Thursday, May 31, 2018

Gambling industry in Bulgaria with Miglena Dimitrova (MDMI Legal) at CEEGC2018 Budapest

Casino News Today
Gambling industry in Bulgaria with Miglena Dimitrova (MDMI Legal) at CEEGC2018 Budapest

The organizers of the Central and Eastern European Gaming Conference (CEEGC) are honored to announce that Miglena Dimitrova (MDMI Legal) will join the panel discussion which focuses on the Eastern European gambling market updates. The Bulgarian gambling industry has shown significant growth in the last 10 years and in an Analysis of the Center for the Study of Democracy of ...

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Arkansas AG finally approves casino ballot

World Casino News
Arkansas AG finally approves casino ballot

Leslie Rutledge (pictured), Arkansas Attorney General (AG), who is notorious for turning down more than 60 initiatives for building casinos in this state, finally gave in – it was announced last week, that she approved four ballot measures, one of them for building a casino in Russellville.  The group who put the ballot forward, Driving […]
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Trump Plaza’s Ending Is On Hold As Atlantic City Gears Up For A Busy Summer

Trump Plaza’s Ending Is On Hold As Atlantic City Gears Up For A Busy Summer
trump plaza demolition atlantic city

The 34-year-old Trump Plaza was scheduled for demolition this spring. However, owners have yet to file for a demolition permit and will now have to wait for tourism season to come and go first.

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Las Vegas casino strike talks going down to the wire

Casino – CalvinAyre.com
Las Vegas casino strike talks going down to the wire

las-vegas-casino-strikeLas Vegas casinos are weighing the potentially significant cost of a labor strike that could commence as early as Friday.

Last week, members of the Culinary Workers Union Local 226 and Bartenders Union Local 165 voted 99% in favor of walking off the job if there’s no satisfactory replacement for their current labor agreements with 34 Vegas casinos that expire at midnight Thursday.

On Wednesday, union analysts claimed that casinos on the Las Vegas Strip and in the downtown district are facing a penalty in the nine-figure range in the first month alone if the strike goes forward. MGM Resorts and Caesars Entertaiment, which together operate 18 of the vulnerable casinos, could face losses of $206m and $113m, respectively.

Union reps conceded that accurate projections of losses are difficult given that the last major strike was way back in 1984, when Vegas was a very different place, both in terms of the number of hotel rooms and visitor traffic. But the unions maintain that MGM and Caesars are likely looking at a 10% daily cut in revenue.

On the flip side, Vegas properties run by non-union operators like Las Vegas Sands and Wynn Resorts could enjoy a mild boost in business by offering customers the same level of service they enjoyed prior to the as-yet theoretical strike.

The unions, which represent 50k bartenders, cocktail servers, housekeepers, cooks, porters and other staff, are seeking a new five-year contract with annual raises of 4%, while the Associated Press reported that MGM and Caesars have reportedly countered with offers of 2.7% to 2.8%.

MGM met with union negotiators on Monday and has more talks planned for this week. Both MGM and Caesars continue to express confidence that labor peace can be achieved before the Friday deadline. Other affected operators include Boyd Gaming, Golden Entertainment, Penn National Gaming and Station Casinos.

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Wednesday, May 30, 2018

Japan considers extending Diet session to pass casino bill

World Casino News
Japan considers extending Diet session to pass casino bill

In Japan, the government and its coalition partners are reportedly considering extending the current 150-day regular Diet session to either the end of June or early July in an effort to ensure the passage of important bills on labor reform and casinos, including the Integrated Resorts (IR) Implementation Bill, prior to the June 20 deadline. […]
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Bloomberry expects to score a Japanese IR

Casino News – Focus Gaming News
Bloomberry expects to score a Japanese IR

The Philippine-based company is hoping to get the licence to develop an IR in Japan’s Wakayama Marina City.

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Landing International floats capital reorganization idea

Casino – CalvinAyre.com
Landing International floats capital reorganization idea

Hong Kong-listed casino investor Landing International Development Ltd. (LIDL) is considering capital reorganization and changes in board lot size to make the company more appealing to investors.

Landing International floats capital reorganization ideaIn a regulatory filing, LIDL announced that its board of directors is set to propose the capital reorganization comprising of a 50-to-1 share consolidation and capital reduction.

The capital reorganization will result in the reduction of the number of issued shares from 146,744,935,542 shares to 2,934,898,710 consolidated shares. The par value of each issued share will remain at HK$0.01 (US$0.00127), according to the company.

LIDL also dangled the idea of changing the board lot size for trading on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange from 60,000 shares to 1,200 new consolidated shares as soon as the capital reorganization become effective.

“Subject to certain conditions, including obtaining shareholders’ approval, the company anticipates that the Capital Reorganization will take effect on 4 July 2018,” LIDL said in a statement.

In pushing for the capital reorganization, LIDL pointed out the need for broader base of “institutional and sophisticated investors” in order to reduce the volatility of the company’s share price.

The firm also believes that keeping the par value of its shares low will provide greater flexibility in setting the issue price for future equity fund raising exercises.

As for the board lot size changes, LIDL said the move will help maintain the trading amount for each board lot at a reasonable level for the public to invest in its new shares.

LIDL, which operates the Jeju Shinhwa World casino resort on South Korea’s Jeju island, reported a HK$505.1 million ($64.55 million) profit in 2017 from a loss of HK$1.1 billion ($140.58 million) in 2016.

The company attributed its profit swing to the stellar performance of its property development segment—including the sale of condominium units at Jeju Shinhwa—and the disposal of Les Ambassadeurs Club and Casino, an upmarket gaming venue in London.

LIDL had earlier announced plans to build an “integrated leisure and entertainment resort” in Paranaque City, and has already signed a lease for 9.5 hectares (23.75 acres) of land.

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Ocean Resort Casino Teams Up With William Hill For Atlantic City Sportsbook

Ocean Resort Casino Teams Up With William Hill For Atlantic City Sportsbook
handshake

Ocean Resort Casino and William Hill will team up to offer "the best sportsbook in town" when the AC casino opens on June 28. The news comes on the heels of the Supreme Court's positive ruling in the NJ sports betting case.

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Tuesday, May 29, 2018

Betsoft Gaming deals with Casino Superlines

Casino News Today
Betsoft Gaming deals with Casino Superlines

Leading software provider, Betsoft Gaming deals with Casino Superlines to provide a selection of slot games to growing brand. Since Betsoft Gaming deals with Casino Superlines, an extensive range of RNG titles that have been approved for key regulated markets – including many from the perennially popular Slots3TM series will be available to Casino Superlines brand. Launched in April 2017, ...

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The Star reviews its Queen’s Wharf investment

Casino News – Focus Gaming News
The Star reviews its Queen’s Wharf investment

The company analysed the current situation of the Australian market and reviewed the investment of the Queen’s Wharf project.

The post The Star reviews its Queen’s Wharf investment appeared first on Focus Gaming News.

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Silverton adding shopping center, Hyatt Place hotel

Las Vegas Sun Stories: Gaming
Silverton adding shopping center, Hyatt Place hotel
The Silverton is undertaking a $60 million project that will include a 150-room Hyatt Place and an open-air shopping center with about a dozen retail stores, mostly food and beverage outlets such as ...
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We’re A Week From Action On NJ Sports Betting Bill As Assembly Sets Committee Date

We’re A Week From Action On NJ Sports Betting Bill As Assembly Sets Committee Date
New Jersey capitol

The Assembly Tourism, Gaming, and the Arts Committee will debate a proposed NJ sports betting bill on June 4, according to sources in the New Jersey Legislature.

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Monday, May 28, 2018

New casino could be set in Springfield

Casino News – Focus Gaming News
New casino could be set in Springfield

A project to expand the Springfield casino market is moving towards approval this year.

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Lower chamber approves Japan’s anti-gambling addiction bill

Casino – CalvinAyre.com
Lower chamber approves Japan’s anti-gambling addiction bill

A bill seeking to protect problem gamblers sailed through the lower chamber of the Japanese Diet over the weekend.

Saturday’s approval of the anti-gambling addiction bill came as the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) stamped the Integrated Resorts (IR) Implementation Bill as a priority on the legislative agenda.

Lower chamber approves Japan’s anti-gambling addiction billGGRAsia reported that the LDP, its political partner Komeito and the opposition Japan Restoration Party set their differences aside to jointly pass a measure tackling problem gambling issues that may arise when the Diet approves the IR bill.

Many gambling analysts saw passage of the anti-gambling addiction bill as a precursor to the IR bill’s approval. Lawmakers reportedly tried to strike a balance between making gambling establishments—including the $200 billion pachinko industry—profitable while putting some safety nets in order to prevent the emergence of a new generation of problem gamblers.

The anti-gambling addiction bill’s first draft didn’t spell out rules for gambling operators nor the corresponding penalties that operators may face if they violate the law. The bill only mandates the government to come up with a plan to curb gambling addiction and ensure operators’ cooperation.

Only after the problem gambling law is passed will the government start drafting rules and regulations for business establishments. The counter measures include restricting access to venues and providing funds to boost counseling.

Speaking of the IR Bill, the LDP is now considering extending the ordinary Diet session to ensure that the casino measure will be passed.

Asia Gaming Brief reported that the LDP set aside other pending bills to make way for the IR Implementation Bill. Hiroshi Moriyama, the ruling party’s Diet affairs policy chairman, said that the IR Bill is one of the priority bills to be discussed before the session ends on June 20.

“It is important to enact this bill at costs,” Moriyama said, according to the news outlet. “As discussion has begun in the House of Representatives, we must send the bill to the House of Councillors as soon as possible and have it enacted in the current Diet session.”

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Lightning Box enters Portuguese market with nine slots

World Casino News
Lightning Box enters Portuguese market with nine slots

Independent video slots developer and a multi-channel supplier from Sydney, Lightning Box Games, has just secured approval for entering the market of Portugal via the SG Digital platform which will include its brand of fun slot titles. This was granted by Portugal’s leading regulatory body, Serviço de Regulação e Inspeção de Jogos (SIRJ), who has […]
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Lightning Box gets Portugal approval

Casino News Today
Lightning Box gets Portugal approval

The specialist slots developer, Lightning Box gets Portugal approval to launch its games in the country on the SG Digital platform. Lightning Box gets Portugal approval after the Portuguese gaming regulator, Serviço de Regulação e Inspeção de Jogos (SIRJ), has given Lightning Box the right to release nine games from its offering. These include Silver Lion, Stellar Jackpots-Chilli Gold x2, ...

