Casino news and poker down under heating up Media Man Australia

Casino news and poker down under heating up

Australian Gaming mogul, James Packer, became a new father today with the birth of his daughter, Indigo. Packer's ex, Jodhi Meares, has found Scientology at the same time, following her woes with Foxtel and 'Top Model'.

Media Man Australia is seeing continued growth in the online casino business (as opposed to the bricks and mortar) casino business. x and xxx continue to impress.

Packer ops out of a second casino deal, this time in the Philippines, following his exit of Macau. Lawrence Ho saw challenges early in the peace, and now Ho's got family challenges as an ongoing distraction to the running of his gaming empire. You can bet Packer's looking for his Aussie Millions of Crown Casino in Melbourne, Australia, to turn a dollar. Speaking of Millions, Australian media and advertising tycoon, John Singleton, is travelling along nicely with his Magic Millions (horse racing).

Online gaming mainstays, Lasseters, Bwin, 888.com and GoldenPalace stay in the race, however many media analysts and gaming insiders are of the opinion that PKR.com and Virgin Games have more credibility and usability, and in short are more trusted and reliable than many in the gaming and online casino business.

Gaming convention, Australasian Gaming Expo, a 3-day affair, kicks off Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre, Darling Harbour, Sydney, Australia on the 24th August.

Donald Trump, property developer kingpin, is looking to offload some of his hotel and casino interests abroad, and is locked in to speak in Australia at the first time in Australia this November with his Think Like A Billionaire Seminars to be held in Melbourne, Sydney and the Gold Coast. Not Perth however, which has more millionaires and billionaires per capita than anywhere else in Australia and by the way, James Packer just happens to have Burswood Casino running at a profit in the wild west. If only he can achieve this offshore, unless he's tossed that aside, with his new found status are Australia's 3rd richest individual (down one place from a few months back).

Media Man Australia recently attended the Climate Change Summit and was inspired to get up a green eco friendly casino... hang on a moment, Media Man Australia is already green, having sold the V8 and with pro active assistance to the likes of Universal Peace Centre Retreat, Greenfest and Virgin Unite. Media Man is in the final stages of establishing casino tour packages with Travel Tourism Media and is still taking business proposals from potential partners for the project. A birdie told us they were checking out the World Poker Tour as a potential partner, but their status is not right for the Australian market. In anticipation of the formal launch, Media Man has established Casino News Media
( www.casinonewsmedia.com ) to oversee the growth of the business.

Richard Branson, Virgin King, has done well to stay out of the traditional casino business, however a number of casinos are going very cheap at the moment. Branson might do well to pick up a couple and add to one of his latest ventures, Virgin Hotel, which will complement his Virgin Vacations business beautifully. His Virgin Games remains impressive, and offshoot, Challenge Jackpot, recently hit the screens in Europe to rave reviews. Pikum!, who he also lent his name (and money via Virgin Mobile) to is also on a wave of momentum.

Down under in Australia there's whispers of TAB teaming up with another gaming operator, and this likely has something to do with attempting to adept to the ever changing market, as more punters continue to hit the internet to try their luck.

We recently stumbled upon a board game (on the web) entitled Media Mogul, and we help to soon review it, as it features Murdoch, Branson and Simon.

Thank you to the folks are iGaming Business and CAP Magazine, we enjoyed the read and did find strong relevance to the online gaming sector

Media Man Australia casinos of the month... you guessed it, Virgin Casino and PKR Casino.

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2022

Casino, Gaming and Sports Betting News

‘Most torturous year of my life’: Russell Crowe on making Poker Face

A tech billionaire hosts a high-stakes poker game between friends, but the evening takes a turn when long-held secrets are revealed, an elaborate revenge plot unfolds, and thieves break in.

Russell Crowe calls his time creating the movie Poker Face “one of the most torturous 12 months of my life”.

The Oscar-winning Hollywood star was called on to perform the movie-making miracle a week after his father John died, before the film had been cast and with a script that had to be substantially reworked just five weeks before shooting began.

“I’m not sure what to tell you about this [movie]. [It’s about being] put forward in a position of when things are imperfect, and an example of that kind of situation couldn’t be more personified by how this film came to me,” Crowe told a crowd at a screening of the film in Sydney last week.

“They had this American fella [Gary Fleder] who was down here, setting it up and preparing it and that sort of stuff, and he had a family situation arise ... and he left.

“Now about a week before that, my dad had actually died, so I was in that kind of strange cycle ... and they came to me and they said ‘Look, here’s a thing. Do you want to take over this production? It’s not cast ... and you’ve got like five weeks before you start.’”

Crowe not only stars in the film, which premiers on streaming service Stan on Tuesday night, he is also its director and has a screenplay credit.

Filmed in Australia last year, the movie is about tech billionaire Jake Foley (Crowe) who hosts a high-stakes poker game with childhood friends. It is a mix of thriller and drama, with an overarching theme of a man examining his legacy....

Gambling.com acquires Casinos.com from Caesars

During last week's Gambling.com earnings call, the company announced that it has acquired the Casinos.com domain name from Caesars. Terms of the deal were not shared on the earnings call.

From Domain Investing:

Here’s what Charles Gillespie, CEO of Gambling.com, stated about the acquisition of Casinos.com on the earnings call:

“To continue to best position ourselves for the future of iGaming around the world, we recently completed the acquisition of a superstar marquee domain, which, in our view, is the single most desirable and valuable domain name for companies in our line of business, Casinos.com.

The addition of Casinos.com to our already best-in-class domain portfolio enables us to build another powerhouse global brand alongside Gambling.com using our existing teams, technology and knowhow.”

