Industry News
Jamul Casino and JIV Tribe Donate Approximately a Quarter Million Dollars in 2023
As 2023 draws to a close, Jamul Casino reported that its team member-led Community Champions initiative along with the Jamul Indian Village of California (JIV) Tribe has made philanthropic donations this year totaling approximately a quarter of a million dollars. These donations are part of the Tribe and Casino’s ongoing commitment to give back to the San Diego community and the local organizations that are making a difference in people’s lives.
Jamul Casino’s Community Champions program was initiated by President and General Manager, Mary Cheeks. She states, “Community Champions is a great way for the Casino to come alongside our team members, encourage their participation in community service, and invest in the causes important to them.” Cheeks adds, “It’s been a thrill to see this initiative really take off and become such a force for good in the community.”
2023 Philanthropic Highlights
This year, the Casino and Tribe supported nearly four dozen organizations, including:
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
NAMI is a national organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. The NAMI San Diego and Imperial Counties chapter was founded in 1978, and is one of more than 600 affiliates nationwide. Jamul Casino was a sponsor of this year’s NAMIWalks event at Liberty Station, helping to bring awareness and reduce stigma around mental illness, and bring hope, recovery, and wellness to those affected by it.
Wounded Warrior Project
Wounded Warrior Project aims to improve the lives of millions of military veterans and their families by providing advocacy and offering programs for mental health, career counseling, and long-term rehabilitative care. In August, Jamul Casino participated in the Wounded Warrior Project’s Carry Forward 5K where team members walked, jogged, and ran to honor and empower wounded warriors.
Central Surf San Diego
Founded by Coast Guard Veteran Denise Graham, Central Surf San Diego promotes health and healing among veterans and others who have experienced trauma by using nature, athletics, and the power of the ocean. Jamul Casino presented a check to the organization at this year’s seventh annual Veterans Day luncheon, which paid tribute to 54 members of the Tribe and Casino team who have served in the military.
LGBTQ+ Community
In support of the LGBTQ+ community, Jamul Casino hand-delivered 56 turkeys to The San Diego LGBT Community Center and the Imperial Court de San Diego for their Annual Scott Carlson & Dan Ferbal Thanksgiving Community Dinner. This event offers a hot Thanksgiving Dinner to hundreds of people in need. Jamul Casino was also a major supporter of this year’s San Diego Pride Festival and a title sponsor for the Imperial Court’s 51st San Diego Coronation.
African American Community
This year, Jamul Casino donated $10,000 to Many Shades of Pink, an organization that provides support and resources to African American breast cancer patients. The Casino also hosted a luncheon during Black History Month to honor two local heroic women of color, Dr. Suzanne Afflalo and Wendy Shurelds, who both work to improve healthcare in the African American community.
Erica M. Pinto, Chairwoman of the Jamul Indian Village, states, “It has been an honor to partner with so many organizations serving our community, and be a part of their efforts to make a difference. We look forward to continuing to support our region’s underserved communities.”
Industry News
Double win for Kaizen Gaming at the SBC Awards Latinoamérica 2024
Kaizen Gaming, one of the biggest GameTech companies in the world, had an impressive double-win at the SBC Awards Latinoamérica 2024 on the 31st October in Miami, Florida. Awarded ‘Brazilian Market Entrant of the Year’, and ‘Marketing Campaign of the Year’, the two wins follow an impressive year of growth and exposure for Kaizen Gaming, as well as its premium brand Betano, across Latin America and globally.
Betano is rapidly growing its user base and presence in Brazil, serving as the main and title sponsor of Brasileirão Betano and Copa Betano do Brasil. As a founding member of the ANJL and IBJR regulatory bodies, Betano is recognised for its dedication to upholding the highest standards of responsible gaming and integrity. Furthermore, the Betano brand has launched multiple CSR initiatives across the country in partnership with sponsored team, Clube Atlético Mineiro. It also recently launched the “Juntos em Campo” long-term program in cooperation with CBF (Brazilian Football Confederation) to promote initiatives focused on gender equality.
Awarded for the results and creativity of its innovative “Football in America” marketing campaign, Betano successfully introduced Latin America to its “Confia” brand platform by leveraging on its CONMEBOL Copa America™️ 2024 sponsorship. The campaign chimed with the spirit of fans across the continent by celebrating Latin America’s rich football heritage, playfully responding to Kylian Mbappe’s 2022 comments questioning the region’s football quality.
Vangelis Skarkalis, Kaizen Gaming Senior Commercial Director LATAM, said: “Latin America is one of the world’s most dynamic and exciting regions for i-gaming. Being recognised as a leading player in this important market with two wins at the prestigious SBC Awards Latinoamérica is a great honour – especially on the heels of our recent double-win as ‘Operator of the Year’ at both the EGR Operator Awards and SBC Awards. Achieving this success requires an exceptional team of dedicated, ambitious professionals. This award honours everyone’s hard work and commitment to always going above and beyond in delivering the best experiences for our customers not only in Latin America, but worldwide too.”
