free games. During the bonus, players can win cash-on-reels credit awards, jackpots, or a “Blast Multiplier” that increases the value of all symbols. 

Zitro also launched a new version of the popular Fu Frog game. The original is a three-pot game in which each pot—they are different-colored frogs—triggers an enhanced hold-and-spin feature. King Fu Frog adds a fourth pot, represented by a giant frog. When triggered along with one of the original pots, the big frog enhances the enhancement triggered by the main pot.

When the multiplier feature is triggered along with the big pot, multipliers are added that go up to 5X, applied to each cash-on-reels symbol that lands in the hold-and-spin feature. The Double enhancement, which triggers a double reel array for the hold-and-spin feature, increases the five-by-four reel arrays to five-by-five arrays when landing with the big frog, for extra credit awards. When enhanced by the King Fu Frog, the Extra Spin enhancement increases the spin cycle to four—every time a coin or jackpot symbol lands, the spin meter returns to four spins.

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Stay in Your Own Lane: Event Contracts and Prediction Markets

By Bruce Merati   Wed, Jan 22, 2025

When a product or market is successful, it makes sense for those in adjacent industries to consider expansion and collaboration. But when it comes to prediction markets and sports betting, Bruce Merati (l.) argues it's best to mind their own businesses.

For over 175 years, exchanges like the Chicago Board of Trade (established in 1848) have provided options and futures markets for securities and commodities. 

This thriving derivatives industry, distinct from the gambling business, is overseen by the Commodities Futures and Exchange Commission (CFTC), which has the federal mandate to regulate futures and derivative markets. Historically, derivatives have played a crucial role in stabilizing commodity prices and mitigating financial risks for industries, establishing themselves as indispensable economic tools.

The CFTC’s position has been that futures contracts must serve genuine economic hedging and price discovery utility. However, the intersection of event contracts and prediction markets remains a gray area in current laws and regulations, leading to significant legal and operational challenges. The CFTC’s oversight does not yet fully address the burgeoning business of predicting the outcome of future events, leaving companies like Kalshi and PredictIt navigating uncharted waters. These firms are currently taking bets on political events while awaiting clarifications from the courts.

The CFTC maintains that betting on political outcomes constitutes gambling and poses societal harm, while the industry counters that these markets provide legitimate hedging opportunities, economic benefits, and valuable information for the public. The popularity of wagering on elections and other events continues to grow. 

This growing market has attracted market makers in the prediction business looking to compete with state-regulated online sports betting platforms such as DraftKings, which is reportedly considering launching a prediction-market business of its own. Similarly, companies like Kalshi and Crypto.com (which acquired Nadex, a CFTC-approved exchange, in 2016) are exploring entry into sports betting markets. Robinhood, a securities broker-dealer which is expanding its business to managing retirement accounts, has also expressed interest in the sports betting industry.

Historically, sports betting in the U.S. has been the domain of Nevada casinos, which began offering it as a marketing tool and amenity to attract visitors. In 1961, the Wire Act made it illegal to place bets on sporting events but provided exemptions for some states like Nevada. The evolution of legal sports betting culminated in the Supreme Court’s 2018 decision to overturn PASPA, paving the way for broader state-level regulation of sports wagering.

In 2021, the CFTC approved Kalshi to operate as a peer-to-peer betting exchange but specifically excluded betting on politics and sports. The exclusion of sports betting was based on the understanding that it falls under state jurisdiction, while the prohibition on political event betting stemmed from concerns about influencing election outcomes. Additionally, controversies surrounding political betting—such as potential manipulation of markets to sway election results—have further cemented the CFTC’s stance.

The distinction between prediction markets and traditional sports betting carries significant economic and social implications. Prediction market makers and their proponents argue that they provide valuable insights into public sentiment and serve as tools for decision-making in various sectors.

Sports betting, on the other hand, has long been associated with entertainment and the gambling industry, with a more recreational focus. Emerging technologies, such as blockchain and AI, are also shaping both fields, creating opportunities for innovation while underscoring the need for clear regulatory boundaries.

Given the historical and regulatory context, companies like Robinhood, which operate in the financial industry and manage financially sensitive customer deposits, would be well-advised to avoid entering the sports wagering space, historically associated with the gambling industry. Similarly, financial exchanges like Kalshi and Crypto.com should focus on their core mission of offering event contracts unrelated to sports. Conversely, sports betting giants such as DraftKings and FanDuel should refrain from entering the prediction markets for political events, which are distinct from the established domain of sports betting.

