Month: January 2022

This follows current chair Lorenzo Pellicioli announcing his retirement, and current CEO Marco Sala moving up to the role of executive chair as his replacement.

Pellicioli became the chairperson of IGT’s board in November 2018, having previously been vice-chair from April 2015 and serving on Lottomatica’s board of directors prior to this.

During his tenure, he oversaw an overhaul of IGT’s business that saw the supplier split into two segments: Global Lottery and Global Gaming, as well as the decision to sell the Lottomatica B2C business last year.

With Pellicoli’s exit, Sala becomes executive chair. He was named IGT CEO in April 2015 when Gtech, where he previously served as chief executive, merged with the legacy International Game Technology.

“The changes to the IGT executive team and board are an important step in positioning the Company for the next phase of its evolution,” Pellicioli said. “The actions further strengthen IGT’s capabilities to execute on its long-term strategy and the value creation initiatives identified in the company’s recent investor day. 

“It is a natural evolution for Marco to lead the IGT board. More importantly, during his 19 years at IGT and its predecessor companies, he has a proven track record of success and has earned the trust and respect of IGT’s customers, investors, business partners and regulators. 

“As executive chair, Marco will focus on managing the board, corporate governance, including sustainability initiatives, and guiding the strategic direction of IGT.”

Sala’s nomination as chairman will be proposed at the June 2022 meeting of the IGT board.

Replacing Sala as chief executive will be long-time television executive Vincent Sandusky, who most recently held the same role as Univision Communications. Sandusky also served as chief executive of local television businesses Media General and LIN Media.

“We are delighted to announce that Vince Sadusky, a seasoned executive, long-time member of the current IGT board as well as that of its predecessor companies and the former chair of our audit committee will succeed Marco as CEO,” Pellicioli said.

“Vince brings a unique set of skills to the role, where he combines his knowledge of IGT with his demonstrated ability to create shareholder value with decades in leadership roles in public and private companies in dynamic industries, including digital and media. 

“His transition into the CEO role will be relatively seamless.”

Sala said he was looking forward to working with Sandusky.

“I am looking forward to taking on the new role of executive chair at IGT and to partner with Vince, with whom I have worked extensively over the years, in leading IGT forward,” he said. “I believe our skills and experiences are complementary and will serve our stakeholders well. 

“In particular, Vince’s vast experience with portfolio companies and capital markets will be valuable as we look to execute on our strategy.”

Maria Pinelli and Ashley Hunter will also join IGT’s board as non-executive directors. Pinelli will also replace Sandusky as chair of IGT’s audit committee, while Hunter was also appointed to the board’s nominating and corporate governance committee.

“We are delighted to have Maria and Ashley join our board. They both bring deep and diverse professional experiences to IGT to enhance our board composition. We are looking forward to their contributions,” Pellicioli said.

IGT has made a number of other personnel changes in recent months. In November, the supplier appointed Gil Rotem, formerly of Bet365 and 888, as its new president of igaming. The month before, it selected Joe Asher, previously chief executive of William Hill US, as its new president of sports betting.

In the third quarter of 2021, IGT reported growth across every business segment and product type, with overall revenue rising by 20.6% to $984m. As a result, the business raised its full-year revenue guidance to $4.1bn.

Under the State Council Funding Program, $15,000 will be offered to each state council every year for three years, with a total of $1.58m (£1.12m/€1.39m) to be offered over the course of the initiative.

Funding may be used to strengthen services and programs for individuals and families, as well as for council staff, with the funds available to use for training, conferences, helplines and general capacity building.

Councils may also use funds to explore the potential for capacity building in neighboring states without a council presence.

The program will launch with an initial three-year trial this month.

Read the full story on iGB North America.

This is Fubo Gaming’s first partnership with a major league soccer (MLS) club.

Under the deal, Fubo Gaming will be named as the Houston Dynamo’s official sports betting partner. FuboTV branding will also feature on Huston Dynamo’s training shirts for the 2022 season.

“This partnership represents a significant step forward for our club, and I am proud to welcome fuboTV and Fubo Gaming to the Dynamo and Dash family,” said John Walker, Houston Dynamo FC president.

