The Havenick family, owners of two Florida parimutuels including Miami’s Magic City Casino (l.), has filed a federal lawsuit similar to a state suit claiming the sports betting provision in the new Seminole gaming compact could harm their businesses.

Legislation that would allow casinos in Brazil after a 90-year ban are moving in the National Congress. Senator Veneziano Vital do Rego (l.) sponsored one bill, introduced a year ago.

The number of open jobs in Macau’s gaming sector is up from this time last year, but substantially down since the same period in 2019, prior to the onset of Covid-19.

The fallout from the probes into the inner workings of Crown Resorts continue as Ziggy Switkowski has been named chairman, replacing Helen Coonan, who spent less than two years in the position. Steve McCann has been named CEO of the company.

Arizona event wagering operator licenses are starting to be issued by the Arizona Department of Gaming. The first ones announced were FanDuel and Penn National Gaming and their professional sports partners.

Nevada unemployment dropped by a fraction—7.8 percent to 7.7 percent—from June to July, but the rate of job growth slowed in the same period. The state’s casino industry is still down 67,000 jobs since the start of Covid-19.

The Pennsylvania state Senate plans to renew its effort to pass gambling legislation that will target the tens of thousands of unregulated machines operating around the state.

Aristocrat Leisure Limited is expanding its digital footprint with the acquisition of Helsinki’s FuturePlay studio and Poland’s Playsoft, along with establishing a third new studio, according to Aristocrat Digital CEO Michael Lang (l.).

It’s not just Covid and the economic downturn that are hammering away at Macau gaming stocks. It’s the threat of a bigger hammer, wielded by the Chinese government.

Scientific Games has agreed to buy digital “eInstant” content studio Sideplay Entertainment to expand its iLottery business in markets around the world, the company said in a release.

This week, the GGB Podcast, features an interview with Jay Snowden, the president and CEO of Penn National Gaming, the industry’s third-largest operator, on why his focus today is as much on interactive gaming as it is on his many land-based properties.

PH Resorts Group says the success of a recent share sale indicates investor optimism about the market. The company is developing the Emerald Bay resort (l.) in Cebu.

To test whether certain businesses check for age limits, the British sent in secret shoppers. The results looked good for gambling as 90 percent verified age, better than supermarkets and gas stations.

The Rank Group lost £72 million in the year ending June 30. Last year they turned a profit. The result came after a Covid-19 lockdown in the U.K. The company expects a turnaround in their fortunes.

Online gambling operators throughout Europe are developing a program to make it safer to gamble. European Gaming & Betting Association says safer gambling means sustainable gambling.

Finland’s gaming monopoly Veikkaus is imposing maximum loss limits for players of slot machines. The limits, before limited to online games, allow players to lose no more than €500 per day.

An Auckland, New Zealand casino may have been the source of a new Covid-19 outbreak in the country. Contract tracing led back to SkyCity (l.), which undertook a comprehensive cleaning process.

Summit Ascent Holdings saw a massive increase in mass table play at its Tigre de Cristal (l.) in Russia—a welcome development with flatlining rolling chip business. The resort is located near Vladivostok.

The Australian state of New South Wales is preparing to survey its residents about proposed slot machines reforms. The proposal seeks to cap the numbers of pokies and encourage “pokie-free” establishments.

Chile’s chief regulator has upgraded its deal with the financial analysis unit, which will help in the fight against money laundering and terrorist financing in casinos.

The government of New South Wales, Australia has agreed to all 19 recommendations to bolster casino regulations made in the Bergin Report. The probe of Crown Resorts was released in February of this year. Minister Victor Dominello (l.) says the state will continue to monitor regulators.

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario has recognized BMM Testlabs as an iGaming independent testing laboratory, allowing the testing company to expand its business in the province.

GentingCasino.com has switched to SkillOnNet for its online platform. Operated by Prime Gaming, the switch will help Genting to reach Europe, including Germany, Sweden, Denmark, and the U.K.

Emergency sports betting rules, unanimously approved by the Louisiana Gaming Control Board, are good for 180 days. Retail sports betting will be available through the state’s 20 casinos and racinos.

The bookies are in place. Football season is almost here. But in Connecticut, the first bets can’t be made until certain approvals come through. That means betting likely won’t be available when the NFL season kicks off.

