Media Man International Blog - Casino News Media Blog: Casino, Gaming, Sports, Pop Culture and Business News Update - December 2022
Bristol casino to break ground
Virginia (Bristol) - Courtney Mabeus, Virginia Business - Virginia’s first casino, the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol, is getting closer to moving into its permanent home.
Officials will break ground at the casino’s permanent home at the former Bristol Mall, at 500 Gate City Highway in Bristol on Dec. 7, the casino announced Thursday… Expected to open July 2024.
Wynn Resorts completes sale and leaseback of Encore Boston Harbor
Massachusetts (Boston Harbor) - Rege Behe, CDC Gaming Reports - Wynn Resorts December 1 completed a deal for the sale of Encore Boston Harbor’s land and real estate assets to Realty Income Corporation. The $1.7 billion cash sale represents a 5.9% cash cap rate with all necessary regulatory approvals finalized. Net proceeds of the sale result in Wynn’s global liquidity position of $4.4 billion. Wynn Resorts will continue to operate Encore Boston Harbor through a triple net lease arrangement with Realty Income. The lease has an initial annual rent of $100 million for a term of 30 years, with one 30-year renewal option.
Diplomatic row brewing over latest arrest of protest leader
Asia (Cambodia) - Inside Asian Gaming - Cambodian officials have defended the arrest of NagaWorld unionist Chhim Sithar among pressure from both local and international labor rights and foreign affairs groups, including the US Department of State. Sithar, who has led a series of protests outside the Phnom Penh integrated resort over its decision to lay off 373 workers late last year, was arrested at Phnom Penh International Airport and placed in pre-trial detention last Saturday after returning from a 12-day trip to Australia.
Resorts World revamps cashless wagering
Nevada (Las Vegas) - McKenna Ross, Review-Journal - After a hindered rollout in 2021 that prompted regulatory changes, Resorts World and digital payments provider Sightline Payments relaunched its cashless technology solution Wednesday and it includes more functionality and seamless technology. Players at the Strip hotel-casino will now be able to confirm their identity remotely, enroll in loyalty programs and payments and use biometric authentication such as face ID and fingerprint technology.
Self-service Tesla rental firm launches in Las Vegas
Nevada (Las Vegas) - Sean Hemmersmeier, Review-Journal - Las Vegans and tourists alike will have a new electric car rental option on the Strip that won’t require interacting with agents. UFODrive, a Europe-based car rental company that only offers electric vehicles, launched its operations Thursday on the fifth floor of Showcase mall’s parking garage on the Strip. The company will not have staff in Las Vegas and customers will be directed to handle every part of the rental experience through its mobile app, said Aidan McClean, CEO of UFODrive.
Strip resident Miranda Lambert takes pride in her music and her platform
Nevada (Las Vegas) - Brock Radke, The Weekly - It’s been one big week after another for Miranda Lambert. Just before making a return to her Velvet Rodeo residency show on the Las Vegas Strip, the 39-year-old singer and songwriter was nominated for four Grammys, one in each country music category. Now she gets to celebrate with six concerts at Planet Hollywood’s Zappos Theater during National Finals Rodeo week. “I’m super-excited about it, because those are my people,” Lambert tells the Weekly.
Garth Brooks signs on for 2024 at Caesars Palace
Nevada (Las Vegas) - John Katsilometes, Review-Journal - It’s Brooks in ’24 on the Strip. Responding to high ticket demand for his 2023 shows at the Colosseum, Garth Brooks has confirmed he will perform in 2024 at Caesars Palace. He has added one year to “Garth Brooks/Plus ONE,” with more info on the horizon. The extension marks a long-term commitment for Brooks on the Strip. He’s already booked for 27 select dates overall, from May, June, July, November and December of next year.
Pac-12 extends agreement with Las Vegas through 2023
Nevada (Las Vegas) - Mark Anderson, Associated Press - The Pac-12 Conference extended its agreement to at least 2023 to play its championship game at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. The game Friday between No. 4 Southern California and No. 12 Utah will be the second in Las Vegas. Commissioner George Kliavkoff said Thursday the game has sold out. “Being in the entertainment capital of the world and a state-of-the-art NFL stadium is great for the Pac-12,” Kliavkoff said.
