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Excellence on the East Coast

Photo: Thomas E.Briglia /PhotoGraphics

As former DGE chief David Rebuck (shown with show organizers Lloyd Levenson and Michael Pollock) was honored at the impressive East Coast Gaming Congress, panelists and speakers assailed the rise of so-called “skill games,” illegal online gambling, and debated responsible gaming and financial issues. (All photos courtesy Tom Briglia/PhotoGraphics)

Bell Two Spells Disaster for Star Entertainment

Things have gone from bad to worse for Star Entertainment after the first week of hearings for the Bell Two inquiry unearthed several damaging revelations about the company’s remediation efforts, or lack thereof. The future of Star Sydney, or perhaps the company overall, now hangs in the balance.

WEEKLY FEATURE: MGM Resorts Sues FTC to Block Cyberattack Info Request

MGM Resorts is suing the Federal Trade Commission to quash an FTC request for information on the cyberattack last fall that crippled MGM’s operations.

Virginia Replaces Richmond With Petersburg

The Virginia General Assembly approved a November referendum for Petersburg voters to determine if they want a casino. Petersburg will replace Richmond, where voters twice rejected a casino, as the state’s fifth casino host city.

Pennsylvania Casino Smoking Bill Stalls

The Pennsylvania House of Representatives planned to vote on amendments to a casino smoking bill last week. But sponsors pulled the legislation from the agenda due to lack of support.

Thai Ministries Studying Casinos

In Thailand, multiple government agencies are studying a House report on legal casinos, which reportedly could significantly increase tourism to the country.

Gambling Ads Become Election Issue in Croatia

Gambling policy became an issue in the snap election in Croatia that was held April 17. One of the smaller parties, MOST, could become a coalition maker, and if so might implement its proposed ban on gambling ads.

Jontay Porter Banned by NBA for Gambling Violations

Jontay Porter won’t be waiting for the tipoff when the Toronto Raptors open their NBA season next year. League Commissioner Adam Silver (l.) banned Porter for gambling infractions.

Alabama, Mississippi Sports Betting Expansions Flounder

Alabama and Mississippi adjoin each other. Is that why they face similar odds on the road to sports betting legislation? They’ll find out soon enough if the two chambers approve a compromise in each state. Or not.

Racketeering Lawsuit Targets Minnesota Gaming Tribes

The Minnesota racetrack Racing Aces filed a federal racketeering lawsuit against three Indian casinos in the state. It claims the casinos are offering card games that violate the state tribal gaming compact.

California Off-Reservation Casino Proposal Creates Tribal Rift

Tribes in Oregon and California say an Oregon coastal tribe, the 1,200-member Coquille, is going too far in wanting to build a casino far inland, 165 miles from its reservation.

GGB PODCAST: Jeannie Hovland, Vice Chair, National Indian Gaming Commission

This week, we sit down with Jeannie Hovland (l.), vice chair of the National Indian Gaming Commission, to talk about the commission’s priorities for the rest of the year, its forthcoming industry revenue report and the evolution of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act over the last 30-plus years.

GGB Podcast sponsored by iGamingPlayer.

Macau Casino Credit Bill to Become Law

Macau’s new gaming credit bill, to become law on August 1, restricts the issuance of credit to casino concessionaires, allows contracts with junkets and gives the government the power to terminate any credit arrangements.

Hong Kong Court Appoints Liquidator for IPI

On April 15, a court in Hong Kong ordered a liquidator for Saipan casino operator Imperial Pacific International. IPI owes millions in licensing fees and judgments, plus interest and costs.

Macau Legend Pushes Back Sale of Laos Resort

Hong Kong-listed Macau Legend Development expected the sale of its Savan Vegas casino complex in Laos (l.) to close by mid-April. That timeline has been delayed once again, this time to May 3.

Genting Singapore Relies on Non-Gaming to Bring Chinese

Genting Singapore, operator of Resorts World Sentosa, says that non-gaming attractions will keep Chinese visitors coming, even as Beijing warns its people not to gamble in the city-state.

