Month: August 2022

Under the multi-year agreement, BetMGM’s trading team and experts will provide insight during a number of SportsGrid programs such as including Ferrall Coast to Coast, Pro Football Today and In-Game Live Primetime.

BetMGM’s odds and promotions will feature throughout Ferrall Coast to Coast, while its content will also appear on other shows broadcast by SportsGrid.

In addition, SportsGrid’s lead pro football analyst Warren Sharp will deliver reports from MGM Resorts properties including MGM National Harbor in Maryland.

The reports will be distributed over SportsGrid’s multi-media content platforms including the video streaming network, website, digital syndication publisher network and both BetMGM’s and SportsGrid’s social media properties.

The expanded deal builds on an initial strategic partnership announced in February of this year.

“We are thrilled to be expanding our relationship with BetMGM on the heels of our initial partnership launch earlier this year,” SportsGrid chief operating officer Adam Kaplan said.

“By further leveraging SportsGrid’s media-as-a-service model, BetMGM will benefit from the scale of our network’s audience and distribution footprints, the integration of top talent like Warren Sharp and the live content production from premier MGM Resorts properties.”

BetMGM chief revenue officer Matt Prevost added: “SportsGrid is an ideal partner and, together, we look forward to providing our customers with more sports betting content just in time for the start of football season.”

The 25-year-old, who has not played first-class cricket since 2018, admitted to charges relating to a series of bets that he made between 2015 and 2020.

The former right-handed batsman and wicketkeeper placed a total of 181 bets including 120 in 2015, 16 bets in 2016, seven in 2017 and a further 38 bets in 2020.

By betting on matches, Davies breached Article 2.2.1 of the ECB Anti-Corruption Codes that were in place at the time. As a result, the ECB issued the suspended ban.

The ECB noted that the sanction took into account several mitigating factors including that Davies admitted the charges when he was first contacted by the ECB, has shown remorse and contrition throughout the investigation and that none of the bets related to matches in which he played. 

Davies was also found to have been suffering from a severe gambling disorder at the time of the relevant offences, for which he has sought professional help. He has since confirmed that he is no longer gambling.

The six-month ban is suspended for two years, commencing on 6 May 2022, and will only come into effect if Davies returns to first-class cricket. The ban would also be triggered if Davies committed a further offence under the ECB Anti-Corruption Code during that period.

Davies began his playing career with Kent, making his first-class debut in June of that year. He went on to play for Somerset between 2016 and 2017, while he also spent time with Durham in 2018. 

July’s handle was 16.4% higher than $36.7m in July 2021 but 20.3% behind the $53.6m bet by players in June this year, according to figures published by the New Hampshire Lottery.

Of this total, $33.1m was wagered online with DraftKings, while the remaining $9.5m was spent at retail sportsbooks across the US state. DraftKings secured exclusive rights to offer sports betting online via the New Hampshire Lottery in November 2019.

In terms of revenue, gross gaming revenue from sports betting in July amounted to $4.5m, which was 45.2% ahead of $3.1m in the same month last year and only 6.3% lower than $4.8m in June 2021, despite the difference in handle.

Some $3.7m of gross gaming revenue was generated online, while $768,211 came from retail sports betting facilities.

The New Hampshire Lottery also reported that the state was able to generate $2.1m in tax from sports betting during the month, $1.8m of which came from online and $345,695 retail.

Under the deal, Kambi will provide its on-property and online sportsbook solutions direct to the thoroughbred racetrack and casino.

Kambi will support Oaklawn with the launch of its online sportsbook operations under the brand ‘Oaklawn Sports’, subject to Arkansas passing the relevant laws. Online gambling of any kind is not yet legal in the state.

In addition, Kambi will continue to provide its retail sports betting solution to Oaklawn. The venue has been offering sports wagering through Kambi’s retail sportsbook since last year, with the new, multi-channel deal replacing the existing agreement.

“Oaklawn has been one of the most trusted brands in Arkansas for more than 100 years and we are excited to now offer our loyal customers yet another great amenity with our much-anticipated mobile wagering platform,” Oaklawn general manager Wayne Smith said.

Kambi co-founder and chief executive Kristian Nylén added: “We’re very excited to strengthen our relationship with Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort and imminently extend our partnership into the mobile space.

“The combination of Kambi’s advanced technology and Oaklawn’s reputation as one of the premier thoroughbred tracks and casinos in the US makes this an enticing sports betting proposition.”

Earlier this year, the Arkansas Joint Budget Committee approved a set of rules from the Arkansas Racing Commission for mobile sports betting in the state. The rules, which would class online sports betting as a permitted form of casino gaming in Arkansas, had already been signed off by the Rule Review Subcommittee.

The rules removed the requirement that any sports betting patron must personally appear before a casino employee to make a bet, meaning that they can instead bet online.

Casinos – which may receive licences to bet on sports – may partner with sports betting vendors to provide online betting, but vendors may not receive more than 50% of revenue.

Licensees would be permitted to launch up to two online brands, and all of these brands must “conspicuously bear the name of the casino licensee with which it is affiliated”.

Sports betting would be taxed like all other gaming, with total gaming revenue up to $150m per year taxed at 13% and any revenue above this threshold taxed at 20%.

Help Private Bailey complete daunting chores, get wilds in the Wild wake-up feature, and collect the cash prizes during the Camp Swampy golf bonus!

Play the demo of Beetle Bailey here!You can download the First Look Games affiliate pack here!

