Even as Wynn Interactive has been approved for a transactional waiver to begin online gambling in New Jersey, Steve Wynn has shocked the gambling world by saying he has serious doubts about online gaming. Wynn also said he agrees in part with casino-rival Sheldon Adelson, who is seeking an all-out ban on internet gambling. Wynn’s own plans in New Jersey are on hold, but Wynn stopped short of calling for a total U.S. ban.
Massachusetts’ first gaming license—for a slots parlor—will be issued by the state Gaming Commission on February 28, if things go according to schedule. The owners of Raynham Park believe they have the inside track because more than 80 percent of locals approve their plan (l.). Meanwhile the casino vote in Revere for the Suffolk Downs casino may not be the slam-dunk as previously thought.
As Genting announced a $2.2 billion integrated resort in South Korea’s Jeju island (l.), the government is reconsidering its rejection of Caesars Entertainment as a prospective investor in the destination resort market it wants to create. Plans now call for an easing of the country’s historically strict financial requirements.
After initially recommending the Navajo Nation and New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez renegotiate their agreed-to gambling compact, the legislative Committee on Compacts changed its mind and endorsed the deal, after Navajo leader Ben Shelly (l.) refused to reopen the talks. At issue was the provision allowing the tribe to open three more casinos over 15 years.
Conservative legislators said they could support expanded gambling if Governor Rick Scott negotiates a Seminole Tribe compact this year, and if voters pass a constitutional amendment requiring their approval of any future gambling expansion. Meanwhile, supporters (Genting and Las Vegas Sands) and opponents (Disney, owners of Orlando’s Disney World at left) are sending lobbyists and campaign donations.
Local councils are renewing their push in the UK for powers to limit the proliferation of betting shops in town centers. The government appears to be getting behind the idea and is ordering bookmakers to turn over one of their e-tables for analysis.
Industry veteran John Redmond (l.) has thrown in the towel as CEO of Australia’s Echo Entertainment. He was only in the job a little more than a year. But what a tough year it was.
This week, the GGB Podcast features a discussion with Joe Valandra, the chairman and CEO of Great Luck, a technology company that will enable tribes to offer Class II bingo games online.
Nearly 1 million visitors entered Macau for the seven-day Lunar New Year holiday. It was great for the broader economy, not so good for VIP gaming, and it showed in January’s casino revenue, which grew at the slowest pace in months.
Wynn Resorts’ fourth quarter revenues soared 18 percent to $1.52 billion—and Macau was the reason why. The company’s Wynn Macau subsidiary saw earnings surge 32 percent on net revenue that surpassed $1.12 billion.
Las Vegas Sands’ Macau subsidiary outperformed the rest of the city in the fourth quarter in almost every category on the gaming floor. VIP volume was up 26 percent, the mass-market by nearly 80 percent, driving the top line to total of more than $2.53 billion.
The woman who lost Macau’s New Century Hotel over unpaid loans has been slapped with a court order. This time she’s been ordered to pay back more than $10 million in gambling losses to Venetian Macau.
Madrid may no longer have EuroVegas, but it does have a couple of new gaming options. They’re tiny by EuroVegas standards, but they’re now the largest casinos in the Spanish capital and they’re doing quite well (Casino Gran Via at left).
Bermuda’s Tourism Minister Shawn Crockwell (l.) says his island has an image problem, and casinos can fix it. Gaming will more than 40,000 tourists, he says, providing 2,000 jobs in the process and generating revenues of $50 million out of the gate.
Tabcorp and Tatts say the state of Victoria has cost them a fortune by not renewing their machine gaming licenses. They want $1.5 billion of it back, and they’re suing the state to get it.
Century Casinos recently received the go-ahead from Rocky View County in Alberta, Canada to develop a racetrack and casino to serve the north and northwest Calgary markets, which do not have casinos. Construction is expected to start soon.
A new survey from Fairleigh Dickinson University shows support for online gaming is slipping in New Jersey now that the state has actually gone live with online betting.
The New York State Conservative Party has officially come out against online gaming, saying it will limit the economic benefits of upcoming Vegas-style casinos, and increase addiction.
