Australian Sports Entertainment Blog: Media Man Casino, Gaming, Sports and Pop Culture; Las Vegas, Canada, UK, Australia and beyond

Australian Sports Entertainment

Media Man Casino, Gaming, Sports and Pop Culture; Las Vegas, Canada, UK, Australia and beyond

The Media Man Group including Media Man Int, Media Man Australia, Casino News Media, Global Gaming Directory, Hottest On TV, Wrestling News Media, Bitcoin News Media and Cafe News Media have searched the world once again and deliver some of the freshest, most up-to-date casino, gaming, sports and pop culture news and intel to be found anywhere.

Nevada Gaming Control Board preparing for disciplinary hearing against Steve Wynn

The Nevada Gaming Control Board on Tuesday confirmed that it is preparing for a disciplinary hearing before the Nevada Gaming Commission against former Wynn Resorts Ltd. CEO Steve Wynn on sexual harassment charges. Wynn, now a Florida resident, has said that because he is no longer licensed by state gaming regulators and has divested all financial connections with the company that he believes he is no longer subject to its discipline.

The plan for a downtown Chicago casino now has a surprising ally: river lovers

Chicago’s push for a casino has stirred fervent debate focused mostly on the predictable: whether the right site was chosen, how much tax revenue it will generate and whether it will worsen noise, traffic or problem gambling. But river advocates and ecological preservationists see the complex in a different light. To them, the Bally’s plan to replace the Tribune printing plant in River West can be a meaningful next step in the ongoing makeover of the city’s riverfront — if done right.

Ontario: More staff back, but border issues continue to be a challenge for Caesars Windsor

While the bulk of the staff at Caesars Windsor have returned to work, officials say there's still more work to do as they prepare for the fall. Back in March, unionized workers at Caesars voted 93 per cent in favour of a new three-year collective agreement, covering the roughly 1,800 workers at the casino. With restrictions related to COVID-19 mostly lifted, one of the remaining issues involves the border and being able to get more visitors from the US back.

Michigan Gaming Control Board highlights need for gaming education

The Michigan Gaming Control Board is trying to do its part to help raise awareness on responsible gaming among the state’s youth in tandem with the American Gaming Association’s “Responsible Gaming Education Month.” According to a press release from the MGCB, and citing statistics from the National Council on Problem Gambling, between 60% and 80% of high school students say they’ve gambled for money in the past year, and some 4% to 6% of them are considered gambling addicts.

Mixed ruling filed in Apple, Google, Meta social casino case

The Northern District of California issued an opinion partly siding with social casino users late last week, determining that the defendants, Apple, Google, and Meta Platforms defeated only two of three theories of liability on Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act grounds.

Caesars Atlantic City debuting the first east-coast location of Gordon Ramsay’s Hell’s Kitchen

What’s opening next? This question applies to all three of Caesars Entertainment’s Atlantic City casinos. There are so many projects on the to-do list that something new is debuting every month.

Survey suggests many in Ontario cool to sports wagering

Over three months after the full launch of Ontario’s sports-betting industry, a survey conducted by Canada Sports Betting suggests a majority of people in the province haven’t taken to wagering on athletic events. Canada Sports Betting surveyed 1,222 people between July 19-20 regarding their views on the regulated sports-betting market.

North Carolina: Catawba Nation opens sportsbook inside temporary Two Kings casino

Another sports-gambling venue opened on Tuesday in North Carolina, this time at the temporary casino opened by the Catawba Nation last year along Interstate 85 near the South Carolina border.

Caesars opens two retail sportsbooks in Louisiana on the eve of football season

Caesars Sportsbook made a big splash less than a week before the NFL season begins, opening two new retail locations for sports betting in Louisiana.

Hard Rock Sportsbook launches in Indiana, Tennessee

Hard Rock Sportsbook is officially live in Indiana and Tennessee, just days ahead of the start of the 2022 NFL season. The mobile sportsbook is now operational in Arizona, Indiana, Iowa, New Jersey, Tennessee, and Virginia.

