Jerry Milani is a freelance writer and public relations executive living in Bloomfield, N.J. He has worked in P.R. for more than 30 years in college and conference sports media relations, two agencies and for the International Fight League, a team-based mixed martial arts league, and variouis sports and entertainment properties. Milani is a proud graduate of Fordham University and when not attending a Yankees or Rams game can be reached at Jerry (at) JerryMilani (dot) com.
As COVID-19 continues to reshape upcoming seasons for professional and collegiate sports, Covers asks the burning question, what will the impact be on sports betting if the 2020 college football season is canceled?
Covers’ Senior Writer Patrick Everson spoke with Executive Vice President of Race and Sports at the Superbook at Westgate, Jay Kornegay, the American Gaming Association’s Casey Clark, and gambling industry strategist Chris Grove, about the potential effects of a canceled or delayed college football season on sportsbooks across the country.
“I’m not sure any of us really knows how that will impact us,” Kornegay said, speaking to the sportsbook industry as a whole. “If it’s completely canceled, it’s certainly going to be a punch to the gut. However, it’s not as bad as some might think, as long as we still have the NFL. Last year, 65 percent of our total football handle was NFL.”
Some NCAA football betting statistics include:
Although sportsbooks don’t separate NFL versus NCAA football in terms of total handle (bets placed) on football, estimates are approximately 35% of total handle in Nevada came from NCAAF football in 2019.
Based on total handle on football in Nevada sportsbooks in 2019, approximately $650 million was bet on NCAAF football.
New Jersey took in $939 million in football handle in 2019 and given that same 35% estimate for college football action, over $328 million was bet on NCAA football in 2019 in New Jersey.
The best NCAAF football bets in 2019 were Kentucky and Navy, both went 10-3 Against the Spread.
Could the college football season be postponed to the spring? Many in the media and the sports betting space are speculating that a spring college football season would provide a huge boost on the wagering front. Among the main reasons for such speculation is that NCAA football wouldn’t be competing with the NFL every week.
With baseball, basketball, hockey and others back on the fields, courts and ice, and football training camps underway, fans have been able to enjoy live sports that the COVID-19 pandemic has denied them. With hopes high that the delayed seasons can continue through to their conclusions, fans’ enthusiasm for Strat-O-Matic (www.strat-o-matic.com) baseball board and digital games set records for sales and engagement, according to numbers released today by the market leader in sports simulations.
For the period of March through July 2020, Strat-O-Matic sales far surpassed the same time frame in 2019:
Baseball Board and Windows platform sales are more than 70% higher
Baseball Board game product sales are more than 85% higher
Baseball Windows platform sales are more than 50% higher
Strat-O-Matic Baseball 365 sales are more than double
New Members on Strat-O-Matic Baseball 365 are more than 200% higher
And this past month, as the pro squads were returning, interest in Strat-O-Matic baseball was even more pronounced, as compared to July 2019:
Baseball Board game product sales were more than 80% higher
Baseball Windows platform sales were more than double
Strat-O-Matic Baseball 365 sales were more than double
The Strat-O-Matic daily baseball season simulation also brought the company unprecedented attention from popular sports and entertainment personalities and media outlets:
More than a dozen newspapers and other platforms, including The San Francisco Chronicle, Akron Beacon Journal, Grand Junction Daily Sentinel and others reported the simulation results regularly. Numerous writers were engaged in selecting lineups and also involved their readers via social media.
““I am proud our incredible team was able to pivot in this complex market,” said Adam Richman, Strat-O-Matic President. “We are thrilled live sports have come back, and through the pandemic, simulation’s crucial place in sports has become clear.
“We look forward to providing more entertainment and connection for sports fans,” he added. “Strat-O-Matic has been and will continue to be the bridge to fill holes as professional sports leagues awaken and occasionally pause as our country moves through this difficult time.”
Cards depicting eight singles and doubles American Cornhole League (ACL) World Championship winners issued today on the TOPPS NOW® platform captured an exciting weekend of action and helped launch the partnership between the cardmaker’s partnership with ACL. The cards are available for purchase until Tuesday, August 18, at 1 p.m. ET at https://www.topps.com/cards-collectibles/topps-nowr.html?property=23309. Future TOPPS NOW cards will be produced for other major events sponsored by ACL, which promotes and develops cornhole as a sport for any age and any skill level.
The eight World Championship cards celebrate the following accomplishments:
Jamie Graham, Pro Singles World Champion
Derrick King / Trey Burchfield, Pro Doubles World Champions
Sarah Cassidy, Women’s Singles World Champions
Jamie Graham, ACL Man of the Year
Maya Cupp, ACL Woman of the Year
Cheyenne Renner / Sarah Cassidy, Women’s Doubles World Champions
Samantha Finley / Derrick King, Co-Ed Doubles World Champions
Ryan Windsor / Isidro Herrera / Brandon Corwin / Devon Harbaugh, Crew Cup World Champions
The World Championship cards follow a set of eight in the TOPPS ACL Pro Invitational Pack featuring the league’s top stars, and special TOPPS NOW cards commemorating last week’s “Grudge Match” between longtime UFC, Bellator and Strikeforce fighter Jorge Masvidal and ACL pro Cody Henderson, as the first available to collectors and fans of the sport.
“The TOPPS NOW platform is a great way to introduce collectors to the personalities that have driven the growth and success of cornhole and the ACL,” said Jeff Heckman, Topps’ Global Director of Ecommerce. “The World Championships gained a lot of attention, and we are pleased that fans have been excited about our first foray into the sport.”
In cornhole, teams alternate tossing 16-ounce bags of corn kernels towards a raised platform with a hole in the far end. The lawn game has grown into an international phenomenon, with ACL having established the rules and regulations to govern the sport, create and manage special events and foster its growth generally.
The National Lacrosse League (@NLL), the longest-running and most successful professional lacrosse league in the world, today announced that the 2020 Entry Draft will be held on September 17th at 7:00 ET. For the first time in league history, the Entry Draft will be done virtually.
Following the recent NFL, MLB, and WNBA Drafts, the NLL is just the fourth professional sports league to produce a fully live virtual draft. The NLL will transmit live feeds to B/R Live, NLL’s YouTube channel, and Facebook (@NLL). With real-time coverage expected from over 30 virtual contributors, the production will leverage a combination of technologies from vendors AviWest, VMix, TVU Anywhere, Zoom, and LTN. The production will also use the new Clearcom IP based intercom app called Agent IC to handle the complex communications required to execute a virtual live draft.
