How can we increase visitation to Las Vegas? How about special packages each month that encapsulate everything that is cool about Vegas. Columnist Ira David Sternberg explains how it would work.
Casinos can’t attract younger players if they don’t understand who they are. Let’s look at the myths and misperceptions surrounding this group—which is broad-based, growing and maturing, with the discretionary income to support entertainment.
When it comes to awarding licenses, Maryland has expanded the sportsbook universe. In addition to casinos, racetracks and mobile licensees, applicants could include OTBs, taverns and even bowling alleys.
The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Betting and Gaming has criticized the U.K. Gambling Commission as an underperforming rogue agency. The MPs want the industry treated with respect.
Wynn Resorts is planning an integrated resort with gaming on Al Marjan Island (l.), a man-made island in the United Arab Emirates, in partnership with an international developer. And sources last week revealed that Wynn is trying to put its interactive division, WynnBet on the market at a deep discount.
Standard General is Bally’s Corp.’s largest shareholder controlled by Bally’s Chairman Soo Kim (l.), but wants a stake greater than 21 percent. The company has offered to buy Bally’s in its entirety and take it private.
An investigation found evidence of fraud in a drive to bring casinos to Florida. That aside, it’s unlikely a Sands-backed PAC can get the signatures to put the issue on the ballot. And the bid to open up sports betting in the state, sponsored by DraftKings and FanDuel, threw in the towel. The deadline is Tuesday, February 1.
More major international exhibitors announced they will not participate in ICE London due to Covid-19 concerns, the latest being the show’s largest exhibitor, Novomatic Group. Meanwhile the concurrent iGB Affiliate show is already larger than in 2020.
Opening New York to mobile sports betting has flooded the state with revenue. A good slice of that money was predicted to come at New Jersey’s expense. Maybe that’s not true.
The famous Horseshoe casino brand will return to Las Vegas as Caesars Entertainment transforms the existing Bally’s resort (l.). The renovation will begin this spring.
Oklahoma state Rep. Ken Luttrell (l.) sponsored a bill to amend tribal gaming compacts to include sports betting. But tribal officials said legalizing sports betting has to make economic sense to tribes, which would take all the risk.
Although the worst of the pandemic appears over, European casinos are still under tremendous strain imposed by Covid governmental measures, according to European Casino Association Chairman Per Jalding (l.). The association’s survey discloses these challenges.
The JKO Play group, controlled by Eddie Jordan (l.) and Keith O’Loughlin. has dropped its plan to submit a rival bid to Aristocrat Leisure Ltd. to acquire iGaming supplier Playtech PLC.
The government of Ontario, Canada under Premier Doug Ford (l.) will soon ease pandemic restrictions at provincial casinos. Proof of vaccine and masks will still be required, but capacity limits will be lifted by March 14.
The influx of international gaming companies into U.S. markets and onto U.S. public listings continues. These companies see lots of opportunity stateside, particularly on the iGaming, sports betting and lottery sides.
This week’s podcast features a discussion with Cynthia Kiser-Murphey, the general manager of The Palms in Las Vegas on the reopening of the property in the spring now that it’s owned by California’s San Manuel Band of Mission Indians.
The Vietnamese economy is coming back strong, and its gaming industry will be a beneficiary. With more than 90 percent of the population vaccinated against Covid-19, travel is expected to surge.
Starting midnight on January 24, Macau was once again open to international passenger flights. On arrival, incoming travelers still must quarantine from 21 to 28 days.
NagaWorld insists it didn’t try to reduce union representation at the property through Covid layoffs. The resort in Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh said most of those furloughed signed “mutual separation deals.”
At a ceremony on January 21, Sands China honored outstanding suppliers, recognized local small businesses graduating from its procurement training program and launched a book highlighting their success stories.
Andrea Domingo (l.), head of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., recently accepted a commendation from the country’s Anti-Money Laundering Council for PAGCOR’s “invaluable contribution” AML efforts.
Armenia is poised to adopt a ban on gaming advertisements. The ban is advocated by Minister of Finance Armen Hayrapetyan (l.), who wants to adopt rules like those in Latvia, Estonia, the Czech Republic and Georgia.
