New York Jets Join Forces with Casino Giant MGM in “First-of-Its-Kind” Deal

The Jets pen landmark deal with casino operator MGM Resorts International shortly after 888 advertising tie-up

The New York Jets and MGM Resorts International today announced a “first-of-its-kind” integrated gaming partnership that makes the casino and hospitality operator the official gaming partner of the NFL team.

The announcement about the Jets/MGM tie-up arrives shortly after reports emerged that the team has joined forces with online gambling operator 888 Holdings in a sponsorship deal that is yet to be announced officially.

In addition to a traditional casino sponsorship, the Jets’ deal with MGM also involves the I Called It mobile game which allows fans of the NFL team to answer questions about Jets games. The game is sponsored by MGM’s mobile app Play MGM and is available exclusively in the Official New York Jets App. It is free to play and provides Jets fans with the chance to win different prizes. However, it does not allow them to wager money on Jets games.

As part of the deal, MGM will be designated as the official gaming partner of the NFL team. In addition, the casino operator will sponsor and be offered access to the Jets 360 Production Studio, where the team films dedicated digital media and television content. The Jets’ home stadium, MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, will feature MGM signage.

Jets season holders and members of the Jets’ rewards program will be treated to entertainment experiences and hotel rooms at MGM resorts around the nation, including Atlantic City’s Borgata, as part of the newly penned partnership between the football team and the gaming and hospitality giant.

888 Partnership Draws Ire

It also became known earlier this week that the Jets have secured a sponsorship agreement with online gambling operator 888. While an official announcement about the tie-up is yet to be made, 888 banners can now be spotted at MetLife Stadium.

The NFL changed its advertising policies in early September to allow teams to join forces with casino companies and thus boost their advertising revenues. However, under the new rules, the sponsorships should not promote and involve sports betting in any way.

888 currently offers online casino, poker, and sports betting services, and its wagering offering was what drew criticism as the company’s tie-up with the Jets was unveiled. Supporters of the partnership have pointed out that it does not violate the NFL’s advertising rules as 888’s sports betting business is not directly promoted. However, opponents have argued that the deal definitely crosses the line.

The New York Jets are not the only team to have partnered with gambling companies since the NFL relaxed its rules. The Dallas Cowboys joined forces with WinStar World Casino in Oklahoma in early September, while the Baltimore Ravens inked a deal with Horseshoe Casino Baltimore.

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Nevada posts highest sports betting revenue for six years

Sports betting revenue in Nevada was at its highest for six years as the state posted a record-breaking total of $56

Macau casino entry ban to affect 54,000 gaming workers

Casino industry staff members won’t be allowed in casinos outside work hours and will impact 54,000 people.

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Casino Aviator in Tbilisi chooses EvolutionDual Play Roulette

Evolution Gaming, leading provider of Live Casino solutions, has announced that another of its Dual Play Roulette convergence tables is going live— this time at Casino Aviator in the Georgian capital Tbilisi

Evolution Gaming Group AB inks New Jersey supply agreement

Live-dealer online casino games provider Evolution Gaming Group AB has announced the signing of a deal that is to see it provide its products to players in New Jersey via the domain at PokerStarsCasinoNJ.com. Powering the live casino action: The Stockholm-listed firm used an official Monday press release (pdf) to reveal that the agreement will involve […]

Caesars Entertainment becomes first gaming-entertainment Company to sign deal with both NBA NHL team

Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment (HBSE) has announced a multi-year partnership with Caesars Entertainment for its Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils franchises in the NBA and NHL respectively

New York Jets Partner Online Gambling Operator 888, Face Backlash from Football Purists

Yet another NFL team joins forces with a casino operator as the league relaxes gambling advertising rules

The New York Jets have penned a sponsorship deal with online gambling operator 888 and football purists are not happy about it, news outlet the New York Post reported on Monday. The deal is set to be officially announced later this week, but 888 banners have already appeared outside MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, the home stadium of the New York Jets.

Following the mid-May ruling of the US Supreme Court that struck down a federal ban on sports betting, the NFL reversed ahead of the new season a long-standing ban on casino advertising, allowing teams to partner with casino operators and advertise those in exchange for financial contributions.

However, the NFL rules still prohibit sports betting operations from being advertised by football teams. Aside from casino games, 888 also offers poker and sports betting services. Critics of the partnership between the Jets and the online gambling operator have argued that the fact that it offers wagering products crosses the line and violates NFL’s gambling advertising rules.

As mentioned earlier, the tie-up between the Jets and 888 has already manifested itself in the form of several orange banners displaying the 888.com logo outside MetLife Stadium. Sources familiar with the deal have told the New York Post that the banners do not violate league advertising rules as they do not specifically refer to 888sport, the gambling operator’s online sports betting operation.

However, critics have pointed out that the banners were “dangerously close to flouting the rules.” The deal is expected to be announced later this week, which means that more details about its scope are to emerge.

Normalization of Gambling through Ads

According to Keith Whyte, Executive Director of the National Council of Problem Gambling, advertising partnerships of this kind can have a big and lasting impact on young fans of football who go to the games. He told the New York Post that children and young people “will become much more inclined to see gambling as being part of the game.”

