Australia's Aristocrat Leisure will acquire Big Fish Games, a unit of Churchill Downs Inc., for $990 million. The company announced it is making the acquisition to increase its social gaming footprint. Churchill Downs Board has approved the sale. Aristocrat will fund the acquisition of Big Fish Games via existing cash and an incremental $890 million loan facility.
The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. will be a solely regulatory body if a new bill sponsored by House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez (l.) is passed by parliament. PAGCOR currently holds seemingly conflicting roles as regulator, licensor and owner-operator. The process for the privatization of PAGCOR casinos has turned out to be more complicated than originally thought.
Lawrence Ho and Melco Japan President Ako Shiraogawa (l.) took center stage in Tokyo last week to introduce the ideas that his company, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, will bring to the table in his pursuit of an integrated resort license in the Japan. The “City of the Future” aims to become the most advanced gaming and entertainment destination in the world.
Reports several week ago about a possible purchase of Pinnacle Entertainment by Penn National Gaming is true. The Wall Street Journal last week reported that talks were ongoing and a deal could be reached within weeks. A combined company would have to determine the fate of Pinnacle’s Belterra in southern Indiana.
Eyes of the industry, government and law enforcement officials focus on the United States Supreme Court as arguments are heard in New Jersey’s challenge to the U.S. sports betting ban on Monday. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver (l.) is getting ahead of the game, calling for a federal law that will set up a framework for states to legalize the wager.
The chairman of Ainsworth Game Technology told shareholders at the company’s annual meeting that the sale of a majority stake in the company to Novomatic AG is nearing completion. The opening of the Ainsworth Las Vegas headquarters last year at left.
Federal lawmaker, Rep. John B. Larson (l.), has thrown his weight into trying to persuade the Department of the Interior to issue a ruling making it possible for Connecticut’s two gaming tribes to open a commercial casino in East Windsor. Larson says he has been too busy fighting a Republican tax bill to write a letter to the Department before this.
The sale of Big Fish Games to Aristocrat Technologies is just more evidence that gaming companies need to stick to what they are good at. Churchill Downs can concentrate on racetrack and casino operations, while Aristocrat can parley the Big Fish brand.
This week the GGB Podcast features a discussion with Jeff Hartman, the CEO of the Hartmann Group on how his long experience in the gaming industry benefits his tribal clients at his company.
A recent poll showed that most people living in Osaka oppose a casino development in their midst. Fifty-seven percent of those surveyed came out against an integrated resort proposed for Yumeshima Island (l.).
In good news for Korea’s 16 foreigners-only casinos, Beijing has eased up on a ban on travel to Korea. The ban, first announced in March, caused tourism to plummet almost 90 percent to the holiday island of Jeju and the newly opened Paradise City casino resort (l.).
Macau lawmakers have been close-mouthed about the gaming concession expirations—and renewals—which are set to begin in 2020 and continue through 2022. Five-year extensions for the current crop are an option. Secretary for Economy and Finance Lionel Leong Vai Tac (l.) isn’t going to talk before he has to.
Underground banks are the bane of China, which has strict rules that prevent individuals from leaving the country with much cash—or transferring large amounts out of the country. Last week it shut down an underground bank that had facilitated the transfer of $3 billion out of the country.
Macau casino operator SJM Holdings Ltd. has opened its Jai Alai Hotel (l.) overlooking the Outer Harbor reservoir in Zape. The company described the new hotel as “customer-centric,” offering Chinese and Western cuisine.
Hong Kong-listed Success Dragon has ceased operations at its Landmark Macau due to growing losses in the first half of 2017. The 439-room property lost HK$9.2 million in the period, over HK$2 million in 2016.
Andrea Domingo, chairwoman of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., is the subject of a graft and breach of conduct complaint filed by Leon Estrella Peralta, founding chairman of the Anti-Trapo Movement.
Hong Kong-listed Summit Ascent Holdings Ltd., which operates Tigre de Cristal (l.), the only casino resort in Russia’s Primorye enterprise zone, is bracing itself for an increase in gaming taxes expected to take effect in 2018.
The Dutch government is moving to raise taxes on gaming by 1.1 percent for just over a year until a permanent tax structure can be adopted. The Lower House has adopted the temporary tax—with the Senate expected to join in.
The Casinos Austria Group recently turned 50. Founded on November 29, 1967, its first seven casinos opened January 1, 1968. Today the company owns and operates 12 casinos with a total of 230 gaming tables (its most recent casino in Batumi, Georgia at left) and 2,100 slots. In its half-century, 94 million people have visited and the company has paid $18.3 billion in taxes and duties and $1.9 billion in investments.
