International Game Technology PLC (IGT) has made headlines with two major announcements. Firstly, the launch of the Super Star Poker II game pack on the PeakBarTop Buddy Bar cabinet at Casino Barcelona in Spain marks a significant enhancement to its gaming offerings. Secondly, Renato Ascoli, IGT’s CEO of Global Lottery, has been honored with an induction into the Lottery Industry Hall of Fame for his extensive contributions to the industry.

Super Star Poker II Launches at Casino Barcelona

IGT’s Super Star Poker II game pack has debuted at Casino Barcelona, featuring in the newly created “IGT Video Poker Area.” This area is designed to showcase IGT’s legendary video poker content, offering players an array of engaging themes and game types. Super Star Poker II includes single and multi-hand poker games, as well as Keno, roulette, and popular slot themes like Temple of Fire and Scarab.

“Casino Barcelona is thrilled to offer our guests IGT’s world-class poker innovations in a specially designated video poker space,” said Erwin Alonso Buchhas, Slot Manager at Casino Barcelona. “Our collaboration with IGT brings a new level of gaming entertainment to players and will complement our robust collection of popular IGT slots games on our casino floor.”

The PeakBarTop Buddy Bar cabinet, an evolution of IGT’s award-winning PeakBarTop cabinet, enhances the gaming experience with a premium 23-inch high-definition curved LCD screen. This design combines a classic feel with contemporary ergonomic features, ensuring exceptional image quality and player comfort.

“IGT is excited to partner with Casino Barcelona to bring our performance-proven Super Star Poker II game pack on the PeakBarTop Buddy Bar hardware to players in Barcelona,” said Nick Khin, IGT Chief Operating Officer, Gaming. “Casino Barcelona’s dedicated IGT Video Poker Area is a great environment for players to enjoy celebrated IGT poker themes that are loved by players throughout the world.”

Renato Ascoli Inducted into the Lottery Industry Hall of Fame

Adding to the celebrations, Renato Ascoli, CEO of Global Lottery at IGT, will be inducted into the Lottery Industry Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2024. This accolade recognizes Ascoli’s nearly two decades of influential leadership in the lottery and gaming sectors.

“With nearly 20 years of experience serving in high-level positions in the lottery and gaming industries, Renato Ascoli is an accomplished senior executive whose leadership has been paramount in driving new business and innovation,” said Vince Sadusky, IGT CEO. “Renato has a keen ability to identify and realize business growth opportunities, and his contributions will benefit the lottery industry for years to come. IGT congratulates Renato on his well-deserved induction into this year’s Lottery Industry Hall of Fame.”

In his role, Ascoli oversees global lottery and iLottery sales and operations, product and sales development, and technology support for IGT’s numerous lottery customers. Since the merger of GTECH and IGT in 2015, Ascoli has led both the Global Lottery and Global Gaming business units. His notable achievements include launching sports betting with the Rhode Island Lottery, initiating operations with the Mississippi Lottery, and deploying lottery terminals in Walmart stores.

“I am incredibly honored to be inducted into the Lottery Industry Hall of Fame’s Class of 2024,” said Ascoli. “Working in the lottery industry with many great leaders and innovators has been an absolute privilege. The future of the lottery industry is bright, and I look forward to helping our customers propel the modernization of lottery worldwide while continuing to generate funds for philanthropic causes.”

Ascoli’s earlier tenure at Lottomatica, one of the largest lotteries in the world, saw him lead the successful launch of the Gratta e Vinci (Scratch & Win) instant ticket brand in Italy and secure the exclusive Lotto concession in Italy with a consortium led by IGT.

Sources:

IGT Brings Award-Winning Poker Portfolio to Spain with Casino Barcelona, July 15, 2024.

IGT IGT CEO Global Lottery Renato Ascoli Inducted into Lottery Industry Hall of Fame, July 17, 2024.

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On May 20, Casey of Vancouver, Washington hit a $1.7 million jackpot on Super Bowl Jackpots. The game is Aristocrat Gaming’s National Football League-themed (NFL) slot title.

The big win was recorded in Grand Ronde, Oregon and it marks the game’s first jackpot over the $1 million mark. It is also the largest wide-area progressive jackpot offered by the leading designer, manufacturer, and distributor of Class III games and Class II Innovations for Native American casinos in the Beaver State. 

$3 Birthday Bet Started the Winner’s Birthday Celebration 

It only took one $3 bet for Casey, who was celebrating his birthday on a long weekend, to hit the life-changing jackpot. 

