Category Archives: Casinos

Rivers Casino Philadelphia Debuts on Delaware Avenue

Philadelphia ushers in a new gaming and entertainment era on Delaware Avenue. Opening today, SugarHouse Casino is celebrating its transition to the new Rivers Casino Philadelphia, as previously announced. There’s no change in ownership of the property, which opened in 2010.

The rebranding represents a $15 million investment in the property, which includes the all-new $5 million state-of-the-art BetRivers Sportsbook; a redesigned gaming floor; and new amenities, such as Jack’s Bar + Grill, a new restaurant opening soon – all under the Rivers Casino brand. Announced with these changes is Rush Street Gaming’s continued commitment to be a proud community partner to the city as Rivers Casino Philadelphia.

Rush Street Gaming and its affiliates, which own and operate Rivers Casino Philadelphia, currently have three other casinos in the U.S. operating under the Rivers Casino brand—Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Des Plaines, Illinois (Chicago area); and Schenectady, New York. All Rivers Casinos lead their markets.

“Having a unified brand will provide a seamless customer experience across the Commonwealth with our bricks-and-mortar casinos, mobile and online, and even our sportsbooks, all part of the Rivers Casino family,” said Greg Carlin, CEO of Rivers Casino Philadelphia and Rush Street Gaming.

BetRivers Sportsbook

The transition to Rivers Casino Philadelphia began earlier this month with the unveiling of the brand new BetRivers Sportsbook. The $5 million state-of-the-art BetRivers Sportsbook is three times the size of its previous, temporary location and is located in the space formerly occupied by the Lucky Red bar.

The ultra-luxurious sports lounge includes club chairs and table seating for approximately 115 guests and a massive 56.5-foot by 10.5-foot LED central monitor. The video wall is accompanied by eight additional 80-inch flat-screen, high-definition monitors that enhance the overall viewing area. The sportsbook also includes 22 self-service betting kiosks and six betting windows. Food and beverage service, including text-to-order menus, is available.

Recently, Wells Fargo Center unveiled the BetRivers.com Sports Lounge and the Rivers Casino Philadelphia Sports Lounge as complements to the new BetRivers Sportsbook. Fans in-arena can watch an array of sporting events on nearly 100 screens while attending Flyers games and other live events. The new high-tech lounges are part of a multiyear partnership between the casino, BetRivers.com, the Wells Fargo Center and the Philadelphia Flyers.

Rivers Casino’s digital and in-casino sports wagering operator is Rush Street Interactive PA, LLC, and its affiliates. Rush Street Interactive owns and operates BetRivers.com and was the first U.S. gaming operator to launch sports betting in South America.

Rivers Gives

As part of the transition to Rivers, Philadelphia will benefit from “Rivers Gives,” a unique community relations program and steadfast commitment by the casino that includes Team Members volunteering 2,000 services hours annually to the Fishtown neighborhood and surrounding areas. Rivers Gives is also establishing donation locations adjacent to the gaming floor, where guests can join Rivers in supporting monthly initiatives that will benefit local nonprofits.

Under the Rivers Gives umbrella, the Penn Treaty Special Services District will continue to receive a $1 million contribution annually from Rivers Casino Philadelphia. Also, the casino’s annual Thanksgiving turkey donations will have Team Members donating more than 600 turkeys to various local organizations throughout the city next month.

Rivers Casino New Year’s Eve on the Waterfront

Rivers is also proud to continue its commitment to the city and to the Delaware River Waterfront Corporation by serving as the presenting sponsor of the annual New Year’s Eve fireworks on the waterfront. Rivers Casino Philadelphia will present two year-end firework displays, which can be viewed along the Delaware River with outstanding views from the casino, to ring in 2020.

“We’re excited for our guests to experience all the incredible new features Rivers Casino Philadelphia has to offer,” said Rob Long, general manager of Rivers Casino Philadelphia. “We’re supremely devoted to our terrific Team Members and our loyal guests. It’s a privilege for Rivers to be a longstanding partner to the Fishtown community and to Philly.”

Willows Hotel & Spa at Viejas Casino & Resort

On Veterans Day, November 11th, 2019, Viejas Casino & Resort will launch the Heroes Club, a one-of-a-kind benefits program designed to give back to those who serve as well as their dependents.

More military personnel reside in California than in any other state, and San Diego County contains the greatest concentration of military personnel inside California. In addition, with the county’s shared border with Mexico and the whole of California’s increasing threat of seasonal wildfires, San Diego County is home to a prevalence of border patrol agents, law enforcement, and first responders.

”All of us here at Viejas are honored to launch the Viejas Heroes Club appreciation program this upcoming Veterans Day,” said Jim Wild, General Manager of Viejas Casino & Resort. “Because we feel an enormous amount of respect and appreciation for the brave men and women who serve our country and communities—not only because San Diego is full of service members, but also because of the significant number of Native Americans who have served.”

“A call to service is a Native American tradition,” said John Christman, Chairman of the Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians. “And one example of this dedication to the community is our reservation’s first-class fire department, which has a shared service agreement with San Diego County.” In fact, over half of the medical and fire emergency calls into the Viejas Fire Department are for incidents outside of the reservation. “And when it comes to military service, members of our tribe have served in all branches of America’s armed forces, and many of our tribal members are decorated, military veterans.” Viejas also holds a special place in America’s military history as California’s very first all Indian VFW Post is located on the reservation. At the time of its founding, VFW Post #7637 was the second all Indian VFW Post in the entire United States.