Sports betting provider VegasWINNERS, headed by radio commentator Wayne Allyn Root (l.), was licensed by the Tennessee Education Lottery as the state’s eighth online sportsbook. Awaiting word on its application is Penn National’s popular Barstool Sportsbook

In a 26-19 vote, North Carolina senators approved in-person and online sports betting, which could launch in January. The state lottery will issue 10 to 12 sports wagering operator licenses plus supplier licenses.

BetMGM will offer retail and mobile sports betting at Tin Lizzie (l.) and Cadillac Jacks Gaming Resorts in Deadwood, South Dakota. The app should be available in September.

Sportradar, the data provider, including various sports betting services, has extended its partnership with FanDuel. FanDuel will benefit from in-play betting options. FanDuel was also named title sponsor at Kentucky Downs.

The Ute Mountain Ute Casino (l.) in Colorado has opened its sports betting venue. The sportsbook, powered by International Game Technology, will offer in person wagering and a mobile app called UteBet.

Woodbine Entertainment, operator of Woodbine Racetrack (l.) in Toronto, Canada, hopes to change the law so that besides horse racing wagers it can accept sports betting. CEO Jim Lawson says it’s a natural progression.

New York’s Oneida Indian Nation is bidding to operate online sports betting. Partners include Kambi, Caesars, Resorts World, Rush Street Interactive, PointsBet, WynnBET and the St. Regis Mohawk Nation.

Parleh Media Group in Canada has announced the acquisition of Homestand Sports, a live event and media production company. Homestand’s CEO Kevin Kennedy will become president of Parleh.

The Esports Integrity Commission has more than 34 investigations going on to crack down on cheats and match-fixers. The commission banned three players, two of them for five years. Another three got 12 months.

Barstool Sportsbook has quietly launched its seventh and largest online sportsbook in New Jersey through a licensed held by Freehold Raceway, which Penn owns jointly with Greenwood Racing.

Casino Del Sol of Tucson, Arizona, announced that its new 4,000-square-foot retail sportsbook, SolSports, is being built at the site of a former lounge. Casino Del Sol will operate its own sportsbook.

Profits for the second quarter in Atlantic City grew for eight of the city’s nine casinos. Even the one posting a loss was up from 2020, and overall results surpassed the same time period in 2019.

Five state legislators from Chicago’s south suburbs have asked Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker (l.) to speed the selection of a casino operator from four license applicants.

A new casino to be called the Lucky Strike is now under construction in Carson City, Nevada. The property is owned by Northern Nevada Comstock Investments, which owns several other casinos in the region.

Dozens of Station Casinos supervisors recently staged a protest at the Las Vegas office of the Culinary Union, objecting to its persistence in trying to unionize Station employees.

Following hundreds of complaints, MGM Springfield (l.) has told the Massachusetts Gaming Commission it plants to bring poker back by the end of the year, but in a reduced capacity.

The Linn County, Iowa Gaming Association is pushing a casino referendum for the November ballot. Voters approved the same ballot issue in 2013, but because no license was granted, a second vote is required.

Nevada casino and tavern owner Golden Entertainment, which operates the Strat (l.) on the Las Vegas Strip, now requires employees to be vaccinated against Covid-19 or take a weekly test. The gaming company joins a growing list of businesses taking the hard line.

Full House Resorts may add 70 rooms to the Chamonix Casino Hotel it’s building in Cripple Creek, Colorado. Currently, the project calls for 370 rooms, which would make it the second largest hotel in the region.

The city of Fresno, California has approved Club One Casino’s move from downtown to the Granite Park district. However, it will open with 31 tables instead of 51—and that means a potential loss of 100 jobs.

The Nevada Gaming Commission has approved ZenSports as owner of Big Wheel Casino in Lovelock, despite a lack of experience and financing. The company also runs the sportsbook at Baldini’s Sports Casino.

The Oakland Athletics sent their top brass to Las Vegas for the fifth time to research a suitable site for a stadium for the team. The A’s may still sign a deal to remain in California

An investor group is encouraged by a new Missouri gambling law that allows “excursion gambling boats” to include non-floating facilities, though they still must be located on the Mississippi or Missouri rivers.

