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DePaul University, Niagara University, And St. John’s University Expand Their Esports Engagement With First-Ever Vincentian Esports Cup

The Electronic Gaming Federation, the national governing body for formalized collegiate D-I esports and high school level leagues, today announced that three of their partner schools, St. John’s University, DePaul University, and Niagara University will expand their esports engagement with The “Vincentian Cup,” an annual esports event for the three Vincentian Universities in the United States that play Division I athletics. The inaugural tournament will be held December 9th to December 12th featuring competition in multiple esports, including SSBU, Rocket League, and Overwatch.

Produced by the Electronic Gaming Federation, the Vincentian Cup is a multi-day round robin tournament across four titles with the grand finals for each title being held on December 12th beginning at noon Eastern Time. The tournament is “Olympic-style” with each University’s teams earning points to crown and eventual Vincentian Champion. 

You can watch the tournament starting at 3:30PM ET on December 9th, 10th, and 11th and the finals on December 12th beginning at noon ET on EGF’s Twitch http://twitch.tv/officialEGF

“Our goal with member schools is to link the traditional ties to forwarding thinking and meaningful engagement, and we think the Vincentian Cup is a great example of that,” said Tyler Schrodt CEO and Founder of the Electronic Gaming Federation. “There is a natural bond that exists between these like-minded universities, and creating an esports competition is another way to link generations and drive conversation and awareness, as well as some fun events for a new generation of engaged students.”

“As the three Vincentian universities in the United States, the Vincentian Cup offers us a unique opportunity to come together through gaming” said Courtney James, Director, Office of Student Involvement at DePaul University.  “While our universities were founded over 120 years ago, it’s a great opportunity for us to be able to connect via Esports through our shared Vincentian identity in 2021.” 

“We are excited for this opportunity with the EGF to partner with our fellow Vincentian universities at DePaul and St. John’s for this friendly competition and more importantly to be able to team up to raise funds for own students in need during this time,” added Bill Newton, Assistant Director of Campus Activities at Niagara University. 

“The spirit of St. Vincent DePaul is core to St. John’s mission. The work of Depaul USA’s Dax Program: New York directly reflects this spirit of service with its mission to address housing insecurity. Esports transcends race, class, gender or creed as we all come together, and compete to support of the success of our students, and goal of creating equal opportunities for all students,” said Eric Alvarado, Executive Director, Enterprise Architecture & Strategy Information Technology at St. John’s University 

Connected by their Vincentian missions, these universities are inspired by St. Vincent’s zeal for service and compassion for others. Through their participation in the Vincentian Cup, Esports competitors at these universities will come together to honor St. Vincent’s legacy by raising funds for their respective student emergency assistance funds to help their peers during the pandemic. You can read more about the cause here: https://inspire.depaul.edu/project/23372 

National Lacrosse League, Fanatics Enter Multi-Year E-Commerce Partnership

The National Lacrosse League (@NLL), the longest running and most successful professional lacrosse league in the world, today announced a landmark partnership with Fanatics, the global leader for licensed sports merchandise, which will bring the league’s online merchandise and retail efforts into one consolidated location for all NLL clubs.

The new online destination, NLLShop.com, is now live and accessible to fans worldwide.

“Our league and the sport of lacrosse are on a sharp growth curve. We have such a tremendous opportunity with our teams for growth in terms of online merchandise sales. Fanatics is simply the best and most innovative consumer e-commerce sports retailer in the world, and this partnership will give us a great opportunity to realize the league’s potential, said NLL Commissioner Nick Sakiewicz. “We have seen the power and value of team merchandise at the local level, and this international approach gives us the ability to have a streamlined one-stop shop to offer NLL merchandise where sports fans shop online.”

Through Fanatics’ industry leading technology and mobile capabilities, powered by its revolutionary Cloud Commerce Platform, the new NLL online store will provide rapid navigation for fans across desktop and mobile sites, featuring hi-resolution product displays, frictionless checkout and the widest assortment of NLL merchandise for all members of the family.

“We are excited to enter into this new partnership with the National Lacrosse League. Fanatics is uniquely positioned to help the league expand its reach through an enhanced direct-to-consumer platform that will allow fans to share their pride and passion for the NLL teams and players they love,” said Vicky Picca, Fanatics SVP of Business Affairs.

The partnership unifies what has been a regional approach ran by the NLL clubs for most of the league’s 35-year history. While teams will retain the right to sell locally at retail brick and mortar, the complete global e-commerce business will be housed under the new NLLShop.com for the first time.

The 2021 NLL season is targeted to start the weekend of April 9-11th, with a full schedule to be announced in the coming weeks.

United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee introduces Athlete Marketing Platform

The United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee today shared details of the new Team USA Athlete Marketing Platform (AMP) pilot program, a first-of-its-kind digital marketplace that expands athlete sponsorship and marketing opportunities. Created in cooperation with the Athletes’ Advisory Council and National Governing Bodies Council, AMP is an opt-in program that connects Team USA sponsors and licensees directly with athletes, providing incremental revenue opportunities and marketing exposure for Team USA athletes.

 “AMP was born from a shared recognition that empowering Team USA athletes to expand marketing and earning opportunities is the right thing to do for athletes, and an opportunity to elevate Olympic and Paralympic sport broadly,” said USOPC CEO Sarah Hirshland. “This program will link the incredible athletes and personalities at the heart of the Olympic and Paralympic movements with the innovative Team USA partners who help tell their stories.”

Through a streamlined program, AMP provides expanded earning opportunities to more Team USA athletes, who may otherwise have limited access to sponsors, via a guaranteed base payment for group marketing rights, and potential incremental revenue opportunities via individual endorsement and licensing opportunities.

