In the runup to the bids to operate an integrated resort in Japan, MGM Resorts and its partner Orix were chosen by the government of Osaka as one of the finalists for a license. The team was the last applicant standing as others withdrew or were disqualified.

Caesars Entertainment has sold off its William Hill non-U.S. assets to 888 Holdings for $3 billion. The deal catapults 888 into a top player in the U.K., with an additional 2 million customers.

For months, Australia’s Crown Resorts has endured testimony about compliance breaches, money laundering at its casinos and tax dodging. Crown has pledged a total overhaul, but that may not be enough.

Executives of Caesars Entertainment, Boyd Gaming and Gaming & Leisure Properties delivered upbeat assessments of the outlook for the casino industry at the J.P. Morgan investor conference. But MGM’s Bill Hornbuckle’s (l/) comment about a possible purchase of Entain and the Cosmopolitan raised eyebrows.

Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment has cut its majority share as investor in the Elliniko casino complex (l.) in Greece. The gaming company is either going to lower its profile or withdraw completely from the project.

The transformation of the former Twin River casinos to Bally’s properties continued last week in Rhode Islands, Illinois and Atlantic City where the company got the go-ahead to invest $100 million into Bally’s Atlantic City (l.).

The American Gaming Association announced the inductees for the 2020 and 2021 classes of the AGA Gaming Hall of Fame, to be celebrated during the Chairman’s Reception at G2E.

IGT announced a commercial reorganization, creating a Digital and Betting business segment out of the iGaming and sports betting divisions formerly part of its Global Gaming department. The new division will be led by CEO Enrico Drago (l.).

Attorneys for Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (l.) are working to dismiss a lawsuit against the new Seminole compact, filed in July by two parimutuel owners. The Seminole Tribe also asked for the lawsuit to be dismissed.

Macau casino companies lost billions of dollars in value last week, and the long-term value of their investments are questionable too. A Chinese government crackdown on gaming has Orwellian overtones, with operators compelled to possibly undermine their own industry.

This week, the GGB Podcast has a discussion with Erick Nardini, the CEO of Barstool Sports, on how the partnership with Penn National Gaming is going 18 months after it was announced.

The Macau government has mandated new player protections, with clocks to be added to slot screens by the end of 2024. The feature will flash periodically to make gamblers aware of their time at play.

Macau expects more than 30,000 visitors per day during the annual Golden Week holiday in the first week of October. To that end, tourism officials are rolling out promotions that emphasize the safety of travel to the SAR.

In a plan to boost liquidity amid Covid-19 concerns, Sands China Ltd. will offer US$1.95 billion in senior notes to investors. The issue was announced August 9, on news of net losses of US$125 million.

Starting last week, Vietnam’s Grand Ho Tram Strip (l.) was cleared to reopen to domestic travelers. The resort is located in a so-called “green zone,” where Covid-19 is under control.

A Forbes list of the richest Filipinos includes a number of people in the gaming business. They include the family of late casino tycoon Henry Sy (l.), which owns Belle Corp., an investor in City of Dreams Manila.

Michael Dugher, CEO of the U.K. Betting and Gaming Council, has complained about efforts to paint gambling ads with a sinister brush. People don’t like any ads period, he said.

Five of the highest-grossing casinos in Hungary have been given 35-year extensions to their licenses. What's raised eyebrows among critics is that they were extended without a competitive bidding process to a company controlled in part by Istvan Garancsi (l.).

An initiative in its early stages in Glasgow will teach school children about the potential harms of gambling. A pilot program is underway in some schools aimed at early intervention.

The gaming regulator for Chile has begun the process of seeking bids for two casino licenses. The licenses could go to the existing Enjoy San Antonio or Enjoy Santiago casinos, or to other bidders.

The whistleblower who led to the investigation of widespread money laundering at British Columbia, Canada, casinos, testified before the Cullen Commission recently. Ross Alderson (l.) is currently living in Australia.