Portugal’s government is expected to review the country’s gambling laws in 2018. Portugal first began regulating gaming in 2015 and began licensing international operators in 2016. The review would be part of the country’s budget outline for 2018.
The government of Cyprus has announced plans to regulate bingo in the country. Finance Minister Harris Georgiades says legislation is in the works to establish official oversight of the multimillion-dollar industry.
It’s been a year since the sale to Chow Tai Fook was announced and eight months since the $4 billion resort unveiled its first phase. Bahamas officials said there are still i’s to be dotted and t’s to be crossed, but the Chinese conglomerate will be taking formal ownership soon.
After a fourth whistleblower claimed to have been instructed to manipulate machines because players had been winning too much, Crown Casino in Melbourne (l.) fights allegations of machine tampering.
Plans to close one casino in Niagara Falls and transfer the license to Toronto’s Woodbine racetrack is “flawed” according to Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodati (l.), who says it’s a looming disaster for his region. It’s most likely the original Casino Niagara (l.) would close.
Members of Queensland’s Liberal National Party are apparently united in their opposition to a casino resort on the Sunshine Coast. Party boss Tim Nicholls (l.) has vowed to back the party members “100 percent.”
Novelty and eSports betting will be offered by the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation in the future. OLG spokesman Tony Bitonti said eSports have "surged in popularity," with "hundreds of eSports tournaments events held each year." Novelty betting would let players bet on elections or the gender of a royal baby, Bitonti said.
After Crown Resorts staffers were arrested and jailed for illegally promoting gambling in China, Australian VIP casino program revenue dropped from $1 billion in 2016 to $605 million in 2017. But recently wealthy foreign gamblers have begun to return to Australian casinos in large numbers, and analysts believe the trend will continue.
Gateway Casinos wants to expand the casino it has operated in Sudbury, Ontario since 1999. It proposes to spend $60 million on the new project, which is connected to Sudbury Downs (l.).
Nearly 60 addiction treatment service providers, including independent organizations, charities, Department of Corrections counselors and psychologists received free problem-gambling training offered by the Bermuda Problem and Responsible Gaming Council. Lori Rule, program director at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, Center of Excellence on Problem Gambling, led the two-part program.
When Illinois lawmakers reconvene, they'll reconsider House Bill H.479, which would legalize and regulate internet gaming and daily fantasy sports. The measure passed the Senate 42-10 in May but it stalled in a House committee. But state Rep. Michael Zalewski (l.), said Illinois will pass a DFS and online bill "sooner rather than later."
The UK Gambling Commission has issued a statement in the growing controversy over “loot boxes” in video games, particularly the new Star Wars Battlefront II (l.), which some advocates say constitute gambling. The commission said it does not consider the boxes—virtual caches of in-game items—gambling unless the items obtained can be “cashed out” by players. Belgium and the Netherlands have both launched separate investigations into loot boxes.
Former Amaya Inc. CEO David Baazov (l.) has filed motions in court to dismiss the civil charges brought against him by the Quebec financial regulator for insider trading. According to Canadian media reports, Baazov’s attorneys filed their appeal in mid-October, seeking to drop all charges against Baazov. The motion charges the prosecution has not been performed in a timely manner. The appeal is to be heard on December 11 at the opening of Baazov’s trial.
Chicago-based Rush Street Interactive, the company behind New Jersey online site PlaySugarhouse.com, has introduced virtual sports games to the site. The virtual computer-generated sporting “events,” offer players the chance to bet on outcomes, which are decided by a random number generating program developed by Spin Games. Since the program decides the winner, the games are not considered sports betting
Ladbrokes has introduced a new payment plan using the bookmaker’s loyalty card called the omni-wallet. Ladbrokes customers can choose to have their winnings added to their omni-wallet or collect them in cash, and all shop and online customers can now deposit and withdraw funds to and from their omni-wallet in Ladbrokes betting shops.
The UK Advertising Standards Authority has ordered Paddy Power to pull one of its casino advertisements after receiving complaints that ad suggested it is acceptable to gamble while at work. The ad featured a casino security guard gambling online while on the job.
France’s gambling regulator is reportedly anxious to begin player-sharing agreements with other European jurisdictions and has contacted Italy about its progress towards implementing the practice. France, Italy, Spain, and Portugal signed an official agreement to allow player sharing in July. Reports say that France’s ARJEL regulator wants the agreement to begin in early 2018.
