Caesars Entertainment will soon be pulling entirely out of Ohio. It has sold its 20 percent interest in its two Horseshoe Casinos, in Cincinnati and Cleveland (l.) and its ThistleDown Racino in North Randall to Rock Gaming. The casinos will change their names and withdraw from the Caesars’ Total Reward player program.
Residents of the Taiwanese island of Penghu (Rainbow Bridge at l.) may vote again on legalizing casinos next year. Penghu defeated a gaming referendum four years ago, but may get another chance. A government committee has approved a proposal that could lead to a gaming referendum in 2016, most likely in the first half of the year.
Five bidders have emerged to host the third Connecticut casino that will be a partnership between the Mohegan and Mashantucket Pequot tribes in an effort to stem the loss of business to the MGM casino that will open in 2018 in Springfield, Massachusetts. Meanwhile, Eric Holder (l.), former U.S. Attorney General is now part of the legal team trying to overturn the law that would allow the state’s gaming tribes open the casino. He represents MGM, which is challenging the constitutionality of the law.
Officials in Springfield, Massachusetts demanded and received visits from top executives with MGM Resorts, including President Bill Hornbuckle (l.), to explain why the company is downsizing its facility there. Meanwhile, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission gave a hint it would consider two casinos in the state’s southeastern region.
New Jersey could join Nevada in requiring daily fantasy sports sites to acquire a state gaming license. The two states offer legal online gaming. A state Senator Jim Whelan (l.) has announced a bill that would strictly regulate DFS sites, joining similar moves in other states. Meanwhile legislative efforts to regulate DFS continue in several states.
Baha Mar Ltd. founder Sarkis Izmirlian (l.) has offered to put up more of his own money to prevent his $3.5 billion Baha Mar Resort from full-blown government liquidation. Nonetheless, the property has been placed in receivership.
Last week, Michael Pollock of Spectrum Gaming Group testified before a committee of the Georgia state legislature about the efficacy of legalizing casinos in the state. The following article is based on testimony he provided.
E. Sequoyah Simermeyer, a member of the Coharie tribe, has been named an associate commissioner of the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC). He joins Chairman Jonodev O. Chaudhuri as the second member of the NIGC. A third seat remains unoccupied.
This week, the GGB Podcast travels to Deadwood, South Dakota to speak with Larry Eliason, the executive secretary of the South Dakota Commission on Gaming on the unique oversight and market that is Deadwood and the state gaming market.
The world’s premier gaming destination just recorded its 17th straight month of year-on-year revenue declines. GGR for October was 28.4 percent lower than 2014. Is there an end in sight for the long recession?
Philippine development firm Megaworld Corp. has announced it will invest an additional $300 million in the residential portion of Travellers International’s Entertainment City resort project in Manila. Andrew Tan (l.), chairman and chief executive of Alliance Global and Megaworld, said the property will be a “showcase” for Manila.
On the heels of Melco Crown’s Studio City opening, another attraction with a Hollywood theme is planned near Macau. The amusement park on Hengqin Island, adjacent to Macau, could be a plus for the gaming jurisdiction too, says an analyst.
About 130 construction workers from Wynn Resorts’ new megaresort on Macau’s Cotai Strip walked off the job and onto the protest line recently, saying they had been forced to work overtime without a guarantee of OT wages.
The Hippodrome Casino (l.) in the UK has acquired the Crystal Rooms Adult Gaming Centre, which is located next to its facility in central London. The acquisition will help to showcase the range of entertainment provided by the Hippodrome, which is the biggest and busiest casino in England and one of the most popular entertainment venues in London.
Casinos Austria International has opened a property, Casino International, inside the Hilton Hotel, in the Black Sea port city of Batumi in Georgia. The company hopes to attract players from Russia, Iraq and Turkey, where casinos are prohibited.
Legislators in the Czech Republic have approved a bill that could raise the taxes paid by winning bettors. The bill, which must go through two legislative houses, would raise the tax rate on lotteries, sports betting and slots will rise more than 20 percent.
Talks have broken down between British bookmakers and the horse industry, which tried to come to terms over a race betting levy. The British Horseracing Authority wanted 10.75 percent of racing revenue from retail betting and 7.5 percent from online.
An airport in the Israeli city of Eilat (l.) could be the site of a new, Vegas-style casino resort. The plan is under consideration by the government, which has asked all departments and ministries to look at the proposal.
Crafting gaming regulations is the most important step toward opening gaming casinos in Bermuda, Tourism Minister Shawn Crockwell (l.) said, but the Bermuda Parliament should have regulations mostly in place during its next session and a casino might be up and running in time for the 2017 America’s Cup yacht race. Bermuda plans to open three casinos that would employ about 900.
