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Movers and Shakers: How awager plans to redefine online casino gaming in the European market
“Movers and Shakers” is a dynamic monthly column dedicated to exploring the latest trends, developments, and influential voices in the iGaming industry. Powered by GameOn and supported by HIPTHER, this op-ed series delves into the key players, emerging technologies, and regulatory changes shaping the future of online gaming. Each month, industry experts offer their insights and perspectives, providing readers with in-depth analysis and thought-provoking commentary on what’s driving the iGaming world forward. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or new to the scene, “Movers and Shakers” is your go-to source for staying ahead in the rapidly evolving iGaming landscape.
Can you introduce the awager product and tell us about your company’s aims in the European market?
With awager’s unique products, we aim to usher in a new era of casino gaming in Europe. Our products bridge the gap between traditional land-based casinos and online gaming by allowing players to access land-based slot games remotely. We use modular design, the latest in streaming and audio technology, and a cutting-edge, user-friendly interface to allow players to experience the sights and sounds of a real casino wherever they decide to play.
This product is a unique proposition in the iGaming industry. We have already established ourselves as a presence in North America, including launching the third iteration of our product with Loto Quebec.
Our aim is to provide players with a more authentic and immersive online gaming experience and after finding success in North America, we are now excited to introduce our product to European audiences.
Which markets will be a priority for awager as you expand into Europe, and why?
We have laid out a detailed roadmap for our European expansion. At the forefront of our strategy is a commitment to focusing exclusively on regulated markets, ensuring compliance and sustainability in our operations.
The United Kingdom is going to be a key target. It is undoubtedly the busiest and most dynamic market on the continent, and it offers a huge player base hungry for something fresh and exciting. This will help give us a strong foothold in the region and present plenty of growth opportunities for us as a company.
Sweden will also be a priority during our first wave. Swedish players have a strong affinity with land-based casinos, and as they begin to close down, we find ourselves uniquely positioned to step in and quench that thirst for a physical gaming experience. The Netherlands will also be an important market.
Once we have established a presence in these key markets, we will turn our attention to other regulated markets like Spain, Switzerland, Romania, and Greece. There is plenty of appetite in these countries for something different, and that is exactly what awager can bring to the table.
Are customer tastes significantly different in Europe compared to North America, and if so, how does awager intend to navigate this?
I don’t think there are too many major differences. America has a much stronger land-based culture than Europe, but European players are much more accustomed to online play, which is where our action takes place.
We anticipate some differences in spending habits. Generally speaking, American players tend to gravitate toward higher stakes games compared to their European counterparts, largely due to regulation and cultural differences.
However, all indications point towards European players strongly embracing our products with the same enthusiasm that has characterised our success in the American market. Given that Europe represents a much larger potential market, we have extremely high ambitions over the next years.
What are some of the biggest trends impacting the European market right now? And how is awager positioned to capitalise on them?
Innovation has been the industry’s buzzword for the last few years. Operators are relentlessly seeking to introduce fresh and exciting offerings that will captivate their players, and we are uniquely positioned to meet this demand.
Players are looking for more from their online casino experience, and operators are looking for innovative ways to attract more players. Our product is the ideal link between these two needs, enabling operators to draw in high-stakes players from traditional land-based casinos while appealing to players who crave a more authentic and fresh casino experience.
There is also a real movement towards creating a more authentic gaming experience. Our products cater to that need by using the latest streaming and sound technology to immerse players in the experience. One of the most consistent pieces of feedback we receive from both players and operators is that they can not quite grasp how real the whole experience is.
What are some of the biggest barriers to entry in the European market?
The biggest challenge for most companies looking to break into the European market is navigating regulations. We want to be in as many markets as possible, but we will strictly only work in regulated markets, which does rule out some countries.
Of course, there are also some regulatory hoops we need to jump through in each market, but our product is well-set to do that.
