Archives 2024

Several changes are taking place at the Meadows Racetrack & Casino, including the addition of a sportsbook. Behind the scenes, major work is occurring, with renovations underway to provide patrons even more within the venue. Several areas of the property have been closed for quite some time in order to create a new sports betting facility, with a total of $14 million being spent on venue changes.

Major Renovations:

The Vibe lounge was closed weeks ago so construction could begin on the casino’s sportsbook. Last month, the Food Court was closed to allow for a new restaurant installation. The casino will be home to a four-restaurant plan that was created by Fabio Viviani, a popular celebrity chef.

Slot machines have also been reconfigured on the gaming floor to make the space more inviting to players. By October, the Headliners lounge will be shut down so that more seating and additional renovations can be made.

According to the Post-Gazette.com…

Tony Frabbiele, the general manager of the Meadows, commented on the changes by stating: “We really just have a total transformation of the Meadows experience taking place. We want the whole experience for the customers on the main gaming floor to feel like it’s a whole new Meadows.”

By the end of the year, Frabbiele stated the venue will look like a whole new casino. Every part of the gaming as well as the non-gaming floor is being touched, to provide a refresh to the facility.

Sports Betting:

In early July, the Meadows filed for a sportsbook license with the Gaming Control Board. The Pennsylvania casino’s plans were to keep the U-shaped bar of the Vibe space and then install new seating as well as teller cages where players can place their bets. Large screens will also be added to the space for viewing the sporting events as well as betting odds.

Before the casino can receive their license, they must provide a presentation to the board on what they will be offering. Once the plan is approved, the Meadows will have to pay for the license which costs $10 million.

Once the sportsbook is ready, the Meadows will have to test their space with live wagering to ensure there are no problems before full-scale betting can take place permanently.

Pariplay, a NeoGames S.A. subsidiary, keeps expanding to key markets all over the world. As NeoGames, a famous provider of modern and unique iLottery and iGaming solutions, announced, the company signed a strategic partnership with a famous African operator, SunBet, to provide South African customers with its innovative content. 

The unique content included in the offering:

Pariplay will deliver the popular content from its proprietary brand Wizard Games, along with the popular third-party content from the company’s Fusion platform. The unique content from the Fusion platform currently has more than 14.000 games from over 120 different suppliers, all of them producing exciting and thrilling games with various interesting themes. Along with that, Fusion allows customers to use its advanced suite of various back-office conversion and retention tools that greatly improve the value of the player. Among the comprehensive tools included in the offering are Fusion Tournaments, Raffle Rocket, and Spin that Wheel.

Two industry giants join forces:

Pariplay expanded a lot earlier this year, strengthening its position in key markets such as North America, and Latin America, especially the most recent deal with Eyas Gaming in Brazil, as well as the rapidly growing European market, and the most recent deal sees the South African expansion with one of the leading betting companies on the continent.

The President of NeoGames, Tsachi Maimon, said: “SunBet is one of the most well-known casino brands in the African continent, offering incredible land-based and online play for its customers. We’re delighted to partner with them to bring not only Fusion aggregation content but also home-grown Wizard Games products to further elevate their players’ array of choice on an interesting and fast-growing regulated market.”

Simon Gregory, CEO at SunBet, said: “Pariplay has a market-leading offering courtesy of both its in-house content and its aggregation platform, and we’re delighted to be able to leverage that into exceptional gaming experiences for our customers. From localized slots to world-class games, it’s a fantastic offering, and we’re very excited to take our offering to the next level.”

SunBet: an African leader:

The partnership with the industry giant such as Pariplay is a huge step for SunBet. The company is a part of SunBet International. The company has been present on the market for more than 40 years, and it’s famous for its world-class resorts, casinos, and luxury restaurants.

SunBet is regulated by the Western Cape Gambling and Racing Board, and its main goal is to create an advanced betting platform that can be easily accessed and used by players all over the continent.

Online casino games developer GameArt has announced that its mobile titles are now live at PlanetWin365.it as a result of the supply deal it inked last month with Italian multi-product aggregator Esa Gaming.

GameArt stated that PlanetWin365.it currently offers its diverse library of mobile games including HTML5 video slots such as Atlantis World, Caligula, Thunder Bird, African Sunset and Ramses Treasure and expects the domain to roll out its portfolio of desktop titles in the coming weeks.

