
Archive: Vol-21-No-32-August-14-2023







Puerto Rico Marks 75 Years of Gaming
It's been 75 years since legislation was enacted to bring gaming to Puerto Rico. Jaime Rivera Emmanuelli (l.), of the Puerto Rico Gaming Commission, said the industry has been good for tourism and economics.






AGA Announces 2023 Gaming Hall of Fame Class
The American Gaming Association announced the Class of 2023 inductees to the Gaming Hall of Fame, including Bill Anoatubby, Robert Miodunski, Jim Murren and Ellen Whittemore.






A Technological Response to Concerns Raised by U.S. Rep. Dina Titus
Nevada Rep. Dina Titus has had a very public back-and-forth with both the NCAA and the NFL about its sports betting policies and missteps. Headlines and barbs aside, industry veteran Bruce Merati (l.) argues that the crux of the conversation is integrity, and the use of up-and-coming technology could help tremendously on that front.






ESPN, PENN Join Forces to Create ESPN BET; Barstool Sports Cut
PENN Entertainment and ESPN have joined forces to create ESPN Bet, a sports betting app that hopes to challenge the industry stranglehold of FanDuel and DraftKings.
Featured Stories More
WEEKLY FEATURE: Macau Lays Out Peninsula Development Plan
Macau lawmakers have unveiled a plan to develop part of the city’s peninsula region. The development will be underwritten in part by the city’s Big 6 casino concessionaires as part of their re-tender agreements.
Nevada Labor Market in Flux Before Busy End to 2023
Perhaps no state in America is more dependent on one industry as much as Nevada depends on gaming and hospitality. That said, the state’s workforce has changed considerably in recent years, and operators are trying to keep up with demand as they prepare for a busy end to 2023.
Report: U.S. Gamblers More Vulnerable to Fraud than Non-Bettors
A recent report by TransUnion claimed that 35 percent of U.S. gamblers have been victims of fraud, which is two to three times more than non-gamblers.
NSW Regulators Under Fire Following Release of Internal Docs
Australian regulator Liquor and Gaming NSW is in hot water following the release of internal documents, which outline several potential problems. NSW Premier Chris Minns (l.) called the allegations “hugely concerning.”
Growing Turnover Atop AGCO Sparks Uncertainty
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario recently had several key changes to the board of directors and changes could be coming to policy by the end of the year.
Betting Sector Consultant Behind “Voice Of Gamblers” Website
The Gambler Consumer Forum purports to be the “voice of gamblers” and loudly opposes many consumer protections being proposed. However, one of the owners of the GCF is a gambling company consultant.
Ukraine Mulls Blocking Bank Loans to Self-Excluded Gamblers
Ukraine’s committee on Finance, Tax and Customs Policy is proposing that banks not loan to gamblers who have placed themselves on a self-exclusion list. It would require expanded checks by lenders. The proposal is awaiting official approval.
NFL, Nevada Lawmaker Butt Heads Over Sports Betting
Nevada Rep. Dina Titus (l.) wants the NFL to be more transparent about sports betting violations in the league. The NFL responded, but Titus didn’t like the response. Stay tuned for As the Sportsbook Turns.
WynnBET Pulls Up Stakes
In a major sign of weakness in the sports betting industry, WynnBET will no longer do business in most of the U.S. states where it operated. The company will continue operations in Nevada and Massachusetts, according to CFO Julie Cameron-Doe (l.)
GLOBAL GAMING BUSINESS PODCAST: Michael Silberling, CEO, Metropolitan Gaming
In a market as mature as the U.K., it can be hard to be a disruptor, especially on the brick-and-mortar side. However, Metropolitan Gaming and CEO Michael Silberling (l.) are looking to do just that. In just a few short years, Metropolitan has revamped its retail properties, built a new loyalty program and launched a new online gaming platform.
ASIAN GAMING More
Philippine Lawmaker: POGO Ban Could Mean Tax Hike
The head of the Philippine Senate Committee on Finance says a total ban on Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations in the country could necessitate a tax hike to make up for lost revenue.
PAGCOR Approves New EGM Standards
The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. has approved the initial version of new technical standards for electronic gaming machines. The new standards will take effect in January.
EUROPEAN GAMING More
Malta Cancels Several Gaming Licenses
The Malta Gaming Authority has suspended or canceled licenses of three gaming companies. They include EGMIT Elite Ltd., SFJL Holding Ltd. and Green Feather Online. Once suspended or canceled, a company may not conduct gaming operations.
Greece Prepares for Regulatory Overhaul
The Hellenic Gaming Commission has released a new draft of regulatory updates, and interested parties may now submit feedback on the proposal through mid-September.
U.K. Sports Fans Wagered $20 Billion in Five Years
U.K. bettors are responsible for about a tenth of total online sports betting volumes since 2018, or almost $20 billion. That figure is expected to more than double in the next five years, with football drawing the most action.
Serie A Revising Media, Data Packages for 2025-26
Serie A, Italy’s top soccer league, announced plans to revise its media and data packages for the 2025-26 season.
Self-Excluded may not Work in Bulgarian Casinos
Bulgaria’s National Revenue Agency (NRA) has adopted a rule that casinos may not employ anyone who has self-excluded from entering a gambling establishment. Casinos that violate this law could face a fine of BGN20,000 (£8,800/€10,200/$11,200).
GLOBAL GAMING More
Peru Sports Betting, Online Gaming Regulations Still Pending
