Hopes that two southern states with high hopes to expand gaming were shot down laste week. After a Florida House committee presented a 122-page gambling proposal significantly altering the proposed Seminole compact, the Senate Appropriations Committee stalled and essentially killed any gambling measures for this session. And when Georgia House Speaker David Ralston (l.) postponed a vote on legislation that would have allowed up to four casinos, including two in Atlanta, the measure effectively died for this session.
Speculation continues about the operators who are first in line for a Cyprus casino license. To date, the bidders have not been identified, but reports say the short list includes Hard Rock and Melco International, which have already partnered on the Hard Rock in Macau’s City of Dreams development (l.); Philippine operator Bloomberry; and Cambodia’s NagaCorp.
Japan’s long-delayed casino bill, which some industry observers thought was on track for passage in late 2016, seems to have stalled again. In January, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party announced that the Integrated Resorts Promotion bill will not be considered during the current legislative session, and according to Mikio Tanji (l.), an expert observer of the Japanese gaming process, it may not return until 2019 at the earliest.
A tribal attorney, Gabe Galanda (l.), has accused the National Indian Gaming Commission of not doing its job to discourage tribes from disenrolling members just to increase their per capita payments from profits from gaming.
As the government of Israel considers casinos for the resort town of Eilat, as proposed by Tourism Minister Yariv Levin (l.), some news outlets are reporting the project is already dead in the water, though feasibility studies indicate the project could pull in up to US$500 million within several years of operation.
The Simon Property partnership agreed to pay MGM Resorts International $1.13 billion for the 500,000-square-foot the Shops at Crystals at the CityCenter in Las Vegas, the Real Estate Trust tip service reported March 2. The proposed sale comes as MGM looks to offer a REIT, and the Crystals has room to grow after the recent removal of the Harmon tower.
Shifting alliances in the political battle over whether to legalize online poker in California has caused the United Auburn Indian Community to change sides and join the coalition that supports allowing PokerStars a place at the table, which includes several cardrooms like the Bicycle Club (l.). The tribe has previously changed sides twice before.
The Trump Hotel Las Vegas might have a $100 million casino project get underway sometime in the next year, as Treasure Island casino owner Phil Ruffin, also a close friend of the Trump family, works with Eric Trump to make the plan a reality, with Ruffin and Trump being equal partners in the venture.
The luxury Louis XIII Hotel, slated to open this year in Macau, has chosen a seemingly counterintuitive name: Louis XIII Co-Chairman Stephen Hung has announced the hotel will be known as “the 13,” and explained that 13 is his lucky number.
This week, the GGB Podcast features a discussion with Walter Bugno, the CEO of the international division of IGT, discussing the recently completed buyout by GTECH and how IGT products are appealing to the international market.
Thanks to an increase in visitation during the Chinese New Year holiday, Macau saw its best month since the recession began in June 2014. The year-on-year numbers were still down, but only by 1 percent, the smallest drop in 21 months.
Credit rating agency Moody’s Investors Service predicts that Asian casino operator Melco Crown Entertainment will stagnate for the near term, with “material improvements … unlikely” in the coming year to 18 months due to the ongoing ramp up of Studio City Macau (l.).
IH Group has announced it will develop a $10 billion casino resort on Rota in the Northern Marianas. If approved, the casino hotel is expected to begin construction sometime next year. The resort will open in phases and ultimately include a shopping district and cruise ship.
The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. is looking at allegations of money laundering involving three casinos in the Southeast Asian country. Over the course of just a few days, a reported $100M was processed through the national banking system and then sent overseas.
A gaming tribe known for its huge casino in Connecticut, the Mohegan tribe, is branching off and has won a bid to build a $1.2 billion casino resort in South Korea. Its partner is KCC Corp. The tribe’s gaming division head Bobby Soper (l.) took time to revel in the win.
The Commission against Corruption in Macau has launched an investigation into Ho Chio Meng (l.), chief prosecutor in the jurisdiction until 2014, in what a local publication described as “the most high-profile graft case” in a decade.
The owners of the Tinian Dynasty Hotel & Casino (l.) in the Northern Mariana Islands agreed to forfeit more than $3 million to settle U.S. money-laundering claims. The casino agreed to pay $536,969.12, in addition to a court-ordered $2.5 million forfeiture, to end a money-laundering investigation and settle claims of Bank Secrecy Act violations.
