Tag: Gambling in the USA

Welcome to our weekly roundup of American gambling news again! It was again an eventful week in the USA, despite the still-active virus attack.

Here, we are going through the weekly highlights of the American gambling industry which include the latest news, new partnerships and compliance updates. Read on and get updated.

Latest News

Rush Street Interactive (RSI) has launched its flagship brand and award-winning online casino platform BetRivers.com in West Virginia. Through RSI’s partnership with Century Casinos Inc.’s (Nasdaq: CNTY) Mountaineer Park Inc., West Virginians can now play a fun array of online slot games and popular table games such as blackjack, roulette and baccarat. Similar to other markets where it operates, BetRivers.com plans to consistently add fan-favourite casino games to its site in West Virginia to provide players with fresh content and the same robust library of games it is known for in other states.

Rhode Island-based Bally’s Corp has announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Tropicana Las Vegas Hotel and Casino from Gaming & Leisure Properties Inc for about $308 million. The agreement for the nearly 1500-room hotel, casino, theatre and convention property also involves a sale-and-leaseback transaction relating to Bally’s Black Hawk, Colorado and Rock Island, Illinois, casino properties. The Bally’s-Tropicana transaction is expected to close early next year.

Leaders from the global games industry who participated in #PlayApartTogether have committed to reactivate the initiative launched one year ago, which encourages gamers everywhere to follow World Health Organisation (WHO) health advice on COVID-19 prevention. As part of #PlayApartTogether, a large number of gaming companies agreed to disseminate evidence-based health messages from WHO to help slow the spread of COVID-19. To promote these messages, hundreds of game industry leaders in the interactive entertainment space have encouraged their vast network of users to follow the WHO’s health guidelines.

Wynn Las Vegas has announced a new COVID-19 vaccination and testing policy for its employees. As per the new policy, all employees must get vaccinated or undergo weekly COVID-19 tests. The company said that 60% of its employees have already been vaccinated. The announcement comes as the Nevada Gaming Control Board says it will only consider expanding capacity beyond the current 50% limit if casino-resorts take “measurable and material steps” to get employees vaccinated.

Financial Results

Sports wagering revenue in Iowa reached a new record of $13.5m in March, while the US state’s handle also hit a new monthly high of $161.4m. The revenue total represented a 1,025.0% increase on the $1.2m reported in the same month 2020, the month in which the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic shuttered the state’s casinos and saw major leagues suspended. It also marked a 75.3% month-over-month rise on the $7.7m posted in February this year, as well as breaking January’s $11.3m revenue record.

The casinos in Atlantic City saw an 80% drop in profits last year. According to the state Division of Gaming Enforcement, Atlantic City’s nine casinos collectively posted $117.5 million in gross operating profits in 2020, down from nearly $594m in 2019.

New Partnership

Online casino content developer Spinmatic has entered into a new partnership deal with the Mexican operator BigBola. Through the deal, Spinmatic has strengthened its presence in Latin America, particularly in Mexico, where Big Bola has twenty casinos, apart from the Big Bola Online platform. Spinmatic has a strong interest in the Mexican market, with several of its games already dedicated to this country’s culture. Some of these Mexican-themed slots are El Fuego, Mayanera Return, Día de los Muertos and the most recent 3 Amigos.

Appointments and Promotions

Leading US gaming company DraftKings has appointed Brian Angiolet as its first-ever Chief Media Officer. Most recently, Angiolet served as SVP and Chief Business Officer at Verizon Communications. During his tenure at Verizon, Angiolet spearheaded a number of high-profile, multi-billion-dollar content and advertising initiatives including broadcasting, sports and digital entertainment deals across Verizon’s Fios and media properties, partnerships with premier sports leagues like the NFL and NBA, and oversight of Verizon Wireless’ advertising and media portfolio.

Gaming Laboratories International (GLI) has announced multiple promotions within the company. Promoted to senior vice president are Christine Gallo, Compliance and Quality Assurance, and Kevin Mullally, Government Relations and General Counsel. Promoted to vice president are Elizabeth Harrison, Human Resources; Mackenzie Haugh, Engineering; Sangeeta Reddy, Engineering; and Angela Zografos, Vice President, Legal, Corporate and Regulatory Compliance. Throughout the company’s global laboratories, dozens of engineers have also been promoted.

Compliance Update

A pair of bills in the Florida Senate would create a state gaming commission and allow pari-mutuel facilities to offer certain forms of gambling without holding live horse races or jai alai games to bet on. Senate President Wilton Simpson announced that the Regulated Industries Committee will consider SB 7076 and SB 7080 during their meetings next week. The move comes while officials are engaged with negotiations with the Seminole Tribe over a new gaming compact. SB 7076 would create a five-member “Gaming Control Commission” which would oversee all of the state’s gaming activities. Currently, the Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering oversees Florida’s commercial gambling market.