“PlanetWin365.it is one of Europe’s largest regulated online and land-based operators across several key European countries,” read a statement from Maja Lozej, Chief Executive Officer for GameArt. “We are happy to have launched in the Italian regulated market with Esa Gaming and that PlanetWin365.it has already deployed our games.”

For its part, PlanetWin365.it is one of Europe’s fastest-growing online sportsbetting and gaming domains with over 1.5 million registered customers. The site is operated by SKS365 Group GmbH, which holds remote and land-based licenses from authorities in Malta, Italy, Austria, Spain, Serbia, Montenegro and Belgium, and is a market leader in Italy.

“GameArt games are a great addition to our portfolio,” read a statement from Daniela Lanzolla, Head of Gaming for SKS365 Group GmbH. “[GameArt has] found a perfect alchemy of sounds and graphics in its slots and our players like them.”

In the United Kingdom, some 53 football players from the nation’s top eight leagues were reportedly flagged to the Gambling Commission regulator in the 29 months after new rules were brought in to stamp out members of the sport from wagering on soccer.

According to a report from the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), the Gambling Commission’s new Sports Betting Intelligence Unit regulations were implemented in August of 2014 as an anti-corruption measure and prohibit anyone involved in soccer at any level in Scotland, Northern Ireland, England and Wales, which includes players, managers and club officials, from placing bets on any aspect of the sport.

“This betting rule change to encompass all aspects of world football provides a simple, clear and straightforward message to all participants concerned on where the line is drawn,” Darren Bailey, Football Governance And Regulation Director for England’s Football Association, told the BBC.

Players could face serious sanctions if they are found to have wagered on football and one such case reported to the Gambling Commission reportedly involved Burnley midfielder Joey Barton, who received a one-match ban from the Scottish Football Association after he admitted to placing some 1,260 wagers over the previous decade. Other cases are said to have concerned Newcastle United midfielder Jack Colback, Kyle Lafferty from Norwich City and former Manchester City defender Martin Demichelis while Scottish League Two side Cowdenbeath recently suspended right-back Dean Brett after the 24-year-old admitted to betting against his own team.

However, the BBC reported that the 53 violations to December of 2016 primarily relate to uncorroborated reports rather than confirmed instances of rule breaches with the Gambling Commission allegedly looking into further infringements it is said to have identified through other intelligence work.

“It is the best the Gambling Commission can do within its regulatory embrace but it is the tip of an iceberg that stretches well beyond the horizons of the Gambling Commission,” former FIFA and Interpol adviser Chris Eaton told the BBC. “In the absence of a global regulatory model, only naive or careless players will be caught in a tiny national net that is swamped in the massive global web that is sportsbetting.”

Eaton explained that the reported Sports Betting Intelligence Unit breaches would primarily concern players that had used their own name or account and not those that may have wagered indirectly via a friend or utilized an illegal sportsbetting operation.

“We are really proud of the integrity of the game in this country and it is really important people trust what is happening on the pitch,” Alex Horne, the former General Secretary for the Football Association, told the BBC at the time the Sports Betting Intelligence Unit rules were implemented. “We want to keep our message as simple as possible and it can not be simpler than, as a player, you can not bet at all on football.”

Oriental Regent Ltd, a vertical of the Hong Kong-listed Summit Ascent Holdings Ltd, is to sell its gaming and hotel operations in Russia. As reported, Oriental sells its wholly-owned subsidiary G1 Entertainment LLC to a Russian entity Dalnevostochniy Aktiv LLC for a price consideration of $116 million.

Taking Over Tigre de Cristal Casino Operations:

As GGRAsia reports, the acquisition of 100 % of shares of G1 Entertainment would enable the Russian company to control the Tigre de Cristal casino resort located near Vladivostok. At the same time, the sale of the Oriental’s property in Russia would significantly leverage the balance sheet of its parent Summit Ascent Holdings. The same source reports that the sales price of $116 million is to be paid in Chinese yuan.

