A lucky visitor to the Talking Stick Resort in Scottsdale is now a newly minted millionaire after landing the Wheel of Fortune jackpot. The player, who wished to remain anonymous, won $1.31 million– an amount made possible thanks to the machine’s signature design.

Wheel of Fortune Machines Share the Same Jackpot

Talking Stick Resort is one of Scottsdale’s most popular gambling venues, featuring over 1,000 slot machines, high-quality amenities, and ample entertainment opportunities. The casino recently refreshed its portfolio of games, adding new and engaging titles like Devil’s Lock, Coin Trio Fortune, and Double Top Dollar. 

Despite the significant variety of games, the Wheel of Fortune remains one of the most popular machines at Talking Stick Resort. The series has one of the highest potential payouts since every Wheel of Fortune game is part of the Native American Progressive Gaming Network, stretching across 20 Arizona casinos. Each coin a player inserts in a linked machine contributes towards a single cumulative jackpot, which can grow far beyond traditional slot games.

The Wheel of Fortune MegaJackpot is notoriously hard to win, as the odds are substantially lower than most other machines and are more akin to that of the Powerball or similar lotteries. As is the case now, when a player scores big, the event almost always makes the news.

The Anonymous Winner May Have to Wait a While

Talking Stick Resort congratulated the winning player in an official press release, noting that awarding such a large sum was always an exciting experience.

We are all thrilled for the winner and respect their request to remain anonymous. We wish them all the best as they celebrate their win in private.

Ramon Martinez, Talking Stick Resort director of public relations

However, the lucky individual may have to wait a few days before receiving their prize. The reason is that all Wheel of Fortune machines are owned by gaming provider International Game Technology (IGT), which leases them to individual casinos. The TV show that the game is based on retains the license, meaning that all high-tier jackpots have to be individually verified by the owning company, potentially taking up to 15 days. 

Even so, waiting a couple of weeks is a small price for becoming a millionaire. Judging from the previous Wheel of Fortune jackpots, the mysterious winner will receive their prize in the form of a check from IGT, which they can spend as they see fit.
Players who wish to try the experience but do not have access to a physical machine may be interested in BetMGM’s project for a dedicated Wheel of Fortune online casino, featuring hundreds of related games.

British racing group Arena Racing Company (ARC) has announced the completion of the acquisition procedures for Vermantia, the technology company with a focus on omnichannel content distribution. The takeover is expected to strengthen the group’s commitment to this type of distribution. The decision perfectly aligns with the group’s investment strategy in technologies that can be integrated vertically, including broadcasting, distribution, and content. 

The Takeover to Help ARC Create Unique Global Racing Offerings 

ARC spoke about Vermantia’s takeover as something that is entirely compatible with its goals and strategies to create a one-of-a-kind type global racing offering. At the same time, Vermantia will keep growing its portfolio of successful products, while penetrating fresh markets and growing its presence in currently legalized gaming jurisdictions. Gradually, ARC expects the decision to complete the acquisition to take the business to the next phase. 

Changes in the Leadership Team 

Vermantia has also confirmed that its former chief commercial officer George Fotopoulos will be stepping up to the chief executive officer position. Fotopoulos spoke about the new acquisition as a means of recognizing the “power of Vermantia’s solutions” and its interest in providing state-of-the-art technologies to the gaming industry as a whole. He also discussed the “numerous product synergies” that exist between the two companies as they are reaching the next level while mentioning their plans to create a strong business that would unlock many fresh projects and an innovative approach to broadcasting and media rights. 

At the same time, the group announced Vermantia’s founder Filippos Antonopoulos will be appointed as ARC’s new strategic consultant. Antonopoulos also spoke about the new “combination” as one that acknowledges the work performed by their team in the past few years and its “commitment to innovation in omnichannel content and distribution technologies.”

ARC’s director of media technology & production Mark Kingston is also now part of Vermantia’s board of directors. Kingston described ARC as an important shareholder in the Vermantia business, adding that the completion of the acquisition is proof of the “group’s commitment to growing the content distribution business.”

At the moment, ARC owns and operates four of the six all-weather horse racing courses available in the UK. Last month, the group sealed an exclusive sponsorship deal with online sportsbook BetUK, bringing the brand an advertising space spreading across 600 races, along with naming rights. During the same month, ARC appointed Brendan Parnell as its new managing director of media and international. In September, ARC sealed a deal with Sky Racing World, deciding to elevate its global horse races portfolio and enabling UK-based bettors to bet on greyhound races taking place in the US.

