Casino City Times
Hard Rock Lake Tahoe releases March promotions
Guests can enjoy burlesque shows, gaming promotions and March Mania viewings.
6:43 PM
We recently published a full review of bCasino for you to check out, following its recent February 18th launch, and now we’ve got a little bit of news that is sure to pique your interest in this site even more. Direct casino support representative, Amnon, has signed on to offer our members added guidance. He left the following words this past Tuesday: “bCasino is a new… and regulated casino in the UK market so English players – you are more than welcome to try our new casino. You can go ahead and start playing successful slots as Starburst, Gonzo’s Quest, Jack Hammer 2, Guns N’ Roses, Jungle Spirit, Neon Staxx, and dozens more with the best game providers in the market.”
The rep went on to add, “We don’t have any sister casino or a copy of other brands, it’s just us.” For those of you who have not yet read the review, we’ll give you a few details to get you started. The site caters to the UK community, offering a multi-software platform, with titles from several providers, and categories including slots, table games, video poker, and live dealer games.
Players will also gain access to a VIP program right at signup. Play your favorite games and earn points. 1 bPoint is awarded for every £10 in real money wagered. The more you play, the more access you’ll have to rewards in the form of bonuses, prizes, extra spins and free cash. There are four loyalty levels, including silver, gold, platinum and diamond.
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Macau casino operator SJM Holdings Ltd announced on Wednesday that company profit for full-year 2017 declined 15.6 percent in year-on-year terms to HKD1.96 billion (US$250.8 million), while total revenue and gaming revenue showed “modest increases”.
SJM Holdings’ board proposed a final dividend of HKD0.15 per share for 2017, subject to shareholder approval.
The casino firm reported total revenue of HKD41.9 billion for the full year, up 0.2 percent from the previous year. Gaming revenue accounted for 98.6 percent of the company’s aggregate revenue.
SJM Holdings recorded annual adjusted earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of HKD3.07 billion, down 10 percent from 2016. The group’s adjusted EBITDA margin – on a Hong Kong generally accepted accounting principles basis – decreased to 7.3 percent in full-year 2017, from 8.2 percent in the prior year.
Gaming revenue was HKD41.29 billion for the 12 months ended December 31, representing a slight increase of 0.1 percent from the previous year. VIP gaming revenue declined by 0.3 percent year-on-year in 2017 to nearly HKD19.88 billion; mass table gaming revenue was up by 0.6 percent to HKD20.58 billion. Slot machine and other gaming revenues posted a slight annual decline, said the firm.
The results were “in line with share loss in mass continuing” as a trend for SJM, said analysts Vitaly Umansky, Zhen Gong and Cathy Huang of brokerage Sanford C. Bernstein Ltd in a Wednesday note.
VIP gaming operations accounted for 48.1 percent of SJM Holdings’ total gaming revenue in 2017, as compared with 48.3 percent in the previous year.
Market-wide Macau casino gross gaming revenue (GGR) rose by 19.1 percent year-on-year in 2017 to MOP265.74 billion (US$33.02 billion), according to official data. That included a 26.7 percent increase in market wide VIP gaming revenue and a 10.4 percent increase in mass-market revenue.
SJM Holdings said that during 2017 it had a 16.1 percent share of Macau’s gaming revenue, including 20.8 percent of mass-market table gaming revenue and 13.6 percent of VIP gaming revenue, according to Wednesday’s filing.
“Macau saw the beginning of a turnaround in its casino gaming market in 2017, and SJM has entered 2018 in a strong position,” said SJM Holdings chief executive, Ambrose So Shu Fai, in a statement included in a press release also issued on Wednesday.
Cotai progress
Mr So said construction work for the firm’s new casino resort, the HKD36-billion Grand Lisboa Palace in Macau’s Cotai district, made “substantial progress” in 2017.
“We are still striving for construction to finish by the end of this year,” he added. Earlier this month, the SJM Holdings CEO said the company was aiming to start operations in Cotai in 2019.
Development of the Grand Lisboa Palace has been plagued with delays. Brokerage Sanford Bernstein said in a note this month that it expected Grand Lisboa Palace to open in “late 2019 or even early 2020”.
As of December 31, SJM Holdings had 279 VIP gaming tables in operation and had partnerships with 19 VIP promoters, compared with 315 VIP gaming tables and 20 VIP promoters as of December 31, 2016. The company operated a total of 1,424 mass-market gaming tables in its casinos as of December 31, compared with 1,301 mass-market tables a year earlier.
SJM Holdings’ Grand Lisboa casino hotel (pictured) reported a 5.8 percent year-on-year increase in gaming revenue in 2017 to nearly HKD14.87 billion. The flagship property recorded an adjusted property EBITDA decrease of 5.1 percent as compared to the year-earlier period, to HKD1.68 billion.
The firm’s 16 satellite (third party-promoted) casinos generated annual gaming revenue of approximately HKD20.21 billion, down 5.5 percent from 2016. Profit attributable to SJM Holdings from those operations amounted to HKD656 million last year, a year-on-year decline of 13.4 percent.
(Updated 8.30pm, Feb 28)
Unite Here Local 54 has signed an agreement that could see the NJ casino union return to represent workers at Hard Rock Atlantic City in the near future.
The post Union Blamed For Trump Taj Mahal Closure Welcomed Back To Hard Rock AC appeared first on NJ Gambling Sites.
Boutique Asian casino operator Donaco International Ltd on Wednesday posted a comprehensive net loss of approximately AUD133.8 million (US$104.2 million) in the six months to December 31, 2017. That compares to a net profit of AUD14.8 million in the prior-year period.
In a filing to the Australian Securities Exchange, the casino firm blamed the net loss on an impairment charge related to its casino operations in Cambodia.
Donaco operates the Star Vegas Resort and Club (pictured) in Poipet, Cambodia, and the Aristo International Hotel, a casino hotel property in northern Vietnam, near that country’s border with China.
The net loss for the first half of the financial year 2018 includes a non-cash impairment of AUD143 million on the Star Vegas casino licence “due to the vendor breaching non-compete provisions,” said Donaco in Wednesday’s filing.
Donaco said previously that the impairment of the Star Vegas business was “a direct result of the breaches of agreement” with a Thai former business partner. The Australia-listed firm has claimed that this former business partner was still operating the Star Paradise casino – located near Donaco’s Star Vegas property – even after a deal for Donaco to run Star Paradise expired and was not renewed.
Donaco said in December that a Cambodian court had issued an interim injunction to close the Star Paradise casino, which has been upheld on appeal.
The casino firm said on Wednesday that the litigation continues in Cambodia, as one further appeal is available to the former partner. The company has also commenced arbitration proceedings in Singapore, claiming damages of US$120 million.
