Jamaica’s first-ever women’s bobsleigh team completes historic run
Jamaica’s first ever female bobsleigh team to compete in a Winter Olympics finished 19th out of 20 participating countries in the bobsleigh event in Pyeongchang, Korea Wednesday.The team totalled 3:24.94 to place one spot higher than the Nigerians who were also competing in a Winter Olympics for the first time.The Jamaican team ran into difficulty last week after their coach, German Sandra Kiriasis, a 2006 bobsleigh gold medal winner, left the Jamaican setup and took the team’s only sleigh which she said belonged to her.Kiriasis resigned after being reassigned to the role of track performance analyst from driving coach.Germany’s Mariama Jamanka and Lisa Buckwitz struck gold by beating USA by seven-hundredths of a second.The Germans, starting last in the final run, were behind America’s Elana Meyers Taylor and Lauren Gibbs in the upper sections before making up ground at the bottom to steal the title.Germany, with a cumulative winning time of 3min 22.45sec, held their fourth Olympic title in women’s bobsleigh to gain on the USA’s total of five.
She is also booked for Jamaica Fun in the Son at National Heroes’ Park in Kingston this Saturday, July 14. Minister Marion Hall has added some dancehall flavor to her sophomore gospel album, His Grace, which is available for pre-order at https://VPAL.lnk.to/HisGraceMinMarionHallE “After listening to it, I realized I needed something like dancehall on it” Hall said. “I looked to God for help and came up with a song called ‘Tun Back Christian’. A lot of people are in the church but don’t know how to be content and end up walking away from God. A lot of church folks, instead of encouraging them [they] chastise them, which doesn’t help the situation. The verses on this cut can sing along to, and I include a sinner’s prayer in there so you can ask God fi wash yuh off in His righteousness. There’s also the cut ‘Mighty God’… I think the wait will be worth it,” Hall told Jamaica Observer. “Those two are for the former Lady Saw fans.”The 17-track His Grace is self-produced on the Minister Marion Hall label and distributed by VPAL. The official release date is set for July 20.In addition to the title track, the set boasts I’m Gonna Fast, Overflow, Gave It All Up For Jesus, Walk On Water, All That’s Left, Dead Man Walking, Love Like This, The World Can See, My God Is Alive, That Cross, You Are, Pay You Back, Lord We Need You, and Can’t Stop My Praise.“Out of the 17 tracks, I’m predicting 15 hits, “ Hall said. “It’s a praise and worship album with dancehall, mento — God gives mi country gospel too. I’m just excited to have another album out soon. I’m not even going to get ahead of myself but I know this album has the potential to get a Grammy — it’s something else. Whatever God decides to do with it, He will. When I put out the first album ‘When God Speaks’, God was talking to me. It’s the same with this album. It’s all about giving God the glory. It’s a powerful, mighty album, so if it’s His will, it will be done,” she said.Hall, formerly known as Lady Saw, is the first female deejay to win a Grammy Award and to be certified as a triple-platinum artiste. She, however, got baptized in December 2015.Her debut gospel album, ‘When God Speaks’, peaked at #4 on the Billboard Reggae Albums chart last year.Minister Hall is planning to embark on a three-year ‘Soul Seekers Kingdom’ tour across the United States starting in early August. Through her relationships with other ministries, she has landed gigs in Canada, UK and Bermuda.
Five-time Grand Slam champion, Maria Sharapova, has pulled out of the Cincinnati Open scheduled for next week, due to a forearm injury.30-year-old Sharapova, who will need a wildcard to play in the US Open main draw, has declared that missing the Cincinnati Open is “a precaution for the US Open”. Sharapova, world number 149, joins Victoria Azarenka and Andy Murray in pulling out of the Cincinnati Open, as the trio prepares for the US Open which starts on 28 August at Flushing Meadows. Related
Paris St. Germain (PSG) chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi has had criminal proceedings opened against him by Swiss prosecutors.The proceedings opened against Qatari businessman Al-Khelaifi, who has been PSG chairman since 2011, are connected to an ongoing investigation into former Fifa secretary general Jerome Valcke, and relate to the sale of World Cup TV rights to BeInSports.Apart from his role as PSG chairman, Al-Khelaifi is also the chief executive of BeIn Sports.Last year, The Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland (OAG) disclosed that it was investigating Valcke for “various acts of criminal mismanagement”.Sequel to that, the OAG revealed on Thursday that new proceedings involving Al-Khelaifi had been “opened on the basis” of its findings.It said it was “suspected that Jerome Valcke accepted undue advantages from a businessman in the sports rights sector in connection with the award of media rights for certain countries at the FIFA World Cups in 2018, 2022, 2026 and 2030 and from Nasser Al-Khelaifi in connection with the award of media rights for certain countries at the FIFA World Cups in 2026 and 2030”.According to the OAG, the new investigation – that which relates to Al-Khelaifi – is being conducted in partnership with authorities in Greece, Spain, France and Italy, and was opened in March 2017.It added that its representatives had interviewed the banned Valcke in Switzerland as a suspect on Thursday. Jerome Valcke had earlier been banned by Fifa for 10 years – although he has appealed against the ban.RelatedPSG Chairman Al-Khelaifi, Ex FIFA Sec Gen Valcke Charged With Bribery Over World Cup TV RightsFebruary 20, 2020In “Europe”Aleix GarciaJune 30, 2017Similar postPSG Owners Turn Attention To English Football After Success In FranceApril 13, 2019In “England”
StumbleUpon Share Marc Etches to step down as CEO of GambleAware in 2021 August 14, 2020 Submit The Association of British Bookmaker‘s Scottish division has launched a new project aimed at tackling the ‘hidden addiction’ of problem gambling among young people. The Association of British Bookmakers in Scotland (ABB Scotland) will fund the six month project, working in partnership with Paisley based charity RCA Trust to deliver education and counselling support for 2,500 young people across the West of Scotland. Schools in Clydebank, Glasgow, Renfrewshire and Rutherglen will be invited to take part in the project.ABB Scotland spokesman Donald Morrison said: “As with adults, the vast majority of young people gamble for fun and only bet what they can afford. However, the number of problem or at risk young gamblers is a matter of concern, particularly as evidence shows that young people who gamble are more likely to become problem gamblers as adults. It is important therefore that problems are identified at an early age and the necessary support is offered. The outreach project is the latest in a series of responsible gambling measures introduced by the ABB, including a nationwide multi-operator self exclusion scheme – initially piloted in Glasgow – that allows gamblers to exclude themselves from all betting shops in their area, a Scotland wide Gamble Aware campaign, and confidential drop in sessions for customers in the West of Scotland concerned about their gambling spend. GambleAware: Engage those with lived experience of gambling harms August 28, 2020 “Betting shops are out of bounds for young people under 18. Nevertheless, we believe it is right that we take the lead in promoting responsible gambling and highlighting the dangers associated with problem gambling. We are particularly pleased to be partnering with RCA Trust, an experienced and respected charity with a proven track record in providing educational, counselling and addiction support for young people.” YGAM focuses on BAME community engagement with CVR link-up August 21, 2020
Related Articles Bibby said: “While the vast majority of people who gamble do so responsibly, we cannot ignore the problem of gambling addiction in any age group. The industry has a responsibility to communities like Paisley where it operates and so it is reassuring to see bookmakers taking steps to raise awareness about problem gambling in schools and making sure that more counselling and support is available for young people in Paisley with experience of this addiction.” Problem gambling among young people has been described by academics and charities as a hidden addiction, with recent studies suggesting that 2% of 12-15 year olds in England and Wales are considered ‘problem’ or ‘at risk’ gamblers. The 2015 Scottish Health Survey found that 0.8% of 16-24 year olds are problem gamblers, compared to an overall rate of 0.7% across all age groups. Golden added: “I am pleased to support ABB Scotland’s new outreach in the West of Scotland. In some cases, gambling can become a serious problem, that’s why it should be welcomed that the industry is playing its part in promoting sensible and responsible gambling, particularly amongst young people.” It is the latest example of the gambling industry paying particular notice to the problem of problem gambling in young people. GambleAware has recently launched an online campaign targeting this demographic in order to educate about the dangers of addictive gambling. Andrew Todd, Manager of RCA Trust, added: “We are happy to be partnering with the ABB to deliver education and information on safe and responsible gambling. This will allow young people and their parents to have access to specialist care pathways if difficulties arise.West of Scotland MSPs Neil Bibby and Maurice Golden are backing the initiative. Share
Submit StumbleUpon Codere fights for survival as debt bonds are classified to junk status April 7, 2020 Share Keith Laslop – Jackpotjoy PlcUpdating the market, London-listed online gambling group Jackpotjoy Plc has confirmed that it has secured a £385 million senior secured loan with additional access to a new revolving credit facility.Refinancing its organisation, Jackpotjoy governance will gain access to a £375 million senior loan, with a further £13.5 million made available to the operator via a Revolving Credit Facility.Jackpotjoy governance informs that the proceeds from the loan facility will be used to ‘repay the existing first and second lien term loans’.Updating investors, the loan facility comprises two finance tranches of £250 million and EUR 140 million, with an attached maturity of seven years and weighted average interest rate of 4.91% above Libor, which will be stepped downs of an additional 0.75% based on future leverage ratios and credit ratings.Entering new secured loan terms, Jackpotjoy’s new group annual cash interest payments will be reduced by approximately a third, targeting £9 million in savings for its first year of transactions.Group pro-forma total net leverages (including earn-out obligations) will be 3.40x, in line with the 3.35x adjusted net leverage reported on 30 September 2017.Keith Laslop, Jackpotjoy Plc Chief Financial Officer, said:“We are thrilled to have secured the new Facilities which clearly demonstrates the growth as well as the stability of our underlying businesses. The significant reduction in interest costs, alongside further future rate reductions, allows us to further drive shareholder value through accelerated deleveraging and investment in the long-term growth of the business.” Gamesys halts UK advertising during lockdown April 23, 2020 Share Related Articles Enlarged Gamesys returns to UK growth eyeing FTSE250 spot March 17, 2020
