Back in February, one of the leading online casino content developers Playtech announced that it will be extending and further strengthening its partnership deal with the Mansion Group Limited firm. At the time, the long-term partnership deal between the two companies has been extended by another five years. Just recently, British online sports betting and gaming company has further strengthened its business relationship with Mansion Group.

According to the terms and conditions of this business deal, Playtech’s advanced, innovative sportsbook products will be launched with the Mansion Group’s Casino.com brand. Needless to say, this digital sportsbook deal further enriches the long-term, fruitful business relationship between the two companies. If not renewed, the deal remains active in Italy and the United Kingdom until 2025.

Playtech Going Strong Since 1999

As one of the longest-standing companies of this kind, Playtech is among the leaders in the industry. With almost six thousand employees in nineteen countries, Playtech is operational across many different regulated online and mobile gaming markets. Throughout its existence, Playtech has won numerous prestigious awards including the Game of the Year 2018 by for its iconic Age of the Gods among others.

Over the years, the company has also partnered with a number of prominent companies and operators active in the iGaming industry and one of those is Mansion Group. Mansion Group was founded in 2004 which means it is also among long-standing companies of this kind. This privately-owned company enjoys a great global reputation as one of the most innovative and most trusted names in the online casino gaming industry.

Today, the company’s most iconic brands include Casino.com, Slots Heaven, and MansionCasino. The company also operates the MansionBet sportsbook. After enriching its business partnership deal with Playtech, the Gibraltar-based iGaming operator will add sports betting solutions and products by Playtech to its Casino.com brand. This will the very first stage. In the second stage of the business deal, Mansion Group will add Playtech’s Virtual Sports offering that today features the most technologically-advanced game graphics for many different sports including tennis, horse racing, football, and basketball.

Playtech’s Leading Innovations

Commenting on the company’s business deal with Playtech, Mansion Group’s Chief Executive Officer Karel Manasco said that his company is very delighted to start the second stage of the launch which as previously mentioned will extend Playtech’s sports betting to another Mansion Group brand its MansionCasino. The integration is scheduled for this year.

Playtech’s Chief Operating Officer Shimon Akad said in one of his official press releases that his company is delighted to remain working alongside Mansion Group especially as Mansion Group remains one of the leaders in the market. He also added that his company’s deal with the Gibraltar-based firm is just a further step towards the evolution of the companies’ long-term business partnership. Mr. Akad finished his official press release by saying that Playtech is super excited to be part of Mansion Group’s growth by supporting them in crafting and delivering a more engaging and more personalized player experience.

Besides extending its partnership deal with Mansion Group, Playtech has also recently partnered with two major Greece-based iGaming operators, Stoiximan/Betano. Under the terms and conditions of this business deal, Playtech will launch its Cashback Blackjack Live and Live Blackjack variants across the operators’ websites.

Some exciting changes are taking place at the popular Meadows Racetrack and Casino facility including renovations and the addition of a sportsbook. As it was reported recently, the venue is currently undergoing renovations and other changes as it adds its very first sportsbook. Big sections of the venue are currently being closed according to one Pittsburgh Post-Gazette report.

The Vice lounge closed its doors several weeks ago ahead of the major renovation and construction of a brand-new sportsbook facility located within the casino. Then, the facility’s food court was also closed in July for the installation of a brand-new, restaurant concept led by Fabio Viviani. When it comes to the casino floor, it will also undergo major change including a complete reconfiguration of the slot machines which is set for the following week.

The gaming floor should be renovated completely by November. When it comes to the Headliners lounge, it will probably close its doors to the public in October. The renovation of this section will last for three months as it includes making major renovations such as adding new seating.

Applied for a Sportsbook License in July

Following on the news, the Meadows Racetrack and Casino’s general manager and spokesperson Tony Frabbiele said that renovations that are currently taking place are touching every part of the non-gaming and gaming floor. He also added that the casino’s fully renovated areas will offer a whole another level of entertainment to its customers. The casino’s officials filed for a necessary sportsbook license with the state’s Gaming Control Board on the 3^rd of July.

The main plan for this section is to keep the facility’s massive bar section and to install some new, modern seating, multiple TV screens and eventually add five teller cages. However, the facility’s officials still have to make a full presentation to Pennsylvania’s Gaming Control Board and if approved, they have to pay a fine of around $10 million. If approved, all of the newly added gaming equipment will be tested to make sure that everything is operating as expected.

