Amidst budget negotiations in Maryland, hopes for the legalization of online casinos have been dashed for the year 2024. With online casino revenue not finding its way into the state’s budget agreement, it appears that Marylanders will have to wait until at least 2027 to see any progress in this regard.

Maryland’s Legislative Session Ends Without Inclusion of Online Casino Revenue

The state’s legislative session saw no inclusion of online casino revenue as a funding source in the budget deal reached on April 3. This outcome pushes any potential discussion on online casino legalization to the following years.

Although there were initial hopes for a referendum to reach Maryland voters by 2026, the recent developments suggest that such discussions may not gain traction until later. 

Sen. Ron Watson expressed that given the failure to pass legislation this year, the earliest possibility for mobile casino apps to go live in Maryland would be in 2027.

Despite Maryland already permitting legal sports betting and hosting brick-and-mortar casinos, the road to online casino legislation seems fraught with obstacles. Stakeholders in the online casino industry will need to address concerns regarding problem gambling and potential competition with existing physical casinos to garner support in future sessions.

Online Casino Legislation in Maryland Faces Resistance

The exclusion of online casinos from the state budget is particularly significant considering the initial momentum behind the proposed legislation. The House had passed a bill supporting online casinos, including it in its budget proposal, but Senate leadership was firm in their stance against such measures.

Proponents argued that regulated iGaming could address illegal gambling, but debates persisted over potential job losses and addiction risks, with the bill undergoing significant changes to address various concerns. 

Several challenges contributed to the demise of the online casino legislation. Notably, not all casinos supported the initiative, with Maryland Live! and Ocean Downs Casino expressing concerns about potential job losses and cannibalization of their businesses. Arundel County, the county where Maryland Live! Is located, also championed a study that corroborated the concerns regarding cannibalization.

Additionally, labor unions were strongly opposed to the legalization efforts.

At the same time, a recent study commissioned by the Sports Betting Alliance (SBA) challenged the conventional belief that online casinos cannibalize traditional brick-and-mortar establishments, revealing instead a symbiotic relationship between the two. 

Conducted by the Analysis Group, the study examined six states and found a significant increase in overall gaming revenue, suggesting that online gaming complements rather than competes with physical casinos.

However, despite these setbacks, there remains a glimmer of hope for proponents of online casinos. The fact that the Maryland House managed to pass the legislation demonstrates some level of support, suggesting that future sessions may see renewed efforts toward legalization.

The post Maryland Halts Progress on Online Casino Legislation After Budget Agreement appeared first on Keno Wizard.

Relax Gaming, one of the world’s most prominent suppliers of games for online casinos, has announced it secured a deal with Light & Wonder, the gigantic American gaming conglomerate, to distribute its content in key regulated markets across the world.

The agreement between the two sides is focused on the United States, Canada, and some European markets. The deal will take several popular online casino games from Relax Gaming to a wider audience, including top titles such as Bill & Coin, Cowabunga Dream Drop and Bill & Coin.

Moreover, older but still very successful titles such as Money Train, Snake Arena and Temple Tumble are also the object of this landmark deal with Light & Wonder. The online ecosystem set up by the company can deliver over 4,500 games to online casino operators from all over the world. The offering includes in-house releases alongside top titles from third-party game developers.

Two Major Players in the iGaming Industry

Relax Gaming is one of the most popular content providers in the iGaming industry, with partnerships in place with high-profile online casino operators from various markets. The developer has become a well-known brand in the industry after having released the Money Train game, which later developed into a series of games with five different titles.

The game provider has also received several awards recently, including the Global Gaming Award for Product Launch of the Year in February 2023 for Dream Drop Jackpots and Slot of the Year at the 2023 CasinoBeats Game Developer Awards for Money Train 3.

Relax is also an aggregator, currently offering its online casino partners more than 4,000 games, ranging from proprietary titles to various games offered by third-party developers which have signed distribution deals with the brand.

On the other hand, Light & Wonder, previously known as Scientific Games, is one of the most powerful cross-platform gaming companies in the entire world. The global gaming conglomerate has three complementary businesses and over 6,000 employees working for the brand.

The company is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada, and it was founded all the way back in 1973. The group owns several brands, including Authentic Gaming, the supplier of live dealer games, which it acquired in 2021.

Source:

“Relax Gaming content now available via Light & Wonder“, relax-gaming.com, March 4, 2024.

The post Relax Gaming Expands Through Agreement with Light & Wonder appeared first on Keno Wizard.

