Gambling in the USA
LAS VEGAS – RE-LAUNCH OF THE STRIP, an important discussion at Sports Betting & Casino Summit North America 2020
The top industry companies have all confirmed their interest to join the Sports Betting & Casino Summit North America (Virtual Conference), which will open its virtual doors between 23-24 June
The virtual seats are limited, so hurry and register now to secure your seat(s)! REGISTER HERE
Lasvegassun.com has released an interesting editorial which is titled “Sights and sounds of Vegas give us hope for a full recovery”, and we can directly tie this piece with one of the most interesting land-based industry related panel discussions at Sports Betting & Casino Summit North America (Virtual Conference).
After the Bellagio fountains are now back to life with a playing of “Simple Gifts” to honor the Las Vegas front-liners who have protected the city during the pandemic, MGM Resorts International made another spot-on choice for the follow-up song. This is of course an anthem of the fabulous city, “Viva Las Vegas”.
Las Vegas is already booming and WADE VANDERVORT, of Lasvegassun.com wrote it so beautifully as we would not change anything:
“…it was a godsend to see waters dancing, lights twinkling and guests coming through the doors in the resort corridor and downtown. After 78 days of eerie quiet, Las Vegas took its first steps to recovery.
It’s a moment of hope and a reminder that our community has rebounded from crisis and tragedy before.”
Besides the Bellagio fountains, the gondolas are also gliding along the faux canals at The Venetian.
Up and down Las Vegas Boulevard, from Wynn Las Vegas at the north end to New York-New York and MGM Grand on the south end, gamblers are sliding bills into slot machines and wagering chips at blackjack and roulette tables.
Life is slowly returning to normal in Sin City.
As mentioned above, at Sports Betting & Casino Summit North America (Virtual Conference) we will discuss the subject, and the “LAS VEGAS – RE-LAUNCH OF THE STRIP” panel discussion has some very important guests who are joining us on the 23rd of June to share their insights.
The panel discussion is joined by Jay Kornegay (Vice President Race & Sports Operations – Westgate LV Resort & Casino), Seth Schorr (CEO of Fifth Street Gaming and Chairman of Downtown Grand Hotel & Casino) and Matthew Holt (President at U.S. Integrity), and will be moderated by Benjie Cherniak (Managing Director of SG Digital’s Don Best Sports group).
Do not miss this unique opportunity to attend a virtual conference that gathers all North American gaming industry experts for 2 days of discussions and networking. Register your seat now!
Jay Kornegay – Vice President Race & Sports Operations – Westgate LV Resort & Casino
Jay Kornegay is Vice President of the LVH – Las Vegas Hotel & Casino SuperBook. He has more than 26 years experience in the race and sports book industry. Jay graduated from Colorado State University in 1987 with a bachelor’s degree in Restaurant Business Management. Always intrigued by gaming, Jay moved to Nevada later that year to start his path in that field.
Starting in Lake Tahoe and soon afterwards moving to Las Vegas, Jay has worked at four major sports books. He opened the Imperial Palace sports book in 1989, which soon turned into one of the more popular sports books in the state of Nevada.
In 2004, Jay took the reins of the LVH SuperBook. As the world’s largest race and sports book with over 30,000 square feet, the SuperBook is one of the top sports books in Nevada. Over the years, the SuperBook has won numerous awards and often represents the Las Vegas market with national media outlets. It is known for its aggressive nature and being a player-friendly book by offering fair odds to guests. The LVH SuperBook is also known for offering Nevada’s largest wagering menu by posting many 2nd/3rd tier sports, as well as having an international flavor. In addition, the SuperBook hosts the “SuperContest,” which is recognized as the most prestigious pro football handicapping contest. For the fourth consecutive year, the “SuperContest” set a record for number of entries and marked the most entries ever this past football season at 1034.
Jay resides in Las Vegas with wife Pam, daughter Cara and son Nicholas. He is also well known for shooting a 36 on the front nine and a 59 on the back nine.
Seth Schorr – CEO of Fifth Street Gaming and Chairman of Downtown Grand Hotel & Casino
Seth Schorr is CEO of Fifth Street Gaming and Chairman of Downtown Grand Hotel & Casino. The urban casino resort is the embodiments of Schorr’s vision to create a downtown Las Vegas hospitality experience delivering a superior guest experience and a genuine sense of community.
