The American Gaming Association (AGA) has published a new survey on the upcoming Super Bowl LVIII. According to the association, a quarter of the American adult population (26%, or 68 million) is expected to wager a whopping $23.1 billion on the Big Game.

This figure would represent a significant increase from the $16 billion Americans wagered last year. The higher numbers were attributed to the increase in states where sports betting is now legal.

Based on a sample of 2,204 adults, the AGA concluded that 42.7 million American adults will likely place a traditional sports wager online, at a retail sportsbook or with a bookie. This represents a 41% increase from 2023.

In the meantime, 36.5 million are planning to bet casually with friends or as a part of a pool or squares contest, up 32% from 2023.

The AGA also pointed out that more and more bettors are now wagering with legal sports betting operators. According to the association 28.7 million adults, or 11% of the adult population, are planning to bet using a regulated US sportsbook.

The AGA also said that 47% of bettors are planning to bet on the Kansas City Chiefs against 44% planning to bet on the San Francisco 49ers.

Bill Miller Highlights the Importance of Player Protection

AGA’s president and chief executive, Bill Miller, commented on the figures, saying that America is experiencing record interest in wagering. He added that this means that player protection is more important than ever, which is why the AGA will continue prioritizing investment in responsible gambling tools.

In line with that, 75% of Super Bowl bettors have reported seeing responsible gambling messages. In addition, 47% of all American adults have heard or seen a responsible gambling ad at least one time in the past year, up from 40% in 2022.

During Super Bowl week, AGA’s Miller will join forces with ex-NFL professional and current Fox Sports Big Noon Kickoff host Mark Ingram II. The two will comment on the state of sports betting in the US and the importance of safer gambling.

The thrill of the game and the passion of the fans are what make sports so rewarding and fun. Legalized sports betting builds on this excitement. That’s why I’m thrilled to partner with the American Gaming Association to encourage fans, whether it’s during the Big Game or throughout the year, to keep it social and wager responsibly.

Mark Ingram II

For reference, sports betting is now legal in 38 states and Washington DC, providing over 67% of all adult Americans with access to legal betting.

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The San Francisco Bay Area man purchased the ticket in a local liquor store only to find out that the ticket was worth $20 million. This happened during his launch break as a skycap at the local airport and playing the $30 “Set For Life” game.

$20M to Realize a Lifelong Dream

Commenting on his win, Hickman said that the adrenaline was amazing, and described it as the biggest rush of his life. The California State Lottery congratulated the lucky soul and officials expressed their hopes that the win would completely transform Hickman’s life.

One of the first things Hickman said he would do was to purchase a home for his wife and added that this was his biggest and lifelong dream. He has been a regular at Set For Life but always played it as a bit of habit, rather than truly hoping to win big, although he already won $1,000 from it previously.

The winning comes at the right juncture for the man who is going to finally realize this distant dream now turned into a tangible reality. L&M Liquor in Hayward, the store that sold the winning ticket, will also get a $100,000 bonus, as is customary in such cases.

Meanwhile, this is not the only big scratch winnings to have been won recently. Millions have been won playing all sorts of other scratch card games over the past days, including a $5 million jackpot won by one Teresa Martinez who scooped a 100x scratch ticket at a Morgan Hill gas station.

Jackpots Everywhere around California

Her winnings were announced at the same time as Hickman, with apparently a number of lucky souls winning at the same time. Another person, German Medina Zapata, won $5 million on a Premier 7’s scratch ticket, California lottery officials confirmed. The ticket was born at K&H Liquors in San Francisco.

Last but not least, the statement also announced a $1 million win by one The-Ah Lin who had purchased a Cloud 9 Scratchers in a Seafood City in Hayward and won. To round it all up, a pair of people, Eric Holtzman and Matoux De La Croix, won a $5 million jackpot playing Premier 7’s scratcher. The ticket was bought at a liquor store in San Francisco.

Earlier this month, a woman won $3 million in Colorado by purchasing a digital lottery copy of a ticket, the biggest in the history of the service that provided the ticket.

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Trainwrecks, a popular streamer who has consolidated his presence as one of the most prominent gambling streamers and co-founder of Kick, a disruptor streaming service, has suggested that the highly successful platform is on its way to make some huge signings that would “devastate” the streaming industry and offer even more opportunities for small and mid-sized hardworking creators to gain traction.