Today, the Heroes Club appreciation program at Viejas Casino & Resort continues the long-standing Viejas tradition of honoring service members and their dependents. The Heroes Club enrollment is available to veterans, active and retired military, law enforcement, first responders, and border patrol. Eligible Viejas Guests may sign up for the Heroes Club at any myViejas desk inside the casino.

Members of the Heroes Club will receive a BOGO buffet on Wednesdays and an automatic myViejas Players Club silver card upgrade, which includes great discounts on dining, shopping, and the spa. In addition, Heroes Club members and their dependents are eligible for $5 Free Play Cash from Sunday–Friday, a Sunday bingo package, and a bowling discount.

The Venetian Macao Wins ‘Property of the Year’ at the Global Gaming Awards Las Vegas 2019

The Venetian^® Macao has won ‘Property of the Year’ at the Global Gaming Awards held on Oct. 14, 2019 in Las Vegas. The integrated resort took the title after beating nine other competitors also nominated in the category.

Dr. Wilfred Wong, President, Sands China Ltd., said: “Winning this prestigious accolade, in an industry which boasts so many exceptional properties, is extremely gratifying for each and every one of our team members who work hard to offer guests unparalleled experiences. We are grateful to Global Gaming Awards Las Vegas for this recognition and intend to continue striving for excellence.”

One of the world’s most iconic properties, and named as one of ‘One of the Most Instagrammed Luxury Hotels of 2016’ by Bloomberg News, The Venetian Macao was inspired by the beauty and charm of renaissance Venice. Transporting guests to an enchanting world of towers, canals and piazzas, the integrated resort offers a wide range of international restaurants, superb entertainment, peerless retail and the largest casino in Asia, all under one roof.

Now in their sixth year, the Global Gaming Awards Las Vegas are the most prestigious awards within the gaming industry. Produced by Gambling Insider in association with G2E, there are a total of 12 categories spanning the land-based and digital industries, with 10 companies shortlisted in each. Winners are decided by a panel of 100 judges, comprising senior executives from the biggest companies in the industry. The voting process is independently adjudicated by KPMG.

IGT and Pearl River Resort Launch CrystalBetting Terminal

IGT and Pearl River Resort Introduce VIP Sports Betting with Launch of CrystalBetting Terminal

International Game Technology PLC and the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians’ Pearl River Resort announce the launch of IGT’s CrystalBetting™ Terminal. Patrons of Pearl River Resort’s Golden Moon Casino and Silver Star Casino in Philadelphia, Miss. can be among the first sports fans in the world to place pre-match and in-game sports wagers at a private, luxury carrel via the CrystalBetting Terminal.

IGT’s CrystalBetting Terminals give players a comfortable, VIP sports betting experience unlike anything currently offered in the U.S. sports betting market. Each terminal includes a 27-inch monitor where sports enthusiasts can watch live sporting events and place a range of sports wagers. The innovative hardware features privacy wings, a personal listening audio jack, USB charging port, convenient workstation, and was recently named one of the “Top 20 Most Innovative Gaming Technologies” by Casino Journal.

“Pearl River Resort is proud to partner with IGT on the global launch of the CrystalBetting Terminal,” said Neal Atkinson, Pearl River Resort Director of Table Games. “We prioritize being on the forefront of sports betting innovation and providing our players choice and convenience for placing sports bets at our properties. Extending our sports betting offering to include IGT’s CrystalBetting Terminals elevates the player experience and gives our patrons yet another reason to choose Pearl River Resort for gaming entertainment.”

“By adding the CrystalBetting Terminal to its already impressive sports betting offering, Pearl River Resort is positioned to engage sports fans in new ways and to differentiate its offering,” said Nick Khin, IGT Chief Commercial Officer, Gaming. “IGT’s sports betting momentum in the U.S. market, paired with the player insights that we gained while testing the CrystalBetting Terminal, reinforce our confidence in the product’s capacity to deliver a compelling player experience that complements the entire IGT sports betting technology ecosystem.”

By leveraging IGT PlaySports platform, Pearl River Resort made gaming history in 2018 when it became the first non-Nevada tribal casino to open a sportsbook post-PASPA repeal. The pioneering operator opened its three sportsbooks with over-the-counter retail sports betting and quickly expanded its offerings to include self-service PlaySports Kiosks and mobile on-premise wagering.

The CrystalBetting Terminal is currently undergoing a 90-day field trial and has already secured GLI Certification and Mississippi Choctaw Gaming Commission approval.

GAN Launches Internet Gambling for Parx Casino in New Jersey

GAN plc, an award-winning developer and supplier of enterprise-level B2B Internet gaming software, services and online gaming content in the United States, today announces that GAN and Greenwood Gaming & Entertainment, Inc. trading as ‘Parx Casino’ (“Parx Casino”) have launched Internet gaming in the State of New Jersey now available online 24/7 since Friday October 4, following a three-day soft launch period.

Parx Casino patrons can also link their Reward Card online to their counterpart Internet gambling account, enabled by GAN’s U.S. patented integration framework. This represents the second U.S. State that GAN has launched Parx Casino in, following the launch of Internet sports betting and Internet casino gaming in Pennsylvania on June 24 and July 15, respectively.

Highlights

Parx owns and operates the #1 land-based casino property in Pennsylvania located a short distance from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania’s largest City. In the most recent fiscal year ended June 30, 2018 Parx Casino generated $570m from slot machines and table games on-property representing a 18% share of the Pennsylvania’s $3.2bn gaming market.
GAN’s US-patented technology enables Parx Casino patrons enrolled in the on-property loyalty program, to sign up online and instantly link their reward cards to their online account permitting those guests to trade in their reward points earned from on-property gaming for cash online and/or to earn rewards points from Internet gaming and/or sports betting, to be subsequently redeemed on-property.

