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3 Oaks Gaming partners with CrystalBet to expand footprint in Georgia

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3 Oaks Gaming partners with CrystalBet to expand footprint in Georgia

3 Oaks Gaming, a top distributor of iGaming content, has secured a strategic partnership with CrystalBet in Georgia, one of the country’s leading operators and a subsidiary of global gaming giant Entain.

As part of the agreement, 3 Oaks Gaming’s renowned slot titles, such as Sun of Egypt 4, Sky Pearls, and 3 Hot Chillies, have been seamlessly integrated into CrystalBet’s expansive online casino offering. 

With CrystalBet’s reputation for offering top-quality gaming experiences across sports betting, poker, and casino games, this partnership paves the way for Georgian players to enjoy a new wave of premium entertainment. 

For 3 Oaks Gaming, the partnership with CrystalBet aligns with its ongoing expansion plans. With its portfolio of feature-rich, engaging slot games, the company is poised to capture the attention of Georgian players and further solidify its position as a leading content supplier.

Yuriy Muratov, Chief Commercial Officer at 3 Oaks Gaming, said: “We are thrilled collaborate with a trusted and innovative operator like CrystalBet. Their dominance in the region and focus on delivering exceptional gaming experiences make them an ideal partner for our market debut. We’re eager to see how our games resonate with CrystalBet players and look forward to driving mutual success.”

Rufat Mammadyarov, Head of Online Casino Department at CrystalBet, added: “CrystalBet is committed to staying ahead by offering a diverse and exciting range of games. Partnering with 3 Oaks Gaming brings a fresh dimension to our portfolio, and their high-quality slots will undoubtedly appeal to our audience. We’re excited to embark on this partnership and further enhance the entertainment we provide to our loyal customers.” 

SpinOn and Yggdrasil begin a legendary journey with 9 Arrows of Odysseus

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SpinOn and Yggdrasil begin a legendary journey with 9 Arrows of Odysseus

Embark on an exhilarating journey through Greek mythology with 9 Arrows of Odysseus, the latest high-volatility 5×3 slot release from SpinOn, powered by Yggdrasil.

Inspired by the legendary tale of Odysseus’ epic journey, this action-packed game is brimming with scatter pays, free spins, and powerful multipliers, all offering players the chance to win up to 3,500x their bet.

Landing three Penelope scatter symbols triggers the Free Spins Wheel. Spin to determine the number of free spins and the win multiplier, setting the stage for potentially massive rewards.

The Bonus Scatter Pays feature rewards instant wins following landing three or more respective symbols. Cash prizes can also increase, with bigger rewards awaiting those who dare to collect more.

The experience of Odysseus’ adventure can also be enjoyed in either the light of day or the darkness of night. The game transitions to a dramatic night-time setting during free spins, enhancing the immersive gameplay.

9 Arrows of Odysseus is powered by GATI, Yggdrasil’s state-of-the-art technology that enables partners to consistently employ the preconfigured, regulation-ready, standardised development toolkit to produce cutting-edge content followed by rapid distribution.

Zoe Bird, Head of Masters at Yggdrasil, said: “9 Arrows of Odysseus is another beautifully crafted SpinOn game. We’re confident that players will be captivated by its stunning visuals, exciting features, and the potential for epic wins.”

The Marketing Team at SpinOn said: “9 Arrows of Odysseus perfectly blends captivating gameplay with a rich, engaging theme that players will love. Combining the Free Spins Wheel, Instant Scatter Pays, and the potential for huge multipliers creates a truly thrilling experience with every spin.”

Daily Asia Gaming eBrief: L&W gets Dragon Train reprieve in Australia

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Daily Asia Gaming eBrief: L&W gets Dragon Train reprieve in Australia
Good morning. The devil’s in the details. And a court in Australia has ruled that Light & Wonder can maintain its Dragon Train slot machines on Aussie floors. The decision is controversial after a US court took a contrary opinion, but it means that 10,000 units can remain in operation across the country – a significant win for the operator. Meanwhile, change is afoot at Entain, as the company’s new CEO Gavin Isaacs has decided to step down, with Stella David stepping in as interim CEO.

