Wednesday, February 28, 2018

Nevada gaming revenue tops $1 billion in January

Las Vegas Sun Stories: Gaming
Nevada gaming revenue tops $1 billion in January
Nevada’s casino gaming win dipped by 2.05 percent in January but still broke the $1 billion mark, the state Gaming Control Board reported today. Although a drop from January 2017 — about $1.03 billion to ...

Hard Rock Lake Tahoe releases March promotions

Casino City Times
Hard Rock Lake Tahoe releases March promotions
Guests can enjoy burlesque shows, gaming promotions and March Mania viewings.

Nevada gaming win cracks $1B; Las Vegas Strip has decline

Casinos & Gaming – Las Vegas Review-Journal
Nevada gaming win cracks $1B; Las Vegas Strip has decline

The Nevada gaming win cracked the $1 billion barrier for the first time in a year, but the Las Vegas Strip showed the steepest monthly decline among 20 markets monitored in Nevada, the Gaming Control Board reported Wednesday.

Oneida Indian Nation Launches Its Third New York Casino this Thursday

CasinoGamesPro.com
Oneida Indian Nation Launches Its Third New York Casino this Thursday

The state of New York is going to see the official launch of yet another tribal casino this Thursday and this is going to be the Point Place Casino. The new location is managed by the Oneida Indian Nation which is famous for its tribal casino management and as it was confirmed by the tribal […]

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LVbet becomes official partner of the German Ice Hockey Federation

Casino City Times
LVbet becomes official partner of the German Ice Hockey Federation
The one-year agreement will see LVbet gain exposure via televised sporting events, billboards and video displays within DEB arenas.

Tuesday, February 27, 2018

Slot Machine Supplier Ainsworth Sees Slashed Net Profit for 1H of Fiscal 2018

CasinoGamesPro.com
Slot Machine Supplier Ainsworth Sees Slashed Net Profit for 1H of Fiscal 2018

Ainsworth Game Technology is one of the leading brands which provides the Australian market with sloth machines and many entities seem to rely on its services. Information was issued this Tuesday that the net profit performance of the company has seen a plunge in the first half of its financial year 2018 amounting to some […]

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Caesars eyes tender for casino license in Athens

World Casino News
Caesars eyes tender for casino license in Athens

Las Vegas-headquartered Caesars Entertainment has reportedly expressed interest in bidding for a casino license at Athens former Ellinikon International Airport, as the Hellenic Gaming Commission is preparing to launch an international tender, according to Greek Reporter. Reuters reports that it was told by a Finance Ministry official that soon an adviser for the tender would […]

Developer increases budget for coming Resorts World Westside City

World Casino News
Developer increases budget for coming Resorts World Westside City

In the Philippines, the local property developer behind the under-construction Resorts World Westside City integrated casino resort has reportedly revealed that it will spend an additional $1.03 billion on the coming 76.6-acre project over the next decade. According to a report from the Philippine Daily Inquirer newspaper, the commitment from Megaworld Corporation will take the […]

Hard Rock casino to flood Atlantic City with live music

Casinos & Gaming – Las Vegas Review-Journal
Hard Rock casino to flood Atlantic City with live music

Atlantic City’s newest casino promises to flood the city with live music.

Monday, February 26, 2018

Plaza Hotel celebrates St. Patrick's Day with fireworks

Casino City Times
Plaza Hotel celebrates St. Patrick's Day with fireworks
Starting at 7 p.m. on 17 March, casinogoers can enjoy a free show featuring green fireworks.

Las Vegas breaks ground on Ballpark

Casino City Times
Las Vegas breaks ground on Ballpark
The 10,000-person seat stadium will be the future home of the Las Vegas 51s, the city's pro baseball team.

Andreas Wiborg Claims Throne at 2018 Unibet Open £990 Main Event

CasinoGamesPro.com
Andreas Wiborg Claims Throne at 2018 Unibet Open £990 Main Event

Everyone interested in the recent developments in the poker industry has been following the events surrounding the 2018 Unibet Open £990 Main Event which saw its last day this Sunday. London was the proud host of this poker tournament and it gave many well-known poker players the chance to demonstrate their skills on the felt. […]

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Sunday, February 25, 2018

NetEnt launches newest video slot; Asgardian Stones™

World Casino News
NetEnt launches newest video slot; Asgardian Stones™

Asgardian Stones™, the latest fantasy-based game from Swedish online casino games developer NetEnt, transports players into the mysterious realms of Nordic mythology and presents industry first crush features. First announced in January, the second game release of 2018 from NetEnt is a 5-reel, 3-row, 20-bet lines video slot that can be played on all devices. The game is sure to set pulses racing as players experience the magical surroundings, as colossal stones guard the gates of Asgard, where only the bravest of warriors can dwell amongst the Gods. One of NetEnt’s best-looking slots, the game includes the new Colossal Crush feature, an industry first, where colossal symbols crush rows of symbols underneath, with each row increasing the multiplier by 1 up to 4x, as well as an extra spin wheel that also crushes symbols and rows. The Colossal Crush feature showcases the fact that NetEnt continues to lead the way in the world of online casinos, with gaming experience and innovative games. A captivating Norse soundtrack immerses players into a game full of twists and turns as they try to overcome the colossal giant stones so that they may gain entry into the enchanted world. Commenting on the release, Chief Product Officer for NetEnt, Henrik Fagerlund, said, “Our team has worked tirelessly during the process of designing and creating Asgardian Stones™ and really look forward to see the game finally out with players all over the world,” according to to the press release. “The Colossal Crush feature is an industry first and only adds to the excitement this game offers, so we can’t wait to see the reaction from the gaming world as we continue our positive start to 2018,” said Fagerlund. At ICE Totally Gaming 2018, NetEnt took the opportunity to showcase its new game, Gonzo’s Quest VR, the first web VR slot game to be released within the igaming industry, which was developed using real-time 3D. Billed as a "true omni-channel creation," Gonzo'z Quest VR is due to go live this summer.