Liz Truss’s UK premiership raises hopes of countering affordability checks, lawmaker says

Liz Truss's appointment as prime minister has been hailed as a major positive for racing by fellow Conservative MP Laurence Robertson, who hopes she will oppose the controversial affordability checks, which are set to feature in the upcoming gambling white paper and would cost the sport millions. Robertson, whose Tewkesbury constituency includes Cheltenham racecourse, has long campaigned against strict betting restrictions.

Camelot drops legal challenge over UK National Lottery licence transfer to Allwyn

Outgoing National Lottery operator Camelot has dropped a legal challenge which was preventing the handover of the lottery licence to rival Allwyn. Allwyn has ended its counter-claim against Camelot for damages due to delaying the £6.4bn contract.

Player protection and responsible gambling at the core of the agenda for SBC Summit Barcelona

Hundreds of player safety professionals will gather at SBC Summit Barcelona September 20-22 to share their gambling harm prevention strategies and help improve the industry's understanding of the subject of responsible gambling.

Australian Sports Entertainment: WWE AND FOX ENTERTAINMENT’S BLOCKCHAIN CREATIVE LABS RELEASING 10,000+ “NFT FLIPS” FOR “HELL IN A CELL”

WWE AND FOX ENTERTAINMENT’S BLOCKCHAIN CREATIVE LABS RELEASING 10,000+ “NFT FLIPS” FOR “HELL IN A CELL”

WWE AND FOX ENTERTAINMENT’S BLOCKCHAIN CREATIVE LABS

RELEASING 10,000+ “NFT FLIPS” FOR “HELL IN A CELL”

STAMFORD, Conn. and LOS ANGELES, June 2, 2022 -- Tomorrow, Friday, June 3, WWE Moonsault will debut its first official NFT collection in advance of the annual WWE premium live event HELL IN A CELL. The marketplace’s launch was announced today by Scott Zanghellini, WWE Senior Vice President, Revenue Strategy & Development, and Scott Greenberg, CEO of FOX Entertainment’s Web3 studio Blockchain Creative Labs (BCL).

The limited-edition collection will include 10,000+ “NFT Flips,” each featuring a WWE Superstar tied to the HELL IN A CELL event. In the days after HELL IN A CELL, each NFT Flip will transform to reveal a 10-20 second video highlight of the featured Superstar. The NFT Flips will be sold on “Moonsault” in “Cases” of three, randomized at minting, for $30 per Case. “Moonsault” will be powered by Eluvio’s eco-friendly blockchain technology.

WWE and BCL launched WWE’s official NFT marketplace, “Moonsault,” this past Friday, May 27, during SMACKDOWN on FOX, and promoted the debut across WWE and FOX media platforms, as well as on WWE Discord. The first 10,000 fans to create a wallet on the platform received a free Moonsault Genesis NFT, all of which were claimed within only a few hours.

In the future, more limited-edition Cases of NFT Flips, and other video highlights and digital collectibles centered on WWE Superstars and iconic moments from the company’s history, will be dropped on “Moonsault,” timed to major WWE premium live events throughout the year.

HELL IN A CELL streams live this Sunday, June 5, on Peacock.

ABOUT WWE

WWE, a publicly traded company (NYSE: WWE), is an integrated media organization and recognized leader in global entertainment. The Company consists of a portfolio of businesses that create and deliver original content 52 weeks a year to a global audience. WWE is committed to family-friendly entertainment on its television programming, pay-per-view, digital media and publishing platforms. WWE’s TV-PG programming can be seen in more than 1 billion homes worldwide in 30 languages through world-class distribution partners including NBCUniversal, FOX Sports, BT Sport, Sony India and Rogers. The award-winning WWE Network includes all live pay-per-views, scheduled programming and a massive video-on-demand library and is currently available in more than 180 countries. In the United States, NBCUniversal’s streaming service, Peacock, is the exclusive home to WWE Network. The Company is headquartered in Stamford, Conn.

Additional information on WWE (NYSE: WWE) can be found at wwe.com and corporate.wwe.com.