Speaking to reporters on 888 Holding’s final quarter results for 2013, Chief Executive Brian Mattingley was optimistic that proposals for online gaming are gaining steam in California, New York and Pennsylvania and downplayed online gaming’s slow start in New Jersey.
The Poker Players Alliance is campaigning to have online poker included in a Massachusetts bill allowing the state’s lottery to explore online games and services.
TCSJohnHuxley has signed a memorandum of understanding with software developer Every Matrix Holdings to provide land-based operators with iGaming development services.
Playtech has reached a deal with British bookmaker Ladbrokes to launch a new live-dealer service. The bookmaker plans to have Playtech’s full range of games in place by the 2014 FIFA World Cup. In addition, the company signed an agreement with Casino Technology.
The Italian gaming authority has approved the Virtual Sports betting platform of supplier Global Bet for use in the company’s regulated iGaming market.
Zynga has announced an about $530 million acquisition of UK game developer NaturalMotion, makers of Clumsy Ninja. Zynga, makers of Farmville, appears to be trying to halt a slide in its market share.
Microgaming has developed a new community gaming concept centered on the Immortal Romance online slot game and created a new hybrid bingo game. In addition, the company has released a “Game of Thrones” game, as well.
The Israel Sports Betting Board has launched a new online betting system in partnership with UK sports betting software provider LVS and its French counterpart, lottery solutions specialist Lotsys.
California legislator are mulling changes to the state’s gaming laws that could mean more taxes and regulations for card rooms. The state’s tribal casinos (Southern California’s Barona Valley Ranch Casino at left) will not be affected.
The New Hampshire House may have taken the first halting steps toward gaming expansion with the approval last week of keno games by the state lottery. Is this a precursor to a casino vote?
An upset victory by the Seattle Seahawks helped Las Vegas sports book win big. This year, wagers on the year’s premier sporting event exceeded $119 million.
Delaware’s combined government/industry panel continues to study the industry’s results as it prepares a report on how the state can help the industry. The committee’s chairman, state Finance Secretary Tom Cook, is weighing how to aid the casinos but minimize the hit to the state budget.
Maryland gaming regulators say the two losing bidders for the Prince George’s County casino license have agreed to forgo any challenge to the award of the license to MGM Resorts, which will build a $900 million casino at National Harbor alongside the Capital Beltway.
Churchill Downs Inc. had hoped to be a player in New Jersey’s online gambling market, but says it was misled by former Trump Executive Nick Ribis (l.) in a potential casino deal that never went through that left it out of the market.
Baltimore developer the Cordish Companies went to Las Vegas to talk up his planned $390 million sports arena (l.), set for the city’s Downtown district. But his emphasis on locals conflicts with the deal he made.
Even though Virginia's Senate General Laws and Technology Committee recently approved casino bill in a 7-5 vote, sponsor Senator L. Louise Lucas withdrew the bill after it became apparent the more conservative House of Delegates would not support it. Still, it was progress, since the same committee killed a casino bill last year.
Foxwoods Resort Casino and Muss Development will develop land owned by developer Louis R. Cappelli (l.) of Sullivan Resorts LLC at the former Grossinger's Resort in the Catskill Mountains of New York. Foxwoods and Muss are seeking a gaming license to develop a casino in Liberty and Sullivan hopes to acquire a license for a casino at the former Concord Resort.
Nevada casinos took in $11.1 billion in 2013, the fourth year in a row they ended in the plus column. The win was largely due to strong baccarat play in Las Vegas, stemming from casinos companies that also have operations in Macau.
The $32.5 million Platinum Tower hotel debuted at the Hard Rock Casino Biloxi. The 12-story facility features 140 rooms and 14 suites plus music memorabilia from Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Sammy Hagar and numerous others. The property created 90 jobs and brings the Hard Rock's hotel room total to 479.
The nonprofit license-holder to the Isle Casino in Waterloo, Iowa, will ask the Iowa Racing and Gaming Board to block the proposed Cedar Crossing Casino in Cedar Rapids. A report indicated Cedar Crossing would cannibalize Isle by $11 million in annual revenues, limiting Black Hawk County Gaming Association's grant-distribution funds.
Bob McDevitt (l.), the leader of Atlantic City’s largest casino union, is urging the state of New Jersey to protect the jobs of 3,000 workers at the Revel casino in case of a sale.