Saturday, February 24, 2018

AGS gets green light to offer its gaming products in Ohio

World Casino News
AGS gets green light to offer its gaming products in Ohio

Las Vegas-based designer and manufacturer of gaming products for the casino industry, PlayAGS, Inc. (NYSE: AGS) recently announced that the company’s application to begin the sale and distribution of its Class III EGMs, along with its table game products, to commercial casinos statewide [Ohio], has been approved by the Ohio Casino Control Commission. Commenting on the approval, President and CEO of AGS, David Lopez, said, "We are very pleased that the Ohio Casino Control Commission has approved our license application and are confident in our ability to grow our Class III and table game product businesses within this robust marketplace," according to the press release. "This approval will allow us to leverage our already established relationships with many of the state's casino operators who are eager to begin offering our consistently high-performing products like OrionSM, ICON™, and Bonus Spin™.” The Ohio Casino Control Commission oversees all commercial gaming statewide, including Penn National Gaming-owned Hollywood Casino Toledo and Hollywood Casino Columbus, and JACK Entertainment’s JACK Cleveland Casino and JACK Cincinnati Casino. The recent approval of its Ohio license sees AGS’ total license count increase to 257 different jurisdictions, a 102 percent spike in total available market opportunity since 2012. Last month saw the Nevada Gaming Commission unanimously approved a registration order and an initial public offering (IPO) for what is the second-largest Class II slot machine manufacturer in the country. The New York Stock Exchange welcomed PlayAGS, Inc. on Jan. 26, 2018, on its initial public offering and first day of trading on the NYSE.

Parking, resort fees could put damper on Las Vegas Strip boom

Casinos & Gaming – Las Vegas Review-Journal
Parking, resort fees could put damper on Las Vegas Strip boom

While the Southern Nevada casino industry enjoys a burst of prosperity and development, it also may be facing a tide of negative sentiment from loyal casino customers regarding high resort fees and paid parking policies at Strip casinos.

Bede Play integration deal for Pragmatic Play Limited

World Casino News
Bede Play integration deal for Pragmatic Play Limited

Maltese online casino games developer Pragmatic Play Limited has announced the signing of an agreement that will see it integrate its entire portfolio onto the Bede Play gaming platform from British software supplier Bede Gaming Limited. As a result of the arrangement, Pragmatic Play Limited stated that Bede Play users will be able to offer their players in excess of 80 of its HTML5-friendly titles including its Gold Rush, Chilli Heat, Vegas Nights, Jurassic Giants and Caishen’s Gold innovations. Yossi Barzely, Chief Business Development Officer for Pragmatic Play Limited, declared that he is certain his firm’s ‘diverse and expertly-modeled range of games’ will be positively received by Bede Play operators located all around the world. “We have a strong commitment to growing our footprint in regulated markets and are delighted to do so in partnership with a provider as respected as Bede [Gaming Limited],” read a statement from Barzely. For his part, Michael Brady, Chief Executive Officer for Newcastle-Upon-Tyne-based Bede Gaming Limited, explained that the deal to add games from Pragmatic Play Limited onto his firm’s flexible Bede Play platform follows the signing of several other similar arrangements over the past few months. He moreover proclaimed that he is now looking forward to ‘enjoying a long and productive relationship’ with an online casino games developer whose titles ‘are already performing very well’. “We are always looking to expand our offering to clients with the latest and most exciting titles and integrating Pragmatic Play Limited’s games was an obvious decision as we continue to combine premium content with our leading marketing tools,” read a statement from Brady.

Live! Casino celebrates Black History Heroes Awards

Casino City Times
Live! Casino celebrates Black History Heroes Awards
The Maryland casino hosted the ceremony, recognizing ten local business and community leaders.

Friday, February 23, 2018

Bede Gaming agrees content deal with Pragmatic Play

World Casino News
Bede Gaming agrees content deal with Pragmatic Play

UK-based online gaming software developer Bede Gaming has inked a partnership agreement with digital games provider for the online gaming industry, Pragmatic Play. The deal will reportedly see Pragmatic Play’s entire portfolio integrated into Bede’s premium platform, PLAY. Every Bede operator will now have access to Pragmatic Play’s more than 80 HTML5 games, including Gold Rush, Chilli Heat, Caishen’s Gold, Vegas Nights and Jurassic Giants, according to the news release. The integration of Pragmatic Play’s portfolio is in keeping with Bede Gaming’s expansion of its best-in-class content made available through PLAY. The developer has already inked several partnership deals with top content suppliers, including Playson and Gamevy, over the past few months. Commenting on the deal, Bede Gaming CEO Michael Brady, said: “We are always looking to expand our offering to clients with the latest and most exciting titles, and integrating Pragmatic Play’s games was an obvious decision as we continue to combine premium content with our leading marketing tools. “We look forward to enjoying a long and productive relationship with a provider whose games are already performing very well.” Also commenting on the move, Chief Business Development Officer for Pragmatic Play, Yossi Barzely, said: “We have a strong commitment to growing our footprint in regulated markets, and are delighted to do so in partnership with a provider as respected as Bede. “I am sure our diverse and expertly-modelled range of games will prove popular with their clients all over the world.” Founded in 2012, Bede’s platform, along with stringent security measures, offer completely flexible gaming solutions and is making quick work of establishing itself as the go-to option for innovative operators worldwide.

Unibet Open London £990 Main Event Continues towards Day 1B of Poker Action

CasinoGamesPro.com
Unibet Open London £990 Main Event Continues towards Day 1B of Poker Action

Poker festivals always deliver a roller coaster of emotions to their participants and the UK field witnessed the start of a culminating poker tournament this Thursday. The poker scene in the UK saw the official start of the riveting action provided by the 2018 Unibet Open London £990 Main Event Day 1A saw quite the […]

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SIS funds British Greyhound Breeders Forum

Casino City Times
SIS funds British Greyhound Breeders Forum
The financial assistance will support British greyhound breeders for the next three years.

