Latest News

MGA Games accelerates its internationalization with its new action plan for 2022

Published

4 years ago

November 24, 2021

Reading Time: 4 minutes

The company is working on launching more than 50 international products, all of them featuring a well-known celebrity character.
Together with the Spanish, Colombian and Portuguese Celebrities series, famous personalities will also be introduced to Italy, Holland, Germany, Sweden, and Denmark.
MGA Games reveals its agreement with Recreativos Franco to distribute several of its most international and emblematic products, such as Santa Fe and Gnomos.
In 2022, MGA Games will also be launching “Magic Red Roulette”, an online version of the popular land-based game currently installed in more than 6,000 locations around the world.

Today, MGA Games presented its strategic plan for 2022, a roadmap marking the company’s route to becoming the international benchmark for the production and distribution of localised slot games for global operators. A plan that includes: the launch of more than 50 products next year, international strategic alliances, global exclusivity agreements, promotional actions, localised and imported land-base rules, and much more.

Joan Sanahuja, founder and CEO of MGA Games, opened the second edition of the online event MGA Games Day by welcoming attendees to the new MGA Games offices in the province of Barcelona – “A space that enhances the values and DNA of our company: innovation, professionalism, a vocation for service and teamwork.” Joan also emphasised that “at MGA Games, we will work to demonstrate that regulated gaming is both safe and prosperous, and we will equip all our operators with advanced tools and the best, localised content ”.

José Antonio Giacomelli, General Director of MGA Games, introduced the new products planned for 2022 and everything that the company has prepared to help operators continue growing with their products.

The plan for next year is to create and certify more than 50 international titles with world-class IPs (Intellectual Property), as we’ve done this year with celebrities Paolo Futre and Sylvia Geersen. What’s more and together with the Spanish, Colombian, and Portuguese Celebrities series, we will also be bringing famous personalities to Italy, Holland, Germany, Sweden, and Denmark.

“We have taken the product a step further with games such as Golden Throne, The Last Gladiator and Cleopatra, and our strategy is to localise all the games for each of the markets we are going to penetrate,” said Giacomelli.

In 2021, MGA Games landed in Portugal, where they signed agreements with 75% of operators and where the company’s Portuguese Celebrities such as Paulo Futre, Anna Catharina, Chef Jackal, among others, are already live with one of the leading operators, Pokerstars.

According to Sara Gómez, MGA Games Sales Manager, the next destination is the Netherlands, “where we have everything ready to launch with Microgaming, Pariplay, Oryx and Leander, among others.” In parallel, we are also working on the documentation necessary to bring the MGA Games product to Italy, where agreements have already been signed with 5 major operators. We are also working to achieve the same for Sweden, Denmark and Germany.

“We will be working with the strategy that has helped us succeed so well in Spain and will continue our expansion by replicating this success in all regulated countries in Europe, starting with the certification of more than 30 games for these new jurisdictions,” said Sara Gómez

All this without forgetting the Spanish market where MGA Games stands out as the leading content provider with more than 95% of national online casinos featuring their slot games. In 2022, the company will be increasing its commitment to the national market with 26 new 3-reel Spanish Celebrities products, compared to 18 in 2021. And are delighted to be featuring new celebrities such as Eugenio, Poli Díaz, Sevilla and Mario Vaquerizo, among many more.

Another part of the product strategy presented at MGA Games Day was the commercialisation of the new table game, the “Grand Croupier Roulette”, with its own 3D engine, and whose first international versions are to feature 5 digitally recreated well-known celebrities.

The launch of “Magic Red Roulette” was also announced. Originally developed by the company SMI, manufacturers of the land-based version, and currently installed in more than 6,000 locations around the world, this roulette game will be made available online through the MGA Games platform.

“With these two games and all the additional versions that we have prepared, we are sure that our international roulette line will be an ideal complement for casino operators”, said José Antonio Giacomelli.

During the session, MGA Games also revealed one of the collaboration agreements that will come to fruition in 2022 with the company Recreativos Franco, which recently merged with the Orenes Group. This alliance will allow MGA Games to exclusively distribute six of its iconic and most international land-based products: Gnomes, Santa Fe, Neopolis, RF Angels, Bowling and Burlesque.

