Looking Back: Growth & Achievements

FBMDS is celebrating five years of expansion and innovation. How would you describe the brand’s journey during this time?

Our journey over the past five years has been one of bold moves, strategic growth, and relentless innovation. As part of the FBM® Group, we began as pioneers in Video Bingo, but our vision extended far beyond that. We have focused on delivering profitable products to our clients and engaging gaming experiences to players. By expanding into multiple gaming categories and strengthening our global presence in key markets like Mexico and Brazil, we have redefined what a localized, player-centric gaming experience should be.

What were the key milestones that shaped FBMDS’ success over the past five years?

Several milestones have defined our success. First, our solidification as a market leader in Video Bingo and Lotto Games, setting the gold standard with best-seller products like Multi Mega, Power Pick Lotto, and Champion IV. Our leadership in Video Bingo is reinforced by unique features like the jackpot system, Magic Ball, and attractive paytables, all of which drive engagement and retention.

Second, our presence at international trade shows has played a crucial role in strengthening relationships with key partners and clients while reinforcing our brand positioning, as seen in events like G2E Las Vegas 2024. Lastly, our rapid expansion in the LATAM region, particularly in Mexico and Brazil, has solidified FBMDS as a trusted and respected brand in a highly competitive landscape.

What has been the most significant challenge, and how did FBMDS overcome it?

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The online gaming industry is highly competitive, and differentiation is key. Our challenge was to deliver games that not only stood out but also ensured profitability for operators and engaging experiences for players. We tackled this by investing in customization, localization, and innovation—ensuring that every product aligns with the preferences of specific markets. Our ability to adapt game mechanics, themes, and retention strategies has positioned us ahead of the competition, creating unique gaming experiences that drive business success.

Product Evolution & Market Leadership

FBMDS has built a strong reputation in Video Bingo. How has this segment evolved, and what makes FBMDS a leader in this category?

Video Bingo is our DNA, and we have continuously pushed its evolution by refining gameplay mechanics, introducing engaging themes, and incorporating advanced technology to enhance user experience. Our commitment to differentiation sets us apart: our jackpot feature, the Magic Ball, and attractive paytables are tailored to maximize player engagement and operator profitability. Customization is at the heart of our strategy, ensuring our games resonate with local markets and drive long-term success.

Among FBMDS’ product portfolio, do you have a personal favorite? Why?

It’s hard to pick just one, but I’d highlight our Video Bingo games because they represent our legacy and continued leadership in the industry. We believe Video Bingo is an essential asset for any online casino, as it offers a nostalgic yet modern experience, combining interactive features with high retention rates. Our jackpot system enhances player excitement, while innovative game mechanics keep engagement levels high. In addition, our crash games showcase our adaptability and innovation, delivering high-quality visuals and dynamic gameplay. These two categories reflect our strategic pillars: player engagement and profitable gaming solutions for operators.

Future Outlook & Expansion Plans

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Looking ahead, what’s the vision for FBMDS’ next five years?

We are just getting started. Our vision is to expand our influence by continuously delivering innovative and engaging gaming experiences that drive profitability for operators. While we maintain our leadership in Video Bingo, we are also focused on strengthening our position in other gaming verticals. We will continue investing in localized, player-driven innovation, ensuring that every product we launch enhances both player experience and operator success.

Brazil is a key market with huge potential. How does FBMDS plan to strengthen its presence in this region?

Brazil is a strategic priority for us. With regulatory developments and increasing demand for online gaming, we see tremendous opportunities to expand. Our approach is centered on offering tailored gaming experiences that resonate with Brazilian players, ensuring our products align with their cultural and gaming preferences. Additionally, we are forging strategic partnerships with operators to facilitate seamless and impactful expansion in the region, ensuring that our games drive engagement and profitability for our partners.

Innovation & What’s Next

Can you share any insights about upcoming products or features that FBMDS is working on?

Absolutely. We are developing a new generation of Video Bingo games featuring advanced jackpot systems, enhanced gameplay mechanics, and even more engaging features tailored to player preferences. Our goal is to create experiences that keep players entertained while maximizing operator revenue. In addition, we are working on new slots and bonus structures designed to drive engagement and profitability, ensuring that FBMDS remains at the forefront of gaming innovation.

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What can operators and players expect from FBMDS in the near future?

