Sophia Rojas | CasinoClassic.com

Scientifc Games and William Hill Extend Partnership by 4 Years

Posted on February 14, 2020 by Sophia Rojas

Scientific Games extends existing partnership with William Hill for another four years
William Hill focuses on driving growth in Europe and the United Kingdom through flexible betting solutions
SG continues to strike high-profile deals in the United States

William Hill builds on existing partnership with SG and chooses the OpenBet platform to spearhead further expansion efforts in Europe and the United Kingdom as regulatory pressure continues to mount.

William Hills Continues to Strengthen Partnerships with SG

Scientific Games is beefing up its partnership with William Hill by signing another four-year extension with the sportsbook company for its markets in Europe and the United Kingdom. As per the latest arrangement, SG will provide William Hill with the OpenSports suite, a betting technology solution.

OpenSports is based on the OpenBet platform by SG and has proven a desirable investment owing to the flexibility of the offer as well as the ability to tailor the solution to anything that currently corresponds with the needs of business.

Commenting on the partnership, Ulrik Bengtsson, chief executive at William Hill Group, said that the partnership marked a pivotal solution. Flexibility, Bengtsson stressed, was key to the further success of the company as it tries to navigate more challenging markets in Europe and the United Kingdom.

More importantly, flexibility translates into growth, Bengtsson explained. The deal also sent a clear message, he added, that William Hill continues to source operations to some of the best technical solution companies in the business.

SG Digital chief executive, Jordan Levin, also shared his satisfaction with the recent developments. Levin argued that William Hill’s decision to extend the existing partnership between the companies was a token of the company’s trust in SG’s products:

“We’re really building on one of our strongest relationships. The team at William Hill share an ambition to create next level player experiences and together, across sports and iGaming, we’re making that a reality.”

Meanwhile, William Hill also took a hit at home after the company lost around 7% stock value due to a statement by UKGC Chief Executive Neil McArthur that the regulator would consider reducing the online casino games’ maximum stakes from £100 presently down to £2.

A String of Partnerships

Scientific Games continues to maintain a leadership position in sports betting both as a content provider and trusted partner for established brands. Apart from its recent tie-up with William Hill, the company also works with Betfred.

On February 7, Betfred and SG have said that they are teaming up to deliver a dedicated sportsbook by the summer of 2020. SG also showcased the OpenSports platform during ICE London, demonstrating the data-crunching capabilities of the solution that makes it all a player and partner needs to have a satisfying experience.

Similarly, SG expanded on its existing partnership with Flutter Entertainment’s FanDuel, one of the leading DFS platforms in the United States. FanDuel is just one of the big names on Flutter’s portfolio which includes other names such as Betfair, Paddy Power and Sportsbet.

The Guardian: 83% of All Bets Came From 2% of Player Base

Posted on January 4, 2020March 22, 2021 by Sophia Rojas

The Guardian obtains a report showing over-reliance by betting companies in the UK on VIP customers
UK Gambling Commission promises tougher measures on the segment
In some cases, 83% of all bets came from 2% of the player base

New evidence has surfaced that the UK gambling industry may be over-reliant on problem gamblers, The Guardian wrote citing a report obtained by the newspaper. High-spending VIP customers were the drivers of economic and financial results for companies, the newspaper reported.

More specifically, The Guardian argued that the likelihood of VIP customers being addicts was bigger than that of regular and casual players. In fact, VIP schemes brought in 83% of the deposits, from just 2% of the player base on at least one occasion.

VIP Programs and the Root of All Evil

The report obtained by the newspaper focused on criticizing the methods used by gambling companies to incentivize players into playing. A reward VIP program was designed from head-to-toe to provide players with various incentives, such as free bets, cash backs, and even football tickets.

Stepping into the discussion, the UK Gambling Commission said that measures have been taken to address the issue and correlation between addiction and high incidence of gambling addiction. Specifically, a spokesperson for the Commission had this to say:

Operators must improve their interaction with VIPs and we have challenged the industry to make faster progress to improve how they manage their customers. We have also taken robust action against operators who fail to protect consumers and we will be even tougher if behavior does not change.

The worst case was that of a company which collected 83% of all its deposits from 2% of the customer base. Meanwhile, there were other worrying examples, such as another company that accumulated 58% of all deposits through 5% of its customer base.

