Apparat Gaming Enters Spanish Market in Partnership with Paf

hola-and-hallo-apparat-gaming-makes-spain-debut-with-pafApparat Gaming, the supplier of slot games with a German accent for online casinos, has announced that its content will reach the Spanish market for the first time following a partnership with Paf, the well-known international operator of online casinos and sportsbooks.

The integration of the content supplied by Apparat into the offering of Paf has been facilitated by Pariplay, the supplier and aggregator of content from various developers from all over the world. Its Ignite Platform stands behind the seamless integration of the content from Apparat into the lobby of Paf, a gaming operator that started out all the way back in 1966.

For the initial phase the deal includes just seven games from Apparat that will be included in the offering of Paf online casino in the Spanish market. The list includes titles like 40 Sevens, Total Eclipse, Fruit Storm, The Warlock’s Book, Pharaoh Princess, 7 Supernova Fruits and Jack Potter & The Book of Dynasties. These slot games had to be certified for the Spanish market.

Apparat is recognized in the iGaming world for the quality of its games, all of them developed “with a German accent,” as the company proudly says. The German component means solid engineering, eye candy (or augenweide in German) and, as they say with self-irony, “no sense of humour whatsoever.”

It seems that these ingredients have attracted players in several regulated European markets, starting with the company’s home market of Germany but also Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Now the German developer is expecting to enjoy similar successes in Spain.

Tremendous Opportunities

Speaking about the company’s launch in Spain, Martin Frindt, Chief Product Officer at Apparat Gaming, explained that he believes this market “presents tremendous opportunities” for the developer.

“We could not ask for a better launch partner than Paf,” Martin Frindt added, while also acknowledging the contribution of Pariplay to the successful integration of Apparat Gaming’s content into Paf’s offering.

The Apparat executive declared himself confident that the company’s products will “prove popular” in Spain even though his country was clearly defeated in football events by the Iberian nation in recent years.

Eric Castro, Head of Games Content at Paf, described the games supplied by Apparat Gaming as “distinct and great fun to play” and declared himself “thrilled” to welcome such titles into the online casino’s lobby.

Ashley Bloor, Director of Partnerships at Pariplay, pointed out that the Ignite Platform contributed to the success of this partnership, adding that the aggregator’s services could also “pave the way to new regulated markets and opportunities” for the company’s partners.

Source: “Hola and hallo! Apparat Gaming makes Spain debut with Paf“. European Gaming. October 4, 2023.

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Are Slots Still As Popular As Before? Complete Analysis By SOFTSWISS

In an analysis of which online game suppliers have become the most successful in recent times and which games are the most popular, SOFTSWISS, a leading crypto gambling provider based in Malta, was kind enough to offer all-inclusive ecosystem of end-to-end software solutions and share important insights into the regional markets. Additionally, the analysis below is introduced according to data from the SOFTSWISS Game Aggregator covering H222 and H123.

Europe

are-slots-losing-popularitySlots stay famous in Europe, although they lost almost 5 p.p. throughout the second half of 2022 and the first half of 2023. However, regardless, their market share still surpasses 80% when looking at the other games. Contrary to this, the card games category enhanced its position by nearly 4 p.p.

Furthermore, the best 5 most famous game categories went through little changes in the second quarter of this year. The total wagers amount in the craps games category saw a slight growth, increasing 2.7 times compared to the former quarter. This increase in performance was ranked a number 5 for this type of game when looking at the best rankings, replacing the casual games category.

As for the most famous games throughout 2022, there are Midas Golden Touch, Big Bamboo and Gates of Olympus. Relatedly, the environment of the best games showed important quarter-to-quarter variations.

And finally, the most famous game suppliers for Europe are Amusnet (EGT), Evolution, Relax Gaming, Amatic, BGaming, Push Gaming and Pragmatic Play. However, their ranking had subtle quarter-to-quarter changes.

Asia

As for Asia, the best 5 most famous game categories have shown a steady trend since the last quarter of last year. Slots occupy an important position and their market share surpasses 80% in relation to other categories. Regarding most famous games, Gates of Olympus held the top spot in the fourth quarter of last year and has managed to maintain that position ever since. However, there’s another famous game, Bonanza Billion, which has seen fluctuations in its rankings within the top five, which started from the end of 2022. The total wagering amount of Aviator doubled throughout the first half of 2023, making the game the leader. Contrary to this, the once famous game, Hot Fruits is no longer a top game and lost its popularity throughout the second quarter of 2023.

