Yggdrasil and ReelPlay Release Big Bucks Buffalo GigaBlox with Bonus Respins

Yggdrasil and ReelPlay Release Big Bucks Buffalo GigaBlox with Bonus Respins


The leading publisher determined to accelerate innovation in the iGaming industry has once again joined ReelPlay to create a Wild West-themed slot featuring the iconic Game Engagement Mechanic. The mechanic can lead to a win of 8,737x the initial stake. 

Big Bucks Buffalo GigaBlox also introduces a Bonus Respins feature with Mega Coin Symbols.

Big Bucks Buffalo GigaBlox Metrics Overview

  • Reels: 6
  • Rows: 4
  • Paylines: 40
  • RTP: 96.03% 
  • Hit Freq: 21.05%
  • Max Win: 16,297x
  • Volatility: Medium 
  • Min/Max Bet: 0.40-14
  • Release date: March 23, 2023

Three Lucrative Years and Counting

The collaboration between Yggdrasil and ReelPlay began at the start of 2021 when the developer that created the original Infinity Reels joined the roster of companies part of the YG Masters program based on the GATI technology.

GIZA Infinity Reels, Big Bucks Bandits Megaways, Thor Infinity Reels, Arctic Sorcerer Gigablox, and Festival 10K WAYS are just a few of the titles released through collaborations between the two companies since the start of their lucrative partnership. 

Yggdrasil’s head of product and programs Stuart McCarthy acknowledged ReelPlay’s position as one of their “most successful YG Masters partners” in the past years. 

McCarthy also expressed their great excitement for the release of a new “top-tier slot with a proven theme” and the iconic GigaBlox GEM that can generate large wins.

Similarly, ReePlay’s chief executive officer David Johnson spoke about Big Bucks Buffalo GigaBlox’s strengths while expressing confidence in the game’s potential to appeal to operators and players. 

The Power of the GigaBlox Mechanic and Bonus Respins 

The GigaBlox mechanic brings players the guarantee that a minimum of one symbol measuring between 2×2 and 4×4 is going to be seen landing on the reels during each new spin. This includes scatter and wild symbols also.

The Bonus Respins feature can be engaged when a minimum of six coin scatter symbols. When this occurs, they award three respins. Each new coin appearing on the reels thereafter is worth between 1x to 1000x.

Whenever the coins land in a square formation of at least 2×2 while the Bonus Respins feature is triggered, they are mixed to form a Mega Coin. They also feature a multiplier worth twice the sum of the multiplier values of all of the combining symbols.

The game also provides players with the Buy Bonus alternative feature that will send them right into the Bonus Respins feature where the Mega Coin will already be engaged.



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PSPC Champion Shylko Final-Tables Record Eureka Rozvadov Main Event

PSPC Champion Shylko Final-Tables Record Eureka Rozvadov Main Event



Jörg Schneegass secured the largest result of his poker career with a five-handed deal in the 2023 Eureka Rozvadov Main Event. With a staggering 1,866 entries, the event broke the record for the largest standalone Eureka Main Event, smashing the previous year’s Eureka Rozvadov Main Event field of 1,096.

Also making the final table was Aliaksandr Shylko. It’s been just under two months since the Belarusian won $3.1 million after winning the PokerStars Players Championship (PSPC), and having won the Eureka Rozvadov High Roller last year for €75,332, he kept up his form on the tour with a seventh-place finish here.

Schneegass meanwhile took home €187,335 in the deal, with Paul Knebel (2nd – €127,503), Paolo Calculli (3rd – €160,935), Narcis Nedelcu (4th – €125,684) and Eusebiu Jalba (5th – €134,543) all taking home six-figure paydays.

