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“It is going to be a slow process – but great things take time”: Exclusive interview with R Franco Digital on the return of sports betting in Spain

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“It is going to be a slow process – but great things take time”: Exclusive interview with R Franco Digital on the return of sports betting in Spain
“It is going to be a slow process – but great things take time”: Exclusive interview with R Franco Digital on the return of sports betting in SpainReading Time: 3 minutes

 

After notching up a series of high profile deals with the likes of Dafabet and BetConstruct, we sat down with R Franco Digital’s Chief Commercial Officer, Mario Benito to talk Spain’s return to sports betting and his outlook for the market as the lockdown is lifted.

R Franco Digital has certainly signed a couple of notable deals recently, can you give us the lowdown? 

It has been a busy few weeks as we get back on track in Spain! All in all, we’ve already signed agreements with several of the Spanish market’s leading tier one operators and will be announcing additional partnerships in further markets in the very near future.

Key to this has been our industry-leading portfolio of supporting products; including our IRIS Platform, as well as our Wallet, online games and renowned IRIS Power Vault – developed in tandem with the Spanish regulator, the DGOJ.

In terms of what we’ll be doing, R Franco Digital will be providing three major international operators with these tools to enter the Spanish market – as well as signing a succession of aggregator partnerships to further boost the reach of our fantastic collection of games.

We’re also expecting plenty of developments on the LatAm front (which is our second home), as well receiving our MGA Critical Gaming Supply licence in the very near future.

Is this a vote of confidence for the Spanish market returning to normal? What’s happening on the ground there? 

There’s no question that the entire industry has felt the impact – with Spain (as you may have seen from the headlines) being no different. Given the need for entertainment under lockdown, there has been a considerable uptick in iGaming, despite the Spanish government’s two-month suspension on promotional activity.

Since the resumption of Europe’s most popular sporting tournaments, the sports betting vertical is gradually returning to full strength, although this process will not be complete until the new season. Given our home market is both dynamic and resilient, we are confident that the commercial landscape in Spain will return to its pre-COVID trajectory soon enough.

Having said that, land-based will likely take longer to re-emerge to full strength given it has received the brunt of the impact from COVID. To persevere, operators who have not already done began to diversify through digital channels. We set up R Franco Digital a decade ago with this role in mind – and it’s certainly proved instrumental for our local partners during this time.

What do you forecast for the first few week’s betting activity once La Liga has returned? 

The resumption of Europe’s top football leagues, particularly La Liga, have seen dormant sports bettors return to the vertical en-masse. However, I do not believe activity will revert to its previous level until the new season begins. The numbers certainly back this up, and from what we’ve seen so far, the total amount wagered in the Spanish market has fallen by 40% compared to the week before La Liga was cancelled.

Plenty has been said around the cross-sell between sportsbook and casino in the past few months – has it rang true in Spain?

It’s been invaluable – and for many operators, turned from a promise to a reality. However, we shouldn’t get too carried away with the hype; we have not seen a whole legion of sports betting fans converted to slots in three short months.

To build a pandemic-proof portfolio, operators (and platform providers) need to take a long, careful look at what disciplines lent themselves well to sports bettors betting behaviours during lockdown (such as live casino) and capitalise on it moving forward.

What other alternative sporting markets have proven popular during the lockdown?

The most successful markets have been Table Tennis, and football leagues in more ‘exotic’ countries such as Belarus, that did not see their sporting calendar hindered by lockdown. Esports and virtuals have also experienced a similar spike activity as sports betting enthusiasts look to get in on alternative entertainment, although these disciplines are likely to attract a more niche type of player, especially in the case of esports, which has become a bastion of the millennial demographic.

And finally – how fast do you see retail betting returning in Spain? 

It is going to be a slow process – but great things take time. The decision to re-open now falls under the mandate of Spain’s regional authorities, and it will be at their discretion. We can see this happening in real time – as although the state of emergency has ended, not every region has yet allowed betting shops to reopen. Along with land-based casinos, retail is by far one of the most severely affected sectors of the market, and I anticipate it will be a long road to recovery for many that had to endure three months of closure. Of course, we’ll be there to help.


Source: Latest News on European Gaming Media Network
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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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Push Gaming’s DJ Cat Spins the Discs and the Reels

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B2B gaming supplier Push Gaming has released the second in its series of DJ games, DJ Cat, which brings a range of new features to amp up engagement.

Following the success of DJ Fox, this new follow-up retains the easy-to-understand, win-what-you-see gameplay, adding in larger win multipliers.

Lining up CD symbols helps players to build big prizes while VIP icons grant access to spin the decks and feed the Multiplier Meter. Arrow symbols crank the volume and unlock more reels using the iconic Push-Up feature.

Following a growing trend within iGaming, DJ Cat omits a bonus feature and instead is designed to deliver volatile gameplay throughout the title.

DJ Cat is the first second-quarter release from Push Gaming and launches ahead of much anticipated upcoming titles like Retro Sweets and Cats of Olympuss.

“Win-what-you-see games have enjoyed a surge in popularity recently and we’ve taken that trend and framed it in a contemporary theme, delivering something fresh to players and operators,” the Senior Game Producer for Push Gaming, Craig Turner, said. “In another unique twist from most of our catalogue, we decided not to implement a bonus round but instead designed the entire game with a fast-paced feel that we’re sure players will love.”

