North America

US news sources have reported that Walt Disney Company subsidiary ESPN has decided to end its advertising partnership with leading US daily fantasy sports operator DraftKings. ESPN governance decided to end its multi-content advertising contract, valued at an estimated $250 million with the Boston based DFS operator following a contract review. The broadcaster did not offer any official explanation for ending …

Following a poor showing at Iowa in the initial primary on February 2nd the odds for Donald Trump to win rose as high as 6/1. The tables have turned once more however after the businessman turned politician stormed the Republican primary at New Hampshire on February 9th with a landslide victory. Ted Cruz enjoyed an unexpected victory at Iowa but is now …

The Nevada Gaming Control Board have announced that bettors wagered $132.5 million on the Denver Broncos’ 24-10 victory over the Carolina Panthers. That figure topped the previous record of $119.4 million from two seasons ago, when the Seattle Seahawks beat the Broncos. The house won $13.31 million, making a profit for the 25th time in the past 27 years. It was …

Less than a week ago we spoke to Jay Kornegay, Vice President of the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino, ahead of the Superbowl 50 match-up between Carolina Panthers and Denver Broncos. And now, just a few days after the showpiece event, we caught up with a jubilant Jay to discuss his beloved Broncos first title win since 1998, and …

Last week saw the long delayed launch of DraftKings in the UK, and whilst this opens up a potentially lucrative new revenue stream it may create more problems for the company and other DFS operators on home turf in the USA. The argument has been raging for some time now, are the likes of FanDuel and DraftKings truly games of skill or, as many state prosecutors …

Responding to a 120-page dossier published by Spruce Point Capital Management last December, which criticised the governance of Toronto TSX listed Intertain Group (Intertain). A special independent committee appointed by Intertain governance has deemed the report to be “Self-serving and to contain numerous factual inaccuracies and mischaracterizations of company data” The committee made up of corporate independent directors, with the counsel of …

Toronto listed Amaya Inc has confirmed the appointment of Barclays Capital Canada to act as corporate financial advisor with regards to the CAD $2.8 billion (£1.4 billion) management buyout proposed by CEO David Baazov. On 1 February Amaya governance confirmed that it had set up an independent committee to asses Baazov’s takeover proposal. The buyout proposal sees Baazov aim to …

The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (NJDGE) has cleared bwin.party Entertainment to continue to operate online gambling services (online poker and casino) under the ownership of GVC Holdings (GVC). GVC who have cleared all regulatory conditions to takeover bwin.party, are in the process of transferring the operators New Jersey license to its new enterprise. NJDGE will allow bwin.party to …

Following the decision last week by Hawaii Attorney General Doug Chin that daily fantasy sports constitute gambling, Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney Keith Kaneshiro has demanded that two fantasy sports sites stop taking bets from Honolulu residents.  Alongside Utah, Hawaii is the only other US state which does not allow some form of legalised gambling. In a letter on Monday of this week …

All eyes are on the Levi’s Stadium on Sunday, as this year’s Superbowl sees Carolina Panthers take on Denver Broncos in Santa Clara, California. Just a few days before the big day we caught up with Jay Kornegay, Vice President of the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino, to discuss Superbowl 50: ____________________________________ SBC: Hi Jay, the biggest annual sporting event …