The third of the Empire State’s four full-scale Las Vegas-style casinos has opened with much fanfare in Schenectady. The $330 million Rivers Casino & Resort features 1,100 slots and 67 table games and is promising around 1,000 badly needed jobs when its hotel opens this summer. The Montreign, in the Catskills region of New York, will be the final one to open next year.
Last week’s Super Bowl presented some stark contrasts in betting, as pointed out by the American Gaming Association when it compared record legal wagering on the Super Bowl in Nevada to astronomical illegal betting. This prompted a new call for lifting the federal sports-betting ban and an statement by the commissioner of Major League Baseball Rob Manfred (l.) that the sport should reconsidering sports gambling.
Two members of the Pennsylvania House have filed a co-sponsorship memorandum for wide-ranging gaming expansion measures, including legalization and regulation of online gaming. Senator Jay Costa (l.) wants to impose an unreasonable 25 percent tax rate on iGaming, while others insist that it should be only a maximum of 16 percent.
Osaka is lobbying hard to be one of two cities to host an integrated casino resort in Japan. In December the Japanese parliament approved legislation to bring full-scale casino gaming to the country. The city is eying a former landfill (l.) in Osaka Bay as the site for the complex.
The Netherlands lower House of Representatives has reportedly passed legislation that would privatize state-owned gaming operator Holland Casino. In the process the company would lose four of 14 casino licenses.
Star Entertainment continues to expand aggressively in Australia, snapping up a five-star beachfront Sheraton in Queensland with its partners Chow Tai Fook and Far East consortium. The casino giant says the buy will complement the multibillion-dollar IR the three are developing in Queensland capital of Brisbane.
With iGaming on the legislative agenda in Pennsylvania and New York, legislators in those states would be well served to consider the experience in New Jersey, where iGaming is finally beginning to thrive and fulfill its initial promise. And don’t forget DFS regulation.
This week, the GGB Podcast sits down with Dean Macomber, the president of Macomber and Associates to talk about his long career in gaming and his opinions on several issues facing the gaming industry today.
A casino in the Philippines’ Clark Freeport Zone has closed after failing to settle its remaining escrow. The shutdown of the hotel-based Casablanca Casino (l.) was ordered by the country’s gaming regulator.
Australia-listed gaming operator Silver Heritage Group Ltd. disclosed “temporary unexpected delays” in the development of its Tiger Palace Resort Bhairahawa casino resort in Nepal.
Macau junket runner Iao Kun Group is switching gears to become a technology company. The former operator of VIP rooms in Macau and the Far East will acquire 51 percent of a Chinese software firm.
The Philippine Senate is considering making casinos subject to the country’s Anti-Money Laundering Act. One of three bills on the subject also would add junket operations to the legislation.
The Philippines subsidiary of Melco Crown, which owns and operates the City of Dreams Manila (l.), has undertaken a rebrand that may remove the “Crown” from its corporate name. The company announced the change in a filing to the Philippines Stock Exchange.
Fitch Ratings says weakness in Singapore’s VIP segment will result in “flat” gaming revenues for 2017. Singapore is home to two integrated resorts, Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World Sentosa.
The Fiji Appeals Court will hear two cases regarding the proposed $290 million One Hundred Sands casino, which received an exclusive 15-year license in December 2011. Developers failed to meet the mandated deadline, and paid more than $1 million in fines and owed another $1 million before the license was cancelled in February 2015.
Vietnam will soon launch a five-year trial that allows Vietnamese over 21 years of age to legally bet on soccer. The government will license just one company to offer the bets in a plan that will take effect in March.
Imperial Pacific International Holdings, which operates the Best Sunshine Live temporary casino on the Pacific island of Saipan in a shopping mall (l.), has set a record for VIP turnover for the month of January.
The Dagestan Republic on the Caspian Sea may be the site of Russia’s newest gaming zone. According to Russian media, the special development zone will host two casinos and several betting shops.
Australian casino operator Crown Resorts may face a class action lawsuit from shareholders in the aftermath of the arrests of staff members in Mainland China. The employees have been accused of gambling crimes. And a new 10-year online betting deal between James Packer’s Crown Resorts and New South Wales Clubs is being criticized in anti-gaming circles as “cynical opportunism at its worst.”
The government of Victoria, Australia has approved of the construction of a 90-story tower by Crown that will connect to its Melbourne casino across the street. It will be the tallest building in the country.
Players of poker machines don’t expect to win, and consider this an entertainment expense on par with going to the movies. So, the Australian Leisure and Hospitality Group told a government committee that is considering allowing more businesses to run the machines, while limiting their number.
New York Assemblyman Gary Pretlow (l.) has introduced a new bill to regulate online poker in the state. The bill is a companion to a bill introduced in the state Senate. The bills follow up efforts in 2016 that saw an online poker bill approved by the Senate. The bills define poker as a game of skill.
After rising by 32 percent in 2016, the growth of New Jersey’s online gambling market is expected to slow to 17 percent in 2017, according to a study by industry research firm Eilers & Krejcik. While still a nice bump for the industry, the study found that the amount of online poker players in the state is unlikely to significantly increase.
Iowa legislators will again consider a measure legalizing fantasy sports betting. State Rep. Guy Vander Linden (l.) will introduce a bill, similar to one from 2015. And in Texas, the legislature is considering a bill that would legalize daily fantasy sports (DFS) by defining them as games of skill. The bill was introduced by Rep. Richard Peña Raymond.
A bill that would allow online gaming cafes at New Jersey racetracks, including Freehold Raceway (l.), has been introduced in the New Jersey State Senate. A similar bill was introduced in the state’s Assembly last year. The bill allows tracks to partner with Atlantic City casinos that already offer online gaming.
Gaming regulators in New York want DFS sites to prove they keep player’s funds separate from the site’s operating funds. Regulators want assurance that the sites are protecting player’s funds and comes after the sudden bankruptcy of California based DFS site Fantasy Aces, which saw many players unable to withdraw their accounts.
Amaya Gaming, owners of PokerStars, has been fined $25,000 by New Jersey gaming regulators for a failure of its geolocation software. Online gaming is confined to players within the state’s borders and online sites must use software to verify player’s locations. PokerStars also announced it is closing its PokerStars France site to players outside of France.
The UK Gambling Commission has successfully prosecuted two men for Gambling Act offences in a "landmark" case involving eSports betting. The case revolved around betting on video soccer matches using online tokens that could be traded for real money.
FIFA has announced an agreement with Sportradar Integrity Services to monitor matches as well as provide education and intelligence services to strengthen the integrity of soccer internationally. Sportradar will analyze suspicious betting patterns worldwide.
A year-old company, PropSwap, made news in the days before the Super Bowl by offering to let people who were unhappy with their bets to cash them in—at a loss, of course, but not as much of a loss as losing the bet.
Online gaming supplier NetEnt announced the launch of its first real-money virtual-reality online slot game, branded with one of its most popular titles, Gonzo’s Quest.
Playtech announced a multi-year content deal with Warner Bros. Consumer Products, the launch of an innovative multi-channel game, and an acquisition of an online game developer.
Stockholm-based Betsson AB will acquire London AIM-listed interactive gaming operator NetPlay TV for £26.4 million. The deal still has to be approved by NetPlay shareholders.
Two influential individuals are monitoring twin bills by state Senator Brandon Beach and state Rep. Ron Stephens allowing a "destination resort" in Atlanta. Tilman Fertitta, Houston-based billionaire owner of Golden Nugget casinos, said he has a lobbyist at the Capitol. Former Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour (l.) actually is a lobbyist for Wynn Resorts.
Alabama Governor Robert Bentley (l.) called gambling a confusing "quilt work" and formed a gaming advisory council to resolve it. But Eric Johnston of the Alabama Policy Institute told council members "There is no ‘confusing quilt work’ of Alabama law on gambling. The Alabama Supreme Court has consistently explained our law in many published decisions."
Despite New Jersey Governor Chris Christie vetoing a bill specifically designed to keep him from re-opening Atlantic City’s Taj Mahal without settling a union dispute, Carl Icahn (l.) says he still intends to sell the casino. Icahn said he expects other investors will shy away from the resort as a result of the bill, even though it was vetoed.
As the Illinois Senate considers the "grand bargain" including six new casino licenses, the capital city Springfield has begun lobbying for one of them to help close its multimillion-dollar budget gap. Some officials hesitate to compete with the existing video gambling market, and others believe Illinois has reached the saturation point with 10 casinos.
