Thousands of Las Vegas casino workers are voting this week to authorize a walkout if negotiations with the city’s resorts fail to produce a new labor agreement. The talks could prove more complicated than in the past, too, with employee safety, sexual harassment and the Trump tax windfall all on the table. But of course the bottom line is higher wages.

A bill in the New Jersey legislature would establish a regulatory framework for legal sports betting, and Atlantic City casinos are preparing for the U.S. Supreme Court to pave the way. Meanwhile, West Virginia Governor Jim Justice (l.) wants his state to consider an integrity fee—even though the legislature passed a bill without one. Mississippi is ready to go but an Illinois bill is stalled.

In a $100 million deal, Boyd Gaming will buy Lattner Entertainment, operators of “distributed gaming”—1,000 video gambling machines in 220 Illinois locations. Boyd Gaming President & CEO Keith Smith (l.) calls the acquisition “a valuable new avenue” for his company.

In a few years, Virginia could be removed from the list of 10 states without casino gambling. In New Kent County, the Pamunkey Tribe has taken steps toward developing a $700 million casino resort, and Colonial Downs was sold and will be reopened, since Governor Ralph Northam (l.) signed legislation allowing historical racing machines.

Part of Galaxy Macau’s Phase III will be operational by 2019, predicts Galaxy Entertainment Group Chairman Francis Lui (l.). Lui said the firm is hastening the completion of Phases III and IV of the Cotai resort.

Pennsylvania has begun taking applications for online gaming licenses. The $10 million licenses would allow existing casinos to run websites with poker, table games, and slots. Pennsylvania’s 12 casinos have until July 15 to turn in their applications. Once the deadline passes, they can apply for $4 million a-la-carte licenses for online poker, online table games, or online slots.

D Las Vegas and Golden Gate owner Derek Stevens announced plans to develop the first wholly new casino on Fremont Street in years. Features include a 777-room hotel, a nightclub, rooftop lounge, a pool and spa, events space and a pedestrian bridge connecting it all to a 1,500-space parking garage. It will be built on the site of the now-demolished Las Vegas Club (l.).

In the gaming industry, it’s sometimes hard to keep up. When it comes to real estate investment trusts, or distributed gaming, or millennials just stick around for 10 minutes and something will change.

This week the GGB Podcast sits down with Mike Dreitzer, the president of Gaming Arts, on his recent appointment and impressions of his new company in the first few months.

Hong Kong-listed Imperial International Holdings Ltd., operator of the Imperial Pacific Resort (l.) on the island of Saipan, is joining a long line of casino firms planning to bid on a Japan casino license.

Casino investor Universal Entertainment Corp. plans to add more hotel rooms, restaurants and retail outlets to its Okada Manila integrated resort in Entertainment City, the Philippines. It also will expand the gaming floor.

Melco Resorts & Entertainment’s $1.1 billion Morpheus hotel tower (l.), which is scheduled to open in Macau in June, will not invite casino junket promoters to bring in VIPs, says Melco Chairman Lawrence Ho.

The number of clubs in Singapore that offer slot machines has declined due to more stringent problem-gambling regulations introduced by the government regulator in 2017. There are now 19 fewer clubs overall. One is the Jackpot Lounge (l.) at the Tanah Merah Country Club.

The Asian Poker Tour will proceed with its 2018 tournament in Macau despite the coming ban on online poker apps in Mainland China. APT CEO Jeff Mann says the tour is not “reliant on online activities.” But the International Poker Tour Macau scheduled for last week, was cancelled.

Indian gaming operators in Goa, after protesting an increase in annual recurring fees for offshore and land-based casinos, have accepted and paid the new fees to the government. The Carnival Casino (l.), however, was forced to close due to the increase.

Two land parcels totaling 150 acres are up for auction in the Primorye Integrated Entertainment Resort zone in Russia. The only casino now open in the zone is Tigre de Cristal (l.), which debuted in October 2015.

Andrea Domingo (l.), chairwoman of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., says revenues from the country’s offshore gaming operations could nearly double this year to P6 billion (US$114.5 million).

The Irish Parliament will consider toughening problem gambling protections under new laws, which would require gambling firms to shutdown problem gamblers accounts and possibly create a new independent regulator. Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan (l.) was scheduled to introduce the measures, which would also include new restrictions on online and television advertisements and other moves to regulate casinos.

Hard Rock Casino Ottawa in Ontario will proceed with a $318 million expansion plan at Rideau Carleton Raceway. The project, to be completed by 2022, will include a 9-story hotel, 2,500-seat theatre and 1,200-vehicle parking facility. Total table games will increase from 35 to 55. Nine hundred new permanent jobs will be created.

Poker pro Phil Galfond (l.) is expected to launch a new online poker site this summer, according to reports. The site has been much anticipated since Galfond announced it 2016 with speculation that it will cater to pros and high stakes gamblers. The site was announced as major poker sites began implementing strategies to attract casual players.

Steve Wynn (l.) has been removed from the license application of the Encore Boston Harbor as a “qualifier,” as the Wynn Resorts International completes its severing of all relations with its founder. The Massachusetts Gaming Commission accepted the company’s assertions that it no longer has ties to Wynn.

Three top proxy advisory firms have joined Elaine Wynn’s (l.) call for an open election to reconstitute Wynn Resorts’ board of directors. Longtime directors are tainted by close ties to former Chairman Steve Wynn, she contends. They agree.

VICI, the real estate investment trust set up by Caesars Entertainment, will purchase the Octavius Hotel Tower at Caesars Palace and the Harrah’s Philadelphia property (l.).

