The partnership is established for a period of five years, subject to extension, and GiG will be the go-to platform account management or PAM provider for Playr.bet during this period. This will allow the brand to pivot towards new opportunities in the regional online gaming market.

Another Big Stride in the Latin American Market

GiG’s PAM system is a powerful tool that is an agile instrument, allowing companies to leverage it online as well as to support their retail operations. This creates the opportunity to create an omnichannel experience that further elevates a partner company’s profile.

Joy Entertainment director Luis Mussi welcomed this opportunity and hailed it as an important development for his company. He spoke about GiG’s own contributions:

This is a new venture into an unknown vertical for us and it was clear from the start that GiG’s technology would enable us to access the opportunities inherent within our existing customer base.

Joy Entertainment director Luis Mussi

Mussi was particularly pleased with the new partner’s offer as he saw it as a partner that is hoping to help address the challenges that lie ahead as well as bolster the current operations.

GiG’s process is thorough and carefully through-through to provide partners with everything they need to remain competitive, the executive noted. He was joined by GiG’s own chief executive, Richard Brown, who was similarly pleased with the opportunity:

Delivering new revenue streams for organizations with established online customers is at the core of what we can offer.

GiG CEO Richard Brown

Brown said that his company took pride in bringing the technology necessary to strengthen prominent operators’ businesses and help them move forward. It’s also an opportunity to build relationships with new partners. GiG has more than 25 years of experience in the delivery of in-demand solutions for brands and operators in the iGaming and betting sectors.

GiG Continues to Build Up European Momentum

GiG has been working to actively expand its footprint in global markets and has been successful. The company recently signed an agreement to provide cloud-based products and platform services & performance marketing for an unnamed entity in the iGaming industry earlier this week.

GiG also entered into a similar partnership with an unnamed company in Switzerland, “an established land-based and digital casino operator” in the country.

The legal entity managing internet gaming in the Canadian province of Ontario, iGaming Ontario (iGO), released the market performance report for the third quarter of the fiscal year 2022 to confirm that the market continued to pick up the pace.

Nearly Doubled the Previous Quarter

The report released as part of iGO’s commitment to sharing aggregate revenue and market insights on a quarterly basis showed that for the three months running from October 1 to December 31, 2022, internet gaming operations in Ontario registered C$11.53 billion ($8.67 billion) in total wagers.

The third quarter total wagers amount nearly doubled the amount operators in the province accounted for in the second fiscal quarter, C$6.04 billion ($4.54 billion), and confirmed that the market continued to pick up the pace.

The beginning of the third quarter coincided with the country’s national football team’s first participation in a FIFA World Cup competition since 1986, as well as the start of the seasons for two local major league franchises, NBA’s Toronto Raptors and NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs, and all three events could have sparked additional interest in wagering among eligible Canadians.

The nearly doubled amount of total wagers led to an increase in the total gaming revenue which came to C$457 million ($343.6 million) to post a 71% increase from C$267 million ($200.7 million) registered in the previous fiscal quarter.

Total gaming revenue includes “total cash wagers, including rake fees, tournament fees and other fees minus player winnings derived from cash wagers and does not take into account operating costs or other liabilities.”

The increase in total gaming revenue did not match the increase in total wagers, 91%, meaning that the licensed operators in the province had higher promotional spending in the third quarter as compared to the previous three-month period.

Increase in Operators, Player Accounts

The number of licensed operators active during the third quarter was 36, up 50% as compared to the previous quarter when there were only 24 active operators. Gambling websites jumped from 42 in fiscal Q2 to 68 in the fiscal Q3 to post an increase of 62%.

910,000 active player accounts in Q3 were used to wager with cash or promotional wagers or both, but as individual players may hold accounts with multiple operators, the number does not represent unique players.

Active player accounts registered an increase of 45% in Q3 as compared to Q2 but the average monthly spend per active player account of C$167 ($125.6) was up just 18% on C$142 ($106.8) in the previous quarter.

iGO noted that the report did not include numbers from Ontario Lottery and Gaming (OLG)  and that the numbers released could be subject to adjustments.

A new bill seeking the legalization of sports betting in Oklahoma has been filed and scheduled for its first reading on the first day of the new legislative session on February 6, 2023.

Tiered Fee Structure

House Bill HB1027 filed by Rep. Ken Luttrell was scheduled for its first reading on the first day of the new legislative session showing that Gov. Kevin Stitt meant business when information hit the wires last month that his administration was actively looking into sports betting.

