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My big predictions for 2025

Published

1 month ago

January 28, 2025

Intelitics CEO Allan Stone talks sweepstakes, influencers and personalised player experiences

This is a fast-moving sector and over the next 12 months operators and suppliers will once again have to strap in for a roller-coaster ride. Ups and downs are guaranteed as they navigate the shifting sands of the global online gambling industry.

This makes predicting what the coming year has in store a tough task – player preferences can quickly change, regulations can suddenly update and innovations catch companies off guard. But I like a challenge, so here are big predictions for 2025 below.

The sweepstakes hype will become a reality

If 2024 was the hype year for sweepstakes, 2025 is the year they will become a reality despite the sector being under immense pressure. That said, most operators are staying the course with stakeholders at the state level duking it out over regulations and class action lawsuits.

This will bring changes in certain areas, but I think there will be a move away from heavy-handed measures and instead, the public markets will be left to figure things out – this will give good companies the room to grow and adapt.

We are already seeing established companies address problem areas by embracing best practices around areas such as player verification and responsible gambling which in turn is helping to legitimise their business and the wider sweepstakes vertical.

Stake - Best Online Casino & Sports Betting Platform

Operators will become more strategic with their marketing efforts (and spend)

Sportsbook operators finally read the room in 2024 and understood that consumers were getting tired of seeing the same national TV ads over and over, especially in states where sports betting isn’t legal.

This saw many brands pull back on national campaigns amid diminishing returns on blanketing the airwaves with generic ads to become more strategic. This is a trend I expect to see continue in 2025.

This will mean more localised advertising with hyper-vigilance in spending – every ad dollar will be carefully allocated to ensure it delivers results. Expect refined top-of-funnel tactics with companies moving away from noisy, generic campaigns in favour of targeted consumer-first strategies.

Don’t underestimate the power of Meta

Meta is the second-largest controller of digital ad inventory in the world and is arguably the best platform out there for targeting and segmenting specific audiences. But it’s important to play by their rules – if Meta bans you, you’re essentially removing yourself from the equation.

It’s next to impossible to come back from and we’ve seen this happen time and again with clients coming to use after a ban asking for a fix. The reality is, there isn’t one.

This is why it’s so important to take your time with Meta – taking a strategic approach and ensuring compliance with its rules means you don’t get burned when playing with what is one of the hottest marketing platforms in the world.

Personalised experiences will become mission-critical to operator success

The operators succeeding in sports betting right now understand that players want experiences tailored to them. This means ensuring they can quickly access the bets they want to place, whether that be for specific teams or players, and even the markets and bet types they prefer.

Personalisation is about adapting to how players bet, not the other way around. This helps operators and brands to build long-term engagement by tailoring the experience, which in turn keeps players coming back.

If operators can create something that feels personal and intuitive they don’t need to keep pushing heavy promotions or generic options.

Fanatics have proven how powerful this approach can be – they weren’t the first to market, but they filled gaps their competition left wide open and have achieved great success by doing so. Ultimately, operators need to remember to build for players and not for themselves.

Influencers will enter the marketing mix in a meaningful way

Influencers have proved to be an effective marketing tool but an influencer strategy without a strong way to measure attribution is useless, and two things you need to be extremely clear about with influencers is “can you actually send me players” and “how valuable are these players to me?”.

These are easy questions to ask but much harder to answer.

This is why you need to test, track and iterate. I’d suggest starting with a promotion and closely monitoring data. You should also ask yourself things like:

How many people saw the promotion?

How many clicked?

Of those clicks, how many created accounts?

Are those accounts funded?

Are these new users actively playing over time?

But remember, influencers aren’t just an acquisition tool. They are a way to amplify your message to an audience you might already engage with but need help reaching consistently. This is hard to track, but with the right technology and attribution systems, it can be done.

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Emerging Startup Adventura Gaming to Launch New Casino Table Game, Penn & Teller Casino Monte

Published

20 hours ago

February 28, 2025

Adrienn Sarkany

Adventura Gaming, a new boutique gaming company pioneering branded casino games that blend world renowned celebrities and brands with cutting-edge gameplay, is launching its casino table game, Penn & Teller Casino Monte, on March 3 at Rio Hotel & Casino. Creating an innovative table game experience with the beloved and iconic Penn & Teller, the game is poised to attract valuable new audiences to casinos as the first celebrity branded casino table game of its kind.