Welcome to our weekly roundup of American gambling news again! It was again an eventful week in the USA, despite the still-active virus attack.

Here, we are going through the weekly highlights of the American gambling industry which include the latest news, new partnerships and compliance updates. Read on and get updated.

Latest News

Konami Gaming’s DIMENSION 49J video slot cabinet and All Aboard video slot series have got nominated in three separate categories in the Annual EKG Slot Awards by Eilers & Krejcik Gaming. DIMENSION 49J has been nominated for Top Performing NEW Cabinet, while All Aboard has been nominated for Top Performing NEW Premium Game and Top Performing Proprietary Branded Game.

Caesars Entertainment has announced a $32.5 million expansion to its Indiana Grand Racing & Casino. Construction is set to start on April 1 and the project is expected to be completed by the end of the year. The expansion is expected to create more than 100 new casino jobs. Currently, Indiana Grand has about 100,000 square feet of gaming space. The 25,000-square-foot expansion will provide space for 100 new slot machines and 25 additional gaming tables.

NASCAR partner WynnBET, the digital gaming division of Wynn Resorts, has launched the WynnBET mobile app in the Commonwealth of Virginia in conjunction with being awarded an online sports betting permit in the state. With the recent announcement from the Virginia Lottery, WynnBET is now a legal gaming operator in the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the WynnBET mobile app has been launched for sports betting enthusiasts to register and use throughout the state. Players who are 21 years of age or older can now download the app on Apple or Android devices with a $500 risk-free bet.

Inspired Entertainment has generated total revenue of $71.7m and adjusted EBITDA of $34.9m in the fourth quarter of 2020. These results include a payment from a UK LBO customer related to the company’s contractual revenue share of their value-added tax rebate, which positively impacted revenue by $32.5m and adjusted EBITDA by $31.7 million (in conjunction with third party fees).

Gross gambling revenues at MGM Springfield rose in February to $16.89 million, up from $14.5 million in January. But gross gambling revenue at the downtown casino still lags pre-pandemic figures in a pattern that holds true elsewhere and reflects the hospitality industry’s continued efforts to rebound from COVID-19 and the shutdowns necessary to prevent its spread.

Partnerships

Sportsbet.io has signed a two-year sponsorship agreement with Copa do Brasil. The agreement involves collaboration between the two brands, visibility on signs (LEDs and static), panels and rugs on the lawn, in addition to the traditional backdrops and materials in digital media. According to Justin Le Brocque, Head of Marketing at Sportsbet.io, this association with the national tournament is more of a connection with the Brazilian fan and a reason for pride for the company.

Pragmatic Play, a leading content provider to the gaming industry, has extended its presence in South America through its new partnership with Grupo Cordialito in Venezuela. The operator, one of the largest in the South American nation, will soon gain access to the supplier’s complete collection of Slots, including its latest titles, such as Eye of the Storm and Joker King, as well as its leading Live Casino products and the Virtual Sports offering.

FanDuel Group has announced a new multi-year partnership with two-time NBA champion and Inside the NBA analyst Kenny “The Jet” Smith. This new partnership designates FanDuel as the exclusive sports betting and daily fantasy provider for Kenny Smith. Additionally, Smith will appear in FanDuel advertising and TNT promotions featuring FanDuel’s free-to-play contests. Smith will also provide unique content for FanDuel Group’s social media channels.

Dignitas and HyperX have renewed and extended their partnership. The renewed partnership is the continuation of HyperX and Dignitas’ relationship that dates back to 2013. HyperX will continue to be the official peripheral partner of Dignitas. Through the partnership, HyperX and Dignitas will collaborate on exciting new content for Dignitas’ die-hard esports fans. HyperX Cloud Comms, a new and recurring content series, will bring Dignitas fans closer than ever before to their favourite players.

Kindred Group has teamed up with Gamban to offer Unibet customers in the US the ability to block online gambling sites across devices. Kindred has a long-standing cooperation with Gamban since 2017 across Europe and Australia. Gamban’s gambling blocking software works as an online gambling self-exclusion tool, preventing access to any online gambling site on individual devices.

Scientific Games Corporation has announced that its instant scratch games are coming to the Idaho Lottery. Scientific Games will design and manufacture Idaho Lottery scratch games under a new two-year contract, which begins in March 2021 and may be extended by the lottery for up to six additional years.

