Category: Business

New York Casinos are Back in Business After COVID-19 Shutdown

Posted on by Grant Mahon

Starting this week, New York casinos are back in business after a shutdown that lasted for months. To prevent the spread of the coronavirus, Governor Andrew Cuomo signed a decree on March 16 that made all commercial casinos in the state close down.

However, starting September 9, New York casinos are letting the players in once again. In addition to commercial casinos, the Empire State has also seen racinos getting back to business. Cuomo’s decision to let the gambling establishments reopen comes some three months after New York tribal casinos decided the same.

Four Commercial NY Casinos Reopen Their Doors to Public

Tribal casinos do not have to follow the guidelines of individual US states when it comes to casino gambling. This is the reason why some of them have reopened long before the New York Governor gave commercial casinos the heads up.

Some of the Indian casinos located within the state borders have been back in the casino game since June. Non-tribal casinos in New York, however, had to wait until September 9 to get back to work.

At the moment of writing, all four commercial casinos in New York are back in business. Those casinos are, namely, the following establishments:

  • Del Lago Resort & Casino in Tyre
  • Jake’s 58 Hotel & Casino in Islandia
  • Rivers Casino & Resort in Schenectady
  • World Catskills Resort in Monticello

Even though they’re back in business, the business is not going to be as usual for these casinos. The same as their tribal-owned counterparts, NY commercial casinos will also have to take some measures in order to minimize the risk of spreading the coronavirus.

Anti-COVID-19 Measures in New York Casinos

Governor Cuomo’s directive allows commercial casinos to reopen, albeit at limited capacity. The number of patrons allowed inside the casinos needs to be no more than one-quarter of the full capacity, which was also the case over in New Jersey when Atlantic City casinos reopened in July.

The role of the casino staff is to make sure the number of visitors does not go over. Another role of the casino employees is to ensure everything present in the casinos wears a face mask. They also need to make sure that social distancing guidelines are respected by the patrons.

All the commercial casinos that have returned to business had to install new air-filtration systems, as well as physical barriers between players’ seats in an effort to prevent the spread of the disease.

New York Gaming Commission to Monitor the Situation

As per the Governor’s instructions, the duty of the New York Gaming Commission is to monitor the situation. Together with the New York State Police, they are obliged to do regular check-ups on the casinos in order to confirm all the anti-COVID-19 measures are carried out properly.

If they spot rule-breaking, they have the right to fine the casino. And if the situation goes out of hand, Cuomo has the right to reverse his decision at any given moment. That said, it’s in the interest of both the casino management and the patrons to respect the newly-set guidelines.

Grant Mahon

Grant is the self-professed casino madman and reporter that brought this eclectic team of dedicated and talented writers together from around the world to proudly build an humble empire of authentic casino news.

Las Vegas Mayor Calls for Casinos to Reopen Despite COVID-19 Worries

Posted on by Grant Mahon

Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman has called for casinos to reopen in Sin City as the gambling industry has started losing big money due to the coronavirus lockdown. She labeled the decision to shut down all non-essential businesses in the state “total insanity” and that the Nevada Governor is “killing Las Vegas.”

Goodman, an independent, urged all Las Vegas establishments to start bringing business back to normal as the pandemic is starting to show signs of backing down.

Mayor Goodman gave an interview to Anderson Cooper on CNN, in which she expressed her opinion that the coronavirus pandemic is not anything out of ordinary and that “viruses for years have been here.”

Goodman also suggested that Las Vegas residents could be used as a “control group” to test whether relaxing restrictions would be a good decision for the rest of the country. She did, however, add that she bears no responsibility for finding ways on how to maintain social distancing measures once the lockdown is over.

Reaction From Other Nevada Officials

Not everyone, however, shares Goodman’s opinion. Steve Sisolak, Governor of Nevada, a state with more than 4,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 at the moment of writing, has responded to Goodman’s comments saying the state is not yet ready to return to normal.

Similar reactions came from other Nevada officials as well, one of whom even called Mayor’s comments “reckless and dangerous.”

Jim Murren, the head of Nevada’s COVID-19 Response and Recovery Task Force, said that he believes the Las Vegas Mayor is wrong, adding that is opinion is that science has to lead the way.

The Rise of Online Gambling

It’s been more than a month since Governor Steve Sisolak signed the closure of non-essential businesses in Nevada, thus shutting down every casino in the world’s capital of gambling. The order will remain in motion until at least April 30.

With nowhere to go to quench their thirst for gambling, casino aficionados have started looking for alternatives on the internet. As a result, many retail casino businesses are missing out on the opportunity to make money during the shutdown.

On the other hand, web-based casinos have been experiencing a major increase in revenue since the start of the pandemic. According to Morgan Stanley analysts, the industry is booming in the states that have legalized this form of gambling. In New Jersey, for instance, online casinos have recorded a 66% increase in revenue in March.

“We believe the impact of COVID-19 could spur more states to legalize online casino and sports betting”,
Thomas Allen of Morgan Stanley said.

The current situation is likely to prompt a number of states to start thinking about making online gambling legal. Right now, there are more than 15 states where activities like online gambling and sports betting are legal and regulated. That number is expected to double by the end of the decade. The COVID-19 pandemic is likely to speed up that process.

The same goes for land-based casinos who are expected to adjust their modus operandi and expand their business to the world of online gambling.

Grant Mahon

Grant is the self-professed casino madman and reporter that brought this eclectic team of dedicated and talented writers together from around the world to proudly build an humble empire of authentic casino news.

Scientifc Games and William Hill Extend Partnership by 4 Years

Posted on by Sophia Rojas
  • Scientific Games extends existing partnership with William Hill for another four years
  • William Hill focuses on driving growth in Europe and the United Kingdom through flexible betting solutions
  • SG continues to strike high-profile deals in the United States

William Hill builds on existing partnership with SG and chooses the OpenBet platform to spearhead further expansion efforts in Europe and the United Kingdom as regulatory pressure continues to mount.

William Hills Continues to Strengthen Partnerships with SG

Scientific Games is beefing up its partnership with William Hill by signing another four-year extension with the sportsbook company for its markets in Europe and the United Kingdom. As per the latest arrangement, SG will provide William Hill with the OpenSports suite, a betting technology solution.

OpenSports is based on the OpenBet platform by SG and has proven a desirable investment owing to the flexibility of the offer as well as the ability to tailor the solution to anything that currently corresponds with the needs of business.

Commenting on the partnership, Ulrik Bengtsson, chief executive at William Hill Group, said that the partnership marked a pivotal solution. Flexibility, Bengtsson stressed, was key to the further success of the company as it tries to navigate more challenging markets in Europe and the United Kingdom.