The bill would introduce a tiered fee structure for the tribes asking them to pay a higher percentage if they generate more: 4% on the first $5 million tribes receive in a month, 5% on the next $5 million and 6% of all the rest in a calendar year – a proposal that looks much like the exclusivity payments for tribes under the model gaming compact, argued local radio network and news media KOSU.

And at least one tribe, the Muscogee Nation, believes that the bill needs some of its details worked out. The tribe’s spokesperson, Jason Salsman, was quoted by the reporting media saying that the bill “right now, as it is the language in the proposals” does not work for the Muscogee Nation but the bill in its current form can become a base to be built upon.

Varied Tribal Interests

With 39 tribes in Oklahoma and each one of them having varied levels of interest in sports betting, agreeing on the fine details is going to be key to whether the tribes support the bill or not, believes the chair of the Oklahoma Indian Gaming Commission (OIGA) Matt Morgan.

And while it is obvious that the bill sponsor has taken advice from experts in the sports betting industry, he did not consult with OIGA and there are a lot of questions that need to be answered, Morgan admits, sharing his plan to bring Luttrell to the conversation.

I don’t know if it hits the mark for those tribes that are interested in every way, and I’m really inquisitive: Is this his idea, or is this legislative leadership’s idea? Don’t know the answer to that, but it would be really interesting to find out.

Matt Morgan, chair, OIGA

Compact Constraints

But the OIGA chair is adamant that it is important to remember that some things may not be legal under the current model gaming compact.

The stakeholders are involved here…I want to be clear, are the state of Oklahoma — meaning the governor and the legislature — and the tribes. Outside of those three stakeholders, anything above and beyond that, you risk the real possibility of breaching our current gaming compact.

Matt Morgan, chair, OIGA

Negotiated between the tribes and the state to generate additional revenue, the compact was initially signed in 2004 and had to be renewed after 15 years but in 2020 Gov. Stitt refused to do so. Eventually, the tribes prevailed in the legal battle and the compact was renewed.

HB1027 is Luttrell’s second attempt to pass a sports betting bill after his previous one in February 2022 did not go anywhere.

As announced by the two companies, the deal will see them work on creating new activations featuring NFL stars and exciting fan experiences for NFL fans.

MGM Resorts and the NFLPA Will Host Special Events

Under the terms of the new multi-year partnership, the leading casino and hospitality company will work with the NFLPA on various fan and player-oriented events. Some of those will feature famous National Football League players or retired legends, boosting fan engagement. In addition, the deal will provide various benefits to NFL players, generating extra value for the NFLPA.

Thanks to the new deal, NFL players will be able to participate in a variety of exciting events. These events are all planned to take place at MGM Resorts’ properties, bolstering the relationship between the operator and the NFLPA.

MGM Rewards subscribers, on the other hand, will have many opportunities to engage with their favorite football stars throughout the football season. The announcement promised extra activations around this year’s NFL Pro Bowl Games and Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas as well as the NFL Draft in Detroit next year.

The announcement also noted that the new agreement will provide NFL players and NFL alumni with many opportunities to pen ambassador deal with MGM Resorts. The operator’s ambassadors will be expected to promote the brand through various activations, media appearances and online presence.

Providing World-Class Entertainment to Fans and Friends

Gina Scott, vice president of partner services at the NFLPA, commented on the agreement. She praised the deal, saying that it will allow NFL stars to be at the forefront of exciting activations alongside MGM Resorts. Scott said that her company is very happy about the opportunities this deal will provide to players and fans.

DeMaurice Smith, executive director of the NFLPA, also shared his thoughts and called MGM Resorts an “ideal partner” for the association. Smith lauded the operator as a leading hospitality company and said that the agreement will entertain fans and NFL players alike.

For us, we love the game of football but we also know that a part of this is providing world-class entertainment to our fans and to our friends. And for all those reasons there is probably no better partner in the world than MGM.

DeMaurice Smith, exec director, NFLPA

Lance Evans, MGM Resorts’ senior vice president of sports and sponsorships, noted that this latest deal is “another indication” of the operator’s strong commitment to sports and football in particular.

As football’s premier events come to Las Vegas, we look forward to welcoming players and creating world-class experiences for MGM Rewards members.

Lance Evans, SVP of sports and sponsorships, MGM Resorts

In other news, MGM Resorts will keep pushing in Macau. In December, the company announced its intentions to invest two extra billion in its Grand Paradise casino.

