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ENJOY levels up hit franchise in Fire Express 2: Hold and Win

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ENJOY levels up hit franchise in Fire Express 2: Hold and Win

ENJOY has expanded one of its successful franchises with the release of Fire Express 2: Hold and Win, a high-energy new title that builds on the success of the original with upgraded features and enhanced Hold and Win gameplay.

The 5×3, 5 payline slot retains the familiar high-speed train theme, combining classic slot visuals such as fruits, bars, bells and coins, with a bright metallic aesthetic and fiery special symbols.

A standout addition in the base game is the Stacked Reels feature, which can copy the full result of the first reel onto the others, turning standard spins into powerful line hits. Bonus and Collect symbols that land without triggering the feature are gathered into a glowing train above the reels.

When the Hold and Win Bonus Game begins, players start with three respins. Registering any new Bonus, Collect, or Multiplier symbol resets the counter, extending the feature. Collect symbols gather all visible coin values into one prize, while multipliers from x2 to x10 can instantly boost occupied cells.

Five fixed Jackpots add further appeal, with Mini, Minor, Maxi, Major, and the Grand Jackpot worth up to 5000x the total bet awarded for filling all 15 positions on the grid.

The Extra Bonus feature can randomly trigger from the collected symbol train, starting the bonus round with additional symbols already in place. Bonus Buy options also allow direct access to the feature with different starting setups.

Fire Express 2: Hold and Win combines fast-paced gameplay, rewarding mechanics, and engaging visuals, making it a strong new addition to ENJOY’s growing content portfolio.

Taras Stepovyi, Product Owner at ENJOY Gaming, said: “With Fire Express 2: Hold and Win, our goal was to build on the success of an established player favourite and evolve it into an even stronger commercial product with broader appeal and greater long-term value for operators. We introduced features such as Stacked Reels, upgraded multiplier mechanics and visible bonus progression to increase engagement, extend session time and create more frequent high-impact moments, while preserving the core identity that made the original Fire Express so popular.”

INSPIRE fuels ‘NAVER Happybean Double Donation’ campaign during May

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INSPIRE fuels ‘NAVER Happybean Double Donation’ campaign during May

INSPIRE Entertainment Resort announced that it will run the ‘NAVER Happybean Double Donation’ campaign throughout May.

The NAVER Happybean Double Donation campaign follows a double-matching format, where INSPIRE contributes an equal amount to donations made by online participants, effectively doubling the total contribution. The campaign aims to raise a total of KRW 54 million, which will be used to support underserved groups, including children, women, seniors, and abandoned animals. 

Donations can be easily made through the NAVER Happybean online platform. In addition, INSPIRE will create multiple onsite touchpoints to encourage visitors, including QR codes placed in lobby waiting areas and campaign posters displayed on in-room TVs, allowing guests to engage during their stay. Donation receipts will also be issued for year-end tax deductions and applicable tax benefits. 

A total of nine donation funds will be available as part of the campaign, allowing participants to choose their preferred cause. Notably, the beneficiary organizations were selected through a vote by INSPIRE employees, adding further meaning to initiative. Key beneficiaries include the Korea Pediatric Cancer Foundation, INCA Happy Dog World, Miral Welfare Foundation, HelpAge Korea, Youth Voice, World Friends, Aitteul Children Care Center and G Foundation. 

An INSPIRE official said, “In celebration of Family Month, we planned this campaign to promote meaningful giving together with our guests.” The official added, “INSPIRE will continue to support local communities and vulnerable groups through various forms of sustainable social contribution activities.”

Meanwhile INSPIRE has been actively engaged in employee-driven CSR initiatives, including the Happiness Box volunteer program supporting children at risk of food insecurity during the Lunar New Year holiday. The resort also continues to foster community engagement through various programs such as resort experience initiatives for local children, as well as educational and scholarship support. 

Blueprint Gaming hooks players with explosive tackle boxes in Fishin’ Frenzy

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Blueprint Gaming hooks players with explosive tackle boxes in Fishin’ Frenzy

Blueprint Gaming revisits its legendary lakeside scene in Fishin’ Frenzy Lure ‘Em In, where special tackle boxes unlock bonus riches and a shot at the 10,000x max win.

With releases from the industry-renowned franchise consistently ranking among the UK studio’s standout performers, the latest iteration looks set to build on the impressive momentum, offering operators’ lobbies a compelling, feature-rich addition.

Coloured Tackle Boxes Spark the Action

At the heart of the action lies three coloured tackle boxes, which collect matching blue, red, and green scatters if they land on a spin. Immediate entry to the bonus game is guaranteed if three bonus scatter symbols land with at least one modifier active.

