Chicago’s Major Mistake

Allowing sports books to open at stadiums like Wrigley Field (l.) and arenas in Chicago is possibly the worst decision that the Illinois politicians could make. But then again, Illinois has never been accused of understanding how gaming actually works.

Vinny

Vinny Magliulo (l.) has a long history in sports betting but according to Richard Schuetz, his greatest attributes are his honesty and integrity. If that’s the lesson he could teach to young participants in the industry, that would be the ultimate goal.

Fubo Sportsbook: Disrupting Customer Acquisition

On the strength of its integrated entertainment model, Fubo TV has launched Fubo Sportsbook, where sports streaming meets sports betting. CEO Scott Butera says the company’s million-member subscriber pool is a ready-made customer base.

GLPI to Buy Cordish Live! Casino Real Estate

Gaming and Leisure Properties will acquire the real estate under Cordish Companies’ three Live! Casinos, including the one in South Philadelphia (l.). The deal is part of a $1.81 billion agreement that will give GLPI equity in future Cordish expansion and enable Cordish to accelerate growth.

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WEEKLY FEATURE: Thailand to Study Legal Casinos

Thailand’s House of Representatives has created a 60-member “extraordinary committee” to study the benefits and drawbacks of legal casinos in the country. Bangkok is considered a prime location for an integrated resort with gaming.

Louisiana Voters Say No to Casino

On Saturday, voters in St, Tammany Parish, Louisiana turned thumbs down on Peninsula Pacific Entertainment’s proposed $325 million casino, Camellia Bay. Early returns showed 63 percent of voters were against the idea, following months of controversy and debate.

So Long, Suncity

The crackdown on junkets in Macau has had ripple effects beyond the Chinese gaming hub. Casino operators in the Philippines and Cambodia are also examining their relationship with VIP promoter Suncity.

Ader Pitches Futuristic NY Casino

New York asset manager Jason Ader (l.) has a Jetsons-like plan for a Big Apple casino: a multibillion-dollar resort complete with a cryptocurrency trading floor, an esports arena and a landing pad for flying cars.

U.S. House Considers Carcieri Fix

A bill in the U.S. House of Representatives would provide the long-sought legislative “fix” to counter the U.S. Supreme Court decision in the 2009 Carcieri v. Salazar case.

Maryland Launches Sports Betting

After numerous delays, the first sports bets were place in Maryland on Thursday, with Governor Larry Hogan putting money on an all-Maryland Super Bowl with the ribbon cutting on the BetMGM sports book (l.) at MGM National Harbor.

Illinois Regulators Announce New Licensees

The Illinois Gaming Board awarded “preliminary suitability” status to Full House Resort for a Waukegan casino and to Wind Creek Hospitality for a casino straddling Homewood and East Hazel Crest.

Sweden-based Evolution Gaming Faces Charges

Evolution Gaming, a Swedish company that supplies casinos with live dealers and unique betting shows, is facing charges of dealing directly with countries where gaming is prohibited. It also faces charges of participating in a crypto gambling ring.

Ontario Casino Looks at Early 2022 Opening

Delayed a year by the pandemic, the $31 million Cascades Casino (l.) in North Bay, Canada is moving toward opening early in 2022. Construction by Gateway Casinos and Entertainment Ltd. resumed in April of this year.

Fertitta Pays Up to End SPAC

Tilman Fertitta (l.) last week paid Fast Acquisitions $33 million to end a deal which would have taken his casino and hospitality holdings public via a SPAC. He said the company would grow the business and remain private.

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IR Debate Continues in Nagasaki

Nagasaki residents who oppose the prefecture’s plan to develop an integrated resort in Sasebo City (l.) have filed a petition asking the government to stop the process in its tracks.

EUROPEAN GAMING More

Ukraine’s Parimatch Acquires Mr.Fish, PokerMatch

Parimatch Tech, based in Ukraine, has completed the acquisition of Mr.Fish and the online poker room PokerMatch. The company says the acquisitions will enable it to expand its entertainment and marketing portfolio.

GLOBAL GAMING More

Casino Royale Opens in Antigua

A new casino has opened in the Caribbean, the Casino Royale at Royalton Antigua. A sister property to Casino Royale of St. Maarten, it offers slot machines, gaming tables, big-screen TVs and a bar.

ONLINE GAMING More

Argentina Lawmakers Introduce iGaming Bill

Legislators in the province of Córdoba, Argentina presented a bill that would legalize online gambling including slots, table games, sports betting and lotteries. Profits would fund the province’s lottery.

Ontario Auditor General Lists iGaming Concerns

Ontario Auditor General Bonnie Lysyk (l.) has issued a report listing her concerns with the soon-to-open internet gaming and sports betting market. They include a number of what she calls “legal risks.”

Codere Online Debuts on Nasdaq

Following its restructuring, Codere Online debuted on the Nasdaq stock exchange December 2. It is the first gaming firm for the Latin American market to be listed on the Nasdaq.

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Chicago Alderman Block Sports Betting Ordinance

Chicago city council members led by Alderman Greg Mitchell (l.)unexpectedly blocked Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s plan to offer sports betting at five stadiums, taxing the revenue at 2 percent. One said it wasn’t “a sufficient reward for the risks.”

Ohio Passes Sports Betting Legislation

After last-minute compromises, the Ohio legislature passed a sports betting bill that will allow wagering by the end of 2022. Governor Mike DeWine (l.) is expected to sign the measure, which passed with a bipartisan majority.

U.S. Ready to Talk About Sports Betting Ads

Europe has taken a stern approach to the proliferation of sports betting ads and sponsorships. The U.S. hopes to avoid such elements as whistle-to-whistle ad bans by voluntarily cutting back on ads like the omnipresent Caesars JB Smoove ads.

