The roadblocks in the way of legalized sports betting in California began to evaporate last week when a coalition of tribes and state racetracks proposed a ballot measure that would allow tribal casinos and tracks accept such wagers. Mark Macarro (l.), chairman of the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians, says the measure gives Californian’s the “freedom” to bet on sports responsibly.
The falloff of Macau gaming revenues at the very high end has seen resulted in an overall slip of nearly 2 percent this year. But Wynn Macau’s Linda Chen (l.) and Sands China’s Wilfred Wong say they’re confident the market will stabilize by year’s end. And regulator Paulo Martins Chan will be re-appointed for an unprecedented fifth year in 2020.
A new gambling expansion plan launched by the Poarch Band of Creek Indians of Alabama would generate $1 billion for the state in its first year through a compact granting exclusive Class III gaming rights and two new destination casinos, the tribe says. A campaign called Winning for Alabama also responded to an opponent’s "misinformation" campaign. Stephanie Bryan (l.), chairwoman and CEO, says the deal would improve the quality of life in Alabama.
After years of declaring it would invest billions of dollars to get into the breaking Japanese gaming market, the Las Vegas Sands Corp. is cooling its jets. On a third-quarter earnings call in October, Sands President Rob Goldstein (l.) said the investment may not be worth the return.
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot tried and failed to get Illinois lawmakers to lower the effective 72 percent tax rate on a future Chicago casino, an “onerous” burden that Union Gaming said would scare off investors. But some legislators rejected her compromise offer, calling it a special deal for Chicago.
Colorado sports betting, authorized by voters November 5, may follow the successful model pioneered by New Jersey since it launched legal sports betting over the last year. Three towns will offer the wagers: Cripple Creek (l.), Black Hawk and Central City.
An economic study issued last week by the California Gaming Association shows the Golden State’s cardroom industry, including the Commerce Casino (l.), generates more than 32,000 jobs and almost $5.6 billion every year in the world’s fifth largest economy. But the state’s tribes say the card games are illegal and any economic benefit cited is a result of illegal activity.
Spin Games, the company begun by industry veteran Kent Young (l.) in 2012, was first into the New Jersey iGaming market. It’s poised to grow as online gaming expands across the U.S.
The New Jersey legislature approved an extra tax for municipalities and counties that host sportsbooks at the state’s two racetracks. But when it comes to Atlantic City, those revenues go to the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA) to promote the city. Mayor Marty Small (l.) feels his city is getting shortchanged.
The 17.3 billion purchase of Caesars Entertainment by Eldorado Resorts is OK, according to the shareholders of both companies. Two separate but simultaneous meetings were held—Caesars at the Tuscana Chapel (l.) in Caesars Palace and Eldorado in Reno—that produced overwhelming numbers of votes in favor of the deal. And sale of Caesars’ properties is still on the table.
The excitement over growth stocks in the sports betting market has overshadowed what might be a more profitable opportunity for gaming investors: REITs. The still-evolving model could turn out to be a home run.
This week, the GGB Podcast features Tom Jingoli, the senior vice president and chief commercial officer for Konami Gaming on the new direction his company has taken by bringing on veteran talent and addressing different verticals in slots.
Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment’s (MGE) Inspire resort in Korea will not open until 2022, according to the operator’s partner in the project, Incheon International Airport Corp (IIAC). The $5 billion resort was originally slated to open Phase I in 2020.
The government of Japan has nominated five people to be part of the country’s Casino Management Committee, which will direct the selection, licensing and oversight of Japan’s IR industry.
In the case of Donaco International Ltd. versus the Thai vendors of its Star Vegas casino (l.) in Poipet, Cambodia, the Australia-listed gaming operator has won a pivotal ruling in an appeals court in Phnom Penh. The decision means the vendors may not seize any of Donaco’s business assets.
Austria’s poker clubs are fight for their future with transitional regulations for private poker casinos due to expire on January 1. Starting that date, poker can only be legally played in Casinos Austria’s properties, and not in private poker rooms like the ones run by Concord Card Casinos (l.).
SkyCity Entertainment announced on November 11 that Richard Didsbury had resigned from the group’s board of directors. His exit was related to the October 22 fire that damaged the New Zealand International Convention Centre (NZICC) project in Auckland, New Zealand.
In 2014, Russian law introduced the Interactive Bet. Some said it permitted online gaming, illegal at the time. Others said it did not. Last summer, the law clarified the meaning, saying it did permit online betting in a narrow sense.
Stock prices for UK gambling companies have plummeted in the wake of government efforts to limit online bets, similar to limits on gaming machines. Such proposals could impact online casinos’ revenues from slot players.
