1995
Acquired the first online gaming license in Rarotonga, Cook Islands. Casinos of the South Pacific was formed.
Kia Orana Cook Islands!
1995
As part the deal to obtain the iGaming license, worked directly with Cook Islands Telecom, and NZ Telecom to set up the country’s first internet connection – introducing internet to the small island. With international phone calls at a flat rate of NZD $9.99 per minute, VoIP calls became very popular. Our iGaming business operated with a 256K connection for NZD $25,000/mo.
1996
Casinos of the South Pacific introduces
one of the world’s first online casino games.
With the advent of the internet, online casinos have revolutionized access to casino games, allowing players to enjoy them from the comfort of their homes or while on the move. This breakthrough has shattered geographical constraints, fundamentally altering the gambling landscape for players worldwide.
1997
Launched
one of the world's first iGaming public companies, NetBet, long before the existing NetBet entity purchased the domain and launched their company.
1999
Due to internet bandwidth constraints, operations are moved to Costa Rica. Incredible memories and lifelong friendships with the beautiful people of the Cook Islands.
Meitaki, Cook Islands!
2002
It was determined the Federal Wire Act doesn’t restrict online gambling.
2003
The iGaming industry is valued at approx. $2.6 Billion.
2004
After significant research, betED is launched. The
world's first, Flash-based sports-betting interface hit the market, revolutionizing one-page wagering –
replicated by every major sportsbetting company today.
2006
A lucrative profit-sharing partnership is formed with Covers.com / SportsDirect Inc., the authority and resource for sports betting information, with owners
Joe MacDonald and Paul Lavers, sportsbetting veterans. The deal reflected a proven formula with Covers.com, the company partly responsible for building Bodog's initial brand presence, a sportsbetting industry pioneer. The Covers.com deal with Bodog earned millions, allowing Covers.com to build a massive, multi-million-dollar office complex in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
2006
The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 (UIGEA) is passed by quietly adding it to the SAFE Port Act at the last minute.
The UIGEA immediately creates a situation of modern-day prohibition.
2007
Antigua argues against the US in the World Trade Organization (WTO) -
actually in 2004, however, it's been ongoing with the US continually losing in subsequent arbitration panels - over their highly controversial crack downs on offshore sportsbooks. The WTO sides with Antigua – the United States responds by invoking procedures under GATS Article XXI to modify its schedule of commitments, specifically excluding online gambling.
This is the first time a WTO member has withdrawn a commitment in response to a WTO ruling.
2009
betED grows to one of the top ten leading sportsbooks in N America - holding the number one spot on Covers.com – allowing Covers.com to expand their empire, including launching their own in-house, Logans Sportsbook (albeit, short-lived). After a few months, Covers.com drops their in-house brand and sticks to that they’re good at – profit sharing with successful sportsbooks – the top ten list reflecting millions in profit sharing revenues.
2010
Launched one of the
world's first live-play betting interfaces. 'Live-play, In-play, or In-game', has since catapulted into the stratosphere, largely due to advances in mobile technology. Live-play sportsbetting presently accounts for as much as 80% of sports betting revenue.
Once again, our company was at the forefront of the marketplace.
2011
In a wide-sweeping move to eliminate competition in the US, betED was shut down by the US Government, alongside PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker and several other industry leaders. Dark days for the iGaming industry, dubbed Black Friday and Blue Monday. As scholars wrote, “Prohibition rears its ugly head again in the US”. betED, along with numerous iGaming companies, ceases operations.
2012
Around this time, Covers.com scrubs their site and forums of any/all relations to betED.
With Joe MacDonald and Paul Lavers having earned millions, stashed away in Panama offshore bank accounts, they (attempt) to wipe their slate clean. Grateful for the prior prosperous partnership, yet unfortunate in how it ended.
" In prosperity, our friends know us; in adversity, we know our friends."
- John Churton Collins
“There can be no equal justice where the kind of trial a man gets depends on the amount of money he has.”
~ Justice Black
2012
In Baltimore, Maryland, Wright resolves the hypocritical UIEGA issues. Wright will never forget the comment spoken by the U.S. Attorney, at the time, for the District of Maryland, Rod J. Rosenstein, "online gaming must be shut down to protect children from gambling". This being completely false - the iGaming industry having significant safeguards in place for age verification and more!
