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Monthly Archives: March 2015
Changes Possible on Federal Tax Withholdings
Two federal agencies have issued a notice that opens the door to the possible addition of pari-mutuel gambling winnings to updated reporting and withholding requirements being developed for bingo, keno, and slot machines.
Handle on U.S. Races Down 3.66% in February
After an encouraging start in terms of pari-mutuel wagering in January, handle on U.S. races plummeted in February compared with the same month in 2014, a decline that dropped 2015’s handle behind last year’s pace
Take Charge Brandi Not Entered in Honeybee
Oaklawn officials said Take Charge Brandi appears headed for a showdown against top 3-year-old males in the Rebel Stakes (gr. II) March 14, as last year’s champion 2-year-old filly will not race in the Honeybee (gr. III).
When "Sin" Pays: Going All-in With the Gaming Industry
When most Americans think of gambling, they think Las Vegas, but the Sin City’s take is dwarfed by Macau, which pulled in $44 billion in gaming revenue in 2014. SJM Holdings is currently the dominant force there, but other players have been gaining ground, including U.S. casino operators such as Las Vegas Sands ( The face of Macau is changing rapidly however, as regulations regarding VIP players change and companies race to complete higher-margin mass market resorts.
It's easier to win the lottery than pick a perfect March Madness bracket
The excitement of March Madness is in the air and fans from all over are putting together their perfect brackets. DePaul University mathematics professor Jeff Bergen says the odds of you picking a perfect bracket are less than one in 9.2 quintillion.
Casino mogul Steve Wynn's slander lawsuit against Jim Chanos got slapped down hard
Steve Wynn, president and CEO of Wynn Resorts, speaks at the panel titled “Steve Wynn on Building and Sustaining Great Customer Service” at the 2008 Milken Institute Global Conference in Beverly Hills, California, April 29, 2008. A California judge has dismissed casino mogul Steve Wynn’s libel lawsuit against hedge fund manager Jim Chanos, founder of Kynikos Associates.
Somerset couple's 1.2million lottery win
Guitar salesman Paul Newton, 55, was pretty chuffed when he initially thought he’d won A 1,106 in Saturday’s Lotto. He undersetimated his winnings after checking his e-mails on his iPad while he was waiting in his car for an appointment.
Rock Diva Dances to Auckland Cup Victory
Under a patient ride from jockey Mark Du Plessis, Raffles Racing’s Rock Diva danced her way through the field to post a three-quarters of a length victory in the Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup (NZ-I) March 4.
Great North Air Ambulance lottery draw for March 4, 2015
The winning numbers for the Great North Air Ambulance weekly draw for Wednesday MArch 4, 2015 are: A 200 N24711, Blyth; A 100 N22215, Guisborough ; A 50 N13848, Scarborough; A 50 N18160, Guisborough; A 25 N34899, Cleator Moor; A 25 N41275, Middlesbrough; A 25 N33643, Yarm; A 25 N01250, Alnwick plus 50 other A 10 winners. For a full list of winners visit www.greatnorthairambulance.co.uk or to join the lottery call 0800 1777 035 We want you to enjoy your visit to our website.
IGT's DoubleDown Casino Gets Lucky with Irish Shamrocks
“In social gaming, luck equals fun, and there’s no day more universally associated with luck than St Patrick’s Day.We’re all about celebrating fun and the excitement of playing slots at DoubleDown Casino, and we can’t think of a better theme than Irish Shamrocks to capture the thrills associated with good fortune,” said To experience Irish Shamrocks, play DoubleDown Casino online or on any mobile device via the free iOS and Android application. About IGT International Game Technology is a global leader in casino gaming entertainment and continues to transform the industry by translating casino player experiences to social, mobile and interactive environments for regulated markets around the world.
Scientific Games expands in Canadian market; launches online Rainbow Riches Bingo
Gaming and lottery technology supplier Scientific Games Corp. announced its partnership with the Atlantic Lottery Corporation (ALC), expanding its position in Canadian market.
Under the deal, Scientific Games will provide ALC with its Sciplay iLottery and AEGIS NGS lottery gaming systems as well as operational monitoring and maintenance support starting in mid-2017.
