While many casino markets are back to near-normal, others continue to cope with restrictions and shutdowns. Due to new Covid-19 outbreaks, some jurisdictions have returned to lockdown status.

MGM Resorts bought the piece of the CityCenter it didn’t already own and will sell it to Blackstone, which already owns the company’s Bellagio casino resort. The company developed the project with a unit of Dubai World, which owned 50 percent of CityCenter.

Macau gaming concessionaire Sociedade de Jogos de Macau S.A. has announced a name change. Board chair Daisy Ho said the name SJM Resorts “better reflects our prominent position” in tourism and leisure.

A vote of each of Maine’s legislative chambers is needed to pass a sports betting bill to allow online sportsbook tethered to a casino or racetrack. Once the bill is approved it goes to Governor Janet Mills (l.).

Six Lucky Star casinos in Oklahoma are starting to reopen after shutting down June 18 following a cyber-attack. The Menominee Casino in Wisconsin also was targeted. The FBI is investigating the attacks.

Malaysia’s Genting Group, operator of Resorts World Las Vegas (l.) and other U.S. and global resorts, is expanding its presence across in the country and will seek a North American stock listing.

Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment has launched its Mohegan Digital platform to enable it to offer online sports betting and other iGames. The new division will be led by Rich Roberts and Aviram Alroy (l.).

Real estate investment firm CBRE Group, Inc. has acquired the boutique investment advisory group Union Gaming, which focuses exclusively on the gaming industry. Union Gaming’s co-founder Bill Lerner (l.) will serve as head of CBRE’s gaming investment group.

Gaming industry icon John Ascuaga (l.) died June 28 at the age of 96. Known as the king of Northern Nevada gaming, Ascuaga built his Nugget Casino Resort into the premier Reno-Sparks destination.

Scientific Games’ announcement that it will shed its lottery and sports betting businesses to focus on omnichannel entertainment is earning cheers from analysts. Everi’s also making all the right moves.

In a special edition of the GGB Podcast, we sit down with (l. to r.) Sangeeta Reddy, vice president of engineering for GLI, Virginia Hollis, senior manager of engineering for GLI, and Melissa Aarskaug vice president of cybersecurity at Bulletproof, a GLI company, to talk about International Women in Technology Day.

South Shore Holdings Ltd. will liquidate the subsidiary responsible for the 13 Hotel (l.) in Macau. The ultra-VIP property known for its fleet of red Rolls Royces was about as lucky as its name, and lasted less than two years.

Kingston Financial Group has projected a 90 percent decline in profits for the year that ended March 31 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The Hong Kong-listed company runs two casinos in Macau under a license from SJM.

The NIKI and Chyau Fwu (Parkview) Group confirmed last week that it has submitted a proposal to develop and operate an integrated resort in Japan’s Nagasaki Prefecture (l.).

Royal International Corp., which owns the largest casino (l.) in Quang Ninh Province, Vietnam, expects to double its profits in 2021, despite two previous years of losses.

A recent survey found that online advertising was more effective than print in drawing customers to Japan’s pachinko parlors, especially younger players.

Angela Leong (l.), a co-chair and executive director of Macau casino operator SJM Holdings Ltd., will run unchallenged for her current post as a member of Macau’s Legislative Assembly.

Jenny Jiang, the ex-Crown Resorts employee-turned-whistleblower who was arrested and jailed for illegal gaming promotion in China, has not yet been called to testify about the company as part of ongoing investigations.

Betway has launched as Pennsylvania’s 13th online sportsbook and 17th online casino, following the successful completion of a three-day test period.

Mobile gaming leader and loyalty system provider PlayStudios celebrated its first day of trading as a public company June 22 on the Nasdaq stock exchange.

TVBET and bookmaker LV Bet have entered a partnership under which three TVBET games will be added to the Polish bookmaker’s online offerings.

