As gambling gets set for another expansion, New York State has created the Problem Gaming Advisory Council, which will decide how to deal with problem gambling, from identification to treatment. Senator Joe Addabbo (l.) said the issue must be addressed quickly and decisively.
Although it’s become the template used most frequently, should sports betting be limited to casino entities? In Maryland, a class of licensing permits local bars and restaurants to utilize sports betting kiosks potentially bringing the benefits of sports betting to the masses, according to Bruce Merati (l.) and Ira Rainess.
George Maloof was on top of the world—or at least the infamous Ghost Bar in this picture—when he and his family opened the Palms Casino Hotel off the Strip in Las Vegas. With a vision that went far beyond just gambling, Maloof engineered excitement with a spectacular display that lasted a few short years.
It was a nice letter, but with lots of other things to worry about—pushed by lobbyists with longer histories and deeper pockets—it’s unlikely much will come of the missive sent by the Congressional Gaming Caucus to Attorney General Merrick Garland, according to savvy gaming observer Richard Schuetz.
In Thailand, House representatives have proposed legal casinos as a way to help stamp out illegal operations and also bring in fresh revenues. Their proposal includes five properties, including one in Mae Sot (l.), near Myanmar, where gambling is still in its rudimentary stages.
Crown Resorts, now owned wholly by investment firm Blackstone, last week named former MGM and Cosmopolitan executive Bill McBeath as chairman and Wynn Macau COO Ciaran Carruthers (l.) as CEO. The appointments come at a time when the company is still under fire from Australian regulators.
The zero-tolerance policy of the Chinese government has once again hit the gaming business in Macau hard. Late last week the government announced that all businesses and casinos would be required to close for seven days and residents stay in their home as positive Covid tests soar.
Boris Johnson (l.) has stepped down as Prime Minister of the U.K., along with dozens of other top officials. Gambling Minister Chris Philip is among those who have left office, which is expected to put a wrench into the country’s plans to reform its gaming legislation.
Longtime Nevada gaming regulator Sandra Douglass Morgan (l.) has been named as the new president of the Las Vegas Raiders, becoming the first black woman to serve as a team president in NFL history. Morgan previously served as chairwoman of the Nevada Gaming Control Board.
SkyCity Adelaide (l.) is the latest casino to come under fire from Australian regulators. A new inquiry, headed by former Supreme Court Justice Brian Martin AO QC, will begin shortly in South Australia. The focus of the investigation has to do with money laundering and illicit relationships with VIP bettors.
Macau’s new gaming law took effect July 2, and details of the concession bidding process are now known by bidders. The special administrative region will award up to six new concessions by year’s end, but operators are still in the dark about certain details.
Illinois’ Gold Rush Amusements has sued Accel Entertainment, claiming that as a result of Accel’s actions, Gold Rush’s “standing, reputation, prestige, goodwill and business were damaged” resulting in “a loss of revenue and profits.” Gold Rush CEO Rick Heidner (l.) said promises from Accel CEO Andy Rubenstein have not been upheld.
Acres Manufacturing, started by the father-son team of John and Noah Acres (l.), has launched a new app called “Cashless Casino,” which enables a casino property to implement cashless wagering in as little as 15 weeks.
Joey Chestnut hoped to break his own record of 76 hot dogs consumed at the annual Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest. However, a pork protester rushed onstage (l.) and interrupted his flow, leading some sportsbooks to refund the over bets.
This week, the podcast features a discussion with Michael Lipton, a senior partner with the Toronto office of Dickinson Wright on the legalization of sports betting in Canada and how it is being implemented across the country.
Okada Manila founder Kazuo Okada (l.) sent a letter to staffers denying allegations of bribery and reports that his representatives committed “slanderous and violent acts” as they took control of the Philippine resort.
The developer of an integrated resort in Incheon, South Korea is likely to miss a March 2023 construction deadline, and may be ineligible for another extension. The IR was formerly owned by Caesars Entertainment.
Diaoyutai MGM Hospitality, a 2007 joint venture of MGM Resorts International and Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, will launch the first MGM-branded hotel in Shanghai, aimed at luxury travelers.
Century Entertainment announced it will target September for the opening of its new table game operation in Dara Sakor, Cambodia (l.). This news comes after the company reported declines in revenue for the previous fiscal year.
The legislature of Lithuania has approved amendments to the national Gambling Law and the Lottery & Gaming Tax Law. The amendments legalize online gaming and create a new type of license for “remote gambling services,” different from a brick-and-mortar casino license.
Romania’s Ministry of Finance is contemplating raising its tax code for gambling withdrawals to up to 40 percent. The Association of Remote Gambling Organizations (AOJND) has responded by saying this tax will encourage players to turn to illegal platforms.
Danish gaming regulator Spillemyndigheden has admonished Casino Copenhagen (l.) for not doing enough to fight money laundering. It cited the casino for violating AML laws by lacking risk assessment and proper business procedures to address money laundering.
Sachsen-Anhalt State Administration Office, which oversees the gaming sector of Germany, has approved nine new licenses for virtual slots and virtual poker. A total of 71 operators have submitted applications to the office since the games became legal in 2021. Only three are actually operating.
The minister in charge of gaming in the Netherlands opposes state-mandated loss limits. Minister for Legal Protection Franciscus Max Weerwind (l.) asserts that such limits will drive players into the arms of illegal platforms. He prefers that players set their own voluntary limits.
Acrismatic Group held a groundbreaking ceremony July 4 (l.) for the $2.5 million Casino Mediterráneo in the Spanish town of Ondara, Alicante province. The casino will have an 805 square-meter gaming area and will create about 75 new jobs. It will also include a hotel.
