A court in India has declined an activist’s request to shut online gambling sites, while asking for government input on how to deal with the rise of so-called ‘skill-based’ games.

On Wednesday, the Delhi High Court ruled against a request by a local activist seeking to shut down websites offering ‘games of skill’ under legislation approved several years ago in the state of Nagaland. Local media quoted a bench of Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and Justice Brijesh Sethi declaring: “No interim relief. Let it go on.”

However, while refusing immediate intervention, the Court requested further input from the Central government as well as from the Reserve Bank of India to determine the legality of the websites in question, which include not only India-based sites but also internationally licensed operators such as Betway, Dafabet and 1xBet.

Wednesday’s ruling came following a public interest litigation (PIL) filed last week by local activist Avnish Mehrotra, who sought to “bring illegal and illicit online gambling/betting/wagering/gaming to an end.” The activist claimed that poker, sports betting and fantasy sports products offered by the offending websites failed to meet the definition of a ‘skill game’ since they involved little to no skill on the part of the customer.

A large Norwegian pension fund is taking a baffling stand. Kommunal Landspensjonskasse (KLP) has announced it will no longer invest in companies that profit from either gambling or alcohol.

In a press release posted on their website, the $80-billion firm announced they would divest from 90 companies that profited from the two activities. They also announced they would never consider investing in any companies involved with pornography, although they had not done so in the past.

KLP’s chief executive, Sverre Thornes, noted that while alcohol and gambling can be positive influences in people’s lives, but the decision was made to help influence a better society. He said:

“This is not just about what gives the highest return, but also about our investments contributing to a positive and sustainable social development. Now we have, after good conversations with our customers and owners, decided to withdraw from alcohol and gambling.”

Bringing more tourists into Macau isn’t just about giving them more gambling options; it’s increasingly important to offer them a variety of entertainment options. Seemingly as a part of that effort, six Macau casino operators have pledged a combined MOP18 million ($2.2 million) to the “Art Macao 2019” initiative, reports GGRAsia.

The six operators, Melco, Galaxy Entertainment, MGM China, Sands China, SJM Holdings and Wynn Macau, will each put MOP3 million ($370,000) towards the cause. Their combined efforts surpass the MOP16.6 million ($2.05 million) that Macau will pay towards the initiative.

The casino’s contribution was revealed by Alexias Tam Chon Weng, Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, at a May 28 ceremony. They casinos will also each host an exhibit.

The first offering, hosted by Galaxy Entertainment, is the “Grace Kelly: From Hollywood to Monaco – Artists’ Tributes,” which opened on May 16 and will run until August 28.

Widus Philippines Inc. (WPI), the operator of the Widus Hotel and Casino Clark, has some extra money to play with in their expansion plans. The firm announced on May 25 that they had secured a PHP7 billion ($130 million) loan to construct their fourth tower, local outlet SunStar reports.

The loan came care of the Asia United Bank Corporiation (AUB) and Union Bank of the Philippines (UB). Mitchell Estacio, treasurer for WPI, laid out how they plan to use the money:

“This additional investment from our bank partners will be used to support our Tower Four project. Our loan agreement only reflects the company’s strong commitment to bring only the best world-class facilities here in Clark.”

The fourth tower would help complete the $1 billion Widus resort. That 19-story tower alone is set to have 20,000 square meters of floor area. In the press release put out when they broke ground on the project, they said it would have “modern architecture aesthetically complemented by nature and lush green landscapes.”

After a lot of back and forth, and considering many options, Wynn Resorts Ltd. have finally settled on a plan of action. The operator has decided to pay $35.5 million in fines to ensure their Encore Boston Harbor casino resort opens on schedule, reports the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

The decision comes as an alternative to appealing the fines imposed by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC), which had placed the fines on the company for the sexual harassment scandal of former CEO Steve Wynn. Wynn Resorts had until May 31 to decide if they would rather go the appeal route, but doing so would have likely delayed the June 23 opening of the new casino.

