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Hotel,
Casino And Gaming News: U.S, Global
October
9, 2024
Hard
Rock Casino Rockford has 2nd largest GGR
Illinois
Hard
Rock Casino Rockford brought in the 2nd highest casino
gambling revenue of any casino operating in Illinois.
In September 2024, Hard Rock Casino Rockford brought
in $13,717,722 in revenue. That makes Rockfords
casino the second largest in revenue in the state,
behind the Rivers Casino Des Planes, which brought
in $41.5 million in September. The total GGR for Illinois
in September was $138.9 million with 1,140,023 admissions;
the 2023 GGR was $132.1 million with 1,038,436 admissions.
News
Tropicana
implosion paves way for A's stadium
Nevada
The
Tropicana Casino and Resort, one of the last true
mob buildings on the Las Vegas Strip, was reduced
to rubble Wednesday morning. The implosion cleared
land for the proposed $1.5 billion baseball stadium
for the relocating Athletics, which is part of the
city's latest rebrand into a sports hub.
News
Shift
to attract millennials to casinos
Nevada
Innovations
in gaming space and expanding technology in the postpandemic
era continue to attract a new, younger generation
to Las Vegas and its casinos, MGM Resorts International
President Bill Hornbuckle said Tuesday at the Global
Gaming Expo.
News
Allegiant
Stadium to host Gold Cup soccer matches
Nevada
International
soccer will once again kick off at Allegiant Stadium
next summer. The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors
Authority approved an event production agreement during
its Tuesday board meeting, including matches in the
CONCACAF Gold Cup tournament in June 2025.
News
Ten
Vegas restaurants together grossed almost $200M in
2023
Nevada
Never
underestimate the power of a seat on the Las Vegas
Strip. Alexxas in Paris Las Vegas, which offers
some of the best street-side dining on the boulevard,
was the highest-grossing independent restaurant in
the city in 2023, according to Restaurant Business.
Alexxas brought in $28.8 million in food and
drink sales, and about 600,000 meals served. The restaurant
ranked No. 9 on the list
The 10 Vegas restaurants
(all but one on the Strip) in the top 100 together
racked up nearly $200 million in sales for 2023.
News
Revenue
Surges 48% Year-Over-Year in September 2024
West
Virginia
West
Virginias sports betting revenue surged in September
2024, seeing a 48% increase compared to the same month
last year
the state generated $7.1 million in
revenue from a $46.4 million handle, marking the second-highest
monthly revenue ever recorded for the states
sportsbooks
the total handle$46.4 million
wageredwas down 7% compared to September 2023.
Casino And Gaming News
Macau
October
2024
Macau's
gaming revenue jumps 15 percent
Macau's
gaming revenue rose 15.5 percent year-on-year in September,
exceeding analysts' forecast as casinos gear up for
one of China's biggest holidays, which usually fuels
travel to the gambling hub.
Gross
gaming revenue reached 17.25 billion patacas (HK$16.73
billion) for the month, according to data released
by the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau.
The result is compared to the median analyst estimate
of a 14.2 percent increase and has returned to 78
percent of the pre-pandemic level seen in 2019.
The
reporting was still lower than in the previous month,
as September - when children go back to school and
it being a peak typhoon month - is historically a
weak season for Macau.
Expectations
for the Golden Week holiday, which started yesterday,
are high. Advanced bookings for hotel rooms are strong,
with bigger gamblers making reservations earlier than
usual, Citigroup analyst George Choi wrote in a note.
Affluent
players remain able and willing to spend, and the
trend seems to be accelerating, Choi said, citing
a survey of gaming table performances.
Still,
retail sales in Macau have shown signs of weakness.
Lower-spending players appear to be betting less for
the first time since China's reopening from Covid
early last year, according to Choi. It is expected
that this trend will ease as Beijing's recent announcement
of a series of economic stimulus measures boosts disposable
income, he added.
News
Global
Gaming
Eklutna
tribe clears land for anticipated casino
Alaska
A
tribe near Anchorage has begun clearing land for the
possibility that it will soon win federal approval
to build a 50,000-square-foot facility with a tribal
gaming operation. The casino would be the first of
its kind outside Southeast Alaska. The Native Village
of Eklutna has long pursued the idea of building the
gaming hall on 8 acres of land
The parcel is
in Birchwood, about 20 miles northeast of downtown
Anchorage.
News
Julapun
pushes for talks on casino complex plan
Thailand
Deputy
Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat is calling on
all relevant state agencies to discuss the government's
push to allow casinos to operate within entertainment
complexes. He hopes the discussion can be concluded
by the middle of the month. He said the discussion
will focus on the mechanism for tax collection, as
there are restrictions in the State Fiscal and Financial
Disciplines Act that the government must adhere to.
News
Nevada
Sports
Betting Revenue Grows in August
Nevada
sports betting posted August gains in handle and revenue,
total August volume surpassed $455.2 million, a boost
from the $431.6 million bet during the same month
last year. Nevada sports betting operators cleared
$25 million behind a 5.5% August win rate
The
5.5% hold for NV sportsbooks is one of the lowest
this year, though on par with the markets average
win rate of less than 6%.
News
Florida
Slot
revenue rises to $54.9 million in August
Florida
Gaming Control Commission has revealed that the states
non-tribal casinos collected almost $54.9 million
in net slot revenue in August from around $825.6 million
in wagers. Thats a 1.5 percent year-on-year
increase from the $54.1 million generated in August
2023. With 1,236 machines, Harrahs Pompano Beach
Casino, reported as the Isle Casino & Racing at
Pompano Park, led with $9.8 million of the total.
News
Pete
Rose dies at age 83
Pete
Rose, baseballs career hits leader and fallen
idol who undermined his historic achievements and
Hall of Fame dreams by gambling on the game he loved
and once embodied, has died. He was 83. Stephanie
Wheatley, a spokesperson for Clark County in Nevada,
confirmed on behalf of the medical examiner that Rose
died Monday. Wheatley said his cause and manner of
death had not yet been determined. Rose is in the
WWE Hall of Fame (Celebrity Wing) Rose was grabbed
around the neck in a staged skit by the late, great,
Andre The Giant. And yes, there are some WWE themed
slot games, mainly found in Vegas, Atlantic City and
Florida from what the foot soldiers tell us.
