Why don’t more casinos us Halloween as an attraction each year? It is tailor-made for a casino event, allowing the guests to experience the true “what happens here stays here” Vegas moment.
Blackjack isn’t the only card game in town that can threaten a casino’s profitability. How much does your supervisory team know about the strategy of card games more related to poker than to blackjack? If your answer is “not much,” it’s time for a refresher course, says table game guru Bill Zender.
In this special edition of the program, the GGB Podcast features a discussion with Adam Bullock, the senior vice president of sales and operations for the casino marketing company Imagine This on the programs offered by his company that come at no risk to casinos.
Discrimination is something that is frowned upon, indeed unethical, in most corporations these days, including those that operate in the gaming industry. Yet for women, it still persists. Why, then, do not regulators address it in any meaningful way, asks Richard Schuetz.
Pressures are building for Australia’s Star Entertainment—while the company scrambles to save face and keep its license in New South Wales, acting CEO Geoff Hogg (l.) has announced his resignation, presumably to get ahead of other troubles looming in Queensland, the region he was previously in charge of.
A study released by the Indiana Gaming Commission (l.) predicts that the introduction of internet gaming would be a smooth process, and would bring in millions in incremental revenue to the state.
Macau gaming operators hope for increased footfall and revenues as China makes plans to resume individual and group travel from the mainland. The doors could open by the end of the month.
Bally’s Corp. has now completed its acquisition of the Tropicana Las Vegas (l.) following approval from the Nevada Gaming Commission. The operator will now begin exploring potential plans for redevelopment.
The temporary WarHorse Casino in Lincoln held its grand opening September 24 (l.), becoming the first state-licensed casino in Nebraska. The facility touts 433 slot machines, and could raise $1 million or more in tax revenue moving forward.
A U.K. gaming industry group has endorsed plans of the new government of Prime Minister Liz Truss (l.) to encourage growth and improve the economy. The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) calls the plan “ambitious.”
Illinois has become one of the more successful sports betting states, with flourishing operators and others waiting for their chance. Hard Rock is the latest applicant.
North Carolina’s Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians is exploring a program called GenWell that would allow members to exclude casino distributions from their taxable income. If all goes well, members could begin enrolling in the program as early as next March.
A new report from Eilers & Krejcik Gaming says that slot and table game sales should reach pre-Covid levels for suppliers by 2023, showing growth of 11 percent.
This week, the GGB Podcast features a discussion with John Koster, the regional vice president for Caesars Entertainment, responsible for the company’s eastern U.S. market.
Thousands of Chinese nationals now living in the Philippines will be deported this month as the government continues its crackdown on the crime-ridden online gaming sector.
A new international airport near Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, should be of great benefit to the Grand Ho Tram Strip casino resort (l.), in part because it will get travelers there in half the time.
Sweden’s gaming regulator Spelinspektionen says it will begin taking gaming software applications in March 2023. This is despite the fact that the Swedish Riksdag has not yet legalized licenses for the software.
Spillemyndigheden, the Danish gaming regulator, has blocked 82 unlicensed gaming sites—a record. The courts have rejected any challenges to the actions, although the regulator had to appear in court eight times.
Malta-based operator Kindred refuses to leave the Norwegian market, despite fines levied by the regulator Lotteritilsynet. Kindred is appealing the fine, saying that EU law gives it the right to operate in Norway. CEO Henrik Tjärnström (l.) said the company wants to “see how it pans out.”
Three animal rights charities have called for the banning of greyhound raising in the U.K. within five years. The Greyhound Board of Great Britain called the charities’ about face “ill-conceived” and “misguided.”
The U.S. brand FanDuel will now have a British identity as the Irish-based owner Flutter adds the brand to its Collaboration Hub, where FanDuel will partner with other Flutter brands and affiliates.
Ontario, Canada’s regulated online gaming market now includes more than 20 sportsbook operators. Most recent is BetVictor, based in Gibraltar. Others are poised to join as they sign agreements with iGaming Ontario.
The Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission previously said it planned to issue two sports betting licenses by the end of the year, but little progress appears to have been made thus far, as the application window expired all the way back in February.
Uruguay’s Director of Lotteries and Pools, Ricardo Berois (l.), has aimed his regulatory guns against the South American Soccer Confederation (aka Conmebol) which twice illegally broadcasted sportsbook ads. Conmebol has an agreement with sportsbook operator Belfair.
PlayUp Ltd. has announced it is close to a public NASDAQ listing following a merger with special purpose acquisition company IG Acquisition Corp. The deal is expected to close in early 2023.
Pragmatic Play, in partnership with operator Stake, has launched a 12-table live gaming studio featuring immersive experiences for blackjack, roulette and baccarat.
William Hill has been fined $100,000 by the Nevada Gaming Commission for system flaws that resulted in numerous duplicate bets over a period of seven years. A large number of patrons who lost bets with the operator during that time actually lost twice.
Researchers indicate that the growth of sports betting revenue should triple in the space of three years. If true, the handle could reach close to $25 billion.
Californians have been bombarded with television ads supporting either Proposition 27 or 26. To risk turning supporters into naysayers, BetMGM and FanDuel say Prop 27 will shift more to direct mail.
The Casino Control Commission in Ohio awarded sports betting licenses to professional sports teams, including FC Cincinnati. The MLS soccer team could engage with fans more through sports betting, according to CEO Jeff Berding (l.).
As Vermont ponders going legal with sports betting, they are surrounded by states already legal or getting close. The state legislature formed a committee and held an initial hearing.
Kansas is new to this newfangled sports betting, but if ten days is any indication, they have it down pat. Just ask Lottery Executive Director Stephen Durrell (l.).
