Latest News
Taking on the Trillion Dollar Illegal Gambling Menace: Matt Zarb-Cousin joins the Yield Sec team
Yield Sec, the actionable intelligence platform helping legal industry, government, regulatory and advertising stakeholders to fight the impact of crime upon the gambling ecosystem, has appointed Matt Zarb-Cousin as their Senior Advisor for Government and Regulatory Affairs.
Zarb-Cousin, an experienced and highly respected campaigner for consumer safety and the public good across the gambling experience, joins the rapidly growing Yield Sec platform at an exciting time.
As the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar progresses through playoffs and final stages, the global betting industry is already seeing vast increases in illegal and unregulated sports betting activity, with many jurisdictions currently monitored by Yield Sec displaying triple-digit year-on-year increases in black-market traffic, engagement, and commercial conversion both prior to, and during the FIFA World Cup. It’s impossible for consumers to effectively distinguish legal and licensed gambling operators from illegal, criminal ones, and all illicit betting and gambling activity removes revenue, taxation and good causes funding from state and national commerce and communities, whilst frustrating the ambition of legal gambling to replace illegal activity and sustainably provide for the regulated marketplace as legislators intended, as legal operators work for, and which regulators act to effect.
The appointment of Zarb-Cousin further strengthens Yield Sec’s betting, gaming, and lottery expertise across stakeholders – government, regulator, operators, suppliers, affiliates, ad platforms, financial institutions, payment providers and law enforcement. This expert human insight works alongside the data science and analytics teams in parallel with the company’s proprietary technology, AI, and machine learning to identify, qualify and quantify threats and deny criminal entrants the ‘oxygen of marketing’ necessary to acquire new audiences and reach or reactivate existing customers.
Matt Zarb-Cousin, Senior Advisor for Government and Regulatory Affairs at Yield Sec, said: “I am delighted to be joining the Yield Sec team and look forward to educating governments and regulators globally in how the pioneering platform can identify, qualify and quantify the marketplace, totally, and help legal stakeholders drive out crime to safeguard vital tax revenues that are presently lost to illegal and unlicensed operators. The debate around online gambling’s black market has for too long been impacted by those with a vested interest in maintaining inefficient licensing and regulatory models, rather than by those who wish to see the contained, commercial marketplace work to the benefit of our commerce and communities. Yield Sec presents solutions for all legal stakeholders to optimize their positions in the marketplace and allow them to work effectively, together, whilst shielding and protecting revenue, taxation, and consumer safety measures so that legal gambling can deliver benefits for each jurisdiction.”
Ismail Vali, Founder and CEO of Yield Sec, said: “Matt is known for his forthright and pioneering viewpoints and work across tech and the public good. Where he and I found shared thinking on Yield Sec is upon the sole partisan line that our platform holds sacred: the line separating all legal stakeholders in a regulated jurisdiction from criminal, black-market infiltration. I am pleased and proud to welcome Matt to the team – across his focus with regulatory and government outreach, I know his insight and experience will help our legal stakeholder clients to understand, combat and defeat the existential threat presented by illegal betting, gaming, and lottery activity, and its insidious impact upon our commerce and communities.”
Alastair Graham, Chief Operating Officer of Yield Sec, said: “Matt’s profile and status across the government and regulatory community in betting, gaming and lottery is without equal and this ability to reach the broadest possible audience will aid Yield Sec in educating and assisting our legal stakeholder clients to optimize and protect their taxable revenue, positively benefiting regulators, national, state, and tribal governments, consumers, communities and legal, regulated operators and suppliers, whilst simultaneously ensuring for a fair marketplace with safe consumer experiences.”
eSports
NEW YORK ISLANDERS REPRESENTATIVE ERIK ‘EKI’ TAMMENPAA EARNS HIS SIXTH EUROPEAN TITLE AT THE EA SPORTS NHL 24 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP
In a rematch of last year’s European Championship, Erik ‘Eki’ Tammenpää, representing the New York Islanders, again prevailed over Teemu ‘Temppanen’ Karvonen representing the Anaheim Ducks to win the EA SPORTS NHL 24 European Championship title. The win marks Eki’s fourth-straight and sixth-overall European Championship title (2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024) and another $15,000 USD in earnings. Temppanen placed second in the competition that took place at the Copenhagen Media Facility in Copenhagen, Denmark on Sunday evening. For a second year straight, both players will represent Europe in the EA SPORTS NHL 24 World Championship taking place in April in New York.
Eki is a full-time YouTube and Twitch content creator and EA SPORTS™ NHL® 24 expert and 24-year-old native of Helsinki, Finland. He remains the most decorated esports player on the NHL competitive circuit and will try once again to capture the World title after capturing runner up at last year’s EA SPORTS NHL 23 World Final.
During the competition in Copenhagen today, Temppanen and Eki qualified for a spot in the World Final by competing in a semifinal best-of-three round. Both players split their first two games, with Temppanen ultimately overtaking NikkeDanglesin a tight competition and Eki defeating Eken45Jr with eight goals in a Game Three shutout.
The Championship series saw a rematch of last year’s EA SPORTS NHL 23 European Final with Temppanen and EKI facing off once again. While Temppanen took the lead with an early goal in Game One, Eki scored three quick goals in a three-minute span during the second period and a game-winning goal in the third period by Vincent Trocheck (New York Rangers). Eki continued his goal streak and dominated Game Two, ultimately scoring six unanswered goals, including tallies from Jaccob Slavin (Carolina Hurricanes), Bo Horvat(New York Islanders), and Cam Atkinson (Philadelphia Flyers). Eki’s
6-0 victory solidified his sixth European title and status as “the one to beat.”
