News and Analysis
Second Live Dealer Studio in NJ for Evolution Gaming
Evolution Gaming has opened its second live dealer studio in NJ, making it the company's fifth studio providing content to the US market. Evolution is the biggest live casino provider in the USA and was the first to secure licensing in NJ, MI, WV, and CT.
The new studio will provide US players with more Evolution dealers and titles, including Football Studio, with more titles to follow over the coming weeks and months.
Jacob Claesson, Chief Executive for Evolution North America, stated:
"This is another exciting landmark for our operations in North America. Our aim has been simple when it comes to this market, to provide the best possible entertainment experience to the players, while giving our operators the games and tools needed to stay ahead. The studio was built thanks to the strong demand that we see in the state and will cater for our expansion in the years to come. It will give us the space needed to continue bringing new games to players in New Jersey."
Maryland Sports Betting Open
Maryland online sports betting launched on November 23rd at 9am! Live options include BetRivers, BetMGM, DraftKings, Caesars, FanDuel, Barstool, and Pointsbet. The state expects that online sports betting will generate up to $30m in revenue next year, contributing vital tax revenue to the state.
If you're a Maryland player who missed the launch, now is the time to head over to your favorite sports betting option and grab a new player bonus - with the World Cup in full swing, there'll never be a better time!
DraftKings Hack: Data and Funds LostÂ
In some not-so-good news for this week, DraftKings has announced a hack, which has affected numerous player accounts and $300,000 in funds. The hackers targeted the banking information of players, removing money from accounts and changing customer details, and even changing phone numbers, making customers' two-factor authentication useless.
However, DraftKings maintains there is no evidence that their servers were breached, claiming the data was compromised elsewhere, with Paul Liberman, President of Global Technology and product, stating:
"DraftKings is aware that some customers are experiencing irregular activity with their accounts. We currently believe that the login information of these customers was compromised on other sites and then used to access their DraftKings accounts, where they used the same login information… We see no evidence that DraftKings' systems were breached to obtain this information."
DraftKings has urged all players to use unique login information at their site and said they intended to "make whole any customer that was impacted." This is good news if you have been affected. Still, it also serves as a great reminder of online safety and the need to use independent login information across different sites.
MGM Pledges $180,000 to Responsible Gambling
MGM has pledged $180,000 to the International Centre for Responsible Gambling (ICRG). The money will go towards supporting the ICRC's research and education on problem gambling and the impact of advertising. The ICRG has commended MGM's efforts to raise greater awareness and understanding of problem gambling.
Michigan and Pennsylvania Reports Record High iGaming Revenue for October; meanwhile New Jersey Sees Betting Drop
Let's start with the good news; Michigan hit a record high for its revenue in October at $190.2.0m, with total internet gaming showing a 34.7% YoY increase! This contributed over $28m to the state in tax revenue.
Pennsylvania has also reported a record-breaking month, with slot revenue hitting highs. Total revenue increased 5.7% year on year to a total of $450.2m; retail slots were the primary generator accounting for $199.0m in revenue, with online slots falling into second place, contributing a record high of $86.3m (up 21% YoY). Hollywood Casino PA remained the state's top earner for iGaming, followed closely by BetRivers Casino PA.
Meanwhile, in NJ, things aren't so rosy, as sports betting revenue shows a 7.4% YoY decline. While the major players, like BetMGM, DraftKings, and FanDuel, all reported increases, challengers reported decreases. Online casino revenue increased by 15.9% during the same period, with Borgata Casino NJ leading the market.
Game of the Week
Into the Storm: Light & Wonder, RTP 96%
Into the Storm is the perfect new slot game to spin if you're ready to set sail, tackle the wild seas, and search for riches with a Viking crew. Initially released in April 2022, the game delivers high volatility spins, and max wins up to 10,500x your stake across 5x3 reels.
The title delivers solid base game payouts across 20 fixed lines, but as usual, the feature-filled bonus rounds hold the most prize-winning potential. The bonus features include wilds, a randomly triggered re-spin feature with walking wilds that move one reel space with each spin and end the round once they've left the reels, several types of multipliers, and a Kraken bonus round with four-in-round modifiers which increase the thrills and win anticipation even further! Plus, if you want to increase your chance of heading straight to the bonus round, you can also use the buy pass button and save time and possibly money!
Ready to join the crew for an action-packed adventure on the reels? Then steady your sea legs and load up Into the Storm Slot at these Light & Wonder online casinos - bets start from $0.20 to $20.
