March is Problem Gambling Awareness Month, but Keith Pickard, Nevada state senator and the president of the National Council of Legislators from Gaming States (NCLGS), says legislators need action, not just awareness.
Are sports betting operators violating federal law with their advertising claims? Players get attracted by seeing good odds that change when they get in the door. Expert Bruce Merati compares it to unscrupulous car sales promotions.
The recent regulatory decision to approve the purchase of the Venetian in Las Vegas by Apollo Management ignored the continuing role of former Chairman Leon Black. Could this just be an echo of how Nevada regulators ignored the transgressions of Steve Wynn (l.), asks former regulator Richard Schuetz.
The government of Macau has offered six-month extensions to concession-holders, giving policymakers and the Big 6 casino operators a little breathing room before the terms end. Amendments to the current gaming law include a cap on tables and slots and a gradual phasing-out of satellite operations. The new law will result in a healthier casino industry, says Chinese Vice Premier Han Zheng (l.).
International gaming groups including all American sports betting operators are cutting ties and canceling projects in Russia. It’s part of a sweeping protest against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
A bill that would legalize gambling in Brazil, recently passed by the Chamber of Deputies, will likely meet with more opposition in the Senate. Some lawmakers have asked for “more discussion” of a measure originally filed in 1991, but Senator Angelo Coronel (l.) believes it will pass.
A proposal to bring casinos, sports betting and a state lottery to Alabama has passed a Senate committee. State Senator Greg Albritton (l.) said, “This is not a gaming expansion. This is a gaming control bill.”
New York State mobile sports betting came with an onerous tax of 51 percent. But that rate could decrease with more skin in the game. An amendment from Assemblyman Gary Pretlow (l.) would permit just that.
Liberal Democrat Lord Foster (l.) of the House of Lords says an overhaul of the U.K. gambling industry has taken long enough and is asking for a list of laws to be immediately enacted.
Virginia state law allows the Pamunkey Indian Tribe to open a temporary casino while its $500 million HeadWaters Resort & Casino (l.) is built in Norfolk, as long as it’s located in the permanent casino’s footprint.
In weeks, Ontario will launch legal iGaming. Regulators recently laid out advertising and marketing protocols for the province, while union leaders concerned about job losses have asked authorities to delay the launch.
Construction began last week on the Durango Casino & Resort with a groundbreaking ceremony that included the top executives and hundreds of team members. It will be the first new project for Station Casinos in almost 20 years.
Cambodia and the Philippines remain on the Financial Action Task Force’s “gray list.” According to FATF, gray-listed jurisdictions have been found deficient in their efforts to fight money laundering and terrorism financing.
This week, the GGB Podcast features a discussion with Scott Butera, the CEO of Fubo Sports, on how the business model of his company is different than any other sports betting provider.
Last week, 180 striking casino workers were arrested outside NagaWorld in Phnom Penh,. The workers, who began protesting in December, have demanded better wages and the reinstatement of other workers.
In 2017, Vietnam proposed a pilot program to designate two casinos for locals. One opened, the Corona Resort & Casino (l.), and the other has yet to open. The country has expanded the program and will develop two more locals casinos.
A tremendously popular pastime in the Philippines is associated with the disappearance of 34 persons. Several senators have called for the suspension of eSabong by the regulator of the sport.
Italy has plans to reorganize its gaming sector. The Ministry of the Economy and Finance has distributed a draft plan that would cut down on problem gambling and drive out the black market.
Former Crown Resorts executives will face no charges from the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, though they presided in an era of compliances breaches that nearly brought down the company. Meanwhile, an inquiry into Crown misconduct has wrapped up in Western Australia, with a decision pending.
Nepal’s 11 casinos, including Tiger Palace (l.) and 11 mini-casinos recently reopened after closing in March 2020 because of Covid-19. Tourism is surging and new casinos are opening, but the industry requires more investment and better airline access.
