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Unwrapping seasonal games with Gaming Corps, Booming Games, 1X2 Network and Apparat Gaming

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With the festive season fast upon us, we spoke with four game studios to understand the opportunities that come with Christmas slots and some of the challenges they face in developing them

 

Just like the retailers and their eagerly anticipated Christmas TV ads, it’s that time of year again when studios unwrap their Christmas-themed slots. These games often dominate casino game lobbies for the next few weeks, allowing operators to cash in on the festive fun.

But with such a short shelf-life, these games can be challenging to develop. They need to come with a captivating theme that stands out from the other Christmas and themed slots, combine a striking design with a big sound, and still put players on the edge of their seats with every spin.

In short, they need to deliver in the same way as any other game leaving the studio’s production line would. But with such a short window of time in which to monetise these games, developers must balance the resources required to produce them with the return they will generate.

Many studios simply reskin an existing, proven game from their portfolio, but others believe they must still go through the full development cycle if they are to deliver the quality players expect. This includes Gaming Corps, whose Christmas cracker – Xmas Plinko – has just hit the market.

 

Connor Blinman, Head of Games at Gaming Corps, said: “Christmas games are hugely popular and can generate significant revenues even though they are only played for a handful of weeks. But to hit the mark with players, the game must deliver the fun, thrills and big win potential they have come to expect.

“This year, we wanted to bring some Christmas magic to the plinko format which is now hugely popular in markets across the world. We are the first Christmas-themed plinko game to hit operator lobbies, and bringing together a festive theme and soundtrack with the plinko experience was something we knew players would enjoy.

“Xmas Plinko has been through the full development cycle to ensure it provides the quality to not only meet but exceed player expectations. This includes rebuilding our plinko engine from the ground up, allowing for better game performance and delivering the best quality to players.”

With Xmas Plinko, players are encouraged to jingle all the way and drop into the holiday spirit as they watch their baubles cascade down the tree and land among the presents where they have the chance to win 3,200x their stake.

The game sits at the high end of the volatility scale – because there can never be enough excitement at Christmas – and has a return to player of 97.05%.

Some studios really do get into the Christmas spirit, and that’s certainly the case at Booming Games. The developer recently launched its festive title, Holly Jolly Bonanza.

You can’t not feel the festive fun when firing up the reels on this five-reel, six-row slot, which is packed with enough joy to make you feel like a kid on Christmas morning. There are plenty of bonus features to unwrap, too.

This starts with a stocking filler – when a win forms, winning symbols are removed and new symbols cascade down like snow from the sky, filling the spaces and potentially forming new wins. The cascades keep coming until there are no more win combinations available.

The festivities keep going with Free Spins. These are triggered when four Scatter symbols come down the chimney and land anywhere on the reels, awarding ten Free Games. If three or more Scatters land during Free Spins, another five Free Games are awarded.

But that’s not all. Random Multipliers can appear at any time during Free Spins, with a max Multiplier of up to 100x for truly Santa-sized wins. Of course, if you’re name is on the naughty list and you still want to unwrap Free Spins, there’s the option to Buy the Bonus.

 

Moritz Blume, Director of Product at Booming Games, said: “The holiday-themed slots, particularly those centred around Christmas, exemplify how seasonal games can significantly enhance the studio’s overall performance.

“These games actively engage in various Christmas promotions, collaborating with both operators and affiliates, providing an additional boost to their performance.

“With Holly Jolly Bonanza, we have dropped several popular bonus features that appear in our other titles firstly because it makes for thrilling festive gameplay, but also so that players get a taste of what Booming Games’ slots are like if they haven’t played them before.”

Of course, Christmas slots are just one season that studios produce games for with Halloween being another popular holiday. But there really is no limit to the imagination of studios looking to deliver games around popular events.

Apparat Gaming, the developer of slots with a German accent, launched its October Bier Frenzy title ahead of the world-famous Munich Oktoberfest which took place back in September. Again, the studio looked to deliver thrilling gameplay alongside the theme via Free Spins with a Collector mechanism in the Beer Frenzy Bonus.

This is triggered when three Scatters land anywhere on the reels. When this happens, the soundtrack of the Bavarian brass band changes to a famous Oktoberfest party song – the lyrics basically say the drunker you are, the easier it is to sing.

