If you read over ballot literature regarding Prop 26 in California, you would get the impression that the state NAACP branch opposed the measure, based on remarks made by its Los Angeles president emeritus, Minnie Hadley-Hempstead (l.). Not so, and the chapter is suing to have the statements removed.
A recent report from NPR has shed new light on the Department of Defense’s use and operation of slot machines on overseas bases, leading many to question whether service members are being put at a disproportionate risk of problem gambling.
This week, the GGB Podcast sits down with Josh Swissman, a founding partner with the Strategy Organization, on the near- and long-term future of the gaming industry.
The requirement to list a person’s “scars” in almost every gaming license application is outdated and unnecessary. Longtime gaming observer Richard Schuetz says the stipulation needlessly infringes on the applicant’s privacy and need to go.
Inspired Entertainment has made a $370 million cash offer to acquire slot manufacturer PlayAGS, per Reuters. Neither company has commented on the offer, but the market responded favorably, as PlayAGS shares rose over 30 percent August 12. More details are expected in the coming days.
The National Indian Gaming Commission last week reported that tribal casino in the U.S. produced gross gaming revenues of $39 billion in 2021, a 13 percent increase over 2019, the last year of full tribal gaming prior to the pandemic.
Caesars Entertainment will now invest $650 million, not $500 million as previously announced, in Caesars Virginia in Danville, Virginia (l.), opening in 2024. It’s now a joint venture with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. All gathered last week to break ground on the new resort.
The competing boards of Okada Manila in the Philippines continue to argue about access to casino funds. The ousted board has demanded that the Kazuo Okada-led board stop dipping into the casino cage for money. And Okada accused the board of manipulating his son, Tomohiro Okada (l.).
Kuoch Chamroeun (l.), provincial governor of Preah Sihanouk in Cambodia, says he will suspend the licenses of casinos involved in crime, and also bring charges against their owners.
As Canada’s regulated sports betting industry continues to grow, FanDuel is investing in the rising demographic of female sports bettors. The company features numerous female executives, including CEO Amy Howe (l.), and is encouraging more women to jump into the male-dominated industry.
Georgia Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams (l.). is adamant that the state needs to legalize casino gambling and sports betting to generate revenue for the HOPE scholarship program and “make our economy stronger for everyone.”
Penn National Gaming is rebranding as PENN Entertainment after announcing mixed results for the second quarter that highlighted a significant drop in net income.
This week, the GGB Podcast sits down with Paul Gordon, the senior vice president of sales for Rymax Marketing on how the current economic uncertainty has changed the way casinos handle gifting to their best customers.
MGM Resorts President and CEO Bill Hornbuckle (l.) says the company is interested in developing an integrated resort in Thailand if casinos are legalized there. He also said MGM may be reluctant to invest heavily in Macau.
In an effort to curb problem gambling, the government of South Korea has ordered Kangwon Land (l.) to limit patron visits to 100 per year. Under the current rule, gamblers may enter and play at a casino 148 days a year.
Macau Legend Development has turned over gaming operations at its Fisherman’s Wharf complex (l.) to concession-holder SJM Holdings Ltd. through 2022. Macau Legend continues to run non-gaming operations at the site.
Trying to stoke foot traffic at South Korea’s foreigner-only casinos, the government has offered visa-free entry for travelers coming from Japan, Taiwan and Macau. Only one casino in the country is open to locals.
The Asia/Pacific Group on Money Laundering is giving the Philippine casino industry better marks on anti-money laundering measures. It says the sector has “addressed gaps” in its supervision of PAGCOR casinos.
Levo Chan (l.), a former chief executive of Macau Legend and head of the Tak Chun junket, has been officially charged with criminal organization, illegal gambling and money laundering. He faces 20 years behind bars.
KRAIL—Ukraine’s Gambling and Lotteries Council—has returned to business as usual five months after having to duck and cover when Russia launched its invasion. The gaming industry continues to function, and now KRAIL has begun regulating it again.
The proposed 3-story casino and entertainment complex proposed for Douglas, the capital of the Isle of Man, would include the Palace Casino, which would move from its current location (l.), office space and a 250-vehicle parking area.
