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Peter & Sons Expands Reach in Italy with Octavian Lab Partnership

Peter-Sons-Bolsters-Italian-Market-Presence-Via-Octavian-Lab-DealBarcelona-based game studio Peter & Sons continues to expand its footprint in Italy through a new partnership with Octavian Lab, a prominent Rome-based software provider. This collaboration marks a major milestone for Peter & Sons, enabling its games to reach a wider audience through Octavian’s platform, which supports industry giants like Eurobet, Snaitech, Sisal, and Betfair.

Octavian Lab, recently honored as the “Best Aggregator of the Year” at the EGR Italy Awards 2024, is recognized for its cutting-edge solutions tailored to the Italian gaming market. The partnership has already borne fruit, as Peter & Sons’ games debuted on Eurobet, one of Italy’s leading iGaming operators, known for its innovation and heritage in digital gaming since 1999.

Strengthening Italian Market Presence

This collaboration builds on Peter & Sons’ recent launch with Eurobet in October, which introduced Italian players to the studio’s creative titles, such as Barbarossa and Dragon Blox. Eurobet’s gaming director, Alfredo Melloni, highlighted the alignment between the two companies, stating, “Their commitment to quality and creativity aligns perfectly with our mission to deliver exceptional gaming experiences.”

Peter & Sons founder and Commercial Director Yann Bautista also emphasized the significance of this expansion. “Italy is a very exciting market that has doubled in size over the last seven years,” he said. “To move forward with a player as influential as Octavian Lab was the next logical step for us.”

Octavian Lab’s CEO, Emanuele Nocentelli, praised the studio for its originality, saying, “Peter & Sons are a breath of fresh air. Their inventive games have a unique power to delight, making them a standout addition to our platform.”

Innovation Driving Growth

Founded in 2019, Peter & Sons has quickly gained acclaim for its distinct approach to game design, blending storytelling, artistic visuals, and captivating gameplay. Drawing inspiration from cult comic books, science fiction, and pop culture, the studio’s portfolio stands out in a competitive market. Its commitment to quality has been recognized with multiple awards, including Best New Slots Developer of the Year at the MiGEA Malta iGaming Excellence Awards 2024.

The studio’s partnership with Octavian Lab will allow its innovative games to reach even more players across Italy. Octavian’s HubCasino Aggregator platform is instrumental in this growth, offering seamless integration for leading content providers into the portfolios of major operators like Entain-owned Eurobet and Sisal.

A Shared Vision for Expansion

Both companies share a vision of delivering unique, high-quality gaming experiences. With Italy’s gaming market experiencing rapid growth, this partnership positions Peter & Sons to become a key player in the region while bolstering Octavian Lab’s reputation for offering diverse and innovative content.

The collaboration reinforces Peter & Sons’ strategy to expand internationally by partnering with operators who value creativity and excellence. Italian players can now look forward to enjoying a wider array of immersive games, setting the stage for further growth and success in the region.

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Wind Creek Hospitality Buying Birmingham Racecourse and Casino in Alabama

Wind Creek Hospitality has agreed with the owners of the Birmingham Racecourse and Casino in Alabama to acquire the gaming facility.

Wind Creek Hospitality Alabama Birmingham Racecourse
The Poarch Band of Creek Indians’ Wind Creek Hospitality is acquiring the Birmingham Racecourse and Casino. The casino offers slot-like historical racing machines. (Image: Wind Creek Hospitality)

Live greyhound racing ceased at the Birmingham Racecourse in March 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Though greyhound racing remains legal in Alabama, the Birmingham track was the last facility to offer live racing.

Wind Creek, a fully owned subsidiary of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, one of the fastest-growing federally recognized tribes in the United States, is purchasing the Birmingham Racecourse and Casino from the McGregor family. The family has controlled the track and gaming venue since Milton McGregor bought it out of bankruptcy in 1992.

