Apple's iOS 7: What it Means for Affiliates

On Tuesday September 10, 2013, Apple announced the release of two new products: the iPhone 5C, targeting a more budget-conscious audience, and the 5S, its 'high-end' hardware update. What occasionally gets lost in the welter of 'shipped device' numbers is that along with this has come the release of the iOS 7 operating system.

iOS 7 represents a major change in the operating system for Apple devices; possibly the biggest step in three years, since iOS 4 and the introduction of multitasking and FaceTime. iOS 7 will impact gaming developers in a number of ways, from the tools that they use to the style of user-interface that their apps will now need to adopt going forward.

As an affiliate, what might this mean to you? If you develop your own apps, or if you provide bespoke mobile versions of your content, then you will need to adopt some of the revised standards, such as the 'flatter' presentation style which moves away from Apple's previous skeuomorphic principles (designs mimicking real world objects e.g. the email symbol looks like a letter). Your developers will also, at some point, look to update to the iOS 7 development kit - something that may have an impact on the ability to easily support apps on early versions of iOS. Both the redesign of existing apps to match the new design standards and the update of your development environment can take time and, as with any change in framework, is no small matter.

Whether you develop your own affiliate apps or not, you will also need to think about the impact iOS 7 will have on the betting and gaming apps (especially native apps) of the operators with whom you affiliate. There are certain key changes to the way that some of the tracking software development kits (SDK) will operate within iOS 7. As an example, Apple has mandated that in iOS 7, use of the mobile device IMEI will no longer be allowed, thus the usual 'fingerprint' used by many tracking tools and developers will need to be amended.

The key point to be aware of is whether or not the Apple apps of the operators you affiliate with have updated their tracking SDKs. If not, it may well be that tracking is essentially lost on all those users with devices that have been upgraded to the iOS 7 operating system (returning a default value). This, essentially, is the major shortterm risk to affiliate models and revenues.

Opportunities

Aside from the operating system changes, the opportunities delivered by the hardware upgrades (e.g. iPhones 5C and 5S) should not be underestimated. An iPhone device release usually has a notable impact on volumes of Apple subscribers. An increasing Apple userbase should see increasing volumes of activity. Where this year's release is notably different from prior years is the iPhone 5C - coming in a variety of primary colours and being cheaper than the usual iPhone. In the US, the suggested figure has been $99 plus contract - in the UK it is much lower on the initial cost, e.g. ${html-pound}9.99 but with a 24-month term and fairly 'highend' monthly expense. The 5C is aimed at attracting a new audience into the Apple and iTunes ecosystem, the effect of this is expected to be significant, attracting a different demographic of users. It was thought that Apple would try to make a real in-road into the Chinese market with the 5C, however, the price of $733 in China (without contract) remains substantially over the rate for most Android devices and, perhaps, Apple's growth in China will be a long-burn as a consequence. The iPhone 5S may not draw new customers to Apple but its significant increase in processing power and capacity along with features like fingerprint recognition should cement its position as the device of choice for highspending Apple users.

In conclusion, the risk for affiliates, such as it is, will focus mainly on the changes in the way iOS 7 allows deployment of tracking-type SDKs and the access to the device-APIs of those SDKs. However, allin-all, iOS 7's release (in conjunction with the new devices), represents a significant opportunity for affiliates and games developers. The improvements in the development tools and the ability to render richer graphics, smoother transitions and better animation and motion must all have a positive impact on the user-experience and the the success of services on the new iOS.

Android's reach to contribute to growth in mobile gaming

Respondents to a recent eGaming Review (Sep 2013) poll believe that Android "will be responsible for the most growth in the mobile gambling sector". This is perhaps unsurprising considering last quarter (Q2 2013) Android recorded 79.3% of the market share of global shipments and has a vast and popular array of mobile devices available, such as the Samsung Galaxy S4 and HTC One.

This month saw Apple that there are 600 million devices out there so expect half a billion iOS7 devices to work with before the end of the year.

Yes, Apple has the advantages of being seen as the "sexiest" operating system in the market, of an upgrade strategy that discourages fragmentation, and of giving gaming developers the ability to market their gambling apps on the Apple App Store, but Android also has a very important upside - market share.

Android will be releasing their latest software upgrade in October, the 4.4 OS (named KitKat). Although Kitkat may not engender the near-hysteria of iOS7, it will provide Android customers with an improved UI plus smoother performance which will give users the platform to play casino on mobile with greater quality.

As noted in mkodo's last newsletter, it is also worth keeping an eye on Windows which, since August, has the 3rd highest market share in terms of global handsets shipped and a recent report by IDC ( Sept 2013), notes that the acquisition of Nokia could increase their market share up to 10% by 2017.

In short, although there may be a superior appeal to develop mobile gaming primarily for iOS, remember to consider Android development and do keep an eye on Windows!

What makes a successful betting and gaming app?

To be successful an app must first and foremost appeal to, and continue to appeal to, its audience..

Looking at the customer reviews is a good way to get a picture for what makes people want to use and re-use an app.

Generally speaking, when a customer is happy with an app the reasons are couched in high level terms (e.g. 'easy to use'); when a player is less happy the feedback tends to much more specific (e.g. 'there is too much information on the betting history for an accumulator...I just want the results').

The following points and examples on the subject of 'what makes an app successful' are drawn from an assessment of customer reviews of some of the best known European-based mobile sportsbook apps.

The app must be 'easy to use'. This is the most frequently used term for endorsing a product. Translated, it means the app must: 1. do what you expect it to do; 2. present information and allow navigation in a logical, consistent manner; and 3. second guess the user when possible, but only if it is sure. Negative comments on navigation, for example, include: 1. "making me rescroll all the way down a coupon page after selecting a match", and 2. "not providing a traditional menu navigation option alongside a coupon format so that all markets are easy to find."
The app must, at least, have all the features a customer can reasonably expect based upon what is the norm in the marketplace, such as in-play betting. Examples from recent customer reviews of not meeting this requirement are: 1. not providing the ability to change payment card details, and 2. not having a cash-out option.
The app must have a level of performance that is acceptable to the market. Speed and availability feature very highly in both the positive and negative reviews of products. An example of a positive comment is: "it takes no more than a 2 second wait between pages", as opposed to a negative one: "it takes ages to update balances when you place a bet". "Crashing" and "freezing" feature highly in negative reviews. It is important for performance that the product infrastructure just sends data to the app that it really needs and not everything that it would send in a traditional online environment.
Visual display receives a reasonable amount of comment in the reviews. The importance of optimising apps for mobile device types is a given.
There are some important attributes that are very specific to the betting markets. These are 1. the amount of markets on offer and 2. the competitiveness of the prices. Whilst the latter is not mentioned as often as other points, it must be taken as a given by the operators - getting the best odds is the key reason why regular customers engage.
Having the best promotions available also drives the success of an app in this market. Good promotions feature highly in positive reviews. Notifications will become increasingly important to operators to enable targeted marketing messaging. The next step in this area will be for notifications to be triggered by customer betting patterns. For example, a player that consistently places HT/FT combos on live TV matches might be best ‘nurtured’ by offering similar bets by notification with a link to bet slip 30 minutes before a match starts.
Provision of pertinent associated content appears in the positive reviews and crops up as requests to operators in the ‘could improve’ reviews. Streaming events, for example, helps 'sell' an app; a request for Champions League tables, for example, helps improve it.

From an operators' perspective, the ability to attract new customers and the ability to engage all customers in a broad range of gaming activities will be crucial to their success. Good customer service is a given.

Apple's Ear Buds

September 2016

Sweet like Android 7.1.1?

7th December

Google has started rolling out its update to Nougat, Android 7.1.1, bringing some cool features of the Pixel to everyone.

Coolly, they're promoting ethnic and gender diversity in their emoji, adding 'pivotal' roles women in the world play, to the graphics. Nexus and Pixel users can also send GIFs via supported Google apps, Allo, Messenger and Hangouts. There are more shortcuts from the home screen straight into your best loved apps for continuity, and these little gems will be rolled out to Nexus 5X, Nexus 6, Nexus 6P, Nexus 9, Nexus Player, Pixel C and General Mobile 4G (Android One).

The Beta version will also receive this version, later. Nice one Google.

Bluetooth® is coming back into fashion...

9th December

Hello Bluetooth 5! The Bluetooth Special Interest Group has officially adopted the latest spec of the Bluetooth Core. Having not had a major release since 2009, the latest version means longer range (up to 4X), larger broadcast message capacity (8X) as well as improved interoperability and coexistence with other wireless technology amongst other things. It hasn't been designed with specific applications in mind, that's up to others, but it clears the way for device makers to use the much-improved technology in everything from phones to wearables to smart home equipment, and you should expect to see the technology in use within the next 2-6 months.

"Bluetooth is revolutionizing how people experience the IoT. Bluetooth 5 continues to drive this revolution by delivering reliable IoT connections and mobilizing the adoption of beacons, which in turn will decrease connection barriers and enable a seamless IoT experience."

Mark Powell, Executive Director of the Bluetooth SIG

Read more here: https://www.bluetooth.com

Our Senior Account Manager, Will Whitehead, speaks to IGaming Business about Instant Wins

27th January

Google’s launched Android Wear 2.0 - a rival to the Apple Watch.

On the 8 February 2017, Google unveiled the new wrist-based OS alongside new smartwatches from LG - the LG Watch Sport and LG Watch Style, giving Apple a real run for its money competing with the watchOS-running Apple Watch.

Google’s Wearable overhauled platform has a customisable watch face, embedded Play Store and Google Assistant and will cost zero, as long as you have a phone running Android 4.3+ or iOS 9+.

Android Wear makes accessing some of your phone's handiest features as simple as looking down at your wrist. It's designed with hands-free use in mind and primarily acts as a companion to amplify your phone's notifications so that you don't need to dig around to find it, just to see that someone liked one of your updates.

Android Wear is easy to navigate and visually better. It is slick and has a lot of cool features like understanding context to questions you ask, swiping, voice recognition and personalised notifications based on your preferences. You can type or dictate messages to respond on the move, and feels more than just a supplement to the phone.

It’s compatible with thousands of watch faces, whatever your style and can be personalised for your usage preferences, diary, fitness, business, contacts, apps….

You can access stand-alone apps from the Play Store directly from your watch so adding apps becomes easier, and you don’t need to carry them on your phone.

If apps are what you're after, Android Wear offers an ever-growing list, stripping out functionality incompatible with your wrist, some offering more functionality than others.

Check out some reviews: https://goo.gl/STm9vx

Apple prohibits iOS app updates outside of the App Store

March 2017

Apple had begun re-enforcing a restriction they placed on developers back in the early days of the App Store, preventing modifications to apps that can alter or update app behaviour outside of the App Store.

A limited number of developers are receiving notifications that they are violating Apple’s rules by using ‘hot patching frameworks’. Apple take issue with this because they can change behaviour of an app’s functionality AFTER Apple’s approval review and could potentially be mis-used.

Apple claim that is it for security purposes as unapproved frameworks can be hijacked. “Even if the remote resource is not intentionally malicious, it could easily be hijacked via a Man In The Middle (MiTM) attack, which can pose a serious security vulnerability to users of your apps”.

Approval in the App Store can be a time-consuming process, so hot patching enables updates to bypass this process and change an app’s behaviour. Although this restriction has always existed, it is only now that Apple are being proactive in addressing the issues.

iOS 11: New Features Review

With tomorrow’s release of iOS 11, we thought it would be useful to highlight some of the new innovations and notable features that have been announced. We would be happy to discuss with you in more detail the impact that these changes might have on your mobile development strategy over the coming months.

Top Announcements

ARKit: Apple will now provide developers with the tools to allow for easier development of augmented reality apps. This framework allows the creation and addition of 3D assets with animation, scale and lighting to real world scenes. This works without QR markers, using the sensors of the device to provide more realism (like Microsoft Hololens). This will also be used within the new version of Pokemon Go. This framework can also be used with Unity / Unreal engine.

