The government in the country officially recognized esports as a part of “multi-sports events.” Considering the growing popularity of esports around the globe, the recent recognition marked a significant achievement for the country.

India Recognizes Esports as a Part of Multi-Sports Events

To recognize esports as a part of multi-sports events, India changed its regulations. The country’s president, Droupadi Murmu, implemented new rules designating the country’s Department of Sports as the government body in charge of overseeing esports. This is a significant step as esports tournaments and events are similarly recognized as sporting events in the country.

India’s announcement was immediately spotted by Sean Hyunil Sohn, PUBG India’s CEO and head of corporate development at Krafton. He explained in a statement that the recognition of esports in India marks a monumental moment for the gaming industry. Moreover, Sohn pointed out that by recognizing esports, the government in the country reaffirms its “commitment of making their mark in the global gaming ecosystem.”

“This is pathbreaking move by the government and we are delighted to see the recognition given to esports as part of multi-sports events by the Government of India.“

Sean Hyunil Sohn, CEO of PUBG India and head of corporate development at Krafton

According to Krafton’s head of development, the recognition of esports, will deliver new opportunities for businesses and create new workplaces. At the same time, Sohn said that this will further help captivate talent by allowing young players to practice and develop their abilities. “We look forward to seeing esports further integrated in competitive gaming and we as Krafton are confident to play our part in furthering the vision of a thriving gaming ecosystem in India,” wrote Sohn in conclusion.

Although esports continues to gain popularity in India, the country still struggles with problem gambling. Currently, chance-based gambling is forbidden in India, still, illegal gambling activities attract more customers and deliver significant harm. Besides illegal gambling activities, gambling harm is further boosted by ineffective regulations.

In an attempt to bring back the 2019 numbers, the New Jersey resort town has a series of interesting projects on the horizon. The list includes a much-anticipated water park located nearby the Showboat hotel that will be open all year, along with a number of restaurants, accommodation facilities, and entertainment centers that will be added to a few of the existing casinos in the city.

2023, a Potentially Good Year for Residents and Casinos 

The head of Local 54 of the Unite Here union Bob McDevitt expressed the industry’s eagerness to set foot into the new year, now that COVID has been put behind. McDevitt believes 2023 has the potential of becoming “a good year for the residents of the city and for the casinos”. Similar shades of optimism have also been expressed by Resorts Atlantic City’s chief executive officer and president Mark Giannantonio.

Speaking about the local initiatives aimed at boosting safety and cleanliness which he called “cause for optimism”, Giannantonio also explained the economic hardships and very high rates of inflation are now simmering down, adding “a new level of confidence”. Accordingly, he expects Resorts Casino’s customers to notice the difference and decide to visit the venue more often. On the other hand, Hard Rock Casino’s senior vice president of operations Mike Sampson thinks 2023 will be “a challenging year” for the city. 

Atlantic City’s Main Goal in 2023: Winning From In-Person Gamblers 

The city’s nine casinos are now focused on going back to and even going over the pre-pandemic numbers. Their clear focus for 2023 is to draw their money from in-person gamblers. During last year’s first 11 months, Atlantic City’s casinos managed to gather $2.56 billion from players who visited them in person.

When compared to the $2.47 billion recorded during the first 11 months of 2019, the 2022 figure is giving these venues enough reasons to consider investing in fresh accommodation, dining, and entertainment projects in the new year. Caesars Entertainment will be leading the way with its brand-new restaurant, additional hotel rooms, and entertainment projects underway at three of its casinos in the city. 

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino is also looking forward to investing $30 million in the live entertainment vertical in the upcoming months, while Golden Nugget Atlantic City Hotel, Casino & Marina is getting ready to initiate a big renovation project worth several million. Resorts Casino Hotel is also ready to pump a minimum of $10 million in restructuring its hotel and casino floor, while Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa is also working on a series of exciting projects related to its upcoming 20th anniversary. 

Ocean Casino Resort is preparing to pay $15 million in exchange for seven new hotel floors and a private helipad. Showboat Atlantic City has also expressed its plans to open an indoor water park just in time for the Memorial Day weekend. The investment will cost the venue $100 million. 

Without a doubt, the city’s casino industry seems determined to turn over a new leaf in 2023, in spite of the ongoing economic uncertainty and the important decisions that are still pending an answer. Among them, choosing the best proposal for developing the former Bader Field airport property and deciding whether smoking should still be allowed inside casinos. At the end of last August, the New Jersey Superior Court Atlantic County Law Division decided that the tax relief related to property tax for casinos in Atlantic City goes against the state’s constitution.

The offering includes a large number of Live Casino, Virtual Sports, and Slots options that already count among the favorites of many players in Latin America. Plus, Pentagol players will also get unrestricted access to a series of freshly released games. 

What Will the New Deal Bring to Peruvian Players? 