Florida Supreme Court Justice James E. C. Perry heard arguments in the Gretna Racing case last June, but he retired in January, following Governor Rick Scott's appointment of Justice C. Alan Lawson. Florida Supreme Court Justice Jorge Labarga(l.) said he believed Perry's rulings "are done and whatever he signed will be released soon."
Idaho legislators kept electronic pull-tabs last week, beating back an attempt to ban them. But controversy continues with a new bill that ban video gaming terminals at Indian casinos.
Malaysian casino giant Genting recently asked the Federal Aviation Administration for re-approval of its plans to build three 649 foot towers on its Miami, Florida property. Genting purchased the former Miami Herald complex (l.) in 2011 for $236 million in anticipation of developing a casino there.
Several bills in the New Hampshire legislature are active that would allow forms of gaming. One, by casino stalwart Senator Lou D’Allesandro (l.) revives his perennial bill that would allow two casinos in the state.
CC Gaming will become the largest locally owned owner and operator of casinos in Colorado with purchase of the 224,000 square foot Reserve Casino Hotel (l.) in Central City, Colorado. CC Gaming also owns and operates Johnny Z's Casino in Central City, Z Casino in Black Hawk and the Z Stop convenience store.
The Virginia House of Delegates will consider state Senator Louis Lucas' (l.) bill classifying poker as a game of chance. Her casino gambling measure was rejected by a Senate committee—again. Currently Virginia only allows horse racing and off-track betting at licensed facilities, charitable gambling and a state lottery.
A proposal by Indiana state Rep. Todd Huston would end the $3 casino admission fee, but instead tax adjusted gross revenue at 2.8 percent. Huston said the new tax would encourage operators new tax would generate more money by attracting more gamblers, and encouraging casinos to invest in their properties and market to Chicago.
Elaine Wynn (ll.) has suffered a setback in her court battle to free her $1 billion worth of Wynn Resorts stock from the control of ex-husband Steve Wynn. A Nevada judge has barred her new law firm from the case because they may be privy to more inside information on the company than they’re supposed to have.
Pennsylvania regulators have issued fines to the Mount Airy Casino for allowing a visibly intoxicated person to gamble and to SugarHouse Casino for improper credit promotions.
Forecasts that Penn National Gaming's Charles Town racino (l.) in West Virginia would lose up to 25 percent of EBITDA following the recent opening of MGM National Harbor near Washington, D.C. are proving to be wrong—so far. Penn National executives said fewer regulations, less traffic, comp drinks and allowing smoking help Charles Town compete.
Marriott doesn’t allow gambling in its hotels, so Delaware North removed its name from the slots parlor the company is opening this month in the Long Island town of Islandia. The venue (l.), operated in partnership with the local OTB, will eventually host 1,000 machine games.
The state panel that oversees gaming in Massachusetts gave the go ahead to a five-year, $9 million renovation plan for Plainridge Park Casino (l.). The facility is currently the only operating casino in the state.
When the Cory family of Tiverton, Rhode Island, sold an option to buy 45 acres of forest land to an unknown company represented by a Boston attorney, they had no idea the land would be the future site of Rhode Island’s third casino. The land was purchased by Twin River Worldwide Holdings for $787,500.
Arizona lawmakers are considering a bill that would legalize electronic bingo. But there are complications since it is uncertain whether deploying the games would violate the state tribal gaming compacts. In an unrelated report, Bernadine Burnette (l.), president of the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation, has been elected chairman of the Arizona Indian Gaming Association.
The city council of Elk Grove, California has backed down on an action that paved the way for a tribal casino in the Elk Grove Mall property (l.), owned by the Howard Hughes Corp. Faced by a petition signed by more than 14,000 residents, the council rescinded an action it took in October, obviating the need for a referendum vote in June.
A case involving a couple suing an employee of a tribal casino who injured them in a car accident while performing his duties off the reservation has prompted interest from a wide range of the legal community since it impinges on the concept of tribal sovereign immunity. The case has reached the U.S. Supreme Court.
Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians Chief Phyliss J. Anderson (l.) said cash on hand will finance the new $25 million Red Water Casino in Leake County. Some members want a recall, claiming Anderson's using tribal funds irresponsibly. But Anderson said the tribal council approved the new venue that will generate $20 million in annual profits.