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Sunday, May 27, 2018

New Jersey race track sues NCAA, NBA, NFL, NHL and MLB over $150m in lost revenue

World Casino News
New Jersey race track sues NCAA, NBA, NFL, NHL and MLB over $150m in lost revenue

A lawsuit filed Thursday by the operator of Monmouth Park, the New Jersey Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association (NJTHA), against the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the four major sports leagues alleges that the leagues legal action [Murphy v NCAA] in August 2012 to enjoin New Jersey’s Sports Wagering Act cost the thoroughbred horse racing track […]
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California’s Sycuan Casino celebrates major expansion milestone

World Casino News
California’s Sycuan Casino celebrates major expansion milestone

In southern California, Tuesday saw the federally-recognized Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation hold a ‘topping-off ceremony’ as the final beam was lifted into position as part of the $226 million expansion of its Sycuan Casino. Began in March 2017, the redevelopment is set to see the San Diego County facility add a twelve-story hotel […]
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Saturday, May 26, 2018

MGM, Wynn tamp down Boston casino intrigue

Las Vegas Sun Stories: Gaming
MGM, Wynn tamp down Boston casino intrigue
Executives for MGM and Wynn are tamping down speculation the companies are quietly in talks over Wynn's Boston-area casino. MGM Resorts International CEO Jim Murren said today it would have to be an "extremely unique situation" for officials to ...
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William Hill US to operate sports book at Ocean Resort Casino

World Casino News
William Hill US to operate sports book at Ocean Resort Casino

The largest sports book in Nevada, William Hill US will reportedly run the sports book at the Ocean Resort Casino slated to open at June’s end this year. The partnership between the London-based sports book and the resort casino at 500 Boardwalk was confirmed on Thursday by Jordan Deifik, principal of Ocean Resort Casino, who […]
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Be part of the Netherland’s first-ever Responsibility in Gaming Awards

Casino News Today
Be part of the Netherland’s first-ever Responsibility in Gaming Awards

ENTER NOW! Be part of the Netherland’s first-ever Responsibility in Gaming Awards Make sure your organisation gets the recognition it deserves – submit your entry by 30 May to take part in the Dutch gaming sector’s only dedicated awards: Responsibility in Gaming Awards. The window for entries to the inaugural Responsibility in Gaming Awards is now OPEN. If your organisation ...

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Friday, May 25, 2018

PokerStars.pt joins three-nation shared liquidity scheme

World Casino News
PokerStars.pt joins three-nation shared liquidity scheme

Canadian iGaming operator The Stars Group Incorporated has announced that its envisioned online poker shared liquidity scheme involving players in France, Spain and Portugal is now a reality after its PokerStars.pt domain was accepted into the tri-nation club. Toronto-listed The Stars Group Incorporated, which is also responsible for the FullTilt online casino brand, stated that […]
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Vietnam issues casino license to Banyan Tree’s Laguna Lăng resort

Casino – CalvinAyre.com
Vietnam issues casino license to Banyan Tree’s Laguna Lăng resort

vietnam-laguna-lang-casino-licenseVietnam’s Laguna Lăng Cô has been awarded a casino license, the first such license the Vietnamese government has issued in a decade.

This week, Laguna Lăng proudly announced that its $2b resort project in Thua Thien Hue province had finally received its casino license. It’s the first such license issued in Vietnam since The Grand Ho Tram Strip, currently the nation’s only large-scale integrated resort with gaming, received its go-ahead.

The license was formally presented by Nguyen Van Cao, chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee, to Ho Kwon Ping, chairman of Laguna Lăng’s managing partner Banyan Tree Holdings, at the recent Vietnam-Singapore Business Forum 2018 in Singapore.

The Laguna Lăng resort opened its $285m first phase five years ago but Banyan Tree’s Ho said “many hotel investors and development funds have been awaiting the casino license and the selection of a casino operator before finalizing their investment into our Phase 2.”

The resort’s casino operations are expected to launch by 2022. Banyan Tree remains cagey regarding who will run its gaming operations, although the local government has reached some kind of understanding with US casino operator Hard Rock International regarding gaming operations in the province.

In addition to new hotels and other amenities, the developers intend to embark on a major infrastructure upgrade, including transportation, electrical systems, water and environmental management systems to ensure the resort can handle the expected influx of tourists.

Given its expected launch date, the Laguna Lăng casino won’t be open in time to participate in Vietnam’s three-year trial of allowing local residents to gamble in casinos. The Ho Tram venue and the country’s smaller gaming halls (mostly in upscale hotels) have traditionally been off-limits to locals but the government announced it would temporarily relax these rules at select casinos to gauge the impact on society.

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A Las Vegas strike would have a far-reaching effect, experts say

Las Vegas Sun Stories: Gaming
A Las Vegas strike would have a far-reaching effect, experts say
What happens in Las Vegas could have a ripple effect across the country if 50,000 casino-hotel workers employed at more than 30 of the city's resorts go on strike at any time starting next week. If members of the union that includes ...
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Caesars sets date for Incheon casino

Casino News – Focus Gaming News
Caesars sets date for Incheon casino

Caesars Entertainment Corp casino in South Korea would open its doors by 2021.

