The reopening of travel to Macau and the Chinese New Year celebration combined to boost gaming revenues for January, with casinos posting their highest monthly GGR in three years. But the city still has a long climb ahead.

A surprising new poll by the University of Houston has revealed that 75 percent of Texas voters support online sports betting and the establishment of at least four integrated resorts in Texas cities. Governor Gregg Abbott and House Speaker Dade Phelan (l.) are both open to the idea.

Soloviev Group has named Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment as the operator of its proposed casino at Freedom Plaza near the United Nations headquarters in New York City (l.). Meanwhile, Las Vegas Sands has partnered with a local community college to train employees for its proposed casino.

The Philippine gaming industry saw a marked rebound in 2022, with receipts of more than US$1 billion to the country’s gaming regulator, PAGCOR. However, after pledging to “nurture” its offshore gaming trade, the regulator added that it “denounces” crimes allegedly associated with those operations, and will “not hesitate” to sanction offenders.

It’s been a hectic few days for ClubsNSW—the trade body was already facing criticism for a regulatory proposal that many considered to be lackluster, and now it’s been forced to fire longtime CEO Josh Landis (l.) after he made derogatory remarks toward Premier Dominic Perrottet.

Liechtenstein’s voters on January 29 resoundingly rejected a referendum that would have banned the six casinos that have operated since legalization in 2017. The vote in favor of casinos was 73 percent, with 27 percent supporting the ban. About 70 percent of eligible voters participated.

Aruze Gaming has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, as part of a reorganization effort triggered by a garnishment judgment against a shareholder.

Hawaii is just one of two states that do not have any form of gambling but state legislators are proposing five bills that would bring sports betting, poker and fantasy sports to the islands.

ICE Landmark Awards will honor inspiring individuals and outstanding brands at this year’s trade show next week, including Indian Gaming Association Chairman Ernie Stevens, Jr. and gaming pioneer Roy Student.

This week, dividends are the name of the game, and surprisingly, none of the big-time casino operators or bookmakers elicited any mention whatsoever. That alone should be an indicator of what investors can expect in 2023 and beyond.

The GGB Podcast today welcomes Brett Abarbanel, the executive director of the International Gaming Institute, at UNLV on how she plans to approach her new position leading one of the university’s most important gaming education arm.

R&F Korea, which is building a casino resort in Incheon, South Korea, has asked for another year to complete the project. R&F also wants to scale back on the size of the development, eliminating Phases 2 and 3.

Cambodia’s National Committee for Counter Trafficking has reiterated its pledge to combat crimes including illegal iGaming along the country’s border. It claims it’s already made notable progress in Preah Sihanouk.

Business leaders in Macau took the stand at the trial of former Macau junket king Levo Chan (l.) to testify to his good character. Chan, like the recently convicted Alvin Chau, is charged with illegal gambling in the city.

After several years of waiting, the much anticipated “white paper” detailing proposals to reform the U.K.’s Gambling Act of 2005 could be on the verge of release. Gambling Minister Paul Scully (l.), speaking to the Betting and Gaming Council, said the paper would drop “in the next few weeks.”

Macau Legend’s stalled casino development (l.) in Cape Verde, off the African coast, could put the developer in legal jeopardy. The project has missed multiple construction and financial benchmarks.

Maryland is pointing to the success it has had with sports betting as a reason to try and pass online casino gaming legislation and two lawmakers— state senators Nancy King (l.) and Ron Watson have introduced legislation.

New York’s mobile sports betting market achieved record success in its first calendar year in terms of handle. However, representatives from the state’s top bookmakers, including FanDuel President Christian Genetski (l.), recently warned lawmakers that if the controversial 51 percent tax rate stays in place, users will likely be met with worse odds to compensate.

BetMGM has enjoyed a lot of success and a lot of expansion over the last half-decade, but investors are still waiting for that expansion to translate to real-world profitability. On the company’s recent fourth-quarter earnings call, CEO Adam Greenblatt (l.) and his team made it clear that they expect 2023 to be the year where things turn from red to black.