South Australia Deputy Premier John Rau (l.) has said he has received “disturbing” reports of gambling ads that target children and others vulnerable to problem gambling. The ads, he said, are largely unsolicited and offering without obtaining proof of age information before signing up customers. He said he will publicly name any site he finds sending such ads.
Latvia’s Parliament has announced that starting January 1, 2018, online gambling operators offering live Dealer games will be required to pay a fixed fee of €400,000 a year. Lawmakers has considered a per table fee of €11,700, but elected to set the flat fee. There is no limitation on the number of tables an operator can put in play.
The total amount bet by Australians rose 3.9 percent in the 2015-16 period according to recently released Australian Gambling Statistics report. Sports Betting rose 13 percent in the period while casino revenue was relatively flat.
ALEA.com, operator of UK online casino LadyLucks.co.uk and the real money virtual reality online casino, SlotsMillion.com, has launched a new online casino platform titled ALEA Play. The platform gives other online operators access to ALEA’s online casino platform with more than 2,000 desktop titles from more than 45 suppliers, including NetEnt, Quickspin and Red Tiger.
The $1.4 billion sale of Harrah’s Las Vegas (l.) to VICI Properties lands Caesars more than 18 prime Strip acres for a new convention center and the bulk of the funds for the acquisition of two Indiana racinos. Caesars will continue to operate Harrah’s on a lease from VICI.
Lawrence County in Western Pennsylvania, which has been seeking a casino since the state legalized casinos in 2004, is actively promoting itself as a mini-casino location. Previous plans to build a racetrack and casino (l.) went nowhere.
Federal and state authorities have in recent years raided and investigated several high-profile card rooms in California. The most recent was Artichoke Joes, but the largest was the Bicycle Casino (l.) in Los Angeles, the state’s third largest.
New Jersey Senate President Stephen Sweeney (l.) is calling for the state Casino Reinvestment Development Authority to deny a payment of $5.6 million to help fund demolition of the former Trump Plaza casino. The closed casino is owned by billionaire Carl Icahn, who is seeking casino reinvestment funds to offset part of the $13.2 million cost to demolish a hotel tower at the site. Sweeney says Icahn has a poor record of treating employees in the city and should not get reinvestment funds for a demolition.
The debt ratings agency expects the casino industry to grow nicely in 2018 in most of the world, thanks to buoyant economies and measured growth in new supply. Not so in the Northeastern U.S., however, which Fitch believes could be in for a rocky year in markets struggling with a gaming glut.
Atlantic City’s casino earnings for the third quarter were up nearly 21 percent over 2016. The seven casinos posted a gross operating profit of $252.5 million for the quarter according to figures released by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement.
In a 3-2 vote, Sedgwick County, Kansas commissioners moved to auction the land at the Wichita Greyhound Park (l.). Casino magnate Phil Ruffin owns the buildings and leases the land from the county. Ruffin closed the venue in 2007 after voters rejected a ballot measure allowing slot machines there.
The political committee Voters In Charge recently submitted 415,596 valid petition signatures in its drive to place the Voter control of Gambling amendment on the Florida November 2018 ballot. The proposal would give voters the exclusive right to authorize casino gambling in the future. The Seminole Tribe and Disney have made major contributions.
Jake’s 58 Hotel & Casino in Islandia could be slapped with an injunction shutting down its VLTs because the town fathers licensed it without first changing the hotel’s zoning. The town council has voted retroactively to make the change. But it may be too late.
In Iowa, the Council Bluffs city council vowed to take legal action to stop a Ponca Tribe casino in nearby Carter Lake. Officials fear the Ponca casino would compete with Council Bluff's three casinos, including Harrah’s (l.). The National Indian Gaming Commission recently approved a 2007 order allowing the casino, which the tribe has pursued for a decade.
It’s rare for a big business like Wynn to undertake a hugely expensive environmental cleanup of a site (l.) such as the Wynn Boston Harbor. It’s a cleanup that will leave the Mystic River shoreline cleaner than it has been in 200 years.
Indiana legislators can't guess the impact of Caesars Entertainment's $1.7 billion purchase of Centaur Holdings. Caesars will acquire Hoosier Park Racing and Casino (l.) and Indiana Grand Racing and Casino, with a total of 2,000 slots and electronic table games plus live and simulcast horseracing. However, the Indiana Business Journal advised regulators to proceed with caution.
The robber made off with an undisclosed amount of money from the Strip resort’s poker cage. But Las Vegas police said last week they didn’t expect him to be at large for long.
Twin River has promised that residents of Tiverton, Rhode Island will get a hiring preference for the $140 million casino it plans to open next year. It will begin holding job fairs for the locals in December.
