Casino News Media: September 2023

Saturday, September 30, 2023

Casino News Media Blog. Casino movie quotes. Ace Rothstein

Casino movie quotes. Ace Rothstein

Ace Rothstein: [voice-over] In the casino, the cardinal rule is to keep them playing and to keep them coming back. The longer they play, the more they lose, and in the end, we get it all.

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Man Over Machine!

PR, SEO and SEM Powers Business And Online Business Exposure via Internet Matrix Of Things Says Media Man

Boost online visibility and improve search engine rankings by integrating public relations and SEO strategies.

Summaey, Key Points and Keywords

Digital technology has transformed how brands connect with their audiences.

To connect successfully, brands need to take an integrated approach.

Combining the strengths of PR and SEO is one aspect that delivers benefits across a brand's entire marketing strategy.

When talking about how digital technology transformed brands and marketing, most marketers are quick to point out the arrival of new digital marketing channels and the influence of social media. But what about public relations (PR) and search engine optimization (SEO)?

Traditionally, most brand teams would have considered PR and SEO separately or even left SEO to their website teams. As the two disciplines come closer together, brands are starting to see the benefits of integrating PR and SEO.

Understanding the relationship of PR and SEO in digital marketing

The Public Relations Society of America defines PR as a "strategic communications process that builds mutually beneficial relationships between organizations and their publics." Just a few decades ago, PR professionals relied mainly on newspapers, magazines and broadcast outlets to spread their messages. Today, they have a far wider choice of channels, most of them digital.

SEO, on the other hand, is firmly linked to the digital age. The term describes how teams increase their brand's visibility and ranking on search engine results pages. As Google puts it, SEO is about "helping search engines understand and present content."

Both PR and SEO rely on understanding the brand's audiences and taking a strategic approach to reaching those audiences. While they have traditionally pursued that goal separately, brand teams and company leadership teams are starting to realize that combining their efforts can create previously unknown synergies.

The best marketing strategies have a few things in common. They are built on a central message or a set of messages woven through the entire campaign. They also use the combined power of a variety of different (digital) marketing channels, making sure that their core messages are recognizable across all of them. Lastly, they are based on a solid strategy and clear objectives. Both of those ensure each strategic element contributes toward achieving the objectives.

Use the same principles to integrate PR and SEO and take advantage of the power of public relations to support search engine rankings. Here are four ways PR supports SEO.

Backlinks

Backlinks from high-ranking, influential websites can transform your rankings. So, how can you convince other websites to link to yours? Enter PR. Compelling storytelling is the strength of PR. Use that strength to craft content others would like to share on their platforms.

Consider blog posts, case studies, or high-quality video content to attract the attention of your target brands. Don't be afraid to send direct links to their brand teams or tag relevant brands if you share social media content.

In most cases, you will spend some time building a relationship before others backlink to you. Stay the course, and you will reap the rewards in the long term.

Keyword research

You don't need to be an SEO expert to understand the importance of keyword research. Knowing how potential customers search for you and optimizing your website accordingly are cornerstones of successful search engine marketing.

To be effective, keyword research needs to include the actual words your audience is looking for and the search intent. Once both are clear, your SEO team needs to share them with your PO professionals. Applying keyword research results only to your website would mean missing out on a large part of the opportunity.

Integrating SEO and content marketing

So-called keyword stuffing no longer works for successful SEO. Search engines are looking for well-organized content that adds value to the person who initiated the search. However, that does not mean that you should remove SEO keywords from your PR content.

The opposite is the case: Skilled PR professionals can utilize target keywords without compromising their storytelling. Think about thought leadership articles, social media posts, and even press releases – all of these forms of content can contribute toward higher rankings.

Monitoring and measuring performance

Measuring the performance and effectiveness of your efforts is critical to understanding what is working and what needs to be adapted. Start by establishing clear key performance indicators (KPIs) to allow you to benchmark successes and understand where improvement is needed.

Most search engines offer a range of analytics tools to help you understand your performance. Make sure those are set up and ready to monitor your activity right from the start.

Best practices

Both PR and SEO require mid- to long-term commitment. Over time, their impact builds up and grows stronger. That is why some of the brands reaping the most noticeable results started their integration a few years ago.

Airbnb, for example, developed relationships with leading influencers and thought leaders as early as 2015 to create content that helped users experience key cities and drove traffic to the accommodation platform. The content created by those influencers contributed to Airbnb's search engine rankings.

Inbound marketing and sales platform Hubspot is another example of a brand integrating PR and SEO successfully. The company realized in 2017 that previous approaches to SEO were no longer as effective. To maximize the potential of their content for search engine rankings, the team not only integrated its own approach but even built a tool customers could use to validate the potential effectiveness of content before creating it.

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SEO Tips For A Small Business

In the digital age, having a strong online presence is crucial for the success of any small business. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) plays a pivotal role in improving your website’s visibility on search engines like Google, which can drive more organic traffic and potential customers to your site. While SEO can be a complex and ongoing process, there are several quick and effective strategies that small businesses can implement to boost their online presence. In this article, we’ll explore some simple and quick SEO strategies tailored to small businesses.

Optimize Your Website’s On-Page Elements

One of the fundamental aspects of SEO is on-page optimization. This involves optimizing various elements on your website to make it more search engine-friendly:

a. Keyword Research: Identify relevant keywords and phrases that potential customers are likely to search for. Use tools like Google Keyword Planner or SEMrush to find valuable keywords for your niche.

b. Title Tags: Create unique, descriptive, and keyword-rich title tags for each page on your website. These tags appear as the clickable headline in search engine results and should accurately represent the content of the page.

c. Meta Descriptions: Craft compelling meta descriptions that provide a concise summary of your page’s content. Include relevant keywords and a call to action to encourage clicks.

d. Header Tags: Use header tags (H1, H2, H3, etc.) to structure your content and make it more readable for both users and search engines. Include keywords naturally in your headers.

e. Image Optimization: Compress and optimize images on your website to improve page load speed. Add descriptive alt text to your images for accessibility and SEO benefits.

Create High-Quality, Relevant Content

Content is king in the world of SEO. Producing high-quality, informative, and engaging content is essential for attracting and retaining visitors. Consider the following tips:

a. Blogging: Start a blog on your website and regularly publish articles related to your industry, products, or services. Share valuable insights, tips, and solutions to common problems.

b. Keyword Integration: Incorporate your target keywords naturally into your content. Avoid keyword stuffing, which can harm your SEO efforts.

c. Visual Content: Use a mix of text, images, videos, and infographics to make your content more engaging and shareable.

d. Regular Updates: Keep your content fresh and up to date. Outdated information can negatively impact your search rankings.

e. Internal Linking: Link to other relevant pages on your website to improve user navigation and help search engines understand your site’s structure.

Mobile Optimization

With the majority of internet users browsing on mobile devices, mobile optimization is no longer optional. Google considers mobile-friendliness a significant ranking factor. Ensure your website is responsive, loads quickly on mobile devices, and offers a seamless user experience.

