Sportsbook Ads: How Much Is Too Much?

Sports betting in the United States is in its relative infancy. Now’s the time for the U.S. to learn from the U.K., where a glut of sportsbook ads has caused an outcry from the public—and in some cases, stricter regulations.

Not Much Love for Chi-Town Casino

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot has extended the bidding for a casino license in the city, hoping to get more action. Participation so far has been underwhelming, and a number of big names have passed. Can the many obstacles to a Windy City casino be overcome?

Report: Pandemic Took a Toll on Tribal Gaming

Reports from the American Gaming Association and National Indian Gaming Commission show dramatic drops in gaming revenues due to Covid-19. But the declines weren’t as dire as projected for Indian gaming, as tribal gaming enterprises as a whole have been innovative and resilient

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WEELKY FEATURE: Was Nagasaki IR Process Rigged?

Earlier this month, a Nagasaki, Japan IR bidder announced it would withdraw due to concerns about the RFP process. Oshidori Development claims the prefectural government played favorites to eliminate its Sails on Omura Bay project (l.), conceived with Mohegan Gaming.

Nevada Non-Strip Operators Object to Online Gaming

A coalition of non-Strip operators, small casinos and bars and restaurants have sent a letter to the Nevada Gaming Control Board urging it to reject the legalization of online gaming in the state. Red Rock Resorts principals Frank & Lorenzo Fertitta (l.) were two of 28 executives who signed the letter

Macau Committee: Undertake Gaming Amendments Now

A committee of the Macau Legislative Assembly says the government should get underway with a public consultation on amendments to local gaming laws, which would include details on the concession renewals. The process was expected to begin in the second half of 2021.

Sightline Payments Achieves Unicorn Status

Sightline Payments completed a $244 million funding round via a company controlled by billionaire Bill Foley (l.) that raises the company’s value to more than $1 billion, making it the first Nevada-based fintech unicorn.

Brazil Moves Toward Legal Casinos

A bill is making its way through Brazil’s National Congress that would allow integrated resorts, including casinos. According to a report submitted to the Economy Minister, IRs could attract $8.11 billion annually.

Report Highlights U.K., U.S. Gambling Attitudes

Research firms Toluna and Harris Interactive have released a report on gambling attitudes in both the U.K. and U.S. The firm interviewed more than 4,000 people about sports betting, casinos, problem gambling, etc.

GLOBAL GAMING BUSINESS PODCAST: Scott Sibella, President, Resorts World Las Vegas, Rick Hutchins, SVP Casino Operations, Resorts World Las Vegas and Tom Jingoli, EVP & COO, Konami Gaming

In a special edition of the GGB Podcast, we bring together Scott Sibella, President, Resorts World Las Vegas, Rick Hutchins, , SVP Casino Operations, Resorts World Las Vegas and Tom Jingoli, EVP & COO, Konami Gaming to talk about how the new technology offered at Resorts World Las Vegas is breaking new barriers for customers and employees alike.

ASIAN GAMING More

Junket to Reimburse Philippine High Rollers

Junket operator Suncity Group has promised to return advance deposits from high-roller players in the Philippines. A local newspaper reported the firm was struggling to make the payments.

Mohegan’s Korea IR to Open in Early ’23

Bobby Soper (l.), international president of U.S.-based tribal gaming operator Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment, says MGE’s $1.6 billion Inspire Korea integrated resort should open by the second quarter of 2023.

Galaxy Macau Phase 3 Postponed Until 2022

The opening of Galaxy Macau’s Phase 3 has been pushed back to 2022 due to labor restrictions caused by Covid-19, says Galaxy Entertainment Vice Chairman Francis Lui (l.).

Genting Malaysia to Open in November: Maybank

Maybank Investment says Resorts World Genting (l.) won’t reopen this month as expected. Due to a surge in Covid-19 cases, the firm says the resort in Genting Highlands likely will not resume operations until November.

International Entertainment Postpones Manila IR Plan

International Entertainment, which operates Manila’s New Coast Hotel (l.). has announced it will push back a plan to develop an integrated resort in Manila, a plan previously approved by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.

EUROPEAN GAMING More

GambleAware Helps Fund Problem Gambling Center

U.K. problem gambling organization GambleAware has provided funds to help create Great Britain’s first academic center for gambling harm research. The center goal is to guide the elimination of gambling harm.

GLOBAL GAMING More

Star Sydney Wants 1K New Gaming Machines

Australia’s Star Entertainment Group will begin formal negotiations with the government of New South Wales over its plan to add 1,000 new gaming machines at the Star Sydney.

New Zealand Casinos Close Due to Delta Case

Casinos in New Zealand were ordered to close August 16 after one new Covid-19 case was identified in the country, possibly the highly contagious Delta variant. SkyCity hotels (l.) remained open.

ONLINE GAMING More

Twitch Pressured to Ban Gambling Services

As a way to prevent gambling harms, especially with children, Twitch, a live streaming platform, has banned links and referral codes to sites that offer gambling. The decision came after a critical article in Wired.

SPORTS BETTING More

BetMGM Takes Share from DC Rivals

BetMGM partnered with the Washington Nationals in June, and by July, was siphoning market share from rivals GambetDC and William Hill. While BetMGM finished third of three, it was a good start.

