Global sportsbook operator Tipico continued to expand its presence in Ohio via an agreement with the Dayton Dragons, the high-A Minor League Baseball (MiLB) affiliate team of the Cincinnati Reds.

Exclusive Opportunities for the Fans

The new partnership with the Dayton Dragons will see Tipico become the exclusive fireworks series sponsor of the MiLB team this season and a section at Day Air Ballpark named after the sports betting firm with US headquarters in New Jersey.

“Baseball has long been America’s favorite pastime, and this is especially true in Dayton, the proud home of the Dragons,” commented chief commercial officer of Tipico North America, David Paschkes, “thrilled to partner with one of the most successful teams in minor league baseball” and its “truly devoted fan base with the longest sellout streak” in the league’s history.

It is this level of fan dedication that we seek to build in the Ohio region and are ecstatic to provide Dragons fans with exclusive opportunities to enhance their love of the game.

David Paschkes, CCO, Tipico NA

The partnership will also provide 1,000 new Tipico users from Ohio with a welcome offer comprising two game tickets and a $20 team store e-gift card. Users will be able to claim their tickets and e-card once they make their first-time deposit with the sportsbook.

‘The Perfect Partner’ Going Forward

“The unveiling of the Tipico Centerfield Party Deck, the fireworks series sponsorship and the opportunity for our fans to receive tickets are all extremely exciting promotions that we are thrilled to offer in partnership with a brand that is just as dedicated to Ohio sports fans as we are,” said the president and general manager of the Dayton Dragons, Robert Murphy, pointing to the club’s sellout streak as evidence that everyone at the club is “truly dedicated to creating the ultimate fan experience.”

Tipico is the perfect partner to help us achieve this goal by providing outstanding perks for our loyal fans.

Robert Murphy, GM, Dayton Dragons

With its US headquarters in Hoboken, New Jersey, Tipico is offering online and mobile wagering on sporting events, as well as online casino gaming, focusing on delivering engaging play, thrilling experiences and player protection.

As the exclusive sports betting and iGaming provider for Gannett, a subscription-led and digitally focused media and marketing solutions company, Tipico is the odds provider for the entire USA Today Network.

The partnership with the Dayton Dragons is Tipico’s latest sports-focused arrangement in Ohio as the European operator is looking to engage with sports fans and expand its presence in the state.

In February, Tipico became the exclusive sports betting partner of the 2023 Arnold Sports Festival at the Great Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, and just days ago, announced a fan contest tied to NCAA’s March Madness.

Casumo, an innovative, award-winning and mobile-first iGaming company, has reinforced its leadership team with the addition of Francesco Postiglione as its chief executive offer. In this role, Postiglione will replace Oscar Simonsson, Casumo’s co-founder, who served as CEO for a time.

Simonsson is certain that the new appointee has what it takes to take Casumo to new heights. Postiglione brings over 10 years of experience to the company and will help it shape the future of iGaming.

His experience in gaming includes over two years as a member of the executive committee at Fortuna Entertainment Group, one of the biggest gambling and sports betting operators in Central Europe.

Postiglione also boasts four years with Napoleon Sports and Casino. He joined the operator as its general manager in 2017 and became CEO of its online operations in late 2018.

Prior to joining Napoleon Sports and Casino, Casumo’s new hire worked for Betclic Group for almost four years. His tenure with Betclic saw him work as head of Italy between 2013 and 2016, and as a managing director of international markets between 2016 and 2017.

His earlier experiences saw him create and head Neomobile Gaming, which was behind Casino Planet – Italy’s first mobile-only casino operator. Postiglione also founded Giocacomodo.it and served as CEO of its Internet division.

Simonsson Welcomed Postiglione to the Casumo Family

Oscar Simonsson, one of Casumo’s founders, welcomed Postiglione on board. He said that the new appointee was the perfect pick for CEO and is certain that Postiglione will help his team drive innovation.

Francesco is the ideal candidate to take the helm at Casumo and we are confident that he will bring his wealth of experience and passion for innovation to the role.

Oscar Simonsson, co-founder, Casumo Group

Simonsson added that the Casumo Group team is thrilled to welcome Postiglione as its CEO and is looking forward to working under him.

Postiglione also released a statement on his new position, sharing that he is glad to join Casumo. He praised the company for its knack for innovation and said that he cannot wait to lead the team to new heights.

