Last weekend’s Super Bowl featured a not-so-glamourous pairing: the Cincinnati Bengals vs. the L.A. Rams. No matter. When all the bets are tallied, the American Gaming Association predicts record wagering on the Big Game. Houston furniture store magnate Mattress Mac bet a U.S. sports betting record wager of nearly $10 million all told.

Last week the governors of heavily Democrat states—several major gaming states, including Nevada—dropped the mask mandates, defying the federal government, which has been guided by CDC policy that recommends the continuation of mask wearing to combat Covid.

Macau hasn’t registered a locally transmitted Covid-19 case in four months. As a result, the gaming hub pulled out (most of) the stops for its 2022 Chinese New Year celebration.

A poll shows that most Nevada voters favor a casino tax increase to support public education, but rejected a sales tax hike earmarked for the same purpose. The measure must be approved for the November ballot.

Mobile sports betting in New York State has proven a quick success, but it has also caused an increase in problem gambling. The state has set aside $6 million a year to help compulsive gamblers, but ubiquitous gambling ads don’t help.

According to a Florida judge, the Seminole Tribe may intervene in a lawsuit by a Las Vegas Sands-backed political action committee pushing a casino referendum.

The gaming regulator in New South Wales is pursuing legal action against Melco Resorts & Entertainment to recoup millions in legal fees associated with its probe of Crown Resorts, which involved a partnership between Crown’s James Packer and Melco’s Lawrence Ho (l.)

Las Vegas Sands has contributed $300,000 to the International Center for Responsible Gaming (ICRG) to conduct research and education in the field of responsible gaming. Maria-Christina Annaloro, director of government relations and responsible gaming at Sands, discusses the endowment with ICRG Chairman Alan Feldman and President Arthur Paikowsky.

Trevor Croker (l.), chairman of Aristocrat Leisure Ltd., says the company’s operational momentum remains strong, despite failing in its takeover bid for Playtech PLC.

While the pandemic walloped the Las Vegas locals market, the recovery is well under way, with the Strip not far behind. Red Rock Resorts and Boyd Gaming posted record numbers.

This week the GGB Podcast features a discussion with Anthony Cabot, a Distinguished Fellow in Gaming Law at UNLV’s William S. Boyd School of Law, on a program funded by Entain that will deliver online gaming law classes to people from around the world.

Wakayama Lawmakers: IR Plan ‘Not Convincing’

Melco Resorts & Entertainment says it may have to transfer ownership of its Studio City resort (l.) in Macau to comply with a proposed change in the local gaming law.

Marina Bay Sands (l.), one of two integrated resorts in Singapore, has embarked on a $1 billion renovation. It is the largest reinvestment in the Las Vegas Sands property history.

Las Vegas Sands, parent of Macau gaming concessionaire Sands China, has indicated in an annual report that it severed ties with “three primary gaming promoters” last December.

An Osaka city council group says a referendum should be held on the city’s bid for an integrated resort, which would cost the city $687 million in site preparations. The IR (rendering at l.) would be built on Yumeshima Island.

Officials in the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh have ordered striking casino workers to stand down, citing Covid concerns. But labor leaders say it’s all about muzzling their demands for workplace reform at NagaWorld.

The Philippines reopened its borders to international travel last week. The borders closed in March 2021 due to a spike in Covid-19 cases. All arriving passengers must be fully vaccinated and carry negative Covid tests.

On February 4, South Korea’s Kangwon Land (l.) announced it will undertake almost US$24 million in new amenities. Among other upgrades, it will increase the size of its gaming floor by 10 percent.

The revolving door of chief executives at Imperial Pacific International continues to spin. On February 2, interim CEO Ray Yumul resigned after a year on the job—and some sparring with commissioners.

The U.K. Gambling Commission won’t release its much-anticipated report on gambling reform until May. This is the second time the report has been pushed back. Labor officials blame the troubles on Tory turmoil.

With the U.K. finally easing Covid restrictions, exhibitions and conventions are expected to pick up. In April, the ICE gaming convention returns to London after two years, but with reduced participation.

Australia’s Star Entertainment Group is accused of urging local gamblers to claim they lived outside New South Wales to reduce the amount of gaming tax Star paid to the state government.

Opposition to a gaming bill in Brazil has arisen in that country’s Chamber of Deputies. Some of those officials have requested that the bill be removed from immediate consideration. It’s now up to the chamber president, Arthur Lira (l.), to determine the fate of gaming.

Betsson Group has launched its online gaming product in the province and city of Buenos Aires, Argentina, in collaboration with land-based operator Casino de Victoria.

The government of Hungary may end the iGaming monopoly now held by Szerencsejáték Zrt. The parliament is mulling a bill to open the market to private online operators.

Spearhead Studios has released the online slot title John Daly: Spin It and Win It, carrying a theme surrounding the U.S. pro golfer and PGA champion John Daly.

With a 1-vote margin, the South Dakota Senate (l.) passed a resolution that would place on the November ballot a constitutional amendment allowing online sports betting. The measure still requires House approval.

An online sports betting bill that passed the North Carolina Senate last year has a good chance to pass in the House when the legislature reconvenes in May. Governor Roy Cooper (l.) said “it’s time” for legal online wagering.

Mississippi lawmakers rejected three House and two Senate bills that would have legalized online sports betting. Currently sports wagers only can be placed on-site at a casino or parimutuel facility.

In Ohio, a third batch of proposed sports betting rules has been released, focusing on Type C licenses and exclusion programs. Legal bets were approved in December and the industry must launch by January 2023, according to the bill signed by Governor Mike DeWine (l.) in December.