The Victorian government may try to revive a struggling former manufacturing town by introducing a waterfront casino. But any attempt to move in on James Packer’s monopoly in the state is likely to spark a battle.
Moody’s Investor Service is taking a dim view of Crown Resorts’ new $100 million stake in Nobu Hospitality LLC, saying James Packer’s firm is already overextended. The firm called the buy “credit negative” for Crown. At left, Nobu principals Chef Nobu, Robert De Niro, Meir Teper.
U.S. Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, the main sponsor of the Restore America’s Wire Act that would ban online gaming told the Las Vegas Review Journal that he is not considering adding daily fantasy sports to the proposed ban.
South Korean officials have said they are intensifying their efforts to stop illegal online gambling and have warned gamblers they could face stiff fines and punishment if caught playing illegal sites.
The first time a supplier has offered a combined bingo software and content strategy, Playtech ONE recently launched its multi-channel games and systems across Mecca Bingo's retail, online, mobile and 12,000 in-hall bingo handheld terminals. The launch includes Playtech's popular Adventures in Wonderland and Heart of the Jungle slots.
Irish bookmaker BoyleSports is now offering online slot titles from NYX Gaming Group. The bookmaker successfully integrated NYX’s Open Gaming System into its platform.
Scandinavian operator Unibet posted record gross winnings revenue for the third quarter of 2015 of ₤86 million. The company said its winnings would have been even higher if currency exchange rates had been more favorable.
Kansas Crossing Casino (l.) construction will remain on hold while a lawsuit filed by losing bidder Castle Rock Casino moves forward. Castle Rock claims Kansas officials chose the wrong developer and did not follow state law. Kansas Crossing said Castle Rock's lawsuit is "a last-ditch effort by sore losers to derail the project."
Casino industry representatives testified before the Georgia legislative study committees exploring allowing six casinos and horse racing. Some gaming execs said they would pay 20 percent tax on gross revenue instead of the proposed 12 percent if allowed to operate in Georgia. Governor Nathan Deal (l.) said he might consider it with a minimum tax rate of 25 percent.
The anti-gambling group Gambling with the Good Life hopes to derail the pro-gambling group Keep the Money in Nebraska's plans to place expanded-gambling measures on the November 2016 ballot. Last year Gambling with the Good Life's efforts led the Nebraska Supreme Court to invalidate a ballot measure allowing historic racing machines at racetracks.
Nevada casinos, residents, and NV Energy could benefit from changes in state laws requiring the utility to pay above-market prices for power produced by small solar power operators and sell it at a loss, an industry analyst suggests, adding that lower energy costs also would enable casinos to pursue alternative energy sources without the utility raising residential rates.
Union-member casino workers at Detroit's three casinos could go on strike over rising health care costs. About 6,000 casino employees recently voted to authorize a strike in advance of negotiations, but they'll remain on the job under a contract extension that expired October 16. The next bargaining session is set for November 9.
Opposition to public funding of a $2.3 billion, 10-year expansion of the Las Vegas Convention Center is coming from a familiar source—Las Vegas Sands and others. The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority are hoping for state funding to help with the daunting project, but privately owned Las Vegas Sands and MGM Resorts International, which just completed a massive convention center expansion at Mandalay Bay (l.), are wary of public funding for a direct competitor.
U.S. Bankruptcy Judge A. Benjamin Goldgar informed Caesars Entertainment Operating Company that it may sell its Harrah's Tunica Hotel & Casino in Mississippi, closed since June 2014, to TJM Properties for $3 million. Caesars cancelled an auction for the Tunica property last week after no one showed up.
Texas racetracks may have to shut down a second time as the November 30 funding deadline approaches. The Texas Racing Commission, which regulates the tracks, is functioning on a temporary budget, grudgingly bestowed by lawmakers who originally withheld operating funds as payback for commissioners approving historical racing guidelines.
Eureka Casino Resorts will retain its current leadership, but the employees will become the bosses as they take ownership of the 214-room resort in Mesquite through an employee stock ownership program. Eureka CEO Greg Lee said the move will boost retirement plans for workers and help to ensure the casino stays in operation for many more years.
Bank of New York Melon is seeking $1 million from Glenn Straub’s Polo North Inc., owners of the closed Revel Atlantic City, for unpaid electric bills. The bank also wants a $2 million letter of credit.
MGM Resorts International has thousands of empty parking spots located within a couple blocks of the new Las Vegas Arena (l.), which is slated to open in 2016, but company executives say they don’t have a parking plan in place, yet, and charging for parking might happen for the first time on the Las Vegas Strip.