News
Australia
Star
Sydney could be worth as little as $8m: Barrenjoey
consultants; Star Entertainments Sydney casino
has emerged as a laggard in the troubled companys
property portfolio with one estimate putting its valuation
as low as $8m!
News
Atlantic
City
Atlantic
City hotels defeat latest class action over casino
room rates
Major
casino-hotel operators in Atlantic City including
Caesars Entertainment and MGM Resorts have persuaded
a U.S. judge to dismiss a proposed consumer class
action accusing them and a revenue management platform
of overcharging for room rentals.
U.S.
District Judge Karen Williams in Camden, New Jersey,
ruled, opens new tab on Tuesday that the consumers
had failed to present enough evidence to let their
price-fixing lawsuit move ahead.
Williams
dismissed the consumers lawsuit with prejudice,
meaning it cannot be filed again. The case was part
of a wave of new lawsuits claiming the use of revenue
management platforms that rely on rivals' data can
be deemed price-fixing.
The
judges ruling marked a second setback for plaintiffs
claiming that major hotels schemed to artificially
jack up room rates. Consumers in a related case have
appealed a Nevada federal judges order dismissing
their lawsuit against Wynn Resorts, Caesars and others.
In
both cases, the plaintiffs alleged hotel owners fed
sensitive internal information such as real-time
price and occupancy data to a shared software
platform that offered pricing recommendations.
The
hotels and the software maker, Cendyn, which was also
a defendant, have denied any wrongdoing.
Representatives
from Cendyn, Caesars Entertainment, MGM Resorts and
Hard Rock on Tuesday did not immediately respond to
messages seeking comment.
The
plaintiffs attorneys in the New Jersey case
at law firms Lite DePalma Greenberg & Afanador;
Burns Charest; and Susman Godfrey did not immediately
respond to a similar request.
The
consumers said in their lawsuit that the hotels used
Cendyns Rainmaker software as
their shared pricing brain that does all
the hard work for them.
They
said while the AI-driven technology at issue
may be fairly novel, the underlying conduct is not.
(Wires)
Casinos/Profile
via Grok
Here's
an overview of the latest updates and trends regarding
casinos as of October 2024, based on the information
available:
Global
Expansion and New Developments:
Jamaica
is re-opening the application period for an integrated
casino-resort license, indicating interest in expanding
its tourism and entertainment offerings through casino
gaming.
Norfolk,
Virginia has given final approval for a new casino
project, which will likely contribute to local tourism
and economy, reflecting a trend where cities are increasingly
seeing casinos as economic development tools.
Japan
and UAE are among the regions moving towards establishing
casino facilities, aiming to attract tourists. However,
these might be restricted to non-locals, a common
practice to control potential social impacts of gambling
within the local population.
New
York continues to explore online gambling legislation,
which could significantly expand the casino industry's
reach in the state by legalizing online casinos.
Economic
Performance:
Nevada,
particularly Las Vegas, reported a slight decline
in casino winnings for August 2024 compared to the
previous year, suggesting possible market saturation
or shifts in gambling preferences towards other forms
like online betting.
Innovation
and Entertainment:
Steve
Cohen, the owner of the New York Mets, has proposed
an $8 billion casino and entertainment complex next
to Citi Field, illustrating how casinos are increasingly
integrated with sports and entertainment complexes
to offer multifaceted experiences.
Technological
and Gaming Trends:
There's
a noted trend towards tightening up on various casino
offerings like comps, free play, and even slot machine
payouts, possibly in response to increased competition
from online gambling platforms and a need to adjust
profit margins.
Online
Gambling continues to grow, with platforms like Ignition
Casino, Cafe Casino, and DuckyLuck Casino highlighted
for their offerings in the U.S. This reflects a broader
shift towards digital platforms, where convenience,
a variety of games, and bonuses are key attractions.
Security
and Social Responsibility:
Casinos
globally are enhancing their surveillance and security
measures, often referred to as "the eye in the
sky," to combat cheating and fraud, ensuring
a safer environment for all patrons.
There's
an ongoing emphasis on responsible gambling, with
various regions implementing measures and support
systems for gamblers, recognizing the potential social
and economic impacts of casino gambling.
Market
Sentiment:
From
posts on X (formerly Twitter), there's a mix of excitement
about new casino developments and concerns over the
tightening of casino offerings, suggesting a complex
relationship between gamblers and the industry.
In
summary, the casino industry in 2024 is witnessing
expansion into new markets, integration with broader
entertainment complexes, technological adaptation
towards online platforms, and a strategic focus on
security and responsible gambling. This reflects an
industry evolving to meet new consumer behaviors,
technological capabilities, and regulatory environments.
(Grok)
Casino News/Profile via Grok
The
term "casino" refers to a facility where
gambling activities take place, which often integrates
with other entertainment options like hotels, restaurants,
and live shows, making it a central hub for leisure
and gambling. Here's an overview based on current
insights and historical context:
Evolution
of Casinos: Originating from the Venetian Ridotto
in 1638, casinos have evolved from exclusive gambling
houses to multifaceted entertainment centers. Today,
they are known for merging traditional gambling with
modern technology, offering everything from classic
table games to digital slots and live dealer sessions.
Modern
Online Casinos: The digital age has ushered in online
casinos, providing an accessible platform for gambling
from anywhere. These platforms, like those highlighted
in recent promotions on X, offer various incentives
such as bonuses for new sign-ups, free spins, and
the integration of cryptocurrencies for transactions,
enhancing user engagement with promises like "deposit
now and receive FREE BTC!" This reflects a trend
towards digital currencies in gambling for increased
security, anonymity, and efficiency.
Cultural
Impact and Controversy: Casinos, both physical and
online, are not without controversy. They're often
discussed in terms of their societal impact, including
issues like gambling addiction. A perspective shared
on X questions the legality and morality of state-run
casinos like Holland Casino in the Netherlands, pointing
out the potential for addiction due to high stakes
gambling, contrasting it with smaller community events
like bingo nights.
