Gambling in the USA

MGM Springfield Makes New England Debut

Published

6 years ago

August 27, 2018

George Miller

Photo Credits: MGM Resorts

Reading Time: 5 minutes

Investing in the Revival of a Great American City, Massachusetts’ First Resort and Casino brings 3,000 Permanent Jobs and New Entertainment Offerings to Region

SPRINGFIELD, Mass., Aug, 2018 — MGM Springfield, New England’s first integrated luxury resort, officially opened its doors today. The resort combines the excitement and energy of Las Vegas with the rich historical context of Springfield, a city steeped in innovation and the arts.

“Travelers seeking authentic, local experiences are rediscovering small cities across the U.S. that fuse small-town charm with the allure of big-city culture,” said Jim Murren, Chairman and CEO of MGM Resorts. “With a 375-year legacy as a major crossroads of New England, Springfield is poised to join the likes of such hidden gems with the development of MGM Springfield leading a fresh wave of rediscovery in The City of Firsts.”

Inspired to drive curiosity in local heritage for a new wave of locals and visitors, MGM Springfield’s design team incorporated architectural landmarks and hundreds of locally sourced vintage treasures into the resort. From recasting the former hotel to Presidents Polk and Buchanan into a sophisticated steakhouse to restoring a 19th century arsenal and a High Gothic-style church, the development thoughtfully merges new building with historic architecture, with a resulting aesthetic that is distinctly Springfield.

Covering three city blocks in the heart of downtown, the resort features whimsical accommodations with nods to notable locals Theodor Geisel (Dr. Seuss) and Emily Dickinson; recognized-chef restaurants by James Beard Award-winning chef Michael Mina and Adam Sobel, and Hell’s Kitchen Season 14 winner Meghan Gill; innovative lounges; a seven-screen luxury Regal Cinemas; 10-lane bowling alley within TAP Sports Bar; a Topgolf^® Swing Suite; a serene spa; an expansive public art collection; A-list entertainment; and an open-air plaza activated daily with live music, pop-up-art galleries, food trucks, events and more.

The opening follows two days of festivities at the resort. Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker, Mayor Domenic Sarno, Congressman Richard Neal and Gaming Commission Chairman Stephen Crosby joined MGM Resorts Chairman and CEO Jim Murren and MGM Springfield President Mike Mathis yesterday to commemorate the occasion and celebrate the 3,000 jobs created with the resort’s opening.

Governor Charlie Baker said, “Our Administration is excited to officially welcome MGM to Springfield and we look forward to the new economic and job opportunities this project will help bring throughout the region. This project is a major investment in the workforce and economy of Western Massachusetts, and will also provide support to several important partnerships between education centers and community organizations.”

As a surprise during the opening week, actor Mark Wahlberg stopped by to announce that he will be bringing his family’s famed Wahlburgers to the resort. It will be located on the corner of Main and Union Streets on the southeast corner of the MGM Springfield campus, and is expected to open in late 2019.

This morning, thousands of eager visitors lined Main Street to enjoy a celebratory procession featuring hundreds of MGM Springfield employees, Cirque du Soleil performers, The Minutemen UMASS Marching Band, Indian Motorcycles, Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno, MGM Springfield executives, community partners and the Budweiser Clydesdales.

Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno said, “I am proud and thankful of MGM’s nearly $1 billion belief, investment and partnership with our city. Here’s to continued success!”

A glimpse into MGM Springfield:

Accommodations. MGM Springfield features 250 guestrooms including 16 suites. Design details—including factory-style paned glass and Edison bulb fixtures—harken to Springfield’s industrial roots, while eclectic artwork evokes the locale’s creative iconography, visually referencing Emily Dickinson and Dr. Seuss – such as the 1,600-square-foot Presidential Suite’s stunning hat chandelier inspired by the 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins. Room reservations can be made via mgmspringfield.com. Nightly room rates start at $219.
Gaming. Massachusetts’ first gaming resort, MGM Springfield’s 125,000-square-foot casino floor features 2,550 slot machines, 120 gaming tables, a poker room and high-limit VIP gaming lounge.
Food & Beverage. A downtown epicurean destination, MGM Springfield offers an array of new-to-market concepts and celebrated-chef restaurants, including Italian coastal concept Cal Mare by James Beard Award-winning Chef Michael Mina and Chef Adam Sobel; fine steaks and seafood at The Chandler Steakhouse with Hell’s Kitchen season 14 winner Meghan Gill serving as executive chef; MGM’s signature TAP Sports Bar; and South End Market, a lively modern food hall boasting six casual and convenient eateries.
Entertainment. The 8,000-seat MassMutual Center will host world tours from top artists to town beginning with Stevie Wonder on September 1. High-energy social elements like the region’s first public Topgolf Swing Suite, luxury Regal Cinemas, and TAP Sports Bar complete with a 10-lane bowling alley and arcade, bring a fun lineup of activities for all generations to downtown Springfield. The Plaza serves as an outdoor gathering space hosting interactive events designed to foster community engagement such as Beer Yoga, a pop-up art gallery by Springfield muralist John Simpson, seasonal activations and more.
Nightlife. The art of mixology is a definitive experience across the resort at destination venues including Lobby Bar, Knox Bar and Commonwealth. From expertly crafted classics to creative libations, each beverage menu spotlights freshly pressed juices, house-made elixirs and locally sourced ingredients. Destined to be Springfield’s newest hot spot, Commonwealth Bar and Lounge features DJs or live entertainment nightly and is home to the $25,000 Indian Sidecar – made with a rare 1901 Croizet Cognac and includes an authentic Indian Motorcycle.
Art & Culture. Drawing inspiration from the city’s legacy rich in art and culture, MGM Springfield features a curated collection from local and national artists. From large-scale sculptures to intriguing paintings, talent is displayed through dozens of commissioned and procured works throughout the resort. Mia Pearlman’s The Flying Tidings Whirled sculpture commemorates the resilience of Springfield following the devastating 2011 tornado, while contemporary artist Jeppe Hein’s bright red Bench of Expectation catches the attention of passersby in The Plaza with its winding loops and slides, inviting them for a sit or to marvel at its creativity.
Spa & Pool. Guests and locals needing to recharge can find indulgence at MGM Springfield’s full-service spa complete with seven treatment rooms, couples’ suites and a warm design inspired by New England’s signature maritime style. A separate salon for men and women hosts an in-house barbershop – with a chair dedicated to Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno’s dad, a longtime local barber. An 8,000-square-foot pool provides a summertime urban escape.
Retail. MGM Springfield’s retail lineup includes Springfield-born Indian Motorcycle’s first-ever apparel boutique alongside regionally revered brands Hannoush Jewelers and Kringle Emporium, whose new flagship is located in the former French Congregational Church, originally built in 1887 and moved 600 feet to its new home.
Meetings & Events. With approximately 34,000 square feet of versatile space, MGM Springfield’s meeting and event center features ballrooms, meeting rooms and boardrooms adjacent to a 6,200-square-foot outdoor terrace that floods pre-function areas with natural light. For indoor-outdoor space with a historical twist, guests can host events in the resort’s castle-like Armory, which was built in 1895 and restored to its current spectacular state by the MGM Resorts’ design team.

From the Basketball Hall of Fame — a shrine to the sport in its founding locale, to The Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum — Springfield is home to unique and unexpected cultural attractions. MGM Springfield is surrounded by landmarks such as HH Richardson Courthouse and City Hall, counting the riverfront, MassMutual Center, Symphony Hall and Union Station among its prestigious neighbors. The central downtown location allows guests to explore spontaneously or navigate a more robust travel experience aboard The Loop, a new free-to-ride transportation service linking downtown tourist spots, hotels, restaurants and cultural districts. Opening today in conjunction with the resort, The Loop connects Springfield’s most iconic sites including Union Station, State Armory, Springfield Museums, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and MGM Springfield.

Located just 80 miles west of Boston with immediate access to Interstate 91 and the Mass. Pike, as well as nearby Bradley International Airport in Hartford, Conn. and the Amtrak-serviced Union Station, MGM Springfield is well connected and will be easily accessible to local and global travelers.

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 in February 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

Gambling in the USA

Gaming Americas Weekly Roundup – April 15-21

Published

2 days ago

April 22, 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

Caesars Entertainment announced that the Caesars Sportsbook Mississippi app is accepting mobile sports bets at Harrah’s Gulf Coast in Biloxi, Mississippi. Sports fans 21 and older who are interested in wagering on sports via mobile devices can download the Caesars Sportsbook Mississippi app to register and deposit statewide but must be physically present on-property at Harrah’s Gulf Coast to wager.