The four major sports leagues – MLB, NBA, NFL, and NHL – were long opposed to sports gambling, arguing that the activity threatened the integrity of sports. However, the US Supreme Court ruled this past May against the leagues and annulled the long-standing federal sports betting ban. Since the ruling, league officials have softened their stance on the wagering issue and have been seeking a share of the proceeds generated from sports betting in the form of an integrity fee and advertising revenue, among other things.

The NFL decided to relax its advertising rules ahead of the new season, allowing teams to take advertising money from casinos. The Dallas Cowboys became the first team to align itself with a casino operator in early September, thus making history. It joined forces with Oklahoma-based WinStar World Casino.

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Foxwoods appoints new executive

The Connecticut casino revealed that a new specialist has joined the executive team.

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Las Vegas Sands to invest in Macau

The company is set to increase its investment in its Macau business to more than €1.5 billion.

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Evolution Gaming Group AB premieres Live Infinite Blackjack

Live-dealer online casino games provider Evolution Gaming Group AB has announced that its portfolio has just been expanded following the launch of its new Live Infinite Blackjack innovation. Seats always available: The Stockholm-listed firm used an official Friday press release to detail that its latest advance is available to all licensees for use across desktop, tablet […]

Exchequer confirms GB remote gaming tax rise for 2019

The UK's Chancellor of the Exchequer has announced a rise in British online betting tax to 21% in October 2019 to offset the loss expected from the cut in maximum stakes on fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs)

Cayman Islands Legislators Table New Anti-Illegal Gambling Bill

Cayman Islands lawmakers look to clamp down on illegal gambling with heftier fines

Cayman Islands lawmakers have indicated their intentions to ramp up efforts to crack down on illegal gambling with the recent introduction of a piece of legislation that, if adopted, would increase the penalties imposed on violators of existing laws in the British Overseas Territory.

The new Gambling (Amendment) Bill 2018 aims to revise provisions in the Cayman Islands’ existing Gambling Law that were never amended since the original enactment of that law in 1964. The piece of legislation will be discussed in the next meeting of the Legislative Assembly, which is scheduled to take place in November. The bill is currently a subject of public consultation that will remain open until the upcoming Legislative Assembly debate.

The piece concerns every individual involved in any way in gambling activities, from people who conduct such activities to gamblers. Under the bill, penalties for the ownership and use of premises for the provision of gambling services, the publication of lottery numbers, and handling proceeds from gambling activities would increase from $400 to $10,000. In addition, the maximum prison time for individuals caught to have been involved in any of the above violations would increase from one to three years.

Penalties for participation in public lottery, that is playing or being found in an illegal lottery establishment, would increase from $10 to $2,500, while the maximum prison sentence would increase from two to six months.

Other provisions in the bill include a rise in the penalty for those found to have taken part in or conducting a lottery game from $100 to $20,000 and in the prison term from two months to three years.

No Online Gambling Provisions

While the Gambling (Amendment) Bill 2018 contains extensive provisions regarding the conduction and participation of lottery (number) games in land-based establishments across the Cayman Islands, it does not specify whether those same provisions apply to online gambling.

According to analysts, lottery games are extremely popular with Cayman Island residents, but online gambling on offshore websites could actually be where the greater portion of gambling money is spent. The Gambling (Amendment) Bill in its current form does not specify whether and how gambling online or the provision of unauthorized online gambling services would be charged.

The focus on lottery games has been justified with the fact that it is much easier to identify and locate people who provide or gamble on this type of activities as they are usually conducted at local stores, bars, or private residences.

Lawmakers have over the years proposed the introduction of a national lottery that would contribute funds to good causes, but such proposals have failed to gain enough traction in the Cayman Islands’ Legislative Assembly.

Growing crime rates have been among the main reasons why lawmakers and local authorities have maintained the current status of gambling on the Cayman Islands. According to local police, there has been a steady rise in the number of gambling-related incidents. In addition, “a strong connection between certain crimes and gambling activities” has been identified by authorities.

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Realistic Games announces new Shuffle Bots slot game

Top content developer Realistic Games has announced yet another new online slot game, this time creating a title based on dancing robots. Shuffle bots is a 5-reel, 20 payline slot game that uses the newest HTML5 technology, allowing players to enjoy the game on desktop, smartphone and tablet. The new game has a disco theme, […]

ProgressPlay selects Groove Gaming Limited

iGaming content aggregator Groove Gaming Limited has announced the signing of a ‘white-label’ deal that is set to see it supply a portfolio of over 1,500 HTML5-friendly video slots and live casino games to Maltese platform provider ProgressPlay. Long list of developers: The Israeli firm used an official Friday press release published by European Gaming […]

Ukraine’s Illegal Gambling Market Thrives as Government Fails to Set Regulations

The lack of solid regulation in the Ukrainian gambling and betting industry has resulted in a booming underground gambling business while millions of dollars are going down the drain. According to local media reports, hundreds of gambling facilities disguised as lottery offices, are freely operating across the country.

