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Goa set to restrict the right of locals to gamble at casinos next year
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There are set to be rather dramatic changes in the Indian state of Goa next year, following an announcement that only tourists are set to be able to gamble in the state’s casinos.
Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar said over the weekend that government is aiming to restrict locals on account of gambling ruining the society.
Opposition parties and civil society organisations have long called for a ban on local gambling at Goa’s casinos, and the move doesn’t come as much of a surprise. Speaking on the ban, Parrikar stated: “as a policy, Goans will not be permitted to enter the casino’s playing areas and only visiting tourists shall be permitted”.
It is not yet clear just how the new policy will be implemented, but the ban looks set to get into full swing next year, with January being mooted as the starting point for the new laws to come into effect. The chief minister announced that many of Panaji’s offshore (floating) casino would be moved out of the region, and no new ones would be permitted to take their place.
The Government of Goa is likely to move the casinos on to new zones, with any further licenses for those casino owners being determined by whether or not they express a willingness to move on within a year’s time. Business is set to be reduced by as much as 50% following the change in the law, according to Kundan Shetye, one of the onshore casino owners.
The move to ban gambling for locals comes after many years of fighting the gambling industry in Goa. The ruling BJP party has had designs on ending the right of locals to gamble since they were in opposition back in 2007. After coming to power in 2012, they were even accused of working with the casino industry before the passing of the most recent bill.
As well as the shift to offshore areas, new licenses are set to cost more than ever before, with a massive hike in fees. Floating offshore casinos may be furious that they are being pushed on elsewhere, but the move is most likely to damage the land-based casinos which operate out of hotels and resorts the most. They are unable to be “moved on” and will be banned from offering their services to locals. As a result, only tourists will be permitted to play in such venues. With Goa’s tourist industry in decline, there is a genuine possibility that such casinos would be unable to survive.
Land-based casinos are trying to force the local government into organising a gaming commission, which would be able regulate the industry better and thus make it safer, avoiding the need for the ban. Thus far, they have not had much luck. Many of the land- based casino owners insist that they wouldn’t mind paying more substantial fees for licenses if the array of games they could offer (such as live table games) was increased told us Live Casino Reports India. All efforts to break the impasse and find another way around the ban have thus far either been rejected or fallen by the wayside due to other means.
At the time of writing, it certainly doesn’t seem as though the land-based and floating casinos in Goa are going to be able to overturn the government’s decision. Local players in Goa are going to have to get used to not being able to play casino games, and while many gamblers may follow the floating casinos elsewhere, those players who relied on land- based casinos to offer their services are well and truly stuck.
Source: Latest News on European Gaming Media Network
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Peter & Sons Bolsters Italian Market Presence Via Octavian Lab Deal
New content partnership sees maverick game studio hit Octavian Lab platform
Award-winning game studio Peter & Sons has amped up its presence in the Italian market thanks to a new deal with Octavian Lab.
Rome-based software provider Octavian is a major supplier of igaming solutions to the Italian market, and the deal sees it become one of Peter & Sons’ main aggregate partners in Italy. The company powers big players like Entain-owned Eurobet, Snaitech, Sisal, Betfair and many others. Octavian Lab has recently received a special mention as best aggregator of the year during EGR Italy awards 2024.
Under the new partnership, Peter & Sons first went live with Italian gaming powerhouse Eurobet. Founded in 1995, the brand is an igaming pioneer, having offered digital betting since 1999. As a land-based sports betting operator, it’s one of the most recognizable gaming brands in Italy.
Peter & Sons has been wowing the industry since its 2019 formation with a stream of games that dare to be different.
Drawing on influences from everything from cult comic books and cartoons to obscure science fiction, and with an emphasis on storytelling, audio-visual excellence and playability, the maverick Barcelona-based studio is creating some of the most strikingly original and avant garde casino games on the market today.
The studio picked up three awards at the recent MiGEA Malta iGaming Excellence Awards 2024, including Best New Slots Developer of The Year.
Yann Bautista, Founder and Commercial Director at Peter & Sons said: “Our games have already proved popular in Italy, so to move forward with a really big player like Octavian Lab was the next logical step. Italy is a very exciting market that has doubled in size over the last seven years, and we’re thrilled to increase our reach significantly through this deal.”
Emanuele Nocentelli, CEO at Octavian Lab said: “Our platform powers some of the biggest names in Italian gaming, and that means we always want leading-edge content. Peter & Sons are a breath of fresh air. There’s no one reimagining casino gaming quite like Peter & Sons, and the result is a portfolio of inventive and unparalleled games that have a unique power to delight.”
The post Peter & Sons Bolsters Italian Market Presence Via Octavian Lab Deal appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Amusnet Releases “10 Bulky Fruits” Video Slot
Amusnet has released its latest video slot, 10 Bulky Fruits. It is not an ordinary fruit slot but a dazzling, energetic and exciting game.
This is a 5-reel, 10-fixed paylines video slot that offers vivid gameplay, epic sound effects and a variety of features. Keep an eye out for the Clover Wild Symbol and its great rewards – it appears on the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th reel. The Star and the Dollar are the shiny Scatter symbols boosting the winnings.
10 Bulky Fruits video slot tempts with entertainment and a variety of lucky symbols. Enjoy the fruitilicious bouquet the game offers.
Gamble
Play the game and multiply the winning through the Gambling feature.
Jackpot Cards
The Jackpot Cards bonus game is triggered at random during the gameplay to allow players to win impressive jackpots.
The post Amusnet Releases “10 Bulky Fruits” Video Slot appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Thunderkick strikes again with bowling bonanza Split Happens
Stacked Walking Wilds and Power Reset feature deliver 3,000x win potential
Independent slots studio Thunderkick has unveiled Split Happens, the latest addition to its product portfolio that combines a quirky bowling theme with Walking Wilds and respins to provide a unique and compelling gaming experience.
The action takes place across a classic 5×3 grid, where winning combinations can be formed both ways to help unlock 3,000x maximum wins.
Base game action is enhanced by Walking Stacked Wilds, which award a minimum of two respins whenever reels two, three or four are filled with bowling pin Wild symbols. Wilds are transformed into Stacked Wilds and move one position toward the outside of the reels with each respin, boosting wins until they leave the grid.
If a Walking Stacked Wild lands on reel three, the Split Happens feature is triggered, cutting the icon in half and placing a Stacked Wild on both reels two and four before respins commence.
The bonus round is activated when three bowling ball scatters are collected in the bonus meter, with five Free Spins awarded. During the feature, a multiplier remains in place above the reels, which increases by 1x with each respin and is applied to all wins featuring a Stacked Wild.
Every time a Stacked Wild lands, the Power Reset feature resets the Free Spins counter to 5, while retaining the existing multiplier to significantly increase wins.
Split Happens is a vibrant addition to Thunderkick’s constantly evolving product portfolio that showcases the provider’s distinctive approach to game creation, leveraging its best-in-class production team to deliver immersive and entertaining gameplay.
Mike Collins, Game Product Owner at Thunderkick, said: “We continually strive to diversify our product portfolio to appeal to a broad player base. Split Happens is our latest creation that combines whimsical graphics with 3,000x win potential to provide something a little different for players.
“In a highly competitive market, embracing themes rarely utilised allows us to stand out as a brand and provide real value for our operator partners.”
The post Thunderkick strikes again with bowling bonanza Split Happens appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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