House Bill 551 (HB 551), a proposal that calls for the legalization of sports wagering in Kentucky successfully passed the Senate Thursday. Although the faith of the bill was unclear and there was a possibility for it to fail, in the end, it successfully cleared the Senate chamber after a 25-12 vote.

Given that it’s a proposal related to revenue within a non-budget year, the bill had to receive a minimum of 23 votes in order to pass. Despite the failure of similar bills, proposing the legalization of sports betting ever since PASPA’s repeal in 2018, HB 551 is the bill that will deliver legal wagering on sports for Kentucky residents.

Under the proposal, sports betting would be legal at the state’s racing tracks, bringing good news for fans of the Kentucky Derby. Moreover, HB 551 would introduce mobile, as well as online sports betting services, allowing bettors to take advantage of those convenient options.

HB 551 would require horse racing tracks offering sports betting to pay a $500,000 fee and an annual $50,000 renewal fee. On the other hand, mobile betting service providers would be subject to an initial $50,000 fee as well as an annual renewal fee of $10,000. The regulation of the activity itself would be in the hands of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission.

The Bill Requires a Signature from the Governor

Earlier this month, the proposal gained traction after passing the House in a 63-34 vote. Keeping in mind that now the bill cleared the Senate as well, its next stop is the desk of Gov. Andy Beshear.

Given that Beshear has long supported the legalization of sports betting, it is likely to sign the bill Friday. Once or when this happens this happens, lawmakers would need to set the planned date for the launch of legal sports betting in Kentucky. Keeping in mind the traction it gained recently, it is likely eligible customers in the state to be able to access sports betting at some point this summer.

“After years of urging lawmakers to legalize sports betting, we finally did it! Today’s result shows that hard work pays off.“

Gov. Andy Beshear

In a statement released via Twitter, Gov. Beshear shared his excitement. He explained that years of efforts are finally paying off with the legalization of sports betting. Moreover, Gov. Beshear said that finally, Kentucky will be able to provide a legal way for its residents to wager on sports and at the same time, use the tax revenue to fund public projects and help communities and schools.

Global casino-entertainment company Bally’s Corporation announced a new partnership with Minor League Baseball (MiLB) Friday. Under the terms of the new multi-year collaboration, Bally’s gained rights to live broadcast, as well as exclusive free-to-play gaming content rights for its digital platforms.

The new partnership marks an important achievement for the duo. This is because the deal designated Bally’s as the first-ever National Media Rightsholder and Exclusive Fantasy and Gaming Partner of the MiLB.

Ultimately, the new collaboration is expected to deliver engaging experiences for MiLB fans, regardless if in-stadium or at home. As with similar deals, Bally’s gained rights to use official marks for marketing, broadcast, in-park signage and digital exposure of MiLB. Additionally, the deal extends to Bally’s new over-the-top, proprietary platform that delivers unique fan engagement tools, Bally Live. The application can be downloaded for iOS, as well as Android devices.

Via Bally Live, fans of the MiLB that attend in-person games will have the option to engage with fans outside of the stadium via a chat and watch party features. This immersive and unique form of entertainment is expected to deliver unique experiences and boost interest in MiLB games. The broadcasting via Bally Live kicks off Friday, March 31, 2023, and will run through the entire MiLB season, covering every game.

Besides the broadcasts, MiLB fans will have the option to enter free-to-play activities via Bally Live. Such activities are expected to include predictor games and other trivia, allowing eligible players to earn rewards via Bally’s rewards points program, Bally Bucks.

The Deal Brings Excitement for MiLB, Bally’s

Kenny Gersh, MLB’s executive vice president, media and business development, explained that the League is delighted to see MiLB designate Bally’s Corporation as an Official Partner. “Since assuming operations of Minor League Baseball in 2021, we’ve focused on growing the reach and awareness of our impressive young prospects and iconic MiLB teams,” he explained. Finally, Gersh predicted that the collaboration with Bally’s will help by enhancing the experience for MiLB fans by delivering free-to-play, fantasy and real-money games.

“This exciting partnership presents a remarkable opportunity for Bally’s, MiLB, and the league’s teams to come together and collaborate on delivering an exceptional experience for MiLB’s more than 30 million fans across 120 teams and ballparks.“

Soo Kim, chairman of the board of directors at Bally’s Corporation

Soo Kim, Bally’s chairman of the board of directors, was similarly excited about the deal, acknowledging that it represents a unique opportunity for MiLB and the company. Additionally, he spoke about the fan base of baseball, which consists of more than 30 million fans. Finally, Kim said that Bally’s remains committed to leveraging innovation to deliver immersive and engaging experiences for MiLB fans.

It’s time for the third Formula 1 race of the 2023 season, and the winners of the first two – Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez – are the top two betting favorites to win the Australian GP on Sunday.

If the oddsmakers are right, it means that we’ll see Red Bull Racing-Honda RBPT record the third win of the season. Of course, the people from Ferrari are determined not to let that happen. Will they succeed in ruining their rival’s plans? Let’s find out!

When, Where, and How to Watch?