The Walt Disney Company revealed a senior-level change on Sunday. The company announced that Bob Chapek, who served as its CEO, has stepped down from his position and is replaced by the company’s former chief executive, Robert Iger.

Iger Returns, Chapek Steps Down as Disney CEO

Disney revealed that the senior-level change is effective immediately. In a press release, the company explains that the appointment seeks to boost its growth. At the same time, Iger, who has been a CEO for 15 years, agreed to hold the position for two more years and to collaborate with its Board “in developing a successor to lead the Company at the completion of his term.” Although Iger will be replacing Chapek, Disney said that Susan Arnold will remain in her position as chairman of the Board.

“I am extremely optimistic for the future of this great company and thrilled to be asked by the Board to return as its CEO.“

Robert A. Iger, CEO at Disney

Sharing his excitement, Iger said that it is thrilling to return as the company’s CEO after a request from its Board. He explained that the company has unique franchises and brands that are loved by millions of people around the world. Finally, Iger said: “I am deeply honored to be asked to again lead this remarkable team, with a clear mission focused on creative excellence to inspire generations through unrivaled, bold storytelling.”

The latest move doesn’t come as a surprise considering that Disney has been going through rough times with its streaming division recently reporting a $1.47 billion loss. Compared to the corresponding period a year ago, that loss was only $630 million. With that in mind, considering the CEO change, the possibility for the company to enter into gambling is now uncertain.

Disney’s former CEO, Chapek, previously acknowledged that expansion into sports betting represents “a very significant opportunity for the company.” One possibility was a collaboration with ESPN, which Chapek deemed as the perfect fit to guide the company into sports betting. However, those talks didn’t gain much traction. Now, with Chapek stepping down and Igen returning to the position of CEO, the company is yet to confirm if it will continue on the path toward gambling or rather stay off it.

Leading global publisher of online gambling content Yggdrasil has partnered with game development studio Peter & Sons for the release of Dungeon Tower MultiMax. The new game features the MultiMax mechanic along with a Golden Bet feature that doubles players’ odds of engaging the Monster Free Spins bonus round. The game invites players to embark on an exciting adventure into the fascinating dungeons located on Mount Argol. 

Dungeon Tower MultiMax Metrics Overview

• Reels: 5
• Rows: 5
• Paylines: Cluster pays 
• RTP: 96.1%
• Hit Freq: 23.64%
• Max Win: X20,000
• Volatility: High
• Min/Max Bet: 0.2-50 

Grab the Hidden Treasures in the Tower  

The game counts five rows and five reels and features the signature MultiMax mechanic created by Yggdrasil with the intention to take the physics of slot multipliers to the next level. The power of this mechanic means that when players get a minimum of one multiplier, they are multiplied by each other, triggering some potentially important wins. Within the new game, a multiplier is associated with each of the available reels. With the help of randomly placed Wild symbols, players will get to boost the reel multipliers by one. This has the potential of increasing in value as more winning symbols start cascading.

Players are welcomed in the old tower packed with creatures that are safely guarding the hidden treasures of the great King. The treasures are worth up to 20,000x the stake. With the help of lucrative bonus features and additional game mechanics, players can get their hands on additional wins. 

When landing a minimum of three scatters on any location on the grid, the Monster Free Spins bonus round comes into play. While the Free Spins play the same way as regular spins, the top reel multipliers will not reset with each new spin that comes into play. 

Dungeon Tower’s Golden Bet 

This feature is used to double players’ chances of engaging the Monster Free Spins for 0.20x extra per bet. Players can also use the Buy Bonus option where they can get their hands on seven up to 11 Free Spins.

Yggdrasil’s head of product and programs Stuart McCarthy spoke about the way Peter & Sons “once again” delivered a visually appealing game packed with exciting action expected to delight fans who love high volatility titles. 

Peter & Sons’ business development manager Yann Bautista spoke about the “incredibly high” bar that the company has set when it comes to titles released together with Yggdrasil. Bautista added the introduction of the MultiMax mechanic in the “stellar” game has been a “huge deal” for them.  