Brazil’s Senate will wait until after the national elections in October to vote on a highly controversial law that would legalize gambling in the country. Senate leader Carlos Portinho (l.) told the media outlet Valor that the gaming sector “needs to be regulated.”
Ontario’s first retail sportsbooks could open as soon as September, just in time for the NFL season. Both the Niagara Casinos, operated by Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment and Great Blue Heron Casino, operated by Great Canadian Corp. are hiring to fill sportsbook positions.
New South Wales recently established the NSW Independent Casino Commission in efforts to improve casino compliance after numerous violations were uncovered by state inquiries. However, former Victorian regulator Peter Cohen (l.) asserts that this will only lead to further trouble.
Nearly 2,000 striking workers of the Pickering and Ajax casinos in Ontario are back to work. Their Unifor Local 1090 reached an agreement with Great Canadian Gaming Corp. Workers ratified the agreement by a 92.8 vote and returned to work August 6.
British Columbia’s neighboring provinces have been shaken by the Cullen Report, headed by Commissioner Austin Cullen (l.), that shows in detail how B.C.’s casinos were unwitting conduits for money laundering for ten years. Officials in other provinces worry that they too are vulnerable.
Issues of politics, including accusations of an insufficient tax framework, has hobbled the introduction of an online gaming market in Chile. At the beginning of 2022 things looked optimistic, but the Ministry of Finance’s efforts to pass a bill have faltered.
Columbia’s new president, Gustavo Petro Urrego (l.), wants to reform the country’s taxes. He proposes to raise taxes on the “ultra-wealthy” while cutting taxes for others, including the occasional gambler. He has submitted his proposal to Colombia's Congress.
Five Canadian provinces have banded together to appeal to consumers to use legal online gaming sites. Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Quebec and Atlantic Canada warn that illegal offshore sites lack consumer protections. Also true is that the provinces don’t collect taxes from those sites.
Australia’s media regulators have issued a formal warning to Proxous Advanced Solutions to stop providing sub-licensed software products to illegal iGaming websites, the first such warning of its kind.
Great Canadian Entertainment is the new name of the company formerly known as Great Canadian Gaming Corp. The new moniker reflects the company’s strategy of significant investments, diversification and upgrades.
A study done by the betting company Betsson shows that in Brazil, players prefer roulette over the next most popular casino game by a factor of more than two to one. After roulette they prefer poker, blackjack and then slots. The study was done using data from Google searches.
The World Series of Poker Online begins preliminary events August 14, with the main tournament September 10 through October 18, with Michigan and Pennsylvania residents competing for the first time.
When the chute opened on January 8, sports bettors set new records that made folks forget all about New Jersey. It kept up in February, but the volume has declined for the last five months since.
The tally fell two votes short in the House—two yays instead of nays would have sent North Carolina on its way to online sports betting. Next year, the pro teams in the state, including the NFL’s Panthers (l.), will try a little harder.
The owners of two defunct Massachusetts race tracks hope for a new source of revenue with brick-and-mortar sportsbooks. Suffolk Downs (l.) and Raynham Park will have the only retail operations outside of the casinos.
Kansas may not be ready to take bets until January, but it hasn’t stopped DraftKings from sending out its promotional literature to get folks to sign up, even without a deposit.
Faced with what the company said is a not-so favorable economic situation, FuboTV will re-evaluate its plan to present sports betting and live video of games with an independent online sportsbook. But, it still plans to secure a license in New Jersey.
Campaign finance records have shown that Nevada’s gubernatorial candidates, Joe Lombardo and incumbent Steve Sisolak (l. to r.), are both receiving healthy donations from casinos. Some companies have given large sums to each.
An unexpected second lawsuit has emerged in the battle over the New Jersey PILOT amendment. The latest legal issue challenges the constitutionality of the original legislation, but sides with the county for the time being.
Fixed-odds betting has debuted at Monmouth Park in New Jersey (l.). Available to buy online and at the track, the advantage is that the odds stay the same at post time as they are when the ticket is purchased.
Urban One officials said they’ll pursue a second vote on their proposed $565 million casino resort (l.) in 2023 instead of this November, due to language in the state budget. Richmond voters narrowly rejected the project in 2021.
