Gaming technology and sports media company Gaming Innovation Group (GiG) announced it has expanded its commercial partnership with News Corp UK & Ireland to gain access to the Irish market.

Expanding into Ireland

The new agreement between GiG and News Corp UK & Ireland will see the cloud-based technology and media provider enter and establish a presence in Ireland, offering casino and sports betting content and exclusive offers.

Following the announcement, the Irish Sun’s website now features a dedicated content hub for all betting-related content to serve as a go-to place for readers where they can find all information that they need.

GiG and the parent of prominent UK brands talkSPORT and The Sun initially partnered in December last year to deliver sports betting and casino content, as well as exclusive offers to customers in the UK, seeking to benefit from existing synergies between the partners.

To facilitate the partnership then, News Corp agreed to present the betting and gaming content in dedicated sections on both talkSPORT and The Sun websites, ensuring visibility and easy access to the offers for anyone interested.

The collaboration debuted with content on the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar and now, two months later, it already proved to be successful in delivering material revenues to GiG Media as the division posted an all-time high in fourth-quarter revenue of €17.8 million ($18.9 million), or an increase of 40% year-over-year, further incentivizing its expansion to include customers in Ireland.

Targeting US Entry

GiG and News Corp UK & Ireland would be interested in further expanding their collaboration and entering new markets, with a special focus placed on customers in the US, a market the partners expect to enter by the end of the first business quarter of 2023.

Elsewhere in Europe, GiG announced last month a deal with an unnamed established land-based and digital casino operator in Switzerland to provide it with its player account management (PAM) solution for a period of five years, enter the lucrative Swiss market and capitalize on the rapid growth of the iGaming vertical in the country.

Outside of Europe, GiG signed an agreement with Ontario-based operator Casino Time earlier in the month to power its operations by providing platform, sportsbook and omnichannel solutions.

Casino Time, which is the fifth operator to partner with GiG since the tech supplier obtained approval from the Alcohol and Gambling Commission of Ontario in July 2022, is planning to go live in the second quarter of 2023.

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.