Category archives: Gambling

Betfair Secures Partnership with Brazilian Football Club Cruzeiro

Gaming leader Betfair has teamed up with Cruzeiro, a legendary Brazilian soccer organization, in a sponsorship arrangement intended to propel the squad back to its former eminence in Brazil’s premier league, Série A.

The two-year agreement grants Betfair prominent advertising placement on the men’s team shirts, along with branding privileges for the women’s team and throughout the club’s online presence.

Cruzeiro Chief Executive Officer, Gabriel Lima, conveyed his enthusiasm, declaring, “This significant collaboration reflects Cruzeiro’s stature and overflows with energy and possibility. The club stands at a critical juncture in its history.”

He stressed the importance of the collaboration, adding, “Restoring faith with our devoted supporters through dedicated and proficient endeavors is paramount. Uniting with an industry frontrunner like Betfair is a vital move in reclaiming Cruzeiro’s rightful position in Brazilian football.”

Beyond the sponsorship, Betfair is prepared to launch a series of engaging initiatives for Cruzeiro supporters, including unique gifts, VIP perks, special promotions, and memorable fan experience events.

Betfair is also dedicated to highlighting the Cruzeiro brand across its digital platforms, website, and interview backgrounds.

Kimberly Daly, Managing Director of Betfair International, shared her delight about the partnership, remarking, “We are ecstatic to back Cruzeiro at such a unique and significant moment in their century-long legacy.”

This collaboration with Betfair demonstrates their dedication to our Cruzeiro community – encompassing both our male and female squads. Equally significant, it highlights their understanding that our supporters are the core of our endeavors. This initiative aims to elevate the game-day experience, prioritizing our fans, and providing unique opportunities exclusive to Betfair.”

Fortuna Holdings just secured a victory by recruiting Ben Timbury as their latest Chief Operations Officer.

Timbury is a seasoned professional in the iGaming industry, possessing a talent for expanding operations and increasing profits. He’s handled everything from acquiring and retaining satisfied customers to forging alliances and managing international mergers.

He comes to Fortuna from the Gibraltar-based Lottoland Group, where he played a crucial role in implementing fresh tactics that propelled the company’s swift growth.

Thomas Rosander, Fortuna Holdings’ CEO, is evidently enthusiastic about the new hire. He views Timbury as essential to their current drive to acquire more users, particularly with the recent inclusion of casino games to their already successful esports and sports wagering platform. Rosander also suggested plans to penetrate new territories by obtaining additional permits, an area where Timbury’s background will be indispensable.

Timbury’s credentials speak volumes. Prior to Lottoland, he established and managed LiveLotto, another online gaming enterprise, where he supervised all aspects from expansion to corporate oversight. It’s a safe bet that Fortuna Holdings is relying on Timbury’s proficiency to realize their ambitious expansion goals.

Timbury conveyed his enthusiasm for Luckbox’s distinct fusion of esports, gaming, and wagering, acknowledging the vast possibilities within this burgeoning sector. He’s keen to lend his proficiency to this groundbreaking group that’s effortlessly combining the excitement of placing bets with the genuineness of esports. His principal objective in the subsequent period will be broadening their customer base and propelling revenue expansion.

The firm behind the incredibly popular crash game, Aviatrix, has teamed up with QTech Games to introduce its distinctive gameplay to Asian markets. Through this collaboration, Aviatrix’s flagship title will be incorporated into the QTech Games platform, becoming accessible to a vast new player base via QTech’s network of operating partners.

Vladislav Artemyev, Chief Executive Officer at Aviatrix, conveyed his enthusiasm, remarking, “Aviatrix is among the most rapidly expanding games globally, and this alliance with QTech Games will enable us to connect with an entirely fresh demographic, particularly within Asia.” He stressed that QTech’s collaborators would now have the capacity to provide players in these developing markets with a genuinely novel and captivating online entertainment encounter. Artemyev alluded to thrilling advancements, assuring new functionalities and enhancements to the game in the approaching weeks and months.

For those unacquainted, Aviatrix is a game of skill where participants wager on a simulated airplane. The goal is to cash out at progressively increasing multipliers before the aircraft, unfortunately, crashes. Introducing a dimension of personalization and possession, players can even utilize NFT mechanisms to customize their in-game aircraft.

