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Vanilla content will always be second best – argues Reflex CPO

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Ahead of ICE London 2019, Mat Ingram, CPO of independent developer, Reflex Gaming, explains why the commoditisation of content is a race to the bottom

Looking back on 2018 what have been the highlights and the key achievements in the online space for the Reflex brand?

2018 was a year characterised by strategic and steady expansion for Reflex in the online sector. We went live with five new top tier operators as well as numerous smaller operators courtesy of our existing distribution partnerships which continue to do well for us. We have adhered to our “quality over quantity” philosophy, resulting in six new game titles over the course of the year, all but one emanating from our market-leading portfolio of land-based content. We have forged new commercial relationships, worked with new development partners, and continued to learn a lot.  There’s no doubt that 2018 was an important and successful year.

How would you describe the main challenges for the online sector – is it facing a case of over supply?  Is there a danger of quantity subsuming quality when it comes to games content and what can be done about it?

For me, the sector is surprisingly slow-moving given its entirely-digital nature, but this is a symptom of the complex distribution routes that are now so prevalent, along with the hugely busy supply chain. Many planets have to align technically and strategically for a relatively simple event to occur, such as a game release. Compare this to our server-managed land-based machines, where I can develop a game in half the time and release it overnight to thousands of machines, but of course in this case I am in complete control of the tech stack and the content strategy, which helps enormously! The over-supply of what I would describe as vanilla, ‘global’ content has turned the previous art of game creation into a production line building commodity ‘widgets’ whose value to the supplier is measured in how low they can get their costs. This must, in turn, reduce quality, however this is not always immediately apparent. There are so many games being released that without any promotional activity (that the bigger suppliers can fund), one game performs much the same as another, thus perpetuating their commodity status. As such, I believe there is an increasing requirement for specialised, ‘hyper-local’ content – by which I refer to games that have been specifically created by suppliers with local expertise and experience for local players. As suppliers, we often have to modify our games anyway to suit local regulations and language, so there is already an existing idea that games must be localised, but I believe that it is also better for the user if the games with which they are presented are those that have been crafted for them rather than the one-size-fits-all approach that is often used. Reflex have some of the most successful games in the land-based markets in which we compete and we should leverage these with partners who have expertise in distributing hyper-local content.

Has your thinking on omni-channel gaming changed since ICE 2018 and if so where do you stand now?

No, my opinion hasn’t really changed on this. It may be sometimes difficult to quantify the benefits or produce empirical evidence of them, but intuitively I feel that it has to be better UX for a player to be able to move from one channel to another and play the content they know and enjoy on platforms that support a seamless transition from one place to another. Surely, if the player has a better experience whilst doing this, they are more likely to stay loyal to the retailer / operator and indeed the games? It just seems to make sense to me. This is why Reflex are talking to a number of operators who have both a land-based and an online presence about how we can work together to provide UK-specific, omni-channel games, and we are one of only a few suppliers who can do this.

How will Reflex be using ICE London 2019 and what does success look like?

We will be using ICE to showcase our diverse land-based and online product ranges. It’s one of the few opportunities we have to put everything together in the same space, and our omni-channel credibility becomes really apparent when you see it all together. The range includes UK and Dutch land-based machines of many styles and categories, through to purely online and mobile content, with the same design ethos running across all channels. The star of our land-base range is the GamePro cabinet which will this year include the new GamePro Max, a sit-down lounge-style machine. Our view is that whatever a player experiences in a land-based environment, they should be able to experience on their desktop or mobile within the confines of the devices. A successful exhibition for Reflex is mostly not about the number of contracts or deals we sign, as most of the hard work has been done on these prior to the show, but rather it is about how many new people we meet and new opportunities present themselves, and judging by the number of meeting requests we have already had, we should be in for a busy few days!

As an exhibitor do you get the opportunity to spend time walking the aisles at ExCeL and taking stock of the industry and the direction its travelling in – how important is it to do this?

I think this is hugely important, although being honest, I don’t get as much time to do it as I would like, as I am generally busy on the stand. However, I have a great team who come to the show and who act as my eyes and ears on market trends and important product innovations.  I wouldn’t say it’s a military style operation but we have regular catch-ups whilst the exhibition is in progress and they take me to see the things and meet the people that have caught their eye. I am a firm believer that Reflex should stand independently with respect to innovation and not succumb to parodying the ideas of others, but that said, it is important to know and understand what other market sector participants are doing and why.


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: Vanilla content will always be second best – argues Reflex CPO

George Miller (Gyorgy Molnar) started his career in content marketing and has started working as an Editor/Content Manager for our company in 2016. George has acquired many experiences when it comes to interviews and newsworthy content becoming Head of Content in 2017. He is responsible for the news being shared on multiple websites that are part of the European Gaming Media Network.

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UFC Champion Valentina Shevchenko Joins Stake as Global Brand Ambassador

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Leading betting platform Stake proudly announces that Ultimate Fighting Championship (“UFC”) Women’s Flyweight World Champion, Valentina Shevchenko, has signed on as a Global Ambassador for the brand.

One of the most iconic and celebrated athletes in combat sports, Shevchenko currently reigns as the UFC Flyweight World Champion and holds the coveted No. 1 spot in the UFC’s Women’s Pound-for-Pound rankings. A Muay Thai specialist from Kyrgyzstan, Shevchenko has dominated the MMA world since her UFC debut in 2015, and continues to build her legacy as one of the sport’s all-time greats. She will next defend her title on May 11 against top contender Manon Fiorot of France.

