Category Archives: Featured

Cleveland Tops L.A. In Strat-O-Matic MLB Simulation Season

Terry Francona (credit: Arturo Pardavillo III)

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.

Major award winners were as follows:

AL MVP: Carlos Correa, Houston

NL MVP: Kris Bryant, Chicago

AL Cy Young: Charlie Morton, Tampa Bay

NL Cy Young: Mike Foltynewicz, Atlanta

AL Rookie of the Year: Luis Robert, Chicago

NL Rookie of the Year: Alec Bohm, Philadelphia

This was in contrast to the full season simulation that Strat-O-Matic conducted day-by-day since March and completed this week, in which the Dodgers defeated Houston in the finals. The expanded 16-team playoff Fans can access the full 2020 “short” season at https://www.strat-o-matic.com/announcements/2020-60-game-season-simulation/ and full season simulation standings, statistics and game results at https://www.strat-o-matic.com/2020-season-simulation/.

“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.

FanDuel Gives More Than $80 Million To Customers

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.

Mohegan Sun Casino at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas Selects Betfred USA Sports to Operate Sportsbook

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 Launches First-Ever Podcast Network Devoted to Soccer In America

Heath Pearce, Mark McKenzie

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”

N.L. Downs A.L., 7-2, in Strat-O-Matic Simulation; Slim Jim Phantom Tops Drew Carey Managing Squads

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/.

Replay: https://www.twitch.tv/videos/679963416

Broncos, BetMGM Agree To Multi-Year Sports Betting Partnership

image: .sanden.

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.

Valentine, White, Leyritz Plus ‘69 Amazin’ Mets Kranepool, Swoboda, Shamsky Free Live Virtual Q&A’s Weds, Thurs

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.

As part of the events, fans across the globe can:

Pricing for the individual chat, video and autograph packages vary by item and star, available here for White, Valentine and Leyritz and here for Kranepool, Swoboda and Shamsky.

Roy White

National Lacrosse League Announces 2019-20 NLL Award Winners

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

Strat-O-Matic Baseball Simulation: Trout, Freeman, Morton, Scherzer Earn June Awards

Mike Trout (Credit: Keith Allison)

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.”

Monthly winners to date:

  • A.L. Player: Jorge Soler (April), Jorge Soler (May), Mike Trout (June)
  • N.L. Player: Trevor Story (April), Daniel Murphy (May), Freddie Freeman (June)
  • A.L. Pitcher: Blake Snell (April), Kenta Maeda (May), Charlie Morton (June)
  • 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 Enters the US Online Sports Betting Market in Colorado

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, US Sports Camps Partner to Launch Interactive Virtual Youth Camp Programs For Summer 2020

US Sports Camps

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

Super Girl Gamer Pro Launches Nine-Week Online Qualifier Series and Season-Ending Super Girl Gamer Championships

MissHarvey

ASA Entertainment announced today that the Super Girl Gamer Pro will return for its fourth year as a celebration of women in gaming. The series will run for 10 weeks beginning with weekly online qualifier tournaments from July 10 – September 6 as a lead-up to the Super Girl Gamer Pro Championships, which will be held October 3-4 in conjunction with the Super Girl Pro Festival in Oceanside, Calif. The Super Girl Gamer Pro will host open tournaments in three popular esports titles: League of Legends, Hearthstone, and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. Past competitors have included some of the world’s top female pros including Stephanie “MissHarvey” Harvey (Quebec City, Quebec, Canada), Emmalee “EMUHLEET” Garrido (Los Angeles, Calif.) and more.

“This is a really important series for women, and I am so happy to be a part of it,” said Garrido, Captain of the women’s CS:GO team for Dignitas. “It’s such a great step for Super Girl Gamer to expand its reach to women throughout North America via the online qualifying series. Most people recognize how critical it is to create meaningful opportunities for women, and it’s been gratifying to watch the progress Super Girl has made over the past few years.”

 “As part of our mission to provide opportunities for women in male-dominated industries, we are excited to expand the Super Girl Gamer Pro to include an online qualifying series,” said Rick Bratman, CEO of ASA Entertainment and producer of the Super Girl Series. “This is an exceptionally important initiative given the lack of opportunity and general toxicity towards women in gaming. The Super Girl Gamer Pro’s empowerment platform is the perfect vehicle to help propel this movement towards equality and inclusion.”