Entertainment
Beyond Gambling: Besides gambling, casinos are pivotal
in the entertainment industry, hosting concerts, stand-up
comedy, and even sports events. This diversification
aims at attracting a broader audience, not just gamblers,
enhancing their appeal as comprehensive entertainment
hubs.
Global
Presence: Casinos like Marina Bay Sands in Singapore
and those along the Las Vegas Strip are not just gambling
venues but architectural marvels and economic powerhouses,
contributing significantly to local economies through
tourism.
Technological
and Thematic Innovation: Modern casinos incorporate
advanced technology for surveillance and game fairness,
alongside themes that range from historical to futuristic,
creating immersive environments for visitors.
Community
and Legal Perspectives: There's an ongoing debate
about the accessibility of casinos to locals, especially
in regions where gambling might be viewed as culturally
or legally sensitive. This reflects in discussions
on platforms like X, where the impact of allowing
locals into casinos like in Vietnam is pondered, weighing
tourism benefits against social costs.
In
summary, "casino" in today's context represents
more than just gambling; it's a convergence of technology,
entertainment, and sometimes, societal debate. The
integration of online platforms and cryptocurrencies
is pushing the boundaries of traditional gambling,
making it more inclusive yet sparking discussions
on regulation, addiction, and societal impact. (Grok)
Casino
And Gaming News
Macau
October
2024
Macau's
gaming revenue jumps 15 percent
Macau's
gaming revenue rose 15.5 percent year-on-year in September,
exceeding analysts' forecast as casinos gear up for
one of China's biggest holidays, which usually fuels
travel to the gambling hub.
Gross
gaming revenue reached 17.25 billion patacas (HK$16.73
billion) for the month, according to data released
by the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau.
The result is compared to the median analyst estimate
of a 14.2 percent increase and has returned to 78
percent of the pre-pandemic level seen in 2019.
The
reporting was still lower than in the previous month,
as September - when children go back to school and
it being a peak typhoon month - is historically a
weak season for Macau.
Expectations
for the Golden Week holiday, which started yesterday,
are high. Advanced bookings for hotel rooms are strong,
with bigger gamblers making reservations earlier than
usual, Citigroup analyst George Choi wrote in a note.
Affluent
players remain able and willing to spend, and the
trend seems to be accelerating, Choi said, citing
a survey of gaming table performances.
Still,
retail sales in Macau have shown signs of weakness.
Lower-spending players appear to be betting less for
the first time since China's reopening from Covid
early last year, according to Choi. It is expected
that this trend will ease as Beijing's recent announcement
of a series of economic stimulus measures boosts disposable
income, he added.
News
Global
Gaming
Eklutna
tribe clears land for anticipated casino
Alaska
A
tribe near Anchorage has begun clearing land for the
possibility that it will soon win federal approval
to build a 50,000-square-foot facility with a tribal
gaming operation. The casino would be the first of
its kind outside Southeast Alaska. The Native Village
of Eklutna has long pursued the idea of building the
gaming hall on 8 acres of land
The parcel is
in Birchwood, about 20 miles northeast of downtown
Anchorage.
News
Julapun
pushes for talks on casino complex plan
Thailand
Deputy
Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat is calling on
all relevant state agencies to discuss the government's
push to allow casinos to operate within entertainment
complexes. He hopes the discussion can be concluded
by the middle of the month. He said the discussion
will focus on the mechanism for tax collection, as
there are restrictions in the State Fiscal and Financial
Disciplines Act that the government must adhere to.
News
Nevada
Sports
Betting Revenue Grows in August
Nevada
sports betting posted August gains in handle and revenue,
total August volume surpassed $455.2 million, a boost
from the $431.6 million bet during the same month
last year. Nevada sports betting operators cleared
$25 million behind a 5.5% August win rate
The
5.5% hold for NV sportsbooks is one of the lowest
this year, though on par with the markets average
win rate of less than 6%.
News
Florida
Slot
revenue rises to $54.9 million in August
Florida
Gaming Control Commission has revealed that the states
non-tribal casinos collected almost $54.9 million
in net slot revenue in August from around $825.6 million
in wagers. Thats a 1.5 percent year-on-year
increase from the $54.1 million generated in August
2023. With 1,236 machines, Harrahs Pompano Beach
Casino, reported as the Isle Casino & Racing at
Pompano Park, led with $9.8 million of the total.
News
Pete
Rose dies at age 83
Pete
Rose, baseballs career hits leader and fallen
idol who undermined his historic achievements and
Hall of Fame dreams by gambling on the game he loved
and once embodied, has died. He was 83. Stephanie
Wheatley, a spokesperson for Clark County in Nevada,
confirmed on behalf of the medical examiner that Rose
died Monday. Wheatley said his cause and manner of
death had not yet been determined. Rose is in the
WWE Hall of Fame (Celebrity Wing) Rose was grabbed
around the neck in a staged skit by the late, great,
Andre The Giant. And yes, there are some WWE themed
slot games, mainly found in Vegas, Atlantic City and
Florida from what the foot soldiers tell us.
News
Australia
Star
Sydney could be worth as little as $8m: Barrenjoey
consultants; Star Entertainments Sydney casino
has emerged as a laggard in the troubled companys
property portfolio with one estimate putting its valuation
as low as $8m!
News
Atlantic
City
Atlantic
City hotels defeat latest class action over casino
room rates
Major
casino-hotel operators in Atlantic City including
Caesars Entertainment and MGM Resorts have persuaded
a U.S. judge to dismiss a proposed consumer class
action accusing them and a revenue management platform
of overcharging for room rentals.
U.S.
District Judge Karen Williams in Camden, New Jersey,
ruled, opens new tab on Tuesday that the consumers
had failed to present enough evidence to let their
price-fixing lawsuit move ahead.
Williams
dismissed the consumers lawsuit with prejudice,
meaning it cannot be filed again. The case was part
of a wave of new lawsuits claiming the use of revenue
management platforms that rely on rivals' data can
be deemed price-fixing.
