Matt Maddox announced that he will be stepping down from his position as CEO of Wynn Resorts effective January 31, 2022, to be replaced by President and CFO Craig Billings. Maddox guided the operator through the fallout from founder Wynn’s departure and the Covid-19 crisis.

Despite a lack of clarity on the concession retender, the CEOs of U.S. gaming companies in Macau continue to express confidence in their renewals, either next year or later if the expiration date is extended. Wynn Macau President and Executive Director Ian Michael Coughlan (l.) said he’s been impressed with the process.

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot (l.) will create a review committee consisting of a cross-section of city departments to review and choose finalists for a Chicago casino license. The Illinois Gaming Board will have the final say.

Ohio state Senator Kirk Schuring (l.) says lawmakers have made “significant compromises” on a sports betting measure. He called the negotiations a “Rubik’s cube,” but added, “We’re making progress.”

Construction on the long-dormant Fontainebleau on the Las Vegas Strip is back on launched with a re-groundbreaking last week, with the project expected to be complete in 2023. Developers say movement on the resort points to confidence in the local market. Jeffrey Soffer (l.), chairman and CEO of Fontainebleau Development said the building is in “mint condition.”

On November 8, attorneys for the U.S. Interior Department filed a decision saying a new compact giving Florida’s Seminole Tribe a monopoly on sports betting does not violate the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.

Legislators in Newfoundland and Labrador are mulling a bill that would make it harder for gambling addicts to sue government-run casinos in class-actions. Finance Minister Siobhan Coady (l.) says the bill protects the Atlantic Lottery.

Aristocrat Leisure Ltd. said it will continue with its planned acquisition of iGaming content supplier Playtech PLC despite a competing takeover offer from minority stakeholder Gopher Investments.

Sports betting and iGaming operator Entain is launching a global diversity and inclusion initiative “EnTrain,” to increase access to technology and improve diversity. The program aims to train and support 1 million people by 2030.

This week, the GGB Podcast sits down with Kent Young, the president of Spin Games, who talks about the acquisition of his company by the Bragg Gaming Group and what it means for the future.

Orix Corp. and MGM Resorts International will each hold a 40 percent share of their proposed integrated resort (l.) in Osaka, Japan, with smaller shareholders making up the balance.

Several casino resorts in Manila’s Entertainment City, including Solaire (l.), are now at 90 percent capacity, up from just 50 percent as the country continues to recover from Covid-19.

In China, authorities arrested 142 people for allegedly arranging gambling trips to Russia’s Primorye casino district. Their destination: Summit Ascent’s Tigre de Cristal (l.).

Genting Malaysia has begun technical rehearsals for its SkyWorlds outdoor theme park at Resorts World Genting. The resort, located near Kuala Lumpur, is allowing employees and invited guests to test the rides.

The Swedish Gambling Authority Spelinspektionen has launched an investigation of consumer credit related to gambling. Its goal is to “reduce predatory lending and counteract over-indebtedness amongst consumers.”

In an effort to reduce gambling harms, LeoVegas Group will put individual deposit limits for its U.K. customers. The limit will be reconsidered if new data is revealed. Affordability checks will also be available.

Sky Bet sent free-spin offers to customers on the self-exclusion list. The Gambling Commission in the U.K. will investigate the incident. Conor Grant, CEO of Sky Bet parent, Flutter, apologized for the misstep.

Australia’s PlayUp has signed a market access agreement with Caesars Entertainment’s Harrah’s Philadelphia casino that will allow it to enter the Pennsylvania online gaming market.

Tipico U.S.A. has launched an online casino in New Jersey, joining the company’s sports betting platform in the state. The online casino will feature 70 games, including 55 slot titles.

Republican lawmakers in Kentucky helped pass historical horseracing legislation earlier this year. Their support could move state Rep. Adam Koenig’s (l.) sports betting legislation forward in 2022.

DraftKings has opened retail sportsbooks in Lake Charles, Louisiana at the Golden Nugget and L’Auberge casinos. Both are temporary as the resorts build larger, permanent facilities to open in 2022.

Chicago aldermen are considering an ordinance to allow large sports stadiums to host their own sportsbooks. Rush Street’s Neil Bluhm (l.) says that would cannibalize casino revenue, causing the city to lose tax money.

Maryland regulatory officials have approved partnership arrangements with sportsbook platform suppliers for five casinos, while the industry awaits publication of final regulations.

In North Carolina, a retail and online sports betting bill has passed the first of four House committees. It would authorize up to 12 licenses and tax revenue at 8 percent, with funds going to public school construction, according to the bill’s sponsor, Senator Jason Saine (l.).

The lawsuit brought by the Yavapai-Prescott Indian Tribe against Arizona to topple its sports betting law may soon be resolved. Both sides have told a judge they need 60 days to negotiate a settlement.

Minnesota state Rep. Zack Stephenson (l.) plans to lead a push for legal sports betting. He noted there’s bipartisan support for a sports wagering bill, and the state’s tribes are coming around on the issue.

Mississippi state Rep. Casey Eure (l.) says the House Gaming Committee, which he chairs, plans to pass a mobile sports betting bill by January 1, the date Louisiana is expected to launch sports wagering.

Missouri Senate President Dave Schatz (l.) said he’ll reintroduce legislation banning illegal slots proliferating throughout the state. He added legalizing sports betting via ballot initiative could help accomplish that goal.

