The gaming operator Veikkaus announced resuming slot machine and gaming hall operations in Satakunta region of Finland. Company ensures that all activities will be in line with the coronavirus restrictions.

The temporary prohibition over any activities in Satakura was imposed because of the increasing number of positive Covid-19 cases.

Satakura is one of the very few regions where gambling is allowed at this time. Finnish government currently does not allow gambling facilities and slot machines to operate in areas of the country where the coronavirus cases are reaching higher number every day.

However Satakura saw significant decrease in positive cases, which lead to opening of the gambling facility but following basic Covid-19 measures, meaning that the slot machines of Veikkaus can resume activity.

Measures Due to the Pandemic

The operator stated that from January 16, it will open its slot machines in kiosks, shops and traffic stations. The gaming halls will reopen as well.

In the meantime, Åland registered many positive coronavirus cases and went into a phase of very serious restrictions and Veikkaus was forced to halt all gambling activities in the region.

The operator will switch off all slot machines, will close gaming revenues across the region until the conditions change.

Last week Veikkaus was forced to close slot machines in another region – Kainuu again due to the restrictions.

Due to the loses that the operator will have to face because of all the restrictions, Veikkaus came up with a new feature that will cut the loses.

Since January 12, the Finish monopoly operator demands identification for slots machines. The new regulation is part of the player protection measurements that are supposed to cut down losses by up to €300m.

According to the new system, the players will have virtual identity cards on their phones, which they can use to access any slot they choose. This makes it a lot easier for the players to control their gambling. According to Veikkaus’ representatives, this system will also make sure that all players are at least 18 years old.

The new identification system was supposed to be implemented in 2023. Due to the increased number of Covid-19 cases in Finland, Veikkaus had to bring it sooner.

The first slot machines to use identifications were brough in October 2020 in certain regions of the country. In November and December more areas were added. Now the operator is thinking about implementing it nationwide.

Veikkaus promises to bring even more control measures this year to ensure player’s safety.

After July, not only the machines will require identification but other games too.

Source: “Veikkaus to resume gaming activities in Satakunta”, iGaming Business, January 15

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Larry Flynt has been called many things over the years and tenacious is most likely a label he carries proudly. The founder of Hustler magazine got into gambling when he began to help launch card rooms in California, but, just like with his pornography empire, ran into trouble. And, also like his risqué magazine, wasn’t willing to back down from his goals. California has a rule about who can own casinos and Flynt wasn’t happy when the state tried to shut him down. He launched a fight against the state several years ago and, despite losing round one, came back throwing punches. This time, he scored a minor victory, and it was time for California to try to enter the ring swinging. Apparently, it missed.

California implemented a law in 1986 that forbids owners of casinos in the state from purchasing casinos across state lines. Flynt is behind the Hustler Casino and the Lady Luck Casino in Gardena, which he operates with Haig Kelegian Sr. and Haig Kelegian Jr. When the junior’s wife purchased a casino in Seattle, Washington, California came knocking on the door, issuing fines to the family for breaking that ownership law.

At some point in the past, the law may have had its merits. It was initially designed to prevent the mafia from taking control of the gambling industry in the U.S., but, for the most part, that logic doesn’t hold up anymore.Flynt, the Kelegians and a team of lawyers went after the state, arguing that its laws were not consistent with federal interstate commerce laws, which are written into the U.S. Constitution.

The judge presiding over the battle, U.S. District Judge John Mendez, agrees. California had tried to have the Flynt lawsuit dismissed; however, is going to let it continue to run, explaining, “If a state statute ‘directly regulates or discriminates against interstate commerce, or … its effect is to favor in-state economic interests over out-of-state interests,’ it is ‘struck down . . . without further inquiry.’ If, however, a state statute ‘regulates evenhandedly’ and ‘has only indirect effects on interstate commerce,’ courts proceed to ask whether those indirect effects ‘impose a significant burden on interstate commerce.’” Flynt has been able to repeatedly make a case for his fight, with court judges agreeing that the continued loss of business is grounds for the challenge to remain active. California assumedly didn’t take into consideration Flynt’s tenacity when it decided to fight him on this issue and the multimillionaire has repeatedly proven that he isn’t willing to back down when he thinks he’s right. This time, once again, it seems he’s finding more legal footing to continue his battle.

