A relatively unknown Kiwi firm, Grinding Gear Games, has come into the international spotlight for their flagship game. That game, Path of Exile, is one of the highest rated roleplaying games on the web. With two million monthly players and over 20 million new accounts, they’ve now got the backing for some serious additions. So, […]
SportCaller will soon be providing their innovative ‘prediction’ games to Sportsbet. The two gaming firms signed a deal that will see gamblers get a range of ‘localised’ titles to enjoy. SportCaller offers free-to-play games as well as real money gaming options. At the moment, Sportsbet features one of their free play National Basketball Association (NBA) […]
Twitch Interactive is a live-streaming service used mainly by ‘celebrity’ gamers. These gamers make money from live-streams and promotional deals. Some even advertise specific services for the games they play. However, one ‘celebrity’ was banned from Twitch in 2016 after using the platform to promote a skin betting site he owns. The player, James ‘Phatoml0rd’ […]
In a landmark decision of six votes to three, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) overturned a congressional ban on sports betting. This ban, known as the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) of 1992, has been contested by New Jersey. Lower courts ruled against the state until it petitioned SCOTUS last […]
Whenever a famous poker player wins in a tournament, you’d expect payouts to be a breeze. However, for Gordon Vayo, this was not the case with PokerStars after their Spring Championship of Online Poker (SCOOP) tournament. The professional player won an online game of No Limit Hold’em with a buy-in of US$1050 (±NZ$1511), but hasn’t […]
Andrew Wilson, CEO of EA Games, told investors this week that loot boxes shouldn’t be considered gambling. Electronic Arts, EA for short, was responsible for current investigations on loot crates because of their Star Wars: Battlefront II game. However, they removed the controversial prizes shortly after pre-release players complained about their loot boxes. Loot boxes, […]
A gang of thieves in North West England used fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs) to launder their illegal cash. This method was used roughly 47 times by the gang from June 2016 to August 2017, according to reports from their trial. The group of at least eight members managed to steal up to £193 000 (±NZ$372 […]
Fans of the popular FIFA 18 game from Electronic Arts (EA) will soon be able to play in the World Cup. Free World Cup content will be available from 29 May on PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and the Nintendo Switch platforms. While the real World Cup will only start in June, the tournament mode […]
With months of development still ahead of the Boston Harbor resort, Wynn Resorts has made the call to remove Steve Wynn’s name from the project. Instead, the Massachusetts property will be known as Encore Boston Harbor. New banners around the development have been put up with the changed branding. Their decision follows months of disorder […]
Sky Betting and Gaming (SBG) has just been bought by a Canadian gaming firm, the Stars Group. The US$4.7 billion (NZ$6.6 billion) will see the Stars Group become one of the largest publicly traded gaming firms in the world. Sky Bet’s offerings will form part of a now stuffed brand portfolio. Additionally, their entry into […]
At least four out of ten loot crates studied by the Dutch gambling regulator, Kansspelautoriteit, violate the Betting and Gaming Act. In a report by the regulator, the study found that these prizes could be traded and had a real-world value. As such, their inclusion in games of skill put younger players at risk of […]
Despite backing from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), Galaxy Entertainment Group has shelved their Boracay island resort plans. The tropical island is a popular tourist destination, but recent environmental problems have forced the government to close it off. Following a review, Boracay Island was called a ‘cesspool’ by President Rodrigo Duterte, who also […]
While gambling is now legal in Japan, legislation for casinos is still being discussed in parliament. An influx of casino bids has made it vital for lawmakers to provide for fraud in these proposals. It may seem a little premature, but Japanese officials have decided to add fraud provisions to their gambling regulations. All casino […]
The Nevada Gaming Control Board has reached a unanimous decision to amend certain gambling regulations in the state. Their recommendations have been made at two public hearings in Carson City and Las Vegas. These suggested changes will probably be adopted by the Nevada Gaming Commission on April 19th. At least three amendments were mentioned which […]
Online poker was a casual pastime for Spain’s current chess grandmaster. However, his short-lived Poker career in 2011 has come back to haunt him. Francisco Vallejo Pons has been ‘hounded by tax officials’ over his stint in online poker rooms. Though Vallejo claims that they have no reason to come after him. He claims that […]
While the 2020 license reviews in Macau may seem far away, casino operators are already planning new employee benefits. Wynn Macau will be one of the last firms to extend parental leave for employees. Local regulations call for at least 56 days of maternity leave and only two days for expectant fathers. Wynn Resorts, despite […]
Australia’s ongoing difficulties with attracting overseas high rollers to casinos may just have a new solution. The Star Entertainment Group has just signed a shareholder deal with two foreign investors based in Hong Kong, namely Far East Consortium International Limited and Chow Tai Fook Enterprises Limited. These firms acquired a 4.99% stake in the casino […]
Sir Richard Branson has announced the finalisation of a deal that will see the Virgin Group take over the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. The Virgin Group did not reveal the sale price. According to reports, Virgin Hotels Las Vegas will open in 2019. The British billionaire celebrated the closed deal at […]
In the aftermath of the mass shooting in Las Vegas last year, many have questioned the security measures of the Mandalay Bay hotel. On October 1st, Stephen Paddock opened fire on a country music festival from his hotel room. Paddock killed 58 people before turning his gun on himself. A security officer at the hotel […]
On 24 March, the Esports Arena Las Vegas opened its doors at the MGM Luxor. The ‘invite-only’ grand opening was live-streamed on the popular Twitch platform. Twitch is used by many professional gamers while playing popular titles online. Their first tournament event launched on Saturday and ended on Sunday, where players went head to head […]