Monthly Archives: September 2018

PlayAGS inks sponsorship deal with the Vegas Golden Knights

It’s only fitting that a professional hockey team based in Las Vegas be one of the first to go all out for the newly approved sports gambling industry in the US. Last week, the NHL’s Vegas Golden Knights, announced that it had partnered with William Hill that would make the latter the team’s official sponsor and, now the team is mixing it up with electronic gaming machine supplier PlayAGS Incorporated.

PlayAGS announced that it has signed a corporate sponsorship deal with the franchise that will see the creation of a new “play of the game” feature. The feature will be integrated into the home games of the Golden Knights, which are played in the 17,500-seat T-Mobile Arena and will display key plays from the game.

The multi-year deal starts this month and is part of PlayAGS’s employee engagement and community outreach programs. The company will provide a title-night sponsor for each of the 41 home regular season games – as well as any post-season matches – in support of the NHL franchise’s promotion of ice hockey around the Las Vegas area.

The partnership will officially launch during the upcoming Global Gaming Expo, according to PlayAGS president and CEO David Lopez. The GGE will be held from October 9-11 at the Sands Expo and Convention Center. He added that the launch will showcase cheerleaders from the Golden Knights, as well as the team’s Gila monster mascot in conjunction with the debut of a new slot machine themed after the Golden Knights.

WPT: Tales of two cities

The World Poker Tour (WPT) has been busy lately. One of its stops was seen as a bold move – that of Houston, Texas – with no one able to predict the outcome. However, the WPTDeepStacks Houston $1,000 Main Event is now underway and, so far, there haven’t been any issues.

Poker is almost completely prohibited in The Lone Star State. An exception is made for poker rooms that operate without taking a rake from the players. They work through a membership model to circumvent the restriction and poker rooms have been popping up all over the state. They’re not without controversy, however, and opponents still try to accuse them of operating illegally, even though the law is on their side.

The WPT is the first major tournament operator to arrive in Texas. According to Global Tour Manager Angelica Hael, “We believe bringing WPT events to everyone, no matter the region, is important to the continued growth of the game of poker. WPTDS is committed to finding the best partners, and creating the best events, for players across the globe. Partnering with FreeRolls is a great opportunity to join with a player pool hungry for WPTDS events.”

The Main Event is now in full swing, hosted by the Freerolls Poker Club and held at the Palacio Maria Event Center. Instead of the players having to sign up as members, the poker club opted for an advertiser-supported model combined with a membership fee. The tournament attracted 790 entries and, as of this writing, there are only 69 players remaining. The event kicked off on September 26 and will find a winner today. The prize pool easily surpassed $300,000 and could swell to as much as $400,000.

WSOP Nevada accused of “meritless thuggery”

A reporter with iGaming, John Mehaffey, has called out WSOP Nevada and its communications executive, Seth Palansky, for participating in what he referred to as “meritless thuggery.” Mehaffey made the remarks in response to what he perceives as strong-arm tactics by the WSOP and Palansky in an effort to force vulnerable players into playing more.

It all started with a cashout dispute between Mehaffey and WSOP Nevada. That dispute has been resolved, but Mehaffey asserted in a subsequent blog post, ”WSOP Poker Site Sent ME Dubious Legal Threat,” that the site uses several protocols that are contrary to responsible gaming guidelines.

The issues began in July of last year, when Mehaffey was banned from the site. That ban came after the site was ordered to make good on a $411 payout to the reporter and recreational poker player. He said in his blog post, “The company reversed a $411 cashout after I won $11 over a few weeks,” wrote Mehaffey. “Customer service told me that I only gave ‘minimal action’ and wanted me to explain myself. This was a player retention trick used by old offshore sites to push players back to the tables when cashing out entire balances.

“I paid about $273 in rake and turned my $400 cash deposit over about 15 times. Apparently, that is minimal action to WSOP.com.

Atlantic Club casino deal fizzles

In the middle of August, the Atlantic Club Casino Hotel found a new owner. Stockton University of New Jersey was said at the time to be considering buying the 20-acre property, which it would convert into medical and law schools. However, the deal has now fizzled and the resort will remain on the market.

A report by The News and Observer last week indicated that the university wouldn’t be able to complete a transaction in a timely manner. According to Terence McCarthy, the president of TJM Properties, who owns the property, his company had “negotiated a very good deal” with the school, but that Stockton said that it “needed far more time than we were willing to provide to it without any assurances.”

