Thursday, February 01, 2024
Monday, January 22, 2024
Saturday, January 20, 2024
Thursday, January 18, 2024
Tuesday, January 16, 2024
World Casino Directory Blog: Casino News Flashback
World Casino Directory Blog
Crown Limited Does Deal With Barangaroo In Sydney...
In big news today, James Packer’s Crown Limited (ASX: CWN) has struck a deal to build a $1 billion hotel development at Barangaroo, on Sydney’s foreshore. Crown signed an agreement with the developer, Lend Lease Limited (ASX: LLC) earlier today, but said it will only go ahead if Crown gains approval to including VIP gambling facilities (in other words – a casino). Just yesterday, Crown announced that it was spending up to $568m to build a six star hotel at its Burswood casino in Perth.
Work on Fijis first ever Casino to begin...
Work on Fiji’s first casino will begin this month as investors will meet to give contracts to local companies in Denarau this week.
One Hundred Sands – the company behind the project has managed to raise $400million for construction.
However the initial projections for phase one of the project which will see the construction of a convention center, casino and resort is $290m.
Managing Director Larry Claunch says overseas investors are often given misconceptions about Fiji’s investment potential by local private sectors.
“There has been a lot of criticism if we could raise the money in a timely fashion – we have, criticism and comments if we can finish on time – we will – its going to be probably a fastest development anybody has ever seen and it going to be fun to watch.”
Claunch says the current government played a vital role for this investment.
“I didn’t come to Fiji with a though of developing a casino or anything for that matter – I really just came here to eat fresh fish – but after seeing the vision of this government I knew everything was possible and I was all in.”
Five hundred locals will be employed during the construction and around 600 to 850 will be employed at the casino.
The new casino is expected to begin operation from September next year.
Aspers Casino looks forward to end of Games...
Though it’s happening right on the doorstep of his company’s flagship casino, Richard Noble is looking forward to when the 2012 London Olympic Games finish.
The chief operating officer of Aspers Group – a joint venture between the Australian Securities Exchange-listed Crown and the Aspinall family, which operates Aspers Casino at Westfield Stratford City next to Olympic Park – says weekly takings and average visitor numbers are down about 20 per cent in the first week of the Games.
When Aspers at Westfield Stratford City, the country’s largest casino, opened on December 1 last year, Noble told The Australian Financial Review it was immediately popular. “In our first three days we had 30,000 visitors which was about 100 per cent above our business case. After that we were averaging 25,000-30,000 visitors per week. But in the last few months we’ve seen the three carparks here at the Westfield get cut down to one and now it is none, so we have been adversely affected.”
There have been restrictions placed on visitor numbers to Westfield Stratford by the London Olympic Games Organising Committee (LOCOG). These include only Games ticket holders being allowed access to Westfield between 8.30am and 5pm on Friday and Saturday.
Noble says this cut down on the ability of regular Aspers patrons to visit the casino. He said it also affecting the numbers of people in the local area attracted to Westfield during the Games, who could have potentially visited the casino for the first time. LOCOG is also likely to institute another similar “lock-out” later this year due to fears about congestion at the mall, which is between Olympic Park and public transport links.
With the Olympics not providing the boost in business once hoped, Noble says Aspers will now concentrate its marketing efforts on the post-Games period. “On the 18th of September, after the Olympics and then the Paralympics are over, we will be having a huge relaunch.”
Noble says the casino concentrates on a high volume of customers who spend relatively little. It has a catchment area of 4.1 million people.
“And that is just in the east and the area around, north to Luton and east to Southend,” he said.
“But what’s been surprising and also delightful is that we’ve managed to get a lot of visitors from the west of London as well.”
A change to British gaming laws in 2007 allowed for the casino to be built without previous restrictions that meant patrons had to become members. Aspers also owns casinos in Newcastle, Swansea and Northampton and is planning to open a new venue in Milton Keynes in 2003.
Overall, he says Aspers is pleased about how the Stratford business has performed given it has already expanded since its December 2011 opening. It now has 57 gaming tables, the highest number in Britain, up from 38 when it opened. It has room to accommodate 80 tables. There are also now 138 electronic gaming terminals, up from 92. The site will soon feature a bespoke poker room to go with the sports bar, VIP bar and terrace, which has been hired out to corporate clients for the Games.
But Noble, who is otherwise enjoying the Games, can’t wait until September. “Some of our patrons are not able to get here at the moment but that will change once all this is over.” (The Australian Financial Review)
Police detain 150 in Macau casino raids amid fears of new gang war...
HONG KONG (Reuters) - Police detained more than 150 people in weekend raids on casinos and hotels in Macau after a recent spate of killings raised fears of a new gang war in the world's largest gambling destination.
The former Portuguese territory was gripped by gang wars in the late 1990s and the recent murder of three people in two weeks, thought linked to the gambling industry, comes just months ahead of the release from jail of triad boss "Broken Tooth" Wan Kuok-koi, who wreaked havoc at that time.
About 1,300 people were rounded up on Friday and Saturday in Macau and 150 of those were taken in for questioning in the operation codenamed "Thunderbolt".
"This operation is an annual exercise to maintain public security. It is a joint exercise undertaken by police in Guangdong province, Macau and Hong Kong to crack down and prevent crime in this region," a Macau police spokeswoman said.
In Hong Kong, police raided 21 locations on August 2 as part of the joint operation and arrested 130 people on suspicion of various crimes including money laundering involving HK$300 million (24.77 million pounds), illegal gambling and prostitution.
Police also seized cash, watches and cars worth more than HK$11 million.
The Macau raids came just weeks after a Chinese woman was found murdered in a residential area minutes away from the cavernous gambling halls of gaming magnate Sheldon Adelson's Venetian casino.
That followed the murders of two Chinese nationals at the five-star Grand Lapa hotel in Macau, a one-hour ferry ride from Hong Kong, and an attack at the end of June on a senior figure in Macau's junket industry, which extends credit to rich gamblers.
By contrast, only five homicide cases were recorded between June 2011 and May 2012, according to Macau police statistics.
Macau, which like Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China, has boomed since the 1999 handover from Portugal, with Las Vegas moguls including Adelson and Steve Wynn setting up glitzy casino hotels.
That growth, however, has slowed significantly in the past three months, forcing junket operators into more aggressive debt-collecting tactics.
Many of the smaller junket companies, which collect gambling debts in exchange for a commission from casino operators, are struggling to stay in business.
IGT partners with California casino...
American computerised gaming equipment designer and manufacturer International Game Technology (IGT) has signed a deal that will see the Golden Acorn Casino and Travel Center in California host an online casino application from its Double Down Interactive subsidiary.
Las Vegas-based IGT purchased the casual games developer in January and revealed that the Golden Acorn Casino is set to utilise its technology in order to offer casino players free-play gaming experiences.
“Golden Acorn recognises the opportunity to provide gaming entertainment to its players across various channels,” said Eric Tom, Global Sales Executive Vice-President for IGT.
“This solution is allowing it to grasp an opportunity to evolve as the landscape of gaming also changes permitting it to drive engaging gameplay directly to its casino guests and fans of the Golden Acorn Casino and Travel Center brand.”
IGT stated that the revenue sharing partnership will see Golden Acorn use its own website in order provide players with a ‘truly convergent gaming experience’ that is to include access to a ‘full-casino-style offering of games in one convenient place’.
“Offering the same game titles on the web that we offer inside our casino gives us the unique opportunity to deliver fun and engaging casino-style experiences to our players,” said David Baggerly, Marketing Director for Golden Acorn Casino and Travel Center, which is located 47 miles from downtown San Diego near the Mexican border.
“This is an incredible chance to drive interactive slot culture to our players while allowing them to stay connected to our brand.”