Playtech, one of the world’s most important suppliers of technology and content for the iGaming industry, has announced it signed a live casino agreement with Veikkaus, the state-owned monopoly operator in Finland.

The partnership was formed at the end of a rigorous selection process, which concluded with Playtech securing the winning tender. The two parties have agreed to a long-term framework deal, which paves the way for an extensive partnership.

The initial duration of the contract is six years but the agreement contains the potential for extension. The deal includes the live casino vertical and is regarded as a significant milestone in the collaboration between Playtech and Veikkaus.

In fact, the two companies had been working together before, with their cooperation including online casino and poker as well as video lottery terminal machines. Moreover, Playtech supplied a casino management system to Veikkaus and now their collaboration will expand to include live casino technology and content.

The deal will see Playtech become the exclusive live casino content provider for Veikkaus, offering the Finnish state-owned operator network live dealer games and also exclusive live casino titles broadcast from a brand new Veikkaus-branded studio.

The new live casino studio will be established and operated in one of Playtech’s main studio facilities and the two companies will work together to establish the studio design and functionality. The studio will feature Finnish-speaking dealers in charge of blackjack and roulette tables.

An Important Milestone

Speaking of the new deal with Playtech, Riikka Seppänen, VicePresident for iCasino at Veikkaus, described it as “an important milestone” for the company, which has never offered live dealer games to its customers before.

“With Playtech’s network of Live games and their support in setting up our dedicated Veikkaus-branded studio, we are excited to offer our Finnish players an immersive and authentic gaming experience,” Riikka Seppänen added.

Fredrik Sylvander, Commercial Director at Playtech, declared himself “thrilled” to see his company get selected as the exclusive live casino partner for Veikkaus and added that this achievement “is a testament to the strength” of Playtech’s live casino offering.

“We are excited to support Veikkaus in their first launch of Live casino games, providing Finnish players with an exceptional gaming experience,” Fredrik Sylvander added. “Together, we will leverage our expertise and market knowledge to deliver a tailored Live offering that meets the needs of the Finnish market and exceeds the expectations of Veikkaus’ customers.”

Source: “Playtech and Veikkaus Forge Strategic Partnership to Elevate Live Casino Experience in Finland“. Playtech. February 22, 2024.

The post Playtech Enters Live Casino Agreement with Veikkaus appeared first on Keno Wizard.

REEVO, the powerful international iGaming aggregation platform, has announced the signing of a groundbreaking partnership agreement with Rival, one of the world’s top suppliers of casino games.

The strategic partnership between these two powerful players can be regarded as a significant milestone as the over 180 casino games supplied by Rival will be aggregated into the already exceptional platform developed by REEVO.

The aggregator currently has over 80 different partners on board, online casinos which offer their players the content supplied by the aggregation platform. Speaking of content, REEVO currently has over 8,000 games in its offering, from slots and table games to crash games and live dealer games. The company also creates its own gaming content, with a long list of proprietary games in its portfolio, and generally launches at least two new titles every month.

Moreover, REEVO has set a very ambitious target for 2024: getting 60 new casino game providers to join the aggregation platform. Rival has become one of these 60, but the brand means much more than a number because it has been on the market for almost 20 years now. Rival has also secured partnerships with some of the biggest names in the industry, including BetConstruct and LuckyStreak. The supplier also offers software platforms for online casinos, complete with third party integrations and proprietary live chat solutions.

Exciting Partnership

Speaking about the partnership with REEVO, Glen Bullen, Chief Executive Officer of Rival Powered, described it as “exciting” and added that his company’s goal over the past 20 years has been to develop “games that are both immediate and long-term player favorites in markets around the world.”

The Rival Powered CEO explained that REEVO’s “commitment to delivering excellence in product and service aligns perfectly” with his company’s focus. “I foresee great things ahead for this partnership,” Glen Bullen concluded.

Petra Maria Poola, Head of Sales at REEVO, declared herself “thrilled” to start collaborating with Rival, a company that she described as “a reputable force in the industry” thanks to its “unwavering commitment to player-centric game development.” The REEVO executive added that this strategic partnership gives both companies a chance to “set new industry standards together.”

Source: “REEVO and Rival Powered Unveil Groundbreaking Partnership to Redefine Gaming Entertainment“. European Gaming. February 19, 2024.

The post REEVO Enters Strategic Partnership Agreement with Rival appeared first on Keno Wizard.

