Odds courtesy of OddsShark.com

At least until the Big Ten and Pac-12 get going, Week 6 is arguably the best week of this college football season in terms of terrific matchups – assuming all go off without a hitch regarding COVID-19. A Wednesday game featuring Louisiana and Appalachian State, probably the two best teams in the Sun Belt, was postponed due to positive tests at App State.

The Big 12 Game of the Year is always the Red River Rivalry from the Cotton Bowl in Dallas and that’s renewed Saturday as No. 22 Texas takes on unranked Oklahoma at noon ET. Yes, unranked Oklahoma as the Sooners are a shocking 0-2 in the Big 12 and out of the AP Top 25 for the first time since September 2016.

The Sooners can already kiss their chances of a return trip to the College Football Playoff goodbye and ditto their chances of reaching a fourth straight Big 12 title game (OU won all three) with another loss. The Horns would seem to have a pretty clear path to one spot in that title game with a victory, although they also come off an upset loss. The Big 12 is a mess. Oklahoma is a 1.5-point favorite but 1-7 ATS in the past eight in this series.

Australian casino operator Crown Resorts’ reputation took further hits on Tuesday as its largest shareholder James Packer blamed a medical condition for threats he made to an unidentified businessman.

On Tuesday, Packer appeared via video link before the New South Wales Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority (ILGA) inquiry into Crown’s suitability to hold a state gaming license for its Crown Sydney property, which is scheduled to open in mid-December. Packer, based on his 36% stake in Crown, is also being judged on his suitability to hold an NSW gaming license.

Tuesday’s testimony centered on Packer’s failed 2015 effort to take Crown private and discussions he had with an unidentified private equity group that Packer wanted to put up AU$1.5b toward acquiring the Crown shares he didn’t already own. The hedge fund reportedly offered only AU$400m subject to due diligence.

The bulk of the discussion regarding Packer’s communications with a representative of the hedge fund were conducted away from the cameras. When the public testimony resumed, ILGA Commissioner Patricia Bergin asked Packer whether the nature of his communications was “totally unacceptable for a director of a licensee of a casino,” to which Packer replied in the affirmative.

Africa is a big place, and a potentially bigger opportunity for the gambling industry. SBC Digital Summit Africa Day 1 offered a tour of the continent, looking at the different realities of Africa’s regions, and what it takes to succeed as a newcomer to the market.

In the first panel of the day, moderator Ilya Machavariani, CEO of 4H.Agency, hosted a panel that looked at what it takes to get started in East Africa. Although it may not offer the same opportunities West Africa currently has, particularly with Nigeria, Jeff Halloran, Managing Director of Sahara Games, noted it’s a much more stable place to invest.

Regulators on the east side of the continent “telegraph their intent,” he noted. When compared to states in western Africa, he noted that policy makers in east Africa are “a little bit more approachable.”

As he noted, it’s impossible to talk about the two regions without describing the contrast. In west Africa, regulators know the bounty they’re sitting on, and will regularly jack up tax rates to fill their own coffers. That’s creating a situation where the regulated market is being strangled and the black market is beginning to thrive. “They just drive everybody underground,” he noted.

The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) is set to introduce new regulations in 2021 that will require Malta-licensed operators to report any type of suspicious betting activity. The new regulations are set to come into effect on 1st January 2021, after the MGA published its suspicious betting activity reporting requirements in May in consultation with operators.

The MGA’s Suspicious Betting Reporting Mechanism (SBRM) will be available for operators on the November 1, 2020. While there is an expectation that operators will report suspect betting activity, the mandatory reporting will not be enforced until January 2021. 

An MGA spokesman was quick to assure the industry that continuous consultation and training on the new process would remain in place:

“As already reiterated throughout this consultation process, the MGA’s SIU is adamant to continue increasing its collaboration efforts with both its licensees and other stakeholders interested in safeguarding the integrity of sports and sports betting.

Things started looking a little grim for football fans last week when it was announced that a number of players with the Tennessee Titans had tested positive for COVID-19. Shortly after, New England Patriots quarterback Cam Newton was also taken out by the virus, and it suddenly seemed like the NFL season was going to crash. Fortunately, the league, which admitted that it had expected to some coronavirus activity, was able to scramble and figure out how to keep things going. That was good news for sports fans and sports gambling fans, who didn’t shy away from sending a lot of action to the Bodog sportsbook. 

Over this past weekend, football continued to lead the way on Bodog. Wagers on NFL games captured 36.53% of the bets, while college games received 22.28%. The NBA Playoffs, which now see the LA Lakers with a 2-1 lead over the Miami Heat, found some interest, as well, accounting for 10.55% of the bets placed. Also making the top-ten list were all major sports segments, with MLB, Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), soccer and tennis making their usual appearances. One addition to the list this week, though, was cricket, with the Indian Premier League capturing 2.13% of gamblers’ money. 

