EveryMatrix

Staffan Cnattingius has been appointed by EveryMatrix as director of business development for Latin America markets, where he will oversee the company’s expansion in the region, and manage commercial efforts as a part of the global sales team.

Having spent over two decades in the gambling industry serving in managerial roles in both online and land-based casino operations, he joins EveryMatrix after successful tenures at Play’n GO, Copacabana Gaming, and QTech, among others.

Erik Nyman, president of the Americas at EveryMatrix, commented: “I am excited to have Staffan joining our Americas team. He comes with unique experience, in-depth product knowledge, relationships and not least an impressive track record of success in Latin America.

“His professional experience will enable EveryMatrix’s goal of becoming the leading turnkey provider in the region. Staffan is the right man for the job, and I wish him welcome aboard.”

Rivers Casino Philadelphia

Rush Street Gaming announced today that Justin Moore, former general manager of Rivers Casino & Resort Schenectady, has been named general manager of Rivers Casino Philadelphia, pending approval from the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.

Moore joined Rivers in Schenectady soon after the property opened in 2017, and is lauded as helping to establish the brand in a new and competitive market, operating The Landing Hotel, and debuting New York’s first sportsbook.

“Rush Street’s accelerated growth in destination and online gaming has created more opportunities for career development inside the company,” stated Greg Carlin, CEO of Rush Street Gaming and Rivers Casino. “After a successful four-year term in upstate New York, we’re very pleased to welcome Justin to Philly.”

Sightline Payments

Sightline Payments, the financial technology supplier to the sports betting, lottery and gaming sectors, has appointed five new executives to its senior leadership team.

John Gronen joins as chief financial officer, while Jennifer Carleton will serve as the  company’s chief legal officer. Through its recent $100m funding round, the firm has also appointed Muriel Lotto as chief marketing officer, while Katrina Sevier will serve as its chief people officer and Felicia Gassen will be chief of staff.

The executive appointments, said Sightline, strengthen its leadership as the company scales to support rapid growth and customer demand.

Joe Pappano, CEO of Sightline, explained: “We are pleased to welcome John, Jennifer, Muriel, Felicia and Katrina to Sightline Payments. The collective expertise and proven track record that they bring from working with some of the world’s most recognized companies will play an instrumental role in managing the company’s hyper-growth and expansion.

“In the near and long-term, we plan to invest significant capital in recruiting diverse and expert talent to drive key Sightline priorities around market growth and innovation. Our goal is to have the most talented and diverse team in the gaming and payments industries.”

Rush Street Interactive

Rush Street Interactive has announced the appointment of Lauren Seiler as associate vice president of investor relations and development. Seiler brings to RSI over 17 years of diversified Wall Street experience, with 12 of those years being gaming-centric.

In the newly created role, she will lead RSI’s investor relations efforts, while also working with the team to drive the company’s growth, development and M&A initiatives.

“Lauren brings a strong network of relationships and experience with both the sell-side and buy-side communities and a deep knowledge of the capital markets,” Kyle Sauers, CFO of RSI, said. “Her financial and strategic skills will be a great asset as we continue to grow RSI as a leader in online gaming.”

Sportradar

Sports betting and entertainment firm Sportradar has appointed Deirdre M Bigley to the Sportradar Holding AG board of directors, with immediate effect.

Having held the post of chief marketing officer of Bloomberg since 2014, Bigley has been responsible for designing and launching the firm’s first global marketing department and building marketing strategies for all business units across the company.

Carsten Koerl, Sportradar Group CEO, added: “We’re thrilled that Deirdre is joining our Global board of directors as we draw upon her vast experience leading marketing strategies for some of the world’s most well-known technology companies. We are pleased to leverage Deirdre’s data and analytics insights as Sportradar drives innovative solutions that support the success of our customers.”

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Gaming1

Gaming and sports betting operator Gaming1 has boosted its c-level ranks with the appointment of Stars Group marketing veteran David Carrion as its chief marketing officer.

Selected for his data-driven skills and approach, the role will see Carrion tasked with building upon the international awareness of the firm’s brand name, as well as taking the helm at Gaming1’s data science team.