Demos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S14AVwaBF-Y

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1I_WPDcEVz8

Core ML framework: Last year, Apple started adding machine learning features to iOS, you may be aware of this in terms of text suggestions and auto tagging photos etc. This year Apple have opened up these tools to other developers. This means any developer can utilise off the shelf models and use them in their apps. For example you can detect what the player will do next based on past behaviour or pick faces out of photos, the possibilities are seemingly endless.

Redesigned App Store: The App Store has been redesigned to be focused on content rather than charts. This has resulted in Apple moving all games to a separate section. This will make it potentially more difficult to discover any apps that aren’t featured by Apple, so more effort will be needed in meta data and search keywords.

Other Notable Features

NFC: We now have the ability to detect NFC tags and read messages that contain NDEF data. (IPhone7+).
Phased releases coming later this year mean we can roll-out app updates to a percentage of customers rather than the entire install base.
Person to person mobile payments using Apple Pay via the Messages app are now available.
No support for 32Bit devices and apps, means that the iPhone 5 and 5c and iPad 4 will now be dropped. As we have seen with iOS 10, (87%) dropping hardware has affected adoption rate. We expect this will cause iOS 11 to stabilise at 75-80%, meaning that we will still need to support 3 versions of iOS for apps.
Redesigned iPad multitasking to resemble Mac Dock with multi touch gestures to switch between apps.
Safari 11: WebRTC, WebAssembly, Auto-Play blocking and Intelligent Tracking Prevention (We expect this will cause issues with affiliate tracking sites / SDK’s).
Apple will show all reviews and allow us to reset existing ratings on badly rated apps.
File manager for iOS for collating data saved by other apps.
New iPad (10.5”) has a different resolution which may cause issues with app stability.
IOS will now encourage and supports automatic deletion of unused apps.
Do not disturb has been enhanced to detect when you’re driving and ‘shame’ you into putting your phone away.

SDKs

DeviceCheck API for generating unique ID’s for devices.
Password Autofill (We are still waiting for more details on this). Likely caused by the removal of system integration of Facebook & Twitter.
MusicKit allowing us to provide music playback from the users local libraries.
Native access to Bluetooth on Apple watch so we can create beacons and talk to local Bluetooth peripherals.

Xcode 9

Refactoring tools for Swift.
Main thread checker (Reporting of calls made incorrectly on background threads / foreground threads).
Apple devices can now be debugged over the network.
View debugger allows us to see view controller stacks and hierarchy. This is especially useful for the complex navigation in apps.
Concurrent simulator testing, which will help with automation testing.
Significant improvements to underlying UI Testing frameworks, hopefully these will trickle down to Appium.
Migrate specific portions of Swift to new versions without having to migrate all code.

Rank Group’s first real-money gaming apps now in Google Play

Delivered in partnership with mobile tech innovator, mkodo

London, August 2017; Mobile specialist mkodo is delighted to announce its successful work delivering Rank Group’s first real-money Android gaming apps to store on Google Play.

Google Play opened its doors to real money gaming apps from selected operators earlier this month, with blue chip gaming brand Rank chosen to be in the first tranche of admitted apps.

Rank’s cross-brand range of apps, made available by mkodo within the first week of the new policy, includes Grosvenor Live Casino, Grosvenor Casino and Mecca Bingo.

The apps are already proving popular amongst the Google Play user base with Rank enjoying a 40%+ increase in active Android users within the first two weeks.

“The Android user base massively outweighs other operating systems on mobile devices* and has now become the world’s most popular OS**. There is a comprehensive range of Android devices on the market with different specs and screen sizes. With Android it is, therefore, particularly important to build responsively to enable an excellent user experience across devices; with the Google Play apps, we have successfully delivered that”, comments Khoovi Seewoonauth, Head of Android Development, mkodo.

“Rank Group and mkodo have enjoyed a successful partnership for delivering high quality apps since their first iOS app went live in the App Store in January 2011. The iOS app has won a number of prestigious awards, including the EGR Innovation in Bingo 2016 and Best Native App 2016, and continues to deliver real business benefit to our client. We are looking to emulate this success with the apps now available in the Google Play”, says Sam Hill-Wood, Senior Account Manager, mkodo.

*Android 85%, iOS 14.7% (May 2017); http://www.idc.com/promo/smartphone-market-share/os

** https://www.theverge.com/2017/4/3/15159320/android-windows-internet-usage-statistics-competition

5 quick-fire questions with mkodo’s Creative Director, Tom Atfield.

What does your role at mkodo entail?

I head up User Experience, User Interface and Content Management on our mCloud platform. Our clients need to connect with their customers via their mobile devices in an appealing, consistent and relevant fashion; mCloud enables all their mobile channel activities to be set-up, executed and monitored in one place. From App content and messaging to beacon set up and geo-fencing, mCloud is a powerful tool!

What is mkodo working on right now?

Right now, we are helping our clients embrace the potential of Augmented Reality (AR) in their customer interactions. We are delivering engaging AR projects using 3 different implementations – Geolocation (latitude, longitude), real world placement (ARKit and ARCore) and scan placement (object recognition). The implications of AR for user experience are gigantic. This will revolutionize the way many users interact with their devices and environment. Very exciting and very challenging too!

How has mkodo settled into Newcastle?

We’ve seen our people growth increase by 500% in our Newcastle office since we arrive in January 2015. The calibre of digital talent in the region validates our decision to expand here. We’ve also had some key people relocate from London to the region and they love it. The partnerships, community and the spirit, are unique.

You were shortlisted for Skills Developer at the Dynamites17. Congratulations!

Yes, our new Evolve Scheme has proved very popular. We’ve recruited several graduates to the team in the last 12 months, so it was great to be recognised for the contribution we’re making. However, we’re always looking for more talent #teammkodo #EvolveScheme jobs@mkodo.com

You’ve been with mkodo 8 years. What keeps you working at mkodo?

Exciting things are happening at mkodo. Our new brand will be launching soon; we’re doing very cool stuff with new technology and devices, and I love helping our clients engage their customers with our innovative ideas. Every day is diverse. mkodo has an energy about it that’s hard to define or replicate. We employ talented people from all over the world, so we benefit from different perspectives on ideas and strategy.

Stuart Godfree, Managing Director, reflects on 2017

At the end of a year, it is usual to reflect and see what’s been accomplished over the last 12 months, then use that to predict and plan for the upcoming year.

Nearly two years ago, mkodo opened its first office in Newcastle; we doubled our headcount within that first year. 2017 saw us move into a new office, 5 times larger, on Dean Street, and we’ve doubled our headcount again since April 2017. We expect to add a further 30% to this team headcount in 2018.

The creation of our Evolve Scheme (www.mkodo.com/s/evolve), to build and develop the talent we recruit from the superb North-East Universities, is a demonstration of our long-term commitment both to the region, and to the young people of the UK. Due to demand, we have now opened the Scheme to apprentices and, in the new year, we’ll be looking for talent to join us in IT Operations, Quality Assurance and Project Management. As a business person, it is easy to look at the spreadsheet and determine how you can reduce cost. Offshoring your development teams is a predictable example of this, but we believe that investing in our own talent is vital: creating great quality jobs and career opportunities, as well as inspiring and nurturing the younger generations.

2018 will bring new opportunities to mkodo as we continue to lay foundations here. We expect company revenues to increase by over 30%, as well as headcount. As we go into the latter part of 2018 and into the uncertainties of 2019, we have to realise that whatever the final outcome of our position within Europe, it brings change, and like the birth of a new year, change creates opportunity.

So, with this in mind, I want to thank every single person within the NE community who has helped, contributed to and assisted mkodo in the last two years.

I reserve a special thanks to the team at Newcastle and Gateshead Initiative who do an amazing job building the inward investment, and recognition of this region, both within the UK and internationally.

Caitlin Fogell, Trainee Developer, My experience at mkodo

I’m a Computer Science student who has been doing an internship at mkodo for about three months now, and I’m enjoying my time here. I first discovered mkodo at a careers fair at my university, and the immediate impression I got from them was a friendly one. That impression has not changed during my time here, as everyone has been very welcoming. So far, my time has been spent on Quality Assurance, which is interesting as I’m learning a lot about testing processes that haven’t been covered on my course. I’m also learning about professional software development in general, which feels like the sort of thing that’s easier to learn in practice. One surprising thing I’ve learnt about working life while here, is the amount of time that’s dedicated to learning new things and improving your skills. I have enjoyed the work so far (despite the shock of having to wake up early every day!), and it’s easier when you can tell the people around you enjoy what they do. I’m learning a lot here and I feel like an important part of the team. I look forward to completing the rest of my placement here.

Operator Acquisition vs Retention

Will Whitehead - Senior Account Manager

Acquisition vs Retention

The UK sportsbook market is as competitive as ever. Each operator is fighting the constant question of whether they invest their efforts and budgets in customer acquisition, or customer retention. UK sportsbook operators incentivise new customers to register with their company by offering very appealing sign-up promotional deals, offering free bets or bonuses to join. The nature and trend of these offers has evolved over the years, however the general consensus is that the sign-up offers are now too complex for the average punter to grasp and discourages potential customers.

I recently attended the informative SBC ‘Betting on Football’ conference at Stamford Bridge, and a panel discussed that the Terms and Conditions surrounding promotional registration offers has got far too convoluted and are discouraging new customers. Some offers look great on paper, such as ‘Brazil to wear yellow shirts in a World Cup match 50/1’ or ‘Will a goal be scored in the Premier League this weekend 40/1’, however once you look into the small print, the customer will see it’s a £1 max stake and the winnings can only be accessed once they have placed 10x £5 equivalent bets with their own money. The reality is, customers can’t be bothered with the hassle!

Whilst the T&Cs for registration bonuses complexity ever increases, key aspects of core customer acquisition is being overlooked, such as the operators focussing on a simple, appealing and intuitive registration process. First impressions are absolutely everything, particularly on mobile. If the customer doesn’t like the registration flow of a sportsbook App, there is a high-chance they will delete the App before depositing any funds. Operators must focus on a smooth and pain free registration process, always focusing on intuitive design, minimal clicks and input.

This is particularly true for the smaller operators who will not be able to compete with the huge bonus offers and free bet promises that the big players in the industry offer. The smaller operators want more regulation around the bonus sign-up offers, however I believe, the small operators need to be more innovative to ensure they are acquiring their own customer base without the large promotional offers. The 2018 Cheltenham festival, which is historically one of the biggest customer acquiring weeks of the sporting calendar for operators, showed a real lack of innovation in customer acquisition. There were no outstanding or memorable sign-up offers from either the big players or the small players and in several cases, large scale duplication and copying promotional offers from each other.

One key customer acquisition tool that is widely used in the eCommerce world is a ‘referral scheme’. Uber have been a key exponent of ‘refer a friend’, offering a £10 free taxi ride if you use your friends voucher code. Why don’t operators offer this? Why don’t operators offer promos such as ‘place a £10 bet using your friend’s code and you will both receive a £10 free bet’. Why not use your current customers as a marketing and customer acquisition tool? To most companies outside of the betting and gaming industry, this won’t seem great innovation, but as the eGaming world does not widely use referrals for registration promotions, it could become a new acquiring method.

Being innovative is crucial in this ultra-competitive market, however the smaller operators must also ensure that their CRM procedure is fully prepared for acquiring and developing relationships with new customers. Priming your CRM could be a much more crucial process and tool than spending a budget on registration bonus offers. New customers often take advantage of registration offers then disappear into the ether. Having a structured CRM in place, such as follow-up emails, push notifications, offering price boosts, rewarding activity, encourage and maintains customer loyalty.

With the World Cup now just 80 days away, operators will be planning their acquisition and retention strategies for what will no doubt the most competitive sports betting tournament in history. Just the fact it’s the ‘World Cup’ will draw new customers to sign-up without loss-leader registration bonuses. With this in mind, operators need to focus on retaining the new customers and focus on their CRM strategies to ensure the longevity of each new customer. If operators focus on loyalty, rather than abusing acquisition, then they may see a much larger return from the customer in the long term.

Remember, a customer is for life, not just for the World Cup.

