Super Bowl 57 is the first played in a state with legal betting. The American Gaming Association predicts more than 50 million will bet in the U.S., a record. They will wager $16 billion.

Macau junkets, whose wings have been clipped under the newly amended gaming law, may once again be subject to a 5 percent commission tax. That’s according to Kwok Chi Chung (l.), head of an industry trade group.

Several Texas lawmakers are trying to get legalized gambling to the state and have met with resistance in the past but Rep. Charlie Geren (l.) proposing a partnership with the horse racing industry this time around.

Minnesota state Senator Jeremy Miller will introduce sports betting legislation similar to last year’s, offering licenses to tribes, pro teams and racetracks. State Rep. Zack Stephenson’s (l.) bill limits sports wagering to tribes.

In a unanimous vote, the Florida Gaming Control Commission gave conditional approval to the sale of the Havenick family’s Magic City Casino (l.) in Miami to the Poarch Band of Creek Indians for an estimated $600 million.

26 Capital, a special purpose acquisition company based in the U.S., has filed suit against Okada Manila and associated companies, claiming they delayed a planned merger. The SPAC wants the deal done fast.

Penn Entertainment completed Its purchase of Barstool Sports, the sportsbook associated with more with the antics of its founder Dave Portnoy (l.), than who has the best odds. Penn will take the rollout slow.

Michigan Gaming Control Board Executive Director Henry Williams (l.) said he’s concerned about the spread of unregulated gaming machines and online casino and sports betting advertising.

The GGB Podcast sits down with John English, the immediate past chairman of the International Gaming Standards Association, to talk about his crowning achievement, an IGSA event being held in Las Vegas in March.

Alvin Chau, who once ruled Macau’s junket sector as head of the Suncity Group junket operation, is appealing his 18-year prison sentence. In January he was convicted of illegal gambling and organized criminal.

Speaking to analysts on a 4Q earnings call last week, MGM Resorts chief Bill Hornbuckle said the U.S. company’s Macau operations are more than pulling their weight, seeing record revenues for January.

It’s finally kaput for a failed luxury hotel concept in Macau. Last week, almost two years after parent South Shore Holdings filed for voluntary liquidation, a Macau court declared The 13 Hotel officially bankrupt.

Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades (l.) recently visited Melco’s City of Dreams Mediterranean and said he was impressed with the $600 million development.

The Department for Media, Culture and Sport’s Deputy Director Sarah Fox (l.) told an audience at the ICE Vox World Regulatory that UK’s gaming reforms are coming and to be patient.

India’s government has rules against gambling companies advertising in the country but despite 138 such businesses being banned, others are finding ways around the regulations. Sports seems to be the main target, including the exclusively Indian game of Kabaddi.

The Kenya High Court ruled against the government in two separate gambling-related cases, saying that the public was not given an opportunity to air their views. With one law, the hours of operation for the casinos, including Nairobi’s City Casino (l.).

John Barilaro (l.), former New South Wales deputy premier, reportedly is working the phones in a bid to become the head of ClubsNSW. A number of candidates are vying for the job as the state overhauls its gaming sector.

Australia gaming giant Star Entertainment Group must defend itself against a third class-action lawsuit, this one alleging that it ignored money laundering risks between 2016 and mid-2022.

Australia’s SkyCity Entertainment Group says a review of its suitability to operate in Adelaide may not proceed until a civil case by AUSTRAC has been resolved.

Light & Wonder joined with Sky Betting & Gaming to launch Wonder 500, a group of titles designed specifically for the U.K. online gaming market, and added studio capabilities to enhance its OpenGaming online library.

The next gambling push in New York State will be online casinos. IGaming. The question is how will this move affect the tribal casinos up north. Will they be able to participate and in what way. Tribal gaming attorney Kathryn Rand (l.) said the tribes don’t need a separate amendment to participate.

Aruze Gaming Europe has launched several of its iGaming titles in Europe, beginning with Malta and continuing this month with multiple operators in the U.K.