Guests at the Golden Acorn will be able to enjoy online social versions of Texas hold‘em poker in addition to some of IGT's top-performing slot titles including Da Vinci Diamonds and Cleopatra. New games are to be added automatically while first-time users will receive one million dollars in virtual chips.
Development agreement for Bally and High 5 Games...
Bally Technologies has entered into a multi-year agreement with games developer High 5 Games to publish a substantial number of new H5G games under the Bally brand for the worldwide land-based, mobile and online business-to-business casino gaming markets.
“We’re excited to partner with a game creator that has such a world-class track record of developing high-performing and engaging game content,” said Jean Venneman, Vice President of Product Management and Licensing at Bally Technologies. “We look forward to leveraging H5G’s newest game content to help casino operators across the world drive revenues and delight players.”
Ramesh Srinivasan, Bally's President and Chief Operating Officer, added, “The partnership with H5G reflects our commitment to delivering best-of-breed, cross-platform game content to our customers. This promise is reflected in the more than 25 game studios we have established across the globe, augmented by relationships with proven game developers like H5G that enable us to deliver a diverse array of creative, interactive, and exciting game content.”
“We are delighted to partner with Bally Technologies, a long-time leader in the casino gaming industry,” said Anthony Singer, Chief Executive Officer of H5G. “With Bally’s sophisticated new ALPHA 2 game platform, and a new Bally Interactive division committed to mobile, online, and social business-to-business game content, we believe that the sky is the limit for this next generation of H5G games.”
Tuesday, January 09, 2024
World Casino Directory Blog: Bitcoin News Media
World Casino Directory Blog
Crypto News Media with Media Man
Bitcoin to soar as ETFs on cusp of approval
- January 9, 2024
The price of Bitcoin is spiking and one analyst predicts it could more than triple in value and hit $300,000 by the end of 2025.
Bitcoin has risen above $US47,000 (A$70,000) for the first time since April 2022 and one analyst is predicting it could more than triple in value to be worth US$200,000 (A$298,000) by the end of 2025.
The prediction comes after news that US regulators appear ready to finally approve Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs).
In a note, Standard Chartered head of crypto research Geoff Kendrick wrote: “If ETF-related inflows materialise as we expect, we think an end-2025 level closer to US$200,000 is possible.”
It has been over a decade since the first applications for ETFs that invest directly in the digital currency were filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Prospective ETF issuers BlackRock, Fidelity, Invesco, Ark, Galaxy Digital and WisdomTree filed amended forms on Monday in what is seen by analysts as a final push to offer the investment products.
The regulator has until Wednesday to make a decision on the applications, which could result in an investment product tracking the daily price of the most popular digital currency traded on a stock market for the first time.
If approved, the advent of Bitcoin ETFs is expected to drive up Bitcoin’s price due to increased accessibility and liquidity of the digital currency.
The rise in Bitcoin also flowed through to a surge in the price of other cryptocurrencies, such as Ethereum, Cardano, SOL and Polkadot, while the share prices of listed crypto exchanges and miners such as Coinbase Global, Riot Platforms and Marathon Digital also rose.
Bitcoin’s previous all-time high of almost $US69,000 (A$103,000) was reached in November 2021.
#Bitcoin #BitcoinNews #BitcoinETF #BitcoinETFs #ETF #cryptonews #cryptocurrencynews #cryptocurrencies #fintech #BTC #SEC #BlackRock #Fidelity #Invesco #Ark #GalaxyDigital #Galaxy #WisdomTree #Ethereum #Marathon #SOL #Polkadot #Riot #RiotPlatforms #bizneews #biz #finnews #digitalnews #research #trends #trending #buzz #hype #cryptoculture #culture #AI #X #media
(Newsfeeds)
Bitcoin Rally Cools in Countdown to US Spot ETF Decision by SEC - 9 January 2024
Bitcoin consolidated after briefly rallying past $47,000 on optimism that regulators are set to approve the first US exchange-traded funds investing directly in the world’s largest digital asset.
The token dipped to $46,739 as of 6 a.m. Tuesday in London after a 6.5% jump on Monday in the US to a 21-month high. Bitcoin’s new year climb now stands at 10%, contrasting with drops over the same period in stocks and gold.
The crypto market expects a green light for US spot Bitcoin ETFs by a Jan. 10 deadline. Prospective issuers such as BlackRock Inc., Fidelity Investments and Ark Investment Management updated paperwork with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and the regulator has until Wednesday to take action on at least one of the applications.
Speculators are wagering that the agency will announce a slew of decisions at once to avoid handing out a first-mover advantage. If the funds are approved, the next question is how much money they will woo. Bitcoin is up 172% in the past 12 months in a sign that traders anticipate wider adoption of the token.
“Participants seem to be coming around to thinking that the initial flows will actually exceed expectations,” said Kyle Doane, a trader at Arca.
Applicants amended forms on Monday in the US in a final push to offer spot Bitcoin ETF products more than a decade after the first attempt.
SEC Chair Gary Gensler has repeatedly argued that crypto is rife with fraud and misconduct. The agency cracked down on the sector following a 2022 rout and collapses such as the bankruptcy of Sam Bankman-Fried’s FTX exchange.
But the SEC last year lost a key legal fight against crypto asset manager Grayscale Investments LLC, spurring speculation that the regulator will have to acquiesce to the spot ETFs. The spat was over the $29 billion Grayscale Bitcoin Trust’s desire to convert into such a product.
ETF Critics
Critics contend that spot crypto ETFs would pose a risk for investors given that digital assets are notorious for volatility and attracting illicit activity.
“What’s going to happen, unfortunately, is lots and lots of Americans in our view, are going to get hurt financially,” said Dennis Kelleher, chief executive officer of financial reform nonprofit Better Markets.
The months-long advance in Bitcoin has lifted the digital-asset market more broadly, bolstering smaller tokens like Solana and Avalanche. US crypto-linked stocks mostly rose on Monday, providing a tailwind for Asian peers such as Japan’s Monex Group and Woori Technology Investment Co. in South Korea.
Pullback Risk
Some crypto watchers wonder whether Bitcoin is ripe for a pullback if and when SEC approval finally lands, since speculators may decide to bank a slice of profits from the token’s rally.
There are “no signs” of a so-called sell-the-news event just yet, Chris Weston, head of research at Pepperstone Group Ltd., wrote in a note. Based on chart patterns, the $51,000 level is a possible target before any such retreat, according to Tony Sycamore, a market analyst at IG Australia Pty.
Looking past short-term price gyrations, “the main result of Bitcoin spot ETF approval will be the marketing machine behind greater Bitcoin awareness, powered by some of the largest names in traditional finance,” wrote Noelle Acheson, author of the Crypto Is Macro Now newsletter.
The token reached a record high of almost $69,000 back in 2021 during a pandemic-era bull run fueled by ultra-low borrowing costs.
#Bitcoin #BitcoinETF #ETC #crypto #cryptonews #cryptocurrencies #SEC #markets #finance #fintech #digitalnews #digitalbiz #digitalbusiness #newsmedia #newsfeeds #media
Bitcoin News Media
Bitcoin News Media
January 8, 2024
Bitcoin ETF Insider Leak Powers Bitcoin Price Surge Over $45,000 After $1.6 Trillion Ethereum, XRP, Solana And Crypto Boom
Now, as panicked traders try to get ahead of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) "rug pull of the decade," an insider leak has revealed BlackRock has readied a huge $2 billion bazooka if its spot bitcoin ETF bid is approved.
"I heard from a pretty well placed source that BlackRock has more than $2 billion lined up in week one in new incremental flows from existing bitcoin holders who are adding to positions," Matthew Sigel, head of digital assets research at investment company VanEck, said during an X Spaces broadcast organized by The Block.
