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High Variance Slots That Sports Bettors Will Love
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Mark Wadie, founder of online casino comparison site theslotzbuzz.com, talks about why the latest high variance slots have an appeal for sports bettors.
The video slots market in the UK has seen a massive swing towards high variance games in recent months, driven in part by the popularity of Big Time Gaming’s Megaways format. But it’s not just traditional slots fans who are getting in on the action. With their edge of the seat gameplay and unpredictable, all or nothing payout models, high variance games now appeal to sports bettors, too.
Before Megaways the best high variance games all had something of a cult following. Titles like Microgaming’s Immortal Romance, WMS’ Raging Rhino and NetEnt’s Dead or Alive have always had a special place in the heart of every slots fanatic. The biggest casino forums are packed with threads about how to unlock a screen full of wilds on Dead or Alive, alongside dark conspiracy theories about why the maths model on such and such a game is rigged.
But Big Time Gaming’s slots, and the string of copy-cat games from rival producers that have come in their wake, have made high variance more of a mainstream concern.
The art of creating a good high variance slot has always been in creating a thrilling win sequence where several features dovetail on screen to drive cumulative win lines with high value symbols and often sky-high multipliers. Now games like Bonanza, White Rabbit and Extra Chili have hit that sweet spot in a bigger way than ever. These games usually make the player wait until the free spins round opens up where features like cascading wins tie in with progressive multipliers and re-triggers to create a burst of adrenaline-pumping big wins. The kind all big gamblers are waiting for.
The success of this format has driven these games to the top of the rankings for many online casinos and made other types of gambler sit up and take notice.
One group to whom these games will inevitably appeal is sports bettors.
By their nature, high variance slots are unpredictable but thrilling. They leave the player either crushed or elated. There can be long periods of lows, with no wins and a dwindling account balance, followed by a short, electric run of big wins. It’s take-no-prisoners stuff, and for some, it’s the kind of gambling experience that’s reminiscent of high risk, long odds betting on Accas or blindly backing your favourite team throughout the football season. We know that it rarely comes off, but like Leicester winning the title, or that ludicrous accumulator that actually paid out, the good times are really good!
There is currently a glut of these high variance games on the market. Not all are of such high quality, but here is a pick of three of the best from the last 12 months.
The Final Countdown by Big Time Gaming
The follow-up to the popular Danger! High Voltage uses an 80s stadium rock-anthem combined with a ‘cloning reels’ feature, ‘cloning wilds’ and massive multipliers to build tons of anticipation for gamblers looking to hit that elusive big win. The game has a maximum 888x multiplier in the ‘Heading for Venus’ round. Since its release, YouTube channels have been packed with videos showing just how big the payouts on The Final Countdown can get.
Genie Jackpots Megaways by Blueprint
Since Blueprint licensed the Megaways engine from Big Time Gaming a string of re-makes have been pushed out by their development team. Perhaps the best of the bunch is Genie Jackpots – a classic progressive slot getting the Megaways
treatment. Once again there are lots of free spins and multipliers, as well as the appearance of the genie himself to bring about big wins for players lucky enough to hit pay dirt.
Raging Rhino Megaways by WMS
For high variance slots fans, Raging Rhino is a stone-cold classic. It’s 4,096 ways to win game mechanic has been copied many times since, but never bettered. Here, the game is locked into the Megaways engine to give it a super-charged feel with even more free spins and those all-important multipliers, as well as rumoured top payouts well in excess of 10,000x the player’s stake per spin.
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: High Variance Slots That Sports Bettors Will Love

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23red and GamCare unveil New Campaign which Brings the Hidden Feelings of Gambling Harm to Life
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Purpose-led creative agency 23red, part of CapGemini and UK charity GamCare have launched a new year-round digital campaign designed to help people recognise the often-invisible feelings associated with gambling harms and encourage people to seek support sooner, as needed.
Running across multiple digital platforms, the adverts target men aged 18–44 and people affected by the gambling of their loved ones, who are often women, and who often play a central role in family wellbeing, to take that first step to seeking support.
The campaign includes 30-, 15- and 6-second creatives in standard formats, with a major burst planned for the New Year, one of the busiest times of year in terms of people contacting the Helpline.
At its heart is a striking new 30-second film that uses metaphorical visual storytelling to bring to life the intense emotions people can experience when gambling takes control—feelings of being stuck, feeling trapped and a sense of being tied in knots by gambling.
Tristan Cavanagh, Creative Director at 23red comments: “Unhealthy gambling habits are often hidden in plain sight. We set out to create something people who are experiencing gambling harms instantly recognise and feel rather than just watch, with visuals that mirror the quiet chaos inside someone’s head. Our aim was to cut through the usual tropes and deliver a piece that resonates emotionally, prompting conversations before harm escalates”.
Victoria Corbishley, Chief Executive Officer at GamCare comments: “Our new creative visualises the inner turmoil that people experiencing gambling harms can feel. It’s a fresh approach that we hope helps people in need, whether they gamble themselves or care about someone who does. We hope they will see those signs and reach out sooner for support.”
The new GamCare campaign underscores that gambling harm doesn’t always look how you expect. It can affect colleagues, partners, friends, or family members who seem “on top of it,” and it can escalate quietly until it touches every part of life.
GamCare’s services are free and confidential, non-judgemental help is available 24/7, 365 days a year from trained advisers.
