Monthly Archives: September 2020

Blockchain supports surge in online gambling and gaming

This is a guest contribution by Daniel Lipshitz, CEO of Gap 600. Gap 600 is a digital currency company that enables safe and instant Bitcoin SV transactions.

The global COVID-19 pandemic and the resultant lockdowns and shelter-at-home orders, which shuttered casinos and brick-and-mortar betting stores, could prove to be the tipping point for online gaming and gambling.

A GamesIndustry.biz analysis showed that game sales across 50 key global markets rose by 63% in 2020, with sharp spikes experienced as countries went into some form of lockdown. For instance, digital downloads increased by more than 180% in France during the country’s first week of lockdown (16 – 22 March). Similarly, digital sales rose 142.8% in Spain and 174.9% in Italy as these countries went into their respective lockdowns.

Gaming portals such as Paytm First Games and Gamerji also experienced significant increases in online gaming portal users, with 200% and 50% spikes, respectively.

Watch day 3 of SiGMA Americas digital summit live

The SiGMA Americas digital summit is starting its final day. Tune in to the virtual summit to catch up on the last bits of vital information you need to know about the LATAM market.

CalvinAyre has been reporting on SiGMA Americas, you can catch all of our coverage here. In the meantime, Enjoy Day 3 below:

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USH55Fil7og?feature=oembed]

The post Watch day 3 of SiGMA Americas digital summit live appeared first on CalvinAyre.com.

What can sportsbooks offer in Brazil besides soccer?

Brazilians love their soccer, but specially with the rocky road sports has walked in 2020, sportsbooks rather have a few more options. At Day 2 of the SiGMA Americas Virtual Summit, a panel of LATAM experts talked about what other options a bookie might want to explore, and what it will take to make them reliable.

If you look beyond the beautiful game, you’ll find several options, including a few marketing opportunities. “In Brazil in particular, I’m thinking about UFC or basketball,” said Domenico Mazzola, Comercial Director of Altenar. “Or even, I would say, regional football teams, local teams, that give the opportunity to operators that are entering the Brazilian market to evaluate the possibility to make some sponsorships or to invest in the sports teams in the market.”

Chris Nikolopolos, BetBy CCO, expanded on the options available. “It’s not only about football, there are many other sports that Brazilians are very passionate about,” he said. “Basketball, volleyball, futsal, esports, Formala 1, different things.”

Mazzola spoke about the need for infrastructure to improve. “The more the internet connection will penetrate that market, the more users, the more players we’ll see using that product as well.”

BetConstruct’s Agapi Abroyan breaks down why mobile matters to LATAM

The SiGMA Americas Virtual Summit continued on day 2 by looking at how the Latin American market is evolving. As we learned from the first speaker of the day, Agapi Abroyan, Operations Manager at BetConstruct, pretty much everything depends on what happens next with mobile phones.

“Statistics state that the Latin American people like to play with mobile phones, because it is comfortable, convenient and safe,” Abroyan said. That’s not going to change anytime soon either. “It is obvious that with this new reality linked to Covid-19, the extreme necessity of mobile solutions has grown.”

LATAM mobile internet penetration might not be at the same level as other areas of the world yet, but it’s growing very fast. “As general information to consider, according to the constant studies carried out, in 2019 about 55% of Latin America had access to mobile internet. That number is growing this year, and is expected to increase to 77% by 2025.”

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lY1P9ulk5_U?start=1934&feature=oembed]

WhichBingo announces 2020 award winners at star-studded online event marking 20 Years

This year’s award ceremony went virtual, showcasing an array of UK television personalities and celebrating prominent bingo brands.

[London, UK, September 17, 2020] – WhichBingo, the UK’s number one, independent online bingo reviews and affiliate site, owned and operated by XLMedia, today announced its 2020 WhichBingo Awards winners at an unprecedented pre-recorded video ceremony. The highly anticipated event featured UK television personality and chef Rustie Lee, actress and presenter Linda Lusardi, and actor and presenter Christopher Biggins as its co-hosts, while taking a virtual trip to destinations around the globe to announce the winners.

The WhichBingo Awards is one of the annual highlights for the UK online bingo industry and a collective celebration of the best brands in the gaming business. This year was particularly memorable as WhichBingo marked its 20th year of operation. With almost 200,000 votes cast across 18 categories and brand submissions for the judging panel categories, the WhichBingo Awards continue to grow in prominence and has sealed its place as a major event on the online bingo calendar.