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Entain plc announced that Chief Executive Officer, Shay Segev expressed his intention to leave the company by giving his notice. Segev is leaving the global sports betting and gaming group, previously known as GVC Holdings PLC, to become Co-CEO of the private global sports streaming platform DAZN.

According to Segev’s contract, he has a six-month period to remain on his position or until a successor is in place. The Board is currently looking for his replacement.

Chairman, Barry Gibson expressed his regrets for having to let Chief Executive Officer leave, but he stated that Entain cannot match the reward Segev has been promised at DAZN.

In his statement regarding his leave, Shay Segev, CEO of Entain, shared that he is sad to leave after having worked five years for the company. He explained that the offer from DAZN gives him a different kind of opportunity.

Segev also made clear that him leaving had nothing to do with the recent interest from MGM Resorts. He added: “I fully support the Board’s decision to reject their proposal. Entain has a great team of leaders and an exciting future ahead through its growth and sustainability strategy, and I will do all I can to continue to support the Company.”

No Change for the MGM Resorts Deal

According to Gibson, Segev’s resigning will not change Entain’s position on the MGM Resorts International deal. “The Board remains unanimous in our view that the proposal significantly undervalues the Company and its prospects.”

Last year Entain turned down an offer made by the casino giant for $10 billion, stating that the cash price is too low. The initial offer was followed by another one for $11 billion, which was still rejected. The British Gambling Powerhouse left the door open for further discussion.

As a response, MGM Resorts started discussing ways to make the deal more appealing by offering shares, as well as cash.

In case Entain prefers a money profit, Barry Diller, billionaire and chairman of IAC, MGM Resort’s largest shareholder, stated that his company is ready to invest more into US casino giant, so that the deal will be successful.

The partnership between MGM Resorts and Entain will benefit both companies. A future merger will provide premium online casino and sports betting experience for their customers.

Regardless of the benefit for the British gambling powerhouse, there is still no confirmation if the merger will happen any time soon. Diller said that he is skeptical that the US casino group will successfully take over UK gambling business Entain. But the billionaire added that whatever happened to the deal, MGM Resorts still had a lot of opportunities ahead.

Source: “Director Change”, Entain Group, January 11, 2021

The post Shay Segev Leaving Entain for a Better Offer appeared first on Casino News Daily.

Slammed by hurricanes and COVID-19, the Louisiana gaming industry lost nearly a billion dollars in 2020 compared to the previous year. The industry also shed thousands of jobs.

Through November 2020, gaming revenue was down more than $830 million statewide compared to the same period the previous year, according to the Daily Advertiser newspaper in Lafayette. At least 4,790 employees were laid off.

If the same pandemic-related slump continued into December, the industry will be down $1 billion compared to 2019. 

The state’s only land-based casino, Harrah’s New Orleans, lost $50 million in April and May. Because of coronavirus restrictions, the resort took in no money during these months, the newspaper reported. Overall, Harrah’s was down $137.2 million.

Hardest-hit were the resorts in Lake Charles in the southwestern part of the state. Two deadly hurricanes clobbered this area last year only six weeks apart. With COVID-19 restrictions and damage from Hurricanes Laura and Delta, revenue was down $218.7 million at the riverboats in Lake Charles.

Casinos in other parts of the state also lost revenue in 2020 compared to one year earlier. 

Video gaming machines in restaurants, racetracks, truck stops, and other locations lost $76.5 million through November 2020. This is a 13.2 percent drop from the previous year.

Thousands Out of Work

The job-loss totals also have been gloomy.

