It took 16 years to claw back, but New Jersey finally equaled its high mark in revenues with $5.2 billion. But hold your applause. Retail casino play only represented half of that amount.

Century Casinos announced it is abandoning efforts to develop the Hamilton Princess & Beach Club (l.) in Bermuda. Century Casinos CEO and president Peter Hoetzinger said “with the current legislative framework we do not assume this project can be realized in a reasonable time frame or at all.”

Las Vegas Sands Corporation announced it is applying for one of the three downstate New York licenses to build a casino resort on the site of the Nassau Coliseum (l.) on Long Island. And Saks 5th Avenue imagines a high-end casino on the upper floors of its building.

A tight labor market could put pressure on Macau resorts for Chinese New Year, a peak tourism period that could come back strong with relaxed Covid restrictions. The Year of the Rabbit began January 22.

The Dutch Gaming Authority said in a report that was obtained by a television station that 27 Netherlands soccer players placed bets on soccer, including matches they were in.

The Catawba Nation of South Carolina appealed a National Indian Gaming Commission report citing the tribe for allowing an outside firm to expand its temporary casino without proper approvals. The tribe faces daily fines or temporary closure of the casino.

After falling one vote short a year ago, North Carolina hopes for a better turn of legislative events this year. But 2023 also brings more calls from pro teams in the state looking for their own licenses.

As fourth-quarter earnings report season begins, it’s important to hold the big names accountable for any less-than-stellar performances. The time for glittering generalities has passed, and some investors may wish to make the switch from potential and promises to performance and profitability.

This week, the GGB Podcast sits with JJ Woods, the managing director of Atlantic Casino Consulting, about how new regulations in Ireland have at least a small chance of growing the gaming industry there.

Don’t expect a decision on casinos in Thailand for at least three years, if not longer, says lawmaker Pakornwut Udompipatsakul (l.). If and when a legal industry is approved in the kingdom, it could be many years more before they’re up and running.

Don’t expect a decision on casinos in Thailand for at least three years, if not longer, says lawmaker Pakornwut Udompipatsakul (l.). If and when a legal industry is approved in the kingdom, it could be many years more before they’re up and running.

Peter Lee Coker Jr. (l.), onetime chairman of a company that ran the failed 13 Hotel in Macau, was arrested in Thailand last week on fraud charges. The arrest involved Thai and U.S. law enforcement, including the FBI.

The Gongzi Jeju Casino (l.) recently reopened, meaning all eight casinos in Jeju, South Korea have reopened following lengthy Covid-related shutdowns. The casinos are open only to foreigners; the closures cost the Jeju Tourism Promotion Fund millions in revenues.

MGM Resorts International, in its bid to run an integrated resort in Japan, could be responsible for up to $2.5 billion of an estimated $10 billion total investment. Lawmakers are expected to rule on two IR bids this month.

A draft law that would ban any advertisements of gambling in Romania has received widespread support from all major political parties. Romania’s National Audiovisual Council (CNA) has unanimously voted to support the proposed bill.

Germany’s Mecklenburg-Vorpommern is resisting the GlüNeuRStv (Fourth Interstate Gambling Treaty), which requires all 16 states to allow online gambling. State Chairman René Domke (l.) claims that there is “no specific obligation for individual states to offer online casino games.”

U.K. Gambling Commission deputy CEO Sarah Gardner (l.) says that worries about a burgeoning illegal gambling black market are “overstated.” The CEO made her comments speaking before an audience of Danish regulators.

England’s University of Exeter (l.) is launching a study into whether the drug ketamine would be effective as a treatment for gambling addiction.

London-based Entain, a gaming and sports betting firm, said that it is accelerating its plan to exit any country that doesn’t show an inclination to become regulated.

In New South Wales, cashless gaming has become arguably the most pressing issue ahead of March’s state elections. The NSW Labor party, led by Chris Minns (l.), has detailed its own cashless proposal, much less severe than what’s been championed by Premier Dominic Perrottet and his government. For what it’s worth, state banks and veterans services have supported the transition.

