The FPB, per an announcement on its website, has ordered BML to stop marketing gambling products in Finland, accusing it of violating the Lottery Act. It has also presented it with a conditional fine of €2.4 million (US$2.6 million) for having broken the law.

Currently, Finland’s gambling market is completely controlled by the state-run Veikkaus monopoly. While this may change in the future, any gaming company that brings its name across Finland’s border into the country faces persecution.

FPB Forced To Act

Betsson and its subsidiaries have had several opportunities to state their own point of view and change their operations in accordance with the FPB’s point of view. During the consultation process, the company has made some changes, among other things, in relation to the marketing channels it uses. However, despite this, the authorities accuse it of continuing its marketing to mainland Finland without interruption.

The ban applies to material that directly or indirectly promotes gambling in mainland Finland on BML’s gambling websites. This includes anything that appears in the country linking the company to gambling – the use of Finnish public figures for advertising, podcasts, digital and print news and more. Anything that has already been published has to be removed, as well.

The prohibition also includes affiliate marketing on behalf of BML Group Ltd on websites owned and managed by others other than the company itself. If, despite the ban, BML Group Ltd continues to market gambling in mainland Finland, the Police Board will take measures to impose another fine to be paid.

The fine could have been higher, with the FPB deciding that BML has already taken measures to reduce its marketing presence in the country. As a result, it showed a certain degree of leniency.

The decision will enter into force on June 3; if BML complies, it won’t have to pay the fine. The company has the opportunity to appeal the decision by the same date, but hasn’t indicated if it will. Betsson didn’t respond to a request for comment.

Influencers Also Under Attack

It’s not just big gaming companies with deep pockets that can get into trouble for disturbing the Veikkaus monopoly. Even individuals who promote other brands have found themselves in trouble with the law recently.

One is Finnish social media star Lauri Kangas, according to Finnish media outlet iltalehti. Under the nickname Lateksituppii, he allegedly promoted gambling websites on Twitch, YouTube and more in 2020 and 2021. Kangas also introduced various instant casino games from other platforms to his followers.

That led to charges against him this year in the District Court of Itä-Uusimaa. Prosecutors hit him with a fine of €69,313 (US$75,142) or a suspended prison sentence, although it’s contingent upon a judge’s ruling. That decision is scheduled for May 26.

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The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE) on Monday released April’s revenue numbers. While land-based gaming was down from April 2022, iGaming and sportsbooks continued their growth.

Gross gaming revenue (GGR) from online casino slot machines, table games, and poker rake was $158.9 million — a 16% improvement from April 2022. Oddsmakers won $72.3 million of the $833.9 million wagered.

The sports betting income includes revenue from both in-person and online, though mobile betting is the heavily preferred wagering channel. Of the $833.9 million bet last month, all but about $35.5 million was wagered online.

Year to date, New Jersey GGR from the nine casinos, iGaming, and sports betting totaled nearly $1.8 billion. That’s up more than 12% compared with the same four months in 2022, which was a record year that saw the gaming interests win over $5.2 billion.

Trending Positively Before Busy Season

Though gaming revenue was down in Atlantic City last month, April’s brick-and-mortar win of $231.3 million sets a new monthly high for 2023. Casinos won $211.6 million in January, $214.9 million in February, and $228.6 million in March.

James Plousis, chair of the New Jersey Casino Control Commission, the state agency that oversees the DGE, said he remains optimistic about Atlantic City’s immediate future despite the small retraction in land-based play.

Even though April’s casino win lagged compared to the same period last year, it was still the second strongest April in 11 years,” Plousis said in a statement to Casino.org. “As I regularly visit the casino hotels, I hear a lot of optimism that this will be a great summer in Atlantic City.”

Plousis cited an abundance of new, unique events, including Resorts Casino Hotel’s 45th anniversary celebration set for later this month. Resorts was the first casino to open in Atlantic City back in May of 1978.

Resorts isn’t the only casino in town with a major anniversary this summer. Hard Rock and Ocean Casino, which both opened on June 27, 2018, will commemorate five years of being in business next month. And Borgata, the richest casino of the nine in terms of gaming revenue, will host its 20th anniversary in July.

Sliding Into Summer

Atlantic City this summer will have a new attraction that officials at the non-gaming Showboat Hotel hope will bring in new guests — specifically, families.

The Showboat is finalizing its Island Waterpark, a year-round water park that features a large, retractable glass-pane roof above numerous waterslides, lazy rivers, and pools.

Ocean plans to give away $5 million this summer in giveaways and promotions to celebrate its fifth year in operation.

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Just like with conventional money, there are different views of the value crypto holds, which causes lawmakers a lot of confusion. The European Union (EU) just approved new regulations to provide some guidance, while the US federal government still can’t figure them out.

In the UK, according to the media outlet Evening Standard, a new push is underway that indicates a lack of edification on the topic among the top policymakers in the country. A group of parliamentarians has determined that crypto has “no useful social purpose” and put it in the same class as gambling.

Crypto Confusion Continues

The Treasury Committee of the House of Commons, which has oversight of almost all financial activity in the UK, conducted a study on crypto. It has published its results, which closely mirror a similar study conducted five years ago.

In addition, they feel that unbacked cryptocurrencies (as opposed to the UK government’s attempt to create a central bank digital currency tied to the pound) have no underlying asset to support their value. As Laurence J. Kotlikoff, a professor of economics at Boston University, pointed out in his 2006 paper Is The United States Bankrupt?, no mainstream currency today – neither the US dollar nor the pound – is backed by physical assets.

As such, because of the market swings that have appeared with Bitcoin and other digital assets, investing in crypto is similar to gambling. The committee asserted in its findings, “We therefore strongly recommend that the Government regulates retail trading and investment activity in unbacked cryptoassets as gambling rather than as a financial service, consistent with its stated principle of ‘same risk, same regulatory outcome.’”

If the government were to agree with that idea, the UKGC could then, in theory, oversee the crypto ecosystem. That means crypto companies would have to apply for a gambling license and pay licensing fees and taxes in accordance with the regulator’s policies.

That would also undoubtedly give the UKGC an excuse to request a larger contingent of personnel and even more money to operate. However, there’s no indication that the government, which has bigger issues to worry about right now, will accept the committee’s findings.

14 Years On, The Debate Continues

CryptoUK, a self-regulatory trade group for the crypto space in the UK, hopes not. Ian Taylor, the Head of Crypto and Digital Assets for KPMG and an adviser to CryptoUK, is quoted as saying that the trade group is “concerned and disappointed” about the findings.

He added that the committee failed to understand the “true nature, purpose and potential of the crypto industry.” Taylor explained that digital assets belong to a new investment class, not to the gambling ecosystem. If consumers can hedge their bets on Forex trading, sugar futures and more without it being called gambling, then betting on crypto prices shouldn’t be, either.

That’s true to a degree, but there’s much more to it. Crypto was never intended to be an investment vehicle. It was created to be currency – an alternative to the dollar, the pound or the euro – that the governments couldn’t control.

There was a time, albeit 3,200 years ago, when seashells were currency. There was also a time when the US paper dollar, when it first tried to appear, was used as wallpaper, as that was the value people prescribed to it. Once enough people understand that certain digital currencies have value as a fiat alternative, crypto’s real purpose will be realized.

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Meanwhile, the state’s top legal advisor and prosecutor, Attorney General Ken Paxton, says one of the nation’s largest hoteliers, the Hyatt Group, which is partnered with numerous commercial and tribal casinos across the US, has regularly violated Texas’ consumer protection laws.

Paxton on Tuesday announced a lawsuit against Hyatt Hotels Corporation for marketing hotel rooms at prices that were not available to the public as advertised. Paxton says Hyatt has regularly engaged in deceptive pricing schemes by advertising an upfront rate that significantly escalates during the booking process through resort fees, destination fees, and amenity fees.

Hyatt’s lack of transparency regarding hotel room prices has misled consumers and violated Texas law,” commented Paxton. “These deceptive practices enabled Hyatt to advertise lodging at artificially low rates, and it must end immediately.”

“I will not stand by while Texas consumers are taken advantage of by Hyatt, or by any hotel chain that tries to get away with charging illegal hidden fees,” Paxton declared.

Scorn of Casino Industry

Resort fees are common in many casino markets, including in Las Vegas and Atlantic City, but that wasn’t always the case.

Resort fees are add-on charges that aren’t typically advertised in the initial rate, but which are tacked on later. They cover such “amenities” as in-room local and 1-800 calls, Wi-Fi, and fitness center access. Paxton says those amenities are often provided free of charge at non-resort hotels.

That resulted in many resort hotels deciding to slash their upfront room rates and tack on charges at the end of the booking process. In Las Vegas, resort fees today are as high as $45 a night, plus tax.

For a two-night stay next week in Las Vegas, Treasure Island advertises a cheap nightly rate of just $37 for the Wednesday to Friday stay. But after clicking through the Priceline booking site, the nightly rate after the casino adds on its daily $45 before-tax resort fee comes to $179.94 for the two-night reservation or nearly $90 a night.

Hyatt Demand

Hyatt’s website shows that the company operates 233 locations in Texas. Paxton’s lawsuit seeks to mandate that the hotelier immediately cease the alleged deceptive pricing practice and return resort fees and other added-on charges to impacted consumers.

The practice of hotels and casinos charging resort fees at the end of the booking process is also being targeted by the federal government. President Joe Biden in October directed the Federal Trade Commission to crack down on unfair and deceptive fees across all industries, including hospitality segments.

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The league also stripped the team of its 2025 first round draft pick — it doesn’t have a 2024 draft pick due to a trade – because of impermissible player benefits offered to Hamby during negotiations for her contract extension in 2022.

After she was traded to the LA Sparks on Jan. 21, Hamby alleged that Hammon had made disparaging comments about her second pregnancy.

“Being traded is a part of the business,” Hamby posted on Instagram. “Being lied to, bullied, manipulated, and discriminated against is not. I have had my character and my work ethic attacked. I was promised things to entice me to sign my extension that were not followed through on… The unprofessional and unethical way that I have been treated has been traumatizing.”

Personal Foul

The WNBA issued its ruling after a months-long investigation into the allegations — during which it said it interviewed 33 people and reviewed texts, emails, and other documents.

“The Aces failed to adhere to league rules and regulations and have been disciplined accordingly,” WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said in a statement, adding the WNBA is also “disheartened by the violation of our respect in the workplace” policy, which it stated “was related to comments made by Hammon to Hamby in connection with Hamby’s recent pregnancy.”

Hammon’s suspension means she’ll miss the season-opener facing the Storm on May 20 and what would have been an interesting game against Hamby’s new team, the Sparks, on May 25. She’ll return for the Aces’ home-opener on May 27, where they’ll receive their 2022 championship rings.

Mixed Reaction

The WNBA Players Association said the league had an opportunity “to send a clear message” but that its decision “misses the mark.”

“Where in this decision does this team or any other team across the league learn the lesson that respect in the workplace is the highest standard and a player’s dignity cannot be manipulated?” the WNBAPA asked in a statement. “While taking away a future draft pick is significant and has never been done in the league’s history, it penalizes a future player by removing an opportunity to compete for a job.”

The Aces issued their own statement, saying that they are “deeply disappointed” in the disciplinary actions from the WNBA.

