Steven Stradbrooke, Author at CalvinAyre.com

Steven Stradbrooke

Born and raised on a hippie commune/grow-op in British Columbia, Steven Stradbrooke is likely high right this second. Steven began writing at an early age, leading to his being expelled from high school one month from graduation for publishing an op-ed in the school paper suggesting the theme for the prom should be the Jim Carroll Band’s ‘These Are People Who Died’. Steven later moved to Los Angeles, where he penned numerous adult film screenplays under the pseudonym Phil E. Cheesedick. Following a brief but productive stint with Hallmark Cards, Steven discovered online gambling, and has been struggling to work off his debt to Calvin Ayre ever since. If you run into Steven at the bar, he¹ll have a Stradbrooke (three parts Rémy Martin champagne cognac, one part green Original Sport Aqua Velva).

Connecticut’s tribal gaming operators will partially reopen their venues on June 1, much to the chagrin of the state’s governor. On Wednesday, the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation and the Mohegan Tribe announced that they would “begin the reopening of portions” of their reservations, which include (respectively) the Foxwoods Resort Casino and Mohegan Sun, which were shut on March 17 to minimize spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus. https://calvinayre.com/tag/foxwoods-resort-casino/ https://calvinayre.com/tag/mohegan-sun/ The tribes say they collaborated on new safety protocols and operating procedures to minimize risks to both casino guests and staff, including protective equipment, physical distancing and mandatory masks for guests. Neither property will open its buffets, concert venues or poker rooms, while tenant restaurants will be open on a take-out only basis. The casinos also “will be catering to Connecticut and Rhode Island residents only.” No out-of-state buses will be “accepted” and “no out-of-state marketing to New York or Massachusetts will take place at either property,” although one suspects the odd VIP gambler from those states might just find a way through these roadblocks. The tribes might be in agreement but Gov. Ned Lamont called the decision to reopen an “incredible risk,” both for staff and guests, particularly “older people … with pre-existing conditions.” Lamont further claimed that “it’s risky for the region because you have a lot of employees that go back out into the region.” Mohegan Tribe chairman James Gessner responded to Lamont’s concerns by noting the tribes’ commitment to deter most out-of-state customers and their public statements about urging older customers to “take specific precautions and to stay home if they are part of an at-risk group.” Mashantucket Pequot chairman Rodney Butler told the Associated Press that state officials were welcome to tour the casinos and, if they can find “something that we’re doing in operations that we can do for the better, we’re certainly open to those conversation.” https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/connecticut/articles/2020-05-21/tribes-open-to-suggestions-but-still-plan-to-reopen-casinos Whatever Lamont’s concerns, he’s effectively powerless to stop the federally recognized tribes from doing as they please on their sovereign territory – although he noted Thursday that the state controls their liquor licenses. And the tribes have their own concerns, given that the casinos are the primary economic engines of their peoples. MGE SEEKS $100M That economic urgency was underscored this week following reports that Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment (MGE) had missed a self-imposed deadline of May 11 to raise $100m. The company is looking to ensure its liquidity position as well as fund its expansion projects, including the Hellinikon integrated resort project in Greece. https://calvinayre.com/tag/mohegan-gaming-entertainment/ https://calvinayre.com/tag/hellinikon/ Bloomberg reported that MGE had offered to pay 14% interest for a new loan maturing in October 2021 but would-be lenders were spooked by a variety of factors, including around $400m of MGE debt that comes due in 2021 and questions over whether claims could be made on MGE assets on tribal land should the company default. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/mohegan-sun-tribal-owners-pushback-113044525.html The news will likely be used by US tribal gaming operator Hard Rock International (HRI), which still hasn’t gotten over the fact that MGE was chosen to build Hellinikon over HRI. https://calvinayre.com/2020/05/07/casino/greek-court-rejects-hard-rock-appeal-hellinikon-casino-license/

Connecticut governor calls casino reopening plans “incredible risk”

Casino

By Steven Stradbrooke

21 May 2020

OPAP names new CEO as Greece, Cyprus betting shops reopen

Business

By Steven Stradbrooke

21 May 2020

Greek lottery and betting operator OPAP names chief commercial officer Jan Karas as acting CEO, Greek and Cyprus betting shop reopen.

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Playtech hails Tradetech revival, investors reject seniors execs’ pay packets

Business

By Steven Stradbrooke

20 May 2020

Playtech hails Tradetech’s pandemic revival for saving Q1 revenue, but investors reject company’s remuneration report for senior management.

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Sweden fines Glitnor’s Lucky Casino for unauthorized live casino online games

Business

By Steven Stradbrooke

20 May 2020

Sweden's regulator slaps Glitnor Services with SEK400k fine for offering unauthorized online live casino games; advertising ombudsman eyes bonus offers.

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Sweden regulator sees no online gambling surge during pandemic

Business

By Steven Stradbrooke

20 May 2020

Sweden's Spelinspektionen regulator says no major surge in online gambling activity during pandemic; operators offer support for B2B licensing regime.

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Italy raises temporary betting turnover tax to 0.5%, to last through 2021

Business

By Steven Stradbrooke

20 May 2020

Italy's new temporary tax on sports betting turnover rises from 0.3% to 0.5% but the duration is shortened by one year to the end of 2021.

Ten years in the digital trenches: life as a CalvinAyre.com writer

Life

By Steven Stradbrooke

20 May 2020

It’s somewhat disconcerting to look back and realize that it’s been over 10 years since I began writing for CalvinAyre.com.

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Pennsylvania iLottery tops $1b sales mark in less than two years

Business

By Steven Stradbrooke

19 May 2020

Pennsylvania's online lottery has generated over $1b in sales in slightly less than two years and is helping to offset lack of retail sales during pandemic.

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