Claim and Optimize Your Google My Business Listing

Local SEO is essential for small businesses that serve specific geographic areas. Google My Business (GMB) is a free tool that allows you to manage your business listing on Google. Here’s what you should do:

a. Claim Your Listing: Claim and verify your business on GMB to appear in local search results and on Google Maps.

b. Accurate Information: Ensure your business name, address, phone number, and hours of operation are accurate and consistent across all online platforms.

c. Reviews: Encourage satisfied customers to leave reviews on your GMB listing. Respond to reviews, both positive and negative, to engage with customers and improve your online reputation.

d. Posts and Updates: Use GMB to post updates, promotions, events, and other relevant information to attract local customers.

Build Quality Backlinks

Backlinks (links from other websites to yours) are a vital ranking factor in SEO. However, it’s essential to focus on quality over quantity. Here’s how to build quality backlinks:

a. Guest Blogging: Contribute guest posts to reputable websites in your industry. Ensure the content is valuable and relevant to the host site’s audience.

b. Local Directories: List your business on local directories, industry-specific directories, and review sites like Yelp and TripAdvisor.

c. Social Media: Share your content on social media platforms to increase its visibility and potentially earn natural backlinks when others link to your content.

d. Influencer Outreach: Collaborate with influencers or experts in your niche who can link to your website or mention your products/services.

Conclusion

SEO is a powerful tool for small businesses looking to compete in the digital marketplace. While SEO is an ongoing process, these quick strategies can help you get started and see noticeable improvements in your website’s search engine visibility. Remember that SEO requires patience, monitoring, and adaptation to stay ahead in the competitive online landscape. By consistently implementing these strategies, your small business can establish a stronger online presence and attract more potential customers.

Local SEO Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, Australia

In today's digital age, 97% of consumers go online to find local services, and 82% of smartphone users use a search engine when looking for a local business. If you're not optimizing for local search, you're missing out on a significant chunk of potential customers right in your vicinity.

The web is a bustling hub of business opportunities. If you're a local enterprise looking to stand out, our tailored Local SEO strategies can position you at the forefront of your industry. Our skilled team of Local SEO experts has a proven track record of delivering results for businesses on the east coast of Australia.

We understand the Australian market, its nuances, and what the local audience is searching for. Our strategies have helped numerous businesses rank on the first page of search results.

Our Local SEO packages are designed to be budget-friendly, making them accessible to businesses of all sizes. Our team is just a call away to address any of your concerns or to provide updates.

Our deep understanding of the Aussie market, combined with our expertise in local SEO, has allowed numerous businesses to achieve and maintain a strong online presence in the region. We pride ourselves on our commitment to delivering tangible results and our dedication to our clientele.

SEO Sydney

Media Man Australia (Digital), a leading expert SEO marketing company in Sydney, Australia, is here to skyrocket your online visibility and drive targeted traffic to your website. With our cutting-edge strategies and proven techniques, we ensure that your business stays on top of search engine rankings, generating higher conversions and maximising your ROI. Our team of skilled professionals will work closely with you to understand your unique business needs and tailor a customised SEO strategy that delivers exceptional results.

Don't let your competitors steal the spotlight. Get in touch with Media Man and watch your online presence soar!

Greg Tingle

Media Man Group Marketing CEO and Founder Greg Tingle sees success in SEO, storytelling and cormering niche markets such as mixed martial arts (MMA), pro wrestling (WWE, AEW etc), surf culture, online advertising agencies, MBS (Mind, Body and Spirit) and gaming, casinos and hotels).

Digital Marketing Agency

Sydney and Brisbane

20 Best Digital Marketing Agencies in Sydney and Brisbane

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digitaluncovered.com › best-digital-marketing20 Best Digital Marketing Agencies in Sydneydigitaluncovered.com › best-digital-marketing CachedPerth SEO Studio. Perth SEO Studio one of Australia’s top digital marketing agencies is based in Sydney and specializes in helping businesses enhance their online presence and achieve higher rankings in organic search results. Wonderful Digital. Wonderful Digital is an award-winning digital marketing agency based in Sydney Australia. With their extensive range of services including SEO PPC social media marketing and website design they have established themselves as one of Australia’s best digital marketing agencies. Humaan. Humaan is a reputable digital marketing agency based in Sydney Australia. With a team of experienced professionals Humaan offers many services including website design and development SEO social media marketing and content creation. Due North. Due North is a renowned digital marketing agency based in Sydney Australia. Their extensive services encompass SEO PPC advertising social media management and content marketing.

Best Digital Marketing Agencies in Sydney | Digital Agency …

Explore the top digital marketing agencies in Sydney. Creative and b2b digital marketing companies offering branding web design UX design eCommerce SEO content marketing PPC email marketing online marketing and social media marketing services in Sydney.

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Ready to achieve real business growth with a comprehensive customised digital marketing strategy? Sydney Digital Marketing Agency works with business owners and marketing managers to accelerate revenue growth using Google Ads Social Media SEO Email Marketing and Marketing Automation.

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TOP Professional Digital Marketing Companies in Sydney. List of TOP 26 Digital Marketing Agencies in Sydney. Discover the most skilled marketing agencies from our community to outsource your marketing to.

Top Digital Marketing Companies in Sydney – DesignRush

Readers and online entrepreneurs, that's the SEO News for the day. Tell them Media Man sent you.

Good web surfing and wrestling with the web across the The Internet Matrix Of Things.

By Media Man with some modest assist from A.I! Bard, xAI, Bing et al. Man over machine!

Wednesday, September 27, 2023

Casino News Media Blog: Casino News, reviews, journalism and opinion

Casino News Media Blog

Casino News, reviews, journalism and opinion

Sunday, September 24, 2023

Casino News Media: High Stakes

Casino News Media Blog

High Stakes: The ‘life-or-death’ battle over a company name

Two stars of Australia’s new economy – the similarly named share trading platform Stake and online cryptocurrency casino juggernaut stake.com – are locked in a life-or-death court battle over naming rights amid growing concerns the gambling outfit has major plans for its home country.

Stake the share platform launched legal action in the Federal Court in August seeking to enforce its trademarks and stop stake.com, a multibillion-dollar enterprise, from using that name for its business in Australia.

The fast-growing Sydney-based share trading platform, the third-largest broker in the country, alleges that the casino group stake.com has been breaking Australian consumer law and has misled consumers through the use of its brand in Australia and its marketing, including its sponsorship of the Alfa Romeo team and the sale of apparel.

Stake the share trading platform, which owns the URL stake.com.au, alleges stake.com’s use of the name in Australia has potentially led to consumers believing the two brands are related when they are not.

The share trading platform Stake, founded in 2017 by entrepreneurs Dan Silver and Matt Leibowitz, alleges there is a threat that more consumers could be misled if stake.com is allowed to continue with its plans to grow its business significantly in Australia under the brand name Stake.

The casino group, led by Melbourne-based twenty-somethings billionaires Ed Craven and Bijan Tehrani, is expected to seek to have the matter summarily dismissed.

A spokesperson for stake.com said: “We are aware of a frivolous claim lodged in the Federal Court by Stakeshop, which in part claims that our global Formula One team sponsorship impinges on their ability to sell trucker hats.”

“We are proud of the global stake.com brand. As a group, we abide by the laws of the countries in which we operate, and do not offer our stake.com platform to Australian customers. We believe the claim has no legal merit and will vigorously defend our rights.”

The court case has shed new light on stake.com’s expansion plans for Australia, where it remains blocked to Australian users.

Court documents reveal the casino group has sought to buy the stake.com.au website from the sharemarket trading platform business. According to the court documents, the casino group has also registered several Australian website domains for its Australian expansion and applied to register a slew of trademarks including Stake Australia, Stake Bet and Stake Casino.

