Category Archives: Featured

Unikrn Launches Streamer Betting and Virtual Matches

Unikrn, a global leader at the intersection of blockchain, entertainment and wagering, has created a new technology moat offering instantly available betting experiences for esports and gaming fans.

Built on game analytics, new AI trading bots & screen-analyzing technology, streamer betting is a nonstop, fully automated future of casual wagering. Unikrn will also launch Unikrn Virtual, letting bettors pick from over half a million fresh esports rounds per year.

Together with Unikrn UMode, a player-vs-house skill betting platform for online gameplay, Unikrn is launching unprecedented accessibility for entertainment, skill-based and esports-based wagers every minute of every day.

Unikrn Virtual is a regulator-approved RNG game which uses an approved third-party to randomly generate a round of CS:GO from a curated pool of past professional matches, giving fans the thrill of betting on live esports match without delays or waits. A unique algorithm utilizing both archival and display techniques developed by Unikrn gives users access to key information about an upcoming round of CS:GO, then they may bet on the outcome.

Unikrn users can also exchange currencies, crypto or even digital items (called skins) into regulator-approved ERC20 betting tokens called UnikoinGold. Users can also deposit with traditional means such as credit card.

Eligible bettors can then use the groundbreaking new Unikrn Virtual to find an esports bet offered every minute, even when no events are live. Or they can bet on top streamers. Or they can even bet on themselves in a skill-based UMode proposition, which is even legally available in the United States.

In 2018, Unikrn became the first company to have live, IOM regulator-approved crypto wagering experiences, and as the company continues to expand uses, it projects a crypto resurgence as token value shifts from perception to function.

“Highly-regulated environments, including betting, are the perfect breeding pool for the normalization of mainstream blockchain,” said Andrew Vouris, Unikrn COO, “Using tools from blockchain has helped us develop a system years ahead of other operators, and we’re committed to taking the best ideas of crypto and giving them application.”

Now Unikrn users can parlay a professional esports match and their favorite Twitch streamers, even all in one multibet, and they can make deposits to a currency-agnostic blockchain-based system.

Last year, over 1000 millennia of viewer time were spent watching Twitch alone, making the process of setting odds both daunting and essential for the future of the wagering industry. Unikrn’s streamer betting will tap one of Earth’s most abundant sources of entertainment as an unending flood of engaging wagering content.

“Finding a zero-friction way to let fans engage is essential for the future of betting and crypto,” said Rahul Sood, Unikrn CEO, “You can bet on your own online matches, you can bet on your favorite streamers, or you can find 24/7 esports odds with Unikrn Virtual. This is a level of interactivity only dreamed of in the old world of sports and casino betting.”

Harrah’s Northern California Celebrates Grand Opening Weekend

A spectacular drone light show lit up the night sky in Amador County, Calif. this weekend as Harrah’s Northern California celebrated the official grand opening of Northern California’s only Caesars Rewards-affiliated casino.

Drawing guests from across the region, the highly-anticipated entertainment destination hosted round-the-clock promotional giveaways for players and invited guests, who took advantage of the casino’s affiliation with Caesars Rewards by earning Reward Credits that may be redeemed across the network’s more than 40 casino-resorts worldwide.

Hundreds of guests gathered outside the casino on Friday, May 17 to see the highlight of the grand opening festivities, a custom-designed Intel drone light show. The performance featured 300 Intel® Shooting Star ™ drones, which are designed for entertainment purposes and capable of creating more than four billion color combinations to light up the sky.

The Intel drone light show was accompanied by a dynamic 3D projection mapping of the casino exterior and spectacular pyrotechnics display. Designed exclusively for Harrah’s Northern California, the projection mapping and drone light show depicted imagery associated with the sumptuous collection of vineyards and scenic vistas in Amador County ahead of transitioning to reveal card suites and dice commemorating the rich history of Harrah’s gaming legacy. An over-the-top pyrotechnics display concluded the spectacular event as the Harrah’s Northern California logo danced in the night sky.

“This weekend was as much a celebration of opening as it was a ‘thank you’ to the local community and our guests who have been so supportive of the development,” said Buena Vista Rancheria Chairwoman Rhonda Pope-Flores. “The Buena Vista Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians have a long history of hospitality and this weekend was just the start of many celebrations we plan to bring to the community.”

Since opening its doors at the end of April, Harrah’s Northern California has welcomed a steady stream of guests and players eager to be among the first to place bets in the casino and explore the new entertainment destination. The property, which broke ground in March 2018, boasts 950 slot machines, 20 tables games, three fast-casual dining concepts and one casual elegant dining venue, Louie Oliver’s Restaurant & Bar which features an array of local fare and fresh, farm-to-fork selections. Harrah’s Northern California guests benefit from the many advantages and perks of the casino’s agreement with Caesars Entertainment, including earning Caesars Rewards member privileges and preferred access to Caesars’ resorts and amenities in Las Vegas, Lake Tahoe and around the world.

For additional information on Harrah’s Northern California, visit norcal-fun.com.

Analysts: Pa. Sportsbook Solid in April as Online Sports Betting Looms

Pennsylvania’s retail sportsbooks posted a solid April, but it is what lies ahead that is most important for the state’s fledgling sports betting industry, according to PlayPennsylvania.com analysts.

