Category: iGame

(AsiaGameHub) - The Mayor of Burr Ridge, Illinois, Gary Grasso, has defended the indicted restaurant owner of Capri Filippo “Gigi” Rovito, Jr. Rovito is one of 22 named in an illegal gambling ring accused of operating a betting business and extorting individuals with gambling debts. The 52-year-old was charged with four counts of extortion last month. According to the indictment, he attempted to collect gambling debts from an unnamed victim. Prosecutors say James Gerodemos, the alleged ringleader of the group, promised Gigi half of the victim’s $30,000 debt if he could successfully collect the money. “FILIPPO ROVITO said he was going to knock VICTIM 2’s lights out and shove his head into a machine,” states the indictment. Mayor Has Dish Named After Him At “Nuts” Rovito’s Restaurant Mayor Grasso has a dish named after him at Capri, Linguini alla Mayor Grasso. He said he frequently dines there with his wife and defended Rovito’s right to continue operating the business. “To my knowledge, there is no specific allegation that Gigi actually threatened or physically harmed anyone,” the Mayor wrote in a letter to the people of Burr Ridge. “There is hearsay about it though. The allegation, so far, as to Gigi is that he is part of this illegal gambling activity in Indiana (not acceptable if true) and that ‘someone said that Gigi said’ he would harm the gambler for not paying his debt.” The indictment states that Gerodemos described Rovito as “nuts.” As the Mayor notes in his letter, Rovito is a convicted double-felon. In 1997, he was sentenced to six years in prison for the sexual assault of a 14-year-old, which added to a six-year sentence for delivery of a controlled substance. Usually, convicted felons are not granted liquor licenses in Illinois, but the Mayor made an exception in Rovito’s case. He claims he “met the standards for rehabilitation under state law.” The license has caused controversy and led to a confrontation at the restaurant. Burr Ridge Village Trustee Zach Mottl, a political rival of Grasso, allegedly questioned how Rovito could gain a license as a convicted felon. “How does a felon get a liquor license?” Mottl said, according to a police report. Rovito responded, “You need an ass beating.” Mayor and Rovito Have Longstanding Ties The Mayor, a qualified attorney, also wrote in his letter that he has defended Rovito in two previous lawsuits against the restaurateur. “Yes, I also represented Gigi in two civil lawsuits where I thought he was wronged; and did so successfully because he was not responsible. It’s still America, isn’t it?” the Mayor wrote. Rovito contributed $5,000 to Grasso’s ill-fated campaign for attorney general in 2018. Grasso returned the money after the contribution became controversial. In 2022, a complaint was filed with the FEC alleging that Rovito had funneled illegal “straw donor” contributions to Grasso’s congressional campaign. The complaint alleged Rovito used his wife and employees to make $11,600 in maximum-limit contributions. The case was later dismissed for lack of evidence. Rovito Allegedly Part of Al Capone Mafia Group Rovito has embraced alleged ties to the mafia and has built a following of over 250,000 on social media. A recent Instagram post shows him with Sopranos actor Joseph R. Gannascoli. Filippo ‘Gigi’ Rovito (right) Img: @capribygigi on Instagram Alongside Linguini alla Mayor Grasso, Capri’s menu also features Wise Guy Meatballs and Chicken “Forget About It.” An article in the Gangster Report last year names Rovito as an alleged member of the Cicero Crew, the Chicago-based criminal organization started by Al Capone. Capri Restaurant was allegedly the scene of a gang fight between the Cicero Crew and Latin Kings in March last year. The report does not say Rovito was involved in the fight, and it is unclear if it is connected to the indictment unsealed last month. Federal court records also show Rovito was allegedly paid to administer a “thorough beating” to a used car dealer who defaulted on a private loan in 2013. Records show Michael “Mickey” Davis gave Rovito a $5,000 down payment for the beating, ultimately promising a total of “10,000 clams.” The FBI then intervened before the debtor was physically harmed, and Rovito was not charged in the case. In the illegal gambling case, Rovito has been released on a $1 million bond. “For now, he is out on bond and presumed innocent until otherwise proved,” stressed Mayor Grasso. Gerodemos remains in police custody as the investigation continues, while his brother, Chris, has also been released on a $1 million bond. The group allegedly made $5 million in proceeds from their illegal gambling business. This article is provided by a third-party. AsiaGameHub (https://asiagamehub.com/) makes no warranties regarding its content. AsiaGameHub delivers targeted distribution for iGaming, Casino, and eSports, connecting 3,000+ premium Asian media outlets and 80,000+ specialized influencers across ASEAN.

(AsiaGameHub) - Sciensano indicates that risky gambling habits in Belgium have stayed consistent over the last five years, even as over half of the population is still exposed to gambling advertisements weekly. The most recent Health Survey from the Belgian public health institute reveals that 2.6% of Belgian gamblers currently exhibit risky behaviour, with 0.6% identified as being at high risk for problematic gambling. Concurrently, the survey discovered that 52.2% of Belgians encounter at least one type of gambling advertisement each week through television, websites, or social media platforms. The study further emphasized the ongoing prevalence of lottery products in the Belgian market, as nine out of every ten Belgian players engage in lottery games. Gambling sponsorship exposure seems more varied. Approximately one in ten Belgians reported regular exposure to sponsorship, whereas four in ten indicated they observed minimal or no gambling sponsorship whatsoever. Additionally, the Sciensano survey determined that men and younger age groups consistently reported greater advertising exposure compared to women and older demographics, mirroring wider global patterns associated with digital platform use and online ad reach. Sciensano report comes after stringent Belgian measures This report also follows a tumultuous period for regulation in Belgium, beginning with a comprehensive advertising ban proposed in 2023 and enacted the following year. A significant change in 2024 involved increasing the legal gambling age from 18 to 21, and gambling sponsorship exposure might have decreased due to the prohibition on sports sponsorship, effective from early 2025. Sciensano states that television, sports coverage (presumably international), and social media influencers continue to be key sponsorship points for Belgian consumers. Within the existing framework, licensed private gambling operators are forbidden from advertising through television, radio, newspapers, magazines, and social media, along with direct communication methods such as email, post, and SMS. Only a few exceptions are still allowed, such as communication within physical gambling establishments, on operators' dedicated websites, and under specific circumstances via targeted search engine advertising. Nevertheless, the report also pointed out what it termed "blind spots" within the Belgian regulatory structure. The National Lottery largely operates outside Belgium’s Gambling Act, even though it represents the vast majority of player involvement. Consequently, lottery advertising is still widely allowed across television, radio, and social media platforms. The report further noted the ongoing existence of the illegal online gambling market, which largely evades the practical scope of Belgian advertising limitations. A familiar challenge… This appears to be a worldwide issue that regulators are finding difficult to manage – a situation many will recognize. Unlicensed operators are reportedly still targeting Belgian consumers via social media, affiliate platforms, influencers, and other digital channels, bypassing requirements for age verification, EPIS exclusion systems, deposit limits, or player protection. The Belgian Association of Gaming Operators (BAGO) stated that these findings emphasize the necessity for a more consistent and enforcement-driven gambling policy. “Exposure to gambling advertising and sponsorship continues to be a genuine societal issue, yet it no longer stems solely from licensed private operators,” the trade association commented. “It is also impacted by entities that are exempt from the ban, operate under temporary regulations, or neglect to adhere to the rules.” The association suggested that effective policy should instead concentrate on three key priorities: more robust enforcement against illegal operators; consistent advertising regulations for all gambling products; and preserving the distinctiveness of licensed gambling offerings. This article is provided by a third-party. AsiaGameHub (https://asiagamehub.com/) makes no warranties regarding its content. AsiaGameHub delivers targeted distribution for iGaming, Casino, and eSports, connecting 3,000+ premium Asian media outlets and 80,000+ specialized influencers across ASEAN.

