Latest News
Better Collective bolsters South American expansion with the appointment of dynamic Country Director for Brazil
With its fast-paced geographical expansion, South America has become an important pillar in Better Collective’s vision to become the leading digital sports media group. The group has already gained strong traction in the region and last month announced the opening of its new office in Rio de Janeiro. Better Collective welcomes Terence Gargantini as its new Country Director for Brazil, whose job it will be to further strengthen the group’s presence in the South American market.
On June 15, Terence Gargantini joins the Better Collective group as Country Director for Brazil. Gargantini’s first task will be to attend the SIGMA conference in Sao Paulo with the Better Collective team. He brings valuable knowledge from the sports industry, and with the ability to combine business acumen with a deep understanding of the South American sporting world, Gargantini will help expand Better Collective’s South American operations.
Simon Hovmand-Stilling, CEO of Better Collective South America: “We are happy to welcome Terence Gargantini to the group. With a keen eye for identifying mutually beneficial partnerships and having a large local network and experience, we know that Gargantini can play an important role in solidifying Better Collective’s South American presence. ”
Hovmand-Stilling adds: “Localization will be absolutely key for Better Collective in South America. We are already building a strong understanding of the local sports fans so we can be more relevant for advertisers, both local and international ones that seek to establish a presence in this region. And that is why profiles like Terence Gargantini are instrumental in our continued successful expansion”.
Having worked hands-on with the Brazilian National football team and all state regional federations, clubs such as Flamengo and Corinthians, and other prominent South American clubs and athletes, Gargantini’s expertise spans across multiple disciplines, which makes him a versatile asset to Better Collective. Most recently, Gargantini held the position as Country Director for more than four years on ElevenSports.com, a global, leading multi-sports streaming platform which is part of DAZN Group. Prior to this role, he also served as Business Development Director for FanHero, an end-to-end “over the top” video platform solution for influencers and content creators. Gargantini also spent 11 years at Nike Inc. leading the local and global sports marketing strategy, including six years at the Nike European Headquarter in Hilversum (Netherlands).
Terence Gargantini, Better Collective Country Director for Brazil: “I am very excited to join such a great company and tremendous individuals. I have much exciting work ahead of me in trying to help lead Better Collective’s South American strategy and operations as well as collaborating on business development efforts in order to continue entry into the legal iGaming market in South America, and to enhance Better Collective’s foothold in this exciting region.”
Compliance Updates
Internet Vikings Ready to Support Missouri Sports Betting Market
Internet Vikings, a licensed in-state hosting provider for iGaming and online sports betting, announces today that, with the voters of Missouri approving Amendment 2, they are prepared to offer their range of hosting solutions to operators and suppliers entering this newly regulating market.
Leveraging an established presence in 24 U.S. States, Internet Vikings is set to offer Missouri tailored, competitively priced hosting solutions.
“With the state officially opening its doors to sports betting, we are ready to provide the secure infrastructure needed to enter this market confidently,” said Rickard Vikström, Founder and CEO of Internet Vikings. “Our team is prepared to act swiftly to support companies seeking a fast, compliant launch.”
To meet the requirements of businesses moving into Missouri’s sports betting space, Internet Vikings’ range of solutions streamlines the setup process. The company’s infrastructure supports performance, flexibility with their new Pay-As-You-Go Cloud bursting, and compliance, ensuring a reliable foundation for those looking to establish a strong foothold in the state.
“The entire Internet Vikings team is committed to giving operators and suppliers the best possible start, backed by our infrastructure and around-the-clock NOC support,” Vikström added.
With over 16 years of experience, Internet Vikings brings their expertise to Missouri and invites both new and established sports betting businesses to connect and explore tailored solutions designed for this new market.
Interviews
Peter & Sons- Maths and Mechanics
Behind every stellar online slot is an equally stellar maths model. These are becoming more experimental as the industry flirts with an increasing array of innovative new mechanics. We spoke to Pablo Martinez, Math/Design Lead and Founder at maverick game studio Peter & Sons to find out more.
Do you have to be a maths genius to build a slot machine?