A third company scooped up some 48% of all deposits from just 3% of its members, pointing to a growing inadequacy between existing regulatory measures and how VIP customers are protected. With some 47,000 VIP customers in the United Kingdom, at least 8% of them are already gambling addicts, the Commission said.

We Have the Means to Fight Gambling Addiction

One section of the report said that gambling firms are already aware of which customers are more likely to play and spend more, thanks to advanced algorithms. However, there has been no real effort to offer help to individuals who are likely to also be developing a gambling addiction.

However, the Commission has not been without a response on the issue. Several suggestions have been put forward on how to police the VIP segment better so as to avoid gambling addiction. One measure in the report reads that operators must come under more pressure.

Another says that an “industry-wide VIP code of conduct” must be put into place. A third goes even further, suggesting to altogether ban the VIP segment. Similar moves have been undertaken in Sweden where the country’s regulator, the Spelinspektionen, has shown zero policy for gambling products that incentivize further play.

Labor MP Carolyn Harris has gone even further to say: “This report shows how completely reliant the industry is on people with gambling problems and that they are profiteering from them. “ VIP players are indeed the segment that all companies are trying to retain and keep playing the most.

Amax Sells Mobile Assets Off to Galaxy World Co., Ltd

Posted on June 8, 2019March 22, 2021 by Sophia Rojas

Amax is dropping its mobile apps business
The company is selling off to Galaxy World Co., Ltd
Amax needs to fulfil payments under a settlement deed for Promissory Notes

Amax has decided to improve its cash flow by dropping the company’s Mobile Games App department and focusing on general gaming and IT solutions instead.

Amax Streamlines Its Operations after Greek Mythology Debacle

Amax International Holdings Ltd has agreed to sell its mobile operations to Cambodian casino management business Galaxy World Co., Ltd.

The Asia-facing operator is transferring it’s entire Mobile Games Apps business to the Cambodian company for the sum total of HK$30 million, which the company expects to have no immediate financial dimensions

As per the agreement, all 30 mobile apps solutions, including their source code, will be transferred to Galaxy World Co. This move is part of Amax’s decision to focus on consolidatinж g its IT Solutions Business along with the gaming department. Here is what the official statement said:

After reviewing business performance of the Group’s existing business segments, the company considered focusing more resources on the Group’s gaming businesses and IT Solutions Business.

Amax is also streamlining its operations in a bid to boost its cash flow and settle two cases of wrongfully issued Promissory Notes. The company outlined three main verticals to work on insofar its cash flow was concerned, including:

Meet the cash flow outlined by the settlement deed
Continue to invest in the IT and gaming verticals
Improve on the day-to-day working capital of the group

A Pyrrhic Defeat

Amax’s assets were rocked by the recent debacle of the Greek Mythology casino in Macau which had to close, leading to a stake write-off estimated at HK$353million for 24.8% of the overall shares. Amax had to divest from Greek Mythology in February, 2019, selling the company controlled-stake to Fu Po International Ltd.

The Greek Mythology casino was rocked by internal strife with executives wrestling for control which led to a series of oversights and the operator was eventually charged with non-compliance with Macau’s stricter gaming code.

To this date, Amax owns 13 VIP baccarat tables in Poipet, Cambodia and it’s also in charge of pre-opening services at Sihanoukville, Thailand.

Amax had to draw a settlement deed dated December 29, 2017 under which the company is paying HK$85 million for the aforementioned wrongly issued Promissory Notes.

Colorado Makes a Dash for Legal Sports Betting

Posted on April 22, 2019March 22, 2021 by Sophia Rojas

Colorado plans on issuing 17 new sports betting licenses
Legislators will need to first pass the newly-proposed sports betting bill
All sports betting will be taxed at 10% of new revenue if the bill is passed

Colorado is making a dash for legalizing sports gambling. On Thursday, April 18, a bipartisan sports betting bill was introduced in the lower house.

Colorado Pushes for Sports Gambling Legislation

Colorado is on its way of becoming the next state to legalize sports betting or so the first signs suggest. Last Thursday, a new draft bill appeared in the Colorado House. With the legislative session nearly over now, the bill is making a bold dash for the finishing line.

