The Las Vegas Sands Corp., Hard Rock, Melco Crown and MGM are among the likely suitors for one of two integrated resort licenses in the nascent Japanese market. The operators are preparing to invest tens of billions of dollars. Melco Crown posted a rendering of a possible resort (above) it would build as if to demonstrate the immense property that $10 billion will buy.
Pennsylvania lawmakers are facing multiple challenges in putting together omnibus gaming legislation that would legalize online gaming and daily fantasy sports and expand other gaming. Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf (l.) says the legislature is considering iGaming but whatever happens it has to enhance gaming revenues currently flowing to the state
For the ninth year in a row a California lawmaker, this time Rep. Reginald Jones-Sawyer (l.), who was responsible for last year’s effort, has introduced a bill that would legalize iPoker in the Golden State. Sacramento watchers give the bill long odds and tribal officials say the same problems remain.
GameSense, a responsible gaming program developed by the British Columbia Lottery Corp. will get $1 million from MGM Resorts in a gaming research partnership with the BCLC and the University of Nevada Las Vegas’ International Gaming Institute. Alan Feldman (l.), MGM executive vice president, says GameSense will “transform the guest experience.”
Melco International of Hong Kong and U.S.-based Hard Rock International continue to look for satellite casino sites on the Greek-controlled Republic of Cyprus. The partners won a gaming license there in October 2016 and are entitled to smaller casinos in addition to its main development (l.).
The Bermuda Senate has passed legislation setting tax rates and a fee structure for casino gaming resorts, as a prominent lawmaker complains the rates are too high. MP Shawn Crockwell (l.) says the high taxes and fees are making investors think twice about Bermuda.
There seems to be little consensus on the pace of Macau’s recovery. The International Monetary Fund says the economy will grow 2.8 percent in 2017. Other reports say investors are too bullish about a risky market.
The end of the gaming giant’s long bankruptcy saga got a boost from an agreement on key terms of a planned merger between parent Caesars Entertainment and its Caesars Acquisitions subsidiary. Caesars Acquisitions shareholders will get 1.625 shares in the new company for every share they hold.
Promising they are “days away” from revealing the location and design of Connecticut’s third casino, Mohegan Tribal Chairman Kevin Brown said the legislature needs to pass a bill immediately. Lawmaker Joe Verrengia (l.) will be holding hearings on the proposed third tribal casino, a partnership between the Mohegans and the Mashantucket Pequots.
Even without a set of laws, regulations, taxes and fees, sites or joint ventures, there is already a clamor a bout who will win casino licenses in Japan. The usual contenders are there, but who are the dark horses? The answer might surprise you.
This week the GGB Podcast features an interview with Steve Rittvo, the chairman emeritus of the Innovation Group, reflecting on his history with the gaming industry while building up his company.
Kangwon Land Inc. has posted “weaker than expected” fourth-quarter results due to a slide n VIP traffic, according to Daiwa Securities Group Inc. Kangwon Land operates the only South Korean casino (l.) open to nationals.
Imperial Pacific International Holdings says it will mark the soft opening of its new Imperial Pacific Resort and Hotel Saipan (l.) on March 31, according to reports. A 350-suite hotel will debut sometime this summer. Casino Commission Vice Chairman Joseph C. Reyes (l.) says weather may delay the opening.
The Volunteers against Crime and Corruption in the Philippines have filed a petition to stop a former Army and Navy Club (l.) in Manila from being turned into a hotel and casino.
The government of Macau has granted 15 new mass-market gaming tables and 91 slot machines to the Legend Palace Hotel. The third hotel in the Macau Fisherman’s Wharf complex is set to open this week.
Melco International Development Ltd. has completed the purchase of an additional interest in Melco Crown Entertainment and now holds a majority stake in the global gaming enterprise.
Goa’s opposition Congress has pledged not to renew the liquor licenses of offshore casinos in in the Indian if it wins the next election. Goans go to the polls in March, and the licenses expire at the end of the month.
Thunderbird Resorts Philippines has expanded its casino operation at Poro Point on Luzon Island in a bid to attract Chinese players. The casino has added a VIP area and more than doubled its main gaming floor.