“The launch of online sports betting will give the first real window into the overall strength of the industry,” said Jessica Welman, sports betting analyst for PlayPennsylvania.com. “Online sports betting will ultimately transform the market and put it more in line with Nevada and New Jersey, the country’s two largest sports betting markets.”

In what should be the final month before online sports betting launches, Pennsylvania’s retail sportsbooks attracted $36.8 million in April bets. That is down 17% from the record $44.5 million in March, according to official reporting released on Thursday. The vast majority of action came from baseball’s first full month, the Final Four, and the beginning of the NBA and NHL playoffs. In legal jurisdictions such as Nevada, April is typically a slower sports betting month than March.

April bets generated $4.2 million in revenue, down from $5.5 million in March and $1.9 million in February, and injected $1.5 million into state government coffers, down from $1.99 million in March.

The launch of the first Pennsylvania online sports betting app is expected within days or weeks, and more online sportsbooks will soon follow suit. Online betting has proven to be critically important in New Jersey, where more than 80 percent of sports bets are made.

Assuming Pennsylvania bettors show a similar fervor for online betting as their neighbors in New Jersey, the impact will be a game-changer.

“There is no reason to believe that Pennsylvania bettors will behave significantly different than New Jersey in their preference for online sports betting products,” said Dustin Gouker, lead analyst for PlayPennsylvania.com. “The convenience and ease of use of sports betting apps make them appealing to most bettors. And having established operators will help get the online market off on the right foot.”

Rivers Casino, the only sportsbook in the Pittsburgh market, remained the market leader by attracting $8.2 million in April bets, down from $11.9 million in March, and $871,753 million in revenue, down from $1.3 million. Rivers was followed by:

· SugarHouse Casino ($7.9 million handle, down from $9.2 million in March; $871,753 revenue, down from $1.2 million)
· Parx Casino ($6.9 million handle, down from $7.96 million; $907,298 revenue, down from $984,339)
Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course ($3.9 million handle, down from $5.3 million; $361,249 revenue, down from $521,864)
· FanDuel at Valley Forge Casino Resort ($3.1 million handle, up from $2 million handle; $379,731 revenue, down from $449,597)
· Harrah’s Philadelphia ($2.7 million handle, down from $3.8 million; $282,740 revenue, down from $326,752)
· South Philadelphia Race and Sportsbook ($2.6 million handle, down from $3.6 million; $441,692 revenue, down from $534,253)
· Valley Forge Race and Sportsbook ($1.5 million handle, up from $706,089; $195,856 revenue, up from $120,836)

“We expect Rivers Casino to remain strong in the retail market, but online betting will change the market’s dynamics,” Welman said. “The May report will be interesting to see.”

ESPN, Caesars Announce Sports Betting Content Deal

ESPN is joining forces with Caesars Entertainment (NASDAQ: CZR) to bring the best in sports betting news and entertainment content to fans around the world. The deal includes building a new ESPN-branded studio at The LINQ Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, where sports betting-themed content will be created, along with segments for ESPN’s recently launched sports betting-related show, Daily Wager. Caesars’ data and branding will also be integrated across ESPN programming within the coming weeks for use across ESPN’s content.

“The sports betting landscape has changed, and fans are coming to us for this kind of information more than ever before,” said Mike Morrison, VP of Business Development at ESPN. “We are poised to expand our coverage in a big way and working with a category leader like Caesars Entertainment will help us serve these highly engaged, diverse sports fans with the best and most relevant content possible.”

Added Chris Holdren, EVP and Chief Marketing Officer at Caesars Entertainment: “We’re really excited about the long-term value this collaboration with ESPN will create and thrilled that, starting immediately, ESPN’s platforms will begin featuring odds information generated by Caesars Entertainment. Millions of sports fans look to ESPN as a sports authority, and Caesars is honored to have been selected for having the best odds to serve those fans. When you combine that level of exposure alongside the unique opportunity to build a studio along the famed Las Vegas Strip, this deal is truly unique.”

The studio will serve as a Vegas hub for odds-related content and will contribute to any number of ESPN linear, digital and social shows as well as ESPN.com and the ESPN app. It will also play a vital role during major sporting events, and especially during the growing number of marquee events hosted in Las Vegas. The new studio will launch in 2020.

Caesars will also serve as ESPN’s official odds data supplier across TV and digital, receiving associated attribution across ESPN. Additional advertising and sponsorship activations will roll out in the coming months and throughout the deal term.

“Between an increased interest in sports betting among fans, regularly hosting marquee sporting events – like the upcoming NFL Draft and NBA Summer League as well as premier UFC and Top Rank bouts – and the arrival of the Golden Knights and the Raiders, Las Vegas has become an epicenter of sports culture,” said Connor Schell, EVP of Content, ESPN. “Having a great partner in Caesars Entertainment and soon a full studio presence in Las Vegas will help us create content that taps into that culture and grows our offerings to avid bettors and more casual fans.”

