The Borgata in Atlantic City waited almost three weeks after other casinos had reopened to perfect its offerings and accommodate its valuable customers. Melonie Johnson, Borgata’s president, talks about how that decision was made.
The first tenet of regulation is to perform your duties in the “public interest.” But what happens when that public interest intersects with a more private concern like an employment opportunity? And how would that work when health restrictions on casinos are relaxed. Richard Schuetz (l.) has his ideas.
Mohegan Sun entertainment guru Tom Cantone (l.) has found a way to make an arena darkened by Covid-19 come back to life. He and Viacom agreed to broadcast live fights from the resort arena. The events have proven so successful, Cantone is considering other entertainment.
In a special edition of the GGB Podcast Rob Norton, the president of the Cordish Gaming Group, talks about how his company has ridden out the Covid 19 by concentrating on construction of two new Pennsylvania casinos and expanded iGaming and sports betting platforms in the state.
The Covid-19 pandemic, while crippling brick-and-mortar casinos, has provided an opportunity for iGaming to shine. Profits in the online sector have soared since March. But are online lotteries going to pare profits away from the casino iGaming sites?
With a crackdown on online gambling in full throttle in China and relations with the U.S. plumbing new lows, it’s not looking good for the Macau’s VIP sector, which holds the casinos’ post-pandemic hopes.
Governor Ralph Torres (l.) of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands says he’s ready pull the casino license of Imperial Pacific International, operator of the lone casino resort on Saipan, for its failure to pay more than $15 million in annual license fees, despite its claims of insolvency.
A border checkpoint has opened between Macau and Hengqin Island, which could boost daily crossings into the gaming hub to more than 200,000 people a day. Potentially, the opening could work to double annual visitation to Macau.
Tennessee’s first sports bets could be accepted by November 1; it will be the first state in the country to go mobile-only for sports betting. But stifling rules could hurt the success rate, especially a mandatory hold.
Japanese fintech firm Pixel Companyz and French casino operator Groupe Partouche will team up to bid on an integrated resort license in Japan. Partouche’s former partner, Oshidori, will remain in the race.
Eilers & Krejcik Gaming has made a strategic investment in software provider Gaming Analytics, and in the emerging technology of artificial intelligence.
Navajo Nation Gaming Chairman Quincy Natay (l.) has announced that the nation’s four casinos in Arizona and New Mexico will reopen soon, possibly in September. The properties have been closed since March 17 as the nation was savaged by the virus.
In Atlantic City, casino employment fell 15 percent in July despite the reopening of all nine properties. Capacity limitations and a lack of in-restaurant dining are to blame, industry and union officials say.
The San Manuel Band of Mission Indians of Highland, California last week announced the appointment of Laurens Vosloo (l.) as its new chief executive officer. Vosloo has been with the organization since 2014.
Special purpose acquisition companies are the new rage. Two gaming deals have already gone done involving SPACs and others are ready to go. Opportunity knocks for gaming investors.
This week the GGB Podcast catches up with Brett Ewing, the principal of the resort hospitality for the Cuningham Group to discuss how Covid 19 has impacted casino design and construction in real and long-lasting ways.
Galaxy Entertainment anticipates continuing headwinds from Covid-19 following a second-quarter loss, but remains committed to previous expansion plans, including its pursuit of an integrated resort license in Japan.
Swedish casino operator Svenska Spel has announced that it will permanently close its casino (l.) in the historic port city of Sundsvall. Sixty-eight people will lose their jobs.
SkyCity Entertainment announced last week that a planned three-day shutdown of its Auckland casino, prompted by a local spike in Covid-19 infections, would be extended until midnight August 26 at the earliest. SkyCity CEO Graeme Stephens (l.) says his company is ready to respond quickly.
Star Sydney must pay fines of AU$90,000 (US$65,000) due to three incidents of underage gambling on its casino floor. One involved a 12-year-old girl. Star reported all the incidents, which took place in 2019.
The government of Puerto Rico has invited the public to weigh in on regulated online gaming in the country. The Puerto Rican Gaming Commission under Board President Manuel Laboy Rivera (l.) will accept comments until September 10.
Cordish Companies has officially launched its Pennsylvania online casino, called PlayLive!, ahead of the openings of its new casinos in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.
The U.S. Internal Revenue Service has concluded that entry fees for daily fantasy sports constitute gambling and may be subject to a federal excise tax. If played out, it could cost DraftKings and FanDuel millions of dollars.
A measure that would legalize sports betting in California appears to be heading to the ballot box. Proposed by a coalition of gaming tribes, the proposal might get on a special ballot this year, but Jacob Mejia (l.) of the Pechanga Development Corp., says it’s too late for 2020.
William Hill U.S. has added six Vegas casinos to its sportsbook portfolio through the acquisition of CG Technologies, and 11 more through the Caesars-Eldorado. The CG buy brings William Hill U.S. CEO Joe Asher back to the company he ran in the mid-2000s.