Slovakia’s capital of Bratislava is home to a flourishing gambling industry, including Novomatic’s Grand Admiral, which city officials are under pressure to shut down. Legislation to do just that, backed by the mayor, was voted down recently, but only barely.
Gaming and sports stakeholders are asking government authorities in Malta to review national sports integrity laws for their adequacy in the digital age.
GambleAware, a unit of the UK Responsible Gambling Trust, has launched its first advertising campaign to educated teens and young adults about problem gambling. The online pilot is targeted at people 16 to 24.
Legislation to legalize sports betting in Brazil is ready for submission to Congress. According to the Brazilian Institute for Legal Gaming, foreign sports betting sites currently dodge $US 875 million in taxes.
Operator Chow Tai Fook Enterprises has received more than 11,000 applications for employment at its Baha Mar Casino and Hotel in the Bahamas, slated to open in April.
An independent research group says a casino resort planned for the Spit on the Gold Coast would ¬add US$544 million (AU$710 million) a year to the state economy and generate millions of additional room nights annually. ASF Director Louis Chien (l.) calls it a “game-changer for the Gold Coast.”
Australian gaming operator Crown Resorts says its $1.2 billion casino and residential development at Barangaroo in Sydney will not be affected by the ongoing detention of 14 of staffers in a Shanghai detention center.
Australian gaming behemoth Tabcorp will fork over AU$45 million to settle a 2015 money laundering case brought by Australia’s financial intelligence agency, local media report.
Australia is considering new online gambling regulations that could end up outlawing online poker and casino games in the country. But a proposed amendment by an online poker alliance led by professional player Joseph Del Duca (l.) would carve out an exception for online blackjack and online poker. Some online poker sites have already shutdown operations in the country.
PartyPoker has temporarily withdrawn from the Czech Republic and filed for a license in the country under new gaming regulations. PartyPoker informed customers that it is suspending operations in the country while it goes through the licensing procedures. Rival PokerStars has received the first license to operate online poker in the country and began accepting players this month.
A breakdown of New Jersey’s $18.8 million in online revenue for January shows that online poker saw an uptick for the month. While the state’s online casino game revenue dominates the market, online poker revenue increased 11 percent over December and 8 percent over January 2016.
More than 4 million Texans play fantasy sports games. State Rep. Rodney Anderson has co-sponsored House Bill 1457 to clarify state law to reflect current technology and declare that fantasy sports are legal games of skill. Last year state Attorney General Ken Paxton (l.) said the games were illegal; FanDuel left and DraftKings sued.
A report from eSports marketing analytics firm Newzoo says eSports revenue will it about $70o million in 2017 and $1.5 billion by 2020. The report cited brand investment as a major driver for the industry.
New York regulators are investigating Fantasy Aces, a DFS service that has filed for bankruptcy with less than $2,500 in its players account against almost $3 million liabilities. But a rival site, concerned about the repercussions for the young industry, could be coming to the rescue.
Online sportsbook Pinnacle confirmed that it will withdraw from the Polish market due to new online regulations there. The bookie expects to close all Polish accounts by April 1. Also, BetVictor announced it will withdraw from the Russian market due to stricter regulations there.
Two Florida gambling bills are headed for floor votes when the legislature meets March 7. The House measure would stop recent gambling expansion and give future control of gambling to the legislature. The Senate bill would allow slots and tribal gaming to expand. House Speaker Richard Corcoran (l.) says the bill in his chamber would actually contract existing gaming.
A hearing for Senate Bill 79, allowing two casino resorts in Georgia, was canceled last week. Bill sponsor state Senator Brandon Beach asked for a reschedule on Monday and said the legislation could pass the full Senate. But a committee member said Chairman Rick Jeffares (l.) canceled the hearing because "the opposition was overwhelming."
Investigations by the Gaming Control Board and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission into questions about operations at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs could explain the sudden departure of Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority President and CEO Bobby Soper, who served in the same position at the Pocono facility.
South Bend, Indiana would lose $600,000 in annual Riverboat Wagering Tax Revenue because it will receive money from the Pokagon Band's casino, under a measure sponsored by state Rep. Todd Huston (l.). City officials said the measure left a gap between the end of riverboat tax revenue and the start of tribal casino payments.
