Latest News

ROOTZ INTRODUCES WILDZ SPORTS AND STREAMING

Published

1 year ago

November 13, 2024

Reading Time: 4 minutes

Rootz flagship brand Wildz has received a supercharged upgrade. In a bold move that challenges the industry standard, the online casino platform now boasts a complete sportsbook offering for punters to enjoy, the first Rootz brand to do so. While other operators separate their online casino and sportsbook offerings, Wildz hosts the sports platform in the same digital space with a casino look and feel to enhance the player experience. The platform will host 24/7 Live Streaming and a vibrant community engagement space.

The competitive edge

Wildz has gained immense popularity in the five years since the brand was launched, introducing the iconic Granny character and striking purple and gold branding. Customers can expect the same cutting-edge technology that drives seamless experiences as they explore their favourite sports, ranging from football to ice hockey, with a few surprise sports options in between, including horse racing and eSports. The new-look site allows users to watch engaging streamer content, podcasts and more, and the chance to engage via live chat.

Wildz Sportsbook

Wildz players will see a full sportsbook on offer, with a chance to engage in sports bets and other sports-themed entertainment products. Wildz sportsbook comes with a new customised front end, assisted by Altenar.

The sportsbook card layout is designed to present the product so that it’s familiar to our casino players, offering a pleasing UX designed to appeal to an existing customer base and new users. It’s a modern, fun and unique approach. This card layout can be adjusted to suit different markets: for example, Canadian players like to see a six-card option, while other markets may want to see a more comprehensive selection of cards on the page.
Wildz Sports offers a Bet of the Day function: a superboosted bet with 50+ different boosted odds provided on the side
Within the sportsbook, there’s the free-to-play Predictor game (hosted by Splash) and access to the famous eSports lobby.
There are Wildz-owned customised bets. These quirky, fun offerings have proven popular within the global sportsbook market.
Personalisation is a Wildz must-have; there’s a For You widget representing trending bets according to turnover. This freedom to personalise the presentation allows Wildz to focus on market-specific sports, such as generating interest around (ice) hockey in Finland and Canada.
There are Shared Bets and Influencer Bets to increase player engagement to be shared inside the stream.

Rootz CEO Sam Brown is buoyant about the new-look Wildz platform: “The Wildz marketing payoff line has always been Get More, and that’s exactly what customers can expect. Not only can they enjoy the world-class online casino experience they’ve come to expect, they can have a go at a competitive sports wager if they choose to. This is entertainment quite unlike anything that’s been offered before; we’re confident that Wildz will lead the way for our own brands and as a benchmark to our competitors. Our immediate goal is to expand the Wildz offering across all our markets so that players can tap into the full suite of experiences worldwide.

Brown continues: it has taken months of preparation by our talented teams to get this vision off the ground, and we’re finally seeing the fruits of our efforts. When you examine the way we’ve presented our brand new sportsbook offering, you’ll see it’s unlike any other brand in the marketplace. Not only do we have seamless payment options, but we’ve also taken the big step of bringing our customer service fully in-house so that we can closely monitor the platform’s CX and continue to match our players’ high expectations. Above all, we believe we’ve boosted the fun to unprecedented levels”.

Wildz was the first online casino brand released by Rootz, followed by the other popular casino brands Wheelz, Casino, Spinz, and Chipz, with offerings varying according to different international markets.

Mark Simmonds, Head of Sportsbook at Rootz, offers his perspective on the launch: “Wildz was founded by sports lovers, so it has long been our objective to offer a sports betting product that builds on our existing success. Hosting the sportsbook on the same platform makes it easier for players to exercise their preferences; they can enjoy a few spins on the slots and then place bets on their favourite sports & competitions. They don’t need to go through the hassle of registering for another site. We’ve chosen to frame our sportsbook in a format that’s recognisable to our casino players and in such a way that fans of both styles of gaming can enjoy the whole package in one space.

“Wildz has become a one-stop spot for gambling entertainment. Our overarching goal is to deliver a ground-breaking experience that exceeds expectations, inspiring new standards as creators of the go-to digital playground, where simplicity meets adrenaline”.

