The long-awaited ilani Casino Resort in Washington state is expected to open April 24 by the Cowlitz Indian Tribe and its partner the Mohegan Tribe of Connecticut. The project has had to overcome opposition from the state, the federal government, individual citizens and a nearby tribe. This tribal “song” (that’s what ilani means) will be fully served by local law enforcement due to a government-to-government agreement between the tribe and Clark County.

It’s been a long journey for the multibillion-dollar megaresort, which debuted in the Bahamas on Friday. The first phase includes a 1,800-room Grand Hyatt, the largest casino in the Caribbean, a Jack Nicklaus golf course, and a robust sampling of the luxury shopping and dining that will be coming in the months ahead.

The Stockbridge-Munsee Community sued the Ho-Chunk Nation, the state of Wisconsin and Governor Scott Walker over the Ho-Chunk's $22 million Wittenberg casino expansion, which the Stockbridge claim would cause it to lose $22 million annually from its own nearby casino. And in Washington state, a tribe that was allowed to have an off-reservation casino is suing another tribe that was allowed an off-reservation casino. Washington’s Kalispel Tribe, owner of the Northern Quest Resort and Casino claims the West Plains Casino (l.) proposed for less than four miles away would cause it “significant harm.”

Four lawmakers from Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party have proposed the elimination of an article in the country’s Offshore Islands Development Act that permits local referendums on casino gaming. Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen (l.) has opposed casinos since taking office.

A group of Pennsylvania state senators led by Tommy Tomlinson (l.) is proposing a 25 percent tax on revenues from online gaming in the state, a rate which many say will sink the prospects of iGaming in the state.

Statements by U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions (l.) that he may revisit a 2011 opinion by the Department of Justice that allowed for intra-state online gambling has set off a wave of concern that an online gambling ban may be imminent. Sessions made the statements during his confirmation hearings and there is little evidence that President Donald Trump would support a ban, but online gambling advocates have launched a new round of lobbying against a ban. The National Governor’s Association has also come out against a ban.

Gaming has a strong story to tell in terms of its positive impact on small businesses, and the American Gaming Association is hitting the road to tell it. Representatives of the D.C.-based trade group recently visited a food services company in Maryland and will be making 15-20 similar stops across the U.S. in the year ahead. Congressman Anthony Brown (l.) applauds the industry efforts to “give back to the community.”

The recent sales of the social casino divisions of both manufacturers and operators have given investors a measurement for those companies who still own those divisions. And the results could be quite profitable.

Landing International Development Ltd. is planning to open Phase I of its Jeju Shinhwa World resort complex (l.) in Jeju, South Korea on April 25. The facility eventually will have a casino and a theme park.

Dozens of construction workers hired to work on the Imperial Pacific resort on the island of Saipan took to the streets April 14 demanding to back wages. Their employer has been charged with using illegal Chinese crews.

A US$200 million mixed gaming development is planned for a 50-hectare (124-acre) site in Bavet City, Cambodia. The so-called Empire World City is a project of a company identified as Virtue Resources Corp.

Paradise Co. Ltd., the operator of a new foreigners-only casino in Incheon, South Korea, is working with its Japanese partner to draw non-Chinese patrons to the property, which opened Phase I on April 20.

Police in Macau have arrested seven Mainland Chinese residents for alleged illegal betting worth US$1.3 million, some of it accomplished through texts transmitted on the social messaging service WeChat.

Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar (l.) of Goa, who has never made peace with the local casino industry, has announced it will ban entry to the gaming halls by residents of the Indian state. Lawmakers still insist they will relocate casino cruises.

Chinese tourists spent $261 billion on travel in 2016, making them the world’s biggest-spending tourists. That amount was 12 percent higher than in 2015, and more than twice the amount spent in 2012.

Melco International Development Ltd., controlled by Lawrence Ho, may buy up Nasdaq-listed Entertainment Gaming Asia Inc. and take it private. Melco controls almost 65 percent of the gaming company.

Shares of Delta Corp., India’s only listed casino group, recently dropped 17 percent on speculation that the Indian government will merge the coastal union territory of Daman with neighboring Gujurat.

Russia’s Primorye Territory Development Corp. has filed to terminate the agreement that permitted Royal Time Primorye to build its first gaming resort, Phoenix (l.), in the economic zone near Vladivostok.

The private equity group Pacific Consortium has increased its offer for a possible acquisition of Tatts Group. The cash bid is A$7.2 billion, or A$4.21 cash per Tatts share. Tatts Group previously rejected a bid of A$3.40 per share cash for Tatts’ lottery business. The group will now consider the new bid against a previous bid from Tabcorp.

Young people in South Africa comprise the largest group of millennials who bet once a week. Members of this demographic spend about US$50 a month on football wagers, according to a new poll.