To get there, this new draft will need to be vetted by both the House and the Senate and finally head to Governor Jared Polis for a final approval. Each step of the way can be treacherous. For example, online poker almost made the cut in 2018 in Michigan when the outgoing Governor decided to kill the bill at the finishing line.

A Bill to Usher in Sports Betting Quickly

If the bill is passed successfully as many as 17 properties will start offering wagers. Those would be mostly casinos in towns such as Black Hawk, Central City and Cripple Creek. There would be 17 licensed issued to land-based properties and 17 that would go to anyone who wants to operate an online sports betting business.

Rep. Alec Garnett, a Democrat, has said that Colorado’s lawmakers were now focusing on completely eliminating the black market and taxing legal operations instead. Colorado is not all-too liberal in their approach to the issue.

For example, sports betting has been legal in the state since the 90s, but it has been kept within the borders of the three aforementioned mining town. This hasn’t dissuaded established brands from investing, with Twin Rivers saying that it would purchase three casinos and the licenses that go with them.

HB19-1327 is only now starting to gather momentum. Th time is limited, though, and lawmakers will have to move quickly.

Highlights of HB19-1327

The proposed draft bill will tax existing operations at 10% on the net proceeds. Only owners of casinos in the three aforementioned cities would be allowed to have land-based, online or both operations. The industry will be regulated by the Gaming Control Commission which would oversee the entire segment if the bill passes all legal hurdles successfully.

Virginia Needs a Signature to Legalize Online Gambling

Posted on March 25, 2019 by Sophia Rojas

Virginia is one signature away from giving an initial go-ahead to its online gambling industry. Even if the governor approves the bill, it will take the state’s regulator and lawmakers over a year to set up the first casinos.

SB 1126 – One Signature Away from Becoming a Law

The year started off well for Virginia. In January, 2019, the Virginia Senate General Laws and Technology Committee gave its approval to a bill that would allow online casinos to open doors in the state.

The few months since, SB 1126 has made quite the headway and today it’s perched at the desk of Gov. Ralph Northam who should decide its faith. Mr. Northam is rather non-descript when it comes to online gambling – he hasn’t been against it publicly nor has he said that he endorses it.

With his signature now needed by March 26, everyone’s on pin and needles whether the Governor would grant his approval.

A Great Future for Online Gambling: Virginia’s Regulated Industry

Virginia is one of the states where the proposed legal draft is quite specific as to where online casinos can operate in the first place. With the Virginia Lottery Board taking over regulation, there are quite a few specifics that candidates would have to meet, including:

Choosing a city with a specific poverty level;
A population of over 200,000 and a population decline of over 4% over a specific period;
Pre-determined unemployment rates for specific months and years.

Virginia will also initiate a series of city-based referendums where the people will have to decide whether they want to give their go-ahead for casinos.

Virginia is one of the most complicated states to navigate when it comes to passing online gambling, not only in terms of mustering up the legal support, but also making sure that eligible cities exist and that locals will in fact endorse such an initiative.

Casinos on the Clock in Virginia

There’s plenty of reasons to be excited – online gambling and poker are coming to Virginia. However, there are a handful of constraints that the Virginia Lottery Board, the body that would be overseeing the industry, would need to comply with.

For starters, any casino that wants to operate in the state would need to successfully pass a city referendum by January 2021.

The Lottery Board will have to prepare an initial working version of the draft by January 2020 and all regulation must be finalized by June 2020. The first license in the state cannot be issued prior to July 1, 2020.

Virginia – A Promising Endeavor for Online Gambling

Virginia may come with its own whimsical sides, but the online gambling and online poker industries here have a very good chance of taking root. SB 1126 will give a chance to one of the United States’ largest states to introduce online gambling en masse.

Virginia will also exercise a somewhat closer control over its casinos which means that all properties will be introduced strategically across the state for maximum efficiency.

Robinson Introduces Bill to Shut Online Lottery Ticket Sale in Florida

Posted on February 19, 2019 by Sophia Rojas

Rep. Will Robinson introduces bill to cancel all online lottery tickets
Mr. Robinson cites security concerns
Florida is likely to accept the bill

Florida has a no-go policy on casinos and gambling in general. Advertised as a family holiday destination, this is not surprising. Now, State Rep. Will Robinson wants to make sure that lottery tickets can only be sold at retail shops as opposed to online websites.