No stranger to awards, Wildz has accrued numerous accolades during its time as an online casino under the banner of Rootz. These accolades reflect the brand’s ability to stand out among a host of competitor platforms, an indication of the standout performance from the development and content teams behind the name, under the watchful eye of leading finance, compliance, and responsible gaming teams.

The company maintains an ongoing commitment to work with regulators within the respective markets in which it operates, ensuring that player protection is always a priority, a position which is set to secure customer confidence when it comes to this latest development.

Sam Brown concludes: “Players are spoiled for choice when it comes to iGaming brands, but not all brands are equal. We are convinced that Wildz will offer the best of all worlds for our customers and that we have something special to rival the world’s top operators”.

The post ROOTZ INTRODUCES WILDZ SPORTS AND STREAMING appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Latest News

From ‘Mummyverse’ to Crash Games: Belatra Reviews a Landmark 2025

Published

3 days ago

December 23, 2025

George Miller

Editor’s Take

Why this matters: Belatra has been a steady hand in the slots world for a long time, but 2025 marked a distinct shift in strategy. By entering the Crash vertical with Goose Boom Bang and winning big at SiGMA Africa, the studio is clearly pivoting to capture the high-growth, high-frequency players in emerging markets. They are no longer just a “classic slots” developer; they are diversifying the portfolio to ensure relevance in regions like LatAm and Africa.

The Full Story

Belatra Games, the specialist online slots developer, has issued a strategic review of its 2025 operations, celebrating a 12-month period defined by entry into new game verticals, significant franchise expansion, and high-profile industry recognition.

The year was characterized by a dual strategy: deepening engagement in established markets while aggressively expanding its content portfolio to suit local preferences in emerging territories.

Portfolio Evolution: Crash and Battles 2025 saw Belatra move beyond its traditional slot roots. The company made its debut in the high-demand Crash game vertical with the launch of Goose Boom Bang, a title designed to tap into the fast-paced gameplay preference of younger demographics.

Additionally, the studio introduced a fresh game concept with the launch of Battles, a new format unveiled for the first time in 2025, with further development planned for 2026.

The ‘Mummyverse’ Expands For fans of classic slots, the highlight of the year was the aggressive expansion of the Mummyverse. Belatra nearly doubled the size of this franchise over the year, making it the most extensive game universe in their entire catalog.

The developer also focused on B2B localization, releasing a number of exclusive bespoke games created specifically for selected operator partners to meet specific local market tastes.

Awards and Recognition The company’s strategic shifts were validated by industry accolades. Belatra secured over 30 nominations throughout the year, with standout wins including:

Best Slot Provider (awarded by BitStarz).
Most Played Game of 2025 for Make It Gold at the SiGMA Africa Awards.
Player’s Pick Award.

Management Commentary Misha Voinich, Head of Business Development at Belatra, commented on the studio’s momentum:

“This year has truly defined who we are as a studio – ambitious, creative and focused on building long-term partnerships. We’ve expanded our universes, launched new ones and entered exciting new markets that will all help us carry this momentum into the New Year.”

The post From ‘Mummyverse’ to Crash Games: Belatra Reviews a Landmark 2025 appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry Newsroom.

Latest News

‘Chaos and Soul’: Ebaka Games Plots Global Expansion After Viral Launch

Published

3 days ago

December 23, 2025

George Miller

Editor’s Take

Why this matters: The “Instant Game” vertical (Crash, Plinko, Mines) is becoming crowded, but Ebaka Games is cutting through the noise with a distinct brand personality. By securing BMM Testlabs certification so quickly after launch, they are signaling to Tier 1 operators that despite their “chaotic” marketing vibe, the math underneath is solid and compliant. The backing of industry veteran Dmitry Belianin also adds immediate commercial credibility to the startup.

The Full Story

Ebaka Games, the fledgling studio that promises to bring “chaos and soul” to the iGaming sector, has outlined an aggressive growth strategy for 2026 following a landmark launch period in late 2025.