New Potential Signee to Change the Streaming Paradigm

Kick has been a pioneer in letting in gambling streamers and also letting consumers filter gambling content if they don’t wish to see it in the first place. The platform has since signed Amouranth and Adin Ross, xQc, and offered them eye-watering seven-figure deals, including a purported $100 million offer to xQc, which has been recently criticized.

As to Trainwrecks, the Kick co-founder is very confident that the next signings on the platform will include personalities whose switch to the platform will be felt well across the streaming segment. Who this may be is another matter altogether. Kick has not revealed any details about who the new contracts may target.

However, the streaming giant has spared no dime in bringing over more prominent figures, encroaching easily on Twitch territory and compelling consumers, content creators, and viewers to set their new streaming home as Kick.

Kick has also made sure that its platform is organic and free of manipulations, addressing both earlier concerns about botting and the proliferation of gambling content. Kick has been able to completely upend how streamers are paid.

Potential Target for Devastating Signing

The platform offers a 95/5 split, with the bulk going to the content creators themselves, whereas Twitch and YouTube offer 50/50 and 70/30 respectively. Some content creators though have not been tempted by the Kick’s carrot just yet with Asmongold openly supporting the platform but not making a switch.

There was speculation earlier in 2023, and indeed, Asmongold joining now would really coincide with Trainwrecks’ promise of a “devastating signing.”

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At least a few Las Vegas casino resorts have a bed bug problem, the local TV station KLAS-TV reported. Based on information from the Southern Nevada Health District, the report says that bed bugs had been found in two more Las Vegas Strip hotels.

The two properties in question, the report revealed, are none other than The Venetian and Park MGM.

A guest of the former property first reported seeing bed bugs on July 29. They were immediately moved to another room, with The Venetian launching an inspection shortly after. Unfortunately, the resort soon confirmed there were indeed bed bugs in the room.

Following that, a Park MGM guest complained about the bugs on August 14, prompting an inspection that identified the bugs’ presence.

News outlets tried to discuss the matter with representatives from the two properties but the hotels did not respond to the requests. In any case, the bed bug cases come at a really inconvenient time for the properties considering the F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix and upcoming Super Bowl.

Casino.org Advised Visitors to Be Wary

Casino.org, a gambling-focused news outlet, elaborated on this report, saying that KLAS-TV’s report brings the total number of resorts with recent bed bug problems to nine. Over the past two years, bed bugs have been identified at seven other casino resorts, including Circus Circus, Caesars Palace, Planet Hollywood, The Palazzo, Tropicana, MGM Grand, and Sahara.

Previously, Casino.org managed to contact representatives of Tropicana and Sahara who told the news outlet that such cases are very rare and unlikely. Still, the two properties promised that they would always respond immediately to such reports. The former hotel even reassured Casino.org that it would hire a third-party service that would evaluate the situation and recommend a plan for action.

Back then, MGM Resorts also spoke with journalists, promising that appropriate action would be taken when the need arises.

In any case, Casino.org recommended vigilance, advising hotel guests to thoroughly check their rooms for bed bugs when visiting a hotel. As the F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix and the Super Bowl approach, Las Vegas visitors should remain on watch for bugs and file a report to the Southern Nevada Health District if they spot any.

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The leading provider of games for the iGaming industry, Pragmatic Play, announced the release of its latest slot. On Monday, the company confirmed the launch of Big Bass Hold & Spinner Megaways, the 10th addition of its popular Big Bass series.

Slot fans familiar with the famous Big Bass franchise know that the games feature an evergreen fishing theme. The latest slot game follows that tradition but elevates further the thrill and excitement by bringing the Hold & Spinner feature.

Players of Big Bass Hold & Spinner Megaways will see standard 10 to Ace card symbols, along with fishing-themed symbols, including a fishing rod and a fishing tackle box, among others. The release of the new slot comes after earlier this month, Pragmatic Play unveiled Pub Kings, a Viking-themed slot game with 20 paylines, RTP of 96.08% and a maximum win of 5,000x.

Big Bass Hold & Spinner Megaways Metrics Overview

• Rows: 6
• Reels: 6
• Paylines: 147,456
• RTP: 96.07%
• Volatility: High
• Bet: Min/Max Bet: 0.20/250
• Max Win: 20,000x
• Release date: August 28, 2023

The Latest Slot Brings Engaging Features

Irina Cornides, Pragmatic Play’s chief operating officer, shared her excitement about the new Big Bass Hold & Spinner Megaways slot game. She revealed that the latest game from the popular franchise is the most thrilling within the series so far. Finally, Cornides said: “With an enhanced free spins round that introduces retriggers with multipliers for the first time, the gameplay is supercharged by the Hold & Spinner feature and the star power of Megaways to create plenty of opportunities for players to reel in big prizes.”

