Author: Carmen Thompson

Carmen is our residential reporter always on the move and hunting down the latest scoops and rumours to explore. Nothing gets past her keen nose, especially when it comes to some serious Jelly Bean poker tournaments.

KSA Fire A Warning Towards Online Gambling Operators

Posted on by Carmen Thompson

Online gaming operators in the Netherlands have been subdued to heavy criticism from the gambling regulator in the country, Kansspelautoriteit /KSA/, for their increased advertising activity seeking to channel players towards online services that are currently illegal.

No Legal Alternative To Land-Based Gaming Facilities

As the global spread of the coronavirus /Covid-19/ continues and local and national authorities join forces to halt the outbreak, licensed gaming operators, arcades and casinos, across the Netherlands have been forced to close doors to help a nationwide effort to slow the infection. There is no legal alternative for players in the country as online gambling is not open until July 2021, though the Remote Gaming Act will come into force from January1, 2021.

However, the country regulator has pointed out, during these times when legal land-based facilities are being closed, an increase in advertising for online gaming has been witnessed. Online operations are currently illegal, and respectively, advertising for illegal gambling is also illegal, even players who entertain games from illegal operators risk being punished.

Online Operators Utilize “Completely Objectionable” Advertising Methods

The KSA has stated that it is totally unacceptable for some companies to take advantage of the coronavirus-induced situation and lure customers towards their online operations, even advertising its products as Corona-free. The regulator is determined to keep the market free of such an immoral approach and punish operators that have endorsed such practices when they start considering their applications for a license, threatening that such advertising might even turn the operators’ cart upside down.

“The parties that do this, the providers themselves as well as their advertisers, can count on the KSA’s keen interest. Parties that use this type of practice can be assured that this will weigh heavily in a possible application for an online gambling licence.” René Jansen, Chairman, KSA

As per the Remote Gaming Act, the KSA will have the licensing and oversight power over every legal online gambling operator, essentially deciding which one will enter the market and which one will not. The recent criticism the Dutch regulator launched should be a red flag for any other online company that is willing to mop up clients from land-based gaming facilities while the latter are being closed due to the coordinated effort to stop the Covid-19 pandemic.

The KSA is again showing its determination to provide strict but fair gaming regulatory framework, and recently its enforcement actions got the support in a court ruling against text-based promotions for online games of chance.

Carmen Thompson

Carmen is our residential reporter always on the move and hunting down the latest scoops and rumours to explore. Nothing gets past her keen nose, especially when it comes to some serious Jelly Bean poker tournaments.

Evolution Introduces Speed Blackjack to Slash Waiting Times

Posted on by Carmen Thompson

Developer of live games, Evolution Gaming, has introduced yet another innovative game to its portfolio, with Speed Blackjack slashing waiting time for players by 30-40%.

Evolution Gaming Debuts Speed Blackjack

On Thursday, Evolution Gaming introduced its latest blackjack live dealer version, Speed Blackjack, adding to a what is already an extensive list of accomplished titles in the segment. Once again, Evolution has found a way to introduce an innovative feature to their game and help it stand away.

While the core principles of the game remain fairly the same, in Speed Blackjack, all players get the option to Hit, Double Down or Split at the same time. The player to act the quickest will be the first to get the next card.

This dealing process will repeat itself until all players are happy with their draw and reveal their hands. Commenting on the news, Evolution Chief Product Officer, Todd Haushalter, has lauded his company’s efforts in the segment.

Mr. Haushalter explained that the game introduces a key difference to any casino product out there. In an official statement, he rhetorically asked ‘why should players have to wait?’ suggesting that Evolution Gaming has discovered a much more efficient way to proceed to playing.

He acknowledged that the game didn’t seek to introduce a new skill-based element, but rather slash the overall waiting time. Evolution ahs been trying to innovate the live dealer segment at a time when many other companies have been happily joining in.

In a similar vein, Evolution released First Person Lightning Roulette and First Person Dream Catcher in 2019, expanding on an already fantastic portfolio of options. Evolution’s emphasis on random number generator (RNG) game that transcend the traditional live gaming segment has won it a reputation for the most innovative company in the segment.

Optimizing the Game and Serving the Player

Players now stand a unique opportunity, the company argues, to slash the overall waiting time by estimated 30-40% times, allowing them to play more or simply play quicker, Mr. Haushalter has explained.

The ‘Speed’ segment isn’t entirely new either with Evolution already having debuted a number of games that are built on the premise of minimizing waiting time. The key difference to the new game is that the age-old rule where decisions are made from left-to-right is now gone and everyone gets to act on their own time.

Apart from working on new titles, Evolution has also been working on expanding into new markets. A recent license by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) has allowed the company to launch live games with Parx Casinos’ iGaming sites in Pennsylvania.

Similarly, the company teamed up with Penn National Gaming to host live games. Evolution is in the process of setting up a studio in Pennsylvania, boosting its footprint across North America.

Carmen Thompson

Carmen is our residential reporter always on the move and hunting down the latest scoops and rumours to explore. Nothing gets past her keen nose, especially when it comes to some serious Jelly Bean poker tournaments.

Trade Group Calls for Liberalization of Austria Gambling Market

Posted on by Carmen Thompson

A trade group has called for the end of monopoly in Austria, specifically targeting Casinos Austria.

Does Austria Have a Gambling Monopoly?

Austria has called for an end of monopoly in the iGaming sector, and specifically Casinos Austria’s tight control over the industry. The appeal has been made by the leading gambling trade group in the country, The Austrian Association for Betting and Gambling (OVWG) .

The OVWG expressed concerns over Casinos Austria’s CFO Peter Sidlo and specifically his participation as a district councillor in Vienna from the Freedom Party of Austria (FPO). Not least of all, Mr. Sidlo is also a shareholder in Novomatic, one of the largest developers out there.

Both Sidlo and Novomatic have denied to have benefitted in any way from the councillor’s position and connections in politics.

An Investigation Proving Otherwise

The OVWG acted after the Economic and Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (WKStA) carried out raids as part of investigation looking into alleged links between politicians and the gambling business.

Responding to these developments, the trade group said that Austria needs to re-consider how gambling business operates in the country and that Casinos Austria need to lose clout by liberalizing the market and allowing more actors to join.

The OVWG further said:

“On the one hand, this concerns the multiple function of the Federal Minister of Finance as the supervisory authority, licensing body and co-owner. On the other hand, it is an unjustifiable fact that there is only one national online gambling license, which also raises significant concerns about its compliance with EU law.”

Not least of all, Mr. Sildo’s appointment has been perceived as an appointment designed to exploit his connections in politics.

The OVWG also cited Denmark as a great example of how an industry should operate, both in terms of transparency as well as player protection measures. Specifically, the trade group argued that Denmark didn’t limit the number of licenses, for example, but rather, the country introduced very high customer protection and licensing standards in the first place.