The MGA Games account management team, in charge of personalised customer service, and represented by Belén Serano and Gerard Martínez, presented the actions and promotions that the company will carry out from next year. Actions centralised via the new website, which the company has designed as a practical and useful tool for operators.

In the last part of MGA Games Day, Roberto Ayala, R&D Director OF MGA Games, and his team explained in more detail the expansion of the slot game catalogue with Megaways – a high-performance international product. MGA Games will be personalising the game with its celebrities and including it in their 5-reel casino slot game offering.

The day was brought to an end with words of thanks from Joan Sanahuja, who said: “At MGA Games, we continue to innovate and place the user at the center of all we develop. I cannot be more proud of our games and of our team who, with their effort and enthusiasm, have made all of this possible.”

Latest News

From ‘Mummyverse’ to Crash Games: Belatra Reviews a Landmark 2025

Published

1 day ago

December 23, 2025

George Miller

Editor’s Take

Why this matters: Belatra has been a steady hand in the slots world for a long time, but 2025 marked a distinct shift in strategy. By entering the Crash vertical with Goose Boom Bang and winning big at SiGMA Africa, the studio is clearly pivoting to capture the high-growth, high-frequency players in emerging markets. They are no longer just a “classic slots” developer; they are diversifying the portfolio to ensure relevance in regions like LatAm and Africa.

The Full Story

Belatra Games, the specialist online slots developer, has issued a strategic review of its 2025 operations, celebrating a 12-month period defined by entry into new game verticals, significant franchise expansion, and high-profile industry recognition.

The year was characterized by a dual strategy: deepening engagement in established markets while aggressively expanding its content portfolio to suit local preferences in emerging territories.

Portfolio Evolution: Crash and Battles 2025 saw Belatra move beyond its traditional slot roots. The company made its debut in the high-demand Crash game vertical with the launch of Goose Boom Bang, a title designed to tap into the fast-paced gameplay preference of younger demographics.

Additionally, the studio introduced a fresh game concept with the launch of Battles, a new format unveiled for the first time in 2025, with further development planned for 2026.

The ‘Mummyverse’ Expands For fans of classic slots, the highlight of the year was the aggressive expansion of the Mummyverse. Belatra nearly doubled the size of this franchise over the year, making it the most extensive game universe in their entire catalog.

The developer also focused on B2B localization, releasing a number of exclusive bespoke games created specifically for selected operator partners to meet specific local market tastes.

Awards and Recognition The company’s strategic shifts were validated by industry accolades. Belatra secured over 30 nominations throughout the year, with standout wins including:

Best Slot Provider (awarded by BitStarz).
Most Played Game of 2025 for Make It Gold at the SiGMA Africa Awards.
Player’s Pick Award.

Management Commentary Misha Voinich, Head of Business Development at Belatra, commented on the studio’s momentum:

“This year has truly defined who we are as a studio – ambitious, creative and focused on building long-term partnerships. We’ve expanded our universes, launched new ones and entered exciting new markets that will all help us carry this momentum into the New Year.”

The post From ‘Mummyverse’ to Crash Games: Belatra Reviews a Landmark 2025 appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry Newsroom.

Latest News

‘Chaos and Soul’: Ebaka Games Plots Global Expansion After Viral Launch

Published

1 day ago

December 23, 2025

George Miller

Editor’s Take

Why this matters: The “Instant Game” vertical (Crash, Plinko, Mines) is becoming crowded, but Ebaka Games is cutting through the noise with a distinct brand personality. By securing BMM Testlabs certification so quickly after launch, they are signaling to Tier 1 operators that despite their “chaotic” marketing vibe, the math underneath is solid and compliant. The backing of industry veteran Dmitry Belianin also adds immediate commercial credibility to the startup.

The Full Story

Ebaka Games, the fledgling studio that promises to bring “chaos and soul” to the iGaming sector, has outlined an aggressive growth strategy for 2026 following a landmark launch period in late 2025.

