Australia’s youngest billionaire and co-founder of crypto gambling platform Stake.com, Ed Craven, will pay sign-on bonuses of up to $100,000 to get the best tech brains in the country working for him at EasyGo Solutions. Co-founded by Craven and Bijan Tehrani and based in Melbourne, the fintech is raiding major Australian tech firms such as Atlassian and Canva as part of a rapid expansion into cryptocurrency and online gaming.

EasyGo Solutions Offers Higher Salaries and Relocation Packages

EasyGo Solutions is also offering salaries 20% higher than industry standards for senior software engineers, principal software engineers and engineering managers, covering interstate relocation costs and providing “top-end” benefits, reported The Australian. 

EasyGo chief technology officer Dave Lemphers said experienced engineers were needed to tackle problems related to “hyper-scale growth”. He added that companies such as Atlassian, Canva, Microsoft, Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Google had experience scaling complex systems — making their employees among the most prized in Australia.

The Australian tech sector is grappling with a skills shortage expected to leave it needing 300,000 extra workers by the end of the decade. However, just 6,000 domestic students graduate each year with science, technology engineering, or math degrees. This has forced companies such as EasyGo to poach from other local firms.

EasyGo Solutions Doubles Down on Growth, Moves into Bigger Melbourne Office

EasyGo Solutions has taken on additional office space on Collins Street in Melbourne as it has grown from two staff members to more than 350 since being founded five years ago.

EasyGo Solution’s subsidiary Stake.com is among the world’s largest crypto casinos and takes about AUD400 million ($266.8 million) worth of bets per day after processing more than 200 billion wagers since its inception seven years ago. 

While Australians are banned from gambling online with cryptocurrency, EasyGo Solutions has diversified its investments by taking nearly 5% of ASX-listed online bookmaker PointsBet and applying for a bookmaking license in the Northern Territory.

EasyGo Solutions also plans to open a hub in Bogotá, Colombia — after buying Betfair’s Colombian operations — and hire more than 50 staff across Latin America by the end of the year. Additionally, it will also move into Peru, Mexico and Paraguay. 

Craven and Tehrani’s strategy features high-profile deals such as acquiring naming rights for Sauber Formula 1 team and sponsoring English Premier League team Everton, aimed at catapulting Stake.com into the mainstream.

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BetMGM has announced its exclusive partnership with Brian Christopher Slots, who will become the brand’s ambassador. The objective of this cooperation is to increase BetMGM’s online presence through live streams and diverse advertising campaigns, which would utilize Christopher’s wide popularity among gamers.

BetMGM VP Highlights Christopher’s Influence in the Gaming Industry

Oliver Bartlett, vice president of gaming product and content at BetMGM, underlined the great influence Brian Christopher has within the gaming industry. Bartlett further said:

“Brian Christopher Slots’ influence extends far beyond captivating videos. This partnership allows Brian to showcase his personality and enthusiasm for our industry while engaging interested players into BetMGM’s wide variety of casino games.”

In his statement regarding this deal, Brian Christopher expressed a strong enthusiasm about partnering with one of the leading brands in real money gaming – BetMGM. He also added: “Partnering with the King of Casinos means I get to bring the top platform with the newest and greatest games to the BCSlots universe. I cannot wait for our fans and players to see what we are building together.”

Brian Christopher Slots has a substantial following, with 8 million monthly unique viewers and 1.8 million subscribers across various social media platforms. His content, including the BCSlots YouTube channel, FlipTheSwitch.com, BCSlots Cruises, and the Rudies Fan Club, has recently achieved a record-breaking 1 billion video views. In recognition of his influence, Christopher was named Streamer of the Year and Slot Collaboration of the Year at the 2023 CasinoBeats Game Developer Awards.

BetMGM and Brian Christopher Set to Offer Live Streams and Exclusive Experiences

To ensure players’ involvement into the gambling process there are going to be several components included into this partnership. For instance, Brian Christopher will organize live streams on his two BCSlots channels on YouTube or on his BCSlots pages on Facebook and Kick where he usually hosts streams frequently. These streams will incorporate his signature style, showcasing BetMGM’s online casino platforms. Additionally, Christopher will interact with players through exclusive experiences such as meet-and-greets, slot tours, and virtual events, providing insights and commentary. 