“It’s an honor to be able to introduce the tenth title in Pragmatic Play’s popular Big Bass franchise – and it’s an epic catch!“

Irina Cornides, chief operating officer at Pragmatic Play

Recently, Pragmatic Play forged a partnership with Super 7 in Mendoza, Argentina. Under the terms of a new content deal, the iGaming provider agreed to power the operator with games.

But what can the players of Big Bass Hold & Spinner Megaways expect? The game offers the popular tumbling mechanic that removes winning symbols from the reel, allowing new symbols to fall in their place, creating a potential for subsequent wins. This mechanic can be boosted further by the game’s Mystery symbols, granting a chance for even bigger payouts.

To access the free spins round, players need to land three or more Scatter symbols. The free spins game offers an extra feature that grants a chance for a multiplier of 2x, 3x and 10x to be awarded along with additional spins.

The highlight of the new game is the Hold & Spinner feature. Online players can access the feature by landing three or more Coin Money symbols. “These Coins lock to the grid, awarding three respins and adding the value of each subsequent Coin to the total win,” explains Pragmatic Play.

The post Pragmatic Play Launches Big Bass Hold & Spinner Megaways appeared first on Keno Wizard.

The partnership sees US Integrity, a specialist that focuses on integrity and monitoring, deliver its range of tools and solutions, along with its monitoring software, to Big 12.

Big 12 Wants Its Games to Have Integrity

The companies will focus on monitoring betting activities surrounding college games, and it comes at a time when the NCAA is rocked by a large scandal involving student-athletes and coaches who may have been betting on their own games.

Sports wagering is prohibited by participants in competitions, and Big 12 wants to ensure that it has the means to monitor and police its players and staff. Commenting on this new tie-up, Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark had this to say:

The Big 12 Conference is thrilled to partner with U.S. Integrity as a continuation of its commitment to sports betting compliance. Given the current landscape of sports betting in our industry, it’s more important than ever to double down on ensuring sport integrity across our Conference.

Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark

Big 12 will gain access to the ProhiBet technology which is designed as a secure and transparent method for sportsbook operators and sports properties to track betting activity and flag instances where it’s suspected that student-athletes, coaches, or administrative staff may have had something to do with the outcome of an NCAA athletic contest.

Matt Heap, ProhiBet managing director, spoke about the significance of the partnership and what it meant for Big 12. Thanks to PhohiBet’s advanced system and Big 12’s dedication to ensuring that its contests have integrity, this partnership will allow the conference to ensure the transparency and trustworthiness of collegiate sports betting activities.

NCAA Looking to Ensure Integrity of College Sports

Big 12 is also looking to presently strengthen the way it disseminates its data and is working closer with partners to ensure that suspicious betting patterns are tracked in a timely manner. In the meantime, the NCAA has been stepping up its efforts into potential breaches of the association’s betting rules.

In July, the NCAA confirmed that there were 175 infractions on record with 17 ongoing investigations tying them up.

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Online gambling software provider Playtech has teamed up with Quickspin Live to release a new live casino game. The latest addition to Playtech’s impressive portfolio is called Big Bad Wolf Live and is an innovative game with multiple engaging mechanics.

Despite being Quickspin Live’s inaugural live casino product, the game reflects the company’s knack for innovation. Quickspin seeks to pair best-in-class tech with robust entertainment capabilities to capture a new generation of gamblers. To that end, Quickspin leveraged Playtech’s outstanding technology tools to create a game that can redefine the live casino space.

Playtech and Quickspin’s meticulous attention to detail is highlighted by the new game. Big Bad Wolf Live features pristine art and many exciting gameplay features that will keep players on the edge of their seats. The release emphasizes the two companies’s desire to go beyond the boundaries of what live casino gaming can be.

The strategic collaboration between Playtech and Quickspin seeks to shape the future of the sector, according to the official announcement.

The New Game Was Described as “Truly Immersive”

Representatives commented on the new release with Quickspin’s chief executive officer, Panagiotis Chryssovitsanos, saying that the game is in line with his company’s vision to deliver “thrilling gaming experiences” with the company’s “own blend of high-quality production value, creativity and love.”

