Monthly Archives: March 2017

GIG signs largest affiliate acquisition deal to date

Gaming Innovation Group Inc. (GIG) and its subsidiary Innovation Labs have agreed to acquire thehighly regarded affiliate website Casinotopsonline.com for a consideration of EUR 11.5 million. This is Innovation Labs’ largest acquisition to date and will significantly strengthen its position as a leading affiliate in Europe.

Through development, growth and integration of the Company’s four business areas, Gaming Innovation Group’s vision is to make the iGaming industry an open and connected eco-system for the benefit of all. This acquisition is a part of this strategy.

Expected increase of First-Time-Depositors by around 25,000

The acquisition includes the website Casinotopsonline.com and all related assets. Current yearly revenue run-rate of the acquired assets is approximately EUR 3 million, with an EBIT margin in excess of 90 per cent.

Valery Bollier: DFS paving the way for social business model

In this interview with CalvinAyre.com’s Becky Liggero, Valery Bollier of Oulala explains why the iGaming industry needs to adapt more of a social business model.

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Sky Racing World expands partnership with TVG

TVG increases its TV coverage of Australian horse-racing in partnership with Southern Hemisphere racing content distributor to the Americas

Louisville, KY. March 2017 – Sky Racing World, the Louisville, Kentucky-based exclusive distributor of Southern Hemisphere horse-racing content to the Americas and subsidiary of Australian wagering operator Tabcorp, has announced an expanded partnership with TVG, the Los Angeles, California-headquartered racing-focused TV network and advance depositing wagering (ADW) site. The companies’ new media partnership will see increased TV coverage of Australian racing on TVG and TVG2 from Thursday March 9th, 2017.

Sky Racing World currently provides Australian horse-racing content for simulcast wagering to the TVG.com ADW brand. Under the expanded partnership, the TVG networks will air full-card coverage of top-tier Australian races on the key regional race nights of Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Available on all TVG carriage platforms, including AT&T U-Verse 672, DIRECT TV and Dish Network 398, the new coverage will also be accessible to TVG account holders online via TVG.com/live.

TVG’s Australian coverage will be presented by TVG International Racing Coordinator Candice Hare accompanied by additional talent for major meets. Three Australian race meetings will feature each night, with an in-depth focus on the evening’s feature race. Hare and her co-presenters will provide detailed analysis on the field and past performances of horses, jockeys and trainers.

Mr Green integrates Pragmatic Play casino content

Pragmatic Play, the provider of mobile and desktop digital casino games, today announced an agreement with Mr Green, the multi-award winning casino.

Mr Green will now offer its players Pragmatic Play’s range of unique in-house content which consists of over 150 HTML5 digital casino games. The deal allows Mr Green access to slot games for mobile and desktop, ranging from the latest release Queen of GoldTM to Hot Safari, Mighty Kong, Magic Crystals, Sugar Rush, Lady Godiva, and the company’s premier game, 7 Monkeys, plus many more.

Yossi Barzely, Head of Sales and Business Development at Pragmatic Play, said: “We continue to invest in research and development, and to invest in our people, in order to support our customers’ diverse business needs. It is, therefore, a testament to this strategy that Mr Green has decided to provide Pragmatic Play’s games contentfor their players.”

Jesper Kärrbrink, CEO of Mr Green Ltd said: “Pragmatic Play has demonstrated that their business is one of the fastest growing casino games providers. Theirportfolio of unique games content allows our brand to continue to improve our casino product offering and user experience, which are key elements in our business and market expansion strategy.”

Annexio to test luck of the Irish

With St Patrick’s Day celebrations imminent, Isle of Man-based lottery betting operator Annexio has announced it has been granted a licence to operate in Ireland. This will allow players in the Irish Republic to try their legendary luck on Annexio’s stable of online lottery games including the renowned US Powerball with its potential to reach jackpots of over $1 Billion.

Annexio General Counsel Paul Telford said the move was part of the company’s wider strategy to expand its international customer base:

“As a responsible operator and leader in its field, Annexio will seek to gain licences in other jurisdictions as and when they become available.

“As well as opening up new markets, licensing gives our business long-term security and clarity around the compliance requirements in other jurisdictions. In a sector that is still to some degree an evolving market, with many jurisdictions yet to implement regulation, it is important to us that we operate at the highest standards and are recognised for doing so.

Philippine senate says Jack Lam is a victim, not a criminal

Philippine casino and online gambling operator Jack Lam likely won’t face criminal charges for bribery after all, according to the head of a Senate committee investigating the allegations.

Thursday saw the fifth and final public hearing by the Senate blue ribbon committee investigating last November’s arrest of over 1,300 Chinese nationals deemed to be working illegally at an unauthorized online gambling operation at Lam’s Fontana Casino in the Clark Freeport.

The arrests were swiftly followed by reports of meetings between Lam, his associates and various government officials, including Bureau of Immigration (BI) agents Al Argosino and Michael Robles and Department of Justice secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II.

