Stronach Group Founder Frank Stronach Faces Additional Sex Assault Charges

Canadian billionaire and Stronach Group founder Frank Stronach has been charged with eight additional counts of sexual assault after police said more victims had come forward.

Frank Stronach, the Stronach Group, 1/ST, sexual assault charges
Frank Stronach, above. The 91-year-old is facing sexual assault and rape charges dating from 1977 to earlier this year, according to court filings. He has denied them all through his lawyer. (Image: Fred Lum/The Globe and Mail)

The 91-year-old was arrested again Wednesday, three weeks after his initial detention on charges of rape, indecent assault on a female, sexual assault, and forcible confinement.

The new charges include six counts of sexual assault, one count of attempted rape, and one count of indecent assault on a female, according to court documents. The alleged incidents occurred from 1977 to February this year, per the filings.

Stronach Denies Allegations

The Stronach Group is the biggest thoroughbred racetrack owner in the US. It also has training centers and simulcast operations across the country. These include California’s Santa Anita racetrack and Golden Gate Fields, the latter of which closed earlier this month.

Gulfstream Park in Florida, as well as the Pimlico Racecourse, the Laurel Racecourse, and Rosecroft Raceway, all in Maryland, are also Stronach assets.

Stronach is no longer involved with the group, which now trades as 1/ST. His daughter, Belinda Stronach, is the current chairman, CEO, and president of the company.

Stronach’s lawyer, Brian Greenspan, said his client “denies and will vigorously defend these further untested allegations dating back to 1977.”

“He has spent his lifetime committed to the betterment of the Canadian community and industry,” Greenspan added.

Rags to Riches

Austrian-born Stronach came to Canada in the late 1930s with little to his name. In 1957, he opened a machine shop, which he transformed into a global auto parts business that became Magna International.

Magna is now one of the largest companies in Canada and the biggest auto parts manufacturer in North America.

A keen racing enthusiast and thoroughbred owner, Stronach bought Santa Anita in 1998 for $127 million and launched the Stronach Group in 2011 with Belinda Stronach. He resigned two years later to pursue a political career in his native Austria as an advocate of free-market neoliberalism.

Family Schism

In 2018, Stronach filed a lawsuit against his daughter and other family members alleging corporate mismanagement. It was settled in 2020, with Stronach being awarded a stallion and breeding business.

In 2017, he had an estimated net worth of C$3.06 billion (US$2.2 billion), according to Canadian Business.

The Stronach Group is aware of the serious charges that have been brought against Frank Stronach,” the company said in an official statement Thursday.

“Frank Stronach has not held a formal role or been involved with company operations in any capacity for several years. This matter is now before the courts and will be dealt with in the appropriate forum. The company has nothing further to add.”

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Luckia Gaming Group Partners with Playson for Enhanced Content Offering

Playson, a distinguished supplier in the iGaming industry, has strengthened its presence in Spain by partnering with one of the country’s premier betting and iGaming brands, Luckia Gaming Group. This collaboration marks another significant milestone in Playson’s expansion strategy, enhancing the gaming experience for Luckia’s diverse player base.

Expanding Content Through Strategic Integration

The partnership with Luckia Gaming Group was facilitated through Games Global’s aggregation platform, allowing seamless integration of Playson’s renowned Hold and Win portfolio into Luckia’s online casino. Players can now enjoy a variety of popular titles, including Royal Coins 2, Diamonds Power, and Fire Coins. This strategic addition enriches Luckia’s content library, offering players more variety and driving further growth for the operator’s online services.

About Luckia Gaming Group

LUCKIA_GAMING_GROUP_CHOOSES_PLAYSON_FOR_MORE_CONTENT_OPTIONSFounded in 1980, Luckia Gaming Group stands as one of Spain’s foremost entertainment companies, operating both land-based and online gaming services. Beyond Spain, Luckia extends its reach to Portugal, Colombia, Mexico, and Cameroon, solidifying its status as a global gaming operator.

Eloy Fernandez, Head of Product at Luckia, expressed enthusiasm about the new partnership: “We are so pleased to launch Playson’s award-winning titles and inject even more excitement into our offering. Our players come to us for an enjoyable, well-rounded experience and we know the studio’s omnichannel titles will be a huge hit. After analyzing player tastes and preferences in detail, we look forward to seeing how much they love these new additions.”

Playson’s Commitment to Growth and Innovation

This collaboration highlights Playson’s commitment to adapting and growing in response to evolving market trends. By developing games that resonate with a broad spectrum of player preferences, Playson continues to expand its footprint in regulated markets worldwide.

