Every Friday, Covers takes a look back at the week that was in the sports betting wagering industry. With a collection of sports betting wagering news and notes, we mean to cover all the bases.

PrizePicks reveals 2nd Super Sweat Competition for the Super Bowl

Daily Fantasy sports betting (DFS) service provider PrizePicks has announced the launch of its Super Sweat competitors for the second year. The promo will provide players 3 chances to be chosen to take part in a contest for $1 million and a journey to watch their selections at an invite-only watch celebration for Super Bowl LIX on February 9.

THE SUPER SWEAT IS BACK 3 of YOU will get the chance to SWEAT a 3-Pick Lineup for $1,000,000 on the Big Game (Feb. 9th)

We are hosting 3 different social contests leading up to the Big Game to find our #SuperSweat rivals Once selected, everybody will be able to ... pic.twitter.com/bz4J5keHe1

Players can earn a possibility to join the Super Sweat promotion in 3 methods. The first is by posting a screenshot of a lineup for the NFL Conference Championship on Instagram, TikTok, or X (previously Twitter) with the hashtag #SuperSweat.

The second way is to post a video of your finest touchdown celebration on X, TikTok, and Instagram with the hashtag #SuperSweat. The last method to enter into the promo is by posting a screenshot of your favorite NFL lineup with the #SuperSweat on X, Instagram, or TikTok.

Additionally, other gamers will have an opportunity to use game day for a share of an additional $1 million reward by trailing the lineups of the three rivals in the Super Sweat competition. PrizePicks will announce its three competitors on February 7.

PrizePicks has actually broadened considering that it provided the Super Sweat competition for the last Super Bowl, including peer-to-peer games in Alabama, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Wyoming in January. The DFS platform was also introduced in Missouri and Delaware in October, and licensing approval was acquired from both jurisdictions. The website is now readily available in more than 45 U.S. states.

Florida Gaming Commission panelists agree current prohibited video gaming statutory is inadequate

The Florida Gaming Commission just recently testified existing statutory categories and penalties for unlawful gaming offenses were insufficient.

"There's just so much money to go around. If a dollar does not go to a licensed center or a tribal facility, it's entering into a bad guy's pocket. It's as simple as that," executive director Ross Marshman stated, affirming before the Florida House of Representatives Industries & Professional Activities Subcommittee.

So far, certified off-track betting facilities, card spaces, and slot centers are the only types of legal land-based gaming in the Sunshine State. Still, panelists expressed growing issue over the boost in illegal video gaming within the state, as the present statute does not prevent facilities from making unlawful gambling much easier to gain access to.

"There is absolutely no disincentive for these facilities to close down due to the misdemeanors that they deal with," stated Chief Ed Cayenne of the Homeland Security Division of the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office. "They are ready to pay the fines and continue the operations due to the fact that they are so profitable."

Recently, Florida police punished illegal facilities across the state, with 10 locations in Jacksonville forced to close in December. The Jacksonville Sheriff's office exposed more than a lots residents were associated with a gambling ring that was running since 2021, leading to five people detained for racketeering offenses.

Likewise, Florida likewise had one of the most identifiable gaming lawsuits over the last few years, with the Seminole Tribe-operated Hard Rock sportsbook suspending operations after its launch in 2021, with the suit lasting up until 2024.

Hard Rock Bet ends up being latest member of Unity by Acid rock Loyalty program

Hard Rock International announced its sportsbook, Acid rock Bet, will become the most recent addition to its Unity by Hard Rock commitment scheme.

Hard Rock Bet will maintain its online loyalty benefits program for users however will let gamers earn Tier Credits for both programs. Players can transfer these credits between the two and money in for either online or on-property rewards.

"Integrating Acid Rock Bet into Unity will be a game-changer for guest engagement," stated Keith Sheldon, president of home entertainment and brand management at Hard Rock International and Seminole Gaming. "This enhancement not just uses a fun, interactive way for visitors to make points when putting bets, but also considerably increases loyalty."

Playing on Acid rock Bet can now lead you to experiences all over the world

Hard Rock Bet Unity pic.twitter.com/JRHPtD00Zr

Unity by Acid rock lets users redeem Unity Points at one of Hard Rock's international places. There are more than 200 participating areas, consisting of hotels, gambling establishments, coffee shops, and Rock Shops. Likewise, Acid rock's collaboration with Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises enables players to redeem points on Royal Caribbean's Club Royale and Celebrity Cruises' Blue Chip Club.

"By fulfilling guests for their playtime, we produce a win-win circumstance where visitors enjoy an enriched experience, and we promote an introduction to all the fantastic verticals in our brand through point redemption opportunities at Hotels, Casinos, Cafes, Rock Shops and home entertainment locations," Sheldon continued.

Acid Rock Bet is also expanding its sportsbooks in other methods, including jai-alai sports betting ahead of the 2025 World Jai-Alai League. Fans can take pleasure in unique streaming and wagering material for jai alai on Acid rock Bet platforms.

Incentive Games introduces crash video game with bet365

Game developer Incentive Games has announced the launch of a new crash video game, "Velocity," which the operator will give the Brazilian market through a partnership with bet365. It's the first pay-to-play crash video game Incentive Games has made with bet365, however not the very first time Incentive has partnered with bet365.

Incentive Games guarantees that it will continue to upgrade "Velocity," utilizing data and AI professionals to analyze gamer interactions.

Legal online gaming introduced in Brazil on Jan. 1, with 68 online video gaming platforms going cope with a license. bet365 was among the platforms to go survive on the launch date, along with Flutter Entertainment's Betfair.

bet365 had a successful 2024 before starting a new chapter with its Brazil launch. While the company CEO took a pay cut, bet365's profits, particularly in the U.S., increased substantially year-on-year in the fiscal year ending March. The online sports betting and casino provider also became the main partner of the UEFA Champions League in August.