The companies interested in building a Chicago casino made their pitches last week. All the bids were impressive, but each had its drawbacks, including Bally’s plan (l.) for a project on property they don’t even own or control. Also last week, the Chicago city council at last gave Mayor Lori Lightfoot the sports betting ordinance she wanted, including a 2 percent tax on adjusted gross revenue from sports wagers placed in or near a casino or stadium.

The Nevada Gaming Commission has approved the San Manuel Tribe of California to own and operate the Palms Hotel Casino, the first tribe to buy a casino in Las Vegas. The deal closed last week and the tribe expects to open the property in the spring of 2022.

Reports of the demise of junkets in Macau are undoubtedly exaggerated. While the Macau government seems to be pushing for their disappearance, some analysts believe there is a place for junkets in the marketplace. The VIP room at Galaxy at left.

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine (l.) has a bill sitting on his desk that would create a legal sports betting market in the Buckeye State. The bill was passed with large, bipartisan majorities in the legislature.

Brazil’s Chamber of Deputies last week approved an “urgency” to consider a bill legalizing gaming in the nation. Arthur Lira (l.), the president of the chamber, set a date for a vote in February.

The Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas filed an amicus brief in a case before the U.S. Supreme Court that could allow its Naskila Gaming electronic bingo casino (l.), which employs 700 people, to remain open.

ICE London for 2022 has been postponed until late April. The upsurge of the Covid virus in the UK is reportedly the problem, but officials are confident that the show can be held at that time. Clarion’s Stuart Hunter (l.) says the show will bounce back in the spring.

Can the past predict the future? In this post-pandemic world, maybe not but the past offers us some guidance. Look how gaming stocks have rebounded.

In a special edition of the GGB Podcast we sit down with Sarah Robertson, the vice president of sales for Kambi, on how her company is growing in the U.S. and why so many leading sports betting operators are partners.

Mohegan Gaming and Entertainment’s International President Bobby Soper (l.) says it has made a special effort to make its Inspire Entertainment Resort reflect Asian sensibilities. It is being built in South Korea.

Macau Secretary for Economy and Finance Lei Wai Nong contends that the re-tendering process for casino concessions in Macau is on track to be completed in 2022. Details will be announced soon.

Beijing last week dropped border restrictions between Hong Kong and Guangdong, allowing residents of both those regions to travel freely to Macau, as long as they present a health card. Macau must now act to be included in this program.

The Grand Korea Leisure’s Seven Luck Casino Gangbuk Hilton (l.) will now be operated by Seoul Dragon City, a multi-hotel complex in Seoul. Grand Korea Leisure was the sole and winning bidder to host the casino.

Hann Casino Resort (l.) in the Philippines, held a soft opening on December 15. The resort is an expansion and rebranding of the former Widus Hotel and Casino resort.

A governmental committee in Finland is recommending that the country possibly end the gaming monopoly of Veikkaus. This would be part of proposed amendments to the Lotteries Act.

A new report finds anti-money laundering and social responsibility steps fell short in 2020-2021 because operators don’t make enough resources available or put profits over compliance. Gambling Commission Interim Chief Executive Andrew Rhodes (l.) said his organization has collected more than £100 million in penalties.

The Dutch government has approved new ruled for the handling of research into gambling harms. The regulations require data be readily available for research purposes.

Flutter CEO Conor Grant (l.) has declared his company will take steps to deal with gambling harms. They won’t wait until the U.K. Gambling Review makes its recommendations.

Spillemyndigheden, the gaming regulator in Denmark, has warned Unibet over alleged breaches of the country’s money laundering regulations. Unibet, it says, allowed a deposit of funds without establishing their origin.

Faced with accusations of money laundering and other bad activity, Crown Resorts is planning to open the casino in Crown Sydney (l.) in the Barangaroo precinct. The company has agreed to a series of reforms to correct its corporate behavior.

They call them pokie machines, and they’ve been the center of attention from the press over their possible use in money laundering. Efforts are underway to prevent such problems.

Legalizing online casinos won’t be on the legislative agenda next year, according to Iowa Gaming Association President and Chief Executive Officer Wes Ehrecke (l.). He said the issue needs to evolve within the next two years.