A study of gambling expansion in 49 African nations indicates that many jurisdictions are having trouble keeping up with the rapid growth of gambling technology and smartphone apps. That means that many countries don’t know the extent of problem gambling, says the study.

Paraíba, Brazil, has become the first state in the country to introduce a regulated competitive market for sports betting. Governor João Azevêdo Lins Filho (l.) January 17 signed the executive decree that authorized Lotep – Lottery of the State of Paraíba—to create the market.

The Commonwealth Casino Commission was forced to shut down because their only source of funding, casino operator Imperial Pacific International, has been delinquent on payments for years.

Great Canadian Entertainment has opened a $500 million casino, the Pickering Casino Resort (l.), in Toronto, Ontario. The new property has 96,000 square feet of gaming space, 2,200 slots, 140 live-deal stadium terminals and 90 table games. It also has a dedicated sports betting lounge.

Chile will begin going forward with regulating online gaming in March. Undersecretary of Finance Claudia Sanhueza (l.) told lawmakers about the plans when she spoke to the Economic Commission of the Chamber of Deputies.

The Mansion Group, which operates three gaming sites in the U.K., is closing down its operations in the country after 20 years to focus efforts on improving operations in Spain, Ontario and elsewhere.

iGaming and mobile sports betting hosting supplier has partnered with U.S.-based game provider ODDSworks in Pennsylvania.

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission (l.) said they are on track to debut in-person sports betting in two weeks, but mobile betting has been pushed back to early March.

Let’s face it—the 51 percent tax of mobile gross gaming revenue in New York is not very helpful to operators and the state. So state Senator Joe Addabbo (l.) and others introduced a bill to add five more mobile sportsbooks, thus lowering the tax rate. Oh, and they’d like to see more gambling addiction disclaimers as well.

The North Dakota House approved legislation to put sports betting before a vote by the citizens in November 2024, but it still has to get by the Senate.

MMA coach James Krause (l.), who is currently under suspension by the UFC, allegedly worked for an offshore sportsbook based in Costa Rica, according to an ESPN story.

Fanatics, the retail sports apparel giant, is making progress into the sports betting arena. In addition to preliminary approval for a license in Massachusetts, it opened a sportsbook at FedEx Field (l.) in Maryland.

For the fourth consecutive year, Kentucky lawmakers introduced a bill that would legalize sports betting, online poker and daily fantasy sports. The legislation has the support of Governor Andy Beshear (l.).

Baseball’s Cleveland Guardians made it a point to talk about renovations planned at their ballpark, Progressive Field (l.). These plans did not include a sportsbook within the stadium. Why? MLB doesn’t allow it.

Nevada has long been the mecca of land-based gambling, but now it looks to become a leader in the digital space as well, as new guidelines for esports wagering have been recommended for approval by the Nevada Gaming Control Board.

Caesars Windsor (l.) opened Ontario’s first retail sportsbook last week and the facility will be able to take single-game bets, thus making it more competitive with nearby US sportsbooks in Michigan and Ohio.

There’s no rest for the weary at Station Casinos, as the company recently submitted plans for a new hotel-casino project in Henderson’s upscale Inspirada neighborhood (l.), in addition to all its other happenings.

Elevation Entertainment is looking to develop a new hotel and casino on an underdeveloped yet high-traffic corner in Reno (l.), and has started to host community meetings to solicit feedback from local residents and officials.

Former casino magnate Steve Wynn (l.) has been entrenched in legal proceedings in recent years, but he and his legal team recently secured another dismissal, this time for a RICO claim brought against him and his former company Wynn Resorts.

In Indiana, the Terre Haute Regional Airport board approved an agreement with Churchill Downs Inc., developer of the $290 million Queen of Terre Haute Casino Resort (l.), that protects the airport against nuisance lawsuits.

