Latest News
Hard Rock Sportsbook Goes Live in Indiana and Tennessee
Continuing its expansion spree, Hard Rock Sportsbook launched its mobile app in Indiana and Tennessee. The company intends to engage its players with customized integrated in-person and online experiences.
The company already has thriving offline facilities in both the states. Indiana is home to the Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana, where a retail Hard Rock Sportsbook location opened in May, while Tennessee has three Hard Rock Cafes (Nashville, Memphis, and Pigeon Forge) and the Bristol Casino located just across the Virginia state line.
Marlon Goldstein, Executive Managing Director & CEO for Hard Rock Digital, said: “We are excited to offer the legendary Hard Rock experience to our mobile sports betting players throughout Indiana and Tennessee. The successful debut of the Mystery Wheel is the latest example of the unique interactive experiences that can only be found at Hard Rock Sportsbook as well as our commitment to building the most entertaining app in the market.”
The Hard Rock Sportsbook mobile app can be downloaded from the App Store (iOS users) or the Google PlayStore (Android users) by users physically present in Arizona, Indiana, Tennessee, and Virginia. Players in New Jersey and Iowa can download the Hard Rock Sports & Casino NJ and the Hard Rock Sportsbook Iowa apps, respectively.
Interviews
Women in iGaming Interview: White Hat Studiosâ Holly Fairweather
Holly Fairweather, Director of US Accounts at House of Brands provider White Hat Studios, sits down with Gaming Americas to discuss the growing influence of women in the iGaming industry, and highlights how more can be done to improve the overall gender imbalance
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Gaming Americas: Since joining the industry in 2018, have you noticed a change in how women are represented within iGaming companies, as well as general attitudes?
Holly Fairweather (HF): When I reflect on the past six years, it feels great to say I have seen a lot of positive changes in our industry and more importantly, an ever-increasing drive to address gender diversity. There is still work to do, and I am reminded of this attending our industry events, where itâs very evident we still lack female presence in C-level roles and on expert panels. Itâs also not hard to see walking around conferences the overall gender imbalance that exists. With that being said, I do feel itâs moving in the right direction and I am regularly inspired by women around me being promoted to senior management roles, providing great mentors and role models. Awareness of gender diversity and celebrating success is continually being pushed via various channels, and for me plays a big part in why we are seeing more women have the confidence to progress in their careers and more women enter the industry. Itâs also important to say, and why I think change is happening more, that the want of women to succeed and to increase female presence in our industry, is indeed backed by a strong support network of women supporting women, but also of the men in our industry.
Gaming Americas: How important are groups like Global Gaming Women? What kind of initiatives have they offered to help your own career development?
HF: Iâll be honest, Iâm still learning about all that Global Gaming Women offers. Working in the US market I see GGW as a substantial network which offers reams of support from training courses, lean in circles and mentorship and networking events just to name a few. I have taken part in a few of the industry wide networking events, and really enjoyed them, connecting with some amazing people, learning more about the industry. One of my objectives this year is to participate in more events, adding value where I can whether thatâs within the GGW network or through other avenues.
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Gaming Americas: What more can the industry do to make it more appealing to women and ensure they are better represented within organizations?
HF: Itâs got to start within each individual company taking responsibility for equal representation. This is not a tick box exercise to achieve a target on a gender split % by x date but must be about promotions and roles being rewarded to the best candidate for the role, regardless of gender, ethnic background, or sexual orientation. We need to shout about the success stories of DEI within the industry, creating an inclusive work environment will attract not just more women but more candidates overall, increasing the talent pool.
There is also a piece around exposure and shining the light on the fantastic women we have leading the way. Sharing their career paths, the good, and the challenges, to provide relatable examples of success. To make women in gaming not about the stats or portray the headline as a negative but more around showcasing the women that are successful and why, helping more women relate and pursue a similar path if this is what they wish to do.
Gaming Americas: What advice would you give to the next generation of women that are looking to make a breakthrough in the industry?
HF: This is a good one! First and foremost, you lead your own progression. Be proactive in building your network, push yourself out of your comfort zone to attend networking events. Reach out to other women in the industry for support and mentorship. That is on you to drive.
Immerse yourself in a team with values that align with yours, a team that welcomes and promotes diversity of all types and supports and rewards on merit are key.
Build your knowledge, for me knowledge is confidence. Quickly realise it is ok not to know everything, ask the questions and find out. Be solution-oriented, supporting your superiors will get you noticed for going over and above and adding value to your team and company.