The MGC seemed pretty pleased with Wynn Resorts’ decision to pay up. In a statement, they said, “The five-member commission will now ensure compliance with the imposed requirements as they look forward to a successful June 23 opening of Encore Boston Harbor.”

The operator isn’t paying happily though. In their own statement, they noted that they disagree with the $500,000 fine imposed on new CEO Matt Maddox, although they ultimately paid the fine for him. They wrote:

Tigre De Cristal in Russia is hedging its bets on the VIP market. The casino is planning on undergoing a major expansion in the near future and will add more VIP gaming tables during the endeavor. This is according to an executive director of Tigre promoter Summit Ascent Holdings, Eric Landheer, who spoke with GGRAsia during the recent Global Gaming Expo (G2E) in Macau.

Hong Kong-listed Summit is the primary source of investments for the Tigre de Cristal, which is the only casino property currently operating in the Primorye Integrated Entertainment Zone (PIE) near Vladivostok. It has, since opening, targeted Chinese players, as well as players from other Asian markets.

According to Landheer, “We are now deciding if we first move forward with the previously-announced villas or if we begin the full construction of Phase 2A.” That phase will cost around $200 million and will give the venue another 350 hotel rooms, a new indoor beach club, a multi-purpose facility for conventions and exhibitions, as well as other amenities. It will also bring a new gaming area with 50 more VIP tables, 300 slot machines and 25 mass-market tables.

Landheer adds, regarding Phase 2B, “It will be an all-suite hotel, with 150 rooms, catering to the high-end premium and VIP customers. We are looking at somewhere between US$400 million to US$500 million for the second phase of our property.”

Anyone expecting Louisiana to legalize sports gambling before the end of the current legislative session can quit holding his breath – it’s not going to happen. A bill submitted by Senator Danny Martiny to try and grab a piece of the industry has been stopped in its tracks by the House Appropriations Committee. The bill has reportedly become so bogged down with amendments that it can’t take another step forward.

Earlier this month, the bill was still making progress, albeit at a snail’s pace. Louisiana’s Senate liked the bill, giving its seal of approval for wagers on professional, college and international sports competitions at all of the state’s 16 casinos, as well as its four racetracks. However, the House took the bill and began to chop it up, adding new amendments designed more to cause confusion that to support the interests of Louisiana’s residents.

Martiny had correctly argued that residents were already participating in sports gambling, but that they were doing so through illegal offshore sites or by visiting Louisiana’s neighbor, Mississippi where the activity was legalized last August. He was pushing the bill as a means to raise tax income for the state, as well as to ensure better consumer protection. The House is apparently against both goals.

The House Appropriations Committee rejected the bill by a vote of 14-6. Martiny indicated that it had become so obfuscated by amendments that there would be virtually no chance of the bill being approved if it were sent to the House floor for a vote.

SugarHouse Casino has become the first casino in Pennsylvania to officially launch its own online sportsbook. The casino was given approval by regulators this past Tuesday to flip the switch on the operations, which then offered the experience the same day from 4 PM to midnight. Two similar, but longer, tests will run today and tomorrow and a full-blown launch should be coming this Friday.

SugarHouse began offering its online sportsbook to gamblers in New Jersey when that state legalized sports gambling and Pennsylvania’s sports gambling fans are able to access the service using the same website, playsugarhouse.com. Using geolocation information, visitors in the state will automatically be redirected to pa.playsugarhouse.com.

It’s been a long day coming and SugarHouse has been chomping at the bit to roll out the online service in Pennsylvania. Sports gambling has generated over $125 million since the activity was legalized last November and online wagers are expected to drive revenue even higher, both for the company and the state.

Jessica Welman, a sports betting analyst for PlayPennsylvania.com, agrees. She states, “There is no question that the growth of the Pennsylvania sports betting market has been slowed by the delayed launch of online apps. The launch of sports betting apps will give us our first true look at Pennsylvania’s potential as a market, which we believe should rival New Jersey and eventually Nevada as the nation’s largest market.”