The studio, which officially debuted in November, reports that its initial rollout reached more than five million people worldwide. The launch saw its portfolio go live with the operator Menace, serving as the initial testbed for its mechanics and “Ebaka modes.”

The Product: Instant Games with Personality Ebaka is bypassing traditional slots to focus on the high-growth vertical of fast-paced, instant-win games. Their initial lineup includes:

Plinko
Mines
Tower
Limbo
Crash

Differentiation is achieved through unique mascots and signature gameplay tweaks designed to offer high win potential and distinct visual identities, moving away from the generic interfaces often found in this genre.

Regulatory Milestone Crucially for its 2026 roadmap, Ebaka Games has confirmed it has secured certification from BMM Testlabs. This accreditation validates the fairness and integrity of its RNG (Random Number Generator) and game engines, removing a major barrier to entry for regulated markets. With this certification in hand, the studio plans to launch with a number of “major brands” in the coming year.

Management Commentary Vitalii Zalievskyi, CEO of Ebaka Games, commented on the studio’s unorthodox approach:

“It’s only been a few weeks since we first introduced Ebaka Games to the world. The feedback has been breathtaking, and it vindicates the decision for us to take a different path to the rest of the industry. You don’t need huge marketing budgets to grab people’s attention if you are building something truly innovative.”

Industry Backing The studio describes itself as being “created by players for players” but boasts significant industry firepower in its corner. The team includes Dmitry Belianin, a well-known figure in the sector who is the co-founder of Blask and Menace, as well as Managing Partner at Already Media.

The post ‘Chaos and Soul’: Ebaka Games Plots Global Expansion After Viral Launch appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry Newsroom.

Latest News

Racing Meets Nightlife: SBK Backs ARC’s New ‘Friday Night Live’ Series

Published

3 days ago

December 23, 2025

George Miller

Editor’s Take

Why this matters: British racing has a well-documented demographic problem; its core audience is aging. “Friday Night Live” is a direct attempt to fix this by blending high-stakes racing with the “experience economy” (DJs, nightlife vibes) that appeals to Gen Z and Millennials. Bringing SBK on board—a mobile-first, app-only sportsbook—is a perfect demographic fit, while the Racing Post adds the necessary credibility to ensure the actual racing product remains the focus.

The Full Story

Arena Racing Company (ARC) has unveiled the strategic commercial lineup for its upcoming Friday Night Live series, confirming SBK as the Exclusive Betting Partner and The Racing Post as the Official Media Partner.

Set to launch in January 2026, Friday Night Live is a new initiative created in collaboration with youth-focused events company INVADES. The series is designed to overhaul the traditional race day experience, featuring fast-paced fixtures under floodlights, DJ sets, and significant entertainment elements sandwiched between races.

The Commercial Deal

SBK: As the exclusive betting partner, the Smarkets-owned sportsbook will take naming rights and on-course branding for all 35 races. Crucially, these races will be broadcast live on mainstream television via ITV Racing as well as Sky Sports Research.
The Racing Post: As the Official Media Partner, the publication will provide content, coverage, and promotion across its digital platforms, aiming to bridge the gap between established racing purists and the new audience ARC hopes to attract.

A High-Stakes Experiment The series is not just a marketing exercise; it carries serious sporting weight. Each of the five scheduled nights will feature over £200,000 in prize money. The fixtures will rotate across three of ARC’s all-weather tracks: Wolverhampton, Newcastle, and Southwell.

Management Commentary David Leyden Dunbar, Group Director of Commercial Strategy at ARC, was clear about the target audience:

“We have been very clear that one of the aims of Friday Night Live is to engage the next generation of racing fans… Both [partners] have shown real enthusiasm to work with us… as well as using the platform that these fixtures will offer them to also engage with more established racing and sports fans.”

Adam Baylis, Marketing Director at SBK, added:

“Friday Night Live [is] a fresh and engaging concept that brings a new energy to British racing. SBK has always been built around sport… our focus is on enhancing the live race day experience in a fun, social and responsible way.”

The 2026 Schedule The series kicks off immediately in the new year: