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OKTO unlocks digital payments directly on REGAL gaming machines across UK Pubs

Published

3 years ago

May 18, 2021

George Miller

Reading Time: 2 minutes

OKTO.WALLET meets pubgoers demands for secure, cashless, mobile payments across the UK

Regal, a subsidiary of the Merkur Group UK and a leading UK supplier of amusement equipment to the leisure sector, will accept cashless payments directly onto its gaming machines via OKTO.WALLET.

Users of the OKTO.WALLET mobile app are able to deposit and withdraw funds safely, securely and seamlessly directly onto any collaborating gaming machines in the UK leisure sector. The OKTO.WALLET is a fully licensed payment service, reducing payment friction, enhancing customer experience, and focusing on responsible gambling and player protection.

The joint offering is ready to give Britain’s Pubs sector a much needed post-lockdown boost, by introducing a fully cashless experience tailored to the gaming industry and its players’ demands, increasing customer engagement and footfall. Pubgoers can embark on this digital journey by downloading for free the OKTO app from the App Store and Google Play and creating an account in just a few minutes. The OKTO app enables users to move their funds instantly across the entire payment ecosystem; from the gaming machine, the pub’s ordering app, the bartop cashier, all the way out to any retail or online business accepting OKTO Prepaid Mastercard®, linked to the OKTO wallet account.

OKTO’s mobile-first solution has easily integrated into Regal’s gaming machines without the need for any additional hardware or upfront costs, securing a level playing field in the retail gaming sector with the rest of the UK high street economy.

OKTO, in line with all major levels of responsible gaming and the latest callings of the UKGC, puts control directly in the hands of the user with powerful age verification, gaming limits and time-out periods tools, as well as with problem gambling helplines available within the app.

OKTO.WALLET is available at selected pubs with further locations being added in the coming weeks and months. Given strong customer demand and amidst the COVID-19 situation, OKTO continues to expand its UK wallet through its partnership with Regal. Pubgoers using Regal’s gaming machines are able to take advantage of a secure, universal and cashless payment method as it rolls out across the Regal network.

Simon Dorsen, Director of Gaming at OKTO, said: “Britain is moving beyond ‘peak cash’ this year, as the country has well and truly embraced a cashless society due to its convenience and ease. The Pub and Gaming sectors are able to address the users’ need with a flexible and cashless solution, thanks to our collaboration with Regal.

We designed a turn-key solution for the market that enables consumers to use a complete, digital, cashless solution, not only directly on gaming machines but also across the entire payment ecosystem. Providing them with a single payment app, users have the freedom to use their OKTO.WALLET anywhere, whether it’s pubs, AGC, Casinos or high street shops.”

Matt Bicknell, Managing Director Operations and Product at Regal, added: “Through our collaboration with OKTO, we found both a digital, instant and cashless solution to meet our customers demand and the flexible, market-proven technology that enabled us to easily adopt it in our gaming machines. The launch is the result of extensive research and co-development between our companies, and we are working actively on rolling it out to our client base in the UK.”

Angela Bernhard Thomas

CAPCOM’S STREET FIGHTERTM 6 GOING TO COLLEGE THIS FALL

Published

19 hours ago

May 3, 2024

GamingAmericas.com

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CSMG will create and operate College Street FighterTM Tour in North America for the 2024-25 academic year
College conference Street Fighter 6 champions will punch their ticket to the national Collegiate Esports Commissioner’s Cup (CECC) & May Madness in 2025

Collegiate Sports Management Group (CSMG) announced today during the kick-off of its Collegiate Esports Commissioner’s Cup (CECC) Texas presented by McDonald’s that it has joined forces with Capcom to launch the College Street FighterTM Tour during its 2024-25 academic year with the finalists competing at CECC Texas in 2025 throughout its May Madness event. Street FighterTM 6 will join Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Overwatch 2®, Rocket League, and VALORANT as part of the official game titles for CECC.

“We are immensely excited to welcome Capcom into the CECC family and provide a path to glory for student athletes to showcase their skills in Street Fighter 6,” said Michael Schreck, Chief Executive Officer for CSMG. “In our fourth year of building May Madness, we continue to listen to our players, coaches and fans on how to make our event more inclusive, and the partnership with Street Fighter 6 is a resounding success.”

“The Street Fighter franchise is a multi-generational and global game series, so it’s important for us to continue to grow that fandom at the collegiate level,” said Michael Larson, Head of Esports at Capcom USA. “CECC continues to set the standard for competition and community, so it’s a natural format for expansion, and we’re eager for College Street Fighter Tour competitors across North America to show off their skills and join us in Texas next year.”

