British gaming technology company Playtech announced a new deal with 888 Holdings on Thursday.

The two companies have been partners, with Playtech operating its online casino games on 888 platforms in other regulated markets. This new agreement covers 888’s US iGaming apps, which will feature Playtech’s live casino table games as well as random number generator-based games.

“This agreement will enhance the overall player experience by offering more entertaining and dynamic games, which is a key part of our content and product leadership strategy,” said Howard Mittman, US division president for 888, in a statement. “We look forward to welcoming Playtech’s content and growing our partnership together.”

Playtech Eyes Growth in US iGaming Market

Playtech already has an established presence in New Jersey, where it has provided iGaming content for bet365. Earlier this month, it also reached an agreement to provide online casino content for Resorts Digital Gaming in the Garden State.

Shimon Akan, Playtech’s COO, said that 888’s decision to partner with them serves as an “exciting step” as Playtech looks to expand its presence in the US.

Live Casino is Playtech’s newest proposition to the US market, and it is giving operators the opportunity to diversify their offering, resulting in great demand for our industry-leading software,” Akan said in a statement.

Last December, the company opened live casino game studios in New Jersey and Michigan. In Michigan, Playtech provides live casino content for Parx Interactive, the gaming partner for the Gun Lake Band of Pottawatomi Indians.

Playtech also operates iGaming studios in Asia and Europe.

The deal with 888 wasn’t the only news Playtech made this past week. The company also announced it would scrap plans to introduce Caliente Interactive’s Caliplay into the US through a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC). While a publicly traded SPAC is off the table, Playtech said in a regulatory statement that it is considering “alternative opportunities” with Caliplay for rolling out a Hispanic-focused gaming business in the US.

Deals Keep Coming for 888

For 888, the deal with Playtech comes a week after it secured a global deal with EveryMatrix. Under that agreement, EveryMatrix will use its CasinoEngine platform to offer the games on 888’s casino app.

EveryMatrix, too, is looking to expand in the States, where it operates a hub in Miami and has filed for licenses in New Jersey, Michigan, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania. EveryMatrix’s Armadillo Studios is currently working to develop an online casino game featuring MMA fighter Amanda Nunes.

“This agreement will allow us to distribute our game content to a wider audience, and we are looking forward to developing the relationship with 888 further,” said Erik Nyman, president of EveryMatrix’s Americas division.

While sports betting has expanded rapidly in the US over the last four years, iGaming has not enjoyed the same level of growth – even though it’s been legal in New Jersey since 2013.

Other states that have approved iGaming are Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

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When it was learned that nobody matched all the magic numbers to win the US Mega Millions lottery draw on Tuesday night, the jackpot was rolled over to the next draw, Friday, when it will become the third Mega Millions lottery jackpot prize worth over a billion dollars.

While no ticket matched all six numbers including the gold Mega Ball, at least 9 people matched all of the white balls with eight tickets winning a million dollars each. One lucky player in Ohio spent an extra dollar for the “Megaplier”, an additional ball with values of 1x to 5x and his payout was 3 million as the extra ball was 3x.

The draw on Friday will mark the 12th draw in a row that the jackpot has not been won so it rolled over to the next event with a portion of new ticket sales adding to the estimated new jackpot prize for Friday being $1.025 billion on an annuity basis or a lump sum cashout of $602.5 million.

The last time the Mega Millions jackpot was won was on tax day, April 15 by a player in Tennessee.

International Players Welcome to Play

The lottery, which has been running for a quarter of a century has ticket sales through official lottery commissions and outlets in 45 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. However, there are also lottery messenger services like LottoSmile and TheLotter that offer players all around the world a chance to play and win the world’s biggest lotteries.

In late 2015 a man in Iraq had TheLotter pick up some Oregon state lottery tickets for him. He won $6.4 million and the concierge service flew him to Oregan and accompanied him to the lottery headquarters to sign for his winnings. They also negotiated a non-disclosure/anonymity agreement so his name would not be published, as is usually required under the law in that state.