"I can't vouch for that," Sigel added. "But you know, that's what everyone is doing. Just making phone calls and trying to find the folks who can write checks into these products. And our estimates—that, you know, if that $2 billion happened in week one, you know, that would blow away our estimates."
1/8 update: The bitcoin price has shot over $45,000 per bitcoin as the Wall Street race to get a bitcoin spot exchange-traded fund (ETF) to market enters its final week. The price surge boosted the price of ethereum, XRP and solana as traders bet a historical spot bitcoin ETF would boost crypto prices across the board.
This week, spot bitcoin ETF hopefuls, including BlackRock, Fidelity and Grayscale, have met the deadline to file their amended documents.
This filing "is another important step towards uplisting GBTC as a spot bitcoin ETF," Grayscale spokeswoman Jenn Rosenthal said in a statement to Coindesk. Grayscale has been trying to convert its bitcoin trust to a fully-fledged spot bitcoin ETF for years, last year successfully suing the SEC over its rejection of its bid. "At Grayscale, we continue to work collaboratively with the SEC, and we remain ready to operate GBTC as an ETF upon receipt of regulatory approvals."
"Market participants maintain expectations for the approval of the 21Shares filing, potentially triggering a cascade approval for all issuers," Matteo Greco, a research analyst at investment company Fineqia International, said in emailed comments, referring to the Ark 21Shares spot bitcoin ETF bid that's first in line.
"Numerous meetings between the SEC, issuers, and exchanges have fuelled the narrative of an imminent approval. The introduction of ETFs could usher in new investor cohorts from traditional finance, significantly improving market transparency and liquidity and bringing long term capital inflow in the digital assets market."
Sigel said VanEck was anticipating "$2.5 billion in the first quarter of trading," a figure derived from "past flows into the first gold ETF and adjusting by the U.S. money supply. And we have a $40 billion market opportunity over two years based on a similar analysis."
"$2 billion week one into BlackRock alone would blow expectations out of the water," Travis Kling, the chief investment officer of Ikigai Asset Management, posted to X. "Half that from all ETFs combined would have been a pretty good outcome."
VanEck, along with other spot bitcoin ETF hopefuls BlackRock, Fidelity, Grayscale, Valkyrie, ARK 21Shares and InvescoIVZ +1.8% have rushed to finalize their applications this week ahead of a January 8 Monday morning deadline.
Five SEC commissioners will reportedly vote on the spot bitcoin ETF bids next week, according to Bloomberg, citing an anonymous source.
#Bitcoin #BTC #BitcoinNews #Crypto #CryptoNews #cryptocurrency #XRP #ETF #Ethereum #BitcoinETF #BitcoinETFs #fintech #digitalnews #newsmedia #newsfeeds #trend #trends #buzz #hype #bitcoinnewsmedia #x #media
(Sources: Wires, Newsfeeds, X)
Sunday, January 07, 2024
World Casino Directory Blog: Casinos, Hotels and Resorts
World Casino Directory Blog
Casino News
Classic Las Vegas Strip casino adds exciting adult entertainment
Las Vegas Strip hotel and casino operators are constantly seeking innovative attractions to lure visitors through their doors and onto the casino floor.
Guests have many options for daytime and nighttime entertainment on the Strip and its surrounding areas. Circus Circus hotel and casino is both a daytime and nighttime destination for families offering its Carnival Midway with arcade games and prizes which opens daily at 11 a.m. The Midway also surrounds a circus stage featuring free circus acts starting at 1:30 p.m. Of course, guests under 21 are not allowed on the Circus Circus casino floor.
For more relaxing daytime leisure, guests can lounge by the swimming pool or take in a game of golf. When the lights go down, plenty of evening entertainment is available as well.
Plenty of entertainment to choose from
Visitors might choose to see a magic act, such as magician and illusionist David Copperfield at MGM Grand Hotel and Casino or maybe Penn & Teller's magic, illusion and comedy act at the off-Strip Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino. Or maybe guests would prefer to take in one the five Cirque du Soleil shows in Vegas – The Beatles Love, Michael Jackson One, Mystère, O or Kà .
For those looking for big-name music acts, superstar singer Adele continues her "Weekends With Adele" residency at Caesars Entertainment's (CZR) - Get Free Report Colosseum at Caesars Palace for 32 more weekend shows from Jan. 19 through June 15, 2024.
Classic 1970s teen idol Donny Osmond has extended his residency beginning Jan. 23 and ending May 11, 2024, at Harrah's Showroom, and An Intimate Evening with Santana hits the stage at House of Blues Las Vegas Jan. 24-31 and Feb. 2-4.
Luxor opens adult playground on the Strip
A new attraction hits the Strip as Play Social Inc. on Jan. 18 opens its highly anticipated Play Playground, a 15,000 square-foot immersive play area featuring an array of interactive large-scale games emphasizing tactile skill, memory, puzzles and teamwork, at MGM Resorts International's (MGM) - Get Free Report Luxor Hotel and Casino. The first-of-its-kind Playground features over 20 games, two bars, VIP mezzanines and private event spaces.
The venue is different from a Dave & Buster's or Chuck E. Cheese, as it does not feature any arcade, virtual reality or augmented reality games. Players earn credits for winning at the immersive games that can be exchanged for prizes in the Prize Center, which is one aspect similar to the arcade-style restaurants. Play Playground is open for all ages by day and adults only by night. The play area's operator Play Social markets it as ideal for both families visiting with children or companies looking to host a unique outing, the company said in a statement.
The venue is open from noon to 12 a.m., Sunday through Thursday, and noon to 2 a.m., Friday and Saturday. Guests who are under 21 years old must exit Play Playground at 5 p.m. daily, but the 21 and over crowd can continue having fun at the venue until closing. Admission for guests under 21 is $34.50 and $39.50 for 21 and over, which includes a $2.50 service charge, according to the Playground's website.
Play Playground also offers a VIP Experience for $97.50, which includes all-day play, VIP lanyard and card, skip the line privilege, 24-hour re-entry, one commemorative cocktail, a commemorative hat or beanie and 15% off retail purchases. The service charge is included.
SkyCity Casino Brings Bingo into Its Safer Gambling Ecosystem
SkyCity Casino is betting on a new range of bingo games. With bingo caught up in digitization of gambling since the early noughties, the game has enjoyed a resurgence. Gone are the days when bingo was played exclusively by those in retirement age. Countless studies and surveys show that the average age of bingo players has decreased significantly.
We know that remote gaming revenue in the UK between April 2020 and March 2021 was £6.9 billion. Bingo is listed among the games tracked within the metric. With further statistics showing that the average age of online gamblers is between 35 and 54, we can say with confidence that bingo is not only popular with the masses but with a younger audience than before.
Moving in Step with Industry Trends
SkyCity Online Casino and bingo is a testament to this. The online gambling operator has long taken popular products and converted them into digital offerings. Casino games, including slots, blackjack, and roulette, got the ball rolling. From there, virtual sports betting games were added to the mix. Now, after reviewing the latest trends, bingo games, ranging from classic 90-ball to modern speed variants, will be available to desktop and mobile players. Perhaps the biggest benefit of making bingo available to online players is the ease with which safety controls can be implemented. The current trend permeating all areas of the online gambling industry in 2023 is safer gambling.
Changes to the UK’s Gambling Act have prompted a new wave of responsible gambling measures and financial checks. US states implementing their own online gambling laws are also harnessing the latest innovations to ensure players are not only within permitted locations but playing responsibly. SkyCity Casino has a long-standing commitment to customer care. As per its responsible gaming policies, customers in New Zealand must be 20 or older to use the site, and all new accounts must be verified. Once customers are verified, there are tools for tracking financial transactions and, if necessary, set deposit limits.