Management Commentary

Dermot Smurfit, Chief Executive Officer of GAN commented:

“Launching the largest casino in Pennsylvania online has now logically extended across the border into New Jersey, extending their reach into New Jersey’s fast-growing and established Internet gambling market. This represents an incremental revenue opportunity for GAN and is a logical extension of our technology infrastructure to serve Parx Casino patrons who routinely cross the invisible border between these two populous States.”

John Dixon, Chief Operating Officer of Greenwood Gaming & Entertainment, Inc commented:

“GAN has now ably demonstrated it abilities to serve our business needs in multiple States which aligns with the cross-border nature of our existing retail gaming customer base. GAN’s launch in New Jersey was a case study in on-time delivery and professional excellence and will enable our patrons to gamble online in either Pennsylvania or New Jersey, as they wish.”

All New State-of-the-art Sportsbook Opens at Rivers Casino Pittsburgh

Rivers Casino is betting that its new $5 million permanent state-of-the-art sportsbook will be even more popular than its predecessor.

Rivers’ new sportsbook is called, “BetRivers Sportsbook.” The all-new 5,500-square-foot space, which opened Monday, features massive high-def TV monitors, comfortable seating and plenty of room to enjoy watching and wagering on fans’ favorite teams and sports.

BetRivers Sportsbook is at the heart of the casino’s gaming floor action, in the space previously occupied by Levels Lounge. Designed by Chicago-based DMAC Architecture, the ultra-luxurious sports lounge includes club chairs and table seating for approximately 195 guests, who will have fantastic views of the two state-of-the-art 50.5-foot x 7-foot LED central monitors and 24 flat-screen, high-definition 86-inch monitors. The Sportsbook also includes 33 self-service betting kiosks and six betting windows. Food and beverage service is available.

“We expect to see a lot of black and gold in our new sportsbook, today and every day,” said Rivers Casino General Manager Bill Keena. “Pittsburgh’s incredibly loyal fans, who include not only guests but our own Team Members, are what make our BetRivers Sportsbook truly special.”

In addition to the new BetRivers Sportsbook, Rivers has also upgraded and moved its Interblock gaming section, known as Rush Table Zone. The Rush Table Zone is a designated area with new digital interactive touchscreen games that include the interaction of a live dealer. The new area now offers a total of 55 seats featuring blackjack, roulette and baccarat. Rush Table Zone can be found in the middle of the gaming floor, in front of the BetRivers Sportsbook bar, which is integrated with the Sportsbook but also serves the casino floor.

A DJ and confetti countdown marked the official grand opening along with Iceburgh, the local hometown hockey team mascot, who made a special appearance at the celebration.

BetRivers Sportsbook will be open daily: Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to midnight; Fridays from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m.; Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 2 a.m.; and Sundays from 9 a.m. to midnight. Guests must be at least 21 years old to wager. No one under 21 is permitted on Rivers Casino’s gaming floor.

BetRivers Sportsbook continues to offer wagering on a wide array of sporting events including football, basketball, baseball, hockey, soccer, college sports and more. Rivers Casino Pittsburgh’s digital and in-casino sports wagering operator is Rush Street Interactive PA, LLC, (RSI) and its affiliates. RSI operates BetRivers.com along with Pennsylvania’s first online and mobile sportsbook, PlaySugarHouse.com.

GSA Announces 2019 Technology Summit: ‘Focus on Artificial Intelligence’

The exciting world of Artificial Intelligence (AI) will be the subject of the Gaming Standards Association’s (GSA) latest Technology Summit (GSATS), “Focus on Artificial Intelligence.” This crucial technology event for the gaming industry takes place November 6 and 7 at the Hyatt Regency in San Diego, Calif.

The in-depth summit is a follow up to last year’s overwhelmingly successful summit, “Focus on Blockchain.” Registration is available now at https://www.gamingstandards.com/en/gsa-technology-summit-focus-artificial-intelligence.

AI is defined as “the ability for computer-based programs to parse large volumes of data, identify patterns, learn those patterns, discern probable outcomes and make recommended actions based on that learning.”

As defined, AI has great applicability in the global gaming industry with use cases ranging from responsible gaming, such as, the early identification of potential problem gamers based on analysis of actions and the evaluation of pertinent big data, to tracking patrons feelings and analyzing their needs and interests allowing for the creation of better gaming experiences, anti-money laundering, identifying most valuable players, identifying efficiencies for revenue maximization, and a host of others.

Leading AI experts from around the world are scheduled to present at the event, including:

Dr. Stasi Baran ~ COO, nQube Data Science Inc.
Mr. Kiran Brahmandam ~ CEO, Gaming Analytics
Mr. Andrew Cardno ~ CEO, Innovation Gaming Group
Dr. Gavin Clarkson ~ Managing Director, Native American Capital
Mr. Simo Dragicevic ~ Founder and CEO BetBuddy, a Playtech Company
Mr. John English ~ Partner, MD Sports and Technology, Global Market Advisors
Mr. Earle Hall ~ CEO AXES.ai
Mr. Tim Huckaby ~ Founder and Executive Chairman, VSBLTY
Mr. Amit Likhyani ~ Account Executive, Dynatrace
Mr. Mark Pace ~ Managing Director, GSA Europe
Mr. Clayton Peister ~ Managing Director, Differential Labs
Mr. Joseph Pisano ~ Founder and CEO, Jade Group Companies
Mr. Nimish Purohit ~ Sr. Director, Tech. Compliance, Aristocrat Technologies
Mr. Travis Siegfried ~ Global Cognitive AI & Vision Solution Eng., IBM
Dr. Ralph Thomas ~ Founder and President, Education Revolution LLC
Mr. Markus Van Kempen ~ Corporate Strategy Executive, IBM
Dr. Johannes Wilms ~ Sr. Data Scientist, NOVOMATIC AG
Mr. George Yang ~ Founder and CEO, AI PROS

GSA is gratified to recognize our event sponsors: Diamond sponsor AXES.ai, a Cloud Information Management Platform that licenses actionable intelligence and applications to the Global Gaming & Amusement Industry and Platinum NOVOMATIC AG, a producer of high-tech gaming equipment and operator of electronic casinos, regular casinos and sports betting outlets, as well as a technology and service partner in the lottery segment.

