Long–Delayed Norfolk Casino Approved by City Council
After more than six years of delays and setbacks, the Norfolk, Va. casino project was approved by city council in a 7-1 vote Oct. 9. The $500 million development is a joint venture between the Pamunkey Tribe and Boyd Gaming.
Boyd emerged as the tribe’s development partner in September, replacing the original partner, billionaire Jon Yarbrough. The project was first pitched in 2018 but had failed to secure city approval before Boyd’s introduction.
Construction is expected to start early next year with an opening set for September 2027. Plans call for 1,500 slots, 50 tables and several dining options. A temporary casino will open in November 2025 to satisfy license requirements.
Tropicana Implosion Paves Way for A’s Ballpark
At approximately 2:30 a.m. local time Oct. 9, the Tropicana Las Vegas was reduced to rubble, 67 years after it first opened on the Strip. The blast ceremony included fireworks and a drone show before 2,000-plus pounds of explosives dropped both hotel towers in about 22 seconds.
The site will now be cleared to make way for a $1.5 billion stadium for the Oakland A’s, which will be built on nine of the 35 acres of the plot. Bally’s, which operated the Tropicana before it closed, will build a new casino resort on the remaining acreage. The land is owned by Gaming and Leisure Properties, which has pledged to put forth capital for “mutually beneficial developments.”
If all goes according to plan, the A’s will make their Las Vegas debut in the 2028 season. Overall, the move is bittersweet; the prospect of bringing more professional sports to the city is enticing, but it comes at the expense of a beloved mainstay.
“It’s been a big part of our identity, our brand and certainly early in its history it was an iconic location,” Steve Hill, president and CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, told the Las Vegas Review-Journal. “Now we’re going to turn into a new iconic location, which is very fitting for Las Vegas. It’s very exciting for our city to bring Major League Baseball here.”
NJ Republicans Lobby Baston to Act on Smoking Ban
On Oct. 8, Shore News Network reported that some Republicans in the New Jersey Assembly have sent a letter to Dr. Kaitlin Baston, the state’s health department commissioner, asking for her help in enacting a full smoking ban on casino floors. Currently, smoking is allowed on 25 percent of floors in designated areas, but casino workers and politicians have been trying for years to ban it entirely.
Last year, smoking legislation was discussed but never voted on, and earlier this year a lawsuit from casino workers and their union was unsuccessful.
“As New Jersey’s top health official today, it’s your turn to take a stand,” the letter stated. “It’s your turn—your job and duty—to complete the mission and protect the health of every New Jersey worker. No exceptions.”
Proposed Cedar Rapids Casino Drawing Local Pushback
Now that proponents of the Cedar Crossing Casino in Cedar Rapids, Iowa have made their official pitch to state regulators, other casinos in the state are making it known that the project would impact their performance. A final ruling is not expected until February.
According to KWWL, Alex Dixon, president and CEO of Q Casino in Dubuque, said there is “a clear understanding that if there would be any new casino in our backyard, that we would be impacted.”
Diamond Jo Casino in Northwood said in a statement that “we are concerned that adding a casino in Cedar Rapids will have a negative impact on both Dubuque and other markets in Iowa.”
Hard Rock Rockford Jumps to No. 2 in State Revenue in First Full Month
The latest round of monthly revenue and visitation totals were released Oct. 8 by the Illinois Gaming Board, and Hard Rock’s newly opened permanent casino in Rockford has jumped to second in both rankings after its first full month of operations. The casino opened Aug. 29.
Rockford generated $13.7 million in adjusted gross receipts, and had visitation of 157,000 for the month. Only Rivers Casino Des Plaines, long the top performer in the state, reported higher totals. Going from ninth to second may be a big jump, but Hard Rock officials expected nothing less.
“We had no expectations of jumping over Rivers — that’s a pretty tall order,” Geno Iafrate, president of Hard Rock Rockford, told the Chicago Tribune. “But to be honest, we fully expected to move into second place.”
AGA, ECA, BGC Begin Collaboration
The American Gaming Association (AGA), European Casino Association (ECA), and the Betting & Gaming Council (BGC) announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that marks the beginning of a collaboration grounded in shared industry values and priorities. The MOU formalizes a commitment among the three associations to address key issues facing the global gaming industry including illegal gambling, responsible gaming, innovation, and security.
“This new partnership is a significant step forward in our collective efforts to advance the legal gaming industry and protect consumers around the globe,” said AGA President and CEO Bill Miller. “By sharing our unique resources, we will expand our fight against illegal gambling to new fronts, work together to strengthen responsible gaming, and innovate around business best practices.
“The European Casino Association stands united with the AGA and BGC in its commitment to addressing the key issues facing all gaming industry stakeholders,” said Erwin van Lambaart, chairman of the European Casino Association.
Betting and Gaming Council CEO Grainne Hurst said, “This partnership marks a new chapter in our shared vision to build a world-class, trusted, and sustainable betting and gaming industry. BGC members are rightly proud of their reputation as global leaders, and they know the power of collaboration. Working together with the AGA and ECA, I am confident our shared knowledge and expertise will be vital to bolstering safer gambling standards while tackling the threat of the growing and unsafe unregulated gambling black market in the U.K.”
David Rebuck to Receive Compliance Lifetime Achievement
Vixio announced that David Rebuck, the former director of the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE), will be this year’s recipient of the Award for Compliance Lifetime Achievement at the 2024 Global Regulatory Awards.
Rebuck was the director of the DGE for over 13 years, the longest-serving director in DGE’s history. He served the state as a public servant for more than 36 years. Rebuck retired from the DGE in 2024, having overseen several pivotal regulatory changes in New Jersey. These initiatives included regulating online casino gaming in 2013 and land-based and online sports betting five years later.
Rebuck said, “I am truly honored to be selected by Vixio as this year’s Compliance Lifetime Achievement Award recipient. Vixio’s recognition of me reflects the governors in New Jersey, who gave me their confidence and full support during my tenure as director of the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement.
“In accepting the award, I must also acknowledge the exceptional work and commitment to excellence provided to me and the industry by the hundreds of DGE employees, including attorneys, civil and criminal investigators, technical laboratory service analysts and support staff during my tenure. The privilege of leading the division will always serve as the highlight of my public service to the state of New Jersey.”