Since beginning his career in gaming and hospitality in 1991, Schorr served as an integral member of the Wynn Resorts team, developing the international marketing department in Macau, the interactive gaming division, and The Wynn Collection of Fine Art. Earlier in his career, Schorr also worked in numerous capacities at Mirage Resorts including positions at Bellagio Hotel & Casino, The Mirage Hotel & Casino, and Treasure Island Hotel & Casino.
Schorr and his partner, Jeffrey Fine, co-founded Fifth Street Gaming which owns and operates five casinos. The principals of Fifth Street Gaming also control, through its affiliate, the LEV Restaurant Group, a food and beverage operation that owns and manages more than 50 restaurants in the Las Vegas area and Southern California including The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Jamba Juice, Lobster ME, JaBurritos, Daily Kitchen, Evel Pie, and Golden Tiki.
In early 2015, Schorr was introduced to the world of eSports and lead the effort of developing the first fully integrated eSports program in a casino resort at The Downtown Grand. The Downtown Grand’s eSports program has included weekly eSports contests, team residencies and sponsorships, a weekly broadcast and professional tournaments. Schorr sits on the board of GameCo and advised on the development and launch of the world’s first video game slot machine. In 2017 Schorr launched Commercial Streaming Solutions which developed a patent-pending media platform, KonekTV, that provides streaming content, including Esports and sports betting content, to retail venues. Schorr is a founder of the Nevada Esports Alliance and continues to be a leader in the convergence of Esports and sports gambling. Schorr is the co-founder of The Strategy Organization: a Modern Gaming and Hospitality consulting firm.
Schorr is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, is a member of YPO and sits on numerous boards including those for The Las Vegas Natural History Museum, Nevada Restaurant Association, Jewish Federation of Las Vegas, the Advisory Board of The Smith Center for Performing Arts, One Night for One Drop and was appointed by Governor Sandoval to serve on Nevada State Board of Museums & History. He is also an executive board member and Chairman of the Communications Committee of the Downtown Las Vegas alliance. Schorr is an avid cyclist, amateur photographer and has two little angels Dax (10) and Mia (9). Most importantly, Schorr recently married Dr. Emily Schorr.
Matthew Holt – President at U.S. Integrity
Originally from New Hampshire, Mr. Holt originally honorably served in the United States Air Force. Once completing his term in the Air Force Mr. Holt attended Morehead State University, obtaining a sports marketing degree before taking up residence in Las Vegas, Nevada. Mr. Holt founded U.S. Integrity, LLC. based out of Las Vegas, Nevada. U.S. Integrity is the gold standard of game integrity and fraud prevention services in the United States. Mr. Holt and his team at US Integrity have built innovative, technology based solutions that allow for easy accessible data and analytics for fraud prevention and game integrity monitoring.
Benjie Cherniak – Managing Director of SG Digital’s Don Best Sports group
Benjie Cherniak is the Managing Director of SG Digital’s Don Best Sports group, a leading provider of sports information products and services relevant to the North American sports betting industry. Benjie oversees the company’s sports information platform, automated data distribution, live pricing, and ancillary consulting services.
Following the acquisition of Don Best by Scientific Games, Benjie has accelerated the growth of OpenBet, the company’s sports betting platform, by integrating Don Best’s world-class pricing services into the technology. Don Best’s trading and pricing expertise have seamlessly become an integral part of SG Digital’s core offering.
Prior to joining Scientific Games, Benjie spearheaded Don Best’s international growth via tailored solutions to tier-one sportsbook operators in the United States, Europe, Asia, Latin America and beyond. Under Benjie’s supervision, Don Best introduced (a) a proprietary pricing product for North American based sports that rapidly established itself as the industry standard; and (b) a data integrity offering to assist North American based sport leagues in identifying potential fraudulent betting patterns.
With 15 years of industry experience, Benjie is a leading voice in the emerging US sports betting industry from both an operational and legislative perspective.
Gambling in the USA
Gaming Americas Weekly Roundup – September 2-8
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 Matrix Group announced that the Company is progressing in its efforts to expand its market presence, particularly with its anticipated entry into the U.S. iGaming market. The Company, through its subsidiary Expanse Studios, which specialises in the production and distribution of iGaming content, is currently in the process of applying for the New Jersey Casino Service Industry Enterprise license.
