Month: January 2022

Launched in September 2021, the initiative is an extension of the Have A Game Plan project that went live in late 2019 to educate sports fans about responsible sports betting.

The campaign focuses on four core principles of responsible wagering, including setting a budget and sticking to it, keeping betting social, knowing the odds and only playing with trusted, regulated operators.

PNG will promote Have A Game Plan responsible sports betting content on its Barstool Sportsbook digital platforms and social media accounts, as well as activate Have A Game Plan in all of its land-based, retail sportsbook locations across the US.

Read the full story on iGB North America.

Specific financial details of the investment were not disclosed, but it was confirmed that the funds would help support the launch of Xpoint, which is expected to take place early this year.

The funding, Bettor Capital said, will also play a role in the expansion of Xpoint throughout the US and help the busines build on the announcement of its first major US sports betting partnership with the Sporttrade exchange.

Xpoint is seeking to secure similar partnerships with other operators and businesses within the US sports betting and igaming markets.

Read the full story on iGB North America.

Vandelli has over a decade experience in the industry, most recently holding a senior sales position at leading provider Microgaming. Prior to this, he worked as country manager at GVC and Sportingbet in Italy.

“It is a very exciting time to be joining ESA Gaming, with a thrilling roadmap and new licences allowing us to expand our horizons significantly. I’m looking forward to this opportunity and can’t wait to get started.” Vandelli commented.

The newly created role marks another key hire for ESA Gaming, following the addition of Craig Asling from iSoftbet as head of games in August as the company continues to add experienced industry figures to its growing team.

Zorica Smallwood, Director at ESA Gaming, said: “We are very pleased to welcome Massimiliano to ESA Gaming as our Head of Sales. We strive to add the best individuals to our team and he joins us with extensive industry experience and invaluable knowledge.

“We have ambitious goals for 2022, and we look forward to Massimiliano helping us achieve them.”

Established in 2009, ESA gaming’s portfolio is headlined by its collection of Easyswipe titles, including the popular Mine series.

Vandelli’s appointment comes after a continued period of growth for the company, having recently received its MGA and Greek licences, while also signing commercial agreements in Portugal, Columbia and Italy.

Diederichsen joins OpenBet as chief technology officer, while Feil takes on the role of vice president of regulatory affairs and compliance.

AS CTO, Diederichsen will have a remit to evolve OpenBet’s modular sports product offering and accelerate the next generation of sports betting entertainment. 

Diederichsen joins the business having most recently served as CTO at DAZN, where he oversaw the development of an OTT sports service, while he also had a spell as CTO at Perform, a role in which he was responsible for technical operations of global sports content and video services.

Feil takes up her new position after a spell as vice president for government relations and gaming policy at the American Gaming Association (AGA). She will support OpenBet with its expansion plans in regions around the world, including thre US. 

OpenBet said both appointments form part of its ongoing strategy of investing in people to create value for customers. 

“Bringing Florian and Jessica to the OpenBet team changes the game and is testament to the vision we have here at OpenBet,” OpenBet chief executive Jordan Levin said. “The appointment of two highly skilled and respected individuals demonstrates the ambition we have to deliver the next generation of sports betting entertainment to operators and bettors worldwide. 

“As we drive for hyper-differentiation, and with legislation moving at a pace, we can entrust both Florian and Jessica to help take OpenBet forward in their respective fields that will add significant value for our global customer base.”

The double appointment comes after Scientific Games in September last year agreed to divest the OpenBet business to global talent and media agency holding company Endeavor Group for $1.20bn (£880.0m/€1.06bn).

Endeavor, which will fund the deal with $1.0bn in cash and $200m in Class A common stock, said the purchase would complement its position within the sports betting market, created through data specialist IMG Arena.
The combination of OpenBet and IMG Arena, Endeavor said, would create a unique end-to-end solution, delivering official data and video streams, content, mobile products and betting technology solutions to leagues, federations and sportsbooks around the world.

The previous tax rate stood at 15% of revenue from ordinary casino players. The latest amendment to the Casino Control Act has increased that tax rate to 18%, up to a revenue threshold of SGD3.1bn (£1.7bn/€2.0bn/$2.3bn). Any revenue above that cap will be taxed at 22%.

For revenue obtained from premium players – those with more than SGD100,000 deposited in their account – the tax rate has increased from 5% to 8% up to a threshold of SGD2.4bn. Any revenue exceeding that figure will be taxed at 12%.

The legislation also includes a moratorium on tax increases in the country, meaning the tax rates will stay the same until 1 March 2032.

The bill amendment has also made changes to the length of exclusivity for the two existing operators of integrated resorts in the country: Genting and Sands.

Instead of the initial 10 year agreement commencing from the date on which a second casino site is chosen, the new deal expires on 31 December 2030.

In the debate on the bill in Parliament, Singapore’s minister for finance Lawrence Wong also noted the growing presence of unregulated online gambling: “Trends are moving towards online gambling, but we are more concerned with the illegal space than the regulated space. If technology makes it easier for people to gamble anywhere and everywhere, then such illegal online gambling will continue to grow.

“The government continues to keep a close watch to monitor the issue of problem gambling, including problem gambling online.”

Singapore’s Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) unveiled its plans to amend gambling legislation back in July 2021. This was followed by a public consultation to allow the public the chance to voice any concerns regarding these plans.

Hodges assumes the role having spent 11 years in the igaming industry, where he has worked in online marketing, social media strategies, customer engagement and commercial strategies.

Hodges will now be tasked with overseeing all of Vivo’s marketing and communication activity, with a focus on expanding the company’s reach across Europe.

Hodges said that he felt the business was well-positioned for significant expansion.

“I’m excited to join such a well-respected company with a strong and steadily growing presence in key markets around the world.

