Monthly Archives: November 2020

Golden Nugget wins “Operator of he Year” Four years in a row.

Houston, TX, (November 2, 2020) – The Golden Nugget clinched two awards at the 2020 EGR North America Virtual East Coast awards. The awards in their fourth year recognized and celebrated excellence in the North American online gaming and sports betting industry, rewarding leading operators and service providers for their performance in the past year. The awards are judged by industry peers who take growth, innovation, execution and more into consideration.

The Golden Nugget team picked up the coveted top prize for the fourth year in a row by bringing home the ‘Operator of the Year 2020 Award’, in addition to ‘Mobile Operator of the Year’.

Thomas Winter, President, Golden Nugget Online Gaming said, “We are honored and humbled to be recognized by our esteemed industry peers as the Operator of the Year in North America for the fourth consecutive year. Their vote confirms the choice of New Jersey players, who have chosen Golden Nugget as their favorite destination for online and mobile casino. We will now try and apply the same focus on superior product, flawless execution and world-class player experience as we plan our expansion into the other states and launch our new sports betting offer.”

Warren Steven, Vice President, Golden Nugget Online Gaming said, “We take great pride in again winning the Mobile Operator of the Year in North America award. 75% of wagers are already taking place on a mobile device and we’ll continue to work tirelessly to offer the very best entertainment experience to Golden Nugget’s ever growing community of players.”. 

Gambling Industry Announcement and Partnership Roundup – November 3, 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.

Wazdan set for Switzerland entry

Supplier has 15 titles certified ahead of imminent country debut

East Africa’s iGaming industry a prime opportunity for growth and expansion

East Africa is one of the regions in Africa that is garnering the most attraction when it comes to the betting and gambling industry. We meet Alessandro Pizzolotto, STM Gaming’s CEO and Certified Partner of BtoBet in Africa what he thinks about the subject and how the region could further evolve in the short to medium term.

Is it your opinion that sports betting is more rampant in Eastern Africa? Why?

There is no doubt that the popularity of sports betting in the whole of Africa derives from the huge popularity of sports across the entire continent. The popularity of sports, especially football, has been further highlighted in recent years with the huge success of African players in major European leagues. One could make reference to Napoli’s strong Senegalese centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly, Arsenal’s Gabonese striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, and Liverpool’s Sadio Mane, amongst many others.

Nonetheless with numbers at hand, a report published by Dublin based research firm “Research and Report” clearly indicates that the iGaming industry in the Sub-Saharan region is seeing an increase in the number of millenials who make use of mobile phones to place bets. The report states that the eastern region in Africa, with Kenya and Uganda as the primary examples, is at the forefront of the continent’s gambling market.

Karhu launches Professional Gambling Affiliates Association

Bojoko’s Chief Business Officer launches industry group with the aim of creating contractual security between affiliates and operators for the first time

Malta: 30 October 2020 – Joonas Karhu, Chief Business Officer at Bojoko.com, has launched the Professional Gambling Affiliates Association (PGAA) to help improve the relationship between affiliates and operators and create contractual security for the first time.

Karhu formed the association after becoming concerned with the imbalance in the relationship between affiliates and operators. The PGAA will address this with affiliates coming together as one in order to push for contractual security and fair terms and conditions when promoting operator brands.

At present, there is no contractual security for affiliates who are forced to sign agreements that are one-sided and subject to change at any time. This can see life-time revenues slashed and fees increased with little to no notice.

Sports Betting USA: Big media and America’s sports betting elite gather to create tomorrow’s Giants

Marketers and the Media join the Sports Betting community to make new contacts and hear from both sport and media about the biggest opportunities in driving players to online and terrestrial sports books in America.

PLUS Bonus Sessions: LIVE US Election Special and IMGL Masterclass

The 2020 edition of Sports Betting USA (November 12 & 13) which features a stellar list of 100 thought leaders delivering cutting edge expert insight, will provide a unique platform for marketing teams to engage with the key US media channels that will determine where sports fans go to play.

The list of ‘not to be missed’ media brands that will be participating in SBUSA comprises; CBS Interactive, Comcast, ESPN, Forbes Sports Money, Home Team Sports/Fox Sports, Sports Media NBC, theScore, VSIN and Warner Media. Insight, opinion and analysis will be delivered by panels of sector defining thought leaders including: Jeffrey Gerttula, EVP and GM, CBS Sports Digital, CBS Interactive, Chris Pirrone, General Manager, USA TODAY Sports Media Group, Patrick Keane, CEO, The Action Network, Louis Maione, President, SportsGrid, INC, Doug Kezirian, Anchor/Host/Betting Analyst, ESPN, Ishwara Glassman Chrein, Head of Sports Partnerships and Business Development, Yahoo Sports / Verizon Media and James Van Stone, President, Business Operations & Chief Commercial Officer, Monumental Sports and Entertainment.