PASPA repealed! What does this mean?

Will Whitehead - Senior Account Manager

The 14th May 2018 is a day that will change the landscape of the global sports betting industry forever.

Yesterday, the US Supreme Court landmark decision to repeal the 1992 Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), facilitating American states the ability to regulate and legalise sports betting. The 1992 law had previously prohibited states from ‘sponsoring, operating, advertising, promoting, licensing, or authorizing sports gambling’. The PASPA repeal will pave the way for sports betting across the United States of America.

The general consensus in the betting and gaming industry has been ‘when will it happen?’ rather than ‘if it happens’ and the rumours of the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) striking down the PASPA have been circulating for several years but have picked up speed significantly in the past twelve months. New Jersey has been pressurising the SCOTUS to remove the act, arguing their point that the PASPA ‘violated states rights’ and was ‘unconstitutional’. Yesterday’s overruling can be directly attributed to New Jersey’s challenges.

It will of course take time for States to take action on this and some states may not want to change their existing laws, however the likes of New Jersey, West Virginia, Mississippi and Pennsylvania have already made their intentions clear, they are prepared to move forward and legalise gambling in their states as soon as possible.

The European sports betting market is very mature, with the leading operators possessing sophisticated products, marketing strategies and business models. Meanwhile, the US sports betting is obviously in its infancy. The US States will be looking to Europe and North America for delivery of a successful sports betting strategy and, in particular, look across the pond for expertise in risk-management in trading. This ensures that the State operators are not burned by experienced punters who could potentially take operators to the cleaners.

Nevertheless, most sports betting operators and platform providers in America, and around the globe, have been preparing for this day to arrive, without any guarantee the PASPA would be passed. Operators have had to gamble and commit resources in planning and preparing to tap into the US market, so that when that day arrives, they are ready to do business.

The European Operators’ strategies have been heavily influenced by the evolvement in technology over the years, none more so than the introduction of online betting and of course nowadays, the dominance of activity taking place on mobile devices.

It will take Operators time to get up to speed with their sports betting strategies for each individual state, but in my opinion, the Operators will be focusing on a mobile first strategy. This may be impossible in some States, due to restrictions being implemented on retail betting only. However, if the States that do allow mobile betting can ensure they provide a performant, entertaining, trustworthy and unique mobile experience, they will appeal to the masses.

It’s not a particularly controversial statement to say that on the whole, the average US citizen is not overly experienced in sports betting and to the plenty who are inexperienced, it can be seen as a confusing and daunting behemoth. Therefore, it is crucial to provide a friendly and simplified mobile experience, not deterring potential punters before they get started.

I believe Operators should avoid products solely focusing on sports betting and should be looking at incorporating content, blogs, videos, gamification to their sports betting products, to focus on entertainment to widen the scope of the customer-base and educate and attract the next generation of sports betters.

mkodo boasts over 17 years of experience and expertise in providing high quality mobile sports betting products around the world, including North America and we are very excited about the opportunities that the PASPA repeal may bring.

mkodo - We made the Best Places to Work list!

Read Why Here

mkodo in the best place to work list

Where Next For Betting Shops?

Where next for betting shops?

Betting shops have always been slightly intimidating places. My early memories of them are of dark, dingy rooms with bar stools, dodgy characters, cigarette butts and scrunched up slips all over the floor. It was always quite tricky to get in the door which seemed to stick halfway in a jarring sort of way.

The shops improved in appearance and smell but not really in welcome, especially to the novice, broadly social punter of my ilk. The information available on the walls was somewhat opaque, the ‘rules of the road’ not easy to understand, and the idea of the venue as a place of social interaction for a broad, mixed gender base, non-existent.

We are all aware that much of betting, as much of life, has moved online in developed economies; 34% of the total British market by GGY, for example, is now online and this is set to increase to 50% in the next few years*. How do operators reinvigorate the at-venue experience in a way that makes commercial sense and is sustainable?

For me, there is a market for the venues to rethink from a social perspective. A venue that replicates a café environment but offers live stream viewing of bettable events – sports, reality TV shows, and of course, the nirvana that is the Eurovision Song Contest. The idea is that you are welcomed to, or can pre-book, a table. Your table includes the technology to enable you to place bets on the events on display via an account you hold with the venue. It’s simple to go through the registration process if you are a first-time visitor with the help of a bot on the app, or via the real-life servers at the venue. If you prefer to bet via a person and not set up an account, no problem, the servers are equipped to take real money bets.

I am aware that, in this suggestion, I may be encouraging operators to create a place for my own amusement! I used to love studying the data in the Racing Post on the train to the races with friends then selecting my betting choices; I enjoyed our games of ‘tips’ where we all put some money in and selected our horses for each race – the one with the most places winning the pot at the end of the day. These days, I don’t have the expanse of time to carry out these trips, so it would be good to replicate this closer to home. As would spending time with family and friends watching the sports we all love and being offered the betting opportunities as an added excitement to this activity. I’m not one for the reality TV shows,but I can see many people around me get excited by these and it seems likely they would create opportunities for social betting activities.

Between the live activities there could of course be opportunities for visitors to play instant win or casino games on the technology platform offered.

Can this sort of environment stack up commercially if you have people staying for several hours and focussing on a particular event rather than the swifter turnover of punters in today’s environment? Can you make this work without alcohol? Can you get the balance right between ensuring this remains in the realm of entertainment and social interaction but creates sufficient profit for the operator?

I think so, but perhaps there are operators out there that have done their research and can share an empirical view on this rather than an instinct that this is worth investigating. Perhaps, at the very least, it is worth exploring as part of the ‘customer acquisition’ budget as it brings a whole new bunch of customers to you. Thoughts anyone?

To be clear, however, I am not suggesting the environment described above is the only one that gets taken forward into the future, it is one diversification possibility that would engage a broader audience.

In terms of improving the retail experience for the more traditional style punter I turn to my colleague Barry McCann, mkodo business analyst and sportsbook specialist, to offer you his view:

“With the Fixed Odds Betting Terminal (FOBT) restrictions on the brink of implementation, bookies are suddenly having to try and think of ways to improve the whole retail experience for a customer. There is an argument to be made that bookies became lazy because of the guaranteed success of FOBTs. Any punter looking to place a medium-to-large bet would be met with restrictions, lower odds, or even refused altogether. However, now that FOBT laws are changing, how can bookmakers improve the whole retail experience for customers?

Perhaps the answer lies in taking all the benefits of a retail shop and making the environment as comfortable as possible. Retail shops will always have optional anonymity, no need to sign up, pay (and win) in cash, no lengthy withdrawal processes, no silly wagering requirements and ability to watch many different sports with commentary. In Belfast, some of the biggest retail shops in Europe exist, despite this fact they can still only have 4 FOBTs as with a small venue. Why is this? The aim of the likes of Toals bookmakers (who have a 7,600 square foot shop) is not to promote FOBTs, but to make the whole experience comfortable, welcoming, even homely. I think this is as important as innovation within the retail sphere, although the two are not mutually exclusive.

The linking of retail and online continues to grow, and this has benefits to both punter and retailer. The customer still has the option to remain anonymous, but if they do have an online account, it’s very beneficial to be able to withdraw hard cash from an online balance (see the likes of Coral Connect and PPCash cards). These cards also give special offers to the customer, almost as if they are VIP users. For the operator, they get the obvious benefit of acquisition and have a method to try and retain.”

Whichever view you take, both encourage a welcoming environment that puts the customer first and is underpinned by a crucial technology layer that enables fluidity between the online and retail betting experience.

Sue Yoxall, Executive Director, mkodo

Sept 2018

Sue is attending the Betting on Sports (BOS) event at London Olympia next week and would love to meet up if you are interested to discuss this, or any other elements of your user experience strategy, further. mkodo is co-sponsoring the official BOS party on Wednesday 19th Sept at Skyloft and we look forward to seeing you there. #bosweek

* ‘It is highly likely that the online gambling industry will continue to grow. It appears set to increase from the current 34% to 50% of the total British market by GGY over the next few years.’ https://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/PDF/Online-review-March-2018.pdf

About mkodo

mkodo designs and develops brilliant end-user experiences for betting, gaming, lottery and leisure operators. Founded in 2001, mkodo has created proven, award-winning gaming experiences for the customers of such premium brands as Mecca Bingo, Grosvenor Live Casino, Oddset (Danske Spil) PlayNow (British Columbia Lottery Corporation), and the Atlantic Lottery Corporation.

My work experience with mkodo...

Hannah Campbell talks about work experience at mkodo

I have been lucky enough to have had secured a short-term placement at mkodo, which has been a fun and productive experience, and one which I am extremely grateful for.

My initial expectation of being an intern was to do the daily coffee runs and run to the printer, however, working at mkodo was a pleasant surprise as I have been busy since my first day. Having the opportunity to undergo working at such an amazing and award-winning company, has made my involvement with mkodo personally worthwhile.

My time at mkodo has consisted of several different tasks, many of which I have learnt new and useful skills that will benefit me throughout the rest of my studies, and once I go into work after university. I have greatly developed my Photoshop skills, as well as learning how to use Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Premiere Pro. I have helped the design team working on logos, as well as designing for Instagram on Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop posts for their prospecting events such as Betting on Sports and Technology for Marketing. Helping mkodo work on their social media strategies has been one of my favourite tasks as I have thoroughly enjoyed creating the content that has been posted.

I have also been working close with the sales and marketing team, working on Salesforce CRM system, gathering data and arranging prospect meetings for Technology for Marketing, in conjunction with amalgamating this data on Excel spreadsheets.Before starting my internship, my perception of sales and marketing was that they were essentially the same thing, but with the help from the mkodo team, I am now able to differentiate the two! I have gone from knowing the bare minimum, to now having boosted my knowledge about the industry; thank you to the lovely mkodo team.

Another favourite task of mine was testing out the Mecca Bingo app, giving feedback to the design team about what I enjoyed and what I felt didn’t work, which was very entertaining.

Attending this year's Technology for Marketing conference has been an eye-opening experience as I was able to learn more about martech and digital marketing; meeting dedicated individuals to the martech industry. I was able to attend talks about content marketing and experience, customer engagement and marketing automation. Having the opportunity to talk to possible new clients has boosted my confidence and I now feel as if I am capable of talking to new people in a professional manner.

Working with mkodo has definitely been worthwhile. It has given me more knowledge about the industry and it has given me the chance to experience the day-to-day office life. I have learnt office amenities, professional ways to communicate with others; both team members and clients. All of this has been achievable due to the great support from the mkodo team! I would like to say a massive thank you for everyone who has helped me throughout my time here at mkodo, a strong and thriving company.

“At the end of your placement you will know, understand and be able to do more than you could before you started.”

Mindwinteret al, 2011

Hannah Campbell.

Citation : Midwinter, D and Whatmore. T (2011) Positive Placements, Making the Most of Your Educational Placement pp123-148

Engaging the millennial generation in national lottery play

Yesterday was interesting. It was my first chance to be in a room with the students of Teesside University who had been shortlisted to present their responses to our “innovate together” challenge.

The challenge was to help find a solution to an issue of engaging millennials with traditional national lotteries, whilst adhering to Responsible Gambling regulations and incorporating charitable beneficiaries. We wanted to explore the idea of bridging the widening gap and engage the younger generation.

Traditional national lotteries are seen to be a preferred game of choice for older generations of 55-64, where 87% of lottery tickets are still bought in stores. So how well would the students of Teesside University perform when presented with a real business challenge that the industry faces today?

The answer is extremely well. We heard four presentations, each offering a different perspective on the problem and different ideas as to how to create the solution.

They offered us research, statistics, well thought out and reasoned argument. Common themes emerged and every challenging question we posed them was addressed directly and efficiently.

I don’t know what I was expecting, but we got a concept that we can develop which I believe will provide the answer to this conundrum.