At the Horseshoe in Bossier City, 978 employees were laid off in the spring, according to the Daily Advertiser. Bossier City is in the northwestern corner of the state, across the Red River from Shreveport. Other properties in the area also laid off workers.

Two horse tracks in that region went through job losses last year. Delta Downs Racetrack Casino and Hotel in Vinton laid off 354 workers. Vinton is west of Lake Charles, near the Texas border. 

To the east of Lake Charles in Opelousas, Evangeline Downs Racetrack Casino laid off 246 employees in 2020.

Resorts throughout the state, including the New Orleans and Baton Rouge areas, also cut back on staffing levels. In Baton Rouge, L’Auberge Casino laid off 162 workers.

Sports Betting’s Next Step

While the existing gaming industry struggled in 2020, voters in Louisiana opened the door to new avenues of revenue by approving sports betting in the state.

In 55 of Louisiana’s 64 parishes, voters in November agreed to allow sports wagering within the borders of their parish. The ballot item passed overwhelmingly in the parishes where large cities, including  New Orleans and Baton Rouge, are located.

When the state Legislature meets in April, lawmakers must decide whether to allow gamblers to place sports bets on mobile devices or only in-person at a sportsbook inside a casino. 

With this and other issues still to be resolved, legal sports betting is not expected to be up and running in Louisiana until 2022.

The post Revenue Slump, Layoffs Mark Difficult Year for Louisiana Gaming Industry appeared first on Casino.org.

Online casino sights need to stay on top of the hottest slot offerings to keep up with the competition. We’ve got the newest slots released in the past week, so you can check them out and decide if you want them on your site.

Don’t miss out on all of the latest announcements from the gambling industry. Our Press Release section is updated constantly, and we publish roundups of the latest partnerships twice a week.

Relax Gaming shines with Kluster Krystals Megaclusters

Relax Gaming, the igaming aggregator and supplier of unique content, is kicking off the year with another blockbuster slot game, Kluster Krystals Megaclusters.

The title is Relax’s first take on Big Time Gaming’s Megaclusters after becoming the first supplier to gain IP rights to the popular mechanic, with every spin bringing the possibility of upgrading symbols for an incredibly rewarding player experience.

Winning clusters kick things up a notch, causing all neighbouring symbols to upgrade to a double, triple or quad. The feature also applies to multipliers, boosting them by up to three times their starting value, causing win potential to soar. Serving up even more action is the treasure trove of Krystals, with three mini features that are guaranteed to trigger a sequence of six avalanches, each offering the chance for players to enhance their game.

The bonus round is another big rewarder, with up to seven free spins up for grabs and the potential to unlock four more. The symbol upgrades are hidden in every nook and cranny of this game, so there’s always a thrill round the corner.

Inspired Launches Reel Lucky King Megaways – An Irish-Themed Online & Mobile Game

Inspired Entertainment, is pleased to announce the launch of Reel Lucky King Megaways, an Irish-themed six-reel slot game, available online and on mobile.

Giving players the chance to experience the luck of the Irish, Reel Lucky King Megaways features cascading wins, the notorious Reel King Dings, a Free Spins trail and big bonuses throughout. Developed with the Megaways game mechanic, Reel Lucky King Megaways gives players 117,649 ways to win on every spin.

The game’s colourful background, iconic Celtic symbols, Irish-themed imagery along with its vibrant and ebullient Reel Lucky King character creates a strong visual impact. In addition, its traditional folk Irish acoustic soundtrack offers players an immersive experience.

Gamomat on target with Crystal Strike

Gamomat has launched its latest spectacular title, Crystal Strike. This brilliant Crystal-themed addition to GAMOMAT’s portfolio is fully charged with electrostatic bursts and Spreading Wilds. Crystal Strike plunges players into a world of crystals that is heightened by an atmospheric soundtrack and there are eight different mysterious symbols on the reels.

Energy Spheres also hide within the Crystal Cave and when revealed they trigger respins and spread into large Wild blocks to enable huge wins. Crystal Strike is a 5-reel and 4-rows, 20 fixed-payline slot that is highly volatile. RTP stands at 96.17% and the title is available to all ORYX partners via ORYX HUB and for social gaming via WHOW.

