The industry is set to shift its focus away from offering financial gain with more of an emphasis placed on entertainment-focused elements such as gamification, that’s according to Arcangelo Lonoce, head of European business development at Habanero.
Noting that social casino will be a ‘key tell’, Lonoce expressed that with the regulatory legislation heading towards a more ‘restrictive commercial environment’, game developers will be ‘ramping up’ the fun factor.
He said: “Players in that space represent a strong acquisition prospect for the real-money sector, so the themes, styles and dynamics which are popular with social gamers may well be deployed by the wider industry.”
With CasinoBeats’ first Slots Festival of 2021 edging ever closer, Lonoce expressed his excitement about showcasing Habanero’s digital content highlighting the festival as a ‘really interesting addition’ to ‘what has been seen so far’ regarding digital events while offering ‘something new’.
“With lockdown restrictions now in place throughout the globe, the event will be a great way to show what we are capable of and let our content and solutions do the talking,” he commented.
“Given that online slots are the topic of discussion, a digital event fits the bill perfectly. Of course, nothing can fully replace in-person networking, which we look forward to resuming when it’s safe to do so.”
Pressed on if the industry risks ‘falling back on tried and rested content’ in an effort to ‘play it safe’ in 2021, Lonoce was adamant that innovation within the sector ‘won’t be lacking’ with slot suppliers ‘upping the ante’ in relation to gamification.
“Playing it safe is something you do when times are hard,” he exclaimed. “Unlike many other industries, however, the digital casino sector doesn’t show signs of receding right now, with a significant number of land-based and retail players moving online because of lockdown restrictions.
“In my view, cross-selling needs to be rethought. People currently have more time on their hands, so the average punter now fits a very different profile, which raises interesting and important questions for the casino cross-sell.
The conversation then shifted to what attendees at the Slots Festival can expect to experience within Habanero’s Virtual Showroom, which will consist of eight slot titles, including its most recent release, Totem Towers.
“Playing it safe is something you do when times are hard,”
Lonoce explained: “Totem Towers is a fun-filled adventure inviting curious players to explore a mystical Mayan jungle, complemented by thematic Totem symbols and a serene acoustic soundtrack. Attendees can also learn more about how the game’s Totem Tower and Line Boost features can be deployed to ramp up customer engagement.
“Scopa takes players on an all-Italian trip through some of the country’s best-known landmarks during the Free Spins round, with original characters and an authentic soundtrack present throughout.
“We’ll also be running a blockbuster tournament throughout the day. There’s a bumper prize pot worth €1000 up for grabs, so make sure you don’t miss out on your chance to win a slice of it.”
Asked if Lonoce could provide any tips or advice for our readers planning on attending the Slots Festival, he concluded: “Make sure you try out Habanero’s action-packed games! Get involved in our tournament, and you could take home a tasty top prize worth €500.
“With a prize pool worth a whopping total of €1000 to be claimed, the competition will deliver the goods for entertainment-hungry slot enthusiasts in the mood for action.”
