Sports betting finally was launched in Maine and DraftKings and Caesars partnered with Native American tribes to offer legal wagers.

In a perfect world, the Oakland A’s would like to start playing in a new stadium on the Las Vegas Strip by the start of the 2028 regular season. In order for that to happen, the Tropicana (l.) would need to be shuttered and demolished by the end of next year, officials recently told the Las Vegas Stadium Authority.

After the state Supreme Court overturned an injunction in a case challenging Virginia’s ban on skill games, the city of Virginia Beach announced a 30-day grace period before owners and operators face criminal charges.

Thailand will form a new committee to consider legalized gaming, including casinos. A legal industry would capture domestic gamblers who now cross the border to play in Cambodia, Laos and Malaysia.

The Queensland state government recently proposed a bill that would greatly expand the regulatory obligations for the state’s four casinos, including mandatory pre-commitment and loss limits. Attorney General Yvette D’ath (l.) vowed that non-compliance will result in “significant” penalties.

Under pressure from Ireland’s racing industry, the Ministry in charge of gambling may be rethinking a proposal to ban gaming advertising. That is part of the Irish Gambling Regulation Bill, the first update of the law in 100 years.

Tribal leaders wanted no part in another run at sports betting so close to the 2022 defeat of their propositions. Then two related proposals pop up with exclusivity for tribes. Only thing, the tribes knew nothing about it.

Mississippi already has sports betting in casinos but a task force is hearing arguments to legalize the online version, as well as online casinos.

Stating compacts allowing two small Oklahoma tribes to offer off-reservation gaming contained “significant fatal flaws,” a legislative panel unanimously rejected the compacts negotiated in 2020 by Governor Kevin Stitt (l.).

Mike Donovan (l.) has extensive experience operating in some of gaming’s most competitive jurisdictions. Recently named chief marketing officer for Bally’s Corporation, Donovan is in charge of bringing players to all 17 Bally’s properties in the U.S.

GGB Podcast sponsored by Pavilion Payments.

Macau casinos continue to rack up post-Covid revenue records. October GGR reached its highest level since the pandemic started at MOP19.5 billion ($2.42 billion). The city reopened to tourist traffic in early January.

Approximately 200 foreigners were recently rescued from workplaces at illicit casinos in Myanmar. The United Nations has said hundreds of thousands of people have been forced into similar work in Southeast Asia.

Two Dutch MPs have filed an amendment to the Gambling Tax Act that would increase the tax on operators by 1 percent. That would bring it to 30.5 percent. They hope to lower excise duties on alcohol as a result.

More than 100,000 Swedes have signed up for the gambling self-exclusion system. Spelpaus, run by Sweden’s gambling authority, Spelinspektionen, has operated since January 1, 2019 when it was relaunched from an earlier version.

In April Lottstift, Norway’s gambling regulator, ordered state-owned operators Norsk Tipping and Norsk Rikstoto to cut back advertising spending. It concluded that they don’t have to compete as much because illegal gambling is down.

Brazil has published Ordinance No. 1330, which spells out what operators wanting to operate online casinos or offer sports betting will need to do to obtain a license. They must indicate interest by the end of November.

India’s GST Council has presented casinos, racing companies and online gaming operators with demands to pay more than $12 billion in unpaid goods and services taxes (GST). The demands all relate to the fiscal year 2018.

One of Dubai’s largest contractors, ALEC, has won the contract to build the casino for Wynn’s $3.9 billion casino resort. Newly appointed CEO Barry Lewis says, “It’s going to be fantastic for Ras Al Khaimah.”

The growth in both land-based and digital gaming has set records and the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation is crediting competition for the increase in revenue.

SBS has announced that starting next year, viewers of its SBS On Demand platform will have the ability to opt out of seeing certain kinds of ads, with gaming being one of them.

Jake Staiano (l.), who plays on the PGA’s Korn Ferry Tour, was suspended for three months for betting on golf.

