Category Archives: In The Biz

FanHub Creates New Multisport Mobile Picks and Props Game For Buffalo Wild Wings

Flickr/ Mike Mozart

FanHub, the largest provider of casual, free to play sports-focused digital gaming platforms in the world, today announced a new multisport collaboration with Buffalo Wild Wings. The collaboration will expand upon Picks & Props, the existing game co-branded with their partner BetMGM, operated by ROAR Digital – a joint venture between MGM Resorts International and GVC Holding. The platform launches as both the NFL Playoffs and the 2020 College Football Playoff National Championship between Clemson and LSU come into focus. It is the second time that FanHub and BWW have collaborated on a first-class, user-friendly mobile gaming experience. The multisport Picks & Props game comes after a successful NFL-only version of the game had approximately 300,000 users this fall.

“We are pleased to be able to work with Buffalo Wild Wings and launch what we think will be the standard fan engagement platform for consumers going forward – a simple, multisport user friendly experience that will really grow interest in each day,” said Phil de Winter, Head of Business Development, Americas, FanHub. “People want to be able to have fun and build rewards that have value, and this game does all that for whatever team, league or sport you enjoy.”

“With this next phase of Picks and Props, we continue our great partnership with FanHub and press forward in building out a top tier, free-to-play experience for our guests,” said Brandon Gill, Director of Experience and Gaming, Buffalo Wild Wings. “In addition to new features and sports, we continue to build a unique and seamless experience connecting our guests to our betting gaming partner, BetMGM.”

Going all the way through the Super Bowl, Picks & Props will run daily contests on a variety of sports, offering a private jet to six games of the winner’s choice through a partnership with Wheels Up. Throughout the game, contests can be based on NFL, NBA, NCAA Football, NCAA Basketball or NHL games. The multisport version of the game will also continue to have integrated odds and betting functionality for New Jersey-based users through the BWW and BetMGM partnership.

The co-branded game displays live BetMGM odds to all users so that they can make picks based on real lines and props. Users in New Jersey can place bets and get a pre-filled parlay bet slip based on their predictions.

The top weekly winners win free wings for a year that can be redeemed at any Buffalo Wild Wings location. Certain days will see the addition of a Blazin’ Bonus Question that offers users a massive amount of points if they correctly pick the underdog compared to the favorite. Scoring a perfect contest will unlock a streak points multiplier, giving users the best possible chance to get a high scoring week. The final contest will be published for the Super Bowl on February 2.

The latest partnership with Buffalo Wild Wings follows the success of similar global sporting platforms and brands, which have embraced digital games and fan experiences as an entry point for the engagement of millions of new fans. FanHub’s partners, from the NFL and Major League Baseball to the AFL and the ATP, have enjoyed a world class delivery of innovative digital sport experiences that have been seamless and beyond reproach. Even more growth for these products and more are coming in 2020.

Cambodia busts group of North Koreans assisting illegal gambling ops

The UN has a strict policy that prevents North Korean nationals from working in Cambodia. The action comes as part of a sweeping package of sanctions against North Korea and its leader, Kim Jong-un, but this didn’t stop a group of individuals from the country from trying to skirt around the rules. According to a report by The Khmer Times, 16 North Koreans have been busted for their role in an illegal gambling outfit that was targeting mainly Chinese gamblers.

The individuals were reportedly working in Cambodia as IT employees for the gambling operations. They had entered the country legally on tourist visas before landing their jobs and remaining in the country after their visas had expired. According to law enforcement, they had been in the country for over a year.

The chief of the provincial immigration police department, Brigadier General Chea Kimsan, indicated that the arrests took place last Friday during a sweep in the city of Siem Reap. He explained to the media outlet, “Cambodia is a member of the United Nations and has to follow the sanctions. According to UN sanctions, North Korean nationals are not allowed to work in Cambodia, but these 16 men used tourist visas and worked illegally for nearly a year in the Kingdom.”