Parx Casino Opens Parx Sportsbook As Part Of $10M Expansion

Parx Casino®, Pennsylvania’s #1 casino, announced the grand opening of the brand new Parx Casino® Sportsbook on Thursday. Parx Casino® Sportsbook looks to set the industry standard with a dazzling 7,400 square foot space that features a sweeping 156 foot HD media wall that can show up to 36 games all at the same time. Additionally, the sleek, state of the art space will feature six live tellers, 18 kiosks, 196 seats, three VIP areas, plus a 38′ x 14′ bar with 38 seats and a dramatic four-tier light design hanging from above. At the bar, look for a full menu of beer, wine, spirits and cocktails. From the kitchen, look for elevated game day favorites, including chicken wings, the Philly cheesesteak, a selection of burgers, and even a vegan Impossible burger. Parx Casino® will cut the ribbon at 3:00pm, and then open to the public at 5:00pm just in time for the Philadelphia Eagles preseason game vs. the Tennessee Titans. The grand opening of this permanent Sportsbook follows the recent launch of the Parx Online Sports Betting App and the Parx Casino real money casino. Parx Casino® is located at 2999 Street Road, Bensalem, in the heart of Bucks County – and only a short drive from Philadelphia and New York.

“Parx Casino® is excited to cut the ribbon on the best sportsbook in the country,” said Senior Vice President of Interactive Gaming & Sports, Matthew Cullen. “Parx aims to set the industry standard in this new and fast-growing arena. The timing couldn’t be better as we head into football season. We felt our local Eagles fans deserved to have the ultimate game day destination to cheer on the Birds. Game day will soar to new heights as we present the absolute best gaming and entertainment experience of its kind. We have worked for nearly two years to expand our portfolio of offerings to give patrons the best of all types of legalized gaming. After the recent launch of online sports betting and our real money online casino, the grand opening of Parx Casino Sportsbook completes this mission.”

Sports fans are invited to place their bets at the largest and most state-of-the-art new sportsbooks in America. When opened, customers can expect their favorite ways to bet on sports at Parx including: spread, moneyline, total, props, parlays and teasers. Sports that will be available will include, among others, Pro Football, Pro Basketball, Pro Baseball, Pro Hockey, College Football, College Basketball, Tennis, Golf, MMA, Boxing, Auto Racing and more. In honor of the grand opening, the first 1,000 people to come through the Sportsbook doors on August 8th will receive a $25 free bet when they fund their online sports betting account with at least $25. The promotion is available to both new signups and people with existing Parx Casino® online accounts. Look for details at the grand opening and on the Parx website.

The new Sportsbook will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week with 10-16 hours of live teller assistance pending on sports schedules. The space can hold up to 422 people, and features a 156 foot HD media wall that can broadcast 36 games simultaneously. The space also features six live teller windows, a full service bar, and comfortable seating for up to 200 people to watch the games. There will be 18 self-service sports betting kiosks available in the new Sportsbook as well as throughout the casino floor, Parx Beer Garden and Parx Poker Room.

From the kitchen, Parx Casino’s Sportsbook will fire up elevated game-day favorites. The opening menu includes Cheesesteak Dumplings $9, Chicken Tenders $10, Chicken Caesar Salad $1, Sports Book Chicken Wings $12, Boneless Chicken Wings $12, Angus Beef Hot Dog $7, Cheddar Pub Burger $10, Crispy Fried Chicken Burger $12, Philly Cheesesteak $12, Shaved Pork and Broccoli Rabe $12, Smoke House Burger $13 and The Impossible Burger $14.

The $10M addition of Sportsbook follows a $58.5M expansion over the last two years that included the Xcite Center, Parx Poker Room, Liberty Bell Gastropub, Oliveto and Parx Casino® Beer Garden.

Boyd Gaming Properties First to Receive Aristocrat’s New FarmVille™ and Madonna™ Slot Titles

Boyd Gaming properties across the country premiere the new Madonna™ slot game, available only on Aristocrat’s new EDGE X™ cabinet.

Boyd Gaming’s unique brand of casino entertainment now has players across the nation on the EDGE of their seats, as Boyd Gaming becomes the first gaming operator in the nation to deploy games on Aristocrat’s all-new EDGE X™ cabinet.

Boyd Gaming properties across the country will utilize the EDGE X cabinet to premiere the Aristocrat title Madonna™, honoring the world-famous pop star. Additionally, Boyd Gaming is the first operator in Nevada to receive the all-new title FarmVille™, based on the wildly popular social game.

“Boyd Gaming takes pride in offering our customers a unique and memorable gaming experience, and we are thrilled to enhance and elevate that experience with these fun and exciting new games,” said Steve Thompson, Executive Vice President of Operations for Boyd Gaming.