ABOUT BLOCKCHAIN CREATIVE LABS

Blockchain Creative Labs (BCL), a business and creative unit formed in 2021 by FOX Entertainment and its Emmy Award–winning animation studio, Bento Box Entertainment, provides content creators, IP owners and advertising partners end-to-end blockchain computer ecosystem solutions to build, launch, manage and sell Non-Fungible Token (NFT) content and experiences, and fungible tokens, as well as digital goods and assets. BCL also manages a $100 million creator fund, established by FOX Entertainment and Bento Box, which identifies growth opportunities in the NFT space. In August of 2021, Fox Corporation made a strategic investment in Eluvio, a global pioneer for managing, distributing and monetizing premium content via blockchain, that will provide the underlying technology platform for BCL.

Australian Sports Entertainment: Lucha vaVoom, Big Day Out - January 18, 2013

Lucha vaVoom, Big Day Out

Photo by Eva Rinaldi

Lucha VaVOOM headlines the ‘El Jimador Mexican Wrestling Bar' At Big Day Out 2013; Sydney, Australia

Red hot extreme Lucha Libre pro wrestling and more is what Sydney got at today's Big Day Out in heatwave continues.

The action and lucha heat matched the heatwave conditions.

Sadly, not many lucha wrestling masks were sold (they don't feel so good at the best of times, let alone in the heat), but drink sales were at fever pitch, as was crowd participation, with even a couple of fans having an impromptu "match" before official bell time. Interestingly, the Lucha promoter didn't seem to mind. There was also the good old Mexican wave done by what must have been about 500 fans, many of which also screamed out Ric Flair trademark "Wooooo"! calls (with and without wrestling chops to the chest).

The Lucha's will be in Australia for about a week, as part of Australia's Big Day Out festival touring Australia, and then they will work they was back to LA in the U.S of A.

The megastars of Los Angeles based Lucha VaVoom rumbled to fever pitch at the music festival and fans lapped up the mix of Mexican lucha libre wrestling, burlesque dancing and "post-punk vaudeville", as The Daily Telegraph called it.

Inspired by the Mexican pseudo sport whose champions are household names, the sequin and lycra-clad luchadores flip and fly in the wrestling ring in good (technicos) VS evil (rudos) matches. Headline stars such as Cassandro, Crazy Chicken, Dirty Sanchez and Chocolate Caliente are very good pro wrestlers, and heavily inspired by punk and cabaret, but the look of things.

Co-founder Rita D'Albert worked with rock bands for years before forming this unique act a decade ago.

"I think crazy Mexican wrestling is a pretty natural progression from rock'n'roll," she said. "It's theatrical, it's got energy and a lot of rock shows don't have that anymore."

Media Man and Wrestling News Media have seen a lot of pro wrestling in their day and were overheard "WWE might be generally more technical than Lucha VaVoom, but this LA Mexican troupe is all over them for extreme stuff - the kind that put the legendary and original ECW on the map." 

Judging by today, Lucha VaVoom looks to have a fantastic and extreme future in Australia. As WWE superstar Ryback would say, "Feed Me More". Oh, dream match we want to see - WWE's Rey Mysterio VS any of these guys. It will probly never happen, but we can dream.

Today lucha sports entertainment was certainly a dream come true for many Australian pro wrestling fans who like their pro wrestling more on the extreme, colourful and musical side. WrestleMania look out!

Press Release...

LUCHA VaVOOM TO HEADLINE THE ‘EL JIMADOR MEXICAN WRESTLING BAR’ AT BIG DAY OUT 2013...

LUCHA VAVOOM HEADED TO BIG DAY OUT 2013...

Direct from the US, the Lucha VaVOOM troupe will be putting on a show quite unlike any other at BIG DAY OUT 2013. Lucha VaVOOM is non-stop, action-packed surrealism where Mexican masked wrestlers perform breathtaking acrobatic feats in a fast-paced, fun-filled, character-driven style. Known for their far-out flamboyance, its quick, exhibition-style, one-fall Lucha Libre matches designed for maximum enjoyment and action.

The ultimate distraction, Lucha VaVOOM like a little sexo with their violencia; in between matches the finest handpicked burlesque acts from around the world wow the crowds with their unique striptease skills including raucous aerial acts, pogo-stick peelers and hula-hoop hotties. Their insane antics have Jack Black proclaiming “Lucha VaVOOM is the shit!” and it’s easy to see why.

