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Survey Says Cleveland and Cincinnati Dominate Biggest NFL Busts List
NEW YORK, Feb. 15, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — They don’t have a Super Bowl win among them, but it appears that Ohio’s pro football teams are good at something. Drafting busts.
The sports betting website “The Game Day” conducted a nationwide survey of pro sports fans, who agreed that JaMarcus Russell is not only the biggest bust in NFL history, but fans voted him the biggest bust in professional sports history overall.
The data is based on responses given by sports fans across 48 states plus Washington, D.C., who voted on the biggest busts in the NFL, NBA, NHL, Major League Baseball and the biggest ever busts in all sports combined.
“What was jarring was seeing so many athletes with Ohio ties on the list, particularly given the broad group of respondents. It shows Ohioans’ loyalty given their feverish fandom even while enduring a substandard product through the years.” – Pat Pickens, Writer at The Game Day and author of “The Whalers: The Rise, Fall, and Enduring Mystique of New England’s (Second) Greatest NHL Franchise”
Let’s start in the NFL, where you’ll find the Browns and the Bengals dominating the list of teams fans believe have drafted the most busts.
Biggest Busts in NFL History
1. JaMarcus Russell – Oakland Raiders (23.8%)
2. Johnny Manziel – Cleveland Browns (23.5%)
3. Ryan Leaf – San Diego Chargers (16.1%)
4. David Carr – New York Giants (6.6.%)
5. Tony Mandarich – Green Bay Packers (5.5%)
6. Charles Rogers – Detroit Lions (5%)
7. Akili Smith – Cincinnati Bengals (4.9%)
8. Tim Couch – Cleveland Browns (4.5%)
9. Dion Jordan – Miami Dolphins (4.3%)
10. Ki-Jana Carter – Cincinnati Bengals (3.6%)
Johnny Manziel (Cleveland), Akili Smith (Cincinnati), Tim Couch (Cleveland) and Ki-Jana Carter (Cincinnati) are all in the top 10. Manziel was drafted 22nd overall in 2014, and played in only 14 games over two seasons in Cleveland before moving north to the Canadian Football League.
Smith was taken third overall by the Bengals in the 1999 NFL Draft and won only three games in his brief career.
Couch was selected first overall by the Browns in the 1999 NFL Draft, He was Cleveland’s first draft pick when the club re-joined the NFL as an expansion team.
Carter was selected first overall in the 1995 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals, but after suffering a ligament tear in his knee during his first preseason game, he was never the same.
Biggest Busts in Sports History (All Sports)
- JaMarcus Russell – Oakland Raiders (23.64%)
- Johnny Manziel – Cleveland Browns (23.34%)
- Greg Oden – Portland Trail Blazers (18.87%)
- Ryan Leaf – San Diego Chargers (15.99%)
- Brien Taylor – New York Yankees (14.10%)
- Anthony Bennett – Cleveland Cavaliers (12.81%)
- Kwame Brown – Washington Wizards (12.41%)
- Rick DiPietro – New York Islanders (12.31%)
- Brian Lawton – Minnesota North Stars (12.31%)
- Donavan Tate – San Diego Padres (11.92%)
And when you check the list of overall busts, it doesn’t get any better for Ohio. Johnny Manziel is number two on the list, Greg Oden is third, and Anthony Bennett is sixth. In fact, Oden and Bennett were voted the two biggest busts in NBA history (below).
Oden, although drafted by Portland as the number one overall pick in the 2007 NBA draft, has Ohio ties as a member of the Ohio State Buckeyes.
Anthony Bennett was the number one overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers out of UNLV. He lasted one season in Cleveland and was out of the league within three years.
Russell received votes from fans in 40 states plus Washington, D.C. and, perhaps unsurprisingly, his biggest vote share came from California.
Biggest Busts in NBA History
1. Greg Oden – Portland Trail Blazers (19.1%)
2. Anthony Bennett – Cleveland Cavaliers (12.9%)
3. Kwame Brown – Washington Wizards (12.5%)
4. Jay Williams – Chicago Bulls (10.3%)
5. Darko Miličić – Detroit Pistons (9.5%)
6. Sam Bowie – Portland Trail Blazers (9.5%)
7. Chris Washburn – Golden State Warriors (7.8%)
8. Michael Olowokandi – Los Angeles Clippers (6%)
9. (Tie) Adam Morrison – Charlotte Hornets (5%)
(Tie) Hasheem Thabeet – Memphis Grizzlies (5%)
Oden and Bennett top the list of the biggest busts in the NBA (according to the survey). Oden grabbed more than 19% of the vote and Bennett nearly 13%.
Biggest Busts in MLB History
1. Brien Taylor – New York Yankees (14.2%)
2. Donavan Tate – San Diego Padres (12%)
3. Matt Bush – San Diego Padres (11.1%)
4. Todd Van Poppel – Oakland Athletics (10.6%)
5. Mark Appel – Detroit Tigers (10%)
Taylor was thought to be a can’t-miss fireballer of a pitcher taken number one overall in the 1992 draft by the New York Yankees. But after hurting his shoulder in a fight, he never got out of the minor leagues.