With this partnership, Shevchenko joins a championship roster of Stake ambassadors that includes UFC stars Merab Dvalishvili, Alexandre Pantoja, Max Holloway, Alex Pereira, and Israel Adesanya.

Speaking on the partnership, Shevchenko said:

“Stake has become one of the most important and exciting partners of the UFC, and I’m proud to now be a Global Ambassador for the brand. Stake is the home of champions, and I’m excited to work with its incredible team.”

Akhil Sarin, Chief Marketing Officer at Stake, added:

“We’re absolutely thrilled to welcome Valentina to the Stake family. It’s rare to see a true legend of the sport still performing at the absolute highest level, and we’re excited to build a long and successful partnership together.  We feel that the Stake brand is now synonymous with the UFC, and our relationships with the very best athletes in the sport helps us continue to grow in the MMA sphere.”

The post UFC Champion Valentina Shevchenko Joins Stake as Global Brand Ambassador appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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PRace launches as gambling industry’s first truly integrated B2B marketing agency

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Having already serviced 10 big-brand industry clients since 2024, Nicholas Brown and Aiste Garneviciene announce official launch

PRace, a new disruptor marketing agency focused exclusively on the B2B gambling industry, has today announced its official launch – bringing a transformative, data-driven approach to lead generation and sales.

PRace aims to revolutionise how B2B marketing is delivered by offering the first truly comprehensive and integrated service, with a core specialisation in data-driven lead generation and the creation of end-to-end sales funnels.

Leveraging deep industry expertise, PRace has already grown to a 15-person team of industry experts since its inception.

PRace’s approach fills a significant gap in B2B marketing left by its traditional competitor agencies, offering a serious competitive advantage for both PRace and its clients.

The agency was founded under the radar in 2024 by industry experts Nicholas Brown, formerly of Square in the Air, and Aiste Garneviciene, former COO of BetGames and SBC Leader of the Year 2020.

With Relax Gaming and Amelco as its founding clients, PRace now counts more than 10 top-tier industry brands in its portfolio – as well as approaching more than one million Euros in annual projected revenue.

Following today’s official launch announcement, the agency will be publicly announcing its leadership team in the coming weeks.

Commenting on the launch, Nicholas Brown, Co-Founder of PRace, said: “Having been in marketing since the early 2010s –and being instrumental in building the success of Square in the Air, I saw a clear opportunity to address a significant gap in the market alongside a fantastic friend and former client, Aiste Garneviciene.

“The B2B gambling industry is ripe for a more sophisticated, data-led approach to marketing that goes beyond traditional services. We’re here to deliver exactly what every other B2B marketing agency already does outside of our industry – using data-driven strategies to create demand, leads and sales.”

Co-Founder and CEO of PRace, Aiste Garneviciene, commented:As one of the founding team members of BetGames in 2012, I know firsthand what it takes to truly build and scale a brand. From establishing credibility and educating the market – to driving qualified leads and sales.

“Each stage demands a different strategy and PRace is the first agency that can deliver that. We’re bringing a fresh perspective, deep industry expertise and a proven methodology that’s already serviced 10 top-tier clients. If you’re ready to make marketing your biggest growth engine – get in touch!”

The post PRace launches as gambling industry’s first truly integrated B2B marketing agency appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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CopyBet reinforces its commitment to sports betting integrity via IBIA membership

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CopyBet has joined the International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA), increasing its integrity monitoring coverage in the UK and globally, covering current and future markets. The collaboration will enable integrity data from CopyBet’s online betting platform to be shared with IBIA’s global monitoring network, which includes over 80 companies and 140 sports betting brands monitoring over $300bn per annum in betting turnover.

Anton Ivanov, Business Development Director, CopyBet UK, said: “Responsible gambling, and looking after our customers, is part of our core values at CopyBet, and joining the International Betting Integrity Association will enable us to continue providing safe gambling conditions for our players. We look forward to working with IBIA and support its mission of protecting the integrity of the industry.”

Khalid Ali, CEO of IBIA, said: “IBIA is pleased to welcome CopyBet as our newest member to our growing association. This partnership strengthens our global monitoring network and reinforces our shared commitment to protecting the integrity of sport and regulated betting markets. We look forward to working closely with CopyBet to detect and deter betting-related corruption and to protect the integrity of the markets offered to consumers.”

CopyBet operates under the UK Gambling Commission Licence and Class B bookmaker’s licence in Cyprus, and is a unique bookmaker that allows customers to copy the bets of top tipsters alongside a traditional Sportsbook. CopyBet is the Official Front of Shirt Partner of Queens Park Rangers Football Club in the EFL Championship, as well as AEK Larnaca, PΑC Omonia 29M, Enosis Neon Paralimni, and Aris Limassol in the Cyprus First Division.

IBIA is a not-for-profit body that has no competing conflicts with the delivery of commercial services to other sectors and was established by operators, for operators, to protect regulated sports betting markets from match-fixing.

IBIA’s global monitoring and alert network is a highly effective anti-corruption tool, detecting and reporting suspicious activity in regulated betting markets. Through the IBIA monitoring network it is possible to track transactional activities linked to individual customer accounts. Additional functionality was added in 2024, with that technological upgrade enhancing the association’s ability to detect and report suspicious activity on its members’ betting markets.

The post CopyBet reinforces its commitment to sports betting integrity via IBIA membership appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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