Free Spins are then awarded and as they play out, players collect the Beer symbols that are served onto the reels. If the player collects 40 of these symbols, an additional 10 Free Spins are awarded with any winnings from the Beer symbols Multiplied by x2, x3 or x10.

During Free Spins, players need to keep their slightly blurry eyes peeled for the Beerman as when he appears together with the Beer symbols, he drinks them all and Collects all of the values that are on the symbols.

If there is a Wild but no Beer symbols, he cheers the bar with a “Prost” and turns random symbols into Beers before collecting their values.

 

Thomas Wendt, Co-founder, and Director at Apparat Gaming, says the mechanics of the themed game are just as important as the theme itself.

“While players are often drawn to themed games around that seasonal event, they still expect to be entertaining and for the game to deliver the excitement and big-win potential they are seeking.

“That is exactly what we have done with October Bier Frenzy, paying great attention to the gameplay and in particular the Free Spins/collector feature. By doing this, we increase the longevity of the game beyond the time the Munich Oktoberfest takes place.”

Themed games have been around for many years, and there’s a strong appetite among players to engage with them. This presents opportunities for studios to produce seasonal slots, but they absolutely must nail the quality and experience of these games – no gimmicks, if you like.

1X2 Network is another studio that gets into the festive spirit with two games hitting operator stockings this year – Sweet Candy Christmas and Megaways Jack Frost from its Iron Dog Studio brand.

The latter is the latest instalment in the developer’s Megaways Jack series, which has been a hit with players. By taking what is essentially a game franchise and launching a Christmas special, the studio believes its Christmas slot will top the charts.

It sees players venture to the North Pole where they are treated to a stunning, snowy experience packed with bonus features including winning symbols that freeze and shatter to be replaced by new ones, as well as reels that lock in place with an enchanting icy border that gradually freezes the entire reel.

If that wasn’t enough, Free Spins can be triggered with players taken into an icy snowstorm where Multipliers and the Jack Frost feature come into play. Jack Frost showers the player with bonuses such as Symbol Swaps and Wilds in both Free Spins and the base game.

 

Alex Ratcliffe, CPO at 1X2 Network, said: “’Tis the season to be jolly, and what better way to get into the spirit of the season than by developing not just one but two Christmas-themed slot games.

“This year, we decided to leverage our popular Megaway Jack series by adding a Christmas game to the series. This allows us to tap into the existing popularity of the game and to deliver a fun, festive experience to players with a brand and mechanic they already know and love.

“Our other seasonal slot, Sweet Candy Christmas, is just as fun to play and combines the ever-popular Scatter Pay mechanic with the most wonderful time of the year. The candy theme set in a Winter Wonderland has one last surprise for eagle-eyed players who may recognise who is driving Santa’s sleigh.”

Some studios are clearly up for the challenge and enjoy the benefits of developing and launching themed games, both in the near term while they are “in season” and also in the long-term kickback in the form of stronger operator relationships and player awareness.

Of course, pick the right theme – such as this year’s St Patrick’s Day release Leprechaun Charms – and you can end up with a fun, themed game that can be played all year round. So, a slot game for life, not just for Christmas. “

 

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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Betano Transforms “El Loco” into “El Responsável”

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Betano, the leading online sports betting and gaming brand owned by Kaizen Gaming, is launching its new responsible gaming campaign featuring former Uruguayan player Sebastián Abreu, nicknamed “El Loco”, as its ambassador.

The campaign aims to promote education about sports betting, reinforce its entertainment aspect, and dispel the idea that gaming is a form of investment.

Known for his irreverent style on and off the field, “Loco” Abreu entered the record books as the athlete who has played for the most clubs worldwide and was immortalised by his audacious “panenka” winning penalty kick in the 2010 World Cup quarterfinal (Uruguay vs Ghana). “El Loco” now assumes a new moniker as Betano’s ambassador: “El Responsável” (The Responsible One).

Using the concept of “Não mete o Loco” (Don’t Go Crazy) – a reference to Loco Abreu’s sports history – the new campaign premieres with an entertaining 60-second film starring the player. Speaking in his signature “portunhol” (a mix of Portuguese and Spanish) combined with popular expressions, Betano’s Responsible Gaming ambassador aims to raise awareness among football fans about the importance of time limits, controls, and breaks. By visiting the website naometeoloco.com, the public will have access to educational content on the subject, such as illustrative scenarios about respecting limits and knowing when to stop.

