More bang for your buck

Published

3 weeks ago

March 31, 2025

Troy Paul of SGG Media, on why streamers and influencer amplification are fast becoming the cornerstone of media activation for sportsbook and casino brands

Amplification is crucial to getting the most out of marketing activity and spend, but it’s something that very few online sportsbook brands are doing, let alone getting right.

Amplification means taking marketing campaigns and materials and “amplifying” them through targeted influencers that get the messaging in front of even more people.

Let me explain by way of example.

An operator will pay an athlete millions of dollars a year to create social posts about its sportsbook and offering, including new bonuses and Sunday Football Picks.

Let’s say the athlete is making a post on Monday that says he loves the Kansas City Chiefs in that week’s game and that DraftKings is offering a boost to all players who tail his bet slip.

This post will generate a decent number of impressions and clicks, but this can be “amplified” by having the top Kansas City Chiefs fan accounts retweet it on X or create an Insta story around it.

These influencers will then say things like “I love this play” or “KC fans, don’t miss out!”, boosting the message to more people and ultimately driving engagement and interaction.

Stake - Best Online Casino & Sports Betting Platform

In many cases, we have taken posts that will generate around 50,000 impressions and through our network of influencers, make that post go viral with 10x-20x engagement and reach.

Sportsbooks spend millions on their celebrity partnerships and brand ambassadors, but for a few thousand dollars, amplification can turbo-charge engagement with that content and transform KPIs.

And it’s not just sportsbooks that can benefit from this – so too can online casinos, casinos, racetracks and tribal casinos and sportsbooks.

Mastering the art of amplification

The channels through which amplification is the most effective are evolving with live streaming very much king these days.

The audiences behind popular sports and casino live streams are extremely loyal, and those who can lead an audience through an entertaining stream are becoming instrumental to operator growth.

Streamers are the new celebrities and the space as a whole has tons of latent potential to explore and growth to unlock, especially in terms of a media play.

In terms of how it works relating to amplification, let’s take a Tuesday NBA team in a mid-level market as an example. Most NBA fans don’t even know the game is on, let alone where to watch it.

If a popular streamer had the necessary media access to live stream the game, his loyal audience would tune in to watch the stream regardless and then in turn be introduced to the NBA.

Streamers ultimately create a community around the content they are watching, and this can directly translate to a growing audience around a sport, team, player or, of course, a betting brand.

Sportsbook and casino brands need to get in on the amplification action

This is why sportsbook and casino brands need to sign with streamers early and use them to support marketing campaigns and growth initiatives.

For me, developing a product around a streamer’s audience will prove to be an immensely important aspect for growing brand equity and boosting engagement in the months and years ahead.

For example, a client of ours recently created a 1SC promo link for the first 5,000 users to log into their account through the link. The stream reached the 5,000-user cap in 24 hours.

This means 5,000 unique accounts logged into and/or wagered through the social casino account in the 24-hour period, which is an insane metric.

This stands as a perfect example of how an operator can build out a campaign targeted at streaming, and how amplification through streaming resulted in success.

There are tons of opportunities to explore

Of course, this is just one example and there are loads of opportunities for both operators and content creators to get into.

Streamers that can leverage platforms like X, Instagram and TikTok to create a loyal audience that shows up daily for their content will be in an excellent position to monetise through partnerships.

The operators that recognise this trend early, and we are still in the early days of streaming and amplification, will get ahead of the curve in the ever-changing landscape of media activation.

But where there are opportunities there are also challenges and streaming is no different. The big one here is that no post-editing can be done as everything is broadcast in real-time.

This makes it imperative that streaming hosts are well versed in the sportsbook/casino’s brand guidelines and the compliance and responsible gambling elements that come along with it.

Influencer amplification is the cornerstone of media activation

With influencer amplification, brands don’t need to spend millions of dollars with Google AdSense or Meta ads to target fans – even though this is what’s been done up until this point.

With streaming and general influencer amplification, campaigns can be delivered directly to fans that genuinely care about the content.

What’s more, this can be done for pennies on the dollar of what traditional media would cost, and with a much better return.

In short, online and land-based gambling brands can get more bang for their buck.

