The Hamilton Princess (l.) hotel recently applied for Bermuda's first gambling license, with plans to open a fully integrated resort casino. Bermuda Casino Gaming Commission Chairman Alan Dunch called the application a "landmark event" that will increase employment and investment in Bermuda. Hamilton Princess will make a presentation at a public meeting September 22.
The U.S.-based property developer has vowed to sue after failing a second time to gain approval for a €3 billion integrated resort with a casino near Spain’s capital city. The 4,000-room project (l.) was rejected by local authorities out of concerns it will rely too heavily on gaming.
The gaming giant has taken another big step closer to bringing its two-and-a-half-year bankruptcy saga to a successful conclusion. In a critical piece of the plan to satisfy creditors, Caesars Entertainment and its Caesars Acquisition Co. subsidiary will become one company. The deal will also create a REIT for many Caesars properties, but a separate company will be formed to house the famous Caesars Palace (l.).
Sega Sammy Holdings Inc. is all in when it comes to Japan’s casino market. The slot maker will seek a majority stake in any investment partnership in the country. But enthusiasm for the jurisdiction may be waning, as the government of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has been weakened by defeats in local elections and groups advocating overly strict regulations get the upper hand. President and Chief Operating Officer Haruki Satomi (l.) says the company will pay attention to the entire resort.
With the gaming concessions granted by Macau early in the 2000s set to expire within the next two to three years, expert gaming observer Ben Lee (ll.) is cautioning things won’t go as smoothly as some gaming analysts are predicting. Lee examines all sides of the issues and gives his odds on the way the renewal/bidding for gaming concessions will unfold. This a. rticle was originally published in the Gaming Gazette, a proprietary publication of iGamiX.
Is South America’s largest country finally ready to legalize casinos? Speculation has been rife after Sheldon Adelson flew down recently to meet with President Michel Temer (l.) and the mayor of Rio de Janeiro to discuss the potential for a major investment.
Private equity fund manager Blackstone has acquired Clarion Events, a leading independent event organizer and producer of London’s ICE Totally Gaming trade show.
The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation is seeking a private operator for gambling facilities in the Toronto area, including the Woodbine racetrack (l.), Ajax Downs and the Great Blue Heron Casino. OLG said the province will save money by transferring the costs of upgrading and replacing aging casino buildings and equipment.
Connecticut is now ready to build its third casino. The only thing that could cause the Pequot and Mohegan tribes and their development arm MMCT Venture to stumble is an expected federal lawsuit from rival MGM International. MGM hopes to obtain an injunction to stop the tribe from trying to beat the MGM Springfield’s opening next year.
This week, the GGB Podcast bring Eric Meyerhofer to the phone, the CEO of Gamblit Gaming, to talk about his company’s experience with the introduction of skill-based gaming machines to the casino industry.
Will Macau’s recovery be cut short? Some reports suggest a rise in anti-corruption activity in the second quarter of 2017 could point to another crackdown by Beijing—which conceivably could lead to a new decline. With new money laundering rules in effect, Macau casinos deny that they will impact business.
More than a year after acquiring a casino in the Philippines’ Clark Freeport Zone, Australia-listed investor Frontier Capital Group Ltd. continues to look for enough money to pay the regulator’s required escrow for the Hotel Stotsenberg and its Casablanca Casino (l.).
Singapore’s Ministry of Home Affairs plans to implement stringent new regulations for slot machine clubs (l.) starting next April. The rules will also raise the legal gaming age from 18 to 21.
Imperial Pacific International Holdings Ltd., which just opened its permanent casino resort on the island of Saipan, says it will finish construction of its accommodations—villas and hotel suites—in 2018.
Vietnam Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (l.) has granted permission to Quang Ninh Province to develop the Van Don Economic Zone, complete with casinos open to local gamblers.
Law enforcement officers in the Philippines have arrested dozens of suspects reportedly linked to gangs who kidnapped wealthy tourists visiting casinos in Manila’s Entertainment City.
Donaco International’s Star Vegas in Cambodia will add about 100 new gaming tables to its inventory over the next few months, for “a new source of incremental revenue in FY17 and beyond,” the company says.