“The WNBA’s determinations about Becky Hammon are inconsistent with what we know and love about her,” the Aces said. “Becky is a caring human being who forges close personal relationship with her players. We stand by Coach Hammon as she continues to lead the Las Vegas Aces.”

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The news comes as McAfee is the middle of the second of a four-year, $120 million contract struck with FanDuel in December 2021. When that deal was reached, it was considered seismic by sports media industry standards and further highlighted the intersection of media and sports wagering, though the “Pat McAfee Show” is wide-ranging and addresses much more than betting.

It’s not clear what ESPN parent Walt Disney is paying McAfee or if the company is compensating FanDuel. The former NFL punter’s show aired on YouTube and featured a FanDuel logo on the screen. The show will continue to be broadcast on YouTube as well as on ESPN and the ESPN+ streaming service.

FanDuel, the largest online sportsbook in the US, is 95% owned by Dublin-based Flutter Entertainment (OTC: PDYPY). Boyd Gaming (NYSE: BYD) owns the rest.

McAfee Could Spur Temporary Bad PR for Disney

While Disney didn’t reveal financial details of McAfee’s move to ESPN, it’ likely the entertainment is paying him more than he was making with FanDuel.

Conversely, McAfee could be worth a temporary PR sting for Disney because he has a devoted following among the younger demographics media companies and advertisers covet.

Additionally, while the “Pat McAfee Show” isn’t dedicated to wagering content, it has enough of it to potentially elevate ESPN’s sports betting footprint — something that’s long been rumored to be in the works. The former Indianapolis Colt had an existing relationship with the sports network as he appeared on “College GameDay” and alternative broadcasts of select college football games.

For McAfee, ESPN Moves Makes Sense

In addition to a likely raise, the move to ESPN is sensible for McAfee because he owns the company that produces the show. That means a lot of time-consuming behind-the-scenes work will fall off his schedule with the move to Disney.

It’s also expected that the show’s current casts, which includes McAfee friends and former Green Bay Packer Pro Bowl linebacker A.J. Hawk, will transition to ESPN with their boss.

Following an eight-year NFL career in which he made two Pro Bowls and one All-Pro team, McAfee has been a rising force in the next-generation of sports media, leveraging internet and social media avenues to boost his profile. He got his start in the arena with David Portnoy’s Barstool Sports, which today is now a unit of regional casino operator Penn Entertainment.

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The deal calls for Bally’s to implode the Tropicana, the third oldest resort on the Las Vegas Strip, as expected. However, the company also pledged to build a new, 1,500-room casino hotel on the property bearing the Bally’s name.

Later on Monday, the A’s and Bally’s announced to the public a binding agreement to build a 35k-seat retractable roof stadium on the Tropicana’s 35 acres, which includes an agreement with Gaming and Leisure Properties Inc., from whom Bally’s leases the land. (GLPI has promised to contribute $175 million towards the redevelopment in exchange for “a commensurate rent increase.”)

FAQ Up

The Tropicana’s Monday closure announcement came in the form of an FAQ emailed to employees, news of which was first broken on Twitter by Casino.org‘s Vital Vegas blogger Scott Roeben. One of the FAQ’s questions asked: “Will I lose my job?” The company’s brusque answer was: “Yes, although, while Tropicana Las Vegas will be closed temporarily for redevelopment, we anticipate that employees will find an enhanced career opportunity when the casino hotel resort reopens.”

In an update to the FAQ distributed on Tuesday, that question was removed and language added assuring the Tropicana’s employees that they “will be given preference on employment opportunities and Bally’s will maintain employee seniority” in the new casino resort.

Also in Tuesday’s update, Bally’s reminded employees that its plans “are in the very preliminary stages and not finalized for a ballpark,” indicating room for the deal to fall through.

Currently, redevelopment of the Tropicana into a stadium will require approvals from Nevada, Clark County, and Major League Baseball. Legislation for the $395 million in public funding — also required for the deal to happen — is expected to be filed later this week. A decision is expected before the end of Nevada’s current legislative session on June 5. However, that is not guaranteed.

Up until a couple weeks ago, the A’s had been negotiating with Red Rock Resorts to build their new stadium on the 49-acre site of the casino company’s already-demolished Wild Wild West Gambling Hall and Hotel. Although the A’s and Red Rock Resorts also reportedly signed a binding agreement, those talks nevertheless fell through.

Union Steps Up to Plate

The Culinary Union’s Local 226 chapter in Las Vegas — which has represented the Tropicana’s hundreds of workers since the property opened in 1957 — also issued a statement on Tuesday. It assured the Tropicana’s current workers that they will all receive union protection should Bally’s fail to deliver on its promises.

“Culinary Union members at the Tropicana Casino have a strong union contract, which means that Tropicana workers are protected,” read the statement from Culinary secretary-treasurer Ted Pappageorge.

Impacted workers will have access to free job training and continued benefits during any closure, the union’s statement continued, in addition to seniority rights of first-access to job openings and placement in other jobs as available.

Pappageorge’s statement pledged that Culinary “will negotiate to ensure worker’s rights under the contract are strictly followed, so that workers have additional compensation, healthcare coverage, and pension benefits while the property is closed for development.”

On May 12, Culinary also announced it had signed an agreement with the Oakland A’s guaranteeing their future Las Vegas employees the right to organize and negotiate union contracts.

The original Tropicana was opened in 1957 on 40 acres at the corner of Las Vegas Boulevard and Bond Road (now Tropicana Avenue) by owner Ben Jaffe, an executive with the Fontainebleau Miami Beach. It is currently the Strip’s third oldest resort, after the Flamingo, which opened in 1946, and the Sahara, which opened in 1952 — though only the Sahara retains the bones of its original structure.

Bally’s paid $148 million last September to acquire Tropicana’s building and the operating license from the real estate investment trust (REIT). Should the A’s remain committed to that site, it could mean the clock is ticking on Tropicana, a once iconic casino hotel that opened in 1957 and was previously known as the “Tiffany of the Strip.”

The post Tropicana Las Vegas Announces Closure Pending Public Ballpark Funding appeared first on Casino.org.

Lisa Marie, the only child of the late rock legend, was the sole beneficiary of a trust that included the Graceland mansion and 15% of the lucrative Elvis Presley Enterprises. In 1993, she appointed her mother and then business manager, Barry Siegel, as co-trustees.

Lisa Marie fired Siegel in 2018, suing him for alleged financial mismanagement that left her more than $16 million in debt that year, according to the LA Times. Siegel countersued, accusing Presley of owing him money.

Suspicious Mind

Following Lisa Marie’s funeral in January, Priscilla challenged the validity of the trust’s 2016 amendment in court. Her filing claimed it wasn’t made by her daughter, since the signature didn’t match Lisa Marie’s and was neither witnessed nor notarized. She also claimed the amended trust wasn’t delivered to her while her daughter was alive, as the trust required, and that it even misspelled Priscilla’s first name.

The families are happy,” Priscilla’s attorney, Ronson J. Shamoun, told reporters outside the courthouse. “Everyone is happy, unified, together, and excited for the future.” Justin Gold, attorney for Keough, told CNN her client “is very content.”

Attorneys for both parties said they plan to file a motion to seal the settlement agreement. Their deadline to do that is June 12.

The post Priscilla Presley Gets Millions in Elvis Money in Settlement with Lisa Marie Trust appeared first on Casino.org.

Carly Nunes, 23, of Lakeville, Mass. was charged with larceny, presentation of a false claim, and witness intimidation by a Plymouth County Grand Jury last week, according to a media release by the DA’s Office.

Her co-worker who wanted a cut of the prize, Joseph Reddem, 32, of Manchester, N.H. was charged with one count of extortion.

Tickets Left in Tray

In January 2013, the real winner, who is unnamed, entered the store formerly known as Savas Liquors in Lakeville to purchase a bag of barbecue potato chips, two Massachusetts State Lottery Quick Picks for the Mega Millions lottery, and two for the Mass Cash lottery, according to prosecutors.

The flavor of the potato chips ultimately turned out to be irrelevant to the case, but state police and lottery commission investigators were determined to leave no stone unturned.

A more decisive detail was that the customer left his lottery tickets in the tray at the checkout counter, and they were subsequently fished out by Nunes who was working the checkout at the time.  

The victim later told investigators he briefly searched for his tickets when he got home, without success, and gave the matter no more thought.

At the draw later that night, he unwittingly hit the jackpot.

Suspicions Aroused

Two days later, Reddem drove Nunes and her boyfriend to the Massachusetts State Lottery headquarters in Dorchester to cash in the prize. Officials noted the ticket was burned and partially torn.

They subsequently heard Reddem arguing with Nunes in the lobby. Reddem allegedly demanded half the jackpot. Officials heard Nunes reply that she would only pay him $200K.

Investigators examined security video at Savas Liquors and saw that the unnamed man and not Nunes had bought the ticket.

They then worked to find the identity of the customer, posting flyers with screengrab shots of the surveillance video, canvassing the Lakeville area, and questioning patrons about the man’s identity.

It took nearly a month to find him, and the bewildered man was informed he had been fleeced for $3 million he never knew he had.

Nunes and Reddem will be arraigned on the indictments at a later date.

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The show is a benefit for ALS, the devastating neurodegenerative disease that Kimmel’s 29-year-old godson, Joey Porrello, was diagnosed with last year.

“It’s No Joke” will feature last year’s Oscars host, as well as comics Jeff Ross, Nick Kroll, Sarah Silverman, and “surprise guests” Kimmel says he can’t announce yet. All proceeds from ticket sales will benefit Project ALS, which has raised $110 million to fund ALS research over 23 years.

“Joey is the kid you want to have,” Kimmel told KTNV-TV/Las Vegas while choking back tears. “He’s smart, he’s nice, he’s funny, he’s an athlete, he’s a soccer player.”

“Jimmy is a great guy who always supports his friends,” Tommy Jr. told Casino.org.

The mean survival time after diagnosis with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, is 2-5 years.

“You just can’t imagine that something like this could happen to anyone, really,” Kimmel told KTNV, “but to somebody who is so alive, we need to do something about it.”

Charity Begins at Home

Some of Kimmel’s earliest comedy memories growing up in Las Vegas were of Jerry Lewis’ annual Labor Day telethons for the Muscular Dystrophy Association, which broadcast from the Sahara in Las Vegas until 1982 when it moved to Caesars Palace until 1989.

That made a big impact on me because my dad loved the telethon,” Kimmel told the Las Vegas Review-Journal. “We would watch it in its entirety, and I’d even go to see it live.”

Kimmel opened his 8,000-square-foot Las Vegas comedy club in 2019, 16 years into hosting his late-night ABC-TV talk show. He said he had no trouble lining up a stellar roster willing to forgo a payday for “It’s No Joke.”

“The comedy community — we never actually call it that, but we should — is a very charitable group of people,” Kimmel told the R-J. “They’re so quick to offer their help and time.”

“It’s No Joke” is limited to 175 tickets starting at $500. Tables for six are also available starting at $6,000. Click here for information.

To read more about Joey Porrello, check out his Instagram account @JoeyDoesALS.

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Financial terms of the accords weren’t disclosed. But deal terms include provisions under which Caesars will open the only brick-and-mortar sportsbooks in the commonwealth. Kentucky lawmakers approved sports wagering last month, and hope to see it launched by the start of the 2023 football season. Following the debuts of mobile sports betting in Ohio and Massachusetts earlier this year, Kentucky is the only other state of note that’s expected to roll out online sports wagering before the end of 2023.