Complaints hit one of Nevada’s first sports betting mutual funds

Casinos & Gaming – Las Vegas Review-Journal
Complaints hit one of Nevada’s first sports betting mutual funds

Former clients of Bettor Investments, one of the first sports betting mutual funds in Nevada, are accusing the company’s founder of going “radio silent” and not responding to requests to return their money.

Thursday, February 22, 2018

Casino regulators: nothing wrong with Steve Wynn donation to GOP

Casinos & Gaming – Las Vegas Review-Journal
Casino regulators: nothing wrong with Steve Wynn donation to GOP

Massachusetts gambling regulators say there was nothing improper about a $2 million donation Wynn Resorts made to the Republican Governors Association in 2014.

Lucky Dragon hotel open for business until March 27; judge decides

World Casino News
Lucky Dragon hotel open for business until March 27; judge decides

A Nevada bankruptcy judge ruled Wednesday that the hotel of the Asian-themed Lucky Dragon resort off the north end of the Las Vegas Strip will remain open for another month. U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of Nevada Judge Laurel Davis decided after a bankruptcy hearing for the Lucky Dragon Hotel and Casino that the hotel would remain open until March 27, when the next hearing will take place. The casino, however, will remain closed and there will not be a foreclosure auction, the judge ruled, according to local television station FOX5. The resort’s operating entity Lucky Dragon Hotel and Casino LLC on Friday, Feb. 16 reportedly filed a petition for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection ahead of today's scheduled foreclosure. The property had a brutal start when just a few months after opening, in order to cut operating costs, one of its restaurants was closed and about a hundred people including the general manager were fired, as reported by the Las Vegas Review-Journal at the time. The temporarily closing of all gaming and casino restaurant operations on January 4 further emphasized the then one-year-old Asian-themed boutique hotel and locals casino’s financial woes. At the time, the resort’s management reportedly told FOX5 that the casino was “reorganizing,” and that the temporary closure meant the laying off of casino workers and less gaming and dining options. A few weeks later in January the Lucky Dragon was served with a foreclosure notice. FOX5 reports that during the bankruptcy hearing, attorneys for Lucky Dragon reportedly said that in November the property had been appraised at $143 million, however creditors stated that it was appraised at $60 million. Without disclosing specifics, lawyers for the hotel also reportedly said that should the Sahara Ave property become available for sale, there are a number of potential buyers. The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported on Monday that according to bankruptcy papers, Lucky Dragon was appraised at $143 million, which was funded in part with $89.5 million worth of loans from 179 individuals who invested $500,000 each through the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) administered EB-5 visa program. Under the program, foreigners seeking permanent green cards can do so if they invest a minimum of $500,000 into a business venture that creates at least 10 full-time jobs. FOX5 reports that none of the attorneys were certain of how the immigration status of those individuals. Five years in the making from concept to ribbon-cutting, Lucky Dragon had a soft opening on November 19, 2016, and hosted its official grand opening on December 3, 2016.

Gambling Software Giant Playtech Reports Slower 2017 Revenue Growth due to Malaysia Crackdown

CasinoGamesPro.com
Gambling Software Giant Playtech Reports Slower 2017 Revenue Growth due to Malaysia Crackdown

Playtech is one of the most recognizable names in the gaming industry, as the British software provider works closely with many gambling operators on a day to day basis. However, despite its popularity, the brand recently reported that the company has experienced slower growth rates in comparison to its performance throughout 2016. Even though there […]

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Wednesday, February 21, 2018

Winning bid tossed in Pennsylvania casino license auction

Las Vegas Sun Stories: Gaming
Winning bid tossed in Pennsylvania casino license auction
Las Vegas Sands Corp. submitted the highest bid Wednesday in an auction for the rights to Pennsylvania's fourth mini-casino license, but ...

ORYX Gaming launches Arena Casino in Croatia

World Casino News
ORYX Gaming launches Arena Casino in Croatia

Slovenia-based online casino software company, ORYX Gaming, recently launched Arenacasino.hr, one of the first Croatian iGaming websites featuring casino and slots, according to to the news release. Via the deal, Arena Casino will be provided with ORYX’s complete technology stack, compliance services, gaming content, operational and marketing services. ORYX’s iGaming Platform boasts a wide selection of content from distinguished game providers such as NextGen, EGT, ORYX and Gamomat and has been certified in accordance with Croatia’s legal requirements. Arena Casino games are available to players via mobile and desktop, with a focus on mobile in keeping with the vision of being the lead mobile choice for players in Croatia. More than 100 mobile slot games can be enjoyed by players, along with unique bonuses, multiple payment methods and extra spins promotions with full support. CEO for ORYX Gaming, Matevz Mazij, said: “Croatia is an exciting iGaming market and we’re pleased to be able to use our expertise to help launch the inaugural online operation for Arena Casino. Our ability to comply with local regulatory requirements and deliver a strong game portfolio makes us the perfect partner to ensure success. I’m happy to say we had a great team of people involved.” The online gaming turnkey solutions provider also recently agreed a deal that will see it supply content from a selection of developers to two iGaming domains operated by Malta-based Quasar Gaming.

Genii innovations to be offered by Digitain

World Casino News
Genii innovations to be offered by Digitain

Armenian multi-channel sportsbetting and casino platform provider Digitain has inked a deal that will see it begin offering the complete portfolio of innovations from London-based online casino games developer Genii. According to an official press release, the agreement means that Digitain will be permitted to provide its clients with access to Genii’s full catalogue of slot and table games including the Elementium Spin16, which allows players to physically control reels that are double-directional, and 243-ways-to-win Arcadia i3D titles. Suren Khachatryan (pictured), Chief Executive Officer for Yerevan-headquartered Digitain, declared that the games supply deal was finalized at the recent ICE Totally Gaming extravaganza in London and is set to bring ‘some extra flair’ to his firm’s casino platform offering. “Like us, Genii has demonstrated a passion for creativity and innovation; becoming renowned for thinking outside the box of industry convention,” read a statement from Khachatryan. “Together, we present an engaging platform and content solution to operators. It’s fantastic to have them on board.” For his part, Nick Barr, Sales Director for Genii, stated that he was ‘very pleased to have teamed up with Digitain’ and is excited to see how his company’s multi-dimensional games are received by clients in ‘some fresh markets’. He proclaimed that his firm has premiered ‘some great content’ during the last year featuring ‘a variety of themes and formats’ and he hopes that these are now destined to ‘quickly become firm favorites with operators and players alike’.

MGM China Reports 23-Percent Year-on-Year Drop in 2017 Net Profit

CasinoGamesPro.com
MGM China Reports 23-Percent Year-on-Year Drop in 2017 Net Profit

Only several days following the official launch of its brand new property in Macau, MGM China Holdings Ltd. issued the official information regarding its profits throughout 2017 which attracted the interest of many people acquainted with the field. As listed in the reports the company has seen a net profit drop of 23 percent in […]

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Resorts World Catskills introduces live table games

Casino City Times
Resorts World Catskills introduces live table games
The New York casino offers an array of live table games, including blackjack, craps, baccarat, roulette and Pai Gow Tiles.

Tuesday, February 20, 2018

Call from Steve Wynn led Maddox to career in casino work

Casinos & Gaming – Las Vegas Review-Journal
Call from Steve Wynn led Maddox to career in casino work

It never occurred to Wynn Resorts CEO Matt Maddox that what he thought was a prank telephone call in 2002 would ultimately lead to a possible appearances before regulators to answer questions about his boss and mentor, Steve Wynn.

Viktor Blom wins 2018 partypoker LIVE MILLIONS Germany Main Event

World Casino News
Viktor Blom wins 2018 partypoker LIVE MILLIONS Germany Main Event

Another partypoker LIVE MILLIONS stop is in the books, with the Main Event of the 2018 partypoker LIVE MILLIONS Germany having come to an end. It was poker pro Viktor Blom who emerged the victor, defeating Pavel Plesuv to earn the first-place win. The partypoker LIVE MILLIONS Germany series stop was hosted by King's Casino Rosvadov, with several tournaments on offer. Only thirteen players would return for the final day of play and of that number, only eight would move on to the final table.  Blom would start the final table with an elimination after Niko Wieland went all-in with Q-J off-suit. Blom called with pocket aces, sending Wieland out the door when the board fell 2-J-6-9-K. A few more players would be eliminated before Blom would take down his second victim of the final table. Going up against partypoker’s Simao, Blom would call the poker player’s all-in and would put him out in 4th place, narrowing down the table to the final three. Once Rickie Silcock was eliminated in third place by Plesuv, it would leave the event in the heads-up competition round. The heads-up portion would be one to remember. Plesuv would hold the lead initially and gaining a 9 to 1 chip lead at one point during gameplay. However, Blom would chip his way back to the lead and the eventual win. On the final hand, Blom pushed for 35,000,000 and Plesuv called. A check-call was made by Plesuv on the flop of Q-9-K with the 45,000,000 bet of Blom. Plesuv would eventually go all-in and Blom would call with K-6. His king’s held up as Plesuv only had a Q-7 of diamonds, not enough to claim the first place win. The MILLIONS poker tour now moves on with the Grand Final in Barcelona set for this April. Satellites are available for the tour stop now at partypoker. Players who take part in the Grand Final will find the series will be offering a staggering €23 million in guaranteed prize pools spread out among the many events of the series. Final Results:
Place Player Prize
First Viktor Blom €850,000
Second Pavel Plesuv €750,000
Third Rickie Silcock €400,000
Fourth Joao Simao €280,000
Fifth Radoslaw Wesierski €200,000
Sixth Ondrej Drozd €140,000
Seventh Aristeidis Moschonas €100,000
Eighth Niko Wieland €70,000

Atlantic City’s Hard Rock and Ocean Resort Casino Work Hard Prior to Summer Launch

CasinoGamesPro.com
Atlantic City’s Hard Rock and Ocean Resort Casino Work Hard Prior to Summer Launch

Preparation works are in full swing in the gambling hub on the East Coast, Atlantic City. This summer is expected to welcome two renovated and rebranded locations which will join the already existing casino resorts in the vivid area. But before the official launch could take place, several steps need to be finalized on time […]

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Pala Casino announces summer entertainment headliners

Casino City Times
Pala Casino announces summer entertainment headliners
Ahead of the opening of its swimming pool, bar and outdoor restaurant, the casino has unveiled its celebratory lineup.

Monday, February 19, 2018

Lucky Dragon now in Chapter 11 bankruptcy

Casinos & Gaming – Las Vegas Review-Journal
Lucky Dragon now in Chapter 11 bankruptcy

Days before an upcoming foreclosure sale, the Lucky Dragon is now in bankruptcy.

iGaming Leader Malta Proposes Three Blockchain Regulation Bills for Public Consultation

CasinoGamesPro.com
iGaming Leader Malta Proposes Three Blockchain Regulation Bills for Public Consultation

Malta is known as the online gambling hub of Europe which is always looking for ways in which to improve the iGaming industry and provide more opportunities for development to its licensees. Financial Services Parliamentary Secretary Silvio Schembri stated that the country is well on its way to becoming the first jurisdiction to have its […]

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Jack Cincinnati invites Sawyer Brown to Event Center

Casino City Times
Jack Cincinnati invites Sawyer Brown to Event Center
The country music band will perform at the casino on Saturday, 31 March. Tickets are on sale now.

