It’s National Courtesy Month in September and although few ever connect Las Vegas with courtesy, our intrepid columnist Ira David Sternberg takes his shot!
The Arizona Department of Gaming has reported record levels of contributions to the state from tribal gaming operations for fiscal year 2022. THEE 24 Class III casinos contributed $123 million to state coffers.
Most men recognize that women often get the short end of the stick in the gaming industry. But are they willing to do anything about it? Gaming observer Richard Schuetz makes some suggestions and criticism.
Nominations for the 21st Annual GGB Gaming & Technology Awards are closing tomorrow. Don’t miss out on putting your pride and joy in front of the judges!
Philippine President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos has appointed close friend Alejandro Tengco (l.) to replace Andrea Domingo as head of the country’s gaming regulator. Tengco is a building contractor and the former vice mayor of Malolos, Bulacan.
Could the impossible happen in the California sports betting race? Could both propositions fail? With hundreds of millions of dollars at work to convince state voters that sports betting will be good for the state, could that actually influence voters to reject both measures?
Golden Entertainment has reached an agreement to sell its Rocky Gap Casino in Cumberland, Maryland to Century Casinos and gaming REIT VICI for a total of $260 million.
Highly respected gaming executive Andrew MacDonald was hired by Resorts World Sentosa last week just a year after he “retired” from his previous employer Las Vegas Sands where he worked at Marina Bay Sands, the only competitor to Resorts World in Singapore.
Last fall, a federal judge nullified the gaming compact between the Seminole Tribe and the state of Florida (l.) that would have given the tribe statewide control over sports betting. Now the Biden Administration wants the compact reinstated. The result is a mess.
The Philippine Appeals Court has been given 30 days to recommend whether Kazuo Okada can continue to run the Manila resort that bears his name. The Japanese gaming magnate, forced out in 2017, was restored to control in April when supporters took over the property.
The latest Australian licensing inquiry—this time involving Star Entertainment in Queensland—is now underway, and is being headed by former judge Robert Gotterson (l.). As with a number of other recent inquiries, Star is accused of allowing funds from China UnionPay cards to be used for gambling, and for inviting “high-risk” patrons to its Queensland properties.
Exceeding all expectations, the temporary Hard Rock Bristol in Virginia generated $11.71 million in adjusted gross gaming revenue in its first month of operation and welcomed guests from every state except Alaska.
Skyrocketing costs of energy pose a grave threat to the U.K.’s retail bookmakers and casinos. The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) and its CEO Michael Dugher (l.) warn that some have seen energy bills increase by 300 percent. The Rank Group said energy costs increased from £13 million in 2021 to £23 million this year.
MGM Resorts International has received all necessary government and regulatory approvals for its previously announced acquisition of Stockholm-listed LeoVegas.
A report by the Department of the Interior’s inspector general says former Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke (l.) lied to investigators probing whether he wrongly blocked Connecticut tribes’ efforts to open a casino in 2017.
This week the GGB Podcast features a discussion with Brandon Dardeau, Southeast regional president and CEO for MGM Resorts, on how Beau Rivage Casino in Biloxi, has just passed the million passenger mark for its charter airline service.
The trial of Suncity CEO Alvin Chau (l.), scheduled to begin Friday, could be delayed because other defendants are not physically present in Macau. Chau is charged with illegal gambling, money laundering and fraud.
Even if it reaps zero revenues for 2022, Melco Resorts and Entertainment could keep going for two more years, according to a Singapore investment firm. Melco is reportedly in better financial shape than its peers in Macau and plans to open Phase 2 of Studio City (l.) in Macau in mid-2023.
Gaming operators in Asia Pacific countries and markets including Macau have come to the realization that they must look outside China for VIP and premium-mass players to fill their VIP rooms (l., Galaxy Macau).
MGM China will invest $594 million in its MGM Grand Paradise subsidiary as part of the company’s bid to win a second gaming concession in Macau. MGM has also named Pansy Ho (l.) as managing director.