Here’s what Charles Gillespie, CEO of Gambling.com, stated about the acquisition of Casinos.com on the earnings call:

Since the deal closed in the Fourth Quarter of this year, perhaps the acquisition cost of Casinos.com will be reported in the company’s next quarterly report. In fact, in the company’s quarterly report for activity through September 30th, the company mentioned the acquisition in the section covering events after the reporting period. “In November 2022, the Company acquired the Casinos.com domain name,” the company shared.

It does not appear that Caesars did much with the Casinos.com domain name. Using Archive.org, I can see the domain name was used to forward traffic to Caesars website. Judging by the coming soon page, it looks like Gambling.com has plans to build Casinos.com into a uniquely branded casino-related platform.

*click here for full article

(Domain Investing)

Australia's Star says regulator-named manager to run Sydney casino - 17th October 2022

SYDNEY, Oct 17 (Reuters) - Australia's Star Entertainment Group (SGR.AX) said on Monday a regulator-appointed manager would be stepping in to run its Sydney casino after an investigation by an independent commission found it had failed to prevent money laundering and criminal activity.

The firm was fined A$100 million ($62 million) by the New South Wales Independent Casino Commission (NICC), which also suspended its license to operate the casino in Sydney, effective Oct. 21, Star said in a statement.

The commission appointed Nicholas Weeks as the manager, who will assume full control from Friday for the next 90 days to ensure the casino is compliant with all relevant laws.

The suspension period will be crucial for Star to prove its merit to hold a casino license.

Weeks' authority as a manager of Star's assets are limited to the operational needs of the casino.

"The period during which the manager has control will enable the exploration between the NICC and the operator and TSEG (The Star Entertainment Group) of the possibility that the former operator may be capable of demonstrating to the NICC it may become suitable to hold a casino licence," the commission said in its notice to Star.

Keeping the casino operational is in public interest to protect the thousands of jobs at risk, the notice said.

The decision to slap Star with the maximum fine possible comes on the first day on the job for Star's new Chief Executive Robbie Cooke.

Star's shares on the Australian bourse are on a trading halt.

Australia's gambling industry has been in the spotlight in recent years, with public inquiries lashing its biggest casino operators due to lapses in money laundering protections

(This story has been corrected to say licence suspended effective Oct. 21, not Oct. 2 in the second graph)

The United States Igaming Revenue Report - August 2022

National (igaming/results) - Deke Castleman, CDC Gaming Reports - Total igaming revenue for August 2022 in the six igaming states totaled $394.7 million, up 22.9% from August 2021…New Jersey was $131.4 million, reflecting growth of 16.1%...Michigan produced $130.9 million in revenue, up 34.2% higher. Pennsylvania online gaming revenue was, $107.2 million, 17.3% higher than August 2021…Connecticut operators, DraftKings and FanDuel won $13.1 million and $8.8 million…West Virginia igaming revenue was $10.8 million, more than double the $4.5 million result from August 2022…Delaware’s internet casinos essentially tied their record igaming revenue of $1.3 million, a 30% leap over August 2021.

Nebraska’s first casino to open Saturday

Nebraska (Lincoln) - Paul Hammel, Nebraska Examiner - Nebraska’s first casino is expected to open Saturday morning in the Capital City, pending approval by the state gaming commission. A temporary casino, located at the Lincoln Racecourse Thoroughbred track, is scheduled to open at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, with more than 400 slot machines ready to go. “We have every expectation that we’ll get a license,” said Lance Morgan, president and CEO of Ho-Chunk Inc., the economic wing of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska and operator of WarHorse.

Prop 27 Campaign Switching Tactics in CA Sports Betting Push

California (sports) - Matthew Waters, Legal Sports Report - The campaign behind Prop 27, the push for legal online CA sports betting, is changing its tactics with just six weeks to go. Yes on 27 pulled all of its TV ad buys in major California markets this week, the San Francisco Chronicle reported…the campaign is only advertising on broadcast spots in the Los Angeles market. A spokesperson from the campaign said the standard TV ads from both sides are “not benefiting anyone.” Instead, funding will be used for direct mail and digital advertising.

Chinese Ambassador warns crimes harmful to relations

Asia (China/Philippines) - Inside Asian Gaming - China’s Ambassador to the Philippines, Huang Xilian, has warned that the proliferation of crime linked to the country’s Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) industry are harmful to relations between the two nations. Philippine News Agency reports that Huang issued a statement on Wednesday in which he reiterated that China firmly opposes all forms of gambling and will continue to take strong measures against it.

MGM CFO talks acquisitions, divestitures, and strength of Las Vegas

Nevada (Las Vegas) - Buck Wargo, CDC Gaming Reports - Speaking to the Deutsche Bank Leveraged Finance Conference on Tuesday, MGM Resorts International CFO Jonathan Halkyard touted the strength of the Las Vegas Strip, especially convention business, and spoke glowingly about the casino-giant’s property and company transactions. Halkyard also discussed the second quarter and closing on the sale of its REIT to VICI Properties for $4.5 billion. He cited MGM’s acquisition of the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas and paired that with the $1 billion sale of the operation of the Mirage to Hard Rock International. “Together, these two transactions have materially improved the portfolio in Las Vegas,” Halkyard said.

Nevada esports-wagering expansion moving forward

Nevada (esports) - Buck Wargo, CDC Gaming Reports - Nevada’s Esports Technical Advisory Committee asked the state’s Attorney General’s office Wednesday to draw up regulations that would permit widespread esports betting on tournaments and championships starting in 2023. The committee will meet on Oct. 24 to review and finalize the regulations and forward the package to the Nevada Gaming Control Board and eventually the Nevada Gaming Commission.

‘We’re just getting started’: Las Vegas gets its parade

Nevada (Las Vegas) - Mike Grimala, The Sun - On Sunday, the Las Vegas Aces delivered the city its first major league sports championship. On Tuesday, the city delivered for the Aces, as several thousand fans packed the area around the Bellagio fountains for the team’s historic title celebration. The atmosphere was one of triumph as the Aces rallied to commemorate the franchise’s victory against the Connecticut Sun in the WNBA Finals.