In September, the two companies also reunited for the launch of Voodoo Hex, a classic slot packed with scatters, wilds, and Mystery Stack Respins.

Stockholm-listed gambling operator Kindred Group will keep challenging the fine imposed on its subsidiary Trannel International Ltd by the Norwegian Gaming Authority (Lotteri- og stiftelsestilsynet) for offering services to Norwegian customers.

Despite the Changes Trannel Made, the NGA Reinforced the Fine on the Kindred Group

In September, the Norwegian Gaming Authority (NGA) slapped Malta-based Kindred Group with a huge daily fine of NOK 1.198 million ($117,164) effective from October 1 for conducting gambling operations on the Norwegian market without holding the necessary license.

Since then, Kindred Group has made changes through its subsidiary Trannel to comply with the stipulations of the cease-and-desist order the NGA issued to the company back in 2019.

The company no longer has any website sections that are in the Norwegian language, all Norwegian flags are also removed and no customer service is offered in Norwegian. Additionally, no marketing or promotional activities are or will be conducted in Norwegian.

Despite all this effort on the part of Kindred Group, the NGA has reinforced the coercive fine that it issued to the company in September.

Naturally, Kindred Group does not agree with the legal background of this decision and it is going to keep challenging it in court. According to the company, the NGA incorrectly claims that Trannel is still targeting Norwegian customers.

Kindred Group noted that Norwegians are free to choose the services of a foreign website, which is duly licensed in a country that belongs to the European Union (EU) or the European Economic Area (EEA), namely Malta. 

Kindred Group is confident that it will win the court dispute as it believes that the NGA has no authority outside of Norway and cannot enforce a fine on a company, which has its headquarters in another country. 

Consequently, the company will continue to accept Norwegian customers without supporting any services in Norwegian or actively promoting its services to Norwegian residents.

Kindred Group Has Been Challenging the NGA Since 2019

Kindred Group has so far not had much luck in its fight against the NGA. In June, the Oslo District Court denied its appeal of the cease-and-desist order issued by the regulator in 2019. 

The court did not agree with Kindred Group’s claim that as it already has a license in Malta, it is allowed to offer its services to all countries that are members of the EU and the EEA.

The company submitted a similar appeal to the Norwegian Ministry of Culture and to the Lottery Board but both of them were discarded.

In June, the NGA also issued a warning to Trannel that major fines will follow if the company does not comply with the cease-and-desist order. However, Kindred Group did not do anything about it.

In the end, the NGA issued a whopping fine of NOK 1.198 million ($117,164) per day starting on October 1, which Kindred Group is currently trying to appeal.

Sports betting continues to increase in popularity in many regulated markets. In the US, gambling operators prepare for a second record year. However, that isn’t to say all markets and operators are faring that well. In Poland, for example, a lot of operators seem to be struggling to generate profits.

Most Polish Operators Struggled

As reported by Polish officials, two-thirds of sportsbooks in the country failed to record a positive income in 2021. While some companies fared decently, others struggled to deal with operating losses.

The largest losses were recorded by Superbet. The bookmaker reported a net loss of $18.5 million (current conversion rates) for the entirety of 2021. This is even more disastrous than the company’s 2020 results when it recorded a net loss of $10.9 million. The company has been losing money for four years now and, according to the latest financial reports, it owes almost $43.5 million.

Many other operators also failed to record a positive income. The operators that lost the most money other than Superbet were E-toto, eWinner, TOTALBET and Fuksiarz with losses of $5 million, $4.6 million, $3.5 million and $3 million respectively.

The negative results stem from many factors, including the high taxes in Poland, additional fees and losing business strategies. Competition from the grey market is also a serious threat to legal operators, according to Paweł Sikora, the president of the Graj Legalnie Association.

A Few Companies Generated Positive Net Incomes

While many operators failed to report a positive turnover, there were some that did. As demonstrated by the results, STS continues to be the biggest sports betting operator in the country with a net profit of $33.3 million. This represents a 21% year-over-year increase, attesting to the company’s continuous growth.

At the same time, Fortuna, which also had a positive income, actually experienced a disastrous 52% year-on-year decrease. For reference, the company earned $7 million in 2021, which is significantly less than the $14.4 million it earned the prior year.

BetFan ranked third with a profit of 780,000 for 2021. This is a great result for the company, especially when compared with its net loss of $740,000 recorded in 2020. Lastly, forBET also experienced a noticeable revenue increase, finishing the year with $760,000 in profits, which represents a 65% YOY increase.