A former Aston Hill national sales manager has settled his case with Canadian regulators stemming from insider trading charges over Amaya Inc.’s purchase of PokerStars. John David Rothstein received a two-year trading ban and agreed to cooperate with the Ontario Securities Commission in their investigation. Former Amaya CEO David Baazov (l.) also faces charges in the investigation.

The league is partnering with UK-based operator PlayON to bring its games to fantasy sports fans in Europe, Latin America, parts of Asia and Australia. PlayON has customers in more than 100 countries but only takes real-money play in the UK, Ireland and Australia.

As legislative sessions across the country begin to wind down, action on the legalization/regulation of daily fantasy sports begins to get serious. Alabama, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts and Mississippi were hard at work last week. Iowa’s Rep. Matt Windschitl (l.), the sponsor of the DFS bill, is fearful that opponents will consider it an expansion of gaming in the state.

eSports will be an official medal sport at the 2022 Asian Games in China. The Olympic Council of Asia has announced a partnership with Alisports to introduce eSports as a demonstration sport at next year’s games in Indonesia. The companies expect eSports to be named a full medal event at the Hangzhou Games in 2022.

Online gaming technology provider GAN has received an online gambling license from New Jersey regulators. CEO Dermot Smurfit (l.) cited the “guaranteed integrity” of his company.

Greentube has launched its content in Hungary’s first licensed online casino with titles including Book of Ra, Lucky Lady’s Charm and Sizzling Hot Deluxe.

PokerStars has released an updated version of Jackpot Poker on Steam, after correcting technical issues that cropped up when the platform was originally released.

GSA Europe will develop a standard for internet gaming third-party content and platform providers to govern interfaces between iGaming platforms and remote game servers.

W2 Global Data has secured investment to fund the expansion of its R7D, sales and marketing efforts in customer service, anti-money laundering and anti-fraud software products.

For the fourth time this year, Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge (l.) rejected a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow voters to approve casino gambling. Rutledge said the proposal's name was too long and complicated and left out specifics about how the ballot measure would be initiated.

Chairman Bill Galvano (l.) postponed negotiating a compromise gambling bill between the House and Senate in his conference committee after the state Supreme Court approved a proposed constitutional amendment to give Florida voters the “exclusive right to decide whether to authorize casino gambling.” The House and Senate have passed dramatically different gambling bills this session, which ends May 5.

Some readers of the state budget proposed by the Massachusetts House were surprised to discover a proposal that would allow alcohol to be served until 4 a.m. in the state’s casinos. That’s a change from the current law, which shuts the bottles at 2 p.m. Senate President Stanley Rosenberg (l.) isn’t a fan of the proposal.

The Illinois Senate passed the "grand bargain" budget deal last month, but it has since stalled in the House. The legislative package would add casinos and allow slots at racetracks and airports. All 10 bills must pass or none will, although lawmakers may send a stand-alone gambling bill to Governor Bruce Rauner (l.).

The always-reticent New Hampshire House is considering a bill by Senator Lou D’Allesandro that would allow two casinos in the state. D’Allesandro’s bills have passed the Senate several times in the past and always died in the House. A difference this time is that no specific sites are mentioned for the casinos. Governor Chris Sununu (l.) has dampened enthusiasm for the bill.

The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission recently announced a timeline for awarding a license for a downtown Cedar Rapids casino. Three proposals have been submitted and the IRGC has selected two firms to conduct market studies. Site visits will take place September 26 and commissioners will vote for the winner on November 13.

Malaysian gambling giant Genting received unanimous approval from the Miami-Dade commission to build a 36-story hotel (l.) above a bus station off Northeast 14th Street. Commissioners said they expect Genting to open a casino there. Genting owns adjacent land, including the former Miami Herald building.

In a series of developments, various state agencies are funding projects in Atlantic City. The projects include funding seasonal police officers and partial funding of a “Polercoaster” project (l.) on the Boardwalk. The city has also bonded to pay the Borgata casino $80 million in a tax settlement. And finally, ground was broken for the Stockton University Atlantic City campus last week.

The city council of Chula Vista, in San Diego County, has voted to allow the transfer of ownership of the Seven Mile Casino to Stones South Bay Corp. The buy also operates Stones Gambling Hall in Northern California.

Florida developer Glenn Straub has given yet another possible opening date for parts of his Ten resort (l.) in Atlantic City, formerly the Revel casino. Straub said he expects to open 1,500 to 2,000 rooms at the property by June 15. Straub has given several possible opening dates for parts of the property in the past, but all have been delayed as he seeks regulatory approvals. Governor Chris Christie says unless Straub agrees to obtain a casino license he should sell the property.

Executives with the NFL franchise are meeting with the Las Vegas Stadium Authority this week to hammer out a lease agreement governing the team’s move to the city. The lease is just the first of several agreements that must be cleared before construction of a $1.9 billion, 65,000-seat home for the team can begin.