More than two-thirds of avid sports bettors already watch ESPN (Source: Langer Research Associates, 2018). This agreement with Caesars builds upon a stable of betting-related content that dates back more than 10 years. In addition to the previously referenced Daily Wager on ESPNEWS, ESPN betting-related content has included:

Behind the Bets with Doug Kezirian podcast
Stanford Steve and The Bear podcast (football season)
Betting news, discussion segments in signature shows (SportsCenter, OTL)
“Bad Beats” on SportsCenter with Scott Van Pelt
ESPN Insider content – PickCenter tools, projections, recos, analysis, news articles, etc

Study: 2 in 3 Sports Fans Want Betting Integrated into Game Day Experiences

Ahead of the one year anniversary of the Supreme Court’s repeal of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), GlobalWebIndex, the leading supplier of digital consumer insights to the global marketing industry, and The Action Network, the most trusted source for sports betting news and insights, announced the findings of a robust baseline study on sports betting interest in the United States.

To date, ten states have legalized sports betting, and additional states are in the process of doing so. In the twelve months since the PASPA repeal allowed states to legalize sports betting, 68% of sports fans placed a bet, or would have placed a bet if it were legal in their state. The study also suggests mobile will play a crucial role in the continued growth of sports betting and its impact on sports networks, as 67% of sports fans are interested in betting being integrated into live viewing experiences.

Sports betting is a potential boon to established and emerging sports leagues:

The majority of sports fans would place a bet on the leagues they support – NBA fans are most likely to do so (88%), followed by NFL fans (86%), eSports fans (86%) and MLB fans (81%).
The NBA also outranks other leagues for consumer interest in player-specific bets – nearly half of sports fans (47%) would place a prop bet on Kevin Durant, 41% on Stephen Curry and 37% on James Harden.
Sports betting increases gameday investment and engagement – 60% of respondents say they would be more likely to watch a game they bet on.

“In the year since sports betting has been legal in the United States, we’ve seen an explosion of fan engagement and growing revenue potential for rights holders, teams and leagues,” said Patrick Keane, CEO of The Action Network,“As the study confirms, sports fans want better information and insights, and they want to bet legally, conveniently and on their phones.”

Sports Bettors Seek Real-Time Engagement Online & on Mobile

Sports betting has the potential to complement game viewership as fans increasingly tap the power of mobile as their betting habits increase.

The majority of sports fans seek real-time betting opportunities — the most interested being 78% of NCAAB fans who say they would place a bet while watching college basketball, followed by fans of NCAAF (75%), MLB (75%), NFL (73%) and NBA (73%).
Mobile betting products are rising in importance — 80% of respondents say they would prefer to bet via app or website, compared to 50% who would bet in-person.
Sports fans desire specialized apps — 55% are interested in using a mobile app primarily focused on sports betting, with NHL fans (67%) and NBA fans (61%) the most interested.
Mobile betting is likely to boost gameday viewership — 54% of sports fans say if they placed a bet, they would be more likely to follow the game through a sports news app or gambling app.
In-app game streaming supports real-time betting — 44% of sports fans say that, if possible, they would place a bet while following a game in-app.

“As the legalization of sports betting continues to spread throughout the U.S., our insights suggest mobile will become a predominant channel of engagement,” said Jason Mander, Chief Research Officer at GlobalWebIndex. “The ubiquity of mobile streaming, in general, leads consumers to expect and demand that what they watch on TV can be continued seamlessly on-the-go; the same need is now being applied to sports betting as fans want to stay invested no matter where they are.”

Methodology

GlobalWebIndex surveyed 3,057 U.S. internet users aged 21-64 between April 17-30, 2019. 1,069 of the respondents self-identified as ‘sports fans’ by selecting 8-10 on a 0-10 scale of their interest in sports. Surveys were collected via mobile, desktop, laptop or tablet.

Poll: Fatalities, Drugs, and Integrity: Americans’ Top Three Concerns for Horse Racing

According to a new, national and Kentucky-based poll commissioned by The Jockey Club, horse fatalities are the single most important factor facing the horse racing industry with nearly seven in 10 likely voters (69 percent) saying that it is a “very important” issue. The misuse of drugs was almost equally significant with 65 percent saying it was “very important.” Integrity and corruption also scored highly at 63 percent.

“This survey is further proof that the horse racing industry has reached a tipping point,” said Jim Gagliano, The Jockey Club president and COO. “The health of horses is of concern to both horse racing fans and the general public, and it’s time we make some real changes.”

Interestingly, these issues matter to people almost evenly across party lines and among Americans of all races and ethnicities. However, nationally, women are especially likely to view equine fatalities (77 percent), drugs (76 percent), and integrity (69 percent) as “very important” issues for the industry to address.

The poll also looked at the Horseracing Integrity Act (HIA) of 2019, which would establish a private, independent horse racing anti-doping authority involving the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA); require full transparency into the medical treatment, injuries, and health of all racehorses; and create one, universal system of medication regulation.

An astounding 91 percent of respondents said they would view horse racing “much more” or “somewhat more” favorably if the industry adopted the national regulations and strict anti-doping rules embodied in the HIA.