The
judges ruling marked a second setback for plaintiffs
claiming that major hotels schemed to artificially
jack up room rates. Consumers in a related case have
appealed a Nevada federal judges order dismissing
their lawsuit against Wynn Resorts, Caesars and others.
In
both cases, the plaintiffs alleged hotel owners fed
sensitive internal information such as real-time
price and occupancy data to a shared software
platform that offered pricing recommendations.
The
hotels and the software maker, Cendyn, which was also
a defendant, have denied any wrongdoing.
Representatives
from Cendyn, Caesars Entertainment, MGM Resorts and
Hard Rock on Tuesday did not immediately respond to
messages seeking comment.
The
plaintiffs attorneys in the New Jersey case
at law firms Lite DePalma Greenberg & Afanador;
Burns Charest; and Susman Godfrey did not immediately
respond to a similar request.
The
consumers said in their lawsuit that the hotels used
Cendyns Rainmaker software as
their shared pricing brain that does all
the hard work for them.
They
said while the AI-driven technology at issue
may be fairly novel, the underlying conduct is not.
(Wires)
Gaming,
Hotel And Casino News: U.S
September
2024
New
Jersey Internet gambling sets new record at $198M
in revenue, but land casinos lag
Internet
gambling in New Jersey had its best month ever in
August, bringing in over $198 million in revenue even
as most of Atlantic Citys land-based casinos
continued to win less than they did before the COVID-19
pandemic. Figures released Monday by the New Jersey
Division of Gaming Enforcement show that internet
gambling brought in $198.4 million, the highest monthly
total ever recorded in the state and an increase of
nearly 28% from a year earlier. That was the good
news for Atlantic Citys gambling industry.
News
BetMGM
impresses in NFL Week One, Jefferies analyst says
BetMGM
handily outperformed the field in New York state in
the first week of NFL wagering, according to data
published September 15 in a Jefferies Equity Research
investor note penned by analyst James Wheatcroft.
According to Wheatcrofts analysis, BetMGM grew
its handle 54 percent from last year, revenue 24 percent,
and winning margins 8.2 percent. For the market overall,
the handle grew by 14 percent, but revenue dropped
43 percent and margin was down 6.8 percent. FanDuel
recorded a seven percent decrease in handle and 54
percent lower revenue.
News
llinois:
Casino revenue shoots up 3.1% in August after a slow
summer
Illinois
casinos posted positive monthly revenue for the first
time since the spring. The states 15 casinos
combined for a win of $140 million in August, up 3.1%
from Julys total of $135.8 million. Revenue
totals do not include online casinos because iGaming
is illegal in the Prairie State. Illinois is a leading
earner for land-based revenue and sports betting handle
(total amount bet). But, is nowhere to be found in
the world of online casinos. The states legislators
made two attempts to legalize IL online gaming this
year, but both fell short.
News
F1
not moving the Vegas needle, Truist analyst says
F1
stuck in neutral for now, wrote Truist Securities
analyst Barry Jonas, leading off a September 16 investor
note on the subject of Las Vegas room rates. He deemed
them fairly stable but soft into the fourth
quarter. A Truist survey of Las Vegas hotel-room prices
had shown growth in August followed by slowness throughout
the fall. Jonas said these findings were congruent
with MGM Resorts Internationals forward-looking
commentary during its second-quarter earnings call.
Wrote Jonas, While our survey is just one facet
of the market and can change, we note continuing investor
concerns around slowing growth amidst tough comparisons.
News
August
casino revenue $63 million
Virginia
(results) - Lottery Commission - The Virginia Lottery
released its report on casino gaming activity for
the month of August 2024. There are three operating
casinos in Virginia: HR Bristol, Rivers Casino Portsmouth,
and Caesars Virginia. During August, gaming revenues
from Virginia casinos totaled $63.1 million. Hard
Rock Bristol $15.9 million, Rivers Casino Portsmouth
$26.6 million, and Caesars Virginia $20.4 million.
Virginia law assesses a graduated tax on a casinos
AGR, or wagers minus winnings, and $11.8 million in
taxes were paid to the Gaming Proceeds Fund.
News
MGM
getting more solar energy with rural Nevada solar
farm
Nevada
(Las Vegas) - A solar farm in the remote Nevada desert
will double MGM Internationals capacity to use
solar energy. It entered a power purchase agreement
with a utility-scale solar company to use its forthcoming
facility in Lincoln County. The company is expected
to begin using that boost in green energy in 2026.
MGM uses 90 percent renewable energy for 11 of its
Las Vegas resorts daytime needs, the company
said, but the new solar farm and battery storage facility
will power 100 percent of daytime needs and some of
whats needed for nighttime.
News
Three
Strip casinos get new top exec
Nevada
(Las Vegas) - Three casino properties on the Las Vegas
Strip will soon have a new boss following the company
departure of the trios former top executive.
Ken Ostempowski will be assuming the role of senior
vice president and general manager of Paris Las Vegas,
Planet Hollywood and Horseshoe. Ostempowski currently
holds similar roles overseeing The ROW Reno, a three-casino
resort destination in Northern Nevada operated by
Caesars. According to Ostempowskis LinkedIn
profile, he has held executive-level positions in
multiple gaming markets, including Las Vegas, the
Gulf Coast, the Midwest and Colorado.
News
Strip
resort reveals rare tier-match offer
Nevada
(Las Vegas) - For the first time since introducing
a new player rewards program, a Las Vegas Strip casino
is offering to upgrade gamblers loyalty cards
to a comparable level from other casinos. The Venetian
casino-hotel is launching a tier-match promotion that
will allow customers to receive a Venetian Rewards
card status that is on par with or better than what
they currently have with another casino operator.
The Venetian Resort Las Vegas tier-match event
begins Oct. 1, according to a recent email, and will
run through Jan. 1.