Famed Israeli chef opening 2 restaurants in The Venetian

Nevada (Las Vegas) - Johnathan L. Wright, Review-Journal - Eyal Shani — the celebrated chef with restaurants in the U.S., Europe, Asia, Oceania and his native Israel — is bringing his take on Mediterranean cooking to the Las Vegas Strip with the debut of two restaurants at The Venetian. Miznon, serving fast-casual Israeli street food, is planned to open in late 2022. HaSalon, offering seasonal ingredients and a menu with nightly changes, is scheduled to launch in 2023. Both will be in the Palazzo Tower of The Venetian.

Regulators consider $100K fine against William Hill

Nevada (regulation) - Richard N. Velotta, Review-Journal - The Nevada Gaming Commission on Thursday will consider slapping the Caesars Entertainment Inc.-owned William Hill sportsbook with a $100,000 fine, following a four-count complaint filed in August by the Nevada Gaming Control Board. The Control Board accused William Hill of violating gaming regulations by failing to promptly resolve a system failure that affected more than 50,000 bettors since 2015.

Wynn Resorts seeks dismissal of lawsuit from massage therapist

Nevada (Las Vegas) - Richard N. Velotta, Review-Journal - Attorneys for Wynn Resorts Ltd. are seeking the dismissal of a lawsuit filed by a Wynn Resorts massage therapist earlier this month, and a hearing has been scheduled in October. Attorneys Robert Eglet, Tracy Eglet and Danielle Miller filed a lawsuit on Sept. 1 in Clark County District Court on behalf of Brenna Schrader, who alleges the company continues to create a hostile work environment and retaliate against her years after then-CEO Steve Wynn forced her to act as an “on-call sexual servant.”

Newest casino is nearly set to open in Newburgh Mall

New York (Newburgh) - Chris McKenna, Times Herald-Record - Hundreds of black slot machines and table games are in place and waiting to be fed cash, spread across a couple acres of blue and orange carpeting where the Bon Ton department store used to be. Within the next three months, New York's newest casino is expected to open its doors, a playground of electronic gambling devices inside the Newburgh Mall that will operate 20 hours a day. Resorts World Hudson Valley will feature 1,200 machines in all, most of them slots, but also 82 unmanned imitations of typical casino offerings like craps, roulette and blackjack.

Pennsylvania GCB issues fines for underage gambling

Pennsylvania (regulation) - Rege Behe, CDC Gaming Reports - The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board Wednesday approved three consent agreements during a public meeting resulting in $280,825 in fines for two gaming operators. Two approved consent agreements, producing fines of $160,000 and $100,825, Mount Airy Casino Resort in Monroe County. The third fine of $20,000 resulted from negotiations between the OEC and Pilot Travel Centers and PJF Southeast, operator of two Video Gaming Terminal establishments.

BetMGM announces partnership deal with NBC Sports, replacing PointsBet

National (sports) - Rege Behe, CDC Gaming Reports - BetMGM, and NBC Sports Wednesday announced a new partnership for the 2022 NFL season highlighted by weekly integrations on Football Night in America and content across other NBC Sports platforms. BetMGM replaces PointsBet, which had signed a similar integration deal with NBC last year, but recently opted out. “It is a tremendous opportunity to partner with the talented team at NBC Sports and have the ability to engage with football fans nationwide,” said BetMGM Chief Revenue Officer Matt Prevost.

ESPN Updating, Expanding, Prioritizing Sports Wagering Content

National (sports) - Chris Altruda, Sports Handle - ESPN may still not know its sports wagering end game with regard to whether it will have its own sportsbook or partner with one, but the Disney-owned network and multimedia platform is definitely making the commitment to content as betting continues to expand across the United States. ESPN recently announced an expansion of programming that includes new shows across multiple platforms and expanded roles for on-air talent. The moves, which coincided with the start of the NFL season — the primary driver of sports betting in the U.S. — are designed to keep ESPN front and center in a rapidly changing landscape where content is available at every turn.

Cavaliers, Bengals, Guardians, racinos and more approved for sports betting

Ohio (sports) - Donald Emmons, OH Bets - The Ohio Casino Control Commission (OCCC) approved sports betting licenses for 10 sports gaming proprietor and four sports gaming supplier applicants during its Wednesday morning meeting in Columbus. The Cleveland Cavaliers, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Guardians, Columbus Blue Jackets, and the Football Club of Cincinnati were among those approved for sports gaming proprietor licenses. Also approved for the same type of license were MGM Northfield Park, Eldorado Gaming at Scioto Downs, Hollywood Casino Columbus, Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway, and Belterra Park in Cincinnati.

Tulalip Casinos Celebrate Opening of New Retail Sportsbooks

Washington (Indian gaming) - Indian Gaming Magazine - Tulalip Resort Casino and Quil Ceda Creek Casino have celebrated the opening of two retail sportsbooks. The events featured Seattle Mariners great and Baseball Hall of Fame member Randy Johnson at Tulalip Resort Casino, and Seattle Seahawks legend and Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee Steve Largent at Quil Ceda Creek Casino. “Like all of us at Tulalip Resort Casino and Quil Ceda Creek Casino, the DraftKings team is committed to excellence, and we intend to give local sports fans an experience that can’t be beat,” said Brandon Jones, Sportsbook Manager at Tulalip Resort Casino.

Tulalip To Host Hiring Fair for Over 100 Job Openings

Washington (Indian gaming) - Indian Gaming Magazine - Tulalip Resort Casino, Quil Ceda Creek Casino and Tulalip Bingo & Slots will offer starting hourly wages ranging between $16 and $31.64 at the “Tulalip Hiring Fair” Thursday, Sept. 22, between 9am and noon. There will be on-the-spot hiring for more than 100 job openings, including scores of newly created positions. Offer bonuses for select positions will be offered ranging between $250 and $1,000, and application assistance will be available starting at 9am. The event will be held at the Tulalip Hiring and Training Center.