In Louisiana, a proposed new casino in Slidell will be named Camellia Bay. Voters will determine that project’s fate November 13. In Lake Charles, the hurricane-damaged Isle of Capri will be renamed Horseshoe Lake Charles.

An Alabama circuit court judge ruled the VictoryLand electronic bingo casino (l.) doesn’t threaten the peace and can stay open. The state attorney general tried to close the venue pending a public nuisance trial.

Two planned Virginia casinos are moving forward. Caesars Entertainment invited public feedback about its $500 million casino in Danville. In Richmond, supporters and opponents of the planned Urban ONE (l.) are mobilizing.

Rivers Casino Pittsburgh (l.) celebrated the ceremonial laying of the first steel beam that connects the casino to The Landing, its seven-story, 219-room hotel addition.

Maryland Live! has postponed its World Poker Tour series scheduled for September 15-28 over concerns caused by the spread of the Covid-19 delta variant.

EBCI Holdings was approved by the Indiana Gaming Commission to purchase Caesars Southern Indiana’s (l.) operations for $250 million. EBCI will lease the real property from VICI Properties.

Connecticut’s Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation has one a small legal victory. It claimed its insurance provider owned it $76 million in Covid-related claims at its Foxwoods Casino (l.). A judge has ruled it is instead entitled to $2 million.

Gila River Hotels & Casinos-Wild Horse Pass (l.) has launched new table games authorized by the Arizona state tribal gaming compacts. The new games include roulette, baccarat and craps.

Cache Creek Casino in Brooks, California, run by the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation, has tabled grand opening plans originally scheduled for September due to Covid-19, and has also canceled some concerts.

CelebrityAccess has named Tom Cantone (l.), president of sports and entertainment for Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment, as recipient of the organization’s first “Innovator of the Year Award.”

Desert Diamond Casinos of Arizona has appointed Mike Bean (l.) as the company’s new CEO. His appointment followed a nationwide search by the Tohono O’odham Gaming Enterprise.

Genius Sports, a data company, hired Steve Bornstein to oversee the North American part of the business. He will also seek potential acquisitions and manage league partnerships.

Massachusetts lawmaker Brad Hill has been appointed to the Massachusetts Gaming Commission. Hill, appointed by the Governor, Treasurer and Attorney General will finish Bruce Stebbin’s term.

Indiana Gaming Commission General Counsel Greg Small (l.) will replace Sara Gonso Tait as executive director, effective September 11. Gonso Tait is leaving after six years to pursue a position in the private sector.

David Farahi (l.), chief operating officer of Monarch Casino & Resort in Black Hawk, Colorado, is leaving his post to pursue other interests. Michelle Shriver has joined the company as corporate VP or operations.

Olympia Companies has appointed a team to oversee the development of its Legends Bay Casino in Sparks, Nevada. It includes COO DeCourcy Graham (l.), CFO Robin Nedza and Regional President Court Cardinal.

SkyCity Entertainment of Australia and New Zealand has announced that Murray Jordan (l.) will exit the company board effective September 30. Jordan has been part of the board since December 2016.

Australia’s Tabcorp has appointed former Galaxy Entertainment director Janette Kendall (l.) as a non-executive director. Kendall was senior VP of marketing at Galaxy China and also worked in marketing at Crown.

South Korean gaming operator Grand Korea Leisure has announced the appointment of Kim Young-san as its new CEO. Kim, who replaces Yoo Tae-Pool, will serve an initial three-year term.

Wasserman Music has hired veteran music agent Kevin Kastrup (l.) as its new vice president of casinos. Kastrup will oversee bookings for casinos and gaming centers across North America.

Gaming platform provider GAN has announced plans to open a new technology hub in Miami, Florida, in Wynwood, the city’s arts district. The hub will open with 20 employees.

Pragmatic Play has launched a new game, “Pirate Fishing 3D” exclusively for the Asian iGaming market. The company averages five new slot titles per month.

Kangwon Land, South Korea’s sole locals casino, has signed a deal with online games publisher Neowiz to jointly develop both slot machine and social gaming content.

Nebraska’s highest court has upheld a $2.99 million breach-of-contract verdict against Video King in relation to Video King’s OMNI Bingo Hall Management System.