Newly launched slots like Fury of Odin Megaways and Reel Banks together with award-winning games like Gates of Olympus and Sugar Rush will all become accessible to players in Peru via the Pentagol platform. The terms of the agreement also include access to Pragmatic Play’s versatile selection of Live Casino options that feature staple games such as Mega Wheel and Sweet Bonanza CandyLand. 

Sports betting aficionados on one of the most globally active markets will also be given access to Greyhound Racing, Horse Racing, Force 1, and other popular Virtual Sports verticals. Pragmatic Play is known for its excellent 3D renderings rich in details and generous access to a large selection of betting markets.

Pentagol “Couldn’t Be Happier” About the Deal

Pragmatic Play’s vice president of Latin American operations Victor Arias expressed their delight at welcoming Pentagol to its roster of “valued partners”. He described their platform as an “ideal” one that would allow their content to improve its positioning in the gaming market in Peru. 

Pentagol’s operations manager José Tornero also spoke about the new deal, calling the large number of new games brought by the deal “hugely important” for their expansion plans. Tornero added that Pentagol “couldn’t be happier” about the new content agreement, calling Pragmatic Play’s titles “a must-have for any operator” in the country where players rely on accessing top-tier games.

Plus, the association with the provider that generates up to seven fresh slots on a monthly basis will allow the company to stay competitive in this fast-growing market. In October 2022, Pragmatic Play signed a similar content deal with Atlantis Games, another Peruvian operator.  

Last December, Pragmatic Play announced two similar content delivery deals with JK Bet and BetBastet in Brazil. According to the terms of the new strategic agreements, the provider would boost its presence in the country’s regulated gambling market while leveraging the experience and implementing a similar growth strategy for new markets in LatAm.

Last week Thursday, Harrington Raceway and Casino’s operations were disrupted. The venue revealed in a post on social media that it is experiencing technical difficulties that caused a temporary halt of operations.

Technical Issue Disrupts Temporarily Harrington Raceway and Casino Operations

A day later, on Friday, Harrington Raceway and Casino confirmed it will resume its operations just in time for the festive celebrations planned for New Year’s Eve. The racino was closed for just a couple of days, but according to its announcement on social media, the company called in cyber security experts that would help with resolving the issue.

“We are working diligently to investigate the source of the disruption, confirm its impact on our systems, and restore full functionality to our affected systems as quickly as possible. We have significant resources, including cyber security specialists, devoted to this process and our work to resolve this issue is ongoing,“

reads a statement released by Harrington Raceway and Casino

Last year in May, Harrington Raceway and Casino announced it joined forces with the leading provider of gambling solutions, International Game Technology (IGT). Through the deal, the company agreed to deliver its leading technology to power the Delaware casino’s operations, delivering next-level player experiences and a unique player reward system.

The gambling venue did not reveal further details regarding the breach. It is also unclear what Harrington Raceway and Casino’s systems were impacted by the disruption or what was the source of the issue. Considering that the venue shut its doors and security experts were called in, it is unclear whether or not personal data belonging to the customers was impacted. Still, considering that the venue reopened for visitors the issue seems to be resolved.

Online users contacted the operator concerned whether their complimentary dollars and other rewards were impacted by the temporary closure. To those queries, the venue responded that “all outstanding December 22 – 30 Slot Dollars will be honored through January 3 – 31, 2023.”

The NYSE-listed international digital gaming company that offers first-class entertainment confirmed the acquisition of the online gambling and sports betting company that offers market access in a dozen US states, including eight live markets.

The new deal will allow Betway’s and Spin’s parent company to further expand its global presence in the US by entering these markets and continuing its profitable growth in the region.

Super Growth, “Well-Positioned to Enter the US market” 

Super Group’s chief executive officer Neal Menashe expressed excitement for being able to officially usher DGC into the group while looking forward to starting working “more closely” with them in their endeavor to apply their already proven toolkit to the US market.

Menashe also spoke about the group’s “healthy balance sheet” and “consistent track record of driving profitable growth”, both of which recommended Super Group as a good candidate for penetrating the American market. 

At the moment, DGC is live in Arizona, Iowa, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Colorado, Indiana, and Ohio. All of these states are already making use of the Betway brand exclusively licensed from Super Group. In Q1, DGC plans to also go live in Louisiana and this way become the fourth state to benefit from the Betway Global technology platform, alongside Ohio, Virginia, and Arizona. 

Ohio, the Freshest US State to Host the Betway Brand via DGC 

Last Sunday, DGC launched the Betway brand in the Buckeye State via a partnership agreement signed with Belterra Park owned by Boyd Gaming. This prompted Ohio to turn into the freshest US state to give the green light to the regulated market for sports betting.