Australia’s Communications Minister Paul Fletcher has announced that the federal government will soon begin to block illegal overseas gambling websites under the enhanced powers of the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA).
A number of U.S. colleges and universities like UC Berkeley now offer opportunities for those interested in careers in competitive video gaming. Courses available cover sales, business and administration; eSports organizations have solicited interns from many of these colleges.
The sports betting mobile app unveiled earlier this year by the Rhode Island Lottery has proven to be something of a bust, bringing in less than half the projected revenue. The lottery also saw declines in slot and table game revenues for the state’s Twin River and Tiverton (l.) casinos.
Professional sports league representatives recently delivered their sports betting legislative requirements to the Missouri House Special Interim Committee on Gambling. The leagues want 0.25 percent of sports betting handle and a mandate to use league-provided data. Committee Chairman Dan Shaul (l.) will deliver a report to the House by the end of the year.
Iowa sports betting launched in mid-August and to date has generated $96.3 million in total handle, with more than half of bets placed online at seven of the 18 casinos eligible to offer it. Analysts said more casinos are expected to offer mobile apps soon. Another inconvenience, the in-person sign-up requirement, will end January 2021.
Since Flutter Entertainment purchased FanDuel, rival DraftKings has explored overtures to merge with or acquire related companies. The latest exploration involves Diamond Eagle Acquisition. Other reports match DraftKings with supplier SBTech.
In Indiana, sports wagers in October hit $91.7 million in October, the first month mobile betting was allowed—nearly triple the $35.2 million wagered in September, when in-person sports betting kicked off. Football continued to be the most popular sport for betting, bringing in $41.1 million in wagers in October.
Kambi Group will be the vendor for Seneca Gaming Corp. when it implements sports betting at the Seneca Casinos in Niagara Falls, Buffalo, and Salamanca. Still unresolved is approval of mobile sports betting. Supporters hope it can pass the legislature in 2020.
Mount Airy Casino Resort in Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains tourism region cut the ribbon last week on its 3,800-square-foot retail sportsbook, after launching online sports betting in September.
Sri Lanka’s sports ministry has established stricter penalties for match-fixing and toughened sports betting restrictions to weed out corruption, particularly in cricket (l.). Sports betting is already prohibited in the country; the harshest penalties include 10 years in jail and fines exceeding $500,000.
Reports are that MGM Resorts and MGM Growth Properties are jointly shopping MGM Grand and Mandalay Bay. And they’re looking for an investor interested in taking the plunge as part of an as-yet unpublicized joint venture with MGM and its gaming REIT.
Plainridge Park Casino in Plainville, Massachusetts has contributed “significant economic benefits” to the surrounding area, especially two counties, Bristol and Norfolk. That’s the conclusion of a study by the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
A Wyoming state senator wants to end the Wild West lawlessness of gaming in the Cowboy State. Senator Ogden Driskill (l.) has introduced a bill that would create a Wyoming Gaming Commission to enfold all the outlaw games under one umbrella.
Animal rights groups like PETA and the Humane Society of the United States are calling for better treatment of horses after another horse died at Santa Anita racetrack in Southern California. The death occurred at the Breeders’ Cup Classic over the weekend.
The Nevada Gaming Control Board (GCB) has approved an amendment that would introduce tougher measures on workplace discrimination and harassment. The measure crafted by GCB Chairwoman Sandra Douglass Morgan (l.) is now before the state Gaming Commission.
A former cocktail server at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas has filed a class action lawsuit against Red Rock Resorts, saying it was obligated to give her and other staff members 60 days’ notice of their termination before closing club Kaos (l.).
Rivers Casino in Des Plaines, Illinois (l.) has received the state's first land-based casino license. It will add 120 gaming positions in areas not located above water. Owner Rush Street Gaming also announced a $150 million expansion to increase gaming positions to 2,000 and a new sportsbook. All the changes were made possible under the state's new gambling law.
Wynn Resorts has asked a Nevada court to dismiss claims by a former employee that it sent an “undercover operative” to spy on him after he spoke out about alleged sexual misconduct allegations by company founder and former CEO Steve Wynn (l). And Wynn has responded to Nevada regulators who want to ban him for life.
In 2015 Southland Casino Racing (l.) in West Memphis, Arkansas invested $38 million on new games and a restaurant. Now it will invest $250 million in a new casino complex, hotel and parking garage, targeted for completion in early 2021. The venue is having—and will continue to have—a major economic impact on the city and Crittenden County.
Hampton Virginia city council members want the legislature to approve the city for casino gambling. Legislation passed earlier this year limits casino gambling to five cities—not Hampton. But the measure must be reapproved following a casino gambling report expected this month, giving hope to Hampton council members.
