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Exclusive interview with GAMING1: “Our online operations in Belgium have grown beyond all expectations”

Reading Time: 3 minutes
Belgian omni-channel expert GAMING1 has proven itself as a worthy partner during the pandemic, especially when it comes to transitioning operators’ offline operations to online. We sat down with Sylvain Boniver, COO and co-founder to talk through GAMING1’s market outlook for Europe over the coming months – this one’s not to be missed!
GAMING1’s services were certainly in demand during 2020 as land-based operators sought to establish their presence online – can you give us a quick snapshot of what that’s looked like?
The outbreak of Covid-19 has accelerated the transition online for most businesses, and that includes the gambling industry. For us, helping partners navigate the unprecedented circumstances caused by the pandemic was priority number one.
Lockdown restrictions forced land-based casinos to shut up shop, and even in countries where they’ve reopened, visitor numbers remain a long way off their pre-pandemic levels. The longer outlets wait to go digital, the greater the loss of their market share – it really is that simple.
Fortunately, our model is designed to help facilitate that shift, allowing players to continue using their favourite brand in an online format. We help retail and land-based partners digitise their operations – a service which, for many, is urgently necessitated by the current situation, and we’re here to deliver.
How has the last year changed the European landscape? Comparing to the way the market looked last January, how much would say has shifted in terms of growth and expectations?
The widespread closure of land-based establishments has underlined the imperative for operators to expand their digital activities. Our partners have enjoyed tremendous success when it comes to re-directing offline customers online, thereby curbing the financial impact of the pandemic.
Self-evidently, operators without an online outlet are struggling to succeed right now. Those who have a synergised land-based and digital offering, on the other hand, are much better equipped to weather the storm that is sweeping the global economy. For those in the former category, our company is ready and waiting to help deliver an omnichannel experience to their players.
Where has growth been particularly strong for GAMING1 on the continent? Where should our readers be looking at for potential expansion?
Our online operations in Belgium have grown beyond expectations. Of course, that can partially be attributed to the Covid-induced shift of all land-based activities to the online sphere. But it also reflects the sky-high quality of our digital products, and the operational efficiency of which we are so proud.
In addition, our status as a Portuguese market-leader remains undisputed, with valued local partners Estoril continuing to grow at an impressive rate. Our Iberian reach has also expanded in Spain, with 777.ES going from strength to strength by outperforming the competition – a pattern which we are confident will continue in the year to come.
Your home markets are very much across Belgium and France – do you see the current French approach to online gaming changing anytime soon?
There’s a world of difference between the two markets. Looking at regulation, in Belgium you must own a land-based casino to open a betting shop, and there is a €500 weekly deposit limit in place. Neither of those rules apply in the French market – and yet, France is still the more restrictive of the two.
French laws prohibit the existence of any private sector in the entire gambling industry, except for land-based casinos. Little wonder, then, that the country’s black market is the most significant in Europe. Regulation would not provide an overnight solution, such is the scale of the exposure of unregulated sites. It would, however, be a giant leap in the right direction – not just for France’s gambling industry, but for its players and economy too.
Looking to the year ahead, a lot’s been talked about in terms of engagement and retention, as well as acquisition of land-based players to the online world – what should operators be spending their money on to make that happen?
As a land-based operator, having the right partner by your side is paramount. That’s how to deliver a world-class digital product to players, and marketing your offering in the most effective way possible is paramount.
Beyond the cross-selling acquisition and retention tools that we’ve implemented, my strongest recommendation is to develop a 360o strategy that maximises the synergy between your different channels. Ensuring that staff genuinely buy into your vision is also critical – without them on board, even the best-planned projects won’t get very far.
Last but not least, can you give us a few insights for staying ahead this year? What’s going to be the GAMING1 approach for ensuring your partners can succeed?
We strengthened our senior management team over the course of 2020 with an impressive string of industry heavyweights. Our peerless 50-50 business model, in which we win or lose alongside our partners, continues to reap the rewards, and we’ve got an ambitious set of expansion plans in place. I’m very proud by our hard-earned reputation for excellence, and we’re all very excited for the decade ahead. This is especially the case for the growth of our existing operations in Europe and Colombia, as well as developing markets such as France and Holland. Safe to say, we’re in for another busy year!
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DigiPlus Partners with Pay&Go
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DigiPlus Interactive Corp. (DigiPlus), the pioneer and leading digital entertainment provider behind BingoPlus, ArenaPlus and GameZone, announced a strategic partnership with Pay&Go, one of the leading providers of self-service payment kiosks, to expand secure and convenient wallet-loading options for its players.