Sylvain Boniver, Gaming1 COO & co-founder, explained: “On behalf of everyone here at Gaming1, I’d like to wish David the warmest of welcomes. A world-class addition to our team, his appointment forms part of a recruitment drive aimed at accelerating our continued international expansion into crucial markets such as the US.

“We are a data-obsessed company so with David’s precise, data-driven approach, as well as a remarkable skillset and experience portfolio, he’s perfectly placed to help take our brand to the next level.”

Rivers Casino Philadelphia

Rivers Casino Philadelphia, which recently celebrated 10 years on Delaware Avenue, has named Las Vegas gaming and hospitality executive Eric Fitzgerald as general manager, pending approval by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.

Most recently Fitzgerald served as president and COO of Excalibur Hotel & Casino, which boasts 3,900 hotel rooms and 3,000 employees, following a period as Circus Circus Hotel & Casino president and COO, and a near-decade run as senior VP of operations for Luxor/Excalibur Hotel & Casino.

“Eric’s experience in running large-scale, multifaceted destination properties in Vegas provides the perfect runway for landing at Rivers Casino in Philly,” said Greg Carlin, CEO of Rush Street Gaming.

“He has a track record of growing customer loyalty in highly competitive markets, under challenging market conditions.”

Crucial Compliance

Responsible gaming and AML experts Crucial Compliance has announced the appointment of Andy Masters as partner and chief operating officer.

Masters’ initial responsibility is to advance the professional services and software development team by bringing together experts in their fields. He will drive compliance management solutions; building a suite of products to match the global ambitions of the company.

Paul Foster, managing director of Crucial Compliance, commented: “We are very proud to welcome Masters as both a partner and fellow Board member to help deliver the sustainable but ambitious targets. As COO, he is bringing a depth of knowledge and experience which will help take us to the next level of company growth and development and, crucially, compliments the existing team and client base perfectly.”

WWE

Barstool Sports’ chief executive officer Erika Nardini has been elected to the board of directors of World Wrestling Entertainment.

Nardini was named Barstool Sports’ first CEO in 2016, and since that time the company has experienced tremendous brand and business growth as one of the fastest-growing lifestyle brands on the internet, generating hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue.

During her tenure at the company, Nardini has launched more than 35 brands, including breakout franchises in sports, entertainment, female lifestyle, business and sports betting.

“Erika is a seasoned executive with a tremendous track record of building businesses, developing experiences, and engaging different audiences across the media ecosystem,” said Vince McMahon, WWE chairman and CEO.

“Her entrepreneurial spirit, business acumen and understanding of today’s consumers will serve as a perfect addition to our board of directors.”

ESA Gaming

ESA Gaming has confirmed the appointment of Maria Luisa Malfasi as business development manager in a bid to accelerate the company’s next level of growth.

Malfasi has over 15 years experience from the online gambling sector and joins the ESA Gaming team from iSoftBet where she held the role of senior account manager for three years.

In her role, Malfasi will lead ESA Gaming’s commercial efforts and pursue strategic opportunities by fostering new partnerships and identifying new markets.

Zorica Smallwood, Director at ESA Gaming, added: “We are thrilled to welcome Maria Luisa to the ESA Gaming family. She has a wealth of knowledge of the industry and will be an invaluable addition to our team as we continue our commercial expansion in a number of jurisdictions.”

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Boyd Gaming, Mountainview Thoroughbred Racing Association, Valley Forge Convention Center Partners, and Sugarhouse Gaming, in addition to Snow Shoe Travel Plaza and Pit Stop Travel Plaza, were those in the firing line of the Keystone State’s regulator.

The former received the largest of the penalty fees, with a $150,000 fine stemming from a failure to properly notify the PGCB of all pertinent facts regarding the reasons for the surrender of a principal’s license in 2020, thereby hindering the board’s suitability determination. Boyd Gaming holds licenses in Pennsylvania to operate casinos, igaming and sports wagering.

Mountainview Thoroughbred Racing, which operates Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course, received two fines at a combined $120,000.

