Gambling in the USA

Harrah’s New Orleans 30-year contract extension delayed

Published

7 years ago

May 2, 2018

Reading Time: 3 minutes

A Senate committee has delayed the discussion over 30-year contract extension with Caesar’s Entertainment Corp. to run Harrah’s New Orleans for another week due to concerns over how the financing plan for the agreement would work and the casino potentially being turned over to another entity, stated Sen. Gary Smith, D-Norco, the committee’s chairman.Committee chairman Smith has cut out the Harrah’s contract extension proposal, found in House Bill 553, from the Senate Judiciary B committee agenda for Tuesday (May 1) and plans to discuss it at another committee meeting next week instead.

The deal was agreed by the sponsor of the legislation, House Speaker Taylor Barras, R-New Iberia, said Smith in an interview.

Barras, meanwhile, had told reporters less than an hour earlier that he planned to run the Harrah’s legislation Tuesday. He did not mention talking to Smith or agreeing to a delay, but the bill is no longer listed on the committee’s public agenda.
By granting the gambling license extension, Barras’ legislation will allow Caesars to pursue more restaurants and entertainment options at the casino complex, including a new luxury hotel. The speaker sees the project as an economic development opportunity for the state, but others wonder whether Louisiana could get a better deal if they pursued contracts with other casino companies.

Barras has said opening up bidding for the casino would be complicated by the fact that New Orleans — which owns the casino building — has already signed a lease with Caesars for another 30 years. His bill would bring the gambling license in line with that lease agreement, he said.
“With [Casesars] having the lease, the building could go black until 2054,” if they didn’t get the gambling license extension, Barras said in an interview last month.

New Orleans media rumored in the weekend that Las Vegas based real estate company, Vici Properties has the opportunity to buy Harrah’s New Orleans from Caesar’s.

That article caused U.S. Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., to declare from Washington D.C. that state lawmakers shouldn’t take action on the Harrah’s New Orleans contract, until they get more information about Caesar’s arrangement with Vici.

“The state could be leaving money on the table by making a deal on a property that is about to explode in value,” Kennedy said in a written statement Monday afternoon. “Harrah’s Vici agreement is a surprise that could shortchange the state.”

Still, Barras said Caesar’s arrangement with Vici Properties is a run-of-the-mill use of a real estate investment trust. Vici Properties has taken control of several Caesar’s casino properties, including the Horseshoe casino in Bossier City, and then immediately leased them back to Caesar’s Entertainment to operate with no problems.

He said moving the real estate from Caesar’s to Vici would be more accurately described as a transfer of property — and not akin to the traditional “selling” of an asset. “I think this is the option to move the property into the real estate trust,” Barras said. “Holding company arrangements, sister company arrangements, are common.”

Kennedy’s statement about the Harrah’s proposal was not a factor in postponing any vote on the legislation. Smith had already taken Barras’ bill off the agenda before Kennedy weighed in with his thoughts on the project. Barras wasn’t aware Kennedy had sent out a statement before he spoke with reporters about the project. Smith also said he hadn’t seen Kennedy’s statement.

Like Barras, Smith is not very worried about whether Casesar’s might transfer the property to Vici. He said that type of arrangement is more common than was originally thought, but his fellow senators continue to have concerns about the financial arrangements for the state written into the legislation.

Caesar’s current contract for the Harrah’s gambling license expires in July 2024. Barras’ bill would extend the deal another 30 years. In exchange for the extension, Caesar’s is supposed to invest another $350 million into its facility, according to the legislation.

Caesars wants to make Harrah’s New Orleans more like the all-encompassing casinos in Las Vegas. It plans to add a Vegas-style night club, spa, a state-of-the-art pool and a restaurant run by a nationally-recognized “celebrity chef.” A New Orleans-focused food hall, a new venue for musicians, improved street entrances and landscaping would also be part of the expansion.

In addition to getting Barras’ bill passed, Caesars will also have to get permission from the Gaming Control Board and the New Orleans City Council before moving forward with its overhaul of Harrah’s.

The Louisiana House has already passed Barras’ bill that would allow Caesar’s gambling license for Harrah’s New Orleans to be extended, but the Senate has not acted on the legislation yet. Gov. John Bel Edwards is supportive of the project and has said he would sign the legislation if it reached his desk.

Source: nola.com

Gambling in the USA

Gaming Americas Weekly Roundup – November 4-10

Published

3 days ago

November 12, 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

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

2 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.

Gambling in the USA

Gaming Americas Weekly Roundup – October 21-27

Published

3 weeks ago

October 28, 2024

Niji Narayan

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Latest News

Bally’s Interactive, the digital and sports betting division of Bally’s Corporation, announced the official launch of the Bally Bet Sportsbook app in Tennessee, marking its expansion into the tenth state. This milestone comes on the heels of recent successful Bally Bet launches in Massachusetts and Maryland. Sports enthusiasts across the Volunteer State can now revel in the comprehensive offerings of the Bally Bet sportsbook app. With a wide array of betting options, including spread, money line and total bets, as well as in-game betting and same game parlays, Tennessee sports fans will have an unparalleled wagering experience.

ESE Entertainment Inc., a gaming company that provides a range of services to leading video game developers and publishers, has announced that it has acquired Bombee Global Entertainment (Bombee Americas), the North American arm of Bombee Event Production AB, (Bombee), a global production company specialised in live production, special effects, broadcast and event management for the gaming sector. Bombee has successfully collaborated with ESE to bring its premier event production services and world class customer service to North America and beyond. The North American arm of Bombee, Bombee Americas, will continue to grow and scale in this new organisational structure under ESE, while maintaining its entire team and global support.

Matthew Wantman has become the overall champion of the PokerGO Tour PLO Series II presented by PLO Mastermind. Wantman secured the prestigious honor after an impressive showing at PokerGO Studio in Las Vegas, outperforming a talented field of the best PLO players in the world to earn the $10,000 PGT Passport bonus. The PGT PLO Series II featured a series of high-stakes pot-limit Omaha tournaments. Wantman’s consistent performance set him apart from the competition and solidified his spot atop the leaderboard.

Partnerships

SYNOT Games has announced its further expansion into the Colombian market through a partnership with BetPlay. This alliance highlights SYNOT Games’ commitment to increasing its presence in Latin America and providing its engaging and innovative games to a wider audience. Through this partnership, BetPlay’s online platform will feature a curated selection of SYNOTGames’ top-performing titles, including fan favourites like Aztec Jaguar, Diamond Fever, Realm of Lions.

Internet Sports International, a global provider of turnkey race and sportsbook software solutions, announced its partnership with the We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort in Fort McDowell, Arizona. Through this consultancy, ISI is powering the casino’s sportsbook and retail sports wagering operations on its gaming floor with its award-winning system. WKP Sportsbook is currently operating, allowing patrons to elevate their excitement by wagering on their preferred sporting events with up-to-the-minute odds and live action. The automated sportsbook kiosks provide access to a wide range of sports propositions for both the beginner and expert bettor.

Aristocrat Gaming, a leading designer, manufacturer and distributor of regulated slot games, announced it is now a promotional partner for Princess Cruises, one of the world’s most iconic cruise lines. Through this exciting collaboration, Aristocrat Gaming will design innovative gaming experiences for guests onboard Princess ships as well as create promotions with land-based casinos that offer Princess cruises as rewards.