Each week, CasinoBeats breaks down the numbers behind some of the industry’s most interesting stories. This week’s edition features Japan’s integrated resort progression, an admired Las Vegas-based organisation and a CEO change.

888

Itai Pazner has been appointed 888’s new chief executive officer, being promoted from his previous role of chief operating officer, taking over from Itai Frieberger who has announced he is standing down from the role.

Following eight years as part of the group’s executive leadership team, and in excess of 14 in the industry, Frieberger is to remain an 888 director during his 12 month notice period.

Pazner, whose “in-depth and widespread understanding of both 888 and the online gaming industry” has been praised, previously spent over six years as SVP of the organisation’s B2C division, overseeing development of its 888 brands as well as oversight of its marketing, customer support functions and operations.

£50,000

Former online gambling addict David Bradford, who hid his 30-year gambling addiction from his family and ended up in jail after stealing £50,000 from his employers, has established The Safer Online Gambling Group.

The non-profit organisation, founded alongside his son Adam, aims to raise awareness of online gambling addiction, bring about support for gambling addicts under an NHS framework and work with operators and the government to tighten up gambling policy to protect vulnerable players.

Meetings are already in place with Sky Bet and industry self exclusion scheme GamStop, with it hoped that operators will commit to a safer online gambling charter, which the group will also audit through user testing and discrete research.

3

As the race hots up to secure one of what is thought to be three integrated resort licenses within Japan, the city of Tomakomai, on the country’s northernmost island of Hokkaido, has been awarded priority status.

An advisory panel to Hokkaido’s prefecture government has identified the city as the preferred site for an IR, and as a result given the region its preferred status.

This, however, does not confirm the island is to select the city to front a confirmed bid, with a formal decision still to be made regarding whether they wish to bid to the national government.

Tomakomai has been awarded priority status due it its close proximity to the new Chitose International Airport, in addition to the city of Sapporo.

52

MGM Resorts International has been named as one of the ‘World’s Most Admired Companies’ by Fortune Magazine, for the fourth year in a row.

Evaluating the world’s most respected and reputable companies, as ranked by peers, the survey studied firms across 52 different industries.

Fortune Magazine and Korn Ferry, a global management consulting firm, began with the 1,500 largest US companies ranked by revenue, alongside non-US Fortune Global 500 companies with revenues of $10bn or more.

Following this process the field was narrowed to the highest revenue earners in each of the industry’s, coming out at a total of 680 located in 30 countries.

MGM came amongst the world’s best in the hotels, casino and resorts category after ranking in fifth place, one spot further down from its previous industry placing of fourth.

100

CasinoBeats has launched the 100 Club, a feedback tool that will offer readers a snapshot of the mood across the online casino sector in response to recent news stories.

Featuring an invite-only unpublished list of 100 influencers from across the sector – comprising key executives from operators and suppliers, gaming platforms, marketing agencies, legal and other professionals – the CasinoBeats 100 Club will be asked to take part in regular single-question surveys intended to gauge the view across the industry on a specific news story, trend or hot topic.

Members of the 100 Club can select their preferred answer anonymously but those wishing to contribute further can also submit additional comments for publication.