The FIFA World Cup is undoubtedly the most-viewed sporting event across the globe, and for the first time ever, U.S. viewers will have widespread access to legal sports betting markets. According to research from the American Gaming Association and BettorOff, more than 20 million Americans plan to wager on the month-long tournament, for a total handle of over $1.5 billion.
Steve Cimino likes to bet on sports. He also doesn’t own a car. Yet instead of placing a bet from his living room in Washington D.C. he pedals to Virginia, which says volumes about the no-bid operator GambetDC.
Revenues are continuing to flow in to U.S. commercial casinos at unprecedented levels. The third quarter numbers again smashed records but have did we learned about this trend going forward?
A consultant’s report on the financial state of Native American tribes talks about the improvements needed for self-sufficiency. The paper also offers ways to increase entrepreneurial participation.
As expected, both sports betting propositions were defeated in California. Votes were not even close. The legislature may step in, but there’s bad blood between tribes and lawmakers—cardrooms too. So what’s next?
In a decision that has both sides claiming victory, an arbitrator in the dispute over purchase by Fox of a major stake in FanDuel held that Fox can buy one-fifth of FanDuel for $3.7 billion.
Commercial gaming revenues in the U.S. surpassed $15.17 billion in the third quarter of 2022, constituting a record in quarterly revenue and the first time it surpassed $15 billion. Graph (l.) courtesy of the American Gaming Association.
For months, rumors have been connecting the Oakland A’s and the Tropicana Las Vegas (l.), as the team looks for new stadium locations. On a recent earnings call, Bally’s CEO Lee Fenton said a ballpark is still a possibility, but local officials as well as Governor Steve Sisolak have made it clear that no public money is to be used, should a deal be made.
Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale (l., with Caesars VP of retail sports Dave Grolman) loves every sports team in his hometown of Houston. When the Astros won the World Series in six games over the Phillies, Mack won a total of $75 million—$30 million from Caesars—the largest legal sports betting payout on record.
Victorian regulators have once again hit Crown Melbourne (l.) with massive fines, this time over failures related to responsible gaming initiatives. In total, the penalties add up to UA$77.7 million, or A$120 million.
Five North American tribes had asked North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum (l.) for permission to run internet gambling and sports betting, but he rejected their request.
The U.K. gaming giants are hoping that when the white paper recommending changes to the 2005 Gambling Act is released that it will propose standards that are industry-friendly while promoting consumer protection. The white paper is expected to be released this year.
In a third-quarter earnings call, Wynn Resorts CEO Craig Billings (l.) emphasized the positive notes in his assessment of the company’s Macau operations. He pointed to higher volume in the VIP segment.
Steve Cimino likes to bet on sports. He also doesn’t own a car. Yet instead of placing a bet from his living room in Washington D.C. he pedals to Virginia, which says volumes about the no-bid operator GambetDC.
This week, the GGB Podcast features a discussion with Harald Neumann, the CEO of Ainsworth Game Technology on how his company is progressing in the Americas particularly in the field of historic horse racing games.
Lawrence Ho, head of Melco Resorts & Entertainment, says Phase 2 of Studio City (l.) in Macau will open as market conditions permit. Ho anticipates a gradual rollout starting in 2023, and is optimistic about the reception.
Vietnam and China will work together in the fight against cross-border gambling. The agreement was forged when Nguyen Phu Trong (l.), general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, recently visited China.
The trial of former Macau junket boss Alvin Chau (l.) may be drawing to an end. The judge in the case reportedly will hear closing arguments on November 21. Chau is charged with illegal gambling and criminal syndication.
The highest court in the German state of Nordrhein-Westfalen has ordered PokerStars to reimburse a man who lost €58,000 over six years before such gaming was legal in Germany. The man claims he did not know online casinos were only legal in Schleswig-Holstein.
Cyprus Casinos is experiencing volume in gaming activities that exceed levels the company achieved before the pandemic. Of those activities, gaming machines are the most popular and profitable, according to Melco Cyprus, which operates Cyprus Casinos.
The U.K. Gambling Commission has lifted the week-long suspension on LEBOM, a football predictions app, after the company integrated GAMSTOP, a self-exclusion program. The integration of the program has been required for all online gaming since 2020.
Puerto Rico has issued licenses to seven companies that operate or provide support for sports betting, according to Interim Director Jaime Rivera Emmanuelli (l.) of the Puerto Rico Gaming Commission. Five of the licenses are temporary. Before the licenses were issued, the commission assessed the profiles of the companies to determine suitability.
Casinos in the province of Alberta, Canada were closed during the Covid-19 pandemic, but Grand Villa Casino (l.) extended the closure and was penalized by the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission.
The Australian bookmaking industry has come under heavy scrutiny in recent months, and it appears that dominoes are beginning to fall—financial authority AUSTRAC has called for Sportsbet and Bet365 to be audited, and while Entain has yet to be singled out, it too appears to be gearing up for potential backlash.
New South Wales may be headed towards mandatory cashless play for gaming machines, after an investigation by state officials revealed that the machines were extensively being used by criminals, either to launder money or play with crime profits. ClubsNSW CEO Josh Landis (l.), however, views this move as being too extreme, too fast.
Las Vegas Sands Corporation may be abandoning its efforts to enter the online gaming space that began less than 18 months ago, according to a news report.
Play’N Go has gone live with its games in the New Jersey iGaming market through operator BetMGM, with launch games including both Play’N Go classics and new releases.
The Massachusetts Gaming Commission (l.) recently met to try and approve regulations concerning sports wagering at the state’s two race tracks, but one issue was unable to be resolved.
FanDuel and DraftKings rank first and second in handle in mobile sports betting in New York state. Caesars finished third. As for market share, FanDuel brings in almost half the wagers.
In a crowded online sportsbook game Churchill Downs Inc. didn’t see profits. So the parent of the Kentucky Derby pulled the plug on mobile and got into the business of selling horse racing systems to sportsbooks.
Visitors to the Pro Football Hall of Fame (l.) in Canton, Ohio can bet on sports as of January 1. The state gaming commission awarded a retail and online license to the owners of the Hall of Fame Village on the campus.
Horse racing fans weren’t sure how the new format was going to be when FanDuel bought TVG in August, but so far they are fairly satisfied with the changes.
The Seneca Nation of Western New York has been at odds with the state on an agreement with a new gaming compact and the president of the tribe is accusing Governor Kathy Hochul (l.) of negotiating in bad faith.
Now that 2022 is drawing to a close, Hard Rock International’s acquisition of the Mirage (l.) from MGM Resorts will soon be finalized. Although it is unclear exactly how Hard Rock will rebrand the property once it takes control, locals can at least breathe easy knowing that the iconic volcano show will continue—for now.
DraftKings and Seminole Hard Rock executives donated to the successful campaign of New York Governor Kathy Hochul (l.), who was accused of operating “pay to play” schemes, awarding tax breaks and contracts to donors.
Apollo Global Management, the new owners of the Venetian (l.) in Las Vegas, are so pleased with the profitability of the casino and hotels, they are planning to pay a $620 million dividend and are on the lookout for other properties to acquire.
Indiana state Senator Jon Ford (l.) and state Rep. Ethan Manning, both pro-gambling, were re-elected. So was gambling opponent state Rep. Ben Smaltz, setting the state for another expanded gambling battle in the legislature.
The M Resort (l.) in Henderson, Nevada, a southern neighbor of Las Vegas, is getting a $206 million renovation that will include a second tower with 384 rooms, a new ballroom, and meeting space.
Mississippi state Rep. Cedric Burnett (l.) introduced a bill allowing Tunica County casinos to move from inside levees to dry land to avoid flood risk. Under the measure, casinos also could move closer to Memphis to increase attendance and revenue.
Caesars Entertainment will open a temporary Caesars Virginia casino in Danville next year. The $650 million permanent casino (l.) will offer 1,300 slots, 85 live table games and 24 electronic table games, plus a sportsbook, poker room, concert venue and convention space.