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Thursday, May 24, 2018

Seven Things To Expect At Hard Rock Atlantic City When It Opens Its Doors June 28

Seven Things To Expect At Hard Rock Atlantic City When It Opens Its Doors June 28
guitar

With one month until opening day, Hard Rock Atlantic City is gearing up for the big day and a busy summer in AC. Here are seven things to look for when Hard Rock AC opens its doors.

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New Crown pokies tampering video surfaces on YouTube

Casino – CalvinAyre.com
New Crown pokies tampering video surfaces on YouTube

Australian MP Andrew Wilkie may have found the final nail to seal the coffin of Crown Resorts Ltd. after a video on a supposed ‘Crown pick’ enabling autoplay on video poker machines (pokies) surfaced on video sharing website YouTube.

New Crown pokies tampering video surfaces on YouTubeWilkie, who is already in touch with the YouTube whistleblower, believes that the latest piece of evidence on pokies tampering will compel Victoria’s gambling regulators to impose a greater penalty against the casino operator, the ABC News reported.

He also presented to local reporters a plastic pick that was double the size of a guitar plectrum and has a Crown casino logo, claiming that it was used to tamper with the pokies.

“[We have] a new whistleblower, new allegations, and even video footage of these picks being used at Crown Casino to, in effect, illegally modify a poker machine,” Wilkie said.

In the video, an unnamed croupier shows a supposed Crown casino pick that is jammed into the pokies’ button. The pick was said to be responsible for continuous plays on the machine even in the absence of a player and could dramatically expedite the loss rate of a player since it slashed the time between spins to as little as two seconds.

With this new evidence, Wilkie questioned whether Crown is fit to hold its license. He has also added more pressure on the Victoria Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation (VCGLR) to impose a harsher penalty on Crown, claiming that the state regulator’s reputation was at stake.

“If the regulator doesn’t do its job, then the State Government needs to act, and we need to consider whether other bodies such as the anti-corruption body would need to become involved,” Wilkie said.

In April, the VCGLR found Crown Resorts guilty of violating the Gambling Regulation Act of 2003 when the casino operator “adjusted” its gaming machines. It slapped Crown Resorts with a AUD300,000 (US$226,608) fine, the heftiest punishment ever imposed on the Australian operator.

Wilkie, however, roasted the VCGLR’s response, saying the fine was just loose change for Crown.

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Hold Up: NJ Sports Betting Bill May Block Casinos With Ties To Sports Franchises From Taking Bets

Hold Up: NJ Sports Betting Bill May Block Casinos With Ties To Sports Franchises From Taking Bets
road block

A provision in the NJ Senate bill regulating sports betting prohibits casinos who own sports franchises from operating sportsbooks on any level, effectively blocking a good portion of Atlantic City's casinos from taking bets.

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Genting, close to Andorra casino licence

Casino News – Focus Gaming News
Genting, close to Andorra casino licence

The first casino licence in Andorra will soon be issued and Genting is among the companies that will most likely score the rights.

The post Genting, close to Andorra casino licence appeared first on Focus Gaming News.

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Wednesday, May 23, 2018

Playtech receives official consent for Snaitech SpA purchase

World Casino News
Playtech receives official consent for Snaitech SpA purchase

In Italy, omni-channel gaming software and services innovator Playtech has reportedly received official approval from the nation’s Amministrazione Autonoma dei Monopoli di Stato (AAMS) regulator to purchase a majority stake in prominent local online and retail operator Snaitech SpA. According to a Monday report from the Reuters news service, Playtech agreed a deal early last […]
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Las Vegas casino workers vote for strike action on June 1

Casino – CalvinAyre.com
Las Vegas casino workers vote for strike action on June 1

las-vegas-casino-workers-strikeLas Vegas casinos are bracing for a summer of strife after unionized workers voted to go out on strike on June 1.

On Tuesday, roughly 25k members of Culinary Workers Union Local 226 and Bartenders Union Local 165 voted 99% in favor of a citywide strike as early as June 1, when 50k workers’ current union contracts with 34 Vegas casino resorts are set to expire.

Culinary Union secretary-treasurer Geoconda Argüello-Kline called a strike “a last resort,” saying workers want to reach a new agreement but are prepared to hit the picket lines if there’s no agreement by June 1.

The unions, which represent everything from bartenders to porters to guest room attendants, are seeking (among other things) greater workplace safety and protection from sexual harassment (even if Steve Wynn has left the building). The unions also want a “fair share” of the casinos’ “enormous anticipated cash flows and Trump tax windfalls.”

Apart from a desire for better pay and benefits, one of the workers’ main concern is being replaced by machines. Argüello-Kline said the union supported “innovations that improve jobs, but we oppose automation when it only destroys jobs. Our industry must innovate without losing the human touch.”

MGM Resorts operates 10 of the 34 Vegas properties facing a potential strike action, while Caesars Entertainment is next on the list with eight venues. Both companies issued statements following Tuesday’s vote insisting that they expect a resolution before any strike action.

