Investment in new, no-cost services to facilitate problem gambling recovery across the state

The Arizona Department of Gaming’s Division of Problem Gambling (Division) announced today that it has awarded its first peer support and recovery services program contract to Dezerve Counseling LLC, which was selected following a competitive Request for Proposal to develop, launch, and manage the State of Arizona’s first problem gambling peer support and recovery program. The award marks a significant public investment in problem gambling recovery in Arizona, where peer support services will be provided free of charge and confidentially.

“Creating an additional pathway to recovery for Arizona community members negatively impacted by problem gambling – via the peer support and recovery services program – is exciting for our agency and the people we serve,” said Elise Mikkelsen, Director, Division of Problem Gambling. “We are proud of our track record of offering timely and effective assistance to Arizonans, and we look forward to adding peer support and recovery services to enhance the comprehensive options available through the Division of Problem Gambling.”

Each client participating in the program will be paired with a Peer Support and Recovery Specialist who has deep, lived experience with problem gambling; entered the problem gambling recovery community themself or supported a loved one doing so; and has been rigorously trained in peer support practice, including through applicable professional certifications. With first-hand, lived experience in addiction, specialists can provide a non-clinician point of view with real-time, confidential advice and support.

“We at Dezerve Counseling are honored and excited to partner with the Division of Problem Gambling to launch a dedicated peer support and recovery program for problem gambling,” said Darfetta Muhammad, Chief Administrative Officer at Dezerve Counseling. “We believe, just as the Division does, that recovery begins with a single step forward. We are proud that Dezerve Counseling can now offer that vital next step to individuals and families navigating problem gambling.”

For convenience and maximum impact, peer support will be available statewide and offered in-person, virtually, and over the phone, and will be provided in one-on-one settings as well as in group settings led by a specialist. Importantly, Arizonans may access the peer support program at any stage of their problem gambling journey – this includes individuals experiencing problem gambling and reaching out for assistance for the first time, as well as individuals already seeing a doctor or clinician. There will be no fee for participants and no requirement that the participant have an insurance plan.

To drive workforce capacity to meet the demand for problem gambling support, the program will recruit and train Peer Support and Recovery Specialists who will be ready to make an immediate impact on their clients’ recovery. This workforce component is consistent with the Division’s focus on ensuring gambling treatment programs can meet future community needs while increasing system capacity. Dezerve Counseling and the Division expect the program to launch Spring 2026.

To learn more about the Division of Problem Gambling and its work providing a sustainable continuum of services that reduces the impact of problem gambling across Arizona, please visit problemgambling.az.gov. Always 24/7, free, and confidential, Arizonans who want to inquire about problem gambling services are encouraged to text NEXTSTEP to 53342 or call 1-800-NEXT-STEP.

AI to transform fan experiences, create new revenue streams and unlock sponsorship opportunities across the industry worldwide.

The Argentine Football Association (AFA), reigning FIFA World Cup champions, has teamed with Verofax, its exclusive agentic AI partner, to launch Vamos Argentina, an AI-powered fan experience platform designed to transform Argentina’s 900+ million fans into micro-influencers, while promoting brands at a fraction of traditional influencer and social marketing costs.

Unveiled at a launch event in Miami, Vamos Argentina introduces a unique Digital Media category that lets fans create branded experiences with secure, templated GenAI-driven images and videos featuring Argentine players and matchday scenes (UGC), and instantly post them to their preferred social platforms.

Vamos Argentina unlocks a new brand sponsorship channel as well, giving brands the ability to reach 4 billion sports followers, not through advertising, but through GenAI-driven fan experiences featuring brands and products – powered by AFA’s passionate fan pool and Verofax’s unique agentic AI technology.

Through Vamos Argentina, fans are incentivised to create AI-driven experiences with selfies, official players, videos and memorabilia, with each post integrating brand assets while the platform ensures compliance, brand safety and consistent sponsor visibility across millions of posts.