Players and teams will earn their spots into the Championships through a cumulative ranking points system based on their results from the weekly online qualifier tournaments.

The Super Girl Gamer Pro is the only female-driven, multi-title esports tournament series in the U.S.  It was launched four years ago to provide a platform for female gamers in a safe environment and to help both inspire and empower women to take a larger role within esports.  Ultimately, the goal is to facilitate a future where women and men have an equal playing field within the gaming industry.  As part of the Super Girl mission to provide opportunities for women in traditionally male-dominated industries, this unique series offers female gamers across North America of all skill levels a path towards greater recognition, access and acceptance.

Registration for all tournaments is FREE and will be held through ChallengerMode (https://www.challengermode.com/s/SuperGirl). The online qualifiers and Championship matches will be streamed live on Twitch and Facebook Gaming for more than 225 hours of live streaming content collectively.

Players and teams will compete for a cash prize purse, as well as sponsor prizing at the Championships.  Each player and team will also be able to apply for a Super Girl Travel Fund to help with financial assistance to and from the live event.  With this, we hope to help lower the barrier even further and give accessibility to as many female gamers as possible.

The Super Girl Gamer Pro Series and its message is supported by brands that are passionate about the importance of this platform and want to take a leadership role in developing equality for women in gaming – GameStop, the US Air Force, Nissan, Zenni Gaming, Facebook Gaming, Twitch and the US Marines are just a few of the partners using their voice to amplify the Super Girl values.

For more information on the Super Girl Gamer Pro and to learn how to register, please visit http://supergirlgamerpro.com.

Ready Nutrition Announces Leading Academic Researcher And Nutrition Expert Beals As Chief Science Officer

Ready Nutrition (@ready nutrition), one of the fastest growing sports nutrition companies in America, today announced Dr. Kim Beals, a nationally renowned sports nutrition and physical performance researcher and educator, has accepted the position as Chief Science Officer for the Ready Team.

A registered dietitian and a Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics, Dr. Beals is an Associate Professor in Department of Sports Medicine and Nutrition at the University of Pittsburgh where she has worked for the past 25 years.   She published over 60 peer-reviewed scientific papers, technical reports and abstracts and given numerous invited lectures across the country and internationally. Dr. Beals has held numerous service and leadership positions in various professional organizations including the Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics, American College of Sports Medicine, American Dairy Association and Action for Healthy Kids. 

“I joined the Ready Team to be a part of a company committed to using sports nutrition to help athletes be their best.” said Dr. Beals.  “Studying and researching sports nutrition for over 25 years, it’s so exciting to work with a team developing sports nutrition products and programs based on science to help athletes achieve their goals.”

Dr. Beals will head Ready’s R&D division, spearheading its efforts to bring the latest in scientific performance ingredients and functional product formulations to market that best nutritionally assist athletes and other fitness-minded individuals in achieving their performance goals.

“This reaffirms our commitment of constantly trying to get better and providing best-in-class, science-based sports nutrition products in order to support athletes achieve their performance goals,” said company founder and president Pat Cavanaugh.  “I expect Dr. Beals, with her expertise and scientific reputation, to make an immediate impact for the Ready Team.”

World Sports Network Launches Sports Betting Podcast With Bill Krackomberger

World Sports Network (WSN.com) has recently expanded its sports news and entertainment coverage in the United States by announcing a new podcast partnership with expert sports bettor Bill Krackomberger.

nBill Krackomberger commented on the new show, “I’ve been approached to do podcasts before but I believe this is the right place for it. After betting on sports professionally for over twenty-five years I am looking forward to a show where we will educate sports bettors with real actionable advice every week.”

James Whitelock, Head of Marketing at WSN, “We are very excited to launch this new podcast in partnership with Bill Krackomberger. Bill sits in the middle of an extensive community of sports bettors in the US, I believe this relationship will drive WSN forward and provide a great platform for sports bettors looking for an edge from respected experts.”

The show is intended for novice and professional sports bettors and will feature special guests, many of whom are Bill’s friends and acquaintances and known bettors in their own fields. Bill is joined on the show by Rosalie Michaels, a daily fantasy sports analyst, who will go into betting concepts with him.

The show will be available on all popular podcast services.