Sunday, February 18, 2018

Report shows Boulder Strip best for slot players

World Casino News
Report shows Boulder Strip best for slot players

In late January, the Nevada Gaming Control Board released its statewide gaming win statistics for last year, which reported a 2.8% increase for the state’s nonrestricted locations, from $11.26 billion in 2016 to $11.57 billion in 2017. “Nonrestricted” properties are defined as any venue that has more than 15 slot machines. So while the report counts the big casinos, it doesn’t figure in the state’s more than 2,000 bars & restaurants, convenience stores and supermarkets that have some slots. The Las Vegas Review-Journal made note of some interesting takeaways from the Gaming Control Board’s year-end gaming win report. Keep in mind that “gaming win” refers to the casino’s take, not the player’s. Statewide, casinos on the Strip had the highest slot win percentage at 8.04%, which means that in 2017, casinos paid players 91.96% of what went in. The Boulder Strip in Southern Nevada, meanwhile, had the lowest win at 5.53%; the best for players. The Nevada Gaming Commission defines the Boulder Strip to include the Boulder Hwy., as well as all of the casinos in the city of Henderson. Downtown Las Vegas had the biggest change in slot win percentage since 2016, where it was up 0.28 points to 7.34% from 7.06%. In Southern Nevada, Laughlin had the highest table game win percentage at 19.41%, while North Las Vegas had the biggest increase in win percentage at 14.97%, up 2.19 points from 12.78%. By slot denomination, penny slots were the biggest revenue generator, for the most part, because the market is full of them. On 54,754 machines, the state’s Gaming Control Board reported win of $3.17 billion. The state’s 70,568 multi-denomination machines won $3.13 billion. At 12.07%, Megabucks machines had the best win percentage on slots. The $25 slots were the best for players, with a win percentage of 4.97%. There are still more blackjack tables on casino floors, with 2,582 statewide than any other table game. Roulette was a distant second at 457 wheels. Blackjack managed $1.21 billion in win, an increase of 5.4% from 2016, with casinos at a 14.8% win percentage. The state’s 382 Baccarat games, which had a 12.7% win percentage, produced $1.15 billion, a 5.6% decline from 2016. It might be worth a trip to the Boulder Strip for slot lovers.

Saturday, February 17, 2018

Las Vegas Valley gets two new PT’s Gold taverns courtesy of Golden Entertainment

World Casino News
Las Vegas Valley gets two new PT’s Gold taverns courtesy of Golden Entertainment

The Las Vegas Valley reportedly has two new PT’s Gold taverns, making them Nevada-based Golden Entertainment Inc.’s (NASDAQ:GDEN) 58th and 59th neighborhood watering holes in the Silver State. Located just one mile south of the Henderson Pavilion events center, the first of the two new facilities to open was PT’s Gold (pictured) at 690 South Green Valley Ranch Parkway, which began welcoming patrons on Feb. 3. The other new PT’s Gold opened for business on Feb. 10 at 9732 West Maule Avenue in southwestern Las Vegas, according to the company’s press release. Both of the traditional neighborhood taverns are operated by PT’s Entertainment Group and feature a wide variety of award-winning food and beverage choices. Along with comfortable seating, craft beer from PT’s Brewing Company and HD 4K TVs, both PT’s have 15 bar-top slot and video poker machines. The PT’s in Henderson will have an additional amenity in the spring when its outdoor patio opens. Guests can also count on both PT’s featuring the brand’s award-winning happy hour, where from 5pm to 7pm and from midnight to 2am the taverns offer half-off drinks and select appetizers and pizzas for $5. All 59 PT’s taverns in Nevada are part of the Beer & Bites dining loyalty program and the Golden Rewards player loyalty program. According to the company’s press release, together, the two new taverns will employ nearly 50 team members. “Our goal is to bring the best tavern experience to neighborhoods across the Las Vegas Valley,” said Blake L. Sartini II, senior vice president of distributed gaming for Golden Entertainment. “PT’s is known for our friendly local atmosphere where our guests can find consistently great food and drinks, excellent service, and a winning gaming experience.” Included in the company’s tavern brands are: PT’s Pub, PT’s Gold, PT’s Ranch, PT’s Brewing Co., Sean Patrick’s, Sierra Gold and SG Bar. Formed by the merger of Blake Sartini’s Golden Gaming and Lakes Entertainment in January 2015, Golden Entertainment, Inc. owns and operates gaming properties across two divisions –distributed gaming and resort and casino operations. The Company operates some 16,000 gaming devices, 114 table games, 5,162 hotel rooms, and employs more than 7,200 team members. The company owns eight casino resorts; seven in Southern Nevada and one in Maryland and via its distributed gaming business in Montana and Nevada owns nearly 60 traditional taverns in Nevada and operates video gaming devices at approximately 1,000 locations.

Report shows Las Vegas Strip has Nevada’s tightest slot machines

Casinos & Gaming – Las Vegas Review-Journal
Report shows Las Vegas Strip has Nevada’s tightest slot machines

When the state Gaming Control Board released its statewide gaming win statistics for 2017 in late January, the headline was the 2.8 percent increase from $11.26 billion in 2016 to $11.57 billion for the 336 nonrestricted locations across Nevada.

Police: Man's meth lab caused fire in A.C. casino hotel room

Las Vegas Sun Stories: Gaming
Police: Man's meth lab caused fire in A.C. casino hotel room
Police in New Jersey charged a man with setting up a methamphetamine lab that caused a fire in an Atlantic City casino hotel room, leading four floors to be evacuated. Wednesday's fire at the Tropicana casino injured ...

Tioga Downs celebrates first year since casino expansion

Casino City Times
Tioga Downs celebrates first year since casino expansion
In December, the New York casino marked a year of growth after the opening of its enhanced gaming floor and hotel.