Operators Need to be Supervised by the State

The necessity for a more liberal system is to guarantee that competition strives to meet the standards set out by the government, the OVWG has specified.

However, in the absence of high licensing standards, and the power concentrated in the lottery and Casinos Austria, there is little opportunity for a meaningful change to follow.

Earlier, the European Court of Justice issued a ruling that Casinos Austria was at odds with European regulatory measures in the gambling industry. Specifically, the court said that there was a clear absence of a competitive procedure to justify how the company has obtained its license.

While ‘European meddling’ has been a common dismissal of Brussels trying to tell member states how to run their gaming industries, even countries traditionally thought of as protectionists have been liberalizing their markets, including France.

European Union commissioner for financial services, Michel Barnier has long been calling for harmonization of European directives, and gaming is specifically an area where Austria needs to become more liberal in.

Carmen Thompson

Carmen is our residential reporter always on the move and hunting down the latest scoops and rumours to explore. Nothing gets past her keen nose, especially when it comes to some serious Jelly Bean poker tournaments.

GoRacingGreen Boosted by Kindred’s Unibet Bid

Posted on by Carmen Thompson

Photo credit: Go Racing Together

  • Kindred joins GoRacingGreen initiative
  • Unibet is the main promoter at racecourse tracks
  • More venues to receive the GoRacingGreen specialists

Kindred has revved up its involvement with the horse racing industry in a bid to help people with mental health issues feel more included.

Kindred Takes Part in GoRacingGreen

Kindred Group has boosted the company’s involvement with the horse racing to make the industry more inclusive to everyone. As a result, one of the world’s largest sports betting, racing and gaming operators has invested in #GoRacingGreen, an initiative designed to make the industry more accessible to people who love attending horse races and suffer from mental health issues.

To execute its plan, Kindred Group will rely on its flagship brand, Unibet and a pilot scheme is launching at Newbury Racecourse as early as August 17. Everyone in attendance is encouraged to wear a green outfit, which indicates that they are available for a chat with anyone who musters up the courage and approach them.

This is to help particularly anxious individual overcome their social fear and be more involved with the life at racecourses.

Unibet Brings Everyone Together

As part of a broader move, Unibet wants to help Newbury staff be able to tell who needs help and assist those attendees who suffer from various issues, from crippling social anxiety to dementia. There will also be alcohol free zones across the racecourse as a result.

With Unibet’s backing, the #GoRacingGreen initiative will be able to expand across other racecourses in the United Kingdom, founder Debbie Matthews believes. Commenting on the occasion, Kindred’s head of Racing Communications and Sponsorship Ed Nicholson had this to say:

“The investment we are announcing today means GoRacingGreen can continue to build on their fantastic work since they started the project earlier this year. Having attended the training session undertaken at Newbury earlier in the week, I saw at first-hand what a fantastic scheme this is.

Our partnership with GoRacingGreen shows a new model for sport sponsorship is possible. Kindred is leading the way in becoming a sponsor for a sport and its communities and we are looking forward to piloting the project at Newbury this Saturday.”

Kindred and Unibet believe that operators have the obligation to ensure that the industry is more open to people with special needs and that everyone should be having a good time to begin with.
Meanwhile, Matthews has acknowledged the importance of the project and involvement of Unibet in the project. According to the founder of the initiative, more people would be able to benefit from #GoRacingGreen as a result of Unibet’s direct involvement.

Carmen Thompson

Carmen is our residential reporter always on the move and hunting down the latest scoops and rumours to explore. Nothing gets past her keen nose, especially when it comes to some serious Jelly Bean poker tournaments.

DOJ Postpones Wire Act Implementation For Several Months

Posted on by Carmen Thompson

The US. Department of Justice has decided to postpone the implementation of the 2019 Wire Act Opinion by yet another two-to-six months.

DOJ’s Latest Memo Is Putting Everyone on Edge

A new memo issued by the Department of Justice ( DOJ) has delayed the roll out of the revised Wire Act Opinion in July. Instead, the DOJ would await a ruling in the New Hampshire case which it is leading against the state’s lottery. However, the enactment cannot exceed the deadline which is set for December 31, 2019.

So far, the DOJ has appeared adamant about the enforcement of the Wire Act Opinion which it voted and passed into a law earlier this year in January. Yet, nothing has happened since. This is the second time the DOJ has reneged on a deadline for the enforcement of the Opinion.
Previously, regulators expected to be dealing with the Opinion in April, but then it was pushed back for July 15. The cascade of changes has been occasioned by the mounting litigation that DOJ attorneys have been forced to deal with.

Why Is the DOJ New Opinion Challenged

The DOJ is trying to extend the meaning of the Wire Act to apply to all sorts of gambling and betting activities. This has been deemed a frivolous move by observers and business leaders. The real reason, some have argued, is the DOJ’s affiliation with casino mogul Sheldon Adelson, who has been a long-time opponent of any online gambling.

The latest Opinion on the Wire Act is dangerous to businesses and owners, because the DOJ wants to effectively criminalize anyone who has been running an iLottery since 2011. This goes against the grain of the then decision, which the Obama administration issued.

In the 2011 ruling of DOJ, the Wire Act was deemed not to extend to activities such as lotteries and casinos, but this is to about to change, or so the Department hopes. The arguments that former Attorney General Rod Rosenstein presented in January, 2019 aren’t exactly cogent and nobody is really sure why the Wire Act should apply to anything beyond sports wagers.

New Jersey has even taken matters in its own hands, launching a lawsuit against Sheldon Adelson in a bid to clamp down on the casino-owners’ ambitions to meddle in the iGaming industry.

Business Fighting Back to Avoid Prosecution

Lottery operators have every bit of reason to be contesting the decision as under the decision they would be turned into criminals liable to hefty fines and multiple years in prison. Avoiding prosecution will depend on a clearer language of the Wire Act Opinion.

States seem to be ready to accept the decision as long as it’s not ambiguous. It’s this ambiguity that has been the source of all of DOJ’s trouble so far. New Hampshire dismantled the Wire Act Opinion in a district court, arguing that the new legislation was too badly-defined to give any clear indication to businesses what their next move should be.

This was upheld by a judge, although NH didn’t receive anything more than a nod that the state’s original concerns were well-founded. In other words, no judge has yet said that the Wire Act Opinion has been made on the basis of no legal arguments, but this would probably not happen until states and DOJ clash in court over whether the Wire Act in its would-be new interpretation is designed to favor one specific party exclusively.

Carmen Thompson

Carmen is our residential reporter always on the move and hunting down the latest scoops and rumours to explore. Nothing gets past her keen nose, especially when it comes to some serious Jelly Bean poker tournaments.