Furthermore, when it comes to the most famous game suppliers in Asia, it needs to be pointed out that Pragmatic Play, BGaming and Evolution have been fighting relentlessly for positions among the top five during the last 4 quarters under consideration. Amatic and Play’n GO gave up their positions in the rankings to Amusnet (EGT) and 1spin4win and Amusnet topped the list in the second quarter of this year.

In this regard, the Head of SOFTSWISS Game Aggregator, Tatyana Kaminskaya, said: “The popularity of the Aviator game can be explained by simple interface and fast payouts. What sets it apart even further is its distinctive gameplay mechanics, which significantly differ from other crush games in the market. Notably, Aviator provides players with the illusion of “control” over the game, adding an extra level of excitement and intrigue.”

LaTAM

As for Latin America, the best 5 of the most famous game categories have stayed the same as last year, with slots leading the way with a 60% market share. Among the most famous games in the top five are: Roleta Brasileiri – 8.27%, Aviator – 5.97%, Gates of Olympus – 5.24%, Sweet Bonanza – 3.44% and Crazy Time – 3.14%.

Also, Aviator jumped to the top in the fourth quarter of 2022, meaning that it saw an important growth in the total wagers amount, almost 170 million more, compared to the former quarter. This achievement moved its supplier, Spribe, from 10th place in third quarter of last year to the fourth in the second quarter of this year, eliminating Play’n GO from the top five. Other suppliers, notably BGaming, Evolution, Playtech and Pragmatic Play stayed in the top five with slight change when it came to their rankings during 2022.

Moreover, the best 5 most famous games account for nearly25% of the total wagers amount across every game in Latin America. However, in Asia and Europe, it accounts for nearly 10%. Also, one more significant market trend is the bypassing of roulette slots, and the rising demand for live games.

On that note, Regional Business Development Manager at SOFTSWISS in LatAm, Carla Dualid, said: “Players in Latin America in the context of online gambling may differ from players in Europe in several ways. Most Latin American players bet through mobile devices and prefer online play. Local casino slot players tend to place small but regular bets, which distinguishes them from European online casino players, who, in turn, bet less frequently, but wager larger sums on slots. Speaking about the LatAm market, we should keep in mind that Brazil is the most active player in it. Such factors as economic potential, increasing Internet penetration, mobile accessibility, and regulatory changes are making the Brazilian market more attractive for operators.”

Source: “Are slots losing popularity”. European Gaming. October 3, 2023

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Atlanta Braves Begin Playoffs as Betting Favorite to Win 2023 World Series

The Atlanta Braves are the betting favorite at +310 odds to win the 2023 World Series with the MLB playoffs beginning today.

Ronald Acuna Braves
Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald  Acuña Jr. celebrates a home run against the Philadelphia Phillies. (Image: Getty)

The Houston Astros won the 2022 World Series, and they began the season as the consensus favorite to repeat at +650 odds. There has not been a repeat champion in MLB in 23 years since New York Yankees won three-straight titles between 1998 and 2000.

2023 MLB PLAYOFF TEAM WORLD SERIES ODDS PRESEASON ODDS
Atlanta Braves +310 +750
LA Dodgers +400 +850
Houston Astros +450 +650
Tampa Bay Rays +1000 +1900
Baltimore Orioles +700 +7000
Texas Rangers +1600 +4500
Philadelphia Phillies +1300 +1800
Minnesota Twins +2000 +3500
Milwaukee Brewers +1700 +3500
Toronto Blue Jays +1600 +1200
Arizona Diamondbacks +3000 +18000
Miami Marlins +3500 +8000

The Astros (+650), Braves (+750), Yankees (+750), Los Angeles Dodgers (+850), New York Mets (+950), and San Diego Padres (+950) were the top six favorites to win the World Series at the end of Spring Training.

Three of those early betting favorites — Yankees, Mets, Padres — failed to qualify for the playoffs and they had among the highest-paid payrolls in baseball this season.

