Category Archives: In The Biz

Georgia Soul, Crosstown Win Women’s, Men’s Elite Brackets At Inaugural 360 Hoops Invitational

Crosstown

Alexis Prince, Khadijiah Cave, Martell Buie and Demario Fountain were among the standouts as Georgia Soul (women’s) and Crosstown (men’s) claimed the Elite Bracket championships at the inaugural 360 Hoops Invitational this past week at DME Sports Academy. Competitors from across all age groups from elementary school up to top collegiate and professional standouts vied for the titles in various brackets in the unique 360 Hoops format, three-on-three play on a three-basket, three-team circular court.

In the women’s final, Prince scored a game-high 19 points, grabbed five rebounds and handed out six assists, and Cave pitched in 16 points and a game-best 10 boards as Georgia Soul defeated DMT, 54-25. The men’s final featured a strong comeback by Crosstown, which topped Top Shottas, 15-12, behind five points (one point per basket) from Blue and Fountain. Liam Davis had 10 of the squad’s 12 points and a game-high four rebounds in a losing effort for Top Shottas.

The fast-paced format meant non-stop action: the women’s contest saw 51 possessions in two 10-minute halves, and the men’s had 58 trips in 10:00.

The Women’s and Men’s Elite Bracket title games will be featured on a tape-delayed national TV broadcast with Emmy-Award winning producer Harry Cicma. Innovative camera angles and technology, including 360 VR, will be incorporated. Fans can view replays of games from the lower brackets at the 360 Hoops YouTube channel.

The format, in which three teams compete at a time on the 30-foot diameter circular court, featuring a single stanchion with three regulation baskets facing away in each direction and where players can score for their teams in any of the three baskets, produced some highlights not possible in standard basketball. Athleticism, moving without the ball and team play are paramount, readily apparent in this showcase for the nascent sport.

“We weren’t sure what to expect in our first tournament, but it exceeded everything we could have hoped for,” said Shane Brey, Co-Founder, 360 Hoops. “All of the elements of the game were on display, and we will look back at the tapes, learn which things worked well and which we can tweak to be even better. 

Georgia Soul

“We are thankful to these tremendous athletes, from the youngest kids right up to the Elite men and women for their efforts all week,” he added. “Georgia Soul and Crosstown will forever be the FIRST 360 Hoops champions, and we can’t be prouder to award them the titles, along with the other bracket winners.”

Winners of the inaugural 360 Hoops Invitational in each bracket include:

  • Elite Women’s – Georgia Soul (Alexis Prince, Aliyah Collier, Dominique Wilson, Khadijiah Cave) d. DMT (Destiny Campbell, Micah Garvin, Tiffany Hodge, Ionna McKenzie), 54-25. Third place: TC Hoopers (Brandy Montgomery, Dyane Pierre, Nene Johnson, Stephanie Ball)
  • Elite Men’s – Crosstown (Jon Thompson, Martell Buie, Demario Fountain, Eric Macintosh) d. Top Shottas (Romelo Bates, Dimitri Thompson, Liam Davis, Wilfredo Rodriguez), 15-12. Third place: Dunk Session (Raheem Watts, Dangelo Lee, Chris Watson)
  • High School Girls – National Basketball Academy/DME (Coach Jack Lutzeier, players Mariela Hooper, Isys Grady, Jhaid Westbrook) d. TNBA
  • High School Boys – Orlando Mets (Coach Edgar Santana, players Cris Santiago, Malik Moye, Dayron Horn, Waiter Ross) d. Go Riot

The event was followed by a lively and informative roundtable discussion with high-level basketball minds including Division I coaches, highlights of which will also air during the television broadcast. Featured panelists included Howard head coach Kenny Blakeney; Notre Dame head coach Mike Brey; Stetson assistant Brendan Ahearn Suhr; DME Sports Academy co-founder and owner Dan Panaggio; U.S. Army captain and former Augusta State Univ. star Ernesia Wright; Orlando Boom director of player development Mercedes Sirmons; and former Daytona State College and University of Central Florida standout Andrea Ayala. 