I am thrilled to join Casumo, a company that I have long admired for its innovative and customer-centric approach to online gaming. I look forward to leading the team as we continue to grow and deliver the best possible gaming experience to our players.

Francesco Postiglione, CEO, Casumo Group

Last year, Casumo successfully launched its products in Ontario.

Ukraine recently sanctioned almost hundreds of companies and individuals for alleged ties with Russia. While the country’s desire to cut all ties with its aggressor is understandable, some of the entities on the list might have been sanctioned by mistake. One such example is Parimatch.

The example echoes the inclusion of PokerMatch in the list. The latter company just released a statement on the matter, highlighting its devotion to Ukraine and asking the country to review its decision. Now, the Ukraine Gambling Council (UGC) has also taken action, asking the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine to rethink its stance.

Anton Kuchukhidze, chairman of the UGC, believes that Parimatch Ukraine is a far cry from a pro-Russian company. He also defended PokerMatch, claiming that both companies have been wrongly included in the list of sanctioned companies.

Kuchukhidze Asserted that Parimatch and PokerMatch Are Pro-Ukraine

In a LinkedIn statement, Kuchukhidze addressed the situation in detail. He acknowledged the National Security and Defense Council’s desire to protect the local market from “ruscists’ brands.” However, Kuchukhidze argues that the Defense Council has mistakenly included pro-Ukraine companies in the list.

The chair said that he is certain that Parimatch will be able to prove that it is not a pro-Russian company. He said that Parimatch had taken a pro-Ukrainian stance early on and that it has provided valuable financial aid to the defense and security forces of the country. As of the time of this writing, the brand has donated over $13.6 million for these purposes.

Kuchukhidze added that if tax inconsistencies are the problem, they should be tackled through the tax service or the court. He believes that harsh measures make it harder to prevent mistakes.

The chair concluded that he believes legal gambling will prevail:

In addition to that, I would like to make a big request to the public and the media NOT to pick up the thesis of illegal gambling businesses that such a situation can lead to the failure of the reform or the closure of the white market. A legal gambling business will pass all trials with dignity.

Anton Kuchukhidze, chair, UGC

Parimatch, originally a Kyiv-based company, has contacted President Zelensky in relation to its recent sanction. The measure by the National Security and Defense Council would see 287 companies and 120 individuals barred from conducting business in the country for the next 50 years.

This harsh measure comes amid an ever-intensifying war of attrition where Ukraine struggles for its survival against the Russian invaders.

Atlanta United are sitting top of the Eastern Conference after three rounds of the 2023 MLS. They’re 2-1-0 at the moment and are hopeful of adding another victory to the list. At first glance, it seems that they should have no problems beating the Portland Timbers who are 1-0-2 so far, with back-to-back losses. However, those two losses happened against the top two teams from the Western Conference.

Atlanta United vs Portland Timbers Odds

When, Where, and How to Watch?

• Place: Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia
• Date: Saturday, March 18, 2023
• Time: 7:30 PM ET
• How to Watch: Apple TV

Atlanta United Look Like MLS Cup Contenders

Although it’s still early to predict what’s going to happen at the end of the season, this team does look like a potential candidate for the 2023 MLS Cup. Atlanta United got wins against the San Jose Earthquakes (2-1) and Charlotte (3-0), as well as one draw with Toronto FC (1-1).

You shouldn’t be surprised that they’re doing good in 2023, as they got the second-most expensive roster in the MLS. What should surprise you is that last season they failed to make the playoffs. This time, however, such a thing seems almost impossible to happen.

It’s because their young stars have grown and turned into real world-beaters. The best example is the Argentine World Cup-winning midfielder Thiago Almada who’s been playing at an MVP level since the start of the season. Atlanta’s 21-year-old playmaker has scored two goals so far, as well as made two assists.

Then, there’s Atlanta’s 18-year-old defender Caleb Wiley who’s coming off a vintage performance in Charlotte, which saw him score two goals and make one assist.

Portland Timbers are Better Than What Their Record Suggests

The Timbers started the season with a 1-0 win over Sporting Kansas City. It wasn’t a great game but the boys from Portland managed to do what they planned. Unfortunately for them, things didn’t go according to plan in the following two games. The Timbers lost to Los Angeles FC 3-2 and to St. Louis City 2-1. 

Still, losing to St. Louis City and LAFC is nothing to be embarrassed about as those two are currently occupying the top two spots in the Western Conference. Plus, they managed to find the net in each of those games.

