Author: IGP Staff

Mega Jackpot Hits Again at PlaySugarHouse in New Jersey

A New Jersey woman hit a $61,000 jackpot playing online at PlaySugarHouse.com just one week after the site announced that another player had hit the same jackpot for $161,000 after his first slots spin ion the site. Neither jackpot is record setting, but the back-to-back hits are noteworthy.

Pennsylvania Gives Some Skins

Regulators in Pennsylvania have approved temporary regulations for online gaming that allow current licensees an unlimited number of “skins,” as long as each domain identifies its affiliated licensee.

Online Gaming, Casino Bailout Axed from N.Y. Budget

Gaming came away empty-handed from negotiations on a 2018-19 spending plan for the Empire State. A Senate provision for online gaming was DOA yet again. As for the struggling commercial casino industry, the immediate future holds no hope of tax relief, as Governor Andrew Cuomo (l.) opposed any bailout.

Live Online Dealers Coming to Philippines

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. has agreed to allow the country’s iGaming operators to offer live-dealer table games. A one-year permit cost PHP1 million (US$19,220) and must be renewed yearly.

Stars Group Readies for Launch of PokerStars India

The Stars Group has set April 17 as the launch date for its Indian market version of PokerStars. The site will be available for play on desktop and mobile devices with Indian Rupees as the main currency and will feature localized versions of PokerStars’ most popular tournaments and events, the company said. In another story involving PokerStars, the UK Advertising Standards Authority has ruled that the gambling site cannot air a TV ad and warned PokerStars against portraying gambling in a socially irresponsible manner or in the context of recklessness.

Penn National Wins Fifth Mini-Casino, Fourth PA Casino

Penn National Gaming won Pennsylvania’s fifth mini-casino license for a bid of $3 over the minimum, giving the operator an industry-leading fourth Pennsylvania casino license, where it operates the Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course (l.).

Atlantic City Ocean Resort Casino Will Join with Hyatt

Atlantic City’s former Revel casino, now rebranded as the Ocean Resort Casino, will affiliate with the Hyatt Hotel chain, casino officials announced. The casino will include a 32,000-square-foot spa within Hyatt’s newly acquired spa brand. Ocean Resort will continue to own and operate the casino hotel, but will utilize Hyatt’s reservation systems and other infrastructure.

MGM Growth Properties to Buy Hard Rock Rocksino

MGM Growth Properties (MGP) has purchased Ohio’s Hard Rock Rocksino Northfield Park, outside of Cleveland—the state’s most lucrative casino. It’s the first property not operated by MGM Resorts that the company has purchased. The final price was $1.06 billion.

Special Session Possible In Florida

Florida House Speaker Richard Corcoran (l.) may call a special session over potentially losing millions in annual payments from the Seminole Tribe in return for exclusivity. Tribal attorney Barry Richard said payments would stop “only if they think there is a substantial impact on their financial circumstances, or they think they are paying too much money for the exclusivity.”

MGM To Buy Wynn?

A report in the New York Post last week speculated that MGM Resorts is interested in buying Wynn Resorts, despite denials from MGM Chairman & CEO Jim Murren (l.). While citing anonymous sources, the story could have some validity.