BetMGM

At $300 Million, This is Expected to be California’s Most Expensive Ballot Fight Ever. And it Just Got More Intense

Published

4 years ago

July 1, 2022

In a sign of the bruising, expensive fight to come, two Native American tribes are coming out in support of a newly qualified ballot measure to allow online sports gambling — instead of a separate gaming measure backed by dozens of other tribes.

On Wednesday, two tribes — the Middletown Rancheria of Pomo Indians and the Big Valley Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians — will announce their support for the online gaming measure that proponents call the Californians for Solutions to Homelessness and Mental Health Support Act.

Backed by commercial operators including FanDuel, DraftKings, and BetMGM, the measure would legalize online sports betting in California, with 85% of the revenue going toward housing for the homeless and mental health services. The rest would go to the Indian tribes that will be partnering with major gaming operators in running the operation.

On Tuesday, Secretary of State Shirley Weber announced that the measure had gathered enough valid petition signatures to be eligible for the ballot in November. A report from the state’s nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office said new tax revenue from the proposal “could reach the mid-hundreds of millions of dollars annually.”

“We’re supporting the Solutions Act because it gives us an opportunity to protect our sovereignty and also create opportunities for economic wealth for the next seven generations for our tribe,” Jose “Moke” Simon, chair of the Middletown Rancheria of Pomo Indians, said.

“It also helps the state of California deal with some of the biggest problems that it has here, that is affecting every community, which is homelessness and mental health issues,” said Simon, who stars in a new online ad for the proposal.

It is a sign that what’s expected to be California’s most expensive ballot measure battle ever is heating up. Analysts have predicted that more than $300 million could be spent between the warring parties. That’s far more than the $224 million spent by both sides over 2020’s Proposition 22, which asked voters to decide whether app-based transportation and delivery drivers should be classified as independent contractors.

Both sides believe that the jackpot that awaits is worth it: California’s estimated sports gaming market is estimated to be around $3 billion. At least.

A proposal supporters call the Tribal Sports Wagering Act, which is backed by dozens of Native American tribes, already qualified to go before voters in November. It would allow only in-person sports betting to occur only at tribal casinos and qualified horse racetracks. Proponents say they have secured the endorsement of roughly one-third of California’s 109 Native tribes.

Kathy Fairbanks, a spokesperson for the Tribal Act, said that measure represents a more responsible approach.

“It’s allows sports betting to patrons over 21 and older. You have to be there in person, show your ID, people can look you in the eye and make sure that you match the ID in front of you,” Fairbanks said.

The decision for voters, said industry analyst Brandt Iden, is “retail-only sports betting versus mobile.”

“That’s what this is going to come down to do for consumers,” said Iden, a former Republican Michigan state representative who is now head of government affairs at Sportradar, a sports technology company that provides data and content to the betting industry. “Do I need to walk into a sports book to place a wager, or can I do it from a mobile device anywhere in the state?”

Proponents of the online-only measure touted Wednesday’s endorsement from two smaller tribes as a sign that all of California’s Native tribes aren’t fully on board with the in-person-only measure.

Simon, from the Middletown Rancheria of Pomo Indians, which operates the Twin Pine Casino and Hotel in Middletown (Lake County), said the online proposal helps smaller tribes that are far from major population centers. If sports betting were confined to only in-person betting at tribal casinos and racetracks, casinos like the one his tribe operates wouldn’t see much uptick in foot traffic.

“We are looking to obviously move into e-commerce, and this gives us an opportunity to do that,” said Simon, who is also a Lake County supervisor.

But Fairbanks, who represents the in-person proposal, discounted the impact of a few tribes supporting the online proposal, noting that more than 60 tribes oppose it.

“The vast, vast majority are opposed to the (online) measure, and we will make sure that voters are aware of that,” Fairbanks said.

Iden, of Sportradar, said it “isn’t surprising” that some smaller tribes are partnering with the commercial operators. He has seen that happen in other states, including Michigan, where he served. The California online gaming proposal requires a commercial operator to be paired with a Native tribe to be able to enter the market.

Iden said that sort of partnership model has been used in other states “where commercial operators enter the market through a tribal brick-and-mortar operation. Traditionally, smaller tribes really benefit from that because of the money that’s involved.”

The larger question will be whether Californians — particularly the younger generation of digital natives who grew up doing many of life’s activities online — will support a measure that would force them to travel to a casino or racetrack to legally bet on a sporting event.

“That is a huge challenge because everything is really online these days,” said Geoff Zochodne, who covers the gaming industry for Covers, an online site. “That’s where the customer is increasingly located for all businesses.”

Fairbanks didn’t dismiss the tribes pursuing online gaming in the future but said that the current online measure isn’t the way to go “at this point in time.”

