NEWS & NOTES

A recent survey analyzing more than 5 million TripAdvisor reviews has ranked Las Vegas as the 11th-worst city in the U.S. with regard to hotel service. Data from the survey indicates that one-tenth of all hotels in Las Vegas have received 1- or 2-star reviews on TripAdvisor, and the most common complaints ranged from smoke or related odors, thin walls, bed bugs and unstocked necessities. Overall, Las Vegas as a whole was deemed to have a 15.4 percent average rate of what were considered to be negative reviews. • In a contentious 4-3 vote, the Clark County Commission has agreed to enter into negotiations with Liberty Media, the parent company of Formula One, regarding a public funding package for infrastructure work related to the upcoming Formula One Las Vegas Grand Prix race. The amount in question is approximately $40 million, and the proposed changes would benefit public purposes year-round, not just for the event, race officials argued. Those who voted against the negotiations argued that the county won’t receive much tax revenue from the race directly, despite the sizable projected economic impact for the region overall. • The Colorado Division of Gaming reported sports wagering handle of $417.8 million for the month of April, boosting the state’s all-time handle to $12.1 billion after three years of wagering. Colorado ranks sixth nationally in sports betting handle, behind New Jersey, Nevada, New York, Illinois, and Pennsylvania. Colorado launched sports wagering in May 2020. • The Malta Gaming Authority and U.K. Gambling Commission have joined forces on collaborating in the fields of responsible gambling, sports betting integrity, and anti-money laundering, reports Yogonet. Andrew Rhodes, the UKGC’s Chief Executive, and Kay Roberts, executive director for operations, were visiting the island nation for two days. They met with MGA CEO, Carl Brincat, and Kinga Warda, chief of policy and international affairs. They issued a joint press release: “By working together, both regulators seek to reinforce their commitment to ensuring the highest standards of player protection and fair play within their respective jurisdictions.” They emphasized the importance of sharing information. They may also formalize their relationship with a Memorandum of Understanding.