Sports and entertainment company AEG and Yaamava’ Resort & Casino at San Manuel (Yaamava’) have announced a groundbreaking partnership renewal, marking 16 years of successful collaboration that will continue to deliver enhanced sports and live-entertainment programming for hockey, basketball, and soccer fans across major sports and live entertainment assets in Southern California.

As part of the new agreement, brokered by AEG Global Partnerships, Yaamava’ continues its long-standing Founding Partner status, a premium and category exclusive designation across Crypto.com Arena, L.A. LIVE, and Dignity Health Sports Park (DHSP) as well as its designation as the official casino of the two-time Stanley Cup Champions, the LA Kings, the five-time MLS Cup champions, the LA Galaxy and the AHL’s Ontario Reign.

“We are excited to extend our partnership with AEG. AEG and Yaamava’ have similar goals: creating memorable, best-in-class experiences that last for a lifetime. I am proud of what we have accomplished together thus far, and look forward to taking this partnership to the next level,” Kenji Hall, General Manager of Yaamava’, said.

Since the partnership’s inception in 2008, Yaamava’ and AEG, two industry-leading entities with strong ties to LA, have remained deeply committed to providing Southern California and its residents with extraordinary entertainment options. Whether at the arena, on the pitch, at the resort and casino, or on the ice, together, they have helped elevate fan experiences, while creating unforgettable moments for the benefit of millions of Angelenos each year. Additionally, the partners will further their joint community outreach initiatives, with a focus on giving back to the people they both serve across the Southern California region.

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“Part of what makes our collaboration with Yaamava’ so impactful is our shared values. Over the last 16 plus years, we have cultivated a unique partnership that demonstrates our mutual commitment to delivering extraordinary live-entertainment moments while also making a positive impact in our communities. We are proud to be growing our partnership for what promises to be an exciting future ahead filled with meaningful community outreach, impactful cultural celebrations and enhanced entertainment experiences for our fans,” said Russell Silvers, COO, AEG Global Partnerships.

“Our partnership with Yaamava’ is an exciting step towards redefining the fan experience and amplifying our commitment to creating unforgettable events for our patrons. The ‘Yaamava’ Club by San Manuel’ at Crypto.com Arena continues to stand out as a testament to our partnership’s enduring impact, serving as a symbol of innovation, excellence and the kind of world-class entertainment both of our organizations are known for,” said Lee Zeidman, President of Crypto.com Arena and L.A. LIVE.

New elements of the deal include opportunities for the partners to collaborate on cross promotional events at AEG’s properties in Los Angeles as well as at Yaamava’ in the Inland Empire. These events will include VIP LA Kings and Galaxy events at Yaamava’ and watch parties at The 909, Yaamava’s sport bar and grill, bringing fans together from across the I.E. to cheer on the LA Kings, Ontario Reign, and the LA Galaxy.

“Yaamava’ has been an incredible partner through the years and this extended partnership represents an exciting new chapter for our team as we continue to grow the sport of hockey throughout Southern California. We look forward to the positive impacts we’ll be able to make in the communities we both call home and the countless moments we’ll continue to share together both on and off the ice,” said LA Kings President and Hall of Famer Luc Robitaille.

“Our long-standing partnership with Yaamava’ has been instrumental in helping us deliver the ultimate game day experience to our guests. We look forward to this next step in our partnership and continuing our work together to create many more years of lasting memories for our fans,” Tom Braun, President of Business Operations and Chief Operating Officer of the LA Galaxy, said.

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Over the years, Yaamava’ and AEG have dedicated their efforts to giving back to Southern California communities, with a special focus on uplifting residents of the Inland Empire where Yaamava’ is based. Their joint efforts have included impactful LA Kings and LA Galaxy youth clinics, numerous LA Kings events in partnership with community partners such as the Inland Empire Ronald McDonald House and the Boys and Girls Club Inland Empire, school beautification projects for the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians Elementary School and others, and most recently the creation of an all-inclusive playground built to help end play space inequality for youth in San Bernardino.

idPair Inc., an award-winning provider of safer gaming technology, announced the upcoming launch of The National Voluntary Self-Exclusion Program (NVSEP). Pending all regulatory and other necessary approvals, the program will launch in New England in summer 2024 and expand west and south in the following months.

This initiative is guided by two concepts: (1) Individuals needing seamless access to a National Voluntary Self-Exclusion list irrespective of geographical location; and (2) alignment of data sets for a single portal of current regulatory information and evolving public health resources.

Marlene Warner, CEO of the Massachusetts Council on Gaming and Health (MACGH), said: “A national program has been needed for a long time, and I am thrilled that New England has the potential to lead the way with this remarkable step forward to a more seamless approach to Voluntary Self-Exclusion. With the National VSE Program, individuals will soon have a unified platform for seeking help and support across the entire United States and receiving up to date information as it’s needed. I encourage all state gaming regulators to join this initiative to provide a stronger safety net for consumers.”

Dr. Michelle Malkin, Director of the Gambling Research and Policy Initiative (GRPI) at East Carolina University, said: “Conducting research on voluntary-self exclusion (VSE) has shown that the process can be confusing for those seeking help, especially if they are looking to VSE across multiple jurisdictions. Having an opportunity to engage with the tool using a single process across states will assist those using VSE as a deterrent to gamble and will help make VSE easier to understand which may increase engagement.”

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“States do not have to change the terms of their individual programs to join NVSEP, a key detail that solves a problem that had held back this advancement in player protection for so long. The current state programs will coexist with the new option, giving consumers the flexibility to exclude from as many or as few states and products as they choose, including both land-based and online gambling. While current self-exclusion protections don’t travel, people do, and we look forward to working with more states to use technology to provide a more comprehensive level of protection for those who need it most,” Jonathan Aiwazian, CEO of idPair, said.

Jennifer Shatley, a recognized expert in the field and a highly sought speaker and advisor, has joined the Responsible Online Gaming Association (ROGA) as Executive Director.

Shatley has had 25+ years worth of experience, working closely with the treatment community, academics, researchers, government bodies, state councils, and gaming industry representatives to promote responsible gaming.

“Many of America’s largest legal mobile gaming operators will be establishing a framework that helps to aid in responsible gaming education and awareness. By coming together with a clear set of objectives, ROGA and our members will work to enhance consumer protections and help provide easier and more efficient access to responsible gaming tools for consumers to enjoy the entertainment of online gaming,” Shatley said.