More importantly, flexibility translates into growth, Bengtsson explained. The deal also sent a clear message, he added, that William Hill continues to source operations to some of the best technical solution companies in the business.

SG Digital chief executive, Jordan Levin, also shared his satisfaction with the recent developments. Levin argued that William Hill’s decision to extend the existing partnership between the companies was a token of the company’s trust in SG’s products:

“We’re really building on one of our strongest relationships. The team at William Hill share an ambition to create next level player experiences and together, across sports and iGaming, we’re making that a reality.”

Meanwhile, William Hill also took a hit at home after the company lost around 7% stock value due to a statement by UKGC Chief Executive Neil McArthur that the regulator would consider reducing the online casino games’ maximum stakes from £100 presently down to £2.

A String of Partnerships

Scientific Games continues to maintain a leadership position in sports betting both as a content provider and trusted partner for established brands. Apart from its recent tie-up with William Hill, the company also works with Betfred.

On February 7, Betfred and SG have said that they are teaming up to deliver a dedicated sportsbook by the summer of 2020. SG also showcased the OpenSports platform during ICE London, demonstrating the data-crunching capabilities of the solution that makes it all a player and partner needs to have a satisfying experience.

Similarly, SG expanded on its existing partnership with Flutter Entertainment’s FanDuel, one of the leading DFS platforms in the United States. FanDuel is just one of the big names on Flutter’s portfolio which includes other names such as Betfair, Paddy Power and Sportsbet.

Sophia Rojas

Growing up around law firms, Sophia keeps our team of reporters atop any legislative developments to follow up with a welcomed dose of positive news as our house trivia nut!

Las Vegas Sands Completes Rebranding as Wind Creek Bethlehem

Posted on by Aran Malik

The Poarch Band of Creek Indians’ hospitality group Wind Creek has successfully rebranded and opened the former Las Vegas Sands property.

Wind Creek Hospitality Adds 10th Property with Sands Rebranding

PCI Gaming Authority Wind Creek Hospitality has completed the rebranding of Las Vegas Sands, five months after the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board approved the $1.3bn sale of the property.

The rebranded property features a 282-room AAA Four Diamond hotel, a 183,000 square foot casino floor, a 150,000 square foot retail mall and an event center.

Commenting on the rebrand, Wind Creek President and CEO Jay Dorris said: “Our team has worked to preserve what makes the property a special part of the Bethlehem community while introducing the Wind Creek brand, our Wind Creek Rewards program and our focus towards guest service. We invite everyone to come visit and see why they belong at Wind Creek Bethlehem.”

A grand opening event was held to celebrate the rebranding, including a ribbon cutting ceremony, performances by the Poarch Band of Creek Indians tribal dancers and special gaming promotions.

WCH VP of Business Development Arthur Mothershed has pointed out to the opportunities now made available to the region, citing economic growth and job creation.

The Wind Creek Bethlehem Set to Expand

WCH invested $15 million to complete the rebranding alone. Furthermore, the hospitality company plans to expand the property to include a 300-room hotel and to renovate its Machine Shop 2, allegedly into an indoor water park.

On Thursday, October 10, WCH officials said that the company was already eyeing a new 276-room hotel that would sprawl on 42,000 square meters. Estimated $90 million will go down in building the new property. Meanwhile, WCH is looking to bring flagship assets back to their former glory.

The No. 2 Machine Shop, located next to the main resort building, will get a $250-million facelift, restoring the space into a 400,000 square feet water park, and adding up to 450 hotel room. Wind Creek is also looking to improve on the overall guest satisfaction experience and market itself as a holiday destination.

To this end, the company is trying to fine-tune the amenities offered on its properties. Additional $100 million has been allocated to an indoor park, Dorris specified. However, Wind Creek will seek a partner willing to invest and contribute $150 million to help with funding the park.

Recently, Wind Creek pitched a proposal to develop a multi-million-dollar project and enter Chicago’s promising casino sector. The company has its sights set on East Hazel Crest and Homewood. Based on WCH’s estimates, the company will need to invest $275 million during the first phase of development.

The pitch has found help among local lawmakers, including Homewood Mayor Richard Hofeld who commented that the industry would effectively generate $155 million in the first year of operation alone.

Aran Malik

“Magic Malik”—as we like to call him—is not only a tech whiz but a wizard when it comes to getting obscure news hot off the press so we know exactly what’s happening and can explore and report it back to our growing and loyal readerbase.

Super 6 NFL Free Bet Game launches in New Jersey

Posted on by Grant Mahon

The joint-venture between The Stars Group and Fox Network, Fox Sports, has rolled out a new prediction game for the NFL in New Jersey and beyond. Super 6 will offer players an opportunity to

Fox Sports Rolls with Super 6 NFL Game in the US

Fox Sports has launched its free-to-play sports prediction game that will be immediately available to US bettors. This comes as part of the second phase of its massive partnership with the Canadian gaming and betting company The Stars Group. A previous merger of the activities of the two companies led to the creation of the Fox Bet sportsbook, a dedicated real money online betting platform.

The new game, Fox Sports Super 6, will offer bettors an opportunity to bet on the outcome of six NFL games. Hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash will be on the line each week. Bettors will be able to choose from specific answers and six multiple-choice questions.

Each week can bring jackpot prizes of up to $250,000 which will be up for grabs to participants. Fox Sports President National Networks Mark Silverman said:

The Fox Sports Super 6 app will heighten the excitement of watching live sports while simultaneously deepening our viewers’ engagement with our brand.

A number of other games will also be available. The possibility exists that a player may not win a jackpot at which point smaller prizes will be distributed. TNF Super 6 will pose six different multiple-choice questions which will be all based on the NFL’s Thursday Night Football game, extending a $25,000 jackpot.

Capitalizing on both the official competition and collegiate sports. Robin Chhabra, Fox Bet CEO, had the following to say commenting on the game:

The Fox Sports Super 6 app offers a quick, simple and fun experience that we think sports fans here will love, just like they do in other countries where we run them.

Not a First for the Sky Group

The Stars Group has a similar offer in the United Kingdom where it has teamed up with Sky Bet, another proprietor brand. Instead of NFL, the company has focused on soccer in the country. The success of the format has emboldened the company to replicate its solutions for the NFL.

Super 6 will be focusing on becoming accessible to customers throughout all US states. Meanwhile, Fox Sports is already live in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, owing to favorable regulatory conditions in the states.

Fox Sports will be expanding its current offer by adding more sports, including NBA games as early as October 6. More states are actively legalizing their sports betting offers. Illinois has just undergone a major overhaul of its gaming and betting industry as well.