Share StumbleUpon Established in 2007, 1xBet is a fast-growing company in the sports betting space, with a platform focused on providing the maximum number of events and the highest level of localisation.We caught up with the company’s Head of Business Development Evgeniy Kiriushin to discuss lessons learned in 2017, utilising sponsorship and social media opportunities in 2018, and getting ready for this summer’s FIFA World Cup in Russia.SBC: What are the biggest lessons learned you have learned, and what are your key targets for 2018?EK: On the one hand, the past year for our company turned out to be very intense, but on the other hand it turned out to be rich in all kinds of achievements and, of course, lessons. As the most important thing, our strategy for creating a bookmaker product with the maximum number of events, markets, and the highest odds has been worth it.We understand that we set a very high level for the entire bookmaker companies’ market and, first, for ourselves. It is not easy to offer bets on so many events in sports and live sections at such odds. I can say more; for most present bookmakers this is simply beyond their power. However, we have learnt (and the last year only confirms it) that we need to offer customers only the best thing.In many ways, our product is truly unique and is developing with an unprecedented speed. I think that’s why users from all over the world choose our bookmaker company with increasing frequency.The second important lesson for our company was that by creating a high-quality bookmaker product, you become interesting not only to ordinary users, but also to partners who are ready to build their business in this area. This year, we noticed a great interest in our platform, so we have seriously considered the development of an independent b2b direction.SBC: The World Cup is set to provide a key battleground for bookmakers in 2018; given that your platform has been translated in 49 languages, do you think localisation will be a stand out feature for 1xBet?EK: The World Cup is a significant event for any bookmaker company. Especially when it takes place in a country where you are the number one at the market. I think that we are well prepared for this event and look forward to serious growth and attracting a huge number of users from all over the world.Of course, now the fact that our platform is translated into 49 languages (at the beginning of 2018 there will be 52 of them already), we have 24/7 support in 27 languages, it distinguishes us from competitors. I can say that no bookmaker company can boast such a number of localizations and this level of service. Undoubtedly, this is an outstanding feature of the platform, which will help us to develop success further.SBC: You have placed great emphasis on offering more payment types and currencies than your competitors; how important is it to cater for different deposit and withdrawal preferences, particularly in the big CIS regions?EK: Stable and various payment methods are a necessary part of the service of any bookmaker company. And the more of them – the more convenient it is for the user in any market. Nowadays, we also exceed any competitor at the number of integrated payment systems.We are always ready to offer the maximum number of methods to deposit an account and withdraw for customers in any market. We consider this to be part of our global strategy; if in some place on the planet customers want to pay with stones or shells, we will be the first to provide customers with this service. By the way, we will also be the first to open a bookmaker office on the Moon and Mars.SBC: How can you effectively utilise your sponsorship of La Liga to promote 1xBet products ahead of next summer’s showpiece event?EK: Next year, we have very serious plans to activate sponsorships with La Liga, Serie A. We discuss new sponsorship contracts with the English Premier League and a number of championships in Africa and Latin America. We promise you many surprises. As for the period of the 2018 World Cup, we will certainly form our marketing activities taking this event into account.SBC: Social media has been earmarked as a key component of World Cup promotion; is there a plan in place for 1xBet in this area?EK: Of course, yes. As you can see, 1xBet is very active in the online marketing area. We spend a huge amount of effort and money on promotion using all popular networks and sites. Unfortunately, the possibilities of SMM-promotion for bookmakers are very limited in comparison with other types of business. However, our company will use any opportunities in this area. Submit Premier League looks to broadcast every behind-closed-door fixture August 28, 2020 Share SBC Magazine Issue 10: Kaizen Gaming rebrand and focus for William Hill CEO August 25, 2020 Spotlight ups matchday commentary reach and capacity for new EPL Season August 21, 2020 Related Articles
Related Articles SIS expands into the numbers game with 49’s takeover June 29, 2020 StumbleUpon SIS grows Latin American footprint through Betcris deal August 12, 2020 Share Submit Share SIS adds Irish Greyhound Derby to its portfolio August 13, 2020 SIS (Sports Information Services), a renowned supplier of betting products to retail and online operators, has announced the renewal of its retail agreement with 49’s, and an expansion to cover international and online.The 49’s numbers games, live draws and virtual content have been included in SIS’s Retail TV Service for independent bookmakers and SIS’s ROW (Rest of the World) TV Channel to date.Paul Witten, Product Director at SIS, commented: “The 49’s content is a key part of our schedule for retail betting. We are very pleased to announce both the extension of these rights for retail, and also the increased rights for international and online.“These increased rights further support our diversification strategy alongside our top quality horse racing and greyhound racing content.”Miles Phillips, Chief Operating Officer, 49’s Ltd, added: “We are delighted to not only continue our partnership, but to expand our reach across the world and online.“Together we have set an industry standard in fixed odds betting for over 20 years and are excited to expand our product offering and distribution methods with SIS.”