McCarthy added, “Our organization feels that Stockton University will bring great economic development to Atlantic City and therefore offered it a deal unlike any other, which unfortunately did not and will not happen moving forward.”

Stockton University President Harvey Kesselman said that he was appreciative of “all the time and hard work that has gone into this effort” and that the school was “committed to Atlantic City and expanding our presence there.” He added, “This is our future and we will continue to try to make the best investments we can there.”

Gambling Marketing Musing: winging it with Max Silver’s SnapShove

Lee Davy catches up with the World Series of Poker winner, Max Silver, to talk about the marketing efforts (or lack of) behind his poker app, SnapShove. 

I once received a smart piece of advice from Bernadette Jiwa, the marketing and brand strategist and author of gems such as Meaningful, Hunch and the Fortune Cookie Principle.

“What companies and entrepreneurs sometimes forget is that the purpose of innovation is not simply to make new, improved products and services; it is to make things that are meaningful to the people who use them.” 

A message sewn into the DNA of Max Silver, the World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet winner, and founder of the poker app, SnapShove.

Wazdan join Relax Gaming for Tier 1 Malta Event

Malta –  Slots maker Wazdan and Relax Gaming wowed Tier 1 companies and many others at an industry pioneer event in Malta. Some of the operators attending the event included major tier 1 partners like Betsson, Kindred, LeoVegas, Mr Green and Casumo together with other invitees including GiG, Jackpotjoy, Bethard, Comeon!, Wunderino, High Roller, Lapalingo and Gaming1.

Wazdan’s team was led by Head of Sales Andrzej Hyla, supported by Chief Marketing Officer Jeremy Fall, Sales Manager David Mann together with Sales and Business Development Manager Lauryn Duncan.

The event, organised by Relax Gaming and supported by Wazdan, featured a giant iPad which allowed operators to see the upcoming blockbuster release Los Muertos™, a game which celebrates Dia de los Muertos, Mexican Day of the Dead, will be released in time for Halloween. Los Muertos™, which contains all of Wazdan’s most recent technology innovations, is an ideal showcase for operators and players seeking the latest immersive gaming technology, exciting themes as well as stunning graphics and animations.

All of Wazdan’s latest generation slots are backed by the company’s ground-breaking technology platform, the Unique Wazdan Features, that include the world’s first Volatility Levels™, Energy Saving Mode, Double Screen Mode and Unique Gamble Feature.

Affiliates RSVP for AffiliateCon’s Great American Huddle in Las Vegas

AffiliateCon: The Great American Huddle has been announced for Tuesday 9 October at 9:30pm with drinks sponsored by Trafficology, and shisha, sponsored by TAG Media.

Taking place in the Mirage Hotel & Casino, AffiliateCon Las Vegas will convene on the patio of the stylish cocktail and cigar lounge, Rhumbar, where there will be a whole area dedicated for the gathering.

The venue is famous for its cool and relaxing Caribbean theme, perfect for mingling and making new connections within the affiliate industry.

With free drinks and stunning views of the glittering lights of the Las Vegas Strip, this party is a must-attend event for affiliates looking to make valuable connections in a party atmosphere. There really is no better way to relax during the evening of a busy day at G2E.

EPL week 7 review: Mourinho fave for the boot; Chelsea hold Liverpool; and more

Another round-up of news from the English Premier League as Jose Mourinho moves back into the top spot for the next manager sacked slot, Chelsea holds Liverpool to a draw at Stamford Bridge and more. 

The once mighty Manchester United is now a 100/1 shot to win the Premier League, meaning there’s more chance of morse code becoming the most popular language in the world.

There is a better bet in red.

Jose Mourinho is the 11/10 favourite to be the next Premier League Manager to end up staring into a cup of tea lamenting his lost Rich Teas.

CalvinAyre.com October 2018 featured conferences & events

An evening of Blockchain and Bitcoin Cash with nChain and Dr. Craig Wright

Trade mark experts UDL have organized an informational evening with nChain Limited, a BCH-driven global leader in research and development of blockchain technololgy. For a low ticket price of £20, delegates will enjoy a personal experience with nChain Chief Scientist Dr. Craig Wright and nChain CEO Jimmy Wynn while learning more about their future plans for BCH technology.

What: An evening of Blockchain and Bitcoin Cash with nChain and Dr. Craig Wright

Where: The Principal St. David’s Hotel, Cardiff