12/21/2022

Global Gaming Directory Blog: News, News Flashback via Media Man, Gaming News, Pop Culture News, Entertainment News, Wrestling News - WWE RAW 1000 - Florida-based Hard Rock International now running iconic Mirage resort in Las Vegas

News, News Flashback via Media Man, Gaming News, Pop Culture News, Entertainment News, Wrestling News - WWE RAW 1000 - Florida-based Hard Rock International now running iconic Mirage resort in Las Vegas



Florida-based Hard Rock International now running iconic Mirage resort in Las Vegas




LAS VEGAS - A new operator, Hard Rock International, started running the iconic Mirage resort on the Las Vegas Strip on Monday, following Nevada state gambling regulatory approval for a nearly $1.1 billion sale by former site owner MGM Resorts International, the companies said.


Hard Rock International, owned by the Seminole Tribe, said it plans to reshape the property at the center of the glittery Las Vegas Boulevard casino corridor by replacing its volcano attraction with a huge guitar-shaped hotel tower.


Company Chairman Jim Allen said in a statement that the property's 3,500 employees were absorbed Monday into Hard Rock's 45,000-member workforce. The company has cafes, hotels, casinos and concert properties around the world.


"We are excited to create an integrated resort on the Strip that will make this legendary entertainment community proud," Allen said. The statement specified there were no immediate plans to close The Mirage or lay off employees.


Hard Rock and MGM Resorts announced plans for the operational takeover a year ago. The deal became official following Nevada Gaming Commission approval at a special meeting Friday.


"We're thrilled to welcome Hard Rock to the neighborhood and wish them all the very best," Bill Hornbuckle, CEO and president of casino giant MGM Resorts International said in a statement.


The more than 3,000-room hotel on 80 acres becomes the first on the Las Vegas Strip to be run by a Native American tribe.


East of the Strip, the Connecticut-based Mohegan Tribe operates a casino that opened in 2021 at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas after that property - named Hard Rock Hotel & Casino - was purchased in 2018, renovated and rebranded by Virgin.


West of the Strip, an affiliate of the California-based San Manuel Band of Mission Indians owns and operates The Palms.


Seminole-owned Hard Rock International had no previous involvement with the former Hard Rock Hotel & Casino that operated from 1995 to 2020. It bought licensing and naming rights in May 2020. The Mirage redevelopment plan is projected to run through 2023. Costs have not been disclosed.


Daily operations "are set to continue under The Mirage brand for the foreseeable future, and all room reservations and group bookings will be honored with no action required by guests or group organizers," the company said.


"The process ... ultimately will dramatically reimagine every aspect of the resort and change the Las Vegas skyline with the addition of a guitar-shaped hotel tower," the company promised.


Hard Rock International also entered into a long-term lease agreement with VICI Properties Inc., a real estate investment trust that acquired MGM Resorts properties this year in a $17.2 billion deal with MGM Growth Properties, a publicly traded landowner of holdings in eight states. New York-based VICI owns properties and leases them back to hospitality and entertainment operators.


The sale marks the end of an era for a Polynesian-themed property built by former casino mogul Steve Wynn and credited with helping transform Las Vegas from a gambling hub into an ultra-luxury resort destination with broader appeal.


It opened in November 1989, with a sidewalk-side volcano spewing fire years before gondoliers began plying canals at the Venetian and fountains started dancing at the Bellagio. For years The Mirage hosted Siegfried & Roy taming white tigers. It remains home to a Cirque du Soleil show set to a Beatles soundtrack.


The change-of-hands is one of several involving well-known properties on Las Vegas Boulevard. Rhode Island-based Bally's Corp. completed its acquisition in September of the Tropicana Las Vegas Hotel and Casino. Bally's Corp. does not own Bally's Las Vegas on the Strip.


Caesars Entertainment Inc., which owns Bally's Las Vegas, is rebranding the 2,800-room property as the Horseshoe Las Vegas. That draws on a name made famous at a downtown gambling hall that hosted the first World Series of Poker.


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Charlie Sheen socially Raw on USA Network... Social Media Ambassador for Raw’s historic 1,000 episode 

 WWE® (NYSE: WWE) announced Charlie Sheen, star of the highly anticipated FX comedy series “Anger Management,” as the Social Media Ambassador for Monday Night Raw’s historic 1000th episode live at 8 p.m. EST/7 p.m. CST July 23 on USA Network. Sheen will tweet during Raw, providing up-to-the-minute commentary on the night’s action to his 7.5-million Twitter followers. Sheen has more than 12-million fans combined on the social media platforms Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram. WWE fans and Sheen followers can ask the actor questions during the broadcast via Twitter using the #SheenGetsRaw hashtag. In “Anger Management,” Sheen stars as Charlie, a non-traditional therapist specializing in anger management. He has a successful private practice, holding sessions with his group of primary patients each week, as well as performing pro bono counseling for an inmate group at a state prison. Selma Blair, Shawnee Smith, Daniela Bobadilla, Michael Arden and Noureen DeWulf co-star. The series premiere of “Anger Management” starts Thursday, June 28 with the first two episodes airing at 9 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. • WWE’s 1,000 episode of Raw on July 23 will debut a three-hour format. • Follow Charlie Sheen on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @CharlieSheen. • Follow WWE on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @WWE. 

