NEWS & NOTES

Axes.ai, a data management and analytics company, has donated to the UNLV International Gaming Institute (IGI) in efforts to facilitate artificial intelligence-based research regarding responsible gaming. IGI Director of Research Brett Abarbanel said in a statement that the company’s “commitment to mitigating gambling harms aligns with our own goals of employing the most advanced methodologies to understand, predict and prevent the potential harm associated with gambling.” Earle Hall, president and CEO of Axes, said in his own statement that “the UNLV research in quantitative prediction is centric to what we believe to be as essential to eliminating the finite bad so that we can all focus on the infinite possibilities with deep, rich data.” • Grosvenor Casinos out of the U.K. has announced a rebrand for its 52 venues and online, with the aim to modernize the casino experience and rebrand it as “stylish” and fun.” It will also “move away from the stereotypical casino experience.” It will involve the launch of a new TV ad called “Entertainment Time” and a new game, “Beat the Timer,” a skill-based challenge where participants can win prizes. The new approach was a result of “extensive research” and “customer insights” said Marketing Director Sarah Sculpher. • Thanks to Covid-19, the annual East Coast Gaming Congress & NexGen Gaming Forum took place in late September of 2022. With the pandemic in the rearview mirror and the industry operating close to normal, the conference celebrating 26 years, will once again return to its traditional spring dates, April 19-20 at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City. The largest such conference outside of Nevada, East Coast brings together election officials, gaming operators, suppliers and regulators for panel discussions. • Sands China Ltd. recently approved for a new, 10-year casino concession in Macau, will pay up to US$377 million over the course of three years beginning January 1 for use of trademarks owned by Las Vegas Sands LLC in the U.S., according to a filing with the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. The annual payments are calculated based on a percentage of Sands China’s gaming and non-gaming revenue. • Sports merchandise company Fanatics is now valued at $31 billion after the company raised $700 million in the latest funding round from new and existing investors, according to an anonymous source quoted by the Wall Street Journal. Fanatics entered sports betting last year after announcing a partnership with Kambi, Penn National and Jay-Z’s recording company Roc National. The company is set to launch sports betting in January in every state except New York. • Okada Manila operator Universal Entertainment Corp. (UEC) says the property recorded PHP9.51 billion (US$170.78 million) in gaming revenues for the third quarter of the year, up 128 percent yearly, led by mass-market play. Universal previously expected an “extraordinary loss” of $11.48 million associated with the illegal occupation of the premises between May and September. Control of the property was temporarily seized by former UEC owner Kazuo Okada. ● Thai police will deport a wealthy Malaysian businessman to China this month. Teow Wooi Huat, known as Teddy, will be sent to China under an extradition request from Chinese authorities. He allegedly laundered money from online gambling operations in southern Thailand. ● Cambodia’s Ministry of Interior says 249 of 373 former NagaWorld employees have accepted seniority payments that end their employment contracts with the casino. Labor activists began an extended protest last year demanding the reinstatement of the laid-off workers, but NagaWorld said the layoffs were part of “proactive measures to manage the [Covid-19] situation.” ●