Monthly Archives: August 2020

Return Of Live Sports, Season Simulations Gives Strat-O-Matic Board, Digital Baseball Games A Record Setting Run

Strat-O-Matic Baseball

With baseball, basketball, hockey and others back on the fields, courts and ice, and football training camps underway, fans have been able to enjoy live sports that the COVID-19 pandemic has denied them. With hopes high that the delayed seasons can continue through to their conclusions, fans’ enthusiasm for Strat-O-Matic (www.strat-o-matic.com) baseball board and digital games set records for sales and engagement, according to numbers released today by the market leader in sports simulations.

For the period of March through July 2020, Strat-O-Matic sales far surpassed the same time frame in 2019:

  • Baseball Board and Windows platform sales are more than 70% higher
  • Baseball Board game product sales are more than 85% higher
  • Baseball Windows platform sales are more than 50% higher
  • Strat-O-Matic Baseball 365 sales are more than double
  • New Members on Strat-O-Matic Baseball 365 are more than 200% higher

And this past month, as the pro squads were returning, interest in Strat-O-Matic baseball was even more pronounced, as compared to July 2019:

  • Baseball Board game product sales were more than 80% higher
  • Baseball Windows platform sales were more than double
  • Strat-O-Matic Baseball 365 sales were more than double

The Strat-O-Matic daily baseball season simulation also brought the company unprecedented attention from popular sports and entertainment personalities and media outlets:

““I am proud our incredible team was able to pivot in this complex market,” said Adam Richman, Strat-O-Matic President. “We are thrilled live sports have come back, and through the pandemic, simulation’s crucial place in sports has become clear. 

“We look forward to providing more entertainment and connection for sports fans,” he added. “Strat-O-Matic has been and will continue to be the bridge to fill holes as professional sports leagues awaken and occasionally pause as our country moves through this difficult time.”

Gerard Barclay Banks £42,248 after Winning Goliath Main Event

The Goliath Main Event has always been one of the biggest live poker festivals in Britain. With a £100+25 entry, the rake may be high, but the buy-in is low and in previous years, the winner has taken home a massive sum, with the top prize in 2018 being a massive £101,450, won by Florian Duta.

This summer, however, is the first year in the 10 its been put on that the Goliath has been forced behind closed doors, with no Tower on screen goofing around in his inimitable British way, no live gong show heralding a huge turnout. Last year, 9,300 entries created a record prizepool of over £900,000, which oddly produced a smaller top prize of £64,601, a winner’s prize taken home by Lee Reynolds. 

Year-on-year, however, as you can see, the appetite for the Goliath Main Event has largely grown and grown. 

Year

POGOs reduced by half as Chinese cause anxiety amongst locals

The Philippine Offshore Gambling Operators (POGOs) has shrunken dramatically, according to Philippines Labor Assistant Secretary Dominique. Less than 100 remain after strict Covid-19 lockdowns and new employment requirements for immigrants to the Philippines, while frictions with Chinese immigrants are causing new problems for the country.

“Prior to COVID-19, we have more than 200 Pogos operating nationwide particularly in the NCR (National Capital Region). During the ECQ (enhanced community quarantine), if we look at the numbers of Pogo establishments, it is less than a 100,” wrote Tutay on August 12.

He attributed this shrinkage of the industry to a natural downturn of the economy due to the pandemic, but also to new requirements for employees to have a valid Alien Employment Permit to secure work. The idea is that with less people able to travel to the Philippines, and even less able to get a work permit, POGOs and service providers are just packing up shop and leaving.

But whatever Chinese POGO workers remain are still grabbing headlines for the hijinks they get up to. Weng Zhiting and Cheng Guo were arrested by the Philippine National Police Anti-Kidnapping group for allegedly kidnapping at least one other Chinese national, and police tied the group to a syndicate targeting Chinese people working in the Philippines.

Helping your child learn remotely while you work remotely

For all of us who are still working from home during this pandemic, either by choice or because of local quarantines, time has felt like a nebulous concept. What is the difference of one day from another? For those of us with children, the fast-approaching end of summer means a return to school, and for so many millions that will mean remote learning.

But how do you manage your own remote working situation, while also making sure that your child is getting the most out of their remote schooling? It’s a tricky balance to strike, but it can be done, and both of you could be better for it.

What do I need to do to help my child’s remote learning?

Assuming your child has a teacher or school that has everything figured out, hopefully not very much! If your child is anything like mine, you might need to know how to log in to a Zoom meeting, and you may need to jump in if there are any technical issues that your child can’t manage, but then from there it’s more about what you don’t do than what you need to do.

