In its attempt to place on the November ballot a constitutional amendment allowing casino in North Florida, the Las Vegas Sands-backed political group Florida Voters in Charge fell short of the required 891,589 votes.

It’s not a surprise that the most populous state to legalize online sports betting posted record handle. In just three weeks, New York sports bettors wagered more than $1.6 billion, easily eclipsing the previous record set in September in New Jersey. A report by GeoComply seems to indicate the record revenue came without cannibalizing the former record holder, New Jersey.

On January 30, the chairman of Macau junket operator Tak Chun Group was arrested and jailed. Chan Weng-Lin (l.), known as Levo Chan, is being detained in the same facility that holds former Suncity head Alvin Chau.

Within weeks, the National Congress of Brazil could pass a bill to lift the longtime ban on gaming. President Jair Bolsonaro (l.) promises to veto such a bill, but has conceded he also expects his veto to be overridden.

In November, Richmond, Virginia voters rejected the Urban ONE casino project by less than 1,500 votes. City council is taking steps toward a revote, and a state senator has proposed moving the casino to Petersburg.

Apollo Global Management will assume operation of the Venetian, Palazzo and Venetian Expo Center after real-estate investment trust VICI acquires the real estate. But the Nevada Gaming Control Board ignored a controversy that linked former Apollo Chairman Leon Black (l.) with the notorious Jeffery Epstein.

The U.K. charity GambleAware has launched a responsible gambling campaign specifically aimed at women. According to its research, up to 1 million women in the U.K. may be at risk for gambling harms.

Acres Manufacturing has launched the Foundation App Store, a new marketplace allowing for rapid development and deployment of apps for any slot or table linked to the Acres Foundation system, according to COO Noah Acres (l.).

Stuart Hunter (l.), the managing director of ICE London producer Clarion Gaming, says the conference and exhibition is on track for April 2022, despite several exhibitor cancellations.

This week, the GGB Podcast sits down with Andrew Cardno, the co-founder and chief technology officer for Quick Custom Intelligence, on how his company is streamlining data analytics in gaming and creating easy to gather and understand suggestions on customer acquisition and loyalty.

Wakayama officials have voted against a referendum on the city’s plan to bid on a Japanese three integrated resorts. Japan’s central government will choose up to three regional locations and their operating partners this year.

Genting SkyWorlds (l.), the $789 million theme park at Malaysia’s Resorts World Genting, will mark its soft opening February 8. The 26-acre venue will be “loss-generating” at first, analysts say, but eventually earn its keep.

The reopening of borders in Cambodia could point to renewed prosperity for the Star Vegas casino (l.) in Poipet, according to Porntat Amatavivadhana, chairman of Australian-listed operator Donaco.

Lisboeta Macau (l.) has announced the launch of its latest hotel brand, the 164-room Maison L’Occitane. The luxury hotel accepted its first bookings just days before the start of Chinese New Year.

Swedish Minister of Finance Ardalan Shekarabi (l.) has unveiled new draft rules for gaming that would require licensing of software manufacturers, a ban on the promotion of illegal gaming and target ads aimed at youth.

Failure to accept social responsibility and implement anti-money laundering safeguards has cost Genesis Global £3.8 million in fines. The company has a history of running afoul of the U.K. Gaming Commission.

Western Australia’s gaming regulator concedes it did not properly oversee operations at Crown Perth (l.). Meanwhile, parent company Crown Resorts is reviewing a new takeover bid from U.S.-based Blackstone Group.

Two online gaming measures failed to move out of an Indiana House committee. Observers said lawmakers felt little pressure advance the bills in an election year, with the state financially sound.

Rush Street Interactive has signed a 25-year partnership agreement with Mexican media company Grupo Multimedios to bring Rush Street’s iGaming platform to Mexico. RSI CEO Richard Schwartz (l.) said he appreciated Grupo Multimedios’ record of success.

The Mississaugas of Scugog First Nation in Ontario is fighting an unrestricted online sports betting market planned by the provincial government. The nation says it will hurt its economy.

FBMDS has signed a deal with iGaming supplier EveryMatrix under which FBMDS content will be distributed using the EveryMatrix turnkey platform.

Bally’s Atlantic City has another iGaming site under its wing. Bally Casino offers a full range of table games and slots. PointsBet Casino opened in July under the Bally’s name.

Mobile sports betting kicked off in Louisiana on January 28, with six online wagering sites. First-day activity was “very heavy,” according to state Gaming Board Chairman Ronnie Johns.

A South Dakota Senate committee has narrowly approved a resolution to allow mobile sports betting, sponsored by Kyle Schoenfish (l.). A voter referendum on the issue would be held in November.

Virginia legislators are considering bills that would create a sports betting commission, require sportsbook operators to pay taxes on bonuses and promotions after year one, and allow bets on in-state college sports.

Representatives from Missouri casinos and sports teams met to find a path to legalizing sports wagering in the state. One major roadblock is state Senator Denny Hoskins (l.), who insists that VLTs be legalized too.

The Ohio Casino Control Commission is accepting public comments on draft rules for sports betting, starting in 2023. Meanwhile, JACK Entertainment has a sports betting “training camp” on its website and app.

Kambi Group and NorthStar Gaming have signed a long-term partnership under which NorthStar will use Kambi’s technology to offer single-event sports betting.