Caesars Sportsbook will operate an on-premise retail sportsbook at Red Mile, subject to regulatory approvals, so guests can enjoy the excitement of sports betting, gaming, and simulcasting all under one roof,” according to a statement.

Caesars currently doesn’t operate a land-based gaming venue in Kentucky. But it does run casinos in Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio, and is planning to open one in Virginia, all of which border the commonwealth.

Caesars Expanding Horse Racing Footprint

While the agreements with Keeneland and Red Mile Gaming & Racing set the stage for Caesars to be a player in the Kentucky sports wagering scene, the accords also highlight the casino operator’s commitment to expanding its horse racing presence.

With Keeneland and Red Mile, Caesars is partnering with a pair of the most venerable names in horse racing. The former is the premier horse auctioneer, holding five such events per year, and has live racing in April and October.

“Red Mile, established in 1875, is the second-oldest harness racing track in the world, and a premier gaming destination in Kentucky, featuring over 950 Historical Horse Racing machines,” according to the statement.

Caesars Rewards Tie-Ins

As it does with the Caesars Sportsbook app and its internet casino platform, the operator will leverage its Caesars Rewards loyalty program in the agreements with Keeneland and Red Mile. At both tracks, Caesars Sportsbook will offer rewards members hospitality and VIP experiences. Once sports wagering debuts in Kentucky, bettors there can start accumulating Caesars Rewards points and tier credits.

Every wager placed rewards the bettor with Tier Credits for status and Reward Credits that can be used to unlock world-class Caesars Rewards experiences and discounted getaways at Caesars Entertainment destinations across the United States,” said the operator in the press release.

The tier levels in Caesars Rewards are Gold, Platinum, Diamond, Diamond Plus, Diamond Elite, and Seven Stars. With more than 60 million members, it’s the gaming industry’s largest customer loyalty program.

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Mike Budenholzer, Nick Nurse, and Mike D’Antoni are all on the shortlist of potential replacement candidates to become the new head coach of the 76ers.

The 76ers were eliminated from the 2023 NBA playoffs on Sunday when they lost Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Boston Celtics.

The 76ers swept the #6 Brooklyn Nets in the first round. In the second round against the #2 Celtics, the 76ers won Game 1 on the road in Boston. They won Game 4 at home and Game 5 in Boston, and seized a 3-2 series lead. The Celtics won the last two games in the series to knock out the 76ers and advance to the conference finals.

Rivers Couldn’t Get 76ers Over the Hump

Rivers spent nine years as the head coach of the Boston Celtics and led the team to a championship in the 2007-08 season. He guided them back to the NBA Finals in the 2009-10 season, but couldn’t secure another title.

Rivers joined the 76ers in 2020 with a specific mandate: win a championship. He won 65.3% of his games and posted a 154-82 record in the regular season.

In his first season in Philadelphia, during a shortened 72-game season, Rivers led the 76ers to a 49-23 record. They secured the #1 seed in the Eastern Conference, but the red-hot Atlanta Hawks upset the 76ers in the conference semifinals.

Last season, the 76ers won 51 games and headed into the playoffs as a #4 seed. Once again, the 76ers met their fate in the conference semifinals when the Miami Heat picked them off in six games.

For the third season in a row, the 76ers were eliminated in the second round. The 76ers squandered a 3-2 series lead against the Celtics and failed to deliver a knock-out blow at home in Game 6.

Rivers lost his fifth-straight Game 7. The heartbreaking loss also marked the 10th time in his career that one of his teams lost in Game 7.

In his three seasons with the 76ers, Rivers failed to deliver a championship. The team never even advanced to the Eastern Conference finals under his watch, which is why the 76ers fired him.

76ers Eying Budenholzer, Nurse, D’Antoni

Several noteworthy head coaches are available this offseason. After the 76ers fired Rivers, there are now no fewer than four available head coaches who previously won a championship.

Nick Nurse is currently on the shortlist for numerous jobs, including the Phoenix Suns and the 76ers. Nurse won a title with the Toronto Raptors in the 2018-19 season.

Frank Vogel won a championship with the Lakers in 2019-20, but he was let go last off-season.

The top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks fired Mike Budenholzer after they were upset by the #8 Miami Heat in the opening round of the Eastern Conference playoffs. The Phoenix Suns and 76ers are also interested in hiring Budenholzer, who won a championship with the Bucks in the 2020-21 season.

If Rivers doesn’t want to take a year off and work in the media, there are several teams in search of a new head coach. The Detroit Pistons, Phoenix Suns, Bucks, and Raptors each have a head coach vacancy.

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Evolution is a Swedish-based iGaming B2B outlet that facilitates live dealer table games and interactive slots over the internet. The company hires table game dealers who run games from Evolution’s various studios.

In the US, Evolution offers live dealer online table games in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and West Virginia. Galaxy’s new partnership with Evolution will allow Galaxy’s table games and their patented side bets to come to the Evolution studios. Galaxy and Evolution previously partnered for Galaxy to provide Evolution with interactive slots.

Extending our long-standing partnership with Evolution aligns with our focus to deliver the best table game content to everyone, everywhere,” said Todd Cravens, president and CEO of Galaxy Gaming. “Evolution continues to develop a robust catalogue of top-performing and innovative titles. We are delighted to continue to be a part of this impressive product portfolio and thrill their players with our world-famous games.”

The Galaxy-Evolution agreement will bring many of Galaxy’s popular table games to the Evolution platform, including 21+3, Perfect Pairs, Lucky Ladies, Double Ball Roulette, Texas Hold’em Bonus Poker, and Caribbean Stud.

Evolution Revenue Soaring

The pandemic wasn’t good for most business sectors, but there were some exceptions, and one was most certainly iGaming. While brick-and-mortar casinos were forced to close in 2020, the states where online casinos were allowed to operate in 2020 thrived amid the coronavirus.

Being a market leader in operating live dealer table games over the internet, Evolution saw its gross revenue climb from €375.8 million (US$408M) in 2019 to more than €561.1 million (US$609M) in 2020.

Evolution has various financial agreements in place with its customer-facing partners like DraftKings, BetMGM, and FanDuel. The firm says it receives varying commissions and/or fixed fees for operating live dealer table games on behalf of its partners and supplying the platforms with interactive slot titles.

Evolution has 10 studios in Europe, five in the US, and two in Canada. In its 2022 annual report, Evolution said it operated more than 1,300 live dealer tables from its remote studios.

Mysterious Probe

Evolution was the subject of a mysterious claim filed in New Jersey in 2021 that alleged that the company allowed its products to be played in black markets, including in several countries that are currently subject to US sanctions.

New Jersey DGE officials confirmed receipt of the complaint but haven’t further revealed the merits of the accusations.

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A woman named Alexis V. received the money while playing the Sinatra New York, New York slot machine. Details on the win weren’t provided by the gaming property, but casino officials were happy for the guest.

Congratulations to the newest member of our Winners’ Circle, Alexis V,” Treena Parvello, the casino’s director of government and public relations, said in a recent statement.

The Tohono O’odham Nation owns and operates Desert Diamond Casino in Glendale, Ariz. It is located some 14 miles northwest of Phoenix.

The gaming property has more than 1,400 slot machines and provides other games, such as poker, blackjack, roulette, craps, and baccarat.

Linq Player Wins $239K

A visitor from Mexico won more than $239K while playing Three Card Poker on Sunday at the Linq Hotel + Experience in Las Vegas.

The lucky winner was identified as Angelica Veronica Alejandro. Her jackpot totaled $239,054.

Alejandro played for two hours before hitting the jackpot. The Caesars Rewards member’s lucky hand was a royal flush in diamonds. She won with a mega jackpot at the Caesars Entertainment property.

When Alejandro finishes her Las Vegas vacation and returns to Nuevo Leon, Mexico, she will use the money to pay for her child’s college tuition.

Her advice to others who are also eager to win is to “just keep playing,” according to a statement released by Caesars Entertainment.

Caesars Palace $100K Jackpot

A mystery player won $100K at Caesars Palace Las Vegas last Thursday. The lucky visitor was playing Double Double Bonus Poker.

The visitor won with four aces with a four kicker, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

The player was betting $125 per hand, the report added.

The lucky guest is a Caesars Rewards member.

Hard Rock Casino Payout of $114K

A player named Kenneth G won $114,158 while playing progressive blackjack at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Sioux City on Wednesday.

Kenneth G. told a casino employee he was “headed straight to the bank” with his jackpot.

“It was like slow motion as the 7s came up,” Kenneth G. added in a statement from a Hard Rock Casino spokesperson. “I couldn’t believe it.”

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The American Gaming Association (AGA) reported Tuesday that Q1 2023 gross gaming revenue (GGR) for commercial interests was a record-breaking $16.6 billion. The period was highlighted by March, which saw revenue climb to $5.9 billion, the industry’s all-time best month.

After two full years of successive growth post-COVID, the US gaming industry has never been stronger,” commented AGA President and CEO Bill Miller. “With record growth across every gaming vertical — from brick-and-mortar casinos to mobile gaming — American adults continue to choose gaming as one of their top entertainment options.”

Brick-and-mortar gaming, often referred to as “traditional” or “legacy” gaming, generated the bulk of the Q1 revenue with $12.3 billion. That surpassed the land-based industry’s previous best quarter of $12.26 billion set in the third quarter last year.

Legal iGaming platforms in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Delaware, and West Virginia added nearly $1.5 billion. Licensed oddsmakers added $2.79 billion in quarterly revenue on more than $31.1 billion bet. Both sports betting figures are all-time quarterly highs.

Record Tax Benefit

Along with issuing its Q1 revenue tally, the AGA, the preeminent group in DC lobbying on behalf of the nation’s commercial and tribal gaming interests, unveiled its “State of the States 2023” report. In the comprehensive review, the AGA says the US gaming industry provided a record tax benefit last year for state governments.

“As one of the biggest taxpayers in states across the country, we know that when gaming is successful, so are our communities,” added Miller. “Beyond our significant tax contributions, our industry is engrained in local communities, bolstering economic development through job creation, supporting local charities and nonprofits, and setting the standard on corporate responsibility.”

The AGA says 34 states and the District of Columbia featured some form of commercial gaming during the first quarter of 2023.

Winning Streak

The US commercial gaming industry has now experienced eight consecutive quarters where total gross revenue eclipsed the previous record. The $16.6 billion in GGR won during the January through March timeframe easily topped the industry’s previous best quarter of $15.85 billion set in Q4 of 2022.

Though retail play continues to dominate the GGR landscape, the $12.3 billion in land-based win representing about 75% of the Q1 revenue, iGaming and online sportsbooks accounted for the remaining 25%. The AGA says it’s the largest market share ever for internet gaming.

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The record level of questionable monetary movement at casinos has prompted calls for the province to better investigate the true source of the dubious funds.

Similar to the Bank Secrecy Act in the US that requires financial institutions and other businesses that handle large amounts of cash to file a suspicious activity report (SAR) when a reporting entity believes a customer is trying to avoid reporting requirements via structuring, Canada also mandates businesses to assist the country in cracking down on money laundering.

