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The latest in live: How Vivo Gaming grew its live casino offering during the pandemic
The global COVID-19 pandemic saw an influx of land-based casino players migrate online in search of viable alternatives to in-person gaming.
European Gaming spoke to Adriana Nitu, Sales Manager at Vivo Gaming, about the challenges involved in managing this shift and what they’ve done to retain these players as life returns to normal.
How do you accurately replicate the land-based casino experience as closely as possible to give players that authentic feeling when playing their favourite table games? What innovations were developed to ensure this?
The dealer is the heart and soul of making the experience feel as authentic as possible. The human element cannot be understated, so go to great lengths to ensure that all staff are professionally trained and have a great deal of experience behind them before they’re put in front of a camera. Of course, our expert dealers are showcased within our high-quality studios, home to all of the best live dealer games that people would usually gravitate to if they were in a land-based casino.
It’s important that we keep the setting fresh, we do this by having a number of different studios with varying décor, giving clients and players as wide a variety as possible. It goes without saying that high-definition streaming is another element that’s vital to making players feel as though they are standing in front of the table as the cards are dealt. Having the technology to offer the operator the ability to illustrate their brand also helps the player feel as though they are back enjoying the land-based operation they frequented, or to become more familiar with a new one.
Of course, an intuitive user interface is essential for making sure all this works seamlessly – if the mechanics are getting between the player and the experience, they are unlikely to enjoy it as much as they would a land-based casino so investment on that front cannot be ignored.
What measures have Vivo Gaming taken to ensure the retention of the players that migrated over from land-based casinos during the pandemic?
Land-based still has an important place, but a hybrid approach is being widely adopted by many casinos now. We offer the streaming of land-based casinos, which remains popular and brings that feeling of being there to those players.
During the various lockdowns when many people suddenly had a lot more time on their hands many discovered new pastimes and hobbies and for those that have a keen interest in casino, they learned how to play new games. It’s been important to keep up with these expanding interests and always offer players a wide range of options in general.
Localisation is often overlooked, to the detriment of many services. Language, in particular, needs to be taken into careful consideration. Players want to play a game in their native language, promotional material should also be localised in this way as much as possible as well.
Obviously, nobody can truly prepare for a global pandemic on the scale we’ve experienced, but how did Vivo Gaming cope with the increase in players from both a technical and an organisational standpoint?
Initially, we just rolled with the influx, and in the end, it hasn’t massively changed too many of our internal processes. However, we have grown our service and technical teams significantly, increasing the company’s headcount, knowledge and product offering. Although Vivo Gaming had already been growing at pace at that point in time, COVID certainly sped things up.
That being said, one department we found we particularly needed to grow was the Account Management Team – it became very clear that this was a time when our global customer-based were going to need more attention than ever before, looking back it’s fair to suggest that this investment paid off. It enabled us to ensure our clients benefited from quick technical integrations of new games and support with promotional offers for players.
The situation highlighted the fact that companies have no choice but to innovate to remain competitive. It also showed us that technology needs to catch up with the demands of customers when it comes to their online offering.
For land-based operators, it became clear that an online option was vital and even now a hybrid approach is by far the most advisable path for any casino.
How do you foresee the industry changing as we go into 2022, given the degree of growth and innovation we have seen in the past two years?
One of the biggest impacts of the past two years that we will see going forward is a huge increase in the number of people working from home. This will naturally mean an increase in the demand for entertainment in the home. I expect that we’re going to see a continued surge in innovation in product lines such as virtual reality and augmented reality, as well as new and updated games that are designed to better suit these formats.
It’s timely that we are now seeing such aggressive strides forward in initiatives like the Metaverse, which captures the way people will want to experience live gaming going forward.
On Vivo Gaming’s side, we’re currently working on gaining additional licences in new and emerging markets, as well as opening new studios across Europe. We’re also expanding our offering with dedicated tables and personalised studios via our Chroma Key solution, in addition to this, we’ll continue to focus on improving our established operations using a new expanded data feed API.
