Latest News

Norppa Kasino and the Nordics

Published

2 years ago

November 1, 2022

Reading Time: 4 minutes

As a brand that’s here to make a difference – we were excited to sit down with DoubleUp Group’s Emma L., to talk about the group’s latest moves in the Nordic market, as well as its support for the adorable Baltic saimaannorppa seal, one of the most endangered seals in the world.

Crammed with insights into the latest on Finnish regulation, Nordic player preferences and casino traditions in Scandinavia, this one’s not to be missed!

Welcome to European Gaming and many thanks for taking the time to speak with us! Can you talk us through your recent exciting casino launches that DoubleUp has helped support?

Thank you for the opportunity! We’re really delighted with these two new launches as we love working with fun and engaging brands. We’re all animal lovers at DoubleUp and that’s why we support animal themed casinos with a purpose and something that a lot of people can relate to.

At the beginning of October, Norppa Kasino launched, which draws plenty of inspiration from one of Finland’s most treasured animal friends. The name comes from saimaannorppa, which is the one of the most endangered seals in the world. This is a casino that could pledge donations to support the protection of the seal. As part of that, a fun and lovable mascot was created – Onni the Norppa, who is waiting at the door whenever a new customer walks in. Onni has many characteristics that are often used to describe people generally, he’s also a huge nature lover, just like us!

One major region that plenty of our readers have interest in is the Nordic player market – what’s been your experience in the region and what’s your take on how the Nordic casino scene is performing?

My background is the result of living across three different Nordic countries, and as well as my professional industry experience across support, content and CRM – which have given me plenty of insights into the player market. Overall, we’re seeing strong performance. New casinos spring up like mushrooms, especially across much of the Nordics! Marketing – and adhering to marketing regulations are of course key. Also, looking at Finland in particular, with Veikkaus likely to take more of a back seat, we’ll see a transition towards a much more competitive marketplace. This is especially the case with The National Coalition Party proposing a transition to the licensing system, and we have elections next spring (in current polls they’re the leading party).

If they win, we’re one step closer to seeing a properly developed environment. I believe there’s a lot that can be learned from Sweden – and the Swedish gaming license system has been interesting for the Finns to follow up. No doubt, we can use the Swedish system as a test and take the best bits to develop our own licensing system.

Also looking to wider macroeconomic trends, I believe the current uncertain situation in Europe given the energy crisis will most likely have its effect on gambling in the Nordics as well, especially next winter. So definitely something to watch.

Given your company’s vision for supporting casinos that are really here to make a difference, such as Doggo Casino for our four-legged friends, as well as supporting the endangered seal community in Finland, do you see that resonating strongly with players?

Yes, I believe so. The Nordics are a nature loving people, and animals are close to our hearts as well. We’re very proud of our beautiful nature – and as I’m sure many of your readers we’ll have seen, it’s common for all Nordic countries! Fun fact, Dogs are the most popular pet in Finland (with 700 000 dogs in total), while in Norway the cat is king (I’m sure there could have a Catto Casino in the works!).

One of the key trends we’ve seen during the pandemic has been a huge demand for adopting pets. The most common reason being to make its owners happier. Our brands represent something a lot of people can relate to. Seals are loved by the whole Finnish nation (you can even watch them on live stream in the Spring and it’s super popular!).

Looking to entertainment and providing players with a quality gaming experience, what do you believe is key for casino right now in providing a diverse format of verticals that can excite and entertain?

We’ve always seen the best success if you offer a site that has easy navigation, and a UI that isn’t too crowded (Nordic players prefer a simplistic style), as well as trustworthy looks and content, fast payments and also quick load times for games. Given that players always like something new and exciting, fresh launches will always attract curious users. Of course, competition is much harder with sportsbook, especially if players prefer to return to classic sites.

Looking to the affiliate community across the Nordic region – can you offer us any insights into how new brands eyeing the region can really make a mark with local player media?

It’s incredibly important to pay attention to the localisation of content, as well as with campaigns, support, lobbies and the like. Native speaking support, as well as proper translations on site and communications are of course also essential.