“As a league that always thinks digital-first, we are excited to be able to use state-of-the-art technology to hold the 2020 Draft online for all fans to watch and participate in,” said Commissioner Nick Sakiewicz. “As we continue to wade through the challenges, we are all facing today we would have liked to offer the newest rising stars a live experience. But we know that the entire event and team, player, and fan experience will be first-class.”
The NLL will be using Telescope Inc.’s interactive platform, CONNECT Live, to enable real-time on-air integration of Twitter fan comments and high capacity hashtag poll results powered by at-home users across the nation.
Commissioner Sakiewicz is scheduled to announce the first pick, which belongs to the New York Riptide. Returning from last year’s coverage that garnered hundreds of thousands of viewers, the broadcast team for the draft will include Devan Kaney (@DevanKaneyTV) as host, joined by Teddy Jenner (voice of Colorado Mammoth @OffTheCrosseBar), Stephen Stamp (NLL Draft Expert @StampLax), and Tabitha Turner, floor reporter for the Georgia Swarm (@TabTurnerTV1). Additional participants and contributors to the 2020 NLL Draft Selection Show will be announced at a later date. The 2020 Draft Selection Show will be produced by the NLL in association with Joel Kitay Productions, showrunners for the 2019 NLL Draft.
“We are all looking to the future and the start of the 35th season of the NLL and the Draft will be a great next step towards that point. The level of young talent coming into the league is unprecedented and The Draft will be the first time many of these athletes get a chance to be recognized on such a platform. It will be a great night for the players, the NLL, and our sport.” said Peter Schmitz, President, Professional Lacrosse Players’ Association (PLPA).
Draft Logistics
In terms of eligibility, all players 21 and older who have never participated in NCAA lacrosse are eligible to be selected in the Entry Draft. Additionally, all players who have either exhausted or forfeited their NCAA eligibility are draft-eligible. For the 2020 NLL Entry Draft, all NCAA players who have exhausted four seasons of eligibility and may return to play a fifth NCAA season are eligible to be selected.
Draft Order (as of August 5th, 2020)
New York
Rochester
Vancouver
San Diego
Calgary
Colorado
Philadelphia
Georgia
Buffalo
Toronto
Halifax
Saskatchewan
New England
First Round (as of August 5th, 2020)
New York
Rochester
Vancouver
San Diego
Calgary
Georgia (from Colorado)
Saskatchewan (from Philadelphia)
Georgia
Buffalo
Georgia or Buffalo (from Toronto)*
Halifax
Saskatchewan
Georgia (from New England)
Halifax
San Diego
Philadelphia
*Conditional pick – Georgia has until September 1, 2020, to opt to choose this pick (10th in 2020) or receive Toronto’s first round selection in the 2022 Entry Draft. After Georgia chooses, Buffalo will receive the remaining Toronto first round pick.
Dates for the start of the 35th NLL season will be announced in the Fall.
The PGA TOUR announced today that BetMGM has signed a multi-year content and marketing relationship to become an Official Betting Operator of the PGA TOUR.
By joining the TOUR’s Official Betting Operator program, BetMGM will have rights in the United States to use PGA TOUR marks, rights to advertise within TOUR media and TOUR partner platforms, plus content and video rights allowing BetMGM Sportsbook platforms to create pre-game and post-game betting programming, as well as distribution of highlights to users who have placed bets.
“BetMGM is part of a premium brand that is deeply connected to golf through sponsorship of various PGA TOUR players and tournaments,” said Norb Gambuzza, PGA TOUR Senior Vice President, Media and Gaming. “Through the power of the BetMGM brand and resources, this new relationship will help accelerate our sports betting strategy, and enable the TOUR to reach new fans and further engage current fans who enjoy betting on golf.”
The PGA TOUR is one of the most popular offerings on BetMGM’s platform. Currently available for download on iOS and Android, the BetMGM mobile app offers the latest betting odds, enhanced offers and multiple betting formats, from money line and point spread bets to parlays and futures. BetMGM is currently licensed for sports betting in seven states including Colorado, Indiana, Michigan, Mississippi, New Jersey, Nevada as well as West Virginia, and has plans to be in eleven states by the end of 2020.
Matt Prevost, BetMGM Chief Marketing Officer said, “We look forward to working with the PGA TOUR to integrate great experiences for BetMGM customers. BetMGM’s advanced betting technology, combined with the PGA TOUR’s world-class competitions and iconic players, will not only advance the TOUR’s position at the forefront of professional sports, but the entire betting industry as well.”
BetMGM has access to existing sponsor relationships with several members of the PGA TOUR, including Max Homa, Jimmy Walker, Kevin Na, Pat Perez, Ryan Moore, Joel Dahmen and Boo Weekley.
Following the Supreme Court’s repeal of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act in 2018, the TOUR instituted an integrity program in collaboration with Genius Sports to protect its competitions from betting-related corruption. Later that year, the TOUR announced a global partnership with IMG ARENA to license its official, live scoring data to betting operators all over the world.
The PGA TOUR is a Platinum Member of the National Council on Problem Gambling, committed to industry-leading responsible gaming practices.
Alexis Prince, Khadijiah Cave, Martell Buie and Demario Fountain were among the standouts as Georgia Soul (women’s) and Crosstown (men’s) claimed the Elite Bracket championships at the inaugural 360 Hoops Invitational this past week at DME Sports Academy. Competitors from across all age groups from elementary school up to top collegiate and professional standouts vied for the titles in various brackets in the unique 360 Hoops format, three-on-three play on a three-basket, three-team circular court.
In the women’s final, Prince scored a game-high 19 points, grabbed five rebounds and handed out six assists, and Cave pitched in 16 points and a game-best 10 boards as Georgia Soul defeated DMT, 54-25. The men’s final featured a strong comeback by Crosstown, which topped Top Shottas, 15-12, behind five points (one point per basket) from Blue and Fountain. Liam Davis had 10 of the squad’s 12 points and a game-high four rebounds in a losing effort for Top Shottas.
