MGM, Hakkasan Launch Global Partnership

MGM Resorts International and the Hakkasan Group have partnered to form MGM Hakkasan Hospitality, which will develop luxury hotels in nations around the world. The two companies worked together...

Published April 21, 2014

FANTINI’S FINANCE: Jumping on Japan?

The “next big thing” in the gaming business is the legalization of gaming in Japan. But when will it happen? How big will it be? Who will play there?...

Published April 21, 2014

GLOBAL GAMING BUSINESS PODCAST: Mike Mitchell, Vice President of Game Development and Engineering, Bally Technologies

This week, the GGB Podcast features a discussion with Mike Mitchell, Bally Technologies’ VP of game development and engineering, about the convergence of games at Bally and SHFL entertainment,...

Published April 21, 2014

WEEKLY FEATURE: Caesars Downgrade

A group of Caesars Entertainment Corp. lenders and bondholders is taking a closer look at the company’s recent strategy of creating subsidiaries in an effort to manage its debt....

Published April 14, 2014

Melco in Talks for $5 Billion Tokyo Casino

Melco Crown Entertainment says it will spend $5 billion or more to open a resort casino in Tokyo. The Macau casino giant (Crown Macau at left) envisions a joint...

Published April 14, 2014

New Hampshire House Mulls Two-Casino Plan

The New Hampshire House’s Ways and Means Committee has begun holding hearings on a proposal to allow two casinos in the Granite State, a bill that has already passed...

Published April 14, 2014

Kerzner to Retire

Sol Kerzner (l.) will retire as chairman of South Africa’s Kerzner International Holdings after a 45-year career in the casino hotel industry.

Published April 14, 2014

Mass. Gaming Commission Delays Key Decisions

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission has bowed to circumstances and voted to delay two key decisions, the issuance of gaming licenses in the southeastern and Boston metro casino zones. The...

Published April 14, 2014

Aquis Discounts Environmental Concerns

Environmentalists are worried about the fragile ecosystem of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef if Tony Fung’s $4 billion Aquis megaresort goes ahead in northern Queensland as planned. Aquis contends its...

Published April 14, 2014

Unauthorized Offshore Gambling Sites Trying to Poach New Jersey Online Gamblers

The head of bwin.party, which is licensed to provide online gambling in New Jersey, says several unlicensed international online gambling sites (raketherack.com at left) are trying to lure in...

Published April 14, 2014

Senator Introduces Carcieri ‘Fix’ Legislation

For five years the Carcieri v. Salazar decision by the U.S. Supreme Court has been an irritant and an outrage to many Indian tribes. Senator Jon Tester (l.), chairman...

Published April 14, 2014

GGB PODCAST: Joe Pappano, Senior Vice President, Director of Merchant Sales and Managing Director, Vantiv Gaming Solutions

This week, the GGB Podcast features a re-broadcast of a discussion with Joe Pappano, the senior vice president, director of merchant sales and managing director for Vantiv Gaming Solutions...

Published April 14, 2014

WEEKLY FEATURE: Okada’s Chiller in Manila

The $2 billion Manila resort planned by Japanese billionaire Kazuo Okada (l.) is on the rocks again. His Philippine subsidiary has fired one of the partners it secured last...

Published April 7, 2014

PokerStars Defends Actions in California

PokerStars has issued a statement in response to news reports it is trying to push California to remove any “bad actor” language from proposed legislation to legalize online poker...

Published April 7, 2014

Senator Pulls Plug On Expanded Florida Gambling

In the midst of a budget meeting, Florida State Senator Garrett Richter (l.) announced that comprehensive gambling reform legislation was dead for the year, due to extended compact negotiations...

Published April 7, 2014

Boston Mayor Applies Casino Pressure

The mayor of Boston, Martin Walsh (l.), is upping the ante in his war of words against the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, which, he claims, does not have the authority...

Published April 7, 2014

Queensland Draw Flurry of Interest

Twelve investment groups have submitted bids for three new casino licenses in the Australian state of Queensland. It’s an impressive list of suitors that includes the continent’s three largest...

Published April 7, 2014

High Roller Opens in Las Vegas

The High Roller, the world’s largest observation wheel, has opened between the Quad and the Flamingo resorts near the Las Vegas Strip. The 550-foot High Roller takes 30 minutes...

Published April 7, 2014

Organizations, Senators Oppose National Online Gambling Ban

Several important national organizations have come out in opposition to Sheldon Adelson’s online gaming ban. In addition, two U.S. senators from New Jersey, Cory Booker (l.) and Robert Menendez,...

Published April 7, 2014

Big March for Macau

March was another blowout month for Macau gaming revenue. The haul was $4.4 billion, capping a first quarter that averaged $1 billion a week and has analysts considering raising...

Published April 7, 2014