Other potentially affected Strip properties include the SLS Las Vegas, the Westgate, the Tropicana, Treasure Island and the Stratosphere, while ten downtown Vegas properties are also set to be targeted.

In 2002, casinos faced a similar strike threat but a new deal was worked out the same day workers were scheduled to walk off the job. A 1984 strike was more acrimonious and more damaging, lasting over two months before labor peace was restored.

If there’s an upside to the strike threat, it’s that it doesn’t involve frontline gaming staff (croupiers, dealers), although gamblers will likely face a much longer wait than usual to get a drink delivered to their table.

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Save the date for the inaugural European Gaming Congress in Ljubljana

Casino News Today
Save the date for the inaugural European Gaming Congress in Ljubljana

The team at European Gaming Media and Events is honored to announce their latest event in their portfolio of boutique gaming events. The inaugural European Gaming Congress will be held on the 16th of October at the Grand Union Hotel in Ljubljana and has the aim of highlighting the market regulations and updates from several countries within the EU and ...

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NetEnt appoints Therese Hillman new Group CEO

World Casino News
NetEnt appoints Therese Hillman new Group CEO

Having decided in March this year to replace Per Eriksson as its Chief Executive Officer (CEO), the Board of Directors for online gambling technology provider NetEnt (NETB:Stockholm) has appointed, effective May 22, 2018, Therese Hillman as the firm’s new Group CEO. Hillman has reportedly served as the interim CEO for NetEnt since the March 2018 […]
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Tuesday, May 22, 2018

Rush Street Inks Deal With Kambi, Gets Set For Sports Betting At NJ Online Casino

Rush Street Inks Deal With Kambi, Gets Set For Sports Betting At NJ Online Casino
signing contract

Rush Street Interactive's partnership with Kambi Group gets them closer to NJ sports betting with its PlaySugarhouse NJ gambling site as a possible online sports betting test.

The post Rush Street Inks Deal With Kambi, Gets Set For Sports Betting At NJ Online Casino appeared first on .

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Las Vegas casinos operators brace for possible workers’ strike

Casino – CalvinAyre.com
Las Vegas casinos operators brace for possible workers’ strike

Las Vegas casino operators are facing a moment of truth as their unionized workers vote on whether to go on strike.

The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported that casino operators are bracing for a “work stoppage” scenario after talks concerning the employees’ wages and benefits, which started last February, broke down.

Las Vegas casinos operators brace for possible workers’ strikeWith their contracts expiring on June 1, members of the Culinary Workers Union Local 226 and Bartenders Union Local 165 are trying to cut a favorable deal with their employers. They are reportedly demanding higher wages, protection from layoffs caused by new technology, greater workplace safety measures, and protection for immigrants with temporary status.

Union spokesperson Bethany Khan said workers will cast their votes Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Thomas and Mack Center. Results will be known late Tuesday, according to Khan.

This will be the first time since 1984 that Las Vegas could see a city-wide strike if a majority of the 50,000-strong union members vote in favor of the strike action.

At least 32 Las Vegas resorts took a financial beating when workers decided to stop working for 67 days in 1984. Las Vegas casinos lost an estimated of $150 million in revenue that year.

Union members have occasionally voted in favor of protest action but a work stoppage was avoided after a settlement was reached at the eleventh hour. The last city-wide vote in Las Vegas was in 2002.

Las Vegas-based casino operators MGM Resorts International and Caesars Entertainment Corp., which operate 18 of the 34 resorts renegotiating contracts with 50,000 union members, have expressed optimism that a deal will be signed between them and the workers in the coming days.

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Lawrence Ho changes Russia for Japan

Casino News – Focus Gaming News
Lawrence Ho changes Russia for Japan

The casino mogul has given up his business in Russia in order to improve his chances to score a casino licence in Japan.

The post Lawrence Ho changes Russia for Japan appeared first on Focus Gaming News.

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BetConstruct announces new partnership with Fazi

World Casino News
BetConstruct announces new partnership with Fazi

Award-winning developer and provider of land-based and online gaming solutions, BetConstruct, announced Monday a new partnership with Serbian manufacturer of gambling equipment, LED informational systems and software solutions, Fazi. The new partnership will see content made in HTML5 with full HD graphics from Fazi join Bet Construct Casino Suite’s 4,000-plus games. The supply deal with […]
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Monday, May 21, 2018

Will Legal NJ Sports Betting Help Atlantic City Casino Revenue? Only Time Will Tell

Will Legal NJ Sports Betting Help Atlantic City Casino Revenue? Only Time Will Tell
clock

The end of PASPA has Atlantic City abuzz with talk of sports betting. The emergence of AC sportsbooks could provide more momentum for year-on-year revenue gains, but the future of NJ sports betting is wide open.

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PAGCOR officials shown the door over licensing power abuse claims

Casino – CalvinAyre.com
PAGCOR officials shown the door over licensing power abuse claims

Two Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) officials are getting the boot after their names were linked to corrupt activities. The Philippine Star reported that a visibly irked Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte had shown the two PAGCOR officials the exit for abusing their licensing power.

PAGCOR officials shown the door over licensing power abuse claimsDuterte said the sacked officials, who he declined to identify, even followed him to Cebu City and begged to spare them from being booted out from their offices.

