Texans Boost Louisiana Sports Betting

Texans can’t legally place sports bets in their own state, but thousands from Houston and Austin regularly cross the state line into western Louisiana, including Shreveport-Bossier City and Lake Charles, to bet on sports.

What Kind of Casino Will New York City Get?

The New York Times did a report on the casino industry as the state moves towards awarding up to three licenses in the greater New York area, and it would seem there are more questions than answers for the future of the Big Apple’s casino industry.

Crown Sydney Gets OK to Open Amid Blackstone Takeover

The ongoing saga surrounding the licensing of Crown Resorts continues to unfold— Blackstone Group, the firm slated to acquire Crown for $6.3 billion, has now been granted approval to operate from regulators in both New South Wales and Victoria. With the approval, Crown Sydney (l.) will be permitted to open.

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WEEKLY FEATURE: Oaktree Acquires Interblock

Oaktree Capital Management LP, a U.S.-based asset management firm, has acquired Slovenia’s Interblock, one of the pioneers in the electronic table game genre. Interblock will continue to operate as an independent company.

Okada Settling In at Manila IR

The group backing Kazuo Okada’s takeover of the Manila integrated resort (l.) of the same name claimed it would bring the property to “new heights” even while the former board sued over the “violent and illegal” seizure of the property.

Queensland Announces New Racing Industry Tax Model

The racing industry in Queensland has been overhauled by a new funding model recently put in place by the state government. As part of the new model, taxes will increase, but the amount of tax revenue that is funneled back to the industry will be more than doubled.

Cordish Back In The Game In Madrid

The Maryland-based property developer Cordish Companies is reportedly trying again to convince the government of Madrid, Spain to support a mega-casino project (l.). It failed in its first attempt in 2016. Cordish proposes a multi-plex casino, dining and hotel project to be called EuroVegas.

CA Tribes Accused of False Attacks Against Sports Betting Measure

Five months before the election, the knives are out in the campaign over whether online sports betting will be legalized in California. The state’s gaming tribes have released ads attacking the operators’ measure that some critics like iDEA Growth partner John Pappas (l.), have called “fear mongering.”

Japan PM: No iGaming Planned in the Country

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida (l.) says iGaming is and will remain illegal in the country, and offshore operators will be banished. Some 2 million Japanese reportedly take part in online gaming.

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Macau Casino Slump Continued in May

Macau casinos generated GGR of just $410 million in May—the second lowest total since September 2020, but up 25 percent over April. An analyst wrote that 2022 “should be written off by investors” due to ongoing travel restrictions, but some continue to hold out hope for a summer boost.

IMF: Philippine Casinos Still Questionable

The International Monetary Fund says the Philippine gaming industry poses “medium” risk to the country’s global standing, including Manila’s Entertainment City (l.), due to less than robust anti-money laundering efforts.

EUROPEAN GAMING More

Gibraltar Plans to Update Gaming Legislation

The government of Gibraltar has issued a draft proposal with the intent to repeal and replace its Gambling Act of 2005. There will be a public consultation on the draft until the end of August. According to the government, gaming today is “unrecognizable” from what it was 17 years ago.

UK’s Gaming Industry Could Create 15K Tech Jobs

A report issued by the Purpose Coalition for the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) predicts that the British gaming sector will generate 15,000 new tech jobs over the next five years. The report also touts the sector’s effect on “leveling up” the economy outside of London.

Jdigital Appeals Spain’s ban on Gaming Ads

The organization that represents Spain’s gaming industry may get its day in court before the country’s Supreme Court. Jdigital and media counterpart AMI have appealed the government’s ban on gaming advertising, saying it is unconstitutional.

Slovakia to Revise Gaming Ad Standards

The Central European nation of Slovakia has begun revising gaming advertising standards. The Office of Gambling Regulation has announced it will publish a “Concept of Responsible Advertising” document. It will inform operators and the media on what are acceptable practices.

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Kazakhstan Backpedals on Restricting Gaming

Kazakhstan is backing away from its crackdown on gaming that it began two years ago. Instead of restrictive regulations, it is now looking at amendments that will protect consumers. It will seek to create conditions for growing the gaming sector.

New South Wales to Update Gaming law

The Australian state of New South Wales is beginning the process of updating its gaming laws, which expire in September. It is seeking public comment on the Betting and Racing Regulation and Totalizator Regulation. It will include new provisions on minimizing harm to consumers.

B.C. Government to Release Money Laundering Inquiry Report Soon

The government of British Columbia is reviewing a report created by the Cullen Commission, headed by Supreme Court Justice Austin Cullen (l.), before releasing it to the public. The commission spent three years inquiring into how prevalent money laundering is in the gaming industry, luxury car market and real estate.