The fast-paced format meant non-stop action: the women’s contest saw 51 possessions in two 10-minute halves, and the men’s had 58 trips in 10:00.
The Women’s and Men’s Elite Bracket title games will be featured on a tape-delayed national TV broadcast with Emmy-Award winning producer Harry Cicma. Innovative camera angles and technology, including 360 VR, will be incorporated. Fans can view replays of games from the lower brackets at the 360 Hoops YouTube channel.
The format, in which three teams compete at a time on the 30-foot diameter circular court, featuring a single stanchion with three regulation baskets facing away in each direction and where players can score for their teams in any of the three baskets, produced some highlights not possible in standard basketball. Athleticism, moving without the ball and team play are paramount, readily apparent in this showcase for the nascent sport.
“We weren’t sure what to expect in our first tournament, but it exceeded everything we could have hoped for,” said Shane Brey, Co-Founder, 360 Hoops. “All of the elements of the game were on display, and we will look back at the tapes, learn which things worked well and which we can tweak to be even better.
Georgia Soul
“We are thankful to these tremendous athletes, from the youngest kids right up to the Elite men and women for their efforts all week,” he added. “Georgia Soul and Crosstown will forever be the FIRST 360 Hoops champions, and we can’t be prouder to award them the titles, along with the other bracket winners.”
Winners of the inaugural 360 Hoops Invitational in each bracket include:
Elite Men’s – Crosstown (Jon Thompson, Martell Buie, Demario Fountain, Eric Macintosh) d. Top Shottas (Romelo Bates, Dimitri Thompson, Liam Davis, Wilfredo Rodriguez), 15-12. Third place: Dunk Session (Raheem Watts, Dangelo Lee, Chris Watson)
High School Girls – National Basketball Academy/DME (Coach Jack Lutzeier, players Mariela Hooper, Isys Grady, Jhaid Westbrook) d. TNBA
High School Boys – Orlando Mets (Coach Edgar Santana, players Cris Santiago, Malik Moye, Dayron Horn, Waiter Ross) d. Go Riot
The event was followed by a lively and informative roundtable discussion with high-level basketball minds including Division I coaches, highlights of which will also air during the television broadcast. Featured panelists included Howard head coach Kenny Blakeney; Notre Dame head coach Mike Brey; Stetson assistant Brendan Ahearn Suhr; DME Sports Academy co-founder and owner Dan Panaggio; U.S. Army captain and former Augusta State Univ. star Ernesia Wright; Orlando Boom director of player development Mercedes Sirmons; and former Daytona State College and University of Central Florida standout Andrea Ayala.
360 Hoops Invitational event partners include Dynasty Hoops, DME Sports Academy, Orlando Boom, and Ace League.
Opening night of the Battle in the Bubble will feature the Lakers and Clippers facing off for a pivotal win, and FanDuel Sportsbook is giving customers a chance to get an even bigger win when a legal sports bet is placed on the game. Today, FanDuel Sportsbook, a division of FanDuel Group, will once again bring its innovative Spread the Love ™ promotion to customers to celebrate the return of the NBA on TNT.
For every 2,500 customers who bet on the Lakers in the special Spread the Love Market, FanDuel will move the spread one point in the Lakers favor. There’s no limit to how good this line can get and the line won’t stop increasing until fans stop betting, or the game tips off. New and current customers can place a bet in the special Spread the Love Market to qualify and no matter what spread the bet is placed on – every wager placed in the market will receive the final spread.
“Spread the Love is one of our signature promotions and it’s exciting to watch the line move throughout the day, especially for such an important game on the first night of NBA action returning,” said Mike Raffensperger, CMO of FanDuel Group. “There is no limit to how good this spread can get and it doesn’t matter what line you have when you place a wager, everyone will get the final spread.”
The Lakers spread will begin the day at -4 with odds at -110. Max bet is $50. Spread the Love promotional spreads were introduced into the legal sports betting market by FanDuel in 2019. The Indianapolis Colts wound up with a +51 spread against the Saints last December and the 76ers point spread closed at +59.5 against the Bucks earlier this year.
The FanDuel Sportsbook is available for download today in iOS and Android. To track the line movement throughout the day, follow @FDSportsbook on Twitter.
Major League Wrestling (MLW®), the fastest growing pro wrestling league in the world, and WAVE.tv, the sports media company for today’s fan, today announced a content, distribution and sales partnership that will increase the volume of MLW coverage across WAVE.tv’s portfolio of media brands, while expanding MLW’s fan base across the world.
The agreement will include the social media distribution of MLW athlete and league content across WAVE.tv’s portfolio of media brands, with an emphasis on WAVE.tv’s combat sports media brand “HAYMAKERS.” WAVE.tv will tap highlights and archive moments from MLW to generate programming catered to its Gen Z and Millennial audience of modern sports fans.
“Wrestling has the most active social media fan base in combat sports, so being able to expand and connect with fans in a deeper sense to share our immersive rivalries, fights and athletes with WAVE.tv is a great next step for us,” said MLW CEO and Founder Court Bauer. “MLW embraces emerging trends and tech and WAVE.tv is a perfectmatch for the league. We expect this partnership will encourage continued growth of our fan base while also giving WAVE.tv’s 60 million plus followers and subscribers content matched to their interests as well.”
“As the fastest growing pro-wrestling property in the world, we’re incredibly excited to partner with MLW to package and reimagine their amazing content for today’s modern sports fan across WAVE.tv’s portfolio of media brands,” said Daniel Maas, VP or Partnerships for WAVE.tv. “MLW is a welcome addition to our fast-growing Combat Sports vertical — powered by the HAYMAKERS media brand — where we’ve added over 10 new rights partners in 2020, covering boxing, MMA, wrestling and much more.”
The comprehensive nature of this partnership will also enable WAVE.tv and MLW to work with brands to offer new sponsorship inventory within WAVE.tv’s MLW-focused programming.
For the first time in 2020, a Men’s Professional Sports League in North America has added a new team. The National Lacrosse League is going to be expanding into Fort Worth Texas with the announcement coming this past Wednesday by Commissioner Nick Sakiewicz and the DFW region-based ownership group in Greg Bibb and Bill Cameron, two people very experienced in owning a sports franchise.