We definitely also shouldn’t treat the Nordics as one, and one should do plenty of AB testing and base decision on data. For example, I would not expect a Viking-themed casino to perform super well in Finland, as we don’t have that heritage. Of course, in Norway that could work far better! It’s also important to look into finding new, creative and cool ideas, while ensuring one doesn’t stay stuck in traditional themes. Without a doubt, I would say Nordic players are modern and open to new creative ideas.

Last but not least, with two fantastic casino brands already under your belt, what’s DoubleUp’s plans for the coming months? Any exciting new projects we can look forward to?

We’re constantly looking into improving brands and helping our partners expand their offerings – so we’re very excited about that. One example is increasing the amount of games. We’re passionate about expansion, looking into adding new providers and working on plenty of new features that will be announced soon enough. The World Cup, and of course Christmas are also coming up, which I’m sure will keep Doggo and Norppa busier than ever!

Latest News

OMEN VALORANT Challengers South Asia 2024: Split 1 – Cup 2 Grand Finals To Be Hosted In Vegas Mall Dwarka In Delhi

Published

3 days ago

May 10, 2024

George Miller

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Leading gaming and esports media company NODWIN Gaming and renowned video game publisher Riot Games has announced that the upcoming OMEN VALORANT Challengers South Asia 2024: Split 1 – Cup 2 LAN Finals will be hosted in Delhi. This announcement follows the successful conclusion of Cup 1 in Pune.

The decision to host the finals in Delhi is part of a strategic effort to expose a broad audience to high-stakes esports competition, capitalizing on the region’s rising enthusiasm for esports. The inaugural Cup of the OMEN VALORANT Challengers South Asia 2024: Split 1 successfully captured significant attention, drawing an impressive crowd of over 25,000 attendees who watched the champions being crowned at the venue. The event also enjoyed robust online engagement, accumulating more than 700,000 views and more than 100,000 hours of gameplay streamed across various digital platforms. OMEN by HP served as the tournament’s title partner and Philips as the styling partner.

OMEN VALORANT Challengers South Asia 2024: Split 1 – Cup 2 Finals will be held on 18th and 19th May, featuring the top 4 teams, True Rippers, Revenant Esports, MLT Esports and GrayFox Esports battling it on LAN in Vegas Mall, Dwarka in Delhi. The event will be live streamed on NODWIN Gaming’s YouTube channel. Like Cup 1, the grand finals will be a LAN event aimed at providing a thrilling esports experience to the attendees.

Akshat Rathee, Co-Founder and Managing Director of NODWIN Gaming, commented on the choice of Delhi, “The successful completion of the Split 1 is a testament to the growing popularity of esports in the region. We are excited to host Cup 2 Grand Finals in Delhi and aim to provide fans in the region a top notch esports competition where the best teams from across regions compete for the championship title. I would like to sincerely thank our partners for their continued support and for sharing our vision to elevate esports in the region.”

Sukamal Pegu, Esports Lead, India & South Asia, Riot Games, said “The OMEN VCSA is an important platform for us to identify top VALORANT Esports talent from India and showcase them. This year we have seen the competition get more intense with international athletes such as SK Rossi playing in the circuit, giving the fans non-stop entertainment and excitement. The Delhi event will be a cracker!”

Arun Rajappa, Country Manager, India & South Asia, Riot Games, said “We are absolutely elated by the support and enthusiasm that the fans, players and teams of the region have shown to VALORANT. After an exciting Cup 1, we are thrilled to bring Cup 2 to Delhi. We are committed to the growth of esports in the region by fostering the ecosystem and providing more opportunities to fans and players alike.”

This announcement coincides with the conclusion of the VCT Game Changers South Asia Split 1, also hosted by NODWIN Gaming, where MLT Esports was victorious. This tournament is part of a broader initiative to promote inclusivity and provide competitive opportunities for women and other marginalized genders within the VALORANT community.

The Delhi grand finals promise to be a highlight for the VALORANT esports community, offering another chapter of high-level competition in the region.

