With the biggest betting election ever set to conclude in less than two weeks, everyone in the gambling industry is starting to look at how sustainable political betting is long term as a vertical. Betting On Sports Europe Digital capitalized on this frenzy with an aptly titled panel, ‘Trump v Biden – betting’s biggest market.’

Moderator Llyod Danzig, Founder of Sharp Alpha Advisors, began by asking Matthew Shaddick, Head of Political Betting GVC Group, for an overview of how the election is shaking out, and just how big it will be. “We’re confidently predicting this will be the biggest, not only the biggest political betting event of all time, the single biggest betting market ever, in terms of one outcome in one market,” Shaddick said. “In terms of the prices, will if you go back to the start of June, the betting was pretty much 50/50. Biden took over as favorite for most of the summer. It closed up sort of around convention time, at the end of August, September, brought back to 50/50. Then it drifted back towards Biden, we had a flurry of money for Trump over the weekend, but a bit more money for Biden now. So as we stand, European betting markets, and the U.S. market PedictIt, betting exchanges, prediction markets all pretty much in agreement, Biden’s about a 60% favorite right about now, Trump at around 40%.”

As we’ve noted, that of course gives Trump much better odds than political polling outfits would. Shaddick later explained, “If there’s a populist/nationalist candidate, people will over bet them in my opinion.” He noted that someone who’s likely to be a Trump supporter is also likely to be male, and thus more likely to want to put down a wager.

But what makes this election so much bigger for wagering than those that came before it? Sarbjit Bakhshi, Head of Political Markets, Smarkets, thinks it has a lot to do with the power of American media and culture. “I think the amount of media attention really has a lot to play here,” he said. “When you think about the amount of information we get about other political systems and other democracies around the world, its really nothing compared to the U.S. elections. The characters in the U.S. election and the caricatures of those people in them are much bigger, they make it more into popular culture, it goes into comedies, it goes into film, all this kind of understanding feeds into the U.K. political landscape and people are very interested in it.”

After being put on notice that it needed to come up with the money to settle its public and private debts, Imperial Pacific International (IPI) has tried different approaches to either stall or have the list of payments shortened. It’s on the hook for tens of millions of dollars in licensing and regulatory fees, as well as millions to contractors, but has continued to figure out how to shirk its responsibilities. Not even being put on notice that its license to operate the Imperial Palace in Saipan could be pulled has helped it come clean, and is now trying a different tactic to get out of its obligations. IPI asserts that its annual regulatory fee of $3.1 million is unconstitutional.

IPI sent word out yesterday through its attorney, Michael W. Dotts, that the regulatory fee should be part of the license fee the company pays. $15 million has given it exclusivity to operate in Saipan and the money has apparently been put to good use as no one is willing to hold IPI accountable for continued breaches of law. In arguing his case for the casino operator, Dotts asserted that the regulatory fee is “unconstitutional as it consists of an impoundment of funds.”

It’s a little strange that neither IPI executives nor its legal team could have picked up on the “unconstitutionality” of the fee sooner – most would balk at the thought of having to shell out $3.1 million when they don’t need to. Dotts added that the fee amounts to a breach of equal protection rights, adding, “There are other regulated industries that do not pay a fee to the agencies that regulate them beyond the license fee, such as banks, insurance companies, and poker parlors.”

IPI and its legal team are also trying to get out of the payment by targeting COVID-19. They assert that, because the global pandemic has forced it to halt operations at Casino Palace, it shouldn’t have to pay any fees. Dotts also feels that the Commonwealth Casino Commission (CCC), which controls the gambling scene for Saipan’s home of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), already has too much money and doesn’t need any more. He explained to the Saipan Tribune that the CCC has, in the past, given money to other agencies because it had more than it needed, and he doesn’t feel that the commission should receive more than it can use. 

On October 8, there were 17,540 new cases of COVID-19 reported in the U.K. As of yesterday, there were 26,687. This has forced the country to raise its coronavirus threat level, implementing what it calls its “Level 5” lockdown protocols in an effort to stave off a larger increase. This has already forced Wales to announce that its gambling shops would be closing as of tomorrow, as well as no small number in England, which has seen most of the increase. The next to fall is Ireland, which has announced that its bookmakers are following suit and will be temporarily closing down. 