A year after the Peru legislature, the Congress of the Republic, adopted a bill that created a regulatory framework for operating online gaming and sports betting, regulations haven’t yet been issued. A “regulatory impact analysis” is still required.
Victoria to Ban Sports Betting on Minors, U-18 Teams
Regulators in Victoria have announced that bookmakers have been given 60 days to remove all minors-only competitions from wagering markets. Bettors will also be barred from placing bets on the individual performance of underage players in open competitions.
SPORTS BETTING More
Iowa’s Ferentz Calls For Education to Prevent Gambling Scandals
He is Iowa’s highest paid employee and he’s a football coach. That tells you how important Kirk Ferentz (l.) is. When Kirk talks people listen at least in Iowa. When he says more education…you know the rest.
Kentucky Attracts Business Registrants With Familiar Names
The Kentucky Secretary of State Office has recorded ten business registrations with names that sound like the names of sportsbooks. Since the launch of sports betting is not far off, could these be sportsbooks?
Massachusetts One of Several States Examining DFS Operators
With sports betting dominating the news, Daily Fantasy games slipped under the radar. No more. The issue is with single-player games which pit a player against the house—to experts that looks a lot like sports betting.
Fliff Files Motion for Arbitration in Customer Lawsuit
The Fliff Corporation countered Bishoy Nessim’s class-action lawsuit over sweepstake betting by filing a motion with the court to conduct arbitration.
UNITED STATES GAMING More
Seventh Horse Death at Saratoga Marks Disturbing Trend at Tracks
Two horses died in two days recently at Saratoga Race Course and it was the sixth and seventh deaths at the track in less than a month. Officials and race fans are growing concerned at the increased rate of deaths at U.S. tracks.
Fertitta: Big Plans Ahead for Hard Rock Lake Tahoe
Tilman Fertitta has vowed to revamp Hard Rock Lake Tahoe (l.) by redoing the guest rooms, putting in new dining options and more. The property will also be rebranded under Fertitta’s Golden Nugget brand.
Blackjack Player Sues Ameristar, Blackhawk Over Detainment
A blackjack player has sued Ameristar Casino (l.) and the city of Blackhawk over his detainment for counting cards, seeking $3 million in compensatory and punitive damages.
Lawmakers Oppose Elections Gambling
U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (l.) and several colleagues told the Commodity Futures Trading Commission that gambling on election outcomes, as proposed by a private predictions company, would harm election integrity.
Political Strategist Challenges Richmond Casino
A political strategist said he plans to sue Richmond, Virginia (l.), alleging the city should have requested bids on a proposed casino resort instead of moving ahead with EVA Entertainment Holdings and scheduling a second casino referendum.
Michigan Casino Worker Charged With Embezzlement
On July 30, Danika Nicole Young, a cage supervisor at Four Winds Hartford Casino in Michigan, received an anonymous call telling her to bring $700,000 to Gary, Indiana, where she was arrested. The money hasn’t been found.
Wichita Approves Illegal Gambling Machine Penalties
The Wichita City Council approved penalizing businesses other than state-owned or tribal casinos that offer unregulated gambling machines. Penalties range from a written warning to a year-long license suspension.
TRIBAL GAMING More
Peoria Tribe Loses Lawsuit Against Former Casino Managers
The Peoria Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma lost in court in their efforts to collect a $2 million fine against David J. Qualls and Tony D. Holden, former casino managers of the Buffalo Run Casino & Resort in Miami, Oklahoma.
LOTTERY More
Floridian Wins $1.58 Billion Mega Millions Jackpot
The as-yet unknown single winner of the $1.58 billion Mega Millions jackpot drawn on August 4 purchased his or her quick-pick ticket at a Publix store in Neptune Beach, Florida.
PEOPLE More
Stan Hunterton, Famous Las Vegas Mob Buster, Dies at 74
Former federal prosecutor Stan Hunterton (l.), one of the most famous mob busters in the history of Las Vegas, recently passed away at the age of 74.
Brian Green Named COO of Graton Resort & Casino
Industry veteran Brian Green (l.) has been named chief operating officer of California’s Graton Resort & Casino.
Liu Joins Wynn Resorts Board
Paul Liu (l.) of the United States’ National Committee on U.S.-China Relations has joined the board of Wynn Resorts. The former banker was appointed on August 3.
Timothy Lowry Named Partner for Holland & Knight
Veteran gaming attorney Timothy Lowry (l.) has joined the law firm Holland & Knight as a partner in its Philadelphia office.
GOODS & SERVICES More
Light & Wonder Finalizes Acquisition of SciPlay
Light & Wonder entered a definitive agreement to acquire the remaining 17 percent equity interest in social gaming division SciPlay, making it a wholly owned subsidiary.
Aristocrat Confirms Cybersecurity Breach
Aristocrat Leisure, Limited has confirmed that a cybersecurity breach resulted in the compromise of personal information on its employees.
Acres Introduces New Loyalty Feature for Foundation CMS
Acres Manufacturing has unveiled a new feature for its Foundation casino management system that allows players to enroll in loyalty programs at lightning speed.
TRADE SHOWS & CONFERENCES More
Reaction Positive to ICE Relocation to Barcelona
Clarion Gaming’s announcement that it will move its ICE and iGB Affiliate events to Barcelona beginning in 2025 has garnered positive reactions. Including praise by the European Casino Association and Zitro International President Sebastian Salat.
NUTSHELL More
NEWS & NOTES
Small Nuggets of News
THEY SAID IT More
QUOTABLE QUOTES
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