FANTINI’S FINANCE: Slow & Steady

Second quarter earnings are coming out and operators and suppliers are reporting steady but impressive numbers. With casino revenue up a healthy 5 percent in June, operators are doing...

Published August 5, 2019

Why It Matters

Diversity isn’t just a platitude to be trotted out at employees rallies or shareholder meetings, says casino veteran Richard Schuetz. He points to the difficult road traveled by civil...

Published August 5, 2019

Wilmott to Step Down From Penn

Tim Wilmott has announced that he will retire as CEO of Penn National Gaming, a company he joined in 2008 and has guided through many expansions. Jay Snowden, Penn’s...

Published August 5, 2019

GVC Fined £5.9 Million For Failings at Ladbrokes Coral

The UK Gambling Commission has fined GVC about £5.9 Million for failings in anti-money laundering systems and problem gambling protections at Ladbrokes Coral. The fines are one of the...

Published August 5, 2019

Bipartisan Connecticut Lawmakers Craft Casino Compromise

A group of lawmakers from both parties have been working together, without the involvement of Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont (l.), on a compromise that would bring an Indian casino...

Published August 5, 2019

South Carolina Group Explores Casino Gambling

The Palmetto Forum for Gambling Studies was formed earlier this year to study the possibility of casinos in South Carolina. The self-funded group held the first of several meetings...

Published August 5, 2019

Casinos: Is Duterte Finally All In?

Has Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte done an about-face on the casino moratorium he declared last summer? Well-known for his disapproval of gaming, Duterte may have been persuaded by the...

Published August 5, 2019

More U.S. Tariffs Could Squeeze U.S. Operators in Macau

If Donald Trump (shown with Chinese Premier Xi at a December 2018 meeting) follows through on his plan to impose a new 10 percent tax on billions of dollars’...

Published August 5, 2019

WEEKLY FEATURE: Sports Betting Legalized in North Carolina and Puerto Rico

In one of his final acts as governor, Ricardo Rosselló (l.) signed legislation into law that authorizes sports betting, fantasy leagues and eSports in Puerto Rico. His victory was...

Published August 5, 2019

Reports Link Crown Resorts to Triad Syndicate

Crown Resorts last week suffered several setbacks in Australia surrounding media reports alleging unethical business operations and possible money laundering. The problems follow difficulties with attracting VIPs from China...

Published August 5, 2019

Goodbye Old Friend

Dave Palermo died last week, and the gaming industry mourns. GGB Publisher Roger Gros remembers what he meant to the industry, to tribal gaming and to his casino industry...

Published July 29, 2019

GLOBAL GAMING BUSINESS PODCAST: Jane F. Bokunewicz, Associate Professor Hospitality, Stockton University Atlantic City

This week, the GGB Podcast brings Jane F. Bokunewicz, an associate professor of hospitality at Stockton University in Atlantic City on a new study just released that gauged the...

Published July 29, 2019

FANTINI’S FINANCE: Unintended Consequences

Governments in their zeal to protect their citizens often make decisions that often do the opposite. The FOBT crackdown in the UK has caused massive job loses and tax...

Published July 29, 2019

Tribes Protest Stitt’s Casino Tax Proposal

Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt recently proposed renegotiating tribal compacts, which will expire in January 2020, to raise the exclusivity tax rate tribes currently pay. Stitt said the original rate...

Published July 29, 2019

Fallout Continues Over D.C.’s No-Bid Sports Betting Contract

Revelations including ties between D.C. officials and Greek lottery operator Intralot fuel the controversy over Intralot’s no-bid award to run the district’s sports betting. Several city councilmen and Mayor...

Published July 29, 2019

Greece to Launch Hellenikon Complex in 2019

Greece will accelerate its regulatory process so a long-stalled tourism destination at a vacant Athens airport can launch by the end of the year, Development Minister Adonis Georgiadis (l.)...

Published July 29, 2019

Abe’s Pro-Casino Coalition Wins in House

Last week the LDP Party of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (l.) and coalition partner the Komeito won 71 of 124 open seats in the House of Councillors. That’s...

Published July 29, 2019

Ho Locked In as Next Macau Chief Executive

Businessman and former leader of the local legislature Ho Iat Seng (l.) has won all but 22 nominations from the Chief Executive Election Committee. It means Beijing’s choice for...

Published July 29, 2019

Resorts World Catskills to Go Private

Even thought Kien Huat, the family trust controlled by Genting Chairman KT Lim, already owns 86 percent of publicly traded Empire Resorts, the company that owns Resorts World Catskills...

Published July 29, 2019

WEEKLY FEATURE: Chicago Casino Sites Questioned

Mayor Lori Lightfoot (l.) revealed her five choices for the potential location of a Chicago casino, all on the south or west sides. No downtown sites were included due...

Published July 29, 2019