2023 Eureka Rozvadov Main Event Final Table Results

Place Player Country Payout (EUR)
1 Jörg Schneegass Germany €187,335*
2 Paul Knebel Germany €127,503*
3 Paolo Calculli Italy €160,935*
4 Narcis Nedelcu Romania €125,684*
5 Eusebiu Jalba Romania €134,543*
6 Cosmin Nica Romania € 52,400
7 Aliaksandr Shylko Belarus € 39,700
8 Kimon Fountoukidis Poland € 30,000
9 David Berdis Slovakia € 22,700

*denotes five-handed deal

Jorg Schneegas Eureka Rozvadov Main Event

Winner’s Reaction

Schneegass spoke with the PokerStars Blog following his victory, and said that he’s turned around a recent downswing to secure his first career title.

“I had a very bad last year; just running very bad — This is the perfect outcome”

“I feel very excited, just great,” he said. “Before this, my biggest live cash was just €5,500!

“I had a very bad last year; just running very bad. So I got some coaching and took some advice from professional players. This is the perfect outcome. It has really paid off.”

Final Day Recap

From the massive field just 21 players returned to the final day, with Rozvadov regulars Georgios Vrakas (16th – €10,406) and Marek Blasko (15th – €11,913) making the money.

Shylko had flopped a straight flush earlier in the Eureka Rozvadov Main Event, but his journey would end in seventh for €39,700. This result is the fifth-largest of his career, and only his second since becoming PSPC champion earlier this year.

An ICM deal five-handed secured six-figure deals for all remaining players, including two of the three Romanians to make the final table (Narcis Nedelcu and Eusebiu Jalba) and online qualifier Paolo Calculli.

Schneegass eliminated the Italian in third place and took a dominating lead into heads-up play. He eliminated fellow German Paul Knebel heads-up to secure the title and additional €20,000 set aside for the winner.

Name Surname
Will Shillibier

European Executive Editor

Will Shillibier is based in the United Kingdom. He started working for PokerNews as a freelance live reporter in 2015 and joined the full-time staff in 2019.

He graduated from the University of Kent in 2017 with a B.A. in German. He also holds an NCTJ Diploma in Sports Journalism.





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Real Salt Lake vs St. Louis City MLS Odds, Time, and Prediction

Real Salt Lake vs St. Louis City MLS Odds, Time, and Prediction


Even though St. Louis City players are in top form since the start of the 2023 MLS season, oddsmakers think it’s Real Salt Lake that’s more likely to win on Saturday. One reason is that these guys are famously good in Utah.

Real Salt Lake vs St. Louis City Odds

Moneyline Odds
Real Salt Lake -118
Draw +240
St. Louis City +275
Goals Over/Under Odds
Over 2.5 -133
Under 2.5 -104

*Odds taken from bet365 on Wednesday, March 23, 2023.

When, Where, and How to Watch?

  • Place: Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California
  • Date: Wednesday, March 22, 2023
  • Time: 10:000 PM ET
  • How to Watch: ESPN

Home Turf Really Means a Lot to Real Salt Lake

Last year, Real Salt Lake went 12-11-11 in the regular season. At home, their record was 9-5-3, meaning that more than two-thirds of the points they collected in 2022, they collected at Rio Tinto Stadium.

This season, they’re 1-0-2, with their only win happening at home. Their two losses happened one on the road and one in Utah. The defeat at home was in their most recent game, which saw them lose 2-1 to Austin FC.

What happened there was that they were unable to break the opposition’s defensive wall. They had 17 goal attempts that day, but just one of those produced a goal. Will they struggle to score this coming Saturday as well? We think so and the main reason is that St. Louis City are fantastic at the back.

St. Louis City Showing No Signs of Slowing Down

The MLS newcomers have all wins thus far in the 2023 season, with a score differential of 11-4. They’ve been brilliant in the offense, with seven different players scoring at least a goal. When it comes to their defense, their goalie Roman Burki hasn’t had too much work to do.

Excluding their first-ever MLS game which saw them beat Austin FC 3-2, the former Dortmund goalkeeper hasn’t had the need to intervene more than just four times per game. It’s because his teammates did a great job in keeping the opposition away from him in all of those matches.

Real Salt Lake vs St. Louis City Prediction

Real Salt Lake might be great at home, but judging by what we’ve seen so far from St. Louis City, these guys are superb on the road. They look strong in every aspect of the game, which is why we do think they’re going to prolong their winning run for at least one more week.