Have the last two years given the company an opportunity to step back and assess the key areas in which there’s room for growth? If so, which areas were highlighted as having potential?
Yes, absolutely. We have been working on several new games that will be delivered in 2022. We are also updating each of our game’s UIs, as well as our studios and equipment. We will also be implementing new tools that will help us to further grow the products, delivery and Vivo services.
Additionally, a host of amazing people have joined the Vivo Team over the past few months and their input, knowledge and talents are driving parts of the business forward which is exciting to see. The optimism and motivation to see Vivo succeed is palpable.
Importantly, we’ve also taken this time to examine the regulatory status of several new markets, which we look forward to announcing more on soon. We cater for a truly international audience, and as we all know, every individual market has different quirks and requirements. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach that can be taken but the strategic thinking necessary to overcome that is our speciality.
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GGPoker to Broadcast WSOP Online 2025 Final Tables Live, Featuring GGPoker.tv Broadcast Debut of Poker Legend Phil Hellmuth
Join Jeff Gross and his legendary co-hosts on September 23 and September 30
GGPoker, the World’s Biggest Poker Room, today announced it will live stream the final table action of two of the most prestigious events from the ongoing WSOP Online 2025 tournament series. The broadcasts will be available on GGPoker.tv, the brand’s official YouTube channel, and will feature the debut of poker legend Phil Hellmuth as a live GGPoker.tv broadcast host.
The first broadcast, on September 23, will showcase the high-stakes drama from the final table of the $5,000 WSOP Online Main Event, arguably online poker’s most important annual tournament. This landmark event will be co-hosted by frequent GGPoker anchor Jeff Gross and the 17-time WSOP bracelet winner, Phil Hellmuth. Known for his “poker brat” persona and unparalleled tournament record, Hellmuth’s inclusion will provide viewers with an unprecedented look into the mind of one of poker’s greatest champions.
The action continues on September 30, with the final table of the $10,300 GGMillion$ High Rollers event. Joining Jeff Gross for this broadcast will be GGPoker Global Ambassador and fellow poker icon, Daniel Negreanu. Negreanu, with his engaging style and deep understanding of the game, will provide expert commentary and analysis, making this broadcast another must-watch for poker fans everywhere.
“We are incredibly excited to bring the WSOP Online 2025 action directly to our fans with these two live broadcasts,” said Paul Burke, Head of Public Relations at GGPoker. “Having Phil Hellmuth and Daniel Negreanu on air alongside Jeff Gross to break down the action will be a true treat. This will be more than just watching a final table; it’ll be a masterclass in poker strategy from two of the best to ever play the game.”
The post GGPoker to Broadcast WSOP Online 2025 Final Tables Live, Featuring GGPoker.tv Broadcast Debut of Poker Legend Phil Hellmuth appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Ta ‘Xbiex, Malta, September 2025: The Wildz Group is pleased to announce an impressive new addition to its flagship Wildz platform: Video-On-Demand product Wildz TV.
Wildz TV is a rich content offering that takes into account the popularity of Video On Demand (VOD). The service delivers rich media entertainment created by guest presenters that enhances the iGaming user experience within the sportsbook and online casino verticals.
As the first Wildz Group brand to provide a full sportsbook offering that accompanies its popular online casino within the same platform, Wildz is the ideal space to boost the enjoyment even more by introducing VOD content. Aligning with the brand’s ‘GET MORE’ payoff line, this complete entertainment suite provides streaming, live chat and 24/7 customer support, setting the bar high for one-stop leisure gaming.
Embracing the trend
VOD content is sweeping the globe as the preferred option chosen by customers seeking to make the most of their leisure activities, allowing them exclusive access to content suited to their tastes (Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Disney+ being notable examples). According to Markets dot com, in 2023 the VOD market size was valued at USD 146.6 billion, and it’s forecast to balloon to USD 270.3 billion by 2028, with a CAGR of 13%. It made sense to the Wildz team that this trend will inevitably dominate gambling entertainment, too, leading to the creation of a VOD tier of video action in Wildz TV.
