Category: Industry

Yahoo Sportsbook Launches at The Venetian Hotel in Vegas

Posted on by Grant Mahon

The Las Vegas Strip has gotten another sportsbook! Last Thursday, Yahoo Sportsbook was launched at The Venetian. As its name suggests, the sportsbook is owned by tech giant Yahoo, but what you might not know is that it’s operated by William Hill.

There are now 88 land-based sportsbooks in Vegas, a couple of which are powered by William Hill. In addition to the one at The Venetian, the British bookmaker also operates the sportsbook at Arizona Charlies Boulder, Bally’s Las Vegas, Bighorn Casino, Harrah’s, and a few other venues.

When it comes to Yahoo Sportsbook, its Vegas chapter is operated by William Hill. However, this sportsbook is available in 14 other states, in each of which is operated by BetMGM. The launch of the Yahoo Sportsbook in Vegas, however, could mean the beginning of a new era in the William Hill-Yahoo partnership.

Yahoo Sportsbook Vegas Poised for Success

Covering an area of over 12,000 square feet, Yahoo Sportsbook at The Venetian is one of the largest sportsbooks in the city. It has lounge chairs and sofas that can accommodate more than 100 patrons, as well as an oval bar with roughly 30 seats.

The sportsbook also has a huge LED video wall that’s 1,770 square feet big. There’s also a 97-foot live-odds ticker, as well as 10 4K screens, each with a 65-inch diagonal, which are meant to be used for live broadcasts of popular sports events.

When it comes to its betting offer, being operated by William Hill, Yahoo Sportsbook offers the same betting markets and odds as the UK-based gaming giant. What this means for the bettors is that they’ll get lucrative betting prices on a wide range of markets across dozens of competitions, including America’s favorites like the NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB, UFC, and others.

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.

MGM Casino Lifts Ban on Photos & Videos for Table Game Players

Posted on by Grant Mahon

MGM is amending its policy regarding photos/videos/live streaming for table game players. From now on, the casino will issue permits to some players, enabling them to record their gambling exploits during the game, as long as it’s not affecting other gamblers.

The new policy is expected to take effect within the next couple of days, with all MGM Casinos in Nevada set to comply with it. As a reminder, the company operates nine casino resorts in the state, including iconic Vegas properties such as MGM Grand, Bellagio, and Mandalay Bay.

New MGM Rules for Table Games Explained

As per the new rules, patrons will be allowed to take photos and videos while playing table games, as long as it doesn’t hold up the game. However, they are not allowed to record other patrons without their explicit permission nor take photos/videos of MGM employees.

Further, they’re not allowed to play music or audio that would impact the play. They’re also prohibited from recording audio of the game.

When it comes to live streaming, it’s going to become possible but only in certain situations. MGM Casino staff will issue special permits to streamers who wish to go live at the table.

The decision to amend its photo/video/live streaming policy has been welcomed by influencers on social media, but there are also some who’ve raised their voices against it. Many Twitter users have commented negatively, saying that the new policy could have a negative effect on the players’ privacy. Further, some believe that the use of smartphones on the table may open Pandora’s box, potentially enabling cheaters to use gambling AI or other nefarious methods.

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.

Announcement of New Toronto Casino Draws Negative Reactions for First Nation

Posted on by Grant Mahon

The announcement of the construction of a brand-new mega-casino in the Greater Toronto Area has drawn a number of positive comments. However, there are some negative comments as well, especially coming from the Mississauga tribe.

According to the spokesperson of the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation (MSIFN), the tribe is outraged by the lack of respect shown by the Ontario Gaming Corporation (OLG). The province’s officials gave the green light to the new casino establishment without even consulting the First Nation to see how the new project is going to affect their gaming business.

First Nation’s Dissatisfaction with New Mega-Casino in Toronto

The Mississaugas have been living on the shores of Lake Scugog for centuries, and it’s the 21st century when the First Nation has seen a massive economic boost. One of the main reasons behind it was the success of the Mississauga Tribe-owned casino Great Blue Heron (GBH).

Located in the northeastern portion of the Great Toronto Area called Port Perry, the casino has been the engine moving the local economy forward. Literally thousands of people are either directly or indirectly profiting from the success of this gaming establishment.

The casino has been around since 1997, but from 2018 to 2021, it went through a huge renovation process. Since then, it’s been in the business for about a year and a half, generating great revenue, but that could come to an end in 2023. The First Nation representatives believe that the new mega-casino that’s meant to open in summer could ruin their business.

Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto to Open in Summer

There’s a new mega-casino resort that’s under construction in Toronto. Owned by the same company that operates Great Blue Heron, the Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto is going to be one of Canada’s biggest gaming establishments after it opens in summer.

Situated adjacent to Casino Woodbine at Woodbine Racetrack, the construction of the new casino resort will cost its parent company over $1 billion in total.

When it launches, the casino will feature nearly 5,000 slots, along with almost 150 table games. Apart from gambling, Great Canadian is also meant to offer other means of entertainment to the visitors – there’s a live entertainment venue on its premises, along with eight restaurants, and several bars.

Once it opens, Great Canadian will absorb the nearby Casino Woodbine, practically making itself the largest casino resort in this part of North America.

It’s bound to draw visitors from all around Ontario, but also from other Canadian provinces, as well as the US. Great Blue Heron’s owners believe that the new venue could ruin their business, despite the fact that the two casinos are nearly 60 miles away from each other.

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.

Cinematic RNG Casino Era Starts With Vinnie Jones Roulette

Posted on by Grant Mahon

What if we told you that you can play online roulette and other casino games against A-list celebrities? So far, this hasn’t been something that many people had the luxury of doing, but with the development of cinematic RNG casino games, things are going to change!

These sorts of games provide the player with an unmatched casino experience, which gives them a chance to play online casino games with celebs in the role of dealers. One such game is Vinnie Jones Roulette, which was released globally earlier this week.

Vinnie Jones Roulette Released Globally

Real Dealers Studios is an emerging casino game developer, which focuses on creating cinematic RNG games with Hollywood stars in the dealer’s role. Their first game to go live is Vinnie Jones Roulette, which premiered globally earlier this week.