Around the same time, PokerStars paid the US Government to drop all charges related to their pay-to-play scheme (see 2012). Only a few, short years later, the Supreme Court legalized sportsbetting in the United States. It was all about shutting down the competition to pave the way to re-open in the USA. A staggering level of hypocrisy!
2012
PokerStars resolves their charges, paying the US Government $731 million dollars, with the agreement of no charges and/or wrongdoing by its executives – including, “The agreement explicitly permits PokerStars to apply to relevant U.S. gaming authorities, under both PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker brands, to offer real money online poker when state or federal governments introduce a framework to regulate such activity,”. This came to fruition - see 2022 below. The power of money!
2015
In a $54 million-dollar deal, Covers.com is acquired by Gracenote Media, a subsidiary of Tribune Media Company, subsequently acquired by Nexstar Media. With Covers.com built largely upon profit-sharing with offshore sportsbooks, their acquisition is proof:
major US media companies, like Gracenote Media/Nexstar Media embrace offshore sportsbetting, for paving the way, and allowing them to enter the new frontier of US sportsbetting.
2017 (to present)
Wright Inc. is launched, focusing on consulting services. Wright Inc. develops successful business and marketing strategies for real estate companies, law firms, medical groups, home and alarm automation, construction, and more.
Wright Inc. continues to closely follow the iGaming industry, building valuable research.
2017
One of the iGaming companies we follow closely, Stake.com is launched. In only six short years (fast forward to 2023), Stake has grown to the 7th largest iGaming company on the planet. A testament to good software combined with great customer service, being the same formula for our success with betED! In other news, after three years of studies, Mr. Wright, Co-Founder obtains his MBA.
2018
The Supreme Court struck down a 1992 federal law that effectively banned commercial sports betting in most states, opening the door to the flourishing US sportsbetting industry today. Mr. Wright shed a tear and enjoyed a beer over the US ending their highly controversial and hypocritical, long-standing prohibition on sportsbetting.
2020
Wright Inc. is hired to research, prepare case studies and roadmaps to enter the hemp industry: a flourishing industry with similarities to the sportsbetting industry in being wrongfully prohibited. In less than one year, the hemp supply chain is researched, addressing and resolving numerous pitfalls. A comprehensive business plan is created, dubbed ‘one of the best we’ve ever seen’, care of the financial institutions’ reviews. Through diligent research, Wright Inc. becomes an expert in the hemp industry, leading to the formation of "We Grow Better Together™."
2022
PokerStars partners with Detroit Red Wings in USA. A press release states, “The partnership will be a powerful entertainment force in the Michigan marketplace, bringing poker fans to the ice, and hockey fans to the felt.” 2022 also sees PokerStars partner with the Toronto Maple Leafs. iGaming in N. America is growing rapidly.
2023
Wright Inc is relaunched, embracing the accomplishments, and unparalleled experience reflected in (a very small) part with this
long-overdue timeline.
2023
The iGaming industry is expected to reach USD $70.64 billion. With the worldwide proliferation of mobile devices, including the ease on iGaming regulations, the industry is expected to reach $153.57 billion by 2030.
2024
We continue to see...
complicated and/or uninviting iGaming platforms.
cookie-cutter sites.
lackluster technology, often with 'fancy' names attached to them.
variations of products being touted by companies as having 'numerous' integrations to choose from.
uninspiring customer bonuses and incentives.
ho-hum customer service, …and so much more!
inexperience. This being possibly the worst issue we continue to see; iGaming companies with inexperienced employees. Hiring your buddy who ran HR for an oil company and now holds a 'product innovation' position, or a 'marketing and design expert' whose last job was at shipping company (with many more examples) and placing them into positions of driving an iGaming company forward. The same lack of experience is still prevalent across iGaming companies today.
Highly qualified iGaming employees are hard to find - we know this. At Wright Inc., we're proud of our network of industry leading experts - curated over decades of working in the iGaming industry. Experience-based equates to results.
Don’t get us wrong, just like last time around, there’s a handful of iGaming operators we admire, continually evaluate, research and most importantly - will improve upon.
We’re building the blocks - working towards the launch of
another industry-leading iGaming platform. Just like before, the platform is based upon researching the industry leaders, studying and knowing your customers, with an emphasis on simplicity, fun and incredible customer service. All of this combined with the blood, sweat and tears, i.e., experience-based - wrapped up into a platform built around today’s technology.
Wright Inc. is a full-service, digital agency and product innovation company that provides strategy consulting, design, technology, AI, and iGaming services to aspirational businesses.
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