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East Africa’s iGaming Industry A Prime Opportunity For Growth And Expansion
East Africa is one of the regions in Africa that is garnering the most attraction when it comes to the betting and gambling industry. We meet Alessandro Pizzolotto, STM Gaming’s CEO and Certified Partner of BtoBet in Africa what he thinks about the subject and how the region could further evolve in the short to medium term.
Is it your opinion that sports betting is more rampant in Eastern Africa? Why?
There is no doubt that the popularity of sports betting in the whole of Africa derives from the huge popularity of sports across the entire continent. The popularity of sports, especially football, has been further highlighted in recent years with the huge success of African players in major European leagues. One could make reference to Napoli’s strong Senegalese centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly, Arsenal’s Gabonese striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, and Liverpool’s Sadio Mane, amongst many others.
Nonetheless with numbers at hand, a report published by Dublin based research firm “Research and Report” clearly indicates that the iGaming industry in the Sub-Saharan region is seeing an increase in the number of millenials who make use of mobile phones to place bets. The report states that the eastern region in Africa, with Kenya and Uganda as the primary examples, is at the forefront of the continent’s gambling market.
How did weak laws and regulations offer the perfect environment for the growth of gambling in Eastern Africa?
I wouldn’t state that East African markets are afflicted by weak regulations. The M-Pesa and SMS payments conundrum that resulted in Kenya last year was in effect a demonstration that local regulations do work, and in blocking these vital payment systems to the country’s largest operators the Kenyan government was effectively cutting the operators from millions of customers.
Whilst one can argue to great length regarding the escalating enforcement measures that were introduced by the government, this does not in itself demonstrate a weak regulatory framework that would benefit black or grey markets.
Does East Africa have more nations that participate in sports betting than any other African region?
To understand why the iGaming industry has registered stronger growth in Eastern Africa than in other regions one has to understand the payment gateways and services available, which are fundamental to the industry. East Africa is undoubtedly at the forefront of the entire continent when it comes to payment gateways, especially mobile money. It is a known fact that from a financial inclusion perspective Africa is still lagging behind more established markets, such as Europe.
Yet when it comes to East Africa, the region – with countries such as Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda – is a global leader in regards to the highest per capita registered and active mobile money accounts, and volume of mobile money. The region has the fastest growth in mobile money accounts and in each country the number of mobile money accounts surpassed the number of bank accounts.
The phenomenon of mobile money has been ongoing in the East African region since 2007. The roots of mobile money lie in Kenya with the launch of M-Pesa by Vodacom . With the lack of financial infrastructure in the region and the cost of mobile phones dropping rapidly in that same period, mobile money spread quickly through the rest of East Africa.
If one were to compare two leading markets in Africa – Kenya from the East African region and Nigeria from its Western counterpart – one would find huge discrepancies from this perspective. Whilst in Kenya 56% of the population aged over 15 years have an account with a financial institution, on the other hand 73% report having a mobile money account. At the same time the situation cannot be more different in Nigeria, with 39% of the population having an account with a financial institution and only 5.6% having a mobile money account. This obviously has a very strong impact on the iGaming industry.
Nonetheless this situation is set to change in the short to medium term, especially with the continuous expansion of companies such as MTN Africa and Airtel Africa across the whole continent. Such an expansion will pave the way for a true pan-African payment gateway facilitating money transfers, deposits and withdrawals when it comes to the regional iGaming industry.
Source: Latest News on European Gaming Media Network
This is a Syndicated News piece. Photo credits or photo sources can be found on the source article: East Africa’s iGaming Industry A Prime Opportunity For Growth And Expansion
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Stretch Network has Two New Poker Features
Stretch Network has announced the launch of two poker features aimed at enriching the player experience and enhancing operator offerings:
Show/Muck: A functionality that empowers players to control the information they reveal after a hand. Whether players choose to display a winning strategy, bluff their opponents, or keep their cards hidden, this feature introduces an exciting psychological aspect to the game. It adds a new layer of strategy, allowing players to influence the flow of the game and create a more engaging poker environment, keeping both participants and spectators on the edge of their seats.
Cash Money: This feature allows players to use bonus funds during cash games, seamlessly converting the used portion into real money. Any remaining bonus funds are automatically returned to the player’s balance, ensuring both value and convenience. This adds flexibility and provides an enriched experience for players, giving them the freedom to maximize their gaming session without limitations.
With these updates, Stretch Network reinforces its dedication to delivering poker solutions that empower operators and enhance player satisfaction, creating a more thrilling and rewarding environment for all involved.
