As the long-awaited fight between Jake Paul and Tommy Fury is finally to take place this weekend, global gaming and entertainment group Entain shared some observations about the rise in exhibition fights and its effect on the entertainment industry.

Fan Engagement Change

Entain believes that the emergence of YouTube stars such as Logan Paul, Jake Paul and KSI on the boxing scene is influencing new boxing audiences and creating a nexus point between sports and entertainment, the operator called ‘sportainment.’

The way in which fans engage with sport and entertainment is changing, and the interest in creator boxing is one of the trends that sit at the heart of this convergence.

Dominic Grounsell, CCO, Entain

The global interactive entertainment operator claimed that all spats on social media and various altercations at boxing events in the past 12 months between Paul and Fury had influenced a substantial number of fans to their fight beyond the traditional boxing audience, showing there is a profound change in fan engagement.

“We see from our data that these events are injecting new life into the sport, diversifying and bringing in new audiences beyond traditional boxing fans,” Grounsell continued, stressing Entain’s objective of being “at the forefront of this by creating moments of excitement” for its fans.

New Customer Betting Activity

Online data covering the group’s wide portfolio of brands revealed that the top three fights with the highest participation of new customers in the last five years featured a YouTuber, with more than 25% of those who bet on the KSI and Logan Paul fights in 2018 and 2019 being new customers.

Data also showed that the interest in creator boxing continued to grow as the 2019 fight between KSI and Logan Paul brought three times more bets than their fight in 2018, as well as more than twice as many bettors.

The upcoming fight this weekend is expected to capture the interest of both boxing and entertainment communities and two-thirds of the Brits will stand behind Fury.

The fight is likely to establish itself as one of the top ten biggest fights betting-wise in the last six months as the number of bets is expected to surpass those on the heavyweight bout between Joseph Parker and Jack Massey.

Entain went further to predict that more than 25% of those betting on the fight would likely be new customers, which is in stark contrast to the 2% of new customers during the traditional boxing bout between Chris Eubank Jr and Liam Smith earlier in the year.

Interactive gaming and sports betting technology supplier Elys Game Technology announced it has reached an agreement with The Ugly Mug restaurant and bar in Washington, DC, to operate a sportsbook at the venue.

The agreement with Partnersat7238thstse, LLC for The Ugly Mug restaurant and bar sportsbook will make the venue the eighth retail sports betting location for Elys Game Technology in Washington, DC and further expand the presence of the Canadian-based tech supplier of betting solutions.

Commenting on the development, Michele Ciavarella, executive chairman of Elys Game Technology, expressed his contentment with the new partnership that would allow the firm to deliver its retail sportsbook solution to the venue “conveniently located only blocks from Nationals Stadium.”

Subject to obtaining an operating license, the venue situated at 723 8^th St SE in Washington, DC near Capitol Hill will be able to offer its guests sports betting opportunities, on top of its high-quality classic American-style menu and casual atmosphere.

By fostering partnerships in local establishments such as The Ugly Mug, Elys brings together vibrant environments with a professionally managed sports betting enterprise.

Michele Ciavarella, executive chair, Elys Game Tech

Ciavarella continued in his comments, stressing the potential of the combination to “connect fans and friends together to revel in sports events while enjoying a meal and a beverage.”

The retail sportsbook agreement with The Ugly Mug restaurant and bar is the latest display of Elys’ commitment to contributing to small and local businesses not only in Washington, DC where Elys has already secured seven other locations but nationwide.

“We firmly believe that this successful combination can contribute economic benefits to small business entrepreneurs across the nation and boost resources for state and local amenities and infrastructure,” Ciavarella concluded.

Other Recent Developments

Earlier in the month, the tech company agreed on a deal with T & L Hospitality to operate a sportsbook location at 2700 New York Avenue NE in Washington, DC, considered to be strategically situated at the border of DC and Maryland and offering customers from both states, as well as having the potential to grow and become a sportsbook within a hotel.

In December, Elys and its business partner, Cloakroom Gentlemen’s Club DC, received a sports betting license from the DC’s Office of Lottery and Gaming to operate a retail sportsbook location at the venue.

Outside of the capital, Elys Game Technology is prominent in Ohio where the firm secured over 100 retail sportsbook locations, as well as conditional approval from the Ohio Casino Control Commission.

Turnock’s internal promotion follows an immensely successful year for the digital media products and services provider as its award-winning Dev division accomplished several important milestones. Turnock’s experience, leadership skills, and familiarity with Checkd’s internal procedures should translate well into his new position and help him propel the company to new heights.

