Techme101.com

Playtech, the company behind the tech that powers many online gambling platforms, has announced that it intends to expand its presence in South Africa via its partner LottoStar. The gambling tech company will now take on “more than 100” games from Playtech’s roster.
LottoStar will gain live dealer games and promotional tools to “maximise player engagement.” Outside of gaining more territory to provide gambling to, Playtech sees this as a way to enhance its “overall strategy.”
Speaking in the press release, the Managing Director for Playtech’s African arm said:
“We are excited to announce our new partnership with LottoStar, one of South Africa’s most recognisable and popular iGaming operators.
“We have seen how strongly Playtech’s games and promotional tools resonate with South African players and anticipate even more success this time around.
“It is a source of great pride to be working alongside LottoStar to ensure its players enjoy a safe, innovative, and engaging gaming experience.”
Adding to this, LottoStar issued this statement via a spokesperson:
“Introducing over 100 Playtech games marks a pivotal moment for LottoStar. We’re committed to offering our players world-class variety and quality.
“This partnership brings a new level of excitement to our players’ betting experience, while maintaining both brands’ shared desire to uphold the highest standards of player protection.
“These innovative games reflect our ambition to deliver the very best to our players.”
Playtech success surrounded by controversy
Playtech has recently been implicated in the ongoing Evolution private intelligence scandal. In October, it was revealed during the discovery process in court that Playtech had hired private investigation firm, Black Cube, to spread a report that Evolution claims is “highly inflammatory and knowingly false claims.”
In November, the company partnered with SkillOnNet to provide more bingo experiences in the UK and Mexico. Zingo Bingo was launched, while flagship names such as PlayOjo and PlayUZU was included in the exclusive deal.
Featured image: LottoStar / Playtech
The post Playtech expands its wares into South Africa with LottoStar appeared first on ReadWrite.

Rapper Snoop Dogg has set his sights on the gambling industry as he partners with the iGaming technology provider TRIVELTA to launch the online casino ‘Dogg House Casino.’
According to the announcement, this aims to be a first-of-its-kind artist-led casino experience that will merge iGaming, music, and culture. They say it has been built to Snoop Dogg’s creative vision, bringing his style and sound into a fully immersive casino environment, with gameplay, original music, and design.

Follow @dogghousecasino on X & drop your username For the chance at winning FREE Dogg Cash @dogghousecasino #DoggHouseCasino pic.twitter.com/cCEWkPeQ19
— Snoop Dogg (@SnoopDogg) January 15, 2026

“For the first time, players can step into a casino built exactly the way I wanted it,” said Snoop Dogg. “The music, the vibe, the games. I wanted something innovative, immersive, and fun, and Trivelta worked with Deathrow Games to help me bring that to life.”
What is Snoop Dogg’s Dogg House Casino?
The music in Dogg House Casino promises to be all original with new drops planned regularly. The visual experience is also set to feature custom graphics inspired by Snoop’s West Coast playful reimaginings of classic games.
The casino will be powered by TRIVELTA’s mobile-native iGaming engine. Speaking on the partnership, the CEO of TRIVELTA Carson Hubbard said: “It’s rare to work with an artist who is this deeply involved in the product.
“Snoop shaped the look, sound, and feel of Dogg House Casino to create something that sits at the intersection of iGaming, music, and culture.”

The Dogg House Casino is OPEN
Like, repost & comment your username for a chance at 500 Dogg Cash
Pull up & play NOW! #dogghousecasino @dogghousecasino pic.twitter.com/uViUi9jlgQ
— Snoop Dogg (@SnoopDogg) January 15, 2026

Features of the casino include Snoop Blackjack, where the reappear acts as the dealer and it’ll feature his exclusive song, Snoop Dogg Blackjack. In Snoop Crazy Dogg Cross, an arcade-style classic, the aim is to guide the artist as he drives his ‘64 Impala across a busy Los Angeles highway.
There will be Snoop Dogg Poker too where people can play with friends through TRIVELTA’s plug-and-play poker platform, while having the chance to join public tables too.
The announcement says there will be an extensive robust library of over 500 games across multiple categories, including classic slots, crash games, RNG table games, and 24/7 live dealer experiences such as Blackjack, Roulette, Baccarat and Craps.
Featured Image: Via press release
The post Snoop Dogg is partnering with Trivelta to launch an online casino appeared first on ReadWrite.

The Coalition for Prediction Markets has shown support for Representative Ritchie Torres’s effort to strengthen integrity in the sector.
It was in early January when the Congressman announced he would be introducing a bill called the ‘Public Integrity in Financial Prediction Markets Act of 2026.
If passed, it would prohibit federal elected officials, political appointees, Executive Branch employees, and congressional staff from buying, selling, or exchanging prediction market contracts tied to government policy, government action, or political outcomes when they are privy to non-public information or could reasonably obtain such information through their work.
This came at a time when an anonymous Polymarket user cashed out with over $400,000 on a trade related to the operation to depose Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro which prompted some concerns.
Coalition for Prediction Markets is aiming to keep the market accessible to everyone
In a post on X, the recently formed coalition has shared Rep Ritchie Torres’ op-ed piece in the Washington Post and expanded on their views.