“We welcome Fort Worth as our 14th team and are excited to be working with a first-class organization led by Bill Cameron, Greg Bibb, and the leadership at Dickies Arena, one of the premier state-of-the-art facilities in the United States,” Sakiewicz said in a media teleconference announcing the addition of the franchise.
Bibb and Cameron also are part owners in the highly successful WNBA team, the Dallas Wings. The two businessmen have yet to release a name or team colors, but say it will have something to do with Fort Worth and the area.
“We are committed to an identity that has a Forth Worth bent, but also something that is a little untraditional,” Bibb said.
This is the NLL’s second team in the Southern part of America joining the Georgia Swarm. The team won’t officially start play for another 18 months (2021-22 season), but this isn’t unusual as the NLL has a rule, new teams need at least 12 months before actual play can begin.
The new team will be playing at Dickies Arena which recently opened in 2019.
“Dickies Arena is excited to add the NLL to its event list,” said TDMC’s Matt Homan, President and General Manager of Dickies Arena. “We believe there is a solid ownership team along with the strength of the NLL. We are looking forward to working with Bill and Greg’s team locally to make sure that the Fort Worth community has a long term franchise.”
This was interesting because even though the NLL has never had a team in Texas many lacrosse teams in other leagues have failed in the area. However, Forth Worth is the 13th largest city in America and hosts plenty of sporting events between NASCAR, Gymnastics, and more.
“Fort Worth is a world-class sports destination and we are excited to welcome the National Lacrosse League franchise to our community and our spectacular new Dickies Arena,” said Jason Sands, Director, Fort Worth Sports Commission.
The NLL is the largest and longest-running professional lacrosse league so expanding the number of teams is nothing new to them. Just after the last team was added two conferences were formed. With the new addition, the 14 teams may transition into three conferences.
“In all likelihood Fort Worth will be the only expansion team headed into the following season, although you never know with us,” Sakiewicz said. “Sometimes we have been known to add two teams at a time.”
News on the 2020 NLL draft and other important information having to do with the 35th NLL season will be announced later this year.
The 2020 baseball season will be unlike any other, a 60-game sprint that began last night replacing the normal 162-game grind. And just as that means different strategies and maybe a different outcome than a full slate would have produced, Strat-O-Matic’s (www.strat-o-matic.com) simulation of the truncated schedule meant a new winner, as Cleveland topped Los Angeles, four games to two, in the World Series.
Cleveland, which posted the second-best A.L. record at 39-21, swept No. 7 Boston (29-31) in the expanded first round and No. 3 Tampa Bay (38-22) in the ALDS, then survived a seven-game series with No. 1 Houston (44-16) in the NLCS before topping Los Angeles (44-16), the N.L. top seed, winning the last three games to erase a 2-1 series deficit. Domingo Santana was a surprise hero, batting .417 with two homers in the series, and Franmil Reyes slugged three round-trippers for the winners.
“We figured there would be a difference between the 162- game and 60-game simulations, but Cleveland winning is certainly a surprise,” said Hal Richman, Strat-O-Matic founder. “The upcoming ‘sprint’ season and expanded playoffs mean that truly anything can happen, and Cleveland winning it all for the first time in more than 70 years certainly qualifies.”
Some other statistics and items of note from the season:
Daniel Murphy of Colorado (.380) and Xander Bogaerts of Boston (.345) won the league batting titles, respectively
Joey Gallo of Texas got on a home run roll, blasting 17, matched by his N.L. counterpart, Kris Bryant of Chicago. Carlos Correa of Houston knocked in 46 runs to lead the A.L., and Eduardo Escobar had 39 RBI to pace the N.L.
Charlie Morton won an A.L.-high 9 games for Tampa Bay, while Jack Flaherty’s 10 wins for St. Louis led all of baseball.
Atlanta’s Mike Foltynewicz posted a miniscule 1.27 ERA, best in baseball, while Gerrit Cole of New York led the A.L. at a stingy 1.51.
Four pitchers had 20 saves: Roberto Osuna, Houston; Kenley Jansen, Los Angeles (N.L.); Hector Neris, Philadelphia; and Daniel Hudson, Washington
Division winners were Tampa Bay (38-22), Cleveland (39-21), Houston (44-16), Atlanta (38-22), St. Louis (39-21) and Los Angeles (44-16).
Seven of the first-round series were sweeps, six of those won by the home team/higher seed. Only No. 7 Colorado’s win over No. 2 St. Louis went the full three games.
Strat-O-Matic has experienced unprecedented growth over the past quarter, registering sharp increases in sales, traffic and social numbers. Board and Windows games, digital platform Strat-O-Matic Baseball 365, Website traffic, new users and social media have all seen significant boosts over comparable time periods as fans continue to satiate their thirst for baseball, Strat-O-Matic style, connecting with the game and each other across all of these areas.
With the return of sports this week, every current FanDuel customer with a daily fantasy sports account and/or an online sportsbook account is today waking up to an extra $10 site credit in their account to celebrate the return of sports. Whether a customer signed up today or in 2015, more than $80 million in site credits has been distributed to FanDuel customers to use for daily fantasy contests and legal sports bets as the NBA, NHL and MLB return to action after a long layoff.
“We are excited for the return of sports and wanted to give all of our customers a chance to get in on the action for free,” said Mike Raffensperger, CMO of FanDuel Group. “Putting more than $80 million in site credits into our customers’ accounts to enter DFS contests or to make legal sports bets is a thank you to our customers for their loyalty during this long stretch without the NBA, NHL and MLB.”
As America’s #1 Sportsbook app and an official partner of the NBA, MLB and NHL, FanDuel leads the industry in customer friendly promotions. FanDuel was the first legal U.S. sports betting operator to offer early payouts for futures wagers, the first to offer Spread the Love where the line was moved in the customer’s favor for every 2500 bets placed on a particular market, the first to offer a Bad Beat Refund as well as daily generous super odds boosts and promotions. To celebrate the Return of Sports, FanDuel is also offering up to a day of risk free betting up to $100 for all users on their first day back to the site from 7/21-8/2.
The more than $80 million site credit giveaway will be accompanied by an advertising campaign with a new television commercial beginning July 22. The $10 provided to customers will be in the form of either FanDuel DFS site credit or FanDuel Sportsbook site credit. There are no state restrictions and the special offer is available to new and current customers. Customers will need to use the $10 by August 2 or the site credit will be voided.