Pragmatic Play Confronts Dark Arts in Latest Slot Voodoo Magic

Pragmatic Play has conjured up its spooky new hit just in time for the New Year, Voodoo Magic. The provider’s 5×4, 40 payline video slot sees players enter the realm of the voodoo witch and her creepy potions.

During the base game, there are several modifiers to add to the immersive experience, including the Fortune Hex which sees all low paying symbols removed from the reels and any winning paylines removed, with tumbling wins occurring until no more payouts are possible. Wild Curses can also occur on any spin, where all Scatters on the screen turn into Wilds, while up to four normal symbols can also turn into Wilds on the reels, leading to huge wins.

If three potion Scatter symbols land on any spin, then the Voodoo Mystery free spins is triggered. Players then have to pick a ghoulish card which will reveal either Free Spins, Super Free Spins or Mega Free Spins. Different multipliers of up to 50x are available in free spins, as well as mystery cards which will transform into matching symbols on the reels.

Microgaming rings in the new year with a host of exclusive releases

This January, exclusive to Microgaming, it’s all about leprechaun detectives, giant gorillas, and nameless bounty hunters.

The first new Microgaming game to go live in 2021 was Shamrock Holmes Megaways (All41 Studios) on January 5, a highly volatile six-reel slot with a big max payout, featuring the world’s most famous leprechaun detective. It’s the first of two Microgaming-exclusive releases from All41 Studios this month to employ the acclaimed Megaways license from Big Time Gaming.

On January 7 Microgaming heads to the Wild West for The Bounty (Snowborn Games), a very cool Spaghetti Western adventure where the reels are populated with the mugshots of various desperados. It’s the player’s job, as the nameless bounty hunter, to track down the bad guys and collect six matching wanted posters to win the jackpot. Landing three Ambush Bonus symbols triggers a free-spin feature, where players can collect unlimited free spins and win multipliers. Ambush Bonus starts with eight free spins and x2 multiplier. Bullet symbols award extra free spins and dynamite symbols award extra multipliers.

Going live on January 12, Foxpot (Foxium) is a game which, with just three reels and just one active line, is anything but one dimensional. That’s thanks to the Fox Wheel that dominates the centre of the screen and operates as three bonus wheels in one: the Money Award, the multiplier and the respin mode, each with a different trigger. The Money Award Wheel contains three possible jackpot awards: Mini, Midi and the FoxPot, which offers wins of up to 10,000x.

Golden Stallion Ultraways, which launches on January 14, is the debut Microgaming release from Northern Lights Gaming. Featuring wild horses galloping through a canyon in the Old West, this is a high-volatility slot that’s packed with free spins. And three scatters in free spins mode will trigger the Ultraways mechanic. Here, reel positions are split to offer double and quad symbols, which can reach a staggering 196,608 Ultraways.

Then on January 19 there is Hyper Strike (Gameburger Studios), a frenetic, explosive 5×3 reel, 20 payline title rendered in glorious technicolor with a pumping disco-funk-pop soundtrack. It’s all about the scatters in this game, which can appear anywhere on a reel and award an associated cash prize, escalating all the way up to 2,000x the stake.

January 20 sees the release of Pachinko (Neko Games), a video bingo game inspired by the colourful and wonderful pachinko parlors of Japan. In Japan, pachinko is a popular kind of pinball-slot hybrid played for prizes.

There’s more Megaways action on January 26 with Forgotten Island Megaways (All41 Studios), Microgaming’s new take on the legendary king of the apes. Forgotten Island is about more than Megaways and a giant prehistoric gorilla. The game is packed with features, including extra reels, Rolling Reels and ‘Kong Spin’.

Realistic Games’ Electrocoin Portfolio Goes Volatile with Bar-X 7Even

Leading casino content developer Realistic Games has made the classic land-based game Bar-X 7even available to online players for the first time as part of its successful Electrocoin partnership.

