Gaming Report: Kerala Looking to Resume Lottery Sales, Matthew Hayden Joins WCC & More

The count of COVID-19-positive cases in India has already crossed the 70K-mark with the numbers continuing to climb every day. The extended lockdown has got most states to start contemplating the reopening of limited sectors of the economy after May 17. Kerala, for one, is eyeing to restart lottery sales. According to the state’s Finance Minister, TM Thomas Isaac, the government would be resuming the sale of lottery tickets in a phased manner starting May 18.

Famous Australian cricketing icon, Matthew Hayden, has signed up with Nextwave Multimedia, a subsidiary of Nazara Technologies Ltd., to offer commentary on the digital cricket platform World Cricket Championship (WCC). Hayden was brought on-board nearly two weeks after cricket commentator Aakash Chopra was roped in by the company.

In other headlines, India’s ‘Matka King,’ Ratan Khatri, a man known for running a massive gambling network in the country for almost three-and-half decades, passed away on Saturday in Mumbai. He was 88 years old.

Moving over to more positive developments, Europe’s biggest casino, King’s Casino in Rozvadov, and Vietnam’s Corona Resort and Casino are the latest major gambling establishments to have resumed operations.

In Nevada, Wynn Resorts Ltd has started on-site COVID-19 testing facilities for the employees of its flagship casinos, Wynn Las Vegas and Encore Las Vegas.

Kerala Looking to Resume Lottery Sales From May 18

The Kerala government is preparing to resume the sale of lottery tickets from May 18. State Finance Minister TM Thomas Isaac has informed that the government will be resuming the sale in a phased manner. Underlining that the government would be taking a final call on the resumption of the sales on a scheduled date, if all goes well, the first draw could likely be held on June 1.

The lottery sale in the coastal state had been stopped by the Directorate of Lotteries amid the COVID-19 pandemic led lockdown. As a result of this, eight lottery draws had to be postponed, resulting in significant losses for both the lottery industry and the state government.

Isaac explained that in the first phase, 100 tickets each would be given to lottery agents on loan. Once the agents sell the tickets, they would settle the amount with the government. He added that the pending lottery draws will be carried out over June, spread in two weekly draws, on Mondays and Thursdays, respectively.

The revenue generated from lottery sales would be bifurcated towards helping lottery vendors and the health sector. The lottery directorate has also announced several incentives to help sellers purchase tickets.

Former Australian Cricketer Matthew Hayden Joins World Cricket Championship Game

On April 27, well-known cricket commentator Aakash Chopra was roped in by Nextwave Multimedia, a subsidiary of Nazara Technologies Ltd., to offer commentary on the world’s leading digital cricket franchise, the World Cricket Championship (WCC). While this was probably the first time that a professional cricket commentator has been roped in to lend voice for virtual cricket in India, just two weeks later, ace Australian cricketer Matthew Hayden was brought in by the WCC as a commentator.

Talking about joining WCC, Hayden said, “Very excited to be a part of cricket as a digital commentator. The game gave me complete space to bring my own spin on the script creatively. I used variations and patterns in my voice to generate energy and bring the excitement of a live game to the audience, something that is only possible in this lockdown with a game like WCC 3.”

WCC creator and co-founder & CEO of Nextwave Multimedia, PR Rajendran, said, “With no actual cricket being played currently, we hope to fill the gap with commentators like Matthew Hayden and Aakash Chopra to build familiarity and comfort on the game enabling people to come as close to actual cricket as possible.”

Hayden will offer commentary in English at the third edition of WCC i.e., WCC3, complimenting Chopra, who has been on-boarded for Hindi commentary.

WCC3 offers the latest and competitive simulated multi-player cricket with a multitude of animations, control, real-time motions of athletes, and professional cricketers as well as advanced artificial intelligence.

There are nearly 110 million players who are registered users on the online digital cricket website. The WCC itself pulls in at least 2.5 Million digital cricket players daily worldwide, with the maximum traffic on the site coming from places like the US., the UK, UAE, Bangladesh, and Pakistan.

In recent months, the WCC has seen a 20% surge in engagement and revenue, an impressive 25% increase in new users and daily active users, and nearly a 100% spike in in-app purchases in the game.

