Virgin Hotel in Las Vegas is officially opened now that founder Richard Branson showed up to officiate at the grand opening, featuring the governor of Nevada, pop star Christina Aguilera, and the drumline for the Vegas Golden Knights hockey team.

Gross gaming revenue in Macau for June could be down 30 percent from May due to a spike in Covid cases in China. And the SAR has a long way to come back from June 2019, when revenues were 70 percent higher.

Sightline Payments has acquired Joingo, the leading provider of mobile engagement solutions to the casino industry, to improve the Sightline Play+ flagship consumer solution.

According to the American Gaming Association, the April revenue numbers for commercial casinos in the U.S. were the second-highest in history, reflecting the pent up demand as players return from the pandemic.

Australia Extends AML Probe to Star, SkyCity Australian financial crime watchdog AUSTRAC has opened official investigations into two more gaming companies, SkyCity and Star Entertainment. Crown Resorts is already in the agency’s sights.

Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber (l.) is urging Interior Secretary Deb Haaland to reject the proposed gaming compact between Florida and the Seminole Tribe of Florida, saying it was “hijacked by non-tribal interests.”

Louisiana senators have passed legislation outlining the rules for sports betting in the state. It now goes to Governor John Bel Edwards (l.), who’s expected to sign it.

A key Pennsylvania state Senate committee has held the first of a series of hearings to examine unlicensed, unregulated so-called “skill-based” games, with the goal of either banning or licensing the machines.

Governor Ned Lamont (l.) and Connecticut’s gaming tribes have agreed to legislation legalizing online sports betting and online poker. Now the state must find a provider to work with. PokerStars seems like a good bet.

This week, the GGB Podcast features an interview with Jennifer Shatley, the president of the Nevada Council on Problem Gambling and a UNLV associate, on the need for the sports betting and online community to understand how marketing can impact responsible gambling.

The financial performance of the new Londoner Macao will determine if the Las Vegas Sands Corp. invests billions of dollars more in its other resorts in the territory.

Lotte Tour Development launched its new foreigner-only casino at Jeju Dream Tower (l.) on June 11. The Dream Tower Casino was relocated from its former home at the Lotte Hotel Jeju to the US$1.4 billion tower.

Resorts World Genting (l.), near the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur, could remain closed for three months due to the country’s newest Covid-19 outbreak.

Macau gaming operator SJM Holdings may have to push the opening of its new Grand Lisboa Palace (l.) to the third quarter as it waits for official licensing permits.

The busy casino district in Preah Sihanoukville, Cambodia remains closed as authorities work to curb the spread of Covid-19. Sihanoukville is now a designated yellow zone.

Cui Li Jie (l.), chairwoman of casino operator Imperial Pacific International, will resign. Cui cited personal reasons, but she’s been threatened with jail in association with the chaotic gaming organization.

Once again Pansy Ho (l.) has sold off part of her stake in MGM Resorts International. With her latest sale of shares, in May, Ho now holds less than 1 percent of MGM.

Macau Slot Co., the longtime monopoly sports betting platform supplier for Macau, has had its concession renewed for three years, but has lost exclusivity for the service.

Canadian casinos began reopening Thursday, June 10 after being mostly closed since last December 12. In Alberta (Great Northern Casino at left), casinos have been cleared to reopen at 33 percent capacity.

In May, Papua New Guinea signed an agreement for Paga Hill Development Corp. to build a $43 million casino resort in Port Moresby. Social activists say the country isn’t ready for casino gaming.

A study of optimal betting environments in 20 countries ranked the U.K. first, and India last. Each of the 20 markets have different regulatory and licensing models.

Gauteng Gambling Board CEO Steven Ngubeni (l.) has been placed on “precautionary suspension” with full pay by advocate Fana Nalane, administrator of the board. Few details were provided about the move.

The European Gaming and Betting Association has thrown its support behind a proposal from the European Commission to use electronic identity wallets for patron verification.

The Michigan Gaming Control Board has approved payment solutions platform PayNearMe to process sports betting an iGaming payments in the state.

Big Time Gaming and Relax Gaming have partnered to launch the new Megapays jackpot mechanism, a global jackpot system for internet gaming operators.

Rank Group has launched a safe gambling “monitoring desk” called “Hawkeye,” which can detect behavior likely to identify problem gambling in iGaming.

Evolution Gaming, a Swedish based manufacturer of online casino games, has introduced Gonzo’s Treasure Hunt. It is the first live casino game combining live action and slots play with Virtual Reality.

A change to Canada’s criminal code that would allow provinces to adopt regulations on single event sports betting is generating opposition by a First Nation. Chief Michael Delisle Jr. (l.) of the Mohawks of Kahnawake say they are being left out.

The Wyoming Gaming Commission has drafted sports betting regulations for the state and sent the proposed policies to Governor Mark Gordon (l.) for his approval.

Arizona has set September 9, the official start of NFL season, as its target date for live sports betting. Both tribal casinos and professional sports organizations are authorized to offer retail and mobile sports wagering.

In less than four months after sports betting launched in Virginia, it’s on pace to exceed $1 billion in wagers. Both Virginia and its neighbor, Tennessee, depend on mobile betting, since neither has a casino.

Mobile sportsbook PointsBet will enter the Maryland sports betting market through a deal with Riverboat on the Potomac (l.), an OTB, keno parlor and lottery retailer once known as “Little Reno.”