Sports betting has been booming. In New York, revenue more than doubled in August. Meanwhile, the NFL started off on a great note with viewership increasing some 20% year-over-year in the opening game of the season. Part of the reason why is chalked up to higher interest in sports betting.

Grant Mahon

Grant is the self-professed casino madman and reporter that brought this eclectic team of dedicated and talented writers together from around the world to proudly build an humble empire of authentic casino news.

Macau’s Casinos to Introduce More Facial Recognition

Posted on by Grant Mahon
  • Macau to oversee facial recognition tech
  • China reportedly scooping up private data
  • More regulations needs for the proper use of the tech

Macau’s casino operators are becoming more serious about leveraging facial recognition tech to ensure customer safety. The measure may be backfiring as there have been reports of the misuse of the data to identify vulnerable customers and collect private data.

Macau Casinos’ Test Facial Recognition Tech

Macau is stepping up its efforts to better protect customers by introducing a series of technologically advanced measures, including facial recognition technologies. The Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau has confirmed that operators in one of Asia’s largest gaming huts have been leveraging the technology to ensure the safety of customers.

Yet, the technology is not as pervasive as Luddites may think. According to DICJ, the regulator’s acronym, all tests were in a stage of preliminary testing and a full-scale implementation would take a while.

At the same time, strict rules for the use of the technology have begun to emerge. For example, casinos cannot use these technologies for anything but monitoring their properties and ensuring the security on the premises of the casinos. Las Vegas Sands Corp. and MGM Resorts International are already utilizing facial recognition whereas other big brands are in the process of negotiating with suppliers.

The Dangers of Face Recognition in Macau’s Casinos

New technologies will be coming to the fore in other important areas of casino operation as well, including anti-money laundering and know your customer (KYC) practices. The technology shouldn’t be leveraged to give casinos an edge, for example, as a recent Bloomberg article revealed.

According to the article, Chinese operators have been using facial recognition to identify the gamers that are the most prone to risk and targetting them specifically. Such misuse of technology underpins what the dangers lack of basic ethnic guidelines bring around with itself.

It’s not that such mismanagement practices are happening just in Macau. China may be exporting data outside the country via the so-called “data cloud” whereby data is breached and exported back to the mainland. This is in violation with Macau’s data protection policy. Then again, China is the overlord that sanctions gambling in its back yard.

The push to introduce better technologies ensuring the safety of customers has been a long-term goal of operators in Macau and a move approved and welcomed by Mui San Meng, assistant to the Commissioner-General of the Unitary Police Service.

Meanwhile, the Macau Gaming Bureau released a statement on Friday, June 28, saying that it had begun looking into a framework for authorizing the use of such technologies at a mass scale in Macau.

The Bureau also explained that any installation of surveillance technologies in casinos needs to be pre-approved by the regulator and given green light to. This ensures a stricter control over how surveillance tech and facial recognition is used.

Still, the Bureau didn’t comment on whether China has been syphoning off personal data and whether casinos have been targetting more susceptible gamblers to squeeze out better profit.

Grant Mahon

Grant is the self-professed casino madman and reporter that brought this eclectic team of dedicated and talented writers together from around the world to proudly build an humble empire of authentic casino news.

Switzerland Gives iGaming the Go-Ahead with Four New Licenses

Posted on by Aran Malik
  • Swiss Federal Council approves iGaming licenses
  • Regulator to conduct checks into the online software
  • ISPs to begin blocking foreign brands from July1, 2019

    • The Swiss iGaming industry is about to kick off on July 1 with the official approval of the Federal Council and the country’s regulator.

    Swiss Federal Court Gives Go-Ahead of iGaming Industry

    Switzerland has issued the country’s first four official gambling licenses to local operators and their online platforms. On Friday, the Switzerland’s Federal Council gave its approval for kicking off gambling activities in the country in earnest and issued four online gaming permits.

    The permits were also approved by the Federal Gaming Commission (ESBK), the country’s national watchdog, before making it to the Federal Council. As a result, Switzerland is now preparing to launch its fully-legalized iGaming industry come July 1, 2019. The first operators that will scale their operations online include:

    • Grand Casino Baden
    • Grand Casino Davos
    • Grand Casino Lucerne
    • Pfäffikon Casinos

    The List of Casino Software Providers in Switzerland

    Pfäffikon is owned by Swiss Casinos. Each operator will come with come under its own unique digital skin. Grand Casino Baden will be launching under Jackpot.ch, an online portal which offered free-play gaming opportunities for years.

    Meanwhile, Davos is teaming up with Ardent Group and it will launch the Casino777 brand. It’s worth noting that land-based casinos need online partners to develop their iGaming portfolio. However, the emerging brand doesn’t necessarily have to bear the names of either companies involved, hence the confusion in names.

    As to Pfäffikon, the company is teaming up with Playtech, a familiar face in the iGaming world. Before launching officially, though,the ESBK will need to audit the software used by each casino,w which is a standard procedure.

    Each online property should run their games based on something called a “Random Number Generator”, which in turns guaranteed the fair, randomized outcome of every game.

    No Country for Unlicensed Casinos

    Switzerland’s has opted for the gunk-ho approach towards unregulated brands,similarly to the Netherlands. Switzerland puts great store by its gambling industry which is also instrumental in funding the pension system.

    While officially the industry was given the go-ahead as of January 1, 2019, Swiss ISPs will wait until July 1 to start effectively blocking foreign and unregulated operators. In the summer of 2018, Switzerland held a referendum on whether foreign operators and brands should be banned in the country.

    There was a strong movement against allowing ISPs to ban website as that violated constitutional freedoms, the protestors argued. However, the faction pushing the ban used the negative connotation of gambling to get its way,citing also the importance of the industry for the country’s pension fund.

Aran Malik

“Magic Malik”—as we like to call him—is not only a tech whiz but a wizard when it comes to getting obscure news hot off the press so we know exactly what’s happening and can explore and report it back to our growing and loyal readerbase.

Amax Sells Mobile Assets Off to Galaxy World Co., Ltd

Posted on by Sophia Rojas
  • Amax is dropping its mobile apps business
  • The company is selling off to Galaxy World Co., Ltd
  • Amax needs to fulfil payments under a settlement deed for Promissory Notes

Amax has decided to improve its cash flow by dropping the company’s Mobile Games App department and focusing on general gaming and IT solutions instead.

Amax Streamlines Its Operations after Greek Mythology Debacle

Amax International Holdings Ltd has agreed to sell its mobile operations to Cambodian casino management business Galaxy World Co., Ltd.

