Seminole Gaming Chief Executive Officer James Allen said if lawmakers approve the proposed compact, they will move forward with expansion plans at Seminole Tampa and Hollywood, creating 14,500 construction and 4,800 permanent full-time jobs. The Hollywood Hard Rock would include a guitar-shaped hotel (l.). Allen said the tribe needs the certainty of the proposed compact to pursue any expansion. The legislature indicated it is ready to act.
Amaya, Inc. CEO David Baazov (l.) is offering C$21 a share in a $2 billion bid to take the owner of the world’s largest online poker company private. The owner of PokerStars and Full Tilt, Amaya was valued at almost twice that much when it went public in 2009.
Several gaming analysts said expanding casinos outside of Atlantic City to northern New Jersey could leave those casinos impacted by the same competition that devastated Atlantic City. Meanwhile, the Borgata Hotel Casino is threatening to withhold current property tax payments as it tries to get a $62 million back tax payment from the city even though the city doesn’t have the cash. Mayor Don Guardian (l.) says the move could force the city into bankruptcy.
Sarkis Izmirlian (l.) reappears as Bahamas Prime Minister Perry Christie reports that Chinese financiers are ready to finance the completion of the $3.5 billion Baha Mar resort. Izmirlian, who has been ousted as the principal owner of the resort, complained that Christie was dodging his calls.
Maybe the most serious blow to DFS came last week when payment processor Vantiv said it was suspending transactions with DFS sites, possibly cutting off the money stream. Meanwhile, the state-by-state battle for legality being waged by the daily fantasy sports industry suffered setbacks in Mississippi—where Attorney General Jim Hood (l.) declared DFS sites illegal—and in Hawaii where its attorney general ordered the sites to cease and desist in the city.
PricewaterhouseCoopers partner Mark Jordan says Japan is still the most coveted untapped gaming market in the world. Its population of almost 127 million people and Asia’s avid gaming culture make it a natura
A new voting guide published by the American Gaming Association illustrates the importance of, support for, and economic impact of gaming in Nevada and across the nation, and now is available for casino workers, gamblers, and general supporters of the gaming industry. AGA VP Sara Rayme says the Nevada caucuses later this month are an opportunity to drive this point home.
The Gauselmann Group, which opened its first German casino in 2015 in Saxony-Anhalt, has acquired a 40 percent stake in Gustav-Jaenecke, owner of Spielbank Berlin. Spielbank operates five gaming halls in Berlin.
This week, the GGB Podcast sits down with Jay Snowden, the COO of Penn National Gaming, on the recent spinoff of much of the company’s realty as well as the purchase of the Tropicana in Las Vegas.
Singapore’s Casino Regulatory Authority has renewed the casino license of Genting Singapore Plc, operator of Resorts World Sentosa. The new three-year term began February 6.
Cambodia-based casino operator NagaCorp has announced a 26 jump in gross gaming revenue for 2015. According to a recent filing to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, the operator of NagaWorld (l.) in Phnom Penh saw total GGR of US$480.6 million.
The Philippine government, which may open up the casino market beyond Manila, will require a minimum investment of $300 million for new ventures. PAGCOR Chairman Cristino Naguiat says he has pinpointed areas that are “very ripe for a casino” to create smaller-scale versions of Manila’s Entertainment City (l.).
Macau-based Alter City Group has applied for a casino license in the Northern Marianas Islands. Tinian is home of the shuttered Tinian Dynasty resort, which closed last September after a typhoon, and continues to fend off legal and regulatory issues.
Gaming revenues in Macau dropped 21.4 per cent in January—the 20th consecutive month of decline in the Chinese territory. The numbers were in line with the forecasts: analysts predicted a drop of 18 percent to 26 percent. Analyst Billy Ng (l.) says the new Cotai resorts will help deliver more mass-market players.
Wynn Macau is planning to work with Macau’s Chamber of Commerce to develop a “procurement partnership program” that supports local small and medium businesses in the territory.
The Philippines are the top location in Asia for illegal betting, and illegal betting operators in Asia account for most of the world’s illegal betting activity and fixing of sports matches and horse races, an international expert in illegal betting told attendees at the 2016 Asia Racing Conference in January.
Macau casino concessionaire SJM Holdings, founded by gaming legend Stanley Ho, is negotiating a US$3.2 billion (HK$25 billion) loan to complete its planned Lisboa Palace resort on the Cotai Strip.
For the second time in less than a year, the U.S. State Department has warned United States citizens to steer clear of casinos and other adult entertainment venues in Mexico. The danger lies in violent gangs known for public gun battles.
