
Archive: Vol-23-No-04-February-7-2025




Mizuhara Sentenced to 57 Months for Sports Betting Scheme
Ippei Mizuhara, the former interpreter and close friend of MLB superstar Shohei Ohtani, has been handed a 57-month prison sentence in federal court for stealing millions from Ohtani to fund an insatiable gambling addiction with an illegal bookie.
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WEEKLY FEATURE: In Stunning Turn, Cedars Rapids Gets its Casino
A lot can change in a week. After a fast-moving moratorium on gaming licenses suddenly stalled out in the state Senate, the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission has approved plans for a Cedar Rapids casino on stakeholders’ third attempt.
U.S. IN FOCUS
Tysons casino efforts gaining steam, Nevada casinos prepare to fight room-cleaning measure, casino bill pops up in Georgia and more.
EUROPE IN FOCUS
UKGC rolls out first-time deposit limits, Aviator drops Flutter trademark suit, Gamstop shows uptick in exclusions and more.
SPORTS BETTING IN FOCUS
DeWine seeks another Ohio tax hike, online wagering moves in Mississippi and Hawaii, Abbott signals support for Texas sports betting and more.
TRIBAL GAMING IN FOCUS
Tribes forecast life under Trump, Florida helpline funding dries up, Comanche Cache to reopen later this month and more.
ASIA IN FOCUS
Macau January revenue comes up short of estimates, CNMI could close casino commission, PAGCOR sells two casinos and more.
LATIN AMERICA IN FOCUS
New Brazilian Senate president looks to advance casinos, new match-fixing scandal in Bolivia, Coljuegos shuts down 10,000 sites and more.
GGB PODCAST: WagerWire Founders Zach Doctor, Travis Geiger and Guy Dotan
On this episode of the GGB Podcast, we sit down with the team from WagerWire, a sports betting exchange platform that is melding the worlds of betting and trading.
Live! Casino & Hotel Louisiana to launch with DraftKings Sportsbook
DraftKings has announced that it will operate a retail sportsbook facility inside the new Live! Casino & Hotel Louisiana, which is set to open its doors for the first time on 13 February.
IGT debuts new Wheel of Fortune Trio cabinet
International Game Technology (IGT) has launched its new Wheel of Fortune Trio cabinet with the Graton Resort & Casino in Rohnert Park, California.
Star Entertainment in talks to sell Brisbane casino stake
Star Entertainment Group has rejected numerous bids from its Hong Kong-based partners who are seeking to acquire its stake in the partially opened Star Brisbane casino resort.
Nevada sees net income drop in FY 2024
Nevada’s major casinos saw an almost $1bn drop in net income during the most recent financial year.
Net profit dips at Red Rock despite revenue growth in 2024
Red Rock Resorts has reported a year-on-year drop in net profit for its 2024 financial year despite revenue increasing by 12.5%.
Buzz Bingo puts focus on omnichannel with new Playtech ECM terminals
Buzz Bingo is overhauling its customer offering across the UK through the roll-out of 10,000 touchscreen electronic bingo terminals (EBTs) from Playtech’s ECM Systems.
Churchill Downs opens new $100m historical horse racing venue
Churchill Downs Incorporated (CDI) has unveiled its newest historical horse racing (HHR) venue as the $100 million Owensboro Racing & Gaming facility was officially opened in Kentucky.
Game Nation strengthened by new managerial appointments
Eric Howell and Sharon Lewis have been recruited to senior roles by UK gaming machine operator Game Nation.
Bombay Group names Kevin McGowen as new CEO
Estonia-based casino operator Bombay Group has announced the appointment of industry veteran Kevin McGowen as its new chief executive.
Louisiana regulator approves merger between Bally’s and The Queen
The proposed merger between Bally’s Corporation and The Queen Casino & Entertainment has been approved by the Louisiana Gaming Control Board, according to The Center Square, a government news website.
Maryland casinos continue decline
The US state's six gaming venues experienced another month of decline in January 2025.
Holland Casino closes historic venue
Holland Casino’s historic Zandvoort venue has closed its doors for the final time.
Scientific Games and Allwyn launch lottery retail solution in Europe
Scientific Games has teamed up with Allwyn, the operator of the UK’s National Lottery, to launch the provider’s SCiQ retail technology in Europe for the first time.
PAGCOR closes two loss-making Casino Filipino sites
Two Casino Filipino venues that lost more than PHP160m over the last two years are being closed by parent company PAGCOR.
Talks held over extending Atlantic City’s PILOT program
New Jersey Senator Vincent Polistina has confirmed that talks have taken place over the potential extension of Atlantic City’s casino payment-in-lieu-of-taxes (PILOT) program.
SkyCity Queenstown appoints Youell as new leader
Marketing specialist Amanda Youell has taken over as general manager at one of New Zealand's leading casinos, SkyCity Queenstown.