Attracted by the Super Bowl Jackpots, Casey placed his bet on the Atlanta Falcons theme and mistakenly understood that he had won $1,700 right before he shockingly discovered he was the rightful winner of a whopping $1.7 million jackpot.

The avid Atlanta Falcons fan chose his favorite team from a long list of 32 professional NFL teams spread nationwide as part of the NFL Slots portfolio launched by Super Bowl Jackpots. 

The portfolio features a customizable option that enables gamblers to play any of the available teams based on their exact preferences for the opportunity to score a $1 million progressive jackpot, where allowed. 

Players can also engage in additional gameplay thanks to the introduction of the timed 2-Minute Drill, which is a field goal-kicking bonus, along with favorite stadium anthems, and more.

The First in the Series

The game, which represented the culmination of the two-year partnership between the NFL and the NFL Players Association, started to be distributed by Aristocrat Gaming at the end of last August.

The game was set to be the first in a series of fresh games made available at 27 casinos located in eight US states (Nevada, California, Oklahoma, Connecticut, Florida, Massachusetts, Oregon, and Arizona) several months before the general US launch. 

In January 2024, Aristocrat announced the launch of the NFL Super Bowl Link ahead of the Super Bowl.

The Class III game was launched on Aristocrat Gaming’s iconic MarsX Portrait cabinet and is a highly volatile game with average feature frequency, engaging fans with fun NFL action, an SSP jackpot starting at $10,000, and SAP jackpots starting at $1,000 and $5,000.

Earlier in the month, Aristocrat announced it was ready to display more than 50 games at the upcoming Global Gaming Expo Asia on June 4-6.

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A lucky casino goer from Nassau Country, New York, has won a life-changing jackpot after a visit to the Mohegan Sun casino in Connecticut. On Monday, the guest hit a $483,622.40 prize playing blackjack at the tribal venue.

The visitor won the Super 4 Progressive Jackpot – a prize offered to customers who place an additional $5 side bet on blackjack at the property. The side bet in question is offered on all blackjack tables at Mohegan Sun and is triggered when the dealer’s hand is a blackjack.

The size of the prize depends on the value and suit of the cards in the player and dealer’s hands.

The jackpot, Mohegan announced, was won on a blackjack table located in Casino of the Earth, which sports some 180,000 square feet of gaming and entertainment space. Casino of the Earth boasts 1,900 slot machines, 200+ table games and the Hall of the Lost Tribes, a special room with almost 400 slots and a poker room.

Overall, the Mohegan Sun property boasts more than 300,000 square feet of gaming space, approximately 4,000 slots and over 300 gaming tables.

This is not the only jackpot the Mohegan Sun property has handed in recent times. Soon after launching the Hold & Spin Slot Zone in Casino of the Sky, Mohegan handed a $100,000 jackpot to a visitor. In the meantime, a Dragon Link HD progressive jackpot at the venue is ripe for the picking, sitting at approximately $1.3 million as of the time of this writing.

Other Lucky Players Hit Jackpot Prizes

In other news, a single mom from South Carolina just won $2 million from a scratch-off ticket. While the woman said that she plans to continue her routine, she added that she plans to treat herself a little bit.  

For context, the lucky player bought a $20 200X The Cash ticket while on a trip to the supermarket.

Speaking of continuing one’s routine, a man from the United Kingdom recently admitted that he never told his family about a £4 million jackpot prize he won five years ago. Instead, the man stayed quiet, hired the services of an accountant and even kept his regular job.

The man said that he preferred to keep his win a secret because of an outstanding conflict with his family.

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In a bold move that left the audience in shock and admiration, Alex Gonzalez, 23, and Sebastian Rivera, 22, pulled off an audacious stunt during the Las Vegas Super Bowl. Running onto the field while the Chiefs were on offense in the third quarter, the duo were quickly apprehended but left their mark on the game. The two men later revealed that their ticket to jail came at an extravagant cost of $42,000.

The Men Had a Well-Prepared Plan

Gonzalez and Rivera, hailing from Miami, jumped over the security barrier and ran onto the Super Bowl field, adding more drama to an exciting game. Gonzalez, who had his Instagram handle boldly displayed across his shirtless chest, took to the social media to explain his motivations, expressing a fear of growing old with regrets and a desire to streak a Super Bowl while he could.

