The government of Queensland, Australia, has rejected a plan by the ASF Group, a Chinese-backed consortium for a Caesars Entertainment-operated casino on Australia’s Gold Coast. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk blamed strict rules for the site, a park called the “Spit,” (l.) and a desire to preserve the park for “future generations.” She said any new proposal would require much-revised plans.
The ultra-high end, ironically named 13 Hotel in Macau continues to run into bad luck as it tries to open. Designed as one of the most luxurious hotels in the world, the 13 missed a key deadline last week. Many question whether it’s right for the market as it continues to bleed money. And it’s still closed.
Tokoname in Japan’s Aichi Prefecture says it may make a bid for one of the country’s first integrated resort licenses and is supported by Aichi Governor Hideaki Omura (l.). The news comes amid growing concern that officials could regulate the industry out of viability.
MGM Resorts International has launched an online casino site in New Jersey. PlayMGM.com is the first online casino site to bear the company’s name in its title and offers casino slots and table games as well as online poker. MGM owns the Borgata casino in Atlantic City, which also offers two Borgata branded online sites as well as sites through partnerships with PartyPoker and Pala casino.
The government has pulled land on Montego Bay from one of two development groups, Celebration Jamaica Development (l.), on which it has pinned hopes for a destination-scale casino industry. The sale was cancelled after the developers missed a second deadline to break ground. The other group has yet to secure financing for its project.
Multiple reports were made last week that the former Revel casino in Atlantic City—now called “Ten” by furtive owner Glenn Straub—had been sold. Reports included that an experienced east coast casino executive had been hired to run it. But nothing was confirmed by press time.
The American Gaming Association released a new code of conduct for casinos to promote responsible gaming, as part of the 20th Responsible Gaming Education Week. The AGA held press conferences near Atlantic City (participants at left) and in Las Vegas to announce the new code.
The tribe that operates the Mohegan Sun, and several other gaming properties in the U.S., is venturing into international gaming. The Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment (MGE) has announced it will break ground this year on the massive Inspire Integrated Resort in South Korea; adjacent to the Incheon International Airport.
For "personal and professional reasons," Richard Schuetz recently resigned as executive director at the Bermuda Casino Gaming Commission, which he joined in 2015 after serving four years on the California Gambling Control Commission. Schuetz will stay in his position until the end of the year to help identify and assist his successor.
This week the GGB Podcast features an interview with Andrew Burke who was recently promoted to senior vice president of slot products for the up-and-coming slot manufacturer AGS.
U.S.-based tribal gaming operator Hard Rock International Inc. has confirmed its interest in developing a casino at Laguna Lang Co integrated resort in Thua Thien-Hue Province, Vietnam.
High rollers continue to drive the recovery in Macau, which saw gross gaming revenues rise 29 percent in July. It was the 12th straight month the city’s gaming industry posted year-on-year increases. VIP business was not expected to be this strong (VIP lobby at MGM Macau, l.).
Nasdaq-listed gaming giant Melco Resorts & Entertainment enjoyed a 21 percent year-on-year revenue boost for the second quarter, thanks chiefly to the return of high rollers in Macau. Melco CEO Lawrence Ho attributes the increase to improved “player sentiment.”
Genting’s Resorts World Singapore (l.) is expected to outperform Marina Bay Sands in the mass market segment in the second quarter, Morgan Stanley analysts predict. The analysts see Genting EBITDA up 119 percent year-on-year.
Imperial Pacific International Holdings Ltd. has announced a revised development plan for its integrated resort on Saipan. The new arrangement gives the company until August 2028 to fully finish construction.
Leisure and Resorts World Corp. has lost almost 50 percent of its online gaming companies licensed under First Cayagan Leisure and Resorts Corp. since 2016, when PAGCOR established its new online regulations.
Macau’s newest hotel is a five-star, “1950s Hollywood-inspired” property that deliberately leans away from the megaresort model. The 368-room Macau Roosevelt has been described as an “urban getaway retreat.”
In Macau, the Venetian and Parisian joined with Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands to deliver 63 percent of the $3 billion Las Vegas Sands generated in second-quarter revenue. Net profit company-wide soared more than 60 percent over the same period to $638 million.
Hong Kong-listed Suncity Group Holdings Ltd. has announced that a subsidiary, Goal Summit Ltd., will acquire a 34 percent stake in a casino project in Vietnam. The investment: HKD600 million (US$76.8 million).
Sands China has ended its partnership at the Sands Macao with Hou Wan Entertainment Ltd., a junket operator affiliated with Neptune Group Ltd. The contract will end effective August 30.
Sports betting revenue increased 22 percent for the second quarter of 2017 compared to last year according to French gambling regulator ARJEL. Turnover hit a new all-time high of €636 million. Spain also reported a better than 22 percent rise in online revenue for the quarter. Spain’s betting market also reported a 22 percent increase in revenue. French football star Thierry Henry at left.
Saying the UK could become a world leader in sports governance and transparency, UK Sports Minister Tracey Couch praised the country’s sports bodies for working to become compliant with the new UK Code for Sports Governance, which will be introduced by the end of October.
