The Macau government may change the rules and regulations for Macau’s Big 6 gaming concessionaires and numerous sub-concessionaires, according to Macau Secretary for Economy and Finance Leong Vai Tac (l.). The first terms—SJM Holdings and MGM China—are due to expire in 2020. Still unanswered are whether existing concessionaires will be required to re-bid for their licenses or if more concessions will be issued.
Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf has allowed a $32 billion budget to lapse into law, and with it, has once again delayed debate on a contentious gaming expansion package meant to partially address a huge deficit. The gaming issues likely will not be addressed until the fall. Rep. Mark Mustio (l.) is pushing hard for his plan to install VGTs at more than 8,000 statewide locations.
Daily fantasy sports giants FanDuel and DraftKings are appealing opposition to a merger from the Federal Trade Commission, which moved to block their union on grounds that a combined company would control 90 percent of the DFS market. Despite that FanDuel CEO Nigel Eccles (l.) said there is still “enormous potential” for his company.
Imperial Pacific International’s new casino resort staged a soft opening July 6 on the island of Saipan. The company’s previous temporary facility, Best Sunshine Live (l.), simultaneously closed after two years of operations.
Under a recent agreement, the Seminole Tribe of Florida could end revenue sharing payments to the state—about $340 million over the next year--if it feels the state isn't taking "aggressive enforcement action" against designated player games operating as banked card games at parimutuel casinos, like Gulfstream Park (l.). The parimutuels claim their lucrative games are legal.
The Golden State’s gaming tribes are beginning to lose patience with the state’s two gaming regulatory agencies for failing to crack down on the 75 card rooms, including the massive Commerce Casino (l.), that the tribes say are violating state law—to the detriment of the tribes. Some say that unless action is taken they will resort to the courts.
A government order opening the door to locals gaming has made Vietnam a more attractive investment proposition for global operators, says international real estate firm Jones Lang LaSalle. One of the locations being considered is Phu Quoc Island (l.).
New details have emerged about Hard Rock International’s proposed Spanish casino plan. The U.S.-based casino is the only remaining bidder for a casino license in Catalan, about 60 miles from Barcelona.
A report has surfaced that U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent (l.) of Pennsylvania is making a second attempt to slip language banning online gaming into a federal appropriations bill.
As the second quarter earnings season is set to begin, the influence of gaming revenue results in Macau and the U.S. will be eyed. But should savvy investors be wary?
This week, the GGB Podcast delves into the world of incentives for customers and employees alike in an interview with Paul Gordon, senior vice president of sales for Rymax Marketing Services
After the June 2 siege that left dozens dead at Resorts World Manila, parent company Travellers International Hotel Group Inc. is working to regain public trust and rebuild its image. The company faces criminal charges.
Cambodian casino operator NagaCorp Ltd. is set to open its Naga2 expansion in October, says Chairman Tim McNally. The new complex is adjacent to NagaWorld (l.), the company’s flagship resort in Phnom Penh.
Investment bank Morgan Stanley has upped its growth projections for Macau’s gaming industry based on VIP resurgence and in spite of new restrictions on ATM cash withdrawals.
Macau Legend Development Ltd has entered into a non-binding letter of intent to sell its casino resort, the Landmark Macau (l.). The unidentified buyer will pay a refundable deposit of $HK460 million (US$58.9 million).
Massive VIP growth recorded by Summit Ascent Holdings bodes well for the future of its Tigre de Cristal resort in Vladivostok. Summit Ascent posted VIP volume increases of more than 160 percent to date in 2017.
As in U.S. casinos, European casinos are removing skill-based slots because of their poor return on investment. The games were intended to lure millennials who prefer to gamble online or via video games. Simon Thomas (l.), chief executive at London’s Hippodrome, says they are “doomed to failure.”
What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas? Not if you’re France’s President Emmanuel Macron (l.). The new administration is under fire for a €238,000 promotional junket to the Strip for last year’s Consumer Electronics Show.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk (l.) says there’s room for just one more casino resort on Australia’s Gold Coast, the AU$3 billion complex to be developed by the Chinese-backed ASF Consortium.
