Minnesota Sports Betting Bills Gain Momentum, Public Support

Minnesota state Rep. Zack Stephenson’s sports betting bill is designed to keep bettors from crossing state lines to bet legally or stay at home and find a way to bet illegally. The debate continues, but Minnesotans themselves seem to want the legal industry.

U.K. to Ban Celeb and Sports Stars in Betting Ads

Part 2 of the GGB News special report on the U.K. crackdown, ahead of the release of a white paper on gambling reform, the U.K. will ban the use of celebrities and sports stars on advertisements for gambling, such as popular footballer Roy Keane (l.). The goal is to eliminate the harmful effects on children.

Macau CE Supports Stricter Regs, ‘Big Destination’ Goals

Speaking at a parliamentary session last week, Macau Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng (l.) came out in support of rigorous amendments to local gaming laws, as well as plans to expand the city’s profile as a tourism destination. Both will be vital to Macau’s recovery in a post-Covid age.

Featured Stories More

Melco, Studio City Could Be Delisted in U.S.

Twelve Chinese firms including gaming operator Melco Resorts & Entertainment and Studio City International may be delisted from U.S. stock exchanges for refusing to let officials view their internal audits.

Kansas and Missouri Try To One Up on Sports Betting

Kansas and Missouri are rushing to legalize sports betting to minimize cross-border competition for players. Rumors that the Kansas City Chiefs may move to Kansas if Missouri fails to act is making the debate somewhat acrimonious.

New York Governor Feels Blowback Over Seneca Payments

A New York state representative has called for a public hearing over the methods used by Governor Kathy Hochul to extract compact payments from the Seneca Nation. The tactics put the tribe on the precipice of economic disaster, according to Seneca President Matthew Pagels (l.).

Netherlands Reduces Illegal Online Gaming

Enforcement by the Dutch regulator de Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) has dramatically reduced the number of online gaming sites illegally targeting Dutch residents. Chairman René Jansen (l.) made the announcement.

AGA Urges U.S. DOJ to Crack Down on Illegal Gaming

Bill Miller (l.), the president and CEO of the American Gaming Association, is urging the U.S. Department of Justice to intensify enforcement to eliminate unregulated, unlicensed so-called “skill games,” citing the threats to U.S. consumers posed by the machines.

FANTINI’S FINANCE: Ready for the Reset?

We’re on the brink of first-quarter earnings report season, and, more importantly, on the brink of renewed financial guidance by the companies reporting those earnings.

GLOBAL GAMING More

Robust Launch for Ontario Sportsbooks

Ontario, Canada’s new online sports betting and casino market has launched successfully—but not without its bumps. Some bettors had problems signing up and placing wagers.

Indian State Reconsiders Gaming Ban

Five years after banning gaming, the Indian state of Telangana is having second thoughts. Principal Secretary for IT, Electronics & Communications Jayesh Ranjan (l.) has written a bill to legalize some forms of gaming.

ONLINE GAMING More

Bally’s Purchases Stake in Snipp Interactive

Bally’s Corp. last week invested $5 million in Snipp Interactive Inc., a global provider of digital marketing promotions, rebates and loyalty solutions. The move will advance Bally’s movement into the omnichannel space.

IGT to Acquire iSoftBet

International Game Technology has agreed to acquire online gaming content supplier and third-party aggregator iSoftBet for a total of approximately €160 million in cash.

Virtual Casino Ordered to Stop Selling NFTs

Securities regulators in two U.S. states have ordered the online casino developer Sand Vegas Casino Club to cease and desist selling NFTs. The company allegedly sold unregulated securities and committed fraud.

TVG Halts Greyhound Bets

A prominent advance-deposit wagering bookmaker has discontinued betting on greyhound racing. It’s likely due to Oregon legislation that will prevent users from wagering in states where live racing is not legal.

iGaming Analysis Shows Benefits in Atlantic City

Atlantic City reached the peak of its success as a casino market in 2006. Then Pennsylvania opened casinos and revenues took a sharp decline. In 2013, online gambling buoyed the industry, according to a report on Wagers.com.

