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Check Before You Bet – Play Responsibly Ahead of March Madness

Published

4 months ago

March 17, 2025

On Sunday, March 16, 2025, the 2025 March Madness tournament begins with Selection Sunday at 6 p.m. ET on CBS. March Madness is the coined name for the NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament, a single-elimination tournament of 68 teams that compete in seven rounds for the national championship. The penultimate (second to last) round is known as the Final Four, where only 4 teams remain.

Check out the full schedule below:

Selection Sunday: 6 p.m. ET Sunday, March 16 on CBS
First Four: March 18-19
First round: March 20-21
Second round: March 22-23
Sweet 16: March 27-28
Elite Eight: March 29-30
Final Four: April 5 at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas
NCAA championship game: April 7 at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas

With March Madness being one of the most anticipated, watched, and wagered-on events in all of sports, the Arizona Department of Gaming (“ADG”) is reminding Arizona residents and visitors to remember to play smart and bet responsibly, remaining within the bounds of the law.

“Every year, March Madness continues to rank among the top sporting events to wager on nationally, as excitement and anxiety builds as fans watch to see if their team will make it to the Final Four,” said Jackie Johnson, ADG Director. “The Department wants to use this opportunity as a chance to remind and encourage Arizona residents, as well as our springtime visitors, to make sure they are enjoying the games responsibly. Protect your bet and ensure your wagers are placed legally and thoughtfully this March.”

Sports Pools – Know What Rules to Follow

In the United States, it is common to see friends, families, and colleagues participate in sports pools for March Madness. These pools are legal as long as the state’s social gambling rules are followed. According to Arizona Law (A.R.S. § 13-3301(9)), social gambling requires:

That gambling cannot be conducted as business, which means that hosts cannot receive financial benefit, unless they are participating in the game;
Hosts pay out all pool money to the winner(s);
Only participants can win; and
Players compete on equal terms with each other.

A few things to be on the lookout for that indicate illegal gambling:

Paying a fee to participate, including “suggested” or “voluntary” donations.
A host who keeps a percentage of the pool for administering the game.
A required minimum purchase to participate (food or beverage, etc.).
Unequal odds.
Underage participants (under 21 years of age).

ADG takes complaints about illegal gambling seriously. To report suspected illegal gambling activity, visit our website at gaming.az.gov/about/contact-us, call (602) 255-3886, or email [email protected]. You can remain anonymous.

Responsible Betting – What to Keep in Mind

With sports betting legal in the state, it has become increasingly important to educate yourself on how you can bet responsibly. Listed below are some helpful tips as part of the American Gaming Association’s (AGA)

Have A Game Plan.® Bet Responsibly.™ campaign:

Set a Budget – It is crucial to keep in mind that everyone will have different budgets; never bet beyond your own means. Be cautious and make sure you set a limit – and stick to it – if you plan on wagering. More information on how to responsibly set a budget for wagering can be found on the AGA’s Have A Game Plan website: How Much Should I Wager?
Know the Odds – There are plenty of key terms everyone should know when making a sports bet. What’s a parlay? Over/under? Moneyline? If you decide to wager, make sure you are briefed on The Basics of Sports Betting.
Keep it Social – Whenever gambling, be mindful that all forms of gambling are for the purpose of entertainment. This is not a way to make money. By gaming with friends, family, and colleagues, you can keep playing responsibly and have fun.
Keep Your Cool – No one’s perfect, and in sports, winning and losing are all part of the game. Whether you’re wagering from the sidelines or watching from home, remember to keep your cool. Good sportsmanship isn’t just for the players on the field; it’s for everyone.
Play Legally – Legal operators provide important player protections that are not found in the illegal market. Whether you are placing a wager on your phone or at a physical sportsbook, make sure you are using a legal operator in the state. Visit the ADG website to view a full list of the state’s approved operators and retail locations: Approved Operators.

You can view more information on how to bet responsibly by visiting haveagameplan.org. In recognition of Problem Gambling Awareness Month (“PGAM”), the Department wants to remind Arizonans that if you or someone you know has a gambling problem, the Division of Problem Gambling (“DPG”) urges you to get help now by calling 1-800-NEXT STEP (1.800.639.8783), DPG’s confidential helpline, texting “NEXTSTEP” to 53342, or utilizing a chat feature on the DPG website. DPG’s helpline provides confidentiality and connects callers with a master’s level counselor who can connect them with available resources, including statewide treatment providers who specialize in problem gambling.

The helpline is available 24/7 to everyone facing a problem with gambling – individuals and affected family members, friends, or co-workers. Learn more and access resources at problemgambling.az.gov. Additionally, the ADG published a press release on March 3 recognizing PGAM.

Stake - Best Online Casino & Sports Betting Platform

Please view the press release by visiting our website’s Media Room, as well as DPG’s PGAM toolkit for more information.

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Plaza Hotel & Casino to host Las Vegas’ inaugural “Wing Bowl®” with first qualifying “Wing Off” event on July 4 at 6 p.m. at Carousel Bar

Published

12 hours ago

June 30, 2025

Adrienn Sarkany

The Plaza Hotel & Casino is bringing to Las Vegas the iconic “Wing Bowl,” the premier chicken wing-eating competition that was founded in Philadelphia in 1993. The main event, Wing Bowl 2026®, will take place on Feb. 7, 2026, and the first qualifying “Wing Off” event will take place at Carousel Bar at 6 p.m. on Friday, July 4, and it is free to the public to attend.