Media: youtu.be/1I8OZci5Hpw

Arthur Niggemann, Senior Marketing Manager for the Americas at Betano, said: “We brought a light and relaxed approach that will capture our audience’s attention to discuss a serious topic that Betano has been committed to since the beginning of its operations: responsible gaming.”

With the campaign designed to roll-out in phases, allowing the theme to be explored with the necessary teaching approach on an ongoing basis, Arthur Niggeman further explains: “In the next phases, the focus will be on educating the public more directly, with materials such as guides or step-by-step instructions for betting safely, reinforcing self-control and self-confidence as pillars of a conscious and responsible experience in the betting world.”

In addition to Brazil, the campaign will also be aired in Peru, Mexico, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, and Argentina. Conceived by the Wieden + Kennedy SP agency, the campaign uses irreverence and a Latin American football idol to help boost awareness.

José Ferraz and Felipe Paiva, Group Creative Directors at W+KSP, explain: “Responsible gaming is a serious and extremely important topic for Betano. Therefore, to educate our consumers in a fun and relatable way, there’s no one better than the charismatic Loco Abreu. A player who took many risks on the field but returns to the game with a new role: spokesperson for conscious gaming.”

The campaign reinforces the three basic rules of responsible gaming: respect your limits, always playing with amounts within your financial reality; take breaks from gaming so it doesn’t become an intense routine; and bet for fun, without confusing entertainment with a form of supplementary income.

Campaign on the Streets, on Social Media, and in Stadiums

The communication for the campaign will be multiplatform and long-lasting, developed in three distinct phases. In addition to the main film, the campaign engages with the public through outdoor media around stadiums and light content on social media.

There will also be insertions during football broadcast intervals on open and Pay TV, even before ads from other betting houses. With the help of content creators and brand ambassadors – Adriane Galisteu and Felipe Massa – the campaign aims to make clear the entertainment nature of sports betting, but only when fun comes first.

Safe and Secure Platform

Responsible gaming is a pillar of Betano. The educational communications present on the platform will now be reinforced, highlighting Betano’s features for better time control and more responsible exposure to its games. Some examples include:

  • Setting financial and time limits defined for different periods
  • Session timers and other features that can be set by the customer
  • Temporary and permanent self-exclusion options
  • Time-out option
  • Links to entities such as Gamblers Anonymous (Jogadores Anônimos) and other support organisations for players and families
  • Rigorous verification that prevents underage entry
  • 24/7 specialized support

Other relevant information for player protection already available on the Betano platform – such as ‘Avoid chasing losses’; ‘Only play when you can afford to lose’; or ‘Keep track of time and monitor the amount you spend’ – will be worked on in an even more didactic way, but also with lighter and more direct messages in online and physical actions: ‘A good player knows when to stop’ or ‘Respecting limits is part of the game’.

 

 

The post Betano Transforms “El Loco” into “El Responsável” appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Boomerang Partners wowed the guests of iGB L!VE London with a celebration of the first anniversary of the strategic partnership with AC Milan

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On July 2-3, Boomerang Partners, a global marketing agency, participated in iGB L!VE London. One of the event’s highlights was the celebration of the first anniversary of the strategic partnership between Boomerang and AC Milan, one of the world’s premier football clubs. Boomerang is its Official Regional Partner.

Anton Eshtokin, Chief Marketing Officer at Boomerang Partners, commented: “We are very pleased with Boomerang Partners’ participation in iGB L!VE London. It is symbolic that, a year ago at iGB, we announced our strategic partnership with AC Milan. We celebrated the first anniversary of this epic collaboration in a great atmosphere, featuring match ticket raffles. We were delighted to welcome hundreds of guests to our booth, highlighting once again the prestige of our partnership with AC Milan in the industry. We have many more joint projects ahead of us, and we are sure that we will be able to surprise everyone.”

The celebration of the strategic partnership with AC Milan was one of the main (but not the only) reasons why the Boomerang Partners booth was a hotspot for visitors to the exhibition. More than 1,000 people visited it during the two-day event. Over 900 guests took part in the Penalty Challenge. The challenge featured two raffles — the first held offline at the Boomerang Partners booth on July 2, and the winner received premium tickets to one of the most famous football matches in the world between AC Milan and Inter FC. The second draw took place online on July 3 on Boomerang’s Instagram page. The winner will receive tickets to an AC Milan match in the Italian Serie A or the Coppa Italia.

