Category Archives: Press Releases

Bryant’s Custom 1963 Chevy Impala Up For Auction Through January 30

Goldin Auctions

A truly one-of-a-kind car which was custom built for the late, great Lakers legend Kobe Bryant (given to him by his wife Vanessa) is up for auction at goldinauctions.com as part of their 2021 Goldin Elite Auction which closes on January 30th. This automobile was commissioned by Kobe’s wife Vanessa as a gift for her husband for Christmas in 2006. Vanessa Bryant retained the services of West Coast Customs of Corona, CA, the famed shop that inspired MTV’s “Pimp My Ride”, to create the ultimate Impala lowrider.

“You will not find a more sentimental Kobe Bryant item for public sale than this personally-owned vehicle gifted to Kobe by his wife Vanessa for Christmas,” says Goldin Auctions Founder and CEO Ken Goldin. The custom-built vehicle has only 24,729 miles and was purchased in 2014 after being owned by the Bryant’s for a little under a decade.

The vehicle also comes with the original title that reads “Vanessa Bryant” documenting the vehicle’s ownership history. The interior is custom white leather and also includes a deluxe custom Soundsystem.

Entain plc – Directorate changes

Entain plc (LSE: ENT), the global sports-betting and gaming group, announces that Jette Nygaard-Andersen, currently an independent non-executive director of Entain, has been appointed Chief Executive Officer with immediate effect. Shay Segev, the outgoing CEO, steps down as a director today and will remain available to Jette, the Board and management until 8 July, to facilitate an orderly transition. In addition, Rob Wood, Entain’s CFO, will have the role of Deputy CEO added to his current role with immediate effect, and Sandeep Tiku, Entain’s Chief Operating Officer, will be appointed to the Board later in the year.

Jette Nygaard-Andersen joined the Entain Board as an independent non-executive director in 2019. As a Board member Jette has been instrumental in the development of Entain’s growth and sustainability strategy. Jette has more than 20 years’ experience in leadership and operational roles in media, entertainment, sport and digital businesses and an extensive track record of working with fastgrowing digital next generation online and mobile entertainment companies offering video gaming, eSports, and social media video content. As such she brings significant experience to the CEO role that reflects the evolution of Entain into an entertainment focused company.

Rob Wood was appointed CFO in March 2019 following six years as CFO of the Group’s U.K. Retail division. Rob has played a critical role in driving the financial performance of the Group and delivering the new strategy announced in November. To continue Rob’s development, he will now take responsibility for all Retail operations and M&A activities under the role of CFO and Deputy CEO.

Sandeep Tiku joined Entain (then bwin.party) in June 2014. After four years as Group Chief Technology Officer he became Group COO in July 2020 to drive Entain’s operations through technology and operational excellence. Sandeep has been instrumental in developing Entain’s industry leading proprietary technology platform, and also drove the integrations of the bwin.party, Ladbrokes and Coral businesses into the Group. His appointment to the Board, which will take effect later in the year, reflects the importance of the technology platform to Entain’s continued success.

Famer, Alliance Fastpitch Announce Multi-Year Partnership to Deliver Softball Training Curriculum

Famer, the virtual sports coaching and mentorship platform, today announced a partnership with The Alliance Fastpitch, the fast-growing national organization unifying the sport of fastpitch softball with a player-first approach to adding value, purpose, recognition and top-level championship play. Founded in 2020, The Alliance Fastpitch has quickly grown to over 700 teams, and 10,000 members connecting top programs and teams nationwide through six regional Member Leagues including the Pacific Coast Fastpitch League, Heart of America Fastpitch League, Northeast Fastpitch League, Rocky Mountain Fastpitch League, Southeastern Fastpitch League and Texas Fastpitch League.

Under terms of the deal, Famer’s video production arm, Famer Productions, will work with The Alliance Fastpitch to produce a custom library of hundreds of holistic player and coach training videos covering everything from softball skills, drills and game situations, to sport specific training, to leadership and mental toughness. Typically priced at $60 annually per player or coach on the Famer app, this content will be included free to every member of the Alliance as part of their efforts to provide value to their members. Drills will be led by some of the top coaches in the game of fastpitch softball, such as Marty Tyson and Mike Stith, as well as current and former professional and National team players like Natasha Watley. Alliance Fastpitch members will download the Famer app and receive exclusive weekly content from The Alliance year-round.