The UK Gambling Commission has released an online support tool called Resolver for the public to make complaints related to gambling. The tool provides information about the issue the consumer wants to complain about, and support to help the consumer write emails and letters of complaint.
The Armenian government has OK’d amendments to the country’s casino regulations, including the way licensees are chosen. For one thing, would-be investors must be willing to put up AMD40 billion (US$83.5 million).
A Russian man suspected of laundering billions of dollars was arrested in Greece last week. Alexander Vinnik, described as “an internationally sought mastermind,” is also wanted by the United States.
After what local media called a commercial standoff, Ladbrokes Coral PLC and The Racing Partnership announced that they have reached a media rights deal. The deal means Ladbrokes Coral’s 3,820 betting shops in the UK and Ireland will show racing from 15 Arena Racing Company owned racecourses and seven independent racecourses.
The president of Baha Mar Resort says the property is on target to obtain its full occupancy certificate, with substantial group business already on the books.
SkyCity’s Adelaide Casino (l.) in Australia will move forward with a $30 million expansion that eases access to VIP rooms for premium players and trims the standards those players must meet to be considered premium.
SaskGaming, the state-owned corporation that operates Casino Regina and Casino Moose Jaw in Saskatchewan, Canada, recently released its annual financial report. It stated revenue fell $3.6 million to $124.2 million in 2016-17, but attendance rose to a combined total of more than 3.5 million guests compared to 3.41 million in 2015-16.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has pulled its injunction application to block a Tabcorp-Tatts group merger. Instead, the commission will allow it appeal of the deals approval to play out in court.
Israel has passed a law allowing its courts to block websites that promote criminal activity in the country, which includes illegal gambling websites. The law also targets criminal terror activities, prostitution and illegal drugs, but sets strict legal protocols for blocking websites. In another story, Dutch courts have upheld large fines levied against illegal online operators in that country.
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie (l.) has signed a bill passed by the state’s legislature urging President Donald Trump’s administration not to ban internet gambling in the United States. Christie is a close ally of Trump. The bill says a ban would hurt the state’s casino industry, which has offered online gambling since 2013.
New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu (l.) has signed a daily fantasy sports law for the state making it the third state this year to pass a DFS law. DFS will be regulated by the state’s lottery commission, but in an unusual move, the law does not require DFS sites to pay licensing fees or taxes. And Massachusetts will treat DFS in the same manner as it would if it legalized online gaming.
The independent eSports Integrity Coalition released the results of its industry survey on proper sanctions for players caught cheating at eSports competitions. Among those were the recommendation that former bans on players be lifted as no clear set of rules had previously been established. The ESIC offers an Anti-Corruption Code that sets out clear rules on betting and corruption in eSports and also offers an independent disciplinary board.
SugarHouse online casino in New Jersey, PlaySugarHouse.com, is the first to debut the Royal Elephant slot game (l.) from Everi Holdings, in a deal that will see more Everi titles go online.
Evolution Gaming has launched what will be a fully independent studio to provide live-dealer hybrid table games to multiple Evolution online gaming sites.
Mount Airy Casino Resort has launched an online social casino titled Play Mount Airy. The social platform was built using Greentube Pro, Greentube’s private label social casino solution.
GVC Holdings has unveiled a new web design for its bwin.party sportsbook and casino websites including a new advanced user interface and a variety of enhancements, the company announced.
Playtech BGT Sports has enhanced its Self-Service Betting Terminal offerings and will launch a new goalscorer coupon feature, as well as Asian handicap betting for the first time.
The Golden State is considering putting a referendum on the ballot to legalize sports betting. Mississippi casinos along the Mississippi River and the Gulf Coast are hopeful an upcoming case at the U.S. Supreme Court will allow sports betting. The legislature passed, and Governor Phil Bryant signed, a measure permitting fantasy sports and sports betting. Both measures would be contingent upon the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that current federal law that bans sports betting in most states is unconstitutional because it applies to some states and not others.