A group representing Atlantic City casino employees in their effort to close the casino loophole to the indoor smoking ban say they will help provide an outdoor smoking alternative.
It’s officially earnings call season, and Wynn Resorts’ recent second-quarter call provided some interesting insights, most notably that it tallied record revenues in Boston and Las Vegas. CEO Craig Billings (l.) said the company’s performance “speaks for itself.”
Representatives from Red Rock Resorts announced on a recent earnings call that the company is standing firm on its decision to close three of its Las Vegas properties, while also asserting that it plans to double its portfolio in the area, with projects such as the upcoming Durango Station casino (l.).
Officials of Clark County, Nevada, are reviewing a 42-year-old regulation that prevents gaming machines from being placed in strip clubs after one club, Sapphire (l.), requested an exemption from the rule.
The lawyers for several big-name online travel companies have asked the Nevada Supreme Court to overrule District Judge Mark Benton (l.) and dismiss a lawsuit against them alleging dubious business practices that resulted in millions of dollars of lost tax revenue for the state.
Pennsylvania’s Mount Airy Casino Resort (l.), one of the few casinos in the state to have implemented a voluntary indoor smoking ban, again permits smoking on the gaming floor.
The board of directors of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority has approved plans for a two-year, $597.6 million renovation of the Las Vegas Convention Center (l.).
The NFL Pro Bowl will return to Las Vegas in 2023, the league has announced. The partnership between the two sides is continuing to grow, as the city has already hosted two NFL events this year and will host the Super Bowl in 2024.
The Operating Engineers union, seeking to organize at Resorts World Las Vegas (l.), asked Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak to review the licensing process of Resorts World’s owner Genting Group for connections to Chinese businesses.
A Washington gaming tribe, the Shoalwater Tribe, has filed a motion in federal court asking that a case brought by one of its members be dismissed. Maverick Gaming, whose CEO is Eric Persson (l.), a tribal member, has sued to end the monopoly on sports betting by state tribes.
The Wall Street Journal revealed the National Indian Gaming Commission is investigating the Catawba Nation’s Two Kings Casino in North Carolina (l.). Tribal officials said the probe is standard procedure.
California’s Tejon Indian Tribe has announced its endorsement of Prop 26, which would limit sports betting in the state to tribal casinos and tracks. Like most tribes, they are concerned about the effects legalization would have on their sustainability and sovereignty moving forward.
The Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation has expanded its business portfolio outside of gaming with the acquisition of WWC Global, a government contracting firm based in Tampa. Exact terms have not been disclosed.
The Osage Nation announced its Oklahoma casinos in Bartlesville and Pawhuska (l.) will be delayed to 2023 because of supply chain issues with construction materials. Both projects started in June 2021 and both were expected to open this fall.
The Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation’s We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort (l.) has renovated, upgraded and expanded its casino floor, AAA 4-Diamond hotel, award-winning dining options and two-course golf venue.
If folks can bet on sports online, then they should be able to buy lottery tickets online, says Massachusetts treasurer Deborah Goldberg (l.). Lawmakers agreed, until they saw tax relief funds and pulled back.
Hard Rock Atlantic City has found its new president in Anthony Faranca (l.), following the recent departure of Joe Lupo. Faranca has gaming experience across several states. Also replacing Lupo is Mark Giannantonio as president of the Casino Association of New Jersey.
Interblock has appointed Marco Herrera as its new president for the areas of Europe, Middle East and Africa. Herrera is a gaming veteran with over 30 years’ experience across numerous countries.
Light & Wonder has named Roxane Lukas as its chief people capability officer. Lukas has held multiple executive-level development positions, including a stint as global vice president of HR at Electronic Arts.
Jay Chun (l.), the president of the association representing Macau equipment manufacturers, says their biggest challenge is a shortage of microchips owing to supply chain issues caused by Covid-19.
Flutter Entertainment has completed the acquisition of Italian online gaming operator Sisal in a deal worth €1.913 billion that was originally announced in December.
Sports betting platform supplier Pinnacle Solution is entering a data partnership with blockchain betting ecosystem supplier Azuro, connecting Pinnacle data with Azuro blockchain protocol.