A hardware malfunction caused the casino surveillance system at the Hard Rock (l.) in Sioux City, Iowa to shut down recently. Customers were not allowed on the gaming floor during the 12-hour closure. Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission Administrator Brian Ohorilko said officials "do not suspect that there was anything nefarious."

Several businesses and a VFW post have asked DuPage County officials to lift a ban on video gambling machines, enacted in August 2009. Although the county chose to prohibit the games, several towns now allow them. The ban affects more than 25 restaurants, bars and golf courses in unincorporated areas.

A lawsuit against Belle of Sioux City may proceed, a federal judge recently ruled. Belle, owner of the former Argosy Sioux City riverboat casino, was sued by a nonprofit claiming the Argosy was "operating unlawfully" after losing its gaming license, and that Belle unjustly made money by withholding revenue-sharing payments intended for area charities.

Whether the Connecticut legislature should throw its support behind its two gaming tribes, the Pequots and the Mohegans, or gamble on a commercial interloper like MGM, caused a raging debate last week during hearings of the legislature’s Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee. Possible gubernatorial candidate Tony Hwang (l.) is part of the anti-casino coalition that doesn’t want any new casinos in the state.

Indian tribes looking to buy public land for economic development are not finding much support from Donald Trump’s Interior Department. The department’s new secretary, Ray Zinke (l.), opposes the sales―a position that already threatens to dash a casino project in Colorado.

The Agua Caliente Band proposes to build a “mixed use entertainment and gaming district” in downtown Cathedral City. It has the full cooperation of the city, which is selling it the 12.5 acres for the redevelopment. Tribal Chairman Jeff Grubbe (l.) says the project will help revitalize the town with jobs and economic growth.

The Central California tribe the Timbisha Shoshone pulled the curtain back last week on its proposed casino near Ridgecrest. The Friedmutter Group drawings (l.) were presented to the Ridgecrest city council and look suspiciously like the Navajo Twin Arrow Casino. Work could begin as early as April 2018 if the federal government agrees to put the land into trust.

The largest Indian casino in Northern California, Graton Resort & Casino, wants to double the size of its hotel offerings to better serve the San Francisco market. It has applied to the federal government to be allowed to add 200 rooms. It opened its first hotel in November.

Arkansas Scholarship Lottery players will be able to purchase tickets using debit cards starting in late July. Ticket sales have been cash-only since the lottery began in September 2009. Arkansas Lottery Director Bishop Woosley said “is as much about remaining relevant in an increasingly cashless economy as it is increasing sales.”

New Jersey state lottery sales are down and the private company running the lottery will miss its target goals for a third consecutive year. The slump comes as state Governor Chris Christie (l.) wants to use lottery funds to offset state pension costs.

The federal government wants to privatize the industry, a plan it says will double its tax-generating potential. A new bill in Congress is designed to push the process along by bringing badly needed transparency on the day-to-day operations side.

The Oklahoma Senate will consider a bill allowing the state lottery to increase prizes and give 35 percent of profits to education, thereby adding another $100 million to education funding over the next five years. The Oklahoma Lottery currently has the lowest payouts in the U.S.

J.K. Houssels Jr., the former Showboat chairman who passed away this month at the age of 94 was a force in gaming’s evolution as a respectable industry. Known for his integrity, he was instrumental in expelling organized crime from the Tropicana. He would later bring the Showboat brand into Atlantic City and Australia.

Neil Moffitt will leave Hakkasan Group prior to the company’s merger with SBE Entertainment in late May. Moffitt became chief executive officer when Hakkasan purchased his company, Angel Management Group, more than five years ago. Hakkasan President and Chief Operating Officer Nick McCabe have been promoted to chief executive officer.

Gary Platt Manufacturing named Marek Petrilak, a finance professional with experience in several countries, as the company’s new vice president of finance.

Scientific Games has launched its Dragon Spin game, on the Pro Wave cabinet, in Latin America with placement at the Golden Palace Casino in Lima, Peru.

Slot and table-game supplier AGS has taken the initial steps toward filing an initial public offering of its common stocks, with the number of shares and price to be determined.

Gamblit Gaming has launched the first skill-based slot machines in the California market, with placement of its video game gambling machines at Harrah’s Resort.

Merkur Gaming has announced a successful debut of its Avantgarde slots at the Enjoy Punta del Este casino in Uruguay, with the casino reporting high initial earnings.

A startup gaming company called Shark Trap, led by gaming veteran Lou DeGregorio (l.), has revealed a new revolutionary table-game security platform that consists of “smart” Super Shufflers able to provide savings and security to casino operators.

Ortiz Gaming announced the launch of more than a dozen games for both Class II and Class III casino markets in a diversification of the supplier’s game library.

U.S.-based video-game publishing company Blizzard has launched its first e-Stadium in Taipei. The venue will host live video game tournaments up to six days a week.

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