“I have fired and will fire tomorrow some more people,” Duterte was quoted by the news outlet saying.

The Philippine president said the PAGCOR officials abused their positions when they decided to issue a license to a free port operator. The officials reportedly tried to justify their actions by telling the president that whatever they’d granted was only what was provided for in the franchise.

“When you are granted this free port… and you are beginning to abuse by issuing too many franchises of gambling,” Duterte said. “Correct, it is in the franchise, but everything goes under a regulation. It is rightful to issue permits within your territory, but when you begin to issue gambling permits outside of your territory…”

The last straw came when the two PAGCOR officials decided to award franchise contracts to foreigners for 75 years, according to Duterte, who also reminded people that he doesn’t like gambling.

“As much as possible we limit it. I do not want to quarrel with anybody. And I said that when you begin to do that, you insist on something which is wrong,” Duterte said. “And you give these contracts for foreigners for 75 years? Son of a… you must be crazy. How many Presidents will the franchise go through?”

Since he assumed power in 2016, Duterte has demonstrated his distaste for gambling as he showed little mercy for the country’s eGames cafes, with PhilWeb bearing the brunt of his anger. The Philippine president only agreed to restore the cafes’ online gambling business on the assurance that operators will be taxed correctly and that their operations are situated far from churches and schools.

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Pachinko not ‘morally’ suitable for Japan’s casinos, lawmaker says

Casino – CalvinAyre.com
Pachinko not ‘morally’ suitable for Japan’s casinos, lawmaker says

A Japanese lawmaker has a beef with pachinko. Takashi Takai, of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, has created a laundry list of questions for the government that questions the pachinko industry’s “moral fitness” in casinos. His main argument is that the game is the primary root of addiction in the country, and that the industry does virtually nothing to protect consumers.

Pachinko not ‘morally’ suitable for Japan’s casinos, lawmaker saysPachinko machines don’t reward money directly. They reward captured balls for tickets, which are subsequently traded for money elsewhere. To many, this helps the hybrid slot/pinball machine avoid the classification of being a gambling game but, rather, one of amusement. However, with the possible spread of casinos in Japan, lawmakers are revisiting the industry and have, so far, introduced lower payouts to the games.

In 2015, the pachinko industry dealt with a scandal that involved tampering of the machines. The ensuing government investigation, according to Takei, is a good enough reason to consider the validity of the machines in casinos. He was quoted by Asia Gaming Brief saying, “Considering that there was a major tampering case by pachinko makers from a mere three years ago, I believe we must take a strict view towards their participation in the casino industry. Also, the National Public Safety Commission, as well as the prefectural public safety commissions, have proven themselves unable to prevent large-scale tampering by the pachinko makers and therefore it is inappropriate to have them supervise the casino business.”

Takei should rest easy in knowing that the industry is already on life support. Last year, 420 pachinko cafes—one out of every 25—shut down. Additionally, 177 companies went belly-up, roughly 5% of all the operators in the country. There has been a decline in interest for a number of years as millennials seek out more exciting opportunities. Perhaps he should just let the industry have its remaining days in peace and let it die happy.

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ORYX Gaming deals with Colchian to integrate horse racing content

Casino News Today
ORYX Gaming deals with Colchian to integrate horse racing content

ORYX Gaming deals with Colchian to integrate a wide selection of horse racing content onto its popular interactive platform. Colchian is a leading software development company for the online gaming industry. They focus on sports betting, horse racing and online casino. As ORYX Gaming deals with Colchian, ORYX will enable its clients to enhance their offering with a particular focus ...

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Sunday, May 20, 2018

Poll: Half of Americans approve of legal sports betting

Las Vegas Sun Stories: Gaming
Poll: Half of Americans approve of legal sports betting
A new poll finds that half of Americans approve of legal sports betting. The Fairleigh Dickinson University poll conducted shortly before the U.S. Supreme Court cleared the way for states to legalize sports betting found that 50 percent of Americans favor it, with ...
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NFL not worried about casino investments of Carolina Panther’s new owner

World Casino News
NFL not worried about casino investments of Carolina Panther’s new owner

David Tepper is now the new owner of the Carolina Panthers NFL team, after sealing a deal last week to purchase the team for around $2.2 billion. Tepper is not only an investor in the NFL but also the casino industry. Tepper’s Appaloosa Management recently increased their casino investments and the NFL reportedly does not […]
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Saturday, May 19, 2018

Gambling, tech firms scramble for foothold in sports betting

Las Vegas Sun Stories: Gaming
Gambling, tech firms scramble for foothold in sports betting
Casinos, race tracks, daily fantasy sports companies and others are itching to offer bets in person and online after a court ...
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BtoBet nominated for EGR B2B Award

World Casino News
BtoBet nominated for EGR B2B Award

On June 20th, the Hurlingham Club in London will play host to the EGR B2B Awards 2018. The black-tie affair will see gaming industry giants come together to see who is considered the best of the best. Nominations for awards have already been announced with BtoBet being shortlisted as a nominee under the Innovation in […]
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NJ Online Gambling Revenue Still Going Strong, But Big Changes Are On The Horizon

NJ Online Gambling Revenue Still Going Strong, But Big Changes Are On The Horizon
lifting weights

April's NJ online gambling revenue hit $23M, a decline from March but still the second-best month for the industry, but interstate poker and sports betting in New Jersey will likely make waves in 2018.