Chryssovitsanos pointed out that his team seeks to cater to younger online casino players – a generation that grew up with video games and arcades. He hopes that his company’s content will appeal to these players, allowing Quickspin Live to engage and form the next generation of players.

He concluded that his team is happy to have Playtech as its partner:

We are also fortunate enough to have Playtech as our partner, providing us with market-leading technology and expertise, enabling us to turn our dreams into reality.

Panagiotis Chryssovitsanos, CEO, Quickspin Live

Meanwhile, Edo Haitin, Playtech Live’s own chief executive officer, said that the launch of Big Bad Wolf Live marks Quickspin Live’s foray into the live casino sector. He reiterated his company’s intentions to work with Quickspin Live to “redefine the boundaries of live casino gaming and set new industry standards.”

Speaking of the release itself, Haitin said that the title showcases the capabilities of the Playtech Live platform and Quickspin’s creative approach to gaming.

The game is truly an immersive RNG & Live experience, setting the bar higher for the industry; the outstanding attention to detail in the studio and entertaining gameplay combined with first-of-its-kind features and Quickspin’s signature high quality.

Edo Haitin, CEO, Playtech Live

Earlier this month, Playtech agreed to supply France’s FDJ with its poker network and services.

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Evoplay’s newest title creates a unique and engaging gaming experience, leveraging soccer’s timeless popularity to appeal to sports and classic casino fans. Penalty Roulette transports players to a virtual soccer stadium where they can bet on roulette-style options while enjoying the adrenaline rush of a penalty shoot-out. This new title enhances Evoplay’s successful portfolio, adding to the studio’s growing list of hits.

Penalty Roulette Metrics

• Game Type: Instant Game
• Main Game: 48
• Max Bet USD: 1000 (single bet) / 35 000 (multi bet)
• Max Bet EUR: 750 (single bet) 26 250 (multi bet)
• Max Win USD: 66 000
• Max Win EUR: 49 500
• Min Bet USD: 1
• Max Bet EUR: 1

The Game Appeals to Sports and Casino Fans

Roulette is a beloved classic in the world of casino gaming, and Evoplay has put a fresh spin on it by infusing it with the thrilling elements of soccer. Players will find familiar roulette-style betting options, but instead of traditional numbers, they’ll have the chance to bet on soccer-themed outcomes, adding an extra layer of excitement and engagement to the game.

Penalty Roulette’s multi-bet capabilities can award a lucky player over 48 times their initial wager. The game captures the essence of a real penalty shoot-out, with players eagerly anticipating the outcome of each spin as if it were a crucial match moment. Evoplay CEO Ivan Kravchuk was excited regarding the new title, hoping it would capture players’ imaginations.

Reinventing the live casino favorite as we know it and capturing the thrill of a football match (Penalty Roulette)’s mass appeal makes it a fantastic new addition to our Football Pack.

Ivan Kravchuk, Evoplay CEO

The new title follows Evoplay’s prior successful soccer-themed titles like Penalty Shoot-out Street and Long Ball, hoping to introduce sports fans to the wonders of iGaming. Penalty Roulette’s user-friendly interface and intuitive gameplay make it suitable for players of all levels of expertise so everyone can enjoy the adrenaline-pumping experience.

The Developer Remains Committed to Excellence

Evoplay has built a solid reputation for delivering cutting-edge and immersive gaming experiences. The studio has received widespread recognition for its innovative approach, earning prestigious awards and accolades within the iGaming industry. The success of Evoplay’s Football Pack has been outstanding, receiving widespread acclaim from players and industry professionals.

Capitalizing on the lingering excitement after the 2023 FIFA World Cup, Penalty Roulette is a testament to Evoplay’s commitment to innovation and delivering exceptional gaming experiences. The game presents a compelling fusion proving that creativity and ingenuity are key to success and is sure to score big with players worldwide.

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With the recent Powerball jackpot worth over a billion dollars falling to a lucky player in California, many fair-weather gamblers still want some skin in the game. The good news for them is that Mega Millions is not far behind in terms of jackpot prize value.

Next Estimated Jackpot
$820 Million
CASH OPTION: $422.0 MILLION
Next Drawing:
Tuesday, 7/25 @ 11 p.m. ET

What’s Up With the Billion Dollar Jackpots?

