Internet casino gambling in the United States has a bright future ahead, according to industry experts and executives, who participated in this year’s SBC Summit North America. Despite a range of obstacles that are currently thwarting its expansion and concerns regarding its impact on brick-and-mortar casinos, the overall sentiment from the industry is positive.

Industry Executives Optimistic Despite Sluggish Uptake of iGaming

The progress of legalizing online casino gambling in the US has been slow but still a number of US states, including Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and West Virginia, have already introduced it. Despite this slow uptake, industry experts and leaders believe that the future of gambling lies online.

Elizabeth Suever, a vice president at Bally’s Corporation, noted that consumers, particularly millennials, have changed their habits considerably and are more and more reliant on their smartphones for anything from shopping to banking services making their lifestyles predominantly mobile-centric. She added that this is where gambling is going to as well, reported the Associated Press.

However, these positive sentiments do not reflect the state of the market. Despite online sports betting being available in 38 US states and Washington D.C., internet gambling has remained very limited. Even Nevada, the Mecca of gambling, has only introduced online poker and no online casino games.

Controversy Amidst Hope: Addressing Concerns in US Online Gaming Expansion

Shawn Fluharty, president of the National Council of Legislators from Gaming States, highlighted that there is a significant disparity between the extensive growth of sports betting following the US Supreme Court’s landmark decision in 2018 and the next-to-non-existent expansion of online casino gaming. However, he also expressed optimism about the eventual uptake of igaming. 

Brandt Iden, a vice president at Fanatics Betting & Gaming, echoed this sentiment. He commented on how important it is to embrace online gaming for the industry as a whole in order to be successful. He also stressed that the industry has to make efforts to educate legislators regarding the benefits of legalized online platforms compared to illegal offshore gambling websites.

The industry’s stance may be positive, but there are still many concerns regarding the negative implications of the spread of iGaming across the US. These include fear of increased addiction rates and the cannibalization of revenues from physical casinos.

However, online gambling supporters argue that iGaming can complement traditional casinos and stimulate economic growth. Adam Glass, an executive at Rush Street Interactive, highlighted that there is a potential for new job openings and synergy between online and offline gaming operators.

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Hacksaw Gaming, the fast-growing global supplier of games for online casinos, has announced that it is ready to take another step into the United States market through a partnership with Internet Vikings, a licensed in-state hosting provider.

The agreement will see games provided by Hacksaw Gaming enter the offering of Internet Vikings, which will host them on dedicated servers in two American states in which it operates: New Jersey and West Virginia.

A Crucial Role

Speaking about this partnership, Rickard Vikström, Chief Executive Officer of Internet Vikings, declared that the two companies have aligned visions “for success” and declared himself pleased to join forces with Hacksaw Gaming.

Marcus Cordes, the Chief Executive Officer of Hacksaw Gaming, added that the services provided by Internet Vikings have “demonstrated a level of support and accessibility that exceeded” the supplier’s expectations. The Hacksaw Gaming CEO also declared that he “confident that this partnership will play a crucial role” in the company’s expansion in the United States market.

Continued Expansion All Around the World

In November 2023 Hacksaw Gaming announced it secured a provisional license in New Jersey, allowing the company to offer its content portfolio to licensed online casino operators in the state. At the time Hacksaw Gaming explained that it was going to be working together with Light & Wonder, the global gaming giant, to support the roll-out of its content in the state. The two companies signed an agreement to that respect in 2021, back when Light & Wonder was operating under the old brand, Scientific Games.

The company has also announced several new partnerships recently, including a high-profile deal with Caesars Digital to enter the lucrative Ontario market at the end of 2023. Moreover, the supplier secured a partnership with Soft2Bet to enter the Romanian market, along with an agreement with Betsson to expand its presence in the Croatian market.

Hacksaw Gaming was founded at the end of 2018 in Malta and since then it has grown into a powerful global presence. The main focus of the supplier’s slot games has been on mobile devices, but their innovative casino games can provide plenty of entertainment on desktop stations as well.

Source: “Hacksaw Gaming enters US market in partnership with Internet Vikings“. Gambling Insider. January 15, 2024.

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Internet Vikings and Bragg Gaming Group have expanded their existing relationship, now teaming up in Pennsylvania. This will provide significant opportunities to both companies while allowing Bragg Gaming Group to “solidify its presence” and “seize the substantial potential in this market.”

The two parties first joined forces in November 2022 when Internet Vikings supplied its backup services to Bragg in New Jersey. Thanks to Internet Vikings’ high-quality services, the agreement quickly proved beneficial to both companies, prompting the current expansion.

Internet Vikings will thus provide Bragg Gaming Group’s business in Pennsylvania with its robust services. Under the agreement, Internet Vikings will provide Bragg Gaming with a hosting solution designed to accommodate its aggregator services and the RGS of its local subsidiary, Spin Games.