“AMP is a huge shift in approach and an exciting step in Olympic and Paralympic athlete marketing,” said Chris Mazdzer, three-time Olympian in luge and Beijing 2022 hopeful. “Team USA athletes give their all to represent the United States at the Olympic and Paralympic Games. This program recognizes that commitment – and the desire of athletes to seek out opportunities and take greater ownership in connecting with partners and managing opportunities.”

AMP is optional for Team USA athletes and does not impact any existing sponsorship deals, and creates possibilities for additional branding collaborations and incremental revenue. Participating athletes control what brands to engage with, which categories to protect, what images to approve and what causes to champion through a seamless mobile interface launching in 2021.

The digital platform will also provide greater access and ease for athletes and Team USA partners to directly connect and collaborate based on their interests, backgrounds, locations, and Olympic and Paralympic sports so that the true diversity of Team USA is represented in the collective marketing around the movements.

The program includes certain parameters for usage that intends to establish equity and diversity in representation of Team USA athletes and maintain the critical commercial funding provided to athletes by their NGB.

The USOPC, in collaboration with the AAC and NGBC, is jointly developing educational materials and will be offering athlete informational sessions prior to the opening of program enrollment in January.

Athletes who opt in to participate in the pilot in 2021 will benefit from the unprecedented and compressed window encompassing the Tokyo and Beijing Olympic and Paralympic Games, and will receive a guaranteed payment in exchange for their commitment to shape the program and participate in group marketing.

The USOPC invested in robust technologies and resources with industry-leading providers Athletes First Partners and Opendorse to provide athletes with the data and capabilities to develop their personal brand and maximize commercial opportunities.

More information on the program, including athlete eligibility considerations, can be found at TeamUSA.org/AMP.

Indiana Sportsbooks Shatter Record with $230 Million in October

PlayIndiana.com

 Indiana sportsbooks enjoyed a record-shattering October, setting highs in revenue and handle, as bettors were spurred by local interest in the NFL and the return of Big Ten football. In a month that resembled a normal sports schedule more than any month since the pandemic began, October’s handle was more than $230 million, a sign that Indiana’s recent gains are sustainable, according to analysts from PlayIndiana.

“With a schedule that was more comparable to an ordinary October, Indiana’s sportsbooks fared well and offered a clearer read on where Indiana’s market stands,” said Dustin Gouker, lead analyst for PlayIndiana.com. “Interest in the Indianapolis Colts, Indiana University, and Notre Dame is helping as the state transitions from a market that relies on Chicago to one that is more reliant on local bettors.”

Without a once-in-a-lifetime schedule to drive interest, as was the case in September, bettors still made $230.9 million in bets in October, according to official reporting released Tuesday. That breaks the record $207.5 million hit in September and is up 151.8% from $91.7 million in October 2019.

October’s bets also produced a record $21.1 million in adjusted gross revenue for the state’s operators. That is up 82.9% from $11.5 million in October 2019 and easily surpassing the record $14.3 million in revenue generated in September. The month’s revenue yielded $2 million in taxes in October.

Indiana has now generated $1.6 billion in bets since launching in September 2019, but the state was topped in September by both Colorado and Illinois to fall to sixth. However, the state is becoming less reliant on the Chicago market. Bets on the Colts and the surprising Hoosiers fueled $84.7 million in bets on football.

And sportsbooks continue to be imaginative with the types of bets they offer, including offering odds on the Halloween Candy Bowl, a professional candy eating contest held in Las Vegas in late October.

“The market continues to sustain itself by being innovative, which is going to be critical as competition from neighboring states such as Illinois and Michigan increases,” said Jessica Welman, analyst for PlayIndiana.com. “Wringing a few extra dollars from Joey Chestnut downing candy corn might not be a game-changer on its own. But it is a sign of a larger strategy by sportsbooks to diversify their boards in interesting ways.”

Mahomes, Wagner Cards High As Goldin Auctions Breaks All Time Online Sports Auction Record with $16 Million Auction

When the Gavel dropped on the Goldin Auctions October Legends Auction, the total proceeds topped $16 Million, a figure never before that had been eclipsed in the Online Sports Memorabilia Auction Industry from single auction event. Topping the list of most valuable items was the T-206 Honus Wagner card in Lot #1 which sold for $1,426,800 setting a new All-time record for a Honus Wagner T-206 card in the respective grade by PSA. In addition to the record bid price on the famed Honus Wagner, another very iconic basketball rookie card of Michel Jordan has also toppled the record. The red, white and blue 1986 Fleer issue featuring Jordan sold for the price including premium of $124,230, setting a new auction record for this popular card.

Other notable sales were the 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle that sold for a staggering sum of $584,250. A new record for the most expensive Soccer card of All time was also set with a sale of $295,200 on a 1958 Alifabolaget Pele rookie card graded a PSA MINT 9 and a 1986 Fleer Basketball set containing Michael Jordan’s rookie card also set a new record price $224,300.

“For the past several years my goal has been to increase the both the user base of Goldin Auctions, as well as grow the business for the entire industry,” says Ken Goldin, founder and CEO of Goldin Auctions. “We have seen a tremendous increase in both the number of collectors in the hobby as well as a tremendous growth in our user base at Goldin Auctions. Our October Legends clearly demonstrates this as it was not only the highest grossing auction in the history of online sports auctions at $16 million, but also registered the most bids ever recorded at Goldin Auctions, as well as the most bidders and the most unique winners.”

Goldin also explained, “I would like to thank all of our consignors who contributed tremendous product to the auction, and all of our bidders, not only for their support during this auction, but during all of 2020 which has seen us put up an unprecedented run of five consecutive auctions which have each generated in excess of $10 million in sales.”