If it seems like jackpots are higher these days, it is because they are – the biggest prizes also fall less often because the jackpots are harder to win than they used to be, thanks to a rule change a couple of years ago. The longer it takes to win (the more tickets sold) the higher the jackpot grows. There’s also the knock-on effect of bigger jackpots inspiring additional ticket sales in what would seem like a win/win for everybody.

The odds of winning one of the huge prizes have always been astronomical. The odds of claiming the big prize are now just about 1 in 302.5 million, but the fact remains, you can’t win if you don’t play. It’s also good to keep that number in perspective. The entire population of the US, including every man, woman, and child is estimated to be just over 331M – that means that if everyone got a different ticket, the jackpot would be won but it would be shared by two people.

Cut the cash take-home roughly in half for each player, and the chances of becoming an “almost billionaire” are even worse. But that’s no reason not to play.

“Play” is the operative word. Since there is no way to increase your odds, and no single person could ever actually become a billionaire under most circumstances, the only rational way to approach the game is to consider it as fairly cheap entertainment. For a couple of bucks, you can imagine the very real possibility (not the probability) of having enough money to essentially do whatever you would like to, for the rest of your life.

Increased chances come with the same odds, but lower payouts

You can never change the odds. However, by buying more tickets, or by buying more than one ticket with a group of players, you increase your chances to win – but – the amount you could win is cut in half by everybody else who has the same winning numbers.

If you choose your own numbers, there’s a good chance someone else chooses the same ones. Plenty of people’s children have the same birthday, a lot of people are the same age… the point is that statistically, you are better off choosing completely random numbers (such as Quickpick) than choosing your own – the odds remain the same but the chance of having to split the prize goes down the more randomly chosen your numbers are.

Mega Millions, Like Powerball, is a Multi-State Lottery, and the Rules Matter

While Mega Millions tickets are sold by lottery retailers in 45 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, they are also sold by bonafide agents, and in many states, that agent can be part of a messenger service. In those cases, you pay a little extra for the ticket but somebody else picks it up for you.

While not legal in every state, we saw an Iraqi man use thelotter.com to buy a ticket a few years ago in Oregon and he was paid directly by the lottery there in the way he chose, and anonymously because of his special circumstances of living in a war zone. Whereas the state usually requires jackpot winners to reveal their identity, that requirement was waived in this situation for obvious reasons.

Even though lotteries operated in concert with the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL) have commonalities, most notably a shared jackpot pool, players still need to collect winnings in the state the ticket was sold. You could mail in a winning ticket or claim it in person, but we doubt the US Postal Service would insure a nearly one-billion dollar ticket, or if anyone would want to plop a $0.60 stamp on an envelope with it, drop it in a box, and go about their day. Almost everybody, including the man in Iraq with his messenger service’s help, must claim big winnings in person.

Jackpot winners will only have so many days to claim their prizes – this will vary by jurisdiction but is always at least 90 days from the date of sale. Of course, legal counsel should be sought right away after securing a winning ticket but it should be recorded with the proper lottery authorities and claimed as soon as possible. To drive the expiration date home, the winner of a $1.5B jackpot in California (with 6-month expiry) recently waited until scant hours before the opportunity expired to claim their ticket.

You’ll have to claim the winnings on your tax return and most likely pay taxes on the winnings. Sadly, overall the lottery is already a poor man’s tax – the rich don’t need more money so they play the game less than people who may need it the most, and the odds are simply the worst. That said, the top tax bracket in the US is currency 37% and no matter where you live or how much income you have otherwise, the IRS will take 25% of your winnings before you ever see them.

With all of that…

Two things remain true – you can’t win if you don’t play and you should never expect to win or chase a jackpot, no matter how you choose to gamble.

Source: The Wildest Rules You Didn’t Know Powerball and Mega Millions Winners Must Follow After Hitting the Jackpot, People, July 21, 2023

The post Will you follow the rules and take home the big prize if you match the numbers? appeared first on Keno Wizard.

Jamie Foxx, a famous American actor, has finally recovered from his mysterious illness. In the wake of his return, the star teased a new project with BetMGM.

Foxx announced his return via a Tweet in which he tagged BetMGM, teasing that they have got “BIG things” coming soon.

Thankful for my BetMGM family and a great few nights in Vegas. We got BIG things coming soon.
Jamie Foxx, brand ambassador, BetMGM