The New Finance Director Proved His Worth

Sam Turnock joined Checkd in June 2019 after nearly five years as an audit senior at leading independent accountancy firm HURST Accountants. A Master’s Degree in Strategic Planning & Investment at Newcastle university, followed by an ICAEW ACA qualification, gave him a stable foundation to pursue high-profile career opportunities. His appointment at Checkd allowed him to apply his knowledge and familiarize himself with the iGaming industry.

Starting as financial controller at Checkd Media, the company’s social marketing arm, Turnock applied his skills and earned himself the respect of his peers. He was present during the organization’s rapid rise to prominence, and efforts were instrumental in securing its CPA state licenses and ensuring the successful launch of the FlashPicks brand. A goal-oriented mindset and a successful track record make Turnock a natural choice as finance director.

Turnock Takes the Helm During a Dynamic Period for Checkd

Turnock will now head Checkd’s business intelligence area and oversee its finances across the organization’s various arms, brands, and subsidiaries. Checkd Media managing director Alex Beecham congratulated the new finance director on the promotion, lauding his analytical and data-based decision-making skills. According to Beecham, Turnock’s expertise in contract and procurement would prove invaluable in bolstering growth.

Sam fit the bill for us in every regard. His performance since first joining our business four years ago has been exemplary.

Alex Beecham, Checkd Media managing director

Turnock noted that Checkd Group was the strongest it had ever been and was in a perfect position to pursue further expansion. He added that the company’s experienced team was relentlessly working towards accomplishing their long-term goals through the execution of successful business strategies across multiple regions.

I am incredibly proud to be taking on the role of Finance Director at a time when the Group is experiencing such dynamic growth.

Sam Turnock, Checkd Group finance director

Checkd has maintained significant momentum in the last few months thanks to two new high-profile partnerships. In December, the organization teamed up with player acquisition and retention company Xtreme Push, bolstering its customer-facing brands on both sides of the Atlantic. Checkd Media also reached a significant milestone after an agreement to develop a new exclusive horse racing show called The Inside Track for William Hill.

LAFC are the reigning MLS champions, but defending the title won’t be easy as several of their key players from the last season aren’t in the club anymore. How will they cope without Christian Bale and Cristian Arango? We’ll find out on Saturday when they play the Los Angeles Derby a.k.a. El Trafico.

Los Angeles Galaxy vs Los Angeles FC Odds

*Odds taken from bet365 on Thursday, February 23, 2023.

When, Where, and How to Watch?

• Place: Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson (Los Angeles), California
• Date: Saturday, February 25, 2023
• Time: 9:30 PM ET
• How to Watch: MLS Season Pass

Los Angeles Galaxy Always Show Up in El Trafico

Los Angeles Galaxy lead the all-time series in the LA Derby with 7 wins, 5 draws, and 5 losses. The last time they played against LAFC, they lost 3-2 in a super-tense game of the 2022 MLS Playoffs. The game saw them score the equalizer in the 85^th minute, but then LAFC scored the winner in the 3^rd minute of the stoppage time.

Obviously, they would love to exact their revenge for the loss, for which they’ll have the support of their fans at Dignity Health Sports Park. When they’re the hosts, they usually do very well in the Los Angeles Derby. In fact, they’re still undefeated at home against LAFC, with 6 wins and 2 draws.

Los Angeles FC Aren’t as Strong as Last Season

Gareth Bale was LAFC’s hero in the 2022 MLS Cup game when he scored the equalizer in the 8^th minute of the stoppage time in the second period of extra time. The goal took the game to penalties, where his team did better than Philadelphia Union.

Unfortunately for LAFC, the Welshman decided the 2022 MLS Cup was going to be his final professional soccer match. Bale retired, but he’s not the only player LAFC will miss in 2023. They will also be without Cristian Arango, who was their scoring leader last season. The forward decided to move to Pachuca in the offseason.

They did, however, make a couple of interesting signings, but the question is whether they’ll start playing top soccer straight away.

Los Angeles Galaxy vs Los Angeles FC Prediction

LAFC once again have a better roster than their city rivals. However, their new players still probably haven’t clicked with the rest of the team, which is why we don’t expect them to start destroying opponents straight away. That said, Galaxy do stand a decent chance in the first El Trafico of 2023. We think they can win themselves at least one point on Saturday.

Pick: Galaxy and LAFC to draw

As a result of the newly inked agreement, several of Amusnet Interactive’s most popular casino games will soon reach NetBet’s online platform and become fully accessible for Italian players. 

