Monthly Archives: November 2020

Former UK Parliamentary Adviser among new YGAM recruits

The Young Gamers and Gamblers Education Trust (YGAM) which continues to expand its reach delivering the ‘Young People’s Gambling Harm Prevention Programme: Education, Training, Support’ has bolstered its resources with the appointment of two additions to its communications team.

James Matthewson joins YGAM after serving as spokesperson for the former Chairman of the Labour Party, Ian Lavery MP where he gained extensive experience handling national press and engaging with political stakeholders. James is also a freelance writer, having written for media including The Times, The Daily Mirror and Huff Post.

The education charity has also confirmed the appointment of Jo Burnham to support their marketing and external affairs. Jo joins from Music Theatre Wales and has over ten years of experience working as a journalist and PR professional. He has written for publications including Time Out and USA Today, and was previously part of the marketing teams for national arts organisations including Sadler’s Wells and the Brighton Festival.

Daniel Bliss, Director of External Affairs at YGAM said “I’m delighted to add James and Jo to my dynamic team. They are joining the charity at an extremely exciting time as we continue to increase our growth, reach and impact. We are making great progress and the more highly skilled professionals we can attract, the more progress we can make in working with the industry and stakeholders to prevent gambling-related harms.”

Omegalab expands technology software service for iGaming

Monday 23rd November 2020 – OmegaLab, a leading custom software provider, is expanding its standout technology offering to target additional operators across the iGaming industry.

OmegaLab is built on 15 years’ experience partnering with iGaming leaders to develop progressive software solutions and is now perfectly primed to share its prowess with more online casino companies. Reducing time-to-market and cutting-edge software form two core elements of the business.

Since OmegaLab began working within iGaming it has brought together a team of experts to lead the iGaming vertical of the business. Synergy between OmegaLab’s developers and external partner teams guarantees results through a deep understanding of objectives.

Another core strength of OmegaLab rests in creating solutions tailored to clients’ needs and meeting the most ambitious business goals. Comprehensive research is completed before each project to best drive the development journey from MVP product design to positive commercial market results. Key elements include analytics, UI and UX, development and exhaustive testing.

Paysafe recognized for its employee engagement focus during COVID-19

The global payments company picks up HRO Today Association award for its internal communications activity since COVID-19

Houston, Texas. 20th November 2020 – Paysafe, a leading specialized payments platform, has been named winner of the ‘Engagement Strategy Excellence Award’ at the HRO Today Association awards in both the EMEA and North America regions. The award recognized the company’s employee engagement campaign, known internally as ‘Safeguarding Paysafe People’, which it has been running since March when its global workforce moved to remote working.

The campaign, which continues to run, focuses on maintaining ‘Paysafe’s spirit and culture’ despite the challenges presented by COVID-19 and the forced move to remote working. It has included the delivery of a broad range of new internal communications activities and channels with an emphasis on informing, recognition and wellbeing. As well as introducing new communications channels such as a 24/7 mailbox, a weekly lockdown newsletter and wellbeing surveys, the campaign has also included regular live streaming Q&A calls with Paysafe’s CEO, Philip McHugh.

A particular highlight of the programme was ‘Paysafe Day’; a day dedicated to celebrating the team and giving time off for wellbeing activities. The day was such a success that it led to a second

Imperial Pacific International calls regulators’ bluff, wins

The Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) must be flush with cash – mountains of it. That’s the only logical explanation for why the CNMI Lottery Commission has agreed to give Imperial Pacific International (IPI), the controversial casino operator behind Saipan’s Imperial Palace, more time to pay its past-due debt. IPI had previously been told to pay up “or else,” but it has called the bluff and has come out ahead. 

IPI is on the hook for $36 million it is supposed to pay to the CNMI’s community benefit fund (CBF). It owes $36 million for not paying the full amount in previous years, as well as $20 million currently. However, the Lottery Commission has agreed to defer the $20-million payment for three years and the $36-million payment for five years. These extensions are grossly lengthy and smack in the face of an ultimatum IPI was given this past August to either get up to date with all of its outstanding bills or face a possible revocation of its license for the Imperial Palace. 