The winner of the offline drawing on July 2 was Saad Shaikh, a data engineer at Betzoo Media. He shared his emotions: “This is my first time in iGB. My experience was truly great, and thank you again for giving me the opportunity to have a good time and enjoy the experience I’ll have in Milan. I haven’t been to Milan before. Back in my old days, my family went. Yeah, so this is my second chance. And thank you, Boomerang, for giving me this opportunity.”

iGB L!VE London was successful for Boomerang Partners. The increased attention from exhibition guests to the Boomerang Arena booth yielded impressive results. The agency held more than 120 business meetings and signed 15 new partnership agreements. As the brand enters its second year of partnership with AC Milan, it remains ambitious to follow its slogan, ‘Live without limits.’

About Boomerang

Boomerang Partners is a rapidly growing global brand offering a wide range of services. Boomerang is the Official Regional Partner of AC Milan and collaborates with women’s football star and influencer Alisha Lehmann. In 2024, it launched the inaugural Golden Boomerang Awards — a global tournament for affiliate teams. More than 400 affiliate teams participated in the second season of the tournament in 2025. Boomerang launched six new products in 2024, which contributed to an almost 1.5-fold increase in product users.

Boomerang’s portfolio contains 17+ brands offering affiliate and entertainment services across 40+ markets in compliance with local regulations. These products provide personalized bonuses and 24/7 multilingual support.

The post Boomerang Partners wowed the guests of iGB L!VE London with a celebration of the first anniversary of the strategic partnership with AC Milan appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Totogaming Joins Cernica Pantelimon RunFest: Not Just Present, But Fully Participating

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“We weren’t just present — we were participants of Runfest. And that’s one of the most important aspects,” said Artak Ashkhatoyan, Deputy CEO of Totogaming.

On July 6, Totogaming joined the Cernica Pantelimon Runfest in Romania, once again emphasizing the importance of promoting amateur sports and a healthy lifestyle.

“Supporting such initiatives is a priority for TotoGaming. First, 50% of the proceeds from RunFest will be donated to the CLOVES Romania Foundation, supporting children affected by CLOVES Syndrome. And second, we’ve always believed in showing our passion for sports through actions, not just words. Have you noticed how we’re constantly rushing through life, yet when we look back, it often feels like we haven’t moved at all? It’s important for us to lead by example and show the importance of participation. This is exactly the message we’re promoting through our team’s active involvement in the marathon. After all, there can never be too much sport in our lives,” said TotoGaming’s Deputy CEO, Artak Ashkhatoyan.

A Simple Concept, a Powerful Impact

The concept of this sports event is straightforward: choose a distance between 1 to 21 kilometers and run. The goal? Make sport an integral part of everyday life. The crowd certainly embraced that, gathering as early as 8:30 a.m. — on a Sunday morning.

Totogaming contributed in two distinct capacities: as an official sponsor and as an active participant. A dedicated team of 13 employees represented the company at the Cernica Pantelimon RunFest, with 7 of them proudly taking part as runners.

More Than Just a Run

It wasn’t an easy challenge — especially because among Totogaming’s runners were people for whom running isn’t a daily habit, or even part of their life at all. Yet they couldn’t miss the opportunity, not least from the perspective of corporate responsibility.

“We just finished the 7.5-kilometer race!” shared Petrut-Adrian Toea from the Totogaming team.

“It was amazing, honestly. Around the 2-kilometer mark, I had this little battle with myself — I told myself I had to finish the race, no matter what. And I did it! I came in around 60th place out of over 100 runners, which for me is a really good result.”

“I see my participation as a small contribution toward promoting a healthy lifestyle. In my close circle, everyone knows I’m not exactly the sporty type. I’m not athletic, and I usually prefer having fun in other ways. But showing up here, early in the morning, in this intense heat, and completing almost 8 kilometers with just one short break — I think it set a good example.”

“I hope seeing someone like me finish this challenge motivates my friends to try something similar for their own health. I believe that’s a meaningful contribution”, – added Petrut-Andrea.

Totogaming also made it possible for every attendee to bring sport into their lives — quite literally. At the Totogaming tent, participants could ride stationary bikes and receive prizes based on the number of points they earned through their efforts.

Whether they were running, cycling, or simply cheering for friends, the goal for everyone was the same: to reach the destination of champions — by bringing sport into everyday life.

The post Totogaming Joins Cernica Pantelimon RunFest: Not Just Present, But Fully Participating appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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