Daniel Long, Chief Commercial Officer at QTech Games, commended the game’s relevance and the inventiveness of the Aviatrix development team. He emphasized how the game cleverly merges popular strategic elements with NFT attributes, rendering it an ideal match for the contemporary gaming environment.

This high-flying title is poised to soar for QTech Games, mirroring the success of their previous crash game offerings. Users appreciate the ability to personalize their aircraft, selecting from a variety of hues and components.

QTech Games clearly understands the gaming landscape, consistently delivering exceptional products that generate revenue for their collaborators. Furthermore, Aviatrix is among the pioneers introducing this innovative gameplay to the realms of online and digital currency casinos.”

Incidentally, this arrangement bears a striking resemblance to the agreement Galaxsys secured with QTech Games in the preceding month.

The Asia Gaming Brief-hosted 2023 ASEAN Gaming Summit concluded recently in Manila, Philippines, setting a new attendance record! This significant industry event drew a record-breaking crowd of almost 1,300 gaming experts from around the world.

The attendees not only showed up in force, but they also came from a wide range of nations, including Macau, Armenia, Australia, Cambodia, Cyprus, the UAE, India, Germany, the UK, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malta, Ukraine, Vietnam, Singapore, and more.

This year’s summit was even more exciting because it included a special exhibition space for the first time. With industry heavyweights like GamingPe, Hann Resorts, Angel Singapore, Naga Games, and BetConstruct in attendance, dozens of businesses displayed the newest gaming innovations and trends.

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR)’s unwavering support made all of this feasible. Alejandro H. Tengco, the organization’s recently chosen Chairman and CEO, even delivered the opening remarks at the summit.

Daesik Han, CEO of Hann Resorts, gave a presentation in which he discussed the company’s history and outlined some ambitious goals for the future.

Luis Pereira, the leader of Asia Gaming Brief, commented on the remarkable triumph of the ASEAN Gaming Summit. He emphasized its unprecedented participation as proof of the gaming sector’s tenacity and its impressive recovery from the pandemic’s impact. Pereira conveyed sincere appreciation to his staff for their unwavering dedication in coordinating the event, particularly acknowledging the incorporation of fresh components that expanded upon the prior year’s accomplishments and established a solid base for the times ahead.

He proceeded to recognize the invaluable assistance of industry stakeholders, especially the contributions of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), deeming their support essential to the event’s prosperity. Pereira also extended thanks to operators throughout the region for their active engagement and the knowledge they imparted. He stressed the value contributed by the presenters, expressing his gratitude to all panel participants, facilitators, and speakers for their time, proficiency, and viewpoints. Looking forward, he conveyed enthusiasm for receiving input to further elevate upcoming events.

Mirroring Pereira’s sentiments, Vicky Chan, Chief Manager of Asia Gaming Brief, expressed her pleasure at the overwhelmingly favorable responses received from sponsors and vendors. She lauded the Summit and its accompanying showcase as a landmark accomplishment for the organization, signifying their initial venture into an event of such magnitude and influence, one that effectively drew a prestigious assembly of industry leaders and executives.

She expressed her delight at the enthusiasm surrounding their upcoming gathering, particularly the anticipation of reengaging with important customers worldwide, highlighting the favorable responses received.

The ASEAN Gaming Summit concluded triumphantly, culminating in a spirited poker gathering at City of Dreams Manila and a vibrant closing celebration at XYLO within The Palace Manila.
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The US-based private investment firm, Apollo Global Management, has increased its proposal for the troubled Australian gaming behemoth, Tabcorp. They’ve presented a bid of $3.5 billion AUD, seeking to purchase Tabcorp’s betting and broadcasting branch. This mirrors a prior proposal submitted by the British gaming company Entain Plc in 2021. Notably, Apollo has also indicated an interest in procuring Tabcorp’s gaming services unit, Lotteries & Keno, in addition to the betting and broadcasting segment, for a combined sum of $4 billion AUD.

Tabcorp’s leadership is presently evaluating the proposition but has not reached a definitive conclusion. Several obstacles persist, including securing funding, finalizing due diligence, and obtaining the required regulatory permissions.

This situation arose because Tabcorp has been encountering challenges and commenced a strategic assessment to investigate all avenues for optimizing shareholder returns. This piqued the interest of various entities, including Apollo and even media tycoon Rupert Murdoch, whose Fox Corporation aims to broaden its footprint in Australia. Tabcorp’s board has been deliberating whether to divest the struggling betting and broadcasting division or potentially separate it into an independent publicly traded entity.