The game in question is an online roulette game, which is based on the random number generator (RNG) software. However, unlike other RNG games, this one doesn’t use computer-generated graphics. Instead, it plays cinematic-grade scenes after each bet. The scenes star English soccer player-turned-Hollywood actor Vinnie Jones as the dealer.

He’s the one who’s calling the bets and reading out the numbers in the same manner as a roulette dealer would do in a real casino.

The result is that Vinnie Jones Roulette looks like a live casino game, making the players feel as if they’re playing against the movie tough guy himself via live cam. However, this isn’t a live roulette game – Vinnie isn’t really there. Instead, this is one of the first examples of a cinematic RNG casino game.

Are Cinematic RNG Casino Games the Future of Online Gambling?

You can think of cinematic RNG games as regular online casino games with live-casino vibes. How they work is that the outcome of each bet is decided by RNG software – the computer decides where the ball lands, rather than luck (or should we say physics) as would be the case in live roulette.

That is how all virtual casino games function. However, they all come with graphics created on the computer, which makes them different from cinematic RNG games.

Instead of using graphics, these games use videos filmed with professional cameras in Hollywood-style studios. These games are meant to put celebrities in the role of the dealer, which is the case with Vinnie Jones Roulette.

This particular game is the first in a series of cinematic RNG games that are supposed to go live in 2022. The next in line is Vinnie Jones Stories Roulette, which is basically a roulette game that gives you a chance to listen to funny anecdotes told by the actor.

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.

FanDuel Adds Branded Live-Dealer Games to Its PA Online Casino

Posted on by Grant Mahon

From now on, FanDuel live casino games are available in Pennsylvania and Michigan. The story goes that the New York City-based gambling company has decided to expand its game portfolio in online casinos available in those states, the reason being the popularity of live-dealer games in those parts of the US.

FanDuel PA Gets 9 New Live-Dealer Casino Games

In Pennsylvania, FanDuel added online casino games to its sportsbook in 2020. The company started with 21 slots and just a couple of virtual table games. The users fell in love with those games straight away, which prompted FanDuel PA to expand its offering.

As of July 2022, FanDuel Pennsylvania has over 150 slot titles in its online casino, together with many other games. Further, just a few days ago, the company unveiled live-dealer games, which enable the users to play against real people via live stream.

A total of nine live casino games were added to the collection, namely:

  • Blackjack – seven different tables
  • Infinite Blackjack – one table
  • Roulette – one table

All of these games use FanDuel-branded software, with the dealers working directly for the company rather than being employed by a third party.

FanDuel to Focus on Pennsylvania Even More

Pennsylvania is one of the top states when it comes to FanDuel’s revenue. That’s where the company holds a 40% share of the sports betting market. The next step in FanDuel’s PA agenda is to present its casino offerings to the sports bettors.

As per Kevin Hennessy, FanDuel’s publicity director, online casino games are getting a lot of traction among users from Pennsylvania.

“Live Dealer games are important in building out the casino experience for FanDuel players. We set up the studio in a way that brings the FanDuel brand to life.”

In addition to expanding its game portfolio in Philadelphia, the company has done the same in Michigan and is reportedly planning to do the same in all of the states where its gambling platform is live.

At the moment, there are five states where it’s possible to play FanDuel online casino games. In addition to the two aforementioned states (PA and MI), the FanDuel internet casino is also live in New Jersey, West Virginia, and Connecticut.

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.

Texas Bans Metaverse Casino Funding Through NFT Sale

Posted on by Grant Mahon

Earlier this week, financial regulators in Texas ordered metaverse casino Sands Vegas Casino Club to stop its funding through the sale of NFTs. In the cease-and-desist letter, The Texas State Securities Board (TSSB) explained that the reason behind it is a violation of securities laws.

The people behind the project – Finn Ruben Warnke and Martin Schwarzberger – were told they aren’t allowed to fund the metaverse casino development by selling NFTs as it’s seen as a “fraudulent securities scheme” in the eyes of the state.

What Happened with Sands Vegas Casino Club?

The co-founders of the metaverse casino put 11,111 NFTs up for sale with the plan of using the funds to finance the project. The NFTs in question were digital drawings of cartoon gamblers. In turn, the buyers would not only get digital ownership of the images but also a share of the casino’s profits.

As per the statement published on the official website of Sands Vegas Casino Club, the NFT holders would get 50% of all the profits made by the metaverse casino, estimated to be about $80,000 a year.

It did seem like a great deal for a number of people, as evident from the fact that many of them rushed to buy the NFTs. However, the TSSB then stepped in with its cease and desist order. According to the Texas government, NFTs can be seen as securities.

Although Texas (and most other US states) do not have laws that regulate NFTs, the TSSB is an authority whose orders the metaverse casino will have to comply with.

Ban Doesn’t Halt Expansion of Metaverse Casinos

Even though Texas has halted the development of Sands Vegas Casino Club, the chances are its founders will find another way to fund the project. The thing is that interest in metaverse casinos keeps growing exponentially.

If you’re not familiar with the term, metaverse enables users to enter the virtual world using VR headsets. A sort of alternative reality, the metaverse makes it possible to play virtual games with people from different parts of the planet.

Metaverse allows developers to create literally anything that comes to their mind, including virtual casinos. The result is that users get the same kind of experience as if they were gambling in a real-life brick-and-mortar casino.

Several major tech companies have already started working on metaverse, most notably Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta. Then there’s video game company Atari (developer of Space Invaders), which is working on a blockchain-based metaverse that would feature a virtual casino among many other things.

Metaverse Casinos Already in Business

Although Atari’s metaverse casino still hasn’t launched, the company has already put its token up for sale. The digital currency is called the Atari Token ($ATRI) and is available at leading exchanges.

There are, however, some metaverse casinos that are already in business. Decentraland, for example, is a 3D metaverse based on the Ethereum platform, in which users can create their avatars and live in an alternative reality. Among the things they can do in the virtual world is play casino games. To do that, they can use the MANA cryptocurrency.

