Lawmakers Pass Chicago Casino Bill
In a major victory for Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, Illinois Senators in a special session voted 42-14 to authorize a casino in Chicago. Earlier, the House voted 77-32 for the casino bill; representatives moved from the Capitol to a nearby convention center to assure social distancing, and masks and temperature checks were required. The bill […]
Survey: Macau High-End Still Gambling Big
Covid-19 may have seriously curtailed the ability of the Chinese to get to Macau, but it hasn’t dampened the gambling spirit among those who manage it. A new survey conducted by the Macau Research Centre, a privately owned think tank, appears to spell good news for a market in desperate need of some, indicating that […]
West Virginia Expects iGaming By July
West Virginia is on the brink of legalized online gaming, with the recent approval of emergency rules by the West Virginia Lottery Commission. Director John Myers said operators could be up and running as soon as June or July. The rules were filed at the West Virginia Secretary of State’s Office, which has 42 days […]
DOJ Tells iLotteries No Wire Act Prosecutions, Promise!
The U.S. Justice Department has assured online state lotteries it will not prosecute them for selling tickets online under the Wire Act of 1961, which unambiguously forbade such transactions, but predated the internet by 35 years. But state lotteries, starting with New Hampshire’s, seem to regard this assurance with the confidence of the frog expecting […]
More Casinos Open Across the U.S.
The shutdown has finally ended for some U.S. casinos. For now, all of them will operate under extraordinary restrictions, with capacity limits, social distancing requirements, and other safety measures. Here is a look at some returning markets and how operators are handling the crisis. Alabama In Alabama, Wind Creek Hospitality CEO Jay Dorris said small […]
‘’Casino King’ Stanley Ho, Father of Macau Gaming, Dead at 98
Stanley Ho Hung Sun, the Hong Kong billionaire who was instrumental in building Macau’s gaming industry into the largest in the world, died May 26 at Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital. He was 98. Over the last 20 years, Ho’s casino empire contributed as much as half of the Macau government’s tax receipts. His far-flung […]
Online Slot Review: Great Guardians, Jade Wins
Great Guardians This game features a quartet of mythological Asian creatures: the Azure Dragon, Vermillion Bird, White Tiger and Black Tortoise, which, according to legend, represent the land, the colors of the environment, the seasons and the elements. Asian symbols of good fortune and prosperity are also front and center in the game, from top […]
Finally, NHL Playoffs In the Offing
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman has at last revealed his league’s plan for its return, although a firm comeback date remains to be seen. On May 26, Bettman announced that the league and the players association agreed, 29-2, on a structure for completing the current season. In fact, the plan is to forego the rest of […]
Players Win $52M at partypoker’s World Poker Tour Online Series
The first-ever World Poker Tour (WPT) Online Series, hosted by partypoker.com, is over, and players are still smiling. The inaugural tour paid out a massive $52,956,050 in prizes and exceeded all expectations. A total of 94 events were held across 29 days, with 111,183 entries. The three flagship events of the festival—the WPT500, WPTDeepStacks and […]
UFC 250: Nunes vs. Spencer in the Main Event
See you ringside for UFC 250, the long-awaited faceoff between women’s bantamweight and featherweight champ Amanda Nunes and featherweight contender Felicia Spencer. The battle, originally slated for May 9 in Sao Paolo, was cancelled because of the coronavirus outbreak. It’s now slated for 10 p.m. ET from the UFC Apex arena in Las Vegas (prelims […]
Tennessee Hopes for Fall Sports Bet Launch
During the Tennessee Education Lottery Corp. board meeting via teleconference on May 13, the agency expressed hope it could launch sports betting in the fall. The hope is that something substantial exists to bet on. Little was said about the application process, which the lottery expects to result in licensing of mobile sportsbooks this summer. […]
Michigan Pushes to Launch iGaming, Sports Betting
The coronavirus pandemic took a toll on casinos and sports betting. But it also hammered states like Michigan, which expects a shortfall of $3.2 billion in 2020. The gap could be why the state has gone all-in on sports betting and iGaming. On May 15, the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) began accepting online gaming […]