Because it admits locals, Kangwon Land Company (l.), located in a remote former mining region three hours east of Seoul, dominates the South Korea's gambling market, generating $1.33 billion, about half of the nation's gaming revenue, last year. Revenues at other South Korean and Asian casinos fell because of China's crackdown on graft.
The Singaporean regulator who led the Casino Regulatory Authority for its first seven year, and retired last year, looks on the agency he crafted and finds it good. Richard Magnus (l.) thinks that his former agency is working very well.
Novomatic Group and Sazka Group are forming a joint venture that will control the Austrian casino and lottery operator Casinos Austria. The company has properties outside of Austria, as well. At left is the Corinthian Club in Glasgow, Scotland.
A statement on the Moscow government website acknowledges that a group of anti-gaming activists are at work to detect and report illegal gambling and other offenses. The vigilantes have no legal authority but may “accompany security forces in their raids.” Moscow casinos like the Metaluna (l.) were closed in 2011.
Multinational gaming operators and manufacturers are taking note as the Brazilian National Congress resumes discussions on legal gaming in the country. Brazil is considering the addition of legal casinos, betting shops and “jogo de bicho,” or bingo (l.).
James Packer’s Crown Resorts has announced that the company’s long-awaited Barangaroo casino (l.) could be delayed even further. The VIP-only resort was originally slated to open in 2019. Now it may be 2020 or even later.
Clubs Australia says Aquis Entertainment’s request for pokies at its Casino Canberra is based on disingenuous reasoning. Aquis wants to install 500 pokies and claims the machines will attract Asian high-rollers. Clubs insists the casino is really going after locals.
Two companies that wanted to merge to build a casino in South Africa were prevented by anti-monopoly concerns. Now one of them, Sun International, wants a R675 million settlement.
A routine traffic stop last year indicates money laundering could be a significant problem at British Columbia casinos, after the RCMP stopped and arrested an alleged drug dealer, seizing his $45,000 car, nearly $30,000 in cash, a casino check, and crack cocaine. The RCMP says the man laundered money at B.C. casinos for at least a year.
According to online reports, Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in Atlantic City will replace bwin.party as its poker provider with Pala Interactive. A report in eGaming Review said that GVC Holdings acquisition of bwin.party has caused problems with the company’s New Jersey license, though the company has been granted a temporary waiver to continue operating. That has led to reports that Pala Interactive—which operates another online site in the state in partnership with Borgata—may be named as Borgata’s poker provider.
An opinion by the Georgia Attorney general’s office that daily fantasy sports are not legal under that state’s laws caused the Georgia state Senate to delay taking action on a DFS bill introduced by Senator Renee Unterman (l.). Meanwhile, an industry analysis said the two largest DFS sites—FanDuel and DraftKings—took in $3 billion from players in 2015.
Amaya, parent of PokerStars, is appealing a Kentucky judge's $870 million ruling against the company. It also wants previous PokerStars owner Rational Group to pay $300 million toward the Kentucky ruling, based on an agreement requiring Rational Group to establish an escrow fund for prior outstanding legal issues.
Tabcorp CEO David Attenborough (l.) discussed plans for the company to launch Sun Bets in the U.K. in partnership with Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation in the coming months. Attenborough highlighted the partnership between the online site and the UK’s the Sun newspaper.
The U.K. Gambling Commission has criticized Paddy Power for “serious failings” in anti-money laundering protections. The bookmaker has agreed to contribute £280,000 to socially responsible causes in the face of a number of incidents where the company failed to protect customers.
Two former executives of bwin.party digital entertainment are facing bribery charges over a failed bid for a Turkish sports betting license. Norbert Teufelberger (l.) and Manfred Bodner are among eight people facing charges of corruption, money laundering and breach of trust relating to bwin’s failed attempts to obtain a Turkish gambling license in 2007.
The results of a poll leaked by the Australian say voters in the Land Down Under don’t want online gaming laws opened up to include in-play bets. A reported 35 percent of voters say they would not be likely to vote for Coalition Party candidates who want to liberalize the laws.