The Lottery Commission agreed in October to give IPI six months to pay its most recent CBF contribution, which was due on October 1. The casino operator requested the two new extensions because it acknowledges that it has no money, and the Lottery Commission discussed its options with CNMI Assistant Attorney General John Lowrey and Commonwealth Casino Commission Executive Director Andrew Yeom before announcing its ruling, according to Marianas Variety. 

Apparently, the commission feels that IPI is holding all the cards and doesn’t believe that, should the company have its license revoked, another entity would step in right away to take over Imperial Palace. Finance Secretary David DLG Atalig is quoted as saying, “Keep in mind that should IPI leave or the casino commission revoke the casino license, realistically, how long before we have a new casino investor here to build a new casino to regenerate revenue? It could be three years.”

NFL Week 11 Sunday action full of surprises for football fans

Week 11 in the NFL will complete its last game tonight as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers take on the LA Rams and the roundup of games is showing football fans that anything – and everything – is still possible this season. From blowouts to upsets, the NFL continues to keep everyone entertained. There’s a good chance many sports gamblers aren’t happy with the results of a few of yesterday’s contests, but, if winning were easy, everyone would do it.

Someone put something in the Houston Texans’ Gatorade yesterday. Quarterback Deshaun Watson connected for 344 yards and three touchdowns against the New England Patriots, on the way to building a 27-20 lead with less than four minutes on the clock. Pats tried to get back into the game, but QB Cam Newton couldn’t overcome a determined, but tired, Texans defense and couldn’t find his way to advance a last-minute drive.

The Tennessee Titans met the Baltimore Ravens in Baltimore and both teams fought hard from the first play. However, it was Derrick Henry who will go down as the man who saved the day for Tennessee. The Titans and the Ravens went back and forth throughout the game, leaving the score tied at 24 when regulation play ended. Now headed into overtime, it was the running back who, starting at the Ravens’ 30, took a handoff from QB Ryan Tannehill, busted through the defensive line and ran into the end zone for a touchdown and the OT win. That win gave the Titans a little bit of a boost in the AFC South that is going to prove key later on this season.

There isn’t too much to say about the Pittsburgh Steelers/Jacksonville Jaguars (mix)matchup. The Jaguars are not having anything that resembles a decent season, sitting last in the AFC South, and took a beating from QB Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers yesterday as they were thrashed 27-3. The Steelers are now comfortably on top of the AFC North and remain the only undefeated team in the league this season.

Indian minister of finance pushes for legal sports betting

The safest thing for India to do about gambling is to legalize and regulate it. That’s the message from Minister of State for Finance and former president of the Board of Crick Control Anurag Thakur, speaking at an ICICI Securities event on November 19.

From his point of view, the way to get match fixing in cricket under control is to allow legal wagering on the sport. That will allow for “monitoring people allegedly involved in fixing,” he said, and stop “unholy and corrupt” practices, as well as generate new tax revenue.

Nilesh Shah, managing director of Kotak Mahindra Asset Management Company, agreed wholeheartedly. “If we look at the problem of match-fixing, then the trends in betting can give us leads on whether something unholy is happening or not. Betting can become a potent tool to stop fixing,” Shah said.

“My suggestion will be to legalise betting and gambling activities, which are underground. They continue to exist in our society,” he added.

Premier League Review – Gameweek #9

A stunning weekend of English Premier League action began with a ding-dong in the North-East and ended with a Sunday night summit meeting at Anfield. 

There were own goals, mistakes and some tired, well-travelled legs, but there were also moments of sublime skill. We’ll start in North London, where Jose Mourinho got the better of an old adversary in Pep Guardiola. 

Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 Manchester City 

It was Jose vs Pep in North London, but in truth it was a mismatch on the pitch as Spurs showed Manchester City a clean pair of heels all over the pitch. 