William Hill Opens Sports Betting Book in Sweden

Posted on by Carmen Thompson
  • William Hill successfully launches sports betting platform in Sweden
  • The re-branded Redbet cost WH $294.3 million
  • WH brings a variety of games, including Monopoly Live, Vegas Speed Roulette, and others

William Hill is the latest gambling & sports betting operator to make a bold entry into the newly-regulated Swedish market. The Kambi-powered platform is already accessible to Swedish bettors.

WilliamHill.se Opens to Swedish Players

Long in the making, William Hill is officially a sports betting operator in Sweden. The company took some time to finalize the acquisition of local assets and re-brand them, but five months after the legalization of the industry, the UK sports book has made it.

William Hill struck a deal with MRG Group, the owner of Evoke Gaming which in turn owned Redbet. The deal cost William Hill $294.3 million. WH International MG Patrick Jonker spoke to Affiliate Insider, noting on the importance of the deal and the opportunities that it created for the company:

This is an important milestone in William Hill’s International journey. Through fantastic teamwork between our teams in Malta, UK and Sweden we have released William Hill’s first new locally licensed offering since 2011.

The deal will also see a number of games introduced to the Swedish market, including Monopoly Live and Vegas Speed Roulette. All products will be accessible through the now Sweden-facing domain, WilliamHill.se.

Mr. Jonker commented that it was William Hill’s privilege to offer a state-of-the-art products both in terms of sports betting and live gaming to Swedish customers. WH is entering a highly-regulated market where even the best operators are at risk of breaking the tight regulations.

Regulations Are Tight in Sweden

Svenska Spel, the country’s de facto natural sports book & gaming company, was attacked by one of the watchdogs, Branschföreningen för onlinespel (BOS). Svenska Spel is accused of violating advertisement rules.

At the turn of 2019, casino and gambling ads continued to dominate Swedish Internet and TV programs, with LeoVegas and other brands barraging users with their campaigns at every commercial break.

As other companies face trouble in Sweden, William Hill will have to focus on uholding the recommended advertisemen practices recommended by the nation’s regulator, the Spelinspektionen.

Carmen Thompson

Carmen is our residential reporter always on the move and hunting down the latest scoops and rumours to explore. Nothing gets past her keen nose, especially when it comes to some serious Jelly Bean poker tournaments.

UKGC to Ensure FOBTs Measures Are Met as of April 1

Posted on by Carmen Thompson
  • UKGC to monitor if FOBTs rules are applied
  • New security measures coming in
  • Customer identity to be verified within 24 hours

The UK Gambling Commission is looking into introducing more customer protections for players in the United Kingdom, even after the Fixed-Odds Betting Terminals (FOBTs) measures have been introduced.

The UK Gambling Commission Targets FOBTs for Extra Customer Protection

The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) is committed to upholding the highest security standards when it comes down to the customer. In light of the recently-introduced measures to slash the maximum betting limits on FOBTs, the watchdog is aware that some companies may overlook the rule.

This is why, the UKGC is stepping up its efforts to ensure that no discrepancies between law and practice occur. Starting today, April 1, all FOBTs in the United Kingdom should be re-adjusted to offer customers only £2 per spin, down from £100 in the past.

The measure was rushed after the initial timeline was set for October, but Prime Minister Theresa May’s government was accused of deliberately working with iGaming businesses at the expense and detriment of people.

New UKGC Customer Identity Measures Arrive in May, 2019

The row led to the resignation of now former Sports Minister Tracey Crouch who remains a vehement supporter of introducing more measures to safeguard British customers from malicious iGaming practices.

As to the regulator, UKGC Chief Executive Neil McArthur has reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to upholding order and investigating companies that try to color around the lines. Here’s what Mr. McArthur had to say:

Together with Government and the industry, we must continue our ongoing work to make the whole industry safer – this includes continuing to make progress with making other products safer, as customers may move to gamble in other ways following the stake cut – including online, mobile and on the high street.

Politicians haven’t been sitting idly either, with Jeremy Wright, the present Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport planning even more measures to protect customer. Mr. Wright has been focusing on restricting underage gambling which he considers to still not be addressed properly.

In a recent statement he commented:

The Government’s actions and ambitions stretch much further and we are looking at further treatment of those who have suffered from gambling-related harm, whether gambling on credit should be limited and considering what actions are necessary to tackle problem gambling online.

The Commission plans to introduce a number of measures intended at bolstering the overall security. This means that starting in 2019, casinos will be obliged to verify a customer’s age and identity before they, i.e. the customer, is allowed to access the casino’s facilities.

This includes the free to play versions that are also coming under stricter restrictions. The UKGC is also going to speed up the verification process which now takes 72 hours and ask of casinos to be done with these important checks within a 24-hour time window.

Carmen Thompson

Carmen is our residential reporter always on the move and hunting down the latest scoops and rumours to explore. Nothing gets past her keen nose, especially when it comes to some serious Jelly Bean poker tournaments.

SportCaller and William Hill Mix Betting and Casino

Posted on by Carmen Thompson
  • SportCaller and William Hill agree on expanding existing partnership
  • The partnership news comes ahead of the Cheltenham Festival
  • Golden Race’s the latest game offering £1 million in prizing money

SportCaller is a pioneer in helping gaming and betting businesses expand their digital footprint and enhance existing verticals by allowing customers a free-to-play experience. Betting is optional and players have an opportunity to win £1 million. The company is expanding an existing partnership with British heavyweight sportsbook William Hill.

SportCaller and William Hill Focus on Customer Retention

SportCaller has been one of the companies to help various B2B and B2C companies improve their overall experience and offer. SportCaller has worked with FanDuel to help the Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) platform expand its footprint. Coral has also used SportCaller’s options to introduce the proven free-to-play (FTP) segment to its own portfolio.

Now, the company has chosen to partner up with William Hill to boost retention rate and introduce an exciting new game, Golden Race. Working as a jackpot game, the Golden Race allows players to enter for a nominal fee worth £10 betting on a horse race taking place in the United Kingdom or Ireland.

With the Cheltenham Festival about to kick off there will be significant opportunities to place wagers in the coming days. Players stand to win £1 million if they successfully predict the specific order of the first finishing horses with some £50,000 on the line as consolation reward available to the person(s) to predict the exact order of the first two horses.

The consolation reward only applies in cases when the jackpot hasn’t been hit. Golden Race has proven a particularly successful concept leading to better customer retention rate and organic growth. William Hill has been among the first sportsbooks to address the needs of an increasingly sophisticated audience which wants payouts.

Golden Race has managed to guarantee regular winnings without biting into William Hills’ profitability. The improved upon success rate has prompted even more gamers to choose from William Hill’s ample sports betting portfolio.

SportCaller has managed to broach an interesting topic, mixing the best practices from the casino and sports betting industry and posting very satisfying results.