Strat-O-Matic Creates Ultimate Family Rivalry With Father’s Day Series Simulation

Vladimir Guerrero Sr. and Jr., credit: Wikimedia Commons/Google Man (Sr.), and DR. Buddie (Jr.)

For many families, baseball has been an integral part of Father’s Day for years, and although the pros won’t be on the field this Sunday to help dads celebrate with their children, Strat-O-Matic (www.strat-o-matic.com), the market leader in sports simulations, is keeping the tradition alive by playing out a seven-game series featuring some of the greatest fathers and sons to compete on the diamond. From Bobby and Barry Bonds to Ken Griffey Sr. and Jr. to Vladimir Guerrero Sr. and Jr. to Sandy, Sandy Jr. and Roberto Alomar, the Fathers and Sons teams, managed by big league skippers Bob and Aaron Boone, will battle it out, with results to be published on Sunday.

Some of the other father-son combinations featured on the respective 30-man squads are Tom and Dee Gordon, Dante and Bo Bichette, Clay and Cody Bellinger, Tony Gwynn Sr. and Jr., Craig and Cavan Biggio, Mel and Todd Stottlemyre, Ivan and Dereck Rodriguez, and Lance McCullers Sr. and Jr. Strat-O-Matic will utilize the best seasons of these standout players in creating the “cards” used in the simulation. Toronto’s current trio of big league progenies Bichette, Biggio and Guerrero are among the standouts for the sons’ side.

“We wanted to find a uniquely ‘Strat-O-Matic’ way to pay tribute to fathers enjoying baseball with their sons and daughters on their special day,” said Hal Richman, Strat-O-Matic founder, whose son Adam is the company president. “With so many fathers and sons, many of them Hall of Famers and All-Stars, on rosters throughout baseball history, this fun simulation will highlight some of the best family connections the sport has known.”

Full rosters for the teams with their primary teams are as follows:

Fathers (manager: Bob Boone):

Mel Stottlemyre, p., New York (A.L.)

Floyd Bannister, p. Seattle, Chicago (A.L.)

Dizzy Trout, p., Detroit

Clyde Wright, p., California

Tom Gordon, p., Kansas City, Boston (A.L.), Philadelphia (N.L.)

Pedro Borbon, p., Cincinnati

Jeff Russell, p., Texas

Lance McCullers, p., San Diego

Steve Bedrosian, p., Atlanta, Philadelphia (N.L.)

Paul Quantrill, p., Toronto, Boston (A.L.)

Jeff Shaw, p., Los Angeles (N.L.), Cincinnati, Montreal

Bryan Harvey, p., California, Florida

Ivan Rodriguez, c., Texas, Detroit

Fred Kendall, c., San Diego

Tony Perez, 1b., Cincinnati, Montreal

Craig Biggio, 2b., Houston

Buddy Bell, 3b., Cleveland, Texas, Cincinnati

Maury Wills, ss., Los Angeles (N.L.)

Cecil Fielder, 1b.-d.h., Detroit, Toronto

Sandy Alomar, inf., California, Atlanta, New York (A.L.)

Dick Nen, 1b., Washington (A.L.)

Clay Bellinger, ut., New York (A.L.)

Fernando Tatis, 3b., St. Louis (N.L.), Montreal, New York (N.L.)

Bob Oliver, ut., Kansas City, California

Felipe Alou, of., Atlanta, San Francisco, New York (A.L.)

Tony Gwynn, of., San Diego

Ken Griffey, of., Cincinnati, New York (A.L.)

Bobby Bonds, of., San Francisco, California

Dante Bichette, of., Colorado, California

Vladimir Guerrero, of.-d.h., Montreal, Los Angeles (A.L.)

Sons (manager: Aaron Boone)

Lance McCullers Jr., p., Houston

Todd Stottlemyre, p., Toronto, St. Louis (N.L.)

Brian Bannister, p., Kansas City

Steve Trout, p., Chicago (N.L.), Chicago (A.L.)

Robb Nen, p., Florida, San Francisco

Jaret Wright, p., Cleveland

James Russell, p., Chicago (N.L.)

Pedro Borbon, p., Atlanta, Toronto

Cam Bedrosian, p., Los Angeles (A.L.)