The first and second place eaters in the July 4 qualifying event will move on to the February contest. The Plaza will also award $1,000 to the person who eats the most Buffalo wings in 10 minutes on July 4. The July 4^th qualifying event is one of several that will be held in Las Vegas and Philadelphia in the coming months to compete in the Feb. 7 event at the Plaza.

The main event on Feb. 7 will host a live audience of hundreds of attendees in the Plaza showroom and reach an even wider audience through online broadcasting. With a $5,000 cash prize at stake, 20 competitors will battle it out in three rounds of intense wing-eating action. This competition will feature both amateur and competitive eaters.

The February event will also feature the Wingettes, the cheerleaders of Wing Bowl who escort contestants on stage and bring energy, glamour, and charisma to the event. They will be selected through an exclusive online and live audition process later this year.

William Hill Sportsbook is a partner sponsor of Wing Bowl, and additional sponsorship opportunities are available by contacting

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From Start to Top-3: Media Buying Agency Gipsy’s Journey in the N1 Puzzle Promo

Published

13 hours ago

June 30, 2025

George Miller

From Start to Top-3: Media Buying Agency Gipsy’s Journey in the N1 Puzzle Promo

N1 Puzzle Promo is a unique campaign on the iGaming market from N1 Partners for partners that runs until the end of 2025. Their slogan – “Why drive when you can fly?”, points to the grand prize. What exactly can you win? Keep reading to find out.

N1 Partners, one of the top affiliate programs with Tier-1 brands, is running the N1 Puzzle Promo. Registered partners run traffic – PPC and ASO, SEO traffic, Facebook, and other channels – and earn puzzle pieces. The more pieces you collect – the better chance to win the main prize… a HELICOPTER!

Everyone has a shot at victory. Let’s meet Media Buying Agency Gipsy, now in the top-3 of the N1 Puzzle Promo.

Partnership Background

Media Buying Agency Gipsy and the N1 Partners affiliate program have worked together for many years. Over time they have built smooth processes, strong relationships, and solid analytics.

Ariadna, CBDO of Gipsy MBA, says: “It feels like we’ve worked together forever, but we started handling large volumes only last year.”

Formula for Growth

Traffic from Gipsy to N1 Partners’ products grew very hard the past year. This rise comes from high-converting offers in Tier-1 GEOs and attractive CPA terms. Partners also get access to analytics and consulting from the program.

Ariadna, CBDO Gipsy MBA: “We use quality approaches and track analytics regularly. Fast communication with our affiliate manager also helps a lot.”

N1 Puzzle Promo: Experience and Top Products to Scale

Gipsy works with PPC, FB & UAC traffic. All these sources count in the N1 Puzzle Promo:

PPC & ASO – 1 puzzle piece for every 40 FTD
FB & other* – 1 puzzle piece for every 100 FTD

*Social media, SMS, Email, UAC, In-app

Ariadna, CBDO Gipsy MBA: “We joined the N1 Puzzle Promo in April, almost from the very start. The prizes inspire us, especially the helicopter. We didn’t change our traffic sources—we just scaled up and tested new sources and GEOs. Over time we tried every product; now we focus on N1bet, Jet4bet, Slotlords, Slotmafia, and Retrobet.”

Today Gipsy MBA is in the top 3 by puzzle pieces, and the team is determined: “Seeing the volumes we run to N1 Partners, we hope to stay in the TOP and grab some prizes. We already hold a top-3 spot for puzzle pieces, so we aim to keep growing,” – commented Ariadna, CBDO Gipsy MBA.

If they win, the Gipsy MBA team plans to fly their Robinson R22 Beta II to Australia to chase seagulls. Where will you fly?

Join the N1 Puzzle Promo!

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FIRST and Genius Sports Extend Landmark Data Partnership, Powering Continued Growth

Published

13 hours ago

June 30, 2025

George Miller

Industry leaders agree new extension to data and streaming partnership that will see FIRST – Best in Sports turbo-charge global growth and boost annual revenues for Genius Sports

FIRST – Best in Sports, the Tier 1 provider of sports betting solutions, and Genius Sports, the leading sports data and technology company, today announce that they have extended their landmark partnership that will see Genius Sports continue to deliver its industry-leading betting data and streaming technology to FIRST – Best in Sports.

As part of the new agreement, FIRST – Best in Sports will distribute Genius Sports data and streaming content to its expanded B2B network and grow the data company’s volume, reach and annual revenues in a major way as it brings partners onstream in Latin America, with Brazil as a major focus.

FIRST’s growth in Brazil and leading position as a LATAM-focused sportsbook solution will be further enhanced by Genius’s focus in South America.
This includes coverage of Brazil’s Serie A, Serie B, Campeonato Paulista, Mexico’s Liga MX and the Primera Ligas in Uruguay, Ecuador, Bolivia, Argentina, Chile, Colombia and Paraguay.

The deal extension is part of a comprehensive agreement between two companies that are setting industry standards for the speed, accuracy and depth of their online sports betting offerings. The new partnership also sees FIRST become the official betting partner of Genius Sports, with the group set to recommend FIRST – Best in Sports to operators seeking fully-managed sports betting solutions.

Tom Light, CEO of FIRST – Best in Sports, commented: “We have been working with Genius Sports for many years, and I am delighted to be extending and deepening our relationship with such an industry leader. FIRST – Best in Sports and Genius Sports represent the gold standard in their respective fields and the new agreement will enable us to continue growing revenues for Genius Sports as we launch new partners and expand our network. We look forward to providing the most complete and data-rich solution to sports betting operators in the world’s fastest-growing markets.”