Liam Wallwork, William Hills Commercial Director, has commented on the similarities between sports betting and the casino experience:

So, we were thrilled to see so many enjoy the Midas touch at Kempton’s Golden Race on Wednesday. The game will now be the cornerstone of our marketing and advertising campaign for The Festival and beyond. In fact, we will be running the £1m Golden Race in tandem across the meeting alongside Lucky 7 for 100k-a-day. It’s by far the most generous FTP offering in the village.

SportCaller’s Cillian Barry has also been excited at the news and William Hill’s choice to continue working with the company:

It’s a real validation for Hills, a name so intrinsically connected with horse racing and The Festival, to have enlisted our services and we can’t wait for Golden Race to come under starter’s orders next week and for one, or more, lucky punters to bag the £1m daily jackpot!

William Hill has long been at the forefront of cutting-edge developments in the sports betting industry, focusing on double growth and US expansion.

Carmen Thompson

Carmen is our residential reporter always on the move and hunting down the latest scoops and rumours to explore. Nothing gets past her keen nose, especially when it comes to some serious Jelly Bean poker tournaments.

Connecticut Pushing Ahead with Sports Betting Legislation

Posted on by Carmen Thompson
  • Joe Verrengia puts forth a new online sports bill
  • HB 7331 seeks to create a compact with tribes
  • Operators need to pay $100,000 non-refundable fee
  • Licenses issued for a two-year period

Connecticut is back in the center of events with a new sports betting proposal fired up for the state’s lawmakers to consider. Sponsored by the chairman of the Connecticut House Public Safety and Security Committee, Joe Verrengia, the new bill will seek to introduce wagering on both land-based and online betting activities.

Connecticut Takes a Shot at New Online Sports Betting Opportunities

Joe Verrengia, chairman of the Connecticut House Public Safety and Security Committee, has introduced a new bill, HB 7331, which will effectively seek to introduce sports betting to both land-based operators and licensed online businesses.

Control will be enforced by the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection. Mr. Verrengia has outlined very mild entry costs for any business that wants to start operations in Connecticut. Every operator will need to pay an initial non-refundable fee of $100,000 to start the process.

Shortly after the initial payment, a $500,000 two-year license would need to be paid for as well. Sports betting is not the only license that interested parties would be able to acquire, including a sports wagering vendor licenses going for $300,000 and sports wagering lottery sales agent licenses available for another $250,000.

In each case, an initial fee of $100,000 will have to be paid.

The Essence of Connecticut’s Bill

The new Connecticut bill proposes important changes and builds on previous proposals. As a result, Mr. Verrengia has worked on establishing important aspects of the legislation, such as the legal gambling age as well as the available tax rates and to whom the money would be going to:

  • Legal gambling age – 21
  • Tax rate – 9.89%
  • Money allocated to – Connecticut General Fund, Sports Wagering Account
  • Regulated by – the Department of Consumer Protection

There’s also a legal wrinkle that explains that at the end of each year, 0.5% will be donated directly to CT five Regional Behavioral Health Action Organizations, which will be addressing issues, such as gambling addiction. The other 0.5% will be deposited directly into the General Fund.

The Tribes Are Welcome to Join and Work Together

Enjoying the support of CT governor, HB 7331 is also offering private operators to partner up with the Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan tribal casinos available in the casino. This would necessitate to change the existing compact that the tribes have formed by themselves. Mr. Verrengia by themselves.

Integrity fees are also part of the offer, but Mr. Verrengia wants to see the Connecticut Commissioner of Economic and Community Development collaborate with main sporting bodies so any proceedings from sports betting can be used in a meaningful way. True, there are still hurdles, but the prospects seem promising altogether.

With the basic plan paid out, what follows is for Mr. Verrengia to push the bill successful through the House Public Safety and Security Committee which he presides himself. The next steps will be in the House, the Senate and finally in the governor’s office.

Carmen Thompson

Carmen is our residential reporter always on the move and hunting down the latest scoops and rumours to explore. Nothing gets past her keen nose, especially when it comes to some serious Jelly Bean poker tournaments.

Willam Hill Now Runs Golden Ent. Betting Operations in Nevada

Posted on by Carmen Thompson
  • William Hill officially adds new Golden Entertainment Properties in Nevada
  • The British operator continues to expand across the United States
  • Should Iowa legalize sports betting, Will Hill could be the first operator to expand across the state.

William Hill is moving forward with its expansion in the United States. After scouting out new opportunities in Iowa, the operator secured its position in Nevada with yet another auspicious partnership with Golden Entertainment.

William Hill and Golden Entertainment Dominate Sports Betting

Back in October 2018, William Hill and Golden Entertainment entered into partnership, eyeing new opportunities for growth and securing their respective businesses. What better way than pooling efforts?

It’s official, and William Hill and Golden Entertainment are going to help each other’s betting operations. Officially, William Hill will be taking care of several Golden Ent. properties across Nevada leveraging its expertise. William Hill is currently overseeing the following properties:

  • Aquarius Casino Resort in Laughlin
  • Arizona Charlie’s Boulder
  • Arizona Charlie’s Decatur

Another property is in the works which will be arriving later in March at The STRAT hotel. Meanwhile, William Hill is quite familiar with Golden and the company has been operating various kiosks for it.

Estimated 80 kiosks are run by William Hill but originally owned by Golden Ent. This includes third-party operators that are running the activities independently from casinos and sportsbooks.

William Hill U.S. CEO Joe Asher was happy with the latest partnership between the companies, commenting:

The addition of the four new casino resorts marks an exciting new chapter in our relationship with Golden Entertainment. We look forward to working together to offer sports fans an amazing experience for many years to come in Nevada and elsewhere as opportunities arise.

A similar sentiment was expressed by Golden Entertainment Chief Operating Officer Steve Arcana who had the following to add:

We are excited to continue expanding our relationship with William Hill, which has a proven sports wagering platform not only in Nevada but around the world. We look forward to growing our business in Nevada and other jurisdictions through this partnership.

William Hill’s footprint in the United States is strong. While the operator is still committed to Europe and the United Kingdom, the toughening regulation at home has incentivized William Hill to seek a more diverse portfolio around the world.

More interestingly, the company teamed up with the Prairie Meadows Racetrack & Casino to provide sports betting opportunities in the United States, even though there was no indication that Iowa might soon have a legalized industry.

This might be about to change with a new bill that was introduced just this week and endorsed by Senator Roby Smith.

Carmen Thompson

Carmen is our residential reporter always on the move and hunting down the latest scoops and rumours to explore. Nothing gets past her keen nose, especially when it comes to some serious Jelly Bean poker tournaments.