Those Buenos Aires, Argentina residents who wish to bet in live online casinos can now do so. Online gaming has gone live in the city following the granting of licenses to multiple operators earlier this year, including Codere Online (l.).

Playtech PLC has launched a new live casino studio facility in the Swiss capital of Zurich, on the site of Swiss Casinos, to stream games to that operator’s properties.

Hanover Investors has acquired eCOGRA, a leading independent testing and certification agency for online gaming that is licensed in the U.K. and throughout Europe, Asia and the Americas.

Broadway Gaming has agreed to a deal to acquire 888 Holdings’ B2C bingo business and its B2B counterpart Dragonfish in a $50 million transaction.

iGaming platform provider EveryMatrix has filed for a license in Michigan and West Virginia. The company offers clients in-house turnkey service. The company has deals with Kindred Group and Resorts Digital.

A bill introduced by Rep. J. Gary Pretlow on December 13 would allow professional sports stadiums and OTBs to offer mobile betting kiosks in New York state. Sports betting will go live in January, just in time for the Super Bowl, says another legislator.

The Alberta Liquor, and Cannabis Commission has issued an RFP for two private sportsbook operations. They would join existing state-sponsored sports betting sites, Play Alberta (l.) and Sport Select.

Nevada was grandfathered in when lawmakers banned sports betting in 1992. When the Supreme Court overturned the ban, states made it easy to offer mobile access. Nevada did not follow suit.

Despite launching sports betting in early September, including the SolSports book at Casino Del Sol (l.), the Arizona Department of Gaming hasn’t yet released any revenue figures for the first month of wagering. ADG is says it wants to ensure “all is good to go.”

The Tennessee Sports Wagering Advisory Council, which will assume regulatory duties from the state lottery on January 1, plans to make access to problem gambling services a top priority.

Senate Bill 764, introduced by Missouri state Senator Tony Luetkemeyer (l.), would legalize online sports betting. Other lawmakers expressed concern the bill could Include language to expand unregulated video gambling machines.

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City has partnered with Esports Entertainment Group to bring skill-based tournaments to the hotel. The first contests in January are approved for wagering. CEO Grant Johnson (l.) the event will create more opportunities.

Brittney Payton (l.), daughter of legendary running back Walter, has joined Rush Street Interactive. She will provide content and brand assistance with BetRivers.com and PlaySugarHouse.com.

GeoComply has implemented its PinPoint mobile solution for the Snoqualmie Tribe’s casino (l.), the first gaming facility in the state to offer on-premise, mobile sports betting.

A panel discussion at the Global Symposium on Racing detailed an opportunity that sports betting has to boost the horse racing industry with new wagers.

The American Gaming Association reports that U.S. casinos have already broken the single-year record for revenues, recording $44.15 billion through October, with two months to go.

Now that St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana voters rejected a Slidell casino, Pacific Peninsula Entertainment has until February 9, 2022 to decide if it will reopen Diamond Jacks (l.) in Bossier City, Louisiana, shuttered since May 2020.

The Indiana Gaming Commission still has not granted Churchill Downs a gaming license to operate a casino (l.) in Terre Haute, as it awaits the outcome of the lawsuit filed by the previous licensee, Lucy Luck Gaming.

Two Illinois video gaming companies formed a political action committee to contribute to the campaigns of Missouri lawmakers, including Governor Mike Parson (l.), who support legalizing the games, which are unregulated and untaxed in the state.

Full House Resorts, winner of the Waukegan, Illinois casino face-off, said its temporary casino will be ready in six months, offering 1,000 slots, 50 table games and a sportsbook. The permanent facility will open within two years.

In an effort to reduce the rising number of new Covid-19 cases, Philadelphia has mandated proof of vaccinations before entry. The mandate impacts casinos, arenas, indoor dining. Live! Casino (l.) and SugarHouse are impacted by this new rule.

The statehouse in Trenton moves ahead with amendments to the PILOT tax bill in Atlantic City. But the push to get lawmakers to close the loophole to the smoking ban seems to go nowhere.

Last Vegas has been awarded the 2024 Super Bowl. This is the first time the city landed the mega-event, and follows its completion of the Allegiant Stadium (l.) and the move of the Raiders NFL team to the city.