Atlanta United vs Portland Timbers Prediction

This is going to be a close game, but we’re certain it’s not going to be a boring one. In fact, we believe there will be plenty of goals in this match, probably on both ends. We also believe that Atlanta United will be the side to score more.

Pick: Atlanta United to win; over 2.5 goals

A recent report by Esporkolik, a Turkish esports news outlet, claimed that Riot Games may soon allow VALORANT teams to pen sponsorship agreements with gambling companies. The claim was shared on Twitter, sparking immediate interest in the news.

The original claim was posted yesterday and immediately became a hot topic. Teams in other esports disciplines are allowed to have gambling brands as sponsors. However, Riot Games has been historically very strict on its policies regarding sponsors.

Because of Riot’s stance, esports teams are sometimes struggling financially. Many believe that gambling companies, which are known for their lucrative sponsorship agreements, would benefit the sector.

As a result, Esporkolik’s claim shocked many fans. Some VALORANT enthusiasts were excited, while others took the news with a grain of salt. Those who doubted the news turned out to be right as Riot Games told journalists that the rumors were indeed incorrect.

Esporkolik’s Claim Was Incorrect

On March 15, Max Katz reported that sources say Riot will not change its sponsorship policies. Katz added that Riot representatives remain committed to delivering safe, secure and meaningful experiences that “best support the growth” of the global esports ecosystem. Later, George Geddes replied to Katz, saying that he had received the same statement.

Dot Esports, one of the biggest esports news outlets, managed to successfully contact Riot Games on the matter. The video games company told Dot Esports that Riot Games will indeed keep its current policy for the time being while remaining open to new opportunities.

Here is Riot’s exact statement, as reported by Dot Esports:

While there has been no change in the current policy regarding approved team sponsor categories, we will continue to evaluate all opportunities that deliver safe, secure, and meaningful experiences that best support the growth of our esports ecosystem globally.

Riot Games statement

Riot confirmed what Katz had said, saying that it remains open to new opportunities that ”ensure the integrity of all our esports, enable great experiences for fans, and unlock revenue streams for our teams.”

Dot Esports said that it also contacted team owners in Europe. They said that they were aware of Riot’s open policy. However, it is still unlikely that European teams would be allowed to have gambling sponsors because of the Old Continent’s stricter stance on gambling. As of the time of this writing, North American franchise owners aren’t aware of a potential policy change either.

Australia’s highly competitive online gambling market means that operators are investing increasingly more into marketing to the chagrin of fans. A recent survey determined that most AFL viewers were quickly becoming fed up with the increased number of ads, with the majority in favor of a complete advertising ban. The League’s refusal to self-regulate also drew the ire of politicians, likely heralding the end of the current status quo.

Fans Have Had Enough

The AFL’s relationship with gambling operators has long been a contentious issue. Sportsbet, the League’s official partner, is now bitterly competing with other high-profile operators like Betr and Tabcorp. Their constant jostling for market share means that these companies are investing more than ever in marketing, with the number of betting ads reaching an all-time high.

Fans have been understandably upset with these developments. The annual AFL Fans Association survey revealed that 47% believed advertising was the most concerning issue. Participants expressed worries about the proliferation of problem gambling, particularly the effects non-stop advertisements could have on impressionable children. Most fans supported some form of restriction to reduce social and family impacts.

The Government Is Preparing to Step In

According to a recent investigation by The Guardian, the AFL has decided to disregard fan concerns and will not tone down the deluge of advertisements. The League tried to defend its stance by noting that its wagering partnerships included robust integrity measures and helped support the game. However, its unwillingness to curtail the rising volume of ads has drawn the unwelcome attention of politicians who have vowed to resort to legislative means.

The South Australia, New South Wales, Queensland, and Tasmania governments have advocated for stricter regulations, echoing the overall sentiment in the Parliament. Independent MP Andrew Wilkie stated that public concern was at an all-time high and the government would inevitably have to take measures. He is one of several staunch proponents for harsher restrictions, calling for a total advertisement ban.

The AFL is completely and utterly out of step, and it is beyond time for them to either get on board or get out of the way.

Australia MP Andrew Wilkie

A spike in problem gambling has already forced the Australian government to implement updated taglines in betting ads. The new messages are striking and include much clearer warning language. However, public concern regarding this topic remains high. Although a complete advertisement ban remains unlikely, new restrictions and updated regulations are now a matter of when rather than if.