(AsiaGameHub) - Tipico Sportwetten has confirmed its position as the sole licensed sports betting operator authorized to stream every match of the FIFA World Cup 2026 to viewers in Germany. This morning, Tipico released an update to clarify its streaming privileges, noting: “From June 11 to July 19, when the World Cup captures the attention of fans around the globe.” “Tipico will offer an elevated live experience for its clients: exclusively for eligible users, the leader in Germany’s sports betting sector will stream World Cup matches, standing as the nation’s first and only sports betting provider to do so. “Eligible Tipico users can view every match via tipico.de and the Tipico Sports Betting application.” Earlier in May, the betting group for the DACH region revealed plans to stream all 104 matches of the 2026 World Cup to eligible customers in Germany. While not officially confirmed, it is probable that Tipico secured the exclusive streaming package for betting operators from Stats Perform, FIFA’s inaugural official distributor for betting data and streaming rights. Tipico’s initial declaration faced scrutiny from German media outlets. Reports suggest that both Deutsch Telekom and FIFA were taken by surprise, leading to the temporary removal of promotional materials regarding the World Cup streaming service from the operator’s site. At that point, Deutsch Telekom emphasized that it retains exclusive ownership of Germany’s primary broadcasting rights for the FIFA World Cup 2026 via MagentaTV, having also sublicensed specific matches to public broadcasters ARD and ZDF. Deutsch Telekom stood firmly behind MagentaTV as the premier platform for World Cup coverage, asserting that “Anyone who truly wants to experience the World Cup cannot bypass Magenta.TV.” Nevertheless, the broadcaster called upon FIFA or Tipico to offer clearer explanations to German viewers concerning the specific nature and constraints of the sportsbook streaming offering. Tipico emphasizes streaming is exclusively for betting In response to the criticism, Tipico has taken steps to explicitly outline the scope and technical boundaries of its product, highlighting that the service is intended strictly as a betting-streaming feature, not a replacement for high-quality television broadcasts. The operator specified that streams will be accessible solely to verified customers in Germany who hold a positive account balance or have placed a bet within the last 24 hours. Additionally, the streaming interface will be subject to strict display limitations, occupying only one-third of the screen on desktops and tablets, or one-half on smartphones. Tipico further stressed the operational separation between the livestream and the sportsbook environments – “The live streaming and the sports betting product are clearly separated. In order to see Tipico’s product, the user needs to actively leave the streaming screen, and the service will stop once the product page is shown.” In its updated communication, the operator also recognized Telekom’s stance, noting that the betting-stream product differs significantly from full television broadcasts in terms of both technical quality and presentation. “Please also note, Telekom Deutschland GmbH is the sole holder of the TV broadcasting rights for the FIFA World Cup 2026 in Germany and has granted a sub-licence for selected matches on free-to-air TV to the public broadcasters ARD and ZDF. Tipico highlights that its World Cup streams mark a major upgrade to its engagement services, expressing pride in being the first licensed German bookmaker to offer such content through its digital channels. FIFA has reaffirmed its agreement with Stats Perform as the exclusive distributor of betting-streams and data rights to licensed bookmakers, a collaboration encompassing the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup, and numerous FIFA youth and futsal tournaments through 2029. This article is provided by a third-party. AsiaGameHub (https://asiagamehub.com/) makes no warranties regarding its content. AsiaGameHub delivers targeted distribution for iGaming, Casino, and eSports, connecting 3,000+ premium Asian media outlets and 80,000+ specialized influencers across ASEAN.

(AsiaGameHub) - The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has released new details on the remit of the UK’s Illegal Gambling Taskforce, five months after its creation. Back in January, Gambling Minister Baroness Twycross made a landmark announcement that the government has set up a specialised unit to wage war on the black market in the UK. Not much else was known about the operations of this taskforce, until now. Three key objectives Those assigned to the taskforce will work towards lessening the influence of illegal gambling by tackling three distinctive objectives – preventing payments from and to black market operators, taking down offshore online marketing, and enhancing cross-agency enforcement to crack down on illegal remote and land-based gambling. All three objectives will be handled by a separate Taskforce sub-group, which will assess the progress made and propose follow-up amendments. Enforcement powers still on the cards The DCMS added that from the outset, the Taskforce and its sub-groups will not hold any power to direct or intervene in the work of the UK Gambling Commission (GC), although this could evolve with time as new priorities and challenges are identified, and any intended change is first agreed among all members. Structure of the taskforce Members of the Taskforce will include gambling industry stakeholders, policy experts, tech and fintech providers, GC and other government officials, and trade body representatives. It will be chaired by Baroness Twycross, while Ben Dean, DCMS Director for Sport and Gambling, has been named as Co-Chair. Duration of the taskforce’s remit will span across 12 months, at the end of which members will take a decision whether to renew it. Taskforce operatives will conduct biannual meetings, while sub-groups ‘are recommended’ to convene on a quarterly basis. Meetings will be conducted under Chatham House rules, where sources of information will remain anonymous. Work planning and administrative duties will be handled by DCMS officials acting as the Taskforce Secretariat, which will be responsible for arranging meetings, circulating papers, and coordinating taskforce-sanctioned actions. The taskforce comes at a time of prolific global expansion for the black market, with market analyst firm Gaming Compliance International revealing that illegal gambling operators are now attracting a combined $5.9trn (£4.36trn) in unregulated wagers – higher than the GDP of almost any country in the world. The GC, meanwhile, is also stepping up activities against illegal gambling, backed by an additional £26m in funding – which will in turn be backed by the UK”s new gambling tax framework. Just last week the regulator put out a job advert for a new Head of Illegal Markets. This article is provided by a third-party. AsiaGameHub (https://asiagamehub.com/) makes no warranties regarding its content. AsiaGameHub delivers targeted distribution for iGaming, Casino, and eSports, connecting 3,000+ premium Asian media outlets and 80,000+ specialized influencers across ASEAN.

(AsiaGameHub) - The Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ), France’s gambling regulator, has introduced a new algorithm to estimate problem gambling activity nationwide – with early results raising significant concerns. Initial findings show that players classified as high-risk account for 60% of total operator gross gaming revenue (GGR), a proportion the ANJ labelled “concerning.” The regulator has highlighted a dual rising trend: both the number of problem gamblers and their share of operator revenues are increasing. According to the ANJ, the algorithm detected around 600,000 individuals with a high likelihood of excessive gambling during the second half of 2025. This figure represents 8.7% of the total online account-based gambling population across licensed operators, including those holding accounts with FDJ United and Pari-Mutuel Urbain (PMU)—two of France’s largest gambling operators. Of these 600,000 players, approximately 300,000 were deemed “manifestly excessive” gamblers, whose identification by operators the ANJ considers essential. The regulator also disclosed that these high-risk players contributed roughly €1.2bn (£1.03bn) in GGR, making up 60% of total online gambling revenue. The ANJ noted this share has been steadily climbing since 2023. In light of these findings, the ANJ concluded that operators’ current measures to detect and assist excessive gamblers remain inadequate. World Cup concern? The regulator is also preparing for potential challenges ahead of this summer’s 2026 FIFA World Cup—an event for which it has already cautioned gambling firms against deploying overly aggressive marketing tactics. Adding to these concerns, a 2024 French study found that 15.3% of sports bettors are currently classified as problem gamblers. The new algorithm is a key component of the ANJ’s 2024–2026 strategic plan, which prioritises reducing excessive and pathological gambling as a core objective of French gambling regulation. Under French law, operators must identify and support problem gamblers through actions such as direct player interventions, setting gambling limits, monitoring accounts, referring users to support services, and, where necessary, closing accounts. Efforts in this area have intensified recently, including the launch of a redesigned national self-exclusion register aimed at mitigating gambling-related harm. While the ANJ recognised some progress in operator performance—with the number of identified excessive gamblers rising from 31,000 in 2024 to 89,000 in 2025—it stressed that these numbers remain far below expectations, given the size of the player base and existing prevalence data. To address this gap, the ANJ developed the algorithm using continuous player account data provided by licensed operators, combined with scientific research on gambling behaviour. ANJ’s algorithm to categorise players The system assesses players based on 23 indicators and risk factors related to financial activity, gambling frequency, use of moderation tools, and player history. Using these criteria, players are grouped into four categories: recreational players moderate-risk players excessive players manifestly excessive players The ANJ stated that the algorithm’s accuracy was validated against the Canadian Problem Gambling Index, under the oversight of a scientific committee composed of leading researchers. Although comparable initiatives are under development in countries such as Spain and the Netherlands, the ANJ said its model is currently the only operational tool of its kind in Europe. Operators may use the algorithm voluntarily in conjunction with their own internal monitoring systems. However, the ANJ made clear it expects swift improvements in detection capabilities, especially concerning the 300,000 players identified as manifestly excessive. Isabelle Falque-Pierrotin, President of the ANJ, said: “The completion of this algorithm and its release to operators marks a pivotal moment for the regulator. It showcases our capacity to create an innovative and effective tool designed to accurately reflect real-world online gambling behaviours. “In addition to existing surveys, the algorithm enables a more objective evaluation of operators’ efforts to identify problem gamblers—efforts that must continue without delay. “It is also crucial that this identification process extends to physical points of sale, a goal we have consistently urged the two monopolies to pursue since 2024.” This article is provided by a third-party. AsiaGameHub (https://asiagamehub.com/) makes no warranties regarding its content. AsiaGameHub delivers targeted distribution for iGaming, Casino, and eSports, connecting 3,000+ premium Asian media outlets and 80,000+ specialized influencers across ASEAN.