Since the pandemic, the racecourse has focused on its gaming operations, which include simulcast parimutuel wagering on horses and greyhounds and historical horse racing (HHR) machines. The Birmingham Racecourse Casino features about 300 slot-like gaming terminals.

We are excited to bring the Birmingham Racecourse into the Wind Creek family,” said Jay Dorris, president and CEO of Wind Creek Hospitality. “The McGregor family built and has operated the Birmingham Racecourse and Casino for decades. Over those years, it became clear to us that we share many of the same goals — providing great entertainment, attracting tourism, and creating economic growth In Alabama.”

The Birmingham Racecourse and Casino sale to Wind Creek is expected to close in early 2025. No sale price was disclosed.

One of the most charitable tribes in the nation, the Poarch Indians already support numerous organizations in the Birmingham region such as the Birmingham Zoo and Birmingham Promise, the latter being a college scholarship initiative. 

Wind Creek Birmingham? 

Wind Creek Hospitality owns and operates three Class I and II tribal casinos in Alabama featuring bingo-based electronic gaming machines. The company runs Wind Creek Atmore, Wind Creek Montgomery, and Wind Creek Wetumpka.

Because the Poarch Indians do not have historical ties to the Birmingham area, and therefore will not apply to have the racecourse property deemed as sovereign land, Wind Creek will continue to run the casino as a parimutuel wagering facility. With horse and greyhound racing continuing to be dying sports across the country, Wind Creek’s interest in Birmingham is presumably because of the casino’s HHR games, slot-like terminals that determine bet outcomes based on previously run horse races.

Wind Creek Hospitality did not respond to Casino.org’s inquiry into whether the company will rebrand the Birmingham facility to Wind Creek Birmingham. It’s also unclear if the tribe will invest in an on-site hotel and other resort amenities.

Wind Creek remains bullish on the U.S. gaming industry. Along with ongoing investments at Wind Creek Bethlehem, its full-scale, Las Vegas-like casino in Pennsylvania, the tribal company will soon open Wind Creek Chicago Southland in Illinois.

Located in the Chicago suburbs, the Southland casino has a 70K-square-foot casino with 1,400 slot machines, 56 table games, a poker room, and a sportsbook. The resort has 252 hotel rooms, a 75K-square-foot entertainment venue, 12K square feet of event space, and several restaurants and bars.

Victoryland Focus 

HHR gaming became the name of the game at controversial casinos in Alabama after the state’s Supreme Court in September 2022 ruled that grey electronic bingo machines at venues in Macon and Lowndes counties constituted illegal gambling despite voters approving them through local referendums. The ruling forced Victoryland, White Hall Entertainment, and Southern Star Entertainment to cease operating electronic bingo machines.

Victoryland remains owned by the McGregor family. Because the casino facility in Shorter possesses a parimutuel license, the gaming venue is allowed to incorporate HHR devices and therefore remains open, unlike the two other entertainment centers.

Lewis Benefield, the president of the Birmingham Racecourse Casino and Victoryland, said Alabama’s restrictive and opaque gaming laws led to the McGregors divesting one of its two major holdings.

The people of Birmingham desire the same types of entertainment offered at other facilities in and around Alabama. Unfortunately, differing state laws and enforcement actions regarding gaming have limited our ability to compete effectively,” Benefield said. 

“The McGregor family will now focus their efforts on Victoryland and advocate for unified gaming legislation in Alabama which would capture much-needed revenue for the people of Alabama,” Benefield concluded.

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Lithuania to Ban Gambling Advertising by 2025

Lithuania-to-ban-gambling-adsThe Lithuanian parliament has approved new restrictions on gambling advertising, introducing sweeping changes to the country’s gaming landscape. Starting July 2025, gambling operators will no longer be able to advertise their services, with limited exceptions for sports sponsorships, broadcasts, and events. This decision follows strong public support for stricter gambling regulations, as highlighted by a November survey in which 52% of participants favored the ban.