Biggest Busts in NHL History
1. (Tie) Rick DiPietro – New York Islanders (12.5%)
(Tie) Brian Lawton – Minnesota North Stars (12.5%)
3. Claude Gauthier – Detroit Red Wings (11%)
4. Nail Yakupov – Edmonton Oilers (10.7%)
5. Patrik Štefan – Atlanta Thrashers (9.4%)
DiPietro had his one impressive season (2006-07), but injuries cut his career short.
“The survey clearly shows that the perception of athletes is directly tied to a person’s fandom and familiarity of a player within their state. And as a New Yorker who is a Knicks fan, I can relate to sticking with a team despite all the letdowns.” – Rich Migliorisi, VP of Web Operations at The Game Day
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Contact:Lauren Polkey: [email protected]
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7777 gaming gains certification for Italian iGaming market

7777 gaming is proud to announce that it has successfully obtained the required certification to offer its iGaming content in Italy, marking a significant step forward in the company’s continued expansion across regulated European markets.
This milestone underlines 7777 gaming’s strategic vision of building a global presence through compliance, innovation, and strong partnerships. The Italian market, known for its mature regulatory framework and discerning player base, presents an ideal environment for the company’s next-generation games to thrive.
“Italy is an essential milestone in our international roadmap. With certification secured and partnerships already signed with well-established local companies, we’re bringing our fresh and distinctive portfolio to one of Europe’s most mature gaming markets,” said Elena Shaterova, Chief Commercial Officer at 7777 gaming. “We’re excited to build on these strong collaborations and deliver gaming experiences that truly stand out.”
The certified game package for the Italian market showcases 7777 gaming’s signature diversity in format, theme, and gameplay innovation. It includes a robust lineup of slot games, such as Crazy 100 Bucks, Cash 100, Thracian Treasures, and Vault Looter – titles built to deliver consistent performance and broad appeal. The portfolio also features instant win games like Sea of Treasures and Bloody Stakes & Riches, offering fast-paced mechanics. Additionally, 7777 gaming introduces its distinctive “Innovative” – a category reserved for titles that push creative and technical boundaries. Among them, Devil’s Deal Soul for Sale stands out with its unique storytelling, visual style, and experimental gameplay, reflecting the company’s bold approach to modern iGaming entertainment.
All games are designed with a strong focus on player engagement, featuring popular functionalities such as multipliers, bonus rounds, free spins, gamble features, expanding reels, and buy bonus options.
With this new certification, Italy becomes the 14th consecutive market in 7777 gaming’s global expansion. Over the past three years, the company has extended its reach worldwide, establishing a presence across diverse regions and regulated markets. Since the beginning of 2025 alone, 7777 gaming has secured entry into Peru, Brazil, Colombia, Croatia, and Italy underlining its commitment to growth and trusted partnerships. The team remains dedicated to bringing high-performing, regulation-ready content that resonates with players and operators everywhere.
About 7777 gaming:
7777 gaming is an innovative and data-driven B2B igaming provider, founded in 2020 with the mission to revolutionize and challenge the status quo in the industry by offering 360-degree platform, state-of-the-art online casino games, iLottery, Jackpot, and marketing solutions, draw-based games, scratch cards, and much more.
The product is built by a dedicated team of visionaries with over 20 years of experience. The games and the RNG are tested and compliant in several highly regulated jurisdictions worldwide. Besides, the company achieved and maintained ISO 27001 certification. 7777 gaming holds a gambling license in Bulgaria and Romania and an MGA Certificate to provide its online casino games to these markets.
7777 gaming is already partnering with the leading aggregators and platform providers in the igaming industry.
Contact us:
https://www.7777gaming.com
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The post 7777 gaming gains certification for Italian iGaming market appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Successful Premiere of Portside Game Assembly: the Indie Conference on the Water Returns in June 2026

On June 26 and 27, Gamecity Hamburg, as part of Hamburg Kreativ Gesellschaft, celebrated the successful premiere of Portside Game Assembly. A B2B conference for indie studios with 100 selected studio directors from 15 countries on a ship cruising through the port of Hamburg. The event provided a confidential setting for studio executives to exchange ideas and gain new perspectives. The list of attendees is carefully curated, allowing only management-level representatives from indie studios that have successfully published at least one game on board. In addition to the conference, three other Portside Game Assembly events facilitated interaction between industry members of the Hamburg games industry and international guests, as well as additional networking with conference participants, publishers, and game studios. 200 additional games industry peers met with the conference attendees in three other extraordinary Hamburg locations for networking and exchange. Following a successful premiere and receiving very positive feedback from attendees, the second Portside Game Assembly in Hamburg is scheduled for June 25 and 26, 2026!
“We saw a gap within the calendar of international games industry B2B events and decided to go for it. With the Portside Game Assembly, we are creating a space in which leaders of indie studios can exchange ideas confidentially and on an eye level. By curating the list of participants, we guarantee that participants get new impulses for their business and make relevant new contacts without distraction. We develop the content of the program in close exchange with the participating studios and always for the perspective of studio directors and founders. We are overjoyed with the feedback from the attendees on the premiere and are starting to plan the second Portside in June 2026”, explains Dennis Schoubye, Head of Gamecity Hamburg.
