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How to play Flying Hippo
During a global pandemic, it might have been assumed that poker would go the way of live music festivals, with the much-photographed mass gatherings of poker tournaments being such a draw to new and aspirational poker players.
Poker, however, has shown its hand during the current COVID-19 crisis and it’s a pairing of resilience and poker, hole cards showing strength and character. Online poker has thrived, poker has pivoted to accommodate those new players and the industry has more than survived.
Perhaps the hand that poker itself has shown is pocket kings, but every cowboy has to ride into the sunset one day and that day has arrived for the Poker page on the CalvinAyre.com website.
What is Flying Hippo?
Resorts World has announced that the replacement for Mulberry Street Pizza, which closed Sept. 14, will be another New York-inspired slice shop. However, unlike Mulberry Street—an established Los Angeles brand—Amici New York Pizzeria is an entirely original concept created by the resort.
Instead of collecting rent from a successful tenant, Resorts World aspires to collect profits directly from pizza-hungry patrons. But since Mulberry Street was consistently among the busiest dining spots at the property, it raises an obvious question: Was its popularity driven by brand recognition, or simply by resort guests, late-night Zouk Nightclub revelers, and foot traffic seeking a quick slice?
To stack the odds in its favor, Resorts World is tapping major culinary talent: Executive Chef Ricky McCormick. McCormick, who currently leads the kitchen at Stubborn Seed on-property, previously held leadership roles at Michelin-starred Restaurant Guy Savoy in Las Vegas and multiple Gordon Ramsay venues.
What is Flying Hippo?
There’s also a financial constraint, with Ahlberg noting that GiG has used its available cash and is raising additional capital to fund the 888Africa transaction, meaning he doesn’t expect the company to pursue further B2C acquisitions in the short term.
Robinson takes a more expansive view, however, arguing that the acquisition could mark the beginning of a broader shift in GiG’s strategy. “I’d read it as the start of something, not a one-off,” he says. “GiG’s survival as an independent business depends on consolidating in emerging markets where it can own the P&L, not just supply the technology.
“It’s worth remembering this isn’t foreign ground. GiG ran Rizk, Guts, Kaboo and Thrills until it sold them to Betsson in 2020 to pay down a bond. A previous regime decided B2C and B2B didn’t mix. The current one clearly thinks otherwise.”