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Betsoft Gaming deals with Spintropolis, a new casino brand

Casino News Today
Betsoft Gaming deals with Spintropolis, a new casino brand

Betsoft Gaming deals with Spintropolis and supports the launch of the new casino brand with a suite of high quality slot games. Since Betsoft Gaming deals with Spintropolis, Spintropolis integrated a selection of Betsoft titles – including many from the renowned Slots3TM series – before opening its doors to players in late 2017. Spintropolis is owned and operated by the ...

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Friday, May 18, 2018

Nevada casino offered links to Curacao online gambling sites

Casino – CalvinAyre.com
Nevada casino offered links to Curacao online gambling sites

boomtown-casino-nevada-online-gambling-complaintNevada gaming regulators have accused a Reno casino operator of steering its customers to internationally licensed online gambling sites.

On May 11, the Nevada Gaming Control Board (GCB) filed a complaint for disciplinary action against BCH Gaming Reno, which operates the Boomtown Casino Hotel. The casino operator is charged with two violations of Nevada gaming statutes and violating the 1961 federal Wire Act, for which the GCB is seeking unspecified financial penalties.

The complaint indicates that in September 2016, Boomtown – which lacks a Nevada interactive gaming license – decided it wanted to get in on the free-play social casino action that was then sweeping the land-based gaming industry.

Trouble was, Boomtown apparently determined that actually licensing some social casino software would be too expensive, so Boomtown instead added two links to its existing website under the banners of “Play Online” and “Play Even When Away!”

The two links connected customers to some 15 different online gambling sites, all of them associated with either Affiliate Edge (formerly ClubWorld Casino) or Deck Media, both of which are located and licensed in Curacao. Eleven of these sites offered real-money gambling in addition to the free-play variety, and three of these real-money sites claimed US players were welcome.

Boomtown was apparently content to be earning commissions by steering customers to the Curacao sites – some of which featured banner ads promoting Boomtown – but a customer smelled a rat and contacted the GCB in March 2017 to inquire as to the legitimacy of Boomtown’s online offering.

In August 2017, a GCB agent contacted Boomtown to inform them that the casino was legally up the creek. The GCB subsequently determined that Boomtown’s entire digital presence was run by a single graphic designer, who “had little, if any, understanding of gaming laws.”

Nonetheless, Boomtown “exercised little, if any, oversight concerning this employee’s actions” and happily cashed its online commission checks even after an online customer questioned the links’ legality. Looks like this Boom(town) is about to go bust.

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PA casino revenue down 1.56 pct in April

Casino News – Focus Gaming News
PA casino revenue down 1.56 pct in April

As casino operators await for sports betting, table revenue dragged the 12 companies’ numbers down 1.56 per cent in April.

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LRWC Q1 net income plunges 69.7% after City of Dreams Manila pullout

Casino – CalvinAyre.com
LRWC Q1 net income plunges 69.7% after City of Dreams Manila pullout

Net income of Leisure and Resorts World Corp. (LRWC) took a nosedive by 69.7 percent in the first quarter of 2018 after the Philippine-listed gambling firm pulled out their investments from the City of Dreams Manila (COD Manila) project.

LRWC Q1 net income plunges 69.7% after City of Dreams Manila pulloutFinancial data provided by LRWC showed that its consolidated net income fell to PHP82.4 million ($1.57 million) in the first three months of the year from PHP272.1 million (US$5.46 million) reported in the same period last year.

LRWC noted that its consolidated income would have increased by PHP34 million ($649,338) if not for the series of unfortunate events that had happened in the company. The Philippine-listed firm mainly attributed the net income decline to its decision to divest PHP173 million ($3.3 million) from COD Manila project.

It would be recalled the LRWC, through its wholly-owned subsidiary AB Leisure Global Inc., sold its interest in COD Manila to Belle Corp. in November 2016. LWRC remained an investor of COD Manila until March 31, 2017.

Aside from divesting in COD Manila, LRWC also blamed the non-recognition of deferred PHP36 million ($687,534) tax assets and the PHP15 million ($286,472) pre-operating expenses of its Boracay casino project.

LRWC and its foreign partner, Macau-based casino operator Galaxy Entertainment Group, bagged a provisional license to construct a $500 million casino resort in the idyllic, holiday-island of Boracay in March. The plan, however, was put on hold after Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the closure of the island for rehabilitation.

The biggest chunk of LRWC came from its casino segment, which registered a net income of PHP106 million ($2.02 million). The figures were 35.7 percent higher than the PHP77.9 million ($1.49 million) it posted in the previous year.

LRWC’s full-owned slot arcade unit Blue Chip Gaming and Leisure Corporation posted a net income of PHP49.4 million ($943,450) during the January-March 2018 period, up 31.5 percent from last year’s PHP36.8 million ($702,813). Its gross gaming revenue also rose by 19.2 percent to PHP388.7 million ($7.42 million) from PHP326.2 million ($6.23 million).

The gambling firm’s junket unit Prime Investment Korean Inc. (PIKI), on the other hand, posted a net income of PHP13.78 million ($263,172), down 44.6 percent from PHP24.9 million ($475,544) during the same period last year.

