Monthly Archives: July 2020

Houston Astros players used for target practice as season restarts

The Houston Astros were warned. As MLB gets its season underway, currently holding exhibition games ahead of the launch of the regular season, teams are facing off on the diamond, and certain Astros players are finding out that no one has forgotten the cheating scandal that rocked the team – and the entire league – last year. As the team took the field on Tuesday to play against the Kansas City Royals, a few players were probably wishing they had worn additional padding as they became targets of “errant” pitches coming from the mound. 

There have been rumors of possible retaliation coming for months, and the coronavirus hasn’t done much to help certain players forget the past. Talk of pitchers taking revenge as Astros players stepped up to the plate even resulted in odds being posted, and William Hill had, at one point, an over/under of 83.5 on the number of players expected to get pelted by a pitch. The MLB average for “accidental” hits is around 66.

In yesterday’s game against the Royals, three Astros players were targets of baseballs that, for some reason (sarcasm), couldn’t be delivered straight over home plate. Jose Altuve, Alex Bregman and George Springer were hit by two Royals pitchers – Jackson Kowar and Jorge Lopez – with both Altuve and Bregman becoming targets with the bases loaded. Based on a video uploaded to Twitter of the events, none of the players was seriously hurt (getting hit by a baseball is never a pleasant experience), but the message was still delivered. Altuve took a pitch to his right forearm and Bregman received one that looks to have been aiming for his gut. 

The Astros franchise has already suffered because of the scandal, which reportedly involved illegally filming the opposition, and had to pay a fine, as well as lose several key draft picks. The team’s manager and general manager, A.J. Hinch and Jeff Luhnow, respectively, were let go, but no player was ever held responsible. That has led other league teams to promise to levy their own punishment and, as the new MLB season gets underway, they seem ready to deliver. 

Cash continues to make an exit in Las Vegas with new Konami product

They say that cash is king, but it may not be for very much longer. There has been a certain amount of debate on the pros and cons of using cash during the coronavirus pandemic and, while the conclusion has been that there are no health risks involved in passing bills between people, this hasn’t stopped efforts to push for a cashless society. Some people balk at the idea, but the wheels are already in motion and the live gaming industry, in particular, seems to be more than willing to embrace the idea. Several initiatives have already begun to replace cash with digital alternatives, and a new product being rolled out by gaming equipment supplier Konami Gaming will only cause the wheels to turn a little faster. 

Konami Gaming is a subsidiary of Konami Holdings Corp. out of Japan and has been busy innovating the gaming ecosystem. Its latest solution is the development of a digital slot marker that can be issued to gamblers and be controlled by the casino. Using nothing more than an app, casino patrons can apply for casino credit, receive approval and begin gambling in as little as five minutes, without any need to stand in lines, use ATMs or exchange cash for casino tokens.

The system is currently being tested at Ellis Island Casino, hotel and Brewery just off the Las Vegas Strip, according to Konami. It uses Konami’s Synkros casino management system that is equipped with its Marker Trax product to handle the application for and delivery of the credit. The company adds, “Rather than receiving physical cash for a casino marker, guests enrolled in a PIN-protected SYNKROS cashless wagering account can use their Marker Trax slot credit line to play electronically on any slot machine on the property. The integration of Marker Trax with SYNRKOS enables Ellis Island Casino to seamlessly issue, record, manage, and track these cashless credit lines, for optimal collections and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) compliance.”

The U.S. casino industry has been pushing for cashless operations more than any other and its voice is being heard. Overall, more than 60% of surveyed gamblers who visit retail casinos have indicated that they would support a cashless alternative, and this is only fueling efforts to reduce reliance on physical money and casino tokens. Within five years, the retail casino landscape will most likely appear a lot different than what is seen today.

Teen sensation Joseph Suaalii signs with Rugby Australia

Rugby Australia (RA) has turned the tables on the National Rugby League (NRL) by pulling off the signing of 16-year-old Joseph Suaalii. The teen is tipped by many experts in the code to be a once-a-lifetime talent and has represented the Junior Wallabies and New South Wales in the junior rugby league sides.