New York Assembly Racing and Wagering Committee Chairman Gary Pretlow (l.) has come out against the proposed Lago Resort & Casino in Tyre, New York, and wants the state’s Gaming Commission to deny a casino gaming license for the proposed casino. The Oneida Nation also opposes the casino project, which would compete with the tribe’s current gaming monopoly in Upstate New York.
Surveying and earthmoving work has started at the site of the proposed Alon resort casino on the north end of the Las Vegas Strip, where the New Frontier Casino (l.) once stood. Alon officials have not announced specific plans, but they intend to build 26- and 17-story towers, provide more than 27,000 square feet of gaming space, and support events, restaurants, retail stores, and entertainment.
Historic racing is getting renewed attention in the West. In Idaho, Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter said he wants the machines reinstated but with stricter regulation. In Wyoming, a historic racing machine company will offer older, less slot-like games and reconfigure newer ones, so they can be allowed back into racetracks.
Gaming revenues and tourism are up in Nevada and along the Las Vegas Strip, and so are passenger arrivals via McCarran International Airport. September ended a three-month decline in gaming revenues as Nevada casinos took in $916.3 million for the month, which was up 1.5 percent from a year earlier. Increased tourism and airline travel are partly responsible for the increases.
Hard Rock International announced plans for a 220-room Hard Rock Hotel in Atlanta opening in spring 2018. Located next to the future Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the hotel will offer a rooftop and lobby lounges, heated outdoor pool and Hard Rock exclusives including the Rock Spa, Rock Shop, Body Rock and Hard Rock Café.
Two Trump casinos in Atlantic City are trying to recoup unpaid insurance claims stemming from Superstorm Sandy in 2012. That includes the former Trump Plaza (l.), which closed in 2014. Trump Entertainment says the storms impact significantly diminished the number of guests at the Plaza and Trump Taj Mahal immediately after the storm.
Las Vegas locals and visitors can use a free, downloadable app called Curb to hail rides from taxis in the Las Vegas Valley. Recently bought by Verifone, Curb has been in business for some time, but its market range is greatly expanded via Verifone, and it only is used with licensed cab companies to help ensure safe rides for passengers.
The bestbet poker room (l.) in Jacksonville, Florida has become the state's largest and highest grossing parimutuel in less than four years, raking in $15.6 million in the 2013-14 fiscal year. With a sister poker room in Orange Park, bestbet offers 113 poker tables and hosts popular promotions and World Poker Tournament events.
The Nevada High-Speed Rail Authority on November 18 will examine several proposals for a high-speed rail system connecting Las Vegas and Southern California. Thus far, Las Vegas-based XpressWest is the only qualified candidate, but several competing proposals might prove to be more compelling and gain eventual approval from Nevada officials.
UNLV and Clark County officials are working on a potential swap of Sam Boyd Stadium (l.) and its land for a 42-acre parcel and potential 55,000-seat stadium located near McCarran International Airport. Representatives for both recently met to begin work on a potential memorandum of understanding for a possible eventual property swap.
Station Casinos wants $40 million for an undeveloped and gaming-restricted parcel located on the Las Vegas Strip, about a mile south of the South Point casino. The 57-acre parcel is among several Station Casinos owns but has not developed and is looking to unload as it prepares for a planned initial public offering.
The Supreme Court is the fly in the ointment when it comes to settled tribal gaming policy. The court has consistently reversed decisions by both Congress and the administration. Rep. Tom Cole (l.) says the court doesn’t know much about Indians or Indian law.
The Seminole compact, allowing the tribe exclusive rights to blackjack in exchange for $1 billion over five years, ended October 30. The same day the state filed suit in federal court. The tribe also filed a federal lawsuit, noting the state violated the compact by allowing racetracks to offer electronic blackjack. One of the casinos owned by the tribe is the Seminole Casino Coconut Creek (l.).
The Washoe Tribe in Nevada broke ground on its planned casino on Highway 395 in Gardnerville in northern Nevada, which complements an under-construction travel plaza slated to be done in March. The tribe expects to open the casino in a year and provide 80 casino jobs along with 20 travel plaza jobs.
The Tohono O’odham tribe of Arizona is readying for the opening of its Diamond Desert Casino near Glendale, Arizona in the Phoenix Valley. Last week it accepted its first slots machines. It plans a December 20 opening.
Last year the Cherokee Nation in Oklahoma earned $930 million in gross revenue, with $640 million from gaming, some coming from its newest casino, Cherokee Casino & Hotel Roland (l.). Next year it expects earnings to exceed $950 million, said Chuck Garrett, executive vice president of Cherokee Nation Businesses. He said jobs directly tied to the tribe generated $1.55 billion for Oklahoma in 2014.
The Mashantucket Pequot Tribe of Connecticut, owners of Foxwoods Resort Casino, recently re-elected Rodney Butler (l.) to a fifth consecutive term on the tribal council and a third term as council chairman. Incumbent treasurer Jean Swift also was elected to the tribal council.
