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Swintt – Betsson Tie Up Captures Italy and Lithuania – Solidifies Europe

swintt_betsson_tie_up_captures_italy_and_lithuania_solidifies_europeBetsson Group, one of the super-entities in the European online gaming space has inked a deal with the undersung powerhouse, Swintt. The deal will see Glitnor Group spawned Swintt provide titles to Betsson operating partners in diverse regions such as Latvia, Sweden, Germany, and Malta where Swintt has its headquarters.

Swintt was formed in 2018 and launched in early 2019 in Malta. In recent months, the firm has experienced phenomenal growth in key European markets. The Betsson deal adds velocity and heft to the trajectory begun by longtime industry veteran and founding CEO, David Flynn. According to the World Casino Directory: “CEO, David Flynn has been involved in software and gaming since the 1990s with titles such as VP, Director (Ongame), Head of Operations (Microgaming), CEO, COO, CCO, and EVP of Business Development at NYX and NYX AB, as well as JackpotJoy during the Gamesys Vera&John era.”

SwinttGames and SwinttPremium Titles plus Boutique Partner Content

Swintt carries two main packages of games and hit the ground running with about 70 titles prior to building on its portfolio and current market reach. SwinttGames and SwinttPremium represent collections of titles in the classic configuration as well as the more popular online video slots with mechanics and bonus features like scatters and free spins. In addition to the in-house creations augmenting the studio’s offering, third-party developer titles are also included in the deal. These are usually from boutique studios and are delivered via the SwinttStudios platform.

While any provider striking a deal with a megalith such as Betsson is newsworthy and sure to create certain knock-on effects for the developer, the addition of the Italian and Lithuanian distribution of Swintt games is sure to provide a catalyst for future expansion as well as to bolster the company’s already sure footing in each market it has entered. The addition of those two markets helps make the deal with Scandanavia’s Betsson one of Swintt’s most important and far-reaching deals to date.

Titles such as Aloha Spirit XtraLockTM, the Book of Shai, and the imminent release of Electric Elements are sure to find players gravitating to the brand, especially those who count it as a favorite as well as those just discovering it. Another release that is coming soon is Duolitos Garden – a slot with four progressive jackpots.

Plugging in the Swintt catalog also includes partner studio games such as Stacking Bison by Fine Edge Gaming and Thor’s Strike from Samurai Studio. The studio is one of the only Japanese slot studios with global reach and is part of NatsumeAtari. Swintt and Samurai joined forces in late 2022.

Top Executives Comment on the Deal

The current Chief Executive Officer at Swintt, David Mann, said: “Over the past few months, Swintt has been involved in a number of partnerships with high-profile online casinos, but our new agreement with Betsson might be one of the biggest ones as we continue to expand brand throughout Europe and beyond.

“By working closely with Betsson, we’ll be able to ensure customers in a number of important markets get to experience the huge variety of titles that we have available from our SwinttGames and SwinttPremium line-ups, as well as exciting third-party games courtesy of the SwinttStudios platform.”

Betsson Group Head of Gaming Operations, Sarah Micallef said: “From its fairly humble beginnings some 60 years ago, Betsson has established itself as one of the premier online gaming operators in Scandinavia and most of Europe – and a key component of this has been ensuring we partner with only the very best software providers.

“Over the past few years, Swintt has proved through its innovative range of releases that its certainly worthy of being considered up there with the industry’s top studios and we’re very much looking forward to making their games available to our customers in a wide number of markets this year.”

Source: Swintt solidifies European presence with Betsson deal, Swintt News, May 2, 2023

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Road to the Kentucky Derby: Forte Remains Solid Favorite as Field Solidifies

We’re now four weeks away from the Kentucky Derby, and with the final three major prep races occurring Saturday, we now have a fairly clear picture of who will be running for the roses on May 6.