Officially, almost all forms of gambling are banned in Ukraine with only licensed lotteries allowed to operate. Since 2009, when the Verkhovna Rada (the name of the Parliament) passed the ban into law, however, there have been multiple reports of existing underground gaming facilities. By July 2009, more than 6,000 illegal slot machines had been confiscated from dozens of illegal establishments. Investigations led to over 200 criminal charges. Things have not changed a lot since then.

In an article, the Kyiv Post uncovers what turns out to be a widespread scheme for illegal gambling operations that are carried out freely under the guise of lottery offices. The newspaper describes in details that the lack of clear regulation of the sector has allowed illegal businesses to thrive, nurturing organized crime and corruption. In 2012, according to the publication, the Rada loosened the gambling ban, allowing lottery operators to run gambling activities. During that time, the majority in the Parliament was held by the Party of Regions, the party of former president Viktor Yanukovych who is currently in exile in Russia and wanted by Ukraine for high treason.

As a result of the unfinished reforms in the sector – special legislation and gambling zones were initially considered, operators of underground gaming facilities are now offering slot-like games under their lottery licenses. There are lottery offices in every city and town across the country and many of them only pretend to offer lottery tickets. Although logos of the Ukrainian National Lottery can be seen, there are no lottery products on sale. Interestingly, there are no slot machines visible, as well.

The facilities are, actually, packed with computers – their keyboards are specifically customized to work like classic slot machines. Customers purchase plastic cards that are placed into special slots on the keyboard and the computer instantly turns into a Vegas-style casino game, the Kyiv Post reveals. Only cash is accepted, of course. And authorities seem to be clueless about this simple, yet extremely effective scheme, the paper suggests.

Revenues from Illegal Gambling Reach $1 Billion

It is impossible to estimate the exact cost of the black market gambling industry to Ukraine’s economy but it is certainly within the six and seven-figure range. The Kyiv Post spoke to Agia Zagrebelska of the Anti-Monopoly Committee who says that the revenues from illegal gambling reach $1 billion a year. According to other foreign experts, underground gaming operators generate much more from their unregulated activity.

Every year, Ukrainian lotteries pay around $2 million in taxes. The tax revenue that comes from lottery winners, on the other hand, is approximately $4 million, which is, by all standards, bizarre. In fact, most things related to gambling in Ukraine is out of the ordinary – there are three operators which held licenses granted by the state, namely MSL, Patriot, and the Ukrainian National Lottery. Their licenses have expired in 2014 but due to a legal loophole, they can operate until new licenses are issued.

Each of the three operators is allowed to run up to 5,000 lottery shops, which suggests that there must be up to 15,000 lottery offices on the territory of Ukraine. In addition, these three operators have extended their permits via franchise to some 180 retailing companies that can sell lottery tickets. As a result, the actual number of lottery offices could not be estimated. At the same time, the Anti-Monopoly Committee says that only 19 percent of them sell lottery products, while the rest functioning like gaming facilities or betting shops. Overall, the underground gambling scene seems to be thriving in Ukraine and the state is losing millions of dollars due to the lack of oversight and resolution to come up with a new legal frame.

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Mr Green Group improves revenue for Q3

Mr Green Group posted an increase of 44% in year-on-year revenue from January to September 2018, rising to SEK 1,239m ($135m)

Pragmatic Play announces new Ancient Egypt Classic slot game

Top online gaming developer, Pragmatic Play, has announced their newest blockbuster slot, Ancient Egypt Classic. This new game is a video slot with a 3×5 grid, set to go live on Halloween, October 31st. The online slot game includes many symbols that are found in ancient Egyptian culture including the Eye of Ra, ankhs, Anubis the […]

Macau drives Las Vegas Sands growth in 3Q18

Las Vegas Sands Corp revenue grew 6.7% to US$3.37 billion during the third quarter, mainly thanks to Macanese operations.

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BCLC hires auditor to monitor three casinos

The corporation has hired a third-party auditor to monitor the three busiest casinos in the city.

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Full House Resorts Incorporated rejects takeover approach

American regional casino operator, Full House Resorts Incorporated, has rejected a proposal from Z Capital Partners that would have seen the private equity management firm pay approximately $132.5 million in order to acquire all of its issued stock. Unanimous refusal: In an official Tuesday letter sent to James Zenni, Chief Executive Officer for Z Capital Partners, […]

“No Casino” Policy for Boracay Needs Executive Order, Department of Justice

The Philippines’ Department of Justice has said that in order to enforce his “no casino” policy on Boracay Island, president Rodrigo Duterte should issue an executive order. Such an act will be the fastest and most efficient method for halting the casino operations on the island, which reopens for foreign tourists on Friday.

Representatives of most public institutions and local authorities seem to be in line with the Duterte’s idea of no more casinos on Boracay. Following a six-month shut-down for an environmental clean-up and rehabilitation, the island is finally reopening this week. Authorities have set new rules regarding waste disposal, watersports that may harm the ecosystem, smoking and drinking. Being a vocal opponent of gambling, President Duterte also said that the island should be “free of casinos” when it opens.

Earlier this week, the local gambling regulator PAGCOR (Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation) was said to have been urged to cancel the existing casino licenses and to stop issuing new ones. The request had come, according to media reports, from the Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force, a body that was specifically created for the purpose of assessing the environmental damage on the island and devising strategies to address the problem. Local newspaper The Philippines Star said that the regulator has made a decision to immediately suspend all gambling licenses on Boracay.