Obtained a Gambling License in 2006

The Meadows Racetrack and Casino complex is located around twenty-five miles from Pittsburg in North Strabane Township. The facility is operated by Penn National Gaming and owned by Gaming and Leisure Properties. The very first facility of the Meadows Racetrack and Casino complex was established in 1962. It was a massive racing track that was operated by the prominent Washington Trotting Association. The Meadows Racetrack and Casino introduced major technological advancements in years to come.

When it comes to the company’s casino business, the Meadows Racetrack and Casino filed for a gambling license to Pennsylvania’s Gaming Control Board in 2006 two years after the state’s officials passed gambling legislation. The Meadows was just one of several facilities to file for their gaming licenses. The company broke ground for its very first casino facility on the 16^th of November, 2006. The casino opened its doors on the 11^th of June, 2007.

That same year, the Meadows Racetrack and Casino held a big ceremony to mark the start of the grandstand removal that was necessary in order to clear area for the permanent gambling facility which opened on the 15^th of April, 2009 while the temporary facility closed its doors. Some of the amenities featured here include a massive 350,000 square foot casino floor with more than three thousand slot machines alongside café restaurants, a food court, steakhouse, VIP boxes, a massive bowling center and more.

As it seems by the latest news, legal sportsbetting could arrive at the state of Iowa in mid-August in the case of the state’s gaming regulator approving the laws and rules which will govern its sportsbetting industry. The meeting at which the state regulator’s officials will discuss the subject is set to take place in several days. What already happen is the state of Iowa becoming one of several US states to legalize sportsbetting this year.

Considering the fact that launching of the very first Iowa-based sportsbook this year is subject to a single regulatory approval, the state of Iowa is about to outpace its neighborhood Illinois in the start of betting on sports events both online and at land-based gambling facilities. As it was reported last month, the Governor of the state of Illinois, Mr. Pritzker signed a proposed gaming bill into law last month. With this move, the state of Illinois authorized the provision of multiple sportsbetting activities within the state’s borders.

Iowa’s Governor Kim Reynolds was the one who paved the way to legal sportbetting in the state after signing a bill into law in May this year. This law legalized wagering on college and professional leagues at both online and land-based casinos. As mentioned at the beginning, the mid-August start of the very first sportsbook in the state depends on whether the state’s Racing and Gaming Commission approves the rules proposed or not.

Technical Corrections and Modifications

There was a public hearing held on the 11^th of July and it saw specific technical corrections and modifications made to the basic draft rules. All in all, these changes made are believed to the fully ready for consideration by the state’s gambling regulator as reported by the Racing and Gaming Commission’s Administrator Brian Ohorilko several days ago.

After Senate File 617, regarding the proposed gambling bill was signed into law, all of the major betting operators started eyeing the state’s gambling market expansion. With the bill signed into law, all of the state’s legally operating land-based casinos are allowed to offer both digital and in-person sportsbetting activities and services. Iowa-based bettors will be allowed legally to place real-money wagers on the majority of college and professional sports as long as these events do not include Iowa-based college teams.

The State of Iowa Legalizing Fantasy Sports

In addition to legalizing online and in-person sportsbetting activities, the state of Iowa also legalized fantasy sports as part of its latest expansion. Eighteen out of nineteen land-based casinos which operate in the state have already applied for their sportsbetting gaming licenses with Iowa’s gambling regulator. The only property which has not applied, at least not yet is Casino Queen Marquette. The regulator’s Administrator Mr. Ohorilko believed that Queen Marquette will apply eventually.

As mentioned at the beginning, is the state’s Racing and Gaming Commission approves the most recently proposed betting rules, the very first Iowa-based sportsbook will go live on the 15th of August. With the approved betting rules, the gambling facilities will be also allowed to partner with third-party companies. Naturally, these third-party companies will also have to apply for their gaming licenses with the state’s gaming regulator to be able to offer their services within the state’s borders.

Presque Isle Downs and Casino has recently test-launched its sportsbook on the 24^th of July. With this sportsbook, the venue is about to turn into the most recently launched sportsbetting facility in Pennsylvania’s gambling space. Moreover, the property is also about to prepare a mandatory, two days-lasting testing period of its sportsbook wagering operations. This process will naturally be inspected by the state’s Gaming Control Board.

The casino will hold its limited sportsbook opening on Wednesday starting at 4 pm at a local time until Thursday midnight local time. In the case of the state’s Gaming Control Board approving this testing period, the sportsbook will probably open its doors to the public permanently on the 26^th of July which is Friday. It should be noted that Presque Isle Downs and Casino gained the green light to conduct this kind of betting from the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board in February this year.