Cal Quantrill, p., San Diego

Hunter Harvey, p., Baltimore

Dereck Rodriguez, p., San Francisco

Darren Oliver, p., Texas, Los Angeles (A.L.)

Sandy Alomar Jr., c., Cleveland, Chicago (A.L.)

Jason Kendall, c., Pittsburgh, Oakland

Prince Fielder, 1b., Milwaukee, Texas, Detroit

Roberto Alomar, 2b., Toronto, San Diego, Cleveland

Vladimir Guerrero Jr., 3b., Toronto

Dee Gordon, 2b., Los Angeles (N.L.), Miami

David Bell, inf., Philadelphia (N.L.), Seattle, St. Louis (N.L.)

Bret Boone, 2b., Seattle, Cincinnati

Eduardo Perez, 1b., St. Louis, Cincinnati, California

Bump Wills, 2b., Texas

Cavan Biggio, ut. Toronto

Bo Bichette, ss., Toronto

Fernando Tatis Jr., ss., San Diego

Travis Shaw, inf., Milwaukee, Boston

Barry Bonds, of., San Francisco, Pittsburgh

Ken Griffey Jr., of., Seattle, Cincinnati

Moises Alou, of., Montreal, Chicago (N.L.), Houston

Cody Bellinger, of., Los Angeles

Tony Gwynn Jr., of, Milwaukee, San Diego, Los Angeles (N.L.)

Grants Pass Downs Rides Into Summer Meet

Grants Pass Downs will kick off its summer racing season tomorrow, Tuesday, June 16. The 8-race opening day program will feature the Shady Cove Stakes, with a full field of 10 thoroughbreds competing for a purse of $12,000 at a distance of five furlongs. The meet will boast more than 80 races scheduled over nine dates – June 16, 17, 23, 24, 30 and July 1, 6, 7 and 8 – with $60,000 available in purses each day. Post time is set for 4:00 p.m.

Lighting was installed this spring to facilitate twilight racing, and the track was widened to support bigger fields. Thanks to a grant from the Oregon Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (OTOBA), Grants Pass Downs was also able to complete a number of other safety-focused projects including the installation of a new retaining wall, fencing, breakaway distance markers and additional sand to improve the track surface. The stall area was also expanded to accommodate up to 450 horses to meet growing demand. Those stalls are now nearly full as hundreds of horsemen and women from around Oregon and across the West have come to Grants Pass to participate in the meet.

“The uncertainty of these times hasn’t dampened any of the enthusiasm we’ve felt from our partners in the racing community since commercial racing came to Grants Pass last year,” said John Everly, racing secretary at Grants Pass Downs. “Demand remains very high, and even with the addition of more stalls in the barn area and fields expanding from eight to 10 horses with the widened track and an expanded starting gate, races should be pretty full throughout the meet.”

In accordance with current Oregon state health guidelines amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the meet will be held without fans in attendance. Racing fans unable to attend due to the current public health guidelines are encouraged to watch and wager at TVG.com and other advance-deposit wagering (ADW) websites, as well as at participating off-track betting (OTB) locations around the state. Grants Pass Downs has also expanded its wagering menu and will offer two new bets during the Summer Meet—a fifty cent Jackpot Pick Five with a $5,000 guaranteed pool and a 15% takeout rate, and a one dollar early Pick Four. For a list of participating ADW sites and OTB locations, visit https://gpdowns.com/wagering/.

“The health and safety of our athletes, staff, partners and guests is our highest priority, and we have put new protocols in place to ensure a safe, fun environment for all as we resume racing operations,” said Rod Lowe, director of racing and chief operating officer at Grants Pass Downs. “We’ll be encouraging the use of masks or face coverings by all guests. Additionally, hand sanitizer stations have been set up in high traffic areas throughout the premises, and social distancing reminders – like signage and floor markings – have been posted throughout the premises.”

Grants Pass Downs will allow a maximum of 250 nonessential people on site on racing days, including owners and their guests, sponsors and corporate partners, and members of the media.

New Jersey Sportsbooks Surprise in May but Still Lag by Nearly $400 Million, According to PlayNJ

PlayNJ.com

New Jersey’s online sportsbooks more than doubled the state’s combined handle in May, but still fell short of an ordinary May by nearly $400 million, according to PlayNJ estimates. This while online casinos and poker rooms continue to boom, buoying the Garden State’s gaming industry.

