Gaming Report: Silver Heritage Group Cuts Costs, Khelplay Rummy Asked to Withdraw TV Ad & More

The worldwide COVID-19 outbreak has impacted multiple industries and businesses, with a majority of them having to cease all operations to comply with the social distancing protocols enforced. Among the many businesses that have initiated cost reduction measures to tide over the current crisis is the Asian casino operator Silver Heritage Group Ltd. that runs casino and hotel operations in Nepal.

Back home, the independent Consumer Complaint Council (CCC) of ASCI has directed online rummy site Khelplay Rummy to withdraw a Marathi television advertisement that the CCC found objectionable and misleading.

With a slowdown in its primary e-commerce business, the shopping portal Snapdeal is looking to expand its gaming offerings. The company has inked a deal with mobile gaming startup Gamezop to start featuring the latter’s top gaming titles on its site.

Continuing to expand across markets, online poker network GGPoker has partnered with one of Europe’s leading online poker and casino operators, Olympic Entertainment Group. As part of the deal, the latter’s online poker site, OlyBet, has joined the GGNetwork.

In other international headlines, the much-awaited merger between The Stars Group (TSG) and Flutter Entertainment has finally come through today. The merged entity Flutter Entertainment plc is valued at £10 Billion (~$12.2 Billion).

Rounding up our Gaming Report is the surprising news that Europe’s biggest casino, King’s Casino and Resort, Rozvadov, is, along with its sister properties, Admiral Casino in Rozvadov and King’s Casino in Prague getting ready to reopen on May 11. While poker tournaments will not be hosted at the venues yet according to the presser released by the casino group, cash games and other casino table games will be functional.

Silver Heritage Group Adopts Cost-Cutting Measure to Tide Over COVID-19 Pandemic

Boutique Asian casino operator Silver Heritage Group Ltd. has initiated “cost reduction strategies” as its casino and hotel operations in Nepal “remain closed” owing to the COVID-19 outbreak. The company did not provide details regarding its cost-saving measures, but said it was “ready to reopen as soon as regulations and conditions permit.”

Silver Heritage owns and operates the casino property Tiger Palace Resort in Bhairahawa on the Indo-Nepal border. The group also manages gaming at the Millionaire’s Club and Casino, in Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal.

ASX-listed Silver Heritage Group says it was tracking well ahead of its 2019 revenue and EBITDA levels at its Nepal casinos before COVID-19 forced the closure of all operations. The company suspended its casino operations in Nepal on March 20 and its hotel operations the following day.

In its latest filing, Silver Heritage said that up to the end of February, the group’s operations in Nepal had recorded revenue of US$2.22 million, up 6.3 percent compared to the first two months of 2019. In a separate filing stating first-quarter cash flows, Silver Heritage said it recorded revenue of US$2.57 million in the first quarter of 2020, down 41.5 percent from a year earlier.

Silver Heritage said that in January, it had secured a loan worth US$1 million from its majority bondholders. The money – provided under several conditions – would be used for working capital, as per a previously issued company statement.

Advertising Watchdog Finds Khelplay Rummy Marathi TV Ad Misleading

A Marathi television advertisement by online rummy site Khelplay Rummy has been found objectionable and misleading. Upholding a complaint against the advert and the company’s parent firm Sachar Gaming Pvt. Ltd., the independent Consumer Complaint Council (CCC) of ASCI has directed the company to withdraw the ad.

The Khel Group is a prominent gaming firm that offers rummy and fantasy games. Khel Rummy offers real-money games in all the three main formats of Indian rummy games, in addition to fantasy cricket.

According to recent reports, the CCC evaluated 232 advertisements in January this year, which included the Khelplay Rummy ad. The ad in question had a tagline that, when translated to English, read, “The more you play, the more you win.”

Referring to this, the CCC observed, “If there is a possibility of winning, then there is also a possibility of losing, which is not mentioned by the advertiser.”

The CCC also pointed out that the advertisement links playing rummy to memory improvement but does not provide any technical or scientific evidence to substantiate the claim. It further said that ads that invite the public to participate in the game with prospects of winning money should also provide all material conditions to enable the consumer to obtain an accurate and fair view of their chances while playing.

Snapdeal Partners With Gamezop to Add Gaming Options

E-commerce portal Snapdeal has signed a deal with mobile gaming startup Gamezop to add the latter’s top gaming titles on the site. This means that going forward, Gamezop’s popular games like Savage Revenge, Battle Fish, Rafting Adventure, Tower Twist, and Sticky Goo will be available to Snapdeal users. All Gamezop games on the site will have pre-set targets for users, which on achieving will unlock discount codes that can be redeemed against purchases on Snapdeal.

According to Snapdeal, the move to expand its online gaming feature is aimed to help increase engagement with users.

Snapdeal has, in the past, launched games like Stack Up, Find The Queen, Spin the Wheel, and Guess The Price. With the Gamezop partnership in place, the portal will be able to expand its game offerings and woo more users.

Talking about the partnership, Manpreet Randhawa, Head of Partnerships, Gamezop said, “Snapdeal’s penetrating reach across India has fascinated us for a long while. We are extremely excited to play our part in increasing time spent and transactions on their platforms.”

Gamezop games can be accessed and played by the users on Snapdeal’s app and website without users having to install them separately as stand-alone apps.

Like other e-commerce sites, Snapdeal has temporarily withdrawn non-essential items from its portal owing to the Coronavirus-led lockdown. Before the lockdown, the portal had close to 70 million monthly user visits, but clearly, the business has taken a big hit due to the pandemic.