Buzz Bingo led the event, capturing four of the bingo industry’s esteemed awards and claiming the coveted prize of the ‘Best Bingo Site’. Buzz Bingo remains a relatively new player to the online bingo space, winning the ‘Best New Bingo Site’ category only last year. Dream Bingo was awarded ‘Best Microgaming Bingo Site’ for the fourth consecutive year, while Wink Bingo picked up ‘Best Dragonfish Bingo Site’ for the fourth year running.

Miami Heat one game away from NBA Finals appearance

The Miami Heat haven’t won an Eastern Conference title since 2014. They’ve done consistently well in their division, but winning the conference has eluded them, as has an NBA Championship, which they last won in 2013. This year, things are looking up for the team and it’s now just one game away from taking the East, with three games left in the best-of-seven series. They handed the Boston Celtics another defeat last night to take a 3-1 lead, and are closer than ever to an NBA Finals appearance. 

Last night’s game was poised to be a tight match from start to finish, and the Celtics were favored to win. The team’s ringer, Gordon Hayward, was out for the first two games due to injury, but was able to come back in Game 3 – the game that put the Celtics on the board. He wasn’t at 100% for the last game, but his presence was seen as enough to motivate Boston to grab the victory. Hayward was expected to bring much of that same fire last night, but he wasn’t able to find his rhythm. In the first half, he and Marcus Smart, another go-to man for the Celtics, went 3-for-12 – combined. 

The Heat kept the pressure on in the first half and moved up by 12 in the third quarter, seemingly a sign of the eventual win. However, Celtics forward Jayson Tatum, who had a goose egg in the first half, woke up and tried to put his team back in the game. He scored 28 points in the second half and brought the Celtics to within just a point as the game entered the final quarter. Boston would move ahead by a point a little more than halfway through the quarter thanks to a hook-up between Jaylen Brown and Daniel Theis, but it was, by this point, too little too late. 

The star for the Heat was someone that many didn’t think needed additional coverage. Tyle Herro scored 37 points, 17 of which came in the fourth quarter, to be Miami’s star. The rookie guard was picked by Miami in the first round of the 2019 draft, and he was on fire last night. Even Celtics coach Brad Stevens was mesmerized with his abilities, saying after the game, “Herro’s shot-making tonight was the difference in the game. Herro was ridiculously good tonight. The rim must have looked like the ocean to him.”

DFS gambling continues to win over the European market

Sports gambling has enjoyed success across Europe for years, and it wasn’t until recently, after the Supreme Court reversed PASPA, that it began to make waves in the US. Daily fantasy sports (DFS) gambling, however, has been more popular in the US than in Europe. The vertical had seen some interest across Europe, but has begun to enjoy greater success more recently. Now, it’s gaining even more traction and is becoming a huge hit with sports gambling fans across the continent, according to industry affiliate Leadstar Media.

The fact that PASPA was repealed in the US could be seen as the impetus for more attention being given to DFS gambling in Europe. As companies like DraftKings and FanDuel took hold of the segment and turned it into a major attraction, European sports gambling fans began to take notice, as well, leading to iGaming operators quickly expanding their offerings to give their users more content. European Gaming points out that Leadstar has been actively pursuing new DFS gambling options in response to this growing interest, including the introduction of new products for its customers in Sweden. 

According to Leadstar’s product director, Jacob Ljunggren, “I can’t for certain say that what has happened in the US is the reason for the growth we see in Europe. But from what we’ve observed there’s been a growing interest in DFS since PASPA was overturned. In several of the European markets where we operate, the demand for DFS is higher than ever, especially in Sweden.”

Leading the way, at least in Sweden, is Scout Gaming, which provides DFS options for its B2B customers. There are only two in the country that are licensed to offer DFS gambling, and Scout has them both locked up. Adds Ljunggren, “The products that Scout Gaming offer are really solid and the number of sports you can play on their platform are constantly increasing showing that they are really invested in what many people believe is the future of iGaming. However, there are still some areas that can be improved before they are comparable to FanDuel and DraftKings.”

Intralot taps into Microsoft Azure to enhance its digital ops

Lottery and gaming technology company Intralot has seen its ups and downs over the past couple of years and wants to iron out some of the rough spots. In order to do this, it believes a new partnership with Microsoft will provide the difference. The company announced a couple of days ago that it is going to begin to use Microsoft Azure to help it implement new business innovation strategies through better digital technology. 