Single-game sports wagering has come to Western Canada. Through Sports Select, the Western Canada Lottery Corp. began offering the option on November 1. Before that, sports betting was limited to parlays.

The National Independent Soccer Association and NISA Nation have announced details of an exclusive new partnership with Betting.bet, an online resource for sports fans seeking safe betting sites and promotions.

Arizona’s Gila River Hotels & Casinos at Vee Quiva will host a retail sportsbook operated by BetMGM. It’s that sportsbook’s entry into the state and the first in-casino sportsbook in Phoenix.

One year after Nebraska voters approved casino gambling at the state’s six horseracing tracks, including Lincoln (l.), draft regulations will be released November 12 and a public hearing on the proposed rules will be held December 17.

In response to the Illinois legislature’s approval of a measure banning municipalities from adopting a penny-per-push tax after November 14, several towns held meetings that day to approve the taxes.

Caesars Entertainment will begin a $34 million expansion at Harrah’s Hoosier Park in Anderson, Indiana next year and finish a $32 million expansion at Indiana Grand Racing & Casino near Shelbyville this year.

Century Casinos officials will invest $68.3 million to move Carousel Casino in Caruthersville, Missouri to land with a new 75-room hotel and also build a new 75-room hotel at Century Casino Cape Girardeau.

A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit that a onetime Wynn salon manager brought against casino magnate Steve Wynn (l.) and Wynn Resorts executives. The lawsuit included allegations of rape against Wynn.

A Todd English-branded luxury hotel is coming to Main Street in Las Vegas. Named for the celebrity chef (l.), the English Hotel will open in early 2022, in time for the start of convention season.

The proposed Moon Resorts Las Vegas would let guests experience the wonders of space without leaving terra firma. The $5 billion lunar-themed project would have a casino and 4,000 hotel rooms.

The Strat on the Las Vegas Strip, owned by Golden Entertainment, plans a $70 million indoor golf attraction (l.) on seven acres next the resort. Executives believe the investment could attract up to 800,000 new visitors.

The National Labor Relations Board claims that Station Casinos has tried to stall an ongoing unfair labor practice case against the locals company. The NLRB has asked a federal court to intervene.

Sports betting has attracted younger players to the Scarlet Pearl Casino in D’Iberville, Mississippi. Casino officials expect a cryptocurrency ATM to lure even more millennials as they move toward totally cashless play.

The Rickman family has sold the Delaware Park racino after 38 years of ownership, turning over the property they saved from bankruptcy to a private equity partnership.

The Bicycle Casino in Bell Gardens, California has agreed to pay a $500,000 settlement to the U.S. Justice Department. It violated federal anti-money laundering rules by allowing a Chinese VIP to play with millions in cash.

In Michigan, more than 100 people rallied to support the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians’ proposed $180 million casino in Muskegon County, promoted by Tribal Ogema Larry Romanelli (l.).

A sportsbook has opened at the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians’ Four Winds South Bend (l.) in Indiana. Wagers can be placed at one of six kiosks or guests can bet on their mobile devices.

Within weeks, the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation will open Foxwoods El San Juan Casino (l.). The venture, a partnership with LionGrove, will be the tribe’s first project outside the continental U.S.

Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez (l.) signed legislation prohibiting indoor smoking in public places on the tribe’s reservation, including its casinos. The ban does not apply to the ceremonial use of tobacco.

Rodney Butler, chairman of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe of Connecticut, is seeking another three year term. If elected, it would be his fifth term as chairman of the tribe, which operates Foxwoods Resort Casino.

International Game Technology has named Gil Rotem president of its iGaming unit. Rotem previously held executive positions with 888.com and bet355.

Crown Resorts has appointed Simon McGrath (l.) CEO of Crown Sydney and group head of hospitality. It has also appointed Danielle Keighery to the newly created role of chief corporate affairs and brand officer.

Gaming veteran Anthony Spagno has been tapped as vice president of table games at Hard Rock Atlantic City. Spagno began in the business as a dealer in Caesars Atlantic City in 1980, and moved up the ranks from there.

Rush Street Interactive has named Roy Corby general manager of Rivers Casino Portsmouth in Virginia. The casino is set to open in 2023. Corby brings 30 years of gaming experience to the job.

Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City has named Bill Callahan as interim CEO. A 25-year industry veteran, Callahan moves up from senior vice president. Prior to Ocean, he worked at Borgata.

On Veterans Day, November 11, AGS announced it has earned the U.S. Department of Labor’s highest recognition for its commitment to recruit, employ and retain military veterans.

Ainsworth has launched its new A-STAR Curve XL premium slot cabinet at Barona Resort & Casino in San Diego, featuring the Take It or Leave It game series.

Pragmatic Play has launched the Big Juan slot machine, the latest Mexican-inspired slot theme from the supplier, featuring a unique wild-symbol feature.

Saginaw Chippewa Gaming Enterprises in Michigan will partner with Kambi Group to provide retail and online sports betting at the Soaring Eagle Casino (l.) and Saganing Eagles Landing Casino.

The SBC Summit North America will take place November 30-December 2 at the Meadowlands in New Jersey. The event is the successor to SBC’s successful Betting on Sports American show in 2019.