Monthly Archives: January 2019

Patagonia Entertainment ramps up expansion with R.Franco Digital partnership

Tuesday 29th January 2019 – Patagonia Entertainment has ramped up its expansion plans in 2019 with its R.Franco Digital content partnership.

This latest agreement will see R.Franco integrate Patagonia’s award-winning Video Bingos onto the platform. As part of the deal, Patagonia’s customers will gain access to R.Franco’s superb portfolio of casino titles. R. Franco excel in game design and development and has curated an extensive library which includes video-poker, video-bingo, slot games, AWP, roulette, casino and mini-games.

Patagonia’s own in-house creative studio builds the best Video Bingo titles in the market. These are renowned for having a fast-learning curve and performing equally well with players looking for some light entertainment and more adventurous high rollers.

ICE 2019 kicks off in London on February 5th and Patagonia will be attending one of the most respected iGaming events where there will be an opportunity to hear more about recent company developments.

Fate of Europe’s oldest casino uncertain as bankruptcy talks continue

Casino di Campione in Italy claimed to be the oldest casino in Europe. At least, that was until it was forced to close this year. The casino had sought relief from spiraling debt last year to avoid bankruptcy, but now seems to be gasping for air, with creditors out an estimated $83.47 million.

Creditors are still holding on to a little bit of hope. They appeared before a court judge yesterday to try and work out a deal. If an agreement can’t be reached, the death of the casino could mean the death of a town, Lake Lugano.

According to a report by The Telegraph out of the UK, some of the creditors include the town’s inhabitants – all 2,000 of them. From the village baker to the local fire department, they could all be out millions of dollars due to what has been reportedly mismanagement on the part of the casino operators, as well as the Italian government’s continued push for a larger piece of the action.

500 employees are already out of work, because of the court-ordered closure last year, and haven’t received salaries or benefits since last July. One man, Fiorenzo Dorigo, told The Telegraph, “The town is collapsing. The little bars, pizzerias and stores are all in deep trouble. It is hitting all the sectors, from the distribution chain to the taxi drivers to the bakers who brought bread to the casino restaurant kitchen. Everyone gave them credit. No-one believed the casino would close from one day to the next.”

Only 72 hours left to save 100 EUR on your ticket and attend the most important conference in the Baltics and Nordics

Vilnius – 29th of January 2019 –

“I strongly believe that the region – Baltic States and beyond – has been an unfortunate gap in the industry media and events coverage for quite a long time. Zoltan and Betty were bold enough to make the first true dedicated gambling forum in the region and from my experience at Mare Balticum Gaming Summit it turned out to be a very good idea. Smooth organization, accurately selected panels, convenient and cozy venue. A very strong foundation for another successful series of events for European Gaming Media and Events.”

These were the words of Andrius Gabnys (Managing partner, Attorney-at-Law at Gabnys Law Firm) after the inaugural MARE BALTICUM Gaming Summit finalized in 2018.

In 2019, the organizers are putting together an even more exciting agenda for the second edition of the conference which became the leading conference dedicated to the Baltic and Scandinavian Gambling Industry.

STDM majority shareholders urged to settle $255-M dividend dispute

The nephew of Sociedade de Turismo e Diversões de Macau (STDM) founder Stanley Ho is asking the company’s controlling shareholders to resolve his claim for HKD2 billion ($255 million) in unpaid dividends from 2007 onwards.

Michael Hotung, son of Winnie Ho, who had purchased the STDM shares in 1962, has already filed a petition at the Hong Kong High Court for the payment of the dividends. Included as respondents in the lawsuit were Winnie’s siblings Stanley and Nanette Ho Yuen-hung.

In a letter obtained by the South China Morning Post, Hotung asked for his cousin Shun Tak Holdings Managing Director Pansy Ho Chiu-king and the Henry Fok Foundation, who combined hold 53.012% of STDM shares, to facilitate the issuance of dividends from Winnie Ho’s 6,263 shares that make up 7.347% of the company.