BetMGM will be featuring Christopher in live online streams across its social media channels as well, highlighting its online casino platforms, as well as in future marketing initiatives.Furthermore, both the BetMGM and Brian Cristopher brands aim to emphasize responsible gaming practices by promoting features that encourage players to set limits and play within a budget, as outlined in the recent announcement.

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The largest casino-entertainment company in the United States and operator with one of the most diversified casino-entertainment providers in the world, Caesars Entertainment, announced the completion of the acquisition of WynnBET’s iGaming business in Michigan. The move represents a major expansion of the company in an important online gambling market.

Besides acquiring WynnBET’s iGaming operations, Caesars also closed a long-term extension of an iGaming market access deal with the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians.

Upon announcing the completion of the acquisition, the company said that existing WynnBET brand users won’t experience any interruptions. Assuming the ownership of the WynnBET iGaming business in the state, Caesars said that it plans to keep the existing platform’s name, at least for the moment.

Eric Hession, Caesars Digital’s President, acknowledged the importance of the latest announcement. He thanked the gambling regulator in the state, the Michigan Gaming Control Board, as well as the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, for their efforts that ultimately resulted in the closing of this landmark acquisition.

“Caesars Entertainment would like to thank the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians and the Michigan Gaming Control Board for their collaboration through this process.“

Eric Hession, president of Caesars Digital

Transitioning from WynnBET to a New Brand Expected Later This Year

Although initially, Caesars will retain the existing platform by using the WynnBET brand in Michigan, the company hinted at the possibility of introducing a new online casino brand. Once this is completed, the company said it will proceed with the transitioning of the existing WynnBET customers to the new iGaming brand.

Still, Caesars confirmed that such a move remains subject to the relevant regulatory approvals. The company disclosed that it expects to complete the aforementioned processes at some point during the second half of this year.

Still, a solid date or an exact name for the new iGaming brand in Michigan was not disclosed.

Recently, Caesars’ shareholders rejected a proposal to study the benefits of going smoke-free. The announcement came despite the growing opposition from anti-smoke organizations who have repeatedly raised concerns about the negative impact of smoking on casino patrons and employees.

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Chris Cylke, vice president of government relations at the American Gaming Association (AGA), has pointed out that attractive promotions, better odds, and the ability to gamble with cryptocurrencies are some of the things that lure people into illegal gaming.

Illegal Gaming Threatens Consumers and Undermines the Legal Industry

Different aspects are included in illegal gaming such as offshore online casinos, unregulated slot machines and illicit sportsbooks. These hidden activities present significant threats to customers and undermine the legal gambling sector.

However, Cylke further noted how important it is to educate consumers about the risks associated with these illegal platforms, reported local media outlet Vegas Inc. According to him, illegal gambling is not a victimless crime as many believe. Users may expose their personal and financial details to unregulated entities which could be located anywhere since there is no oversight over them and customers do not know where their money ends up.

Legalized operators face stiff competition from such illicit operations which do not incur costs like getting licenses or paying taxes. In 2022 alone, reports indicate that illegal betting houses took in more than $510 billion worth of bets while legal establishments lost over $44 billion due to this unfair competition. The legalization of sports betting in numerous jurisdictions in the US has led to a decrease in illegal sports betting, but online casino gaming remains a major issue, with over $337 billion transacted illegally.

Illegal Sports Betting: A $13.3 Billion Tax Drain

Cylke reiterated on consumer education saying that sometimes individuals unknowingly visit sites considered illegal because they appear prominently on search engines. He further stated that some users knowingly choose these sites to avoid scrutiny, a practice that further complicates the problem.

Alan Feldman who is UNLV’s director of strategic initiatives highlighted the absence of consumer protection safeguards found within unauthorized gaming websites together with the fact that they do not pay taxes and thus deprive state coffers of revenues meant for local economies. An AGA report also pointed out that state governments lost $13.3 billion in tax revenue due to illegal and unregulated sports betting.

Feldman called upon all US states where gambling has been legalized to acknowledge the damage caused by unlicensed gambling establishments arguing that legalization of sports betting was primarily done with an aim to generate additional tax dollars for public use. Additionally, he mentioned that people affected negatively by illegal gambling rarely come forward thereby complicating matters even further.

To fight against the illegal gaming industry leaders are calling for stricter law enforcement coupled with creating awareness among the general public. Feldman cited Nevada as an example where they have employed GeoComply technology among others which help to identify and block unauthorized betting activities whilst Cylke commended the Michigan state government’s move of issuing cease-and-desist letters to major illegal sites.