We support @RepRitchie Torres’s effort to strengthen integrity and accountability in prediction markets, and we welcome the opportunity to work with Rep. Torres and others to reinforce clear, enforceable standards that keep these markets transparent and trusted.
Our coalition’s…
— Coalition for Prediction Markets (@PredictAction) January 15, 2026

“We support @RepRitchie Torres’s effort to strengthen integrity and accountability in prediction markets, and we welcome the opportunity to work with Rep. Torres and others to reinforce clear, enforceable standards that keep these markets transparent and trusted.”
They continued to explain how their coalition’s members operate U.S.-based platforms and vet every trader who opens an account, in accordance with U.S. regulations.
“Many of the safeguards being discussed are already required under existing law and regulation for U.S. regulated market participants, and they are actively enforced.
“Consistent with current law, offshore, unregistered platforms should not be able to operate in the U.S. or serve U.S. customers without the same safeguards and registrations.”
Other people within the industry have shown support for the bill too, including the CEO of prediction market Kalshi, Tarek Mansour, who took to LinkedIn to say they are supportive of the bill because they already implement it.
Featured Image: Via Coalition for Prediction Markets X page
The post Coalition for Prediction Markets backs Rep. Ritchie Torres’s Bill against insider trading appeared first on ReadWrite.

Twenty-six people have been named and charged in a massive point-shaving scheme. The game fixing plans had impacted both the NCAA Division I men’s basketball and the Chinese Basketball Association games.
United States Attorney David Metcalf announced who the 26 individuals were on January 15. The names among them include up-and-coming athletes in the sport. Below you’ll find those allegedly involved in the scheme, as detailed by the Department of Justice. We’ve added notes to give a little more context as to who they would have been at the time or currently.
Every person and players detailed in the NCAA point shaving scheme

Name
Game Fixed
Charges
Info

Jalen Smith
N/A; alleged fixer
Bribery in sporting contests
Conspiracy to commit wire fraud
Wire fraud
Not the current Chicago Bulls player
Based in North Carolina
Trained and developed basketball teams for professional scouting

Marves Fairley
N/A; alleged fixer
Bribery in sporting contests
Conspiracy to commit wire fraud
Three counts of wire fraud

Shane Hennen
N/A; alleged fixer
Bribery in sporting contests
Conspiracy to commit wire fraud
Three counts of wire fraud
Allegedly texted another member of the scheme:
“Nothing gu[a]rantee[d] in this world but death[,] taxes[,] and Chinese Basketball.”

Roderick Winkler
N/A; alleged fixer
Bribery in sporting contests
Conspiracy to commit wire fraud
Three counts of wire fraud
Based in Little Rock

Alberto Laureano
N/A; alleged fixer
Bribery in sporting contests
Conspiracy to commit wire fraud
Wire fraud

Antonio Blakeney
Alleged fixer/player
Jiangsu Dragons (2023)
Conspiracy to commit wire fraud
Alleged to have been involved with fixing matches since 2022
Currently signed to Hapoel Tel Aviv

Isaiah Adams
SUNY Buffalo (2/24/24)
Bribery in sporting contests
Former player
Played with Corey Hines

Arlando Arnold
Southern Mississippi (2/28/24)
Bribery in sporting contests
Conspiracy to commit wire fraud
Former player

Simeon Cottle
Kennesaw State (3/1/24)
Bribery in sporting contests
Conspiracy to commit wire fraud
Current player for Kennesaw State
Now suspended from play
Last played Wednesday night

Kevin Cross
Tulane (2/18/24)
Bribery in sporting contests
Conspiracy to commit wire fraud
Former player

Micawber Etienne
DePaul (2/24/24)
Bribery in sporting contests
Former player

Bradley Ezewiro
Saint Louis (2/20/24)
Bribery in sporting contests
Conspiracy to commit wire fraud
Former player

Shawn Fulcher
SUNY Buffalo (2/24/24)
Alabama State (12/5/24)
Bribery in sporting contests
Conspiracy to commit wire fraud
Former player

Elijah Gray
Fordham (2/23/24)
Bribery in sporting contests
Former player

Carlos Hart
New Orleans (3/11/24)
Bribery in sporting contests
Conspiracy to commit wire fraud
Active player in the NCAA, currently signed to Eastern Michigan
Implicated when playing at New Orleans

Markese Hastings
Robert Morris (2/28/24)
Bribery in sporting contests
Conspiracy to commit wire fraud
Former player

Corey Hines
Alabama State (12/5/24)
Bribery in sporting contests
Former player, 2023-2025
Played with Isaiah Adams

Cedquavious Hunter
New Orleans (12/30/24)
Bribery in sporting contests
Conspiracy to commit wire fraud
Already banned from the NCAA for life alongside Dyquavian Short for match fixing
Ex-New Orleans Privateer player

Oumar Koureissi
Nicholls State (2/17/24)
Bribery in sporting contests
Conspiracy to commit wire fraud
Plays for the Texas Southern Tigers
Now removed from the team

Da’Sean Nelson
DePaul (2/24/24)
Eastern Michigan (11/21/24)
Bribery in sporting contests
Conspiracy to commit wire fraud
Former player

Demond Robinson
Kennesaw State (3/1/24)
Bribery in sporting contests
Conspiracy to commit wire fraud
Former player

Camian Shell
North Carolina A&T (2/29/24)
Bribery in sporting contests
Conspiracy to commit wire fraud
Ex-North Carolina A&T player

Dyquavion Short
New Orleans (12/30/24)
Bribery in sporting contests
Conspiracy to commit wire fraud
Ex-New Orleans Privateers player
Banned for life after a prior match fixing investigation alongside Cedquavious Hunter

Airion Simmons
Abilene Christian (3/19/24)
Bribery in sporting contests
Conspiracy to commit wire fraud
Played for Abilene Christian University Wildcats between 2019 – 2024
Not yet entered plea deal

Diante Smith
Nicholls State (2/17/24)
Bribery in sporting contests
Ex-Nicholls State Player

Jalen Terry
DePaul (2/24/24)
Eastern Michigan (11/21/24)
Bribery in sporting contests
Conspiracy to commit wire fraud
Former DePaul player

Featured image: NCAA / Canva
The post Every person and players allegedly involved in the NCAA point shaving scandal appeared first on ReadWrite.