Out of the individual betting events, NFL games still continue to command the majority of the action on Bodog, a trend that has been in place since the league kicked off at the beginning of September. Taking eight of the top ten spots were NFL games, with the NBA Playoffs grabbing the other two. Leading the way was the matchup between the San Francisco 49ers and the Philadelphia Eagles, which saw 17.58% of the bets on Bodog. The defending NFC champs surprised their fans when they put up their first loss of the season against the Eagles, blowing the -334 odds they had been given. For those who took a shot on the underdog, they made out like bandits, with the Eagles having gotten +270 ahead of their 25-20 victory.

The two NBA Finals games fell into second and third place. The Friday game, Game 2, received 14.40% of the wagers, while Game 3 on Sunday captured 12.46%. Game 2 saw the Heat take multiple hits due to injury, and this impacted the team’s ability to put up a solid fight against the Lakers, who would move the best-of-seven series 2-0 in their favor with a 124-114 win. If the depleted Heat bench was seen as a disadvantage for Miami, the team proved everyone wrong in Game 3, coming back to win a decisive 115-104 game. The two will face off again tonight in Game 4 and the Heat hope to be able to put some of their injured players back on the court. 

After suffering multiple injuries prior to Game 3 of the NBA finals, it suddenly looked like the Miami Heat’s impressive run to the title battle had come to an end. The LA Lakers had already captured two wins in the best-of-seven series, and the Heat were going into Game 3 without two key players, Bam Adebayo and Goran Dragic. Minus those two, the consensus was that the Heat didn’t stand a chance to win mount a resurgence to counter a strong Lakers offense. Everyone was proven wrong when the Heat took Game 3, and there was suddenly a chance the team could go all the way. The key game is tonight. If the Heat have any shot at a championship, winning tonight is the only way it will be possible. The Lakers are up 2-1, and tying the series would give Heat the motivation they need to dig in and fight even harder. 

The Heat were able to take Game 3 off the consistent shots of Jimmy Butler, who put up 40 points on the night. Adebayo, who picked up an average of 15.9 points and 10.2 rebounds during the regular season, could be back in the game tonight after Miami moved him to questionable for the game, and getting these two together would give the Heat two solid playmakers with proven track records of winning. Dragic will most likely continue to sit out as he nurses a bad foot; however, he, too, is listed as questionable. 

LeBron James had an off night in Game 3 and there’s a good chance he won’t repeat the weak performance. He was so frustrated with his shooting in that game that he walked off the court with almost ten seconds still remaining. However, King James doesn’t have three championships to his credit for nothing, and knows how to shake off the bad moments to get back in the game. He said after the Game 3 loss, “Throughout the postseason, I stay even-keel. As I’ve grown in this game and I’ve grown over the years, I kind of stay even-keel, understanding that there’s always another opportunity to get better.”

There’s little doubt that the Lakers are going to increase the pressure tonight. Whether or not it will be enough against a resilient Heat squad remains to be seen. The Lakers have been the odds-on favorite in all of the games so far and are getting great odds (-1667) to win the title. However, the Heat can never be discounted, as they showed in Game 3. Tonight, oddsmakers have the Lakers at -295 (+254 for the Heat), on a spread that has moved from 9 to 7 since Adebayo’s return was announced. That indicates some skepticism on the part of sportsbooks that the Lakers are as dominant when he’s in for the Heat.

In the fast-moving world of gambling, sometimes you might miss news that could be important to you. To make sure you’re all caught up on gaming industry news, be it online or brick and mortar, we’re rounding up the some of the announcements and partnerships from the last week that you might have missed.

Don’t miss out on all of the latest announcements. Our Press Release section is updated constantly.

Betsson extends Yggdrasil partnership to YG Masters program 

The operating partner joins Masters program to access GATI technology and to develop & distribute games 

Despite a year-long struggle to keep afloat amid the COVID-19 saga, Macau has been able to carve out some time to discuss important changes coming to the city’s gaming industry. The coronavirus pandemic has essentially forced 2020 to a gambling standstill in Macau, and the city’s leaders are busy preparing for the future. Part of that preparation includes the introduction of revised gaming laws for area casinos, which are expected to be ready next year. Barring any unforeseen setback, this would allow the discussion on casino concessions to stay on track for 2022.

Macau Secretary for Economy and Finance Lei Wai Nong, who just assumed his role at the end of last year, asserted late last week that the government will be submitting a bill to the city’s Legislative Assembly next year. Lei oversees the gambling industry in Macau, and added that the updated laws are necessary to address the changing gaming landscape and to prepare for the re-licensing of casinos the following year. There had previously been talk of new concessions needing to be delayed; however, Lei is confident that everything will be able to remain on schedule. 

The changes of the updated laws, labeled Law No. 16/2001, are said to be an amendment to existing gaming laws, but the nature of the amendments hasn’t been published. While it’s doubtful they address the concessions and a retender process, there could be some language related to how the new concessions will be awarded. Currently, the existing concessions are all going to expire in two years and, according to law, cannot be renewed. An entirely new tender process is obligatory, with the possibility that casino operators face new restrictions on how they are approved to maintain their licenses. 

There is still a chance that the tender process slated for 2022 will be delayed, despite Lei’s confidence in being able to maintain the current schedule. Gaming laws in Macau allow the government to extend existing concessions for a maximum of five years. Many legislators have already asserted that adhering to the existing schedule would be almost impossible, given everything going on in the city, and that a delay is most likely coming. The gaming law amendments will need to be fully reviewed and approved before the concession renewal period begins, and some lawmakers don’t believe there’s enough time to complete that review. 

