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Media Man Entertainment Blog: Casino, Gaming, Sports Betting and Business News via Media Man
Casino, Gaming, Sports Betting and Business News via Media Man
The United States Igaming Revenue Report - August 2022
National (igaming/results) - Deke Castleman, CDC Gaming Reports - Total igaming revenue for August 2022 in the six igaming states totaled $394.7 million, up 22.9% from August 2021…New Jersey was $131.4 million, reflecting growth of 16.1%...Michigan produced $130.9 million in revenue, up 34.2% higher. Pennsylvania online gaming revenue was, $107.2 million, 17.3% higher than August 2021…Connecticut operators, DraftKings and FanDuel won $13.1 million and $8.8 million…West Virginia igaming revenue was $10.8 million, more than double the $4.5 million result from August 2022…Delaware’s internet casinos essentially tied their record igaming revenue of $1.3 million, a 30% leap over August 2021.
Nebraska’s first casino to open Saturday
Nebraska (Lincoln) - Paul Hammel, Nebraska Examiner - Nebraska’s first casino is expected to open Saturday morning in the Capital City, pending approval by the state gaming commission. A temporary casino, located at the Lincoln Racecourse Thoroughbred track, is scheduled to open at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, with more than 400 slot machines ready to go. “We have every expectation that we’ll get a license,” said Lance Morgan, president and CEO of Ho-Chunk Inc., the economic wing of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska and operator of WarHorse.
Prop 27 Campaign Switching Tactics in CA Sports Betting Push
California (sports) - Matthew Waters, Legal Sports Report - The campaign behind Prop 27, the push for legal online CA sports betting, is changing its tactics with just six weeks to go. Yes on 27 pulled all of its TV ad buys in major California markets this week, the San Francisco Chronicle reported…the campaign is only advertising on broadcast spots in the Los Angeles market. A spokesperson from the campaign said the standard TV ads from both sides are “not benefiting anyone.” Instead, funding will be used for direct mail and digital advertising.
Chinese Ambassador warns crimes harmful to relations
Asia (China/Philippines) - Inside Asian Gaming - China’s Ambassador to the Philippines, Huang Xilian, has warned that the proliferation of crime linked to the country’s Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) industry are harmful to relations between the two nations. Philippine News Agency reports that Huang issued a statement on Wednesday in which he reiterated that China firmly opposes all forms of gambling and will continue to take strong measures against it.
MGM CFO talks acquisitions, divestitures, and strength of Las Vegas
Nevada (Las Vegas) - Buck Wargo, CDC Gaming Reports - Speaking to the Deutsche Bank Leveraged Finance Conference on Tuesday, MGM Resorts International CFO Jonathan Halkyard touted the strength of the Las Vegas Strip, especially convention business, and spoke glowingly about the casino-giant’s property and company transactions. Halkyard also discussed the second quarter and closing on the sale of its REIT to VICI Properties for $4.5 billion. He cited MGM’s acquisition of the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas and paired that with the $1 billion sale of the operation of the Mirage to Hard Rock International. “Together, these two transactions have materially improved the portfolio in Las Vegas,” Halkyard said.
Nevada esports-wagering expansion moving forward
Nevada (esports) - Buck Wargo, CDC Gaming Reports - Nevada’s Esports Technical Advisory Committee asked the state’s Attorney General’s office Wednesday to draw up regulations that would permit widespread esports betting on tournaments and championships starting in 2023. The committee will meet on Oct. 24 to review and finalize the regulations and forward the package to the Nevada Gaming Control Board and eventually the Nevada Gaming Commission.
‘We’re just getting started’: Las Vegas gets its parade
Nevada (Las Vegas) - Mike Grimala, The Sun - On Sunday, the Las Vegas Aces delivered the city its first major league sports championship. On Tuesday, the city delivered for the Aces, as several thousand fans packed the area around the Bellagio fountains for the team’s historic title celebration. The atmosphere was one of triumph as the Aces rallied to commemorate the franchise’s victory against the Connecticut Sun in the WNBA Finals.
Famed Israeli chef opening 2 restaurants in The Venetian
Nevada (Las Vegas) - Johnathan L. Wright, Review-Journal - Eyal Shani — the celebrated chef with restaurants in the U.S., Europe, Asia, Oceania and his native Israel — is bringing his take on Mediterranean cooking to the Las Vegas Strip with the debut of two restaurants at The Venetian. Miznon, serving fast-casual Israeli street food, is planned to open in late 2022. HaSalon, offering seasonal ingredients and a menu with nightly changes, is scheduled to launch in 2023. Both will be in the Palazzo Tower of The Venetian.
Regulators consider $100K fine against William Hill
Nevada (regulation) - Richard N. Velotta, Review-Journal - The Nevada Gaming Commission on Thursday will consider slapping the Caesars Entertainment Inc.-owned William Hill sportsbook with a $100,000 fine, following a four-count complaint filed in August by the Nevada Gaming Control Board. The Control Board accused William Hill of violating gaming regulations by failing to promptly resolve a system failure that affected more than 50,000 bettors since 2015.
Wynn Resorts seeks dismissal of lawsuit from massage therapist
Nevada (Las Vegas) - Richard N. Velotta, Review-Journal - Attorneys for Wynn Resorts Ltd. are seeking the dismissal of a lawsuit filed by a Wynn Resorts massage therapist earlier this month, and a hearing has been scheduled in October. Attorneys Robert Eglet, Tracy Eglet and Danielle Miller filed a lawsuit on Sept. 1 in Clark County District Court on behalf of Brenna Schrader, who alleges the company continues to create a hostile work environment and retaliate against her years after then-CEO Steve Wynn forced her to act as an “on-call sexual servant.”
