Monthly Archives: July 2020

UK’s Buzz Bingo permanently closing 26 halls on pandemic uncertainty

A major UK bingo operator is permanently shutting 26 retail venues due to pandemic uncertainty while UK casinos continue to press their government for the right to resume operations.

On Wednesday, Buzz Bingo announced that 26 of its 117 bingo venues wouldn’t be reopening when the other 91 halls reopen to the public on August 6. The sites, which previously operated under the Gala Bingo brand, were all shut on March 21 after the government ordered the closure of all non-essential retail operations to limit further COVID-19 transmission.  

Around 573 jobs will disappear along with the 26 venues targeted for termination. The company said the decision was regrettable but necessary given the “unsustainable operating environment for the foreseeable future,” which includes not only social distancing requirements and capacity restrictions but also a general wariness among consumers, particularly older demos that patronize bingo halls.

UK casino operators have also yet to reopen their shuttered venues, despite betting shops having been cleared to reopen over one month ago. Matt Rudd, who manages the Grosvenor Casino in Broad Street, Birmingham, recently penned an op-ed for the Betting & Gaming Council (BGC) in which he said “the longer we remain closed, the more anxious I become.”

Macau casinos the last place VIP gamblers wanted to be in Q2

Macau casinos were the last place VIP gamblers wanted to be during the second quarter of 2020, according to the latest government statistics.

Figures released Thursday by Macau’s Gaming Inspection & Coordination Bureau (DICJ) show local casino operators generated gaming revenue of just MOP3.23b (US$404.9m), down 95.6% from the same period last year, a comparative golden age that had yet to hear of something called COVID-19.

On a year-to-date basis, total gaming revenue (including lottery, sports and race betting) totaled just under MOP40b, down from MOP150b in the first six months of 2019.

VIP baccarat revenue totaled a mere MOP1.5b in Q1, also down 95.6% year-on-year. Mass market baccarat fell 96.4% to just over MOP1b. Both verticals were also shadows of their Q1 2020 selves, a period that featured around five weeks of pre-COVID activity.

WSOP Round-Up: Events 14 & 15 Won by McKeehen and Dunlap

Two more WSOP bracelets were won in fine style by former WSOP Main Event winner Joe McKeehen and Guy Dunlap as the latest events to take place on WSOP.com filled up with thousands of poker hopefuls.

Event #14

Joe McKeehen won his 3rd WSOP bracelet and $352,985 as he took down the $3,200-entry High Roller World Series tournament. With 496 entries (including re-entries), it took 14 hours to find a winner in this latest event of the 85-event WSOP Online Series. With over $1.5 million in the prize pool, it was a royal battle for the golden bracelet.

There were plenty of other big names who ran deep, as you might expect for a $3,200-entry event. Chris ‘Jesus’ Ferguson ran all the way to 64th place for absolutely nothing, busting on the bubble to release others such as Ryan Laplante (29th for $8,293), Ryan Depaulo (16th for $11,459) and final table bubble boy Dave Alfa, who cashed for $22,316 in 9th place.

For Soccer Ventures Launches First-Ever Podcast Network Devoted to Soccer In America

Heath Pearce, Mark McKenzie

For Soccer Ventures (FSV), the recently launched investment team focused on the growth and long-term development of American soccer, today announced the launch of a podcast network dedicated to aggregating the best and most diverse voices in the sport of soccer in America, and a “Preferred Partnership” with Girls Soccer Network – that will see the two companies collaborate on content, production and commercial opportunities.

The first original shows to launch on the FSV network will include “Orange Slices,” hosted by former U.S. Men’s National Team star Heath Pearce and rising American star Mark McKenzie of the Philadelphia Union, as well as the reintroduction of “The Best Soccer Show,” with Sirius XM’s Jason Davis and Jared DuBois.

“There are many diverse voices in American soccer who deserve a new platform to discuss their experiences throughout the vast soccer community. Podcasting has emerged as a megaphone for storytelling, and we’ve recognized that there is no better way to invest in elevating the American soccer story than to give its future leaders the mic,” stated Philadelphia Union Investor and FSV Principal Richie Graham.

