News and Anaylsis
Playtech Announces New Michigan Live Studio
This week Playtech has made an official move on Michigan, announcing that it will open a new live dealer studio in Southfield. The move is a significant expansion for Playtech into the US. The studio will provide dedicated casino spaces, meaning branded tables, and an exclusive live experience for casinos that partner with Playtech.
Shimon Akad, Playtech’s Chief Operating Officer, said of the deal, which will also contribute jobs and support to MI's economy: "The new studio in Michigan is the first step in our US live expansion as we look to deliver live studios in all regulated states. [...] Our Michigan studio is being designed to be one of the more sophisticated studios tailored to the US market featuring innovation and entertainment at its best. The scale of our technology and breadth of our product will allow Playtech to take the live iGaming experience in the US to the next level."
Evolution and PlayLive! Casino Agree to PA Partnership
PlayLive! (Cordish Group) and Evolution Gaming has signed a deal that will see Evolution Gaming deliver live dealers, gameshows, and First Person games at PlayLive! Casino Pennsylvania (launch expect Q2 of 2021).
Jeff Millar, Evolution Gaming's Commercial Director for North America said; "We are excited and proud to be working with Cordish Gaming Group and PlayLive! Casino. The extensive Evolution online casino and entertainment portfolio is a great fit for further developing their Live! experience online."
Get ready, Pennsylvania; things are about to go Live, Cordish-style!
New National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) Report Says Young People at Higher Risk of Gambling Harm
The NCPB has undertaken its first National Survey of Gambling Attitudes and Experiences since 1999, and the results are in. Here are some of the key findings:
- 12% of American have never gambled
- Three out of four American adults gambled in 2019.
- 70% of respondents who gambled did so responsibly and without negative consequences.
- 7% reported struggling with compulsive gambling behaviors.
- Half of the young Americans who gamble also answered yes to at least one indicator suggesting they could be at risk from gambling-related harm; in contrast, only 10% of those over 65 yes responded yes to one or more indicators.
- Americans across the country are accessing gambling, whether they were located in a gambling state or not.
The whole report is well worth a read, and you can find it at the NCPB.
Flutter Entainment Denied New Hearing by Kentucky Supreme Court
Flutter Entertainment this week saw their request for a new hearing, which would challenge an $870m fine received by PokerStars (the brand’s online product) for supplying iGaming to 34,000 Kentucky players between the years of 2006-2011 (directly breaking UIGEA, the site was shut down in 2011), denied. As things stand, Flutter Entainment must still pay the fine.
Slots of the Week
As it's Easter, we're keeping on theme, and have an eggtastic slot for you to play.
EggOmatic: NetEnt, RTP 96.48%.
Eggomatic is a totally rad and unique 5x3, 20-line video slot that delivers non-stop action. With gorgeous graphics and gameplay inclusive of wilds, spreading wilds, free spins, coin-win eggs, and egg surprises, plus the max prize potential is 95,750 coins; this game has it all.
Set your bets from $0.20-200 and spin to win by lining up matching hens in the roost, but watch out for the ergometer, which is loaded with 4 bonus egg features. Trigger a feature, and if the corresponding egg lands above a reel with a rooster, it will crack open to reveal the bonus round, and with four to score, there’s plenty of action and prize available! We don’t want to give too much away, but if there’s a slot to spin this week, EggOmatic from NetEnt is it. Check out at these top US-Licensed NetEnt casinos.
Alright, Guys, that’s it for this week’s news, have a fantastic Easter weekend, and we’ll see you next week for another iGaming roundup.