When the New Jersey legislature approved online gaming, the term was for 10 years. The first decade will end come November. Assemblyman Ralph Caputo (l.) has introduced legislation to extend it for 10 more years.
A new law allows the National Gaming Authority of France to block all illegal gambling websites, even if they haven’t targeted French consumers. The law supports “the new cooperation strategy” among digital services.
Gaming operator 888 has been licensed to provide iGaming in Ontario in the first wave of legal online betting. The Canadian province will officially launch the legal market on April 4.
Bragg Gaming Group has been awarded a gaming supplier license in the Bahamas, where it will supply its exclusive online gaming content from proprietary and third-party studios.
Pragmatic Play has signed an agreement to provide its premium online slot catalogue to Admiral Casino, the online brand of Novomatic AG. Pragmatic Play will deliver more than 200 slot titles to Admiral.
BetConstruct has launched an A-to-Z guide to the iGaming business in the form of SpringNews, an app that provides daily news and information on iGaming events worldwide.
Illinois’ in-person registration requirement for sports gambling ended forever on March 5. Analysts say it could lead to a record $1 billion in legal sports wagers this month in the Prairie State.
The Ohio Casino Control Commission has issued Batch 5 of proposed sports betting rules on Type-A and Type-B proprietor licensing, procedures and proprietor duties. A public comment period is now underway.
A Missouri House bill would give casino host cities and counties a portion of sports betting revenue, but others would get zero. State Rep. Scott Cupps (l.), whose district has no casino, wants some crumbs. One option is a 1-cent per-bet fee, or $1 per-day, distributed according to where the bet is made.
For the fourth time, Kentucky state Rep. Adam Koenig (l.) is pushing legislation to legalize sports wagering. An accompanying measure would provide $225 million for problem gambling services.
Although the Massachusetts House wants to legalize sports betting, the Senate shows little interest. House Speaker Ron Mariano (l.) declared, “It’s extremely frustrating, the amount of money we’re leaving on the table.”
A bill that would allow Oklahoma tribal casinos to offer sports betting has passed a key committee in the House. The vote was 28-3. The state has 131 tribal casinos. The House has until March 24 to pass the bill.
Minnesota state Senator Roger Chamberlain (l.) will introduce a bill legalizing sports betting apps, with two for horseracing tracks. The state’s 11 tribes want just two or three platforms and sports betting exclusivity.
The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. has become the National Hockey League’s first official sportsbook partner in Canada, with an agreement signed days before the league’s 2022 Heritage Classic.
Southland Casino Racing (l.) hosted the debut of online sports betting in Arkansas through Betly sportsbook. The access if through computers, with mobile phones still not ready. Other apps will soon follow.
Almost three-quarters of survey respondents from Chicago’s South Loop and environs say they oppose a proposal to put a casino in the area. The 78 megadevelopment (l.) is one of five proposed casino sites in the Windy City.
Last year, the demographic of visitors to Las Vegas changed dramatically, possibly due to the pandemic or for other reasons. Visitors were younger, more diverse and less into gambling.
Spectrum Gaming Group painted a not so rosy picture for the casino industry should lawmakers ban smoking on the casino floor. Then again five more state senators signed on as sponsors, giving the measure nearly one-third of that body as sponsors.
An effort by the Nevada teachers union to increase the gaming tax to fund state education efforts failed last week when a judge in Carson City tossed it off the ballot. Also being 86’d was an effort to raise the sales tax as well.
A recent bill that was introduced in the Oregon Senate would have made it illegal for sports betting establishments to accept wagers on greyhound racing. The bill changed considerably from inception to end product.
Churchill Downs has asked the Indiana Gaming Commission to relocate its proposed $260 million casino to the east side of Terre Haute. Officials said the new location is larger, more accessible and preferred by the public.
A Georgia Senate resolution would let voters approve a ballot question on horseracing that would also establish a horse racing commission. Similar legislation passed the Senate (l.) but failed in the House last year.
A Nebraska legislative committee has advanced a measure allowing casinos in six counties with existing horseracing tracks, in hopes of preventing a rush of new casino development.
