New Jersey has lost another appeal to overturn federal law and allow sports betting at the state’s casinos and racetracks. A full federal Appeals Court ruled that the state’s 2014 law attempting to allow sports betting violated the federal Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act and that the federal act itself was constitutional. Despite another setback, state officials are weighing their options to continue fighting for sports betting at the Supreme Court (above).
New compacts were signed between the state of California and 10 tribes that approach gaming revenue in different ways. In some tribes, that slot fees were altered, in others the number of slots were capped. Governor Jerry Brown (l.) approved the measures that allow tribes to increase self-sufficiency and assist the surrounding communities.
Former NBA Commissioner David Stern (l.), the man credited with building the league into the financial powerhouse it is today, has changed his mind about sports betting. He now supports legalization and will be sharing the stage at next month’s Global Gaming Expo with AGA President Geoff Freeman to tout the benefits.
U.K. bookmaker William Hill has rejected a $4.2 billion acquisition offer from 888 Holdings and Rank Group saying the bid undervalues the company. The bid included shares in a new company formed to make the acquisition, William Hill said.
Yuriko Koike (l.), the new governor of Tokyo and the first woman to hold the position, agrees with the country’s Liberal Democratic Party that a casino in the Japanese capital could be good for the local economy. Tokyo’s previous governor did not support an integrated resort in the city.
Both sides in the debate over whether New Jersey should expand casinos outside of Atlantic City are pointing to the announced closing of the Trump Taj Mahal (l.) casino as bolstering their case. Proponents say the closing shows the state has to continue trying to compete with other state’s casino industries, while opponents say the closing shows how fragile Atlantic City’s casino market still is. Meanwhile, the Taj officially filed notice with New Jersey that it will lay off nearly 3,000 workers starting October 10.
David Baazov (l.) has severed all ties with the Amaya, the company he founded. Baazov took a leave of absence in March when Quebec authorities launched an investigation into financial irregularities and possible insider trading. Interim CEO Rafi Ashkenazi will now be permanent.
Atlantic City’s Golden Nugget will be the first U.S. iGaming site to offer a live dealer. The casino will offer blackjack, roulette and a version of baccarat on its GoldenNuggetCasino.com website.
The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation is again seeking an operator for the Rideau Carleton Raceway's (l.) expanded gaming facility in Ottawa. OLG began the process in November 2012 but cancelled it in December 2015. Spokesman Tony Bitonti said the agency received "good responses" to the RFPQ. No date has been set for the final step.
Philippine gaming regulator PAGCOR will let casino operator PhilWeb Corp.’s license terminate without renewal. The development is part of an anti-gaming campaign undertaken by new President Rodrigo Duterte.
South Korea’s minority opposition People’s Party wants a second casino in the country to accept South Korean nationals. Currently, residents are allowed to gamble only at one of 17 gaming halls, Kangwonland (l.).
Two casino resorts in Myanmar are on a government watch list. Though casinos are illegal in the country, the Grand Andaman and Victoria Entertainment resorts have been operational since the 1990s.
After 26 consecutive months of decline, analysts say Macau’s gaming industry could see the lowest drop in several years, 0.5 percent year-on-year in August. The catastrophic downturn began in June 2014. MGM Cotai says it is ignoring the VIP market and opening with mass-market tables, says CEO Grant Bowie (l.).
Vuong Dinh Hue (l.), the deputy prime minister of Vietnam, has asked the Ministry of Finance to fine-tune draft rules on horse and dog racing and international football betting and submit them to the government this week.
Marina Bays Sands, one of two casinos in Singapore, narrowly missed being attacked by terrorists, say Indonesian police. Six suspects reportedly planned a rocket attack on the area, home of Sheldon Adelson’s resort.
Could casino titan James Packer (l.) be planning to bail out of his investments in Macau? One industry analyst says that may be the Australian billionaire’s next big move.
The bank that helped tens of millions of dollars leave Bangladesh’s central bank and disappear into two casinos in the Philippines has been fined more than $21 million. The massive cyber-theft scandalized both governments and the Philippine casino industry.
Two of three bidders vying for a casino license in the Republic of Cyprus are having a hard time locating potential development sites as the deadline for proposals looms. Hard Rock and its Cyprus partners object since they already have their parcel set up.
Betfred and Jenningsbet, London-area bookmakers, may keep their licenses although both let a 15-year old play slots. The betting parlors could have been forced to close, but the Hounslow Council let them remain open under certain conditions. An undercover operation involving police cadets found 12 out of 22 betting shops allowed underage gambling.