Blue Box: Cast and Catch Respins

Triggering the bonus game via the blue tackle box will unlock the Cast and Catch modifier. During the round, landing wilds will guarantee a respin, where wilds and prize symbols remain in place while other symbols respin.

Red Box: Golden Catch Multipliers

If the Golden Catch modifier is activated via the red tackle box, special golden wild symbols are added to the reels, which accumulate all cash prize symbols in view before boosting the total win with a multiplier of up to 5x.

Green Box: Take the Bait Prizes

The Take the Bait enhancement, triggered by the green tackle box, adds special cash prize symbols to the reels, represented by a can of worms. When a can of worms symbol lands, all cash prize values in view are collected by any fisherman symbol.

Multi-Modifier Mega Wins

In a sizeable boost to win potential, up to three Lure ‘Em In enhancements can be active during the bonus game at one time, with two active tackle boxes guaranteeing super free games, and three paving the way to the mega free game, where the chance to secure the 10,000x max win comes into play.

Fisherman Trails for Extra Spins

Immersive trails have become a staple in Blueprint bonus games, and the studio has continued this popular trend with its latest release. Every four fisherman symbols that are collected during the feature will award five additional free spins, with the standard cash prize value in place increased to a maximum of 50x.

Jo Purvis, Director of Marketing, PR and Events at Blueprint Gaming, said: “Fishin‘ Frenzy remains one of our most iconic and best-performing franchises, and with Lure ‘Em In, we have introduced exciting new mechanics to elevate the experience even further. The addition of dynamic tackle box modifiers and the ability to combine multiple enhancements brings greater variety and anticipation to the bonus. We are confident this latest instalment will resonate strongly with operators and players, continuing the franchise’s legacy as a standout performer.”

For those with an eye on a particular catch to remember, the Express Bet can be triggered at any time during gameplay for 0.5x the base stake, doubling the chances of triggering the bonus game.

Following hot on the heels of Game of Thrones, Fishin’ Frenzy Lure ‘Em In by Blueprint Gaming reinforces Blueprint’s ability to cleverly craft fresh-themed, bountiful titles for players to enjoy worldwide.

Million Games drops Coco Rush: Cash Collect magic + RushReel bonuses

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Million Games drops Coco Rush: Cash Collect magic + RushReel bonuses

Million Games has announced the launch of Coco Rush, a feature-driven video slot combining Cash Collect mechanics, RushReel bonuses, and fixed jackpot functionality.

Developed in collaboration with Million Stars partner studio Yugo Workshop, Coco Rush introduces by Million Games is a vibrant island theme centred around the Golden Mask, a character that reflects the game’s dynamic and unpredictable gameplay.

The title is built on a 5×3 reel layout with 20 paylines and low volatility, offering accessible gameplay supported by strong feature frequency.

At the core of the game is the Mystery Mask mechanic, where all Mask Symbols transform at the end of each spin into either matching paying symbols or Coins and Collector symbols that trigger the Cash Collect Feature.

The Cash Collect Feature includes three fixed jackpots:

  • Mega – 1000x base bet
  • Major – 200x base bet
  • Mini – 50x base bet

An additional RushReel feature can unlock during spins, awarding multipliers or extra Mask Symbols that enhance both base game and bonus payouts.

“Coco Rush is a great example of how our Million Stars partners continue to evolve and push their craft,” said Thomas Nimstad, CEO of Million Games. “Yugo Workshop has taken proven mechanics and refined them into something that feels both familiar and fresh, with a clear focus on player engagement and repeat play. It’s exactly the kind of progression we want to support and bring to market.”

Coco Rush offers a maximum win potential of 5,000x the bet and is now available for operators and aggregators via the Million Games distribution network.

UAE Lottery breaks records with consecutive AED 5M in 2 months

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UAE Lottery breaks records with consecutive AED 5M in 2 months

The UAE Lottery marks its second AED 5 million winner in two months, with the latest prize won for the first time ever on a Wednesday draw, delivering another life-changing millionaire moment to a lucky player. 

Branden Tekram, a South African 39-year-old residing in Dubai, bagged the AED 5 million Second Prize, proving once again that it only takes one Lucky Day ticket to make a difference. 

Commenting after the win, Branden said: “We were in shock, but I told my wife, this is real. All the time I would tell her, ‘We’re going to win it,’ and I have manifested it into my life.” 

As excitement continues to build, Lucky Day offers players the chance to win the AED 30 million Grand Prize, the AED 5 million Second Prize, and three guaranteed AED 50,000 Lucky Chance prizes in every draw, now with more frequent chances to win each week. 

Looking ahead, the winner shared: “For us, the plans don’t change. My wife is busy with a project, and this is actually going to help us realize that project, that dream of ours.” 