The winner will be announced next week, and a white paper will follow. I am really looking forward to showing you how we used the ideas what we’ve developed. #alwaysinnovation

Stacey Wilkins, marketing manager, mkodo

Operators should focus on where their experience lies

mkodo granted Associate Membership to World Lottery Association

London, 22nd May, 2019

Digital user experience expert mkodo has been granted an associate membership to the World Lottery Association (WLA) in recognition of its status as a respected supplier to the global lottery sector.

As a member of the WLA, mkodo agrees to uphold the highest standards and ethical principles set out by the association to advance the interest of its members.

The WLA is the international trade organisation of state-authorised lotteries and suppliers to the global lottery and gaming industry and currently has 148 Lottery Members and 73 Associate Members from more than 80 countries, spanning six continents.

mkodo has almost a decade of experience from providing its apps and digital user experiences and services to WLA member lotteries including Canada’s Atlantic Lottery Corporation and the British Columbia Lottery Corporation.

The WLA Executive Committee approved mkodo’s membership at the association’s most recent meeting in Naples, Italy on 9th of May.

Stuart Godfree, CEO and co-founder of mkodo, said: "We are thrilled to become a member of the WLA and to be recognised as a trusted partner to the global lottery sector.

"We look forward to working together with the association and its members and to share knowledge and experience to ensure that best practices and standards are upheld in the lottery industry."

mkodo will attend the 10th European Lottery Congress in Antwerp, Belgium between May 26th - 29th and will also be at La Fleur’s 2019 Montreal conference which will be held June 25th - 27th.

Introducing ‘Big Screen Gaming’

mkodo’s new customer engagement product for venues

Big Screen Gaming is a new and exciting mkodo product where the customer's mobile device is used as a remote control to play interactive games on large TV screens. If you have a venue, and one or more large screens, this product will help you drive footfall, customer engagement and additional sponsorship and advertising revenue.

Key Features

Customisation and multiple branding options

Minimal hardware requirements.

Can be used as a customer acquisition tool and to cross-promote other content

Fun and engaging for customers

If you would like to discuss this product in more detail or how it can be adapted to suit your requirements, please contact us at hello@mkodo.com

Keeping up to date with technology advancement

Interview with Sue Yoxall

Apple throws industry a bone in granting app compliance extension

Earlier this month, Apple pleasantly surprised the industry in announcing that it would allow existing real money applications in its iOS App Store an extra six months to comply with new restrictions on HTML5 games.

The update – contained in guideline 4.7 - spouted major concern for operators when it was announced in June, with doomsayers fearing that failure to comply with the original and somewhat unrealistic deadline of September 3rd would cause the casino sector’s very own AppExit.

Although those fears were somewhat overstated – existing apps would not have to prove compliance with the guideline until undergoing the next review - the extension has brought a huge sigh of relief. An allowance of six more months is a generous one and should provide enough time for operators to either embed content that has previously been sideloaded or build games into the native code. For now, the storm has calmed.

Apple also gave a welcome clarification in confirming that guideline 4.7 is not a wholesale prohibition on HTML5 games – the tech giant will accept this format as long those games are embedded in the application. Being able to bundle HTML5 content will significantly ease the burden on developers since casino apps will continue to offer numerous different games in a single application. Changes will have to be made to integration rather than the code, and the structure of games will have to be modified so that they are listed on the file system of a player’s phone. Compliance with the guideline, therefore, does not demand significant re-engineering of games.

The decision to give leeway no doubt comes after an intense lobbying effort from major brands and industry groups, but it demonstrates that the technology giant is willing to take concerns on board and offer clarity. Ultimately, the decision to narrow the guidelines was taken not – as many had assumed – as a direct attack on the industry, but rather to prevent fraud and abuse. There was a huge amount of consumer harm being committed by people putting out heavily HTML5-driven apps and then changing their nature once they were available on the App Store. It is not therefore surprising that Apple has urged developers to update their code urgently to crack down on this activity.

There are still an unlucky group to which the deadline extension will offer no respite. In complying with an earlier update to guideline 4.2 - which demands iOS applications offer more than a repackaged website - some operators have changed their code so drastically that Apple considers it a new application. As the extended deadline for guideline 4.7 only applies to existing apps and new applications must comply immediately, there have been instances of casino apps being removed from the App Store. The cost implications – not to mention the loss of marketing visibility – for these unfortunate few will likely be eye watering. Developers have also faced pushback against applications that try to imitate Apple’s own store: an application that tries to replicate or copy the App Store interface will too be rejected – it has to not only look but also behave significantly differently.

For most operators, however, the additional six months offers ample time to get their house in order. An olive branch has been extended by Apple and given its priority in fighting fraud and consumer harm developers should strive to update apps as soon as possible. It is rare that the technology giant allows for an extension and unlikely that a further delay will be granted. Those that continue to push ahead with compliance will be in a strong position come March next year.

Managing Director, Stuart Godfree, writes for EGR Technology - 23rd September, 2019

mkodo signs deal with Western Canada Lottery Corporation

Developer to provide WCLC with fully native application

London, 01 Oct 2019 – Award-winning digital product provider and WLA Associate Member mkodo has secured a deal with the Western Canada Lottery Corporation (WCLC) to develop a fully native application for both iOS and Android systems.

The supplier's user experience and internal teams will lead development of the app, which will include a host of innovative features to take WCLC’s mobile channel to the next level.

Users will be able to check if they're a winner with the ticket scanner, as well as view recent results, find their nearest retailer and keep updated with upcoming draws and jackpots via push notifications.

The app will also help support WCLC’s digital strategy of looking to bridge the gap between retail environments and the digital channel by allowing customers to add lottery tickets to their online cart and purchase the cart in a retail store.

The application, planned to launch next year, will be available in all WCLC markets including Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, in addition to Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut.

The deal builds on mkodo's strong presence in Canada, where it is now developing mobile apps for four Provincial lottery groups.

The company was recently granted Associate Membership to the World Lottery Association, underlining mkodo's extensive experience in the global lottery sector.

Stuart Godfree, Managing Director at mkodo, said: "Partnering with another Canadian lottery is a great achievement for us and emphasises our knowledge of and success within the Canadian market.

"We have a proven record of delivering applications for lottery operators that tick the boxes in customer expectations and provide add-on functionalities that drive revenue for our partners."

Brad Wiebe, Vice President of Marketing at WCLC, said: "We're thrilled to be working with mkodo to enhance our mobile application and have full confidence that through this collaboration we will transform the way we interact with our customers.

"mkodo has built a solid reputation in the Canadian market through its unrivalled expertise. The finished product will undoubtedly be a huge hit with both existing players and new audiences."

Mecca Bingo Wins EGR Mobile Product of the Year

mkodo client The Rank Group win 'Mobile Bingo Product' 2019 with our Mecca Bingo product!

mkodo granted European Lottery Association membership

London, 29 October 2019 – Award-winning app and digital products provider mkodo has been granted an Associate Membership to the European Lottery Association (ELA), underlining its position as a highly reputable technology provider to the lottery sector.

The ELA’s mission is to promote a sustainable gaming model for the benefit of society and advance the collective interests of its membership, which consists of over 100 national lotteries and their suppliers.

Membership, which has been approved by ELA’s Executive Committee Members, is expected to be fully ratified by their General Assembly in June 2020.

The ELA membership further cements mkodo’s status as a respected provider to the global lottery sector following its Associate Membership to the World Lottery Association (WLA) earlier this year.

Stuart Godfree, Managing Director and Co-Founder of mkodo, said: “This is great news for mkodo as it further strengthens our position as one of the premier suppliers within this sector and we’re very proud of the work we do within the lottery industry.

“We look forward to working together with the ELA and its members to help establish and develop industry best practices, as well as share ideas on the opportunities and challenges in the evolving lottery technology sector.”

has over a decade of experience in working with lotteries as well as betting and gaming clients, including ELA and WLA members Danske Spil, the Atlantic Lottery Corporation, British Columbia Lottery Corporation and Western Canada Lottery Corporation.

The ELA was founded in 1983 and currently has 76 Lottery Members and 34 Associate Members across several countries in Europe.

Acquisition of mkodo by Pollard Banknote

Award-winning app and digital product provider, and WLA Associate Member, mkodo today announces that it has entered into a binding agreement to be acquired by Pollard Banknote Limited (“Pollard Banknote”).

Pollard Banknote is a leading lottery partner to more than 60 lotteries worldwide, providing high quality instant ticket products, licensed games, Schafer Systems and Fastrak retail merchandising solutions, and a full suite of digital offerings, ranging from game apps to comprehensive player engagement and iLottery solutions, including strategic marketing and management services.

mkodo co-founders and majority shareholders, Stuart Godfree and Sue Yoxall, had the following comments:

Stuart Godfree said: “We are excited to join the team at Pollard and look forward to expanding our reach in the gaming world in collaboration with our new colleagues. Not only do we see a great cultural fit with the two organizations but joining the leading lottery partner will allow mkodo to take the next step in its ongoing evolution as the foremost supplier of mobile lottery solutions in the world.”

Sue Yoxall added: “We have grown mkodo organically over the past 18 years into a market leading technology player in the betting, gaming and lottery sectors. Pollard Banknote is an excellent fit with mkodo at this stage in our development – having the longevity of experience, excellence in product range, and an understanding of the value their team members and partnership relations. We believe that together we will be able to leverage our complementary capabilities to bring innovative and exciting digital products and apps to the global lottery industry.”

“We are very excited to have the talented mkodo team join Pollard and we look forward to bringing their proven gaming focused technology and vast experience to the lottery industry and other markets”, stated Doug Pollard, Co-Chief Executive Officer, Pollard Banknote. “Working alongside our existing lottery resources within Pollard, we will be able to expand mkodo’s reach into some of the leading lotteries worldwide. At this current time of heightened digital focus and rapid development within lotteries and gaming organizations, being able to bring to our current and future customers the technological and customer facing expertise of mkodo is a game changer. Particularly in light of ongoing regulatory changes in app requirements, mkodo and Pollard now stand ready to lead the lottery and gaming industry to first in class solutions in the mobile environment.”

Pollard Banknote will pay an initial purchase price of £7.8 million prior to standard working capital adjustments plus further potential earn-out payments based on mkodo meeting future EBITDA targets. Completion of the transaction is subject to certain regulatory and third-party approvals.

Digital Strategy: PWA or Native App?

Progressive Web Applications (PWAs) vs Native Apps: As Featured in EGR Technology on 2nd April 2020

The challenges in building a betting and gaming application for the long-term are intensifying. Tightening compliance requirements and tougher enforcement of app store guidelines are forcing developers to jump through more hoops than ever before when building an app for iOS and Android. The ever-evolving requirements have changed the status quo in how gambling firms deliver content, presenting the industry with an interesting dilemma: to rely on a cross-platform web-based strategy or take the plunge on going native.

When Apple stepped up the enforcement of its guidelines to reject non-native applications from its App Store and restrict distribution of HTML5 ‘real-money’ games, the industry was dealt a double blow. For those casinos that had built their apps as repackaged versions of Single Page Applications (SPAs) or Progressive Web Applications (PWAs), the updates required complete re-engineering of their product in order to pass Apple’s review process. Operators then needed to find a way to either embed content that had previously been sideloaded or build games into the native code to comply with the real-money game restrictions.

The guideline updates have had an interesting impact on how operators strategise app development. Of those left scrambling to comply, many have recognised the benefit in aligning more closely with Apple’s way of working in order to maintain their position in the promotion engine that is the App Store. However, having avoided the mammoth compliance headache and re-engineering effort, there is also a feeling of vindication among the handful of operators that have historically opted to avoid the app store and rely solely on PWAs.

But does that make a web-based strategy more viable? A PWA is at its core a website that is designed to look and feel like an app for better engagement. The benefits are wide ranging, with users able to install web applications to their home screen and even receive push notifications on Android devices. They also work offline using cached data, giving users the ability to access information without being connected to the internet. Built with modern JavaScript frameworks, PWAs are written with a single, responsive code that works across operating systems, meaning businesses save considerable amounts in development and maintenance costs. There is also significant advantage in developing a PWA in markets where internet connectivity and smartphone penetration is limited as the apps are built to react intelligently to low processing power and poor network connection.

