A Pennsylvania judge has upheld a lower ruling that unlicensed, unregistered slot-like “skill games” placed in convenience stores, pizza shops and other locations are legal.

Durango Casino & Resort (l.), the $780 million locals-catered casino from Red Rock Resorts, held its long-awaited grand opening ceremony on December 5.

The proposed railway system that would connect Las Vegas to southern California has received $3 billion in federal funding, which could be the boost the 20-year-old project needs to finally get off the ground.

Philippines gaming firm PH Resorts Group Holdings continues to pursue investors to get a stalled Cebu integrated resort (l.) off the ground. The company is in “substantive discussions” with potential new resources.

Workers at three Winnipeg casinos voted nearly unanimously in favor of a strike deadline two days before Christmas.

The land-based casino industry in the U.K. grew by more than 20 percent in 2023. The growth shows that the sector has finally reached and surpassed revenue achieved before the Covid-19 pandemic. Brick-and-mortar gaming increased its market share from 35 percent to 41 percent this year.

The state of Florida says West Flagler and Associates waited too long to file a suit challenging the state compact with the Seminoles over sports betting. Attorney General Ashley Moody threw in that sports betting is not casino gaming.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul (r.) announced that the state and the Seneca Nation have signed a temporary extension of the tribe’s gaming compact, which was set to expire December 9.

A Sunday Times report has revealed Playtech had significant interest in the acquisition of William Hill’s parent company and global operator, 888, but was turned down by the company.

The International Gaming Standards Association (IGSA) has become a staple in the international gaming community, thanks in large part to its steadfast leadership and dedication to excellence. Now, with such leaders in place like Chairman Earle G. Hall (l.) and Vice Chairman Nimish Purohit (r.), the future looks as bright as ever, both for the IGSA and the industry at large.

GGB Podcast sponsored by IGT.

On November 29, Thai police raided an illegal casino operating over two floors of a hotel in Nonthaburi Province. Of 49 people arrested, 26 were reportedly Chinese nationals.

Site preparation has begun at the site of a planned integrated resort on Yumeshima Island in Osaka, Japan. The $8.6 billion IR, a project of MGM Resorts International and Orix. Corp., will include Japan’s first casino.

The Philippines’ Anti-Money Laundering Counsel continues its work to be removed from the “grey list” of the Financial Action Task Force. The global watchdog says the jurisdiction must exert greater control over junkets.

Leong Sun Iok, of the Macau Legislative Assembly, says the embattled Macau Jockey Club has the potential to become a world-class venue for sporting events.

BetCity, which is owned by Entain, was ordered to pay a €3 million fine by the Dutch gambling regulator over violations of the country’s anti-money laundering and terrorist financing laws.

One in ten French gamblers are betting at unlicensed and illegal websites, often on websites based in Curaçao, a Caribbean country. France’s gambling regulator l’Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ) has begun cracking down on the scofflaws and has identified 510 illegal sites.

Sadiq Khan, London’s mayor, made a campaign promise to ban gambling advertisements in public transportation sites and voters are pressuring him to keep his word.

A study paid for by GambleAware found a definite link between minorities addicted to gambling and those who have been discriminated against or experienced racism. It found that minorities with addiction were 50 percent more likely to have experienced such discrimination.

A new law proposed in Ireland to prevent certain online gambling games could lead to bettors looking at the black market, according to Maltese officials.

Regulators in New South Wales have warned Star Entertainment that if its compliance efforts fail in the next six months, the casino license for its flagship Star Sydney (l.) will be revoked and the property will be closed.

A coalition of online gambling operators recently revealed a poll that said 67 percent of respondents would like to see an end to a Loto-Québec monopoly.

Delta Corp Ltd., the largest casino operator in India, has announced it has “deferred” an integrated resort in Goa. Instead it has decided to invest in the real estate company Peninsula Land Ltd (PLL) for $12 million. The two companies plan to partner in buying real estate in Mumbai and Goa.

According to North Carolina’s state law, bets should be taken by January 8. But the State Lottery Commission said it won’t happen. Too many items to be addressed, too many unfinished tasks.

Fanatics Betting and Gaming saw an opening and swooped in. The company did the same thing with PointsBet and now with Rush Street’s pull out in Connecticut. Expect them to reap the rewards.

BetMGM took a look at the Las Vegas landscape. Golden Knights. Raiders, A’s and more. A Super Bowl. The list goes on. And for BetMGM this makes for a different strategy for market share.

PENN Entertainment, which owns ESPN Bet, announced two partnerships last week, one with the PGA Tour’s Wells Fargo Championship, and the other with the NHL.

Data from sportsbook provider Kambi recently showed that the arrival of global superstar Lionel Messi (l.) made the 2023 MLS season the most successful yet from a betting perspective.

About 1,700 union workers at MGM Grand Detroit (l.) ratified a new 5-year contract on December 2, ending a 47-day strike. Workers at Hollywood Casino at Greektown and MotorCity ratified new contracts on November 19.

Las Vegas Sands’ owners’ purchase of a majority stake in Mark Cuban’s Dallas Mavericks has Texans speculating about expanded gambling legislation. But Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick (l.) said the votes aren’t there.

Nevada’s gaming industry set a new record for October gaming revenue with $1.31 billion in statewide win. This was the state’s 32nd consecutive month registering more than $1 billion in revenue.

Following the shutdown of an illegal casino in Lowndes County, Alabama lawmakers, led by state Rep. Andy Whitt, want tougher laws to regulate and enforce gambling statewide.

Problem gamblers can block online and mobile gaming sites using free software available from Time Out Ohio, the Ohio Lottery’s responsible gambling arm. Ohio is the first state in the U.S. to offer the award-winning software.

Eagle 1 Acquisitions believes they have the answer to bring tribal sports betting to California, and they keep amending their proposal to bring tribes along. But it’s a tough sell at this point.

Casino-operating tribes in Oklahoma want to offer sports betting but not under Governor Kevin Stitt’s (l.) plan, which would include an initial $500,000 licensing fee, a 20 percent tax on online wagering and 15 percent tax on retail wagering.

Konami Gaming has named longtime software engineering leader Eric Schultz (l.) as its new vice president of studio operations, to oversee the company’s game development efforts.

U.K. media tycoon Richard Desmond (l.) will launch a legal challenge to the award of the British National Lottery management contract to Allwyn Entertainment.

MGM Resorts International has announced changes to top leadership for its resorts on the Las Vegas Strip and for the Borgata in Atlantic City.

Joe Maloney (l.) has been named senior vice president, strategic communications for the American Gaming Association. Previously, Maloney held a similar position with the Washington Commanders National Football League team.

Macau gaming concessionaire SJM Resorts has elevated former chief financial officer Ben Toh Hup Hock (l.) to the rank of chief operating officer. The former Sands China executive joined SJM in 2020.

BMM Testlabs has named Sean Mason (l.) as its new senior director of tribal services, in which he will help tribal gaming organizations with compliance and regulatory issues.

Sara Condo (l.), director of global regulatory compliance for IGT, was recognized as Compliance Professional of the Year at the annual Global Regulatory Awards.

Ainsworth Game Technology recently announced that its new A-Star Raptor cabinet is now built, approved and hot off the assembly line. The cabinet will be installed in casinos by the end of 2023.

IGT has been recognized by the Employers Institute as a Top Employer for the U.S., Canada and Italy for the company’s excellence in people practices.