The Asia-facing operator is transferring it’s entire Mobile Games Apps business to the Cambodian company for the sum total of HK$30 million, which the company expects to have no immediate financial dimensions

As per the agreement, all 30 mobile apps solutions, including their source code, will be transferred to Galaxy World Co. This move is part of Amax’s decision to focus on consolidatinж g its IT Solutions Business along with the gaming department. Here is what the official statement said:

After reviewing business performance of the Group’s existing business segments, the company considered focusing more resources on the Group’s gaming businesses and IT Solutions Business.

Amax is also streamlining its operations in a bid to boost its cash flow and settle two cases of wrongfully issued Promissory Notes. The company outlined three main verticals to work on insofar its cash flow was concerned, including:

  • Meet the cash flow outlined by the settlement deed
  • Continue to invest in the IT and gaming verticals
  • Improve on the day-to-day working capital of the group

A Pyrrhic Defeat

Amax’s assets were rocked by the recent debacle of the Greek Mythology casino in Macau which had to close, leading to a stake write-off estimated at HK$353million for 24.8% of the overall shares. Amax had to divest from Greek Mythology in February, 2019, selling the company controlled-stake to Fu Po International Ltd.

The Greek Mythology casino was rocked by internal strife with executives wrestling for control which led to a series of oversights and the operator was eventually charged with non-compliance with Macau’s stricter gaming code.

To this date, Amax owns 13 VIP baccarat tables in Poipet, Cambodia and it’s also in charge of pre-opening services at Sihanoukville, Thailand.

Amax had to draw a settlement deed dated December 29, 2017 under which the company is paying HK$85 million for the aforementioned wrongly issued Promissory Notes.

Sophia Rojas

Growing up around law firms, Sophia keeps our team of reporters atop any legislative developments to follow up with a welcomed dose of positive news as our house trivia nut!

William Hill Opens Sports Betting Book in Sweden

Posted on by Carmen Thompson
  • William Hill successfully launches sports betting platform in Sweden
  • The re-branded Redbet cost WH $294.3 million
  • WH brings a variety of games, including Monopoly Live, Vegas Speed Roulette, and others

William Hill is the latest gambling & sports betting operator to make a bold entry into the newly-regulated Swedish market. The Kambi-powered platform is already accessible to Swedish bettors.

WilliamHill.se Opens to Swedish Players

Long in the making, William Hill is officially a sports betting operator in Sweden. The company took some time to finalize the acquisition of local assets and re-brand them, but five months after the legalization of the industry, the UK sports book has made it.

William Hill struck a deal with MRG Group, the owner of Evoke Gaming which in turn owned Redbet. The deal cost William Hill $294.3 million. WH International MG Patrick Jonker spoke to Affiliate Insider, noting on the importance of the deal and the opportunities that it created for the company:

This is an important milestone in William Hill’s International journey. Through fantastic teamwork between our teams in Malta, UK and Sweden we have released William Hill’s first new locally licensed offering since 2011.

The deal will also see a number of games introduced to the Swedish market, including Monopoly Live and Vegas Speed Roulette. All products will be accessible through the now Sweden-facing domain, WilliamHill.se.

Mr. Jonker commented that it was William Hill’s privilege to offer a state-of-the-art products both in terms of sports betting and live gaming to Swedish customers. WH is entering a highly-regulated market where even the best operators are at risk of breaking the tight regulations.

Regulations Are Tight in Sweden

Svenska Spel, the country’s de facto natural sports book & gaming company, was attacked by one of the watchdogs, Branschföreningen för onlinespel (BOS). Svenska Spel is accused of violating advertisement rules.

At the turn of 2019, casino and gambling ads continued to dominate Swedish Internet and TV programs, with LeoVegas and other brands barraging users with their campaigns at every commercial break.

As other companies face trouble in Sweden, William Hill will have to focus on uholding the recommended advertisemen practices recommended by the nation’s regulator, the Spelinspektionen.

Carmen Thompson

Carmen is our residential reporter always on the move and hunting down the latest scoops and rumours to explore. Nothing gets past her keen nose, especially when it comes to some serious Jelly Bean poker tournaments.

New Jersey Posts Record High Results in NJ for March

Posted on by Kat Orlov
  • NJ eclipses March, 2018 gaming results
  • The state’s operators double profit in March 2019
  • NJ is $250 million of hitting $1 billion in total revenue for 2019

    • New Jersey scored big on the March Madness and its iGaming segment continued to grow in the meanwhile. Not quite the first state to introduce sports betting, NJ has been able to claim a significant chunk of the betting action around the US.

    NJ Sports Betting and Gaming Revenue Grows

    New Jersey posted quite the uptick in its sports betting activities this March, notching up 34.5% better year-on-year results or $294 million. The solid increase in the activity is mostly owing to the fact that NJ introduced full-scale sports betting in May, 2018, after defeating a piece of arcane legislation designed to impede sports betting contests.

    New Jersey Chases Bigger Sports Handle in November

    Land-based casinos continued to fetch the majority of income, with the brick-and-mortar properties jumping another 15.7% this year or a total of $223.2 million. Meanwhile, other verticals, such as slots and table games also did well.

    March wasn’t all about sports betting and we saw iGaming results inch up. There was A 18.5% jump in terms of slots or $162.6 million total. Table games also went up 8.7% and reached $60.5 million.

    On its own, online gambling revenue went up the staggering 53% and netted $39.1 million, a rather impressive result altogether. Conversely, poker took a tumble in March, falling 1.6% and hit $5.6 million in total.

    The Properties That Posted Great Results in NJ

    Quite a few properties managed to post great results as a result of the overall upheaval in the market. The Golden Nugget generated 64.4% more revenue, or $14.2 million more. There was also Resorts Digital which posted over 100% in terms of improved results or $8.5 million total.

    Understandably, Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa managed to hit another $5.4 million which was a great uptick by 16.4% compared to the results in 2018. Meadowlands has managed to cash on its partnership with Paddy Power Betfair, FanDuel, well ahead of the competitors with a total of $17.6 million in revenue that month.

    DraftKings’ been trailing behind FanDuel. Resorts Digital, the official partner of the online betting platform, posted $7.2 million, which was still almost double than the February results.

    Meanwhile, New Jersey has had no trouble with notching up some pretty respectable overall profits in the first three months of 2019. Over January, February and March the state’s operators posted.

    Poker has been struggling to gain any traction, although New Jersey joined in a shared-liquidity scheme with other states in 2018. Nevada and Delaware are the other places where poker is presently legal.

    The iGaming and poker industries have been expanding. Pennsylvania is currently on hold, expecting to launch its activities in June and there are multiple other states working on passing iGaming bills.

    Sports betting continues to be the segment to win the most out of the current legal changes in the United States.

Kat Orlov

Newcomer Kat is our newcomer poker aficionado whos skill not only lives on the table but flourishes on the site as through her many sources she never fails to be the first to hear of any important or exciting poker news around the world.