Betfred USA Sports has been selected as the Sportsbook operator inside Mohegan Sun Casino at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas. The announcement of this strategic partnership comes one week after Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment (MGE) unveiled the name and logo for its first Las Vegas destination. The Sportsbook will be part of Mohegan Sun Casino Las Vegas’ 60,000-square foot premium gaming venue, located within Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, part of the Curio Collection by Hilton™.
“We’re excited to work with Betfred, one of the leading Sportsbook operators in the UK and Europe,” said Aviram Alroy, Vice President of Interactive Gaming at MGE. “Our affiliation will introduce new and attractive competition to the Las Vegas market. Betfred will create a seamless and best-in-class experience on our gaming floor, which will cater to both domestic and international visitors.”
The Las Vegas-based Betfred USA Sports was created in 2019 by Betfred Group specifically to enter the robust and ever-expanding U.S. sports betting market. The Betfred Sports branded Sportsbook inside Mohegan Sun Casino Las Vegas will include luxury seating, a state-of-the-art video wall, and over-the-counter wagering, as well as self-serve kiosks. This partnership marks the company’s fourth U.S. Sportsbook, following properties in Iowa, Colorado, and Pennsylvania. Online sports betting products will accompany each venue location, including in Nevada.
“Given our collaboration with two outstanding operators in Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment and Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, we are confident that our first foray into the Las Vegas Sportsbook market will be a great success,” said Betfred Group’s Chief Operating Officer, Mark Stebbings.”Through our shared expertise, we will be offering a top class service for sports bettors in the entertainment capital of the world.”
Mohegan Sun Casino Las Vegas’ eight-month renovation is currently underway, and the re-imagined Las Vegas lifestyle casino resort is slated to open in Fall 2020, subject to all regulatory approvals.
For Soccer Ventures (FSV), the recently launched investment team focused on the growth and long-term development of American soccer, today announced the launch of a podcast network dedicated to aggregating the best and most diverse voices in the sport of soccer in America, and a “Preferred Partnership” with Girls Soccer Network – that will see the two companies collaborate on content, production and commercial opportunities.
The first original shows to launch on the FSV network will include “Orange Slices,” hosted by former U.S. Men’s National Team star Heath Pearce and rising American star Mark McKenzie of the Philadelphia Union, as well as the reintroduction of “The Best Soccer Show,” with Sirius XM’s Jason Davis and Jared DuBois.
“There are many diverse voices in American soccer who deserve a new platform to discuss their experiences throughout the vast soccer community. Podcasting has emerged as a megaphone for storytelling, and we’ve recognized that there is no better way to invest in elevating the American soccer story than to give its future leaders the mic,” stated Philadelphia Union Investor and FSV Principal Richie Graham.
“The next decade of soccer in the U.S. will be transformative. Both fans and players alike will be protagonists in leading the growth of the sport throughout this period, and we believe Orange Slices and The Best Soccer Show provide each their space,” said Pearce, Chief Creative Officer at For Soccer Ventures. “Our network will add new, like-minded partners, such as Girls Soccer Network and additional shows launched in the coming months, as we look to celebrate the extraordinary efforts of those who’ve gotten us here, while shining a light on our path forward as a soccer nation.”
The breakdown of the launch shows include:
ORANGE SLICES: Connecting the past, present, and future generations of U.S. internationals around our collective soccer story. The show will be hosted by former US international and Major League Soccer All-Star Heath Pearce and emerging U.S. international Mark McKenzie of Philadelphia Union, this cross-generational variety show will celebrate the past, present, and future of American soccer. Part nostalgia and history, part support for the future of the game, each episode will feature guests from different generations of American soccer sharing stories, insights, and commentary on their soccer experiences. Through rotating segments, the show will take us on a journey through our uniquely American soccer culture, from the muddy fields and halftime orange slices of youth soccer to the biggest games won and lost on the world’s stage.
BEST SOCCER SHOW: Hosted by Sirius XM’s Jason Davis and American soccer devotee Jared DuBois, “Best Soccer Show” is an original blend of entertaining storytelling, quick quips, and sharp commentary that captures the spirit of American soccer fandom. Beloved for its balance of thoughtful insight and humorous candor, each episode explores American soccer’s biggest stories while celebrating our uniquely American brand of the game. From the ups and downs of our national teams to the state of MLS, UEFA and NWSL, the hosts drive dynamic conversations through rotating segments, call-ins from real fans, and interviews with some of the biggest names in the game. Down to Earth and with a big heart, it’s simply America’s Best Soccer Show.
You can download the shows on all podcast platforms, including Spotify and iTunes.
GIRLS SOCCER NETWORK: Girls Soccer Network (GSN) is a vibrant community for girls and women who love the game of soccer beyond the sidelines of the pitch. Through their digital platform (girlssoccernetwork.com) and social media, the GSN team focuses on creating engaging, empowering and inspirational content that feeds the soccer soul and brings together a culture of “Socceristas” that is positive and unapologetically themselves.
“We’re thrilled to partner with For Soccer Ventures. The leadership team recognizes the enormous opportunity to help support all the thriving women’s soccer communities across the country and to grow the game for future generations.” Said Jen Gruskoff, Founder and Editor-in-Chief @ GSN, “We’ve only scratched the surface from a content and commercial development perspective, and this partnership will help us supercharge our efforts to connect with brands and develop game-changing content platforms”
Milwaukee’s Christian Yelich’s two-run home run in the fourth inning was one of five circuit clouts in the game as the National League topped the American, 7-2, in Strat-O-Matic’s simulation of the All-Star Game Tuesday night. TV host Drew Carey (American) and musician Slim Jim Phantom (National) managed the teams during a live video stream on Wizard World Virtual Experiences.
Fans can watch a replay of the contest on Twitch, Facebook or YouTube.
Yelich’s shot gave the N.L. a 2-0 lead. One out later, Matt Carpenter of St. Louis followed with another blast for a 3-0 edge for Phantom’s squad.
Carey’s Junior Circuit team pulled to within 3-2 in the sixth, but three runs in the bottom of the frame put the game out of reach.