Lottery giant, Allwyn, has announced a remarkable 23% jump in its second-quarter gross gaming income (GGI), hitting €901.7 million (US$895.5 million) versus the corresponding timeframe last year.

This exceptional performance was driven by a blend of inherent expansion across Allwyn’s ventures and the stabilization in numerous territories as brick-and-mortar retail venues completely resumed operations. Significantly, the firm emphasized the robust results of its digital platforms, especially in the Czech Republic, where internet-based transactions now constitute a substantial share of their overall GGI.

Allwyn maintains its dedication to its enlargement plan, seeking both acquisitions and involvement in bids. A key illustration is their current arrangements to assume control of the UK National Lottery’s management, subsequent to the Gambling Commission’s affirmation of their license grant.

Robert Chvatal, Chief Executive Officer of Allwyn, conveyed his contentment with the company’s achievements, remarking, “It brings me great pleasure to declare that Allwyn has produced yet another series of solid financial outcomes in Q2 2022, and persists in making positive headway on crucial strategic actions across both our internal and external growth tactics.” He further underscored the pact secured with OPAP to procure a 36.75% holding in Kaizen, further strengthening Allwyn’s standing within the sector.

Betano, a rapidly expanding online sports wagering and iGaming platform utilizing proprietary technology, traces its roots back to the creators of Stoiximan, a prominent betting enterprise.

This group, currently at the helm of Betano under its namesake brand, maintains operations across seven markets. Their presence is particularly robust in Romania and Portugal, with notable expansion occurring in Brazil. Robert Chvatal, the Chief Executive Officer of Allwyn, the entity in the process of acquiring Betano, remarked, “The accomplishments of this team with Stoiximan are truly remarkable, and I am enthusiastic about the potential that Betano holds.”

The acquisition is anticipated to reach completion in the final quarter of the current year, contingent upon regulatory clearance.

“On the whole, I am highly satisfied with Allwyn’s financial results and strategic advancements this quarter, and I approach the future with confidence and enthusiasm, anticipating promising times ahead,” Chvatal further commented.

During the six-month period concluding on June 30, 2022, Allwyn recorded €1.77 billion in aggregate gaming revenue, reflecting a 41% surge compared to the corresponding timeframe in the preceding year. Their net gaming revenue witnessed a 50% escalation to €1.08 billion, while adjusted EBITDA experienced a 45% rise, reaching €5.438 billion.

This development coincides with a period during which the UK National Lottery, formerly under the management of Camelot, witnessed a £2.83 billion (US$3.47 billion) decline in ticket sales throughout the 2021/22 fiscal year. Nevertheless, they still achieved the second-highest sum ever amassed for charitable endeavors.

The SOFTSWISS Affilka solution has introduced a reporting application programming interface (API), providing associates and customers with a novel and user-friendly method to access their information. This instrument furnishes immediate metrics on labels, promotional initiatives, user engagement, and other crucial data sets through straightforward API requests.

This enhanced functionality streamlines the reporting procedure, making it more rapid and transparent, guaranteeing everyone remains informed. Consequently, Affilka associates and proprietors can acquire a comprehensive grasp of their efficacy and implement modifications as necessary, precisely when required. The reporting API documentation is now accessible within their profiles for all proprietors and associates collaborating with SOFTSWISS Affilka.

“We are perpetually developing instruments to enhance our service, and the deployment of the Reports API functionality exemplifies this commitment. Currently, all reports are obtainable via API calls, extending beyond the affiliate and proprietor interfaces or through CSV, JSON, and XML files. This permits us to disseminate all data instantaneously, in real-time, which is paramount for ensuring fruitful cooperation among parties,” remarked Anastasia Borovaya, Product Owner of Affilka.

Alongside the reporting API, the Affilka group has also unveiled front-end API documentation, now situated within the proprietor interface. This will prove particularly advantageous for proprietors aiming to construct their affiliate program interface from the ground up.

Collaborators can utilize Affilka’s user interface API to construct distinctive destination pages for their associate initiatives. They possess full autonomy over the appearance and ambiance, encompassing the personalization of signup forms and how associates sign in. However, it extends beyond mere fundamentals! Administrators can collaborate with Affilka to engineer a wholly tailored visual aesthetic for their entire associate scheme, encompassing both the administrator’s interface and what their associates perceive.