The Federal Court action comes after years of simmering tensions between the two groups over the use of stake.com’s name in Australia.

Stake.com was established in 2017 but flew under the radar in Australia until late 2021, when this masthead revealed the local origins of the business that had grown to be one of world’s largest online casinos, processing hundreds of billions of bets on sports, virtual table games and online slot machines.

In early 2022, stake.com signed hip-hop megastar Drake as its lead ambassador. Later in 2022 it signed a multi-year deal to become lead jersey sponsor for English Premier League team Everton FC as well as its sponsorship of Alfa Romeo’s F1 team.

The significant increase in stake.com’s marketing and media presence was noticed at the share trading platform group that built its user base during the COVID-inspired boom in Gen Y and Gen Z investors, thanks in part to its ultra-low cost brokerage fee model, savvy marketing and the broadening into other financial services including a superannuation product.

A spokesman for Stake the share trading platform said that since the group was founded in Australia it had built a client base of more than 500,000 and more than $2.5 billion in assets under management.

“Over the past six years, we have established a trusted and culturally relevant Australian brand that reflects our dedication to meeting customer needs. It permeates all parts of our business, spanning products, content, internal culture, customer interactions and much more, making it our most valuable asset. We are committed to protecting the Stake brand and the high level of consumer trust associated with it,” the spokesman said.

“We are concerned by the threatened use of the Stake brand in Australia by stake.com in relation to gambling, casino and sports betting services, due to the potential for customer confusion and damage to our brand and reputation.”

Stake.com is not available in Australia but according to court documents, the group is already making arrangements for a major expansion in this country and is seeking a sports betting licence.

In October 2022, stake.com casino executive Brais Pena Sanchez contacted Stake share trading founder Silver on LinkedIn and arranged a video conference meeting where the pair discussed Stake the share platform selling its Australian URL, stake.com.au, to the Curacao-registered, Australian-operated casino group.

During those discussions, Sanchez – the casino group’s chief strategy officer – informed Silver that stake.com planned to launch in Australia under the name Stakebet, or similar, according to court documents. A deal never ensued and the website remains owned by the share trading platform.

Tensions flared again in early 2023 after stake.com the casino was announced as the new team sponsor for Formula 1 team Alfa Romeo, sparking a flurry of legal letters between the two groups ahead of the Melbourne race.

According to the court documents, the casino group’s lawyers assured the share trading Stake that it would not use its logo in conjunction with the Melbourne Grand Prix and did not intend to display the name on any vehicles or uniforms or as part of the Alfa Romeo team name.

However, the share trading Stake alleges that during the four days of the Grand Prix, Stake casino logos appeared on banners for official team merchandise, the team display and on signs at the event and in the race program.

In May, Stake.com was applying to register a large number of new trademarks for goods and services. This included Stake Australia, Stake Bookie, Stake Betting, Stake Gaming, Stake Esports, Stake Casino, Stake Sportsbook, Stake Bet, Stake Punt, Stake Sports, Stake Pokes and Stake Slots.

The casino group has also registered a series of Australian website names under the “.au” domain including stakebet.au; stakecasino.au, stakesports.au and playstake.au.

The case continues.

Crown to launch digital self-exclusion scheme for casinos - July 2023

People with gambling problems will be able to ban themselves from Crown casinos over the internet instead of having to do so in person, as part of a wider overhaul of the group’s approach to harm minimisation.

Crown Resorts’ new safer gambling program also includes the establishment of a dedicated gambling policy team, which will monitor customer playing behaviour and create interventions to better prevent gambling harm from occurring.

Crown boss Ciaran Carruthers joined the business last year following an overhaul of Crown’s management, after a series of bruising inquiries into the company. Carruthers, who has led other global casino groups including Wynn Macau, said the new leadership of Crown was committed to making gambling safer, even if it meant less turnover in its casinos.

“I have been in this business for 34 years and I can tell you – no one does this,” Carruthers said.

“It is critically important to me that when I look at the long-term viability of this business that people see our resorts as entertainment to enjoy safely.”

Under the changes, customers will be able to block themselves from entering a Crown casino through a new digital self-exclusion portal. Those who wanted to ban themselves from Crown venues were previously required to visit, in person, a designated responsible gambling centre run by the group.

The group has also moved to cashless gaming at Crown Melbourne and Crown Sydney – a condition of its temporary gaming licences in NSW and Victoria– as well as introducing $10 maximum bet limits on poker machines at Crown Perth. The technological overhaul required to facilitate the changes has so far cost the business $13 million.

Carruthers pointed to changes Crown has already made which go beyond government regulation, such as encouraging customers to take breaks every three hours, as an indicator of its commitment to shifting problem gambling patterns.

The group said it wanted to establish advisory panels to work with state regulators and community groups to improve gambling harm education and share its research.

Carruthers conceded some aspects of its new approach to harm minimisation, called Crown PlaySafe, would not be welcomed by heavy gamblers. But he argued the changes would make the casinos more appealing to the general public.

Crown’s new head of gambling policy research, Dr Jamie Wiebe, said the most critical shift in the groups gambling policy was a move away from harm minimisation to prevention.

“We want to prevent a problem from ever happening,” she said.

The new program was unveiled just weeks after the Federal Court determined Crown will pay one of the biggest penalties in Australian corporate history to the financial crimes watchdog, after past anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism failings in its Perth and Melbourne casinos.

The $450 million fine is about five per cent of Crown’s last listed market capitalisation before it was taken private by Blackstone Capital for $8.9 billion in May last year.

In 2019, an investigation by this masthead and 60 Minutes revealed Crown had been infiltrated by international criminal syndicates and money launderers.

Crown was forced to overhaul its board, management and procedures to satisfy the regulators, who approved a conditional licence for Crown to operate its Barangaroo casino in June 2022. The conditional licence is valid until the end of this year.

Carruthers said the integrated hospitality offerings at Crown meant the casino could afford to embrace the shift.

“I want people to enjoy the experience of our casinos whether they’re coming for dining, casino or retail. I’m fairly agnostic across which one of those experience or how many of those experiences you want to enjoy,” he said.

Reclusive Sydney gambling mogul emerges as kingmaker in South Africa - September 2023

Reclusive online gambling mogul Martin Moshal is playing an increasingly influential role in a push to oust the South African government.

Mr Moshal, who lives on the exclusive Sydney Harbour row of Camp Cove alongside shopping centre billionaire Steven Lowy, is not on many rich lists but has made a fortune from online casino technology.

Herman Mashaba is the leader of ActionSA, one of a handful of opposition parties Mr Moshal has backed in the lead up to the 2024 South African national election. Mr Mashaba, known for taking a tough line on immigration and endorsing hard labour for prisoners, is hoping the gambling tycoon will continue his support.

“I wish he won’t give up on us and help us democratically remove the [incumbent African National Congress] and bring about a peaceful transition... please help ActionSA,” Mr Mashaba said in an interview with The Australian Financial Review.

“I have been lucky to have known Martin long before I went into politics,” he added. “I approached him and he was willing to back me up because he knows me as a capitalist... Martin was one of the first to come to the party.”

President Cyril Ramaphosa’s social democratic African National Congress party is set to come under pressure next year amid South Africa’s dire economic troubles. A senior party official has warned the country could become a failed state.

Mr Moshal is the largest individual political donor in South Africa in the last two years. He has given 46.5 million rand ($3.8 million), according to electoral records analysed by My Vote Counts, a non-profit advocating for more transparency in politics.

“Given the amounts donated it has become clear to us he now has a large stake in our politics,” said Robyn Pasensie, a researcher at the organisation.

The size of Mr Moshal’s wealth is unknown. He is extremely private and only admitted to his ownership of online gambling giant Betway after UK journalists traced his ownership back to offshore trusts. Mr Moshal did not respond to a request for comment.

Aside from ActionSA, Mr Moshal has donated to the Democratic Alliance (DA), Build One South Africa and said he also intends to support the Inkatha Freedom Party. Mr Moshal is ActionSA’s biggest backer. The Australian Financial Review is not suggesting Mr Moshal supports the party’s policies.

“I’m not saying these parties are all perfect, but we shouldn’t let perfect be the enemy of good... They are all far better than the government we have today,” Mr Moshal told The Jewish Report earlier this year.

“Pirkei Avot was my late dad – John Moshal’s – favourite part of the Talmud within which Rabbi Tarfon is quoted as saying, ‘It’s not up to you to finish the task, but you aren’t free to avoid it’.”

Mr Moshal said he believed South Africa needed a new government and was on its way to becoming a failed state.

“[This is a] government that’s corrupt, cannot provide basic security and opportunity to its citizens... we need the change of government and leadership that these parties can provide.”

ActionSA is known for advocating for life sentences and hard labour for serious offenders and also wants to repeal the ANC’s Broad-based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) policy, a form of affirmative action introduced post-apartheid.

“Martin knows my views on racial policies and how dangerous they are,” said Mr Mashaba, who started off in business and was the founder of African hair care brand, Black Like Me.

ActionSA has also been vocal on immigration, views labelled as “xenophobic” by some critics and politicians.

“We recognise that South Africa was built... on the back of migrants,” said Mr Mashaba. “But they must come here legally... you break our laws, we will send you back to your country, the country where you came from.”

One of South Africa’s main economic problems is mismanagement and corruption inside the country’s electricity utility Eskom. The utility has been forced to implement rolling blackouts, which have further stymied economic growth.

“If Eskom cannot run on a commercial basis then it must die a natural death,” Mr Mashaba said, adding changes were needed to give other companies the opportunity to compete.

Mr Moshal’s Entrée Capital is one of Israel’s most active funds in the Israeli VC space. He is the beneficiary of a trust which is the largest individual shareholder in Super Group, which became the parent of Betway and online casino brand Spin after a 2022 listing. The group reported net gaming revenue of €1.3 billion ($2.1 billion) in 2022.

“Moshal is one of the least visible betting entrepreneurs in the world,” Guardian reporter Rob Davis wrote in his book Jackpot: How Gambling Conquered Britain.

“Moshal made much of his fortune from his home in Durban where he patented a series of technological solutions for the online gambling world and developed them via his company Microgaming. The company has since become one of the industry’s leading software players”

A philanthropist, he sits on the capital management advisory committee of Sydney’s Moriah College, alongside Steven Lowy and former Babcock & Brown chief executive Phil Green. He is also a life trustee of the Moriah Foundation and previously donated to Israel’s SpaceIL project attempting to land spacecraft on the moon.

SkyCity puts aside $45m for potential AUSTRAC penalty - August 2023

SkyCity Entertainment set aside $45 million for a penalty if it is convicted of breaches of anti-money laundering and counterterrorism laws.

The financial crimes watchdog, AUSTRAC, lodged proceedings against SkyCity in December over alleged serious and systemic non-compliance with the laws at its Adelaide casino.

SkyCity said on Monday it was difficult to determine the size and timing of the penalty, given the proceedings are in the early stages. But it decided to lodge a $45 million provision on the basis that each breach attracts a maximum civil penalty of between $18 million and $22.2 million.

“Estimating the potential exposure to penalties with any degree of accuracy at this stage of that ongoing process remains challenging, particularly given the outcome is highly dependent on a range of factors which are not yet known,” a statement said.

AUSTRAC has alleged “serious noncompliance” with anti-money laundering laws against SkyCity, claiming the company allowed 59 suspicious patrons to churn more than $4 billion in dirty cash through its Adelaide casino. The independent review is on hold because of the Federal Court action.

The company cut full-year earnings expectations at an investor day in May, with a slowdown in revenue from the international business and rising legal and compliance costs related to a crackdown on money laundering weighing on its bottom line. Analysts have provisioned about $50 million for the AUSTRAC fine, but there is no guarantee that will be enough.

In late May, SkyCity announced it would hire an independent expert to review its anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism programs. It is still waiting for South Australia’s investigation into whether it should hold a casino licence to recommence.

“Judgements in civil penalty proceedings bought by AUSTRAC to date demonstrate that the Court’s determination of the appropriate penalty ... is very specific to the fact in each case and that the Court will have regard to a broad range of factors,” SkyCity said.

SkyCity’s provision announcement coincided with a $45.6 million write-down of the Adelaide casino licence, which was attributed to the value and timing of future discounted cash flows.

The company said the impairment and provision were non-cash and would not affect earnings for fiscal year 2023. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation remain in line with guidance of $NZ300 million ($276.6 million) to $NZ310 million.

SkyCity’s provision comes a month after the federal court agreed on rival casino operator Crown’s $450 million fine for breaches of anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism laws. The fine is being paid over a two-year period without interest.

Shares closed on Friday at $2.09.

Hotel room rates plummet for F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix weekend - September 2023

Hotel room rates for Las Vegas Grand Prix weekend have fallen by nearly 60 percent in some cases since they were first posted last fall. But an industry expert says that does not necessarily mean interest in the event is failing to meet expectation.

When select Las Vegas resorts in November 2022 opened their booking schedules for race weekend, listed prices were as high as they have been seen in the city’s history. While still at higher than normal rates, a major decrease has occurred.

When a drop in booking pace occurs, it automatically triggers revenue management systems to suggest the lowering of room rates, according to Dr. Mehmet Erdem, professor of hotel operations and technology at UNLV’s William F. Harrah College of Hospitality.

Pennsylvania online casinos cross $5 billion in lifetime revenue - September 2023

Business is booming in Pennsylvania. The Keystone State is the clear market leader when it comes to online casino revenue within the US. After August’s total of $171.9 million, Pennsylvania surpassed the $5 billion threshold for lifetime revenue.

Pennsylvania online casinos are constantly upgrading and adding new content, and customers are responding. It doesn’t appear the market will be slowing down anytime soon, either.

Pennsylvania has set the US online casino revenue record four times over the last 11 months, and almost did so again. August’s revenue total of $171.9 million came second to March’s figure of $181.5 million. It was the second-best month of all time for any state with legal online casinos.

Atlantic City: Five-year turnaround of Ocean Casino Resort among city’s greatest successes - September 2023

In the winter of 2019, if any New Jersey sportsbook had tried to offer odds on the Atlantic City casino hotel then known as Ocean Resort Casino making it through another summer, no gambler in their right mind would have taken the bet.

Fast forward to the end of summer 2023, and the property now called Ocean Casino Resort is one of the city’s best performers. In fact, an argument can be made that Ocean’s rise to the upper echelon of the Atlantic City casino market is the most remarkable turnaround of any gambling parlor in history.

From its failed origins as Revel Casino Hotel to its seemingly doomed trajectory in February 2019, the $2.4 billion casino at the north end of the AC Boardwalk felt almost cursed (if you believe in that kind of stuff). But, apparently, the gambling gods decided Ocean was deserving of a better fate.

Once shunned by casino operators, responsible gaming campaign turns 25

At a time when problem gambling matters were rarely mentioned in gaming company boardrooms, Harrah’s Entertainment decided the issue needed to be raised on casino floors.

But it wasn’t just rival corporate executives that looked askance at the idea of employees learning how to spot signs that a customer might have a gambling problem.

“Our own lawyers tried to block it,” recalled Jan Jones Blackhurst, who was then a Harrah’s senior vice president. With the support of company CEO Phil Satre, she led Harrah’s launch of the casino industry’s first responsible gaming initiative in the mid-1990s.

“We had employees that wanted to be educated on the subject. They wanted to be able to help,” said Jones Blackhurst, who completed two terms as Las Vegas mayor before joining Harrah’s. “Maybe because I came out of politics. You have a responsibility to your communities, your customers and your employees. We believed it was the right thing to do.”

Sportsbooks ratchet up targeted advertising at start of NFL season

Shortly after the NFL forged authorized gaming partnerships with a host of leading sportsbooks in the 2021 offseason, operators began flooding the airwaves with a series of humorous spots that featured celebrities hawking their products.

Caesars Sportsbook spent lavishly on an ad package starring the Manning Brothers and actor J.B. Smoove as the eponymous emperor. During Super Bowl LVII last February, Kevin Hart expressed his displeasure for “taking the under” in a DraftKings spot while standing mere feet from WWE wrestler The Undertaker. Another commercial from FanDuel featured a live field goal attempt by former New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski, one that drifted wide left of the upright at the last second.

Former lieutenant governor calls for Nevada Gaming Commission cyber briefing after MGM and Caesars hacks - September 2023

In light of cyberattacks on MGM Resorts International and Caesars Entertainment, former Nevada Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki, now a Nevada Gaming Commission member, called for a briefing on the hacking incident to shed more light on what happened and how it can be prevented in the future.

The suggestion comes the same day the Massachusetts Gaming Commission met in executive session “to consider information related to an MGM cybersecurity issue.” It held a similar closed meeting on Monday.

After it returned to the public session on Thursday, the Commission entered into an executive session regarding security at MGM Springfield, according to the Commission agenda.

Krolicki made his comments at the end of Thursday’s five-hour meeting of the Nevada Gaming Commission. Since it was made during the public comment session, the commission could not take up the matter, but it’s likely the issue will return to the Commission and the Nevada Gaming Control Board at some point.

In the latest cyberattack that started being felt Sept. 10 and went into this week, hackers knocked slot machines out of commission and created havoc with ATMs and computer systems. MGM, which is reported by a Wall Street analyst to have lost between $4.2 million and $8.4 million a day with the hack, said its systems were operating normally across their properties nationwide as of Wednesday. Caesars reported it was hacked in late August and had customer information stolen but paid a $15 million ransom that avoided any shutdowns.

In December, the Commission approved cybersecurity regulations for the state’s gaming industry to protect operators’ information systems from attacks that could shutter casinos and compromise customer data. The rules went into effect Jan. 1. That approval came right after BetMGM reported that its customers’ personal information – including Social Security numbers – was obtained in an unauthorized manner and included information on their transactions.

In the regulations, casinos were required to do a risk assessment of their systems by the end of 2023 and take any necessary steps on an ongoing basis to ward off an attack. If any breach was successful that compromised player data, credit card information and other records, including that of employees, properties would be required to report it to gaming regulators within 72 hours.

“It would be important and enlightening given the recent events of the past week regarding cyber security and ransomware in particular at MGM and our friends at Caesars and look at how it impacts our world and regulatory responsibilities,” Krolicki said, later adding, “I think at some point in time when there’s the energy and understanding of what just happened if we could get some kind of briefing of what transpired that’s appropriate for public record and perhaps policies going forward of how do we avoid these things and if they do happen whether the reporting schemes on whether it was immediately reported to the Gaming Control Board. There are a lot of questions and a lot of publicity. It’s a global story, and I just think it would behoove all of us to get a good handle on what just happened.”

The Nevada Gaming Control Board released a statement on Sept. 13 saying Gov. Joe Lombardo and the board “are monitoring the cybersecurity incident with MGM Resorts and are in communication with company executives. Additionally, the Nevada Gaming Control Board remains in communication with other law enforcement agencies.”

Casino consultant Brendan Bussmann, managing partner of B Global, which tracks gaming boards and commissions, said the Massachusetts hearing won’t be the last and expects states across the country to hold similar sessions wanting to hear from MGM executives.

“Nevada is the second regulator that I know has raised their hand on this after Massachusetts,” Bussmann said. “It should be about what happened and how it happened, which should be considered confidential information. This is going to be a question that every regulator for both commercial gaming and tribal gaming is going to be concerned about. Since we’re still trying to figure out what happened, then we can see what tools we need as an industry to beef up our efforts on cyber-related events.”

While everyone is focused today on MGM and Caesars, this is not the first cyber attack, Bussmann said.

“This can go back to the Las Vegas Sands attacks in 2014 from the Iranians and any other data breaches that happened between then and now,” Bussmann said. “I would expect every state at a minimum has MGM and Caesars in it to at least say what happened and what can we do regulatory to help this and what can we do with testing and what can we do IT and host of things.”

Bussmann said the regulators can’t be reactionary but instead should get evidence on how it happened and use the best resources outside of the casino industry, such as security firms, to do it right.

“There’s no one better suited to regulate Nevada on this issue than the Gaming Control Board in working with law enforcement partners across the country,” Bussmann said.

Wednesday, September 20, 2023

Casino News Media Blog: SEO, Search Engines. Search for casino content, casino news...

Casino News Media Blog

SEO, Search Engines, Hunt Machine on the web and more; Gonzo news for business

SEO or Hunt Machine Optimisation is the process of perfecting the website’s visibility to have applicable quests on hunt machines. More visibility in hunt results makes the point attract the attention of the druggies.

Search Machines similar as Google, Yahoo, Bing use technology to bottleneck on the web on different spots. They collect information about each point and also put them in an indicator. Further, the algorithm analyses the runners in the indicator grounded upon numerous different factors to determine the applicable spots that appear in a hunt result. The ranking factors for seo toronto can be keywords, unique content, applicable length of content, image attributes, etc. Optimizing the point with SEO factors can grease crawling and indexing and help the point rank advanced in hunt results. Unlike paid hunt advertisements, organic rankings on point can’t be achieved on hunt machines. thus, it becomes important to optimize websites to rank advanced in hunt results.

When it comes to Statistics, The first five Google quests on the first runner account for 67.60, while only 0.78 of Google quest click on the alternate runner. 70 of the marketers consider SEO more effective than PPC for generating deals. 51 of shoppers surveyed say they use Google to probe a purchase they plan to make online. These are a many statistics to punctuate the significance of SEO in 2021.

An effective SEO strategy can help the runner rank advanced and reach the right followership and increase website business when it comes to businesses. It can also help in getting transformations. Readout why SEO is important for businesses in 2021.