Australia’s Crown Resorts is pressing the New South Wales government to approve its plan for a casino hotel (l.) at Barangaroo South in Sydney. Crown honcho James Packer is frustrated by the slow pace of the process.
Partouche, France’s largest gaming group, has broken ground on a planned open-air casino in La Ciotat, a historic shipbuilding community near Marseille. According to one report, the building will resemble “an overturned boat hull.”
The American Gaming Association and the European Casino Association have joined together to combat illegal gaming around the world. The alliance was forged at the International Casino Conference in London.
South African hotel and gaming group Sun International has acknowledged that it is under investigation by Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. The probe is related to Sun’s investment in the Tourist Company of Nigeria.
Northern Territory Gaming Minister Peter Styles (l.) says Australia should get with “the times and technology” in order to keep betting dollars at home. Styles supports in-play betting, which is also being pushed by Australian bookies.
In a filing to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, Genting Hong Kong Ltd. predicts a net profit of not less than US$2 billion for fiscal 2015, but says operating results will suffer due to a turbulent Asian gaming industry.
Online gaming group GVC has completed its $ 1.6 billion acquisition of bwin.party. Meanwhile, the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement will allow bwin.party to continue to operate online gambling in the state while GVC’s application for state gaming license is being reviewed. However, bwin’s partner in New Jersey—the Borgata casino in Atlantic City—has reportedly been considering ending the partnership.
Cambodia’s Start Live Casino added online gambling software design for online games to it business, which includes two brick-and-mortar casinos and online gambling. The venture is bringing in $2 million a month, according to reports.
Playtech has signed a multi-year branded games deal with Warner Bros. Consumer Products. The deal will allow the company to develop four DC Comics film and TV products into games.
Lithuania has blacklisted William Hill, Unibet and Betway following a request by the Lithuania Gaming Control Authority to the countries ISP providers to block the companies’ online gambling sites in the country.
Napoleon Games will move to a dedicated Live Casino studio created by Evolution Gaming at Napoleon's new offices in Aalst, Belgium. The games will go live in February, and include blackjack, roulette and an Immersive Live Roulette table, operated by Flemish and French native-speaking dealers.
Leander Games has brokered content partnerships with Iforium and PokerStars that will integrate its portfolio of games to its Gameflex casino platform.
PokerStars has cornered 70 percent of Italy’s online poker market and is making inroads in casino games. The site is averaging more than 1,300 cash players daily.
FSB Technology will use its platform to roll out a full suite of online slot and table games from Realistic Games, including market-leading roulette and blackjack games.
The Massachusetts Gaming Commission will soon decide whether to issue a commercial gaming license for a casino on the Brockton Fairgrounds or leave the southeastern part of the state to the casino that the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe wants to build in Taunton under a compact signed with former Governor Deval Patrick (l.). A decision is expected next month.
While Las Vegas undergoes changes most years, 2016 will see some of the biggest in many years, with the opening of the new 20,000-seat T-Mobile Arena (l.) on the south side of the Las Vegas Strip, parking fees for the first time on the Las Vegas Strip, and a new, $1 billion electric car plant being built in North Las Vegas.
A bill sponsored by Georgia state Rep. Ron Stephens (l.) would permit casino gambling, regulated by the renamed Georgia Lottery and Gaming Commission. Stephens said the measure would create 10,000 jobs and bring $2 billion in investment to the state for two casinos in Atlanta and one each in Savannah, Macon, Columbus and South Georgia.
Documents filed by Endeka Entertainment indicate it could be another year before state approvals are secured for Pennsylvania’s last licensed racino, Lawrence Downs.
A bill designed to relieve the pressure on Delaware’s beleaguered casinos has been modified to give it a better chance of passing. State Senator Brian Bushweller (l.) would help to save the state’s three racinos.
TJM Properties of Clearwater, Florida has purchased the 2,000-acre Harrah's Tunica complex from Caesars Entertainment. TJM owner Terence J. McCarthy said the company is considering offers to sell all or part of the property, which includes two hotels, a convention complex, children's center, 18-hole golf course, commercial laundry, offices and warehouses and farm land.
Station Casinos has balked at going through with an initial public offering, despite Nevada gaming regulators recently approving the public offering, which was scheduled for June. Since emerging from Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2011, Station Casinos posted 18 straight quarters of revenue growth, but market conditions postponed the stock sale.
Profits are up in both commercial and Indian gaming this year in the United States, but some trends suggest that this may not continue in upcoming years.