With the help of the Azure cloud-based platform, Intralot looks to change the paradigm of how it currently conducts business. It is introducing new product lines, Lotos X and Intralot Orion, that will employ Azure’s power to increase their operational efficiency and help them receive quicker adaption in the gaming world. Lotos X is a product line designed for retail and Internet-based lotteries, while Orion targets the sports gambling segment by offering a cloud-based solution that can result in a shorter ramp-up period and immediate scalability. 

In teaming up with Microsoft, Intralot expects major changes to be introduced in order to help the company be able to respond quicker to the constantly evolving gaming space. Dr. Chris Dimitriadis, the CEO of Intralot Group, asserts, “We are delighted to partner with Microsoft as we accelerate the execution of our strategy in transforming the industries that we serve through digital technology. Lotos X and INTRALOT Orion are designed for building ecosystems around them, for rapidly achieving a diversified portfolio of gaming offerings, and for scaling to meet the new demand created by players and operators. Our products in Microsoft Azure open the way for an unlimited set of opportunities for gaming operators.”

The jump to cloud-based operations is not uncommon in the business world, and especially not in the iGaming segment. Where multiple regions and destinations are served by a single entity, using the cloud gives a huge advantage to ensure the operations run smoothly and consistently. Azure’s inherent scalability means easier adoption and fewer configuration requirements, allowing companies to transition with limited breaks in continuity. 

Kiwi winery deal turns into sour grapes for casino executives

Anyone who thinks Karma doesn’t exist can ask Glenn Schaeffer what he thinks. The former director of the Mandalay Bay Resort Group is now on the hook for more than $2 million after New Zealand’s Supreme Court determined that he had, by design or omission, duped a couple of fellow casino executives out of their investment money when he launched a winery in the country. That winery, Mahana Estates, was forced into receivership a few years ago and Schaeffer is now on the hook for what one investor described as a “shell.”

More than 12 years ago, Schaeffer convinced two friends, former MGM Resorts CEO Jim Murren and former Pinnacle Entertainment CEO and chairman Daniel Lee, to invest in his up-and-coming winery and vineyard in New Zealand. Given the fact that he was supposed to be a savvy businessman (how else would someone become the director of a company like Mandalay Bay?), Murren and Lee broke out the checkbooks and gave him $1.6 million and $700,406, respectively, for what they believed to be investments to become partners and shareholders in the business. 

Things appeared to get off on the right foot for Mahala Estates and it enjoyed a lot of success. However, it all fell apart in 2018 and the business went into receivership. Murren and Lee then realized that the shares they thought they had purchased were not worth anything, and that Schaeffer, according to them, had been using their money as his own personal piggy bank. It now becomes a little clear why the operations failed. 

Murren and Lee felt tricked and, more than likely, as if they had been stabbed in the back; Schaeffer asserted he did nothing wrong. The pair of investors took their case to court in New Zealand and won after a judge determined he had made negligent statements about the operations and the investments. Murren said at the time, “I would not have invested if I had known the partnership was effectively a shell or a ruse, and that Glenn would instead keep the money and would also keep his own assets and investments in [Mahana] Estates in his own name.”

Int’l Entertainment unable to recover from COVID-19 in the Philippines

Casinos in the Philippines were finally able to reopen recently, but the damage from the continued shutdown caused by COVID-19 had already been done. In the first six months of the year, gambling revenue dropped 95% compared to what had been seen a year earlier, and everyone is scrambling to try to put their operations back in order the best they can. Some operators are going to find recovery to be more challenging than others, and one of these could be International Entertainment Corp. (IEC). According to its most recent filing, the completion of the most recent fiscal year this past June brought with it (pdf) a great deal of disappointment.

IEC is based in Hong Kong, but operates the New Coast Hotel Manila, until recently known as the New World Manila Bay Hotel, in the Philippines. It also leases space there to PAGCOR, the country’s gaming regulator and an operator of casinos. When COVID-19 moved in and began to take over, the Philippines, like other regions around the world, went on lockdown and casinos have suffered ever since. Caught up in the mix was the property, which remains closed in spite of the country’s decision to start allowing gaming activity to resume.

