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UNLV’s International Gaming Institute to Collaborate with ESPN Regarding Sports Betting and the Media

ESPN Commits to Pioneering Collaboration with UNLV’s International Gaming Institute
The University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) and ESPN, a leader in sports media, are proud to announce a collaboration to advance responsible sports betting practices and media impact analysis. ESPN, renowned for providing sports content, is set to be a founding donor of this innovative program, leveraging the expertise of UNLV’s prestigious International Gaming Institute (IGI).
The rapidly evolving landscape of sports betting presents an array of complex opportunities and challenges. To address these, UNLV IGI will develop a pioneering program dedicated to the study of, education on and advisory services related to sports betting and its intersection with the media.
âWe are thrilled to have ESPNâs support for research, education and innovation in the responsible, sustainable representation of sports betting in the media,â says Brett Abarbanel, IGI Executive Director. âThe growth of betting and gambling subjects in United States media have exploded in the past five years. So, too, have calls for extended research and thought leadership alongside this proliferation of content.
âESPN is a market leader in sports media and collaboratively we will advance local, national and global discussions on sports while also establishing UNLVâs IGI as the academic hub for thought leadership in this important area.â
The collaboration, fueled by a philanthropic investment of $200,000 from ESPN, aims to catalyze the launch of this leading-edge initiative. ESPN’s contribution will support the program in various capacities including personnel, scholarly research, global outreach efforts and operational needs. Key areas of focus for this collaborative effort include:
* Enhancing Responsible Gambling:Â The program will conduct comprehensive reviews of current regulatory practices and recommend best practices to increase engagement in responsible gambling for both employees and customers.
* Developing Evidence-Based Insights:Â Researchers will provide evidence-based insights on the development of policies, messaging, technology components and more. IGI will create open-call research fellowships for international scholars in gambling to encourage global impact.
* Responsible Marketing Practices:Â A structured review process will be established to assess marketing and promotional materials, ensuring responsible marketing practices and the development of best practice policies.
* Creating Responsible Gambling Program Parameters: Collaborating with stakeholders, the program will advise on the creation of named, marketable and easily identifiable responsible gambling programs.
* Educating Industry Leaders: This initiative will also educate executive leadership in the media sector on best practices in sports betting including responsible gambling, responsible marketing, advertising policies, broadcast standards and risk management.
âESPN is proud to support this initiative at UNLV,â said Kevin Martinez, Vice-President of ESPN Corporate Citizenship. âOur investment reflects our commitment to ensuring that the world of sports betting is not only entertaining but also responsible. We are eager to work alongside UNLV’s International Gaming Institute in advancing industry standards.â
UNLV Vice-President of Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement and UNLV Foundation President Rickey N McCurry echoes Martinezâs positive outlook on the partnership, stating: âThe university is deeply grateful for ESPN’s commitment, which will enable us to create a global hub of knowledge and best practices in this ever-evolving field.â
This collaboration underscores a shared commitment to advancing the understanding of sports betting and its media interactions on a global scale, ensuring responsible gambling practices and fostering responsible marketing standards.
For more information about the International Gaming Institute at UNLV, please visit UNLV .edu/IGI.
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Caesars Sportsbook Accepts its First Sports Wagers in Oregon Through a Partnership with the Coquille Indian Tribe