ONLINE GAMING More

B.C.’s PlayNow Expands Into Saskatchewan

The British Columbia Lottery Corporation and the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority (SIGA) have signed a vendor agreement that expands BCLC’s PlayNow into the province. Saskatchewan will become the third Canadian province to be served by the PlayNow platform.

Soaring Eagle Adds Live-Dealer Games

Soaring Eagle online casino in Michigan has added live-dealer content from the Evolution Gaming portfolio of online casino brands including Evolution, NetEnt and Red Tiger.

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New Jersey Requires Sportsbooks Verify Income ID

The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement is requiring all sportsbooks to establish two factor or multi-factor authentication for access to sites. The purpose is to reduce the chance of hacking.

BetRivers Launches Online Sportsbook in West Virginia

BetRivers now offers an online sportsbook in addition to online casino games in West Virginia. The two share a wallet for wagering and winnings. Winners can use sports wager rewards for free play on iGaming and vice versa.

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VA: Push is On To Bring Casino to Petersburg

Petersburg and Richmond vow to fight to bring a casino to their town, like it’s a magical elixir. Petersburg (l.) wants the license because Richmond voters said no, and Richmond wants a do-over referendum.

Nebraska Approves Gaming License Fees

WarHorse Gaming became the first casino operator to apply to the Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission for a license for its casinos in Lincoln (l.) and Omaha. Both venues will open temporary facilities, possibly later this summer.

Florida Gaming Commissioners Target Unregulated Games

The new 5-member Florida Gaming Control Commission has tasked Executive Director Louis Trombetta (l). to find a director of gaming enforcement to pursue so-called gray market slots−a growing concern of the Seminole Tribe of Florida.

Caesars Unveils More Investments for AC Property

Caesars Entertainment has lined up a number of projects this summer for its flagship Atlantic City resort (l.). The projects include renovations to a pool in the spa area, the casino floor and its dining options.

Mississippi Casino Restricts Visitors To Age 21-Plus

The Silver Slipper Casino Hotel (l.) will not admit guests under age 21 starting July 1. Officials said too often employees had to remind parents to look after their children. The venue was cited by the Mississippi Gaming Commission.

TRIBAL GAMING More

Oneida Nation Goes All-Out to Recruit Dealers

New York’s Oneida Nation has launched a dealer recruitment program, with incentives that include 50 new apartments in central New York at below-market rates at its Turning Stone Casino (l.).

Mohegans, Yale Team up to Fight Problem Gambling

Connecticut’s Mohegan Tribe is donating $2 million to the Yale University School of Medicine (l.) to help develop new cognitive behavioral therapy to help patients fight problem gambling. This research could lead to a mobile app to widen the availability of such treatment.

Hard Rock Opens new Concert Venue Near Sacramento

On June 3, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Sacramento at Fire Mountain opened its new 2,500-seat, 6,000-square-foot stage. The concert venue can be moved to accommodate music, boxing, basketball or corporate events. It is part of a $75 million expansion by the Estom Yumeka Maidu Tribe.

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IGT Extends Kansas Lottery Contract

International Game Technology announced its subsidiary, IGT Global Solutions, and the Kansas Lottery agreed to a 10-year contract extension. IGT’s INTELLIGEN central system software offers strategic management and player benefits.

Arkansas Companies Worry Missouri Lottery Director

Missouri Lottery Director May Scheve-Reardon (l.), concerned about the impact of unregulated gaming machines on revenue, said she may pull the lottery licenses of businesses that allow the games on their premises.

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Circa Sports Hires Veteran Bookmakers Baccellieri, Bogdanovich

Circa Sports, Las Vegas’ expanding sportsbook operator, has brought in veteran bookmakers Richie Baccellieri and Nick Bogdanovich (l.) as director of product development and sportsbook manager, respectively. Both have decades of experience in the Las Vegas sportsbook market.

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Accel Completes Century Gaming Acquisition

Accel Entertainment announced the completion of its acquisition of leading slot route operator Century Gaming, adding more than 900 customers and 8,300 gaming terminals to its portfolio.

AGEM Index Rises in May

The AGEM Index rebounded in May after a decline in April. Some positive results among individual companies include Konami and Aristocrat.

Caliente Casinos Add Zitro Games

Mexico’s Caliente Casinos has installed 100 new multi-game slots on Zitro’s new Altius Glare cabinets, completing a total contingent of 250 games at the casinos.

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SBC Sets June 13-15 for Canadian Gaming Summit 2023

SBC, which has announced that it will acquire the Canadian Gaming Summit from the Canadian Gaming Association (CGA) and MediaEdge Communications, has set the date and location of the 2023 conference. It will be held June 13-15 at the Metro Toronto Convention Center.

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