Branschföreningen för Onlinespel, Sweden’s online gaming association, will not mourn the departure of Prime Minister Stefan Löfven (l.). Private online gaming will benefit, says its secretary general.

Denmark’s online gaming market increased by 29.9 percent in May over the year before. However, it also experienced a 24.8 decline from April. The reopening of brick-and-mortar casinos is a factor.

The Louisiana Gaming Control Board has no chairman, and therefore cannot launch sports betting in parishes that approved it. Observers said Governor John Bel Edwards may select state Senator Ronnie Johns (l.).

The Florida Education Champions political action group has begun a petition drive to legalize sports betting via a constitutional amendment. Revenue would go to the state’s Educational Enhancement Trust Fund.

Sports betting won’t come soon to Ohio despite expectations. House Speaker Bob Cupp (l.) tabled an overstuffed sports wagering bill, promising to make it a “top priority” when legislators reconvene in September.

The New Jersey Economic Development Authority and Stockton University have signed an agreement to fund an esports center. The $200,000 Innovation Center will conduct research and development.

Las Vegas will host the 2022 edition of the NHL All-Star Game at T-Mobile Arena (l.), home of the Golden Knights. Vegas also will host the NFL Pro Bowl in February at Allegiant Stadium.

NASCAR fans come in two basic mindset. One doesn’t care much for a flood of sports betting content on broadcasts. The other can’t get enough. The racing icon has a system to please both sides without offending either.

Sportsbook revenues in the Granite State declined in May in spite of a 633.1 percent increase over 2020. The figures were released by the New Hampshire Lottery, which operates sports betting in the state.

Sportradar will supply all league data to the National Hockey League as part of a 10-year partnership. The company will also distribute live streams to gambling operators and help the league secure sponsors overseas.

Bally Bet’s launch of a mobile sportsbook in Iowa marks the app’s second debut. The other was in Colorado in May. More states expect to follow this year and next.

The Italian sports betting market saw a rebound in May. Sportsbook revenues bounced nearly 50 percent after a precipitate decline in April. The end of the Italian soccer season came to the industry’s rescue.

The Wynn Las Vegas will soon be the host to WynnBet’s new Blue Wire podcasting studio (l.). The studio will have seating for 1,700. It will begin offering sports related content a month before the NFL season opens.

Audacy said seven broadcast stations changed formats to become part of the company’s sports betting network. The company will announce additional stations as sports betting markets expand.

New Jersey’s newest casinos, the Hard Rock Atlantic City (l.) and Ocean Casino Resort, have done well for themselves. For 2020, they finished second and third in money won at brick-and-mortar casinos.

The Massachusetts gaming regulator has approved a 45-year lease by the MGM Springfield (l.) from MGM Growth Properties. MGM sold the land to the REIT for $400 million and will lease it back for $30 million annually.

Maverick Gaming, which bought properties in and around Elko, Nevada (Red Lion casino at left) in 2019, now plans to renovate those properties. The gaming company’s plans are to “expand its reach” in Northern Nevada.

Louisiana’s Governor John Bel Edwards has signed a bill that allows the state’s 15 riverboat casinos, including the Hollywood Casino in Baton Rouge (l.), to move 1,200 feet from their designated berths and offer 30,000 square feet of gambling space.

The Indiana Gaming Commission declined to OK a license for Spectacle Entertainment’s proposed casino in Terre Haute. The company isn’t fully funded and lacks an executive team, commissioners said.

The Illinois Gaming Board said a temporary Hard Rock Casino Rockford may operate while the permanent $311 million venue (l.) is built. A former restaurant will serve as the location, following an $8.8 million renovation.

In Louisiana, the St. Tammany Parish council voted 8-6 to approve a referendum on a proposed casino in Slidell, near Lake Ponchartrain. The vote followed several hours of heated public debate.

Harrah’s Philadelphia (l.) has received regulatory approval to remove 563 slot machines from its floor, citing the benefit of better spacing between players without loss of revenue.