“We are honored to introduce this landmark new cabinet and two great new games in concert with a fantastic partner of Aristocrat in Boyd Gaming. FarmVille and Madonna are two iconic brands, and they are the perfect fit for the completely new experience that awaits players with the EDGE X cabinet. We hope players will go to their favorite Boyd Gaming property to experience the fun these games provide,” said Jon Hanlin, Vice President Commercial Strategy, Gaming Operations for Aristocrat.

Players will get into the groove with Madonna, featuring a multi-site progressive with a grand jackpot starting value of $250,000 or a single-site progressive with a grand jackpot starting value of $5,000. This game features persistent Mighty Cash Hold & Spin Multipliers, free games, and a “Like a Virgin” Wheel Bonus. A unique karaoke feature on the button desk enables players to sing along with their favorite Madonna songs while playing the game.

Boyd Gaming is the first operator in Nevada to receive Aristocrat’s all-new game FarmVille™, based on the wildly popular social game. The game is available only on Aristocrat’s new EDGE X™ cabinet.

In FarmVille, slot players will find all their favorite characters, farm animals, livestock, and a single-site progressive with grand jackpot starting values of $2,500 or $5,000. The game features progressive free games and the Mighty Cash Hold & Spin mechanic.

Discover all of Boyd Gaming’s properties at www.boydgaming.com, and get connected for the best rewards at www.boydgaming.com/play/b-connected.

Find where to play Aristocrat by visiting www.aristocrat-us.com/where-to-play. Information on responsible gaming is available at www.aristocrat.com/sustainability/responsible-gambling-game-play.

FanDuel To Open Its First Sportsbook in New York State

FanDuel Group announced the grand opening of the company’s first retail sportsbook in New York State, located at Tioga Downs Casino Resort in Nichols, New York. The FanDuel Sportsbook will open to the public on Friday, July 19 at 2:30 PM ET, with New York Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo from NY District 123rd making the ceremonial first bet as part of a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

“As we continue to expand our sportsbook operations across the U.S. the opening of our FanDuel Sportsbook at Tioga Downs Casino Resort is a history-making moment for the FanDuel Group,” said Keith Wall, Vice President Commercial Retail, FanDuel Group. “Jeff Gural has been an incredible partner in New Jersey, and joining forces with him and the team at Tioga Downs allows us to bring sports betting to New York sports fans while delivering new jobs and tax revenue to the Empire State.”

Tioga Downs’ sports betting retail location is one of four upstate New York casinos permitted to offer sports betting in the state of New York.

“Our partnership with FanDuel at the Meadowlands has surpassed expectations,” said Jeff Gural, Chairman of American Racing and Entertainment. “Now that legislation in New York has been passed, we look forward to bringing the fun and excitement of wagering on sports to the Upstate region.”

FanDuel’s new 2,600 square foot sports betting retail location will be conveniently located near the main entrance of the Tioga Downs Casino. The FanDuel Sportsbook will feature eight betting windows, 27 video displays including a large video wall, 14 self service betting kiosks from IGTPlayDigital, three sports tickers, 12 lounge seats, seven high tables, two drink rails, and seating for more than 50 customers. FanDuel will provide its first class risk and trading platform and manage the location in partnership with Tioga Downs Casino Resort and will leverage IGT PlayDigital’s retail sports betting technology. The FanDuel Sportsbook will feature bets on all major U.S. sports, including professional baseball, soccer, football, basketball, golf, boxing, motorsports racing, and more.

The FanDuel Sportsbook at Tioga Downs Casino Resort marks FanDuel Group’s fourth retail operation. The company opened the first-ever FanDuel Sportsbook located at New Meadowlands Racetrack last July, followed by a location at The Greenbrier in West Virginia last fall and most recently at the Valley Forge Casino Resort in Pennsylvania.

Stars Group, Akwesasne Mohawk Casino Resort Bringing Online Betting and Gaming To New York

The Stars Group Inc. today announced that it entered into an agreement with the Akwesasne Mohawk Casino Resort for betting and gaming market access and certain retail sports betting operations in the State of New York.

The agreement grants The Stars Group an option to operate and brand real-money online sports betting, poker and casino in New York on a first skin basis, subject to license availability, state law and regulatory approvals. The agreement also provides that The Stars Group will provide support services for the launch and operation of a retail sportsbook at the Akwesasne Mohawk Casino Resort in Northern New York.

“We are excited to announce this agreement with Mohawk, which further strengthens our market access as we work to build our FOX Bet business into one of the leaders in the emerging U.S. online betting and gaming market,” said Robin Chhabra, CEO of FOX Bet, the new U.S. sports betting brand of The Stars Group.

Todd Papineau, General Manager of the Akwesasne Mohawk Casino Resort commented, “We are thrilled to elevate the sports betting experience for our guests in our new sports lounge, a 5,200 square foot sports betting hub that will be ready during the NFL season. Once permissible in the state, we will be prepared to accept sports wagers through our new kiosks. With its online betting and gaming solutions and FOX Bet and PokerStars brands, we believe The Stars Group is the ideal partner for us and it is positioned to become a leader in the U.S. online betting and gaming industry. We are delighted to work with The Stars Group, one of the world’s largest, most licensed online gaming companies, to leverage the opportunity presented by online betting and gaming in the State of New York.”

Under the terms of the agreement, Mohawk will receive a revenue share from the operation of the applicable online offerings by The Stars Group and The Stars Group will receive a revenue share from the operation of the retail sportsbook from Mohawk.

