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Judge Rules that Pennsylvania Skill Games are ‘Devices of Skill’

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A Monroe County judge has ruled that Pennsylvania Skill games are legal. Click here to read the order from Monroe County Court of Common Pleas Judge Jonathan Mark.

Games were seized in 2022 from a small business during a seizure carried out by the Monroe County District Attorney’s office in coordination with the Pennsylvania Bureau of Liquor Control and Enforcement (BLCE) even though skill games have been deemed legal by courts of law.

In his ruling, Judge Mark said Pennsylvania Skill ‘devices are games of skill and not games of chance’.

In a Monroe County ruling earlier this year on the seized skill games, a judge reprimanded county prosecutors alleging misconduct in the investigation and their prosecution of legal skill games. Click here to read the Monroe County order.

“The court finds that the Commonwealth improperly withheld and misrepresented material evidence relative to the issuance of the search warrant in this matter and that such conduct warrants the suppression of the seized property,” Monroe County Common Pleas Judge Jennifer Harlacher Sibum wrote.

Pennsylvania Skill games also have been deemed legal skill games by other courts this year. Pace-O-Matic won a return of property motion in York County. This property – gaming machines, related equipment and cash – was wrongfully seized by BLCE. Click here to read the York County order.

In addition, a Dauphin County judge ruled in favor of the games and against county prosecutors this year. Click here to read the Dauphin County ruling.

“Initially, it is this Court’s belief that the Commonwealth’s investigation shows case bias,” Dauphin County Common Pleas Judge Andrew H Dowling wrote. “The Commonwealth is seeking to make all machines like the POM Machines into illegal gambling devices and their whole approach and intent is to shut down games regardless of the actual gameplay. Thus, the Commonwealth as a whole is biased against the games and their approach lacks case credibility.”

“Pace-O-Matic’s Pennsylvania Skill games are legal,” the counsel for Pace-O-Matic, Matthew Haverstick of Kleinbard LLC, said. “The Commonwealth has wrongfully seized its equipment for years with no credible evidence that the games are illegal. Judges are now carefully looking at the evidence and ruling in our favor.”

“Again, another Pennsylvania court has found that Pennsylvania Skill games, powered by Pace-O-Matic, are legal games of predominant skill,” the Chief Public Affairs Officer for Pace-O-Matic, Mike Barley, said. “With the legality of our games upheld repeatedly, we are eager to work with the legislature to pass legislation that will fairly regulate and tax the skill game industry. In fact, Pace-O-Matic stands out among our competitors as the active driving force seeking additional regulation and taxation.”

Legislation introduced by Pennsylvania Senator Gene Yaw will regulate skill games and tax them at a rate that would generate $300 million a year for the Commonwealth.

Pennsylvania Skill games have been ruled games of predominant skill by courts in Beaver, Dauphin, Monroe and York counties. Additionally, after a review of the law and court decisions, skill games also have been returned in both Clearfield and Delaware counties.

Pennsylvania Skill has pumped new life into the Commonwealth’s small businesses, fraternal and social clubs, volunteer fire companies and veterans’ organizations by providing an entertainment product that the public enjoys. Meanwhile, research data proves skill games do not impact the revenue of casinos and the lottery, both achieving record profits yearly.

Pennsylvania Skill games are manufactured in the Commonwealth and over 90% of the profits stay inside the state. That is unheard of in gaming and many other industries. Pace-O-Matic is proud of its record and looks forward to continuing to benefit Pennsylvania businesses, clubs and taxpayers now and in the future.

As part of ongoing efforts to ensure compliance, Pace-O-Matic employs a team of former state police officers to enforce all terms of contracts and codes of conduct. These contracted terms limit the number of machines, where they are placed in a location and have protections in place to prevent anyone underage from playing the devices.

In 2014, the Beaver County Court of Common Pleas ruled that Pace-O-Matic’s Pennsylvania Skill games are legal as games of predominant skill. Click here to read that court decision.

In addition, last year, the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General and the Clearfield County District Attorney’s office negotiated a settlement to return wrongfully seized Pennsylvania Skill games, related equipment and cash. Click here to read that order.