Game type:Video slotGo-live date (expected):24/8/2022Game special features:– Camp Swampy golf bonus
– Wild wake-upNumber of paylines:81 waysNumber of reels:4RTP% (recorded/theoretical):94.2%, 96.8%, 88.1%Variance/volatility:MediumNumber of symbols to trigger feature/bonus:2Can feature be retriggered?NoNumber of free spins awarded:N/AStacked or expanding wilds in normal play?Single wildStacked or expanding wilds in feature play?Single wildNumber of jackpot tiers?:0Auto-play function?:Yes

Bomb all the blocker symbols to trigger the Feature Wheel where a machine gun determines your fate. Score anything between free spins to the Trail bonus or Super Trail bonus and take another shot by hitting ‘gamble’ on your way out.

Play the demo of Dead Riders Trail here!Download the First Look Games affiliate pack here!

Go-live date (expected):24/8/2022Game special features:– Feature WheelNumber of paylines:46,656 waysNumber of reels:6RTP% (recorded/theoretical):96.20% (96.50% for feature buy)Variance/volatility:HighNumber of symbols to trigger feature/bonus:N/ACan feature be retriggered?N/ANumber of free spins awarded:N/AStacked or expanding wilds in normal play?N/AStacked or expanding wilds in feature play?N/ANumber of jackpot tiers:0Auto-play function?Yes

Pyramid of Light takes players to Ancient Egypt where the Egyptian gods award huge wins. This 5×3 video slot is full of wilds, scatters, free spins with 5 fixed paylines and offers a max win of 1,222 x bet. Once a wild symbol lands on reels 2, 3 and 4, the symbol expands to cover the entire reel. May the Egyptian gods bring luck in the Pyramids of Light!

You download the First Look Games affiliate pack for Pyramid of Light here!

Go-live date (expected):24/8/2022Number of paylines:5Number of reels:5RTP% (recorded/theoretical):85.15%-95.06%Variance/volatility:LowNumber of symbols to trigger feature/bonus:N/ACan feature be retriggered?N/ANumber of free spins awarded:N/AStacked or expanding wilds in normal play?ExpandingStacked or expanding wilds in feature play?N/ANumber of jackpot tiers:0Auto-play function?Yes

All cats on deck as Cats of the Caribbean brings wilds galore with high volatility, big win potential and plenty of features to boot!

Can you help one of the cat captains bring home the biggest bounty? Set sail on the seas of the Caribbean for a voyage with the goofy cats battling for their share of the treasure and scoop wins of up to 10,000x bet!

Collect wilds to hit the Wild Cannon feature for some cannonball action or trigger one of the three different Free Spins features to get up to 90 guaranteed wilds! Oh, did we mention they can add up to multiplier wilds as well? Rumour has it there is also an epic treasure to be found in the Cat Pots bonus, all there for the taking!

Download the First Look Games affiliate pack for Cats of the Caribbean here!

Go-live date (expected):Already live!Game special features:– Cat Pots bonus
– Wild CannonNumber of paylines:20Number of reels:5RTP% (recorded/theoretical):96.00%Variance/volatility:HighNumber of symbols to trigger feature/bonus:N/ACan feature be retriggered?N/ANumber of free spins awarded:N/AStacked or expanding wilds in normal play?N/AStacked or expanding wilds in feature play?N/ANumber of jackpot tiers:4Auto-play function?No

The operator has spent more than SEK60m on research projects since establishing its own independent Research Council in 2010, with the latest pledge taking its total commitment to over SEK100m.  

Svenska Spel’s Research Council has carried out studies in partnership with Lund University, and the latest funding announcement means this collaboration will continue until at least 2027.

Of the latest commitment, SEK8.5m will be spent on research each year over the next five years, with SEK25.0m of the total amount to be used for research grants.

“The Research Council has been a driving force and a central part in establishing the research field around gambling problems in Sweden,” Svenska Spel’s president and chief executive Patrik Hofbauer said. 

“There are still many unanswered questions about how best to prevent and treat gambling addiction. With that in mind, our continued support feels right both from a business and a humanitarian perspective.”

Research Council chairwoman Sara Lindholm added: “Social community efforts and addiction care need the right tools at the right time. The long-term investment in research on gambling contributes to knowledge of effective methods for preventing and treating gambling addiction. 

“To develop the right interventions for those who need it most requires patience, commitment and research at the forefront.”

The funding comes after Hofbauer in June hit out at Sweden’s model of restaurant casinos, arguing they operate “almost without rules and control”. 

Hofbauer made remarks on Svenska Spel’s corporate blog where he criticised the separate rules that restaurant casinos enjoy in the country, as well as the resulting lack of official data – which he says has implications for both addicts and money launderers.

Restaurant casinos are casinos at premises with liquor licences. While Svenska Spel has a monopoly on regular casinos through its Casino Cosmopol brand, operators can offer table games at these locations.

The current licences are set to expire on 31 December 2022 – following previous licensing extensions which were the result of the general Covid-19 associated decline in the land-based gaming trade.

The public tenders will be open for 30 days and will grant the winner the exclusive rights to offer games of chance in the regions, with the process open to domestic businesses, as well as international operators with a branch in Portugal.

The qualification criteria for the tender process are that the interested party must be a public limited company with offices based in either EU-member state or European Economic Area country that is a signatory to certain anti-money laundering, fraud and tax administrative cooperation agreements.

Wood manufacturing business Amorim operates the Figueira da Foz venue, Casino Figueira, having previously purchased the Sociedade Figueira Praia, S.A, the business that had held the concession.

The other concession, Casino Estoril, is operated by Stanley Ho-owned business the Sociedade de Turismo e Diversões de Macau (STDM), which ultimately owns Macau concessionaire SJM.

The public tender process will happen in the context of a slowdown for the gambling sector in Portugal. In Q1 the land-based gambling sector declined 7.2% year-on-year to €53.9m, while revenue declined further as the number of registered players plummeted in Q2.