Yolo Investments Buys into Enteractive

Yolo Investments, out of Ohio, has completed an equity investment in Enteractive. The undisclosed amount gives Yolo a non-controlling stake in the company known for iGaming retention and reactivation.

SPORTS BETTING More

Ohio State Officials Suggest Sports Betting Limits

As the Ohio Casino Control Commission writes sports betting rules in anticipation of a 2023 launch, Ohio State University officials have asked for limits on sports bets and increases in penalties for “coercion and cheating.”

D.C. Sports Betting App Pays for Super Bowl Crash

Intralot, the company that runs the only sports betting app in Washington, D.C., paid the city $500,000 in compensation after the app was unavailable to some users on Super Bowl Sunday, the biggest betting day of the year.

Arkansas Bettors Await Mobile Sportsbook

Saracen Casino Resort (l.) officials said their online sportsbook is ready to launch “but it’s out of our hands” for now as they work with external vendors. Southland’s Betly offers a betting platform only via Android.

Arizona Mulls Permanent Sports Betting Rules

Arizona is close to adopting permanent regulations governing sports betting. The Arizona Department of Gaming is holding hearings dealing with complaints on “parity” raised by gaming tribes who want licenses.

Maine Bill Would Keep Sports Bettors Close to Home

The Maine legislature is considering a bill that would allow residents to make sports betting wagers. Currently, those who want to do that are forced to cross the state line into New Hampshire and use a betting app.

Paysafe Expands Betsson Partnership

Paysafe has expanded its partnership with Betsson Group and its online sportsbook and casino brands, including Betsafe in Colorado, where traditional and alternative payment solutions will be offered.

Sportradar Acquires AI Specialist Vaix

Sportradar has acquired a company involved with the development of artificial intelligence for iGaming. The company, Vaix Limited, provides a more personalized experience for players.

UNITED STATES GAMING More

Billionaire Fertitta Buys Cripple Creek Casino

The billionaire owner of Fertitta Entertainment, Tilman Fertitta has purchased the Wildwood Casino and Hotel (l.) in Cripple Creek, Colorado. The resort will be rebranded as a Golden Nugget property.

Lawmakers Ban ‘Virginia is for Bettors’

The slogan “Virginia is for Lovers” is safe for now thanks to a bill signed by Governor Greg Youngkin banning gaming operators from using “Virginia Is for Bettors” in marketing materials effective July 1.

Fall Opening For Temporary Nebraska Casino

The temporary casino at Fonner Park racetrack (l.) in Grand Island, Nebraska is expected to open this fall with 200 slots and table games. It will become a storage facility when the permanent casino opens in 2025.

Chicago Casino Community Meetings Raise Concerns

Hard Rock, Bally’s and Rush Street Gaming, all vying for a Chicago casino license, met the public at three community meetings. Chicago residents expressed concerns about increased traffic, crime and gambling addiction.

Judge Orders Red Rock, Union Negotiations

A federal administrative law judge has ordered Nevada gaming group Station Casinos to negotiate a contract at its Red Rock Casino, after the Culinary Union urged state regulators to investigate the operator.

Kentucky: Gambling Not Hot-Button Issue

Kentucky Senate President Robert Stivers (l.) legal gambling and medical marijuana are not be at the top of lawmakers’ agendas for the last two days of the upcoming legislative session.

Sibella: RWLV Cash-Flow Positive Since Opening

At the recent International Casino Conference, Resorts World Las Vegas President Scott Sibella (l.) said the property is on an upward trajectory and is still in the black nearly a year after opening.

Philadelphia Reinstitutes Mask Mandate

The city of Philadelphia has reinstituted its mandate for masks to be worn inside locations including Live! Casino Philadelphia and Rivers Casino Philadelphia.

Mississippi Casino First to Accept Cryptocurrency

The Scarlet Pearl Casino Resort (l.) in D’Iberville, Mississippi now accepts cryptocurrency via Everi’s B4U solution. It lets patrons convert digital currency into cash and casino operators to track disbursements in real time.