Pick: St. Louis City to win



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NCPG Strengthens Advisory Board with New Members

NCPG Strengthens Advisory Board with New Members


The company has expanded its Advisory Board with new officers who will be helping the organization better guide policies on responsible gambling in North America. Among the new additions is Christopher Hebert, director of the Gaming Division in the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office.

New Appointees Strengthen the NCPG

Hebert will step in the position of chair of the advisory board, and he is replacing the outgoing incumbent, Oregon Lottery director of corporate social responsibility, Stacy Shaw. Fittingly, Martin Lycka is the new vice chair. Lycka is Entain Group’s SVP of American regulatory affairs & responsible gambling, and one of the biggest proponents of championing safe gambling practices in the North American market.

Commenting on these appointments, Keith Whyte, NCPG’s executive director, said that he was pleased to expand the NCPG’s board expertise with two important additions. “We are incredibly pleased,” Whyte noted, and said:

They have both been highly engaged leaders in our field for years, and we are excited to utilize their talents and expertise in a new way. I look forward to working closely with the full advisory board to advance the organization’s mission and our ambitious goals for the future.

Keith Whyte, NCPG’s executive director

Hebert was similarly excited to be joining the team. He said that the NCPG had been unrivaled in its efforts to tackle gambling-related harm and bring more awareness to the issue. Hebert called the opportunity humbling and he intended to give it his best and serve as advisory board chair to the benefit of the organization and consumers in North America.

He is a well-seasoned veteran with a lot of fitting legal background. Hebert served for more than 17 years as assistant attorney general and has worked actively on the creation of the Problem Gambling Resource Services program which he collaborated on with the Louisiana Department of Health.

Responsible Gambling Is the Ultimate Goal

The goal of the program is to help promote awareness for responsible gambling while addressing problem gambling and abolishing gambling-related stigma, helping vulnerable individuals get linked with treatment options.

Lycka was similarly excited at this fresh opportunity. As a trustee at the Entain Foundation US, a different entity set up to specifically look into responsible gambling, corporate compliance and sports integrity, he has been intimately involved with promoting the principles of safer gambling.

“The National Council on Problem Gambling is widely recognized as a nationwide leader in problem gambling awareness, education, and advocacy,” Lycka stated in welcoming his new appointment and said that he will be honored to be the vice chair and help forward the NCPG cause.



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Better Collective Highlights 2022 Achievements in a New Report

Better Collective Highlights 2022 Achievements in a New Report


The leading digital sports media group, Better Collective, released Thursday its 2022 annual report. The company highlighted strategic achievements and significant growth within regulated markets it has seen last year. At the same time, the new report hinted plans for further expansion and financial targets for the future.

In 2022, Better Collective enjoyed strong growth in EBITDA and revenue, resulting in the breaking of all records. The company said that new market launches, sports events and partnerships helped supercharge that process, resulting in outstanding results.

At the start of 2022, Better Collective acknowledged the launch of the regulated mobile sports betting market in New York. According to the company, competition in the state was fierce which combined with the high taxes created issues for some of the operators.

Still, Better did not rule out the possibility of reducing taxes which, in turn, can result in an increase in the number of New York sportsbooks. Despite the difficulties, the company acknowledged that it has seen significant growth in the state and observed thousands of visits of its sports media brands from sports fans daily.

Besides New York, Better acknowledged the positive impact of the FIFA World Cup near the end of 2022. The sports media company pointed out that the famous soccer tournament in November and December was one of the most successful events in the company’s history.

The Company Enjoys US Growth, Plans to Continue to Invest

Last year proved to be successful for Better’s US-facing operations. Back in 2021, when the company acquired Action Network, it set an ambitious goal to reach $100 million in revenue during 2022. After seeing its financial performance, the company said: “We are very satisfied that we managed to deliver on this.” What’s more, Better pointed out that with strong sports media brands in the US, it now holds a leadership position in the market.

In addition to the growth observed in 2022, the company said that it remains focused on building and investing in its future. Better outlined that last year marked a record for new depositing customers (NDCs) with its partners after reaching 1.7 million. “This bodes well for our future recurring revenue and decreases seasonality,” explained the company.