To stop the steep decline of the bookmakers’ industry in Ireland, the nation’s bookies are demanding a different tax structure; one that protects them and encourages competition.
British bookmaker William Hill saw a drop of 11 percent in profit before interest and taxes for the first half of 2017. The bookmaker took in about $144 million, down from $161 million last year. The company pointed to the lack of a major soccer event this year and “volatile” sporting results for the decline.
Bahamas Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis (l.) recently said his government is considering becoming temporary partners in the Grand Lucayan Resort in Grand Bahama, which was damaged by Hurricane Matthew and closed for 10 months. Minnis stressed the investment would be temporary, but officials have raised concerns over Minnis' plans.
About 400 members of the Public Service Alliance of Canada union employed at Woodbine Racetrack slots will return to work following a tentative agreement with the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation. The employees were locked out July 14 after rejecting an earlier contract. The main issue was working conditions for part-time employees.
The ad hoc commission appointed last year by the legislature to study whether an omnibus bill should address all of the state’s online gaming has recommended that daily fantasy sports be allowed—but treated as gambling. As might be expected DFS leader DraftKings disagrees. Massachusetts Gaming Commission Chairman Stephen Crosby (l.) led the move to consider DFS as gaming.
Delaware Governor John Carney (l.) signed a bill to make the state the 14th in the U.S. to officially legalize daily fantasy sports, with Maine close behind.
The Madison Square Garden Company has bought a controlling interest in Counter Logic Gaming, an eSports team that competes in a number of eSports games including League of Legends and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Saying it wants to focus on its U.S. operations, daily fantasy sports giant FanDuel is exiting the UK market. FanDuel notified UK players it was closing its operations by e-mail and refunding accounts. The move comes shortly after a planned merger with rival DraftKings was blocked by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission. Also, Delaware has enacted new DFS legislation.
Amaya Inc. announced it has completed its rebranding as The Stars Group and its relocation to Toronto. The company also launched a new corporate logo and a new website to mark the change.
New Zealand's newly appointed Racing minister, David Bennett (l.) has introduced a plan to tax offshore betting in the country’s Parliament, but the amendment to the 2003 Racing Act does not set a specific tax rate. It also proposes introducing information usage fees.
Betsson Group announced it has reached a deal to add casino games by Greentube to brands such as betsson.com, casinoeuro.com and nordicbet.com, among others.
Florida gambling regulators recently determined Magic City Casino in Miami may end greyhound racing under a summer jai alai license. However, the Florida Greyhound Association asked regulators to reconsider the decision that "will put its members out of business." Meanwhile, greyhound racing will end at the Mobile Greyhound Park (l.) in neighboring Alabama.
A budget passed by the Pennsylvania Senate counts on $200 million from expansion of gaming with satellite casino licenses and an online gaming program. The main issues are satellite casinos, the tax rate for proposed iGaming sites, and the introduction of VGTs (l.) to more than 6,000 bars and restaurants across the state.
On August 1, 1992, thousands of people stood in line in the heat to board the new Isle of Capri riverboat casino in Biloxi, Mississippi. State Senator Tommy Gollott was instrumental in passing legislation to allow casino gambling in Mississippi. The industry has created 15,000 jobs and generated $24 billion for the state.
Bob Manoukian (l.), owner of Greenwood Racing and its Parx Casino, appeared before the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board to answer questions on his ownership of the Stadium casino project in Philadelphia.
Quarterly profit for Dover Downs Gaming & Entertainment, while improving over the previous quarter, represented a 96 percent drop from the same quarter a year ago.
Same-store revenue proved a disappointment for MGM Resorts International in the second quarter. But the new MGM National Harbor (l.) picked up $178 million of the slack and helped boost the gaming giant to a 16 percent revenue increase over last year.
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie announced that the state—which controls Atlantic City’s finances—has settled the remaining casino tax appeal cases facing the resort. Christie said the cases have been settled with seven of the city’s casinos including the closed Trump Taj Mahal and Trump Plaza casinos. The appeals and tax judgments against the city have been a major draw on its troubled finances and Christie hailed the settlements as proof the state takeover of the city’s finances is working.
That’s the word from officials at Las Vegas’ busy international airport. Passenger volume hit 4.2 million in June, breaking the monthly record set in June 2016, and the facility is on track to beat the single-year record of 47.8 million set in 2007.
Tunica once was the major gaming destination between Las Vegas and Atlantic City. But last year a single racino located less than an hour away-- Southland Park Gaming and Racing (l.) in West Memphis, Arkansas—took in $2.7 billion in wagers, compared to $634 million for Tunica's eight existing casinos.
A strong showing in Las Vegas, including its Orleans casino (l.), helped Boyd Gaming overcome softness in some Midwest and Southern markets in the second quarter. CEO Keith Smith pronounced the Vegas results the best in 10 years.
The Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians recently learned the Interior Department rejected their off-reservation land-trust applications for Lansing (l.) and Sibley properties. Associate Deputy Secretary James Cason said the tribe submitted "no new evidence" to show acquiring the land would consolidate or enhance tribal lands. Tribal officials vowed to "change federal officials' minds."
Both houses of the Connecticut legislature acted quickly to approve of amendments to the state tribal gaming compact with the Mohegan and Pequot tribes. This allows them to move another step forward in building their third, satellite casino. Pequot Chairman Rodney Butler (l.) praised the legislature for doing the “right thing.”
Tribal gaming’s principal voice in Washington is now calling for an end to the federal government’s ban on sports betting. Given longstanding tribal anxieties about where they fit in this debate, NIGA figures an alliance with commercial gaming is their best bet. NIGA Chairman Ernie Stevens (l.) wants to make it clear, however, the NIGA board has not taken any position on sports betting.
California Governor Jerry Brown (l.) on July 19 signed a tribal state gaming compact with the Wilton Rancheria. The signing is the next step toward building a $400 million casino near the state capitol, Sacramento.
The Pokagon Band, based in Dowagiac, Michigan, opened its first Four Winds Casino (l.) on August 2, 2007. Nearly 20,000 people visited the first weekend. The project faced plenty of opposition but officials agree the casino has benefited the community. The tribe also operates Four Winds Casinos in Dowagiac and New Hartford.
The Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort (l.), opened by the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan in Mount Pleasant in 1998, will undergo a $26.million renovation starting this fall. And in Watersmeet, Northern Waters Casino Resort, formerly Lac Vieux Desert Resort and Casino, unveiled recent improvements and announced additional ones.
For 18 months, the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes paid $1.25 million to lease a 2-acre parking lot near its Lucky Star Casino in Clinton, Oklahoma. Last spring the National Indian Gaming Commission ruled the contract violated federal Indian gaming laws. Now the entire parcel is for sale for $450,000.
In a unanimous vote, the Broken Arrow, Oklahoma city council approved a resolution against illegal gaming within city limits. The move was in response to rumors that developers of the Embers Grille restaurant, located on a Muscogee (Creek) Nation allotment, were recruiting employees with gaming experience for a possible casino on the property.
The Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians recently donated $700,000, based on 2 percent of slot revenue from its five Kewadin Casinos in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, to police and fire departments, public schools and public universities and recreation programs in seven counties. The tribe has contributed more than $42 million since 1993.
As part of the ongoing casino “arms race” in San Diego County, Pala Casino Resort & Spa has announced plans for a $170 million expansion, to include a second hotel tower. Besides the additional 349 rooms, a pool complex will be added. Work will begin this October.
The Massachusetts Lottery last year topped $1 billion in net profit, a record for the agency, even though it featured declining sales for instant tickets and Powerball.
IGT has signed a deal with a subsidiary of Telling Telecommunications Holding Co. to sell Lottery tickets in the Peoples Republic of China. The deal also allows the partnership to pursue other joint activities, such as market operations and business development.
The New Jersey Lottery has proposed introducing quick draw keno games, which would open up gambling in thousands of different locations across the state. An Atlantic City legislator is concerned.
Silver Heritage President and co-founder Tim Shepherd is ending his 14-year career with the ASX-listed casino developer and operator. But he’s agreed to stay on as a consultant to help get the company’s long-awaited Tiger Palace resort off the ground in Nepal.
Steve Neely, an eight-year veteran of Casino Del Sol, has been named by the Pascua Yaqui tribe to be chief operating officer for that casino as well as its sister property, the Casino of the Sun. Neely has been serving as chief marketing officer.
Ladbrokes Coral Plc has named Jason Scott as CEO of Ladbrokes Australia. Scott has been interim CEO of the Australian division since February and the bookmaker said the appointment comes after a “successful time in charge” of the division.
Paddy Power has named Joe Lee as its Head of Trump Betting, in charge of wagers related to President Donald Trump. The company announced in April it would appoint a head of betting on the U.S. president due to increasing demand.
The recently opened PLAY Arena @ Foxwoods is New England's first and only arena-style gaming offering, featuring an immersive, multi-sensory environment designed by Interblock. With more than 30 stations and multi-gaming functionality, players simply punch a button to move seamlessly between games. Personalized music and lighting plus singing and dancing dealers also add to the experience.
IGT has entered into a €1.5 billion term loan agreement and amendment to existing credit facilities in a move to reduce interest payments and better manage capital structure.
NYX Gaming Group has completed its debt consolidation under a single primary lender, in a move that has lowered capital costs and increased operational flexibility.
Clarion Events has acquired Affiliate Summit Corporation, producer of several trade shows, conferences and websites involving the affiliate marketing industry.
The Cyprus Gaming Show will take place in Nicosia, the island's largest city, at the Hilton Cyprus, September 20-21, according to Eventus International Managing Director Yudi Soetjiptadi. He said," CGS 2017 will bring the online and offline gaming sectors together to discover and explore firsthand how the market is rapidly opening up to new opportunities."