The Buccaneers squeak by the Giants in Monday Night Football

Last night on Monday Night Football, two NFC teams faced off to close out Week 8 in the NFL. Of the two, one sits at the bottom of its division at 1-7, while the other is in command of its division with a solid 6-2 lead. While almost everyone thought the game might be a blow out in favor of the leading team, if this year’s NFL season has taught us anything, it’s that nothing is ever a lock. The New York Giants, with a 3-4 record in the NFC East, gave the NFC South-leading Tampa Bay Buccaneers a lot more trouble than anyone expected. 

The Bucs put the first points on the board, a field goal to take a 3-0 lead. However, things went a little sideways from there, as quarterback Tom Brady found himself trying to mount a comeback after falling 11 points behind. The Giants came out with both guns blazing in the first half, holding the Bucs to just six points, and kept the pressure on Tampa into the third quarter before the Bucs were finally able to get into the end zone for a touchdown.

Two Bucs interceptions in the second half gave the team a boost, but it wasn’t a pretty game. The Giants continuously threatened the Bucs and led the game in total yards, as well as first downs. Tampa was forced to punt three times and added a turnover to a game that had underdog-pickers thinking they might cash in big time until the very end. 

It could honestly be said that the Bucs were able to win because of Brady, whose veteran status allowed him to keep his cool and stay calm under pressure. He found Rob Gronkowski and Mike Evans to pick up touchdown passes, moving into first place on the list for most career TDs in the league. He now has 561, having overcome New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, who previously held the record with 560. 

Tribal casino extension runs way over budget in North Carolina

The Tribal Council of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians are baffled at how poorly the budgeting for Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort has gone. The Tribal Casino Gaming Enterprise have gone to them hat in hand, asking for an additional $50 million for the project, and they got grilled for it.

The Cherokee, North Carolina casino has been under construction for two years now, with a $250 million expansion planned. But at an October 26 Tribal Council meeting, representatives could not grasp why $50 million more was needed, when the project was initially only supposed to cost $200 million. “I’d like to see something justifying why we’re giving you $38 more million for this project,” said Birdtown Representative Albert Rose during the Oct. 26 meeting. “This is a huge amount of money for just a simple resolution coming in here asking for it.”

TCGE Board Member John Houser admitted the initial estimate of a $200-250 million expansion wasn’t well thought out. “The schematic for the plans for this project were pretty much done on the back of a napkin,” Houser said. “It was a concept.”

The TCGE explained their new estimate was the project would cost $37.9 million more than planned, mysteriously putting the total cost at $296.9 million. However, $250 million plus $37.9 million does not add up to that sum.

Election odds for Joe Biden improve over final campaign weekend

The end of this election cycle is in sight, and the candidate are in a frenzy to get out every vote they can. With the polls closing tomorrow, President Donald Trump and Vice President Joe Biden hit up as many swing states as they could as the election continues to look like it will lean blue.

Pennsylvania, which is expected to be the tipping point state that decides the 2020 election, was visited by Trump on Saturday. He warned that we may be waiting weeks to find out who has won the presidency. “So you’re going to be watching on Nov. 3. I think it’s highly likely you’re not going to have a decision, because Pennsylvania’s very big. We’re going to be waiting. Nov. 3 is going to come and go, and we’re not going to know. And you’re going to have bedlam in our country.”

Trump then visited Michigan on Sunday, a state he looks like he might lose after having barely won it in 2016. He warned voters: “This election is a choice between the Biden depression or you can have the greatest economic boom in the history of our country.”

Biden, joined by Former President and Barrack Obama, did the opposite, visiting Michigan on Saturday, followed by Pennsylvania on Sunday. Biden called Trump’s handling of the pandemic criminal, laying out his own plans to put in a national strategy, if elected.

Matthias Eibinger wins partypoker high roller Big Game for $357,500

The latest high roller Big Game was exactly that, a very big one indeed, and after 138 entries created a massive $357,500 prizepool, it was Austrian poker powerhouse Matthias Eibinger who walked away with the title. 

The partypoker Big Game online has a $2,600 buy-in and lives up to its name, taking place on a Sunday amid the majors that stretch out across all the major poker networks such as partypoker itself, as well as PokerStars, 888poker and GGPoker. 

The tournament is a long way from the partypoker Big Game of the former hit TV show where it was cash that was king. Checkout this episode from the archives: 

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KyvESreWDXY?feature=oembed&w=640&h=360]

PokerStars announce 1st year anniversary Pennsylvania Series

It’s hard to believe that it’s been a full year since PokerStars brought online poker back to Pennsylvania. In that time, numbers have been strong, tournaments have welcomed more and more players and the Keystone State has maintained its active status. 

To express their thanks to the poker community – and possibly remind them that PokerStars have put in the first year’s hard work on the back of rumours that other poker sites are about to wade into the market – there will be a slew of tournament to reward loyal players. 

The PokerStars 1st Anniversary Series will feature a total prizepool of at least $1 million between November 8th and 15th, with 35 events culminating in a $100-entry Main Event which has a $200,000 guarantee. 