The first, for $70,000, came as a result of an individual, who was on the PGCB’s self-exclusion list, gaining entry to the gaming floor of the property, and being served alcohol that led to intoxication and subsequent damage to vehicles

A $50,000 fine followed due to occurrences where two employees, both since terminated, willfully funneled payments to gaming service providers that resulted in inaccurate disclosures to the PGCB, and its bureau of licensing, of lower payment amounts needed to determine the classification of some of its vendors. This resulted in a ‘under classification’ of gaming service providers and lower license applications fees.

Valley Forge Convention Center Partners, operator of Valley Forge Casino Resort, received a $14,000 penalty fee for permitting a 20-year-old male to gain access to the casino floor and gamble at table games.

SugarHouse, which operates Rivers Casino Philadelphia, received no fine but was mandated to implement additional security and surveillance requirements, after an individual left two children in a parked vehicle in the property’s parking lot.

Snow Shoe Travel Plaza and Pit Stop Travel Plaza also received no fine, but surrendered two video gaming terminal establishment licenses and two principal licenses for non-adherence to various licensing requirements.

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The entity follows BetMGM Casino in becoming available in the Keystone State, whose Pennsylvania igaming debut was made in December and was swiftly followed by the launch of mobile sports betting.

The Borgata Casino app features a variety of games, including more than 150 slots and table games, such as Premium Blackjack Pro and MGM Grand Millions, with its progressive jackpot, linked to slot offerings and available to players in Pennsylvania, starting at $300,000.

BetMGM’s integration with MGM Resorts’ M life Rewards program allows BetMGM customers in Pennsylvania to redeem their gameplay for experiences at a selection of properties nationwide, such as Bellagio and MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Borgata in New Jersey, and MGM National Harbor in Maryland.

Founded in 2018 as a joint venture between MGM Resorts International and Entain, BetMGM offers sports betting and online gaming via the Party Casino and Party Poker brands, in addition to the aforementioned BetMGM and Borgata Casino.

“There are few casino brands as well-respected as Borgata, evident by the success we’ve seen with the Borgata Casino app in New Jersey,” said BetMGM CEO Adam Greenblatt.

“Pennsylvania marks an important milestone for us as we introduce the Borgata Casino brand to the first state outside of New Jersey. We’re confident that players in Pennsylvania will enjoy the digital betting experience of Atlantic City’s premier casino.”

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26

The All-In Diversity Project has reported a boost in female executives and a drop in board representation, as the not-for-profit initiative publishes its second annual study of the sector’s workforce.

The All-Index Annual Report 2019 features data supplied by 26 organisations, which represent over 100 global brands, and indicates a near 50:50 employee split overall, with 46.7 per cent of the 125,697 staff members identified as women.

Detailing the findings of the study, the firm says that the discoveries support some, but debunk other, assumptions about industry stereotypes, and highlight initiatives that help support and promote workplace diversity and inclusion.

This year’s report indicated that, of those organisations that participated, females makes up 41 per cent of executive teams, however, if you ascend to board level that representation has dropped 5.5 per cent from 28 per cent to 22.5 per cent.

13

The Spelinspektionen has debuted a new campaign that is designed to drive further awareness of the Spelpaus self-exclusion scheme.

Initially running until mid-January, the initiative will consist of 13 different messages which will predominantly be shown via banners across a range of online platforms.

This follows on from a government-commissioned campaign that was rolled out during the summer across television, websites and social media, which aimed to ‘significantly increase the public’s knowledge about the possibility of being banned from gambling’.

According to the regulator, the first campaign was considered to be successful in raising awareness of the Spelpaus.se initiative, which it says sees approximately 58,000 currently suspended from gambling.

100,000

The Betting and Gaming Council has marked the beginning of Safer Gambling Week by asserting that the industry is committed to safer gambling “not for one week but for all year round”.

The significance of the event, which gets underway today and runs until Wednesday 25 November, will not be undiminished by the latest lockdowns, says the group.

Hundreds of betting shops in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland will be forced to keep their doors closed during the week, however, over 100,000 staff at more than 9,000 gambling venues and online sites are said to be participating.