Cambodia rose quickly over the past two years as a hub of online gambling activity, both legal and illegal, that primarily targeted Chinese nationals. After things got out of control, with operators ignoring a number of health, construction and employment laws, the country clamped down on online gambling, refusing to issue any new licenses and unwilling to renew any current permits. By this August, all online betting activity is expected to be gone (except for the underground sites).

Patriots Heart Stopping Title Leads Thuuz ‘Most Exciting Games of the Decade’

Brian Allen/Voice of America

Sports is all about excitement—sportsbooks count on it. As legal sportsbooks across the U.S. grew over the decade, automated video highlights production platform Thuuz culled data from more than a quarter million events to determine the most exciting games of the last 10 years.

“We all have our memorable moments, but what we have been able to do, and do every day, is measure the overall excitement in a wide range of sports events to produce this very special list,” said Warren Packard, Thuuz CEO. “This amazing cross section from around the world shows the global nature of sports fandom and provides us with a unique snapshot on what really made hearts pound the last ten years.”

Using their custom designed algorithms to measure real-time event excitement, Thuuz provides a unique look into what games have gotten fans the most excited and engaged through the close of 2019.

The game excitement ratings are measured on a 0 to 100 scale and take into consideration game pace, team parity, play novelty, momentum shifts, social buzz, and historical context. The algorithms behind the excitement ratings are statistically calibrated to insure the appropriate distribution of ratings across the duration of a season or course of a tournament.

Using the Thuuz excitement measurement platform, the top ten most exciting games of the decade were:

New England Patriots 34, Atlanta Falcons 28 (NFL): 2/5/2017. The Patriots rally to claim their Super Bowl title in one of the greatest comebacks in NFL history. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=016LXFHpFCk

Clemson 35, Alabama 31 (NCAAF): 1/9/2017. Dabo Sweeny’s Tigers win the National Championship with one second remaining. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5c_a03t-Ls

St. Louis Cardinals 10 Texas Rangers 9 (MLB): 10/27/2011 David Freese late game heroics created an instant heart stopping classic and helped lead the Cardinals to the World Series title. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4cd3XzzqMw

FC Barcelona 6 PSG 1 (UCL): 3/8/2017 Barca was down 4-0 after 1st leg and had to rally with a massive comeback, the greatest comeback in Champions League 2 leg history. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CgHT6_leeI

Chicago Cubs 8, Cleveland Indians 7 (MLB): 11/2/2016: The “Curse of the Billygoat” finally ends in Wrigleyville. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdtu2pAn-HM

Novak Djokovic vs Rafael Nadal 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-7 (5), 7-5 (ATP): 1/29/2012: Probably the greatest tennis match ever in 5+ hour epic took place Down Under in the Australian Open final Aussie Open Final. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kaaXz4IgrA

Miami Heat 103 San Antonio Spurs 100 (NBA): 6/17/2013: Ray Allen’s game winner is one for the history books. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZoJI05kBBw

New Zealand 241/8 & 15/1, England 241 & 15/0 (Cricket): 7/14/2019: A Super Over ends an epic series. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtCS0WGZH4k

Los Angeles Kings 5, Chicago Blackhawks 4 (NHL): 6/1/2014 A Game 7 OT in what was the best hockey series of the decade. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zN8LyDkMLmE

Villanova Wildcats 77, North Carolina Tar Heels 74 (NCAAMB): 4/4/2016: Villanova goes end to end with Kris Jenkins buzzer beater giving the Wildcats the national title. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFKZ84aV-qw

Aussie Millions: exciting start as Urbanovitch wins H.O.R.S.E. Event

The 2020 Aussie Millions has kicked off in fine style as the opening event has been joined in the Crown Casino in Melbourne by other side events as the famous yearly festival builds up to the Main Event.