Now, it is possible that such actions may not be entirely legal. In a letter published Thursday, the Department of Justice recommends that President Rodrigo Duterte issues an executive order, that would allow him to stop the casino operations on the island.

Legal Repercussions

According to the Department of Justice, Duterte’s “no casino” policy has to be implemented carefully and through a presidential executive order. In a recommendation letter dated from October 8, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra writes that the President has the authority to limit casino operations on the island. The letter is an eight-page legal opinion that comes in a response to a query by the Department of Tourism, which is concerned about possible legal repercussions resulting from the revocation of casino licenses.

In the legal opinion, Guevarra explains that the President may direct the PAGCOR by an executive order to revoke the licenses already granted and to prohibit the issuing of new permits. He also points out that the provisional licenses granted by the regulator are not contracts and are, therefore, not legally binding for the government. Casino licenses can, then, be “granted, revoked” or their renewal withheld by the regulatory body instantly.

Meanwhile, Macau-based casino giant Galaxy Entertainment Group is planning to build a large integrated casino resort on Boracay. It was granted a casino license just a month before the temporary closure of the island. Galaxy Chairman Lui Che Woo explained that the casino facility would be just a small part of the complex and that the complex would, in fact, focus on the leisure and entertainment offerings.

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NetEnt signs first Pennsylvania contract

NetEnt is prepared to enter the Pennsylvania gaming market after securing its first customer in the state, Penn National Gaming

MGM GVC Interactive Confirms Adam Greenblatt as CEO of the Joint Venture

Following the creation of a joint venture in July 2018, MGM Resorts and GVC Holdings announced this week the appointment of Adam Greenblatt as the venture’s Chief Executive Officer. Greenblatt has previously served as Director of Corporate Development & Strategy for GVC Holdings Plc, but he also possesses in-depth knowledge and expertise in sports betting and online gaming from his position at Ladbrokes.

His promotion to the executive leadership position was announced on Tuesday in a combined corporate communication, pointing out his long experience in the gambling and entertainment industry. Greenblatt will now serve as CEO of the recently established joint venture between the American gaming and hospitality giant MGM Resorts International and Isle of Man-headquartered GVC Holdings PLC, which owns major gaming and sports betting brands, including Coral, Ladbrokes, bwin, Crystalbet, partypoker, and CasinoClub.

The joint venture was formed this summer for the purpose of creating a leading sports betting and interactive gaming proposition for the US market, according to the press release. It is hardly a surprise that Adam Greenblatt has been chosen to lead MGM GVC Interactive, considering he has played a “significant role” in its creation during his job as a Director Corporate Development & Strategy at GVC Holdings. His career, however, did not start at GVC and has been much more interesting.

After studying Business Science at the University of Cape Town, Greenblatt worked as a Chartered Accountant in the UK with Arthur Andersen. He then focused on mergers and acquisitions at international investment bank Rothschild where he oversaw deals in the leisure sector. In addition, Greenblatt was Director of Corporate and Strategic Development at Ladbrokes from 2010. According to the press release, he was in charge of “defining transactions” for the company such as the strategic partnership with Playtech, the acquisitions which created Ladbrokes Australia and the successful merger between Gala Coral and Ladbrokes in November 2016.

MGM GVC Interactive Joint Venture

Rumors about the partnership between MGM Resorts and GVC emerged in late July and it the two companies soon confirmed the creation of MGM GVC Interactive. The joint venture has its headquarters in the United States and is formed with an initial investment of $100 million made by each of the partners. According to the initial statement by GVC, the new business would have access to 15 states within the US and a potential audience of 90 million people.

In reality, MGM GVC Interactive will take advantage of all U.S. land-based and online sports betting and poker tournaments, real money and free-to-play casino gaming. It will integrate both companies’ customer loyalty programs. Commenting his new position as CEO, Adam Greenblatt said that he would transform the joint venture into the most “dynamic and successful” company in the industry, considering MGM GVC will profit from the combined brands, technology, and market reach.

The new venture is looking at the rapidly evolving US sports betting market following the United States Supreme Court’s decision in May to lift the federal ban on sports wagering. GVC is one of the several UK-based bookmakers that are now focusing on the new opportunities in the US as more and more states are passing legislation that allows wagers on sports.

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South Carolina lottery winner to pocket record 1 53bn

A lottery player from South Carolina is the sole winner of a Mega Millions $1

Single ticket South Carolina wins 1 53bn Mega Millions jackpot

A lottery player from South Carolina is the sole winner of a Mega Millions $1

Fate of Europe’s First Integrated Casino Resort to be Decided by March 2019

As the bidding process for a Greek casino license has already started, only three American gambling companies have remained in contention for the planned €8 billion Elliniko integrated casino resort. Hard Rock, Caesars Entertainment and Mohegan Gaming and Entertainment are currently interested in winning the permit to run the facility after the redevelopment of the former Hellenikon International Airport. By March 2019, the license should be granted and a groundbreaking ceremony is expected.