SGW’s ‘Let’s Talk About Safer Gambling’ is to feature prominently online and in venues which have escaped COVID restrictions, with betting shops, casinos and online operators, arcades and bingo companies also getting involved to promote the many tools available to help promote safer gambling.

81

Commercial gaming revenue across the US finished up at $9.04bn during 2020’s third quarter, a figure which represents 81 per cent of the industry’s pre-COVID levels recorded in the same period a year earlier, according to the American Gaming Association’s Commercial Gaming Revenue Tracker.

Despite Q3 revenue being up 294 per cent from the second quarter lows, driven by pandemic-driven, mandatory closures, health and safety measures currently in place, including social distancing and capacity restrictions, have contributed to the recovery lagging behind the country’s broader economic recovery.

Gaming revenue is down 36.5 per cent year-over-year during the first nine months of 2020, compared to the US GDP’s three per cent decline across the same period.

During the July – September reporting period more than 100 casinos reopened, with 902 (90.8 per cent of the total) commercial and tribal venues operational by the end of the period, compared to 800 (80.8 per cent) at the start of July.

149.1

Game Account Network has unveiled a €149.1m definitive purchase agreement to acquire Coolbet, which has been approved by its board of directors and is expected to close in the first quarter of 2021.

Subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals, the deal will leverage the latter’s proprietary sports betting technology, which is anticipated to be integrated into GAN’s turnkey technology solutions for launch in the US real money igaming market by the second half of 2021.

The acquisition, which is expected to be immediately accretive, will see GAN welcome over 175 global employees and more than 84,000 active customers.

5

The Competition and Markets Authority in the United Kingdom has cleared Evolution’s impending acquisition of NetEnt, almost two months after launching an investigation to analyse if the transaction would lessen the competition in the region’s igaming market.

The competition regulator officially announced the launch of its merger inquiry by notice to those concerned in September, before inviting comments on the purchase by any interested party.

Those comments needed to be provided before the invitation closed on October 5, following which the CMA would proceed to the analysis stage of phase one before reaching a decision on whether to enter phase two or close the inquiry by November 16.

20

Philadelphia’s Rivers Casino is to close its doors until at least the first day of next year, after the Pennsylvanian city published its ‘Safer at Home’ restrictions.

In response to rising COVID-19 cases in Philadelphia, the city and Department of Public Health have announced changes to restrictions on businesses, events and gatherings, and other activities to help flatten the epidemic curve, prevent hospitals from becoming overwhelmed, and reduce the number of COVID-19 deaths.

The ‘Safer at Home’ restrictions come into effect on November 20, 2020 until January 1, 2021. It is warned that an extension of these and/or the implementation of additional restrictions is possible, depending on trends in the spread of coronavirus across the region.

As a result of the mandated order, Rivers Casino Philadelphia, the sole land-based gaming entity currently within city limits, will be forced to shut down its operation once more.

The post Acquisitions, lockdowns and Safer Gambling Week: <br> The week in numbers appeared first on CasinoBeats.

In response to rising COVID-19 cases in Philadelphia, the city and Department of Public Health have announced changes to restrictions on businesses, events and gatherings, and other activities to help flatten the epidemic curve, prevent hospitals from becoming overwhelmed, and reduce the number of COVID-19 deaths.

The ‘Safer at Home’ restrictions come into effect on November 20, 2020 until January 1, 2021. It is warned that an extension of these and/or the implementation of additional restrictions is possible, depending on trends in the spread of coronavirus across the region.

As a result of the mandated order, Rivers Casino Philadelphia, the sole land-based gaming entity currently within city limits, will be forced to shut down its operation once more. The facility will be joined in the region next year by the $700m Live! Casino and Hotel.

Casinos fall under a “businesses and activities are not allowed” subsection, are joined by theatres, including cinemas and other performance spaces; bowling alleys, arcades and game spaces; museums; libraries; recreational activities and sports for youth, community groups, and schools; and gyms and indoor exercise classes, although exercise groups and classes may continue outdoors.