Donaco said group revenue slipped 25.7 percent year-on-year, to AUD43.9 million. The firm said the decline was primarily due to lower VIP turnover at Star Vegas. The company reported gaming revenue of nearly AUD35.7 million for the period, down 30.4 percent from a year earlier.
Earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) contracted by 41.7 percent year-on-year in the first-half fiscal, to AUD19.4 million.
Restoring VIP
Joey Lim Keong Yew, chief executive of the group, said in commentary accompanying the results: “We are working to actively restore the VIP business, and are making strong inroads by signing new junkets and opening new junket halls, which has accelerated in January and February 2018.”
He added: “We have put in place initiatives to drive main floor revenues, by introducing 900 new gaming machines to replace underperforming machines, upgrading our non-gaming facilities to attract more visitors, and adding a second main floor targeting non-Thai players.”
Net gaming revenue at Star Vegas during the six months to December 31 was down 31.5 percent year-on-year, to approximately THB775.2 million (US$24.6 million). Property EBITDA declined by 39.7 percent to THB484.7 million, said Donaco.
“Star Vegas produced weaker results, due primarily to lower VIP turnover, which was partially offset by a significant reduction in junket commissions and operating costs,” the firm added.
VIP turnover at the property fell by 64.3 percent to approximately THB18.15 billion, compared to THB50.84 billion in the prior-year period. The company said junket commissions decreased by 56 percent year-on-year during the reporting period.
Commenting on Star Vegas performance, Mr Lim said Donaco has begun to “successfully rebuild the junket business”.
“Three Thai junkets were signed up in the December half, operating across 43 VIP tables. An additional three junkets operating across a further 40 VIP tables were added in January and February 2018,” said the CEO.
“Our VIP turnover … has now begun to grow again, reaching more than THB8 billion in February to date,” he added.
Net gaming revenue at Aristo International was down 31 percent year-on-year, to CNY29.7 million (US$4.7 million). VIP turnover at the property nearly doubled to approximately CNY6.9 billion.
Property EBITDA declined by 22 percent to CNY33.1 million, due to a lower win rate of 1.70 percent during the reporting period, said Donaco.
Remember 2WinPower? Members who follow LCB rogue reports know all about this infamous company. Providers of pirated software, they've been banished from the industry once before, by the joint effort of LCB and Aristocrat Gaming. Though the online community was ecstatic to see them gone and their criminal business closed, we had a feeling that wasn't the last we'll see from 2WinPower. Sure enough, they are back! Not to be confused - this is not a casino! They are a third party supplier of fake, turnkey gaming products including counterfeits of Novomatic, Net Entertainment, Realtime Gaming, EGT and Aristocrat video slots.
Considering they've shown great tenacity and fought tooth and nail to keep their piracy network alive and well, it is not at all surprising to see the company reemerging on a wholly different domain: https://2wpower.com/. We first encountered their fake games in 2016, when investigating two very suspicious casinos: BetsTower and BetMaxValue. To our dismay, we realized this was a large and complicated network involving at least one other company: Desoft Gaming. One shocking fact after another, not only was their entire offering falsified, but they advertised openly via an official website and social channels, apparently undaunted by legal repercussions for plagiarism.
Thinking themselves untouchable (and why wouldn't they, when so little has been done to prevent such frauds), they were shocked to realize they've been busted when LCB exposed their products on another client brand, Burnbet Casino, in 2017. A struggle ensued when employees and associates of 2WinPower and Desoft Gaming started pestering our team via emails and official LCB channels, in a futile attempt of damage control, resorting even to death threats. We, of course, never thought of removing any evidence of their illegal trade from our portal.
After contacting Aristocrat representatives, together we forced the piracy network to remove the falsified versions of the popular provider's software from their website in August 2017. Victory achieved! Having no genuine games of their own, we had hoped it would damage their business enough to shut down eventually.
As faith would have it, they have returned and it means we must again be very cautious not to fall for their fakes. No doubt they will instruct clients to conceal the origin of supplied slots as much as possible. Previously, it was possible to spot some of their games thanks to a loader with the 2WinPower logo, without having to inspect source codes or other details. There's no telling how this might have changed. We will keep our eyes open for any sign of the all too familiar foul play, but for now, let's stay away from the above-mentioned sites. Keep up with LCB Rogue reports for new information regarding this criminal network!
Macau casino operator non-gaming revenue “may never reach” the heights of the Las Vegas market in the United States, where it accounts for approximately two-thirds of all casino resort revenue, says a report from the Morgan Stanley banking group.
“Non-gaming revenue as a percentage of total revenue is roughly 12 percent for Macau and may never reach 65 percent as it has in [Las] Vegas,” stated analysts Praveen Choudhary, Jeremy An and Thomas Allen.
They further noted in the Monday report: “Slot machines are roughly 50 percent of total gaming revenue in Vegas, while Macau generates only 5 percent from this segment.”
According to official data, gross gaming revenue from slot machines in the Macau market was approximately MOP13.16 billion (US$1.63 billion), up 15.6 percent from the previous year. Macau’s accumulated casino GGR for full-year 2017 grew by 19.1 percent year-on-year, to MOP265.74 billion.
In Macau’s Five-Year Development Plan – a package of policies and initiatives covering the period 2016 to 2020 published in 2016 – the city’s government stated that non-gaming revenue within Macau’s casino sector should account on average for at least 9 percent of all revenue generated by Macau operators by 2020.
A report in January last year from Macau’s Statistics and Census Service indicated the goal had already been achieved by the end of 2015. That year, non-gaming accounted for 9.39 percent of overall revenue in the casino sector.
The Morgan Stanley analysts noted, referring to the Macau-market contribution from non-gaming and from slot machines: “We do not expect either number to change meaningfully for Macau any time soon.”
But they did suggest there was ongoing potential for a change in the gaming revenue mix in Macau in favour of the more profitable mass-market. The Macau government wants to see non-gaming as a percentage of total revenue from the local casino industry rise, as part of its programme of economic diversification and movement away from dependence on high-stakes VIP gambling. A number of investment brokerages have noted that earnings from VIP are potentially volatile for reasons related to regulation and politics in the main feeder market, mainland China.
“The market tends to put a discount on the valuation of VIP-centric companies, due to the high volatility of volumes and regulatory risks,” said Morgan Stanley.
Non-gaming margins
In gross revenue terms Macau non-gaming amounted to US$4.1 billion in 2017, excluding any contribution from so-called satellite venues – those owned by third parties but relying on the gaming permit of one of the six operators – said the bank.
The report’s analysts noted there were some structural issues with Macau casino operator non-gaming revenue that potentially caused some of it to be a proportionally smaller contributor to profit for those businesses than the gaming side.
