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Gambling in the USA

MGM Resorts First to Market with Mississippi Sports Wagering

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  • Beau Rivage Resort & Casino and Gold Strike Casino Resort Open Era of Legal Sports Wagering in Mississippi
  • Resorts share honor of taking the First Legal Sports Bet in Mississippi holding simultaneous events at opposite ends of the Magnolia State

BILOXI and TUNICA, Miss.Aug. 1, 2018 – History was made today in Mississippi, as two Magnolia State resorts, Beau Rivage Resort & Casino in Biloxi and Gold Strike Casino Resort in Tunica, held simultaneous events to usher in the era of legal sports wagering.

The resorts, part of the MGM Resorts International portfolio (NYSE: MGM), both accepted their first sports wagers at 12:00 p.m. CT and now share in the distinction of taking the first sports wagers in Mississippi under newly created state regulations permitting licensed casino operators to establish legal sports books.

“MGM Resorts is proud to once again assume the leadership position in the hospitality industry,” said Jim Murren, chairman and chief executive officer of MGM Resorts International. “Sports wagering is a rapidly growing, exciting new entertainment opportunity for our company. We were proud to take the first sports wager in Atlantic City in June and today the first legal sports wager in two locations in Mississippi.”

As a part of the MGM Resorts International portfolio, Beau Rivage and Gold Strike launch sports wagering operations with the strong support of MGM’s more than 25 years of sports wagering operations experience in Nevada, where the company’s resorts combine to write more than 4 million sports wagers each year with an annual handle of more than $1 billion.

“This is a banner day for Beau Rivage and all of Mississippi and we are proud to lead the way on the Mississippi Gulf Coast,” said Bill Boasberg, president & chief operating officer of Beau Rivage Resort & Casino. “Here in the heart of the South, home to some of the most ardent sports fans in the world, we open a whole new era of sports entertainment and we do it on the eve of football season. What could be better?”

At 12:00 p.m. CT, a group of local dignitaries and legendary sports figures stepped up to the newly constructed sports wagering windows in the Beau Rivage Casino in Biloxi for the honor of placing the first legal sports wagers in Mississippi history. Among them, Willis McGahee, former Miami Hurricanes Running Back and 2-time NFL Pro Bowler; Robert Royal, former Louisiana State Tigers All-American Tight End and NFL star; Legendary Oddsmaker Danny Sheridan; Mississippi Gaming and Hospitality Association Exec. Dir. and Former Mississippi Gaming Commission Exec. Dir. Larry Gregory.

Meanwhile, 350 miles to the north in Tunica, a similar group approached the new sports betting windows at Gold Strike Casino Resort in Tunica to place bets. Among those given the honor of placing a First Bet at Gold Strike were Stanley Morgan, UT Knoxville Wide Receiver and 4-time NFL Pro Bowler; Former Mississippi Gaming Commission Chairman Nolen Canon; Mississippi Senate Tourism Committee Chair Lydia Chassaniol; Mississippi House Gaming Committee Vice-Chair Rep. Cedric Burnett.

At the stroke of noon, the bets were officially entered and ticketed and the Mississippi gaming industry entered a new era of sports entertainment.

The date of these historic first Mississippi sports wagers coincides with the 26th anniversary of the first casino bet made in Mississippi’s modern casino age – a legendary dice roll at the Isle of Capri in Biloxion August 1, 1992.

David Tsai, president and chief operating officer of Gold Strike Casino Resort, heralded the arrival of sports betting with his customers and employees in Tunica.

“This is a defining moment in Gold Strike’s nearly 24-year history,” said Mr. Tsai. “Sports fans have long waited for this day and we are proud to be the first to offer our customers this exciting new opportunity to engage with their favorite sports and teams. We are honored to be a part of Mississippigaming history.”

Both Mississippi resort executives anticipate the new offering will generate new interest, excitement, and economic benefits for their resorts and communities. That prediction will prove prophetic should Southern sports fans respond in the same manner as their Northern counterparts.

Customer reaction to the introduction of legal sports wagering in New Jersey has exceeded expectations. New Jersey regulators report that sports betters placed more than $16 million in wagers in just the first two weeks sports bets were legal in the state. The new offering boosted Borgata’s overall gaming revenues to a record month of more than $65 million, the best June performance in the resorts’ 15-year history.

Beau Rivage and Gold Strike Sports Books are operating out of provisional sports betting windows due to the rapid arrival of legal sports wagering in Mississippi, just two months after the US Supreme Court overturned the federal law restricting sports betting. Both resorts are in the final stages of design for future sports book offerings. Details and timelines of those enhancements will be announced at a future date.

About Beau Rivage Resort & Casino
Located on the Mississippi Gulf Coast in Biloxi, MGM Resorts International’s Beau Rivage Resort & Casino was named one of 2017’s Top 10 “South’s Best Resorts” by Southern Living. The AAA Four Diamond resort features 1,740 elegantly appointed guest rooms and suites, 10 restaurants, an 85,000-square-foot gaming area, a 1,550-seat theatre, an upscale shopping promenade, a world-class spa & salon and Fallen Oak, a Tom Fazio-designed championship golf course. For more information and reservations, call (888) 567-6667 or visit www.beaurivage.com.

About Gold Strike Casino Resort
Gold Strike Casino Resort is MGM Resorts International’s 1,200-room resort located 20 minutes south of Memphis in Tunica, Mississippi. The resort includes deluxe rooms and suites, 30,000-square-foot conference and convention center, casino, high-limit gaming area, Chicago Steakhouse and Buffet Americana. Gold Strike also features a refreshing spa, the 800-seat Millennium Theatre, Atrium Café and 50,000 square feet of gaming space with 63 table games and more than 1,100 slot machines. For reservations or information, call 888-245-7529 or visit www.goldstrike.com.

About MGM Resorts International
MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM) is an S&P 500® global entertainment company with national and international locations featuring best-in-class hotels and casinos, state-of-the-art meetings and conference spaces, incredible live and theatrical entertainment experiences, and an extensive array of restaurant, nightlife and retail offerings. MGM Resorts creates immersive, iconic experiences through its suite of Las Vegas-inspired brands. The MGM Resorts portfolio encompasses 28 unique hotel offerings including some of the most recognizable resort brands in the industry. Expanding throughout the U.S. and around the world, the company opened MGM Cotai in Macau inFebruary 2018. It is also developing MGM Springfield in Massachusetts and debuting the first international Bellagio branded hotel in Shanghai. The 78,000 global employees of MGM Resorts are proud of their company for being recognized as one of FORTUNE® Magazine’s World’s Most Admired Companies®. For more information visit us at www.mgmresorts.com.

SOURCE MGM Resorts International

CONTACT: BEAU RIVAGE: Mary Cracchiolo Spain, 228.386.7134 office, 228.547.8473 cell, [email protected]; GOLD STRIKE: Keisha Oliver, 662.357.1166 office, 662.541.1272 cell, [email protected]

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Gambling in the USA

Gaming Americas Weekly Roundup – November 11-17

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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.

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Gambling in the USA

Gaming Americas Weekly Roundup – November 4-10

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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.

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Gambling in the USA

Gaming Americas Weekly Roundup – October 28-November 3

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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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