Goldin Auctions is currently seeking consignments for our Holiday Auction being held in December and our next Goldin Elite auction in January. To get into the auction you can consign by emailing an image and description of your items to [email protected].

The Goldin Auctions 2020 October Legends Auction Session 1 also featured the Cal Ripken Jr. personal collection that included game used items and memorabilia from the career of Hall of Famer Cal Ripken, Jr. from his first little league uniform, to his early days as a Baltimore Oriole, to items from his historic consecutive game streak, 3,000th hit, 400th home run, World Series Championship, retirement and more. The collection brought in over $1.2 Million in total revenue and a portion of all his items sold will benefit the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation.
The Highlighted sales from the Ripken collection was the Jersey worn by Cal for his final game of his 2632 consecutive game streak that fetched $184,500, the jersey worn by Cal for his Major League Debut sold for $123,000 and the bat used by Ripken in the 1st inning of his record breaking 2131 consecutive game brought in $124,230.

Session 1 which closed on Saturday Night consisted of Lots 1 – 417 and Session II Consists of Lots 418-1923 and closed on Sunday November 1st

National Lacrosse League Plans To Begin Its 35th Season

The National Lacrosse League (@NLL), the longest running and most successful professional lacrosse league in the world, today announced that the League is targeting to start their 35th season the weekend of April 9th to 11th in 2021. The focus of the league and NLL teams is to work with health authorities and local jurisdictions to develop health and safety protocols for the players and fans at their games. A detailed schedule will follow at an appropriate time.

“We have been continuously working with our teams, Players’ Association, arenas, and health and government officials to prepare to play our 35th season. An April start date will give us sufficient time to have our protocols in place for players, coaches, staff as well as fans,” NLL Commissioner Nick Sakiewicz said. “We are working with all teams to provide the safest environment and an acceptable level of fans in the stands. We understand that current circumstances will dictate whether this plan is achievable, and we will be prepared to remain flexible and pivot as needed. We want to thank all our players, fans and partners who have supported our efforts to stay connected and engaged during this prolonged offseason and are looking forward to returning to play in April.”

Under the current plan, teams would report to individual training camps – some virtual and some in-person – under strict guidelines in mid-March, with all teams beginning game play in April. The league is in the process of continuing to build out several scenarios which factor in current and longer-term restrictions in municipalities in both the United States and Canada with regard to immigration and facility use. The NLL’s plans will remain fluid with options for best case scenarios for teams, officials, players, fans and coaches as April approaches.

“The NLL has put together an excellent plan for our upcoming 35th season.  We look forward to working together on behalf of all the players in our membership to get our 35th season underway,” said Zach Currier, President, PLPA. “It is reflective of what can be done with great communication and trust, and we cannot wait to get back to playing.”

The 2019-20 NLL season ended March 12 due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

For the most up to date information and breaking news, sign up for the NLL newsletter at NLL.com. Also follow Deputy Commissioner Jessica Berman and Commissioner Sakiewicz on Twitter @JessicaBerman1 and @NLLcommish, respectively.

For more information, visit NLL.com and find the @NLL on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Tampa Upends Los Angeles In Six Games In Strat-O-Matic’s 2020 World Series Simulation

Credit : All-Pro Reels Photography

Randy Arozarena (.320, 3 HR, 5 RBI), Joey Wendle (.348, 4 runs scored), Brandon Lowe (2 home runs, 5 RBI), and the tandem of Nick Anderson and Diego Castillo (10.1 IP, 0 runs, 15 K) helped Tampa Bay to a win over Los Angeles, four games to two, as Strat-O-Matic (www.strat-o-matic.com), the leader in sports simulation games, announced the results of its simulation of the series, scheduled to begin tonight in Arlington, Texas.

Arozarena earned MVP honors, homering in games 1, 2, and 5, to back the solid Tampa Bay pitching staff which limited Los Angeles to a .187 batting average through the series. Mike Zunino’s two-run home run in the seventh extended a 5-2 TB lead to put the game out of reach and secure Tampa Bay’s first championship in franchise history.

Los Angeles was paced by AJ Pollock (.333 batting average), Mookie Betts (.280, 5 runs) and Justin Turner (home run, 4 runs, 4 RBI).

“Fans across the country learned who Randy Arozarena was this October, and that translated well to our World Series simulation,” said Hal Richman, Strat-O-Matic President. “Tampa Bay’s team has been strong in our other simulations this year, so it’s not too surprising to us that the American League’s best team won it all.”

Each round’s series results are below; fans can see recaps for each contest at https://www.strat-o-matic.com/announcements/2020-world-series-simulation/.

2020 Strat-O-Matic Baseball World Series Results:

Game 1: Tampa Bay 5, Los Angeles 4

Game 2: Los Angeles 3, Tampa Bay 1

Game 3: Tampa Bay 6, Los Angeles 5

Game 4: Los Angeles 2, Tampa Bay 0

Game 5: Tampa Bay 6, Los Angeles 1

Game 6: Tampa Bay 7, Los Angeles 2

Dodgers Heavily Favored Over Rays In World Series Odds Posted By MyBookie

Credit: Flickr/MaxMena

The Tampa Bay Rays have never won a World Series. The Los Angeles Dodgers are one of baseball’s most successful franchises overall – and are in the Fall Classic for the third time in the past four years, but they haven’t won a title since 1988.

One drought will end as the teams meet in this year’s World Series starting Tuesday from Globe Life Field in Arlington, TX.

MyBookie’s Head Oddsmaker David Strauss lists the Dodgers as -210 series favorites after leading the majors in wins during the regular season. The Rays are +160 underdogs.