Newest casino is nearly set to open in Newburgh Mall
New York (Newburgh) - Chris McKenna, Times Herald-Record - Hundreds of black slot machines and table games are in place and waiting to be fed cash, spread across a couple acres of blue and orange carpeting where the Bon Ton department store used to be. Within the next three months, New York's newest casino is expected to open its doors, a playground of electronic gambling devices inside the Newburgh Mall that will operate 20 hours a day. Resorts World Hudson Valley will feature 1,200 machines in all, most of them slots, but also 82 unmanned imitations of typical casino offerings like craps, roulette and blackjack.
Pennsylvania GCB issues fines for underage gambling
Pennsylvania (regulation) - Rege Behe, CDC Gaming Reports - The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board Wednesday approved three consent agreements during a public meeting resulting in $280,825 in fines for two gaming operators. Two approved consent agreements, producing fines of $160,000 and $100,825, Mount Airy Casino Resort in Monroe County. The third fine of $20,000 resulted from negotiations between the OEC and Pilot Travel Centers and PJF Southeast, operator of two Video Gaming Terminal establishments.
BetMGM announces partnership deal with NBC Sports, replacing PointsBet
National (sports) - Rege Behe, CDC Gaming Reports - BetMGM, and NBC Sports Wednesday announced a new partnership for the 2022 NFL season highlighted by weekly integrations on Football Night in America and content across other NBC Sports platforms. BetMGM replaces PointsBet, which had signed a similar integration deal with NBC last year, but recently opted out. “It is a tremendous opportunity to partner with the talented team at NBC Sports and have the ability to engage with football fans nationwide,” said BetMGM Chief Revenue Officer Matt Prevost.
ESPN Updating, Expanding, Prioritizing Sports Wagering Content
National (sports) - Chris Altruda, Sports Handle - ESPN may still not know its sports wagering end game with regard to whether it will have its own sportsbook or partner with one, but the Disney-owned network and multimedia platform is definitely making the commitment to content as betting continues to expand across the United States. ESPN recently announced an expansion of programming that includes new shows across multiple platforms and expanded roles for on-air talent. The moves, which coincided with the start of the NFL season — the primary driver of sports betting in the U.S. — are designed to keep ESPN front and center in a rapidly changing landscape where content is available at every turn.
Cavaliers, Bengals, Guardians, racinos and more approved for sports betting
Ohio (sports) - Donald Emmons, OH Bets - The Ohio Casino Control Commission (OCCC) approved sports betting licenses for 10 sports gaming proprietor and four sports gaming supplier applicants during its Wednesday morning meeting in Columbus. The Cleveland Cavaliers, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Guardians, Columbus Blue Jackets, and the Football Club of Cincinnati were among those approved for sports gaming proprietor licenses. Also approved for the same type of license were MGM Northfield Park, Eldorado Gaming at Scioto Downs, Hollywood Casino Columbus, Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway, and Belterra Park in Cincinnati.
Tulalip Casinos Celebrate Opening of New Retail Sportsbooks
Washington (Indian gaming) - Indian Gaming Magazine - Tulalip Resort Casino and Quil Ceda Creek Casino have celebrated the opening of two retail sportsbooks. The events featured Seattle Mariners great and Baseball Hall of Fame member Randy Johnson at Tulalip Resort Casino, and Seattle Seahawks legend and Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee Steve Largent at Quil Ceda Creek Casino. “Like all of us at Tulalip Resort Casino and Quil Ceda Creek Casino, the DraftKings team is committed to excellence, and we intend to give local sports fans an experience that can’t be beat,” said Brandon Jones, Sportsbook Manager at Tulalip Resort Casino.
Tulalip To Host Hiring Fair for Over 100 Job Openings
Washington (Indian gaming) - Indian Gaming Magazine - Tulalip Resort Casino, Quil Ceda Creek Casino and Tulalip Bingo & Slots will offer starting hourly wages ranging between $16 and $31.64 at the “Tulalip Hiring Fair” Thursday, Sept. 22, between 9am and noon. There will be on-the-spot hiring for more than 100 job openings, including scores of newly created positions. Offer bonuses for select positions will be offered ranging between $250 and $1,000, and application assistance will be available starting at 9am. The event will be held at the Tulalip Hiring and Training Center.
Arizona reports $41.6 million in contributions
Arizona (Indian gaming) - KECY - The Arizona Department of Gaming (ADG) reports of $41.6 million in tribal gaming contributions. Furthermore, this amount represents an increase of 2.1 percent when compared to first quarter of Fiscal Year (FY) 2022. “Arizona’s tribal gaming industry continues to impress, with a quarterly contribution record of $41.6 million to the Arizona Benefits Fund,” said Ted Vogt, Director, ADG.
Gila River Branding Entitlement on Arizona Coyotes Home Jerseys
Arizona (Indian gaming) - Indian Gaming Magazine - The Arizona Coyotes and Gila River Resorts & Casinos have announced a multi-year partnership extension agreement that provides Gila River with the branding entitlement on the Arizona Coyotes official home jerseys. The announcement marks the first time in NHL history that a Native American-owned gaming enterprise will have its logo on an NHL team jersey. The Gila River Resorts & Casinos logo will be on the Coyotes’ black Kachina jerseys for all home games played at Arizona State University’s Mullett Arena beginning in October for the 2022-23 season. Additionally, Gila River will be the season-long presenting sponsor and participate in a variety of community activations throughout the season.
Casinos, retailers, other employers host job fairs in metro Phoenix
Arizona (Indian gaming) - Russ Wiles, Arizona Republic - Many employers remain in a hiring mode, although a recession might be looming. In fact, 85% of businesses say they’re actively hiring, according to a national survey by Challenger, Gray & Christmas. That’s up from 81% in the spring. Many Phoenix area employers are turning to job fairs and special promotions to lure applicants. Talking Stick Resort will host a job fair Sept. 27 for hospitality positions there and at sister property Casino Arizona…Some positions will pay a $1,500 signing bonus. Benefits include a 401(k) retirement-plan company match, education assistance and medical, dental and life insurance. Paid time off is available for full- and part-time employees.