Ambrose So (l.), CEO and executive director of SJM Holdings, recently cashed in 30.02 million shares in the company, pocketing a total of US$11.1 million.
Galaxy Entertainment Group Chairman Lui Che Woo (l.) says the Macau gaming operator is well positioned to earn a new concession in the Chinese casino hub. Concession terms have been halved, from 20 years to 10.
Failed cruise ship operator Genting Hong Kong will sell off its stake in a Philippines integrated resort. Manila’s Newport World Resorts was originally known as Resorts World Manila (l.).
Officials at Philippine casino operator Bloomberry Resorts said the company will purchase 692 acres for a casino resort in Paniman, but won’t start construction until its Solaire North property is completed in late 2023.
A U.S. District court has lifted a stay on the auctioning of casino equipment owned by Imperial Pacific International to pay off some of its creditors. The stay had been in place since last year. IPI received a judgment against it of $2.1 million. The auction would raise money to pay that debt.
Discovery Europe has bowed to Norway’s media authority Medietilsynet, which had demanded it stop broadcasting gaming ads to Norway’s population. Discovery Europe resisted at first but has agreed to black out the gaming ads.
The Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) is mulling adding gaming and or cannabis sales to its retail offerings at Pearson Airport (l.). Although there are no plans to do so, the GTAA has hired a lobbyist to consult with the Ontario, Canada government on how to diversify its revenue sources.
Chile’s online betting and casino market is rapidly expanding. It has reached about $170 million and is growing. Chile’s lawmakers and Executive Branch are eyeing this success and considering how they might regulate and tax this largely offshore market.
The legislature of Brazil is holding off until the national elections before adopting a bill that would legalize gaming in the country. That’s according to Davi Alcolumbre (l.), the former president of Brazil’s Senate and the rapporteur of Bill 442/91. The bill could be approved in December, he says.
A Queensland court has ruled in favor of two gamblers who were banned from Star Entertainment properties after the company accused them of cheating by using a technique called edge sorting, which involves studying the edges of cards to try and determine their potential value. The court said Star had no such evidence that the players actually gained an advantage.
Australia’s Northern Territory Racing Commission has sent a draft of potential policies regarding cryptocurrencies to the country’s sports betting operators. The agency previously came out against the use of crypto, but is now willing to change its mind given the popularity of bitcoin, ethereum and others.
Australia’s media regulators have requested that six more illegal iGaming sites be blocked by the country’s internet service providers. The agency has ramped up its efforts to combat such sites, having blocked more than 500 since 2019.
Kansas was ready to go live with sports betting September 1. Then Derek Schmidt (l.), the state’s attorney general, put that on hold until certain deficiencies were corrected, which were immediately implemented so opening day remains on track.
The silver lining in the cloud that is promotions is that in most cases you can deduct the cost from your taxes. But states like New Jersey and New York don’t allow these deductions, causing some operators to cut back.
After more than a year of speculation, Disney CEO Bob Chapek (l.) reveals that the company is continuing talks with multiple platforms about sports betting. Mickey’s company would own any deal involving the ESPN brand.
The surging Baltimore Orioles have agreed to open a sports betting lounge at Camden Yards (l.) next year. The team has partnered with SuperBook Sports to bring it about.
Gambling stocks have taken a beating this year. But football is here and that usually does wonders for sports betting. Operators hope the magic continues.
BetMGM and SportsGrid have expanded their partnership, with one company delivering data and the other related content. This involves broadcasting, including in-game analysis.
Tohono O’odham Gaming Enterprise and venue management company ASM Global formed a partnership which includes upgrades at the tribe’s four Desert Diamond casinos in Arizona as well as the renaming of Glendale's arena to Desert Diamond Arena.
Rush Street Interactive extended its partnership with LaLiga, the Spanish soccer league. The extension will allow RushBet to expand its presence throughout South America.
PandaScore will provide the odds for esports video games like League of Legends in a deal with William Hill. The companies see esports on the cusp of mainstream success.