The Yankees went off the rails during one of their worst losing streaks in 28 years, and the Mets gutted their team and dealt pitchers Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander at the trade deadline.

Braves Hope to Avoid Another Early Exit

The Braves advanced to the playoffs in six consecutive seasons under manager Brian Snitker, but they won the World Series only once in 2021.

The Braves won 101 games last season, but were eliminated in the NLDS by the Philadelphia Phillies in four games. It marked the third time since 2018 that the Braves were knocked out of the postseason in the NLDS. In the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, the Dodgers defeated the Braves in the NLCS and denied them a trip to the World Series.

In the 2021 playoffs, the Braves ran the table with an 11-5 record and defeated the Astros in the World Series to win their first championship since 1995.

The Braves seek a fifth championship. They have been a popular pick the win the World Series for most of the season.

The Braves ended Spring Training at +750 odds to win the World Series as the second cofavorite on DraftKings’ futures board with the Yankees.

The Braves passed the 100-win mark in back-to-back seasons for the first time in 20 years. They won 104 games this season and surpassed last year’s total of 101 wins.

With 104 wins, the Braves tied a franchise mark for second-most wins in team history. The 1993 squad won 104 games but were eliminated in the NLCS. The 1998 Braves won 106 games, yet lost in the NLCS that year.

This year’s Braves had identical home and road records at 52-29, and they are tied with the Baltimore Orioles for the best away record this season.

The Braves are the #1 seed in the National League, and have a bye. They will meet the winner of the NL Wild Card round between the #5 Miami Marlins and #4 Philadelphia Phillies.

Hotlanta’s Big 3: Acuña, Olson, and Strider

Right fielder Ronald Acuña Jr. posted an MVP season with 41 home runs and 106 RBI. The speedster led the major with 73 stolen bases. He also slashed at .337/.416/.596.

First baseman Matt Olson was an ironman who played in every game this season. He was the Home Run King and led the majors with 54 home runs and 139 RBIs. Olson finished the season with a slashline of .283/.389/.604.

Designated hitter Marcell Ozuna bashed 40 home runs and drove in 100 RBI, and second baseman Ozzie Albies also contributed 33 home runs and 109 RBI.

The Braves got most of their tun production from Olson, Acuña, Albies, and Ozuna. All four players drove in 100-plus runs this season. Third baseman Austin Riley just missed the century mark with 97 RBI, but he also smacked 37 home runs. Their top five big bats combined for 151 home runs, or almost half of the team’s final tally of 307 long balls this season.

On the mound, ace Spencer Strider posted a 20-5 record with a 3.86 ERA and 1.09 WHIP in 32 starts. He led the majors with 20 victories and 281 strikeouts. Strider anchors a dinged-up rotation with starters Max Fried and Charlie Morton both nursing injuries.

Set-up man AJ Minter and closer Raisel Iglesias are a dangerous combo late in the game for Snitker. Iglesias saved 33 games and has a 2.75 ERA and 1.19 WHIP. Minter has 21 holds and 10 saves with a 3.76 ERA and 1.19 WHIP.

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SOFTSWISS Identifies 54 Key Performance Indicators for Online Casinos and Sportsbooks

softswiss-shares-54-vital-kpis-for-online-casinos-and-sportsbooksSOFTSWISS, the well-known provider of software and content for online casinos and sports betting websites, has put its experts to work and they came up with a comprehensive list of key performance indicators (KPI) that they consider vital for any iGaming business.

The list is available inside a guide that can be downloaded for free from the SOFTSWISS website. The document is supposed to help increase understanding of the most important key performance indicators in iGaming.

The content available in this guide is divided into four distinct parts:

  • The Financial Metrics section focuses not only on well-known indicators such as Gross Gaming Revenue and Net Gaming Revenue, but also on some less used but equally important metrics such as Average Revenue Per User, Conversion Rate and Customer Acquisition Cost.
  • The Player Engagement Metrics chapter underlines the importance of engagement indicators such as Active Players, Depositing Players Count and Total Deposits Sum.
  • The next section is the Operational Metrics one, and it goes into strategies related to player acquisition and retention, focusing mainly on these indicators’ role in major sporting events.
  • Last but not least, the Analytical Tools and Trends section goes into the correct usage of real-time dashboards and data warehouses, along with the increasing importance of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning.