This sentiment was echoed in a YouTube video where Gonzalez and Rivera provided a behind-the-scenes look at their stadium venture, proudly declaring they would go down as legends. Describing his on-field experience during the Super Bowl streak, Gonzalez highlighted the adrenaline-fueled blur, framing the entire stunt as proof of his dedication to achieving his goals.

The second I hit the field, I kinda blacked out, and I pretty much came back when I was in the cell.

Alex Gonzalez

Gonzalez and Rivera were apprehended on the field and subsequently booked into the Clark County Detention Center on misdemeanor charges of prohibited conduct at an athletic event, as indicated by jail records. Gonzalez did not appear remorseful, proudly stating he would do it again if given the chance despite the consequences.

Their Escapades Will Cost Them Dearly

The eye-watering cost of the duo’s mischievous endeavor was revealed by Gonzalez, who proudly proclaimed that he had paid $42,000 just to go to jail. He displayed what seemed to be a receipt for two Super Bowl tickets, totaling $42,853.98, securing seats in the first row of Section 128 at Allegiant Stadium. The man, sporting 446,000 Instagram followers, claimed he was a day trader.

The two men’s YouTube video ends as they walk out of jail, discussing how stupid their actions were. However, both men were laughing, indicating they were not too worried. The full extent of their legal troubles will become clear on 17 April when the duo must appear in court. There is a real possibility that their escapades will cost them significantly more than the $42,000 they paid for the tickets.

While the stunt has undoubtedly earned the duo a moment in the spotlight, the financial and legal cost may serve as a cautionary tale. As social media retains its significant role in individuals’ pursuit of fame, Gonzalez and Rivera’s extravagant Super Bowl streak is a testament to the lengths some are willing to go for a moment of notoriety.

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In a historic first for Las Vegas, the city played host to Super Bowl LVIII, breaking records in betting handle and marking an unprecedented chapter in sports gambling history.

Nevada Sportsbooks Break Records with $185.6 Million in Bets

Nevada sportsbooks witnessed a staggering $185.6 million in wagers, a feat that shattered previous records and underscored the immense popularity of sports betting in the region. The figures, released by the Nevada Gaming Control Board, revealed a significant increase from last year’s handle, marking a 21.2% surge.

The Kansas City Chiefs emerged victorious in a thrilling showdown against the San Francisco 49ers, clinching their second consecutive Super Bowl title and third in five years with a 25-22 overtime victory. Despite being 2-point underdogs, the Chiefs defied the odds, sending shockwaves through the sports betting world.

Michael Lawton, senior economic analyst at the Nevada Gaming Control Board, explained that several factors drove the record-breaking handle, including the matchup with a West Coast team from the No. 2 feeder market for Las Vegas, coupled with the defending champions, and the game being played in Las Vegas itself.

Nevada Faces Low Hold Percentage Amid Super Bowl Craze

However, the triumph for bettors spelled trouble for sportsbooks, with Nevada’s 182 sportsbooks collectively winning $6.8 million, marking a relatively low hold percentage of 3.7%. The public’s overwhelming support for the Chiefs, coupled with successful bets on the overtime prop, dealt a blow to the sportsbooks.

Chuck Esposito, sportsbook director at Red Rock Resort, noted the palpable excitement surrounding the event and expressed his belief that the record would be broken, citing the influx of early wagers and the occurrence of six-figure bets two weeks prior.

Las Vegas emerged as the epicenter of Super Bowl betting fervor, with five of the eight $1 million bets nationwide placed in the city. Stakeholders, including BetMGM and Circa Sports, played a pivotal role in orchestrating the monumental event, earning accolades from Kirk Hendrick, chairman of the Nevada Gaming Control Board, for their contributions.

One of the most notable bets on the Super Bowl showdown came from Canadian rapper Drake. Despite concerns fueled by the infamous “Drake curse,” the rapper’s $1.15 million bet on the Kansas City Chiefs paid off as they defeated the San Francisco 49ers in the Super Bowl, breaking the curse. This victory marks the second year in a row that Drake has successfully backed the Chiefs, earning him approximately $2.34 million according to his bet slip.

As the dust settles on Super Bowl LVIII, Las Vegas basks in the glow of a historic milestone, solidifying its status as the ultimate destination for sports betting enthusiasts worldwide.

The post Las Vegas Makes History with Record-Breaking Super Bowl LVIII Betting appeared first on Keno Wizard.

