The leading developer, owner and operator of integrated resorts in Europe and across Asia, Melco Resorts & Entertainment Limited, announced it engaged in a strategic partnership with the largest conglomerate on the Colombo Stock Exchange and company with a rich history, John Keells Holdings PLC. Per the latest agreement, announced earlier this week, Melco was designated as the casino operator for John Keells’ integrated resort Cinnamon Life Integrated Resort.

Melco confirmed that under the terms of the collaboration, the Cinnamon Life Integrated Resort will be rebranded to City of Dreams Sri Lanka. In exchange for the rights to operate the casino, the company agreed to pay John Keells approximately $125 million. The announcement also comes after Melco recently secured a 20-year casino license from the Government of Sri Lanka. Ultimately, through the new deal, Melco secured access to the regulated gambling sector in the country, paving the way for its future growth.

Lawrence Ho, Melco’s chairman and CEO, revealed that the deal with John Keells marks a milestone achievement for the company’s development in the country. “We believe Sri Lanka has immense potential and this opportunity complements our existing portfolio of properties,” he added.

“We are thrilled to be part of this landmark development in Sri Lanka and to be in partnership with John Keells. We believe Sri Lanka has immense potential and this opportunity complements our existing portfolio of properties.“

Lawrence Ho, chairman and CEO at Melco

The Company Expects the Project to Boost Tourism in the Area

Additionally, Ho spoke about the exceptional potential of City of Dreams Sri Lanka, predicting that it will help propel tourism and lead to economic growth. He said that the company is expected to leverage its extensive experience in operating integrated resorts across the globe. Finally, Ho said: “We will continue to work closely with our esteemed partners and the Sri Lankan Government to ensure the success of this venture, and we expect to make a significant and positive impact on the local community and economy.”

The collaboration will see Melco operate not only the gaming area at City of Dreams Sri Lanka but also manage the top 5 floors of the venue’s hotel. The company will use its luxury Nuwa brand for 113 of the 800 hotel rooms at the integrated resort. Melco’s Nuwa brand is recognized for its luxury rooms, promising supreme hospitality experiences.

The part of the hotel which will be managed by John Keells is expected to be completed and start operating around the third quarter of this year. On the other hand, Melco confirmed that it expects to start operating the casino at City of Dreams Sri Lanka around mid-2025.

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Super Group (SGHC) Limited, a leading betting and gaming company, has recently announced the resignation of John Collins from its Board of Directors, effective 31 December 2023. Collins’s decision to step down relates to his investment in a National Hockey League (NHL) team. However, Super Group stressed that the two parties did not have any disagreements regarding the company’s practices.

The Departure Should Not Affect Current Operations

Collins is currently the chairman of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board and a member of the Audit Committee of the Board. Jonathan Jossel, who joined the company in May 2022, will take up the former position, ensuring Super Group can maintain its operations without disruptions.

Collins has been an integral part of Super Group’s growth and an influential figure during a year marked by significant development for the company. His departure comes at a time of impressive growth. In its recent third-quarter report, Super Group disclosed revenue of €356.9 million ($381.4 million), a notable 16% year-on-year increase.

The company attributed this growth to its expanding operations in Europe, North America, Africa, and the Middle East, despite declines in markets like South/Latin America and Asia-Pacific. Neal Menashe, CEO of Super Group, highlighted the remarkable third-quarter revenue, record monthly active customers, and predicted further expansion within the global iGaming sector for the company.

Collins Will Leverage His Sports Management Expertise

Collins’s decision to step down from his position on the Super Group board likely stems from his increasing focus on his interests within the NHL. He joined the New York Islanders ownership group in July 2023 as the Operating Partner for the Club. Collins’s rich history within the League shows his enduring dedication to the sport, and he will likely continue with his contributions.

Collins is more than qualified for his management position with the Islanders, drawing on his experience as COO of the National Hockey League, President and CEO of the Cleveland Browns, and a senior executive at the National Football League for fifteen seasons. He has been responsible for some pioneering developments within the NHL, and his business acumen will be invaluable to the team.

Collins’s decision to focus on his involvement in the NHL marks a transition for Super Group, which continues its trajectory of growth and expansion in the dynamic betting and gaming industry. While Super Group loses a seasoned industry veteran, it has the talent to ensure enduring success. Meanwhile, Collins is now free to pursue his priorities.

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Pragmatic Play’s iconic globetrotter who has explored a plethora of ancient civilizations over the years, John Hunter, is back and ready for more exciting action on the reels. 

Continuing the mesmerizing saga of the leading content supplier, the fresh release is an exciting follow-up to the trip to Egypt that the beloved archaeological adventurer embarked on in the first title of the franchise. 

The new Megaways version of the slot carries players to the Ancient Egypt plains packed with lush vegetation where they can expect to come across a plethora of familiar symbols ranging from pharaohs and sphinxes. 

John Hunter and the Book of Tut Megaways Metrics Overview 

• Reels: 6
• Rows: 2-7
• Paylines: 117,649 Megaways
• RTP: 96%
• Max win: 10,000x 
• Bet: min: 0.20 / max: 240
• Volatility: High 
• Release date: September 11, 2023

Up to 117,649 Ways to Win, Special Expanding Symbols, and Free Spins 

Besides the expanded and dynamic grid counting six reels that are constantly changing throughout the game, players will also have a fun time discovering as many as 117,649 ways to win, by virtue of the Megaways mechanic. 