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Arizona Department of Gaming Issues Multiple Cease-and-Desists

Published

2 hours ago

April 22, 2025

George Miller

Arizona Department of Gaming Issues Multiple Cease-and-Desists

The Arizona Department of Gaming (“ADG”) has taken decisive enforcement action this week against multiple unlicensed and unregulated gambling operators—both domestic and international—that have been unlawfully targeting Arizona residents. As part of its ongoing efforts to protect the public and uphold Arizona gaming laws, the Department has issued several cease-and-desist orders to unlicensed entities offering unlawful wagering activities.

The named operators are allegedly providing access to various illegal online gaming services, including slot-style casino games, “sweepstakes” platforms, sports wagering, horse race betting, and peer-to-peer wagering exchanges. These operations are not licensed by the State and fail to meet Arizona’s strict regulatory requirements, thereby posing significant consumer protection and financial risks to Arizonans.

The following unlicensed operators have been issued cease-and-desist orders:

Sweepstakes:
ARB Gaming, LLC d/b/a Modo.us
MODO.us (online casino) / BITMODO LLC
Modo
Epic Hunts
Event Wagering Sportsbook:
Generiz
Peer-to-Peer Exchange:
ProphetX
Offers Multiple Types:
MyBookie
BetUS.com

The active operations of these companies and online websites in Arizona are alleged to be felony criminal enterprises, and each operator has been directed to desist from any future illegal gambling operations or activities of any type in Arizona. Due to the unregulated and illegal online gaming offerings on these sites, operators are claimed to be in violation of Arizona gaming laws, including:

Promotion of Gambling (Felony) — A.R.S. § 13-3303.
Illegal Control of an Enterprise (Felony) — A.R.S. § 13-2312.
Money Laundering (Felony) — A.R.S. § 13-2317.

Each aforementioned operator has been directed to immediately cease all online (or other) gambling operations and activities in Arizona, and take the necessary steps to immediately prevent and exclude Arizona residents and visitors from gambling on their websites.

“Illegal gaming—no matter the platform or format—has no place in Arizona. Whether it’s sweepstakes, online casino-style games, or unauthorized sports betting, if an operation exists outside of the state’s legal and regulatory framework, we are prepared to take enforcement action,” stated Jackie Johnson, Director of the ADG. “Illegal gambling is not just unlawful—it’s stealing from our economy and undermining the safeguards that protect consumers. The Department fully supports the licensed and regulated operators who are doing things the right way—operating within the bounds of the law, contributing to Arizona’s economy, and providing the protections that only a regulated market can ensure.”

Consumer Protection Advisory:

As illegal online gaming activity continues to rise, the ADG urges all residents and visitors to be cautious when participating in gaming—whether online or in person. Regulated gaming offers important consumer protections—helping ensure fair play, data security, accountability, and a safer overall experience.

Many online platforms currently accessible in Arizona are neither licensed nor regulated, exposing users to significant risks, including fraud, identity theft, and financial loss. Because these operations fall outside the state’s regulatory authority, ADG cannot assist with complaints or disputes involving unregulated or illegal gaming activities—often leaving victims with no recourse for recovering lost funds. It is important to remember: just because you can download the app, access the website, and play the games does not mean the platform is legal or safe.

Individuals are encouraged to verify the legitimacy of any gaming platform before placing bets or engaging in gameplay. To protect yourself, always use legally authorized and state-regulated operators. A complete list of authorized casinos, event wagering operators, fantasy sports operators, and off-track betting for horse racing is available on ADG’s official website: gaming.az.gov.

How to Report Suspicious Gaming Activity, Fraud, or Identity Theft:

If you encounter what appears to be an illegal gaming website, app, or an operation impersonating an authorized Arizona casino or licensed operator, take the following steps:

Document the website URL, app, business name, and any promotional materials associated with the platform or operator.
Report itto ADG at [email protected] and the Arizona Attorney General’s Office Consumer Information and Complaints Unit at (602) 542-5763 or by visiting azag.gov/consumer.
Cease activity on the platform and monitor financial accounts for unauthorized transactions.
If you suspect identity theft, report it to the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”): for help in English, go to IdentityTheft.gov, and for help in Spanish, go to RobodeIdentidad.gov.

