Caesars Entertainment and MGM Resorts International have become the founding members of the Sports Wagering Integrity Monitoring Association, the first such group in the U.S., with former New Jersey regulator George Rover (l.) as its chief integrity officer. In addition, MGM Resorts has reached an agreement with Major League Baseball to become betting partner with the league. MGM has already reached similar deals with the NHL and the NBA.
Looking for details about the rebidding process for Macau’s gaming concessions? Get in line. With the first licenses set to expire in 2020, some in and out of the industry are impatient for intel, leading to rumors and assumptions that may not be realistic. The latest rumor is that the concessions will be an open bidding process. Macau Chief Executive Fernando Chui Sai On (l.) was evasive about the process in his recent speeches and statements.
Former Centaur Gaming executives Rod Ratcliff and John Keeler formed Spectacle Entertainment to purchase Majestic Star Casino I and II (l.) in Gary, Indiana. Spectacle hopes to relocate one casino within Gary and move the other license elsewhere in the state. The transaction, if approved by the Indiana Gaming Commission, would close in first quarter 2019.
Winning the 2025 World Expo could boost Osaka’s chances to host one of Japan’s first three integrated resorts, says brokerage Nomura. The city defeated three other challengers and will host its first expo since 1970. Operators have their eyes on Osaka’s Yumeshima Island.
For now, Rhode Island has the only sports book operating in New England. Sportsbook Rhode Island in at Twin River Casino in Lincoln took the first wagers on the Monday after Thanksgiving. The second sports book in the Tiverton casino is expected to open this week.
Playtech’s Teddy Sagi (l.) has sold his stake in the gambling software company he founded 19 years ago for about $87 million. Sagi’s Brickington Trading has sold about 15.2 million shares, equivalent to 4.8 percent of the London-listed company, his family office, Globe Invest, said in a press statement. The sale may open the door for involvement in the U.S. for the iGaming giant.
Eldorado Resorts has entered into a 20-year agreement with the Stars Group for online gaming. Eldorado will provide Stars Group with options to access to Eldorado’s online sports wagering platforms. William Hill, which has a previous deal with Eldorado to provide land-based sports betting approved the deal. CEO Rafi Ashkenazi (l.) says it is part of the Stars Group’s U.S. strategy.
The Pueblo of Tesuque in New Mexico last week opened the Tesuque Casino next to the Santa Fe Opera House. The casino has 800 slots and ten tables. It replaces the tribe’s previous casino, the Camel Rock casino, which was half the size of the new one.
Japan’s Angel Holdings, a supplier of playing cards, will acquire Las Vegas-based table-game supplier Gaming Partners International Corporation. Angel will pay almost $110 million for GPI and will create an Angel U.S. subsidiary, AGL Nevada Corp.
Mark Birtha has been named president of the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Sacramento at Fire Mountain in Northern California. He will oversee the casino’s construction aiming at opening it next year. He most recently operated the Hard Rock Rocksino in Northfield, Ohio, which became the state’s leading revenue generator under his leadership.
This week, the GGB Podcast features a discussion with Tim Richards, the senior vice president of payment innovations for Everi about how payment processing has progressed—and stagnated—in today’s casino industry.
Sixty people laid off from Saipan’s Imperial Pacific Resort (l.) want answers about their sudden dismissals. Operator Imperial Pacific International says the layoffs were essential following damage from Typhoon Yutu and the drop-off in visitors.
Malaysian casino operator Genting Malaysia Berhad is suing two U.S. entertainment giants—21st Century Fox and Disney—alleging that they bailed on a 2013 deal for a theme park near Kuala Lumpur. Both companies dismissed the charges
A former official of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. dropped his says he may move his lawsuit against Wynn Macau from a local court to the U.S. because the odds are better. The original court ruling went to Wynn.
Russia-based Diamond Fortune will soon begin construction on its first casino resort, called Selena (l.), in the Primorye Integrated Entertainment Zone near Vladivostok. The company plans to open Phase I in September 2020.
The Vietnamese government has OK’d a casino development inside a resort on the island of Phu Quoc (l.), local media report. The project will be part of a three-year trial allowing Vietnamese into select casinos.
A Hilton hotel has opened at Resorts World Manila (l.) near Ninoy Aquino International Airport. The hotel offers 357 modern guest rooms with “direct-to-room” technology for Hilton Honors members.
