Gambling in the USA
Casinos Across the U.S. Continue to Close as COVID-19 Spreads
![USA casinos are closing amid covid-19](https://europeangaming.eu/portal/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/us-casino-closed.jpg)
More and more casinos across the United States are closing their doors as the nation goes into shutdown following the coronavirus outbreak.
Over the past few days, the rapid spread of the virus has forced millions of citizens to quarantine themselves at home. Offices, hotels, and venues across the country have had to cease operations, unclear when they can open again. The country is facing an economic crisis as a result and the gambling industry could be one of the worst-hit.
Both Wynn Resorts and MGM Resorts International shuttered their Las Vegas casinos last week. However, full-time employees have been given assurances that salaries will continue to be paid during the period. The move follows recommendations from the CDC to limit public gatherings to no more than 10 people.
Speaking to CNBC, Vegas-based race and sports manager Duane Colucci of Rampart Casino highlighted the industry’s struggle to prepare for such a situation. “Itâs so hard to fathom. You canât prepare for something like this, especially in the race and sportsbook industry,â she said. She hopes that work-from-home regulations will be relaxed to allow casinos to take bets online.
On the east coast, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy has closed all casinos, bars, and restaurants in Atlantic City, rendering the popular gambling hub a ghost town.
A move online
Online gambling has managed to continue through the struggles largely unaffected, with many digital casinos accepting US players around the world. Virtual horse racing also continues to operate online, along with certain sporting events in less-affected countries like Mexico and Russia.
Sportsbooks across the country have begun taking bets on all-and-everything in an attempt to pick up the slack. For example, the popular Costa Rican-based betting site Bovada has even been taking bets on the maximum temperature in various U.S. cities.
Sports betting sites like FanDuel and DraftKings are investigating new events on which to take bets. They both took some bizarre wagers on last week’s U.S political debate, including the amount and frequency of Trump’s tweets. Some other online betting sites have come up with some questionable solutions, like hosting simulated versions of real-life sports events that have been canceled.
Across the pond in the United Kingdom, physical casinos are also feeling the pinch. However, with the UK’s more favorable online gambling regulations, many are surviving through their online partner sites. eSports, where players compete entirely online, is another industry that has garnered increased popularity. Many sports betting sites are now enticing players to redirect their bets to eSports as a way to mitigate lost revenue on real-life sports.
A drain on savings
While online gambling might solve the problem of social distancing that COVID-19 presents, it doesn’t solve the problem of dwindling capital in most households. The longer that citizens are kept away from their work, the less likely they are to spend their savings on unnecessary activities. While gambling may be a favorite past-time for many, risky investments tend to reduce significantly during times of crisis.
The overall casino and gambling industry will struggle to survive this outbreak if the lockdown continues for too long. According to the UK paper The Guardian, around 35 companies are currently investigating a COVID-19 vaccine. However, it’s an arduous process that involves several critical testing phases in order to gain regulatory approval.
Annelies Wilder-Smith of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine believes a COVID-19 vaccine will take at least 18 months to develop, under the best possible conditions. During that time there is no telling how far the virus could spread and how devasting the effects on the economy could be.
Gambling in the USA
Gaming Americas Weekly Roundup â July 15-21
![](https://europeangaming.eu/portal/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/globe-2269653_1280-1-3.jpg)
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
Instant Win Gaming (IWG), a leading supplier of eInstant games to NASPL and WLA-member lotteries, has congratulated the Pennsylvania Lottery on becoming the first in the US to launch eFastPlay, a new eInstants category offered by IWG. In Pennsylvania, the Lottery is branding this new category as EZ âeInstantsâ. The Lotteryâs new EZ category broadens the appeal of its online programme to players who prefer a more simplified instant play experience.
Advanced Casino Solutions (ACS), a leader in targeted marketing and player engagement solutions for the gaming industry, announced a significant upgrade to its cutting-edge product, the Precision Insights & Engagement (PIE) platform. This enhancement further refines the capabilities of PIE, providing even more detailed insights into visitor behaviour and setting a new industry standard for data-driven marketing.
Relativity Acquisition Corp. announced that it has entered a letter of intent (LOI) providing for a proposed business combination (the Transaction) that will result in Relativity acquiring 100% of the outstanding equity and equity equivalents of Mazaii Corp Ltd. The Transaction values the Company at an initial enterprise value of $500 million.
Innovative Technology Americas Inc. has appointed Jeff Tash as its Business Development Manager for North America. Jeff will focus on the amusement and vending industries, identifying and generating new sales opportunities. Innovative Technology specialises in note handling equipment and age and identity verification technology.
A subsidiary of Betsson AB has obtained its first local licenses for the newly regulated market in Peru. The licenses cover online casino and sports betting for the Betsson and Betsafe brands. Further, licenses for the Inkabet brand are expected to be obtained soon.
The National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) has launched the Tribal Advisory Council. While NCPG has worked with Tribal gaming entities for many years, the formation of the Tribal Advisory Council represents a deeper level of collaboration to address matters of responsible gambling and problem gambling that are of importance to Native American communities.
Partnerships
Ballyâs Twin River announced that it has partnered with nationally recognised Maverick Gaming to elevate the poker room experience and rebrand the poker area to the Ballyâs Maverick Poker Room. The collaboration aims to create the ultimate poker experience for players of all levels, increase revenue generated by the Ballyâs poker offering and create new jobs. Ballyâs will continue to operate and manage the poker room which consists of approximately 23 tables, all located on the smoke-free second floor of the casino.
