Gaming Report: Game24x7 Launches New Digital Campaign For RummyCircle & More

The recent spurt in online gaming activity has come as a big window of opportunity for gaming firms. With an eye on expanding connect with new users, Game24x7 that owns and operates the online rummy site, RummyCircle, has launched a new digital campaign with six popular Bollywood actors and T.V. celebs. The brand has signed up Aparshakti Khurana, Varun Sharma, comedian Vir Das, and Manjot Singh for the North Indian market while bringing on board, Danish Sait, and Sathish Muthukrishnan for mass outreach in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

Making another bid towards the control of problem gambling, the U.K. Gambling Commission (UKGC) donated £9 million to the gambling charity group, GambleAware. The funds have been collected from the fines levied on various gambling operators.

With the ease in lockdown restrictions, the majority of casinos across the U.S. have reopened while others are expected to resume operations shortly. The Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB) has okayed the demand for increasing the maximum players allowed on poker tables to five, and MGM Resorts plans to reopen its fourth casino property, Excalibur Hotel, and Casino on June 11. In Detroit, three casinos have not announced reopening dates yet. Still, they have been issued safety guidelines to be followed. Most of Indiana’s 13 casinos may reopen next week.

Meanwhile, Washington residents may have to wait longer for legal sports betting since the start date for retail sports betting has been delayed again and is unlikely to take off before 2021.

Games24x7’s New Digital Campaign For RummyCircle Has Bollywood Stars & Celebs

Gaming firm Game24x7 has launched a new digital campaign for its rummy portal, RummyCircle. The online gaming firm has partnered with several popular Bollywood actors and T.V. celebs for the same.

The brand has roped in Aparshakti Khurana, Varun Sharma, Vir Das, and Manjot Singh for the North Indian market. It has onboarded Danish Sait and Sathish Muthukrishnan for Karnataka and Tamil Nadu areas, respectively.

The campaign has been conceptualized by marketing consultancy firm Spring Marketing Capital and will be run to reach out and appeal to a large portion of the masses. This is a significant move by the company founded in 2006 by Trivikraman Thampy and Bhavin Pandya.

Talking about the campaign, Director, Brand, and Marketing Strategy, Avik Das Kanungo said that rummy enjoys massive popularity in India and online rummy has gathered steam in a big way. “At RummyCircle, we want to bring alive the game online in a new way by highlighting the inherent skill involved in the game.”

Founder and creative partner of Spring Marketing Capital, Arun Iyer, said, “In this digital influencer campaign, we have tried to capture the skill, strategy, fun, and banter that every game of rummy on RummyCircle comes with. The actors were shooting the films themselves at home.”

U.K. Gambling Commission Donates £9 Million to GambleAware Charity

Britain’s gambling regulatory body U.K. Gambling Commission (UKGC) has, during the past few months, been keeping a stringent eye on gambling operators to make sure they adhere to gambling laws. The Commission has now donated £9 Million from the fines collected from gambling operators to charity organization, GambleAware.

GambleAware works for problem gambling and assists U.K.’s National Strategy to Reduce Gambling Harms. The firm will, along with its partners, utilize the funds for ensuring addiction services and assistance during the Coronavirus pandemic.

Announcing the donations, the Commission talked of the research recently conducted and elaborated that since the lockdown began, gambling had actually reduced.

UKGC Chairman, William Moyes said, “In the current climate, and with the potential risks to British consumers in mind, we have fast-tracked this settlement-driven funding to GambleAware so their work to prevent gambling harms and award grants can continue seamlessly. In addition to a tough and flexible regulatory system, it’s vital that organisations such as GambleAware and their partners can continue the great work they do, especially at times when there is an elevated risk of gambling harm with people staying at home due to social distancing measures.”

CEO of GambleAware, Marc Etches, said, “We welcome the receipt of these regulatory settlements at this uncertain time. Guided by a public health model, GambleAware commissions prevention and treatment services across England, Scotland, and Wales in partnership with expert organisations and agencies, including the NHS. These funds will enable us to provide greater security around the funding of the National Gambling Treatment Service, and help keep people safe from gambling harms.”

Among the gambling operators that had to face the regulatory wrath of the UKGC in recent months was Caesars Entertainment, which was slapped with £13 Million fine, and Betway was fined £11.6 Million.

In a bid to check problem gambling, the Commission had even partnered with social media giant Twitter to launch its first guidance for Twitter users in February. The Commission has also banned the use of credit cards across gambling sites and shops across the country.