ESPORTS AWARDS RETURNS TO LAS VEGAS FOR 2023 CEREMONY

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ESPORTS AWARDS RETURNS TO LAS VEGAS FOR 2023 CEREMONY

 

    • The Esports Awards returns to Las Vegas to celebrate its ninth year, with the main ceremony taking place at the Best of Las Vegas 2022: Best Nightclub awardee, Zouk
    • 5GRV, the award-winning reality show, has partnered with the Esports Awards to celebrate diversity in the gaming industry and beyond
    • Last year’s Esports Awards campaign saw 17M total viewership and over 10M votes counted 
    • This year, nominees are nominated by industry professionals–learn more about the nomination process at https://bit.ly/3MusrDt

The Esports Awards, the most prestigious night in the esports calendar, is excited to kick off its 2023 campaign by announcing its return to Las Vegas. Alongside the iconic ceremony, the Esports Awards will feature networking opportunities and the return of the popular Lifetime Achievement Mixer providing brands, organisations and industry thought-leaders the opportunity to debate and network.

After an incredible turnout in 2022, which featured outstanding talent such as legendary hosts Eefje ‘Sjokz” Depoortere and Alex “Goldenboy” Mendez, the Esports Awards returns to Las Vegas for its 2023 ceremony. Set to take place on the 29th and 30th of November, the Esports Awards will be broadcast live across all major and linear platforms from Zouk, one of the most technologically advanced venues in the world.

The Esports Awards are also glad to welcome 5GRV: Gamers on the Road in a partnership that will see them present the Esports Host of the Year Award as they embark on season two of their award-winning reality show. Season two will follow fierce, Black Female Streamers BarefootTasha, DefinedbyKy, LeeshCapeesh, and comedian GloZell as they journey to the 2023 Esports Awards to celebrate diversity within gaming and beyond.

This year, the Esports Awards will provide equal chances to organisations, brands, and individuals, irrespective of the size of their communities, to put their hat in the ring for an Esports Award. The 2023 Esports Awards will feature a self-nomination format, open to B2B professionals alongside select media outlets in the esports industry. The new format will allow nominees to provide support information for their nomination, and directly involve media outlets whose knowledge of the esports scene, products, games, and individuals who make it, is highly valued and respected.

Nominations must be completed by an official representative of the company, product or talent, and must be completed before July 7th. Learn more about the nomination process at: https://bit.ly/3MusrDt.

In addition to the Esports Awards ceremony, Las Vegas will see the inaugural Scholars on the 28th of November. The Scholars are the collegiate gaming awards ceremony ran by the organisers of the Esports Awards. Stay tuned for more details around the Scholars.

The categories for this year’s Esports Awards have been announced as follows:

  • Esports Cosplay of the Year
  • Esports Creative of the Year
  • Esports Creative Team of the Year
  • Esports Content of the Year
  • Esports Content Creator of the Year
  • Esports Personality of the Year
  • Streamer of the Year
  • Esports Broadcast/Production Team of the Year
  • Esports Commercial Partner of the Year
  • Esports Coverage Platform of the Year
  • Esports Hardware Piece of the Year
  • Esports Journalist of the Year
  • Esports Publisher of the Year
  • Esports Supporting Service of the Year
  • Esports Game of the Year
  • Esports Mobile Game of the Year
  • Esports Colour Caster of the Year
  • Esports Desk Analyst of the Year
  • Collegiate Program of the Year
  • Esports Host of the Year presented by 5GRV
  • Esports Play By Play Caster of the Year
  • Esports Coach of the Year
  • Esports Controller Player of the Year
  • Esports Mobile Player of the Year
  • Esports Organisation of the Year
  • Esports PC Player of the Year
  • Esports Team of the Year
  • Breakthrough Player of the Year
  • Esports Play of the Year
  • Lifetime Achievement in Esports
  • Panel’s Choice Award

Mike Ashford, CEO of the Esports Awards, commented “We could not be more excited to continue our legacy of  recognising and rewarding excellence in the industry, and honouring the industry that has made many a dream come true, including ours. Having recognised the potential of the collegiate scene, we’ve introduced the Scholars as a way to provide players, individuals, and organisations in the collegiate their own platform. We look forward to seeing talented individuals from across the world join us for some well deserved celebrations in November.”