Celebrating their tenth anniversary, Lucha VaVOOM have only got crazier over time. Rooted in history, they draw inspiration from the bizarre world of sixties Mexican Lucha Cinema. The troupe has been considered one of the most outrageous shows on earth having performed sold-out shows all around the world, they have taken to the stage alongside the likes of legends such as Jon Stewart and Dave Chappelle, as well as appearances on Jimmy Kimmel, Attack of the Show, Carson Daly and A Current Affair. Los Angeles Times said the Lucha VaVOOM show “has the pacing of a prison break” and BIG DAY OUT 2013 punters are set for something spectacular with the crew perform in a dedicated area. Here’s what the press have had to say:

“Lucha VaVOOM has a big future.” TIME MAGAZINE

“… It’s enough to make even the most jaded Hollywood insider jump up and yell ‘Smackdown.” ROLLING STONE

“…a raucous and irreverent extravaganza of burlesque, comedy and classic Mexican luchadore wrestling.” THE HUFFINGTON POST.

“Lucha VaVoom is the most exciting, bonkers show I’ve seen in ages.” THE FACE (UK)

“A madcap mix of Mexican wrestling, comedy, and vintage burlesque. I love, love, love it.” VANITY FAIR

“…a weird mix of cabaret, burlesque, Mexican Luchador wrestling with a live DJ, crowd interaction and commentary…depending on the night, people like Drew Carey turn up to do commentary for it. It is the most bizarre experience. The entire audience is dressed up and it’s like Halloween, everyone is in some weird costume. It was the greatest night of entertainment I have probably seen in my entire life.” ROVE MCMANUS

Lucha VaVOOM will be appearing at the El Jimador Mexican Wrestling Bar at all 2013 Big Day Out dates.

Mexican Masked Wrestling + Burlesque + Comedy = Lucha VaVOOM...

Lucha VaVOOM is a non-stop, action-packed scream-a-thon, where Mexican Masked wrestlers flip and fly, performing breathtaking acrobatic feats while battling evil luchadores. Historically speaking, Lucha VaVOOM brings the bizarre world of 60’s Mexican Lucha Cinema to life. Brave, masked wrestling crime fighters save the world from evil brains, vampires, the Bermuda Triangle etc; always with an obligatory stop at the local go-go club.

In-between matches, the finest, handpicked burlesque acts from around the world astound; at Lucha VaVOOM, we like a little sexo with our violencia. Raucous aerial acts, Pogo-stick peelers, hula-hoop hotties; we’ve got it all!

But wait there’s more! Our color commentary is handled by comedians Tom Kenny, Dana Gould and Blaine Capatch. Other guest commentators include Fred Armisen, Brian Poussein, Patton Oswalt, Greg Proops, Jeffrey Ross and Bobcat Goldthwait. Even Jack Black sat in, proclaiming “Lucha VaVOOM is the sh*t!

It all began in August 2003 as a one off event. The overwhelming crowd response convinced Rita & Liz to do it again, and as soon as possible.

Ever since, Lucha VaVOOM has played at the Mayan Theater in Los Angeles three times a year -- Valentines Day, Mid-summer, and Halloween. From there, Lucha brought it’s circus to Toronto, where they did two nights at the Koolhaus and made every newspaper and TV news program, including Much Music.

In 2005, Lucha VaVOOM was asked to be a part of the first HBO Las Vegas Comedy Festival, where they performed alongside Jon Stewart, Lewis Black and Dave Chapelle. That same year they performed at the famous Sony E3 party at Dodger Stadium, where they took the spotlight away from the Pussycat Dolls.

Lucha VaVOOM has gone on to perform in Chicago, San Francisco and Amsterdam, with more cities on the way.

They’ve also appeared on Jimmy Kimmel, CBS National News, G4's Attack of the Show, Channel X in Britain and A Current Affair just to name a few.

Websites

Lucha VaVOOM official website

www.luchavavoom.com

Eva Rinaldi Photography Flickr 

Wrestling News Media

Australian Sports Entertainment Blog: Coach John Wooden on Succeeding with Integrity (Success Magazine)

Coach John Wooden on Succeeding with Integrity (Success Magazine)

You are standing at a critical crossroads in history.

Scroll through any news app and you’ll find slander, dishonesty and filth coming from the mouths of our current and future leaders. Take a look at the role models your children look up to and you’ll quickly notice patterns of loose standards, unrealistic expectations and unworthy pursuits. When your co-worker does something that violates your personal code of right versus wrong, you feel compelled to remain silent because of the pressure of office politics.

All this leaves you asking: Is success even possible in today’s world without sacrificing integrity or morals?

Yes. But you have to decide to take the path less traveled, and that can be tough. It’s rare to see those who develop and demonstrate integrity, self-discipline, loyalty and character because these qualities go against the crumbling decay of our current societal landscape.

Have you ever felt the pressure of knowing what was right but felt unable to stand up for what you believe? Have you ever had the desire to discover a better, more wholesome approach to success without having to sacrifice your integrity to do it? Have you ever wanted a mentor who could guide you along a more humble path to personal and professional achievement? Coach John Wooden, who led the UCLA men’s basketball team to 10 national championships, had answers to all of these quandaries.

Discover a framework responsible for building championship journeys—not just on the basketball court, where Wooden and his teams set numerous records, but in the game of life.

Sports legends such as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bobby Bowden, Joe Torre, Bill Walton, Dick Vitale and others called Wooden their teacher, mentor and friend. But even they knew his legacy as a teacher wasn’t limited to basketball or athletics.

Wooden taught what he called the Pyramid of Success, a road map for individual and team excellence you can use to set goals, take action, overcome obstacles and achieve more in life. The Pyramid of Success was the core of the framework and success philosophy Wooden taught for more than 50 years.

Social Media

Greg Tingle

A brilliant and fascinated read about a great man.. Coach Wooden. There's a few expressions that come to find for me... Integrity is everything, and If you want to know the truth worth of a man look at his character and integrity. To that effect. I also say in my business endeavors, Media For Good (one of our business arms) and business as a force for good. Success meets inspiration, perspiration and integrity. He scores, K.O or Touchdown! ...or whatever your favorite sporting code for good sports.

Australian Sports Entertainment: Photos and images from Australia and across the globe

Australian Sports Entertainment Blog: Casino News Media and Media Man Group: News from Las Vegas, Canada, Australia and across the globe

Australian Sports Entertainment Blog

Casino News Media and Media Man Group: News from Las Vegas, Canada, Australia and across the globe

Nevada records fourth highest July gaming win in history and second highest on the Strip

Nevada gaming surpassed $1 billion in revenue for the 17th consecutive month in July, marking the fourth highest monthly total in history at $1.31 billion and the second highest ever on the Las Vegas Strip. It took a record July 2021 to keep last month from surpassing that total. July 2022’s revenue decreased $43 million, a drop of 3.2%, from the $1.35 billion in July 2021, according to the Nevada Gaming Control Board.

IGT to pay $270 million to settle social gaming lawsuit

Global gaming giant IGT says it will pay almost US$270 million to settle a class action lawsuit brought against it by customers of its former social gaming subsidiary DoubleDown Interactive Co Ltd (DDI). The company said this week that it has reached an agreement in principle in the case of Benson v DoubleDown Interactive LLC, which was first launched in 2017 just a few months after IGT disposed of DDI in a hefty US$825 million deal.

Ontarians wager $4 billion (CAD), market produces $162 million gaming revenue in first quarter

The public can finally see numbers indicating how Ontario‘s new regulated iGaming and online sports betting market is performing since its launch on April 4. Ontarians wagered more than $4 billion (CAD) and the market produced $162 million total gaming revenue — from iCasino, online sports betting, and online poker — for the period of April 4-June 30, according to the first revenue report released by iGaming Ontario. (As of Aug. 30, $1 CAD is equal to $0.76 USD.)

California: Top elected officials voice opposition to Proposition 27

Though California Gov. Gavin Newsom deems himself neutral on Proposition 27, the digital sports betting ballot initiative with funding earmarked for homelessness and mental health programs, several other key elected officials voiced strong opposition to the measure Monday in describing it as a sham. “Proposition 27 exploits California’s tribes and our resources while making no real investments in California,” Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis said in a press release shared by the No on 27 campaign.