You can expect metaverse casinos to work on the same principle in all the other metaverses, including Meta’s and Atari’s. However, there’s also a metaverse focused on casino gambling only. Decentral Games is what we’re talking about, which is a VR casino, where you can play casino games like poker against real people in a metaverse environment. At the moment of writing, the metaverse casino has about 200,000 players.

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.

Super Bowl LVI Expected to Break Betting Records in the US

Posted on by Grant Mahon

The 56th edition of the Super Bowl – Cincinnati Bengals vs Los Angeles Rams – is likely to become the most legally bet game in the history of American sports. New data shows that more than 31 million people in the United States are planning to bet on the Super Bowl LVI, potentially wagering a total of $7.61 billion.

If the estimates are correct, it would mean an increase of 78% in total Super Bowl betting volume in comparison to last year’s game. The reason behind it is obvious – in 2022, 60% of US states allow sports betting.

Just two years ago when the Super Bowl LIV took place, the number of betting-friendly states was only 14. As a result, most of the money wagered on the NFL Championship game went to offshore sportsbooks. Fast-forward to 2022 and there are 30 states where sports betting is legal, meaning that most of the Super Bowl bets will be made in the United States.

9 Million People to Bet On Super Bowl Online

As per a recent study by the American Gaming Association (AGA), about 9 million Americans are planning to place their Super Bowl LVI bets using an online sportsbook or sports betting app.

There are 20 states in the US where online/mobile betting is legal ahead of the clash between the Bengals and Rams. In fact, some states – like New York – went far and beyond to ensure sports betting goes live before the game.

Most of the states where online/mobile wagering is legal are situated in the northeastern part of the country. In fact, the AGA estimates that nearly one-fifth of all the Super Bowl LVI bets is going to be made by bettors from the Northeast.

Bettors Favor the LA Rams

The Los Angeles Rams are seen as a 5-point favorite to win the Lombardi Trophy at most online sportsbooks in America. When it comes to moneyline odds, the Rams are priced at +170.

Apart from being favored by bookmakers, the Rams are also favored by American bettors. According to the AGA, about 55% of them are planning to back the LA franchise, while 45% think the Bengals might upset the odds.

Among those who have put the money where their mouth is, is Canadian rapper Drake. According to the man himself, he’s placed $1.3 million worth of Bitcoin on the NFL Championship game. Most of that money went on the Rams moneyline ($471,000), while he also placed two $392,000 bets on Odell Beckham Jr. to record more than 62.5 receiving yards and OBJ scoring at least one touchdown.

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.

20 Million Americans Expected to Bet on the Olympics

Posted on by Grant Mahon

The 2020 Summer Olympics starts today in Tokyo, where more than 14,000 athletes from more than 200 nations will compete in 35 different sports. Being the biggest sports event of the year, the Olympics are expected to attract hundreds of millions of viewers all around the world.

The Games are expected to be particularly popular in the US, where all the major sports competitions are currently on pause before the new season commences. Apart from sports fans, this year’s Olympics are probably going to be followed by a record number of US bettors.

As per the American Gaming Association (AGA), more than 20 million Americans are going to place at least one bet on the 2020 Olympics.

American Bettors Love the Olympics

The AGE wanted to know about the love American gamblers have for the Olympic Games. The association contracted a polling agency a few weeks ago called Morning Consult, which ran a survey on 2,200 adults from the United States.

The poll showed that about 8% of the respondents are planning to place a sports bet on an event in the Tokyo Olympics. Knowing that there are about 252 million people living in the United States in 2021, the calculation is that 20.1 million Americans are likely to make some Olympics bets this summer.

Among those who took part in the Morning Consult poll, 47% stated that they’re planning to make wagers among friends. Forty-three percent of the respondents said they’re going to make their bets at online sportsbooks, while 16% want to do it in person at one of the land-based sportsbooks.

Knowing that sports betting (online and retail) is legal and regulated only in a handful of states in the US, many bettors are planning to make their wagers offshore. The research has suggested that about 13% of American bettors are going to bet on the Olympics either via offshore betting sites or through an illegal bookmaker.

Olympics Bets Popular in the US

The Morning Consult survey showed that the Olympic sport of choice of American bettors is basketball. About 45% of the bettors will make at least one bet on basketball. No surprise there, as Team US is a heavy favorite to win the gold medal.

With Kevin Durant, Damian Lillard, Jayson Tatum, and other superstars, the dream team led by Greg Popovich is a heavy favorite at -769.

The next sport on the list is soccer, with 34% of the bettors planning to bet on this sport. The USWNT is expected to do very well in the tournament, while the men’s team is not taking part in this year’s Games.

Among those respondents who said they’re planning to get involved with Olympics betting, 28% will focus on gymnastics, while another 27% will go with track and field and swimming.

Baseball is also expected to be on the radar of the US sports bettors considering that the Tokyo Olympics will be the first Games to feature this sport since 2008. Another reason is that Team US is favored to win gold.

In fact, the US is the nation expected to win the most gold medals in Tokyo, with the odds of -1200.

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.

Ohio Launches COVID-19 Vaccination Lottery

Posted on by Grant Mahon

“Ohio Vax-a-Million” starts in less than two weeks! Five lucky winners will get $1 million. The conditions to take part in the lottery? Getting a jab!

On Wednesday, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine (R) announced that starting May 26, the Ohio Lottery will run its vaccination draw once a week. Adult citizens who have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine will be automatically placed in the draw.

The funding for the lottery comes from the federal COVID-19 relief packages. That’s the reason why some believe it’s a waste of money. For others, it’s a creative way to get more people interested in vaccination.

“Ohio Vax-a-Million” to Boost Vaccination

Even though vaccination started in top-gear in Ohio, the Buckeye State has seen a major drop in the number of vaccinations over the last week. Official data shows that the average number of vaccines given was over 140,000 in early April. In early May, the weekly average is slightly above 52,000.

At the moment of writing, Ohio has about 4 million people fully vaccinated. Sounds like a large number, but that accounts for only about 35% of the entire population of the state.

To get the vaccination on the fast track, Ohio Government has decided to think outside the box and offer a $1m-worth of incentives to get the jab.

Something similar is done in Kentucky, which is also struggling to get the people interested in the vaccine. Governor Andy Beshear (D) has an idea of how to solve this puzzle – Kentucky Lottery is going to give a free play in Cash Ball 225 drawing to every vaccinated citizen.

Neither Ohio nor Kentucky is doing particularly well with vaccination. In fact, both states have a vaccination rating that’s below the national average.

One state that’s doing better than most others is New Jersey. The Garden State is #6 when it comes to the percentage of the vaccinated population.

As a result, the COVID-19 pandemic is almost completely defeated in this state, which means that things can get back to normal. Even casinos can return to full capacity!

Atlantic City Casinos to Return to Full Capacity on May 19

Starting next Wednesday, things are back to normal in Atlantic City casinos. At least as close to normal as possible at this point.

As per Governor Murphy’s instructions, casinos in AC will be allowed to operate at full capacity for the first time since March 2020.

However, some anti-coronavirus rules will remain in action. Face masks, for example, remain mandatory, and the same foes for the six-foot social distancing rule.

The good news is that even those rules could end soon. New Jersey’s goal is to have at least 70% of people vaccinated by the end of the next month. What this means is that about 4.7 million people in the Garden State need to receive two jabs of Pfizer/Moderna vaccines or one shot of Johnson & Johnson.

At the moment, New Jersey has slightly over 3.26 million vaccinated residents, meaning that getting to 4.7 million in six weeks does not seem impossible.

A similar scenario is expected in Nevada, where Las Vegas has already started working on 100% reopening.

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.

200+ US Casinos are Now Smoke-Free Following COVID-19 Shutdown

Posted on by Grant Mahon

Dr. Brian King from the CDC has recently confirmed that more than 200 casinos around the US have returned from the COVID-19 shutdown as smoke-free facilities. King, who is the deputy director for research in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Office on Smoking and Health, called this fact “a silver lining of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

However, King shouldn’t be too optimistic about it as most of those casinos are planning to return to their old ways once the coronavirus is completely out of our lives. At least that’s according to gaming historian David Schwartz, who believes smoking and gambling go hand-by-hand.

Still, the fact is that the US gaming capital Las Vegas now has more smoke-free casinos than any time before, the most notable example being Park MGM.

Park MGM Casino Leading the Way

According to the president of MGM Resorts Las Vegas Portfolio, Anton Nikodemus, there is a strong desire among non-smokers to gamble at smoke-free casinos. As a result, the company has decided to make one of its Las Vegas properties entirely smoke-free.

The casino in question is Park MGM, which has been a smoke-free zone since returning to business on September 30, 2020. When it re-opened its doors, the casino became the first property on the Las Vegas Strip where smoking is banned.

The no-smoking rule, however, was in force in other Las Vegas casinos in the past. Probably the best example is the old Silver City Casino, which banned smoking in 1991. However, gamblers did not react very well to that decision, so the ban lasted for only a couple of months.

More examples of short-lived casino smoking bans come from Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Last summer, when those two states decided to allow the casinos to return to business after the COVID-19 shutdown, one of the rules was to ensure a smoking-free environment on the premises.

The rule, however, did not last too long. One of the reasons why casinos lifted the ban as soon as the state officials allowed them is that gamblers seem to have a love affair with smoking.

Gamblers Say Yes to Smoking

Over the last couple of decades, smoking prevalence has declined sharply in the US. According to the CDC, only about 14% of Americans smoke, or roughly 34.1 million people. What this means is that a big majority of people living in the United States are non-smokers.

The data differs a lot when casino gamblers are concerned. As it turns out, a large percentage of US casino patrons are smokers. Former UNLV professor who specializes in gaming history, David Schwartz, thinks that smokers generate more revenue to the casino industry than non-smokers.

He believes that that’s the reason why most casinos are going to allow indoor smoking to return as soon as the pandemic is over. Still, casinos might come up with a different solution. Rather than banning/allowing smoking entirely, they might decide to separate the gaming floors to smoking and non-smoking ones.

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.

Wynn Resorts Stocks Now Up for Sale at $118

Posted on by Grant Mahon

Last year was “annus horribilis” for practically everyone involved with the casino business. However, some have managed to rebound in the last couple of months of 2020. One of those companies is Wynn Resorts, which closed out the last year on a relatively high note – they reported a positive adjusted property EBITDA of about $39.4 million.

The casino operator now wants to cash in on the euphoria, for which, Wynn Resorts decided to put a portion of its stocks up for public sale.  About 6.32 million Wynn Resorts stocks have been made available for purchase, which is expected to raise as much as $5.5 million.

The money collected through the sale of Wynn Resorts stocks is going to be used for “general corporate purposes.”

Wynn Stocks Traded at ~$118 on Robinhood

The timing is great for Wynn to sell its stocks. At the same time, it also seems that it’s still a good time for investors to start buying them. At the moment of writing, the price of one Wynn Resorts stock on Robinhood.com is $118.

Wynn stocks at Robinhood
Screenshot: Robinhood

The lowest price of Wynn Resorts stocks was recorded in late January. On Friday, January 29, the price for one stock was $99.53. Since then, the price has been constantly going up.

Last week, we saw the price for one stock going above $116, while this week, it went over $117 before reaching the current price on early Saturday morning.

The reason why buying Wynn Resorts stocks at $118 seems like a good business move is that the price is still way below $136.82, which was its price before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic last spring.

Wynn Stock Improvement Led by Macau Rebound

Things still aren’t in order in Las Vegas, with COVID-19 still causing troubles for the casino industry. Good days seem to be ahead as, from February 15, Nevada will ease its COVID-19 measures. As a result, casinos will be allowed to increase their capacity from 25 to 35%. Not a very big improvement but knowing that the vaccination is ongoing, the end of the crisis seems to be on the horizon.

What this means for Wynn Resorts is that their two properties on the Strip (Wynn Las Vegas and Encore) are expected to return to their full glory within a couple of months. Once that happens, millions of dollars will start pouring in the company piggy-bank, which is bound to make its stocks go up.

Until that happens, the main driving force behind Wynn Resorts will continue to be the operation in Macau. Wynn’s CEO Matt Maddox was full of praise for the company’s property in Macau, calling it “the sweet spot of our company.”