360 Hoops Invitational event partners include Dynasty Hoops, DME Sports Academy, Orlando Boom, and Ace League.

NLL Adds Fort Worth As 14th Lax Franchise

by Jesse Liptzin, special to The Daily Payoff

For the first time in 2020, a Men’s Professional Sports League in North America has added a new team. The National Lacrosse League is going to be expanding into Fort Worth Texas with the announcement coming this past Wednesday by Commissioner Nick Sakiewicz and the DFW region-based ownership group in Greg Bibb and Bill Cameron, two people very experienced in owning a sports franchise.

“We welcome Fort Worth as our 14th team and are excited to be working with a first-class organization led by Bill Cameron, Greg Bibb, and the leadership at Dickies Arena, one of the premier state-of-the-art facilities in the United States,” Sakiewicz said in a media teleconference announcing the addition of the franchise.

Bibb and Cameron also are part owners in the highly successful WNBA team, the Dallas Wings. The two businessmen have yet to release a name or team colors, but say it will have something to do with Fort Worth and the area.

“We are committed to an identity that has a Forth Worth bent, but also something that is a little untraditional,” Bibb said.

This is the NLL’s second team in the Southern part of America joining the Georgia Swarm. The team won’t officially start play for another 18 months (2021-22 season), but this isn’t unusual as the NLL has a rule, new teams need at least 12 months before actual play can begin.

The new team will be playing at Dickies Arena which recently opened in 2019.

“Dickies Arena is excited to add the NLL to its event list,” said TDMC’s Matt Homan, President and General Manager of Dickies Arena. “We believe there is a solid ownership team along with the strength of the NLL. We are looking forward to working with Bill and Greg’s team locally to make sure that the Fort Worth community has a long term franchise.”

This was interesting because even though the NLL has never had a team in Texas many lacrosse teams in other leagues have failed in the area. However, Forth Worth is the 13th largest city in America and hosts plenty of sporting events between NASCAR, Gymnastics, and more.

“Fort Worth is a world-class sports destination and we are excited to welcome the National Lacrosse League franchise to our community and our spectacular new Dickies Arena,” said Jason Sands, Director, Fort Worth Sports Commission.

The NLL is the largest and longest-running professional lacrosse league so expanding the number of teams is nothing new to them. Just after the last team was added two conferences were formed. With the new addition, the 14 teams may transition into three conferences.

“In all likelihood Fort Worth will be the only expansion team headed into the following season, although you never know with us,” Sakiewicz said. “Sometimes we have been known to add two teams at a time.”

News on the 2020 NLL draft and other important information having to do with the 35th NLL season will be announced later this year.

Cleveland Tops L.A. In Strat-O-Matic MLB Simulation Season

Terry Francona (credit: Arturo Pardavillo III)

The 2020 baseball season will be unlike any other, a 60-game sprint that began last night replacing the normal 162-game grind. And just as that means different strategies and maybe a different outcome than a full slate would have produced, Strat-O-Matic’s (www.strat-o-matic.com) simulation of the truncated schedule meant a new winner, as Cleveland topped Los Angeles, four games to two, in the World Series.

Cleveland, which posted the second-best A.L. record at 39-21, swept No. 7 Boston (29-31) in the expanded first round and No. 3 Tampa Bay (38-22) in the ALDS, then survived a seven-game series with No. 1 Houston (44-16) in the NLCS before topping Los Angeles (44-16), the N.L. top seed, winning the last three games to erase a 2-1 series deficit. Domingo Santana was a surprise hero, batting .417 with two homers in the series, and Franmil Reyes slugged three round-trippers for the winners.