“Famer shares The Alliance’s mission to deliver content and experiences that allow players and coaches to reach their full potential,” said Famer Chief Revenue Officer Bill Richardson. “We are proud to have been chosen to power The Alliance’s digital member development programming and we are excited to welcome the very best fastpitch coaches, players and organizations in the nation onto the Famer platform. In 2020, virtual coaching and training became a critical component of the way many organizations stay connected to their athletes. As we emerge from the pandemic, physical and digital training has merged forever. This partnership demonstrates the value of virtual coaching and mentorship extending and enhancing the core work coaches and athletes do on the field.”

“One of our goals as The Alliance Fastpitch is to drive athlete-centric programming and create development-based resources that elevate our game and participants,” says Jami Lobpries, Executive Director of The Alliance Fastpitch. “There is a need at the youth level to have a centralized location for continued learning, sharing of best practices, mentorship, and certified training. Famer enables us to bring together our best resources, including our cohesive network of the best minds in the game, and share those amongst our members in an innovative manner. With Famer, we will be at the forefront of education and innovation for our sport and will continue to add even more value to our Alliance membership”.

Famer and The Alliance will work closely to bring the best coaching and mentorship programming exclusively to The Alliance Fastpitch members. Along with the national membership curriculum, local organizations in The Alliance will also be able to use the Famer Team platform to provide interactive team training with group chat and workouts with their own custom content on top of the core Alliance video library. The Alliance Fastpitch empowers all players, coaches and member organizations to develop their skills and be their best both on and off the field.

Play’n GO to sponsor several panels at the European Gaming and Gaming Americas Quarterly Meetups in 2021

Transylvania – 19 January 2021 –

Leading supplier for slot gaming in the casino industry all virtual quarterly meetups by Hipther Agency through 2021

The team at Hipther Agency, organizers of the European Gaming & Gaming Americas Quarterly Meetups, is excited to announce the support of Play’n GO as panel sponsor for multiple discussions all through the 8 quarterly meetups in 2021.

Based on several surveys and feedback, the team at Hipther Agency has made the necessary steps to support the gaming industry’s informational needs all through the year.

Soft2Bet nets PCI DSS data accreditation

Cyprus, 15th January 2021 – Casino and sportsbook platform provider Soft2Bet has been certified by The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS).

The company was accredited with the certification after passing a rigorous audit, recognising its capability to securely protect the transfer of credit and debit card data between customers and payment service providers.

The news showcases Soft2Bet’s strong compliance credentials, which are also demonstrated by the SGA, MGA and Curacao licences held by the market-leading casino and sportsbook platform provider.

The company’s latest certification indicates its unwavering commitment to protecting the data of players using the 30+ operator brands in its portfolio, which is set to be enhanced with a new flagship sportsbook in early 2021 and currently includes the SBC-award winning Wazamba.

Clive Hawkswood joins Gambling Integrity, the UK’s leading consultancy in gambling governance

Gambling Integrity are delighted to welcome Clive Hawkswood to the team. Clive joins Gambling Integrity following his Chairmanship of Responsible Affiliates in Gambling (RAiG). Prior to this he was Chief Executive of the UK’s Remote Gambling Association from August 2004 to January 2019 where he represented the industry’s interests with a range of international regulators and governments. He was closely involved in the development of industry best practice across a range of regulatory and social responsibility issues. This included regular dialogue with the British Gambling Commission and Government. For many years he was a board member of GambleAware and he was the first Chairman of GAMSTOP, the national online self-exclusion system. 

Malcolm Bruce, Founder of Gambling Integrity said: “Clive brings huge depth of knowledge of the online gambling industry together with a deep commitment to player protection and the prevention of gambling-related harm. He will be working with us to develop and enhance our Pre-Audit Review (PAR) service, which provides reassurance to operators that they are in good shape from a regulatory perspective before they are audited, inspected, or have their licences reviewed by the British Gambling Commission.’