South Shore Holdings, operator of the luxury 13 Hotel in Macau, posted losses of HK$442 million (US$56.5 million) for the six months to September 30, up 18 percent from the same period in 2017.
The addition of 1,000 hotel rooms at Okada Manila is expected to drive significant new revenue at the resort, located in Manila’s Entertainment City casino zone. The resort saw a big drop in Q3 net revenues.
The Philippine National Police will strictly enforce its ban on officers entering casinos and other gaming venues in the country, Chief Superintendent Benigno Durana says.
The opening of a Shinhwa Resort-branded hotel at Jeju Shinhwa World (l.) in South Korean will likely be delayed until open 2019, according to a source linked to operator Landing International.
The board of directors of Melco International Development Ltd. last month approved a US$500 million (HK$3.9 billion) share repurchase related to its Melco Resorts & Entertainment subsidiary.
A specially appointed inspector will conduct random checks in Macau casinos to see if casino employees are on-property when they’re not working. A proposed ban on staff would affect 54,000 staffers.
A tax hike that would double the betting tax, set to take effect January 1, will be reviewed by the Irish Department of Finance, Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe (l.) announced. The Irish Bookmakers Association complained the government did not consult them, and that 300 betting shops would close, resulting in least 1,500 lost jobs.
The Gaming Commission of Paraguay has canceled a public tender for a casino concession in Alto Paraná. Conajzar President José Ortiz Báez (l.) said commissioners need more time to ensure a transparent process.
Canada’s Mounties have been investigating the gaming activities of MP Raj Grewal (l.),who was considered to have a bright future. Before, that is, he unexpectedly resigned.
According to a new study, Australian adults’ gambling losses amounted to $958 on average, the highest worldwide. By comparison New Zealand gamblers averaged about half the Australian figure. The study found an increase in Australian gamblers’ average losses.
Slot manufacturer AGS announced an agreement with online gaming content supplier Relax Gaming to become distribution partners for each other’s content. AGS CEO David Lopez (l.) calls it “an important partnership.”
An “eSports town” complex has opened in Hangzhou in China and will host events sponsored by LGD Gaming. The complex is operated by the Hangzhou city government and took $280 million to build.
Macau’s Judiciary Police has asked web hosting companies working outside Macau to block or remove 237 alleged illegal gambling websites. About 130 websites have already been blocked, officials said.
Worldpay and Paysafe Group have formed a strategic partnership to establish what could be an industry-standard payment technology system for the iGaming and sports-betting segments in the U.S. The NETELLER digital wallet will play an important role in the deal.
Casino software supplier Red Tiger Gaming has been granted supplier licenses from the Malta Gaming Authority and Alderney Gambling Control Committee. The company said the approvals will help expand its presence in regulated markets.
Even though an Indiana legislative committee has recommended that sports betting be legalized in the state, there’s still a long way to go. Public sentiment is against the move, and there is disagreement about whether it should be limited to casinos only or allow mobile betting. Indiana Gaming Commission Executive Director Sara Gonso Tait (l.) says her agency is ready.
Now that Florida voters approved the Voter Control of Gambling amendment by 71 percent, state legislators are trying to interpret how it would affect sports betting. Incoming Senate President Bill Galvano (l.) said lawmakers may approve and regulate it. But John Sowinski of Voters In Charge said sports betting legislation would be unconstitutional.
North Carolina, a state that has traditionally shunned expanded gaming is getting serious about sports betting. State Senator Phil Berger thinks it’s time to at least talk about it. David Tepper (l.), owner of the NFL’s Panthers, believes it’s inevitable.
Sports betting is heating up in the Virginia legislature. While two bills have already been introduced, several more are being considered. The lottery will most likely control that activity, with online and mobile betting permitted.
DraftKings CEO Jason Robins (l.), speaking in a recent interview, said the company began preparing to offer sports betting as soon as the U.S. Supreme Court announced it would hear New Jersey’s challenge to PASPA, the federal ban on sports betting. When the high court overturned the ban, DraftKings launched sports betting in New Jersey where it is now bringing in 80 percent of the company’s business in the state.
Casino owners in Deadwood are asking the legislature to put a measure on the ballot to amend the South Dakota constitution to allow sports betting. The Deadwood Gaming Association is aiming for the 2020 election.