India’s Goods & Services Tax (GST) Council is considering hiking the tax on online gaming from 18 to 28 percent. The possible move is sparking outraged opposition from the iGaming industry. However, Prime Minister Narendra Modi (l.) sees it as a possible way to curb minors from gambling.
Robert Gotterson AO (l.) has been chosen to lead Queensland’s new inquiry into the operations of Star Entertainment, and state officials have released more details as to what the investigation will focus on, with allegations of money laundering and illicit VIP relationships chief among them.
DraftKings Canada has been levied a $100,000 fine by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario. The sportsbook operator is accused of violating advertising regulations, which ban most advertising concerning inducements, bonuses or credits.
Melissa Horne (l.), Victoria’s top gaming regulator, announced recently that the state will introduce new responsible gaming measures for online operators, including increased training for staff and monthly account statements for bettors.
IGT announced that it has completed its acquisition of iSoftBet, an online and mobile casino game supplier and third-party game aggregator, for €160 million.
React Gaming has signed a deal with esports solutions provider Oddin.gg under which Oddin will provide odds data for esports wagering to React’s Loot.bet subsidiary.
Pragmatic Play has signed an agreement to provide iGaming content to Argentinian operator Pálpitos in the province of Tucumán, and has gone live with its first games there.
The Premier League took an unexpected move by asking all 14 clubs to begin phasing out gambling ads on shirts. The league says the government was going to order it anyway.
The LIV Golf Tour held its first tournament in the U.S., as organizers for the Saudi-backed tourneys hope to increase handle compared to the stronger PGA. More sportsbooks are signing on with LIV, and more high-level golfers are defecting as well.
The law allowing sports betting in Kansas took effect July 1, but state officials still are putting the finishing touches on regulatory issues. That means bettors may not be able to actually place wagers for a few more weeks.
The Ohio Casino Control Commission is expecting a lot of last-minute license applications from sports betting operators. The deadline to apply is July 16, in order to launch an online or retail sportsbook on January 1, 2023.
Maine could be two years from taking its first bets, but its regulations at the moment could keep the largest operators away. Mobile sports betting will be limited to tribes. Moreover, the revenue end comes up short.
Maryland Governor Larry Hogan (l.) is frustrated with the slow pace of progress for mobile sports betting in the state. But the Maryland Sports Wagering Application Review Commission has moved closer to seeking applications.
FanDuel has shifted the language of its promotions for new customers from risk-free to no-sweat. The change is recognition that risk-free isn’t really risk-free, especially for problem gamblers.
The racing and bingo venue Greenetrack (l.) in Greene County, Alabama, must pay back taxes of $76 million, the state’s supreme court ruled. Greenetrack illegally partnered with nonprofits but kept most of the profits.
The push to ban smoking in Atlantic City’s casinos now has the support of the majority of lawmakers in both chambers. The vote is expected to occur in September. Governor Phil Murphy (l.) says he’ll sign the legislation.
Pennsylvania State Rep. Seth Grove (l.) will introduce a law that removes the requirement for video gambling truck stops to sell a minimum quantity of diesel fuel. He compared it to a tavern having to sell a certain number of wings.
Bally’s promised labor harmony in its Chicago development. But the company faces a possible strike from the hospitality union in Rhode Island, prompting critics to question the company’s commitment.
The New Mexico Horsemen’s Association sued to keep control of casino subsidy accounts after the state Racing Commission put the racetracks in charge. The state Attorney General has issued an opinion siding with the commission.
Ogallala, Nebraska is ready if the legislature eventually approves new casinos at racetracks beyond the six already in existence. The city council approved Elite Casino Resorts’ proposed $100 million Lake Mac Casino Resort & Racetrack.
Downtown Las Vegas’ Fremont Street Experience (l.) has seen multiple shooting incidents in recent weeks, which has caused city officials, including Mayor Carolyn Goodman, to propose stricter safety measures. One proposition is a citywide curfew for those under 21.
Las Vegas locals and tourists alike will soon have a new option to choose from, as the Dream Las Vegas casino project (l.) will break ground Friday, July 8. The project is a joint venture between Contour and Shopoff Realty Investments, and is expected to debut sometime near the end of 2024.
The co-owners of the former Keene Casino in New Hampshire (l.) have acquired competitor Wonder Casino, and will merge the two into one casino in a new location.
With the certification by California’s Secretary of State Shirley Weber (l.) there will be just two sports betting referendums in front of
California voters in November, backers on each side have deep pockets and the campaign will get very expensive.
The original operator of the U.K. National Lottery for almost 30 years, Camelot Group, has been passed over for the license to operate the lottery for another decade. The new license has instead gone to Allwyn Entertainment. Camelot is fighting the change with a court challenge.
Malta-based National Lottery PLC, a part of IZI Group PLC, has been awarded the 10-year National Lottery license. It is a first for the National Lottery to be operated by a Maltese company. National Lottery will take over from Maltco Lotteries Ltd.
After 15 years with the company and more than five as President of Wynn Macau, Ian Michael Coughlan (l.) will step down from his role effective February 28 of next year, which is when his current contract expires. Current Vice Chairman Linda Chen will succeed Coughlan.
Galaxy Gaming announced last week that Steph Nel (l.) has joined the company as senior vice president of worldwide sales. Nel will oversee the company’s continuing global market expansion. Nel most recently ran the U.S. operations for TCSJohnHuxley.
Sega Sammy Creation will introduce the innovative Genesis Crest 43J, its new large-format cabinet, to Asian markets at the upcoming G2E Asia trade show.
Light & Wonder announced an amended agreement under which it will sell its sports betting division, OpenBet, to Endeavor for 33 percent less than previously announced.
Leaders of the gaming industry will participate in panels, exhibits and networking events at SBC Summit North America, set to take place July 12 through July 14 in New Jersey. The conference is expected to attract 3,000 visitors, up from 2,000 last year.