Four slots manufacturers that continued to business with an Indian casino that was operating in New Mexico without a tribal state gaming compact have agreed to pay the state’s casino regulatory agency undisclosed damages. The Pojoaque Pueblo, owner of Buffalo Thunder (l.) near Santa Fe, recently signed a compact with the state that it fought for many months.
The rights of a California tribe to the groundwater under its reservation has been affirmed by the U.S. Supreme Court decline to review an earlier appeals court ruling. Now the question is what will the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians do with the water.
The Massachusetts tribe based on Martha’s Vineyard that wants to build a bingo hall is waiting to see if the U.S. Supreme Court will prolong its wait by reviewing Massachusetts v. Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head. The question is whether the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act trumps an earlier agreement the tribe signed. Tribal Chairwoman Cheryl Andrews-Maltais (l.) said they just want to char their own course.
The Tohono O’odham Nation of Arizona last week broke ground on a $400 million expansion (l.) of the Desert Diamond West Valley Casino and Resort. The once-controversial resort is controversial no more due to an agreement signed earlier this year between the Nation and Governor Doug Ducey.
When a lottery number-selecting machine produces duplicate numbers that sets off figurative if not literal alarm bells. It has happened for the second time in two months with the Arizona Lottery.
British Columbia Attorney General David Eby last week announced a new operational service agreement with the B.C. Lottery Corporation to give it more regulatory teeth to fight money laundering more effectively. The changes were sparked by a report that accuses a casino in the province of allegedly accepting as much as $13.5 million in possibly dirty money.
New GST rules and increased ticket prices will cause a 6-8 percent drop in lottery profits in Kerala, India. However, despite higher prices, more tickets were sold, officials said. A lottery will restart in Meghalaya in northeast India as a paper lottery. The government offered an online lottery from 2001-2005.
Joe Asher, chief executive of William Hill US, did not breach the terms of his non-compete agreement with Cantor Gaming when he left the company to form his own venture, Brandywine Bookmaking, in 2007 a Nevada jury has found. Cantor filed suit in Clark County District Court against Asher in 2011 as a deal to sell Brandywine to William Hill, the U.K. bookmaker, for $15.7 million was underway
Veteran gaming executive John English has joined Global Market Advisors as a partner and managing director of GMA’s new sports betting and technology division. In addition, GMA has released a white paper on U.S. sports betting.
At Wynn Las Vegas, Luke Palladino (l.) was named Sinatra executive chef, replacing eight-year head chef Theo Schoenegger. The Country Club steakhouse will close January 14 to make room for the $1.5 billion Paradise Park. Country Club Chef Rene Lenger will move to Tableau and current Tableau Executive Chef David Middleton will move to Lakeside.
Timothy Spatharos was named vice president of operations at Las Vegas-based Interblock, makers of luxury gaming products. Previously he was senior director of global operations. Spatharos also served as senior director of international operations at Bally Technologies and worked at TEFTEC Corporation. His background includes international operations, fiscal management and lean management.
Gaming business veteran Fillippo Ferri has been tapped to be BMM Testlabs’ director of iGaming and new product strategy. Working out of the company’s European HQ he will work to position the company to grow in the online certification business.
Former IGT employees have anonymously posted on www.thelayoff.com that Las Vegas and Reno employees are being laid off, including the 19-person Evolve Studio, to reduce costs and debt. IGT has more than 12,000 employees according to quarterly filings. Last year it let go 260 people worldwide as part of a cost-cutting strategy.
The Rainmaker Group received antitrust clearance from the U.S. Department of Justice, allowing it to close the sale of its multifamily housing business and product portfolio to RealPage Inc. Rainmaker President Tammy Farley said now the company can "focus on developing the most powerful and flexible revenue and profit optimization solutions in the industry.”
The gaming regulator of the Philippines, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation, recently licensed BMM Testlabs to provide Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator licensees with evaluation, testing and certification services of online gaming systems, games and security processes. PAGCOR previously licensed BMM to provide compliance testing and certification of land-based slot machines and systems.
LT Game has indicated its plan to launch a virtual horse-racing game and a virtual sports game within the next year, according to the chairman of the supplier’s parent company.
Sky Casino in the recently refurbished Genting Highlands in Malaysia recently hired Spintec Gaming Technology to install its Karma-brand electronic roulette games. The multigame amphitheater solution offers 50 standalone terminals, including automated and live roulette. Regional Sales Manager Primoz Krsevan said Spintec has led new electronic roulette installations in Macau for three years.
February’s ICE London trade show will feature a “Consumer Protection Zone” that will focus on social responsibility initiatives that can be taken by casinos.
