Gambling in the USA
Potential Carolina Panthers sale puts NFL’s gambling problem in spotlight
The NFL may now have another reason to take a look at its existing policies on gambling.
The CEO of Station Casinos and former UFC owner Frank Fertitta III is reportedly part of a group interested in buying the Carolina Panthers. The initial reason the NFL needs to re-examine its policy on gambling is the fact team owners approved the Oakland Raiders relocation to the US gambling mecca of Las Vegas, Nevada last year.
The Las Vegas Raiders will likely to start calling Las Vegas home in 2020. Construction of the new stadium just west the of the south end of the Strip should be finished by then.
IF YOU BUILD IT, THE RAIDERS WILL COME
It’s no secret the stadium and $750 million in public funding helping build it is why the Raiders are moving. They’re leaving Oakland because efforts to renovate or replace the Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum failed. However, it’s a little less widely known how connected this new facility is to Las Vegas’ gambling industry.
A hotel room tax will fund the $750 million in public money that will pay for the project. That’s gambling money in Las Vegas.
It’s not directly coming from gambling. However, gamblers are the ones paying the tax when they pay for rooms at hotels in the city. Plus, gambling resort executives must have supported the tax from the outset. Otherwise, it never would have moved forward in a city, and an entire state, pretty much dependent on gambling.
A committee including executives from six local casino companies initially recommended the stadium project to state lawmakers. This includes:
- Caesars Entertainment
- Boyd Gaming
- MGM Resorts International
- Wynn Resorts
- Las Vegas Sands Corp.
- Station Casinos
Plus, Las Vegas Stadium Authority is the stadium’s owner. This group is managed by a board including executives from casino corporations Caesars and MGM.
NFL ANTI-GAMBLING POLICIES
The NFL allows teams to accept limited advertising from casinos. However, its anti-gambling policies require those casinos do not have sportsbooks. That means the companies that pushed for the stadium, helped fund it, and sit on the ownership board can’tadvertise there.
The National Hockey League‘s expansion Golden Knights became the first major pro sports team to play in Las Vegas, kicking off its inaugural season at the end of 2017. MGM co-owns the team’s arena. And while the NHL previously had a policy restricting advertising from casinos with sports books similar to the NFL, it has since dropped it.
The NFL might want to consider doing the same before it turns it’s back on millions of advertising dollars coming from one of the only industries in its new home that has those dollars to spend.
CORPORATE PARTNERS WANTED?
The NFL’s anti-gambling policy also prohibits players from participating in promotions, activities, or events held at casinos. This policy will have the Raiders and its players left out of the majority of everything going on in Las Vegas. Plus, they’ll be ignoring what would otherwise be it’s home city’s biggest corporate partner. It’s a situation that simply wouldn’t work in any other city or any other industry outside of gambling.
It’s one that’s not likely to last in Las Vegas. Either the Raiders will be on the move again or the league will change the way it looks at the casino business.
LEGAL AND REGULATED SPORTS BETTING
The latter is more likely, considering that while this is a Raiders and a Las Vegas problem now, its headed to other NFL markets fast. The US Supreme Court is a few months away from a ruling in New Jersey’s case against the federal ban on sports betting. Should New Jersey win, all signs point to sports betting spreading across the US over the next couple of years.
Legal and regulated sports betting is headed to just about every market the NFL currently calls home. The NFL is going to need to address it.
When the league approved the move, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said it had no reason to change its anti-gambling policies. The truth is, the league is probably just taking a long, hard look them. They’re just figuring out precisely how to change these policies before the move actually occurs. Unless they think the Raiders can somehow survive in the market without corporate partners. Or that the team wants to turn its back on an industry that was a big part of bringing it there in the first place.
ANOTHER SIDE OF THE SAME COIN
Of course, Station Casinos and Fertitta’s interest in the Panthers is just another side to the same issue.
It has been suggested Fertitta would have to divest his casino holdings to buy the Panthers. That idea seems consistent with league’s current anti-gambling stance. Goodell has also been quoted saying casino ownership of an NFL team or stadium isn’t consistent with league policy.
Something has got to give here. It’s more likely the league’s policies will be bent before casino interest in the NFL breaks.
Considering the situation with the Raiders, and sports betting across the US, the league’s anti-gambling policies might be in need of a tune-up. Any way you look at it, Fertitta might want to wait and see just what changes are in store before he sells Stations. The NFL could soon cozy up to casinos in more ways than one.
Source: playusa.com
Gambling in the USA
Gaming Americas Weekly Roundup – November 11-17
Welcome to our weekly roundup of American gambling news again! Here, we are going through the weekly highlights of the American gambling industry which include the latest news and new partnerships. Read on and get updated.