Developing In The Most Efficient Way

The list of 54 key performance indicators includes a brief definition of each item, along with formula, type and keynote regarding its impact on the business. If we take the example of Net Gaming Revenue, it is described as a top-level key performance indicator, which can provide a clear snapshot of the respective online casino’s financial health.

The close monitoring of this metric allows operators to have a clear evaluation of their operational efficiency and also to make informed decisions regarding the optimization of their operations or about expansion plans.

Speaking about the launch of this guide, Max Trafimovic, Chief Commercial Officer at SOFTSWISS, explained that the company is trying to help online casino and sportsbook operators to “develop their businesses in the most efficient way.”

The SOFTSWISS executive also added that if online casino and sportsbook operators manage to align key performance indicators with business goals, then they “can develop a robust and adaptable strategy that sets them apart in the highly-competitive iGaming landscape.”

This is not the first iGaming guide that SOFTSWISS releases, the company has recently published a comprehensive market report called ‘iGaming in Brazil’. This exclusive report gives people in the industry a clear overview of the Brazilian iGaming scene, a vital tool for companies that might want to launch an online casino or a sportsbook in the respective region.

Source: “SOFTSWISS Shares 54 Vital KPIs for Online Casinos and Sportsbooks“. SOFTSWISS. September 22, 2023.

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MGM Resorts Online Room Reservations Return, Company Denies IT Job Posting

MGM Resorts International has resumed online hotel room reservations for its casino resorts in North America nearly two weeks after a cyber gang attacked its IT systems.

MGM Resorts online room reservations cyberattack
MGM Resorts is using a third-party site to temporarily provide online room reservations. MGM’s booking platform remains offline because of a cyberattack earlier this month. (Image: Casino.org)

MGM on Friday said new room reservations can again be made online. However, the online reservation system differs from the company’s previous booking platform.

MGM’s casino websites redirect to “vacationsbymgmresorts.poweredbygps.com” when a user attempts to book a hotel room. The room reservation platform isn’t property-specific but requires a customer to select a specific property from the MGM portfolio.

Casino.org did some digging and discovered that the “poweredbygps.com” domain is owned by Travelscape, LLC. Travelscape is owned by the parent company Expedia Group.

MGM is likely partnering with the third-party booking giant to free up its phone lines, which have been clogged up with guests seeking to book, amend, or cancel their reservations during the cyberattack that was initiated sometime on Sept. 10.

Temporary Solutions

MGM’s phone lines have been congested with frustrated customers waiting as long as an hour to reach a representative. Along with restoring online room reservations from its casinos’ homepages, MGM recently initiated an online “Guest Support” form where reservation holders can seek a refund for a canceled stay between Sept. 13-24.

We will process your request as soon as we are able,” the company tells patrons. MGM Rewards participants seeking to use their loyalty points and comps must continue to call the company at 877-535-1987.

Though phone wait times might be reduced, MGM overnight guests continue to face lengthy check-in times, as self-check-in via the MGM app and kiosks remain unavailable. Overnight visitors must obtain a physical room key since digital entries remain disabled.

MGM has expedited the checkout process. Guests are told to drop their room keys into an “Express Check-Out” box near the front desk. A digital copy of each guest’s folio will be sent to the person’s email on file once the MGM systems are back up and running.

Job Post a Spoof

An online job advertisement supposedly from MGM Resorts seeking a Red Hat Certified System Administrator caused quite a stir this week on the social media platform X. Such a job is for an IT professional who, according to Red Hat. This American software company specializes in enterprise operating systems “is able to perform the core system administration skills required in Red Hat Enterprise Linux environments.”

Among the skills possessed by such an IT professional is the ability to “create and configure file systems and file system attributes, such as permissions, encryption, access control lists, and network file systems.”

The alleged MGM job listing, which was found on ZipRecruiter, advertised that the person would “be helping the MGM Grand Casino build its net new IT environment after the recent ransomware attack.”

The position was advertised at an hourly rate of $100, with the contract gig running for about two weeks. The IT tech would be expected to work 10 hours a day, seven days a week, the posting listed.

An MGM spokesperson, however, denied the legitimacy of the job posting.

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