“Fubo Gaming is at the forefront of the sports gaming industry and will be leaders in shaping how we enjoy sports in the years to come. We look forward to working with their industry experts to deliver best-in-class experiences for our fans and continually improve the fan experience as the landscape evolves.” 

In addition, if sports betting is legalised in Texas, Fubo Gaming will enter into a multi-year market access deal with the club. This will see the operator launch a Fubo-branded sportsbook in the state if sports teams or venues are permitted to act as licensees.

Texas first considered online and mobile sports betting in 2019. A bill that sought to implement sports betting in the state was introduced last year, but did not progress.

“Partnering with the Houston Dynamo Football Club for market access in Texas is a major milestone for Fubo,” said Scott Butera, president of Fubo Gaming. “Texas has an incredibly enthusiastic community of sports fans and will ultimately become one of the largest sports betting markets in the U.S.”

“In addition, our comprehensive partnership with the Dynamo, which encompasses numerous assets and levels of fan engagement, allows Fubo Gaming to maximize its uniquely integrated streaming and wagering platform and furthers our goal of offering highly personalized and immersive experiences.”

The agreement is not the first Texas market access deal involving an MLS club. In September 2021, PointsBet signed a market access deal in Texas with MLS team Austin FC.

Following approval of LOTBA, the gaming regulatory body of the Argentine city, Codere brand Bplay will incorporate Zitro’s portfolio of digital games at authorised casino sites.

This news comes after a number of operators were approved to launch in the jurisdiction last December. This includes the Bplay brand.

Zitro’s video bingo games library and the Pick & Win progressive game are available to players from their mobile phones, tablets and computers for the first time in the city.

Salo Leder, regional director for Codere Online said, “We are continuously working to bring the best entertainment offer to customers in Argentina, and for this we have a partner that provides us with a vast catalog of online video bingo games and Zitro video slots, which has proven to be a hit in land-based casinos.”

“We are convinced that gamers will enjoy the same success in the online channel and that it will support our omnichannel growth strategy.”

Alejandra Burato, Zitro’s regional director for Latin America, added: “It is an exceptional achievement to see Zitro Digital grow steadily and open the way to new online casino markets not only in Argentina but in all continents.”

“Our goal is to create a product that is as successful and profitable for operators as our live games. It takes commitment and hard work to achieve this, and as a team we are proud to see it become a reality. Having our games approved by LOBTA is one more step towards the expansion of Zitro Digital with the operators of the city, and we are sure that many other games will follow, which have made Zitro a leading provider worldwide over the years.”

Licensing criteria for the city of Buenos Aires were set out in February 2020, as part of Argentina’s system of regulating online gambling on a province-by-province basis.

The partnership gives GNOG rights to launch online sports betting and online casino gaming in Missouri, pending the passing of legislation to allow online gambling in the state and regulatory approvals, through licenses held for Affinity’s land-based casinos.

“We are thrilled to announce this agreement with Affinity Interactive ahead of highly anticipated online gaming legislation in Missouri. We look forward to a successful partnership with AI as we continue to expand access to our leading online gaming products across North America,” said Thomas Winter, president of GNOG.

Golden Nugget would pay Affinity Interactive a percentage of net gaming revenue in the state as part of the deal.

Read the full story on IGB North America.

PointsBet’s “always on” feature underwent a successful test during the NBC broadcast of the fixture. It provided live betting markets to customers on the point spread and game winner without any suspensions in which bets could not be taken.

The technology to achieve this came about as a result of PointsBet’s acquisition of Dublin-based data provider Banach Technology in March 2021. The deal was completed with a view to integrating more advanced in-play betting technology into PointsBet’s sports betting offering.

PointsBet USA CEO Johnny Aitken said: “When we acquired Banach Technology, it was with a precise focus to build toward an ‘always on’ in-game betting technology experience at PointsBet. That proprietary technology has been developed quicker than we expected since our acquisition, so we tested it out to its full extremity for an NFL playoff game.

