In May, Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Bryan Newland (l.) said the U.S. Department of Interior and Indian Affairs will consult with tribes on changes to the process for taking land into trust and streamlining Class III gaming compact approvals.
How much influence does the Nevada gaming industry have over state regulators? That question has a series of long and complicated answers depending upon the circumstances, but none has been so clear as the reluctance to approve remote funding for sports betting accounts, according to gaming expert Richard Schuetz.
Esports has made it to the betting stage with sanctioned matches in New Jersey, including live games at the Hard Rock. The games expect to bring a younger demographic to Atlantic City.
The International Casino Conference opened yesterday, the first salvo of the ICE conference and tradeshow in London. Kicking off the conference was a keynote speech by Per Jalding the chairman of the European Casino Association, on how the industry has fared since it last met in London in February 2020.
In three recent and often contentious community meetings, officials from Hard Rock, Bally’s and Rush Street Gaming presented their vision for a downtown Chicago casino, and responded to questions about their proposals.
The Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas has announced April 27 as the official reopening date for the property, now under the ownership of the San Manuel tribe. The Palms, shuttered for two years, will unveil a $600 million renovation.
Last Monday, sports betting became legal in Ontario. The first Canadian province to offer sports wagers is already crowded, with 16 licensed sportsbook operators and more providers warming up.
The New York State budget set last week included three casino licenses in or around New York City. Odds favor two racinos in Queens and Yonkers operated by MGM Resorts at Empire Casino at Yonkers Racetrack (l.) and Resorts World at Aqueduct Racetrack.
A new report from Macao Polytechnic University says the crackdown on satellite casinos in the Chinese city is called for, as they are “fraught with opacity and undesirable business practices.” The Golden Dragon casino (l.) is a satellite affiliated with the SJM group.
Crown Resorts is encouraging shareholders to vote in favor of an AU$8.9 billion bid from the U.S. private equity group Blackstone, saying the offer “represents a fair outcome for Crown shareholders.”
In Florida, a political action committee backed by the Las Vegas Sands Corp. has dropped a lawsuit regarding its petition to put a casino question on the November ballot. That leaves the Seminole Tribe’s monopoly on gaming intact.
Light & Wonder has completed the sale of its lottery business to Brookfield Business Partners LP, under which the business will continue to be known as Scientific Games.
Continuing Macau travel restrictions has forced the operators of G2E Asia to relocate the 2022 version of the show to Marina Bay Sands (l.) in Singapore. The new dates are now August 24-26.
Cambodian casino operator NagaCorp has appointed three new CEOs, all sons of founder Chen Lip Keong (l.), who has assumed the title of senior chief executive.
This week’s podcast features a discussion with Cynthia Kiser-Murphey, the general manager of The Palms in Las Vegas on the reopening of the property in the spring now that it’s owned by California’s San Manuel Band of Mission Indians.
Bally’s Corp, announced a plan to build an integrated resort in the Japanese city of Fukuoka, although local officials have said they are not interested in hosting an IR. But Bally’s Chairman Soo Kim says the company will not compete in the first round of bidding later this year.
The Tanzania Gaming Board is making it clear that it is the only bod that can issue gaming licenses. Apparently other agencies in the African nation have tried, violating Tanzania’s Gaming Act.
Last week, Ainsworth Game Technology and Cordish Live launched Ainsworth’s library of digital slots for players in Pennsylvania. The games were introduced through the GAN SuperRGS platform.
Chile is changing its existing gaming laws to include online gaming. The government wants to tap the thriving online gaming industry and is looking at using a VAT tax.
Kambi has strengthened its market-leading Game Parlay product with the addition of Major League Baseball (MLB) betting options, released in time for Opening Day on April 7.
White Hat Studios, the content division of major iGaming platform provider White Hat Gaming, has continued its expansion in the U.S. after striking a major deal with Resorts Digital Gaming.
Sportradar has launched Integrity Exchange, a network designed to alert bookmakers when they sense suspicious activity. The exchange will issue tools to bookmakers to help stop match-fixing.
Alabama legislators again failed to pass any of the four proposed lottery bills. State Senator Greg Albritton (l.) said anti-gambling groups shouldn’t stop lawmakers from “gaining control of this industry and regulating it.”
The Kansas House has passed legislation allowing mobile and retail sports betting, but the Senate won’t vote until April 25. The measure would direct 80 percent of sports betting taxes to fund a professional sports facility.
Two sports betting bills previously passed by the Georgia Senate in 2021 made a last-minute appearance in the House, but lawmakers didn’t act on either. Atlanta Braves CEO Derek Schiller (l.) says he’s “incredibly disappointed.”
The NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament could be the most wagered athletic competition in the world. 31 percent placed a bet. Of those 65 percent bet more this year than last.
By the end of May, DraftKings will have Golden Nugget Online Gaming in its portfolio of acquisitions. The $1.56 billion deal expects to close by the end of May. Golden Nugget will rebrand Its sportsbooks as DraftKings.
Caesars Sportsbook announced it has become the official sports betting partner of the New York Mets. The multi-year deal includes VIP events and hospitality at the Metro Grille at Citi Field (l.).
Online gaming content supplier Pragmatic Play has added a sportsbook platform to its offerings, a customizable platform with access to data from all major sports.
DraftKings and the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation will enter the Puerto Rican sports betting market. DraftKings will operate out of the Foxwoods El San Juan Casino (l.) the tribe is renovating for $137 million.
The Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise and Hard Rock Digital have launched a new sportsbook mobile app in Arizona. The enhanced platform includes more live sports, same-game parlays and new reward features.
The Las Vegas-based Siegel Group last week purchased the 10-acre site that once hosted the former Riviera hotel. The group reportedly has “big plans” for the property.
Commercial casinos in the United States have recorded the best two-month start ever, according to 2022 statistics released by the American Gaming Association.
The Hard Rock Bristol will open a temporary facility in Bristol, Virginia on July 8, Hard Rock officials announced. The venue will offer 900 slots, 20 table games, sportsbook, restaurants and a sports bar, and create 600 jobs.
Ground will be broken for the Golden Nugget Danville Casino on April 19, with opening set for March 2023. The casino will offer 500 slots, 14 table games, a sportsbook and two restaurants, and create 300 jobs.
The Nevada Supreme Court held that a lower court lacked standing when it ruled that gaming regulators could not hold gaming mogul Steve Wynn (l.) accountable for sexual misconduct.
A gambling addiction education bill has passed in Virginia and proponents expect Governor Glenn Youngkin (l.) to sign it into law. Observers in other states want to know how to introduce similar programs.
Little by little, New Jersey lawmakers have joined the supporters of a full smoking ban, with no legal carveout for casinos. Now the majority of members of the health committees in each chamber are on board.
The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors has voted to oppose the casino plans of the Koi Nation of northern California. The Koi want to build a $600 million Shiloh Resort & Casino (l.). Most of its neighbors oppose it.
The Covid-19 pandemic and closures of its lucrative casinos taught Wisconsin’s Ho-Chunk Nation it needed to diversify. Some earlier efforts have been unsuccessful, and casino profits led to complacency.
The U.K. Gambling Commission recently chose Allwyn Entertainment to run the country’s National Lottery starting in 2024. Current operator Camelot has appealed, but commissioners expect a seamless transition.
Forbes’ World’s Billionaires List 2022, released last week, ranked Miriam Adelson (l., with her late husband, Sheldon) at No. 50 overall, and No. 1 among gaming moguls. Adelson's net worth is estimated at $27.5 billion.
Nevada gaming regulators have suspended their review of a license application by Barry Diller (l.). The media mogul is under investigation by the SEC and DOJ for allegedly engaging in insider trading.
The American Gaming Association announced the promotions of four senior-level team members to new vice president positions in government relations, research, finance and member/partner relations.
Rush Street Interactive has announced that Bruce Caughill will serve as managing director of its Canada sports betting operation. RSI’s BetRivers just launched in Ontario, which opened the market on April 4.
Florida’s Gaming Control Commission has appointed Louis Trombetta, director of the Division of Pari-mutuel Wagering at the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, as its new executive director.
The Cowlitz Indian Tribe has appointed Kent Caputo as chief operating officer. Caputo has 30-plus years of experience in executive and legal positions and is a former COO of the Kalispel Tribal Economic Authority.
John O’Neill has been named interim executive chairman of Australia’s Star Entertainment Group. The company is seeking a permanent replacement for former CEO Matt Bekier, who resigned on March 28.
The Gun Lake Tribal Gaming Authority Board has announced the promotion of Sal Semola to CEO. Semola has been president and COO of Gun Lake Casino since 2017.
Global sportsbook provider Kambi has appointed Cecilia Wachtmeister as the company’s new chief commercial officer. Wachtmeister formerly was Kambi’s executive vice president of business and group functions.
Gregory Crummie has been sworn in as chief of the Santee Indian Tribe of South Carolina. He replaced Randy Crummie, who died of Covid-19 in October after 12 years leading the tribe.
Stanley Choi has resigned as chairman and executive director of Asian gaming investor International Entertainment Corp., months after he ceased being a substantial shareholder in the company.
Gaming technology compliance tester and consultancy Gaming Laboratories International (GLI) has named Felix Lai (l.) as customer service representative for its Asia unit.
Elizabeth Lanza (l.), Pennsylvania’s head of compulsive and problem gambling programs, says voluntary use of online gaming session limits as a responsible gambling tool has doubled in the past year.
JCM Global has installed 30 video cubes at the Grand Casino Hotel & Resort in Shawnee, Oklahoma. The three-dimensional cubes provide a unique attraction along the passage from the hotel to the gaming floor.
At the upcoming NIGA trade show, Eclipse Gaming will present its newest slot cabinet, the Impact 49, along with a host of new slot titles like Gears of Wealth (l.) for its expanding cabinet library.
Hard Rock Lake Tahoe (l.) and Intelity have launched a cloud-based mobile app that lets guests check in, access entertainment schedules, order food and drinks and request other services from their mobile devices.
Cache Creek Casino Resort in Brooks, California has deployed the slot optimization software platform of Quick Custom Intelligence, as a way to maximize the benefit of data on the slot floor.
Gary Platt Manufacturing has installed its Kopa Stackable Bingo Chairs at two Arizona Charlie’s locations in Las Vegas, the first time it has brought the product to Las Vegas.
BMM Testlabs will open a gaming testing lab in Slovenia in May, led by Damjan Semec (l.), former manager of the gaming department for the Slovenian Institute of Quality and Metrology.
The 25th East Coast Gaming Congress & NexGen Gaming Forum will take place September 21-23 in Atlantic City. The theme of this year's conference is “Gaming Here, Gaming There, Gaming Everywhere.”