Since this is a unique feature in the series, it is likely to draw all the attention while making the game more exciting than ever for fans of the franchise.

As explained by Irina Cornides, Pragmatic Play’s chief operating officer, the launch of the ninth installment in the John Hunter franchise “closely follows the milestone launch” of the studio’s 10th Big Bass slot release. This once again comes to prove the true degree of popularity recorded by these smash titles underpinned by the studio’s desire to keep generating “player favorite experiences time and time again.” 

Cornides further described the new Megaways variant of the saga as “another iconic return by our famed explorer”, considering it would resonate with passionate fans of the series searching for excellent gameplay combined with the massive power of Megaways.

To score a win, players need to land adjacent symbol combinations starting with the utmost left reel. Thanks to the special expanding symbol feature, symbols are randomly selected during any spin taking place in the base game. 

The respective symbols will then expand and completely cover all positions corresponding to their reels, where they will pay from any position and give players more winning opportunities.  

The Free Spins round can be engaged when landing at least three Scatter symbols during any spin. Players receive a minimum of 10 free games. During the same round, players are also guaranteed a special expanding symbol. The respective symbol will be in play for all free spins during the same bonus feature.  

Last week, the company announced it would inject its Live Casino content into 888’s William Hill after scoring a similar deal with Bally’s Interactive at the end of August.

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The global gaming and entertainment industry giant, Flutter Entertainment, confirmed recently that it identified the best strategy for delivering interest for its shareholders. At the time, FTSE 100-listed company confirmed its plans for an additional listing of stocks in the United States.

That plan comes at a time when the company’s entertainment and sports betting brand, FanDuel, continues to hold a significant market share in the US. Flutter’s Board identified that a US listing, in addition to the one in the UK, would help boost the presence of the company in the US and positively impact the retention and recruitment of employees.

Additionally, Flutter said that the US listing will give “the Group access to much deeper capital markets, and to new US domestic investors” and provide overall greater liquidity of its shares. Such a listing would also mark an important first step for the company considering it decides the US to remain a primary listing.

The Company Explores Opportunities for a New Chairman

Now, a new report suggests that the gambling company behind Paddy Power is in talks about hiring a new chairman. That strategic hire may also contribute to the plan for the US listing, announced by Flutter recently. According to Sky News, the company is in “advanced talks” with John Bryant, a proven expert in leading US-based companies, to appoint him to the role of chairman.

Reportedly, that strategic hire may also impact the company’s UK listing. If that happens, Flutter may consider abandoning its presence on the London stock market and strengthening its US-facing presence via a primary listing. Bryant will likely play a key role in the process and that’s no surprise, considering his extensive experience in leading US businesses.

Besides an Australian, Bryant also has American citizenship and spends a lot of his time in the US. What’s more, he is currently a part of the Board of multiple companies including Ball Corporation, Macy’s Inc, as well as Coca-Cola Europacific Partners. What makes his appointment even more plausible is that two of the companies where Bryant is part of the Board, Macy’s Inc. and Ball Corporation, currently trade in the US.

Still, it’s important to mention that Flutter is yet to officially confirm who its new chairman may be. At the same time, the company hasn’t yet revealed whether or not its US listing will impact its UK listing. Later this month, Flutter will hold its annual investor meeting. During the meeting, shareholders are likely to vote for the company’s proposal for a US listing but an announcement about the new chairman isn’t impossible.

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As a result, Gaming Corps will bring its games in strength with Vera & John and offer the operator an opportunity to increase its content library with innovative and player-focused games designed to bring better entertainment to players across the board.

Gaming Corps Delivers Innovative Content for Vera & John

Gaming Corps has been developing a variety of titles and focusing specifically on the Plinko game genre. Plinko is among the first games to hit Vera & John’s casino platform with a dedicated Mine game also coming. Commenting on this opportunity, Vera & John said:

We’re thrilled to expand our exciting arcade vertical with Gaming Corps, as specialists in the space. The launch of Plinko offers more control and variety to our players and their preferences in the game.

Vera & John

Gaming Corps CCO Danielle Calafato was similarly pleased with the opportunity to see the company’s content launch with yet another operator.

“Vera & John not only leads but has essentially created the entirety of its active market with others joining to build online operations in the region,” Calafato said. The executive further commended the operator for focusing on providing player bases with local content that truly strikes home with them.

Calafato further thanked for the opportunity to see Gaming Corps products launched with Vera & John. Gaming Corps is also a refreshing supplier that is adding games that defy iGaming expectations and provide content that is innovative and breaks the industry’s mold.

Gaming Corps provides a strong variety of titles, including crash, mine, slots, and table, as well as the aforementioned Plinko. The supplier has been growing its footprint at a good pace, teaming up with Napoleon Casino in Belgium.

The company similarly sought to expand its footprint in Africa, a vibrant market that is embracing iGaming, with Gaming Corps now setting a firm foot in it.

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