The trade off

Despite the list of pros, deciding whether a PWA strategy is right for your business needs careful consideration of your target market and user base, as well as the features required to provide the best user experience. In comparison to a responsive website, PWAs win every time because they offer improved functionality and result in greater user retention. They are more reliable, respond quickly to interactions and give users a more immersive and engaging experience. However, the comparison with native applications is not as straightforward.

Although the cross-platform functionality of PWAs provides greater cost efficiency and gains in speed to market, the user experience is limited due to the scope of features supported. Progressive applications do not have access to key functions such as a device’s Near Field Communication, camera or geofencing components, for example, and not all devices support the full range of features available. PWAs are also subject to background service limitations for mobile because of drainage issues in the device’s storage, data and power, while speed and responsiveness are far greater with native.

Then there is the issue of security. Without access to FaceID and biometric authentication capabilities, PWAs are likely to be less secure than a native counterpart unless they have solid browser-to-server encryption – a prominent point considering the mounting regulatory pressures on gambling firms around player protection. Native applications, meanwhile, can build-in multi-factor authentication to add an extra layer of security both for the user and the operator. Another consideration here is a PWA does not provide the features “baked in” to a touchscreen device such as sight or hand control that are critical to accessibility.

The discoverability factor should also not be overlooked. A progressive web app will provide visibility through web search SEO, but the increase in traffic and brand exposure gained through featuring in the App Store is comparably higher. Given the strict approval and review processes of Apple and Android, native applications also gain a pseudo-certification that increases user trust in your business.

Ultimately, it comes down to time and budget constraints. The real benefit of a PWA strategy lies in the speed and cost efficiency of bringing an app to market. For a start-up looking to launch a minimum viable product, or a small business that can’t afford to build a native application, a progressive web app provides a quick and cost-efficient option. However, for those with the time and money to invest, native applications provide much more room to create a product that not only delivers enhanced engagement, but also allows you to differentiate from the competition through a feature-rich, secure user experience.

Stuart Godfree has worked in the wireless solutions industry since 1997; the app development space since 2003 (Symbian) and with Apple and Android technologies since 2008 and 2010 respectively. He co-founded mkodo in 2001 to build innovative and engaging mobile solutions, both of high quality and user-centric in nature.

Achieving sportsbook and casino differentiation through UX

Will Whitehead

Consultancy Case Study: Tipico

Business Challenge: Tipico, a leading international sports betting operator, were looking to ensure their iOS native apps illustrate best-in-breed design, particularly in light of latest Apple’s App Store Submission Guidelines.

Solution: Tipico reached out to mkodo, as acknowledged experts in native app design and development with significant experience with Apple’s App Store submission processes, to commission a consultancy package for an expert review.

Process: The Tipico and mkodo team members agreed the scope of the review, collaborated remotely to deep-dive into the app design, UX and code. Following this workshop, the mkodo team sent over a report with recommendations that the Tipico team have taken into their implementation roadmap.

“We have found it extremely useful to work collaboratively with the mkodo team to ensure we maintain a best in breed native iOS app for our customers. We were able to inject their expertise into our software development cycle in a timely and fluid manner and we look forward to working together again in the future.” -- Albrecht Senden, CTO, Tipico

Sportsbook Case Study: Danske Spil

Our partnership with mkodo has from day one, been very productive and progressive. The entire mkodo staff surely knows their stuff and have a very good way of implementing new improvements and product development. Their natural, innovative, style is one of their true trademarks."

Frederik Skov | Product Manager Oddset & Tips | Danske Spil

The Challenge

In 2013 Danske Spil were finding increasing numbers of customers using their mobile devices to place bets on their web sportsbook and were looking for a solution to improve the user experience. mkodo teamed up with Platform Provider OpenBet (now SG Digital) to start designing and building a market leading lottery operator mobile sportsbook for Danske Spil. This was made more challenging as the mobile product needed to be live within 5 months, by the start of the 2013/14 football season kick-off.

The Approach

Following a set of UI/UX workshops led by mkodo, it was agreed that the best way forward was to design and build the webapp from scratch and focus on a mobile-first, fully bespoke user-experience. This would enable a much smoother and optimised range of customer journeys and ensure ease and speed for customers to find a bet and place a bet. The designs were signed off and the product was developed using an agile approach with daily communication between the teams in each sprint. To meet the tight deadlines, a core product was agreed, focusing on the key functionality of multiple sports, events and markets display plus a fully functioning betslip. In parallel, the mkodo product team built a long term roadmap of features to follow launch, looking at features such as cashout, streaming and two-touch betting

Results

The full range of live markets and betting opportunities were available to customers using the Oddset webapp from day one and the product has exceeded expectations at every stage and continues to be the most successful digital sportsbook channel that Danske Spil offer.

The mkodo team’s sportsbook industry knowledge, coupled with our market-leading mobile developing capabilities, mean that we have been well placed to suggest innovative UI/UX enhancements for the Oddset webapp for the past 7 years. We have worked collaboratively over the years on a continuous stream of development, offering consultancy, competitor analysis and innovation workshops that have ensured that we can quickly implement new features such as two-touch betting, cashout and retail integration.

Homepage - Quick Bet

Ticket Builder

Betslip

eSports - Bespoke View

Homepage

Android 11's Best New Features

Khoovi, Engineering Manager at mkodo looks at the most interesting new features in Android 11

Khoovi Seewoonauth, Engineering Manager at mkodo, gives his insight into the most interesting features that will be available on Android 11 that is due to be released in October 2020, initially on Google Pixel phones then across devices into 2021.

Android 11's most interesting features are:

Scheduled dark theme

You can either set a custom time or have Android shift between dark and light mode based on sunrise/sunset times in your time zone.

Chat Head bubbles

Most Android users have used the Chat Head bubbles found in Facebook's Messenger app. Many hardcore Android users have known about the possibility of such a feature creeping its way into other applications, and that time has finally come.

With Android 11, the bubbles feature will make its way to mass rollout.

One-time permission

In Google's quest to perfect Android security and privacy, the company will release a new option in the platform's permission system. In Android 10, you have the option to grant an app two different permissions for location access: While Using The App or Deny. In Android 11, a new permission will appear: Only This Time.

Screen recording

In order to capture screen recordings on Android, I've had to use a third-party tool like AZ Screen Recorder; with the release of Android 11, that app may no longer be necessary.

Airdrop-style file sharing

One of the most highly anticipated features to come to Android in some time is a take on iOS's Airdrop, called Fast Share (or possibly Nearby Sharing). This new addition was confirmed in the Android 11 Developers release notes which also indicates some of the issues the developers are currently having with the feature. When it is fixed, Fast Share will make it incredibly easy to share files between Android devices.

New APIs

There are two important API additions coming to Android 11. The first is the 5G state API, which will make it possible for Android to see if a user is currently on a 5G network. This API will make it such that developers can activate certain experiences available to the platform when on the faster, next-gen network.

Another new API is focused on foldable devices. With this, the API can read data from a hinge-angle sensor such that apps will be able to adapt to the angle of the device hinge.

Please contact your mkodo account manager to discuss how these features can enhance your Android app.

If you are new to mkodo, please contact us on hello@mkodo.com or +442077294545 to discuss how we can support you with your digital strategy and product set.

Lina Sennevall, Account Director at Square In The Air:

What I learned from the first session in mkodo's expert webinar series: Everyone Can Play, Everyone Can Play Safely - Designing Digital Products for Accessibility and Responsible Gaming

Working with mkodo for the last year and a half I have picked up a thing or two about the technical side of creating and designing digital products and apps for the gaming industry.

It’s not always easy, mind, as it’s a world full of acronyms and terms that could as well be a foreign language to me (I’m talking PWA vs native, Xamarin Forms, Apple guidelines 4.2 and 4.7 - you see what I mean). But I have always found it helpful to talk through complex issues with the mkodo team and after every conversation I find myself walking away with new knowledge and an understanding of topics I didn’t think I would ever grasp.

For those of you that also joined mkodo’s first Webinar, you’ll know exactly what I mean. The team - creative Director, Tom Atfield, and Associate Director Will Whitehead - shared their knowledge to the lottery industry on how to design digital products for accessibility and responsible gaming. The topic was completely new to me, but here’s what I learned.

First off, a significant number of people are affected by different impairments or reading and learning difficulties that could make it harder for them to access and use different products. For example, in the UK, 22 percent (!) of the population has some kind of disability which companies could potentially be isolating by not ensuring their websites are accessible.

In the gaming sector specifically, I wasn’t previously aware that WLA member lotteries are expected and required by Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) to provide equal access to people with disabilities and to ensure that their digital offering is as inclusive as possible. There are best practices in the design, development and upkeep of their products which seam incredibly complex and a minefield to navigate if not properly considered from the start.

According to the mkodo experts, accessibility elements should be included early on in the development process to avoid future headaches further down the factory line (and save you an estimated 40 percent in costs!). As an added bonus, ensuring inclusivity features are central to a digital product’s design can help increase your company’s SEO rating and brand reputation – both of which are necessities in today’s digital world.

Tom and Will explained that there are a lot of different design and usability elements to consider, from the colour scale and navigation tools to the font size and voice over options, that could all help customers with certain needs. They all contribute to the user experience, too, which is really the key to achieving inclusivity.

An easy registration process, for example, should not be underestimated. It may seem simple, but the mkodo team emphasised that people often drop off if this is process it to clunky or difficult. Following this step with a clear navigation structure and concise information will help build trust with customers through equality and transparency.

I was especially interested when the conversation turned to Responsible Gaming (RG) - a topic we read and hear about every day as industry insiders. mkodo’s webinar touched on the issue from a slightly different angle, looking at the best practices to make RG tools easy to find and understand, as well as how to design personalisation into RG, prompting action to keep players safe.

The webinar highlighted that RG should not be a barrier to play but a facilitator to play safe – a point which I’m sure resonated with most of the audiences. To best support users from the front-end of digital products, lotteries should again include RG mechanisms from the start of the customer journey. Data visualisation and presentation could help players better understand their behaviour and positive messaging should be used instead of negative warnings to encourage the use of RG tools. Operators can leverage player data to help personalise RG tools and better engage players, too.

For those that missed it, I would highly recommend catching up on the webinar on demand. Not only did I find it very educational, particularly as an audience member that is new to the discussion, but it was refreshing to find out more about a topic that seems to rarely be addressed in the industry. Improving accessibility is such an important part of how we advance as a sector and will ensure that lottery products can be enjoyed safely by all.

I look forward to the next webinar.

If you would like to listen to this webinar, please contact us at hello@mkodo.com

Bridging the gap between retail and digital.

Software Engineer Kai talks life as a developer at mkodo - 1 year on

They say time flies when you are having fun; as my 1-year anniversary of joining mkodo draws near, I thought it would be nice to reflect on the experience so far.

What first struck me about mkodo was the interview process; it is more robust than that of previous employers, with several stages including practical exercises. As my main face to face interview approached I was feeling a little nervous. Upon arrival however, I was made to feel relaxed and very welcome. A big surprise came when I answered the question “have you done TDD?”. Answering “No”, the response was “we appreciate your honesty, don’t worry we’ll show you”. We did a kata-style TDD exercise which we must have enjoyed as the afternoon overran! I like the interview style; it’s structured to gently explore the candidate’s talent, while having fun along the way.

My first day soon arrived and I was made to feel very welcome; the difference in the culture to that of larger, more corporate organisations was clear. Being a little older than many of the ‘mkodians’ I feared I may not fit in. I couldn’t have been more wrong; the people are indeed very friendly and throughout the day would check to see that I was OK. I duly accepted the offer of after work drinks for some great banter, and very little talking ‘shop’.

I was surprised to be offered work with the iOS team, given I’d no prior experience in Swift. I was soon provided with a solid training plan comprising of reading, watching videos, coding exercises and pairing. I really enjoyed the pair programming; a great way to learn and meet the team.