News
Boyd
bets big on large sportsbooks even as mobile betting
flourishes
Nevada
(Las Vegas) - The largest sportsbook operated by Boyd
Gaming Corp. may not be the place where everybody
knows your name. But that sentiment is the reason
the company (with its nine Las Vegas casinos) and
other gaming operators continue to invest millions
of dollars into expanding or modernizing large sportsbooks
with massive viewing screens, comfortable seating
areas and food and beverage options. Those expenditures
happen even as more than 65 percent of Nevadas
$8 billion sports gaming industry come through mobile
wagering accounts bets made anywhere outside
the casino. A sportsbook is more than just a
place to make wagers, said Boyd Gaming Vice
President of Race & Sports Bob Scucci. At
our properties, the sportsbook is the place where
people come four or five times a week. Its where
they go to meet their friends and congregate.
News
Opening
sportsbook with Jay-Z at Ocean Casino, Fanatics CEO
Michael Rubin explains Atlantic Citys appeal
Michael
Rubins love for Atlantic City goes back to when
he was about 12 years old. The gambling age
was 18 when I was a kid, the once-small kid
from Philadelphia recalled. I remember when
I was 12 years old, I went to an Atlantic City casino,
to Caesars. It was 40 years ago. I won $2,500. I called
my mom from a pay phone and said, Mom, I got
great news! I just won $2,500! She asked how,
and I said, Im in a casino in Atlantic
City, and she goes, Youre grounded,
get home. Thats my favorite story.
News
A
jobs boon from a casino at Manhattans Hudson
Yards? Experts arent betting on it.
When
casino giant Wynn showed off plans for its Hudson
Yards West casino proposal last month, it enlisted
progressive heavyweights to make the case that the
venture would be a jobs bonanza for poor and working-class
New Yorkers. The endorsements were full-throated and
infused with hope and promise. Leaders from the NAACP,
National Urban League and Win, New York Citys
largest provider of family shelter and permanent supportive
housing, were among the groups that said the proposal
would bring significant career opportunities.
News
Maines
first in-person sports betting bar opens in Portland
Maines
first, in-person sports-betting bar is officially
open. Oddfellahs opened on Market Street
on Friday
The bar has partnered with Caesars
Sportsbook, one of two sportsbooks authorized under
Maines new law to run sports betting, the other
being DraftKings. The founder of Oddfellahs
says theres more to the bar than just sports
betting.
News
IIlinois
Gaming Board renews Rivers Casinos license
The
Illinois Gaming Board on Thursday renewed Rivers Casinos
gaming license as well as Hawthorne Race Courses
master sports wagering license. Both renewals by the
state agency came via unanimous 4-0 votes and are
good for four years, with Rivers now licensed through
August 2028 and Hawthorne through September of that
year.
News
Bellagio
removing trees as F1 prep begins on the Las Vegas
Strip
The
Las Vegas Grand Prix is around the corner and the
Bellagio casino-hotel is days away from starting race
preparations. On Monday, work crews will begin removing
the trees in front of the Fountains of Bellagio along
Las Vegas Boulevard to make room for the construction
of the Bellagio Fountain Club (an F1 spectator area
for VIPs). (Wires, A.I News)
News
Human
Statue Bodyart supplies bodypainted models and roving
performers for The Star: Marquee and Cherry Bar -
25th July 2013
Human
Statue Bodyart supplies bodypainted models and statue
performers for The Star; Marquee Sydney; Johnnie Walker
promotion and Block Party
Human
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Star; Sydney, Australia - 4th September 2013
The
Star: New Years Eve reports from Sydney, Australia
News
Media/Entertainment:
Australia
TV
Week Logie Awards 2024
August
18, 2024
The
Star, Sydney, Australia
Winners
Gold
Logie Award for Most Popular Personality on Australian
Television - Larry Emdur
Best
Drama Program - RFDS, Seven Network
Best
News or Public Affairs Presenter - Ally Langon, A
Current Affair, Nine Network
Best
Comedy Entertainment Program - Have You Been Paying
Attention?, Network Ten
Best
Lead Actor in a Drama - Felix Cameron, Boy Swallows
Universe, Netflix
Beat
Scripted Comedy Program - Utopia, ABC
Best
Current Affairs Program - Australian Story, ABC
Best
Lead Actress in a Drama - Deborah Mailman, Total Control,
ABC
Best
Sports Coverage - FIFA Women's World Cup 2023, Seven
Network
Best
Competition Reality Program - MasterChef Australia,
Network 10
Best
Factual or Documentary Program - John Farnham: Finding
The Voice, Seven Network
Best
Miniseries or Telemovie - Boy Swallows Universe, Netflix
Best
News Coverage or Public Affairs Report - Ben Roberts-Smith:
The Truth, 60 Minutes, Nine Network
Best
Structured Program - Gogglebox Australia, Foxtel and
Network 10
Best
Lifestyle Program - Travel Guides, Nine Network
Bert
Newtown Award for Most Popular Presenter - Larry Emdur,
The Chase Australia and The Morning Show, Seven Network
Best
Supporting Actor - Bryan Brown, Boy Swallows Universe
Best
Lead Actor in a Comedy - Rob Sitch, Utopia, ABC
Graham
Kennedy Award for Most Popular New Talent - Felix
Cameron, Boy Swallows Universe, Netflix
Best
Supporting Actress - Sophie Wilde, Boy Swallows Universe,
Netflix
Best
Children's Program - Bluey, ABC
Best
Entertainment Program - The Voice Australia, Seven
Network
Best
Lead Actress in a Comedy - Kitty Flanagan, Utopia,
ABC
Entertainment
for The Star, Sydney. Creative: Human Statue Bodyart
Media
Man
American,
European and Australian Sports News via Grok; Elon
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News
Joshua
vs Dubois at Wembley
August
31, 2024
The
upcoming boxing event, #RiyadhSeasonCard: Wembley
Edition, features a highly anticipated heavyweight
match between Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois, set
for September 21, 2024, at Wembley Stadium. This fight
is highlighted by Joshua's undefeated record against
British fighters, which he aims to maintain. The event
has been described as potentially historic, with expectations
to break attendance records. Additional tickets have
been released due to high demand, indicating significant
public interest in what is being promoted as an unmissable
event in the boxing calendar. (Grok)
News
Joshua
vs. Dubois Tickets Released
Additional
tickets are now available for the highly anticipated
heavyweight boxing match between Anthony Joshua and
Daniel Dubois, scheduled for September 21, 2024, at
Wembley Stadium. This event, part of the Riyadh Season
Card: Wembley Edition, is expected to set an attendance
record with the stadium's capacity increased to 96,000.