U.S. Casino Sector Continues to Spring Back to Life

After remaining shut for more than two months, the commercial and tribal casinos across the U.S. are gearing back to life, albeit with strict restrictions. Most casino operators, as directed by the state, have introduced new safety protocols like temperature checks for customers, and are initially offering only limited casino services. While the slot machines and blackjack have opened, only select casinos have reopened their poker rooms.

In Las Vegas, the Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB) has acceded to the request by casinos to increase the number of players allowed on poker tables from four to five.

MGM to Reopen 4th Las Vegas Casino

We had last reported that MGM Resorts has confirmed to reopen three of its Las Vegas properties – The Bellagio, MGM Grand and New York-New York. The company has announced that its fourth casino, Excalibur Hotel and Casino, will be resuming operations on June 11.

Talking about the same, acting CEO of MGM Resorts, Bill Hornbuckle, said, “We are very pleased by the enthusiasm we are seeing from guests ready to come back to Las Vegas. We will continue monitoring business trends in the weeks and months ahead and look forward to sharing news around additional property openings here in Las Vegas and around the country, as it becomes available.”

Detroit Casinos to Reopen Following Strict Safety Guidelines

The casinos are slowing opening their doors to patrons across the U.S., and the latest state to join the list is Detroit.

The Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) has announced the minimum reopening guidelines for Detroit casinos to protect public health and safety amid the COVID-19 pandemic. They include a limit of 15 percent of the full capacity and temperature checks for employees and patrons. Smoking will be banned on casino floors, though casinos may provide an alternative area for smoking. Poker rooms are to remain closed.

While the casinos will remain closed for now, the board has approved the plans that will be implemented when Gov. Gretchen Whitmer green lights their reopening.

“In compiling these minimum guidelines, we considered CDC recommendations, Nevada Gaming Board guidelines, and information from the National Indian Gaming Commission,” said Richard S. Kalm, MGCB executive director. “We required the casinos to propose reopening plans, and we consulted with the casino unions on the guidelines. We believe the guidelines will protect the public when it is safe to reopen the casinos.”

The Detroit casino and attached hotels, which were impacted by the guidelines, include Greektown Casino, the MGM Grand Detroit Casino, and MotorCity Casino.

Indiana Casinos Expected to Reopen Next Week

The Indiana Gaming Commission (IGC) announced on Monday that Indiana’s 13 commercial casinos — including the five state-regulated gaming facilities in Northwest Indiana — have been authorized to reopen beginning at 6 AM on June 15.

Gov. Eric Holcomb announced that charity gaming and casinos will also be able to reopen with the approval of the Indiana Gaming Commission, under Stage Four of the state’s Back on Track reopening plan. Horse racing will also be allowed to begin without spectators, Holcomb stated. Spectators are expected to be allowed in Stage Five, which is likely to start on July 4.

Also, the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians has agreed to reopen its Four Winds Casinos in South Bend, Indiana, and southwestern Michigan, on June 15.

According to the Gaming Commission, it’s up to the casino properties in Hammond, East Chicago, Gary, and Michigan City to decide whether to open at 6 AM or later. The South Bend tribal casino is set to begin at 11 AM.

Among the COVID-19 guidelines that need to be followed include, keeping social distancing standards, at least every other slot machine will be shut off. Table games will see stricter capacity limits: blackjack to have a three-player limit. Roulette now has a four-player limit, and craps will have a six-player limit. Employees and table game users must wear masks, but other patrons are not required to do so.

Poker rooms, concerts, and food and drinks on the casino floor have been strictly prohibited.

Washington DC Retail Sports Betting Delayed Until 2021

According to reports, The Washington D.C. Office of Lottery and Gaming has announced that retail sports betting, which was targeted for a fall 2020 launch, has been delayed again and won’t begin until 2021. The mobile sports betting platform Gambet DC went active in late May.

D.C. Lottery Executive Director Beth Bresnahan at a budget oversight hearing before the City Council’s committee on business and economic development clarified that retail sports betting has been delayed because of the pandemic.

Bresnahan said,” Rollout of the retail network component of GambetDC, which was initially slated for this fall, has been pushed to summer of 2021. The pandemic has presented physical, operational and some personal challenges upon the lottery and upon our small business retailer partners across the city.”

The D.C. Lottery has received seven applications. There are two types of permits available for retail sportsbook operators: Class A and Class B.

Class A license will go to Monumental Sports and Entertainment’s Capital One Arena – home of the NHL Capitals and NBA Wizards. William Hill will operate that sportsbook. The other Class A operators will be the city’s other major sports venues.

Class B licenses are reserved for bars and restaurants located within two blocks of the Class A properties.