Pennsylvania lawmakers spent their two days back in session pushing a vote on a package of tax and fee increases and loans to close a budget gap, which means gaming will likely wait until fall. Penn National (l.) near Harrisburg is threatened by competition from the proposed satellite casinos.
Chairman James Murren called it a “significant milestone” as his company joined Wynn Resorts as only the second gaming operator to gain admission to the prestigious index. It should spell a nice bump for the share price as index funds can now look to MGM as a potential buy.
The gaming giant enjoyed a $414 million performance from Wynn Palace (l.) that helped boost consolidated net revenue 44.5 percent to $1.53 billion. Profit was up 6 percent to $74.9 million.
Florida regulators will allow Magic City Casino in Miami to replace money-losing greyhound racing (l.) with jai alai under a summer jai alai permit. It's the first time a parimutuel facility has been allowed to eliminate live racing and still offer slots. The decision does not have far-reaching implications, but casino operators still are concerned.
A report by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement points to a lack of capital improvements at Caesars Entertainment’s Atlantic City Boardwalk casinos—due to the company’s bankruptcy proceedings—as a reason for historically low revenue at the casinos. Caesars and Bally’s Atlantic City (l.) have spent a combined $176 million on capital improvements at the two properties since 2008, well below other city properties.
Arguing that they need to serve alcohol as long as possible to remain competitive, Wynn Resorts is applauding a new law that allows Massachusetts casinos to offer drinks until 4 a.m. The Massachusetts Gaming Commission would be charged with determining which casinos are allowed to do this.
Station Casinos has submitted plans to add a 600-room hotel and convention center to Palace Station, the Las Vegas locals hub, on top of a $70 million makeover slated for completion later this year. If it goes forward, the expansion also will add new casino space, a pool deck and rooftop restaurant.
The New Jersey Casino Reinvestment Development Authority has signed $7 million in deals to continue bringing A-list performers to the city’s concert and beach stages. This year’s beach concert series featured pop star Pink and country star Brantley Gilbert and attracted more than 60,000 fans combined. The new agreements are designed to offer a broader range of events at the city’s Boardwalk Hall arena and the city convention center.
The Mississippi Gaming Commission recently a presentation by RW Development for a Biloxi casino—for the third time. The commission rejected the plan in 2008 and last March. The presentation was essentially the same as before, but RW planned to use the water's edge instead of the seawall as the starting point.
Ohio’s racinos, more than its casino resorts, a driving the Buckeye state’s growth in gaming revenues. The growth is also pushing Ohio ahead of other gaming states in the region.
Although Maine lawmakers would probably prefer not to, they voted last week to put a measure on the ballot that would allow a controversial casino developer to be the only person eligible to build in York County. Voters in November will now determine the fate of Shawn Scott’s casino proposal.
Domestic violence charges and DUI misdemeanors could put a wrench in the efforts of Sacramento businessman Steve Ayes to open a card room in the historic Elks Tower (l.). Ayers has been given probation and ordered to undergo counseling for infractions he committed in May.
The Tohono O’odham Nation’s tribal state gaming compact with Arizona has been approved by the U.S. Department of the Interior. That pulls the last roadblock to opening a Class III casino in Glendale, in the Phoenix Valley. The tribe plans to add on to the existing Class II Desert Diamond casino (l.).
The U.S. Senate needs as few as two votes to bring a measure to the floor that would remove tribes from review by the National Labor Relations Board. This would put tribes in the same position as states. The Senate Indian Affairs committee (l.) passed the measure for a vote by the full Senate.
Frustrated in the courts and in the federal government, the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe may apply for a commercial casino license in Massachusetts rather than go the tribal route, according to Taunton Mayor Thomas Hoye (shown with Mashpee Chairman Cedric Cromwell). But that might open another round of bids, which would undoubtedly attract other commercial and tribal casino enterprises.
The proposed Ho-Chunk Nation casino in Beloit, Wisconsin has the support of local, state and federal officials. The tribe's land-trust application is pending at the Bureau of Indian Affairs, which hasn't moved on it since January 2013. Governor Scott Walker (l.), who rejected a similar off-reservation proposal, will have the final word.