The rumour is that Suaalii has been swayed by a $3 million contract offer from Rugby Australia. The size of the contract has drawn outrage from both codes, with Rugby Australia reporting significant losses in 2019 due to a legal fight with former star Israel Folau and the onset of COVID pandemic. Many are questioning how a code on the brink of bankruptcy can make a huge financial offer to a teenager.

It’s been reported in the Australian media that Suaalii turned his back on a $1.2million USD three-year contract with NRL side South Sydney. The teenager will be under instant pressure to perform once he turns out for the Waratahs in Super Rugby.

Suaalii has been training with South Sydney NRL squad during the pre-season and won instant plaudits with the senior members of the side. South Sydney hooker Damien Cook was confident the young gun will be a success in whichever code he decides to take up:

NRL coaching changes take a new turn with hiring of Trent Barrett

The NRL coaching merry-go-round took a further twist with the confirmation that the last placed Canterbury Bulldogs had signed Panthers assistant coach Trent Barrett. Bulldogs CEO Andrew Hill confirmed that Barrett had been signed to a three-year deal and will be taking the reigns at Belmore in 2021. Barrett plans to see out the 2020 season at Penrith where he has transformed the Panthers into potential title contenders.

Canterbury assistant coach Steve Gerogallis will remain as interim head coach until the end of the 2020 season, with Barrett coming into the side in October.

Bulldogs CEO Andrew Hill was confident that the Bulldogs had made the right move in securing Barrett’s services:

“We have acted swiftly to secure the services of Trent because we believe he is the right man to take our club forward, having spoken to Trent on several occasions we have been impressed with his vision for the future of our football team and how he will look to develop our players on and off the field,” Hill said.

Sonny Bill Williams to make shock NRL comeback

Former All Black superstar, Sonny Bill Williams (SBW) is poised for a shock return to the National Rugby League (NRL), following the collapse of his U.K. rugby league deal. Williams, a genuine superstar of the game is poised to make a return to NRL side the Sydney City Roosters.

SBW was signed to a $2.5million USD contract for U.K. Super League side, the Toronto Wolfpack. The Canadian side withdrew from the U.K., citing financial constraints brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic as the main reason.

Roosters chairman Nick Politis was spotted in a lunch meeting with SBW’s agent Khoder Nasser earlier this week. The 34-year old Williams started in the NRL with Canterbury before winning a premiership with Roosters in 2013.

St George Illawarra and Canterbury were both strongly rumoured to be interested in Williams. The Saints were tempted to use the salary cap dispensation for forward Jack de Belin to tempt Williams into joining. The logistics of getting Williams through strict bio-security has seen the Dragons withdraw from the race. The New Zealand Warriors and Bulldogs and Roosters remain in the running, but Williams has his heart set on returning to the Roosters.

Las Vegas Sands loses nearly $1b, Adelson maintains “unbridled optimism”

Casino operator Las Vegas Sands lost nearly a billion dollars in the three months ending June 30 as COVID-19 rolled 7’s in Las Vegas, Macau and Singapore.

Figures released Wednesday show Sands generated revenue of just $98m in Q2, down 97.1% from the same period last year. Adjusted earnings swung from $1.27b in Q2 2019 to a negative $547m in the most recent quarter, and Sands booked a net loss of $985m versus net income of $1.11b one year ago.

The downturn is obviously due to the shutdowns of Sands’ properties in Nevada, Macau and Singapore due to COVID-19. Macau’s shutdown was the shortest, just 15 days in February, but its recovery is nowhere near where Sands needs it to be, despite the recent easing of quarantine restrictions in China’s Guangdong province.

Sands generated just $10m in gaming revenue in Q2, down from $2.36b in the same period last year. That was less than revenue from rooms ($14m), food & beverage ($12m), mall rent ($42m) and convention, retail & other ($20m).

MLB opening day: Yankees, Dodgers betting favorites

Odds courtesy of OddsShark.com

The 2020 Major League Baseball season was to begin March 26, but the coronavirus changed all that. Nearly four months late, the 60-game regular season starts Thursday night with two ESPN nationally televised games: New York Yankees at Washington Nationals (7 p.m. ET) and San Francisco Giants at Los Angeles Dodgers (10 p.m. ET). Play ball!

