Global sports and entertainment company Endeavor announced its intention to merge its global sports betting and data businesses, OpenBet and IMG ARENA. According to the announcement, IMG Arena will be integrated under the OpenBet banner.

As a part of OpenBet, IMG ARENA will continue to offer its sports data, integrity and fan engagement products.

The resulting entity, Endeavor said, would leverage both brands’ expertise. It will pair OpenBet’s industry-leading betting technology, content and services with IMG ARENA’s data rights and capabilities. As a result, the new OpenBet will be an end-to-end sports data, tech and content ecosystem for operators and rightsholders.

The new OpenBet will be led by Jordan Levin, OpenBet’s current chief executive officer. He will respond directly to Endeavor’s president and chief operating officer, Mark Shapiro. In the meantime, IMG Arena’s president, Freddie Longe, will serve as strategic advisor to OpenBet during the transition period.

Openbet, for reference, boasts some 25 years of experience in sports betting innovation, offering a modular range of tech, content and services. IMG Arena, on the other hand, supplies sports data and tech to the betting, media and performance sectors, delivering live streaming and data feeds for over 65,000 events.

The pairing of the two companies follows a string of business deals for both companies.

The Merger Has Always Been Endeavor’s Goal

Mark Shapiro, Endeavor’s president and COO, commented on the merger of the two companies, saying that his team had envisioned a holistic integration with IMG ARENA ever since it acquired OpenBet in 2022. He called the new announcement the “culmination of that ambition.”

Leveraging Endeavor’s complementary sports and entertainment capabilities, we will unlock meaningful value for the sports rights and IP of our owned and operated properties, and most importantly, for our partners.

Mark Shapiro, president & COO, Endeavor

In the meantime, Jordan Levin, OpenBet’s CEO, said that the resulting entity is “uniquely positioned as a leading, end-to-end, sports data, technology and content ecosystem for gambling companies, rightsholders and media.

Putting our customers and their players at the heart of our product and tech innovation remains the key to our ongoing success. As an integrated business, we are focused on providing a unique solution to leagues, federations, and sportsbooks worldwide.

Jordan Levin, CEO, OpenBet

Last year, OpenBet powered Sazka, the company behind Allwyn, with its Neccton technology.

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The innovative game development company, RubyPlay, has made a tremendous step forward to become an exceptionally busy content supplier in the forthcoming period. The studio’s landmark Immortal Ways: Mr First slot game has won the Best Online Casino Game title at the prestigious BFTH Arena Awards established by BetConstruct, a prominent stakeholder in the iGaming industry. The award brings RubyPlay under the spotlight and expect a series of content partnerships to be offered to the award-winning studio.

Leaving Fierce Competition Behind

The winning title, specifically tailored for the BFTH Arena Awards, has been the favorite for the award of the entire competition. The slot prevailed over the competition that included some of the biggest studios in the industry to testify about the quality of the RubyPlay’s development practice.

Strong Performance

Also, the decision to award the Immortal Ways: Mr First title has certainly taken into account the slot’s strong performance since its launch. With BetConstruct’s flagship AI technology integrated into its features, the game’s Immortal Ways mechanic has proven a highly efficient booster of the player engagement across the entire player community.

Benchmark Arena Awards Event

The award is particularly significant for the developer as BetConstruct’s BFTH Arena Awards enjoy the reputation of being a benchmark for the innovative and creative developments across the iGaming industry. Judging panel decided the winners based on the slot individual features but also the end user perception of the games tailored for this exciting event. The BFTH Arena ceremony is a part of the Harmony Meetup event held in Armenia hosting industry leading content providers and celebrating the top titles of the year.

Looking Forward to Content Supply Deals

The award also testifies about RubyPlay’s outstanding performance throughout 2023. The studio has grown into a renowned developer showcasing the capability to grow further and become the go-to provider and a preferred partner for the game development projects with BetConstruct’s recognition already likely to be transformed into a lucrative partnership. Therefore the studio’s award-winning release is expected to increase the overall commercial activity of the provider in the forthcoming period.

