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Black Cow Technology Founder and CEO, Max Francis, on why the company has shifted focus from software development to game development, and why he believes multiplayer is the future of online gambling entertainment

Black Cow has just announced its transition into a multiplayer content provider. What made you refocus the business in such a way?

We truly believe that multiplayer is the future of online gambling entertainment, and with our own technology capable of building next-gen multiplayer experiences, we wanted to transition into a content-led business and release some innovative games of our own. Our Multiplayer RGS is especially powerful, allowing operators and suppliers to bring multiplayer gameplay to any game format, even including non-gambling events. Black Cow’s robust, reliable and highly flexible technology is already used by some of the biggest organisations in the industry, including the likes of DraftKings and Light & Wonder. The shift into creating our own multiplayer content enables us to build on our successful Remote Game Server (RGS) and Jackpot Server technology to create first-of-its kind games offering unique player experiences via our Multiplayer RGS platform.

Tell us more about your Multiplayer RGS and its capabilities. What sets it apart from similar solutions in the market?

Our Multiplayer RGS has been several years in the making and is already live with Light & Wonder. Our Multiplayer RGS can be used to create multiplayer experiences across anything from slots and table games to crash, plinko, lottery, live dealer and bingo. Games can be player-cooperative or player versus player. The system’s capabilities are really only limited by the imagination of the people using it, and that’s why we’re so excited to be moving into the realm of game development so that we can push its limits to disrupt online casino lobbies with Black Cow content.

Taking a business in a new direction is a significant undertaking, not without its risks. How have you approached this transition?

It was clear to me that we had the technology to create multiplayer content, but not necessarily the experience to date, and that’s why we’ve been making strategic hires. This year we have promoted Paul Jefferson to the role of Chief Technical Officer and we have welcomed two more big-hitters to the business – Ernie Lafky as Chief Product Officer and Shelley Hannah as Chief Operations Officer. Ernie is taking the lead when it comes to what our games will look like and how we combine key elements like multiplayer, gamification and social interaction. Shelley is managing the operational aspects of our transition to a hosted product-first model. In terms of mitigating the risk, it comes down to the deep rooted confidence we have in our technology and our fantastic team, plus our belief that players are seeking social multiplayer entertainment.

Why do you have such a firm belief that multiplayer content is the future? And to what extent will it dominate online casino game lobbies?

It’s not the future, it’s the now. You just have to look at the experiences offered by other online entertainment options to see that they are becoming increasingly multiplayer and social. From dating to streaming, social media to mobile gaming, consumers want to engage with products and experiences that can be enjoyed with others. But online casino and sports betting sit at odds with this as they have been, and remain, mostly solitary experiences. We have started to see a bit of a shift away from this, first with live casino and then the rise of the crash game format. But this is just the start of what multiplayer online gambling entertainment can look like, and at Black Cow we have the vision, people and technology to really spearhead the multiplayer movement and be a true leader in the space.

As for the degree to which multiplayer content will dominate online casino and sportsbook lobbies, I think it has the potential to be significant but there will always be players that want to engage with more traditional games, products and experiences, so it will be down to each operator as to how they promote multiplayer games. Naturally, this approach will differ from brand to brand based on their specific player-base.

What can we expect from Black Cow now that your transition into a multiplayer game developer is well underway?

Paul, Ernie, Shelley and the team are working hard on our initial product roadmap, including the first run of games that will leave our production line. This is a really exciting moment for me and the whole team, as it will bring our vision to life and set the blueprint for what our multiplayer games will look like moving forward. It goes without saying that our multiplayer games will embody the core values we have built Black Cow on – reliability, flexibility and robustness. This is a big change for Black Cow, and change does bring challenges. But we are all aligned and excited by the new direction. Success is never guaranteed, but we are walking into the next chapter of the Black Cow story confident that it will be our best yet.

The post Inside Black Cow’s Decision To Go All In On Multiplayer appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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The MSSA Protea Esports Team for the MLBB Esports Title has safely arrived in Malaysia. The team is proudly sporting purple, instead of green, in support of ending Gender Based Violence in South Africa.

Moments before the team landed in Malaysia, IESF had already done the draw. There are four groups of national teams and South Africa is in Group A with Malaysia and Iran.

This is, without doubt, the group of death with Team Malaysia having won the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) event at the World Esports Championship (WEC) 2024, the Protea Esports Team has an uphill battle against them. However, it is more than likely that the team that wins this group will have a good chance of winning the World Championships (WEC25).

The prize money is as follows:

MLBB Women prizes:

1. 1st place – US$17,500.00
2. 2nd place – US$10,500.00
3. 3rd place – US$7,000.00

The full team is as follows:

Additional reading:

The post Female Protea Esports Team arrives safely in Malaysia. appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Mr Vegas helped raise vital funds for Sheffield Wednesday after donating a VIP hospitality box for a fan raffle during last weekend’s Steel City derby against Sheffield United.

The fundraising initiative comes during one of the most challenging periods in the Owls’ 158-year history, following the club’s entry into administration and a points deduction that was yesterday extended by a further six to 18. Mr Vegas, the club’s front-of-shirt sponsor, has renewed its commitment to the club while also offering additional commercial assets to help raise vital funds.

The donated hospitality package was raffled among supporters ahead of the derby, with the winning prize going to lifelong Wednesday fan Simon and nine friends. While 3-0 home defeat was hardly what fans hoped for, the raffle raised £9,000 directly for the club.

Simon said:  “Although the result on the pitch wasn’t great, the rest of the day was excellent. We loved being in a box, going down the tunnel and pitchside. Thank you to Mr Vegas for donating this to Sheffield Wednesday.”

Marco Trucco, CMO at Mr Vegas, said the decision to step up support during the club’s darkest period was clear.

“The weight of uncertainty in moments like this falls almost entirely on the fans. As a brand, you can either step up or step back – and for us, the choice was easy. We sponsor the club, not past ownership. Sheffield Wednesday’s identity is rooted in its history and its supporters, and that’s what we choose to stand behind.

“When the club entered administration, we worked with the administrators to find practical ways to help raise funds. This included giving back several VIP boxes, hospitality tickets and other sponsorship assets so they could be raffled directly to fans.”

James Todd, Head of Commercial at Sheffield Wednesday, added: “We would like to extend a huge thank you to our Principal Partners Mr Vegas. They have offered unwavering support during an extremely difficult period for the club and we truly appreciate it.

“It’s been a pleasure working with Mr Vegas over the past couple of seasons. We are delivering strong activations and engagement both in-stadia and digitally, and their continued backing has meant a great deal to everyone connected with the club.”

Mr Vegas moved from back-of-shirt sponsor to front-of-shirt sponsor ahead of this season, renewing its partnership with the club despite the growing financial turmoil at Hillsborough. The brand has also supported a wider series of fan-led fundraising initiatives through social media promotion and ticket and hospitality raffles.

Trucco added: “Sheffield Wednesday has one of the most loyal fan bases in English football. It’s a historic club and exactly the kind of community-focused partnership that matters to us. We’ll continue to do what we can to support the club and its supporters while they work towards securing a buyer and a more stable future.”

The post Mr Vegas giveaway raises cash for Sheffield Wednesday during administration crisis appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.