Latest News
PlayStar partners with GF Gaming to position itself for Colorado market access
Up-and-coming online casino brand steps up U.S. growth potential by joining forces with Colorado land-based casino group
Following last month’s successful launch in New Jersey and an extension of its partnership with Caesars in Indiana, challenger online casino brand PlayStar has announced that it will be stepping up its plans to take the U.S. market by storm by joining forces with GF Gaming in Colorado.
Although online casino is still to regulate in the Centennial State, the new arrangement will see PlayStar well-positioned for speedy market access when Colorado regulates online casino. With a population of just under 6 million, and a huge transient population, Colorado is poised to become a promising online casino market, and PlayStar has positioned itself well to be among the first brands to launch in that market when given the green light.
GF Gaming is a Colorado-based company that owns the Famous Bonanza and Easy Street Casinos in Central City. Partnering with GF Gaming to enter the Colorado market will allow PlayStar to bring its truly unique online casino experience to market, focusing on personalization, engagement, and customer experience, all with a localized touch and feel.
PlayStar’s highly anticipated launch in New Jersey has seen the brand bringing a new level of gamification, experiences, and rewards to players. Players can try their luck on free to play games, with real money outcomes or receive localized rewards and treats through PlayStar’s network of New Jersey-based organizations to offer everything from wining and dining to days out at shows or events.
With PlayStar planning to deliver localization across all the U.S. states that it operates in, there’s already plenty of buzz about what the brand might be able to offer to Colorado residents – and both PlayStar and GF Gaming are excited for that potential.
Adam Noble, Co-Founder and Chief Business Development Officer at PlayStar, said: “PlayStar is a brand that’s committed to providing players in the U.S. with a genuinely unique online casino experience – and by teaming up with GF Gaming in Colorado, we’re already looking ahead to how we can expand these plans into the next market when regulation allows.
With New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Indiana and now Colorado market access secured, along with more announcements coming, we’ve secured a growth path well into the future. However, we’re not stopping there, with further market access being a high on the agenda as we head off to G2E this week.”
Roger Brown, General Manager at GF Gaming, said: “Having seen what PlayStar has already achieved with its innovative and incredibly successful New Jersey launch, we had no doubts whatsoever that the brand was the perfect online partner for us in Colorado.”
“Like us, PlayStar is a company that places a lot of emphasis on supporting the local community through promotions and partnerships – and when Colorado realizes the vast potential of legal internet-based gaming, we’re confident they’ll deliver a first-class online casino experience to players in our state.”
Latest News
GR8 Tech Brings “Best Workplace 2024” and Fresh LatAm Insights from BIS SiGMA Americas
GR8 Tech’s participation at the recent BIS SiGMA Americas event held in São Paulo was quite successful, highlighted by winning the ‘BEST WORKPLACE 2024’ award at the SiGMA Americas Awards and holding over 150 meetings with operators and other stakeholders. These interactions have laid a solid foundation for GR8 Tech’s strategic expansion in the region and provided the team with significant insights into the evolving Latin American iGaming market.
A Closer Look at the Brazilian Market and Wider LatAm
“Brazil is not synonymous with Latin America. Each country on the continent has its own unique characteristics,” Evgen Belousov, GR8 Tech CEO.
The most important thing to understand in the LatAm region is that it’s very diverse. There are significant cultural and operational differences that necessitate a localized approach. For example, “Brazil’s rhythm is distinct; life starts in the afternoon, and business interactions reflect this laid-back pace. To thrive here, understanding and integrating into the local lifestyle is essential.”
Belousov further discussed the Brazilian market’s competitive nature, highlighting retention strategies’ crucial role. “The churn rate is high as players frequently shift between operators lured by aggressive marketing. Hence, having robust retention mechanisms, such as real-time tools and enticing bonus mechanics, is crucial to maintaining a loyal customer base,” he added.
Yevhen Krazhan, CBDO, addressed trending compliance and market preferences. “Regulation is a hot topic, with a keen focus on product compliance. Moreover, while classic sportsbooks saturate the market, emerging interests lie in areas like fantasy sports and social gaming, which present new opportunities for differentiation and growth.”