Echo Zulu Swings Back into Action in Dogwood
Kentucky (racing) - Byron King, Blood-Horse News - Last year's champion 2-year-old filly, Echo Zulu , scratched moments before the start of the June 11 Acorn Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park due to perceived unsoundness when headed to the starting gate, regroups under the evening lights at Churchill Downs in the $275,000 Dogwood Stakes (G3) Sept. 24. After the L and N Racing and Winchell Thoroughbreds-owned filly received a subsequent clean bill of health…She walked for a few weeks and didn't resume a workout schedule until mid-August at Saratoga Racecourse for Steve Asmussen.
Rich Strike Breezes at Churchill Ahead of Lukas Classic
Kentucky (racing) - Corrie McCroskey, Blood-Horse News - Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) winner Rich Strike worked at Churchill Downs Sept. 21 in preparation for the Oct. 1 Lukas Classic (G2), according to trainer Eric Reed. The son of Keen Ice breezed five furlongs in 1:01.40 with regular exercise rider Gabriel Lagunes aboard. He ranked ninth fastest out of 19 horses who worked Wednesday. "He worked very relaxed, I couldn't have been happier with the way he finished up, that's what we wanted," Reed said.
12-Year-Old Racehorse Retires as Winner in 100th Start
Kentucky (racing) - Byron King, Blood-Horse News - On a day when owners began plotting the careers of million-dollar horses purchased at the start of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale Sept. 12, the connections of a $3,000, 12-year-old claiming horse celebrated an auspicious conclusion to his career in a lower-level race at Arizona Downs .In his 100th race, a milestone start his connections had targeted for the veteran campaigner to wrap up his racing career, Joe Wheeler and Curt Ferguson's Success Rate bowed out a winner, scoring by 1 3/4 lengths in a six-furlong race with a $9,525 purse.
DAZN, LiveScore and WSC debate betting and media
Europe (SBC Summit) - Ted Orme-Claye, SBC News - The third panel of day one on the SBC Leaders track at this week’s Barcelona Summit dived into a topic that has been on the minds of many over the past year – the convergence of media and betting. Appearing on the discussion were three speakers with extensive experience of this field – DAZN CEO Shay Segev, LiveScore Group CEO Sam Sadi and WSC Sports CEO and Co-Founder Daniel Shichman… Returning to the media-betting perspective, he added: “Even if you’re in the media space, you can’t be satisfied with delivering sports and taking advertising and subscription revenues.
ECA Casino Industry Forum heads to Baden
Europe (Austria) - Phil, G3 Newswire - The ECA Casino Industry Forum takes place in the picturesque Austrian town of Baden from September 27-30, 2022. It is the gathering place for Europe’s leading casino operators to discuss the challenges, opportunities, trends, and developments in land-based and online casino gaming. Casino Baden plays host to over 60 guests at this year’s event, marking the return of the ECA Casino Industry Forum after a two-year absence due to the pandemic.
Government continues crackdown on illegal gambling
Americas (Columbia) - James, G3 Newswire - Coljuegos, reported that it carried out 41 inspections in the department of Córdoba and that it removed 544 gaming machines that were operating illegally. Coljuegos added that if the machines had been operating legally, then they would have generated 8,182 million Colombian pesos (about US$1.84 million) in operator fees plus VAT of 3,157 million pesos (about US$ 712,000). At the same time the board reported that the 30 municipalities of Córdoba, between 2020 and so far this year received about 50,089 million pesos, (US$11.3 million), from the legal gaming sector, in fees and taxes.
Delaware breaks igaming record again in August
Delaware saw both revenue and handle rise in August. Igaming revenue hit $1.3m (£1.14m/€1.3m), up 37.2% from $945,512 at the same point last year. It was also marginally higher than the previous record of $1.25m that was set in July 2022. Players spent $36.8m on igaming in August, up 69.6% year-on-year, but down 6.6% from $39.4m during the July 2022 peak. Retail sports betting generated $354,444 during August, which was up 439.7% from $65,678 at the same time last year, but 7.5% lower than the $383,249 recorded in July this year. Bettors wagered $2.9m on sports in August, which was down 40.8% from $4.9m at the same time last year and up by 7.4% on $2.7m in July. (HGS)
Truist Securities praise southern California tribal casinos
The analysts at Truist Securities have pointed to the “amazing” depth and size of the southern California tribal casino market. After visiting six casinos between Los Angeles and San Diego, the Truist team said the properties had “fresher, more diverse” slot floors compared with comparable regional market properties, and that the tribes tend to refresh 10-25% of the slot floor annually (versus 5-10% for commercial casinos). With regard to sports betting, financial expectations were “modest,” but the key issue was about tribal sovereignty and the fact that Prop 26 would give the tribes full control of further regulations such as online casino. (JP)
Bally’s applies to offer mobile sports wagering in Illinois
Bally’s has applied for a Management Services Provider license from the Illinois Gaming Board. Bally’s plans to operate as Bally Bet, but it is unclear whether it would do so as part of its casino in Chicago or its Rock Island casino near the Iowa border. The application follows BetMGM’s entry to the state in March. Barstool Sports also received its license in March. Bally Bet launched mobile betting in Iowa in July 2021, clocking up $4.3m, of which $2.3m was recorded in the first eight months of this year. FanDuel and DraftKings account for roughly 65% of Illinois’ $496.1m mobile handle, according to data from July. The state launched mobile betting in June 2020. (HGS)
Disney CEO continues to create confusion about ESPN’s sports betting plans
Having told a conference that it was “working hard” on a sports betting app, Disney CEO Bob Chapek had to row back on his comments when he then told CNBC that ESPN “was never going to be a book” and was instead seeking a sports betting partner because ESPN was able to provide “frictionless sports betting” to fans. Chapek’s comments echoed those of ESPN president Jimmy Pitaro, who told The Athletic in June that the company “can be doing more. We need to be serving the sports fan with what they’re expecting, and taking the friction out of the process.” (JP)
Nevada esports-wagering expansion moving forward
Nevada’s Esports Technical Advisory Committee asked the state’s Attorney General’s office Wednesday to draw up regulations that would permit widespread esports betting on tournaments and championships starting in 2023. The committee will meet on Oct. 24 to review and finalize the regulations and forward the package to the Nevada Gaming Control Board and eventually the Nevada Gaming Commission.
Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board issues fines for underage gambling, licensing issues
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board Wednesday approved three consent agreements during a public meeting resulting in $280,825 in fines for two gaming operators. Two approved consent agreements, producing fines of $160,000 and $100,825, stemmed from negotiations between the Office of Enforcement Counsel and Mount Airy Casino Resort in Monroe County.
Cavaliers, Bengals, Guardians, racinos and more approved for Ohio sports betting licenses
The Ohio Casino Control Commission (OCCC) approved sports betting licenses for 10 sports gaming proprietor and four sports gaming supplier applicants during its Wednesday morning meeting in Columbus. The Cleveland Cavaliers, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Guardians, Columbus Blue Jackets, and the Football Club of Cincinnati were among those approved for sports gaming proprietor licenses.
Nebraska’s first casino to open Saturday, pending OK of license; state launches self-exclusion program
Nebraska’s first casino is expected to open Saturday morning in the Capital City, pending approval by the state gaming commission. A temporary casino, located at the Lincoln Race Course Thoroughbred track, is scheduled to open at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, with more than 400 slot machines ready to go... In preparation for the opening, problem gamblers are being urged to file a “voluntary self-exclusion form” to bar their admission to the casino and the temptation to gamble.
Bragg Gaming, Bally’s Interactive, enter igaming content development partnership
Bragg Gaming Group Wednesday announced that it has entered an igaming content development partnership with Bally’s Interactive, the digital arm of Bally’s Corporation. Per the agreement, Bally’s Interactive online brands including Virgin Casino, JackpotJoy and Vera&John, will launch content from Bragg’s proprietary slots studios, including Atomic Slot Lab and Indigo Magic.
Great Canadian Gaming: Next year looks great
Fitch Ratings recent B+ rating on Great Canadian Gaming Corp.’s long-term debt reflected optimism in the company, which is owned by Apollo Management. Senior secured debt got a B+, unsecured debt a B-. According to Fitch, the ratings reflect healthy generation of discretionary free cash flow and a recovering Canadian casino economy.
California: YouTube slots influencer Brian Christopher hosts first group slot pull on his Pop’N Pays More game
Live online slots player and YouTube star Brian Christopher visited Jamul Casino in the San Diego area over the weekend to launch three of his own branded slot machines. The new Pop’N Pays More slot machines were installed on Sept. 14 with many guests rushing to play them immediately.
Washington: Tulalip Resort, Quil Ceda Creek casinos open DraftKings Sportsbooks
Tulalip Resort Casino and Quil Ceda Creek Casino each opened a DraftKings Sportsbook [Tuesday] with celebratory appearances by two Seattle sports legends.
France: FDJ enters ‘exclusive negotiations’ to acquire horse betting operator ZEturf
La Française des Jeux (FDJ) is apparently seeking an expansion of its standing in the French betting space, targeting an acquisition of ZEturf Group...a horse racing betting operator as well as the company behind the ZEbet brand.
Relax Gaming debuts in Colombian igaming market via MegApuestas deal
Relax Gaming has marked its entry into the Colombian igaming market through a deal with operator MegApuestas, which sees the supplier make its tier one games available to Colombian players.
Sunday, September 18, 2022
Media Man Entertainment: News Update - WWE Crown Jewel Press Conference. Promotions 101 says Media Man.
WWE Crown Jewel Press Conference. Promotions 101 says Media Man.
*click here for official WWE article
*click here for official WWE YouTube video
I don't usually cover pro wrestling via LinkedIn, as its not quite our bread and butter industry from a professional perspective, although I have had the opportunity to assist (officially) on a number of WWE, FITE TV, AEW, Australasian Wrestling Federation, Hulk Hogan, independent and Pancrase Hybrid Wrestling campaigns over the past 25 years plus.
The current WWE Crown Jewel Press Conference involving main players Roman Reigns and Logan Paul, along with Paul Heyman (Heyman Hustle) and Sami Zayn, was off the charts.
Big Fight Feel. Big Money Match. Big Heat. Just big. Tremendous promotion all round and this can be used as a blueprint for combat sports promotions for many years to come.
Crown Jewel will be broadcast via Peacock and WWE Network on Saturday, November 5, 2022. Again, I am not officially assisting, but I was blown away from fan, media and promoter perspective.
(Image credit: WWE).
Shared for the business world via LinkedIn!
#wwe #wwecrownjewel #crownjewel #wwepress #wwemedia #wrestling #sportsentertainment #reignsvspaul #promotion #promotions #combatsports #streaming #entertainment #popculture #wwenetwork #news #media
Sunday, September 11, 2022
Media Man Entertainment: Media Man Casino, Gaming, Sports and Pop Culture; Las Vegas, Canada, UK, Australia and beyond
Media Man Casino, Gaming, Sports and Pop Culture; Las Vegas, Canada, UK, Australia and beyond
The Media Man Group including Media Man Int, Media Man Australia, Casino News Media, Global Gaming Directory, Hottest On TV, Wrestling News Media, Bitcoin News Media and Cafe News Media have searched the world once again and deliver some of the freshest, most up-to-date casino, gaming, sports and pop culture news and intel to be found anywhere.
Nevada Gaming Control Board preparing for disciplinary hearing against Steve Wynn
The Nevada Gaming Control Board on Tuesday confirmed that it is preparing for a disciplinary hearing before the Nevada Gaming Commission against former Wynn Resorts Ltd. CEO Steve Wynn on sexual harassment charges. Wynn, now a Florida resident, has said that because he is no longer licensed by state gaming regulators and has divested all financial connections with the company that he believes he is no longer subject to its discipline.
