Gambling in the USA
HAWKS TALON GC SET TO PLAY IN NBA 2K LEAGUE’S ‘THE TIPOFF’ ON ESPN2

Hawks Talon to Compete Using Remote Gameplay in League’s First In-Season Tournament of 2020 Season
ATLANTA – Last week, the NBA 2K League announced details of the league’s first in-season tournament, THE TIPOFF powered by AT&T. The four-day tournament will air live on ESPN2, ESPN’s digital platforms and the league’s Twitch and YouTube channels and will begin on Tuesday, June 16. All 23 teams will compete in the tournament remotely from their local markets for a total prize pool of $160,000. Hawks Talon GC, the official NBA 2K League affiliate of the Atlanta Hawks, is scheduled to play best-of-three series against Magic Gaming (Orlando Magic) and Kings Guard Gaming (Sacramento Kings) for a chance to advance to the playoff rounds of the tournament.
“We know that the stakes are higher during tournament play, and we are excited to have an opportunity to compete,” Hawks Talon GC’s Team Manager and Head Coach Wesley Acuff said. “Both Magic Gaming and Kings Guard Gaming are talented teams, and we are looking forward to playing against some of the league’s elite competition.”
Hawks Talon will play their first series of THE TIPOFF against Magic Gaming at 6 p.m. ET on Tuesday, June 16. KEL (Mykel Wilson), Hawks Talon’s second-round pick from the 2020 NBA 2K League Draft, was originally drafted to Magic Gaming last season and played several games for them before being traded. The team’s second series will be against Kings Guard Gaming, the affiliate of the Sacramento Kings, at 10 p.m. ET on Tuesday. This has been one of the most highly anticipated matchups of the season as it features Hawks Talon’s BP (Michael Diaz-Cruz) against Kings Guard Gaming’s DAT BOY SHOTZ (Connor Rodrigues) who were traded for each other along with two draft picks this past offseason. BP was named one of five finalists for the 2019 Intel Performance NBA 2K League Most Valuable Player Award.
At the conclusion of pool play, the seven teams with the best records in each group as well as one wild card entrant will advance to the playoffs set to begin on Thursday, June 18, with tiebreaker scenarios applying if needed. Each matchup in the playoff rounds will be a best-of-three format and a champion will be crowned on Friday, June 19. More information about THE TIPOFF powered by AT&T can be found here.
The NBA 2K League also announced that remote gameplay for the regular season has also been extended for at least four more weeks (through Week 11 of the regular season ending Friday, July 17). Information about the remainder of the 2020 NBA 2K League season schedule will be announced at a later date.
To stay up to date on Hawks Talon Gaming Club, visit HawksTalonGC.gg and follow the team’s social channels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Gambling in the USA
Aristocrat Interactive™ to Showcase Innovative iLottery Solutions at NASPL 2025 Annual Conference & Trade Show

Aristocrat Interactive™, the Real Money Gaming (RMG) division of Aristocrat, today announced its participation as a Level II Sponsor at the North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries (NASPL) 2025 Annual Conference & Trade Show.
NASPL, the leading trade association representing 53 lottery organizations across North America, serves as a platform for collaboration, research, standards, and best practices that drive the future of the industry. Taking place September 8–11, 2025 at the Niagara Falls Convention Center in Ontario, Canada, the event, themed “Here to Play”, will gather lottery leaders from across North America to explore the evolving future of the industry.
Aristocrat Interactive will be showcasing its latest innovations for the iLottery sector through an interactive booth setup, one-on-one director’s dialogue sessions, a product and services showcase, and more. Attendees will get a first look at new eInstant titles, featuring fresh game mechanics and the business’s first cross-over game with its iGaming & Sports division. Aristocrat Interactive will also highlight its successful omnichannel solutions, which connect retail and online play to enhance player engagement and experience.
Building on this momentum, Aristocrat Interactive recently launched the New Hampshire Lottery’s new digital platform, signed long-term contracts with the Michigan Lottery and the Massachusetts Lottery, and secured a two-year extension with its NeoPollard Joint Venture in North Carolina—where Aristocrat Interactive provides the iLottery platform. These partnerships underscore Aristocrat Interactive’s commitment to helping lotteries deliver engaging digital experiences and sustainable growth.
“NASPL always sets the table for engaging discussions that can advance our customer-driven strategies to drive real digital growth for lotteries,” said Chris Shaban, Managing Director, iLottery at Aristocrat Interactive. “We’re looking forward to another opportunity to showcase Aristocrat Interactive as a solidified, future-ready unit with global gaming expertise.”
Attendees can connect with Aristocrat Interactive at Booth #209 and meet the team for one-on-one discussions in Room #205. Aristocrat Interactive will also hold a showcase on Wednesday, September 10 at 1:30 p.m. at its booth.
For more information about Aristocrat Interactive and its iLottery solutions, please visit aristocratinteractive.com.
Gambling in the USA
Scientific Games Introduces Obsidian, All-Black Holographic Lottery Scratch Games