Clive Hawkswood says: “It is always better to seek out and address any regulatory failings, especially where they relate to player protection, before they are identified by the Gambling Commission. With operator boards being held directly responsible for serious breaches, I am sure that more than ever they will want to have the fullest confidence in the controls and systems within their companies. I am delighted to now be part of the Gambling Integrity team working with our clients to ensure their boards are fully briefed on the steps they need to take to maximise regulatory compliance and good corporate governance.”

Gambling Integrity helps organisations focus on safer gambling, by training and mentoring staff, advising on sustainable business models and ensuring regulatory compliance.

First Dates gets Foxy

Foxy Bingo announces it will launch a year-long TV sponsorship deal of the popular dating show, First Dates, from January 2021. 

Running throughout the year on both Channel 4 and E4, the campaign is set to feature Foxy starring in various sponsorship idents before each episode, with the deal covering new and repeated programmes, as well as spin-offs, such as First Dates Hotel and First Dates Australia. 

The deal includes 32 episodes (with each repeated once weekly) across the various programmes and channels throughout the year. 

Speaking about the new sponsorship, Anna Venturas, Brand Director of Foxy Bingo, said: “We are delighted to be sponsoring First Dates throughout 2021, the show really resonates with our audience and we truly believe that this will be a perfect fit for both the programme and our brand”.

Head of the Commission for Regulation of Gambling and Lotteries Ivan Rudyi to speak at Ukrainian Gaming Week 2021

Ivan Rudy, Chairman of the Commission for Regulation of Gambling and Lotteries will become the speaker at Ukrainian Gaming Week 2021, which will be held on February 24-25. Event will be organized by Smile-Expo.

Commission for Regulation of Gambling and Lotteries is a key body on the Ukrainian gambling market. It provides control over activities related to the organization and conduct of gambling. The state structure was created by the Cabinet of Ministers in order to ensure transparent interaction between business and regulatory authorities.

The regulator oversees the launch of the gambling business, its legalization, licenses market participants and monitors their work. The main mission of the commission is to create a system that will simplify the working conditions in the gambling and lottery sector.

The powers of the collegial body include:

The 14th specialized event dedicated to the gambling industry – Russian Gaming Week will take place on April 27

On April 27, 2021, Smile-Expo will organize the 14th Russian Gaming Week in Moscow. This is the largest gambling event in the CIS. It will unite the leading companies on the market and experienced experts from various fields at one platform.

Event will be of interesting to owners of casinos and betting shops, organizers of poker games, equipment suppliers, software developers, advertisers, investment companies, members of specialized associations and many others.

Event

A rich program is expected at Russian Gaming Week, which will include a large-scale conference, a demo zone and the prestigious Betting Awards.

Legends Media & Entertainment Names Julio Manteiga As Head Of Content And Communications

Julio Monteiga

The National Basketball Retired Players Association (NBRPA) announced today that veteran NBA communications specialist Julio Manteiga has joined the organization in the newly-revamped role of Head of Content and Communications. Manteiga joins the NBRPA from the NBA, where he served in a dual role as Director of NBA’s Latin America communications and Media Monitoring Departments. He will oversee all of the NBRPA’s growing digital and social efforts as well as handle the day-to-day proactive communications for the organization.

“We are proud to be able to bring Julio into this new and expanded role,” said NBRPA Executive Director Scott Rochelle. “His experience as a global strategic storyteller will be invaluable to us as we grow our scope, our partnerships and our strategy.”

“I am looking forward to be joining Scott and the team he is assembling,” Manteiga said. “The stories and the personalities of the men and women that make up the NBRPA are more valuable today than ever before, and we now have a great structure to tell them to a wide global audience.”

Manteiga started at the NBA in 2003 and rose within the ranks at the league, eventually serving as Director of Communications for Latin America for five years. He developed communications plan for daily and weekly dissemination of league announcements to key media stakeholders in the U.S. and Latin America, ensuring accurate league information was published by media partners and regional news outlets. He also integrated standardized operations for local PR/Marketing agencies in Brazil, Dominican Republic, Mexico, and Puerto Rico to enhance the NBA’s efforts in region and vastly increasing relevancy with local fans and business partners. The New York native also developed, implemented, and executed NBA’s global influencer program for all influencer appearances and promotions at key events that expanded the NBA’s global social media presence among many other duties.