Novomatic’s Greentube interactive division was granted a license as an online gaming service provider by the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection.

Aristocrat Leisure Limited has completed its acquisition of iGaming supplier Roxor Gaming Limited, in a deal first announced in September that will rebrand Aristocrat’s online gaming division as Anaxi.

AGS has signed an online game content partnership with DraftKings, Inc., under which AGS will provide more than 20 of its top titles or porting to DraftKings iGaming sites.

Following a restructure, former iGaming Group Chief Executive Officer Phil Pearson launched Malta-based White Label Casinos Solutions to “fill a gap in the market.” The company’s white label solutions allow customers to establish their own online casinos.

Legislation hasn’t been introduced yet but online sports betting seems likely to succeed in North Carolina this year. Lawmakers are working on a bill similar to last year’s measure which failed by a small margin. Retail sports betting is legal at the Cherokee casinos (l.) in western North Carolina.

Sports betting, while legal in Nebraska, won’t have any place in the state where bettors can indulge their pastime for several weeks at least. Certainly not in time for the Super Bowl. The rules are published but no one has been issued vendors licenses or had retail betting equipment approved. Warhorse Casino CEO Lance Morgan (l.) is reportedly interviewing potential vendors.

DraftKings and Bally’s Corp. have both announced layoffs. Truist Securities analyst Barry Jonas approves of the action. “While unfortunate, we see these moves as a necessary positive to reach sustainable economic levels before both divisions turn profitable,” he said.

A law proposed in the Arizona Senate would limit former officials who helped legalize sports betting in the state from benefiting financially from those laws. The ban of taking advantage of “revolving door” opportunities, would last until April 2026.

Genius Sports has launched a holistic fan engagement platform for brans, sponsors, sportsbooks, leagues and teams designed to address challenges of reaching, engaging and monetizing fans.

Kambi launch cash-out and in-game functionality to its Bet Builder product ahead of Super Bowl LVII, allowing players to cash out a majority of pre-game Bet Builder bet during the game.

With tourist and business passengers returning Harry Reid Airport (l.) in Las Vegas at levels better than before the pandemic, the Clark County Department of Aviation is studying what it must do to accommodate rising levels. These numbers could reach 65 million annually by 2030.

New Jersey passed a law limiting carrying guns in public places. A judge issued a restraining order, but the casino association ignored the restraint by banning guns anyway.

Allegiant Stadium (l.) in Las Vegas has partnered with LV-based Boyd Gaming at the Raiders stadium. The deal gives Boyd signage and brand placement in the stadium and names its nine Nevada casinos “official and exclusive” casinos of the stadium.

The pandemic has taken a back seat and patrons are gambling again at Horseshoe Casino (l.) in Baltimore. Union workers want raises to go along with the rising revenues.

The Clark County, Nevada, Commission has voted to host the Formula One Las Vegas Grand Prix for the next ten years and perhaps longer. Commission Chairman Jim Gibson commented, “We anticipate a lifetime together in partnership.”

Hard Rock Rockford President Geno Iafrate (l.) presented an update on the temporary Illinois facility, open since last November, and the permanent $310 million casino resort currently under construction.

An Alabama Supreme Court ruling led to the permanent closure of GreeneTrack Entertainment Center (l.) in Eutaw. Officials said the venue, the only black-owned casino in the county, may have been the victim of racism.

About 1,000 small businesses in Ohio have received and paid for sports betting licenses but have yet to receive any Intralot kiosks, although sports wagering debuted January 1.

Live! Casino Philadelphia celebrated its second anniversary with a donation of $750,000 to Rebuild Philadelphia, to complete the renovation of South Philadelphia’s Murphy Recreation Center.

Wyoming lawmakers expect to approve two gaming districts to be operated by the Northern Arapaho tribe. The structure of the bill will place the casinos where they get most visitors from Denver and Salt Lake City.