The historical precedent of the 1961 Wire Act, the 2018 PASPA reversal, and the CFTC’s rulings highlight the importance of maintaining these boundaries to preserve the integrity of the prediction industries. Regulators and industry leaders must collaborate to craft policies that reflect the unique roles and societal impacts of these markets. By respecting these boundaries and fostering innovation within their respective domains, businesses can ensure a more stable and legally sound future for event contracts and prediction markets.

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Scientific Games wins tender for seven-year contract with Berlin lottery

By Richard Mulligan   Fri, Jan 24, 2025

Deutsche Klassenlotterie Berlin (DKLB) is to become the first German lottery provider to implement Scientific Games’ Symphony omnichannel gaming system under a new seven-year contract.

Deutsche Klassenlotterie Berlin (DKLB) is to become the first German lottery provider to implement Scientific Games’ Symphony omnichannel gaming system under a new seven-year contract.

While Scientific Games has served as a technology provider to the Lotto Berlin operator for more than 20 years, it will now make the switch to the new system. Symphony’s architecture supports retail, digital and mobile play and future game entertainment channels, including third-party content and platforms.

DKLB, which dates back to the 1940s, becomes the first lottery in Germany to implement a multi-tenant Symphony system, including the SG PAM player account management system, which serves games to consumers across retail and digital channels. The solution ensures a comprehensive digital transformation that will launch in 2027 across DKLB’s operations.

Hansjörg Höltkemeier, chief executive of Lotto-Berlin, said: “With our selection of Scientific Games and Symphony, we are not only responding to the ever-increasing requirements in the areas of operational safety and cyber security but also focusing on continuity. Above all, we are investing in a new system architecture that will lead to an excellent, system-supported customer experience across all our sales channels.”

Scientific Games said the Symphony system will enable DKLB to operate with a fully modular, modern system architecture that will power omnichannel sales for various lottery products, including scratchcard games and iLottery games, as well as popular draw-based games like EuroJackpot, Lotto and Keno.

Matthias Müller, international lottery systems vice president of sales and marketing for Scientific Games, said: “Scientific Games is proud to be the primary technology partner for Deutsche Klassenlotterie Berlin. Together, we’re deploying our Symphony lottery gaming system, which includes the versatile Symphony multi-tenant platform and omnichannel player account management system that will serve several German lotteries. This enhanced lottery system ensures best-of-breed system integration throughout the life of our agreement.”

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Seminole Hard Rock Tampa unveils $65m revamp

By Richard Mulligan   Fri, Jan 24, 2025

Florida’s Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa has unveiled over $65m in resort enhancements that have been designed to elevate the guest experience.

Florida’s Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa has unveiled over $65m in resort enhancements that have been designed to elevate the guest experience.

The resort this week debuted its revamped gaming floor featuring nearly 350 state-of-the-art slot machines. The casino now offers total gaming space of 190,000 sq ft and a total of nearly 5,230 slot machines.

The new gaming area opens soon after Seminole Hard Rock Tampa introduced live craps, roulette, and sports betting. Located in the space formerly occupied by the food court, the gaming floor features hundreds of machines with maximum bets of up to $100.

“We are extremely excited about taking our world-class resort to yet another level,” said Steve Bonner, President, Seminole Hard Rock Tampa (pictured). “We’re always attentive to what our guests want and need. They asked and we delivered.”

New jobs

Patrons can also enjoy enhanced dining and accommodation.

The $65m investment includes the reopening of its flagship Fresh Harvest Buffet. Featuring six live-action kitchens, the restaurant adds 200 new jobs, bringing the total number of team members at the casino resort to almost 4,300.

Another enhancement is the renovation of the venue’s West Tower, which includes the updating of more than 200 rooms. Seminole Hard Rock Hotel will now offer 802 guestrooms by the end of January.

Seminole Hard Rock Tampa, which opened in 2004, offers 13 restaurants in total and features the 1,500-seat Hard Rock Event Center.

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Long-running strike ends at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas

By Richard Mulligan   Thu, Jan 23, 2025

Las Vegas' longest-running industrial action in recent years has ended after a deal was struck with the powerful Culinary Workers Union.

Virgin Hotels Las Vegas’ two-month strike has come to an end after the casino came to an agreement with union members.

Some 700 employees have been absent from work at the establishment, just off the Las Vegas Strip, since November after an impasse was reached over a new contract. It was the first open-ended strike in 22 years for the Culinary Workers Union, the largest labour union in Nevada, with about 60,000 members.

The casino – formerly the Hard Rock Hotel – remained open during the strike period as Virgin Hotels hired temporary workers. The strikers picketed throughout the period, which, at 69 days, is the longest-running industrial action in Las Vegas for decades.

