Global betting operator Betsson has made a significant splash in the world of sports marketing by signing legendary Colombian goalkeeper René Higuita (pictured above) as its newest brand ambassador. Known worldwide for his daring and innovative playing style, including the iconic “scorpion kick” save, Higuita joins a roster of South American football stars representing the Betsson brand.

The Betsson Group expressed excitement about its family’s new addition through its LinkedIn account.

“We are proud to collaborate with a football legend like René Higuita, who embodies our passion for football and entertainment,” said Andrea Rossi, Betsson’s Commercial Director for Latin America. “This partnership reinforces our commitment to the Colombian market and strengthens our leading position in Latin America.”

Higuita, a revered figure in Colombian football, expressed his enthusiasm for the collaboration. “This alliance began as a bold idea and has now become a reality. I’m proud to join Betsson to make a difference and bring the passion of football closer to the fans.”

With a career marked by exceptional athleticism and showmanship, Higuita played a pivotal role in Colombia’s resurgence of international football. His trophy cabinet boasts two Colombian league titles, a Copa Libertadores, and two Inter-American Cups, all with Atlético Nacional. His extraordinary abilities even led FIFA to introduce the “Higuita Law” to define the role of the attacking goalkeeper.

Betsson’s partnership with Higuita follows its recent sponsorship of top Latin American football clubs Boca Juniors, Racing Club, and Atlético Nacional. The company also sponsors Italian Serie A champions Inter Milan.

As Betsson continues to expand its presence in Latin America, the collaboration with René Higuita is expected to elevate the brand’s profile further and engage with football fans across the region.

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Two influential New York State lawmakers have voiced strong opposition to the ambitious plans of Wynn Resorts and Related Companies for a casino at Hudson Yards on Manhattan’s West Side. This opposition is particularly significant as one of these lawmakers sits on the panel that will ultimately award the three downstate casino licences.

Assemblyman Tony Simone,(photo top right) representing the neighbourhood, has been vocal about his objections. He is opposing to a casino in the area. Simone’s role on the six-member panel that will vote on whether to recommend the proposed casino to the state Facility Location Board adds weight to his objections. “I’ve been clear: I’m philosophically opposed to a casino on the West Side of Manhattan,” he explained. “The community has been against it and, unless that changes, I’m a no.”

CEO of Related Companies Jeff Blau (photo top left) has been a key figure in promoting and defending the project, highlighting its potential benefits such as job creation, increased tax revenue, and community investments. He has also addressed concerns from local lawmakers and community members regarding the impact on the High Line and the surrounding area.

Assemblymember Deborah Glick, who represents the southern portion of the High Line and chairs the assembly’s environmental conservation committee, echoed similar concerns. In a statement published by the New York Post, Glick highlighted the potential negative impact on the High Line pedestrian park. “The High Line is a unique and beloved park intended to get New Yorkers and visitors outside and above the congested streets and sidewalks,” Glick said. “Any plans that block views from this distinctive vantage point or allow for building closer to the High Line run counter to the High Line Special District and would significantly alter the experience.”

In response to these objections, a spokesperson for Related Companies defended the project in a statement to the Commercial Observer. The spokesperson said that the benefits of the proposal, which includes a massive new park, hundreds of units of affordable housing, and development that will generate tens of thousands of jobs, billions in new taxes, and community investments. “Our proposal to transform the western yards has not even been formally submitted yet, so we would hope our government leaders would wait to read it before forming a judgment,” the spokesperson added.

The proposed Wynn New York City complex is a $12 billion development that would include multiple skyscrapers, 1,500 apartments, two million square feet of office space, a 750-seat public school, a daycare centre, and a hotel and casino operated by Wynn. Despite the opposition, the project is one of 11 vying for the three available downstate licenses in the New York metropolitan area.

As the debate continues, the future of the Hudson Yards casino project remains uncertain, with significant implications for the community and the iconic High Line park.

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Renowned sports bettor Gadoon “Spanky” Kyrollos, who is facing extortion allegations and has admitted to illegal proxy betting, has launched a charity, American Bettors’ Voice (ABV), to “eliminate friction” in withdrawal processes for gamblers.

American Bettors’ Voice

Kyrollos, alongside sports bettor Billy Walters, has now announced the formation of a non-profit organisation named American Bettors’ Voice (ABV). Based in Nevada, USA, the organisation aims to advocate for sports bettors and address several pressing issues within the industry – including the withdrawal process.