Comanche Nation Casino has been recognised as the No. 1 Casino in the state at Oklahoman’s annual Community Choice Awards. The award programme recognises destinations throughout Oklahoma that provide exceptional service and experiences to the community and guests. Award finalists were invited to an awards gala at the Embassy Suites in Oklahoma City. In attendance to accept the award on behalf of Comanche Nation Casino was Shandi Tahhahwah, General Manager, and Megan Norberto, Marketing Manager.
The Esports Integrity Commission has announced that the highly anticipated ESIC Global Esports Summit (EGES) will make its US debut in 2024. The summit, a pivotal gathering for the esports industry, is set to take place on October 3 and 4, 2024, at the prestigious Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Georgia.
Betr Holdings Inc., a leading sports gaming and media company, announced the launch of its peer-to-peer product “Group Mode” for Betr Picks, as well as the soft launch of the new Betr Sportsbook, just in time for the NFL season. With the launch of Group Mode, Betr Picks is now live in Florida and Massachusetts, with Virginia, Arizona, Tennessee, Missouri, Alabama, West Virginia, New Hampshire and Delaware to be launched imminently, which will have Betr Picks live in 33 states plus Washington, D.C.
New Partnerships
MGM Resorts International and BetMGM announced that they are once again partnering with the American Gaming Association to promote Responsible Gaming Education Month (RGEM 2024) in September. The two companies will execute their responsible gaming campaign at designated National Football League stadiums for the second year, with increased exposure for GameSense.
Allwyn announced its support of the U.S. premiere of Dvořák Dreams, an immersive, A.I.-generated digital exhibition by renowned artist Refik Anadol. This is the second year Allwyn has sponsored the international tour of this exhibition, underpinning its commitment to supporting the arts and innovative cultural initiatives across the globe. Allwyn’s support means the exhibition is free for the public to experience.
FaZe Clan, one of the most prominent and influential gaming organisations in the world, and G FUEL, the leading energy drink formula for gamers and creators, announced the revival of a new multi-year, multi-million-dollar sponsorship and licensing deal. This partnership is one of the largest transactions in GameSquare’s history, where FaZe Media will receive an equity component in G FUEL as part of the contract, further aligning the two companies’ core community-focused values and fostering deeper collaboration to drive growth and engagement within the gaming ecosystem.
EPIC Global Solutions and Bally’s have announced a groundbreaking three-year partnership aimed at promoting responsible gaming and making a positive impact on communities. This collaboration positions both organisations as leaders in responsible gaming within the gaming industry.
Gambling in the USA
Gaming Americas Weekly Roundup – August 26-September 1
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 appointments. Read on and get updated.
Latest News
Hard Rock Digital and Hard Rock Casino Rockford announced that Hard Rock Bet has been launched in Illinois, with its highly rated online sports betting app now live throughout the state and in-person wagering began on August 29 at Hard Rock Casino Rockford’s sportsbook. Hard Rock Bet recently launched its ‘Roll With Us’ fall campaign, welcoming players of all types to play on its easy-to-use app and online sportsbook by visiting HardRock.bet. New Illinois players can take advantage of Hard Rock Bet’s signup offer and receive $100 in Bonus Bets instantly following their first cash bet of at least $5. Hard Rock Bet offers pre-game, live betting, futures and multiple parlay options (including Same Game Parlays) as well as a free online rewards programme and engaging promotions.
Table Trac Inc. along with TransAct Technologies Incorporated, a global leader in software-driven technology and printing solutions, shared the results from the first six months of the SlotSUITE deployment. The floor-wide, single-wire printing solution, announced in December 2023, was recently implemented in a large regional casino in the American Southwest. SlotSUITE was developed through a partnership between CasinoTrac and TransAct Technologies. It integrates TransAct’s Epicentral SE with PromoTrac, CasinoTrac’s unified promotions administration and management system, using a single-wire solution that works on existing CasinoTrac gaming floor networks.
Related Companies/Oxford Properties Group and Wynn Resorts revealed new project details for the next phase of Hudson Yards, including new renderings and animations as well as additional testimonials of support. The $12 Billion total project proposal to build Hudson Yards West on top of the undeveloped western rail yards, is a once-in-a-generation commitment that, if approved by City and State officials, would provide significant quality-of-life improvements for the neighborhood and enormous economic opportunity for the entire city.