Major award winners were as follows:

AL MVP: Carlos Correa, Houston

NL MVP: Kris Bryant, Chicago

AL Cy Young: Charlie Morton, Tampa Bay

NL Cy Young: Mike Foltynewicz, Atlanta

AL Rookie of the Year: Luis Robert, Chicago

NL Rookie of the Year: Alec Bohm, Philadelphia

This was in contrast to the full season simulation that Strat-O-Matic conducted day-by-day since March and completed this week, in which the Dodgers defeated Houston in the finals. The expanded 16-team playoff Fans can access the full 2020 “short” season at https://www.strat-o-matic.com/announcements/2020-60-game-season-simulation/ and full season simulation standings, statistics and game results at https://www.strat-o-matic.com/2020-season-simulation/.

“We figured there would be a difference between the 162- game and 60-game simulations, but Cleveland winning is certainly a surprise,” said Hal Richman, Strat-O-Matic founder. “The upcoming ‘sprint’ season and expanded playoffs mean that truly anything can happen, and Cleveland winning it all for the first time in more than 70 years certainly qualifies.”

Some other statistics and items of note from the season:

  • Daniel Murphy of Colorado (.380) and Xander Bogaerts of Boston (.345) won the league batting titles, respectively
  • Joey Gallo of Texas got on a home run roll, blasting 17, matched by his N.L. counterpart, Kris Bryant of Chicago. Carlos Correa of Houston knocked in 46 runs to lead the A.L., and Eduardo Escobar had 39 RBI to pace the N.L.
  • Charlie Morton won an A.L.-high 9 games for Tampa Bay, while Jack Flaherty’s 10 wins for St. Louis led all of baseball.
  • Atlanta’s Mike Foltynewicz posted a miniscule 1.27 ERA, best in baseball, while Gerrit Cole of New York led the A.L. at a stingy 1.51.
  • Four pitchers had 20 saves: Roberto Osuna, Houston; Kenley Jansen, Los Angeles (N.L.); Hector Neris, Philadelphia; and Daniel Hudson, Washington
  • Division winners were Tampa Bay (38-22), Cleveland (39-21), Houston (44-16), Atlanta (38-22), St. Louis (39-21) and Los Angeles (44-16). 
  • Seven of the first-round series were sweeps, six of those won by the home team/higher seed. Only No. 7 Colorado’s win over No. 2 St. Louis went the full three games.

Strat-O-Matic has experienced unprecedented growth over the past quarter, registering sharp increases in sales, traffic and social numbers. Board and Windows games, digital platform Strat-O-Matic Baseball 365, Website traffic, new users and social media have all seen significant boosts over comparable time periods as fans continue to satiate their thirst for baseball, Strat-O-Matic style, connecting with the game and each other across all of these areas.

NSW jockey Adam Hyeronimus guilty for illegal wagers

New South Wales (NSW) jockey Adam Hyeronimus has been found guilty of 30 out of 31 illegal betting charges, dating back to illegal bets that took place over three years beginning in 2016. Stablehand Blake Paine was found guilty alongside the Hyeronimus by Racing New South Wales stewards. The group one-winning jockey faces a potentially long suspension from racing for his part in the scandal.

Racing NSW stewards successfully proved that Hyeronimus had an interest in a $500 bet on ride Lucky Metor at Canterbury in 2016. He was also found to have placed a $500 bet on Limbo Soul, another ride that won on debut at Rosehill in February 2017.

The guilty verdict carries serious implications, with both charges carrying a minimum two-year ban from racing.

The NSW hoop was found guilty of a further 29 bets from 2016 to 2019, all on thoroughbred horse racing. Stablehand Blake Paine was found to have played a part in 31 cases and was convicted of 31 counts of betting for a jockey. Both men will also face additional charges of supplying false evidence to the enquiry.

New Covid-19 infections and rising curve closes remote Philippines casino

The casinos in Manila may have been closed since March due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but intrepid individuals who knew who to get past the quarantine checkpoints had the option of visiting the Casino Filipino in Angeles City. That is, until the brick and mortar location, run by the Philippines Amusement and Gambling Corporation (PAGCOR) had to shut down on July 17 due to 3 positive coronavirus tests amongst their staff.

