Monthly Archives: January 2018

Kambi and Napoleon Games agree multi-year contract extension

Leading Belgian operator becomes fourth Kambi customer in recent months to commit long-term to supplier

Premium Sportsbook supplier Kambi will provide its multi-channel sports betting and technology services to Napoleon Games for the long-term, after the two parties agreed a multi-year contract extension.

The contract renewal, which is the second between Kambi and Napoleon following their initial agreement in 2012, marks the fourth Kambi customer to have made a long-term commitment to the supplier in the past six months.

The deal ensures Napoleon will continue to benefit from Kambi’s full suite of online and retail products, including its price differentiation tool, real-time bonusing features, and market-leading Instant Betting offer.

Atlantic City is due for a big win in 2018, gambling operator says

Gambling operators have expressed optimism that financially strapped Atlantic City will see its renaissance in the coming years as threats to its existence slowly fade.

The Associated Press reported casino operators welcome the reopening of the two shuttered integrated resorts – Revel and Trump Taj Mahal – this year, saying that their re-entry will ensure the renaissance of the struggling gambling hub.

Mark Giannantonio, president of Resorts Casino Hotel, pointed out that Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Atlantic City and the new Revel casino may bring in new customers to the Atlantic City to grow the market and avoid casino cannibalization.

He added that the benefits of reopening the two gambling establishments outweigh the “short-term blip” that these facilities may bring to the surviving Atlantic City casinos.

Platinum Sportsbook exec to serve two years, pay $3m fine

A leading figure in a defunct Canadian illegal online credit betting operation is facing two years in jail after pleading guilty to his wicked, wicked ways.

On Wednesday, 50-year-old David Hair appeared in Ontario Superior Court in Toronto, where he pleaded guilty to bookmaking for a criminal organization based on his involvement in Platinum SportsBook, an online credit betting operation with links to a Canadian chapter of the Hells Angels motorcycle gang.

Justice John McMahon heard Hair admit his role as a “leading member of the upper-echelon management group” of the credit betting operation, which police dismantled in February 2013 following raids on multiple properties, including an invitation-only Super Bowl party in Markham, Ontario for 2,300 of the ring’s best customers.

The ring utilized Costa Rica-based websites, including PlatinumSB.com, to process customers’ wagers, while the business of paying winnings and collecting debts was handled in person in the grand tradition of credit betting operations. Among the individuals caught up in the arrests was the uncle of Toronto Maple Leafs hockey player Nazem Kadri.

Miami commission approves bay site lease for Genting marina project

Resorts World Miami LLC, a unit of casino operator Genting Malaysia, will finally be able to move ahead with its plan to build a world-class marina after the city of Miami agreed to lease the bayfront bottomlands.

The Miami Herald reported that Miami city officials and Genting are in talks for the development of a 50-slip marina following the unanimous approval of the city commission for the lease of the submerged land.

Genting’s marina, which could handle 50- to 175-foot-long vessels, was part of Genting’s original plan to build a $3 billion luxury casino featuring multiple towers, stores, and an elevated beach and lagoon.

Unfortunately, the Malaysian-based casino operator was unsuccessful in persuading the Florida legislature to approve gambling on the site. The setbacks prompted Genting to go with its plan B, which was to build a casino-free luxury hotel on the $236 million lot where the Miami Herald once stood.

Lang launches ‘Brand Architects’ marketing consultancy

‘Former Pinnacle Marketing Director to offer bespoke brand development, channel marketing and PR services”

London, 4th January 2018 – Former WMS, bwin.party, Pinnacle and Rank marketing lead Harry Lang has launched an added value consultancy to offer gaming operators and B2B providers a range of services to facilitate the development of their brands and fine tune their channel marketing and PR capability.

Lang has previous form in this domain with brand creation and marketing delivery experience for some of the biggest B2C and B2B names in the business. His approach is to serve clients with honest appraisals, pragmatic solutions and the best ROI available across strategic brand, digital, ATL advertising, PR, copy, affiliate and experiential channels.