The two other billion-dollar-plus jackpots were won by single-ticket holders in Michigan ($1.050 billion) on January 22, 2021, and a record $1.537 billion prize was won in South Carolina on October 23, 2018. That ticket still holds the world record for the largest single-ticket prize ever. The world record $1.586 billion Powerball jackpot was shared by winners in California, Florida, and Tennessee with each ticket worth about half a billion dollars.

Ohio Lottery Director Pat McDonald, who leads the multi-state Mega Millions Consortium said: “We look with anticipation on the growing jackpot. Seeing the jackpot build over a period of months and reaching the billion-dollar mark is truly breathtaking. We encourage customers to keep play in balance and enjoy the ride. Someone is going to win.”

The jackpot, if won in Friday’s draw is estimated to be $1.025 billion but the final value will depend on the strength of ticket sales between now and the 10:45 p.m. Friday sales cutoff time for the 11 p.m. drawing. Ticket sales have been brisk with the Mega Millions website recording more traffic than it ever has before. Lottery officials said that the website went down twice on Tuesday under the pressure.

Those who are considering online purchases from a 3rd party service should know that many online lottery purveyors do not physically visit a lottery outlet and buy a ticket, but offer other models. The hybrid fixed odds/insurance model is usually a matter of players simply placing a bet on the winning numbers. That bet is handled by a bookie, usually in a Caribbean license jurisdiction.

The book will pay out smaller wins directly into your online account but jackpots must go through an insurance claim process before winners can receive their winnings. Purchasing an official ticket with the help of a messenger or concierge service licensed in the Isle of Man, Great Britain or even Malta would seem to be the safest bet.

More Ticket Sales Equal More Prizes

In the Tuesday, July 26 drawing there were a total of 6,775,330 winning tickets sold with prizes ranging from $2 on up to eight $1 million dollar winners and a single $3 million Megaplier winner. Two of those winners were in New Jersey, two were in New York, with California, Florida, Illinois, and Ohio the homes to one $1 million winner each.

Tickets that matched 4 numbers plus the Mega Ball were cashed in for $10,000 each but about one in five of those 153 tickets also hit the Megaplier so they were worth $30,000 each.

While it might seem that each subsequent drawing increases your odds of winning, the odds don’t change over time. What makes Friday’s drawing more likely to be won than Tuesday’s or any of the other more than two dozen draws since the jackpot was last won is simply the fact that more tickets will be sold, so more possibilities will be covered, so all the more likely for somebody to have the lucky numbers.

The Mega Millions jackpot has already fallen four times this year. The latest win was April 15th for $20 million in Tennessee just days after the jackpot was won for $110 million in Minnesota. Working back through time we find a $128 million win in New York on March 8 and $426 million won on January 28 in California.

Source: One Billion Dollars for Mega Millions®!, Mega Millions, July 27, 2022

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In recent years, various arms of the Danish government have been participating in and helping the Ministry of Justice develop a nationwide strategy to defeat money laundering and any potential to wittingly or unwittingly assist in financing terrorism.

The Danish Gambling Authority, Spillemyndigheden issued a brief statement on 20 July announcing its intent and happiness to participate in using the strategy.

In addition to the inclusion of Spillemyndigheden in the strategy, the government also includes the Danish Business Authority, the Danish Financial Supervisory Authority, and the Bar Council as cooperators. The government strategy document is available online in Danish only (see .PDF here).

A joint ministerial press release (Danish only) lauds the advances in recent years in making it increasingly difficult to operate organized crime in the country and mentions the need to enhance and augment the current strategy that will run through 2025.

The First Pillar

The strategy is based on five pillars and will seek to implement 21 strategic objectives before the end of the period.

The Ministers have found that money laundering has become more sophisticated, complex, and lucrative for organized criminals. The government seeks, among other things, to see private actors and the authorities share, compare, and coordinate regarding the trends they see occurring.

