Octoplay and William Hill Join Forces in New Expansion Deal

Octoplay, a leading slot developer based in Malta, has partnered with William Hill, one of the most renowned online gaming and betting brands. This collaboration comes on the heels of Octoplay’s recent partnerships with Flutter and Entain, marking a continued strategy to expand its reach across regulated gaming markets.

This new deal allows William Hill to host Octoplay’s proprietary slot content on its platform, giving players access to an exciting array of popular titles such as Cash Link Express: Hold & Win, Lightning Blitz Supercharged, and 777 Hot Reels. This partnership highlights Octoplay’s ongoing efforts to become a key player in the UK’s highly competitive iGaming market.

A Tailored Experience for William Hill Players

As part of this partnership, William Hill players will also be introduced to a custom version of Octoplay’s innovative Jackpot Hunt feature, which was specially designed for the platform. This exclusive opt-in jackpot solution will add an extra layer of excitement for players, showcasing Octoplay’s commitment to creating bespoke, engaging content tailored to the needs of high-profile operators.

Nick Vuchev, Commercial Director at Octoplay, spoke about the strategic importance of the deal, stating:

“Partnering with William Hill represents a significant step in our expansion strategy. The bespoke Jackpot Hunt solution we’ve developed for William Hill showcases our ability to collaborate closely with tier-one operators to create tailored, innovative content. We’re excited to bring our premium games and other innovative platform solutions to William Hill’s vast player base in the UK.”

Expanding Octoplay’s Reach in Europe’s Regulated Markets

This partnership with William Hill not only strengthens Octoplay’s position in the UK but also reinforces its growing presence across Europe. Already holding licenses in jurisdictions such as Sweden, Malta, Ontario, Slovakia, Greece, and Romania, Octoplay is steadily gaining recognition for its top-tier slot games and innovative platform features.

William Hill’s Head of Gaming UK, Keiron Downs, expressed his enthusiasm for the new partnership:

“At William Hill, we’re always looking to enhance our gaming portfolio with high-quality, engaging content. Octoplay’s games and Jackpot Hunt align perfectly with our commitment to providing an exceptional gaming experience.”

The Future of Octoplay’s Expansion Strategy

This collaboration with William Hill marks a key moment in Octoplay’s broader expansion plan, as the company continues to build relationships with leading gaming operators across major regulated markets. By delivering innovative gaming content and bespoke solutions to platforms like William Hill, Octoplay is well-positioned to become a major force in the global iGaming landscape.

With its ever-expanding portfolio of games and a strategic approach to partnerships, Octoplay is poised for continued growth, ensuring that more players across the UK and beyond will enjoy their premium gaming experience in the months to come.

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On October 21, 2024, the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) announced the launch of its first extensive study of the black market for online gambling in the UK. The research aims to improve the Commission’s ability to monitor illegal gambling activities and is expected to provide key insights by late spring 2025.

A New Approach to Understanding the Black Market

The UKGC hopes this research will help uncover why and how consumers are accessing unlicensed gambling sites. By analyzing this data, the Commission plans to enhance its ability to detect unlicensed platforms and estimate their usage among British consumers. The findings will also form the basis for improving online monitoring efforts to better understand the extent of the illegal gambling market in the UK.

Much like similar studies by other European regulators, the UKGC’s research will combine web traffic data with gambling behavior insights to assess the total financial yield, known as Gross Gambling Yield (GGY), generated by the black market.

Estimating Illegal Market Spend

The study estimates average player spending on illegal gambling platforms using data from over 139,000 online gambling accounts provided by seven major UK operators. This data, collected from July 2018 to June 2019, indicates that the average GGY per minute for online slots is approximately £0.32, as the Commission suspects most unlicensed gambling activity involves slots.

However, the UKGC has acknowledged limitations in its methodology, particularly around accounting for high spenders in other types of gambling, such as sports betting.

Analyzing Web Traffic and Search Trends

To identify unlicensed gambling sites, the Commission is using tools like Google Trends and Similarweb to track popular search terms. The top five Google search results for each term are flagged, and any affiliated websites promoting illegal gambling are reviewed. Data on web traffic and average visit duration are collected for each unlicensed site to gain a clearer picture of their usage.

International Insights on Black Market Spending

The UKGC’s efforts come as regulators in other countries, including the Netherlands and Sweden, report challenges in understanding the scale of black market spending. These countries have found that players may spend more on illegal gambling sites than on licensed ones, a trend the UKGC is considering in its own research.

The Commission also highlighted that its current model does not yet account for time spent on unlicensed platforms where no money is wagered. Updates to the GGY estimates will be made as more recent data becomes available.

Future Studies to Explore Social Media and Streaming Platforms

The UKGC plans to expand its research in the future by examining how social media and encrypted messaging apps like WhatsApp and Telegram, as well as streaming services such as Twitch and Kick, contribute to the black market. The role of these platforms in directing traffic to unlicensed gambling sites will be scrutinized.

Licensed operators are encouraged to provide relevant data to aid the Commission’s research or suggest new detection methods.

Industry Reactions to the Growing Black Market

A separate study commissioned by the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) released in September 2024 estimates that the UK’s black market for online gambling could be handling as much as £2.7 billion in bets each year. BGC CEO Grainne Hurst described the findings as “deeply concerning” and pointed to the dangerous growth of this unregulated sector.