The post Stretch Network has Two New Poker Features appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Ascend into an enchanting world of big wins with Golden Goose Megways ™
Big Time Gaming’s a thrilling new slot sees players join Jack as he climbs the legendary beanstalk in search of giant wins
Join Jack as he climbs the magic beanstalk in search of giant prizes in Golden Goose Megaways, the latest slot from Big Time Gaming.
Golden Goose Megaways™ introduces BTG’s signature high-volatility mechanics with a twist. It brings the legendary tale to life and with up to 117,649 ways to win with every spin comes brimming with magical big win potential.
Players will encounter mystical Cloud Prizes floating above the reels, starting at 2x the stake and reaching up to a staggering 500x. The appearance of the golden Egg symbol boosts the Cloud Prize above that reel, creating an opportunity for monumental rewards.
Players will also meet Bonus Boy, who emerges from the beanstalk to collect these Cloud Prizes, multiplying them by up to 10x in the base game and unlocking even greater riches during Free Spins.
Let’s take a closer look at the bonus action players will encounter as they ascend into the enchanting world of Golden Goose Megways.
Cloud Prizes and Bonus Boy
Enchanted Cloud Prizes float above reels two, three, four and five and have a starting value of 2x the player’s bet. Each time a Golden Egg symbol lands, it enhances the Cloud Prize above that respective reel, boosting it by up to 500x.
Then there’s the Bonus Boy who can magically appear above the reels with each spin or reaction. When he does, he can collect a Cloud Prize, instantly rewarding the player with the displayed amount and resetting the prize to zero.
In the base game, the Bonus Boy can amplify the Cloud Prize by 10 letting players climb the beanstalk to colossal wins.
Free Spins
Landing three or more Scatters in the base game whisks players away to ten Free Games, with an additional five Free Spins for each additional triggering Scatter.
During Free Spins, the Bonus Boy starts with a Cloud Prize Multiplier of 1x with each subsequent Bonus Boy increasing the Multiplier, climbing higher with each appearance—x2, x3, and beyond, just like Jack’s beanstalk reaching into the sky! Bonus Boy can also collect up to four Cloud Prizes at once for payouts that fairytales are made of.
Win Exchange™
Golden Goose Megaways allows players to turn big wins into Free Spins with Big Time Gaming’s innovative Win Exchange™. If the player lands a win between 25x and 80x the bet, they have a shot at 10 Free Spins. Alternatively, they can instantly buy their way into Free Spins using Bonus Buy™, ensuring immediate access to the adventure and thrill.
With a 96.44% RTP, high volatility, and broad market appeal, Golden Goose Megaways™ promises a prime choice for players.
Nik Robinson, CEO at Big Time Gaming, said: “Players will be captivated by the sheer power and flexibility of Golden Goose Megaways™. This game embodies the innovation BTG is known for, combining skill, chance, and immersive storytelling to deliver an unforgettable gaming experience. Can they find the goose that lays that all important Golden Egg? There’s only one way to find out.”
The post Ascend into an enchanting world of big wins with Golden Goose Megways ™ appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Thunderkick spreads festive cheer with Hot Turkey
Exploding Wilds and increasing multipliers unlock 10,000x win potential
Independent slots studio Thunderkick has launched Hot Turkey, its latest holiday-themed release that channels Christmas spirit and unwraps maximum wins up to 10,000x.
Candy canes, mistletoe, and Christmas gifts adorn the reels of this 7×7 Cluster Pays slot, where the Avalanche mechanic returns to boost payouts by replacing all symbols from winning combinations.
Every Avalanche win drops an Exploding Wild onto the grid, which either contributes to a new cluster or clears the surrounding 3×3 area, leaving behind 2x multipliers. Should another Exploding Wild detonate over an existing multiplier, the value is doubled up to 128x, greatly enhancing wins.
Landing three Hot Scatters triggers the bonus round, with an initial 10 free spins awarded. During free spins, multipliers left behind by Exploding Wilds remain sticky for the duration of the feature, paving the way for 10,000x maximum wins.
Hot Turkey is the most recent addition to Thunderkick’s expanding holiday-themed slot collection, joining Midas Golden Touch Christmas Edition and the Esqueleto Explosivo trilogy. The provider continues to diversify its product portfolio, emphasising its desire to create compelling games that resonate with a global player base.
Mike Collins, Game Product Owner at Thunderkick, said: “Christmas is the most widely celebrated global holiday, and we’ve attempted to leverage some of that famous festive cheer in Hot Turkey.
“This game sees the return of several fan-favourite features, including Avalanche wins, Exploding Wilds, and Sticky Multipliers. We have combined these with huge 10,000x win potential, themed icons and a merry backing track to create a title we are sure will bring players joy.”
The post Thunderkick spreads festive cheer with Hot Turkey appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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