“Most of the companies carry EBITDA [earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation] margins of about 10 percent for VIP, 30 [percent] to 40 percent for mass and 30 [percent] to 50 percent for slots,” stated the report authors, citing information for Macau gaming operators and proprietary research.
“For non-gaming, retail rental carries the highest EBITDA margin of 75 percent… and other segments are mostly below 35 percent or sometimes close to zero,” they stated, adding that retail and hotel operations in combination accounted for more than 60 percent of gross non-gaming revenue.
Morgan Stanley noted that while gross gaming revenue in Macau attracted an effective tax rate of 39 percent, non-gaming was the only casino operator segment to have applied a corporate income tax of 12 percent.
But the bank added: “We believe the industry will see declining VIP contribution as has been the case since the second half of 2011, when VIP represented 75 percent of GGR; it now contributes about 50 percent of revenue and 10 [percent] to 20 percent of EBITDA. Also, the VIP business is under greater scrutiny as it has been made the subject of a regulatory clampdown.”
Tropicana NJ's $390M revenue in 2017 was good enough for second place in AC, completing a startling turnaround from when the NJ casino was at death's door.
The post Trop Near The Top: Tropicana NJ Casino’s Revival Capped By Strong Revenue In 2017 appeared first on NJ Gambling Sites.
The casino at The 13 Hotel, a stalled development on the border between Cotai and Coloane in Macau, may open by March 31, 2019 along with some shops at the complex (pictured), said its promoter in a Sunday filing to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
The 13 Holdings Ltd added some details on what the casino is likely to contain. The firm said it expects to operate a total of 66 tables, of which nearly a quarter will be for VIP play, with the remainder for so-called premium mass. The filing noted there would be 50 “high-stakes” mass-market tables; approximately 16 VIP room tables; and circa 50 slot machines “with minimum bets that are set at a comparatively high level”.
But it added: “There may be substantial changes to these plans to accommodate the requirements of the Macau government.”
The local authorities are keen to diversify Macau’s economy from dependence on high-stakes live-table games. When MGM Cotai, the new property of MGM China Holdings Ltd, launched on February 13, it did so initially without any VIP gambling, although MGM China has not so far clarified the reasons.
Sunday’s filing by The 13 Holdings reiterated that the group had in place a memorandum of understanding – which it said had first been disclosed in a 2013 circular – with an “affiliate” of a licensed Macau casino operator in relation to the management and operation of the casino in the new property.
The latest filing said that company had received on January 17 a confirmation letter from the affiliate regarding that arrangement.
“As at the latest practicable date… the company has not received any negative feedback from the licensed operator in respect of the memorandum of understanding,” said Sunday’s filing.
The 13 Holdings also noted the capital required for casino operations – including operating supplies and equipment, and other casino-related pre-opening expenses – would be approximately HKD352 million (US$45 million).
The filing said the firm had “not yet formulated further fund-raising plans to accommodate such costs,” but the board expected that once The 13 Hotel was operational and had received approval of the Macau government for the gaming operation, the group “would be in a better position to explore further funding options including but not limited to bank borrowing, if necessary”.
Several previous deadlines declared by The 13 Holdings for the opening of the hotel accommodation at the property have already been missed. In late January it was announced that entrepreneur Stephen Hung, widely regarded in the investment community as one of the masterminds of the project, had resigned as joint chairman and executive director of the company.
In October last year the group announced a proposed rights issue to raise gross proceeds of approximately HKD1.01 billion.
In the Sunday filing The 13 Holdings said dealings in the rights issue shares in the nil-paid form were expected to take place from Wednesday, until March 7, inclusive.
We have great news for all our cryptocurrency-loving members. As Bitcoin transaction fees hit an all time low in February 2018, Bitcoin voucher makes a comeback to the Shop! This time, the most popular digital form of money is not the only such item to redeem - we also added Litecoin, an alternative peer-to-peer currency sharing many of its technical features.
When the increased demand and volatility of the value of Bitcoin led to insufferably high transaction fees in 2017, we were regretfully forced to suspend the item, which was at that time among the most popular Shop perks. Back then, the network couldn't cope with the growing demand for the currency, causing fees to skyrocket, which meant the cost of sending and receiving small payments was much too high. But now that the fees are once again reaching acceptable values, the time is right to reintroduce these highly requested items.
Both vouchers function as cash items, and will be sent straight to your digital wallets. Once you have accumulated $25 by contributing to the LCB community, the chips will be available to claim and use at gaming sites that accept cryptocurrency deposits. Nowadays, there are many reputable brands with excellent software and features to choose from - take a look at our list of Bitcoin-friendly casinos and pick the one best suited to your needs.
Our Shop is a way to give back to our members for their continued loyalty and dedication to the gaming community. Your posts, comments and ratings of casinos and games result in LCB virtual cash awarded to you at a rate which depends on your current status. Every action counts and will get you closer to claiming any of the Shop's many free gifts. Good luck!
Owners of top-ranked casinos and aggregators of online gaming, Fair Play Bets, have officially announced the launch of Microgaming’s suite of slots via the renowned Quickfire platform. The company’s two most reputable betting sites, VegasPlay and DiamondWorldCasino will ramp-up their offerings with award-winning titles and popular releases like Jungle Jim El Dorado, Jurassic World, Bridesmaids, Playboy and more.
By boasting impeccable player experience and unrivalled gaming performance, the Quickfire platform has secured a strong reputation in the industry, particularly in regulated gambling markets UK and Malta. Due to a large number of prestigious awards for innovation and technology, many operators opt for extensive game offerings from this genuine supplier of engaging bingo, poker and casino software. Popular releases from Microgaming are a proven strategy, as they provide a lot of entertainment to players, says Andrew Clucas, director of Quickfire.
The company has announced a stronger engagement on the slot market and confirmed partnerships with new, independent studios. At the same time, an array of exclusive titles has been revealed at ICE a couple of weeks back, when visitors had a chance to see stunning presentations of Fortunium and Cash of Kingdoms. Jeremy Fall, head of marketing at Fair Play Bets welcomed the agreement and said that the group’s offerings are now multiply enhanced, thanks to a range of smart promotional tools with exciting features and innovative mechanics.
In 2018, Fair Play Bets will continue its expansion strategy with a number of leading casino operators, added Malcolm Ferrante, director. Partnering with Microgaming is one of the most important decisions for the group, as further developments are coming very soon, added Ferrante.
Source:
“Following ICE Fair Play Bets agreement created stronger entertainment destinations with Quickfire, powered by Microgaming“, microgaming.co.uk, February 22, 2018.
Being a Sloto Cash Casino punter may be rewarding in many ways – and one of those ways is that you get to enjoy their official quarterly publication – Sloto Magazine! All of the players registered with them and who make a deposit within a semester will be receiving the issue by mail, for free.
