The Fire Joker has returned, his blazing grin wider than ever. He’s back in control of the reels, where classic fruits and symbols light up under his fiery touch. But this time, there’s more than just mischief in the air. The heat has intensified, the stakes are higher, and this scorching slot is cranked up to a full 100.
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The Fire Joker has returned, his blazing grin wider than ever. He’s back in control of the reels, where classic fruits and symbols light up under his fiery touch. But this time, there’s more than just mischief in the air. The heat has intensified, the stakes are higher, and this scorching slot is cranked up to a full 100.

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Industry heavyweight Haig Sakouyan joins Strive Gaming

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Industry heavyweight Haig Sakouyan joins Strive Gaming

 

Highly experienced executive has been appointed Vice President of Client Success as platform provider continues to build its management team

Strive Gaming, the first player platform business designed specifically for the modern, multi-state requirements of leading North American operators, continues to build its senior leadership team with the appointment of industry veteran Haig Sakouyan as Vice President of Client Success.

Haig has more than 19 years’ experience in the online gaming and gambling sectors and over that time has been involved in more than 18 retail and online launches across the US for both casino and sportsbook.

This has enabled him to gain unrivalled expertise in customer success, managed services, product and operations. As Vice President of Client Success, Haig will be responsible for providing an excellent service and experience to Strive Gaming’s B2B customers and their end users.

He joins Strive Gaming from Bally Interactive, a subsidiary of Bally’s Corporation, via its Bet.Works acquisition. Haig was hired as the Vice President of B2B and was responsible for partners such as Elite Casino Resorts, theScore and Rushmore Gaming in addition to overseeing all BallyBet B2C launches.

Prior to that, Haig was Director of B2B Services at Rush Street Interactive, the company behind the BetRivers and PlaySugarHouse brands.

Haig becomes the first employee of Strive Gaming’s Canadian entity, based out of Vancouver BC. Strive Gaming now consists of multiple entities based in the US, the UK, Malta and other locations in order to deliver a world-class product and service to its partners.

The appointment comes as Strive Gaming continues to progress with its plan to provide “performance at scale” to operators targeting regulated US states. Strive Gaming already holds licenses in Colorado and Arizona with multiple licence applications underway in additional states.

Max Meltzer, Chief Executive at Strive Gaming, said: “Haig is an experienced and respected executive within the industry and is a key hire for us if we are to deliver on our slogan of ‘performance at scale’.

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“His involvement in the launch of 18 retail and online sportsbooks and casinos gives him unrivalled insight into the process operators must go through and from this he will be able to ensure our partners receive the best service and support in the market.

“Haig joins Strive Gaming at a time when there is incredible momentum behind the business with licences already secured in Arizona and Colorado and with applications in progress in other states, and I look forward to working closely with him as we move towards going live with our first partners.”

Haig Sakouyan, Vice President of Client Success at Strive Gaming, said: “I am thrilled to join such an incredible team and to be able to use my years of experience to help Strive Gaming’s operator partners leverage the full power and potential of its cutting-edge platform.

“This is an organisation that has made clear its ambitions and goals for the fast-growing US and Canadian markets, and I am honoured to be playing a part in what will undoubtedly be a hugely successful story for the company.”

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Truckee Gaming selects MOCHA for enterprise-wide Hospitality Upgrade

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Truckee Gaming selects MOCHA for enterprise-wide Hospitality Upgrade

 

Truckee Gaming has selected Centennial Gaming’s MOCHA suite to enhance Loyalty, Slot Operations, and the overall Customer Experience across their gaming enterprise of ten casinos throughout the state of Nevada.

Centennial Gaming Systems today announced Truckee Gaming has selected MOCHA® for its burgeoning gaming enterprise. MOCHA (MObile Customer Hospitality Assistance) is Centennial’s native, industry-leading operations enhancement application. The initial installation was completed at Rail City Casino in Sparks, Nevada, and will soon begin rolling out across all Truckee-managed locations. Together, the companies will roll out MOCHA’s powerful club enhancement capabilities, newly released slot dispatch, slot maintenance tracking, and jackpot celebration features.

“We’ve chosen Centennial Gaming and MOCHA because of their cutting-edge technologies, driving efficient operations and great player service experiences within our operations. We look forward to a long and fruitful relationship with the Centennial Gaming team,” said Szymon Padkowski, Director of Marketing for Truckee Gaming LLC.

“We are thrilled to engage with Truckee Gaming,” said Darryll Pleasant, Owner of Centennial Gaming Systems. “Szymon and the Truckee team are innovative and forward-thinking. We are excited to work together and create new and exciting features and capabilities.”

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UNLV International Gaming Institute Announces 2025 ESPN Research Fellows

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Selected research projects will generate new insights into how responsible gambling messages are delivered and perceived in the rapidly evolving sports media landscape

The University of Nevada, Las Vegas International Gaming Institute (IGI) is proud to announce the recipients of the 2025 ESPN Research Fellowships. This year’s cohort features a group of scholars whose proposals will advance understanding of responsible gambling messaging in sports media and its implications for consumer well-being.

Fellowships recipients include:

  • Dr. Brandon Mastromartino, Director of the Institute on Sports Wagering and Gaming and Assistant Professor of Experiential Marketing at the L. Robert Payne School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, San Diego State University. Dr. Mastromartino’s project will evaluate two of the NFL’s responsible gambling PSAs using a fan-centered marketing framework.

  • Dr. Chris R. Noland, Assistant Professor of Advertising at the University of South Florida’s Zimmerman School of Advertising & Mass Communications. Dr. Noland will examine the influence of celebrity endorsements and promotional inducements in Instagram advertisements on online sports betting behavior.

  • Dr. Ramon Silva Leite, Professor in the Postgraduate Program in Management at Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Dr. Silva’s project will investigate how responsible gambling messages are constructed and delivered through sports media, and how young sports bettors perceive and respond to them.

  • Dr. Sarah Stokowski, Associate Professor of Athletic Leadership at Clemson University’s Department of Educational and Organizational Leadership Development. Dr. Stokowski will investigate how college student-athletes perceive and interact with sports betting content on social media.

These projects will provide important insights into practical strategies that policymakers and the industry can adopt to help safeguard the wellbeing of sports enthusiasts and the public at large.

“IGI is tremendously proud of the work our previous Fellowships produced. A key goal of this initiative is to support innovative and impactful research to better understand the rapidly changing global sports and betting environment,” said Dr. Kasra Ghaharian, Director of Research at IGI. “This research represents critical perspectives on how gambling is represented in sports media and holds important implications for all gambling stakeholders.”

“Responsible gaming continues to be a priority for ESPN, and we are proud to continue our collaboration with IGI to support research that delivers real-world impact,” said Kevin Martinez, Vice President of ESPN Corporate Citizenship. “These new projects will provide valuable insights into how responsible gaming messages can be delivered effectively across sports media and help strengthen standards that protect fans everywhere.”

Each research fellowship lasts six months. Research results will be featured in an IGI webinar in 2026.

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ACR POKER’S HUGE ONLINE SUPER SERIES XL MAIN EVENTS KICK OFF THIS WEEKEND, AWARDING $4.25 MILLION GUARANTEED

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Phase 1 of the $150,000 GTD Survivor Flips starts today and first Mystery Bounty Multi-Flight Day 2 gets underway this Sunday, September 21st

ACR Poker’s biggest-ever tournament series, Online Super Series (OSS) XL, is in full swing and this weekend the action really heats up with the colossal Main Events kicking off on Sunday, September 21st, offering $4.25 million total guaranteed.

Players can take their shot at the $2 million guaranteed ($2,650 buy-in), the $1.5 million guaranteed ($1,050 buy-in), and the $750,000 guaranteed ($215 buy-in) Main Events. Day 1A starts this Sunday, September 21st, Day 1B is on Sunday, September 28th, and Day 2 is on Monday, September 29th.

The flagship series boasts over $50 million in guarantees and runs until Tuesday, September 30th. It has a range of events catered to players of all bankrolls from as little as $0.55, which include the $0.55 Micro PKO, $6.60 Early Special, and $22 Euro Mini Special.

Adding further excitement is the high-energy Survivor Flips tourney ($130 buy-in), offering a $150,000 guarantee. Phase 1 and Steps Flips run from today (Wednesday, September 17th) to Sunday, September 21st at 3:00pm ET. Phase 2 is a regular tournament on September 21st at 3:05pm ET where all players start in the money.

There are also four Mystery Bounty Multi-Flight events, including two $500,000 GTD ($109 buy-in) events, with the first having its final flight and Day 2 this Sunday, September 21st. The $200,000 GTD ($33 buy-in) and $100,000 GTD ($5.50 buy-in) events have their final flight and Day 2 on Sunday, September 28th.

“OSS XL has already delivered incredible action, with huge fields, dramatic final tables, and amazing wins for players at every level but there’s still so much to come,” said ACR Pro Chris Moneymaker. “The Main Events are always the highlight of the series, and this weekend promises to be the biggest stage yet for anyone looking to make their mark.”

Finally, to add further sweat, ACR Poker’s Leaderboard Contest is awarding $65,000 in cash and tourney tickets across three tiers. The High Stakes ($104.50 buy-ins and above) will award a $15,000 top prize, while the Mid Stakes ($16.50 to $88 buy-ins) and Low Stakes (under $15 buy-ins) will award $7,500 and $4,000, respectively.

For further details on OSS XL, read the ACR Poker blog or visit ACRPoker.eu.

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