“With companies that have been successful for decades and a diverse and growing indie game scene, the games industry is an important part of Hamburg’s creative industry. With Portside Game Assembly, we have developed another key element that strengthens the importance of Hamburg as a games location by bringing important studio heads and industry contacts to Hamburg and thus promoting international exchange”, comments Egbert Rühl, Managing Director of Hamburg Kreativ Gesellschaft.
Quotes from Participating Studios
“There was a great atmosphere, and the curation was a good mix of profiles and range of companies. It was easy to get in touch with people at the different locations. I’d recommend Portside Game Assembly to network, meet other indies to connect, ask questions, and share knowledge”, Thomas Pfeiffer, CEO & Co-Founder Evil Empire.
„Portside is not your typical conference, It’s something special. No business cards, no distractions, just studio heads having real, honest conversations. Everyone in the room has been through the same challenges, and that shared experience creates a rare level of openness. Ideas, insights, and best practices were shared freely, and I left with a notebook full of actionable takeaways. Absolutely worth it”, Jeroen Janssen, Studio Head & Founder Happy Volcano.
„Portside Game Assembly provided a wonderful ‘Free Port’ for me as an Indie Dev Executive to meet with likeminded leaders from the industry.
Good, deep, conversations about what works – and what doesn’t”, Christian Nyhus Andreasen, Partner & COO Fair Games.
The program of Portside Game Assembly included a keynote on the Triple-i Initiative, short impulse talks and roundtables focusing on thought provoking and subsequent discussions. All of this on a conference ship cruising through the port of Hamburg and along the river Elbe.
After a keynote speech by Benjamin Laulan (COO & Co-Founder Evil Empire), the two conference tracks (impulse talks & roundtables) provided numerous opportunities for input, exchange and insights from speakers like Philomena Schwab (Co-Founder Stray Fawn Studio), Søren Lundgaard (CEO Ghost Ship Games), Mauricio García (Studio Director The Game Kitchen), Kevin Zuhn (Creative Director & Co-Founder Young Horses), René Habermann (Director Bippinbits) and many more.
Participating studios at the premiere of the Portside Game Assembly included Bippinbits, Bolt Blaster Games, Byterockers’ Games, Chasing Carrots, Cipsoft, Color Gray, Cybernetic Walrus, Digital Cybercherries, Digital Sun, Evil Empire, Fair Games, Foulball Hangover, Gamious, Ghost Ship Games, Grizzly Games, Happy Volcano, Hutlihut, Indoor Astronaut, Kafi, kaleidoscube, Keen, Maschinen-Mensch, Megagon Industries, Mooneye, Osmotic Studios, Overhype Studios, Paint Bucket Games, Rockfish Games, Spellgarden Games, Stray Fawn Studio, Studio Seufz, Styrax Studios, The Game Kitchen, The Good Evil, Tiny Roar, Torpor Games, Toukana Interactive and Young Horses.
All speakers of Portside Game Assembly 2025: https://portsideassembly.com/program/
At the three accompanying events of Portside Game Assembly, the 100 conference attendees exchanged ideas with 200 people from the local and international games industry. The Opening Mixer the evening before kicked off the series of events with a relaxed networking session, followed by a morning networking brunch in the Hamburg HafenCity. The closing Games Industry Party after the conference brought all participants together on the culture ship MS Stubnitz for an atmospheric final.
Sponsors and partners photon and Twin Harbour Interactive were on board to support the premiere of the Portside Game Assembly.
The post Successful Premiere of Portside Game Assembly: the Indie Conference on the Water Returns in June 2026 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Booming Games Goes Live on Ivy Casino, Strengthening UK Market Presence

Booming Games is pleased to announce the successful integration of its slot titles with Ivy Casino, one of the UK’s fastest-rising online gaming brands. The partnership marks an exciting milestone as Booming Games continues to gain traction across the UK market.
Ivy Casino players now have access to a growing portfolio of Booming Games’ titles, including the standout hit 64 Gold Coins Hold & Win. Known for its engaging mechanics and strong performance on some of the UK’s biggest platforms, Booming Games is quickly becoming a go-to provider for UK players seeking fresh, high-quality content.
Matt Attard, Account Management Team Lead at Booming Games, commented: “We’re thrilled to see our games now live on Ivy Casino, a brand that’s already establishing itself as a serious player in the UK market. Our titles, especially 64 Gold Coins Hold & Win, are designed to deliver excitement and engagement, and we’re confident Ivy Casino’s players will respond well to our growing portfolio.”
Mark Good, representing Ivy Casino, added: “Booming Games brings a fresh and exciting addition to Ivy Casino’s growing library. Their titles, especially 64 Gold Coins, have been getting great exposure across established UK brands, and Ivy Casino is pleased to now offer them directly to its players. It’s a great fit as Ivy Casino continues expanding the premium content available to its users.”
The integration is now live, with more titles expected to follow in the coming months as both teams collaborate to bring even more variety and innovation to UK players.
The post Booming Games Goes Live on Ivy Casino, Strengthening UK Market Presence appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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