BetBlocker is delighted to announce that it has made a donation to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, in support of the International Gaming Institute’s (IGI) research program.  This contribution will help advance academic research on gambling blocking software and its users. This marks a pioneering collaboration between a blocking software provider and an internationally renowned academic institute specialising in gambling research.  Both organizations envision this research generating transformative insights that will help inform evidence-based policies, enhance player protection measures, and contribute to the broader public good.

Pedro Romero, Chief of SG Partnerships at BetBlocker enthused: “We are very happy to collaborate with UNLV IGI and Dr. Ghaharian’s research team on this project. This is our first research collaboration in the U.S., and we are delighted to support a study that provides genuine insights into the role of free and anonymous blocking software in harm prevention and minimisation. Helping with this research is in line with our values of enhancing safer gambling tools and reducing gambling-related harm. In a sector where we often see reports commissioned to research consultancy companies at great expense to validate commercial products, we believe in supporting independent research: critical, objective, peer-reviewed, and academically rigorous.”

Director of Research at the International Gaming Institute, Kasra Ghaharian, PhD commented: “Gaining a better understanding of individuals who use gambling blocking software is critical, as there is little to no published research on this population,” said Kasra Ghaharian, Director of Research at IGI. ” We are truly grateful to BetBlocker for their support, which will help advance research in this area while also providing valuable opportunities for graduate students to develop their skills. I can’t wait for us to share the insights from this important work, which will be valuable to operators, policymakers, and the public”.

When asked about his hopes for the research project, Founder and Trustee of BetBlocker, Duncan Garvie stated: “For the first 4 years of the project, I delivered the user technical support for BetBlocker. I’ve interacted with thousands of people using the tool and I know how much of a difference it has made to a huge number of lives. But that type of anecdotal validation isn’t enough in this day and age. Effectiveness has to be evidenced and we’re very supportive of academic efforts to gather evidence to examine how the availability of a free, anonymous blocking software improves outcomes for user.”

ComOps, a leading provider of strategy and operational support for the hospitality and gaming industries, is pleased to announce the promotion of George Polyard to Chief Operating Officer (COO) from Vice President, Customer Experience. In this role, George will oversee enterprise-wide operations, ensuring continued excellence in customer experience, employee engagement, and data-driven decision-making.

A dynamic leader with deep expertise in the gaming and hospitality sectors, George has been instrumental in driving operational improvements across ComOps’ portfolio of more than 50 casinos and hotels. His strategic approach to integrating guest and employee feedback has led to significant enhancements in customer satisfaction, workforce engagement, and overall business performance. He has led numerous successful omnichannel CX implementations, including for a 3,600-room luxury integrated resort and the seamless migration from a legacy platform for a 16-property international luxury hotel brand. His innovative feedback programs have also driven significant improvements, including a 29% quarterly increase in Net Promoter Score (NPS) at one property. Additionally, George was instrumental in administering more than one million guest and employee surveys for ComOps clients, turning a treasure trove of data into actionable insights for hotels and casinos.

“George has made a tremendous impact for our clients, and we are excited to see him grow into this senior leadership role,” said Robert Levine, CEO of ComOps. “His ability to blend data-driven insights with operational strategy has transformed how we approach customer and employee experiences. As COO, he will play a critical role in advancing our mission to deliver exceptional results for our partners.”

George began his career training as a chef at The Culinary Institute of America, followed by five years in rooms division leadership at Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts. He then spent four years as a Senior Executive Trainer with Forbes Travel Guide, focusing on elevating the customer experience at over 150 luxury properties worldwide. Prior to joining ComOps, George served as a Senior Solutions Consultant for Medallia, assisting enterprise-level organizations in developing customer and employee experience solutions. George holds a bachelor of science in hotel administration from University of Nevada-Las Vegas.

The Arizona Department of Gaming announced today $30,845,042 in tribal gaming contributions to the Arizona Benefits Fund for the third quarter of Fiscal Year 2025. This amount represents an approximate 7.9 percent increase when compared to the same quarter of FY 2024.

The Arizona Benefits Fund receives 88 percent of tribal gaming contributions, providing significant dollars to support instructional improvement in schools, trauma and emergency care, tourism, and wildlife conservation throughout the state.

Tribal gaming contributions to the Arizona Benefits Fund for the 3rd quarter of the Stateߣs FY 2025 are as follows:

Instructional Improvement Fund/Education ߝ $15,373,169

Trauma and Emergency Services Fund ߝ $7,686,584

Arizona Department of Gaming Operating Costs ߝ $2,776,054

Arizona Wildlife Conservation Fund ߝ $2,196,167

Tourism Fund ߝ $2,196,167

Problem Gambling Education, Treatment and Prevention ߝ $616,901

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FY 25 Qtr 3 Total: Tribal Gaming Contributions to the Arizona Benefits Fund ߝ $30,845,042

Per the Arizona Tribal-State Gaming Compact, Tribes with casinos also contribute a percentage of their Class III gross gaming revenue to cities, towns, and counties. Currently, there are 26 Class III casinos in Arizona, which ADG regulates in partnership with Arizona tribes. Since the inception of tribal gaming in Arizona, over $2.34 billion in cumulative tribal contributions has been contributed to the state and its cities, towns, and counties since FY 2004.