Last year’s Esports Awards saw a spectacular ceremony at Resorts World Las Vegas. A milestone and star-studded event, the awards hosted some of the biggest faces from esports and beyond with the likes of PUBG MOBILE, LOUD and Matthew ‘Nadeshot’ Haag all picking up awards. The 2022 Esports Awards campaign also saw over 17 million total viewership,  115M impressions and 10M votes cast.

Crash Games: To Become the Most Popular Casino Games?

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Crash games have emerged as a captivating and unique genre in the world of online casinos. With their simplicity, high volatility, and the opportunity to earn substantial rewards, these games have gained significant popularity among both regular online casino players and newcomers.

This article explores the rise of crash games, their appeal to players, and their potential for continued growth in the online gaming industry.

Research Papers: What does the initial research say about crash games?

The data reflects the immense popularity of crash games. According to a study conducted by SevenJackpots, crash games already make up more than half of the top 10 most popular casino games. Moreover, at least two-thirds of players are willing to try them with real-money bets.

Spribe, the studio behind hit crash games like Aviator, Mines, and Plinko, experienced remarkable growth, with unique user shares increasing by over 450% in the first 10 months of 2022. This rise in popularity indicates the potential for crash games to become market stars.

Data: Which Crash Game Titles Dominate the Category?

Among the various crash game titles, Evolution’s “Cash or Crash” stands out as a breakthrough game that combines casino game shows with simple crash mechanics and a live dealer. Released in September 2021, it quickly became a hit, generating substantial turnover and attracting a significant player count.

Other popular crash game titles include Spaceman by Pragmatic Play, JetX and FootballX from SmartSoft Gaming, and several offerings from Spribe. These games have contributed to the rise of crash games as a prominent gaming genre.

SevenJackpots Podcast: Madjov Highlights Crash Games’ Unique Appeal

In SevenJackpots crash games podcast, Svilien Madjov emphasizes the unique feature of crash games that sets them apart from traditional gambling options—the element of choice:

“Biggest factor for me, what makes them different from the other games is that you do have a choice and it’s really good to have a choice. You don’t spin you don’t spin the roulette wheel you don’t deal the cards and with these games you do have a choice and it puts back control to a certain extent in your hands” says Svilien Madjov 

Unlike spinning roulette wheels or dealing cards, crash games offer players control and a sense of empowerment. With these perspectives in mind, let’s dive deeper into the world of crash games and explore what makes them so captivating.

The provably fair technology used in crash games for generating outcomes resonates well with younger generations who are familiar with the workings of cryptocurrency. This transition has opened new marketing horizons and revenue sources for the online casino industry.

Which are the Most Popular Game Providers?

Spribe, the emerging game studio behind Aviator and other successful crash game titles, witnessed a surge of 194% in unique users between July and August. The studio’s games contributed to a significant share of the total operator turnover and active users, showcasing their rapid growth and impact on the market. 

Other game providers like Pragmatic Play and SmartSoft Gaming have also gained traction in the crash games category. These statistics highlight the growing popularity and wide-ranging appeal of crash games among players.

Crash Games: A New Force in the Online Casino World

Crash games have revolutionized the online gambling landscape with their simple yet thrilling gameplay. Their rise in popularity can be attributed to factors such as high volatility, the ability to make choices, and the provably fair technology borrowed from the world of cryptocurrencies.

Crash games have already established a strong foothold in the online casino industry, dominating the list of popular casino games. With their expanding user base and growing demand, crash games are poised to become the most sought-after genre in the online gaming world. As more players discover the excitement and potential rewards offered by crash games, their popularity is expected to continue soaring in the future.

SBC Unveiled Finalists for Inaugural Canadian Gaming Summit First Pitch Startup Competition

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SBC Unveiled Finalists for Inaugural Canadian Gaming Summit First Pitch Startup Competition

 

SBC has revealed the three industry start-up finalists of the inaugural edition of the Canadian Gaming Summit First Pitch competition.

In a remarkable demonstration of innovation and potential, these contenders have emerged from a pool of talent, embodying the promise of reshaping the sports betting and iGaming landscape with their forward-thinking solutions.