The fight is being promoted as a historic occasion,
with significant interest from boxing fans and includes
a special performance by Liam Gallagher. Promotional
efforts by various boxing organizations and figures
have urged fans to secure tickets for what is described
as a potential heavyweight classic. (Grok)
News
Hamilton
Leads FP2 at Italian GP
During
the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, Lewis Hamilton of
Mercedes set the fastest lap in the second free practice
session (FP2), followed closely by Lando Norris of
McLaren and Carlos Sainz of Ferrari. Ferrari demonstrated
strong performance with both cars in the top five.
George Russell, also from Mercedes, faced delays due
to an earlier crash by Andrea Kimi Antonelli but managed
to place sixth. McLaren also showed promising pace
with Norris in second and Piastri in fourth. Red Bull
Racing encountered issues, with Max Verstappen experiencing
a lock-up and the team addressing concerns about top
speed. The session highlighted intense competition
among Mercedes, McLaren, and Ferrari, setting up an
anticipated close qualifying session. Despite his
crash, Antonelli provided valuable data to his team.
(Grok)
News
Antonelli
Crash Halts FP1 at Italian GP
During
the first practice session (FP1) at the Italian Grand
Prix in Monza, rookie driver Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes
experienced a significant crash at the Parabolica
corner, leading to a red flag. Despite initially setting
the fastest lap, Antonelli's session ended prematurely
with his car heavily damaged, though he was reported
to be unharmed. Max Verstappen from Red Bull Racing
set the fastest time of the session, demonstrating
strong performance. The incident also impacted Antonelli's
teammate George Russell, who had to wait for repairs
before participating in FP2. Other teams like McLaren
and Ferrari also reported on their performances, with
McLaren's drivers in the top five and Ferrari's drivers
finishing second and fourth. (Grok)
News
COTA
Hosts First Hypercar and LMGT3 Practice
The
FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) is currently
hosting the 6 Hours of COTA, also known as Lone Star
Le Mans, at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin,
Texas. This event marks the first time Hypercars and
LMGT3 cars are racing together at this track. Notable
participants include teams from Porsche, Toyota Gazoo
Racing, Ferrari, Jota Sport, and Aston Martin. During
the first practice session (FP1), Porsche Penske Motorsport's
#5 car, driven by Matt Campbell, set the fastest lap
time of 1:53.574. The event also introduced specially
equipped safety cars, including a Porsche 911 Turbo
S with lightweight wheels. This race is significant
for its competitive field and its strategic importance
in the championship standings. (Grok)
News
WEC's
Historic Hypercar Race at COTA
The
FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) is currently
hosting the 6 Hours of COTA race at the Circuit of
the Americas in Austin, Texas, marking a significant
event as it features both Hypercars and LMGT3 cars
racing together for the first time at this venue.
Prominent teams like Toyota GAZOO Racing, Porsche
Motorsport, Ferrari Hypercar, and Peugeot Sport are
participating, showcasing new models such as the Peugeot
9X8. The event highlights include experienced drivers
like Andre Lotterer, who is aiming for another podium
finish with an impressive track record at COTA, and
the debut of new car models. Activities during the
practice sessions involved teams adjusting setups,
changing drivers, and adapting to track conditions,
drawing considerable attention to the competitive
spirit of endurance racing. (Grok)
News
Rhea
Ripley Showcases Ink in WWE Tattooed Series
Rhea
Ripley, a prominent WWE wrestler, was featured in
a special segment titled 'WWE Tattooed,' where she
showcased her extensive tattoo collection. This episode
included a photoshoot and discussions about her tattoos,
engaging fans with insights into her personal style
and past rivalries, notably with Charlotte Flair.
Ripley also shared stories about her fans' enthusiasm
for her tattoos, particularly highlighting their reaction
to a recent addition to her scorpion tattoo. The segment
received positive feedback, enhancing Ripley's popularity
within the WWE community. Additionally, Ripley discussed
a time she got a matching tattoo with fellow wrestler
Toni Storm, further personalizing her connection with
fans and colleagues. (Grok)
News
WWE
vs. AEW: Talent Pay Debate
The
professional wrestling industry is currently embroiled
in a debate over wrestler compensation, sparked by
AEW's high-paying contracts to Swerve Strickland and
Daniel Garcia. WWE has criticized these contracts,
suggesting they exceed market value and could inflate
salary expectations industry-wide, potentially harming
the sport. Conversely, many fans and industry figures
support AEW's approach, arguing that wrestlers deserve
higher compensation due to the physical demands of
their job. This perspective sees AEW's strategy as
fostering a competitive market that might lead to
better overall compensation in wrestling. Critics
of WWE's stance argue that their reluctance to match
AEW's offers undervalues talent and could impact WWE's
ability to retain or attract top wrestlers. The discussion
reflects broader issues about wrestler worth, the
economics of wrestling promotions, and the effects
of competition on talent contracts. (Grok)
News
WWE
Criticizes AEW Contracts as Overspending
Professional
wrestlers Swerve Strickland and Daniel Garcia have
signed lucrative contracts with All Elite Wrestling
(AEW), which WWE views as detrimental to the wrestling
industry, claiming the salaries exceed market value.
This perspective has ignited a debate about compensation
in wrestling. Supporters of higher pay argue that
wrestlers, who endure significant physical tolls,
deserve substantial compensation, akin to athletes
in other major sports. Critics of WWE's stance believe
the company's opposition stems from a reluctance to
increase their own payroll, potentially driven by
profit considerations rather than the welfare of the
performers. The situation underscores broader issues
of pay equity and the impact of competition on industry
standards, with some seeing AEW's strategy as beneficial
for raising overall compensation levels in wrestling.
(Grok)
News
Swerve
Strickland's Lucrative AEW Deal
Swerve
Strickland has signed a lucrative contract with AEW,
placing him among the highest-paid wrestlers alongside
stars like Kazuchika Okada and Mercedes Moné.