Anyhow, it's a very informative magazine that focuses on the experience and benefits of being a member at the casino. As such, it contains a plethora of bonuses, new games, current and future promotions and other novelties related to the iGaming industry. The spring issue is on its way to casino's players and it will include a calendar of bonus promotions and bonus coupons valid in March, April and May.
Within the pages, you will also find game reviews, with Realtime Gaming's Viking-themed Asgard slot featured. The casino’s updated Android app is also reviewed for your reading pleasure.
This spring, several featured slot games are giving away Double Comp Points – in the issue, you will find out which ones. Another article will reveal the highest RPTs per game in recent times, while the magazine's Lifestyle feature is looking at new apps whose key purpose is to enhance people's wellbeing. Finally, there is a detailed schedule for all slot tournaments that will take place during the season as well as a Horoscope section for all players who are looking at zodiacal harbingers to guide them through their gambling day.
Don’t miss the Trivia Contest, which lets players win a $33 coupon.
Casino Manager, Stephen Vaughn, comments: “This issue marks the second anniversary of our player magazine. I imagine most players go straight to the Bonus Coupons and Bonus Calendar, but I there’s lots more in this issue to help them enjoy their games – and their lives – more!”
A recent six-fold hike in the fee charged by Zhuhai-based travel agencies helping mainland Chinese obtain a transit visa to Macau will have “minimal impact” on the city’s tourist arrivals and gross gaming revenue (GGR), say analysts covering the city’s gaming industry.
Starting February 18, travel agencies in neighbouring Zhuhai that help mainland visitors get a visa to transit in Macau upped their fees from CNY50 (US$7.9) to CNY340, local Portuguese-language newspaper Ponto Final reported on Wednesday.
In 2014, Macau reduced to five days, from seven, the permitted stay for mainland Chinese passport holders who transit in the city. The local authorities said at the time that the move was aimed at deterring some mainlanders from deliberately circumventing the existing entry requirements to Macau.
It had been reported previously that some travel agencies would sell overseas trips that would be afterwards cancelled once the tourist entered Macau.
In a note released on Friday, Praveen Choudhary, analyst at investment bank Morgan Stanley, estimates that “about 15 to 20 percent” of all Chinese visitors enter Macau using a transit visa. There are no official numbers available for this type of document.
“The new fees of US$50 is high but not significant for average gamblers theoretical loss of US$4,000 (average mass drop per Chinese visitor),” said Mr Choudhary.
These visas are “sometimes used by more frequent visitors who may have used up their IVS [Individual Visa Scheme] annual quota,” he added.
The IVS system allows mainland Chinese living in eligible areas of the mainland to apply for a travel permit to visit Macau individually instead of having to be part of a tour group. The number of mainland cities under the IVS currently stands at 49.
There are no limits to the number of transit visas one can apply, unlike the IVS, which can only be used once every two or three months, depending on the visitor’s province of origin.
In a note also on Friday, brokerage JP Morgan Securities (Asia Pacific) Ltd said transit visas are “mainly used by hard-core gamblers (who frequent Macau more than five to six times a year) or junket agents who don’t have [a] work permit in Macau”.
Analysts DS Kim and Sean Zhuang said the hike “would do little if any to deter any gamblers,” while adding that the new fee is still “smaller than a single hand at the baccarat table”.
Both JP Morgan and Morgan Stanley stressed that the increase only covers applications made in the Gongbei and Hengqin land borders, while passengers arriving in Macau by ferry or by air are not affected.
“We also don’t think this is government policy to restrict visitation to Macau,” stated Morgan Stanley’s Mr Choudhary in Friday’s memo. “The bigger impact is for genuine overseas tourists and gamblers who may have to fly through Hong Kong instead,” he added.
The US Supreme Court could decide the New Jersey sports betting case as early as March or April, but like the final verdict, the actual date is unknown.
The post NJ Sports Betting Case Closing In On Final Weeks Before Supreme Court Decides Its Fate appeared first on NJ Gambling Sites.
The Massachusetts Gaming Commission says the completion of an investigation into U.S.-based casino operator Wynn Resorts Ltd and the firm’s former chairman-cum-chief executive, Steve Wynn (pictured), remains “a priority” for the body.
“It is an active investigation, and it is a priority,” said Loretta Lillios, deputy director and chief enforcement counsel, as reported by several U.S.-based media. Ms Lillios’ comments were made during a meeting of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission on Thursday.
She added: “The [commission’s investigations and enforcement bureau] does not intend to provide the commission or the public with details of this investigation until it’s completed.”
Ms Lillios also stated that the bureau had adequate resources to conduct such investigation. She noted that the probe would take some time but that investigators understood the urgency and public interest of the matter.
The Massachusetts Gaming Commission decided in late January to look into allegations of sexual misconduct made against Mr Wynn by former Wynn Resorts employees in several media reports. Mr Wynn has denied the allegations.
“We are all interested in doing it as quickly as we can, but we are more interested in getting it right than getting it fast,” Massachusetts Gaming Commission chairman Stephen Crosby told reporters after Thursday’s meeting.
One of the issues to be investigated involves allegations by a manicurist that allegedly received a US$7.5-million settlement from Mr Wynn after complaining he ordered her to have sexual relations with him in 2005. The Massachusetts Gaming Commission claims it was never informed of the settlement during the suitability review process of Mr Wynn and Wynn Resorts that eventually led to the firm receiving a gaming licence from the state authorities in 2014.
Wynn Resorts is currently developing a casino property in Boston, Massachusetts. The US$2.4-billion project is scheduled to open in 2019.
Mr Wynn meanwhile stepped down as the casino group’s chairman and chief executive on February 6.
Wynn Resorts said earlier this month it had hired an outside legal firm to “assist” a committee formed of some of the company’s independent directors reviewing the sexual misconduct allegations against Mr Wynn.
Wynn Resorts – with gaming operations in Las Vegas, Nevada – is the parent company of Macau-based casino operator Wynn Macau Ltd. Mr Wynn was also chairman and chief executive of Wynn Macau Ltd.
This week's cautionary tale for the operators who take things too lightly comes from the good ol’ UK, where even the biggest of names get slapped on the wrist for not playing by the book.
One of the world's leading gambling brands, William Hill, made a few severe omissions that will cost them dearly - £6,2 million is the value of the fine determined by the UK Gambling Commission! The supplier will have to pay for breaching the rules catering for social responsibility and money laundering.
The UKGC revealed that, between November 2014 and August 2016, William Hill's upper management committed a series of violations leading to the breach of social responsibility and money laundering regulations. Part of the reason why this occurred, according to UKGC, is because William Hill did not appoint enough staff members who would monitor the proceedings of regulations in an effective manner. As a result, ten different players deposited money linked with criminal offences which generated a £1.2 million revenue for the operator who did not look for the source of the money – a fatal mistake!
