Several states are seriously considering online gaming or online poker. Pennsylvania, Michigan, New York and Massachusetts are considering bills or studies focused on iGaming. In the first joint House/Senate hearing on gaming expansion in Pennsylvania, debate focused on the potential revenue and potential pitfalls of legalizing online gaming. New York is limiting it to iPoker and Michigan’s iGaming include online lottery.
In a 31-26 vote, the Illinois Senate recently approved legislation allowing six new casinos, including one in Chicago, plus slots at airports and Chicago-area racetracks. All the provisions would generate an estimated $560 million annually, according to state Senator Terry Link (l.). However, the bill is part of the "grand bargain" legislative package—all must pass or none will pass. And this bill comes just two years after distributed gaming has severely depressed the gaming industry, which is already taxed to the hilt.
Now that the moving target that was the selection process for choosing a site for the Connecticut gaming tribes’ third, satellite casino has come to rest on East Windsor—complete with a rendering of the proposed project (l.)—casino opponents have gone into action. Meanwhile MGM counter attacked with a proposal to open a casino in Bridgeport that would create even more revenue for the state.
In Florida, Senate Bill 8 and House Bill 7037 present diverse visions of the future of gambling. The Senate legislation, sponsored by Senator Bill Galvano (l.) would expand gambling while the House version would contain it. The Seminole compact, which brings in billions of dollars, also is in play, and decisions in two ongoing court battles also could make waves.
A recent poll taken at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Maryland found that an overwhelming number of attendees oppose the move by Sheldon Adelson (l.) to ban online gambling. About nine out of 10 attendees at the conference said they were against Adelson’s proposed legislation with nearly the same number saying they see the proposed bill as political cronyism.
A lawsuit brought by the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority against the Massachusetts Gaming Commission can proceed according to the state’s Supreme Judicial Court. The Mohegans are challenging the commission’s decision to award the final casino license to Wynn Resorts rather than the Mohegan project (l.) at the Suffolk Downs racetrack in Revere.
Gaming industry analysts say Japan may limit its gaming industry to two giant integrated resorts. One media outlet called it “pulling a Singapore,” where only two casino exist, Marina Bay Sands (l.) and Resorts World Sentosa, which require membership fees for locals. The limits may work in a country whose public has not embraced casinos.
Scientific Games highlighted its “Empower” customer technology user conference with the announcement of a major new license deal to create games based on the James Bond franchise.
ASF, the parent company of a consortium with exclusive rights to negotiate a multibillion-dollar casino development (l.) with the Queensland government, is on the verge of financial collapse, say auditors.
MGM’s purchase of Sands Bethlehem from Las Vegas Sands says a lot about both companies. MGM continues to build East Coast properties and LVS stockpiles cash to invest in Japan or create nice dividends.
This week, the GGB Podcast features a discussion with Victor Rocha, the president of Victor Strategies, on his role as the chairman of the conference committee for the Indian Gaming tradeshow and conference scheduled for April 10-13 in San Diego.
Despite comments about “uncertainty and risk” in the Vietnam gaming market, the Las Vegas Sands Corp. continues to weigh its future there, according to senior executive George Tanasijevich (l.).
MGM Resorts International, now in the final stages of completing its new resort on Macau’s Cotai Strip has revealed the property’s name: “Mei Si Mei,” or “Beautiful Lion, Beautiful MGM.” Pansy Ho (l.) presided over the ceremony that announced the new name.
The long-awaited Imperial Pacific resort on the Pacific island of Saipan is scheduled to open by the end of March. Though the high-roller retreat supposedly raked in billions in 2016, some analysts want a recount, questioning whether this is possible in a small casino in a converted shopping mall (l.).
Wagering on lotteries, sports and Kangwon Land’s (l.) slot machines and table games was up nearly 8 percent in 2016 for a total equivalent to a whopping US$17.6 billion. And that’s not counting what the country’s 16 foreigners-only casinos pulled in.
MGM China Holdings CEO Grant Bowie (l.) is confident Macau’s gaming industry has stabilized and will improve moving forward. The market has enjoyed seven straight months of growth in gross gaming revenues.
A year after the multimillion-dollar cyber-heist that threw the Philippines’ lax anti-money laundering rules into the spotlight, the country has not made great strides in strengthening AML safeguards, says the U.S.
Asian casino operator Silver Heritage Group Ltd. saw its net losses grow in 2016 to US$4.58 million for 2016, compared to US$4.24 million in the previous year.
Hong Kong-listed NagaCorp is on track to open its new Primorye integrated resort in 2018, according to reports. The Mayak (l.) will be the second integrated resort in the zone after Summit Ascent’s Tigre de Cristal.
The latest annual survey conducted by the UK Gambling Commission suggests that nearly half the country’s adult population gambles on a regular basis. Despite that, the prevalence of problem gambling, though difficult to quantify precisely, isn’t any higher than it’s ever been.
