LVS’ Goldstein: Online Gaming Could Hamper NY Plans
On the company’s third-quarter earnings call Oct. 23, Las Vegas Sands (LVS) Chairman and CEO Rob Goldstein caused some eyebrows to raise when he mentioned iGaming legalization in New York as a potential roadblock in LVS’ quest for a $6 billion casino on Long Island.
“We remain interested in the process,” Goldstein said, per CDC Gaming. “The only concern I have these days is the ongoing strength of online gambling. You can’t ignore what’s happening in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Michigan. We build capital-intensive buildings that require a long-term perspective. There has to be some way to think about the online impact, no matter where you are in the U.S. I ‘ve been looking at it closely. I would love to be in New York with the right capital structure and right licensure process. This is the newest wrinkle. My personal thinking has been influenced somewhat by the last six months of the growth of online gambling.”
He also noted that New York bidders are expecting to submit proposals next spring, but a decision could come in early 2026 instead of late 2025. LVS is one of 11 entities currently vying for three available licenses. In nearby New Jersey, iGaming revenue is slowly creeping up to that of land-based, causing fears of cannibalization to escalate.
GSR’s $1 Billion Expansion Project Requests TIF from City of Reno
When Reno’s Grand Sierra Resort (GSR) announced a sprawling $1 billion expansion project centered around a 10,500-seat arena last September, it was pitched with the premise that no public funds would be used. But that was not quite accurate, stakeholders told the Reno City Council Oct. 23.
Over the last year, the GSR Reno arena project has generated a lot of conversation but has seen little progress. Local outlets reported ahead of the city council and Redevelopment Agency Board (RDA) meeting that an agenda item had surfaced with a report saying that the GSR had applied to the RDA to designate the development as a “catalyst project.” That designation would make it eligible to receive $97 million in tax increment funding (TIF) from the RDA.
This appeared to be a stark reversal from the original announcement. At that time, University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) President Brian Sandoval told cheering crowds that “there will be no public dollars” put toward the project. Sandoval, a former Nevada governor, is said to have a strong relationship with GSR owner Alex Muruelo.
Andrew Diss, chief strategy officer for Muruelo Gaming, told officials that that was a misunderstanding. Sandoval’s comments referenced the university, not the casino.
Ultimately the council voted 7-1 in favor of moving forward. Most members did so with the warning that there are several details still yet unknown. There is no set timeline for when the matter will be back before the council, but the estimate is 30 to 90 days.
Station Casinos Sues NLRB Over Culinary Labor Disputes
Station Casinos filed suit against the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) Oct. 22 in the U.S. District Court in Nevada, its latest effort to halt multiple allegations brought against the operator by its archrival, Culinary Union Local 226.
In a release, Station said that it “has taken the extraordinary step of suing the NLRB because the NLRB system has failed it and many other companies and, more importantly, threatens to deprive Station Casinos’ team members of their right to choose whether to be represented by a union or not.”
The suit alleges that the board is unconstitutional in that the president should have authority to remove board members and judges, which is not the case–they can only be removed for “good cause.” According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Station also alleges that the board is depriving it of the opportunity for a jury trial and instead unfairly acts as “prosecutor, judge and jury, all in the same case.”
There are currently two ongoing NLRB claims between Station and Culinary—one alleges that the operator used the Covid pandemic as a means to undermine union members and another that accuses Station of engaging in union-busting activities at Red Rock Resort.
Holt Reportedly Out as IC360 CEO
SBC Americas reported Oct. 24 that U.S. Integrity founder and IC360 CEP Matt Holt is “no longer with the organization.” Holt apparently has been out for two months.
IC360 is the result of a 2023 merger between U.S. Integrity and Odds on Compliance. The new company rebranded as IC360 in April and offers gambling compliance and integrity monitoring services. At the time of the merger, Holt became the CEO of the new company. U.S. Integrity and Odds on Compliance previously partnered on the Prohibet product, which is essentially a paid exclusion list that sports teams, operators and regulators can purchase. The idea was to bring excluded players’ lists, which can include consumers (like professional athletes or game officials) banned from betting in certain jurisdictions or on certain sports, under one roof.
According to the SBC report, Holt is not listed as CEO on the company website. Eric Frank is listed as president and Scott Sadin is listed as chief operating officer.
