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New Sports Apps Face Struggles during COVID-19 Crisis
The COVID-19 pandemic’s negative effect on the gambling industry has been felt across the board both offline and online. Beyond the closing of land-based casinos and bet shops, the online industry continues to feel the impact of the novel coronavirus with, so far, no end in sight.
This is especially true for online sportsbooks that don’t have a casino offering and new bookies who haven’t yet had time to establish their brands and gain a foothold in the market. Without other revenue lifelines and with challenges mounting during this disease-driven economic crisis, many of these new operations could fold.
Some of the Challenges faced by New Sports Apps
New online bookmakers and mobile first-bookies with a focus on sports apps are struggling to stay alive in this strange betting world where horse racing and football – the bread and butter of the sportsbook industry – have been halted across Europe since mid-March. With that said, challenges that some of these brands may be facing include:
Lack of casino offering
More established bookmakers have found other ways to survive the economically crushing pandemic by offering their customers alternative gambling entertainment, such as slots, casino games, live casino, poker, lotto, etc. However, most of the bookies that have been able to switch their marketing focus to these other gambling streams are well-established names in the industry and already have these products in place. That said, there is a lack of casino department for most smaller bookies that have taken a niche approach and built their brands solely around sports.
Competing with big name sportsbooks
Sportsbook giants like William Hill, Bet365, Ladbrokes Coral and Paddy Power have another advantage over smaller businesses. They have been established for years and have the advertising funds that lesser known bookies do not. Moreover, they have a better chance of survival as their operations are much larger and extend beyond sports betting.
Threat of daily gambling limit
In March the Gambling Related Harm All Party Parliament Group (APPG) called on the British gambling industry to impose a £50 daily spending limit for customers throughout the duration of the coronavirus pandemic. The APPG’s concern is that as the crisis deepens, more people will turn to online and mobile gambling as a distraction, including those who have never considered gambling before. The APPG fears that this could take a toll on the nation’s financial and mental health. Needless to say, if such a daily spending limit was enforced, this would further cripple gambling business, making it nearly impossible for smaller bookies to survive.
There May Be Some Light at the End of the Tunnel
In spite of all the challenges, if some of the smaller bookies manage to stay afloat for another couple of months, they may be able to survive COVID-19. The reason is that football might be back soon and provide a lifeline as early as June.
According to The Guardian, Premier League clubs have discussed re-starting the season by 13-14 June. This would allow the competition to finish by 31 July and clear up August for the completion of both the Champions League and Europa League.
In this best-case scenario clubs would begin a “pre-season” from 10 or 14 May, which would give players four weeks to regain their fitness. Then, with seven weeks to complete the season, (as 16 clubs have nine matches remaining and another 4 clubs have 10), it is believed that this timeframe should be sufficient for the campaign to finish without being too rushed.
Unfortunately, due to the unpredictability of the virus, there is no telling if this best-case scenario will occur. The worst-case scenario, on the other hand, would be for football to remain on hold until October, which would be seven months after the last round of matches and a brutal blow to sportsbooks both big and small worldwide.
With any luck, the best-case scenario for football will come to light. For now, though, new sports apps and online bookies will need to focus their efforts on bringing in revenue through other markets like virtual sports and eSports betting, and hope for the best.
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Week 8/2025 slot games releases
Here are this weeks latest slots releases compiled by European Gaming
Tom Horn Gaming is thrilled to announce the launch of its latest Hold & Win slot game, Majestic Coins. This high-volatility 3×3 slot takes players on a winning quest, where shimmering coins, respins, and grand jackpots lead to massive wins. Set against a sleek black 3×3 reel grid with 5 win lines, Majestic Coins offers classic slot excitement with a modern twist.
Candy Links Bonanza 2 is the newest slot game from Stakelogic, inviting you to wander through magical realms filled with delightfully sweet treats. Amidst this charming backdrop, two 5×5 grids are placed side by side. The grid on the right is where all the gameplay unfolds, while the other grid collects coins. Forming lines of coins wins their values and activates the powerful Wheels of Fortune!
Step into a world where opulence meets nature in Zillion’s latest release, Royal Crown Fruits – a dazzling slot experience filled with vibrant fruit symbols, golden crowns, and thrilling rewards. With 20 winning lines, the game blends classic charm with modern excitement, offering players a chance to strike royal-sized wins.
Big Time Gaming is back with its most exhilarating instalment yet. Max Megaways III invites players to gear up and embark on a high-stakes Arctic mission that’s shaken, stirred, and loaded with epic rewards. In this 6-reel Megaways™ slot, players get up to 117,649 ways to win, and that’s just the start of the action. Armed with MegaDozer™ mechanics, Free Spins, and a treasure trove of bonuses, Max Megaways III is set to deliver edge-of-your-seat excitement like never before.
Play’n GO delves into the mysteries of ancient Egypt with the release of Myth of Dead, a visually stunning slot that combines engaging gameplay with the allure of legendary treasures. This 5-reel, 3-row game with 10 paylines offers a captivating journey into a world ruled by powerful deities and golden riches.