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Light & Wonder, Dragon Train

Light & Wonder gets reprieve in Australia over Dragon Train

Gaming equipment and services giant Light & Wonder has been granted a slight reprieve in Australia, as courts rejected an injunction by rival Aristocrat over its Dragon Train slots. While other litigation does exist in differing jurisdictions, the move means that L&W can retain its slot machine series on Australian gaming floors. However, it falls in contrast to similar rulings in the United States, which did not fall in favor of L&W.

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1xBet’s 2024 Milestones: key achievements & heights of success

1xBet 2024 Milestones Key achievements and new heights of success

In 2024, 1xBet achieved significant breakthroughs and successes, solidifying its position in the iGaming industry. The brand secured major partnership deals, received prestigious awards, and showcased its innovations at the world’s leading forums.

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Light & Wonder launches new $1B revolving credit facility

Nelson Moura
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Light & Wonder launches new $1B revolving credit facility

Gaming equipment and services group Light & Wonder has announced a new revolving credit commitment amounting to $1 billion.

The agreement, secured with several banks and financial institutions, replaces the company’s existing revolving commitments of $750 million and extends the maturity of these commitments from 2027 to 2030, in a strategic enhancement of the company’s financial flexibility.

On February 10th, 2025, Light and Wonder International, Inc. (L&WPI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Light & Wonder, entered into an amendment to its existing Credit Agreement.

This amendment includes new revolving commitments of $1 billion, it also extends the maturity to February 10th, 2030, and introduces a reduction in the applicable margin for revolving loans based on certain leverage tests.

With this new financial arrangement, Light & Wonder aims to solidify its position in a competitive gaming industry, while navigating ongoing legal challenges.

In September of last year, Aristocrat Technologies a preliminary injunction, prohibiting Light & Wonder from selling or leasing its Dragon Train game.

The court sided with Aristocrat’s allegations of trade secret misappropriation, accusing Light & Wonder of copying elements from Aristocrat’s popular Dragon Link game.

However, just yesterday, the gaming equipment and services giant was granted a slight reprieve in Australia, as the courts rejected an injunction by rival Aristocrat over its Dragon Train slots.

Light & Wonder’s Dragon Train slots stay on Australian floors after court ruling

Viviana Chan
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Light & Wonder’s Dragon Train slots stay on Australian floors after court ruling

Gaming equipment and services group Light & Wonder’s Dragon Train slot machine series will remain operational on Australian gaming floors after the Federal Court of Australia rejected a request from Aristocrat Leisure for an interlocutory injunction.

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Light & Wonder’s Dragon Train

The news was initially published in a research note by Macquarie, which argued that the ruling had dispelled investor concerns about the Dragon Train units previously sold in Australia.

According to the report, Justice Stephen Burley issued the ruling on February 7th, denying Aristocrat’s application for the injunction. However, the judgment included a restriction on disclosing or publishing the reasons for the decision until further notice.

Benchmark Company analyst Mike Hickey commented that the ruling has alleviated concerns that ongoing litigation could affect games already sold in the Australian market. He added that the decision means Light & Wonder’s customers won’t need to take any action regarding their gaming floors, allowing the company to focus on its upcoming content for 2025. Approximately 10,000 units of Dragon Train are currently installed across Australia.

The ruling contrasts with one from the US District Court for the District of Nevada, which, in September, granted Aristocrat a preliminary injunction. This injunction temporarily blocked Light & Wonder from continuing or planning the sale, lease, or commercialization of Dragon Train in the US. The US court found that Aristocrat was likely to succeed in demonstrating that Light & Wonder had misappropriated its trade secrets in the development of Dragon Train.