Despite efforts in recent years by law enforcement in Ontario to crack down on suspicious financial movements, Ontario’s 30 casinos last year reported more suspect transactions than ever before.

Premier Unconcerned

Ontario Premier Doug Ford isn’t overly concerned that the province’s casinos continue to report increased suspicious activity at their cashier cages. Asked recently about the suspicious activity going on at the casinos, Ford said the elevated reporting shows the system is working.

The OLG (Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation), if there is anything suspicious, they call the OPP (Ontario Provincial Police) in. They’ll do an investigation, like anything else,” Ford said during a media conference this week.

“I have all the confidence in the world in the OPP,” Ford added.

Not everyone does, however. Speaking with CTV News Toronto, two former Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers said the rising amount of suspicious activity warrants more action from the government.

“My guess is that in many of these cases when you’re seeing large sums of money like this, there are illicit funds,” opined Cal Chrustie, a former RCMP investigator who dealt with money laundering and transnational crime.

Peter German, a former RCMP deputy commissioner, added that financial regulators must take a closer look at the suspicious activity before deciding if additional investigations are needed.

One really has to look carefully at the numbers,” German explained. “You can have over-reporting and you can have underreporting. You have to assess the quality of the transactions. It’s important that the regulatory (OLG) is following up.”

Investigating more than $372 million in transactions is no easy task, but the OLG’s workforce numbers more than 15K employees. Along with regulating casinos, the OLG runs the province’s lottery operations, iGaming, and sports betting businesses.

Reporting Process

Canadian businesses required to file suspicious transaction reports send the filings to the OLG’s Anti-Money Laundering Team and FINTRAC, the Financial Transaction and Reports Analysis Center of Canada.

Ontario Auditor General Bonnie Lysyk says the province must do more to crack down on money laundering. During her 2022 review of the OLG, Lysyk recommended that provincial lawmakers require casinos to “obtain proof of source of funds at buy-in for cash and cash-equivalent transactions for amounts of CA$10,0000 (US$7,450) or more.”

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The company faltered because of COVID-19, despite its majority ownership by the seventh-richest man in Malaysia. It had set out to launch several ships at once, but the global pandemic froze everything and led to significant money troubles.

From there, Genting HK began cutting costs and selling ships for pennies on the dollar. It was all for nothing, though, as the company never found a way to stay afloat.

The Sinking Ship

Lim is a certified billionaire, but didn’t want to turn the company around. Genting HK unloaded its assets and filed for bankruptcy after accumulating $2.8 billion in debt it couldn’t recover.

Per HKSE regulations, a delisted company has 18 months to file a request to be listed again. Genting HK has confirmed it won’t try to become relisted.

Genting HK emerged from Star Cruises, which Lim started decades ago. That business grew to include Crystal Cruises in the US, which Genting HK purchased before setting up Dream Cruises as it continued to expand.

In 2015, the company decided to begin building its own ships and purchased shipyards in Germany. It began working on several vessels before COVID-19 hit and decimated its operations.

Attempts to find loans and relief through insurance claims were unsuccessful, and Genting HK began accumulating more bills. At one point, it wasn’t even able to pay its fuel bills, leading one supplier to file a $4-million claim that led to the attempted seizure.

The Genting Phoenix

Lim didn’t give up on his dream that easily. Instead, he started a new cruise line that follows Genting’s Resorts World naming scheme. Resorts World Cruises (RWC) emerged last year, a joint effort between Lim, one of his sons, and a third man, Gerard Lim Ewe Keng, through the Resorts World brand Two Trees Family.

The new company is already at sea, having launched Genting Dream last year. The vessel’s homeport is Singapore, and it’s one of the ships Genting HK used to own.

Several familiar faces from Genting HK are participating in the new operation. Michael Goh was the president of and head of international sales at Dream Cruises, and is now the president of RWC.

Dikshaa Batra was the senior sales manager at Star Cruises and the assistant VP at Genting HK, according to her LinkedIn profile. She is now an assistant VP at the new company.

Havard Ramsoy, Raymond Lim, Wang Wang, and several others also transitioned from Genting HK to RWC in various capacities. They’re all intimately familiar with the operations and the ships, as the vessels the company will use are owned by the banks that seized them when Genting HK fell apart.

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In the corporate world, executive resignations can send shockwaves through an organization. These high-level departures can disrupt business operations, cause uncertainty among employees, and negatively impact a company’s financial performance.

In the cases of Entain and Kindred, this dark view of what the future might hold doesn’t withstand scrutiny. Both of the companies have created massive stability in the gaming industry, and despite a few bumps along the way, are in great shape.

Kindred Loses its CFO

An announcement by Kindred this week revealed that Johan Wilsby will step down as the company’s CFO. He has held the position since September 2020, following similar stints at the regional level for HP and Microsoft.

The press release about the departure didn’t provide a reason, although Kindred CEO Henrik Tjärnström called him an “appreciated colleague” who has shown “leadership and integrity during challenging times.”

Wilsby will depart the company sometime this fall, although an exact date wasn’t provided. Kindred is already looking for a replacement.

When it released the financial details, Tjärnström hinted that the company wouldn’t turn its back on a potential sale if the price were right. He added that a full or partial sale would be considered, as would a merger, as long as the option benefits shareholders.

Entain Loses its Chief Governance Officer

Robert Hoskin has been as much a part of Entain as the name itself. He joined the company, founded in 2004, 18 years ago, and has played a major role in its success, while also helping it weather some storms.

He now feels he’s done all he can in an official capacity. He will step down from the board at the end of June and then leave his CGO role at the end of August.

The Ladbrokes and Coral owner didn’t provide a specific reason for Hoskin’s departure, but hinted at a “restructuring” of the business. Entain General Counsel Simon Zinger will take over Hoskin’s responsibilities.

Entain chain Barry Gibson called Hoskin a “great colleague” who did a lot to help the company achieve its goals. CEO Jette Nygaard-Andersen added that he had an “instrumental role” in the company and that she “benefitted hugely from his wisdom and counsel.”

As with Wilsby, what the future holds for Hoskin remains a mystery.

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The PCI will investigate fraud mostly in soccer, although it could also look at other sports. Match-fixing in tennis has been a problem as well, and has also become a global issue.

The Brazilian state of Goias announced last week that it found at least 16 people involved in various match-fixing activities. It’s part of a larger investigation taking place across the country, and which also reached MLS and the Colorado Rapids.

Stepping Up the Crackdown

The commission will likely be led by André Fufuca as its president, according to an announcement by the legislative body. The full list of names of the deputies participating in the inquiry won’t be available until after the first meeting.

Felipe Carreras, who previously chaired the sports commission and was a rapporteur on matters such as the “Legal Framework of Gambling” and the “General Law of Sport,” will also play a role on the commission.

According to the latest investigation in Goias, players received up to BRL100,000 (US$20,450) to provoke yellow and red cards in games. The cases occurred in tournaments such as the A and B series of the Brazilian Championship in 2022, and the Paulista and Gaucho championships of 2023.

Eight players have been removed from their clubs because of their alleged participation in the scheme. The list includes names from Fluminense, Santos, Athletico Paranaense, São Bernardo, América – MG, and Coritiba. The investigation also led to the removal of Max Alves from the Rapids.

Bandeira de Mello told local media outlet Jovem Pan News that the CPI’s goal is to eradicate match-fixing in sports. He admitted that it has probably been taking place more often than many realize.

He expects the inquiry to lead to drastic measures against those who organize and commit the manipulation, with new laws possibly arriving out of the review. In addition, the CPI will work closely with the federal police and the public prosecutor’s office to arrest anyone involved.

Regulated Sports Betting on the Horizon

A provisionary measure that would regulate the sports betting industry in Brazil is now in President Inacio Lula da Silva’s hands. The Ministry of Finance has delivered that final draft, which is awaiting the president’s signature.

It stipulates that sportsbooks can only process deposits and withdrawals through bank accounts of institutions approved by the Central Bank and established in Brazil. In addition, it allocates 1% of operators’ revenue to the new Ministry of Sport.

With the initial 15% tax on operators, this makes the effective tax rate 16%, which is 11% more than initial estimates. Whereas operators, under sports betting legislation from 2018, thought they would only give up 5%, the increase to 16% is significant.

The percent of that tax revenue will go to the country’s Social Security program. Sports clubs and entities will share 1.63%, while another 2.55% is earmarked for Brazil’s national police force.

The text also prohibits advertising from unlicensed bookmakers. Finally, the measure prohibits players and club officials from placing bets. The same will apply to the sportsbooks’ employees, as well as minors under 18 and public officials.

It’s possible that da Silva may sign the reforms at any moment. Once he does, and following a review by the Chamber of Deputies and Senate, they will enter a 60-day “soft launch.” If that goes smoothly, the measure will receive a 60-day extension toward becoming law.

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The Heat won the conference crown in 2020 and advanced to the NBA Finals before losing to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Last season, the Celtics defeated the Heat to win the conference title, but lost to the Golden State Warriors in the 2022 NBA Finals.

Erik Spoelstra from the Heat is the only head coach among the final four playoff teams who has a championship pedigree. Spoelstra won back-to-back championships in 2012 and 2013 when LeBron James was a member of the Heat.

Although the Celtics won the Eastern Conference last postseason, Joe Mazzulla was an assistant coach on the team. He took over as rookie head coach shortly before the start of the season because of a scandal involving former head coach Ime Udoka.

The Celtics are only eight wins away from winning their franchise’s 18th championship and regaining the overall lead, which they currently share with the Lakers.

#2 Boston Celtics (57-25)

• Preseason championship odds: +600
• Current championship odds: +320
• Conference series odds: -525
• Leading scorer: Jayson Tatum 28.2 ppg
• Playoffs betting record: 8-5 ATS

For the second consecutive postseason, the Celtics and Heat meet in the Eastern Conference finals. The Celtics edged out the Heat in seven games last year to reach the 2022 NBA Finals.

The Celtics entered this season as one of the cofavorites to win the championship. They embarked on a deep run last season, which resulted in a runner-up finish after losing to the Warriors in the NBA Finals. The Celtics spent the majority of this season as the betting favorite to win the championship, or the second-favorite on the NBA futures board behind the Bucks.

The Celtics struggled at times this postseason, yet found ways to stay alive. They eliminated the #7 Atlanta Hawks in six games in the first round. The #3 Philadelphia 76ers pushed the Celtics to a full seven-game series before the Celtics knocked them out in a 24-point blowout in Game 7 on Sunday.

FiveThirtyEight predicts the Celtics have a 78% chance to win this series and return to the NBA Finals. According to their projection, the Celtics have a 54% chance to win the championship.

#8 Miami Heat (44-38)

• Preseason championship odds: +2000
• Current championship odds: +1500
• Conference series odds: +400
• Leading scorer: Jimmy Butler 31.1 ppg
• Playoffs betting record: 8-3 ATS

The Heat struggled in the first quarter of the season and didn’t head above .500 until January. A late-season skid almost jeopardized a spot in the playoffs, and they were forced into the Eastern Conference Play-In Tournament. The Heat actually dropped the first play-in game against the Atlanta Hawks and missed a chance to secure the #7 seed. They didn’t squander a shot at the #8 seed, however, defeating the Chicago Bulls in the second play-in game.