MGM Resorts’ Mega Solar Array is the hospitality industry’s largest directly sourced renewable electricity project. The company said its goal is to run on all renewable electricity in the U.S. by 2030.

The Rhode Island legislature had some good news for the casino hosting cities of Lincoln and Tiverton in the upcoming budget. Their share of sports betting from the casinos was doubled to $200,000 for this year.

The group representing New Mexico’s thoroughbred and quarterhorse owners is suing the state’s racing commission in federal court. The New Mexico Horsemen’s Association claims members’ civil rights were violated.

The former owners of the land where the Encore Boston Harbor (l.) now sits have lost their lawsuit against the Massachusetts Gaming Commission. They said the MGC unfairly made them take a lower sale price.

The $250 million expansion of Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort (l.) in North Carolina will be completed this fall. Covid-19 delayed work on the project, which will add a fourth hotel tower and new convention center.

The Gila River Indian Community has announced it will open a fourth casino on its reservation near Chandler, Arizona. The new casino was a result of a new compact with Arizona Governor Doug Ducey and will join its sister casino, Wild Horse Pass (l.).

California’s Enterprise Rancheria and the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino are planning a $65 million expansion expected to open in 2022. It will include a live events center able to seat 2,500 guests.

Red Hawk Casino in Placerville, California, held a groundbreaking ceremony (l.) for its new hotel June 29. It’s the property’s first expansion since the casino opened in 2008.

At a recent annual meeting, the board of directors of Seneca Gaming Corp. selected its officers for 2021. Lori V. Quigley (l.) was reappointed as chairwoman.

Robert Martin, chairman of the Morongo Tribe of Southern California for a total of 18 years, retired June 29. Martin led the tribe when it was a party to the landmark California v. Cabazon Indian gaming decision.

For the first time in its 37-year history, New Jersey’s Casino Reinvestment Development Authority has tapped an African American to chair its board. Modia Butler, a board member since 2018, replaced Robert Mulcahy.

On June 28, the European Casino Association appointed two vice-chairs, Bettina Glatz-Kremsner and Pascal Camia, as well as three new board members.

Sportsbook PointsBet has appointed Rachelle Carpenter (l.) to a human resources position in the firm. She joins the company after 10 years at DISH Network.

On July 1, Valley Forge Casino Resort announced the appointment of Robert Braubitz as the property’s vice president of finance. Braubitz is a local, with strong ties to Philadelphia and environs.

Jonathan Halkyard (l.), who became CFO of MGM Resorts International in January, has been appointed a non-executive director of MGM China Holdings Ltd. He replaces James Freeman on the MGM China board.

Nataly Hayes (l.) has been promoted to assistant director of marketing at the Casino @ Dania Beach in Florida. She previously served as marketing manager at the resort.

Scientific Games has secured a contract as the exclusive supplier of instant games to Lottery Santa Casa da Misericórdia, the national lottery of Portugal.

Ocean City Casino Resort has placed Atlantic City’s largest collection of Buffalo Link, Aristocrat’s new hit title that combines elements of Buffalo and Dragon Link.

Seneca Resorts & Casinos has launched a new, updated and even more dynamic version of iPlaySeneca, its free play-for-fun simulated gaming platform. The site features dozens of virtual slot machine games.

On June 30, Novomatic ranked second in the Austrian Brand Value Awards, just behind Red Bull and ahead of Swarovski. The awards are given by the European Brand Institute.

VSiN has announced that it will bring its sports betting coverage to Latin America. Totalplay will distribute VSiN information and analysis via Totalplay Residential’s network, which covers 10.5 million homes.

Mobile Premier League, Asia’s largest esports and skill gaming platform, has launched an app in the United States. The app will feature a variety of games that can be played for money or fun.

Women in Gaming & Hospitality Australasia has announced a new public speaking program to boost the presence of women onstage at this year’s Australasian Gaming Expo (AGE).