New Appointment

Everi Holdings has appointed Kate C. Lowenhar-Fisher as Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer – General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary, effective 22 March 2021, subject to customary regulatory approvals. She will have responsibility for the Company’s legal and regulatory compliance affairs and will report to Everi’s Chief Executive Officer, Michael Rumbolz.

Compliance Updates

Nuvei Corporation has announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary Nuvei Technologies (Nuvei) has been approved to support the sports betting industry in Virginia. The Virginia Lottery has issued a sports betting vendor registration to Nuvei in accordance with the state’s sports betting regulation. The Company can now offer its innovative payment technology and industry expertise to provide an optimised payment experience and increased revenue opportunities for licensed gaming operators across the State.

Golden Nugget Online Gaming Inc. has announced that it has received a temporary permit to commence online sports wagering in the State of Virginia.

Welcome to our weekly roundup of American gambling news again! It was again an eventful week in the USA, despite the still-active virus attack.

Here, we are going through the weekly highlights of the American gambling industry which include the latest news, new partnerships and compliance updates. Read on and get updated.

Latest News

Allied Esports Entertainment has confirmed that it has received an unsolicited proposal from Bally’s Corporation to acquire all of the outstanding equity interests of the Company for a total consideration of $100 million, payable, at the Company’s option, in cash, Bally’s capital stock, or a combination of both. The Bally’s proposal would require the Company to terminate its previously announced agreement with Element Partners to sell all of the equity interests of Club Services, an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, for consideration totalling $78,250,000.

PlayUp has launched its online sports betting app in Colorado. The application offers an easy and simple sports betting interface and options aimed at the casual user. Once users set up their account and log in, they are just three clicks away from placing a bet. As part of its entry into the U.S. market, PlayUp is now offering attractive bonus offers. All new players will get a 200% bonus on first bets, whether they win or lose. Also, all newly registered users will get a free $20 bet.

MGM Resorts International and BetMGM have announced a unified commitment to promote responsible gaming. This comes as MGM Resorts and BetMGM join the National Council on Problem Gambling in promoting Problem Gambling Awareness Month throughout March. As part of the new joint-initiative, BetMGM and MGM Resorts’ employees will participate in a weekly educational series provided by EPIC Risk designed to provide employees with unique and diverse perspectives on problem gambling and insight into how operators can play an important role in problem gambling prevention.

Partnerships

Bally’s Corporation has become an Authorised Sports Betting Operator of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The deal represents Bally’s second sports betting partnership with a professional sports league, following its previously announced official sports betting partnership with the National Hockey League. This partnership will provide Bally’s with access to official league data, as well as rights to use official NBA marks and logos across the Company’s expanding portfolio of online sports betting products.

Major League Rugby (MLR) has announced an exclusive official sports betting data and betting streaming partnership with Genius Sports Group (GSG). MLR has granted GSG the exclusive rights to capture, manage and distribute the League’s official data with sportsbooks across North America and worldwide. Through its 24/7 bet monitoring, educational workshops and model rules and regulations, GSG will help provide MLR with a leading integrity programme to help protect the fairness and transparency of its matches.

Esports organisation Gen.G has joined forces with the University of Kentucky to host the “University of Kentucky Esports Invitational.” Auburn University, Mississippi State University, Texas A&M University, University of Alabama, University of Georgia, University of Kentucky, University of Mississippi, University of Missouri and University of Tennessee will compete in the invitational. The Invitational is the first time that all of the schools will be competing in the same esports tournament.

Boyd Gaming Corporation and FanDuel Group have announced their plans to launch Stardust-branded online casinos in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, marking the iconic gaming brand’s return to real-money gaming. FanDuel and Boyd Gaming anticipate launching the Stardust casinos in April, pending final regulatory approval from each state. FanDuel plans to rebrand its existing Betfair Casino in New Jersey under Boyd Gaming’s Stardust brand, while launching a Stardust online casino in Pennsylvania.

Compliance Updates

The Georgia Senate has approved a bill that could legalise online sports betting in the state. The full chamber passed Senate Resolution 135, which would ask voters if Georgia should allow online sports wagering in the state. The resolution to amend the state’s Constitution, which needed support from two-thirds of the chamber’s 56 members, passed 41-10. Senators also voted 34-17 to approve Senate Bill 142, which regulates how sports betting would be conducted in the state. SR 135 and SB 142 now go to the House for their consideration.

Welcome to our weekly roundup of American gambling news again! It was again an eventful week in the USA, despite the still-active virus attack.

Here, we are going through the weekly highlights of the American gambling industry which include the latest news, new partnerships and compliance updates. Read on and get updated.