Tropicana Atlantic City Adds Eight F&B Outlets

As part of Caesars Entertainment’s $400 million investment in Atlantic City the company announced that it would introduce eight new dining and entertainment options to the Tropicana (l.), along with some gaming enhancements.

TRIBAL GAMING More

Sonoma County, Tribes Oppose Koi Casino Proposal

The board of supervisors of Sonoma County, California, have shown its support for five tribes in the county by opposing a casino proposed by the Koi Nation. The vote to support the other tribes was 5-0.

Washington Tribe Elects Five Women to Board

The board of directors of the Tulalip Tribes of Washington recently held an historic election. In March, the 1,200-member electorate picked five women to serve on the board. It was a first.

California Tribe Seeks County Endorsement

California’s Redding Rancheria is asking the Shasta County Board of Supervisors to support its proposal to relocate its Win-River Casino. The resort would be on off-reservation land the tribe wants to put into trust.

Graton Rancheria Wants to Expand Gaming, Add Tower

Graton Resort and Casino, one of California’s largest, could become much larger. The Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria propose to add a five story hotel room and expand its gaming floor by 144,000 square feet.

LOTTERY More

West Virginia Lottery Plans Online Ticket Option

In spring 2023, West Virginians will be able to purchase lottery games online. State Lottery Director John Myers said players will have to set up accounts and will be limited to $200 in daily purchases.

PEOPLE More

Mohegan Gaming Appoints Parker as Senior VP

Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment has appointed Nelson Parker as its new senior VP of strategic development. Parker will play a critical role in future growth and capital planning for the Connecticut tribal operator.

Cameron-Doe Leaves Aristocrat For Wynn

Julie Cameron-Doe’s last day as chief financial officer of Aristocrat Leisure Ltd. was Friday, April 15. In December, the company announced her resignation to join Wynn Resorts.

CIRSA Names Hostench as Group CEO

Grupo CIRSA has announced the appointment of Antonio Hostench as its new chief executive. The Spanish markets gambling group is owned by U.S.-based private equity group Blackstone.

SciPlay Adds Nick Earl to Board

Las Vegas-based SciPlay has appointed gaming industry veteran Nick Earl to its board of directors. Earl most recently was senior advisor for AviaGames, a mobile social competitive gaming company.

Schwarz to Man the Kitchen at Emmitt’s

Rainer Schwarz (l.) has been appointed chef of the new Emmitt’s Las Vegas, a restaurant opening this spring at the city’s Fashion Show Mall on the Vegas Strip.

GOODS & SERVICES More

California’s San Manuel to Launch RG Program with UNLV

The San Manuel Entertainment Authority will partner with UNLV’s International Gaming Institute to create new responsible gaming practices at the Yaamava’ Resort & Casino at San Manuel near San Diego. Director of the Institute Bo Bernhard (l.) says it will create a “new level” of research.

JCM, Global Payments Provide Cashless Solutions

JCM Global has integrated its Fuzion system and iVizion bill validator with Global Payments’ VIP Mobility cashless gaming solution. The integrated product works for all casinos, regardless of their CMS provider.

Win Systems, GLI Expand Partnership

Win Systems and Gaming Laboratories International have signed a new collaboration agreement that will centralize all of Win’s certification needs through GLI. Win Systems CEO Eric Benchimol (l.) says GLI gives clients confidence in its products.

Sega Sammy Launches Lucky Fruits Link

Sega Sammy Creation has launched the progressive series Lucky Fruits Link in Asia, with the first installation already complete at a Macau casino with other markets to follow.

TRADE SHOWS & CONFERENCES More

Acres to Debut Precision Bonusing Platform at NIGA

Acres Manufacturing will demonstrate three custom bonuses including a first-of-its-kind mobile app at this week’s NIGA Indian trade show. Precision Bonusing combines bonusing, cashless and loyalty capabilities.

NUTSHELL More

THEY SAID IT More

QUOTABLE QUOTES

Outrageous pronouncements, simple statements and words of wisdom.