“We are delighted to continue innovating with Scientific Games to bring entertaining lottery games to Atlantic Canadian players through technology that both serves us today and leads us into the future,” said Brent Scrimshaw, President and Chief Executive Officer of Atlantic Lottery Corporation. “Our conversion to the AEGIS NGS and Sciplay systems will provide ALC with the opportunity to securely and responsibly grow through traditional retail channels, and now mobile, internet and emerging channels.”
ALC operates on behalf of the Canadian government in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, Labrador and Prince Edward Island. The five-year contract, which can be extended up to 15 years, will see Scientific Games’ gaming technology presence to 70% of provinces and all three Canadian territories— Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and Yukon.
Scientific Games has provided iLottery and internet-based loyalty solutions to 20 World Lottery Association members since 2001 while Sciplay system is being implemented in Arkansas, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, and most recently, North Dakota.
“ALC will be well-positioned to become an industry leader in multi-channel player engagement and promotions that can successfully grow their business,” Senior Vice President, North American Lottery Systems for Scientific Games Pat McHugh.
The implementation is expected to begin this month, with the conversion to the new system in 2016.
Retailers list 26 problems with Lottery after latest tech outage
THE National Lottery still does not know what caused an outage of store terminals last Monday, the third such crash in recent weeks. Retailers have submitted a list of 26 complaints to the Lottery which they want addressed, including the fact that self-service machines used to check winning numbers are not able to scan new tickets.
Melrose Sales Manager Snags $15 Million Lotto Prize
A Melrose man you’re already jealous of became miraculously wealthy on Sunday after scratching off a lotto ticket valued at $15 million, which he bought at a Medford convenience store. Michael Milford, 28, who worked as a sales manager before Sunday but probably doesn’t anymore, collected his after-taxes payout of nearly $10 million on Tuesday, March 3. According to a missive from Massachusetts State Lottery, Milford has expressed a pragmatic attitude towards his newfound riches.
Republicans take up casino donor's fight against Internet gambling
Billionaire Republican mega-donor Sheldon Adelson sat in the House Chamber Tuesday Morning as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed a joint session of Congress. At that moment, though, Adelson was, on paper, a host of a viewing party two blocks away at the Capitol Hill Club, a GOP haunt.
Tropicana revenue gains; Borgata eyeing expansion; AC to host Arena Football
The Tropicana Casino & Resort Atlantic City has posted an impressive 24% improvement in net revenue in 2014.
According to the company’s annual reports to investors, net revenue in 2014 reached $303.08 million, a steady improvement from the $244.7 million it earned in 2013, largely tributed to an increase in gambling revenue amounting to $55.2 million.
Tropicana’s operating profits posted small gains, amounting to $12.4 million in 2014 compared to $11.19 million in 2013. The property tax refund from Atlantic City with $31.7 million helped the Tropicana, giving owner Carl Icahn some measure of relief after five casinos in Atlantic City shuttered their windows last year. One of them, the Trump Taj Mahal, is expected to be added to Icahn’s portfolio, at least depending on the outcome of bankruptcy court proceedings currently underway for the property.
Meanwhile, Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa—another one of Atlantic City’s casinos that are still standing—has announced plans to expand its business, including the development of an outdoor entertainment venue to host concerts and festivals and a new, state-of-the-art nightclub.
Plans for this expansion have now been set into motion after the casino operator received preliminary determination of eligibility from the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA) to use around $14 million of its “current and future funds on deposit with the CRDA generated from its Investment Alternative Tax payments.”
Part of this investment will go in the development and construction of the Borgata Festival Park and the new nightclub.
“We are thrilled with the opportunity to enhance and grow our already tremendous entertainment offerings through funding by the CRDA and a wonderful partnership with Live Nation,” Borgata President and CEO Tom Ballance said in a statement. “Upon our entry into the market in 2003, Borgata set the bar for entertainment and nightlife in Atlantic City, so it is only appropriate that we raise it yet again with the addition of these two substantial projects.”
Net Ent appoints Jenny Rosberg to Board of Directors; online casino games go live on Full Tilt
Swedish online gambling technology provider Net Entertainment (Net Ent) appointed NASDAQ Senior Vice President Jenny Rosberg to the board of company directors.
The Nomination Committee proposed Rosbergs’ election as well as expanding the number of its existing board members to eight directors, re-nominating Vigo Carlund, Fredrik Erbing, Mikael Gottschlich, Peter Hamberg, Michael Knutsson, Pontus Lindwall and Maria Redin.