Furthermore, High schools and colleges must move to online instruction only, with the exception of clinical instruction for students in health sciences, with takeout, delivery and outdoor dining permitted to continue, although additional restrictions have been implemented on the latter.

“We may be tired of COVID, but COVID’s not tired of us,” noted Dr Tom Farley Philadelphia Health Commissioner, upon introducing the extensive mandate to combat the rising spread of cases across the area.

Philadelphia has also issued new guidance on changes to events and gatherings, additional changes to capacity limits and other precautions for businesses and activities that are able to continue, businesses and activities that can continue to function under current guidance from the Department of Public Health, and a safety checklist.

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The financial penalties, issued to Mount Airy #1, LLC and SugarHouse HSP Gaming, were the result of board approval at its public meeting of consent agreements between the PGCB’s Office of Enforcement Counsel and the two casino operators.

Elaborating on its assessment, the Pennsylvania state regulator explained: “Complimentary free slot play is widely offered by all casinos in Pennsylvania as a marketing tool to build and reward patron loyalty, and drive repeat visits of customers who might otherwise patronise a casino outside of the Commonwealth.

“Casinos must, however, submit to and gain authorisation from the board of a “Comp Matrix” which outlines who can issue complimentary free slot play and the maximum dollars that each employee is authorised to issue, and then adhere to the plan.”

A fine of $90,000 against the former stemmed from an investigation by the PGCB’s Bureau of Investigations and Enforcement on the authorisation and issuance of discretionary free slot play. This revealed that free slot play was issued by employees in excess of amounts that were authorised through the aforementioned Comp Matrix.

In this case, it was found that Mount Airy did not adhere to its internal controls leading to 491 instances where employees issued discretionary free slot play, exceeding the authorised limit and totalling $262,500, including the alleged theft of $140,000 by one employee. That employee was later charged with a felony crime.

The approved fine for SugarHouse HSP Gaming was of $45,000 and came as the result of a similar investigation at the Rivers Casino Philadelphia facility by BIE into the issuance of discretionary free slot play.  

In this matter, BIE found 405 instances in which it was issued by employees in amounts excess of those authorised through the Comp Matrix, resulting in $25,562 in free slot play. 

BIE’s investigation also found that Rivers Casino Philadelphia did not adhere to procedures for free slot play and its internal controls for such issuance.

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Celebrating the landmark today (Wednesday 23 September), the rebranded SugarHouse Casino is said to have started life with an aim of “ushering in a new gaming and entertainment era to the city”.

Owned and operated by Rush Street Gaming and its affiliates, the group also boasts three other Rivers branded facilities as part of its growing stable, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Des Plaines, Illinois; and Schenectady, New York.

Like the other Rush Street properties in every market and community, Rivers Casino Philadelphia says that it stands on the three pillars of being a great place to work, a strong economic engine and a proud community partner.

“There’s no doubt that 2020 has tested the gaming industry, with historic nationwide shutdowns and ever-changing COVID-19 operational protocols,” said Rush Street CEO Greg Carlin. 

“Our team members have shown remarkable resilience in the face of adversity. I’m grateful for their continued support and for the support of the Philadelphia community, as we learn together how to return safely to work and play. Overall, our first decade was great, and our next will be even greater.”

The property boasts approximately 1,550 employees and aims to stand by a commitment to hire locally. More than 60 per cent of its workforce is from Philadelphia and surrounding areas. 

Furthermore, approximately 43 per cent of Rivers’ total workforce are women, many in executive and management positions, with 60 per cent African American, Hispanic or Asian, which it says is “proudly reflecting the city’s diversity”.

Approximately 176 team members have been with the casino since day one, and the property has announced more than 1,300 internal staff promotions since opening.

Following its debut in September 2010, Rivers Casino has generated more than $1.2bn in total tax revenue for the city of Philadelphia and the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Rivers also spends approximately $11.5m annually with local businesses and approximately $5.7m with minority and women’s business enterprises.

The post Rivers praises teamwork & community impacts as Philly facility turns ten appeared first on CasinoBeats.