The first big hotel to open in Vancouver, British Columbia, the Parq Vancouver (l.), will be a casino hotel that will cater to the business traveler. Sure, it will have slot machines and gaming tables, but it will recall business-friendly hotels like the Ned in London.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has applied to the Australian Federal Court for a new justice review of a decision by the Australian Competition Tribunal to approve the merger of Tabcorp and Tatts Group. The planned merger would create a company valued at 11 billion Australian dollars.
Why did Crown Resorts try to lure Mainland Chinese players in violation of the law? As usual, the numbers tell the story. Chinese gamblers lost a reported $875 million at Crown Resorts casinos in the last financial year.
Saskatchewan First Nations who thought they were going to be partners in a Lloydminster casino project, were elbowed out of the deal with the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority. Now they are considering going to court to protect their rights. First Nation Chief Delbert Wapass (l.) says his people are “suffering.”
Point Edward Casino (l.), one of six purchased by Gateway Casinos & Gaming Limited from the Ontario Lottery & Gaming Corporation, will undergo a $26 million renovation starting in August. The project will include a new restaurant, enlarged center bar and additional slots and table games. A contemporary interior will replace the underwater theme.
Two deals involving eSports leagues and video game publishers are about to reshape the young industry. Activision Blizzard is expected to announce franchises in its startup Overwatch League and Riot Games is accepting applications for its North American League Championship series. Franchise costs for Overwatch are estimated at $20 million while franchises in Riot Games league are expected to be valued for $10 million.
PokerStars will reimburse about 60,000 players that lost their balances when independent poker site PKR shutdown under an agreement with PKR’s Administrator. The site closed in May and will not return.
Google’s Android app store will lift a ban on gambling and betting apps in Europe, according to reports by a UK tech firm. The ban has limited Android users to downloading apps directly from gambling sites, limiting their exposure.
Proposed reforms would overhaul Malta's Gaming Legal Framework, according to a recently published white paper. The changes would include specifying the gaming authority as the single regulator in the gaming sector, eliminating unnecessary regulations, enhancing consumer protection standards and encouraging innovation and development.
Scientific Games announced the acquisition of Red7Mobile Ltd., an industry leader in the development of innovative mobile and interactive casino content.
Two bills are under consideration in Michigan to legalize and regulate fantasy sports. The bills would require fantasy sports operators to be licensed, to separate players' money and not allow betting on high school or college sports. Also, legislators may reconsider an online gambling bill, which died in the full Senate last year.
Paddy Power has signed a five-year deal with SIS TV it says will offer its customers a more personalized in-shop live sports betting experience. The service is now available throughout Paddy Power’s networks and provides retail TV channels with full Paddy Power TV branding.
Bloomberg News reports that China has ordered a block of virtual private networks to start in February 2018. The VPNs are a popular way for Chinese citizens to get around online gambling restrictions in the country.
A British student is challenging Bet365’s refusal to pay out over $1.7 million in winnings she won on horseracing. Bet365 claims the woman—who was 19 when she placed the bets—violated its terms and conditions saying the betting stake was supplied by a "third party." Lawyers for the student say she never willingly agreed to the condition.
Pennsylvania state Rep. Scott Petri has introduced a bill that would eliminate the gaming law prohibition involving multiple casino ownership, to defeat appeals against a South Philadelphia casino.
Online gaming revenue continued to boost Atlantic City casino revenue, turning a relatively flat June for land-based revenue into 1.8 percent increase over June 2016. Online gaming revenue was up 23 percent for the month. Matt Levinson (l.), chairman of the New Jersey Casino Control Commission, calls the results “solid numbers.”
According to a local report, a New York private equity firm has offered $220 million for Atlantic City’s closed Revel (l.) casino property. Florida developer Glenn Straub, the owner of the property he has rebranded as Ten, however, denied any offer was made. Straub has been unable to re-open the property he bought for $82 million in 2015.