The Grosvenor Victoria Casino (l.) in London’s West End is up for sale. The asking price is about £70 million (US$85.4 million). The Rank Group is expected to remain as the operator of the casino under new ownership.
A former gaming regulator says Crown Resorts’ Australian casino licenses should be reviewed if China prosecutes and convicts Crown employees arrested last October for “gambling crimes” on the Chinese mainland. Crown’s head of international marketing Jason O’Connor (l.) remains in Chinese custody along with 12 colleagues.
Amaya Gaming’s former CEO David Baazov has sold about 7 million shares of the company for $99 million according to a report at CalvinAyre.com. The sale comes after the company announced it had restructured its debt including requirements designed to head off a hostile takeover attempt by Baazov. The sale represented about 30 percent of Baazov’s shares in the company.
According to figures required by the state of New York, the daily fantasy sports industry took in about $1.83 billion in entry fees between September 2016 and January 2017. No wonder then that several states are moving aggressively to regulate and tax the activity, which most agree is real gambling.
Playtech has launched the first online casino in the Czech Republic under the country’s new licensing rules. The company’s license lets it operate online technical games. Playtech’s site offers online and mobile slots games and casino table games.
PokerStars has announced it will hold the PokerStars Championship Sochi from May 20 to May 31, including a $1.6 million main event. The tournament seems intended to upstage Party Poker’s Million National Sochi event scheduled for this month.
Italy‘s online sports betting and casino sites saw a 25 percent increase in revenue for February over last year. Online poker, revenue, however, continues to decline.
France’s Service Central des Courses et Jeux, which oversees the country’s racing and betting services, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Sportradar. The company provides detection, education and intelligence services to sport and law enforcement on integrity in sporting matches.
Paddy Power Betfair has issued its “preliminary results” for 2016, which shows growth in all four of its operating divisions. The group reports revenues of £1.5 billion, but had to absorb merger costs which left it technically suffering a loss in profits for the year.
NYX is extending its reach in the U.S. online gaming market with the delivery of digital content to Rush Street Interactive’s online casino brand, SugarHouse Casino.
A bill introduced by Texas state Rep. Joe Deshotel (l.) would allow nine casinos, if voters approve a constitutional amendment. Meanwhile, tribal gambling only is legal at the Kickapoo s Lucky Eagle Casino, as the Alabama-Coushattas and the Tiguas battle the state attorney general to keep their gambling operations open.
On-again, off-again casino legislation officially died in Georgia for the 2017 session. State Senator Brandon Beach pulled his bill allowing two casinos, in Atlanta and a smaller city, due to lack of committee support. Three days later, state Rep. Ron Stephens (l.) pulled a similar measure from a House committee for the same reason.
As expected, Maryland Live! Casino ceded its number-one position in January to the $1.4 billion MGM National Harbor, which opened in December and posted $48.8 million in revenue, $5 million more than Maryland Live. But Maryland Live bounced back in February with of $46.2 million in revenue versus MGM National Harbor's $45.7 million.
Claiming the federal government has no power to prohibit sports betting, West Virginia Rep. Shawn Fluharty (l.) has introduced a bill to legalize it in the Mountain State. The bill adds West Virginia to a growing list of states, five and counting so far in 2017, considering similar measures.
The Oakland Raiders have told the NFL that Bank of America will cover the $650 million in Las Vegas stadium (l.) financing that Sheldon Adelson pulled back after his partnership with the team went sour. The backing means the Raiders’ move to Las Vegas is looking increasingly likely.
Kansas City, Kansas native Ed Asner (l.), an award-winning actor known for his portrayal of Lou Grant on the "Mary Tyler Moore Show," has asked the Kansas legislature to vote against approving slots at dog racetracks. Supporters of House Bill 2173 said that would allow Wichita Greyhound Park to reopen.
Developer Glenn Straub upped his war of words with New Jersey regulators as he continues to fight to re-open the former Revel casino in Atlantic City. He lost in court last week, as well, in his effort to buy the Showboat property (l.), a former Caesars Entertainment casino.
Six research firms recently met with the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission, hoping to be selected to lead a statewide gambling market study and review proposals from three Cedar Rapids casino developers, including Cedar Crossing (l.). The market study could be awarded in April and a casino developer could be named in November.
Twin Management Group, which operates Rhode Island’s two casinos, including Lincoln’s Twin Rivers (l.), is urging the legislature to pass a bill that would allow it to double the amount of “free play” it gives. Its competition in neighboring states is beating it in this department and it would like to be more competitive.
The owners of an off-track betting facility in Vineland New Jersey are proposing to add another location just a few miles from the site of the closed Atlantic City Racetrack. ACRA Turf Club LLC would open the betting parlor inside Chickie's and Pete's restaurant (l.) in Egg Harbor Township.