The provided solutions will be hosted on the Internet Vikings’ VMware hosting platform. According to the official announcement, they have been tailored to Bragg Gaming’s specific needs and encompass two distinct hosting environments, both on the Internet Vikings cloud.

Internet Vikings’ solutions are currently available in 23 states. The company operates from 27 data centers, providing its iGaming and sports betting customers with state-of-the-art housing solutions. Earlier this year, the company expanded to North Carolina and Kentucky, further reinforcing its extensive US reach.

The Two Parties Are Confident about the Deal

Representatives expressed their companies’ excitement about the partnership with Rickard Vikstrӧm, Internet Vikings’ chief executive officer, saying that he is pleased to extend the deal. Vikstrӧm added expressed his confidence about the benefits Internet Vikings’ hosting services will provide to Bragg Gaming Group.

I am confident that our hosting solutions will provide Bragg Gaming Group with the optimal infrastructure required to successfully launch and thrive within this market.

Rickard Vikstrӧm, CEO, Internet Vikings

Peter Lavrič, Bragg Gaming Group’s chief technology officer, also commented on the matter, expressing his delight about the partnership. He lauded Internet Vikings’ experience, saying that it is certain to benefit Bragg’s business in the Keystone State.

Their expertise in delivering customized hosting solutions perfectly aligns with our development plans in Pennsylvania, and we eagerly anticipate our collaborative success.

Peter Lavrič, CTO, Bragg Gaming

Bragg Gaming Group recently teamed up with the American casino giant Caesars Entertainment, agreeing to supply the company with an exclusive slot game called Lady Luck Casino Egyptian Magic. The title is now exclusively available to players of players at Caesars Palace Online Casino in New Jersey and Michigan.

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The creative, fast-growing 2012-launched iGaming content provider with a portfolio of over 100 games, BGaming, has teamed up with Izzi Casino, an online gambling platform launched by Games Entertainment Limited in 2021, for the launch of Izzi Art, a unique branded slot.

Together with the online casino that has already managed to create some noise in the industry, BGaming gave the world’s most celebrated works of art a mouth-dropping makeover by cleverly mixing classic elegance with boldness and the unique charm of contemporary internet culture. 

Izzi Art Metrics Overview

• Reels: 6
• Rows: 5
• Paylines: Pays anywhere
• RTP: 96.11%
• Hit Frequency: 2.59%
• Max multiplier: 10,200x
• Max win: €255,000
• Volatility: High 
• Release date: September 7, 2023

When the Line Between Artistry and Gaming Blurs

BGaming, which is currently getting ready to attend the iGaming G2E Las Vegas 2023 between October 9-12, warmly invites players to explore the lovely fresh release where the most celebrated works of art on the planet received a rebellious makeover.

After entering the unique modern art museum with its bold visuals, players will notice the 6×5 grid that mixes Bonanza mechanics with Free Spins rounds packed with humorous animations, including imagery of a sneezing face mask-clad Mona Lisa or Michelangelo’s David wearing sunglasses.

According to BGaming’s product manager brand exclusives, Nikita Zavadsky, the new daring slot features an unforgettable soundtrack and artwork, being an “eclectic, thought-provoking” release that has been made possible with the help of their highly creative and customizable offerings. Zavadsky further added that the new game is “unlike anything” that they produced in the past thanks to the collaboration with their valued partner. 

Izzi Casino used the voice of a spokesperson to praise BGaming’s ability to “execute a game concept” by making continuous changes to the slot to make it perfectly match their requirements while also bringing their own creativity to the table for a perfect result. The same representative expressed their thrill for the collaboration while expressing their eagerness to expand their “list of joint exclusives in the future.”

Special Slot Features

The game also has special features like Chance x2, Buy Bonus, and Refilling features. For example, during the Refilling feature, a player may come across numerous consecutive wins on each new spin by paying out all matching combinations and eliminating all winning symbols after a spin. The empty cells are then filled with endless symbols dropping from above until no additional winning combinations show up. 

Hitting anywhere between four and six golden-haired Medusa scatters on any location on the grid will trigger the Free Spins feature that will pay 10, 20, or 30 free spins. Players who are lucky enough to hit more than three scatters while the Free Spins feature is engaged receive five extra free spins.

During the same Free Spins round, hitting a random Multiplier symbol from x2 to x100 will considerably boost the game’s winning potential. The multipliers will remain in their positions until the end of the refilling sequence. Finally, their values will be summarized in order to multiply the total win.

Players eager to jump straight into the action are given the option of purchasing the Chance x2 feature during the main game. By doing so, gamers slightly grow their bets while enjoying more chances of hitting free spins.