Sweden’s Minister of Social Securities Ardalan Shekarabi (l.) wants to tighten gaming license requirements. He said Swedish consumers are “vulnerable and “the government is right to take back control.”
Calls to Michigan’s problem gambling hotline are up since iGaming became legal a year ago. The state took in $209 million in online and sports betting revenue; only $1 million goes to problem gambling services.
A survey conducted by Pennsylvania regulators and Penn State University found that one in nine Pennsylvania adults, more than 1 million state residents, have tried online gambling or sportsbooks.
Resorts Digital Gaming has signed a multi-state agreement with content supplier Digital Gaming Corp., under which Resorts will offer DGC’s full suite of slot games.
Switzerland’s Casino Barrière Montreux has unveiled its new online casino brand Gamrfirst. The launch was celebrated at the brick and mortar casino, which is on the banks of Lake Geneva.
Retail sportsbooks at 14 Louisiana casinos launched in October and mobile sports betting finally caught up on January 28, just in time for the National Football League conference championships. WynnBET is using former LSU basketball star Shaquille O’Neal (l.) as a spokesman.
Hawaii doesn’t allow gaming. A new bill proposed by Rep. John Mizuno (l.) would authorize sports betting with a staggering tax rate of 55 percent on all wagers. It would be the highest tax in the nation.
The Indiana Gaming Commission has awarded Hard Rock Northern Indiana (l.) a temporary license for retail and mobile sports wagering. Bets could be available in time for the Super Bowl and March Madness.
Kansas lawmakers are optimistic for sports betting in 2022. Legislators could take up the Senate bill that passed or return a House bill to committee, although a dog-racing provision likely led to its demise.
A sports betting bill filed by Mississippi state Rep. Casey Eure would allow mobile wagering but require annual in-person registration. State Rep. Cedric Burnett (l.) has also filed a sports betting bill—the third in four years.
By changing a single word in its sports betting rules, the Arkansas Racing Commission blocked mobile sports bets on the February 13 Super Bowl. The “correction” is a response to lawmakers’ and the public’s concerns.
Tennessee sportsbooks missed the 10 percent minimum hold requirement for 2021, coming in at 7.3 percent. As a result, BetMGM, DraftKings and FanDuel will likely choose to pay more taxes.
MGM Resorts International and Entain Plc each own half of BetMGM, even though they’re on opposite sides of the pond. The two gaming giants will add $450 million to help get into new markets.
The NFL did all right during the 2021-22 season. The company earned close to $2 billion from a variety of sponsors, from tech firms, gambling companies, and alcohol.
When Ontario’s sports betting market opens, operators will be lined up to appeal to its 15 million person market. They include PointsBet, Fan Duel, DraftKings, BetMGM, Caesars, BetRivers and theScore Bet.
Publicly-traded Esports Entertainment Group has received an order from the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement enabling it to accept bets in the state.
The Houston Dynamo Football Club has signed a multi-year deal with Fubo Gaming in a partnership potentially valued at $178 million. The deal paves the way for Fubo in the event Texas legalizes sports betting.
MaximBet has signed multi-year agreements with sports betting platform supplier Kambi Group and iGaming supplier White Hat Gaming in an effort to expand its North American presence.
Genius Sports and Betway have a good thing going. They signed a partnership for Genius to exchange data for sportsbook operator Betway. The deal includes the NFL and NCAA basketball.
Tennessee is the first state to offer the peer-to-peer betting platform Wagr, which allows customers to bet against each other. Based in Nashville, Wagr charges players a 5 percent transaction fee per wager.
Philadelphia City Council is considering an ordinance that would ban the so-called “skill games” that have been spreading in convenience stores in the region.
Georgia lawmakers may OK sports betting ahead of casino gaming this session. Conservative groups still could hold up legislation, but as state Senator Brandon Beach (l.) says, “It’s going on anyway, through bookies.”
Richmond, Virginia voters may get a do-over on Urban One’s proposed $565 million casino-resort, which was narrowly defeated in November. Mayor Levar Stoney (l.) proposed a real estate tax cut to sweeten the deal.