This deal has stirred debate within the wrestling
community, particularly from WWE, which considers
the contract to exceed the perceived market value
significantly. Critics from WWE argue that such high
compensation could inflate industry salary expectations,
potentially forcing WWE to increase its own wrestlers'
pay. However, supporters of the deal highlight the
physical demands and lack of off-season in wrestling,
suggesting that wrestlers deserve substantial compensation.
This situation underscores broader issues regarding
talent compensation, market value assessments, and
the competitive dynamics between AEW and WWE in the
professional wrestling landscape. (Grok)
News
Swerve's
AEW Deal: Highest in Pro Wrestling
Swerve
Strickland has recently signed a lucrative contract
with All Elite Wrestling (AEW), reportedly placing
him among the highest-paid wrestlers in the industry,
comparable to stars like Kazuchika Okada and Mercedes
Moné. This deal, extending through September
2029, has drawn criticism from WWE officials, who
argue that the financial terms are excessively high
and could set an unsustainable precedent for wrestler
salaries. Despite WWE's contention that Strickland's
market value does not justify such compensation, many
fans and industry observers believe his performances
and popularity warrant his high salary. Additionally,
WWE's critique coincides with their unsuccessful attempts
to reacquire Strickland and recruit other talents
like Daniel Garcia, who chose to remain with AEW.
This situation highlights a competitive landscape
where wrestler contracts are becoming more financially
rewarding. (Grok)
News
Strickland's
AEW Deal Stirs Market Controversy
Swerve
Strickland has signed a lucrative contract with AEW,
placing him among the highest-paid wrestlers alongside
stars like Kazuchika Okada and Mercedes Moné.
This deal has sparked controversy within the wrestling
industry, particularly from WWE, who argue that such
high compensation sets an unsustainable market value
for wrestlers. Critics suggest WWE's stance might
stem from their own financial interests, particularly
after releasing Strickland only to see him succeed
elsewhere. Supporters of high-value contracts highlight
the physical toll on wrestlers and argue they deserve
substantial pay. This situation underscores ongoing
debates about wrestler compensation, market dynamics,
and the competitive landscape between WWE and AEW.
(Grok)
News
Jon
Jones Defiant on Aspinall Fight
Jon
Jones, the UFC heavyweight champion, has publicly
expressed confidence in defeating Tom Aspinall, the
interim champion, but has chosen to fight Stipe Miocic
instead. This decision has sparked debates about Jones's
legacy and his avoidance of Aspinall, with critics
arguing that Jones should defend his title against
the interim champion who has actively defended his
belt. Jones, however, insists that his legacy is secure
regardless of the fight outcome, highlighting his
long-term dominance in the sport. Discussions also
touch on Jones's past, including his performances
and controversies like failed drug tests, questioning
whether his refusal to fight Aspinall might affect
his reputation or if his established record justifies
his choices. (Grok)
News
McAfee
Donates $1M to WVU NIL Collective
Pat
McAfee, a former NFL player and West Virginia University
alumnus, hosted a live broadcast of his show in Morgantown,
West Virginia, creating significant local excitement.
The event was so anticipated that local schools closed
due to expected traffic congestion, and a large crowd
gathered. During the show, McAfee announced a $1 million
donation to West Virginia's Name, Image, and Likeness
(NIL) collective, the Country Roads Trust, to support
student-athletes. The event featured appearances by
notable figures including Nick Saban and highlighted
the enthusiasm of WVU fans, particularly for quarterback
Garrett Greene. This live show not only boosted local
spirit but also emphasized McAfee's ongoing influence
and connection to his alma mater. (Grok)
News
McAfee
Hosts Massive WVU Live Show
Pat
McAfee, a former NFL kicker and West Virginia University
alum, hosted a live broadcast of his show in Morgantown,
creating significant local excitement. The event was
so anticipated that local schools closed due to expected
traffic congestion. McAfee's show attracted a crowd
reportedly larger than those seen at major college
football events like College GameDay. During the broadcast,
McAfee announced a $1 million donation to West Virginia's
NIL collective, the Country Roads Trust, to support
student-athletes. The event featured appearances by
notable figures including Nick Saban, who discussed
the challenges West Virginia faces in their upcoming
game against Penn State. The atmosphere in Morgantown
was described as electric, reflecting high expectations
for the football season opener. (Grok)
News
College
Football Season Kickoff
The
2024 College Football Season is kicking off with significant
attention on several fronts:
New
Kickoff Rule: College football is studying the new
NFL kickoff rule during the 2024 season, aiming to
make the play safer while maintaining its excitement.
This rule, inspired by the XFL, adjusts where players
line up and when they can move, promoting more returns
but with reduced high-speed collisions.
Marquee
Matchups: The season starts with several high-profile
games. Notably, LSU faces USC in the Vegas Kickoff
Classic on September 1, a game that's drawing considerable
betting interest. Other early games include Georgia
vs. Clemson and Florida vs. Miami, setting the stage
for what's expected to be a competitive season.
Team
Preparations and Expectations:
Penn
State is entering the season with new coordinators
and high hopes for making the College Football Playoff,
focusing on the progression in their quarterback room.
Michigan
State under new leadership with head coach Jonathan
Smith, looks to redefine its play.
Colorado,
led by Deion Sanders, has already begun its season
against North Dakota State, unveiling new uniforms
and showcasing key players like Travis Hunter.
Player
Spotlight:
Players
like Oregon's Dillon Gabriel are on the watch for
breaking records, with expectations high for quarterbacks
returning from injuries like Cam Rising of Utah and
Riley Leonard, now at Notre Dame.
Game
Day Insights: From X posts, there's a buzz about the
start of the season with live updates, game previews,
and fan reactions, indicating high excitement and
engagement from the community.
Cultural
Impact and Media: The season's kickoff is not just
about the games but also the cultural phenomenon,
with extensive media coverage, fan events in places
like Las Vegas, and discussions around team strategies,
player health, and the future of college football
formats.
