New SBK Betting Podcast with Lee Westwood as first guest

Published

5 years ago

September 22, 2021

Reading Time: 2 minutes

SBK – the sportsbook app powered by Smarkets – is delighted to announce the launch of the new SBK Betting Podcast, hosted by Jess Stafford of Racing TV.
Every episode will feature a new guest from the world of sport, starting with Lee Westwood, one of the most recognisable faces in golf for over 20 years.
Westwood is due to tie with Sir Nick Faldo’s record of 11 Ryder Cup appearances when he represents Team Europe at Whistling Straits this week and speaking exclusively to SBK on the podcast, he said:

“It’s ironic really that he set the record of 11 Ryder Cups in 1997 at Valderrama where I was his partner and that was my first one, so it’s all kind of gone full circle really. He’s obviously a legend of the game and it’s nice to be tying a record that he holds.”

The Ryder Cup veteran also commented on Brooks Koepka’s criticism of the ‘hectic’ event schedule:

“I can see where Brooks is coming from. Some people find it difficult to adjust to that team environment. We’ve all got into golf because we like the buck to stop with us at the end of the day. We like being individuals. A lot of us played team sports in our youth and we’ve kind of transferred to golf because it’s an individual sport and we like that environment, and then you get thrown into the team environment. The week of the Ryder Cup there is a lot to do, they cram a lot of media in, dinners etc. and practice rounds take a lot longer, and there aren’t a lot of hours in the day. And if you’re somebody like Brooks who likes to chill out going into tournaments it’s difficult; at a Major Championship he might play 18 holes on Monday, nine holes Tuesday, nine holes Wednesday, and really not do a lot but at the Ryder Cup it’s very full on!”

Team USA are 4/7 favourites with SBK to lift the trophy but Westwood does not believe these odds factor in the team element of the Ryder Cup enough:

“All the statistics that are used for compiling the odds take into consideration individual achievements. The world rankings are all based on individual achievements. But at the Ryder Cup you come together as a team so it’s completely different to what we do week in and week out. European teams seem to bond well and bond that little bit better (than the Americans). I always go into it not really thinking that either team is particularly the favourite. It’s a pretty level playing field and I think it’s just who holes the most putts at the right time, and generally just plays that last hole well when you need to under pressure; that’s who is going to come out on top at the end of the week.”

Westwood also announced that his son, Sam, would be taking over caddying duties from his wife Helen, who caddied for him at the recent BMW PGA Championship:

“Sam’s doing the Ryder Cup, my son. Helen’s doing all the wives and partners things and Sam’s doing the caddying. Sam’s caddied a lot for me this year, at the Masters and other events in Europe like the Scottish Open. They share it between the two of them. Both know what to say to me, they don’t get involved in the yardage or picking clubs but they’re good on the psychology side of things. They just keep me in a good, nice, relaxed frame of mind which is even more important the week of the Ryder Cup.”

BetMGM lands first-to-market exclusivity for new AGS Rakin’ Bacon! slots

Published

12 hours ago

April 20, 2026

Wladimir P.

betmgm-lands-first-to-market-exclusivity-for-new-ags-rakin’-bacon!-slots

Three-game rollout starts April 20 on BetMGM and Borgata Online Casino, with launches set for May 12 and July 2.

BetMGM has secured exclusive first-to-market rights to upcoming online slot titles from AGS’ Rakin’ Bacon!® franchise, with releases set to roll out across BetMGM and Borgata Online Casino, the company said April 20.

The first title, Rakin’ Bacon! Triple Oink Soda Fountain Fortunes, is available now. Two additional games are scheduled: Rakin’ Bacon! Triple Oink San Shen Zhu on May 12 and Rakin’ Bacon! Fu Zhu Bao Bao on July 2.

“The Rakin’ Bacon! franchise is a proven mainstay on casino floors and online,” said Oliver Bartlett, Senior Vice President of Gaming at BetMGM. “Securing first-to-market rights is a natural extension of the strong relationship we’ve built with top-tier game suppliers like AGS. As a premier online casino destination, it is our commitment to offer players first access to the most anticipated titles.”

BetMGM said Rakin’ Bacon! games have been among its top-performing content, noting that two slot titles from the franchise placed among the platform’s top 15 iGaming offerings in 2025.

Zoe Ebling, Vice President of Interactive at AGS, said, “AGS is focused on bringing the energy of land-based favorites into the digital world in ways that drive real engagement. Our continued partnership with BetMGM and bringing even more Rakin’ Bacon! titles online cements AGS’ commitment to offering standout gaming experiences to players across both platforms.”

More data as follows:

BetMGM newsroom (original release): https://casino.betmgm.com/en/blog/press/ Primary source for the announcement and any follow-up details.
AGS newsroom: https://newsroom.playags.com/ Company source for product and partnership updates on AGS’ interactive content.
New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement: https://www.nj.gov/oag/ge/ Regulatory context for online casino operations referenced in Jersey City, NJ.

The post BetMGM lands first-to-market exclusivity for new AGS Rakin’ Bacon! slots appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

asia-pacific

PokerOrg named official media partner of Asian Poker Tour

Published

12 hours ago

April 20, 2026

Wladimir P.

pokerorg-named-official-media-partner-of-asian-poker-tour

Exclusive global deal covers APT Taipei, Incheon, Jeju and the APT Championship in Taipei through the rest of 2026.

