Monthly Archives: February 2017

Martin Wachter: Prioritize players’ gaming experience

In this interview with CalvinAyre.com’s Becky Liggero, Martin Wachter of Golden Race explains why gambling operators shouldn’t obsess much in making the best virtual reality offerings.

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GVC now more transparent, but still risky

There is more than one way to understand the term defensive investing. Typically it means buying stable companies with low growth, in other words seeing it from the growth side of the equation. But defense can also be seen in terms of the loss side. Defense, other than focusing on the growth side, can be seen as buying companies that can withstand the bust part of the business cycle. So rather than seeing it in terms of how much you can gain, you’re calculating in terms of capital preservation versus what other companies would lose.

GVC would not classify as defense in this way because it is a company built for booms. Aggressive business strategies, high leverage, risky but fast-growing markets. As long as the Merry-Go-Round continues to turn, GVC can continue to grow. Indeed it has, at least in its top line, and in some key important areas. Mobile sports wagers are up 55% as of last interim report. Casino and games revenue has almost doubled. There are things to be positive about with GVC and that cannot be denied. But what if the Merry-Go-Round stops?

When that happens, everything is reversed, not just for GVC, but the way investors look at stocks becomes fundamentally shifted from the foundation. It’s no longer about which companies can grow, but about which companies can survive. During those times, the healthiest companies financially go down less, and the leveraged ones trying to impress with top line growth are the ones that get smashed.

However far away the next downturn is, when it does happen GVC will be ill-prepared for it. Turkey is continuing to unravel as the regime there becomes more and more authoritarian and currency continues its collapse, Germany is at the core of an EU that continues to disintegrate as anti-EU forces are popping up everywhere and it looks like we’re going to have a bunch of Donald Trump-type heads of state in Europe soon. Not to mention the US itself is about to hit a $20 trillion debt ceiling next month that Democrats will use to hurt Trump and many Republicans elected on the premise of fiscal conservatism and who actually hate Trump will not want to vote for a debt ceiling raise either.

eGamingServices Partners with Paysafe’s Income Access

Income Access becomes preferred affiliate software provider of iGaming strategic consultancy

Montreal, QC. February 2017 – eGamingServices, the Lisbon-headquartered gaming consultancy focusing on emerging markets in Latin America, sub-Saharan Africa and Europe, has announced a client referral partnership with Paysafe’s affiliate software provider Income Access. Under the agreement, eGamingServices will formally recommend Income Access’ award-winning affiliate platform to its online gambling partners.

Founded in 2010 and with offices in Malta, Chile, Brazil and Uruguay as well as Portugal, eGamingServices provides strategic support to iGaming operators looking to expand into new and emerging markets in Latin America, sub-Saharan Africa and Europe. The company also offers operators entering emerging markets a comprehensive range of marketing, CRM and UX services tailored to meet the opportunities and challenges of these specific regions.

eGamingServices will recommend Income Access’ affiliate platform, which has won eGaming Review’s B2B ‘Affiliate Software’ Award for the last four years straight, along with its Ad Serving tool to track additional acquisition channels.

Kostandina Zafirovska (BtoBet) to present sports betting innovations using AI and evolution of AR/VR at VIGE2017

February 2017 – The organizers are proud to announce that Ms.Kostandina Zafirovska(CEO at BtoBet) will be among the key speakers during both of the Innovation talk panels at Vienna International Gaming Expo and will highlight the sports betting innovations that A.I. is bringing to the industry and the evolution of AR/VR.

The Innovation Talks panels will be held within the Vienna International Gaming Expo 2017 in the second half of Day 2(21.03.2017) starting from 2:00 PM (Vienna local time).

About Kostandina Zafirovska

She has been recently appointed BtoBet’s Chief Executive Officer after being COO for 2 years in the company. She has over 17 years of experience in Computer Science Engineer. While being engaged in BtoBet, she has enjoyed a successful career as COO in Seavus (IT Company of 700 employees) and came to that position after spending 6 years as Head of other departments, assisting high profile clients from various industries as insurance and finance. Her challenge has been to design and develop IT software products aimed at improving customer experience and simplicity of use.

VIGE2017 announces Automatenverband as exhibitor(stand N1) and organizer of Day 3 of the seminars

February 2017 – The organizers are proud and honored to announce that the key association of the Austrian gambling market, Automatenverband is going to exhibit at the Vienna International Gaming Expo, held between 20-22 March, 2017

Automatenverband is the key association in Austria and has the goal to safeguard the interests of the Austrian vending machine operators. The association provides support and up-to-date information on the fast-changing legal situation of the gambling industry, as well as announcements about current events and future developments.

Automatenverband is also celebrating its 60 anniversary as an associations, one of the longest standing gaming association on the European continent.

Wait, that’s is not all, Automatenverband is also going to have its annual members meeting during VIGE2017 on Day 3(22.03.2017) and promises to bring a wealth of information in regards to the recent changes in the Austrian gaming market. 

GiGse to focus on ‘unconventional thinking’ as registration goes live

‘GiGse’s role is to stand up and challenge conventional thinking’ is how Ewa Bakun, Clarion Gaming’s Head of Content, chose to describe the importance of the forthcoming edition which is being held for the first time at San Diego’s Marriott Marquis Marina (26 – 28 April). GiGse delegates will be presented with three days packed with information, insight, networking and opportunity, with the accent firmly on the future.