Land Based Casinos
What are Land Based Casinos?
Land based casinos are physical casino premises that are commonly known as brick and mortar casinos. The term is used to differentiate between casino venues and their online counterparts.Some casino brands operate a mix of land based and online casinos, while other brands have either one or the other. Land based casinos might just include the casino itself, or they might be combined with other services such as bars, restaurants and hotel rooms.
Land Based Casinos Explained
A land based casino is any gaming premises located in the real world, as opposed to online. Examples of famous land based casinos include Caesar's Palace in Vegas and the UK's Grosvenor Casino brand. There was a time when the 'land based casino' was just the 'casino', but the dawn of online gambling has brought a need to differentiate between the two things. Land based casinos are therefore any physical buildings in which gambling games are played.Casinos usually offer a range of different games, although some specialise in one type of game, such as slot games or roulette. Most land based casinos have additional services for players, including entertainment acts, bars and restaurants, and sometimes hotel rooms and suites. Players who spend a lot of time playing at land based casinos are likely to be rewarded with complimentary use of these casino services.While land based casinos are different from online casinos, there are physical casinos which only offer electronic games. These video poker and slot arcades are common in smaller casinos and might be an offshoot of a larger brand.Land based casinos can be found in towns and cities all over the world, although there are some cities, such as Las Vegas and Atlantic City, which specialise in hosting these venues and have large numbers of land based casinos in one place.
Real Estate - Casino Connection News
Managing Director of the Alea Consulting Group, Nicholas G. Colon delves deeper into this relatively new way of ensuring the long-term financial viability of land-based casinos
The casino gaming industry is one of the most dynamic sectors of business to work in. Gaming executives are engaged in a never-ending quest to find the magic formula that boosts their corporate earnings to the next level. Sometimes the speculations are glorious successes, while other times they’re horrific failures. And still other times, massive investments have to be made before the true extent of how bad an idea is can be revealed.
The newest approach that gaming companies are trying is using the real estate market to increase their revenues. Here I will give a brief overview on how the real estate revenue generation by casino gaming companies works and, the benefits and drawbacks associated with this method. Modern casinos are built as massive resorts often times covering scores of acreage of land. The property usage is divided into three major components, which are gaming, hotel and commercial uses.
The hotel part houses the guests, while gaming is reserved to games of chance; and then there is the commercial use of properties. While hotel and gaming uses are niche, the commercial uses of casino properties have almost limitless possibilities. Space for entertainment shows such as the Cirque Du Soleil are fixtures at all the MGM properties in Las Vegas. Many casinos also have five-star restaurants, with world-renowned chefs tailoring the menus, on the premises.
This also falls under the umbrella of commercial use.
The commercial use for a property that is the most prevalent in some of the newest casinos in Las Vegas and around the world is shopping malls. This trend was pioneered by Caesars Palace Forum Shops in Las Vegas that opened on New Year's Day 1992. In 1998 when the Bellagio opened, there was a section of the property allocated for a few high-end shopping boutiques.
In the early 2000s the Planet Hollywood property in Las Vegas opened and it included a large shopping mall that mirrored the Forum Shops at prices more affordable to the masses. When the City Center Complex opened in LasVegas in December of 2009, The Shops at Chrystals opened up as a part of the complex. It was owned by MGM and was the home of several high-end retail shops like Louis Vuitton and Prada. The trend of associating commercial space with casinos was in full swing by this time.
Caesers, Bellagio, Planet Hollywood and the ARIA resorts all retained ownership of the commercial space at their respected resorts. They would sign leases with various retail companies for periods of time as a means to generate additional revenue for the company. Every so often the leases would have to be renewed and, depending on the sales of the store, lease rates could be negotiated.
Sales made by a particular store were tied directly to the traffic rate of the property. A 30% occupancy rating at Caesars would reduce the traffic flow of patrons frequenting the Forum Shops thereby reducing the purchase conversion rate. In the financial downturn of 2008, the shop owners had tremendous leverage and were able to negotiate very favourable rates for extended periods of time. This leads us to a huge blunder made in this area by the LasVegas Sands Corporation.
CASTLES MADE OF SAND
During the worldwide financial crisis, the shops at the Venetian were having a lot of trouble getting any type of retailers to occupy their spaces on strictly leasing terms. This led the board to sell the various retail spaces outright, at favourable terms for the buyer. This had the effect of reassuring the purchaser because they were not tied to any long-term payments and they were able to instantly begin building equity from their purchase, which at the very least was acquired at a discounted rate.
With hindsight, it’s my opinion that the Venetian was not looking at the long term when it made this decision. The global financial crash of 2008 scared everybody, and as a quick, knee-jerk reaction the Sands wanted to get the red ink out of their books as quickly as possible.
As we moved beyond the financial crisis the recovery slowly started to take over, patrons began returning to Las Vegas as a vacation destination and companies were no longer sending minimal personnel to the various conventions held there. The stores that occupied the retail space started increasing their sales and the equity in the retail space started increasing dramatically. And because the Sands no longer owned the space they were unable to increase their revenue from lease rates.
The total revenue of the Venetian was not as high as similar properties because they were not making as much from their commercial leases. This forced the Venetian to squeeze the customer from other areas. The casino games that were being offered were set up so the casino’s hold percentage was higher than before.
Most of the slot machines were set to their highest hold percentages, many of the blackjack games on the main became 6:5 payouts, for a natural and, a triple zero roulette wheel was introduced on the main floor under the name Sands Roulette, this game gives the house nearly an 8% edge over the player. Prices of food went up dramatically and comps offered by casinos went down dramatically.
MOVING FORWARD
These types of decisions are much easier to make for casinos in this scenario because there are no other revenue streams to consider. When players are not burned out at the tables they often take that extra cash and purchase goods and services at the resort property. These include products from stores, meals from restaurants and tickets for shows.
For one player this is not a factor but for the millions of players that walk through a casino a year this is significant. Even if only a tiny fraction of the players spend money at the shops, restaurants and shows, it translates into millions of dollars in sales over the course of a year and causes the value of the leased property to go up. Another negative impact is that the casino can’t negotiate better rates for items that can be purchased with players comp points, because there is no financial incentive to do so.
In recent years almost all of the main resorts on the Las Vegas Blvd and downtown Las Vegas have started charging for parking, even to casino guests and players. They do not collect money from their patrons they merely lease out the parking structure for a term of several years to an operating company. The operating company then installs parking ticket machines, gates and payment machines. They merely collect the money over the years of the lease. Again here, gaming companies are thinking short-term and not realising the negative perception they are creating with their customers. Creating more and more cost barriers for a customer to get to your product has an overall negative impact on revenue.
As we can see from the cited examples, the casinos have been in the real estate business for decades. But because it was viewed as a 360-degree revenue stream the gaming company was utilising to feed the main profit centres of the resort, it wasn’t viewed that way.
We are seeing today gaming organisations partition a division of their company to strictly deal with revenue generating through real estate applications. In effect, they are selling off pieces of their company that feed other parts of their total revenue equation. The assertion here is that the money in hand that is used for reinvestment will exceed the revenue that would be attained from keeping the asset. But what it is doing is showing little faith in the management team and foreshadowing a market reduction. The resorts, at least in Las Vegas, have convinced themselves that they are convention-centred destinations and the companies attending the conventions are the ones footing the cost and not vacationers. This type of thinking turns gaming companies into a B2B operation rather than an entertainment industry. Will it work? Maybe. Operators have just recently come back to profitability, stopping nearly a decade trend of losses. And even so the profits were just marginal. So now it’s a waiting game to see how the markets will react.