Chile’s gaming regulator, alarmed by rising levels of gambling activity, has issued a new Decalogue of Good Practices of Responsible Gaming. Its purpose is to encourage responsible gambling behavior.

The oldest casino in South Africa has been badly damaged by fire and will be closed for at least three months. Some guests were injured but none killed in the Mmabatho Palms Hotel, Casino and Convention Resort (l.) blaze.

Reviving and regulating casinos in Brazil is vital to the rebuilding of the country’s economy. That was the message of several Brazilian legislators who met with the head of the Chamber of Deputies, Arthur Lira (l.).

Casinos closed by Venezuelan dictator Hugo Chavez 10 years ago can reopen. The order was issued by Chavez’ successor Nicolas Maduro (l.), who hopes the 30 casinos will help revive the country’s economy.

Greyhound racing in New Zealand has come under fire over lack of transparency and the welfare of the dogs. Without change, the future of racing is questionable

Crown Resorts has joined a growing list of gaming firms that now require all employees and patrons to receive Covid-19 vaccinations. Crown CEO Steve McCann (l.) says about half of 20,000 workers have had the jab.

The Indian state of Karnataka is preparing to amend existing law to make online gambling illegal. The action was requested by the High Court of Karnataka. Violators would be punished by up to three years in prison.

The Netherlands Online Gambling Association (NOGA) is calling for a stricter code of regulating gaming advertisement. Currently gaming ads are limited to three per commercial break, but only on the internet.

Slot parlors on the island of Saipan are closing or threatening to close after a fee increase was adopted that is doubling the license fees per machine. CNMI Governor Ralph Torres (l.) is reviewing the matter.

Commercial Sportsbooks in Arizona opened on September 9—just in time for the first day of the NFL season. Tribal sports books will have to wait a little longer due to a needed addendum to their gaming compacts.

David Rebuck (l.), the head of the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, says if sportsbooks don't rein in advertising on their own, regulators will take action. He’s not the only one with that view.

Bay State Governor Charlie Baker (l.) is on a one-man campaign to get lawmakers to approve sports betting. After the first Patriot football game of the season he tweeted: “It’s time to act and get this done.”

Snoqualmie Casino became the first Indian casino in Washington state to offer a sportsbook. And it did it on the first day of the NFL season. The tribal casino is partnered with International Game Technology

The Interior Department has OK’d the Mohegan and Mashantucket Pequot tribes to offer sports betting in Connecticut. Governor Ned Lamont (l.) called it “a critical step to modernize our gaming landscape.

The NHL keeps bettors in the dark about player injuries. They bet anyway. The NHL signed a deal with Sportradar for data just as the company raised a bundle with an IPO.

Single event betting got to a smooth start in Ontario Province with ProLine+ taking in more than $1 million in bets from 10 sports online. Baseball, football and soccer accounted for 80 percent.

An independent auditor’s report says urgent changes are needed to boost revenue from Washington, D.C.’s sports betting operation, such as boosting odds and streamlining regulatory processes.

Mobile sports betting in New York State didn’t get done for the NFL kickoff, but lawmakers like Senator Joe Addabbo (l.) are sure the industry will launch in time for the Super Bowl.

Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts (l.) signed a sports betting bill in May, but wagering may not launch until late 2021. Bets only will be taken at on-site sportsbooks and bettors will not be allowed to wager on the Cornhuskers.

Four Deadwood, South Dakota casinos, including the Gold Dust (l.), opened sportsbooks on September 9. Gamblers can place bets at windows or digital kiosks. Soon wagers can be placed through phone apps while the bettor is on-site.

The SuperBook in Colorado agreed to a multi-year deal with the University of Denver that focuses on branding, media and responsible gaming education. The partnership follows one with the University of Colorado and PointsBet.

Genius Sports has had a busy late summer signing partnerships with Caesars Sportsbook, WynnBET and Barstool. The deals come as the NFL season gets underway. Genius provides data and streaming.