NFL announces new format for Pro Bowl Games in Las Vegas
Nevada (Las Vegas) - Mick Akers, Review-Journal - A re-imagined NFL Pro Bowl is set to occur in February at Allegiant Stadium. The NFL Pro Bowl Games will be highlighted by several skills competitions, culminating in three flag football games. The week kicks off Feb. 2 with the Pro Bowl Skills events pitting NFL stars against one another in competitions that will include previous fan-favorite challenges and newly added ones.
Ripley's Believe It Or Not museum to close in Atlantic City
New Jersey (Atlantic City) - Wayne Parry Associated Press - Believe it or not, an iconic part of the Atlantic City Boardwalk is closing soon. The Ripley’s Believe It Or Not! museum said Thursday it will close Dec. 31 after more than 26 years of tempting Boardwalk strollers with oddities including shrunken heads, mutant animals and models of unbelievably tall or small humans. The building that houses the museum is an instantly recognizable feature of the Boardwalk. It is designed with a giant globe that appears to have smashed into the front of the building and wedged part of the way inside it, cracking the foundation from top to bottom.
East Coast Gaming Conference returns to Atlantic City in April
New Jersey (Atlantic City) - Rege Behe, CDC Gaming Reports - The East Coast Gaming Congress & Nexgen Gaming Forum Friday announced the return to its traditional spring schedule in 2023. The conference will be held April 19-20, 2023, at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The conference, in its 26th year, was last held Sept. 21-23, 2022, at the same venue.
City leaders discuss new developments along the waterfront
Mississippi (Biloxi) - Stephanie Poole, WLOX - Improvements are happening all along the waterfront. Red, green, purple, pink, and blue colors sparkle in downtown Biloxi. You’ve may have seen the observation wheel at Margaritaville dazzling in the sky, and it’s almost time to hitch a ride. Ward 6 Councilman Kenny Glavan said Paradise Pier Fun Park will bring more people to the area, expanding economic growth.
Legislation would allow Petersburg casino vote
Virginia (Petersburg/Richmond) - David McGee, Herald Courier - Legislation pre-filed with the Virginia General Assembly seeks to allow the city of Petersburg to conduct a casino referendum and would temporarily delay Richmond from holding a second vote…would add Petersburg to the list of Virginia cities eligible to conduct a public referendum regarding placement of one casino in the city limits of each.
Arizona Sports Wagering Operators Claim $55 Million In September
Arizona (sports/results) - Chris Altruda, Sports Handle - The Arizona Department of Gaming reported a record $55.2 million in GGR for sports wagering in September, completing a historic nationwide rout by operators in which 24 of 27 states recorded holds of 10% or higher. Arizona’s handle was $538 million, and cleared $4 billion in handle for the 2022 calendar year.
Virginia Tops $500 Million In Handle for First Time
Virginia (sports/results) - Chris Altruda, Sports Handle – Virginia reported $528 million worth of wagers for October…Operators reported $51.2 million in gross revenue, a 9.7% hold for October. Promotional credits were less than $1 million for the second time in four months, with the $963,187 awarded barely half of September’s $1.7 million. Adjusted revenue carryovers and other deductions for operators totaled $5.6 million, leaving the state eligible to tax $45.5 million in adjusted revenue.
Poarch Creek Tribe to buy Miami’s Magic City Casino
Florida (Indian gaming) - Chava Gourarie, Commercial Observer - The longtime owners of Miami’s Magic City Casino plan to sell the property, and the license to operate it, to the Poarch Band Creek of Indians, a Native American tribe based in Alabama…The Havenick family has operated the casino since at least 1931, when it was a dog racing track called the Flagler Dog Track and Poker, and the first to receive a greyhound license. In 2009 it was rechristened as the Magic City Casino, and became the first pari-mutuel facility to offer slot machines
Muckleshoot Casino’s new hotel tower nears completion
Washington (Indian gaming) - Emily Hanson, KING - Muckleshoot Casino’s new 18-story resort tower now has 95 percent of its glass on, and the final steel beam was hoisted in place at the end of August. “Muckleshoot Casino and the Muckleshoot tribe have been known for the biggest and the best in the northwest,” said Robert Dearstine, executive director of resort operations at Muckleshoot Casino. “So now it’s the next part of the evolution.” The hotel is the tallest structure between Seattle and Tacoma.
