Siva Delivers State of the California Indian Gaming Nations

James Siva (l.), vice chairman of the Morongo Band of Mission Indians, is chairman of the California Nations Indian Gaming Association (CNIGA). Earlier this week at the annual Western Indian Gaming Conference, held this year at the Pechanga Casino Resort in Temecula, he delivered the state of the state’s gaming nations, which has been transcripted and reprinted by GGB with express permission.

Mohegan Inspire Grand Opening Set for March 5

Mohegan Inspire in Incheon, South Korea, which introduced its non-gaming operations last November, will stage an official grand opening on March 5. The resort’s casino opened February 3.

Gaming Regulation is Bedrock of Gaming’s Success

The U.S. gaming industry, in all its shapes and forms, has enjoyed meteoric growth in the last half-century. The essential key to much of that growth has been effective regulation—as we enter into an era with even bigger and faster growth, that mantra must remain steadfast, argues Spectrum Gaming Group’s President and CEO Fredric Gushin and Senior Policy Advisor Michael Pollock.

The Hamstrung U.K. Land-Based Casino Sector: A Missed Opportunity

At this stage, the U.S. and U.K. gaming industries are mirror opposites—the U.S. has been hesitant to adopt iGaming and instead relies heavily on supersized land-based casinos, whereas the U.K. has become the iGaming capital of the world, with little investment in the land-based side. As industry expert Paul Girvan (l.) notes, this could hurt the U.K. industry more in its quest to navigate current political differences.

Gambling Bills Pass Alabama House

The Alabama House passed two gambling bills. One is a constitutional amendment allowing casino gambling, lottery and sports betting. It would require a voter referendum in November. The other details casino and lottery operations. The bills now go to the Senate.

Featured Stories More

Several States Consider Skill Game Legalization

As Pennsylvania’s governor submits a budget including provisions for the regulation and taxation of ubiquitous unregulated skill games in the state, debate on legalization heats up in Virginia and Nebraska.

Report: Marina Bay Sands Highest in Brand Value

Singapore casino resort Marina Bay Sands (l.) tops the 2024 Brand Finance list on brand value. The property’s “status as a key landmark” earned it comparisons to the Eiffel Tower and the Sydney Opera House.

Wynn Could Begin UAE Hotel Construction Soon

With the foundation finished, Wynn Resorts expects to soon begin building the $4 billion casino hotel tower at Al Marjan Island in the United Arab Emirates. It could open by early 2027.

Florida Parimutuel Asks U.S. Supreme Court to Rule

It ain’t over till it’s over was one of Yogi Berra’s famous truisms. It seems to be applicable to the battle between a couple of parimutuels and the Seminole Tribe over sports betting in Florida. The latest stop: the high court?

DraftKings Acquires Jackpocket, Forges New Barstool Deal

The number-two sports betting company in the U.S., DraftKings, has been overshadowed by the top dog, FanDuel, in the past few months. But last week, great earnings, a deal to buy Jackpocket, and a partnership with Barstool Sports has brought the company back.

FANTINI’S FINANCE: The Year of the Lion?

In an economic landscape that appears to be growing cloudier the further we delve into 2024, a number of gamers stand out from the uncertain crowd as having solid foundations and future growth strategies. Could once-bemoaned MGM be the brightest of them all?

Three First Nations Sign MOU to Build new Casino

Three Canadian First Nations have partnered to build a casino near Brandon, Manitoba. The Sioux Valley Dakota, Canupawakpa Dakota First Nation and Dakota Plains First Nation will have roughly equal shares.

ASIAN GAMING More

Macau Posts Big Visitation in CNY

The Chinese New Year started with a bang in Macau, which expects up to 1 million visitors before the holidays end on February 24. The hotel occupancy rate neared 100 percent last week.

Myanmar Casino Shut Down After Raids

Police in Myanmar have issued an arrest warrant for U Kyaw Lwin, owner of a casino resort on Thahtay Kyun island. The fugitive is wanted for money laundering, illegal gambling and tax fraud in Thailand.

EUROPEAN GAMING More

Lithuania Could Tighten Gambling Ads

Lithuania’s ruling party aims to end advertising or any dissemination of information by gambling companies. Lawmakers have begun working on amendments to the Gambling Law, spurred off by an industry scandal.

Dutch Minister Opposes More Limits on Online Gaming

Franc Weerwind (l.), minister for legal protection for the Netherlands, told House of Representatives colleagues he opposes more limits on online gaming. He says limits to all online providers would be hard to enforce.

GLOBAL GAMING More

ONLINE GAMING More

PAGCOR Sees Brisk Growth in iGaming

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., which posted 90 percent growth in iGaming revenues for 2023, expects the sector to generate $1.1 billion for 2024.

Second Online Casino Bill filed in Maryland

A second bill to legalize online casinos in Maryland was introduced last week in the House of Delegates, which would award up to 12 online casino licenses not tethered to any land-based casinos.

Columbia Mulls Hiking Taxes on Online Gaming

The Republic of Columbia’s upper house has begun revamping the country’s tax structure as it applies to online gaming. This is being considered as part of an overhaul of the welfare and health systems.

SPORTS BETTING More

UNITED STATES GAMING More

Chicago Approves Bally’s New Hotel Plan

Chicago officials approved Bally’s new design for a 100-room hotel tower in the first construction phase, but the location of a 400-room hotel, which could have caused damage to city water pipes, remains unknown.

Casinos Fail to Stop AC ‘Road Diet’

A judge in Atlantic City has rejected a lawsuit from Atlantic City casinos and the AtlantiCare medical facility to halt a project that will change Atlantic Avenue from four to two lanes.

Virginia Senate Approves Petersburg As Casino Host City

In a bipartisan vote, the Virginia Senate approved a bill allowing Petersburg to hold a casino referendum, replacing Richmond, where voters twice rejected a casino. The measure also prevents Richmond from holding another casino referendum for three years.

Virginia Hard Rock Expects Summer Opening

Construction is on schedule at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Bristol, Virginia. The permanent casino will open this summer and the 300-room hotel tower will open later in the year, with a Hard Rock Café, steak house and Asian restaurant.

TRIBAL GAMING More

PEOPLE More

Tom Mikulich, Si Redd to EKG Hall of Fame

Station Casinos’ Tom Mikulich and late IGT legend William “Si” Redd are being inducted into the EKG Slot Awards Hall of Fame, and will be honored at next week’s EKG Slot Awards.

Nils Andén Named Permanent Kindred CEO

The Kindred Group board has voted to approve Nils Andén (l.) as permanent chief executive officer. He has served as interim chief since last year. He brings experience working at the CVC Group, Currency Fair and Unibet.

GLI Announces Promotions

Gaming Laboratories International has announced director level promotions including Harinder Grewal, Antonio Grida Cucco and David Jimenez Garcia (l. to r.), who all become engineering directors.

GOODS & SERVICES More

NUTSHELL More

THEY SAID IT More

QUOTABLE QUOTES

Outrageous pronouncements, simple statements and words of wisdom.