Governor Sisolak Puts New Capacity Limitations on Nevada Businesses

Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak issued new capacity restrictions and limitations for businesses, and that will impact live poker in Las Vegas. The Democratic politician who he himself tested positive for COVID-19 is desperately trying to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak is in a no-win situation. (Image: Las Vegas Review-Journal)

On a positive note for the live poker scene in Sin City, poker rooms aren’t being forced to close. That means you can still play cards if you’re in town. But you had better be prepared for lengthy wait times especially at the busiest poker rooms such as Venetian, Aria, and Bellagio.

Sisolak finds himself in a no-win situation given the current state of affairs in the Silver State. If he doesn’t take action, many will rip on him for refusing to do enough to stop the spread of COVID-19. But if he forces businesses to close, others will bash him for destroying the state’s economy. Such is the case in these trying times for the Nevada governor. Or, any governor in the US, for that matter.

ATP World Finals winner won by Daniil Medvedev for $1.25 million

The ATP World Finals, probably the most prestigious mens’ singles event outside the three Grand Slams that took place in 2020, was won on Sunday afternoon by Russian Daniil Medvedev for a seven-figure payday after a gruelling three-set win against Austrian powerhouse Dominic Thiem.

Shock Semi-Final Result

The semi-finals saw both favourites – Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic – crash out against the odds. It was especially painful for Nadal to go out at the penultimate stage, as he served for the second set at 5-4 up only to be denied by Russian player Daniil Medvedev, who fought back to take that set on a tie-break then close out the decider 6-3. Nadal, who has never won the ATP Finals, now many never do so after the young class of 2020 showed that it is they who have the collective edge in the season-ending spectacle.

This is the final year that the ATP Finals will take place in London as the tournament series moves to Turin, Italy in 2021. It will have a new name on the trophy in its final year from being awarded in England after Novak Djokovic, the pre-tournament favourite, was eliminated by Austrian U.S. Open winner Dominic Thiem.

Caribbean Poker Party warm-up day 1a and 1b review

The Day 1 flights of the Caribbean Poker Party Warm-Up have been terrific entertainment, with Danish player Klaus Mortensen and Holland’s Tom Delaine leading the way in flights 1a and 1b after the final hand clicked players back to the lobby.

It’s been all change in the partypoker Caribbean Poker Party this season, with the action moving from the Baha Mar resort to the online partypoker lobby instead. Despite that, the $10 million guarantee that comes with the CPP this year between November 15th and 25th is reaching its guarantees and producing some spectacular prizepools.

It was Klaus Mortensen who ended Day 1a of the Caribbean Poker Party Warm-Up and with a half-million-dollar guarantee, there was a $500 bounty on every player’s head in the a Progressive Knockout (PKO) formatted event.

Day 1a saw 115 entries and ended with Danish player Klaus Mortensen on top, having collected an immense $4,594 in bounties and a stack of over 22 million chips.

Galfond challenge close to level as halfway stage approaches

With 15,400 hands of the Chance Kornuth match in the Galfond Challenge, Phil Galfond has recovered slightly from being a quarter of a million dollars down to sit just $82,500 down as the halfway point approaches.

With many poker fans enjoying both this heads-up clash and the one that is going on between Daniel Negreanu and Doug Polk in tandem, it has been terrific to have the option of PLO (Pot Limit Omaha) to break up the no limit hold’em action, or vice versa if your taste prefers.

The latest action in the Galfond Challenge has something of a recovery mission for the man himself. On the 26th Day of the latest challenge against Chance Kornuth, Galfond turned the tide, winning just under $50,000 in the session to reduce his arrears and more importantly, stop the momentum of winning days for his challenger.

On Day 26, a series of small pots gave Galfond a five-figure win where 500 hands turned into a profit of circa $50,000. Day 27 brought two big hands for Galfond with aces and then kings, a pot worth $36,000 going the way of the host when his K-K-5-5 picked up the hand on a board of 2-A-5-Q-2 against Kornuth’s A-K-J-3. The day ended with Galfond winning a massive $143,000 – a huge chunk of his debit wiped out.