The boards of directors of both William Hill and Amaya have confirmed a report by Reuters last week that the betting giants are in talks about merging the companies. The deal would be a reverse merger in an all-stock deal by the smaller William Hill. Reuters also said that former Amaya Chairman David Baazov is no longer interested in a private buyout of his former company.
The gaming-rich Seminole tribe has brought the famed brand’s entire global portfolio under its flagship Hard Rock International―including 27 hotels and 15 casinos, including Hard Rock Sioux City―everything but the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. The announcement was preceded on a somber note by a vote of the tribal council to fire longtime Chairman James E. Billie.
Is Japan’s on-again, off-again casino bill back on? According to reports, a group of lawmakers have confirmed a plan that could have the legislation passed during the current Diet session. The appointment of gaming supporter Toshihiro Nikai (l.) as head of the Liberal Democratic Party is a good sign.
MGM Resorts International Chairman and Chief Executive Officer James Murren (l.) recently revisited Atlanta to make a pitch for a $1 billion-plus downtown destination casino. The next day Wynn Resorts announced it had retained a lobbying firm to join the legalization efforts. Last year the Georgia legislature rejected a measure to allow four casinos, including two in Atlanta.
San Diego County will host another Indian Casino this month. The $460 million Hollywood Casino Jamul will open on the tiny Jamul Indian Village October 10. Local opposition and federal red tape have delayed the opening.
Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval (l.) called lawmakers into a special session this week to obtain their approval to spend $750 million in public money to help fund a stadium for the NFL’s Oakland Raiders, who want to move to Las Vegas. Supporters say the stadium will pay massive economic dividends. Critics say those projections are far too optimistic, while one of the partners in the deal, Majestic Realty Co., pulled out of the plan.
State and local lawmakers and community groups joined Philadelphia casino executives at the SugarHouse Casino in a roundtable discussion of the benefits and future of gaming in the Philadelphia region. AGA President Geoff Freeman (center) led a panel that included tourism and gaming officials, state legislators and U.S. Rep. Pat Meehan.
The Washington State Gambling Commission has become the first regulatory agency in the U.S. to step into the controversy over online “skins” betting in video games. Commission Chairman Chris Stearns (l.) has warned game maker Valve Corp.—which is headquartered in the state—to stop supporting sites that allow for the betting of virtual items from its video games. The worldwide betting of such “skins” is seen as a potential unregulated, billion-dollar black market.
The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. (OLG) expects to announce the providers for several “casino bundles” early next year. The OLG is seeking to modernize the provinces casinos.
The sole bidder for a gaming license in the Republic of Cyprus will not stint on its investment in the jurisdiction. The partnership of Melco International and Hard Rock promises to exceed expectations.
This week the GGB Podcast features a discuss about eSports with Chris Grove, who is a partner in Naruscope, which is producing a conference on the subject at the SLS in Las Vegas October 25 & 26.
Gaming revenues in Macau exceeded expectations for September as new resorts on the Cotai Strip brought back the players. GGR was up 7.4 percent for the month, totaling MOP18.4 billion (US$2.3 billion). Galaxy Entertainment Chairman Lui Che Woo (l.) says Macau can now “see the bottom.”
A Singapore arbitration tribunal has ruled that casino management company Global Gaming Philippines, led by former Las Vegas Sands President Bill Weidner (l.), was unfairly forced out of its management role at Philippines-based Solaire Resorts & Casino.
South Korea’s Paradise Co. Ltd. reports that table game sales were up 21.7 percent for September. With gaming machine revenues down 7.8 percent, that meant an overall boost in sales of 19 percent. Paradise runs Seoul’s Walkerhill Hotel & Casino (l.), and four other foreigners-only casinos.
Genting Malaysia has unloaded its 16.87 percent stake in a sister company, cruise line operator Genting Hong Kong, for about $415 million, at the lowest permissible price. The buyer is a company controlled by Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay (l.), who also controls the Genting empire.
