Press Releases
New York’s Tom Thibodeau wins 2020-21 NBA Coach of the Year Award

New York Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau is the recipient of the Red Auerbach Trophy as the 2020-21 NBA Coach of the Year, the NBA (www.NBA.com) announced yesterday.
This is the second NBA Coach of the Year Award for Thibodeau, who earned the honor in the 2010-11 season with the Chicago Bulls in his first season as an NBA head coach. Now honored in his first season as the Knicks’ head coach, Thibodeau has become the first person to be named NBA Coach of the Year in his first season as head coach with two different franchises. (Cotton Fitzsimmons won the award in his first season as the Kansas City Kings’ head coach, 1978-79, and again in the first season of his second tenure as the Phoenix Suns’ head coach, 1988-89).
Thibodeau received 43 first-place votes and earned 351 total points to edge Phoenix head coach Monty Williams, who finished in second place with 340 points (45 first-place votes). The 11-point difference between the first- and second-place finishers marks the smallest margin since the current NBA Coach of the Year voting format was introduced in the 2002-03 season.
Utah Jazz head coach Quin Snyder finished in third place with 161 points (10 first-place votes). Coaches were awarded five points for each first-place vote, three points for each second-place vote and one point for each third-place vote from a global panel of 100 sportswriters and broadcasters.
With Thibodeau as head coach, New York finished tied for the fourth-best record in the Eastern Conference (41-31) and made the NBA Playoffs for the first time since the 2012-13 season. The Knicks won 16 of their final 20 games to complete a turnaround from last season’s overall record of 21-45.
Thibodeau led New York to an 11-4 record in April for its winningest month since March 2014 (11-5). He was selected as the NBA Eastern Conference Coach of the Month for May after guiding the Knicks to a 6-3 record in the final month of the regular season.
The Knicks showed dramatic improvement on defense with Thibodeau at the helm, leading the NBA in points allowed (104.7) and opponents’ field goal percentage (44.0) and ranking fourth in defensive rating (107.8). Last season, New York finished 17th or lower in all three categories.
Under Thibodeau, Julius Randle was named an NBA All-Star for the first time and won the 2020-21 Kia NBA Most Improved Player Award. In addition, Derrick Rose was a finalist for the 2020-21 Kia NBA Sixth Man Award, 2021 NBA Rising Stars selection RJ Barrett ranked as the fourth-leading scorer among second-year NBA players (17.6 ppg), and rookie Immanuel Quickley averaged 11.4 points after being selected by New York with the 25th overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft.
Thibodeau is the 10th head coach to win the NBA Coach of the Year Award more than once and the eighth to do it with multiple franchises. In addition, he is the third head coach to be selected as NBA Coach of the Year with the Knicks, joining Red Holzman (1969-70) and Pat Riley (1992-93).
New York hired Thibodeau as its head coach on July 30, 2020. He has a career regular-season record of 393-277 (.587) in nine seasons as an NBA head coach, guiding teams to the playoffs seven times. Before joining the Knicks, he served as head coach of the Bulls for five seasons (2010-15) and the Minnesota Timberwolves over three seasons (2016-19).
The NBA Coach of the Year Award trophy is named in honor of Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer Red Auerbach. The legendary head coach guided the Celtics to nine NBA championships, including eight in a row from 1959-66.
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Caesars Entertainment and Bread Financial Introduce New Caesars Rewards® Prestige Visa, a Premium-Level Credit Card Allowing Caesars Rewards Members to Earn Tier Status Faster and Unlock Luxury Rewards with Every Purchase

Caesars Entertainment (NASDAQ: CZR), the largest casino entertainment company in the U.S., is playing a bold new hand by launching a second, elevated, Caesars Rewards® Visa Signature credit card with Bread Financial (NYSE: BFH), a tech-forward financial services company that provides simple, personalized payment, lending and saving solutions. For a $149 annual fee*, the Caesars Rewards Prestige Visa Signature credit card includes up to $450 in annual value and gives members all the benefits of high-end experiences as well as waived fees for foreign transactions*.
