SCCG Management, a global leader in gaming advisory and business development, has announced a strategic partnership with Belize Marriott, focused on conducting a comprehensive market study to assess potential opportunities in the sports betting and gaming sectors.

While the specifics of the engagement remain confidential, the collaboration will leverage SCCG’s global gaming expertise and deep understanding of regulatory, operational, and market dynamics. This initiative marks another milestone in SCCG’s ongoing work with hospitality leaders, building on their previous partnership with Marriott Puerto Rico.

Stephen Crystal, Founder and CEO of SCCG Management, said: “We’re thrilled to collaborate once again with the Marriott brand as we explore new frontiers in gaming and hospitality. Our goal is always to bring informed, strategic insights that empower our partners to make forward-thinking decisions. With my background in brick-and-mortar gaming, including owning and operating six casinos in Downtown Las Vegas, I understand firsthand how the right gaming strategy can enhance a hospitality destination. Belize is a unique market with significant potential, and we’re excited to help chart the course.”

Betfair has launched a new advertising campaign, starring brand ambassadors Ronaldo and Rivaldo. The initiative aims to introduce the new product available to the bookmaker’s customers, Safe Substitution, a differential that reinforces the uninterrupted excitement of the game.

With Safe Substitution, when a player leaves the field, the bet automatically follows the change and the player who comes in to replace him will be valid for the initial bet. This means that, for example, if a bettor places a bet on a specific player to score a goal, but he ends up being substituted before completing the action, the bet will continue with the player who comes in to replace him.

The campaign, created by Ogilvy Brazil, began airing over the weekend and addresses the possibility of what Brazilian life would be like if everything had a safe replacement like the one offered by Betfair.

“Safe Substitution is an innovative new feature that keeps the action alive by ensuring that bets are not interrupted by unexpected changes in the match. We know how frustrating it can be when your bet falls through because your favourite player has been substituted. The launch of this product means that Betfair customers will now always have the opportunity to stay in the game until the final whistle without missing out on any of the action. It reinforces our commitment to listening to our customers and delivering the best betting experiences in innovative and exciting ways for our Brazilian players,” Jess Wilson, senior marketing manager at Betfair.

“We prioritised a creation that exalts the joy and Brazilian spirit. The commercial seeks to connect the Betfair brand with the public in an authentic way,” Rafael Donato, CCO of Ogilvy Brazil, said.

Alexander Davidson, Associate creative director of Ogilvy Brazil, said: “The idea is to show that, just like football, life is full of surprises, but with ‘Safe Substitution’, fun is always guaranteed. Betting with Betfair means keeping the excitement going until the end.”

Internet Vikings, a licensed in-state hosting provider for the U.S. iGaming and online sports betting industry, is announcing that it’s supporting Plannatech, a large B2B Provider, now stepping into the B2C space, in its expansion within the United States through an agreement to provide VMware cloud hosting solutions in Arizona.

Plannatech, leveraging the well-established Betcris brand from the America’s sports betting industry, has selected Internet Vikings for its structured setup processes, stable hosting environment, and technical expertise. This agreement ensures that the B2C iGaming and sportsbook operator benefits from a highly secure and reliable infrastructure, with Internet Vikings’ responsive support playing a crucial role in maintaining smooth operations.

“This is our 2nd state with Internet Vikings, who has been an absolute pleasure working with in providing the solid hosting infrastructure we need as we now expand into Arizona this time as the Operator,” said Adam Bjorn, CEO at Plannatech.

“We value our partnership with Plannatech and extending our VMware cloud hosting solutions to Arizona was the perfect next step as they bring new strategic offerings to the U.S. market,” said Rickard Vikström, CEO and Founder of Internet Vikings.

The Arizona sports betting market has seen impressive growth rates, with total handle reaching $791.2M in October 2024. While several operators have struggled to gain traction, Plannatech, utilizing the Betcris brand, is taking a strategic approach and leveraging its extensive experience in competitive markets. By choosing Internet Vikings as their hosting partner, Plannatech ensures a strong, compliant, and resilient digital presence as they expand their U.S. operations.