For full World Series Odds visit mybookie.ag/sportsbook/mlb/world-series

World Series Expert Analysis from MyBookie Head Oddsmaker, David Strauss

The Dodgers have been a juggernaut all season. Once LA acquired Mookie Betts from Boston in February, the Dodgers became the odds-on World Series favorites. They did not disappoint, racing to a 43-17 record and posting a plus 136 run differential – both the best in baseball, by far.

The Dodgers are back in the World Series for the third time in four seasons, the first team to do that since the Yankees in 2000, 2001 and 2003.

The Dodgers’ NLCS roster included 12 players who have been All-Stars in their careers, for a total of 26 appearances. The Rays’ roster features just four All-Stars with five appearances.

To most fans, the Rays are an anonymous bunch. They opened the season ranking 28th in the majors in payroll. The only team to reach the World Series since 1998 with a lower ranking? The 2008 Rays.

Regardless of the unique paths each organization has taken to this point, they’re both league champions, and either team would make worthy World Series champs. So, who’s going to win it all?

David Strauss Series Prediction Dodgers in six games (+350)

Tampa Bay may be the only team to match the Dodgers’ depth, but LA’s stars will prove to be too much for even the Rays to overcome. Expect the Dodgers to finally exercise their demons and win their first title in more than 3 decades.

SERIES PRICES | MLB – Oct 20 | MLB WORLD SERIES PRICES

Rays Win Series: +160
Dodgers Win Series: -220

RAYS VS DODGERS – WHEN WILL SERIES FINISH?

GAME 4 +550
GAME 5 +250
GAME 6 +200
GAME 7 +200

Chicago’s Goose Island Beer Company To Be Presenting Sponsor of La Vida Baseball’s “Being Guillén”

TeamWorks Media today announced that the Goose Island Beer Company will become the presenting sponsor of Being Guillén, La Vida Baseball’sregular visit with and inside the Guillén family. The sponsored show will stream Friday, October 16 from Goose Island Brewhouse in Chicago, and will feature Ozzie Sr, Ozzie Jr, and Oney Guillén offering their entertaining take on baseball and family. TeamWorks Media is the parent company of La Vida Baseball.

“We are proud to have Goose Island Beer Company join the La Vida Baseball family,” said Jay Sharman, TeamWorks Media. “There is no more entertaining family than the Guillén’s, who always deliver on storytelling on and off the baseball diamond, and it is a great way to again celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with our growing audience.”

“The Guillén family embodies all that is good about the diverse culture of Chicago,” said T.J. Annerino (Goose Island Beer Co.). “We are looking forward to having Ozzie and his family here at our Clybourn Pub, and honored to support the Ozzie Guillen Foundation with the Ozzie Burger and share our beers well beyond our borders through La Vida Baseball.”

The show will touch on all the recent developments in and around Chicago with the postseason runs of the Cubs and the White Sox now closed, as well as what is ahead for the offseason and a look at the Point of View of all the family members on the upcoming World Series, their thoughts on the Pandemic, and many other topics. Ozzie Sr. also has a burger named after him being served at the Brewery and the proceeds from the burger sale will go to The Ozzie Guillén Foundation.  The @ozziegullen13 Burger is a mushroom infused short rib burger with green leaf lettuce, herb roasted tomato, avocado aioli, and a fried egg on a brioche roll, served in a White Sox helmet on a bed of maduros with Ozzie’s baseball card and a 16 ounce Sox Golden Ale. 

All that will be in addition to the live social media streaming series, highlighted by La Vida Baseball ¡Live!, the brand’s interactive, fan-centric live show, hosted by Jennifer Mercedes (@Chica_Deportes), Julie Alexandria and Ozzie Guillén Jr; El Bullpen the short-form cultural video round-up, hosted by Julie Alexandria (@JulieAlexandria);  Being Guillén, a hilarious weekly show and podcast, hosted by World Series winning manager, Ozzie Guillén and two of his sons, Ozzie Guillén Jr. and Oney Guillén; Pólvora, Voz y Diamante, an exciting and engaging Spanish language show with Polo Ascención, Jesse Castillo and Pliego Villa and Home Plate, a newly video series celebrates food and lifestyle hosted by Jennifer Mercedes and Julie Alexandria.

About La Vida Baseball

La Vida Baseball is a lifestyle media company that entertains and engages the Latino baseball community through original video, live shows and social media content. Launched in 2017, La Vida Baseball has emerged as the fastest growing Latino sports digital media company in the United States. Owned by TeamWorks Media, a Chicago-based media agency started in 2000, La Vida Baseball reaches more than six million English-preferred U.S. Latino fans per month. For more information, visit www.lavidabaseball.com or follow on all social channels @LaVidaBaseball.

About Goose Island Beer Company:

Founded in Chicago in 1988, Goose Island is a leader in craft brewing, creating award-winning beers that define innovative styles and capture the imaginations and palates of beer drinkers everywhere. Goose Island has won a variety of awards at acclaimed beer events including the World Beer Championships, World Beer Cup, European Beer Star, World Expo of Beer and the Great American Beer Festival (GABF). For more information visit http://www.gooseisland.com and find them on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

About TeamWorks Media

TeamWorks Media is a purpose-driven content agency empowering its clients to change the world and their bottom line with a story well told.  The Chicago-based agency creates large scale, emotionally engaging content solutions and ensures they get in front of the right audiences on the right platforms. 

TeamWorks Media is comprised of content strategists, award-winning storytellers, social media experts and strategic marketers to inspire clients achieve extraordinary results by harnessing their expertise in an increasingly niche media world.