The Wire Act, Florida and the Lotteries

Florida is indeed a little gung-ho when it comes to its gaming laws, and the current legislative development originating in the Department of Justice (DOJ) isn’t going to make the climate any milder.

While New Jersey and Pennsylvania are contesting the DOJ and the ham-fisted approach to the online gambling industry in the United States, Florida seems a little more accommodating.

DOJ Could Consider Flip-Flopping on Its 2011 Decision

State Rep. Will Robinson wants to make sure that no ticket is ever sold online and his newly introduced House Bill 629 might just hit the mark. Mr. Robinson is a man with a plan, and he intends to uproot the “illegal sort of fraudulent online vendors that sell tickets” – more or less:

These fraudulent websites are, in my view, illegally advertising when they are not related to the lottery system at all.

Mr. Robinson is not wasting any time either. His bill will appear before the Gaming Control Subcommittee on Wednesday.

Why Is Florida Against Online Lottery Ticket Sales?

The argument is not without merit. In 2018, Aura Dominguez Canto from Panama bought a ticket from TheLotter.com, an Israeli-based online ticket website.

TheLotter.com had bought the ticket from a local retailer, and then re-sold it to Ms. Canto who eventually won the $30 million pot.

Despite an initial opposition to pay out the winnings, Ms. Canto’s jackpot was honored. Though this alone cannot be the basis for calling websites illegal, it certainly goes to indicate that online vendors can lead to some confusion.

In light of this, Mr. Robinson has set out to ensure that online tickets would no longer be valid, should his Bill manage to clear the upcoming legal hurdles.

New Hampshire Is Not Quite Happy

Florida has its reasons to not like online gambling, not least of all because the state is cosy with the tribal operators which have contributed billions to the economy.

Meanwhile, New Hampshire is preparing to take things to court, challenging the DOJ’s newly-revised Opinion on the Wire Act.

Back in Florida, Mr. Robinson remains adamant against the sale of lottery tickets online. Since the state doesn’t offer the activity officially, all websites that extend lottery tickets are in fact illegal. As the senator himself noted, Florida is nowhere near switching to online sales.

He also further noted the risk that carrying out transactions over the Internet posed with many such vendors using the lottery’s logo to lure in financial details from customers.

Brazil Gets a New Casino Bill, Approval Awaited

Posted on February 14, 2019February 14, 2019 by Sophia Rojas

New bill introduced in a bid to legalize gambling
The combined legal and illegal market in Brazil hits R$50bn annually
A total of 32 casino properties could open in Brazil should the bill be voted and approved

Brazil is getting closer to a fully regulated sports betting industry that would potentially cater to millions of sports betting enthusiast in one of the largest untapped markets in the world. Now, a new bill targeting casinos is on the cards.

Land-Based Casinos a Reality in Brazil

Brazil is almost done regulating and establishing its sports betting industry, and now that this is sorted, casinos are next on the line. Brazilian Chamber of Deputies Member Paulo Azi has submitted a new bill titled PL530/2019.

The purpose of the document is to see the casino industry in the country fully legalized, albeit with a few wrinkles that would need to be observed. The bill suggests the expansion of Integrated Resorts (IR), similar to what Japan is currently planning on building.

On the territory of integrated resorts, businesses would be allowed to run casino gaming, which would account for 10% of the available space. As is customary for such projects, more properties will be introduced, including shopping centers, theme parks, spas, and more.

Reading the Bill Up Close

Presently, the bill envisages such resorts to be built based on the population of individual states. As per PL530/2019:

States with population <15 million – A maximum of one IR
States with population 15 -25 million – A maximum of two IRs
State with population >25 million – A maximum of three IRs

In total, the Bill would allow 32 such properties to open, offering plenty of wiggle room for potential investors to make up their minds. Each IR would be granted a license for 30 years of operation and obtaining such a license would be allocated through a tender process.

In terms of tax, the law is rather accommodating towards the casinos with only 10% of their Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) being paid as tax. The proceedings will be divvied up between Brazil’s General Tourism Fund and the National Public Security Fund.