Although many states are contemplating bills that would legalize sports betting, don’t suppose that Idaho will be among them. The state’s existing law provides a pretty effective barrier to such a move, according to top legal experts.
USBets, a distributor of U.S. gambling news and analysis, has announced its acquisition of Sports Handle, a sports betting industry news site that covers legislative and regulatory developments in the sports betting industry. The acquisition adds to USBets’ roster of gambling resources, including NJ Online Gambling and PennBets.
The launch of the DraftKings Sportsbook at Resorts Atlantic City signals the end of the casino’s relationship with software supplier SBTech in supplying the retail sports book.
FOX Sports will team sports data provider Sportradar in what it says is an attempt to push the boundaries of data-driven sports coverage. Sportradar is developing new research tools, data products and machine learning technology that will enable FOX Sports broadcasters to bolster in-game and digital content with real-time and historic sports data via API, the network said in a press release.
The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians has partnered with IGT on the first sports book at a tribal casino in the U.S., integrating its console into the IGT PlayShot platform.
Stadium Casino, now wholly owned by Baltimore’s Cordish Companies, has been granted a two-year extension on required opening date for the Philly Live! Hotel & Casino, until 2020. Cordish had requested three years, but gaming board feels two years is enough time to get up and running.
Caesars Entertainment announced it is ending gaming operations at Tunica Roadhouse (l.) by January 31, although the 135-room hotel will remain open. Officials said Caesars "remains committed to the Tunica market," but business has steadily declined due to increased competition—which will intensify with a new state lottery and four Arkansas casinos coming along.
Eldorado Resorts officials said they're considering relocating the Isle of Capri riverboat casino (l.) in Lake Charles, Louisiana to a land-based facility. The project would cost $75 million - $100 million and be completed in 2020. The company does not plan to move its Belle of Baton Rouge riverboat casino ashore for now.
Despite the investigation into the activities of former Wynn Resorts Chairman Steve Wynn being stalled because of a lawsuit he filed against the state gaming board, questions still remain. The center around who know about the payments to Wynn’s paramours and when did they know it. The now “Encore” Boston Harbor (l.) is slated to open in June 2019.
It was the fifth time this year that monthly gaming revenue topped the $1 billion mark. It was also the state’s best month for win in more than five years. The difference was the Las Vegas Strip, where the mass market showed up in force.
Kentucky Attorney General and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andy Beshear (l.) asked lawmakers to legalize casinos and sports betting to help raise money for the state's challenged public pension system. Beshear said expanding gambling to include casinos, fantasy sports, online gambling and sports betting are preferable to cutting legally promised benefits.
Construction will start next spring on Triple Crown Casinos' $30-$40 million expansion at the Brass Ass Casino (l.) in Cripple Creek, Colorado. The project will include a 150-room hotel, upscale rooftop restaurant, convention and meeting space and more. The company also will buy the 53-room Gold Fever Inn in Cripple Creek for workforce housing.
Nearly a decade after the voters of Ohio amended the state’s constitution to allow casino gaming, many wonder whatever happened to the promises of money. The four casinos authorized by the amendment were built—and then some—but the monetary rewards were about half what was promised. But when Governor John Kasich (l.) allowed racetracks to offer VLTs, the rest is history.
A card club owner in Spokane Valley, Washington is asking for a taxation rate similar to what his competitors in neighboring Spokane pay. He says that without the lower rates he may have to move his casino to Spokane.
A new report showed video gambling revenue grew more than 75 percent in the past three years, reaching net income of $1.4 billion in the 2018 fiscal year and generating $70 million in tax revenue for local governments. Riverboat gambling revenue dropped more than 15 percent since video gambling launched in 2012, the report indicated.
Sales of charitable electronic pull-tabs were slow when they were introduced in 2012 to help finance the U.S. Bank Stadium (l.) in Minneapolis. But sales rose 80 percent, from $200 million to $360 million, in fiscal 2018. Over time, the public has become more comfortable with the technology and more venues began offering new games.
Located within sight of the Strip, Planet 13 (l.)—all 40,000 square feet of it—offers everything a head could want, from a huge assortment of leaf to an array of edibles and vapes. Built at a cost of $8 million, its backers say it’s the largest retail marijuana dispensary in the world.