Friday, February 16, 2018

Video Lottery Gets South Dakota Lawmakers Okay

CasinoGamesPro.com
Video Lottery Gets South Dakota Lawmakers Okay

State governments are struggling to find fresh sources of revenue to breathe life into their cash-strapped budgets. One of the main reasons many lawmakers support the legalization of casino gambling is the belief that such a move would be the panacea for the economy. But the gambling industry is a multi-faceted business that includes not […]

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Steve Wynn forfeits lucrative severance package

World Casino News
Steve Wynn forfeits lucrative severance package

Billionaire casino magnate Steve Wynn (pictured) will reportedly not be entitled to a lucrative severance package after resigning as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer for Wynn Resorts Limited on February 6 amid multiple allegations of sexual misconduct. According to a report from The Wall Street Journal newspaper citing a Friday filing from Las Vegas-based Wynn Resorts Limited, 76-year-old Wynn inked a separation deal as part of his resignation last week that saw him agree to gradually forfeit a range of benefits including those dealing with administrative assistance and health care. The newspaper reported that the agreement also means that the Connecticut-born businessman will not be able to continue living in his villa at the company’s Wynn Las Vegas integrated casino resort after June 1, while he is to be subject to a two-year non-compete clause. Wynn has moreover purportedly consented to provide the firm he helped to establish with ‘reasonable cooperation and assistance’ as it investigates the sexual misconduct allegations against him, which were first published via a January 27 story from The Wall Street Journal. Under the original terms of his previous employment agreement with the casino giant, which is additionally responsible for the luxury Wynn Macau integrated casino resort, Wynn was reportedly entitled to a payout worth around $330 million. However, Wynn Resorts Limited has now purportedly explained that it is considering a corporate name-change and is moreover intent on formulating an orderly way for its former boss to sell all of the shares he holds in its business.

Second shareholder lawsuit filed against Wynn Resorts, directors

Casinos & Gaming – Las Vegas Review-Journal
Second shareholder lawsuit filed against Wynn Resorts, directors

In the swelling wake of sexual harassment allegations against former chairman and CEO Steve Wynn, a second group of shareholders filed a lawsuit Thursday against the resort company and its board of directors.

John McGrath Denies Rumours of Gambling Habit Funded by Lending Facility

CasinoGamesPro.com
John McGrath Denies Rumours of Gambling Habit Funded by Lending Facility

The Australian mogul John McGrath has denied that his debts on gambling activities are linked to his stake in real estate business and said they are not out of control. Mr. McGrath released a statement to face the controversy surrounding his gambling habits lately, and more specifically his alleged gambling debt of $16 million. The […]

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Thursday, February 15, 2018

Relax Gaming Limited signs LeoVegas AB agreement

World Casino News
Relax Gaming Limited signs LeoVegas AB agreement

After last week inking a content distribution deal with Kindred Group, online casino games developer Relax Gaming Limited is at it again after signing a similar agreement earlier today with Swedish iGaming operator LeoVegas AB. Malta-based Relax Gaming Limited explained that the latest arrangement will see its online roulette and blackjack table game innovations offered by sites operated by Stockholm-headquartered LeoVegas AB including its LeoVegas.com and RoyalPanda.com domains before ‘more exciting products’ are made available over the course of 2018. Established in 2010, Relax Gaming Limited proclaimed that its HTML5 blackjack title allows online casino players to enjoy up to ‘three hands at once’ while its roulette counterpart utilizes the same random draw mechanism in order to offer ‘highly realistic ball movement and gameplay’. Patrik Osteraker, Chief Executive Officer for Relax Gaming Limited, declared that he was ‘delighted’ to have signed the content distribution deal with LeoVegas AB and to be able to offer the operator ‘a reliable [and] cost-effective solution’. “Our versions of these table games are not only visually impressive and intuitive to use for players, they are proven performers for operators in multiple markets around the world,” read a statement from Osteraker. For her part, Karolina Pelc, Casino Director for LeoVegas AB, stated that Relax Gaming Limited had ‘demonstrated innovation’ by producing mobile-friendly content and that she will now ‘eagerly follow’ the company’s future games development journey. “Mobile is the future of online casino and core to LeoVegas AB,” read a statement from Pelc. “Relax [Gaming Limited has] recognized this and produced content with this in mind. Table games are an important part of catering to our customers’ needs and we expect widespread appeal with the updated versions that Relax [Gaming Limited has] created. Expanding on an already great partnership, we are excited by the prospect of developing this further.”

South Point planning $40M upgrade to guest rooms

Casinos & Gaming – Las Vegas Review-Journal
South Point planning $40M upgrade to guest rooms

South Point plans a $40 million remodel plan to its guest rooms in the property’s three towers, the company said Thursday in a statement.

Massachusetts Sets Stage to Permanently Legalize Daily Fantasy Sports

CasinoGamesPro.com
Massachusetts Sets Stage to Permanently Legalize Daily Fantasy Sports

Over the last several years, daily fantasy sports (DFS) gambling industry has experienced quite a bit of growth. New York-based FanDuel and the Boston-based DraftKings, the two giants offering daily fantasy sports contests, have been the driving force behind the industry’s prosperity. But the regulation of pay-to-play daily fantasy sports contests appeared to be a […]

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Wednesday, February 14, 2018

Lawyers: Okada thought deal would lead to loan from Wynn Resorts

Casinos & Gaming – Las Vegas Review-Journal
Lawyers: Okada thought deal would lead to loan from Wynn Resorts

Lawyers for Kazuo Okada said the Japanese billionaire signed a consent to allow Elaine Wynn to sell her shares in Wynn Resorts on the presumption the company would lend him money. The loan never materialized and Okada now claims it resulted in increased financial costs for his Philippines casino project.

Golden Nugget online brands generated more than $7 million in New Jersey

Casino City Times
Golden Nugget online brands generated more than $7 million in New Jersey
The brand earned the single largest monthly haul by a New Jersey online casino since online gambling was legalized in the state.