Mayor Carmelo Lazatin Jr. said told media that PAGCOR had ordered the temporary closure, the Inquirer reports. Andrea Domingo, chairwoman of the regulator/casino operator, noted that the casino is currently being disinfected.

As reported, some attempt at contact tracing is being attempted. People who were in close contact with employees are said to have been identified and isolated, with tests pending.

The Casino Filipino was allowed to continue operation as it’s outside the General Community Quarantine that currently keeps Manila casinos shut down. Angeles City has reported 42 of Covid-19 total, with only 4 deaths.

WSOP Bracelets won in three no limit hold’em events

Three more WSOP bracelets were won across the weekend on WSOP.com as the Online Series continued to make dreams come true remotely rather than in Las Vegas.

There are a number of different game formats in this year’s WSOP Online Series, which is expected to completely replace the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas this year and has certainly taken its place in the summer schedule. 

All three bracelets that were won over the weekend, were, however, done so in no limit hold’em, the classic and most popular format played by up to 6% of the world’s population from the deepest rainforest to the arctic glaciers.

The first winner of the weekend had a rather… unfortunate name for a poker player.

WSOP Bracelets won in three no limit hold’em events

Three more WSOP bracelets were won across the weekend on WSOP.com as the Online Series continued to make dreams come true remotely rather than in Las Vegas.

There are a number of different game formats in this year’s WSOP Online Series, which is expected to completely replace the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas this year and has certainly taken its place in the summer schedule. 

All three bracelets that were won over the weekend, were, however, done so in no limit hold’em, the classic and most popular format played by up to 6% of the world’s population from the deepest rainforest to the arctic glaciers.

The first winner of the weekend had a rather… unfortunate name for a poker player.

New Covid-19 infections and rising curve closes remote Philippines casino

The casinos in Manila may have been closed since March due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but intrepid individuals who knew who to get past the quarantine checkpoints had the option of visiting the Casino Filipino in Angeles City. That is, until the brick and mortar location, run by the Philippines Amusement and Gambling Corporation (PAGCOR) had to shut down on July 17 due to 3 positive coronavirus tests amongst their staff.

Mayor Carmelo Lazatin Jr. said told media that PAGCOR had ordered the temporary closure, the Inquirer reports. Andrea Domingo, chairwoman of the regulator/casino operator, noted that the casino is currently being disinfected.

As reported, some attempt at contact tracing is being attempted. People who were in close contact with employees are said to have been identified and isolated, with tests pending.

The Casino Filipino was allowed to continue operation as it’s outside the General Community Quarantine that currently keeps Manila casinos shut down. Angeles City has reported 42 of Covid-19 total, with only 4 deaths.

Taylor swift the favourite for 2021 Super Bowl half-time show odds

Sporting glory is down to the margins, and in the history of Super Bowl that piece of magical will be defined by one moment, a tale so great that it adds a few feet to that white whale. The crux of any great Super Bowl is the half-time show. When Tampa Bay was announced as the location of the 2021 event, there’s been speculation over who’ll be leading the halftime extravaganza. The half-time show has been the place where some musical careers have put out to pasture.

J-Lo and Shakira took out the honour in 2019 and before the world has been forced to endure Maroon Five singer Adam Levine, who gave us twice as many nipples as Janet Jackson. Before Justin Timberlake got his sexy back, he infamously ended the career of Janet Jackson with one swipe.

The word is that Rhianna has already said no, in protest over the NFL’s treatment of Colin Kapernick. But before the NFL dusts off Madonna, there are some other contenders who’ve shown some promise.

Every teenage girl at one point at has been musically connected to Taylor Swift. Unless Taylor decides to marry Joe Alwyn in a secret pre-Super Bowl wedding, the gig is hers to lose. Tay Tay is a solid bet, she’s consistently in the public eye and is the musical equivalent of Tom Brady at Superbowl.

Taylor swift the favourite for 2021 Super Bowl half-time show odds

Sporting glory is down to the margins, and in the history of Super Bowl that piece of magical will be defined by one moment, a tale so great that it adds a few feet to that white whale. The crux of any great Super Bowl is the half-time show. When Tampa Bay was announced as the location of the 2021 event, there’s been speculation over who’ll be leading the halftime extravaganza. The half-time show has been the place where some musical careers have put out to pasture.