The opening of two new casino s in the Atlantic City market has hurt casino profits as the city’s now nine operating casinos saw a 15.3 percent profit decline for July, August and September. While casinos remained profitable, five of the seven casinos open before the new additions saw profits decline. Only the Golden Nugget casino and Bally’s Atlantic City saw increases.
After discussions with licensee Cordish Companies, Pennsylvania state Senator Kim Ward (l.) estimates that Stadium Casino’s Westmoreland mini-casino could be open within a year.
After failing to get an answer from the Maine Supreme Judicial Court whether it can legally open a casino without state permission the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians is looking at its options. One of them is to sue the state. Henry Bear (l.), who represents the tribe in the state legislature, said state approval isn’t necessary if the tribe wants to build a casino.
Outgoing Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker (l.) and the Forest County Potawatomi Tribe agreed the tribe could reduce payments to the state to $250 million if a new casino opens 30-50 miles from its Milwaukee operation. The ruling could affect the Menominee Tribe's efforts to open an $800 million casino in Kenosha, which Scott denied in 2015.
The original casino opened by the Morongo Band of Mission Indians in Southern California in 1995 is once again offering gaming. The tribe moved 300 slots to the old building while it works on expanding the Morongo Casino, Resort and Spa.
Although it owns 600 acres in New Kent County, Virginia, the Pamunkey Tribe, which was federally recognized in 2015, still is seeking a location for its proposed casino (l.). County residents have resisted what would be the state's first tribal casino. “We only want to go where we’re welcome," said Chief Robert Gray.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs will hold a public meeting in Muskegon, Michigan on December 12 regarding the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians' proposed $180 million off-reservation casino in Fruitport Township. The project, located at a former racetrack, would offer 1,700 slots and 35 table games, plus a 220-room hotel and create 1,200 jobs.
Guitars were smashed to officially open the new Hard Rock Café and casino expansion at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida. The renovations are the first two areas to open as part of the property's $1.5 billion expansion, which includes a guitar-shaped hotel expected to open in fall 2019.
According to a press announcement, several European lottery companies will come together to launch a joint venture company. The lotteries include Danske Lotteri Spil, Française des Jeux, Norsk Tipping and Veikkaus. The new company will be called Lotteries Entertainment Innovation Alliance AS and will allow the lottery companies to share resources in order to build a wider and efficient digital gaming offer.
The Nebraska Lottery will not pay out to dozens of players who thought they won prizes in a holiday scratch-off game due to misprinted tickets. The lottery cancelled its Holiday Bonus Bucks game when the mistake came to light in September, but 405 tickets had been sold before the game was cancelled. Lottery officials said state law does not compel the lottery to pay out on tickets printed in error.
Betsson announced it will its customers the chance to bet on major global lotteries such as the U.S. Powerball and Mega Millions games through a new partnership with Lotto Warehouse. The company has added a new lottery selection ahead of Sweden’s launch of new gambling regulations in January.
Landing International Development Chairman Yang Zhihui, who dropped out of sight last summer, has emerged from hiding and “resumed his duties” at the firm according to a release issued on November 26.
Jerry Herbst, the convenience store and gas station tycoon, was the force behind one of the best-known retail brands in the Las Vegas Valley. He also led the family business into the casino industry, launching locals operator Herbst Gaming and later JETT Gaming.
TAG Media has named iGaming affiliate veteran Anthony Hodgetts as affiliate account manager, responsible for managing sports betting and gaming affiliate partnerships.
JP Morgan Securities predicted robust profitability for Australian slot supply giant Aristocrat Leisure Limited, including growth in North American market share.
An executive for supplier Aruze Gaming indicated the company is ready to target the Macau market with its growing library of electronic table games. Meanwhile, Aruze’s new Muso Triple-27 cabinet was created in partnership with Quixant, which provided a cutting-edge digital button panel for the award-winning product.
The Trilogy Group has signed a deal with Malibu Wines to introduce the brand to Indian Country. Valerie Spicer (l.), co-founder of Trilogy, says the brand is a unique fit for tribal casinos.
Betting on Sports America (BOSA) and GGB Magazine have reached a marketing agreement to promote the initial event scheduled for April 23-25, 2019 at the Meadowlands in New Jersey. The organization also reached an agreement with the International Association of Gaming Advisors to partner in a marketing and content deal.
The All-In Diversity Project has announced it will be publishing results on its research into diversity and the gaming industry. It will publish through ICE London.