The Arizona legislature is considering a bill introduced by state Senator Sonny Borrelli (l.) that would allow keno to be played in the state’s bars and clubs. The Senate Judiciary Committee has advanced the bill to the Senate Appropriations Committee, but it will be vigorously opposed by the tribes in the state.
The MGM Springfield casino (l.) in Massachusetts’ third largest city could open several months ahead of schedule, in the summer of 2018. The $950 million casino is getting a boost because a state highway project will be finished several months earlier than anticipated.
Voters in Maine will probably get the opportunity to authorize a third casino, this one in York County. The initiative drive gathered enough signatures to put the measure on the November ballot.
What’s a snowstorm or two on opening week? No big deal for the new Rivers. The Schenectady gaming hall posted $3 million in win in its first seven days, putting it almost neck and neck in the early going with its new cross-state competitor del Lago.
Philadelphia-based developer Bart Blatstein (l.) continues to buy up land in Atlantic City to expand his Showboat hotel, which was formerly a casino. Blatstein has just purchased about $6 million in property near the hotel.
Now through June 7, no video gambling machines will allowed to operate or be installed in establishments with new liquor licenses, the Champaign, Illinois city council recently determined. Mayor Deborah Frank Feinen said, “It’s not a morality issue” but an opportunity to review the city’s gambling laws.
A new 15,000-square-foot arena for e-sports and video gaming is coming to Fremont Street next month. Millennial Esports, as it’s called, will feature stadium seating, a main stage, video walls, concessions and the state-of-the-art in broadcast and internet facilities. A tour (l.) was given last spring while it was still under construction.
Tiverton, Rhode Island’s new $75 million casino could open by July 2018. The Twin River Management Group says it will pursue an aggressive construction schedule for the casino, which will have 1,000 slots and 32 gaming tables.
Mardi Gras Casino in Hallandale Beach, Florida recently turned 10 years old. A concert by 1970s rockers Orleans and Gary Wright honored the occasion, plus special promotions and entertainment, showgirls, strolling bands, stilt walkers and even psychics. Mardi Gras generates about $4 million in monthly slot revenues, ahead of Gulfstream Park but behind Isle Casino and Racing.
Despite 11,000 jobs leaving Atlantic City’s casino industry since 2014, a state survey found that as many as 800 jobs are open at the city’s remaining seven casinos. More than 500 of the identified jobs are for fulltime positions.
The popular home-sharing service saw business more than double in the Silver State in 2016, generating more than $47 million for residents, most of it, by far, in Las Vegas. The city’s homes hosted more than 250,000 AirBnb travelers last year.
Atlantic City will borrow about $72 million to pay off its tax debt to the Borgata casino according to officials in Trenton. The state is currently managing the city’s finances and announced the settlement of the longstanding issue last week. Borgata agreed to take $72 million despite being owed about $165 million in tax court judgements. The city will pay the debt by issuing state-backed bonds.
Scarlet Pearl Casino (l.) in D'Iberville, Mississippi, opened in December 2015 and proceeded to batter Biloxi's eight casinos. Their total gross revenue dropped from $857 million in 2015 to $828 million in 2016, causing total coastal casino revenue to fall by $1.5 million to $99.1 million in January 2016. Still, coastal casino revenue increased $45 million for 2016.
Charitable gambling organizations in Minnesota hope proposed legislation exempting them from the state gambling rate will ease their tax burdens. Last year the nonprofits gave $62 million to charities but paid $60.6 million in state taxes. The proposed legislation only would lower taxes on the money the groups donate to charitable causes.
Idaho’s four gaming tribes were fighting a proposed bill by Rep. Tom Loertscher that would ban slot machines at tribal casinos. The bill is supported by the state’s racetracks and opposed by all four state tribes, including the Coeur d'Alene tribe, which operates a casino (l.) in Worley. But the bill failed when a House committee rejected it by an 8-7 vote.
Thirty-six acres in Elk Grove, California, site of an unfinished outlet mall (l.), have been placed into trust for the Wilton Rancheria, says the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The transaction could face legal challenges, however.