Bet365 Is Preparing to Open Up First Betting Shop in the US

Posted on by George Hansen
  • Bet365 prepares for New Jersey launch in Marlton
  • The UK gaming & betting company has acquired 19,000-sq-mt property
  • Betting expected to start in summer
  • Bet365 is teamed up with Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City

Bet365 is among the last UK operators that is yet to start expanding into the state. With William Hill and 888 already planning rapid scaling of their operations in other states, Bet365 is making a tentative step into New Jersey.

New Jersey Welcomes Bet365’s First Betting Shop

Bet365’s financial and business successes have kept the company ahead of many other competitors back home in the United Kingdom. However, Bet365 didn’t make serious plans to push into the United States until last summer, when it partnered up with Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City, signalling its intention to enter the market.

New Jersey’s law obliges any digital entrant to find an established casino property to work with if it wants to introduce its online product. This way land-based casinos and online operators can work together, the state believes. It has worked so far.

Bet365 is behind William Hill and even 888, but it’s determined to catch up. The company’s first shop will be set up in Marlton, around 50 miles from Atlantic City, NJ’s gaming hub. It’s expected that the company will focus purely on sports betting initiatives, though online gaming is another area where Bet365 has been able to excel.

Bet365 certainly has the makings of a promising company. With hefty revenue and executive pay, the UK’s betting firm is easily one of the world’s largest tax payers.

Some Catching Up to Do

Bet365’s name commands a lot of respect, but this alone is not a stepping-stone for success. New Jersey is already full of companies that have clawed a solid share of the market. Without a shade of doubt, the most influential sportsbooks in the state by virtue of their revenue remain:

  • DraftKings Sportsbook
  • Borgata
  • FanDuel
  • 888 sport
  • William Hill

FanDuel and DraftKings are usually neck-and-neck whereas the other brands, including William Hill have commanded a more modest share of the market. Still, British companies are doing very well in the United States and in New Jersey in particular, relying on a mix of innovative solutions and tailoring their offer for the US market.

Bet365 is also looking well beyond conventions, hoping to beat everyone to the punch in places like New York where legalizing the industry is not quite yet in sight. It has signed an agreement with Empire Resorts in NY and the company has reportedly paid a lobbyist firm to try and push the legislation forward.

George Hansen

Taking a liking to the occasional bout of slots, George used to moonlight as a roulette dealer, giving him a unique perspective into the casino world. From there he continued his journalist education and has been with us ever since a star-aligned graduation brought him and our team together.

SportCaller and William Hill Mix Betting and Casino

Posted on by Carmen Thompson
  • SportCaller and William Hill agree on expanding existing partnership
  • The partnership news comes ahead of the Cheltenham Festival
  • Golden Race’s the latest game offering £1 million in prizing money

SportCaller is a pioneer in helping gaming and betting businesses expand their digital footprint and enhance existing verticals by allowing customers a free-to-play experience. Betting is optional and players have an opportunity to win £1 million. The company is expanding an existing partnership with British heavyweight sportsbook William Hill.

SportCaller and William Hill Focus on Customer Retention

SportCaller has been one of the companies to help various B2B and B2C companies improve their overall experience and offer. SportCaller has worked with FanDuel to help the Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) platform expand its footprint. Coral has also used SportCaller’s options to introduce the proven free-to-play (FTP) segment to its own portfolio.

Now, the company has chosen to partner up with William Hill to boost retention rate and introduce an exciting new game, Golden Race. Working as a jackpot game, the Golden Race allows players to enter for a nominal fee worth £10 betting on a horse race taking place in the United Kingdom or Ireland.

With the Cheltenham Festival about to kick off there will be significant opportunities to place wagers in the coming days. Players stand to win £1 million if they successfully predict the specific order of the first finishing horses with some £50,000 on the line as consolation reward available to the person(s) to predict the exact order of the first two horses.

The consolation reward only applies in cases when the jackpot hasn’t been hit. Golden Race has proven a particularly successful concept leading to better customer retention rate and organic growth. William Hill has been among the first sportsbooks to address the needs of an increasingly sophisticated audience which wants payouts.

Golden Race has managed to guarantee regular winnings without biting into William Hills’ profitability. The improved upon success rate has prompted even more gamers to choose from William Hill’s ample sports betting portfolio.

SportCaller has managed to broach an interesting topic, mixing the best practices from the casino and sports betting industry and posting very satisfying results.

Liam Wallwork, William Hills Commercial Director, has commented on the similarities between sports betting and the casino experience:

So, we were thrilled to see so many enjoy the Midas touch at Kempton’s Golden Race on Wednesday. The game will now be the cornerstone of our marketing and advertising campaign for The Festival and beyond. In fact, we will be running the £1m Golden Race in tandem across the meeting alongside Lucky 7 for 100k-a-day. It’s by far the most generous FTP offering in the village.

SportCaller’s Cillian Barry has also been excited at the news and William Hill’s choice to continue working with the company:

It’s a real validation for Hills, a name so intrinsically connected with horse racing and The Festival, to have enlisted our services and we can’t wait for Golden Race to come under starter’s orders next week and for one, or more, lucky punters to bag the £1m daily jackpot!

William Hill has long been at the forefront of cutting-edge developments in the sports betting industry, focusing on double growth and US expansion.

Carmen Thompson

Carmen is our residential reporter always on the move and hunting down the latest scoops and rumours to explore. Nothing gets past her keen nose, especially when it comes to some serious Jelly Bean poker tournaments.

William Hill and Penn National Team up in Nevada

Posted on by Aran Malik
  • William Hill and Penn National Gaming are about to launch sports betting offer in M Resort Spa Casino
  • Regulatory approval from the NGCB still needed
  • William Hill continues to expand its footprint in Nevada and the US

William Hill and Penn National Gaming have been working together on a number of properties. The latest initiative between the two companies features the M Resort Spa Casino in Nevada. Following an expansion of their existing partnership in 2018, the companies are prepared to work together for the future of the property.

William Hill to Take Control Over M Resort Spa Casino in Nevada

Nevada’s M Resort Spa Casino is located Henderson, not so far from the Mecca of all Western gambling, Las Vegas. The property is about to get even more attractive with William Hill now awaiting regulatory approval to take control over the property’s sports and race books, adding distinct options for sports fans.

William Hill Promises Stronger Profits by 2023

William Hill and Penn National will be launching in May, hoping to provide customers with land-based wagering options as well as live betting and William Hill’s own authentic mobile betting solutions.

With the Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB) going through the deal and should they clear it, as expected, William Hill will deploy its expertise to provide M Resort Spa Casino with the fetching sports betting that will bring it more customers.