The Irish sports betting giant says it will bid £100 million for hundreds of Ladbrokes-Coral betting shops in Britain. The UK government is forcing the sale on Ladbrokes-Coral to satisfy competition concerns after the two complete their merger.
Not only will the country’s very restricted gaming market not expand, it’s likely to get even smaller, according to leaders from the Finance and Justice ministries. They recently spoke in favor of a government report advocating more limits and higher taxes on the industry, according to Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon (l.).
Australian entrepreneur James Packer and legendary actor Robert De Niro (l.) are investing $250 million to develop a casino on Barbuda. They’ll name their proposed casino resort Paradise Found, which would include a casino, 50 cottages and villas, plus six more located over the water.
A higher standard of living and an appetite for gambling has led to a casino boom in Africa, according to a report. South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya all have casinos.
More than 5,500 employees at Crown Melbourne have reportedly turned thumbs-down on a proposed 2.75 percent pay raise. They want more pay for late-night shifts on weekends and at least a 5 percent pay increase per year.
Whether California will legalize iPoker this term will be decided soon. The issue is coming down to the wire in the Assembly—and if it passes there, its chances are dicey in the Senate. Agua Caliente Chairman Jeff Grubbe (l.) is a strong lobbyist for the iPoker bill.
Bovada Poker, the most notorious international online poker site that accepts U.S. players, has been purchased by Ignition Casino. The move comes as a surprise to most industry observers, though there are strong similarities between the two companies including the use of the same poker software.
Antigua and Barbuda are reportedly again trying to settles its case challenging U.S. law that restrict U.S. gamblers from paying on the nation’s online sites. Officials, however, say the U.S. still is not making a serious attempt to settle the matter.
Penn National Gaming loves the synergies between online social gaming and its sizable portfolio of land-based casinos and expects they’ll increase with the company’s recent $60 million purchase of Rocket Games.
Boyd Gaming is delving into remote betting with a mobile sports and race app. Players have to be in Nevada to use B Connected Race & Sports, as the site is titled, but they will have access to races at tracks nationwide.
Former PokerStars pro player Marcel Luske (l.) in Nevada’s Clark County District Court says PokerStars strung him along to get his International Poker Rules. He says PokerStars copied them and presented them as its own PSLive rules, and then fired him from its poker team. He accuses PokerStars of fraud and demands more than $10,000 in damages.
Lobbying efforts by daily fantasy sports sites DraftKings and FanDuel in New York topped $800,000. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has signed a bill legalizing DFS in the state, ending the industry’s most high profile battle for legitimacy.
After many delays, most of them caused by lawsuits from foes of its Wynn Boston Harbor, Wynn Resorts has begun work in earnest on its casino resort along the Mystic River. The $2.1 billion casino is due to open in 2019. And Stephen Crosby (l.), the chairman of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, says a fully mature state gaming industry should spin off $300 million annually for the state.
American Gaming Association President and CEO Geoff Freeman says Pennsylvania’s plan to increase its table games tax y 15 percent will stifle the state’s gaming industry, and reduce benefits for players. Instead, he suggests the state develop new gaming revenues. Meanwhile, a former New York gaming official says Governor Andrew Cuomo should release control of the New York Racing Association.
The Bali Hai golf course (l.) near McCarran International Airport has emerged as another potential candidate for a 65,000-seat stadium in Las Vegas. Developer Billy Walters owns the lease and says he’s willing to sell it. The property would have partial restrictions due to its close proximity to the airport.
A consortium led by racing and gaming giant Churchill Downs is buying Maryland’s Ocean Downs harness track and racino for an undisclosed sum. The state’s other harness course, Rosecroft Raceway (l.), is also changing hands, moving from Penn National Gaming to the Stronach Group.
Ohio casino revenues in July increased in Toledo, Cincinnati, and Columbus, while the Hard Rock Rocksino had its best month since opening. The Hard Rocksino Northfield Park (l.) took in $20.6 million in July, which was its best monthly total since it opened in December 2013, the Ohio Casino Control Commission reported. That led all Ohio casinos, which combined for $66 million in gaming revenues in July.
Election officials in Nebraska's three largest counties indicated the pro-casino group Keep the Money in Nebraska may not have collected enough valid signatures to put a gambling constitutional amendment on the November ballot. The group collected 130,000-plus signatures, 9 percent more than required.
After defeats in 2010 and 2012 to develop a privately owned casino in Oregon, Matt Rossman and Bruce Studer of R & S Strategy Group are trying again. They reached an agreement with owners of a 33-acre property near Wood Village, and hope to place the issue on the 2018 ballot.