The studio, which officially debuted in November, reports that its initial rollout reached more than five million people worldwide. The launch saw its portfolio go live with the operator Menace, serving as the initial testbed for its mechanics and “Ebaka modes.”

The Product: Instant Games with Personality Ebaka is bypassing traditional slots to focus on the high-growth vertical of fast-paced, instant-win games. Their initial lineup includes:

Plinko
Mines
Tower
Limbo
Crash

Differentiation is achieved through unique mascots and signature gameplay tweaks designed to offer high win potential and distinct visual identities, moving away from the generic interfaces often found in this genre.

Regulatory Milestone Crucially for its 2026 roadmap, Ebaka Games has confirmed it has secured certification from BMM Testlabs. This accreditation validates the fairness and integrity of its RNG (Random Number Generator) and game engines, removing a major barrier to entry for regulated markets. With this certification in hand, the studio plans to launch with a number of “major brands” in the coming year.

Management Commentary Vitalii Zalievskyi, CEO of Ebaka Games, commented on the studio’s unorthodox approach:

“It’s only been a few weeks since we first introduced Ebaka Games to the world. The feedback has been breathtaking, and it vindicates the decision for us to take a different path to the rest of the industry. You don’t need huge marketing budgets to grab people’s attention if you are building something truly innovative.”

Industry Backing The studio describes itself as being “created by players for players” but boasts significant industry firepower in its corner. The team includes Dmitry Belianin, a well-known figure in the sector who is the co-founder of Blask and Menace, as well as Managing Partner at Already Media.

The post ‘Chaos and Soul’: Ebaka Games Plots Global Expansion After Viral Launch appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry Newsroom.

Latest News

Racing Meets Nightlife: SBK Backs ARC’s New ‘Friday Night Live’ Series

Published

1 day ago

December 23, 2025

George Miller

Editor’s Take

Why this matters: British racing has a well-documented demographic problem; its core audience is aging. “Friday Night Live” is a direct attempt to fix this by blending high-stakes racing with the “experience economy” (DJs, nightlife vibes) that appeals to Gen Z and Millennials. Bringing SBK on board—a mobile-first, app-only sportsbook—is a perfect demographic fit, while the Racing Post adds the necessary credibility to ensure the actual racing product remains the focus.

The Full Story

Arena Racing Company (ARC) has unveiled the strategic commercial lineup for its upcoming Friday Night Live series, confirming SBK as the Exclusive Betting Partner and The Racing Post as the Official Media Partner.

Set to launch in January 2026, Friday Night Live is a new initiative created in collaboration with youth-focused events company INVADES. The series is designed to overhaul the traditional race day experience, featuring fast-paced fixtures under floodlights, DJ sets, and significant entertainment elements sandwiched between races.

The Commercial Deal

SBK: As the exclusive betting partner, the Smarkets-owned sportsbook will take naming rights and on-course branding for all 35 races. Crucially, these races will be broadcast live on mainstream television via ITV Racing as well as Sky Sports Research.
The Racing Post: As the Official Media Partner, the publication will provide content, coverage, and promotion across its digital platforms, aiming to bridge the gap between established racing purists and the new audience ARC hopes to attract.

A High-Stakes Experiment The series is not just a marketing exercise; it carries serious sporting weight. Each of the five scheduled nights will feature over £200,000 in prize money. The fixtures will rotate across three of ARC’s all-weather tracks: Wolverhampton, Newcastle, and Southwell.

Management Commentary David Leyden Dunbar, Group Director of Commercial Strategy at ARC, was clear about the target audience:

“We have been very clear that one of the aims of Friday Night Live is to engage the next generation of racing fans… Both [partners] have shown real enthusiasm to work with us… as well as using the platform that these fixtures will offer them to also engage with more established racing and sports fans.”

Adam Baylis, Marketing Director at SBK, added:

“Friday Night Live [is] a fresh and engaging concept that brings a new energy to British racing. SBK has always been built around sport… our focus is on enhancing the live race day experience in a fun, social and responsible way.”

The 2026 Schedule The series kicks off immediately in the new year: