Gaming platform developer Rival has partnered with the NBA’s Detroit Pistons, and announced a new key hire. 

The Pistons are the first pro sports organisation in the US to partner with Rival and launch a gaming community for their fans – a place for Pistons fans to communicate, compete, and earn reward points that can be exchanged for team merchandise and other prizes. Games supported include popular sports titles like NBA 2K, Madden, EA NHL, and FIFA, on both Xbox and PlayStation. 

Based on Rival’s white label back-end tech, the Pistons new Motor City Rivals esports community will launch with an NBA 2K21 tournament, sponsored by Gamestar, in November. In addition to cash prizes, fans can get the chance to play online against Pistons guard Bruce Brown, or another mystery NBA player. 

Rivals has also announced the appointment of former ESL Senior VP/Brand Partnerships, Paul Brewer, as executive vice president of global business development. Brewer has previously held positions with ESPN, Turner Broadcasting, and Samsung. 

Commenting on his new role, Brewer said:

“The traditional sports side is trying to get younger and engage with different audiences, and they’re trying to figure it out through gaming and esports and haven’t really done that yet …  (Rival) hits on that white space or empty space for traditional sports teams because of what the product is and what the platform can do to engage traditional sports fans who we know are gamers.”

AYO.NEWS says:

With fans still unable to attend games in many places due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, it’s never been more critical for sports organisations to embrace digital to engage with their fans and keep their communities strong. Creating an online community where fans can enjoy esports and hang out with each other, while still engaging with their team, seems like a fantastic solution, and we’re sure other pro league teams will follow the Pistons’ lead. 

‘AYO.NEWS says’ features the opinion of the author and does not necessarily reflect the views of Pentagon Digital Limited or its affiliates or associates. 

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The Danish gambling authority, Spillemyndigheden, has appointed former deputy director of the Danish Immigration Service, Anders Dorph, as its new director. 

Dorph is scheduled to take up his new role on 1 November 2020. 

Commenting on his appointment, Dorph said:

“Spillemyndigheden is an exciting agency that plays an important role in the regulation of the gaming market. That is why I’m very much looking forward to the task and to collaboration with many talented colleagues.”

While Denmark’s minister of taxation, Morten Bødskov, added:

“Anders Dorph has an extremely wide professional profile with broad experience from politically led organisations and cooperation across authorities. I look forward to benefiting from his experience.”

Spillemyndigheden’s previous director, Morten Niels Jakobsen, stepped down in August and is now director of the Danish Valuation Agency, Vurderingsstyrelsen – the body responsible for for the public assessment of land and property values. 

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David Levy has joined New York-based esports organisation Andbox as an investor and Chairman of its advisory board. 

The former Turner President and Brooklyn Nets CEO, investment in Andbox is part of a successful Series B funding round. Andbox has said it intends to use the new capital to help develop consumer brands around its teams, which include the New York Subliners and New York Excelsior franchises. 

Commenting on his investment and appointment, Levy said:

“Looking at the sports landscape it’s clear to me that in the very near future esports will be global on a scale only equalled by soccer, basketball, and combat sports. It’s this realization that first compelled me to be an early-mover in this space during my time at Turner years ago.

“New York is the biggest, boldest sports market there is in the U.S., with it also serving as a beacon of global culture, and that’s why I’m so excited to become an investor in Andbox and chair its advisory board.”

While Co-founder and President of Andbox, Farzam Kamel, added:

“David brings us tremendous experience in the entertainment and sports industries, and is extremely passionate about the things he gets involved in. His energy is truly contagious.

“He will be of immeasurable value to us as we build this business. We’re very fortunate to have him involved not just as an investor but in an active role leading our advisory board.”

In addition to backing from Levy, Andbox has also attracted investments from several notable funds and individuals, including Sterling Equities (portfolio includes SportsNet New York, and the MLB’s New York Mets), Allen & Company investment bank, The Pohlad Companies (owner of MLB’s Minnesota Twins), Neil Blumenthal (Co-founder & CEO of Warby Parker), Jeff Raider (Co-founder & CEO of Harry’s), Sundance DiGiovanni (Co-founder & CSO of Vindex), Mike Sepso (Co-founder & CEO of Vindex), Michael B. Jordan (actor & producer), Adam Leibsohn (Co-founder & COO of GIPHY), and Chirs Stand (Co-founder & CEO of the Infatuation). 

Andbox also recently announced it is entering Riot Games’ VALORANT, with a new pro team competing under the New York banner. 

AYO.NEWS says:

Attracting investment and advice from someone with Levy’s mainstream entertainment experience and clout is a big boost for Andbox, and it’s clear that he’s passionate about esports – having been instrumental in the development of ELEAGUE, and being on record as saying he believes esports will be one of the four competitive entertainment properties that will dominate the future; soccer, basketball, combat sports, and esports. 

‘AYO.NEWS says’ features the opinion of the author and does not necessarily reflect the views of Pentagon Digital Limited or its affiliates or associates. 

All original content featured on this site is © Pentagon Digital Limited, 2020

London-based esports organisation Fnatic has announced the appointment of Lucien Boyer as its new Chairman. 

Boyer has amassed over two decades of experience in the sports and entertainment industry, and is regarded as a pioneer in sponsorship activation, branded content, experiential marketing, fan engagement, and social entertainment. 

In addition to co-founding Inspiring Sport Capital and being Chairman of Global Sports Week, Boyer has also been Chief Marketing Officer at media conglomerate Vivendi, and Global President and CEO of Havas Sports and Entertainment. 

Boyer is succeeding non-executive Chairman, Nick Fry, who will remain as an advisor to Fnatic. The organisation has also made two additional key hires, in the form of Soroya Sobh, as Head of Talent Management, and George Mead, as Interim Partnerships Director. 