A: More expansion, more innovation, and an even stronger, more diverse gaming portfolio. Players can expect cutting-edge experiences featuring interactive and rewarding mechanics, while operators will benefit from flexible, high-performance gaming solutions designed to optimize engagement and profitability. We are committed to maintaining our leadership in Video Bingo while continuously evolving to meet market demands.

Final Thoughts

After five years of continuous growth, what message would you like to share with FBMDS’ partners and players?

First and foremost, a heartfelt thank you to our players, partners, and the entire FBMDS team. Your trust and support have been instrumental in our journey. As we move forward, we remain committed to delivering exceptional gaming experiences, driving profitability for our partners, and continuously pushing the boundaries of innovation. The best is yet to come!

If you had to describe FBMDS’ journey in one word, what would it be?

Transformational.

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Troy Paul of SGG Media, on why streamers and influencer amplification are fast becoming the cornerstone of media activation for sportsbook and casino brands

Amplification is crucial to getting the most out of marketing activity and spend, but it’s something that very few online sportsbook brands are doing, let alone getting right.

Amplification means taking marketing campaigns and materials and “amplifying” them through targeted influencers that get the messaging in front of even more people.

Let me explain by way of example.

An operator will pay an athlete millions of dollars a year to create social posts about its sportsbook and offering, including new bonuses and Sunday Football Picks.

Let’s say the athlete is making a post on Monday that says he loves the Kansas City Chiefs in that week’s game and that DraftKings is offering a boost to all players who tail his bet slip.

This post will generate a decent number of impressions and clicks, but this can be “amplified” by having the top Kansas City Chiefs fan accounts retweet it on X or create an Insta story around it.

These influencers will then say things like “I love this play” or “KC fans, don’t miss out!”, boosting the message to more people and ultimately driving engagement and interaction.

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In many cases, we have taken posts that will generate around 50,000 impressions and through our network of influencers, make that post go viral with 10x-20x engagement and reach.

Sportsbooks spend millions on their celebrity partnerships and brand ambassadors, but for a few thousand dollars, amplification can turbo-charge engagement with that content and transform KPIs.

And it’s not just sportsbooks that can benefit from this – so too can online casinos, casinos, racetracks and tribal casinos and sportsbooks.

Mastering the art of amplification

The channels through which amplification is the most effective are evolving with live streaming very much king these days.

The audiences behind popular sports and casino live streams are extremely loyal, and those who can lead an audience through an entertaining stream are becoming instrumental to operator growth.

Streamers are the new celebrities and the space as a whole has tons of latent potential to explore and growth to unlock, especially in terms of a media play.

In terms of how it works relating to amplification, let’s take a Tuesday NBA team in a mid-level market as an example. Most NBA fans don’t even know the game is on, let alone where to watch it.

If a popular streamer had the necessary media access to live stream the game, his loyal audience would tune in to watch the stream regardless and then in turn be introduced to the NBA.

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Streamers ultimately create a community around the content they are watching, and this can directly translate to a growing audience around a sport, team, player or, of course, a betting brand.

Sportsbook and casino brands need to get in on the amplification action

This is why sportsbook and casino brands need to sign with streamers early and use them to support marketing campaigns and growth initiatives.

For me, developing a product around a streamer’s audience will prove to be an immensely important aspect for growing brand equity and boosting engagement in the months and years ahead.

For example, a client of ours recently created a 1SC promo link for the first 5,000 users to log into their account through the link. The stream reached the 5,000-user cap in 24 hours.

This means 5,000 unique accounts logged into and/or wagered through the social casino account in the 24-hour period, which is an insane metric.

This stands as a perfect example of how an operator can build out a campaign targeted at streaming, and how amplification through streaming resulted in success.

There are tons of opportunities to explore

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Of course, this is just one example and there are loads of opportunities for both operators and content creators to get into.

Streamers that can leverage platforms like X, Instagram and TikTok to create a loyal audience that shows up daily for their content will be in an excellent position to monetise through partnerships.

The operators that recognise this trend early, and we are still in the early days of streaming and amplification, will get ahead of the curve in the ever-changing landscape of media activation.

But where there are opportunities there are also challenges and streaming is no different. The big one here is that no post-editing can be done as everything is broadcast in real-time.

This makes it imperative that streaming hosts are well versed in the sportsbook/casino’s brand guidelines and the compliance and responsible gambling elements that come along with it.