The Wilton Rancheria has successfully negotiated a tribal state gaming compact with California Governor Jerry Brown (l.). This could lead to the tribe breaking ground on a $400 million casino within three years, says its chairman.
An employment office opened at Union Station in downtown South Bend, Indiana for the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians' Four Winds Casino South Bend. About 1,200 employees are expected to be hired for the casino, scheduled to open in early 2018. Several job fairs also are planned.
Readers of USA Today have voted to dethrone Pechanga Resort and Casino and crown the Mohegan Sun (l.) as the new popular favorite among casino goers. The Sun moved up from third place to first.
The San Manuel Casino in San Bernardino County, California has achieved a new distinction: the largest slots floor on the West Coast. An expansion completed a few weeks ago pushed the San Manuel past its nearest rival, the Red Rock Casino in Las Vegas.
Bondholders who sell their 6.35 percent Gaming Division Bonds Services 2005B before August 4 will receive a premium of $30 per every $1,000 in securities under the Seminole Tribe of Florida's offer to purchase up to $100 million of outstanding bonds. The offer was made to save interest payments on the debt.
Ground was broken for an entertainment complex at the Tachi Palace Hotel & Casino in Lemoore, California. The 88,350 square foot venue will feature a movie theater, bowling alley, arcade and billiards room. The property currently offers 2,000 gaming machines and 24 table games, plus a 255-room hotel, spa, five restaurants and meeting space.
An economic impact study commissioned by the Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association found the state's 131 tribal gaming operations directly employ 28,000 people, and two-thirds of those jobs are in rural areas. The report was released at the association's recent annual conference in Oklahoma City.
Galaxy Gaming President and CEO Robert Saucier has stepped down into a new role as a director and chief product officer, to be replaced by Todd P. Cravens (l.).
MGM Resorts International executive Marcus Glover has been named president of Atlantic City’s Borgata casino. He succeeds Tom Ballance, who has been named executive vice president of operations for MGM Resorts
Lisa Miles, who has a longtime love for the Lucky Eagle Casino Hotel in Washington, has been named the permanent chief executive officer. She became interim CEO in February.
Suzanne Trout, a 20-year casino industry veteran, has been named chief marketing officer at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut, where she will be responsible for expanding market share and overseeing all facets of Foxwoods marketing. Most recently she was senior vice president of marketing and advertising at Eldorado Resorts in Reno, Nevada.
MGM Resorts International has named Debra DeShong, a former aide to the U.S. ambassador to Japan, as the company’s new vice president of global industry affairs.
Affinity Gaming, operator of 11 casinos in Nevada, Colorado, Missouri and Iowa, named Paige Lion vice president of IT and chief information officer. Lion worked for Caesars Entertainment for 22 years, rising to divisional director of IT and business engagement. Most recently she was vice president senior program manager for JP Morgan Chase in Tampa, Florida.
Roger Tull is leaving London-based betting and gambling firm Ladbrokes after 46 years. He joined the company at age 16 and rose to lead the sports department for several years. Also, Ladbrokes Coral Chief Customer Officer Kristof Fahy (l.) will leave in September.
Foxwoods casino in Connecticut has launched a customized version of the Interblock Pulse Arena electronic table game attraction it is calling the PLAY Arena @ Foxwoods.
The American Gaming Association announced that it is now accepting nominations for the 2017 Gaming Hall of Fame, which will hold its inductions the week of the Global Gaming Expo. John Acres (l.) was one of five entrants to the 2016 HOF class.
Availability of GameCo’s GLI-approved patented skill-based gaming platform provides access for game developers to lucrative casino gaming entertainment market. Blaine Graboyes (l.), co-founder and CEO of GameCo, says it will ease the entry of these game developers into the casino market.
The Choctaw Nation will use operational business intelligence solutions from VizExplorer in its businesses under a seven-year enterprise license agreement.
Registration for Australasian Gaming Expo 2017, to be held in Sydney August 15-17, is already up by 20 percent over the 2016 edition of the trade show.
TransAct Technologies will join with its distribution partner Suzo-Happ in presenting a full display of printing solutions at the Australasian Gaming Expo August 15-17.
