Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/878567
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 24 SEPTEMBER 2017 XIV Gaming FANS of Metal music and casino gaming now have the perfect platform for their interests. Metal Casino is launching the world's first gaming site for hard rock enthusiasts. Targeting hundreds of millions of Metal fans worldwide, and hav- ing already partnered with some of the genre's major stars, Malta based Metal Casino has been created by a tight team of gaming, music and marketing experts, in- cluding former executives at Ap- ple, Microsoft, Universal Music, Spotify and Mr Green, who are also heavy guitar music lovers. As a pioneer among a new generation of online casino 3.0 operators powered by GIG's holistic platform service provider iGaming Cloud, Metal Casino will rock the sector with its great portfolio of games and appeal to a niche community – including 400 million Metal fans on Facebook – via a vertical marketing strategy. The platform will offer games from leading providers such as NetEnt and Microgaming and will launch through front-end partner FAST TRACK Solutions. Metal Casino has already contracted some major artists from the Metal scene as affiliate partners. Only a small selection of traditional casino affiliates will be partnered, as Metal Casino avoids the revenue share squeeze most major operators suffers from. Chief Marketing Officer Clas Dahlén, formerly Mr Green's Country Manager, Sweden said: "Creating a vertical marketing strategy, based on social media, collaborating with Metal artists as influencers and vertical Metal media is a game changing way to penetrate the marketing land- scape out there. "With a loyal fan base, Metal Casino therefore becomes highly marketing efficient. Being relevant creates loyalty and maximizes the retention and ROI," Dahlén continues. Dahlén says the teams' experi- ence as well as statistics from the music industry proves that the Metal community is the most active on streaming services, and they are the most dependable and loyal people in the world. Metal Casino is set for an international launch in the UK, Germany, Sweden, Norway and Finland. Communication will be only in the "universal language of Metal", English. Members can join the Metal Ca- sino's World Tour, which is one of the site's games and loyalty pro- grammes. Its own soft currency, MetCoins, will enable members to acquire exclusive tickets and customised merchandise in the Merch Room and get a chance to meet the world's biggest Metal bands and artists backstage. "We have decided to take our joint head-banging sessions to a new level and create some real magic. Collaborating with FAST TRACK Solutions as Front End developers and casino room man- agement we have a strong partner for years to come," Dahlén said. He described their different approach: "Metal Casino speaks out loud, we are the underdogs and we don't give a sh*t about our competitors' conventional mar- keting or offers. Keeping it real and staying true to our beliefs is something most people strive for. Few live up to it. Our members can count on us. As our brand platform describes, we are true, relevant and dedicated to our members and our beliefs. "We are Metal Casino, we go all in for the fans!" THE second edition of the hugely popular 'iGaming Idol' event that is being held in Malta on Tuesday has sold out, with the capacity of 400 tickets sold. The flagship gaming competi- tion brings together key figures from across the vast international iGaming industry, to recognise and reward employee innovation and excellence in their respec- tive fields, in an entertaining and glamorous gala event. Having initially attracted over triple the nominations as in the first edition, a shortlist of 49 finalists will be in attendance on the night, of whom 16 will receive an iGaming Idol award accord - ing to their specific roles within the gaming industry. Accolades will be given to those working in products, marketing, technology, finance, compliance, human re- sources, design, fraud or customer service. An additional award will also be presented, celebrating the Outstanding Achievement of the Year. "Unique events in the gaming world such as 'iGaming Idol' help to raise the bar across the indus- try," says iGaming Idol founding partner, Jeff Buttigieg. "It will pro- vide highly-deserved recognition to the many hard-working people who actively transform the gam- ing world on a daily basis, while also bringing industry profession- als together in Malta in a network- ing event unlike any other." Tickets for iGaming Idol are already sold out, with global iG- aming companies choosing to buy complete tables for their employ- ees and candidates. A total of around 400 guests is expected, all of whom are involved in or connected to the iGaming industry, including key business figures and hosts of the night such as Becky Liggero, Calvin Ayres' own Industry reporter and the ambassador of Bodog.com and Michael Caselli, the Editor in Chief of iGaming Business. The function will also serve as a charitable event, with a portion of the revenue from each ticket being donated to the Malta Com- munity Chest Fund, in the hope of raising a minimum of €10,000. The organisers recently hosted a pre-charity function at the San Anton Palace, Private Garden, for which they have already raised a sizable amount and are confident they will surpass their target. The 'iGaming Idol' Awards Gala event, which will be held on 26th September inside the Grand Masters Suite at the Hilton Hotel, will include a silver service din- ner with free-flowing wine and liqueurs with an after party being held at Twenty-Two in the Porto- maso Business Tower. For further information about 'iGaming Idol', go to the website: www.igamingidol.com Metal Casino ready to rock online gaming sector Tickets sold out for iGaming Idol New online casino bets on millions of "loyal" Metalheads worldwide The international gaming world will once again be welcomed to Malta for an exclusive event celebrating employee excellence in the sector