J-Lo and Shakira took out the honour in 2019 and before the world has been forced to endure Maroon Five singer Adam Levine, who gave us twice as many nipples as Janet Jackson. Before Justin Timberlake got his sexy back, he infamously ended the career of Janet Jackson with one swipe.

The word is that Rhianna has already said no, in protest over the NFL’s treatment of Colin Kapernick. But before the NFL dusts off Madonna, there are some other contenders who’ve shown some promise.

Every teenage girl at one point at has been musically connected to Taylor Swift. Unless Taylor decides to marry Joe Alwyn in a secret pre-Super Bowl wedding, the gig is hers to lose. Tay Tay is a solid bet, she’s consistently in the public eye and is the musical equivalent of Tom Brady at Superbowl.

Taylor swift the favourite for 2021 Super Bowl half-time show odds

Sporting glory is down to the margins, and in the history of Super Bowl that piece of magical will be defined by one moment, a tale so great that it adds a few feet to that white whale. The crux of any great Super Bowl is the half-time show. When Tampa Bay was announced as the location of the 2021 event, there’s been speculation over who’ll be leading the halftime extravaganza. The half-time show has been the place where some musical careers have put out to pasture.

J-Lo and Shakira took out the honour in 2019 and before the world has been forced to endure Maroon Five singer Adam Levine, who gave us twice as many nipples as Janet Jackson. Before Justin Timberlake got his sexy back, he infamously ended the career of Janet Jackson with one swipe.

The word is that Rhianna has already said no, in protest over the NFL’s treatment of Colin Kapernick. But before the NFL dusts off Madonna, there are some other contenders who’ve shown some promise.

Every teenage girl at one point at has been musically connected to Taylor Swift. Unless Taylor decides to marry Joe Alwyn in a secret pre-Super Bowl wedding, the gig is hers to lose. Tay Tay is a solid bet, she’s consistently in the public eye and is the musical equivalent of Tom Brady at Superbowl.

The Long Con: Steve Donoughue on the forces of UK gambling regulation

The past couple of years for the United Kingdom’s gambling industry has seen escalating regulations, expectations and fear campaigns, driven by a certain type of politician. To put it all into perspective, our Becky Liggero Fontana spoke with Steve Donoughue, Founder, GamblingConsultant.co.uk, after their recent iGaming NEXT POWER Hour.

Especially as Covid-19 shut everyone inside, fears ratcheted up about problem gambling, and reports are now being delivered which suggest gambling has to be massively curbed. “We believe that there should be a regulated gambling industry,” he said. “We obviously have different views to what extent it should be but what we’re not is outrightly against gambling, which is what the All Party Group Gambling Harms are.”

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivynIOxs-fo?feature=oembed]

Donoughue isn’t impressed with the All Party Group, and he offered some perspective on how such groups decide on their mission. “What you have to remember about select committees, there is a tendency to pick topics that are either in the newspapers or actually will make sure you get a lot of press coverage, because politicians are whores for press coverage, I know that I come from political family,” he said. “

Regal underline continued investment in data analysis with appointment of Rod Runnalls to newly created post of Head of Business and Product Intelligence

Regal Gaming and Leisure, part of the Gauselmann Group of leading U.K. facing brands, has confirmed the appointment of Rod Runnalls to the newly created post of Head of Business and Product Intelligence.

Rod, who has gained more than 30-years gaming machine experience with The Rank Group, Ladbrokes, Leisure Link and MHG (now Gamestec), joins Regal in what is a critical post lockdown period for both the gaming machine and pub sectors.

Looking forward to the challenge, which follows a 12-month consultancy role, during which he was instrumental in developing and delivering the reportage required to turn raw data into meaningful customer information, Rod believes that Regal is best equipped of all the industry operators to deliver value on behalf of its customers. He explained: “Investment into connectivity and data analysis has formed the cornerstone of Regal’s successful growth strategy over the last 24-months and the business continues to invest significant levels of Capex to ensure that all digital AWPs are connected to the Gauselmann Group’s industry leading MARS system.”

