Tilman Fertitta grows shares in Wynn Resorts, AGA scrutinizes sports event futures trading

As another busy week for the gambling sector wraps up, this is the latest review of the most important events from the sector prepared by Casino Guru News.

Leading online casino games provider Yggdrasil expanded its footprint in the UK this week after teaming up with Rank Group, the leading gambling operator with a strong presence in the country. The deal saw the latter expand its content offering for its Mecca Bingo and Grosvenor Casinos by delivering fan-favorite games from Yggdrasil.

The award-winning safer gambling software, Mindway AI, announced a new collaboration with SportsBroker in the UK. The alliance saw the latter tap into Mindway AI's AI-powered responsible gambling solutions, strengthening the player protection for its growing customer base. While the collaboration improves SportsBroker's offering by adding an extra layer of player protection, it also reaffirms Mindway AI's leadership in responsible gambling.

One fortunate lottery player in Illinois won a life-changing multi-million prize from the Ultimate Diamond Jackpot fast-play game. The fortunate winner, who bought his ticket at the Komal Wine and Liquor convenience store on February 20, won a total of $3,188,104. Like other big wins, the retailer that sold the ticket will benefit from a hefty bonus, $31,000.

Another lottery player scored a prize similar in size. As announced by the Maryland Lottery, a single ticket matched the winning numbers on Monday's Multi-Match game for a $3.3m jackpot. The jackpot is the sixth largest in the history of the game and was won by a player who purchased their ticket at J Convenience on 8765 Satyr Hill Road in Parkville.

Business and finance

Focusing on the business vertical, Tilman Fertitta, the billionaire and owner of the Houston Rockets, solidified his presence in the brick-and-mortar casino vertical after increasing his stake in Wynn Resorts, the leading gaming and entertainment company.

A filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) confirms that the billionaire's stake in the company increased to nearly 12.6m shares. This means that Fertitta's stake in Wynn Resorts is 10.9%, making him the largest stakeholder in the company.

Back in November, the billionaire owned 9.9% stake in Wynn, meaning that his ownership increased by 1%. Owning a 10.9% stake in Wynn, Fertitta is now recognized as one of the "insiders" or "significant shareholders," under Section 16 of the Exchange Act. Should Fertitta consider growing his share once again, he will have this opportunity in May when he will be able to purchase an extra 1.68m shares.

The Irish gambling operator with an established footprint in the online casino sector, bingo and poker, BoyleSports, joined forces with Bryan Cooper, the legendary former jockey, designating him a horse racing ambassador. The collaboration, announced ahead of the Cheltenham Festival, will see Cooper deliver unique insights for racing fans and bettors alike. He joins a growing roster of experts with BoyleSports such as John "Shark" Hanlon and Robbie "Puppy" Power.

In another business move, Altenar signed a new agreement with Immense Group. Teaming up with the company formerly known as Videoslots, Altenar agreed to supply its sportsbook solution. As a result, Immense Group will power its online gambling brands in important markets across the globe, leveraging Altenar's award-winning solution.

Regulation and laws

The US gambling industry association, the American Gaming Association (AGA), announced a tougher stance against sports event trading. The recognizable trade group sent a letter to the independent agency governing US derivatives markets, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, asking to participate in an upcoming debate on sports event futures trading.

The high-stakes roundtable is scheduled to take place next month in Washington D.C. and may pave the way for significant changes when it comes to the rules for sports event futures trading.

Incentives such as VIP betting and gaming programs may face scrutiny in the United States. Usually, such programs help onboard new gamblers and sports fans alike, who are incentivized with different benefits. In addition, those programs help engage and retain existing customers.

However, amid the growing popularity of such programs, the trusted publication, The Guardian, released a new report, focusing on the impact of VIP betting and gaming programs. Citing information obtained from letters sent by gambling operators to a recognizable US senator, the publication criticized their stance, which suggested VIP programs did not push bettors into spending more money.

Responsible gambling

The charity providing a free tool that helps people better control their gambling, BetBlocker, announced the launch of an Italian version of its tool. The major move expanded further BetBlocker's footprint, while enabling gamblers in the European country to exclude themselves from gambling on all licensed platforms.

Loot boxes, the popular mechanic that is available in many popular video games, is subject to scrutiny by a new study. The research seeks to analyze the potential link between loot boxes and poor mental health. Authors of the new study focused on the impact of loot boxes on a range of factors, including stress, anxiety and depression, among others.

The voice of the industry

This week, Casino Guru News had the chance to talk with Arcangelo Lonoce, Habanero's Head of Business Development. He spoke about the company's new strategy, explained what the role of AI in game development is and highlighted the need for proactiveness.

Ahead of the upcoming Casino Guru Awards 2025 scheduled to take place on June 6, 2025, Casino Guru News spoke with Simon Vincze, Casino Guru's Head of Sustainable & Safer Gambling. He highlighted the importance of the awards, saying they seek to "bring back the essence of what awards should represent." Vincze will be one of the judges at the fast-approaching Casino Guru Awards 2025.

Casino Guru News had the opportunity to sit down with Daniela Sliva, the mastermind behind the Casino Guru Awards. In an interview, she shed light on the comprehensive judging process, the meticulous selection of categories and other important aspects of the exciting upcoming event.

What's more, Casino Guru News also sat down for a chat with Gordon Moody's CEO and one of the judges for the upcoming Casino Guru Awards, Monica Shafaq, who spoke about some of the challenges the gambling sector is facing when rolling out responsible gambling tools.

In another interview, Casino Guru News talked to Dan Iliovici, a judge in the Most Impactful Social Responsibility Initiative category for the Casino Guru Awards 2025. The expert highlighted the importance of social responsibility, as well as responsible gambling, among other challenges companies in the gambling sector are facing.

Separately, Casino Guru News published an analysis piece on Mikki Mase, a professional sports bettor and master of baccarat, who got banned from Las Vegas. Unlike most gamblers who make a fortune only to lose it later on, Mase amassed a mind-blowing $32m from casino gambling alone.

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