The national election in the U.S. proved to be a shocker, as the big underdog Donald Trump swept to victory. Trump, a former Atlantic City casino owner (shown in 1991 at the opening of Trump Taj Mahal), was supposed to lose to Hillary Clinton but awakened a sleeping electorate to win convincingly. The results overshadowed results in four states that were significant to the existing industry and possible expansion of gaming.
Gaming operators Melco International of Hong Kong and U.S.-based Hard Rock International have gotten the official thumbs-up from Greek Deputy Minister Constantinos Petrides (l.) to develop a casino in the Greek-controlled Republic of Cyprus. Two other companies were cleared to the final round but dropped out because they could not find a suitable casino site.
The provision of the 2010 gaming compact allowing the Seminole Tribe Florida exclusive rights to blackjack expired in 2015, but the legislature rejected a new compact and state regulators let parimutuels offer electronic blackjack. The tribe sued and a federal judge recently ruled the tribe can keep blackjack tables for 14 years.
Global gaming operators will be ready to pounce when and if Japan moves ahead with casino gaming legislation. The country’s Integrated Resorts Promotion Bill is said to be headed for the Japanese parliament, or Diet. Companies eying Japan include MGM Resorts, Las Vegas Sands, Wynn Resorts, Hard Rock International, Genting, Melco Crown, along with Japanese companies Sega Sammy, Konami, Universal and others. But can casinos convert the country’s dedicated pachinko players (l.).
The legalization of gaming in Brazil came one step closer last week when Senate approved a bill sponsored by Senator Ciro Nogueira (l.) that would allow the introduction of casinos, sports betting, iGaming and a variety of other wagers. The measure now goes to the Chamber of Deputies.
New Jersey’s Local Finance Board has voted to allow the state to takeover Atlantic City’s finances and much of the operations of its municipal government. The move came after the state rejected a five-year financial plan put together by city officials to steer the city out of its financial problems. Meanwhile, Phil Murphy (l.), the leading Democrat contender to replace Governor Chris Christie when he leaves office next year, says he would end the state oversight.
Aristocrat Leisure Ltd. announced that Jamie Odell will retire at the end of February, and that Vice President for Global Products Trevor Coker has been appointed as CEO-elect. Odell is credited for creating new revenue streams for the company, improving the product line and boosting share prices over his tenure.
Ted Chan, chief operating officer for Asian casino developer and operator Melco Crown Entertainment Ltd., resigned last week citing “personal reasons.” He assumed the post in February 2012. CEO Lawrence Ho will assume Chan’s duties until a successor is named.
Recently, a gambling addict's lawsuit against Aristocrat Gaming and Melbourne’s Crown Casino (l.), the mystery arrests of 18 employees of Australia-based Crown Resorts in China and lawmakers' pursuit attempts to limit betting and gambling ads on TV have riveted Australians. Losing an average of $1,130 annually, according to the Economist, Australian gamblers are the world's most avid.
The gaming industry had much to ponder last week following the U.S. election. A new president—a former casino owner—brought some doubt, but the rejection of gaming expansion in some states could be a positive for the existing companies.
This week the GGB Podcast explores the many different desires of customers, both gaming and non-gaming, with Kahlil Ashanti, founder, developer and lead strategist for SpendSight.
Steve Wynn says his new $4.4 billion Wynn Palace has struggled out of the gate because of limited access. The lavish resort, which opened in August on Macau’s Cotai Strip, is hemmed in by multiple construction zones.
The effort by Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte (l.) to smooth relations between his country and China could mean more Chinese tourism and more business for Philippine casinos.
Philippine gaming company Belle Corp., an investor in Melco Crown’s City of Dreams Manila casino (l.), saw net income attributable to shareholders rise 54.8 percent year-on-year for the nine months to September 30. The company also terminated a revenue sharing deal with former partner Leisure Resorts World Corp.
A Macau court has ordered a one-time Dore Entertainment cage cashier to repay almost $13 million in monies she allegedly embezzled from a VIP room at Wynn Macau. The woman’s whereabouts are currently unknown.
An editorial in the Sydney Morning Herald is calling for an end to the Star Casino’s (l.) exemption from alcohol lockout laws. The government recently found that violent incidents have been underreported in the area.
The UK Gambling Commission is working to make sure all operators make a push to improve consumer service and protections and is calling for a much faster change towards better consumer policies, says Sarah Harrison (l.). Speaking at a recent conference, commission’s chief executive urged operators to focus on putting consumers at the heart of “everything” it does, and make it happen in quicker time.
The city of Sochi in Russia’s Crimea region has granted its first gaming license to LLC Domain, a unit of Singapore-based construction firm Silverron International Private Ltd.
Poker pro Phil Ivey has lost his appeal over $9.6 million in winnings from Crockford’s casino in London in 2012. Crockfords won a suit against Ivey charging that Ivey used “edge sorting” to gain an unfair advantage at baccarat. The casino did not have to pay Ivey his winnings.