(AsiaGameHub) - SBC Events is set to increase its emphasis on regulation starting in 2026, following the signing of a three-way agreement with the International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR) and the International Masters of Gaming Law (IMGL). This agreement establishes a three-year collaboration among the three organizations to deliver regulatory education in the igaming sector through SBC's various events and media platforms. IAGR stands as the foremost global body for gaming regulators, managed solely by regulatory authorities. SBC operates as a worldwide entity offering international events, media, and content to the global gaming industry. IMGL represents the premier global network of expert lawyers, regulators, and professional advisors within the gaming industry. The purpose of this agreement is to improve regulatory education, foster international cooperation, and facilitate knowledge sharing via conferences, events, and associated content projects. The involved parties plan to work together on creating educational materials such as interviews, commentary, podcasts, and publications focused on regulatory matters. IAGR President Ben Haden stated: “A crucial opportunity for global gambling regulators involves consistently engaging with all segments of the international industry to educate businesses on evolving rules and laws within our sector and to exchange perspectives. This cooperative partnership with SBC and IMGL will significantly streamline communication among stakeholders and enable us to elevate standards.” IMGL President Marc Dunbar further commented, “This collaboration is ideal for ensuring the industry remains informed about permissible and impermissible activities across global jurisdictions. The combined strength of IMGL’s network of igaming lawyers, IAGR’s regulator members, and SBC’s industry reach and comprehensive content offerings provides an effective means to keep the industry updated on recent developments.” SBC Founder & CEO Rasmus Sojmark remarked: “Regulation has become increasingly vital to how companies in our industry operate, and the constantly shifting regulatory environment makes compliance progressively challenging. Therefore, I am proud to partner with IAGR and IMGL to provide SBC’s audience with the most accurate information on global legal changes.” A significant initiative planned for this year involves introducing a comprehensive series of regulatory meetups at the SBC Summit in Lisbon, scheduled for September 29 – October 1, 2026. These sessions aim to provide stakeholders with the latest updates on numerous global gambling markets. Further details on these regulatory meetups will be available at https://sbcevents.com/sbc-summit/. Additionally, the organizations will lend their support to the IAGR Annual Conference, taking place in Lima, Peru, from October 19-22, 2026. Ends About SBCSBC stands as a global leader in providing events, media, and advisory services for the betting and gaming sector. Through its six major events across Europe, North America, and Latin America, alongside a network of over 13 editorial brands, SBC facilitates connections, insights, and opportunities that enable businesses to grow, expand, and engage with crucial decision-makers throughout the year. About the International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR)The International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR) offers a platform for gaming regulators globally to convene, acquire best practice techniques and strategies, network, and exchange perspectives, share data, and deliberate on legislation, policies, and procedures. About International Masters of Gaming Law (IMGL)The International Masters of Gaming Law (IMGL) unites prominent attorneys, regulators, executives, and advisors worldwide who specialize in gaming law and regulation. By fostering education, collaboration, and the exchange of ideas, it contributes to shaping best practices and supports the expansion of the global gaming industry. The organization is founded on professionalism, integrity, and a collective dedication to excellence in gaming law. Media Contacts: International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR)Kevin P. Mullally, CEOceo@iagr.org SBC EventsJames Shanahan, CMOjames.shanahan@sbcgaming.com International Masters of Gaming Law (IMGL)Phil Savage, Head of Publications and European Affairsphil@imgl.orgBrien Van Dyke, Executive Directorbrien@imgl.org This article is provided by a third-party. AsiaGameHub (https://asiagamehub.com/) makes no warranties regarding its content. AsiaGameHub delivers targeted distribution for iGaming, Casino, and eSports, connecting 3,000+ premium Asian media outlets and 80,000+ specialized influencers across ASEAN.

(AsiaGameHub) - Aussie gambling shares are surging following the gaming operator Aristocrat's announcement of net profits of nearly $575 million (USD) for the first half of the financial year. In its pre-audit earnings disclosure, Aristocrat reported profits increased by more than 17% compared to the previous year, and declared shareholder dividends of $0.36 per share for July. The company’s gaming segment revenues grew almost 5% year-on-year, reaching just over $1.4 billion. In response, share prices surged by over 13% on May 13, pushing the market capitalization above $20 billion. Trading volumes also spiked, more than doubling within 24 hours to reach 3.3 million shares. Aristocrat outperformed most stocks on the Australian Stock Exchange on May 13, as the S&P/ASX 200 index declined 0.4%. Aristocrat share prices on May 13. (Image: Google Finance) While gaming stocks are generally falling in the US and Asia, certain Australian operators appear to be defying the trend. Aristocrat’s main rival, Light & Wonder, saw its share price rise by 5% on May 13, with trading volumes nearly doubling from May 12 levels. Light & Wonder released its own quarterly results earlier this month, showing a more modest 2% increase as revenues climbed to $573 million. Light & Wonder share prices on May 13. (Image: Google Finance) Share prices at The Lottery Corporation rose by nearly 2%, although its trading volumes fell below the five-day average. However, smaller Aussie operators such as Skycity experienced a decline, with prices dropping 4%. What Has Sparked the Aussie Gambling Share Boom? Aristocrat investors appear to have been encouraged by the company’s strong financial performance. The firm’s normalized Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, and Amortization (EBITA) rose by over 6%, surpassing AUD 1 billion. But earnings alone are not the full story. The company is also seeking to attract stock market investment by expanding its on-market share buy-back program by an additional $726 million. The program is now valued at $1.8 million and has been extended through mid-May 2027. The operator is also embracing artificial intelligence at a time when chip stocks are experiencing widespread growth. “We are increasingly leveraging AI to enhance our strategic advantages and transform our processes,” CEO Trevor Croker told investors during an earnings call. Croker also announced the appointment of new board members with backgrounds in AI leadership. According to the media outlet Australian Financial Review, Aristocrat aims to exceed market expectations by selling access to approximately 5,000 poker machines in 2026. After a prolonged legal dispute, Light & Wonder and Aristocrat resolved their disagreement over alleged gaming development infringements earlier this year. The former agreed to pay Aristocrat $127.5 million after admitting it used Aristocrat’s math data to develop algorithms for the games Dragon Train and Jewel of the Dragon. Light & Wonder agreed to cease selling Jewel of the Dragon in April of last year. Aristocrat has been expanding its sports offerings in the US in recent years. In 2025, the company launched its NFL-themed slot titles in Puerto Rico. This article is provided by a third-party. AsiaGameHub (https://asiagamehub.com/) makes no warranties regarding its content. AsiaGameHub delivers targeted distribution for iGaming, Casino, and eSports, connecting 3,000+ premium Asian media outlets and 80,000+ specialized influencers across ASEAN.

(AsiaGameHub) - The Trifecta is a type of exotic bet and one of the most potentially profitable wagers in horse racing. To win a Trifecta, bettors must correctly predict the first three finishers in the exact order. Trifectas are available for this year’s Preakness Stakes, which is scheduled to take place on Saturday at Laurel Park in Maryland. What Did the Preakness Stakes Trifecta Pay Out Last Year? Let's examine the finishing results from the 2025 Preakness to understand how the Trifecta bet works. Journalism (horse #2), Gosger (horse #9), and Sandman (horse #7) finished in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place, respectively. A $1 Trifecta bet on the combination 2-9-7 resulted in a payout of $73.50. This was a relatively modest payout, as Journalism was the 8-5 favorite, and Sandman was the second betting choice at 4-1 odds. While accurately predicting the top three finishers in precise order is challenging, there are alternative methods for placing Trifecta bets that can increase your chances of winning. Different Types of Trifecta Bets The example above illustrates a straight Trifecta bet. Here are other variations for making Trifecta wagers: Trifecta Box A Trifecta box bet allows you to wager on the first three finishers without needing to specify the exact order of finish. By "boxing" three horses, you cover all possible winning combinations. Consequently, a $1 Trifecta box bet will cost $6. If you want to bet on horses #6, #7, and #9 to finish in the top three, you would state at the betting window: “$1 Trifecta box on 6, 7, and 9.” The cost increases if you choose to include more horses in your box bet: 4 horses (resulting in 24 combinations): $24 5 horses (resulting in 60 combinations): $60 6 horses (resulting in 120 combinations): $120 Trifecta Key This bet is recommended if you are highly confident that a specific horse will win the race. You designate your "key" horse to finish first and select other horses to finish second and third. For instance, if you believe horse #5 will win, and horses #7 and #9 will finish second and third, respectively. You would place the bet by saying: “$1 Trifecta Key #5 on top of 7 and 9.” The cost of this ticket is $6. This method allows the second and third-place finishers to come in either order, which saves money compared to boxing all possible combinations. Trifecta Wheel With a Trifecta wheel bet, you can select one or two horses to finish in a specific position and combine them with all possible combinations for the remaining positions. For example, if there are eight horses in the race and you believe horse #1 will win, you would say, “$1 Trifecta 1-all-all.” This bet would cost $42 to cover every possible combination. The cost of the bet naturally increases with a larger number of horses in the race. Biggest Preakness Trifecta Payout The largest Trifecta payout in the modern history of the Preakness Stakes occurred in 2019 when War of Will won the race. The $1 Trifecta bet on the combination 1-10-5 paid out $4,699.80. 1st place: #1 War of Will (6-1 odds) 2nd place: #10 Everfast (29-1 odds) 3rd place: #5 Owendale (8-1 odds) This year's Preakness Stakes is anticipated to be a highly competitive race, potentially leading to another significant payout for Trifecta bettors. See also: Exacta Bets | Superfecta Bets This article is provided by a third-party. AsiaGameHub (https://asiagamehub.com/) makes no warranties regarding its content. AsiaGameHub delivers targeted distribution for iGaming, Casino, and eSports, connecting 3,000+ premium Asian media outlets and 80,000+ specialized influencers across ASEAN.

