Monthly Archives: May 2017

Churchill Downs profit rises despite social casino decline

Churchill Downs Incorporated’s mainstay social gaming division posted larger profits but continued revenue declines that has analysts wondering if the division could be up for sale.

CDI recently released its Q1 earnings report, which showed revenue falling 3% to $279.5m, while adjusted earnings shot up more than one-fifth to $57.3m and net income nearly tripled to $7.3m.

CDI’s Big Fish Games social gaming operation reported revenue of $112m, around $10m less than Big Fish generated in the same period last year. While the social casino side suffered only a modest decline in bookings, the casual/mid-core free-to-play operations fell $11.2m to $43.8m, and premium game bookings slipped $5.1m to $20.7m as customers continued their shift away from PC to mobile games.

Social casino bookings were down $1m year-on-year to $46.4m, although this figure represented a $2m gain from Q4 2016. And despite the overall social gaming bookings decline, decreases in user acquisition costs (-$18.3m) and other expenses (-$3.2m) pushed the social gaming division’s adjusted earnings up more than double to $20.3m.

Macau casino revenue rises for ninth straight month

Macau casinos’ gaming revenue enjoyed double-digit growth in April, extending the gambling hub’s revenue winning streak.

Figures released Monday by Macau’s Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ) show market-wide gaming revenue rising 16.3% year-on-year to MOP 20.16b (US $2.5b). For the year-to-date, Macau’s gaming revenue totals MOP 83.64b, up 13.8% over the same period last year.

April’s percentage gain and overall revenue figure were both smaller than those posted in February and March but the gains nonetheless extended Macau’s current winning streak to nine straight months of year-on-year improvements after a two-year-plus stretch of negative monthly numbers.

Last week brought Q1 reports from three Macau operators – Las Vegas Sands, MGM Resorts and Wynn Resorts – all of whom reported positive growth at their Macau operations.

EPL week 35 review: One down, two to go

Week 35 of the English Premier League sees Chelsea and Spurs continuing to battle for the title, one out of three clubs are confirmed as relegated, and the two Manchester clubs stutter in Champions League race.

If Chelsea was a horse running in the Grand National, then they have just jumped the last fence, and are heading for home streaks ahead of the competition.

The final hurdle was Everton away.

Ronald Koeman’s side had beaten all eight of the previous teams who had entered their lair. They had only suffered two defeats in seventeen matches. But Chelsea ended that run with an ironclad statement that they will not let go of this four point lead.

Prague Gaming Summit: Schedule change for Day 2 and announcing new speakers (Tal Itzhak Ron and Assaf Stieglitz)

Monday – 1st of May, 2017 – Prague – The team at EEGEvents , organizers of Prague Gaming Summit have announced the changes in the agenda which reflect on Day 2 of the event which will take place between June 8-9 at Andel’s by Vienna House Prague.

The decision came after a conducted survey which reflected that we are recently witnessing a huge need for data and making the decision about which event to attend involves great pressure and research.

The survey showed that there are numerous conferences organized on a monthly base that you really need to pay attention too and study the agenda/program in full detail to understand why and most important which event to attend.

At EEGMedia/EEGEvents , the team studies the current trends closely before drawing the agenda and choosing the location.

Paysafe’s Income Access wins third ‘acquisition & retention partner’ eGR North America Award

Award hat-trick recognises marketing technology company’s ongoing role in customer acquisition for US online gaming brands and land-based casinos

Montreal, QC. 27th April 2017 – Income Access, Paysafe Group’s iGaming-focused marketing software and services provider, has won its third consecutive ‘Acquisition & Retention Partner of the Year’ award at the eGR North America Awards, which took place on 26th April 2017, at the US Grant hotel in San Diego, California. The award acknowledges the continuing impact of Income Access’ technology support and bespoke digital marketing acquisition strategies for US real-money online casino and poker, daily fantasy sports, online horse-racing wagering and social gaming brands as well as land-based casinos.

The third annual eGR North America Awards celebrated excellence in the US gaming industry, honouring the iGaming operators, land-based casinos and service providers that have excelled in their field over the last year. Income Access’ latest ‘Acquisition & Retention of the Year’ award follows 12 months in which the company’s affiliate software has been adopted by new brands in the regulated real-money online casino and poker market of New Jersey as well as leading US-facing daily fantasy sports and online horse-racing wagering operators.

