Connect with us
Prague Gaming & TECH Summit 2024

Latest News

Exclusive interview with ESA Gaming’s Maria Luisa Malfasi

Published

on

Reading Time: 4 minutes

 

A year after introducing its EasySwipe product, ESA Gaming’s collection of mobile games optimized for cross-selling from casino to sportsbook now features six titles following the recent launch of its latest hit Joker Poker. ESA Gaming has also entered several new markets and struck partnerships with operator and aggregator partners around the globe. European Gaming caught up with Maria Luisa Malfasi, Business Development Manager at ESA Gaming to see what the future has in store for the supplier.

It has been a fantastic year for ESA Gaming which has seen you move from offering an aggregator platform and poker network to focus on cross-selling titles for mobile, tell us about the last 12 months.

Having offered an aggregator platform and poker network for some years we wanted to develop a new USP for the company and introduce something unique and different to what is currently available in the very saturated slots market. The result was our portfolio of EasySwipe games which is designed specifically to sit within sportsbooks to offer bettors a simple yet engaging casino experience without disrupting the sports betting experience. We now have six titles in our offering and it’s been a fantastic year for ESA Gaming.

Major sporting events in the summer, such as the Euros and the Olympics, definitely helped boost our portfolio as betting volumes significantly increase and naturally offers the possibility of cross-selling to casino.

The Euros was our first experience of having our EasySwipe games live during a major tournament and offered an opportunity for us to gather some good business intelligence which we will incorporate into our future product development. We already have one sport-themed title in our portfolio which has resonated well with bettors and we will add more in the near future to better appeal to sports fans.

Tell us a bit about how your EasySwipe portfolio has developed and performed in the last year. 

As the name of our product suggests, customers easily swipe from one product to a next on their mobile device. This ensures the sports-betting experience per se is not disrupted but allows players to enjoy their favourite casino games or try something new whilst continuing to bet on sports. We have now introduced six fantastic titles that offer players a fast-paced, fun-filled gaming experience.

 

The first titles we introduced were blackjack and roulette that bring the real casino experience to the player, with intuitive game play and responsive design, perfect for mobile screens. Fruit Staxx, our enticing fruit-themed slot is designed for casual gameplay with an immersive user experience. GoalMine, is a fast, football-themed game which gives players a speedy game-play, with familiar graphics and steps. The title has been a huge hit with avid sports fans and is a natural fit in a sportsbook. The simple format and differing final rounds which create genuine progression and culminate in sporting action adds an extra layer of excitement to this title.

Recently we introduced EgyptMine, the second title in our Mine series. Inspired by computer classic Minesweeper, it sees players race across the sands avoiding evil creatures before entering a pyramid in search of treasure. Finally, our most recent hit was Joker Poker, another casino classic featuring a standard deck of 52 cards, plus a wild joker, where players are tasked with creating the best possible 5-card poker hand. Players can utilise an autoplay feature and there are chances to multiply winnings with an enticing Gamble Round offering red, black or suit betting, while there are chances to win up to 300x stake on every hand.

 

In terms of reach, is expansion in your future plans and if so, what new markets is ESA looking at? 

We see plenty of opportunity to expand our reach and are exploring several opportunities. We are currently looking at getting our content certified or licensed in a raft of European markets such as Romania, Sweden, Denmark and Greece.

 

We are carefully analysing the potential of the market before making the decision on whether to enter or not and are focusing on territories where sports betting has a strong following.

In the last year we have entered Portugal and significantly expanded in Italy, signing several deals with leading local operators and aggregator platform providers. We also received our MGA licence which will allow us to distribute our games to an array of new partners.

We will of course also continue to develop our games portfolio and have recently hired a hugely experienced Head of Games to oversee this expansion and the creation of a portfolio of slots. We will Imminently introduce sport-themed games Basketball Mine, and Tennis Mine, with new more involved bonus rounds, as well as some innovative slots titles and our first crash-style game.

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.

Continue Reading
Advertisement
Click to comment

You must be logged in to post a comment Login

Leave a Reply

Latest News

Uncover more treasure in Blueprint Gaming’s The Goonies Megaways™

Published

on

Reading Time: 2 minutes

 

One of Blueprint Gaming’s most popular series returns, as the gang is back to discover more secrets hidden in One-Eyed Willy’s treasure map in The Goonies Megaways™.

Built in partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery Global Themed Entertainment, the newest instalment from its series of games inspired by the award-winning film offers Megaways™ alongside Cash Collect features.

The film’s iconic characters lead the way on a colourful background with bespoke logos and symbols as players try to move the Inferno along the treasure map to trigger the bonus game by landing collect symbols. Reaching the One-Eyed Willy position will unlock its own unique upgrade.

Landing four collect symbols awards free spins and a cash multiplier, alongside the potential of a x10 each time a cash win is collected.

Cash symbols are present between reels 1-6, with the special Collect symbol awarded by landing on the sixth reel.

Activate free spins by landing three or more scatters, with 10 free spins awarded in the base game and more retriggering 10 additional spins if three more scatters land.

The game showcases Blueprint Gaming’s ability to provide additional features to a beloved series while maintaining the core characteristics found within its previous critically acclaimed titles. It also is the latest example of its capacity to develop first-class content based on a multi-genre IP that crosses cinema and multimedia platforms.

Jo Purvis, Director of Marketing & Relationships at Blueprint Gaming, said: “The latest addition to The Goonies series adds Megaways™ to player’s pursuit of One-Eyed Willy’s treasure, and this shows we are committed to evolving the licenced games in our portfolio. We’ve retained the familiar feel the wildly popular branding brings while still ensuring the features and gameplay offer the engagement players demand.