Latest News
Golden Entertainment Inc. reported financial results for the third quarter ended September 30. The Company reported third quarter revenue of $161.2 million, net income of $5.2 million and Adjusted EBITDA of $34.0 million. In addition, on November 5, the Company’s Board of Directors authorised the Company’s recurring quarterly cash dividend of $0.25 per share of the Company’s outstanding common stock payable on January 7, 2025 to shareholders of record as of December 20, 2024.
Snoqualmie Casino has announced its rebranding to Snoqualmie Casino & Hotel, reflecting an exciting new chapter in the venue’s history as it embarks on a much-anticipated expansion. Set for completion in mid-2025, this project promises to elevate the guest experience, making Snoqualmie Casino & Hotel a premier destination for entertainment, relaxation and culinary excellence. The cornerstone of the expansion is the construction of a luxurious hotel, which will offer guests unparalleled comfort and stunning views of the Snoqualmie Valley and Mount Si.
Galaxy Gaming Inc., the world’s largest independent developer and distributor of casino table games and technology announced, at a special meeting of its stockholders held on November 12, 2024 (the Special Meeting), Galaxy Gaming stockholders voted to approve the Company’s acquisition by Evolution Malta Holding Limited (Evolution), Evolution AB (publ)’s wholly owned subsidiary. Galaxy Gaming will file a Form 8-K with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission reporting the final voting results of the Special Meeting.
Caesars Virginia has announced that its highly anticipated opening date will be Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024. The resort will welcome its first guests beginning at noon. Additional details on the opening festivities will be announced at a later date. Caesars Virginia is a 587,000 square foot casino resort with more than 90,000 square feet of gaming space.
Partnerships
NGX has entered into a strategic partnership with Sportradar, a global leader in sports integrity solutions, which collaborates with more than 180 sports federations and leagues. The agreement aims to support the Brazilian football federations of Rio Grande do Sul, Paraná and Pará, providing detailed reports to ensure the integrity of sporting events and combat fraud.
EvenBet Gaming has announced the launch of its advanced poker solutions in partnership with JugaMax, one of the largest and most respected casino operators in Paraguay. This strategic collaboration marks EvenBet’s debut in the Paraguayan iGaming market, solidifying the company’s expansion within Latin America. The newly established partnership enables the integration of EvenBet Gaming’s poker offering on the JugaMax platform.
Jackpocket, the leading lottery app in the US, and Barstool Sports announced a new collaboration naming Jackpocket as the “Exclusive & Official Digital Lottery Partner of Barstool Sports”. The deal with Barstool follows Jackpocket’s parent company, DraftKings, announcing a similar agreement with the media company in February 2024. This collaboration centers around the integration of Jackpocket in Barstool’s content. Fans can participate in the lottery alongside some of Barstool’s biggest names such as Dave Portnoy, Big Cat & PFT from Pardon My Take – the leading sports podcast in America, Wallo & Gillie from Million Dollaz Worth of Game and more.
Gambling in the USA
Gaming Americas Weekly Roundup – November 4-10
Welcome to our weekly roundup of American gambling news again! Here, we are going through the weekly highlights of the American gambling industry which include the latest news and new partnerships. Read on and get updated.
Latest News
PENN Entertainment and ESPN announced that account linking between ESPN BET and ESPN is now available for customers, creating an even more deeply integrated media and betting experience. By linking accounts, fans now have the ability to seamlessly track upcoming, live and settled bets within the ESPN app and on ESPN.com. With this product enhancement, ESPN BET will soon bring fans more personalised bets and timely promotions based on their favourite sports, teams, players and fantasy rosters.
Accel Entertainment Inc. has announced that it has completed the acquisition of 85% of the ownership interests of Toucan Gaming LLC and LSM Gaming LLC, two Louisiana-based route operators and owners of multiple licensed video poker establishments (collectively, “Toucan”), for approximately $40 million. The combined business will operate as Toucan Gaming throughout Louisiana and will be led by Stan Guidroz, an industry-leading gaming executive and current CEO of Toucan Gaming. Mr. Guidroz owns the remaining 15% of Toucan’s ownership interests and will lead the Accel team supporting Toucan’s continued growth.
INTRALOT S.A. has announced the undertaking of a new project between the British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC), the sole lottery operator for the Government of British Columbia in Canada, and INTRALOT, its US subsidiary, for the provision of an online lottery platform. The project also includes the digitalisation of the existing land-based network. The solution will be based on the Player X platform, part of the Lotos X ecosystem, and adds to the company’s overall partnership with BCLC, which has been extended until 2028.