Endorphina, the well-known international supplier of slot games for online casinos, has announced that its presence on the Spanish market will become stronger following the signing of a partnership with Casino777, an online casino that operates in this market.

In the statement which announces the partnership, Endorphina expressed their belief that “2024 is going to be a very successful year” for the company after having managed to enter “an impressive number of markets” in 2023. Earlier this year the supplier reached an agreement with Trisigma, one of the leading Testing Laboratories in the iGaming industry, in order to certify its games for a number of European markets.

Fantastic Partnership

Speaking about the deal with Casino777, Zdenek Llosa, Senior Partnership Manager at Endorphina, declared that the company was “excited” about its journey in the Spanish market. He also revealed that successful slot titles such as Book of Vlad, Water Tiger, Ultra Fresh, Glory of Egypt and Dynamite Miner have entered the offering of Casino777 and said that he was looking forward to “a strong cooperation” with the online casino.

Robert Harutyunyan, Head of Business Development at Endorphina, declared himself “thrilled” to be able to launch the company’s games with Casino777 in Spain. “We are excited to bring top-notch entertainment to their player base and look forward to growing our fantastic partnership,” the Endorphina executive added.

César Paredes García, Country Manager at Casino777, expressed his delight at having secured a partnership with Endorphina. “Working with suppliers of the caliber of Endorphina to offer the best experience to our users is essential for us,” the Casino777 executive explained. The online casino brand launched back in 2015 and it offers slot games, table games, live casino and even sports betting.

Endorphina is one of the world’s most popular iGaming providers, with the company being present on the market since 2012. Its vast portfolio of games counts over 150 titles at the moment and it includes very popular releases such as Hell Hot 100, King of Ghosts, Solar Eclipse, Joker Stoker and Magnum Opus.

The company’s efforts have also received recognition at industry events. So far Endorphina has received ten major industry awards, including BSG Award 2023, The Best Slots Provider at Sigma Awards 2022 and Best Game Developer at UGW Awards 2021. Moreover, Endorphina created a partner network that currently has more than 2,500 members globally.

Source: “We Are Continuing Our Journey In The Spanish Market By Partnering With Casino777!“. Endorphina. February 14, 2024.

The post Endorphina Secures Agreement with Casino777 in Spain appeared first on Keno Wizard.

Everi Digital, the well-known international provider of games for online casinos, has announced that its global footprint has expanded to cover the United Kingdom as well following an agreement with Jumpman Gaming.

Everi Digital is the online gaming arm of Everi Holdings, a powerful provider of content and software both for land-based and online casinos. The company also provides financial technology, player loyalty solutions and bingo platforms.

Jumpman Gaming on the other hand is a company that holds an online casino license granted by the United Kingdom Gambling Commission and provides services and content to various online casinos which operate in this highly competitive market. Among the company’s top customers we can find prominent brands such as Mirror Bingo, Sun Play and Amazon Slots.

The content from Everi Digital will be delivered to the customers of Jumpman Gaming through the Spark Remote Game Server, the proprietary game server of the supplier and will be aggregated through Light & Wonder, the famous international iGaming supplier formerly known as Scientific Games.

Last week Light & Wonder announced that it was ready to extend its existing collaboration with Everi Digital, allowing expansion across new markets in the United Kingdom, Europe and Latin America.

Until now the vast portfolio of casino games offered by Everi Digital was mostly featured in online casinos in North America. The deal with Jumpman Gaming, one of the fastest growing iGaming networks in the United Kingdom, will give the supplier the chance to showcase its products to a new but also vast audience.

A Significant Opportunity

Speaking about the agreement with Jumpman Gaming, Jordan Brent, Vice President of Digital Commercialisation at Everi Holdings, described it as “a significant opportunity” for the supplier to reach new players and markets.

“The ability to offer a diverse set of titles and play mechanics to this experienced group of players within a mature market motivates us to continue to develop great gaming entertainment experiences,” Jordan Brent added.

Kris Kukula, Managing Director of Jumpman Gaming, declared himself “delighted” to be able to bring the “fantastic range of content” supplied by Everi Digital to players in the United Kingdom. “Our aim is to continue providing players with the very best selection of iGaming content in the UK and this is another great milestone on our journey,” the Jumpman Gaming executive added.

Source: “Everi Digital to Provide High-Performing iGaming Content to UK Online Players for First Time via Jumpman Gaming“. Everi. February 6, 2024

The post Everi Digital Reaches Agreement with Jumpman Gaming appeared first on Keno Wizard.