The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission will release a timeline for applications for a Linn County casino license. Commissioners twice denied Cedar Rapids a license, but the board membership has since changed.
Atlantic City casino execs said they don’t see casinos opening in the greater New York City region for three years. That gives the resort time to clean up and fix up what’s wrong with the city, from crime to roads to trash.
Southern Nevada business leaders are looking for a new path to economic development. Hundreds of them gathered March 4 at the Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance’s State of Economic Development event.
Arcades in Anchorage, Alaska look and sound a lot like illegal gambling establishments. But the city’s police department seems uninterested, according to an undercover reporter’s experience.
IGT has signed an agreement expanding its lottery and sports betting services partnership with Mexico’s national lottery, through its subsidiary IGT Global Solutions Corp.
Nevada gaming regulators have recommended that media mogul Barry Diller (l.) and his colleague be licensed. Diller chairs IAC, a company that bought a 14 percent stake in MGM Resorts International.
Gaming Laboratories International has promoted three senior engineering managers to director of engineering posts, and has announced the addition of tech experts to its Client Services team.
Bally’s Atlantic City has named Michael Monty (l.) as its new general manager, as former GM Nicholas Polcino assumes a similar role at another Bally’s property.
Coushatta Casino Resort in Kinder, Louisiana named Todd Stewart (l.) as the property’s general manager. He has served as interim GM since June 2021 and originally joined Coushatta as chief financial officer in 2020.
AGA President and CEO Bill Miller (l.) has joined the governing board of the International Center for Responsible Gaming, along with Michael Soll, president of The Innovation Group and AGEM Executive Director Daron Dorsey.
Hensel Grad P.C. and USAbility have formed a strategic alliance to provide a full suite of advisory services to online gaming companies targeting the U.S. market.
BMM Testlabs has announced that its business growth in South Africa reached 20 percent in 2021, servicing a growing number of clients regionally. The growth is a result of the dedication of executives like Kirk White and Zeena Rossouw (l.).
Novomatic AG has introduced the Diamond X 2.32 cabinet, featuring dual 32-inch full HG monitors and a dynamic LED lighting concept as part of a sleek design.
Aristocrat Gaming has launched Big Fish Grand, a progressive video slot featuring simple game play, high-quality graphics and a top jackpot resetting at $20,000.
Zitro has introduced its Glare family of cabinets to Golden Lion Entertainment Group in Mexico, including the supplier’s new progressive multi-game unit.
JCM Global has installed its digital signing solutions at the Rock & Brews Restaurant, the center bar and other locations at California’s Rolling Hills Casino & Resort.
Spearhead Studios will provide live games from its extensive library to 888casino, marking its debut in the U.K. market. The company is certified in 15 European markets and releases eight new titles monthly.
CreedRoomz will make its ICE London debut at the 2022 show, coming April 12-14. The company will present a complete range of live casino solutions, customizable for different operators.
May 7-9, 2024: SBC Summit North America, Meadowlands Exposition Center, Secaucus, NJ. Produced by SBC Events. For more information visit sbcevents.com.
May 14-16, 2024: Cage Conference + Connect User Conference, Gila River Resorts & Casinos Learn about new technologies that enhance profitability and network with industry leaders who have proven success in Cage, Revenue and Player Services. For more information visit skiild.com/cage-conference/.
June 3-5, 2024: SiGMA Asia, SMX Convention Center, Manila, Philippines. Produced by SiGMA Group For more information visit sigma.world/.
June 4-6, 2024: G2E Asia 2024, The Venetian Macao, Macau, SAR. Produced by RX and the American Gaming Association. For more information visit g2easia.com/.
June 18-20, 2024: Canadian Gaming Summit, Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Toronto, Canada. Produced by SBC Events. For more information visit sbcevents.com.
July 16-19, 2024: iGB L!VE 2024, RAI Amsterdam, Netherlands Produced by Clarion Gaming. For more information visit igblive.com.