I’ve so far worked on 3 iOS projects, gaining good experience on most layers of the apps. I’ve learnt so much and I owe a lot of this to the support of my colleagues. I’ve been bowled over at how supportive the mkodo culture is. I’m now fortunate to be able to pass on some of this knowledge to others. What really stands out is mkodo’s clean code culture. TDD and other ‘clean’ practices are commonplace and actively encouraged. It’s refreshing to see such tools taken beyond the text book.

Daily life at mkodo is far from dull. mkodo has a talented team who are encouraged to grow; there is often someone giving a tech. talk or attending a meet-up. mkodo welcomes a diverse culture and recognises that everyone has something to add. We work together, as a team rather than in traditional silos. I work alongside QA, BAs and PMs meaning I spend less time chasing people and more time building cool stuff. It’s not all about work though, mkodians are a social bunch and events such as badminton, rock-climbing, karting or just good old-fashioned drinks are common.

Covid-19 means life is very different but mkodo continues to care for the team. Regular check-ins, targeted support and Friday (virtual) social drinks all play their part. Working from home is a challenge for some, but the mkodo team spirit is still very strong. This is perhaps driven by the promise of a big mkodo party when we arrive at the new normal.

Apple announce iOS14

First streamed WWDC announces big changes to Apple's operating systems.

The Importance of Accessible RG Tools

Creative Director of mkodo, Tom Atfield talks about Responsible Gambling with accessible design.

Tom Atfield, Creative Director, mkodo

The importance of underpinning RG with accessible design

See the article on EGR Global here

Ensuring safe play (Responsible Gambling - RG) is a pillar in the everyday operations of all companies in the betting and gaming sector, and rightly so. We often hear about the different tools and mechanics available to support players in controlling their gaming habits but what’s equally important is how accessible they are to the user.

Accessibility is crucial for the average player, but even more so for those affected by different impairments that could make it harder for them to access and use different products, including RG tools. When you consider that in the UK alone, 22 percent of the population has some kind of disability, companies could potentially be isolating a significant number of people by not ensuring their websites and apps are fully accessible.

When designing and developing digital gaming products, RG mechanisms should be included from the start of the user journey and throughout to mitigate gambling harm and to best support users through their experience from a front-end point of view. This includes pushing RG presence on the home page, through the registration process and when depositing funds etc. This normalises RG tools from the get-go and will help avoid annoyance once mandatory or voluntarily limits are reached.

Once a player is active, it should be easy for users to access their own data, presented in a simple, relatable and understandable format. Only presenting myriad numbers is not enough. Data visualisations with appropriate colours, icons and text that is indicative of the nature of the behaviour helps the user better understand how they are playing. There are different metrics that can be used to further help users recognise their gaming behaviour such as the volume of bets staked, the combined amount of deposits and the profit vs loss over time. These visualisations should be simple and uncomplicated. We have seen great examples of this in other sectors, such as banking, were basic graphs can show consumers how much money they have spent within any time period which can be compared with earlier expenditure.

Furthermore, positive play messages should be used over negative warnings. Negative RG messaging can be seen as criticism of a player’s behaviour and will therefore be ignored while a positive message is proven to be more effective at encouraging change in behaviour.

One great example of clear and consistent design for RG tools can be found in Rank Group’s Mecca Bingo native app. The Mecca team has introduced an easily accessible RG tool menu where players can instantly see what options are available to help them play safely. Not only does this protect players through the RG mechanisms themselves, but the transparency inherent in the design also heightens trust in both brand and product which leads to greater user retention. RG tools can also be made more fun with some operators now offering layers of gamification in their apps by introducing tasks, goals and competitions to track users’ progress around RG. This unique approach has successfully carved out an entertaining yet informative way to not only protect players through responsible gambling mechanisms, but engage them also.

RG tools should not be a barrier to play but a facilitator of safe play. While RG is at the forefront of all serious operators’ minds, we as an industry still have a lot of work to do. The boundaries need to be constantly pushed and evolved in this crucial area. Improving accessibility and normalising RG tools is such an important part of how we advance as a sector and will ensure that gaming products can be enjoyed safely by all.

mkodo Team Quiz

Here’s some of the mkodo team’s ‘offsite’ quizzes for your entertainment. Have fun!

Every year we usually get everyone from our London and Newcastle offices together for a joint office offsite. This year we had planned a Murder Mystery on location. Not to be!

The spirit of this mkodo team is, however, irrepressible. Everyone embraced the online version – murder at a 20’s speakeasy, quizzes prepared by the team and pizza. We’d like to share a couple of the fun activities with you.

First Creative Director, Tom’s ‘Find the Film’ quiz featuring mkodo team members in the clues. There are 15 film titles to find in this picture. It’s worth knowing we have team members called Ryan and Charlie who feature!

For the answers to this quiz, and Catchphrase fun - Click Here

Hello

mkodo fun Quiz Answers

Catchphrase

Associate Director - Will's 'Catchphrase' Quiz was very well received and gave his dog some well deserved fame

For those unfamiliar with Catchphrase, below are 4 videos all showing a well known phrase

As they used to say on the TV quiz of the same name, say what you see!

We won't be giving answers to these, but if you're really stuck, Tweet us @mkodo using hashtag #telluswill and we'll get back to you with some clues

Good Luck!

Film Quiz Answers

Here are the answers to the film quiz, hope you has as much fun with them as we did

The Pandemics Effect on iLottery

Good Cause Case Study: RNLI

Royal National Lifeboat Institute - SMS Campaign

The Challenge

In 2008 the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), the charity that saves lives at sea, was looking for new fundraising ideas and exploring different methods of communicating with their supporters. They were also interested in looking at innovative ways to generate money for the charity.

The Solution

mkodo was successfully running SMS marketing campaigns for commercial clients and seeing high volumes of customer engagement via this channel. mkodo’s Managing Director Stuart Godfree, a long-term supporter of RNLI, approached the charity with a suggestion to trial the use of premium rate SMS micro-donations for RNLI supporters. RNLI loved the idea and wanted to tie this into their launch alerts service which was at time being used to send messages to pagers when lifeboats launched.

mkodo built a microsite which was hosted on the RNLI website to enable customers to register for the service. Supporters were able to select which lifeboat stations they were interested in and set a limit on the number of texts received per week. The RNLI launch alerts API was integrated into mkodo’s platform and a premium rate SMS billing route enabled. When a lifeboat launched in an area that a supporter had signed up to, a 25p SMS was set up to be sent from mkodo’s mCloud platform to the supporter and the revenue generated sent to the RNLI.

The Results

RNLI’s SMS launch alerts service has now been running for over 10 years. Over this time the supporter base has grown and with a very low customer unsubscribe rate this generates a significant amount of revenue for the RNLI. Feedback for the service has been overwhelmingly positive with supporters particularly liking the fact that their texts not only help support the charity financially but also directly links their contribution to one of the RNLI’s key functions.

Quote

“We have found that the mobile channel via mkodo works well for a variety of awareness raising and supporter activities.” Communications Manager, RNLI

Sign up at:

https://rnli.org/what-we-do/lifeboats-and-stations/latest-lifeboat-launches/lifeboat-launch-alerts

Why add a native app to your digital channel offering? Why now?

Sue Yoxall, Executive Director – mkodo, offers her view.

Recent months have highlighted to all the importance and viability of the mobile channel and rewarded those that have had the early foresight to act on their digital strategy.

For those of our clients that have got this ‘first base’ of a responsive website in place, we are detailing the advantages of swiftly shoring up digital channel usage by offering native apps.

Why native apps? Why now?

All Digital Natives (‘millennials’ onwards) expect to be able to download an app related to the brands with which they engage.

In the post COVID world, this now also applies to a much broader range of generations who, through necessity, now realise that engaging with brands via digital products can be much more convenient.

There will, of course, be a ‘landgrab’ for space on the customers’ phones and tablets – there may be a limit to the amount of apps people are willing to download so getting in early with a good quality product is important.

Speed to market is also important from the perspective of acquiring and retaining players for your offering rather than the many other forms of digital entertainment available.

Having both a responsive website and native apps available for download will ensure you gain the broadest audience of those that wish to ‘play online’.

Looking at native apps in particular, they give you the following unique enhancements to your digital strategy:

Feature	Why it matters?
Discoverability in app stores and player expectation	Players who want an app will expect to find it in app store. If they don’t find one, this has a negative impact on the brand. Those searching for gaming entertainment options in store will also find your offering.
Biometrics (Face ID, Fingerprint ID)	Login using biometrics makes the user experience so much easier and brings players the comfort that the product is secure and, therefore, trustworthy.
Native Device location	The accuracy of geo-location is particularly important in regulated markets where play can only take place within particular boundaries - additional location data available from the device assists this accuracy.
App Push Notifications	Push notifications are a superb player engagement tool, including ‘rich push’ where you can send customers pictures, links, videos etc. Use of notifications on apps is accepted practice by customers.
Use of Camera	Use of the native camera is essential for features such as ticket scanner/checker. The browser-based web technology for this is very limited.
Native UX features / Enhanced UX/UI	Swipe to dismiss, swipe as a Call To Action – customers are very ‘app-savy’ these days and expect their products to have this level of navigation. Apps are much more feature rich and allow for a greater level of navigation and animation. Web technology is more limited in this area.
Offline usage and messaging	Players can still access apps whilst offline (e.g. in a tunnel, on a plane etc.) which enables broader levels of engagement.
Haptics	Making use of nice features such as haptics renders the player experience more enjoyable and is useful for accessibility.
Apple Pay/Google Pay	Use of native pay features assists removes barrier to purchase
Apple Wallet/Google Wallet	Use of native wallet features assists with enhanced digital – retail integration.
Increased performance	Apps are quicker than web which is one reason a player may prefer to use an app. More data be cached in an app which means the speed of data load is quicker.
Brand visibility and loyalty	Having the app icon on the homescreen is a powerful retention and loyalty feature, particularly if badges are used for relevant notifications.
Innovative technology	There is constant innovation happening at the device companies – this, in turn, drives innovation with your products.
Widgets (improved with iOS14)	It is possible to put jackpot widgets, for example, on the players’ app homescreens, this presents a fantastic marketing opportunity.

The following statistics, taken from a variety of sources*, further cement why having a native app is important in order to maximise contributions from the digital channel to good causes.

20% of shopping carts are abandoned on apps. Up to 90% of shopping carts are abandoned on browser.

50% greater chance that an app user will return to store within 30 days

Customers shopping in apps spend twice as much as those who shop on desktop or mobile sites

Customers spend 3 to 4 times longer in apps than on desktop or mobile sites

78% of users would rather access a store via mobile app instead of mobile site

Total global app usage time increased by 50% [between 2016 and 2018] from around 900 billion to 1350 billion hours.

53% of smartphone users buy from company-specific apps

35% of US consumers use only their mobile device to buy online

Having worked with World Lottery Association members and regulated gaming companies since 2010 on their lottery, sportsbook and casino apps, mkodo is expert in the design, development and enhancement of native apps.

We would like to bring this expertise to support you with delivering a timely and excellent app experience to your audience. Please contact me via LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/sue-yoxall-31b6a7/ or hello@mkodo.com or +44207729 4545 to discuss.

*including https://www.businessofapps.com/ and https://buildfire.com/mobile-ecommerce-stattistics-data/

Tamara Dobson talks about mkodo’s work with Good Causes

At mkodo, we love working with the national and state lotteries sector that contributes over $86bn per year to good causes.

mkodo were early innovators in the use of mobile phone channel as a means to contribute directly to good causes when we set up the regular-giving micro-donation SMS service for the Royal National Lifeboats institution (RNLI) in 2008.

The mkodo team is full of people who enjoy sea based sports - we have surfers, wakeboarders, wild water swimmers, triathletes, divers and our MD is a master yachtsman who has raced across both the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans! - so supporting this charity is welcome work. Every time a lifeboat is launched from their chosen stations, supporters are sent an SMS charged at 25p with the proceeds going directly to the charity. Users like the fact that as well donating to the charity they are also getting regular updates about lifeboat launches and the work of the charity.