(AsiaGameHub) - A senior regional Ukrainian post office official misappropriated funds allocated for pension and social assistance disbursements and squandered them on online gambling platforms. According to a court announcement, the Tyachiv District Court in Zakarpattia sentenced an unnamed female Ukrposhta employee to two years of probation. Prosecutors stated that the woman embezzled the funds in September 2022. She utilized official Ukrposhta access credentials to transfer small sums to her personal card over a 10-day period. The woman subsequently used the entire amount for online gambling. She later filed a police report, alleging that the money had been stolen from the post office’s cash register. Ukrainian Post Office Worker Sorry for Stealing Money The woman eventually admitted to the offense, acknowledging that her gambling habits had led her into debt. She has since repaid the funds to Ukrposhta, which had initially covered the losses. During sentencing, the presiding judge noted that the court had considered her “sincere remorse.” The judge further remarked that she had no prior criminal record and was the mother of two children. The court also prohibited her from holding positions involving financial responsibility and managerial duties for two years. Additionally, she was fined 6,800 hryvnia, equivalent to $155. An Ukrposhta branch in the Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih. (Image: Andrew J.Kurbiko [CC BY-SA 4.0]) Gambling-Addicted Dance Instructor Stole Money From Parents The development in Zakarpattia occurred just days after a court in Ukraine’s Cherkasy Oblast sentenced a children’s dance instructor to a five-year suspended jail term for embezzling money from parents to fund online gambling. The instructor, Viktoria Kalashnik, who choreographs for a children’s ensemble named Nadezhda, was identified as the offender, according to Ukrainian media outlet Glavcom. In February 2025, Nadezhda won a dance competition and subsequently received an invitation to participate in an international festival in Batumi, Georgia. Kalashnik took charge of organizing the trip and began collecting money from parents in April. A total of 26 families contributed 1,181,061 hryvnia, amounting to approximately $27,000. However, the parents grew suspicious of Kalashnik’s behavior. The coach “repeatedly rescheduled the trip and never showed them travel tickets,” as stated by prosecutors. The parents eventually visited Kalashnik’s home, where the instructor confessed to losing the money. During the trial, Kalashnik again admitted to losing the funds and stated that she suffered from pathological gambling addiction. “I won on my first visit to an online casino,” she told the court. “After that, I couldn’t stop. I lost my own money and my parents’ cash, too.” Prior to the trial, Kalashnik partially compensated the parents, paying back around $3,000. A branch of the Sosnovsky District Court found Kalashnik guilty of large-scale fraud and suspended her jail sentence for three years. The presiding judge also ordered Kalashnik to pay financial compensation and moral damages fines totaling $27,300. Earlier this year, PlayCity, Ukraine’s gambling regulator, imposed a $10,000 fine on the operator of the sports betting and online slots brand Betking, Slots UA. PlayCity cited failure to provide financial data “in a timely manner” as the reason for the penalty. The regulator has also recently revoked the license of the Cosmolot online casino operator Spaceiks. This article is provided by a third-party. AsiaGameHub (https://asiagamehub.com/) makes no warranties regarding its content. AsiaGameHub delivers targeted distribution for iGaming, Casino, and eSports, connecting 3,000+ premium Asian media outlets and 80,000+ specialized influencers across ASEAN.

(AsiaGameHub) - Leading Macao casino share prices are falling or stagnating after operators posted disappointing first-quarter earnings. Galaxy Entertainment Group’s pre-audit report revealed an 11% net revenue year-on-year increase to just under $1.6 billion, the Japanese-language media outlet Macau Shimbun reported. However, the firm also saw its revenues drop by 10% from Q4 FY2025. Gross gaming revenue rose year-on-year, but the firm also experienced a 9% quarter-on-quarter decline. While the firm reported year-on-year rises in mass gaming, VIP room, and slots revenues, these also fell in the past quarter. Most notably, VIP revenues dropped by 25% since the start of the calendar year. Galaxy’s net liabilities were $345 million, leaving the operator with pre-audit cash and liquid investments worth around $4.7 billion. The firm is currently developing a range of new dining, lifestyle, leisure, and retail facilities at its Galaxy Macau resort. This project will see it open new casino facilities and add a new 1,350-room hotel. It has also begun renovating its StarWorld Hotel on the Macao Peninsula. The work includes remodeling two casino floors. The company stated that its StarWorld renovation would be completed by the end of the first quarter of 2027. Galaxy Entertainment Group share prices on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange over the past five days. (Image: Google Finance) Macao Casino Earnings: SJM Holdings Revenues Drop 21% Earlier this month, the same media outlet reported that SJM Holdings, another Hong Kong-listed firm with a Macao casino management concession, also posted quarter-on-quarter revenue declines. SJM operates a range of casino facilities under the Lisboa brand. SJM Holdings share prices on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange over the past five days. (Image: Google Finance) Company documents reveal the operator’s net revenues for the first quarter of this year were $754 million, down 21.1% year-on-year. Gross gambling revenue also fell by nearly 19%. Profits attributable to parent company shareholders decreased from a surplus of $4 million to a deficit of almost $8 million. The company’s share of Macao’s total casino revenue declined by 3.9 percentage points to just under 10%. Rival operator MGM China earlier reported a 10% year-on-year rise in revenues in Q1, along with a drop in VIP spending. Gaming shares are also down elsewhere in the world, despite a global stock market boom. While sky-high tech shares drove the S&P 500 Index to new record highs, popular gambling-focused exchange-traded funds fell by more than 3%. Back in Hong Kong, MGM China share prices dropped by 1.6% on May 12, while Wynn Macau fell 0.7%. This article is provided by a third-party. AsiaGameHub (https://asiagamehub.com/) makes no warranties regarding its content. AsiaGameHub delivers targeted distribution for iGaming, Casino, and eSports, connecting 3,000+ premium Asian media outlets and 80,000+ specialized influencers across ASEAN.

(AsiaGameHub) - SBC Summit Canada is set to return to Toronto next week during a transformative period for the nation's gambling sector. Key discussions will focus on the upcoming launch of Alberta's regulated market, increasing pressure regarding advertising limits, and the high expectations surrounding the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Held at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre from May 19-21, this year’s event is the first since rebranding from the Canadian Gaming Summit. More than 3,000 industry professionals are expected to participate in the only event in the country focused exclusively on the betting and gaming sectors. With Alberta’s regulated market scheduled to open in June, suppliers, affiliates, and operators are moving quickly to establish their presence in what is projected to be a major North American gaming hub. Simultaneously, the industry is navigating uncertainty from Bill S-211 and proposed advertising bans, while the 2026 FIFA World Cup offers a significant chance for sportsbooks to engage with the country's growing interest in soccer. These industry shifts will drive the summit’s three-stage conference program, which includes tracks dedicated to leadership, sports wagering, lottery and land-based gaming, marketing and affiliates, payments, and regulatory compliance. The schedule also features two specialized tracks on player safety and cybersecurity. The Cybersecurity in Gaming Summit, hosted by OLG, will analyze how companies are addressing digital threats, managing AI-related risks, and improving organizational security. Meanwhile, the Player Protection Symposium will look at moving beyond basic regulatory compliance to foster more proactive strategies for player health. Other sessions will explore how operators can turn World Cup interest into long-term customer loyalty, the evolution of omnichannel strategies for land-based and lottery brands, and how firms can prepare for regulatory changes in Alberta and advertising reform. The event will also host several masterclasses on vital operational and legal topics. IMGL will lead sessions on quasi-gambling and grey market activities in Canada, while Lucien Wijsman will conduct workshops on player psychology, pricing models, and the synergy between digital and physical casinos. Over the two-day conference, attendees will hear from a lineup of more than 150 expert speakers. Wednesday’s program begins with an address from Duncan Hannay (President, OLG), followed by a keynote from Nell Watson (Chief Scientist, EthicsNet / Creed Space) regarding the impact of autonomous AI on trust and security in gaming. Ahead of the June market launch in Alberta, Dale Nally (Minister of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction) will provide insights into the province's new iGaming framework. The speaker roster also includes Jennifer Aguiar (Chief Compliance Officer, DraftKings), Jared Beber (CEO, Bet99), Tom Burdakin (VP of Marketing, FanDuel), Stan Cho (Minister of Tourism & Gaming, Ontario), Andrew Garven (Head of Affiliate Marketing, Bet99), Joseph Hillier (CEO, iGaming Ontario), Yohan Mathew (Director of Marketing, BetMGM), Andrew Moreno (Assistant Vice President of Business Development and Government Affairs, bet365), Scott Vanderwel (CEO, PointsBet Canada), Tim Whitehead (Sportsbook Director, DraftKings), and Mark Wrigley (Head of Betting, F1). The exhibition floor will feature the organizations driving the future of the Canadian gaming market, providing attendees with access to the latest services and technologies. Participants can explore new product launches and engage with the teams behind them. Confirmed exhibitors include Altenar, Gigadat, iGaming Ontario, Bet Rite, Payper, Soft2Bet, Top Alliance, Optimove, Paramount Commerce, and others. Reflecting on the upcoming summit, Rasmus Sojmark, CEO & Founder of SBC, noted: “The Canadian gaming industry is currently experiencing significant momentum, which is evident in the high caliber of our speakers and the quality of the agenda. We are excited to host thousands of delegates in Toronto for what will be our most ambitious Canadian event yet.” In addition to the conference and exhibition, the summit offers various on-site networking opportunities. Highlights include the Global Gaming Women Breakfast on May 20 and the First Nations Breakfast on May 21, along with several networking lounges located throughout the venue. VIP Event Pass holders will also have access to two exclusive evening functions: SBC Summit Canada Opening Party — May 19 at RS Sports Bar (badge pickup available) SBC Summit Canada Official Networking Party — May 20 at The Rec Room For more information prior to the event, SBC’s Tom Nightingale (Editor, Canadian Gaming Business) recently appeared on iGaming Daily to discuss the current state of the Canadian market and the regulatory topics expected to lead the conversation at SBC Summit Canada. Registration is now open for those wishing to attend SBC Summit Canada. *VIP Event Pass holders also receive entry to the co-located Canada Fintech Symposium, an event exploring the intersection of financial innovation, compliance, and payments within regulated sectors. This article is provided by a third-party. AsiaGameHub (https://asiagamehub.com/) makes no warranties regarding its content. AsiaGameHub delivers targeted distribution for iGaming, Casino, and eSports, connecting 3,000+ premium Asian media outlets and 80,000+ specialized influencers across ASEAN.