Paul McInnes, Sales Manager at Playson, commented on the partnership: “We are delighted to provide Luckia with Playson’s premium slot content in the Spanish market through Games Global and this significant milestone represents Playson’s expansion into other regulated markets such as Portugal and the UK, where our strategy is to increase our presence and for which our games portfolio is ideally suited.”

The agreement not only enhances Luckia’s gaming offerings but also underscores Playson’s ability to deliver high-quality content that appeals to diverse player demographics. By integrating with a reputable and established operator like Luckia, Playson continues to demonstrate its capability to meet and exceed the expectations of the global gaming community.

The partnership between Playson and Luckia Gaming Group is set to bring a new level of excitement and variety to players, reinforcing both companies’ positions in the competitive iGaming landscape. As Playson continues to innovate and expand its portfolio, players can look forward to more engaging and entertaining gaming experiences.

Source: LUCKIA GAMING GROUP CHOOSES PLAYSON FOR MORE CONTENT OPTIONS. Playson. June 4, 2024.

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Rank Group Reports Strong Q3 Performance Across Digital and Land-Based Businesses

In its recent trading news, the Rank Group has highlighted a significant 6% year-on-year increase in income for the third quarter, reaching an impressive £182.3 million. This growth trajectory shows the company’s solid performance across its digital and land-based gaming sectors.

Land-Based Revenue Overview

spain_and_mecca_bingo_revenue_surges_as_rank_hails_q3_progress_The Grosvenor venues continue to lead in terms of revenue generation for the Rank Group. Despite showing a modest growth rate of 3% in Q3, these venues remain a cornerstone of the company’s revenue stream. The increase in visitor numbers by 5% has contributed to a notable 2% rise in average weekly net gaming revenue (NGR) at Grosvenor, aligning with Rank’s strategic goal of achieving £7.0 million weekly NGR from its Grosvenor venues business.

On the other hand, the Mecca bingo venues have experienced a remarkable 12% earnings surge. This growth can be attributed to a combination of increased visitor numbers, which rose by 5% from last year, and a substantial 7% rise in spending per visit. Notably, this surge in gain coincided with strong trading periods during Mother’s Day and Easter weekends, indicating robust consumer engagement with Mecca’s offerings.

The Rank Group’s success extends beyond the UK, with its Enracha venues division in Spain witnessing a commendable 9% revenue increase, amounting to £10.0 million. This international growth underscores Rank’s ability to capitalize on diverse market opportunities and expand its global footprint.

Digital Growth and Operational Enhancements

Digital revenue saw a significant uptick of 6%, totaling £55.0 million in Q3. The UK digital sector experienced a 4% revenue increase, while Spain witnessed an impressive 20% year-on-year growth. Mecca’s digital net gaming revenue (NGR) surged by an impressive 21% in the UK, showcasing the strong performance of its digital gaming offerings. However, Grosvenor’s digital NGR saw a marginal 1% rise, attributed to a weaker gaming margin stemming from significant customer wins.

To further enhance its digital operations, Rank implemented a new content management system for its Mecca and Grosvenor online platforms during Q3. This system aims to improve operational efficiency and facilitate rapid market responsiveness for customer proposition enhancements.

Looking at the year-to-date performance, Rank Group’s income for the nine months ending in March reached a substantial £544.9 million, marking an impressive 8% increase compared to the previous year. This robust performance is driven by the continued growth of Grosvenor and Mecca venues, along with positive digital revenue trends.

As the fiscal year progresses, Rank anticipates that its strong performance will persist, with operating profit expected to align with market expectations for the year ending June 30. This outlook is bolstered by ongoing operational enhancements and strategic initiatives aimed at maximizing revenue potential.

CEO John O’Reilly said: “We continue to make good progress across both our venues and online businesses. Q3 trading is very much in line with the board’s expectations. Performance continues to improve. We have the very important land-based reforms from the government’s white paper to look forward to, which we hope to start implementing in the coming months.”

Stake Sale in Passion Gaming

Rank has announced its decision to divest its stake in Passion Gaming, an Indian online rummy business. While the financial terms of the deal remain undisclosed, Rank has emphasized that the transaction represents a significant strategic move for the company’s portfolio optimization.

Source: ”Spain and Mecca Bingo revenue surges as Rank hails Q3 progress”, igamingbusiness.com, April 18, 2024.