Expanding on her summation, Ewa Bakun added: “GiGse’s objective is to bring a disruptive influence to the gaming debate. Throughout the world the accepted way of doing things is being challenged and the gaming industry is no different. GiGse will pose a range of questions some of which may be uncomfortable: for example, is the US casino sector at risk of losing its foothold within an online and disruptive entertainment market: is US gaming’s past destroying its future? As well as posing the difficult questions GiGse’s role is also to debate and resolve.”

She continued: “This is going to be one of the most fiery and contentious GiGse’s on record and not everyone is going to agree, but that just reinforces how the future of gaming is so fundamentally important and why this edition of GiGse cannot be missed.”

True to its commitment to the future, GiGse offers a unique opportunity to prepare gaming brands for the challenges and opportunities which lie ahead. As part of the Activate 2027 programme, GiGse will explore the technology, innovations and potential regulatory hurdles facing all brands operating in the gaming space and courtesy of outside industry input and C-Level debates, enable them to keep their vision in line with the future.

Poker advice from the Stoics: Say something or let it go

Lee Davy continues to supply you with the very best advice from Stoic Philosophers that can be used to increase your win rate at the poker tables.

When I play live poker, I sweat like a goose waddling onto the dance floor at a fox convention on how to break into chicken coops.

It’s not the heat.

Playing poker in the Rio Casino is like a Wim Hof retreat.

Week 26 EPL review: Managerless Leicester return to their imperious best

Week 26 of the English Premier League concludes with the Champions returning to form with a 3-1 win over Liverpool less than a week after they sacked Claudio Ranieri.

 Let me ask you a question.

When you watch Claudio Ranieri during his post-match interviews, does he strike you at a tactical genius? An inspirational leader? An aggressive boot a tea cup in your face type of guy?

I didn’t think so.

Fenway Games launches in China with HQ Sports

Beijing Haiqiu Technology Company (HQ Sports), the China-based Sports Social Media platform, will launch SnapPlay from Fenway Games into the Chinese market.

HQ Sports were founded in 2016. They are headed up by Sun Jihai, the ex-Manchester City player and a team of sports media and marketing veterans. They are backed by China Media Capital (CMC) and other investors including Tencent and Yuan Xun Fund. HQ Sports will use SnapPlay to engage and interact with the 400 million sports-hungry mobile users in China via their social sports app – MiaoHi. SnapPlay will also be launched in HQ’s Jihai app, a Match Analytic, Datatainment and Info site for both Sports fans and Lottery gamers.

Fenway Games will be releasing SnapPlay into China for the English Premier League on iPhone. SnapPlay is a localised and social version of their award winning instant football game, SnapBet. The games are based around users predicting what happens in the next 60 seconds of the live football match they are watching.

Fenway will be looking to launch SnapBet in the coming months with a European sports betting operator in parallel. Although the games are initially for EPL and CSL Football, Fenway will expand the offering to include Basketball, Cricket, and eSports in future.

Italian Mobster ‘guilty’ in online gambling case; Lusardi fake bomb news

Italian lawmen have sentenced a mobster to a lengthy jail term for his part in an illegal online gambling ring, and the Borgata Chipgate star, Christian Lusardi, once used a fake bomb.

I’ve had poker organisations ask my lords and masters at CalvinAyre to sack me for my opinion, but I have never had someone threaten to ‘shoot my mouth off.’

But the Italian journalist, Giovanni Tizian, has, after finding gonads big enough to investigate the role of Nicola Femia. A 56-year-old man suspected of running an illegal online gambling operation worth an estimated $65 million. The size of the balls is relevant because Femia allegedly has ties with the infamous Ndrangehta Mob. Picture a horse’s head on a bed, and you get the picture.

Femia has been in front of the Italian Beak for three years for his alleged role in the online gambling ring and this week he was found guilty and sentenced to a smidgen under 27 years. Fortunately, for Femia, his family won’t miss him because most of them will be joining him. His 32-year-old daughter Guendalina received ten years and three months, and his 26-year-old son Nicola Rocco received 15 years.

Connecticut tribes pick East Windsor to host new casino

Connecticut’s two tribal gaming operators have selected East Windsor as the site of their proposed joint venture casino operation.

On Monday, the MMCT joint venture of the Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan tribes announced that it will build its new $300m casino in East Windsor, a town of around 11k souls in Hartford County on the state’s northern border with Massachusetts.

On Saturday, East Windsor’s Board of Selectmen unanimously approved the tribes’ setting up shop in their backyard. MMCT has agreed to pay the town $3m upfront, plus an additional $3m per year on top of regular tax payments, which are expected to total $5.5m per year.

In addition, MMCT has agreed to hire at least 4% of its workforce from East Windsor, while at least 15% of casino staff must live within a 25-mile radius of the venue.

EFL Review: Man Utd ‘lucky’ to win EFL title against Super Saints

Manchester United win their second cup competition in successive seasons after a smash and grab appearance at Wembley against superior Southampton.

One of the things that set Manchester United apart from their competitors during the Sir Alex Ferguson years was their ability to carve out a win when not playing well. When Ferguson left, so did that perseverance, grit, and skill. But I think it’s creeping back into the DNA of the side.

United’s English Football League (EFL) odyssey began at Northampton and ended against Southampton. It didn’t seem to matter where the compass pointed; United destroyed every team that stepped into their path.

The final was a different proposition. Exuberant, thanks to their two-week rest, Southampton went at United from the very first whistle and were easily the better side in this one-sided clash. Had Manolo Gabbiadini’s early goal not been incorrectly flagged for offside, the game might have had a different complexion.