Inspired has launched a Virtual Sports product with Admiral Interactive in Italy. Admiral is part of the Novomatic Group and has over 50 shops across Italy.
Dutch gambling regulator Kansspelautoriteit has released guidance notes towards national advertising and marketing standards that bar unlicensed sites from advertising in the country.
Jackpot Mobile Casino announced that it is adding online gambling titles developed by Microgaming. The casino currently features games by other providers of content for the industry such as NEKTAN, NetEnt, and NYX Gaming.
The U.K. Gambling Commission has released a report on online gambling. Among the findings, Participation in gambling has fallen from 57 percent in 2012 to 45 percent in 2015.
The Massachusetts Gaming Commission held a hearing this week on the proposal by Mass Gaming & Entertainment for a $677 million casino resort (l.) on the Brockton Fairgrounds. The casino would have 92,000 square feet of gaming floor, 2,100 slots, 124 tables, and a 250-room hotel.
The Rhode Island legislature this week approved of letting voters decide whether Twin River Management Group can move its casino from Newport (l.) to Tiverton, a small town near the Massachusetts state line. Governor Gina Raimondo signed the bill.
Billionaire investor Carl Icahn has said he will not invest $100 million into his recently acquired Atlantic City casino the Trump Taj Mahal (l.) as planned if New Jersey goes forward with plans to allow new casino construction in the northern part of the state. Icahn says the plan will devastate the Atlantic City market.
Service union UNITE HERE says a proposed $4.75 billion casino sale would give buyer Gaming and Leisure Properties too many casinos in Indiana, where state law limits ownership to no more than two in the Hoosier State. The two Indiana casinos are among 14 Pinnacle Entertainment agreed to sell, but lease back and continue to run.
Australian billionaire James Packer’s vision for the Alon Las Vegas (l.) casino is on hold due to poor debt markets making it too difficult to obtain debt financing, Packer told the Sydney Morning Herald. Packer’s Crown Gaming is looking for $1 billion in financing for the $2 billion casino, but says he’s willing to wait until market conditions improve.
A controversial tip pooling system remains active at the Wynn Las Vegas and Encore casinos, despite a recent ruling against it by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. Wynn Resorts might appeal the ruling to the full appellate court or to the U.S. Supreme Court, and the federal complaint by its card dealers also remains active.
West Virginia lawmakers are considering a controversial measure that would allow racetracks to eliminate live racing but keep their video gaming operations and licenses (Mountaineer Park at left). Proponents say separating them would boost economic activity, while others say it would harm the state’s racing and breeding industries and already is by creating uncertainty that is forcing breeders to move to other states.
Billionaire Phil Ruffin hopes to reopen the Woodlands racetrack, which he purchased last summer as a racino, but said he won't do it unless the Kansas legislature changes the tax rates. Protect the Partnership, a coalition of business and civic leaders, opposes tax changes and said that would hurt Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway.
New Jersey Assembly Leader Vincent Prieto (l.) has come out against a plan for a state takeover of Atlantic City. Prieto opposes a move to allow the state to dissolve the city’s union contracts. However, Prieto did signal that he is open to a takeover if union rights are protected. Meanwhile, a state agency released a memo saying that the state already has control over most of the city’s finances regardless of the takeover bill.
Motor sports, NCAA hoops, and many large conventions should make March a very bountiful month on the Las Vegas Strip, with visitors expected to pump more than $216 million into the local economy just from conventions and trade shows, according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, as the city is poised to break visitation records.
January gaming revenues were generally poor when compared to a year earlier in Nevada, with casinos reporting a 2.8 percent decline in gaming revenues statewide. Casinos on the Las Vegas Strip posted a 7.7 percent decline in revenues for the month, but Downtown Las Vegas casinos posted an 8.8 percent gain.
Year-round off-track betting is a near certainty at the Maryland State Fairgrounds (l.), after the Maryland Jockey Club assured local officials and residents that the club not only has no plans to open a casino operations at the fairgrounds, but the Jockey Club “loathes” casino gaming and will have nothing to do with it.
Local officials say a monorail would help to alleviate pedestrian and vehicle traffic along the Las Vegas Strip, make it easier for visitors to get to their hotels from the airport, produce zero emissions, and likely generate enough revenue to cover its costs. A monorail also would help to convey attendees to and from the Las Vegas Convention Center, which is undergoing a $2.3 billion upgrade.
