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Here's everything you need to know today - in under 3 minutes.

Today's big stories: 

⭐️ Star could be at risk of losing its Sydney casino licence

💜 Pinterest wants people to shop...more

🏆 Nike's the number 1 brand for Gen Z

Oh and get this...

A "stratospheric ballooning" company called World View wants to take you 100,000ft to the edge of space to, well, view the world. The experience, set to launch in 2024, could be yours for the bargain price of US$50,000.

Star Entertainment Group's got some dirty laundry

Background: Star Entertainment Group are the $4 billion entertainment company behind the Star Casino - aka the biggest casino in Sydney before Crown came about in 2020.

What happened: Sydney's Star Casino is huge. It's got around 1500 pokies machines, 13 restaurants and 8 bars. The Star has largely flown under the radar...mostly because the Crown Casino has been front and centre over the last few years.

What else: New media reports allege that the Star Casino enabled money laundering by wooing high-rollers...who had possible links to organised crime. And, it could lose its casino licence as a result. Eeep!

So what's the key learning?

💡Money laundering is the process of turning dirty money (aka money that's been generated from criminal activity) into clean money (aka money that's come from a legit source). And it's illegal.

💡Crims do this because they can't just deposit huge chunks of cash into their bank account. Often, criminal organisations will set up cash-based businesses called "fronts" (i.e. restaurants or cafés). But gambling has become another popular way to 'wash' the money.

💡Investors know that compliance and regulation is at the core of gambling businesses (anti-money laundering legislation anyone?). So it's no surprise that Star's share price dropped by over 20% yesterday after this news.

Pinterest loves its children (shoppers and advertisers) equally

Background: Pinterest is the 14th-largest social network in the world. It's a 'visual discovery' platform where people can search whatever the heck they like, and get ideas. It's mostly used for 'live, laugh, love' posters or home #inspo.

What happened: Pinterest has around 459 million monthly active users, but even though heaps of these users use Pinterest to shop, the company has been facing some stiff e-commerce competition from the likes of Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat.

What else: Now, it's rolling out some hot new features for advertisers and brands to promote more products on the platform...and ultimately, entice shoppers to buy more.

So what's the key learning?

💡Getting users to buy something from a platform is good...but getting to buy lots of things is even better.

💡Because Pinterest has a bit (ahem, a lot) of everything, shoppers on the platform have 85% bigger baskets than shoppers on other platforms. And, they spend twice as much per month.

💡But with competition in the e-comm world heating up, Pinterest has had to step it up. So, by making its platform more enticing to brands and shoppers, it's saying, "I'm taking back what's mine!", reclaiming market share and value that other platforms are trying to steal.

Sportswear GOAT Nike is down with the cool kids aka Gen Z

Background: Nike was founded back in 1964 as Blue Ribbon Sports, and re-branded to Nike in 1972. Since then, it's gone from strength to strength, steadily expanding its business.

What happened: The company's grown massively through acquisitions (like Converse in 2003 and Umbro in 2008), and massive endorsements from athletes like Michael Jordan, Serena Williams and Tiger Woods.

What else: Now, Nike's been named the number one footwear and apparel brand among teens according to a new Gen Z survey...but this ain't really that much of a surprise. This crew have held the top sport for the past decade.

So what's the key learning?

💡Nike has managed to stay so relevant for so long because they’re reaching younger customers where they are and how they like it.

💡Gen Y and millennials grew up in an age where you had to go to the department store to get it. But Gen Z experience products and brands everywhere they go. At any time of day.

💡 Nike's constantly shifting its strategy to keep up with new trends and the proof is in the pudding. Nike's Instagram page has a huge 177 million followers (and some v inspirational vids) and gamers on Fortnite can purchase Nike skins and branded clothes for their avatars.