In a sequel to the famous Bar-X slot machine, the online version is a carbon copy of the land based original, complete with the same highly volatile mechanics, timings and sounds that made it a timeless hit.

Set in Realistic’s signature cabinet for an authentic land-based feel, players win through several sequences, including by way of ‘Hold on Win’, the ‘Hold Pair Feature’ and when two or nine ‘Guaranteed Wins Free Spins’ are offered at random after a straight-in win.

In addition, the ‘O’ symbol is removed in the title and replaced by a 7 symbol to guarantee a win on all nudges, giving players more chances to claim the maximum prize of 1,000x their bet.

New Replay Feature from Pragmatic Play Boosts Engagement

Supplier’s newest tool lets players replay and share their biggest wins with the gaming community

Pragmatic Play, a leading content provider to the gaming industry, has launched a thrilling new engagement feature for its slot portfolio.

Pragmatic Replay is a function that allows players to generate replays of their top 100 wins and further share them on their favourite social media platforms.

The Pragmatic Replay feature can be launched by clicking the “Replay” icon positioned in the top right corner of the slot. With this feature, users can see replays of their winning rounds over and over again. They can either replay their latest wins or their best wins. The player’s balance is removed to guarantee anonymity and authenticity of the replay is secured through a “Replay” sign.

Feel the Power of Four with Blueprint’s latest Eye of Horus release

Newest version of Ancient Egyptian classic features company’s Power 4 Slots feature

Blueprint Gaming has unveiled the fifth edition of the ever-popular Ancient Egyptian classic, Eye of Horus, with this latest version featuring the developer’s Power 4 Slots mechanic.

Based on the retail classic developed by Reel Time Gaming (RTG), players now have four-times the chance to trigger the Eye of Horus Bonus as they play across four sets of reels at the same time.

Skywind Group takes us on an epic hunt for fortune with Book of Gems Megaways

Journey to the pyramids of Ancient Egypt with Book of Gems Megaways® to discover ever-changing chambers full of golden artifacts and search for great fortune.

Skywind’s latest is a classic themed slot, dripping in gold, with a gameplay that is simple with a focus on Free Games. Open the legendary “Book of Gems” to discover the expanding Special Symbols which could lead to untold riches in the Free Games feature.

Book of Tombs

“Get ready to venture down to the golden, ancient Egyptian burial place with promises of dusting off some hidden treasures”, says Moritz Blume Booming Games’ Head of Product.

“This is a high volatility 5×3, 10-line video slot, featuring Unlimited Free Spins and glowing Expanding Symbols. Alongside a Gamble feature for good measure.”

Join the brave explorer in unearthing major symbol combos. Including the ancient Book of Tombs – the Wild Scatter of the game, urns and pharaohs. Land 3 to 5 Scatters on the reels to trigger Free Spins with a symbol expanding over the reel throughout the entire round.

Spin-crease into Higher Symbols with Fort of Fortune

Leading independent casino games provider High 5 Games (H5G) has revealed the latest addition to its Spin-crease games while introducing a brand new feature!

The 3 by 5 reel slot includes Tumbling Reels, as well as Double, Triple, and, introducing, Quadruple Split Symbols, which increases the possibility of more symbols on a standard payline.

Evoplay Entertainment digs up buried gold in Treasure Mania

New slot takes players on an all-action mining adventure

Innovative game development studio Evoplay Entertainment has unveiled an epic new 3D slot, Treasure Mania.

The provider’s latest release takes players on a thrilling underground exploration centred around Warf the dwarf. Players can guide the hardworking miner on his enthralling adventure through the cavernous Badlands of the West to unearth the captivating slot’s buried treasure.

Treasure Mania is packed with exciting features and mystery symbols. Find the Bonus Dwarf and Goblin on the same spin to uncover the Bonus Mine.

The post New Slots Announcements – January 13, 2021 appeared first on CalvinAyre.com.