Latest News

Wynn Resorts has entered into a deal with Blue Wire and invested $3.5 million in the sports podcasting network. The deal includes the build-out of a podcasting studio in the Wynn Las Vegas lobby. That studio will host Blue Wire podcast personalities as well as star athlete guests to entice people to visit the hotel, get excited about sports and hopefully place bets on them. Wynn runs a subsidiary business called WynnBet, which handles sports betting, and the team specifically eyed Blue Wire to promote that brand.

PR agency 5W Public Relations (5WPR) has announced the launch of an online gambling public relations division. The creation of the new division will allow a focused and strategic approach to online gambling, casinos, lotto and sports betting clients. PR services for online gambling and lottery clients include messaging and positioning, media relations, visibility programmes, content creation, partnerships and celebrity relations, digital media campaigns, event planning, thought leadership and speaking opportunities.

Torstar Corporation has announced that it intends to launch an online casino betting brand this year in the regulated Ontario online gaming market. Torstar also announced key additions to its iGaming team, including Gil Steinfeld, a gaming industry veteran with expertise across all product verticals; Don Bourgeois, former General Counsel for the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario, who will oversee compliance, regulatory and legal matters; and Jim Warren, a senior executive and entrepreneur with 25 years of progressive leadership experience in politics and the gaming and lottery industry.

Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont has announced that the state has reached an agreement with the Mohegan Tribe, owners and operators of the Mohegan Sun casino in Uncasville, to allow new gaming options, including online wagering and sports betting. The deal includes a 20% tax rate on new online gaming and a 13.75% tax rate on sports wagering. The governor’s office said this new agreement will generate “tens of millions of dollars” in additional revenue for the state.

Payments platform PayNearMe has announced enhancements to its iGaming solution that enable U.S. operators to dramatically speed up the market and simplify the deposit and payout experience across a wide range of payment types through a single integration. PayNearMe’s expanded iGaming solution makes deposits and payouts easy for both players and operators.

The National Council on Problem Gambling has officially commenced Problem Gambling Awareness Month. In Ohio, the growing impact of gambling on families and businesses will be the focus of several events during this Problem Gambling Awareness Month.

Partnerships

Vegas Golden Knights has signed a multi-year deal with UpickTrade, a sports betting recommendation service. Through the deal, UpickTrade has become the Official Sports Pick Service Partner of the Knights. The partnership marks the first sponsorship deal between a Mexican-based company and an NHL club, as well as the first partnership between a professional sports franchise and a sports betting recommendation service.

BetMGM has entered into a deal with Borussia Dortmund and become the exclusive Regional U.S. Partner of the club. The partnership features cross-marketing opportunities as well as fan-focused assets such as social media promotions, and BetMGM customer sweepstakes awarding special Dortmund prizes.

Gambling technology company Playtech has signed a non-exclusive sports wagering deal with Novomatic Americas, a wholly-owned subsidiary of NOVOMATIC AG. The agreement builds on the long-term partnership between Playtech and NOVOMATIC, which jointly operates more than 10,000 kiosks worldwide. The strategic partnership will see Playtech’s sports wagering kiosk systems delivered through Novomatic ActionBook, the US market’s most popular sports wagering kiosk.

New Appointment

FanDuel Group has appointed Amy Howe to the newly created role of president. Howe joins FanDuel from Live Nation Entertainment, where she served for seven years, most recently as global chief operating officer of Ticketmaster.

Compliance Updates

International Game Technology and Scientific Games Corporation have announced that they have signed a cross-licensing agreement for patents related to cashless slot gaming technologies. Under the agreement, Scientific Games and IGT will be able to offer patented cashless gaming technologies from the companies’ combined portfolios of casino management systems solutions to the U.S. gaming industry.

The Nevada Gaming Control Board has recommended approval of licenses for both William Hill and Bally’s. William Hill US, which has more than 120 sportsbook and kiosk locations across the state and is a subsidiary of the UK-based William Hill Plc, would become the centerpiece of Caesars’ sports wagering operation if the board’s unanimous recommendation is adopted by the Nevada Gaming Commission when it meets March 18.

Welcome to our weekly roundup of American gambling news again! It was again an eventful week in the USA, despite the still-active virus attack.

Here, we are going through the weekly highlights of the American gambling industry which include the latest news, new partnerships and compliance updates. Read on and get updated.

Latest News

Jackpot Digital has announced that it is reviewing and intending to spin-out its online gaming software assets to a newly incorporated company (Spinco). As consideration for the assets, Spinco will issue shares which shall be distributed to Jackpot’s shareholders. The purpose of the spin-out shall be to leverage and monetise the Company’s online digital assets and commercial relationships in the gaming sector. Also, the spin-out will allow a more streamlined regulatory process by separating the Company’s respective business operations and allow the Company to attract specialised management to run the online operations.

