PlayVS, the leading amateur esports platform, announced the renewal of its groundbreaking partnership with NASCAR and iRacing, reaffirming its commitment to supporting the rapidly expanding eNASCAR College iRacing Series. This renewed collaboration will continue to bring high-octane, competitive virtual racing to college students across the country, providing unique career and scholarship opportunities through one of the most innovative programs in collegiate esports. This season will also mark the debut of PlayVS as the official league platform, following its recent acquisition of Playfly College Esports.

Launched in 2022, the eNASCAR College iRacing Series has quickly become one of the most engaging and inclusive collegiate esports competitions in the country. Powered by iRacing’s premier motorsport simulation platform and NASCAR’s deep racing heritage, the series gives full-time college students the opportunity to compete for scholarship prizes, develop real-world career skills, and gain exposure to professional motorsports and esports pathways.

The eNASCAR College iRacing Series has grown to over 300 schools and almost 500 unique racers. In April, the 2024-25 Series season concluded with Cal State Fullerton’s Logan Clampitt celebrating victory at the Homestead-Miami Speedway and earning $10,000 in scholarship prizes.

“Renewing our partnership with NASCAR and iRacing reflects our commitment to delivering competitive and meaningful esports experiences to college students across North America. The eNASCAR College iRacing Series is not just about virtual racing—it’s a launchpad for future talent in motorsports, gaming, and media,” said Charles O’Donnell, Sr. Director of College Esports at PlayVS.

Through iRacing’s hyper-realistic simulation software, students experience the thrill of authentic stock car racing while competing from their dorm rooms, esports arenas, or home setups. The upcoming 2025-26 season promises even more exciting races, new tracks, and increased prize opportunities.

“We’re proud to continue building the future of sim racing through our partnership with iRacing and PlayVS. The eNASCAR College iRacing Series is more than just competition—it’s a foundational bridge between the collegiate esports ecosystem and the world of NASCAR. As we enter the 2025–26 season, this partnership strengthens our commitment to developing young talent, expanding access, and inspiring the next generation of motorsports professionals,” said Ray Smith, Sr. Director of Esports at NASCAR.

The BSA-AML Compliance Group announced the return of the Annual BSA/AML Gaming Conference, the most respected and comprehensive anti-money laundering compliance event in the gaming industry. The 2025 conference will be held at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas from September 9–11, with a dedicated “Fundamentals Day” on Monday, September 8 for newer professionals or those seeking a refresher in core BSA/AML principles.

Headline Keynotes and Distinguished Guests Announced

This year’s event features presentations from some of the most influential figures in financial crime enforcement and policy:

Guy Ficco, Chief of IRS-Criminal Investigation (CI), who oversees a global agency of more than 3,200 employees and 2100 special agents. In his keynote address, Chief Ficco will provide insights into the critical role of Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) and Currency Transaction Reports (CTRs) in federal investigations. He will also highlight CI’s role in recent, high-profile financial crime cases.

Carole House, former Director for Cybersecurity and Secure Digital Innovation at the White House National Security Council and senior advisor at FinCEN, will deliver a keynote exploring the intersection of AML compliance, national security, and emerging technology. A leader in cybersecurity and digital asset policy, Ms. House will speak to the future of risk, regulation, and innovation.

For the first time ever, the 2025 conference will host two former Directors of the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) — the bureau of the U.S. Treasury responsible for enforcing the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA). They will share unique perspectives on how BSA policy has evolved over time and what the future holds for AML regulation for the gaming sector. Several other high-level government officials – state and federal, civil, regulatory, and criminal – will be announced in the near future.

The BSA/AML Gaming Conference continues to be the leading annual forum for compliance professionals in the gaming industry. Last year’s event welcomed more than 550 attendees from 39 states, three foreign countries, dozens of tribes, and over 160 gaming entities, with overwhelmingly positive feedback about speaker access, practical insights, and cross-sector networking.

The conference will also feature in-depth studies of recent enforcement actions, emerging issues involving know-your-customer and source of funds, a presentation regarding data analysis and player risks, and new and unregulated gaming models. As in previous years, it will highlight on emerging risks, new illicit finance typologies, and actionable compliance solutions.

“Our goal has always been to bring together the best minds from government and industry to share real-world solutions. With keynote speakers like Guy Ficco and Carole House, and the participation of former FinCEN Directors, this year’s event will be our most impactful yet,” said James Dowling, Co-Founder of the BSA-AML Compliance Group and President and Managing Director of the Dowling Advisory Group.

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Brightstar Capital Partners (“Brightstar”), a private equity firm focused on investing in business services, industrials, consumer, and government services and technology companies, announced the closing of its acquisition of PlayAGS, Inc., a global full-service gaming supplier of high-performing slot, table, and interactive products. The transaction was first announced on May 9, 2024.

The closing follows approval of the transaction by AGS stockholders and the receipt of all required regulatory approvals. Under the terms of the agreement, AGS stockholders will receive $12.50 per share in cash, valuing the transaction at approximately $1.1 billion. As a result, AGS is now a privately held company, and its common stock will be delisted from the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).

The acquisition comes amid strong growth momentum for AGS. Over the past three years, the Company has more than doubled its global slot unit sales to over 6,100 units, grown online real-money gaming content revenue by over 150%, and increased Table Products revenue by more than 50%—collectively driving three consecutive years of record revenue performance. Powered by strategic investments in R&D and a deep and diverse suite of high-performing products, AGS has become a comprehensive solutions provider across multiple product categories and has a growing global presence both in land-based and online casinos.

“We’re excited to join forces with Brightstar, a partnership that marks both a pivotal moment and a transformative new chapter in AGS’ growth story,” said David Lopez, CEO & President of AGS. “With Brightstar as a strategic partner, we believe AGS is in an ideal position to accelerate growth and double-down on delivering focused, high-impact innovation across slots, table products, and online gaming. This partnership sharpens our ability to serve casino operators with differentiated content and solutions built to give them a winning edge.”

“We are thrilled to officially welcome David and the AGS team to Brightstar,” said Andrew Weinberg, Founder, CEO & Co-Chair of Brightstar. “We believe that AGS’ full-spectrum product offering and customer-centric culture set it apart in a growing industry. Our goal is to help the Company expand into new markets and continue to use technology to create exciting games and products.”

Macquarie Capital served as financial advisor and Cooley LLP served as legal counsel to AGS. Jefferies LLC served as lead financial advisor to Brightstar. Barclays and Citizens JMP Securities also served as financial advisors to Brightstar. Kirkland & Ellis LLP and Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck served as legal counsel to Brightstar.