GCGRA, UAE

With each draw, The UAE Lottery is creating more than just winners, it’s creating moments of possibility, hope, and transformation across the country.

The UAE Lottery remains committed to responsible gaming, ensuring a safe, transparent, and regulated experience for all participants. All games are fully regulated by the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA). 

Macau posts softer April GGR as low hold hits VIP segment: Seaport

Viviana Chan
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Macau posts softer April GGR as low hold hits VIP segment: Seaport

Macau’s gross gaming revenue (GGR) rose 5.5 percent year-on-year in April to MOP19.89 billion ($2.47 billion), but came in below initial expectations due to ‘low VIP hold,’ according to an investment memo by Seaport Research Partners analyst Vitaly Umansky.

The result was weaker than both Bloomberg Asia consensus of 6.5 percent growth and Seaport’s earlier projection of more than 11 percent, with Umansky noting that hold-adjusted growth would likely have reached 10 to 11 percent.

Macau April GGR totals $2.47B, up 5.5% year-on-year

‘We believe April GGR was negatively impacted by low VIP hold,’ Umansky said, adding that while premium play remained ‘solid,’ VIP performance was ‘softer, in particular low hold’ during the month.

On a month-on-month basis, April GGR declined from March levels, with average daily revenue estimated at MOP663 million ($82.4 million), below the first-quarter average and reflecting the impact of weaker hold. Seaport added that MGM and Galaxy were the biggest month-on-month share gainers, while Sands and Melco likely lost share.

Seaport noted that, despite the softer-than-expected headline figure, underlying demand indicators remained stable. Visitation growth was estimated at around 10 percent year-on-year in April, while premium segments continued to support overall performance.

The firm forecasts May GGR to increase by 8.5 percent year-on-year, supported by the five-day May Day holiday running from May 1st to 5th, which is expected to drive strong visitation and hotel occupancy.

Umansky added that some customer trips may have been deferred from April into May, potentially contributing to improved performance in the current month.

However, Seaport expects growth to moderate in the second half of 2026, citing more challenging year-on-year comparisons and the need for stronger demand or improved liquidity to sustain momentum. The firm forecasts full-year GGR growth of around 7 percent, with the first half rising 9.9 percent before slowing to 4.4 percent in the second half.

The note also highlighted that Macau’s recovery continues to be driven primarily by premium mass and VIP segments, while base mass—particularly overnight visitors—remains relatively weaker compared to pre-pandemic levels.

Macau international hotel guests jump 16% in 1Q26, occupancy at 92.3%

Viviana Chan
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Macau international hotel guests jump 16% in 1Q26, occupancy at 92.3%

Macau’s hotels welcomed 338,000 international guests in the first quarter of 2026, a 16 percent increase compared to the same period last year, according to data from the SAR’s Statistics and Census Service (DSEC).

South Korea led international arrivals with 106,000 guests, up 15.1 percent year-on-year. Significant growth was also recorded from Thailand, where visitor numbers surged 61.3 percent to 28,000, and India, which posted a 51 percent rise to 19,000 guests. Malaysia contributed 22,000 arrivals, up 1.2 percent. Japan and Indonesia bucked the trend, declining 2.9 percent to 25,000 and 18.2 percent to 14,000 guests, respectively.

Overall hotel guests totaled 3.67 million between January 1st and March 31st, a 2.6 percent increase year-on-year. Mainland China remained the dominant source market with 2.74 million visitors, though growth was modest at 0.6 percent. Hong Kong arrivals rose 4.3 percent to 390,000.

The average room occupancy rate reached 92.3 percent, up 2.1 percentage points from the first quarter of 2025. Five-star hotels led with a 95.4 percent occupancy rate, followed by four-star properties at 88.7 percent and three-star hotels at 87.5 percent. Macau currently operates 147 hotels with a combined capacity of 45,400 rooms.

Group tour arrivals fell 14 percent to 475,000, with mainland Chinese tour groups declining 20.4 percent to 385,000, as authorities noted a shift toward independent travel among mainland visitors. International tour groups, however, grew 16.1 percent to 61,000.

Habanero expands portfolio with action‑packed samurai slot “Raiden Shogun”

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Habanero expands portfolio with action‑packed samurai slot “Raiden Shogun”

Premium slots and table games provider Habanero has launched Raiden Shogun, a Japanese-themed 5×5 slot featuring a samurai-driven Wild mechanic and a stacked multiplier system.  

Played across 259 Connected Ways, Raiden Shogun draws on the imagery and mythology of feudal Japan, with a lone samurai as the protagonist. At random, the samurai cuts through bamboo on reels 1, 3 and 5, revealing stacked Wilds and creating the potential for strong winning combinations. 