One thing the government says must happen is an increase in tracking, identifying, and seizing the proceeds of economic crime through increased focus resulting from multilateral cooperation.

The gambling sector and non-profits are seen as areas to pay attention to along with money transfer and currency exchange companies, cryptocurrency, neo-banks, and the trade in high-value goods.

The Rest of the Strategy

Adding to the first pillar are four more including a coherent, risk-based, and targeted inspection effort; digital and technological solutions; increasing international cooperation, and finally an overall strengthening of the battle to identify, dismantle, and cripple complex crimes including organized crime.

The increase in utilizing tech and digital solutions; increased international cooperation, and cooperation between the private and public sectors are elements that have the potential to affect the gambling industry.

In the joint press release, Justice Minister Mattias Tesfaye states: “Gang criminals and international tax evaders use money laundering to disguise their illegal profits. That must be stopped.

“Economic crime goes across national borders, and the fight against economic crime goes across authorities. Therefore, the government has already taken a number of initiatives to help stop the fraud. Among other things, established a new unit in the police, which will deal with this type of special crime, and which will be at the table of a new operational cooperation with private actors in the fight against money laundering.”

The MJ went on to say there is more that must be done and that the focused and common strategy will help fight organized crime and the people behind it.

Source: Denmark promises nationwide money laundering crackdown, iGaming Business, July 20, 2022

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On Tuesday, July 19^th, 2022 F. C. Barcelona announces the superstar striker, Robert Lewandowski, finalized his transfer from Bayern Munich to Barca on new 4 – year deal. This is the fifth excellent move made by Barcelona during this 2022 offseason as they are gearing up to challenge the Spanish La Liga League as well as all other comers throughout all competitions.

The president of Bayern Munich, Herbert Hainer, confirmed on Saturday, July 16^th, 2022 that both of these legendary winning football clubs had agreed upon terms and reached a deal verbally for the transfer of the 33 – year – old striker, Lewandowski, but the move has now been ultimately finalized.

The New Contract

Lewandowski is now all set to sign a 4 – year contract that will includes a release clause set at €500 million. Robert had 12 – months left on his previous contract with Bayern Munich, and they moved to €45 million to Barcelona with the possibility for Lewandowski to earn €5 million in add – ons, according to the 26 – time Spanish La Liga League champions.

Robert Lewandowski meets his new Football Team in the United States

The Poland international football sensation recently met up with his new teammates on Barcelona’s preseason tour of the United States of America which began on Monday, July 18^th, 2022 just prior to F. C. Barcelona’s friendly versus Major League Soccer (MLS) squad of Inter Miami that is scheduled to take place on the night of Tuesday, May 19^th, 2022.

Lewandowski now joins Pablo Torre, Franck Kessie, Andreas Christensen, as well as Raphinha in new additions as Barca intends to build a squad to compete for the Spanish La Liga League championship title and the Champions League title under their legendary head coach in Xavi Hernandez.

The High – Powered Offensive Attack for the rebuilt F. C. Barcelona

Robert Lewandowski will join a supreme offense attack for Barcelona that already involves outstanding footballers such as Pierre – Emerick Aubameyang, Ferran Torres, Ousmane Dembele, Ansu Fati, and Raphinha.

Robert Lewandowski’s Football Career Achievements, Honors, & Awards

Znicz Pruszków

• III liga: 2006 – 2007

Lech Pozna?