NetEnt Consolidates Pennsylvania Footprint with Parx PA

Posted on by Carmen Thompson
  • NetEnt partners up with Parx Casino ahead of PA iGaming launch
  • Wire Act may cause trouble for online gaming sector
  • NetEnt and Parx execs confident about the partnership

NetEnt continues to strengthen its positions in Pennsylvania ahead of the official launch of the iGaming industry in the state.

Parx Casino and NetEnt Prepare for Pennsylvania Launch

NetEnt has partnered with one of the most prominent casino brands in Pennsylvania, Parx Casino. The software developer is looking to consolidate its position in PA ahead of anticipated launch of the state’s iGaming industry.

IGT and NetEnt to Provide Online Casino Games in PA

As per the agreement, NetEnt will provide Parx Casino’s online platform with a number of select high-end titles, including video & 3D slots and table games. The partnership can potentially bring NetEnt stronger ties with Greenwood Gaming and Entertainment, Parx’s parent entity, which controls other property as well.

While there have been some delays in the official launch of the iGaming sector in Pennsylvania, NetEnt has chosen to pursue a pre-emptive course and strike a partnership sooner. There have been some qualms over the latest changes to the Wire Act, putting online gaming at risk.

In fact, Josh Shapiro, PA’s Attorney General has joined his colleague and NJ Attorney General Gurbir Grewal in demanding a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request looking into the involvement of casino mogul Sheldon Adelson in swaying the stance on the Wire Act.

A Steady Build-Up

NetEnt first entered the state in October, obtaining a license to be part of casino giant Penn’s offer. With a partnership from Penn secured, NetEnt managed to work its way with other existing partners, including Churchill Downs which agreed to extend a running partnership with the company.

NetEnt will use the so-called GAN platform to ensure the quality and flexibility of its offer, which enables customers to benefit from various additions, such as widgets and extra free spins. Parx Casino’s SVP iGaming & Sports Matthew Cullen had the following to say:

We are looking forward to expanding the Parx Casino offerings into the online world. As part of this, we’re excited to be able to offer NetEnt’s outstanding suite of game content as part of our online casino launch in Pennsylvania

Meanwhile, NetEnt Americas Managing Director Erik Nyman has commended Parx’s expertise and track record in offering top-shelf gaming products to its customers. Mr. Nyman said that he was confident that customers would enjoy the offer introduced by NetEnt.

This year, NetEnt plans on releasing at least 35 new titles, or roughly 2 per months. The company laid off 55 people last years to re-focus on its gaming sector in 2019. Despite a looming Wire Act impediment, NetEnt and Pennsylvania feel determined to continue expanding and supporting the iGaming sector.

Carmen Thompson

Carmen is our residential reporter always on the move and hunting down the latest scoops and rumours to explore. Nothing gets past her keen nose, especially when it comes to some serious Jelly Bean poker tournaments.

Hard Rock Atlantic City Opens GiG-Powered Sportsbook in NJ

Posted on by Carmen Thompson
  • Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City officially launches
  • The casino’s sportsbook is powered by GiG’s omni-channel betting platform
  • Hard Rock’s just on time for the Super Bowl event in one week

Hard Rock has finally launched its New Jersey’s property. Using online sportsbook technology by Gaming Innovation Group (GiG), the Hard Rock hotel & Casino Atlantic City is off to a good start.

Hard Rock Offers Online Sports Betting in New Jersey

Hard Rock has opened its latest property, the namesake Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City. The property’s sportsbook is running on technology developed and implemented by established gaming solutions developer Gaming Innovation Gaming (GiG).

As a result, customers will be able to place their wagers through HardRockSports.com using the dedicated native app. Alternatively, the property will be open to all bettors who want to come and place their wagers in person.

Only entering into the market, the sportsbook has prepared an ample choice of viable gaming options, including:

  • American football
  • Ice Hockey
  • Football
  • Basketball

College sporting events are also part of the betting options, although NCAA’s President Mark Emmert has long been cautioning against allowing bookmakers to offer odds on such events. It’s worth noting that New Jersey college events are excluded from the offer.

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City President Joe Lupo expressed his company’s excitement at the new opportunity, saying the following:

We couldn’t be more excited to launch our online and land-based sportsbook, providing our guests and players the opportunity to bet on football’s big game this weekend.

Mr. Lupo also talked about the continuing development of the property as a top entertainment venue.

“Hard Rock has global recognition, unparalleled reach and the same high ambitions as us. We look forward to continuing to support Hard Rock’s growth in New Jersey,” GiG CEO Robin Reed added.

Hard Rock’s growth in New Jersey has indeed been impressive, with the casino brand being one of the flagship operators trying to expand their footprint, both at home and abroad.

Osaka Has Head Start in Japan’s IR Bidding

Hard Rock was one of the first properties to propose a model for the upcoming Integrated Resort (IR) in Japan, which will not be open until mid-2020.

As a reminder, GiG and Hard Rock signed a Letter of Intent in October, 2018, with Hard Rock choosing GiG because of the developer’s streamlined omni-channel sports betting solutions.

Given the timing of the opening, Hard Rock will be fully able to bank on the upcoming Super Bowl event, which is expected to generate sufficient interest and sports betting handle. The fact that Hard Rock allows customers to place and monitor wagers any way they want will only enhance the property’s sports betting services.

Carmen Thompson

Carmen is our residential reporter always on the move and hunting down the latest scoops and rumours to explore. Nothing gets past her keen nose, especially when it comes to some serious Jelly Bean poker tournaments.

Norther Ireland’s Bookmakers Decide to Introduce FOBTs Limit

Posted on by Carmen Thompson

Northern Ireland bookmakers have collectively opted into FOBTs restrictions. While there’s no active legislation currently binding the industry, flagship brands have pre-emptively introduced the necessary changes themselves.

Bookmakers in Northern Ireland Cut FOBTs Betting Limits

Ladbrokes has been the first operator in Northern Ireland to announce that it will voluntarily restrict the limit for Fixed-Odds Betting Terminals (FOBTs). Shortly after, more followed with two more flagship companies, William Hill and Paddy Power vowing their support of the measure.

As of January 26, there are five bookmakers which have so far expressed their support for slashing the £100 maximum bet on FOBTs down to £2, with A McLeans Bookmakers and Toals joining the three on Friday, January 25.

With the latest additions, the total number of betting shops to have restricted the FOBTs limits are 230 on the territory of Norther Ireland.

While bookmakers in Northern Ireland are bound by the Betting, Gaming, Lotteries and Amusements (Northern Ireland) Order 1985 and not the Gambling Act 2005, the companies have opted to pre-emptively diversify their portfolios and avoid overreliance on a segment that has become dubious from a legal standpoint.

Multiple Calls to Self-Regulate the Industry

The Northern Ireland Turf Guardians’ Association (NITGA) has talked to bookmakers to consider slashing their rates to match the UK reduction to £2 as the maximum allowable stake. The move is coming into effect on April 1.

