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Flutter’s Sky Bet and EFL Launch Transformational “Building Foundations” Football Fund

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Flutter Entertainment’s leading UK sports betting brand Sky Bet, the title partner of the English Football League (EFL), and the EFL are launching the “Building Foundations” Fund to provide £6m of vital funding for community projects across England and Wales.

The “Building Foundations” Fund represents the largest multi-year sponsor-backed fund dedicated solely to community activity and will give the 72 EFL clubs a chance to bid for grants of up to £100,000 to invest in ongoing programmes or to develop new initiatives.

From the current 2023/24 season, Sky Bet will invest £1 million per year into the Fund. A panel of industry experts, including Sky Bet ambassador Jeff Stelling, will agree the winning bids across a range of categories, such as improving local sporting facilities or promoting the physical and social benefits of the game. To mark the start of the “Building Foundations” Fund, Club Community Organisations (CCOs) at each of the 72 EFL Clubs will have the opportunity to spend an initial £10,000 grant.

Dan Colton, Managing Director at Sky Bet, said: “We’re incredibly proud of our long-standing partnership with the EFL – it’s a relationship that has gone from strength to the strength over the past decade and we wanted to raise the bar further still with the ‘Building Foundations’ Fund. The Fund is a core pillar of our new agreement with the EFL and we’re very excited to see the impact the £6 million will have on such important projects across England and Wales.”

EFL chair Rick Parry said: “Unrestricted funding for community activity on this scale is hard to find and presents an exciting opportunity for EFL clubs to further enhance the impact in the areas they are located. We are extremely grateful to Sky Bet for its ongoing support to the professional game in this country and this new investment via the ‘Building Foundations’ Fund will create a long-lasting legacy for the EFL and Sky Bet partnership.”

Jeff Stelling, former Sky Sports Soccer Saturday lead presenter, said: “Everybody knows my love of the English Football League. I also know all too well how lower league clubs and the communities around them struggle for financial support. I’m delighted to play a part in the ‘Building Foundations’ Fund and I truly believe it presents a great opportunity to make a real difference.”

Former Leicester City, Liverpool and England star Emile Heskey joined Sky Bet Managing Director Dan Colton and EFL chair Rick Parry at Barnsley’s 3G pitch to meet participants from its walking football programme, an existing community scheme for over 35’s that will benefit from the 2023/24 funding.

Blackburn Rovers plan to use the initial £10,000 to grow its “Remember the Rovers” programme which holds weekly sessions at Ewood Park, bringing people living with dementia together, who may otherwise be in social isolation, through the power of footballing memories.

Ameristar Casino Hotel Council Bluffs

PENN Entertainment Announces Plans for New Land-Based Hollywood Casino to Replace Riverboat Gaming Operations in Council Bluffs, Iowa

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PENN Entertainment Inc. announced plans for an expected $180–$200 million project to relocate its Ameristar Casino Hotel Council Bluffs (Ameristar) riverboat casino operations to a new, state-of-the-art land-based property to be rebranded as Hollywood Casino Council Bluffs (Hollywood Council Bluffs). The proposal is approved by the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission in conjunction with a 15-year extension of Ameristar’s partnership with the nonprofit Qualified Sponsoring Organization (QSO) Iowa West Racing Association. All commercial operators in Iowa are required to have an operating agreement with a QSO licensed to conduct gaming operations.

Under the proposed plan, the new Hollywood Council Bluffs is expected to include roughly 125,000 square feet of new development with approximately 58,000 square feet of gaming space. The new facility will complement the existing ESPN BET sportsbook, 160-room hotel and dining options in the landside portion of the current infrastructure. The existing riverboat, which presently offers gaming spread out over three levels, will be vacated upon opening of the new property.

“We are pleased to add another landside relocation to our pipeline of development projects. This project will enhance the quality and efficiency of our Council Bluffs location and significantly improve the property’s competitive positioning in the greater Omaha market. PENN’s diversified portfolio of casino properties is core to our omni-channel approach to entertainment, which combines our best-in-class retail operations and a database of more than 32 million PENN Play members with our robust interactive and media footprint. We thank the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission for their approval today and are grateful for the continued collaboration with our partners at the Iowa West Racing Association,” said Todd George, Executive Vice President of Operations for PENN.

“We are thrilled with the exciting development plans for the new Hollywood Casino Council Bluffs. For nearly thirty years, the Ameristar riverboat has been providing not only dining and entertainment, but thousands of jobs and millions of dollars in support of our community. PENN’s commitment to reinvesting in Council Bluffs is laudable and we are grateful for our ongoing partnership,” said Brenda Mainwaring, President & CEO of the Iowa West Racing Association.