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Caesars Entertainment’s shareholders are apparently not on board with a recent proposal to study the effects of smoke-free casinos. While activists continue to fervently promote the idea of smoke-free casinos, citing health-related concerns, gambling companies and their investors remain obstinate in maintaining the status quo.

The proposal was filed by public health and labor advocates from the Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights Foundation and healthcare provider Trinity Health. The aforementioned organizations suggested that implementing a non-smoking policy across Caesars’ 52 properties in the United States could help the company save up money.

However, approximately 80% of Caesars’ shareholders voted against the proposal, following Caesars’ claim that change isn’t needed. For context, the casino operator described its smoking policy as a “complex business decision” and added that it currently complies with local regulations.

Caesars further explained that it doesn’t believe compiling a report on the effects of smoke-free casinos wouldn’t be an “effective use of company resources.”

Smoke-Free Activists Are Encouraged to Continue the Fight

While the proposal was rejected, its proponents said that they were encouraged by the support it received and plan to bring it back in 2025. For context, almost 19% of Caesars’ shareholders voted in favor of the support, sparking hope about the future of smoke-free casinos.

Paula Larson-Schusster, president of United Auto Workers Local 3555 and dealer at Caesars’ Flamingo casino hotel in Vegas, said that the support represents a “forward move.” She added that companies will not be convinced to go smoke-free easily but added that the proposal was but the first step in raising awareness on the matter.

Larson-Schusster was firm that a smoke-free policy would not hurt casino companies’ product but would actually make it more valuable.

Indoor smoking continues to be one of the hot topics of the American casino industry. Many states exempt casinos from the indoor smoking ban, allowing them to dedicate a portion of their gaming area as a smoking zone.

However, proponents of banning smoking at casinos argue that this exposes casino workers to high levels of unhealthy smoke and can potentially lead to health complications.

While casino companies fear that going smoke-free could deal a blow to their profits, supporters of this change point out that there are already casinos that prohibit smoking without seeing a decline in profits.

The multi-front war on smoking also continues in states such as Pennsylvania where CEASE and UAW recently asked lawmakers to end the loophole that allows casinos to offer indoor smoking.

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A lucky player in America has become the recipient of a huge jackpot of over a million dollars. The tempting prize was won by a player who wasplaying IGT’s cutting-edge games.

The player in question was a Hawaiian visitor who went on a trip to Boyd Gaming’s California Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. At around 4 am on Wednesday, the player hit a progressive jackpot of over $1.5 million.

The life-changing sum was won from a $5 wager, according to official reports, turning the casino trip into a $1,569,632 payday. The man reportedly carried a good luck charm, which he believed helped him hit the jackpot.

The gambling property shared the exciting news on X, praising the winner and confirming that the prize was won from an IGT Wheel of Fortune machine.

Reports from local news outlets later claimed that the man was visiting Vegas to celebrate his son’s 21^st birthday. Yet, as it turns out that the son will not be the only one receiving gifts.

The latest jackpot aligns with Boyd Gaming’s recent statistics which showed that some of the biggest jackpots the company has handed in 2024 were won by players from Hawaii. The company has handed $33 million in jackpots since the beginning of the year, according to its recent announcement.

Other Recent Jackpot Winners

A few days earlier, another IGT player, this time in Colusa Casino Resort in California, won a jackpot of over $2.7 million. Just like the Vegas jackpot, this jackpot was won from a $5 bet.

The visitor’s life-changing win was witnessed by many guests and staff members, firmly entering the event in Colusa Casino’s history.

Jerry West, general manager of the tribal property, released a statement on the win, saying that the jackpot attests to Colusa Casino’s commitment to “creating unforgettable experiences” for its guests.

In other news, a lucky player from Michigan just won a $100,000 jackpot from Fantasy 5. The lucky winner told the lottery that he had used the same numbers for months and couldn’t believe that he won.

Elsewhere, a Filipino player won a life-changing PHP 33.5 million (approximately $572,000) jackpot playing the Mega Lotto after matching all six numbers correctly.

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Hard Rock International, the global gaming and entertainment brand, announced that Hard Rock Casino Rockford will open its permanent location for visitors this summer. The venue has been operating from a temporary location at 610 N. Bell School Road since November 2021.