The three US-based companies are some of the world’s largest developers and operators of gambling and entertainment facilities, with properties across Europe, the Americas, and beyond. They are the three final bidders for the license, which will be granted for the planned Elliniko casino resort near Athens, local daily newspaper Kathimerini reported this week.

Several other prospective bidders have withdrawn from the race following major delays and attempts to hamper the project. Among them were the French Group Barriere and the American companies Las Vegas Sands and Melco Resorts and Entertainment.

While there are three major investors that are interested in running the future casino, a single license will be granted by the government. There will be no decision until the end of the year, according to local news outlets, while construction work on the site is not expected to begin before early 2019. The developer of the project is a consortium led by the Greek company Lambda and also featuring Chinese conglomerate Fosun and another unnamed partner from Abu Dhabi.

In June, Lambda Development discussed the plans for the complex at a shareholders meeting in Athens. Then, they confirmed that construction could start at the beginning of next year, according to the Greek business publication Naftemporiki. However, the start date may be pushed back once again and it is believed that the operator will be announced by 2019. Still, the developers from Lambda have already presented their vision for the integrated resort, revealing a larger and much more ambitious plan than previously expected.

What Will the Elliniko Casino Resort Look Like?

In June 2016, Lambda Development and the Greek Government signed a €1 billion agreement for the transfer of the property of the old Hellenikon International Airport.

Negotiations have started back in 2010 but due to political, technical and environmental issues, the privatization process was delayed multiple times. The inking of the deal allowed the government to continue with preparations for the bidding process and with the implementation of a massive investment of approximately €8 billion.

According to the plans, 1500-acre seafront land where the former airport was located would be transformed into a large seaside complex with hotels and other residential facilities, parks and cultural sites, stores, convention, and retail spaces. Of course, there would be a huge casino facility that would cover 15,000 square meters.

Along with the 10,000 construction jobs created by the project, another 70,000 to 75,000 permanent jobs are expected once the complex is fully operational. However, it will be built in several stages and over a period of 10 to 12 years, according to the developer.

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MGM GVC joint venture appoints new CEO

MGM GVC Interactive, the joint venture between MGM Resorts and GVC Holdings, has appointed Adam Greenblatt as CEO

Horseshoe Casino Baltimore Signs NFL Deal

Horseshoe Casino Baltimore has entered an official partnership with the Baltimore Ravens in the second deal of this kind since September when the National Football League (NFL) allowed its teams to accept advertising from casinos. The move follows the historic partnership announced between the Dallas Cowboys and WinStar World Casino and Resort in Thackerville, Oklahoma.

For many years, the NFL did not allow its teams to sell sponsorships to casinos with sportsbooks in order to steer clear of any connection to sports betting. Last month, or in late August as Sports Business Daily reported, the NFL loosened the ban on casino advertising. Soon after that, the Dallas Cowboys teamed up with the WinStar World in the first NFL casino partnership. Now the Baltimore Ravens have joined them, extending their existing deal with Horseshoe.

The new partners are neighbors in Southern Gateway Entertainment District, an area just south of the Ravens’ home in M&T Bank Stadium. When the casino opened just a few blocks away from the sporting venue, it became a catalyst for huge investment and development in the neighborhood. Now their partnership will bring them even closer as logos of the team will be featured across the gaming venue, while the casino’s ads will be significantly more at the stadium.

The announcement for the deal was made by Baltimore Ravens Senior Vice President of Corporate Sales and Business Development Kevin Rochlitz and former Raven and NFL Hall-of-Famer Jonathan Ogden and Caesars Regional President and Horseshoe Casino General Manager Erin Chamberlin. The owner of Baltimore’s Horseshoe is the group CBAC Gaming, which gathers Caesars Entertainment, Jack Entertainment, CVPR Gaming Holdings, LLC; STRON-MD Limited Partnership and PRT TWO, LLC.

Increased Partnership between NFL and Casinos

Since 2014, when the Horseshoe Casino Baltimore opened for business, it has been an advertising sponsor at Ravens games. However, it did not have the right to use the team’s name or logos in any way. The Maryland casino was not able to use trademarks for any events, including tailgate parties and giveaways. Now, instead of referencing only Baltimore football or using purple colors, the Horseshoe Casino will be allowed to make use of the logo and name of the Ravens. But that is not all.

The three-level feature bar at Horseshoe Casino Baltimore that is currently known as 14Forty will soon be rebranded and will be a Ravens Baltimore Bar. The casino will also introduce player cards with the NFL team’s logo. M&T Bank Stadium, on the other hand, will feature Horseshoe advertising. According to Rochlitz, Horseshoe Casino Baltimore has become a popular destination for Ravens fans, especially before and after games, so the new deal will enrich the appeal and entertainment offering of the two major Baltimore brands.

The financial terms of the deal are confidential but for the time being, it remains only a marketing partnership. The State of Maryland is expected to pass a sports betting legislation, which would allow the casino to extend its cooperation with the Baltimore Ravens.

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Tribal casino could still open in Connecticut

According to the chairman of the Mashantucket Pequot tribe, the MMCT project in East Windsor isn’t dead yet despite legal hurdles.