To streamline operations for all, we’ve incorporated our API documentation directly within the administrator interface. Now, Affilka administrators have the most current documentation readily available. And whenever we enhance the API, the documentation is concurrently updated with our monthly product releases.

It’s noteworthy that Affilka has consistently prioritized real-time information. Since inception, administrators have employed our API integration to flawlessly transmit player enrollment and activity data from their iGaming platforms to the Affilka platform. Unlike FTP integrations, which can entail day-long lags in data transfer between an iGaming platform and its associate program, our API integration guarantees that player actions are monitored instantly, updates are mirrored in real-time, and issue resolution can occur swiftly. This openness fosters confidence between administrators and their collaborators.

The gaming behemoth, 888, experienced a substantial income increase in 2023, accumulating £1.71 billion ($2.16 billion). This 38% upswing is primarily credited to their purchase of William Hill earlier that year. Nevertheless, upon closer examination, the situation isn’t as promising. Excluding the William Hill acquisition, their income actually declined by 8%, and earnings suffered a blow.

Despite this setback, the corporation maintains a positive outlook, unveiling a value enhancement strategy and even a name modification! CEO Per Widerström contends that rebranding to “evoke plc” better reflects the fresh chapter they are commencing.

Although adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization) witnessed a robust 41% leap to £308.3 million, profit after tax experienced a 25% plunge to £48.1 million.

The organization also disclosed a net deficit of £5.64 million for 2023, although this signifies an improvement from the £12.06 million loss in 2022. Earnings per share (EPS) mirrored the downward profit trajectory, decreasing by 29%.

Their latest quarterly statement (Q4 2023) revealed a 7% year-over-year decrease in revenue, concluding the year at £424 million. On a more encouraging note, this constitutes a 5% rise compared to the preceding quarter.

In the fiscal year 2023, 888 experienced a revenue decrease of 8%. This downturn is largely (95%) connected to the contraction of regulated and taxed gaming sectors.

Even with these challenges, 888 has been actively adjusting to the shifting regulatory environment. They recently underwent a Gambling Commission assessment of their operational permit and received a positive outcome – no sanctions were issued.

Moving forward, 888 is critically evaluating its US ventures. Due to intense rivalry and substantial operational expenses, they are contemplating a complete or fractional divestment of their US-oriented B2C enterprise.

## Maltas SiGMA Europe 2023: An Unprecedented Gathering

The SiGMA Europe Summit held in Malta achieved remarkable triumph, attracting an unparalleled assembly of over 25,000 participants to the Mediterranean isle for seven dynamic days. The summit hummed with top-tier connections, illuminating keynote presentations, captivating panel dialogues, and a constellation of industry titans.

Hosted at the newly established Mediterranean Maritime Hub (MMH), the expansive exhibition space showcased a panorama of innovation, brimming with promising business prospects and striking exhibits. The MMH proved an ideal location, featuring two stages, a generous outdoor catering zone, and an unprecedented number of booths.

**Prominent Participants**

SiGMA Group spared no effort, assembling their most extensive and notable speaker roster to date. This varied group of industry frontrunners and influential figures included renowned names like Darryl Manning, Chief Executive of Wicked Games; Alexandre Tomic, Founder and CEO of Alea; seasoned entrepreneur David Meltzer; and Uri Poliavich, Chief Executive of Soft2Bet.

The concurrent AIBC Summit drew its own cohort of specialists and forward-thinkers from the burgeoning technology realm, including Sara Al Madani, Tony Ventura, and Vinícius M. de Carvalho, Investment Partner at Ikigai Ventures.

**Priceless Knowledge**

The speakers at Malta Week were true trailblazers in their respective domains, providing invaluable perspectives and knowledge. Uri Poliavich, for instance, made a lasting impact with his declaration that “excellence commands attention” – a sentiment that resonated throughout the summit.

David Melzer firmly espouses the strength of reciprocation. He’s stated, “I’ve yet to encounter a magnanimous, accomplished individual who wasn’t also joyful, ambitious, and enthusiastic about motivating others to achieve their fullest capabilities. This is precisely why I’ve committed to embodying this principle of plentitude.”

This emphasis on benevolence and creativity was mirrored by Tanja Dimitrijevic, the chief legal officer of Redstone Group, who discussed the promising path of the regional sector. “Your receptiveness to emerging technologies demonstrates you’re at the forefront,” she observed, emphasizing the Maltese archipelago’s advanced regulations.