The letter read, “It is most unacceptable that shareholders of a company are being refused their rights as shareholders, including their rights to payment of their dividends that the company had issued.”

NSoft brings iGaming Future to ICE London

The sports betting technology provider NSoft will be showcasing its comprehensive suite of products including a full Sportsbook platform, Virtual games and the latest innovations in AI solutions at ICE London 2019.

NSoft’s Self-Managed Pre Match application is fully integrated into Seven Platform and gives the betting operators full autonomy of sports events creation, odds management and risk  management. Except for already supported option of importing Betradar Unified Odds Feed, the customer has the ability to manually create any sport, tournament, market and event,

as well as to resolve the markets.

The upcoming ICE London 2019 is the only B2B gaming event that truly brings together the international online and offline gaming sectors. During this event, held from February 5 to February 7, 2019, NSoft’s focus shall be on promotion of new products and comprehensive business solutions.

Genting agrees to alter Resorts World Las Vegas design

Genting Berhad and Wynn Resorts have settled an intellectual property dispute regarding the design of Resorts World Las Vegas, which is currently under construction.

In a joint statement, Genting said that it agreed to make a few changes to the design of the $4-billion casino resort, for it to be more distinct from Wynn properties.

The Malaysian operator’s Senior Vice-President of Public Affairs and Development Michael Levoff said, “While the company believes the design to have had differences with Wynn and Encore’s once fully realized, after further consideration and conversations with the Wynn team, we have directed our design team to make several changes that will clearly differentiate the two properties.”

He added, “This mutually beneficial settlement will allow Genting to continue to develop Resorts World Las Vegas with minimal impact to cost and the overall project timeline.”

Wynn Resorts, Nevada settle Steve Wynn harassment probe

Casino operator Wynn Resorts has reached a settlement with Nevada gaming regulators over the company’s handline of former boss Steve Wynn’s alleged sexual proclivities.

On Monday, Wynn Resorts announced that it had accepted a settlement to resolve the Nevada Gaming Control Board (GCB) investigation into the casino operator’s response to sexual harassment allegations involving company founder and former CEO Steve Wynn.

The settlement agreement states that Wynn has agreed to pay an as yet undetermined fine. The settlement must still be approved by the Nevada Gaming Commission, which will be tasked with determining the scale of Wynn’s financial penalty. But the company won’t have to fire anyone and its Nevada gaming license is no longer under threat.

The GCB opened its investigation into Steve’s alleged harassment shortly after the January 2018 Wall Street Journal report that led to Steve’s resignation the following month. The GCB eventually opened a public hotline to allow affected individuals to submit their individual complaints and/or other evidence regarding Steve’s alleged antics.

AGames partners with 1xBET

We are delighted to announce that AGames, the casino slot developer, has integrated with 1xBET online gambling platform at the end of 2018. Now, every AGames slot game can be easily accessed through the official website of 1xBET.

As a games developer and software supplier, AGames are focused on developing high-end games for online casinos. Integration with 1xBET is a significant opportunity for the company to showcase their work to a wider audience, with millions of 1xBET players and fans around the world.

1xBET benefits with an increase to their game portfolio with engaging and adaptive slots by AGames which work smoothly with cryptocurrencies and support a number of other currencies.

About AGames

NOVOMATIC is premium supplier to new Corona Casino in Vietnam

The new Corona Resort and Casino on Phu Quoc, the largest island in Vietnam, selected NOVOMATIC as its premium supplier to provide a range of gaming terminals, the casino management system and media technology across its casino floor. The first of three casinos to trial local play, Corona Casino opened this month and marks the first time that Vietnamese can enter casinos in their country.

NOVOMATIC and Ainsworth represent some 35% of the entire slot floor, with a total of 200 state-of-the-art slot machines and 125 electronic table games terminals.