Light & Wonder Incorporated and Everi Digital expand their long-term partnership and take it to the next level through a new deal. The partnership with Everi Digital, Everi Holdings Incorporated’s online gaming business, will allow Light & Wonder to expand across new markets in the UK, Europe, and Latin America.

Global expansion

Light & Wonder’s fans in the UK will be happy to hear that new games from Everi Digital’s impressive portfolio will be available to them through an advanced Light & Wonder online ecosystem.

When it comes to European expansion, the Italian players will get a chance to try some of Everi Digital’s games in the summer of 2024, while other countries will follow the lead and get access by the end of 2024.

Besides the European market, the companies will expand to South America, where the players will be able to enjoy thrilling Everi Digital’s titles from the first quarter of 2024.

Everi Holdings Incorporated became a leader in the industry when it came to providing both land-based and online casinos with fantastic content and advanced products such as financial technology services, player loyalty solutions, and bingo. The company is famous for following the newest trends, including launching fantastic video instant-win style games and perceived skill games that are about to be launched soon.

The partnership between Everi and Light & Wonder was established four years ago, and since then the companies have strengthened their positions in the North American market, offering a range of captivating content to the players in the continent.

Thanks to the success of the previous deals, they decided to expand it further. It means a lot to Light & Wonder since the deal is the latest phase of its long-term iGaming strategy, which includes establishing new partnerships with successful game developers and strengthening its position as one of the leading content providers in the world.

Light & Wonder’s portfolio currently consists of more than 3.500 games developed in-house and obtained from third-party studios. All of them provide a safe and secure gaming experience since they’re enriched with various responsible gaming tools.

Mutually beneficial partnership

Jordan Brent, the Digital Commercialization Vice-President at Everi, said: “This exciting collaboration with Light & Wonder allows Everi Digital to deliver our award-winning engaging gaming entertainment experiences to new players and markets. We are looking forward to providing our innovative content to a new segment of online players, driving the continued growth trajectory of our collective iGaming business.”

Steve Mayes, the Digital Partnerships Senior Director at Light & Wonder added: “Everi Digital’s content has proven hugely popular with players in North America and we look forward to sharing its games across more of our global network. We are always looking to expand the scope of our online content and stepper and skill games on Everi’s product roadmap will help achieve that goal.”

Source: Campbell, Alan, “Light & Wonder Signs Expanded Deal Allowing Everi Digital to Further Global Reach”. European Gaming. 2/6/2023.

The post Everi Digital and Light & Wonder Sign a Major Agreement appeared first on Keno Wizard.

Light & Wonder, one of the world’s most important suppliers of software and content for online casinos, has announced it reached an agreement with 1X2 Network, a supplier of online casino games, to distribute its content in the United States.

The first state to witness the aggregation of content from 1X2 Network into the Light & Wonder platform is going to be Michigan, but the near future could see the deal expand to more American states.

The aggregation platform developed by Light & Wonder is one of the most powerful iGaming distribution tools in the United States and the global gaming giant has signed several agreements with game studios to distribute their content. In October 2023 Light & Wonder announced the launch of live casino content from Authentic Gaming, a company which it had acquired in 2021, in the state of Michigan.

Light & Wonder, previously known as Scientific Games, is one of the most powerful cross-platform gaming companies. The conglomerate has three complementary businesses and a team which comprises over 6,000 people.

1X2 Network offers a wide range of online casino gaming content, including slot games, virtual sports games, instant win titles and crash games. The company has four separate studios: 1X2gaming, Iron Dog Studio, Prospect Gaming and Ad Lunam. The company already had a partnership with Light & Wonder in Europe and now the collaboration has expanded to North America.

Exciting Partnership

Speaking about the collaboration with Light & Wonder, Kevin Reid, the Chief Executive Officer of 1X2 Network, declared himself “excited” to have such an aggregation partner and said that this represents an extension of an already “fruitful relationship.”

The 1X2 Network Chief Executive Officer also mentioned that Michigan is just the start of the two companies’ collaboration in the United States, saying that “work is already well underway in other states.”

Steve Mayes, Digital Partnerships Director at Light & Wonder, described 1X2 Network as a supplier with a history of over 20 years of “producing slick, innovative content that is very popular with players.” The Light & Wonder executive added that he was confident that players in the United States would be “every bit as receptive” to the supplier’s gaming content “as players have been in the European markets.”