The Office of Lottery and Gaming (OLG) has announced that FanDuel’s sports betting app and website has officially launched. This development will introduce FanDuel’s sports wagering platform to District residents and visitors, completely replacing the current GambetDC sports betting app and website.

eCOGRA has been officially authorised by the Secretaria De Prêmios e Apostas (SPA) to operate as a certifying entity for betting systems, live gaming studios and online games in Brazil. This announcement marks a significant milestone as eCOGRA continues to extend its international offering of iGaming testing, inspection and certification (TIC) services in regulated markets across the globe.

Jennifer Shatley, a recognised expert in the field and a highly sought speaker and advisor, has joined the Responsible Online Gaming Association (ROGA) as Executive Director. Shatley has had 25+ years worth of experience, working closely with the treatment community, academics, researchers, government bodies, state councils and gaming industry representatives to promote responsible gaming.

Odditt, a leading provider of innovative sports betting data, tools and analytics, has appointed Elaine Milardo as its new Chief Technology Officer (CTO). With over 25 years of experience in the data industry and key roles at DraftKings and Vistaprint, Elaine brings a wealth of expertise to Odditt’s growing team.

Partnerships

Trustly, the global leader in Open Banking Payments, and Light & Wonder, the leading cross-platform global games company, are bringing cashless, in-person deposits to casino floors with Light & Wonder’s cashless solution, RAPIDPLAY. Building on Trustly’s success with guaranteed payments in online sports betting and iGaming, Trustly will deliver the same seamless, quick and secure online payment experience to the physical casino floor.

Fintech company Sightline has entered into an exclusive partnership with compliance and anti-fraud technology solutions leader GeoComply to bolster the security and efficiency of digital transactions within the regulated gaming industry. Sightline will integrate GeoComply’s cutting-edge IDComply identity verification solution as well as GeoComply’s compliance-grade geolocation tools across its comprehensive suite of digital payment solutions for land-based casinos and online gaming operators.

BetMGM has announced a partnership with GameCode, a distinguished iGaming company focused on the North American market. The partnership includes the launch of Boom Boom Boom, HammerCash, Gold Gold Gold and Super3 series which are now live at BetMGM in Michigan and New Jersey through direct integration. BetMGM plans to offer GameCode’s full portfolio of games in all jurisdictions where the operator’s iGaming platform is live pending regulatory approvals.

SCCG Management has announced a joint venture investment with Numb3rs, an innovative all-in-one payment solution provider built for gaming operators. The partnership aims to transform the gaming sector by integrating Numb3rs’ proprietary tech stack, ECRYPT, into the marketplace, thereby offering a comprehensive suite of payment processing solutions.

Gambling in the USA

Gaming Americas Weekly Roundup – April 8-14

Published

1 week ago

April 15, 2024

Niji Narayan

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Latest News

FanDuel Group, the premier online gaming company in North America and an Official Partner of Churchill Downs Inc., announced five time Entertainer of the Year Luke Bryan and Grammy award-winning R&B singer Ne-Yo as the headlining performers at FanDuel’s inaugural Kentucky Derby Party. The exclusive, invite-only event will take place on Friday, May 3 at Paristown Arts and Entertainment District in Louisville, Kentucky from 7:00 PM to 12:00 AM.

TPI, a leading provider of innovative player communication solutions for the casino industry, has appointed Joe Tingson as its new Vice President of Customer Success. With his unparalleled dedication to his customers, Joe will play a pivotal role as a leader for our digital Customer Success and Product teams.

PrizePicks, the largest daily fantasy sports operator in North America, has announced plans for its new 33,000 square foot Atlanta Headquarters, which will be located in the Star Metals Building in Midtown Atlanta. The company plans to grow its workforce by 1000 new jobs over the next seven years, the economic impact of which will be $25M to the state of Georgia.

Century Casinos Inc. has announced that it opened its hotel in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, The Riverview. The Riverview is a 69 room, six-story building with 68,000 square feet that is adjacent to and connected with Century Casino Cape Girardeau. The project cost $30.5 million and was financed with cash on hand.

Churchill Downs Incorporated (CDI) has announced the opening of Terre Haute Casino Resort in Terre Haute, Indiana. The $290 million investment includes a casino floor with 1000 slot machines, 36 table games, and a state-of-the-art sportsbook. The 400,000-square-foot entertainment venue also features regionally inspired bars and restaurants including: Four Cornered Steakhouse, Rockwood Bar & Grill, The Soda Shoppe, Crossroads Center Bar and High Limit Bar.