Jeremy Wright Mulls Credit Card Ban for Gambling Use

Another call was made by Cllr Kyle from the Belfast City Council who has advised companies in Norther Ireland to take heed from Ladbrokes and push ahead with voluntary reductions, as to comply with regulations in the rest of the United Kingdom.

Meanwhile, the Department of Health will focus its efforts to gauge whether adequate support has been given to individuals who are vulnerable to developing gaming addiction. The Department is specifically going to look into addiction developed as a direct result from FOBTs.

Are FOBTs in their Current Version Dangerous to Gamers and Business?

FOBTs pose a threat to gamers who are inclined to play relying on their spur-of-the-moment considerations, leading to the loss of substantial gaming funds.

There have been cases cited all throughout the United Kingdom that people have committed suicide following unsuccessful and possibly financially-ruinous gaming sessions on FOBTs. While the number of such incidents isn’t extensive, the fact that a gaming product can lead to this is alarming enough.

NITGA has commented that the combination of quick gameplay and high upper limit makes it dangerous for people who are inclined to indulge in gaming without thinking much first.

Now that five of the largest operators in Northern Ireland have agreed to comply with the non-legally binding request of politicians and lawmakers, the country is on its way to achieving better customer protection for its gamers.

Carmen Thompson

Carmen is our residential reporter always on the move and hunting down the latest scoops and rumours to explore. Nothing gets past her keen nose, especially when it comes to some serious Jelly Bean poker tournaments.

Mississippi’s Betting Expands, Coastal Casinos Benefit

Posted on by Carmen Thompson
  • Mississippi’s win rate hits nearly 15% in December
  • The state rakes in $6.2 million in the form of revenue
  • Sports handle tumbles 6% in the last month of 2018

Mississippi’s Gaming Commission posted strong results for December, 2018. The total sports handle fell to $41.8 million, but the revenue increased several fold from November’s results.

Mississippi’s Sports Betting Handle Hits a Snag but Revenue Grows

Mississippi is isolated from sports betting states. Across the state’s border and beyond lie Kentucky and Missouri which have been making tepid attempts to debate the industry – to no success.

In a sense, Mississippi is mired down in a sports betting desert, but this hasn’t stopped the state from continuing and add to its total revenue.

Casinos had a field day in December according to experts, business leaders, backed by data from the Commission.

According to the latest available data, Mississippi has managed to bring in estimated $6.2 million in December alone.

This was a three-fold increase from November’s $1.7 million. Handled did take a modest setback, falling by 6%, but that was offset by the impressive revenue performance.

In publishing the news, the Mississippi Gaming Commission paid attention to several specific trends, notably:

  • An overall increase in the win rates
  • Expansion and development of coastal properties
  • A strong NFL betting season

Win rate in the state increased to nearly 15%, allowing customers to benefit from their wagers the most. The overall rate was higher than most other states across the United States.

Casino Properties Back in the Game

Interestingly enough, coastal casino properties accounted for a larger percent of the total winnings, bringing in $3.8 million in revenue, a high-performance mark for the state, despite fears that the sector may not be sustainable. Coastal revenue in 2018 increased by 4% to $1.23 billion in 2018 from $1.19 billion previously.

Sports betting also produced interesting results in the period, with NFL bets totalling $4.4 million of the total handle staked on sports betting. Customers frequented 23 separate sportsbooks across the entire state to place their wagers.

Sports betting has also been cited as a palliative for the declining river casino businesses with Mississippi’s gamers seeing a new reason to return to these properties and place wagers.

Despite the renewal of interest, river casinos barely marked an uptick, conceding the bulk of new proceedings to the coastal properties.

So far as Mississippi doesn’t advance plans for online betting state-wide, casino properties should expect to turn a decent profit.

Carmen Thompson

Carmen is our residential reporter always on the move and hunting down the latest scoops and rumours to explore. Nothing gets past her keen nose, especially when it comes to some serious Jelly Bean poker tournaments.

Sweden’ Regulator Releases 2018 Gaming Survey

Posted on by Carmen Thompson
  • Spelinspektionen releases comprehensive gambling study for 2018
  • Number of gamers in Sweden remains unchanged at rate of participation of 66%
  • Gaming still takes place predominantly at land-based venue
  • Over half of gamers not aware about self-exclusion schemes

Sweden’s gaming regulatory body, the Spelinspektionen, has released an annual survey analysing the country’s gaming habits in 2018.

Sweden’s Regulatory Gaming Survey for 2018

On Friday, January 11, the Spelinspektionen (the newly re-branded watchdog in Sweden) released a comprehensive annual study looking into the gaming and betting habits of Swedes. Based on the survey, estimated 66% of the population placed a wager in some form throughout 2018.

The numbers kept steady from a year before when it was established that a similar number of participants had placed a wager. The numbers in both last years are still lower than the 76% participation rate, and the numbers have been mostly falling since 2013. However, with 66% of the population engaging in lottery activities in one form or another, the market is a fresh opportunity for many operators.

MRG and Bethard Ready to Grow in Swedish Market

In fact, as many as 60 companies have secured a license from the regulator and are now either offering or in the process of developing their gaming portfolios in the country. The survey also focused on the present looking into January’s results, asking participants if they had gambled in the past week.

Swedish Gaming Self-Exclusion and Popular Verticals

Estimated 34% said that they had placed a wager, although there was also an increase in the number of players who said that they had not gambled in the slightest – 16%. There were other interesting metrics emerging from the survey, such as how trustworthy are gambling operations according to public (with some people 22% saying not at all).

There were also those who said that the current gambling products were boring to begin with (17%). This explains why NetEnt, one of the main iGaming software developers, have decided to let some staff go in order to focus on game creation. Most iGaming studios have focused on creating a more authentic gaming experience, which is increasingly beginning to resemble video games.

Interestingly enough, engagement with land-based properties was at 57% (most likely because of the lack of online alternatives) whereas 17% chose to go online. These numbers are likely to even out or reverse completely in 2019.

There’s been a marked increase in Smart TV gambling with the activity reaching 5% of the total. Gambling advertisement is very common on Swedish television. There were also 14% of activities that were lumped together in “other ways,” without any specification of what the activities were in the first place.

Swedes seems to be very sober in their gambling choices and practices, with only 3% of all interviewed persons admitting that they overdid gambling in the week leading up to the interview. Still, there is a big knowledge gap when it comes to self-exclusion schemes, with 52% of people not even aware of the existence of the option.

Carmen Thompson

Carmen is our residential reporter always on the move and hunting down the latest scoops and rumours to explore. Nothing gets past her keen nose, especially when it comes to some serious Jelly Bean poker tournaments.