Australia’s Crown Resorts issues warning over unauthorized use of brand in illegal gambling ads
Australia’s Crown Resorts has raised a public alert about fraudulent activities involving imposter social media accounts and misleading advertisements. The casino operator revealed that unauthorised entities are exploiting Crown’s name, logo, images, and other distinctive details to promote illegal online gambling platforms.
The company, in an official statement, requested the public to exercise caution when encountering such advertisements and advised them to rely solely on Crown’s official websites and social media channels for authentic news and promotions.
As reported in Inside Asian Gaming Crown Resorts emphasised that operating an online casino or offering casino-style games online is prohibited in Australia. The statement clarified that Crown does not engage in online casino operations or any form of online gambling. The company stated it would take legal action against individuals or groups organising illegal activities using the Crown brand or its subsidiaries.
Currently undergoing a comprehensive reform initiative, Crown Resorts is focused on revamping its resorts in Melbourne, Sydney, and Perth. This overhaul is part of its strategy to regain casino licenses following unfavourable inquiries conducted in all three states.
One of the recent reforms introduced by Crown involves implementing mandatory time and loss limits for patrons using electronic gaming machines at Crown Melbourne. This move aligns with recommendations from the Finkelstein Royal Commission, which found Crown unsuitable to retain its Victorian casino license. The license is under a two-year review overseen by a Special Manager, with a decision on Crown’s reform efforts expected in 2024. The company is navigating a critical phase as it seeks to address regulatory concerns and regain public trust.
US – Formula 1 helps drive Nevada to its second most profitable month in November - Januaary 2024
Nevada’s casinos enjoyed their second-highest win ever, fuelled by the excitement surrounding the return of Formula One racing, which boosted the Strip’s performance by 22.6 per cent.
Only July earlier in the year was more lucrative for casinos in Nevada meaning that the state smashed its personal best twice in 2023.
Across the state, casinos generated $1.37bn, an increase of 12.5 per cent rise from November 2022 with Formula One clearly playing its part in an increase in tourism with 3,292,800 visitors in November.
Michael Lawton, senior economic analyst, said: “The four-day period beginning on November 16th was extremely profitable for both gaming and non-gaming activity on the Las Vegas Strip with some properties estimating those days established all-time record levels of revenue. The event’s success was more evident at luxury properties where the Las Vegas Strip’s baccarat increase accounted for 78.6 per cent of the state’s growth this month. Additionally, the 25 licensees that are included in the $72m or over revenue range for annual gross gaming win on the Las Vegas Strip increased by $160m or 25.8 per cent compared to last November and accounted for over 100 per cent of the state’s entire increase for the month.”
The Strip’s games win came in at $410.1m, marking the third highest total in Nevada’s history, and up 61.9 per cent from last year. This increase was led by baccarat which generated $178.3m, up 208.7 per cent from last year.
The influx of tourist spend wasn’t felt everywhere across the state though with Downtown Las Vegas down two per cent with revenues of $81.1m.
The Boulder Strip was down 2.1 per cent to $83.3m whilst North Las Vegas secured a 0.61 per cent increase to $23m. North Lake Tahoe experienced an eight per cent fall as did South Lake Tahoe.
For the year so far, Nevada GGR are on track to set a new record with revenues up 4.1 per cent over the first 11 months of the record-breaking 2022. November also saw the 33rd consecutive month that the state generated revenues of more than $1bn with November’s revenue coming in higher than November 2019’s total by 46.6 per cent.
US – Billion dollar plus months are the new norm for Nevada but could the Strip soon hit the milestone too? - March 2023
The Las Vegas Strip’s best ever February helped push the state of Nevada to yet another billion dollar plus month, marking two years of consecutive $1bn plus months and begging the question; is this now the norm for Nevada?
The Strip, with 28 casinos, generated $712.4m in revenue, increasing from $599.1m in February 2022 with the State’s 441 casinos bringing in $1.24bn in February, marking an 11.2 per cent increase from February 2022.
Clark County casinos alone surpassed $1bn for the 10th straight month, with analsysts now asking if the Strip could generate the milestone on its own.
Michael Lawton, Senior Economic Analyst for the Control Board, believes that following 24 months of $1bn plus months for Nevada, the figure has become the norm.
He said: “I think after 24 consecutive months you could safely say it is [the norm]. Obviously there is a lot of economic uncertainty, however that uncertainty has not spilled over into the record gaming win amounts we have witnessed over the last two years. Clark County has recorded over $1 billion in 10 consecutive months and in 17 out of the last 24 months. The Strip in December of 2022 recorded a win amount of $814.2 million which was the all-time record for the market. I think there is interest if the Strip on its own could hit the billion-dollar amount.”
In February, Clark County’s gaming revenue accounted for 87.4 per cent of Nevada’s total win with the Strip having 57.6 per cent of the state’s total.
For the state as a whole, slot win increased by 7.6 per cent to $822.8m whilst tables increased 18.6 per cent to $102.5m. Nevada sportsbooks won $41.2m, increasing 33.5 per cent from last year’s February, although the amiount staked was down 15.6 per cent to $659.4m.
Brendan Bussmann, Analyst at B Global, believes thee is still space for more revenue growth.
“We still do not have some of the foreign guests back, and the business customer is still returning, which will likely drive additional opportunity for gaming revenue,” he explained. “There are still a number of headwinds with economic and geopolitical forces that could impact the current trends in revenue. With a recession pending, a potential banking crisis, and other factors, Nevada continues to prevail through these challenges but these and other factors could have an overall impact on Clark County and the rest of the state.”
Thursday, November 30, 2023
World Casino Directory Blog: "Everything about the casino and gaming industry is a gamble"
World Casino Directory Blog
.jpg)
"Everything about the casino and gaming industry is a gamble"
Wednesday, November 29, 2023
World Casino Directory Blog: News
World Casino Directory Blog
Princess Cruises Goes "All-In" With Its Largest Casino Ever Debuting on New Sun Princess
FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla., Nov. 28, 2023 -
The largest casino ever built by Princess Cruises is readying to deal a full house of luck on the next-generation, 4,300-guest Sun Princess. The Princess Casino – with an astounding 50% more space and 30% more machines than the line's Royal Class ships – is preparing for guests to hit the jackpot when its newest and most magnificent cruise ship ever, Sun Princess, sets sail in February 2024.
Located on deck 8 adjacent to the bustling Piazza, the Princess Casino offers high ceilings and a spacious floorplan for world-class gaming comfort and entertainment. There will even be several gaming positions infused into in the Piazza, giving guests even easier and faster access to their favorite betting games.
With over 200 of the newest and most popular slots and video poker games, the Princess Casino will feature live table games offering progressive jackpots, as well as a variety of other games Princess players have come to enjoy. Included in the expanded casino will be a first-of-its-kind "Buffalo Zone" at sea – bringing these popular games by Aristocrat to the newest "Love Boat."
"Casino lovers, high rollers or simply those wanting to try a hand during their vacation will be stunned by the new Princess Casino onboard Sun Princess," said John Padgett, President of Princess Cruises. "Princess has embraced the casino experience and is proud to offer such exciting gaming surrounded by absolutely world-class dining and entertainment."
Princess Casino Key Enhancements Onboard Sun Princess
Nearly 9,000 square feet, featuring 10' ceilings, 227 slot machines and 13 live tables
Newest and the most comfortable gaming seating available for both slot and table game players
New linked blackjack and poker table progressives, offering high value cash top awards
High-limit slot area, with high-end seating
New gaming experiences and celebrations through an interactive audio-visual experience throughout the casino
Scheduled to debut in February 2024, Sun Princess is currently under construction at the Fincantieri shipyard in Italy. The 175,500-ton, 4,300-guest Sun Princess will offer an array of exciting new entertainment and culinary offerings, as well as luxurious staterooms and suites across a broad spectrum of categories. With the most balconies and sun decks on any Princess ship, guests can take in the sunshine and crystal-clear waters of the Mediterranean and Caribbean from the comfort of their stateroom.