Amusnet Interactive to Grow Its Presence in the Industry

Previously known as EGT Interactive, Amusnet Interactive hopes to use the new deal to further expand its foothold in the new market while growing its name and reputation as one of the leading developers of online gaming software and solutions on the globe. 

The company is already catering to the needs of 750+ of some of the most reputable and successful casino operators on the planet with its constantly growing team that now counts over 500 members. 

Operators in over 30 international iGaming markets are already benefiting from Amusnet Interactive’s portfolio which now consists of more than 220 state-of-the-art games. All the games part of the portfolio showcase an excellent synergy between classic games and modern-day titles, powering 750+ operators in 30+ markets.

The list includes popular titles like Cocktail Rush, 20 Golden Coins, Fruity Time, Shining Crown, Zodiac Wheel, 40 Burning Hot, 5 Dazzling Hot, and others which are expected to be embedded on the NetBet.it platform online during the initial step of the new agreement.

Amusnet Interactive’s brand director for Italy Polina Nedyalkova described their past experiences with NetBet as successful ones while expressing their thrill to be able to expand their partnership in another European country. 

NetBet Italy Still Offering the “Best Gaming Experience Possible”

As for NetBet Italy, NetBet’s Italian online casino brand launched in 2008, the new partnership has brought an expansion of its already impressive portfolio consisting of top games from reputable providers. 

This goes hand in hand with the iGaming operator’s desire to constantly provide its players with the best gaming experiences possible. Over the course of the past two decades, the Italian online casino has grown into one of the country’s favorite go-to casino brands, while also representing one of the first portals to offer online gaming solutions with a license issued by ADM. 

As explained by NetBet Italy’s public relations manager Claudia Georgevici, NetBet is fully committed to attracting “the most exciting iGaming talent” and introducing it to its large database of loyal players.

Georgevici also spoke about Amusnet Interactive as being a “big name in the iGaming industry” while expressing their delight to be able to bring its back catalog to its Italian players. The PR manager also expressed excitement regarding the upcoming products that Amusnet is currently working on. 

Earlier in the month, NetBet inked an agreement with payment solutions provider Citizen that would allow it to use the latter’s ultra-fast payment solutions.

In December 2022, Amusnet Interactive announced it would introduce a new Live Russian Roulette casino product to its portfolio. 

Overall, the net revenue reported by Churchill Downs Incorporated (CDI) for the year ended December 31, 2022, hit $1.81 billion, a new record for the company. This result, when compared to the $1.6 billion figure reported in 2021, marked an increase of 13%.

Not unexpectedly, the net income reported by CDI in 2022 increased as well. The company hit a record net income of $439.4 million in 2022. When compared to the $249.1 million reported for the prior year period, the result from 2022 marked an increase of 76%. Similarly, adjusted EBITDA in 2022 also set a record hitting $763.6 million. When compared to the $627 million result reported in 2021, the latest result reveals that adjusted EBITDA grew by 22%.

A breakdown provided by CDI revealed that in 2022, the revenue from live and historical racing increased significantly. Back in 2021, the net revenue from that segment halted at $409.1 million, while in 2022, soared to $614.6 million. The net revenue from gaming also increased hitting $755.9, up from the $695.4 million result from 2021.

In contrast to the increase, the net revenue from TwinSpires decreased by nearly 4% to $436.4 million. The revenue reported from other operations also decreased, halting at $2.9 million.

It is important to mention that CDI acknowledged that the lifting of COVID-related restrictions impacted positively the company’s performance. In fact, it said that the 2022 Kentucky Derby was held without the restrictions that were in place the previous year.

CDI Highlights Multiple Achievements, Posts Strong Q4 Revenue

Besides its full year 2022 results, CDI acknowledged multiple strategic achievements completed during the period. Back in November, the company closed the acquisition of Peninsula Pacific Entertainment LLC in a deal with a $2.75 billion price tag.

Before that, back in September, CDI completed the acquisition of Chasers Poker Room located in Salem, New Hampshire. This strategic move boosted the company’s plan for further expansion.

Again in September, CDI closed the takeover of Ellis Park Racing and Gaming. The acquisition included rights for a new historic racing machine (HRM) entertainment venue in Owensboro, Kentucky.

Earlier in 2022, CDI closed the sale of Calder land in June, while in February, it closed the sale of its Arlington Heights, Illinois property in a deal of nearly $200 million to the Chicago Bears.

