Caesars Pays Blood Money
Centaur Gaming threatened litigation and Caesars Entertainment threatened to stop an Indiana casino expansion over a $50 million license transfer fee blocking Caesars’ purchase of two Centaur Indiana racinos, including Indiana Live! (l.). But Centaur recently said it would pay the fee before or at closing. Caesars will become Indiana’s largest casino operator with four of its 13 casinos.
Supreme Court Deal Blows to Tribal Interests
Many tribal leaders consider the U.S. Supreme Court term that just ended as one of the worst for tribal interests in a long time. The high court made several rulings that tribal leaders consider to be blows against sovereignty.
Media to Join in Sports-Betting Bonanza
The sports media is about to explode with new programming based on sports betting, in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s lifting the federal ban on sports wagering. The Vegas Stats & Information Network (VSiN) will play a major role in introducing sports betting to mainstream media.
New York Could Be No. 1 in U.S. Sports Betting
Industry researchers GamblingCompliance forecast that New York will lead all state sports betting markets by 2023 with more than $700 million in annual revenue. Pennsylvania and New Jersey will be next with around $300 million each. Nevada, which owned single-game betting for decades, will drop to fourth.
High Court Backs Wynn Dealers in Tip Dispute
Some 800 Wynn Las Vegas dealers are getting a new hearing in Nevada state court in their long battle to void a company policy requiring them to share tips with pit management. If they win it could cost Wynn Resorts upwards of $50 million in back compensation.
R.I. Sports Betting Becomes Law
The law is passed. The governor has signed it. Sports betting is legal in Rhode Island, and residents of the smallest U.S. state could be putting down wagers at the state’s two casinos within three months.
Pennsylvania Betting Law Lambasted
The sports-betting program enacted by a larger gaming expansion bill in Pennsylvania is drawing criticism from both state operators and professional sports leagues for its high fees and taxes. And new Pittsburgh Pirates President Frank Coonelly (l.) wants an integrity fee for the upkeep of the team’s PNC Park.
Fillmore Moving Into Harrah’s New Orleans
The iconic Fillmore concert venue is taking over the vacant second floor at Harrah’s New Orleans (l.) next year. Operated by Live Nation, the venue will hold 2,200 people and include a lobby bar, VIP lounge and main music hall. About 60 concerts in the first year will include contemporary rock, rap and alternative acts.
Foxwoods CEO Rappaport Dead at 65
Foxwoods CEO Felix Rappaport has died at the age of 65 at his Connecticut suite at Foxwoods. Rappaport was the executive of eight casinos during his 40-year career in gaming.
Sports Teams ‘Inundate’ William Hill
Teams in the Big 4 American sports leagues have “inundated” William Hill with requests for partnering, said Joe Asher (l.), chief executive officer of the bookmaker’s U.S. Division. Individual teams are banned from making deals with bookmakers. William Hill recently opened a sportsbook at the Monmouth Park Racetrack in New Jersey.
Delaware House to Scale Down Casino Relief
Delaware House Speaker Pete Schwartzkopf (l.) is proposing to cut the casino relief package passed in April by the Senate in half before moving the bill to a vote.
Poll: Majority Of Florida Voters Support Amendment 3
In Florida, 61 percent of likely voters said they support Amendment 3, which would give voters, not legislators, control over gambling expansion in the state. The issue, which was backed by Disney and the Seminole Tribe, will appear on the November ballot. An amendment banning greyhound racing received 47 percent of voter support.
