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New Zealand’s Sky City plans to launch online casino
Sky City, the New Zealand-based casino company, is mulling over options for launching an online casino in its compete with foreign online casinos.
Graeme Stephens, Sky City’s chief executive, said the company is likely to team up with an offshore online casino operator.
The news, however, has been criticised by the Problem Gambling Foundation.
“We would not want that to happen at all because online gambling creates an immense amount of risk,” said Andree Froude.
“We don’t want to see any more online gambling opportunities,” she said.
Already Kiwis could gamble online with TAB, and also play Lotto online, she said.
Stephens said Kiwis were already gambling at online casinos run by overseas-based operators.
“It’s available here in New Zealand. A lot of offshore-based casino operators are making their online offerings available to Kiwis, including our own customers,” he said.
“It’s something we have been looking at for a while, as we need to. We have got a large investment in bricks and mortar. The future of the world, not just our industry, but everywhere is going online.
“We are evaluating our options in that space, and if we can make something work, we would like to.”
“It’s a logical segue from our land-based [business] into the online.”
But there are two big hurdles for Sky City to launch an online casino. The first is surmountable. Sky City lacks the internal competence to do it, which means any launch would be likely to be in partnership with an existing overseas-based online casino operator.
“You’ve got to be pretty globally competent, if you are going into the online space, and we don’t have any of that competence today, so if we were going to do anything, I’m pretty confident it would have to be with a partner at least to start with,” said Stephens.
“You couldn’t have a second rate offering online and hope to attract business.”
The second hurdle is a legal one. A law change would be needed to allow an onshore-based company like Sky City to set up an online casino.
“It’s not regulated in New Zealand. Therefore there’s no opportunity to create a business in New Zealand today,” Stephens said.
“Everyone that’s offering product in New Zealand is doing so from offshore.”
“A huge sensitivity for us is to make sure that we are ever compliant in New Zealand. We have got massive investment in bricks and mortar here, we don’t want to trip ourselves up in any way.”
“We certainly aren’t going to do anything aggressive in this space that would offend our regulator here.”
Sky City had not been lobbying the Government to change the Gambling Act to give it a level playing field to compete with online casino operators based overseas.
But Stephens had this message for Parliament: “It’s going to happen regardless, so you might as well regulate it because then you get the benefits of harm minimisation and taxes,” he said.
The Problem Gambling Foundation would like a review of the Gambling Act too, but would oppose allowing onshore companies to launch online casinos.
Instead, it would like it to explore ways New Zealand could control overseas online casino operators, such as requiring them to be licensed here, or restricting the use of credit cards to gamble on offshore-based casino sites.
Source: stuff.co.nz
The World’s Top PUBG MOBILE Teams Compete for Glory and a $3 Million Prize Pool
The highly anticipated 2024 PUBG MOBILE Global Championship (PMGC) Grand Finals are coming to London, marking an unforgettable event in the world of esports. From December 6 to 8 at the renowned ExCeL London, 16 of the world’s premier PUBG MOBILE teams will battle for the ultimate title and their share of an extraordinary $3 million prize pool. Fans can witness the exhilarating live action, cheer on their favourite teams and engage in an unforgettable esports experience!
Event Details:
- Date: December 6-8, 2024
- Time: 11 AM – 4:45 PM daily
- Location: ExCeL London, UK
Event Highlights!
- World-Class PUBG MOBILE Competition: The PMGC Grand Finals promise intense battles as the 16 best PUBG MOBILE teams from around the globe, including a special host region invite for the UK’s own Guild Esports, go head-to-head over three action-packed days. With gameplay from 11 AM to 4:45 PM each day, fans will experience the peak of PUBG MOBILE skills and strategy up close as teams compete for glory and the grand title.
- Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson Special Appearance: In a unique and thrilling addition to the event, Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson will make a special guest appearance, leading the Ice Hammer Challenge. Fans will have the rare chance to see the star up close, with opportunities for photos and exclusive interactions. Don’t miss this chance to test your own strength and meet a true giant!
- Interactive and Immersive Booth Experiences: Dive into the world of PUBG MOBILE with the WOW and Metro Royale interactive booths. Fans will be fully immersed with five cosplayers embodying iconic characters, including the beloved Lone Survivor. Explore the event’s awe-inspiring Ice Dragon sculpture for photo ops and test your strength with the 20kg Ice Hammer Lifting Challenge—perfect for an unforgettable hands-on experience.
- Exclusive Merchandise through Stamp Collection Activity: Take part in the PMGC stamp collection activity to earn exclusive, limited-edition merchandise as a unique keepsake from this monumental event. Collect stamps as you explore the venue to claim your exclusive PMGC items, a must-have for any PUBG MOBILE fan.
Get Ready for the Ultimate Esports Experience!
The 2024 PMGC Grand Finals are set to be a landmark event, combining high-stakes competition, celebrity guest appearances, and interactive fan experiences. Don’t miss your chance to be part of history as the PUBG MOBILE Global Championship takes over London. Join us in celebrating the best in esports, meet the stars, and experience the ultimate in PUBG MOBILE entertainment!
Inspired Entertainment, Inc. (“Inspired” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: INSE), a leading B2B provider of gaming content, technology, hardware, and services, today announced the appointment of Sebastian Nogues as Head of Business Development – Brazil Interactive. In this new role, Mr. Nogues will be responsible for leading Inspired’s business development efforts across Brazil, with a focus on expanding its interactive gaming presence and driving growth in this high-potential market.
Mr. Nogues joins Inspired with a wealth of experience and a distinguished background in the gaming industry, specifically within customer service, marketing, and business management for interactive and casino gaming. He brings a deep understanding of the market, refined through extensive work with operators across various verticals, including affiliate marketing, consultative selling, and strategic partnerships.
