Latest News
Playtech Partners with Hard Rock Digital
Playtech, the leading platform, content, and services provider to the online gaming industry, announced a landmark strategic partnership with Hard Rock Digital (HRD), the exclusive, global vehicle for interactive gaming and sports betting for Hard Rock International and Seminole Gaming.
Under the partnership, HRD will license a range of the company’s proven technology solutions and iGaming content to deliver the authentic experience customers have come to expect across Hard Rock’s global ecosystem of entertainment, hospitality, and bricks and mortar casinos. In the US and Canada, HRD’s customers will enjoy a variety of Playtech’s iGaming content offering including market-leading slots, RNG, and live dealer table games through HRD’s existing proprietary platform and technology offering. These products will also be enjoyed outside of the US and Canada where HRD will also have access to additional software and services solutions from Playtech including its IMS player management platform and certain ancillary services including operational, customer support, payment advisory, and marketing services.
The company will supply its products and services predominantly on a revenue share basis under long-term commercial agreements.
Alongside these commercial arrangements, Playtech has also invested $85 million in exchange for a low single digit minority equity ownership stake in HRD.
The proceeds from Playtech’s investment will predominantly be used to help fund HRD’s continued global expansion. Hard Rock branded online and retail sports betting and iGaming is currently being operated in select U.S. states, as applicable, including Arizona, Indiana, Iowa, New Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee, and Virginia, with the expectation for additional launches in the future. HRD also plans to extend its online sportsbook and iGaming offerings to select international markets over the next several years. Hard Rock’s global brand strength and recognition combined with Playtech’s broad international market knowledge and software and services offering provide an exciting platform for international expansion. Additionally, Hard Rock’s extensive and expanding global operating footprint of cafés, hotels, and casinos positions HRD as the only operator with a truly global omni-channel opportunity.
The company expects minimal impact from this agreement on its B2B segment results in FY2023. Contribution to B2B revenues is expected to increase in FY2024 and thereafter as HRD continues to increase penetration in established markets and as additional markets come online.
“The Playtech team is thrilled to announce our strategic partnership with HRD. Hard Rock International has cemented itself as a marquee name worldwide, not just in gambling, but more widely in entertainment. HRD will combine the strength of this global brand with a proven management team, some of whom we at Playtech have known for many years and believe to be among the strongest in the online gambling industry. For Playtech, this partnership significantly advances our position in the North American market and is very much in line with our B2B strategy,” Mor Weizer, CEO of Playtech, said.
“This partnership will act as an accelerator to Hard Rock Digital’s planned strategic initiative to expand its online gaming offerings to international markets, becoming the first operator with a global omni-channel offering under a singular, irreplaceable brand. This announcement only reinforces our commitment to lead innovation in the gaming industry and expand the ‘Hard Rock’ experience worldwide. We look forward to providing an authentic, digital experience for Hard Rock’s global fan base within a comprehensive, omni-channel offering,” said Jim Allen, Chairman of Hard Rock International and Chairman of the Board of HRD.
Compliance Updates
PA Gaming Control Board Renews License for Wind Creek Bethlehem Casino
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (Board) unanimously voted to renew the Category 2 stand-alone casino license of Wind Creek Bethlehem LLC, operator of Wind Creek Bethlehem casino in Northampton County.
In making the decision, the Board determined that Wind Creek Bethlehem LLC had fulfilled the obligations under its previously approved casino operator’s license and therefore qualified to have its license renewed for an additional five-year period.
The decision to renew the license was based on a process utilized by the Board that enables both the operator and the public to provide information relevant to the renewal decision. A public input hearing was held in July 2024 in the casino’s host municipality, the City of Bethlehem, where personnel of Wind Creek Bethlehem submitted exhibits and presented testimony on various aspects of the facility’s operation since its last license renewal was granted. The public was also permitted to provide testimony about the casino and its impact in the community.
In reaching its decision, the Board also received information from local government officials, community groups and the PA State Police, along with the Gaming Control Board’s Office of Enforcement Counsel, Bureau of Investigations and Enforcement, Office of Compulsive and Problem Gaming, and Bureau of Casino Compliance.