A graduate of Five Towns College in Dix Hills, NY, Julio is fluent in English and Spanish and conversational in Portuguese.

The NBRPA represents over 1,000 former NBA and WNBA players, making it the largest agency of its kind in basketball. In three months LME in both audio and video has drawn almost 600,000 views and listens, more than three times the combined numbers of audio and video around the players in the previous nine months. Viewers and listeners have come from over 20 countries, and have enjoyed content from some of the most unique storytellers in the history of professional basketball. The key unified elements of LME include: Legends Magazine, Legends Studios, the All-Access Legends Podcast and the NBRPA’s social media strategy and content.

To follow along with LME content from the NBRPA, find them on social media at @NBAalumni on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch or on Facebook at NBA Alumni.

888 Holdings Public Limited Company (“888” or “the Group”) post-close trading update

888, one of the world’s most popular online gaming entertainment and solutions providers, today announces a post-close trading update in respect of its results for the year ended 31 December 2020 (the “Period“).

Further to the Group’s Trading Update on 2 December 2020, 888 is pleased to announce it continued to deliver a strong performance to the end of the year, with both revenue and active customer numbers in December representing all-time monthly records for the Group. As a result, the Board now expects the Group to report revenue and adjusted EBITDA for the Period moderately ahead of its prior expectations.

This strong trading continues to reflect increased new customer acquisition that started at the end of 2019 and continued throughout 2020, the positive impact of new products launched during the Period as well as an acceleration in the shift from retail to online services witnessed across multiple consumer-facing industries.

Whilst 888 has entered 2021 with good momentum, the Board remains mindful of possible headwinds over the coming months including macro-economic and regulatory uncertainties in certain jurisdictions. Notwithstanding, the Board remains confident that, with 888’s outstanding product proposition, advanced technology and diversification across global regulated markets, the Group remains well positioned to deliver further progress.

G2E Asia to Convene in August at the Venetian Macao

Macau – January 14, 2021 – Global Gaming Expo (G2E) Asia – the marketplace for the Asian gaming and entertainment industry – will return to the Venetian Macao from August 17-19, 2021.

Traditionally held in May, the August convening will allow exhibitors and attendees more time to plan for their participation in light of continued COVID-19-related commercial and travel restrictions.

“Through ongoing consultation with our exhibitors and the Macau government, Reed Exhibitions and the American Gaming Association determined that an August event provides the best opportunity to showcase the caliber of educational content and create the valuable marketplace that our industry has come to expect from G2E Asia,” said Josephine Lee, chief operating officer, Reed Exhibitions China. “We look forward to bringing the gaming community together at G2E Asia, as the industry continues to recover from the devastating impacts of COVID-19.”

Additional details of the August event will be shared as they become available.

ShotTracker Secures $11M Financing Led By Evertz Technologies And Verizon Ventures

Pexels-Markus Spiske

DDSports Inc. (ShotTracker), a revolutionary sports technology that captures rich performance data via sensors and provides statistics and analytics with sub-second latency, today announced an $11M USD funding round led by Evertz Technologies Limited (“Evertz”) and Verizon Ventures. ShotTracker will use the funds to accelerate its deployment across NCAA Division I Power 6 Basketball Conferences, expand hiring, further key partnerships and enhance sensor capabilities and data capture for players, coaches, fans and broadcasters.

ShotTracker brings elite-level real time analytics to the court. The company’s patented technology tracks data in three parts: a ShotTracker-enabled ball, sensors on players’ jerseys, and court sensors that map the court in 3D. Data is processed through the company’s proprietary algorithm displayed on the ShotTracker app and dashboard and will also be integrated with Evertz cloud based live production solutions. The real time data can be used to automate camera productions from remote locations and can be licensed by media and sports data companies.