A proposed ballot initiative would end Nevada’s regulated electricity monopoly and make it possible for Nevada casinos to stop buying electricity from NV Energy, which is the state’s largest utility, without paying nearly $127 million in exit fees. An unnamed group with unknown backing filed paperwork to circulate petitions in hopes of having the measure on the November ballot.
A Washington county and the Cowlitz Indian Tribe are battling over jurisdiction. Tribal Chairman Bill Iyall (l.) claims it can inject treated water into the aquifer on land where it is building a casino. Clark County claims the tribe signed away that right when it promised to obey county planning regulations.
The Quapaw Tribe sued Kansas in January, claiming the state failed to negotiate a compact in good faith, allowing the tribe to use land it owns adjacent to its Downstream Casino in Oklahoma for a casino. But the stated cited sovereign immunity, forcing the Quapaws to agree to dismiss.
Ho-Chunk Gaming Madison (l.) officials have requested a liquor license, which would make the casino the largest entertainment facility in Madison, Wisconsin with a full liquor license. Tribal and city officials also are discussing possible uses for48 acres the tribe owns next to the casino, including a hotel, tribal cultural center and sports complex.
A tribe in southeastern Arizona has broken ground on the Apache Sky casino, a small facility near Dudleyville. The San Carlos Apache Nation will build it.
A Sacramento casino, Thunder Valley Casino Resort, has announced the addition of 111 luxury rooms and suites to its existing hotel over the next 18 months. The new rooms and renovations will address higher weekend occupancy during the summer.
Patience is likely to reward the North Fork Mono Rancheria Indians in Northern California, who, despite seeing their gaming compact with the state shot down in flames by the voters more than a year ago, expect to break ground on a casino soon.
Alabama is one of six states without a lottery. State Senator Trip Pittman has proposed a bill allowing the state join multi-state lottery games like Powerball and Mega Millions to generate an estimated $53 million annually. The Senate Tourism and Marketing Committee debated Pittman's bill but didn't vote on it.
The Akali-BJP government in Punjab, India has increased the daily draw limit by six, from 42 to 48 drawings for state lottery operators. The government may also allow betting on overseas horse races, according to reports. And in Nagaland, the government is considering legalizing skill games.
888 holdings has announced the appointment of Itai Frieberger as chief executive officer of the company. Frieberger has been chief operating officer of 888 since 2011, and replaces Brian Mattingley, who moves up to non-executive chairman.
Zynga Inc. Chairman and co-founder Mark Pincus is stepping down as chief executive officer for a second time, this time to be replaced by board member Frank Gibeau.
Innovative Technology announced two appointments to its board of directors—John Robinson as development director, Matthew Strong as technology director.
Scientific Games Corporation announced that while the company experienced a net loss for the fourth quarter and year, costs and debt were down significantly.
The Cherokee Nation will bring VGT Class II games to a total of nine casino locations in northeast Oklahoma, and the Creek Nation will add Aristocrat systems and VGT games.
Tutor Perini Building Corp., a longtime building partner, has been chosen by Pechanga Resort and Casino in Southern California to oversee its $285 million expansion.
Paradise Entertainment is setting up sales and distribution in the U.S. and Australia through companies controlled by the brother-in-law of the company’s chairman, Jay Chun (l.).
Foxwoods Rewards members who play slots at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut now will enjoy daily bonusing perks through the new FoxPerx program, powered by TransAct Technologies' Epicentral Promotion and Bonusing System. Players use their loyalty card to receive bonuses for cash prizes or Foxwoods gift cards every few minutes.
The son of longtime Beatles record producer Sir George Martin helped to design a reworked The Beatles Love show at the Mirage in Las Vegas, which debuted February 25 with a vibrant new experience for fans. The Beatles Love has been one of the most popular attractions on the Las Vegas Strip and consistently rates as the most popular Cirque show in Sin City.
AAA recently bestowed its Four Diamond rating upon the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Sioux City, Iowa, based on an unannounced evaluation last year. The award considers 27 criteria, from overall amenities to service to facilities. The Hard Rock is the fourth hotel in Iowa to earn the coveted award.