“We couldn’t be more proud to officially announce Adventura Gaming to the industry with the launch of our Penn & Teller Casino Monte, a groundbreaking table game that merges entertainment, innovation and the magic of one of the world’s most iconic duos,” said David Anthony, president and cofounder at Adventura Gaming. “By combining engaging gameplay with a celebrity brand that resonates with audiences outside of slot machines, we’re creating a fresh and exciting experience for players while delivering added value to casino operators,” added Cinnamon Booth, Adventura Gaming’s executive vice president and cofounder.

“Casino Monte is a brand-new table game that’s fiendishly fun,” remarked Penn Jillette, one half of the storied Penn & Teller duo. “When Adventura introduced us to this new casino table game concept, it quickly became clear—not only could we learn it and play it, but it was genuinely fun. I thought if we can learn it, anyone can, and they’ll have a great time doing it.”

As soon as they saw its engaging mechanics, Adventura Gaming was immediately captivated by its potential, and moved decisively to license and refine the game. Anthony and Booth said they’ve “loved the idea of Penn & Teller going all the way back to their three-card game shenanigans in Run DMC’s Tricky music video. So of course, we knew right away they were the only ones we wanted to partner with.”

Drawing in an audience with internationally recognized celebrity magicians Penn & Teller, and its original patented gameplay, Penn & Teller Casino Monte allows players to place a bet on ‘Penn,’ ‘&’ or ‘Teller’ and the higher the card, the better the chances to win.

Latest News

Plaza Hotel & Casino hosting Nike Pickleball Camp, March 14-16

Published

21 hours ago

February 28, 2025

Adrienn Sarkany

Offering 13 rooftop pickleball courts, the most of any Las Vegas resort, the Plaza Hotel & Casino in downtown Las Vegas will host a three-day Nike Pickleball Camp led by nationally-ranked professional pickleball player Rick Witsken, Friday, March 14 through Sunday, March 16, from 1 to 4 p.m. each day.

Open to players 18 years or older and at any skill level (beginner, intermediate, or advanced), the weekend camp gives participants the option to attend one, two, or three days of pickleball lessons and play that are designed to address specific needs, increase knowledge of the game, and help improve play in a fun and friendly environment.

The Nike Pickleball Camp will be led by Rick Witsken, a top ranked senior pro and co-founder of the National Pickleball League (NPL). Previously world-ranked on the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) in both singles and doubles play and currently ranked #1 on the Association of Pickleball Players (APP) Senior Pro Men’s standings, Witsken has won more than 100 senior and open pro medals and has served as director of over 50 camps. He currently hosts the “RipSken Pickleball” podcast and posts instructional videos online via the Midwest Pickleball club. He also founded the first public scholastic middle school pickleball team at Zionsville Middle School in Whitestown, Indiana.

The first day of the camp will focus on short and soft game skills, like dinks and drops. The second day highlights aggressive game skills, including drives, serves, returns, speed ups. The final day will culminate with strategy and positioning lessons.

All camp participants will receive a Nike Pickleball Camp t-shirt and prizes with their registration. They must bring their own pickleball paddle, athletic shoes, and water bottle. Upon arrival, all participants are evaluated by camp staff so that their personal instructional needs can be addressed throughout the weekend. Participants are grouped by ability first then by age per the camp director’s discretion, and adjustments are made as needed during camp.

Compliance Updates

MGCB Issues Cease-and-Desist Order to BetNow

Published

21 hours ago

February 28, 2025

Niji Narayan

The Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) has issued a cease-and-desist order to BetNow.eu Sportsbook, Casino, and Racebook (BetNow), an offshore online casino operating illegally within the state. The site offers a range of casino games, including slots, poker, and live dealer options such as blackjack, roulette, and craps, as well as betting services for sports events and horse races.

“This unlicensed operator not only violates Michigan law, but also exposes consumers to significant risks. Our job is to protect Michigan residents by ensuring that all online gambling is conducted legally and responsibly,” MGCB Executive Director Henry Williams said.

BetNow offers numerous payment options for player deposits, including Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Zelle, Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Tether, Bitcoin Cash, CashMG, and bank transfers. However, players must wager their entire initial deposit before becoming eligible to withdraw any winnings.

The MGCB’s investigation found that BetNow is in violation of several key state laws, including:

• Lawful Internet Gaming Act: Only licensed operators are permitted to offer internet gaming. Only Michigan-licensed casinos and federally authorized tribal casinos can apply for a gaming license under state law.

• Michigan Gaming Control and Revenue Act: Operating an unlicensed gambling business is a felony in Michigan, carrying penalties of up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $100,000, or both.

• Michigan Penal Code: Gambling, which involves payment based on the outcome of an uncertain event, is prohibited under state law. Accepting money with the understanding it will be paid based on a game of chance is illegal.