Metro Manila casinos possibly see a light at the end of the tunnel

Unless there is a grotesque spike in the number of positive coronavirus cases in and around Metro Manila in the Philippines within the next few days, the area’s casinos might soon be able to get back on their feet. Metro Manila has been on Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ) for what seems like an eternity, and it was just extended at the beginning of this month. That pushed the quarantine period out to August 18, but the change in the quarantine status isn’t being driven by a cleaner bill of health. Instead, it’s coming down to pure economics. Metro Manila can no longer survive if MECQ continues. 

COVID-19 still permeates Metro Manila, with 140,000 cases being identified – 6,598 this past Monday alone. The latter is a new record for the Philippines, but the economic fallout of keeping everything locked down is now proving to be a greater risk than the virus itself. MECQ could be removed to make way for a General Community Quarantine (GCQ), but this shouldn’t be seen as a sign that recovery is going to happen soon. 

Under GCQ, many businesses, including casinos, will continue to face complete lockdowns or modified operating procedures similar to what have been seen elsewhere – greatly reduced capacities, social distancing orders, reductions in offerings, etc. Alcohol sales will still be prohibited, as will large gatherings and in-person classes. 

Harry Roque, a spokesperson for President Rodrigo Duterte, explained to the press, that the government would prefer to extend the MECQ, but that the economic situation can’t permit it. He explained, “Anything is possible but it’s highly unlikely. The bottom line is we no longer have resources to give assistance. We may not be as successful, but I can assure you everyone is working, trying hard to find a solution to the problem. If our effort is not enough, we apologize. But you cannot accuse the government of not doing anything.”

Innovation is key according to Kindred Group’s Cristiano Blanco’s

Innovation remains the key focus for the online gaming industry for the foreseeable future according to Cristiano Blanco, the Head of Gaming for the Kindred Group.  An industry veteran, Blanco took some time out to speak with our very own Becky Liggero Fontana about some of the innovations that the industry can expect to see in the B2B and B2C marketplace.

According to Blanco, there’s a huge difference in the innovation for both customers and the business side of the gaming industry. “There’s a huge difference between the B2B and the B2C business,” he said. “When it comes to the B2B business innovation is about being different from their competitors and support the industry to grow. That’s exactly what is happening for the B2B.”

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9a90rrDOAg4?feature=oembed]

Blanco believes that B2C gaming operators are leaving the innovation side of the business to B2B because of regulation:

Two of NCAA’s Big Five just canceled all fall sports

The “inevitable” cancelation of college football this fall just got more real. Several conferences had already called off their sports programs because of the coronavirus, and two more were added yesterday. These two, however, are part of the largest group of college sports activity, and their refusal to move forward with their seasons shows how dire the situation has become. The Big Ten and the Pac-12 both announced yesterday that they are canceling football and all other sports, including soccer and volleyball, heading into the final months of the year.

The conferences’ decision didn’t come as a surprise to anyone who follows football, but there was still hope that a last-minute reversal would allow them to have a change of heart. This wouldn’t be the case, and Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren said in a statement, “The mental and physical health and welfare of our student-athletes has been at the center of every decision we have made regarding the ability to proceed forward. As time progressed and after hours of discussion with our Big Ten Task Force for Emerging Infectious Diseases and the Big Ten Sports Medicine Committee, it became abundantly clear that there was too much uncertainty regarding potential medical risks to allow our student-athletes to compete this fall.”

Both the Big Ten and the Pac-12 have asserted that they’re not actually canceling sports – they’re only postponing them until the spring. However, this is an unrealistic plan that doesn’t seem to be completely legitimate. It could be simply a way for the conferences to buy some time and save face, but it would be logistically impossible to see college basketball, football, baseball, volleyball and more all at the same time. 

Urban Meyer, an assistant athletics director and Fox Sports analyst, agrees. He asserts, according to 247sports.com, “No chance. You can’t ask a player to play two seasons in a calendar year. When I first heard that, I said that. I don’t see that happening when I hear that. The body, in my very strong opinion, is not made to play two seasons within a calendar year. That’s 2,000 repetitive reps and football’s a physical, tough sport. So I don’t, really don’t, see that happening.”

Deion Sanders departs NFL Network, headed to Barstool Sports

Deion Sanders has spent the past 14 years as a football analyst with the NFL Network. Prior to that, the 53-year-old had spent 14 years as an NFL standout, earning two Super Bowl rings and a number of awards for his on-field talents. Despite his extensive knowledge and fanbase, the NFL Network has decided it can no longer afford to keep Sanders around, and the two are parting ways after being unable to agree on terms for a new contract. Sanders could easily walk away and retire, but that’s not his style. He’s almost certainly going to remain a huge part of sports and, apparently, is on his way to Barstool Sports. 

Sanders and the NFL Network were unable to reach an agreement regarding how much the player/coach/analyst was worth, forcing Sanders to call it quits. The network had already made it apparent that the Hall Of Famer’s time with the company was coming to an end when it decided to drop his 21st & Prime show last year. That move was made as a way for the network to cut expenses, but the writing was on the wall at that point – no pay increases would be coming. 