The post Movers and Shakers: How awager plans to redefine online casino gaming in the European market appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Paf employees donated €125,000
The Nordic gaming company Paf decided to give all employees the opportunity to donate €125,000 to various good causes, initiatives and projects. The causes were selected through a nomination and voting process by the employees.
All Paf employees were given the opportunity to nominate their own initiatives that they felt were worthy of Paf’s €125,000 donation. Once the nomination process was complete, employees were asked to vote for the initiatives, and it was the employees’ votes that determined which initiatives received the donation and how much of the sum was allocated to each project.
“It’s really important that everyone who works at Paf feels that our core mission is different and that it’s well worth working for. That’s why we wanted to involve the employees and give everyone a direct opportunity to determine the distribution of the donation,” says Paf’s CEO Christer Fahlstedt.
Paf’s basic purpose is to generate funds for the benefit of society. The annual profit is used as Paf funds for social, environmental, youth, sports and cultural purposes, among others.
Second year in a row
This is the second year in a row that Paf employees have been able to donate a sum of money to various good causes. Last year employees donated €100,000 and this year the amount was increased to €125,000.
“It was a great way to end last year and a good initiative to repeat this year. The donation is not part of Paf’s usual mission and purpose, but it reflects our overall core purpose in an excellent way,’ says Paf CEO Christer Fahlstedt.
The distribution of €125,000
When the employees gathered in December for the annual Christmas speech, the vote was taken and the result determined how the €125,000 would be distributed. The Employee vote gave causes for Ukraine the biggest donation and €40,000, followed by causes against cancer €25,000 and in third place causes for combating abuse of children €15.000.
1. €40.000 – Causes for Ukraine
2. €25.000 – Causes against cancer
3. €15.000 – Causes for combating abuse of children
4. €12.000 – Causes for Children
5. €9.000 – Causes for Animals
6. €7.000 – The Swedish Brain Foundation (Hjärnfonden)
7. €6.000 – Medical aid for Palestine
8. €5.000 – Causes for Women
9. €3.500 – Relief efforts – Spanish weather disaster
10. €2.500 – Jesuit Refugee Services Malta
Most votes – top 3
Causes for Ukraine goes to the following initiatives;
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Power Up Ukraine, Swedish based, helps with energy solutions
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Blågula Bilen, Swedish based, donates trucks & 4×4 vehicles with supplies
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Hospitallers, based in Ukraine, Hospitallers is a volunteer organization of paramedics.
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Come Back Alive, Ukraine, Demining in Ukraine
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Safe & Smart, Ukraine based, Restoring hybrid and offline learning in Ukrainian schools
Causes against cancer goes to;
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Barncancerfonden, Sweden, They help families and contribute to paediatric cancer research with the aim of eradicating childhood cancer
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Kingitud Elu, Estonia, Estonian Association of Parents of Children with Cancer
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Rintasyöpäyhdistys, Finland, Europa Donna Finland ry works to increase awareness of breast cancer and improve the quality of life for patients during and after the treatment period
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Project Liv, Finland, support children with cancer and their families
Causes for combating abuse of children goes to;
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Internet Watch Foundation, UK, stop child sexual abuse online
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Anti-Human Trafficking Intelligence Initiative, USA based, end human trafficking and child exploitation
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Missing Children Europe, protects children from going missing
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ECPAT, based in Thailand, ensures children live a childhood free from sexual abuse and exploitation
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La Strada International, Europe, works against human trafficking
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Prajwala, India, works to end sex trafficking & sex crime
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Maiti Nepal, Nepal, works for a society free from trafficking of children & women
The nomination and voting process was not open to organisations or initiatives that were already beneficiaries of Paf funds. Since 1966, Paf has distributed more than €447 million in Paf funds. In the spring of 2024, Paf was able to distribute €31.4 million for the benefit of society.