Caesars Sportsbook has formed a partnership agreement with the New York Racing Association making Caesars an official sports betting marketing partner and the title sponsor of the NYRA Turf Triple Series.

The Navajo Nation and Hard Rock Digital have partnered to offer a sportsbook in Arizona. The digital sports betting site is expected to go live in March. It will be the 12th mobile operator in the state.

The potential lockout notwithstanding, baseball actually begins in a couple of weeks. But most sports fans are thinking NFL or NBA, and what better time for BetMGM to open a sportsbook in Nationals Park? The company also began taking online bets in Illinois.

John Mizuno (l.), vice speaker of the Hawaii House of Representatives, has introduced a bill that would authorize a casino in Waikiki. It wouldn’t allow locals to play—only guests at an Oahu hotel.

The Illinois Gaming Board has approved the final license for the Hard Rock casino project in Rockford, owned by the Ho-Chunk Nation as the tribe awaits final BIA approval for land-in-trust.

Last May, the Florida legislature passed a law decoupling live racing from other gambling at Pompano Park harness track, but not at thoroughbred tracks. A Florida horse group claims the law is unconstitutional.

Formula 1 Racing is reportedly considering a race on one of the world’s most famous thoroughfares—the Las Vegas Strip. If the plan comes to pass, a portion of the highway would be closed for the event.

It’s a new owner, a new name and a potential new look for the Tropicana Las Vegas, to be acquired by Bally’s Corp. this year. The 1,470-room resort dates back to the late 1950s.

Add another voice to the growing chorus of lawmakers who want to ban smoking in Atlantic City casinos. Senator Michael Testa (l.) has signed a no-smoking bill.

MGM Rewards, the MGM Resorts new loyalty program, gives points for gamblers and those who don’t spend big in the casino. The rewards range from hotel stays, concerts, restaurants. Tier levels remain in place.

Missouri receives $400 million annual gaming revenue, including from the state lottery, and state Rep. Dave Griffith (l.) wants half of that to go toward veterans’ programs. The lottery and educators are likely to object.

Kentucky state Rep. Adam Koenig (l.) wants up to $30 million for an irrevocable trust to fund problem gambling services in the state. Currently, Kentucky provides no money for treatment and education.

The former longtime chairman of the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe of Massachusetts is going to court in April on corruption charges. Cedric Cromwell (l.) is accused of taking bribes related to the tribe’s proposed casino.

Washington-based Maverick Gaming has sued the state to try to overturn the monopoly on sports betting enjoyed by gaming tribes. The tribes claim Maverick is striking at funds they need to serve their members.

Members of Oregon’s Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde oppose a casino proposed by the neighboring Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians. They say it will hurt revenues generated by their casino.

The new $33 million expansion at Island Resort & Casino in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula includes a new 138-room hotel with special spa, golf and family suites, a waterpark, new golf course and more.

Eddie Tipton (l.), the former U.S. lottery official convicted of rigging the results in multiple states, has been released on parole after less than five years behind bars. Tipton confessed, but now claims he is an innocent man.

Hospitality veteran Cliff Atkinson is the new president of Fontainebleau Las Vegas. When the lavish Strip resort opens at the end of 2023, it will be “a beacon of change for the future of Las Vegas,” he said.

Gaming product innovator Bluberi announced last week that it has added Mike Brennan (l.) to its leadership team in the role of chief product officer. Brennan will lead product strategy and game development efforts. And Ray Suarez (l.) has been named vice president of operations.

Sarafina Wolde Gabriel has joined GeoComply as senior director of global markets. Gabriel has lengthy experience in digital technology, and is the former vice president of strategy for Income Access, a unit of Paysafe.

Valley Forge Casino has named Dedren Bailey vice president of marketing of the Pennsylvania resort, a Boyd Gaming property. Resort GM Ron Bailey called Bailey “one of the most talented marketers in our trade.”

Cordish Gaming Group has promoted Bill Mikus (l.) to senior vice president of human resources and Edward Evans to director of diversity, equity & inclusion.

BMM Testlabs has promoted Traci Rushakoff (l.), formerly senior vice president of finance to the position of group chief accounting officer, reporting to the group CFO.

Britt Boeskov has left her position as chief experience officer for Kindred Group PLC, after 17 years as an executive of the online gaming operator. Boeskov first joined the firm in 2005.

Steve Burns (l.) has been named chief public policy officer by the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians. Based in Sacramento, Burns will implement the tribe’s public policy strategy.

Sightline Payments is leveraging its Joingo Mobile Loyalty Platform with IGT systems technology to power the new mobile app for Indigo Sky Casino & Resort.

Entain has launched Ennovate, a lab described as an “innovation hub” that has pledged to invest up to £100 million in innovation projects, start-up investments and partnerships.

Zitro has installed 88 Link, its award-winning multi-game video unit, at the Bingo Gorrión casino in Alicante, Spain, the first casino in the Spanish region of Valencia to install the game.

The San Carlos Apache Gaming Enterprise has brought in Quick Custom Intelligence to install its United Gaming Platform-Nimble Edition at San Carlos Casino. The software monitors how volatile a slot floor is.

The World Game Protection Conference is set to return to Las Vegas February 15-17 at the Tropicana, focusing on threats and operational risks to casinos.

The International Association of Gaming Regulators announce a call for speakers for its annual conference, slated for October 17-20 in Melbourne, Australia.