The amendments to the Gaming Law passed with 73 votes in favor and one abstention. To mitigate the impact on media organizations, the government has allocated an additional €4 million to the Media Support Fund in next year’s budget to compensate for lost advertising revenue.

Transitional Measures for Sports and Media

Recognizing the potential disruption to specific industries, parliament included transitional measures to ease the ban’s implementation. Exceptions for sports sponsorships and advertisements during sports broadcasts will remain in place until January 1, 2028. Additionally, transitional provisions allow for limited advertising until the end of 2027.

  • Television, Radio, and Online Ads: Up to three betting advertisements under 15 seconds each will be permitted per hour from 06:00 to 18:00, and up to two per hour between 18:00 and midnight.
  • Online Media Restrictions: Gambling advertisements without direct links to operators’ websites will be capped at 20% of advertising space between 06:00 and 18:00 and 10% from 18:00 to midnight.

These measures are intended to balance the government’s aim of combating problem gambling with the economic interests of the media and sports industries.

Public and Industry Reactions

The government justified the move as a necessary step to address gambling-related harm, citing increased advertising during the COVID-19 pandemic despite earlier recommendations to reduce promotions. The Gaming Supervisory Authority has consistently reported concerns over the rise in problem gambling, with complaints regarding non-compliance with advertising guidelines.

Critics within the gambling industry argue that the ban may stifle economic growth and reduce gaming operator revenues. However, public sentiment has largely supported the decision, with many viewing it as a critical measure to curb gambling addiction and its social consequences.

As Lithuania prepares for these changes, the gambling sector faces significant adjustments. The transitional period offers operators and media outlets time to adapt to the new rules, while sports-related advertisements enjoy a longer exemption to ensure continuity in sponsorships and broadcasts.

Source:

Gambling Advertising Ban Passed by Lithuanian Parliament, lcb.org, November 18, 2024.

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Illinois Township Supervisor Admits Using Government Funds at Casino, Won’t Resign

A township supervisor in Illinois is refusing to resign from her position despite admitting to using government money at a casino.

Illinois township casino Horseshoe St. Louis
Canteen Township Supervisor Sally Rodriguez has admitted to using government money for her personal use. Despite the admissions, the Illinois township supervisor is refusing to resign. (Image: Casino.org)

During the Canteen Township Board of Trustees’ September 4 meeting, Township Supervisor Sally Rodriguez admitted to using the town’s debit card for her personal use. But Rodriguez, who was appointed to her position in May of 2023 by the trustees, claims the debit withdrawals on the government card were made by mistake.

Trustees say an anonymous source tipped them off that Rodriguez didn’t only poach money from the township via debit card, but also wrote herself checks from the township’s bank account that she cashed. Banking records show six transactions were completed at the Horseshoe Casino St. Louis that’s operated by Caesars Entertainment.

Rodriguez confessed to withdrawing $6,000 in cash at the casino. She also cashed two checks made out to herself from the township checking account, and a third directly made out to cash.

Canteen Township is located in St. Clair County in southwestern Illinois along the Mississippi River. The township includes Caseyville, Fairmont City, Fairview Heights, Madison, and Washington Park. Horseshoe Casino St. Louis is just across the river from the township.

The Belleville News-Democrat first broke the news of Rodriguez’s actions.

Resignation Refusal

During the September meeting, Canteen Township Trustee Rickie Thomas, in a motion seconded by Trustee Angie Rodgers, called on Rodriguez to resign immediately. She refused.

Rodriguez contends that the financial transactions to her benefit were made in error. Thomas said one errant transaction might be understandable, but not five.

I asked her how do you make the same mistake five times and how does your personal card have the same PIN as the township’s?” Thomas asked, as reported by the Belleville News-Democrat.

The township’s attorney told the media outlet that the trustees cannot forcibly remove an elected official, even though Rodriguez was appointed — not elected — to the role following the death of Supervisor Norm Miller in April 2023.

