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Exclusive interview with GAMING1: “Our online operations in Belgium have grown beyond all expectations”
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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Summoners War X AppGallery Meetup 2024: Exclusive Insights with SWC Europe Cup Champions NEF, ISMOO and STARTIIK
Summoners War, a popular mobile role-playing game, has captivated millions with its turn-based monster battles. Boasting over 220 million total downloads across platforms, Summoners War has cultivated a loyal and passionate fanbase.
To celebrate this dedicated community, the Summoners War X AppGallery Meetup 2024 in Hamburg on 30th November invites fans to engage in exciting activities and connect with the community, with top players NEF and ISMOO headlining this sold-out event. We caught up with NEF, ISMOO and STARTIIK, the top three winners of the SWC 2024 Europe Cup, to dive into their strategies, the influence of AppGallery, and the upcoming meetup.
What key strategies helped you win the Europe Cup and advance to the World Finals’ Semi-Finals match?
NEF: A lot of preparation involved strategizing with my friends and anticipating my opponents’ moves. Additionally, having favourable RNG in critical moments played a crucial role in my success.
What was your turning point in Summoners War that influenced you to start competing professionally?
NEF: Throughout my Summoners War journey, I have met so many incredible people who have really helped shape my experience and push me to grow. Watching ISMOO’s energetic performance on the big stage, gave me the motivation to chase my own dreams and got me to where I am today!
How does it feel to be part of the Summoners War X AppGallery Meetup 2024 and what are your thoughts on AppGallery’s Summoners War campaigns and offline events?
NEF: I am thrilled to be a part of meetup! Being involved in this vibrant community has been such a rewarding experience. I appreciate the variety of Summoners War campaigns that AppGallery offers, catering to all kinds of gamers, regardless of budget. Attending Gamescom last year was a phenomenal experience. The energy was electrifying, and it was amazing connecting with fellow gamers who share the same passion!
What key lessons from your past World Finals experiences have contributed to your success in reaching the World Finals’ Semi-Finals again?
ISMOO: Competing in past World Finals has been a crucial step towards my success in the Semi-Finals. It has taught me to stay composed and avoid costly misplays, even when the stakes are high. I have also learned to better analyse and adapt to opponents’ strategies, enabling me to make smarter decisions and perform more consistently under stress.
Reflecting on your 8-year journey, what key moments shaped your path in Summoners War?
ISMOO: One of the highlights was meeting all my in-game friends from Summoners War, including NEF, that I had only interacted with online. It was incredible to finally meet them in person and getting to know each other better!
Another unforgettable moment was competing in SWC World Finals 2022 in Korea. It was my first time traveling to Asia, and playing live on stage was such an exhilarating and surreal experience.
How does it feel to be part of the Summoners War X AppGallery Meetup 2024 and what are your thoughts on AppGallery’s Summoners War campaigns and offline events?
ISMOO: It feels amazing to be part of this meetup. Reconnecting with the community and meeting so many new people has been a blast! Incredibly grateful for the multiple events that AppGallery has hosted and invited me – It is truly an honour and excited for future events!
What key lessons helped you win second-place at the Europe Cup and advance to the World Finals’ Quarter-Finals match?
STARTIIK: I spent a year focusing on mastering drafts and learning which monsters counter certain meta picks. My Europe Cup preparation involved studying my opponents and analysing their playstyles. However, the World Finals demanded a completely different approach. Preparing for LADRILLO-OS was manageable while LEST’s unpredictability made it more challenging.
As a first-time Europe Cup player, what elements of your gameplay surprise opponents, and does their underestimation give you an edge?
STARTIIK: As a first-timer competitor on stage, many opponents underestimated me despite having experienced my strengths in previous matches. The real challenge lies in proving yourself as a worthy competitor who can handle pressure and deliver consistent results. My fast-paced cleaving strategy has always been my focus but the addition of Lora to my roster this year has strengthened my second-turn gameplay, allowing me to explore new strategies.
How has your AppGallery experience been, and how do its Summoners War campaigns and cashback benefits enhance your gameplay?
STARTIIK: My experience with AppGallery has been great! Installing it on my Android device was a breeze, and navigating the app is intuitive and straightforward. The enticing campaigns and cashback deals have been a great bonus, enabling me to grab some excellent discounts on in-game packs.