The eight-member Alabama Senate Democratic Caucus (out of 35 members) released its legislative agenda, which includes a constitutional amendment allowing a lottery and casinos. Proceeds would go into the Education Trust Fund and General Fund. The senators included casinos with the lottery bill because they create jobs.
The Clark County Zoning Commission recently approved an 86,502-saure-foot shopping center development at the Wynn Las Vegas and a three-story convention center and pool at the SLS Las Vegas. No timelines or budgets were announced for the proposed projects, but the regulatory approval gives the casinos the green light to move forward with their plans.
The problem that modern casinos face is how to continue to attract a younger generation that is not as fascinated by the old style slot machines as their parents and grandparents are today. Casinos in California are looking at solutions that include social media and more non-gaming amenities.
Opponents and supporters alike gathered to demonstrate their support or opposition to a proposed 100,000-square-foot casino housing 1,000 video lottery terminals at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. Meanwhile, work on the Rivers Casino & Resort (l.) in Schenectady is going faster than expected, making an early opening of the casino possible early next year, and the upstate Lagos casino dodged a roadblock.
Developers Robert Lubin and Kevin Preston want to build a $140 million casino with a four-star hotel, 50,000 square foot gaming floor, entertainment venue and non-gaming amenity in Gulfport Harbor. The Mississippi Gaming Commission's stricter casino-resort requirements also include at least a 300-room hotel and fine dining restaurant.
A recent $20 million purchase of three Montana slot operators gives Las Vegas-based Golden Entertainment its first entry into the Montana gaming market. Golden Entertainment bought routes with 1,000 machines from Rocky Mountain Gaming, C. Lohman Games, and Brandy’s Shoreliner Restaurant, in exchange for cash and 50,000 shares of Golden Entertainment stock.
The Southern Nevada Tourism Infrastructure Committee recently reviewed initial proposals for building a light rail system that would connect McCarran International Airport to the Las Vegas Strip and Fremont Street casinos, while reducing the number of cars and pedestrians traveling along the Las Vegas Strip and improving safety for tourists. A previous monorail project failed to reach the airport (l.).
Pinnacle Entertainment's Belterra Casino Resort in Florence, Indiana recently completed a $15 million, three-year renovation. The property now offers 55,000 square feet of upgraded meeting and convention space, plus renovated hotel rooms, three new restaurants, updated common areas and cosmetic updates on the casino floor.
In a perplexing situation, Caesars Entertainment is having trouble filling 150 fulltime positions and 185 part-time posts in the troubled Atlantic City job market. Experts speculate that workers may not have faith the jobs will last. Harrah’s Resort GM Rick Mazer (l.) is perplexed.
Accusations of unfair tactics and petitions that contain many irregular signatures are dogging efforts by casino developer Shawn Scott to qualify an initiative for the November ballot that would allow a third casino in Maine. The petitions were turned into the Secretary of State’s office last week.
Las Vegas Sands Chairman Sheldon Adelson used Super Bowl excitement to float the possibility of an NFL team relocating to Las Vegas. Adelson’s company would help to build a $1 billion football stadium on the UNLV campus. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell acknowledged it is possible for a team to move to Las Vegas, but no proposal is in place, and team owners would have to approve the move.
A new fronton and poker room could open in Florida City by the end of the year. Hialeah Park owner John Brunetti bought land for the facility last year and already has local council approval. He said the new "entertainment center" would offer a poker room, jai-alai fronton and other family attractions.
California’s Wilton Rancheria is looking at several potential sites for its proposed casino in the Sacramento Valley. One of them is adjacent to a never-completed mall (l.) in Elk Grove. Two-thirds of the tribe live below the poverty line.
Construction will begin at Cherokee Nation Entertainment's 10th casino this spring—Cherokee Casino Grove in Grove, Oklahoma, offering 400 electronic games, a restaurant and bar and live music venue. It will create 175 new jobs and be CNE's second casino in Delaware County; Cherokee Casino West Siloam Springs (l.) opened in 1994.
The California tribe that is centered on an ancient hot springs in Palm Springs, has decided to build a new business development that highlights the spring, which many of the tribe’s members revere. The former Spa Casino (l.) was demolished in 2014. The plans for the new vision are slowly unveiling before the public.
A bill in Congress would short-circuit a possible fee to trust decision by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and restrict the Lytton Band of Pomo Indians in California’s Bay Area from putting a casino on land that they recently purchased in Sonoma County.
The Connecticut border town of East Windsor last week revealed two new sites that it will suggest as possible sites for a third Indian casino in the Nutmeg State. The original site, Showcase Mall (l.), still has many advocates.