Construction of the new facility is expected to take approximately 18-24 months following the design and permitting approval process. The Company is entitled to obtain financing for the project from Gaming and Leisure Properties Inc. (GLPI) of up to $150 million at a 7.10% cap rate, which may be structured at PENN’s option as either rent or a 5-year term loan that is pre-payable at any time without penalty.

The post PENN Entertainment Announces Plans for New Land-Based Hollywood Casino to Replace Riverboat Gaming Operations in Council Bluffs, Iowa appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

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Daily Fantasy Sports

PrizePicks Teams Up with San Francisco Giants as Official DFS Partner

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PrizePicks, the largest daily fantasy sports operator in North America, announced that it has been named the Official Daily Fantasy Partner of the San Francisco Giants. The new partnership strengthens the DFS leader’s presence in professional baseball and features digital and in-park activations at Oracle Park.

“We are thrilled to team up with a legendary organization like the San Francisco Giants. PrizePicks is committed to bringing unique experiences to our players around the country and is excited to strengthen our connection with baseball fans in San Francisco and across the United States,” said Mike Quigley, Chief Marketing Officer at PrizePicks.

As part of the multi-year partnership, PrizePicks branding will be showcased prominently throughout Oracle Park with rotating signage behind home plate and LED signage on each baseline. PrizePicks logos will be featured across the K-Counter in right field, creating an interactive experience for fans in the ballpark. Fans seated on top of the right field wall near the strikeout counter will have the opportunity to flip over the PrizePicks branded signs, revealing a “K” for each strikeout earned by a Giants pitcher.

When Giants pitchers combine for 12 strikeouts in a home game, fans can participate in a text-to-enter promotion with the chance to win a $12,000 free PrizePicks lineup and tickets to a future Giants game at Oracle Park.

“The Giants are always looking for innovative ways to enhance the fan experience. Partnering with PrizePicks provides our fans with new ways to engage with us and deepen their connection to both the Giants and baseball,” said Jason Pearl, Chief Revenue Officer at the San Francisco Giants.

The post PrizePicks Teams Up with San Francisco Giants as Official DFS Partner appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

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Jason McCormick

Station Casinos to Launch its First STN Sportsbook at Treasure Island Las Vegas on the Strip

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Station Casinos, the leader in Nevada’s retail sportsbooks and mobile sports betting, has announced a new partnership with Treasure Island Las Vegas Hotel & Casino and will launch a brand-new STN Sportsbook inside the resort at The Golden Circle — the company’s first full-scale sportsbook on the famed Las Vegas Strip. Following final approval of Nevada Gaming Commission hearing, the new book will open April 29.

As part of this breakthrough partnership, Station Casinos brings its STN Sportsbook location to the Golden Circle. The 3089-square-foot book features 74 high-definition screens throughout the space, ranging from 55” to 85” displays, plus video walls providing immersive viewing of every sporting event. Sports enthusiasts will also enjoy a new eight-kiosk layout, convenient mobile sign-up stations for STN Sports accounts, and TI’s always- free parking.

“We couldn’t be more excited to embark on this historic partnership with Station Casinos. This collaboration underscores our commitment to providing exceptional hospitality and entertainment, now integrated with Station Casinos’ innovative approach to sports betting. The STN Sportsbook at Treasure Island will offer an unparalleled betting experience with cutting-edge technology and deluxe amenities, and we can’t wait to introduce it to our guests,” said Najam Khan, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Treasure Island.

This premium sportsbook experience will be seamlessly integrated with Treasure Island’s Golden Circle – a unique sportsbook in Las Vegas situated within a bar and restaurant that features an authentic sports museum. This distinctive atmosphere allows guests to enjoy premium food and beverage offerings as they become immersed in captivating sports memorabilia all while watching live sporting events.

“We are thrilled to be launching our first full-scale sportsbook operation on the Las Vegas Strip, and we are so grateful to the Nevada Gaming Control Board and Commission for granting this approval. Through this partnership with Treasure Island, we will be able to bring the energy, innovation, and hospitality of STN Sports to the property’s guests, and we are excited for the opportunity to further our commitment in providing the best sports betting experience across Nevada,” said Jason McCormick, Vice President of Race and Sports Operations.

Known for elevating the sports betting experience, the new STN Sportsbook at Treasure Island will bring new offerings to sports bettors on The Strip, including:

Wagering Enhancements – Bettors will enjoy increased betting options, higher betting limits, an expanded prop betting menu, and a comprehensive selection of betting leagues.

Premium Sportsbook Experiences – Special events will be hosted throughout the year, creating exciting opportunities for sports fans to engage with other bettors.

Vegas’ Favorite Sports Contests – The renowned “Last Man Standing” competitions with $300,000 in prize money, featuring contests for Pro Football, Pro College, and March Hoops

The new STN Sportsbook at Treasure Island will open on April 29, with additional event programming and offerings to be announced.

The post Station Casinos to Launch its First STN Sportsbook at Treasure Island Las Vegas on the Strip appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

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