Even though the industry powerhouses declined to enter, there are now five bids for a Chicago casino, two each from Bally’s Corp. (rendering at left) and Rush Street Gaming and one from Hard Rock International. A review committee will now be set up to determine the winner.

Last week, a Victorian royal commission declared Crown Resorts unsuitable to hold a gaming license in the Australian state. Even so, the multibillion-dollar company was permitted to remain operational—with conditions, including the installation of a special manager.

After making a big splash with its $22 billion offer for U.K.-based Entain Plc, DraftKings has called off the deal. Entain says DraftKings didn’t give it a proper valuation.

Bernstein Research has encouraging words for U.S.-based casino operators in Macau. In a recent note, analysts said the Chinese government isn’t looking to cut U.S. firms out of the world’s most profitable gaming hub.

Inspire Athens, owned by the Greek construction group GEK Terna, has been awarded the concession to build and operate the nation’s first integrated resort casino in the Greek capital.

With its AC casino doing well, the Hard Rock brand sees gold in both New York City and possibly the Meadowlands in New Jersey (l.). First, New York State has to OK the pitch and New Jersey has to amend its constitution.

The Tigua Tribe of Texas has long sought to offer gaming on its El Paso reservation, against the wishes of the state, despite the sporadic operations of the Speaking Rock casino (l.). Now the U.S. Supreme Court will hear the tribe’s lawsuit, which could impact other tribes’ claims.

One of the stipulations of the compact between the Seminoles and the state of Florida required the tribe to reach an agreement with the state’s parimutuels to participate in sports betting. That deal was inked last week and included Hialeah Park (l.).

Weekly, and sometimes more often, big gaming deals are in the headlines. The Sci Games lottery sale and Aristo’s Playtech buy are just two examples. Here’s how investors can parse them out.

This week, Alan Feldman joins the GGB Podcast where he discusses his two roles in responsible gaming at the International Center for Responsible Gaming and at the International Gaming Institute at UNLV.

Vietnamese tourism officials have identified five regions that can now accept foreign travelers, including Quang Nam, home of the Hoiana casino (l.). But the country’s ongoing quarantine rules could keep visitors away.

The global Financial Action Task Force says the Philippine gaming industry must prove it has strict anti-money laundering and terrorism-funding controls in place “to mitigate risks associated with casino junkets.”

In August, the Cambodian government set new minimum capital requirements for casinos to improve the economy and also ensure the health of the industry. Operators have up to 15 years to comply.

Philippine IR Okada Manila, which will merge with a Nasdaq-listed special purpose acquisition company, is looking for investment opportunities in Japan and elsewhere, says Jason Ader (l.), CEO of the SPAC, 26 Capital.

Starting November 8, fully vaccinated travelers from Australia and Switzerland may enter Singapore without quarantine. Visitors from the U.K., U.S., Canada, and seven other countries are now permitted to enter.

Starting November 1, Kangwon Land (l.), South Korea’s only locals casino, requires patrons to show a “vaccine pass” proving they are fully vaccinated against Covid-19 before they can walk onto the gaming floor.

The Emerald Villa (l.) at MGM Cotai has won a pair of awards for interior design, winning an SBID International Design Award and Platinum MUSE Design Awards in the same category.

The Irish Department of Justice, in an effort to crack down on sports betting ads, will focus attention on the storefronts of bookie shops. Ads in the storefronts are often the first thing to lure new customers.

The U.K. Betting and Gaming Council has taken some credit for a drop in problem gambling rates. Its CEO, Michael Dugher (l.), points to a number of initiatives that he says have made a difference.

Summit Ascent Holdings, which operates the Tigre de Cristal integrated resort in Russia’s Primorye gaming zone, says revenue at the property has rebounded to pre-pandemic levels or better.

Several Brazilian lawmakers, including federal deputy Eduardo Bismarck (l.), are promoting the tourism and tax advantages of lifting a federal ban on gaming.

Niagara Casinos say Premier Doug Ford’s (l.) lifting of capacity limits for businesses in Ontario a “welcome step in the right direction.” The company operates two gaming halls in the Canadian province.

Novomatic’s Greentube division will make its Dutch iGaming debut under an agreement with Holland Casino, after online betting giant 888 was forced out of the newly regulated online gaming sector.

Kindred Group has announced that it will no longer accept players from the Netherlands. It will block Dutch players until it can be issued a license for online gaming by the Netherlands gaming authority.

The National Football League, which recently launched a responsible gambling campaign, has given the National Council on Problem Gambling the largest grant in the organization’s history.