Through this new payments partnership, DigiPlus and Pay&Go, the self-service payment kiosks operated by BTI Payment Philippines, a subsidiary of Australia-based Banktech, will enable users to fund their e-wallets with utmost ease by way of its growing network of 3500 self-service kiosks. With a cash-out feature also being eyed early next year, this collaboration kicks off with BingoPlus and will expand soon to ArenaPlus and GameZone.
“Our commitment at DigiPlus has always been to deliver digital entertainment that is engaging, trustworthy, and service-oriented. Achieving that requires strong partnerships with organizations that share our commitment to customer trust and service excellence. This partnership with Pay&Go is grounded in innovation, accessibility, and a shared mission to serve more Filipinos through secure and convenient payment touchpoints. This means more access, more convenience, and more ways for our community to enjoy the DigiPlus experience wherever they are,” said Jasper Vicencio, President of AB Leisure Exponent Inc. and Total Gamezone Xtreme Inc.
Formally signed on November 26, this partnership agreement was led by Vicencio together with Danilo Ibarra, CEO of BTI Payments Philippines and its COO Mariel Medina, pairing the former’s growing digital ecosystem with the latter’s operational expertise.
“We are excited to support DigiPlus with Pay&Go’s nationwide footprint. Together, we’re making trusted payment access available to more BingoPlus players across the country and soon with ArenaPlus and GameZone. DigiPlus sets a high bar on player trust and Pay&Go is determined to meet it,” said Ibarra.
DigiPlus partners only with payment channels certified by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas in accordance with the requirements set by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR). In partnering with BTI Payments, a certified Operator for Payment System (OPS) and Independent ATM Deployer (IAD) whose breadth of experience spans for over 25 years, DigiPlus taps into decades of expertise in transaction processing and payment device management.
The Pay&Go payment kiosks partnership significantly expands DigiPlus’ comprehensive customer service and player support network. This existing network currently includes dedicated in-house 24/7 customer support, over 130 physical BingoPlus stores nationwide, over-the-counter payment channel options and a surety bond protecting player wallets. The expansion of these service touchpoints is a testament to DigiPlus’ ongoing commitment to providing safe, reliable and accessible digital entertainment to the Filipino market.
The post DigiPlus Partners with Pay&Go appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Regulators Call for Stronger Measures Against Illegal Online Gambling
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Regulators of Austria, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Portugal and Spain issued a joint institutional statement.
The fight against illegal online gambling is one of the paramount tasks facing regulated jurisdictions. Its borderless nature and the speed of technological innovation make it easier for illegal operators to evade regulatory oversight. This creates significant risks for consumer and public health protection, endanger public order and harms the activity of legitimate operators. In short, illegal online gambling undermines the entire regulatory framework designed to protect the public interest.
The statement reads: “We express our common concern regarding the increasing proliferation of advertising targeting our jurisdictions by unauthorised operators, particularly through digital channels such as social media, video platforms, and affiliate networks. These activities not only violate our national laws but also expose citizens — including minors and vulnerable individuals — to significant risks associated with illegal gambling.
“We wish to express our strong commitment to consumer protection, market integrity, and compliance with national and international regulations within the respective legal framework by:
• sharing information on illegal operators among us
• calling on digital platforms and social media networks to strengthen their control mechanisms to prevent the dissemination of advertising content from unauthorised operators
• reaffirming our commitment to share knowledge and better practices in identifying, investigating, and sanctioning operators acting outside the law.
This statement marks a renewed and united commitment by our jurisdictions to strengthen the integrity of the regulated gambling sector and to protect citizens from the risks posed by illegal gambling activities.”
The post Regulators Call for Stronger Measures Against Illegal Online Gambling appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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IGT Debuts 4 Fortunes Link MLP Game for Spain
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IGT presented its localised 4 Fortunes Link multi-level progressive to operators in Spain’s salones sector during a customer event in Madrid on November 20, introducing the title on the BINTIA 27 cabinet within the company’s Salones España portfolio.
The presentation took place at the Ginkgo Restaurant and Sky Bar and was co-hosted with gaming distributor Orenes Grupo. Attendees from the salones segment were invited for product demonstrations and discussions on the 4 Fortunes Link game configured for the country’s Amusement with Prize (AWP) environment.
During the event, IGT representatives showcased the gameplay of 4 Fortunes Link running on the BINTIA 27 cabinet. The cabinet is the newest component of the company’s offering for salones in Spain, and the session provided operators with a look at the features that define the MLP title.
Marilu Aldana, IGT Director of Sales for Western Europe and Africa, said: “IGT was excited to bring our customers in Spain’s salones sector together for the debut of the market-attuned 4 Fortunes Link MLP. We continue to grow our Salones Espana portfolio with innovative MLP solutions aligned with localized player preferences, and the well-attended event provided an excellent platform to showcase the entertainment value of the 4 Fortunes Link game.”
The post IGT Debuts 4 Fortunes Link MLP Game for Spain appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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