OlyBet Joins GGPoker Network

GGPoker is clearly on an expansion spree. After bringing on board a slew of poker superstars as brand ambassadors, the latest of which entailed a collaboration with poker coaching site Pokercode`s co-founder Fedor Holz, the site has now partnered with Estonia-based Olympic Entertainment Group, the parent company of online poker, casino and betting site, OlyBet.

OlyBet is currently active across Europe in countries including the UK, Italy, and Estonia. The brand also runs live events such as Kings of Tallinn and the Battle of Malta.

Calling OlyBet as one of the most experienced poker operators in Europe, Head of GGPoker, Jean-Christophe Antoine said, “In addition to online poker, OlyBet owners Olympic Entertainment Group is famous for organizing top European poker festivals such as the Battle of Malta and Kings of Tallinn. We want OlyBet to become the dominant poker operator in their markets, and GGPoker will support OlyBet 100% in achieving this.”

The Partnership

The partnership extends to all current and future markets of OlyBet. From April 30 onwards, OlyBet players have been given access all the offers and features of GGNetwork.

As Olybet MD, Veiko Krünberg points out, it`s the perfect timing for OlyBet to join GGPoker, with the latter hosting the WSOP Super Circuit Online Series. “It’ll give all of our poker players a chance to get in on the thrilling WSOP Circuit action, all from the comfort and safety of their own homes,” he said.

Krünberg added, “GGPoker Network is the wunderkind of the post-boom online poker business, and this deal is great news for all OlyBet players of today and tomorrow. GGPoker Network, which started operations in Asia, is one of the clear leaders in global online poker, and massive growth lies ahead in Europe and North America.”

Continued Expansion For GGPoker

GGPoker was launched in Asia in 2014. At a time when the Microgaming Poker Network (MPN) is on its way out, the brand`s poker network has grabbed the lion’s share of the market and emerged as the biggest online poker network in the world. There are, on average, close to 30,000 concurrent players on GGNetwork.

The Stars Group & Flutter Merger Completed

The Stars Group`s (TSG) merger with Flutter Entertainment has been officiated today. The alliance has created the world’s largest gambling company.

Things moved ahead fast on the proposed merger after TSG shareholders approved the move with an overwhelming 99.99% majority voting in favor of it late last month.

TSG and Flutter Entertainment were successfully merged after completing their all-shares combination. Together, the company is now valued at more than £10 Billion (~$12.2 Billion) and is known as Flutter Entertainment plc!

The company was listed on the London Stock Exchange at 8 am on May 5 and will also be listed on Ireland’s Euronext Dublin.

According to Flutter, they received the final backing from antitrust authorities, and the shareholders of both companies approved the merger. Effectively, Flutter acquired all issued and outstanding common shares of TSG and will own 54.64% of Flutter Entertainment plc, while TSG will get the remaining 45.36%.

Flutter CEO and now CEO of Flutter Entertainment plc, Peter Jackson, confirmed that the company will continue to function under its “federal operating model” and said, “The enlarged group brings together exceptional brands, products and businesses, a hugely talented and experienced team, and a diverse global presence.”

“The strength of our combined portfolio of assets means that we approach the future with confidence in these uncertain times,” he added.

Flutter owns and operates numerous gaming companies in Europe, Australia, and the US, with brands like PaddyPower, Betfair, Adjarbet, FanDuel, TGV, and Sportsbet on its portfolio. On the other hand, TSG is the parent company of PokerStars, Sky Betting and Gaming (SBG), and the Fox Sports-backed FoxBet, among others.

Last year, the two companies generated more than $4 Billion in combined revenue, with over 13 Million active users across all their platforms combined.

Over some time, Flutter is expected to merge TSG’s international operations with Paddy Power Betfair and SBG to form a new division in the UK and Ireland.

King’s Resort Rozvadov & King’s Casino Prague Reopening Next Week

Europe’s biggest casino King’s Resort that is located in the idyllic village of Rozvadov in the Czech Republic, is, along with the Admiral Casino in Rozvadov and King’s Casino in Prague, planning to reopen on May 11.

The King’s Casino in Rozvadov had early in March, banned Italian players from entering their establishment, owing to the Coronavirus threat. Soon, on March 13, the casino announced that it will remain closed until further notice.

At the time, King’s owner Leon Tsoukernik had said that the casino employees would be paid till at least September 1, giving rise to the speculation that the casino may remain shut till September.

However, it seems from the latest announcements, that the casino will be resuming operations in a week. A tweet from the company read, “King’s Resorts Rozvadov, King’s Casino Prague, and Admiral Casino Rozvadov open again on May 11 at 15:00!”

?⚠️ KING’S REOPENS MAY 11! ⚠️?

King’s Resort Rozvadov, King’s Casino Prague and the Admiral Casino Rozvadov open again on May 11th at 15:00!

Poker Cash Games, live games like Roulette and Black Jack and Slots will be available. More info at FB: https://t.co/EjjLsK0jHM pic.twitter.com/FFYvSStf0x

— King's Resort (@PokerroomKings) May 1, 2020

Elaborating on the same, Tsoukernik said, “Closed casinos cost me the same as open casinos and I can’t wait to welcome guests again.”

According to the casino’s announcement on its Facebook page, poker tournaments will not be hosted at the three casinos owned by Tsoukernik. Still, poker cash games, live games like Black Jack and Roulette and slot games will be available to guests.

The casino has underlined its adherence to the highest standards of hygiene. It has further confirmed that there will be frequent disinfection of all the areas.

Incidentally, the Czech Republic had eased lockdown restrictions a few days back, also lifting a ban on non-essentials as well as international travel.