Greece’s online gambling operators are making the government a lot fatter than their land-based casino counterparts, according to new official statistics.

Figures released this week showed Greece’s 15 active online gambling operators generated gross gaming revenue of €356m over the first 11 months of 2018, nearly one-third higher than the sum generated at the same point in 2017.

Greek online gambling revenue totaled €182.8m over the first six months of 2018, putting the five-month total since that span not far off the mark at €173.2m, suggesting that the market continues to enjoy strong momentum following the conclusion of the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Greece’s online market is currently dominated by a trio of operators, led by Gambling Malta, the parent company of Stoiximan, which claimed the largest slice of online revenue over the first 11 months of 2018 with €145.5m (+7%). Bet365’s local site claimed the next largest slice with €135.2m (+23%) and Sportingbet ranked third with €44.6m.

Nevada’s casino gaming revenue fell just shy of the $1b mark in December, while full-year 2018’s tally came in just shy of $12b.

Figures released Thursday by the Nevada Gaming Control Board show statewide casino gaming revenue of $999.7m, a 4.1% rise over the same month last year and $30m higher than November 2018’s result. The gains came despite casinos on the Las Vegas Strip slipping nearly 1% year-on-year to $566.2m.

Slots revenue drove December’s gains, rising nearly 10% year-on-year to $635.9m. ‘Table, counter and card games’ revenue fell 4.4% to $363.8m due to declines in baccarat ($102.8m, -14.6%), blackjack ($89.4m, -10.9%) and roulette ($27.4m, -9.2%). Craps broke the negative streak with $32.4m, although this was up less than 1% year-on-year.

For 2018 as a whole, overall gaming revenue hit just under $11.92b, 3% higher than 2017’s result, but well below the market’s all-time peak of $12.85b set in pre-recession 2007. Slots improved 3.8% to $7.7b in 2018, while the other catch-all gaming category rose 1.6% to $4.2b.

The Philippines could stand to profit from more gambling, but is being held back by one man. That’s the picture Andrea Domingo, head of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp (PAGCOR), told Bloomberg in a report on January 30.

PAGCOR received a directive from President Rodrigo Duterte in January 2018 to freeze out any new applications for casino licenses. Pending applications were allowed to be processed, but it’s been a full year since any new application has been permitted.

Talking to Bloomberg, Domingo said, “Gaming seems to be the sunrise industry now in Asia. There are still areas in the Philippines that can still absorb and benefit from these investments, which won’t go here with the current ban.”

Domingo and other industry experts are afraid that the Philippines may be falling behind its neighbors in development. Several other countries are either in the process of opening new casinos, or considering bids for future developments.

Australia continues its crackdown on betting. While lawmakers consider how to plug an illegal gambling market that could reach AU$2 billion next year, they’re introducing a strict set of codes for the sports gambling industry. Among the components to be added will be a national watchdog designed to eliminate cheating and match fixing in sporting events.

According to a report in New Zealand’s Stuff news outlet, the new regime targets corruption in sports and will battle a perceived lack of integrity in the industry that has surfaced as a result of online and unregulated betting markets. The regulatory body is being created after concerns have been raised by the former police corruption royal commissioner, James Wood, as well as other senior and federal police officers regarding organized crime and corruption in sports.

In conjunction with the endeavor, Australia will institute a new national sports integrity commission that will gather, and respond to, intelligence on corruption and possible match fixing. That commission is expected to be operational by July of next year.

Under the new guidance, the Department of Home Affairs, the Australian Sports Anti-doping Authority (ASADA) and state and federal policing agencies will work together to pool intelligence data and work with integrity units in the different sports industries.

If any U.S. legislators are thinking about clawing back on sports betting, they better think twice. A new piece of research released by the American Gaming Association (AGA) reveals that 63% of Americans support the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down the federal ban on sports betting.

An overwhelming majority also support the rapid rollout of sports betting legislation. 79% of Americans surveyed support having legalized sports betting in their respective state. With sports betting either legal, or with bills on the way in 36 states already, American legislators are looking to please their constituents as soon as possible, while benefiting from the increased tax revenues that will follow as well.