In addition, the company has big plans for its online sports betting brand WynnBET. According to Maddox, the internet operation saw its “revenues growing almost 50 percent over the last three months.” WynnBET was recently made an official sponsor of the Memphis Grizzlies in an effort to make the brand a household name among American sports fans.

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.

Pornstar Stormy Daniels Asking for Your Help to Blow Up Trump’s Casino

Posted on by Grant Mahon

One of the worst years in history for the gaming industry (and otherwise) is finally over. And over in Vegas, they’ve blown the sign saying “2020” with dynamite. Speaking of blowing things up, Stormy Daniels wants to be the one to push the demolition button on Donald Trump’s former casino in Atlantic City.

To do that, she will need to enter an auction organized by the government of Atlantic City. The bids are still coming in, but at the moment of writing, the highest one stands at $175,000.

Stormy doesn’t feel too good about paying the money on her own, which is why she’s asking for your help – anyone who wants to see Stormy blowing up Trump Plaza can fund her GoFundMe campaign.

So far, Stormy’s campaign has raised only $1,935 thanks to 91 donors. Still, the goal of the campaign is to reach $1,000,000. For those who think it’s a bit much to pay to see Trump’s former sex partner blow up his former casinos, we need to remind you that the money is going to charity. All the proceeds from the auction will go to Atlantic City’s branch of Boys & Girls Club.

Philadelphia Casinos to Return to Business on Monday

In other casino news, Philadelphia Governor Thomas Wolf has signed a decree allowing all of 14 casinos located within the state borders to return to business starting Monday, January 4. They’ve been closed for three weeks due to the COVID-19 pandemic that’s been making a comeback in the Commonwealth.

Once they re-open their doors, casinos will have to operate under different conditions. They will have to make certain adjustments inside the venue in order to adhere to the social distancing rules. Casinos are also required to use high-tech air purification systems, as well as clean the premises on a regular basis, while also providing hand sanitizers for the guests.

The biggest change that Pennsylvania’s casinos will go through over the next period is 24/7 surveillance. At any given moment, the state police and the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) need to have a presence in each of the 14 casinos, either in-person or through surveillance cameras.

Casino Industry Hopeful of a Big Comeback in 2021

The return of Pennsylvania’s casinos is definitely very good news, but more good news are expected to follow in the upcoming weeks. With the COVID-19 vaccine available, the end of the pandemic is near.

Sure, it might take some time for things to get back to normal but a general consensus is that 2021 is going to be much, much better than the last one.

Some of the things casino aficionados should be excited about include the opening of Resorts World Las Vegas and Virgin Hotels Las Vegas.

Over in Hawaii, officials are thinking about changing their stance on gambling. If everything goes according to plan, the construction of Kapolei casino resort.

Finally, more and more states are going through the process of sports betting legalization. There are also some that plan to make online casino gambling legal in 2021.

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.

BetMGM Online Casino Goes Live in West Virginia

Posted on by Grant Mahon
  • BetMGM has launched its WV online casino on Thursday, August 28, 2020
  • The launch comes just six weeks after the birth of West Virginia’s online gaming industry
  • BetMGM also plans to launch an online casino in Michigan in the fall

BetMGM online casino has launched earlier this week in West Virginia, doubling the internet gaming offer available to gamblers from the Mountain State. Less than two months after the launch of the first online gambling platform in WV, players from this state have two online casinos at their disposal.

The first WV internet casino to launch was DraftKings Casino. BetMGM followed, and so should two more casinos. Their launch should happen by the end of the year.

What do the WV Gamblers Get from the BetMGM Online Casino?

BetMGM is a gambling company owned by two companies – MGM Resorts and GVC Holdings. The role of GVC is to provide software solutions to the online casino. MGM Resorts provides funding, as well as the basis for the operating license of the WV BetMGM online casino. Without the MGM-owned land-based casino in West Virginia, the BetMGM online operation would not be possible.

Basically, the casino that’s launched on Thursday is an online version of Greenbrier Casino, a brick-and-mortar business owned by MGM. The internet casino has a pretty similar gaming offer as its real-life counterpart. We’re talking table games like blackjack and roulette, as well as a large number of slot titles.

Speaking of online slots, BetMGM is currently the only online casino that has a progressive jackpot game in its offer. The main prize of this slot will keep growing until a lucky player hits the jackpot. Depending on how long it goes, the winner might hit a jackpot worth millions of dollars.

Second Online Casino in West Virginia

At the moment, West Virginians can play progressive slots only at BetMGM. However, that’s likely to change in the last couple of months. It could happen if the only other operational internet casino in West Virginia, DraftKings Casino, decides to include such a game in its game library.

If DraftKings doesn’t do it, other casinos might. There are at least two more online casinos ready for launch in this state. The cooperation between FanDuel and Betfair is expected to produce a new WV online casino by the end of the year. PokerStars Casino WV should also get viral in the upcoming months.

BetMGM Online Casino to Launch in Michigan This Fall

With MGM Resorts suffering huge financial losses in the retail casino industry due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the company seems to be looking for other sources of income. That’s why it’s not surprising that the BetMGM online casino has turned into such an ambitious project.

Apart from being available in West Virginia, the online casino also operates in New Jersey. It’s also working on a launch in Pennsylvania, as well as Michigan, the state that’s only recently signed a bill that makes online gaming legal.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer did sign the bill a few months ago, but there still aren’t any online casinos in this state. The casino that’s expected to launch first is BetMGM online casino. The cooperation between GVC and MGM Grand Detroit is supposed to go online in November 2020.

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 Reopens: World’s #1 Gaming Hub Is Back In Business

Posted on by Grant Mahon

The largest gambling hub in the world has started to reopen after a long COVID-19 lockdown. Macau has taken some baby steps on the road to complete reopening, something which still is not on the horizon. Nevertheless, China’s gambling paradise has started issuing tourist visas once again, albeit only for the visitors coming from other parts of the country.