Genius Sports Acquires Spirable

Genius Sports has acquired Spirable, a leading creative performance platform, to provide personalized cross-channel technology for data-driven creative content.

Single-Game Wagers in Canada May Begin This Month

Canada has finally approved single-event bets, an advance that eluded lawmakers in the past. Now it’s up to each province to decide whether to legalize these wagers, and how. Some may go live by the end of August.

Esports Group Joins Anti-Fraud Commission

Esports Technologies, Inc. has joined the Esports Integrity Commission in its mission to end match-fixing and corrupt betting activity in esports. The ESIC was founded in 2016 to combat betting-related violations in esports.

Kambi to Partner with Island Luck

Swedish-based Kambi Group is partnering with casino operator Island Luck in the Bahamas. Kambi will be the official online sportsbook for the gaming company.

VBET Partners with Ukrainian Hockey

The Ukrainian Ice Hockey Federation has partnered with sportsbook VBET in a campaign to restore hockey’s dominance and rebrand the national organization.

UNITED STATES GAMING More

West Virginia Lawmaker Proposes Mini Casinos

Mini casinos in former department stores could revitalize struggling shopping centers in the state, says West Virginia state Senator Eric Nelson (l.) who wants to bring satellite casinos to existing casinos’ host counties.

Major Esports Player May End Participation

Allied Esports Entertainment may call it quits in the esports business. The company is mulling the sale of the HyperX Esports Arena at the Luxor in Las Vegas and may shift gears in the entertainment business.

Massachusetts Casinos Hit Record Highs

The Bay State’s casinos hit the heights in July reaching record revenues. The Encore Boston Harbor, MGM Springfield and Plainridge Park slots parlor’s revenues showed that all three have recovered from the pandemic.

Casino Vicksburg Rebranded as Bally’s

Casino Vicksburg in Mississippi is now Bally’s Vicksburg Casino with new exterior signage and a new players club program, Bally Rewards. Branded dice, cards, gaming chips and table game layouts will arrive soon.

Hard Rock to Control Indiana Casino

Hard Rock International will assume 85 percent ownership of the $300 million Hard Rock casino in Gary, Indiana from Spectacle Entertainment, whose top executives are accused of crimes including financial fraud.

Nebraska City OKs Horse Track

North Platte, Nebraska Mayor Brand Kelliher cast the deciding vote to approve a conditional use permit for a new horse racetrack and eventual casino. The Racing and Gaming Commission must approve the licenses.

Illinois Racetrack Closure Blamed on Politicians

Craig Duchossois, of the family that founded Arlington International Racecourse in Illinois, says state politicians have “killed” the racetrack, owned by Churchill Downs. The venue will close September 25.

New Orleans Mandates Indoor Pandemic Rules

Visitors to indoor venues in New Orleans, including Harrah’s New Orleans and the Fairgrounds racino, must show vaccination proof or a negative Covid-19 test under new mandates from Mayor LaToya Cantrell (l.).

Hollywood Casino Prepares to Move Ashore

Hollywood Casino (l.), a riverboat based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, will take advantage of state legislation allowing riverboats to move to land. A new $60 million facility is expected to open in late 2022.

MGM to Peddle Picassos

This fall, MGM Resorts will sell 11 Picasso originals in a live auction at the Bellagio in Las Vegas. The collection includes the 1938 painting “Femme au Béret Rouge-Orange” (l.), valued at up to $30 million.

Circa Las Vegas Wins AAA Hotel Rating

Circa Las Vegas, a Derek Stevens resort that opened last October, has earned a prestigious AAA Four-Diamond award. It’s the first resort in Downtown Vegas to win the distinction.

TRIBAL GAMING More

LOTTERY More

U.K. Report Shows Shift to iLottery

A report by YouGov of gambling behaviors in 13 countries around the world concludes that there has been a huge shift to online verticals by gaming consumers—especially when it comes to lottery.

PEOPLE More

Hard Rock Names Kimberly Manna Retail, Licensing VP

Kimberly Manna (l.) is the new senior vice president of retail and licensing at Hard Rock International. Previously she was CEO at Panama Jack and also worked at Sony Pictures Entertainment and Warner Brothers.

Schlehuber Named Kewadin Casino General Manager

Dana M. Schlehuber (l.) has been named general manager of the Kewadin Casino in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. A tribal member, she has worked for Kewadin Casinos for 18 years, including seven on the executive team.

Strive Gaming Names Meltzer CEO

Strive Gaming, an iGaming platform supplier, has named Max Meltzer (l.), the former chief commercial officer of Kambi, as the company’s new chief executive officer.

FansUnite Has New VP of Gaming

Michael Lee, the former chief executive officer of Genesis Gaming, has been appointed vice president of gaming for FansUnite Entertainment. He will be in charge of launching the company’s new iGaming line.

Dixon to Replace Aviles at Iowa Casino

Gaming executive Alex Dixon (l.), currently president of PureStar in Las Vegas, will succeed the outgoing Jesus Aviles as president of the Q Casino in Dubuque, Iowa. Aviles will retire before the end of the year.

GOODS & SERVICES More

TCSJOHNHUXLEY Supplies New PA Casino

TCSJOHNHUXLEY was chosen to supply the latest live gaming equipment at Hollywood Casino York, Penn National Gaming’s newest casino, which opened August 12 in Pennsylvania’s York County.

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NUTSHELL More

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