Upstart Fubo Gaming secured a license for online sports betting in Arizona. The company also concluded a deal with the New York Jets as a sports betting partner. The Jets added WynnBET as well.

PointsBet and NBC Sports developed a partnership last year. With PointsBet named an approved NFL sportsbook, the operator will add program content with NBC Sports.

The NFL’s Baltimore Ravens has signed an agreement to become a “Premier Partner” with Caesars Sportsbook, and to expand the status of Horseshoe Baltimore as the team’s casino sponsor.

Malta-based Tipico will launch a mobile sports betting app in Iowa in the fourth quarter. The company formed a 10-year partnership with Caesars Entertainment to base its operations at Isle Casino Hotel in Bettendorf.

Rush Street Interactive has signed Mark Schlereth, former Pro Bowl guard for the Washington Redskins and Denver Broncos, as a brand ambassador for BetRivers.com.

The tempestuous pairing of Dubai World and MGM Resorts International will end soon. The Nevada Gaming Control Board has given the go-ahead for MGM to buy out Dubai World’s interest in CityCenter (l.).

Three finalists have bid on Arlington International Racecourse (l.), but owner Churchill Downs Inc. hasn’t announced a buyer. Observers said CDI is willing to sell the racetrack to a non-gaming entity to avoid competition at its Rivers Casino.

The Louisiana Gaming Board unanimously approved Pacific Peninsula Entertainment’s request to move its closed Bossier City riverboat casino to Slidell. First, St. Tammany Parish voters (l.) must approve the relocation.

The Illinois Gaming Board, under pressure to speed up new casino license approvals, voted to allow Administrator Morris Fruchter (l.) to authorize certain actions to avoid further delays.

A public hearing will be held September 21 in Dumfries, Virginia, where citizens can speak out on Colonial Downs’ proposed $389 million historical horseracing and entertainment center, the Rose.

According to the Indiana Gaming Commission, Hard Rock in Gary surpassed Horseshoe Casino in Hammond in table game win. But Horseshoe bet Hard Rock in slot play.

Penn National Gaming, owner of Plainridge Park slot parlor, has asked Massachusetts lawmakers to let it add table games and expand its number of machines to better compete against Rhode Island casinos.

City Council in Atlantic City approved a resolution to support a Senate bill that closes the loophole that allows smoking on the casino floor. The casinos went smoke-free during the Covid-19 restrictions.

The owners of Alabama’s four racetracks, including Birmingham Race Course (l.), have formed an association and launched an ad campaign highlighting the revenue the state’s losing by not allowing casino gambling, a lottery and sports betting.

Nevada’s powerful Culinary Union is working to halt a proposed new casino development planned by Station Casinos. Station has owned the development site on Durango Road (l.) in Las Vegas for more than 20 years.

Atlantic City’s Ocean Casino Resort has sued Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia (l.) over use of the slogan “Go for the win” and its associated marketing campaign.

Downtown Las Vegas, bucking a national trend of reduced foot traffic in casino districts, experienced a surge in foot traffic in August.

Want to work at Resorts World Las Vegas? Be prepared to get a Covid-19 vaccines. The Genting property, Las Vegas’ newest resort, has announced it will require all new hires to be inoculated.

Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt (l.), who is running for U.S. Senate in 2022, returned campaign contributions from the owner of controversial video gambling company Torch Electronics.

Should Navajo Nation casinos, including Twin Arrows (l.) finally go smoke-free? Public health concerns, heightened by the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic, may resolve the issue once and for all.

The village of Union Springs, New York, failed once more to prove to the courts that the Cayuga Nation should not be permitted to run a gambling facility there. Village officials said municipal laws prohibit gambling.

Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma leaders said they can’t reveal what the tribe paid the Texas Rangers for naming rights at the former Globe Life Park, now Choctaw Stadium (l.), according to their multi-year partnership.