The post 23red and GamCare unveil New Campaign which Brings the Hidden Feelings of Gambling Harm to Life appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Boomerang Partners merges creativity and marketing at SBC Summit Lisbon: Nick Chichagov on the vision behind the performance
Reading Time: 5 minutes
The September SBC Summit in Lisbon was one of the most notable events for Boomerang Partners. The affiliate gambling & betting marketing agency presented its client portfolio and won two prestigious SBC Awards: ‘Social Media Campaign of the Year’ and ‘Rising Star in Sports Betting’ (Operator).
The company’s booth became a central hub for exhibition attendees, with over 1,500 people visiting it. They were able to learn about the new sports traffic tournament, the Golden Boomerang League and took part in a raffle for sports memorabilia from Rafael Nadal, Cristiano Ronaldo, Tyson Fury, and Fernando Alonso. One of the most impressive activities at the Boomerang Partners booth were unique live artist performances. In doing so, the company effectively married marketing and art for the first time at the iGaming event. These quaint performances have all the potential to become a new trend in the industry.
The creative producer and director of the Boomerang Effect performances at the Boomerang Partners booth was Nick Chichagov. In an interview, he discussed the origin of the project’s idea, the essence of the performances, and where he draws inspiration from.
1 How did the idea for this performance come about? Did something unusual inspire you to create something so out of the box?
When I start working on a performance, I always look for an initial hook. Here, it was the crowd. Inspired by photographers like Alexey Titarenko and his City of Shadows series, I explored the idea of people as ghostlike figures without identity. Later, references to René Magritte’s Son of Man helped sharpen the concept.
Music also guided me — a line from a Tool song, “to bring the pieces back together, rediscover communication,” became a key reference point. Contemporary dance emerged as the ideal form. I wanted to include a simple yet powerful moment where two people just stand and look at each other. Step by step, the puzzle came together.
2 If you had to describe this performance in a few words, what would they be?
For me personally, it is about uniting, immersing into communication, and becoming one – transitioning from disparate parts into a single, cohesive whole. The entire performance is a metaphor for separate atoms, individual people, and distinct fragments ultimately uniting as one under the company’s brand.
3 Tell us about the concept behind the production — what was the main idea or message for you?
The concept of the performance was that six agents of Boomerang Partners – each with their own character, state of mind, and attitude toward themselves, others, and the audience – venture out into the crowd. Their mission is to study communication, understand themselves, and bring meaning to people, guiding them to a place they’ve been waiting for under the Boomerang Partners brand, which helps people realize their potential.
During the main performance, the artists showcase the company’s themes – boxing, racing, football – through movement and dance. At the end, their gray masks are removed to reveal vibrant, individual identities, still tied to the brand. The core message: people often feel lost, but Boomerang Partners shows them the right path through its lens.
4 What were the most interesting or challenging moments during the rehearsal process? Can you share any behind-the-scenes stories from the preparation?
The most interesting part was the entire process of working with the team. As a director, I found it interesting to give the performers some creative space. For instance, each performer had their own character, and I provided them with a list of 10 traits to define it. Within that framework, they also invented different emotional states and variations.
The work was challenging, though. The third act was particularly difficult because we built its final choreography piece by piece. All the references we found were entirely off the mark. We didn’t want to just literally depict a sport; we wanted to convey it through imagery.
This is how we built the first act: the artists study themselves and their characters. Then, they interact with each other in the second act. Finally, the third act is where the artists unite into a single whole, representing the company’s diverse directions, and they rip off their masks to reveal the vibrant individuality that blossomed under the brand’s auspices.
5 Were there any funny or unexpected stories while working on the performance?
I wouldn’t say there were any truly unexpected moments in terms of the performance’s preparation. But there were certainly funny ones. For instance, when we were trying to incorporate football, racing, or boxing into the performance, we’d choreograph and plan how to best execute it. Sometimes, when we tried it out, the result was quite humorous because it came off as rather cartoonish. That’s exactly what prompted us to rework some choreography segments, taking certain details we found interesting to work with, instead of relying on overused, standard clichés.
Another amusing element was our permanent audience member. A cat would come to almost every single rehearsal and watch the entire process of us putting the performances together with great attention. I think it only missed one or two rehearsals; it was always there, observing very, very intently what was happening and why.
6 In your opinion, which elements were key to the success of this show?
I believe the show’s success was a result of a complete team effort. We put in an enormous amount of work and conducted countless rehearsals. We had incredibly talented artists, and I feel all the looks we created were a perfect, 100% match for the original references I had in my mind. Ultimately, I believe the performance we delivered was successful, first and foremost, thanks to the entire team.
Watch the full version of the Performance Show on YouTube — Boomerang Partners.
About Boomerang
Boomerang Partners is a rapidly growing global marketing agency offering a wide range of services. Boomerang Partners is the Official Regional Partner of AC Milan. In 2024, it launched the inaugural Golden Boomerang Awards — a global tournament for affiliate teams. More than 400 affiliate teams participated in the second season of the tournament in 2025. Boomerang launched six new products in 2024-2025, contributing to a nearly 1.5-fold increase in product users.
The agency’s client portfolio contains 13+ brands offering affiliate and entertainment services across 40+ markets in compliance with local regulations. These products provide personalized bonuses and 24/7 multilingual support.
About Nick Chichagov
With over five years of experience, Nick Chichagov crafts innovative projects at the intersection of theater, cinema, and immersive art. His portfolio includes collaborations with actors from the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, direction of performances featuring international artist ensembles, and work on music videos for prominent acts such as Vlady and AVOKARU.
The post Boomerang Partners merges creativity and marketing at SBC Summit Lisbon: Nick Chichagov on the vision behind the performance appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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