Located 35 miles north of Miami and utilising the Live! brand, the 223-acre project’s goal is to create a “world-class destination” by bringing together entertainment, dining, hotel, retail, residential, office and lifestyle amenities alongside Harrah’s Pompano Beach casino. 

“It’s incredibly exciting for The Cordish Companies to continue advancing this game-changing project with our partners at Caesars Entertainment,” noted Blake Cordish, Principal of The Cordish Companies. 

“The Pomp represents one of the most dynamic opportunities for placemaking in the United States. There is no comparable development in South Florida that combines casino gaming with best-in-class entertainment, retail, dining, hotel, residential, office and lifestyle amenities into one dynamic destination.

“With Live! as an anchor, we are creating a high-energy dining and entertainment hub that will attract millions of new visitors from across the region and beyond.”

Live! at The Pomp is built on the site of the former Pompano Park racetrack. The space will be broken down into “1.3 million square feet of retail and entertainment space, 4,000 luxury residential units, two hotels and 1.35 million square feet of Class A office space”.

Anthony Carano, President and COO of Caesars Entertainment, added: “We are completely reimagining what this area of South Florida looks like for residents and visitors to Pompano Beach with The Pomp and Live! through our partnership with The Cordish Companies. 

“Building off the success of our newly remodelled and rebranded Harrah’s Pompano Beach casino, we are committed to delivering a one-of-a-kind entertainment and lifestyle destination, unlike anything in South Florida, that will provide the best in gaming, world-class amenities and attract new visitors to the dynamic area.”

Live! at The Pomp will have more than 25,000 square feet of food and beverage venues, including a Sports & Social and PBR Cowboy Bar.

These venues will open onto a central plaza featuring “live music and entertainment, family-friendly events, cultural celebrations, festivals, new-to-market special events, social activities and experiences, additional dining options, and more”.

The development will also have a Topgolf location, a venue for “point-scoring golf games in an energetic and fun environment” which is expected to open in late 2023.

“The City of Pompano Beach is delighted to have Caesars and Cordish partner on this incredible project,” stated Pompano Beach Mayor Rex Hardin.

“Caesars is known for their energetic gaming destinations, and Cordish has a successful track record of developing and operating dynamic mixed-use properties that spur community revitalization. 

“The Pomp and Live! will not only attract millions of visitors to our city annually, it will also create thousands of jobs for Pompano Beach and South Florida residents, leaving a lasting positive impact on our city and region.”

Elsewhere in the state of Florida, Cordish was the original development partner of the Seminole Tribe of Florida for Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood and Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa.

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Moderated by Dan Phillips, CEO at NEL Advisory, the panel, which was sponsored by Evolution Services SA, considered whether online casino was now making inroads into a market that has traditionally favoured sports betting and number games.

Sean Coleman, CEO of the South Africa Bookmakers Association, said: “A lot of online operators in markets such as Nigeria, Ghana and Zambia, have been offering casino games for a long time. 

“In South Africa, in the last six to eight months, we’ve seen a seismic shift away from racing, sports and lucky numbers partly due to COVID, yes, but due to live-dealer and certain RNG games now being permitted under a recent new interpretation of the regulations.”

Jason Roberts, COO at Betty Bingo, added: “The market here and the regulated environment is very complex and different to what you see in the UK and Europe. 

“In South Africa, infrastructure is key – the tech is generally more accessible than in many African markets so live has grown,” said Roberts.

“But trust is also an issue locally, so there is some distrust of RNG and there’s a huge amount of education required. The distrust just comes from a lack of awareness of those games. Indeed, RNG games should not be written off, they can be a really cost-effective means of entering a market.” 

Dean Finder, CEO of Evolution Services SA, pointed out that many new entrants don’t realise what a complex and highly regulated market exists in the jurisdiction. “Lots of overseas operators come to South Africa and don’t realise that we have nine provincial gambling boards while the national board is really just an oversight body,” said Finder.

“I think live dealer and online casino is now taking off at a rapid rate, with COVID a huge catalyst,” he continued. “In the last six-to-seven months growth has been incredibly rapid,” said Finder. 

“What’s interesting is how the traditionally strong horse race betting sector has been diminished by wider sports betting. Then numbers games came in and took up to 50 per cent of turnover. 

“Now, live dealer games are cannibalising what went before. Live dealer appeals to millennials and will continue to take off, partly because it is not gender biased. Female bettors have largely been an unseen and unserved market.”

Offering a perspective from a European gaming company that has made great progress in African markets, Richard Hogg, CCO at Betgames.tv, stressed that “trust and regulation are both very important to growth. 

“There’s a few South African sites with a lot of casino games that have no license or a license from Curacao – I don’t know how or why their games are there but I suspect the regulators in South Africa will cotton on and we will see lots of change. And this will help build that trust.”

Asked about a large European game developer seeking to launch a great new slot in Africa, Hogg was optimistic. “When I go into a retail outlet in Africa, it’s male dominated. In casinos, you see a lot of female players – and in terms of online games, we see very different results. I think there’s a player base available for most brands.”