TeamWorks Media built and owns La Vida Baseball, a Latino lifestyle digital media company, the fastest growing Latinos sports media company in the U.S.  TeamWorks Media has long-standing partnerships with the Big Ten Conference and runs BTN’s inspirational media brand, BTN LiveBIG.  Recent clients also include Turner Sports, NBC Universal, Northwestern University, The World Golf Hall of Fame and the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

Strategic Partnership Between GammaStack and LSports

GammaStack, the leading sportsbook platform provider, has announced a collaboration with the world-leading provider of real-time sports data, LSports.

This marks the beginning of a promising partnership. GammaStack is an iGaming Technology company offering solutions and services to clients spread across the USA, Europe & Africa. Their core offerings include ready to launch platforms and custom software development services for sportsbooks, fantasy sports and online casino operators.

The sportsbooks delivered by GammaStack are GLI certified and licensed by Curaçao Gaming Control Board. High-end customizations, robust backend, and unique engagement models along with a strong team of 270+ developers differentiate GammaStack from others in the market.

Following this new agreement, they can now offer their customers the most comprehensive sports data feeds in the business.

LSports has quickly positioned itself as a top odds feed supplier next to generating innovative solutions to ease the bookmakers’ work and offer them a variety of services to increase fan engagement and user retention.

Their comprehensive feed covers a monthly average of more than 35,000 in-play fixtures, 105,000 prematch fixtures, and more than 1,400 markets across 60 different sports (Soccer, Basketball, Tennis, Cricket, Esports, Horse Racing, and more).

“Our collaboration with GammaStack sets us on a new and exciting road,” says LSports VP Sales Yoav Ziv. “As we continue to produce the most efficient and comprehensive solutions for the sports betting industry, we believe that our joint efforts will support both us and GammaStack with our continuous strive to supply our customers with the best possible products.”

GammaStack’s CEO Mr. Gaurav Soni says, “We are excited with this deal and are looking forward to working closely with LSports team. With this collaboration, we are committed to achieving higher standards of services to our sportsbook operators and exceptional betting experiences for the end-users.”

Combined with GammaStack’s platform and LSports API, the new platform proves to be an unstoppable machine.

Wedge Index For US Gaming States Launches

A new rating system of gaming accessibility for each US state based on the regulated gambling options available to consumers called Wedge Index has been launched.

The Wedge Index was featured on ESPN.com/chalk and is set to become the standard ratings index for sports bettors/ gamblers in the country.

The Wedge Index will be used to keep a running score of the changes affecting every state across the US when it comes to gaming.

The Index is easily accessible for news and media outlets to use as a free resource when talking about the burgeoning progress of state-by-state sports-betting and online gaming.

The Wedge Index score is calculated according to a large number of criteria including whether a state has land-based casinos, sports-betting, online gaming and other factors such as the number and quality of brands operational in the state.

“We think this adds some further context to the ongoing debates in the US around sports-betting and online gaming,” says Wedge Index founder David Copeland.

“By according scores for each factor that makes up the Index, we can make a good approximation of the relative gaming friendliness of each state and also look at how forthcoming changes will affect that.”

As it stands, New Jersey tops the Wedge Index list with a current score of 116 followed by Pennsylvania and Colorado.

The Wedge Index top 10 gaming accessible states and points totals at launch

  • New Jersey – 116 points
  • Pennsylvania – 86 points
  • Colorado – 67 points
  • Indiana – 64 points
  • West Virginia – 60 points
  • Illinois – 55 points
  • Nevada – 41 points
  • Oregon – 39 points
  • Iowa – 35 points
  • New Hampshire – 34 points

“New Jersey is number one for a reason,” says Copeland. “As well as being the first to market with sports-betting and also with online casino, it has blazed a trail which other states are now following.”

“This is such a fast-moving space that there are pieces of news which could potentially affect the Wedge Index every day,” he said. “We’re delighted to be giving journalists access to a free resource which they can use to give some background to their stories about the progress of US sports-betting and gaming in their state.”

BIG EAST Conference Selects EGF As Its Esports Governance, Marketing And Distribution Partner

Today, the BIG EAST Conference and the Electronic Gaming Federation (EGF) announced a three-year agreement that will enable all 11 member schools to compete in a year-long multigame season for the first time as official EGF Collegiate (EGFC) league members. EGFC is the national Division I Varsity Esports League with a growing number of schools bringing their own elite teams together to vie for National Championships across a number of game titles.

The EGFC Season begins October 5 and features nationwide intercollegiate competition in two eight-week splits as well as conference championships, regional playoffs and the EGFC National Championship to be held April 24-25, 2021. Expanded titles include: Rocket League, Overwatch, SSBU and FIFA. Broadcasts of all matches will be streamed on EGF’s 5 Twitch channels, the BIG EAST YouTube channel and various institutional platforms.

The BIG EAST members, located in eight of the country’s top 36 largest media markets, include Butler University, University of Connecticut, Creighton University, DePaul University, Georgetown University, Marquette University, Providence College, St. John’s University, Seton Hall University, Villanova University and Xavier University.

“We’re very excited that the relationship BIG EAST esports has enjoyed with EGF will be continuing for the next three years with league membership across many titles,” said BIG EAST Commissioner Val Ackerman. “We’re grateful for the outstanding leadership EGF provides annually to collegiate esports and look forward to partnering to bring compelling rivalry matches and broadcasts to our fans around the country.”

“We are honored to have earned the trust and respect of all the BIG EAST schools and conference leadership,” said Eric Johnson, CEO, EGF. “EGF is attracting teams who want to play against the biggest and best programs across the country for a national championship, want to have a voice and a stake in their governance, and want a partner who has the students’ passions as the top priority.

In addition to the BIG EAST’s conference wide affiliation with EGF, a growing number of other colleges and Universities are selecting EGF not only based on their competitive governance, but their commitment to serving esports communities and teams on campus and virtually through strategic partnerships, educational development, wellness, diversity and inclusion and industry leadership programs.