VSiN’s announces new fall lineup featuring Broadcast Hall of Famer Brent Musburger

VSiN’s new fall schedule that launches today will be headlined by a member of the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame. “Countdown to Kickoff with Brent Musburger,” is the centerpiece of NFL football coverage on Sundays by the Las Vegas-based sports betting network owned by DraftKings. “The addition of this new programming and its industry leading talent will position VSiN to provide the growing number of sports bettors in the U.S. with expert betting insights and premium content,” said VSiN General Manager Len Mead in a statement.

Las Vegas: Circa, Able Baker Brewing partner to create ‘Vegas Vickie Neon Blonde’ beer

Las Vegas’ famous neon kicking cowgirl now has her own beer. Able Baker Brewing Company and Circa Resort & Casino in downtown Las Vegas have teamed up to create a custom blonde lager beer – the Vegas Vickie Neon Blonde. The new brew pays homage to the iconic kicking neon cowgirl, Vegas Vickie. According to a news release, the the 4.5% ABV beverage, which is only available at Circa, will be served in a 16 oz. can. The drink is described as a crisp and clean lager with more character and depth of flavor than the standard light beer.

Ainsworth returns to profit in FY22 as American markets boost recovery

Australian slot machine supplier Ainsworth Game Technology Limited (AGT) returned to profit in the financial year ended 30 June 2022, aided by improved performance in Latin America and the global-wide recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Profit After Tax reached AU$11.8 million (US$8.2 million), reversing an AU$53.4 million (US$37.1 million) loss in FY21 on the back of a 38% year-on-year increase in revenue to AU$220.2 million (US$152.9 million). This included revenue of AU$100.7 million (US$69.9 million) in the first six months of the financial year and AU$119.5 million (US$83.0 million) in the second half.

Australian Sports Entertainment: FITE TV Sports Streaming: Boxing, All Elite Wrestling, Bare Knuckle

FITE TV Sports Streaming: Boxing, All Elite Wrestling, Bare Knuckle

Australian Sports Entertainment Blog: Billy Corgan’s music fame helped his NWA return to the Chase in St. Louis. NWA 74 is there next (Miami Herald)

Billy Corgan’s music fame helped his NWA return to the Chase in St. Louis. NWA 74 is there next (Miami Herald)

NWA president Billy Corgan continues to make history thanks to his alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins. 

Last year the NWA presented its 73rd anniversary show (NWA 73) at the Chase, becoming the first pro wrestling group to utilize the historic venue in St. Louis, since 1984.

How? 

Because, as Corgan noted, someone working in a key position at the Chase Park Plaza Hotel is a fan of The Smashing Pumpkins. Take advantage of it and rightfully so. The NWA will do it again with NWA 74 on Saturday and Sunday via FITE TV from that Chase Khorassan Ballroom. 

Plenty of talent and fan interaction during the two-day extravaganza.

Here is my video interview with Corgan.

“Wrestling at the Chase” was a weekly program during the territory days of professional wrestling. The brainchild of legendary promoter and hall of famer Sam Muchnick, the weekly pro wrestling series aired from May 23, 1959, to September 10, 1983. The show was promoted by the St. Louis Wrestling Club, a member of the National Wrestling Alliance.

Click here for full article and multimedia

FITE TV

Social Media

Greg Tingle

NWA...the name on the marquee says Wrestling. Well written and explained article that the majority of readers will get. We've always enjoyed the wrestling and music connection, that the WWE started pushing circa 1984 with Hulk Hogan and friends, which was known as the Rock N Wrestling connection, and that was part of the bridge that some wrestling later became known as "sports entertainment". Michael P.S Hayes may have been the original wrestler that did the whole rock star - wrestler thing, with music videos (Bradstreet U S.A), and the like, and also 'Exotic' Adrian Street with Miss Linda did a couple of music videos so. Then the late Randy "Macho Man". Savage followed suit and the Road Warriors would come out to the ring to 'Iron Man' by Black Sabbath! Back to the NWA, great to see 'The National Treasure' Nick Aldis back on the NWA 74 card, even if he's not in the official main event. The fans are a big part of who is a star and is "over" per kayfabe industry banter. Hopefully at the upcoming NWA event it's a Win-Win-Win (for the wrestlers / promoters / business associates, the fans and the industry). Here's to great action and a quality and enjoyable experience for all. Cheers from Sydney, Australia.

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