Inaugural 2024 Sun Princess cruises to the Mediterranean, Europe and Caribbean are on sale now. More ship information and images can be found at www.princess.com/sunprincess
Additional information about Princess Cruises is available through a professional travel advisor, by calling 1-800-Princess (1-800-774-6237) or by visiting www.princess.com
About Princess Cruises
Princess Cruises is The Love Boat, the world's most iconic cruise brand that delivers dream vacations to millions of guests every year in the most sought-after destinations on the largest ships that offer elite service personalization and simplicity customary of small, yacht-class ships. Well-appointed staterooms, world class dining, grand performances, award-winning casinos and entertainment, luxurious spas, imaginative experiences and boundless activities blend with exclusive Princess MedallionClass service to create meaningful connections and unforgettable moments in the most incredible settings in the world - the Caribbean, Alaska, Panama Canal, Mexican Riviera, Europe, South America, Australia/New Zealand, the South Pacific, Hawaii, Asia, Canada/New England, Antarctica, and World Cruises. The company is part of Carnival Corporation & plc
SOURCE Princess Cruises
#PrincessCruises #PrincessCasino #cruiseship #cruiseships #LoveBoat #casino #casinonews #gamingnews #lifestyle #lifestylenews #holidays #tourism #tourismnews #oceantravel #holiday
Casino And Sports Connection
Las Vegas and Texas connection
Miriam Adelson buys $2 billion stake in NBA Dallas Mavericks
Las Vegas Sands casino controlling shareholder Miriam Adelson is reportedly selling a $2 billion stake in the company to buy the Dallas Mavericks NBA franchise, according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
"We have been advised by the selling stockholders that they currently intend to use the net proceeds from this offering, along with additional cash on hand, to fund the purchase of a majority interest in a professional sports franchise pursuant to a binding purchase agreement, subject to customary league approvals," the Sands said in the filing.
While the SEC filing did not name the Mavericks as the purchase target, Sportico reported the Adelson family was buying a majority stake in the team but that owner Mark Cuban would continue to retain operational control of it. The Dallas Morning News also reported the story.
The stock sale will reduce Adelson's stake in the casino company by 4%. Miriam Adelson is the widow Las Vegas Sands founder Sheldon Adelson who died in 2021. She has had no corporate involvement in the company but her son-in-law Patrick Dumont is president of the Sands and a member of the company's board of directors.
Adelson, 78, is the widow of Sheldon Adelson, the founder of Las Vegas Sands who died in 2021. She has no role with the corporate side of the company, but through a trust and her personal shares, she controls 56.4% of the Sands. Miriam Adelson is ranked at No. 24 on the Forbes 400 with a net worth of $32.3 billion.
She has cut back on her husband's political donations. When he was alive, Sheldon Adelson was among the GOP's largest donors, although Miriam Adelson has met with presidential hopeful Nikki Haley and former President Donald Trump, the front runner in next year's election.
Las Vegas, long considered a prime market for professional sports, has added a handful of teams and high profile events to the city in recent years. Formula One has added a stop in Las Vegas to its Grand Prix race tour.
Major League Baseball recently approved the relocation of the Oakland Athletics to a $1.5 billion stadium planned for the Strip that is scheduled to open in 2028 following in the footsteps of their pro football counterparts and stadium mates.
The Raiders moved from Oakland to Las Vegas for the 2020 NFL season, which led the NFL to award Super Bowl LVIII to Allegiant Stadium in February. With the A's move, Oakland County Coliseum, long a central focus of competitive professional sports in its heyday, will now sit empty.
The Vegas Golden Knights, an expansion team in the National Hockey League, began play at T-Mobile Arena in 2017.
The Adelson family had a hand in bringing the Raiders to Las Vegas, but Sheldon Adelson, who had committed $650 million to help build Allegiant Stadium, pulled his funding after the state Legislature passed a $750 million measure tied to a hotel tax on the Strip.
The NBA has been widely thought to be considering expanding to Las Vegas. Oak View Group CEO Tim Leiweke is planning a 20,000 seat arena built to NBA specifications, part of a $10 billion resort and entertainment complex on land leased to him by the son of the Sands Chairman and CEO.
#DallasMavericks #MiriamAdelson #NBA #LasVegasSands #SheldonAdelson #PatrickDumont #casinonews #sportsnews #casinoindustry #gamingnews #sportsmedia #sportsbusiness #OakViewGroup #OakView #propertynews #realestate #Dallas #biznews #businessnews #biz #trends #media
Thursday, November 23, 2023
World Casino Directory Blog: FashionTV Gaming Group set to reveal its latest luxury line of branded games at Awards Afterparty
World Casino Directory Blog
FashionTV Gaming Group set to reveal its latest luxury line of branded games at Awards Afterparty
FashionTV Gaming Group will unveil new luxury line of FashionTV branded games, developed by industry leaders, at its ultra-glamorous Afterparty
9 November 2023, Malta: Following another year of successful growth, FashionTV Gaming Group will unveil a new luxury line of FashionTV-branded games, developed and distributed by its industry-leading licensees. These latest innovations will be introduced at the Group’s annual SiGMA Awards Afterparty – an exclusive FashionTV party that has become one of the most highly anticipated events in the iGaming calendar.
FashionTV attracts over two billion viewers worldwide and as the exclusive licensor of this megabrand for the iGaming industry, FashionTV Gaming Group continues to go from strength to strength.
Among the Group’s licensees and distributors are some of the world's leading iGaming companies, including Playtech, Flutter Entertainment/ PokerStars, Paddy Power, Sky Bet, Betfair, Evolution/ NetEnt, Red Tiger, Olympic Entertainment, BetMGM, Caliente, BetConstruct, EveryMatrix, Digitain, Kiron Interactive and more.
With their unique appeal and glamorous edge, FashionTV-branded games have proven to be a powerful new growth engine for industry leaders, appearing on thousands of websites worldwide in what has become a true iGaming success story.
This year’s SiGMA Awards Afterparty is an opportunity to toast this success – bringing together the industry’s foremost leaders to celebrate the Group’s rise to the most distributed brand in iGaming, while looking ahead to an exciting future to come.
As an exclusive, C-suite only event, hundreds of industry leaders will be joined by celebrities and models from around the world – as well as a surprise VIP royal guest. Champagne will flow, new ventures will be announced and memories will be made alongside the now-iconic FashionTV Fame Wall.
With a star performance from the voice of FashionTV, Ania J, an open bar and delicious food served through the evening, this glamorous afterparty offers a unique glimpse into the luxury world of FashionTV – and the huge opportunities of licensing this megabrand for the iGaming industry.
The SiGMA 2023 Awards Afterparty will be held on 13 November, from 21:30 to 02:00, at the Twenty Two Club in the Portomaso Business Tower, St Julians. The event is by invitation only, and all guest list enquiries should be directed to info@fashiontvgg.com.
About FashionTV Gaming Group
FashionTV Gaming Group is the exclusive licensor of the global FashionTV brand for iGaming. Through a unique ‘brand to business’ model, FashionTV Gaming Group partners are granted a license to create and distribute immersive branded games and websites for their customers, backed by FashionTV’s global media power. Working with the leading B2B providers and B2C operators, the group is the first mover to bring luxury living to life for gaming audiences around the world.