“The game’s artwork stays true to the cult film, following its beloved design and symbols, and we’re sure players will enjoy the immersive experience provided by the soundtrack, as well as the special new bonus round.”

The post Uncover more treasure in Blueprint Gaming’s The Goonies Megaways™ appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Continue Reading

Latest News

HBA Media Partners with Genius Sports

Published

on

Reading Time: 2 minutes

 

HBA Media announced a new partnership with Genius Sports to launch “Crown Jewels Racing Fantasy” (CJRFantasy) – the first international horse racing fantasy game.

As the established leader in the international distribution of horse racing media rights, HBA Media works with broadcasters worldwide representing renowned races including Royal Ascot, the Saudi Cup, the Breeders’ Cup, Hong Kong Jockey Club, as well as premium UK horse racing through HBA’s partnership with Racecourse Media Group.

CJRFantasy has been launched to help unify the global horse racing calendar, providing broadcasters and their fans around the world with a new platform to enhance their knowledge, compete with family and friends, and engage with the world’s most prestigious races.

For each race, players must select three horses, designating who will finish first, second and third. Double points will be assigned to one horse chosen as captain, while players must also answer a tie-breaker question on the winning distances. Each horse is assigned an XP where the lower their score, the more likely the horse is to win the upcoming race. Horses with higher XP who win will deliver more points, encouraging players to select from the full field.

HBA Media will promote the new CJRFantasy game through the international broadcast feed across the calendar year, connecting their gamification strategy with millions of horse racing fans worldwide. On-air graphics will encourage and engage viewers in the joys of the CJRFantasy game, which offers unique raceday experiences and VIP merchandise as prizes. In addition, on-screen talent and ambassadors that include horse racing’s finest Nick Luck, Michelle Yu, Tom Stanley and Frankie Foster will also host their own competitive leagues, enabling viewers to take on the professionals.

CJRFantasy is powered by Genius Sports – a global leader in building highly interactive and engaging fantasy, trivia and predictor tools for the NFL, FIFA, World Rugby, European Tour and MLB.

Frank Sale, Managing Director for HBA Media, said: “We are continually looking for innovative and exciting ways to promote, engage and connect with new and existing audiences. Working in partnership with Genius Sports has enabled us to provide our clients (racecourses, federations and broadcasters) with a powerful and entertaining interactive tool. We are delighted to be able to launch CJRFantasy for the prestigious Dubai World Cup this Saturday.”

Judd Goldstein, Global Commercial Lead, Fan Engagement at Genius Sports, said: “HBA Media plays a central role at the heart of the global horse racing ecosystem, and we’re thrilled to be helping them directly connect with fans around the world. CJRFantasy will bring the world’s showcase horse races into one connected free-to-play gaming destination, allowing horse racing fans to engage with the sport like never before.”

The post HBA Media Partners with Genius Sports appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Continue Reading

Latest News

Playson diversifies portfolio with Wild West theme in Arizona Heist: Hold and Win

Published

on

Reading Time: 2 minutes

 

Daring masterminds launch train robbery to take home big prizes

Playson, the fast-growing digital entertainment supplier, is taking players on the wildest adventure of their life in its debut Western-themed title Arizona Heist: Hold and Win.

A weathered team of criminals feature as symbols in this unpredictable slot. A revolver, backpack, and boozy supplies are all packed ready for this adrenaline-fuelled heist.

The high-energy mission is reflected in three Bonus Game boosters. The Plus booster reveals a random value of up to x10 and adds it to each symbol below it. The Multiplier randomly multiplies up to x10 and adds to all icons on the grid. The Gold booster transforms one Bonus symbol into a Bonus Gold symbol on the reel below. Additionally, the Collect feature collects all values from Bonus and Bonus Gold symbols during the Bonus Game.

In-game jackpots return in the form of a golden safe. Collecting two, three, four or five Bonus Gold symbols during the Bonus Game offers one of four corresponding jackpots. Two Bonus Gold symbols triggers a mini jackpot of x20, three symbols award a x50 minor jackpot, the major jackpot of x100 lands if four symbols are achieved. The grand jackpot of x5,000 is given if five Bonus Gold symbols appear.

The Double feature results from filling all 20 positions in the Bonus Game and doubles all symbol values.

Reflecting the scene of the crime, three or more train Scatters symbols trigger 10 free spins. A further three trains during free spins issues a further five free spins.  During the free spins round, Wild symbols multiply all combinations they are part of, with the Wilds’ multiplier amounts depending on how many Scatters appear. For three Scatters, the Wild offers x2, for four it is x3 and for five it is x5.

The Extra Bonus feature grants a chance of adding Bonus symbols in quantity enough or more to activate the Bonus Game during the Main Game or Free Spins.

Tamas Kusztos, CCO at Playson, said: “The Wild West is known for its unpredictability and adventure, which is what we evoke in Arizona Heist: Hold and Win. We are delighted to introduce this lively new theme into our portfolio, with an exciting array of enhancing features to inject even more excitement.

“The graphics and atmospheric music convey a sense of the unknown, as our players seek to run away with great riches from the train’s bursting safe.”

The post Playson diversifies portfolio with Wild West theme in Arizona Heist: Hold and Win appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Continue Reading

Trending

We are constantly showing banners about important news regarding events and product launches. Please turn AdBlock off in order to see these areas.