One client- who lives in a rented flat earning £30,000 per year in the accounts department - deposited £654,000 over a period of nine months. Another one, who is accused for stealing from their employer, deposited £541,000 over 14 months. In both instances, William Hill management didn't carry out any checks.
For violating this regulation, the brand will need to return the £1.2 million they earned and pay the additional fine of £5 million.
Neil McArthur, UKGC's Executive Director, commented this breaching of the rules: “We will use the full range of our enforcement powers to make gambling fairer and safer. This was a systemic failing at William Hill which went on for nearly two years and today's penalty package - which could exceed £6.2m - reflects the seriousness of the breaches. Gambling businesses have a responsibility to ensure that they keep crime out of gambling and tackle problem gambling - and as part of that they must be constantly curious about where the money they are taking is coming from.”
Source:
“William Hill to pay £6.2m penalty package for systemic social responsibility and money laundering failures”, gamblingcommission.gov.uk, February 20, 2018.
Macau visitor tally in the seven days of the Chinese New Year holiday – between February 15 and 21 – rose by 6.5 percent year-on-year to 963,265, according to the latest figures reported by the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO).
The first day of the current Chinese New Year fell on February 16 (Friday). While the holiday is calculated based on a lunar calendar and the dates vary from year to year, the latest data provided by MGTO is judged compared to the equivalent Chinese New Year period in 2017.
Visitors from mainland China represented 74.3 percent of the arrivals in the period from February 15 to 21, reaching 716,041. That represented an increase of 12.3 percent compared to the equivalent period a year earlier.
The peak of visitor arrivals to Macau during Chinese New Year holiday period was recorded on February 18, the third day of the festive period, reaching 185,563.
According to the data from the tourism bureau, the year-on-year growth in arrivals was more significant in the first four days of the Chinese New Year, with an average growth rate of 9.4 percent, compared to a 2.8 percent increase and a 1.4 percent decline in, respectively, the last two days of the holiday period.
Despite the decline recorded in the overall number of visitor arrivals in the last day of the holiday period, the tally of mainland tourists visiting Macau rose by 1.2 percent year-on-year.
The figures were recorded by Macau’s Public Security Police, and measured the number of tourists passing through border checkpoints around the city.
The Chinese New Year period is usually a peak season for Macau’s gaming industry as hundreds of thousands of mainland Chinese tourists take advantage of the week-long break to visit the city.
Investment analysts however have noted in previous commentary on Macau that there need not be a direct correlation between numbers of tourists to Macau and gaming spend in casinos. This is because research indicates that high-stakes play by a relatively small number of visitors is still an important component of the market.
Online gaming division of Casino de Barcelona has confirmed a recent content supply agreement with Prima Networks, whose diverse portfolio of quality games is powered by Microgaming and its award-winning platform, Quickfire. Prima is incorporated in Malta and provides services to operators in regulated markets including Italy, Denmark, Belgium and Spain. The new deal will increase the venue’s collection of premium slots, including titles like Dragonz, Game of Thrones, Immortal Romance and others.
Director of Casino Barcelona Online, Xavier Ballester, emphasized the significance of the strategic agreement with Microgaming, since the casino has always invested a lot of effort in product expansion. Thanks to a more complete selection of top-quality games from the industry’s leaders and reputable providers of sophisticated technology solutions, the deluxe online betting venue will create unrivalled casino offerings and an enhanced experience for players.
Over at Microgaming, officials are delighted that a new flagship operator in the Spanish market has sealed a profitable software license agreement with the company, since Casinos Grup Peralada now belongs to a growing list of renowned operators with high-end features from Quickfire. The entire portfolio will be available on the casino’s redesigned website, casino-barcelona.com, which already grants access to a top-performing slots collection, added Andrew Clucas, Director of Quickfire.
Apart from the developer’s slots, players will also be able to enjoy live roulette and other table games such as blackjack or poker. Casino de Barcelona is one of the most prestigious gaming venues in Europe and it holds the Internet Game License of the Spanish Government. Its owner, Grup Peralada, has operated more than 35 years in Argentina, Uruguay and Chile.
Source:
“Casino Barcelona Online signs a software license agreement for Microgaming content through Prima Networks”, microgaming.co.uk, February 20, 2018.
The golden age of the railroad, in spite of the success of modern, faster transportation, still lingers in the minds of people as a preferred, more romantic way of travel. This didn't go unnoticed over at Magnet Gaming, which has created a brand new video slot game, Railroad Express, that revolves around the era when steam engines were still around and were used to transport passengers, coal and gold in equal measure.
Set in 1901, with railways becoming more widespread as gold fever rages on, the game's main protagonist is the lazy Moe Dollar, station master who is definitely in need of assistance. Help him lay tracks in West's prairie and, consequently, help the train reach the promised Golden Mountain where hopeful miners will find...you'll never guess what; GOLD!
The game is made up of 3 reels and 3 rows and its visuals can be described as nothing short of spectacular. It has four distinctive features that will surely bring fun and entertainment into the daily lives of players, but may also cash out jackpot prizes (there are two progressive jackpots in the game): Gold Mountain, Railroad Builder, Coal Wagon and Game Chance. Railroad Express will be accessible via both desktop computers and any type of smartphone or tablet.
Thomas Nielsen, Magnet Gaming's Head of Gaming Licensing, comments on the game's release: “We are over the moon with the result of Railroad Express after months of dedication from our development team. “At Magnet, we always look to offer our players the most exciting and thrilling slots to play to keep them engaged and we have certainly done that with the first-class Railroad Express.”
Game's RTP is 96.50%. Some of the symbols you will encounter on the way to glory are oil barrels, coins, letters, guns, corn, bags of money and lumps of coal.
Take a look at the official game demo below!
Source:
“Magnet Gaming reveals new Railroad Express slot”, calvinayre.com, February 19, 2018.
Japanese gaming conglomerate Universal Entertainment Corp said in a Friday filing to Jasdaq that the group has “numerous pending claims” regarding a stockholders’ agreement related to shares in U.S.-based casino operator Wynn Resorts Ltd.
The stockholders’ agreement – signed in 2010 – prevented Wynn Resorts founder Steve Wynn, his ex-wife Elaine Wynn, and Japanese businessman Kazuo Okada from selling their respective shares in the firm without the consent of the other two shareholders.
In 2012, Wynn Resorts forcibly ordered the redemption at a discount of the company shares controlled by Mr Okada, the company’s then biggest single shareholder. Mr Okada’s shares in Wynn Resorts were held via Aruze USA Inc, a subsidiary of Universal Entertainment.
On February 9, Wynn Resorts said it had been informed that Mr Wynn had declared the 2010 stockholders’ agreement “invalid” and agreed to give up control over his ex-wife’s shares of the company, given his resignation a few days earlier as chairman and chief executive of the casino group amid allegations of sexual misconduct.