Besides its achievements in 2022, Better shed some light on its financial targets for the 2023-2027 period. The company planned revenue CAGR growth of 20%, as well as EBITDA margin before special items of 30% to 40%. Finally, Better pointed out that it plans to continue to deliver value for its shareholders on its way to expanding further.



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Casino Berlin ▶️ Modern Games & Beneficial Membership

Casino Berlin Drinks with Casino Chips and Smoke


With its four reputable locations, Casino Berlin is one of Germany’s most successful casino locations. It continuously sets new standards in service, entertainment and, most notably, responsible gaming. You can play poker, blackjack, slots, and more intriguing options. For decades the business has been a reliable partner with the state and the essential networks of the capital. Keep reading to discover more about Casino Berlin blackjack, poker, the needed dress code, working hours, etc.

Everything You Need to Know About Casino Berlin

Spielbank Berlin GmbH & Co. KG was founded to operate a casino in West Berlin back in the day. Things improved after a granted concession, and the company improved with its first and central location at Potsdamer Platz. In time, they managed to expand to the now-known four areas. Here are the main elements related to Casino Berlin in 2023:

🏢 Foundation 1975
🗺️ Location Potsdamer Platz, Fernsehturm, Ku’damm, Ellipse Spandau
☎️ Phone number 030 255 99 0
🎲 Games Slots, Roulette, Blackjack, Poker, Baccarat
🛏️ Accommodation No
🧖 Spa No
🍴 Restaurant Yes
🍸 Bar Yes
🛍️ Shop Yes
📅 Events Yes
ℹ️ Offical Website Casino Berlin

Typical for Berlin, each casino location values more the individual style of each person than strict guidelines. As soon as you enter the gaming hall, you will be stunned by the modern design and relaxed atmosphere. Each of the Casino Berlin halls works annually, except five times on official holidays. The tasty food and drinks add the final touch of smart gaming tech and stylish interior design.

Overview of the Amenities at Casino Berlin

While you enjoy the slot machines or any Casino Berlin poker and blackjack tables, you can have a nice drink or grab a tasty bite. Each location comes with bars and restaurants. Unfortunately, there are no casino accommodations, but plenty of hotels are nearby. On top of that, you can take advantage of the Casino on tour offer – rent the croupiers and professional equipment for a fantastic experience on your turf.

Casino Berlin Dress Code

The Casino Berlin dress code policy encourages comfortable clothes for all players. The brand values each visitor’s unique style, which brings a distinctive atmosphere Casino Berlin is famous for. Still, they are specific for closed shoes and long trousers for men at the venue. Cosy and elegant clothes will do the work, but avoid flip-flops and beach shorts or skirts to be on the safe side.

Casino Berlin Entrance

Red Dice on Stacks of Coins

You will be asked for a legit ID when you enter the Casino Berlin venues. The company strictly follows the gambling laws in Germany, where the minimum age for entry is 18. The staff will use the document for age proof and proper registration in their system, as there is a registration upon-entry policy. Keep in mind the admission price of 2.00 euros in all locations. That includes the cloakroom at Potsdamer Platz.

The Player Club

You can register for the free Player Card offered at the casinos. It helps with the admission process, and you automatically become part of the Player Club. As a club member, you will receive casino-specific advantages. The membership is renewed annually informally and easily. Such VIP service resembles the intriguing loyalty programmes offered by the best online casino in Berlin, among others.