Technavio: Top 5 Vendors in the US Casino Gaming Market from 2017 to 2021

Gambling is one of the significant sources of revenue in the US because due to the high taxes attached to it in the country. This revenue is invested in public as well as private sectors that help in creating employment opportunities in the region. This is encouraging the government to legalize various forms of gambling that includes casino gaming. Thus, the easing of government regulations is expected to stimulate growth in the US casino gaming market during the forecast period. Furthermore, this industry research report also presents a competitive analysis of the market by platform (online and traditional), by type (commercial, tribal, limited stakes, and iGaming), and by game type (poker, blackjack, slot machines, roulette, and others).

Competitive vendor landscape

The casino gaming market in the US is highly competitive with major vendors such as Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, INTRALOT, Las Vegas Sands, MGM Resorts, Penn National Gaming, and Wynn Resorts competing based on price, quality, and market presence.

“The reconfigurable electronic gaming machines are gaining immense popularity owing to their benefits, such as easy to update, upgrade, and user-friendly. Unlike the conventional type of machines, electronic gaming machines can be reused, which reduces the inventory cost for vendors. Thus, the increasing popularity of reconfigurable electronic gaming machines will fuel the market growth during the next five years,” says a senior analyst at Technavio.

Top five US casino gaming market vendors

Boyd Gaming

Boyd Gaming has operations in about 25 gaming entertainment properties located in Nevada and several other US states. Besides Nevada, the company has casinos in Illinois, Kansas, Indiana, Iowa, Mississippi, and Louisiana, among others. Boyd Gaming operates three main segments Midwest and South, Downtown Las Vegas, and Las Vegas Locals.

Caesars Entertainment

Caesars Entertainment owns and operates almost 50 casinos, majorly in the US under brand names that include Caesars, Harrah’s, and Horseshoe. Its major properties include Horseshoe, Harrah’s, Rio casinos, Caesars Palace, Planet Hollywood on the Vegas Strip, and Paris Las Vegas. The company’s operations comprise hotels, riverboat casinos, and gaming establishments.

INTRALOT

INTRALOT is an entertainment corporation that owns and operates gambling, lottery, and betting businesses. INTRALOT is a supplier of innovative game content, integrated gaming, interactive gaming services, racing management, sports betting, and transaction processing systems. It offers 400 types of games and has a presence in 57 jurisdictions in all five continents.

Las Vegas Sands

Las Vegas Sands owns and operates integrated resorts that feature celebrity chef restaurants, convention, and exhibition facilities, entertainment and retail centers, premium accommodation, gaming facilities, and other amenities. It generates revenue from gaming facilities, food and beverage services, and retail.

MGM Resorts

MGM Resorts International owns and operates integrated hotels, casinos and entertainment resorts in the United States and Macau. The company operates through three segments: MGM China, Las Vegas Strip Resorts, and Regional Operations. Its casino resorts offer convention, hotel, gaming, dining, entertainment, retail, and other resort amenities. The company’s casino operations include table games and race, slots and sports book wagering.

GAN Launches Internet Sports Betting for Parx Casino

GAN, an award-winning developer and supplier of enterprise-level B2B Internet gambling software, services and online gaming content in the United States, today announces that GAN and Greenwood Gaming & Entertainment, Inc. trading as ‘Parx Casino’ (“Parx Casino”) have launched Internet sports betting in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and as of yesterday, is now available online 24/7 following a three-day soft launch period.

Parx Casino’s nominated third party sports betting application software provider KAMBI was integrated by GAN into the GAN Platform. Parx Casino patrons can also link their Reward Card online to their counterpart Internet gambling account, enabled by GAN’s U.S. patented integration framework. Internet casino gaming is expected to launch on July 15, subject to all requisite regulatory approvals.

Highlights

Pennsylvanian regulated Retail Sports betting is forecast to generate in excess of $100m1 in gross win in the first 12 months and Internet Sports betting is forecast to generate a further $189m2 in the same period, in addition to the Pennsylvanian regulated Internet Gaming market forecast to generate $200m3 in gross gaming revenue online during the first twelve months of operation.

Parx owns and operates the #1 land-based casino property in Pennsylvania located a short distance from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania’s largest city. In the most recent fiscal year ended June 30, 2018, Parx Casino generated $570m from on-property slot machines and table games, representing an 18% share of the Pennsylvania’s $3.2bn gaming market.

GAN’s US-patented technology enables Parx Casino patrons enrolled in the on-property loyalty program, to sign up online and instantly link their reward cards to their online account permitting those guests to trade in their reward points earned from on-property gaming for cash online and/or to earn rewards points from Internet gaming and/or sports betting to be subsequently redeemed on-property.

Eldorado Resorts To Divest Several Properties

Eldorado Resorts, Inc. announced today that it entered into definitive agreements to sell Mountaineer Casino Racetrack and Resort in New Cumberland, WV; Isle Casino Cape Girardeau in Cape Girardeau, MO; and Lady Luck Casino Caruthersville in Caruthersville, MO, for aggregate consideration of $385 million in cash. Pursuant to the terms of the agreements, Century Casinos, Inc. will acquire the operating assets of the three properties for approximately $107 million, subject to a customary working capital adjustment, and VICI Properties Inc. will acquire the land and real estate assets of the three properties for approximately $278 million.

The transactions are subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions and are expected to close in early 2020.

Tom Reeg, Chief Executive Officer of Eldorado, commented, “The agreements to divest Mountaineer Casino, Isle Casino Cape Girardeau and Lady Luck Casino Caruthersville are consistent with our continued focus on optimizing the results from our regional gaming platform, generating growth through strategic acquisitions and realizing value through sales. The sale price for these three properties represents an attractive multiple of their aggregate trailing twelve months cash flows and provides additional capital that we expect to deploy for shareholder value enhancing initiatives. Following the completion of these transactions, Eldorado will continue to benefit from our geographically diverse portfolio of regional gaming assets that we believe have potential for further margin growth and increased cash flow.”