For more details, and a chance to sign up to the service, go to https://rnli.org/what-we-do/lifeboats-and-stations/latest-lifeboat-launches/lifeboat-launch-alerts

We appreciate your support.

Lottery Case Study: BCLC

“Mobile is a key part of our customer experience, and our app is an innovative way to connect and engage with them. mkodo provided us the insights we needed to deliver a great mobile experience!"

Cameron Adams | VP Digital and Enterprise Services | British Columbia Lottery Corporation

“This app is the bee's knees!” App Store review, June 2020

The Challenge

mkodo first started working with Canadian lottery provider British Columbian Lottery Corporation (BCLC) in 2012, developing out mobile lottery, casino and sportsbook products for their trusted PlayNow brand. In 2017, we designed and developed BCLC‘s first ever, flagship native lottery app for iOS and Android devices. The app allowed customers to scan the barcode on the lottery tickets to check for winning numbers and provided information on upcoming and previous draws. The app was well received by customers with very positive store reviews and customer feedback. Following this success BCLC appointed mkodo to design and develop their fully transactional native iOS and Android lottery app, with integration to the associated Player Account Management (PAM) system.

The Approach

mkodo successfully maintained the existing app whilst establishing a second dedicated team to work exclusively on the new project.

mkodo’s UX/UI team worked collaboratively with BCLC to create a fresh design using native design guidelines, such as the iOS Human Interface Guidelines, and leveraging native functionality that the handsets offer, such as haptic feedback, micro-animations and native gestures, whilst putting intuitive navigation at the centre of the product.

mkodo integrated into platform provider, Scientific Games’ APIs to deliver the PAM, wallet and transactional features, with the front-end ensuring that these key account and purchase user-journeys were as seamless as possible.

Results

The transactional native iOS and Android lottery apps went live in July 2019 with registration, log in, deposit, withdrawal and ticket purchase for regional and national draws, ticket scanning and winning numbers information.

The feedback from customers has been overwhelmingly positive with large numbers of customers downloading and using the app and high customer review ratings. As of today (July 2020), the rating stands at 4.6 out of 5 after 35,200 reviews.

BCLC and mkodo continue to improve the app, submitting new updates every 6-8 weeks. The product roadmap focuses on innovative, value adding features for the customer and on ensuring that playing the lottery on app, is as easy, fun and engaging as possible.

Scan your ticket

See if you've won

Check winning numbers

The Future of Lottery Looks Bright with BCLC’s Lotto! app

-Stewart Groumoutis, Director, eGaming Operations, BCLC

BCLC is a provincial Crown corporation based in British Columbia, Canada, which partners with mkodo to offer socially responsible, regulated digital lottery entertainment through the BCLC Lotto! app. The organization also offers lottery products through more than 3,500 lottery retailers and is responsible for gambling entertainment at casinos and community gaming centres and on PlayNow.com.

The Province of B.C. founded BCLC 35 years ago with the purpose of giving back to British Columbians. Since then, the organization has delivered more than $23 billion to communities, provincial programs and services, charities and major events through the revenue earned from lottery and casino gambling. In fiscal year 2018/19, for instance, BCLC contributed $1.4 billion in net revenue back to the Province of B.C.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, temporary store closures and physical-distancing requirements have highlighted the importance and convenience of BCLC’s digital lottery products. Since the onset of the pandemic, ticket scans on the Lotto! app have increased by 38 per cent as compared to the same period last year. The Lotto! app is on track to surpass one million downloads in 2020 and so far this year has attained triple-digit, year-over-year sales growth.

Government in B.C. earmarks lottery revenue for provincial and federal services, such as public health and education, especially important now as B.C. and Canada grapple with the new health, social and economic implications resulting from the pandemic.

In addition to supporting health care and education across B.C., the Provincial government allocates $140 million of gambling revenue annually for its Community Gaming Grants program. Community Gaming Grants help support 5,000 community organizations that deliver arts and culture, sport, environment, public safety, human and social services.

BCLC shares in this provincial commitment to supporting communities, and has a proud tradition of supporting community celebrations dating back to Expo ’86, the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, and 2015 Canada Winter Games. Recently, BCLC was an official partner of the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship hosted in Vancouver and Victoria from December 26, 2018 – January 5, 2019.

Offering players a convenient and fun-to-use digital purchase experience is a priority for BCLC. A key part of our corporate strategy is looking at how to better align our bricks & mortar purchase experience for players with our online offerings. As highlighted by COVID-19, online/app product availability and ease of purchase are of paramount importance to the future of many industries, including lottery.

For more information about mkodo's work with BCLC, click here

iOS 14 is on the horizon: what’s new?

For everyone out there with an iOS App in Store or in the planning, we have a series of articles coming out over the weeks building up to the latest OS upgrade (iOS14) that offer insight into what you need to know.

The key areas to consider are:

Widgets – improve the experience for your customers by single touch access to core App functions and information on their homescreen.

App Clips – make life easier for customers by enabling access to core functions without downloading the App.

Privacy – by enabling users to alter the accuracy of their location and to switch off availability of certain analytics data, the user has more control. It is important to understand how these changes will affect key business processes for your team.

Watch this space for weekly in-depth updates on these topics – or contact us (hello@mkodo.com) if you’d like to set up an immediate conversation on how we can support your team navigate what’s important for your App with this upgrade.

iOS 14 Insights

Opinion by Tris, Head of iOS, mkodo

This article was first published on EGR on 14 August 2020 : https://egr.global/technology/opinion/developer-insight-the-good-the-bad-and-the-privacy-of-ios-14/

With the release of Apple’s iOS 14 coming soon, Tristram Bates, engineering manager at mkodo, unpacks the update’s biggest changes and considers how these new developments will impact betting and gaming companies

It has been a challenging year for iGaming operators following Apple’s changes to real-money gaming guidelines.Industry developers waited with bated breath for the June unveiling of iOS14. To no surprise, the system upgrade, previewed at the virtual World Wide Developers Conference (WWDC), includes changes that will have major consequences for betting and gaming operators as Apple has made strong moves to improve privacy and enforce its dominance in the tech space.

To start with the positives, iOS14 has focused on improving the design and layout for a superior user experience on iPhones. It has introduced the biggest changes to the home screen yet with redesigned widgets that finally match the functionality offered by Android. iPhone users could previously access widgets by swiping left to the Today view, but now they can drag and drop them to the home screen, making it easier to instantly access certain features and information without launching the application.

By putting widgets front and centre, developers can now significantly improve an app’s usability and navigation. Take a live casino application as an example: players can tap the widget to see the next start time for one of their favourite rooms, or when a friend comes online, without leaving the device home screen. Meanwhile, a sports betting app could instantly display a user’s balance, winnings or how many VIP points they have with a single touch. Before the update, communicating this information was only possible through notifications.

Another headline front-end advancement is App Clip. The new feature provides a lighter version of an app experience that doesn’t require users to download an application from the store when it is only needed to perform a specific task. If you were paying for a parking ticket, for example, you could discover and access the app by scanning a code to complete the transaction. In the betting and gaming world, a customer can use an App Clip to fill out a digital bet slip or lottery ticket in a retail environment and then tap their phone at check out to pay, offering a more streamlined user journey.

Apple’s done a lot of tinkering behind the scenes too. Last year, it introduced a tool called Swift UI, making it simpler for developers to build UI across devices using a series of developer tools. Using SwiftUI developers can write code that can easily support today’s mobile app challenges, including automatic support for dark/light mode and resizing to support split screen apps. Also, importantly SwiftUI makes it easier to design apps with accessibility in mind.

But iOS14 is not all about shiny new features and redesigns. With the update, Apple has ramped up its focus on privacy, giving users significantly more control over their data and app owners much less freedom. Since iOS7, the tech firm has been closing off developer access to the unique IDs that make a device identifiable, such as an iPhone’s IMEI number or a MAC address. In the latest system update, Apple has finally clamped down on the last remaining access - Unique Advertising Identifiers (UAIs) – so that advertisers no longer have visibility on whose phone is whose and users can be truly anonymous. The consequence for the betting industry is that users visiting an iGaming app or website will be able to view which affiliate sites are tracking their behaviour - and block them from doing so. Although this gives greater transparency to customers, it increases opacity for operators on player behaviour with potentially severe consequences.

Off the back of these tracking permission changes, users will now also get more transparency into an app’s use of permissions including the microphone and camera. An additional indicator will be available to make it obvious when user’s camera is in use. This will be visible when users scan betting slips or cash winning lottery tickets and scratch cards.

There’s a compliance angle, too. The update offers users the option to share an approximate rather than a precise location for the first time, but for heavily regulated industries like the gaming sector where apps are sometimes only permitted to be used in certain jurisdictions, operators could find themselves on the wrong end of law. This is particularly important in regions such as the US and Canada where there are different laws in place in different states and territories. We are investigating ways we can build our own library to support greater accuracy, but as it stands, developers will have to either block players from using gambling apps if they only provide an approximate location or request greater permissions.

Aside from privacy, another undertone of this year’s WWDC is that the tech giant is moving even closer towards bringing every component in house. Apple announced the company is ditching Intel’s chips in its Macintosh computers after 14 years for its own processors which are already used to power iPhones and iPads, yet again increasing control over its hardware and software. The benefit for users is that the new silicon Macs promise longer battery lives and better performance, plus the ability to run iOS apps with little/no modification.

Of course, the WWDC conference did bring some good news for the industry and it’ll be interesting to see how betting and gaming operators leverage iOS14’s design features to advance their mobile applications. Even the privacy restrictions, which will no doubt present huge challenges, are designed with the user in mind. It is up to the industry to find solutions that ultimately deliver a better experience to their customers and make digital gaming entertainment more accessible to all.

Tristram Bates is mkodo’s engineering manager and head of iOS. He has been making apps since the App Store was introduced. From starting out at mkodo building apps for gaming, sportsbook and lottery businesses, he now leads the company’s talented team of iOS developers delivering digital products across its client base.

Would you like to discuss how mkodo can support you with iOS14 updates? We offer, for example, tailored consultancy packages covering review and recommendations for your Apps. Please contact us on hello@mkodo.com or +44(0)2077294545.

iOS14 Widget

Opinion by Charles, iOS Engineer, mkodo

Focus on Widgets

Overview

Apple has overhauled its home screen this year. The introduction of app libraries, folders and better search facilities aims to improve how people can better manage their ever increasing number of apps.

The most interesting and exciting addition to the home screen is the introduction of Widgets. App Widgets will run on iPhone, iPad and Mac and will roll out with iOS 14 and macOS11. Widgets will provide yet another way to communicate with users, all without having the user needing to launch the app.

Widgets can be created to support 3 sizes (small, medium and large). The data made available should change depending on the widget size selected. It is even possible to have multiple widgets from a single application with each one being customised slightly differently. An example of this would be having several weather apps. Each widget could display the weather for a different location, e.g. Toronto, Stockholm and so on.

Large Widget

Medium Widget

Small Widget

Customisability

Widgets can be designed to be configurable to meet the needs of people. For Lottery this could be a certain game or jackpot value is about to be played, sport-books could utilise this to allow people to specify the sports they’re interested in. The widget could then display upcoming key events for these selected sports.

When tapping the widget we can deep link the user into the correct journey. Whether that is the purchase flow, sports page or whatever else that is relevant to the widget.

Widgets support a logged in and logged out state. Authentication can add a lot of value to the widget such as, “Sign in to view your upcoming draws” or “Sign in to view your past results”.

Updating Content

Widgets do not support continuous real-time updates. You should select an update frequency which suits the data you’re displaying. Whether that is hourly or daily.

Smart Stack Widget

A Smart Stack Widget is now available with iOS14 which enables the user to select several different widgets that will be exposed on their home screen at relevant times (as determined by Siri intelligence). This could be particularly useful if there is an upcoming lottery draw that a person would normally play. The Smart Stack would display the lottery widget and allow the user to jump straight into ticket purchase before the draw closes.

If you are interested in more details about this topic, please do contact us at hello@mkodo.com.

iOS14 App Clips

Opinion by Fazaleomer, iOS Engineer, mkodo

Focus on App Clips

Overview

App Clips is one of the most exciting additions to iOS 14.