A few other companies, including PZBuk, Betclic, Polska and Fun Project also recorded positive revenues. The companies reported net profits of $390,000, $25,000 and $1,590 respectively.  

The independent charity offering support for people affected by gambling harm in the UK, GamCare, has announced a new Code of Conduct valid for brick-and-mortar gambling operators.

GamCare Issues New Advice for Retail Gambling Businesses

The new Code of Conduct seeks to make it easier for people affected by gambling harm or problem gambling to reach vital treatment and support services. The new Code of Conduct will bring support for those who need it by delivering informative messages inside retail gambling venues. Gamblers that visit land-based locations will be able to see information signs that will also include a special QR code that will bring up GamCare’s website on their smartphones.

Responsible gambling and safe gambling information will also be visible to visitors of land-based gambling locations. Ultimately, the new Code of Conduct seeks to ease access to information and connect with people who need support and treatment services. But this is not an industry’s first, considering that the new Code of Conduct complements GamCare’s Industry Code for the Display of Safer Gambling Information which was published back in March 2021.

The New Code of Conduct Delivers Informative Messages

BGC’s chief executive, Michael Dugher, praised the new Code of Conduct and pointed out that it will bring easy access to information and treatment services via informative messages. He explained that the signage will be available at all of the Council’s members’ retail locations. Finally, Dugher said:” This vital code is concrete evidence of this industry’s determination to drive up safer gambling standards for millions of customers, wherever they bet in the UK, and follows similar work from our online members.”

“The BGC is proud to welcome this new GamCare Code, which will guarantee prominent, visible and easily accessible signposting to safer gambling information on help and support in all our members’ land-based gaming venues.“

Michael Dugher, chief executive at the Betting and Gaming Council

Matt Burgiss, GamCare’s industry codes project manager, cited data from the National Gambling Helpline saying that gamblers urged for more information and support available for visitors of land-based gambling locations. Last but not least, he said that the new Code of Conduct will help deliver relevant information which can be used by visitors of retail gambling locations.

“At GamCare, we know that callers to the National Gambling Helpline regularly cite issues from land-based gambling and that more can be done to support people within the land-based gambling sector.“

Matt Burgiss, industry codes project manager at GamCare

Only recently, the BGC welcomed Lloyds Bank’s decision to introduce limits for gambling when using a debit card. The bank unveiled a trial on Friday which implemented limits users can set personally to limit their gambling. The BGC praised the decision outlining it further complements responsible gambling efforts offered by its members.

Bet365 has launched its sports betting product in Ghana, the company confirmed early on Monday. In an official communication to the press, the company said that its website has been up and running since Friday, November 18. The website runs on a dedicated .gh domain name and it already features both iPhone and Android apps to provide bettors with immediate access to betting markets.

Bet365 Takes First Step into African Betting Market

Bet365 is available to eligible Ghanaian customers who meet local regulatory requirements and who can enjoy a range of promotions, in-play and pre-game betting options, and more. There are more than 75 sports covered on the website along with 600,000 events being streamed live every year.

Ghana players will have access to video streams of the Spanish La Liga and German Bundesliga, along with major US sports leagues, such as the NF, NHL, NBA, and more. In a press statement, a bet365 spokesperson had this to add:

We are delighted to announce the launch of a dedicated bet365 website for customers in Ghana. In a country with such a passion for sports, particularly football, we are excited to provide an unrivalled sports betting experience, with a key focus on both localized and international markets.

bet365 spokesperson

The company said that it has long been working on expanding into the market, as it’s one of the most vibrant betting ecosystems anywhere in Africa. Ghana is a particularly strong start for bet365 in Africa, especially with the World Cup underway, which will allow bet365 to demonstrate the strengths of its platforms through pre-game and in-play markets.

Africa has beckoned to international brands, and especially ahead of the World Cup. One of bet365’s own biggest competitors, 888, has also broken ground in Africa recently. Earlier this year, 888 Africa rolled out the 888bet brand in four regional markets, including Kenya, Mozambique, Zambia and Tanzania.

After auctions in October, the US District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands (NMI) has greenlit the sale of Imperial Pacific International (IPI) casino assets. As agreed, Clear Management, which serves as the receiver, will auction equipment from Imperial Palace Saipan worth more than $410,000.