Betty Bingo’s Roberts offered a cautionary note to new entrants. “On the regulatory side, as a European, I thought we’d be live in 10 countries in two years and it’s just not that simple. The markets are completely different and throwing money at it isn’t going to fix it. 

“Getting the regulatory process started as early as possible is key. You need people on the ground locally, you need local advice and relationships with local regulators. Doing that in multiple markets simultaneously is almost impossible,” said Roberts.

“Pick your markets, do your homework, pick a local partner and don’t just flood the market. Take your time, learn and invest as you go.”

Finder agreed that new entrants need to understand that the African markets do not offer ‘quick money’. “You will need to pay your fees and you will need to learn what it is all about. But the key to that success is don’t be afraid to outsource so you can focus on your core function.”

SBC Digital Summit Africa (6 – 7 October 2020) is the leading virtual conference and exhibition for the African betting and gaming industry. It features more than 60 expert speakers sharing insights and ideas about the future of markets across Africa, with all 17 conference sessions available both live and on-demand. 

Delegates can also enjoy a programme of networking roundtables and an interactive product display area showcasing the latest industry innovations. Click here to register for your free pass.

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Based in Greece, Stoiximan/Betano, is the country’s leading sportsbook and casino operator. The group currently operates under the Betano brand in six European countries, including Portugal and Romania.

Sebastian Johannisson, chief commercial officer at Evolution, said: “We are very excited to be working with Stoiximan, not least because of its leading position in Greece, which we believe is a healthy market with strong growth potential.

“Additionally, this deal is focused on the exciting opportunities to enrich the group’s Betano-branded live gaming offerings in other key European markets, both today and in the future as the Betano brand extends its reach.”

The deal sees Evolution’s full suite of live casino games — including game-show brands like Deal or No Deal Live – being made available to the Group’s brands and its players.

John Kalamvokis, head of casino for Stoiximan/Betano Group, added: “Our platform is exclusively designed to provide top quality product and services to our customers.

“Evolution Gaming is a natural addition to our game portfolio, not simply because of the quality of the Evolution games but also because of their extensive experience of delivering live casino services across a wide range of European markets,” he said.

“This deal supports our group’s aim of international growth and its vision to become one of the top operators in Europe. We look forward to continue to grow together with Evolution.”

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Hulleman joins the Malta-based Authentic after nine years at Betsson, starting out as a customer service agent and rising to be managing director. In his new role, he will be responsible for driving growth and executing key strategic goals.

Podhorska-Okolow joined Authentic in 2017, since when she has been instrumental in securing new operator partners for the provider. She will continue to do this as CCO while also taking a more direct role in commercial side of the business.

Welcome the appointments, Jonas Delin, CEO of Authentic Gaming, said: “As we scale up our product and service offering and continue to rapidly move through our roadmap, the company needs strong leadership within the commercial team and Melvin and Magdalena will provide this.

“We want to execute our growth plans successfully but also want to ensure that our partners are properly looked after and receive the attention and support they deserve. This will allow them to grow with us as the popularity of live roulette continues to rise.”

Melvin Hulleman, head of account management at Authentic Gaming, said: “I am honoured to join the talented Authentic Game team and look forward to working with their operator partners closely as the business continues to evolve and grow.”

Magdalena Podhorska-Okolow, CCO at Authentic Gaming, added: “I am thrilled to have been promoted to the position of Chief Commercial Officer and I am excited by the challenge of playing a more direct role in the future of the Authentic Gaming business.”

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Firstly Travis Lamb, who most recently served as executive vice president and general manager of the Live! Casino and Hotel in Hanover, Maryland, has been promoted to a new role of chief financial officer for Cordish Gaming Group, the company’s international gaming division.

Succeeding Lamb in his previous position is Anthony Faranca, with both appointments, which are effective immediately, coming as The Cordish Companies prepares for a period of growth via the addition of two new gaming properties.

Both being developed in Pennsylvania, Cordish is to add the Live! Casino & Hotel in Philadelphia and Live! Casino in Westmoreland County to its portfolio, with the company’s Maryland entity also putting the finishing touches on a significant expansion of its event centre, which will accommodate up to 4,000 seats upon completion.

David Cordish, chairman of The Cordish Companies, commented: “We are incredibly fortunate as a company to have a leader as skilled and knowledgeable as Travis, and we’re pleased to elevate him to a position where he can have even greater impact on the growth of our gaming ventures in both Maryland and Pennsylvania.

“We are also thrilled to have a gaming executive as experienced as Anthony on board, and know he will be a fantastic addition to our flagship property in Maryland.”

Coming complete with in excess of 25 years casino gaming industry experience, in his new position Lamb is to be responsible for overseeing the planning, implementation and management of all the financial activities of the company’s gaming projects, including the newest ventures in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.

Faranca, who also boasts over 25 years experience, is to assume oversight of the day-to-day management and operations “of one of the largest commercial casinos in the country”.