The plan for a downtown Chicago casino now has a surprising ally: river lovers
Chicago’s push for a casino has stirred fervent debate focused mostly on the predictable: whether the right site was chosen, how much tax revenue it will generate and whether it will worsen noise, traffic or problem gambling. But river advocates and ecological preservationists see the complex in a different light. To them, the Bally’s plan to replace the Tribune printing plant in River West can be a meaningful next step in the ongoing makeover of the city’s riverfront — if done right.
Ontario: More staff back, but border issues continue to be a challenge for Caesars Windsor
While the bulk of the staff at Caesars Windsor have returned to work, officials say there's still more work to do as they prepare for the fall. Back in March, unionized workers at Caesars voted 93 per cent in favour of a new three-year collective agreement, covering the roughly 1,800 workers at the casino. With restrictions related to COVID-19 mostly lifted, one of the remaining issues involves the border and being able to get more visitors from the US back.
Michigan Gaming Control Board highlights need for gaming education
The Michigan Gaming Control Board is trying to do its part to help raise awareness on responsible gaming among the state’s youth in tandem with the American Gaming Association’s “Responsible Gaming Education Month.” According to a press release from the MGCB, and citing statistics from the National Council on Problem Gambling, between 60% and 80% of high school students say they’ve gambled for money in the past year, and some 4% to 6% of them are considered gambling addicts.
Mixed ruling filed in Apple, Google, Meta social casino case
The Northern District of California issued an opinion partly siding with social casino users late last week, determining that the defendants, Apple, Google, and Meta Platforms defeated only two of three theories of liability on Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act grounds.
Caesars Atlantic City debuting the first east-coast location of Gordon Ramsay’s Hell’s Kitchen
What’s opening next? This question applies to all three of Caesars Entertainment’s Atlantic City casinos. There are so many projects on the to-do list that something new is debuting every month.
Survey suggests many in Ontario cool to sports wagering
Over three months after the full launch of Ontario’s sports-betting industry, a survey conducted by Canada Sports Betting suggests a majority of people in the province haven’t taken to wagering on athletic events. Canada Sports Betting surveyed 1,222 people between July 19-20 regarding their views on the regulated sports-betting market.
North Carolina: Catawba Nation opens sportsbook inside temporary Two Kings casino
Another sports-gambling venue opened on Tuesday in North Carolina, this time at the temporary casino opened by the Catawba Nation last year along Interstate 85 near the South Carolina border.
Caesars opens two retail sportsbooks in Louisiana on the eve of football season
Caesars Sportsbook made a big splash less than a week before the NFL season begins, opening two new retail locations for sports betting in Louisiana.
Hard Rock Sportsbook launches in Indiana, Tennessee
Hard Rock Sportsbook is officially live in Indiana and Tennessee, just days ahead of the start of the 2022 NFL season. The mobile sportsbook is now operational in Arizona, Indiana, Iowa, New Jersey, Tennessee, and Virginia.
Liz Truss’s UK premiership raises hopes of countering affordability checks, lawmaker says
Liz Truss's appointment as prime minister has been hailed as a major positive for racing by fellow Conservative MP Laurence Robertson, who hopes she will oppose the controversial affordability checks, which are set to feature in the upcoming gambling white paper and would cost the sport millions. Robertson, whose Tewkesbury constituency includes Cheltenham racecourse, has long campaigned against strict betting restrictions.
Camelot drops legal challenge over UK National Lottery licence transfer to Allwyn
Outgoing National Lottery operator Camelot has dropped a legal challenge which was preventing the handover of the lottery licence to rival Allwyn. Allwyn has ended its counter-claim against Camelot for damages due to delaying the £6.4bn contract.
Player protection and responsible gambling at the core of the agenda for SBC Summit Barcelona
Hundreds of player safety professionals will gather at SBC Summit Barcelona September 20-22 to share their gambling harm prevention strategies and help improve the industry's understanding of the subject of responsible gambling.
Saturday, September 10, 2022
Friday, September 09, 2022
Media Man Entertainment Blog: WWE AND FOX ENTERTAINMENT’S BLOCKCHAIN CREATIVE LABS RELEASING 10,000+ “NFT FLIPS” FOR “HELL IN A CELL”
WWE AND FOX ENTERTAINMENT’S BLOCKCHAIN CREATIVE LABS RELEASING 10,000+ “NFT FLIPS” FOR “HELL IN A CELL”
WWE AND FOX ENTERTAINMENT’S BLOCKCHAIN CREATIVE LABS
RELEASING 10,000+ “NFT FLIPS” FOR “HELL IN A CELL”
STAMFORD, Conn. and LOS ANGELES, June 2, 2022 -- Tomorrow, Friday, June 3, WWE Moonsault will debut its first official NFT collection in advance of the annual WWE premium live event HELL IN A CELL. The marketplace’s launch was announced today by Scott Zanghellini, WWE Senior Vice President, Revenue Strategy & Development, and Scott Greenberg, CEO of FOX Entertainment’s Web3 studio Blockchain Creative Labs (BCL).
The limited-edition collection will include 10,000+ “NFT Flips,” each featuring a WWE Superstar tied to the HELL IN A CELL event. In the days after HELL IN A CELL, each NFT Flip will transform to reveal a 10-20 second video highlight of the featured Superstar. The NFT Flips will be sold on “Moonsault” in “Cases” of three, randomized at minting, for $30 per Case. “Moonsault” will be powered by Eluvio’s eco-friendly blockchain technology.
WWE and BCL launched WWE’s official NFT marketplace, “Moonsault,” this past Friday, May 27, during SMACKDOWN on FOX, and promoted the debut across WWE and FOX media platforms, as well as on WWE Discord. The first 10,000 fans to create a wallet on the platform received a free Moonsault Genesis NFT, all of which were claimed within only a few hours.
In the future, more limited-edition Cases of NFT Flips, and other video highlights and digital collectibles centered on WWE Superstars and iconic moments from the company’s history, will be dropped on “Moonsault,” timed to major WWE premium live events throughout the year.
HELL IN A CELL streams live this Sunday, June 5, on Peacock.