JCM Global has installed the upgraded version of its award-winning ICB Intelligent Cash Box system at two Sac & Fox Nation casinos in Oklahoma. The 623 slot games at Black Hawk Casino in Shawnee and the 148 slot games at Sac & Fox Nation Casino in Stroud now have the added boost of technology of JCM’s sophisticated ICB 3.0, further enhancing security and efficiencies. Both properties also benefit from JCM’s industry-leading iVIZION bill validators and a combination of GEN5 and GEN2U thermal printers.

Digital Gaming Corporation is entering the US online sports betting and iGaming market using the globally recognised “betway” brand. The betway brand operates in over 20 regulated markets across the world, and with global recognition it is both distinct and memorable. The high regard in which DGC Betway is viewed within the US gaming industry is demonstrated by the fact that DGC has secured market access agreements for 10 US States, for online Sports Betting, and where allowed by law, iGaming. DGC will continue to strive towards expanding its footprint across the US and is committed to finding partners that fit with its strategic objectives.

Multinational stadium designer Populous has revealed the designs for a $500 million convention, entertainment and esports centre in downtown Toronto. The venue is still unnamed but will sit on 4.5 acres of the Canadian National Exhibition grounds, a waterfront site on the northern edge of Lakeshore Boulevard that would also see a hotel tower rise at the project’s rear. OverActive Media (OAM), an international media and entertainment company, is serving as the project’s developer.

Helicon One Digital Ltd, the marketing company behind the UK casino portal The Slot Buzz, is set to launch its latest gaming site in Canada. The new website, thecasinoheat.ca, will focus on providing reviews and game guides for Canadian gamblers looking to place bets online. Reviews of more than 50 casino brands will be published on the site with operator and licensing information as well as informative and expert opinion on the games, software and payment services available.

Enthusiast Gaming Holdings is going to launch a new premium online publication dedicated to the growing needs of today’s esports fans. Combining content elements from the Company’s two existing esports coverage outlets, Upcomer and Daily Esports, Enthusiast Gaming will relaunch one unified esports publication later this spring. The new publication, which will operate as Upcomer, will leverage its existing user and prediction engine, to create one of the most complete esports fan engagement experiences.

New Partnership

Bally’s Corporation has become an Official Sports Betting Partner of the National Hockey League (NHL). This multi-year deal represents Bally’s first sports betting partnership with a professional sports league. The partnership provides Bally’s with rights to use NHL marks and logos as well as use of the League’s official data across its expanding portfolio of sports betting products. Also, through its media partnership with Sinclair Broadcast Group, Bally’s will create engaging content for NHL fans and integrate that content into live NHL game coverage spanning 19 regional sports networks.

Compliance Updates

Rush Street Interactive (RSI) has secured market access opportunities in Ohio, Maryland and Missouri through a strategic partnership deal with Penn National Gaming. Under the terms of the deal, RSI will have the ability to offer its BetRivers.com real-money online casino and sports betting platform for up to 20 years in Ohio, Maryland and Missouri through potential second skins in each of those states, subject to license availability, state law and regulatory approvals.

The North Dakota House of Representatives has passed two resolutions that could put sports betting and online poker on the November ballot. The legislation may allow North Dakota to join Michigan in legalising interstate poker. Since the state does not have any commercial casinos, all gaming and sports betting would take place online. The resolutions will now go to the Senate, where the Republicans hold a strong majority.

Welcome to our weekly roundup of American gambling news again! It was again an eventful week in the USA, despite the still-active virus attack.

Here, we are going through the weekly highlights of the American gambling industry which include the latest news and new partnerships. Read on and get updated.

Latest News

The Argentine game and platform developer Vibra Gaming has announced that it has received the approval of its RNG by Gaming Laboratories International. This certification is a vital step for Vibra Gaming’s games to be made available for distribution by operators and in jurisdictions requiring this level of technical standards and compliance.

American poker legend Chris Moneymaker has signed with online poker site Americas Cardroom. The new ACR Team Pro made the announcement during the live stream of the $8 Million Venom, which saw its prize pool reach $9,435,000. The Venom is the biggest online poker tournament for U.S. players and consistently smashes records with each incarnation.

Detroit’s three casinos, MGM Grand Detroit, MotorCity Casino and Greektown Casino, have reported $90.84 million in monthly aggregate revenue in January, the first full month the venues were open since shuttering in November under state orders tied to the Covid-19 pandemic. According to a report released by the Michigan Gaming Control Board, table games and slots collectively generated $86.78 million in revenue last month. Retail sports betting generated a total of $4.06 million in revenue.