Following the rejection of an amendment removing Pope County, Arkansas as a casino site, Cherokee Nation Business spent $35 million on land where it plans to build its $225 million Legends Resort & Casino (l.).
Software company Kambi has become a partner with Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort in Hot Springs, Arkansas. The coupling is a rare one as it involves horse tracks.
Seneca Nation President Matthew Pagels (l.) commented that the tribe is seeking a fair, new gaming compact that addresses the fact that the gaming landscape has changed since its casinos were approved.
DAZN will introduce the DAZN Bet brand in the U.K. The new betting brand follows a partnership with Pragmatic Solutions. The deal creates what is referred to as a social gambling experience.
One of the key elements of sports betting is ensuring you are dealing with a reputable oddsmaker. A new company—OddsJam—sifts through dozens of odds to find the best ones.
Boyd Gaming and the Wilton Rancheria Tribe opened the $500 million Sky River Casino (l.) near Sacramento, California shortly before midnight on August 16. Slot supplier Everi benefitted nicely from the opening, supplying 15 percent of the casino’s machines.
Queen of Virginia has sued nearly 150 convenience store owners for violating their contract’s non-competition clause by replacing its machines with a competitor’s games. But store owners insist the contracts are unenforceable.
Charitable gambling revenue in Indiana dropped from $433 million in 2019 to $326 million in 2021. Observers blame Covid-19, supply chain issues and the cost of paper goods. Organizations continue to shift to less labor-intensive raffles.
A panel at last week’s Racing and Gaming Conference concluded that New York has not been keeping pace with casino expansion by implementing commensurate responsible gaming efforts. John Coppola (l.), one of New York’s leading public health officials, called the state’s efforts “unacceptable.”
Convicted felon and sex trafficker Kendrick Weatherspoon has been added to Nevada’s “Black Book” by the Nevada Gaming Commission, meaning he is banned from the state’s casinos. He is the first to join the list for reasons besides casino cheating or connections to organized crime.
The Culinary Union’s effort to get a rent stabilization measure on the North Las Vegas ballot has failed, and rather than challenge the ruling in court, the organization plans to regroup and refocus its efforts for the upcoming legislative session in February, according to Secretary-Treasurer Ted Pappageorge (l.).
The city council in Danville, Illinois changed the definition of “casino” in anticipation of state lawmakers authorizing future expanded gambling. The Golden Nugget Danville (l.) casino is expected to open there in spring 2023.
Members of a panel at the Racing and Gaming Conference commented that U.S. racetracks are “leaving money on the table” by not offering fixed-odds betting.
It appears that marijuana consumption lounges are making their way to Las Vegas, the question is how soon. The Clark County Commission has tabled its discussion on the matter, but one thing that has been made clear is that gaming establishments will not be allowed to open such lounges.
Lyft and Motional have partnered to launch a new rideshare service offering all-electric, fully driverless vehicles supplied by Hyundai for Las Vegas riders. The innovative program will roll out gradually, and for now the vehicles will still feature a backup driver until the kinks are worked out.
Since January 1, the Missouri Gaming Commission has taken 93 calls about unregulated slot machines that continue to spread to bars, truck stops and gas stations throughout the state.
David Mann (l.) has been appointed as the new CEO of software provider Swintt. Current CEO David Flynn will now focus on his other duties as head of Swintt’s parent company, Glitnor Group. Mann has been with Swintt since 2019, and most recently served as chief commercial officer.
Lesley Hodges (l.) has been named senior director of marketing for Aruze Gaming. Hodges has extensive experience in casino marketing, having held similar roles at Bluberi, Everi and AGS.
The MGM Resorts Foundation has awarded nearly $2 million in grants to nonprofit organizations located in communities around the country where MGM does business. The company’s executive director of community engagement, Maria Jose Gatti (l.), says the foundation donated to over 80 causes.
Asia Pioneer Entertainment Holdings has installed Jumbo Technology’s D-27 slot cabinet with the Long Yi Fa progressive jackpot link to the gaming floor of an integrated resort in Macau’s Cotai district.