According to USA TODAY, the best casino in the U.S. – outside Las Vegas – is located on the Eastern Seaboard of the country. The media outlet compiles a least each year of the top casino resorts across the U.S., calling upon gaming industry experts to weigh in on the subject. Of all the casinos in the country, one located in Connecticut was the hands-down winner, according to the panelists. The Foxwoods Resort Casino took top billing in USA TODAY’s 10Best casinos outside Las Vegas list this year.

Of the top ten casinos, five are owned and operated by native Indians, including Foxwoods. It is one of two tribal casinos in the state and is run by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation. The casino regularly scores high on the 10Best list, while the other tribal casino in Connecticut, Mohegan Sun, also consistently receives attention, as well. This year, it garnered the tenth spot on the list.

In showing their support for Foxwoods, the panelists jointly concurred, “Foxwoods offers 4,500 slot machines — ranging from penny games to $100 minimums — as well as 300 table games, high stakes Bingo at one of the world’s largest Bingo halls, a race book with 50-foot digital projection screens, and the largest poker room on the East Coast. Four unique hotel properties and over 30 restaurants make it easy to stay and play.”

Across the U.S., there are over 1,500 casinos, of which around 50 commercial properties (more, once Circa opens this month) are located in Las Vegas. This leaves a lot of options to choose from outside of Sin City, and the native Indian venues are proving to be the most popular, according to the results of the 10Best list. In addition to Foxwoods taking first and Mohegan Sun taking tenth, three more of the top ten are tribal venues. These include the Pechanga Resort Casino in California (ninth place), the Seminole Hard Rock & Casino in Tampa, Florida (seventh place) and the Casino Del Sol in Arizona (fifth place).

SkyCity Entertainment will fully open the doors to Sky City Casino Auckland, as the New Zealand government is set to lift the COVID-19 restrictions in place for the City.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Arden was optimistic that the pandemic had been contained in Auckland. “There is now a 95% probability of the cluster being eliminated, COVID-19 will be with us for many months to come. But we should still mark these milestones,” Arden told a press conference.

The New Zealand government will lift the alert to level 1 in Auckland, joining the rest of New Zealand after no new cases of COVID-19 were reported in Auckland for 10 consecutive days. The new outbreak in August forced New Zealand back into lockdown with 179 cases.

The new limits on social distancing mean no more than 100 people will be able to gather in a public space, including bars and entertainment areas; opening the door for Sky City Auckland to return to operations. SkyCity Entertainment were able to relax restrictions in September at their Queenstown and Hamilton casinos.

The last 7 months has been difficult for us all, and impossible for many. Not to trivialize the real struggles across the world that the current crisis and its policy response have engendered among human civilization generally, but it has been frustrating for gambling investors just the same. We have seen fundamentals deteriorate at a frightening rate across nearly all markets and regions, while at the same time corresponding stock prices have remained stubbornly elevated thanks to unprecedented stimulus. The temptation to dive back in as if nothing colossal at all has happened is palpable. At the same time, the world’s most powerful gaming hubs like Macau and Las Vegas are still suffering acutely, struggling to get back up off the ground.

Macau’s Golden Week, for instance has so far proven to be a bust. Casino revenue on the Las Vegas Strip, meanwhile, is still down about 40% from last year as of the latest August numbers. Strict capacity restrictions are still in effect, though just recently loosened at the beginning of October. Hotels are empty and conventions are nonexistent. Europe, meanwhile, and particularly the United Kingdom, is suffering from severe lockdowns of its own, and there is no telling when they will end. It is hard to justify putting money to work in these markets when another flare-up in COVID-19 cases could bring stock prices right back down to their knees at any time.

But even now, there remain some regions that are showing tangible signs of hope. I have singled out Sweden many times due to its deliberately liberal pandemic policy. Betsson and NetEnt have done spectacularly considering the circumstances, and their stock prices clearly show it. The problem is, liberal COVID-19 policy doesn’t necessarily translate to liberal gambling policy. New anti-gaming regulations capping deposits and bonuses continue to plague the Swedish market, with sales down 30% for local online gaming operators for July and August. The stock prices of Betsson and NetEnt haven’t been effected particularly badly though. Betsson is within 15% of its all time highs. NetEnt is trading just barely beneath its own. This considered, it may be time to lighten up on Swedish gaming positions and take some profits. Is there anywhere else to put money to work in the industry?

The challenge is finding a region where COVID-19 is less of an issue, but also where the regulatory regime is less openly hostile. Though it has never been my cup of tea due to monopolistic concerns, Cambodia does satisfy both of these requirements. Until this nightmare is finally over, NagaCorp looks like a relatively safer place to invest than most other mainstream alternatives. Amazingly, NagaCorp just announced that average daily net gaming revenue at its flagship NagaWorld casino has generated over 90% of Q1 2020 revenue for the months of August and September. VIP rollings are even better, back to 98% of Q1 levels.