“The next decade of soccer in the U.S. will be transformative. Both fans and players alike will be protagonists in leading the growth of the sport throughout this period, and we believe Orange Slices and The Best Soccer Show provide each their space,” said Pearce, Chief Creative Officer at For Soccer Ventures. “Our network will add new, like-minded partners, such as Girls Soccer Network and additional shows launched in the coming months, as we look to celebrate the extraordinary efforts of those who’ve gotten us here, while shining a light on our path forward as a soccer nation.”

The breakdown of the launch shows include:

ORANGE SLICES: Connecting the past, present, and future generations of U.S. internationals around our collective soccer story. The show will be hosted by former US international and Major League Soccer All-Star Heath Pearce and emerging U.S. international Mark McKenzie of Philadelphia Union, this cross-generational variety show will celebrate the past, present, and future of American soccer. Part nostalgia and history, part support for the future of the game, each episode will feature guests from different generations of American soccer sharing stories, insights, and commentary on their soccer experiences. Through rotating segments, the show will take us on a journey through our uniquely American soccer culture, from the muddy fields and halftime orange slices of youth soccer to the biggest games won and lost on the world’s stage. 

BEST SOCCER SHOW: Hosted by Sirius XM’s Jason Davis and American soccer devotee Jared DuBois, “Best Soccer Show” is an original blend of entertaining storytelling, quick quips, and sharp commentary that captures the spirit of American soccer fandom. Beloved for its balance of thoughtful insight and humorous candor, each episode explores American soccer’s biggest stories while celebrating our uniquely American brand of the game. From the ups and downs of our national teams to the state of MLS, UEFA and NWSL, the hosts drive dynamic conversations through rotating segments, call-ins from real fans, and interviews with some of the biggest names in the game. Down to Earth and with a big heart, it’s simply America’s Best Soccer Show.

You can download the shows on all podcast platforms, including Spotify and iTunes.

GIRLS SOCCER NETWORK: Girls Soccer Network (GSN) is a vibrant community for girls and women who love the game of soccer beyond the sidelines of the pitch. Through their digital platform (girlssoccernetwork.com) and social media, the GSN team focuses on creating engaging, empowering and inspirational content that feeds the soccer soul and brings together a culture of “Socceristas” that is positive and unapologetically themselves.

“We’re thrilled to partner with For Soccer Ventures.  The leadership team recognizes the enormous opportunity to help support all the thriving women’s soccer communities across the country and to grow the game for future generations.” Said Jen Gruskoff, Founder and Editor-in-Chief @ GSN, “We’ve only scratched the surface from a content and commercial development perspective, and this partnership will help us supercharge our efforts to connect with brands and develop game-changing content platforms”

Gambling Industry Announcement and Partnership Roundup – July 16, 2020

In the fast moving world of gambling, sometimes you might miss news that could be important to you. To make sure you’re all caught up on gaming industry news, be it online or brick and mortar, we’re rounding up the some of the announcements and partnerships from the last week that you might have missed.

Don’t miss out on all of the latest announcements. Our Press Release section is updated constantly.

ThunderSpin and BetConstruct strike 25+ game content agreement

ThunderSpin, continues to expand its global reach following an agreement which will see the integration of its portfolio comprising more than 25 high-quality, critically acclaimed and innovative games to BetConstruct’s aggregation platform. 

SBC Digital Summit North America looks at sports, now and going forward

The second day of the SBC Digital Summit North America brought a whole new day packed full of expert speakers and timely information for its attendees. With sports hoping to start back up again soon, the day began with akeynote address looking at the evolving moment in sports betting with Zach Leonsis, SVP Strategic Initiatives at Monumental Sports Entertainment.

Leonsis quickly credited the operators of the U.S. market for the fantastic job they are doing rolling out sports betting over the past few years. “They take the regulations incredibly seriously,” he said. “They’re leveraging big data, they lockout problem gamers, they’re trying to encourage responsible gaming opportunities. But they’re also driving incredible fan engagement which drives ratings, which helps out team brands and league brands alike.”

Monumental is involved with William Hill’s push to have an in-arena sports book in Washington D.C., and Leonsis was happy to talk about it. “We have a unique opportunity,” he said. “Typically, sportsbooks are housed within casino properties and casinos aren’t legal in Washington DC. They are in Maryland and you can drive 30 minutes across the state line to MGM National Harbor for example.” 