The esports (competitive video games) has generated more than $1 billion globally in 2019 and is expanding exponentially throughout 2020. By 2022, the growth of esports from a competition and viewer standpoint is expected to exceed 300 million participants. Division I collegiate programs began in earnest in 2015 and now feature more than 100 teams in the U.S.

Cubs Take Down Yankees In Strat-O-Matic’s 2020 Baseball Playoff Simulation

Anthony Rizzo (credit: Arturo Pardavillo III)

It has been more than eight decades since the Cubs and Yankees met in the World Series, but according to the simulation posted today by Strat-O-Matic (www.strat-o-matic.com), the leader in sports simulation games, those two storied franchises will survive three rounds of playoffs and match up for the title next month. Chicago, behind four home runs and 10 RBI by MVP Anthony Rizzo, won it in seven games, a two-run single by unlikely hero Victor Caratini in the eighth inning of the deciding contest providing the winning margin in what would be Chicago’s second crown in five years and fourth in its history.

After edging sixth-seeded Miami in the N.L. Wild Card round, two games to one, No. 3 Chicago won its next series more efficiently, 3-1 over Atlanta and 4-1 over San Diego. The Yankees, the A.L. No 5 seed, had a similar run to the Series, sweeping Cleveland in the Wild Card round, taking Toronto, three games to one, and Minnesota, four games to one.

In the World Series, the Cubs took a three games to one lead before the Yankees earned wins in games five and six to set up the winner-take-all finale. Despite two home runs by Giancarlo Stanton, Caratini’s pinch hit put the Cubs up for good in the 8-5 victory. Rizzo hit .483 and also scored seven runs in the series, which pitted the same franchises who were paired in 1932 and 1938.

“It’s been a season unlike any other in so many ways,” said Hal Richman, Strat-O-Matic President. “And while these may not be the favored teams in either league, anything can happen in a short series, and the Strat-O-Matic simulation, which has annually been a good predictor of the winner, reflect that.”

Each round’s series results are below; fans can see linescores for each contest at www.strat-o-matic.com.

2020 Strat-O-Matic Baseball Playoff Simulation Results:

A.L. Wild Card Round
Toronto 2, Tampa Bay 1
New York 2, Cleveland 0
Minnesota 2, Houston 0
Chicago 2, Oakland 0

N.L. Wild Card
Los Angeles 2, Milwaukee 0
San Diego 2, St. Louis 1
Chicago 2, Miami 1
Atlanta 2, Cincinnati 1

A.L. Division Series
New York 3, Toronto 1
Minnesota 3, Chicago 1

N.L. Division Series
San Diego 3, Los Angeles 2
Chicago 3, Atlanta 1

Championship Series
New York 4, Minnesota 1
Chicago 4, San Diego 1

World Series
Chicago 4, New York 3

Flutter Entertainment, Scientific Games Renew To Celebrate 20th

Scientific Games Corporation secured a five-year contract renewal with long-term customer Flutter Entertainment plc to continue providing its OpenSports™ technology to the operators’ portfolio of global brands.

Flutter Entertainment is the world’s leading sports betting, gaming and entertainment provider serving over 13 million customers worldwide through its innovative, diverse and distinctive brands including FanDuel in the U.S., Paddy Power, Betfair and Sky Bet in the U.K. and Europe and SportsBet in Australia.

The five-year renewal comes on the back of FanDuel selecting Scientific Games to power their sportsbook offering across all current and future regulated markets in the U.S.

Flutter Entertainment and Scientific Games first partnered with Paddy Power in 2000 making this the 20th anniversary of the Companies’ partnership.  

Rik Barker, CIO at Flutter Entertainment UK & Ireland Division, said, “We’re very pleased to renew our partnership with Scientific Games. Whilst we take great pride in our proprietary technology and product development capabilities, Scientific Games’ OpenSports technology has been a key part of our sports betting platforms for many years. The reliability and scalability of their technology provides us with a robust platform to deliver on our strategic goals. As we enter a new era of sports betting, we’re looking forward to working with their world-class teams and technology to capitalize on the opportunities across our sector.”

Together, Flutter and Scientific Games teams have achieved a number of industry milestones. In 2010, Paddy Power accepted its first Live Odds bets, and the following year saw the sportsbook become the first to launch the innovative Cashout feature, both powered by the OpenBetTM engine. Following the merger between Paddy Power and Betfair, the OpenSports team was heavily involved in the migration of the two brands onto a single customer platform. 

Jordan Levin, Group CEO, Digital at Scientific Games, said, “Flutter operates some of the world’s most innovative, diverse and distinctive sports betting and gaming brands. Over the last two decades, we’ve worked together through major shifts in technology, player expectations and the ramping up of U.S. sports betting where we partner with FanDuel. We share a common ambition to take podium positions in key regulated markets through responsible, engaging and safe player experiences.”

UCLA Athletics Tabs Fast-Growing Sports Nutrition Brand Ready Nutrition As Official Protein

Ready® Nutrition (@ready nutrition), one of the fastest growing sports nutrition companies in America, announced today that it has signed a multi-year partnership with UCLA to become the Official Protein of UCLA Athletics.

As the Official Protein of UCLA Athletics, Ready® will be the exclusive provider of protein products to nearly 700 student-athletes in all 25 Bruin sports. Those products will include Ready’s all-natural, complete line of performance products including their well-known Ready® Protein Water, Bars, Powder and Plant-Based Functional Snacks.

“UCLA Athletics has such a rich tradition and I know they want the very best for their student-athletes. We are committed to helping them continue that tradition by supplying best-in-class products to meet the department’s nutritional goals for its athletes,” said Ready® Founder and President Pat Cavanaugh, himself a former student-athlete and University of Pittsburgh basketball team captain.