Curbing Illegal Gambling

Mr. Azi has explained that the rise of gambling in Brazil was undeniable. The industry is already relevant to the country, but laws have so far failed to establi a working framework. Based on his statement, the combined illegal and legal gambling markets in the country account for R$50 billion each year.

He believes that stopping illegal gambling would lead to boosting the overall finances of the government. Furthermore, a legalization of the industry would mean new job opportunities in cities hosting the Integrated Resorts, Mr. Azi explained.

Should Mr. Azi’s plan garner governmental support, it will become the second important development for the gambling industry in the country. In December, the outgoing President Michel Temer signed PL846/2018 opening up the way for sports betting in the country.

MyBet Prepares to Relaunch in Germany with Kambi

Posted on February 5, 2019 by Sophia Rojas

MyBet to relaunch in Germany by mid-2019
New owner Rhinoceros Group partners with B2B sports betting company Kambi
MyBet remains one of the high-profile brands in Germany’s betting industry

MyBet will be returning to Germany having successfully concluded a fresh partnership with Kambi, a premium provider of B2B sports betting services.

MyBet Relaunches in Germany Backed by Kambi

MyBet has struck a new partnership with Kambi, a provider of B2B sports betting solutions. MyBet is teaming up with the company in order to expand its footprint in the regulated and highly-contested German market.

As per the partnership, MyBet can rely on a full range of sports betting services with the company expecting to start taking is first bets by June, 2019. MyBet had to be temporarily suspended from operation, because of financial predicaments under the company’s previous owner, MyBet Holding SE in 2018.

Since then, the sportsbook brand has changed hands, with Rhinoceros Operations now assuming control over the sportsbook. Rhinoceros Operations wasn’t the original company that was going to buy MyBet, but following a collapse of negotiations in August, 2018, Rhinoceros decided to step in with a bid.

GiG Teams Up with MegaLotto to Introduce

In light of these events and the re-launching of the brand, Kambi Chief Executive Officer, Kristian Nylén explained that a brand was only as strong as its offer and that it couldn’t rely solely on reputation:

“The story of MyBet illustrates why operators cannot afford to rely purely on the strength of their brand and history in a market.”

He further added: “Online sports bettors are increasingly promiscuous so operators must ensure they have sufficient scale in their product investments to provide exciting sports betting experiences at all times to remain competitive.”

Mr. Nylén added that all the problems that MyBet has faced so far would be solved by the partnership with Kambi.

Rhinoceros Group CEO Tobias Carlsson has explained the motivation behind the purchase of MyBet. According to Mr. Carlsson, MyBet’s long-standing in the German sports betting market, make the brand & company an important asset to the Group’s own portfolio.

His official statement read:

Mybet was one of the pioneers in the German sports betting field, and together with Kambi and our other partners we will do everything in our power to revive that legacy and bring players the experience they desire and deserve.

The addition of Kambi will help MyBet streamline its effort and permeate new markets as well as better cater to the exclusive needs of German customers. With the fresh financial backing by Rhinoceros Group, the company is set for a promising future.

Germany has been an interesting destination or gaming agencies. Lottoland has been one of the latest companies to be caught up in a battle to secure a position in themarket.

EveryMatrix Expands Offer with New Esports Markets

Posted on January 30, 2019January 30, 2019 by Sophia Rojas

OddsMatrix expands its involvement in the esports betting markets
The sportsbook provides parent company EveryMatrix with perfect opportunity to launch into new verticals, comments CEO Ebbe Groes

Esports betting continues to be a large part of the betting industry, which is only know beginning to seriously consider expanding more determinedly into the sector. EveryMatrix has added improvements to its OddsMatrix sportsbook to now accept esports bets.

EveryMatrix Expands Across the US with Esports

Enjoying a relatively sweet spot from a legal standpoint, esports are in a position where bookmakers offering odds on the outcome of video games can cover multiple domestic and international events.

Unikrn, one of the leading companies in the United States, recently acquired a license from Isle of Man effectively allowing it to service esports fans from across the entire country.

Black Ridge Acquisition forms Allied Esports Entertainment

EveryMatrix is following in these steps by streamlining its own offer. Presently, the OddsMatrix sportsbook accepts bets on 50 major esports events, which includes 1,200 pre-match bets and 400 live bets every month. OddsMatrix first expanded in 2013 when it focused on sports exclusively.