Pollard Banknote Limited has announced that Ms.PAC-MAN, the iconic pop-culture powerhouse, has re-joined its portfolio of licensed properties. Under license from BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc., Ms.PAC-MAN fits seamlessly into Pollard Banknote’s Retro Collection – an ever-growing and diversified selection of recognisable retro brands including PAC-MAN, GALAGA and DIG DUG.

INTRALOT has announced that it has reached a binding agreement with Nexus Group in Peru to sell its entire stake of 20% in Intralot de Peru SA, an associate of INTRALOT Group, for a cash consideration of US$21million. The Company also signed a three-year extension of its current contract with Intralot de Peru SA through 2024, to continue to provide its gaming technology and support services.

Connecticut Lawmakers are planning to legalise online gambling to help fund the state’s Pledge to Advance Connecticut (PACT) programme. A group of Democratic legislators unveiled plans to legalise additional forms of gambling. The new tax revenue that it would derive should be allocated to the state’s PACT programme, they say.

Plans for a casino in Hawaii are not moving forward after a recent proposal was rejected by lawmakers. The members of the House Economic Development Committee voted to reject a proposal to bring a casino to Kapolei. The plans were submitted by the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) and would have created a gambling venue to support the state agency in charge of placing Native Hawaiians on homestead property.

Bud Smith, former chairman of the British Colombia Lottery Corporation, has told a public inquiry that he warned cabinet ministers about the risks of high-end gaming. Smith told the inquiry into money laundering that he had warned finance minister Mike de Jong and New Democrat Attorney General David Eby about the risks of gaming where bet limits reached $100,000 or over.

Partnership

The Canadian Gaming Association has entered into a partnership with the iGaming Academy to launch a full online training solution, including up-to-date compliance and skills training courses and a robust Learning Management System (LMS), all specialised for the gaming industry. This new partnership will ensure that the gaming companies in Canada are able to easily access high quality, regulator-approved training content year-round.

WynnBET, the online gaming division of Wynn Resorts, has announced a marketing collaboration with the Memphis Grizzlies. The announcement comes less than two weeks after WynnBET was approved as an operator in Tennessee by the Sports Wagering Committee of the Tennessee Education Lottery Corp.

Online sportsbook PointsBet has become an official sports betting partner of the National Hockey League (NHL). The long-term agreement between PointsBet and the NHL spans across both the US and Australia. As part of the partnership, PointsBet receives rights to use NHL marks and logos, as well as a variety of NHL sponsorship and promotional opportunities for its brand across various linear, digital and social media assets.

DraftKings Inc. and the National Football League (NFL) have signed into an agreement to expand their current daily fantasy sports (DFS) and content partnership to Canada. The new deal further deepens the relationship between the two organisations and enhances the DFS fan experience in Canada as the NFL season approaches the Super Bowl.

Compliance

Coljuegos, the gambling regulator in Colombia, has awarded a five-year igaming license to sports betting exchange Betfair. The license will allow Betfair to operate betting on real sporting and non-sporting events, online slots, roulette and blackjack.

Welcome to our weekly roundup of American gambling news again! It was again an eventful week in the USA, despite the still-active virus attack.

Here, we are going through the weekly highlights of the American gambling industry which include the latest news, new partnerships and new appointments. Read on and get updated.

Latest News

Nevada gambling regulators have granted preliminary approval to the new owners of the Rio hotel-casino to operate the off-Strip property. The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported that the Nevada Gaming Commission’s preliminary finding of suitability for executives of Dreamscape Companies LLC will set the owners up to operate the hotel-casino in a few years.

Playtech PLC has confirmed that it is in exclusive talks to sell its financial division for up to $200 million in cash as part of its simplification plans. Playtech is going to sell Finalto to a consortium backed by Barinboim Group, Leumi Partners, Phoenix Insurance Co and Menora Mivtachim Insurance. The cash offer from the consortium is worth up to $200m, of which $170m is payable on completion.

Caesars Entertainment has announced a strategic investment in the daily fantasy sports platform SuperDraft. With the investment, Caesars takes an initial minority equity position with an option to increase its stake over time up to 100% at pre-determined levels. The partnership positions SuperDraft as an exciting new option and dominant force in the daily fantasy sports industry.

International Game Technology PLC has announced that its PlaySports platform is powering the recently launched FanDuel Sportsbook mobile app in Michigan. IGT PlayDigital PlayCasino games can now be enjoyed by online players throughout Michigan via FanDuel Casino. This PlaySports platform deployment in Michigan marks the ninth state where IGT and FanDuel have teamed up to deliver best-in-class mobile sports betting.

