NEWS & NOTES

The legendary German football club Schalke is entering the world of eSports, with a plan to purchase the 2016 EU League of Legends Championship Series spot owned by eSports team Elements. According to sSports Observer, Elements invited private bids on its spot in the championship series after a disappointing performance last year. The participation of a well-known European football club is expected to give a popularity boost to eSports in general.  •  Amaya Gaming Group has announced that the merger of PokerStars and Full Tilt will happen on May 17, with the latter’s poker platform being retired permanently. Amaya announced the plan in February. As of last year, the two sites had roughly 70 percent of the global online poker market, Amaya Gaming said during a quarterly earnings report.  •  International Game Technology announced that the company’s “True 3D” games featured on the AXXIS cabinet have been approved for the Chilean market, and are being placed at multiple casinos in the region. Casinos Dreams will feature IGT Sphinx 3D in Punta Arenas Casino and Temuco Casino; and Dragon’s Temple 3D in Valdivia Casino.  Enjoy Casino & Resort will also feature Sphinx 3D, in addition to Bejeweled 3D games in Casino Rinconada and in the Enjoy Antofagasta Casino. Upon commencement of operations at its Ovalle Casino Resort, Boldt & Peralada will feature the Sphinx 3D game.  •  An enormous wildfire in Alberta, Canada, forced Gamehost to temporarily close its Boomtown Casino in Fort McMurray, whose population of 80,000 has been ordered to leave.  •  The Nebraska Racing Commission OK’d South Sioux City Racing and Events’ license and its plan for a horse track and simulcast betting at the defunct Atokad Downs in South Sioux City. A Sept. 10 opening is planned.  •  Actor Channing Tatum recently announced via social media the planned launch of Magic Mike Live Las Vegas male revue at the Hard Rock Hotel next year in March.  •  A dozen 350-square-foot rooms with two queen pillow-top beds and one twin bunk bed will be available soon at The Linq in Las Vegas, the resort announced.  •  A power outage caused by an unknown source stopped gaming on a portion of the Mandalay Bay Casino floor for about 40 minutes shortly after noon on May 11. MGM Resorts International said no one was hurt, and no evacuation was needed.  •  New York’s attorney general filed a motion to dismiss a complaint filed by the Oneida Indian Nation and others, who want the state to revoke the gaming license granted to the del Lago Resort & Casino last year. The state says the statute of limitations has expired for challenging the gaming license.  •  Restaurant Guy Savoy is celebrating its 10^th year in business at Caesars Palace this year with a special five-course anniversary menu available through May and including many of the gourmet chef’s signature dishes. •  Macau’s new Pac On ferry terminal, designed to bring mass-market tourists directly to the new Cotai resorts, will begin operations in 2017. Last December, officials expected the new ferry terminal to open by mid-2016.