“It’s just great to be part of this,” said Phantom, an avid baseball and Strat-O-Matic fan who hosts a fantasy baseball show on SiriusXM Radio, following the victory. “It’s keeping baseball going. We were all going crazy, and Strat-O-Matic was so helpful, we’ve been able to play fantasy ball all year. The same thing I love about Strat-O-Matic when I was a kid I love about it now.”
“I’ve been playing this game since the ’70s,” added Carey, a member of several Strat-O-Matic leagues, including one with Phantom. “I used to play my brother all the time, some of my fondest memories of growing up and always loved the game.”
Max Scherzer of Washington earned the win with a scoreless inning. Gerrit Cole of the Yankees gave up the three fourth-inning runs and took the loss.
Strat-O-Matic will continue its simulation of the regular season until the teams return to action on the field. Fans can follow the action, updated daily at 2 p.m. ET, at https://www.strat-o-matic.com/2020-season-simulation/.
The Denver Broncos and BetMGM, a market-leading sports betting and gaming platform from ROAR Digital, LLC – the joint venture between MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM) and GVC Holdings (LSE: GVC), announced today that they have entered into a multi-year agreement.
As an official sports betting partner of the Broncos, BetMGM and MGM Resorts will provide premium fan experiences, including a new BetMGM Lounge at Empower Field at Mile High Stadium, VIP travel packages, and benefits through MGM Resorts’ loyalty program, M life Rewards. The strategic partnership also includes a free-to-play mobile game, digital marketing assets, and in-stadium promotions and signage.
“This partnership with the Broncos allows us to showcase not only a premier BetMGM sports betting and gaming platform, but also the world-class entertainment experiences delivered by MGM Resorts,” said BetMGM’s Chief Marketing Officer Matt Prevost. “We’re excited to bring both of these to Broncos fans at Empower Field at Mile High Stadium and across the country, while offering BetMGM users new ways to engage with their favorite football team.”
The BetMGM Lounge, located on the Level 1 concourse adjacent to Gate 4 and outside Section 111/112, will allow fans 21 years of age and older access to a full-service premium bar, a luxury lounge, live odds and assistance with BetMGM’s mobile app. Additional in-stadium promotions, highlighted by BetMGM’s season-long First Possession Payoff, will be announced at a later date.
The free-to-play game will be available to Broncos fans directly on The Bronco’s official mobile app. The game will offer eligible fans the opportunity to test their sports prediction skills and win MGM Resorts prizes, including trips to MGM Resorts properties nationwide.
Denver Broncos Chief Commercial Officer Mac Freeman said, “When we began the process of identifying potential partners in this category, our goal was to provide Broncos fans with unique ways to engage with sports betting. Together with BetMGM, we can now offer our fans and M life Rewards members in Colorado new opportunities such as in-stadium gaming lounge, VIP travel packages to MGM Resorts around the country and a free-to-play game through our mobile app.”
BetMGM recently launched in Colorado in partnership with the Midnight Rose Hotel and Casino. The BetMGM mobile app is available for download in Colorado on both iOS and Android. New customers to the BetMGM Colorado app will receive $100 in free bonus credit when placing a first bet of $10 or more on any Denver Broncos Game or Broncos future wager using bonus code BRONCOS at registration. For more information, follow @BetMGM on Twitter.
As baseball prepares for its return to Yankee Stadium and Citi Field this month, some of the standouts from years past take the virtual stage when former Mets Subway Series manager Bobby Valentine, currently A.D. at Sacred Heart University, former Yankees hard-hitting outfielder Roy White, Yankees postseason standout Jim Leyritz, and Amazin’ 1969 Mets World Series champions Ed Kranepool, Ron Swoboda and Art Shamsky appear in a pair of FREE live moderated video Q&A sessions via Wizard World Virtual Experiences (www.wizardworldvirtual.com). Fans can catch Valentine, White and Leyritz on Wednesday, July 15, at 7 p.m. ET, while the ‘69 Mets are live on Thursday, July 16, at 4 p.m. ET.
Shayne Jackson and Lyle Thompson, courtesy Georgia Swarm
The National Lacrosse League (@NLL), the longest running and most successful professional lacrosse league in the world, officially announced the 2019-20 NLL Award winners. All awards are voted on by head coaches, general managers, and the League’s Board of Governors.
Like all major sports, the 2019-2020 season was interrupted, and ultimately cut short due to COVID-19. There was over 15 weeks of game play and much success for the players, teams, and fans of NLL’s 13 active franchises—including two competing for the first time this year. All three divisions featured tight races with three or more teams within two games of the lead, the launch of the Alterna Cup Series, and thrilling overtime victories.
“In an unusual year we congratulate such exceptional players coaches and executives,” said NLL Commissioner, Nick Sakiewicz. “At the end of each season we award top performers and they epitomize everything that is good about the game of lacrosse on and off the field. All our leaders and athletes participate in the top lacrosse league in the world, and this year’s winners have distinguished themselves as the best of the best. We look forward to the time when we can present these awards in person and honor each of them with their teammates in front of their home fans.”
Peter Schmitz, President, Professional Lacrosse Players’ Association (PLPA), also shared his praise, “On behalf of the PLPA, I’d like to congratulate all the award winners for their excellence, commitment, and success. We wish to recognize the effort and talent that it takes to win these awards, especially among so many qualified candidates.”
The voting resulted in major award winners representing a wide array of squads, showcasing the competitive balance of talent and high-level competition in the NLL. Earning the Most Valuable Player Award was Shayne Jackson of the Georgia Swarm. Jackson finished the year with 31 goals and 42 assists totaling 73 points while leading the league in even strength assists with 36. Jackson also tied for the league lead in power play goals with 11 and collected 65 loose balls.
The Rookie of the Year was New York Riptide star, Tyson Gibson. Gibson was the first overall selection by the expansion franchise in the 2019 Entry Draft. Gibson scored 16 goals and had 27 assists for 43 points, which led the team in the Riptide’s inaugural season.
For the third year in a row, Georgia Swarm’s Lyle Thompson won the Sportsmanship Award. He is the only NLL player to ever win it three consecutive times since the award debuted in 2002. He continues to represent the sport of lacrosse to the highest degree and tallied 27 goals and 33 assists on the season.