ElectraWorks Limited hit with Gambling Commission fine

World Casino News
ElectraWorks Limited hit with Gambling Commission fine

In the United Kingdom, the Gambling Commission regulator has ordered prominent online casino operator ElectraWorks Limited to pay a fine of £350,000 ($488,640) for repeatedly breaching advertising standards when it came to promoting ‘free bonuses’ on its websites. According to a press release from the Gambling Commission, the Gibraltar-headquartered operator was warned by the Advertising Standards Authority Limited in August of 2016 about an advertisement on its United Kingdom-licensed Bwin.com domain that purportedly offered a ‘free bonus’. The regulator declared that it had cautioned ElectraWorks Limited about the same site featuring such an advert a week later with the firm subsequently removing the offending instance. The Gambling Commission declared that these instances had breached a rule that all of its licensees must abide by the Broadcast Committee of Advertising Practice and the Committee of Advertising Practice codes when it comes to the utilization of terms such as ‘bonus’ and free bet’. Despite this occurrence, the Gambling Commission explained that it discovered similar breaches on ElectraWorks Limited-owned sites CasinoLasVegas.com, PartyPoker.com, SCasino.com, NobleCasino.com, CasinoKing.com and PartyCasino.com in April before June saw the same six domains repeat the infractions while CasinoLasVegas.com went on to chalk up a third infringement in August. The Gambling Commission stated via a second release (pdf) that the 14 offending advertisements had not stated the ‘significant limitations and qualifications’ attached to the bonuses ‘despite there being space to do so’ while it moreover cautioned ElectraWorks Limited for failing to ensure that the person in charge of its marketing duties had held ‘the requisite personal management license’. “This fine should serve a warning to all gambling businesses that we will not hesitate to take action against those who mislead consumers with bonus offers or fail to ensure they are correctly licensed,” read a statement from Richard Watson, a member of the Gambling Commission’s Business Plan Programme Board.

Las Vegas gaming company boards below average in women members

Casinos & Gaming – Las Vegas Review-Journal
Las Vegas gaming company boards below average in women members

The boards of Las Vegas’ six largest gaming employers have just nine women among their 58 members, and only two of the boards have female representation that is higher than the average of 21.2 percent for SP 500 companies.

MGM Resorts opens $3.4 billion MGM Cotai

World Casino News
MGM Resorts opens $3.4 billion MGM Cotai

Having sent out a media invitation on Feb. 6, MGM Resorts International Holdings, Ltd, parent company to MGM China Holdings Ltd (2282:Hong Kong), on Tuesday held the grand opening for its HKD27-billion (US$3.45-billion) MGM Cotai in advance of the Chinese New Year holiday. The important festival falls on Friday, February 16 this year and during the period the casino market in Macau typically sees a spike in gambling. Situated in the Chinese-controlled territory of Macau, the Cotai property, the second for MGM and its largest investment in Macau to date, will bring the company’s overall gaming table count in what is the world’s biggest gaming hub, to 552, an increase of 29 percent. The new resort on the family-friendly Cotai strip will also raise the number of MGM’s hotel rooms in Macau to 1,972, more than tripling the previous count, marking significant growth into hospitality amid uncertainty regarding the renewal process of the company’s casino license that expires in two years, according to the Reuters report. Among the last of the operators to develop on the Coati strip, MGM’s second investment in Macau follows Wynn Resorts Ltd.’s Wynn Palace and Las Vegas Sands Corp.’s Parisian and boasts artwork which includes 28 carpets from the Qing dynasty and a 2,000-seat theatre. Operated by the company’s Macau arm MGM China Holdings, MGM Cotai will reportedly open with approximately 177 mass gaming tables and 200 electronic table games (ETGS), according to analysts, with mostly middlemen set to handle VIP gaming junkets slated to open by the end of Q2 along with the property’s luxury mansion villas, according to Reuters. Having broken ground in February 2013, fully 85 percent of the 3 million square foot development will be dedicated to non-gaming attractions. MGM is one of a half dozen licensed casino operators in the autonomous region on the south coast of China, which is the only place in the country where citizens are permitted to gamble legally. However, along with SJM Holdings, MGM’s license is expected to expire in 2020, while licenses for Wynn Macau, Sands China, Melco Resorts and Galaxy Entertainment are due to expire in the year 2022.

Tuesday, February 13, 2018

With ruling on national sports betting due, will Las Vegas ever be the same?

Las Vegas Sun Stories: Gaming
With ruling on national sports betting due, will Las Vegas ever be the same?
Back in the September of his years, Frank Sinatra would take the mic and command this little lounge stage. Still the headliner of all headliners at The Sands, four miles down The Strip, Sinatra would escape to this neighborhood joint, the ...

SG Digital to open Krakow remote development center

World Casino News
SG Digital to open Krakow remote development center

After using last week’s ICE Totally Gaming exhibition to unveil its new SG Digital entity, American gaming machine innovator Scientific Games Corporation has now reportedly revealed that its latest subsidiary intends to open a new remote development center in the Polish city of Krakow. According to a press release from Las Vegas-based Scientific Games Corporation published by Casino City Times, the new Polish venue is due to open during ‘the first quarter of 2018’ as SG Digital’s fourth European development hub alongside counterpart offices in Stockholm, Athens and London. Scientific Games Corporation reportedly revealed that the Krakow enterprise will employ at least 100 people and help SG Digital, which consists of the assets it recently purchased from online casino games innovator NYX Gaming Group Limited alongside those of its own SG Interactive subsidiary, to ‘accelerate growth and drive innovation in product development across the group’. “The Krakow opening will be our fourth center in Europe as we accelerate our growth, underpinned by our product-led strategy,” reportedly read a statement from Matt Davey, the recently-named Chief Executive Officer for SG Digital. “The advanced hubs are staffed by leaders in their fields and provide the platform to ensure that SG Digital remains at the forefront of technology in the digital gaming, lottery and sports industry.” Scientific Games Corporation reportedly declared that the ‘product-focused employees’ at its coming Krakow venue are to be responsible for ‘quality assurance, core software development and product innovation’ while Chris Armes, Chief Technology Officer for the new entity, purportedly stated that the coming enterprise ‘underlines our commitment to continuously boost our best-in-class offering’. Armes moreover reportedly explained that the new Krakow office is to be ‘directly aligned with our other European technology hubs’ in order to ‘form a great asset for the SG Digital business unit’. He purportedly described Poland as a having ‘a fantastic reputation when it comes to tech personnel’ due to ‘a well-trained and high-energy talent pool of people’ that offer ‘extensive industry and domain expertise’.