However, starting from August 29, 2024, Hard Rock Casino Rockford’s permanent venue at 7801 E. State Street in Rockford will welcome its first visitors. A grand opening ceremony will maintain Hard Rock’s tradition with a star-studded Guitar Smash.

The first visitors of the new gaming and entertainment destination in Rockford will be able to enter at around 3 PM on the same day the grand opening ceremony will be held. Hard Rock Casino Rockford is expected to offer a massive gaming, entertainment and hospitality space that surpasses 175,000 square feet.

Visitors of the premium gaming and entertainment venue can expect 50 live table games, a sportsbook, as well as a poker room. Unsurprisingly, the casino floor will offer a wide range of some of the most popular slot machines. Overall, there will be close to 1,300 slot machines, promising unforgettable experiences.

Besides gaming, visitors to the Hard Rock Casino Rockford can expect a wide range of amenities and attractions. The list includes a brand-new Hard Rock Live entertainment venue that uses 23,000 square feet and can accommodate up to 2,000 guests for different events such as concerts. Additionally, there will be a Rock Shop and several restaurants, among other entertainment outlets.

The Upcoming Opening Brings Excitement to Hard Rock’s Team

Geno Iafrate, Hard Rock Casino Rockford’s president, praised the efforts of the company’s members who supported it at its temporary site. Moreover, he said seeing new Hard Rock employees join the team at the permanent venue will be exciting. “It’s been 30 years in the making for Rockford and the wait is over. We are excited to welcome guests to our house to showcase and expand the legendary Hard Rock brand,” said Iafrate in conclusion.

“I’d like to thank the Rockford community and State of Illinois for welcoming Hard Rock and our unique brand of world-class entertainment to the greater region.“

Jon Lucas, chief operating officer at Hard Rock International

Jon Lucas, Hard Rock International’s chief operating officer, was just as delighted about the latest announcement. He thanked Illinois and the community in Rockford that accepted the arrival of the iconic Hard Rock brand.

Lucas spoke about the significant economic impact the new casino will bring by creating hundreds of new jobs. Additionally, the executive predicted that Hard Rock Casino Rockford will boost tourism in the area. Finally, Lucas said that it is exciting to see the new casino join Hard Rock’s growing portfolio of more than 300 venues across the globe.

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Many gamblers visit casinos with hopes of winning a big fortune. Yet, few are lucky enough to win jackpots which in some cases might be life-changing. This is exactly the case with one mysterious Colusa Casino Resort visitor.

Recognized as a premium gambling and entertainment destination, Colusa Casino Resort is located at 3770 Highway 45 in Colusa, California. The casino resort is recognized for its wide range of gaming amenities, including popular slots, bingo and table games.

In a surprise turn of events, one player won a jackpot of nearly $3 million after visiting Colusa Casino Resort. The venue uncovered details regarding the win on Wednesday, revealing that the lucky visitor, whose name was withheld, won a mind-blowing $2.7 million jackpot.

To be precise, the fortunate player won $2,752,887.71. The incredible win came from the globally recognized Wheel of Fortune Double Diamond slot game. It’s important to note that the aforementioned jackpot sum is before the applicable state and federal tax. Still, even after taxes, the sum is undoubtedly life-changing.

“Huge congratulations to our winner for hitting the $2.7 MILLION jackpot! Your incredible win is truly inspiring and a reminder that dreams can come true at Colusa Casino Resort,“

reads a statement released by Colusa Casino Resort

The lucky gambler is surely going to always remember their visit to the Colusa Casino Resort. What’s more, the incredible win marks one of the biggest jackpots in the history of the casino resort.

Fortunate Players Secure Exciting Prizes at the Casino Resort

Earlier this month, another visitor at Colusa Casino Resort secured a mouth-watering jackpot. On June 4, the casino resort confirmed that a fortunate guest who played Coin Collector Aussie 5 was able to hit a five-digit jackpot with a tiny bet of less than $1. The incredibly lucky visitor scored a $10,000 jackpot on a $0.50 bet.

More recently, Colusa Casino Resort organized a Dodge Durango giveaway. The exciting event granted a chance for one visitor to go home with a brand-new vehicle.

On Sunday, the casino resort confirmed that a lucky guest named Andres was the winner of the Dodge Durango Grand Prize Drawing. Upon announcing the win, Colusa Casino Resort also congratulated the lucky winner.