The former owner of the Savan Vegas Hotel and Casino (l.) in Laos continues to challenge a sale of the property. Sanum Investments of Macau just scored a win in its fight with the Laotian government.
Las Vegas sportsbook operator CG Technology will pay $22.5 million to the U.S. government for its role in an illegal gambling and money laundering scheme. The company is the sports betting affiliate of financial firm Cantor Fitzgerald. CG Technology admitted violating law by accepting messenger betting, out-of-state betting and by laundering money.
The Kahnawake Gaming Commission’s recent deal with New Jersey regulators to block U.S. gamblers from betting through its data center was done to increase the commission’s status as a gambling regulator, tribal officials said. The commission also hopes that the relationship can be expanded to other U.S. jurisdictions.
A group of citizens backed by an anti-gambling government reform group have filed a lawsuit against the New York’s gaming commission over the state’s new daily fantasy sports law and regulations. The suit charges that the law incorrectly categorizes DFS as a game of skill, and not a game of chance subject to state gaming laws and that it unconstitutionally expands gaming in the state.
With the fate of an online gaming bill still up in the air in Pennsylvania, Gaming analysts Gambling Compliance issues a report saying the state could lose more than $100 million in licensing fees, and based on Gambling Compliance’s figures, up to $32.5 million in first-year tax revenue.
Singapore regulators announced they will allow limited online betting in controlled conditions, easing a total ban on online gambling. The Ministry of Home Affairs has exempted state-linked Singapore Pools and the Singapore Turf Club from the ban. Both operators say they will launch online gaming in the next two months but cannot offer casino-style games or poker.
William Hill Casino Club, an online casino from bookmaker William Hill, has stopped accepting bets from Russian players and announced it is leaving the Russian market.
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has ruled that the state gaming law’s host-community provision is unconstitutional because it places an uneven burden on casinos. The suit was filed by the Mount Airy Casino (l.) Legislators are now scrambling to re-write the laws so the host communities won’t miss any expected revenues.
ESPN reports that New Jersey State Senator Raymond Lesniak (l.) plans to appeal the ruling against the state’s sports betting law to the U.S. Supreme Court. The state’s current law was ruled in violation of a federal ban on sports betting earlier this year. The state has made several attempts to overturn the federal ban, including an earlier case that was also appealed to the Supreme Court, but the court did not elect to hear that appeal.
The Florida Supreme Court will hear arguments November 2 over whether county voters or legislators can decide if slots may be allowed. If the court rules in favor of voters, Bestbet (l.) in Jacksonville is laying the groundwork for Duval County voters to approve 2,000 additional slots at its Arlington poker room.
Barrington Development recently asked the Biloxi, Mississippi city council for permission to create a $12 million, 154-room all-suite hotel from the former Santa Maria senior housing tower, a Hurricane Katrina eyesore. Barrington earlier restored the White House Hotel and former Casino Magic Hotel to create the Margaritaville Resort.
With no lottery, several tribal casinos, and a burgeoning electronic bingo market, Alabama Governor Robert Bentley (l.) has organized a council to advise him on the extent and future of gaming in his state.
The settlement Caesars Entertainment has reached with creditors of its bankrupt operating company is too big to fail, says the federal judge overseeing the case. He’s barred a holdout creditor from suing the company.
MGM National Harbor will open December 8. Among the $1.4 billion property's attractions will be a 125,000 square foot casino, two-story glass conservatory featuring spectacular floral displays, 308 guest rooms and suites, nine dining venues, spa and fitness center, outdoor pool, nightlife, curated artwork, meeting space, entertainment venue, retail and more.
An initiative that would allow a second slots parlor in Massachusetts in on the November ballot in the Bay State. Question 1 would allow the casino to be built in East Boston near the Suffolk Downs racetrack (l.).