66% of Americans want to keep sports betting legislation with the states. Although Congress is probably preoccupied with other items anyway, this type of opposition to a federal bill will likely keep the one proposed last year by Orrin Hatch and Chuck Schumer on hold for a while longer.

Most of the major leagues are pushing for “integrity fees,” to mixed results. Only 23% of Americans support that idea, whereas 55% oppose it. With there already being lots of good questions over why the leagues would deserve any extra money when they can’t even deliver their product now without flaws, the opposition appears to be warranted.

LogNet Billing has announced a new partnership with NetEnt, the premium gaming solutions developer. The deal, announced in a January 31 press release, will allow NetEnt to use the MaxBill Modern Billing solution.

MaxBill will allow NetEnt to automate its partner reconciliation and billing processes. The modern framework of the service allows for a more efficient contract management process with operators.

The press release notes that MaxBill will be integrated with back office tools and data to improve the billing process and expand the paramters available for contracts. This should open up a world of new possibilities for revenue sharing and business agreements that would have been previously unthinkable for NetEnt.

LogNet Billing, the developer of MaxBill, has been working with partners in the communications, TV, content, utilities, financial and transportation industries since 1996. They provide simplified customer support, transparent billing, and automated service delivery their partners.

It doesn’t appear as though Goa is ready to accept more casinos. This past Wednesday, India’s Tourism Minister Manohar Ajgaonkar asserted before Goa’s legislative assembly that the upcoming draft tourism master plan doesn’t include any gambling expansion in the region.

According to local media outlet NDTV, Ajgaonkar stated in a written statement on the topic of the draft bill, “All stakeholders involved in the tourism industry would be consulted, before finalising the master plan, which incidentally has been criticised by stakeholders as well as Opposition members.”

When subsequently asked directly by a minister of the Nationalist Congress Party, Churchill Alemao, if any new casinos would be allowed in the region, Ajgaonkar simply said, “No, sir.”

He then added, “The tourism master plan was prepared after various consultative sessions with several concerned stakeholders, obtaining views and comments from the elected representatives, local authorities as well as the general public.”

This past Tuesday, the SLS Las Vegas unveiled the latest of a $100-million renovation being performed on the casino. An event held at The Sayers Club revealed a number of improvements and enhancements, including an updated gaming floor, new hotel rooms and a new Mexican restaurant concept, Uno Mas, will be added to the venue.

The SLS Las Vegas was inaugurated as the Sahara Hotel and Casino in 1952. At the time, it was just the sixth property to be launched on what would become the Las Vegas Strip and quickly became a favorite with a number of entertainers, including Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis, Jr.

In 2011, the Sahara closed after having been purchased by the Stockbridge Capital Group in order to conduct a $400-million face-lift on the property. It would take three years for the work to be complete and it reopened as the SLS Las Vegas in 2014. However, the large investment didn’t have the impact Stockbridge anticipated and the resort never turned a profit.

In April of last year, Alex Meruelo purchased the property through his privately-owned Meruelo Group. Once again, a new renovation would be held on the venue, with Meruelo injecting over $100 million to update the resort.

Twin River Worldwide Holdings, Inc. has made another, huge step forward in Colorado. The Rhode Island gambling operator is preparing to purchase three casinos in Black Hawk. Twin River already owns the Arapahoe Park horseracing facility and a network of off-track gambling facilities in the state.

According to a company press release, it has agreed to purchase Golden Gulch, Mardi Gras and Golden Gates, all of which are owned by Nevada-based operator Affinity Gaming. Black Hawk is a historic mining town that has become a hot spot for gamblers and offers over 15 gaming parlors and casinos.

Twin River President and CEO George Papanier states, “The acquisition of the Golden Gates, Golden Gulch and Mardi Gras casino properties is a unique opportunity to further grow and diversify our nationwide portfolio of gaming properties. We are pleased to expand our portfolio in Colorado beyond our Arapahoe Park race track and statewide Off-Track Betting network, establishing a significant presence in the growing Black Hawk market.”

Before the deal can be completed, the Colorado Division of Gaming will need to review the plan. Then, the state’s Limited Gaming Control Commission would need to sign off on it. The details of how much money will change hands was not provided, but the acquisition is expected to be completed early next year.