(AsiaGameHub) - Legal hurdles are a daily occurrence for prediction markets. The most recent lawsuit targeting Kalshi has been initiated by a coalition of New Mexico tribes. Concurrently, legislators in Minnesota have passed a bill designed to outlaw various prediction markets, specifically those concerning elections and sports. The lawsuit was filed by the Mescalero Apache Tribe, Pueblo of Isleta, Pueblo of Pojoaque, and Pueblo of Sandia. They accuse Kalshi of breaching Indian gaming compacts through the provision of unlawful gaming operations. Tribes Allege Kalshi Facilitates Unlawful Sports Wagering Kalshi contends its platform differs from sports betting, citing that it neither functions as the house nor directly accepts wagers. This assertion has been dismissed by the tribes. “Determining if an activity qualifies as 'gaming' under IGRA is not contingent on whether participants wager against the 'house' or one another,” the lawsuit asserts. The filing also references a past statement from a Kalshi attorney: “Contracts pertaining to games are likely unsuitable for listing on an exchange, as they lack genuine economic utility.” It further notes, “The sports event contracts offered by Kalshi possess all the defining traits anticipated by sports bettors in gambling: moneyline bets (predicting the winner), over/unders (total combined points), point spreads (margin of victory), prop bets (specific in-game events), and parlays (combined outcomes).” Consequently, the tribes contend that sports prediction markets warrant classification as sports betting. Current New Mexico statutes restrict legal sports wagering to in-person transactions at tribal casinos. Varying Outcomes for Other Tribal Litigation This marks the third instance of tribal entities suing Kalshi, succeeding previous legal actions filed in California and Wisconsin last year. In Wisconsin, a judge denied Kalshi's request to dismiss the lawsuit filed by the Ho Chunk Nation, a case backed by tribal organizations nationwide. Meanwhile, the Ninth Circuit in California declined the tribes' motion to consolidate their appeal with a Nevada prediction market case. The Blue Lake Rancheria, Chicken Ranch Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians, and Picayune Rancheria of the Chukchansi Indians had petitioned the Ninth Circuit to route their appeal against Kalshi and Robinhood to the panel overseeing the Nevada litigation. Nevada has proven the most effective state in combating prediction markets, standing alone in compelling Kalshi to exit the market. “Given the substantial distinctions between this appeal and North American Derivatives Exchange, Inc. v. State of Nevada … the motion to transfer this appeal to the panel that heard argument in that matter … is DENIED,” a court order declared. Minnesota Enacts Prohibition on Sports Prediction Markets In other developments, Minnesota legislators have approved a bill specifically outlawing sports prediction markets. The House passed SF4760 with a 100-32 vote, following a prior 57-9 approval in the Senate. This legislation is part of a broader Public Safety policy package. The provisions addressing prediction markets would bar operators from facilitating contracts on the following topics: Sports & Games: Athletic competitions, individual player performance, and games utilizing cards, dice, or electronics. Crises & Disasters: Conflicts, emergencies, disasters, shootings, terror, and health crises. Human Events: Specific events involving individuals or groups. Government & Politics: Elections and behavior of officials/agencies. Legal Proceedings: Lawsuits, trials, settlements, verdicts. Violence & Mortality: Deaths, assassinations, mass casualty events. Weather: Short-term forecasts and environmental events. Pop Culture: Awards and release dates. Statements: Forecasts regarding specific utterances by individuals. The bill now awaits the signature of Governor Tim Walz. Upon enactment, state officials would gain the authority to issue cease-and-desist orders to non-compliant firms. Kalshi is a probable target for such an order and would likely retaliate by filing suit against the state. Kalshi maintains that state regulations are inapplicable, asserting that its operations fall under the jurisdiction of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). The CFTC has pledged to support licensed operators and has intervened in legal battles across multiple states. The controversy surrounding the legality of sports prediction markets persists. Attorney Melinda Roth remarked this week that while the CFTC is the fitting regulator for sports-event contracts, the final decision on lawfulness rests with the Supreme Court. A ruling is not anticipated before 2027. Until then, anticipate continued litigation and legislative attempts to curb activities viewed by many as illicit sports betting. This article is provided by a third-party. AsiaGameHub (https://asiagamehub.com/) makes no warranties regarding its content. AsiaGameHub delivers targeted distribution for iGaming, Casino, and eSports, connecting 3,000+ premium Asian media outlets and 80,000+ specialized influencers across ASEAN.

(AsiaGameHub) - JP Morgan Chase has increased its shareholding in Entain, indicating that the UK betting giant remains an attractive target for high-profile investors, particularly following the dissolution of major shareholder Eminence Capital. A filing with the London Stock Exchange confirmed that JP Morgan Chase has raised its stake in Entain to 7% of the company’s total stock. This comprises 5.6% in direct voting rights and an additional 1.4% held through financial instruments. On Friday, May 8, the day JP Morgan Chase surpassed the 5% minimum reporting threshold, Entain’s share price reached a peak of £5.42. At this valuation, the firm’s total investment in Entain could have been worth up to £244.9 million. However, Entain’s share price has experienced a slight decline in subsequent days, currently trading at £5.26 per share as of this article’s publication. JP Morgan cashing in on Entain? The acquisition by a major multinational bank like JP Morgan Chase, a Dow Jones and S&P 100 constituent with over $4.7 trillion in assets, could signal confidence in Entain’s long-term viability. Entain’s shares faced pressure in early May after Eminence Capital, a New York-based hedge fund with over 25 years of activity, ceased operations. Eminence was previously Entain’s third-largest shareholder, holding a 6.5% stake, behind Capital Group and Dodge & Cox. Following the fund’s closure, Eminence founder Ricky Sandler resigned as a Non-Executive Director of Entain. He subsequently divested his remaining shares on May 7, reducing his holdings in the company from 5.8% to zero. Like many other publicly listed and privately held gambling companies, Entain faces significant challenges in 2026. The company’s primary market is the UK, where its prominent Ladbrokes and Coral brands operate thousands of high-street betting shops and popular online betting and gaming platforms. Entain’s strong UK presence has exposed it to the increase in Remote Gaming Duty (RGD) from 21% to 40% this April, a measure introduced for the betting and gaming industry by HM Treasury’s November 2025 Autumn Budget. Crucially, and potentially a source of confidence for Entain and its investors, the company’s extensive network of betting shops is exempt from both the RGD increase and next year’s rise in General Betting Duty. Despite this, the company has still implemented retail cutbacks across its UK-and-Ireland division. The UK industry is also grappling with criticism regarding advertising practices and the prevalence of high-street betting and gaming establishments in local communities. It remains uncertain whether the recent local election results, which saw gains for the more pro-industry Reform UK and anti-industry Green parties, will alter this landscape. Entain ever subject to speculation With Entain’s share price down 31.8% year-to-date, it is plausible that JP Morgan Chase is capitalizing on cheaper shares, potentially anticipating a rebound for the firm this year. Despite reporting multi-million-pound losses for the third consecutive year in 2025, Entain did show some positive performance last year, with group-wide revenue increasing by 3% to £5.25 billion and UK and Irish revenue rising by 6% to £2.19 billion. Rumours of a potential sale of the company also persist, suggesting that investors like JP Morgan Chase might be hoping to profit from a future transaction involving high-profile brands such as Ladbrokes and Coral. However, as Entain’s leadership has not indicated any interest in a sale, any such rumours can only be considered speculation for the time being. Nevertheless, Entain has been an acquisition target in the past, though it has proven notoriously difficult to acquire. In 2021, leadership rejected MGM Resorts International’s $11.1 billion (£8.1 billion) bid, deeming it to ‘significantly undervalue’ the company. This article is provided by a third-party. AsiaGameHub (https://asiagamehub.com/) makes no warranties regarding its content. AsiaGameHub delivers targeted distribution for iGaming, Casino, and eSports, connecting 3,000+ premium Asian media outlets and 80,000+ specialized influencers across ASEAN.