New Appointments
Rush Street Gaming announced that casino and hospitality veteran Cliff Ehrlich has joined the company as its chief operating officer. Ehrlich assumes the role of Rush Street COO from Bill Keena, a longtime company and industry leader, who plans to retire later this year. Ehrlich’s career began in marketing at the Catskills’ Pines Resort Hotel in the 80s and transitioned in the 90s to casino development and operations. In 1996, he became co-owner of the Monticello Raceway and helped recruit the Oneida Indian Nation to build a casino on the property. Since 2022, Ehrlich has been Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise’s chief operating officer, with oversight of four casinos, a resort destination hotel, travel plaza and food & beverage manufacturing.
Wanna.com, in August, announced the appointment of Chuck Bowling, former President and COO at MGM Resorts International, to its Board of Directors. With an impressive career overseeing prestigious properties such as the Mandalay Bay, Delano, Four Seasons Las Vegas and Luxor, Mr. Bowling brings a wealth of experience and strategic insight to the burgeoning enterprise. As Wanna.com prepares for its initial launch in approximately 25 to 30 states, Mr. Bowling’s extensive expertise in hospitality and gaming will be instrumental in guiding Wanna.com and Wanna Parlay, through this exciting phase of growth and development.
Gambling in the USA
Gaming Americas Weekly Roundup – July 29-August 4
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
During a community celebration at The Village in Meridian, the Idaho Lottery commemorated their record-breaking 35th Anniversary by returning the single largest dividend in their history to the people of Idaho. The Idaho Lottery Commission presented Governor Brad Little with an $84,000,000 dividend check, a 2.4% increase over last year’s dividend.
The Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB) issued a cease and desist demanding that Playgon Interactive Inc. (Playgon) and its affiliate, Bitrate Productions (Bitrate), cease production of live dealer content from a studio located in Las Vegas, NV. The demand, signed by NGCB Chairman Kirk Hendrick, alleges that Bitrate is using live dealers in Las Vegas to deal games such as baccarat and roulette, and broadcasts the content to online casinos located around the world.
Casino of the Kings is redesigning its website. Though the existing version of the site functions flawlessly, the purpose of redesign is to make the website faster, easier to navigate and more user-friendly. In addition to the website redesign, Casino of the Kings is also launching an official YouTube channel. Casino of the Kings YouTube channel is going to feature slot reviews, casino investigations and exclusive insights for viewers who prefer visual content.
Aristocrat Gaming will bring all-new content to the first and only mechanic of its kind, Frenzy Jackpots, alongside new and top-performing game titles to impress attendees at the upcoming Oklahoma Indian Gaming Show (OIGA). The all-new Frenzy Jackpots SSP $10,000 Link, created specifically for Class 2 gaming floors with higher frequency jackpots, spans across many Aristocrat games.
International Game Technology PLC announced that Jade Luchauer, IGT Senior Manager Global Sustainability, recently won the Don Feeney Award for Responsible Gambling Excellence at the National Council on Problem Gambling’s (NCPG) 2024 National Awards. Held in conjunction with NCPG’s National Conference on Gambling Addiction & Responsible Gambling, the National Awards honours individuals and organisations from across the world for their work on problem gambling and responsible gambling.
Partnerships
Pollard Banknote Limited has announced an extension to its Instant Ticket Printing Services Agreement with the Interprovincial Lottery Corporation (ILC). The original contract term began on December 30, 2013, and under this extension Pollard Banknote will continue to provide instant tickets, game design and related services through December 31, 2028, with an option to renew for an additional five years.
The LA Clippers announced that Pechanga Resort Casino has expanded its partnership to become the team’s exclusive tribal casino and a Founding Partner of its new arena Intuit Dome, which opens Aug. 15. The long-term partnership is rooted in the organisations’ shared value of giving back to Southern California.
SCCG Management has announced a sponsorship partnership with Hoppa! Card. This collaboration is set to revolutionise the payment landscape for the gambling industry with a strong focus on crypto technology, leveraging SCCG’s extensive ecosystem of over 120+ client partners and its global presence across all major regions. Through this partnership, SCCG Management will support Hoppa! Card in delivering their innovative crypto payment and banking solutions to a wider audience within the gaming industry.
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