Partnerships

Rush Street Interactive has announced that its flagship brand BetRivers.com has become an official betting partner of the Detroit Pistons by entering into a multi-year partnership with the three-time NBA Championship winning team. The partnership includes a unique and exciting free to play game, Fan Pick’em – presented by BetRivers, where Pistons fans can go directly to the Pistons app to play games and win fabulous prizes.

Betway has renewed its sponsorship agreement with Brazilian esports organisation MIBR. Since the partnership began in 2018, Betway and MIBR have continued to deliver top tier content and unique activations for fans such as the successful “MIBR Stars – Brought to you by Betway” and “Lobby das Estrelas” exhibition events last year, where MIBR players and influencers battled it out on fan-favourite CS:GO maps.

JCM Global has again expanded its relationship with Colonial Downs Group. Colonial has installed JCM’s award-winning iVIZION bill validator and ICB Intelligent Cash Box system at their new Rosie’s Gaming Emporium in the Town of Dumfries, Virginia. The Dumfries location is the fifth Rosie’s in the Commonwealth of Virginia, and JCM’s iVIZION and ICB system protect assets and increase efficiencies at each property.

Appointment

Las Vegas Sands has named its long-serving executive Robert Goldstein as the company’s new chairman and CEO. The appointment comes after American casino mogul Sheldon Adelson, who built lavish gambling palaces that made him one of the world’s richest men, died earlier this month at 87. Adelson was Las Vegas Sands’ chairman and chief executive officer since its inception in the late 1980s.

New Launchings

Entercom has announced the launch of BetQL Audio Network. The network, which follows the Company’s recent acquisition of sports data and iGaming affiliate platform QL Gaming Group, will feature sports gambling programming heard across Entercom’s robust portfolio of sports stations, which combined reach nearly 30 million listeners per month, as well as the RADIO.COM app and digital platform.

DraftKings Inc has launched its sportsbook in Virginia. Customers in Virginia will now be able to place bets on a number of markets across professional and collegiate sports using the DraftKings made-in-America digital sportsbook app.

Welcome to our weekly roundup of American gambling news again! It was again an eventful week in the USA, despite the still-active virus attack.

Here, we are going through the weekly highlights of the American gambling industry which include the latest news, new partnerships and new appointments. Read on and get updated.

Latest News

Online casino content provider Pragmatic Play has expanded its presence in Latin America through the launch of its slots and live casino products with Boldt’s Bplay brands in Argentina and Paraguay. Players registered at Bplay.com.ar and Bplay.com.py, are now able to enjoy leading slot titles such as Wolf Gold and Sweet Bonanza, as well as all Live Casino offering including its latest Game Show release – Mega Wheel.

Boyd Gaming Corporation has announced that it awarded more than $145,000 to non-profit organisations across the country in the Company’s annual holiday competition “Wreaths of Hope.” More than 135 non-profit organisations participated in the 2020 competition, decorating wreaths that were displayed online and at Boyd Gaming properties nationwide. Winners were decided directly by Boyd Gaming customers, who were invited to vote for their favourite charities online and in-person at select participating properties.

Partnerships

Shift4 Payments and Sightline Payments have entered into a strategic partnership to power online gaming and sports betting for casinos and sports venues. This partnership between the two leading fintech companies will deliver a seamless payment experience for patrons of hospitality, online/mobile gaming, on-premise gaming and sports betting venues. Sightline’s online/mobile gaming and betting solutions complement Shift4’s end-to-end payments offering to deliver an all-inclusive payment ecosystem for casinos, sports venues and other hospitality businesses.

BetRivers.com has entered into an exclusive content deal with former NBA coach George Karl. The new partnership makes George Karl an exclusive sports betting endorser of the BetRivers brand. Coach Karl will serve as the company’s brand ambassador and spokesperson and will be engaged in great upcoming promotions and events on BetRivers platforms.

Global esports organisation Gen.G has partnered with McDonald’s Southern California franchisees to organise a series of esports initiatives focused around Los Angeles, San Diego and Palm Springs. Specific events will include a multi-week play-in tournament for employees only and a three-day NBA 2K21 All-Star tournament to determine the best young players in Southern California.

Scientific Games Corporation has extended its existing seven-year instant games and hybrid lottery games contracts with Loto-Québec through 31 January 2022. Scientific Games is a trusted supplier to Loto-Québec for more than five decades, recently celebrating the Lottery’s 50th Anniversary and employing generations of workers from the east Montreal area of Québec. Scientific Games, creates and produces games for Loto-Québec and four Canadian provincial lotteries from its Montreal, Quebec manufacturing facility.

Appointment

Gaming and Leisure Properties Inc. has promoted Steven Ladany to the role of senior vice president and chief development officer. In his new role, Steven will lead the Company’s ongoing merger, acquisition and development efforts. Steven joined GLPI in September 2014 as Vice President, Finance and served in that role until March 2019, when he was promoted to Senior Vice President, Finance.