Casino Berlin Games Selection

Our overview continues with underlining the games you can find on the spot. We talk about Casino Berlin blackjack, poker, roulette, and more. According to the German gambling regulations, Berlin/Brandenburg is one of the regions where table games and slot machines are allowed. In addition, the friendly staff and croupiers are always there to help. Here is what you can find in each location:

  • Casino Berlin Potsdamer Platz: slot machines, poker, blackjack, American Roulette, Ultimate Texas Hold ’em
  • Casino Berlin Fernsehturm: slot machines, touchbet, poker, blackjack, American Roulette
  • Casino Berlin Ku’damm: slot machines, touchbet, blackjack, American Roulette, UTH
  • Casino Berlin Ellipse Spandau: slot machines, blackjack, Ultimate Texas Hold’em

Know that not all variations are available throughout the working hours of the venues. Each gaming hall works daily from 11:00 a.m. ‒ 03:00 a.m., but the live table games have different opening hours. Make sure you get familiar with these details before approaching any of the Casino Berlin branches. If you feel like playing outside of these hours, you can always go for the best online casinos in the Brandenburg region.

Casino Berlin Gambling Halls

If you decide to pause betting on an online casino in Berlin, the following lines will be helpful. We present the four Casino Berlin locations in the German capital to assist in your choice of a gambling venue. Each has something unique to impress the visitors, whereas the quality is equally high in every gaming hall.

♠️ Potsdamer Platz Offers the largest poker floor in Germany
♣️ Fernsehturm The focus is on roulette, blackjack and poker
🎰 Ku’damm High-quality slot machines and baccarat
🃏 Ellipse Spandau Latest slosts and Ultimate Texas Hold’em

Regardless of which casino you pick, they are located in easy-to-reach sections of the capital. Numerous means of transportation can take you to gambling halls, including public transport and taxis, or you can walk if the desired location is within walking distance. On the plus side, a ride can also be required to and from the venues.

Casino Berlin History – The Person Responsible

Since day one, Casino Berlin has been decisively connected with sports. The founder himself was a hockey player and probably the most successful one in Germany. He started as a player for the Berlin Ice Skating Club, but after the war, his career continued in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. When he retired, he was drawn to Bad Neuenahr as the head of the local casino, but his heart stayed with Berlin. Here is Casino Berlin’s history in years:

  • 1923 to 1944 – Gustav Jaenecke played for Berlin Ice Skating Club
  • 1951 – became head of the local casino in Bad Neuenahr
  • 1975 – Gustav Jaenecke founded the Spielbank Berlin

Jaenecke had a blast of a sports career with a total of 13 times crowned as German champion. He was also successful in tennis and won the German tennis championship in 1932. His sports career in hockey and tennis ended in 1951, but the casino idea was born.

Gustav Jaenecke founded the company in 1975 and remained a member until he died in 1985. Other great tennis players managed to combine sports and gambling to become the best German poker players ever known.

Frequently Asked Questions

Our Casino Berlin review ends with a selection of frequently asked questions by visitors related to the locations. Each contains essential data you might want to know before visiting Casino Berlin. That includes games, amenities, dress code, fees, working hours, etc. The results are based on in-depth research and collected info from players.

1️⃣ Who owns Casino Berlin?

Things started with a company hired to operate a gaming hall in West Berlin. Later it became the owner of Casino Berlin and its every location. The company known as Spielbank Berlin GmbH & Co. KG managed to improve and innovate the venues, making them the most popular gambling locations in the German capital.

2️⃣ What games does Casino Berlin offer?

Each location has top-notch gaming opportunities bringing the latest gambling trends to life. You can go for Casino Berlin blackjack, Casino Berlin poker, slot machines, baccarat and more. The games selection fits all types of players. Remember that table options come with a working hours schedule, so check when they are open in advance.

3️⃣ Are there any amenities at Casino Berlin?

Each location mainly covers the basics. We talk about bars and restaurants with the option for live music as entertainment. That sums up the available amenities with some additional perks like transportation. Nevertheless, the food is tasty, and the drinks are refreshing.

4️⃣ Is there a loyalty program at the Casino Berlin locations?

The land-based locations follow the example of each top-rated online casino in Berlin and include some VIP treatment. The same goes for the Casino Berlin membership policy. It consists of a free Player Card and membership with many casino-related advantages worth exploring.

5️⃣ Who founded Casino Berlin in the first place?

The origins of Casino Berlin were resolutely connected with sports, as its founder was a professional hockey and tennis player. He had won many national trophies throughout the years. The company owning Casino Berlin started its history in 1975 with Jaenecke as its founder.