Making it three consecutive seasons, Halifax Thunderbirds stalwart, Graeme Hossack took home Defensive Player of the Year honors. Hossack lead all defensemen in Time on Floor averaging 27:32 per game, over two minutes higher than the next best player, and finished in the top four amongst all defensemen in goals, points, loose balls, and caused turnovers.
Another back-to-back award winner, the Toronto Rock’s Challen Rogers was named Transition Player of the Year. In 11 games, Rogers scored 11 goals and recorded 14 assists while corralling 51 loose balls.
In his first full year as a full-time starter, New England Black Wolves goaltender, Doug Jamieson won the Goaltender of the Year Award. Jamieson led the league in Save Percentage (.829), which is a league record for save percentage, Goals Against Average (8.80) and tied for the league lead in wins with 8.
For the first time in NLL Awards history, the Teammate(s) of the Year honor was a tie to both Dan Dawson, Toronto Rock, and Mike Poulin, Georgia Swarm. Throughout the season, the players exhibited leadership, sportsmanship, and dedication to their teammates, communities and the sport.
Philadelphia Wings Head Coach and General Manager, Paul Day received dual honors, winning the Les Bartley Award for Coach of the Year and General Manager of the Year. Day led his squad to an 8-6 record after acquiring Goaltender of the Year finalist Zach Higgins and veteran forward Cory Vitarelli during the offseason, and overseeing the development of second-year stars, Trevor Baptiste and Matt Rambo. Day previously won the Les Bartley Award in 2004 when he helmed the Rochester Knighthawks.
The Tom Borrelli Award Media Member of the Year goes to Craig Rybczynski of the Rochester Knighthawks. As the longest-tenured broadcaster in NLL history, calling over 300 straight games, he provides strategic communications, develops community partnerships and interacts with local, regional and national media
John Catalano, of the Halifax Thunderbirds, was honored as the Executive of the Year, overseeing the day-to-day operations following the franchise’s relocation after a long, successful run in Rochester. John played an instrumental role in what was a successful inaugural season for the franchise, both on and off the floor. His guidance and expertise in sales, integrated marketing, game presentation, broadcast, and community relations have landed Halifax on the map as one of the newest staple franchises in the league.
The complete list of 2019-20 NLL Awards winners are as follows:
Most Valuable Player: Shayne Jackson, Georgia Rookie of the Year: Tyson Gibson, New York Sportsmanship Award: Lyle Thompson, Georgia Defensive Player of the Year: Graeme Hossack, Halifax Transition Player of the Year: Challen Rogers, Toronto Goaltender of the Year: Doug Jamieson, New England Teammate of the Year: Dan Dawson, Toronto, AND Mike Poulin, Georgia (t) Les Bartley Award Coach of the Year: Paul Day, Philadelphia General Manager of the Year: Paul Day, Philadelphia Tom Borrelli Award Media Member of the Year: Craig Rybczynski, Rochester Executive of the Year: John Catalano, Halifax
Additionally, the 2019-20 NLL All-League and All-Rookie Teams have been announced. The teams are comprised of the top vote getters for the season awards.
All-League First Team: Doug Jamieson, New England, Goaltender Graeme Hossack, Halifax, Defense Kyle Rubisch, Saskatchewan, Defense Challen Rogers, Toronto, Transition Shayne Jackson, Georgia, Forward Callum Crawford, New England, Forward
All-League Second Team: Dillon Ward, Colorado, Goaltender Robert Hope, Colorado, Defense Dan MacRae, New York, Defense Kiel Matisz, Philadelphia, Transition Rob Hellyer, Toronto, Forward Cody Jamieson, Halifax, Forward
All-Rookie Team: Tyson Gibson, New York, Forward Andrew Kew, New England, Forward Connor Fields, San Diego, Forward Clarke Peterson, Halifax, Forward Ryland Rees, Rochester, Transition Joe Nardella, New England, Defense
As Strat-O-Matic’s (www.strat-o-matic.com) simulation of the 2020 baseball season moves past the halfway point and with the All-Star Game less than two weeks away, award winners for June were announced today. Mike Trout of Los Angeles and Freddie Freeman of Atlanta were selected as A.L. and N.L. Players of the Month, respectively, while Charlie Morton of Tampa Bay and Max Scherzer of Washington earned League Pitcher of the Month honors.
Tampa Bay (53-34, 9.5 game lead over New York), Cleveland (54-32, nine games ahead of MInnesota), Houston (MLB-best 56-28, six games ahead of Oakland), Washington (51-35, six games better than Atlanta) and Los Angeles (57-29, 8.5 lengths past San Diego) remain atop their respective divisions, while Milwaukee (45-39) moved into the N.L. Central lead with a 14-11 month, percentage points ahead of Chicago (46-40), a game ahead of St. Louis and four better than Cincinnati in the tightest division race to date. Strat-O-Matic updates results and standings daily at www.strat-o-matic.com/2020-season-simulation/.
Trout earned the A.L. honors by hitting .327 with 10 home runs and 24 RBI in the month, while posting a 1.136 OPS. Freeman was even better, slashing .378/.461/.724 for a 1.185 OPS in June. Morton won all four of his decisions, pitching to a 1.06 ERA and 0.82 WHIP, fanning 36 across 34 innings, while Scherzer went 5-1 with a 1.89 ERA and 0.95 WHIP, whiffing 53 in 38 innings in the month.
The wild card races are very tight in both leagues, with Oakland (51-35) in first place in the A.L., Minnesota (45-41) one game up on Kansas City (44-42) for the second spot, two ahead of New York (43-43), 2.5 up on Los Angeles (42-43) and three ahead of Boston (42-44). In the Senior Circuit, San Diego (48-37) sets the pace, with Central-leading Milwaukee (45-39) and Chicago (46-40) a game better than St. Louis and Atlanta (45-41) and three ahead of Arizona (43-43) for the second slot.