Wildz hosts the phenomenal team at Gämblerscast to showcase how this works. They’re renowned for their razor-sharp commentary and insights. Viewers can enjoy Gämblerscast episodes, explore dedicated Gämblers Picks for selected sports and even dip into the Gämblers Favourite Slots.
About Gämblerscast
The collective at Gämblerscast has been amassing a growing following of enthusiasts on Twitch, YouTube and TikTok. As gambling enthusiasts, they know exactly how to create content that appeals to players, including insights, observations, humour and plenty of fun. This winning combination makes them a great fit as the first-ever team to be hosted on Wildz.
The added value of VOD
Players get the opportunity to access exclusive content for a modest premium, content that’s designed to match their interests. While Hulu and Paramount+ (for example) cater to mass markets, sites such as Wildz TV can provide niche content.
Contained behind a paywall, VOD entertainment is perfect for gambling as it underscores the importance of providing access to content according to Responsible Gaming principles and guidelines. Better yet, this source of revenue for entertainers offers a more sustainable form of entertainment that allows others to explore their creativity, too.
Jani Koskinen, Chief Marketing Officer at Wildz Group, says, “VOD is the way forward for gambling platforms seeking to acquire, entertain, engage, and retain players. We’ve seen a great impact from hosting the Gämblerscast team and premium sports events, and we anticipate quality engagement as we explore the benefits of offering rich and exclusive media to our customers. Welcome to the future of iGaming entertainment!”
Wildz TV is yet another reason players are moving to Wildz and sticking around for more quality gambling entertainment.
The post WILDZ INTRODUCES CUTTING-EDGE ENTERTAINMENT WITH WILDZ TV appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Ubisoft and BLAST are thrilled to announce that the 2026 Six Invitational, the biggest event in the BLAST R6 calendar, will take place at the Adidas Arena in northern Paris for the very first time.
Reopened in 2023 following major renovations, this state-of-the-art venue has quickly become one of Paris’s premier destinations for sport and entertainment. Designed with fan experience in mind, the Adidas Arena regularly hosts top-tier basketball games, concerts, and cultural events, and was a key stage during the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
With cutting-edge broadcast capabilities, spacious backstage areas for players, and infrastructure built for live streaming and large-scale digital productions, the Adidas Arena is also positioning itself as one of the most esports-friendly venues in Europe.
“The Six Invitational is not just a tournament, it’s a celebration of the Rainbow Six community,” said Robbie Douek, CEO of BLAST. “Bringing the event to Adidas Arena allows us to create an unforgettable experience for players and fans in one of Europe’s most exciting venues.”
“Hosting the Six Invitational 2026 in Paris, at the Adidas Arena, is a milestone for Ubisoft and for French esports,” said François-Xavier Deniele, VP, Esports & Competitive Gaming, Ubisoft. “France has become a leading hub for competitive gaming, and bringing Rainbow Six’s biggest event here highlights our commitment to the community.”
About the Tournament
The Six Invitational will span three distinct phases, each crafted to deliver intense competition and compelling narratives.
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Phase 1: Group Stage20 qualified teams will be divided into four groups of five. Each team will face the others in Best-of-3 matches. The top four teams from each group will advance.
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Phase 2: Playoffs16 teams will enter a double-elimination bracket, with all matches played in Best-of-3 format. Teams knocked to the lower bracket will have one final lifeline to stay in the competition. By the end of this phase, only six teams will remain.
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Phase 3: FinalsThe final six teams will battle in front of a live Parisian crowd at the Adidas Arena. Across two days of Best-of-3 matches, the field will narrow to the last two contenders, who will face off in a Best-of-5 Grand Final to crown the world champion.
Ticket Information
Tickets for the Six Invitational 2026 will go on sale this week. Ticket categories include the ELITE Merchandise Bundle (€300), Carré Or, and multiple standard categories ranging from €75 to €175 (3-day passes), with 1-day passes starting from €30.
The post Adidas Arena Set to Welcome the 2026 Six Invitational appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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