The closure in Ireland will put over 800 betting locations out of business until things get under control. The only exceptions will be horse racing and greyhound racing, which, for now, will be allowed to continue. Previously, the increased threat level had been expected to last for just over two weeks, but that will depend on what develops during this period, and some shops in Ireland anticipate a much longer shutdown. As should be assumed, the closure is going to have a hugely detrimental impact on the U.K.’s entire gambling industry, which translates into losses for the government, as well. 

All gambling entities are going to feel the sting, especially those that went out of their way to add health and safety measures to combat COVID-19. One of these is BoyleSports, one of Ireland’s largest predominant players, which paints a grim picture about the company’s future as a result of the losses and the added expense that it now will not be able to recuperate. It asserts that the fallout will have a “very significant effect” on its business, as well as the entire industry. 

BoyleSports released a statement after the decision was made for Ireland to step backward, saying, “The Government’s decision to shut down all non-essential retail will have a very significant effect on our business. More importantly, it will impact our 1,500 loyal and hardworking retail employees as well as our valued customers.

The chances of the LA Dodgers sweeping the World Series for a title just went to nil. They won the first game in decisive fashion, putting the Tampa Bay Rays on their heels in a show of force that screamed blowout. However, that changed in Game 2 last night when the Rays pulled out some magic from their bag of tricks, after looking like they were going to fall further behind, to tie the series at a game apiece. Both teams will get the night off to regroup before coming back on the field refreshed and ready to rumble tomorrow. 

The Rays started strong last night, and brought a runner home in the first inning to take the lead, following it up with two more in the fourth as the Dodgers remained off the board. They were able to keep the Dodgers down until the fifth inning; however, pitcher Blake Snell had a momentary lapse in judgment that allowed LA to pick up two runs in that inning to threaten Tampa, but matching runs in the sixth allowed the Rays to keep a safe lead at 6-3. It would stay that way until the eighth, when LA added another run, and attempts to repeat the effort failed through the rest of the contest to allow Tampa to walk away with a 6-4 victory.

As tough as the Rays played, the victory wasn’t all on their shoulders. The Dodgers bullpen is a little light, and Clayton Kershaw needed a break after Game 1. Through five and a half innings, the Dodgers had already put four different pitchers on the mound and the Rays made sure to take advantage of it. Second baseman Brandon Lowe picked up a home run off Tony Gonsolin in the first inning before adding a two-run homer in the fifth. Not bad for a guy who had gone 6-56 in the postseason before last night’s game. His success gave the Rays the MLB record for most home runs in a single postseason, which now stands at 28. 

Snell’s pitching for the Rays was on point for the first half of the game before he seemed to run out of steam. With two outs in the bottom of the fifth, he allowed the Dodgers to get on base with a walk that was followed by a two-run homer off the bat of Chris Taylor. Another walk and single had the Rays scrambling to get back on track, and it was time for Snell to be sent out in favor of Nick Anderson, who closed down the inning without allowing any more hits. 

Casino operator Las Vegas Sands lost nearly three-quarters of a billion dollars in the third quarter, with Singapore the only market to generate positive earnings.

Figures released Wednesday show Sands generated revenue of $586m in the three months ending September 30, an 82% decline from the same period last year, but a major step up from the $98m generated in Q2 2020.

Sands booked an adjusted earnings loss of $203m in Q3 while reporting a net loss of $731m versus a $669m profit in Q3 2019. Investors took the results in stride, as Sands stock closed Wednesday down less than 1% but jumped 4% in after-hours trading.

Sands China, traditionally the engine of the company’s success, reported revenue falling 92% year-on-year to $167m, while booking a net loss of $562m versus a $454m profit in Q3 2019. All of Sands’ Macau casinos reported negative earnings, reflecting the market’s ongoing streak of annual monthly revenue declines of at least 90%.

October 22, 2020 – Complitech, the gaming industry’s only product and technical compliance database, has hit a major landmark with the listing of its 10,000th requirement, after adding Greece to its selection of jurisdictions.