The 259 Connected Ways mechanic replaces traditional fixed paylines with a wider array of winning combinations across the 5×5 grid, giving players significantly more ways to win on every spin.  

Habanero delivers samurai‑inspired power in “Raiden Shogun”

The slot’s free spins round increases with the number of scatters that trigger it with three, four or five scatters awarding 8, 18 or 38 free spins respectively. During free spins, the bamboo reveals multipliers that continue to stack throughout the feature without resetting, allowing for massive win potential.  

Raiden Shogun supports Habanero’s Jackpot Race and Buy Feature, giving operators the tools to adapt the experience for different player profiles.  

The release follows recent releases such as Fortune Dragon Joy and Prosperity Horse as the provider continues to focus on highly engaging feature-rich slots.  

Toni Karapetrov, Head of Corporate Communications at Habanero, commented: “Raiden Shogun is a game built around a clear mechanical identity. The samurai Wild reveal is visually impressive and immediately communicates what the game is about while the non-resetting multiplier system gives the free spins genuine weight. We continue to focus on creating games that balance distinctive design with top performance, and this is a title that we’re confident will connect well with both players and operators.” 

Spinmatic’s Greek gamble pays off with Fonbet rollout

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Spinmatic’s Greek gamble pays off with Fonbet rollout

Spinmatic accelerates Greek market entry through key partnership with Fonbet, renowned for sportsbook prowess and rising casino stardom.

Greece remains a primary territory in Spinmatic’s expansion strategy, and this collaboration marks a significant milestone in delivering high-quality gaming experiences to the region. By leveraging Fonbet’s established sportsbook foundation and effective cross-selling strategies, Spinmatic introduces its diverse slot portfolio to a highly active and engaged player base.

Spinmatic is building this partnership on a scalable growth model rather than a simple integration. Through a roadmap of planned activations — including bespoke missions, bonus-driven campaigns, and competitive tournaments — the company will gradually embed its “total spin” experience into the Fonbet ecosystem. This structured approach ensures consistent engagement and long-term GGR growth as player behavior shifts naturally toward the casino vertical.

Reflecting on the strategic partnership, Norbert Mathies, Managing Director at Spinmatic, said: “Greece is a market where we see incredible potential, and partnering with a reputable brand like Fonbet is a key step in our growth journey. We have been following their work in building a solid casino vertical with great interest. By combining our engaging, mobile-first slot games with Fonbet’s proven ability to activate and retain players, we are creating a powerful synergy. We are fully committed to supporting this partnership with a dedicated strategy to ensure our content becomes a firm favourite among their Greek audience.” 

Mr. Yiannis Gangas, Heading Casino at Fonbet.gr, added: “At Fonbet, we continuously aim to strengthen our casino offering by introducing engaging and high-quality content. Our collaboration with Spinmatic marks an important step in that direction, allowing us to further diversify our portfolio with games that combine strong design, proven mechanics, and player appeal. We see this partnership as an opportunity to build long-term value, leveraging targeted activations to gradually grow our casino vertical and deliver a more dynamic entertainment experience.” 

Macau April GGR totals $2.47B, up 5.5% year-on-year

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Macau April GGR totals $2.47B, up 5.5% year-on-year

Macau’s gross gaming revenue (GGR) in April totaled MOP19.89 billion ($2.47 billion), representing an increase of 5.5 percent year-on-year, according to data released by the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ).

The figure came in below expectations, as Vitaly Umansky of Seaport Research Partners had projected around 12 percent year-on-year growth.

The April figure represents a 12 percent decline from March’s GGR, which stood at MOP20.61 billion ($2.56 billion).

Macau April GGR totals $2.47B, up 5.5% year-on-year

The early timing of the Easter and Ching Ming holiday periods helped support visitation during the first part of the month. During the extended holiday period from April 3rd to 7th, Macau recorded 665,918 inbound visitor arrivals, averaging around 133,000 per day.

This year, the Easter and Ching Ming holidays overlapped to create a five-day break when combined with the weekend. However, Easter is not observed as a public holiday in mainland China, where only the three-day Ching Ming Festival from April 4th to 6th is recognized.

For the first four months of 2026, Macau’s casino GGR reached MOP85.78 billion ($10.63 billion), up 12.1 percent year-on-year. However, the figure remains 14 percent below the same period in 2019, when GGR totaled MOP99.74 billion ($12.4 billion).

Referring to his earlier projection, Umansky said May GGR growth could moderate to around 8.2 percent. He added that the second half of the year will face more challenging year-on-year comparisons, with growth likely to slow unless demand picks up or liquidity conditions improve.

For full-year 2026, Seaport forecasts GGR growth of 7 percent, with the first half rising 9.8 percent before easing to 4.4 percent in the second half.

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