Online gambling in Delaware has fallen far short of its initial revenue target of $5 million annually for the state. According to an Associated Press report, since its start last November as the nation’s first complete iGaming program, Delaware’s casino sites have netted the state just $318,000 on total wagers of $1.2 million. Even after accounting for start-up costs and growing pains, revised targets for 2015 call for $3.3 million in iGaming revenue—all of which will be collected by the state, which by law takes all of the first $3.75 million in annual revenue. • Big Fish Games is rolling out slot games in its new Luxury Slots series of social casino games. The first to roll out is Phoenix Rising, launched exclusively on iOS. The game features rich graphics, a full-screen interface supporting up to 25 pay lines, and an auto-spin function. Seattle-based Big Fish is one of the largest producers and distributors of social games. • Caesars Entertainment Corp.’s largest unit hired law firm Kirkland & Ellis LLP to advise the casino operator on how to reorganize its $17.4 billion of debt, according to Bloomberg report. Caesars Entertainment Operating Co. selected the New York-based company after taking pitches from restructuring firms last week, said the report, quoting an anonymous source. Caesars has struggled to finance a $23 billion debt load since being taken private in 2008 by Apollo Global Management LLC and TPG Capital for $30.7 billion. The operator has been fighting with creditors over a March deal that moved the Bally’s, Quad and Cromwell casino-hotels in Las Vegas and Harrah’s New Orleans from its operating unit to affiliate Caesars Acquisition Co., out of reach of the bondholders. • Confirmation of a deal to enable Hong Kong-listed conglomerate CY Foundation Ltd. to buy a maximum of approximately HK$201.13 million (US$26 million) worth of goods and services from Singapore gaming equipment maker Weike (S) Pte. Ltd. has been delayed. The relevant circular will now be filed “on or before” July 24, said CY Foundation on Thursday. The three-year deal, involving slot machines, multi-terminal gaming machines and related software, systems and services, and which would expire on March 31, 2017, is defined as a connected transaction under the Hong Kong Stock Exchange rules. Poh Po Lian, 65 percent owner of Weike (S), is also a “substantial” shareholder of CY Foundation, said an earlier filing in June outlining the deal. CY Management manages electronic gaming machines in Macau casinos via service agreements. • Philippines gaming investor Leisure & Resorts World is moving closer to taking over the country biggest operator of online gambling arcades. The deal calls for Leisure & Resorts World to buy 100 percent of the stock of operator Digiwave for PHP620 million (US$14.2 million). Leisure & Resorts World owns just under 70 percent of First Cagayan Leisure and Resort Corp., which licenses offshore gaming operators under the auspices of the Cagayan Special Economic Zone, and also holds a stake in Melco Crown Entertainment’s City of Dreams Manila, slated to open this fall. • Twentieth Century Fox plans to build a new $3.5 billion theme park in South Korea by 2018 as part of a hotel, casino and retail project in south Gyeongsang Province, according to news reports. The park would be the second in Asia for the studio. The first is due to open in 2016 at Genting’s Resorts World Genting leisure and gaming complex in Malaysia. • Brighton’s Genting Casino is expected to unveil a 600,000 refurbishment on August 14. Will Cotton, general manager of the casino in the south England coastal city Will Cotton said the makeover will result in “a smart boutique-style casino that will appeal to high-value players.” • Swedish retailer IKEA has announced plans to open its 39th U.S. retail store in Las Vegas. The news was cited as a further sign of rebound for the locals market and economy, according to Union Gaming. ? Legendary rock group KISS will celebrate 40 years in the business with its first-ever residency, “KISS Rocks Vegas,” at the Joint inside Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas. The residency will November 5 and runs through November 23. ? Caesars Entertainment will open a number of new restaurants in Atlantic City this summer, including Guy Fieri’s Chophouse, Buca Di Beppo and Boardwalk Cupcakes at Bally’s, and Martorano’s at Harrah’s. • Stones Gambling Hall, the largest card club in the Sacramento, California, area, opened last week with 30 poker tables. It also offers blackjack, pai gow and baccarat. The club, which employs 400, operates in Citrus Heights, near Interstate 80, in a building that once housed a gym and Salvation Army store before lying unused for nearly a decade. The facility is actually two separate facilities, one smoking and the other non-smoking. • T he warring factions of the Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians of Corning, California, have agreed to hold a special election in September and abide by the results. An independent third party will oversee the election. For several months the tribe’s two factions have fought over who actually has the right to run the Rolling Hills Casino. Things got so hot that Sheriff’s deputies were called in and a federal judge had to issue a restraining order to keep firearms away from tribal operations.