Maryland’s Sports Wagering Application Review Commission received two more sportsbook license applications last week, including one from Ocean Downs (l.), bringing the total to five as the state awaits final regulations.

Senators pushing to legalize sports betting in the Bay State are encountering less opposition than indifference from state leaders. The industry isn’t a “top-tier issue” for them as it is for Senator Eric Lesser (l.).

In-person retail sports betting kicked off in Connecticut on October 26. It’s offered by Sportech Venues in New Haven, partnering with Rush Street Interactive and PlaySugarHouse.

MSG Networks, a unit of Madison Square Garden, has inaugurated three sports betting shows. The programs are aimed at bettors ahead of the launch of mobile sports betting in New York.

Bally’s Corp. has signed another sports betting partnership, this time with the Nashville Predators and the Bridgestone Arena. The deal, which extends through 2025, includes access to logos, content and more

A recent study shows that Caesars Entertainment’s brand awareness among radio listeners in sports betting markets has grown by more than 113 percent in the past six months.

Carnival Cruise Lines has debuted the Ocean Sportsbook, with its Princess Cruises ship Majestic Princess taking the first of the international-waters bets.

When federal unemployment add-ons stopped coming, the experts predicted workers would rush to fill jobs. They didn’t, and in Las Vegas, all manner of employers are scrambling to find applicants.

A new study indicates Peninsula Pacific Entertainment’s proposed $329 million Camellia Bay casino (l.) near Slidell, Louisiana could have a “moderately positive” impact. Parish voters will decide the issue in a December referendum.

On November 2, Linn County, Iowa voters will decide if they want a casino in their community. Peninsula Pacific Entertainment and investors would develop the $329 million Cedar Crossing casino (l.) in Cedar Rapids if the measure passes.

Louisiana’s Racing Commission and Gaming Commission both approved the $22 million sale of Harrah’s Louisiana Downs racino to Rubico. Opened in 1974, the property attracted more than 1 million spectators in its heyday.

Iowa Greyhound Park in Dubuque (l.) asked the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission for permission to offer only 18 racing days and then end racing after the 2022 season.

The winner of the Vigo County, Indiana casino competition will be announced November 17, but gaming commissioners may not issue the license due to an appeal by former licensee, Lucy Luck Gaming.

Churchill Downs submitted official documents for its $6.35 million, 19,000-square-foot Derby City Gaming Downtown casino venue in Louisville, although it doesn’t yet own the proposed U.S. Bank site.

A new state senator for Atlantic County. A possible change in governors. A push to ban casino smoking, supported by the city’s gaming workers (l.). The expansion of sports betting. These issues may hang in the balance when New Jersey voters hit the polls November 2.

Having a casino nearby like Plainridge Park (l.) doesn’t have much effect on commercial real estate activity or prices. That’s the conclusion drawn by the Social and Economic Impacts of Gambling in Massachusetts down by UMass Amherst.

Boyd Gaming is implementing a $300 million stock repurchase plan as record profits are being generated while the industry continues to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic. The company has re-opened Main Street Station in Downtown Las Vegas after it was shuttered for over a year.

A group of 11 works by Pablo Picasso sold for more than $110 million at a recent auction. The works, including “Femme au Béret Rouge-Orange,” (l.) were displayed for years the Bellagio restaurant named for the artist.

Northern California’s Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians has opened its expanded Rolling Hills Casino & Resort (l.). It added gaming space, including 80 new slots and 10 gaming tables, plus renovated hotel rooms.

The Nez Perce Tribe hasn’t announced plans for the 358-acre parcel it purchased adjacent to its Clearwater Casino (l.) in Lewiston. Tribal officials said cleanup and an archaeological survey will start immediately.

After a 13-year effort by a campaign to educate people about the dangers of second-hand smoke, the Navajo Nation has passed the Air is Life Act, banning smoking in or within 25 feet of indoor areas.

British MPs from several parties are criticizing lottery operator Camelot for app-based games they say put vulnerable players at risk. The criticism comes as Camelot bids to continue operating the lottery.

Gaming Laboratories International has welcomed Valter Delfraro Júnior to its Latin America and Caribbean team. The addition reflects the company’s deepening commitment to the region’s gaming industries.

Global iGaming operator PointsBet has added Kyle Christensen to its U.S. leadership team in the role of chief marketing officer. He will oversee PointsBet's overall marketing strategy in the fast-growing industry.

The new board of directors of Betsson AB has decided to withdraw the decision to replace the company’s CEO Pontus Lindwall. In a statement, the board said it would not be “good to change leadership now.”

Bally’s Corp. has acquired U.K.-based Degree 53, a creative agency specializing in multi-channel website and personalized mobile app and software development.