Joint statement issued

On Wednesday (22 Jan), the casino and the unions issued a joint statement confirming that they had reached a settlement that would guide a new Collective Bargaining Agreement.

It read: “Virgin Hotels Las Vegas and the Culinary and Bartenders Unions are pleased to be moving past their contract negotiations as each looks forward to fostering a positive and collaborative working relationship for the benefit of all team members at the property.

“Parties are committed to the resolution of our dispute and to maintaining a union standard at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas that provides for its team members’ families and fosters a better community for all.”

While no details have been released pertaining to the new contract, strikers wanted the same pay rises that have been seen at other casinos over the last 12 months. Last year, union members on the Strip, downtown and at other off-Strip properties were awarded a 32% increase in wages over five years.

Virgin Hotels Las Vegas opened in March 2021 following a significant renovation after the venue was acquired by Virgin Hotels and a group of investment companies in 2018. The 1,500-room resort has total gaming space of 60,000 sq ft.

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Study highlights behavioral perils of gambling machines

By Rory Squires   Wed, Jan 22, 2025

A new study published by GambleAware has indicated that players on land-based electronic gaming machines in bookmakers and casinos are particularly vulnerable to problem gambling.

The gambling harm charity, which commissioned Bournemouth University in the UK to carry out the research, said that such machines and online casino games had a higher level of association with such adverse behavior than other forms of gambling.

The research found that usage of electronic gaming machines was the biggest predictor of someone who would go on to experience future gambling harms, and those using such land-based machines were over 10 times more likely than average to be experiencing problem gambling.

Young adults aged between 18 and 34 years old predominantly used gambling machines at bookmakers or gambling in casinos compared to older adults who are 55 years old and above.

However, both activities show a strong association with the likelihood of experiencing “problem gambling”.

Problem gambling

The study found that 76% of people who use physical gambling machines and online casino games experienced problem gambling, with those who use the latter being four times more likely than average to experience harm.

The report urged regulators to apply more substantial restrictions on the availability and design of electronic gaming machines, including reducing the number of machines in venues, lowering stakes and implementing mandatory breaks.

The report also showed that problem gambling worsens in line with the number of types of gambling activities people participate in, and increases more after two activities. The report calls for operators to create shared databases to identify customers who participate in several different types of gambling – and are therefore at an increased risk of gambling harm.

White Paper

“This new research shows that there are some particular types of gambling which can lead to an increased chance of experiencing gambling harm,” said GambleAware CEO Zoe Osmond, who highlighted the findings of the report in the context of the Gambling Act Review white paper that was published in the UK in April 2023.

The white paper included a proposed relaxation relating to casino rules, with certain casinos allowed to increase the number of their gaming machines to 80 as long as they meet certain size requirements.

“The research also brings into question some of the measures outlined in the Gambling White Paper such as relaxations in land-based gambling, which could lead to an increase in electronic gaming machines in venues,” Osmond added. “The report suggests the measures do not go far enough to protect people. This is why we are calling for the recommendations in this report to be adopted as they will help ensure that people can be better protected.”

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IGT seals long-term deal with Luxembourg’s Loterie Nationale

By Rory Squires   Wed, Jan 22, 2025

International Game Technology (IGT) will supply Luxembourg’s national lottery with new point-of-sale terminals as part of a broad new partnership.

The deal between IGT’s subsidiary IGT Global Services and Loterie Nationale will run for 10 years, through to 2036.

IGT will deliver newly updated Retailer Pro terminals, which are designed for high-volume retailers, along with GameTouch and GameTouch Draw S2 self-service lottery vending machines.

Retail growth

“IGT has been a trusted partner to Loterie Nationale for more than 20 years, supporting retail growth and digital evolution,” Loterie Nationale director Léon Losch said

“Upgrading our lottery and iLottery solutions with IGT’s advanced technology can pave the way for our continued sales growth, provide our players with best-in-class experiences and position us to continue our support of good causes.”

Additionally, under the agreement, IGT will upgrade the lottery’s central gaming system, with the company also deploying its Omnia integrated lottery solution, including its cloud-based iLottery system and remote game server.

Omnia, which comprises a suite of applications, tools and reporting capabilities, centralizes retail and digital lottery solutions, providing customers with a more modern retail experience, according to IGT.

Point-of-sale footprint

“Over the course of IGT’s longstanding partnership with Loterie Nationale, we’ve helped support the growth of its point-of-sale footprint, addition of self-service terminals in retail locations and launch of iLottery in the region,” said Jay Gendron, IGT’s chief operating officer, global lottery. 