Prior to joining Inspired, Mr. Nogues served as Chief Executive Officer of Latin American Gaming Affiliates (LAGA), where he led a major restructuring, rebranding, and expansion of the company. His efforts established LAGA as a prominent affiliate marketing firm in the Latin American iGaming sector.
His previous experience also includes senior affiliate and business development roles with Control+F5 Gaming and ParsePort, where he focused on driving international sales, strategic partnerships, and customer acquisition.
Mr. Nogues has a strong record in fostering impactful business relationships, delivering exceptional results in new business development, market analysis, and customer retention. With multilingual skills in Portuguese, English, and Spanish, he is well-equipped to engage with a broad array of partners and stakeholders in Brazil’s dynamic gaming sector.
“We are thrilled to welcome Sebastian to our team as we continue to expand our digital footprint in Brazil,” said Claire Osborne, Vice President of Interactive at Inspired. “Sebastian’s comprehensive expertise in affiliate marketing and business development, and his profound understanding of the Brazilian and Latin American gaming markets make him an exceptional fit for this role. His strategic insight and extensive industry experience will be invaluable as we advance our growth and innovation strategy in the region.”
“I am honored to join Inspired Entertainment and look forward to contributing to our growth in Brazil’s interactive gaming market,” said Mr Nogues. “Brazil presents a significant opportunity for Inspired, and I am excited to work with our talented team to strengthen our presence, foster strategic partnerships, and deliver exceptional value to our clients.”
- Nomination for the Esports Awards Los Angeles ceremony include industry titans Riot Games, G2 Esports, and Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok
- Talent for the award ceremonies includes League of Legends personality Daniel “dGon” Gonzales, former Riot Games caster Trevor “Quickshot” Henry, and Halo Championship Series host Lottie Van-Praag among many others.
- Fans can tune in to the Esports Awards presented by Lexus on 21st November at 16:00 PST and the Mobies presented by Samsung Galaxy on 19th November at 21:00 PST.
- As official broadcast partners for both ceremonies, GINX Esports TV, ESTV, and Jio will broadcast the ceremonies for fans to enjoy around the world.
Next week, gaming and esports industry elites will descend on Los Angeles for PWR UP Week – an entire week dedicated to recognising and celebrating excellence in the industry, and fostering conversations and collaborations between industry professionals. Spearheading the schedule is the Esports Awards presented by Lexus and the Mobies presented by Samsung Galaxy, taking place on the 21st and 19th of November, respectively.
Here’s everything you need to know ahead of PWR UP Week including talent, activities, where to watch, and more:
PWR UP Week kicks off with the Mobies, Mobile Gaming Awards, presented by Samsung Galaxy, taking place at the Emmy-award winning Thunder Studios on Tuesday, November 19th.
Continuing the celebration, the Esports Awards presented by Lexus takes place at Thunder Studios on Thursday, November 21st. Attendees can expect the return of the Esports Village, unique, custom vehicles on display from Lexus, the beloved Glambot, and of course a full red carpet experience, with red carpet hosts Phil Visu and Steve Scott bringing the experience to fans at home. Following the ceremony, fans can tune in to the fifth Samsung Galaxy Battles tournament, where four teams of three teams battle it out on PUBG Mobile for the title.
Fans can tune in to watch the Esports Awards presented by Lexus on X (formerly Twitter), Twitch, and TikTok, and the Mobies will be streamed across its own respective X (formerly Twitter), Twitch, and TikTok accounts. The Esports Awards and Mobies can also be watched through official broadcast partners GINX Esports TV, ESTV, and Jio.
Gaming professionals will have plenty of chances to network and connect with like-minded individuals at the PWR UP networking event on November 20th and the return of the Esports Awards Open on November 22nd These events are dedicated to fostering connections between professionals in gaming, golf and networking.
The full PWR UP Week schedule is as follows:
- November 19th – The Mobies presented by Samsung Galaxy main ceremony
- November 20th – PWR UP Conference
- November 21st – The Esports Awards presented by Lexus main ceremony
- November 22nd – The Esports Awards Open
The Esports Awards presented by Lexus schedule is as follows:
- 16:30 PST – Pre-show begins
- 17:00 PST – Red Carpet opens
- 19:30 PST – Main Ceremony begins
- 20:30 PST – Main Ceremony ends
The full talent for the Esports Awards is as follows:
- Lottie “Praagy” Van-Praag – Main Show Host
- Trevor “Quickshot” Henry – Main Show Host
- Ally “Allycxt” Parker – Desk Host
- Daniel “Dgon” Gonzales – Desk Host
- Jess “ JessGOAT” Bolden – Desk Host
- Evan “ Raynday” Raynr – Desk Host
- Elyse “Herculyse” Herrera – Red Carpet Host
- Barney“Banks” Banks – Red Carpet Host
- Phil “EE” Visu – Red Carpet Host
- Steve “Tasty Steve” Scott – Red Carpet Host
- Britanni Johnson – Voice of Ceremonies
The Mobies presented by Samsung Galaxy schedule is as follows:
- 21:00 PST – Main ceremony begins
- 22:00 PST – Main ceremony ends
The full talent for the Mobies is as follows:
- Barney“Banks” Banks – Host
- Daniel “Dgon” Gonzales – Host
Official broadcast partners for the Esports Awards presented by Lexus and the Mobies presented by Samsung Galaxy include GINX Esports TV, ESTV, and Jio, who will stream both ceremonies.
The Esports Awards presented by Lexus is brought to you in partnership with Lexus, Samsung Galaxy, Oakley and the Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF).
The Mobies presented by Samsung Galaxy is brought to you in partnership with Samsung Galaxy.
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