NEWS & NOTES

Caesars Windsor in Ontario has negotiated extra pension incentives for union employees looking to retire. Unifor Local 444 said the deal “allows many of our members an opportunity to retire earlier than they otherwise may have.” The casino was shut down for much of 2020 due to the pandemic, putting about 2,000 people out of work. It reopened in the fall but then was forced to close again in November due to Covid-19. Under the current rules, casinos may reopen but at a capacity of 10 patrons. ● The Vegas Golden Knights have terminated a partnership with UpickTrade, a Mexican company that sells sports-betting picks, including on the NHL. It was believed to be the first deal between a professional sports franchise and a sports betting recommendation or “tout” service. It lasted only three days. No reason was given for the termination, but the deal was widely criticized in the sports betting community. ● More than 360 women joined in a two-day global virtual networking event hosted by Global Gaming Women January 13-14. The first-ever “Virtual Lean-in Breakfast” featured leadership coach and bestselling author Natalie Fikes as it keynote speaker. ● Phase 2 of the Resorts World Sentosa complex in Singapore will start in “early 2022” due to disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, says Genting Singapore. The Malaysia-based company said its VIP casino segment will not return to pre-pandemic levels of business for the foreseeable future. ● The off-Strip Virgin Hotels Las Vegas complex will open March 25 with no resort fees, complimentary self-parking and free Wi-Fi. “We are so proud to be one of the first major casino-resorts in Las Vegas without a resort fee,” said Richard “Boz” Bosworth, president & CEO of JC Hospitality, which owns the hotel. “Beyond this, Virgin Hotels Las Vegas will exceed expectations with valued amenities and added benefits.” ● A three-day online auction last week disposed of $7 million worth of assets from the shuttered Lakeside Inn & Casino in Stateline, Nevada. Among the items for sale were slot machines and other gaming equipment, kitchen and bar equipment, vehicles, art, tool, office equipment and memorabilia among other things. All assets were sold to the highest bidders, without reserves or minimums. The locals casino closed in April 2020 after 35 years in business. ● BetMGM will become the exclusive regional U.S. partner of Borussia Dortmund, an eight-time champion in the Bundesliga, Germany’s top professional soccer leagues. “As interest in Bundesliga within the U.S. continues to skyrocket, BetMGM customers can engage with one of Germany’s most prestigious clubs and watch every Bundesliga game through the BetMGM app,” said Matt Prevost, BetMGM’s chief revenue officer. ● As a number of stage shows reopen at Las Vegas casinos, one has pushed its return to late August. ‘Magic Mike Live’ has delayed its opening from March 26 to August 27, at the north Strip Sahara resort. ● Resorts World Las Vegas has announced its first food and beverage partner, Southern California’s Wally’s Wine & Spirits, “sommelier to the stars,” which has outposts in Beverly Hills and Santa Monica. It will open this summer. The local entity will combine a restaurant, wine bar and gourmet market into what Resorts World is calling “a one-stop tasting experience.” It is expected to seat between 200 and 250 people. ● Genting Singapore Ltd., promoter of Singapore’s Resorts World Sentosa casino complex, has granted $1.3 million) in performance-based shares to directors of the firm, including Executive Chairman Lim Kok Thay and COO Tan Hee Teck. Lim and Tan each got 750,000 award shares under the plan. The balance of 5,765,000 award shares went to Genting Singapore “selected employees,” the firm said in a filing. ● Codere SA has denied news reports that it will sell a majority 51 percent stake of its online gambling unit to Austrian conglomerate Novomatic. Codere said it has no plans to sell a majority stake of its online business, and pointed to significant growth in South American markets such as Colombia and Mexico. ● Potawatomi Hotel & Casino in Milwaukee has installed a new security system that employs AI to detect threats. Similar to a metal detector, the Evolv system device, which has 50 sensors and six cameras, alerts guards to possible weapons. According to Evolv CEO Peter George, “If there’s a threat, we take a picture of you and connect the threat to the person, but we’re not looking at people, we’re looking at threats.” Guests at the casino who are found to have weapons are asked to return to their car, said Potawatomi CEO/General Manager Rodney Ferguson. • Caesars Entertainment has entered into a 10-year agreement with the Carousel Group, owner of SportsBetting.com, to make its sportsbook available to Caesars customers in New Jersey, Indiana and Iowa plus its online casino in New Jersey. President and CEO of Carousel Group Daniel Graetzer commented, “We closed out 2020 with the launch of SportsBetting.com in Colorado. Caesars is the perfect strategic partner to help us aggressively expand our market access in the U.S.” Carousel is making major updates to its products, including new mobile apps and casino platforms, said Graetzer. ● An appeals court has ruled that the Venetian Macau’s popular gondola ride attraction owes the government MOP18.9 million (US$2.3 million) in tourism tax dating back to 2013-14. The Venetian had appealed an initial ruling on the tax in favor of the government, but the appeals court agreed with the Public Prosecution Office that as a complimentary service provided by the resort the ride is subject to the tax. ● The Macau Jockey Club said the impacts of the Covid crisis have forced it to pull out of a lucrative simulcast deal with the Hong Kong Jockey Club for the annual Macau-Hong Kong Trophy meet. The March 14 event is the first of an annual series pitting Macau and Hong Kong horses and the only MJC event the HKJC offers for betting. The meet netted the MJC upwards of HK$8 million (US$1 million) annually prior to the pandemic.