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PAGCOR Honors Task Force Request to Suspend All Gaming Licenses on Boracay

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) has honored a request made earlier by the Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force to shut down all gambling operations and cancel current gaming licenses on the island. The move of the gambling regulator is in line with President Duterte’s strong opposition to casinos and their degrading effect on Boracay Island.

On Tuesday, the Philippine Star cited Jose Tria Jr., special assistant to the PAGCOR chairman and chief executive officer, who announced that the regulator ordered the closure of Boracay casinos on October 22. The order came as a result of a letter received earlier this month, the paper points out. In it, the specially created Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force (BIATF) requested that all gaming licenses that had been issued or promised to operators on the island to be canceled.

In May, President Rodrigo Duterte established the task force with one main purpose – the new body had to “reverse the degradation” on Boracay. The BIATF was tasked with assessing the degree of pollution on the island caused by the unregulated discharge of untreated wastewaters in the sea. Boracay was then shut down for an environmental cleanup in a six-month process of rehabilitation and closure of all businesses. It opened for locals earlier this month and is expected to welcome tourists and international visitors on October 26.

Meanwhile, the island, which is a popular tourist destination, is being eyed from gambling operators who are planning the development of a large-scale casino resort. With President Duterte’s war on gambling, however, such ambitious plans are highly unlikely. After speaking against gambling on multiple occasions, earlier this month, he vowed that there will be no casinos on Boracay when it is finally reopened. The latest news from the regulator only confirms that.

Galaxy Group’s License Suspended Indefinitely

The Philippine Star also writes that PAGCOR has issued gaming licenses only to two Boracay operations, namely the Alpha Allied casino and the planned Galaxy casino resort. Currently, the only operational gambling establishment on the island is the Alpha Allied Holding Ltd.’s casino located in the Movenpick Boracay hotel. According to Jose Tria Jr., the regulator has already ordered the closure of this casino.

The gaming license for the other project has been suspended indefinitely by PAGCOR, Tria explains. It was a joint venture by Philippines-based Leisure & Resorts World Corporation and Galaxy Entertainment, a Hong Kong gambling corporation with a large number of casinos and hotels in Macau. The partnership between the two operators was set up with the ambitious plan to build a $500-million integrated casino resort.

The complex would be constructed on 57 acres of land on Boracay Island and gambling would be just a “small portion” of the hospitality and tourism project, as explained this summer by Lui Che Woo, founder and chairman of Galaxy Entertainment. Lui was confident that the integrated casino resort would become a reality despite the negative attitude of President Duterte. Galaxy had received its license last year and until recently, the project was believed to be right on track.

Following the $18.5-million rehabilitation of the Boracay Island, waters and beaches were cleaned and the infrastructure was repaired. The government installed new sewage and drainage systems and reopened the island for Filipinos last week, while foreign tourists will be allowed this week.

The “new” Boracay has new rules to prevent “degradation”, crime and pollution – there will be an overnight visitor cap of 19,000 people, as well as a total ban on alcohol consumption and smoking. New restrictions on watersports are imposed, while various types of plastics such as bags are banned to keep the island clean. Last, but not least, no casinos will operate on Boracay after all licenses were canceled.

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International sales help push MegaMillions jackpot to $1.6 billion

The cash prize attached to the latest edition of the United States’ multi-jurisdictional MegaMillions lottery game now stands at a record-breaking $1.6 billion with this amount expected to rise even higher due to ‘unprecedented international sales.’ $2 billion prize a possibility: This is the opinion of theLotter.com with the global online lottery ticket purchasing service […]

Z Capital and Affinity Gaming propose nine-figure Full House Resorts acquisition

Z Capital Partners and its affiliate Affinity Gaming have announced a proposal to acquire operator Full House Resorts

Las Vegas’ Palace Station launches revamped business

The Station Casinos’ property has just opened after undergoing a US$192 million modernisation that began in 2016.

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Meet up with Betinvest at ICE Africa 2018 Johannesburg

Betinvest is exhibiting at the very first ICE event in Johannesburg, South Africa

Horseshoe Casino Baltimore and NFL’s Ravens agree marketing deal

In Maryland, the second partnership between a casino and an NFL team is in the books as the Horseshoe Casino Baltimore announced on Friday that it had inked a multi-year marketing deal with the Ravens. According to The Baltimore Sun, under the terms of the agreement, the casino will be able to use Baltimore Ravens logos […]

iSoftBet unveils The Dalai Panda slot game

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WSOP Circuit Horseshoe Hammond Main Event Day 1B Draws 634 Entrants, 140 Progress into Day 2

Day 2 to kick off with 236 survivors from the tournament’s two starting flights

The second starting flight of the WSOP Circuit Horseshoe Hammond Main Event is now in the books. It drew 634 entries, of whom only 140 survived through the 15 levels that were played at the host casino on Saturday to progress into Day 2.

Alex Triemanis ended up bagging the largest stack of the day with 479,000. However, it will be the Day 1A chip leader, Michael Perrone, who will lead the surviving hopefuls from the tournament’s two starting flights into the second day of action. Perrone scooped 649,000 on Friday night when his starting flight was played.

With Day 1B’s entries, the overall field was brought to a total of 1,094 entrants, which is down from last year’s edition of the tournament when as many as 1,247 contenders entered it to compete for the title and $332,020 in first-place prize money.