In addition to powering the affiliate programmes of major US online gaming brands, Income Access allows operators to outsource their affiliate programme management and media buying (direct and programmatic). In 2016 and into 2017, Income Access’ in-house affiliate and media buying teams have increased their client base and further improved acquisition programmes’ overall results (customer acquisition, revenue, overall ROI).

What Now? Kevin Hart recruits Pokerstars to change the face of poker

ONCHAN, Isle of Man – April 29, 2017: Hollywood star and global comedic sensation Kevin Hart today announced a partnership with PokerStars, an Amaya Inc, (Nasdaq: AYA; TSX: AYA) brand, to promote the game of poker and introduce PokerStars, the world’s largest online poker site, to new audiences. Hart announced the partnership in a hastily called press conference in Monaco during the PokerStars Championship presented by Monte Carlo Casino®, one of poker’s most prestigious live events, which is running until May 5.

Hart called the press conference on his Facebook yesterday and enlisted Team PokerStars Pro Daniel Negreanu, who is the world’s winningest poker player, to announce his plan to change the face of poker.

“I am going to make poker fun, and working with PokerStars will give me the poker platform I need to do this,” Hart said. “I’m glad there are all these poker pros here who I can compete with and take their money. But the best thing about poker is that anyone can play it, whether you’re making millions like Daniel Negreanu or just sitting around the kitchen table playing for coins.”

“I’m not going to tell you yet how we’re going to do it,” Hart added. “But I have some great ideas for bring poker to the people, while having fun.”

Affiliate Grand Slam – Mission accomplished, wheel reinvented!

The demand was there for all to see, then the organisers behind SiGMA came up with the magic formula: limit the conference to five affiliate managers and open the flood gates (with strict due diligence) for affiliates.

Affiliate Grand Slam represents the first conference in the history of affiliation where affiliates could apply for an all-inclusive VIP treat, including flights, five-star, two-night stay at the Hilton, excursions, lunches, dinners, and parties thrown in the mix.

Only five operators were allowed to host the Grand Slam, plus another five non-operators were allowed to sponsor it.

The event started off with 250 affiliates flying in to Tallinn from all corners of the world on Thursday 27th April. The SiGMA crew greeted each affiliate at the brand new, five star Hilton Park.

Strength of NYX platform acknowledged with two major industry awards

NYX Gaming Group (TSX-V: NYX), the market-leading end-to-end supplier and technology provider to sports betting and gaming operators across the globe is pleased to announce it won two major awards this week at two prestigious industry events.

NYX was named Casino Platform Supplier and Best Platform Supplier at the 2017 EGR North America Awards and iGaming North America Awards, respectively. The awards acknowledge the company’s position as the industry’s market-leading gaming offer, through their Open Platform and Gaming Systems (OPS and OGS™) which allow licensees to leverage the best-of-breed multi-vendor casino content from around the world.

Judges were impressed by the flawless performance record, omni-channel versatility and truly open nature of the NYX platform. NYX supplies over 80 percent of licenced operators in New Jersey.

NYX Gaming Group CEO Matt Davey said: “There is no higher praise than to be recognised by our peers and customers. North America is a key market for NYX and to see our OPS and OGS platforms awarded twice over this year, is recognition of the investment we have made as part of our commitment to a product led strategy. I am extremely proud of both our products and this recognition.”

€8 million mobile jackpot win on Microgaming’s Mega Moolah – the largest ever mobile payout!

ISLE OF MAN – Progressive online slot Mega Moolah has struck again providing an €8 million pay day!

Mega Moolah was hit on Tuesday 25 April 2017 by a Tipico player playing on their mobile device, just over a month after a €6.6 million jackpot was collected in March. The pay-out of €8,012,153.35 is the largest mobile jackpot win in history, superseding Microgaming’s pay-out in August 2016 of €7,968,311.26.

As with all wins on Microgaming’s progressive jackpot network, the winner will receive the prize as a lump sum and not in annuities.

Marlon van der Goes, Tipico Chief Commercial Officer, comments: “We are delighted that one of our players won this jackpot with a stake of EUR 6.25, which is the biggest win in our online casino history, and the biggest mobile jackpot payout ever! The Mega Moolah games are very popular and this jackpot win is a great success story for the Tipico casino offer.”