Grants Pass Downs (l.) says it can’t run a racing season—despite permission from the Oregon Racing Commission—without the Flying Lark gaming center being approved. Oregon tribes oppose the center.
Seven new horse racetracks have been proposed in Nebraska, including one that would affect Ho-Chunk’s proposed $200 million WarHorse Casino in Omaha. State Senator Tom Briese (l.) says enough is enough.
The Koi Nation of Northern California and the Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma will partner on the Koi’s Shiloh Casino & Resort (l.) near Windsor. The venue will feature 2,500 slots and 200-room hotel and create 1,100 jobs.
European lottery group Allwyn will list on the New York Stock Exchange after merging with the special-purpose acquisition company Cohn Robbins Holdings Corp. Karel Komárek (l.), chairman of the board, says it’s the next step in the company’s history.
Malaysian billionaire Lim Kok Thay has resigned his post as chairman, CEO and executive director of struggling cruise ship operator Genting Hong Kong. He was followed by Deputy CEO Colin Au.
Everi Holdings has announced two new appointments to its board of directors, Secil Tabli Watson and Paul Finch (l.). A new lead independent director was also chosen to replace Ronald Congemi, who is retiring.
Eilers & Krejcik Gaming has named Allen Ambrogio, a former executive of several online gaming operators, to the position of director of electronic money movement.
Long time DraftKings executive, Stephanie Sherman, has become chief marketing officer responsible for all marketing and promotion efforts. She joined the company nine years ago.
On January 21, Carl D. Hoffman was appointed as the next chief of the Investigations Division of the Nevada Gaming Control Board. Hoffman succeeds Mike LaBadie, who retired after more than 35 years in December.
Per Widerström (l.) has announced he will end his seven-year term as chief executive of the Fortuna Entertainment. David Vaněk, general manager of Fortuna’s Czech unit, will succeed him on March 1.
Nueva Codere, formerly Grupo Codere, has nominated ex-Ladbrokes CEO Chris Bell as its new non-executive chairman. If approved, Bell would leave his roles at XLMedia and Rank Group to dedicate himself to Codere.
B2B sports betting and iGaming service provider FSB has appointed former SkyBet trading and risk leader Kyle Brady to support the company’s pre-sales solutions team.
The Texas Alabama-Coushatta Tribe has named a new tribal council and chairman, Rick Sylvestine. Their priority is the health and safety of tribal members and the preservation of the tribe’s Naskila Gaming casino (l.).
Maine state Senator Louis Luchini worked for decades to expand gaming in the Pine Tree State. Now he has retired from the legislature and will join the U.S. Small Business Administration.
Judy Young, formerly vice president at the New Braunfels, Texas Convention and Visitors Bureau, has been named the new executive director of Coastal Mississippi, which promotes tourism in three counties.
Everi Holdings has signed an agreement with Exacta Systems under which it will use Exacta’s platform to offer its titles to the historical horse racing market. Exacta’s Ross O’Hanley (l.) says the deal will increase player engagement.
CCO Casey Whelan (l.) says Bluberi has launched its new Reels of Steel game at the Yaamava’ Resort & Casino in Highland, California. It is the first game on Bluberi’s larger-than-life Big Mech cabinet.
JCM Global has installed its ICB Intelligent Cash Box system at Harrah’s Southern California, marking the second Harrah’s casino in the state to use the system.
TCSJohnHuxley and umAfrika Gaming Technologies are combining resources in support of the 2022 Learnership Program, which promotes gaming industry employment in South Africa.
Scientific Games will launch its Coin Combo family of games on the Kascada cabinet in Macau, following successful launches in other Asian gaming jurisdictions.
The British Columbia Lottery Corp. will present its 10th New Horizons in Responsible Gambling Conference on March 9-10, in a virtual format. Stanford neuroscientist David Eagleman (l.) will be the keynote speaker.
The International Association of Gaming Advisors has opened registration for the 2022 International Gaming Summit, to be held in Boston in June. The event is expected to draw operators, suppliers, investors, regulators and more.