Sobh previously ran her own artist management agency, where she worked with well-known creators including Above & Beyond, and Benny Benassi. Mead was previously with Beko, leading global brand management and partnerships, where he spearheaded the Beko #EatLikeAPro campaign with FC Barcelona and UNICEF. 

Regarding the new appointments Founder and CEO of Fnatic, Sam Mathews, said:

“At Fnatic, we are always on the search for top talent across industries, and we are excited to welcome Lucien to leverage his deep expertise and network within the media and sports landscape.

“As a leader in esports performance, we are constantly working towards a more diverse and inclusive future, and we pride ourselves on being an equal opportunity employer as we continue to grow our business in 2020 and beyond. The team looks forward to working closely with both Soraya and George to ensure Fnatic continues to be at the top.”

While Boyer added:

“I am humbled to join a highly successful organisation led by such a visionary founder and CEO.

“There is no doubt that esports represents the most promising new frontier for sports, bringing it closer to the entertainment world. I believe that my unique mix of experience and leadership in brand, sport, media and the entertainment business will help guide Fnatic through the next stage of its success story.”

Staying with Fnatic, earlier this month the organisation announced a two-year partnership with global tech and betting company Parimatch. 

AYO.NEWS says:

Fnatic are again proving that successful esports organisations are now able to easily attract top talent from the traditional sports and entertainment sectors. We’re sure Boyer, Sobh, and Mead will fit right into the organisation, and their experience will come in handy as the lines between pop culture, sports, video gaming, and esports continue to blur. 

‘AYO.NEWS says’ features the opinion of the author and does not necessarily reflect the views of Pentagon Digital Limited or its affiliates or associates. 

All original content featured on this site is © Pentagon Digital Limited, 2020

PokerStars founder Isai Scheinberg has been hit with a $30K USD fine, but avoided any additional prison time, for charges dating from Black Friday in 2011.

Scheinberg was one of several executives charged with multiple serious offences, including conspiracy to defraud the US, bank and wire fraud, and money laundering. In handing him the fine, the judge took into account time already served in federal custody. 

As we reported in January 2020, Scheinberg, a duel Canadian-Israeli national national, was arrested by US authorities after voluntarily returning to New York, following almost a decade in exile in Canada, the Isle of Man, and Switzerland. 

US authorities finally filed an extradition request with the Swiss government in 2019, leading to his arrest by Swiss police on 7 June of that year. Though he initially appealed against extradition, it thought he returned of his own accord after reaching a deal with the Federal Prosecutor. 

Initially, Scheinberg had pleaded not guilty to all charges and was released on a $1M bond, but on 25 March he entered a guilty plea. 

UIGEA and Black Friday

The whole drama started when the US passed the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) in October 2006. This made it a federal crime to knowingly accept payments in connection with unlawful internet gambling in most circumstances. 

However, PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker, and Absolute Poker continued to serve US-based players. This eventually led to the US Department of Justice indicting executives, including Scheinberg, at the operators, seizing the PokerStars.com domain, and blocking US players, on what became known as ‘Black Friday.’

PokerStars lived to fight another day

Though PokerStars managed to survive after Scheinberg exited it, and the company forked out nearly $731M to settle a government lawsuit, and in 2014 it was acquired by Canada-based Amaya Gaming, becoming The Stars Group, Scheinberg was forced into exile abroad to escape prosecution. 

After the repeal of PASPA in May 2018, PokerStars once again offered its services to US-based customers, this time legally, initially in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. In October 2019, The Stars Group entered a huge £10BN GBP merger with London-listed online gambling giant Flutter Entertainment (formerly Paddy Power Betfair). 

AYO.NEWS says:

Considering how much has changed regarding online gambling in the United States since Black Friday, it would have been more than a little cynical for the judge to have handed out any additional prison time, and we’re sure Scheinberg will be relieved with the $30K fine. After almost a decade, the Black Friday epic may finally be coming to a close. 

‘AYO.NEWS says’ features the opinion of the author and does not necessarily reflect the views of Pentagon Digital Limited or its affiliates or associates. 

All original content featured on this site is © Pentagon Digital Limited, 2020

Gambling and entertainment solutions provider 888 Holdings has appointed Lord Jonathan Mendelsohn as non-executive director and chair designate. 

Lord Mendelsohn, who has more than 20 years of experience in the gambling industry, has taken up his new roles with immediate effect. Mendelsohn co-founded both gambling and sports M&A and strategic advisory boutique, Oakvale Capital LLP, and LLM Communications – which was later acquired by Financial Dynamics. 

Mendelsohn will succeed the current chair of the 888 Holdings board, Brian Mattingley, when he steps down at the next Annual General Meeting in May 2021. 

Commenting on the appointment, Mattingley, said:

“We are delighted that Jon has accepted the offer to join the Board and become the next Chair of 888. Jon has tremendous knowledge of the global online gaming industry, extensive deal-making experience and fantastic leadership qualities.  

“I am very confident that the Board will benefit significantly from Jon’s vast understanding of our sector as the Group continues its exciting long-term development.

“It has been a great privilege to Chair 888 and serve its stakeholders during more than 15 years with the Group. I am personally very pleased that someone of Jon’s experience and calibre will succeed me as Chair and I look forward to working closely with him over the coming months.”

While Mendelsohn himself added:

“I am very excited to join the Board of such a world-class gaming operator. 888 is a company that I have long admired during my more than 20 years working with companies in the gaming and gambling industries.”

Staying with 888 Holdings, earlier this month the company announced Yariv Dafna as Aviad Kobrine’s successor in the role of CFO.

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