“As sad as that situation is in Florida," the Zika outbreak may be benefiting Las Vegas, said MGM Resorts International Chief Executive Officer Jim Murren. He noted JetBlue officials said more passengers are flying to Las Vegas and fewer to Florida. Asian and business travelers and tourists from the Southwest also are driving the summer surge.
South Florida's eight casinos at horse and dog racetracks and jai-alai fronton took in $537 million in slots revenue in the recently ended fiscal year, up 3 percent from $521 million the previous year. At a tax rate of 35 percent, they paid Florida $187.9 million in slot taxes, beating the 2014-2015 record of $182.5 million. Gulfstream Park Racing & Casino (l.) dropped a small percentage.
James Murren (l.), CEO of MGM Resorts International, said the new MGM National Harbor casino opening in Maryland has seen a large number of job applications from Atlantic City casino workers. His statement came just as it was announced that Atlantic City’s Trump Taj Mahal casino would close in October. MGM recently acquired Atlantic City’s Borgata Casino Hotel and scheduled a job fair for MGM Harbor at Borgata.
Gaming and Leisure Properties ‘(GLPI) first report to investors fell short of its expectations, with $207 million in net revenues for the second quarter, which is $4 million less than projected. It also reported an adjusted EBITDA of $180 million, and 39 cents per share in earnings. Las Vegas-based Pinnacle Gaming reported a 2.7 decline in net revenues of $566.2 million for the second quarter, down from $582 million last year.
The landmark El San Juan Hotel & Casino in the Isla Verde District of Puerto Rico is closed while undergoing a transformation estimated to cost up to $40 million. Planned renovations include improving guestrooms, bars and restaurants, entertainment and events spaces, and fitness and spa facilities, and the resort’s three pool areas.
The CBRE Group is marketing a 25.5-acre parcel that once was the site of the now-demolished Castaways Hotel and Casino (originally the Showboat) in Las Vegas. Station Casinos obtained the property for $33.75 million in 2004 and razed it about a year later. Station Casinos at the time said it was evaluating its options with the property, which no longer was viable in its state of condition after 50 years in business.
As the final steel beam was placed at Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel, under construction in Pittsburg, Kansas, lead developer Bruce Christenson saluted "the start of the finish" at the $80 million development. It's set to open in March 2017, offering 625 slots and 16 table games, plus a 123-suite hotel.
Urbana, Illinois officials recently approved two new gambling licenses and renewed three, for a city wide total of nine. Earlier Alderman Dennis Roberts proposed a gambling-license moratorium, stating, "We're going to have a gaming hall available for every 4,583 residents in Urbana." But Mayor Laurel Prussing noted gambling now is regulated and taxed.
As its casino turns three years old, historic Hialeah Park Racing and Casino in Hialeah, Florida will hold a 3-day celebration starting August 19. The once-shuttered venue now is a thriving entertainment center offering concerts and special events besides racing and gambling. Latin Grammy award-winner Willy Chirino will kick off the festivities on Friday.
In Jefferson, Iowa, the Wild Rose Casino recently marked its one-year anniversary. Developer Gary Kirke, who also built the Wild Rose Casino in Emmettsburg, noted 75 percent of Iowa voters approved the Jefferson location. Casino figures show 500,000 people visited in the past year and 25,000 attended shows, concerts, meetings and conventions.
MGM Resorts last week released documents that it obtained in a Freedom of Information Request that lifts the rock to reveal the inner workings of the Connecticut Airport Authority as it last year tried to sell the idea of an Indian casino at Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks. MGM is crying foul on the process, while the CAA says it did nothing wrong.
Arizona Gaming Director Daniel Bergin has long fought the Tohono O'odham's Class II Glendale casino (Desert Diamond West, l.) , which opened last year. Bergin wrote to competing casino operators Gila River Tribe regarding his office's denial of the Tohono's request for Class III gaming. The Tohonos want a look at that letter—and Campbell told Bergin, do it.
A federal judge’s decision that the Interior’s decision to place 151 acres into trust for the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe in Massachusetts was in error has not dissuaded the project’s financial backer Genting from backing out. And the town of Taunton remains solidly committed as well to Project First Light (l.).
California’s card rooms and gaming tribes are battling over a rule that each group says costs it money if it is interpreted wrong. For the card clubs, the interpretation of a rule governing when the dealership is passed in card games is an existential threat. For tribes it’s a matter of principle. And, of course, money.
The 2014 mass disenrollment of 66 Grand Ronde Tribe descendants recently was revered by the Grand Ronde Tribal Court of Appeals. The descendants trace their lineage to Chief Tumulth, who signed the 1855 Treaty with the Kalapuya, leading to the establishment of the Grand Ronde Reservation in Oregon.