The Utah Attorney General's Office is cracking down on coin pusher (l.) and slot machines. Law enforcement began issuing about 160 search warrants across the state to find the machines at businesses such as gas stations and restaurants. . An estimated 400 to 600 machines were expected to be shut down statewide.
Atlantic City has seen its municipal credit rating improve after New Jersey struck a deal to pay the Borgata casino’s back taxes, but the city’s bond rating is still in junk status. S&P Global Ratings upgraded the city's credit rating from "CC" to "CCC."
The Trump administration has decided to defend the decision by the Bureau of Indian Affairs to put land into trust for the Cowlitz Tribe of Washington for its ilani casino (l.). That means the Department of Justice has asked the Supreme Court not to review the challenge to that decision.
A tribe that has been operating its casino out of a tent since 1983 has broken ground on an 85,500-square foot casino that will house 2,000 slot machines. The casino, to be operated by the Soboba Tribe of San Jacinto, is expected to take 18 months to build.
The Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohicans said it will not make its June 30 payment of $923,000 if it does not resolve a dispute with Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker (l.) over allowing the Ho-Chunk Nation's $33 million casino expansion in Wittenberg. The Stockbridge-Munsee operate a smaller casino 17 miles away.
Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin (l.) said she approves of the decision of the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs to place into trust a tract of land near Guymon for the Shawnee Tribe. The tribe, which has no jurisdictional land, plans to build a $25 million Golden Mesa Casino in the Panhandle location.
North Dakota Rep. Al Carlson thinks it would be a good idea for the state to own and operate six casinos. The five tribes that operate casinos are outraged. Carlson’s critics think he just wants to punish tribes for the protests that arose over the Dakota Access pipeline. Governor Doug Burgum (l.) opposes the bill.
Harrah's Cherokee Casino in Cherokee, North Carolina held a topping-out ceremony for its $17.5 million, 52,000 square foot Multi-Tainment Center. Set to open this fall, the venue will offer a 24-lane, state-of-the-art bowling center, with a VIP bowling area, plus party rooms, inside/outside bar, billiards, restaurant with performance space and an arcade.
Florida House Speaker Richard Corcoran (l.) won a lawsuit against the Florida Lottery. Circuit Judge Karen Gievers said lottery officials did not follow state law and had no legal authority to sign a $717 million contract with IGT Global Solutions. The previous lottery management contract was worth $387 million. Governor Rick Scott said he'll appeal.
Lawmakers in Ireland are taking aim at local lottery regulator Liam Sloyan, saying he is not doing his best to safeguard the public from problem gambling, especially online.
The Pennsylvania Lottery is celebrating 45 years. When it began, the top prize was $5,000. Today some of the 18 year olds who could buy lottery tickets are benefitting from senior services it funds.
UK gambling regulators are moving to close a loophole that lottery websites to offer UK-based customers EuroMillions betting options at reduced prices. The UK’s gambling laws prohibit buying lottery tickets online for less than face value, but sites have found a loophole by offering lotteries from other countries.
Intralot USA has signed a master services agreement with the Quality Assurance and Testing Division of Bulletproof Solutions, Inc. QA services to Intralot’s lottery clients.
Longtime Capitol Hill rivals Harry Reid and John Boehner have been recruited to head a new institute at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas dedicated to studying tourism, hospitality and gaming, both nationally and worldwide. The MGM Resorts Public Policy Institute is backed by a $950,000 grant from the casino giant.
As Macau junket investor Iao Kun Group looks beyond gaming for its future, Chairman Lam Man Pou and CEO Vong Hon Kun both have resigned. The new management structure will include co-CEOs
AGS has signed an exclusive distribution agreement to sell the copular commission-free baccarat game Dai Bacc, everywhere outside of California card rooms.
Scientific Games will provide games for a 57 percent share of the casino floor at the new ilani casino in Washington, with an order that includes 1,427 slot and table games.
Scientific Games Corporation executives were positive on revenue and EBITDA growth for 2016, despite recording a net loss for the fourth quarter and the year.
Gaming Laboratories International (GLI) preparing a unique and interactive 17th annual North American Regulators Roundtable. Topics covered include eSports, ETGs, Fantasy sports, iGaming and much more.
Konami Gaming will highlight the newest games in its Concerto Collection at the National Indian Gaming Association trade show and convention in San Diego April 11-13.
The Innovation Group announced that it will launch a new Native American Internship Program and new data science collaboration with BetConstruct at the NIGA trade show. Innovation Group President Michael Soll (l.) says the program will help tribes prepare for the future.
JCM Global has announced a lineup of products it will exhibit at the Australasian Hospitality & Gaming Expo, to be held March 29-30 at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre.