When will Macau reopen for international visitors stays a mystery as the coronavirus still remains a serious threat. Another wave of the COVID-19 pandemic would wreak havoc on the city that relies heavily on tourism and gaming. According to BBC, Macau casinos have been losing $15 million every day during the crisis.

Macau Reopens Only to Visitors from Mainland China

The COVID-19 global pandemic started out in China, with the total number of cases being just short of 85,000 at the moment of writing. Macau, however, has been doing much better than mainland China.

Even though there are about 700,000 people who call Macau their home, only 46 COVID-19 cases have been reported in the region. An even more impressive fact is that all of the infected people have recovered successfully.

One of the main reasons behind Macau’s success with handling the crisis is that the region closed down to visitors early on. The Macau travel restrictions were introduced in January, practically turning the biggest gambling hub in the world into a ghost town.

The restrictions lasted until this Wednesday, causing a serious blow to the city’s economy. The worst is behind, but the Macau casino industry has a long road to recovery ahead. There’s no doubt it’s going to be slow as at the moment, as only visitors from mainland China are allowed in. It’s still unknown when the things are going to go back entirely to normal.

On the bright side, a big majority of visitors to Macau are those coming from mainland China. It’s been like that since always, even though this city is home to some prestigious casinos owned by American companies, e.g., Wynn, MGM, and so on.

Macau Casinos Recording Huge Losses

Macau went on lockdown in late January, which included the closure of the regional borders, as well as the shutdown of all the casinos in the area. After only 15 days, Macau casinos returned to business in February.

In comparison, Las Vegas casinos stayed shut down for several months. Nevada shut down all the venues on March 17, and after nearly three months of hiatus, casinos were allowed to go back to business on June 4.

Nevertheless, the Macau gambling industry had to rely on locals as the only source of income, as regional borders stayed closed until this Wednesday. Furthermore, Macau casinos also have to adhere to certain social distancing measures, such as the 50% reduced capacity. It’s needless to say that the limited number of gamblers has caused a gigantic loss in profits.

In 2019, Macau casinos saw nearly 110,000 visitors a day on average. During the 2020 pandemic, that number was more than ten times lower. Last week, for example, it’s estimated that the total number of casino visitors in the whole of Macau was below 50,000.

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.

MGM Appoints Bill Hornbuckle as the Permanent CEO

Posted on by Grant Mahon

Bill Hornbuckle has been appointed as the permanent CEO of MGM, after being in the role of the interim CEO for more than four months. MGM Resorts International announced their decision this week, saying that they expect Hornbuckle to continue doing a good job.

Hornbuckle stepped in as the interim boss of MGM in March, after the former CEO Jim Murren retired. The interim CEO had been given a very tough challenge, but he’s managed to see the company sail safely through an unprecedented crisis. As a result of a good job done during the COVID-19 pandemic, MGM awarded Hornbuckle with a permanent contract.

Who is Bill Hornbuckle?

A graduate of UNLV, William J. Hornbuckle IV has more than 30 years of experience working in Las Vegas. His first major breakthrough in the ranks of MGM Resorts International came in 2012 when he led the company to develop the $800 million-worth resort MGM Springfield.

When Jim Murren decided to retire in March 2020, Hornbuckle was appointed the interim CEO. At first, the idea was that he’d stay in the role until a more experienced CEO was found. However, the COVID-19 pandemic happened then.

Being able to lead the company through the hardest times in its history made MGM realize Hornbuckle was the right man for the job. In the official statement, the company spokesperson praised his handling of the crisis, saying:

“There are few tests of leadership greater than what Bill has faced… (His) steady hand has provided reassurance and confidence to our employees, partners, guests, and shareholders…”

Even though Hornbuckle did a fine job to guide the company through the crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic did cause huge losses to MGM Resorts International.

COVID-19 Ruins MGM’s Revenue

The same day MGM announced their decision to appoint Hornbuckle as the permanent CEO, the company also released revenue figures for the period before June 30.

As it turns out, MGM’s total revenue generated from April to the end of June was only $289.8m. We say “only” because that’s a 91% drop compared to the same period last year.

In Las Vegas, which is one of the company’s main sources of revenue, the profits have dropped by 90%. Things would be even worse if it weren’t for the fact that Las Vegas casinos returned back to business on June 4.

Over in Macau, MGM China saw a revenue drop of 95%. The company’s three-month revenue was only $33 million, the main reason being the COVID-19 travel restrictions imposed in Macau. As a result of it, visitors from China and Hong Kong haven’t be able to come to Macau for the last couple of months.

MGM Casinos Reopening Around the US

The worst seems to have passed for MGM, as most of the company’s properties are back in business. There is a total of 18 casinos within the United States that are owned by MGM, 14 of which have already reopened after the COVID-19 hiatus.

MGM Grand Detroit should be the next one to reopen as Michigan governor has okayed the casino return in this state. If everything goes according to the plan, MGM’s casino will reopen on August 7. MGM Empire City would be the one to follow next, although much still remains unclear with the COVID-19 situation in New York, whose governor still hasn’t announced the exact reopening dates.

Mirage and Park MGM in Las Vegas, however, will probably remain closed until next year, as suggested by Hornbuckle. The reason for this decision is that the reopening at 50% capacity would not bring desired profits, while potentially cannibalizing other casinos on the strip, including MGM Grand.

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.

Atlantic City Casinos Are Back in Business After 100+ Days

Posted on by Grant Mahon

Slot machines are finally spinning in Atlantic City casinos after exactly 108 days. That’s how long venues in New Jersey were closed down due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Atlantic City casinos started reopening on Thursday/Friday in order to get themselves ready for the 4th of July weekend. Things, however, aren’t exactly the same as they were before the pandemic. Casinos are now working at 25% capacity, with no dining, drinking, or smoking allowed within the premises.

Eight Out of Nine Atlantic City Casinos Reopen

Atlantic City, the gambling capital of the Atlantic coast, was a casino-free zone for 108 days. This is the longest the AC casinos were closed since gambling became legal in this part of the USA, back in the 1970s. However, since this week, the state’s government has decided to loosen up its anti-COVID-19 measures and let the casinos reopen their doors to visitors.

