Sportingtech agrees three-year partnership with The Malta Trust Foundation

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Popular in-demand studio adds some of its top slot titles to well-known operator’s game lobby as it nears blanket coverage of the UK market

1X2 Network is moving ever closer to total domination of the UK market after integrating a selection of its best-performing online slots with popular operator, MrQ.

The partnership has been facilitated by Relax Gaming and means MrQ players can fire up the reels on the likes of Rainin’ Money, Megaways™ Jack and the Magic Beans, Wolf Strike Hold and Win and 1 Million Megaways BC – the game that gives players over one million ways to win with each spin!

The independent software company has earned a reputation for creating games that deliver thrilling player experiences. This is achieved through epic themes, bold design and not being afraid to have its own take on mechanics such as Hold and Win.

For MrQ, it adds more quality content to its lobby through games that are proven to hit the mark with players in the UK.

1X2 Network has been creating content since 2002 and today consists of a tetrad of in-house studios that produce games to suit every niche of the gaming market and the different demands of different players. This includes Iron Dog Studio, 1X2gaming, AD LUNAM and Prospect Gaming.

Kelly Hall, Business Development Manager at 1X2 Network, said: “It’s great to see some of our most popular games land in the MrQ lobby and for its players to experience the thrills of Megaways Jack and Wolf Strike for the first time. These are now iconic games among slot players in the UK.

This MrQ partnership is a really important one for us. Not only is it a testament to the quality of our content, but it means we are now live virtually on all licenced brands in the market, which is a significant achievement.”

Stine Graff, Casino Executive at MrQ, added: “MrQ is home to some of the biggest studios in casino gaming and we are happy to add 1X2’s portfolio to our stellar list of providers. Our goal is to provide quality entertainment to our players and with titles like 1 Million Megaways™ B.C. and Wolf Strike; 1X2 certainly fit right in”.

Reading Time: < 1 minute

The Dutch gambling regulator (KSA) has appointed Michel Groothuizen as its new chairman.

The regulator began the search for a new chairman in October last year after Jansen announced his decision to retire. A lawyer and public administration expert, Groothuizen has served as deputy director general of the Dutch Custodial Institutions Agency (DJI) for the past four years.

“With Michel, the KSA will have a new manager with very broad administrative experience and knowledge of the subject in question,” said Ric de Rooij, deputy secretary general at the ministry of justice and security, which is responsible for the KSA.

“This is also necessary because developments surrounding gambling do not stand still and will continue to require attention. I look forward to working with Michel,” he added.

Groothuizen previously served as general director of the Netherlands Institute for Forensic Psychiatry, and has also been a deputy judge at the Arnhem Court of Appeal for the past 15 years. Between 2001 and 2015, he worked at the ministry of justice and security and as policy director was responsible for, among other things, the establishment of the KSA in 2012.

“Old love never dies. From 2007 onwards, as policy director, I was responsible, among other things, for the gambling dossier. One of my tasks was to establish the Gaming Authority. We succeeded in 2012,” Groothuizen said.

“We had already been working on new legislation for a few years to manage online gambling offerings. It took almost 10 years before the law that was supposed to regulate this actually came into effect. I was long gone by then,” he added.

Groothuizen described his appointment as “a wonderful challenge.”

Reading Time: < 1 minute

MapleStory Universe, a global blockchain project of Nexon Group, has entered a strategic partnership with Avalanche, a smart contracts platform that has the fastest transaction speed among existing layer 1 blockchains.

Avalanche supports a highly scalable app-specific platform called “Subnet,” which provides a smooth gaming experience even through surges of transactions.

Through this partnership, MapleStory Universe plans to utilise Avalanche’s “Subnet” technology to expand its blockchain ecosystem and continue various activities such as technology-related collaborations to build a stable service.

“I cannot imagine a bigger opportunity in Web3 than what MapleStory Universe is doing, and we are honored to partner with MapleStory Universe to steward this IP using the power of Avalanche. We have been extremely impressed with the vision since our first conversation, and the focus on long-term sustainability could easily onboard millions of users on-chain,” Ed Chang, Head of Gaming at Ava Labs, said.

“Our partnership with Avalanche will allow us to build a stable and complete blockchain ecosystem, enabling us to securely service various dApps along with MapleStory N to amplify our competitiveness,” Angela Son, Partnership Lead at MapleStory Universe, said.

MapleStory Universe plans to release its blockchain-based PC MMOPRG “MapleStory N” in certain countries within the year, followed by many other tools and applications to come.

Additionally, MapleStory Universe and Avalanche will hold a joint panel talk at MapleStory Universe’s side event on the week of the 2024 Game Developers Conference (GDC) in San Francisco, on March 20th. At this event, Angela Son and Edward Chang will introduce the process of incorporating blockchain into game projects.