Kentucky Rep. Adam Koenig (l.) will file a bill legalizing online and retail sports betting. He said lawmakers are more interested in sports wagering following the passage of historical horseracing legislation last year.

Sports betting bills are being considered in the Kansas Senate and House. State casinos want to be the exclusive providers; lottery retailers disagree. Either way, Senator Rob Olson (l.) says, “We must get this across the line.”

A Virginia House subcommittee shot down a bill to lift the ban on in-state college sports wagers, but a Senate committee approved a measure allowing betting on spreads and totals for in-state college sports events.

Wyoming has granted a license to PointsBet to operate online sports betting in the state. It is the fourth operator approved by the Wyoming Pari-Mutuel Commission. Online sportsbooks are the only kind in the state.

Louisiana beat out New York for volume of mobile sports bets after online wagers launched. Within 36 hours, 3.6 percent of Louisiana adults made mobile bets; 3.3 percent of New Yorkers posted bets in the same period.

Entain PLC has acquired Avid Gaming, owner of Canadian iGaming brand Sports Interaction. Sports Interaction, licensed in Quebec, is operated by Mohawk Online.

Kambi Group and Kindred Group announced that their B2B sports betting partnership has been extended through 2026, as Kambi announces its long-term sportsbook plans.

Less than a rear after its formation, Fubo Gaming’s sportsbook unit holds market access deals in 10 U.S. states. Its newest markets are Mississippi, Louisiana and Missouri through Caesars Entertainment Inc.

Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. has partnered with the NFL. OLG’s PROLINE retail and online sportsbooks will have a five-year partnership once the regulated open market launches April 4.

Sports betting is now live in Puerto Rico at Casino del Mar at La Concha Resort (l.). Last week BetMGM announced it had launched the island’s first regulated sports betting platform, just in time for Super Bowl LVI.

Washington’s Suquamish Clearwater Casino Resort has opened a sportsbook. The grand opening included ceremonial first bets by NFL stars Steve Largent and Jim Zorn.

Licensing 10 tribal sportsbooks in Arizona is not enough, say tribes that were left out. Senator Sally Ann Gonzales (l.) has introduced legislation to rectify that. Her bill would bring the number up to 22, one for each tribe.

Visits to U.S. casinos fell in January based on foot traffic. An analyst blamed Covid-19’s omicron and lack of international travel but sees a turnaround coming through the rest of 2022.

A proposed bill in the Maryland legislature would bring slot machines to Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (l.) in Baltimore.

Wind Creek Bethlehem (l.) has become the fifth Pennsylvania casino since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic to request a reduction in its inventory of slot machines.

First Las Vegas secured a hockey franchise in the NHL. Then it lured the Raiders out of Oakland. The A’s are looking long and hard as well. Vegas also just hosted the NFL Pro Bowl and NHL All Star Game.

Atlantic County, New Jersey, filed suit against the state over legislation to alter the payments from casinos in lieu of taxes, known as PILOT. A judge heard from both sides and will rule in a few weeks on an injunction.

Encore Boston Harbor has pulled back on big plans to develop land across the street from the resort, but briefed the Massachusetts Gaming Commission on plans for an entertainment center, dining and parking.

Former Wynn Exec Sentenced in ‘Varsity Blues’ Case

Wynn Resorts was included on Fortune magazine’s 2022 list of “World’s Most Admired Companies,” placing first overall for the quality of its products and services.

Plans to relocate Win-River resort casino (l.) in Northern California are moving ahead. The Redding Rancheria is waiting for approval by the BIA to begin construction on land near Interstate 5 and the Sacramento River.

Matthew Pagels (l., center) president of the Seneca Nation, has aroused the wrath of the Mothers of the Nation. The group opposes a settlement made by Pagels and New York officials on disputed casino payments.

The competition is heating up for the lucrative contract to run Britain’s National Lottery, with U.K. firm Flutter Entertainment pitted against Czech contender Allwyn.

Scientific Games has launched retail and digital sports betting and lottery operations for the Azerbaijan National Lottery, Azerlotereya, under a 10-year contract.

Zitro has named Derik Mooberry (l.), formerly a longtime executive of Bally Technologies and Scientific Games, as the company’s new chief executive officer, USA.

Eilers & Krejcik Gaming announced that the late casino operator Michael Laubach (l.) and slot supply veteran Bob Luciano will be inducted into the EKG Slot Awards Hall of Fame.

Bragg Gaming Group has appointed Lara Falzon (l.), veteran iGaming executive and a non-executive director of Bragg, as the company’s new president and chief executive officer.

Win Systems has appointed Michael Lamers (l.) as product director of the company’s gaming division. Lamers has worked for Aristocrat and Scientific Games, among other gaming giants.

Ocean Casino Names New General Manager

A new board has been appointed to head the Spanish gaming group Codere SA. Led by Chairman Christopher Bell they will formulate a four-year plan to return the company to pre-pandemic “levels of activity.”

JCJ Completes PA Penn Casinos

Everi to Acquire Ecash Holdings

Exacta Systems will partner with Georgia-based Aurify Gaming to bring Aurify games into the historical horse racing market under a License IP Agreement.

Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana and Quick Custom Intelligence have jointly announced that the QCI Slot Platform is now being deployed at the new property in Gary.

Rolling Hills Casino in Northern California will now use robots to act as servers. The robots, from Richtech Robotics, are able to bus tables and take orders at the Rock & Brews bar.