He continued: “Thanks to the MARS system we have the ability to share a wide range of data with our customers in real-time, including the number of machines that are switched on and working, as well as the number being played and transmitting data. We are also collating daily data for customers on how much physical cash is going through their estate of machines – by site and by position – which in turn allows us to understand whether all machines within a venue are trading and to what levels.”

Mohegan Sun Casino at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas Selects Betfred USA Sports to Operate Sportsbook

Betfred USA Sports has been selected as the Sportsbook operator inside Mohegan Sun Casino at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas. The announcement of this strategic partnership comes one week after Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment (MGE) unveiled the name and logo for its first Las Vegas destination. The Sportsbook will be part of Mohegan Sun Casino Las Vegas’ 60,000-square foot premium gaming venue, located within Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, part of the Curio Collection by Hilton™.

“We’re excited to work with Betfred, one of the leading Sportsbook operators in the UK and Europe,” said Aviram Alroy, Vice President of Interactive Gaming at MGE. “Our affiliation will introduce new and attractive competition to the Las Vegas market. Betfred will create a seamless and best-in-class experience on our gaming floor, which will cater to both domestic and international visitors.”

The Las Vegas-based Betfred USA Sports was created in 2019 by Betfred Group specifically to enter the robust and ever-expanding U.S. sports betting market. The Betfred Sports branded Sportsbook inside Mohegan Sun Casino Las Vegas will include luxury seating, a state-of-the-art video wall, and over-the-counter wagering, as well as self-serve kiosks. This partnership marks the company’s fourth U.S. Sportsbook, following properties in Iowa, Colorado, and Pennsylvania. Online sports betting products will accompany each venue location, including in Nevada. 

“Given our collaboration with two outstanding operators in Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment and Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, we are confident that our first foray into the Las Vegas Sportsbook market will be a great success,” said Betfred Group’s Chief Operating Officer, Mark Stebbings.”Through our shared expertise, we will be offering a top class service for sports bettors in the entertainment capital of the world.”

Mohegan Sun Casino Las Vegas’ eight-month renovation is currently underway, and the re-imagined Las Vegas lifestyle casino resort is slated to open in Fall 2020, subject to all regulatory approvals.

N.L. Downs A.L., 7-2, in Strat-O-Matic Simulation; Slim Jim Phantom Tops Drew Carey Managing Squads

Milwaukee’s Christian Yelich’s two-run home run in the fourth inning was one of five circuit clouts in the game as the National League topped the American, 7-2, in Strat-O-Matic’s simulation of the All-Star Game Tuesday night. TV host Drew Carey (American) and musician Slim Jim Phantom (National) managed the teams during a live video stream on Wizard World Virtual Experiences.

Fans can watch a replay of the contest on Twitch, Facebook or YouTube.

Yelich’s shot gave the N.L. a 2-0 lead. One out later, Matt Carpenter of St. Louis followed with another blast for a 3-0 edge for Phantom’s squad.

Carey’s Junior Circuit team pulled to within 3-2 in the sixth, but three runs in the bottom of the frame put the game out of reach.

“It’s just great to be part of this,” said Phantom, an avid baseball and Strat-O-Matic fan who hosts a fantasy baseball show on SiriusXM Radio, following the victory. “It’s keeping baseball going. We were all going crazy, and Strat-O-Matic was so helpful, we’ve been able to play fantasy ball all year. The same thing I love about Strat-O-Matic when I was a kid I love about it now.”

“I’ve been playing this game since the ’70s,” added Carey, a member of several Strat-O-Matic leagues, including one with Phantom. “I used to play my brother all the time, some of my fondest memories of growing up and always loved the game.”

Max Scherzer of Washington earned the win with a scoreless inning. Gerrit Cole of the Yankees gave up the three fourth-inning runs and took the loss.