Richmond, Virginia officials want a second vote on the proposed $565 ONE Casino (l.) voters rejected last year. But Petersburg legislators also are pushing hard for a casino. A recent study said both cities could support a casino but that would generate less revenue for each community.
In an effort to push back against competitors and crime, Caesars Entertainment announced Horseshoe Casino Baltimore (l.) will be part of the new Walk @ Warner Street entertainment district, extending from the casino to M&T Bank Stadium.
The Catawba tribe operates a temporary Two Kings Casino (l.) in North Carolina while the National Indian Gaming Commission winds up its investigation of contractual issues with developer Kings Mountain Sky Boat Partners.
A new $400 million resort and waterpark (l.) in Oklahoma City was announced by the Chickasaw Nation that will span over 140 acres and consist of a hotel, lagoon, waterpark and retail shops.
The Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians, also known as the Gun Lake Tribe, plans to put hundreds of acres into trust near its Gun Lake Casino (l.) in Allegan County, Michigan. The tribe wants to build a non-gaming development to include industrial, retail sales, health care and housing.
The Idaho Lottery has extended its contract with Scientific Games to offer the company’s instant scratch games to players in the state. The portfolio includes player favorites like Sapphire 7s and Million Dollar Blowout.
Scientific Games’ vice president of responsible gaming Carla Schaefer has been appointed to the National Council on Problem Gambling’s board of directors. Schaefer leads Scientific Games’ responsible gaming efforts.
Seneca Gaming Corp. promoted longtime employees Joanne Israel to general manager at Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino in Niagara Falls and Marc Papaj to general manager at Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino in Buffalo, New York.
Natalia Kostova, a veteran of gaming and entertainment in Europe, has been named sales manager Europe-systems division by Spanish-based Win Systems. Her job will be to increase sales of the WIGOS casino management system in Europe to reflect its American successes.
Emmanuel Thomas has been named general manager of the 6,500-seat Hard Rock Live venue at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood in south Florida. Thomas also previously worked at San Francisco’s Chase Center and New York City’s Madison Square Garden.
Sightline Payments has launched its mobile loyalty platform, Mobile+ Powered by JOINGO, at the Talking Stick Resort and its sister property, Casino Arizona in Scottsdale.
Kindred Group is partnering with Gamban to use its consumer-protection software in Kindred’s Unibet platforms operating in France. The Gamban tool gives players control over their gambling activities by blocking sites and enabling self-exclusion.
High 5 Games and Rush Street Interactive have launched new casino games on PlaySugarHouse and BetRivers in Pennsylvania. The deal allows High 5 to directly integrate into RSI’s iGaming platform.
Golden Entertainment has announced it will deploy QCI Host across all its casinos and taverns, including the PT’s brand (l.), in Nevada. QCI Host was first used at Golden’s Laughlin properties: the Aquarius and Edgewater casino resorts.
Zitro has launched “Seven Chests,” a new multi-level progressive link with four inaugural titles represented by characters culled from popular fantasy.
May 7-9, 2024: SBC Summit North America, Meadowlands Exposition Center, Secaucus, NJ. Produced by SBC Events. For more information visit sbcevents.com.
May 14-16, 2024: Cage Conference + Connect User Conference, Gila River Resorts & Casinos Learn about new technologies that enhance profitability and network with industry leaders who have proven success in Cage, Revenue and Player Services. For more information visit skiild.com/cage-conference/.
June 3-5, 2024: SiGMA Asia, SMX Convention Center, Manila, Philippines. Produced by SiGMA Group For more information visit sigma.world/.
June 4-6, 2024: G2E Asia 2024, The Venetian Macao, Macau, SAR. Produced by RX and the American Gaming Association. For more information visit g2easia.com/.
June 18-20, 2024: Canadian Gaming Summit, Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Toronto, Canada. Produced by SBC Events. For more information visit sbcevents.com.
July 16-19, 2024: iGB L!VE 2024, RAI Amsterdam, Netherlands Produced by Clarion Gaming. For more information visit igblive.com.