W.M. Jordan Company and Suffolk have been selected to build the Pamunkey Tribe’s $500 million casino resort (l.) in Norfolk, Virginia. The contract requires “high participation goals” for black-owned businesses.

Ho-Chunk Nation President Marlon WhiteEagle (l.) has been accused of violations to the tribal constitution and could be removed from office at the next annual general council meeting.

A majority of Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians in Cherokee, North Carolina have passed a referendum allowing expanded beer and wine sales, including restaurants and hotels at the tribe’s casino properties.

The Koi Nation of California has chosen 68 acres in Sonoma County to be its new tribal home. It plans to build the Shiloh Resort & Casino, which will have 2,500 slots, a 200-room hotel, dining and a meeting center.

Pioneering Las Vegas casino executive Stan Mallin (l.), who was co-creator with Jay Sarno of the Caesars Palace and Circus Circus casinos, has died at 98.

Ainsworth Game Technology has named Harald Neumann (l.), former CEO of Ainsworth majority-owner Novomatic Group, as Ainsworth’s new chief executive officer.

EveryMatrix has named venture capital and equity expert Anton Lin as its new chief financial officer, where he will oversee performance across all business units.

Jody Madigan (l.) is the new chief operating officer for Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment. Madigan was GM of Paragon Casino and Resort in Louisiana while it was being managed by Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment.

Paul Mallon headed the Mischief Making Department at Paddy Power sportsbook. The name refers to the high impact ad campaigns. Mallon will join ad agency Lucky Generals.

Lauren Jones, former WAVE3 anchor and meteorologist and Covid-19 survivor, has joined the marketing team at French Lick Resort Casino in Indiana. She will emcee events and oversee social media for the venue.

The former director of the Rhode Island Lottery, Gerald Aubin (l.), after retiring in 2020 considered becoming a lobbyist for IGT. He considered that position and opted not to work for the company he once regulated.

The accounting firm Wipfli has named Suresh Geer (l.) to lead its national tribal consulting practice. Geer brings 21 years of experience in tribal finance, including leadership roles with the Seminole Tribe of Florida.

Daniel Lovecek, the former general counsel of wagering & media for Tabcorp, has joined former colleague Julian Hoskins at the gambling advisory firm Senet.

Acres Manufacturing Company has officially launched Acres Wallet, a mobile setup blending cashless payments with loyalty and bonusing in real-time casino environments. COO Noah Acres (l.) says the wallet focuses on player incentives.

Sports analysis firm Quarter4 has announced the launch of its NFL and NCAAF predictions for the 2021 season. Quarter4 says it analyzes 250,000 layers of statistical data and other variables to make it forecasts.

Strive Gaming has been approving for a temporary vendor license by the Colorado Gaming Control Commission. The player platform business said it expects to grow quickly in the U.S. and Canada

Paltronics Australasia, an Australian gaming and hospitality technology solution provider, has acquired SkyWire Point of Sale, Spa and Activities Scheduling assets from SkyWire Media Inc.

LeoVegas Group has released a new layer of AI-power messaging aimed at informing players about safer gambling. The messages, delivered by the PinkCasino, BetUK and 21.co.uk brands will be individually tailored.

BMM Testlabs will celebrate its 40th year of operations at this year’s Global Gaming Expo October 4-7 in Las Vegas, the company’s CEO has announced.

The Global Gaming Expo announced that MGM Resorts CEO Bill Hornbuckle and Wynn Resorts CEO Matt Maddox (l.) will be featured in a keynote address Wednesday, October 6.

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy (l.) has been announced as a keynote speaker at the East Coast Gaming Congress & NextGen Gaming Forum in Atlantic City next month.

Bally's Corp. Chairman Soo Kim will deliver the keynote address at the SBC Summit North America, November 30-December 2 at the Meadowlands in New Jersey.

The National Council on Problem Gambling announced the dates and formats for the 2022 National Conference on Gambling Addiction and Responsible Gaming, to be held in Boston July 20-23, 2022.