San Manuel Band Surprises Native with Donations
California (Indian gaming) - Native News - In honor of Giving Tuesday, the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians yesterday surprised 10 Native-led nonprofit organizations with donations of $100,000 each. The Tribe made donations totaling $1 million.
Thunder Valley Casino Resort to Host Multiple Job Fairs in December
California (Indian gaming) - Indian Gaming Magazine - Thunder Valley Casino Resort is looking to fill over 100 full and part-time positions at its job fairs throughout the month of December. Positions include housekeepers, housepersons, janitorial porters, emergency medical technicians, security officers, cage cashiers, table games dealers, food servers, cooks, bakers, food court attendants, bus persons, beverage servers, beverage porters, and kitchen workers.
Lawmakers pursuing Northern Arapaho gaming proposal to help fund schools
Wyoming (Indian gaming) - Katie Roenigk, Country 10 - State lawmakers continued to discuss a proposal from the Northern Arapaho Tribe this month to develop Class III gaming on state-owned school trust land in order to generate new revenue for K-12 public education. The proposal was submitted in response to a statewide request for K-12 funding strategies from the Wyoming Legislature’s Joint Revenue Committee, which was asked to “solicit and investigate ideas for sustainable, long-term revenue sources for K-12 education” this year by the legislature’s 2022 Management Council.
Mr. Cromwell To Appeal Sentencing In Bribery And Extortion Case
Massachusetts (Indian gaming) - Mackenzie Ryan, The Enterprise - Cedric Cromwell, former chairman of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, has filed for an appeal following his sentencing in US District Court in Boston for bribery charges related to the Tribe’s plans to build the First Light Resort and Casino in Taunton. US Senior District Court Judge Douglas P. Woodlock sentenced Mr. Cromwell, 57, to three years in prison and one year of supervised release on November 15. He was convicted on May 5 of two counts of accepting bribes as an agent of an Indian tribal government, three counts of extortion, and one count of conspiring to commit extortion
Entain relaunches Unirkn, aims to enter regulated markets
Global (corporate) - Daniel O'Boyle, iGaming Business - Entain has relaunched esports betting brand Unikrn, which it acquired last year, with plans to expand further into regulated markets…Going forward, Entain said that Unikrn will “continue plans to enter new, regulated markets around the globe in 2023 and into the future”.
Legislation bringing country in line with fellow EU states
Europe (Ireland) - Ted Orme-Claye, SBC News - Ireland’s Gambling Regulation Bill has been welcomed by the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) as a ‘significant milestone’. The Bill was approved last month by the Irish cabinet, which is led by a tri-party coalition, having been drafted by Minister of State for Justice James Browne. Praising the legislation, EGBA has stated that the Bill will modernize Ireland’s gambling framework and bring the country in line with the regulatory regimes of other EU member states.
Novomatic awarded G4 certification for responsible gaming
Europe (corporate) - Phil, G3 Newswire - Austria-based slot manufacturer and international casino operator Novomatic has been awarded G4 certification in Italy and Spain for its commitment to responsible gaming. This follows similar certifications already achieved by the company’s top-selling subsidiaries in Austria, Germany, the UK and the Netherlands. The G4 certification in Italy and Spain now underlines Novomatic’s position as a leading supplier of Responsible Gaming in these core markets, as well. For Novomatic as an international operator of gaming venues as well as a globally exporting technology supplier, Responsible Gaming has always been a top priority.
Unibet threatened with €6m fine in STS Poland lawsuit
Europe (Poland) - Ted Orme-Claye, SBC News - STS Gaming Group has initiated a lawsuit against Kindred Group’s Unibet sportsbook subsidiary, accusing the firm of violating Polish law and targeting consumers in the country…Allegations against Unibet include ‘many years of illegal activity’ such as providing games without Ministry of Finance permissions and unauthorized advertising and promotion, as well as marketing on the shirts of overseas football clubs during matches taking place in Poland.