A report regarding a signature petition to legalize casinos in three Arkansas counties indicated several signatures could be invalidated and canvasser identification was questionable. Special Master John Jennings, appointed by the state Supreme Court, said as a result Secretary of State Mark Martin should not have certified the petition for the November ballot.
New York’s Madison County wants a bigger piece of the state’s revenue-sharing deal with the Oneida Indian Nation. The reason: the county is now home to two Oneida VLT venues, which it wasn’t when the deal was negotiated three years ago. The state legislature agrees, but Governor Andrew Cuomo (l.) has vetoed a bill to raise the payments.
Despite poll numbers that show a referendum to allow new casino construction in northern New Jersey is likely to fail, the main opposition group of the plan continues to roll out new ads against the referendum. The group Trenton’s Bad Bet has released four new anti-referendum ads even as a new poll shows that support for the referendum is at its lowest point yet. Pro-casino groups have already pulled their advertising.
A local newspaper reported that Las Vegas Sand CEO Sheldon Adelson (l.) has conditioned a $40 million investment for improvements at its Sands Bethlehem project on the defeat of iGaming in the state
Maine could be embroiled in another casino election about this time next year if a group called Horseracing Jobs Fairness has its way. The group is collecting signatures for a petition that, if passed, would authorize a casino in York County.
A Minnesota city council has table an ordinance that would require a permit to offer charitable gambling. A Jordan City city council member is concerned that a charitable bingo operation doesn’t pay enough taxes.
Developer Bart Blatstein said he has settled a conflicting deed restriction with Trump Taj Mahal owner Carl Icahn that has interfered with the re-opening of his Showboat Hotel, a former casino. The settlement allows the Atlantic City hotel to continue to operate without a casino. The Trump Taj Mahal, meanwhile, is scheduled to close this month.
New Jersey’s Department of Community Affairs said it will not demand Atlantic City pay back a $73 million loan, even though the city has not secured the loans collateral by a state deadline. The DCA said it will continue to work with the city, which is trying to develop a plan to stave off bankruptcy and avoid a state takeover of the resort.
Seminole Tribe attorneys and the state of Florida are battling in U.S. District Court. The tribe sued the state over not negotiating in good faith to renew their 2010 gaming compact, and alleged the state violated the tribe's exclusive rights to blackjack. The state countersued, asking the judge to shut down the Seminoles' blackjack operations.
Marcia Leclerc (l.), mayor of East Hartford, Connecticut, wants some clarification before she submits an application to build the state’s third tribal casino. The MMCT, which represents he Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan tribes, has extended the deadline for submission to October 15.
The state of Texas is suing the Alabama-Coushatta tribe to shut down its Naskila Gaming Center (l.) on the reservation near Livingston. The state claims the venue's electronic bingo games are illegal Class III slots, but tribal officials said the Class II games are legal and bring in much-needed revenue.
An Arizona assistant attorney general violated no rules when he destroyed “short notes” of a secret meeting held in 2015. Daniel Bergin, the state’s Gaming Director, argues that Roger Banan did nothing wrong by destroying the notes after giving Bergin a briefing on the meeting.
U.S. District Judge James Browning recently rejected the Pojoaque Pueblo's claim that New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez and state regulators broke the law by threatening to punish vendors at its casinos, including Buffalo Thunder (l.) near Santa Fe, since its gaming compact expired last year. Browning said the vendors are "'furthering, or profiting' from Pojoaque Pueblo's illegal practice."
A city in California’s Bay Area, San Jose, is considering supporting a tribe’s request for federal recognition. But one council member worries that it might lead to a casino.
A memorandum of understanding was unanimously approved by the Elk Grove, California city council supporting the Wilton Rancheria's proposed $400 million entertainment and gaming facility. The venue would feature a gaming floor with 2,000 slot machines and 84 tables, plus a 12-story, 302-room hotel, fitness center and spa, outdoor pool, convention space and dining options.
The St. Croix Chippewa recently held a groundbreaking on a $20 million casino in Hertel, Wisconsin. Some critics say that tribal state gaming compact doesn’t allow the new casino at its planned location.