Macquarie Capital is acting as exclusive financial advisor and Milbank LLP is acting as legal counsel to Eldorado in connection with the proposed transactions.

Commercial Casino Gaming Revenue Reaches $41.7 Billion in 2018, an All-Time High

Gaming revenue for the U.S. commercial casino industry reached an all-time high of $41.7 billion in 2018, up 3.5 percent from the previous year, according to data released today in the American Gaming Association’s (AGA) State of the States 2019: The AGA Survey of the Commercial Casino Industry.

Key findings from the State of the States 2019 report include:

The commercial casino sector—with 465 casinos—logged its fourth consecutive year of gaming revenue growth and outpaced the national economic growth rate in 2018;
The industry generated $9.7 billion in gaming taxes for state and local governments, a number that does not account for the billions more in sales, income and other taxes that benefit communities; and
Half of the 24 states with commercial casinos reported record annual gaming revenue with nearly every state seeing gains in 2018, contributing to the strength of local economies across the country.

“Year after year, the commercial casino industry has reaffirmed its role as an economic powerhouse in the United States,” said Bill Miller, president and CEO of the American Gaming Association. “More people than ever are experiencing the economic and social benefits of gaming in their communities, due in part to the expansion of legal sports betting across the country.”

The rapid expansion of legalized sports wagering following the Supreme Court decision to overturn the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) in May 2018 played a role in the industry’s record year. Total industrywide revenue from sports betting grew to $430.2 million in 2018, up from $261.3 million in 2017. AGA anticipates this growth to continue as additional states legalize and regulate sports wagering.

“Growth in the commercial gaming sector enables the industry to continue to reinvest in communities, enhance partnerships with small businesses and nonprofits and provide career opportunities for nearly two-million American workers,” Miller added.

AGA’s annual State of the States report details the commercial gaming industry’s financial performance, including analyses of each of the 24 states with commercial gaming operations. The report, developed with Gambling Compliance, also provides a breakdown of the legality of types of gaming and number of casinos by state, summarizes major gaming policy discussions and previews opportunities and challenges for the industry.

Harrah’s Northern California Celebrates Grand Opening Weekend

A spectacular drone light show lit up the night sky in Amador County, Calif. this weekend as Harrah’s Northern California celebrated the official grand opening of Northern California’s only Caesars Rewards-affiliated casino.

Drawing guests from across the region, the highly-anticipated entertainment destination hosted round-the-clock promotional giveaways for players and invited guests, who took advantage of the casino’s affiliation with Caesars Rewards by earning Reward Credits that may be redeemed across the network’s more than 40 casino-resorts worldwide.

Hundreds of guests gathered outside the casino on Friday, May 17 to see the highlight of the grand opening festivities, a custom-designed Intel drone light show. The performance featured 300 Intel® Shooting Star ™ drones, which are designed for entertainment purposes and capable of creating more than four billion color combinations to light up the sky.

The Intel drone light show was accompanied by a dynamic 3D projection mapping of the casino exterior and spectacular pyrotechnics display. Designed exclusively for Harrah’s Northern California, the projection mapping and drone light show depicted imagery associated with the sumptuous collection of vineyards and scenic vistas in Amador County ahead of transitioning to reveal card suites and dice commemorating the rich history of Harrah’s gaming legacy. An over-the-top pyrotechnics display concluded the spectacular event as the Harrah’s Northern California logo danced in the night sky.

“This weekend was as much a celebration of opening as it was a ‘thank you’ to the local community and our guests who have been so supportive of the development,” said Buena Vista Rancheria Chairwoman Rhonda Pope-Flores. “The Buena Vista Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians have a long history of hospitality and this weekend was just the start of many celebrations we plan to bring to the community.”

Since opening its doors at the end of April, Harrah’s Northern California has welcomed a steady stream of guests and players eager to be among the first to place bets in the casino and explore the new entertainment destination. The property, which broke ground in March 2018, boasts 950 slot machines, 20 tables games, three fast-casual dining concepts and one casual elegant dining venue, Louie Oliver’s Restaurant & Bar which features an array of local fare and fresh, farm-to-fork selections. Harrah’s Northern California guests benefit from the many advantages and perks of the casino’s agreement with Caesars Entertainment, including earning Caesars Rewards member privileges and preferred access to Caesars’ resorts and amenities in Las Vegas, Lake Tahoe and around the world.

For additional information on Harrah’s Northern California, visit norcal-fun.com.

‘Video Poker Classic’ Gets Major Update

Tapinator, Inc. Launches Major Update to Video Poker Classic, the Top Video Poker Game on Mobile

Tapinator, Inc., a developer and publisher of category leading apps for mobile platforms, today announced that it has launched a major update to Video Poker Classic, the top video poker game on mobile.

Video Poker Classic is the most popular video poker game on iOS and is a leading video poker property on both Google Play and the Amazon Appstore. On iOS, the title maintains over 25,000 reviews with an average score of 4.7 out of 5.0. One of the reasons for the title’s success is its consistency with a real-world casino experience.