‘Matka King’ Ratan Khatri Passes Away

Infamous as the ‘Matka King’ for running a gambling network for more than three decades, Ratan Khatri, passed away on Saturday. Khatri, who ran one of the earliest and most iconic betting networks in India, had been ailing for some time. He breathed his last at his Central Mumbai home at the age of 88.

Khatri’s dominating gambling business took roots in the 60s. He was earlier associated with Kalyanji Bhagat, who began the Worli Matka in 1961.

Belonging to a Sindhi family that had migrated from Karachi, Pakistan, Khatri soon moved out, and started his own ‘Ratan Matka.’ He had a network of thousands of punters across the country that used to bet on the fluctuation in the cotton rates on the New York Cotton Exchange. Khatri would draw numbers from a matka to announce the winning numbers. Later he replaced this practice with the drawing of three cards twice daily, with the sum total of the drawn cards to determine the winning number. These numbers were circulated across all the betting hubs in the country and abroad.

According to the Matka kingpin, his business was illegal, but he ran it with honesty. Khatri retired from the business in 1995, after a police crackdown. He was often spotted at the Mahalakshmi Racecourse in Mumbai.

Casino Industry Slowly Begins to Reopen After Extended Lockdown Closure

King’s Casino & Resort Reopens

Even as most other gambling venues across the globe remain shut because of the COVID-19 health emergency, Europe’s largest casino, the King’s Resort, has reopened its doors after a two-month hiatus. The casino had pulled down its shutters on March 13, in the wake of the alarming rise of COVID-19 cases in Europe.

On May 1, King’s owner Leon Tsoukernik had announced that the resort would, along with its sister concerns, King’s Casino in Prague and Admiral Casino in Rozvadov be reopening on May 11.

With the casino resuming operations, Kevin Mathers tweeted an image from the venue.

It’s all popping off in Rozvadov.

Blackjack, slots, roulette and poker cash games will be available to customers at King's again from today https://t.co/det1itJB54 via @PokerNews

— Kevin Mathers (@Kevmath) May 11, 2020

The casino management had earlier indicated its intentions to keep the casino closed till September 1. The decision to reopen came after the Czech Health ministry lifted certain restrictions on movement within the country.

While poker tournaments will still not take place at these properties, house games like roulette, blackjack, and slot games, as well as poker cash games, are available.

The casino management has also implemented strict health precautionary measures at the venue, like making sanitizers available for all guests, and making the use of face mark compulsory.

Vietnam’s Corona Resort and Casino Reopens

Vietnam’s Corona Resort and Casino located at the Phu Quoc Island has resumed operations on May 8. The only Vietnamese casino that allows locals, the Corona Resort had shuttered its operations on government orders for two weeks beginning April 1 amid the Coronavirus pandemic. The closure was later extended to early May.

With no new confirmed cases, the Vietnamese government has allowed nonessential businesses, including casinos, to reopen. Although, with social distancing measures and increased health safety measures in place.

To incentivize guests visiting the resort, the management is offering reduced rates on hotel stays, as well as discounted dining and entertainment to the tourists.

Property General Manager Goran Milosheski told reporters that they were following strict occupancy limits as only 30 people are allowed at a time at the property, and even operating times have been reduced to 12 hours a day (6 PM to 6 AM).

Wynn Resorts Opens COVID-19 Testing Center For Employees

The Wynn Resorts Ltd. has opened an on-site COVID-19 testing facility for the employees at its flagship casino properties, Wynn Las Vegas and Encore Las Vegas.

Wynn Resorts said in a statement that medical staff from the University Medical Center would be administering the tests free of cost. Hundreds of employees would be able to get tested each day.

Speaking in this context, Wynn CEO Matt Maddox, said, “Having timely access to test results backed by the medical expertise of University Medical Center is a tremendous advantage as we work toward our reopening,”

Hospital CEO Mason VanHouweling said, “We are extremely proud to be able to share UMC’s laboratory and testing capabilities with our neighbors at Wynn Resorts, a vibrant tourism destination relies on our expert health care system to care for all who live in and visit Las Vegas, and we look forward to working alongside Wynn Resorts to bring us all back together again,”

Wynn is working with state & local officials and public health professionals to determine an opening date. The company website is accepting reservations for dates starting May 22.