Low6, the leading gamification innovator, has announced its latest free-to-play partnership with Choctaw Casinos & Resorts by launching Choctaw T-Box, an interactive mobile game for the Invited Celebrity Classic held at Las Colinas Country Club in Irving, Texas, April 19 – 21.

Designed to engage with golf fans throughout the tournament, the unique second screen experience combines an innovative twist to a much-loved game with the thrill of prize draws.

“Choctaw Casinos & Resorts is committed to engaging and entertaining fans in innovative ways,” said Erica Kosemund, senior director of gaming brand and partnerships for Choctaw Casinos & Resorts. “The free-to-play Choctaw T-Box game will give fans an added level of interaction at the Invited Celebrity Classic. Low6 has a track record of delivering first-in-class engaging content and we found them to be a perfect fit for the environment we are looking to achieve.”

Players are issued a 25-squared T-Box card with each square randomised with a different event that may occur at the tournament e.g. “Mardy Fish scores 4 Birdies”. Should the event occur during play, the square is won and players can earn more entries into a Prize Draw with the more squares they win. A single line (5 squares in a row/column/diagonal) is worth 5 bonus entries, a T-shape (top row and centre column) is worth 25 bonus entries and a blackout (all 25 squares) is worth 50 bonus entries.

Fans playing Choctaw T-Box will have a chance to win prizes at the end of each day. Prizes include a package valued at $750 that includes a two-night stay at Choctaw Casino & Resort – Durant, as well as $250 in resort credit. Players can also win $250 in free play. Players must be members of the Choctaw Rewards Club to claim prizes.

Jamie Mitchell, CEO of Low6, said: “We are incredibly excited with the launch of Choctaw T-Box at the Invited Celebrity Classic. It’s a classic game with a unique digital sporting spin that will entertain fans even more throughout the tournament. Our innovative white label product allows brands to successfully activate their sponsorships at sporting events and can be fully customised across any sport.”

Wagering on women’s sports is experiencing a meteoric rise in popularity, according to the latest data provided by global sports betting company OpenBet. The excitement surrounding the NCAA’s Women’s March Madness, boosted by the ‘Caitlin Clark Effect’, has marked a sea change for a sport and competition in which the men’s game has historically dominated wagering activity.

This year, the women’s college basketball championship saw record wagers processed through the OpenBet sports betting platform, as South Carolina’s victory over Iowa it clutched the title of most watched national basketball game in five years.

The tournament’s Final Four also attracted an average of 10.8 million views per match, up more than 130% on last year and higher than the men’s game. This upward trend in recognition of women’s sport shows no sign of slowing down.

“The women’s national championship between Iowa and South Carolina was the highest wagered event of the entire tournament,” said Jake Schmidt, MTS Trader at OpenBet.

As interest in women’s basketball skyrockets, OpenBet is strengthening its player props offering to remain competitive and attract more bettors than ever before.

“A constituent and increasing offering of player prop markets is vital to ensuring the popularity of women’s March Madness across the sports betting landscape continues to grow,” Schmidt said.

“With different universities making the tournament each year, I believe this will continue to keep consumers engaged as it is something new each year.”

There also continues to be wider coverage of women’s sports in the US media and on TV than ever before. Iowa’s Caitlin Clark, at the age of just 22, has left a lasting impact on women’s basketball as the NCAA’s top scorer and gaining endorsements from the likes of Nike.

“This year, there were multiple high-profile players driving this increase in popularity,” said Schmidt.

“The media highlighted all games including key players such as USC’s Juju Watkins, South Carolina’s coach Dawn Staley and player Kamilla Cardoso, and others from LSU, UConn and Iowa Hawkeyes.”

Another reason for its increase in prominence and wagering activity is down to the length of time women typically spend at college.

“In contrast to the men’s game, female athletes generally choose to remain in college for longer before choosing to participate in the WNBA draft, allowing consumers to get to know them more and build familiarity,” said Schmidt.

OpenBet continues to deliver a robust and reliable betting engine enabling more people than ever to wager on women’s sports with confidence. As this trend continues, the award-winning provider will add further player props and sports to exceed expectations from sports bettors.

Elys BMG Group announced that The Ugly Mug in Washington D.C. has been granted provisional approval from the District of Columbia Office of Lottery and Gaming Regulation and Oversight Division (DCOLG) to open its sportsbook at 723 8th St. SE. As the fourth privately owned sportsbook venue in the District powered by Elys’ innovative Gameboard betting technology, The Ugly Mug stands as a testament to Elys’ commitment to bringing cutting-edge solutions to local businesses and sports enthusiasts.

The grand opening for The Ugly Mug sportsbook is anticipated to occur during the week of April 27th. Elys will unveil the grand opening festivities, promotions, and events as the date draws closer.

With easy access to sports wagering and a classic American menu in a relaxed setting, The Ugly Mug sportsbook is set to become a premier destination in the Navy Yard region of Washington D.C. and is another step forward for Elys becoming the leading betting technology provider for neighborhood sportsbooks in the US.