Hector Fernandez, the chief executive officer of Aristocrat Gaming, spoke with CNBC about the future of the gambling industry and the resilience of gaming. He highlighted that the industry has demonstrated its strength time and time again, surviving periods of economic difficulties and financial unrest.

While macroeconomic conditions do have some effect on gaming, the American industry has recorded no significant change in consumer behavior during difficult periods. Fernandez noted that many US companies have reported impressive march figures, attesting to the strength of the gambling ecosystem.

Fernandez pointed out that, interestingly, companies that invested during the COVID downturn actually came back stronger. On the contrary, companies that made cuts are now lagging behind those that were able to lean in.

Fernandez: Asia Presents Tremendous Growth Opportunities

The interviewers asked Fernandez about the importance of the Asian market to his company. To that, the CEO replied that Asia presents tremendous growth opportunities. The Philippines and Singapore, for example, are markets that have surpassed the pre-COVID GGR levels.

At the same time, Macau is showing positive signs of recovery. While the special administrative region is yet to fully recover, the visitation rates are rebounding, sparking optimism about the future of Macau gaming. In April, for example, hotel occupancy exceeded 80%, Fernandez noted.

Aristocrat Gaming’s CEO noted that there are many similarities between North America and Macau.

Through COVID, through lockdown periods, people kind of missed out on live experiences – the ability to go somewhere and have social interactions. What we saw is that as the world opened back up, humans just really craved that live experience and that ability to have fun and disconnect, if you will.

Hector Fernandez, CEO, Aristocrat Gaming

He added that he is certain Asia is experiencing a similar thing right now.

Many Customers Tend to Spend More

When asked to comment on the trends in player spending Fernandez said that his company noted that player wallets in certain regions are now bigger.

One of the phenomena we’ve seen is that the wallets are bigger. As consumers do come back and engage in gaming, the overall wallet has grown. I think that’s really as a result of that period where they weren’t able to engage.

Hector Fernandez, CEO, Aristocrat Gaming

Overall, Fernandez seems optimistic about the future of gaming in spite of the temporary economic headwinds. He believes that the industry is poised to rebound and grow further.

The post Aristocrat’s CEO Speaks about the Gaming Industry’s Resilience appeared first on Keno Wizard.

On February 16, it was announced that sports betting behemoth BetMGM has formed a strategic partnership with Anaxi, the online Real Money Gaming business of Aristocrat.

BetMGM and Anaxi Executives Thrilled about the New Partnership

Cath Burns, Executive Vice President of Anaxi, expressed her excitement about the new collaboration: “We are thrilled to be collaborating with BetMGM as Anaxi reimagines the world’s greatest gaming content online. This is the first content release for Anaxi, and we look forward to continuing to innovate and create online gaming experiences that entertain our partners and players.”

Matt Prevost, BetMGM’s Chief Revenue Officer, expressed his delight about being the first operator in North America to offer Anaxi’s top-notch content, saying that this partnership aligns with BetMGM’s goal of making its online casino the best destination for players.

Anaxi, as an integral part of Aristocrat, has an impressive array of content, technology, and creative capabilities to offer. The global content studios and CXS team that make up the core of Anaxi’s talent pool provide essential support for the company’s connected experience, establishing a haven for players who can indulge in the thrill of real money gaming with an assurance of security and reliability.

Aristocrat’s Real Money Gaming Division Became Anaxi in October 2022

In October 2022, Aristocrat revealed that it had rebranded its online Real Money Gaming (RMG) division as Anaxi, which would form the third business unit of Aristocrat Group. The move was seen as the next step in Aristocrat’s growth strategy, which began earlier in the year when it created a dedicated online RMG unit.

Aristocrat said that the first regulated online casino product under the Anaxi brand in the US would go live by the end of 2022 in partnership with two major customers. In the meantime, Aristocrat was determined to continue expanding its online RMG offering, pursuing various opportunities, including mergers and acquisitions. Aristocrat delivered quickly on this promise with the acquisition of B2B online RMG supplier Roxor Gaming.

Aristocrat’s Anaxi received a substantial boost thanks to the acquisition of Roxor Gaming. The takeover provided Anaxi with access to Roxor’s content publishing technology and remote game server operations, which are now instrumental in advancing Anaxi’s operations and growth within the iGaming vertical. The acquisition was hailed as a vital component of the company’s long-term expansion strategy.

As part of its expansion strategy in the US, Aristocrat further signed a multi-year partnership deal with the NFL’s New England Patriots. This partnership would feature Aristocrat branding at the Patriots’ Gillette Stadium year-round, as well as in-game activations and promotions for the fans of the Patriots.

The post BetMGM and Aristocrat’s Anaxi Join Forces in Strategic Partnership appeared first on Keno Wizard.