With more than 63 Division I men’s and women’s basketball programs and a growing relationship with Learfield IMG College and their partner schools, ShotTracker’s cutting-edge technology is well-positioned to deliver deep data and analytics as well as video, scoreboard and broadcast integration. For its media company and broadcast customers, it currently delivers experiential activations and crossover content opportunities distributed via digital and social platforms.

The Evertz partnership brings to ShotTracker a global leader in providing professional video/audio infrastructure and cloud-based solutions to content creators. The partnership with ShotTracker’s advanced real time analytics, will enable content owners to create tailored content for their audience across multiple platforms. With automated camera operations, advanced statistics, and cloud services, producers can augment live production by telling unique stories that enhance the audience’s experience (in-venue and/or the broadcast) while realizing additional revenue opportunities.

“Combining ShotTracker sensor data and our DreamCatcherTM suite of products will enrich live productions — on-premise and cloud-based — for broadcasters, leagues, teams, and fans.” said Vince Silvestri, Evertz VP of Software Systems. “We are excited to be working with the ShotTracker team to bring enhanced and personalized game experiences to fans everywhere.”

“As real-time data tracking and analytics become critical components for coaches and players, instantaneous and interactive delivery powered by 5G is critical,” said Michelle McCarthy, Verizon Ventures Managing Director. “ShotTracker’s real-time sports data will transform fan experiences, athletic performance, sports broadcast and more. We’re proud to invest in a team of industry veterans as they pave the way for data capture in game play to improve all areas of the sport.”

“The entire ShotTracker team is excited to have the opportunity of working with two such farsighted technology leaders as Evertz and Verizon Ventures, each of whom brings special capabilities to enable us to fulfill our vision of what truly real time statistics and analytics can mean,” said Bill Moses, ShotTracker CEO. ShotTracker Founder and COO, Davyeon Ross, added: “The impact of tying the cameras to the ShotTracker sensors, in cost savings and in the quality of unique content which then can be delivered, will be dramatic and literally game changing for the sports world.”

BuyBSV.com expands to seven new countries

As the Bitcoin SV blockchain expands so does the need for easy accessibility and as a result you can now buy Bitcoin SV (BSV) on BuyBSV.com with VISA or MasterCard in: Argentina, Colombia, Chile, Greenland, Kenya, Peru & Taiwan.

This global expansion is additional to the United States, Canada, Brazil, Australia, New Zealand, India, Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia and European countries, namely, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Romania and United Kingdom.

Furthermore, websites, portals, blogs and vlogs can now embed our specially designed widget to their content allowing visitors easily purchase BSV and tip, pay for content, products or experiences with BSV. Just fill out the form at the bottom of the buyBSV.com website.

Editors’ Notes:

Swet Tailor Partners with The Reese’s Senior Bowl as First-Ever Official Off-The-Field Apparel Sponsor

Los Angeles-based fast-rising menswear brand Swet Tailor, the creators of EveryDay. EveryWear,™ has teamed up with the Reese’s Senior Bowl, the preeminent college football all-star game, to exclusively sponsor the off-the-field wardrobe for players, coaches and staff. It is the first time the Senior Bowl has brought on a brand to handle all non-field related apparel in the history of the game. The category of off field apparel is expected to be a unique one for college athletes when Name, Image and Likeness comes into play in the coming years, and Swet Tailor sees NIL as a business growth opportunity for the brand.  

The Swet Tailor off-the-field wardrobe will include key styles such as the All-In Pants, Swet Joggers and All-Polos, and will be an opportunity to officially introduce its new High & Mighty range, which includes big and tall extended sizing, to elite draft prospects and sport industry insiders ahead of the NFL Draft in April. The brand has continued to grow its presence in recent years, and its investor athletes include current and former NFL players, including: Mark Sanchez, Josh Norman. Josh Rosen, and Ryan Kerrigan. Longtime media personality Rich Eisen has also worn Swet Tailor during his annual 40 yard dash for charity at The Combine, and is a supporter of the brand as well.  