As well as the Main, however, there are some other really fun-sounding events. With over $10,000 in tickets to events up for grabs in seven freerolls, PokerStars players can qualify right now for as little as $1 and ‘Stars will be hoping plenty of players do so. Other signature events that players can qualify for include the $100 Sunday Special on November 8th which guarantees $100K, the $20-entry ‘Mini’ Main Event on November 15th which has a $25,000 prize pool and a $50 phased tournament running throughout the series which has a guarantee of $50,000. 

State of Origin preview & match tips

Queensland and New South Wales are set to square off in their annual grudge match, as State of Origin best-of-three rugby series heads to Adelaide for the first time.

The National Rugby League (NRL) was forced to move the event from the regular mid-season clash to the end of the season due to COVID-19 pandemic. The two states have been forced to pick extended squads, with both sides waiting to finalise their squads at the conclusion of the NRL Grand Final.

Queensland enters the series as underdogs, with master coach Wayne Bennett being forced to debut eight new players in an extended 17-man line-up. Bennett claimed the Queensland coaching role after former coach Kevin Walters moved to take control of the Brisbane Broncos.

Bennett has assembled an all-star coaching roster that included former Queensland coach Mal Meninga. The former Queensland mentor steered the Maroons to their most successful period in Origin history, winning eight series. Queensland has put together a solid starting 17 on paper, but will do well to match the Blues scoring power.

Bledisloe Cup game four preview & match tips

Australia will be desperate to avoid a clean-sweep as they take on the All Blacks in the fourth Bledisloe Cup match in Brisbane. With the All Blacks claiming the Bledisloe Cup for another year, following their win in Sydney, Australia will be playing for pride.

After a promising display in the First Test Match in Wellington, the wheels have well and truly come off for the Wallabies. The home side were horrendous in their first outing at home this season. The match and series were effectively over by half-time, with the All Blacks piling on four times to nil.

Australian coach David Rennie was shell-shocked by the nature of the defeat; the 37-point margin was the largest in the 117-year history of the Bledisloe Cup.

The Wallabies are set to re-introduce experienced fly-half James O’Connor back into the side for the fourth match in Brisbane. O’Connor was a late withdrawal through injury for the match in Sydney, opening the door for Brumbies play-maker Noah Lolesio. Lolesio is inline for a bench spot after showing glimpses of his potential, scoring the Wallabies only try.

It’s election day, so what’s in it for Macau?

How will today’s potentially explosive elections in the United States affect Macau stocks? As nail-biting as they are and riot-instigating as they may be, it’s only a secondary question. The main problem for Macau right now is that the Chinese government is not letting anyone in to gamble. Until they do, it doesn’t matter who the US president is. However, assuming everything does return to normal somehow at some point, then yes, the US election results might matter in the longer term.

The basic answer is that a Biden administration would probably be less bad, as a second term Trump would unleash Sinophobic fury above and beyond what he’s already done in his first term with his protectionist trade wars and other belligerent nonsense. Joe Biden on the other hand could possibly rescind some of the tariffs that Trump has enacted. That would be quite welcome. Maybe he won’t but at least it’s a possibility. With Trump it’s completely out of the question, and so I believe a Biden victory would give Macau stocks a short term bump. Biden might even do something extra and send Ambassador Hunter over there to make a few fun deals and be a board member at Galaxy or whatever. Hunter would love that.

A Trump victory would scare away a lot of the Macau buyers that have come in to push the sector back up since March. Who knows what an unfettered second-term Trump could launch against China, especially if he blames Beijing for crashing the dollar when it sells US Treasuries after Trump spends another $2 trillion on bailouts financed entirely by the printing press. I would even say that some sort of low-boil covert hot war between Washington and Beijing is not completely out of the question.

Fundamentally though, reality and Macau stocks are not exactly on the same page these days, whoever wins. The VanEck Gaming Vectors ETF, which tracks largely Macau casinos, has doubled since the March bottom. Why? There has been no recovery. Not even close. Visitation to Macau is down 78% in September compared to the same month last year. There is no rocket science here as to why. Visitation to Macau from anywhere other than mainland China, a trickle from Hong Kong and a drip from Taiwan is for all intents and purposes choked off entirely. It’s not the virus. There have been no new deaths from the virus in Mainland China since April. 105 have died in Hong Kong, zero since September 25.

World Series Odds: Dodgers favored to repeat

Odds courtesy of OddsShark.com

Major League Baseball’s free agency officially opened Sunday, but it could be a fairly quiet offseason because so many teams are crying poor after a coronavirus-shortened 2020 regular season that featured no fans in stadiums. Owners still don’t know whether fans will be allowed in 2021, either.

Still, there will be some significant signings and trades in the Hot Stove League that will affect 2021 World Series odds. Here’s where we stand as of now, though.

No team has repeated as World Series champion since the New York Yankees won their third in a row in 2000, but the Los Angeles Dodgers are +500 favorites to end that drought. Los Angeles was clearly the best team in MLB this year in winning its first title since 1988. The Dodgers had MLB’s best record and run differential during the regular season. That said, nothing is a sure thing as Los Angeles was down 3-1 to the Atlanta Braves in the NLCS before rallying.