It is also possible to engage the Free Spins round via the available Buy Bonus feature for a price that is automatically adjusted whenever the player changes the bet. This feature is not active when the Chance x2 feature is triggered.
Last month, BGaming announced a new partnership agreement with NetBet that would help the latter expand its selection of games. Previously, the provider announced the launch of Luck&Magic, a fresh slot with bonus games.

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However, the approved legislation has left both industry insiders and Atlantic City casinos puzzled due to unexpected changes made earlier in the week.

New Jersey’s Internet Gambling Extension Cut Short, Causing Concern Among Stakeholders

The original plan was to grant a ten-year extension to Internet gambling, which has been in operation for a decade now. But, surprisingly, an Assembly panel secretly shortened the extension to just two years, causing confusion and concern among stakeholders. Shortly after, the extension was amended again to a five-year term without any official explanation.

The state Assembly and Senate approved the bill with little resistance, and now it awaits the decision of Gov. Phil Murphy, a Democrat, who has the final say on its implementation.

The Atlantic City casino industry, through its trade association, has voiced strong support for a full ten-year extension, citing its critical importance for the casinos’ sustained success. Daniel Heneghan, a gambling industry consultant, expressed his reservations about the shortened extension, saying it could send the wrong message to potential companies interested in entering the online gaming market, reported the Associated Press.

Since the introduction of Internet gambling in November 2013, the casinos in Atlantic City, along with their online partners, have generated an impressive $6.29 billion in revenue from online gamblers. This growth has been widely attributed to the survival of Atlantic City casinos during the challenging months of the pandemic, where online gambling proved to be a lifeline for the struggling industry.

New Jersey Legislature’s Move Spurs Debate on Gambling Tax Rates and Market Uncertainty

Despite the state’s thriving online gambling market, there are concerns that the Legislature’s decision to cut the extension may have already had adverse effects. Experts fear that uncertainty surrounding the industry’s future could deter potential investors, hindering further growth in the nation-leading internet gambling market.

There is also speculation that the Legislature’s move might be a strategic attempt to gain leverage over Atlantic City in terms of increasing future gambling tax rates. Presently, the state taxes in-person winnings at casinos at a rate of 8%, while online sports betting and internet gambling are taxed at 13% and 15%, respectively.

The fate of internet gambling in New Jersey now lies in the hands of Gov. Murphy. If he signs the bill, online gambling will be authorized to continue for another five years. However, should he reject or veto the bill, online gambling will be limited to Atlantic City casinos only. 

During the month of May, New Jersey lawmakers also put forward additional legislation to tackle the increasing issue of gambling addiction among college students. The proposed bill mandates educational institutions to prominently display a hotline number for gambling addiction. In May, another bill was introduced in New Jersey, signaling a change in the state’s approach to dealing with underage gambling. The legislation aims to offer assistance and support to young individuals facing gambling addiction, rather than focusing on punitive measures.

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Spain’s Comisión Nacional de los Mercados y la Competencia (CNMC), a regulatory body that deals with fair competition, wants streamers to make a contact point available to their fans. This would allow the audiences to exercise their right to critique and reply to posts.

The measure, which seeks to promote transparency in media, would, according to the CNMC, improve customer protection. It will, however, affect streamers across all platforms, including gambling streamers, which have been getting increasingly popular.

The new rule introduced by the CNMC doesn’t only cover streamers but all kinds of Internet celebrities as well. Vloggers, bloggers, influencers and other people with vast exposure should also provide their fans with a contact point, the regulator insists.

Not Everything Is Clear Yet

In addition to that, the regulator plans to create a State Registry of Audiovisual Communication Service Providers, which will encompass all online celebrities who have registered their activity. An audiovisual service provider, according to the CNMC, is anyone “who has control over the selection of content.”

The authority will ask streamers to provide information about themselves, including their name, nationality, tax identification number or foreign identity number.

However, it is still unclear how the regulator will decide which streamers and influencers to integrate into the registry.

People are still uncertain whether the CNMC plans to include each and every streamer or simply those who are popular. Speaking of this, the CNMC hasn’t been clear enough in its intentions about podcasts either. Finally, the authority is yet to announce what the penalties for violating these rules will be.

What Does That Mean for Gambling Streamers?

Through its new rules, the CNMC seeks to regulate online media and mitigate the harm digital content can cause. Harmful or hateful media will be moderated and restricted. As a result, gambling streamers will be able to only target adults with their content.

The current rules mirror the measures the authority has implemented for TV and radio content and show its willingness to regulate the online sector as well.

In addition, the registry will allow the audiences to freely check the sponsorship deals they have signed – something that is not always the case at the moment.

This level of transparency will help to prevent internet celebrities from promoting harmful content to minors, which includes not only gambling games but unhealthy foods and beverages as well.

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