Gansevoort was supposed to have replaced Bill’s Gamblin’ Hall. Now Cromwell is replacing Gansevoort. That’s the name of the new luxury hotel on the Las Vegas Strip.
Thibodaux, Louisiana's only off-track betting parlor plans to move before the city council prohibits any new or relocating business with three or more video poker machines from locating within a mile of schools, churches or residential areas. Fair Grounds threatened to leave town if it can't relocate where it wants.
Despite dramatically dropping gaming revenues, the Indiana Senate Public Policy Committee did not vote on legislation that would authorize table games in racinos, give riverboat casinos tax breaks and let them move onto land. Instead, Chairman Ron Alting referred the bill to a summer study committee.
South Dakota voters may have a chance to change the state constitution this November to allow roulette, craps and keno in addition to the current slots and card games at commercial and tribal casinos in Deadwood. The House voted 37-30 to approve the bill, which now must pass the Senate.
The New York Racing Association wants a better rate for its highly ranked simulcast. Churchill Downs may not want to pay. Both sides could lose if they don’t reach an agreement.
Indian tribes waited impatiently in 2013 for action by Congress to address problems created by the Supreme Court decision known as “Carcieri,” and they may wait this year as well. A revolving door for chairman of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee may be the reason, with Maria Cantwell (l.) moving on in the next term.
Jim Hildreth, tax assessor of Escambia County, Alabama, told the Poarch Band of Creek Indians he plans to audit them, based on a recent case from federal appeals court in California. If the county's suit is successful, the tribe, which owns Wind Creek Casino (l.), would have to pay back taxes from 2009-2013.
In less than 60 days, Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs Kevin Washburn (l.) could determine if it will take into trust a parcel the Wyandotte Nation of Oklahoma owns in Park City, Kansas. The tribe says it used land-claim settlement funds to buy the acreage where it hopes to build a $20-$30 million casino.
The Phoenix Mercury of the WNBA has entered into an exclusive, multi-year marquee partnership with Casino Arizona and Talking Stick Resort. The deal will put branding on the team's home and away jerseys, warm-ups, tickets, home court, signage and more.
Wisconsin state and tribal officials will be all ears as Menominee Nation Chairman Craig Corn delivers the State of the Tribes address Thursday. Governor Scott Walker has yet to allow the Menominee's proposed Kenosha casino, which, he said, all Wisconsin tribes must approve. The Potawatomi and Ho-Chunk vigorously oppose it.
Thanks to a new refinancing arrangement, the Snoqualmie Indian Tribe of Washington state will see lower interest rates and a more relaxed debt repayment schedule.
A band of Wisconsin Indians is making progress in its plan to build an off-reservation casino―way off. The Stockbridge Munsee want to develop a property in New York State.
Sheila Morago (l.), executive director of the Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association, said few new casinos are opening in the state; instead tribes are reinvesting and expanding their properties, such as the Creek's $250 million Margaritaville-branded expansion at River Spirit Casino in Tulsa.
Greece’s Intralot has announced a new corporate structure that reorganizes the company into three divisions: Products & Services; Global Operations; and Sales and Technology, with executives appointed with new roles and duties.
Michael Graydon, president and chief executive officer at B.C. Lottery Corporation since 2008, recently resigned to take a private-sector job. Jim Lightbody, corporate vice president of casino and community gaming, has been named interim president and chief executive officer.
Bally Technologies will deploy its iVIEW Display Manager with Elite Bonus Suite system in enterprise-wide deals with 18 Boyd Gaming properties and Australian Leisure and Hospitality Group.
FutureLogic celebrated 15 years of supplying printers to the gaming industry at the ICE Totally Gaming Show with the launch of the GEN3 Evolution Printer.
The American Gaming Association is calling on the U.S. Congress to pass patent reform legislation to target “patent trolls” responsible for costly frivolous litigation.
Casino Technology was given the Sustained Innovation Award in recognition of its contributions to the gaming industry by Gaming Laboratories International.
Galaxy Gaming launched its proprietary blackjack game at the Carnival City casino in Gauteng as the first leg of its expansion into the South African market.