WWE teams with ION for new Wednesday night show... “WWE Main Event” debuts Oct. 3 on ION Television

WWE (NYSE: WWE) and ION Television announced a new weekly one-hour original series airing 8 p.m. EST/7 p.m. CST on Wednesdays. “WWE Main Event” will debut on Oct. 3 and feature WWE superstars and divas from the rosters of Monday Night Raw and Friday Night SmackDown. The new show will be available in 100 million U.S. television households on ION Television, a top-rated general entertainment network that features a broad mix of critically acclaimed series, movies and original programming. “ION Television is delighted to begin a new partnership with such a successful and well-recognized franchise as WWE,” Brandon Burgess, CEO, ION Media Networks, said in a release. “As a general entertainment network with a solid foundation, ‘WWE Main Event’ is a great addition to our lineup that features something for everyone. We look forward to introducing our ION audience to all of the excitement and drama WWE has to offer as well as welcoming a passionate new fan base to the network.” WWE Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon said: “WWE looks forward to this new partnership with ION Television. We are excited about producing this new television show, ‘WWE Main Event,’ and bringing our fans to ION Television every Wednesday.” “WWE Main Event” will feature in-ring action and fit seamlessly in storylines from Monday Night Raw and Friday Night SmackDown, making Wednesday night appointment viewing for fans. The new series will offer a big arena experience with live audiences like current WWE weekly programs. Check you cable, satellite or dish outlet for channel availability. • WWE celebrates its amazing 1,000 episode of Raw at 8 p.m. Monday, July 23 on the USA Network. The show will debut Raw’s three-hour format. • Visit www.wwe.com and www.iontelevision.com. 

 Roddy Piper Talks 1000th Raw, Cyndi Lauper, Rock & Wrestling... 

 In a WWE.com Exclusive, “Rowdy” Roddy Piper discussed his return to Raw along side pop singer Cyndi Lauper. “Cyndi, oh, we have a long history. We weren’t always on the same side, but to be honest with you, it was a true pleasure,” said Piper. Piper also addressed the comments he made on Raw in regards to the Rock & Wrestling being the saving grace of WWE. “If it wasn’t for the Rock & Wrestling connection at that time being so big on TV — you know, they were all cheering [Hulk] Hogan and booing Piper — I don’t know if wrestling would have gotten the huge launching pad that it did,” Piper explained. “It’s very surreal to think that you were apart of the beginnings of it but I was and I’m proud of it.” Piper was also asked to address Raw’s 1000th episode which will be coming up, July 23rd. “The fact that a wrestling program called Raw could be the longest running television show in the history of television, bar nobody — nobody can now say we’re not on the map,” stated Piper. “We’re for real. I have worked all my life to make that happen, along with a lot of other guys that have worked just as hard or harder.” 

Brock Lesnar May Be At 1000th RAW... 

As noted last week, Lesnar is advertised for RAW on August 13th, the Monday before SummerSlam. He is currently not advertised for any other shows before that. 

Sid Vicious Returns To WWE RAW... 

 Sid Vicious thanked the fans for the ovation he received on RAW tonight, writing on his Twitter, "Thank you for the huge pop on #RAW! Much respect to all of my fans! #MasterAndRulerOfTheWorld ... Off for now. Love being backstage at #RAW. Tweet you tomorrow. Again, THANK YOU EVERYONE!" 

Raw social media highest since April... 

Monday's WWE Raw episode scored 186,954 in social media activity, which was the highest since April 23 for the episode leading into Extreme Rules hyping Brock Lesnar vs. John Cena. Raw was up 17 percent in social media activity compared to last week's show and topped the yearly average by 14 percent. Raw still ranked #3 on cable TV, trailing "Love & Hip Hop Atlanta" on VH1 and "Teen Wolf" on MTV. Raw has not taken the top spot on Monday nights since April 9. [ Data Source: Trendrr.TV ] World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. : 

WWE® Names Casey Collins EVP of Consumer Products 06/26/2012 WWE (NYSE: WWE) today announced the appointment of Casey Collins as Executive Vice President, Consumer Products. Collins will oversee WWE Global Licensing, Home Entertainment and Publishing. He will report directly to WWE Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon. Prior to joining WWE, Collins was Executive Vice President, Global Licensing & Entertainment at MGA Entertainment, where he oversaw the entertainment, consumer products, retail development and promotions divisions. Before joining MGA Entertainment, Collins spent 10 years at Lucasfilm Ltd., where he was responsible for the management of Lucasfilm's domestic and international licensing and retail merchandise programs. Collins also spent time as Director of Worldwide Licensing & Motorsports at World Championship Wrestling, Inc. (WCW), where he built and managed WCW's worldwide consumer products program. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in International Business from Florida State University and did post graduate work at Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. 

Kenn Doane Alleges John Cena Had An Affair With A Married WWE Diva... 