ABOUT WWE
WWE, a publicly traded company (NYSE: WWE), is an integrated media organization and recognized leader in global entertainment. The Company consists of a portfolio of businesses that create and deliver original content 52 weeks a year to a global audience. WWE is committed to family-friendly entertainment on its television programming, pay-per-view, digital media and publishing platforms. WWE’s TV-PG programming can be seen in more than 1 billion homes worldwide in 30 languages through world-class distribution partners including NBCUniversal, FOX Sports, BT Sport, Sony India and Rogers. The award-winning WWE Network includes all live pay-per-views, scheduled programming and a massive video-on-demand library and is currently available in more than 180 countries. In the United States, NBCUniversal’s streaming service, Peacock, is the exclusive home to WWE Network. The Company is headquartered in Stamford, Conn.
Additional information on WWE (NYSE: WWE) can be found at wwe.com and corporate.wwe.com.
ABOUT BLOCKCHAIN CREATIVE LABS
Blockchain Creative Labs (BCL), a business and creative unit formed in 2021 by FOX Entertainment and its Emmy Award–winning animation studio, Bento Box Entertainment, provides content creators, IP owners and advertising partners end-to-end blockchain computer ecosystem solutions to build, launch, manage and sell Non-Fungible Token (NFT) content and experiences, and fungible tokens, as well as digital goods and assets. BCL also manages a $100 million creator fund, established by FOX Entertainment and Bento Box, which identifies growth opportunities in the NFT space. In August of 2021, Fox Corporation made a strategic investment in Eluvio, a global pioneer for managing, distributing and monetizing premium content via blockchain, that will provide the underlying technology platform for BCL.
Wednesday, September 07, 2022
Media Man Entertainment: Lucha vaVoom, Big Day Out - January 18, 2013
Lucha vaVoom, Big Day Out
Lucha VaVOOM headlines the ‘El Jimador Mexican Wrestling Bar' At Big Day Out 2013; Sydney, Australia
Red hot extreme Lucha Libre pro wrestling and more is what Sydney got at today's Big Day Out in heatwave continues.
The action and lucha heat matched the heatwave conditions.
Sadly, not many lucha wrestling masks were sold (they don't feel so good at the best of times, let alone in the heat), but drink sales were at fever pitch, as was crowd participation, with even a couple of fans having an impromptu "match" before official bell time. Interestingly, the Lucha promoter didn't seem to mind. There was also the good old Mexican wave done by what must have been about 500 fans, many of which also screamed out Ric Flair trademark "Wooooo"! calls (with and without wrestling chops to the chest).
The Lucha's will be in Australia for about a week, as part of Australia's Big Day Out festival touring Australia, and then they will work they was back to LA in the U.S of A.
The megastars of Los Angeles based Lucha VaVoom rumbled to fever pitch at the music festival and fans lapped up the mix of Mexican lucha libre wrestling, burlesque dancing and "post-punk vaudeville", as The Daily Telegraph called it.
Inspired by the Mexican pseudo sport whose champions are household names, the sequin and lycra-clad luchadores flip and fly in the wrestling ring in good (technicos) VS evil (rudos) matches. Headline stars such as Cassandro, Crazy Chicken, Dirty Sanchez and Chocolate Caliente are very good pro wrestlers, and heavily inspired by punk and cabaret, but the look of things.
Co-founder Rita D'Albert worked with rock bands for years before forming this unique act a decade ago.
"I think crazy Mexican wrestling is a pretty natural progression from rock'n'roll," she said. "It's theatrical, it's got energy and a lot of rock shows don't have that anymore."
Media Man and Wrestling News Media have seen a lot of pro wrestling in their day and were overheard "WWE might be generally more technical than Lucha VaVoom, but this LA Mexican troupe is all over them for extreme stuff - the kind that put the legendary and original ECW on the map."
Judging by today, Lucha VaVoom looks to have a fantastic and extreme future in Australia. As WWE superstar Ryback would say, "Feed Me More". Oh, dream match we want to see - WWE's Rey Mysterio VS any of these guys. It will probly never happen, but we can dream.
Today lucha sports entertainment was certainly a dream come true for many Australian pro wrestling fans who like their pro wrestling more on the extreme, colourful and musical side. WrestleMania look out!
Press Release...
LUCHA VaVOOM TO HEADLINE THE ‘EL JIMADOR MEXICAN WRESTLING BAR’ AT BIG DAY OUT 2013...
LUCHA VAVOOM HEADED TO BIG DAY OUT 2013...
Direct from the US, the Lucha VaVOOM troupe will be putting on a show quite unlike any other at BIG DAY OUT 2013. Lucha VaVOOM is non-stop, action-packed surrealism where Mexican masked wrestlers perform breathtaking acrobatic feats in a fast-paced, fun-filled, character-driven style. Known for their far-out flamboyance, its quick, exhibition-style, one-fall Lucha Libre matches designed for maximum enjoyment and action.
The ultimate distraction, Lucha VaVOOM like a little sexo with their violencia; in between matches the finest handpicked burlesque acts from around the world wow the crowds with their unique striptease skills including raucous aerial acts, pogo-stick peelers and hula-hoop hotties. Their insane antics have Jack Black proclaiming “Lucha VaVOOM is the shit!” and it’s easy to see why.
Celebrating their tenth anniversary, Lucha VaVOOM have only got crazier over time. Rooted in history, they draw inspiration from the bizarre world of sixties Mexican Lucha Cinema. The troupe has been considered one of the most outrageous shows on earth having performed sold-out shows all around the world, they have taken to the stage alongside the likes of legends such as Jon Stewart and Dave Chappelle, as well as appearances on Jimmy Kimmel, Attack of the Show, Carson Daly and A Current Affair. Los Angeles Times said the Lucha VaVOOM show “has the pacing of a prison break” and BIG DAY OUT 2013 punters are set for something spectacular with the crew perform in a dedicated area. Here’s what the press have had to say:
“Lucha VaVOOM has a big future.” TIME MAGAZINE
“… It’s enough to make even the most jaded Hollywood insider jump up and yell ‘Smackdown.” ROLLING STONE
“…a raucous and irreverent extravaganza of burlesque, comedy and classic Mexican luchadore wrestling.” THE HUFFINGTON POST.