• Place: Albert Park Circuit in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
• Date: Sunday, April 2, 2023
• Time: 00:00 AM ET
• How to Watch: ESPN

2023 Australian Grand Prix Odds

Max Verstappen Coming to Australia as a  -300 Favorite

The reigning F1 champ is the only driver with minus odds, suggesting that bookies are convinced he’s going to win the 2022 Australian Grand Prix. If he does win, it’s going to be his first-ever triumph in Australia.

The fact that he’s never won the race in Melbourne actually isn’t too much of his fault. Last season, he finished second, grabbing an extra point for the fastest lap. The man who won the last year’s event is Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc. However, oddsmakers don’t think he’s going to do it again.

Charles Leclerc & Ferrari Dreaming of Victories

The last time a driver from Ferrari won an F1 race was in July 2022 when Charles Leclerc won the Austrian GP. It was his third and final win of the season. The other two happened in Bahrain and Australia.

In 2023, the Bahrain Grand Prix has already been driven. It was a disaster for Leclerc, but not because of something he did. Instead, his car malfunctioned, forcing him to abandon the race.

In the second race of the 2023 F1 season, things went slightly better for him. Leclerc finished seventh, which isn’t great for his standards, but there’s one thing that’s giving him hope – he was second in the qualifying classification.

2023 Australian Grand Prix Prediction

Obviously, Max Verstappen is the best driver in the world in 2023, so betting against him would be crazy. We do think he’s going to triumph at the 2023 Australian GP, but so do the bookies. Priced at -300, the Dutchman just isn’t too tempting an option for bettors.

Instead, his rival from Ferrari might be a better bet. Charles Leclerc probably won’t win this race, but we can see him get on the podium.

Pick: Charles Leclerc to finish in the top 3

Geolocation, fraud and risk solutions provider GeoComply announced a new senior-level appointment. On Friday, the company strengthened its C-suite by hiring Vadim Jelezniakov, an expert within the technology vertical, for the role of chief technology officer (CTO).

Overall, Jelezniakov brings more than two decades of experience. As a part of GeoComply, he will help oversee the development of new products, as well as services. Moreover, the new CTO will play a key role in driving GeoComply’s technology strategy.

The appointment marks a strategic announcement as Jelezniakov has a deep understanding of innovative technologies, as well as market trends. This makes him a key addition to the company’s executive-level team and he will undoubtedly play an important role in its continuous growth.

The recent appointment comes on the heels of another announcement from GeoComply. Earlier this week, the company revealed it joined forces with the International Center for Responsible Gaming (ICRG) to help with new research that focuses on self-exclusion programs. Per the terms of that collaboration, GeoComply agreed to fund the two-year research that seeks to determine what is the long-term effectiveness of such programs, implemented by online and land-based gambling operators.

The New CTO Delivers Significant Experience and Skills

Sharing his excitement Jelezniakov said that he is delighted to join GeoComply and deliver his extensive experience to a growing team of talented and dedicated experts. He said: “My goal is to help drive innovation and growth in new and existing market verticals by leveraging new technologies and developing products and services that meet the evolving needs of our customers.” Last but not least, Jelezniakov pointed out that the opportunity to join GeoComply is unique.

“I am so excited to join GeoComply and work with such a talented and dedicated, industry-leading team.“

Vadim Jelezniakov, chief technology officer at GeoComply

Jelezniakov has extensive experience in managing and building reliable, as well as scalable technology platforms. Throughout his professional career, he was a part of global companies such as Google, Amazon, as well as the New York Times. His professional background also includes a Director of Engineering role with Meta.

“We are thrilled to have Vadim join our team.“

Anna Sainsbury, co-founder and CEO of GeoComply

Anna Sainsbury, GeoComply’s co-founder and CEO, welcomed Jelezniakov to the company’s team. She acknowledged that he brings a unique skillset complemented by a track record within the technology industry. Finally, Sainsbury predicted that Jelezniakov will help GeoComply continue to grow.

North American business-to-business (B2B) technology provider of real money internet gaming solutions and fast-growing international business-to-customer (B2C) betting operator, GAN, released its unaudited financial results outlining the performance of the company during the fourth quarter and 2022. The company posted strong revenue growth for Q4 and 2022, complemented by growth within B2B and B2C segments.

Judging by the recent report, in 2022, GAN’s revenue hit $141.5 million. This result, when compared to the corresponding period in 2021, marked an increase of 14%. The company unveiled that the revenue throughout 2022 was the result of strong growth within its B2C, as well as B2B operations.

The B2B revenue segment last year hit $54 million, up by 19% when compared to 2021. On the other hand, the B2C revenue segment reported $87.5 million, marking another strong increase when compared to the $78.6 million result from the prior year. According to GAN, the outstanding performance of B2C revenue was the result of the strong growth of the company’s Latin American operations.

When it comes to the fourth quarter, GAN enjoyed strong results as well. In Q4, 2022, the company reported total revenue of $36.9 million, representing an increase of 21% when compared to the corresponding period in 2021.