Trustly, a global payment platform for digital account-to-account (A2A) transactions has unveiled the completion of its acquisition of Ecospend, a British open banking payments platform. This move was officially greenlit by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Trustly Acquired Ecospend Following Approval from the FCA

Following the M&A deal, Trustly and Ecospend will together form the leading open banking payments company in the entire United Kingdom. By joining their forces, the two payments specialist will have connectivity with more than 80 banks and a reach encompassing around 50 million consumers. In addition, the two companies together have an impressive UK payment volume of over $9.3 billion for 2022.

As noted by Trystly, Britain is one of the biggest A2A markets in Europe. As a result, the country is a core growth market for the company. The acquisition of a local powerhouse such as Ecospend will augment the provider’s presence in the country and will provide it with a myriad of robust services and solutions.

Ecospend offers reliable UK payment initiation services and data services, making it a great strategic fit with Trustly’s cross-border reach and collection capabilities. Thanks to the merger, Trustly will be able to grow its expansion both in the UK and Europe as a whole. Customers will immediately benefit from this partnership, Trustly promised.

Ecospend was founded in 2017 and is a pay-by-bank payments provider that offers next-gen payments and financial data services. As such a company, Ecospend works with companies across many industries

The Deal in Line with Both Companies’ Strategy

Johan Tjärnberg, Trustly’s chief executive officer, shared his thoughts on the finalization of this acquisition. He called it an “important milestone,” saying that it is in line with Trustly’s goal of becoming a game-changer in the United Kingdom.

We can’t wait to continue our expansion journey as a collective team, bringing best-in-class Open Banking solutions to both consumers and merchants.

Johan Tjärnberg, CEO, Trustly

Ecospend’s chief commercial officer, James Hickman, also spoke on the agreement. He lauded the United Kingdom as the largest digital payments market. Because of this, the current agreement, which will see the two companies double down on their efforts in the country, is a great opportunity for Ecospend. Hickman concluded:

Trustly and Ecospend will be able to excel in this space with the most comprehensive and compelling solution on the market.

James Hickman, CCO, Ecospend

Trustly is famous for providing some of the most influential gambling operators in the country. In June 2022, the payments provider penned a milestone agreement with the Super Group-owned operator Betway.

Newcastle are only a step away from qualifying for the first League Cup final since 1976. In the first leg of the 2022-23 EFL Cup semifinal, they defeated Southampton 1-0 on the road. This Tuesday, they need to get the job done – anything but a loss at St. James’ Park would mean the Magpies are going to Wembley in February.

Newcastle vs Southampton Odds

*Odds taken from bet365 on Friday, January 27, 2023.

When, Where, and How to Watch?

• Place: St. James’ Park in Newcastle
• Date: Tuesday, January 31, 2023
• Time: 3:00 PM ET
• How to Watch: ESPN+

Newcastle Ready to Make History

At the moment, Newcastle are playing their best soccer since the start of the 21^st century. They’re flying really high in the Premier League, while in the EFL Cup, they’re very close to booking the ticket to the final. If they do it, it’s going to be their first final in this competition since 1976.

Right now, it seems they’re almost certain to do so. They got a 1-0 lead on aggregate, which means that if they don’t lose to Newcastle on the last day of January, they’re going to get to the EFL Cup final.

Knowing that they’re superb on their turf, it’s very likely we’ll see them play against the winner of the other semifinal (Manchester United vs Nottingham Forest) in the final. The Magpies are without a single loss at home since April 2022. This season, their home record in all competitions is 11-5-0.

It’s Premier League Southampton Need to Worry About

Southampton are bottom of the table in the Premier League with just 15 points after 20 rounds. Their record is 4-3-13 with a score differential of 17-35 in the league. The good news is that they got a chance to get away from the bottom in February. They’re just two points away from Wolves, the closest team from the safe zone.

For that, however, they need to focus entirely on the Prem. That said, they might not be willing to all in against Newcastle. After all, the Saints probably understand that knocking the Magpies out of the EFL Cup is close to a mission impossible.

Newcastle vs Southampton Carabao Cup Prediction

Newcastle is going to take this game very seriously. They have a chance to achieve something they haven’t done in nearly 50 years. We’re 100% certain they’re going to do it. It’s not just that they’re motivated to win, but their players are also way better than those playing for Southampton.

Pick: Newcastle to win to nil; under 2.5 goals

Even though so many different things are going against him at the 2023 Australian Open, Novak Djokovic has still managed to qualify for the final. The only obstacle standing in his way to winning his 22^nd Grand Slam title comes in the form of Stefanos Tsitsipas.