Premium Instant Scratch Game Innovation Adds Luxury and Uniqueness at Retail with Exclusive Play Experience
Scientific Games announces Obsidian, its latest breakthrough in instant scratch game innovation. A revolutionary addition to the global lottery company’s holographic product offerings, Obsidian will debut at the North American Association of State & Provincial Lotteries 2025 Conference taking place September 8 to September 11 in Ontario, Canada.
With 18 unique design concepts, Obsidian games feature a dramatic combination of all-black tones and holographics to create a sleek, glasslike appearance. Named after naturally occurring volcanic rock, the Obsidian line offers a bold, ultra-premium look and scratch experience.
Obsidian is one of a number of new product designs from Scientific Games to be unveiled at NASPL 2025. The new products were developed by Scientific Games’ Innovation and Discovery teams at its metro Atlanta global headquarters, the largest lottery instant game production facility in the world. Obsidian games will also be produced at the company’s Canadian and UK facilities.
“Our game innovators have followed holographic trends on high-end luxury items and were inspired to create fresh, new games centered on value proposition design for our lottery partners,” said Danielle Hodges, Senior Director, Global Product Innovation & Development for Scientific Games. “At a time when the market basket average is increasing, holographic games allow lotteries to differentiate their games by adding a touch of luxury and uniqueness. In sneak previews of Obsidian with several lotteries, the response we’ve received is pure excitement.”
The company continues to lead the industry in scratch game innovation, using holographics to heighten retail appeal and create immersive player experiences.
Scientific Games, the world’s largest creator, producer and manager of lottery instant games, offers more than 100 strategic enhancements for its world-leading scratch products. The company’s products represent 70% of global instant game retail sales.
Innovating products and solutions that move the global lottery industry forward since 1973, Scientific Games provides retail and digital games, technology, analytics and services to 150 lotteries in 50 countries around the globe, including nearly every North American lottery.
Obsidian™ is a trademark of Scientific Games, LLC. © 2025 Scientific Games, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Gambling in the USA
ETPL APPOINTS LONDON-BASED OAKVALE CAPITAL AS EXCLUSIVE INVESTMENT BANKER TO LEAD CAPITAL RAISE AND GROWTH STRATEGY

The European T20 Premier League (ETPL), an ICC-approved T20 league co-owned by Abhishek Bachchan and backed by Cricket Ireland, Cricket Scotland, and the Royal Dutch Cricket Association, has appointed Oakvale Capital as its exclusive investment banker.
“Oakvale’s deep expertise in sports finance will be a game-changer for ETPL’s long-term vision. We look forward to working closely with their expert team to help bring our event to fruition,” said Warren Deutrom, CEO, Cricket Ireland.
“Oakvale is one of the leading London-based investment banks in the sports and gaming ecosystem. Their sector depth, global network, and track record advising rights-holders, clubs, and technology platforms make them the right partner for ETPL as we scale,” said Saurav Banerjee, Co-owner and Director, ETPL.
“We’re excited to support ETPL’s bold and innovative approach to cricket. The vision to elevate the sport in Europe with a premium, differentiated offering aligns well with Oakvale’s strategic focus in global sports properties,” said Sandford Loudon, Partner, Oakvale Capital.
Blending world-class cricket with a distinctively European experience, ETPL aims to redefine the sport through elite talent, immersive fan experiences, and data-driven innovation. In addition, KPMG in India has been appointed as ETPL’s strategic advisor.
-
Latest News5 days ago
Spintec Strengthens its Partnership with Merkur in Colombia and Peru
-
Canada4 days ago
iGaming Ontario Appoints Joseph Hillier as its New President and CEO
-
Canada4 days ago
Playson strengthens Ontario foothold with Casino Time integration
-
Gambling in the USA3 days ago
$50 MILLION GUARANTEED IN ACR POKER’S BIGGEST-EVER TOURNAMENT SERIES: THE ONLINE SUPER SERIES XL, LAUNCHING THIS WEEKEND
-
Gambling in the USA3 days ago
Georgia Lottery Takes Retail Experience to Next Level with Scientific Games’ SCiQ Technology
-
Latest News5 days ago
ACR POKER CONCLUDES MONSTER VENOM TOURNAMENTS, DELIVERING OVER $10 MILLION IN PRIZE POOLS AND EPIC FINAL TABLE BATTLES
-
Latest News5 days ago
Betting on the Super Bowl LX Winner: Events Contracts vs Sports Betting
-
Fantasy Sports4 days ago
FanDuel Debuts New Peer to Peer Fantasy Product “FanDuel Picks” in Select States