Each week, CasinoBeats breaks down the numbers behind some of the industry’s most interesting stories. This week’s edition looks back at a significant US-based partnership, the crowning of the greatest poker player in the universe and tribal gaming’s increasing influence.

Four

Just four months after entering into partnership, MGM Resorts and GVC Holdings have signed up Sportradar as the exclusive supplier of US sports data for its joint enterprise.

Striving to create the US leader in the sports betting and online gaming sectors, MGM GVC Interactive has recruited Sportradar for the provision of sports betting data from certain US sports leagues, which the company itself has the right to distribute.

Adam Greenblatt, MGM GVC Interactive’s CEO, commented, “We have a clear and simple objective; to provide our US customers with the best and broadest range of betting products in the market. Sportradar is a great partner to help us get there, enabling us to offer a huge spectrum of US sports events while leveraging off our global portfolio.”

Adding to a plethora of current agreements, which already encapsulates US heavyweights the NBA, NFL, NHL and NASCAR, Neale Deeley, vice president of gaming sales for Sportradar, added: “MGM and GVC are leaders in the sports betting landscape, and we are proud to be their provider for US sports data.

“We have been preparing for the opening of the US market for some time now, with an across the board ramp up of our US sports betting offering, and we are delighted with this endorsement from MGM and GVC that all the hard work is delivering what world class betting operators are looking for.”

€1m

Mateusz Moolhuizen with his title

The Microgaming Poker Network’s Universal Championship of Poker saw Mateusz Moolhuizen become the fourth player to claim the title, and take home the €1m guaranteed prize pot.

Spanning 88 events and in excess of 360 satellite tournaments, this years offering was the MPN’s largest to date, with the Betsson player claiming top spot after collecting a total of 2779.48 points.

Alex Scott, Managing Director of Poker at Microgaming, stated: “This year’s tournament series was the biggest and most thrilling we’ve had yet, building on last year’s event with an impressive €1 million guaranteed. Congratulations to Mateusz on taking the coveted title as the Greatest Poker Player in the Universe!”

A regular at the MPN Poker Tour, Mateusz’s previous achievements includes €3,000 in cash and two MPN Poker Tour packages, each of which featured entry into the main event and one side event, in addition to accommodation and travel expenses.

Mateusz also took the 8th spot of the final table at the MPN Poker Tour at the Battle of Malta Main Event for €30,000.

Moolhuizen added: “UCOP has made poker very exciting for me this year, every all in was an exhilarating experience and climbing the leaderboards added another layer of anticipation. Most of all, the event was a good excuse to skip some time with my parents in law!”

$105bn

In a recent study the American Gaming Association revealed that tribal gaming contributed $105bn in output across the US in 2016, the year from which the most current data is currently available.

Undergoing significant growth from a $121m segment of the country’s gaming industry in 1998, via the introduction of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, tribal gaming also employs some 676,000 individuals who are paid a combined $36bn in wages, whilst a further $15bn is issued in taxes and revenue share payments to federal, state and local governments.

California was proven to be by far the largest and most dominant tribal gaming state, trailed by Oklahoma and Florida.

“Tribal gaming operators are present in 28 states and create nearly half of all US gaming revenue,” said Sara Slane, senior vice president of public affairs for the AGA. “This report details the widespread economic impact that tribal casinos have in states across the country, providing diverse career opportunities, supporting local businesses and generating tax revenue and revenue share payments for all levels of government.”

25 per cent

Shares in gaming technology firm Scientific Games leapt over 25 per cent, when the company’s Q3 financial results exceeded expectations laid forth by analysts.

SG shares climbed by more than a quarter, closing on $26.74, on the news that like-for-like losses were better than anticipated, with an “adjusted loss” of $0.14 per share for the three months to September 30, less than the $0.18 loss predicted.

Revenue was up seven per cent in Q3, to $821m, including $46.5m from NYX, along with growth in SG’s lottery and social businesses.

Net loss was $351.6m compared to $59.3m in the corresponding period in 2017, thanks mostly to a hefty $338.7m bill for restructuring and other charges, including $309.6m in relation to the verdict in the Shuffle Tech legal matter – an antitrust lawsuit relating to patent infringement.

Barry Cottle, CEO and president of SG, stated: “We are very pleased with the growth we are seeing across our businesses as we continue to lead our industry into the future.”