“May’s increase is a positive sign, but until major professional sports resume and Atlantic City casinos reopen, the gaming industry will look nowhere near normal,” said Dustin Gouker, lead analyst for PlayNJ.com. “But optimism can be found with DraftKings, which has become a darling of Wall Street since it became a publicly traded company. That shows just how much confidence investors have in the future of sports betting.”

New Jersey’s online sportsbooks managed to boost the state’s monthly handle to $117.8 million, up 115.8% from $54.6 million in April, according to official reporting released Friday. But May’s handle is down 63.1% from $318.9 million in May 2019 and still well short of the more than $500 million in bets that would have been made in an ordinary May, according to PlayNJ estimates.

May’s bets produced a surprising $9.9 million in gross revenue — more than tripling the $2.6 million in April 2020 — yielding $1.3 million in state taxes.

Sports categorized as “other” than football, basketball, and baseball generated $95.4 million in bets in May, up from $88 million in May 2019.

“The bottom-line sports betting numbers aren’t pretty, but there is a silver lining in how online sportsbooks have managed to survive these shutdowns,” said Eric Ramsey, an analyst for PlayNJ.com. “New Jersey’s operators have been creative in keeping bettors engaged and sportsbooks generating revenue, even when fringe sports are the only real attraction. Thanks to some imagination, it appears online sportsbooks will help the industry get through this.”

Without retail sportsbooks, online sportsbooks were the only revenue generator for the state. FanDuel Sportsbook/PointsBet led the market with $4.3 million in gross revenue.

“We are just starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel,” Gouker said. “Retail sports betting will take time to return to something resembling normal. But the path to recovery for online sportsbooks is simple: Sports need to come back. That is finally starting to happen.”

Meanwhile, online casinos and poker rooms rose to a new monthly record in May with a combined $85.9 million, up 7.5% from the record $79.96 million in April and up 134.7% from $36.6 million in May 2019.

Online casinos and poker generated a record $2.8 million per day during the 31 days in May, up from $2.7 million per day in April. That revenue yielded $12.9 million in state taxes. The Golden Nugget’s dominance of the market continued with $29.1 million in revenue, up from $27.6 million in April.

“Land-based gambling revenue almost certainly won’t return in June, and it will take some time to recover even when it does come back while Atlantic City casinos presumably navigate reduced capacity and relatively weak tourism demand,” Ramsey said. “Because of that, online casinos will be relied upon to bridge the revenue gap, even once land-based casinos reopen. Even if that online revenue can’t replace what has been lost from the shutdown, the overall gaming industry would be in much worse shape without it.”

For more, visit PlayNJ.com/news.

Strat-O-Matic 365 Adds League Commissioner Feature For Baseball, Football Online Games

credit: Mike Morbeck

With live sports still on hold (though hopefully coming back soon!), fantasy leagues have been looking for ways to keep their members together, combining their love of baseball and football with the camaraderie that goes with participating with friends. And for the first time, the popular Baseball 365 and Football 365 products from Strat-O-Matic (www.strat-o-matic.com), the market leader in sports simulations, give commissioners the tools to manage leagues of recent and all-time great rosters, with games simulated daily, just like regular fantasy sports.

Commissioner league users can invite specific guests to compete, incorporate league settings, draft teams at any pace, and even fill out spots with computer-controlled “bot” teams. Players serve as GM and manager, setting lineups, pitching rotations and managing styles (baseball) or starters, schemes and tendencies (football) for a realistic fantasy experience.

Baseball 365 Commissioner leagues can choose from the 2019 season, a new “All-Time Greats 9” set of more than 5,300 cards, additional single-seasons of 1982, 1986, 1999, 2007 through  2018, or mystery card sets from every decade from the 1960s through the 1990s. Football featured cards include the 2018 season, as well as an All-Time Franchises set with greats dating all the way back to the 1940s.

“Many Strat-O-Matic players are also huge fantasy sports fans, and just like Strat-O-Matic leagues stay together for years, a lot of the fun of fantasy is playing with your friends” said John Garcia, Strat-O-Matic’s Director of Research and exec-in-charge of 365. “There’s nowhere else to go right now to buy out a fantasy league in baseball or football with your friends.”