Caesars New Orleans Opens After $435 Million Renovation
On Oct.22, the former Harrah’s New Orleans completed a three-year, $435 million renovation in which the property was rebranded as Caesars New Orleans, the first property in the south to feature the Caesars brand.
The renovations to the property, which first opened in 1999, included a casino overhaul and a new hotel tower.
“We’re excited to be a little slice of Caesars but also a big slice of New Orleans still,” Samir Mowad, senior vice president and general manager of Caesars New Orleans, told WVUE. “We are now fully operational, in terms of all the amenities you would expect.”
Hudson Yards: Unions vs. High-Liners
The head of New York’s building and construction trades union held a rally in support of the plan by developer Related Companies and Wynn Resorts for a $12 billion casino, office and housing complex at Hudson Yards.
The “We Build” rally was meant to counter recent efforts by the nonprofit Protect the High Line to defeat the project, on the basis it would ruin the views afforded by the current High Line Park, which provides an urban parkland vista over Hudson Yards, a former railroad facility.
Delaware Park Breaks Ground on Outdoor Slot Patio; Anti-Smoking Advocates Blast Design
Delaware Park Casino announced it has broken ground on a $5 million expansion, including a nearly 10,000-square-foot outdoor slot patio. The new space will feature more than 250 of the latest and most popular slot machines in an open-air environment, the casino said in a press release.
Although the release from Delaware Park did not mention it, an article in Casino.org revealed that smoking will be permitted on the outdoor patio. This brought a swift reaction from Cynthia Hallett, president and CTO of Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights, who blasted the design of the space as “hardly an outdoor space that will protect casino employees.”
The rendering released by the casino depicts what resembles an indoor slot area, though open to the outdoors.
“By what definition is this an outdoor space?” wrote Hallet in a press statement. “Delaware Park is making a mockery of state law that is intended to protect all workers and guests from dangerous secondhand smoke. While there are many examples of acceptable outdoor smoking areas, this ain’t it.”
MGM, Marriott to Rebrand Delano Hotel as W Las Vegas
Gaming and hospitality giants MGM Resorts International and Marriott International have announced that they are teaming up to rebrand the Delano Hotel, which is a non-gaming property located on the Mandalay Bay site, to the W Las Vegas.
The two companies have become close partners in recent years, including a licensing agreement in 2023.Patrons of both brands can also utilize both rewards programs, and the W will be included in that package. The conversion is set to happen later this year.
“Our relationship with Marriott had far exceeded our expectations, demonstrating the power of its brand portfolio and the strength of their distribution channels,” Steve Zanella, president of MGM Resorts Operations, said in an Oct. 21 release. “W Las Vegas, the latest hotel to come to life as part of our collaboration, will allow our guests to access a new luxury lifestyle experience recognized worldwide for its distinct personality, dynamic programming and elevated service culture.”
Venetian-Palazzo, IHG Partnership to End Next Year
A 15-year partnership between InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) and the Venetian-Palazzo will not be renewed at year’s end, IHG officials confirmed in the company’s third-quarter earnings call Oct. 22.
The partnership, first inked in 2010 as a 10-year deal that was later extended to 15, allowed IHG rewards members to take advantage of perks at the hotel-casino. Such deals are common in Las Vegas and elsewhere.
“Although the end of this agreement will remove 7,092 rooms or approximately 0.7 percent from IHG’s overall system size in 2025, the unique nature of the fee structure under this particular licensing agreement means it contributed less than $1 million or 0.1 percent of IHG’s revenue from fee business in 2023 and a net nil contribution to operating profit from reportable segments,” IHG representatives said, per the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Belle of Baton Rouge Opens Temporary Facility
The Belle of Baton Rouge, which is currently undergoing a $141 million expansion, has opened a temporary casino in downtown Baton Rouge with 220 slots and three tables.
The permanent location, set to be completed late next year, will include 25,000 square feet of gaming space. The 250-room hotel tower will be renovated and the property will be rebranded but those details have yet to be announced.
New Missouri Casino to Open Nov. 1
The Century Casino and Hotel in Caruthersville, Mo. will host a grand opening ceremony Friday, Nov. 1, officials announced Oct. 24. The casino will host festivities throughout the weekend, including a ribbon-cutting ceremony, a live band and giveaways.