New Jersey is another state that has decided to reopen its casinos. Previously, the same was done by several other states, including Nevada, where Las Vegas casinos returned to business about a month ago.

Speaking of Las Vegas, Sin City saw practically all of its casinos reopening the moment the state’s government okayed it. The same is not the case over at the East Coast. In Atlantic City, eight casinos have returned to business, but one still hasn’t.

Hard Rock, Ocean, Resorts, Tropicana, Golden Nugget, Caesars, Bally’s, and Harrah’s – these are the eight Atlantic City casinos that have reopened this week. Borgata is the only Atlantic City casino that has decided not to go with the flow.

Borgata Atlantic City Refuses to Reopen

New Jersey’s Governor Phil Murphy postponed the decision to resume indoor dining in venues across the state, as well as ban indoor drinking and smoking. This decision was announced on Monday and was met with disagreement from casino officials.

Nevertheless, most Atlantic City casinos decided to accept the decision. Actually, Borgata was the only casino to decide to scrap is reopening place due to this ruling.

Apparently, the casino management believes that reopening Borgata under the current conditions would not be a profitable decision. Borgata Atlantic City is more than just another casino. This venue isn’t just about gambling; it also relies on other leisure activities, which could be smothered by the aforementioned measures.

Miami Casinos Have to Close Down Again

Over in Florida, casinos have been in the business since mid-June, but another suspension is imminent. Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez has signed a decree that would shut down all the casinos in the area apart from tribal-owned casinos.

This measure comes as a reaction to a dramatic increase in the number of new COVID-19 cases. Florida is one of the first states to loosen up the restrictions, after the initial shut-down back in March. Since May, this state has hosted a number of big sports events, including several UFC fights.

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.

PA Online Slots Record a $38m Revenue Last Month

Posted on by Grant Mahon
  • On Thursday, Pennsylvania released its casino revenue data for May.
  • Last month, online casinos in Pennsylvania recorded a revenue of $55,838,789.
  • Revenue from PA online slots accounts for about 70% of this state’s total internet gaming revenue.

Yesterday, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board released the official revenue figures for May. As expected, online casinos made more money than their land-based counterparts, which has been the case since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis. What’s interesting is that PA online slots were responsible for more than two-thirds of the total internet casino revenue in Pennsylvania in May.

The total internet gaming revenue in May was $55,838,789, which is an increase of about 30% compared to April. A big percentage of that money came through video slot games. PA online slots made a revenue of $38,822,857 for casinos, which is nearly 70% of the overall revenue.

Pennsylvania Casinos Report a Total Revenue of Over $55m

Pennsylvania is one of only three states in the US where online casino gambling is legal and regulated. The other two gaming-friendly states are New Jersey and Delaware. West Virginia has also approved online gambling, but internet casinos are yet to launch in this state.

Interestingly enough, Nevada, which is thought to be a gambling paradise, has not made online casinos legal. The reason for this is that legalizing online gambling could have a negative effect on the business of land-based casinos in Las Vegas.

Judging by the experiences from Pennsylvania, the legalization of online casino gambling is guaranteed to bring profits. In times when it’s impossible to go to a real casino, such as a global pandemic like the one we experienced this year, players have no other option but to turn to internet gaming platforms.

As a result, Pennsylvania’s online casinos have recorded a significant revenue increase over the course of the last few months. Each of its nine licensed online casinos has made big profits in May, the leader being Rivers Casino Philadelphia, which recorded a revenue of $17,584,381. What’s interesting is that this casino’s online slots revenue was $15,096,662.

PA Online Slots Brought in Almost $39m

Each of PA online casinos has online slots in the game library. The reason is that slots are the most popular type of casino game. This is why it’s not surprising that PA online slots have made a total revenue of nearly $39m in May.

All the other games combined made about $17m. Those include everything from table games like roulette, craps, and blackjack to lottery-like games like keno.

The popularity of online slots is not unique only to Pennsylvania. Players from all over the United States seem to love these sorts of games. The evidence for this is that most of the internet gaming revenue in Delaware and New Jersey is also created by slots.

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 Casinos are Back in Business After COVID-19 Hiatus

Posted on by Grant Mahon

Las Vegas casinos are back to business after more than two months. On March 17, Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak ordered the shut-down of all non-essential businesses in the state due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, all of the nearly 140 Las Vegas casinos ended up closed to visitors for nearly three months.

The 2020 Las Vegas lockdown was the only time the entire Strip was shut down since the assassination of JFK. Even in 2017, when the Las Vegas shooting happened, not all casinos and resorts on the Strip decided to shut down.

Las Vegas Casinos Reopen to Public on Thursday

For nearly three months, Las Vegas was a real ghost town. In mid-March, all of Sin City’s casinos closed down, together with bars, restaurants, and even strip clubs. There was one strip club that tried to stay in the business during the lockdown, advertising “coronavirus-free” dancers, but it too had to shut down eventually.

The days of lockdown are finally over in Las Vegas, with casinos starting to reopen as of Thursday, June 4. Business, however, is not as usual. At least, not for the moment being. In order to be allowed to reopen, Las Vegas casinos are required to make some changes.

The Nevada Gaming Control Board has issued a plan for casino reopening that every venue needs to adhere to in order to be allowed to operate. Some of the requirements stipulated by this plan include a reduced number of visitors, increased frequency of cleaning, and so on.

Some Casinos Seem to Be Ignoring Social-Distancing Guidelines

Casinos, as well as players, were super-eager to get back to reopen the casino doors. Once that happened on Thursday, the enthusiasm caused people to break some social-distancing rules.

The footage from all over Las Vegas shows that people have been ignoring the new anti-coronavirus rules inside the casinos. Visitors seem to be gathering around in large groups, sitting next to each other while playing slots and other casino games.

The good news, however, is that all the evidence is pointing out that the casino staff has been at top of the game.

Sin City Hopeful of Recuperating from the Crisis

Everyone in Las Vegas seems to be thrilled by the news of casinos reopening. The reason is that the local economy is very reliant on the casino industry. According to the Nevada Resort Association, “no other state depends on tourism at the magnitude as Nevada.”