Williams welcomes the world

With the tragic Australian bushfires still raging, air quality has been in question not only at the Australian Open tennis festival, but by players taking on the Aussie Million. Former WSOP Main Event champion Martin Jacobsen posted this evocative picture of just how the air quality has changed from a different year to this January’s event:

The air quality in Melbourne has reached hazardous levels. Contrasting view from my apt. pic.twitter.com/bKwALPcYYD

Codere receives two credit lines to bolster gaming ops in Mexico

The man in charge of leading gaming operator Codere’s efforts in Latin America, along with a small group of cohorts, decided that it wasn’t necessary to actually report real figures on revenue statements. Codere uncovered the creative accounting late last year and discovered that full-year earnings could be forced to be lowered by as much as $22 million. Partly as a result of the misleading profit statements, Spain-based Codere had to make up the difference and has now worked out a solution. According to a filing by the company with the Spanish Comisión Nacional del Mercado de Valores (the National Securities Market Commission), it has secured about $40 million (€36 million) in corporate credit lines.

The availability of the funds will allow Codere to upgrade its operations in Mexico and Uruguay. The creative accounting debacle revealed that around $16.5 million of the $22 million was losses out of Mexico, and the new credit lines will be used to make improvements to existing facilities in the countries.

In Mexico, that includes 85 arcades and 90 betting locations. In Uruguay, Codere operates six arcades, 26 betting locations and two racetracks. Any improvements to the properties in Uruguay will be designed to make those venues more attractive to buyers, as Codere is currently looking to offload those operations to another company. It was reported in October of last year that the company was considering selling 50% of the in-country operations to Chile-based Sun Dreams.

Codere is already reportedly sitting on a revolving credit facility of about $100 million, of which it has pulled around $44.5 million. It also has a refinanced bond worth over $858.5 million, which will mature next year.

Philippine senate panel makes POGO investigation a priority

As the 2020 session begins in the Philippine legislature, the Senate Committee on Labor, Employment, and Human Resources Development has made the investigation of the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) a major priority This according to the chairman of the committee.

In a recent phone conversation with media outlets in the country, Senator Emmanuel Joel J. Villanueva explained that the committee has concerns about the way that these offshore gaming establishments have been operating, and has dedicated his committee to conducting a full “inquiry, in aid of legislation, on the unusual influx of illegal foreign workers in the country, especially in the POGO and POGO-related industry.”

Recent statistics provided by the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) reported that 111,583 Alien Employment Permits were issued this past year. Of that number, 83,764 were issued specifically to POGO related businesses. The DoLE also added that of the 118,239 registered workers involved within these operations, 97,283 are foreign workers. This, as of December 10.

The committee will not only be looking into these numbers but has concerns about unregistered POGO employees as well. The committee was authorized under Senate Resolution No. 67, which was filed near the end of last year, to investigate not only the industry’s failure to provide proper documentation for employees but also on the failure to remit the proper amount of taxes to the country’s Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).

China’s lotteries still struggling as Taiwan enjoys double-digit growth

China’s lottery sales enjoyed a month-to-month improvement in November but still recorded the market’s 10th straight month of year-on-year declines.

Figures released this week by China’s Ministry of Finance show overall lottery sales of RMB37.8b (US$5.42b) in the month of November, a 12% decline from the same month last year but a significant improvement over October’s RMB27.5b.

October’s sales were dampened thanks to a nationwide ban on most lottery products to mark the annual National Day holiday. Even with that bit of pesky patriotism aside, November’s sports lottery sales still fell 8% year-on-year to RMB21.1b, while welfare lottery sales slid 15% to RMB16.7b.

Total sales over the first 11 months of 2019 are down 11.6% to RMB377.65b ($54.2b), with sports lotteries down 8.4% to RMB210.65b and welfare lotteries falling 15.3% to RMB167b. Among China’s regional lottery administrators, only Sichuan province reported a year-on-year improvement in 2019 to date (and that gain was extremely modest).

Bitcoin’s roots in gambling from Craig Wright

Malta’s 2019 SiGMA conference had a dedicated blockchain and Bitcoin track of talks, and the list of speakers could never truly be considered complete without the inventor of Bitcoin, nChain Chief Scientist Dr. Craig Wright. After concluding his day, Dr. Wright joined our Becky Liggero Fontana on the sidelines to talk about his own history in gambling, and how it helped inspire the world’s biggest public blockchain.