When they open, Nebraska’s casinos will allocate 70 percent of tax revenues to property tax relief. Depending on who you ask, the tax revenues will range from $63 to $98 million a year. But Senator Tom Briese (l.) wants to limit the number of casinos in the state.

Site clearing has begun in Bullhead City, Arizona in preparation for a new bridge (l.). The span will link the Arizona town with Laughlin Nevada. With so many casino employees on the Arizona side a second bridge was needed.

Sean Christie (l.) has agreed to open a steakhouse in Resorts World in Las Vegas. He hired a top chef and sommelier in preparation for the opening of Carversteak.

Brian Ohorilko (l.), administrator of Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission, says many factors will influence which town gets a casino license in Linn County. Among them are population movement and community support.

Live! Pittsburgh (l.) has unveiled new attractions including a poker room, event center FanDuel FanCave attraction, electronic table games and a reconfigured high-limit room.

Station Casinos will meet with the Las Vegas Planning Commission to pitch a small new Wildfire-branded casino in Downtown Las Vegas, just south of Charleston Boulevard.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs Director Bryan Newland (l.) is revisiting the agency’s original rejection of an application by the Cayuga Nation of New York to put land into trust. The BIA rejected the 2005 application last year.

Michigan’s Governor Gretchen Whitmer (l.) has asked for six more months to decide whether to support an off-reservation casino proposal by the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians. Her original deadline was December 16.

The Cherokee Tribal Council, which governs two North Carolina casinos, has passed an ordinance that restricts smoking to enclosed areas on the properties. Principal Chief Richard Sneed (l.) backed the move.

The Catawba Nation doubled the number of gaming machines at its Two Kings temporary casino (l.) to 954 slots and 46 table game positions, located in a pre-fab building. Plans for the $273 million permanent venue have not been announced.

An individual filed suit in Pulaski County, Arkansas Circuit Court to stop Cherokee Nation Businesses LLC/Legends Resort and Casino (l.). The plaintiff said CNB has no casino experience and it doesn’t exist according to secretary of state records.

A Florida political group backed by Las Vegas Sands dropped its request for a restraining order against a company hired by the Seminole Tribe, which it claimed was impeding the gathering of signatures for a constitutional amendment petition allowing casinos in card rooms. Spokeswoman Sarah Bascom (l.) said the suit was becoming a distraction

The Connecticut Lottery has awarded Scientific Games a five-year digital services contract to implement features like the digital second-chance drawings.

In a shift of management responsibilities, Everi CEO Michael Rumbolz (l.) will be appointed executive chairman and COO Randy Taylor will be appointed the company’s new CEO.

After filing a lawsuit against Dr. Laila Mintas (l.) for breach of contract in her role as chair of PlayUp, the Australian company appointed Dennis Drazin to the role. Drazin’s company owns Monmouth Park track in Ocean County.

California Nations Indian Gaming Association (CNIGA) has reelected James Siva as chairman. The association represents 40 gaming tribes in the Golden State.

Eilers & Krejcik Gaming has announced the transition of some of its personnel to cover sports betting, iGaming and other emerging industry verticals. Chris Grove (l.) will become “partner emeritus” now that he has become CEO of American Affiliate.

Ainsworth Game Technology continues to expand its footprint in the historical horse racing market, going live with its HHR system with a plan to install 200 terminals at Wyoming Downs (l.) properties.

Aristocrat Gaming launched its MarsX cabinet in Mexico, housing another first-time launch in the Cash Express Luxury Line video slot, housed in the cabinet.

The new Rockford Casino operated by Hard Rock International is equipped JCM cash-handling products including the iVIZION bill validator (l.), GEN5 printer and ICB intelligent cash box.

Win Systems, a leading supplier of systems to the worldwide lottery industry, is celebrating its 25th anniversary as all three of its divisions recover from the Covid-19 pandemic.

Gary Platt Manufacturing has installed a wide variety of new seating at Louisiana’s Coushatta Casino Resort, in an order including 600 Monaco slot chairs.

Sportsbetting platform Betby has chosen esports betting solutions provider Oddin.gg as its esports partner. Oddin.gg Managing Director Marek Suchar says his company is perfectly suited for B2B sports betting platforms.