Mr Wynn and Mr Okada have been feuding for about six years, since the Wynn Resorts’ board decided to remove Mr Okada, alleging that he was “unsuitable” to be a Wynn Resorts director and was a threat to the firm’s gaming licences. Universal Entertainment is still seeking return of the 24.55 million shares it held in Wynn Resorts.
In Friday’s filing, Universal Entertainment said the group had sent a letter to Mr Wynn, Ms Wynn and Wynn Resorts stating that the stockholders’ agreement “is a three party agreement among them and Aruze USA Inc, and that Aruze USA has numerous pending claims in this case which assert that the stockholders’ agreement is valid and enforceable”.
“Mr Wynn’s statements that now, in his view, the stockholders’ agreement is not enforceable against Ms Wynn, do not resolve in any way Aruze USA’s claims that the stockholders’ agreement is valid and enforceable,” said the Japanese conglomerate.
It added: “Specifically, neither Mr Wynn nor Ms Wynn can sell their respective shares in Wynn Resorts without the required approval of Aruze USA under the terms of the stockholders’ agreement or until Aruze USA’s claims in this case are resolved.”
The group said additionally it continued to seek “invalidation of the redemption in February 2012 and return of its shares of Wynn Resorts stock”.
Universal Entertainment said in the filing that as of October 31, 2017 – and according to what it described as an “expert report” – it should be entitled to approximately US$4.5 billion in damages “for the invalid redemption”.
In a separate filing on Monday, Universal Entertainment announced that its wholly-owned Hong Kong subsidiary Tiger Resort Asia Ltd had taken out loans amounting to JPY33 billion (US$309 million) from third party companies.
“The proceeds of the borrowing will be additionally allocated to construction of Okada Manila [casino resort],” said the firm. “The company is planning to execute the borrowing immediately,” it added.
Universal Entertainment developed and operates – via a subsidiary – the Okada Manila casino resort in the Philippines. The property had a soft launch in December 2016 but has since been progressively opening additional facilities.
Ocean Resort Casino, aka former Revel, finished another week of development by listing a few high-profile job openings and showcasing the NJ casino's logo.
The post Almost There: Hiring Spree, New Logo Highlight Busy Week For Ocean Resort Casino appeared first on NJ Gambling Sites.
A recent poll shows nearly 70% Americans oppose the NBA and MLB's demand for a cut of sports bets, and the NJ sports betting case is in the spotlight.
The post MLB, NBA Not Winning Fans With Demand For 1 Percent Of Wagers In Sports Bets appeared first on NJ Gambling Sites.
A writer develops a special relationship with his readers, especially the regular ones who really get immersed in his topics and what he is trying to say.
The members of this website come from many parts of the world and many different backgrounds. Some gamble online while others frequent brick and mortar casinos.
I read all of the comments they post my articles. Their comments range from critical to humorous. They are incisive. And some startle and amaze me with their insight into what I am trying to get across.
I respond to all the emails that are posted on this site. And while I appreciate all of the people who write, there is one who is just a little more special than the rest.
She calls herself Jade.
Now I don't know where Jade calls home, or what she does for a living, or what she looks like. But over the past year or so I am coming up with an image of how she thinks. What I see moves me greatly.
I write about strategies, people living and dead who have been gamblers, and I write about places I have visited like Costa Rica, St. Kitts, Nevis, Dominica, Puerto Rico and Grand Cayman.
I try to share my experiences, my wins and losses and write about the beauty of the Caribbean islands, the white-sand beaches, the jungles, the green monkeys, and the cruises I have taken.
Jade reads my stories, absorbs them, drinks them in and shares the beauty of my experiences.
You can read some of her comments at the bottom of the stories published by latestpokerbonuses.com and latestcasinobonuses.com. They are insightful and penetrating. Sometimes I find them more interesting the article she is commenting about.
Writing brings out more beauty from a person than he or she would ever share with a friend or relative or a stranger. Some of the most beautiful poetry is often written by people who are serving life terms in prison.
A gambler lives on the edge of adventure. To a gambler, it is the journey that is even more important than the results. Jade and many of my other readers share that journey with me.
Everyone should have a friend like Jade. Sometimes I find myself thinking of how I would react if I would ever be fortunate enough to meet her in person. Would I like her? Would she like me? Would we be able to communicate on the same level that we reach through these pages?
Jade recently made some lovely comments on my article, 'The Beauty of Dominica.' The article told of a cruise two poker-playing friends and I took to the island of Dominica in the Eastern Caribbean and our adventurous trek through a jungle to the island's capital city.
I responded to her email by saying much of my writing was selfish. I was simply enjoying the reliving of my favorite experiences and sharing them with others.
I know I thoroughly enjoy this experience of writing and reliving my experiences of this thing called life. And people like Jade give that experience an extra special glow.
It was the best of times and the worst of times for Atlantic City in January. Land-based casinos had a brutal month, but online casinos hit a new high.
The post Atlantic City Casino Revenue Down Because Of Blizzard, But NJ Gambling Sites Hit New Record appeared first on NJ Gambling Sites.
Acclaimed boutique-style gaming event in Prague will be held for the second time on March 29th, to provide insights about important regulatory updates and topics in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria, Slovenia and Poland. The organizers have already confirmed attendance of highly regarded industry professionals, Tal Zamstein from Fortuna and Jakub Kolomicenko from Endorphina.
The newly-established conference will feature workshops with top gaming experts and active players of online and land-based casino games. Participants, local operators and software providers will be provided with information about what to expect in 2018, including news for acquiring licenses in various jurisdictions.
A round table discussion with the Czech regulators and government officials will also occur to address demanding gambling regulations in the emerging markets. Hot topics will be based on, but not limited to innovation trends, successful gaming income, responsible gaming programs and regulations. The country’s Prime Minister, Andrej Babis, has recently stated that approximately 30 million crowns will be needed to fight gambling addiction in 2018, after which the number of event registrations has increased.
Currently, there are 7 active centers of gambling prevention in the Czech Republic, and the government will likely use EU money to open new centers and cover all 14 regions of the country. The highlight of the Summit will be held between 10:30 and 11:30 AM and it will feature a “Focus on Czech Republic” panel discussion with special attention towards profitability and optimal market potentials.
Numerous active companies in the online and land based gambling industry of the region are invited, as potential investment ideas will also be presented to financiers, suppliers and operators in the demographic. Prague Gaming Summit 2018 carries an enormous variety of networking possibilities with leading companies such as PS Legal, WH Partners, Melchers Law Germany, ROMBET, Bird&Bird and other, whose representatives have also confirmed participation.