• Ekstraklasa: 2009 – 2010
• Polish Cup: 2008 – 2009
• Polish Super Cup: 2009

Borussia Dortmund

• Bundesliga: 2010 – 2011, 2011 – 2012
• DFB – Pokal: 2011 – 2012
• DFL – Supercup: 2013
• UEFA Champions League Runner – Up: 2012 – 2013

Bayern Munich

• Bundesliga: 2014 – 2015, 2015 – 2016, 2016 – 2017, 2017 – 2018, 2018 – 2019, 2019 – 2020, 2020 – 2021, 2021 – 2022
• DFB – Pokal: 2015 – 2016, 2018 – 2019, 2019 – 2020
• DFL – Supercup: 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021
• UEFA Champions League: 2019 – 2020
• UEFA Super Cup: 2020
• FIFA Club World Cup: 2020

Individual

• Ballon d’Or Striker of the Year: 2021
• European Golden Shoe: 2020 – 2021, 2021 – 2022
• The Best FIFA Men’s Player: 2020, 2021
• FIFA FIFPro World11: 2020, 2021
• FIFA Club World Cup Golden Ball: 2020
• IFFHS World’s Best Man Player: 2020, 2021
• IFFHS World’s Best Top Goal Scorer: 2020, 2021
• IFFHS World’s Best International Goal Scorer: 2015, 2021
• IFFHS World’s Best Top Division Goal Scorer: 2021
• IFFHS Men’s World Team: 2020, 2021
• IFFHS World Team of the Decade: 2011 – 2020
• IFFHS UEFA Team of the Decade: 2011 – 2020
• UEFA Men’s Player of the Year: 2019 – 2020
• UEFA Champions League Forward of the Season: 2019 – 2020
• UEFA Champions League Top Goal Scorer: 2019 – 2020
• UEFA Champions League Top Assist Provider: 2019 – 2020
• UEFA Champions League Squad of the Season: 2015 – 2016, 2016 – 2017, 2019 – 2020, 2020 – 2021
• UEFA Team of the Year: 2019, 2020
• UEFA Euro Qualifying Best Player: 2016
• Laureus World Sports Awards – Exceptional Achievement Award (2022)
• ESM Team of the Year: 2019 – 2020, 2020 – 2021, 2021 – 2022
• European Sportsperson of the Year: 2020
• World Soccer Player of the Year: 2020, 2021
• FourFourTwo Player of the Year: 2020, 2021
• Tuttosport Golden Player: 2020, 2021
• The Guardian Best Footballer in the World: 2020, 2021
• Goal 50: 2019 – 2020
• Globe Soccer Best Player of the Year: 2020
• Globe Soccer Fans’ Player of the Year: 2021
• Globe Soccer Maradona Award: 2021
• Guinness World Record (x4): 2015
• Ekstraklasa Best Player: 2009
• Ekstraklasa Top Goal Scorer: 2009 – 2010
• Ekstraklasa Goal of the Season: 2008 – 2009
• II liga Top Goal Scorer: 2007 – 2008
• III liga Top Goal Scorer: 2006 – 2007
• Polish Footballer of the Year: 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021
• Polish Sports Personality of the Year: 2015, 2020, 2021
• Polish Young Player of the Year: 2008
• VDV Bundesliga Player of the Season: 2012 – 2013, 2016 – 2017, 2017 – 2018, 2019 – 2020, 2020 – 2021
• VDV Bundesliga Team of the Season: 2012 – 2013, 2013 – 2014, 2014 – 2015, 2015 – 2016, 2016 – 2017, 2017 – 2018, 2018 – 2019, 2019 – 2020, 2020 – 2021, 2021 – 2022
• Bundesliga Player of the Season: 2016 – 2017, 2019 – 2020
• Bundesliga Goal of the Month: March 2019, August 2019, May 2021
• Bundesliga Top Goal Scorer: 2013 – 2014, 2015 – 2016, 2017 – 2018, 2018 – 2019, 2019 – 2020, 2020 – 2021, 2021 – 2022
• Bundesliga Team of the Season: 2012 – 2013, 2013 – 2014, 2014 – 2015, 2015 – 2016, 2016 – 2017, 2017 – 2018, 2018 – 2019, 2020 – 2021, 2021 – 2022
• Bundesliga Fantasy Team of the Season: 2019 – 2020, 2020 – 2021, 2021 – 2022
• Bundesliga Player of the Month: August 2019, October 2020
• Footballer of the Year in Germany: 2020, 2021
• Kicker Bundesliga Team of the Season: 2013 – 2014, 2015 – 2016, 2017 – 2018, 2018 – 2019, 2019 – 2020, 2020 – 2021
• DFB – Pokal Top Goal Scorer: 2011 – 2012, 2016 – 2017, 2017 – 2018, 2018 – 2019, 2019 – 2020
• Bayern Munich Player of the Season: 2019 – 2020