If the third time really is the charm, perhaps Greece will finally, in the coming months, be able to move forward on a new casino planned for Hellinikon. The Hellenic Gaming Commission (HGC) has, once again, delayed the deadline for applications to be submitted by potential operators hoping to win the rights to run a casino resort in the Greek city. The new deadline is now June 28.

Previously, the deadline had already been pushed out to May 31, after the April 22 deadline was changed, in an attempt to attract more offers for the casino at the planned $9-billion integrated resort near Athens. The extension comes as issues have been raised over zoning regulations and some apparent dissent in the government ranks. There might also be some concern over a lack of interest on the part of operators.

Late last year, several operators dropped their interest in the project, leaving just three US-based contenders – Caesars Entertainment, Mohegan Gaming and Entertainment and Hard Rock International – and Genting. However, Caesars may be ready to drop out, as well, becoming disenchanted with the continued delays and looking to dedicate more time to its potential sale.

When (and if) Greece can settle its differences and allow the bidding war to proceed, the victor will be given a 30-year license for the construction and operation of the casino. All bidders must have experience in casino operations that offer at least 100 table games and 500 slot machines. The winner will always be required to drop at least $1.1 billion into the project, which will be just a part of a sprawling development that offers luxury residences, hotels, a marina, MICE (meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions) spaces and other amenities.

If the third time really is the charm, perhaps Greece will finally, in the coming months, be able to move forward on a new casino planned for Hellinikon. The Hellenic Gaming Commission (HGC) has, once again, delayed the deadline for applications to be submitted by potential operators hoping to win the rights to run a casino resort in the Greek city. The new deadline is now June 28.

Previously, the deadline had already been pushed out to May 31, after the April 22 deadline was changed, in an attempt to attract more offers for the casino at the planned $9-billion integrated resort near Athens. The extension comes as issues have been raised over zoning regulations and some apparent dissent in the government ranks. There might also be some concern over a lack of interest on the part of operators.

Late last year, several operators dropped their interest in the project, leaving just three US-based contenders – Caesars Entertainment, Mohegan Gaming and Entertainment and Hard Rock International – and Genting. However, Caesars may be ready to drop out, as well, becoming disenchanted with the continued delays and looking to dedicate more time to its potential sale.

When (and if) Greece can settle its differences and allow the bidding war to proceed, the victor will be given a 30-year license for the construction and operation of the casino. All bidders must have experience in casino operations that offer at least 100 table games and 500 slot machines. The winner will always be required to drop at least $1.1 billion into the project, which will be just a part of a sprawling development that offers luxury residences, hotels, a marina, MICE (meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions) spaces and other amenities.

An enterprising man out of Massachusetts concocted a scheme that would allow him to earn free slot machine play at a Rhode Island casino, but the entrepreneur’s endeavors were not exactly legitimate. Joseph Clement has been busted for running a scam that allowed him, and several others, to use fake mailers to be able to gamble on slots at the Tiverton Casino Hotel and is now looking at spending the next several years behind bars contemplating his next big venture.

The 49-year-old Clement, who already has a long and steady relationship with law enforcement departments, has been accused of offering counterfeit slot mailers to at least 25 individuals. He started his new business after receiving a legitimate mailer for $25 in free slot action at the Plainridge Park Casino in Massachusetts and used that coupon to generate his own, fake coupons that offered larger dollar amounts with altered dates.

His luck ran out at the Tiverton last year, but not before he was able to successfully use two of the fake mailers at a value of $500 each. However, in December, he attempted to present a coupon for $600, which may have tipped off the casino – its limit on the mailers is $500.

An investigation into his activities was launched by police and led to others being found to have presented the coupons. One Tiverton member, for example, used a $500 mailer and then proceeded to allow Clement to use her Players Club card, possibly as a form of payment.