It’s unclear if Rodriguez has agreed to repay the township the money she took from its banking accounts. It’s also unknown if Rodriguez gambled with the ill-gotten funds.

The board was tipped off to her actions after two trustees and the township clerk received packages in the mail detailing her alleged theft.

According to the US Census Bureau, the median household income in Canteen Township is $41,530. The employment rate is below 50% and almost four in 10 people live in poverty.

Illinois Politics 

Considered a Democratic stronghold and one of the party’s “big three” states along with California and New York, politics in Illinois has long been doused in scandal. Dating back to before the Chicago Outfit ran the Windy City, political corruption in Illinois is nearly as famous as Chicago’s deep-dish pizza.

Among the state’s most notorious political scandals was Gov. Rod Blagojevich fielding bribes in exchange for the state’s Senate seat left vacant by Barack Obama after he won the presidency in 2008.

More recently, and certainly less consequential, is Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard, the self-described “supermayor” who’s accused of living lavishly off her taxpayers. Last year, Henyard allegedly ran up a tab of more than $10K for a Las Vegas visit that taxpayers covered.

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Fertitta Unlikely to Pursue Wynn Takeover, Says Analyst

Tilman Fertitta increased his stake in Wynn Resorts (NASDAQ: WYNN) to nearly 10% of the shares outstanding, but one analyst believes the Golden Nugget chief executive officer is unlikely to purse an acquisition of his rival.

Fertitta Wynn
Billionaire businessman Tilman Fertitta. He’s unlikely to pursue an outright acquisition of Wynn Resorts. (Image: Bloomberg)

In a new report to clients, CBRE John DeCree said Fertitta is likely to remain a passive investor in Wynn despite increasing his position in the casino giant to 9.9% during the third quarter, up from the 6.1% he controlled following his initial investment in the gaming company two years ago. News of that boosted investment sent Wynn shares higher by 8.65% on Thursday with some of that jump attributable to Fertitta’s acquisitive history.

We can appreciate the speculation, particularly given Fertitta’s mergers and acquisitions track record, including the acquisition of Morton’s Restaurant Group and McCormick & Schmick’s, both of which started with 13G filings and culminated in full takeovers,” wrote DeCree.

It was a 13G filing that revealed Fertitta’s increased position in Wynn. Had it been a 13D, that would have signaled he planned to be an activist shareholder, pushing for some form of change at Wynn, including a potential sale.

Fertitta Takeover Speculation Plausible, But…

Combining Fertitta’s history of acquisitions with his Wynn investment now close to 10%, it’s easy to understand why the takeover talk restarted.

Ten percent is a level at which any company would need to listen to the investor holding that position. However, listening and appeasement are often two different things. Plus, there are myriad examples of investors acquiring sizable stakes in corporations and remaining passive. Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway is one of the prime examples of that.

For his part, Fertitta has made a decent amount of money on his original Wynn stake. DeCree said the stoke is up 70% since that position was revealed. It’s possible the Houston Rockets owner doesn’t want to mess with a good thing by turning activist, but he does see more upside potential in the shares.

“We view his recent move similarly, as an attractive value investment that could become strategic if a unique situation arises, such as an unfavorable economic cycle that results in further dislocation in the shares,” added the CBRE analyst.

Complexities Abound with Wynn Takeover

While Wynn could be an attractive takeover target for Fertitta or other suitors, there are complexities that need to be considered. Those include maintaining gaming licenses in Macau and the planned casino hotel project in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Those are moving parts not germane to some Wynn competitors and could signal that if Fertitta wants to push for change at the Encore operator, it could be in more strategic fashion rather than an outright acquisition.

Last week, speculation surfaced that Fertitta believes Wynn management isn’t doing a good job of conveying the stock’s performance — it’s topped peers for over a year — to shareholders and that the operator should considering expanding its venerable brand in the US. Currently , the operator’s US exposure consists of the Wynn/Encore complex on the Las Vegas Strip and Encore Boston Harbor, though the company is bidding for a New York City gaming permit.

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