He expects the business will thrive year-round once this pandemic is over. “We envision one day, post-pandemic of course, when you can get several thousand people in to watch an NFL Sunday together or a Saturday morning Premier League match or a big pay-per-view boxing or UFC event and enjoy putting 20 bucks down on the match and enjoying dinner and beers with a few friends. There’s something very special about the energy of a crowd and being together,” he said.

Unanswered questions after Ganapati CEO denies media reports

Ganapati is fighting back against “assumptions made by specific media outlets” regarding recent controversies the games supplier has faced. Responding to recent reports, CEO Juliet Adelstein has spoken about a number of controversies the company now faces, and some of the explanations don’t add up.

In a letter to Asia Gaming Brief, Adelstein breaks down several of the mysteries now surrounding the brand. We’ve reached out to our sources for further commentary on each issue.

The relationship between Ganapati and Gamatron, and who does Hayato Kinoshita work for?

We’ve reported on some of the striking similarities between Ganapati and Gamatron, starting with an overlap in games offered, and going so far as links between the former and the raid of Gamatron offices in Taiwan last week.

Extreme moves needed from AFL to keep 2020 season going

The second wave of COVID-19 cases in Victoria has forced the AFL to take extreme measures to keep the 2020 season alive. The league announced that it would be moving all 10 Victorian teams to Queensland for the remainder of the 2020 season.

 The lockdown in Victoria has forced surrounding states to close borders and forces the AFL interstate. The league will pay for each of the 10 clubs to be based in Queensland, along with 100 staff and their families for the next 10-weeks.

AFL supremo Gillion McLachlan confirmed that Queensland would be the home of the AFL for the remainder of the regular season:

“The clear plan is to make Queensland the base for our competition, we are not able to announce fixtures yet. We are still working through the final details, their (AFLPA) support has been fantastic. We will continue to keep our game alive for fans, for clubs and the jobs.”

Aussie eye monster squad for UK one-day cricket tour

Cricket Australia took the unusual step of naming an extended 26-man squad for an upcoming tour of England in September. Having lost out to England at the World Cup in 2019, Australia will be out to prove a point against their traditional rivals. While no official word that the tour will go ahead, Cricket Australia is understandably keen to cash in after the T20 World Cup was postponed.

The six-match white-ball tour was originally planned for June, but was postponed due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

As we work towards a return to international cricket, the National Selection Panel today named a preliminary list for the ODI and T20I tour of England.

Read all of the info: https://t.co/CegGe6RQge pic.twitter.com/GofcHw7Mk3

Becky’s Affiliated: Jesper Kärrbrink’s message to UKGC on executing responsible gambling measures

A few weeks ago I moderated a panel about the UKGC’s recent report issued on June 15th, an update on their October 2019 “Industry Challenges” report. The consensus of my panelists was what the UKGC is calling for- not to mention several other reports that are circulating such as the Gambling Related Harm APPG’s- is way over the top and includes proposed restrictions that would surely push players into the black market if implemented.

Panelist Jesper Kärrbrink, Chairman at Green Jade Games, has always been an advocate of implementing tools to help players gamble responsibly and he believes such tools in conjunction with affordability checks is a much more reasonable way to approach problem gambling prevention. 

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZrzUR94HSI?feature=oembed]

“Regulation is key for this industry because it guarantees a long term sustainable growth of the industry and we’re getting less and less stigmatized, so that’s a good thing in itself”, said Kärrbrink.

One-armed bandits feel the love in Connecticut tribal casinos

Even though the state’s governor was opposed to the idea, the tribes behind Connecticut’s Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods casinos decided they would reopen their doors on June 1. The venues had been closed since March 17 in an effort to keep the coronavirus from spreading, but too much downtime was causing massive losses in revenue, so a decision had to be made. It proved to be a good move for both venues, at least with the limited options they had available, as June brought substantial action. While certainly not at pre-COVID-19 levels, activity on the properties’ slot machines was hot and heavy for the entire month.

According to figures released from both venues, they picked up a combined $79.1 million in gross gaming revenue from their one-armed bandits in June. Mohegan Sun received $45.5 million and Foxwoods took in $33.6 million. Compared to a year earlier, those numbers are only 3% and 4.9%, respectively, lower. Made even more significant is the fact that the casinos are operating at just 25% of their normal capacities.