With Massachusetts the latest state to open sportsbooks, is Maine next? The state hopes to have everything in place by summer. And Vermont is not too far behind to bring all of New England into the mix.

Illinois state Rep. Robert Rita (l.) would like to see Illinois become the second state, after New Jersey, to allow sports betting exchanges, in which sports bettors wager against one another. Currently the state permits online sports wagering and retail sportsbooks.

Twin bills allowing a casino in Petersburg, Virginia are advancing in the House and Senate. The bills would disallow a do-over vote in Richmond, where a casino referendum narrowly failed in 2021.

Several Michigan casinos have started to roll back Covid-era smoking bans, while other states, including Pennsylvania and New Jersey, are looking to make smoking bans in casinos permanent.

A bill that would revive a 25-year old moratorium on new card club licenses and additional tables has been introduced by Rep. James Ramos (l.). Members of the cardroom industry and five gaming tribes support AB341, which would reinstate the Gambling Control Act of 1997 with a few tweaks.

Nebraska state Senator Tom Briese (l.) proposed a bill to raise the tax and charge a fee of $1,000 each on so-called “games of skill” proliferating in the state. Tax revenue from the games would provide property tax relief.

Famed Texas horseman Johnny Trotter and his wife Jana (l.) will be the only owners at All American Ruidoso Downs, All American Ruidoso Horse Sales and Billy the Kid Casino, pending New Mexico Gaming Control Board approval.

The Seminole Tribe of Florida, owners of Hard Rock International, are seeing some members allege that tribal leaders mismanaged $3 million in federal Covid funds.

Bills in the Kansas legislature would transfer ownership of the historic Shawnee Indian Mission site (l.) in Johnson County to the Shawnee Tribe, but the tribe would not be allowed to open a casino on the land.

The Coquille Tribe of Oregon, operators of Mill Casino in North Bend, would like to open a second casino in the old Roxy Ann Lanes in Medford. The Department of the Interior has issued a 250-page environmental impact report on the proposal. The public has until February 23 to comment.

It’s the kind of raise you don’t hear much about. But culinary positions at the casinos under the ownership of Oneida Nation Enterprises got a raise to $20 an hour.

Itai Pazner (l.), CEO of online gaming giant 888, resigned from his position as the company’s shares plunged after an internal review found deficiencies in the operator’s anti-money laundering program.

The International Gaming Standards Association has announced its 2023 board of directors, highlighted by the appointments of AXES.ai CEO Earle G. Hall (l.) as chairman and Aristocrat Global VP of Quality Nimish Purohit as vice chairman.

Mark Lipparelli (l.), former head of the Nevada Gaming Control Board, has been elected as the next chairman of the International Center for Responsible Gaming.

Making a change at the top is one thing. But making three is a whole different ball game. Mark Davey (l.) is now executive chairman and president, Todd Buckingham is now chief growth officer and Jack Henson is CEO.

Industry veteran Mark Brooker (l.) has been appointed chairman of eCOGRA, succeeding Matthew Peacock. Brooker previously held executive-level roles at Betfair Group and William Hill.

Arrow International, the world’s largest manufacturer of charitable and social gaming products, was approved by the Kentucky Department of Charitable Gaming to offer its cabinets and pull-tab games.

Novomatic Americas has announced that it is expanding its partnership with Apex Pro to include the North American and Caribbean markets. Novomatic will also acquire select assets of Apogee Gaming.

International Casinos Exhibitor (ICE), which has always been in London, is beginning a competitive bidding process to award the hosting of the industry event from 2025 to 2029. Clarion Gaming, which puts on the event, has been under increasing pressure to widen the numbers of host cities.

For the first time since 2019, G2E Asia will be presented live and in person in the gaming capital of the world. The July conference and trade show will be preceded by an associated event in Singapore, organizers say.

Technology provider Win Systems will be showcasing its portfolio at ICE London 2023, including updates to its renowned WIGOS casino management system.

The seventh Casino ESports Conference returns to Las Vegas February 28 through March 1, featuring a CEC University event the day before the conference.