EA SPORTS NHL 24 EUROPEAN FINAL STANDINGS
1st: Eki, New York Islanders
2nd: Temppanen, Anaheim Ducks
3rd: Eken45jr, Pittsburgh Penguins
4th: NikkeDangles, Washington Capitals
5th-8th: Alphaborje, Detroit Red Wings
5th-8th: Kibeeex, Toronto Maple Leafs
5th-8th: Launonexx, Tampa Bay Lightning
5th-8th: Teemuyy, Colorado Avalanche
The EA SPORTS NHL 24 North American Championship will be contested on March 24 at the NHL Flagship Store in New York beginning at 1 p.m. ET on the NHL’s Twitch channel. For more news, fans can visit www.nhl.com/NHL24 and follow the conversation on social using #NHL24WC.
Asia
TWO PAGCOR MULTI-PURPOSE FACILITIES INAUGURATED IN TARLAC
Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) Chairman and CEO Alejandro H. Tengco on Monday, March 18, led the inauguration of two newly completed multi-purpose centers in the towns of San Manuel and Victoria in the province of Tarlac.
Mr. Tengco said the state gaming agency provided a total of Php100 million for both of the two-story projects.
“Naglaan ang PAGCOR ng limampung milyong piso para sa bawat multi-purpose center sa bayan ng San Manuel at Victoria; mayroon itong iba’t ibang pasilidad gaya ng kusina, storage areas para sa relief goods, toilet at shower rooms, lactating rooms at maluwag na activity area para sa iba’t ibang gawain,” he said.
The PAGCOR chief said that because the Philippines is very vulnerable to climate change, “typhoons, floods and earthquakes are common occurrences that we must always be prepared for.”
However, he stressed that while the buildings are primarily designed as temporary shelters during emergencies, the structures can be used for various socio-civic activities, too.
“During the height of the pandemic, when the project was rolled out, there was a high demand for quarantine and evacuation facilities. But now, there is more sense to call these as multi-purpose centers rather than just evacuation facilities,” Chairman Tengco said.
“You may use this facility as your social hall, events area, and livelihood training center. You may also use this building to generate revenues for the local government,” he said.
During the event, Chairman Tengco also introduced PAGCOR’s upcoming flagship programs which include school buildings for public schools, e-learning centers, community wellness centers, and socio civic centers nationwide.
“These upcoming flagship projects are designed to create lasting impact on the lives of ordinary Filipinos,” he said. “These are just some of our nation-building efforts because as you are all aware, PAGCOR is the third largest revenue contributor to the national coffers.”
San Manuel Mayor Doña Cresencia Tesoro thanked the PAGCOR chief for the agency’s support.
“We are grateful that PAGCOR saw our need. This multi-purpose center is so far the biggest project that we have seen in San Manuel, and this is proof of PAGCOR’s commitment to serve the Filipinos,” she said.
“We thank everyone who made this dream come to life. Rest assured that we will use this to enrich the lives of our people and the generations to come,” Tesoro added.
Board Member Harmes Sembrano of the 2nd District of Tarlac also expressed gratitude to PAGCOR for funding the two-story multi-purpose facility in Victoria.
“With our limited resources, we cannot afford to fund all programs that will be beneficial to the people of Tarlac. But because of PAGCOR’s help, we have this new multi-purpose facility which will serve not only the locals of Victoria but also those from neighboring towns,” Sembrano said.
PAGCOR has thus far completed and inaugurated 38 multi-purpose buildings in different parts of the country while 34 others are still under construction.
Latest News
BETSSON.SPORT DEBUTS IN ITALY WITH FRANCESCO TOTTI AS AMBASSADOR
Betsson.sport proudly announces the launch of its new sports infotainment platform in Italy. At the heart of this initiative as its ambassador, stands Francesco Totti, the revered Italian football legend celebrated for his exceptional talent and illustrious career.
With a focus on delivering exclusive content, interviews, news and highlights across various sporting disciplines, Betsson.sport aims to become a go-to destination for sports enthusiasts nationwide.
Additionally, Betsson.sport introduces the initiative ‘Betsson Sport Club,’ inviting teams to join and gain visibility and support alongside other participating teams. This club is open to clubs from both prominent and lesser-known leagues, offering them exposure opportunities and a platform for more visibility.
“I am thrilled to be part of this project, which aligns perfectly with my daily commitment to sharing my passion for sports,” said Francesco Totti. “Betsson.sport presents a wonderful opportunity to unite various sports clubs and helping them to realise their full potential.”
Ronni Hartvig, Chief Commercial Officer of Betsson Group, stated, “Italy holds significant importance for Betsson, and we are delighted to partner with Francesco Totti, a figure synonymous with excellence in Italian football. We think his story and experiences will help us make the Betsson Sports Club even better, promoting our values of fair play, inclusion, and passion.”
As Betsson.sport embarks on its journey in Italy, the brand is committed to innovation and collaboration. The recent partnership announcement with Roma exemplifies this commitment, marking the beginning of a series of dynamic initiatives aimed at strengthening the bond between sports and Betsson.sport.
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