President Rodrigo Duterte paved the way for casinos to reopen their doors earlier this month and PAGCOR gave the green light for some casinos to operate at limited capacities. However, the New Coast Hotel has remained closed despite being able to start its recovery. This is most likely due primarily to planned changes to be made at the property.

In the meantime, IEC can only stand by and wait to see what happens. The company is undoubtedly impatient for things to return to normal, as the shutdown saw it take a $39-million loss in the fiscal year. Specifically, revenue from the leasing of the New Coast Hotel spaces to PAGCOR dropped 38.7% to $18.2 million compared to last year. In addition, its own hotel operations at the property saw a drop in revenue, as well, as they only reached 42% of what they had been a year earlier. That led to IEC only being able to capture around $10.6 million from the hotel operations. Adding to the losses for IEC was its lack of ability to host poker tournaments, which it earned through a deal with PokerStars two years ago, forcing this segment to only take in about $542,000.

Las Vegas still trying to overcome continued surge in crime

It’s almost as if the Wild West has returned to Las Vegas, despite the apparent presence of law enforcement to maintain order. For the past couple of months, Sin City seems to be dealing with an unusually high number of crimes – even by its own standards – and, in the past couple of weeks, more spikes have been seen. The latest comes thanks to the Aria Resort and Casino on The Strip, which saw the site of a shooting late Tuesday. That makes three shooting on The Strip in under a week. 

Tuesday’s incident took place in the valet area of the popular resort, but the reasons aren’t entirely clear. Fortunately, the shooter, who is still on the loose, apparently never participated in any type of target practice and no one was seriously injured. However, one unidentified woman had to be taken to a local hospital for treatment after a bullet grazed her. Reports indicate that it was just a minor injury. 

Six shots were said to have been fired during that incident, and it still isn’t clear exactly what may have provoked the shooter. The head of the Las Vegas Metro Police Department, Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo, believes it could be tied to a lack of distractions, since many of the Vegas clubs are still closed because of COVID-19. He told a local TV station, KLAS-TV, “It’s just a lot of people in a small condensed area, and you infuse their desire to have a great time and infuse things like alcohol and drugs and it’s a bad combination.”

That was the second gun-related incident this past Tuesday. The other involved Harrah’s and Casino Royale, with police involved in a foot chase to catch a man brandishing a weapon. He was caught at Casino Royale and arrested, one more in the over 1,100 arrests made in the past couple of weeks around the Las Vegas area. In those arrests, police have recovered more than 60 firearms. 

Philippines taxman demands his due during POGO exodus

While it’s still unclear how many Philippine Offshore Gambling Operators (POGOs) will shut down or leave the country in 2020, or the economic impact such an exodus will have, the taxman still wants his due. The Department of Finance has made clear that they will look at the books of every online gambling operation that exits the country.

“Before a Philippine-registered entity can close its business, it is required to get a clearance from the BIR (Bureau of Internal Revenue). This triggers an audit where the BIR can determine if they have paid the correct taxes,” reporters learned from Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez via text message.

That exodus has already begun. While only 29 POGOs have been cleared to reopen operations, the real estate sector have a clear view of who’s getting ready to leave. “Last night, I got a call from one of the owners of a building in Makati, who’s saying that his Pogo and service provider-clients have started cancelling their lease contracts for lack of business,” said Dominguez.

If the exodus continues, it’s going to start looking pretty bad for the Philippines economy. “As of the second quarter of 2020, Pogos covered an estimated 11 percent of total leasable office space in Metro Manila, or about 1.34 million square meters,” property advisor Joey Bondoc told the Philippine Daily Inquirer. “In the second quarter, office vacancy in Metro Manila stood at 5 percent. Hence, if all Pogos leave, we will see a 16-percent office vacancy—leased space by Pogos plus vacancy as of the second quarter,” he said.

Becky’s Affiliated: New opportunities for iGaming affiliates to be revealed at #CGLive 2020

On the morning of October 2nd EST, there is a unique opportunity for gambling industry and esports professionals to be inspired by disruptive BSV blockchain technology. 

For the first time in its history, the sixth CoinGeek Conference will feature a special gambling industry and esports track, taking place from 9:25-11:35 EST Friday, October 2nd, Day 3 of the event. The purpose of this track is to educate gambling and esports professionals on how BSV technology can improve their business and also educate BSV professionals on the gambling industry’s pain points so both sectors can work together to solve them.