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused the state, and in particular its biggest city Las Vegas, billions of dollars in damage. So far, it’s estimated that Nevada has lost over $2 billion, with the potential economic damages measured in tens of billions of dollars.

The worst has passed, but now it’s time for the state to get back on its feet. Las Vegas casinos are open once again, but the number of tourists is still very low. The good news is that as the COVID-19 measures are loosening up, the number of visitors is expected to go upwards dramatically.

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.

Nevada Casinos to Reopen June 4 Unless COVID-19 Cases Go Up Over the Weekend

Posted on by Grant Mahon

As confirmed by Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak on Friday, Nevada casinos are to reopen June 4 if everything goes according to plan. The only condition is that the number of COVID-19 cases does not go up dramatically during Memorial Day weekend.

Sisolak will hold a news conference next week to confirm the decision to reopen Nevada casinos. The Governor is waiting for the stamp of approval from the health officials. If approved, the casinos in Las Vegas and other parts of Nevada will be able to go back to business after nearly three months.

Nevada Casinos to Reopen After Nearly Three Months

Sisolak ordered casinos to lock their doors to customers to prevent the spread of the coronavirus on March 17. Since then, Las Vegas has turned into a real ghost town.

Apart from the eerie atmosphere of one of the most vibrant cities in the country, the COVID-19 lockdown caused many other problems. Its impact on the local economy is measured in billions of dollars.

According to a study by AmericanGaming.org, the pandemic has cost the casino industry more than $43 billion dollars, with over 650,000 employees ending up jobless during the lockdown.

Social Distancing Measures in Las Vegas Casinos

Casino owners and employees alike are eager to get back to the job, hoping the gambling business in Nevada will come back to life on June 4. The business will be far from normal, however. At least in the beginning.

Nevada’s plan for casinos reopening implies that the casinos will have to take some serious measures in order to be allowed to go back to work. For instance, casino personnel might be required to do temperature checks on the visitors before letting them in.

Furthermore, all casinos will have to reduce the number of visitors to achieve social distancing. For that, they will have to reduce the number of seats in table games.

As a result, roulette tables that used to have 15+ seats will now have fewer than ten. Craps tables will have about five-six seats. Baccarat tables? No more than four. Blackjack? Three seats.

Nevada Gamblers Curious About Online Casinos

In mid-March, Google Trends recorded a huge increase in search volume for terms like “online casino.”

Nevada Casino Google Searches
Google Trends screenshot

Casino-related searches in Nevada peaked around March 17, which is when Gov. Sisolak ordered the closure of Nevada casinos. A day before, the White House had asked Americans to stay home for a period of two weeks to prevent the spread of the novel virus.

Google shows that Nevada residents have been interested in internet gambling during the lockdown. However, despite their interest, they haven’t been able to actually play any real-money casino games on the internet. At least not without breaking the state laws on gambling.

The thing is that Nevada does not belong to the category of states where online casinos are legal. At the moment, there are only three states where internet gambling is possible – New Jersey, Delaware, and Pennsylvania.

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.

Nevada Approves Plan for Casino Reopening

Posted on by Grant Mahon

Even though Nevada belongs to those 26 states where stay-at-home orders are still in place, its Gaming Commission has decided to approve a plan for casino reopening. It’s supposed to serve as a guideline for the casino industry once the state looseness its anti-coronavirus measures.

The plan will bring many new changes to the casino industry in Las Vegas. For instance, each of the 441 casinos located within the state borders will have to reduce its capacity by half. Undoubtedly, the measure is going to impact the industry revenue compared to the pre-pandemic era.

However, considering that the Las Vegas casinos have been closed since March 18, even a slight increase in customers would do wonders for them.

Special Anti-Coronavirus Measures for Las Vegas Casinos

Once the Nevada officials decide to end the stay-at-home order for preventing the pandemic of COVID-19, Las Vegas casinos are going to open their doors to the public. It’s already been almost two months since they had to lock their doors, so everyone in the casino industry looks very eager to get back to business.

However, once the lockdown is over, business is not going to be as usual. At least not at the beginning. The Nevada Gaming Commission has come up with a set of policies meant to ensure social distancing inside casinos.

Some of those measures include the following:

  • Every casino to reduce its maximum capacity to 50% of the current number.
  • Blackjack tables to reduce the number of seats from six to three.
  • One roulette table to have no more than four seats.
  • No more than four poker players to sit at the same table.
  • Casino’s cleaning staff to disinfect all tables and seats regularly.
  • Casino personnel to wear face masks and gloves.

Commissioners believe that these sorts of measures should be able to prevent the coronavirus from spreading among gamblers. However, not everyone agrees. There are some who think there’s a need for additional measures.

Indoor Smoking Remains Allowed Despite Pleas

Jennifer Pearson from the School of Community Health Sciences at the University of Nevada in Reno was one of those who raised their concerns about the plan for casino reopening. According to her, the plan leaves some crucial questions unanswered.

For instance, she wonders why there aren’t any changes in the state’s laws regarding indoor smoking. Her reasoning is that if smoking is allowed inside the casinos, gamblers would have to take their face masks off in order to have a cigarette.

The public seems to be on her side; however, no policies have been discussed formally by the Nevada Gaming Commission. Still, the chairman of the NGC John Moran has reassured everyone that the guidelines for casino reopening are subject to modifications in the future.

When Will Casino Reopening Start in Las Vegas?

A few weeks ago, Las Vegas mayor called casinos to re-open their doors to the public. Her plea was met with a public backlash as the COVID-19 pandemic was raging at the time in the United States. Several weeks have passed since and American epidemiologists suggest the end of the crisis is on the horizon.

At the moment of writing, there are 19 states that have decided to loosen their anti-coronavirus measures. For instance, Florida has labeled some sports as essential businesses, the result of which is that many large events are going to take place in the Sunshine State, including the UFC 249.

However, Nevada still doesn’t belong to this category of states. However, things are going to change soon, as the state is planning to start working on bringing the life back to normal. The decision of the Gaming Commission to come up with a plan for casino reopening is certainly giving hopes to gambling aficionados that Las Vegas venues are going to go back to work by the end of the month.

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.