The lack of enforcement of Ireland's three-year old Gambling Control Bill has frustrated Irish Daily Parliament member Maureen O'Sullivan (l.). She called on the government to clarify the law or face increased problem gambling, money laundering and crime. She added mobile-based gambling is particularly challenging.
Storm International has sold its Mexico business, Storm International Latin America in Monterrey. SILA, made up of Hollywood Entertainment (l.), has been operating since 2009. They include more than 1,000 slot machines.
Sleepin International Hotel and Casino Inc. (l.) has been denied a gambling license by the Guyana Gaming Authority. The officials said owner Clifton Bacchus did not provide the documents required to prove the company's "financial soundness and capability. Bacchus said he'll resubmit the application with the proper documentation.
A consortium of First Nations in Ontario, propose to build a casino resort in Parry Sound on the waterfront. The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Commission (OLG) say it is not interested. But the First Nations have an ace up their sleeves.
After appraisals are completed by the end of the year, Tenerife's three casinos will be available for sale, said President of the Council of Tenerife Carlos Alonso. When the casinos were to be privatized in 2014, three casino companies expressed interest in Playa de Las Americas, the only profitable operation, but none followed through.
The government of Australian PM Malcolm Turnbull has closed a local gaming authority amid corruption concerns. The Norfolk Island agency licensed BetHQ, a firm linked to illegal bookmaker Citibet.
Guests at the Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino (l.) can avoid blowing their diets or skipping workouts thanks to the resort's recently launched initiatives. The staff will cater to any dietary requirement at no extra charge. Beach tennis taught by tennis pros, paddleboarding and stand-up paddleboard yoga help guests stay fit.
Sports betting made gains in the third quarter in the French online market while online poker and online horseracing betting continued to show declines. Online sports revenue was up 40 percent to €87m.
Starting Five, a new fantasy sports app has been launched by two USC grads. The app is aimed at players tired of playing in large-scale fantasy contests and allows players to compete head to head.
The World eSports Association has set up an arbitration court to handle legal issues eSports teams and players encounter. The court will operate independently from the association.
Comtrade Gaming announced that their G2S (Game to System) protocol stacks will be integrated into E-Fun's video slots starting in 2017. E-Fun is a Polish slot machine provider.
The popular Energy Casino announced that it has added Merkur slot games to its mix of online titles, provided through game distributor edict eGaming GmbH.
Videoslots has added games developed by Red Tiger Gaming to its selection of games, along with Red Tiger’s Smart Spins application to help operators market their sites.
A non-hotel gaming venue proposed by Station Casinos was cleared to move forward after Reno City Council voted to reject a planning appeal by prospective competitor Monarch Casino and Resort. Monarch, whose Atlantis resort is located nearby, argued the lack of a hotel for the Station property (l.) poses an unfair advantage.
MGM Resorts International more than made up for softness in Macau with a 23 percent increase in third-quarter net revenue to $2.73 billion. Room revenue on the Las Vegas Strip rose 14 percent, and the company’s purchase of full ownership of Atlantic City’s Borgata (l.) added $430 million to net income.
Massachusetts Special Commission on Online Gaming, Fantasy Sports Gaming and Daily Fantasy Sports has begun meeting. Its brief is to provide recommendations to state lawmakers on how to regulate almost all online gaming except for the lottery. It will make its recommendation next year.
Caesars Entertainment got a big lift in its plan to take its largest operating unit out of bankruptcy as the company returned to profitability in the third quarter. Keys were a strong Las Vegas market, with renovations of hotel rooms at Caesars Palace (l.) and Paris Las Vegas, and a $4.2 billion return on the sale of Caesars Interactive.
Paragon Gaming has been OK’d by Nevada regulators to take majority ownership of the Hard Rock Hotel (l.) bordering Lake Tahoe. Paragon, which manages two Las Vegas casinos and is developing a resort in Canada, says it will pursue outside partnerships to revitalize the Hard Rock.
Rising Star Casino in Rising Sun, Indiana is calling itself the "Christmas Casino" now through December. The same promotion last year brought in double-digit revenue increases. Owners Full House Resorts also hope a new ferry service and planned upgrades will help the casino improve its position in the Cincinnati market.
Mississippi Revenue Commissioner Herb Frierson (l.) recently recommended that the state legalize sports betting, which he said could generate $88-$100 million annually. Frierson told a legislative committee tasked with writing tax reform law that "many" Mississippians participate in sports betting, a $95 billion industry in the U.S.
The Oneida Indian Nation is launching a $20 million expansion of its Turning Stone resort in central New York as the tribe prepares to meet head-on the pending competition from four new commercial casinos. The expansion will feature new hotel rooms, new restaurants and a mostly smoke-free casino.
The Little Traverse Bay Band of Odawa Indians' compact says it can open a third casino in Emmet or Charlevoix counties in Michigan. The tribe sued the state claiming 19th-century treaties show it has a reservation where it could build a Class II casino. A District Court Judge will hear the case in 2017.