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The dispute, which began in March 2024, centers around Aristocrat’s claims that Dragon Train bears significant similarities to its own Dragon Link series. Aristocrat has accused Light & Wonder of intellectual property theft, including the copying of audio-visual elements, gameplay mechanics, and other deceptive trade practices. They also highlighted the presence of several former Aristocrat executives in senior roles at Light & Wonder, particularly two former designers involved in the development of Dragon Train.

In response to the US ruling, Light & Wonder announced plans to release a new version of the game, Dragon Train 2.0, to address the IP concerns raised by the Nevada court.

Light & Wonder announces Nathan Drane as new Chief Product Officer

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Light & Wonder announces Nathan Drane as new Chief Product Officer

Light & Wonder, a leading cross-platform global games company, has promoted Nathan Drane to Chief Product Officer (CPO).

Nathan has been serving as Chief Product Officer of the Gaming business for the last year and has been with the Company since early 2021, after more than 12 years in various product-centric roles in the industry. In his expanded role as enterprise-wide CPO, Light & Wonder will bring all game creation across the Company under one department led by Drane.

“I’ve personally worked with Nathan for many years, and I couldn’t be happier for him to share his leadership and vision with the entire enterprise,” said Matt Wilson, President and CEO of Light & Wonder. “He has already been working with many across the business on our cross-platform strategy and has a clear and aggressive content roadmap that will ensure our continued success, positioning us for growth in the near and long term.”

Nathan Drane, Light & Wonder
Nathan Drane, Chief Product Officer at Light & Wonder

“I couldn’t be more thrilled to take on this role with the Company,” said Nathan Drane, Chief Product Officer of Light & Wonder. “This new centralized content organization formalizes our global strategy of building the world’s best games in every market on every intended platform. It provides us an opportunity to make data-driven development and roadmap decisions, gives us new opportunities to grow talent, and drives efficiencies throughout the game-creation process.”

Rich Schneider, Light & Wonder’s former Chief Product Officer, will continue to contribute to the Company’s product innovation and strategy as Senior Advisor.

Chui Hou Ian steps down as DICJ deputy director, director position still vacant

Viviana Chan
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Chui Hou Ian steps down as DICJ deputy director, director position still vacant

Chui Hou Ian is no longer serving as the deputy director of the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ), while the role of DICJ director remains unfilled following the departure of Adriano Marques Ho in December last year.

Chui Hou Ian, DICJ Deputy Director

Chui Hou Ian

Chui was appointed deputy director in 2021 after serving as an adviser to then-Secretary for Economy and Finance, Lei Wai Nong, since 2020. His term ended on February 8th, and he is no longer listed on the Macau SAR Government portal. Prior to joining the public sector, Chui had no experience in public administration.

Chui is the son of prominent businessman António Chui Yuk Lum, who leads the Industrial Association of Macau and was a key supporter of former Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng’s 2019 election campaign.

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Lei Seak Chio

A new deputy director, Lei Seak Chio, took office on Monday in a ceremony officiated by Secretary for Economy and Finance, Tai Kin Ip. Lei pledged to implement government policies and strengthen the bureau’s supervision and coordination efforts.

He previously served as the head of the Occupational Safety and Health Department and has built a career in public administration since joining the Labour Affairs Bureau in 2005.

Despite Lei’s appointment, the DICJ leadership remains incomplete. The director position has been vacant since Adriano Marques Ho’s departure to head Macau Customs. Deputy Director Lio Chi Chong has been serving as interim head, but no permanent replacement has been announced.

Queensland pubs and clubs revenue drops 9.6% Y-o-Y in January

Nelson Moura
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Queensland pubs and clubs revenue drops 9.6% Y-o-Y in January

The state-wide results for pubs and clubs in Queensland have been released, revealing that total gross revenue for January 2025 reached AU$303.1 million ($190.2 million), an increase of 9.6 percent compared to the same month last year.

This figure represents a decline of 6.1 percent from December 2024, with Geoff Wohlsen from Wohlsen Consulting stating it aligns with historical patterns where January typically sees a drop in revenue.