Share TVBET passes GLI test for five live games in Malta and Italy August 25, 2020 Industry affiliate marketing network Catena Media enters the Italian online betting market confirming that it has acquired digital sports media publisher ASAP Italia for a total consideration of €16 million.Updating the market, Catena governance has put forward €12.5 million cash deal to acquire all ASAP portals and lead generation services. Furthermore, the Stockholm-listed enterprise will add ‘€3.5 deferred consideration’ for after operating ASAP assets for 12-months.Completing his first corporate acquisition as Catena Media CEO, Per Hellberg details that his company has acquired a premium Italian sports portal, with prominent SEO positions and organic traffic.“This is a strong acquisition for Catena Media, which will make us the number one lead generator within online sports betting in Italy.”“Italy was one of the first countries in Europe to regulate the online gaming sector. This is a company that maintains a very high level of quality in terms of compliance. I am very pleased to welcome them to the Catena Media team” Hellberg details to Catena investors.Entering the Italian betting market, Catena will now move to revamp ASAP asset portfolio and lead generation services with its proprietary network systems.Seeking to quickly expand its presence within the new market of Italy, Catena governance has attached a further €6 million earn-out incentive on ASAP performance over an initial 12-month period.“Thee sellers would need to generate revenue growth of about 50 percent during the earn-out period of one year. Up to 50 percent of the earn-out may be paid with shares in Catena Media plc.” Catena details in its corporte release. StumbleUpon Submit CT Gaming bolsters Italian profile with The Betting Coach August 27, 2020 Related Articles Share Catena lauds ‘record’ Q2 as casino drives performance August 19, 2020
BetVictor boosts casino portfolio with EveryMatrix’s CasinoEngine June 25, 2020 StumbleUpon Submit Share EveryMatrix ups CasinoEngine gamification tools with CompetitionLabs June 29, 2020 Lucy Buckley – NektanLondon-listed gaming technology specialist Nektan has reached a major milestone in its move to break-even as announced in its unaudited interim results for the six months ending 31 December 2018. The group announced back in January that it was on-course to breaking even in 2019, having reported record KPI growth, new commercial partnerships and progress on its US market foundations. Lucy Buckley, Chief Executive Officer of Nektan, praised the achievement. She commented:“Achieving EBITDA break-even during the period is a key milestone for Nektan and our key focus for the remainder of FY19 is on maintaining and improving profitability. EBITDA break-even was reached due to both increased revenues and operational efficiencies.”The group’s revenues had grown by 48 per cent for the 12 months, totalling just over £13m. Nektan’s progress has been significantly aided through the development of its white-label product, which took the group’s casino portfolio to a record 152 in Europe. Buckley added: “Whilst we believe in our US mobile casino product, and are excited about the macro trends in the market, the proposed sale of the majority shareholding of our US subsidiary is a major contributor to our profitability plan by removing Nektan funding for the US going forward, but retaining a material stake in the emerging US market.“In Europe, Asia and Africa, our emergent B2B division is generating new high margin revenue by licensing our proprietary technology to leading operators. We are successfully attracting major casino and gaming partners as evidenced by our BetVictor launch in October 2018 and post-period end contract win with MoPlay, announced in March 2019. “Nektan is in a strong position to build on the success of the first half of FY19 and we look forward to providing further updates.”While the group remains in ongoing discussions with the UK tax authority regarding a £2.9mln point of consumption tax bill, the group hopes that it will be “ significantly reduced by virtue of the funds received from the equity fundraising and part disposal of Respin”Nektan’s US subsidiary, Respin, had soft launched its proprietary in-venue mobile gaming product with a major US tier-one casino operator and signed a new contract with one of the largest casinos in Palm Springs, California.The gaming technology provider has since recorded an impairment charge in relation to Respin. Currently, a majority stake is being sold for Respin, which is expected to be completed by the end of next month. Share Related Articles FSB selects Glenn Elliott as new COO August 12, 2020