Cardmembers will receive Prestige Perks worth up to $450 and redeemable annually across Caesars’ 50+ U.S. destinations, including:
- A complimentary hotel night upon anniversary (up to $300)*
- $50 Slot Play*
- $100 Caesars dining credit*
- Accelerated earn rates for Caesars Rewards destinations at seven Reward Credits® per $1 spent*
“Caesars Entertainment has always been about giving our members unmatched access to the best experiences in the industry,” said Josh Jones, chief marketing officer at Caesars Entertainment. “Through our world-class Caesars Rewards program and our relationship with Bread Financial, we’re expanding the ways our members can earn and enjoy perks—from one-of-a-kind experiences, exceptional dining options, accelerated status opportunities and more – this new card option brings even more excitement, value and VIP treatment to every guest staying and playing with Caesars Entertainment.”
“The Caesars Rewards Prestige Visa credit card gives cardmembers more ways to earn rewards immediately on everyday purchases and unlock exclusive perks on travel, entertainment, dining and gaming —making every tap a step closer to their next unforgettable Caesars experience,” said Val Greer, EVP and chief commercial officer at Bread Financial. “This new credit card offers Caesars’ most dedicated members additional opportunities to make each purchase even more rewarding.”
Additionally, the credit card provides more ways to earn Tier Credits through welcome offers and annual bonuses, enabling members to achieve their Caesars Rewards loyalty program tiers faster. New cardholders can earn up to 25,000 additional Tier Credits in their first year*.
Welcome Offer
- Platinum Status upgrade*
- 2,500 Tier Credits after first purchase outside of Caesars Rewards destinations*
- 20,000 Reward Credits and 2,500 Tier Credits after $1,000 spend outside of Caesars Rewards destinations*
Annual Bonuses
- 2,500 Tier Credits with $5,000 annual spend + another 2,500 Tier Credits with $10,000 annual spend*
- 15,000 Tier Credits with $50,000 annual spend*
The new credit card adds to the existing Caesars Rewards Visa suite, including the Caesars Rewards Visa Signature Credit Card. Whether members are gaming, dining, or on the go, Caesars and Bread Financial have cardmembers covered with two distinct credit card programs to choose from and limitless ways to earn. The Caesars Rewards Visa card has also been elevated with a sophisticated new black design, bringing a sleek, modern edge to a card that delivers everyday perks with timeless luxury.
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WWE® & FANATICS BETTING AND GAMING TO PRODUCE WWE-THEMED ONLINE CASINO GAMES IN U.S.

WWE-Themed Online Casino Games To Be Available in Michigan, New Jersey and Pennsylvania in time for SummerSlam®
WWE, part of TKO Group Holdings, and Fanatics Betting and Gaming, a subsidiary of Fanatics, a global digital sports platform, announced an exclusive multi-year licensing agreement for Fanatics Betting and Gaming to produce and distribute WWE-themed online casino games in the United States.
Under the terms of this agreement, Fanatics Betting and Gaming will have a license to produce WWE-themed online casino games exclusively for Fanatics Casino, which is available on iOS, Android and web in Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. The officially licensed WWE online casino games will launch at the end of July in time for SummerSlam, which takes place across two nights on Saturday, August 2 and Sunday, August 3 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey
“We are excited to expand our relationship with WWE to now include an exclusive portfolio of WWE-themed online casino games,” said Ari Borod, Chief Business Officer at Fanatics Betting and Gaming. “This is a natural extension of the WWE-Fanatics partnership which already includes global e-commerce, licensed merchandise, memorabilia, as well as producing and distributing a growing lineup of digital shows.”
Fanatics Game Studios has produced several of the most popular games on Fanatics Casino and will produce the WWE-themed online casino games in partnership with Boom Entertainment and Games Global™. The WWE-themed online casino games will be available at the end of July and will include:
- WWE Blackjack (Boom Entertainment)
- Raw Multiplier Melee (Boom Entertainment)
- SmackDown Big Money Entrance! (Boom entertainment)
- WWE Bonus Rumble Gold Blitz (Games Global)
- WWE Clash of the Wilds (Games Global)
In August to celebrate SummerSlam in New Jersey, the WWE-branded takeover of Fanatics Casino will include exclusive sign up offers from Fanatics and the popular Spin to Win* game will get a very special WWE makeover.
Players are invited to dive into a world of thrills as Fanatics Casino brings the casino floor directly to a customer’s fingertips, whether on-the-go or in front of a computer. Players can explore a wide array of classic and modern casino games, including slots, blackjack, roulette, progressive jackpots and video poker. Fanatics Casino offers a comprehensive and engaging gaming experience with the following features:
- Portfolio of Games: Fanatics Casino has curated a portfolio of games from its in-house development team, as well as the most popular game developers in the world including Light & Wonder, IGT PlayDigital™, Evolution, White Hat Studios, Wazdan and more.
- Unlock the world of FanCash: When you play with Fanatics Casino, players can earn FanCash on every spin, hand or roll – win or lose. Flip your FanCash into Casino Credit, Bonus Bets, exclusive apparel and so much more.**
- Live Dealer Action:Â Engage with professional dealers in real-time through our live casino feature. Experience the excitement of live blackjack, roulette and baccarat, all from the comfort of your home.
- Responsible Gaming:Â Fanatics Casino encourages users to play with a plan, using in-app tools like time, deposit and wager limits. Fanatics Casino has also partnered with Birches Health to provide additional support services intended for users with issues managing their play.
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SPAIN’S LEO MARGETS HAS CHANCE TO BE THE FIRST WOMAN IN POKER HISTORY TO BECOME WORLD CHAMPION

Leonore “Leo” Margets is the first woman to reach the WSOP Main Event final table since Barbara Enright 30 years ago.
The final table of the 2025 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event is a historic one, as for the first time in 30 years a woman is among the final nine players competing for poker’s most coveted prize.
Leonore “Leo” Margets, a professional poker player from Barcelona, Spain, will be only the second woman in WSOP history to play at the WSOP Main Event final table since Poker Hall of Fame inductee Barbara Enright finished in fifth place in 1995.
Making the Final Nine of the 2025 WSOP Main Event, Margets has secured at least $1 million in prize money, adding to her over $2 million in recorded live tournament winnings.
Achieving a historic accomplishment that is an overwhelming positive for the game of poker, Margets has an opportunity to make even more history by potentially being the first woman ever to win the WSOP Main Event.
Claiming her lone WSOP bracelet in the $1,500 No Limit Hold’em – The Closer tournament at the 2021 WSOP ($376,850 top prize), Margets’ second career bracelet may be the most prestigious one a poker player can win.
With 16 players remaining during Day 8 of the 2025 WSOP Main Event, nearly the entirety of Margets’ chip stack would enter the pot preflop as she called off a three-bet all-in by Sergio Veloso. Holding pocket jacks to Veloso’s ace-king offsuit, despite an ace arriving on the flop, Margets hit a runner-runner flush to give her not only the chips but the momentum needed to reach the WSOP Main Event final table.
Interviewed by PokerGO sideline reporter Jeff Platt moments after officially reaching the WSOP Main Event final table, Margets, surrounded by adoring supporters, was all smiles as she reflected on her achievement.
“It’s so unreal, it is a dream,” Margets said. “I’m so glad that I’m cheering (with my rail), it means so much. How lucky I am to live this!”
The final table of the 2025 WSOP Main Event will resume at the Las Vegas Horseshoe and Paris on Tuesday, July 15th with action beginning at 1:30 P.M. local time. Poker fans and players can watch the action on PokerGO, as well as on the PokerGO YouTube channel.
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