Compliance

Churchill Downs has secured approval for sports betting in Tennessee. Churchill Downs drew approval from the Tennessee Lottery’s Sports Wagering Committee, joining FanDuel, BetMGM, DraftKings and Tennessee Action 24/7. Churchill Downs’ sportsbook, BetAmerica, is rebranding as TwinSpires. BetAmerica is live in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Indiana.

Australian operator PlayUp has expanded its footprint across the US by acquiring a sports betting license in New Jersey. This is the second market access agreement that PlayUp has announced after the recent acquisition of their Colorado license. To gain the license, PlayUp entered into a multi-year deal with FR Park Racing (FRP) which is the sports wagering certificate holder and operator of the Freehold Racetrack. FRP is owned by Pennwood Racing, and the ultimate 50/50 partners of Pennwood are Greenwood Racing, Penn National Gaming, and Parx Casino.

Welcome to our weekly roundup of American gambling news again! It was again an eventful week in the USA, despite the still-active virus attack.

Here, we are going through the weekly highlights of the American gambling industry which include the latest news, new partnerships and new acquisitions. Read on and get updated.

Latest News

Further to the announcement on December 18 from the Ontario provincial government that certain businesses in certain regions, such as casinos and race tracks, will be restricted further operationally, Great Canadian Gaming Corporation has suspended gaming operations at Elements Casino Brantford and racing operations at Flamboro Downs from December 20.

Israel-based mobile gaming giant Playtika Holding Corp has filed for an initial public offering (IPO), disclosing shrinking profit on increased revenue this year. The company in its filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission listed the size of the offering as $100 million.

Landcadia has amended the purchase agreement relating to its merger with Golden Nugget Online Gaming (GNOG). The amendment was made after Landcadia failed to obtain enough shareholder votes in favour of the merger in a virtual meeting. While around 99.8% of those attending the meeting voted in favour, they represented just 40.5% of total shareholders as many did not attend. Landcadia’s policy required that at least 50% of all outstanding shares vote in favour. The purchase agreement has now been amended to allow the merger to be approved with more than 50% of votes cast at a particular meeting.

HeadsUp Entertainment has announced its strategic plan to enter the regulated sports betting market in Canada. Last month, the Canadian federal government introduced a bill (C-218) to the House of Commons that, if passed by both House and Senate, would legalise single-game sports wagering within the country’s 10 provinces and three territories. It is anticipated that this bill will pass in the spring of 2021 and HeadsUp is positioned to be a major player in the sector.

Casinos in New Orleans have reported $32.3 million in winnings this November. This shows a decline of 36.5% when compared to $50.8 million in November 2019. Harrah’s New Orleans reported winning $26.1 million in November 2019. Gaming revenue at the resort this November was $14.7 million, a falloff of 43.5%. Harrah’s recently announced an upcoming name change to Caesars New Orleans and a $325 million renovation. Gaming revenue at the three riverboat casinos in New Orleans saw a 29.3% drop in the November month-to-month comparison. Casino winnings went from $20.8 million in November 2019 to $14.7 million this November.

New Partnerships

BetMakers Technology Group’s wholly-owned subsidiaries BetMakers DNA Pty Ltd and Managed Trading Services Pty Ltd have signed fixed odds and global distribution deals with Supreme Ventures’ wholly-owned subsidiaries Prime Sports Jamaica Limited and Supreme Ventures Racing and Entertainment Ltd.

CT Gaming Interactive has further expanded its presence in the Mexican iGaming market. The company has entered into a new partnership and the deal sees onlinebigbola.mx host CT Gaming Interactive casino games.

New Acquisition

TGS Esports has completed the acquisition of Pepper Esports, a next-generation competitive esports platform. As part of the acquisition, the Pepper executive team, Guy Halford-Thompson, Jackson Warren, and Ben Hoffman, who have a decade of combined experience in growing early-stage companies in the public markets, joined the TGS executive team, and Guy Halford-Thompson will join the TGS board of directors.

New Launching

BetMGM has launched its market-leading sports betting app in Pennsylvania. The BetMGM app offers a user-friendly sports betting experience, making it easy to customise pre-game, live in-play, futures and parlay wagers. Additionally, BetMGM’s integration with MGM Resorts’ M life Rewards programme allows BetMGM customers in Pennsylvania to redeem their gameplay for world-class experiences at MGM Resorts properties nationwide.

Compliance

Online gambling comparison site Compare.bet has successfully completed the registration process in Colorado and is now able to operate in the newly regulated US state.