Thomas Carvalhaes, Senior Business Development Manager for the Latin America region, provided his expertise during the panel discussion “Understanding the demands and evolution of the B2B market”, highlighting the demand for localization and intuitive technology. “In Latin America, where many markets are still learning the ropes of iGaming, the simplicity of the technology is key. Products need to be user-friendly to ensure they meet the expectations of a clientele that values straightforward and engaging gaming experiences,” Carvalhaes explained.
Future Directions and Engagements
Building on the insights and achievements from BIS SiGMA Americas, GR8 Tech is actively expanding its presence in Brazil and LatAm, establishing its reputation as a key player in the region. The company is also exploring opportunities in other global markets, with Asia as the next target at SiGMA Asia, scheduled for June 3-6 in Manila, Philippines. This upcoming event presents another fantastic opportunity for GR8 Tech to demonstrate the capabilities of its flagship GR8 Sportsbook platform and forge new partnerships in another exciting and diverse region. We invite all our partners and clients to stay tuned, following our updates at https://gr8.tech/.
Industry News
The International Association of Gaming Advisors (IAGA) Announces 2024 International Gaming Summit in Washington, D.C.
The International Association of Gaming Advisors (IAGA) will hold its 41st International Gaming Summit Monday, May 27 through Thursday, May 30, 2024 at The Ritz-Carlton Washington, D.C.
As a premier event that brings together leaders from all global gaming sectors, the Summit will provide operators, suppliers, attorneys, investors, bankers, regulators and other advisor delegates with an unparalleled opportunity to meet and discuss the most important issues facing gaming.
“We are looking forward to holding this year’s 41st Annual International Gaming Summit in Washington, D.C., and are pleased to announce an agenda that includes a specific focus on some of the key sports betting issues the rapidly expanding US market is facing. As part of this focus, we will bring together representatives from global sports betting operators, regulatory agencies, professional sports leagues and other experts to discuss how the industry’s sports betting stakeholders can better work together to ensure a sustainable, responsible sports betting environment that is built on best practices lessons learned from other markets,” John Stawyskyj, President of IAGA, said.
“Beyond our sports betting focus, our diverse agenda includes discussions on other issues of importance including the growing impact of fraud and cyber breaches on regulated operators, a look into the federal and state lobbying process, an update on what’s happening in other gaming markets outside North America, a deep dive into new technologies and how they might impact gaming and more. I look forward to welcoming our delegates to Washington and participating with them in lively discussions about these critical issues and more,” Stawyskyj added.
Industry News
Marker Trax Appoints John Henderson as Senior Vice President of Operations
Marker Trax, a leader in cashless payment solutions for the gambling industry, has announced the appointment of John Henderson as its senior vice president of operations.
As the company continues solidifying its cashless payments sector leadership position, Henderson joins the team to play a key role in leading strategic planning efforts, executing new operator and customer initiatives, directing pursuit of key performance indicators, and ensuring overall product and technology quality control. He reports directly to, and will work closely with, Marker Trax President Charlie Skinner.
Henderson is a seasoned, energetic industry veteran who brings to Marker Trax more than four decades of success in delivering technology-based business solutions, leading innovation-forward companies seeking to increase their industry footprints and to solidify their market shares.
“We’re cementing our leadership position in the cashless space, and John is the right leader, at the right time, to help guide us there. He has tactical expertise, and a long track record of success in the IT space. More than that, though, he’s always eager to innovate – which aligns perfectly with our philosophy and goals. We’re lucky to have him on board,” Charlie Skinner, President of Marker Trax, said.
Immediately prior to joining Marker Trax, Henderson served as chief information officer at WorldStrides, a global leader in educational travel services, and helped the company navigate a business and IT transformation program. Henderson has also held client partner roles at Accenture, IBM, and Cognizant, and has served numerous global brands including Choice Hotels, Hilton Hotels, MGM Resorts, Wynn, Disney, and Royal Caribbean.
“Every step of his career, John’s shown natural aptitude for client relationship management and large-scale systems integrations, and a keen, tactical eye for optimizing performance at all levels of an operation. At Marker Trax, we’re increasing our market footprint through continual innovation, and John’s tactical leadership will be of tremendous benefit to reaching our goals,” Skinner said.
Henderson’s addition caps a prolific run of recent accomplishments for the company. It recently unveiled its innovative consumer product, Moolah Play, secured renewed commitment from partner and global payments leader Euronet Worldwide Inc., and is introducing its cashless credit technology into more markets around the country.
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