Kenn Doane, who appeared as Kenny of the Spirit Squad and Kenny Dykstra for WWE from 2006 to 2008, blames an affair between John Cena and Mickie James for ruining his relationship with the former Diva and costing him his job. Speaking to SEScoops.com on the ordeal, Doane reveals that Cena was having a second affair with a then-WWE Diva who was married to a man not involved with the professional wrestling industry. Doane says he discovered James had been cheating on him with the Cenation leader when he caught her searching online rumors of her act of infidelity with the query "Mickie James dating John Cena." "Upon confronting her about it, "She stared at [the computer] for like legit two minutes and I'm looking at her like "Did you forget how to read? Say something, WTF." She got up and ran into the other room crying saying she was sorry and she felt bad and admitted to it." While recalling the matter, Doane says Cena was having an affair with a second WWE Diva. "I don't have John's number so I call his diva 'road' girlfriend. I ask her if she knows anything about it and she says she had a feeling because John recently dumped her and she is over him now," Doane says. Cena's sexual escapades were not solely limited to WWE Divas as he was simultaneously involved with 'ring rats'. Doane details, "Got one diva who is married to a guy outside of the business but she sleeps with Cena, then we got Cena who sleeps with rats (groupies, girls not in the biz, girls in the lobby waiting for an invite upstairs) and this married diva, and now my girlfriend." Following weeks of inactivity stemming from the affair, Doane was transferred to the SmackDown brand on June 17, 2007, as part of the WWE Supplemental Draft. Doane reveals that the married Diva was transferred from Raw to SmackDown as well after being dumped by Cena. "Following weeks I'm off TV and off the road until I get sent to SmackDown. Ironically, John's former Diva got sent too," Doane recalls. "So now we're on complete separate schedules and when there is a joint pay-per-view I'm off the road that day too and get flown in on a Monday for a Tuesday Smackdown. Yeah complete B.S. I get jobbed out then they take me off the road more and fire me." Two WWE Divas transferred from Raw to SmackDown in the 2007 WWE Supplemental Draft—and the entire year—Torrie Wilson and Victoria. Wilson was in the process of divorcing Billy Kidman. Victoria has been married to a man not affiliated with the professional wrestling industry since 1998, matching Doane's claim. On November 10, 2008, WWE announced Doane had been released from his contract. While discussing his termination with John Laurinaitis, he was informed that his decision to speak publicly on Cena and James' affair will determine whether WWE offers him employment again in the future. "When Johnny Ace called me to fire me I asked him if this is why I'm getting fired," Doane recalls. "He told me we don't have anything for you and depending on whether you choose to discuss this issue will determine on if your allowed to come back in the future." Doane ultimately concludes that he wants to be open and honest. "Going forward I have no reason but to speak the truth and to make all this up would be absolutely insane. I'm not saying you have to believe anything I say but that is the truth," he says. "WWE portrays Cena as this big hero and savior to all of us but truth be told that is a character he plays much like me as a cheerleader. When watching wrestling, know you're watching a show and not real life situations or scenarios. We are basically live comic books brought to life and make short action movies for you to enjoy." (Wrestling INC) 

The Amazing Spider-Man Video Game Now On Sale: Get 'The Amazing Spider-Man' for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii, Nintendo DS & Nintendo 3DS!... 

 If your spider-senses are tinglin’, it’s because "The Amazing Spider-Man" video game has web-slung its way onto retail store shelves today in North America, and will be available in Europe on June 29. From Activision Publishing, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Activision Blizzard, Inc., and Marvel Entertainment, "The Amazing Spider-Man" video game serves as an epilogue story to this summer’s upcoming blockbuster feature film, heralding Spidey’s return to a free-roaming Manhattan as players take the role of a young Peter Parker discovering his newfound powers and super hero responsibilities. "The Amazing Spider-Man" video game is available on the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system, the Wii system from Nintendo, Nintendo 3DS and Nintendo DS handheld systems. "Dee Brown and his team at Beenox have completely revamped 'The Amazing Spider-Man's' proprietary game engine to deliver a fresh, innovative gameplay experience for the fans," said David Oxford, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Activision Publishing, Inc. “With the adrenaline rush from just swinging through the city and the new zoomed-in camera angle opening up a whole new perspective in realistic detail, 'The Amazing Spider-Man' allows gamers to BE Spider-Man like never before.” Go beyond Sony Picture Entertainment’s Columbia Pictures’ feature film and find out what happens next in "The Amazing Spider-Man" video game. Set against an original story crafted by Hollywood writer Seamus Kevin Fahey ("Spartacus: Vengeance," "Spartacus: Gods of the Arena," "Battlestar Galactica") that picks up immediately after the events of the movie, "The Amazing Spider-Man" video game delivers a brand-new, immersive and cinematic adventure allowing fans to truly harness the power of your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man. Players will experience numerous choices in navigation and combat with the debut of the innovative Web Rush gameplay mechanic, pushing Spider-Man’s abilities to the limit against classic Marvel villains that are re-imagined exclusively for the game, such as Scorpion, Felicia Hardy, Rhino, Iguana and more. “'The Amazing Spider-Man' video game is the ultimate fan tribute to Spider-Man and Manhattan,” said Andreea Enache-Thune, SVP, Games & Digital Distribution, Marvel Entertainment. “We’re thrilled with all of the content and collectibles Activision and Beenox have packed into the game’s free-roaming Manhattan setting, and we can’t wait for fans to web-swing around the city and start saving the world.” "The Amazing Spider-Man" video game also features fan-favorite talent, including "Evil Dead" and "Burn Notice's" Bruce Campbell taking the role of an “extreme action” reporter who provides death-defying challenges that only Spider-Man can accomplish. And for fans that pre-ordered the game from Amazon, Stan Lee himself is available as a playable character for the first time ever. Developed by Beenox for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 system, Wii and Nintendo 3DS, "The Amazing Spider-Man" is rated “T” (Teen – content that may be suitable for ages 13 and older) by the ESRB. The Nintendo 3DS edition features several unique mini-games that use its touch-screen abilities, including the exclusive Vigilante Mode using StreetPass. Additionally, Beenox is working on a Windows PC version of the game planned to launch August 10, 2012, which will be available on Steam and integrated with Steam achievements. The Nintendo DS version of the game was created by developer Other Ocean, is rated E10+ (Everyone 10 and older – content that may be suitable for ages 10 and older) by the ESRB, and follows the exact same storyline in an entirely different platforming adventure. For more information on "The Amazing Spider-Man" video game, please go to http://www.TheAmazingSpiderManGame.com, and be sure to check out the game’s Facebook page at http://www.Facebook.com/TheAmazingSpiderManGame (Marvel) 

ION Preps Weekly WWE Wrestling Show... 