The Blackfeet Tribe's Glacier Peaks Casino and former Holiday Inn Express hotel (l.) both carry the Glacier Peaks name, tribal officials announced. They said marketing both properties will be easier, and the hotel and casino can cross-promote discounts and specials. The property is located at the main entrance to Glacier National Park.
The biggest Indian casino in Northern California will soon be even bigger. Graton Resort and Casino this week is opening its $175 million, six story, 200 room hotel, just three years after opening a casino that immediately established is dominance over the regional market.
A $510 million Indian casino that is rising at the Cowlitz Indian Reservation in Washington is the catalyst driving both a new intersection for Interstate 5. It is also fueling a new business development next to it for the city of La Center.
Fire Rock Navajo Casino near Gallup, New Mexico will kick off its 8-year anniversary November 19, showcasing renovations to the gaming floor, restaurant and parking areas. The property has employed hundreds of Navajos and now trains staff for the tribe's three other properties that have opened in the past 10 years.
The Eastern Shoshone Tribe hopes its renovated Shoshone Rose Casino & Hotel will generate enough revenue to compensate for declining gas and oil prices. Upgrades include a new 61-room hotel and tribal arts and crafts throughout the décor. The property employs 133 workers, with more than half enrolled tribal members.
Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians in North Carolina will receive in December the highest per capita payment ever: $6,189. The payments are made twice annually, from profits at Harrah's Cherokee Casino Resort (l.) and Harrah's Cherokee Valley River Casino and Hotel. Tribal members can take out zero-interest loans up to $500 between payments.
Stephane Pallez (l.), director of France's national lottery, FDJ, announced FDJ Gaming Solutions to sell lottery technologies, services and games to other gambling enterprises. FDJ already sells equipment, maintenance and advising services. Pallez said FJD will invest $544 million to enhance IT systems and help partners develop new games and services.
SkyCity Entertainment Group has named Graeme Stephens as its new chief executive officer. He will succeed former CEO Nigel Morrison, who resigned in April.
Merkur Argentina has appointed local gaming industry veteran Alejandro Saraintaris as the company’s general manager as the supplier expands throughout Latin America.
Nevada regulators say that the skill-based games of GameCo, which just released its shooter game Danger Arena in Atlantic City, are ready for Nevada field trials. Blaine Graboyes, CEO of GameCo, demonstrates the game at G2E in October.
IGT has acquired assets including several patents and intellectual property related to the SaffariNet Patron Display Interface of Leap Forward Gaming, founded by former IGT executive Ali Saffari (l.).
CG Technology/Cantor Gaming and co-plaintiff Interactive Games will file an amended complaint to consolidate patent-infringement claims against major mobile-game suppliers.
The shareholders of game producer DEQ Systems Corp. last week announced they had approved the sale of the company to Scientific Games. The deal gives Scientific Games a bigger stranglehold on the table games market.
Cypress Bayou Casino Hotel has selected the hospitality software solutions of Agilysys, including InfoGenesis POS, InfoGenesis Flex and the rGuest software suite.
AGS' Diamond Lotto slot still comes in its original bulky blue box with no bells or whistles, but somehow it's swept South Florida unlike other games. Out of the 450 machines in existence, about 400 are in South Florida casinos. The game appeals to both lotto and bingo players, according to slot managers.
Following the announcement of formal regulations, Inspired Gaming is preparing to roll out its video lottery terminal cabinets in Greece, in partnership with Greek gaming operator OPAP.
Gambling industry software developers BetConstruct recently opened an office in Taichung, Taiwan. Asian Regional Office Director Lichun Hsiao said the company has served the Asian market for many years but the new office is part of its long-term development plans.
The Innovation Group has been commissioned by the American Horse Council Foundation for its 2017 Economic Impact Study. The last study, completed in 2005, indicated the horse racing, showing and recreation segments had a $102 billion impact on the U.S. economy, involved 9.2 million horses and supported 1.4 million full-time jobs.
MGM Resorts Art & Culture will serve as the Official Partner of the Public sector at the 15th annual Art Basel in Miami, featuring 20 artists' works at Collins Park in Miami Beach, November 30-December 4. MGM Resorts' brands, including Bellagio, MGM Grand, ARIA and Mandalay Bay, all offer extensive art collections.
The Fine Point Group recently introduced the second iteration of its relationship marketing and analytics software platform, LaserPointCRM2.0. The software lets casinos segment based on numerous categories. In Beta tests at a tribal casino, the software delivered an 18.7 percent increase in net slot win within 90 days of installation.
Ainsworth will showcase new games designed for the Latin American casino market on its collection of new cabinets at the SAGSE trade show in Buenos Aires.
JCM Global will exhibit its complete line of printers at the SAGSE trade show, highlighting the iVISION and DBV-500 bill validators, the GEN5 thermal printer and the PromoNet 2.0 couponing system.