Other key findings in the poll include:

Kentucky

· Kentucky voters are three times as likely to say horse injuries have become more common (47 percent) than less common (15 percent) in recent years, which is no surprise given that U.S. horse racing lags far behind international standards to combat doping, creating horse injury rates that are 2.5 to 5 times greater than the rest of the world.
· 90 percent of Kentucky likely voters said they would be “much more” or “somewhat more” favorable to horse racing if Congress were to pass the HIA.
· 78 percent of Kentucky likely voters said that it is “very important” or “somewhat important” to reform the horse racing industry in order to improve the image of the sport.
· 95 percent of Kentucky likely voters said they would be “much more” or “somewhat more” favorable to horse racing if the U.S. adopted international standards, which are proved to reduce equine fatalities and injuries.

Nationwide

· 95 percent of likely voters said they would be “much more” or “somewhat more” favorable to horse racing if an independent group, such as USADA (which regulates Olympic athletes), created and enforced medication rules at least as stringent as for other professional sports.
· 93 percent of likely voters said they would be “much more” or “somewhat more” favorable to horse racing if all Thoroughbred racehorses were subject to random drug testing at any time prior to or after a race to test for prohibited substances.
· 93 percent of likely voters said they would be “much more” or “somewhat more” favorable to horse racing if the U.S. adopted international standards, which are proved to reduce equine fatalities and injuries.
· 94 percent of likely voters said they would be “much more” or “somewhat more” favorable to horse racing if there were national medication rules and penalties. Currently, 38 separate state jurisdictions regulate the horse racing industry.

“With industry leaders banding together showing support for passage of HIA, we will be easing concerns of Americans who feel we are not doing enough to protect the health of racehorses,” said Gagliano.

Stars Group, FOX Sports Announce Media and Sports Wagering Partnership

The Stars Group Inc. and FOX Sports, a unit of Fox Corporation, today announced plans to launch FOX Bet, the first-of-its kind national media and sports wagering partnership in the United States. The Stars Group and FOX Sports have entered a long-term commercial agreement through which FOX Sports will provide The Stars Group with an exclusive license to use certain FOX Sports trademarks.

The Stars Group and FOX Sports expect to launch two products in the Fall of 2019 under the FOX Bet umbrella. One will be a nationwide free-to-play game, awarding cash prizes to players who correctly predict the outcome of sports games. The second product, which will be named FOX Bet, will give customers in states with regulated betting the opportunity to place real money wagers on the outcome of a wide range of sporting events in accordance with the applicable laws and regulations.

In addition to the commercial agreement of up to 25 years and associated product launches, Fox Corporation will acquire 14,352,331 newly issued common shares in The Stars Group, representing 4.99% of The Stars Group’s issued and outstanding common shares, at a price of $16.4408 per share, the prevailing market price leading up to the commencement of exclusive negotiations. The Stars Group currently intends to use the aggregate net proceeds of approximately $236 million for general corporate purposes and to prepay outstanding indebtedness on its first lien term loans. The common shares issued to Fox Corporation are subject to certain transfer restrictions for two years, subject to customary exceptions.

Rafi Ashkenazi, Chief Executive Officer of The Stars Group said: “We believe this strategic partnership uniquely positions us to build a leading betting business in the U.S., which represents one of the most exciting long-term growth opportunities for our company. Leveraging our proven media partnership strategy with Sky Sports in the UK, we are excited to partner with FOX Sports to integrate wagering into sports media and drive customer acquisition and retention in the U.S.”

Eric Shanks, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Producer of FOX Sports added: “FOX Sports is already synonymous with the best live sports events in the country and now we are expanding the way we immerse fans in the sports culture they love. Digital sports wagering represents a growing market opportunity that allows us to diversify our revenue streams, connect directly with consumers and expand the reach of the FOX Sports brand.”

Under the commercial agreement, FOX Sports will grant to The Stars Group an exclusive license for the use of certain FOX Sports trademarks for a range of immersive games and online sports wagering, and certain exclusive advertising and editorial integration rights on certain FOX Sports broadcast media and digital assets. As part of the transaction, FOX Sports will receive certain brand license, integration and affiliate fees. In addition, during the term of the commercial agreement, The Stars Group has agreed to a minimum annual advertising commitment on certain FOX media assets. Prior to the tenth anniversary of the commercial agreement, and subject to certain conditions and applicable gaming regulatory approvals, FOX Sports has the right acquire up to a 50% equity stake in The Stars Group’s U.S. business.

Genius Sports Group secures landmark betting data agreement with Football DataCo

Genius Sports Group, the global leader in sports data technology, has been appointed by Football DataCo, the data rights holder of all competitions organised by the Premier League, English Football League and Scottish Professional Football League, as its official supplier of live data to the global sports betting sector.

Through Betgenius, its sports betting division, Genius Sports Group will capture official live game data in-stadia at over 4,000 fixtures a season, and distribute it to hundreds of licenced sportsbook operators around the world in under a second.

Commencing at the start of the 2019/20 season, this multi-year partnership will create the sports betting sector’s fastest, most accurate and reliable data feed for in-play betting products and live betting innovations, in order to drive long term value for sports betting operators around the world.

“English and Scottish football is vital to any sportsbook offering and Genius Sports provided a compelling proposal to maximise the value of live data in the betting market for the Leagues. We look forward to working with Genius Sports, and its sports betting division Betgenius, in developing innovative data feeds for the market to use,” said Adrian Ford, General Manager of Football DataCo.