The post Push Gaming’s DJ Cat Spins the Discs and the Reels appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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4ThePlayer Evolves MoneyWays for Ultra Entertainment in 4k Ultra Gold

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4ThePlayer in collaboration with Yggdrasil is unveiling its new release, 4K Ultra Gold MoneyWays, through the YGG Masters platform.

This game evolves 4ThePlayer’s popular MoneyWays mechanic as seen in the top-performing 4 Fantastic series where cash on the reels is won by forming ways wins without the need for additional symbols or features. In 4K Ultra Gold, every cash symbol is boosted when it lands on the reels, creating additional excitement and anticipation.

In addition, cash can now be collected via scatters on every reel, magnifying the potential wins and creating more ways to win than any other MoneyWays game.

The game features four increasing Boosting Fortunes Prizes; the Ultra, Mega, Super and Big Fortunes can land on the reels and be instantly won along with cash prizes. If a Boosting Fortunes Prize is not won on a spin, then it will be increased for future spins.

The entertainment does not stop there as players can choose between free spins or Collect Spins. In free spins, wilds turn into multiplier wilds to increase your wins. In Collect Spins, a Collect scatter lands on every spin to award every cash prize in view.

“Our newest game with 4ThePlayer is a fantastic addition to our portfolio,” the Senior Product and Program Manager for Yggdrasil, Zoe Bird, said. “4K Ultra Gold is a high-octane experience that offers a host of different ways for players to snag cash prizes thanks to MoneyWays and, with the four Boosting Fortunes Prizes available, there’s so much to go at. This is another game that exemplifies Yggdrasil’s partner programme and offers an incredibly fun addition to any casino lobby.”

“We’re celebrating the return of MoneyWays in this feature-rich release, 4K Ultra Gold,” the co-founder and Commercial and Marketing Director for 4ThePlayer, Henry McLean, said. “With super vibrant visuals, powerful maths and a soundtrack that is as exciting as the gameplay, we’re confident we’ve got an ultra-high-performing game on our hands.”

The post 4ThePlayer Evolves MoneyWays for Ultra Entertainment in 4k Ultra Gold appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Games Global and PearFiction Studios Excite with Three Thrilling LockNWin Features in Cerberus Gold

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Features combine for ultimate thrills in captivating new title

Games Global exclusive studio PearFiction Studios has unveiled its latest release, Cerberus Gold, incorporating three engaging LockNWin bonuses that can be combined for great win potential.

This mythological title boasts an exciting triple collection mechanic that sees each collection pot protected by a head of the fearsome guardian of the underworld, Cerberus, who precariously sits above the reel set.

Multiply, Jackpot, and Supreme LockNWin bonus games can be triggered whenever orange, yellow or pink Cerberus coins land on the reels.

Each colour initiates a different LockNWin round with Multiply seeing the total multiplier applied to all new fireballs that land on every spin, Jackpot offering the chance to win one of five different jackpots worth up to 5,000 the bet and Supreme seeing yellow fireballs collect all red fireball values and purple fireballs collect all yellow and red fireball values for bigger wins.

The different bonuses can be activated individually, in tandem or all together, meaning that as many as seven LockNWin bonus games can be triggered with all features appearing at the same time, offering players exciting and varied experiences.

During base gameplay, fireballs worth up to 10x the stake can land on the first four reels and if a collect symbol also lands on reel five, it instantly collects and multiplies the fireball values. Every soul symbol landing is collected by an orb alongside the reels, increasing its multiplier by +1 up to maximum 10x the bet. Split symbols can also appear on the top row, adding up to three additional symbols to each reel and boosting the number of pay ways up to a hefty 7,776 ways.

This feature-filled title contains elements players have become accustomed to from PearFiction Studios with vibrant designs depicting the ominous landscape of the underworld, featuring pools of green liquid and dark caves.

PearFiction Studios has quickly established a reputation as a studio that creates games that contain standout graphics, high-end production values and an array of engaging features. Winner of the coveted Rising Star award at the 2023 International Gaming Awards and recently shortlisted for four CasinoBeats Game Developer Awards 2024, the brand prides itself on developing content that stands the test of time.

“In Cerberus Gold, our team has elevated the mythological theme with outstanding graphics and gameplay to stunning effect,” the Commercial Director for PearFiction Studios, Jeremy Coleman, said. “Especially exciting is the number of LockNWin games for players to get stuck into, our take on the popular three-pot mechanic. With the beautiful creative elements dovetailing with its array of engaging features, Cerberus Gold is proving to be a winner for operators who have already launched the game.”

“PearFiction Studios has yet again delivered a title that represents its ethos and Cerberus Gold is set to a be a huge success when it goes live globally,” the Chief Product Officer for Games Global, Andy Booth, said. “Indeed, it’s already shown great potential for operators during an exclusive early release period. The popular LockNWin features add extra depth and excitement to the game while the mysterious backdrop of the underworld sets the stage for an unforgettable slot experience.”

The post Games Global and PearFiction Studios Excite with Three Thrilling LockNWin Features in Cerberus Gold appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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