The addition means Complitech users can now download, sort, analyse and compare more than 10,000 technical compliance requirements from 27 regulated online gaming jurisdictions within seconds.

These requirements are translated into English and kept up to date by a team of compliance experts, with new markets added as they open. As well as Greece, full technical compliance requirements from Germany and the Netherlands will soon be available to Complitech users.

The database has quickly become a must-have tool for suppliers looking to expand their global footprint within regulated markets. On average, Complitech users are able to enter new jurisdictions 60 percent faster than competitors.

Australian casino operator Crown Resorts will no longer share confidential financial data with its largest shareholder, while the company’s former chairman could face sanctions for ducking calls to testify at a regulatory inquiry.  

On Wednesday, just 24 hours before its (virtual) annual general meeting, Crown informed shareholders that the company had terminated two agreements with Consolidated Press Holdings Pty Ltd (CPH), a company controlled by James Packer, who holds more than one-third of Crown stock.

One of the two agreements “enabled the sharing of confidential information by Crown to CPH and James Packer.” That arrangement was revealed in testimony last month at the New South Wales Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority (ILGA) inquiry into Crown’s suitability to hold a state gaming license for its Crown Sydney property.

Crown provided Packer (pictured) with financial projections during Packer’s recent failed attempt to sell 20% of Crown to rival Melco Resorts & Entertainment (MRE). Packer reportedly convinced Crown director Michael Johnston – who also held an executive role at CPH – to ask Crown’s CEO Ken Barton to boost Crown’s VIP gambling revenue projections before the sale to MRE was finalized.

Ole Schemion Wins GGPoker Super MILLIONS for $317,000

The latest GGPoker Super MILLION$ final table had it all – a comeback victory, massive names fighting for big prizes and a six-figure score from a $100 satellite entry.

The latest Super MILLION$ final table saw Austrian high roller and Pokercode pioneer Matthias Eibinger go into play with the chip lead but with players such as Stephen Chidwick and Ole Schemion chasing him down. That was easier to do for Chidwick as the British tournament legend went into play third in chips, but after an early double-up, Schemion was firmly back in contention.

That wasn’t the earliest drama at the final table, however, as American player David Miscikowski cashed for $41,608 in 9th place when he called off qualifier Philippe DAuteuil’s shove, with the Canadian slightly covering his North American counterpart. DAuteuil held pocket kings, and Miscikowski was drawing pretty thin with ace-king and couldn’t get there.

China continues to claim success in combatting gambling operations targeting its citizens at home and abroad, even as other operators rush to fill the void created by arrested rivals.

On Wednesday, China’s Ministry of Public Security announced the latest statistics in its war on so-called ‘cross-border gambling,’ the definition of which may or may not include Macau casinos, depending on whether or not it involves unauthorized capital outflow.

As of September 30, Chinese authorities claim to have handled over 8,800 cross-border gambling cases and made over 60k arrests – including some 590 Chinese nationals arrested by police in other countries – while shutting down over 1,700 online gambling platforms and 1,400 illegal payment platforms (including so-called underground banks).

The Ministry added that, in cooperation with the Cyberspace Administration of China, it has targeted some 35k internationally licensed online gambling domains and blocked some 73m ‘harmful’ text messages promoting gambling services.

Casino operator MGM Resorts is bringing live entertainment back to its Las Vegas casino properties, even as Nevada’s governor reminds residents that the only way to preserve the state’s long-term economy is avoiding “COVID fatigue.”

On Tuesday, MGM announced that seven live entertainment shows would return to three of its Vegas casinos starting November 6. The lineup includes David Copperfield’s Live The Impossible production at the MGM Grand, comedian Carrot Top at the Luxor Theater and the Thunder from Down Under pecs n’ sex revue at Excalibur’s Thunderland Showroom.

George Kliavkoff, MGM’s president of entertainment & sports, said eight months was long enough for entertainment to be absent from the Vegas strip. Kliavkoff said the relaunch of live entertainment was “an important first step” in Las Vegas reclaiming its title as the “Entertainment Capital of the World.”