Commenting at the prospect of expanding with M Resort, William Hill US CEO, Joe Asher, had the following to say:

We are excited to expand our partnership with our friends at Penn National to operate the sports book at The M. It is a fabulous property, serving the Henderson and Southern Highlands areas, as well as guests from out of town, and we look forward to bringing our market-leading product to these customers.

William Hill and Penn National Gaming have been working together since August 2018 in a bid to expand their partnership and introduce William Hill’s award-winning sports betting product to Penn’s land-based properties.

It has been part of William Hill’s strategy in the United States to expand by partnering with esteemed brands and land-based properties across the USA. Penn National owns gaming venues in Mississippi, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

With all of these states looking into sports betting and expansion option for 2019, William Hill is well-poised to leverage its expertise and expand into important markets. Despite a small dip in the company’s financial performance, William Hill is well on schedule to achieve a double-digit growth.

Aran Malik

“Magic Malik”—as we like to call him—is not only a tech whiz but a wizard when it comes to getting obscure news hot off the press so we know exactly what’s happening and can explore and report it back to our growing and loyal readerbase.

Willam Hill Now Runs Golden Ent. Betting Operations in Nevada

Posted on by Carmen Thompson
  • William Hill officially adds new Golden Entertainment Properties in Nevada
  • The British operator continues to expand across the United States
  • Should Iowa legalize sports betting, Will Hill could be the first operator to expand across the state.

William Hill is moving forward with its expansion in the United States. After scouting out new opportunities in Iowa, the operator secured its position in Nevada with yet another auspicious partnership with Golden Entertainment.

William Hill and Golden Entertainment Dominate Sports Betting

Back in October 2018, William Hill and Golden Entertainment entered into partnership, eyeing new opportunities for growth and securing their respective businesses. What better way than pooling efforts?

It’s official, and William Hill and Golden Entertainment are going to help each other’s betting operations. Officially, William Hill will be taking care of several Golden Ent. properties across Nevada leveraging its expertise. William Hill is currently overseeing the following properties:

  • Aquarius Casino Resort in Laughlin
  • Arizona Charlie’s Boulder
  • Arizona Charlie’s Decatur

Another property is in the works which will be arriving later in March at The STRAT hotel. Meanwhile, William Hill is quite familiar with Golden and the company has been operating various kiosks for it.

Estimated 80 kiosks are run by William Hill but originally owned by Golden Ent. This includes third-party operators that are running the activities independently from casinos and sportsbooks.

William Hill U.S. CEO Joe Asher was happy with the latest partnership between the companies, commenting:

The addition of the four new casino resorts marks an exciting new chapter in our relationship with Golden Entertainment. We look forward to working together to offer sports fans an amazing experience for many years to come in Nevada and elsewhere as opportunities arise.

A similar sentiment was expressed by Golden Entertainment Chief Operating Officer Steve Arcana who had the following to add:

We are excited to continue expanding our relationship with William Hill, which has a proven sports wagering platform not only in Nevada but around the world. We look forward to growing our business in Nevada and other jurisdictions through this partnership.

William Hill’s footprint in the United States is strong. While the operator is still committed to Europe and the United Kingdom, the toughening regulation at home has incentivized William Hill to seek a more diverse portfolio around the world.

More interestingly, the company teamed up with the Prairie Meadows Racetrack & Casino to provide sports betting opportunities in the United States, even though there was no indication that Iowa might soon have a legalized industry.

This might be about to change with a new bill that was introduced just this week and endorsed by Senator Roby Smith.

Carmen Thompson

Carmen is our residential reporter always on the move and hunting down the latest scoops and rumours to explore. Nothing gets past her keen nose, especially when it comes to some serious Jelly Bean poker tournaments.

MyBet Prepares to Relaunch in Germany with Kambi

Posted on by Sophia Rojas
  • MyBet to relaunch in Germany by mid-2019
  • New owner Rhinoceros Group partners with B2B sports betting company Kambi
  • MyBet remains one of the high-profile brands in Germany’s betting industry

MyBet will be returning to Germany having successfully concluded a fresh partnership with Kambi, a premium provider of B2B sports betting services.

MyBet Relaunches in Germany Backed by Kambi

MyBet has struck a new partnership with Kambi, a provider of B2B sports betting solutions. MyBet is teaming up with the company in order to expand its footprint in the regulated and highly-contested German market.

As per the partnership, MyBet can rely on a full range of sports betting services with the company expecting to start taking is first bets by June, 2019. MyBet had to be temporarily suspended from operation, because of financial predicaments under the company’s previous owner, MyBet Holding SE in 2018.

Since then, the sportsbook brand has changed hands, with Rhinoceros Operations now assuming control over the sportsbook. Rhinoceros Operations wasn’t the original company that was going to buy MyBet, but following a collapse of negotiations in August, 2018, Rhinoceros decided to step in with a bid.

GiG Teams Up with MegaLotto to Introduce

In light of these events and the re-launching of the brand, Kambi Chief Executive Officer, Kristian Nylén explained that a brand was only as strong as its offer and that it couldn’t rely solely on reputation:

“The story of MyBet illustrates why operators cannot afford to rely purely on the strength of their brand and history in a market.”

He further added: “Online sports bettors are increasingly promiscuous so operators must ensure they have sufficient scale in their product investments to provide exciting sports betting experiences at all times to remain competitive.”

Mr. Nylén added that all the problems that MyBet has faced so far would be solved by the partnership with Kambi.

Rhinoceros Group CEO Tobias Carlsson has explained the motivation behind the purchase of MyBet. According to Mr. Carlsson, MyBet’s long-standing in the German sports betting market, make the brand & company an important asset to the Group’s own portfolio.

His official statement read:

Mybet was one of the pioneers in the German sports betting field, and together with Kambi and our other partners we will do everything in our power to revive that legacy and bring players the experience they desire and deserve.

The addition of Kambi will help MyBet streamline its effort and permeate new markets as well as better cater to the exclusive needs of German customers. With the fresh financial backing by Rhinoceros Group, the company is set for a promising future.

Germany has been an interesting destination or gaming agencies. Lottoland has been one of the latest companies to be caught up in a battle to secure a position in themarket.

Sophia Rojas

Growing up around law firms, Sophia keeps our team of reporters atop any legislative developments to follow up with a welcomed dose of positive news as our house trivia nut!

Bet365 and Skybet Are Inaugural Partners for Perform’s Opta

Posted on by Kat Orlov
  • Bet365 and SkyBet announced as launch partners for Perform’s new real-time data solution
  • Opta allows players to obtain important breakdown in real-time
  • Partnership to drive value for players and business

Perform, a data-driven sports betting platform, has teamed up with established bookmakers Bet365 and SkyBet to introduce its latest data service, Opta Fast Player Statistics Feed.