Arizona reports $41.6 million in contributions

Arizona (Indian gaming) - KECY - The Arizona Department of Gaming (ADG) reports of $41.6 million in tribal gaming contributions. Furthermore, this amount represents an increase of 2.1 percent when compared to first quarter of Fiscal Year (FY) 2022. “Arizona’s tribal gaming industry continues to impress, with a quarterly contribution record of $41.6 million to the Arizona Benefits Fund,” said Ted Vogt, Director, ADG.

Gila River Branding Entitlement on Arizona Coyotes Home Jerseys

Arizona (Indian gaming) - Indian Gaming Magazine - The Arizona Coyotes and Gila River Resorts & Casinos have announced a multi-year partnership extension agreement that provides Gila River with the branding entitlement on the Arizona Coyotes official home jerseys. The announcement marks the first time in NHL history that a Native American-owned gaming enterprise will have its logo on an NHL team jersey. The Gila River Resorts & Casinos logo will be on the Coyotes’ black Kachina jerseys for all home games played at Arizona State University’s Mullett Arena beginning in October for the 2022-23 season. Additionally, Gila River will be the season-long presenting sponsor and participate in a variety of community activations throughout the season.

Casinos, retailers, other employers host job fairs in metro Phoenix

Arizona (Indian gaming) - Russ Wiles, Arizona Republic - Many employers remain in a hiring mode, although a recession might be looming. In fact, 85% of businesses say they’re actively hiring, according to a national survey by Challenger, Gray & Christmas. That’s up from 81% in the spring. Many Phoenix area employers are turning to job fairs and special promotions to lure applicants. Talking Stick Resort will host a job fair Sept. 27 for hospitality positions there and at sister property Casino Arizona…Some positions will pay a $1,500 signing bonus. Benefits include a 401(k) retirement-plan company match, education assistance and medical, dental and life insurance. Paid time off is available for full- and part-time employees.

Echo Zulu Swings Back into Action in Dogwood

Kentucky (racing) - Byron King, Blood-Horse News - Last year's champion 2-year-old filly, Echo Zulu , scratched moments before the start of the June 11 Acorn Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park due to perceived unsoundness when headed to the starting gate, regroups under the evening lights at Churchill Downs in the $275,000 Dogwood Stakes (G3) Sept. 24. After the L and N Racing and Winchell Thoroughbreds-owned filly received a subsequent clean bill of health…She walked for a few weeks and didn't resume a workout schedule until mid-August at Saratoga Racecourse for Steve Asmussen.

Rich Strike Breezes at Churchill Ahead of Lukas Classic

Kentucky (racing) - Corrie McCroskey, Blood-Horse News - Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) winner Rich Strike worked at Churchill Downs Sept. 21 in preparation for the Oct. 1 Lukas Classic (G2), according to trainer Eric Reed. The son of Keen Ice breezed five furlongs in 1:01.40 with regular exercise rider Gabriel Lagunes aboard. He ranked ninth fastest out of 19 horses who worked Wednesday. "He worked very relaxed, I couldn't have been happier with the way he finished up, that's what we wanted," Reed said.

12-Year-Old Racehorse Retires as Winner in 100th Start

Kentucky (racing) - Byron King, Blood-Horse News - On a day when owners began plotting the careers of million-dollar horses purchased at the start of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale Sept. 12, the connections of a $3,000, 12-year-old claiming horse celebrated an auspicious conclusion to his career in a lower-level race at Arizona Downs .In his 100th race, a milestone start his connections had targeted for the veteran campaigner to wrap up his racing career, Joe Wheeler and Curt Ferguson's Success Rate bowed out a winner, scoring by 1 3/4 lengths in a six-furlong race with a $9,525 purse.

DAZN, LiveScore and WSC debate betting and media

Europe (SBC Summit) - Ted Orme-Claye, SBC News - The third panel of day one on the SBC Leaders track at this week’s Barcelona Summit dived into a topic that has been on the minds of many over the past year – the convergence of media and betting. Appearing on the discussion were three speakers with extensive experience of this field – DAZN CEO Shay Segev, LiveScore Group CEO Sam Sadi and WSC Sports CEO and Co-Founder Daniel Shichman… Returning to the media-betting perspective, he added: “Even if you’re in the media space, you can’t be satisfied with delivering sports and taking advertising and subscription revenues.

ECA Casino Industry Forum heads to Baden

Europe (Austria) - Phil, G3 Newswire - The ECA Casino Industry Forum takes place in the picturesque Austrian town of Baden from September 27-30, 2022. It is the gathering place for Europe’s leading casino operators to discuss the challenges, opportunities, trends, and developments in land-based and online casino gaming. Casino Baden plays host to over 60 guests at this year’s event, marking the return of the ECA Casino Industry Forum after a two-year absence due to the pandemic.

Government continues crackdown on illegal gambling

Americas (Columbia) - James, G3 Newswire - Coljuegos, reported that it carried out 41 inspections in the department of Córdoba and that it removed 544 gaming machines that were operating illegally. Coljuegos added that if the machines had been operating legally, then they would have generated 8,182 million Colombian pesos (about US$1.84 million) in operator fees plus VAT of 3,157 million pesos (about US$ 712,000). At the same time the board reported that the 30 municipalities of Córdoba, between 2020 and so far this year received about 50,089 million pesos, (US$11.3 million), from the legal gaming sector, in fees and taxes.