For further updates and information about the VALORANT Challengers South Asia, follow NODWIN Gaming on social media:YouTube/Instagram/Twitter/Facebook

The post OMEN VALORANT Challengers South Asia 2024: Split 1 – Cup 2 Grand Finals To Be Hosted In Vegas Mall Dwarka In Delhi appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Latest News

Golden Matrix Group Joins Rio Grande do Sul Flood Relief Program

Published

3 days ago

May 10, 2024

George Miller

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Golden Matrix Group (NASDAQ: GMGI), a leading B2B and B2C gaming technology company utilizing proprietary technology and operating globally across 17 regulated markets, today announced its participation in the global coalition initiative for flood relief efforts in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

This partnership aims to provide substantial support to the communities in this Brazilian state that have been most devastated by the recent severe flooding.

This initiative is part of the gaming industry’s larger collaboration with local NGOs and humanitarian organizations, marking a significant expansion of our intensive CSR efforts, which saw over 225 community impact campaigns last year alone, primarily through the actions of its subsidiary Meridianbet.

The past week has witnessed unprecedented rainfall in Rio Grande do Sul, turning streets into rivers and isolating entire towns. The current situation remains dire, with hundreds of individuals still unaccounted for, while rescue operations have successfully evacuated over 200,000 residents using boats and helicopters.

The floods have wreaked havoc on infrastructure, with numerous bridges destroyed, severely disrupting access to Porto Alegre. The aftermath of the disaster has also led to looting in supermarkets during the night, adding to the urgency of the relief efforts.

Golden Matrix Group invites its stakeholders and the global community to contribute to this cause.

About Golden Matrix Group

Golden Matrix Group, based in Las Vegas, Nevada, is a leading B2B and B2C gaming technology company utilizing proprietary technology and operating globally across 17 regulated markets. The B2B division of Golden Matrix develops and licenses branded gaming platforms for its extensive list of clients, and RKings, its B2C division, operates a high-volume eCommerce site enabling end users to enter paid-for competitions on its proprietary platform in authorized markets. The Company also owns and operates MEXPLAY, a regulated online casino in Mexico. In 2024, Golden Matrix completed the acquisition of MeridianBet, a well-established and B2B and B2C sports betting and gaming platform operating and regulated in multiple markets in Europe, Africa and LatAm, providing the combined entity with additional international operations.

The post Golden Matrix Group Joins Rio Grande do Sul Flood Relief Program appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Latest News

Sky Vegas to sponsor new ITV reality show

Published

3 days ago

May 10, 2024

George Miller

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Sky Vegas has been announced as the headline sponsor of The Fortune Hotel, a brand new ITV1 reality entertainment show hosted by comic actor, Stephen Mangan, and produced by Tuesday’s Child.

The new series, set in a five-star resort in the Caribbean, is a gripping new format which sees contestants work in pairs to compete against other hotel guests and get their hands on a briefcase containing a life changing amount of money.

10 pairs of contestants will arrive at The Fortune Hotel, where they will be given an all-important briefcase. Inside one case is the ultimate jackpot of £250,000 in cash, while eight are empty, and one contains the dreaded Early Checkout Card – whichever pair is left holding that case at the end of each show will see their stay brought to a dramatic, premature end.

Guests will attempt to figure out who is in possession of the cash case, whilst trying to keep the contents of their own a secret, and viewers will be treated to a blend of suspense, subterfuge and glamour as the duos compete over eight episodes.

Airing on Monday 13 May on ITV1 and ITVX (and STV in Scotland), Sky Vegas’ sponsorship includes 80” of accreditations per episode, spanning Monday-Thursday over a two-week period.

The sponsorship deal also includes 10” bumpers around free programme streaming content on the ITVX and STV Player, including website and mobile apps*.

Sky Vegas also has rights to include The Fortune Hotel logo and reference to the sponsorship across their own platforms, including website and social media.

Commenting on the sponsorship, a Sky Vegas spokesperson said: “The Fortune Hotel has the potential to be the next big TV hit, and we are incredibly excited that we are going to be a part of this new show with ITV.

“Our customers enjoy fun and entertaining games, so this sponsorship opportunity just made sense. We’re looking forward to watching the show and enjoying all of its twists and turns with the rest of the nation.”

Bhav Chandrani, Director of BE Studios, added: “It’s brilliant to be bringing a brand new format to screens and The Fortune Hotel is real shout-at-the-telly fun. It’s going to be full of twists and turns as we get to watch the gameplay unfold.”

The post Sky Vegas to sponsor new ITV reality show appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.