SkyBet and Bet365 Work with Real Data Solutions

Perform has partnered with Bet365 and SkyBet for its latest sports betting, data driven solution, Opta Fast Player Statistics Feed. Bet365’s the second-largest tax contributor in the UK, with the company’s boss being the best-paid female professional in the world.

As the name suggests, the tool will break down the game in real-time and player-by-player, going through important metrics, such as passes, shots, tackles and other sport-specific metrics.

There are two ways interested parties can access the data, the official press statement specified:

  • Partners can ingest Opta’s data directly
  • Partners can also use third-party pricing services, such as Sportcast and Bananch

Bet365 and SkyBet are the first gaming & sports betting companies to adopt Opta’s offer, signalling the platform’s potential.

Perform SVP Betting John Harlow has highlighted the inherent benefits of this solution, including:

If you’re a bettor following in-play events like shots, tackles and passes, it’s like you’re watching an entirely new game.

Goals are still the determining metric whether a team is performing well, but this is all supplemented by additional factors, such as the frequency of shots and probabilities of one team scoring over another.

Borgata to Develop $11m Betting Lounge in Atlantic City

Mr. Harlow had the following to add: “The new Opta feed has given a way for operators to create compelling new player-focussed experiences that occur throughout the 90 minutes. It’s a new level of entertainment for their customers, even throughout a 0-0 draw.”

Perform CCO Andrew Ashenden further explained that the platform would guarantee reliable data for in-play trading and betting.

Based on Mr. Ashenden and Harlow’s account, a lot of effort has gone into creating the platform, and a lot more is allocated to collecting reliable data. Both think that the industry would benefit from an innovative product that would ultimately brush up the customer experience.

SkyBet and Bet365 are two of the most recognizable names in the sports betting market. Their choice to endorse the platform would signal others to look into Opta, driving revenue for Perform.

Both SkyBet and Bet365 are committed to customer protection and providing the most detailed and accurate data possible. Inspired, another gaming company, recently renewed its existing partnership with Bet365.

Amid the tightening regulatory context at home in the United Kingdom, brushing up on the credibility of the betting data and giving customers even more ways to make fact-based decisions is a boon to bookmakers.

Kat Orlov

Newcomer Kat is our newcomer poker aficionado whos skill not only lives on the table but flourishes on the site as through her many sources she never fails to be the first to hear of any important or exciting poker news around the world.

Osaka Has Head Start in Japan’s IR Bidding

Posted on by Grant Mahon
  • Three locations in Japan to bid for an Integrated Resort (IR) rights
  • Osaka Prefecture and the city of Osaka seem to have a head start
  • Dozens of companies undecided, Kyodo News reports

Despite the initial strong demand for hosting an Integrated Resort (IR) in Japan, only three local governments have expressed determined interest to host the future casino resort.

Japan’s Future Casino Resort is Down to Three Prefectures

After much deliberation in 2018, the Integrated Resort (IR) in Japan was finally approved by the government of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Admittedly, there was a lot of lobbying, though the support of the government seemed to be motivated by the future economic windfall for the country rather than anything else.

As soon as the news was announced, multiple prefectures started tentatively suggesting that they would be open to the idea of hosting the Integrated Resort (IR), which would in turn see three international brands open their casinos there.

After the Initial Excitement, Time for Some Impassionate Consideration

Now that the dust has settled and it has become clear that the IR wouldn’t be a reality until mid-2020s, the prefectures to openly express their determination to be part of the project have become fewer. Presently, only three entertain the idea of hosting the IR:

  • Osaka
  • Wakayama
  • Nagasaki

Overall, there are 47 prefectures and 20 major cities that are eligible for the development of the multi-billion project. According to Kyodo News Agency, after consideration, none other officials wanted to get involved with the IR project, citing public safety concerns.

It’s important to note that the Osaka Prefecture and the city of Osaka will bid together alongside the other two competitors. Nothing is carved in stone, though, as more companies are now entertaining the idea of developing the IR, although concerns abound.

Choosing a Partner and Building the Resort

As per the legislation that was adopted in 2018, in order for a prefecture to host the IR, it would need to choose a casino partner. Once they’ve chosen, lawmakers will have to submit their proposal to the national government for further evaluation.

Kyodo News also revealed other regions and cities that are reportedly considering to host an IR, including Nagoya (a city) along with Tokyo, Hokkaido, Chiba and Yokohama. Almost 20 other local governments have been cited as undecided on the matter.

Osaka has made the biggest progress so far with plans to start the application process by first identifying commercial partners that will help it successfully introduce the IR on its territory.

Meanwhile, casinos have not been twiddling their thumbs either. Hard Rock, a North American casino & hotel brand, has already revealed their model of a possible Integrated Resort (IR).

Grant Mahon

Grant is the self-professed casino madman and reporter that brought this eclectic team of dedicated and talented writers together from around the world to proudly build an humble empire of authentic casino news.

Borgata to Develop $11m Betting Lounge in Atlantic City

Posted on by Kat Orlov
  • Borgata develops new $11m sports betting lounge in Atlantic City
  • Chief Operating Officer (COO) Marcus Glover welcomes the move
  • Borgata was the first property in New Jersey to accept sports wagers after PASPA’s defeat in May, 2018

Borgata Hotel Casino Resort & Spa will cough up $11 million for a new on-site sport betting facility, making a committed rush into the newly-regulated segment.

Borgata Enters the Sports Betting Race with $11m Upfront

New Jersey defeated the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 in May, 2018. Since then, sports betting has been steadily gaining traction around the United States. While not all states are on track to get their own legalized industries, many are already joining.

Pennsylvania Grants First Sports Betting Licenses

Located in Atlantic City, NJ, Borgata benefits from the mild local regulatory climate and the high demand for sports betting opportunities. The future betting lounge, however, will not rely exclusively on individuals’ taste for placing wagers.

The facility will feature a bar as well as other amenities designed to accommodate the casual and committed punter. On the occasion of the announcement, Borgata president and Chief Operating Officer (COO), Marcus Glover, commented:

Since Borgata arrived in the Atlantic City market more than 15 years ago, we have maintained a steadfast dedication to property growth and development, with our new concept exemplifying this objective

Mr. Glover lauded the efforts of Borgata for having stayed “at the forefront of legalized sports betting in New Jersey”. The latest development plan, according the official press release, was an attempt to advance the company’s product with “an innovative gaming and entertainment experience”.

Borgata Makes History with Mobile Betting

In July, 2018, Borgata became the first casino to take a legal sports wager following the resounding success in the U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS), doing away with the federal betting ban PASPA. Following the approval of Governor Phil Murphy, Borgata seized the opportunity to make history.