The highly successful startup competition for sports betting and iGaming companies has been held with great acclaim at the SBC Summit North America in New Jersey and the prestigious global flagship event, SBC Summit Barcelona.

As SBC takes charge of managing the Canadian Gaming Summit, the First Pitch competition will play a crucial role as part of the Growth and Leadership track on the event’s second full day, scheduled for June 15th.

The three (3)  finalists of the SBC Summit North America First Pitch are:

  • Flex Fantasy: enables users to synchronize their season-long fantasy lineups and utilize them to compete against individuals across different platforms in diverse game formats for real-money rewards
  • Turnover Global: generates virtual sports betting content through sports simulation, which accurately reflects current and past game results. It ensures that the required Return to Player (RTP) percentage
  •  tolerances are consistently maintained for each bet line, as mandated by compliance labs
  • Linemate: aims to revolutionize research insights for novice sports bettors and establish itself as a lifestyle brand catering to these users by addressing the obstacles that hinder consumers from easily embracing and adopting new behavioral patterns

The chosen companies will have the chance to showcase their innovative products to industry leaders and investors. They will also compete for an exclusive prize package valued at over CA$ 70,000, specifically designed to assist in their future development and growth endeavors. The prize package includes:

  • A six-month subscription to Eilers & Krejcik Gaming’s Sports & Emerging Verticals, a boutique research firm that specializes in providing comprehensive services to the gaming equipment, sports, and interactive gaming sectors within the global gaming industry. This subscription alone is worth CA$ 33,000.
  • An exclusive brand or web design package, valued at CA$ 3,700, from Vegas Kings, the premier iGaming design and development agency that has been trusted by leading brands such as Ladbrokes, Betfred, Spinomenal, BetConstruct, and more.
  • A comprehensive promotional package from SBC Media, including six months of advertising on either SBC Americas or Canadian Gaming Business, newsletter advertising, as well as two featured editorials promoting the winning business (valued at CA$ 16,000).
  • Two (2) drafted press releases at any time during 2023 with any news/product updates that the winner would like to share with the industry, distributed to all iGaming B2B media and the US via Business Wire (ensuring coverage on Bloomberg, Yahoo! Finance, etc.), a video interview produced and shared by GameOn, and two (2) additional thought leadership articles that would be placed within a media partner of SBC (valued at ÂŁ2,950.00 or CA$ 4,900)
  • A Receptional Prize Pack – Valued at CA$ 13,000 (The Receptional team will collaborate with the winning company to provide a tailored digital marketing package).

The competition will be moderated by Jesse Learmonth, (Host of the Betting Startups Podcast) and judged by Benjie Cherniak (Principal at Avenue H Capital, LLC), Dani Lipkin (Managing Director of Global Innovation Sector TMX Group), Scott Secord (Partner, Cardinal Capital Sports), Emily McIlquham (Investment Analyst, Relay Ventures) and Mohit Kansal (Managing Director, Clarivest) who will work together to decide the winner after all finalists pitch their products.

NOMINATIONS NOW OPEN FOR THE 2023 WORLD SERIES OF POKERÂź HALL OF FAME

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With all eyes on the 54th annual World Series of Poker (WSOP¼), nominations for the 2023 Poker Hall of Fame are officially open. Players and fans alike are encouraged to submit their nominee of choice, alongside a brief explanation describing why their nominee should be chosen for the honor, online now through Sunday, June 18. All submissions will be carefully considered and narrowed down to 10 finalists who will be evaluated by the 32 living members of the Hall of Fame to establish this year’s inductee.

The Poker Hall of Fame criteria are as follows:

  • Must have played poker against acknowledged top competition
  • Be a minimum of 40-years-old at time of nomination
  • Played for high stakes, consistently well, and stood the test of time
  • For non-players, contributed to the overall growth and success of the game of poker, with indelible positive and lasting results

This year, the inductee will be announced live on Thursday, July 13 during Event #86: $1,979 Poker Hall of Fame Bounty No-Limit Hold’em event followed by an unveiling of the inductee’s Hall of Fame picture at the new WSOP Poker Room inside Horseshoe Las Vegas.