The Shoshone Bannock Tribes of Idaho have voted to build a $35 million casino. The project will expand their existing Shoshone-Bannock Hotel and Events Center.
By a razor-thin margin, the Cherokee Tribal Council voted 44-43 to approve Principal Chief Patrick Lambert's (l.) resolution to shorten Angela Kephart's term by one year to end September 30. Kephart protested the vote but left office. Casino employees claimed Kephart's guests verbally and sexually abused them during a party in a suite in February.
The land of a thousand lakes—literally— is going to be the location of a casino that the White Earth Band of Chippewa Indians are building at Star Lake. However, people who like the pristine character of Otter Tail County, don’t like the looks of the new project.
A state lottery may have ceased to be the “third rail” of Mississippi politics. Governor Phil Bryant (l.) last week said he might support a lottery bill if it made since for the state’s finances. Mississippi is one of only a few states (including Nevada) that does not have a lottery.
The Florida Lottery plans major expansions in automated ticket machines and smartphone apps under a new 13-year, $717 million contract it recently signed with IGT Global Solutions. The lottery, which recently posted $6 billion in annual sales, currently has a contract with Gtech that began in 2005 and is worth $387 million.
IGT issued another protest against the Maryland Lottery's methods for choosing a provider for its 8-year, $262 million contract. IGT first protested the lottery's including illegal internet games in the bid. Now it launched a protest against Lottery Director Gordon Medenica, who said IGT is attempting “to bring political pressure to an ongoing procurement process."
Ian Coughlan has been named president of Wynn Macau, replacing Gamal Abdel Aziz in the role. Coughlan first joined Wynn Macau in early 2007, and has more than 30 years of industry experience.
Eric Pearson, previously vice president of gaming and revenue enhancement at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Connecticut, has been named president and chief executive officer at Valley Forge Casino in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. Pearson also served as vice president of gaming and acting general manager at Northern Quest Resort and Casino in Washington.
Several executives of Gaming Laboratories International were recognized and singled out for honors at the recent Global Gaming Expo. Christie Eickelman (l.), GLI’s vice president of global marketing, received the Patty Becker Pay It Forward award from the Global Gaming Women organization.
A leading provider of premium gaming solutions for online casino operators, NetEnt has hired Therese Hillman as chief financial officer, effective January 9, 2017. Hillman has served as chief executive officer at Gymgrossisten, a subsidiary of Qliro Group, for five years, and is a board member at Unibet.
Anthony Patrone, the former general manager at Cypress Bayou Casino in Charenton, Louisiana, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor involving illegally paying a bonus to an inactive employee—namely O'Neil Darden, chairman of the Chitimacha Tribe of Louisiana. Darden and Montie Spivey, the casino's former chief financial officer, still are under investigation. Patrone has denied committing any crimes.
The debt ratings agency says consolidation has helped diversify the major slot makers, but it’s also piled on the leverage. This could spell headwinds for some of the biggest suppliers at a time when market fundamentals are weak and competition is intensifying.
International Game Technology Plc. And Aristocrat Leisure Limited are entering into a cross-licensing agreement that will allow sharing of certain intellectual property and patents.
Interblock will install stadium-style setups of electronic table games at the SkyCity at SkyCity in New Zealand, Seneca Niagara in New York and Casino Perla in Slovenia. The company’s “Pulse Arena” (l.) is a winner.
Shooting Star Casino will install a multi-property Aristocrat Oasis 360 casino management system at its new Star Lake Casino, and Aristocrat’s Oasis HALo loyalty platform at all its Minnesota casinos. Brooks Pierce, Aristocrat managing director of the Americas, thanks Rod Lemna, Shooting Star resorts management information system director, for the order.
Silver Heritage has allocated its revenue-sharing agreements to manage electronic gaming machines at Dansavanh Nam Ngum Resort and Casino in Laos to Pan Asia Leaders.