Shane Pinto (l.), a player with the Ottawa Senators, has become the first person in the NHL suspended for gambling, but several questions have arisen regarding the 41-game ban.

Colorado’s Division of Gaming is developing rules for the latest in fantasy sports competition. From where Josh Kirschner of PrizePicks sits, it isn’t pretty.

Governor Kim Reynolds (l.) called a news conference about deployment of the Iowa National Guard. But the conference attracted questions about the investigation into Illegal sports betting among student athletes. She’s in favor.

Betway had a license ready and waiting in the sports-rich Illinois. They were the lone bidder for a supplemental standalone license. Then the sportsbook pulled up stakes, no reason given.

Joint House/Senate legislation in the Pennsylvania General Assembly would ban the so-called skill games that have been placed in thousands of varied locations around the state.

The Illinois Gaming Board unanimously approved granting Bally’s Chicago a full gaming license for its $1.7 billion casino complex (l.), which must be completed by September 9, 2026. The temporary facility at Medinah Temple may continue to operate until then.

A proposed class action lawsuit that accused several high-profile operators of violating antitrust law by conspiring to overcharge for room rates has been dismissed, but plaintiffs have already promised to re-file an amended claim within the allotted 30-day window.

Negotiations between Las Vegas operators and labor unions are said to be progressing slowly, but with workers having already authorized a strike vote in September, the threat of a citywide walkout is still in play.

Urban One and Churchill Downs have spent more than $10 million to influence voters to support the proposed $563 million Richmond Grand Resort and Casino, which was narrowly rejected in 2021.

MGM Springfield (l.) will pay $6.8 million to more than 2,000 workers in settlement of wage and tip violations found after an investigation by the state Attorney General’s office.

The Nevada Gaming Control Board has voted unanimously to recommend licensing approval to the Fontainebleau Las Vegas (l.), which hopes to debut as planned on December 13.

Following a two-year investigation, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel ordered the social casino Golden Hearts Games to cease operations in the state. Virtual Gaming Worlds also pulled out, and the Michigan Gaming Control Board banned pick’em fantasy products.

The latest round of data from the Nevada Gaming Control Board showed that the state continued its run of $1 billion-plus in revenue, thanks mostly to stellar baccarat performance. Most other markets besides the Strip, however, posted year-over-year decreases.

The Arkansas Supreme Court upheld a lower court decision that the license awarded to Legends Casino and Cherokee Nation Businesses by the Arkansas Gaming Commission was unconstitutional, since only one entity can hold a casino license.

The city council of Port Arthur, Texas recently provided the 100th statement of support for the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe’s right to offer electronic bingo at its Naskila Casino (l.). Other resolutions have come from businesses as well as civic and governmental groups.

The U.K. Gambling Commission has added seven new members. The regulator says the new commissioners “bring experience and knowledge from a wide range of sectors to help us ensure gambling is fair and safe.”

Ohio State Rep. Bill Seitz (l.), who has been a staunch supporter of gambling measures including brick-and-mortar casino legalization and failed attempts to pass iGaming, will not run for re-election in 2024.

Megan Basson (l.) has been named executive director of the International Center for Gaming Regulation.

David Rebuck (l.), director of the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2024 East Coast Gaming Congress in Atlantic City.

Aristocrat has released the third game in its licensed NFL series, the Class II NFL Kickoff, in Oklahoma, featured on the RELM XL five-reel cabinet.

Konami Gaming, Inc. and Xalient Inc. are partnering to launch SYNK Vision, a facial recognition technology that could eliminate the need for magnetic player tracking cards.

Bally’s Corporation reported record revenue of $632.5 million for the third quarter, but with a bottom line still showing a net loss of $61.8 million, the company will slash jobs.

Kambi and LivesScore Group have formed a new partnership that will see Kambi’s sportsbook power the group’s LiveScore Bet and Virgin Bet online sportsbook brands globally.

BetConstruct will be at SiGMA Europe, held in Malta November 13 to 17, to continue showcasing its extensive product portfolio and solutions.