Cryptocurrency miners and enthusiasts alike might have pushed things too hard in Iceland when it comes to achieving their annual cryptocurrency profit growth. Due to an increase in Bitcoin mining opportunities, the country will likely have to double its electricity supplies to avoid a complete meltdown. The Nordic island has a population of about 340,000 people, whose yearly energy consumption amounts to 700 gigawatt hours. An ever-growing popularity of various cryptocurrencies, particularly Bitcoin, has led many miners precisely here, due to cheap electricity and low tax bills.
The officials are concerned with energy consumption, as it’s estimated that mining tools such as computers, servers, motherboards and cooling devices might use an additional 840 gigawatt hours in 2018! According to Johann Snorri Sigurbergsson, spokesman for Icelandic energy firm HS Orka, new mining centers and companies that are interested in investing could face power outage in particular areas.
Nearly all of the country’s utilities come from renewable energy sources, and that is why the price per KWH holds steady. However, the government officials are considering certain changes in regards to mining operations, as many of them do not require staff, infrastructure or further investments – resulting in low taxes, fast profit and high energy consumption.
Companies with huge incomes in Iceland pay a hefty price to the government, and mining groups are trying to avoid their obligations to the state – says a member of Iceland’s Pirate Party, Smari McCarthy. Comparing Bitcoin mining with gold digging represents a unique opportunity for many energy companies to invest, but large-scale mining operations demand great environmental costs, which should be appropriately compensated, adds McCarthy.
Source:
"Energy riches fuel bitcoin craze for speculation-shy Iceland", Egill Bjarnason, apnews.com, February 12, 2018.
If you’re a registered member at either MegaCasino or SimbaGames, then you will be pleased to hear that these highly-rated casinos are now represented by direct casino support on the forum. What exactly does this mean? Don’t hesitate to reach out to the representative with questions, comments or concerns regarding your player account. The casino rep made an official announcement on the forum this past Thursday, February 15th. The sister sites were described as, “innovative online casinos featuring a large variety of Casino and Instant Win games.”
It was added that, “Mega Casino is available anytime and from anywhere” and offers “the best Vegas Style casino games: including several Blackjack games, variations of Roulette, plus Slot Machines, Baccarat, Video Poker and Craps. We are always offering Instant Cash Payouts, MEGA JACKPOTS and huge Progressive Jackpots.”
The sites have been designed to “cater to all types of players; whatever your budget or level of experience we have exactly the right games and options. Check out our fantastic casino promotions or contact our 24/7 Casino Support Staff directly for further details. Get started today and join our regular players from all around the world,” the rep concluded.
To make contact, head straight to the user profile and select the ‘Message’ option to begin your inquiry. If you’ve yet to sign up, both sites are currently offering a welcome bonus (New players only. T&Cs apply. 18+), in which you can sign up and receive a 100% match bonus up to €50! Simply enter the designated code (codes are different for each casino).
As for additional ways to benefit, members of each can also look forward to a spread of regular promotions, including daily tournaments, happy hour bonuses, and VIP Club benefits boasting perks such as cashback, access to a personal account manager, and free money for testing new games!
Attention all LCB’ers with a penchant for slots in particular… This weekend, head out to Intertops Casino’s poker division where a Betsoft slots tournament is taking place, and you could walk away with a substantial addition to your wallet!
The tournament kicks off on February 16th and ends February 18th. During these three days, players will be earning tournament points for playing real-money slots developed and provided by Betsoft, a name familiar to all video slot connoisseurs. This particular tourney will feature four of the brand’s titles: Under the Sea, Sugar Pop 2, Kawaii Kitty and Charms and Clovers. For every $.10 minimum wagered per spin, players will earn one point on any of these games. When the tournament ends, the ten players with the most points will take home prizes worth $1000!
A lucky player who ends up with the most points under his or her ranks will take home a prize of $300. The second-ranked player wins $200, while the third place will get $150.
Get to know the designated slots for this tourney:
Kawaii Kitty is a 3D slot game with features such as Expanding Wilds and Double Up opportunities. The company’s cutting-edge shift platform makes this game easy to load and provides for rapid-quick gameplay.
Charms and Clovers is a slot game inspired by Irish folktales and legends and boasts four bonus features on its sixth reel. One of them is the Money Wheel that will induce one of three jackpots.
Under the Sea is a tropical, marine game with such interesting features as a Pearl Wild symbol with a 5x multiplier, an extra spins mode with up to a staggering 300 additional spins and a Treasure Chest bonus with instant prizes.
Finally, Sugar Pop 2 is a unique hybrid of a video slot and games inspired by candy sagas, mostly played on mobile phones these days. Identical candy symbols, when landed in bulk, will explode and make way for new symbols to fall in their place, prompting more winning combinations per one spin.
It’s a weekend of major fun and nice cash over at Intertops, so good luck to all participating!
By Jerry Stich
Video poker is among the most popular of casino video games. The reasons for this are many. They include:
Relatively low house edge – sometimes even a player edge. Unlike table games, you can play without other people commenting on your play. Unlike standard slot machines: The pay table which determines the house edge and volatility is displayed. You have a say in the outcome - player decisions affect results. Playing strategies are available to maximize your results.To finish reading this article, please visit: https://www.888casino.com/blog/video-poker-strategy/tips-on-how-to-win-at-video-poker
Due to the Chinese New Year holiday, the GGRAsia team will be off between February 16 and 19. We will be back on February 20. We wish all our readers a prosperous Year of the Dog!
Online gambling operator, Kindred Group, whose casino brands are well-known throughout Europe and Australia, has just added another new territory to its ever-growing resume. The latest addition to its portfolio of casino brands is VladCazino, specially dedicated to the players of Romania. This marks the brand’s first foray into the market of this Eastern European country.
The new casino has been developed entirely on Kindred's in-house platform and is a part of the company's strategy to engage customers by using hyper-local brands. The company's key ambition for the forthcoming period is to achieve significant growth of its market share in locally regulated markets.
Chief Commercial Officer, commented on the opening of yet another online casino brand, in a country where Kindred products have been previously unavailable: “As Kindred continues to grow, it’s important that we always stay close to our customers. VladCazino is the result of an impressive team effort within the company, offering our Romanian customers a product and experience truly tailored to their needs. We are now really excited for VladCazino to get off to a great start, and as with all of our brands, provide the highest standards of customer experience, product offerings and player safety.”
Last year, also in its early stages, saw the successful launch of two new casino brands in Sweden and Norway – Storspelare and Storpiller. Like VladCazino, those two have also been developed through in-house platform that allows the company to “adapt its offering to meet specific customer requirements in each market.”
LCB'ers can expect to read the dedicated review of VladCazino soon on our website, so stay tuned!
Source:
“Kindred Group Launches New Casino Brand”, kindredgroup.com, February 12, 2018.
With tons of new NJ online casino games, 888 Casino NJ is making a big ad push and offering players more chances to get "lucky, lucky, lucky" in New Jersey.