Delaware breaks igaming record again in August

Delaware saw both revenue and handle rise in August. Igaming revenue hit $1.3m (£1.14m/€1.3m), up 37.2% from $945,512 at the same point last year. It was also marginally higher than the previous record of $1.25m that was set in July 2022. Players spent $36.8m on igaming in August, up 69.6% year-on-year, but down 6.6% from $39.4m during the July 2022 peak. Retail sports betting generated $354,444 during August, which was up 439.7% from $65,678 at the same time last year, but 7.5% lower than the $383,249 recorded in July this year. Bettors wagered $2.9m on sports in August, which was down 40.8% from $4.9m at the same time last year and up by 7.4% on $2.7m in July. (HGS)

Truist Securities praise southern California tribal casinos

The analysts at Truist Securities have pointed to the “amazing” depth and size of the southern California tribal casino market. After visiting six casinos between Los Angeles and San Diego, the Truist team said the properties had “fresher, more diverse” slot floors compared with comparable regional market properties, and that the tribes tend to refresh 10-25% of the slot floor annually (versus 5-10% for commercial casinos). With regard to sports betting, financial expectations were “modest,” but the key issue was about tribal sovereignty and the fact that Prop 26 would give the tribes full control of further regulations such as online casino. (JP)

Bally’s applies to offer mobile sports wagering in Illinois

Bally’s has applied for a Management Services Provider license from the Illinois Gaming Board. Bally’s plans to operate as Bally Bet, but it is unclear whether it would do so as part of its casino in Chicago or its Rock Island casino near the Iowa border. The application follows BetMGM’s entry to the state in March. Barstool Sports also received its license in March. Bally Bet launched mobile betting in Iowa in July 2021, clocking up $4.3m, of which $2.3m was recorded in the first eight months of this year. FanDuel and DraftKings account for roughly 65% of Illinois’ $496.1m mobile handle, according to data from July. The state launched mobile betting in June 2020. (HGS)

Disney CEO continues to create confusion about ESPN’s sports betting plans

Having told a conference that it was “working hard” on a sports betting app, Disney CEO Bob Chapek had to row back on his comments when he then told CNBC that ESPN “was never going to be a book” and was instead seeking a sports betting partner because ESPN was able to provide “frictionless sports betting” to fans. Chapek’s comments echoed those of ESPN president Jimmy Pitaro, who told The Athletic in June that the company “can be doing more. We need to be serving the sports fan with what they’re expecting, and taking the friction out of the process.” (JP)

Nevada esports-wagering expansion moving forward

Nevada’s Esports Technical Advisory Committee asked the state’s Attorney General’s office Wednesday to draw up regulations that would permit widespread esports betting on tournaments and championships starting in 2023. The committee will meet on Oct. 24 to review and finalize the regulations and forward the package to the Nevada Gaming Control Board and eventually the Nevada Gaming Commission.

Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board issues fines for underage gambling, licensing issues

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board Wednesday approved three consent agreements during a public meeting resulting in $280,825 in fines for two gaming operators. Two approved consent agreements, producing fines of $160,000 and $100,825, stemmed from negotiations between the Office of Enforcement Counsel and Mount Airy Casino Resort in Monroe County.

Cavaliers, Bengals, Guardians, racinos and more approved for Ohio sports betting licenses

The Ohio Casino Control Commission (OCCC) approved sports betting licenses for 10 sports gaming proprietor and four sports gaming supplier applicants during its Wednesday morning meeting in Columbus. The Cleveland Cavaliers, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Guardians, Columbus Blue Jackets, and the Football Club of Cincinnati were among those approved for sports gaming proprietor licenses.

Nebraska’s first casino to open Saturday, pending OK of license; state launches self-exclusion program

Nebraska’s first casino is expected to open Saturday morning in the Capital City, pending approval by the state gaming commission. A temporary casino, located at the Lincoln Race Course Thoroughbred track, is scheduled to open at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, with more than 400 slot machines ready to go... In preparation for the opening, problem gamblers are being urged to file a “voluntary self-exclusion form” to bar their admission to the casino and the temptation to gamble.

Bragg Gaming, Bally’s Interactive, enter igaming content development partnership

Bragg Gaming Group Wednesday announced that it has entered an igaming content development partnership with Bally’s Interactive, the digital arm of Bally’s Corporation. Per the agreement, Bally’s Interactive online brands including Virgin Casino, JackpotJoy and Vera&John, will launch content from Bragg’s proprietary slots studios, including Atomic Slot Lab and Indigo Magic.

Great Canadian Gaming: Next year looks great

Fitch Ratings recent B+ rating on Great Canadian Gaming Corp.’s long-term debt reflected optimism in the company, which is owned by Apollo Management. Senior secured debt got a B+, unsecured debt a B-. According to Fitch, the ratings reflect healthy generation of discretionary free cash flow and a recovering Canadian casino economy.

California: YouTube slots influencer Brian Christopher hosts first group slot pull on his Pop’N Pays More game

Live online slots player and YouTube star Brian Christopher visited Jamul Casino in the San Diego area over the weekend to launch three of his own branded slot machines. The new Pop’N Pays More slot machines were installed on Sept. 14 with many guests rushing to play them immediately.

Washington: Tulalip Resort, Quil Ceda Creek casinos open DraftKings Sportsbooks

Tulalip Resort Casino and Quil Ceda Creek Casino each opened a DraftKings Sportsbook [Tuesday] with celebratory appearances by two Seattle sports legends.

France: FDJ enters ‘exclusive negotiations’ to acquire horse betting operator ZEturf

La Française des Jeux (FDJ) is apparently seeking an expansion of its standing in the French betting space, targeting an acquisition of ZEturf Group...a horse racing betting operator as well as the company behind the ZEbet brand.

Relax Gaming debuts in Colombian igaming market via MegApuestas deal

Relax Gaming has marked its entry into the Colombian igaming market through a deal with operator MegApuestas, which sees the supplier make its tier one games available to Colombian players.

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Nevada Gaming Control Board preparing for disciplinary hearing against Steve Wynn

The Nevada Gaming Control Board on Tuesday confirmed that it is preparing for a disciplinary hearing before the Nevada Gaming Commission against former Wynn Resorts Ltd. CEO Steve Wynn on sexual harassment charges. Wynn, now a Florida resident, has said that because he is no longer licensed by state gaming regulators and has divested all financial connections with the company that he believes he is no longer subject to its discipline.

The plan for a downtown Chicago casino now has a surprising ally: river lovers

Chicago’s push for a casino has stirred fervent debate focused mostly on the predictable: whether the right site was chosen, how much tax revenue it will generate and whether it will worsen noise, traffic or problem gambling. But river advocates and ecological preservationists see the complex in a different light. To them, the Bally’s plan to replace the Tribune printing plant in River West can be a meaningful next step in the ongoing makeover of the city’s riverfront — if done right.

Ontario: More staff back, but border issues continue to be a challenge for Caesars Windsor

While the bulk of the staff at Caesars Windsor have returned to work, officials say there's still more work to do as they prepare for the fall. Back in March, unionized workers at Caesars voted 93 per cent in favour of a new three-year collective agreement, covering the roughly 1,800 workers at the casino. With restrictions related to COVID-19 mostly lifted, one of the remaining issues involves the border and being able to get more visitors from the US back.

Michigan Gaming Control Board highlights need for gaming education

The Michigan Gaming Control Board is trying to do its part to help raise awareness on responsible gaming among the state’s youth in tandem with the American Gaming Association’s “Responsible Gaming Education Month.” According to a press release from the MGCB, and citing statistics from the National Council on Problem Gambling, between 60% and 80% of high school students say they’ve gambled for money in the past year, and some 4% to 6% of them are considered gambling addicts.

Mixed ruling filed in Apple, Google, Meta social casino case

The Northern District of California issued an opinion partly siding with social casino users late last week, determining that the defendants, Apple, Google, and Meta Platforms defeated only two of three theories of liability on Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act grounds.

Caesars Atlantic City debuting the first east-coast location of Gordon Ramsay’s Hell’s Kitchen

What’s opening next? This question applies to all three of Caesars Entertainment’s Atlantic City casinos. There are so many projects on the to-do list that something new is debuting every month.

Survey suggests many in Ontario cool to sports wagering

Over three months after the full launch of Ontario’s sports-betting industry, a survey conducted by Canada Sports Betting suggests a majority of people in the province haven’t taken to wagering on athletic events. Canada Sports Betting surveyed 1,222 people between July 19-20 regarding their views on the regulated sports-betting market.

North Carolina: Catawba Nation opens sportsbook inside temporary Two Kings casino

Another sports-gambling venue opened on Tuesday in North Carolina, this time at the temporary casino opened by the Catawba Nation last year along Interstate 85 near the South Carolina border.

Caesars opens two retail sportsbooks in Louisiana on the eve of football season

Caesars Sportsbook made a big splash less than a week before the NFL season begins, opening two new retail locations for sports betting in Louisiana.

Hard Rock Sportsbook launches in Indiana, Tennessee

Hard Rock Sportsbook is officially live in Indiana and Tennessee, just days ahead of the start of the 2022 NFL season. The mobile sportsbook is now operational in Arizona, Indiana, Iowa, New Jersey, Tennessee, and Virginia.

Liz Truss’s UK premiership raises hopes of countering affordability checks, lawmaker says

Liz Truss's appointment as prime minister has been hailed as a major positive for racing by fellow Conservative MP Laurence Robertson, who hopes she will oppose the controversial affordability checks, which are set to feature in the upcoming gambling white paper and would cost the sport millions. Robertson, whose Tewkesbury constituency includes Cheltenham racecourse, has long campaigned against strict betting restrictions.

Camelot drops legal challenge over UK National Lottery licence transfer to Allwyn

Outgoing National Lottery operator Camelot has dropped a legal challenge which was preventing the handover of the lottery licence to rival Allwyn. Allwyn has ended its counter-claim against Camelot for damages due to delaying the £6.4bn contract.

Player protection and responsible gambling at the core of the agenda for SBC Summit Barcelona

Hundreds of player safety professionals will gather at SBC Summit Barcelona September 20-22 to share their gambling harm prevention strategies and help improve the industry's understanding of the subject of responsible gambling.

Nevada Gaming Control Board preparing for disciplinary hearing against Steve Wynn

The plan for a downtown Chicago casino now has a surprising ally: river lovers

Ontario: More staff back, but border issues continue to be a challenge for Caesars Windsor

Michigan Gaming Control Board highlights need for gaming education

Mixed ruling filed in Apple, Google, Meta social casino case

Caesars Atlantic City debuting the first east-coast location of Gordon Ramsay’s Hell’s Kitchen

What’s opening next? This question applies to all three of Caesars Entertainment’s Atlantic City casinos. There are so many projects on the to-do list that something new is debuting every month.

Survey suggests many in Ontario cool to sports wagering

North Carolina: Catawba Nation opens sportsbook inside temporary Two Kings casino

Another sports-gambling venue opened on Tuesday in North Carolina, this time at the temporary casino opened by the Catawba Nation last year along Interstate 85 near the South Carolina border.

Caesars opens two retail sportsbooks in Louisiana on the eve of football season

Caesars Sportsbook made a big splash less than a week before the NFL season begins, opening two new retail locations for sports betting in Louisiana.