ION Television has teamed with WWE for a new weekly one-hour original series. WWE Main Event will debut October 3 and air on Wednesday nights at 8 PM. It will feature WWE stars from the rosters of Monday Night Raw and Friday Night SmackDown, including in-ring action and storylines. The new show provides WWE with a show on a broadcast network for the first time since Friday Night SmackDown left MyNetworkTV in September 2010 and gives the wrestling federation weekly programs on Monday (Monday Night Raw on USA), Wednesday (WWE Main Event on ION) and Friday (Friday Night SmackDown on Syfy). “As a general entertainment network with a solid foundation, WWE Main Event is a great addition to our lineup that features something for everyone,” ION Media Networks CEO Brandon Burgess said.

Telstra accused of tracking Next G internet use... 

 Telstra has been accused of tracking the internet use of its Next G mobile phone users and sending their internet history to a company in the United States. One of the telco's customers discovered that when he visited a website using his Next G network in Australia, a server in the United States would visit the same address almost instantly. Telstra says it is collecting the information for use in a new internet filter product, but internet users are outraged and are demanding the Australian Privacy Commissioner investigate. The tracking was confirmed by Mark Newton, who up until late last year was one of the longest serving technical engineers at Australian internet company Internode. When he saw rumours on a network administrator email list that Telstra was sending the URLs from Next G internet use to a company overseas, he set up a test. "In real time, information about the URL that I was visiting was being sent offshore so that that offshore data centre could then make that second request," he said. "It means if you go to abc.net.au on your Next G internet connection, both Telstra and the US company knows about it." Mr Newton says he had no idea such information was going offshore. "Australians should know when their private data is collected, what that data is going to be used for and who it is going to be disclosed to," he said. He says he has emailed Telstra, asking why it is sending internet address data to a third party. "Privacy protections in the United States are very, very minimal. There are almost no controls at all on what an American company can do with private data that’s been gathered from consumers," he said. Privacy concerns Users on the Australian broadband forum Whirlpool also want to know why the information is being sent, who it is being sent to, and why they were not told about it. No one at Telstra was available for an interview, but in a statement the company admitted it was sending data overseas. Telstra said it was building a database for one of its new products which will allow parents to block their children from accessing certain websites. It is working with US company Netsweeper, which is building the database for the filter. Telstra says the product will be "opt in", but Mr Newton says its current data collection strategy is not. "It's being collected and then sent to the US company without anyone being told about it. And I have a problem with that. And I think anyone who has concerns about privacy should also," he said. Western Australian Greens Senator Scott Ludlam says he has asked Telstra to provide more details. "Any item that's out there on the web has to have its unique address or it can't be found. And I don't want to overstate or overplay this because at the moment it's just really quite ambiguous as to what’s even occurring," he said. "But, potentially, profiles can be built of people out of the places that they go and the things that they look at online, or the people that they're in contact with. These things are possible. These are live debates." (ABC News) 

Jobs purge at The Star casino... 

 The Star casino has shed up to 100 key management staff in the wake of the Sid Vaikunta scandal as it desperately seeks to rebuild its tattered reputation -- and there are threats of more to come. Rocked by a string of lurid allegations, Echo Entertainment Group, which runs the casino, has shown at least 70 management staff the door in Sydney, along with a number of staff who perform various strategic roles across the gambling group also being made redundant. Former chief financial officer Murray McCall is the biggest head to roll in the mammoth shake-up. Friends of Mr McCall, who was poached by The Star from New Zealand casino group SkyCity in 2009, said he was stunned by the decision, especially considering he took the reins of the casino as acting managing director following Mr Vaikunta's dismissal. Mr Vaikunta was sacked on February 2 after allegations of sexual harassment made against him by two staff members. He denies the allegations. It is understood The Star has reported Mr McCall's departure to the Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority. Tough rules governing the casino's licence mean the authority must be notified within two weeks if a "special employee" has their position terminated. "Since the departure of the former Managing Director (Mr Vaikunta), there is no suggestion The Star has not been fully compliant with notification requirements in relation to special employees ceasing to have functions," an ILGA spokesman said. Other staff who have been let go include event manager Alexandra Bull, who had been with the casino since 1997, and events and tournaments manager, Darka de Vries. Casino insiders have been told the cull, which began with six senior staff removed on the day the failed musical An Officer and a Gentleman premiered in May, has not finished. One source said the redundancies have been carried out across the board: "No one is safe; whether you are in gaming or marketing, your head is on the chopping block." The purge comes after months of bad publicity and declining profits at The Star. The casino has issued two profit warnings this month. Turnover for 2012 is expected to be as low as $270 million, down from $347 million in 2011. Government relations manager Brad Schmitt, who confirmed the bloodletting, said the redundancies were part of a plan to streamline the business by removing the duplication of roles caused by the company's demerger from Tabcorp. He maintained the redundancies were planned long before the profit warnings with "numbers built up for the relaunch of The Star and busy Christmas period". He also denied suggestions his position was at risk as The Star looked to mend its fractured relationship with the Premier, Barry O'Farrell, telling The Sunday Telegraph he had just received a pay rise. Mr O'Farrell's former chief advisor, Peter Grimshaw, was accused of running a personal vendetta against The Star. (The Daily Telegraph) 

Russell Crowe to play Rupert Murdoch in film... 