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Tampa, Florida now charges $10 to park after 30 minutes. A spokesperson said the property will add officers and improve garage lighting. The fee is waived for hotel guests, Elite and X card members and visitors who spend at least $50 at the restaurants, spa and shops.
A tribe based in Northern California, the Tule River Tribe, wants to move the casino it first opened 20 years ago. It has announced plans to move Eagle Mountain Casino about 20 miles to Porterville, and build a hotel and convention center.
One of California’s biggest casinos is about to get bigger with the addition of a new casino hotel. The Graton Resort and Casino, owned by California’s Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, will open its $175 million casino hotel in November.
The federal government last week gave permission to the North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians to open their off-reservation casino Madera County. The decision overturns an election held in 2014 when 61 percent of the state’s voters turned thumbs down on the casino.
Harrah’s So Cal Resort in San Diego, owned by the Rincon Band of Mission Indians, has begun a $14 million construction that includes the addition of the first tribal brewery in the area, new guest rooms and more dining. The addition continues the $160 million renovation that was unveiled in 2014.
The Seneca Nation’s $40 million Buffalo Creek Casino expansion is proceeding as planned in Buffalo’s historic Cobblestone District. City officials hope the expanded gaming operations will generate an addition $6 million in annual revenue sharing income. Meanwhile, Rochester officials rejected an anti-casino petition.
Alabama Governor Robert Bentley called a special legislative session starting August 15 to consider a statewide lottery that would raise $225 million annually for the state's general fund. State Senator Jim McClendon will carry Bentley's legislation and also introduce a measure to allow a lottery plus electronic games.
New Mexicans now can purchase lottery tickets at gas pumps, although state law requires all lottery tickets to be bought with cash or a check only—not credit cards. Several state lawmakers signed a letter claiming the New Mexico Lottery launched the program without legislative approval.
The Australasian Gaming Expo reported a record 250 exhibitors turned out for the annual trade show in Sydney. That’s a 25 percent increase over 2015, show organizers say, and a sizable portion of them were exhibiting for the first time.
Gaming Laboratories International is inviting officials from across the region to a gathering in Curacao for discussion and training on a variety of key issues. Seminars will cover everything from the latest regulatory tools to internal controls and information security, and iGaming and sports betting to AML and responsible gaming.
The Saratoga Institute on Equine, Racing and Gaming Law last week honored James Maida, the president and CEO of Gaming Laboratories International, with a lifetime achievement award, recognizing his service to the industry and to the community.
Former SkyCity Entertainment CEO Nigel Morrison, who resigned suddenly April 29, walked away with enough to tide him over—a reported $2.3 million in compensation and long-term incentive shares.
Social gaming giant Zynga has named a former key executive from Electronic Arts to head up operations. Matt Bromberg will oversee business development and strategy, technology, IT, data science, visual design and the company’s game studio in India.
Jamison Hill, a 25-year gaming industry veteran in both sales and operations, recently joined Chicago-based Incredible Technologies as central sales director. Hill will manage sales in Oklahoma and other central states plus the company's relationships in other Indian gaming jurisdictions. He comes to IT from Aruze Gaming America.
Rational Group's online sportsbook brand, BetStars, recently named Zeno Osskó managing director. Previously he worked for 10 years at the German gaming company mybet Casino, where he was named chief executive officer in 2015. Rational Group also operates the PokerStars.com online poker brand.
Looking to leverage the popularity of the film franchise, Aristocrat timed the recent Las Vegas debut of its Sharkanado game to coincide with the opening of “Sharkanado 4” in theaters in the city. The game also will be showcased at next month’s Global Gaming Expo.
The Australian slots and systems giant has developed a new cabinet and a suite of games specifically for the Latin American markets. To get the word out the company will unveil them at a special gathering of casino operators in Puerto Rico.
Caesars Entertainment is diverting 44 percent of its waste, which is nearly double its 23 percent diversion rate in 2013, and nearing its goal of 50 percent diversion. It hired waste consultant Ecova to help reduce its total waste and carefully is measuring its waste products. It also is double-checking its trash before letting it go to a landfill to ensure nothing is sent that could be diverted elsewhere.
While on an economic junket in Australia, Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval, UNLV International Gaming Institute Director Bo Bernhard, and the University of Sydney’s Alex Blaszczynski signed a memorandum of understanding to study the effects of online gaming on consumer behavior. Meanwhile, Australia is cracking down on online terrorism financing via Bitcoin and other digital tools.