1. Increases visibility of a website

SEO, when done right, can help businesses increase their visibility on the website. It’s the direct motorist of bettered visibility and prints in the hunt results. Using the right keywords, adding backlinks from high sphere authority websites, optimizing metadata on the point, and participating unique content are among the many factors that can help the point increase visibility. SEO facilitates crawling and indexing, which helps in adding the visibility of a website.

2. Increases website business

Organic hunt is pivotal to a business. Search Machines contribute to a business’s visibility, and SEO can help druggies land to the point. SEO builds an online presence, increases website business, and helps the business to grow. The advanced the website ranks, the further business the business shall admit. The first Google hunt result has a28.5 click- through rate which falls down to2.5 for the tenth hunt result.

3. Enhances stoner trust on website

SEO establishes the authority of content on the hunt machine by admitting parameters like unique content, quality backlinks, advanced runner ranking, and stoner geste, which enhances stoner trust in the website. spots that are listed on the hunt machine are considered believable than the runners that are n’t. Quality SEO helps establish business credibility, gives exposure, and enhances its character.

4. This leads to a better consumer experience of the website

SEO can help in perfecting the consumer experience and furnishing quality content to the consumers. It makes the content dependable through quality backlinks and the right keywords. SEO helps search machines in relating the right spots that are helpful to the stoner. Website speed is another criterion that plays an important part. A slow website will have a high brio and tends to distort the stoner experience.

5. Search Machines aren’t perfect, and if you do n’t take applicable way, your website will be ranked lower

Hunt Machines need or, as we call, colorful conditions to identify point applicability. SEO enables the hunt machine to effectively judge its applicability and show the same in the hunt results. The better these conditions are satisfied, the advanced the runner ranks, which can help the business get website business, make credibility, and lead to transformations.

6. High website business would lead to advanced transformations

Transformations can be appertained to the asked thing the point or business has. That can be enabling deals, subscribing to a service, adding readership, etc. Quality SEO promotes high website business which in turn leads to advanced transformations. High-engaging websites are bound to get a better conversion as they can gather maximum eyeballs.

Conclusion

SEO has come a critical element to the online success of businesses. Businesses who want to make sure of their strong online presence need to invest in SEO.

Tuesday, September 19, 2023

Casino News Media Blog: "Life can be like a casino. You win some. You lose some"

Casino News Media Blog

"Life can be like a casino. You win some. You lose some".

Monday, September 18, 2023

Casino News Media Blog: UFC and MMA Sports Betting

Casino News Media Blog

UFC and MMA Sports Betting

Up to approx 30 degrees

Combat sports are red hot right now

WWE and UFC nder TKO banner as per NYSE

Wrestling Match Of The Decade wheels in motion for WrestleMania: Roman Reigns vs Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson

John Cena and Johnson escape fallout from Hollywood writers strike!

MMA: The UFC Sean Strickland era is here. Izzy has been advised by many to rest up, rethink his political allegiance and messaging with China. Will he ever live down the "Dog Day Afternoon" in Sydney, Australia! Pro MMA can be a dog eat dog business and SS's mind games got to "The Last Stylebender". Was the fight already lost for Izzy before the "Let's Fn Go"?

UFC Nucho in Mexico. Grasso vs Shevchenko. Draw says judges! Oops. Re-match next time on U.S soil?!

Hot Temp's In Sydney, Australia see pause on bush burn-offs likely for a few days as mini heatwave hits.

Water safety reminder: Beach, rockpools, anywhere around water.

Work/Biz/Life Balance: If working with screens/computers try 15 mins break from screen for every hour on. Protect eyes, head, well-being. A walk around the block and an extra glass of water can work wonders. Water and coffee in the office (but not too close to keyboards)!

Washington, USA: Political basketcases?! USA set for an authentic leader in office. Many of the most suitable candidates work in private enterprise? Too good for the Oval Office?! A bit like some in the land down under of Australia, but not quite as obvious.

New South Wales government of Australia scores big praise by Sydney, Australia sports loving fans. About 3 or so more UFC events to hit Sydney within the next 4 years.

PPV (Pay-Per-View) business models, offerings to get some revamp thanks to TKO (WWE and UFC) deal; What percentage of WWE fans also watch at least some UFC? A higher percentage than the amount of UFC fans who also watch some WWE! Not all exactly or speculative numbers are in the public domain and can we suggest some are hidden - at least in part. Back in the Optus Vision days we used to get our hands on much raw data, thanks to my old bosses and the marketing and PPV department. Many industries have trade secrets, much like the Google Algorithm or KFC's "eleven secret herbs and spices"!

Alt news and niche news finding audiences in Australia, US, Canada, Europe, while many in society has tuned out or largely turned off "TV News" and other "mainstream aka lamestream"; Sky News Australia is an exception to the rule. Sky boasts an interaction with 11.1 million Aussie's each month. Multiplatform strategy works a charm, with quality and authentic journalism - funny about that hey!!! "Happy to help further spread the good and authentic news"..Anon journo type overheard around the watercooler.

24-hour News Cycle vs Always On via The Internet..

Too much news going on all the time? Part of the reason the Media Man Group often updates X (formally Twitter) and blogs such as Media Man Int Blogger and Media Man Blogger quicker than news going live to it's flagship websites. Evergreen content strategy works a treat as well as unique perspectives and some gonzo journalism type reporting seldom found in mainstream news. The Google Algorithm is friendly to this business model so it's a Win-Win-Win!

Yes, we are still taking on some select PR and advertising campaigns. Email is if you have something you want the world to know about. There's an old expression that goes something like, "If you have the money we have the time"!

Seriously, we love the once great craft of journalism. The decline of the industry is well documented.. Hat's off to the authentic journos who continue to scribe and sniff out a good story. Journos vs AI! That's a big rabbit hole ain't it.

Remember in this sometimes crazy world, Heath is wealth and time and energy are most valuable resources.

LinkedIn: For more professional (whatever that is anyway) scribes and media presentation check us out via LinkedIn. Greg Tingle, Founder and Director, Media Man Int and Media Man Australia. LI is a MM multi-time 'Social Media Platform Of The Month' winner and finalist (and so it Twitter, now X, right Elon Musk and Linda Yaccarino.

Thanks for stopping by Media Man. Beach to Bush Telegraph via The Internet Superhighway. Wrestling and surfin' the web and beyond. Seagulls and Kangaroos ahead!

Media Man

Hot Temp's In Sydney, Australia see pause on bush burn-offs likely for a few days as mini heatwave hits.

Water safety reminder: Beach, rockpools, anywhere around water.

New South Wales government of Australia scores big praise by Sydney, Australia sports loving fans. About 3 or so more UFC events to hit Sydney within the next 4 years.

24-hour News Cycle vs Always On via The Internet..

Too much news going on all the time? Part of the reason the Media Man Group often updates X

(formally Twitter) and blogs such as Media Man Int Blogger and Media Man Blogger quicker than news going live to it's flagship websites. Evergreen content strategy works a treat as well as unique perspectives and some gonzo journalism type reporting seldom found in mainstream news. The Google Algorithm is friendly to this business model so it's a Win-Win-Win!

Remember in this sometimes crazy world, Heath is wealth and time and energy are most valuable resources.