Puerto Rico expects to become the first U.S. territory to offer legal sports betting. The regulations include a tax as low as 7 percent for brick-and-mortar casinos and no integrity fees—and 18-year-olds can bet on the Oscars.
The Washington state agency tasked with operating sports betting is asking the legislature to forgive it the $6 million it was loaned to start up the operation earlier this year. The effort was hamstrung by Covid-19.
Seeking different ways to engage fans, the NBA has developed an alternative broadcast concept called NBABet Stream. The broadcast focuses on games from the perspective of sports betting. An executive with the league describes it as light fun for viewers who tune in.
A class action lawsuit charges that Electronic Arts, the company that makes FIFA and Madden games, broke California gambling laws with its Ultimate Team packs. The suit contends that the game packs contribute to addiction.
Vernon Downs and Tioga Downs in New York State are scheduled to go dark in a matter of weeks. Owner Jeff Gural (l.) blames the statewide casino lockdown, now in its fifth month, for drying up funds for purses.
The Mirage Resort in Las Vegas will resume business this week, MGM Resorts International said. The decision leaves Park MGM as the company’s sole Strip property still under closure.
A report by regulators in Pennsylvania shows a 10.8 percent drop in handle for the state’s racetracks, as Governor Tom Wolf (l.) seeks to divert slot revenues from horsemen.
Kentucky doesn’t have casinos, but does permit bettors to wager on historic horse racing games races. The racing industry says it’s legal. The Family Foundation says otherwise. Kentucky’s Supreme Court will decide who is right—for the second time.
Cripple Creek in Teller County, Colorado, has been able to maintain a remarkable safety records for its casinos. So far no Covid cases in the county can be attributed to a Cripple Creek casino.
Operator Station Casinos, a longtime foe of Culinary Union Local 226, says a majority of the unionized employees at Boulder Station (l.) want out. Culinary says a withdrawal is illegal and has filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board.
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board reports that 40 casino workers tested positive for the Covid-19 virus between early June, when casinos reopened, and August 9.
Pennsylvania’s Mohegan Sun Pocono has informed 240 employees who were furloughed due to the Covid-19 shutdown that they could be permanently laid off by September 30.
A New Hampshire pizza entrepreneur and developer, Sal Lupoli (l.), has filed a proposal with the Salem planning board for a charitable casino. There are currently 55 such casinos in the state.
Revenues for the Mohegan Sun and its rival Foxwoods Resorts were sharply divergent during July, their first full month of operations since the Covid-19 pandemic began. Mohegan Sun’s revenues increased moderately, while Foxwoods’ fell sharply.
A third casino could operate in Amador County, California, a sparsely populated area in the northern part of the state. The casino would be owned by the Ione Band of Miwok Indians, which just signed a gaming compact with Governor Gavin Newsom.
IGT’s contract with the New York Lottery has been extended two years until August 2022. IGT will provide 400 new retail vending machines while operating a control system, terminals and other services.
Christina Jimerson, Seneca Gaming Corp.’s executive director of compensation and total rewards, has received the Buffalo Business First 2020 Women of Influence “Behind the Scenes” Award.
Former Caesars Entertainment CEO Mark Frissora has agreed to settle charges by the Securities and Exchange Commission of filing inaccurate financial statements in his time as head of Hertz Car Rental Corp. He will repay $2 million to the firm.
Fantasy sports gaming platform Monkey Knife Fight has signed a multi-year deal with the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers. MKF will be featured in pre- and post-game radio and TV promotions, in-stadium branding, and across the team's social media platforms.
A new mobile wallet that will allow touchless transactions in casinos will be unveiled later this year by Everi Holdings. It will be called CashClub Wallet.
GAN will provide its Simulated Gaming software product to the Route 66 casino property outside of Albuquerque, New Mexico, with services to launch in the third quarter of this year.
Nevada-based Gary Platt Manufacturing, is releasing a new line of upholstery fabrics for casino seats that are antimicrobial, anti-fungal and anti-mildew. The line is called “Healthy Play.”
A key player in online sports betting, VBET has marked its first year in France with the announcement of a partnership with the historic Ligue 1 club, AS Monaco.
Empire Technological Group Limited announced last week that the Mississippi Gaming Commission has approved the company’s gaming application to serve as a distributor and manufacturer in the state.
AGS has announced an agreement with game content supplier Intouch Games Ltd. through which Intouch will provide game content for AGS’ real-money game aggregation platform.
One of the world’s leading side bets, Galaxy Gaming’s 21+3, has received regulatory approval in France, with the additional Top 3 side bet also going live in Switzerland for the first time.
Evolution Gaming will bring its simulated live dealers to an online casino to be opened through Bally’s Atlantic City in partnership with PointsBet. The company, known more for its bookmaking, plans to use Evolution in online casinos in Pennsylvania and Michigan as well.
