The leading betting and gaming operator that is recognized around the globe, Betfred, announced the launch of its first-ever Christmas advertisement, promoting a special festive draw. Released on Monday, the new advertisement promotes Betfred’s special holiday £5 million ($6.2 million) giveaway. Ultimately, the campaign seeks to make five Betfred customers millionaires this Christmas.

To create the new ad, Betfred collaborated with the leading creative and production agency, Zút. Not unexpectedly, the advertisement features the popular Christmas song “Let it Snow,” as it tells the story of different people who are all asking the same question: “Will it snow this Christmas?”

Although the new ad was released Monday, the giveaway promotion is available from November 10, 2023. Sports fans, bettors and online gamblers who want to participate in the giveaway will have until December 24, 2023, to opt into the draw. Additional entries, up to 100 per person, can be secured for every £1+ wager placed on Betfred.com.

Betfred’s new festive giveaway will make five customers millionaires this Christmas, given that it snows on Christmas day. The operator’s festive promo will give five prizes, £1 million ($1.2 million) each if there is snow lying at London Heathrow Airport weather station on December 25, 2023, at 9 am. According to the advertisement, the winners of the special holiday promo will be selected and notified on January 14, 2024.

The Festive Draw Brings Excitement to Zút, Betfred

Matt Thompson, Zút’s creative director, explained that the company wanted to create a special campaign that makes people smile just in time for the holiday season. He explained that Betfred’s debuting Christmas ad featured a popular soundtrack and people who wore colorful costumes, underlining the cheer and joy the holidays bring.

Thompson added that the advertisement was the result of a collective effort. “We worked closely with the Betfred team at all stages of planning and production and having their expertise was vital. We’re all really proud of this campaign – now all we need is snow,” he said in conclusion.

“With all the brilliant sport at Christmas, we wanted to add some extra excitement for our customers.“

Joanne Whittaker, CEO at Betfred

Joanne Whittaker, Betfred’s CEO, added that the company wanted to deliver more excitement for its growing customer base. “Our team came up with the idea of our biggest-ever giveaway, which then prompted our first-ever Christmas advert,” she added. Finally, Whittaker said that Betfred is looking forward to seeing snow on Christmas so it can make five lucky customers millionaires.

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A strike by 3,700 casino workers in Detroit has led to the closure of poker rooms at two high-profile casino properties, MotorCity Casino and MGM Grand Detroit. The strike comprises employees from five different unions and has inadvertently bolstered Canadian gambling tourism, as the nearest fully operational venue is just a short border crossing away.

Protests Are Causing Significant Disruptions

Poker rooms at MotorCity Casino and MGM Grand Detroit have been temporarily closed following the strike. An update on MotorCity Casino’s website informed visitors of the poker room’s closure. Similarly, a sign at MGM Grand Detroit notified guests that the poker room was temporarily unavailable. However, Hollywood Casino in Greektown confirmed that the strike had not affected their offerings.

The protests, affecting crucial positions like dealers, food and beverage staff, and engineers, stem from demands for improved healthcare, higher wages, and a return to pre-pandemic staffing levels. Negotiations between the Detroit Casino Council and the casino operators have been ongoing since September, but the two parties have unfortunately made little progress.

Detroit casino workers need a job that respects our health and our future. We now have to stand up and reset the relationship between us and the companies.

Detroit Casino Council strike flier 

The strike launched when the three-year extension to the original five-year contract, agreed upon during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, expired on Tuesday. Workers argue that revenue has now returned to pre-pandemic levels, especially with the inclusion of iGaming throughout Michigan. Poker enthusiasts and staff will face an uncertain period until the affected parties reach an agreement.

Caesars Windsor Attracts Americans with Comprehensive Casino Offering

While the three casinos affected by the strike will remain open, the protests have caused noticeable disruptions. Gordon Orr, CEO of Tourism Windsor-Essex Pelee Island (TWEPI), has offered Detroit bettors an alternative, inviting them to take a short trip across the border to Caesars Windsor, a world-class gaming option free of labor disputes.

Orr emphasized that the Canadian offering provided a quality gaming experience without crossing picket lines, making it a suitable alternative for US casino-goers who wish to avoid the Detroit labor strike. Caesars Windsor manager of PR and communications Susanne Tompkins was also excited to welcome foreign visitors, highlighting the venue’s world-class amenities.

Caesars Windsor is our number one tourist attraction. We’ve got it all… world-class gaming, a 5,000-seat Coliseum with A-List entertainment, gaming, and, of course, restaurants.

Susanne Tompkins, Caesars Windsor manager of PR and communications

While the strike’s future remains uncertain, the impact on Detroit’s poker rooms is a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by the casino industry amid calls for better worker conditions and the return to pre-pandemic norms. Unlike Nevada residents, Michiganders have a viable alternative nearby, exacerbating the pressure for casinos to reach an agreement with protesters.

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As part of a new gaming compact for the Western New York tribe, the Seneca Nation of Indians and the state government are negotiating for a casino in downtown Rochester. 

Seneca Nation has three casinos in the Buffalo area but views Rochester and Monroe County as an opportunity for expansion. If a new agreement is finalised, the tribe may forge ahead with those plans.

The current gaming compact, which was signed in 2002, is set to expire at the end of the year, and Governor Kathy Hochul’s office is awaiting the approval of a law before it can enter into a new 20-year compact. The bill passed the Senate but has not been approved in the Assembly amid concerns from Rochester leaders and neighbouring gambling facilities about the impact of a new casino in the city. 

READ: New York casino contenders ramp up license lobbying

However, ahead of the passage of the bill, the tribe announced last Wednesday that it had reached a preliminary agreement with Hochul’s office on a new compact. Local leaders are, however, shocked by the news of private talks between the Seneca Nation and the state government for a new casino in Rochester. 

On Monday, the Rochester City Council penned a letter to Hochul asking “our Governor, along with both houses of the New York State Legislature, to halt any conversation about a downtown Rochester casino”. The City Council said that “local leaders and citizens have not been consulted or even informed that this (discussion for a casino in Rochester) was under consideration”.

The Rochester Mayor, Malik Evans, in a statement said, “It should be noted that neither City leadership nor members of our New York State delegation has been involved in any conversations related to this possibility. Any conversation of this magnitude that does not include local stakeholders is unacceptable.”

Similarly, the Mayor of Monroe, Adam Bello, said, “It’s deeply troubling that this community has now been placed in this position of debating an issue without knowing the full details of what has been negotiated.”

Meanwhile, Governor Hochul has recused herself due to a potential conflict of interest, as her husband holds an executive position at Delaware North, the Buffalo-based hospitality company that owns Finger Lakes Gaming and Racetrack in nearby Farmington, Ontario County.

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