“During NBC’s Saturday Playoff Game, our customers experienced 100% uptime and no suspensions on in-game spread and moneyline bets, which we believe to be the first ever result of this kind in the US. While this test focused on the spread and moneyline markets, it also showed a glimpse into the future of where we can take our technology over time and offer a completely differentiated experience when betting in-play with PointsBet.”

PointsBet recently launched online and mobile sports betting in the state of Virginia, in addition to signing a multi-year deal with the University of Maryland Athletics organisation.

In a conference call, Gary Deutsch, BetMGM chief financial officer, commented on the sources of this revenue, noting that it doesn’t include major inputs from new states.

“In our plan for next year 90% of the revenue we’re looking at comes from states that are live as of today,” said Deutsch. “That includes New York.”

“We have visibility on our status in the market, and we’re competing there with the more mature states.”

However, the business also revealed that it does not expect to reach positive earnings before interest tax depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) until 2023. Adam Greenblatt, CEO of BetMGM, said the business is already bringing in positive EBITDA in some states.

“We closed 2021 with New Jersey being a full year contribution positive,” He said. “Michigan, after mid year, became contribution positive. When we look into the next year, we also see Arizona become contribution positive.”

“The highly talented team at BetMGM is executing our plan with purpose, passion and discipline, and our results speak for themselves,” said Adam Greenblatt, CEO of BetMGM. “After only 3 years into our journey, we have cemented the credibility of BetMGM’s leadership ambition in sports betting and igaming in the US.”

“2022 is a critical year, where the leading national operators will reach critical mass, paving the way for the next phase of the sector’s financial evolution.”

In terms of its 2021 full year results, the company expects a net revenue of $850m and EBITDA loss of $420m-$440m. This, it said, came thanks to a 24% market share in sports betting and igaming markets in which BetMGM operates, which places it second among operators in those markets.

Long term acquisition costs are set to hit $250m, as costs per acquisition stayed in line with estimated amounts, while long term total addressable market opportunity in the US is expected to reach $32bn.

“BetMGM has made significant progress in gaining a strong foothold in the rapidly growing U.S. sports betting and igaming market, solidifying its position as the number two operator nationwide in 2021,” said Bill Hornbuckle, CEO and president of MGM Resorts.

“As we look to 2022, we are beyond excited about further integrating BetMGM with our MGM loyalty program and land-based operations to elevate the BetMGM player experience.

In addition, the total investment in BetMGM, made by joint venture partners MGM Resorts and Entain, is expected to reach $450m in 2022. This would bring the total investment amount to $1.1bn since BetMGM’s launch in 2018.

BetMGM said that its future growth will be aided by market investments and product roll-outs throughout the year.

This includes plans to launch online sportsbooks in Illinois and Louisiana in Q1 2022, along with online gaming in Ontario and sports betting in Puerto Rico later this year. BetMGM also plans to expand its business product and its BetMGM Racing app into more states.

Casino Barrière Montreux has become the latest Swiss land-based gaming establishment to enter igaming. The unveiling of its Gamrfirst platform happened earlier this month at the Casino Barrière Montreux based on the banks of Lake Geneva, Switzerland.

Gamrfirst uses Gamanza’s ISO 27001 certified GaminGenius Software, which includes an account platform with comprehensive compliance framework, regulatory data vault, payment gateway and real-time CRM.

Jérôme Colin, general manager of Casino Barrière Montreux, said: “The launch of our online casino site Gamrfirst is the culmination of a committed collaboration between the teams at Casino Barrière Montreux and Barrière headquarters, supported by a close relationship with our technical partner Gamanza, the leader in the Swiss market.

“As for Casino Barrière Montreux, our strong ambition with Gamrfirst is to offer our clients a unique gaming experience based on the high standards of the Barrière Group, thus positioning the brand as one of the main references in the Swiss market.”

The casino says this new brand has been created to reflect its promise to run a ‘consumer-first approach’ that’s focused on player care.

Alexandre Desseigne-Barrière, director of strategy and development for the Barrière Group, said: “We are very proud to be able to offer a digital service that complements our Montreux casino and with the help of our partner Gamanza, we enable more Swiss residents to discover the Barrière world of gaming with the same strong focus on responsible gaming.