Those enshrined in the Poker Hall of Fame include:

Comtrade Gaming Announces a New RGS Deal with 10 Ten Gaming LLC

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Comtrade Gaming, a leading technology supplier to the gaming industry, announced that it will supply its gCore technology (RGS) to “10 Ten Gaming LLC,” a new game development company based in California looking to target both social and real money gambling. The deal will see 10 Ten Gaming have its own version of Comtrade Gaming’s RGS hosted in the cloud.

Steven Valentine, Comtrade Gaming’s Chief Commercial Officer, expressed his excitement about the new partnership, stating that the company is eager to assist 10 Ten Gaming with the creation of exceptional games. The cloud-hosted managed solution provided by Comtrade Gaming’s RGS offers both large and smaller game vendors the independence to access their own solution without worrying about the underlying technology they build their games on.

Comtrade Gaming’s RGS is a solution that enables vendors and operators to distribute gaming content across online, mobile, and server-based platforms. It is licensed in various jurisdictions, including the UK, Gibraltar, Malta, NJ, and PA.

10ten Gaming LLC’s Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Kyaw Zaw, released the following statement: “We are delighted to be working with Comtrade Gaming and to be utilizing their RGS technology. It will enable us to build a new catalogue of games quickly and independently and means we can focus on great games instead of backend technology.”

Koin Payments Partners with Baldini’s Casino

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Cashless payments innovator Koin Payments has announced a partnership with Northern Nevada’s Baldini’s Casino – making it the first property in Northern Nevada to introduce a flexible cashless wagering experience.

Baldini’s, a casino in Sparks, has long been a favorite of locals and visitors alike. The company was an early proponent of digital solutions and now, through its partnership with Koin, will be able to offer patrons cashless options unique to the region – an important milestone in the evolution of the cashless sector.

Koin’s advanced mobile wallet provides casino customers with the ability to load funds to their mobile wallet from a wide variety of sources, including credit or debit card, bank transfer, ACH, Venmo, cash at retail locations, and more. Included in its many convenient customer features is an intuitive spend tracking function, together with the ability to send or receive funds to or from a friend directly through a mobile device. Koin’s presence at the casino will allow Baldini’s to offer its customers a full-feature digital payment experience.

“We are extremely grateful to Baldini’s for choosing Koin to provide its digital payment solution and are pleased to partner with them in transforming gaming payments within Nevada. With its loyal local customer base, Baldini’s was a natural place to introduce this technology in the Reno-Sparks area. In working together, to promote the values of cashless gaming, we believe we generate increased player loyalty while enhancing the customer’s casino experience,” Gary Larkin, president of Koin Payments, said.

With Koin, patrons can utilize a digital wallet to fund and access their accounts in any way they choose. At the same time, operator partners like Baldini’s are provided with a complete account management system, and a reduction in their retail transaction fees.

“Digital payment solutions are the next step in the evolution of gaming, and we’re excited to work with Koin to integrate those solutions for our customers. We’re a favorite with the local market because we recognize what our customers want, and then deliver it,” said Baldini’s owner J. Grant Lincoln.

BCLC Launches the Industry’s First Ticket to Ride Instant Game

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Pollard Banknote Limited has congratulated the British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC) on the launch of Ticket to Ride, the lottery industry’s first-ever instant ticket based on Days of Wonder’s Ticket to Ride, an acclaimed board game in which players compete to claim routes, connect cities, and build the longest rail line. Featuring a top prize of $50,000 and a wild card bonus, BCLC players are on the fast track to experience all the fun of the award-winning board game in an entertaining new way.

As summer travel plans kick into gear, the $3 ticket takes British Columbians on a trip across Canada with colourful, Pollard Banknote-designed artwork that echoes the look and feel of the board game. Leveraging the ever-popular lucky lines play mechanic, players embark on a cross-country adventure to reveal all four numbers within the same-coloured rail line. A wild card bonus provides players with an extra chance to hop aboard for a cash prize. The Ticket to Ride board game rocketed to fame after winning the prestigious Spiel des Jahres prize in 2004 and has sold over 10 million copies in more than 50 countries worldwide.

