Legends Bay Casino held a grand opening ceremony (l.) August 30, which was 15 years in the making for parent company Olympia Gaming. The property represents the first new-construction casino in the area in nearly 30 years, and features over 600 slots, 10 tables and a sportsbook operated by Circa Sports.

Federal police and regulators from PAGCOR last week stormed Okada Manila (l.) and restored the original board to power, just three months after a group led by allies of former owner Kazuo Okada did the same. The turmoil comes at a time when PAGCOR may be forced to relinquish its casinos.

The Kansas Lottery approved six operators to begin accepting bets. Hollywood Casino’s sportsbook, which recently accepted the first bet from Governor Laura Kelly (l.), is the only retail operation expected to be ready. Tribal casinos were not part of the mix due to ongoing litigation.

The fallout continues after 40-plus casino workers swam from Cambodia to Vietnam to escape what they described as horrendous working conditions. Victims said they were underpaid, overworked, beaten and even sold if they didn’t measure up.

The legislative amendment to the PILOT law enacted last December has been something of a curse for the state. Atlantic County filed suit and won two judgements. And now judge Michael Blee (l.) has struck down the amendment.

After years of roadblocks, the Mississippi Supreme Court (l.) recently ruled that realtor Jim Parrish may build a $180 million casino resort on land he owns across from his restaurant on U.S. Highway 90 in Long Beach.

The Chamber of Deputies of Brazil adopted a bill August 30 sponsored by Giovani Cherini (l.) that legalizes health and tourism lotteries and authorizes private sports betting. Some funds raised will go to the National Health Fund and tourism. The bill now awaits the signature of Brazil’s president.

On September 23, the Shoshone Bannock Tribe will hold a referendum on a proposed $311 million, 500,000-square-foot casino on a 157-acre tract in Mountain Home, Idaho. The Shoshone-Paiute Tribe has expressed opposition to the plan. The Shoshone Bannock operates three casinos on its eastern Idaho reservation, including the Fort Hall Casino (l.).

The taxation on sports betting is a windfall for the state of Ohio, but that won’t be realized until January 1. However, the state will get some $30 million in fees this year, not next.

Portugal has two licenses for land-based casinos that it is accepting bids for. The deadline is the middle of September. The existing concessions are for the casinos of Figueira da Foz (l.) and Estoril. The winning bids will get licenses for 15 years, with the opportunity for a five-year renewal.

VICI Properties and Gaming & Leisure Properties may not be the flashiest choices compared to the boom-and-bust nature of other sectors of the industry. But they’re consistent, well-run and well-positioned for the future—what more could you ask for?

This week, the GGB Podcast sits down with Max Meltzer, the CEO of Strive Gaming, a company that offers end-to-end services as a platform provider for iGaming, on his leadership of the company after one year.

New annual revenue minimums for Macau gaming tables and slots are reasonable and will not have a negative impact on operations, say industry analysts. The new requirements will take effect in January.

With legal casinos in Thailand a near-certainty, one industry expert is doubtful about the market’s appeal for big-name operators. He says Thai lawmakers aren’t known for crafting strong regulations. Others disagree.

MGM Resorts International has high hopes for its proposed integrated resort in Osaka, Japan. MGM Japan President and CEO Ed Bowers (l.) says the IR could generate $1.5 billion in annual taxes, topping most IRs in Asia.

Hann Philippines Inc. unveiled a new resort in the Philippines featuring three different PGA-affiliated golf courses, the country’s first. In addition Hann Reserve will have branded hotels, villas and other amenities.

The Finnish state-owned betting monopoly Veikkaus has announced it is limiting when players may spend time on slot machines in shops. Beginning September 1, players can’t use the machines between 9 p.m. and 9 a.m., but only in shops.

Belgium has notified the European Commission on plans to restrict gaming advertising. The Draft Royal Decree, championed by Minister Vincent Van Quickenborn (l.), aims to “limit the forms of advertising betting and gaming operators have at their disposal, relating to both ‘real world’ gambling and operators using ‘information service tools.’ ”

The Greek gaming company OPAP this year saw revenues make a strong recovery from the effects of the Covid closings. The rally was fueled by rising online and retail operations, which were back to normal the first half of 2022. Gross gaming revenue was 57.7 percent over this time last year.

The Grand Bahama Gaming Board wants to encourage businesses on the island to apply for and claim its three unused gaming licenses. No one has sought the licenses for 20 years. Gaming Board Chairman Daniel Johnson (l.) wants to see applications for hotel casinos.

Workers at the Auckland, New Zealand SkyCity casino went on strike August 27. The members of the Unite Union say they should be paid a “living wage.” SkyCity Entertainment Group, which has reported huge revenue losses this year, has offered workers raises of between 4 and 6 percent.

Queensland’s Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation is conducting an investigation of the Ville casino as well the Reef Hotel Casino over suspected ties to Lawrence Fu, an unlicensed junket operator in the area. Ville CEO Michael Jones (l.) allegedly saw the relationship as a way to capitalize on the penalties that other casinos have been hit with.

Philip Crawford (l.), current chair of the Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority, has been named the chief commissioner of the newly formed NSW Independent Casino Commission. Four additional ILGA regulators have also been appointed to the new commission’s leadership team.