Some of the individual league leaders through June 30 include:
Shogo Akiyama, Cincinnati, N.L. batting (.349);
Nick Madrigal, Chicago, A.L. batting (.342)
Trevor Story, Colorado, N.L. home runs (31); runs (75)
Jorge Soler, Kansas City, A.L. home runs (31); RBI (91)
Keston Hiura, Milwaukee, N.L. RBI (73)
Mike Trout, Los Angeles, A.L. runs (77)
Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles, N.L. victories (12); ERA (2.25)
Danny Duffy, Kansas City, A.L. victories (10)
Gerrit Cole, New York, A.L. victories (10); strikeouts (158)
Blake Snell, Tampa Bay, A.L. ERA (2.18)
Jacob deGrom, New York, N.L. strikeouts (153)
“Just like on the field, the teams have started to separate themselves at the top of each division, but there are still close races and unexpected results in the Strat-O-Matic simulation of the season,” said Hal Richman, Strat-O-Matic founder. “With some of the league’s superstars like Mike Trout, Max Scherzer and Clayon Kershaw among the leaders along with newer faces in Shogo Akiyama, Nick Madrigal and Keston Hiura, the last three months of the season should be as exciting and interesting as the first three have been.”
N.L. Pitcher: Stephen Strasburg (April), Luke Weaver (May), Max Scherzer (June)
About Strat-O-Matic
Strat-O-Matic was invented by 11-year-old Hal Richman in his bedroom in Great Neck, N.Y. in 1948 as a result of his frustration with the statistical randomness of other baseball board games. He discovered that the statistical predictability of dice would give his game the realism he craved.
Betsson will enter the US online sports betting market by signing an agreement with its partner Dostal Alley Casino who will provide market access for Business-to-Consumer (B2C) online sports betting in the US state of Colorado. Betsson plans to launch its proprietary sportsbook in the first part of 2021, after regulatory approval.
This is a strategic move reflecting Betsson’s drive to grow in new regulated markets, providing access for Betsson to the rapidly expanding online sports betting market in the US. The agreement is for an initial term of 10 years. This initiative is a first and cautious step into the US market, designed to benefit Betsson with key learnings, brand presence and initial customers. This new market entry reflects Betsson’s general business strategy of prudence where the aim is to grow in a financially safe manner, with low risk, ensuring a long term sustainable and growing business.
Betsson has the ambition to build US presence, initially with a small office in Colorado. Betsson’s vision is to create the best user experiences in the market, tailored to regional customer needs and differences. The move also gives Betsson an opportunity to showcase the strength of its sportsbook in the US market and supports the ambition to sell its proprietary sportsbook to Business-to-Business (B2B) customers in the future.
Colorado was the 18th state in the US to legalise online sports betting effective from 1 May this year, allowing 33 licences, each to include one, so called, `skin’. Gambling duty is 10% on Gross Gaming Revenue and customers are allowed to register and bet online while within the state borders. The online sports betting market in Colorado is estimated to reach approximately $200 million at saturation (source H2GC). Colorado is a wealthy state in the top-third of the US states by GDP with nearly six million inhabitants and growing. It is both a tech and sports hub with its own teams in major American sporting leagues.
CinDee Spellman, CFO of Dostal Alley Casino comments: “As a company with over 28 years in the gaming business, we are thrilled to welcome Betsson to the US as we partner with them for online sports betting in Colorado. With their decades of experience in online gaming we are confident that they will bring the very best experience to players in the Centennial State!”
Pontus Lindwall, CEO and President of Betsson AB says: “I am very excited to reach this milestone, further expanding Betsson’s global reach by entering a new continent through the fast-growing online market in the US. Dostal Alley Casino has more than 60 years of experience of doing business in Colorado and will play an important role in our journey to build US presence. The whole country has a strong culture of gambling and is now experiencing online penetration at accelerated pace, where consumers are transitioning from traditional retail outlets to also now bet on their mobile devices. We have followed the development in the US closely since the possibility of a repeal of the PASPA and have carefully considered ways to enter the market. We are now looking forward to exploring the potential with our proprietary sportsbook.”
Famer, the sports coaching and mentorship mobile platform, today announced a landmark partnership with US Sports Camps, the largest and most successful youth sports summer program in North America, to bring an interactive and substantive training experience to thousands of young athletes displaced from camp due to COVID-19. US Sports Camps (USSC) is the licensed operator of the NIKE Sports Camps and operates over 1,000 camps in 16 different sports totaling more than 100,000 campers annually.
“Our goal this spring was to bring our unique cloud based interactive training technology to the camps market to give kids and parents a meaningful and worthwhile summer experience,” said Famer CEO Rich Abend. “Through launching the concept with the industry leader, US Sports Camps, we know we have found a fun and powerful alternative to keep kids engaged and active, and coaches involved and earning money doing what they love. Our business has grown ten-fold during COVID-19, and we are thrilled to be the go-to solution for virtual training which will continue to be important to athletes and coaches even after we all return to the fields and courts.”
For the past month, USSC has rolled out its new Famer-based digital training platform for virtual camps with select coaches and the early feedback has been very positive from parents and kids.
“This has been a difficult time for us at US Sports Camps,” says Justin Hoeveler, EVP of US Sports Camps. “2020 is the first summer in 48 years that we haven’t operated in-person summer sports camps for young athletes. While we decided early in the Spring that there was too much uncertainty around Covid-19 for us to feel comfortable operating our physical camps we did know that the demand for quality coaching and structured training for our campers would remain strong. The partnership with Famer has been tremendous so far. The testing we’ve done this Spring has given us a window to see how young athletes, coaches, and parents can interact, learn and have a positive virtual experience that enhances skill development and athletic performance. We’re excited to continue to digitally connect our coaches and campers through the summer and beyond.”
USSC and its coaches film dynamic skills and drills videos and upload them to the Famer platform. These drill videos are grouped into workouts that are then distributed to campers to view, perform, and record (if they choose). The drill videos that campers record are then shared with USSC coaches to review for accountability and provide feedback through a number of Famer analysis tools like voiceover, telestration, and text. Athletes can choose to sign up for group based or individual digital/virtual camps on Famer for programs lasting between two to five weeks in length. Campers in group-based training are able to interact with each other and their coach in a multi-media group chat that creates camp-like camaraderie. Famer supports organizations, clubs, and coaches by allowing them to upload their own personal training content or engage with Famer Productions to create custom professionally produced, edited, and curated content that can be hosted, distributed on its platform. Famer was designed to complement in-person practices and training pre-COVID, but with social distancing it has become an essential partner to hundreds of organizations. Information and registration for the USSC summer virtual youth camp programs can be found at https://www.ussportscamps.com/nike-sports-camps-virtual-training
