Latest News

Exclusive interview: Superlotto kicks off the World Cup in Africa!

Published

3 years ago

November 14, 2022

Reading Time: 4 minutes

Superlotto has become renowned as one of the fastest-rising stars in the industry, with an extensive portfolio of more than 80 online games and partners that includes the Lithuanian Lottery, Latvian Lottery, Georgian Lottery, Betsson Group, Parimatch, Slotegrator, and BtoBet.

With some seriously exciting plans in store for the World Cup, we sat down with Superlotto CCO, Milda Mikelioniene to talk through their latest deal with GOAT Interactive in Africa, as well the meteoric growth in popularity of Superlotto’s Instant Games. Read on to find out more!

Congratulations on Superlotto’s latest deal in Africa with GOAT Interactive! Your studio has been making a real impact this year – what’s been behind your success?

Thank you! We’re delighted to be bringing our top-performing products to even more players, especially given GOAT Interactive’s leading position on the African continent.

To start things off though, we don’t see it as a success, but rather the result of our team’s hard work. For us, it’s all about striving to be the best and we have been paying a lot of attention to fine-tuning and further developing our outstanding gaming portfolio. We’ve got some super exciting things in store for our partners including working with a renowned film studio to make our lottery, Instant Games and slots even more engaging, as well as top-notch animation and some really standout bonuses.

In short then, I’d put our hard work (and success!) down to our excellent diversity of gameplay, serious quality and highly attractive nature of our titles, which are proving a real hit with players. Make sure to get in touch with us at SiGMA!

Lottery and Instant Games are both very hot right now – what’s been Superlotto’s experience with player pick-up this year?

From our experience this year, we’re seeing a really strong demand for premium sportsbooks looking to get more involved in offering Instant Games, and I’m beginning to understand why. First up, Instant Games are really bridging the gap between traditional / physical lotteries and online casino slots. This means that we’re able to appeal to multiple player demographics across what is, in effect, three different verticals.

Also, there’s no doubt that having easy-to-play games (i.e. Instant Games) allows operators to offer a seriously diverse spectrum of content to their audience, and as a result, attract a wealth of new players looking to give this fast-growing part of casino a try.

What do you see as the driving force between both verticals’ new founded popularity?

As we’ve touched on – it’s all about diversity of content, easy-to-understand games that can attract multiple different audiences, and most importantly (and especially in the case of Africa), something that can offer a synergy between lottery, sports and slots. As we’re seeing, Instant Games do that and more!

Of course, to drive that popularity (and indeed availability), there’s a lot of factors at play. A diversity of content is heavily dependent on local regulation and jurisdictional variance. Competition is key too, especially if you have one main studio that has a particularly strong hold on a certain market. So, to summarise – it’s all about offering an engaging and exciting catalogue that can engage and entertain – as well as offering elements that can attract multiple different types of audiences!

Looking to your multiple certifications and WLA membership – how do you see lottery developing in the next few years, as a stakeholder in the industry?

We’ve very proud to be a member of the WLA – as well as our extensive list of regulatory certifications from some of the industry’s leading bodies.

As someone who’s been part of the industry for quite a few years, I’ve had the privilege of watching lottery grow across global markets, and we’ve got some super exciting plans that we’ll be announcing for the Americas soon enough.

So how will it develop? Well, you certainly don’t need to reinvent the wheel! Lottery’s a winning fixture because of the social element that comes with it, as well as a true feeling from the player that they’re participating in a proposition that is probably fair. What I mean here, is that offering lottery to audiences with a real element of trust means that you need to have a solid format that can demonstrably show that it truly is a game of chance.

So, that means keeping with the key tenets of lottery that have contributed to its success over the past 10 years. Of course, the visual format may change, with even more exciting studios, attractive designs and added factors that can engage and excite but given we’re talking about one of the world’s most famous, and indeed, popular gambling products – I believe that staying true to what made it great in the first place is key.

Last but not least, with the World Cup fast approaching – you’ve got plenty of excitement building with your football-themed games – what has Superlotto got in store?

Despite our beloved home of Lithuania not being in the competition, we have been ready for the World Cup for a long time!

We’ve got some really exciting football games in store for our partners to make sure they boost engagement and incremental revenue throughout the tournament. Not only that, but they’re also fully customisable, which means that each of our operator partners can get our own proprietary football games completely branded in the way that they choose.

As we’ve already mentioned, we definitely see Instant Games being the perfect complimentary product to sportsbook throughout the tournament. For us, it’s all about offering gameplay with super exciting parallels with current events. So, take a football game – boost it during the World Cup and tailor it to the same entertainment fans are getting on-screen, and I can promise that you’ll be onto a winner with us at Superlotto!

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: