Latest News
Phil Kessel Joins WPT Global as Brand Ambassador – Interview Opportunities Available
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WPT@ Global is excited to announce the signing of professional hockey player and poker fan Phil Kessel as its latest brand ambassador. Kessel, a 3-time Cup champion and fan-favorite
across the NHL, brings his love of poker to the WPT Global community in Canada, kicking off an exciting partnership linking his passion for poker and sports on a worldwide scale.
A seasoned poker player, Kessel has been a regular member in the Canadian poker community, creating a unique fan base in NHL cities through his engaging presence at Iocal card rooms. He now brings that cool demeanor and fun energy to the online tables at WPT Global, a great collaboration to celebrate his influence as a poker fan and hockey icon.
“We’re absolutely thrilled to welcome Phil to the WPT Global brand,” said Alex Scott president
of WPT Global. “Phil has not only excelled as a world-class ice hockey player but is also a huge poker enthusiast who embodies the values we hold dear. He’s engaging, passionate, and always striving to improve – qualities that make him a perfect fit for the WPT Global poker
community. His unique connection to both sports and poker gives him the ability to bridge those worlds, and we’re excited to deliver unforgettable experiences for our players, especially in Canada, both on and off the felt.’
In his new role, Kessel works closely with WPT Global’s Team Canada” player engagement
team, helping create memorable and exclusive experiences for the poker community. To celebrate his signing, Kessel and WPT Global are holding an event during the Oct. 14-30 WPTO Playground Festival in Montreal. Media outlets, hockey fans and poker players are invited to participate and enjoy this event, with opportunities on-site to meet Kessel in person.
“I’m incredibly excited to work with WPT Global. I have been an avid poker player for over 20 years, and a huge fan of the World Poker Tour,” said Kessel. “I can’t wait to kick-off this relationship in Montreal and bring some cool experiences to fans.
Media Interviews at WPT Montreal:
Members of the media are invited to meet and interview Kessel Oct 14-20 at the WPT Playground Poker Club Festival in Montreal. This is a unique opportunity to discuss his new role with WPT Global, his passion for poker, and his upcoming tournament providing the winner a VIP experience with Kessel in Las Vegas.
In addition to his in-person appearance in Montreal, Kessel is hosting his very own lronman
Tournament on WPT Global on Nov. 27 at 7PM EST. This event is exclusive and invite-only,
offering the following prizes:
- 1st Place: A VIP WPT World Championship Package including travel to Las egas, hotel accommodations, dinner, golf with Phil, and entry to the $10,400 WPT World Championship Main Event.
- 2nd-5th Place: Kessel-signed jerseys
- 6th – 18th Place: Kessel-signed pucks or 8×10 photographs.
- Bounty Prize: The player who eliminates Kessel receives a special prize package,
including signed jersey, photo, puck, and a WPT Global Swag Bag along with a personalized message from Kessel.
Players can receive an invitation by registering on WPT Global using the code IRONKESSEL81
and depositing $100+. For existing WPT Global players, they can engage in CRM campaigns to
get a free ticket to lock up their tournament seat.
Latest News
Grover Gaming announces $1.05 billion sale of charitable gaming assets to Light & Wonder, Inc.
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Grover Gaming, Inc. and G2 Gaming, Inc. (together, “Grover Gaming”) announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement for the sale of its charitable gaming assets (“Grover Charitable Gaming”) for a total consideration of up to $1.05 billion to Light & Wonder, Inc. (“Light & Wonder,” or “L&W”)
The total consideration of the sale consists of the following:
- $850 million cash, payable upon closing of the transaction and subject to customary purchase price adjustments
- Contingent cash consideration of up to $200 million, subject to the achievement of certain financial targets through 2028
Privately owned by Garrett Blackwelder, Grover Charitable Gaming was founded in 2013 and currently has an installed base of over 10,000 leased electronic pull-tab units across five U.S. States (ND, OH, VA, KY, NH) operating under a recurring revenue model.
Grover Charitable Gaming has developed long-standing and persistent relationships with charitable customers in the states that it operates, underpinned by a dedicated local team of service technicians and relationship managers.
Under the terms of the agreement, Mr. Blackwelder will collaborate with Light & Wonder to help drive the continued success of the business over the next four years.
The Company expects the transaction to close during the second quarter of 2025, subject to required regulatory and other approvals and customary closing conditions.
Post acquisition, Light & Wonder will operate the business with a combination of Grover Gaming and Light & Wonder employees.
“Grover Gaming is a leading player in charitable gaming, a category that has experienced significant growth in recent years,” said Matt Wilson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Light & Wonder. “This transaction complements our position as the leading cross-platform global games company by adding another compelling regulated adjacency to our profile.”
“Importantly, there are exciting incremental revenue opportunities to be realized by leveraging Light & Wonder’s proven land-based gaming content to a new and loyal customer base. We look forward to continuing to partner with Grover Gaming’s customers, building on its strong dedication to customer service,” Mr. Wilson concluded.
“I am very thankful for all of our Grover Gaming teammates and how hard they work every day,” said Garrett Blackwelder, CEO and Founder of Grover Gaming. “I’m also grateful for our customers’ loyalty over the past two decades. We realize without them, we wouldn’t be where we are today. Light & Wonder is an ideal partner for us, given our similar company cultures and dedication to innovation and customer service.”
“The real winners are the charities and fraternals in these markets, because of the exciting game content L&W brings to the table,” said Kevin Morse, Chief Development Officer of Grover Gaming. “We are excited to see Charitable Gaming taken to a new level.”
Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC is acting as exclusive financial advisor and Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP is serving as legal advisor to Grover Gaming in connection with the transaction.
View original content: prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases
Canada
Wyzia Renews Canadian Partnership With Betty
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Wyzia, the pioneering Canadian online payment solutions provider for regulated markets, is celebrating the renewal of its highly successful ongoing partnership with Betty, Ontario’s premier online slots casino.
This partnership, which began in 2023, is key to Wyzia’s expansion across North America. It supports players of Betty, an online casino catering to female players whose business is supported by Wyzia’s innovative, secure, and robust payment management solutions.
Wyzia is at the forefront of Canada’s fintech landscape, pioneering seamless online payment solutions for regulated markets. Its innovative platform connects merchants directly to all Canadian financial institutions, simplifying transactions and empowering businesses with reliable, efficient financial tools.
“We’re thrilled to celebrate a year of working with Betty with the renewal of our agreement,” said Guy Fietz, Group CEO at Wyzia. “Our collaboration has not only expanded our reach but enhanced the payment experience for Betty’s growing community of players.
“We look forward to continuing this successful collaboration and driving further innovation in the online gaming industry.”
Betty is the only platform created specifically for Ontario slot players. In 2024, Betty has enjoyed unprecedented growth, with a tenfold increase in net revenue since January and over 1000% growth in active players across Ontario.
By fostering a fun, safe, and supportive environment, Betty has harnessed the power of the female gaming audience to create a unique online casino experience. Betty focuses on transparency, community-based play, and gamification of the traditional slot experience.
This player-focused model has allowed Betty to stand out from other services, resulting in phenomenal growth and the ability to retain female players at a rate three times higher than their male counterparts.
Additionally, Betty automatically processes 99% of withdrawals, so players quickly receive their funds, a crucial benefit for online slot players.
“Our partnership with Wyzia has been instrumental in providing our players with a seamless, fast, and secure payment experience,” said Chavdar Dimitrov, Founder and CEO at Betty. “We are excited about the growth we’ve achieved together and are committed to delivering even better services to our community in the future.”
Latest News
Aaron Mollura Becomes Director of Marketing & Promotions at Seminole Brighton Bay Hotel & Casino
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Aaron Mollura has become the Director of Marketing & Promotions at the recently opened Seminole Brighton Bay Hotel & Casino.
Mollura will be looking to establish the new resort as the premier entertainment destination in South Central Florida, while attracting guests from both coasts of the state.
“Aaron has extensive experience in the casino industry, so we’re happy he’s joined the team. He’s going to be a tremendous asset going forward,” said General Manager Marty Johns.
Mollura started his casino career in 2004 at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa in the Players Club. After a stint as Player Development Manager (he oversaw all casino hosts), he transferred to the former Hard Rock Rocksino in Northfield, Ohio where he was the Director of Marketing. He helped make it the number one property in Ohio.
In 2017, Mollura moved to the Hollywood Casino in Baton Rouge, Louisiana where he held the positions of Vice President of Marketing and Vice President of Food & Beverage. He oversaw the property’s sale and its construction expansion from a riverboat to a fully land based casino.
Three years ago, Mollura relocated back to Cape Coral, Florida and worked as Vice President of Marketing for a consortium of 38 home service repair providers around the country.
“I knew I missed the casino industry, so when I saw the opportunity at Seminole Brighton Bay Hotel & Casino, I just had to pursue it. It’s an exciting time for sure,” said Mollura.
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