Greece Approves Casino Resort in Athens

A suburb north of Athens, Greece, could become home to a luxury casino complex. North Star Entertainment has proposed the €250 million casino resort with 5-star hotel, convention facilities and dining.

Netherlands Bill Would Ban Online Gaming Ads

The House of Representatives of the Netherlands has voted for two gaming related bills. One would ban online gaming ads. The other would target “high-risk” online casino games.

NSW Cashless Trial Garners Mixed Results

The first report from Aristocrat’s cashless gaming trial in New South Wales revealed that the technology did well in gathering data and integrating RG tools, but was hampered by sign-up difficulties and other bugs.

Maine Legislators Bring Dead iGaming Bill Back, Only to Kill It

The Wabanaki tribes in Maine saw a windfall for the exclusive rights to operate online casinos. The Senate approved the rights. The House said no way.

Bill in NJ Senate Would Double iGaming, Sports Betting Tax

A bill introduced in the New Jersey Senate would double the tax rate on both online gaming and sports betting revenues, assessing a 30 percent rate on both.

Lawmakers Seek to Expand Online Wagering in Delaware

When Delaware approved a contract for BetRivers sportsbook in 2023, the state seemed content with a lone company. Now lawmakers are testing the waters for an expansion of up to five sportsbooks—if they find takers.

NASCAR Prioritizing Integrity, Gambling Training

In the wake of other gambling-related scandals around the sports world, NASCAR has increased its efforts to promote integrity and betting education for drivers.

New York Scratched College Prop Bets Before NCAA Did

The NCAA has been on a campaign to convince sportsbook operators to bar college proposition bets. Well, here’s some news, NCAA. New York State did it long before you. But thank you anyway.

Kentucky Lawmakers Overturn Governor’s Veto for New Reg. Body

Kentucky’s Republican-controlled legislature overturned Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear’s (l.) veto of Senate Bill 299, which will create a new independent agency to regulate gambling. Beshear called the bill “unnecessary and unworkable,” but was ultimately overruled.

Mississippi Official Wants Tidelands Law Approval

Mississippi Secretary of State Michael Watson said lawmakers must pass a bill giving his office sole control over coastal tidelands, since a recent Supreme Court ruling “effectually gutted” the current law.

No Purchaser So Far for NH Casino Ordered to Sell

Concord Casino in Concord, NH is facing a deadline. After being shut down in January, owner Andy Sanborn (l.) has six months to sell or the casino loses its charitable gambling license.

Illinois Harness Group Opposes Hawthorne’s Veto Power

Under Illinois’ 2021 gaming legislation, Hawthorne Race Course has a monopoly on vetoing any proposal for a harness racino within 35 miles of its Cicero site. The Illinois Harness Horsemen’s Association said it’s time to end that arrangement.

Jake’s 58 $200 Million Expansion Will Include More Off-Track Betting

Suffolk OTB has begun work on a $210 million expansion project of Jake’s 58 Casino Hotel (l.) on Long Island, NY. The project will more than double the VLTs in the casino and are projected to increase revenue by 42 percent.

Biden Urged to Fill NIGC’s Vacant Chair

Indian Gaming Association Chairman Ernie Stevens, Jr., is urging the Biden administration to appoint a new chairman for the National Indian Gaming Commission. The vacancy has existed since February.

Feds Take Washington Tribal Land Into Trust

The Puyallup Tribe will have 17 acres of tribal waterfront land added to its Tacoma reservation under the recently passed Puyallup Tribe of Indians Land Into Trust Act, which awaits President Joe Biden’s signature.

Texas Tribe To Build New Casino Resort

The Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas will build a new casino resort at its Polk County reservation near Livingston. The tribe also plans to extensively remodel and install electronic bingo machines at its Ischoopa/One Stop Convenience Store and Truck Stop.

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