The Sahara Las Vegas, formerly known as the SLS, is looking for classic memorabilia to add to the iconic resort, which has reclaimed its identity as one of the Strip’s flagship casino hotels.
The Seneca Nation has lost another round in a dispute with New York over casino revenue-sharing dollars the tribe has withheld the last two years. With the tribe running out of legal weapons, the back payments now total at least $255 million. The Senecas operate four casinos in New York, including Buffalo Creek (l.) in downtown Buffalo.
Oklahoma's 31 casino tribes rejected Governor Kevin Stitt’s (l.) proposal to enter into arbitration over their 15-year gaming compacts. Stitt says the compacts will expire January 1. The tribes assert they will automatically renew. Currently tribes pay the state 4 percent to 10 percent of annual net casino revenue for exclusivity rights, but Stitt wants more.
The Choctaw Casino & Resort in Durant, Oklahoma last month was named Casino of the Year by the International Entertainment Buyers Association (IEBA). The award was bestowed at the IEBA’s 49th annual conference on October 29.
Cedric Cromwell (l.), chairman of Massachusetts’ Mashpee Wampanoag tribe, remains confident that the $1 billion First Light Resort & Casino in Taunton will eventually be built. It’s “not a question of ‘if’ or even ‘how’ but merely ‘when,’” he said.
It’s been a decade since a member of the Wampanoag Tribe was elected to the Board of Selectmen of Mashpee on Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts. The election of David Weeden (l.), a member of the tribe, sparks hope among those who want better relations between the tribe and the town.
A professional gambler recently traveled from the UK to the United States in a bid to win a massive Connecticut Lotto jackpot. Bernard Marantelli, CEO of the sports betting agency Colossus Bets, spent $200,000 on tickets in hopes of winning more than $25 million.
The UK Gambling Commission is warning organizations that may be hold charitable gaming, such as raffles and tombolas for the holidays, to hold them within the law. If they don’t they will be prosecuted.
Graton Resort & Casino in Rohnert Park, Northern California has hired 25-year gaming veteran Lana Rivera to be vice president and general manager of the casino resort. She replaces Kord Nichols, who was promoted to manage Station Casinos in Nevada.
Johnny Barrientoz, general manager of Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel in Michigan has received the National Indian Gaming Association’s (NIGA) Chairman’s Leadership Award. Barrientoz is a member of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians.
SBC hopes to strengthen its associations with the world’s leading sports betting and iGaming operators with the appointment of Kelly Kehn to the key role of global relationships director.
Reid D. Milanovich has been elected to fill the two-year term of vice chairman by the Aqua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians. The vacancy was created by the death of Larry N. Olinger, and a special election was held in October.
Rose Farias, of Galloway Township, becomes deputy executive director of the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA) last week. The Wildwood native served in a similar capacity for the Atlantic City Initiatives Project Office.
Pechanga Resort Casino has named Ryan Adams as the property’s new director of beverage operations. Adams first joined the F&B team in July and Pechanga says his addition can already be seen in a number of guest experience improvements.
The Tulalip Tribe of Washington is remembering the life and legacy of Stan Jones, the man they respectfully called “chief” for many years. He died November 5.
Scientific Games Corp. logged net income of $18 million or 15 cents per share, for the third quarter, beating projections and reversing a year-earlier loss.
A UK charity that works to safeguard young people from problem gambling has joined forces with Caesars Entertainment EMEA and Queen Mary University of London to establish apprenticeship degree course called “Social Change.” Undergraduate apprentice 22-year-old Nadia Tarik (l.) is funded by Caesars EMEA.
AGS has been awarded a 2019 Gold Medallion award through the U.S. Department of Labor’s Hire Vets program, the only gaming supplier to achieve such recognition.
Novomatic has become the first Austrian company to achieve the G4 certification, the safe gaming international standard developed by responsible gaming experts.
Gaming supplier LT Game is planning to deploy a human-like robot dealer at casinos in Macau, as the technology is meant to relieve a shortage of manpower.
The National Council of Legislators from Gaming States (NCLGS) has announced the roster of speakers for its NCLGS Winter Meeting, to be held January 10-12, 2020 at the Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina. Speakers will include former National Indian Gaming Commission Chairman Jonadev Chaudhuri (l.).
SBC will present CasinoBeats Malta, an online gaming conference to be held March 24-26, 2020 at the InterContinental Hotel in St. Julian’s, Malta. The show will bring together industry experts and senior-level delegates to share insights and knowledge on the evolving digital landscape.
Award-winning gaming technology and services provider BetConstruct will be part of the South American Gaming Suppliers Expo (SAGSE), to be held November 20-22 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