While working as an analyst, Sanders was also serving as the offensive coordinator at the school his sons attend, Trinity Christian School, and could have sought a coaching position at any level. He had previously looked to become a coach at Florida State University, his alma mater, and the news of his departure from the NFL Network led to rumors that he could be once again looking for another shot. However, he perhaps has learned to enjoy his time in the booth. 

Barstool Sports announced yesterday that it had managed to rope in Sanders to be part of its growing team. The sports media company includes the program Pardon My Take in its portfolio, and the Apple Podcasts offering confirmed on Twitter that Sanders was on board. It tweeted, unceremoniously, “…HUGE announcement & interview with our new coworker @DeionSanders…” Scoring one of the biggest names in football would have probably been worth a larger celebration. 

In-race betting gets a boost in NASCAR thanks to new BetMGM deal

The $1 billion investment InterActiveCorp (IAC) made in BetMGM seems to have been a smart and timely move. The sports gambling arm controlled by MGM Resorts International has been busy establishing new deals with various organizations, including its partnership with MLB and with the NFL’s Denver Broncos, among others. It has now added another feather in its cap by teaming up with one of the largest car racing organizations in the world. According to an announcement from yesterday, BetMGM is now an authorized gaming partner for NASCAR. 

Going forward, BetMGM will start to offer new sports gambling options for the racing series that will include things like in-race and pre-race gambling opportunities. NASCAR’s managing director for gaming, Scott Warfield, comments on the new partnership, “Partnering with a best-in-class operator like BetMGM positions NASCAR to build on the positive energy and momentum we’re seeing around gaming and in particular the live in-race experience. We’re excited to have such an iconic brand on board to expand our offerings and deepen our engagement with the most passionate fans in sports.”

BetMGM users will start to see a lot of NASCAR branding as a result of the new deal. On its mobile app, its website, its retail sportsbooks and its social media channels, BetMGM will feature NASCAR logos and stats, highlights, events and more. This will prove just as lucrative for NASCAR as for BetMGM, with the racing organization receiving considerable exposure in the seven states in which the sports gambling platform is found. As long as everything stays on track, that exposure will increase even more soon, with BetMGM hoping to be able to have a presence in 11 states by the end of the year. 

Adds BetMGM Chief Marketing Officer Matt Prevost, “We’re excited to work with the NASCAR team to build immersive sports betting experiences that 21st-century racing fans crave. BetMGM’s unparalleled betting technology combined with NASCAR’s iconic races will create a superior betting experience for racing fans all over the United States.”

Peergame offers Provably Fair guide and Bitcoin Cashback event

Many by now have heard of the term ‘Provably Fair’ in relation to gambling on the blockchain, but how many people have actually figured out how to prove a game is fair for themselves. Peergame isn’t shy to put their money where their mouth is, and has published a full guide to show customers just how fair their Bitcoin SV (BSV) games are.

Peergame announced their guide to the world through an August 7 tweet:

Check out how you can verify the fairness of any results on Peergame✅

👉https://t.co/xcqfk1vhYj

South Korea’s casino market dips with Paradise, Kangwon Land losses

It’s already the third quarter of 2020 and casinos everywhere continue to see revenue losses stemming from the coronavirus pandemic. As desperately as the gambling industry would have liked to have seen a quick recovery, this year is essentially going to be a write-off for many operators. While some areas have been able to start reporting gains, many are still in the red. Kangwon Land Inc. and Paradise Co. Ltd. fall into the latter category with their South Korea casino operations, with both seeing continued drops that began soon after 2020 got underway. 

 Kangwon Land’s eponymous casino in South Korea is still feeling considerable pressure, reporting a loss of $38.4 million for the second quarter of the year. That followed a loss of $131.68 million from the first quarter, and completely wiped out the $42.97 million profit it reported for Q2 of 2019. The Kangwon Land casino is the only property that has been approved for local gamblers and was forced to shut down from February 23 to May 8 because of COVID-19. When it opened, the casino only welcomed back VIP gamblers at first. 

Gross gaming revenue (GGR) for Q2 plummeted 91.4% year-on-year and 85.9% quarter-over-quarter. The figure stood at $23.88 million, with total sales at the venue dropping 90.5% to $29.22 million. As a result of the continued weak performance, Kangwon Land saw a 63.5% drop in sales across the entire first half of the year, reporting an aggregate loss of $170.1 million. 

Paradise, which is behind four foreigner-only casinos in South Korea, was forced to report a net loss for Q2 of $26.9 million – this was on top of the $2.46 million loss from Q1. Overall sales for the company plummeted 68.1% year-on-year and reached just $62.97 million, while casino sales lost 65.7% to peak at $29.99 million. EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) hit the red at $15.04 million.