The planned Hard Rock Atlantic City has been granted a license to reopen a casino by New Jersey gaming regulators. The Hard Rock is a refurbishment of the former Trump Taj Mahal casino on the city’s north Boardwalk and has announced a June 28 opening date. The neighboring Ocean Resort—a refurbishment of the former Revel casino—is also scheduled to open on that date.

Casino gambling is a topic in the Democratic primary race for governor of Georgia. Former state Rep. Stacey Evans (l.) said she favors legalizing casino gambling and using some of the revenue to reverse HOPE scholarship cuts. She said ex-House Minority Leader Stacey Adams, who's leading in the polls, collaborated with Republicans to slash the program.

It’s official. The 22-year-old Monte Carlo has a new name and a new direction in the form of an ongoing $550 million makeover aimed at attracting a younger, bigger-spending clientele. “Every square inch” of the 3,000-room resort is being transformed, said MGM Resorts Chairman James Murren.

With the end of the legislative session days away, the Connecticut House adopted a bill that would open the state to commercial casino bids. The Senate looked unlikely to act on HB 5305 before the deadline. Bridgeport Rep. Christopher Rosario (l.) is crying foul.

Louisiana state Senator Ronnie Johns (l.) sponsored a bill to replace the 30,000 square foot limit on riverboat casinos' gambling space with 2,365 gambling positions. That number equals the 2,152 seats in the Golden Nugget—which has the highest number of gambling positions—plus 10 percent. Johns insists the legislation does not expand gambling.

The Illinois Senate approved state Senator Terry Link's bill allowing video gambling machines in veterans establishments in communities where the games are banned. Link said the machines would help American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars groups facing financial hardship due to declining membership. However, some local governments said the legislation is an intrusion.

Penn National Gaming has assured local officials of Hellam Township that it would preserve the historic Mifflin House (l.), an Underground Railroad site, should it choose a nearby site for its York County mini-casino.

Business increased 40 percent at Northville Downs (l.), Michigan's only live horseracing facility since Hazel Park recently closed. Northville Downs' owners said the track has been profitable the past three years. However, they have a deal to sell the property to a housing developer and only race through 2020, but said they'll build a replacement track.

Connecticut’s gaming tribes, in a letter to House Speaker Joseph Aresimowicz (l.), claim that their tribal state gaming compacts guarantee them that if the state ever legalizes sports betting that they have exclusive rights to it. Although the compacts don’t actually mention sports betting, they say they are willing to halt revenue sharing payments if their wishes are not honored.

Washington’s $510 million ilani Casino just turned one year old. Already it is started to have dramatic effects on the economy of surrounding communities.

A bill introduced by Rep. Doug LaMalfa (l.) that would recognize a tribe that Congress terminated in the 1960s is facing questions from other tribes in the area. H.R. 3535 would give recognition to the Ruffey Rancheria, which was terminated in 1961.

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled against a San Diego tribe that claims its sovereignty protects it from the nation’s labor laws at its casino (l.). The decision puts the Pauma Band of Luiseno Indians under the jurisdiction of the National Labor Relations Act.

A ribbon-cutting and fireworks kicked off a weekend celebration of the $50 million renovation recently completed at Ho-Chunk Gaming (l.) in Baraboo, Wisconsin. The 18-month project includes a new smoke-free and VIP gaming areas, bingo hall, buffet, gift shop, hotel lobby and main entrance. It's one of six Wisconsin casinos owned by the Ho-Chunk Nation.

Michigan state Rep. Brandt Iden (l.) has amended his online gambling bill to lower the tax rate from 15 to 8 percent and add sports betting. Opponents claim the bill expands gambling, requiring a constitutional amendment. Also Indian tribes' gaming compacts would have to be amended to include online gambling.

Lottoland is moving into the Italian market with the acquisition of a popular Italian lotto and online games sites Giochi24. Lottoland has also launched its own Italian site, offering its lottery games and products. Meanwhile, Lottoland is considering challenging proposed laws in Australia to ban overseas lotteries in that country’s HIGH Court.

Melco International Development Ltd. has appointed Craig Ballantyne property president of City of Dreams Mediterranean, an integrated resort project planned for the Greek Republic of Cyprus.

Attorney Sandra Douglass Morgan has been appointed by Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval to a 4-year term on the Nevada Gaming Commission. She is director of external affairs for AT&T Nevada for Southern Nevada. Previously, Morgan served as a litigation attorney for MGM Mirage and city attorney for the city of North Las Vegas.

Macau casino operator Galaxy Entertainment Group has announced the appointment of Michael Mecca (l.) as a non-executive director, effective immediately. Mecca retired in April after nine years as president and COO.

Inspired Gaming has named longtime slot supply veteran Brooks Pierce (l.) as the company’s new president and chief operating officer, replacing Luke Alvarez, who is leaving the company, as president.

Former G2E business development executive and Spectrum Gaming Group executive Alison McCoy has joined the Innovation Group as vice president of business development.

Interblock has named Joseph Friedman, a veteran of both the supply and operational segments of the industry, to the new position of stadium implementation manager.

Last week David Green suddenly stepped down from his role as chairman of Australian-listed casino operator Silver Heritage Group. Green cited “personal reasons and business interests” as reasons for his exit.

PlayAGS, In. announced the start of a proposed secondary public offering of 4.25 million share of the company’s common stock by its largest shareholder, Apollo Gaming Holdings, L.P.

Inspired Gaming Group is partnering with system supplier Scientific Games to provide a virtual sports product to be deployed at retailer locations for the Pennsylvania Lottery. Inspired Executive Chairman Lorne Weil (l.) called the deal a “milestone.”