The NHS to Allocate $2.3bn a Year to Fight Gambling Addiction

Posted on by Carmen Thompson
  • NHS allocates additional funds for fighting mental health problems, including gambling addiction
  • There May tasks Health Secretary with setting up treatment centers
  • Gambling addictions starts at a young age, UKGC commission survey reveals

In the next decade, England will make significant improvements in its spending goals for the treatment of problem gambling behavior throughout the country. This is part of a 10-year strategy introduced by the National Health Service (NHS).

England to Focus on Protecting Vulnerable Gamblers

The National Health Service (NHS) of England has incorporated a new 10-year Long Term Plan which features a provision focusing on problem gambling. The NHS will allocate £2.3 billion a year by 2024, fighting a number of pressing and underfund issues, including the treatment of gambling addiction.

While the United Kingdom has managed to reduce the number of gamblers, the rates of problem gamblers have kept relatively unchanged despite widespread public campaigns highlighting the downsides of the activity.

The NHS initiative will focus on multiple vulnerable groups beyond problem gamblers, including people suffering anxiety and depression and other disruptive mental issues. As part of the ambitious funding changes, such people will have access to 24-hour care.

Gambling Addiction Clinic To Open in Northern England

The move as been welcome by the public and the Department of Health which used the occasion to explain that mental health is becoming an increasing priority when it comes to compiling the budget. According to a spokesperson, the total funds allocated for re-focusing the NHS’ activities will amount to £4.5 billion.

The May Cabinet Stepping Up Health Efforts

Prime Minister Theresa May has tasked Health Secretary Matt Hancock to work out the details about setting-up accessible gambling addiction treatment centers, shortly after the government had a near fall-out with lawmakers over the time table for introducing the bet limit on fixed betting odds terminals (FOBTs), which prompted minister Tracey Crouch to hand in her resignation.

Meanwhile, GambleAware, one of the largest NGOs fighting gambling addiction in the United Kingdom has announced a new treatment center back in November 2018 with estimated value of $1 million. The treatment facility will not be operational until April, 2019, when the FOBTslimits are coming into effect ahead of gambling revenue tax hike in October.

GamCare, another body committed to fighting addiction and helping vulnerable individuals, has also been looking into ways of setting-up more help centers across the country.

Paul Farmer from mental health NGO Mind has said that the $2.3 billion in extra funding for fighting mental diseases has been a most welcome move by everyone in the sector fighting the affliction that is gambling dependency.

Understandably, the problems can be traced to childhood, with the BBC announcing a report, noting that the number of children gamblers has quadrupled within two years, based on a UK Gambling Commission study.

Estimated 450,000 children in the United Kingdom are addicted to gambling practice, making for a worrying read of the entire industry.

Advertising has also been another contentious bone with sports bookmakers agreeing to a voluntary water-shed ban, limiting the number of ads aired before this threshold during live matches.

Carmen Thompson

Carmen is our residential reporter always on the move and hunting down the latest scoops and rumours to explore. Nothing gets past her keen nose, especially when it comes to some serious Jelly Bean poker tournaments.

MGM to Add $300m in Profits by 2021

Posted on by Carmen Thompson
  • MGM to Boost Revenue by $300 million
  • Layoffs and technological diversity part of the plan
  • MGM intends to expand in New York which may soon legalize sports betting

MGM Resorts International has kickstarted its efficiency program extending well into 2020 and 2021. The casino will seek to rev up its revenue by $300 million before 2021 is out.

MGM Carries on with Vision 2020 Plan

International casino & hotel brand MGM is now shifting into a higher corporate gear in a bid to add $300 million in profits by 2021. This is an ambitious plan outlined under the MGM 2020 initiative looking into ways to improve the overall profitability of the company.

Apart from revenue growth, MGM is planning to leverage new technologies to boost engagement, win new customers, and expand into new markets. The brand has successfully partnered with all but one major sporting bodies, including:

MGM is planning to boost the majority of its revenue by the end of 2020, with $200 million more in its coffers. Another $100 million will be added by the end of 2021, for the commutative amount of $300 million.

To achieve these ambitious goals MGM will most likely have to lay off people, as the company has already confirmed. MGM explained that 25% of the revenue will come from “shifting functions and responsibilities” whereas another 25% will be obtained through optimization of the revenue channels.

MGM considers that what the company is doing right now is to optimize its corporate structure and “solidify” what’s been build over the past few years, MGM Chairman Jim Murren explained.

We are building on the strong foundation that we have solidified over the past few years, to deepen our efficiencies and achieve sustained growth and margin enhancement.

According to Murren, the latest Vision 2020 is part of another initiative dating back to 2015 and called the Profit Growth Plan which has already achieved its pre-determined goals.

Caesars and Oneida Indian Nation Partner in New York

Mr. Murren will also oversee the relocation of fuds to specific technology-driven initiatives, which are expected to pay off in the long-term.

We had a solid finish to the year in 2018, and as we look to 2019 and beyond, we remain confident in the ramp of our newly opened properties MGM COTAI, MGM Springfield, Park MGM and NoMad Las Vegas

On the matter of new markets, Mr. Murren explained that New York and Ontario are the two new anticipated markets for the casino. In fact, New York can be a particularly tempting prospect at this time as the state is considering to push ahead with its own sports betting legislation, which is another important source of revenue for casinos, including flagship brands such as MGM.

Mr. Murren highlighted the important milestones achieved in 2018, including the multiple partnerships with the major sporting bodies in the United States. The National Football League (NFL) recently signed with Caesars, a move welcomed by the American Gaming Association (AGA)

Carmen Thompson

Carmen is our residential reporter always on the move and hunting down the latest scoops and rumours to explore. Nothing gets past her keen nose, especially when it comes to some serious Jelly Bean poker tournaments.

The Legal Status of Loot Boxes in Gaming

Posted on by Carmen Thompson

The most intense criticism of loot boxes came in late 2017 after being stoked by the Star Wars Battlefront 2’s subsequently-revised progression system. For a while after that, it seemed that the conversation had cooled a little with industry working conditions and net neutrality regulations taking the center stage for a while. This was, however, short-lived s regulators from around the worlds began to crack down on the practice citing concerns that the loot boxes were promoting gambling both illegally and to underage people.

This turned the issue from being a mere consumer criticism to a full-fledged legal question. In Belgium, for instance, the government is of the opinion that loot boxes are a form of gambling and should thus be regulated in the same that all other forms of gambling are. Other countries have taken similar stands as well and in 2019 we should expect even more twists in as far this particular issue is concerned.

As it is, much of the legal battle involving loot boxes revolves around concepts of transferability, real money value as well as publisher profits. Transferability refers to the whether or not items offered by the loot boxes are tradeable which would make them commodities in real money transactions. It has been argued that the game publishers are profiting indirectly off the aftermarket value items that are found in the loot boxes offered in their games – this is simply because increased value of potential rewards increases the demand.