 Russell Crowe is reportedly in line to play Rupert Murdoch in a film. The 'Gladiator' star is tipped to take on the role of the media mogul in a movie based on 'Good Times, Bad Times', the memoirs of former Sunday Times editor Sir Harold Evans. A source told the Daily Star newspaper: ''You have to be brave to play someone like Murdoch. Russell can do it.'' Colin Firth is believed to be up for the role as Harold, but no deals are yet in place. Leon Lecash, creative director of what's it all about?, which is making the movie said: ''The film will be a drama, either for the big screen or television. It is very early days as the option deal with Harry was only just completed. ''No actors or even writers have been signed up yet.'' The film will focus on then-Prime Minister Lady Margaret Thatcher's dealings with the Australian tycoon. Evidence is said to suggest she manipulated rules to facilitate the deal for Murdoch to buy The Times newspaper in 1981 in return for favourable publicity for her party. Leon added to the Evening Standard newspaper: ''Murdoch went to Chequers to talk about the deal, which was never brought to the attention of the Monopolies Commission. ''Harry had suspicions that some intimate contacts were taking place between Murdoch and Thatcher, with late-night whisky drinking in Downing Street when Murdoch was let in by the back door. This type of stuff came to light recently when Sir Bernard Ingham's notes were released under the 30-year rule. Much of what Harry wrote about Murdoch when they fell out in 1983 is so prescient he has said he didn't know whether to laugh or cry.''

Casino Hires Robert De Niro as Celebrity Flack... 

You talkin' to me? A casino in South Korea hopes you'll be listening! The Paradise Walker-Hill Casino in Seoul, South Korea, has announced that it has hired actor Robert De Niro to serve as a paid celebrity spokesman for the casino. The casino, which is South Korea's oldest and is open to foreigners only--meaning no South Koreans are allowed in--is located in the Sheraton Walker-Hill Hotel, a luxury hotel in Seoul that is popular with tourists and foreign business people. Large ads featuring De Niro plugging the casino have already begun appearing at Seoul's airport and other locations frequented by tourists. In addition, the casino announced, television commercials with De Niro promoting the casino were filmed in New York City last month. The TV spots will not air in the USA. One of De Niro's most famous movie roles was in the film "Casino," in which he played Ace Rothstein, a character based on real-life mob associate and Stardust Casino executive Frank "Lefty" Rosenthal. De Niro, like many other American celebrities, does not appear in any commercials or ads in the USA, but does appear in foreign advertising. Several celebs in recent years, however, have flacked for casinos that advertised in the USA. Among them are singer Kenny Rogers, whose hit song "The Gambler" permanently linked him to the pastime in the eyes of the American public. For years, he has shilled for the Barona Casino, an Indian casino near San Diego. And former professional wrestler and Minnesota governor Jesse Ventura served as a celebrity spokesman for Bet U.S., an online sportsbook and casino based in Costa Rica. In addition, baseball Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson once briefly served as a paid celeb shill for an online casino, until Major League Baseball told him to nix the deal or be banned from baseball.


Global Gaming Directory Blog: Florida-based Hard Rock International now running iconic Mirage resort in Las Vegas

Florida-based Hard Rock International now running iconic Mirage resort in Las Vegas




LAS VEGAS - A new operator, Hard Rock International, started running the iconic Mirage resort on the Las Vegas Strip on Monday, following Nevada state gambling regulatory approval for a nearly $1.1 billion sale by former site owner MGM Resorts International, the companies said.


Hard Rock International, owned by the Seminole Tribe, said it plans to reshape the property at the center of the glittery Las Vegas Boulevard casino corridor by replacing its volcano attraction with a huge guitar-shaped hotel tower.


Company Chairman Jim Allen said in a statement that the property's 3,500 employees were absorbed Monday into Hard Rock's 45,000-member workforce. The company has cafes, hotels, casinos and concert properties around the world.


"We are excited to create an integrated resort on the Strip that will make this legendary entertainment community proud," Allen said. The statement specified there were no immediate plans to close The Mirage or lay off employees.


Hard Rock and MGM Resorts announced plans for the operational takeover a year ago. The deal became official following Nevada Gaming Commission approval at a special meeting Friday.


"We're thrilled to welcome Hard Rock to the neighborhood and wish them all the very best," Bill Hornbuckle, CEO and president of casino giant MGM Resorts International said in a statement.


The more than 3,000-room hotel on 80 acres becomes the first on the Las Vegas Strip to be run by a Native American tribe.


East of the Strip, the Connecticut-based Mohegan Tribe operates a casino that opened in 2021 at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas after that property - named Hard Rock Hotel & Casino - was purchased in 2018, renovated and rebranded by Virgin.


West of the Strip, an affiliate of the California-based San Manuel Band of Mission Indians owns and operates The Palms.


Seminole-owned Hard Rock International had no previous involvement with the former Hard Rock Hotel & Casino that operated from 1995 to 2020. It bought licensing and naming rights in May 2020. The Mirage redevelopment plan is projected to run through 2023. Costs have not been disclosed.


Daily operations "are set to continue under The Mirage brand for the foreseeable future, and all room reservations and group bookings will be honored with no action required by guests or group organizers," the company said.


"The process ... ultimately will dramatically reimagine every aspect of the resort and change the Las Vegas skyline with the addition of a guitar-shaped hotel tower," the company promised.


Hard Rock International also entered into a long-term lease agreement with VICI Properties Inc., a real estate investment trust that acquired MGM Resorts properties this year in a $17.2 billion deal with MGM Growth Properties, a publicly traded landowner of holdings in eight states. New York-based VICI owns properties and leases them back to hospitality and entertainment operators.


The sale marks the end of an era for a Polynesian-themed property built by former casino mogul Steve Wynn and credited with helping transform Las Vegas from a gambling hub into an ultra-luxury resort destination with broader appeal.