Cybersecurity firm GeoComply has released a new report which shows that NFL fans are placing bets at stadiums like never before. Even though the season is less than a month old, there have been multiple games thus far that have registered over 60,000 location checks.
The two sports dominating the headlines this time of year were represented at the grand opening of DraftKings sportsbooks in two Seattle area casinos. Randy Johnson (l.) represented baseball and Steve Largent on the football side.
Kambi Group and ilani Casino (l.) have penned an agreement to provide sportsbook services to the Washington state casino. The services will be developed by the tribe and Salishan-Mohegan to integrate with Kambi’s sportsbook.
Will the PILOT battle ever end? The state of New Jersey is seeking a stay of the decision favoring Liberty & Prosperity, the organization led by Atlantic City activist Seth Grossman (l.), to eliminate the legislative amendments. The appeal appears to be headed for the state Supreme Court.
Cybersecurity has become a huge topic of conversation for all businesses, including casinos. In lieu of multiple damaging attacks to tribal casinos in recent years, the Nevada Gaming Control Board and Chairman Brin Gibson (l.) are proposing increased regulations to ensure that patrons’ data is protected moving forward.
A gambler has initiated a class-action lawsuit against MGM Resorts International over the operator’s use of no-change kiosks that keep the unused portion of cash-out tickets. Players can take the change vouchers to the cage for redemption, but few of them do so.
The third quarter of 2022 is nearly complete, and Caesars Entertainment still appears to be a long way off from selling one of its Las Vegas Strip properties, which has been speculated for months now. Most believe the Flamingo (l.) is the one for sale, but no progress has yet been announced.
A court decision that pulled a referendum vote from this year’s November ballot has voided a contract previously won by Maryland’s Urban One to build a casino resort (l.) in Richmond, Virginia.
Arlington Park (l.) sits on the site of a possible stadium for the Bears. Horse racino? You gotta be kidding. Hawthorne gets more racing dates for next year, with a casino on the horizon too.
Concord, New Hampshire could have a new casino with an entertainment center, hotel and restaurant. The proposal was brought to Concord’s planning board by former lawmaker and businessman Andy Sanborn (l.).
Resorts World Hudson Valley (l.), operated by Genting America, is slated to open sometime before the end of the year. It is going up in the renovated former retail space in the Newburgh Mall.
Staten Island Borough President Vito Fosella (l.) held a press conference to call on the New York State Gaming Commission to consider a Staten Island casino.
Maverick Gaming, based in Kirkland, Washington, has sold one of its Washington properties, Macau Casino (l.) for $22.1 million. It had purchased the casino for $6 million after the previous owner lost its gaming license.
September is Responsible Gambling Education Month, and the state of Ohio has released a new responsible gaming program to help identify potential signs of problem behavior, including an online quiz.
Mount Airy Casino Resort (l.) has been hit with substantial fines from the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board over instances of underage gambling as well as issues with license renewals.
The state of Illinois recorded $1.9 billion in gambling revenues in 2021, a new record. Lottery sales were the driving force, bringing in more than $800 million alone.
Last week, Macau gaming operator SJM Holdings Ltd. announced the appointment of Daisy Ho (l.) as managing director of the firm’s local unit, SJM Resorts. She replaces Angela Leong in the role.
WinSystems has appointed veteran gaming executive Angelo Palmisano (l.) to the role of chief strategy officer. Palmisano has 30+ years of gaming experience, having founded Paltronics in 1992.
Last week, Novomatic announced that Vice President of Product Management Thomas Schmalzer (l.) has become the company’s new vice president of global sales. He will hold both titles going forward.
Longtime iGaming executive Steve Nathan (l.) has been named senior vice president of interactive gaming at Cordish Gaming Group. Nathan previously held similar roles for Bally’s and Betworks.
Pine Bluff’s Saracen Casino (l.) is Arkansas’ first casino to feature multi-state jackpots for its gaming machines. IGT will supply the technology, which is much more common in other markets across the country.
Aristocrat Gaming has debuted its new Lightning Dollar Link video slot (l.) in California, installing the first units at the Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula.
Allwyn AG has backed out of a proposed merger with Cohn Robbins Holding Corp, a special purpose acquisition company, citing unfavorable market conditions.
Playtech is abandoning plans to sell its B2C Snaitech business after earnings reports showed that the business will be profitable as part of the iGaming supplier.
Paradise Entertainment expects increased demand for electronic games as Macau gaming phases out its VIP market. In a report, the group said there’s also room for growth outside Macau, including in North America.
The Holland America Line of cruise ships and Konami Gaming Inc. have
completed the launch of the Synkros casino management system across all 11 ships in the fleet.
Gamstop has launched a campaign in partnership with professional football clubs, player associations and others to promote self-exclusion to battle gambling addiction.
Las Vegas Raiders President Sandra Douglass Morgan (l.) and Barstool Sports CEO Erika Ayers Nardini will join the lineup of keynote speakers for G2E 2022, and will host discussions on sports betting, leadership and more.
Aruze Gaming has announced that its new Muso Triple-32 cabinet (l.) will be unveiled for sale at this year’s G2E show October 10-13. The T-32 features three 32-inch LCD screens as well as USB charging ports and other comforts.
Leading slot supplier AGS has announced that it will be showcasing new products and advancements from all three of its divisions, including slots, table products and interactive gaming.
Aristocrat Gaming is bringing all-new product to G2E 2022, including new iterations of the Lightning Link series, the Buffalo games and a new Tarzan game that includes the company’s Hold & Spin mechanics.
Eclipse Gaming is set to unveil a host of new products at this year’s G2E show, including a new arcade-style coin pusher as well as a number of new slot games.