It's one big party around Phoenix the week before the Super Bowl. The Governor. The Mayor. Arizona Cardinal Legends. And a celebration of the 22 tribal communities, a point not lost by community leader Gila River Indian Community Governor Stephen Roe Lewis (l.).

888 Holdings’ VHL Michigan LLC has been approved by the Michigan Gaming Control Board to replace Twin Spires as the Hannahville Indian Community’s internet casino gaming and sports wagering platform provider.

Foxwoods Resort Casino and the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe will partner on a $300 million Great Wolf Lodge (l.) next to Foxwoods Resort Casino. Opening in spring 2025, the venue will offer a hotel waterpark and family entertainment center.

Michigan circuit court Judge Joyce Draganchuck (l.)granted the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe another 2-week restraining order so it can determine how to pay two developers $88.8 million for unbuilt casinos. The developers’ attorneys fear the tribe will try to hide assets again.

Erwin van Lambaart was named the new chairman of the European Casino Association, replacing Per Jaldung, who was in the position for eight years. Van Lambaart is CEO of Casinos Austria.

Probably the United States most famous gambler, Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale was once a proponent of sports betting in Texas but has recently changed his opinion and now opposes it.

Chui Hou Ian has been appointed deputy director of Macau’s Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau. Finance Secretary Lei Wai Nong cited his “professional ability and competence.”

Bruce Cartwright has been named director of banquets at Beau Rivage Resort & Casino in Biloxi, Mississippi, where he started his hospitality career in 2005. Most recently he was director of food and beverage at Gold Strike Casino Resort.

Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo has appointed Judge George Assad to the Nevada Gaming Control Board. Assad is the father of the “Bellagio Bandit” who robbed the Bellagio Casino at gunpoint in December 2011. He later complained that his father cut his allowance, bringing on the robbery.

On February 7, U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced the appointment of Lucy Frazer (l.) as the government’s new culture secretary. Frazer replaces Michelle Donelan, who moves to a new digital tech unit.

Josefin Uppeke has been named head of game production at ESA Gaming. She’ll lead expansion of ESA’s EasySwipe titles and launch of new mobile slots and crash games. Previously she worked at Lucksome, Uggdrasil and NetEnt.

Sightline Payments last week announced the launch of VIP Select, which enables invited clientele to have a Play+ account with a balance of up to $1 million.

Aruze Gaming announced the launch of its Muso Curve-55 cabinet for the first time in European markets ahead of last week’s ICE London trade show.

Light & Wonder has signed an agreement with the Oregon Lottery to trial its latest video lottery terminal hardware and game content in the state’s VLT market.

Super Group is not a star-studded rock band. The parent company of sportsbook Betway, Super Group has agreed to sell off a B2B division of Digital Gaming Corporation to Games Global. Global Games CEO Walter Bugno (l.) says the deal will increase the company’s market share in the U.S.

Kevin Garnett and Jaymee Messler have founded Gaming Society. The company focuses on inclusivity in sports betting. It recently added Derek Jeter (l.), Sheryl Swoopes, and Chelsea Gray to its advisory board.

The River Cree Resort and Casino has implemented the Genetec Security Center to modernize its security and surveillance capabilities with a unified platform to improve situational awareness.

A Kentucky player demonstrated a Pace-O-Matic (l.) so-called “skill game” to a Louisville TV reporter, calling the skill factor of the game “skill for idiots.”

Crane Company, a payment solutions provider to the casino industry, announced it will split into two independent, publicly traded companies on April 3.

Galaxy Gaming introduced its new table game operating system with a progressive function at ICE in London. Steve Cvetkoski, director of product development, said, “This new system provides enhancements to standard progressives and enhancements that are unique to the market.”

The Gaming Boardroom (TGB) has been launched by former Clarion executive Kate Chambers (l.). It will, says a press release, bring “together business resources, in-person and online events, online community and much more into one incredible, membership-based package.”

The SiGMA Group announced it is merging with Jericho Events and will sponsor the BiS SiGMA Americas and Afiliados Latam, one of the biggest iGaming trade shows in Latin America.