Customers no longer will have to pay $10 to park at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Tampa. The casino began charging the fee last August, assuming customers wouldn't mind paying for extra security. Instead guests complained non-stop about the controversial fee and the loss of 1,000 parking spaces during construction.
The $510 million ilani Casino Resort (l.), being built by the Cowlitz tribe of Washington, is looking at a mid-April opening. The casino, near La Center, is located on Interstate 5, and will be able to tap a large market centered around Portland, Oregon.
A Colorado tribe, the Southern Utes, have found the key for wealth generation with the Southern Ute Growth Fund. The fund has been called “one of the most sophisticated and aggressive” tribal financial plans.
Texas and the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe are in a legal battle over the tribe’s Naskila Gaming Center (l.). The Attorney General says the casino, which opened a year ago, violates state law.
A federal judge has OK’d the state of New Mexico to take legal action against vendors supplying the Pojoaque Pueblo’s two casinos, including Buffalo Thunder (l.). The casinos are operating without a compact with the state, and New Mexico officials say they’re illegal.
North Dakota’s Standing Rock Sioux, who for months have fought the Dakota Access Pipeline are now feeling the economic effects of that battle on their Prairie Knights Casino (l.). The high visibility fight has drained much of the casino’s business and hurt the tribe’s bottom line.
Oregon Governor Kate Brown (l.) got a $5,000 donation from the Cow Creek Band on the same day she stayed at the tribe’s Seven Feather Resort. After she announced her opposition to the tribe’s rival’s casino project, she got another $55,000 donation.
The Jena Choctaw Band Tribe announced it will build an 80-room hotel at its Jena Choctaw Pines Casino in Grant Parish, Louisiana, which recently turned four. Tribal Chief Cheryl Smith said the Class II casino has benefited tribal housing and education and provided an economic stimulus to the parish and Central Louisiana.
Under its revenue sharing agreement, the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians paid $2.7 million to Michigan and will pay $535,000 to Emmet County from revenue from its two Odawa Casinos. Since the payments began in 1999, the tribe has paid $50 million to the state and county.
Florida Governor Rick Scott (l.) asked a judge to dismiss a lawsuit filed by state House Speaker Richard Corcoran against state Lottery Secretary Tom Delacenserie. Corcoran claims Delacenserie broke state law by signing a $700 million contract with IGT Global Solutions. The previous contract with GTECH, which merged with IGT, was for $387 million.
EquiLottery and West Virginia Racing United will lobby for a measure allowing lottery games based on live horserace results. The bill will propose removing horseracing from a state statute that bans a lottery game based on the results of a live sporting event. This approach has worked in Kentucky and Minnesota.
Stephen Cootey has left Wynn Resorts to pursue other opportunities and Craig S. Billings has been named his replacement as CFO. Analysts were a bit concerned about Billings’ lack of operational experience, but his overall resume should alleviate that issue.
UK bookmaker William Hill is preparing to appoint interim CEO Philip Bowcock as permanent CEO. According to the UK’s Financial Times, the announcement was expected late last week.
Jason Scott, former trading director at Ladbrokes Coral Plc in Australia, has been named interim chief executive officer. He replaces Dean Shannon, who will leave this month. Previously Shannon was to be replaced by former Chief Operating Officer Paul Cherry, who left unexpectedly in January to join betting platform provider Division One.
Horseshoe Casino Baltimore has named former human resources executive Jacqueline Grace-Pope to the position of vide president and assistant general manager.
Anders Holmgren has been appointed CEO of Cherry AB and Yggdrasil Holding Ltd. He has been acting CEO since January. The appointment means he will resign from the company’s board of directors.
MGM’s new Level Up attraction hosted a skill competition February 18 at its new Level Up lounge to mark the introduction of Konami’s new skill-based Frogger: Get Hoppin’ game.
GameCo has debuted a new skill-based video game for its Video-Game Gambling Machine in Atlantic City, with “Pharaoh’s Secret Temple” now live at the Tropicana and Caesars properties.
Microsoft will be holding its massive annual conventions in Las Vegas starting in July under the terms of a new partnership with MGM Resorts International. The deal means 30,000-plus attendees a year will be feted at events at MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay and the new T-Mobile Arena.