“Lucha VaVoom is the most exciting, bonkers show I’ve seen in ages.” THE FACE (UK)
“A madcap mix of Mexican wrestling, comedy, and vintage burlesque. I love, love, love it.” VANITY FAIR
“…a weird mix of cabaret, burlesque, Mexican Luchador wrestling with a live DJ, crowd interaction and commentary…depending on the night, people like Drew Carey turn up to do commentary for it. It is the most bizarre experience. The entire audience is dressed up and it’s like Halloween, everyone is in some weird costume. It was the greatest night of entertainment I have probably seen in my entire life.” ROVE MCMANUS
Lucha VaVOOM will be appearing at the El Jimador Mexican Wrestling Bar at all 2013 Big Day Out dates.
Mexican Masked Wrestling + Burlesque + Comedy = Lucha VaVOOM...
Lucha VaVOOM is a non-stop, action-packed scream-a-thon, where Mexican Masked wrestlers flip and fly, performing breathtaking acrobatic feats while battling evil luchadores. Historically speaking, Lucha VaVOOM brings the bizarre world of 60’s Mexican Lucha Cinema to life. Brave, masked wrestling crime fighters save the world from evil brains, vampires, the Bermuda Triangle etc; always with an obligatory stop at the local go-go club.
In-between matches, the finest, handpicked burlesque acts from around the world astound; at Lucha VaVOOM, we like a little sexo with our violencia. Raucous aerial acts, Pogo-stick peelers, hula-hoop hotties; we’ve got it all!
But wait there’s more! Our color commentary is handled by comedians Tom Kenny, Dana Gould and Blaine Capatch. Other guest commentators include Fred Armisen, Brian Poussein, Patton Oswalt, Greg Proops, Jeffrey Ross and Bobcat Goldthwait. Even Jack Black sat in, proclaiming “Lucha VaVOOM is the sh*t!
It all began in August 2003 as a one off event. The overwhelming crowd response convinced Rita & Liz to do it again, and as soon as possible.
Ever since, Lucha VaVOOM has played at the Mayan Theater in Los Angeles three times a year -- Valentines Day, Mid-summer, and Halloween. From there, Lucha brought it’s circus to Toronto, where they did two nights at the Koolhaus and made every newspaper and TV news program, including Much Music.
In 2005, Lucha VaVOOM was asked to be a part of the first HBO Las Vegas Comedy Festival, where they performed alongside Jon Stewart, Lewis Black and Dave Chapelle. That same year they performed at the famous Sony E3 party at Dodger Stadium, where they took the spotlight away from the Pussycat Dolls.
Lucha VaVOOM has gone on to perform in Chicago, San Francisco and Amsterdam, with more cities on the way.
They’ve also appeared on Jimmy Kimmel, CBS National News, G4's Attack of the Show, Channel X in Britain and A Current Affair just to name a few.
Websites
Sunday, September 04, 2022
Blog News: Las Vegas' Circa Sports Expands to Northern Nevada with Launch of New Sportsbook at Legends Bay Casino
Las Vegas' Circa Sports Expands to Northern Nevada with Launch of New Sportsbook at Legends Bay Casino
SPARKS, NEV. – Las Vegas-based sports betting brand Circa Sports has continued its rapid expansion with the launch of a new Circa Sports sportsbook at Olympia Gaming’s Legends Bay Casino in Sparks, Nev. The new book officially opened its doors Tuesday, Aug. 30, marking the sports betting brand’s first northern Nevada venture. Circa Sports at Legends Bay delivers an ultramodern and technology-forward sportsbook to the region and now offers northern Nevada residents the opportunity to participate in its record-breaking pro-football contests Circa Million IV and Circa Survivor, promising its largest guaranteed payout ever of $12 million, no rake.
“We are thrilled to welcome guests to our Circa Sports sportsbook at Legends Bay and expand our offerings to northern Nevada,” said Derek Stevens, CEO of Circa Sports. “Our team has brought some of the industry’s top oddsmakers and a menu featuring some of the best odds in the country. We are excited to kick off the new book with the Circa Sports contests and for northern Nevada residents to be able to join the fun.”
Circa Sports CEO Derek Stevens and Olympia Gaming’s Chairman and CEO Garry Goett welcomed the new sportsbook to the property with a ceremonial ribbon-cutting followed by remarks from executives.
Garry Goett, Chairman and CEO of Olympia Companies, said, “This is a momentous occasion for northern Nevada. Derek Stevens and his team at Circa Sports have been an excellent partner in helping us deliver a sports betting offering worthy of this property. We look forward to ushering in a new era for Sparks together.”
Circa Sports at Legends Bay
Circa Sports at Legends Bay is open daily from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. and boasts a 10-by-15-foot Daktronics video board displaying live odds and six of the day’s hottest games. The biggest events in sports are always be broadcast, including the full Sunday football lineup.
With a capacity of nearly 140, the venue features multiple 60-inch TVs and a variety of seating options. Each seat includes USB and power outlets for guests’ convenience. During their visit, guests can order a variety of gameday bites or libations. Three ticket counters and an ADA window are open for bettors to place bets, register for the sports betting app, make deposits/withdrawals and more.
Circa Million IV & Circa Survivor
Circa Million IV and Circa Survivor are taking entries through September 10 at Legends Bay, either in person or via proxy beginning the opening day of the book. Details are as follows:
Circa Million IV will deliver $6 million in guaranteed total prizes, with a $1 million first place prize that comes with a coveted, handmade Circa Sports blue jacket. The contest includes no rake, and any extra fees go into the quarter and full-season prize pools.
$3.65 million will be allocated amongst places two through 100 and $300,000 of prizes per quarter will be awarded every four to five weeks. The last place booby prize winner will receive $100,000 and second to last place booby prize winner will receive $50,000.