Orders

• POL Polonia Restituta Komandorski BAR.svg Order of Polonia Restituta, Commander’s Cross: 2021

Sources:

Kirkland, Alex & Llorens, Moises. “Robert Lewandowski completes Barcelona move from Bayern Munich”. ESPN. Tuesday, July 19, 2022.

The Associated Press News Services. “Barcelona’s deal for Lewandowski could surpass $50 million” The Associated Press. Tuesday, July 19, 2022.

Football Reference News Services. “Robert Lewandowski”. Football Reference. Thursday, July 19, 2022.

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Attorneys for PlayUp have filed a motion in federal court seeking sanctions against Dr. Laila Mintas, the sports betting operator’s ex-US CEO, after she failed to produce 17,000 email messages she discussed in her deposition.

The call for sanctions, which was filed last week in Nevada’s US District Court, is the latest twist in a bitter legal dispute between the Australian-based sports betting operator and Mintas, who has filed a countersuit in the case.

According to the July 14 motion, Mintas acknowledged under oath during her June 23 deposition that she still had the 17,000 messages from her time at PlayUp on her personal laptop. She said those messages include confirmation that the gaming company received the $1.2 million Mintas invested in the company while she was an employee.

PlayUp’s filing said that Mintas’ lawyers were working on getting the messages from Mintas as part of discovery efforts in the case. However, on July 11, they responded that Mintas no longer had access to the messages as she could not access her old company email account through Outlook.

Amanda Brookhyser, a lawyer representing PlayUp, accused Mintas in the motion of taking a “calculated risk” not to disclose what represented six times the volume of documents she submitted in discovery.

Mintas has played fast and loose with her discovery obligations in this case and now has spoliated documents and evidence,” Brookhyser wrote.

Spoliated means evidence has either been destroyed, altered, or failed to be preserved.

PlayUp wants Mintas to cover the legal fees needed to write the sanction motion and take a new deposition of her. The company also wants to bar her from mentioning the emails in either PlayUp’s case or her counterclaim. It also requests a forensic exam at Mintas’ expense of her devices to determine if there is any other evidence that remains undisclosed.

Mintas Lost Access, Her Lawyer Claims

According to the deposition transcript, Mintas told PlayUp’s attorneys that the emails were stored on her laptop and that she was not connected to her former employer’s server. Mintas also said that PlayUp still had access to those same documents as well.

However, Jennifer Braster, Mintas’ lawyer, told PlayUp attorneys in a July 11 email that Mintas could no longer access her emails through Office 365 or download them because PlayUp’s account was no longer active.

In a statement to Casino.org Thursday, Braster said Mintas’ response to the motion for sanctions would be filed next week and that they “intend to vigorously oppose and set forth our factual position in response.”

About PlayUp v. Mintas

PlayUp ended Mintas’ employment last Nov. 30, on the day her contract expired. The company also filed a federal lawsuit against her on the same day. The suit said she disparaged the company to the CEO of FTX, a cryptocurrency exchange that was considering purchasing the gaming company. It also said Mintas sought to oust PlayUp Global CEO Daniel Simic and threatened to contact gaming regulators.

In January, Mintas filed her countersuit. She claimed that the FTX went south because of additional provisions Simic inserted in the proposal that added another $105 million to what was initially a $450 million deal. She also accused company leaders of fraud and perjury.

PlayUp’s US division currently offers sports betting in New Jersey and Colorado. After it broke ties with Mintas, the company announced that Monmouth Park Chairman and CEO Dennis Drazin would step in to serve as the company’s US chair.

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