Nonetheless, unlike other gaming facilities of this kind that went live with their sportsbetting activities shortly after receiving their state’s regulatory approval, this facility took some more time to build, manage and finally launch its sportsbook. Similarly to other gambling facilities which are owned by Churchill Downs Inc., Presque Isle Downs and Casino will also operate a prominent BetAmerica sportsbook.

History of Presque Isle Downs & Casino

Presque Isle Downs and Casino is a gambling facility which also features a massive horse track. It is owned and managed by the Churchill Downs Inc. company as of recently when Churchill Downs Inc. purchased the facility for around $180 million. Originally, Presque Isle Downs and Casino was opened by MRT Gaming Group at the 28th of February 2007 after two years after the company purchased the ground for the new gambling facility.

The casino became operational that same year in August. The casino was owned and operated by Eldorado Resorts which sold the facility to Churchill Downs. Currently, the gambling facility includes more than 1,600 slot machines. In terms of its gaming revenue, it is split between the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the operator. The casino’s revenue generated from table games goes to Pennsylvania’s local government and the general fund.

Planning a Grand Opening Ceremony in August

When it comes to the facility’s sportsbook, the casino is planning to host a grandeur opening ceremony on the 8th of August which is when the NFL returns with its pre-season games. It is also worth mentioning that the Presque Isle Downs and Casino sportsbook occupies a massive, 1,275-square-foot area that previously featured hundreds of slot machines. These slot machines were actually relocated to other areas of the casino.

As previously mentioned, the casino’s sportsbook will be operated under the prominent BetAmerica-branded name while it will be powered by the SBTech software. Besides launching its sportsbook, Presque Isle Downs and Casino will also open around fifty self-betting kiosks with half of these being located outside of the gambling facility in other areas. What is even more, the sportsbook area will be smoke-free while some of the sportsbetting kiosks located in other areas of the facility are not smoke-free. It is also worth mentioning that the casino revealed its plans about opening both mobile and online betting, but these activities will become available to players sometime later.

Sportsbook operator and online casino facility, Kindred Group has just announced that sportsbetting fans and enthusiasts located in New Jersey can invest real-money wagers on an impressive range of sports at NJ.Unibet.com. At the moment, Kindred Group which is formerly known as Unibet Group includes eleven different brands and among them Maria Casino, Unibet, iGame and 32Red.

The company is focused on offering all sorts of products and services to fans of online casino games and sportsbetting including online casino facilities, sportsbook platforms as well as online bingo and online poker websites. While the company is currently registered in Malta, it has offices in the United States, Stockholm, London, Gibraltar as well as smaller offices across Australia and Europe.

Going Strong Since 1997

Kindred Group has been present in the industry for more than twenty years as it opened its virtual doors in 1997. Some of the most important events for the company took place in 2011 and 2012 when Unibet gained one of forty-eight licensed for the Danish, newly regulated market. The next year was important as well when Unibet finally acquired a popular Danish sportsbook, Bet24. The next year, Unibet moved its online poker operations from the MPN networks to its independent poker website.

The very next year in April, Unibet signed another important deal this time with Thunderkick which made the platform the very first brand of this kind to include Thunderkick-powered games on its website. Later on, the company also purchased www.bingo.com domain for $8 million. The company’s acquisition trail continued in the following years as well including the acquisition of StanJames.com in 2015 and 32Red Plc in 2017.

Kindred Launching NJ.Unibet.com

The Maltese company in its official press announcement released by European Gaming Media and Events celebrated the recently-launched NJ online sportsbook which is powered by technologies from Scientific Games Corporation, Kambi Group, and Mazooma Incorporated. The platform comes packed with loads of first-class sportsbetting actions offered in a completely safe, reliable and secure gaming environment.

The company is already running numerous Ireland and United Kingdom-facing sportsbetting domains and online casinos while its recent actions mark its very first launch into the online casino industry of The Garden State. Following the announcement, the company’s Senior Vice-President Manuel Stan stated that Kindred has been preparing for this big step for a long time.

He also added that the establishment of NJ.Unibet.com actually represented another important step into what is likely to turn into the biggest betting market globally speaking. Thanks to the company’s latest efforts regarding the New Jersey gambling market, customers residing in this area can finally enjoy all sorts of thrilling online gambling adventures offered on a high-class technology platform.

Manuel Stan also added that this is the very first establishment in a line of many more to come reserved for the market in the United States. It should be noted that the company has previously partnered with SG Digital which allows them to use the Open Gaming System and Open Platform System while its Kambi partnership gives the company access to all sorts of other technologically-advanced sportsbetting-related services and products in New Jersey. In fact, Kambi and Kindred have a successful history together which both companies intend to nourish further and there is no better way of doing so than empowering the United States sportsbetting market together.