Mark Locke, Genius Sports Group CEO, commented: “Being selected by Football DataCo as their exclusive official data partner is transformational for our organisation and reinforces our position as the global leader in sports data capture and distribution technology. This partnership upholds our commitment to ensuring sports remain at the heart of a sustainable sports betting ecosystem that is fair and rewarding for all participants.

“The use of secure, UK football league sanctioned data signals the increased maturity of the industry and recognises the value and protections that this official data feed provides. Football DataCo leads the world through its heavy investment in a product that assures operators can have complete confidence in its data supply to power some of most valuable sports betting content in the world, including all Premier League matches.”

Preakness Stakes Future Odds released by US Racing

2017 Preakness (credit: Maryland GovPics )

US Racing (https://www.usracing.com), an international online horse racing service, today announced future odds for the 144^th Preakness Stakes to be held at Pimlico Racecourse on Saturday, May 18^th.

Country House won the 145^th Kentucky Derby as a 65-1 longshot after the disqualification of Maximum Security on a muddy track at Churchill Downs.

While Country House claimed the first leg of the Triple Crown, he is not installed as the favorite going into the Preakness Stakes. Code of Honor, who finished second place at the Kentucky Derby, has been assigned future odds of 5-2 to win the 2019 Preakness Stakes.

The second leg of the Triple Crown will be televised on NBC with updated information provided by US Racing.

2019 Preakness Stakes Odds

Post	Horse	Trainer	Jockey	Odds
1	Code of Honor	Claude R. McGaughey III	John R. Velazquez	5-2
2	Country House	William I. Mott	Flavien Prat	3-1
3	Tacitus	William I. Mott	Jose L. Ortiz	4-1
4	War of Will	Mark E. Casse	Tyler Gaffalione	4-1
5	Game Winner	Bob Baffert	Joel Rosario	5-1
6	Improbable	Bob Baffert	Irad Ortiz, Jr.	8-1
7	Vekoma	George Weaver	Javier Castellano	11-1
8	Alwaysmining	Kelly Rubley	Daniel Centeno	12-1
9	Laughing Fox	Steven M. Asmussen	Ramon A. Vazquez	12-1
10	Owendale	Brad H. Cox	Florent Geroux	14-1
11	Anothertwistafate	Blaine D. Wright	TBA	16-1

US Racing (www.usracing.com) is an award winning, international online horse racing service.

US Racing offers thoroughbred, harness and greyhound wagering content from over 200 of the world’s premier racetracks.

US Racing features race analysis, interviews, free handicapping tips and stories on trainers, jockeys, owners, breeders, horses and new technology and developments in the horse racing industry. US Racing provides reviews and promotions of racebooks, OTBs and ADWs companies worldwide. No wagering of any form takes place at US Racing.

The goal of US Racing to entertain, educate and inform people about the sport of thoroughbred horse racing.

US Racing is privately held with offices in Hong Kong and the Isle of Man.

SCCG, Activate Entertainment Partner On Esports Event Production

SCCG Management and Activate Entertainment today announced a partnership to launch a one stop shop aimed at servicing all esport needs of casino properties across the United States.

Together, SCCG Management and Activate Entertainment provide casino entertainment companies with a credible pathway into the esports market with an offering that includes

· 360 turnkey event management
· Livestream production
· Tournament operation
· Custom Activation Creation
· Media & Promotions

The formal partnership brings Activate Entertainment’s successful track record with clients like Caesars Entertainment, Alienware, World Series of Poker and Dell into SCCG Management’s engagement with Gameworks, as well as a group of signed casino partners to be announced in the coming weeks. Said Activate’s Chris Iaquinta, “With esports still at a nascent stage, I believe casino companies require a “one stop shop” to meet their varied and evolving business objectives.”

The explosive growth experienced year-on-year within the esports industry is driving growing demand from non-endemic sponsors and the casino entertainment industry to associate themselves with the Esports space. Said SCCG Management’s Stephen Crystal, “No two casino properties have the same needs, so we are excited to partner with Activate Entertainment to provide a ‘One Stop Shop’ with customization features, to satisfy what the casino market is looking for right now.”

As a leader in bringing cutting edge technology to the casino industry, SCCG Management in partnership with companies like Activate Entertainment provide a bridge for casino companies and non-endemic sponsors to get into Esports.

NASCAR, Genius Sports Form Landmark Exclusive Betting Data Partnership

NASCAR and Genius Sports, the global leader in sports data solutions, today announced a landmark deal that will see Genius Sports develop an official NASCAR gaming offering for legal sportsbooks. The new agreement is the first step toward creating an advanced live betting product that will drive fan interest and deepen engagement around NASCAR race events.

Genius Sports will utilize NASCAR’s official data feed to build a high-end live betting product to be sold to legal sportsbooks around the world. Exclusive access to NASCAR’s official data allows Genius Sports to create a real-time gaming platform that provides up-to-the-minute odds and a suite of traditional wagers and prop bets. The new initiative will enhance the race day experience and keep fans engaged with the sport for longer periods of time.

“Partnering with Genius Sports allows us to deliver a dynamic fan engagement platform in the rapidly-growing world of legalized sports gaming,” said Brian Herbst, senior vice president, broadcasting and innovation, NASCAR. “This new relationship will provide another entry point to the sport and complements our strategy to create a more immersive experience for fans.”