Belatra Games, the specialist online slots developer, has released Blast the Bass, a brand new title that immerses players into an adventure on the open seas. Set out in the deep ocean, Blast the Bass brings together engaging mechanics, big bonus features and fun graphics that entertain players on every spin. A salty old skipper acts as the Wild symbol and will substitute for all regular symbols to combine for winning lines.
Push Gaming has launched Mad Blast, a volatile, multiplier-focused, pay-anywhere game that builds crazy robots along with wild winnings. Set in the workshop of the Mad Tinkerer, quirky, colourful bomb symbols populate the reels, with eight or more required to award a win. Winning symbols are removed from play, and the cascade of replacement icons allows subsequent wins to be formed.
Relax Gaming has revealed Glyph of Gods, an Egyptian-themed slot where hieroglyphs hold the key to wins. Bringing a fresh take on the much-loved Egyptian theme, this game features Glyph Positions which allow for Wild, Bonus, and Glyph symbols to land in dedicated spots, opening up multiple opportunities for big winning moments.
Blueprint Gaming returns in style with Big Catch Even Bigger Bass, offering a plethora of modifiers to maximise players’ winning potential. After years of success with its iconic Fishin’ Frenzy™ series, Blueprint has moved from the ocean to a picturesque lake where a bait box of aquatic symbols take their place on the 6×4, 4,096 win matrix, nestled in a mountainous landscape.
Amusnet announces the exclusive launch of 20 Wild Goals at Betano in Romania from February 20th to March 24th, 2025. 20 Wild Goals is a 5-reel video slot set in a stadium environment, offering 20 paylines. The Wild symbol, represented by a ball, expands to cover the entire reel, boosting the potential for higher wins. The tumbling reel feature adds a layer of excitement by removing winning combinations and increasing multipliers with each subsequent spin.
The post Week 8/2025 slot games releases appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Official Game Titles for 2025 IESF WEC25
International Esports Federation (IESF) has confirmed the official game titles for the 2025 IESF Season. The WEC25 will feature five of the most popular Esports titles:
- Counter-Strike 2,
- Dota 2,
- eFootball™ series,
- Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, and
- PUBG MOBILE.
2025 marks the third consecutive year that IESF has maintained the same lineup, reflecting the consistency and popularity of these titles in the World of Esports.
With 136 member federations organizing National Qualifiers, the road to the 2025 IESF Season is set to be bigger and more competitive than ever. Around the world, national tournaments are already underway, as each federation seeks to crown their nation’s champions who will go on to compete at the highest level.
Igor Nedeski, Esports Manager at IESF, said: “We are proud to continue our collaboration with leading game publishers to ensure the highest quality of competition for the 2025 season. The excitement among athletes is already incredible as they prepare to represent their nations on the grand stage. This year, we anticipate an even higher level of competition as teams and players push the boundaries of Esports.”
The 17th edition of the IESF Season will not only highlight the competitive excellence of esports athletes but also reinforce IESF’s commitment to inclusivity, diversity, and fair play within the Esports ecosystem.
Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) has participated in every IESF World Championship since the inception of the World Championships in 2009.
Players registered with MSSA may qualify for National Team Trials (NTT) in MSSA events that have been held for one Calendar Year before the National Team Trials are held.
Events still to be held are:
- 22 February 2025 – 6th WESTERN CAPE Online Championships
- 8 March 2025 – 6th GAUTENG Online Championships
- 15 March 2025 – National Team Trials for 17th IESF World Championships
The post Official Game Titles for 2025 IESF WEC25 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Amusnet Deepens Collaboration with Betano for Exclusive Launch of 20 Wild Goals
Amusnet announces the exclusive launch of 20 Wild Goals at Betano in Romania from February 20th to March 24th, 2025. This collaboration further strengthens the company’s long-term partnership with the operator and reflects Amusnet’s focus on providing localized gaming solutions to meet the needs of the Romanian market.
“With a clear focus on delivering localized, high-quality content, we continue to foster our mutually beneficial collaboration with Betano. By providing tailored gaming experiences, we ensure both Amusnet and our partners drive growth, meet player expectations, and strengthen our collective presence in the region,” said Andreea Popa, Commercial Manager at Amusnet Romania.
20 Wild Goals is a 5-reel video slot set in a stadium environment, offering 20 paylines. The Wild symbol, represented by a ball, expands to cover the entire reel, boosting the potential for higher wins. The tumbling reel feature adds a layer of excitement by removing winning combinations and increasing multipliers with each subsequent spin. The game presents a dynamic and engaging experience designed to appeal to players seeking thrilling gameplay.
Features
Expanding Wild
During the base game, the Wild symbol expands on the whole reel and substitutes for other symbols, increasing the winning potential.
Tumbling Reels with Increasing Multiplier
Winning symbols disappear, making way for the symbols above them while increasing the multiplier with each consecutive win. If new winning combinations appear on the screen after filling the empty positions, they are multiplied by Multiplier, which starts from x2 and increases by 1 with every consequent Tumbling Reels Feature.
Jackpot Cards
The four-level mystery jackpot bonus game Jackpot Cards is also available, just like in the rest of Amusnet’s Online Casino portfolio.
The post Amusnet Deepens Collaboration with Betano for Exclusive Launch of 20 Wild Goals appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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