DGC’s executive vice president Bruce Watemeyer expressed their thrill to be going live “in the great state of Ohio” and also to be able to get access to sports aficionados across the state. He also called the decision “an important step” for the company busy expanding its “best-in-class offerings”.

The company that calls itself “the home of premium online gaming solutions” has been busy investing in Ohio through its partnership with the Cleveland Cavaliers that began in February 2021. Now, DGC is eager to finally welcome sports fans from Ohio to the Betway experience. Super Group has several licenses in various global jurisdictions and it is a premier name in important markets in Europe, Africa, and the Americas.

The group’s online gambling and sports betting options are backed up by top-tier technology, which allows its quick and effective entry into new markets worldwide. The group’s customer experience is a fully customizable one thanks to the proprietary data analytics and marketing engine. In November, the group announced its third-quarter results for 2022 were in line with its full-year guidance.

The Kansas City Chiefs have secured their place in the playoffs, but it’s still not certain whether they’ll finish no. 1 in the AFC and get a first-round bye. Likely for them, their destiny is in their hands – they just need to beat the unmotivated Las Vegas Raiders in Week 18.

Kansas City Chiefs vs Las Vegas Raiders Week 18 Odds

When, Where, and How to Watch?

• Place: Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nevada
• Date: Saturday, January 7, 2023
• Time: 4:30 PM ET
• How to Watch: ABC

Kansas City Chiefs to Secure the AFC No. 1 Spot

The Chiefs are 13-3 this season, which is one win more than the Buffalo Bills and two more than the Cincinnati Bengals, both of which have played a game fewer than the Chiefs. They were supposed to play one another, but the Bills vs Bengals game was abandoned after Buffalo’s Damar Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest on the field.

What this means is that if the Chiefs don’t beat the Raiders on Saturday, there will be a possibility that they might drop out from the top spot. Still, the chances that the Chiefs don’t win look very slim. First of all, they’re in much better shape than the Raiders with four straight wins.

Further, the Chiefs seem to love playing against the Raiders. They are 9-1 against this opponent in the last 10 meetings. The Chiefs’ most recent trip to Allegiant Stadium saw them blow out the opponents 41-14.

Las Vegas Raiders’ Season Is Over

The Raiders are 6-10 right now, meaning that the season is over for them. Whatever happens in Week 18, they will not make the playoffs. They did have a good chance to get there but they lost three games in the previous four gameweeks.

And all of those losses were painful for their fans. For instance, they lost by just one point to the Los Angeles Rams. They also lost by just three points to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Finally, in their first game of 2023, the Raiders lost to the San Francisco 49ers by three points in overtime.

Kansas City Chiefs vs Las Vegas Raiders Prediction

The Raiders probably aren’t in a great mood now that it’s clear that they’ve gambled away their chances of making the playoffs. It’s just the opposite when it comes to the Chiefs. They’re in a great mood and are coming to Vegas to get a big win.

Picks: Kansas City Chiefs to win and cover the spread

On Friday, the Ohio Casino Control Commission (OCCC), the regulatory body in charge of gambling activities in the state, announced that it plans to take administrative action against DraftKings.

DraftKings May Be Subject to a $350K Fine

The regulator claimed that the sports betting operator breached the state’s sports gaming advertising rules. A statement released by the OCCC alleged that DraftKings completed an advertising campaign back in November. During the campaign, the regulator claimed that the operator sent advertising materials to approximately 2,500 recipients under the age of 21. The gambling watchdog reiterated that under the current regulations, it is prohibited for sports betting operators to target or advertise to individuals under 21.

The OCCC urged DraftKings to establish procedures that ensure no advertising content is distributed to individuals with age that is not verified. Besides those new procedures, the regulator did not rule out the possibility of imposing a $350,000 fine against the operator. As with any allegation for breaches, the operator is given the right to a hearing. What’s more, the Ohio gambling regulator said that it will determine what action to take against DraftKings following a public meeting. If indeed the OCCC imposes a fine, the funds would then be redirected to the state’s Sports Gaming Revenue Fund.

The Gambling Watchdog Is Disappointed to See Breaches

Matthew Schuler, the OCCC’s executive director, commented in a statement outlining that the Commission has established clear rules about the advertising of sports gaming. At the same time, he said that the OCCC is disappointed to see breaches of the rules. “While we do not take administrative action lightly, DraftKings’ conduct in this case warrants the Commission’s intervention to ensure the integrity of sports gaming,” said Schuler in conclusion.

“The Commission has been very clear about the rules and standards for sports gaming advertising with the industry and are disappointed with the lack of compliance we have seen despite the reminders.“

Matthew Schuler, executive director at the Ohio Casino Control Commission

DraftKings was among the major players in the industry that launched their services in Ohio on Sunday, which marked the start of the regulated sports betting market in the state. In addition to DraftKings, other operators such as FanDuel, Caesars and BetMGM, among other major players have also introduced their services in Ohio.