As Kirk Hendrick (l.) assumes control of the Nevada Gaming Control Board, his previous scuffles with Culinary 226 are coming back under scrutiny. Hendrick denounced the organization when it tried to unionize UFC fighters back in 2015.

Boyd Gaming, owner of Par-A-Dice Casino (l.) in East Peoria, Illinois, agreed to an $825,000 settlement in a class action lawsuit alleging the casino’s use of facial recognition security cameras violated the state’s biometric Information Privacy Act.

Officials at the new $340 million Rivers Casino Portsmouth (l.) in Virginia moved the opening of the venue from January 15 to January 23 to have extra time to complete gaming equipment testing.

In 2021, the Illinois Gaming Board denied a gaming license to influential Chicago businessman James Banks (l.). Recently the board reversed its earlier decision and now Banks’ company can distribute video poker machines.

A group of Atlantic City casino employees that has been pushing for an end to smoking in casinos called on the New Jersey legislature and Governor Phil Murphy to enact a law banning smoking by April 15.

The Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians in Michigan announced it will seek relief from a county judge’s award of $88.8 million in damages to two developers who contracted with the tribe to build two new casinos.

The Ute Mountain Ute and Southern Ute (l.) tribes went before the Colorado legislature to try and petition lawmakers to change rules regarding online sports betting.

The Madawaska Maliseet First Nation of New Brunswick, Canada, has won its revenue-sharing dispute with the New Brunswick Lotteries and Gaming Corporation and the provincial government. At stake was $1.8 million that the tribe said it was owed for the Grey Rock Casino (l.).

The Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska have signed a deed that puts land into federal trust. The tribe purchased the land in 2007 that is located in the Old Juneau Indian Village. President Richard Chalyee Éesh Peterson (l.) declared, “This is a benchmark achievement in our land back initiative.”

In Oklahoma, several Native American leaders joined newly re-elected Governor Kevin Stitt (l.) at his inaugural ball, symbolically leaving their previously contentious relationship behind and starting a new era of cooperation.

Spain’s gambling regulator has released draft regulations that would expand existing rules to the national lottery. Among the new rules are strict restrictions that ban TV and radio ads except for four hours in the early morning and which ban any promotional bonuses.

Ben Koff Appointed GM, COO of Mount Airy Casino Resort

Bruce Band (pictured to the right), a veteran of more than eight years with the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, moved up to lead the sports wagering bureau. Band worked for the New Jersey Casino Control Commission for 30 years.

Longtime hospitality executive Adrian Montoya (l.) has joined Sandia Resort & Casino as general manager of resort operations.

The Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers has elected a new round of officers. Among them is Light & Wonder’s Bob Parente (l.), who was elected president.

Grant Johnson (l.), who was ousted recently as CEO of Esports Entertainment Group, is suing his former employer for breach of contract and wrongful termination.

Yarif Dafna (l.), finance chief of betting giant 888, will resign following publication of full-year results at the end of March, after a decline in 888’s online sales revenue.

Italian gaming operator Lottomatica is working with UniCredit and other financial institutions on an initial public offering that could raise around $1 billion.

Aruze has announced the opening of a new office in the Netherlands, which represents the first European office for the company as it looks to grow its presence in the region, along with the Middle East and North Africa.

Data mining and cybersecurity specialist DruvStar announced plans to expand its services and footprint in the tribal gaming and health care industries.

Last week, Global Payments Gaming Solutions announced its partnership with Saracen Casino Resort in Arkansas to implement a new payment platform.

Branded slot machines developed by Kangwon Land, Korea’s only locals casino, will be installed at casinos in the Philippines starting in April. The deal marks the first time KL Saberi slots will be available outside Korea.

The International Gaming Standards Association’s 2023 Technology Summit, to be held March 15-16 in Las Vegas, will center around sports betting and cybersecurity.