Attendance will be capped at 250 guests per venue, with six feet of physical distancing between guests and 25 feet separating guests from performers (something the half-naked Aussies will likely appreciate after years of having their junk grabbed by juiced-up bachelorettes).

Casino operator MGM Resorts is bringing live entertainment back to its Las Vegas casino properties, even as Nevada’s governor reminds residents that the only way to preserve the state’s long-term economy is avoiding “COVID fatigue.”

On Tuesday, MGM announced that seven live entertainment shows would return to three of its Vegas casinos starting November 6. The lineup includes David Copperfield’s Live The Impossible production at the MGM Grand, comedian Carrot Top at the Luxor Theater and the Thunder from Down Under pecs n’ sex revue at Excalibur’s Thunderland Showroom.

George Kliavkoff, MGM’s president of entertainment & sports, said eight months was long enough for entertainment to be absent from the Vegas strip. Kliavkoff said the relaunch of live entertainment was “an important first step” in Las Vegas reclaiming its title as the “Entertainment Capital of the World.”

Attendance will be capped at 250 guests per venue, with six feet of physical distancing between guests and 25 feet separating guests from performers (something the half-naked Aussies will likely appreciate after years of having their junk grabbed by juiced-up bachelorettes).

Casino operator MGM Resorts is bringing live entertainment back to its Las Vegas casino properties, even as Nevada’s governor reminds residents that the only way to preserve the state’s long-term economy is avoiding “COVID fatigue.”

On Tuesday, MGM announced that seven live entertainment shows would return to three of its Vegas casinos starting November 6. The lineup includes David Copperfield’s Live The Impossible production at the MGM Grand, comedian Carrot Top at the Luxor Theater and the Thunder from Down Under pecs n’ sex revue at Excalibur’s Thunderland Showroom.

George Kliavkoff, MGM’s president of entertainment & sports, said eight months was long enough for entertainment to be absent from the Vegas strip. Kliavkoff said the relaunch of live entertainment was “an important first step” in Las Vegas reclaiming its title as the “Entertainment Capital of the World.”

Attendance will be capped at 250 guests per venue, with six feet of physical distancing between guests and 25 feet separating guests from performers (something the half-naked Aussies will likely appreciate after years of having their junk grabbed by juiced-up bachelorettes).

The Secret Coach: United Triumph in Paris Again

Last night, Manchester United travelled to the scene of one of their most famous recent triumphs in Europe, Paris. Having beaten Paris St. Germain on away goals to knock them out of the Champions League two seasons ago, it was poetic justice that United’s first game back in the competition since a year of exile would be against Thomas Tuchel’s side.

We enjoyed the game in the company of The Secret Coach. Last time we spoke to The Secret Coach, they were critical of Gareth Southgate’s England as they lost 1-0 to Denmark. This week, covering the Champions League was a different ball game all together. The Secret Coach knows plenty about the game at all levels, being a professional football coach in English football. Throughout our series of article, TSC will remain anonymous. They’ve worked with some of the biggest names in the game, going through the coaching process, and is currently part of the team at an English league side… and that’s all we’re telling you. They’ll be honest each week about what they see as they see it.

As ever this week, The Secret Coach pulls no punches!

The Secret Coach: United Triumph in Paris Again

Last night, Manchester United travelled to the scene of one of their most famous recent triumphs in Europe, Paris. Having beaten Paris St. Germain on away goals to knock them out of the Champions League two seasons ago, it was poetic justice that United’s first game back in the competition since a year of exile would be against Thomas Tuchel’s side.

We enjoyed the game in the company of The Secret Coach. Last time we spoke to The Secret Coach, they were critical of Gareth Southgate’s England as they lost 1-0 to Denmark. This week, covering the Champions League was a different ball game all together. The Secret Coach knows plenty about the game at all levels, being a professional football coach in English football. Throughout our series of article, TSC will remain anonymous. They’ve worked with some of the biggest names in the game, going through the coaching process, and is currently part of the team at an English league side… and that’s all we’re telling you. They’ll be honest each week about what they see as they see it.

As ever this week, The Secret Coach pulls no punches!