Thanks for stopping by Media Man. Beach to Bush Telegraph via The Internet Superhighway. Wrestling and surfin' the web and beyond. Seagulls and Kangaroos ahead!

#news #newsbiz #PopCulture #combatsports #WWE #UFC #TKO #WrestleMania #gonzo #gonzojournalism #onlinenews #watercooler #watercoolernews #newsroom #sky #skynews #realnews #realviews #nichenews #niche #agent #agency #scribe #blog #blogs #platforms #biz #balance #search #ai #letsgo #forthewin #AndStill #PPV #payperview #streaming #info #intel #scoops #RabbitHole #worldnews #mediabiz #adbiz #buzz #media #mediaman

SEJ Google update Sept 2023

SEJ's Roger on Google. Re if a site loses website traffic, machine learned content, rankings and.more. Google remains king of the search engine in the vast majority of categories despite numerous AI competitors so if your business has anything to do with popularity/rankings on the web it's smart to read up and keep your finger on the pulse. Published via LinkedIn so LI and the Microsoft folks are certainly across updates of this nature also. It's Spy vs Spy as per the iconic section of MAD Magazine. Their Tech Special is quite the collectors item also. Back to the web publishing and online entrepreneurial business activities!

MMA/Wrestling News : Caged Fury Fighting Championships @CFFCMMA

Commentary by John Morgan and CM Punk (Phil Brooks) @CMPunk

"Look who I ran into backstage" - Morgan

"Yeah, I got some time on my hands, for the next two months" - Brooks

"What do you wanna talk about?" - Brooks

#MMA #mmanews #mixedmartialarts #CMPunk #PhilBrooks #JohnMorgan #CagedFury #CFFC #sportsnews #sportsbiz #wrestling #wrestlingnews #mmapromotion #sportspromotion #promotions #entertainment #entertainmentnews #popculture #buzz #trends #broadcast #broadcasting #X #media #mediaman

All Elite Wrestling

(Image credit: AEW)

Pro Wrestling Dream Match Tipped To Become Reality At All Elite Wrestling @AEW : 'WrestleDream'

FTR vs Aussie Open.

October 1, 2023. Seattle, Washington

AEW Official YouTube Channel

https://www.youtube.com/AEW

Video

Aussie Open set their sights on the AEW World Tag Team Champions! | 9/16/23, AEW Collision

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxPrZn2GFq0&ab_channel=AllEliteWrestling

#AEW #AllEliteWrestling #AEWWrestleDream #WrestleDream #dreammatch #wrestling #prowrestling #AussieOpen #FTR #aewtag #combatsports #sportsbiz #sportsnews #PPV #payperview #payperviews #FITE #FITETV #streaming #popculture #showbiz #biz #X #media #mediaman

Pro Wrestling Dream Match: Roman Reigns @WWERomanReigns vs Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson @TheRock finally may become reality in a WWE @WWE ring

WrestleMania Season has come early - sort of! The dream match wrestling fans across the globe have been waiting for may actually happen at the upcoming WrestleMania @WrestleMania

This past Friday Night SmackDown 'The Rock' finally showed up to largely a very positive responce. He even got a "Welcome home" from long time rival John Cena @JohnCena

Traditonally with pro wrestling mega matches that are worthy of WrestleMania status, the headliner match or matches get a storyline with usually some confrontations, angles, twists and turns in the lead up.

Reigns remains 'Head Of The Table' and the Tribal Chief of 'The Bloodline'. The trials and tribulations of Reigns and his stable of Samoans are well documented and the numerous crime scenes over the past 3 years have the fingerprints of puppet master and self appointed "Evil Genius" Paul Heyman @HeymanHustle written all over them.

WWE announcers such as Michael Cole @MichaelCole , Corey Graves @WWEGraves and Kevin Patrick @kev_egan sometimes speak of "recruitment drives" as WWE factions look for further strength in numbers. This can strengthen the position much like a Hollywood or MMA agent with numerous world class talents on the books.

Wrestling politics can play in the success of a pro wrestlers (and managers) career, not to mention the always potential threat of talent leaving for a rival faction or promoter!, with or without a Hollywood Writers Strike!

Johnson's return to the WWE appears very timely, and this news fresh off the official launch of TKO @TKOGrp which is akin to a parent of both the WWE and UFC @UFC. Back in 2009 Johnson put the UFC's BMF title around the waist of MMA legend Jorge Masvidal @GamebredFighter

WWE Universal Champion Reigns and cousin, Johnson, can both be described as BMF'er. Johnson is no stranger to colourful language, this week giving the hint to the WWE live audience to chant A hole at Austin Theory @_Theory1 The WWE lockeroom is getting "the rub" from Johnson, but upstart and gold contender Grayson Waller @GraysonWWE may say otherwise. The Aussie Dynamite has been blowing up things and people in the WWE and may have something to say about the potential possibility of others stealing his spotlight, and so may "American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes @CodyRhodes for that matter. Rhodes may look to cash in on a fatigued Johnson, Rhodes and/or Rolllins @WWERollins come WrestleMania, Day 1 or Day 2!

Hollywood's loss (for now) appears to be the WWE Unviverses' gain. The match of the decade continues to near to reality by the day.

WWE, TKO, Reigns, Rock, BFK'ers abound. A perfect storm is brewing. WWE bean-counters, fans and WWE co-workers win. The Samoan American connection is alive and well. Chiefs, elders and fans, brace yourself for a wrestling war of electrifiying consequences. It's just about pick 'em time.

#WWESmackDown #WWE #WrestleMania #WrestleMania40 #RomanReigns #TribalChief #DwayneJohnson #TheRock #CodyRhodes #WWEUniverse #TKO #BMF #wrestling #prowrestling #sportsentertainment #sportsbiz #sportsnews #PLE #PPV #payperview #entertainment #entertainmentnews #popculture @showbiz #trend #trends #buzz #X #media

‘Wrestlers’ Is Here to Rip Your Freakin’ Head Off

The new doc series from the creator of Last Chance U and Cheer is an underdog story pulsing with adrenaline.

From the right corner of the ring, an oiled-up baby face enters with a stone-cold glare and a juicy flex. From the left, a sneering heel climbs through the ropes under floodlights, only to be met with jeers and hisses from the darkness of the stands. What happens next isn’t just a fight; it’s a story. It’s Shakespearean drama. It’s bloody theater that also happens to be more true to life than you’d think.

Wrestlers, the new doc series from director Greg Whiteley (Last Chance U, Cheer) and BBC Studios Los Angeles takes you right to the center of the fight. It doesn’t only depict the brawls between ambitious athletes managing their stressful lives off the ring (though watching a rage-fueled fighter and a hardened vet go head-to-head in a violent, hair-pulling tussle is thrilling –– especially when you consider they’re mother and daughter). The fight at the center of the story is even more intense: Legendary wrestler Al Snow is attempting to keep professional wrestling league Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW) afloat, navigating the brutal waters of mounting debt and the power struggles of new ownership.

The seven-episode series is intimate, emotional, and offers a behind-the-scenes look at the world of professional wrestling, revealing the hardship and sacrifice that goes into creating this highly complex feat of performance art and athleticism.

What is Ohio Valley Wrestling?