Featuring a variety of cutting-edge solutions, the NOVOMATIC and Ainsworth slot machines include an assortment of popular and market-attuned content, with a selection of leading multi-game mixes and games, set to excite tourists and local players alike.

A large NOVOMATIC electronic table games stadium acts as the centrepiece of the casino. Based on the NOVO LINE Novo Unity™ II platform, the ETG area consists of 125 gaming positions, featuring the sleek EXECUTIVE SL™ 1.24 terminals – and offers players the option of Baccarat, Roulette and Sic-Bo.

Digitain selects Identity as Global Events Partner

Digitain, the leading iGaming software provider with a fully managed sportsbook API, casino engine and gaming platform, have entered into a partnership with full service live events agency Identity as their global events partner throughout 2019 for the delivery of their exhibition portfolio.

Identity has over 20 years of experience in the project management, design and build of live events within the trade show, conference and experiential sectors, and are a major force in the gaming events industry, working with a number of leading gaming organisations to produce innovative, cost-effective solutions that exceed expectations and drive outstanding return on investment.

The relationship begins at ICE London in February, with Digitain’s show-stopping new booth design. 

“Identity has proven to be a stalwart in the events industry with years of excellent industry reputation,” said Digitain CMO, Lilit Azatyan. “We are delighted that they can provide a unified approach to our brand event marketing strategy and physical attendance across multiple continents, time zones, and locations. It is important that our brand values, product marketing, and booth experiential marketing are delivered seamlessly and in concert with Digitain’s existing clients and our rapidly expanding international network of licensees and partners.” 

Blexr scoops Top Affiliate Prize at EGR Nordics

Blexr’s ongoing success has been further recognised after it won Affiliate of the Year at the EGR Nordics Awards 2019.

These prizes reward particularly successful online gaming companies operating in the Nordic region, who are innovative and surpass expectations.

Blexr, a performance marketing company based in Sliema, Malta, clearly impressed the judges with its strong relationships in that market, along with its increased revenues.

Ian McDonnell and Paudie O’Reilly, co-founders of Blexr, said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to have won this prestigious award.

Ali Fazeli sentenced over ticket scam, receives 18-months behind bars

Poker player turned con man, Ali Fazeli will spend 18-months behind bars in federal prison for cheating investors out of $6.2m in a ticket resale scam after a Californian judge dropped the gavel this week.

Money flows into poker from many tributaries, and this week we were reminded of two of them: marijuana and sporting ticket scams. A day after we reported on Micah Raskin’s guilty plea for his role in distributing marijuana from California to the trifecta of Baltimore, Washington D.C., and Virginia, we have news of another court case involving a man who liked to play poker with dodgy money.

The authorities arrested, Ali Fazeli (real name Seyed Reza Ali Fazeli), on Valentine’s Day in connection with a ticketing scam that is said to have earned him upwards of $6.2m, and this week U.S. District Judge David O. Carter handed out his sentence.

It seems Fazeli got away lightly, after pleading guilty last summer to one count of wire fraud that could have landed him in jail for 20-years. Instead, Judge Carter handed him an 18-month stint in federal prison followed by six-months house confinement. Fazeli has also been ordered to repay $7.5m in restitution, but that seems as likely as Fazeli upping sticks and joining the French Foreign Legion.

Aussie Millions update: Lewis leads $50k Challenge; rings for Huang & Arrilucea

A round-up of news from the Aussie Millions in Melbourne with Toby Lewis leading the final five in the AUD 50,000 Challenge, and side event victories for Vincent Huang and Luis Arrilucea.

Stretch marks in a fashion magazine.

Northerners in a doctor’s surgery.

A headmasters’ cane thrashing the hands of a teenager.