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NHL Star Evander Kane Reveals Gambling Addiction as Reason for Bankruptcy

NHL Star Evander Kane Reveals Gambling Addiction as Reason for Bankruptcy


The Athletic reported that in legal papers filed last week, Kane stated that he gambled up to 50 times a day, which is a primary reason why he fell into debt.

Kane’s legal team presented the player’s family background in the lawsuit brought by his biggest creditor, Centennial Bank, which stated that his mother, Sheri, was a stay-at-home mother who raised Kane and his sisters, growing up in Vancouver’s lower-class area. 

Kane began playing professional hockey straight out of high school at 18, and although he earned $76 million throughout his 14-year career, his family never owned a home, struggled financially, and lived month-to-month.

The missing paperwork includes details on Kane’s gambling losses, which he revealed for the first time as the principal reason he lost so much money. According to Kane, his gambling addiction began in 2012 when he signed his first big contract in the NHL with the Winnipeg Jets, just as the league went into lockout. 

Kane borrowed $50 million between 2014 and 2019, initially to pay off a gambling debt and other expenses, and then to pay off previous loans. He borrowed 26 times from institutional lenders and seven times from individuals, including more than $1.1 million from two men his legal team described as “middlemen” for bookies, Mike Lispti and Pete Gianakas.

Financial Illiteracy and Gambling Plague Athletes’ Finances

Kane found himself struggling with no way to support his family as he had pledged, which made him view gambling as a quick way to make money. Most of his gambling losses were with bookies and were largely undocumented. The websites they had him gamble through no longer exist, according to his legal team.

Drew Hawkins, a provider of financial education initiatives for sportspeople, noted that while Kane’s situation involves larger sums, the underlying issue echoes the financial difficulties faced by several other athletes. Many of them come from disadvantaged backgrounds, lack financial literacy, rely on subpar advisors, and frequently resort to gambling. 

Hawkins observed that these athletes are usually left to fend for themselves and struggle to make prudent financial decisions, resulting in distressing accounts of individuals falling into substantial debts due to impulsive spending or gambling.

Kane’s creditors argued that the athlete should not be allowed to use undocumented claims of gambling losses to explain away his debt. They stated that he should have subpoenaed his bookies and the casinos where he lost money and that as he could not account for his losses, he should not be able to complete Chapter 11 and walk away from his debts, calling the bid “shocking.”



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Philippines Looks Harder at Suspicious Junket Transactions in New Report

PAGCOR Contributes Another $4.7M to Philippine Sports Commission


The study’s broader scope is an attempt to better understand the money laundering and terrorist financing failings in the casino sector, and specifically the junket sector. The majority of those originate in casino junket operators, the AMLC argues, with the study flagging multiple transactions that should have been reported but hadn’t.

Junket Operators Feed Operators Wrong Data

Essentially, the AMLC contends that junket operators have not been flagging and reporting all issues with relevant parties, in this case, their casino partners, allowing suspicious transactions to clear, and potentially breaking AML and CFT controls in the industry as they failed to disclose the transactions. The AMLC has stopped short of publicly naming the offenders but argued that junket operators linked to prominent resorts had been found to underperform insofar as this was concerned.

Junkets have been a particularly hot topic in Asia. After the near-blanket ban on junket operators in Macau, other jurisdictions have started taking the matter more seriously. Some junket operators tried to blindside their partner casinos by issuing blank reports and claiming that they had not detected any suspicious transactions whatsoever.

However, casinos which did the snooping on their own discovered discrepancies in the report. One particular property used CCTV to establish that there seemed to be large volumes of cash being exchanged which the junket had failed to flag as suspicious. The junket of that particular casino argued that it was a genuine mistake rather than a premeditated act.

Regardless, the suspicion remains. In the particular case cited above, the AMLC claims that the casino was able to nevertheless submit 507 Suspicious Transaction Reports, indicative that the operator was determined to ensure that it complies with AML and CFT rules.

