Category: Business

MLB Inks US, Japan Gambling Deal With MGM

Posted on by Grant Mahon

MGM Resorts International has recently entered into a new partnership and endorsement of the Major League Baseball, a move that is expected to significantly improve its sportsbook game. The partnership deal between the two will encompass gambling rights between in both the United States and Japan and will see MGM Resorts International become the official sponsor of the NBA, the MLB, and WNBA as well as the NHL. With all these partnerships, MGM Resorts International now boasts of official sponsorships of three out of the five major sports leagues in the US. As it stands, the only pro sports league that has been left out is the National Football League but even they have given their individual teams the liberty to choose to get sponsorships.

However, of all the professional sports leagues in the United States, the Major League Baseball has been the most vocal when it comes to the issues of sports betting challenging the integrity of sporting activities. This is very understandable considering the fact the MLB has been the scene of two of the biggest gambling scandals in US history – they naturally have to be wary. As such, when inking the sponsorship with MGM, the league was very open about its plans to ensure the integrity of the sports, something that they hope to achieve by asking MGM to include additional integrity management measures into the sponsorship deal.

What the Deal Entails

As per the terms of the agreement, MGM Resorts International will be allowed to promote itself with the MLB network and the MLB teams. In addition to that, the gambling operator will also be allowed to set up shops at stadiums as well as MGM properties which promote baseball and demonstrate baseball technique. To facilitate most of these plans, the company has plans of launching small pop-up sites that will be offering pitching techniques, batting practice, baserunning practice as well as practice with other important fundamentals of the game.

MGM Resorts will also be running its commercials on the MLB network and the MLB’s At Batt app while branding itself as the MLB’s authorized gaming company. The gaming company will also be highly represented at major events in the league’s events including the All-Star Game and playoffs – this will also be the same for such events as the League of Championships, the Division Series, and the World Series.

One thing that is hard to dismiss is the fact that the new deal with the MLB effectively gives MGM Resorts International a near monopoly on league sponsorships in the United States. In fact, the company has reportedly been in talks with some NFL teams and we should, therefore, expect news of newer partnerships or sponsorships in the near future.

Grant Mahon

Grant is the self-professed casino madman and reporter that brought this eclectic team of dedicated and talented writers together from around the world to proudly build an humble empire of authentic casino news.

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.

Rank Group Raises Millions for Charity

Posted on by Grant Mahon

The casino market is an incredibly lucrative industry, and it is always great to see gaming executives giving back. Rank Group is putting an inspiring example forward, having recently raised £2 million ($2.6 million USD) for the charity, Carer’s Trust.

Working Together to Make Lives Better

Rank Group has had a partnership with Carer’s Trust since 2014, when the gambling operator started running various fundraising initiatives for the organization. Over the years, Rank Group has participated an organized a number of campaigns to benefit Carer’s Trust, having invested over 8500 hours to raise valuable funds.

The money raised by Rank Group has helped Carer’s Trust in a number of ways. Over 9000 careers have been provided with additional help and support, as the fundraising has allowed for the purchase of essential equipment, more breaks and extra training,

The fundraising efforts of the Rank Group team members and their customers across the country have been phenomenal. Their incredible support has made a vast difference to local unpaid carers.

While Rank Group’s charity campaigns have been varied in the past, the company’s most recent initiative was a harrowing one. Recently, the senior executive team at Rank Group undertook the Bushtucker Trial Challenge, which required them to eat insects and other creepy critters.

About Carer’s Trust

Carer’s Trust is a charity that supports unpaid carers aged 16 and over. Their support is aimed at helping individuals who care for friends and family members who are disabled or frail, as well as those who have addiction and mental health problems.

The organization assists carers across the United Kingdom, providing them with practical help and training, as well as replacement care. One of the most important aspects of Carer’s Trust is that the organization offers carers breaks, which many are in need of when looking after a loved one with an illness.

Carer’s Trust also provides grants to carers, offering them the financial support that they need. There are grants worth up to £300 available that are designed to benefit carers for issues such as breaks, travel costs, home repairs, training and items for the home.

It is truly inspiring to see a gaming operator working hard to benefit such a worthy cause. Rank Group is in good company, as well, as firms like Microgaming and Blueprint Gaming have also launched campaigns to benefit charitable organisations. In the future, it is hoped that more casino and gambling operators will step forward to lend a hand by raising money for charities that help the people that need it the most.

 

Grant Mahon

Grant is the self-professed casino madman and reporter that brought this eclectic team of dedicated and talented writers together from around the world to proudly build an humble empire of authentic casino news.