Licensed Operator to Be Sold to Russian Entity:

Oriental Regent is a company 77.5% owned by the Summit Ascent Holdings. The Hong-Kong listed entity used its majority share to control the Tigre de Cristal casino facility run by Oriental Regent through the operator G1 Entertainment, under the gaming license granted to G1Entertainment by the Russian government, as GGRAsia reports.

Therefore the G1 sales deal may facilitate a smooth transition for Dalnevostochniy Aktiv LLC to immediately continue operations of the resort. On the other hand, Oriental Regent’s parent Summit Ascent would be able to use the respective proceeds of the expected $116 million sale to boost its balance sheet figures. According to the source, these figures declined in 2023.

The parent reportedly stated: “Since the loss consists of US$14,606,000 due to foreign-operation exchange differences reclassification’’,[shareholder equity would face] a negative impact of US$3,784,000.”

Stakeholder Interest:

Also, the $116 million price consideration would bring benefits to shareholders like the Taiwan-based Firich Enterprises Co Ltd. This company holds a 20 percent share in Oriental Regent and reportedly looks forward to collect $28 million in cash from the sale. If the deal is closed, Firich would “reduce its exposure in Russia to zero,” according to GGRAsia.

With a 77.5 percent share in Oriental Regent Ltd, Summit Ascent Holdings Ltd may significantly capitalize on the considered $116 million sale. As Firich expects $28 million from its 20 percent share invested in the deal, Summit Ascent may collect around $85 million and compensate for the negative impact of the loss sustained in 2023.

Deal Pending Closure:

As soon as the news broke on 11 January 2024, Summit Ascent’s shares were reportedly taken off the trading list in Hong Kong. The shares of  LET Group Ltd, the parent of Summit Ascent, were simultaneously held up,  “pending the release of an inside information announcement,” as the company reportedly stated.

Leading online casino games and solutions developer, Wazdan, has launched in the UK gaming market with a pair of diverse online UK casinos, SlotsMillion and LadyLucks, according to the official press release.

LadyLucks.co.uk:

The United Kingdom market’s first mobile-only casino, LadyLucks.co.uk launched in 2004. Following its acquisition by online gaming company ALEA in October 2017 can now be accessed via desktop and mobile channels.

The popular online UK casino’s sister brand, SlotsMillion, is known to be the first real-money virtual reality casino. It is one of the industry’s leading brands and has a selection of more than 2,000 games.

Since its 2014 launch, the leading online casino has gained recognition for either Innovation Operator or Best Casino from such prestigious awards as IGA (International Gaming Awards), CEEG (Central and Eastern European Gaming) and the Oscars of the egaming sector, EGR. Slotsmillion has furthermore been recognized by reputable affiliates such as Latest CasinoBonuses, Casinomeister and AskGamblers.

Recent additions:

A stream of new games has further strengthened the developer’s award-winning online slots portfolio. Its recent adds include Fruit Mania Deluxe, Great Book of Magic Deluxe, Magic Stars 3, Magic of the Ring Deluxe, Sizzling 777 Deluxe, Corrida Romance Deluxe, Hot Party Deluxe, Highway to Hell Deluxe, Football Mania Deluxe, Tetri Mania Deluxe, Spectrum Fruits Go Bananas.

Towards the later part of this month, the highly-anticipated Mayan Ritual is to be released. The video slot takes players on a journey into the Mayan world they won’t soon forget. The new title delivers a collection of special features reinforced by Wazdan’s unique and innovative technologies including Wilds, Giant and Big symbols, Extra Spins and Bonus games.

Added value tools:

Additionally, many of the online software developing company’s games are powered by its Unique Wazdan Features, including the world’s first Volatility Levels, Energy Saving Mode, Unique Gamble feature and Double Screen Mode. Through the innovative suite of added-value tools, operators are able to encourage extended play, improve retention, enhance customer engagement and experience and increase yield.

Co-founder of SlotsMillion, Alexandre Tomic said…

“On Ladylucks we have more than quadrupled the number of game suppliers including Wazdan, rolled out games on desktop as well as mobile, and given players access to free spins for the very first time. We are delighted Wazdan’s games are live on both SlotsMillion and LadyLucks, as we wanted something really new, fresh and exciting encompassing all of the important performance elements and features.”