Bragg Gaming Group Inc., a global B2B gaming technology and content provider, announced that Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Ronen Kannor, has notified Bragg’s board of directors (Board) that he will resign from his position to pursue other career opportunities, effective June 3, 2024. The Company confirms that the search for a replacement CFO has commenced.

Partnerships

EQL Games has partnered with global aggregation leader and NeoGames company, Pariplay, to provide the Virginia Lottery, through an agreement with NeoPollard Interactive, with a series of eInstant iLottery games for their industry-leading digital platform.

JACK Entertainment LLC announced the selection of Konami Gaming Inc.’s SYNKROS to power industry-leading systems technology across its 1.5 million square feet of casino entertainment space. The Ohio-based gaming operator’s portfolio includes a combined 2600+ gaming machines and 85 table games at JACK Cleveland Casino in downtown Cleveland, and at JACK Thistledown Racino, located approximately 10 miles to the southeast.

PrizePicks, the largest daily fantasy sports operator in North America, announced that the company has reunited with the Atlanta Braves as the club’s Official Daily Fantasy Sports Partner for the 2024 season. The partnership extends a longstanding relationship that dates back to 2020, with the two Atlanta-based companies continuing to work together on unique opportunities for their dedicated fans.

Gambling in the USA

Gaming Americas Weekly Roundup – April 1-7

Published

2 weeks ago

April 8, 2024

Niji Narayan

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Latest News

International Game Technology PLC (IGT) announced that it will showcase its performance-focused portfolio of games and solutions for tribal casinos at the Indian Gaming Tradeshow & Convention (IGA) 2024, April 9-11 in Anaheim, Calif. Under the theme “We’ve Got Game,” IGT’s booth #536 will feature a compelling array of gaming solutions designed to engage players and drive growth.

Caesars Sportsbook announced its receipt of the prestigious RG Check accreditation from the Responsible Gambling Council (RGC). The certification includes an assessment of Caesars Sportsbook’s commitment to Responsible Gaming, including areas such as player and Team Member education, public awareness advertisements and funding for organisations dedicated to Responsible Gaming research, awareness and education.

Veriff, a global identity verification (IDV) provider, announced the appointment of Jeffrey Guy as President and COO. Jeffrey brings a wealth of leadership experience at technology companies in driving profitable growth and expanding product portfolio. Before Veriff, he was Chief Operating Officer at DigitalOcean, a publicly traded cloud computing platform provider.

GAN Limited announced that Mr. Brian Chang has recently been named the Company’s Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Chang had previously been serving in an interim capacity. Mr. Chang will be focused on guiding the Company towards a timely closing with Sega Sammy Creation Inc. (Sega Sammy).

Partnerships

The Commerce Casino & Hotel, home to the largest poker room in the world, has announced an exciting partnership with the richest, most prestigious and longest-running poker series – the World Series of Poker (WSOP). This collaboration signifies a pivotal moment for the poker community, bringing together two powerhouses to elevate the poker experience for players and fans worldwide.

BetRivers, powered by Rush Street Interactive, a leading US-based online betting and gaming company, has announced its partnership as the title sponsor for the upcoming NASCAR Xfinity Series Dash 4 Cash race at Dover Motor Speedway. The BetRivers 200, set for Saturday, April 27, is being undertaken with the Delaware Lottery and marks the beginning of a thrilling new chapter in NASCAR history, as RSI commits to the long-term support of this top tier sporting event.

Elys BMG Group Inc., an interactive gaming and sports betting technology company, announced the completion of its sportsbook installation at The Ugly Mug restaurant and bar situated at 723 8th St SE, in Washington, DC. This collaboration underscores Elys’ commitment to providing unparalleled sports wagering experiences for small and local businesses across America.

SCCG Management has announced a strategic partnership with mkodo, a leading technology provider in the iGaming space. This collaboration is set to distribute mkodo’s innovative geolocation product, GeoLocs and other leading solutions across the US and key global markets, including Brazil, leveraging SCCG’s robust market presence and industry expertise.

Prove Identity Inc. announced a strategic partnership with BetMGM, a sports betting and iGaming leader, to enhance the security and user experience for BetMGM customers through the cutting-edge Prove Pre-Fill identity solution. Prove Pre-Fill accelerates digital consumer onboarding by up to 79% and is used by more than 1000 businesses globally across diversified industries, including 9 of the top 10 banks.