The Illinois Gaming Board recently submitted proposed rules allowing individuals to place themselves on self-exclusion lists at establishments offering video gambling. The state's 10 casinos have offered self-exclusion since 2002. Christine Reilly (l.), senior research director with the National Center for Responsible Gaming, cautioned against high expectations.
The new Hard Rock Atlantic City will begin to take shape later this month when the company begins demolition of the façade of the former Trump Taj Mahal (l.). Opening is slated for next summer.
A regional airport near the company’s planned Resorts World casino is in talks to bring newer, larger jets to the facility. The aim, in part, is to position the casino, along with the Adelaar resort complex surrounding it, to market to Asian play.
The Alabama Advisory Council on Gaming has been dissolved by Governor Kay Ivey (l.) because it had not met in several months. However, a source said the group's work was nearly completed. Formed by then-Governor Robert Bentley, the council's mission was to study gambling's impact on state revenue.
The two largest full-scale commercial casinos, including the Rivers Casino & Resort (l.) in Schenectady, are operating considerably under the gaming revenues they’ve forecasted over the next two years. But it’s still early days for both, and management is looking to the addition of hotels and other attractions to bring in the players.
Hackers have stolen the payment card and personal information of thousands of the global casino giant’s hotel guests. The breach, which began last August and continued into March, occurred at a third-party reservation system. The Loews Hotel chain also was victimized
Revenue at Indiana's 13 casinos increased 4.9 percent to $178.8 million in June, compared to June 2016. Casinos in Northwest Indiana reported a revenue increase of 6 percent to $75.2 million in June compared to June 2016. However, for the calendar year, their revenue declined 1.6 percent to $481.5 million.
The pit is generating 47 percent of the new D.C.-area casino’s gaming revenues. It’s a high ratio compared to its Maryland competition, and high for the East Coast, and thanks to the state’s table-friendly tax rate, it’s been good for 62 percent of after-tax earnings.
The budget for problem gambling services in Massachusetts was cut last week causing advocates to predict dire consequences. Funding should go up, however, when the full casinos open in the state.
A proposed bill by New Jersey Senate President Steve Sweeney (l.) would allow casinos in the state to remain open even if state offices are closed in a budget standoff. New Jersey briefly closed state offices earlier this month as it failed to adopt a budget for the new fiscal year before a compromise was met. Current legislation allows the casinos to stay open for seven days during a shutdown. The new bill would allow them to stay open indefinitely in a government shutdown.
Prize payouts are bigger, licensing rules are looser, and advertising is now allowed on TV and the internet. It’s all aimed at boosting the fortunes of bingo and other charity games struggling with competition from the state’s expanded casino market.
Iowa's 19 state-licensed casinos reported a 1 percent increase in adjusted gross revenue for the fiscal year ending June 30, according to the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission. Administrator Brian Ohorilko said admissions also were up. He added the two casinos that moved to land in Bettendorf and Davenport also reported increases in revenue.
Stanley Penn, who is in his 80s, has decided to fight city hall. He is fighting a ruling by a San Diego City commission that refused to renew the gaming license for the Lucky Lady card room (l.) that he has owned for four decades. He is suing the city.
More than 300,000 voters in the 29th annual Condé Nast Readers’ Choice Awards survey recently chose Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Biloxi as the Best Hotel in Mississippi. The property also received a 2017 Certificate of Excellence from TripAdvisor and won a Biloxi Sun Herald People's Choice Award for Favorite Live Music Venue.
The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission approved a $10 million investment by the Riverside Casino and Golf Resort (l.) to renovate the 11-year-old property. Located south of Iowa City, the project will include an LED light show at the center bar, a new hotel registration desk, plus remodeling the diner and grand entry.
A former player development coordinator for Pennsylvania’s Mount Airy Casino Resort has been indicted in an alleged money laundering scheme involving player’s club funds.
The largest casino development company in the world, Genting Malaysia, is facing a potential loss for its backing of the $1 billion First Light Resort & Casino in Massachusetts that even it might suffer corporate indigestion. In a recent annual filing Genting conceded that it is owed $347 million by the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe that it might not get back.