Hard Rock Sportsbook launches in Indiana, Tennessee

Liz Truss’s UK premiership raises hopes of countering affordability checks, lawmaker says

Camelot drops legal challenge over UK National Lottery licence transfer to Allwyn

Player protection and responsible gambling at the core of the agenda for SBC Summit Barcelona

Media Man, Casino News Media and Greg Tingle Promotions news: New Las Vegas resident Mark Wahlberg promises ‘Hollywood 2.0’

New Las Vegas resident Mark Wahlberg promises ‘Hollywood 2.0’

Nevada (Las Vegas) - John Katsilometes, Review-Journal - Mark Wahlberg is not moving to Las Vegas. He already has. We need to shift to the present-tense when referring to Vegas plans for the Hollywood A-lister, who has purchased a two-story estate in The Summit Club for $14.5 million. “My hometown,” is how Wahlberg referred to Las Vegas in the latest episode of BeondTV’s “Lights, Camera, Vegas,” hosted by Rachel Smith. “I live in Nevada. I plan on making, hopefully, a film studio, and we want to build a shoe factory in Nevada. “We want to create a lot of jobs, and a lot of excitement. Hollywood 2.0.”

Summer tourism profitable despite nagging inflation

New Jersey (Atlantic City) - Eric Conklin, The Press - Between Atlantic and Cape May counties, tourism officials say the summer season may not have been as hindered by inflation as was feared months ago. “I think the summer was strong,” said Michael Chait, president of the Greater Atlantic City Chamber of Commerce. Cape May County tourism director Diane Wieland said, “This year, as we went into it, we kind of predicted that things were not going to be as great, but it was still going to be good,” Wieland said. Wieland said beach badge sales and occupancy tax collections — two revenue streams the county uses to gauge its tourism economy — were slightly down from a year ago 2021 but remain strong.

Turning Stone plans biggest expansion since it opened

New York (Indian gaming) - Don Cazentre, Post Standard - Turning Stone Resort Casino is about to embark on its largest expansion project since opening in 1993. The project, which will be completed over a period of several years, will nearly double the Oneida Indian Nation-owned resort’s convention and conference space, while also adding a new hotel, dining options and other amenities.

Suppliers relocate resources to other Asian gaming markets

Asia (Macau) - Tony Lai, Macau Business - Suppliers of casino gaming equipment with operations in Macau are relocating manpower and resources to other gaming jurisdictions in Asia like the Philippines and Singapore, Bloomberg reported. The financial news agency quoted Jay Chun, chairman of the Macau Gaming Equipment Manufacturers Association, saying at least four multinational casino suppliers in Macau were doing so. Data from Bloomberg Intelligence said the gaming revenue of Macau only recovered to about 18 per cent of the 2019 level…the Philippines and Singapore recuperated back to 79 per cent and 68 per cent of the pre-pandemic levels respectively in the six months ended June 2022.

Circa still faces $4.5M overlay in football contests

Nevada (Las Vegas) - Todd Dewey, Review-Journal - Five days before Saturday’s entry deadline, Circa Sports is a long shot to meet its $6 million in guaranteed prize money for its $1,000-entry Circa Million IV contest. The downtown sportsbook needs 6,000 entries to meet its guarantee, up from $4 million last year. “I have a better chance of making the NBA than we do of reaching the guarantee in the Circa Sports Million,” said 5-foot-8, 130-pound Circa sportsbook operations manager Jeff Benson.

Flanker at Mandalay Bay could be Las Vegas’ next big sports bar

Nevada (Las Vegas) - Brock Radke, The Weekly - RM Seafood at Mandalay Bay was a paragon of Strip dining for nearly 15 years…seemed like an impossible act to follow after closing in late 2018…“As the sports scene in Las Vegas has evolved with professional teams coming to town, sports bar and grill concepts have also evolved,” Christie said in a statement. “Flanker Kitchen and Sports Bar will strive to become the next generation leader by delivering an approachable premium dining, drinking and sports-viewing experience.”

‘If you’re a gaming company, wouldn’t you want to be in Nevada?’

Nevada (Reno/Sparks) - Howard Stutz, The Independent - Century Casinos’ pending $195 million acquisition of the Nugget Casino Resort in Sparks will rewrite the company’s corporate profile. The regional casino operator, which began in Europe, doesn’t have what gaming observers consider a flagship resort…Northern Nevada provides Century an opportunity to prove its operational expertise in a destination market. The Nugget has 1,382 hotel rooms, more than triple the combined hotel rooms Century has in its U.S. portfolio.

Changes make Colorado an enticing casino market

Colorado (Black Hawk/Cripple Creek) - Howard Stutz, The Nevada Independent - Nevada’s major gaming companies avoided Colorado for nearly two decades after casinos were legalized in the historic mining towns of Black Hawk, Central City and Cripple Creek. Initially, bets in the state were limited to $5 and casinos were not open 24/7…There was zero interest by Las Vegas or Reno casino operators to enter Colorado. Expansion from tiny storefront casinos to mid-sized resorts has been taking place over the last few years. In Black Hawk, three properties account for more than 1,300 hotel rooms, roughly 85 percent of the total market. In Cripple Creek, a 300-room hotel-casino that is being built by Las Vegas-based Full House Resorts will double the market size when it opens next year. Las Vegas and Reno gaming companies committed millions of dollars to change the perception of the Colorado casino communities.

Muckleshoot Tribe lifts final iron beam onto future hotel tower

Washington (Indian gaming) - Robert Whale, The Reporter - To the beating of drums, dancing and the chanting of sacred songs, the Muckleshoot Tribe gathered to celebrate the topping-off ceremonies for its 18-story, 400-room, luxury hotel tower on Aug. 26. Then, to a loud cheer, construction workers hoisted the final steel beam for the Muckleshoot Casino’s highly anticipated resort tower into place, and as it slid into place, the tribe celebrated the feat with fireworks. The event heralds the first major addition to the casino since the gaming establishment opened 27 years ago at 2402 Auburn Way S.