I was told âpeople do business with people,â which I stand by and could not be truer in the igaming industry. Always treat everyone with respect, be kind, be yourself, but donât forget to back yourself! Relationship building is so key in this industry and has helped me progress to where I am today.
Lastly, take risks. And by this, I mean sometimes you must step out your comfort zone and push yourself to try something different to progress to the next stage. So far, the most pivotable moment in my career and biggest risk I have taken, and Iâm sure Andy Whitworth (CEO) and the White Hat Studios (WHS) team wonât mind me saying, was accepting the job at WHS. A brand-new supplier to the US, no content live alongside the fact I had never worked in the US market, so of course there was an element of risk. It was, however, a calculated risk as I was joining a team of experts, senior level management I had worked for previously, in an ever-growing US market. A no brainer now when I look back.
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Gaming Americas: From a White Hat Studios perspective, what DEI initiatives does the company put in place?
HF: DEI of all types is something I believe increases the performance of a team, and is something we are extremely passionate about at WHS. As we grow and expand, maintaining a strong culture has never been more important. We recently held a WHS workshop in Prague, with one section of our day spent holistically agreeing and locking down our values as a team, âWho we are, what we stand for âand âtreating everyone equallyâ is now embedded in our company culture as one of our five core values.
I have been lucky in the fact I have never felt that my gender has held me back in my current role and previous igaming companies. Although I understand this has not been everyoneâs experience, I truly believe the more we celebrate success, drive awareness, embed inclusion within our companies, and work together across DEI as a whole, we will continue to see women progress and take on careers in igaming.
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Latest News
Lottery.com Inc. Relaunches Sweepstakes Operations
Lottery.com Inc. announced the restart of its sweepstakes operations in conjunction with the WinTogether Trust, a registered 501(c)3 charitable organization. The proceeds from the sweepstakes will benefit Street Child United. The sweepstakes had a soft launch on April 3, 2024, and is available at http://donateto.win, the successor to Lottery.comâs WinTogether.org platform.
Street Child United is a global organization dedicated to improving the lives of street-connected children. The organization focuses on four key pillars: Ensuring every child has birth registration which provides access to healthcare and education; protecting children against abuse, exploitation, and trafficking; securing access to education; and setting a foundation for gender equality.
Donors are incentivized to give by receiving entries to win an Apple Vision Pro mixed reality headset. More information and donation options can be found at https://donateto.win. The sweepstakes to support Street Child United will continue until 11:59PT on August 31, 2024. The winner will be announced on or around September 20, 2024.
Matthew McGahan, CEO of Lottery.com, said: âThis is a significant milestone for Lottery.com. The Company, through its partnership with the WinTogether Trust, is resuming its commitment to supporting philanthropic initiatives that focus on responsible gaming along with local, regional, and global charitable initiatives. Street Child United is a wonderful organization. We believe their mission will resonate with the Sports.comâs growing global user base.â
Bart Myers, Director of the WinTogether Trust, said: âThe WinTogether Trust board is excited for our organization to play a role in the resurgence of Lottery.com. Being able to leverage their powerful brands, Lottery.com and Sports.com, will allow us to exponentially expand the number of organizations we support and the financial impact our sweepstakes make for them.â
Gambling in the USA
Colorado Launches Illegal Gambling Awareness Campaign
The Colorado Division of Gambling has launched a new illegal gambling awareness campaign.
The âPlay Legit. Gamble Only Where Legal.â campaign aims to educate the public about the risks associated with illegal gambling and the importance of supporting regulated gaming venues.
The campaign emphasizes legal gambling options, including casinos in Black Hawk, Central City, and Cripple Creek, as well as online sports betting and off-track betting.
âWith many certified and legal gambling sites available, itâs never worth it to put yourself in danger. Together, letâs play by the rules and ensure that Colorado remains a safe and responsible gaming destination. By recognizing and preventing illegal gambling, we all win,â Chris Schroder, Director of the Colorado Division of Gaming, said.
In Colorado, gambling opportunities abound, but not all are legal. Illegal gambling operations not only fail to protect players but can also serve as a breeding ground for serious crimes, including fraud, human trafficking, drug trafficking, and burglary, posing a threat to public safety and community well-being. Participants in illegal gambling activities also compromise personal and financial information, putting individuals at risk of identity theft, unreliable payouts, and potential legal consequences, such as fines and imprisonment.
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