As a result of the agreement, Genius Sports becomes the exclusive provider of NASCAR data to licensed sportsbooks. The new data partnership marks NASCAR’s first in the growing U.S. sports betting sector.

“NASCAR fans are some of the most devoted in the world, and we look forward to helping them to create a deeper, more connected experience that is both safe and secure as the business of sports betting continues to evolve in the U.S.,” said Mark Locke, Genius Sports CEO. “Furthermore, our global relationships will help bring the excitement of NASCAR racing to new audiences both within the United States and in new territories around the world.”

With 40 cars on the track reaching speeds of over 200 miles per hour, NASCAR’s official data is vital to the development of a gaming platform. Only licensed sportsbooks in regulated territories will have access to the official data, providing greater transparency, accuracy, and cooperation to monitor and safeguard NASCAR events.

Before the start of the 2019 season, NASCAR developed a comprehensive Sports Gambling policy for the industry in which the sanctioning body granted all teams and tracks the ability to sell marketing sponsorships to sports-betting companies and licensed sportsbooks.

Prop Bets Add To Kentucky Derby Fun

Jennifer Lawrence (credit: Gage Skidmore)

Beyond win-place-show, exactas, trifectas and other standard ways to bet on tomorrow’s Kentucky Derby, there are the prop bets, which various betting houses have set up to capture attention outside of the horse racing and sports realms and on into pop culture at large.

Some of the more fun ones that USRacing.com have posted include:

· Will Thanos (Josh Brolin) walk the red carpet at Churchill Downs?

· Do you think Louisville native Jennifer Lawrence will watch the race in person?

· President Trump is still favored (-300) to win the 2020 US Presidential election but how many tweets will President Donald Trump send on the first Saturday in May?

· And, with the 145th Kentucky Derby falling on May 4th, will Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) tweet, “May the Horse be with You”?

Over the past year, legalization of sports betting in certain portions of the United States has led to partnerships between US racing organizations and sports betting groups largely headquartered in Europe.

Almost a year ago, Paddy Power Betfair acquired Fan Duel while William Hill partnered to provide sports betting at Monmouth Park. Parx Racing has partnered with Kambi. One of the few US racing stalwarts that have not associated with a sports betting partner in Europe is BetAmerica, a racebook owned by Churchill Downs. Three months ago, BetAmerica joined forces with the Golden Nugget Casino in New Jersey in order to offer sports and casino wagering online.

Such partnerships make sense as competition will be fierce as part of what CNBC’s Alex Sherman calls a $150 Billion market.

It is the hope of racing organizations that new fans of the Sport of Kings will be created via the marketing funnels of the partnerships they have with sports betting groups. In turn, the desire is that these new fans will wager on horses. However, whether this business model will facilitate an actual improvement in the economic health of the racing industry in North America is yet to be seen.

While the handle for the Kentucky Derby race has been increasing in recent years with US Racing projecting a 10-12% growth over last year, the overall handle at tracks in North America has declined since 2003.

In 2003, the total handle was nearly $16 billion; in 2014 the handle was approximately $11 billion. However, from 2014 to date, there has been a trend of increasing handles. Perhaps the widespread legalization of sports betting will help continue this upward trend.

Speaking off the record, two gaming executives attending the recent Betting on Sports America Conference at the Meadowlands Racetrack indicated that there was, “still much work to do going forward before the horse racing industry would see benefits from offering sports wagering.”

While it will take time to determine the benefits of legalized sports betting for the racing industry’s bottom line, the casual fans of the Kentucky Derby will now have the opportunity to enjoy Kentucky Derby prop betting.

Student Betting A Topic At NCLGS July 12-14

The extent and magnitude of gambling on college campuses will be the focus of the Committee on Responsible Gaming when the National Council of Legislators from Gaming States (NCLGS) holds its Summer Meeting, July 12-14 at the Radisson Blu Downtown. This examination comes as studies show that 18 percent of college students gamble weekly or more frequently.

“With abundant opportunities to gamble both legally and illegally, we need to examine both the extent of this activity on college campuses and whether this is just good fun or a real problem. Importantly, we need to know how the addition of legal sports betting can impact gambling behavior on campus,” said Committee Chair Keith Pickard, a Senator from Nevada and Vice President of NCLGS. “Legislators owe it to the young adults in their states to understand the implications of this activity.”

The Committee will hear from the following experts:

Christine Reilly, Senior Research Director, National Center for Responsible Gaming
Susan Sheridan Tucker, Executive Director, Northstar Problem Gambling Alliance
Ryan Martin, Associate Professor, Department of Health Education and Promotion, East Carolina University

The NCLGS Summer Meeting agenda includes:

Six legislative committee sessions: Casinos, Emerging Forms of Gaming, Indian Gaming, Lotteries, Responsible Gaming, and State-Federal Relations
Keynote Luncheon Address: “The Next Five Years of Gaming,” by Timothy Wilmott, CEO, Penn National Gaming, and Chairman, American Gaming Association
Two IMGL Masterclass panels conducted by the International Masters of Gaming Law focusing on state lottery technology and the multiple crossover regulatory and legal issues
Special general session panel examining gaming’s evolution toward entertainment
Thursday evening cocktail reception
Friday evening welcome reception
Saturday afternoon tour of Sportradar offices

To view the agenda, register, and book rooms at the host hotel at special attendee rates, visit http://www.nclgs.org/meetings.html.