Industry News
SOFTSWISS Wins SBC Latinoamérica Award for Help Brazil Initiative
SOFTSWISS has won the Socially Responsible Initiative of the Year nomination at the SBC Awards Latinoamérica 2024 for its impactful ‘Help Brazil’ initiative. This recognition underscores the company’s support for Brazilian communities affected by severe flooding earlier this year and its dedication to implementing meaningful social responsibility projects.
The SBC Awards Latinoamérica celebrates excellence in the Latin American gaming industry, gathering leading experts to acknowledge the achievements of operators, platform providers, affiliates, and suppliers across various sectors. SOFTSWISS’ ‘Help Brazil’ initiative distinguished itself among the top entries, with judges marking its focus on community sustainability and industry engagement.
Launched in May 2024, ‘Help Brazil’ provided immediate relief by delivering food, clothing, and clean water to flood-affected areas in Rio Grande do Sul in coordination with Movimento União BR. Further committed to sustainable recovery, SOFTSWISS partnered with PWTech, funding water purification installations in affected schools to guarantee long-term access to clean water.
Ivan Montik, Founder of SOFTSWISS, noted: “This prestigious award affirms our commitment to making a real difference. As we expand our business in Latin America, we build lasting relationships with people and partners in this region and see ourselves as part of the local communities. When action was needed, we could not remain on the sidelines. We are grateful that the Latin American industry recognised and supported our initiative and immensely thankful to everyone who joined us in this effort, both locally and internationally.”
Rubens Barrichello, Non-Executive Director in Latin America, who helped raise awareness for the initiative, added: “I am incredibly proud of SOFTSWISS’ commitment to a sustained and compassionate approach. This recognition underscores our dedication to supporting communities in Brazil, where we focus on making a meaningful impact. Together, with such comprehensive projects, we are demonstrating how our industry can step up when it matters most.”
Continuing its commitment to local communities, this September, SOFTSWISS and its employees provided financial aid and essential supplies to flood-affected regions in Poland, where the company operates two offices. The aid campaigns in Poland and Brazil reflect SOFTSWISS’ commitment to being a responsible partner for local communities and its broader focus on ESG principles through long-term health, environmental, and social initiatives, including World Environment Day, Pink October, and Movember.
SOFTSWISS welcomes its partners and clients to visit stand 2145 at the SiGMA Europe Summit to explore future collaboration opportunities.
About SOFTSWISS
SOFTSWISS is an international technology company with over 15 years of experience in developing innovative solutions for the iGaming industry. SOFTSWISS holds a number of gaming licences and provides comprehensive software for managing iGaming projects. The company’s product portfolio includes the Online Casino Platform, the Game Aggregator with over 23,500 casino games, the Affilka Affiliate Platform, the Sportsbook software and the Jackpot Aggregator. In 2013, SOFTSWISS revolutionised the industry by introducing the world’s first Bitcoin-optimised online casino solution. The expert team, based in Malta, Poland, and Georgia, counts over 2,000 employees.
Industry News
Cliff Ehrlich Joins Rush Street Gaming as COO
Rush Street Gaming announced that casino and hospitality veteran Cliff Ehrlich has joined the company as chief operating officer.
Ehrlich assumes the role of Rush Street COO from Bill Keena, a longtime company and industry leader, who plans to retire later this year.
“I’ve admired Rush Street’s strong leadership and steady expansion over the past two decades. I’m thrilled to join this dynamic organization and look forward to contributing to the company’s ongoing success,” said Ehrlich.
Ehrlich’s career began in marketing at the Catskills’ Pines Resort Hotel in the 80s and transitioned in the 90s to casino development and operations. In 1996, he became co-owner of the Monticello Raceway and helped recruit the Oneida Indian Nation to build a casino on the property. Following an initial public offering, Ehrlich led Monticello Casino & Raceway as president, chief operating officer and general manager until 2013.
After consulting with Mohegan Sun regarding Upstate New York development opportunities, in 2015, Ehrlich joined The Downs Racetrack & Casino in Albuquerque, serving as general manager and chief operating officer. He later ran two casinos for The Navajo Nation — Northern Edge and Flowing Water. Since 2022, Ehrlich has been Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise’s chief operating officer, with oversight of four casinos, a resort destination hotel, travel plaza and food & beverage manufacturing.
“Cliff’s ground-up casino development experience, deep operations background and team leadership ensure that all five Rivers Casino properties remain in great hands. He will continue the strong forward momentum established by Bill Keena, for whom we wish the very best in retirement,” said Tim Drehkoff, CEO of Rush Street Gaming.
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