The growth of the revenue from the B2B segment in Q4 was 26%, hitting $14.1 million. That growth was “driven primarily by an increase in platform and content license fee revenue from existing clients and new launches by existing and new customers,” said GAN. Similarly, a strong performance was observed within the B2C segment revenue for the fourth quarter. Overall, that revenue hit $22.8 million, driven by significant growth of 49% of active customers in Latin America.

The Company Confirms Launch of Strategic Review

GAN’s CEO, Dermot Smurfit, pointed out that the company reported strong growth of its B2C KPIs and saw active customers increase by nearly 50% during the fourth quarter. At the same time, he explained that the company closed 2022 with positive momentum after teaming up with WynnBet at Encore Boston Harbor.

That positive momentum continued in 2023, given the recent launch at Encore Boston Harbor, added Smurfit. The CEO said that the launch marked the third GAN Sports client for the US market and reaffirmed the potential of the company’s platform.

“We also ended the year with solid momentum in our B2B sports betting business as we announced our partnership to support WynnBet at Encore Boston Harbor and had a highly successful launch last month.“

Dermot Smurfit, CEO of GAN

Despite the positive results, Smurfit said: “it has become apparent to us that the capital requirements to gain market share for initiatives such as SuperRGS as well as in certain competitive markets for sports betting like Ontario, Canada do not provide a path toward achieving an acceptable ROI in a reasonable period of time.” Consequently, he pointed out that the company decided to “allocate capital away” from such initiatives.

In addition, Smurfit outlined that GAN launched a formal strategic review process of its operations. This process is expected to improve the profitability of the company. Additionally, the strategic review is expected to improve the returns for GAN’s shareholders. Finally, Smurfit said that the company hasn’t planned a deadline for when the strategic review will be completed but vowed that updates on the topic will be provided when necessary.

A 23-year-old Norwalk, Connecticut resident surrendered to police earlier this week after his alleged participation in an elaborate gambling scam. The man, identified as Sebastian Echeverri, allegedly win nearly $50,000 by cheating in a virtual casino operation and using multiple online accounts that belonged to him, a report released by Patch reveals.

The 23-year-old man was charged with cheating, as well as first-degree larceny. After surrendering to police authorities Wednesday, he was released on a $50,000 bond. Echeverri is scheduled to appear in Bridgeport Superior Court next month, on April 20, 2023.

The young man reportedly was able to defraud the online casino out of at least $47,000 through an elaborate scam. Working as a shuffler for a live casino, he allegedly rigged the cards or memorized them, before engaging in betting activities via multiple DraftKings accounts that belonged to him.

At least one of the three uncovered accounts that allegedly belonged to Echeverri was noticed for “suspicious gaming activity” between July 2022 and December 2022. It is believed that the young man used unfair advantage for at least 26 separate gaming sessions.

Manipulating Cards for Advantageous Bets

The charges against Echeverri and the uncovered scam come after an investigation was launched into the illicit activity. The scam itself, state police claim, was uncovered by Evolution, the famous gaming company that provides online live casino games hosting for operators such as FanDuel and DraftKings. This online segment of iGaming content has been continuously gaining popularity and many operators have engaged with such offering that delivers immersive gambling entertainment via live action.

“Investigators reviewed video footage from Evolution relative to the games suspected to have been manipulated by Echeverri. The videos appeared to depict Echeverri actively examining the sequence of the cards on which he would subsequently place bets,“

explains a statement released by state police

The scam was reportedly uncovered by Evolution during its usual monitoring processes. At the company, Echeverri was a shuffler, a job that involved the preparation, including the shuffling of cards before a dealer uses them for a live stream. According to police authorities, the accounts belonging to the young man “demonstrated a pattern of placing abnormally high bets after Echeverri had handled the cards.”

Given his role, he had access to cards that are used in live streams, allowing him to memorize the flow of cards. In some cases, Echeverri allegedly even tampered with the sequence of cards, allowing him to know how the game would play out. This granted him the option to take advantage of games and bets through his online accounts.

However, as FanDuel’s online casino platform is currently available in West Virginia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Connecticut, players will need to be physically present in either one of these states to get access to the new Anaxi content.

An Exciting Partnership

As a major US operator, FanDuel’s platform will be a big stage for Anaxi’s content. This is especially true when considering that Anaxi was announced at G2E Vegas back in October 2022, as Aristocrat’s real money gaming (RMG)brand. Players will have a choice of Aristocrat’s various games through the FanDuel online casino platform, including Dolphin Treasure and Wild Ameri’coins.

A Gambling Insider report cited how excited both companies were. Cath Burns, executive vice president of Anaxi, and Asaf Noifeld, managing director, Casino at FanDuel, both expressed their delight in the partnership, and both agreed that this will bring players an elevated and seamless gaming experience and loads of high-quality entertainment.

While Anaxi’s primary focus lies in iGaming products for the US market, it also has an international footprint through various content studios and other partnerships. Aristocrat acquired Roxor Gaming recently, strengthening Anaxi’s operations and its iGaming presence. It’s been a very busy period these past few months for Anaxi on other fronts, too, though.