“This is an exciting partnership for the Reese’s Senior Bowl. We are always looking for sponsors that bring added value to our players and making Swet Tailor our official off-field apparel partner does just that,” said Jim Nagy, Executive Director of the Reese’s Senior Bowl. “Our Senior Bowl players will appreciate the comfort and quality of Swet Tailor products, especially the big guys.  We expect Swet Tailor’s new High & Mighty line for big and tall men to be a huge hit with our linemen.”

“We are honored to partner with Reese’s Senior Bowl because we know exactly how pivotal this game is for the student athletes,” shares Swet Tailor CEO Adam Bolden. “We are here to ensure each and every player looks and feels good as they step up to one of the biggest moments in their careers. Our wide range of styles––from our classic sizing to our newly-launched High and Mighty line––is made to move with athletes, on and and off the field. We are looking forward to getting to know these talented individuals and helping them discover that style and comfort do not have to be mutually exclusive.”

This is the first official college football event sponsorship for Swet Tailor; previously, the menswear brand has supported sporting events including The NFL Combine, The EOD Warrior Foundation Golf Outing, and Merril Hoge Celebrity Golf Outing.

The Carolina Panthers and Miami Dolphins will be the coaching staffs for the 72nd annual Reese’s Senior Bowl, which will be played on Saturday January 30, 2021 at brand new Hancock Whitney Stadium on the campus of the University of South Alabama.  The game will be aired live on the NFL Network at 1:30 CT. The rosters will be announced shortly.

The Swet Tailor sponsorship will span the duration of the Reese Senior Bowl Week, which will officially kick off Saturday, January 23rd and run through January 30th. 

CELSIUS Teams Up with MMA Superstar Dustin Poirier

Celsius

Celsius Holdings, Inc., maker of the leading global fitness drink, CELSIUS®, today announced that they have officially signed Dustin Poirier to Team CELSIUS to act as an ambassador and engage with fans and consumers on behalf of the brand.

“I’ve been a fan of CELSIUS for a long-time – I’m very careful about what I put into my body, and I know that CELSIUS is a healthy way to get a boost of energy. Plus it’s been scientifically proven to help boost your metabolism, which obviously doesn’t hurt when it comes time for weigh-ins,” said celebrated MMA fighter and current #2 UFC lightweight contender Dustin Poirier. “It just made a lot of sense for me to get involved with CELSIUS – not only do I drink it regularly but the company is right in my backyard in Boca Raton where I spend half my year.”

“We couldn’t pass up the opportunity to collaborate with an athlete of Dustin’s caliber who happens to be a huge fan of the product and is also practically a neighbor,” added Celsius Holding Inc.’s CEO John Fieldly. “We look forward to working with Dustin to introduce CELSIUS to new fans and to get our existing fans even more excited.”

CELSIUS® is a lifestyle fitness drink and a pioneer in the rapidly growing performance energy sector.

CELSIUS has four beverage lines that each offer a property, functional, healthy-energy formula with distinct clinically-proven benefits such as boosting endurance and burning body fat.

CELSIUS® is backed by six university studies that were published in peer-reviewed journals validating the unique benefits CELSIUS® provides.

Las Vegas Sands announces passing of company founder and industry-changing entrepreneur Sheldon G. Adelson

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 12, 2021 — Las Vegas Sands issued the following statement announcing the death of company Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Sheldon G. Adelson:

Our founder and visionary leader, Sheldon G. Adelson, passed away last night at the age of 87 from complications related to treatment for non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Born to immigrant parents and raised in a poor section of Boston, Mr. Adelson went from a teenager selling newspapers on a street corner to becoming one of the world’s most successful entrepreneurs.

His achievements in the integrated resort and hospitality industry are well-documented. In Las Vegas, Macao and Singapore, Mr. Adelson’s vision for integrated resorts transformed the industry, changed the trajectory of the company he founded, and reimagined tourism in each of those markets. His impact on the industry will be everlasting.

Mr. Adelson was the rst employee of Las Vegas Sands – “Team Member Number One” he liked to say. Today, more than 50,000 Sands team members have Dr. Adelson and the entire Adelson family in their thoughts and prayers and are grateful to have had their lives touched by a true force of nature.

