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AFC Wimbledon Become the Latest Club to Back The Big Step Campaign

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AFC Wimbledon has become the fifth English league club to take a stand against gambling advertising in football by signing up for The Big Step campaign.

Johnnie Jackson, manager of AFC Wimbledon, said: “If you look at gambling and the damage it causes – the stats around suicides in particular – it’s touched a lot of people and probably more than we realise.

“The fact that so many people voted it through shows just how prevalent the problems around it are and how much people are affected by it, whether it’s themselves or the people around them. The more awareness around gambling you can create, the better.”

Tom Fleming, Communications Manager at Gambling with Lives and The Big Step, said: “We’re thrilled to have the backing of Wimbledon and their owners – the fans. Gambling advertising is unhealthy and unpopular so the Club’s decision is welcome good news, following the sharp rise in high-profile players harmed by gambling. We’re sure that if it were down to the fans of each club, no club would partner with a gambling company.

“Despite young fans being bombarded with relentless gambling adverts while watching their heroes, this year has shown that football is incapable of self-regulating. We still hope the government will take control and end gambling advertising in football, but in the meantime it’s so important that clubs like AFC Wimbledon have taken a stand to protect their fans.”

The announcement comes at a time when gambling’s relationship with football is under increasing scrutiny, following the high-profile cases of players including Ivan Toney, Harry Toffolo, Sandro Tonali and Lucas Paqueta – all are either under investigation or serving a ban for breaking gambling regulations.

Michele Little, Dons Trust Board member, said: “As a club at the heart of our community, we are committed to being a force for good. We took the decision some time ago not to accept gambling advertising or sponsorship as a club. Now with the backing of our owners – the fans – we’re signing up to The Big Step and saying that it’s time to end the harm that gambling advertising in football causes.”

The Big Step campaign is part of Gambling with Lives, a charity set up by families bereaved by gambling-related suicide. A 2023 Office for Health Improvement and Disparities study estimated there are up to 496 suicides related to gambling every year in England alone.

Earlier this year, the Premier League announced it will phase-out front-of-shirt gambling sponsors by the 2026/27 season. But a government whitepaper on gambling reform, published in April, took no action on gambling advertising in football despite a recent study finding that up to 3500 gambling logos were visible during a single televised Premier League game – only 7% were on the front of shirts.

Another study found that fans received 11,000 gambling messages during the opening weekend of the Premier League season in August.

The Club will work in partnership with Gambling with Lives to promote preventative messages and information, as well as provide training and education about the risks of gambling in the community.

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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