The BI agents were accused of extorting P50m (US $1m) from Lam through a middleman, former police superintendent Wally Sombrero, to secure the release of the arrested Chinese workers. Sombrero was also accused of offering Aguirre a bribe on Lam’s behalf during a meeting with Aguirre.

Betting trends forum 2017 will take place in Moscow

Betting market analysis and development forecasts at Betting Trends Forum 2017

An exclusive event in Russia dedicated to issues and trends of betting business will be held in Moscow on March 31. Visitors are going to see the presentations from reputable experts, exhibition of equipment and software for business.

The purpose of the event is to establish conditions for a productive dialogue between entrepreneurs and the government, provide market analysis and find ways to improve business performance.

The participants of the forum are:

Cubs NL favorites, Red Sox AL favorites on MLB pennant odds

You probably know the significance of 1908 with regards to the Chicago Cubs if you follow baseball. That was obviously the previous time the Cubs won the World Series before 2016, but what you may not know is that was also the last time they won the National League pennant in consecutive seasons.

Odds courtesy of OddsShark.com

Chicago is listed as a +175 favorite to repeat the feat in 2017 according to oddsmakers.

In fact, the Cubs won three straight NL pennants between 1906 and 1908, also beating the Detroit Tigers twice in the 1907 and 1908 World Series for their previous two titles. Chicago has won 17 pennants overall dating back to the late 1800s when the team was known as the White Stockings, with a solid shot at taking No. 18 if the squad’s core players can stay healthy and produce another outstanding record.

PokerStars launch rake free All Stars cash game idea

PokerStars throw the grinders a bone after announcing plans to create a new rake free league to determine the greatest cash game players in the world with $100,000 in leaderboard prizes up for grabs.

Who is the best poker player in the world?

Ask one of those recreational players online poker rooms covet and it’s Daniel Negreanu, Phil Hellmuth, or Phil Ivey. Ask a grinder, and I guarantee the answer sits in the highest stakes cash games.

Any idiot can win a tournament or two. But to win playing cash games over the long run is a different bottle of fish sauce. The deep stacked cash games are where the real masters of the universe hang out, and PokerStars has an eye on them.

DraftKings sells off another $100m chunk to keep lights on

Daily fantasy sports operator DraftKings has raised over $100m in a new funding round led by one of the owners of Major League Baseball’s Los Angeles Dodgers.

Bloomberg was the first to report on Thursday that DraftKings had gotten out its begging bowl yet again, with the total value of private investment raised this time said to be in excess of $100m.

DraftKings CEO Jason Robins (pictured, with flesh wound) subsequently issued a statement confirming the funding round while declining specifics on how much it had raised. Robins did say his company had been looking for “a funding partner who could bring additional depth to the table.”

The Series E1 funding round was led by Eldridge Industries, a media holding company whose properties include entertainment trade publications Billboard and The Hollywood Reporter. Eldridge is headed up by Todd Boehly, a principal owner of the Dodgers.

Calling the Clock: PokerStars cash games; WSOPE Rozvadov and more

In this week’s Calling the Clock we bring you up to speed on a series of breaking stories from PokerStars; a reacquainted love between the World Series of Poker and PokerNews, and much more.

PokerStars fired a shot across the bow of partypoker this week when they announced plans to move the PokerStars Championships into Sochi, Russia. Two months had passed since partypoker created waves when they revealed plans to take their Millions National event into the home of the 2014 Winter Olympics. PokerStars created a tidal wave. The largest online poker room in the universe has promised to deliver the largest festival of poker, Russia has ever seen.

Your move, party.

The Red Spade sprung another surprise when they did an about turn and focused on improving the ecosystem for the grinders. After slamming them harder than a Sam Groth serve for the past few years, PokerStars are now sliding their arm around their waist.

Amaya Ex-CEO David Baazov Sells Off Multimillions in Company Stock, Causing Some to Wonder “Why Now?”

David Baazov’s stake in PokerStars’ parent company has been substantially cut down. The former Amaya Inc. CEO has sold off CAD$133 million (US$98.43 million) worth of stocks in the business […]

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Champions League review: Brilliant Barcelona; Dortmund cruise

Lee Davy finishes off the week’s Champions League round-up with a sensational victory for Barcelona at the Nou Camp, and a stroll in the park for Borussia Dortmund in Germany.

The shock of Round of 16’s first leg ties had to be Barcelona’s tanning at the hands of Paris St Germain (PSG). The 4-0 loss sent shockwaves throughout world football. Luis Enrique was so tilted by the defeat he told the press he was stepping down at the end of the season. He should have slept on it.

No team had ever overturned a four-goal first leg deficit in the history of this great competition. But if anyone was going to break that record the way Jackie Chan breaks blocks of wood, it was Barcelona. Before the match, you could have gotten +3300 for Barcelona to win the Champions League; now they are the favourites.

Barcelona needed an early goal, and they got it thanks to a spot of six-yard pinball finished off by Luis Suarez. Barcelona was dominant and went in at half time 2-0 in front when an Andres Iniesta backheel ended up in the back of the net courtesy of a deflection from Layvin Kurzawa.