“Over the past four years, the average January dip has been approximately 9.4 percent, indicating that seasonal fluctuations continue to impact the sector,” the consultant pointed out.

In terms of market share, clubs are gaining ground, now holding 45 percent of the market, up from 44.4 percent in the previous year. This upward trajectory has been evident since August 2024, reflecting a growing preference among patrons for club venues.

Wohlsen also highlighted that the newly opened Brisbane Queen’s Wharf property appears to have had little impact on the club and pub slot markets. “The Brisbane Inner City SA4 area is performing in line with broader market trends, suggesting that the anticipated boost from this major development has not yet materialized,” he added.

Queen's Wharf Brisbane, The Star Entertainment
Queen’s Wharf Brisbane

Looking closely at the operational revenue from different venue types, clubs generated AU$136.4 million ($85.6 million) in January 2025, up 11.1 percent from January 2024, with an average daily revenue (ADR) per machine of AU$208 ($132.7). In contrast, hotels achieved a revenue of AU$166.7 million ($105.8 million), reflecting an increase of 8.4 percent year-on-year, with an ADR per machine of AU$281 ($178.2).

Overall, the total machine gross revenue for all venues combined was AU$303.1 million ($190.2 million), with an average daily revenue of AU$243 ($154.6) per machine, reflecting a 9.6 percent increase compared to the same month last year.

Pragmatic Play inks deal with Ivy Casino to expand the reach in the UK

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Pragmatic Play inks deal with Ivy Casino to expand the reach in the UK

Pragmatic Play, a leading supplier in the iGaming industry, has extended the reach of its product offering in the UK following an agreement with Ivy Casino. 

Launched in September 2024, Ivy Casino is a standout challenger brand in the online casino market. With the addition of Pragmatic Play’s multi-award-winning portfolio of slots and live casino tables, Ivy Casino is now able to deliver premium gaming experiences to its players in the UK. 

The deal provides access to Pragmatic Play’s extensive range of proven slots, including Gates of Olympus 1000, Sugar Rush 1000, and the popular Big Bass franchise. In addition, Ivy Casino players will be able to enjoy live roulette and blackjack titles from the award-winning provider.  

This latest partnership highlights Pragmatic Play’s continued focus on expanding its customer base in regulated markets throughout Europe. 

Irina Cornides, Chief Operating Officer at Pragmatic Play, said: “We’re excited to supply player favourite games to Ivy Casino as the brand continues to establish itself in the competitive UK market.” 

Mark Good, representing Ivy Casino, added: “Partnering with Pragmatic Play allows Ivy Casino to provide its players with some of the most popular and innovative games in the industry. Their renowned titles will significantly enhance the gaming offering at Ivy Casino and support its mission to become a leading name in the UK online casino space.” 

CreedRoomz secures certification in Brazil expanding its footprint

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CreedRoomz secures certification in Brazil expanding its footprint

CreedRoomz, a leading live casino provider, has announced its successful acquisition of certification under Brazil’s new gaming legislation.

As one of the few live casino providers to gain regulatory approval, CreedRoomz is set to bring its games and unparalleled live gaming experiences to the rapidly growing Brazilian market.

With this green light, CreedRoomz is now fully authorized to operate in Brazil, offering players and operators access to its diverse portfolio of live casino games.

The Brazilian market represents a significant milestone in CreedRoomz’s global expansion strategy. This achievement highlights CreedRoomz’s commitment to compliance, innovation, and delivering premium content tailored to local markets. 

“Securing this certification demonstrates our dedication to meeting the highest industry standards and providing localized, engaging experiences for players worldwide,” said Hayk Tovmasyan, Head of Live Casino at CreedRoomz. “We are thrilled to be among the first to serve the Brazilian market and look forward to creating lasting partnerships in the region.”

CreedRoomz continues to solidify its position as a leader in live casino innovation, with exciting plans for further product launches and market entries in 2025. Book a meeting with our team during SBC Rio to learn more about our solutions.

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