Stefanos Tsitsipas vs Novak Djokovic Odds

*Odds taken on Friday, January 27, 2023.

When, Where, and How to Watch?

• Place: Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne, Australia
• Date: Sunday, January 29, 2023
• Time: ~3:30 AM ET
• How to Watch: ESPN (TV), fuboTV (stream)

Stefanos Tsitsipas Dreaming of His First Grand Slam Title

The 24-year-old Greek has never won a major tournament. He did, however, come very close to doing so on a few occasions. In 2021, for instance, he played in the final of the French Open but lost 3-2 to Novak Djokovic.

Still, it’s the Australian Open where he plays his best tennis. He played in three semifinals of the Melbourne Grand Slam, including the one in this year’s tournament. In that match, he defeated Karen Khachanov 3-1 after 3:21 hours of play.

Tsitsipas showed that he’s in peak physical condition in that game, which is something that needs to worry his opponent in the AO2023 final.

Problems Keep Pilling on for Novak Djokovic

The record-holder for most Australian Open Men’s Singles titles (9 wins) is reportedly having problems with fitness. As admitted by the Serbian player, he’s been taking a lot of painkillers to get him through the AO matches. He’s also been skipping practice, limiting it to only a warm-up session before each match.

Still, his fitness issues haven’t been showing on the court. The guy’s won five of his six Australian Open 2023 matches in straight sets. This includes the semifinal duel with Tommy Paul, which did seem as if it’s going to be a much more dramatic affair.

The American started in top gear, losing the first set by a close margin (7-5 in games). Then, in the next two sets, Djokovic absolutely destroyed him – Paul won just three sets in the remainder of the match.

The question is whether Novak has it in him to put on another superb performance. It’s not only because of fitness problems but also because the crowd at Rod Lever Arena probably won’t be on his side.

If you think it’s because of the last year’s scandal (when Djokovic was denied entry to Australia due to being unvaxxed), you’re wrong. The crowd won’t be rooting for him for a more recent scandal – his father Srdjan celebrated Novak’s semifinal win with fans waving Russian flags with Putin’s face on them.

Stefanos Tsitsipas vs Novak Djokovic Prediction

Although we doubt Tsitsipas has it in him to defeat Djokovic (he lost their previous 8 duels), we are 100% certain he can give him a run for his money. Tsitsipas will go all-in on Sunday, which should result in him winning at least one set.

Pick: Stefanos Tsitsipas +2.5 Sets

The company unveiled Thursday it secured approval for its cashless gaming technology from the Mississippi Gaming Commission, the Missouri Gaming Commission, as well as the Louisiana Gaming Control Board, which represent the gambling regulators in each of those states. As a result, the company’s solution by its Foundation casino technology expands further its reach. According to Acres, the solution is “currently deployed in all these states in a total of 21 casinos across nearly 31,000 slot machines.”

Noah Acres, Acres’ chief operating officer, shared his excitement about the latest announcement and thanked the regulators of the three US states where the company received fresh approval for its cashless gaming solution. He pointed out that the solution delivers innovative technology. At the same time, Acres acknowledged that the approvals from the regulators mark an important step in bringing innovative technology which will ultimately benefit the casino players.

Moreover, he spoke about the convenience the new solution will deliver for gambling operators that will benefit from a boost in revenue and customer acquisition. According to him, the approval will also deliver invaluable efficiencies for gambling operators.

“We want to thank the regulators in Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri and in the six states that previously approved Foundation’s cashless gaming solution for their diligent review and approval of our innovative technology.“

Noah Acres, chief operating officer at Acres

Acres Delivers Innovation for the Casino Gaming Floor

The company’s chief operating officer outlined that Acres identified that many casino operators struggle by relying on decades-old technologies on their casino floors. This is why, according to him, Acres focused on delivering innovative casino gaming solutions that help by benefitting not only the operators but the visitors as well.

“As the casino gaming floor continued to stagnate with its reliance on 20+ year old systems technologies, Acres dedicated itself to developing revolutionary casino gaming technology that helps drive similar consumer engagement and revenue benefits already enjoyed by nearly every other industry,“

added Acres

Additionally, he explained that while casino management systems providers try to tap into cashless gaming using old technology, Acres delivers a solution that is reliable, secure, fast and convenient. Finally, Acres said that by delivering innovative solutions, the company helps modernize the gaming industry and introduce efficiencies that may otherwise cost the operators lots of money.

The latest approvals expand the reach of the company to a total of nine US states. Previously, Acres has received approval for its leading solution in six other states and by the look of it, the company will only continue to expand further.