AMLC Says Operators Need to Hold Junkets Accountable

There are ways to counter such bad practices, however. The AMLC insists that should casino operators want to, they can monitor their relationship with junkets and ensure that they impress upon the junkets that reporting of suspicious transactions must happen accurately and transparently.

One of the most serious issues discovered by the AMLC remains the exchange of physical cash on casino floors, which casinos would have to work to tackle actively by raising the stakes for junket operators who may be turning a blind eye to paying customers who could be breaking AML and CFT rules.



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Ainsworth Game Technology Appoints Haig Asenbauer as Non-Executive Director

Ainsworth Game Technology Appoints Haig Asenbauer as Non-Executive Director


Haig Asenbauer, who is a lawyer by profession and works as a partner at Asenbauer Rechtsanwaelte GmbH in Vienna, Austria, is also present with Novomatic AG, where he serves as deputy chair.

Asenbauer Brings Value and Expertise to Ainsworth at Time of Growth

Novomatic currently owns 52% of Ainsworth’s stock, which it acquired back in June 2021. In appointing Asenbauer, Ainsworth did file a notice with the Australian Stock Exchange, notifying that while the potential for conflicts of interest was there, the company would ensure that it observes strict governance protocols so that his involvement is limited to areas outside of those “conflict areas.”

Danny Gladstone, chairman at Ainsworth, welcomed Asenbauer and said that the man’s extensive knowledge would prove invaluable to the company. He referred to his successful track record with Novomatic and argued that having Asenbauer would add more skills and expertise.

Ainsworth, or Ainsworth Game Technology as the company is known by its full name, has been reporting good results of late. The company hit $84 million in revenue in the six months to December 31, 2022, which marked a 23.4% year-over-year increase.

The company reported strong performance across all of its geographies, reflective of the fact that Ainsworth has been doing well in its overall business relationships overseas. Latin American has yielded serious gains for the company, with Ainsworth gaining from the reopening of properties in Mexico and Peru.

Even back home, Ainsworth has been doing very well with New South Wales driving a good $22 million for the company during the reported period. Asenbauer steps in at a time when the company is experiencing a significant economic uptake which is likely to continue in the first half-year of 2023 as well.



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Lawsuit Fails Short of Categorizing Loot Boxes as Gambling

Lawsuit Fails Short of Categorizing Loot Boxes as Gambling


Judge Justice Fleming has ruled that loot boxes could not be categorized as a form of gambling, but he allowed another part of the lawsuit to continue. This part singles out EA for its use of what the plaintiffs describe as “deceptive and unconscionable acts or practices,” and cites Canadian consumer protection law to drive the point home.

Loot Boxes Not Gambling, But EA Still in Trouble

EA has been repeatedly targeted by lawsuit and has had inroads with regulators in the Netherlands and Belgium lately, over the use of “loot box” mechanics in some of its games, but notably FIFA.  However, EA was happy with the ruling by Fleming, saying that the company welcomed the court’s decision to reject the claim that the company had been offering illegal gambling.

“The court’s decision reaffirms our position that nothing in our games constitutes gambling,” a spokesperson for the company said. The judge has mostly sided with EA’s argument, which states that any loot boxes in games like FIFA do not allow you in fact cash out real money, although there have been some ways to do that through third-party black markets.

However, any third-party black markets do not mean that the game itself facilitates or encourages this practice. In fact, EA explicitly forbids the practice. The judge simply stated:

Unlike a casino chip, virtual currency and virtual items in loot boxes can never be ‘cashed out’ to gain money.

Fleming similarly explained that the only way for a game like that and its loot box mechanic to be seen as gambling is to offer the chance to win or lose real money. However, he acknowledged that third-party markets do in fact support the claim to an extent. This is why a part of the lawsuit may continue.

EA Has Been Offering Loot Boxes All Over the World

Mark Sutherland, who is suing the company, wants compensation from EA for money he spent on loot boxes. He argues that the company has been operating loot boxes since 2008 and across dozens of games, which has more or less introduced gambling to underage audiences. While regulators in Belgium and the Netherlands have mostly agreed with this and banned the mechanic outright, the debate about the nature of loot boxes’ nature rages on.



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