News
Gaming Corps launches industry first Reverse Plinko in deal with Fashion TV Gaming Group
Fashion TV to offer exciting twist on plinko genre as part of wider Gaming Corps partnership
Sweden, 23 November 2023 – Gaming Corps – the Swedish specialist on arcade style casino games – is proud to announce the launch of UPLINKO, the world's first ever reverse plinko game, created in cooperation with Fashion TV Gaming Group,
UPLINKO brings an exciting twist on the plinko genre to players. Small balls bounce around and upwards through a maze of pegs and into one of the prize diamonds. Players can bet and revel in the pulsating energy, with the chance to be awarded up to 3,200x their bet. All this can be enjoyed while listening to beats provided by DJ Raccoon, who has rocked up from the woods kitted out in headphones and bright sunglasses to spin tunes as players aim to make the most of the game.
Fashion TV Gaming Group is the online gaming arm of Fashion TV, which is the world’s only 24-hour fashion, beauty and lifestyle TV channel, reaching over wo billion viewers worldwide. The group was established to bring the worlds of luxury lifestyle and online gaming together in one compelling package. Game developers and operators are granted the license to build, operate, distribute and market Fashion TV-branded products and websites as part of a brand-to-business model.
Gaming Corps is a game developer which has grown rapidly by releasing original, premium video and casino games. While Fashion TV Gaming Group will initially offer UPLINKO to its partners as a standalone product, Gaming Corps also plans to roll out its full portfolio of games to Fashion TV Gaming Group in the next stage of the partnership, made up of Crash, Table and Slot titles, as well as other Plinko games. The list of games in the portfolio includes recent successful releases such as Raging Zeus Mines, Wild Woof and Super Hot Stacks.
Mats Lundin, Gaming Corps’ Director of Sales, said: “Fashion TV is an extremely popular network in the world of broadcasting, and we are very proud to partner with Fashion TV Gaming Group. The combination of Fashion TV Gaming Group’s brand and our ability to develop captivating games such as UPLINKO will provide synergies for both parties as well as excellent opportunities for Fashion TV Gaming Group’s partners, and in turn, their players.
“I look forward to expanding the partnership further and allowing Fashion TV Gaming Group to present our entire portfolio of thrilling games to partners, and we are excited to be a part of the brand’s global expansion.”
Amir Bilu, creative director at Fashion TV also commented: " it was a great pleasure to create this innovative game concept together with Gaming Corps. Fashion TV gaming continues to innovate with unique designs across every vertical and we did a great job here with this brand new game"
ENDS
Editor’s Notes:
ABOUT GAMING CORPS
Gaming Corps is a game developer with the business idea of developing original content for Gaming and iGaming, servicing the selective gamer with niche video games and premium casino games. Our iGaming portfolio consists of casino slots, multiplier games, mine games and table games, into which we infuse our experience from Gaming to create modern, exciting content. The company is listed on Nasdaq First North Growth Market and headquartered in Sweden with development studios in Malta and the Ukraine.
Saturday, November 18, 2023
World Casino Directory Blog: New Jersey
World Casino Directory Blog
New Jersey casino, internet, sports bet revenue up 6.6% in October
ATLANTIC CITY — New Jersey’s casinos, racetracks that take sports bets and their online partners won more than $423 million in October, up 6.6% from a year earlier, according to figures released Friday by state gambling regulators.
But the casinos’ key metric — the amount of money won from in-person gamblers — continued to trail pre-pandemic levels at five of the nine casinos, an ongoing concern for the city’s gambling industry.
Only four casinos — Ocean Casino Resort, Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City and Resorts Casino Hotel — won more last month from in-person gamblers than they did in October 2019, before the COVID19 pandemic broke out.
“Despite anecdotal observations suggesting a decline in on-property activity, the numbers for brick-and-mortar activity for 2023 year-to-date are favorable,” said Jane Bokunewicz, director of the Lloyd D. Levenson Institute of Gaming, Hospitality and Tourism at Stockton University, which studies the Atlantic City gambling market.
She noted that with $2.4 billion in revenue from in-person gamblers through the first 10 months this year, those numbers are on track to surpass those from all of 2019, and have a chance of surpassing 2022 levels as well.
Atlantic City’s casino revenue through the first 10 months of the year is its best in the last decade, added James Plousis, chairman of the New Jersey Casino Control Commission.
The casinos must share internet and sports betting money with third parties, including sports books and technology partners; it is not solely for the casinos to keep. That is why the casinos focus most on money from in-person gamblers.
In terms of money won from in-person gamblers last month, Borgata won nearly $57 million, down nearly 9% from a year earlier; Ocean won $43.3 million, up more than 53% from a year ago, and Hard Rock won $41.2 million, up nearly 6%.
Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City won $17.8 million, down nearly 12%; Tropicana Atlantic City won $16.4 million, down 5.6%, and Caesars Atlantic City won $14.4 million, down 18%.
Resorts won $13.3 million, up 3%; Bally’s Atlantic City won $12.4 million, up nearly 15%, and Golden Nugget Atlantic City won $12.2 million, up 1.6%.
Ocean attributed its strong October to a particularly good result at table games and continuing increases in slot machine winnings.
“We played pretty lucky at tables,” said Bill Callahan, the casino’s general manager. “We’ve been investing in this business, investing in the building and our customers, and it’s all starting to come together.”
When internet gambling and sports betting money is included, Borgata won more than $100 million, down more than 11%; Golden Nugget won $61.5 million, up more than 22%, and Hard Rock won $51.9 million, up 17.5%.
Ocean won more than $48 million, up 52.6%; Tropicana won $28.1 million, up more than 11%, and Bally’s won $19.7 million, up more than 27%.
Harrah’s won $17.8 million, down more than 12%; Caesars won just under $15 million, down nearly 17%, and Resorts won nearly $13.3 million, up 2.4%.
Resorts Digital, the casino’s online arm, won $61.3 million, up 8.5%, and Caesars Interactive Entertainment NJ won just over $6 million, down more than 34%.
Overall internet gambling revenue was $167 million, up 13.3% from a year earlier.
The casinos and tracks took in just under $1.3 billion worth of sports bets, falling just short of their record total reached in January 2022 and closely approached several times since then.
Of that total, $92.2 million was kept as revenue after paying off winning bets and other expenses.
The Meadowlands Racetrack in East Rutherford, near New York City, had the largest share of that revenue at more than $60 million. Monmouth Park in Oceanport, near the Jersey Shore, had $2 million in sports betting revenue, and Freehold Raceway had nearly $1.8 million.
Florida Betting News
Big news as the Seminoles have relaunched their mobile sports betting site on a "test" basis and plan to begin offering sports betting at their state casinos in early December.
Florida Bettors Pounding Hard Rock Hard
MIAMI BEACH, FL - There have been reports of multiple large sized wagers being won in Florida following the relaunch of the Hard Rock Bet app.
David Purdum of ESPN highlighted one such winning wager.
Bettor with @HardRockBet
in Florida just hit a $500,000, four-leg same-game parlay that paid a net $5.5 million, per company spokesperson.
Legs were:
Devin Singletary Over 51.5 Rush Yds
Singletary anytime TD
Over 45.5
Texans money-line
Giant bets in Florida continue.
Then there was Monday night's football game between the Denver Broncos and Buffalo Bills. It's not all bad for the Seminoles.
BIG BET ALERT: One bettor in Florida lost $2 million betting on the Buffalo Bills last night. The Floridian placed two bets worth $1 million each on the first half result. Both bets lost. First reported by @BFawkes22
Hard Rock has since verified these wagers with Gambling911.
Hard Rock Bet App Sees 2129 Percent Increase in Downloads
MIAMI BEACH, FL (Gambling911.com) - The relaunched Hard Rock Bet app is flying off the shelves of the App Store with a 2129.5% increase in number of downloads in recent days. The app has even surpassed FanDuel as most downloaded over the past week.
This comes following news that the Seminoles will once again be offering their mobile sports betting app throughout the state of Florida, granted under "limited conditions" at the moment.
