Two US regional casino operators in newly legalized sports betting states have agreed to merge their operations.

On Sunday, Delaware-based Dover Downs Gaming & Entertainment Inc and Rhode Island-based Twin River Worldwide Holdings Inc announced that they’d entered into a definitive merger agreement. The deal will transform the privately-held Twin River into a publicly traded company via a listing on the Nasdaq or New York Stock Exchange.

The deal’s terms involve Dover Downs stockholders to exchange their shares for Twin River common shares equaling 7.225% of the equity of the combined company. Each Dover Downs share will be exchanged for 0.0225 shares of Twin River stock.

Dover Downs operates the Hotel & Casino of the same name in Delaware, which has recorded annual operating losses in two of the last four years. Dover Downs CEO Denis McGlynn said the Twin River deal would be “transformational” via the creation of a “more stable, standalone entity” that will allow for greater investment in its facilities.

South Africa is pressing forward with its plans to clamp down even harder on unauthorized internationally licensed online gambling operators.

In 2016, South Africa’s Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) released a draft of its new National Gambling Policy document, detailing the government’s intention to ensure that “no new forms of gambling” would be permitted in the Africa continent’s largest gambling market.

Last Friday, DTI issued a notice of intention to introduce the National Gambling Amendment Act 2018 into parliament during the legislature’s second term of 2018. The bill’s text, which can be read in full here, further restricts South African gamblers’ ability to access online gambling products not available to them via locally licensed operators, who are limited to offering sports betting only.

Among the new restrictions are explicit warnings to financial institutions that they “must not process payment transactions for any gambling activities that are not licensed” under the country’s existing gambling rules.

Gross revenue of Dublin-based social mobile poker operator KamaGames jumped by 53 percent in the first six months of 2018, boosted by a two-fold increase in its daily active users.

However, KamaGames CEO Andrey Kuznetsov did not state the exact sales figures when pressed by how much the company earned during the first half of 2018. In an email to CalvinAyre.com, Kuznetsov noted that the company “always reference gross rather than net revenue.”

“Our gross revenue growing by 53% in the same period from an already strong base of $57.5 million as reported in the 2017 annual results figures is definitely something to shout about,” Kuznetsov said.

Kuznetsov attributed the social gaming firm’s stellar performance in January to June 30, 2018 period to the rise of its daily active users. From 270,000 in the first half of 2017, Kuznetsov pointed out that their daily active users in the first six months of 2018 almost doubled to 530,000.

The popularity of Japanese Prime Minister (PM) Shinzo Abe among the Japanese citizens nosedives following the ratification of the controversial Integrated Resorts Implementation Bill last week.

Nikkei Asian Review reported that voter support for Abe’s administration dropped by 7 points to 45 percent from 52 percent in late June 2018 as the public fumed over the government’s decision to allow the development of casino resorts in up to three locations across the country.

The data was in contrast with Abe’s disapproval rating, which climbed by 5 basis points to 47 percent from 42 percent. Abe’s popularity among Japanese women suffered worse, dropping 9 points to 36 percent from 45 percent. The Japanese PM remained popular among the male population with 52 percent, albeit seeing a 4 percent drop.

Nikkei’s survey was conducted after the severe flooding in Western Japan, the passage of the IR Bill, and diplomatic efforts in North Korea. Apparently, the Japanese were disappointed by the way their government prioritized the IR bill instead of the measures that would improve lives after the environmental deluge.

Residents of Mississippi may have to wait for another week before they place their bets on their favorite sports teams.

Reuters reported that gambling operators have been given the green light to operate sports betting in Mississippi on Sunday, exactly a month after the game was legalized in the state. However, Mississippi Gaming Commissioner Allen Godfrey said casino operators weren’t done with their preparations for sports betting activities, including the construction of sports bars and meeting other state requirements for the games.

He estimated that it will take at least two more weeks before sports betting becomes fully operational in the state’s casinos.

“Right now, the ones wanting to get started are still in the renovation phase,” Godfrey said, according to the news outlet.

Playtech, the omni-channel gaming software company, will soon be expanding into Mexico. According to a press release the company’s Playtech BGT Sports (PBS) subsidiary has signed a deal with a local operator, Corporación Caliente, to install a number of the company’s self-service betting terminals (SSBT) at a variety of locations around the country.

Playtech has previous lent casino systems to Corporación Caliente since 2014. However, this will be the first for PBS. According to Corporación Caliente’s Business Development Director, Victor De La Fuente, “This is an exciting moment for Corporación Caliente as we further develop the experience we offer those who visit our casinos…We are continually looking for ways to improve customer engagement and this represents the latest development as part of this strategy.”

The SSBTs will play a key role in expanding the partnership’s relationship in both online and retail environment. PBS expects to the add additional machines to other Corporación Caliente casinos over the course of the next several months.

Corporación Caliente is a subsidiary of Codere, a gaming company headquartered in Spain. Codere already has an agreement with NetEnt that was signed last year, and many anticipate the recent Playtech deal to be the beginning of a substantial expansion by the company into Mexico.

Galaxy Entertainment Group Ltd. announced last Friday that it is giving a little something extra to a large percentage of its non-management staff. The company said that it will give a “one-off special discretionary bonus” to about 97% of the employees, all of whom hold positions of senior manager or lower. The exact number of employees that would receive the bonus, however, was not mentioned.

The bonus will be equal to one month’s base salary. Where applicable, guaranteed tips will also be included. Galaxy intends on making the payments on August 13 and those qualified employees who joined the company on or after August 2 last year will have their bonuses calculated on a pro-rate basis.

According to Galaxy, “This one-off special discretionary payment is made in special consideration of market competitiveness and the company’s satisfactory business performance in 2018.” Galaxy saw its first-quarter EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortization) increase by 36%, reaching $548 million.

However, Galaxy executives may not necessarily be motivated simply by the increased performance. A labor activist group said last week that it was organizing a petition by Galaxy staff to push for a summer bonus. The petition was drafted over concerns by Galaxy employees that they would not receive their annual bonuses this year.

The World Poker Tour (WPT) is looking to drum up business around Asia and India. The poker organization is planning a new tournament in Vietnam in September and then will make its way to India for its second WPT India tour in November. Both events are expected to provide huge payouts to both poker players and tournament organizers.

The WPT will take a 20-day trip through Asia with the help of a newly announced tournament in Vietnam. The event, WPT Vietnam, will be hosted by Ho Chi Minh’s Pro Poker Club and is scheduled to kick off on September 26. It will include a number of tournaments, including a $500 WPT Pro Poker Club Superstack Classic and a $1,000 Main Event.

Danny McDonagh, WPT Live Events Specialist, describes the event as a massive opportunity to satisfy the area’s “tremendous appetite for poker.” The WPT Vietnam will be preceded by a trip to Japan September 15 – 17 and another to South Korea from September 18 – 21. That trip will see the WPT Korea held at the country’s Paradise City Casino September 19 – 21 and will offer a normal lineup with an additional $5,000 team event thrown into the mix.

The team event features a maximum of 16 teams, each with four players. Players will battle it out in six NLHE and Omaha tournaments, with the winning team being awarded four seats at the WPT Korea Main Event. Several teams, including ones from the host country, Singapore, the UK, Australia and the US, have already announced their participation.