Intertops and Juicy Stakes host a $1,000 Betsoft slot tournament

Casino City Times
Intertops and Juicy Stakes host a $1,000 Betsoft slot tournament
This weekend, players who obtain the most points while playing one of four Betsoft slots will win a share of $1,000.

Ignition Casino player grabs $64,000

Casino City Times
Ignition Casino player grabs $64,000
Amber S. earned the random jackpot while playing the Lion's Roar online slot last week.

Monday, February 12, 2018

Pennsylvania awards third miniature casino license

World Casino News
Pennsylvania awards third miniature casino license

In Pennsylvania, last week reportedly saw the firm behind the Mount Airy Casino Resort win the right to open the eastern state’s third miniature casino with the new facility now being planned for a site in central Lawrence County. According to a report from the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review newspaper, Mount Airy #1 LLC had its bid of almost $21.2 million accepted by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board on Thursday and envisions locating the new enterprise within 15 miles of the city of New Castle and near Pennsylvania’s border with Ohio. “We are happy with their decision and we are going to do all we can to make them feel welcome,” Lawrence County Commissioner Dan Vogler reportedly told the newspaper. The new ‘Category Four’ facility will reportedly be permitted to operate up to 750 slots alongside a maximum of 40 gaming tables in exchange for agreeing to pay a 50% tax on all slot revenues alongside a 14% duty on table takings. The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported that Mount Airy #1 LLC has become the third firm to receive one of the state’s new miniature casino license after early-January saw a subsidiary of Penn National Gaming Incorporated pay $50.1 million for the right to open a similar facility in York County. This was followed a few weeks later by Baltimore-based The Cordish Companies, which is currently in the process of developing its Live! Hotel and Casino Philadelphia, handing over some $40.1 million for the right to bring a comparable enterprise to Westmoreland County. The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board hopes to auction ten new ‘Category Four’ licenses before the end of July featuring minimum $7.5 million bids as a way to help the eastern state fill its bulging $2.2 billion annual budget deficit. The result of wide-ranging gaming legislation signed into law by Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf in October, the coming satellite casinos purportedly may not be located within 25 miles of any of Pennsylvania’s twelve existing casinos while local authorities were given the right to opt out of being considered as a home for any of the coming venues.

South Korea Kangwon Land Casino Marks Revenue Surge Prior to PyeongChang 2018 Olympics

CasinoGamesPro.com
South Korea Kangwon Land Casino Marks Revenue Surge Prior to PyeongChang 2018 Olympics

South Korea is a region which has a lot to offer to the world and the recent months have been proving this. One of the sectors which has demonstrated quite the surge in the last months of 2017 was gambling and according to the information which was announced the Kangwon Land Inc. has seen a […]

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Suncity Hoiana Casino Resort Boosts Chances for 2020 Macau Gambling License

CasinoGamesPro.com
Suncity Hoiana Casino Resort Boosts Chances for 2020 Macau Gambling License

Vietnam is going to welcome a new gambling resort in the second quarter of 2019 and this is Suncity Hoiana. According to experts in the field, the new project is going to better the overall conditions in the sector and even make it easier for the gambling developer to acquire a license for operation in […]

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Sunday, February 11, 2018

UltraPlay appoints new leadership; enjoys presale sell out of eGold

World Casino News
UltraPlay appoints new leadership; enjoys presale sell out of eGold

UltraPlay, a provider of online casino, sportsbook and lottery solutions, recently appointed its new Chief Executive Officer effective the start of Q1, 2018. A joint decision by the Bulgaria-based company’s current CEO Dariy Margaritov and its Management Board, newly appointed CEO Mario Ovcharov (pictured/right) brings with him “an incredibly deep understanding of our business, proven track record and strategic approach that will certainly lead UltraPlay to the next successful milestones,” said Margaritov. Margaritov himself has since UltraPlay’s inception in 2010, successfully led the company as a founder and CEO. Stepping down as CEO, Margaritov will maintain his advisory role with the company continuing to provide his profound expertise and knowledge in the crypto and gambling industry. His focus will reportedly be on the development of various crypto-related projects, along with the execution of Blockchain technology within the online gaming industry. In November 2017, UltraPlay opened the presale subscription of the eSports betting cryptocurrency eGold. The Blockchain-based project was met with great response and its Initial Coin Offering (ICO) presale, which started on Feb. 1st of this year, sold out more than half of the presale tokens during the first day. The crowd sale will take place from Feb. 18 - March 18. Commenting on the appointment, Margaritov said: “Mario Ovcharov is a perfect example of a top manager who has successfully made his career within the company. He brings an incredibly deep understanding of our business, proven track record and strategic approach that will certainly lead UltraPlay to the next successful milestones.” Ovcharov, meanwhile, added: “As part of UltraPlay’s family, I have been deeply involved in most of the company’s projects and developments that are described in the industry as innovations and avant-garde solutions. “UltraPlay has a deserved reputation as a leading eSports betting solutions provider and I am determined to continue the company’s growth and establish its leading positions on the core and emerging iGaming and crypto markets worldwide.” In addition to the appointment of Ovcharov as CEO, Peter Ivanov (pictured/left) will begin his new role as Head of Trading where his focus will be on sports and eSports betting managing the company’s in-house team of traders and adhering to its mission to offer iGaming operators unrivaled betting data, widest game coverage and the highest quality products. UltraPlay also recently announced plans to expand further its sports betting portfolio to begin developing new betting functionalities along with a US sports dedicated branch for all sportsbooks prepared to ascend to rise to the next level. Commenting on his new role, Peter Ivanov said: “We are in an excellent position to capitalize our growth, leadership and serve as integrity partner to the sports betting industry. We are going to do so for sure in the upcoming months by our continuous innovation and passion for delivering superb betting options.”