News and Analysis
Fanatics Replaces RSI as the Official Partner of the Connecticut Lottery
The Connecticut Lottery has named Fanatics its new sports betting partner after news earlier in the year that they would be winding down their partnership with Rush Street Interactive. Fanatics sports will be available across ten retail locations and to players via mobile app. Fanatics CT is expected to go live in mid-December.
Greg Smith, President and CEO of the CT Lottery, said, “Fanatics is the only true sports brand in the gaming space and has established itself as an innovator in the industry. We have been impressed with the Fanatics team, their aggressive entry into the US sports betting market and we are excited to see how they redefine the sports betting customer experience here in Connecticut. CLC anticipates notable market share growth as a result of this partnership.”
This agreement rounds up what has been an unbelievable year for Fanatics, who acquired PointsBet US in the spring and has since launched it in 14 US states. Fanatics will go head to head against DraftKings and FanDuel (Mohegan Sun) in the state.
Only three operators are allowed in CT, with one sports betting license for the Mashantucket and Mohegan tribes and one run by the CT Lottery. The Mashantucket and Mohegan tribes also have the right to operate one CT online casino skin each.
North Carolina Takes One Step Closer to Opening Sports Market
Sports betting operator and supplier license applications are open in North Carolina. Once an application is submitted, the North Carolina State Lottery Commission has 60 days to review each. Operators then have ten days to rectify any issues highlighted if a license is not approved.
Sports betting became legal in North Carolina in June when HB 347 was signed into law. However, the Commission is still hard at work creating the regulatory regime for the state. According to HB 347, the rules must be finalized by January 8th. The market launch date is still to be set, but regulators have said it won’t be before 2024’s Super Bowl. The original deadline is June 14th, but there’s hope things will be ready before this.
Cari Boyce, Chair of the Sports Betting Committee, commented, “It is too soon to tell when betting will start … we want to get a fair and responsible programme up and running as soon as possible before the June deadline. We also want to make sure we get as much right up front as possible.”
We’ll bring you more on the story and let you know which operators get the green light as soon as the information is available.
DGC Joins Caesars Online Lobby
It’s been a big month for games at Caesars Casino as last week they added EveryMatrix to their online platform, and now it’s been announced that gaming supplier DGC is joining the ranks in Pennsylvania. DGC is already live at Caesars Michigan, but not in other states.
DGC games are some of the most iconic titles online, and Caesars PA players will soon have access to Thunderstruck, Adventures of Doubloon Island, Gold Blitz, Book of Oz, Assassins Moon, and others.
The Chief Commercial Officer at DGC said, “Each of our titles has been developed specifically to hit the mark with U.S. players, and this is why they are so sought-after across regulated states and it’s great to see Caesars Digital extending its partnership with us to ensure its players in Pennsylvania can fire up the reels on the most thrilling slots in the market.”
Detroit Casino Strikes Finally Over
Our last headline for this week is news that MGM Grand Detroit workers have left the picket line and returned to work after 47 days of strikes. Workers from Hollywood and MotorCity Casino have already returned to work, signing new contracts on November 17th, but MGM workers strung out negotiations longer.
The finalized MGM contracts are valid for five years and include the largest-ever wage increase for workers in the history of the casino (an 18% rise), alongside a host of other benefits. The new contracts were ratified on December 2nd.
Game of the Week
A Christmas Full of Wilds, Greentube, RTP: 94.69%
This week, we’re getting in the festive mood and talking about a new slot game hitting high notes with players - A Christmas Full of Wilds by Greentube Gaming. Set on 5x4 reels with 30 lines, it comes with Cascading Wins, a Lock and Spin Bonus, four types of Wilds, and a unique Trail Win feature that delivers plenty of Christmas treats. Let’s dive in and take a look at how it works.
Image credit: Greentube Games
To start winning coins, you need to match 3+ symbols, from left to right, on one of the 30 betlines. When you do, you’ll trigger a payout and a cascade, with the winning symbols leaving the reels and new ones falling, giving you a second shot at winning.
Trail Win
Above the reels is a trail of wooden symbols; with each consecutive winning spin, you’ll move one spot on the trail. Non-winning spins send you back to the start and reset the trail. Each time the trail resets, the length and available bonuses (Wilds or Lock and Spins) change, meaning sometimes you can win a feature quickly, and other times, it’ll take a little longer.
Wilds
There are 4 types of Wilds available in Santa’s trail, and each is designed to increase the win potential:
- Wild Guns: Santa shoots at the reels, sending several Wilds loose and potentially causing betline wins.
- Wild Drones: This is the same as the above, except it’s drone randomly dishing out the Wilds.
- Wild Phones: Santa picks one symbol using his phone, causing all the matching symbols on the reels to be replaced with Wilds.
- Wild Cameras: When Santa takes a photo of a symbol, all matching characters can turn into Colossal Wilds of 2x2, 3x3, or 4x4.
Lock and Spins Feature
If you land on the Lock and Spins Feature, you’ll kick off an epic bonus round. The round starts with 3 spins, and each reel position acts as an individual reel. Every time a new symbol lands, the total spins resets to 3, and symbols are locked during the round. There are only bauble Multipliers (0.5-9x the total bet) and Golden Presents on the reels.
At the end of the round, golden presents reveal one of the four wilds, and all your wins are added up. If you fill the reels, you’ll get a bonus present of 1,000x the total bet! The round ends if you hit 3 consecutive spins without adding a new symbol to the reels.
Ready to bring in the festive cheer and take this brand-new game for a spin? Then load up a Greentube Casino and start playing.