Kyrollos will serve as ABV’s chairman, with industry professional Richard Schuetz as CEO.

One of ABV’s key focuses is the delay in fund withdrawals—a major complaint among gamblers, according to the UK Gambling Commission. The commission has criticised operators for introducing unnecessary friction during the withdrawal process, often requesting additional documentation at the point of withdrawal rather than during the deposit stage. Operators “should not continue to accept deposits indefinitely and then seek to rely on their AML procedures to frustrate a withdrawal request”, the commission declared.

The controversy began in March 2023 when an anonymous New York resident alleged that his personal information had been leaked by DraftKings employees. According to the plaintiff, this breach of privacy led to an unpleasant experience in which he was confronted and threatened with extortion for $500,000 by an assailant. The assailant allegedly demanded that the money be sent to the well-known sports bettor Gadoon “Spanky” Kyrollos.

In response to the lawsuit, “Spanky” Kyrollos publicly addressed the situation, arguing that the legal action stemmed from his past disputes with Steve Jacobs. Jacobs, recruited by Kyrollos to place illegal proxy bets, allegedly refused to share the winnings, claiming that operators would not allow him to withdraw the money.

The partnership recorded around $350,000 in winning bets and $14,000 in bonuses. Kyrollos expected payment once Jacobs withdrew $200,000 from his DraftKings account. However, Jacobs faced delays because DraftKings required him to sign an “affidavit of eligibility” before processing the withdrawal. Kyrollos suggested that Jacobs file a claim with the New York State Gaming Commission, which Jacobs reportedly did on February 6, 2023.

None of the winnings ever made their way back to Kyrollos. The famous sports bettor posted documents and theories on Twitter, speculating that Jacobs might have gambled away the funds, stolen them, or used another betting site. Kyrollos also claims that Jacobs anonymously sued him for extortion to avoid sharing the winnings.

Bally’s Corporation has officially entered into a definitive merger agreement with Standard General L.P., marking a significant milestone in the company’s history. This merger, valued at approximately $4.6 billion, is set to reshape the landscape of the gaming and entertainment industry.

The journey to this agreement has been a long one, with Standard General making several acquisition attempts over the years. The initial bid in 2022 was at $38 per share, followed by a lower offer of $15 per share earlier this year. This lower bid faced criticism from Bally’s investor K&F Growth Capital, which accused Soo Kim and Standard General of attempting to acquire Bally’s at a fraction of its fair value, leveraging Bally’s already stretched balance sheet.

The final agreed-upon offer stands at $18.25 per share, representing a 71 percent premium on the volume-weighted average price per share as of 8 March, 2024, the last trading day before the initial cash acquisition proposal of $15.00 per share. This premium underscores the value and potential that Standard General sees in Bally’s.

As part of the merger, Bally’s will combine with The Queen Casino & Entertainment (QC&E), a regional casino operator majority-owned by Standard General. This strategic move will add four complementary properties to Bally’s existing portfolio of 15 domestic casino properties, enhancing geographic and market diversity.

Robeson Reeves, CEO of Bally’s, (pictured above), expressed optimism about the merger, stating, “The addition of four complementary properties through this merger to our existing 15 domestic casino properties will add further geographic and market diversity to our portfolio. With QC&E’s development pipeline recently completed or already well underway, we see a path toward additional revenue and EBITDAR growth and value accretion as those projects are completed in 2025. We look forward to bringing our ultimate vision to bear and to working closely with the Standard General team to execute on that vision.”

The transaction values Bally’s at approximately $4.6 billion in enterprise value. Under the Securities Act of 1934, the combined company will remain a publicly traded registrant, allowing Bally’s stockholders to retain their stock in a rollover election to the combined company.

Soo Kim, Managing Partner of Standard General, highlighted the benefits of the merger for Bally’s stockholders, stating, “The transaction provides Bally’s stockholders with a significant cash premium along with certainty of value for their investment or, if they elect to retain their shares, the opportunity to participate in the longer-term growth prospects of our expanded portfolio and significant development pipeline. The addition of the complementary QC&E assets builds upon the Company’s attractive growth profile. We look forward to working with the Board of Directors and the Company’s senior management team as they continue to execute on their business plan.”

This merger comes on the heels of Bally’s securing $2.07 billion in funding for its Chicago Casino and Hotel Tower, further solidifying its position in the market and paving the way for future growth and expansion.

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