Imperial Palace Saipan Assets Got Auctioned

The Saipan operator did its best to delay this. It tried to postpone the sale by contacting lawyer Samuel Salyer and requesting a full report on the outstanding amounts of unsatisfied judgments against the operator before the sale was finalized.

However, the US District Court for the NMI opted to speed things up in spite of the operator’s protests. Last week, the court issued an order to Clear management, detailing the list of creditors it is aware of and confirming the sale of IPI equipment.

The auction saw participants from all over the world bid for the purchase of IPI casino assets. Parties from the US, Europe, Asia, Australia and Saipan participated in the auction, budding thousands of dollars for the equipment, which included chip sorters and card shufflers.

IPI Owes Big Debts

Throughout the past decade, Imperial Pacific International was found guilty of many regulation breaches. The operator violated numerous rules, unlawfully employed workers to build the casino and allegedly facilitated money laundering. As noted by Clear Management in a recent statement, there are currently 21 claims against IPI in many local and federal courts.

In 2019, the company was found guilty of mistreating its female workers, which added to its woes. That same year, the FBI raided IPI offices, seeking evidence for money laundering, wire fraud and other fraudulent activities.

A year later, IPI announced that the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network was probing its business for violations of the Bank Secrecy Act. In June 2020 the NMI Commonwealth Casino Commission sought to suspend the operator’s license for non-payment of money owed to a community benefit fund.

IPI’s casino in Saipan has remained closed since the beginning of the pandemic. Furthermore, in 2021, the company’s license was suspended in a move that was eventually approved by the Superior Court of the Commonwealth of the NMI. Despite everything, the company managed to keep the license.

As a result of the closure, equipment worth millions of dollars was left to deteriorate in a humid and unwelcoming environment. The US District Court for the NMI sought to auction equipment from the now-closed casino as a way to redeem the $2.1 million that the operator owes.

Clear Management was appointed to serve as a receiver and pay back $2.1 million to USA Fanter Corporation for construction work at the IPI property. However, IPI still owes much more money.

Allwyn has proceeded with its plans to acquire Camelot UK Lotteries and expand its presence in Britain ahead of becoming the National Lottery operator. Acquiring Camelot, which is the incumbent operator, will allow the Czech company to immediately take the reins.

The deal was announced by Allwyn and Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan Board. Under the agreement, Camelot UK will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Allwyn. The terms of the deal, including the financial aspects, were not publically disclosed, although earlier reports claimed the acquisition would cost around $118 million. The agreement is set to close in the first quarter of the next year and is still subject to regulatory approvals from the relevant authorities.

Allwyn Is Thrilled to Expand in the UK

Allwyn AG’s chief executive officer, Robert Chvátal, praised the deal, noting that he is delighted to welcome the operator of the third National Lottery license to the Allwyn family. He noted that the two companies have the same ambition of bringing quality entertainment to people in the United Kingdom and funding good causes.

Allwyn and Camelot share a common goal: a passion to protect and improve the UK National Lottery, and the good causes it celebrates.

Robert Chvátal, CEO, Allwyn

Chvátal added that Allwyn is bullish on improving the National Lottery, bolstering player protection and generating more funding for good causes. He concluded that the acquisition of Camelot UK would strengthen the transition process, helping Allwyn achieve its vision for the National Lottery.

Meanwhile, Nick Jansa, Ontario Teachers’ executive manager for Europe, Africa and the Middle East, said that Camelot is proud to have operated the National Lottery for the past 12 years. He noted that in that time, the Lottery raised more than $23.6 billion dollars for good causes, supporting thousands of organizations across the UK. Jansa praised Camelot’s management and employees for their hard work. He said he hopes for a smooth license transition and wished Allwyn every success.

From Foes to Friends

The current agreement follows the UKGC’s decision to crown Allwyn as the successor of Camelot. At first, the latter company was not very happy with the prospect of losing its throne and launched a lawsuit that prevented the regulator from officially awarding the license.

Luckily, the two companies ended up settling the matter peacefully. In addition, Allwyn’s decision to acquire Camelot will further ensure that the incumbent National Lottery operator doesn’t go bankrupt after losing its license. In the meantime, it will boost Allwyn’s business in the UK, helping it consolidate power in the country.