Rob Norton, president of Cordish Gaming Group, added: “During this exciting time, it is our primary focus to place attention on the projects at hand, while continuing to deliver the same level of excellent customer service that our guests have come to expect at Live! Casino and Hotel.

“These appointments not only strengthen our corporate gaming division, but also position us to enhance the results of our existing operations, while pursuing development in other gaming jurisdictions.”

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The tournament for the hugely popular Evolution Gaming product Monopoly Live Dream Catcher Edition is now available within the BetConstruct Gaming Suite, which includes a comprehensive range of slots, live casino products and skill games.

As well as the new Live Casino tournament, BetConstruct continues to run a huge number of such competitions, enabling its operators to attract more players and provide them with outstanding opportunities to win life-changing amounts of cash.

Edgar Mkrtchyan, gaming group product manager of BetConstruct, said: “Not only do we equip our operators with award-winning solutions, but we also help them to achieve further success in their business.

“Frequent tournaments and jackpots are a part of our strategy to deliver an extraordinary experience for partners and their players.”

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The agreement sees the Vivo 2019 Live Dealer Experience – with the new main studios located in Bulgaria – becoming part of the WeAreCasino portfolio of premium products.

Alfredo Malespin, VP and account manager at Vivo Gaming, said: “I’m very excited to have WeAreCasino in our partner family, they’re known by its innovation in the slots industry with their Slot Builder and their agile platform to integrate clients, we think is a perfect fit to expand our operation.”

WeAreCasino will also include the Tom Horn Gaming portfolio with the latest releases Sherlock: A Scandal in Bohemia and the new Inca’s Treasure.

Marko Jelen, sales director at WeAreCasino, said: “We think the HTML5 live dealer games operation from Vivo Gaming and the Tom Horn Gaming video slots will make a big impact in our customers revenue, their latest features in live dealer like the multi-camera games and the dedicated native dealers will enhance the player experience.”

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Through this deal, BetConstruct’s wide casino gaming catalogue will be enhanced further with over 20 live dealer tables in Spanish, Turkish and Chinese.

It has been described by BetConstruct as a “win-win partnership”, providing a unique opportunity for both sides to create a significant impact in geolocated gaming.

“Our goal is to provide the best possible product to our operator,” added Edgar Mkrtchyan, gaming group product manager for BetConstruct. “We are glad to partner with Vivo Gaming and add their cross-platform slots and live casino games to our gaming suite.”

“It has been a long road for both companies as we take this alliance very seriously, therefore we’re confident all the players will benefit from an outstanding live gaming experience,” said Leo Tinoco, VP of Vivo Gaming.

The news comes just a week after the online gaming and sports betting software provider introduced two new online games, Farkle and Keno, to attract higher revenues for its growing number of partner operators.

The version of Keno guarantees a 95 to 98 per cent return to player, while Farkle is an attractive dice game played worldwide that “ideally fits” the BetConstruct skill games collection.

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The deal sees Golden Palace’s online players become the first in Belgium to gain access to the supplier’s Authentic Roulette games, Casino Floor Roulette product and its Live ARENA games via Authentic’s Malta studio.

Jonas Delin, CEO of Authentic Gaming, said: “We are thrilled to have signed an agreement to provide Golden Palace with our suite of innovative and exciting live roulette games, allowing them to offer their players something different and exclusive.

“Our strategy is to enter regulated markets with the most prestigious and established operators in each. This deal marks the ninth such market we have entered, and we look forward to a long and successful partnership with Golden Palace.”

Anne-Laure Bousseau, head of online at Golden Palace, said: “We have a good brand and presence in Belgium, both land-based and online. Thanks to Authentic Gaming, we can now bridge the gap between both, which adds significant value to our gaming services.

“Authentic Gaming’s live roulette games and products are a cut above the rest and deliver a truly compelling and unique experience, and we are excited to be able to offer that to our players ahead of our competitors.”

Live ARENA includes the supplier’s flagship Blaze Roulette – a classic roulette game with a game-show format that includes an LED-lit game table and a presenter and TV-style production. Golden Palace also gains access to the LIVE banners video marketing tool to promote live casino across its website or on external affiliate sites.

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DraftKings launched online sports betting services in New Jersey in August of last year. Following the fall of the US Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act earlier in 2018, The operator became the first to offer legal online and mobile sports betting in the Garden State.

The DFS operator already offer daily fantasy contests on 11 professional sports in eight countries, including Australia, Canada, the UK and the US.

The DraftKings sportsbook offer in New Jersey, based out of Atlantic City, allows players in the state to place bets on major US and international sports.

James Stern, chief business officer for America and land-based at Evolution, said: “DraftKings is a young and dynamic company that has blazed a trail in recent years with its best-in-class technology and extensive knowledge of sports.

“DraftKings was first to market in New Jersey with online sports betting, just a couple of months after filing for its licence with the New Jersey regulators. We very much look forward to working on this project.”

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