Representing a $15m investment in the property, a plethora of upgrades have been made to the establishment which debuted in the Pennsylvania market nine years ago.

Among them is the new $5m “state-of-the-art” BetRivers sportsbook, a redesigned gaming floor and enhanced food and beverage outlets, with owners stressing that the investment represents a “continued commitment to be a proud community partner to the city”.

Earlier this month the property unveiled a partnership with the Wells Fargo Centre, which saw the introduction of two new sports lounges to complement its in-property entity.

Coming as part of a multi-year partnership with the arena and the Philadelphia Flyers, approximately 100 screens are displayed across the pair of “high-tech” lounges.

Rush Street Gaming and its affiliates also boast three others Rivers branded entities in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Des Plaines, Illinois and Schenectady, New York, and, alongside Churchill Downs Incorporated, hopes to add one more via Rivers Casino Waukegan.

“Having a unified brand will provide a seamless customer experience across the Commonwealth with our bricks-and-mortar casinos, mobile and online, and even our sportsbooks, all part of the Rivers Casino family,” stated Greg Carlin, CEO of Rivers Casino Philadelphia and Rush Street Gaming.

As part of the rebranded a $1m annual donation to the Penn Treaty Special Services District is to continue under the ‘Rivers Gives’ umbrella, which is to also establish donation locations adjacent to the gaming floor where guests can support monthly initiatives that will benefit local nonprofits.

The property has also become a presenting sponsor of the annual New Year’s Eve fireworks on the waterfront, which sees the facility get set to present two year-end displays.

“We’re excited for our guests to experience all the incredible new features Rivers Casino Philadelphia has to offer,” added Rob Long, general manager of Rivers Casino Philadelphia.

“We’re supremely devoted to our terrific team members and our loyal guests. It’s a privilege for Rivers to be a longstanding partner to the Fishtown community and to Philly.”

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Taking on the New Jersey Devils, the development forms part of a multi-year partnership that saw the current SugarHouse Casino and its PlaySugarhouse.com entity become the official sportsbook partners of the Flyers and the Wells Fargo Center.

The Rivers branding reflects the casino’s impending transition from SugarHouse Casino to Rivers Casino Philadelphia, as well as the online component, PlaySugarhouse.com, which is to transition to BetRivers.com in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

“We are thrilled to launch our partnership with SugarHouse, soon to be Rivers Casino and BetRivers.com, through these sport lounges which will undoubtedly elevate the game day experience at the Wells Fargo Center,” explained Valerie Camillo, president of business operations for the Flyers and Wells Fargo Center. 

“Both spaces are stunning additions to what has already been the most transformative phase of our renovation project and we know our fans will be delighted with the design and experience.”

The Rivers Casino Philadelphia sports lounge, in the redesigned south end of the arena, is a 5,680 square-foot space that features ten 86″ screens grouped throughout the seating areas, mixed with odds boards and an additional 16, 65″ monitors at the bar.

Alternatively, the BetRivers.com sports lounge will face the bowl so fans can watch the live action as it happens below, and features dozens of live action screens, measuring 86″, 65″ and 50″ respectively.

Ambassadors of the property will also be on hand in both to assist guests, with patrons also able to utilise the BetRivers Pennsylvania app on their personal devices.

“The Wells Fargo Center will be Rivers Casino Philadelphia‘s home away from home,” stated Rob Long, general manager of the casino property. “When fans walk into the Wells Fargo Center and the sports lounges, they’ll feel the same excitement and comfort that will be available at the casino when our new state-of-the–art in-casino sportsbook is unveiled later this month.”

The agreement between the parties also incorporates a marketing partnership that includes advertising inside the arena’s bowl and throughout the concourse as well as radio, billboards and digital media placements

“We can’t wait for Philadelphia sports fans to experience these new sports lounges,” added Mattias Stetz, COO of Rush Street Interactive, the operator of the in-casino and online sportsbooks for SugarHouse, soon to be Rivers Casino Philadelphia. 

“We know how passionate this city is when it comes to sports, and we took great care to make sure these lounges have everything guests need to watch and get in on the action as it’s happening.”

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