The free-to-attend event is set to broadcast live from studios in New York City and London and will feature high-profile gambling industry speakers such as Unikrn’s Rahul Sood, Boyd Gaming’s Eric Bowers, Hero Gaming’s Sam Brown and many more.

Bitboss’s CEO and CTO will also be speaking, one on the “cashless casinos” panel and the other on the “iGaming future” panel as Bitboss is neatly positioned at the intersection of gambling and blockchain, both from a land based and online perspective.

Former England batsman Kevin Pietersen continues Betway partnership

Betway have one eye on the Ashes series in Australia, extending their partnership with former England star Kevin Pietersen until 2023.

Pietersen was happy to continue his role as Global Cricket Ambassador for Betway.

“This has already been such an exciting year for cricket and I’m delighted to be working with Betway and sharing my love of the game with fellow fans,” Pietersen said.

Team – @betway, another 3yrs! ??https://t.co/4abcFxnJTN

Former England batsman Kevin Pietersen continues Betway partnership

Betway have one eye on the Ashes series in Australia, extending their partnership with former England star Kevin Pietersen until 2023.

Pietersen was happy to continue his role as Global Cricket Ambassador for Betway.

“This has already been such an exciting year for cricket and I’m delighted to be working with Betway and sharing my love of the game with fellow fans,” Pietersen said.

Team – @betway, another 3yrs! ??https://t.co/4abcFxnJTN

Former England batsman Kevin Pietersen continues Betway partnership

Betway have one eye on the Ashes series in Australia, extending their partnership with former England star Kevin Pietersen until 2023.

Pietersen was happy to continue his role as Global Cricket Ambassador for Betway.

“This has already been such an exciting year for cricket and I’m delighted to be working with Betway and sharing my love of the game with fellow fans,” Pietersen said.

Team – @betway, another 3yrs! ??https://t.co/4abcFxnJTN

The IPL kicks off overseas for the first time

The 13th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) begins outside of India for the first time in the history of the tournament. Robin Williams once called cricket baseball on Prozac and while it may only draw a fleeting interest in the U.S, the sport is a religion in India; one of the largest betting markets in the world.

The IPL remains the lucrative tournament in the world cricket calendar, drawing the best international talent from around the world. Defending champions, the Mumbai Indians are the most successful side in the history of the IPL and will be aiming to win consecutive titles for the first time in their franchise history.

The Chennai Super Kings, led by former Indian captain MS Dhoni, remain the only side to have successfully defended the IPL title. Players are bought in an auction in December by team owners, and the Super Kings have recruited well. Dhoni will be joined by former South African skipper Faf du Plessis and Australian pace bowler Josh Hazlewood.

The Mumbai Indians remain a warm favourite to repeat their 2019 IPL success. Led by Indian opening batsman Rohit Sharma, the side includes Chris Lynn, West Indies allrounder Kieron Pollard and South African keeper Quinton de Kock.

The IPL kicks off overseas for the first time

The 13th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) begins outside of India for the first time in the history of the tournament. Robin Williams once called cricket baseball on Prozac and while it may only draw a fleeting interest in the U.S, the sport is a religion in India; one of the largest betting markets in the world.

The IPL remains the lucrative tournament in the world cricket calendar, drawing the best international talent from around the world. Defending champions, the Mumbai Indians are the most successful side in the history of the IPL and will be aiming to win consecutive titles for the first time in their franchise history.

The Chennai Super Kings, led by former Indian captain MS Dhoni, remain the only side to have successfully defended the IPL title. Players are bought in an auction in December by team owners, and the Super Kings have recruited well. Dhoni will be joined by former South African skipper Faf du Plessis and Australian pace bowler Josh Hazlewood.

The Mumbai Indians remain a warm favourite to repeat their 2019 IPL success. Led by Indian opening batsman Rohit Sharma, the side includes Chris Lynn, West Indies allrounder Kieron Pollard and South African keeper Quinton de Kock.

The resurgence in online bingo

This is a guest contribution by Lillian Grey, head of content at BingoSites.net. If you would like to submit a contribution please contact Bill Beatty for submission details. Thank you.

Lillian Grey from BingoSites.net says bingo is booming and that operators should leverage its popularity to drive player acquisition and retention

Online bingo participation has been on the rise in the UK over the past few months and that trend looks set to continue.

The growing opportunity presented by the bingo vertical has been seized upon on by big name operators such as PlayOJO, which recently launched PlayOJO Bingo.