DraftKings Sheds Value, Faces Inquiry

Faced with more money going out than coming in, DraftKings is going through a rough patch. They need to up marketing costs to acquire new customers. The SEC is investigating the company.

Missouri Will Try, Try Again for Sports Betting

Missouri has tried for sports betting since 2018, when the federal government overturned PASPA. In 2022, it will try again in 2022 to get to first base with a bill introduced by Rep. Phil Christofanelli (l.).

Sportradar, Kambi Extend Partnership Deal

Sportradar and Kambi announced a five-year extension of their partnership deal, under which Sportradar is Kambi’s exclusive data supplier for professional and college sports in the U.S.

Louisiana’s Rez Sportsbook at Coushatta Casino Opens

Rez Sportsbook at Louisiana’s Coushatta Casino marked its grand opening December 1. The ceremony included NFL stars including Rickey Jackson. Coushatta Chairman Jonathon Cernek called it a “sports lover’s dream.”

Washington Casino Unveils New Sportsbook

Northern Quest Resort & Casino in Washington State opened its sportsbook December 4. Retired L.A. Lakers great Robert Sacre placed the first bet at the Turf Club Sports Book.

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MGM May Increase Strip Presence

MGM Resorts, the biggest casino operator on the Las Vegas Strip, could soon get even bigger. Chief Financial Officer Jonathan Halkyard (l.) recently said the company is planning more developments on the Strip.

AGA to DOJ: Eliminate Illegal Slots

The American Gaming Association has sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Justice, urging the federal government to crack down on illegal gaming machines.

Virginia Judge Blocks Skill Game Ban Enforcement

So-called skill games have restarted in Virginia following a circuit court judge’s temporary injunction blocking a ban against them. The legislature shut down the games in July. A trial date has been set for May.

North Beach Proves Marketing Gem in Atlantic City

Hard Rock, Ocean Casino and Resorts Casino have something in common besides their proximity to one another. They have a collective with other attractions known as North Beach. And a marketing campaign to match.

Virginia Casinos Plan Demolition, Break Ground

In Bristol, Virginia, Hard Rock Bristol casino developers submitted plans to demolish the former Bristol Mall. In Portsmouth, ground was broken (l.) for Rush Street Gaming’s $300 million Rivers Casino.

North Dakota on a Roll with Electronic Pull Tabs

Electronic pull tabs are setting records in North Dakota. They look a lot like slot machines. Maybe that’s why they are so popular. All other forms of gambling are on the decline, including at the tribal casinos.

Nevada, California Try Traffic Fix for I-15 Congestion

After talks between the governors of California and Nevada, California’s Department of Transportation found a solution for traffic gridlock near the common border. It will begin adding lanes on five miles of Interstate 15.

Oakland A’s Narrow Vegas Stadium Sites

The A’s have reportedly narrowed their potential stadium sites to the Tropicana site (l,) on the Strip. The team still hasn’t decided to leave Oakland. Major League Soccer puts Vegas at top of list for a team.

Problem-Gambling Counselor Sues Arkansas

FaNeisha Yavette Mosley, a problem gambling services counselor, has sued the Arkansas Racing Commission for not establishing gambling addiction services as required by Amendment 100 of the state constitution.

Wynn Subsidiary Finds Home in Summerlin, NV

Wynn Design & Development, the creative arm of Wynn Resorts, has signed a lease at 1700 Pavilion (l.), a new 10-story office complex under development in Downtown Summerlin, Nevada.

Fresno Card Club to Add 20 tables

Kyle Kirkland (l.), longtime owner of the Club One Casino in Fresno, California, has gotten the go-ahead to add 20 tables, bringing the total to 51. This ends a long regulatory ordeal with the local city council.

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Ho-Chunk, Feds Review Beloit, Wisconsin Casino

Officials from the Ho-Chunk Nation and Bureau of Indian Affairs will review the land-trust status of the tribe’s Beloit, Wisconsin casino resort. Governor Tony Evers approved plans for the project (l.) March 24.

Supremes Won’t Rehear Jamul Challenge

The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to rehear a case brought by neighbors of the Jamul Indian Village in Southern California. The Jamul Action Committee has been fighting the tribe’s casino for years.

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Clark Named COO of Seneca Gaming

Craig Clark is the new chief operating officer for the Seneca Gaming Corp. He’ll be in charge of financial elements for three upstate New York casino resorts and work with the corporate president on a strategic plan.

Julie Cameron-Doe Leaving Aristocrat For Wynn

Aristocrat Leisure Ltd. has announced that Chief Financial Officer Julie Cameron-Doe will leave the company in 2022 and join Wynn Resorts in a similar capacity. Cameron-Doe joined Aristocrat in 2013.

Lisa Karran Named Eminence COO

Gaming tech provider Eminence Holdings has appointed Lisa Karran as the company’s chief operating officer. Karran has worked with a number of gaming companies as well as the government of the Isle of Man.

Better Change Adds Willows to Board

Better Change (Gibraltar) Ltd. has announced the appointment of Lee Willows (l.) to its board of directors as a non-executive director. Willows has three decades of experience in the gaming industry.

Cheryl Kondra Joins Galaxy Directors

Galaxy Gaming has appointed Cheryl Kondra to its board of directors. Kondra has worked at Pinnacle Entertainment and Caesars Entertainment, and now is vice president of internal audit at Tractor Supply.

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AGEM Index Declines in November

After setting a new record high in October, the AGEM Index of stock prices declined by 117.2 points in November, ending a streak of growth.

Tangam to Supply Grosvenor Casinos

Tangam Systems has signed an agreement with Grosvenor Casinos, the largest casino operator in the U.K. o provide its table-games management system at Grosvenor locations.

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