Additionally, a public hearing was held in Harrisburg to permit Board members to further question Wind Creek Bethlehem LLC representatives about any remaining issues prior to voting on the renewal.
Since its opening in May 2009 through September 2024, Wind Creek Bethlehem has generated over $7 billion in revenue from the play of retail slot machines and table games, sports wagering and iGaming, and has returned to the Commonwealth a total of $2.9 billion from tax revenue, assessments and fees. Wind Creek Bethlehem currently operates 2318 slot machines, 202 table games and a 20-table poker room while providing employment to 2242 persons directly or through third-party tenants in the events center, food and beverage outlets or retail stores. 94% of those employees are Pennsylvania residents.
Compliance Updates
PrizePicks Awarded Fantasy Sports Licenses in Delaware and Missouri
PrizePicks, the largest daily fantasy sports operator in North America, announced it has been awarded Daily Fantasy Sports Operator Licenses in Delaware and Missouri. The company will launch Arena, its innovative peer-to-peer fantasy sports contest, in both states.
“We are proud that Arena has been approved in every state where it has been submitted. We’ve seen strong player adoption to date and we look forward to replicating our success in these new markets with a fun gaming experience. We’d like to extend our gratitude to the Delaware Division of Gaming Enforcement, the Delaware Lottery, and the Missouri Gaming Commission for their thoughtful collaboration,” said PrizePicks CEO Mike Ybarra.
Arena offers a unique leaderboard style peer-to-peer gaming experience, allowing players to compete for prizes against one another. Participants are grouped based on their number of entries and experience level. Since launching in January, players on Arena have built over 20 million peer-to-peer lineups. With these new state launches, Arena will now be available in 15 states across the US.
Latest News
BetRivers Introduces PropPacks, an Innovative Feature for the NBA Season
For many sports lovers, one of the great joys has been opening a pack of player cards to see which professional athletes were inside.
This NBA season, the team at Rush Street Interactive Inc., which operates the BetRivers Sportsbook, plans to replicate that experience with the unveiling of PropPacks. The simplicity of the new digital game, combined with the chance for large payouts, will appeal to both seasoned bettors and those new to sports betting.
Customers who wager $10 or more on qualifying Same Game Parlays (SGPs) will randomly receive up to three PropPacks per game, at no extra charge, from one or both teams in the game. If the relevant NBA players score over the point totals on the card, then the bettors win! There are props for 20+, 30+, 40+, and 50+ with higher prizes for each threshold.
There are three tiers of player cards; bronze, silver, and gold. Bronze cards are the most common, with Gold being the rarest. Gold cards offer the highest potential prizes, with a potential maximum jackpot prize of $10,000 in Bonus Credits.
“PropPacks, which is exclusively available on RSI’s platform to BetRivers Sportsbook players, will give NBA fans an additional thrill by offering extra bonus opportunities on their SGP bets. The player card game makes watching the action even more exciting by offering bettors at all levels, from those placing a bet for the first time to experienced sports wagerers, more ways to win from existing SGP bets at no additional cost to our bettors. PropPacks reinforces our dedication to put our players first by creating value for them while elevating the betting experience in fun and exciting ways,” said Richard Schwartz, CEO at RSI.
In addition to the PropPacks promotional game, RSI’s sportsbooks will have a full suite of promotional offers this basketball season, including NBA Parlay Insurance and a pre-season NBA Futures Bet & Get offer. Players can download the BetRivers app and click “Promotions” to view the full offering.
“PropPacks is a game changer and, as we head into the NBA season, we are very excited to offer a unique and innovative product that you can only find at the BetRivers Sportsbook. We are giving customers more chances to win bonuses and prizes, ultimately enriching the bettor experience and providing more value back to our loyal players,” Schwartz said.
BetRivers Squares is back for another season and will be offered on all NCAA College Basketball games. Qualifying Same Game Parlay bets of $10 or more on a game earns the customer a square, at no extra charge, with a $25 wager resulting in two squares and a bet of $50 or more worth three squares.
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