OVW is located in Louisville, Kentucky, and once served as a premiere training ground for aspiring pro wrestlers like Brock Lesnar, John Cena, Dave Bautista, The Miz, and Randy Orton. In recent years, OVW has struggled to keep its doors open, prompting Snow to sell a majority stake to a group of local businesses — one of whom is Matt Jones, one of the most popular radio personalities in the state of Kentucky.

Who Are the Wrestlers at Ohio Valley Wrestling?

The cast of Wrestlers is comprised of OVW legends like Ca$h Flo, Mr. PEC-tacular, Mahabali Shera, Hollyhood Haley J, and more. To learn more about the babyfaces, heels and bosses at OVW — including their signature moves — check out our Wrestlers cast guide.

Wait, what’s a babyface?

In wrestling, a babyface (also known as a “face”) is a heroic “good guy” or fan favorite. Typically, they’ll play it fair in the ring and avoid cheating or dirty manuevers. The babyfaces in Wrestlers include Ca$h Flo and the Amazing Maria James. The babyfaces perform relative to the heels in any given match, and sometimes wrestlers shift between the two identities, depending on their narrative arc.

So what’s a heel?

Simply put, a heel is a villain — a bad boy, a nasty girl, or anyone who fights dirty in the ring. The heels in Wrestlers include Hollyhood Haley J and Freya the Slaya.

“In wrestling, you’re going to do the same things you do when you tell any story and have a protagonist and an antagonist,” Al Snow told Tudum. “We've got to explain to the audience what the context of the story is, [and help them] understand the challenge that's facing our protagonist, and what the antagonists are trying to prevent.”

In other words: If nothing else, wrestling is a story of good versus evil — and who prevails depends on the day.

Watch Wrestlers on Netflix now.

Video

Wrestlers | Official Trailer | Netflix

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hY9CISx70Oo&ab_channel=Netflix

Websites

Netflix: Wrestlers

https://www.netflix.com/au/title/81592264

Ohio Valley Wrestling

https://ovwrestling.com

(Credit: Netflix/OVW)

Combat Sports News

UFC @UFC Noche Results:

Alexa Grasso (48-47) and Valentina Shevchenko (48-47) fight to a split draw (47-47)

Jack Della Maddalena (29-28, 29-28) defeats Kevin Holland (29-28) by split decision

Raul Rosas Jr defeats Terrance Mitchell by TKO, Round 1, :54

Daniel Zellhuber defeats Christos Giagos by submission, anaconda choke, Round 2, 3:26

Kyle Nelson (29-28, 29-28, 30-27) defeats Fernando Padilla by unanimous decision

Loopy Godinez defeats Elise Reed by submission, rear naked choke, Round 2, 3:38

Roman Kopylov defeats Josh Fremd by TKO (body shot) at 4:44 of Round 2

Edgar Chairez versus Daniel Lacerda declared a no decision at 3:47 of Round 1

Tracy Cortez (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) defeats Jasmine Jasudavicius by unanimous decision

Charlie Campbell defeats Alex Reyes by TKO (right hand) at 3:38 of Round 1

Josefine Knutsson (30-24, 30-25, 30-27) defeats Marnic Mann by unanimous decision

Videos

UFC YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/ufc

Noche UFC: Post-Fight Press Conference

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJrM6yp2r-M&ab_channel=UFC

Alexa Grasso: 'I Hope Every September 16th We Can Have a Card Like This' | Noche UFC

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqYOHs7tvfQ&ab_channel=UFC

Alexa Grasso Octagon Interview | Noche UFC

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCN6z-gM3W0&ab_channel=UFC

Noche UFC: Pre-Fight Panel

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OuSXblxM1IQ&t=85s&ab_channel=UFC

#UFCNoche #NocheUFC #UFCResults #ufcwomen #MMA #mixedmartialarts #AlexaGrasso

#ValentinaShevchenko #sportsnews #sportsmedia #popculture #PPV #payperview #trend #trending #buzz #X #media

Black Superman - 'Muhammad Ali', By Johnny Wakelin

Lyrics

This here's the story of Cassius Clay

Who changed his name to Muhammad Ali

He knows how to talk and he knows how to fight

And all the contenders were beat out of sight

Sing, Muhammad, Muhammad Ali

He floats like a butterfly and stings like a bee

Mohammed, the black superman

Who calls to the other guy I'm Ali catch me if you can

Now all you fight fans, you've got to agree

There ain't no flies on Muhammad Ali

He fills the arena wherever he goes

And everyone gets what they paid for

Muhammad, was known to have said

You watch me shuffle and I'll jab off your head

He moves like the black superman

And calls to the other guy I'm Ali catch me if you can

He says I'm the greatest the worlds ever seen

The heavyweight champion who came back again

My face is so pretty you don't see a scar

Which proves I'm the king of the ring by far

Sing, Muhammad, Muhammad Ali

He floats like a butterfly and stings like a bee

Mohammed, the black superman

Who calls to the other guy I'm Ali catch me if you can

Sing, Muhammad, Muhammad Ali

He floats like a butterfly and stings like a bee

Muhammad, the black superman

Who calls to the other guy I'm Ali catch me if you can

I'm Ali catch me if you can

Audio

https://music.apple.com/us/album/black-superman-muhammad-ali/286163209

#BlackSuperman #MuhammadAli #Ali

#JohnnyWakelin #boxer #boxing #legend #popculture #media

"I'm more into MMA than any other sport. I watch a lot of the UFC @UFC fights. I have since it first came onto the scene" - Jason Statham #JasonStatham #quote #MMA #UFC #combatsports #sportsnews #sportsmedia #popculture #media

"Video is growing very quickly on Facebook. A lot of people compare that to YouTube. I think that kind of makes sense. YouTube isn't the only video service, but I think it's the biggest, and it probably makes more sense to compare Facebook video to YouTube rather than Netflix because that's a completely different kind of content" - Mark Zuckerberg #MarkZuckerberg #quote #Facebook #Meta #YouTube #video #videoservice #Netflix #content #socialmedia #socialmedianews #socialmediatrends #socialmediawars #socialmediaplatforms #platforms #innovation #bigtech #tech #innovation #popculture #internet #media

Combat Sports News

UFC @UFC Noche

Women’s flyweight champion Alexa Grasso defended her championship vs Valentina Shevchenko.

The bout went the distance with both competitors coping a bruising in the five-round affair.

Many MMA insiders and hardcore fans are asking questions about the judges scorecards.

A split draw! (48-47, 47-48, 47-47). You could see a look in the eyes of Shevchenko.

One judge giving Grasso the final round 10-8 despite Shevchenko dominating the majority of the round.

Shevchenko spoke with UFC/MMA living legend Daniel "DC" Cormier.

“I think it really was 3-2 on my side, but I think judges felt a little bit of pressure because it was Mexican Independence Day”.

“In a fair fight, in a fair competition, victory would be mine.”

They used to say in the fight game, "That's boxing", but now they may also say, "That's MMA in a foreign land", or something to that effect. We're all heard of the expression "hometown advantage", be it football, or other. A re-match appears on the cards, this time perhaps on U.S soil, or some other place. MMA will survive. Stay hungry!

#UFC #UFCNoche #ufcwomen #NocheUFC #AlexaGrasso #ValentinaShevchenko #sportsnews #sportsbiz #ufcnews #ufcmedia #fighting #sportsmedia #combatsports #popculture #entertainment #showbiz #PPV #payperview #payperviews #Mexico #trend #trending #X #media