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Gaming Innovation Group Signs New Deals in Spain and Argentina

gig_sign_deals_for_spain_and_argentinaGaming Innovation Group (GiG), one of the world’s most prominent software solution providers for online casinos and sports betting websites, has announced that its global footprint has further expanded following the signing of two new partnership agreements in Spain and Argentina.

The first partnership was the one signed with Juegging, a major operator in the Spanish market who owns land-based venues, an online casino, and a sports betting website. The operator decided to migrate onto X-Suite, the turnkey management platform that GiG offers to its customers.

This will allow Juegging to revamp its sports betting offering while expanding the number of payment methods available. Moreover, the online casino and sports betting operator will be able to offer content from more providers since the GiG platform comes with plenty of games from several international suppliers.

The Spanish market is a very important one for Gaming Innovation Group because it is expected to generate almost 2 billion euros in gross gaming revenues per year by the end of the next three-year cycle.

Big Deal in Argentina

The CoreX platform developed by Gaming Innovation Group is set to make its grand entrance into the Argentine market through a new partnership with SIGAR S.A., a local operator of land-based casinos and slot halls.

GiG has become a very powerful presence in the Argentine market as it has partnerships in place with brands operated in the seven regulated provinces of the country. In 2021 the company marked a crucial moment when it received approval to operate in Buenos Aires from LOTBA, the gambling regulator of the City of Buenos Aires.

SIGAR S.A. is planning to expand its business online and that is why it entered the partnership with GiG as the software provider has plenty of experience when it comes to taking land-based casino operators into the online world. In fact, GiG has signed multiple such partnerships in recent years both in Latin America and in Europe.

The market in Latin America is a very lucrative one as well, it is expected to generate over 3.7 billion dollars in revenue next year according to data supplied by Statista.

Gaming Innovation Group was founded in 2012 and since then has developed into a powerful brand, recognized anywhere in the world. The company operates out of Malta and is listed both on the Oslo Stock Exchange and on Nasdaq Stockholm.

Source: “GiG bags a brace of deals for Spain and Argentina, with two new partners for its iGaming platform CoreX and Sportsbook, SportX“GiG. March 21, 2024.

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Betsson Group Presents Newest Global Marketing Concept; Excitement Of Betting More Valuable Than Big Wins

betsson_launches_new_gloal_marketing_conceptBetsson Group, in addition to commemorating 60 years in 2023, is now debuting its latest international marketing concept named “A bet makes the difference.” Additionally, this concept is all about strengthening the previous message that wagering is more about increasing enthusiasm rather than huge wins. However, the latest commercials, first and foremost produced in-house, are Betsson’s most aspiring production to date and will originally appear in more than 10 countries in Latin American and Europe.

Establishment of an internal global creative center

Betsson, the flagship brand of the Betsson Group, has not so long ago experienced a notable growth, especially in Latin America, where it also not so long ago officially became the “main sponsor” of the iconic Argentine football club, Boca Juniors. In this regard, speaking about the mentioned marketing concept, CEO of Betsson Group, Jesper Svensson, commented: “As we expand our presence across various markets, we have established an in-house international creative hub. I am really excited to unveil our most ambitious commercial yet, solidifying Betsson as the most exciting brand in the industry.”

Moreover, the essence of this concept emphasizes that “the inherent excitement of betting is more important than fixating solely on winnings.” On that note, Global Brand Director of Betsson, Kay Höök, said: “While we can’t control the excitement of a match or guarantee wins, we can assure our customers that placing a bet, small or big, will amplify the excitement. While many other betting companies focus on big, quick wins, our emphasis lies in cherishing the excitement itself and the heightened entertainment that a bet provides.”

Commercials description

To highlight the mentioned message, the commercials show how an apparently ordinary and silly match turns into an outstanding and highly exciting experience when one person in the audience decides to place a bet. The plot of the commercials, directed by award-winning director Rodrigo Saavedra (Immigrant), take place in a “dramatically charged setting,” while production of the film is almost identical to the renowned international lifestyle brand. However, even if it is a casino, the commercials tend to emphasize the enthusiasm of betting as a form of entertainment, rather than “the more typical focus on winning moments.”

On that note, Höök further adds: “Our goal is to enhance the entertainment value and intensify the excitement for our customers. While potential winnings remain a possibility, we don’t want the prospect of winning to define our communication. Our message is that when you gamble responsibly, you will enjoy the excitement even if you don’t win.”

Additionally, for the group, this unique international marketing concept represents an important step towards modifying the industry scene and reformulating the core of entertainment via responsible engagement.

Source: “Betsson Launches New Global Marketing Concept”. European Gaming. August 21, 2023

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