To quantify the size of the video poker market, we can look to certain gaming jurisdictions, such as Louisiana and Illinois, that have published data specifically on video poker revenue. In 2013, Louisiana’s adjusted gross video poker revenue was over $600 million and represented 20 percent of the state’s net daily gaming revenue. In Illinois in 2013, video poker revenue was about $300 million relative to about $1.5 billion in adjusted gross casino revenue. In 2018, the revenue for the social casino market reached $5.2 billion, according to Eliers & Krejcik. Based on the size of the video poker market as a percentage of the real-money gaming market, we believe there to be significant growth potential for video poker within the social casino segment. Video Poker Classic is currently ranked approximately in the Top 150 in Downloads and Top 100 in Grossing within the Casino category on iOS.

Our new 2.0 version brings multi-hand capability, a popular casino feature, to the game’s core single-hand gameplay. More specifically, we have introduced Triple Play, Five Play, and Ten Play for all of our 39 game types. With this new version, Video Poker Classic has the richest offering of any video poker title on mobile devices, in terms of game types, gameplay formats (Single Hand, Triple Play, Five play, Ten play) and overall functionality.

“We are excited that, with this major update, we have yet again raised the bar for the video poker category on mobile devices. We are looking forward to future updates later this year that will continue to refine and optimize our category-leading product,” said Tapinator CEO, Ilya Nikolayev.

Hard Rock International Reveals Next Gaming Property: Cincinnati

With a presence spanning more than 75 countries, Hard Rock International is expanding its global gaming portfolio, announcing a collaboration with VICI Properties Inc. (VICI) to acquire the JACK Cincinnati Casino. Through the joint purchase, Hard Rock will acquire the operating assets of the casino, rebranding it Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati, while VICI will own the land and real estate assets.

“Hard Rock has been the number one operator in Ohio since opening in the greater Cleveland market in 2013,” said Jim Allen, chairman and CEO of Hard Rock International. “And now, we look forward to introducing our unique brand of casino entertainment to Cincinnati. On behalf of the 40,000 Hard Rock team members worldwide, I am pleased to welcome the more than 1,000 JACK Cincinnati employees into the Hard Rock family.”

JACK Cincinnati is situated on 22 acres in the Broadway Commons area of downtown Cincinnati. The property features 100,000 square feet of gaming space with approximately 1,800 gaming machines and 100 table games. Additionally, the property contains 33,000 square feet of meeting space, six high-quality restaurants and two bars. New property improvements will be announced by Hard Rock later this year.

“We are proud to partner with Hard Rock, further diversifying our tenant roster with an international leader in gaming, entertainment and hospitality experiences and a renowned global platform of 245 hospitality venues across 75 countries,” said John Payne, president and chief operating officer of VICI Properties.

The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions and is expected to close in late 2019. The acquisition is expected to be accretive immediately upon closing.

Jones Day served as legal advisor to Hard Rock together with Fox Rothschild LLP, as special gaming counsel.

For more information or to book a stay at any of the Hard Rock Hotels & Casinos, please visit hardrockhotels.com.

AGS Names Adam Whitehurst Vice President Of Strategic Accounts

AGS today announced that Adam Whitehurst is joining the Company as Vice President of Strategic Accounts. Whitehurst joins AGS with 24 years of experience in gaming, technology, and pharmaceuticals.

Whitehurst is an accomplished sales leader and business development executive with more than two decades of experience in Gaming, where he led sales teams to high levels of performance, successfully integrated sales teams after mergers and acquisitions, negotiated complex, multi-year, enterprise-wide deals, and established a strong track record of customer success and building high-performance teams.

He most recently worked at Scientific Games, where he was the Vice President of Game Sales for five years, with responsibility for the eastern U.S. Prior to that, he served with Bally Technologies, which was later acquired by Scientific Games, ending his tenure there as Vice President of Games Sales – Central Region. Whitehurst earned a Masters of Business Administration from Florida Atlantic University, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from University of Florida.

AGS Senior Vice President of Sales Robert Perry said, “Adam is an exceptional addition to the AGS team and will help drive further penetration of our slot products across the U.S., with a laser-focus on leveraging his strong relationships with strategic and corporate accounts. He has an impressive track record of establishing and maintaining longstanding, trusted partnerships with casino operators, and his experience will play a major role in taking AGS to the next level of growth. I’m thrilled to have him join our team.”

Whitehurst said, “I can’t think of a better time to join AGS. The Company is on fire with a fast-growing library of slot content and cabinets consistently ranked among the highest-performing games. The senior leadership is top-notch and focused on doing all the right things to grow the business, and the AGS culture is unmatched in our industry for its focus on transparency, leader accessibility, communication, diversity, teamwork, and ownership. I’m honored and excited to join a company that truly makes customers and employees feel valued, heard, and recognized.”

Century Casino Opens Edmonton, Alberta, Location

Century Casinos, Inc. announced the opening of its racing entertainment centre at Century Mile Racetrack and Casino in South Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

At 9:30 a.m. MDT the doors opened for the first time and the public was invited by Century’s staff to explore the brand new casino featuring 550 slot machines and electronic table games, 14 video lottery terminals, an innovative REPLAY gaming stadium with 28 unique play stations and an interactive digital wall display, an off-track betting room, a restaurant and a lounge area.

With the racing entertainment centre open, Century is now preparing for the first weekend of Thoroughbred racing on the one-mile racetrack, which is scheduled for April 28, 2019.

Century Mile Racetrack and Casino is the Company’s latest development, located on Edmonton International Airport land and close to the city of Leduc, south of Edmonton. The location is ideally positioned exiting off the Queen Elizabeth II Highway, which is the main corridor between Calgary and Edmonton and one of the most heavily used highways in Western Canada. It is close to the airport, a shopping mall, retail outlets, hotels, a golf course and an abundance of other businesses. The Company is investing approximately $46.6 million USD, based on the exchange rate in effect as of February 26, 2019, in the development.

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