(AsiaGameHub) - Gambling in Oklahoma is set to remain in a gray area for the foreseeable future, as Governor Kevin Stitt vetoed a ban on sweepstakes casinos. The move follows lawmakers’ rejection of legislation to legalize sports betting in the state. Both the House and Senate passed the bill explicitly banning sweepstakes casinos. The Senate approved SB1589 in a 48-0 vote at the start of March, while the House voted 65-21 in favor of the bill last week. Gov. Stitt, however, went against the consensus and vetoed the new law on Monday. The governor did not issue an official statement explaining why he shot down the legislation. He posted on X that he weighed “each bill with care and intention, thinking of the families, communities, and future generations who will be impacted.” As I complete my final bill review meetings as Governor, I am filled with a deep sense of gratitude. The process has meant weighing each bill with care and intention, thinking of the families, communities, and future generations who will be impacted. What a privilege this… pic.twitter.com/pUOuSPhS6B— Governor Kevin Stitt (@GovStitt) May 13, 2026 Having been elected in 2018, Gov. Stitt’s term in office will come to an end in January next year. He has strongly opposed expanding gambling in the state through tribal compacts, stating that he would veto any bills that grant a monopoly to tribes. The veto on the sweepstakes ban may be a fear that it would similarly strengthen the tribes’ exclusive rights to offer gambling in Oklahoma. Bill Would Have Prohibited Dual-Currency Gambling The legislation would have explicitly prohibited platforms from offering online casino games through dual currencies. However, it carved out an exception “as provided in the Oklahoma Charity Games Act or asotherwise authorized to be conducted on Indian lands in compliance with the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.” This part of the legislation is perhaps what made Gov. Stitt refuse to sign the ban into law. In theory, it could have allowed tribes to launch online casino games using dual currencies. Non-tribal groups that ran sweepstakes casinos would have faced a Class C2 felony, with fines of $500 to $2,000 and potential imprisonment. Tribal Push For Sports Betting Also Rejected Gov. Stitt has also been vocal about vetoing any legislation that would grant tribes the right to offer sports betting. “I will absolutely veto any bill that creates a monopoly or protects one at the expense of a fair, open market,” Stitt said. “We need a plan that works for all four million Oklahomans, not just a few special interests.” Lawmakers came closer than ever to legalizing sports betting in Oklahoma, which remains one of the few states without any legal retail or online sports wagering. However, the legislation did not reach Gov. Stitt’s desk. The House approved HB1047 in a 62-31 vote at the end of March, but the Senate voted it down in a 27-21 vote last month. The bill proposed allowing tribes to offer both in-person and online sports betting through commercial partners such as DraftKings and FanDuel. Tribes would have kept the majority of the revenue but would have given 8% of earnings back to the state. New Governor Could See Change in Laws As Gov. Stitt’s term in office comes to an end, a new Governor could see the state finally legalize sports betting. Kalshi currently gives the Republican Party a 92.7% chance of winning the gubernatorial race. Candidates include Attorney General Gentner Drummond, who has opposed sports prediction markets. “This is unequivocally gambling, which means it belongs under State authority,” Drummond said. “States have long had the right and responsibility to protect their own citizens from the dangers of gambling, and that should continue to hold true whether bets take place on a prediction market or inside a traditional casino.” This stance suggests he may favor legalizing sports betting with state authority, whether that is through the tribes remains to be seen. A survey last year showed he is the leading candidate with 35% of voter support, just ahead of Charles McCall at 33%. McCall has historically supported a Tribal-centric model. He believes the path to legal sports betting must go through the existing tribal gaming compacts, as the tribes are the state’s long-term partners. Either way, Oklahomans can continue using unregulated sweepstakes casinos and prediction markets, but are forbidden from accessing legal sportsbooks for the foreseeable future. This article is provided by a third-party. AsiaGameHub (https://asiagamehub.com/) makes no warranties regarding its content. AsiaGameHub delivers targeted distribution for iGaming, Casino, and eSports, connecting 3,000+ premium Asian media outlets and 80,000+ specialized influencers across ASEAN.