UCLA’s Director of Football Performance, Frank Wintrich, first became aware of Ready® Nutrition in 2019, when he had his student-athletes sample the products.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Ready® to the UCLA family,” added UCLA’s Alice and Nahum Lainer Family Director of Athletics Martin Jarmond. “We want to give our student-athletes every edge and opportunity to reach their potential and be elite. Nutrition is such an important factor in athletic performance.”

The relationship between UCLA Athletics and Ready® Nutrition was secured by UCLA Rose Bowl Sports Properties, the Bruins’ multimedia rights holder and locally based sponsorship team for Learfield IMG College. In complete collaboration with Jarmond and the athletic administration, UCLA Rose Bowl Sports Properties works with local, regional and national brands looking to align with the Bruins.

This is Ready® Nutrition’s second big splash in the Southern California market. Two-time pro football Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald was so impressed with their products that he signed on in 2019 as an investor and co-owner of the company. He was joined this past May by global basketball star and reigning MVP, Giannis Antetokounmpo, who also became an investor and co-owner after using Ready’s products the past two seasons.

FanDuel Expands Free to Play Contests for Fantasy and Sportsbook Products

credit: MIke Morbeck

FanDuel on Thursday announced the expansion of its industry-leading free to play contests for the start of the upcoming football season. For the first time, FanDuel will be launching free to play Pick’em games with three NFL teams, including the Denver Broncos, Carolina Panthers, and Washington Football Team.

FanDuel’s expanded free to play lineup will include the following, with more games coming throughout the NFL season:

In partnership with The Ringer, FanDuel is offering The Ringer Mega Contest, a free Survivor-style contest where participants pick games against the spread each week with the goal of making it to the last 100 participants standing going into the playoffs. Players pick five teams each week to beat the spread, including one “Double Down” pick worth double the points. Players will score one point for each correct pick or two points if their “Double Down” pick is correct. Whoever finishes the regular season in the top 100 on the leaderboard makes the playoffs. Then, the top 100 will pick their way through the playoffs to claim a share of $25,000 – including $10,000 to first place.
FanDuel Gridiron Pick’em is a free NFL pick’em style contest, available today on FanDuel. Players try to pick the most correct winners of all of each Sunday’s matchups and split the weekly prize pool of $5,000.
Coming later this week, in addition to the FanDuel Gridiron Pick’em, FanDuel will offer three white label Pick’em games in partnership with three of its team partners, the Denver Broncos, Carolina Panthers, and Washington Football Team. Each week participants will answer a series of questions about the specific team’s matchups. The participants who get the most correct answers will split the $1,000 weekly payout. Plus, there will be an additional $10K prize awarded at the end of the season to the participant who gets the most correct answers during the regular season. To qualify for the promotion, eligible individuals must have an active FanDuel Sportsbook or DFS member account or sign up for one at https://sportsbook.fanduel.com or https://www.fanduel.com/join.

“Over the past several months, we’ve prioritized giving sports fans innovative games to play and new forms of entertainment,” said John Griffin, GM of Fantasy Sports, FanDuel. “With the upcoming football season right about to start, we have the most expansive selection of free to play games, giving fans more ways to win than ever before.”

FanDuel also recently announced the launch of Best Ball contests, available to enter now, and Daily Snake Drafts for NFL coming ahead of the football season.

TOPPS Celebrates Silver Anniversary Of Ripken’s Streak Record Breaker

It was considered one of baseball’s most unbreakable records. But on September 6, 1995, Cal Ripken Jr. added to his Hall of Fame resumé by playing in his 2131st consecutive game, eclipsing the mark of another immortal, Lou Gehrig, in front of the home fans at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore. Now, a quarter century later, in celebration of the achievement, the all-time great shortstop has worked with TOPPS to curate two special edition collectible card series which tell the story of his journey to 2131, the magical night—which included a Ripken home run—and the day he finally ended the streak four years later.

The Ripken set will be available for a limited time beginning on Sunday, 25 years to the day he passed Gehrig, in a deluxe collector’s edition which includes a Ripken autograph card as well as a standard edition. Cards will depict numerous highlights of his career as well as other players and games Ripken selected as personally most memorable.

“Baseball cards have been a part of my family’s life for years, and I couldn’t be happier to be working with TOPPS to create this set,” said Ripken, whose father Cal Sr. coached and managed and brother Bill also played in the Majors. “I selected cards that represent special moments and people that have made my life in baseball special, and ones that I think fans will enjoy collecting.”

“Cal Ripken’s ‘Ironman’ streak is one of the sport’s classic records, set by one of its most popular players ever,” said Jeff Heckman, Topps’ Global Director of Ecommerce. “We are excited that Cal wanted to commemorate this 25th anniversary with cards that represent what the game means to him, in the context of this achievement.”

FanDuel Sportsbook Becomes PGA TOUR Official Betting Operator

East Lake Golf Club (Wikimedia Commons/Cem0030)

he PGA TOUR and FanDuel Sportsbook agreed today on a multi-year content and marketing relationship designating FanDuel an Official Betting Operator of the PGA TOUR.

By joining the TOUR’s Official Betting Operator program, FanDuel 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 FanDuel to create pre-game and post-game betting programming, as well as distribution of highlights to users who have placed bets. Additionally, the PGA TOUR and FanDuel will collaborate to deliver odds-based content to fans via TOUR Digital Platforms like PGATOUR.COM and the PGA TOUR app.

“We have long admired FanDuel’s brand, product and marketing strategies as well as the leadership position it has taken since the legalization of sports betting in 2018,” said Norb Gambuzza, SVP, Media and Gaming at the PGA TOUR. “We are excited to bring FanDuel into the PGA TOUR’s Official Betting Operator program as we continue to engage new fans in this rapidly growing space.”

