Kambi and LiveScore Group complete Virgin Bet sportsbook migration

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Casino Guru is proud to announce the resounding success of its Free Slot Tournaments, launched on July 10, 2023. Since the inaugural event, Casino Guru has hosted an impressive 68 tournaments, captivating thousands of players worldwide and distributing over €22,000 in prize money.

One of the standout events was the “Sweet Bonanza 1000” tournament by Pragmatic Play, which saw a record-breaking 12,000 players participate, marking it as the most-played tournament to date. This immense participation underscores the growing popularity and enthusiasm for Casino Guru’s innovative and engaging tournament format.

The tournaments have featured games from renowned providers Pragmatic Play and Relax Gaming, with plans to introduce more providers soon to cater to diverse player preferences. Each month, Casino Guru is committed to enhancing the tournament experience by introducing updates and improvements, ensuring players always have something new and exciting to look forward to.

Juraj Torok, Casino Guru’s Casino Games Specialist, expressed his excitement about the tournament series’ success: “It’s been a fantastic journey since our first tournament a year ago. Our goal was to offer players a thrilling and cost-free way to enjoy their favorite slot games and compete for real money prizes. The feedback and participation levels have been beyond our expectations, and we’re excited to continue improving and expanding our offerings.”

Looking ahead, Casino Guru has ambitious plans for the next year. These include developing a more robust payout system to streamline the process for players and introducing new types of tournaments, such as those focusing on achieving the highest multiplier. Additionally, the platform will continue to expand its range of game providers based on player popularity, ensuring a rich and varied gaming experience.

Casino Guru’s Free Slot Tournaments have not only provided players with an opportunity to win real money prizes without any financial risk but have also fostered a sense of community and friendly competition among participants. Each tournament is designed to be fair and secure, ensuring an enjoyable experience for all. Casino Guru invites all players to join the fun and excitement of its Free Slot Tournaments.

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Ollie Drew becomes Chief Operating Officer; Robin Hutchison Chief Commercial Officer as Founder and former MD Bill Esdaile moves into Chairman role

Global award-winning marketing agency Square in the Air has promoted Ben Cleminson to CEO, with Founder and former Managing Director Bill Esdaile becoming Chairman.

Cleminson, the first person to join the company back in 2007, has worked alongside Esdaile and the firm’s management team to build Square in the Air into a full-service marketing agency with clients all over the world and a team of more than 50 employees based in London, Manchester and New York.

As part of the restructure, former Director Ollie Drew, who joined Square in the Air in 2009, becomes Chief Operating Officer, with Robin Hutchison, also formerly a Director, who joined the agency in 2012, appointed as Chief Commercial Officer. The new leadership team will report to Esdaile, who set up Square in the Air in 2006.

Ben Cleminson, CEO of Square in the Air, said: “It is almost 17 years to the day when I walked into that small side office in a house not too far from Stoke for my first day at Square in the Air.

“Although we haven’t enjoyed quite the same growth as the nearby bet365, it has been an incredible journey, and I don’t think Bill or I could ever have imagined back then where we’d be today.

“I know both Ollie and Robin would agree with me when I say that Bill has been the most incredible mentor and leader, and personally I am truly honoured to step up into the CEO role.

“We have a brilliant roster of clients and a hugely talented team who push themselves every day to think creatively and strategically, always focused on delivering results. We’ll continue to do that and more.”

Bill Esdaile, Founder and Chairman of Square in the Air, said: “I’ve been extremely lucky to have had the loyalty and support of Ben, Ollie and Robin for over 40 years between them.

“The time is right for me to step into a new role as Chairman where I can still strategically be involved but allow the three of them their chance to run the business.

“I’m so grateful for their hard work and dedication, and I look forward to Square in the Air continuing to blossom.”

Square in the Air works with operators, suppliers and affiliates across sport, betting and gaming, offering services including digital and traditional PR, social media and influencer management, ambassador and sponsorship activation, design and branding, video and content production, and performance marketing.

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Esports has introduced a new form of entertainment in Saudi Arabia, particularly for the younger generation who are avid gamers. As the inaugural Esports World Cup kicks off in Riyadh, PayerMax, a leading global payments solutions provider, reaffirms its commitment to empowering innovation in Saudi Arabia’s mobile gaming industry.

Saudi Arabia boasts a staggering mobile gaming market valued at $1.8 billion, representing a massive 45% share of the entire Middle East and North Africa region. With nearly two-thirds (67%) of the population being gamers, this presents a golden opportunity for both local and international game developers.

The globalisation and upgrading of the game industry is a systematic project, and the major game companies face a highly heterogeneous global market, and the problems they encounter are often diverse. In this context, finding a partner that can provide one-stop solutions and rich service content is becoming more and more important for game companies.

PayerMax’s Role in the Ecosystem

As the very first Asian fintech company to participate in the Regional Headquarters Programme (RHQ) and obtain an RHQ license in Saudi Arabia, PayerMax recognises the crucial role secure and convenient payment solutions play in the booming mobile gaming landscape. PayerMax offers tailored payment solutions for different use scenarios, like in-app purchases, game webshop top-ups, micro incentives and more, supporting both mobile game developers and passionate Saudi gamers.

“The thriving Esports scene in Saudi Arabia showcases the immense potential of the mobile gaming industry. PayerMax is proud to be a part of this exciting ecosystem. Our innovative payment solutions empower gaming developers to create exceptional gaming experiences while ensuring a smooth and secure experience for gamers in Saudi,” Wanghu, Co-founder at PayerMax, said.

PayerMax provided payment marketing campaign support during an in-app event for a popular game app, helping the developer achieve double the transaction volume and paying users during the event, as well as a year-on-year increase in the use of specific payment methods. Transaction volume increased by 153%, the number of successful orders increased by 180%.

Payment and Security Solutions

Among Saudi gamers, 32% are average spenders on mobile games and 12% are big spenders. The average revenue per user (ARPU) in the Mobile Games market is projected to be US$85.47 in 2024. Payment platforms need regionally targeted risk control strategies for both game companies and end users.

Fraud payments occur occasionally. PayerMax employs a proprietary real-time anti-fraud system to detect abnormal payment behavior, prevent fraud and block suspicious transactions through phone alerts and other means. During the trading process, the transaction data is also analyzed in real time through machine learning models and strategies to intercept risky trades.

By streamlining the payment process, PayerMax helps unlock the full potential of the Saudi mobile gaming market, fostering a more vibrant and competitive environment for developers and contributing to the growth of the Esports scene within the Kingdom.