Also commenting on the launch, Head of Sales at Wazdan, Andrzej Hyla, said…

“The online gambling landscape is changing as more and more operators focus on mobile and innovative ways to attract potential players, and those market conditions play to our strengths. We are looking forward to working on the UK market with forward thinking partners who also happen to be one of the most innovative companies in the industry.”

In addition to being nominated for four CEEG awards this year, Wazdan has launched its content on several platforms such as Groove Gaming Limited and EveryMatrix.

Known for their quality poker tournaments, the Wynn Las Vegas is preparing for yet another poker series this January. The Wynn Signature Series will kick off on January 15^th, offering almost three weeks of quality poker gaming. The series will run through February 2^nd, offering over $1.3 million in total guaranteed prize money.

The Schedule:

The Series will kick off on January 15^th with the NLH $3K Survivor $100 Bounty. The tournament has a $400 buy-in and includes a $40,000 prize pool guarantee. On the 16^th, players have two tournament events, the Limit Omaha 8/B and the No Limit Hold’em Day 1. The Omaha event is offering up $10,000 in guaranteed prize money while the NLH event will be much larger at $150,000.

Perhaps the two most anticipated events on the schedule will be the two No Limit Hold’em tournaments offering the most cash. On January 23^rd, the No Limit Hold’em event with $400,000 in total prize money begins, with a buy-in of $1,100. After this event finishes up, the series will host another NLH tournament, this time with a $600 buy-in and $200,000 in guaranteed prize money.

According to Wynn Poker…

The Wynn Signature Series is also hosting Super Satellites for the $400,000 guaranteed NLH event. A Super Satellite will run on the 23^rd and 24^th with a buy-in of $175 + $25. This is a lower cost way to win entry into the big poker event.

Wynn Winter Classic:

The Wynn Signature Series will take place just a few days after the Wynn Winter Classic finishes up. The Winter Classic began on December 2^nd and has a few days to go until the final day December 22^nd. The schedule of the winter event is full, with combined guarantees to reach $2.8 million.

There is still a few days to go for those who are near the Wynn Las Vegas and want to take part in the Winter Classic. If you miss it, plan on the Series starting in mid-January!

Tim Miller, Executive Director of the GB Gambling Commission, spoke at the Global Gaming Expo on October 10. His main point of discussion was the urge for collaboration between regulators from all over the world.

Collaboration is required, as Miller claims, because the customers need to feel safe, and illegal gambling has to be reduced in all markets in the world.

Gambling Act Review:

In the white paper, which was released in April, Gambling Act Review, customer protection was the main point. If the regulators join forces and create pressure on big tech companies, banks, and gambling markets overall, Miller believes that illegal activities can be reduced.

When the British government published the Review, they focused on making gambling free of crime and safer for all gamblers. It contains more than 60 recommendations on how to achieve that goal, and the consultations began in July this year. The last discussion is scheduled for October 18.

The parties discussed the financial risks, design, direct marketing, and age verification in land-based objects.

At the moment, the regulations depend on the market, so the same operator with the same policies can be legal in one market while prohibited from operating in another, and regulators usually don’t know much about the practices in other regulated markets – which have to change.

Miller stated that the Commission has great success when it comes to collaboration with industry tools and services and that they have done a lot to prevent illegal gambling.

Successes of the Commission:

According to the source, the Commission partnered with payment providers, internet search providers, and various developers, and it led to a 46% decrease in traffic for the biggest names in the illegal gambling sector in the British market. For Miller, it’s another proof that collaboration is a key part of success.

He mentioned other actions, including the largest enforcement actions the Commission ever had, when Entain and William Hill were brought down. At the moment, the Commission was in charge of 85% of enforcement in the whole world. 

He highlighted that he didn’t want to brag about it but to state that enforcement is a huge industry problem. However, the nature of the issue shows that the regulators must work together in order to get the results since the problem is on a global level.

He added: “As more North American jurisdictions open up to online gambling or sports betting, we see more and more large British or European operators looking to establish themselves here, in your markets. And that’s why we think international collaboration is so vital between gambling regulators. Increasingly we regulate the same companies; we address the same risks; we face the same challenges.We are also close to concluding a number of Memoranda of Understanding with US regulators in order to establish clear working relationships that will support all of us to be more effective.”