The Chief Product Officer for RubyPlay, Dr Eyal Loz, said: “It’s an absolute honour to have received the Best Online Casino Game and BFTH Favorite awards at BetConstruct’s BFTH Arena ceremony. True to our motto, Gamecraft Unleashed, our Immortal Ways: Mr First title came out on top amongst a host of prestigious suppliers in the iGaming space and we couldn’t be more thrilled about it.’’

Loz added: “We’re extremely grateful to BetConstruct for giving us the capacity to showcase RubyPlay’s excellence in every aspect, from conception to delivery of the title. The process was extremely enjoyable for the entire team and we’re delighted that our efforts paid off. This is a momentous occasion for us and we’re confident that 2024 will see us grow and succeed even further.”

Source: “RubyPlay Wins Best Online Casino Game at BetConstruct’s BFTH Arena Awards”. European Gaming. December 15, 2023.

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Disney is making a significant leap into sports betting by launching the ESPN Bet app next month. While the move has stirred internal debates and concerns, the allure of attracting a younger, predominantly male audience and tapping into the growing sports betting industry has proven too compelling to ignore.

The Partnership Leverages Disney and Penn’s Strengths

In August, Disney signed a 10-year deal with Penn Entertainment, a prominent sports betting company. The partnership will introduce sports betting to Disney’s ESPN sports network, allowing sports enthusiasts to place wagers on games via Penn’s sportsbook. According to the agreement, Penn Entertainment will operate the app, while Disney will handle marketing efforts.

Penn Entertainment will pay Disney $1.5 billion in cash as part of the deal, and ESPN will receive warrants worth approximately $500 million to acquire shares in the gambling company. Despite steep costs, the operator should benefit significantly, capitalizing on ESPN’s vast audience and the burgeoning sports betting market.

Internally, Disney’s various businesses are interconnected within its overarching corporate brand. ESPN+ is a vital part of Disney’s streaming bundle, and Disney-owned networks promote each other’s shows. This interconnectedness should significantly enhance Penn’s reach and influence, subtly increasing exposure and helping onboard new players. However, Disney’s pivot towards sports betting could have negative consequences despite such synergies.

The Potential Gains Are Worth Any Short-Term Challenges

The prospect of integrating sports wagering under Disney’s umbrella has sparked heated debates among company executives and employees. There have been concerns that gambling could affect Disney’s reputation, associating it with addiction and other negative connotations. This move has raised eyebrows beyond its internal circles. Socially-conscious investment entities like BlackRock may need to reduce their stakes in Disney if the company aligns itself with sports betting.

Despite the backlash, the launch of ESPN Bet seems inevitable. Penn executives recently shared information on the extensive preparations during the Global Gaming Expo in Las Vegas. They noted the company was exploring alternative ESPN game broadcasts focused on betting and plans to appeal to its growing fantasy sports audience. The program will also feature more on-air stars in promotions and shows.

The alliance between Disney and Penn provides an opportunity to engage a younger, more active audience while adding a new dimension to the entertainment giant’s extensive portfolio. Industry stakeholders will closely monitor ESPN Bet’s November launch as it promises an intriguing blend of sports content and sports wagering under the Disney umbrella.

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SBC News reported that IMG Arena filed a lawsuit against Stats Perform over alleged breaches of exclusive data collection rights during Austrian, Czech, German, Greek, and Swiss soccer matches.

Stats Perform Accused of Breaching IMG Arena’s Exclusive Data Collection Rights

In the claim, IMG Arena alleges that Stats Perform has been operating an unauthorized network of data collectors or scouts to obtain real-time data from matches that are covered under IMG Arena’s exclusive soccer license. The suit further alleges that the unauthorized scouts collected betting data and shared it with Stats Perform in real-time.

In February 2022, IMG Arena was awarded the contract for the Collection and Supply of Fast Data for Betting Purposes for 19 European soccer leagues and 44 competitions, including top and lower-tier domestic leagues, domestic cups, super cups, and women’s soccer competitions.