Outstanding legal cases could force them to pull the plug for a second time.
Hard Rock Bet is already available in a handful of other states outside of Florida.
AppTweak had Hard Rock Bet seeing 49K downloads compared to FanDuel at 34.5K and DraftKings at 30K.
- Updated November 10, 1:58 pm with Aaron Goldstein reporting
Miami Hurricanes @ FSU Seminoles Betting Preview
MIAMI BEACH, FL - FSU is back to being a force in the Sunshine State. They will come into this game against Miami as a -14.5 home favorites and one of the few undefeated teams in college football at 9-0.
The Noles have been profitable for gamblers too with their 6-3 record Against The Spread.
Miami is 6-3 SU and 4-5 ATS.
Sagarin gives us a number of 15.75, so there is a bit of an underlay with the 14.5 line.
Miami coach Mario Cristobal hasn't ruled out benching quarterback Tyler Van Dyke in favor of true freshman Emory Williams.
- Updated November 10, 11:52 pm, Ean Lamb
Seminoles Relaunch Mobile Sports Betting Site
MIAMI BEACH, FL - The Seminole Tribe on Tuesday announced the relaunch of their mobile sports gambling site on a "limited test" basis.
“The Seminole Tribe is offering limited access to existing Florida customers to test its Hard Rock Bet platform,” said a spokesperson with the Seminole Tribe of Florida.
The move comes after a federal judge set aside approval of a gaming compact with the Seminole Tribe.
Exclusive rights to retail and online sports betting in Florida were granted to the Seminole via a 2021 compact between the tribe and the state.
In-person betting is set for Dec. 7, the Seminoles previously announced, as part of a broader expansion including roulette and craps.
West Flagler Group has until December 7 to file a cert petition with the Supreme Court, though their efforts are viewed as a long shot. The grassroots group No Casinos is also challenging the compact on grounds that voters must approve any type of gambling expansion per a 2018 referendum.
The Seminole Tribe's Hard Rock Bet is now available in six other states including Florida: New Jersey, Arizona, Virginia, Tennessee, Ohio and Indiana.
Oklahoma State Cowboys @ UCF Knights Betting Preview
The UCF Knights open as a +2.5 home dog against an Oklahoma State team that upset its interstate opponent Saturday.
Ollie Gordon II ran for 137 yards and two touchdowns, and Oklahoma State defeated the 10th-ranked Sooners 27-24 in the last scheduled Bedlam rivalry game before the Sooners leave the Big 12 for the Southeastern Conference next year.
“It’s a big game,” Cowboys head coach Mike Gundy said. “And it’s good for the Oklahoma State people to finish Bedlam with a win. Period.”
Central Florida finally won a game following five straight losses. They beat Cincinnati 28-26 and were -3.5 favorites despite the losing streak. In fact, the Knights (4-5 Straight Up) were listed as favorites in four of their last six games resulting in their current 3-5 record Against The Spread.
Sagarin gives us a number of 5.22 Oklahoma State, indicating a 2.5 underlay. Early action was -2.5 to -3. Underlays in the 2.5/3 range without going over the 3 have performed well for the favorites, according to our model, though with a limited sampling as of now. The number had yet to go above the 3 as of Tuesday morning.
(Gambling911)
F1 News
Las Vegas Grand Prix
'It was a shame' – Perez laments Red Bull's call to pit 'too early' after Q2 knockout in Las Vegas
Sergio Perez admitted Red Bull came in too early after the Mexican driver was forced to watch on from the garage as he was knocked out in Q2 in Las Vegas – although Max Verstappen feels his P3 qualifying return was the maximum he could do.
After getting through the first portion of qualifying in 13th, Perez came out earlier than some of his rivals in Q2 and set a lap that was good enough for sixth. However, with four minutes left he was seen being wheeled into the garage as others prepared for their final laps.
This decision to pit the car proved costly as Alex Albon knocked the Red Bull racer out of session, with Pierre Gasly's improvement pushing him to 12th – meaning that Perez has failed to make it into Q3 nine times this season.
Reflecting on his session, Perez – who will start 11th thanks to Carlos Sainz's 10-place grid penalty – said: “It was a very bad session for us. Already in Q1 we were compromised a bit with our run program but come Q2, I think we just finished a little bit too early.
“There was a bit more track evolution there and it was a shame that we just couldn’t make the most of it because we seem to need that little final tenth in it.
“A little bit of a shame but on the other hand there is nothing we can do now. So let’s focus on tomorrow and hopefully we are able to come through the field because we have a fast race car.”
Quizzed on if a Las Vegas podium was still possible, Perez said: “I think so. I think we looked a lot stronger in race pace than we did over a single timed lap... We are starting P12, so we’ve got to understand and learn from what happened yesterday with the tyres and see what we are able to improve for tomorrow.”
Verstappen made it into Q3, but only set one flying lap in the pole position shootout. He finished third, three-tenths behind pole-sitter Charles Leclerc and his Ferrari team mate Sainz – although he will line up second with the Spaniard’s penalty.
“Of course, it’s quite cold out there," said Verstappen when asked how difficult qualifying was in Las Vegas. "It’s quite slippery and of course being on a street circuit as well you try and get as close as you can to the walls but that’s not always straight forward.
“It was enjoyable out there. I do think we maximised today, and I think already the whole weekend so far, we have been lacking a bit of one lap performance and that was also quite clear in qualifying.
"I hope of course tomorrow in the race that we are good on the tyres again and we can work our way forward.”
When questioned on if he was confident about winning the Las Vegas GP, Verstappen replied: “It felt good yesterday. Of course, I would have liked to have a little bit more pace today but of course we know that the points are tomorrow, and it’s going to be a tough one.
“First one here, you know never know there might be Safety Cars and it is of course a very long straight, a lot of racing will happen there, and I hope we are good on the tyres.”
(Credit: F1)
Ainsworth Game Technology considers life outside the ASX - November 13, 2023
It has been an unpleasant year for all ASX-listed gaming stocks of almost all persuasions – outside of Aristocrat Leisure – given the increasingly eagle-eyed regulators and reluctance from investors.
One of those has been Aristocrat’s smaller poker machine rival, Ainsworth Game Technology, which trades at a far lower multiple than its larger peer. Now the company appears to be doing something about it, and is in discussions with advisors at Macquarie about setting up a data room to consider whether there’s a suitor that could take it private.
Of course, there is one obvious party. Novomatic. The Austrian company operates some 2000 gaming facilities, largely under the Admiral Casino brand, around the world. It also owns just over 50 per cent of Ainsworth.
Crucially, Ainsworth chief executive Harald Neumann was an executive at Novomatic before he took the top job at the ASX-listed group. In the United States on Sunday, Neumann declined to comment when contacted.
After Novomatic, Ainsworth’s largest shareholders include Spheria Asset Management, Allan Gray, REST and HESTA. Its founder, Len Ainsworth, hit the jackpot in 2016 after landing a near-$500 million deal when he sold his majority stake to Novomatic in 2016. Ainsworth was also the founder of Aristocrat, which has grown into a $26 billion poker machine giant.
Novomatic’s interest in Ainsworth started in 2013 after Austrian and German authorities began to impose new restrictions on poker machine and casino operators, forcing the company to look offshore for growth.
As The AFR reported at the time, Johann Graf, one of Austria’s richest men and the owner of Novomatic, dispatched his son Thomas Graf and gaming executive Jens Halle to Sydney to Ainsworth’s modest Silverwater headquarters to test the waters for a possible sale
Ainsworth reported revenues of $143.6 million in the six months to June 30, a 20 per cent increase on the prior corresponding period. Profit before tax rose 24 per cent to $23.3 million, the company reported, although write-offs of investments in Argentina affected the post-tax bottom line.
(AFR)