Gambling in the USA

The gambling bills to undergo hearing and its agendas

Published

7 years ago

March 21, 2018

Four gambling bills that will impact operations at two riverboat casinos in Lake Charles

Reading Time: 3 minutes

The four gambling bills that hold the potential to impact operations at two riverboat casinos in Lake Charles is scheduled to undergo their first legislative test on Tuesday. They will be heard at 10 a.m. by the state Senate Judiciary B Committee.

However, the property tax exemptions will be the focus of the Senate Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Committee (at 3 p.m. on Monday). A bill prohibiting tax breaks for pornographic movie productions and a measure that authorises a tax rebate for taxpayers who donate to certain higher education scholarship and grant programmes will be discoursed by the full house on Monday.

Medicaid is the federal-state health care programme for poor and low-income Americans. A bill extending the termination date for a Medicaid fraud detection and prevention task force is scheduled for full House debate on Tuesday. A House concurrent resolution for House debate Wednesday would create a commission to excogitate the feasibility of a state constitutional convention.

Sen. Ronnie Johns, R-Sulphur, is the author of Senate Bills 316 and 320 that would impact the L’auberge Casino Resort and the Golden Nugget, both in Lake Charles. The state’s 13 other riverboat casinos would also be affected.

SB 316 would allow riverboats to apply to the Louisiana Gaming Control Board to locate their casinos within 1,200 feet of their licensed berths. It also designates that their gaming areas cannot exceed 2,365 gambling positions.

The change to gambling positions replaces the current 30,000-square-foot requirement for gambling machines. The goal is to accommodate larger slot machines with more features.

The bill also deletes the requirement that riverboats be paddlewheel driven. In 2001, riverboats were allowed to be permanently docked, the last major change of gambling laws.

SB 320 deals with what are called “promotional pays.” Those are non-cashable vouchers, promotional chips, coupons, electronic credits, electronic promotions, scrips or any other cash equivalents provided to patrons.

Patrons are given some cash without putting up any money in order to attract more customers to visit the casino. That money is also taxed, which casinos consider double taxation.

Johns said he is working with casino operators to see if they can come up with some way to lower the tax without costing the state the $18 million collected annually from those “promotional pays.”

Sen. Danny Martiny, R-Metairie, is the author of SB 318 that deals with gaming positions, the 1,200 -foot move that would be allowed and the elimination of paddlewheels. All are identical to Johns’ measures. SB 321 by Martiny deals only with the 1,200-foot requirement.

Sen. Bodi White, R-Baton Rouge, is the author of SB 417. It deals with a proposal to move the DiamondJacks riverboat casino in Bossier City to Tangipahoa Parish. Parish voters would have to approve the move in an election that would be held on Nov. 6. If approved, the riverboat would be located along the Tangipahoa River.

Sen. J.P. Morrell, D-New Orleans and chairman of the Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Committee, has two property tax exemptions measures before his committee Monday. SB 148 is a proposed constitutional amendment dealing with local property tax exemptions granted to new and expanding industries. Gov. John Bel Edwards through an executive order gave local agencies affected by those 100 percent exemptions a voice in the process. The Morrell proposal would put that process into the state constitution if approved by voters.

The exemptions would have to be endorsed by the parish sheriff, school board, municipality and parish governing authority. Current practice gives industries a five-year exemption and a nearly automatic five-year renewal.

Morrell’s proposal would limit the renewal period to three years at only 80 percent of the property’s assessed valuation. Voters would decide the issue on Nov. 6.

SB 164 by Morrell says if a residential property’s assessed value increases by greater than 35 percent in a reassessment year, the assessor shall phase-in the amount over a four-year period. The requirement wouldn’t apply to construction or improvements to the property.

Rep. Mark Abraham, R-Lake Charles, is the sponsor of House Bill 312 that prohibits tax credits for pornographic motion pictures. He said his goal is to put the prohibition into state law to make it clear those productions are ineligible for tax breaks.

Rep. Ted James, D-Baton Rouge, is the sponsor of HB 175 that provides for a tax rebate for donations made by a taxpayer to the Louisiana Office of Financial Assistance. The donations would be used for postsecondary education scholarships for students who are eligible to receive Go Grants that are available for low-to-moderate income students.

The state’s impending $700 million fiscal cliffs is expected to make it difficult to enact tax breaks that cost the state additional revenues.

Rep. Tony Bacala, R-Prairieville, is the sponsor of HB 156. It extends the termination date of the Medicaid task force on fraud and prevention initiatives another year until Aug. 1, 2019.

Rep. Franklin Foil, R-Baton Rouge, is the author of House Concurrent Resolution 3 that creates a Constitutional Convention Study Commission to study the feasibility of holding a constitutional convention. It would be composed of 13 members.

The legislation lays out extensive guidelines to be followed. Support would come from the Legislative Fiscal Office, the Louisiana State Law Institute, the state Supreme Court and universities that appoint members to the commission.

Source: americanpress.com

Gambling in the USA

Gaming Americas Weekly Roundup – November 11-17

Published

4 days ago

November 18, 2024

Niji Narayan

Reading Time: 2 minutes

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

Published

1 week ago

November 12, 2024

Niji Narayan

Reading Time: 2 minutes

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

Published

3 weeks ago

November 4, 2024

Niji Narayan

Reading Time: 2 minutes

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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