The Heat continue their deep run in the playoffs without shooting guard Tyler Herro (fractured hand) and backup guard Victor Oladipo (knee). Heat fans know that even though they’re an underdog, they have a fighting chance with Jimmy Butler on the team.

Butler was phenomenal in the opening-round upset over the #1 Milwaukee Bucks by averaging 37.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 1.8 blocks, and 1.6 steals per game. He also shot 44.4% from 3-point range. An ankle injury slowed him down against the #5 New York Knicks in the second round. bBut he still led the Heat back to the conference finals.

According to a projection by FiveThirtyEight, the Heat have a 22% chance to win the series, yet only have a 9% chance to win the championship.

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The private school has gone so far as to block a gaming resort from being authorized at the Nassau Coliseum, and to file a lawsuit against the local planning commission on allegations the government entity violated open meetings laws while mulling a multibillion-dollar plan presented by Las Vegas Sands. Hofstra President Susan Poser earlier this month appeared before the Nassau County legislature to express her reasons for opposing a casino resort.

Poser cited the frequently claimed reasons for opposing a casino. She opined that a casino in Nassau County would increase crime and reduce families’ savings accounts, add to traffic congestion, and bring seedy characters to town.

Poser believes a casino has no business being just steps from Hofstra’s campus. And while Sands is one of the most respected gaming operators in the world, and has the financial wherewithal to lobby heavily in New York and on Long Island to win over government officials and the public, Poser might hold better hole cards in her head-to-head battle against Sands.

Former Hofstra President on State Board

New York lawmakers in 2013 ended the state’s prohibition on commercial casino gambling. The law initially authorized four upstate brick-and-mortar casinos with slots and live dealer table games. Three additional downstate casino licenses were also approved, but a 10-year moratorium on issuing those concessions was included in the statute.

Those 10 years have since passed, and New York state officials are now readying to dispense the coveted downstate licenses. Two of the concessions are expected to go to MGM Resorts’ Empire City Casino at the Yonkers Raceway and Resorts World New York City in Queens. Those properties are currently racinos that can only offer video lottery terminals and electronic table games.

The GFLB consists of three members appointed by the gaming commission. One such member is Stuart Rabinowitz, who served for 20 years as president of Hofstra University until his August 2021 retirement.

Rabinowitz’s appointment to the board that will recommend to the New York State Gaming Commission which projects get greenlit has caused some criticism among those who want Sands to come to Long Island.

Bias Alleged

Nassau County residents who want a casino to come to Uniondale — or who, at least, want the county’s bid to receive an unbiased consideration from the state — question Rabinowitz’s ability to remain impartial, considering his close ties to Hofstra and Poser’s staunch opposition to the Sands pitch.

It certainly has an appearance of impropriety,” Robert LoScalzo, a civic activist based in Queens, told the New York Post. “This isn’t a person who’d throw Hofstra under the bus.”

Rabinowitz’s name is adorned on Hofstra’s Honors College, officially the Stuart and Nancy Rabinowitz Honors College. A state spokesperson responding to inquiries about Rabinowitz’s placement on the Gaming Facility Location Board said “there are no issues” with his seating on the agency panel.

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A three-judge panel in the US 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals this week ruled 2-1 in favor of allowing a proposed class action lawsuit to continue against Resorts World New York City and its Malaysia-based parent, Genting. The two judges in the majority determined that the 177 employees who lost their jobs through the buffet closing might have a case in accusing Genting and Resorts World NYC of violating federal and state laws when it laid off the restaurant’s staff.

Casino officials at the time of the buffet’s closing said the restaurant consistently lost money. The buffet opened with the casino in October 2011.

Case Continues

Aqueduct Buffet workers said they were told of the restaurant’s closing the same day it ceased operation. Dozens of buffet workers subsequently united to sue the casino on WARN violations.

The case has experienced considerable delays for a variety of reasons, with one being the pandemic.

Glasser’s opinion dismissed the lawsuit, but the 2nd Circuit agreed to hear its appeal. In the court’s 37-page judgment published Monday, Circuit Judges Denny Chin and Jon Newman concluded that the class action lawsuit has merit.

Chin and Newman said that, after consulting with the US Department of Labor, a federal WARN Act notice likely should have been filed.

Genting says the Aqueduct Buffet was not a single unit or separate entity of the casino itself. The company tried to back that claim by pointing out that many of the buffet workers also regularly worked in other casino restaurants. The Buffet, Genting’s legal defense added, was centrally located inside the main “Times Square Casino” floor overlooking the racetrack.

The federal WARN Act requires employers with more than 100 workers to file a notice when they plan to lay off 500 or more workers (not counting part-time employees) at a single site of employment — or plan to lay off a minimum of 33% of its active workforce at a single site of employment — in a 30-day period.

Case Remanded

Chin and Newman found that Resorts World New York City might have been required to file a federal WARN notice.

We conclude the district court erred in granting summary judgment for Genting and in dismissing Plaintiffs’ claims under the WARN Act,” the judges wrote.

The case, officially Roberts v. Genting, has since been remanded for further proceedings.

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While jurors in Will County, Ill., 35 miles southwest of Chicago, agreed that Robert Watson was mentally ill, they rejected the public defenders’ argument that he was not guilty by reason of insanity.

That means Watson will have to serve his yet-to-be-determined prison sentence of between 20 and 100 years fully, although he will have access to mental health treatment behind bars.

Shocking Attack

Watson was arrested on March 25, 2019, at the Joliet Public Library, the day after he stabbed to death 76-year-old Emanuel “Sam” Burgarino, a sports bar owner from Wisconsin and a guest at the hotel.

During the two-week trial, the jury heard that Watson prowled the casino for two days, unchallenged by staff in the leadup to the shocking attack. Burgarino was knifed 26 times as his girlfriend waited for him on the gaming floor below.

The prosecution argued that he was faking mental illness to avoid the consequences of his crime.

‘Makes No Sense’

During closing arguments, Will Count public defender Shenonda Tisdale urged jurors to remember the security video from Harrah’s. This showed Watson clutching his blood-stained writing papers as he ran from the casino after the attack.

“He’s holding papers in his hands, more of (the) crazy thoughts … just none of it makes any sense,” she argued, as reported by Patch.com. “This just never should have happened.

There’s been no motive established. No money missing from Mr. Burgarino, and yet the state wants you to believe there was a motive when there was not,” she added.

Tisdale suggested Watson was delusional at the time of the killing and may have believed Burgarino was “some sort of spirit.”

Burgarino’s girlfriend, Denise Dixon, sued Harrah’s owner Caesars Entertainment for negligence in February 2021, arguing Harrah’s staff failed in their duty of care to protect Burgarino.

The case went to mediation. But as of June 2022, the parties had failed to agree on a settlement, according to court documents.

Watson is scheduled to be sentenced on July 31.

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The newly refurbished and relit signs belong to the motels once dotting the same downtown area. They include the signs for the Par-A-Dice (1953), Apache (1965), Golden Inn (1960), Clark Inn (1962), Lone Palm (1954), Domino (1960s), Fun City (1952), and the Rummel (1968).

The other previously restored signs once advertised were the former Bow and Arrow (1950s), Normandie (1940s), and Lucky Cuss motels (1955), as well as the former Society Cleaners (1946).

The signs, installed from Sahara to Stewart avenues downtown, now form a neon trail leading up Las Vegas Boulevard North to the Neon Museum at Washington Avenue.

Las Vegas Boulevard Improvement Project

All the signs were refurbished by YESCO, with funding provided by the Commission for the Las Vegas Centennial and the city of Las Vegas. They are owned jointly by the city of Las Vegas, The Neon Museum, and YESCO Custom Electric Signs.

The new installations mark the completion of the $125 million Las Vegas Boulevard Improvement Project. The project began with the gateway arches (across from the Strat) and showgirls signage in 2020.

The project also includes improvements to infrastructure, some of which hadn’t been touched since the 1940s. This includes underground water, sewer, storm drain, gas lines, traffic signals, medians, curbs, gutters, and sidewalks.

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In a note to clients, Katz upgraded the slot machine manufacturer to “buy” from “neutral,” while boosting his price target on the name to $10 from $7, implying upside of 89% from the May 12 close. That bullish commentary contributed to PlayAGS’s Monday pop, which has the stock higher by 16.79% in midday trading on volume that’s already matched the daily average.

The basis for the upgrade is that the operations are progressing better than the past three years post the missteps of 2019 and Covid,” wrote Katz. “The [latest] quarter supports the trend that product momentum has been building over the past several quarters, which should continue to accelerate.”

PlayAGS struggled last year. But the shares are up 19.80% year to date, and it remains a favored small-cap gaming play among sell-side analysts, many of whom consider the stock undervalued. The 52-week high on the name is $8.40. It resides around $6.20 at this writing.

PlayAGS Stock Upside Catalysts

Las Vegas-based PlayAGS recently reported estimate-beating first-quarter results, which were propped up by strength in the company’s electronic gaming machine (EGM) unit.

Better-than-expected 1Q23 revenue [was] attributed to a broadened global customer base and increased EGM sales, notably in international markets,” noted Katz. “Given the product traction, we believe the dislocation of valuation from the earnings acceleration presents opportunity.”

Last month, another analyst observed that PlayAGS started the second quarter on a strong note, and that the company has solid two- to three-month visibility in terms of client purchasing trends. Wall Street expects the firm to notch high single-digit sales growth this year.

Amid the top and bottom-line momentum PlayAGS accrued in the first quarter, Katz believes management can replicate that positivity going forward.

“Our impression from management is its future strategies support this acceleration. AGS and its peers have reached out-of-favor status. We believe herein lies the opportunity for a severely undervalued small-cap stock,” according to the analyst.

PlayAGS Has Rising Sales, Declining Leverage

PlayAGS offers investors other compelling attributes, including rising sales and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) and declining leverage.

We expect revenue and Adj. EBITDA to continue growing, [and] leverage to begin decreasing,” Jefferies’ Katz concluded.

While not mentioned by the analyst, gaming industry consolidation is picking up, and small-cap slot manufacturers with original content that can be leveraged for online casinos could be attractive targets.

On that note, Inspired Entertainment (NASDAQ: INSE) offered $10 a share for PlayAGS last year. But those talks collapsed, as the target believed its worth more than that. In the wake of that deal, some analysts speculated other buyers would kick the tires on PlayAGS. But no offer was publicly revealed in the subsequent months.

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The concert, expected to draw a crowd of 10K, is part of a movement spearheaded by property developers to rebrand the historic outdoor shopping mall as a spin-off of the nearby downtown Arts District.

This was the site of Led Zeppelin’s only Las Vegas concert on August 11, 1969, and shows by The Doors and Grateful Dead. It’s now a roller-hockey venue called Sahara Event Center.

Though the Deadmau5 concert is free, tickets are required and can be obtained now at //ClarkCountyNV.gov/fabulous23. A limit has been set of two per email address.

Working Their Ways Back to You

Frankie Valli has signed on for a residency at the Westgate’s International Theater, once home base for his friend, Elvis Presley. The Four Seasons legend, who is 89 and still going strong, signed on for 14 shows on October 26 and 27, January 12-14, April 4-6, July 4-6, and October 24-26. Tickets went on sale Monday morning through Ticketmaster.com.

The Wallflowers will play The Strat Theater on October 14. Tickets go on sale Thursday, May 18, at thestrat.com.