Loading the player…

jwplayer(‘camediasplayer-427348-2’).setup({

file: “http://30.cdn.bit2host.eu/videos/bitcoins-roots-in-gambling-from-craig-wright-video.m4v”,

NFL Wild Card weekend: Saturday odds & trends

The NFL’s Wild-Card Weekend kicks off Saturday with two games, both from the AFC. At 4:35 p.m. ET, the fifth-seeded Buffalo Bills visit the fourth-seeded and AFC South champion Houston Texans. It’s the first-ever postseason meeting between those franchises with the Texans as 3-point favorites. Buffalo has lost its past seven playoff games as an underdog.

Odds courtesy of OddsShark.com

It’s actually not the first time Buffalo has played Houston in the postseason. On January 3, 1993, in Buffalo in a Wild-Card Round game, the Bills staged the biggest comeback in NFL history in stunning the Houston Oilers 41-38 in overtime. Behind future Hall of Fame quarterback Warren Moon, the Oilers were up 35-3 early in the second half. Buffalo was without its own future Hall of Fame QB in Jim Kelly, and backup Frank Reich led the miracle rally. He’s now the head coach of the Indianapolis Colts.

Both the Bills and Texans lost at home in Week 17 but starters on both teams were rested in meaningless games. Buffalo has been a terrific road bet of late, going 7-1-1 ATS in its past nine away from home. Houston, meanwhile, is just 1-6 ATS in its past seven as a home favorite. It beat visiting Buffalo 20-13 in a defensive slugfest in Week 6 of the 2018 regular season in the last meeting. Current Bills starting QB Josh Allen was knocked out injured in the third quarter.

‘YourZone’ Looks To Be The ‘RedZone’ For All Sports

Looking to follow the huge success of the NFL RedZone channel, which has revolutionized how many fans watch football, OmniView Sports introduced its “YourZone” app, which it claims will “provide real-time, personalized notifications and alerts as well as automated channel tuning to match your preferences (favorite teams, players).”

Fantasy and gaming are two natural uses for such a service, with league scoreboard and Vegas odds from major sportsbooks presented on screen.

OmniView notes on its Website that YourZone will launch soon.

From the OmniView announcement:

The YourZone app uses patented technology to process real-time data to determine excitement levels surrounding a game, you’ll now watch every exciting moment in the sports world LIVE! The YourZone app and GameChangr technology guarantees this personalized sports viewing experience – automatically or with the touch of a button on the app, GameChangr tunes your television to what you can’t and don’t want to miss!

Michigan Prepares For Potential Sports Betting Boom

PlayMichigan.com

Michigan could rival the largest legal sports betting markets in the country once it matures, attracting billions of dollars in bets each year and generating millions in tax revenue, according to PlayMichigan.com analysts.

When Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed HB 4916 on Friday, Michigan became the 13th state to legalize online sports betting statewide and just the fifth state to legalize online casino gambling. And Michigan’s potential as a market is enormous, capable of generating as much as $7 billion to $8 billion in sports bets annually and $500 million in gross operator revenue, according to PlayMichigan.com projections.

“Michigan is the second-largest state in terms of population to have legalized online sports betting and online casinos and poker, behind only Pennsylvania,” said Dustin Gouker, chief analyst for PlayMichigan.com. “Michigan’s business-friendly tax rate and competitive licensing fees will attract operators, too. And with a solid tribal and commercial casino infrastructure already in place, Michigan should be poised for quick success.”

Michigan will tax sports betting gross revenue at 8.4%, and Detroit casinos will pay an additional 1.25% tax to the city. That makes Michigan among the most competitive compared to other legal jurisdictions. By comparison, Pennsylvania levies a 36% rate, by far the highest in the nation. New Jersey charges a 9.75% tax on revenue from retail sportsbooks and 13% on online sports betting revenue, and neighboring Indiana levies a 9.5% rate on its sportsbooks.

Even with the lower tax rate, sports betting could generate as much as $40 million annually for the state, according to PlayMichigan.com.