MGM shareholders have voted in favor of the company’s $604 million acquisition of LeoVegas. The settlement process is now expected to begin as early as next week.

TwinSpires will close its online sports betting and casino operations in Michigan on September 6. The Churchill Downs-branded platform previously exited Colorado, Indiana, New Jersey and Tennessee.

The Maryland Sports Wagering Application Review Commission published regulations for mobile sports betting, triggering the 30-day comment period required before putting the plan into effect.

Oregon has a single sportsbook, DraftKings, which also operates the state lottery. But Sport Oregon thinks they have a better way: eliminate the monopoly and bring in other operators.

California’s statewide officials have come out against Proposition 27, which would legalize digital sports betting. Governor Gavin Newsom (l.) is the only top official to be neutral, and he indicates that his neutrality is in name only. The measure is being promoted by out-of-state sportsbook operators.

In Prophet Exchange, bettors set prices and parameters. It’s a less costly way to do business, and the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement just approved the exchange to start facilitating action.

BetMGM has entered into a multi-year partnership with the Kansas City Chiefs, becoming one of the team’s first sports betting partners. The move coincides with the betting platform’s expansion into the Sunflower State.

The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission approved the proposed $2.5 billion sale of Hard Rock Sioux City (l.), owned by Peninsula Pacific Entertainment, to Churchill Downs. The deal is expected to close this fall.

Jackpocket filed a suit against Jackpot for infringement. BetMGM may do the same against a company calling itself MGMBet. The problem is that the challenge is a costly one.

Turfway Park Racing & Gaming (l.) opened September 1 in Florence, Kentucky after a 3-year closure. The $240 million renovation by owner Churchill Downs includes a casino, new racetrack and horse barns, dining options and event center.

Paragon Casino Resort in Marksville, Louisiana (l.) replaced 15 percent of its 1,000 slots with 150 new Las Vegas-style and bingo-style machines. It’s the only casino in the state that offers both styles of slots.

Circa Resort and Casino in downtown Las Vegas has unveiled its 35,000 square-foot convention and meeting center (l.), as the company looks to establish itself as a destination for the revitalized convention and trade show industry.

If you’re looking for a happy vacation, Las Vegas is the place to go, at least according to Club Med. The firm recently ranked Sin City as North America’s top vacation destination for a happy holiday.

Washington’s Chinook Nation is trying to spark a social media campaign to achieve federal recognition. The tribe has already been turned down for recognition by the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs. Now its only path forward is to win over Congress.

The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi’s Four Winds Casino (l.) in South Bend, Indiana offers 1,900 slots, more than any other Indiana casino, thanks to the recently completed 98,000-square-foot expansion of its gaming floor.

Muckleshoot Casino in Washington has installed the final beam in its new resort tower, which expects to open late next year. When complete, the tower will feature 400 rooms.

Gaming Laboratories International has promoted Angela Wong to vice president of Global Lottery Solutions. Wong is a former director of the Montana Lottery, and joined GLI in 2021 as director of lottery solutions.

IGT has signed a four-year contract extension with the New York Lottery, under which it provides the lottery central system and related technology, instant tickets and other services.

Longtime game designer Gerard Crosby has been promoted to senior vice president and chief games officer for Konami Gaming. Crosby has been with the company for over 20 years, and has worn many hats for its Konami Australia division.

LET Group Holdings and Summit Ascent Holdings have announced that Andrew Lo (l.) is now chairman of both companies. Lo had served as deputy chairman of the board since December, after the exit of previous chairman Alvin Chau.

The Siletz Tribal Council has appointed Harold Baugus as the general manager of Chinook Winds Casino Resort. Baugus has decades of experience in tribal gaming, most recently serving as CEO of Isleta Resort and Casino.

Casino marketing veteran Scott Lake has been appointed as chief marketing officer for Jamul Casino in San Diego. Lake previously held similar positions in both Macau and Las Vegas.

FanDuel has brought in former NFL Network host Kay Adams to head its new daily morning show, starting in September. The sports betting-focused show will be featured on FanDuel TV, a rebrand of TVG.

Esports operator Oddin.gg has added two new members—Juana Bischoff and Mark Balch (l.)---following a recent capital raise. Bischoff has been named senior business development manager and Balch is the new director of strategy.

Eclipse Gaming has named Jackie Siegrist regional sales manager. Siegrist is a veteran of the gaming industry, having held similar roles at Dynamic Gaming Solutions and Win Systems Group.

International Game Technology has agreed to pay a settlement of $270 million in a class-action lawsuit that was brought by customers of its former social gaming subsidiary DoubleDown Interactive. The suit was filed in 2017.

Brian Christopher’s Pop’N Pays More (l.), the Gaming Arts title themed around the top slot machine social “influencer,” is outperforming house averages in the field.

Nebraska’s Warhorse Gaming has deployed Playersoft mobile signup technology to register players anywhere on its new casino’s slot floor for the loyalty club.

Jackpot Digital has reached a deal with Sac & Fox Casino in Powhattan, Kansas (l.) to install two of its Jackpot Blitz electronic table games.