Keith Sweat will play the Pearl at the Palms on August 5-6, while Loverboy will play the same venue on November 4. Tickets for both shows go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, May 19, at Ticketmaster.com.

Earth, Wind & Fire return to the Venetian for nine shows: October 20-22, 25, 27, 28, November 1, and November 3-4. Tickets, starting at $59, went on sale Monday morning through Ticketmaster.com.

The post VEGAS MUSIC ROUNDUP — Free Deadmau5 Show, Frankie Valli, more appeared first on Casino.org.

The company’s billionaire owner, Wei Huang,  showered Huizar with casino chips during lavish Las Vegas trips. Huang is wanted by the US on charges of fraud and bribery and is considered a fugitive.

“This five-year bribery scheme was brazen, devised, and carried out with impunity by the sole owner and highest authority for the company — Chairman Huang — with the help of his employees and associates acting under his direction,” prosecutors wrote.

Huizar has admitted to being at the center of a sprawling pay-to-play scheme at City Hall. That involved extorting at least $1.5 million from Huang and other developers. He pleaded guilty in January to racketeering conspiracy and tax evasion charges and awaits sentencing.

Pay to Play

Huizar was the chairman of the Los Angeles Planning and Land Use Management Committee, which had the power of life and death over major construction projects in the city. He was also the council member for District 14, which includes the downtown area.

Shenzhen World owns downtown’s LA Grand Hotel, which it wanted to embellish with a 77-floor mixed skyscraper. It would have been the tallest building on the West Coast, but it was put on hold when the FBI began investigating the deal.

From 2013 to 2018, Wei showered Huizar with “cash, casino gambling chips, flights on private jets and commercial airlines, stays at luxury Las Vegas hotels and casinos, expensive meals, spa services, prostitution services, [and] political contributions,” according to court documents.

Politically Exposed

On one trip to the Palazzo Las Vegas, staff recognized Huizar as a prominent Los Angeles politician, flagging him as a “politically exposed person” (PEP). They also noticed he was playing with, and cashing out, tens of thousands in chips that Wei had provided.

When Huizar refused to sign a document declaring he had an independent source of wealth and was gambling with his own money, he was escorted from the premises. Casino staff then called the FBI.

Huang’s private jet left the US shortly after without return.

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The Danville Casino, as the provisional gaming venue is called, commenced operations around 10 a.m. Monday. The pavilion tent features 740 slot machines, 25 live dealer table games, and 28 electronic table games. Sports betting is also available through eight self-service Caesars Sportsbook kiosks.

Barron Fuller, Caesars Entertainment’s regional president, did the honors of opening the Danville Casino with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Who is ready to be treated like a Caesar? Who is ready to be treated like a Cleopatra? Better yet, who is ready to win some money?” Fuller asked ahead of the ribbon-cutting.

Caesars is leading a local investment consortium with the Wright family, a prominent regional business family, and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI).

The Danville resort expands on Caesars’ partnership with the EBCI. Caesars operates the tribe’s two casinos in North Carolina, Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort and Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River.

‘Big Bad Boy’ Coming

Caesars Entertainment is embarking on an expansion of its domestic gaming portfolio. Along with Virginia, the company is building a casino in Nebraska. The investments are Caesars’ first developments in the two states.

In Virginia, Caesars and its investors are spending $650 million to overhaul the former Dan River Mills textile campus into an integrated resort. The complex will be highlighted by an 18-story hotel with 500 rooms, a casino floor with 1,300 slots, 85 table games, a World Series of Poker Room, and a Caesars Sportsbook.

Caesars Virginia will also offer a full-service spa, pool complex, 2,500-seat theater, and 40,000 square feet of convention space. Fuller didn’t hold back his enthusiasm for what Caesars plans to bring to Danville.

We got the land. We got a plan. The $650 million big bad boy is being built behind us,” Fuller said of the permanent resort that’s expected to open late next year.

Danville was one of five cities in Virginia that qualified through state legislation passed in 2020 and signed by then-Gov. Ralph Northam (D) to consider a casino. The gaming legislation found favor in the legislature for it being designed as an economic stimulus for the handful of fiscally distraught cities.

Economic Spark

Danville’s local government chose Caesars as its preferred gaming developer, and city residents signed off on the project through a local ballot referendum during the November 2020 presidential election.

The advisory committee that assisted the Danville City Council in picking Caesars projects that the casino will generate more than $26 million in annual local tax revenue by its third full year in operation. Caesars also paid the city a one-time upfront payment of $20 million.

The bulk of the projection comes from anticipated yearly gaming tax revenue of $22 million. Another $4.2 million in annual tax revenue for the city is estimated to come from hotel, food and beverage, and other on-site sales.

“We won’t let you down,” Fuller told the crowd on Monday morning about Caesars’ ability to meet those expectations.

The post Caesars Virginia Opens Danville Casino, Company Touts Forthcoming ‘Big Bad Boy’ appeared first on Casino.org.

The pact was reached in conjunction with Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc. (GLPI), which owns Tropicana’s property assets.

Regional casino operator Bally’s paid $148 million last September to acquire Tropicana’s building and the operating license from the real estate investment trust (REIT). Should the A’s remain committed to that site, it could mean the clock is ticking on Tropicana, a once iconic casino hotel that opened in 1957 and was previously known as the “Tiffany of the Strip.”

Bally’s intends to continue the operations of the Tropicana Las Vegas for the foreseeable future while evaluating all available options for a broader redevelopment of the remainder of the site that will be adjacent to the new ballpark,” according to a statement.

Gaming and Leisure Properties agreed to fund up to $175 million worth of property improvements in exchange for a rent increase.

How Binding is Bally’s, A’s Agreement?

The pact between Bally’s and the A’s is called “binding” in the statement. But Las Vegas locals are right to be skeptical of such language.

The scrapped agreement with Red Rock isn’t referenced in the press release. Assuming the agreement with Bally’s and GLPI remains in place, the first MLB stadium in Las Vegas will be situated at Las Vegas Boulevard and Tropicana Avenue and accommodate about 30K fans.

The “agreement is subject to passing legislation for public financing and related agreements, and approval of relocation by Major League Baseball. As part of the agreement, Bally’s retains the ability to assign the rights to all aspects of this development and has received material interest from development partners,” according to the statement.

Tropicana Shelf Life

It appears all but certain that if the A’s remain committed to the Tropicana site, the casino hotel’s days are numbered. In the statement, Bally’s President George Papanier used the phrase “ballpark built in its place,” implying the gaming venue will be demolished to make way for the stadium.

A time frame for that happening wasn’t revealed. The A’s lease in Oakland expires in 2024, and it’s expected the club will play two seasons at a minor league stadium in Summerlin, Nevada, before moving to an MLB-ready venue in 2027.

Tropicana is the only Strip venue operated by Bally’s and is the only Las Vegas gaming real estate owned by GLPI.

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The Associated Press reported on Friday that the casino isn’t waiting for the state or federal government to repair the beach, as is typically the case when shorelines erode. Instead, the resort is taking matters into its own hands by paying to rehabilitate the beach.

Ocean Casino Resort General Manager Bill Callahan says the property has contracted with a private company based in nearby Eagleswood Township to bring truckloads of sand to the beach outside the resort. Callahan told the AP that 12,810 tons of sand are being transported to the beach, dumped, and then smoothed.

You can’t have a resort without a beach,” Callahan said. “That would be a horrible guest experience. It’s like, ‘Come to an unbelievable $2.5 billion resort and not have a beach.’ We just couldn’t have that.”

The sand brought in mimics the size and color of the natural sand of the Atlantic City beach. Ocean started the project after receiving the go-ahead from the US Army Corps of Engineers.

Casino Improvements

New York-based hedge fund Luxor Capital has owned Ocean Casino Resort since the former owner, the late Bruce Deifik, fell into bankruptcy operating the resort in 2019. In 2021, Luxor agreed to sell 50% of the property to Ilitch Holdings, the parent company of Little Caesars Pizza and Detroit’s MotorCity Casino Hotel, for $175 million.

Much of that money has since been used to update the integrated resort that opened as Revel in April 2012, only to close a little more than two years later in September 2014.

Ocean is currently amid an $85 million improvement that will complete the 12 remaining unfinished floors. The casino is also seeking permission to build a helipad atop its parking garage.

Along with the interior renovations, Ocean wants to ensure adequate beach space for its guests. The northern end of the Boardwalk has long been most prone to erosion on the resort corridor.

Before the beach expansion project began, Ocean officials said parts of the beach outside the resort were just five to eight feet wide.

Casino Turnaround

Ocean Casino Resort has experienced many financial hardships during its first decade in business, but since going under Luxor’s control, the property has turned around its business performance.

In 2019, Ocean’s first full year in operation under the brand, the casino generated gross gaming revenue of $215.7 million. That ranked sixth among the nine casinos in Atlantic City. In 2021, Ocean benefited from the pent-up demand stirred by the pandemic and won more than $306.8 million from gamblers. That ranked third in Atlantic City, behind only the Borgata and Hard Rock.

Last year, Ocean’s GGR improvement continued, as the casino reported an income of $356.8 million. That again ranked third.

Ocean is now profitable, too. Per filings with the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, Ocean’s profit last year was more than $96.2 million. That followed a profit of $91.2 million in 2021.

Ocean lost $22.3 million in 2018 before turning profitable in 2019, with its bottom line totaling about $9.3 million that year.

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Last Friday, the Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission found Caesars Entertainment and its local investors suitable to receive a state gaming license. The regulatory agency subsequently issued the group a permit to operate a temporary gaming facility at the Platte County Agricultural Park in Columbus.

The permanent Harrah’s Nebraska is being built northwest of the downtown area roughly 70 miles west of Omaha. The $75 million casino will span about 40,000 square feet and offer approximately 500 slot machines and 20 table games.

Harrah’s is partnered with a local investor that plans to separately build and operate an on-site hotel. The hotel will be managed by Marriott International and is expected to open in conjunction with the casino next year.

The permanent casino will also feature several restaurants, bars, and retail shops.

Temporary Casino Greenlit

While construction continues at Harrah’s Nebraska along Route 81/Howard Blvd., Caesars will open a temporary casino inside the existing Ag Park racetrack. The provisional gaming venue will be placed inside the track’s grandstand.

Harrah’s Nebraska’s temporary casino is to include about 250 slots and electronic table games. No live dealer tables will be offered.

Harrah’s Nebraska is currently hiring in anticipation of opening the temporary casino next month. Caesars has set an opening date of Monday, June 12, with hours scheduled for 9 a.m. through 1 a.m. daily.

Property officials are seeking to fill various positions, including cashiers, count room employees, slot attendants, and slot technicians.

https://twitter.com/HarrahsNebraska/status/1657765754450657280

Harrah’s Nebraska will be the third casino to open following WarHorse Casino Lincoln in September and Grand Island Casino at Fonner Park’s debut in late December. Both of those venues are also temporary casinos.

WarHorse has another $300 million set aside to build WarHorse Casino Omaha at Horsemen’s Park.

Racetrack Necessity

Nebraskans approved of a commercial gaming referendum during the November 2020 election that allowed the state’s live horse racetrack racinos to become full-fledged casinos with slots, table games, and sports betting. A condition of the law requires that casinos only operate at facilities where live horse racing remains.