Chief commercial officer of Gamanza Robert Civill said: “We are really proud of this partnership – Casino Barrière Montreux is a world-renowned establishment and the Barrière Group is a prestigious brand internationally, so it’s very humbling for us at Gamanza.

“It’s fantastic to work with such a professional organisation and launching Gamrfirst was a perfect way for our team to celebrate the close of 2021. Now we are really excited to help the brand grow in 2022 and beyond.”

Casino Barrière Montreux plans to promote its new gamification features through creating hybrid loyalty offers which connect its land-based and online facilities in the future.

For the role, Bimson moved from Bloomberg LP, where he held several senior management positions- the most recent being global head of business marketing operations and analytics.

His career spans 20 years, having worked with several Fortune 500 companies and worldwide brands.

“Sportradar is right at the center of where sports, data and technology intersect,” said Bimson.

“As the market leader of enhancing sports fan engagement, I’m excited to join Sportradar and lead our talented teams who are revolutionizing the rapidly growing sports betting and entertainment industry in the US.”

In his new role Bimson will oversee Sportradar’s three main operating areas – betting, sports entertainment and marketing services – while reporting to Arne Ress, North America CEO.

“Andrew joins Sportradar at an important time as the North America market is primed for significant growth and remains a key focus of Sportradar’s overall strategic plan,” Rees said.

“His role in partnering with our leaders to articulate this vision, align teams around it, and create meaningful KPIs to measure our progress will be critically important. I have no doubt his work will touch all our North America teams and I look forward to him getting to know our talent.”

Last week, Sportradar appointed National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) executive Jim Brown as the head of integrity services and harm prevention in North America.

Event organiser Clarion Gaming confirmed that ICE London would take place from 12-14 April earlier this month, after postponing the event from its traditional February dates due to the Omicron variant of Covid-19.

Now, the ECA has joined the Las Vegas-based Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers and UK land-based industry body the Gambling Business Group in backing these new dates.

ECA chairman Per Jaldung (pictured) said the new dates would help ensure that ICE London will be of the quality that delegates and exhibitors expect.

“The European Casino Association supports the decision of Clarion Events to postpone the London show to April in order to ensure that it is everything we expect from an ICE expo,” he said.

“ICE London 2022 is an opportunity to reunite the gaming industry after two years apart and we respect the flexibility and responsible decision making shown by Clarion in moving forward the show to avoid yet another wave of Covid uncertainty. We look forward to welcoming back the international community to London, and trust in Clarion Events, as the custodians of ICE, to deliver another successful edition in spring 2022”

ECA secretary general Hermann Pamminger added that the postponement was both “sensible and practical”.

“ICE London is an opportunity to bring together the land-based casino sector after a prolonged period of absence,” he said. “The members of the ECA support a strong event, one that reflects the vibrance and vitality of this industry. The response of show organisers, Clarion Events, to the rising tide of new Covid infections, is both sensible and practical in the face of the logistical challenges visitors and exhibitors would undoubtedly face in February. We applaud the clarity and early decision making and look forward to celebrating the return of the show.”

Alongside ICE London, the ICE Vox conference and iGB Affiliate London were also postponed to April. ICE Vox will now be held from 11-13 April, while iGB Affiliate London will take place over 13 and 14 April.

“Our primary aim has always been to provide a safe and secure environment for our customers to meet and to do business,” Clarion Gaming managing director Stuart Hunter explained. “When it became clear that February did not provide the confidence the industry required in terms of Omicron we worked through the Christmas break in partnership with the team at ExCeL London to secure new dates for our co-located events that host over 700 exhibitors.

“While we have been really encouraged by the feedback that we have received, we also appreciate that the new dates will not suit everyone. However, rescheduling events the size of ICE London and iGB Affiliate London is a complex logistical and operational challenge. 

“As I have previously stated, the team at Clarion Gaming will continue to work through any remaining challenges with our clients and support them with their preparations and planning for what is the world’s biggest and most influential gaming industry gathering.”