“We look forward to continuing that momentum through our future-forward technology portfolio that gives Loterie Nationale access to top-performing IGT games, improved analytics, advanced responsible gaming tools and increased scalability.”

IGT is the primary technology provider to 26 of the 46 lotteries in the United States, eight of the world’s largest 10 lotteries, and 16 of the world’s top 25 lotteries.

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Novomatic agrees deal to acquire France’s Vikings Casinos

By Richard Mulligan   Tue, Jan 21, 2025

Novomatic has targeted growth in France after agreeing to acquire leading local casino group Vikings Casinos SAS.

The deal sees Novomatic take over the reins at Vikings Casino, which operates 10 live gaming casinos throughout France, including on the Côte d’Azur. The acquisition, subject to certain conditions and regulatory approvals, significantly expands Novomatic’s portfolio in one of the largest gaming markets in Europe.

Stefan Krenn, Novomatic’s executive board member, said: “With the acquisition of Vikings Casinos, we are consistently pursuing our international growth strategy and strengthening our position as a leading provider in the European gaming market.

“With this step, we have successfully laid the foundation for further sustainable growth in France.”

Vikings Casinos looking ahead

No financial details regarding the deal were given. There is also no information as to how Vikings Casinos’ management and structure will be transformed under the group’s new owner.

However, Vikings Casinos’ chief executive, Luc Le Borgne, looked to the future as he spoke of how the acquisition will positively impact the business.

Le Borgne said: “The acquisition by Novomatic opens up new opportunities for growth and further development. We are confident that the integration into such an experienced and successful company as Novomatic will help us to further strengthen our position in the French market. This change will enable us to work even more efficiently and benefit from the resources and expertise of the new owner.”

Novomatic’s gaming operations growth

Novomatic’s international casino portfolio includes around 2,200 casinos, electronic casinos and sports betting outlets in markets such as Germany, Italy, Spain, the UK and the Netherlands.

In 2023, its most recent reporting period, Novomatic said its gaming operations segment contributed a significant share to record total revenue. The highest level of growth was seen in Italy following the acquisition of HBG Group.

Novomatic’s move in France comes just weeks after it agreed to sell Atlas Group, the parent of its Admiral Austria business, to Tipico Group.

Vikings Casinos’ flagship establishments in Frejus and Sanary-sur-Mer each have 150 slot machines along with roulette tables, and dining and entertainment. Normandy-headquartered Vikings Casino was formed in 1998 following the merger of Vikings SAS and Jeux C. Casino Consultant.

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Circus Circus owner floats potential $5bn sale

By Rory Squires   Tue, Jan 21, 2025

Phil Ruffin, the owner of the Circus Circus casino in Las Vegas, has said that he has been approached regarding a potential takeover of the famous venue.

Circus Circus, which sits on 102 acres on the north end of the Las Vegas Strip, was acquired by Ruffin from MGM for $825m (£668m/€792m) in 2019.

“Let’s just say there is interest,” Ruffin told Forbes. “It’s worth $5bn.”

Ruffin reportedly plans to use the proceeds from a potential sale to acquire another casino on the Strip.

“I have my eyes on some properties,” he added. “It could be in another town, if it’s good enough.”

New developments

Ruffin is already building The Golden Circle, a new casino in his hometown of Kansas, and he also owns the Treasure Island Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, along with Circus Circus.

Jay Sarno, who opened Caesars Palace in 1966, built Circus Circus two years later, but the latter struggled financially until it was bought in the 1970s by Bill Bennett and William Pennington.

The venue originally featured live circus acts, such as elephants and monkeys on the casino floor. Nowadays, circus performers are still an attraction, along with affordable food and drink.

“We do well,” says Ruffin. “We sell $2 beer, $2 hot dogs, $2 popcorn. People love it. A guy can eat and drink for six bucks.”

Land value

Ruffin believes the land alone that the casino sits on will provide significant value. In 1998, he acquired the New Frontier hotel and casino for $165m and then sold the venue to real estate developers for $1.2bn nine years later.

He added: “Why do you think I bought Circus Circus? For the 102 acres. That’s the land play. Remember what I did at the Frontier, how the value of the land went crazy – here it’s going crazier.

“It’s the best piece of land on the West Coast. It’s got the highway, it’s got the Sahara, it’s got 2,000 feet on the Strip, and it’s the last Strip property – and 102 acres is just a massive amount of land.”

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National Lottery operator revamps ‘mid-tier’ prize payments

  Mon, Jan 20, 2025

UK National Lottery customers who play in shops can now have prizes paid directly into their bank accounts.