Transforming Fan Passion into Brand Influence

Leandro Petersen, Chief Marketing Officer of AFA, said: “Our partnership with Verofax opens a new chapter for AFA. Vamos Argentina is a revolutionary platform for fans worldwide to connect through generative AI experiences and drive international growth. It also creates a powerful sponsorship channel, providing brands with a measurable Return on Ad Spend (ROAS) and a repeatable, scalable way to engage with our global AFA fan base.”

Wassim Merheby, CEO of Verofax, added: “AFA is pioneering official GenAI experiences as a new channel for brand sponsors. By training AI engines on players, we deliver authentic AI-powered experiences featuring sponsors’ brands at a fraction of the cost of traditional approaches. With over 100M AFA followers, 250-500M match viewers and 900M combined player followers, Vamos Argentina offers unprecedented reach and engagement.”

Targeted, Scalable, and Measurable

Live demos at the launch event showcased how fans can become micro-influencers in seconds. With a single photo, the AI creates immersive moments featuring real players, official kits, AFA backdrops, and branded product placements – ready for instant sharing. Each post carries sponsor branding, amplifying authentic fan-driven content across social networks.

Sponsors benefit from guaranteed fan posts per brand campaign, reaching millions of targeted sports followers at unmatched CPM rates compared to traditional influencer marketing. Campaigns are fully managed by Verofax, with gamified fan experiences and incentives such as VIP tickets, signed merchandise, and exclusive meet-and-greets to drive participation and engagement.

Opportunities Ahead of World Cup 2026

With limited sponsorship slots available, AFA will begin promoting Vamos Argentina packages in January 2026, supported by a global marketing campaign to activate fans worldwide. To learn more about sponsoring AFA’s AI-powered fan experiences featuring your brand and products, visit afa.verofax.com.

Small buy-ins and big guarantees up to $250,000 across 50 MOSS events designed for players of all bankrolls

ACR Poker’s low-stakes Mini Online Super Series (MOSS) returns for three weeks from Sunday, January 11th through Sunday, February 1st, bringing $2 million in guaranteed prize pools across 50 total events.

Kicking off this Sunday, players of all levels – from seasoned pros to casual players – can join the action with accessible buy-ins starting at just $2.20 and going up to $66. The lineup features a wide variety of tournaments, including several six-figure guaranteed events, with prize pools reaching as high as $250,000.

Designed to complement ACR Poker’s stacked January poker schedule, the MOSS enhances the calendar with five additional events on Mondays, Thursdays, and Sundays, bringing even more action throughout the series.

Among the standout events are the $200,000 GTD and $250,000 GTD MOSS Mystery Bounty events (both $66 buy-in), taking place on January 11th and January 25th, respectively. Players can also compete in the $150,000 GTD MOSS event ($33 buy-in) on January 18th, the $100,000 GTD MOSS event ($22 buy-in) on February 1st, and the $50,000 GTD MOSS event ($11 buy-in) on January 11th.

“After December’s smash-hit edition, we’re excited to bring the Mini Online Super Series back,” said ACR Pro Chris Moneymaker. “January’s lineup is packed with variety, huge guarantees, great value, and low buy-ins, making it easy for everyone to join the fun and take a shot at big prize pools without needing a huge bankroll. I hope to see you at the tables.”

The MOSS runs alongside ACR Poker’s popular Sunday Mania, Must Play Mondays, and Big Poker Thursdays tourneys, giving players even more opportunities to transform routine play into something extraordinary. And with the massive Dual Mystery Bounty Venom tournaments just around the corner, starting Sunday, January 18th, the MOSS is the perfect warm-up for players looking to hone their tournament play and build momentum ahead of two of ACR Poker’s biggest online events this month.

On top of the action, players can unlock even more value with tens of thousands of dollars in giveaways via ACR Poker’s Telegram Channel, with extra entries, bonus shots, and more up for grabs, tied directly to MOSS events.

The MOSS begins this Sunday, January 11th. For further information, visit ACRPoker.eu.