The post Summoners War X AppGallery Meetup 2024: Exclusive Insights with SWC Europe Cup Champions NEF, ISMOO and STARTIIK appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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DSWV further expands its network: performanceLiebe and Kerberos Compliance become new partners
The German Sports Betting Association (DSWV) is pleased to announce the addition of two new partners as of December 2024: performanceLiebe and Kerberos Compliance. With this step, the association is underlining its commitment to an innovative and future-oriented sports betting industry.
“We are very pleased that performanceLiebe and Kerberos Compliance have joined.”says DSWV President Mathias Dahms.
“Both companies ideally complement our partner network and offer our members valuable services. With their expertise, we can further strengthen the competitiveness of the German sports betting industry.”
Rainer Naranjo, Managing Director of performanceLiebe emphasizes: “We see the collaboration with the DSWV as a great opportunity to use our expertise in link building for the sports betting industry. Through targeted search engine optimization measures and the creation of relevant backlinks, we can help to increase the visibility of DSWV members.”
Christian Tsambikakis, Managing Director of Kerberos Compliance, adds: “Compliance with the complex money laundering regulations is of central importance for companies in the sports betting industry. We look forward to contributing our expertise to the cooperation with the DSWV and helping its members to meet their compliance requirements even more efficiently and reliably.”
performanceLiebe is the leading link building agency since 2009 with more than 200,000 link sources in over 50 countries, specializing in the sports betting industry. With innovative link building strategies, performanceLiebe ensures more traffic and higher rankings in the search engines.
Kerberos Compliance is a leading provider of compliance solutions that helps companies meet the complex requirements of the Anti-Money Laundering Act and the GDPR. With customized solutions and in-depth industry knowledge, Kerberos Compliance ensures maximum security and transparency.
The post DSWV further expands its network: performanceLiebe and Kerberos Compliance become new partners appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Nazara & Lysto sign LOI to launch “The Growth Protocol”
Nazara and Lysto have signed a Letter of Intent to launch The Growth Protocol, an L1 infrastructure layer, purpose-built for digital marketing and growth applications on the blockchain.
The Growth Protocol is a purpose-built L1 blockchain and a collaboration between Nazara Technologies FZ LLE, a 100% owned subsidiary of Nazara Techologies Limited that is India’s only publicly listed gaming company, and Lysto, the gaming world’s one-stop shop funded by leading VCs like Hashed, SquarePeg, Tiger Global, Distributed Global, Beenext, and prominent angels like Balaji Srinivasan, Sandeep Nailwal, Jaynti Kanani, Bobby Ong, and T.M. Lee.
Designed to revolutionize the digital marketing landscape, The Growth Protocol aims to bring greater transparency, equity, and monetary benefits to all participants in the Web3 marketing ecosystem. By leveraging blockchain technology, the protocol empowers users through decentralization to take control of their digital identities and participate in decentralized, trustless interactions.
The Growth Protocol makes its public debut at India Blockchain Week, a significant event for the Web3 community globally. Alongside a private testnet launch, the team released a proof-of-concept loyalty dApp for game marketing, showcasing the practical application of Web3 technology in the gaming industry.
Speaking at IBW, Nitish Mittersain, CEO and Jt. MD of Nazara, shared his vision for innovations in the gaming sector and expressed his enthusiasm for bringing Nazara’s game marketing to the Web3 space. Speaking at India Blockchain Week, Nitish said, “We are very happy to innovate on new and upcoming technologies such as web3, VR & AI and look forward to integrating our games with releveant web3 technologies that can add value to our players.”
Sadiq Ahamed Shaik, CEO of Lysto, and Founder, The Growth Protocol, said, “The Growth Protocol is a platform for developers and all marketing roles. Our team is working with developers to launch a series of growth applications on the L1 blockchain, empowering users through decentralization for marketing and growth initiatives.”
The Growth Protocol team, composed of experienced professionals previously at Microsoft and Google, is actively engaging with Web3 developers, key opinion leaders, and marketing professionals at India Blockchain Week, fostering collaboration and innovation.
The Web3 community at IBW is invited to meet the team in person, join the test net launch, and participate in rewarding quests. For those who won’t be at IBW are welcome to connect with The Growth Protocol through their website and social channels on X or LinkedIn and more.”
The post Nazara & Lysto sign LOI to launch “The Growth Protocol” appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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