The post Paf employees donated €125,000 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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GENTING CASINOS UK RAISES £325K FOR CHIPS CHARITY IN 2024
Genting Casinos UK is proud to announce that it has raised an impressive £325,000 in 2024 to support CHIPS, a charity founded on behalf of the UK gaming industry to provide specialised powered wheelchairs for young disabled people.
The initiative was prompted by Paul Willcock, Chief Operating Officer, and President, who, at the company’s annual Senior Management Conference, encouraged the entire organisation to unite in support of this cause. As a trustee of CHIPS, Willcock holds the charity close to his heart and highlighted its transformative work.
Paul Willcock, COO and President of Genting Casinos UK, said: “Our team’s dedication to fundraising this year has been truly inspiring. From sky diving, sponsored walks and runs, to stacking one million casino chips in less than 24 hours; the creativity and commitment shown across the business have been outstanding. I am incredibly proud to lead such a passionate and caring group of people.
“The work CHIPS do is extraordinary, but it relies on the generosity of donors to make it happen. We are thrilled to have made such a significant contribution this year, and I look forward to seeing what we can achieve in the future.”
Thanks to the combined efforts of employees and customers, Genting Casinos UK has achieved a remarkable milestone in its support for CHIPS. The funds raised will go directly towards providing young disabled individuals with life-changing powered wheelchairs, enabling greater mobility and independence.
This achievement reflects Genting Casinos UK’s commitment to giving back to the community and supporting causes that make a tangible difference.
The post GENTING CASINOS UK RAISES £325K FOR CHIPS CHARITY IN 2024 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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The Power of High Performance: GR8 Tech Achieves 25% Turnover Growth in 2024
GR8 Tech has successfully closed the year – a 25% year-on-year increase in turnover, dozens of new clients signed, and a significant boost in client revenue. Throughout the year, the company developed nearly 200 new features and improvements, continually enhancing the functionality of its platform. With over 12.4 billion bets placed in 2024 (a 125% increase year-on-year), GR8 Tech has proven its ability to scale and deliver consistent performance, even during the busiest events.
“Our primary focus in 2024 was to empower operators with tools for seamless platform customization and streamlined management. We introduced geo-specific solutions that enable faster market launches, adapting platforms to meet local demands—whether through bonus mechanics, payment methods, or tailored content for sportsbook and casino. At the same time, we strengthened our offerings with enhanced sportsbook features, new games in the casino vertical, and innovative gamification mechanics to drive player engagement,” said Denys Parkhomenko, Chief Product Officer at GR8 Tech.
GR8 Tech demonstrated its robust scalability by handling 21.5 million bets during the IPL 2024 alone. With the capacity to process 20,000 bets and 54,000 wallet transactions per second, the platform consistently performs even during high-traffic periods.
In 2024, GR8 Tech signed numerous long-term partnerships, bringing its total number of projects worldwide to 45+ and proving the growing demand for customizable iGaming solutions. The company also received industry-wide acclaim, securing multiple prestigious awards, such as Silver as the Best Platform Provider of the Year at SBC Awards, “Best Online Sportsbook Provider” at SiGMA Eurasia, “Best Workplace” at SiGMA Americas, and “Rising Star Provider of the Year” at the Affpapa iGaming Awards 2024.
Building on its achievements, GR8 Tech is set for another successful year, continuing to deliver industry-leading solutions for operators around the world.
“Improvement and excellence are about consistently staying ahead. A trend might emerge and then disappear tomorrow, but improving your product – making it better than the competition – has lasting value. Whether it’s through better personalization, risk management, recommendations, or any other aspect, improvement is essential. And in this industry, you don’t really have a choice. It’s so fast-paced that if something new and valuable appears, you need to adopt it immediately. The mindset of constant improvement is what keeps a product relevant and competitive,” said Sergey Ghazaryan, CRO at GR8 Tech.
GR8 Tech heads into 2025 with a continued commitment to driving high-performance results, leading industry trends, and challenging the norm.
The post The Power of High Performance: GR8 Tech Achieves 25% Turnover Growth in 2024 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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