In addition to its 2022 revenue, CDI released data regarding its performance for the fourth quarter. In Q4, 2022, the company reported net revenue of $480.1 million, marking a strong growth when compared to the corresponding period in 2021 when the revenue halted at $364.8 million. Adjusted EBITDA grew in Q4, 2022 as well, hitting $180.7 million.

Portugal’s online gambling association, the Associação Portuguesa de Apostas e Jogos Online (APAJO), has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to reduce advertising on websites that infringe copyright.

The memorandum in question is promoted by the European Commission, which seeks to combat copyright infringing websites. This primarily targets online domains that stream or pirate content they do not have a license for. By taking action against such online entities, the MoU signees effectively limit the money that copyright infringers receive.

As outlined by the commission, the APAJO joins 29 stakeholders that are already working to bring advertising on piracy and illegitimate streaming sites down. These also include the Portuguese Association of Advertisers (APAN).

APAJO and the rest of the signees will work to promote better practices and develop initiatives and actions that improve IPR enforcement practices. The MoU has so far been successful in raising awareness that companies’ online ads may end up on sites that illegally disseminate copyrighted content.

The APAJO Is Committed to Playing by the Rules

Ricardo Domingues, the president of the APAJO commented on his organization’s commitment to taking action against copyright infringement. He explained that advertising is a core pillar of the regulated gambling industry. Because of that, it is crucial to advertise responsibly without funding shady sites that illegally distribute content.

Domingues explained that the iGaming industry is a relevant advertiser that is fully aware of the issue at hand. He noted that the members of his association know that when they promote their brands and activities, they also have the responsibility to promote good advertising and communication practices.

As operators in the regulated gambling sector, APAJO members know how important it is not to promote unlicensed content and bad practices. Domingues concluded that the APAJO and its members fully subscribe to the spirit and mission of the MoU. Because of that, the association promised to promote the memorandum to its partners and across its various activities.

The APAJO has long been committed to safety and regulation. In November, the association launched a campaign against illegal online gambling seeking to promote the legal market ahead of the FIFA World Cup.

During that campaign, the APAJO educated customers on the dangers of playing with unlicensed websites. It reminded players that when they play with illegal operators, their deposits, winnings and personal data are at risk.

The legal battle between Mansion Group, a leading online gambling operator that is globally recognized, and its former CEO, Karel Christian Mañasco, dates back to last year. Back then, the operator filed a claim against Mañasco with the courts in Gibraltar. In its claim, Mansion Group alleged that the former CEO abused his powers and misused company funds.

Mañasco’s tenure with Mansion Group dates back to 2010. In 2012 he was appointed to the role of CFO, while in 2017, Mañasco became CEO. A few years after that, in September 2021, Mansion Group suspended him, launching an investigation into alleged breaches of duty. After that, in December 2021, Mañasco resigned from the company.

“The application of the foregoing principles must be applied in the context that freezing orders  are one of the court’s “draconian  powers,“

reads a judgement released by the Court in Gibraltar

Now, the chief Justice and judge of the Supreme Court in Gibraltar, Anthony Edward Dudley, imposed a global freezing order of £5 million ($6 million) against Mañasco. The court acknowledged that such an order is known as one of its “draconian powers.” Yet, given the allegations against Mañasco and the possible risk of the assets, the Court considered this to be a proportionate measure.

“Mere reliance on the alleged dishonesty of the defendant is not, of itself, sufficient to found a risk of dissipation. The court must scrutinize with care whether what is alleged to have been the dishonesty justifies the inference of a real risk of dissipation,“

explains the recent Court decision

What Do the Allegations against Mañasco Include?

Besides breach of duty, allegations against the former CEO of Mansion Group claim that he used company money for personal expenditures, including six-figure bonuses. Mañasco allegedly paid himself a £427,500 ($514,000) bonus for the 2022 financial year, while in 2019, he received €327,033 ($346,400). Moreover, he allegedly collected a sum of £66,236 ($79,600) which was used for personal expenditures.

Further allegations claim Mañasco authorized or approved the payment of €2,508,035 ($2,656,420) and £127,073 ($152,700) to White Wizard Media Limited, a suspicious company from the Marshall Islands. Mansion claimed that it wasn’t involved in any business with the aforementioned company.

Additionally, Mañasco allegedly obtained multiple luxury vehicles, as well as expensive jewelry at the expense of Mansion. Last but not least, the claims against the former CEO include an accumulation of credit card payments at the expense of the company of some £249,951 ($300,400).