(AsiaGameHub) - Germany-headquartered operator bet-at-home has reported a challenging start to 2026 as first quarter revenues declined sharply following the impact of Austria’s betting tax increase. Gross betting and gaming revenue (GGR) for Q1 2026 fell 16.1% year-on-year to €11.34m (£9.83m), down from €13.52m in the corresponding period last year. The decline was driven primarily by weaker online sports betting performance, with sportsbook GGR falling from €12.01m to €9.63m. Despite the significant sportsbook drop, the company expects this summer’s 2026 FIFA World Cup to provide a boost to customer activity later in the year. The financial results are the first since the company was cast aside by sports entertainment giant Banijay Group, which sold its majority 53.9% controlling stake in the business, finalised on 2 January. This move by Banijay was made to focus on the development of its new Banijay Gaming unit, formed by the merger of Betclic and Tipico Sportwetten. Regulations stifle progress Much of the decline was, according to leadership, down to Austria’s betting tax increase from 2% to 5% of stakes, which came into effect on 1 April 2025. In further regulatory woes for the business, Germany’s Interstate Treaty on Gambling (GlüStV 2021), which has rules including a €1,000 monthly deposit cap, a 5.3% stake tax, €1 slot stake limits and 5-second spin rules, remains in place. An ongoing review is set to be complete by the end of the year, but until an update is issued, such intense regulation will remain in place in bet-at-home’s domestic market. “The results of the bet-at-home.com AG Group in the first quarter of 2026 reflect a challenging market environment,” said bet-at-home Chief Executive Officer, Stefan Sulzbacher. “Gross betting and gaming revenues declined by 16.1% in the first quarter of 2026 compared to the previous year to €11.34m, primarily due to weaker performance in the online sports betting segment. “In the comparative period, the increase in the betting tax in Austria from 2% to 5% of stakes (effective 1 April 2025) had not yet come into effect. The immediate pass-through of the increased costs to customers from June 2025 led to a decline in revenues as well as overall customer activity.” Sports betting volume fell significantly from €89.78m to €67.86m YoY, contributing to total betting and gaming volume declining from €103.2m to €82.3m. In contrast, the operator’s online gaming segment continued to grow. Online gaming GGR rose 13.1% YoY to €1.71m, while gaming volume increased from €13.42m to €14.46m. Net betting and gaming revenue fell from €10.81m to €8.6m after betting fees, gambling levies and VAT deductions. The company’s profitability also deteriorated during the quarter. EBITDA before special items at bet-at-home fell to a loss of €149,000 compared to positive EBITDA of €1.6m in Q1 2025, while reported EBITDA dropped from €1.17m to a loss of €320,000. Meanwhile, consolidated profit swung from a €887,000 profit last year to a €461,000 loss for the quarter. Marketing expenditure declined 7.4% YoY to €4.49m. bet-at-home.com said its marketing strategy for 2026 is heavily focused on the upcoming World Cup in the US, Canada and Mexico, but that this “continues to be offset by existing regulatory, legal, and competitive uncertainties”. Other operating expenses fell 20.9% to €2.44m due to lower service provider costs, reduced legal advisory expenses and lower foreign exchange losses. Despite the weaker quarter, bet-at-home maintained a solid liquidity position. Cash and cash equivalents stood at €26.68m as of 31 March, down only slightly from €27.89m at the end of 2025. Looking ahead, the firm said it remains focused on its core German and Austrian markets. Sulzbacher added: “An emphasis is placed on the start of the FIFA World Cup, which will take place in June and July 2026 in the US, Canada, and Mexico. We expect this major event to be an additional positive driver for further business development. “In particular, increased customer activity and growth in new registrations compared to the 2025 financial year are anticipated.” bet-at-home’s recent challenges The company reiterated its full-year guidance for 2026, forecasting gross betting and gaming revenue of €46m-€54m and EBITDA before special items up to €4m. Last year, bet-at-home reported €48m revenue and €2.4m in EBITDA before special items, but these numbers have been on a gradual decline for the best part of a decade. The firm is no longer the powerhouse it once was in the late 2010s, when it was reporting turnovers of more than double of that €48m figure, and that decline has caused investors to turn away. This has led to a mammoth dip in its share price, market cap and reputation on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, where shares are trading way off its mid-2017 peak of €150. Since then, shares have dropped by over 98% and now sit at the €2.61 mark, while bet-at-home’s market cap is €18.3m – some distance away from the approximate €740m it was valued at back when its stock peaked. Nevertheless, for 2026, Sulzbacher has stood firm on the current €48m revenue outlook, despite ongoing market pressures and operational uncertainty. This article is provided by a third-party. 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(AsiaGameHub) - Prime Minister Keir Starmer maintains he has no plans to step down in the wake of last week’s local elections, where Labour lost 1,496 council seats throughout England. On the local front, the landscape of UK politics has changed significantly, with Labour and Conservative parties—longtime mainstays—losing constituency backing to Reform UK, the Green Party, and a fresh group of independent councillors. But Labour’s heavy defeat isn’t unexpected; all analysts foresaw a drubbing for the ruling party’s council seats, given it’s widely seen as stagnant. Starmer refuses to bow out just yet Within Labour circles, attention is now fixed on Starmer and the extent to which he’s directly responsible for this historic thrashing. As of this morning, 93 Labour MPs have publicly demanded Starmer resign or outline a timeline for stepping down, ramping up pressure on the party leader even though Labour still holds a strong parliamentary majority in the House of Commons. Labour’s crisis is made worse by projections from local election vote shares: if those results were repeated nationwide, Labour could plummet from its governing position to around 110 Commons seats, while Reform UK would become the biggest parliamentary group. This possible outcome has stoked rising anxiety among Labour MPs about whether Starmer is still the right person to protect the party’s 2024 general election victory—dubbed by critics as a “loveless majority”. Sam Rosbottom: Betfair Betting markets have responded sharply to the growing political unrest. Sam Rosbottom, a spokesperson for Betfair Politics, commented: “Westminster is once again in chaos. Sir Keir Starmer’s future as Prime Minister is very much up in the air, and bettors don’t think he’ll make it through the year, never mind to the next general election.” Rosbottom pointed out that Starmer’s odds of leaving 10 Downing Street between July and September are now 5/7 (a 58% implied chance), down significantly from 7/5 (41%) the previous night. Additionally, the PM has 1/20 odds of being replaced before the next general election. “It’s becoming more and more probable that the UK will have four Prime Ministers in four years—almost as frequent as managerial changes at Chelsea Football Club,” Rosbottom added. “Though the betting market for the next Prime Minister is a bit more stable than the one for Chelsea’s next manager.” Burnham and Streeting emerge as top contenders As talk of a Labour leadership contest grows, betting markets have zeroed in on three front-runners. Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham is currently leading Betfair’s odds at 13/5 (28%), even though there are questions about how he would get back to Westminster. Health Secretary Wes Streeting is next at 10/3 (23%), while former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has odds of 9/2 (18%). Kyle McGrath from Entain Politics stated that political betting markets have quickly become one of the industry’s busiest areas this year. “I also manage Eurovision betting here, which I thought would be the biggest political betting event of the year,” McGrath said. “But a Burnham vs Streeting contest later this year might come close.” McGrath also noted that customer betting patterns suggest more people expect Starmer to leave office before the end of 2026. “Personally, I don’t think KS will last until the end of the year,” he commented. “92 MPs have now called for his resignation, and there are probably many more behind closed doors—including in his own cabinet—who feel the same way.” UK politics shifts to a focus on deal-making Entain’s trading desk reports that most bets on Starmer’s departure date are centered on 2026, with the April-June 2026 window being especially popular among those looking for a leadership transition timeline. Regarding Labour’s leadership race, McGrath said bets are fairly evenly split between Burnham, Rayner, and Streeting, with outsiders like Al Carns also gaining some backing lately. Outside of Labour’s internal issues, the local elections are being seen more and more as proof that Britain has entered an era of fragmented politics, similar to other European countries. The traditional parties—Labour, Conservatives, and Liberal Democrats—are no longer part of a three-party system; instead, the electoral landscape is split, driven by the growing support for Reform UK and the Green Party. For long-time Westminster figures, these changes mean future party leaders will need a very different set of political skills—they can’t just be ideological leaders. Labour, in particular, needs more negotiators and deal-makers who can handle a split electorate with conflicting demands on issues like immigration, cost of living, public services, and ongoing identity politics. Even with increasing market talk of political instability, bookmakers don’t think Britain is heading for an early general election. Entain currently offers 8/1 (11% chance) odds for a 2026 general election and 5/1 for 2027. “Some customers are betting on an early election, possibly influenced by Farage and Tice’s frequent comments on the subject,” the company noted. A shared conclusion among Westminster insiders and betting analysts is that the UK has entered a new political era—one that must address the needs of a diverse and split electorate. Sir Keir Starmer could very well be the first major victim of this generational shift… This article is provided by a third-party. AsiaGameHub (https://asiagamehub.com/) makes no warranties regarding its content. AsiaGameHub delivers targeted distribution for iGaming, Casino, and eSports, connecting 3,000+ premium Asian media outlets and 80,000+ specialized influencers across ASEAN.

(AsiaGameHub) - Belgian gaming brand 711 has extended its partnership with Bragg Gaming Group to further enhance its offerings ahead of launching its Kambi-powered sportsbook. Approved by Belgium’s Gambling Commission, 711 successfully secured an F+ license, enabling it to operate a sportsbook within the country using Kambi’s Turnkey Sportsbook technology stack. The collaboration with Bragg also provides 711 access to the B2B provider’s Player Account Management (PAM) solution, building on their prior partnership that began in December 2025 when 711 obtained its B+ online casino license. Leveraging both Kambi and Bragg technologies, the upgraded 711 platform is set to launch just in time for the 2026 World Cup, delivering a seamless experience that transitions smoothly from casino play to sports betting. Gilles De Backer, Chief Operating Officer at 711, stated: “Entering into this agreement to expand our presence in Belgium through the upcoming launch of 711sports.be marks a significant milestone for our brand. Having already achieved notable success with our casino services via Bragg’s platform, it was a logical next step to extend our partnership into the sportsbook sector. “Integrating Kambi’s top-tier sportsbook technology alongside Bragg’s Fuze tools ensures that 711 will effectively execute its core brand identity and strategic goals in the Belgian sports betting market—delivering an exceptional user experience, competitive odds, and robust player-focused features. The timing aligns perfectly with the anticipated surge in sportsbook activity during the World Cup.” Additionally, Bragg will implement its player engagement suite Fuze across 711’s operations in both the Netherlands and Belgium. In addition to a complete integration with Kambi’s sportsbook platform, Fuze will offer Belgian users exclusive functionalities such as real-time tournaments and daily activities designed to boost player retention and engagement. Matevž Mazij, Chief Executive Officer at Bragg Gaming Group, remarked: “We are delighted to have concluded this agreement, further solidifying our global partnership with 711. “By supporting 711’s entry into the Belgian sports betting market with our adaptable PAM infrastructure, Kambi’s industry-leading sportsbook solution, and our proprietary Fuze engagement tools, we are equipping them with a comprehensive and powerful platform to compete at the highest level. We eagerly anticipate going live in time for the excitement surrounding the World Cup.” This article is provided by a third-party. AsiaGameHub (https://asiagamehub.com/) makes no warranties regarding its content. AsiaGameHub delivers targeted distribution for iGaming, Casino, and eSports, connecting 3,000+ premium Asian media outlets and 80,000+ specialized influencers across ASEAN.