Harrah’s Nebraska and its casino are building a new racetrack northwest of the city to satisfy that requirement.

Horse racing has been ingrained in the history of Columbus for decades. We’re thrilled to contribute to that history and bring an all-new, one-mile racetrack for the community to enjoy,” said Joe Morris, Caesars’ senior vice president of racing.

Harrah’s Nebraska is Caesars’ first investment in the state.

The post Harrah’s Nebraska Sets June Opening Date After Receiving State Gaming License appeared first on Casino.org.

The US Justice Department (DOJ) sued Wynn last May to compel him to register under the Foreign Agent Registration Act (FARA). It accused him of lobbying the Trump administration on behalf of the Chinese government.

Through his lawyers, Wynn denied he had acted as an agent of China. The accusation stems from when he allegedly exhorted then-President Donald Trump to deport US-based Chinese dissident Guo Wengui to his homeland.

In his ruling last year, US District Judge James E. Boasberg made no determination about the truth of that allegation. But he said he was satisfied that any contact Wynn may have had with Chinese officials ended in 2017. The government had no legal authority to force Wynn to register retroactively, Boasberg determined.

‘Opportunity for Gamesmanship’

In a filing Friday to the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit, the government argued Boasberg’s ruling created an “opportunity for gamesmanship.” That meant that individuals would be less likely to register under FARA because they knew would they not face civil action once they stopped working for a foreign government.

The purpose of FARA is to ensure transparency regarding foreign influence over American public policy. At the time of the alleged incident, Wynn was finance chair of the Republican National Committee (RNC).

Wynn was persuaded to approach Trump by then-RNC Deputy Finance Chairman Elliot Broidy, who introduced him to Sun Lijun, then-vice minister of China’s Ministry of Public Security, according to the original DOJ lawsuit.

“Wynn conveyed the request directly to the then-president over dinner and by phone, and he had multiple discussions with the then-president and senior officials at the White House and National Security Council about organizing a meeting with Sun and other PRC government officials,” the lawsuit reads.

Who is Guo Wengui?

Guo, once one of the richest men in China, fled his homeland in 2014 after learning he was about to be arrested on corruption charges. He claims the charges were falsified because he had criticized Chinese politicians for corruption.

In September 2022, Sun was sentenced to death after being convicted in China of manipulating the stock market, accepting $91 million in bribes, selling official jobs, and abandoning his post during the COVID-19 outbreak.

The post Steve Wynn ‘Chinese Agent’ Case Back in Court as US Files Appeal appeared first on Casino.org.

Adán Augusto López Hernández, Mexico’s Secretary of the Interior, said last Friday that former presidents Vicente Fox and Santiago Creel delivered the largest number of permits for casino operations in the country’s history. He added that the current administration under Obrador has approved a couple, but only because of court orders following legal battles that began before Obrador entered office.

In a morning conference, López explained that during Vicente Fox’s six-year term between 2000 and 2006, 340 casino permits were granted. He emphasized that this is the largest number of casino permits granted by any administration in the country’s history.

Cleaning House

Obrador has interpreted gaming laws to mean that only the federal government, not state or municipal leaders, has the authority to issue licenses. He ordered López to review all licenses, leading to last week’s update.

López highlighted that, while Creel was in charge, the agency gave more permits than the 132 of the six-year term of Enrique Peña. The figure was also close to the 154 of the six-year term of Felipe Calderón.

Regarding the authorizations during past administrations, López explained that the ratification of a permit granted by the Calderón government to operate 86 casinos is in the judicial process. He also explained that the government is currently involved in litigation for the annulment of another five licenses.

López added that more casino operators will likely lose their licenses as the investigation continues. The government is conducting between 15 and 20 inspections of casinos on a monthly basis, and has already closed 47. None, according to the minister, was operating with a legitimate federal license.

Links To Crime

One of the reasons for the scrutiny of the gaming industry is Obrador’s desire to reduce the criminal element in Mexico. Many shady gambling halls – and even some legitimate ones – are fronts for cartels looking to launder money, and Fox, according to the president, allowed them to prosper.

One example, according to the government, is Juegos del Bajío, approved during the administration of Fox and Creel. The casino operator is linked to brothers José Antonio, Francisco Javier, and Óscar Rodríguez Borgio for alleged tax evasion.

Juegos del Bajío could soon be out of business if the government can prove its case in court. It is currently seeking court approval to revoke the company’s license.

One of the brothers, Francisco Javier, also owns casino operator Big Bola, which has alleged ties to organized crime and money laundering. The government believes the brothers could have been managing all of their businesses using the same model.

Gambling Revenue Slipping

In 2019, Mexico’s gambling industry provided MXN3.4 billion (US$193.32 million) in tax revenue to the government, according to government figures. A year later, this dropped to MXN2.06 billion (US$103.75 million).

Obrador’s desire to reduce the number of licensed gaming properties will likely weaken that forecast, but not much. As sports betting and lotteries expand, these will help offset some of those losses.

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“The Elvis House was originally built by the International Hotel,” it reads, “as a private and very exclusive hideaway for various headliners who were performing in Las Vegas such as Elvis Presley, Dean Martin, and Marilyn Monroe, and a host of other famous, infamous, and mysterious persons of note.”

Built in 1954 as a secluded property near Eastern and Twain avenues — the outskirts of Vegas at the time — the “Elvis” house is 3,300 square feet of mid-century modern. It features slate tile, glass block windows, lava-rock walls, a spiral staircase, and a waterfall bathtub.

In 1962, the house was sold to a company with ties to casino developer Kirk Kerkorian, who opened the International Hotel in 1969 with Elvis as its second headliner (after Barbra Streisand). Kerkorian offered the house to any of his headliners who wanted it, but he also offered Elvis a choice he did not give to every headliner: stay at either the house or the penthouse of the International whenever you headline.

Baby, Let’s Not Play House

Once Kerkorian toured Elvis around the 5,000 square-foot spread in the 30-floor Imperial Suite, his choice was permanently made, according to Schilling. (For a list of all the real real estate associated with Elvis’ Las Vegas years, check out “The Buildings Elvis Presley Left in Las Vegas.”)

As for Redfin’s claim that Dino and Marilyn also stayed in the “Elvis” house, it’s certainly possible but also suspect. Neither ever headlined the International, and both had plenty of opportunities to stay elsewhere when they came to town.

In 1974, violinist Joe Macchiaverna reportedly bought the house for $50K at a foreclosure auction. In the late 1980s, he subdivided the land surrounding the home, which gave birth to the neighborhood currently enveloping it.

A third owner, Michael Michaels, reportedly impersonated Elvis — either for a living or a hobby, it’s unclear — and this is about as close as the house ever came to having the real Elvis stay in it.

Lore also has some Middle Eastern renters, later turning it into a brothel. That’s more believable, but certainly no selling point for a home.

Money Honey

Of course, when it comes to real estate sales, myths translate into commissions far more often than truths do. And if you read the Redfin description carefully, it doesn’t actually claim that Elvis ever stayed there — it just sounds like it does.

The house last sold for $825K on March 31, 2022. Hopefully, that sale price was based on how nice it was and not how historic.

Look for “Vegas Myths Busted” every Monday on Casino.org. Click here to read previously busted Vegas myths. Got a suggestion for a Vegas myth that needs busting? Email corey@casino.org.

The post FEATURED — VEGAS MYTHS BUSTED: The ‘Elvis’ House Never Housed the King appeared first on Casino.org.

Only four teams remain in the hunt for the 2022-23 NBA championship. In the Western Conference, there’s one team seeking its first championship, and another team on the verge of winning a record-setting 18th title. The Lakers are currently tied with the Boston Celtics with 17 NBA championships, which is the most in NBA history.

The Nuggets are one of 11 teams that have never won an NBA championship. The city of Denver is a fervent sports town, but the Nuggets never laid claim to a championship like the Denver Broncos or Colorado Avalanche.

The 2019-20 NBA season was shortened and the playoffs were postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Teams converged inside the “NBA Bubble” at Disney World in Orlando for the duration of the 2020 NBA playoffs, which was played without fans. The Lakers knocked out the Nuggets and eventually went on to defeat the Miami Heat in the 2020 NBA Finals to win the championship.

The Nuggets are still coached by Michael Malone, but the Lakers have a new head coach since their last playoff battle. Darvin Ham led the Lakers to a berth in the Western Conference finals in his first season as a head coach.

#1 Denver Nuggets (55-29)

• Preseason championship odds: +1800
• Current championship odds: +240
• Conference series odds: -155
• Leading scorer: Nikola Jokic 30.7 ppg
• Playoffs betting record: 7-4 ATS

The Denver Nuggets finished the regular season with the best record in the Western Conference at 55-29. They ended December with a 9-2 run and surged to the top of the standings with a 12-4 record in January.

Center Nikola Jokic won the NBA MVP in the previous two seasons, but missed out on a rare three-peat. He had a lot more help this season with the return of two injured starters. Shooting guard Jamal Murray missed all of last season because of reconstructive knee surgery. Forward Michael Porter, Jr. also missed the majority of 2021-22 because of back surgery.

The Nuggets have a well-balanced, three-pronged offensive attack. Jokic almost averages a triple-double in the postseason with 30.7 points, 12.8 rebounds, and 9.7 assists per game. He’s also shooting 47.5% from 3-point range.

Murray, playing in his first postseason since the NBA Bubble in 2020, averaged 25.9 points, 6.5 assists, and 1.3 steals per game. He’s shooting just under 40% from beyond the arc. Porter averages 14.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. He also knocked down 40% of his 3-point attempts in the postseason.

FiveThirtyEight predicts the Nuggets have a 71% chance to win the series and have a 28% chance to win the NBA championship.

#7 Los Angeles Lakers (43-39)

• Preseason championship odds: +1800
• Current championship odds: +240
• Conference series odds: +130
• Leading scorer: LeBron James 23.4 ppg
• Playoffs betting record: 8-4 ATS

The Lakers were really two different teams this year: before and after the trade deadline. After 1.5 tumultuous seasons with point guard Russell Westbrook, general manager Rob Pelinka finally off-loaded him in a trade to the Utah Jazz. The new-look Lakers were able to cobble together a winning squad in the closing weeks of the regular season, despite LeBron James’ right foot injury.

The Lakers needed six games to upset the #2 Memphis Grizzlies in the opening round. They also knocked off the #6 Golden State Warriors in six games in the conference semifinals.

The Lakers rely on their dynamic duo, James and Anthony Davis,  to shoulder the scoring burden. James, at 38 years old, leads the Lakers with 23.4 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game in the postseason. His 3-point shooting is way off, with only a 26.3% success rate. Davis averages 21.1 points, 11.7 rebounds, 3.3 blocks, and 1.4 steals per game. A healthy Davis has been an invaluable contributor on defense in the playoffs.

The Lakers acquired veteran point guard D’Angelo Russell at the trade deadline, and he averages 15.7 points and 5.0 assists per playoff game. In only his second season in the NBA, shooting guard Austin Reaves has emerged as a fan favorite in Hollywood. Reaves averages 15.4 points per game, and he’s shooting nearly 40% from 3-point range.

According to a projection from FiveThirtyEight, the Lakers have a 29% chance to win the Western Conference finals, but have just a 9% chance to win the championship.