The post 888 Casino NJ Launches 50 New Games For Three Times The Fun, Fun, Fun appeared first on NJ Gambling Sites.
When you think of Artificial Intelligence, visions of naughty poker bots may dance in your head, but its potential may be used for good instead of evil. AI is useful in recognizing and repeating patterns of behavior and today’s technological advancements are capable of generating a string of recommendations. A company known as BtoBet has harnessed this power and applied it to their B Neuron iGaming platform for casino and sportsbook operators. Questions surrounding this company and its product were swirling in our heads, so we went straight to the source. We’d like to turn it over BtoBet’s CEO, Konstandina Zafirovska, to help us all gain some perspective.
1. People may shy away when they read the words ‘artificial intelligence’. Can you start by simplifying the concept for the average reader?
The Artificial Intelligence is just like the human thinking process where billions of neurons are fired simultaneously to create synchronous waves of cortical computation. Considering the gambling industry, a software based on Artificial Intelligence follows precise algorithms, works on different processes simultaneously while monitoring the player’s behavior, suggesting operator information about a player’s preferences and, at the same time, proposing suitable offers to every single player. Often anticipating the user’s desire and encouraging commitment to the game. In simple terms, this is ground-breaking technology. This is beyond anything you could have imagined. This is AI at work, freeing up operators and taking the guesswork out of the equation.
As you can understand, the Artificial Intelligence is a fundamental tool in the iGaming industry. It radically changes all facets of the operator’s activity by sustaining and guiding him to make the best decisions for the management, acquisition and retention of players.
2. Tell us about your recommendation engine and how you’ve incorporated AI.
In the sports betting industry and online casino, players are provided with a huge range of sports, events, bets and games. The selection of events and games must be quick and the customers need suggestions to access their preferred content, in a click. The Recommendation engine (RE) completely fulfills this need, collecting and analyzing large amounts of information on player’s behavior, activities, preferences, predicting what players would like to receive. Today, there are few sportsbook operators that have developed sports betting RE for their own company and even fewer software providers are offering a casino only B2B RE. The combination of both a casino-games and sports betting recommendation engine is the key to providing a unique experience to the players. The A.I., through its sophisticated algorithms, enables operators to track players’ behavior whilst simultaneously using collaborative filtering to provide perfect suggestions, for the most appreciated games, odds and bets for each player or segment of players. Hybrid recommendation engine – such as BtoBet’s system - can provide more accurate recommendations than traditional approaches. The sports betting RE can control and suggest bets or events analyzing the bettor’s behavior according to sport, category, tournament, competitors and market type preference. The casino RE can recommend games per similarity, comparing the attributes such as theme, volatility, games category and player’s preferences.
3. What were the technological challenges that had to be overcome when building your AI platform?
We spent months on multiple testing, making significant changes along the way to keep the A.I. interaction and system performing optimally. We had to work through an extremely sophisticated algorithm which copies the human brain system and processes while monitoring the player’s data, activity, preferences and automatically suggesting to licensees the action to be taken for the acquisition and retention of players.
4. How often are suggested actions generated by the software and is this customizable for operators?
Tempestivity and the possibility to anticipate the player’s desires by suggesting the bets and games that can trigger his interest – at the ideal time - is fundamental to extend users’ life cycle to the advantage of the operator who can drive a targeted marketing campaign, propose tailor-made offers and increase the wagering activity.The job of the RE system is to open up to the users' whole new products and possibilities, which they would not think to directly search for themselves. BtoBet’s B Neuron System is a hybrid recommendation engine which can provide more accurate recommendations than traditional approaches. In the Casino RE, all the Games are recommended according to similarity, comparing the attributes – such as theme, volatility, category – of the games and player’s preferences. The Sports betting RE is available for online and mobile betting can control and suggest bets or events, including virtual, live and eSports. It acquires and analyzes the bettors’ behavior following Sport, Category, Tournament, Competitors, Market Types preferences. Moreover. BtoBet’s RE is regularly re-trained in an extremely short time frame, with any new data and player’s behavior, fully updating the system and every single player’s profile precisely. The recommendations are recalculated several times a day and the intervals of them are totally customizable.
5. Can the product be used for risk management?
The A.I. plays a key role in the trading operations as it automatically identifies potential fraud taking the necessary action whilst also advising the operator. It is extremely important to guarantee a totally secure management process. BtoBet has an extremely advanced anti-fraud system; it is able to independently analyze the player’s activity automatically identifying any possible fraudulent behavior. Points are assigned according to the type of fraudulent actions and this gives the licensee the possibility to define different measures according to the player’s behavior. With specific BtoBet friendly tools, operators can keep track of the transaction data, and manage it by reviewing analytics via the risk and fraud dashboards.
The most important benefits of implementing advanced tools for fraud management are the real-time visibility of fraud vulnerability, the ability to immediately respond to fraud with timely and relevant actions and to prevent monetary loss due to fraud.
6. Is there anything else like this on the market? If so, why is BtoBet a better option?
In the gambling market there are some companies using products based on the Artificial Intelligence, but what differentiates BtoBet are the deep experience in the subject. First of all, the company was a pioneer in the gambling market, 3 years ago, ready to launch the new version of the advanced iGaming platform and sportsbook based on AI. Secondly, Btobet is a B2B provider and not a B2C operator that opted to work in the B2B space in order to defray the high-investment costs and time-consuming effort involved in building and maintaining a tailored and bespoke platform. In this regard, BtoBet is very proud to consider itself as a technology partner and not as a just a software provider for the gambling industry, compliant with the requirements of the regulated markets. The company supports its clients in their day by day evolution, in the best way possible. To reach this aim, previously BtoBet’s IT team worked on its advanced platform in a way that enables the system to evolve and now is constantly focused on the future development of the software, to stay always ahead.
7. As a company, your goal is to remain one step ahead in the gambling industry. How do you manage to stay ahead of the game?
The secret to stay ahead in the industry is to be visionary. Being visionary has allowed Btobet to be a pioneer in new technologies for the gambling industry and to continue to understand deeply – and in advance - the requirements of the market, anticipating the operator’s needs. An additional value is the capability of the company to keep updated and to count on a very talented development team, skilled to maintain the technological software and the learning machine always at a very top standard.
8. On a final note, are there any other industries that have put AI to good use in your opinion?
Machine-learning technology – as part of an artificial intelligence-led offering - holds the key in online and mobile sports betting as much is it does with the likes of Amazon, Spotify and Netflix, providing the capability to offer a tailored sports-betting experience. I believe that particularly effective in online gambling is the hybrid recommendation system – the same as is employed by Netflix – whereby collaborative filtering (where information is collected from many other users) is matched with content filtering (utilizing user metadata).