Caesars Entertainment has signed a partnership agreement with Australian online betting platform supplier PlayUp, which will begin the relationship in the New Jersey market.

The NBA is on the lookout for a new home in Las Vegas. A local group of investors have put out preliminary feelers for a team, when and if the league expands.

Last year, when Covid-19 shut down mainstream sports, table tennis became a popular betting sport. In Colorado, it’s still the fourth largest most wagered-upon sport.

BetMGM announced last week that its sports betting app will be available at Nationals Stadium (l.) in Washington, D.C. as part of a new partnership with the Washington Nationals.

New sportsbook regulations have been approved by Brazil’s Chamber of Deputies. The provisional measure has now been forwarded to the Senate for its approval.

Voters in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana will have the opportunity to decide if they want a casino resort near Lake Ponchartrain in Slidell. Peninsula Pacific Entertainment has proposed a $250 million resort.

Bally’s Corp. has announced that it has completed its acquisition of the Tropicana Evansville in Indiana from Caesars Entertainment in a $140 million transaction.

Four investors in the Urban ONE casino project in Richmond, Virginia also contributed to Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney’s (l.) election campaign. Stoney said he’s had donors and supporters “on both sides.”

Construction is expected to begin soon on a Resorts World casino inside a mall in Newburgh, Orange County, New York. It’s expected to debut in 2022, and once operational, will be open 20 hours a day. The license is owned by the same company that operates Resorts World Catskills (l.).

New Jersey legislators have sent a modified casino tax relief bill to Governor Phil Murphy (l.). Another gambling-related bill calls for a referendum to allow wagers on New Jersey college teams.

Legislation approved by the Louisiana Senate would give a major tax break to Harrah’s New Orleans (l.), which would pay a flat rate in lieu of sales, use and occupancy taxes.

Plans for a New York City casino may have been stalled, but the campaign continues to license three downstate casinos, says state Senator Joseph Addabbo (l.).

On June 8, Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak signed legislation that guarantees the rights of laid-off gaming and tourism industry workers to return to their jobs.

A bill awaiting the signature of New York Governor Andrew Cuomo will give financial aid to Vernon Downs Casino Hotel. The proposal is critical to the region in keeping the property afloat.

Missouri lawmakers once again could not agree on legislation to control the spread of unregulated “gray market” gambling machines. State Senator Denny Hoskins (l.) says the inaction could have an impact on pending court cases.

The Illinois Gaming Board has approved a license that will allow a temporary Hard Rock Casino Rockford to operate while the $310 million permanent casino is built.

Starting August 1, smoking will be prohibited in workplaces including bars and casinos in the city of Shreveport, Louisiana. Shreveport is the 30th city in the state to pass a no-smoking ordinance.

Officials at Oaklawn Racing Casino (l.) in Hot Springs, Arkansas has announced it will offer a 66-day season starting in December. Purses for the season are forecast at $45 million to $50 million.

Most California gaming halls can go maskless this week following an executive order by Governor Gavin Newsom (l.). Many tribal casinos already dispensed with masks, as they’re on sovereign land.

The Nebraska Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association has asked to set up a temporary 300-slot casino at Lincoln Race Course (l.) while the Ho-Chunk’s $220 million WarHorse Casino is constructed.

A Washington State appeals court has ruled in favor of the Spokane Tribe and its planned Airway Heights casino. The decision upheld a lower court ruling that dismissed a challenge by another gaming tribe, the Kalispels.

The Kaw Nation of Braman, Oklahoma has secured a funding package to begin construction of its new Rock & Brews Casino (l.). The project, launched in 2019, was suspended in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

In 2020, the North Dakota-based Three Affiliated Tribes bought an 8.7-acre lot off the Las Vegas Strip. Now it’s considering options for the $12 million property, ranging from a parking lot to a casino.

With the U.K. National Lottery out to bid for a new contract, retailers are concerned the winner might lean too much toward digital sales, which will take business away from them.

The Pechanga Development Corp. last week announced the promotion of Tjeerd Brink to general manager of the Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula, California.

Tilak Mandadi, a former executive with American Express and Disney, has been tapped by MGM Resorts. It created a new position for Mandadi: chief strategy, innovation and technology officer. He begins the job July 6.

Clayton Mason has been named chief financial officer of the Four Winds Casinos by the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians. Mason has worked since 2007 for the casino. He replaces Daniel Weindruch.

PointsBet Canada has named former Monkey Knife Fight President Nic Sulsky as chief commercial operator as the company expands to the Canadian marketplace.

Lottoland has appointed Jon Hale, formerly longtime CFO of 32Redplc before its sale to Kindred Group, as the company’s new chief financial officer.

Global Payments Gaming Solutions announced last week that Viejas Casino & Resort in Alpine, California has launched its patented-VIP Mobility mobile solution, enabling true cashless casino gaming.

Aristocrat Gaming and Las Vegas’ Silverton Casino Hotel have launched a promotion for the new Buffalo Link game, located in a dedicated area of the casino.

In separate announcements, the Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers lauded a new AGEM Index record for May, and confirmed the date for the AGEM/JCM charity golf tournament.

SBC has confirmed that its SBC Summit North America 2021 conference and trade show will go ahead as scheduled at New Jersey’s Meadowlands Exposition Center on November 30 - December 2.

Clarion Gaming has completed the first stage of a £1 million digital technology investment program that has seen the launch of ICE Connect Europe and ICE Connect North America.