Borgata also launched playMGM, the mobile betting platform to arrive after the freshly-regulated market. The platform was launched with the help of GVC Holdings, another giant on the U.S. sports betting market looking to gain more traction.

The solution offers much of what can be found on branded website casinos, including quick banking options, such as deposits and withdrawals.

Borgata draws on the MGM International’s experience in the sector, with MGM having been involved in various sports betting initiatives in the past 25 years, specifically in Nevada. According to the official data released in the press release, MGM sports wagers in Nevada alone reach 4 million placed units yearly and the sports handle reaches north of $1 billion. MGM has ongoing partnerships the NBA and WNBA, NHL, MLB, as well as the New York Jets.

Kat Orlov

Newcomer Kat is our newcomer poker aficionado whos skill not only lives on the table but flourishes on the site as through her many sources she never fails to be the first to hear of any important or exciting poker news around the world.

GiG Teams Up with MegaLotto to Introduce

Posted on by George Hansen
  • GiG partners with MegaLotto to enter the lotteries vertical
  • The companies will launch their offer in mid-2019
  • GiG will see results at the end of 2019

Gaming Innovation Group, an established iGaming company, is preparing to expand into a new vertical – lotteries. The company has already struck up a deal with MegaLotto, an up-and-coming start-up.

GiG Inks Deal for the Future of Lottery Vertical

The Gaming Innovation Group (GiG) will work along with MegaLotto in order to create a polished lottery experience for international customers. The lottery portal will include a number of casino games in a bid to appeal to an international audience as well as expand into many unrelated markets.

Establishing a global footprint will be a top priority for the companies, which will be pushing ahead with a quick launch in the summer of 2019. Because of the rather delayed launch, revenue will remain largely unaffected for GiG in 2019 following the partnership. With GiG and MegaLotto gearing up to launch in full, there is still the question of which markets the company will operate in.

GiG has already entered the United States thanks to its partnership with Hard Rock casino in October, 2018. Later in November the same year, GiG tied up another partnership with casino games aggregator Join Games.

As to the specific deal with MegaLotto, GiG CCO Ben Clemes expressed his satisfaction with the developments, noting the following:

I am delighted to add further growth potential for GiG by entering the Lottery vertical with MegaLotto. We share the same ambitions of a fun, fair, responsible and innovative user experience.

Lotteries is the sole missing verticals which GiG is now happy to offer to its customers worldwide. Having obtained a license in the newly-regulated Swedish market, GiG may be pushing ahead with introducing lotteries in Europe, as it’s one of the primary markets for the activity.

However, places like Germany can prove too restrictive, given the adamant local opposition and favorism towards national totalizators.

Expanding into Lotteries – A Healthy New Opportunity

The expansion into the lottery vertical, however, is not at all surprising, following last year’s Q3 earning call when CEO Robin Reed spoke of the healthy pipeline opportunities ahead of the company. Apart from working with the Hardrock brand, GiG has also been selected to deliver the sports betting software for MRG and Gamingzone.

Growing the sports betting business is a priority for GiG which will now be nicely complemented with the expansion of the lottery vertical. In the United States, different states see the point of maintaining their lottery operations scaling. In fact, lotteries are one of the main reasons why he infamous Wire Act doesn’t apply to some forms of gambling products, with New York challenging the motion back in 2018.

Now that GiG has eyes set on lotteries, the company is about to monetize on a new sector. How successful its efforts will only become clear towards the end of 2019 or later in 2020.

George Hansen

Taking a liking to the occasional bout of slots, George used to moonlight as a roulette dealer, giving him a unique perspective into the casino world. From there he continued his journalist education and has been with us ever since a star-aligned graduation brought him and our team together.

Caesars and Oneida Indian Nation Partner in New York

Posted on by Grant Mahon
  • Caesars and Oneida Indian Nation team up for sports betting in New York
  • New York held a referendum on betting in 2013
  • Senator Joe Addabbo is the man to watch for in 2019

Caesars Entertainment has tied up a successful partnership with Oneida Indian Nation, a tribal operator. This is an important stepping stone for the future development of the sports betting industry, paving the way for co-existence between competitive casino brands and native operators.

Caesars Entertainment and Oneida Indian Nation Develop Sports Betting

Renowned casino operator Caesars Entertainment and Oneida Indian Nation will be working together to introduce sports betting in three casinos across New York. In anticipation of the move, the pair is hoping that the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) and lawmakers will vote in favor of legislation that will bring sports betting to the region. If all goes according to plan, Caesars will be present at three properties, including:

  • Turning Stone Resort Casino
  • Yellow Brick Road Casino
  • Point Place Casino

All casinos are located close to Syracuse, which is one of the most populous cities in the state, allowing themselves a quick access to potentially huge crowds of gamers eager to place legal wagers. Regulation in New York is still being discussed, but the partnership is a clear indication that top brands have enough reasons to believe in the favorable development of the situation.

We are eagerly awaiting the NIGC’s review of this innovative new partnership involving a licensing and branding arrangement – Christian Stuart, Caesars’ VP of Gaming

Christian Stuart has embraced the idea of rolling out the casino’s operations in New York and at the designated locations, predicting a strong growth and expansion of the market in the state.

New York’s attempts to pass a working sports betting bill have been bolstered by Senator John Bonacic who nevertheless failed to see the legislation through. Mr. Bonacic is now also no longer a senator, leaving Senator Joe Addabbo in his stead.

We are eagerly awaiting the National Indian Gaming Commission’s review of this innovative new partnership involving a licensing and branding arrangement. – Stuart

As head of the Committee on Racing, Gaming and Wagering, Mr. Addabbo, has also said that he would seek to continue the efforts for the legalization of the sports betting industry in the state. Several commercial casinos have partnered with various iGaming operators who also offer sports betting in anticipation of the potential legalization.

DOJ Could Consider Flip-Flopping on Its 2011 Decision

In 2019, lawmakers will have to come together and make a decision about the future of the state’s betting industry. Despite the strong commitment from operators and companies, and even legislators, there’s still a lot to be desired. New York’s sports bills have been shot one after another, leaving the state in limbo.

However, the state does have four commercial properties that have been offering sports betting since around 2013 when the state’s residents voted during a referendum to legalize the industry. A lot of work needs to be done to see the full-scale launch of sports betting, but all of this is possible in the months to come.

The man at the helm, Mr. Addabbo, is now responsible for spearheading the activity.

Grant Mahon

Grant is the self-professed casino madman and reporter that brought this eclectic team of dedicated and talented writers together from around the world to proudly build an humble empire of authentic casino news.