Foxwoods’ new $85 million casino project will create “vibrant hub”, CEO says

Connecticut (Indian gaming) - New London Day - Foxwoods Resort Casino’s plan to add a sixth gaming space is as much about rearranging the layout at North America’s biggest casino as it is expanding, Foxwoods’ top executive said Thursday. "The thought is to create a vibrant hub of activity in the heart of the property,” Jason Guyot, president and chief executive officer, said in a phone interview. "We’re spread out so far, from the Rainmaker Casino on one side to The Fox Tower on the other side, it’s difficult for guests to manage. There’s no better place to put it (a new gaming space) than Grand Pequot, the busiest section of the property - the heartbeat of the property.” Guyot said the new gaming space, which will replace the Grand Ballroom, will have around 500 slots, including 175 high-limit machines, and 24 table games, including the usual mix of blackjack, roulette, craps and the like, as well as a 40-seat bar.

Crown’s Sydney casino to open next month

The Crown gaming empire’s flagship skyscraper on Sydney Harbour will open its luxury casino in two weeks.

“The doors to Australia’s only VIP casino will begin opening to members and guests from 08.08.2022,” Crown said in a statement on Monday.

Crown had been prevented from opening the casino in its $2.2 billion dining and hotel tower in Barangaroo for more than a year.

The opening was delayed and then blocked after an inquiry led by former Supreme Court judge Patricia Bergin found Crown was not fit to operate a casino.

Last month the troubled gambling behemoth was given approval by the NSW Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority for the members-only gaming facilities inside the upscale Barangaroo complex to finally open on a conditional basis.

The conditional period, which will run for 18 to 24 months, will allow the authority to monitor changes made at Crown Sydney and ensure they are “embedded” in the business.

“The opening of our gaming operations at Crown Sydney is a defining moment for Crown, and the culmination of months of hard work from our dedicated team,” Crown Sydney CEO Simon McGrath said.

“The entire team at Crown Sydney has been preparing for this moment for a long time and we felt the symbolism of the 08.08 date represented ideal timing to open our doors.”

The number eight is believed to be the luckiest number in China because eight is associated with wealth.

LGA chair Philip Crawford said last month the Bergin inquiry highlighted the scale and scope of issues to be remedied by Crown, with potentially billions of dollars having been laundered through its casinos.

“With a complete clean-out of the board and senior executive, Crown has made significant progress and has agreed to ongoing work to regain its casino licence,” he said in a statement.

Crown says its gaming operations are set “over two luxurious VIP gaming floors – Crystal Room and Mahogany Room – with 12 additional exclusive private Sky Salons located on levels 28 and 29”.

The facilities accommodate approximately 160 gaming tables and 70 electronic table games.

The Crystal Room gaming floor will open on day one, with Mahogany Room set to open at a later date.

“We are committed to delivering a safe and responsible gaming environment for all, and Crown Sydney’s restricted gaming facility has been designed with the highest levels of governance and compliance,” Mr McGrath said.

All patrons are required to be a member or guest of a member and undergo comprehensive checks.

“The gaming floors at Crown Sydney set a new standard in luxury and elegance,” Mr McGrath said.

The once-listed Crown is being taken private by US investment firm Blackstone after a successful $8.9 billion takeover was ticked off last month.

Star posts FY loss after Sydney casino hit

Casino operator Star Entertainment Group has swung to an annual loss, weighed down by extended COVID-related closures and a hefty writedown at its flagship Sydney casino amid regulatory troubles.

Australia's second-biggest casino operator on Monday posted a full year loss of $198.6 million for the year to June 30, compared to a $57.9 million profit a year earlier.

The company said it took a financial hit after its three properties on the east coast were collectively closed for 125 days in the first half of the year due to pandemic restrictions.

It also slashed the value of goodwill for its main Star Sydney property by $162.5 million "due to regulatory and other uncertainties".

Star said normalised net loss, excluding the significant items, was $32 million. Revenue for the year to June 30 dipped 1.2 per cent to $1.53 billion.

"Clearly, in the regulatory environment we're working our way through it was appropriate to consider a higher level of risk and so we effected that through the weighted average cost of capital. The consequence of that was an impairment on the Sydney property," interim Chairman Ben Heap told AAP.

By 1415 AEST, shares in the company were down 1.7 per cent to $2.86, adding to the nearly 20 per cent drop in value so far in 2022.

Star's fortunes have sagged in recent months amid regulatory scrutiny after hearings at an NSW inquiry unearthed allegations about money laundering, fraud and links to organised crime at its Sydney casino.

The company is now awaiting the outcome of that review into its suitability to hold a NSW casino licence by the end of this month.

It faces a separate investigation from the financial crimes regulator, as well as an inquiry on its suitability to hold a casino licence in Queensland, which is set to hear from witnesses from Tuesday.

Star is also facing competition from bigger rival Crown, which opened the doors of its Sydney casino earlier this month following the long-delayed green light from the NSW watchdog, after recently emerging from its own regulatory troubles.

Star, currently the dominant casino operator in Sydney, says it's too early to form a view on the impact of Crown, but added that "it recognises that it will be operating in a competitive marketplace".

While domestic gaming demand has picked up, international business is still down significantly as Australian casinos steer clear of junket operators, which previously contributed significant numbers.

They have also been affected by the slow recovery of the international tourism market, which is likely to rebound to pre-COVID levels only over the next couple of years.

Still, the group says it's seeing the positive revenue trends from the fourth quarter of FY22 continuing into the current financial year.

Domestic revenue for the period from July 1 to August 18 rose 9 per cent on the comparative pre-COVID period of 2019, largely thanks to a 26 per cent recovery in the Gold Coast's domestic revenue.

Domestic revenue at the Star Sydney was in line with pre-COVID levels.

"That sort of run rate is very encouraging. It indicates our growth sits above pre-COVID numbers, and given all the factors that we're facing at the moment, the underlying performance of the business has been terrific," Mr Heap said.

Star will not pay any final dividend, meaning it has not paid any dividend for the FY22 year.

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