Clark County, Washington has decided to throw in the towel in its battle against the Cowlitz tribe and the Ilani Casino and Resort (l.) it will probably open in April. The county council voted last week to stop opposing the casino and to begin speaking with the tribe.
The Interior Department will take into trust 107 acres for the Shawnee Tribe's off-reservation Golden Mesa Casino (l.) near Guymon, Oklahoma. The governor also must approve the application. The proposed casino, located 400 miles from the tribe's Miami headquarters, would have a 60,000 square foot gaming floor and create 175 jobs.
The Agua Caliente tribe is talking to the public about its proposal to redesign the entertainment district that is next to the Spa Casino, and which will be an expansion of it. The public is wary about anything that disturbs the city’s “village feel.”
Some candidates for office in the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe say they want the tribe to diversity its economic efforts. Currently the tribe’s one enterprise, the Project First Light casino in Taunton, is dead in the water, torpedoed by the decision of a federal judge.
Senator Tony Hwang (l.) has joined forces with the Coalition Against Casino Expansion in Connecticut. The alliance wants to stop the state’s two casino tribes from opening a third, satellite casino off-the-reservation.
The White Earth Nation of Vergas is encountering many stumbling blocks on its way to build its proposed Star Lake Casino. The casino would have 850 slot machines and a hotel with 180 rooms.
Three Illinois Lottery players and a bar are seeking class-action status in a lawsuit against Northstar, the lottery's private manager. The suit accuses Northstar of defrauding scratch-off players and retailers. Last December, a Chicago Tribune investigation of 17 games run by Northstar found the lottery failed to award many of the largest prizes.
The Mississippi Senate is considering a bill that passed the House on its second vote. The bill would regulate daily fantasy sports operators and authorize an 8 percent tax. But a lottery bill died in the House of Representatives when it failed to be considered by a Thursday deadline.
Lottery jackpot winners of at least $80,000 would not be able to receive Medicaid benefits under legislation that recently passed a U.S. House committee. Republicans said the bill, which was opposed by all committee Democrats except one, was designed to help taxpayers avoid paying Medicaid benefits for enrollees who don't need it.
After just four months on the job, Stephen Law Cheuk Kin has quit his job as chief financial officer for Sands China Ltd. The Macau casino operator said Law left “to pursue other business interests and opportunities.”
Former Sands China executive Ciaran Carruthers has been appointed chief operating officer of Wynn Macau. Carruthers is also a former gaming industry consultant.
South Florida's largest gaming and entertainment complex, Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida, recently named Auggie Cipollini as president. Most recently he was senior vice president of operations at Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in Atlantic City, New Jersey. He began his casino industry career in 1984 at Harrah’s Atlantic City.
Christopher Carr, political director of the Republican National Committee, has joined Wynn Resorts as a senior vice president, as Wynn donated nearly $7 million in company stock to an undisclosed recipient.
The former chief financial officer at Imperial Pacific Holdings, Chan Kin Man recently was named chief financial officer and company secretary at casino equipment supplier Paradise Entertainment. Chan has 20 years experience in accounting and finance to his new role. He also held several positions at Macau Legend Development.
Broadcasting legend Brent Musburger (l., with fellow broadcaster Al Bernstein) has joined the team of a new live sports radio show airing from the sports book at the South Point on the Strip. The casino has built a custom studio for the show, the Vegas Stats & Information Network, as it’s called, so bettors can watch all the action and maybe get in on it themselves.
Scientific Games has confirmed a proposed private add-on offering of US$1 billion of 7 percent senior secured notes, subject to market and other conditions.
The Malta Gaming Authority has implemented a new regulation governing skill-based games, and has determined that fantasy sports now fall into the skill-game category.
JCM Global will supply its Ticket2Go solution to retrofit machines with ticket-in/ticket-out technology in more than 150 gaming sites of U.K. operator Talarius.
Gary Platt Manufacturing has gained 100 percent of the business in supplying chairs to JNB Properties’ del Lago Resort Casino and Kansas Crossing Casino Hotel.
An executive of Clarion Events, producer of the ICE Totally Gaming trade show, says that the London event has grown larger than the Global Gaming Expo in Las Vegas.