The occasion was a significant assembly for the industry, with even Maltese Prime Minister Robert Abela gracing the event with his presence. He perambulated the exhibition area, observing the state-of-the-art technology and offerings presented by prominent enterprises. Abela accentuated Malta’s standing as a global iGaming center, deeming SiGMA a crucial factor in the nation’s economic expansion. He reiterated the government’s pledge to further bolster the sector, encompassing the execution of a national esports plan and measures to foster education and ongoing advancement within the digital gaming realm.

Other distinguished participants included Silvio Schembri, Minister for the Economy, European Funds, and Lands, and Bernard Grech, Leader of the Opposition of the Nationalist Party, underscoring the event’s importance within the Maltese context. And let’s not overlook the Startup Pitch contest, a springboard for the upcoming cohort of trailblazers!

The Maltese week pulsed with energy this year! The SiGMA Startup Pitch made a triumphant return, and 8BIT Gaming captivated the audience, securing the coveted first place. Their creation impressed the adjudicators with its excellence, ingenuity, and a touch of classic reminiscence. Simultaneously, at the AIBC Europe Startup Pitch, SharkGate emerged triumphant, declaring their objective to enhance internet safety for all and transform online self-protection.

As if that wasn’t all, combat enthusiasts were in for a spectacle with Centurion FC’s “Mursa” fight night, coinciding seamlessly with SiGMA. Coordinated by the celebrated Roberto Gallo, the event attracted a massive gathering of SiGMA participants eager to observe the year’s most significant Centurion clash. The evening showcased a thrilling lineup, with Rafael Carvalho overcoming Marcelo Alfaia to claim the Light Heavyweight championship. However, the true highlight was the four-person Grand Prix, where Philip Douglas outperformed the competition, ultimately attaining the “King of Malta” title at the exhilarating Takkarik Arena.

Outside the SiGMA group’s packed itinerary of meals and networking events, the conference provided a captivating selection of supplementary activities.

HighRoller.com organized a lively charitable poker competition, granting prominent participants and guests the opportunity to secure substantial winnings for a worthy endeavor.

The SiGMA Cup, a five-a-side soccer match held at the Luxol Sports Club, ignited everyone’s competitive drive, as did the 6-kilometer recreational run commencing from the Grand Hotel Excelsior in Valletta and traversing the historic Maltese capital.

For a more leisurely experience, a VIP golf championship transpired at the Royal Malta Golf Club, supported by SiGMA Play.

Naturally, no visit to Malta would be complete without experiencing the splendor of its historic capital, a designated UNESCO World Heritage site, both terrestrially and nautically.

The iconic Churchill Downs, renowned for hosting the Kentucky Derby, recently declared an unprecedented financial performance in the second quarter of 2022. Their total earnings skyrocketed to an astounding $582.5 million, a significant increase compared to the corresponding period in the previous year.

This remarkable accomplishment was driven by the complete return of spectators to the 148th Kentucky Derby. The event witnessed not only unparalleled wagering activity but also emerged as the most lucrative week in its history. Consequently, the quarter concluded with an unprecedented adjusted EBITDA of $291.2 million.

Further amplifying their triumphs, Churchill Downs executed a shrewd business transaction by divesting a portion of undeveloped land adjacent to their Calder Casino estate to Link Logistics, a property development firm. This divestiture generated an additional $291 million and holds the potential to stimulate new construction that could prove advantageous to the racetrack in the long term.

In a significant strategic maneuver, Churchill Downs also completed the acquisition of Peninsula Pacific Entertainment (P2E) for a substantial sum of $2.48 billion. This calculated acquisition serves to broaden their footprint within the gaming and leisure sector.

The renowned Churchill Downs Incorporated is poised to purchase the Colonial Downs Racetrack situated in New Kent, Virginia. This acquisition encompasses six supplementary off-track wagering establishments within the Commonwealth. Furthermore, the agreement entails assuming management of both the del Lago Resort & Casino located in Waterloo, New York, and the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Sioux City, Iowa.

Previously under the ownership of Peninsula Pacific Entertainment, the transfer of these assets to Churchill Downs hinges upon the authorization of the New York State Gaming Commission and the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission. The finalization of this transaction is anticipated before the conclusion of 2022.