It opened in November 1989, with a sidewalk-side volcano spewing fire years before gondoliers began plying canals at the Venetian and fountains started dancing at the Bellagio. For years The Mirage hosted Siegfried & Roy taming white tigers. It remains home to a Cirque du Soleil show set to a Beatles soundtrack.


The change-of-hands is one of several involving well-known properties on Las Vegas Boulevard. Rhode Island-based Bally's Corp. completed its acquisition in September of the Tropicana Las Vegas Hotel and Casino. Bally's Corp. does not own Bally's Las Vegas on the Strip.


Caesars Entertainment Inc., which owns Bally's Las Vegas, is rebranding the 2,800-room property as the Horseshoe Las Vegas. That draws on a name made famous at a downtown gambling hall that hosted the first World Series of Poker.

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Global Gaming Directory Blog: Florida-based Hard Rock International now running iconic Mirage resort in Las Vegas

Florida-based Hard Rock International now running iconic Mirage resort in Las Vegas




LAS VEGAS - A new operator, Hard Rock International, started running the iconic Mirage resort on the Las Vegas Strip on Monday, following Nevada state gambling regulatory approval for a nearly $1.1 billion sale by former site owner MGM Resorts International, the companies said.


Hard Rock International, owned by the Seminole Tribe, said it plans to reshape the property at the center of the glittery Las Vegas Boulevard casino corridor by replacing its volcano attraction with a huge guitar-shaped hotel tower.


Company Chairman Jim Allen said in a statement that the property's 3,500 employees were absorbed Monday into Hard Rock's 45,000-member workforce. The company has cafes, hotels, casinos and concert properties around the world.


"We are excited to create an integrated resort on the Strip that will make this legendary entertainment community proud," Allen said. The statement specified there were no immediate plans to close The Mirage or lay off employees.


Hard Rock and MGM Resorts announced plans for the operational takeover a year ago. The deal became official following Nevada Gaming Commission approval at a special meeting Friday.


"We're thrilled to welcome Hard Rock to the neighborhood and wish them all the very best," Bill Hornbuckle, CEO and president of casino giant MGM Resorts International said in a statement.


The more than 3,000-room hotel on 80 acres becomes the first on the Las Vegas Strip to be run by a Native American tribe.


East of the Strip, the Connecticut-based Mohegan Tribe operates a casino that opened in 2021 at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas after that property - named Hard Rock Hotel & Casino - was purchased in 2018, renovated and rebranded by Virgin.


West of the Strip, an affiliate of the California-based San Manuel Band of Mission Indians owns and operates The Palms.


Seminole-owned Hard Rock International had no previous involvement with the former Hard Rock Hotel & Casino that operated from 1995 to 2020. It bought licensing and naming rights in May 2020. The Mirage redevelopment plan is projected to run through 2023. Costs have not been disclosed.


Daily operations "are set to continue under The Mirage brand for the foreseeable future, and all room reservations and group bookings will be honored with no action required by guests or group organizers," the company said.


"The process ... ultimately will dramatically reimagine every aspect of the resort and change the Las Vegas skyline with the addition of a guitar-shaped hotel tower," the company promised.


Hard Rock International also entered into a long-term lease agreement with VICI Properties Inc., a real estate investment trust that acquired MGM Resorts properties this year in a $17.2 billion deal with MGM Growth Properties, a publicly traded landowner of holdings in eight states. New York-based VICI owns properties and leases them back to hospitality and entertainment operators.


The sale marks the end of an era for a Polynesian-themed property built by former casino mogul Steve Wynn and credited with helping transform Las Vegas from a gambling hub into an ultra-luxury resort destination with broader appeal.


It opened in November 1989, with a sidewalk-side volcano spewing fire years before gondoliers began plying canals at the Venetian and fountains started dancing at the Bellagio. For years The Mirage hosted Siegfried & Roy taming white tigers. It remains home to a Cirque du Soleil show set to a Beatles soundtrack.


The change-of-hands is one of several involving well-known properties on Las Vegas Boulevard. Rhode Island-based Bally's Corp. completed its acquisition in September of the Tropicana Las Vegas Hotel and Casino. Bally's Corp. does not own Bally's Las Vegas on the Strip.


Caesars Entertainment Inc., which owns Bally's Las Vegas, is rebranding the 2,800-room property as the Horseshoe Las Vegas. That draws on a name made famous at a downtown gambling hall that hosted the first World Series of Poker.

12/11/2022

Global Gaming Directory Blog: Business News, Casino News, Property News

Global Gaming Directory Blog

Business News, Casino News, Property News

U.S. to appeal dismissal of Chinese agent lawsuit against casino tycoon Wynn



The U.S. Justice Department will appeal the dismissal of a lawsuit against casino magnate Steve Wynn, who it accused of acting as a Chinese agent.


Wynn defeated the lawsuit in October when a federal judge in Washington, D.C., said the casino tycoon could not be ordered to register with the Justice Department as a foreign agent of China.


".... the Attorney General of the United States of America hereby appeals to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia from the judgment of this Court entered on the 12th day of October, 2022, granting Defendant's Motion to Dismiss," the Justice Department said in a filing on Friday.


The Justice Department in May sued for a court order forcing Wynn, the former CEO of Wynn Casinos, to register under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA).


Officials alleged that Wynn had lobbied then-U.S. President Donald Trump on China's behalf in 2017. Wynn's attorneys denied that he was ever an agent of the Chinese government.


U.S. District Judge James Boasberg said in October that, because any relationship between Wynn and the Chinese government ended in 2017, the Republican donor cannot be required to register as an agent. The judge pointed to past precedent in D.C. federal court in making the ruling.