Tapit Trice
Tapit Trice, left, runs past Verifying down the stretch of Saturday’s Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland in Lexington, KY on Saturday. The win gave Tapit Trice 100 points toward qualifying for next month’s Kentucky Derby. (Image: Keeneland/Twitter)

Despite exciting wins by a pair of favorites, Tapit Trice in the Blue Grass Stakes and Practical Move in the Santa Anita Derby, neither of them looked as impressive enough to bump Forte from the mantle of presumptive Kentucky Derby favorite. (The other Derby prep, the Wood Memorial, featured 59-1 shot Lord Miles edging favorite Hit King for the upset win.)

Honestly, it was going to take a lot for that even to be considered. Assuming he stays healthy, Forte will likely be a strong betting choice as the horses head to the starting gate at Churchill Downs.

All the Todd Pletcher-trained colt has done to earn that is win five straight races. Not only have they been graded stakes wins, but that streak includes four Grade 1 wins. The last came last weekend in the Florida Derby in stirring fashion as Forte rallied from fifth place and well outside in stretch to score the victory.

Pletcher will actually come into Louisville with three contenders. Besides Forte, he also trains Tapit Trice and Kingsbarns, an undefeated colt who won the Louisiana Derby two weeks ago.

“We’re blessed,” Pletcher told reporters at Keeneland Saturday after Tapit Trice’s victory. “We’ve had a good spring, and now we got to hopefully have another good four weeks.”

The Case for Forte

Favorites have had a little bit of a dry spell recently in the Derby. The last to win was Triple Crown winner Justify in 2018, but the bettors’ choices have come close in recent years, with Epicenter, last year’s favorite, finishing second.

What I think helps Forte’s case this year is how he won the Florida Derby.  He had an outside post – 11th out of 12 – and found himself stuck in traffic for most of the race and looked to be out of contention when he finally made his move. Those conditions are about as close as you can get to a Kentucky Derby environment, where Forte could find himself battling 19 other competitors.

Pletcher had said the major prep race at Gulfstream Park would serve as a good test for his prized colt. The trainer came away pleased that Forte’s best part of the 1-1/8 mile Florida Derby was the final sixteenth, which would indicate he’d do well in the 1-1/4 mile Kentucky Derby.

What was impressive… was when he did make the lead, he kind of pricked his ears again which we’ve seen him do a number of times,” Pletcher said. “It kind of makes you believe there’s a little more in the tank there.”

After Saturday’s races, Circa Sports in Las Vegas kept Forte as favorite, with odds of +315, meaning a $100 wager would net $315.  Tapit Trice and Practice Move are next at +550 each, and Verifying, who lost by a neck to Tapit Trice Saturday, and Kingsbarns are +950.

If Not Forte, Then…

With up to 20 horses in the field, the Kentucky Derby is definitely not a conventional horse race, and with that large a field, it does present bettors with opportunities for value.

If you’re looking for an intriguing long shot possibility, one horse to consider is Two Phil’s, who won the Jeff Ruby Steaks two weeks ago at Turfway Park. Turfway, a Churchill Downs track in Florence, KY, has a synthetic tapeta track, which is different from the dirt track at Churchill.

But Two Phil’s won at Churchill last year on a sloppy track.

If there’s one thing that’s consistent about Louisville in May, it’s that the weather is anything but consistent. It can be 80 and sunny or gloomy and 50 or anywhere inbetween. Sometimes even in the same week. Over the last seven Derby days, it’s rained on five. However, only two of those led to sloppy track ratings, the last coming in 2019.

“I’m hoping it rains,” trainer Larry Rivelli told reporters after the Jeff Ruby.

So, that’s something to keep in mind should the clouds turn dark on May 7. Two Phil’s could be your silver lining.

At Circa, Two Phil’s Derby futures odds are +3000.

Who Will Run in the Kentucky Derby

The field for the Derby is based on points horses accumulate in prep races. Saturday’s races each awarded 100 points to the winner, with the runners up getting 40, the horses in third getting 30, and the horses finishing fourth receiving 20.

Those with the 18 highest point totals are guaranteed spot in the race, with slots also available for horses in Japan and Europe. If an owner withdraws a qualifying horse from contention, the horse with the next highest total of points becomes eligible.

Churchill Downs Senior Director of Communications Darren Rogers tweeted the updated point totals Saturday evening.

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