Altenar announced as General Sponsor at all European Gaming and Gaming Americas Quarterly Meetups in 2021

Transylvania – 11 January 2021 –

Award-winning provider of sportsbook services to support all virtual quarterly meetups by Hipther Agency through 2021

The team at Hipther Agency, organizers of the European Gaming & Gaming Americas Quarterly Meetups, is excited to announce the support of Altenar as General Sponsor all through the 8 quarterly meetups in 2021.

The aim of the quarterly virtual meetups is to increase the access to quality information, but also provide an excellent opportunity to participate in engaging discussions between the industry stakeholders.

Drone Racing League, DraftKings Sports Betting Precedes DRL Finale

The Drone Racing League (DRL), the global, professional drone racing property, today announced a deal with DraftKings Inc. (Nasdaq: DKNG) to make the sports technology and entertainment company an Official Sports Betting Partner of DRL. Upon completion of this deal, DRL drone races became the first aerial sporting event upon which fans can wager. Mobile sports betting on DRL drone races is currently legal in Colorado, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Tennessee and West Virginia with regulatory approvals pending in additional states. DRL’s final drone races of the 2020 DRL Allianz World Championship Season will kick off this Saturday, January 9th at 4:30pm ET on NBC, Twitter and Facebook.

“The sky is now the limit for DRL fans to get skin in the game, and we’re thrilled to partner with DraftKings to transform our high-speed race competition into the ultimate sport to bet on,” said DRL President Rachel Jacobson. “The opportunity for us to elevate our engagement through all forms of gaming and gambling will only increase as mobile betting becomes more adopted across the country.”

DraftKings is a leader in the rapidly growing motorsports and esports sportsbook categories and believes DRL will bring an entirely new audience of fans to gaming. Consumer research indicates drone racing fans are three times more likely to place a bet than fans of major sports leagues and 90 percent more likely to be interested in sports betting than the average global sports fan. After initially introducing DRL drone races to customers as a free-to-play pool during the 2020 season, DraftKings saw over 30 percent more entries in its first week than the average for new sports, totaling over 150,000 entries to date.

This deal gives DraftKings exclusive marketing rights around sports betting and branding integrations, including custom gates, through the culmination of the current 2020 DRL Allianz World Championship Season. Both pre-race wagers and in-race live bets will be available for fans in approved states to engage before and during the high-flying action.

“DRL is scaling their business as fast as their drone races, and we’re excited to be flying with them given DRL’s thrilling, innovative racing events are perfect for the customized wagering offerings we can create,” said Ezra Kucharz, Chief Business Officer, DraftKings. “Our expertise in sports betting combined with DRL’s stats-packed competition will make this a fun and seamless opportunity to engage their avid audience along with tech-savvy, adrenaline-loving sports fans.”

In the lead up to DRL’s final drone races of the season, DraftKings and DRL will host “Pre-Flight Shows” ahead of the live events, including tonight at 7pm ET on Twitter, where expert sports bettors and elite drone pilots will educate fans on how to participate.

Fans can learn more and check out DraftKings’ Drone Racing League offerings by downloading DraftKings Sportsbook via iOS and Androidhere.

Snow Lake Capital sends letter to MGM Resorts’ Board of Directors

Snow Lake Capital is an Asian investment management firm with over US$3 billion in assets. We invest capital on behalf of global institutional clients, including university endowments, foundations, family offices, sovereign wealth funds and pensions. Funds managed by Snow Lake Capital beneficially own 285.4 million common shares of MGM China Holdings Limited (HKEX: 2282 HK), constituting approximately 7.5% of the outstanding shares. These holdings place Snow Lake Capital as the largest public shareholder of MGM China.

We have been long-term investors in the Macau gaming industry. We think it is in MGM Resorts International’s (NYSE: MGM) best interest to introduce a leading Chinese consumer internet or travel & leisure company as a 20% strategic shareholder in MGM China. As discussed previously with MGM Resorts International Chief Executive Officer, William Hornbuckle, we believe such a transaction will create a win-win transaction for all parties involved and deliver significant shareholder value to both companies.

There are six main reasons:

1. The new strategic investor will bring significant non-gaming resources to both MGM China and Macau, which is a crucial factor for the gaming concession re-tendering in 2022;