Las Vegas is changing, sometimes for the better, sometimes not. But it will always be Las Vegas and there will always be something for everyone, according to Ira David Sternberg.
Mobile casino games, especially slots, have had an impressive rise in popularity over the past few years, resulting in record numbers so far in 2022. The industry is expected to exceed $8 billion by 2026, and Brainlabs and Consumer Acquisition, gives some insight into some of the sector’s latest trends.
Genting Malaysia may be a long shot to win an “outright” concession in the Macau gaming license retender, but the company’s bid, which took the incumbents by surprise, has its merits. For one thing, Genting has been all-in on non-gaming, a fact that should impress the retender committee.
In a special video tribute, the winners of GGB’s Gaming & Technology Award received their awards from GGB Editor Frank Legato and Managing Editor Jess Marquez on the exhibit floor at G2E.
In what appears to be a change of heart, Texas Governor Greg Abbott (l.) said in a statement to a Houston newspaper that he is open to legalizing casinos in Texas under certain conditions.
The U.K.’s gaming industry has urged the new prime minister, Rishi Sunak (l.), to end the delays hindering the Gambling Act white paper. It notes that the new premier has a racetrack in his constituency and “has always shown himself to be a very strong supporter of British horse racing.”
Nevada esports betting regulations may not be far away, now that an advisory committee has finalized and presented a new regulation framework to state regulators, who will consider the matter before the end of the year. And in New Jersey, efforts to classify esports as online gaming move forward.
In the ongoing trial of Alvin Chau, witnesses suggested that Suncity, the now-defunct Asian junket once run by Chau, was associated with other entities that conducted illegal under-the-table bets.
At a meeting where police had to remove protesters, the Aurora, Illinois city council okayed a $50 million tax incentive for Penn Entertainment’s Hollywood Casino (l.) to move from its current downtown location.
North Dakota tribes’ plan for monopoly of online gaming would “absolutely devastate our industry,” says North Dakota Gaming Alliance Executive Director Mike Motschenbacher (l.). The tribes claim they need it to even the playing field since the introduction of pull-tab machines in 2017.
Of four Southern states, only Mississippi will fight efforts to oppose online sports betting. Why? Keeping sports betting in-person will keep folks visiting the 26 casinos in the state.
The government of Gibraltar isn’t falling over itself to correct anti-money laundering failures that caused the Financial Action Task Force to add it to its “gray list.” That list calls out jurisdictions that FATF says don’t do enough to figure out money laundering, including increasing fines.
For nearly ten years, Jackie Robinson’s planned All Net Resort & Arena project (l.) on the north Strip has made little progress leading to pressure from local officials. Now, the development appears to be back on track, thanks to new funding from investor Todd Owen.
At this point, we’ve seen enough positive 3Q results from gaming companies across all sectors to have faith in its long-term resiliency moving forward, even as the cloud of recession looms large. The lessons learned from the doldrums of Covid appear to have stuck, and operators will need to rely on that experience to weather future storms.
This week, the GGB Podcast features a discussion with Jay Snowden, the president and CEO of Penn Entertainment, on the progress of both the land-based and online gaming side of his company.
A Philippine court has declined to dismiss “grave coercion” charges lodged against Kazuo Okada and associates in the May takeover of Okada Manila. The Japanese billionaire claims he’s the rightful owner of the resort.
The Commonwealth Casino Commission of Saipan is trying to collect more than $25 million from Imperial Pacific International, which had its license suspended in 2021.
Cambodia continues its campaign to close illegal casinos and end related crimes including kidnapping. The government under Prime Minister Hun Sen (l.) has issued new regulations to manage, license and tax gaming.
Integrated resorts in Osaka (MGM Osaka at left) and Nagasaki could rival Singapore for convention and business tourism, according to a new report from Schroders Capital.
Vietnam’s Ministry of Finance says a pilot program to test locals casinos, such as the Corona casino (l.), can’t be fairly evaluated in light of Covid-19. Ministers want the program extended for two more years, and also want to add new venues to the trial.
A former casino in Glasgow, Scotland has closed as a casino to be reborn as a nightclub. The change came about after the U.K. Gambling Commission last year fined the Corinthian Club (l.) £70,000 for money laundering violations.
U.K. lawmakers are rebuking the practice of sportsbooks giving a cut of bettors' losses back to teams in the English Football League. A stern letter has called for cease and desist letters.
BOS, Sweden’s gaming trade association, is urging the new minister for financial markets, Niklas Wykman (l.), to break up the state gaming monopoly Svenska Spel. It is also calling for more government policies friendly to the gaming sector.
Paddy Power will install at least one betting kiosk at each of its 620 betting shops. The device offers states and tips along with pricing. Newer ones will include a writing shelf.
A five percent increase in the point of consumption tax is set to take effect December 1 in Queensland, and Justin Madden (l.), CEO of the trade association Responsible Wagering Australia, has argued that it may force online bookies to look elsewhere, which would result in massive revenue losses for the state.
The third-party consulting firm hired by Star Entertainment to assist with compliance efforts has released a report endorsing the company’s efforts thus far. However, it also cautioned the operator’s lack of timelines and performance objectives.
The province of Saskatchewan will have legal online gambling and sports betting on November 3 and will try to combat the “Gray Market” that has existed in the country for decades.
Two Australian media outlets—Seven Network and Nine Network—have been reprimanded by the Australian Media and Communications Authority for violations of laws regarding gambling advertisements.
Japan has criminalized offshore online gaming sites. That includes Japanese consumers, who can be arrested, fined and imprisoned for patronizing such offshore sites. The country’s National Police Agency (NPA) and Consumer Affairs Agency have declared, “Gambling is a crime. Stay away.”