ADG takes complaints about all illegal gambling seriously. To report any form of suspected illegal gambling, visit gaming.az.gov/about/contact-us, call ADG at (602) 255-3886, or email [email protected]. Reports can be made anonymously.

Latest News

Olympia Gaming Launches Mobile Apps, LB Rewards and CF Rewards

Published

5 days ago

April 17, 2025

Adrienn Sarkany

Olympia Gaming, the developer of Casino Fandango in Carson City, NV and Legends Bay Casino in Sparks, NV and Quick Custom Intelligence (QCI) today announced the rollout of mobile apps, LB Rewards and CF Rewards. With this launch, Olympia Gaming becomes the first operator in Northern Nevada to deliver the QCI Player App, setting a new regional standard for real-time, mobile guest engagement.

Current Features (Now Available):

Player Account Information – live tier status, point balance, free play, and comp dollars
Offer Listing – view of current and upcoming offers including free play, dining and hotel
Secure Tax Forms – digital retrieval of win/loss statements and tax documentations
Push Notifications & Event Alerts – real-time updates tailored to guest preferences

Future Features (Coming Soon):

Entertainment & Special Event Schedule – full calendar of concerts and events
Host Chat & Service Requests – direct, secure messaging for concierge-level support
Interactive Property Navigation – maps, parking guidance, and way-finding tools
Interactive Prizes – in-app rewards that are redeemable at either casino

“Launching the QCI Player App is a milestone for both Casino Fandango and Legends Bay Casino,” said DeCourcy Graham, Chief Operating Officer at Olympia Gaming. “Our guests can now see their rewards, view exclusive offers, and even access tax forms—all from their mobile device, furthering the value of our rewards program. We are thrilled to pioneer this technology in Northern Nevada and elevate the guest experience across our properties.”

With a combined focus on value and exceeding guest expectations, Olympia Gaming and QCI’s collaboration is delivering on a promise to set a new industry standard, offering capabilities that surpass current market offerings.

“Olympia Gaming challenged us to create an app that goes beyond basic account lookup and truly empowers the player,” said Dr. Ralph Thomas, Chief Executive Officer at QCI. “This successful launch reflects a close collaboration between the Olympia team and QCI, and we are excited to see the QCI Player App drive deeper engagement and new revenue opportunities for both properties.”

The LB Rewards and CF Rewards mobile apps are now available for download on Apple IOS and Google Play store.

Latest News

NH Players Wager $20M on March Madness

Published

5 days ago

April 17, 2025

Niji Narayan

New Hampshire Lottery enthusiasts wagered over $20 million on the NCAA basketball tournaments, experiencing a more than 10% increase in wagering from the previous year. Florida secured the men’s championship, while UConn emerged victorious on the women’s side.

Charlie McIntyre, Executive Director of New Hampshire Lottery, said: “What an incredible month of college hoops! We love seeing our players getting in on the sports betting action! Sports betting just adds a little extra excitement to the sports viewing experience, especially during March Madness when there are dozens of games throughout the month—not to mention an expanding variety of ways to bet.”

McIntyre highlighted March Madness as a significant period for sports betting, contributing notably to funding New Hampshire’s public education. Alongside the excitement of March Madness, anticipation is building for the NHL and NBA Playoffs.

During the pre-tournament phase, local gamblers heavily backed Duke for the men’s category and strongly supported UConn for the women’s, with UConn delivering a favorable outcome. Conversely, Florida’s triumph in the men’s championship surprised many, as only 15% had initially placed their hopes on the team. However, by the championship game against Houston, two-thirds of bettors picked Florida, redeeming many bracket predictions.

Since its inception on December 30, 2019, mobile sports betting in New Hampshire has generated over $3.5 billion, benefiting public education by more than $140 million. Residents can place bets via the DraftKings Sportsbook app, available on iOS and Android, or online at Sportsbook.DraftKings.com. Responsible gaming is emphasized, with tools like My Stats Sheet, limit setting, cooling-off periods, and self-exclusion options available on the app.