IMG Arena claims that Stats Perform breached their exclusive data collection rights during several matches in the five countries, including a match between Lafnitz and Sturm Graz II in the Austrian league and a match between FK Teplice and FC Zbrojovka Brno in the Czech league. 

Unauthorized scouts were also present at men’s tier 3 (3 Bundesliga) and women’s tier 1 (Frauen-Bundesliga) matches in Germany and the men’s top tier (Super League) match between PAS Lamia 1964 and OFI Crete in Greece. An unauthorized scout was also present during a men’s second-tier (Challenge League) match between Neuchatel Xamax and FC Lausanne-Sport in Switzerland.

IMG Arena President Urges Rights Holders to Protect Their Data from Unscrupulous Companies

In a statement for SBC News, Freddie Longe, president of IMG Arena, said there is evidence indicating that Stats Perform has been sending unauthorized scouts to collect official data from European Leagues. The data was collected in several mature markets. 

According to IMG Arena, Stats Perform’s actions have caused substantial loss and damage to the company, although the full extent of the damage is not yet known. The company estimates the damages to be at least $1.6 million. IMG Arena believes that the data breaches by Stats Perform are undermining the value of the rights holders’ data and intellectual property in the marketplace.

Longe has further called on rights holders to take a more active role in protecting the value of their rights and to refuse to work with companies that engage in unscrupulous practices. He also urged entities like the Sports Rights Owners Coalition to play a more active role in protecting media rights.

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Great Canadian Entertainment, the biggest gaming and hospitality company in Canada, announced that the upcoming 2,500-seat The Arena at Pickering Casino Resort venue will be inaugurated by none other than Bryan Adams.

The famous singer and Juno Award winner will perform at the venue on April 26, 2023, celebrating its opening. His performance is scheduled for 8 pm.

Adams Will Perform on the Opening Day

Pickering Casino Resort is Great Canadian Entertainment’s newest venue. Situated a short drive away from Toronto, the property boasts a gargantuan 96,000-square-foot casino area and a Great Canadian Sportsbook. It also has nine distinct restaurants offering a rich selection of dining options and a luxurious 275-room hotel.

The Arena is, as the name implies, an arena that Great Canadian Entertainment will use to host various live entertainment, sporting events and special attractions. The company believes there was no better person to perform on its Pickering Casino Resort’s opening day than Bryan Adams himself.

Known for his thrilling music and stage presence, Adams is a famous musician whose music has achieved number 1 status in dozens of countries. In addition to being a famous performer, Adams is also the Companion of the Order of Canada, has three Academy Awards and five Golden Globe nominations and a Grammy Award, 20 Juno awards, American Music Awards and ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards. With such a track record, it is hardly surprising that Adams is also a member of the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.

Loyal Members Will Be Able to Buy Tickets Earlier

Pickering Casino Resort will reward Great Canadian Rewards members with earlier access to concert tickets. Starting March 16 at 10 am ET, members of the loyalty program will be able to purchase tickets for the event. Great Canadian Rewards participants can learn more on the program’s official webpage.

Tickets will become available to the general public a day later. According to Pickering Casino Resort, Adams enthusiasts who are not members of Great Canadian Rewards will be able to purchase tickets starting March 17 at 10 am ET.

As announced by the casino resort, ticket prices will begin at $149 plus applicable taxes and fees.

Anfinson Is Excited to Welcome Adams

Matthew Anfinson, the chief executive officer of Great Canadian Entertainment, commented on the exciting occasion. He noted that his team is glad to have an icon such as Bryan Adams officially open the casino resort and introduce The Arena.

His dynamic performance will be the perfect way to showcase this venue and emphasize our commitment to providing a wide range of world-class events and experiences from concerts to sports.

Matthew Anfinson, CEO, Great Canadian Entertainment

Anfinson is excited about the event and said that Great Canadian Entertainment is looking forward to Bryan’s performance, which will surely generate a lot of excitement.

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