Allwyn, the lottery’s operator, has introduced the option for retail prizes between £500.01 (€591/$615) and £50,000. The online claim solution was integrated by payments provider Bottomline.

Allwyn took the step following the Post Office’s decision to no longer pay so-called ‘mid-tier’ National Lottery retail prizes. The lottery paid out more than 45,000 such prizes to in-store customers last year, amounting to more than £50m.

Payment solution

With the new payment solution, retail players can claim prizes on a dedicated page via the lottery’s digital platform. Customers can fill in a form and upload an image of the winning ticket.

The default option will be for the prize to be paid directly into the player’s bank account. However, players can still choose to be paid by cheque – the standard method for such mid-tier prizes until now.

The payment will be paid directly into a customer’s bank account within 24 hours of the claim during the week. For claims submitted over the weekend, the payment may take two or three days to arrive.

“Not only will this see these prizes paid faster than ever before, but it also drastically cuts down on administration and postage costs,” Allwyn’s operations director Jenny Blogg said.

“This cost efficiency will see more money going to the good causes that the National Lottery supports and see prize money in players’ pockets in record time – so it really is a win-win.”

Technological commitments

‍Allwyn took over as National Lottery operator in February 2024, replacing Camelot, which had run the lottery for 30 years. Since then, Allwyn states that it has integrated several new technological solutions to enhance the customer experience.

Allwyn’s successful bid for the licence through to January 2034 included a commitment to carry out significant upgrades.

In November 2024, several media reports claimed that a broad technological overhaul of the lottery could be delayed by Allwyn. The operator was said to be working towards a new deadline of February 2025 for integrating significant upgrades.

Issues with the upgrade reportedly started when International Games Technology (IGT) challenged the decision to award Allwyn the licence. IGT pursued a claim for damages in the High Court after having supplied technology to Camelot since the Lottery’s launch.

IGT eventually asked the Court of Appeal to dismiss the claim and sealed a new technology partnership with Allwyn. However, the case led to a six-month deferral on the licence being finalised.

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Second Portuguese casino adopts Novovision tech

  Mon, Jan 20, 2025

Casino Tróia in Portugal has adopted Novomatic’s Novovision Casino Management System, boosting cashless gaming options at the venue.

The solution covers almost all of the casino floor at the venue, which is located on the Tróia peninsula just south of Setubal.

Through the Novovision system, registered players at the Tróia Design Hotel Resort are given a Near Field Communication (NFC) card. This NFC card, which allows users to make secure transactions, can be used within an NV digital wallet.

Secure transactions

All 150 video slots at the venue have been equipped with Novovision Player Tracking Modules for cashless gaming. The technology has also been integrated into the casino’s most popular live gaming tables via the ‘NV live’ automated system.

Winnings are added to the wallet and can be used on the casino floor or withdrawn via cash terminals. The ‘NV pay’ module will guarantee rapid withdrawals or the purchase of additional gaming credit.

Customers can also participate in the casino’s customer loyalty program, which is supported by Novovision’s ‘NV promo’ technology.

“State-of-the-art” system

“We are extremely proud to implement this state-of-the-art management system,” Casino Tróia general manager Jorge Calado said.

“It not only improves our service quality, but also offers a more attractive and dynamic experience for the gaming guest. This milestone is the culmination of months of effort and close collaboration between the teams of Casino Tróia, Diverstock, Novomatic and the SRIJ (Serviço de Regulação e Inspeção de Jogos).

“Thanks to this joint effort, we are now one of the first casinos in Portugal to offer such an innovative solution for the guest.”

Operational efficiencies

It is anticipated that the solution will enhance operational efficiencies, as well as improve the customer experience.

Staff will benefit from a Novovision Notifier App, allowing them to react to specific events on the casino floor. Meanwhile, the system will provide casino management with game, machine and player performance data.

“This achievement represents a significant step in our continuous growth path, strengthening our value proposition and focusing on innovation as a key differentiator in the national market,” Calado said.

“The new system expands the service offering for our guests while streamlining operations for our team, enabling faster and more efficient service and creating a smoother, more enjoyable customer experience.”

Portuguese growth

Casino Tróia is the second such establishment in Portugal to adopt Novomatic’s Novovision technology.

In November, Casino Lisboa in the capital city went live with the solution following a competitive selection process. Sister venue Casino Estoril, which is also operated by Estoril Sol, will launch the system this quarter.

Novomatic sales manager Werner Kearns added: “Casino Tróia is our second Novovision installation in Portugal. This shows how highly visionary solutions are valued in the Portuguese market. It is also proof of the excellent service that our long-standing local sales partner Marcos Pinto from Diverstock offers on site.”