”The vision for the College Street Fighter Tour is a publisher backed esports series that integrates into the existing infrastructure of The Collegiate Esports Commissioners Cup, a bracket style event series that takes place every year and has been coined May Madness. The path to championship includes invitational bids to national and regional level conferences as well as official CECC qualifiers held regionally,” said Angela Bernhard Thomas, Chief Esports Officer for CSMG’s ESPORTSU.

Every college or university from a 2-year or 4-year institution can participate through their conference or through select qualifiers. Wim Stocks will serve as the Commissioner of the College Street Fighter Tour and bring his 20 years of experience in college esports to create a dynamic and engaging format of competitive gaming.

“Since the launch of Street Fighter 6 in June of ’23, it is clear the rich legacy of Street Fighter is stronger than ever and helping lift the fighting game community to still greater heights,” said Stocks. “Having a structure now for a national collegiate competitive series, league, and events, Capcom and ESPORTSU are building a phenomenal ecosystem and mechanism for developing up and coming Street Fighter 6 competitors.”

More details on the College Street Fighter Tour will be shared later this year.

CSMG welcomes 84 teams (up from 64 in 2023) this weekend from a record breaking 19 conference champions to the largest scholastic esports festival globally. They will compete at Esports Stadium Arlington on May 3-5 for the chance to hoist one of the coveted trophies. Fans can watch the CECC Texas on ESPORTSU’s Twitch channel at https://www.twitch.tv/esportsu.

CECC Texas 2023 was also recently awarded LAN Event of the Year during the inaugural Scholars Awards in Las Vegas, which are produced in partnership with the Esports Awards.

Clark County

Clark County residents can bring a friend for free to next week’s Super Bingo $160,000 tournament at the Plaza Hotel & Casino, May 6-8

Published

19 hours ago

May 3, 2024

GamingAmericas.com

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Home to downtown Las Vegas’ only bingo room, the Plaza Hotel & Casino is offering Clark County, Nevada residents who register to play in next week’s Super Bingo tournament the opportunity to bring a friend for free.

Happening Monday, May 6 through Wednesday, May 8 in the Plaza’s expansive ballroom, Super Bingo is expected to draw nearly 1,000 people from the local Las Vegas valley and across the country and Canada for the opportunity to win big playing fun-filled games of bingo over two days, with a $50,000 super coverall both days while socializing with like-minded bingo players.

Bingo-only registration is $160 per person, and Clark County residents who register can bring a friend for free. Registration is available online at https://www.plazahotelcasino.com/bingo/super-bingo-registration/. Hotel-and-bingo packages start at $300 for a four-night stay with no resort fee.

All Super Bingo players receive one 6-on paper pack for both days, two daubers, free drinks via an open bar at all sessions, boxed lunch both days, and $10 in free slot play after the first day’s session.

The Plaza’s Bingo room offers six daily bingo sessions at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m., 5 p.m., 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. and is located on the 3rd floor. By parking on the third floor of the Plaza’s self-parking garage, guests have convenient and direct access to the Plaza’s bingo room and parking is validated for bingo players.

Gambling in the USA

Kambi Group plc extends Mohegan partnership with on-property sports betting agreement in Pennsylvania

Published

2 days ago

May 2, 2024

GamingAmericas.com

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Kambi Group plc (“Kambi”), the world’s trusted sports betting partner, has agreed a long-term on-property sportsbook partnership with Mohegan to provide its award-winning sportsbook at two retail locations in the state of Pennsylvania.

The partnership will see Mohegan utilise Kambi’s cutting-edge retail sportsbook offering across more than 20 kiosks in sportsbook locations at Mohegan Pennsylvania and Mohegan Pennsylvania at Lehigh Valley Race and Sportsbook.

The deal further strengthens Kambi’s relationship with Mohegan, which already utilises Kambi’s suite of sports betting products at ilani in Washington, as well as online and on-property in the Canadian province of Ontario at Fallsview Casino Resort and Casino Niagara.

Kristian Nylén, Kambi CEO and Co-founder, said: “With several successful partnerships with Mohegan already in place, we are pleased to agree this new partnership as we continue to build on our strong relationship.

“This latest deal further reinforces Kambi’s position as the sportsbook provider of choice for tribes across North America, and we look forward to our ongoing collaboration with Mohegan.”

Tony Carlucci, President & GM of Mohegan Pennsylvania, said: “Mohegan Pennsylvania is excited to continue utilising the same Kambi technology platform that existed under our Kindred partnership, which will help to create a seamless process as the Sportsbook at Mohegan Pennsylvania fully rebrands later this Spring.”