Each player will make five professional football picks against the spread each week. One point will be awarded for each correct selection and one-half point for each push. Each entry for Circa Million IV is $1,000, with a maximum of three entries per person.
Circa Survivor will offer a $6 million payout for the last entry standing. A $1 million undefeated bonus prize will be gifted for any entry that goes 20-0. To be eligible for this bonus prize, an entrant must not choose either of the teams that played in the 2022 Big Game.
Circa Survivor will consist of up to 20 legs throughout the year, one for every week of the football season plus two special weeks. Each week, participants will choose one different team to win straight up, but the player cannot pick the same team twice for the duration of the season. Thanksgiving and Christmas will each be considered their own contest weeks. Entries are $1,000 each, with a maximum of six entries per participant. An entrant can purchase up to six additional entries if they lose their original entries on the opening Thursday Night Football game. An entrant cannot go into the Saturday deadline with more than six active entries.
Entries are eliminated from the contest by selecting a team that subsequently loses or ties its game that week. If more than one entry remains after 20 legs, the pool will be split equally amongst all the entries that successfully submitted a selection during the leg. If an entry wins before the 20th leg of the contest, the winner will have the opportunity to continue making selections each week to try and achieve the 20-0 record.
Promising guests one of the most approachable betting scenes, Circa Sports is defined by incredible customer service, as well as an unrivaled team of experts leading the charge. This includes a diverse menu of wagering options and the option to take custom bets from the public. In addition to its new Legends Bay location, the betting brand is available to bettors in five properties across Southern Nevada – including the brand’s flagship location: the world’s largest sportsbook at Circa Resort & Casino in Las Vegas – via mobile betting offerings in Colorado and Iowa, and soon in a temporary book in Waukegan, Ill.
# # #
About Circa Sports
Helmed by casino owner and downtown Las Vegas developer Derek Stevens, Circa Sports is blazing a new trail in the gaming industry by combining customer-first approach to business with a team of the country's top oddsmakers. Circa Sports boasts one of the most competitive wagering menus in Las Vegas and is a leader in the city for sports futures. The venture currently operates in the world’s largest sportsbook at Circa Resort & Casino, as well as sister properties Golden Gate Hotel & Casino and the D Las Vegas. Stevens launched his first Las Vegas books outside of his downtown properties at Tuscany Suites & Casino and The Pass Casino in Henderson. Additionally, Circa Sports’ mobile app is available in Colorado and Iowa. This summer, the brand launched a sportsbook at the new Legends Bay Casino in Sparks, Nev.
About Olympia Gaming
Olympia Gaming is the gaming development division of Olympia Companies, whose subsidiaries and related entities include Casino Fandango in Carson City and Legends Bay Casino in Sparks, opening in summer 2022. In addition, through its affiliated companies, Olympia owns the Courtyard by Marriott hotel in Carson City and co-owns the Hampton Inn and Suites, and Residence Inn hotels in Sparks. For more information, visit Olympia Gaming.
About Legends Bay Casino
Building upon Olympia’s success in Carson City, Legends Bay Casino will feature the latest slots and table games, northern Nevada’s only Circa Sports | Sportsbook, several original dining and bar concepts, as well as seamless access to the open-air shopping and dining at The Outlets at Legends and the adjacent Sparks Marina. For more information, visit Legends Bay Casino.
Media Man Entertainment Blog: Betting Controversy on ESPN During Serena Match (Gambling911)
Betting Controversy on ESPN During Serena Match (Gambling911)
"Holy s*** Caesars is paying a lot of money to sponsor the U.S. Open Tennis telecast and this doofus says let’s not encourage Gambling," Gambling911.com's own Thomas Somach reported Friday night while watching Serena Williams take on Ajla Tomljanovic.
ESPN had the odds up on Serena provided by Caesars to win the title and those odds were being slashed. Commentator John McEnroe was mentioning this when the other announcer, Pat McEnroe, chimed in and said "let's not encourage gambling."
Huh?
"I’m sure he’s going to be in big trouble for that I’m listening closely now waiting for the apology waiting for him to say it’s OK to gamble," Somach said.
"(This) reminds me of the time a few years ago when Miss America contestants in Atlantic City were instructed not to smoke, drink or gamble in public lest it hurt the image of Miss America.
"The casinos complained and the restriction on gambling was lifted."
Soach questioned how ESPN could show an ad for Caesars and then say don’t use the product.
"It’s like advertising dishwashing detergent but then at the end of the commercial telling people it’s a bad product, don’t buy it."
- Tyrone Black, Gambling911.com
Social Media
Greg Tingle
So the odds are that ESPN has a solid sports betting deal, and the odds are that not all the ESPN commentators are big fans of the arrangement! That's sports business. Odds are hundreds of folks will read this. You can bet on it sport! Ha.
Thursday, September 01, 2022
Media Man Entertainment Blog: News, Pop Culture, Entertainment, Sports, Gaming, Creative, Social Media and more
News, Pop Culture, Entertainment, Sports, Gaming, Creative, Social Media and more
Pop Culture websites that we love: Media Man Int and Media Man Australia list
SMH Media & Marketing continues to impress
LinkedIn Wins Media Man 'Platform Of The Month' award
Search Engine Directory - Media Man Int and Media Man Australia
Search Engine Journal wins Media Man 'Website Of The Month' and 'Search Website Of The Month' award
Podcast Of The Month: Marketers That Matter® Releases Podcast, "MTM Visionaries"
Karrion Kross wins Media Man 'Wrestler Of The Month' (Men's Division)
Wrestling Promotion Friendly Wars
BJ Penn wins Media Man 'Martial Artist Of The Month' and 'Combat Sports Website Of The Month' awards
Combat sports online portfolio: Media Man Int and Media Man Australia
Creative Arts: Media Man Instagram and Facebook Top Picks; Photography is Photo Art
Art goes online in the new world situation