FanDuel Sportsbook has seen substantial growth in golf gaming:
Golf has recorded the highest single event handle on FanDuel Sportsbook over nine of the last 12 Sundays.

FanDuel Sportsbook’s total golf handle in New Jersey in 2020 already has surpassed the total golf handle from 2019, even without thirteen weeks of PGA TOUR competitions during the shutdown.

“Golf interest is up on FanDuel, so we are excited to deepen our relationship with the PGA TOUR,” said Mike Raffensperger, CMO FanDuel Group. “We will now be able to offer unique gaming experiences on our platform, special TOUR related promotions for our customers and an enhanced content experience across the TOUR’s properties to really prove to bettors across the nation that there are More Ways to Win at FanDuel.”

Following the Supreme Court’s decision that overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) 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.

146th Kentucky Derby Airs Live Nationwide on SiriusXM

SiriusXM will offer listeners nationwide coverage of the Kentucky Derby, the second jewel of thoroughbred racing’s 2020 Triple Crown schedule, from Churchill Downs this Saturday, September 5.

SiriusXM, through its broadcasting agreement with Horse Racing Radio Network (HRRN), airs all Triple Crown races – the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes – as well as the Breeders’ Cup World Championships. The wire-to-wire race broadcast of the Kentucky Derby is provided by NBC Sports Audio Network and produced in partnership with HRRN. 

This Saturday, September 5, SiriusXM will air programming throughout the day from Churchill Downs offering listeners pre-race analysis, and interviews with jockeys, trainers and owners. 

SiriusXM’s race-day coverage airs on Sirius channel 219, XM channel 201, and channel 964 on the SiriusXM app and begins at 8:00 am ET with a live edition of HRRN’s Equine Forum show. At 4:00 pm ET, SiriusXM will air HRRN’s call of the Kentucky Derby undercard stakes, leading into NBC Sports Audio Network coverage of the 146th “Run for the Roses,” airing from 5:30 to 7:30 pm ET (post time approximately 6:50 pm ET). Coverage is hosted by Mike Penna, Kurt Becker and Tom Leach.  NBC Sports’ Larry Collmus will call handle the live race call.

The live race call will also air on Mad Dog Sports Radio during a special Saturday edition of The Rap with Patrick Meagher beginning at 4:00 pm ET (channel 82 on SiriusXM radios and on the SiriusXM app).

A special edition of SiriusXM’s Down The Stretch, hosted by acclaimed track announcer Dave Johnson and Bill Finley, will air on Saturday at 10:00 am ET and 11:30 am ET on SiriusXM channel 211.

Additionally, on Friday, September 4, at 4:00 pm ET SiriusXM will air HRRN’s coverage of the Kentucky Oaks, the Grade 1 stakes race for three-year old fillies, run annually at Churchill Downs on the eve of the Derby (Sirius channel 219, XM channel 201, and channel 964 on the SiriusXM app).

At The Races with Steve Byk airs on SiriusXM every weekday from 9:00 am – 12:00 pm ET leading up to the Derby, featuring daily interviews with handicapping experts and trainers and an in-depth look at the field (Sirius channel 219, XM channel 201 and channel 964 on the SiriusXM app).

Boyd Gaming, FanDuel Group Launch Sports Betting In Illinois

In a continued expansion of their successful nationwide partnership, Boyd Gaming Corporation and FanDuel Group today announced the debut of the FanDuel Par-A-Dice Sportsbook in the state of Illinois.

Sports bettors across the state of Illinois now have access to FanDuel’s industry-leading online and mobile sports-betting platform, with wagering options available in professional football, basketball, baseball, hockey and more.  Additionally, FanDuel will operate a retail sportsbook located at Boyd Gaming’s Par-A-Dice Casino in East Peoria, Illinois, pending regulatory approval.

Keith Smith, President and Chief Executive Officer of Boyd Gaming, said: “Given the tremendous success of our existing FanDuel Sportsbooks, we are confident that the FanDuel Par-A-Dice Sportsbook will quickly become Illinois sports bettors’ mobile app of choice.  We are excited for the opportunity to offer both mobile and retail sports betting in one of the most populous states in the country, as we continue to expand our strategic partnership with FanDuel Group.”

“Sports are back and FanDuel, America’s No. 1 sportsbook, is coming to Illinois with our friends at Boyd Gaming and the Par-A-Dice Casino,” said Matt King, Chief Executive Officer of FanDuel Group.  “Boyd Gaming and the Par-A-Dice are perfect partners for us to bring our innovative sports-betting app and retail sportsbook experience to sports fans in Illinois.”

Since launching their partnership in mid-2018, Boyd Gaming and FanDuel have introduced mobile sports-betting apps in Indiana and Pennsylvania, as well as retail FanDuel Sportsbooks at eight Boyd Gaming properties in five states.  The FanDuel Sportsbook has an online leadership position in Pennsylvania, and is one of the top retail sportsbooks in Iowa at Diamond Jo Worth.

The partnership between Boyd Gaming and FanDuel Group includes collaborative efforts between the two companies in mobile and online sports betting and casino games, where permitted by law. The agreement includes states where Boyd Gaming holds gaming licenses, excluding Nevada, as well as additional states covered under Boyd Gaming’s current market-access agreements.  Boyd Gaming currently has access in 15 states nationwide, representing more than 36% of the U.S. population.

In addition to their retail and online sports-betting partnership, Boyd Gaming and FanDuel also operate an online casino in the state of Pennsylvania. The companies are also engaged in extensive co-branding and cross-promotional efforts, as the two companies actively market each other’s properties and products to their respective customer bases nationwide.