It’s already been two weeks since the Casino Beats Summit and the buzz can still be felt around the office, with two of our latest additions shining atop our awards showcase and new business relationships starting to flourish. Relax delegates slipped straight back into the groove of networking, with ICE and iGaming Next NYC fresh in our memories (as well as in our step-counters!).
The Summit was a roaring success and particularly exciting for us as we sat front row for a fantastic panel discussion featuring our very own Shelley Hannah, Director of Casino Products. Joined by Rhino Entertainment Group’s CEO - Ross Parkhill, Blue Guru’s Liam Mulvaney, Tsachi Maimon from Aspire Global, and Alea CEO Alexandre Tomic, the mixture of backgrounds provided invaluable perspectives on the topic at hand: Platforms and Aggregators, the true game-changers?
The chat kicked off with a clear explanation of the distinction between a platform and an aggregator, the audience heard from each panellist regarding the widespread misconception and overlap between the two, concluding that both elements are integral to seamless game provision and must have synergy for a successful outcome. Simply put, an aggregator is a connector of content while a platform allows the running of a casino business and has its own PAM. The answer to the panel’s title was already becoming apparent, with game-changing elements of both areas made evident early on.
As the discussion unfolded, the conversation took a deep dive into aggregation, spanning its evolution, how it aided client connections, overcame issues of legislation and ultimately kept driving the industry forward by promoting the work of younger studios. Certain struggles soon became apparent across the board, as margin squeeze is being felt amongst all areas of the saturated industry. Unsurprisingly, licensing and regulations were found to be the root of these issues, as crunch times and players require more and more resources as time draws on. It was enlightening to hear about these challenges first-hand from the perspectives of operators, studios, as well as aggregators, allowing us to gain a solid understanding of the thought process which led to the creation of our own integration system Relax ApexⓇ. This framework was devised as a direct response to the increasing fragmentation of content delivery as a result of fast-changing content restrictions and mounting requirements from smaller studios, the industry required consistency, and through this software architecture, we’re able to provide it.
The word on everyone’s lips was undoubtedly Ontario, with the whole of Canada following closely behind. Anticipated issues pertaining to this newly regulated sector were mainly of a regulatory nature, around which the final and arguably most inspiring aspect of the discussion emerged, when panellists summarised ‘The industry's biggest strengths and opportunities this year’. Each closing statement brought with it new insights for us all to carry through to H2 of 2022 and renewed ambition to keep looking forward as we transform each challenge into an opportunity. With the common denominator featured in all the responses to current challenges, regulatory pressures and choosing quality over quantity in game production, Shelley described these same challenges as opportunities, noting that regulated market requirements push us to think differently and adapt to new ways of working while emphasising that powerful technology is the key enabler of such innovation.
Following such a strong voice on behalf of Relax Gaming, it was thrilling to watch our name appear on screen that evening as the awards rolled in. Beast Mode and Top Dawg$ both made the cut, games that are very close to the heart of Relax and an accurate representation of our ethos. The two slots are a direct reflection of our proactive role in driving differentiation through technology and listening to our audience streams. Beast Mode marks another brilliant collaboration with CasinoGrounds, and we’re proud to have another great case study to add to our list. So that’s a wrap on our experience of the Casino Beats Summit, and now onto the next, find us at iGB Live this July in Amsterdam!
Contact our team to book a meeting in Amsterdam!
For operator partnerships contact: Nadiya Attard, Chief Commercial Officer at sales@relax-gaming.com
For operator account management contact: Gary Thompson, Senior Account Manager or Polina Risberg, Key Account Manager - gary.thompson@relax-gaming.com, polina.risberg@relax-gaming.com
For studio partnerships contact: Senior Partner Commercial Manager, Katie Fraser - katie.fraser@relax-gaming.com
For events contact: Carla Formosa, Corporate Marketing Manager - carla.formosa@relax-gaming.com
For affiliate and streamer partnerships contact: Andrew Payne, Casino Product and Affiliate Manager - andrew.payne@relax-gaming.com