The Nationals won their first-ever World Series title last October and in normal circumstances would raise their championship banner at Nationals Park and hand out World Series rings to players before the season opener, but GM Mike Rizzo has said neither will happen until fans are allowed in the stands – and that’s almost surely not going to be the case until 2021.

Until late last week, it wasn’t even a sure thing the Nats were going to be able to play at Nationals Park due to strict coronavirus protocols in DC, but they have been cleared to do so. Washington actually lost all three home games in last year’s World Series yet still beat Houston in seven.

WSOP Gold: Fedor Holz and the dream run out

The 2018 World Series of Poker Big One for One Drop was an absolute blast to watch, so mortals like you and I can only imagine how much fun it must have been to play in. There were great hands throughout, showing off the skills of players at the peak of their powers, bringing their A-Game to the big one – the one they all wanted to win.

Only one person could win it, of course, and in this hand in particular, the gravity of the result the importance of the consequences of winning and losing the hand were there for all to see.

Fedor Holz took on not only Rick Salomon but high roller regular Byron Kaverman too in the hand.

As a backdrop to this hand, the money bubble had already burst and with five players remaining, the next person who would bust would collect $2 million. Just in case you were about to be heartbroken, the player who would bust in 4th place would earn $2.84 million. Neither man who would bust would be going home on the Greyhound sobbing into a can of cheap cider.

Spain’s online gambling ad limits to take effect in October

Spain’s harsh new online gambling marketing restrictions will likely take effect in October after the European Commission (EC) voiced no objections to the country’s plans.

On Wednesday, Spain’s Minister of Consumer Affairs Alberto Garzón announced that he would press the government’s Council of State to approve by September the Royal Decree on gambling advertising Garzón unveiled earlier this month. Assuming that approval is secured, Garzón (pictured) believes final approval by the Council of Ministers can be obtained by October.

Spain submitted the latest draft of the Decree to the EC for approval on July 9, slapping an ‘urgency’ tag on the measure to ensure the EC got his message that children’s lives were in danger (or something). On Tuesday, the EC declared that it had no issues with the Decree, clearing the way for Garzón to forward the Decree to the Council of State.

Spain is seeking to limit online gambling advertising on TV, radio and online video platforms to a narrow four-hour window starting at 1am. A previous draft of the Decree would have allowed advertising during live sports events but this exception was eliminated in the current draft.

Australians urged to ignore ‘alarmist reports’ of online gambling surge

Australia’s online betting trade group is urging the nation’s Chicken Littles not to read too much into “alarmist reports” of online gambling spending spiking during the COVID-19 lockdown.

On Tuesday, the Responsible Wagering Australia (RWA) trade body issued a statement urging “caution in interpreting headline figures” purporting to show a surge in overall gambling spending during the pandemic.

Weekly data published by economic analysts AlphaBeta and credit bureau Illion have shown a significant increase in online gambling spending since Australia went under lockdown but similar patterns have also been seen in other economic categories for which retail options are no longer available.

RWA CEO Brent Jackson noted that with land-based gambling options closed during the lockdown, “people have migrated to online platforms, as with nearly every retail business in the country.” This is “a normal market response to a changing retail environment” and thus an online spending rise doesn’t necessarily equate to an increase in overall gambling spending.

Kenyan football betting sponsorships proving messy

Kenya’s top-flight football league is attracting all kinds of publicity related to gambling operator sponsorship, only some of which can be considered positive.

Last week, Nigerian betting operator BetKing announced that it had struck a five-year title sponsorship deal with the Football Kenya Federation (FKF). The deal, which is reportedly worth Ksh1.2b (US$11.1m), will give BetKing prime exposure in both the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) and the Kenyan Women’s Premier League.

Under the deal, BetKing will pay Ksh220m for the first year of the deal, which takes effect when the new KPL — now the BPL — season kicks off in September. That sum will increase by 5% in year two, with 10% increases over the final three years of the contract.

Individual KPL clubs will reportedly each receive Ksh8m per year through 2025, while the women will have to make do with a total of Ksh10m per year for the whole league. BetKing also inked a separate deal to become the official Division One League title sponsors — the first time the lower tier have had a title sponsor — for a mere Ksh100m.