In the warm up to ICE B2B providers can specifically benefit from Lang’s 10+ years of gaming PR experience and contacts.

The Book of Revelations: ‘Fire and Fury’ boosts Donald Trump’s 2018 impeachment odds

He is no modern-day disciple of Jesus, but veteran journalist and author Michael Wolff’s revelations in his new book is sure driving up the odds of U.S. President Donald Trump of getting impeached before Inauguration Day 2021.

Wolff’s latest political book “Fire and Fury,” which will be out January 9, allows readers a peek inside the inner circle of Trump through the eyes of those who have rubbed elbows with the 45th U.S. president, including most members of his senior staff.

The book, first made public by The Guardian, contains many interesting claims such as Trump’s penchant for McDonalds out of fear of being poisoned by someone as well as Ivanka’s presidential ambitions. However, the biggest bombshell in the book that may spark Trump’s impeachment comes from the U.S. president’s ex-chief strategist, Steve Bannon.

Bannon, who served as White House chief strategist for seven months, claimed that Trump’s son Don Junior and other representatives held a meeting with a foreign government in the conference room on the 25th floor of the Trump Tower during the 2016 election campaign.

Pixel.bet ready to revolutionise eSports betting with new dedicated platform

Gaming fans now served by premium mobile brand as it enters beta mode

January 4, 2018 – Malta (Press Release): Pixel.bet is ready to revolutionise the eSports betting sector after launching its new specialist platform.

Pixel.bet, which is now live in beta mode, will offer tens of millions of fellow eSports fans worldwide a dedicated premium brand where they can wager on their favourite games and events.

The mobile-first platform comprehensively covers major games such as Dota 2, Counter Strike and League of Legends, as well as prestigious tournaments like ESL One, War Gaming League and StarLadder.

Yggdrasil signs bet25.dk Denmark deal

4th January 2018 ­­– Yggdrasil Gaming has added another operator in Denmark after reaching an agreement with bet25.dk.

The brand, which is operated by Ecosys A/S, will gain access to Yggdrasil’s portfolio of award-winning slots, including Vikings Go Berzerk.

It will also enjoy the collection of in-game promotional tools, BOOST™ and social sharing tool BRAG™.

Yggdrasil CEO Fredrik Elmqvist said: “Agreeing another major operator partnership in Denmark further underlines the importance of this growing regulated market to Yggdrasil.

Will home teams continue to dominate Wild Card round of NFL Playoffs?

Last year, bettors saw the home teams go a perfect 4-0 straight up and against the spread in the four NFL Wild Card Weekend games. Favorites over the past three years have also gone an impressive 10-2 SU and 7-4-1 ATS in this round, and this weekend that puts the Kansas City Chiefs (10-6), Los Angeles Rams (11-5), Jacksonville Jaguars (10-6) and New Orleans Saints (11-5) in prime position to move on.

Odds courtesy of OddsShark.com

The Chiefs kick off Wild Card Weekend on Saturday by hosting the Tennessee Titans (9-7) as 9-point home favorites as they try to win a postseason game at Arrowhead Stadium for the first time since 1993. They have struggled against the Titans previously there though, losing four of the past five meetings and failing to cover five of six.

Later on Saturday, the Rams will meet the defending NFC champion Atlanta Falcons (10-6) as 6-point home chalk. Night games have been good to the Falcons recently, with them going 10-3 against the spread in their last 13 primetime appearances. Atlanta definitely has postseason experience on its side, and Los Angeles has not played great at home lately either with a 3-8 ATS mark in its last 11 at the Coliseum.

Becky’s Affiliated: Five BCH and iGaming industry events to watch in 2018

Happy New Year and welcome back to reality!  Its never easy getting back into our daily routines after several weeks of eating, drinking and being merry, but at least we have some exciting developments coming up this year when it comes to our events calendar.

If you’re unable to attend any of the below for any reason don’t fret, your friends at Ayre Media will be there with a camera crew to provide you with the highlights.