The judge said he was not determining whether Wynn had lobbied on China's behalf. He also said the Justice Department could pursue criminal sanctions against Wynn for failing to disclose the alleged lobbying, if the statute of limitations had not expired.




Star’s Queensland casinos to stay open after $100m fine


The Star Entertainment Group’s Brisbane and Gold Coast casinos will stay open under the supervision of a special manager imposed by the Queensland government after it levied a $100 million fine against the company.


Queensland Attorney-General Shannon Fentiman said Star’s operations would be overseen by Nicholas Weeks, the same independent monitor imposed on its Sydney harbourside casino by the NSW gambling regulator.


But Ms Fentiman has put Star on 12 months’ notice to clean up its act or its casino permits for Brisbane and the Gold Coast will be suspended for 90 days.


“Should the Star make satisfactory progress towards rectifying these issues, the special manager and I may determine to postpone or rescind the suspension of licences,” Ms Fentiman said.


The record penalty, the maximum under new Queensland laws passed in August, and the imposition of a special manager follows a short inquiry led by Robert Gotterson, SC.


Mr Gotterson found the company had lured high rollers who were banned from casinos in other states to gamble at its Queensland casinos, and that there were “serious deficiencies” in the company’s anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing (AML/CTF) program.


The review, which was released in October, also found Star deliberately misled the gaming regulator to cover up China UnionPay transactions as hotel expenses when their primary use was gambling.


The Queensland move echoes the NSW and Victorian governments’ appointment of a special manager to oversee Star Sydney and Crown Melbourne. Star Sydney’s permit was suspended for 90 days last month.


The NSW Independent Casino Commission (NICC) chief commissioner, Philip Crawford, also slapped a maximum $100 million fine on Star for its widespread wrong-doing, revealed in the Bell review, bringing the total fines from state regulators to $200 million.


The company is also facing massive fines from the financial crime watchdog, which is suing Star for allegedly allowing 117 high-risk VIP patrons to churn billions of dollars of dirty cash through its Sydney, Brisbane and Gold Coast casinos for six years.


AUSTRAC’s statement of claim shows foreign agents, Ponzi scheme scammers, accused sex slave traders, a murderer for hire, loan sharks and drug traffickers were allowed to bet billions of dollars at Star for years, despite information of alleged nefarious activity being publicly available.


Star placed its shares in a trading halt on Friday morning before the announcement. Star shares were 0.4 per cent higher at $2.54 before they were suspended.


Consistency across jurisdictions

Ms Fentiman appointed former Sunsuper executive Terri Hamilton to assist Mr Weeks with the oversight of Star’s Queensland operations.


“Having a special manager that monitors the operations of The Star in both states will ensure they will be looked at as one operating entity and provide consistency across jurisdictions,” she said.


“It’s also important that we have a person on the ground here in Queensland, which is why Ms Terri Hamilton will be the Queensland manager assisting, and will join Mr Weeks’ very skilled and capable team.”


Mr Crawford backed Queensland’s decision to appoint Mr Weeks because it “will further support our ongoing collaboration with our Queensland regulatory counterparts”.


“This will ensure The Star acts consistently and complies with their obligations – no matter which state they operate in.”


Ms Fentiman said this was an opportunity for Star to return to suitability, but “they have a long way to go”.


“If relevant entities do not take significant steps to improve their operations, we will not hesitate to take further action.”


Ms Fentiman said the government would send the bill to Star for the cost of the special manager’s work.


She gave the casino operator 12 months to pay the $100 million fine and said Star’s $3.6 billion Queen’s Wharf casino, hotel and apartment development in Brisbane’s CBD will be unaffected by the penalty.


Last week, the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC) filed its case against Star Sydney and Star Queensland in the Federal Court alleging that the casino group facilitated money laundering that amounted to “serious and systemic” breaches of federal law.


AUSTRAC said Star had breached the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act “innumerable times” since 2016. Each breach attracts a maximum penalty of $22.2 million.


Rival Crown Resorts faced similar court action and had stashed away more than $600 million to pay for expected fines levied by the states and AUSTRAC, contributing to its $945 million full-year loss reported last week.




Casinos Around The World


Sydney, Australia

As one of the most-visited cities in Australia, Sydney has an allure that is hard to resist. Set on the coast of New South Wales, Australia’s largest city is home to some of the country’s most famous sights, such as the Sydney Opera House, Sydney Harbour Bridge and Bondi Beach. Although casinos don’t immediately come to mind, Sydney offers some of the county’s best casinos. The Star is the largest and most well-known, with over 100 table games and 1,400 slots spread over two floors. Also worth a visit is The Crown, newly opened and offering a members-only VIP casino experience.


London, UK

Dating all the way back to Roman times, London is a city with a rich historical and cultural background. The UK capital has numerous tourist hotspots, including Trafalgar Square, Buckingham Palace, and Big Ben, and well over 100 museums to explore. Equally as populous are London’s casinos. There are plenty to choose between, with The Hippodrome, The Palm Beach Casino and The Empire being some of the top picks. While planning your London trip online, you can also look up some of the best payout online slots UK before your trip.


Atlantic City, USA

Founded in 1854, Atlantic City made a name for itself in the USA as one of the East Coast’s premier holiday resorts. By the end of the 20th century, the city was best known for its casinos, beaches and Boardwalk. Resorts Casino provides history and entertainment, all rolled into one as Atlantic City’s first and oldest casino. Tropicana Casino Resort and Bally’s Atlantic Casino are both also worth a visit if time allows. No visit to Atlantic City is complete without a seaside stroll along the Boardwalk, a climb to the top of Absecon Lighthouse or a game at one of the USA’s oldest casinos.