Five tribes in New Mexico are fighting an attempt by the New Mexico Gaming Control board to collect $40 million in taxes on free play billed retroactively on a compact that is no longer valid. They have taken the state’s governor, Susana Martinez (l.) and some members of the board, to court.
Oregon’s Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation have authorized a $85 million expansion of the Wildhorse Resort & Casino (l.). Besides 300 new slots and six new tables, the project will add another hotel tower, a bowling alley, expanded cinema and more dining options.
The Keweenaw Bay Indian Community's proposed $36 million expansion at its Ojibwa Casino Marquette has been approved by the Chocolay Township, Michigan planning commission. The project will include doubling the gaming floor, and adding a 76-room hotel, 1,200-seat arena and two restaurants. Phase one will be completed by early December.
The deadline is approaching for the Otter Tail County, Minnesota board to determine if it wants a full environmental impact statement on the White Earth Nation's proposed Shooting Star Casino and Resort. The tribe plans to build a casino on trust land and other facilities on fee land. Area residents have opposed the project.
Over the years the 4 Bears Casino & Lodge near Minot, North Dakota has been moving towards its goal of becoming a true tourist destination. The facility opened 24 years ago and has been making improvements ever since.
For some people, social media is their life. Foxwoods Resort Casino has decided to step into that life with the opening of its new “Play Arena @ Foxwoods,” which is intended to appeal to the social media devotee in all of us.
The Nisqually Tribe, based in Lacey, Washington, wants to add a convention center and possibly another casino. But it is finding itself in competition with Thurston County, which also wants to build a convention center.
Starting July 22, several job fairs will be held to fill more than 1,200 permanent jobs at the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians' four Winds Casino in South Bend, Indiana. More than 300 temporary construction workers currently are building the casino, set to open in early 2018.
With a new budget in place for the first time in two years, Illinois resumed offering Powerball and Mega Millions lottery games. The state briefly was unable to pay jackpots over $25,000. The House of Representatives overrode Governor Bruce Rauner's veto to approve a tax increase and spending plan.
UK bookmaker William Hill has launched Planet Lottery in Australia, an integrated platform to allow customers to bet on the outcomes of the world's leading lottery draws.
AGS has promoted Andrew Burke to the position of senior vice president, slot products, responsible for leading product management and life-cycle management for the company’s slot portfolio.
Scientific Games has named information technology industry veteran Shawn Williams as the company’s new chief human resources officer, responsible for the supplier’s worldwide HR strategy.
Terry Downey (l.) and Robert Schaffhauser have left the SLS Las Vegas after only six months on the job. The resignations come as the beleaguered north Strip resort prepares to welcome its third owner in three years.
Win Systems, a technology and gaming supplier based in Barcelona, Spain, recently announced it has hired Carlos Reig as corporate director of operations (Gaming) and Jose Luis Aranda as managing director of Gold Club Gaming in Slovenia. Chief Executive Officer Eric Benchimol said the hires are part of the company's aggressive global business expansion plan.
A lawyer for billionaire businessman Kazuo Okada has asked to drop the embattled gaming mogul as a client but retain his firm, Universal Entertainment. David Krakoff made the request in a Nevada court.
Charlie Choi, chairman of the Macau Gaming Information Association, has been convicted of breaching the city’s privacy laws and sentenced to six months behind bars.
Chef Gordon Ramsay, the popular creator and star of "Hell's Kitchen" and "MasterChef" will open a new steak house at the Horseshoe Casino Baltimore later this year. Gordon Ramsay Steak will replace Jack Binion's Steak. Ramsay also operates a steak house at Paris Las Vegas.
The world's premier international gaming trade show and conference, Global Gaming Expo 2017, will return to Las Vegas, October 2-5 at the Sands Expo and Convention Center. Skill-based slots and eSports and sports betting will be among the featured topics, and best-selling author Roberta Perry will be one of the keynote speakers.
