Boyd Gaming announced that its wholly owned subsidiary Boyd Interactive Gaming, Inc. will acquire online gaming technology company Pala Interactive for $170 million in cash. The purchase shows Boyd’s commitment to online gaming, according to CEO Keith Smith (l.).

Following the announcement of her top three choices to develop a downtown casino, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot created a special aldermanic committee to oversee the final selection. But critics accuse the mayor of stacking the committee in her favor by leaving off people like Ald. Sophia King (l.), who represents one of the impacted areas.

Jay Chun (l.), the head of Paradise Entertainment, operator of satellite casinos in Macau, is concerned about the potential loss of the sector, which he says makes a “significant contribution” to the local economy. A number of satellites have already announced they will close.

An inquiry into non-compliance at Australia’s Star Sydney casino resort has prompted Star CEO Matt Bekier (l.) to step down. The probe has uncovered evidence that Star ignored its AML responsibilities and misled regulators.

Twenty-four of Massachusetts’s 40 senators support a bill that would legalize sports betting in the Bay State. The House has passed the bill, but Senate President Karen Spilka (l.) is inexplicably holding things up.

The U.K. inflation rate has risen 6.2 percent, a 30-year high. A survey of 700 gamblers showed 18 percent will curtail any gambling, while 32 percent will cut back what they spend.

Five gaming tribes are embroiled in a lawsuit with California over their tribal state gaming compacts. They have balked at some requirements Governor Gavin Newsom (l.) wants to insert into the compacts.

Private sports entertainment venue developer the Oak View Group is planning a $3 billion, 20,000-seat arena and entertainment district just south of the Las Vegas Strip. The group that developed the Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle include producer Jerry Bruckheimer, billionaire David Bonderman, and Tim Leiweke, CEO of Oak View Group.

As sports betting and iGaming expand across the United States, most operators and some analysts are touting impressive handle numbers. But those figures are easily picked apart, as Deutsche Bank’s Carlos Santarelli shows.

This week, the GGB Podcast features an interview with Scott Winzeler, the chairman and CEO of Sega Sammy Creation on his plans to help the Japanese company make a difference in the slot manufacturing business.

Wynn Resorts CEO Craig Billings has indicated the U.S.-based operator may add more hotel rooms in Macau, as well as non-gaming facilities including sports venues and arts and cultural attractions, including at Wynn Palace (l.).

Members of the Osaka City Council have approved plans for an integrated resort (l.) in the Japanese prefecture, despite concerns about site remediation costs. The bid must go to the central government by April 28.

Genting Singapore will emphasize sustainable development in its planned renovation of Resorts World Sentosa (l.). Both Genting and Sands China have agreed to major upgrades as a condition of their continuing duopoly.

With IPI’s Saipan casino license hanging in the balance, Andrew Yeom (l.), head of the Northern Mariana Islands casino commission, says U.S. investors have approached him about running a casino on the island.

Of all the actions the U.K. Gambling Commission can take in its final review of the gambling industry, affordability checks may lead to blowback. This is especially true when it comes to racing.

The Brazilian Senate is in no hurry to discuss the bill approved by the Chamber of Deputies that will legalize gambling. The Senate has mixed views. And President Jair Bolsonaro (l.) will veto the bill.

A study conducted in New South Wales, Australia indicates that children who play video games are more likely to be gamblers as adults. That could present potential gambling harm or present an opportunity to do it right.

Gaming Innovation Group Inc. has completed its acquisition of iGaming company Sportnco, a provider of turnkey betting and gaming solutions for operators. The deal was first announced in December 2021.

Ontario, Canada’s new online gaming market, which goes live April 4, is expected to create 2,600 new jobs in the Canadian province. At least 30 operators are expected to enter the new market. But DFS won’t be a part as regulations forced both DraftKings and FanDuel to pull out of the province.

Rush Street Interactive has been accredited by the Responsible Gambling Council for its BetRivers.com and PlaySugarHouse.com online betting sites. The RG Check accreditation was announced last week.

Australia’s communications regulator, ACMA, has issued blocking orders designed to prevent six offshore gaming websites from serving Australian residents. The orders ask internet providers to block the offenders.

The Dutch online gaming market is smaller than the regulator, de Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) initially estimated. KSA Chairman René Jansen (l.) revealed the information in his 2021 annual report.

Gaming Art and Gamesys have entered into a five-year partnership under which Gaming Arts content will be deployed online via the Gamesys server.

BetMGM and one of Europe’s most popular online casino content studios, White Hat Studios, will partner to bring new offerings to BetMGM customers in the U.S.

It took a while, but WSOP is live in Michigan. Ty Stewart (l.), who runs the site for Caesars Entertainment, will make up for the late arrival with promotions and tournaments.

A bill to legalize mobile sports betting at seven Kentucky racetracks and also online poker got a second reading in the House, just before the recess. Rep. Adam Koenig (l.) said he’ll fight for passage up to the last minute.

The Kansas House recently passed sports betting bill SB 84, passed by the Senate last year. Now the measure goes to a conference committee to work out taxes and other issues before it heads to the desk of Governor Laura Kelly (l.).

A Missouri Senate committee is considering retail and online sports wagering legislation, crafted with the state’s 13 casinos and major sports teams. Analysts estimate annual sports betting handle of $150 million.