Reno, Nevada, USA

Now considered Las Vegas’s little sister, Reno, Nevada, was the Casino capital of the USA until the 1980s. Along with its relaxed gambling laws, for a long time, Reno also had more relaxed divorce laws than other US states, making it a popular place to visit for couples wanting a divorce. Visit the National Automobile Museum and the Reno Arch or get out into nature at the nearby Lake Tahoe. Today, the city is best known for being a technological centre, however, its casinos are also still popular, with Peppermill Resort Casino, Atlantis Casino Resort and Eldorado Resort Casino being just three of the many you could choose to visit.


San José, Costa Rica

San José is Costa Rica’s seat of national government and the country’s most important city due to its status as the most visited city in Central America. As a historical and culturally significant city, San José is home to many museums, including the National Museum of Costa Rica, and the Museum of Pre-Columbian Gold. Casinos in Latin America are a little harder to find, with Barceló San José Palacio Spa & Casino or Hotel and Casino Taormina being two of the most popular. They offer a quieter, more informal feel but are still worth a visit.


Nassau, Bahamas

Made up of an archipelago of nearly 700 coral islands, the Bahamas has much to offer its visitors. A top-rated holiday destination due to its proximity to Florida, there are plenty of award-winning beaches to relax upon, watersports to enjoy and even some world-famous swimming pigs! One of the most iconic sights of Nassau, Bahamas capital, is the Royal Towers at Atlantis Resort, a luxury hotel, waterpark and casino. If casinos are what you’re after, you are spoilt for choice as there is also the Baha Mar Casino and Island Luck Casino in the city.



NSW casino regulator won’t recognize The Star Sydney’s self-appointed independent monitor - November 2022



The NSW Independent Casino Commission – the recently formed regulatory body tasked with overseeing The Star Sydney and Crown Sydney – has informed Star Entertainment Group that it does not endorse the appointment of the company’s own independent monitor and will not recognize the monitor’s actions.


According to information filed by Star, operator of The Star Sydney, this week, the company was informed of the NICC’s view by the Special Manager specifically appointed by the NICC to oversee The Star Sydney’s operations.


Star was recently found unsuitable to retain its casino license for The Star Sydney following a review into its operations.


However, it continues to be involved in the day-to-day running of the casino under the supervision of the Special Manager, Nicholas Weeks of Wexted Advisors, following his appointment by the NICC in mid-October. As reported by IAG, Weekes will oversee operations of The Star Sydney for an initial period of 90 days, with his initial task being to determine whether Star’s failings can be rectified and whether it can return to suitability.

12/06/2022

Global Gaming Directory Blog: Wynn Resorts completes sale and leaseback of Encore Boston Harbor

Wynn Resorts completes sale and leaseback of Encore Boston Harbor



Massachusetts (Boston Harbor) - 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.

12/05/2022

Global Gaming Directory Blog - Casino News Media Blog: Casino, Gaming, Sports, Pop Culture and Business News Update - December 2022

Global Gaming Directory 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.

11/22/2022

Global Gaming Directory Blog: News (Gaming/Gambling): United States Igaming Revenue Report

News (Gaming/Gambling): United States Igaming Revenue Report


Total igaming revenue for October 2021 in New Jersey, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, West Virginia, and Delaware added up to $445.2 million, an increase of just under 22% over October 2021…internet-gaming win reported in New Jersey was $147.2 million, reflecting growth of 15.9%...Michigan won a record $141 million from online gamblers…Revenue from igaming in Pennsylvania was $124.5 million, an increase of 17.4% over October 2021…Igaming operators set a revenue record in October at $21.9 million… West Virginia igaming revenue for October came in at $9.4 million, a 32% jump…Delaware’s internet casinos won $1.2 million from gamblers in October 2022, a 22.5% increase.

11/18/2022

Global Gaming Directory Blog: bet365 & Incentive Games unveil a daily score predictor game for the World Cup

bet365 & Incentive Games unveil a daily score predictor game for the World Cup

World’s largest online betting brand launches ‘4 Scores’ for the world’s biggest sporting event

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UK: 18 November 2022 – With the World Cup just around the corner, bet365 have ramped up the excitement by launching a daily predictor game for the tournament, called ‘4 Scores Challenge’.


This is yet another collaboration with long-term partners Incentive Games – the industry’s leader in premium free-to-play games.


‘4 Scores Challenge’ does exactly what it says on the tin: offering users prizes for predicting four scores. bet365 successfully launched the ‘6 Scores Challenge’ at the start of the 2022/23 Premier League season, with hundreds of thousands of players taking on the prediction challenge each weekend.


During the World Cup, prizes of up to £250 are on offer each day, but users don’t have to get every prediction right to win – with three correct predictions earning £10, and £2.50 awarded to those with two correct forecasts.


The innovative new game offers football fans a brilliant, free game to play each day of the World Cup, with generous cash prizes available.

  

John Gordon, CEO and Co-Founder of Incentive Games said: “We are privileged to roll out this incredible title across the bet365 app and website – we're so proud of it.


“Here’s a prediction from us: with its generous cash prizes, despite being free, 4 Scores will become a real fans’ favourite during the World Cup.”

 

A spokesperson from bet365 said: “We’re thrilled to announce the launch of ‘4 Scores’, in association with our partners at Incentive Games. At bet365 we love to enhance the enjoyment of live sporting events for our customers, and there are none bigger than the World Cup. Good luck to all players with their predictions!”





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