The UKGC remains committed to tackling the unlicensed market and welcomes feedback from industry stakeholders to refine its approach and ensure a safer gambling environment for all UK consumers.

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A Strategic Expansion in the UK Online Casino Market

Spinomenal has significantly bolstered its presence in the UK’s competitive online casino sector through a strategic partnership with Rank Group. This collaboration has enabled Spinomenal to integrate its diverse slot game offerings into Rank Group’s esteemed portfolio of online casino brands. Utilizing Light & Wonder’s OpenGaming aggregation platform, this partnership marks a significant step for Spinomenal in the UK market.

The Malta-based slot developer will now showcase its popular titles, including “Fairytale Beauties,” “Majestic King,” and “Majestic White Rhino,” across Rank Group platforms such as Mecca and Grosvenor. Lior Shvartz, CEO of Spinomenal, expressed excitement about the partnership, noting, “Rank’s esteemed reputation within the British market is well-recognized, and partnering with such a distinguished operator will considerably enhance our market presence.”

Enhancing Gaming Choices for UK Players

This partnership promises to enrich the gaming experiences for UK players by offering access to Spinomenal’s compelling slot games. Nolan Frendo, Casino Games Manager for Rank Group, praised Spinomenal’s commitment to innovation and creativity, aligning perfectly with their goal of providing top-tier gaming experiences to their users. “We are eager to see the fruits of this partnership and anticipate remarkable outcomes that will benefit both our players and our platform growth,” stated Frendo.

The collaboration not only extends Spinomenal’s footprint in the UK market but also continues Rank Group’s pattern of enhancing its online casino offerings. Following a similar recent agreement with Playson, this deal further diversifies the content available to Rank Group’s players, underscoring the group’s commitment to offering varied and high-quality gaming options.

Spinomenal’s European Market Strategy

Furthermore, this move is part of Spinomenal’s broader strategy to expand its influence across European markets, demonstrated by recent partnerships in the Netherlands and Bulgaria. In July 2024, Spinomenal extended its reach to the Dutch market by integrating its gaming titles with Jacks.nl, managed by JVH Gaming & Entertainment Group. Additionally, earlier in the year, Spinomenal made its debut in the Bulgarian market through a collaboration with 8888.bg.

As Spinomenal continues to extend its global reach, this partnership with Rank Group represents a significant milestone in their expansion efforts, promising to deliver innovative gaming experiences to players and solidify their position as a leader in the online casino industry.

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New Collaboration Introduces Diverse Game Portfolio to African Markets

Galaxsys, a provider of gaming solutions, has recently announced a partnership with Betika, a well-established sports betting operator in Africa. This collaboration will bring over 30 games from Galaxsys’ portfolio to Betika’s online platform, including popular titles such as Crash, Rocketon, and Starlight. The partnership aims to diversify the gaming options available to players across several African countries.

Expanding Market Presence in Emerging Regions

Strategic Growth for Galaxsys

The partnership represents a strategic move for Galaxsys as it seeks to increase its presence in emerging markets. Africa’s growing online gaming sector presents significant opportunities for expansion, and this collaboration allows Galaxsys to tap into new player bases.

Betika’s Market Position

Betika has established operations in several key African countries, including:

• Kenya
• Ghana
• Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
• Tanzania

By integrating Galaxsys’ games, Betika aims to enhance its current offerings and provide its user base with a broader range of gaming experiences. This move could potentially strengthen Betika’s competitive position in these markets.

Insights from Key Figures

Galaxsys’ Perspective

Tenu Grigoryan, Chief Sales and Partner Management Officer at Galaxsys, offered insights into the company’s strategy:

“Our partnership with Betika marks an important step for Galaxsys. We’ve been looking to connect with the African gaming market for some time, and Betika’s strong presence in multiple countries makes them an ideal partner. We believe our diverse game portfolio will resonate with players in these regions.”

Betika’s Outlook

Peter Stagles, Betika’s Chief Product Officer, shared his view on the collaboration:

“At Betika, we’re always looking for ways to enhance our platform and offer more value to our players. Galaxsys brings a range of innovative games that we believe will complement our existing offerings well. This partnership aligns with our goal of providing a comprehensive and engaging gaming experience.”

Potential Outcomes and Industry Context

Impact on User Experience

The integration of Galaxsys’ games into Betika’s platform represents both a business expansion and an opportunity to introduce new gaming experiences to African players. Users may benefit from a more diverse selection of games, potentially increasing engagement and satisfaction.

Industry Implications

This partnership could influence standards in the regional gaming industry. As more international game developers enter African markets, local operators may need to expand their offerings to remain competitive. This trend could lead to a more varied and sophisticated gaming landscape across the continent.

Challenges and Considerations

While the partnership shows promise, it’s worth noting that introducing new games to different markets can come with challenges. Cultural preferences, regulatory environments, and technological infrastructure vary across African countries, which may affect the reception and implementation of these new gaming options.

Future Outlook

This collaboration is part of Galaxsys’ broader strategy to expand globally, following previous partnerships and licensing agreements in Latin America and Europe. For Betika, it represents an opportunity to diversify its platform and potentially attract new user segments.

As Galaxsys and Betika embark on this new venture, they aim to create a more diverse gaming environment for users across Africa. The success of this partnership could pave the way for further collaborations between international game developers and African gaming operators, potentially reshaping the region’s digital entertainment landscape.

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