The chairwoman of Minnesota’s Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa has decided to leave her job to work for President Obama as special assistant on Native American Affairs. Karen Driver says she hopes to have a “wider impact in Indian Country,” in her new position.
Macau gaming regulator Manuel Joaquim das Neves, who is leaving the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau after 18 years, reportedly will be replaced by Assistant Prosecutor-General Paulo Martins Chan.
A former judge has been appointed to fill the seat that was vacated by a former judge on the Massachusetts Gaming Commission. Attorney General Maura Healey named retired Superior Court Judge Lloyd Macdonald to the seat vacated last week by James McHugh.
Chad Barnhill will move from his current position as senior vice president and general manager of Horseshoe Casino Baltimore to the role of general manager of Horseshoe Cincinnati.
Akwesasne Mohawk Casino Resort in Hogansburg, New York, has hired Shannon Keel as general manager. Previously she was general manager at the Reserve Casino Hotel in Central City, Colorado, and also served as vice president and general manager at the Golden Mardi Gras, Gates and Gulch Casinos in Black Hawk, Colorado.
Jeff Dahl has been named principal and co-chief executive officer at Foundation Gaming & Entertainment LLC, an affiliate of Foundation Gaming Group based in Gulfport, Mississippi. The company also announced the completion of its purchase of DiamondJacks Casino & Hotel in Vicksburg, Mississippi.
The Novomatic Group has named Fabian Grous, head of its Argentina system subsidiary, as the new managing director of its South American subsidiary, AGI Argentina.
Aristocrat has released Batman Rogues Gallery, the latest video slot based on the 1966 Batman TV series, focusing on the famous villains of the series.
Scientific Games will provide system solutions across all 28 casino sites of the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission, replacing a competitor’s system.
Parx Casino in Bensalem, Pennsylvania, launched the first live-dealer hybrid electronic blackjack system in the U.S., “ShaqJack,” in October, along with Shaquille O’Neal.
Gaming Laboratories International will relocate its laboratory in Sydney, Australia to be closer to manufacturers who have moved west of the central business district. The new space will offer 25 percent more lab floor, allowing GLI to increase its engineering staff by 30 percent.
Caesars Entertainment will expand its use of Currency Processing Solutions from Fifth Third Bank, which has allowed Caesars to lower labor costs and paperwork, minimize theft and increase capital access. Caesars first applied CPS in January 2014 and now utilizes the services at eight properties across the franchise.
Churchill Downs Inc. posted record net revenues for third quarter of $279.8 million, up 61 percent over the same period in 2014, due to the success of Big Fish Gaming, a Seattle-based online gaming company acquired last December. Big Fish's free-to-play casual division posted an increase of 158 percent in average paying users.
Novo Panamá, a subsidiary of Novomatic, has been officially licensed to provide slot machines and systems to the Panamanian market, which currently includes about 15,000 slot machines and 200 gaming tables. In 2014, gaming in Panama brought in $515.24 million with gaming tax revenue of $96.1 million.
The new Rolltech Action Bowling app allows bowlers to use verified league scores to compete in daily bowling contests for instant cash prizes. Rolltech Chief Executive Officer Rich Belsky said, " If you’ve ever thought you could bowl better than other league bowlers around the country, this is your chance to prove it."
The International Association of Gaming Regulators conference, held in Lima, Peru, attracted more than 160 delegates from 35 nations. Bheki Mlambo of South Africa, chief executive officer at the Mpumalanga Gambling Board, was inducted as president, and Dale Fuga, chief operating officer of the Liquor and Gaming Authority of Manitoba, Canada, as vice president.
May 7-9, 2024: SBC Summit North America, Meadowlands Exposition Center, Secaucus, NJ. Produced by SBC Events. For more information visit sbcevents.com.
May 14-16, 2024: Cage Conference + Connect User Conference, Gila River Resorts & Casinos Learn about new technologies that enhance profitability and network with industry leaders who have proven success in Cage, Revenue and Player Services. For more information visit skiild.com/cage-conference/.
June 3-5, 2024: SiGMA Asia, SMX Convention Center, Manila, Philippines. Produced by SiGMA Group For more information visit sigma.world/.
June 4-6, 2024: G2E Asia 2024, The Venetian Macao, Macau, SAR. Produced by RX and the American Gaming Association. For more information visit g2easia.com/.
June 18-20, 2024: Canadian Gaming Summit, Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Toronto, Canada. Produced by SBC Events. For more information visit sbcevents.com.
July 16-19, 2024: iGB L!VE 2024, RAI Amsterdam, Netherlands Produced by Clarion Gaming. For more information visit igblive.com.