Influencer amplification is the cornerstone of media activation

With influencer amplification, brands don’t need to spend millions of dollars with Google AdSense or Meta ads to target fans – even though this is what’s been done up until this point.

With streaming and general influencer amplification, campaigns can be delivered directly to fans that genuinely care about the content.

What’s more, this can be done for pennies on the dollar of what traditional media would cost, and with a much better return.

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In short, online and land-based gambling brands can get more bang for their buck.

Casino stocks are taking a beating, and investors are paying attention. Over the past three months, shares of major gaming companies have plunged, with some losing nearly a third of their value.

It’s a sharp reversal from the post-pandemic boom, raising questions about what’s happening. Are consumers pulling back? Is Las Vegas losing its luster? Or is this an early warning sign of something bigger, like a possible U.S. recession?

The Numbers: Casino Stocks Down Double Digits

If you’ve been following the markets, you’ve seen the red ink spreading across the gaming sector. Since the start of the year, stocks of America’s biggest casino operators have fallen across the board:

Caesars Entertainment (-33.46%) and Las Vegas Sands (-23.35%) are leading the decline, but it’s not just them. MGM is down nearly 18%, and even Wynn Resorts, which fared the best, lost 4.44%.

What’s Behind the Drop?

It’s not one thing – it’s a cocktail of economic pressures, policy shifts, and changing consumer habits that are hitting casinos where it hurts.

1. Americans Are Watching Their Wallets

When the economy tightens, luxury spending is often the first thing to go. Casino visits aren’t a necessity, and early signs suggest that discretionary spending is starting to slow. Inflation has been eating into real wages, interest rates remain high, and household debt levels are creeping up. If consumers are feeling the squeeze, gambling revenues are one of the first places you’ll see it reflected.

2. Las Vegas Tourism Isn’t Bouncing Back Like Before

Las Vegas thrived in the post-pandemic reopening boom, but that momentum might be fading. Canadian tourists, who are a key demographic for Vegas, are visiting less due to the strong U.S. dollar and a weaker Canadian economy. Meanwhile, high-end Chinese tourism, which casinos rely on for their biggest spenders, is still struggling. Economic uncertainty and stricter money transfer rules in China have kept many of those gamblers at home.

3. Trade Policies and Global Uncertainty

The Trump administration’s renewed trade disputes with China and Canada aren’t helping either. Retaliatory tariffs could slow economic activity and dampen consumer confidence. If the broader economy starts to weaken, luxury sectors like casinos could take a bigger hit.

“Don’t blame it all on Trump’s erratic trade policies. They play a role, but there’s a bigger picture at play. China’s slowing down, the post-pandemic boom is receding, and the market is beginning to wrangle with serious questions about debt, the deficit, and a slowdown in government spending” – James from Nowagercasinos.com

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4. Why Caesars and Las Vegas Sands Are Taking the Worst Hits

Not all casino stocks are created equal. Caesars Entertainment’s heavy reliance on the U.S. market, especially Las Vegas, makes it more vulnerable to domestic slowdowns. Add in its $12 billion debt load, and you have a recipe for investor nervousness. Rising interest rates make refinancing more expensive, and if revenue slows, Caesars could be in a tough spot.

Las Vegas Sands, on the other hand, has no U.S. casino presence anymore – it bet everything on Asia. That means its stock is almost entirely tied to Macao and Singapore. If China’s economy slows or travel restrictions tighten, it feels the pain immediately. That’s likely why its shares have been hit so much harder than Wynn’s, which still has a mix of U.S. and international operations.

Recession Warning or Just an Industry Correction?

So, what does this all mean? Is the casino sector flashing a warning sign for the broader economy? Maybe, but it’s not a slam-dunk case for a full-blown recession.

Gaming stocks are highly sensitive to sentiment. Investors could simply be rotating out of high-risk, consumer discretionary stocks due to interest rate worries. That’s happened before, without an actual recession following.

That said, if casino revenues start declining sharply in upcoming earnings reports, that could indicate a real consumer pullback. And if that’s happening at the same time as weak retail sales, rising unemployment, and slowing GDP growth, then we’ve got a bigger problem on our hands.

For now, the sharp drop in casino stocks is worth watching, but it’s not necessarily time to hit the panic button. At least, not yet!