Speaking of prize money, the $1,700 buy-in Main Event generated a prize pool of $1,657,410 this year, beating the $1 million guarantee. The top 117 finishers will receive a share of the money, min-cashes starting from $2,718. Each of the players who make it to the official final table of nine will be guaranteed a minimum of $29,999, but they will all eye the first-place prize of $302,492. Along with the cash prize, the tournament’s champ will also scoop a gold ring from the series and will secure a seat into the season-ending Global Casino Championship.

Day 1B Action

As mentioned above, Day 1B was busier than the preceding starting flight as more players rushed to Horseshoe Hammond to register into the tournament. At the end of the day, there were 140 players to bag and tag. The Day 1B field will merge with the Day 1A’s today for the second day of play. A total of 96 players made it through Day 1A on Friday night, which means that as many as 236 hopefuls are expected to return to the host venue later today.

Among the Day 1B survivors were poker pro and WSOP Circuit legend Maurice Hawkins, who fired a second bullet yesterday, after failing to bag on Day 1A, Zo Karim, Aaron Massey, and Anna Antimony. They will join other notables from Day 1A, including gold bracelet winners David Pham and Tom Koral and gold ring winners Robert Hankins and Ralph Massey. Last year’s champion – Blake Battaglia – is also still in contention. The player bagged and tagged 96,500 at the end of Day 1A and will return to fight for a back-to-back title.

Day 2 action is set to resume today at 11 am local time at the host casino. The remaining players are scheduled to play ten one-hour levels. The money bubble will burst at some point in play and the field will be further whittled down to just a few players, who will return tomorrow to play the final day of the tournament.

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Michael Perrone Leads WSOP Circuit Horseshoe Hammond Main Event Day 1A Survivors

Last year’s champ, Blake Battaglia, eyes a back-to-back title

Main Event action unfolded on Friday at Horseshoe Hammond where the current WSOP Circuit stop is taking place. The first of two starting flights was completed yesterday at the host casino and the names of the first players who secured a seat into Day 2 of the $1,700 buy-in tournament are now clear.

Michael Perrone, a player from Fairport, New York, finished Day 1A as the chip leader, putting 450,000 into his bag. The player is vying for his first-ever title from the series. He scored his best finish in a WSOP Circuit event early this year when he came in 6th in a $365 No-Limit Hold’em at the Choctaw Durant stop of the series. The player collected $27,156 for his run in that event.

One-time gold ring winner Ralph Massey was the player to finish the closest to the chip leader last night. He had 355,000 in chips at the end of Day 1A play. Jeffrey Fielder, a proud owner of two gold rings from the series, grabbed the third largest stack of the night, good for 320,000.

The first flight of the Main Event drew 460 entrants to the tables of Horseshoe Hammond. Of them, just 96 survived through all 15 levels scheduled to secure their spots into Day 2. They will be joined by the Day 1B survivors. The second starting flight of the tournament will start today at noon local time.

Notables Who Played Day 1A

The tournament, with its guaranteed prize pool of $1 million, attracted a number of WSOP Circuit regulars and other notables. WSOP gold bracelet winners Tom Koral and David Pham as well as gold ring winners Robert Hankins, Ryan Phan, and Ralph Massey were among those to make it through the end of the day.

Last year’s Horseshoe Hammond Main Event champion, Blake Battaglia, was, too, among the Day 1A survivors of the 2018 edition of the tournament. Battaglia outlasted 1,247 entries last fall to win the Main Event title, a gold ring, and a first-place prize of $332,020. The player will enter Day 2 of action with 96,500 for a shot at a back-to-back win.

WSOP Circuit notables such as Maurice Hawkins, Kevin Eyster, Aaron Massey, and Mukul Pahuja were among the players to register into the Main Event though Day 1A, but to fail to make it through all 15 levels.

As mentioned earlier, the tournament will feature one more starting flight that is scheduled to be played today from noon local time at the host casino. It will feature 15 levels of play and registration will remain open until the end of Level 13. The Day 1B survivors will combine with the ones who survived Day 1A on Sunday when Day 2 of the tournament will be played.

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Georgia Landowners Woo Las Vegas Casino Giants as Lawmakers Gear Up for New Gambling Legalization Push

Landowners move to lure Las Vegas developers ahead of expected revival of the casino legalization debate in Georgia’s Legislature

Several Georgia landowners have hired a veteran commercial real estate specialist to woo Las Vegas casino operators to potentially expand their foothold to the state, even though casino gambling is prohibited under current laws, local media outlet Bisnow reports.

Recurring efforts for the legalization of Las Vegas-style gaming options have failed in Georgia’s legislation, but news have emerged that a state lawmaker plans to rekindle the casino debate during the next legislative session. According to local media, Rep. Ron Stephens is going to introduce a bill allowing for the development of up to three casino resorts in the state.

The latest casino legalization effort occurred (and failed) during this year’s legislative session. A bill that would have allowed for the construction of two integrated resorts with casino-style gaming options was spearheaded by Sen. Brandon Beach, a long-time supporter of gambling expansion in the state. While this year’s push may have failed, Sen. Beach has said that the mid-May ruling of the US Supreme Court that lifted the federal sports betting ban could actually help Georgia legalize casino and other gambling options.