The inaugural instant ticket launch features an integrated and multi-faceted marketing program supported by Pollard Banknote, which includes an engaging social media campaign and the production of a how-to-play video for BCLC’s website.

“We are delighted to offer British Columbians a brand new way to experience the fun and the spirit of Ticket to Ride this summer. Collaborating with Pollard Banknote has resulted in a great new game that will provide our players with many moments of excitement and adventure, and is a welcome addition to our Scratch & Win portfolio,” Erin Neoh, Senior Product Specialist of Instant Games at BCLC.

“We congratulate BCLC on being the first to market with its exciting new Ticket to Ride Scratch & Win game. Our licensed portfolio features many established game brands, such as Ticket to Ride, which translate seamlessly into engaging instant tickets for all types of players. We’re confident that British Columbians will embrace the thrill of this exciting new game,” Brad Thompson, VP of Sales & Marketing at Pollard Banknote, said.

Pragmatic Play Gears Up for Appearance at Brazilian iGaming Summit

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Pragmatic Play, a leading content provider to the iGaming industry, is set to appear and speak at this year’s Brazilian iGaming Summit.

Taking place across five days from June 14-18, the event sees iGaming and sports betting professionals gather at SĐ°Ìƒo Paulo’s Transamerica Expo Center for Brazil’s leading industry exhibition.

Pragmatic Play is set to attend, exhibiting its new and future projects and sharing industry insights from stand D40. The provider is also a named sponsor of this year’s Summit.

In addition, Victor Arias, Pragmatic Play’s VP of LatAm Operations, will be speaking at the event alongside several other industry experts to share valuable knowledge.

The Summit fulfills part of the mission itinerary for Pragmatic Play’s Latin American division, in which it has pledged to deliver surprises at various industry events throughout the year. The appearance marks the provider’s eighth “mission” thus far, showcasing its commitment to continued growth and success in the region.

Victor Arias, VP of LatAm Operations at Pragmatic Play, said: “We’re very much looking forward to attending the Brazilian iGaming Summit, the eighth mission on our itinerary and a fantastic opportunity to showcase our success in Latin America.

“We always embrace the opportunity to connect with like-minded professionals in the industry, and Brazil’s Summit is undeniably one of the very biggest and best at which to do so. We can’t wait to showcase what Pragmatic Play has been up to and look forward to connecting and learning whilst we’re there.”

LNBP Mexico Extends Agreement with Sportradar

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Mexico’s National Professional Basketball League (LNPB) announced the extension of a multi-year agreement with Sportradar. The deal initiated in 2020 was extended in 2023 and includes the LNBP and LNBP Women’s League competitions.

LNBP will have a comprehensive set of Sportradar’s best-of-breed solutions; including Synergy Stats data collection and statistics, the Synergy Coaching platform and integrity services through the Universal Fraud Detection System (UFDS) to monitor all games in both competitions.

The UFDS is used to monitor major international basketball competitions and leagues to provide greater transparency to the competitions. It also provides sophisticated machine learning algorithms to detect any possible match-fixing or irregular activity, providing the LNBP with powerful tools to protect its competitions.

In addition, Synergy Coaching coverage for the 13 LNBP Men’s teams and 11 LNBP Women’s teams will be provided, all will have access to the platform to analyse the performance of their players, analyse opponents and have all the statistics and play-by-play video of each player/team during the season for the benefit of the development of Mexican basketball.

Victor Fernandez, Director of Sports and Partnerships at Sportradar, said: “We are delighted to extend the agreement with LNBP to offer advanced data, analytics and technology solutions. We aim to further grow the sport in Mexico and drive new commercial opportunities by introducing Mexican basketball to a wider audience.”

Alonso Izaguirre, General Commissioner of LNBP, said: “In the LNBP we are constantly looking to improve and innovate in all areas to give all our fans new experiences during game day and hand in hand with Sportradar with tools like Synergy Stats and Synergy Coaching, you can have all the statistical information of each of our games and teams will continue to professionalize the technical area of scouting.

“We are honoured to work in synergy with an ally that shares our values as an institution and that, in addition, seeks the development and professionalism of world basketball.”


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