LeoVegas Announces New Game Development Studio Blue Guru Games
LeoVegas has announced the launch of its brand new Blue Guru Games development studio.
The brand new studio will develop exclusive games for LeoVegas and offer them to other operators. Reports state that the first games developed by Blue Guru Games will be released later this year and that the studio is aiming to develop 20 games within the next 24 months.
The studio was founded by the LeoVegas Mobile Gaming Group through the LeoVentures investment unit, and LeoVegas own 85% of the studio. What’s more, the company is comprised of a team with more than 20 years of experience in game development.
Speaking about the launch of the brand new game studio, Gustaf Hagman, the CEO of LeoVegas, said in a statement to CasinoBeats: “For a long time we have created exclusive games with the help of external providers, but now the time is right to take the step to do game development entirely on our own.
“Drawing from our data and casino knowledge we will be able to drive innovation and create games that our customers truly enjoy. These may be everything from niche, local games for individual markets to broad international games. In addition, we will create games and unique characters that can be used in our marketing, which will build stronger loyalty to our brands. Having great flexibility in producing games is a competitive advantage, and it will also give us a new revenue stream over time.”
Royal Panda Completes LeoVegas Migration
The above news comes days after online casino Royal Panda announced that it had completed its migration to LeoVegas’ operating platform, known as Rhino. As reported by EuropeanGaming, the migration was made to allow for a more focused and efficient operation and to decrease the complexity of operating activities.
Despite using LeoVegas’ technical platform, the Royal Panda website will retain its look and feel. The gambling website will also benefit from a faster and improved mobile solution, an extended catalogue of games, an improved sportsbook, and a wider selection of accepted payment methods.
Gustaf Hagman said of the news: “Being able to run all brands on one and the same platform is a milestone in the company’s history. I want to strongly commend all of the teams that made this possible. I am eager to see how we can now free up resources and speed up the pace of our other growth initiatives and how all of Royal Panda’s customers can now fully benefit from the best gaming experience there is.”
The news comes after LeoVegas announced the launch of open banking back in December 2020, allowing customers to share their transaction history with businesses in the United Kingdom. The move is the first of its kind, as LeoVegas is the first casino to allow for open banking transactions via its proprietary tech platform.
Lithuanian Gambling Regulator Threatens To Block Unlicensed Websites
Meanwhile, the Lithuanian Gaming Control Authority, the regulatory body for all gambling in Lithuania, has threatened to block all unlicensed gambling websites in the country if they continue offering their gambling services to players, as reported by FocusGN.
Back in 2016, new legislation was introduced in Lithuania, requiring operators to hold a valid license to offer gambling services in the country. Under the legislation, the Gambling Supervisory Authority can act against illegal websites by blocking them in the country or blacklisting them, something that can only be reversed once the operator obtains a license.
In a statement issued by the Lithuanian Gaming Control Authority, the regulatory body warned unlicensed gambling operators, saying: “The supervisory authority strongly recommends all online gambling operators review all their activities related to remote gambling in Lithuania and take actions to ensure that such services are not available for Lithuanian customers. After having identified the fact of illegal remote gambling activity in the Republic of Lithuania, the Control Authority is authorised to take measures established in the Gaming Law.”
The UK is facing a similar issue as the Government continues with its review of the Gambling Act 2005. The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) and several operators and charities have warned that overregulation could encourage gamers to play at unlicensed and overseas websites where there are no protections. The claims, however, have been dismissed by the UK Gambling Commission.
The Government’s review of the Gambling Act 2005 could see the implementation of a number of changes to the gambling industry. This includes a potential ban on sports betting sponsorships, changes to the way casino games are designed and the way they play, and potential tighter controls over how users play. Camelot has already increased the minimum age for playing National Lottery products as a result of the gambling review.
Caesars Entertainment Announces It’s Selling William Hill’s Non-US Assets
Also this week, US-based gambling operator Caesars Entertainment has announced that it is looking to sell all non-US based William Hill assets after completing its £2.9 billion acquisition of William Hill last month.
As reported by InterGameOnline, the Vegas casino operator is looking to sell all of William Hill’s 1,400 UK betting shops, a sale that could fetch the company an estimated £1.5 billion. In addition, Caesars is looking to sell William Hill’s UK and European online business too.
Reports suggest that operator Apollo Global Management, which tried purchasing William Hill last year, is interested in buying the UK and European assets. Reports suggest that Shaked Ventures, an Israeli-based gambling group behind 888 Holdings, is also interested in acquiring William Hill’s non-US assets.