New leaders of the Taos Pueblo in New Mexico have a lot on their plate as they begin their one-year terms. One thing they are looking at is increasing the profitability of the Taos Mountain Casino (l.).
During a recent topping-off ceremony, a palm tree was hoisted to the 27th and final floor of the new $365 million hotel tower at the Margaritaville Restaurant and Casino complex, under construction at the River Spirit Casino Resort in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The project, to be completed in December, will create 1,000 new jobs.
From the brink of bankruptcy to planning a third casino, the White Earth Nation of Minnesota's fortunes have dramatically changed. After opening its Shooting Star Casino in Mahnomen, the tribe owed $22 million to Gaming World. But the tribe finally prevailed in court. “Justice has finally come to White Earth,” said then-Tribal Chairwoman Erma Vizenor.
Visitors to Choctaw Casino in Pocola, Oklahoma can board a bus in Fort Smith, Arkansas starting March 1, as long as they can show proof of a return fare. The casino's parking lot is located within Fort Smith city limits. The service will add about two-and-a-half minutes to the regular casino trip.
A federal judge has dismissed the lawsuit challenging a tribal council election of the Picayune Rancheria of Chukchansi Indians. This means that the council that was elected in October will go forward.
The Pamunkey Tribe in Virginia now is officially federally recognized following the Interior Board of Indian Appeals' rejection of Stand Up California's last-minute challenge. The board stated Stand Up had no standing to block tribe's status nor did it "allege that it is adversely affected" by it.
Poker pro Annette Obrestad has reportedly signed an “ambassador deal” with the Venetian Las Vegas, according to the casino. The deal has drawn attention as Obrestad is best known for starting her online poker career at the age of 15. Las Vegas Sands owner Sheldon Adelson—who also owns the Venetian—has pegged much of his campaign against online gambling on the threat of underage gamblers using the sites.
The real winner of the Camelot UK Lotto's $48 million jackpot recently came forward, disqualifying Susan Hinte, a grandmother who claimed she had the winning ticket but accidentally put it in the wash. A Camelot spokeswoman said hundreds of people said they had the ticket but it was lost, stolen or destroyed.
Shaun McCamley has been named head of consultancy firm Global Market Advisors' Asia regional office, based in Bangkok, Thailand. McCamley, an Australian national, was president of the Grand Ho Tram casino resort in Vietnam, and also was managing partner at a gaming consulting firm he founded in Macau.
The Downtown Grand in Las Vegas let CEO Jim Simms go after he oversaw significant changes over the past year, including changes to the casino floor and launching a new rewards program. Simms was not fired and is not being replaced, Downtown Grand Chairman Seth Schorr said, and the Grand now enjoys a 90 percent occupancy rate and increased gaming revenues.
Jay Hickey, who has been president of the American Horse Council since 1993, announced he will retire on June 30. Hickey served on the AHC staff for 27 years. As president he oversaw the organization's lobbying activities and skillfully kept the peace between equine constituencies.
The Tohono O’odham Gaming Enterprise, the business arm of the Tohono O'Odham Nation, extended Chief Executive Officer Andy Asselin's contract an additional two years. Asselin joined the TOGE in 2013 and has overseen the construction and recent opening of the Desert Diamond Casino near Glendale, Arizona.
Tropicana Entertainment Inc. recently named Brian Marsh as general manager at Lumière Place Casino and Hotels in St. Louis, Missouri. Marsh also served as general manager at French Lick Resort & Casino in Indiana for 10 years and director of slot operations for Trump Indiana Casino.
Maryland Live! Casino recently hired Tony Haynes as director of finance, where he will develop, implement and enforce all internal and external policies and procedures regarding state-regulated finances and accounting manage the cash flow and prepare budget forecasts. Previously he was director of finance at Hollywood Casino in Columbus, Ohio.
Traffic Generation, the world leader in convergence marketing technology for the casino industry, has named Bill Anderson vice president of business development. Anderson, who most recently was director of sales for Game Account Network, will be based in TraffGen's new Chicago office.
Brian Elmore, vice president of racing at Centaur Gaming, will retire later this month after serving more than four decades in the racing industry. Elmore oversees racing operations at Centaur Gaming's Hoosier Park Racing & Casino in Anderson, Indiana and Indiana Grand Racing & Casino in Shelbyville.
Aristocrat Technologies has been named the “clear winner” in the Eilers-Fantini Quarterly Slot Survey, winning two of the top three spots, with Buffalo Grand topping out the list.
Best Gaming Technology completed installation of self-service betting terminals throughout the entire estate of the David Pluck (Northwest) Limited chain.