For the online division, LRWC said First Cagayan Leisure and Resorts Corporation’s net income was up 141 percent to PHP24.36 million ($465,231) in the three months ending March 2018 from PHP10.11 million ($193,082) in Q1 2017.

Going forward, LRWC believes that First Cagayan’s revenues will continue to be affected by Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation’s (PAGCOR) adoption of the Rules and Regulations for Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) in September 2016.

“Over the long-term, FCLRC is promoting the zone for investors and locators and has attracted a few licensees to locate their business in the Cagayan ecozone,” the company said.

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Suncity joins consortium for Japan casino bid

Casino – CalvinAyre.com
Suncity joins consortium for Japan casino bid

Prominent Macau junket Suncity wants to get in on the gambling action in Japan. It has formed an alliance with several unidentified Japanese companies that will study the possibility of applying for one of the few casino licenses to be issued by the country. The news came by way of an interview at G2E Asia with the company’s executive director, Andrew Lo.

Suncity joins consortium for Japan casino bidLo further stated that the size of the investment will be predicated on the location of the resort, as well as the final design of the casino legislation. He said during the interview with Asia Gaming Brief, “We are just beginning. We are willing to spend some expenses, form a consortium and hire a few guys to try to understand more because the rules and policies aren’t that ready yet.

“A committee asked me what am I going to invest. I said if you give me a big plot of land in front of the palace I’m going to invest $50 billion, if they give me a remote island I may consider $500 million,” Lo added.

The final touches are currently being added to Japan’s Integrated Resort (IR) Implementation Bill. Legislators are addressing how the industry should be governed and responding to concerns that have been raised over some of the bill’s amendments. Questions regarding license renewal periods and procedures, a 3% cap on the casino floor size and high tax rates are some of the issues that still need to be ironed out before the legislation is approved.

Several casino operators have mentioned that they are prepared to pay just about anything to gain a foothold on the Japanese casino market; however, Lo is taking a more pragmatic approach. He indicated that a tax rate set too high could be a deal-breaker, leading him to consider investments in smaller projects in other parts of Asia.

Suncity is already looking to gain more control in some parts of Asia. It currently has a contract to run a casino in Van Don in Northern Vietnam and a 34% stake in central Vietnam’s Hoiana casino. The company has sought diversification in an effort to maintain full operational control over those properties to which it takes VIP clients.

The Hoiana casino is expected to open in the second to third quarter of next year. There will be 140 tables, of which 50% will be for mass market clients and the other 50% for VIPs. Lo stated that the projected table roll is around $100 million per table, explaining that this is a conservative figure. The Crown Casino in Danang, where Suncity has operated a single room for the past year and a half, brings in $200 million a table.

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Thursday, May 17, 2018

Palms Casino “destroying the old” to usher in new Vegas era

Casino – CalvinAyre.com
Palms Casino “destroying the old” to usher in new Vegas era

station-casinos-palms-casino-renovationNevada gaming operator Station Casinos has unveiled a new marketing campaign to pimp its $620m renovation of the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas.

On Thursday, the Palms announced its new ‘From Dust to Gold’ marketing campaign, reflecting the property’s “vision of ushering in a new era of Las Vegas by destroying the old.” The Palms’ new raison d’être is “to destroy is to progress,” a belief sure to come as news to anyone who’s ever written off their car in a fender bender.

Station acquired the Palms in 2016 for $312m and the property has been a solid earner for Station’s parent company, Red Rock Resorts. But the Palms, which opened in 2001, had been showing its age, prompting its new owners to embark on the largest refurbishment project any Vegas casino has ever undergone.

The “multi-phased reimagination” of the Palms includes Thursday’s opening of a new bar, steakhouse, social club, cocktail lounge and redesigns of the Pearl concert theater and the Palms’ gaming floor, with a new VIP gaming lounge. A new 29k-square-foot nightclub and a 73k-square-foot pool club are set to follow next spring.

The full transformation of phase one, including 60 new hotel rooms, will be complete by this fall, with phases two and three done by Q2 and Q4 2019, respectively. Check out the official marketing promo (complete with company-approved arson and vandalism) at the bottom of this page.

The disruption to the Palms’ operations caused by the revamp contributed to a slight decline in Red Rock’s Q1 revenue. The company reported revenue of $421m in the three months ending March 31, down 1.1% year-on-year, but adjusted earnings improved 2.9% to $140m and net income improved by $36.7m to $82.1m, although $27.6m of this gain was attributable to tax and interest rate one-offs.

Revenue at Red Rock’s Vegas operations were essentially flat at $395.2m, but earnings improved 4.2% to $126m, as gains at “non-disrupted” properties helped offset construction at the Palms and Palace Station. Red Rock’s management of tribal casinos contributed earnings of $22m, down 5.2% year-on-year due to the ending of its deal with Michigan’s Gun Lake casino in February.

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NCAA opens door to title games for states with sports bets

Las Vegas Sun Stories: Gaming
NCAA opens door to title games for states with sports bets
The NCAA is opening a door for states with legalized sports gambling to host NCAA championship events and officials in Nevada are already set to get in the game as ...
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