(AsiaGameHub) - It’s still too early to assess the impact of the UK’s new tax regime on Super Group’s operations, but given the company’s strong focus on Africa, it may not be significantly affected. Super Group released its Q1 financial results late Wednesday, reporting revenue of $612 million (£452.4 million). On Thursday, Neal Menashe, Chief Executive Officer of Super Group, along with other C-level executives, participated in a webcast answering analysts’ questions. “The new tax rules only took effect on April 1, so we’ve only had a couple of weeks to evaluate their impact,” Menashe responded when asked about the firm’s outlook under the UK’s new 40% tax rate on online gambling. “Marketing costs will gradually decline as companies adjust their strategies and adapt to this new fiscal environment. Of course, efficiency will be crucial.” “This is part of our two core segments—International and Africa—and integrating international operations has provided us with valuable operating leverage.” Super Group remains committed to Europe The segments referenced by Menashe reflect what appears to be a routine corporate restructuring by Super Group. In its announcement on Wednesday, the company revealed it would now report its performance in two distinct segments—Africa and International—having previously segmented results based on the Betway sportsbook and Spin casino brands. Super Group explained that this change reflects a ‘shift in strategic priorities toward regional performance and market-specific dynamics.’ Menashe further clarified during the earnings call that this approach “highlights the unique operational models across different regions” and will provide shareholders with “greater insight into the key drivers and growth potential of each business unit.” Why does this matter? It matters because Africa has rapidly emerged as Super Group’s most strategically important continent. Betway, in particular, has established a solid footprint in South Africa, Ghana, Nigeria, Botswana, and several other markets. Super Group is known for its disciplined approach to market entry and exit. When a region fails to meet expectations, the group does not hesitate to withdraw—such as in the US—and notably avoided entering Brazil despite being one of Europe’s largest betting operators. This does not mean, however, that Super Group is abandoning Europe or its home market, the UK—despite rising taxes in the continent’s largest gambling market and the anticipated ripple effects across the industry. “In Europe, after exiting markets where profitability was unattainable—like the US, Belgium, and Italy—we concentrated our efforts on the UK, Spain, and Ireland,” Menashe stated. “Take the UK as an example: we are rolling out more product enhancements, the brand enjoys strong recognition, customer loyalty remains high, and our marketing continues to drive record acquisition numbers. Most importantly, Betway is now positioned to compete directly with major rivals.” “The same dynamic applies in Spain, where we’re focusing on casino offerings and introducing innovative features, and in Ireland as well. The real value lies in aligning our front-end user experience with our highly efficient back-end operations.” “Meanwhile, in Africa, we already have a strong product offering, and while our back-office infrastructure needs further refinement, we are working to match the quality of our International operations. When both sides operate seamlessly together, that’s when we see peak performance—reflected in improved retention rates and overall business growth.” Super Group prepared to ‘build or buy’ across Africa Clearly, Africa is not the sole focus for Super Group. According to Menashe, there is significant synergy between its International and African divisions. Alinda van Wyck, Chief Financial Officer, emphasized that the new reporting structure is “not disproportionately weighted toward Africa.” “Despite expectations to the contrary, this framework gives us the flexibility to pursue meaningful market expansion,” she noted. “We consistently pursue growth through two key strategies: first, optimizing return on investment by tailoring marketing spend to local customer preferences and ensuring strong returns; second, refining our product mix to better suit regional needs and enhance engagement. This approach supports expansion not just in South Africa, but across the broader African continent.” Super Group is far from alone in recognizing Africa’s potential. Kaizen Gaming, Greece’s leading gaming operator, launched its Betano brand in Ghana earlier this year, marking its 20th active market. UK high-street chain Betfred maintains a presence in South Africa, evoke retains its stake in the 888AFRICA joint venture with businessman Christopher Coyne, London-based Kingmakers operates BetKing in Nigeria and SuperSportBet in South Africa, and global giant bet365 is active across multiple African nations. Numerous local players also compete in the space, including South Africa’s Sun International and HollywoodBets, as well as Nigeria’s dominant Bet9ja. Growing internet access, mobile penetration, expanding economies, and increasing consumer spending are making Africa increasingly attractive to multinational corporations. However, responsibility concerns persist. In South Africa, critics have raised alarms about the rapid expansion of the betting sector amid widespread poverty. Additionally, regulatory environments remain fluid—especially in countries prone to frequent political changes. Kenya, one of Africa’s largest betting markets, introduced a new taxation regime last year, for instance. Nonetheless, these challenges have not diminished Super Group’s confidence—a sentiment reflected in its latest figures. Q1 revenue rose 24%, from $201 million in 2025 to $267 million this year (£197.3 million). Speaking to analysts, Menashe highlighted Nigeria as a particularly promising market. “We’ve been operating there for some time, and it’s become incredibly compelling,” he said. “Across Africa—and especially in Nigeria—the economic landscape is improving, with greater currency stability.” “Given Nigeria’s massive population and growing total addressable market (TAM), we expect to significantly scale our operations there—doubling or even tripling our current business size. We’re refining our product to meet local demands, and we’re exploring both organic growth and acquisition opportunities. Both paths are on our radar, and we’ll pursue whichever delivers the best outcome.” This article is provided by a third-party. AsiaGameHub (https://asiagamehub.com/) makes no warranties regarding its content. AsiaGameHub delivers targeted distribution for iGaming, Casino, and eSports, connecting 3,000+ premium Asian media outlets and 80,000+ specialized influencers across ASEAN.

(AsiaGameHub) - South Africa’s regulator, the National Gambling Board (NGB), has responded to public criticism of its newly launched whitelist portal for licensed operators. The authority dismissed recent media reports questioning the accuracy of the portal—which was rolled out last month—as “speculative and unsupported.” Specifically, the NGB addressed comments regarding the Limited Payout Machines (LPMs) section of the register, which includes gambling machines located outside traditional casinos in venues such as clubs, hotels, and pubs. Although direct links to the media reports were not provided, SBC News understands that some LPMs marked as ‘closed’ were later verified as licensed, potentially causing confusion about their legal status. “It is incorrect to assume that the word ‘CLOSED’ appearing next to an LPM licence indicates regulatory failure or unlawful gambling activity,” the NGB stated. The regulator explained that the term ‘CLOSED’ may appear for various reasons, including temporary renovations, unpaid fees, ongoing disputes, or a short-term suspension of operations. “Unless there is evidence that gambling continues unlawfully at these premises, claiming the register’s assurances are ‘false’ is speculative and lacks support.” The NGB also refuted claims that the register excludes all online gambling operators, calling the assertion “inaccurate” given that online sports betting companies like Betway are clearly listed. SBC News identified only one visible public comment on the register circulating online, originating from the South African Bookmakers’ Association (SABA). While SABA’s statement was largely positive about the initiative, it urged the NGB to ensure the database is regularly updated so that new licensed operators are not disadvantaged by outdated information. The Association pointed out that certain licenses issued by Provincial Licensing Authorities (PLAs) in March 2026 had not yet appeared in the register as of 9 April. For context, South Africa has nine PLAs responsible for issuing licenses within their respective regions, with the NGB database being populated by data from these authorities. In conclusion, the NGB said: “We remain committed to collaborating with PLAs and other stakeholders to strengthen regulatory oversight, improve data management systems, and enhance public trust in South Africa’s regulated gambling sector.” This article is provided by a third-party. AsiaGameHub (https://asiagamehub.com/) makes no warranties regarding its content. AsiaGameHub delivers targeted distribution for iGaming, Casino, and eSports, connecting 3,000+ premium Asian media outlets and 80,000+ specialized influencers across ASEAN.

(AsiaGameHub) - The 151st edition of the Preakness Stakes will take place on Saturday at Laurel Park in Laurel, Maryland. The race is scheduled for a post time of 6:50 p.m. ET and will be broadcast live on NBC. Iron Honor stands as the morning line favorite at 9-2 odds, trained by Chad Brown and assigned to post position No. 9. This year marks the first time since 1908 that the Preakness will not be held at Pimlico Race Course, which is currently undergoing extensive redevelopment. Preakness Stakes Field, Odds, Post Positions, Trainers, Jockeys Below is the complete list of the 14 horses competing in the 2026 Preakness Stakes: Post PositionHorseTrainerJockeyOdds1Taj MahalBrittany RussellSheldon Russell5-12OcelliWhit BeckmanTyler Gaffalione6-13CrupperDonnie Von HemelJunior Alvarado30-14RobustaDoug O’NeilRafael Bejarano30-15TalkinDanny GarganIrad Ortiz, Jr.20-16Chip HonchoSteve AsmussenJose Ortiz5-17The Hell We DidTodd FincherLuis Saez15-18Bull By The HornsSaffie Joseph Jr.Micah Husbands30-19Iron HonorChad BrownFlavien Prat9-210Napoleon SoloChad SummersPaco Lopez8-111Corona De OroDallas StewartJohn Velazquez30-112IncrediboltRiley MottJaime Torres5-113Great WhiteJohn EnnisAlex Achard15-114Pretty Boy MiahJeremiah EnglehartRicardo Santana Jr.15-1 Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo declined to run in the Preakness and is now targeting next month’s Belmont Stakes at Saratoga. Best Bets to Win Preakness Stakes Taj Mahal (5-1) Taj Mahal is undefeated in three races at Laurel Park, making this a familiar venue. Trainer Brittany Russell has the opportunity to become the first woman to win the Preakness, following in the footsteps of Cheri DeVaux, who made history by winning the Kentucky Derby with Golden Tempo. Taj Mahal recorded an impressive 92 Beyer Speed Figure in his most recent victory at Laurel Park, achieving a wire-to-wire triumph over nine furlongs—a distance similar to the Preakness, which is run over 9½ furlongs. His final five-furlong workout also demonstrated strong form. Chip Honcho (5-1) Chip Honcho drew post position No. 6, a gate that has produced more Preakness winners than any other (17). Trainer Steve Asmussen chose to bypass the Kentucky Derby in favor of the Preakness. Jockey Jose Ortiz, who rode Golden Tempo to victory in his first Kentucky Derby, has another shot at a Triple Crown win. Notably, Chip Honcho finished 5½ lengths ahead of Golden Tempo in December’s Risen Stakes, where he placed second behind Paladin after a strong performance. Ocelli (6-1) Ocelli entered the Kentucky Derby as a 70-1 longshot—the longest odds on the board—and nearly pulled off a stunning upset, finishing third by just one length. He also secured third place in the Wood Memorial, a key prep race for the Derby. Despite never having broken his maiden, Ocelli posted his highest Beyer Speed Figure (94) in the Kentucky Derby, positioning him competitively among the 14 contenders. If Ocelli wins on Saturday, he would make history as the first maiden to capture the Preakness since Refund did so in 1888. This article is provided by a third-party. AsiaGameHub (https://asiagamehub.com/) makes no warranties regarding its content. AsiaGameHub delivers targeted distribution for iGaming, Casino, and eSports, connecting 3,000+ premium Asian media outlets and 80,000+ specialized influencers across ASEAN.