Category Archives: Podcasts

Morongo to Introduce Marker Trax Cashless Wagering

The Morongo Casino, Resort and Spa in Southern California announced that it will be the first tribal casino to offer cashless casino markers developed by Marker Trax through the Konami Synkros casino management system. The system, which recently underwent a successful test at the Ellis Island casino in Las Vegas, will allow Morongo guests to… Read more »

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JCM Global, Cordish Companies Execute Supplier Agreement

JJCM Global has entered into a master supplier agreement with the Cordish Companies, expanding a long-term partnership between the two companies. The agreement establishes JCM as the exclusive provider for bill validators, thermal printers and peripheral management systems for all their gaming casino properties—Live! Casino & Hotel Maryland, Live! Hotel & Casino Philadelphia and Live! Casino… Read more »

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Ainsworth Installs 105 HHR Machines in Virginia

Ainsworth Game Technology has successfully installed its award-winning Historical Horse Racing System and 105 gaming terminals at Rosie’s Gaming Emporium in Richmond, Virginia. Players at Rosie’s now have access to a full suite of Ainsworth’s top performing content on several unique terminals including the A640, EVO and A600 Slant Top. Games immediately available include several… Read more »

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Las Vegas Sands Launches Diversity Initiative

Las Vegas Sands Corp. announced a $400,000 investment in community organizations working to empower minority and ethnically diverse groups through Sands Cares, the company’s community engagement and charitable giving program. Through these partnerships, LVS is focused on helping the community address systemic racism and remove inherent barriers to advancement and opportunity. The Sands Cares diversity… Read more »

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AGEM, GLI Donate to Native American Veterans Memorial

The Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers (AGEM) and Gaming Laboratories International (GLI) committed $120,000 to the National Museum of the American Indian’s new National Native American Veterans Memorial. The donation is part of the AGEM/GLI Lasting Impact Philanthropic Initiative, through which they collaborate to create a “lasting impact” inside the gaming industry and beyond. The… Read more »

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IGT Installs Advantage System in Hanoi

International Game Technology PLC announced that Bao Son International Hotel Versaces Club in Hanoi City, Vietnam is replacing its existing casino management system with the IGT Advantage CMS to operate its loyalty program, monitor and optimize its casino floor, and perform a range of other essential functions. In addition, Versaces Club has implemented the IGT… Read more »

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Afsi Bird Named San Manuel VP

Southern California’s San Manuel Casino has announced the hiring of Afsi Bird as vice president of hotel operations for the resort expansion. Bird has been in the hotel industry, including luxury hotels and five-diamond resorts, for more than three decades. San Manuel Casino General Manager Peter Arceo praised the incoming Bird. “We are thrilled to… Read more »

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Harper Ko to Lead Legal Team at Penn

Penn National Gaming, Inc. announced that Carl Sottosanti, the company’s executive vice president, general counsel and secretary, retired effective December 31. As his successor, the company has named 20-year gaming industry legal executive Harper Ko, who will serve as executive vice president, chief legal officer and secretary, effective January 1, subject to customary regulatory approvals.… Read more »

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CEO, Two Other Top Execs Depart SkyCity

CEO Graeme Stephens (l.) and two other senior executives are leaving SkyCity Entertainment Group. Analysts expressed surprise at Stephens’ departure, which came with no advance notice from the New Zealand-based gaming operator. It was announced simultaneously with the planned resignations of CFO Rob Hamilton and Chief Marketing Officer Liza McNally, and appears to point to… Read more »

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Elaine Wynn Departs

Company She Co-Founded; Ex-Husband Steve Wynn Cleared For the first time in its history, Wynn Resorts will not have someone named Wynn on its board. Last month, Elaine Wynn withdrew a request to the Nevada Gaming Control Board for a waiver that would have allowed her to continue on the board. Wynn Resorts has an… Read more »

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Brin Gibson to Head Nevada Gaming Board

Brin Gibson, a Las Vegas attorney, has been named chairman of the Nevada Gaming Control Board. He was previously chief of the gaming division for the state attorney general. Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak appointed Gibson to serve out the remaining two years left in the term of former Chairwoman Sandra Douglass Morgan, who left to… Read more »

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Sabathia Documentary To Debut December 22

credit: Wikimedia Commons/Arturo Pardavilla III

by Alex Perel, special to TheDailyPayoff

HBO and MLB announced this week a documentary about baseball legend CC Sabathia, entitled The Grapefruit Tree: The CC Sabathia Story, to premiere on December 22. The doc will cover Sabathia’s life growing up in Vallejo, California, to his final days with the New York Yankees. MLB is licensing exclusive footage taken from Sabathia’s last year with the Yankees in 2019, when a film crew followed him for special behind-the-scenes coverage.

The latter stages of Sabathia’s career were particularly challenging, as he battled personal issues and a well-documented bout with alcoholism. The All-Star starter overcame his troubles to return to the Yankees as an effective veteran presence on a younger team. In a statement to promote the announcement, Sabathia noted the emotional tone of the project: “I struggled for a long time with alcohol addiction and anxiety, which I pretty much hid from everyone I knew. It’s my hope we can inspire athletes and non-athletes alike to open up … You are not alone.”

Sabathia is one of the great starting pitchers of the 21st century, having amassed 251 wins and 3,093 strikeouts over his time with the Cleveland Indians, Milwaukee Brewers, and Yankees. He was the 2007 American League Cy Young and won the 2009 World Series with New York.

The HBO documentary is a continuation of Sabathia’s post-career efforts into media. He currently has a podcast on The Ringer with Ryan Ruocco entitled “R2C2.” They cover the Yankees, the greater baseball landscape, and all general sports topics of interest to Sabathia, such as his long-time fandom for the Oakland Raiders. Sabathia also frequently appears as a guest on ESPN’s “First Take.” He is an example of the modern athlete’s proactive approach toward player driven media.

NBA stars have typically been at the forefront of the movement, including Kyrie Irving, a key investor in Players Media Group, JJ Redick, who hosts the podcast “The Old Man and the Three,” and LeBron James, founder of media empire The Springhill Company. Sabathia is perhaps baseball’s largest figure in this arena. He is also a special advisor to Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman and is often seen at New York’s home games. His dual roles with the team and as a sportscaster have positioned him as a form of insider into the current state of the Yankees and Major League Baseball.

After first airing on HBO, the documentary will be made immediately available on HBO Max. HBO Max has been growing its exclusive content over the last several months. The service has debuted Max Originals such as The Flight Attendant and new video on-demand availability for Warner Brothers films such as Wonder Woman 1984. The Grapefruit Tree helps build out HBO Sports’ contributions to the service. HBO Max recently added unscripted show The Cost of Winning to go along with staple shows “Hard Knocks” and UNINTERRUPTED’s “The Shop.”

Sports is an ever growing niche genre for streaming services to differentiate themselves. The level of athletes and brands a service is able to bring in greatly defines what the service can provide consumers looking for sports content. For HBO Max, the Sabathia documentary is another significant entry into this foray.