“Maybe technology will change. But right now, there’s no 100% foolproof way to ensure that kids under 21 aren’t gambling,” she said.

Iden said the real challenge will be for voters, who will see a blizzard of competing ads. Some ads opposing the online-only proposal have been running for weeks online and on TV — even before the measure officially qualified for the ballot.

“The real question becomes how much confusion is created by these two initiatives,” Iden said. “If you’ve got lengthy ballot proposals that you have to sit there and read, you sort of question whether or not people just get confused and they vote no on both.”

BetMGM

Gaming Corps expands Entain partnership with major Canadian rollout

Published

3 days ago

July 8, 2026

GamingAmericas.com

gaming-corps-expands-entain-partnership-with-major-canadian-rollout

Gaming Corps, a publicly listed game development company based in Sweden, has expanded its partnership with Entain, one of the world’s largest sports betting and gaming groups, marking the latest phase of a relationship that began with the companies’ original partnership agreement in 2022 and now spans multiple Entain brands.

Canada is a major focus for the extended partnership. Gaming Corps went live with Entain’s Joint Venture, BetMGM in Ontario in December 2025, followed by a wider Entain rollout in the province in March 2026. Both are now preparing for the opening of Alberta’s regulated iGaming market in July, with the studio’s content ready to go live from day one with BetMGM and Party Casino & Sports Interaction following shortly after.

The partnership has also continued to grow internationally, with Gaming Corps completing a full content launch in Brazil with Sportingbet and Betboo in May of this year, followed by the exclusive launch of 3 Pigs of Olympus across Entain’s UK-facing Ladbrokes, Coral Gala and Foxy brands in June.

Additional market launches in Portugal, Spain and New Zealand are also being prepared.

The latest phase includes a mix of Gaming Corps’ most recognisable content, from football-themed titles such as Penalty Champion, Goals to Glory: Football Fever and Goals to Glory: Instant Blitz, to the studio’s high-performing 3 Pigs IP.

Graham Greensmith, Chief Commercial Officer at Gaming Corps, said: “For Gaming Corps, this is a huge milestone. Entain is one of the biggest names in global gaming, so to see our relationship grow in this way is a clear sign of the trust, performance and commercial value we have built together.

“What makes this particularly exciting is the scale of the opportunity. This is not a single-brand launch or a one-market rollout. Entain is continuing to take Gaming Corps content into more territories, across more of its brands, and that says a lot about where we are as a business.

“We have worked hard to build a portfolio that gives major operators real flexibility, from high-performing IP to timely, event-led content and new game formats. To see that strategy being recognised by a partner of Entain’s calibre is incredibly rewarding, and we are very excited about what comes next.”

Obdulio Bacarese, Global Gaming Director at Entain, added: “Gaming Corps has been a valuable partner over the last four years. The strength of the relationship lies in how easily the content can be activated around different commercial priorities, from supporting new market entries to adding timely releases around key calendar moments. The studio understands the need for content that is flexible, relevant and easy to position locally, and we are pleased to continue building on the partnership.”

The post Gaming Corps expands Entain partnership with major Canadian rollout appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

BetMGM

Entain expands Octoplay rollout to 11 markets

Published

4 days ago

July 7, 2026

Wladimir P.

entain-expands-octoplay-rollout-to-11-markets

Deal spans UK, Europe and North America via BetMGM, with Brazil, Greece, Italy and Spain launches in the pipeline.

Entain is expanding its Octoplay content partnership to 11 markets, with Alberta set to go live next. The companies said Octoplay will launch with Entain “on day one” in the Canadian province following the studio’s provincial licensing.

The partnership started with a UK launch and has since extended to Belgium, Canada, Croatia, Denmark, Georgia and Ontario, according to the companies. In the US, Entain’s joint venture BetMGM was Octoplay’s first operator partner, taking the studio live in Michigan and New Jersey.

Entain and Octoplay have also worked on product development. The companies said they co-developed “Jackpot Blitz”, described as a bespoke version of Octoplay’s jackpot engine built for Entain’s player base, and deployed across Entain’s brand portfolio.

On content exclusives, Octoplay said it is delivering four bespoke game projects for Entain in 2025, including a branded title for Coral and “the launch of an Elvis Presley branded game exclusively with BetMGM in the US”. The studio added that two further bespoke projects are in development.

“Our story with Entain is not a typical supplier-operator relationship,” says Ralitsa Georgieva, CEO at Octoplay. “They backed us early, opened markets we couldn’t have entered alone, and trusted us to build products that sit at the heart of their content strategy. From Jackpot Blitz to Elvis, every project has been a genuine partnership. We are now focused on bringing this momentum into Spain, Brazil, Italy, and Greece — and we’re only getting started.”