“Some in Michigan obviously wanted a higher tax rate, but the current rate should draw significant interest from sportsbook operators,” Gouker said. “That will help the market mature more quickly than markets such as Pennsylvania, where the ramp-up has been much slower despite having the largest population among all states with legal sports betting.”

Much of the future of Michigan sports betting depends on how much the state’s 23 tribes embrace online betting, which is a significant variable in how successful the industry might be in the state.

The same can be said for online gambling and poker, which could generate millions each year in gross revenue if it’s adopted by operators statewide.

Regardless, online gambling should eventually boost the online sports betting industry once it launches. In New Jersey, a symbiotic relationship has formed, spurring growth in both online casinos and online sportsbooks. And that relationship will likely develop in Michigan, too.

“The Michigan bill has clearly set up the industry to succeed and eventually become one of the largest markets in the country, as long as everyone buys in,” Gouker said. “By securing an operator-friendly infrastructure, the state should eventually realize its revenue goals to the benefit of Michigan as a whole.”

For more information and analysis on regulated sports betting in Indiana, visit PlayMichigan.com/news.

Growth and Safety of Pari-Mutuel Industry to be Committee Focus at Winter Meeting of Legislators from Gaming States, January 10-12 in San Diego

credit: Sean Hamrock

With US pari-mutuel handle showing growth in each of the last five years, a legislative committee will focus on the future and safety of this gambling sector when the National Council of Legislators from Gaming States holds its Winter Meeting, January 10-12, at the Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina.

As the only gaming conference where the legislative decision-makers meet, more than three dozen legislators from 19 states are among the nearly 200 NCLGS Winter Meeting registrants.

The NCLGS Winter Meeting is open to the public. Although the Marriott room block has sold out, NCLGS is providing a list of eight first-class hotels that are within easy walking distance of, and offered at comparable rates to, the host hotel. To view the hotel information and agenda, and to register for the Winter Meeting, visit http://nclgs.org/index.php/events/nclgs-winter-meeting-san-diego-2020.

The NCLGS Winter Meeting has been approved for 10.0 credits by the Nevada Board of Continuing Legal Education, underscoring its prominence as a vital gaming forum.

“While the pari-mutuel industry endeavors to sustain its recent growth, it also seeks to ensure the safety of its equine athletes, including the use of proper racing surfaces and effective drug-testing programs. The Committee on Pari-Mutuel looks forward to welcoming four experts who will discuss the path forward in pari-mutuel racing,” said NCLGS President William P. Coley, a state senator from Ohio who will chair the committee.

Speakers on the Committee on Pari-Mutuels include:

  • F. Douglas Reed, Senior Pari-Mutuel Associate, Spectrum Gaming Group
  • Eric Hamelback, CEO, The National HBPA
  • Virgil Morgan Jr., Trainer, Member, Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association
  • Gregory Simpson, Commissioner, Ohio State Racing Commission

The agenda for the three-day NCLGS Winter Meeting also includes:

  • Six legislative-chaired Committee sessions that will focus on tribal and commercial casinos, responsible gaming, and lotteries, as well as legal, regulatory, and operational aspects related to sports betting
  • Two general-session Masterclasses focusing on sports betting and tribal-state compacting conducted by the International Masters of Gaming Law
  • Morning Keynote Address from Robert Zahradnik of The Pew Charitable Trusts
  • Luncheon Keynote Address from Bill Miller of the American Gaming Association: “State of the Industry”
  • Two Sunday morning general session panel discussions
  • Thursday evening networking reception
  • Friday evening welcome reception
  • Saturday afternoon tour of Pechanga Resort Casino in nearby Temecula

For sponsorship information, contact events@nclgs.org. Legislators and others seeking NCLGS membership information should contact Wayne Marlin at wayne.marlin@nclgs.org.