The Celtics and Lakers are tied with 17 NBA championships apiece. The Lakers are just eight wins away from delivering an 18th NBA championship and taking the lead.

James is also eight victories away from winning a fifth NBA championship and his second title with the Lakers since 2020.

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Two new projects for gambling fans were presented at a public hearing last week in the tiny village of Tuchoměřice. The town is on the northwest border of Prague and the Central Bohemian Region, in close proximity to Václav Havel Airport. The projects hope to bring a new casino and convention center that could host poker tournaments.

Despite the town’s relationship with the capital, about 30 minutes away, it has very little infrastructure and even less economic stability. The companies behind the projects promise to change that through direct and indirect capital investments.

Big Plans for a Hot Town

Czech gaming operator GPC Win a.s. would like to build its Grand Arena hospitality complex just outside the sleepy town. In last week’s meeting, it presented a hotel and a multifunctional casino designed primarily for holding international poker tournaments.

Kaprain, a Czech investment and property development firm, is behind the second casino project, which will also have live gaming and slot machines. It owns, among other large projects, POP Airport, the largest outlet and entertainment center in Central Europe.

The planned casino would be part of the airport, separated from the shopping center. The investor’s representative stated that, along with the casino, the company is also considering the future construction of an outdoor part of Majaland, the country’s largest indoor amusement park, and a waterpark.

The companies stated that they expect significant infrastructure growth as a result of the projects. There will be new housing requirements, taxi services, roads, and water treatment facilities provided in the area.

They didn’t offer to cover all of the expenses of the improvements. There will be “tens of millions of euros” that emerge from the developments, and this revenue could be used to pay part of the cost of the improved infrastructure.

Uphill Battle

As with every casino project ever announced, some of those in Tuchoměřice oppose the two developments. They argue that they don’t need gambling revenue and that casinos are harbingers of criminal activity.

Only a small handful of locals – approximately 50 of the town’s 1,500 inhabitants – participated in the meeting. The town council wanted to gauge the local sentiment before voting on the projects, and it could still be several months before they make a decision.

Three Major Projects on the Radar

The presentation of these two projects comes a couple of weeks after another proposal appeared in the city of Rudná u Prahy. A group of businessmen promises to build the largest casino in Central Europe, 30 minutes to the southwest of Prague, following a plan that started over four years ago.

There also appears to be a link to a well-known figure in the US casino industry. Radiožurnál stated that one of the investors of All Inn Invest and All Inn Group, which are behind the project, is Czech lawyer Jan Lašmanský. All Inn Group is owned by the family of gaming entrepreneur Haig Kelegian.

Rudná currently prohibits gambling, which calls into question how the project has been able to advance. Since Kocman hasn’t offered any insight, that remains a mystery for now.

The post Casino, Poker Could Be Coming to Prague, Czech Republic Through New Gaming Venues appeared first on Casino.org.

Vayuputra Anirudh Thotapalli wants to go after the company in court after he lost almost £300,000 (US$375,150) on the platform, according to The Telegraph. The case dates back seven years, and the losses represent part of the more than £800,000 (US$1 million) Thotapalli had deposited in his account.

Despite the large amount, Bet365 allegedly didn’t do its part in verifying the source of the money, according to the plaintiff. At the time, it only expected him to complete a self-assessment, which gave Thotapalli discretion over how he completed the survey.

Christmas Shopping Spree

Thotapalli racked up the losses over a 13-month period beginning in February 2015. He showed spikes in his gambling activity during that time, including 33 days of placing over 30 bets, including the especially heavy day on which he made 162 wagers. That was on Christmas Eve in December 2015.

At that point, Bet365 only wanted the self-assessment. It didn’t ask him to show proof of income or any other data that may have verified he could afford to spend so much. It wasn’t until a year had passed that the site took action and froze his account to cut him off.

By then, the damage was done, and Thotapalli claims it’s the operator’s fault for not stopping him. If it had, he alleges, his losses wouldn’t have been so great. For some high-rolling gamblers, losing around one-third of a bankroll is considered acceptable.

Washing its Hands

The responsible gambling rules in 2015 and 2016 were much different than they are now. But Bet365 will still need to come up with a better argument to defend itself. In response to the lawsuit, it emphasized the self-assessment asks the respondent to indicate if they have a gambling addiction.

It isn’t likely that many gamblers would acknowledge a gambling problem if asked. As numerous mental health studies have shown for decades, denial is a primary trademark of addiction.

Case Could Impact Gaming Industry

Bet365 will have some time to prepare its rebuttal properly. A court judge wants witness statements by the middle of September, which may or may not lead to a trial.

Fortunately, there are cases from recent history that could protect Bet365. In one, from 15 years ago, Graham Calvert tried to sue William Hill after he lost £2 million (US$2.5 million) betting on sports. A judge said no.

Ladbrokes faced a similar situation last year. As in the William Hill case, a judge rejected the claim.

The post Bet365 Rejects Claim That 162 Bets In A Day May Be Sign of Problem appeared first on Casino.org.

The companies announced the transaction in a joint statement released Sunday. That confirmation arrived just weeks after it was reported PointsBet hired investment bank Moelis & Co. to explore a sale of its US and Canadian sports wagering business.

Fanatics and PointsBet are excited to enter into an agreement for Fanatics Betting and Gaming to acquire PointsBet’s US business,” according to the press release. “While there are still several steps in the process to complete the acquisition, both parties are confident in the outcome. Fanatics Betting and Gaming and PointsBet will provide further details of the proposed deal and timely updates in the coming weeks.”

Sydney-listed PointsBet is slated to hold a shareholder vote on the deal in June. Only the target’s US business is part of the transaction with Fanatics. PointsBet’s Aussie operations have also been the subject of rampant takeover chatter. The company is retaining its Canadian sports wagering unit.

PointsBet Likely Needs Deal to Find Finish Line

PointsBet has long been considered a takeover target. In addition to closely held Fanatics, Bally’s (NYSE: BALY) and Penn Entertainment (NASDAQ: PENN), the latter owning an equity stake in the target, were considered potential suitors.

“PointsBet’s current corporate cash balance is insufficient to fund the US Business through to profitability, and as such, should the Proposed Transaction not proceed, the Company would need to raise additional capital in the near term,” according to the Australian firm.

NBCUniversal, which took a 4.9% equity stake in PointsBet in 2020, will be compensated, and related financial commitments will be transferred to Fanatics Betting & Gaming.

“NBCUniversal has also released PointsBet Holdings Limited from its guarantee obligations under its Media Services Agreement from final Completion, and has irrevocably waived its right to exercise the equity options previously issued. These options have been terminated today,” added PointsBet.

Fanatics Finally Makes a Deal

While PointsBet has long been rumored to be a target, sports betting industry observers have been waiting on Fanatics to make a deal for just as long, if not longer.

With PointsBet USA, Fanatics gains a cost-effective avenue for jump-starting its sports wagering division and could pave the way toward meeting its goal of being live in at least a dozen states by the start of the 2023 football season.

The post Fanatics Finally Makes Deal, Grabs PointsBet for $150 Million appeared first on Casino.org.

The deal announced late Sunday values NeoGames at $29.50 a share, or a 104% premium to the stock’s average closing price for the three months ending May 12. NeoGames operates internet lottery games in the US, Canada, and other markets worldwide.

Completion of the transaction is expected to occur within 12 months, and is contingent upon customary closing conditions, including receipt of regulatory approvals and the approval of NeoGames’ shareholders,” according to a statement. “NeoGames shareholders who hold a total of approximately 20,382,242 shares, representing approximately 61% of NeoGames’ outstanding shares, have executed a support agreement with Aristocrat pursuant to which they have irrevocably agreed to vote in favor of the transaction.”

NeoGames’ board of directors voted unanimously in favor of the takeover. Upon completion of the deal, the internet lottery firm will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Aristocrat.

Win-Win for Aristocrat, NeoGames Investors

With the takeover price representing a 130% premium to where NeoGames shares closed last Friday, recent investors in the stock are benefiting. The stock slid 10.77% on May 12 but is higher by 5.33% year-to-date.

“While we remain believers in the long-term, high-quality iLottery opportunity, the likely gradual rollout across the US, coupled with a difficult macro environment for illiquid stocks, presented a challenging outlook for near-to-medium-term price discovery,” wrote Stifel analyst Jeffrey Stantial in a Sunday note.

As for Aristocrat, the Australian company lands an avenue for increasing its iGaming and online lottery footprint following the 2022 collapse of its attempted acquisition of Playtech (LSE: PTEC). Aristocrat may also be able to better leverage Aspire Global, which NeoGames acquired early last year. That Swedish company is a business-to-business technology solutions provider to online sports betting and casino operators. I

ts partners include well-known operators, such as 888 Holdings, Betfair, Entain, Flutter, and William Hill.

Aristocrat/NeoGames Deal Spotlights iLottery

While iLottery has been slow to take off relative to iGaming and online sports betting, it still offers a compelling growth trajectory — one highlighted by Aristocrat’s purchase of NeoGames. The acquisition could also be a boon for other companies with internet lottery exposure, including International Game Technology (NYSE: IGT).

We do see a vote of confidence in Aristocrat opting to diversify outside of the core casino business into iLottery. Hence, we argue the deal reads favorably for Buy-rated IGT, though acknowledging that iLottery remains a small piece of IGT’s revenue base,” added Stantial.

The NeoGames purchase also provides a runway for Aristocrat to better compete among US-centric rivals, including IGT and Light & Wonder (NASDAQ: LNW).

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“It is with a heavy heart we announce the passing of our father, Doyle Brunson,” Brian Balsbaugh, his agent, tweeted on behalf of the Brunson family at 6:12 p.m. Sunday. “He was a beloved Christian man, husband, father, and grandfather. We’ll have more to say over the coming days as we honor his legacy. Please keep Doyle and our family in your prayers. May he rest in peace.”

“Texas Dolly,” as he was nicknamed, won 10 World Series of Poker tournaments, including the Main Event in 1976 and 1977. That’s second to only Phil Hellmuth’s 16 WSOP wins.

Brunson’s 1978 book, “Super System,” which revealed strategies known only to professionals before its publishing, is widely regarded as the bible of poker.

There will never be another Doyle Brunson,” tweeted six-time WSOP champ Daniel Negreanu, one of hundreds of modern-day poker stars inspired by Brunson to dedicate their lives to the game, on Sunday evening.

“Can’t believe this day has come,” five-time WSOP champ Scotty Nguyen added. “You will always be held high in our hearts, the man, the myth, the legend & THE GODFATHER of poker…”

First Bad Beat

Born in 1933 in Longworth, Texas, Brunson was a star athlete who played basketball for Hardin-Simmons University. A bad knee injury crushed his dream of making the NBA, but not his spirit. In the early 1950s, Brunson discovered poker and was good enough at the game for it to fund his education and medical expenses.

Brunson won his last WSOP bracelet in 2005. His last Main Event cash was in 2013.

“Rest in Peace to the Biggest Legend of Them All,” commented the World Series of Poker’s Twitter feed. “Thank you for being the consummate player and gentleman. No one will ever fill your seat.”

“’Legend’ feels inadequate,” three-time WSOP champ Phil Galfond added, crystalizing the feelings of many in the poker world. “We don’t have a word for what Doyle Brunson is to poker.”

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