Sports betting has been allowed at Deadwood, South Dakota casinos (l.) for six months, but only on kiosks and retail. Now the state Commission on Gaming may allow wagering on mobile apps inside the properties.

AJ Andrews (l.), Major League Baseball Network personality and the first female winner of the Rawlings Gold Glove, has joined sports betting leader BetMGM as its newest brand ambassador.

The Arizona Coyotes professional hockey team want to temporarily move their mobile sports betting license from Glendale to Arizona State University. The move requires approval from the state legislature.

With the legislative session ending April 7, a lottery-only bill in the Alabama House and a bill sponsored by Senator Greg Albritton (l.) that includes a lottery, casinos and sports betting in the Senate have little chance of passage.

Officials in Danville, Virginia are considering how to spend the projected $38 million in annual tax revenue from Caesars Virginia casino (l.). Citizens want the funds spent on public education and economic development.

Nevada’s Culinary Union has appealed to regulators to revoke the gaming licenses of Station Casinos, while filing a mass action lawsuit alleging the operator violated Nevada law by not reinstating furloughed workers. But the union has no problem with Boyd Gaming, which has admitted to the same strategy but has a contract with the union.

Gas prices are at all-time highs, but casino executives and tourism leaders in Las Vegas aren’t unduly concerned. Visitation from California, in particular, was up at the start of the year.

Regulators will hold a public hearing April 27 in the Upper Merion Township Building to consider renewal of the slot machine license for Valley Forge Casino Resort (l.).

The Pass, formerly Boyd Gaming’s Eldorado casino in downtown Henderson, will add an Atwell Suites-branded hotel in a $20 million project to improve the property.

Ground will break later this spring for the $34 million, 38,000-square-foot expansion at Harrah’s Hoosier Park Racing & Casino (l.) in Anderson, Indiana. The project will take 13 to 15 months and add 100 slots and 25 table games.

As part of $100 million in renovations, Bally’s Atlantic City is adding the new Carousel Bar (l.), which rotates as patrons enjoy their cocktails. The new attraction will debut on Memorial Day weekend.

Caesars Entertainment will open a Gordon Ramsay Hell’s Kitchen restaurant to its Atlantic City casino resort this summer. A Ramsay’s Kitchen will open this fall at Harrah’s Las Vegas.

Trestle Corp. considers its arcade-style amusement games to be skill-based. But the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals and a county court judge ruled the games are influenced by chance and should be regulated.

For five years, the Seneca Nation and New York State have played hardball over tribal gaming revenues, which the tribe held in escrow pending resolution of a compact dispute. In response, Governor Kathy Hochul (l.) froze tribal accounts, forcing the tribe to pay up.

A new expansion at the Morongo Casino in Southern California adds a 20-table poker room and an updated 250-seat bingo hall. The grand opening of the two new spaces was celebrated this weekend.

Michigan-based tribal gaming operator Kewadin Casinos has lowered the gaming age limit from 19 to 18 at all five locations. The change, permissible under the Sault Tribe’s gaming compact, went into effect on March 30.

Mayors of cities that host card clubs in California are issuing statements and authorizing ads to fight a measure that would give a monopoly on sports betting to tribal casinos. They call it an attack on “communities.”

After losing its bid for another 10-year National Lottery contract, the Camelot Group has filed suit against the U.K. Gambling Commission. Camelot contends that the UKGC changed the selection process.

The San Manuel Band of Mission Indians has appointed Daniel D’Arrigo as chief financial officer for the San Manuel enterprise. D’Arrigo has more than 25 years of experience in gaming, leisure and hospitality.

Mohegan Gaming and Entertainment has appointed Raymond Lin as the company’s chief legal officer. Lin will focus on developing Mohegan’s legal and compliance strategy.

The Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in Atlantic City has appointed Rick Berninger as vice president of human resources. Berninger joins the HR team with more than 20 years of experience in hospitality.

The National Council on Problem Gambling last week announced the first Agility Grant award recipients for 2022. The initiative, funded by the NFL and FanDuel, funds problem gambling prevention programs.

GeoComply is partnering with the American Indian Science and Engineering Society to Support indigenous education and employment programs.

Casino de Pinamar in Buenos Aires, Argentina has added three Zitro multi-game units to its floor—Link Me, Link King and 88 Link with Wild Duels and Lucky Charms game collections.

Sightline Payments has selected JP Morgan Payments as its primary merchant acquirer and payments processor for the Sightline Play+ ecosystem.

Grover Gaming has received the electronic instant bingo endorsement to its Ohio bingo manufacturer’s license after certification by Gaming Laboratories International.

The Gauselmann Group opened a new administration building in Germany that will house more than 250 employees. The building reflects the company’s commitment to its employees and a green environment. Contractor Frank Kögel handed the key to the new building to Paul Gauselmann.

Casino social influencers will be the topic of a discussion led by marketers Julia Carcamo (l.) and Justin Shank at the Indian Gaming Tradeshow and Convention.

This month, Yaamava’ Resort & Casino in California is hosting its second “Next Level Casino Careers” virtual career event, with multiple panels and industry experts to discuss consumer trends and recruitment.