In a detailed report from Friday, news outlet Bisnow wrote that while casinos are yet to receive much-needed approval from the Legislature, local landowners have already begun luring Las Vegas gambling operators, offering portions of land where casino resorts could be built.

Where Could Casinos Be Built in Georgia and What Would Their Economic Impact Be?

Previous legislative efforts have been crafted to call for the legalization of casinos within larger integrated resorts rather than standalone gaming facilities. It is believed that future attempts by lawmakers will propose the same type of developments.

Bisnow reported on Friday that a number of landowners from across Georgia have hired Rick Lackey, the founder of City Commercial Real Estate, to lure Las Vegas gaming and hospitality operators with attractive plots of land where destination resorts could be developed.

It has also emerged that Mr. Lackey has been in Las Vegas over the past week to meet with various major companies and discuss the potential of developments in the state. The real estate veteran has presented operators with four sites, each one occupying at least 100 acres of land, which would be enough to accommodate major destination resorts with casino facilities.

According to Bisnow, the first site pitched by landowners as a potential host to a casino resort includes 300 acres of land owned by the city of College Park and known as Airport City. The parcel is located not far from Harsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, and according to experts, a potential destination resort development could capitalize on airport traffic and the flow of international visitors.

The second parcel spreads over 500 acres just off Interstate 85 and along Lake Hartwell. The third site includes 320 acres of land 10 miles from Downtown Savannah. The final sites occupies 300 acres of land right across the Great Wolf Lodge Resort in La Grange.

Commenting on his visit to Las Vegas, Mr. Lackey told Bisnow that while he has been received cordially by operators, they have remained reticent.

“The response has generally been, ‘Thanks for coming, I like the sites, but I’m really not interested in talking until there’s a clear path for legislation,'” Mr. Lackey said.

Some major gambling companies have previously expressed interest in setting foot in Georgia, with MGM Resorts International being one such company. In 2015, the Las Vegas giant proposed the construction of a $1-billion integrated resort in downtown Atlanta. However, the lack of legislative action seems to have killed developers’ enthusiasm.

According to a study by the Georgia Horse Racing Coalition from earlier this year, an Atlanta-based destination resort with a racetrack and casino, among a number of other facilities, could generate an economic impact of over $1.2 billion every year.

Supporters of the legalization of casinos in the state have pointed out that the facilities could contribute funds to the cash-strapped HOPE Scholarship, which rewards students seeking a college or university degree with financial assistance. Some analysts believe that the scholarship will run out of money in about a decade.

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Tyler Payne Captures First Gold Ring with WSOP Circuit Horseshoe Hammond $1,250 No-Limit Hold’em Win

Payne outwits 170 entries to claim his first gold ring from the series

Tyler Payne, a 25-year-old poker pro from Fayetteville, North Carolina, scooped his career’s first gold ring from the WSOP Circuit with a victory at Horseshoe Hammond last night. The player outlasted the 170 entries of the $1,250 No-Limit Hold’em for the gold piece and a first-place prize of $45,900.

The tournament took place over two days at the host casino. As mentioned above, it drew 170 entrants keen to take a shot at the piece of WSOP Circuit jewelry and the prize money. They generated a prize pool of $170,000. The money was split into 18 payouts.

Day 1 of the tournament ended with 24 hopefuls still in the mix for the title. It was namely Payne to lead the pack of 24. The player had managed to swell his 20,000-chip starting stack to 544,500 by the end of the day. He had a massive advantage over his closest rival who happened to be Jim Carr. Carr bagged 388,500 at the end of Day 1.

Day 2 Highlights

As Day 2 action progressed, the money bubble burst and then the unofficial final table of ten was set shortly after. Payne had lost his chip lead by that time, but was actually not that far from the top. He held the second largest stack among the final ten with 772,00 in chips and was only a few big blinds behind the chip leader at the time. Stephen Song led the finalists into that closing stage of the tournament with 838,000.

Payne was part of a stacked final table of several former gold ring winners, including Mukul Pahuja and Kevin Eyster, who each hold three gold rings from the series. In addition, Eyster is also one-time WSOP gold bracelet winner.

Despite the challenging competition, Payne’s final-table ride was smooth and seamless. The player said in his post-victory interview that he felt “like it was [his] the whole time, no tough spots or bad beats.”

Eventually, the tournament’s field was whittled down to just Payne and Eyster. Despite Eyster’s larger collection of WSOP trophies, it was Payne who claimed the $1,250 No-Limit Hold’em title last night.

The two-handed duel only lasted a few hands. Payne said at the beginning of their match that his final opponent had told him he deserved to win the title, to which Eyster responded that he had said that, but that did not mean he would not try to claim the title and his fourth gold ring.

The final hand in play saw Payne’s [Ac][3d] clash into and defeat Eyster’s [As][10h] on a [7h][6s][3c][7s][Qs] board. Eyster scooped $28,366 for his runner-up finish.

While the WSOP Circuit gold ring was extremely important to Payne, he told WSOP staff that he received another, much more important ring, last month. He married his partner Korissa, who the winner revealed has been supporting him the whole way.

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