9 March, 2022 | GGA London Shortlist 2022

Product Launch of the year

It is fitting that our newest category at the GGAs, in many ways our own product launch, is dedicated to the Product Launch of the year. Several new products made it to market over the past 12 months. Below, we preview the nominees.

More than anything, product launches keep the industry moving forward. A new product is the public face of an industry in a constant state of flux. That is why the next category – product launch is such an important. While industry insiders may know what’s happening behind the scenes, it is the new products which come out that serve to remind the public about the incredible advancements being made in the field of gaming. 

It is an interesting time, to say the least, for new products. As online gaming booms and digital options proliferate, new products are having to race to keep up with the different opportunities offered by technology. Below, there are ten contestants, ten new products that have changed the landscape of gaming this year, each bringing with them their own unique innovation to the playing field. 

Our first contestant for the top product launch of 2021 is Virgin Bet Fives, released by Virgin Bet, which currently holds the title as the UK’s fastest growing sportsbook. The game has been hailed as transitional for the relatively young company. The game itself is free to play. Consumers reveal a new football player each day, spin a wheel to set a potential cash prize, and then redeem the cash if the player scores in the corresponding fixture. The game has proven to be extremely popular, with a high draw for repeat players. It has seen an astounding 816% growth over the last year. Also, displaying the game’s flexibility, Virgin Bet Fives had a special UEFA Euro 2020 version unveiled over the football-crazed summer. 

Relax Apex, brought to us by the people at Relax Gaming, brings something new to the table: a tool that removes the need to create multiple game version and checks while ensuring full compliance across markets. Relax Apex manages to pull this off in a way that in no way impacts any of what makes an individual game unique. By reducing costs, improving delivery speed, and freeing up resources, Apex has introduced a game-changing integration overlay which will forever alter how partners deliver content. As proof of the product’s popularity, it has already been adopted by 140+ operators and 50+ studio partners. 

Aspire Global brings us our next contestant, Integrated CRM. It was earlier this year when Aspire boosted its AspireCore iGaming platform with the integration of a new CRM system, AspireEngage. The new AspireEngage immediately works to retain customers from the moment they enter the site, making them aware of the offers that will keep them engaged. Such a product is of great use when the competition is always only an easy click away. The system offers real-time, top-level marketing capabilities, enabling operators to sharpen their approach to engagement, including bonus management, personalised messaging and segmentation. 

The next product up for the award it the Jackpot Aggregator, released this year by SoftSwiss. It bills itself a unique multi-purpose iGaming solution that introduces the jackpot-as-a-service business model. The promise of the game is that it multiplies a player’s chances to win. The product provides access to a custom cloud jackpot system and can be integrated with any gaming and non-gaming projects through a one-time application programming interface (API). Jackpot Aggregator provides a library of configurable jackpot templates and enables clients to generate an unlimited number of jackpots simultaneously. 

Spotlight Sports Group brings us the next contestant, Superfeed. Superfeed serves as Spotlight’s content engine, offering impartial betting insight which is delivered by full API integration or a widget. It incorporates the group’s content into one product by delivering expert sports bettering editorial and data on any sport in over 70 languages. Besides this, Superfeed offers pre-match betting insights, as well as verdicts and projections on all sports. During a live game, it has the ability to provide users with in-play tipping, historical data, and can react to on-field events. 

The next contestant is brought to us by NetEnt: Gordon Ramsay Hell’s Kitchen. This game, which was released in March 2021, quickly found success in the UK, achieving a high number of GGR, wager and game rounds. The gameplay replicates the excitement of the hit TV show about the caustic and foul-mouthed Scottish chef. In the game, Gordon throws knives, plates, and pots at the reels, which transform into Wilds, helping to land juicy wins. In addition to this, free spins and a bonus game also incorporate elements of the TV show into the game. This slot feature adds extra entertainment that the players enjoy.

Quantum Platform is the next contestant and is a product released by Sportingtech. The product offers a comprehensive and robust sportsbook and casino solution that can be tailored to any operator’s needs. By harnessing modular software for greater flexibility, the reliable and scalable system is able to deliver a player0-centric betting experience. Quantum’s broad appeal is widely considered to be attributable to its diverse range of feature. Among these are a seamless wallet, automatic casino deposits bonus, automatic casino registration bonus, sportsbook jackpot, and promo code bonus. 

Vikings Go Berzerk Reloaded, released this year by Yggdrasil, has modified and improved a crowd favourite. The series has remained popular over the years and through several iterations. In this version the title includes familiar features from prequels, including Berzerk Miode and Ragnarök Free Spins. In addition to these sure things, there are also a wealth of new, immersive experiences. Among these are included new multipliers that surprise players as they enter the fray. The game can proudly boast that it became an instant hit due to its immersive engine and high-quality artwork. 

Esports Hub, the next contestant, was released by Pinnacle. It is a product that has allowed the esports community with the opportunity for a next-generation betting experience. It features an esports-first UX as well as Pinnacle’s award-winning and crowd-tested content; this includes the highest limits and lowest margins, all in one standalone destination. Also available through Pinnacle’s B2B arm to enhance partners’ esports authenticity, Esports Hub is making a move to take esports betting into its own vertical space and deliver to the audience unique and exciting experiences. 

The final contestant is ONE.FUN. Launched in 2021, ONE.FUN is the only integrated solution for gaming and entertainment fans which allows them to browse and book entertainment packages worldwide. In a single application, people get first hand access to the world of gaming venues, and various ways, too: all events taking place inside them, all concerts, tournaments, and conferences. Through the advanced content management system, venues can easily provide information about themselves, publish information about events and run marketing campaigns to gain access to interested players.

The Product Launch of the year award is sponsored by Neosurf.

Neosurf is a world-renowned payments solution enabling gamers and gamblers to pay online without credit card usage and without disclosing personal information. Founded in 2004 the Neosurf model is now regarded as one of the principal payment means globally.