Adding to the strength of the results, social distancing and face masks have apparently not been a deterrent, as both are in force at the venues. In addition, no one from 22 states that remain on a Connecticut travel restriction list is allowed to visit the casinos. Gamblers from other states that aren’t on the list are required to self-quarantine for two weeks prior to visits, but all of these restrictions are obviously not hampering the properties’ gambling efforts.

Connecticut will benefit from the surge, as well. Per the established gaming compacts between the state and the tribes, which require the casinos to hand over 25% of their slot revenue, Mohegan Sun will give Connecticut over $11.3 million and Foxwoods around $8.4 million. That money will undoubtedly come in handy as the state tries to come out from under the financial pressure caused by the coronavirus.

That fly buzzing around you might have a camera on its back

The number of times camera-carrying insects have been featured in science-fiction movies can’t easily be counted. Finding cockroaches, flies and bees traveling around with miniature cameras and microphones to spy on the competition or infiltrate underworld organizations is standard operating procedure for many futuristic films. However, as is the case with a number of crazy technological inventions that seem to be too weird to be real, the concept of an insect with a camera on its back is possible – and it’s already here, according to Inverse magazine. 

Science Robotics just published a study prepared by engineers with the University of Washington that bring the camera-carrying insects to light. The engineers explain that they have developed an extremely small, extremely light-weight camera that can be attached to bugs, and which can stream video to a smartphone. It all came down to figuring out how to solve several technical issues that have prevented the cameras from previously becoming reality. 

According to Vikram Iyer, one of the authors of the study and UW Ph.D. student in Electrical and Computer Engineering, “Vision is very important for us, as well as any other animal, and it’s something you see commonly on larger robotic systems like autonomous cars. But when you try to shrink it down to the size of a penny it becomes very challenging. You have to consider a number of different factors, including the size, the weight, and the power consumption. These are all different things we had to optimize.”

At issue in blocking the introduction of a team of insect spies were things like power usage and weight. However, the team behind the project figured out how to reduce both substantially by taking queues from live insects and combining that with existing technology. That enabled the creation of a camera that weighs just 1/550th of a pound with a range of motion up to 60 degrees and which can be controlled by Bluetooth from up to 400 feet away. The camera can operate for six hours, and the entire device weighs less than one-tenth of a playing card. 

MLB teams get creative to put fans in the stands

Just because baseball fans aren’t allowed to attend MLB games in person doesn’t mean they still can’t be seen at the games. Because of the coronavirus, MLB, and all other sports leagues, have decided that allowing fans to grab a seat at the games wouldn’t be a smart idea. This means considerable losses in revenue, as on-field advertising loses its purpose and concessionaires can’t sell their goods. However, teams across the MLB have come up with a novel, out-of-the-box solution that will allow fans to be seen at the games while, at the same time, recovering some of the lost revenue. Welcome to the world of fan cutouts. 

The idea emerged earlier this month and has since caught the attention of several teams, including the San Francisco Giants, the LA Dodgers, the Milwaukee Brewers and more. The concept is simple – fans can submit a picture, pay a fee and the team will build a cardboard cutout of the fan to be placed in a seat during games. Each team has its own procedures and policies, but, for some fans, they will even be able to keep their cutouts and, should their virtual self be hit by a foul ball, will be sent a game ball as a keepsake. 

Prices range drastically, some as low as $49 and some as high as $299. Just like with most ballparks, the difference in price depends on where the fan wants to be seated. Other clubs are restricting the sales to only season-ticket holders. The money generated from the sales could be substantial, too. The response has already high and, to use Oracle Park as an example, the return could be substantial. The home of the Giants has 41,915 seats; if it sold half of these at $50 (season-ticket holders get them for free), it could pick up over $1.04 million. That certainly isn’t enough to offset all the losses incurred by the lack of having beer-guzzling, popcorn-munching fans in the stands, but it’s better than nothing. 

The Brewers are taking a slightly different approach. The team will place two-foot images of fans together with the “Last Row” statue of Bob Uecker located at the top of Miller Park. Uecker has been a game-caller for the club for 50 years and has been around baseball almost as long as the game itself. The cutouts cost $50, and the promotion sold out almost as soon as it was launched.