Talking about the involvement of his company with esports betting, EveryMatrix CEO Ebbe Groes had the following to say:

The esports revolution has finally begun, and we are pleased to join the commercial breakthrough of esports betting with our newly released esports services.

OddsMatrix, Mr. Groes has explained, has increased Matrix’s ability to expand into new sports and betting markets.

What’s Esports Betting Exactly?

EveryMatrix has become one of the latest betting agencies to actually expand into this new segment. Esports betting works like traditional sports contests, with the slight wrinkle that the disciplines competed in are video games.

There is a number of high-demanding and skill-based video games that people spend mastering months, if not years, with hours of rigorous play day in and day out. Presently, the market for esports on OddsMatrix, includes Dota 2, League of Legends, StarCraft, Fortnite, PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, Call of Duty, and others.

With OddsMatrix, we’ve increased our ability to easily add new betting markets and sports. – Ebbe Groes

There are multiple other markets and developing games which are also often featured at the largest sportsbooks, but the size and offer depend solely on the betting agency. Nevada officially signed an esports betting bill in May, 2017.

Esports Betting – New Opportunities, New Challenges

While esports is considered a great market because of the size of the esports industry (expected to be worth over $1 billion in 2019), there are inherent challenges to providing winning betting odds. Here’re several facts that make the undertaking even more complicated:

Around 97% of all esports bet are won in favour of the customer
Sportsbooks are not as of yet prepared to offer well-balanced odds
Gamers are much smarter, as they’ve played the games they bet on for years

Thankfully, esports betting is not a no-man’s land, with an established regulatory body, the Esports Integrity Coalition (ESIC). However, the regulator is now as well funded properly to address every concern across the board.

Meanwhile, Unikrn is pushing out with exciting new developments, including “skill betting” or “betting on one’s self”. Luckbox, a blockchain-based company, is preparing to launch its official sportsbook in March.

Veikkaus Lets 400 People Go in Digital Restructuring

Posted on January 23, 2019January 23, 2019 by Sophia Rojas

Finnish operator Veikkaus slashes 400 jobs
1,300 out of 2,000 employees to be offered redundancy
Veikkaus is re-focusing on the digital segment entirely

Despite an expanding gaming market in the Nordic countries, Finnish operator Veikkaus is shedding 400 employees in a bid to consolidate its digital footprint.

Veikkaus Has Gone Digital

Finnish operator Veikkaus is pulling out of the land-based business, cutting 400 jobs in the process. Instead, the operator will re-focus its efforts on establishing a digital footprint and rolling out its offer online.

The restructuring is quite impressive, with 1,300 of the company’s 2,000 employees now anticipating voluntary redundancy measures. It’ll be a busy few months for HR, it seems. Most of the employees are based in Helsinki.

A slight silver lining, if one can be found in the gathering storm, is the fact that most of Veikkaus’ employees are employed on part-time positions. Benefiting from the far-reaching restructuring, Veikkaus also wants to reorganize matters on its retail end.

Veikkaus President and CEO Olli Sarekoski outlined the plans ahead of the company in a statement published on the official website:

We want to ensure Veikkaus’ future in the middle of the ever-accelerating digital competition. Players are increasingly switching over towards the digital channels and, as a result of the structural changes in retail trade, our point-of-sale network has experienced a drastic decrease over the past few years.

Mr. Sarekoski cited the above reason for introducing changes to Veikkaus’ points of sale as well as the complete shut-down of restaurant table gaming activities.

Presently, the company’s operations stand at:

Veikkaus is planning to introduce redundancy measures for 1,300 out of its 2,000 employees
Presently, the company owns 187 restaurant game tables across 162 properties
Veikkaus.fi presently offers 200 different online games
42% of Veikkaus’ revenue is generated via the company’s online operations

A World Gone Digital

The advancement of the online segment is not surprising. Given the density of the population in Finland, digital venues are far more accommodating than land-based venues which often require travelling time, not to mention the extra expenditures.

By re-focusing their offer online, Veikkaus can slash much of the costs of its own operations as well.

A similar move has been undertaken by NetEnt, although the company only slashed 55 people in Stockholm, Sweden, in order to pursue further expansion of the game development department.