Source: “Light & Wonder to Premiere 1X2 Network Content in U.S. Through Exclusive Aggregation Deal“. Light & Wonder. February 2, 2024.

The post 1X2 Network and Light & Wonder Sign Aggregation Agreement appeared first on Keno Wizard.

Playtech, the global supplier of technology and gaming content for online casinos, has announced it reached an agreement with Boyd Interactive, one of the top online casino operators in the United States.

The deal will see the online casinos operated by Boyd Interactive under the Stardust brand in the United States feature both slot games and table games provided by Playtech. Live dealer games from the supplier are also included in the agreement.

The content will be rolled out in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, including popular titles such as Age of the Gods, Gold Rush: Cash Collect and Adventures Beyond Wonderland, along with live casino titles such as Adventures Beyond Wonderland, along with different variants of Roulette and Baccarat.

Boyd Interactive appeared on the iGaming scene in 2022, when Boyd Gaming acquired Pala Interactive and all its subsidiaries in a deal worth 170 million dollars. After the acquisition the company was rebranded as Boyd Interactive and shortly after that it launched its Stardust online casinos in the spring of 2023.

In October 2023 Boyd Gaming announced that it had registered healthy online growth as the company’s revenue recorded an increase in the third quarter of the current year.

Expecting Mutual Success

Speaking about the partnership with Boyd Interactive, Marcus Yoder, the Chief Commercial Officer of Playtech USA, declared himself confident that the agreement would bring “mutual success” to the two companies and added that the American company has a “reputation for excellence.”

The Playtech executive added that Boyd Gaming has “expanded its long-standing tradition” on the American gambling market by launching the Stardust online casinos, which aim to deliver “unique entertainment experiences into the online space.”

Jim Ryan, Chief Executive Officer of Boyd Interactive, declared himself “excited” by the addition of games from Playtech into the offerings of Stardust both in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Playtech has been gaining more and more ground on the United States market this year. In July the company formally announced its plans to launch a live casino game show broadcast from a dedicated studio in New Jersey, while in November it launched a new live casino studio in Pennsylvania.

Source: “Playtech Partners with Boyd Interactive to Launch Games for Stardust Online Casinos in the United States“. Playtech. December 20, 2023.

The post Playtech and Boyd Interactive Reach Content Agreement appeared first on Keno Wizard.

Bragg Gaming, a reputable name on the online gambling scene, announces the live launch of its casino content with Sportium, a prominent entity under the umbrella of CIRSA.

This milestone represents a significant expansion for Bragg in the vibrant Spanish market, unlocking a world of gaming possibilities for Sportium players.

Content Goes Live

Bragg Gaming’s foray into the Spanish market gains momentum with the live integration of its casino content on Sportium’s platform. As a CIRSA-owned entity, Sportium stands as a formidable player in the Spanish gaming arena. The launch is proof of Bragg’s desire to present Sportium players with a diverse gaming experience, featuring a blend of the supplier’s proprietary casino content and curated games from third-party providers.

Sportium players now have an expanded gaming horizon at their fingertips. Bragg’s casino content portfolio, carefully crafted for diverse player preferences, takes center stage. This includes a rich selection of its exclusive titles, coupled with a curated assortment of games sourced from third-party providers. The amalgamation promises a gaming extravaganza, offering Sportium players a diverse and captivating array of options.

Mexico and Colombia on the Horizon

As the casino content goes live with Sportium in Spain, Bragg sets its sights on future horizons. The strategic partnership extends beyond the Spanish borders, with plans for further rollouts in Mexico and Colombia. This forward-looking approach positions Bragg as a key player in the global gaming landscape, poised for continued growth and market infiltration.

The live launch of Bragg’s casino content marks a strategic thrust into the heart of the Spanish gaming realm. This partnership not only broadens its market footprint but also promises Sportium players an enriched and immersive gaming experience.

Matej Nemec, Commercial Director at Bragg Gaming Group, commented: “The collaboration with Sportium is an important one for us as we continue our global expansion, with Spain a key market today, and LatAm a crucial part of our future growth trajectory. Sportium is a trusted operator with decades of experience and a strong brand and we are thrilled to add our popular titles to its online casino in Spain and regulated markets in LatAm.”

Source: ”Bragg Gaming Goes Live In Spain With Sportium”. Gaming Intelligence. December 5, 2023.

The post Bragg Gaming Group Lands Important Agreement With Sportium! appeared first on Keno Wizard.