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Prosecutors dropped all charges against Sabrina Eddy, a former Monarch Casino Resort and Spa employee at Black Hawk, in connection with Colorado’s $500,000 theft scandal. This decision follows the First Judicial District Attorney Office’s investigation into an extensive scam that targeted Eddy without her knowledge.

Sabrina Eddy Acted in Good Faith

Eddy worked as a casino cage cashier when she was caught on camera taking stacks of cash worth $500,000 from the casino vault in March 2023. But more facts about what happened that night presented another side to this story, reported The Denver Post.

According to reports, Eddy got a call plus texts from supposed high-ranking casino officials instructing her to move the money to an individual posing as a lawyer waiting at some nearby hospital so as not to breach a contract. In trust for the authority figures, she complied with these instructions without knowing they were part of an elaborate plot by international scammers.

Their intricate plan involved getting employees within casinos to transfer funds to individuals posing as representatives authorized by the establishments. Eddy, believing she was acting in the casino’s best interest, handed over the cash to a stranger who claimed to be the attorney in question.

Eddy’s Swift Action Helps Nab Casino Criminal

At some point, Eddy became suspicious and she immediately notified security personnel working there. Because of her quick action another criminal involved in the scheme named Juan Ivan Gutierrez Zambrano was apprehended later pleading guilty.

A warrant for the arrest of a third suspect, who is presumed to be outside the United States, has been issued, but it has been kept confidential. Authorities have chosen not to disclose whether any of the stolen funds have been retrieved.

Though it seemed like an open-and-shut case against Eddy, further investigation revealed evidence that proved her innocence. The prosecutors found out that she acted in good faith without gaining anything from the theft. Therefore, they regarded it as unethical to charge her.

The dismissal of charges marks the end of a tumultuous chapter for Eddy, who endured months of legal uncertainty following her arrest. The revelation of her innocence underscores the vulnerability of casino employees to sophisticated scams and highlights the need for heightened vigilance within the industry.

Monarch Casino Resort and Spa which is located in Black Hawk and is owned by Nevada-based Monarch Casino and Resort Inc., declined to give any comment about the court’s decision. 

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A very lucky bingo player visited the Suncoast Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas on June 6 and went home with a whopping $134,446 in total winnings. 

Wayne W. managed to hit the Double Daub Progressive in 35 numbers or less at the 3 p.m. bingo session at the casino. 

According to casino officials, Wayne’s win brought the Bingo Double Daub Bonus to $40,000 as the starting amount.

More June Casino Winners in Las Vegas Valley

On June 1, Durango Casino & Resort announced the freshly introduced Dragon Link Major Progressive machine hit for $25,449, just a few hours after the venue hit the high limit room floor, along with a payout of $15,166.27 on a $9 bet on the Triple Jackpot Gem.

On the same day, California Hotel & Casino announced a whopping $23,241 jackpot at the downtown establishment.

The start of the month also made a Sunset Station Casino player hit a $20,000 jackpot with a total bet of $25. 

June 1 was also lucky for a patron at Gold Coast Pandas who won a grand progressive jackpot of $12,388 on a $2.50 spin.

On June 3, Binion’s Casino broke the news of a very fortunate lady who scored not one, but two jackpot wins of $10,048 and $1,322, respectively. What are the odds?

Boulder Station Casino congratulated a very lucky Four Card Keno player who scooped up $28,000 in winnings on June 4.

On the same day, Four Queens Casino made the exciting announcement that a $1.60 spin brought a fortunate guest a $10,000 win.

Similarly, on June 4, Palace Casino announced a $5.88 spin that brought a $14,878.48 win to one of their guests. 

June 4 also proved to be a particularly good day for the first lucky winner of Rampart Casino’s High Limit Silver Celebration Progressive who took home $24,356. 

On June 6, Red Rock Casino Resort & Spa Las Vegas made a player very happy. All it took was a $1.25 bet in exchange for a $47,131.45 jackpot with a Sequential Royal Flush.

On June 7, Aliante Casino announced a $12,000 win on a classic slots machine, Crystal Star Deluxe, a game with nine available lines.

On the same day, Cannery Casino paid a nice and round $10,000 win to a fortunate player for hitting the jackpot on an undisclosed machine.

On June 4, five Treasure Island Resort & Casino visitors won jackpots between $21,886 and $119,831.
May has been a similarly lucky month across US casinos with a series of high-profile wins on record.

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