“What sets Octoplay apart is the combination of creative ambition and the operational speed to deliver against it,” says Obdulio Bacarese, Global Gaming Director at Entain. “We identified them as a studio with exceptional potential, and what we’ve seen since — the rapid multi-market scaling, Jackpot Blitz, four bespoke exclusives, the Elvis launch in the US — has confirmed that judgment. Octoplay has earned its place as a strategic content partner for this group.”

The post Entain expands Octoplay rollout to 11 markets appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

BetMGM

BetMGM Relaunches Borgata Online Platform

Published

1 week ago

July 2, 2026

GamingAmericas.com

betmgm-relaunches-borgata-online-platform

BetMGM, a leading iGaming and sports betting operator, announced the official relaunch of Borgata Online, representing the platform’s latest evolution and building on more than a decade of continuous innovation since its 2013 debut as one of New Jersey’s first regulated online casinos. Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa will host a Fourth of July weekend celebration to mark the launch of the reimagined platform.

“Borgata wrote the first chapter of legal online gambling in 2013 and now we are writing the next one. Borgata players are some of our most engaged and loyal customers, so we wanted to ensure their experience reflects the exceptional quality that has become synonymous with the Borgata name. Borgata provides a seamless connection to online and in-person experiences and exemplifies what a legal, regulated online casino can achieve. This latest product investment underscores how seriously we take our responsibility to players, regulators, and all who have made Borgata Online what it is today,” said Matt Prevost, Chief Revenue Officer at BetMGM.

Borgata’s online journey began October 9, 2013 when it received New Jersey’s first internet gambling permit from the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement. Borgata was part of the state’s initial soft-launch group November 21, 2013, and legal online casino gambling in New Jersey went fully live to the public November 26, 2013. Borgata Online has since been a consistent contributor to New Jersey’s economy, with records dating to 2015, indicating the brand has contributed $250 million in taxes to the state.

Built on more than two decades of regional brand equity established in Atlantic City, the reimagined Borgata Online (available in New Jersey and Pennsylvania) delivers a refreshed interface, streamlined navigation, and ongoing feature parity with BetMGM’s flagship platform.

Key enhancements and events include:

Streamlined navigation

• The update delivers a full, visual refresh alongside a suite of new features designed to improve usability and engagement. Among the enhancements are structured top navigation tabs and a standardized bottom navigation bar, making it easier for players to browse and navigate the platform. The redesigned account hub centralizes information including available bonuses, playable balance, and withdrawable balance within a single tap.

• Casino players will benefit from improved access to their gaming activity. They can quickly launch favorite and recently played games directly from the home screen, streamlining the path back into gameplay.

New Rewards Hub

• Central to the update is a new unified Rewards Hub that consolidates promotions, Borgata Rewards Points, and MGM Rewards tier status into a single destination. It provides players with full visibility into the value they’ve earned and showcases the scope of the online and on-property ecosystem.

Expanded game selection built for Borgata players

• Borgata Online features 4000 titles, including 250 exclusive games and an industry-leading live dealer offering. Bespoke Borgata-branded games are planned throughout the remainder of the year, including Borgata Gem Strike and Borgata 777 Respin Deluxe, the sequel to Borgata 777 Respin, which has ranked among the platform’s top-performing titles for more than five years.

Fourth of July weekend

• Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa and Borgata Online will present a fireworks spectacular on Friday, July 3. Produced by the world-renowned Fireworks by Grucci, the 20-minute display of colorful, choreographed pyrotechnics will illuminate the Atlantic City skyline starting at 9:30 p.m. Public viewing will be available starting at 8:30 p.m. from Borgata’s surface lot.

• Borgata Online will celebrate its launch with a multi-day on‑property activation. Festivities begin Friday, July 3 with an adult game zone experience featuring interactive entertainment and branded giveaways, followed by hotel activations Saturday, July 4 and Sunday, July 5. Throughout the weekend, guests can visit the claw machine activation in the lobby, where new Borgata Online players who sign up and make a $25 deposit can pull for prizes, including the chance to win a $10,000 online casino bonus, luxury prizes and bonus spins. Casino bonus is non‑withdrawable and subject to a 1x playthrough requirement. It will be credited to the player’s account with three days to claim and will expire seven (7) days thereafter.

• Guests are invited to step into a nostalgic New Jersey diner scene for a complimentary retro-inspired photo opportunity on the casino floor – Saturday, July 4 from noon to 5 p.m. and Sunday, July 5 from 2-8 p.m.

The post BetMGM Relaunches Borgata Online Platform appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.