The West Virginia Lottery would like to join the Multi-State Internet Gaming Compact. But the lottery folks want an existing operator to offer multi-state online poker first.
The Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission has approved regulations for sports betting in the state’s casinos. One of the biggies: all bets must be one in-person, not online.
Councilwoman Elissa Silverman (l.), a local lawmaker in D.C., has introduced a bill to end GambetDC’s monopoly for sports betting in Washington. The ordinance would expand the number of operators offering online sports betting.
Getting Maryland officials to launch mobile sports betting has seemed a never-ending task instead of an inevitable one. But the agency has taken a small step by announcing a date to award licenses.
Barstool Sports, which already operates in 11 states, added locations in Maryland and Louisiana recently with lounges that officials hope to add to the ambiance of their casinos.
DraftKings and FanDuel agree on something: both mobile and in-person sports betting launch dates should occur at the same time. To do anything else bestows an advantage that is hard to erase.
The Casino at Dania Beach in Florida will offer the 18-game 2022-2023 Dania Beach Invitational Jai-Alai Tournament, starting December 1. More than 20 of the best French and Spanish players will participate.
New York City has been a coveted place to build a casino, and for years developers have eyed the area. Now with the application process fast approaching, suitors are starting to line up for one of the three licenses.
Ambiguous gambling law in Texas means that different municipalities have their own interpretation of the law as it applies to membership-only clubs that offer poker. Recently, in Fort Worth, sheriff’s deputies and the DEA descended on the Watauga Social Lounge (l.).
The mystery surrounding the Cordish Companies’ proposed Petersburg, Virginia (l.) casino will be unveiled November 1. Officials want a Petersburg casino to replace the $565 million ONE Casino that Richmond voters rejected last year.
Work will immediately begin on the Grand Island Casino resort (l.), Nebraska’s second racetrack casino. The plans to build a temporary casino at the Fonner Park clubhouse have been approved by the Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission.
The New Mexico Racing Commission has denied a license to Colorado Partners, which wants to build a racino in Tucumcari. Commission Chairman Sam Bregman (l.) commented, “I don’t believe the industry is healthy enough to support a sixth license. The industry has only gotten tougher.”
In Louisiana, Isle of Capri Lake Charles will reopen December 12 as Horseshoe Lake Charles (l.). The property, a land-based casino and hotel, has been shuttered since 2020 due to the pandemic and Hurricane Laura.
The Grand Victoria Casino (l.) in Elgin, Illinois, owned by Caesars Entertainment, will get a $4 million renovation, including a new 2,100-square-foot sportsbook and 4,400-square-foot poker room.
The City of Henderson has approved the construction of a new hotel and casino for Boyd Gaming’s Jokers Wild property on Boulder Highway, to replace the existing building (l.).
The Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana (l.) expanded the size of its slot area and added more games. The casino has the latest machines and the highest win in the state.
The National Indian Gaming Commission has approved alternate technical standards for the Chickasaw Nation applicable to mobile Class II gaming on reservation lands. NIGC Chairman Sequoyah Simermeyer (l.) called it a milestone that is “rare within the tribal gaming community.”
To attract investment, business has to put its best foot forward. Tribes are often reluctant to take that step. Now Wells Fargo is turning its sights to Indian Country.
Flutter Entertainment has promoted current CFO Jonathan Hill (l.) to the newly created role of group COO. Paul Edgecliffe-Johnson has been brought in from IHG to take Hill’s place as CFO. Both will begin their tenures next year.
Fanatics has appointed finance veteran Andrea Ellis as chief financial officer of its new sports betting offshoot, Fanatics Betting & Gaming. Ellis brings a wide range of high-level financial experience, having served as CFO of Lime, Tim Hortons and Popeyes.
The International Center for Responsible Gaming has announced that longtime gaming veteran Eileen Moore Johnson has been elected to its governing board.
Raul Gutierrez has been named general manager of the MSG Sphere project, which is currently under construction with plans to open in late 2023. Gutierrez most recently served as vice president of operations for Allegiant Stadium.
Codere Online has announced the departure of board director Alejandro Rodino and the appointment of his successor, Borja Fernández. The online gaming operator serves Spain and Latin America.
Enteractive, a leader in iGaming retention and engagement services, has appointed Faye Williams to head of account management for the B2B team, reporting to Chief Business Officer Andrew Foster.
Aaron Saak was named president and chief executive officer at Crane NXT, which Crane Holdings Company will spin off as an independent entity in 2023. Saak previously served as president and chief executive officer at Gilbarco Veeder-Root.
Lavon Minor has been named director of sales for Agua Caliente Casinos. Minor has extensive hospitality experience, having held similar positions at Hyatt Regency and Marriott Hotels and Resorts.
Longtime tribal regulator Thorsten Toms has been hired as a client solutions executive for Gaming Laboratories International. Toms most recently served as the director of gaming administration for the Gun Lake Tribal Gaming Commission.
Robert Hoskin (l.), Entain’s chief governance officer, has defended the changes the company made to ensure sustainability of safer gambling practices in the wake of a major regulatory settlement.
A note from banking group JP Morgan complements Aristocrat Leisure Ltd. on its responsible-gaming efforts, singling out its “ethical” digital wallet and other products.
Global Payments recently announced a new partnership with Action 24/7. Through this integration, Action 24/7 will be able to provide patrons with easy funding capabilities for an improved gaming experience.
Enteractive, a leader in player reactivation and retention, was recently licensed by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. The company also serves U.S. players in New Jersey and Illinois.
Pragmatic Play has extended its partnership with Bet365 to add bingo to the content it provides the online gaming operator, accessible through the lobby of bet365 sites.