BetMGM Poker has become the third US operator to offer multi-state online poker. The company has merged its player pools in Michigan and New Jersey. Both states are a part of the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement, which allows online poker networks to share liquidity and players in participating markets. The two-state network went live Wednesday afternoon after morning maintenance.
Betsson Group has celebrated its success at the SBC Awards Latinoamérica 2024, winning two prestigious awards: Sportsbook Operator of the Year and Leader of the Year, which was awarded to Kevin Saliba, Commercial Director (Business Development) for Latin America. This marks the second consecutive year Betsson has earned the Leader of the Year accolade, following Andrea Rossi’s win in 2023 – an achievement that underscores Betsson’s consistent leadership in the region.
Partnerships
Play’n GO has announced a new operator partnership with renowned gaming brand Hard Rock Digital for their top-rated Hard Rock Bet online casino platform in New Jersey. The Hard Rock brand is synonymous with entertainment worldwide, and this partnership will see Hard Rock Bet players in New Jersey gain access to hit Play’n GO titles such as Piggy Blitz, Book of Dead and Rise of Olympus 100.
SCCG Management, a global leader in gaming innovation and advisory, has announced a strategic partnership with Chata.AI, a technology provider specialising in self-service, proactive analytics that enables businesses to access real-time insights without requiring extensive technical expertise. This partnership introduces Chata.AI’s technology to the gaming industry, providing operators with powerful tools to streamline decision-making and increase operational efficiency.
Gambling in the USA
Gaming Americas Weekly Roundup – October 28-November 3
Welcome to our weekly roundup of American gambling news again! Here, we are going through the weekly highlights of the American gambling industry which include the latest news and new partnerships. Read on and get updated.
Latest News
Elray Resources Inc. has announced a significant milestone in the company’s growth strategy. The company has completed the sale of proprietary technology to 180 Life Sciences Corp. (NASDAQ:ATNF), a NASDAQ-listed company in exchange for preferred stock convertible into a 40% stake in ATNF and warrants to purchase 3 million shares of ATNF common stock, the conversion/exercise of which is subject to stockholder approval. The technology stack contained within Elray’s technology package will assist ATNF in launching an iGaming Blockchain casino.
PrizePicks, the largest daily fantasy sports operator in North America, has announced that it has been awarded Daily Fantasy Sports Operator Licenses in Delaware and Missouri. The company will launch Arena, its innovative peer-to-peer fantasy sports contest, in both states. With these new state launches, Arena will now be available in 15 states across the US.
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (Board) unanimously voted to renew the Category 2 stand-alone casino license of Wind Creek Bethlehem LLC, operator of Wind Creek Bethlehem casino in Northampton County. In making the decision, the Board determined that Wind Creek Bethlehem LLC had fulfilled the obligations under its previously approved casino operator’s license and therefore qualified to have its license renewed for an additional five-year period.
Aristocrat announced that the company was the first international slot and online technology company to be granted a Gaming-Related Vendor license by The General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA), the federal entity overseeing commercial gaming activities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This announcement grants Aristocrat the ability to provide the company’s land-based electronic gaming machines (EGMs) and online games and technology solutions to commercial gaming operators licensed by the GCGRA.
Partnerships
SCCG Management, a leading global advisory and consulting firm in the gambling industry, has entered into a strategic partnership with Slot Machines Unlimited, a premier provider of refurbished slot machines and gaming equipment. The partnership between SCCG Management and Slot Machines Unlimited leverages both companies’ strengths: Slot Machines Unlimited’s expertise in refurbished gaming equipment and SCCG’s deep industry insight, global network and strategic growth capabilities. The collaboration will enhance Slot Machines Unlimited’s international sales and service operations, ensuring gaming establishments worldwide have access to high-quality slot machines and support.
Galaxy Gaming Inc. has announced that the Galaxy Operating System (GOS) is now live on over 50 ships worldwide with Carnival Corporation & PLC, the world’s largest leisure travel company. Since the installation, tables powered by GOS have awarded over $5 million in jackpot payouts to players. GOS is the jackpot progressive system for all Carnival Corporation ships, including Carnival Cruise Line, Holland America Line and Princess Cruises. Launched in 2024, GOS is the next-generation game management system developed by the industry’s leading table game experts.
The hottest new game from Aristocrat Gaming, Phoenix Link, is now live on casino floors, with Yaamava’ Resort & Casino being the first in North America to offer the highly-anticipated game. As the next evolution of the international hit game, Dragon Link, Phoenix Link features player-favourite mechanics from top games with all-new themes, features and bonuses.
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