A Bitcoin Cash World with Dr. Craig Wright

So remember that Bitcoin Cash (BCH) post I initiated on Facebook, the one that received over one hundred responses and inspired me to write a “Beginner’s Guide” on how to buy Bitcoin Cash?  Even if you don’t, I know there is HUGE interest in learning more about BCH for business and determining if it’s a good personal investment for you, so I think this opportunity to hear one of the first and brightest minds in Bitcoin talk on the subject is a golden one.

BCLC demands $500k to release money laundering documents

The British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC) is raising eyebrows after demanding half a million dollars to produce internal documents related to money laundering at its land-based casinos.

This week, word broke that the Unite Here union, which represents the province’s casino workers, had filed a request under BC’s freedom of information (FOI) laws for all BCLC documents in the past five years that dealt with anti-money laundering (AML) compliance at BC casinos operated by Great Canadian Gaming Corp.

BCLC’s response to Unite Here’s filing was to insist that the union first provide a C$252k (US$201k) deposit on an ultimate charge of $504k that the Crown corporation insisted was required for it to produce the requested information.

Unite Here rep Marc Hollin told the Vancouver Sun that the payment demand left him “absolutely flabbergasted.” Hollin called the fee “prohibitively high” and let him with the impression that the fee “was a deterrent to accessing information.”

Spintec to unveil their ground-breaking technology and design at ICE 2018

Spintec announces the company will unveil their latest innovations at ICE Totally Gaming. The main highlight of Spintec’s representation will be providing comprehensive solutions, including Spintec’s cutting-edge design, technical perfection and sensational gaming experience. The world class developer and producer of electronic table games has gone one step forward in innovativeness of their state-of-the-art compact and amphitheatre solutions. A new dazzling design and gaming features of Aura amphitheatre solution and Karma compact gaming solution will be presented at the show.

What to expect at Spintec’s booth?

The Company will be exhibiting its newest ground-breaking technology and design at booth #S7-240. The visitors of their stand will have the opportunity to test Spintec’s ergonomic design in every aspect of the gaming experience, from ergonomic chairs, offering the player a comfortable sitting position, to good view of the monitor, lots of space for legs, the possibility to move the chair back and forth, space for drinks and personal belongings, and last but not least the luxury of wooden and leather finishes. All these unique features that Spintec offers give the company the primacy in the field of stylish, comfortable and innovative ETGs. New products will also offer enhanced visual effects, resulting in supreme attractiveness and visibility of the gaming machines on the casino floor.

This years’ representation of Spintec innovative gaming solutions will be marked by a vast selection of novelties, covering all requirements of any casino floor. Besides Aura amphitheatre solution, Karma generation II will be showcased at ICE Totally Gaming for the first time.

iGaming’s most Anticipated Event : Fire & Ice 2018 “Zhora”

Lyceum Media’s Fire & Ice is the hottest interactive performance and experiential networking party on the iGaming Calendar

Fans of future fiction and all things dystopia will be treated to the party of the year on Wednesday 7th February when Lyceum Media’s infamous Fire & Ice party highlights the most important gaming conferencing week of the year.

“Every F&I is themed or inspired by something that pulls the show together,” said iGaming veteran and show producer Michael Caselli.

“For 2018, the inspiration came from a very specific slice of the legendary Blade Runner film series. Inspired by Taffey’s nightclub and its star performer, the replicant Zhora.”

888Poker launches in Italy

UK-listed online gambling operator 888 Holdings has kicked off 2018 with the official launch of its Italian-facing online poker site.

Last September, 888 CEO Itai Frieberger announced that the company was prepping the arrival of its 888Poker product in Italy’s regulated online gambling market. On Wednesday, 888Poker.it formally made its debut on the boot, joining the company’s Italian-facing casino and sports betting sites.

Italian punters can now avail themselves of 888’s poker offering via iOS and Android mobile apps, while 888 COO Itai Pazner reminded desktop gamblers that they can now access 888’s full range of products “seamlessly and in one place.”

888 is promoting its poker launch with an array of welcome bonuses and a new marketing campaign that will appear in print publications and on Italy’s leading television channels. The campaign is built around the slogan: “Il Gioco inizia adesso! (Let the games begin!)”