France Sees Online Gambling Growth in 2018
France’s online gaming market grew at all levels in 2018 led by sports betting. Revenue grew 25 percent over 2017 to €1.2 billion ($1.4 billion) with €691 million coming from sports betting. Players wagered €11.4 billion on all gambling products, up 24 percent from 2017.
Netherlands Adopts Remote Gambling Act
The Netherlands has finally approved a Remote Gaming Act more than two years after the country’s lower house had approved the bill. The new laws will go into effect next year and will include a license application process. The bill sets taxes at 29 percent of gross gaming revenue.
Malta Suspends Gambling Licenses
The Malta Gaming Authority has moved to suspend licenses for gambling firms Betixx Limited and Morpheus Games. The authority has also moved to terminate the operator license of World-of-bets EU Limited and Bet Service Group.
Bangladesh Blocks 2,200 Gambling Websites
The government Bangladesh has moved to block thousands of websites in the country including about 2,200 sites associated with gambling. About 15,000 websites wee also blocked for pornographic material. Government officials said the internet was created to help young people and gambling and porn websites hurt that effort.
D’Arrigo Out at MGM
Dan D’Arrigo (l.), the chief financial officer at MGM Resorts, retired last week in connection with the MGM edict to cut $100 million in staffing costs before 2020. D’Arrigo’s job will be taken by COO Corey Sanders and Bill Hornbuckle will add the COO role to his president title.
U.S. Casinos Post Best Year Ever
Commercial casino gaming revenue was up more 4 percent in 2018, topping $42 billion. A new report on the performance credits a host of factors—major new resort openings, more machine games, the rise of sports betting—for the increase.
Pennsylvania Sports-Betting Revenue Modest
Pennsylvania’s six retail sports books generated a modest $32 million in handle for January, with wagering still exclusively confined to casinos and off-track betting facilities. Only three sports books, including Rivers (l.) in Pittsburgh, operated the full month.
Washington D.C. Approves Sports Betting Contract
The Washington D.C. City Council officially approved a plan to bypass the public bidding process and award a mobile sports betting contract to its lottery provider Intralot. The Council also approved emergency resolutions to allow the city’s Lottery to begin negotiations with Intralot as soon as Mayor Muriel Bowser (l.) signs the bill instead of waiting for approval from Congress.
Atlantic City’s Ocean Resort Sees Executive Changes
Two top executives at Atlantic City’s Ocean Resort Casino have been removed as the casino is being taken over by New York-based hedge fund Luxor Capital Group. Frank Leone (l.), the property’s former CEO, and Alan Greenstein, former chief financial officer, were recently fired. The group—which has no relation to the Luxor casino in Las Vegas—was a principle lender on the property and has taken over control from Colorado-based developer Bruce Deifik.
Rhode Island Senate Approves Mobile Sports Wagering
The Senate of Rhode Island last week approved a bill legalizing sports betting by mobile app at the state’s two casinos. The bill now goes to the House.
Connecticut Lawmaker Says Integrity Fee an Option in Sports Betting
Although last year he vehemently opposed an integrity fee for sports betting, Connecticut Rep. Joe Verrengia (l.) is ready to change his mind. “Given the time that has passed, we’re obviously going to revisit the issue of an integrity fee,” he said last week.
Indiana Legislation Opens Casino Debate
Indiana’s gaming debate detoured with Senator Ryan Mishler’s measure allowing one of the Majestic Star Casino’s licenses to move anywhere in the state. Previously introduced legislation by state Senator Jon Ford and state Senator Mark Messmer (l.) targeted Terre Haute for the license. The other will remain in Gary with a land-based Majestic Star.