”Jenny Rosberg has more than 25 years of operational experience from senior management and board positions in the financial services and technology sector. With her international perspective and valuable experience from capital markets and transaction-intense industries she will bring great competence to the Board. I look forward to working together with Jenny to continue to strengthen NetEnt´s position as a leading provider of digital entertainment”, says Vigo Carlund, Chairman of the Board at NetEnt.
Rosberg is the founder of ROPA Management Ltd. Prior to founding ROPA, she held top executive positions with NASDAQ for almost eight years.
Net Ent casino games go live on Full Tilt
A selection of Net Ent’s game portfolio has gone live with online operator Full Tilt brand, following an agreement between the two companies in April 2014.
Full Tilt has completed the integration process and has made a selection of Net Ent’s online casino games available to its customers.
Retired Shallotte couple claims $250k lottery prize
Less than three weeks after the Powerball jackpot was on by a lottery player from Shallotte, the small Brunswick County town has another lottery winner. Darlene Anuszewski matched all 12 numbers drawn in Sunday night’s All or Nothing drawing to win the $250,000 top prize.
Springfield mayor signs casino ethics ordinance; Wynn buys extra land for Mass. casino project
The city of Springfield in Massachusetts has finalized a new set of casino ethics rules that will impose a ban on elected officials and top city administrators from receiving any benefits from MGM Resorts International’s casino for a period of three years after leaving office.
The new ordinance, signed by Mayor Dominic Sarno after recently being unanimously approved by the City Council, specifically laid out that the mayor and councilors of the city are also barred from holding any direct or indirect interest in the MGM casino nor can they be employed by the same casino for the aforementioned period of time after they have left their respective offices. Likewise, city department heads and their top aides also face a similar ban, except that theirs only lasts for two years after leaving their respective city jobs.
In addition, the city of Springfield has also established a Casino Liaison Office in accordance with the 2011 Expanded Gaming Act. Part of the office’s duties include coordinating correspondence between employees of MGM Resorts International and numerous city offices, specifically in times of immediate concern, including issues that will likely arise during the construction of the $800 million integrated resort and casino.
The Casino Liaison Office will only hold office through the grand opening of the resort, which is expected to take place in the third quarter of 2017. The office of Mayor Sarno has already tabbed Springfield’s Chief Development Officer Kevin Kennedy to oversee the office. Kennedy will be flanked by James M. Hannifin and retired director of the Department of Public Works Al Chalk and attorney
“Due to the size and complexity of this multi-million dollar project, it is imperative that the City provide a direct point of contact as we move forward with the realization of this tremendous economic development project for the City of Springfield,” Sarno said in a statement. “Both Al and Jim have direct knowledge of the development process and will be instrumental in making sure that when issues arise they can be dealt with directly and in a timely manner to ensure this project stays on track.”
Meanwhile, casino license holder Wynn Resorts has added another 1.75 acres to its planned casino site after purchasing the land adjacent to its 33-acre Wynn Everett site from the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority for $6 million.
The completed transaction for the extra slice of land now allows Wynn to move forward with the development of the property, so says Wynn Everett President Robert DeSalvio. The site preparation and remediation is expected to begin later in the year as pre-construction soil boring continues on the site.
Content Marketing Tip of the Week: Paid Content Seeding
theMediaFlow Managing Director Nichola Stott gives an overview on Paid Content Seeding in this edition of CalvinAyre.com’s Content Marketing Tip of the Week.
If you’re struggling to gain traction with a new content strategy, using social media to seed your content pieces is a great way to get the ball rolling, increase your readership and also grow your social communities whilst you’re at it.
There’s an awful lot to learn about specific social platforms that permit sponsored content in order to get the best results but as an introduction here’s a couple of my best tips for Facebook and Twitter.
Facebook – use psychographic targeting. Select your target audience details and refine by thinking a) what kind of person would enjoy this content and b) what interests would this person have? Are they a Breaking Bad fan? What sports do they like? Target the typical interests of the typical person you want to reach for the best chance of success.
Twitter – use the option to target followers of accounts like you (or the Twitter feed you would most like to be). Kind of a similar principle as above and works on the sort of Amazon “those who bought “X” also bought…” suggestions. Targetting likeminded accounts in this way should increase your chance for both engagement and followers.