PokerOrg has been appointed the Official Media Partner of the Asian Poker Tour (APT) under an exclusive global partnership announced April 20, 2026 in Douglas, Isle of Man.

The agreement makes PokerOrg APT’s global storytelling and audience development partner for the tour’s remaining 2026 stops: APT Taipei (April/May), APT Incheon (August), APT Jeju (September/October), and the APT Championship (November), which will again be held in Taipei.

APT said it has been the fastest growing poker tour in the world since the “APT New Era” began in 2023. The company also pointed to the debut APT Championship, which it said generated more than $34 million in prize money.

“APT has been one of the most important stories in poker for several years, but much of the global audience hasn’t experienced it yet,” said Eric Hollreiser, CEO of PokerOrg parent company Triple Barrel Media. “This partnership changes that, not by reporting on APT from the outside, but by bringing players inside it and making it matter to a global audience.”

“PokerOrg is the gold standard in poker media, so bringing them on as our Official Media Partner is a natural fit. Their values around integrity and how they approach the game are fully aligned with APT.” said Fred Leung, CEO of the Asian Poker Tour.

PokerOrg said its coverage will include creator-led content, social-first formats and integrated event reporting across its platforms. The company also plans to launch a dedicated APT hub on Poker.org and extend its Pick 3 fan format to the APT Championship, with winners receiving a package to an APT event in 2027.

Relevant data as follows:

Asian Poker Tour (APT): https://theasianpokertour.com/ Official tour site to verify schedule, destinations and announcements referenced in the partnership.
PokerOrg: https://www.poker.org/ Official PokerOrg site for details on coverage formats, the APT hub and Pick 3 product references.
Triple Barrel Media: https://triplebarrelmedia.com/ Parent company site for corporate context around PokerOrg and executive attribution.

The post PokerOrg named official media partner of Asian Poker Tour appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Latest News

BetMGM Secures Exclusive First-To-Market Rights For Upcoming AGS Rakin’ Bacon! Titles

Published

12 hours ago

April 20, 2026

GamingAmericas.com

betmgm-secures-exclusive-first-to-market-rights-for-upcoming-ags-rakin’-bacon!-titles

BetMGM, a leading iGaming and sports betting operator, announced a continuing partnership with AGS, a leading supplier of high-performing slot, table, and online gaming products, to debut new titles from the Rakin’ Bacon!® franchise. BetMGM will have a period of exclusivity for the new games, available at BetMGM and Borgata Online Casino.

Upcoming release schedule:

Rakin’ Bacon! Triple Oink Soda Fountain Fortunes – Available Now
Rakin’ Bacon! Triple Oink San Shen Zhu – Available May 12
Rakin’ Bacon! Fu Zhu Bao Bao – Available July 2

“The Rakin’ Bacon! franchise is a proven mainstay on casino floors and online,” said Oliver Bartlett, Senior Vice President of Gaming at BetMGM. “Securing first-to-market rights is a natural extension of the strong relationship we’ve built with top-tier game suppliers like AGS. As a premier online casino destination, it is our commitment to offer players first access to the most anticipated titles.”

Led by Cornsquealius, the recognizable golden piggy bank character, Rakin’ Bacon! games have consistently ranked among BetMGM’s top performers, with two slot titles from the franchise placing among the platform’s top 15 iGaming offerings in 2025. What began with a traditional pot-collection bonus and five-of-a-kind pays has grown into a suite of styles and features that reflect both player trends and the brand’s creative evolution.

Zoe Ebling, Vice President of Interactive at AGS, said, “AGS is focused on bringing the energy of land-based favorites into the digital world in ways that drive real engagement. Our continued partnership with BetMGM and bringing even more Rakin’ Bacon! titles online cements AGS’ commitment to offering standout gaming experiences to players across both platforms.”

BetMGM’s award-winning online casino is home to over 7,000 titles across North American markets and one of the largest state-by-state exclusive progressive jackpot networks. BetMGM’s jackpot network currently consists of over 25 games including titles such as MGM Grand Millions, Bison Fury, and 15 Lanterns. Players can earn BetMGM Rewards Points and Tier Credits by playing at BetMGM Casino. BetMGM Rewards points can be redeemed for digital bonuses, MGM Rewards Points, and Marriott Bonvoy Points.

As BetMGM continues to expand into new markets and introduce new features, responsible gambling remains a key focus. Additionally, BetMGM is proud to provide resources to help customers play responsibly including GameSense, an industry leading program, developed and licensed to MGM Resorts by the British Columbia Lottery Corporation. Through the integration within BetMGM’s mobile and desktop platforms, customers can receive the same GameSense experience they have grown to rely on at MGM Resorts properties nationwide. This complements BetMGM’s existing responsible gambling tools which serve to provide customers with an entertaining and safe digital experience.

For more information on BetMGM, follow @BetMGM on X.
For more information on AGS, visit newsroom.playags.com.

The post BetMGM Secures Exclusive First-To-Market Rights For Upcoming AGS Rakin’ Bacon! Titles appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.