“I look forward to helping take Vivo to the next level. All the right infrastructure is in place for us to take that step.”

Vivo’s chief operating officer Yuval Shochat added: “Martin boasts a proven track-record within both marketing and igaming, we’re confident his wealth of experience will prove invaluable to everyone, bringing new and innovative ideas to the company.

“There are exciting times ahead of us at Vivo Gaming, these new appointments highlight our ambition going-forward, we’re delighted to welcome all of our new appointments to the team.”

Vivo also announced the appointments of Benjamin Umoren and Herberth Castro as business intelligence manager and product manager respectively.

Both bills – one in the state Senate and the other in the House – were introduced last year but have made a new start with the launch of the 2022 legislative session.

Senate Bill 5212 was first introduced on January 14 2021 in the state Senate and was heard by the Committee on Labor, Commerce and Tribal Affairs the following month. It did not progress in the and was reintroduced on January 10 2022.

House Bill 1674 was filed on December 20 2021 and was introduced to the state’s House of Representatives on January 10 2022, after which it was referred to the House Commerce and Gaming Committee.

If passed, SB5212 and HBB1674 would amend several aspects of the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) by allowing bets to be placed through retail and online sports pools at cardrooms or racetracks in the state. This will be permitted by a licence issued for this purpose, in addition to other licenses already required to operate a racetrack or cardroom.

The cardroom or racetrack will be subject to an initial license fee of $100,000 and an undisclosed renewal fee every five years.

In addition, athletes, coaches, referees and other sports personnel will not be allowed to place bets on sports events managed by their sports bodies.

Retail sports betting in Washington was passed in March 2020 after Governor Jay Inslee signed House Bill 2638 into law, allowing retail sports betting at Class III gaming establishments in the state.

It was officially legalized in September 2021 after the US Department of Interiors approved a number of sports betting compacts, which were then published in the Federal Register.

Currently, Washington’s 44 licensed cardrooms can offer 15 tables for card games- but cannot offer sports betting.

This was challenged today (January 12) by Maverick Gaming, which owns 19 of the licensed cardrooms. It filed a legal challenge against what it called an “erroneous” use of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA), which gave tribes in Washington unique access to games.

Representing Maverick’s litigation, lawyer Theodore Olson claimed that the state of Washington is “misusing” IGRA.

“Contrary to IGRA’s own words, the law is being used to insulate tribes in Washington State from competition that exists in many other states with legal gaming marketplaces.” stated Olson.

Olson represented the State of New Jersey in its 2018 repeal against the Wire Act.

IGT has pledged to target a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in an attempt to further the company’s environmental, social and governance (ESG) impact.

IGT will also commit to developing short and long term greenhouse gas emission objectives, as well as targets associated with the new SBTi Net-Zero Criteria. The supplier will also report its progress with a yearly sustainability report.

Wendy Montgomery, IGT’s senior vice president of marketing, communications and sustainability, said: “IGT is advancing its sustainability leadership in the gaming industry by joining more than 2,000 companies worldwide committed to the SBTi in reducing their emissions, generating positive value for our planet and our future while continuing to grow their business.

“Making a formal commitment to setting science-based targets advances IGT’s established sustainability program and underscores our focus on ESG activities.”

IGT recently announced the appointment of Gil Rotem as the company’s new presdient of igaming in November 2021. Rotem will be responsible for ensuring the ongoing development and global expansion of IGT’s PlayCasino business, which includes igaming, poker and bingo.

Hensel spent 15 years with the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, being appointed as its first director of licensing in 2005. In this role, she oversaw the certification of more than 100,000 individuals and businesses as the market expanded from only slots to a wide range of products including online casino and sports betting. 

Hensel was also named one of iGB’s Most Influential Women in Gaming in 2020.

Last year, Hensel left the Pennsylvania regulator to co-found Hensel Grad PC, a boutique law firm providing services to the gaming industry.

“Susan’s sterling reputation in the gaming industry, combined with her vast regulatory experience, fits perfectly with Play Globally’s growth plans,” Play Globally president and CEO Stephen Dunham said. “Having overseen the licensing of more than 100,000 gaming entities and individuals plus helping to develop many of the regulations, policies and gaming practices that exist today, Susan has played an important role in shaping the ever-expanding sports wagering and online gaming space. 

“Susan’s expertise and progressive ideology makes her an excellent addition to the Play Globally team.”

Play Globally offers free-to-play sweepstakes games based on sports events for real-money prizes. Hensel said she had been very impressed by the business and believed it was creating an innovative product.

“I am excited to join the Advisory Board of a truly innovative company that is reinventing the way people engage with sporting events,” says Ms. Hensel. “Not only is the company committed to developing a first-of-its-kind gaming experience, but they’re doing so with the highest levels of integrity. This company is one to watch.”

Launched by EveryMatrix in 2019, Spearhead Studios will enter the Dutch market with its remote gaming server (RGS) platform, as well as distributing games from several other developers in the country, including Armadillo Studios, Funfair Games, JVL and Lady Luck Games.

Alongside the Netherlands, Spearhead is certified in Denmark, Sweden, the three Baltic states, Belarus, Romania, Croatia, Malta, Spain and the UK.

“Spearhead Studios and our partners are always quick to enter new and profitable markets,” Mathias Larsson, Spearhead Studios managing director, said. “We are currently present in 14, and we are always looking for the next opportunity to expand our reach.

The Dutch market shows significant interest for our games, and we are ready to capitalize on that by getting certified in the region.”

The news comes after the Netherlands opened its regulated online gambling market in October, after the launch was pushed back multiple times due to a number of factors, including disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Due to strict restrictions issued by the Dutch regulator de Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) the market originally opened with just 10 licensed operators. Unlicensed operators, meanwhile, were told to block all Dutch customers.