Caesars Entertainment Inc. accepted sports wagers in Oregon for the first time, made possible through a partnership with the Coquille Indian Tribe in Coos Bay. The ceremonial first bet was placed on Caesars Sportsbook self-service wagering kiosks inside the Coquille Indian Tribeâs premier gaming and hospitality destination, Ko-Kwel Casino Resort | Coos Bay, previously known as The Mill Casino, which now celebrates its 30th anniversary.
Caesars has enhanced Coquilleâs sports viewing experience at its premier destination with a large fleet of Caesars Sportsbook self-service betting kiosks, conveniently located on the casino floor. These kiosks feature a best-in-class wagering menu with a wide array of same game parlays, player props, futures and live in-play markets. Sports fans 21 and older can enjoy the gold standard of sports wagering, including unmatched full college sports offerings which are not otherwise available on a statewide mobile basis in Oregon, reflecting Caesarsâ and the Coquille Indian Tribeâs shared commitment to providing world-class experiences.
âWe remain committed to supporting Indian gaming, and weâre proud to partner with the Coquille Indian Tribe to enhance their guest experience. Bringing our sports wagering offering to a new jurisdiction for the first time is always significant, and we know offering our expansive menu of sports wagering markets will undoubtedly enhance the exceptional experience that the Coquille Indian Tribe provides to its guests,â said Eric Hession, President of Caesars Digital.
âWe are proud to have this iconic gaming brand join us, as both brands have represented excellence in the industry for decades. This partnership aligns perfectly with our commitment to advancing gaming opportunities and enhancing guest satisfaction. We are excited to collaborate with such a distinguished brand and look forward to creating even more memorable sports wagering experiences for our guests,â said Margaret Simpson, CEO of the Coquille Economic Development Corporation.
Oregonâs newest in-person sports wagering destination at Ko-Kwel Casino Resort | Coos Bay provides a responsible environment for guests to wager on their favourite sporting events, supported by the longstanding commitment to Responsible Gaming that both Caesars and the Coquille Indian Tribe have upheld for decades.
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Light & Wonder Completes Acquisition of Grover Gamingâs Charitable Gaming Assets

Light & Wonder Inc. announced it has completed its previously disclosed acquisition of Grover Gamingâs charitable gaming assets for total consideration of $850 million cash, subject to customary purchase price adjustments, and a four-year revenue-based earn-out of up to $200 million cash.
âGrover Gaming has established itself as a leader in the fast-growing charitable gaming space. Bringing their assets and expertise into our ecosystem aligns perfectly with our strategy to expand into complementary regulated markets. This addition enhances our position as the leading global cross-platform games company and opens new opportunities to deliver our world-class content to even more players. Weâre excited to welcome the Grover team to Light & Wonder,â said Matt Wilson, President and CEO of Light & Wonder.
âJoining Light & Wonder marks an exciting new chapter for the charitable gaming business. Weâre proud of what weâve built in the charitable gaming space, and we see tremendous opportunity to grow even further as part of Light & Wonder. Our teams share a passion for innovation and a commitment to serving customers and communities, and weâre excited to take that to the next level together,â said Brian Brown, CEO of Grover Gaming (Light & Wonderâs new division).
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Pavilion Payments Names Alyssa Beaver Senior Vice President of Sales

Pavilion Payments, the leader in omnichannel payment solutions for the gaming industry, has announced the appointment of Alyssa Beaver as Senior Vice President of Sales. In this role, Alyssa will lead Pavilion Paymentsâ brick-and-mortar sales organisation, working closely with the leadership team to drive growth and foster long-term relationships with new and existing customers. She will also be key in enhancing the companyâs market footprint by cultivating strong, collaborative partnerships across product, operations, and service teams.
âWe are thrilled to welcome Alyssa to the Pavilion Payments team. Alyssa has a proven track record in sales leadership, and her deep understanding of both the gaming and fintech industries will be invaluable as we continue our growth. Her customer-centric approach, strategic mindset, and collaborative leadership style will help us continue to innovate and deliver outstanding solutions to our customers,â said Dan Connors, CEO of Pavilion Payments.
âIâm excited to join Pavilion Payments at such a pivotal time of innovation and growth. I look forward to working with our incredible team to help our partners grow, enhance the player experience, and deliver meaningful value to the industry,â said Alyssa Beaver, Senior Vice President of Sales at Pavilion Payments.
Alyssaâs extensive experience in sales and marketing comes from her recent leadership role at Passport Technology, where she led the sales and marketing teams and was instrumental in driving significant revenue and organizational growth. During this time, she played a critical role in landing several major enterprise accounts and expanding the companyâs market presence.
Before her work at Passport, Alyssa held senior sales positions at Apriva and gained experience at Paycom, where she built a strong foundation in fintech and SaaS solutions across diverse sectors such as education, healthcare, and military.
Her ability to build relationships, close large deals, and scale sales teams has set her apart as a sales leader. Alyssa is passionate about fostering partnerships and collaborating across teams to create customer-first solutions that drive business success. She is a graduate of Arizona State University.
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