Strat-O-Matic will continue its simulation of the regular season until the teams return to action on the field. Fans can follow the action, updated daily at 2 p.m. ET, at https://www.strat-o-matic.com/2020-season-simulation/.

Replay: https://www.twitch.tv/videos/679963416

Broncos, BetMGM Agree To Multi-Year Sports Betting Partnership

image: .sanden.

The Denver Broncos and BetMGM, a market-leading sports betting and gaming platform from ROAR Digital, LLC – the joint venture between MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM) and GVC Holdings (LSE: GVC), announced today that they have entered into a multi-year agreement.

As an official sports betting partner of the Broncos, BetMGM and MGM Resorts will provide premium fan experiences, including a new BetMGM Lounge at Empower Field at Mile High Stadium, VIP travel packages, and benefits through MGM Resorts’ loyalty program, M life Rewards. The strategic partnership also includes a free-to-play mobile game, digital marketing assets, and in-stadium promotions and signage.

“This partnership with the Broncos allows us to showcase not only a premier BetMGM sports betting and gaming platform, but also the world-class entertainment experiences delivered by MGM Resorts,” said BetMGM’s Chief Marketing Officer Matt Prevost. “We’re excited to bring both of these to Broncos fans at Empower Field at Mile High Stadium and across the country, while offering BetMGM users new ways to engage with their favorite football team.”

The BetMGM Lounge, located on the Level 1 concourse adjacent to Gate 4 and outside Section 111/112, will allow fans 21 years of age and older access to a full-service premium bar, a luxury lounge, live odds and assistance with BetMGM’s mobile app. Additional in-stadium promotions, highlighted by BetMGM’s season-long First Possession Payoff, will be announced at a later date.

The free-to-play game will be available to Broncos fans directly on The Bronco’s official mobile app. The game will offer eligible fans the opportunity to test their sports prediction skills and win MGM Resorts prizes, including trips to MGM Resorts properties nationwide.

Denver Broncos Chief Commercial Officer Mac Freeman said, “When we began the process of identifying potential partners in this category, our goal was to provide Broncos fans with unique ways to engage with sports betting. Together with BetMGM, we can now offer our fans and M life Rewards members in Colorado new opportunities such as in-stadium gaming lounge, VIP travel packages to MGM Resorts around the country and a free-to-play game through our mobile app.”

BetMGM recently launched in Colorado in partnership with the Midnight Rose Hotel and Casino. The BetMGM mobile app is available for download in Colorado on both iOS and Android. New customers to the BetMGM Colorado app will receive $100 in free bonus credit when placing a first bet of $10 or more on any Denver Broncos Game or Broncos future wager using bonus code BRONCOS at registration. For more information, follow @BetMGM on Twitter.

GGPoker offer players a chance to follow the silk road to glory

The prospect of playing a World Series of Poker bracelet event is different for every player. For professional poker players, the forthcoming GGPoker and WSOP.com hosted series provides a chance to earn more money in MTTs than would usually be possible, with swelled player fields and big guaranteed prizepools.

For the regular player who turns a profit at the game, some of the events represent a chance to up the stakes and take a shot at a bigger top prize than would usually be possible. There will be a huge number of player who take on the events that are recreationals, however, and they’ll be hoping to do so by travelling on the Silk Road.

What’s the Silk Road? Well, it’s a satellite path where you can enter World Series events for as little as $2. We’ve come a long way from Chris Moneymaker, haven’t we? With millions of online poker players reveling in the ability to play in multiple series events in the last few months, the lack of live poker tournaments – in particular the Las Vegas-based WSOP itself – has been tough to take. These sorts of promotions make up for a lot of the value lost, however.

There are no steps or satellites, with each event leading to a direct ticket, which means that for many events, only a handful – or fingerful – of tickets will be available. You’ll need to perfect that short-handed game in order to do well, then, and in that sense, these events play a little more like a freeroll with one or two big prizes than satellite events with 20-30 tickets on offer in every single game.