Amid the buzz surrounding the upcoming Super Bowl, speculation has been rife regarding whether pop sensation Taylor Swift will grace the event to support her boyfriend, Travis Kelce, and the Kansas City Chiefs. However, despite the anticipation among fans, US sportsbooks are refraining from taking bets on the possibility of Swift’s appearance, reported the Associated Press.

Why US Sportsbooks Avoid Non-Game Betting Unlike Offshore Operators

While offshore sportsbooks like BetUS in Costa Rica and potentially those in Ontario, Canada, might entertain such wagers, the situation is different within the United States. Betting laws in the US vary from state to state, and the prevailing norm restricts wagering to on-field events. 

Although some states permit unconventional bets like predicting the color of the Gatorade showered on the winning coach, even these options are off-limits in Las Vegas, renowned for its stringent regulations on sports betting.

The reluctance to accept bets on non-game occurrences is grounded in a desire for objectivity. According to John Ewing, a public relations manager at BetMGM, the preference is for bets to have clear outcomes without room for interpretation. 

This sentiment is also echoed by Adam Pullen, assistant trading director at Caesars Sportsbook, who acknowledges the industry’s progress but suggests that certain types of bets, including those related to celebrity appearances like Swift’s, might still face regulatory hurdles.

Taylor Swift’s Impact on NFL Betting Trends

Swift’s relationship with Kelce has been a notable subplot throughout the NFL season, with the singer attending several Chiefs games, including their triumph in the AFC championship game. 

However, conflicting schedules due to Swift’s performance commitments in Japan during Super Bowl weekend have fueled speculation about her attendance in Las Vegas.

Back in October when Taylor Swift’s relationship with NFL star Travis Kelce was still only a rumor it sparked a surge in betting activity, particularly on Kelce’s performance, with bets doubling since the dating rumors emerged. Kelce became the most wagered-on NFL player for anytime touchdown bets during a recent game, reflecting Swift’s significant influence on the market. 

Despite the natural inclination for fans to wager on such high-profile appearances, the consensus among industry insiders is to prioritize bets linked directly to on-field action. This approach aligns with regulators’ concerns about maintaining the integrity and clarity of betting outcomes.

While the absence of betting options on Swift’s potential Super Bowl appearance may disappoint some enthusiasts, it underscores the ongoing evolution and regulation of the sports betting landscape in the United States. 

As anticipation builds for the showdown between the Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers, fans will have to content themselves with traditional betting options centered on the game itself.

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The Kansas City Chiefs are the defending champions who weren’t too impressive in the regular season. However, Andy Reid’s men really switched to the top gear when the postseason started.

They’ve already slain a couple of giants in 2024 and they’re determined to do the same on February 11. However, Super Bowl LVIII odds suggest the San Francisco 49ers will be the ones to lift the Lombardi Trophy.

San Francisco 49ers vs. Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl LVIII Odds

10254 players claimed the offer this month

When, Where, and How to Watch?

• Place: Allegiant Stadium in Paradise (Las Vegas), Nevada
• Date: Sunday, February 11, 2024
• Time: 6:30 p.m. ET
• How to Watch: CBS

Kansas City Chiefs Looking Great Ahead of Super Bowl LVIII

The Kansas City Chiefs went 11-6 in the regular season. It was their worst record since 2017, which was the rookie season of Patrick Mahomes. The quarterback had a mediocre season in 2023, but his form has improved since the start of 2024.

He’s thrown for four touchdowns in the three playoff games the Chiefs have played so far. It may not seem too impressive, but you need to keep in mind that these guys played against some really tough opponents – the Miami Dolphins, Buffalo Bills, and Baltimore Ravens.

Mahomes and his colleagues from Kansas City’s attacking team have been great, but it’s the Chiefs’ defense that’s been a real-world-beater in 2024. In the AFC Championship Game, they absolutely destroyed Lamar Jackson and the Ravens, keeping them to only 10 points.

Can the San Francisco 49ers End the Chiefs’ Dominance?

It’s been 29 years since the San Francisco 49ers won the Super Bowl the last time. Since then, they played the NFL Championship Game on two occasions, namely, in 2014 and 2020. The latter – Super Bowl LIV – saw them lose 31-20 to the Chiefs.

Mahomes was the MVP of the Championship Game, while his teammate at the time, Damien Williams, scored two touchdowns (one rushing and one receiving TD). Williams, however, is no longer in Kansas City. The same goes for another five players from the starting 11 in the Kansas City Chiefs offensive team in Super Bowl LIV.