It will dramatically change the way users install iOS apps. No longer will users have to install full apps to perform simple tasks like buying a parking ticket. Android has previously tried this with Instant apps but with little traction. With iOS joining the micro apps revolution things are set to change.

What are App Clips?

App Clips is a feature that allows users to have instant access to specific app features without having to download the entire app. App Clips can be invoked by tapping on NFC tags, scanning a QR code/Apple’s “App Clip Codes”, tapping on Safari’s “Smart App Banners” or a shared link through a text message.

Imagine a day where you no longer need to fill in a lottery ticket with a pencil and paper. Simply take out your phone at the point of sale and enter your numbers from your phone.

App Clips also benefit from Apple Pay and sign in with Apple features further enhancing the purchasing experience.

App Clips represent a huge opportunity for converting retail users to digital as developers can prompt to download the full app. It is also possible to send push notifications to reengage those users for up to 8 hours.

Design Guidelines

Focus on essential features. Interactions should be quick and focused, only show what is necessary and leave complex features for the full app.
Design a simple user interface, an App Clip should not have tab bars, complex navigation, or settings. Remove non-essential information and reduce complexity wherever possible.
On launch, go straight to the relevant part of the App Clip. Avoid splash screens and any waiting time for the App Clip to launch.
Ensure your app is small - the smaller it is, the quicker it will launch.
Make your App Clip shareable. This would encourage more people to use your App Clips as it can be shared through messages, for example.
Provide a similar experience if users decide to download the full app. Ensure the functionality you presented in your App Clips is similar to what you show in the full app.
App Clips should not consist of tasks that require you to download the full app. The App Clip artwork is the first thing the user will see, you should carefully decide what image and text to show for this. Your image should be clear and concise, text should be avoided on the image as it can add excessive information and is not localizable. Title and subtitle should describe the purpose of the App Clip clearly.

If you are interested in more details about this topic, or wish to enquire about our iOS14 Consultancy workshops, please do contact us at hello@mkodo.com.

iOS 14 Tracking

Opinion by Lee, Software Engineer, mkodo

iOS14 Tracking

Overview

In an effort to give more control to iOS users, Apple has made several more reassuring improvements through their iOS14 update to user privacy by giving more fine-grained indicators of both when and why user data is being used by apps on their devices. Originally due to be launched in Autumn this year, Apple has now delayed its Ad anti-tracking features until 2021 due to increasing pressure from 3rd parties, including Facebook. Apple cites "we want to give developers the time they need to make the necessary changes." Still, this will result in serious impacts for existing analytics and compliance features when these changes come into play next year.

Privacy Declaration

Thanks to iOS14, all applications on the App Store will be required to describe what data they collect from a user and whether it is used for tracking. This includes third party libraries, so it is imperative that developers know exactly what analytics/fingerprinting libraries are collected.

Permission to Track

Tracking is a valuable tool as it gives creators a detailed view of how users use their application. With iOS14, users will now receive a system prompt from Apple, asking for consent to track them or access their “identifier for advertisers on iPhones” (IDFA). If users do not give their permission, advertisers will no longer have visibility of whose phone is whose, so users can remain completely anonymous. This has big ramifications for most apps as tracking is used to prioritise the development of new features or improvements to existing features. Moreover, this will impact the quality of data collected from various 3rd party SDK’s many have integrated into their LMA apps (most notably, Google Analytics and Firebase).

Although opting out of IDFA has been an option for iOS users in the past, this was a universal setting hidden inside the settings screen, meaning a user would need to search for it deliberately. With iOS14, there will be an explicit permission request for each app.

Since Apple allows developers to define a reason for why the tracking permission is required, this reason must be well-thought-out, otherwise, users will not be incentivised to allow themselves to be tracked. If a sizeable majority of users deny this permission, then apps will need to use other methods to track users.

If you are interested in more details about this topic, or wish to enquire about our iOS14 Consultancy workshops, please do contact us at hello@mkodo.com.

Can the Upcoming iOS and Android Updates Help Drive Innovation in the Gaming Industry?

mkodo's Managing Director Stuart Godfree and Executive Director Sue Yoxall discuss what gaming brands can or must act on in iOS14 and Android 11

iOS14 Geo-Location

Opinion by Will Whitehead, Associate Director - Accounts, mkodo

Overview

“Privacy is a fundamental human right and at the core of everything we do”. This is Apple’s firm standpoint, and it is all about giving more control back to the user over the data they share along with more transparency on how this data is used.

One of the main challenges that has arrived with the recently launched iOS14 update is that users can now provide an ‘approximate location’ of their device rather than giving their exact location details. When ‘approximate location’ is selected, this can be anywhere in a 10 mile radius from the user's specific location i.e. Precise Location, resulting in a nightmare from a compliance perspective.

Approximate Location

Apps that are only available to users in specified locations with existing geo-fences and geo-restrictions will potentially run into problems when users are not providing their full location information. An approximate location could mean that customers can access services from a location where they should not be able to or are prevented from using the App even though they are in an allowed region. This issue will especially be prevalent along country and state borders.

mkodo’s Solution

mkodo offers a Geo-location service, as one of the optional Value-added-Services (VaS) of its mCloud Gateway. This provides a tool for organisations that offer any product where respecting boundaries and/or monitoring activity between jurisdictions, regions or nations is vital.

The following user journey will also be made available within Gateway to ensure that customers have a chance to provide their precise location details since this could potentially be unfairly blocking them, or to ensure a better user experience for those who use their approximate location away from a border so that they are not bombarded with notifications to provide their actual location, unlike to those who are close to a boundary.

Moreover, this iOS update continues to strengthen the arguments surrounding why it is important now more than ever to have a native app, as it is not possible at the moment to differentiate on a browser or webapp whether a user’s location is precise or approximate.

mkodo’s Geo-location service has been used by major organisations when delivering millions of dollars of transactions in heavily regulated markets and product sectors in both Europe and North America. It provides the ability for clients to be sure that they are handling and monitoring their customers’ activity on a mobile device correctly, and that they can restrict or allow usage as appropriate. It can be quickly and efficiently plugged into a client’s existing architecture without disruption.

Geo-location precision is an interesting update from Apple - it provides further comfort to users related to privacy but causes headaches for developers trying to work within regulatory compliance frameworks. With the right tools, such as mkodo's mCloud Gateway, however, users can keep control whilst developers have their compliance user journey issue solved.

If you are interested in more details about this topic, or wish to enquire about our iOS14 Consultancy workshops, please do contact us at hello@mkodo.com

iOS14 Player Engagement

Opinion Video - By Sue Yoxall, Executive Director of mkodo

Lottery Case Study: Western Canada Lottery Corporation (WCLC)

The Challenge

Western Canada Lottery Corporation (WCLC) were looking to appoint a new mobile supplier for a complete redesign of their native apps and mkodo were delighted to be selected. The brief for the mkodo team was to improve usability and add some new features along with a complete visual refresh and for mkodo to lead the project.

The Project

Before kicking off the project the mkodo team spent time looking at competitor apps and reviewing the current app along with brainstorming designs and features for the new app. This was presented back to WCLC as part of a 3 day on-site design and discovery workshop with the key stakeholders. The workshop was led by the mkodo design and UX team and included in-depth discussion of the following:

Functional requirements for the App – e.g. ticket scanner, winning numbers
Non Functional requirements – e.g. middleware, geolocation, testing, deployment activities
UX/UI- e.g. brand, user personas, navigation, design guide, UI
Project details - timelines, sprint backlog tools, communication tools, status meetings agreed, diligence and processes

The workshop was a great success with a clear direction agreed for the app and positive feedback on mkodo’s initial design. The following was presented back to WCLC :

User flows
Interaction spec (wireframes and designs)
User stories (both as text and BDD)
Project plan

Following sign off from the client mkodo entered the second phase of the project starting development of the iOS and Android apps.

The results

As the requirements had been so clearly defined for the project in Phase 1 implementation was straightforward and both apps were completed on time and within budget. The new app, Lotto Spot! went live in July 2020 with the following features:

Ticket scanner – all Lottery and Zing games
Find your retailer
Winning numbers – past and present
Upcoming draw details
Upcoming Jackpot amounts
Push notifications
How to play instructions for all WCLC games

Feedback from both the client and users for the new app has been extremely positive and WCLC have committed budget to a long term product roadmap with enhancements and feature improvements.

Player Engagement : Digital Playslips

Sue Yoxall introduces player engagement using mini apps to offer in store customers a digital alternative to filling out physical coupons

Player Engagement : Ticket Checker

Georgina Lott introduces player engagement using mini apps to offer instant ticket scanning to check if you're a winner!

mkodo shortlisted for Employer of the Year

We are delighted that mkodo has been shortlisted for Employer of the Year at the prestigious global SBC awards to take place in December 2020.

It is fantastic for mkodo to receive this level of recognition.

One of our newer team members recently commented: 'mkodo has a talented team who are encouraged to grow'. If you are interested in the type of team feedback that underpins our nomination for this award, please see Kai's blog at: https://www.mkodo.com/s/news?story=kaiblog

Player Engagement : Bingo Multi-Channel Strategy

Anastasiya Grachova introduces player engagement in your Bingo Multi-Channel Strategy

GET THE LATEST INSIGHTS

Apple's iOS 7: What it Means for Affiliates

Android's reach to contribute to growth in mobile gaming

What makes a successful betting and gaming app?

Apple's Ear Buds

Sweet like Android 7.1.1?

Bluetooth® is coming back into fashion...

Our Senior Account Manager, Will Whitehead, speaks to IGaming Business about Instant Wins

Google’s launched Android Wear 2.0 - a rival to the Apple Watch.

Apple prohibits iOS app updates outside of the App Store

iOS 11: New Features Review

Top Announcements

Other Notable Features

Rank Group’s first real-money gaming apps now in Google Play

5 quick-fire questions with mkodo’s Creative Director, Tom Atfield.

Stuart Godfree, Managing Director, reflects on 2017

Caitlin Fogell, Trainee Developer, My experience at mkodo

Operator Acquisition vs Retention

PASPA repealed! What does this mean?

mkodo - We made the Best Places to Work list!

Where Next For Betting Shops?

My work experience with mkodo...

Engaging the millennial generation in national lottery play

Operators should focus on where their experience lies

mkodo granted Associate Membership to World Lottery Association

Introducing ‘Big Screen Gaming’

Keeping up to date with technology advancement

Apple throws industry a bone in granting app compliance extension

mkodo signs deal with Western Canada Lottery Corporation

Mecca Bingo Wins EGR Mobile Product of the Year

mkodo granted European Lottery Association membership

Acquisition of mkodo by Pollard Banknote

Digital Strategy: PWA or Native App?

The trade off

Achieving sportsbook and casino differentiation through UX

Consultancy Case Study: Tipico

Sportsbook Case Study: Danske Spil

Android 11's Best New Features

Lina Sennevall, Account Director at Square In The Air:

Bridging the gap between retail and digital.

Software Engineer Kai talks life as a developer at mkodo - 1 year on

Apple announce iOS14

The Importance of Accessible RG Tools

mkodo Team Quiz

mkodo fun Quiz Answers

The Pandemics Effect on iLottery

Good Cause Case Study: RNLI

Why add a native app to your digital channel offering? Why now?

Tamara Dobson talks about mkodo’s work with Good Causes

Lottery Case Study: BCLC

The Future of Lottery Looks Bright with BCLC’s Lotto! app

iOS 14 is on the horizon: what’s new?

iOS 14 Insights

iOS14 Widget

iOS14 App Clips

iOS 14 Tracking

Can the Upcoming iOS and Android Updates Help Drive Innovation in the Gaming Industry?

iOS14 Geo-Location

iOS14 Player Engagement

Lottery Case Study: Western Canada Lottery Corporation (WCLC)

Player Engagement : Digital Playslips

Player Engagement : Ticket Checker

mkodo shortlisted for Employer of the Year

Player Engagement : Bingo Multi-Channel Strategy