NEWS & NOTES

Macau satellite casino operator Emperor has forged what it calls a “fair and reasonable” percentage-sharing agreement with gaming concessionaire SJM Holdings. In January, the parties announced the satellite would continue to operate at the Grand Emperor Hotel property on the Macau peninsula. ● Gaming Innovation Group Inc. (GiG) has expanded its commercial partnership with News Corp U.K. & Ireland Ltd. to enter the Irish market with exclusive offers and casino and sports betting content. The partners are working towards entering new markets including the U.S. this year. ● Star Entertainment Group has released the first renderings for its new Sky Deck entertainment space, which is poised to be a central part of the multibillion-dollar Queen’s Wharf Brisbane development, a joint venture between Star and partners Chow Tai Fook Enterprises and Far East Consortium. According to a release, the Sky Deck will be “a 250-meter long open-air rooftop with a signature restaurant, all day casual dining and a hero bar as well as a sky-high events space and a glass floor viewing platform at the mid-way mark to further enhance the incredible views.” ● The Las Vegas City Council has begun holding hearings to solicit feedback on a proposed ordinance that would require cannabis consumption lounges—which were just recently legalized—to be spaced at least 1,000 feet away from each other. Cannabis business owners have advocated for the council to establish a “new Amsterdam” of sorts at the downtown Arts District, and have argued that the spacing requirements will lead to increased instances of driving while intoxicated, or high in this case. No vote on the matter has been scheduled, but the next public hearing will take place March 1. ● The Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina would be given full federal recognition by a bill introduced in the House of Representatives by Reps. Richard Hudson and David Rouzer. Hudson said in a statement: “Despite broad bipartisan support, Congress has failed to bring this legislation across the finish line.” He added, “I will continue to be an advocate with my colleagues until the Lumbee Tribe receives the federal recognition it rightfully deserves.” The Lumbees are the largest Indian tribe in the Eastern U.S. ● The Puyallup Tribe of Washington plans to redevelop its old Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma into a mixed use complex. Casino.org reported that Tacoma planning officials confirmed the report. The old Emerald Queen closed in 2020. It had operated it since 1996. Before that it was a Mississippi riverboat. The tribe, which also operates an Emerald Queen Casino in Fife, opened a new $400 million Emerald Queen in May 2020. It boasts more than 2,100 slots, 60 gaming tables and a sportsbook operated by BetMGM. ● The new $130 million OLG Stage at Fallsview Casino on the Ontario side of Niagara Falls opened Saturday, February 25, featuring a concert by Billy Joel. Owned by Niagara Falls Entertainment Partners, the casino’s 200,000-square-foot, 5,000-seat theater offers state-of-the-art sound and lighting systems, with unobstructed views from every seat. Four levels of seating assure each one is within 150 feet of the stage. Niagara Casinos President Richard Taylor said the venue will attract more visitors to Niagara and to the casino, extend hotel stays and enhance the customer experience.