Inspired delivers at ICE London 2019

Introducing Virtual Basketball and the Valor™ Gaming Terminal

New York, January 28, 2019 – Inspired Entertainment, Inc. (“Inspired”) (NASDAQ: INSE) today announced the products that it will showcase at ICE London 2019, demonstrating what makes

Inspired “Essential Entertainment”. Whether Virtual Sports, Server Based Gaming or Interactive, Inspired brings engaging and creative content and solutions that are proven performers for regulated operators globally.

VIRTUAL SPORTS

SBTech secures coveted ISO 27001 certification

Accreditation for highest standards of company and customer data management and protection 

29th January, 2019 ­­– SBTech, the leading sports betting and gaming technology supplier to the regulated iGaming sector, has been awarded the coveted ISO 27001 certification, achieving the highest possible commendation for its Information Security Management capabilities.

To achieve certification SBTech successfully completed a thorough independent audit across its data security infrastructure, network capabilities and entire product and services offering, demonstrating its systematic approach to managing and protecting company and customer data.

ISO 27001 accreditation identifies the exact requirements and specifications for the most comprehensive Information Security Management System (ISMS) and recognised SBTech for offering the highest specification of information security, data protection and data management available.

Ocean Resort Casino buyer revealed as Luxor Capital Group

Atlantic City’s Ocean Resort Casino (ORC) now belongs to a New York-based hedge fund that hopes to have better luck that the property’s three previous owners.

Earlier this month, ORC’s majority owner AC Ocean Walk LLC announced that it had sold its stake to an unidentified buyer. On Monday, that buyer was identified as Luxor Capital Group LP, a New York-based private equity firm.

Luxor was one of two principal lenders who bankrolled AC Ocean Walk owner Bruce Deifik’s January 2018 purchase of ORC (then known as Revel) for $229m. Deifik acquired the property from developer Glenn Straub, who paid just $82m for Revel at a bankruptcy auction in 2015.

Deifik, who said earlier this month that his family would retain a small stake in ORC, has apparently had a change of heart and rid himself of any further ties to the property.

Loot.Bet to create two Esports leagues; Fnatic illegal betting clean-up drive

Two Esports gambling related stories to chew on. Esports bookmaker Loot.Bet create two new Esports leagues, and Fnatic wants to clean up Esports betting.

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) President, Mark Emmert, recently told the associated press not to expect Esports to become a formal part of the university athletics program anytime soon.

“We don’t particularly embrace games where the objective is to blow your opponent’s head off,” said Emmert.

Luckily, for Esports fans who like a punt, Loot.Bet has a different perspective on the whole head blown off thing. The Esports speciality bookmaker is exploring the value of hosting leagues of their own, with the company’s loudspeakers blaring out news of  Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) and Dota 2 leagues.

Super Bowl Props: Coin toss, anthem odds on board

For most sports bets, you aren’t going to get 50/50 odds of being right. However, that’s the case with one of the most popular Super Bowl bets every year: the coin toss. Both options are -105 because, obviously, there’s a 50 percent chance of it landing heads and 50 percent tails. It’s important to note that the prop is on where it lands, not what is called.

Odds courtesy of OddsShark.com

The New England Patriots are the visiting team and will call the toss before Super Bowl LIII this Sunday in Atlanta against the Los Angeles Rams, and it’s well-known that usual Patriots caller Matthew Slater calls heads always. The coin toss result has been oddly streaky over the years. Last year it came up heads but the previous four years it was tails. The five Super Bowls before that all came up heads. For one impossible 14-year stretch (Super Bowl 32 through 45), the NFC team won the coin toss every single time.

Another popular pre-game prop is the length of the national anthem, which this year will be sung by R&B legend Gladys Knight. She is given an over/under of one minute, 47 seconds. Take this with a grain of salt, but an alleged recording of Knight signing the national anthem has surfaced from 1991 and she finished in one minute, 45 seconds. That Knight forgets or omits a word during the anthem is +300 with no at -500.  Will any player take a knee during the anthem? Yes is +300 and no -500. That type of protest has largely died down in the NFL, but there are still a few players around the league who did so during the regular season.