Nah, you don’t need to be a maths genius. It’s more about having the right mix of skills and loving what you do. You need to play a lot of games, see what’s working out there, and understand what makes them fun. Knowing maths helps, sure, but it’s more about creating something players want to keep coming back to.
Peter & Sons is known for making games that dare to be different, visually and thematically. Is the underlying math equally experimental?
Definitely! We love pushing boundaries, both in how our games look and how they play. Sure, it’s a bit of a gamble to have a bunch of games with unique mechanics, but we’re all about trying new things. Games like Peter Hunter and our upcoming Muddy Waters are great examples — they bring fresh gameplay and new experiences to the table. Each year, we try to put out at least one or two experimental titles, keeping things interesting while mixing them with more familiar styles.
Do you come up with the maths model first and then build the game around that? Take us through the process of building the game from start to finish.
We usually start with an idea for the mechanics first. We make a quick prototype to see if the concept can work with the maths. Then we bring in the art team to brainstorm themes that will fit well. Once we have a basic prototype, we go through a bunch of tweaks and changes until the art, mechanics, and maths all feel right together. It’s a back-and-forth process where we’re constantly finetuning everything to get the best balance.
Why do you think a mechanic like Megaways was so successful?
Megaways took off because it’s a fun, exciting mechanic that gave players something fresh, but smart brand marketing really helped it catch on.
Is there pressure as a slots developer to come up with the ‘next’ Megaways?
Not really. Coming up with new mechanics is always fun, but it’s not the only way to make a hit. Plenty of top games are just clever twists on classic mechanics. It’s more about creating a great experience that keeps players coming back, whether it’s something brand new or just a fresh spin on something more familiar.
Which slots are more popular, high or low volatility, and why do you think that is?
It depends on the market, but in some unregulated markets — and especially with some operators — high-volatility slots are really popular. A big reason for this is streamers. High-volatility games make for exciting content, so they get a lot of attention and hype online. That thrill factor really draws players in.
Which is your favorite Peter & Sons mechanic and why?
Right now, I’d say the fishing mechanic in our upcoming game Muddy Waters. It’s a new twist on the fishing genre that really brings something fresh to the gameplay. It’s exciting to take a familiar theme and make it feel totally different.
Tell us about the mechanics in your latest release, Barbarossa Revenge.
Barbarossa Revenge is a pirate-themed, high-volatility game with 243 ways to win. It’s a DoubleMax game, meaning the multiplier doubles with each cascade. You’ve also got Multiplier Jumps and a Cashout feature that guarantees wins. During Free Spins, the multipliers don’t reset and can keep growing unlimited. With a max win potential of 30,000x the bet, this game is a real thrill!
Latest News
MGM Resorts Teams with USO and American Airlines for 14th Annual Salute to the Troops at Mandalay Bay
MGM Resorts International will host the United Service Organizations (USO) Experience: Salute to the Troops, honoring more than 100 active-duty service members who have been injured in the line of duty beginning Friday, November 8. Now in its 14th year, the five-day celebration will take place at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino.
In partnership with USO, American Airlines will fly these honored guests and their families to Las Vegas for an extended holiday weekend, with MGM Resorts providing accommodations, meals, entertainment, and other amenities free of charge.
As with previous years, hundreds of MGM Resorts employees, community partners, and supporters will gather to greet the group during a special “Wall of Gratitude” welcome procession at Mandalay Bay.
Salute to the Troops will feature a variety of activities, events, and excursions throughout Las Vegas and Southern Nevada, including a welcome dinner, tours of the Hoover Dam and Red Rock Canyon, a visit to Mandalay Bay’s Shark Reef Aquarium, Luxor’s Blue Man Group, and more.
MGM Resorts remains committed to supporting military members and their families year-round, including actively recruiting and employing military men and women. The Company was recently honored with the “Extraordinary Employer Support Award” by the United States Department of Defense and is a proud member of the Veteran Jobs Mission, a coalition of companies aiming to place one million U.S. military members and veterans into meaningful and rewarding careers.
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