CT Interactive has launched its games on Juegalo.com, a prominent Chilean online casino brand. This partnership marks a significant step in CT Interactiveâs strategic expansion within the Latin American market, extending the companyâs footprint in Chile. The integration of CT Interactiveâs diverse game portfolio on Juegalo.com offers players in Chile access to a wide range of high-quality, engaging and regulation-compliant gaming content.
Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation has entered into a partnership with the Canadian Olympic Committee and Canadian Paralympic Committee and has become the Official Ontario Lottery Partner of Team Canada for the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Gambling in the USA
Gaming Americas Weekly Roundup â July 8-14
![](https://europeangaming.eu/portal/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/globe-2269653_1280-1-2.jpg)
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
The CT Lottery has launched its iLottery platform. Players can participate in the fun of online lottery and their favourite draw games by visiting ctilottery.org or by downloading the CT Lottery mobile app on the iOS platform (Android app to follow next month). The app comes with exciting new features that allow players to personalise their lottery experience, such as saving favorite numbers and wagers, grouping preferred games for easy purchasing and setting limits for wagering and time spent on the app.
Talking Stick Resort, an enterprise of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community (SRPMIC), announced that it was named âBest Casinoâ in azcentral.comâs 2024 Community Choice Awards. The casino-resort was nominated along with three other casino properties in the Valley by the public as part of the East Valley, Best of the Desert portion of the awards programme.
International Game Technology PLC announced that IGT PlayDigital recently added the highly anticipated Prosperity Link game to its iGaming content library in the US. This development makes the widely recognised casino game available for commercial iGaming operators in Pennsylvania, Michigan, New Jersey, Connecticut and West Virginia.
Raketech has announced that the Company has reached an agreement to divest its non-core US advisory business. The total sale proceeds amount to USD 2.25 million settled partially on closing and via an ongoing revenue share agreement.
Partnerships
NetBet Mexico and popular online gaming provider Octoplay have announced an agreement that will make Octoplayâs games available for NetBet Mexico customers to enjoy. Despite only being founded in 2022, Octoplay has rapidly established itself as an influential member of the iGaming industry, developing multiple entertaining and popular slots such as Lollicat, Eternal Clash and Shaolin Panda Chaos Reels â which are among the flagship new Octoplay titles being made available to NetBet Mexico customers.
SCCG Management, a leading global advisory firm in the gaming industry, has announced a sponsorship partnership with Blurify, an award-winning expert in software development with a niche focus on the iGaming sector. This collaboration aims to leverage SCCGâs extensive client partner ecosystem and deep market insights with Blurifyâs technological expertise to explore new opportunities and drive innovation in the gaming industry.
International Game Technology PLC has announced that its subsidiary, IGT Global Solutions Corporation, has signed a seven-year contract with the Colorado Lottery to install all-new world-class products and solutions. The contract is expected to run through July 12, 2032, and includes seven, one-year extension options. As part of the new contract, the Colorado Lottery will receive IGTâs Aurora central system, replacing the current lottery central system.
JCM Global (JCM) has installed its award-winning iVIZION bill validator and ICB Intelligent Cash Box system at the historic Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots in New Orleans. JCM upgraded its UBA bill validator to iVIZION and installed ICB on each of the 620 slots at Fair Grounds. Previously, JCM installed its GEN5 Thermal Printer at Fair Grounds, and now with iVIZION and ICB, the path is open for the property to take full advantage of JCMâs FUZION technology in the future.
Gambling in the USA
Innovative Technology Americas welcomes Jeff Tash, Business Development Manager
![](https://europeangaming.eu/portal/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/welcome.jpg)
Innovative Technology Americas, Inc. welcomes Jeff Tash, Business Development Manager for North America. Jeff will focus on the amusement and vending industries, identifying and generating new sales opportunities. Innovative Technology specializes in note handling equipment and age and identity verification technology.
Welcoming Jeff to the US team, Lauren Fabbri, Business Development Manager for the gaming side of the business, said, âJeff joined us back in March and hit the ground running spending his first day in the Innovative booth at the Amusement Expo show in Las Vegas! Jeff has settled into life at Innovative Technology and is already connecting with our amusement and vending customers across America and Canada.â
Commenting on his role, Tash said, âI am really enjoying working for Innovative! The overwhelming support and enthusiasm from both the team and our customers on my first day at Amusement Expo validated my choice to join ITL. Iâm up to speed with all our products and really enthusiastic to share them with the many contacts I have in the industry.â
Fabbri continued, âJeff has 15+ years in the amusement industry, primarily with OEMs in a sales and business development role, so has an extensive book of contacts including manufacturers, distributors, route operators and parts providers. He will be responsible for monitoring industry trends, identifying growth opportunities and emerging markets, conducting product demonstrations and facilitating strong client relationships. Jeff has phenomenal relationships and has already demonstrated his ability to motivate decision makers when representing us at trade shows, meetings and events.â
Concluding Tash said, âI am eager to provide reliable and innovative product solutions to the amusement industry and customers, and continue to ensure note handling remains at the forefront of the amusement and vending industries. I am excited to collaborate with Lauren and the rest of the North American team in the growth of the GAV (Gaming, Amusement, Vending) markets. Innovative is an organization with a strong sense of purpose and a passion to support its employees, and I am privileged to be a part of this.â
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