NCLGS is the only organization of state lawmakers that meets on a regular basis to discuss issues relating to gaming. Members of NCLGS serve as chairpersons or members of state legislative committees responsible for the regulation of gaming in their state legislative houses. NCLGS does not promote or oppose gaming but is primarily concerned with the regulation and economic and social impacts of the industry. The NCLGS Foundation is the educational and research arm of NCLGS. The 501(c)(3) non-profit is a source of non-partisan data on issues of gaming legislation and regulation. Learn more about NCLGS at https://www.nclgs.org/.

NBA Christmas Day games betting preview

The marquee day on the NBA’s annual regular-season schedule is not opening night or the final day of the season but Christmas Day. That’s when the league draws its best ratings – there are no other major live sporting events in the USA on the holiday this year – and often draws its top betting action. Some fans believe the NBA should push the start of every regular season back to Christmas like it did during the 2011-12 lockout season.

Odds courtesy of OddsShark.com

The first game on the slate, with all of them nationally televised, is Boston Celtics at Toronto Raptors at noon ET. It’s only the second time in franchise history that the Raptors play on the holiday (no doubt reward for winning last year’s NBA title), while the Celtics usually do. Toronto is a bit banged-up right now so is a 2.5-point home underdog despite being on an 8-0 SU and ATS streak at home against Boston. The Dinos lost the first meeting this season 112-106 in Boston way back on October 25.

At 2:30 p.m. ET, it’s the Milwaukee Bucks at Philadelphia 76ers, the two teams most consider the best this season in the Eastern Conference. The Bucks are playing like that with the NBA’s best record and Giannis Antetokounmpo playing better than he did in his 2018-19 MVP season. The 76ers are excellent at home this year but very shaky on the road. Philadelphia is a 3-point underdog, and it’s the first meeting of the season between these clubs.

The seven family poker players you’ll meet this Christmas

With 12 days of Christmas to enjoy, the festive family holiday will often start in a dizzying display of mirth and merriment between you and your kin. You’ll hear all their news, find out any exciting announcements, discuss the births, marriages and deaths that have punctuated your year and swap presents on Christmas Day itself.

It’s on Boxing Day that the cards come out. While there are many other entertaining games you can play over the Yuletide period, poker often comes out on top. But if you’re dragged into your family poker game, who should you watch out for?

1. The Sneaky Sibling

You’ve spent all year bailing them out of jams, lending them a tenner when they encountered any number of emergencies such as an overdue electricity bill, blown tyre on the motor and cash flow problem a week before Glastonbury.

Canadians’ Passion for Sports Uncovers Huge Potential for Online Betting According to Global Affiliation Company

Air Canada Arena (Suman Chakrabarti)

Swedish affiliation company Leadstar Media recently launched Mybettingsites.com/ca for the Canadian market. It is the company’s third North American website, but the first one targeting the Great White North. “The potential for sports betting in Canada is huge and we want to be a part of it,” says CEO Eskil Kvarnström.

Swedish iGaming lead generation company Leadstar Media has launched a bookmaker comparison website in Canada as they progress their global expansion.

Adding to the already lengthy list of markets they are active in, which includes the US, UK, Germany, and Brazil, the introduction of MyBettingsites.com/ca to Leadstars portfolio represents a significant state of intent and a desire to continue their rapid growth.

CEO Eskil Kvarnström sees huge potential in the Canadian market, and believes now is the perfect time for Leadstar to take the plunge: “Betting in Canada is only getting bigger, and it has always been a territory in which we have wanted to make some noise.

“There is a really interesting gambling culture over there, which is of course helped by how passionate Canadians are about sports.”

MyBettingsites.com rates and reviews bookies as well as providing betting guides and bonus offers for sportsbooks and online casino sites.

Visitors to the site can also find up-to-date information around the legality of gambling, deposit methods, plus new features on betting websites and apps.

“We always strive to be a dependable resource for gamblers and bookmakers. Our online betting partners bring a multitude of benefits, and more importantly the convenience of being able to bet from a mobile device from anywhere at any time. That is simply a necessity in modern-day gambling,” continued Kvarnström.

Having entered the US and Canada in quick succession, further launches are expected from Leadstar in other countries in 2020.