News and Analysis
Red Rake and Gaming Realms Enter Pennsylvania
Red Rake Gaming has received PGCB supplier licensing to launch at online casinos in PA. This is the studio’s first entry into the US online gambling market, although it has provided games for years as a social gaming operator.
Nick Barr, Managing Director for Red Rake Gaming, said, “We could not be more thrilled to have been approved for operating in PA and already have seen a huge demand from operators for our content across the state. We are equally delighted to now being able to offer the players who have enjoyed our social games over the years to have the ability to play with real money in Pennsylvania. We are extremely confident about the US and the integral part it will play in Red Rake Gaming’s continued growth.”
Meanwhile, Gaming Realms has also been hard at sizing up the PA market and forging a deal for PA access with Bally’s Interactive. Bally’s recently launched in PA and offers its online platform in NJ and Delaware.
Craig Falciglia, Director of Business Development in North America at Gaming Realms, said, “Bringing our Slingo games to Bally’s is a great accomplishment and will allow more US players than ever before to engage with our fan favorite games.”
Fanatics Gets To Work Rebranding PointsBet
The Fanatics/PointsBet takeover is closed, and the rebranding has started as Fanatics has secured market access in multiple new states. The acquisition cost Fanatics Inc. $225m, making way for three products, depending on the state: Fanatics Sportsbook, ‘PointsBet, a Fanatics Experience,’ and PointsBet Casino.
- Ohio, Massachusetts, Tennessee, and Maryland remain the straightforward Fanatics Sportsbook.
- Maryland, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia transition to “PointsBet, a Fanatics Experience.”
- The PointsBet-operated online casinos in New Jersey, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania will remain PointsBet Casino.
NJDGE Reminds Bettors Against Laying Illegal NFL Bets
The NFL season kicks off today with the Kansas City Chiefs pitted against the Detroit Lions. Legal sportsbooks also launch in Kentucky - it’s a big day. In New Jersey, the NJDGE has proactively warned bettors against placing bets at offshore sportsbooks.
First Attorney General Lyndsay Ruotolo said, “We know that the start of football season brings with it an uptick in sports betting and fantasy sports participation, and we want everyone to enjoy these activities safely and securely.
Sportsbooks and daily fantasy sites licensed and authorized to operate in New Jersey are subject to nation-leading consumer safeguards against fraud, identity theft, and unscrupulous actors; however, illegal sites have none of these protections.
This season, we urge fans to stick with regulated websites to avoid scams and bogus offers. And for those who may need help with a gambling problem, know that help is available.”
DGE Director David Rebuck added, “The problems with illegal sportsbooks are numerous. They lack oversight to ensure customers are actually paid what they won as well as security protocols to safeguard sensitive personal and financial information, like social security numbers and bank data.”
On the note of legal online gambling, September is Responsible Gambling Month in the US.
AGA: Responsible Gambling Month and Consumer Trends Survey Results
September is all about encouraging consumers to gamble safely. With legal mobile and online gambling options spreading across the US, there’s never been a better time to bring offshore players into the legal, regulated, and safe gambling market by spreading awareness of the dangers of offshore gaming. It’s also a time for educating consumers on the available tools to manage gambling and red flags suggesting gambling harm.
The American Gambling Association spearheads Responsible Gambling Month in the US, and this year is the 25th edition. The month is divided into four key themes:
- Empowering customers to play responsibly (Sept. 1-10)
- Legal, regulated gaming protects players (Sept. 11-17)
- Building a responsible gaming culture within (Sept. 18-24)
- Advancing responsible gaming with research (Sept. 25-30)
Leading up to Responsible Gambling Month, the AGA also undertook a YouGov Survey between the 3rd and 10th of August, including a nationally representative sample of 2,018 Americans aged over 21. The Consumer Trends In Responsible Gaming Awareness Report detailed that:
- Consumers reported high levels of responsible gaming engagement, with 84% of past-year bettors (91% for sports bettors) aware of at least one responsible gambling tool.
- They also reported high confidence in the effectiveness of the tools: 85% for deposit limits, 78% for time limits, and 77% for wager limits.
- 53% of sports bettors reported increased responsible gambling advertising across the last year.
AGA Vice President for Responsibility Cait DeBaun highlighted in the report the importance of responsible gambling awareness and trust, “Our industry’s success is based on earning customer trust, providing safeguards for responsible gaming, and implementing tools that our customers engage to bet responsibly. Today’s data shows our united effort to elevate responsible gaming is clearly resonating with players and shaping a safer gaming landscape.”
Game of the Week
Payday Express: Fantasma Games, RTP 94.46%
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