The Crackdown on Loot Boxes

The crackdown on various loot box mechanics began in the Netherlands in early 2018 after the country’s gaming authority found 4 out of 10 games it investigated to be in need of a gambling license if they were to continue operating within its borders. This was followed by a number of media reports which named Dota 2, Rocket League, FIFA 18 and PlayerUnkown’s Battlegrounds as these first wave offenders. Other countries also began to look into loot boxes at about the same time – these included the United Kingdom, the United States, China, South Korea, and Australia.

What Is in Store for Loot Boxes in 2019?

Well, one thing is for sure – even though several governments are regulators are seriously investigating loot boxes, the law is more often than not very sluggish when it comes to catching up with changing realities of the information age. That said, this sluggishness is certainly bound to leave loot boxes in the legal grey area in many parts of the world which might be a problem in the future in case some of the loot boxes do indeed promote gambling.

Carmen Thompson

Carmen is our residential reporter always on the move and hunting down the latest scoops and rumours to explore. Nothing gets past her keen nose, especially when it comes to some serious Jelly Bean poker tournaments.

Rhode Islands Gets $683,000 in First Week of Sports Betting

Posted on by Carmen Thompson
  • Rhode Island rakes in $683,000 in first week of sports betting
  • The states expects a strong turnout in December
  • 5 more states consider sports betting in 2019

Rhode Island cashed in on its first week of sports betting, with the state’s gamers contributing a total of $683,000 in wagers. The Rhode Island Lottery has fleshed out the details on Friday, December 28. The numbers concern the Twin River Casino in Lincoln for November.

The U.S. Smallest State Rakes in $700,000 in Sports Wagers

Rhode Island, the U.S. state has managed to handle a hefty $683,000 in sports wagers during the first week of its sports betting operations with the numbers announced this Friday by the Rhode Island Lottery Commission

Twin River Casino is the only approved property so far taking wagers on sports events’ outcomes in New England. With the activity hitting off on November 26, the figures cover a 5-day spread. While some see signs of strength others don’t entirely rule out the possibility of a hype build-up, which may tumble in the months to com.

Nevertheless, a total handle of nearly $700,000 a week is sufficient to chart a future in which the casino handles around $3 million a month. Breaking down the total handle, $610,000 was paid back to customers with the Twin River Casino cashing in estimated $73,000 in revenue.

Twin River Casino is located in a good spot, ready to take customers from neighbouring Massachusetts.

Legal Betting and the Way Ahead for the Industry in 2019

Following the legalization of Rhode Island’s sports betting, much is about to change in the U.S. betting landscape in 2019. With the small state managing to push through with its own legal bills, other states are now expecting to legalize their activities. The wait list is not too long in any event:

  • Michigan
  • Connecticut
  • New York
  • Arkansas
  • District of Columbia

In each case, these states are edging closer to getting their sports betting activities legalized in 2019, though not all of them have obtained the clear go-ahead. Arkansas is in fact the only sure state that will launch its own activities by mid-2019, as voters supported the idea during the mid-terms.

Michigan did a last-moment push for the legalization of the activity, but the suggestion was shot down by Governor Rick Snyder, after having cleared both houses. Debates will continue well into 2019.

Meanwhile, New York has had several betting bills since 2013. In 2018 alone, several more were spearheaded but apparently couldn’t make the cut. Connecticut is in a similar pickle not quite able to push through the lawmakers that oppose the legalization of the activity.

A Galloping Sports Betting Industry

In 2019, the U.S. sports betting market is expected to add a handful of other states, potentially reaching an overall of 12. This is close to the forecasts for 2030 when no more than 20 states are expected to have official sports betting activities.

This excludes Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) and electronic sports (esports) are not included in the restrictions that states usually levy against mainstream sports. However, they are operating in a dangerous loop hole.

Carmen Thompson

Carmen is our residential reporter always on the move and hunting down the latest scoops and rumours to explore. Nothing gets past her keen nose, especially when it comes to some serious Jelly Bean poker tournaments.

GVC Holdings and Danske Spil Renew Content Deal

Posted on by Carmen Thompson

GVC Holdings, owner of a number of flagship iGaming brands, including Ladbrokes, Coral and Gala, has expanded its existing supply agreement with state-owned and regulated Danish operator Danske Spil.

GVC Holdings and Danske Spil Continue Together in Future

A renewal of the existing partnership between Danske Spil and GVC Holdings will see the companies collaborate for another several years in the very least. GVC will continue to provide Danske Spill with top-notch iGaming products as part of the multi-year deal signed between the companies.

GVC Holdings will provide a diverse portfolio of internally developed products as well as add flagship titles from third-parties and smaller studios to create an authentic experience for Danske Spil’s customers.

In addition, GVC will also be in charge of supplying the existing poker platforms for Danske Spil. This is not the first time that GVC and Danske has decided to carry on together. Originally signed in January 2012, the partnership between the companies was first renewed back in 2015.

GVC has argued that the partnership with the company is of particular interest for the company, pointing out to Danske Spil’s advanced position in Denmark. According to GVC Client Services boss, Ian Turnbull, “Danske Licens Spil is the clear market leader in Denmark”.

Meanwhile, Head of Product Management at Danske Spil, Søren Schneide has also been able to confirm that much of the success of the operator in the country has been occasioned by the commitment of technological know-how on the behalf of GVC.

GVC is not the best-known iGaming content provider on the market, with the company supplying Danske Spil and a French-based company exclusively, but the content business has been growing.

GVC’s Reach Goes Beyond iGaming

GVC is now preparing, like many others, to push in the United States, with the help of a local operator, MGM. The pair have established a joint-venture, MGM GVC, which will focus developing the sports betting offers of both companies while helping them minimize risk and explore new markets.

The move was occasioned by the repeal of PASPA, the federal ban in the United States that had made sports wagering illegal for a long while. Since the new entity was formed in July, 2018, MGM and GVC have worked actively to expand its offer.

MGM launched its mobile platform in New Jersey and the joint-venture teamed up with United Auburn Indian Community to bolster its sports betting segment. In November, the company appointed a new CEO, Adam Greenblatt, consolidating its top brass.

Just recently, MGM GVC partnered with Sportsradar as the company’s official data partner. Data partnerships will be of particular importance to the development of future business operations in the United States insofar as sports betting is concerned.

Regulators want bookmakers to provide truthful information. Even mainstream sporting bodies are now obliged to team up with data suppliers who can crunch reliable odds that are readily available to customers.

With GVC Holdings efforts to bolster its content creation department at home while helping Danske Spil, the company is preparing itself to become a worthy and flexible iGaming behemoth in the burgeoning U.S. industry.

Carmen Thompson

Carmen is our residential reporter always on the move and hunting down the latest scoops and rumours to explore. Nothing gets past her keen nose, especially when it comes to some serious Jelly Bean poker tournaments.