“The Commissioner leagues combine the excitement and strategy of Baseball 365 and Football 365 with the convenience and control that keep leagues and friends together,” said Bernie Hou, Director of 365 for Strat-O-Matic.

Grants Pass Downs names Jason Beem as track announcer for 2020 racing dates

Grants Pass Downs has named veteran race caller Jason Beem as track announcer for its 2020 commercial race meets. Beem will call all nine days of summer racing, beginning Tuesday, June 16 through closing day, Wednesday, July 8, as well as the track’s fall meet. Final dates for fall racing have yet to be determined.

A seasoned track announcer, social media personality, podcast host and author, Beem brings over 15 years of experience calling races to Grants Pass Downs. He has experience calling meets around the country, at Colonial Downs, Louisiana Downs, Monmouth Park, Portland Meadows and River Downs, among others. He hosts a daily horse racing podcast called The Jason Beem Horse Racing Podcast, and is known for his annual “Beemie Awards,” held each December to celebrate the best moments in horse racing social media.

“We are excited to add Jason’s talent and vast experience in horse racing to the upcoming summer meet,” said Randy Evers, president of Grants Pass Downs. “His infectious enthusiasm for our sport is the perfect fit for calling our races, and he is certain to inject an extra wow factor in an unusual time. Our summer race dates will be held without spectators to maintain health and safety during the pandemic, but we are confident that Jason’s unique voice will help accurately reflect the excitement we’ve felt from the Grants Pass community.”

Beem, a Pacific Northwest native who grew up attending races at Longacres and Portland Meadows, is eager to lend his talents to the track for the first commercial races in Oregon this year.

“I’m honored to join the team at Grants Pass Downs as they continue to build on Oregon’s long and storied horse racing legacy,” said Beem. “The leadership and staff at Grants Pass Downs are doing an excellent job driving the next era of horse racing in the state while keeping hundreds of horsemen and women at work in Southern Oregon. I consider Oregon a second home and am thrilled to be a part of this team for the summer and fall meets.”

The summer race meet at Grants Pass Downs will kick off without spectators on Tuesday, June 16. Post time is set for 4 p.m. each day. Races will be available for spectators to watch and wager on TVG Network and other advance deposit wagering sites, and carried by Oregon’s off track betting sites. A full list of participating ADW sites and open off track betting sites are available on Grants Pass Downs’ website at www.gpdowns.com.

Colorado’s $25.5 Million Sports Betting Revenue And Survey Results Indicate The State Is Ready For Gambling’s Return

During a time of casino closures and league shutdowns, Colorado bettors have shown their willingness to engage with the state’s newly regulated sports betting offer. Since launching on May 1, the state has generated $25.5 million in gross, unaudited sports betting revenue. In a recent survey by ColoradoSharp.com, 75% of respondents said they would return to casinos “as soon as they’re open.” All signs point to a statewide boom for betting revenue when full-fledged gambling returns to The Centennial State.

“Colorado’s month-one results cement the state as a leader in the US gambling arena. $25 million in revenue is impressive on its own, and it’s even more impressive when you consider how sparse the gambling options are during a globally trying time,” said Chris Nesi, Managing Editor for ColoradoSharp.com. “This first month showcases the strength of the Colorado gaming industry, and I think we’ll continue to see impressive numbers from the state in the future.”

The Covid-19 pandemic hit Colorado hard. Related closures resulted in revenue loss nearing $100 million through April 30 alone. However, amid a challenging time for the state, Colorado’s successful first month of sports betting generated more than $25 million. Compared to Indiana’s launch month, the number is particularly impressive: Indiana earned $35 million in October 2019 when it debuted sports betting absent any casino closures. Colorado’s success in light of league cancellations and virtually no casino activity bodes well for the future of sports betting in the state. The first month’s $25 million signals a general desire for betting in Colorado, a conclusion supported by ColoradoSharp.com’s recent casino reopening survey.

In the survey, three-quarters of participants said they would return to casinos as soon as they reopen, even though the state has no current timeline for reopening land-based casinos or sportsbooks. The survey showcased Colorado’s excitement for gambling’s return, though not without some caution. 75% of survey takers intend to wear a mask when visiting a casino, and 50% said it is “very important” that casinos take social distancing safety measures upon reopening.

For complete survey results, visit ColoradoSharp.com.