For sponsorship information, contact Richard Doss at [email protected]. Legislators and others seeking NCLGS membership information should contact Wayne Marlin at [email protected].

NCLGS is the only organization of state lawmakers that meets on a regular basis to discuss issues relating to gaming. Members of NCLGS serve as chairpersons or members of state legislative committees responsible for the regulation of gaming in their state legislative houses. NCLGS does not promote or oppose gaming but is primarily concerned with the regulation and economic and social impacts of the industry. The NCLGS Foundation is the educational and research arm of NCLGS. The 501(c)(3) non-profit is a source of non-partisan data on issues of gaming legislation and regulation.

Spectrum Gaming Group, which has performed advisory and consulting work for gaming operators, regulators and legislatures in 39 US states and territories and in 47 countries on six continents, serves as the Executive Director of NCLGS.

Kentucky Derby Odds – Official Odds and Post Positions Released by US Racing

US Racing (www.usracing.com), an international online horse racing service, today announced the post positions and updated odds of the 145^th Kentucky Derby to be held at Churchill Downs on Saturday.

“While Game Winner, Roadster and Omaha Beach are very strongly backed by punters— there have been some large figures on Roadster and Tacitus,” said Timothy Maxwell of US Racing. “However, Roadster drew post position 17 which has yet to produce a Kentucky Derby Winner.”

Over the past 5 years, the favorites have gone on to win the Derby but in 2019, Maxwell suggested that, “we see a lot of parity among these three year-olds.” In fact, many fans are looking forward to a match race between Roadster and Omaha Beach—which will hopefully extend over the three races of the Triple Crown.

The world will be watching the “Greatest 2 Minutes of Sports” on NBC and getting all the action with US Racing.

Full odds available here.

‘Video Poker Classic’ Gets Major Update

Tapinator, Inc. Launches Major Update to Video Poker Classic, the Top Video Poker Game on Mobile

Tapinator, Inc., a developer and publisher of category leading apps for mobile platforms, today announced that it has launched a major update to Video Poker Classic, the top video poker game on mobile.

Video Poker Classic is the most popular video poker game on iOS and is a leading video poker property on both Google Play and the Amazon Appstore. On iOS, the title maintains over 25,000 reviews with an average score of 4.7 out of 5.0. One of the reasons for the title’s success is its consistency with a real-world casino experience.

To quantify the size of the video poker market, we can look to certain gaming jurisdictions, such as Louisiana and Illinois, that have published data specifically on video poker revenue. In 2013, Louisiana’s adjusted gross video poker revenue was over $600 million and represented 20 percent of the state’s net daily gaming revenue. In Illinois in 2013, video poker revenue was about $300 million relative to about $1.5 billion in adjusted gross casino revenue. In 2018, the revenue for the social casino market reached $5.2 billion, according to Eliers & Krejcik. Based on the size of the video poker market as a percentage of the real-money gaming market, we believe there to be significant growth potential for video poker within the social casino segment. Video Poker Classic is currently ranked approximately in the Top 150 in Downloads and Top 100 in Grossing within the Casino category on iOS.

Our new 2.0 version brings multi-hand capability, a popular casino feature, to the game’s core single-hand gameplay. More specifically, we have introduced Triple Play, Five Play, and Ten Play for all of our 39 game types. With this new version, Video Poker Classic has the richest offering of any video poker title on mobile devices, in terms of game types, gameplay formats (Single Hand, Triple Play, Five play, Ten play) and overall functionality.

“We are excited that, with this major update, we have yet again raised the bar for the video poker category on mobile devices. We are looking forward to future updates later this year that will continue to refine and optimize our category-leading product,” said Tapinator CEO, Ilya Nikolayev.

Sports Betting Coming to Isleta Resort & Casino in N.M.

Isleta Resort & Casino, in Albuquerque, N.M., has announced it will bring Las Vegas-style sports gambling to its Resort. The move follows a 2017 U.S. Supreme Court ruling, which opened the door for tribes to legalize wagers on everything from college basketball to professional football. It’s a victory for those pushing for more gaming options, and Isleta Resort & Casino is thrilled to be an industry leader.

“We’re very excited to be answering the requests of our guests to bring sports gambling to New Mexico,” said Isleta Resort & Casino CEO Harold Baugus. “We look forward to unveiling all of the exciting possibilities to our patrons,” he continued.

The Supreme Court’s decision on Murphy v. National Collegiate Athletic Association, gives states like New Mexico the authority to adopt laws regulating sports betting. New Mexico is now the fifth state to follow suit. The Resort’s new Sports Betting venue is expected to open later this summer, with USBookmaking as its provider.

“We are proud to be selected by Isleta Resort & Casino to provide sports betting services for their casino. We offer outstanding service for our clients and our selection by Isleta validates the tremendous value that USBookmaking contributes,” stated Vic Salerno, President of USBookmaking.

As Isleta Resort & Casino steps up to the plate, details on when sports betting will be available will be released in the near future. More information on the Resort and its amenities can be found at www.isleta.com.

DraftKings, Arena Football League Launch New Fantasy Sports Game

DraftKings and the Arena Football League (AFL) have partnered to launch a new daily fantasy sports game ahead of the AFL’s 2019 season. Customers can now submit contest entries and get even closer to the fast-paced action on the turf that begins April 26^th. This AFL offering is the 12^th daily fantasy sports category for DraftKings, making the company the leader in available sports among fantasy operators.

“The fast-paced games of the AFL and zeal of its fans will enable a new customer base that loves sports just as much as we do to interact with our products,” said Greg Karamitis, SVP of Fantasy Sports at DraftKings. “The AFL is, and will continue to be, excellent partners in enhancing the entertainment experience for these dedicated fans every weekend for the 2019 season.”

With the AFL expanding its presence from four to six teams in 2019, DraftKings’ data capabilities will source game and player information at every moment of play for fans to leverage in their daily fantasy selections. Customers can enjoy special DraftKings Classic and Showdown modes for AFL contests, constructing lineups of six players while staying within a $50,000 salary cap range and designating a “captain” slot that grants one player a bonus multiplier. Classic contests will require selecting players from more than one game, while Showdown contests must include players from each team.

“We are very excited to be working with DraftKings and know our fans will love playing the fantasy football games DraftKings developed for the AFL,” said Randall Boe, AFL Commissioner. “We want the AFL to be the most innovative league in sports and working with leaders and pioneers like DraftKings is a great fit.”

As football represents the most popular sport on DraftKings, this expansion into Arena Football League daily fantasy contests helps further diversify offerings and address customer demand. Additionally, the DraftKings Sportsbook will offer fans the opportunity to wager on games throughout the AFL season. To engage with the new product, players can either head to www.draftkings.com or download the DraftKings app via iOS and Android.

‘Daily Number’ Reaches Exclusive Partnership With Floyd Mayweather

Daily fantasy sports app Daily Number, today announced its exclusive partnership with legendary boxer Floyd Mayweather. This announcement was delivered as a fight promotion “pump fake” that put the boxing world on notice and signaled the start of an exclusive partnership between the app and one of the most famous boxers in history. Daily Number is founded by successful entrepreneur Tom McAuley.

To officially announce this partnership, Daily Number worked closely with Mayweather and Connor Kroll, both of whom have joined the company as equity partners along with Co-Founder and All-Pro NFL Cornerback Richard Sherman, to covertly orchestrate a pseudo fight promotion aimed at shocking the sports world into believing one of the most successful boxers of all time was coming out of retirement. Mayweather ignited the rumor mill by posting a teaser video on his social media accounts on Monday, teasing a big announcement. Today, Mayweather made his much-anticipated big announcement with another video on social media. In the video, the global sports icon held a fake press conference to announce his exclusive partnership with Daily Number.

“I’m excited to announce to the world that The Money Team is now Team Daily Number,” said Mayweather. “You’re talking about the highest paid athlete of all time. It doesn’t take me 10 years to collect a couple hundred million like those guys playing baseball. Daily Number and my brand together is a guaranteed home run.”

The artificial fight promotion is just the beginning for Daily Number, which will be rolling out unique content over the next year featuring Mayweather, Sherman, Antonio Brown, Paul Pierce and more.

“Daily Number is just going to keep punching you in the mouth,” said McAuley. “Right when you think we’ve stretched the limits of what is possible for an early stage company, we’re going to hit you with the next thing. It truly is an exciting place to be, where the craziest idea you can imagine is executable. That’s 100% a factor of the incredible people that have bought into what we’re doing.”

Promofix Announces Partnership With BeIN Sports

Promofix has announced a partnership with BeIN Sports, becoming its sole advertising sales representative in the MENA region.

The new strategic partnerships if hoped to put Promofix, a subsidiary and digital arm of Lebanese JGroup, a holding group headed by entrepreneur and philanthropist Imad Jomaa, on the map as a global player in the sports ad industry.

Since the signing of the agreement, Promofix will be the executive advertising sales agent for BeIN Sports, in all 24 MENA countries, both online and offline.

Behind the partnership lie plans of further collaboration between the two parties, which have plans on combining their global experience and networks on several fronts.

BeIN Sports, the region’s, and one of the world’s, biggest sports broadcaster. The network owns exclusive rights to some of the plant’s biggest sporting events, including the UEFA Champions League, FIFA World Cup and La Liga.

As for Promofix, this is a great addition to their very diverse and impressive portfolio. The media group has represented several key players in the region, including Lebanese popular Al Jadeed TV, Shazam, Snapchat, Sizmek, Bucksense, Sharkiya and Summaria.

This new addition can bolster their dominance in the ad sales market both regionally and internationally.

Wynn, Scientific Games To Launch Sports Betting, iGaming In U.S.

Scientific Games Corporation has announced that it will partner with Wynn Resorts, Ltd. to support the launch of Wynn Resorts’ unique digital sports betting and iGaming applications in the U.S. Wynn Resorts intends to initially launch in New Jersey and utilize several Scientific Games products and services including: a sports betting and iGaming system; a managed sports trading service and Scientific Games’ market-leading content aggregation system that is home to more than 2,000 digital games such as 88 Fortunes®, Raging Rhino®, Zeus® and more.

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