This
season promises to be intriguing with new rules, team
dynamics, and the ever-present quest for the College
Football Playoff, capturing the attention of fans
and bettors alike as teams and players aim to make
their mark. (Grok)
News
Sea
Eagles Triumph Over Bulldogs
The
Manly Warringah Sea Eagles achieved a significant
victory over the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs with
a final score of 34-22 at Accor Stadium. This win
marked Manly's 10th victory in their last 11 encounters
against the Bulldogs. The match was notable for Manly's
strong performance, highlighted by plays from Haumole
Olakau'atu and a late try by Mahoney, despite a concerning
injury to Tom Trbojevic who left the field with a
bleeding right arm. Bulldogs fans and players, while
disappointed, remain optimistic, pointing to their
team's overall successful season and their standing
in the finals. Discussions following the game focused
on player performances, the impact of the result on
team standings, and strategies moving forward in the
NRL season. (Grok)
News
Bulldogs
Slip, Sea Eagles Soar
The
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs suffered a significant
loss against the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles in the
NRL, with the final score at 34-22 favoring Manly.
This match was pivotal as it highlighted various aspects
of both teams' performances and strategies. Manly's
victory was marked by strong individual performances,
notably by Haumole Olakau'atu, and strategic plays
that capitalized on controversial referee decisions,
including a non-enforced sin bin for Manly's Tom Trbojevic.
The Bulldogs, on the other hand, faced challenges
including fatigue from extensive travel and a reshuffled
backline, which might have contributed to their subpar
performance. Despite the loss, Bulldogs' fans and
commentators remained optimistic, viewing the game
as a learning opportunity and a chance for the team
to regroup. Manly's win has significant implications
for their pursuit of a home final, while the Bulldogs'
chances of securing a top-four position were impacted.(Grok)
News
All-Australian
Team 2024 Selection Controversy
The
2024 AFL All-Australian team selection has ignited
significant debate among fans and analysts, focusing
on the criteria and composition of the team. Traditionally
comprising 22 players, this year's selection faced
scrutiny for its inclusion of players from underperforming
teams like the West Coast Eagles, and the exclusion
of others who had standout seasons. Critics argued
over the balance between positional requirements and
individual merit, suggesting a shift towards selecting
purely the best 22 players regardless of their position.
Notable controversies included the omission of players
like Charlie Curnow and Tom Papley, while players
like Nick Daicos and Marcus Bontempelli were celebrated
for their performances, with Daicos being named the
AFL Coaches Association Champion Player. The selection
process was criticized for potential biases, prompting
discussions on how the All-Australian team could better
reflect the season's top performers. Despite the controversies,
the team's announcement highlighted achievements like
Ollie Dempsey winning the Rising Star award and Marcus
Bontempelli receiving the Leigh Matthews Trophy for
the Most Valuable Player. (Grok)
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Hotel,
Casino and Resort News: UAE
June
- July 2024
Wynn
positioning itself as best-in-class in
free cash flow margin as it funds UAE project, analyst
says
Wynn
Resorts is well positioned to fund its integrated
resort project in the United Arab Emirates and position
itself as the best-in-class in free cash
flow margin in global gaming, according to note to
investors from CBRE Credit Research Director Colin
Mansfield. CBRE estimates Wynn Al Marjan Island will
be de-leveraging to Wynn on a pro forma basis relative
to its 2026 estimates, declining to about 4.2x gross
lease-adjusted leverage at project maturity.
News
Feature
The
First Casino Near Dubai Sparks a New Gold Rush
Four
artificial islands in the Persian Gulf sat mostly
empty for the past decade. Now, every lot is sold
and cranes are everywhere.
Barely
a year after Las Vegas casino operator Wynn Resorts
Ltd. announced plans for a $4 billion resort in the
United Arab Emirates, the area is crawling with construction
workers erecting five-star resorts, shops and $7 million
villas in what developers expect will become a major
tourist hotspot.
Before
that deal, the artificial Marjan islands off the emirate
of Ras Al Khaimah, or RAK, had spent most of the past
decade as a lost opportunity, a 2.7 square-kilometer
(1 square mile) white elephant largely unused after
a $1 billion football-themed resort and related Real
Madrid academy was scrapped for the site.
These
days, every lot is sold and cranes are rising faster
than the morning desert heat. Hoardings around construction
sites are plastered with signs advertising the coming
homes. At least 20 developers have projects in various
stages of design and construction on the islands,
said Abdulla Al Abdouli, chief executive officer of
the state entity that developed them. He expects most
projects to be completed within just six years.
The
new construction will cost billions of dollars, he
says. But even hes not sure exactly how many.
Anticipating
the rush of new visitors, the emirates small
international airport is planning to build a new terminal
to boost capacity to 2 million passengers a year by
2027, almost triple the some 700,000 travellers anticipated
this year. About one-third of the worlds population
lives within a four-hour flight.
Ras
Al Khaimah, which means the head of the tent in Arabic,
has a 40 mile coastline on the Persian Gulf and until
now has largely catered to Russian tourists looking
for a cheaper alternative to Dubai. The Marjan islands,
roughly half the size of Dubais famous Palm
Jumeirah, were completed in 2013.
On
the island where Wynn is building its planned casino
and resort, activity is going full speed. A dozen
cranes hover over whats to be among the companys
largest developments, at 1,500 rooms. Access to the
island is restricted only to workers until the site
opens to the public in 2027.
The
Wynn casino and resort has been a game changer for
Marjan, said Khalid Bin Kalban, the CEO of Dubai
Investments PJSC, which is building a hotel and a
residential community there. Everyone is there
in anticipation that RAKs tourism will grow
rapidly with the casino. Its about the gaming,
the shows, the hotels. Youre essentially bringing
a mini-Vegas to Ras Al Khaimah.
The
introduction of casinos would be a step change for
the UAE, where gambling is prohibited under Islam
and is illegal in the country: Offenders can be fined
or sentenced to two years in prison or both.
No casinos exist in the six Gulf Cooperation Council
countries, although they can be found in Lebanon and
Egypt. The UAE has created an authority to provide
a framework for legalized gaming, although no laws
legalizing it have been passed so far.
It
took decades to make Las Vegas what it is today, but
officials here are thinking more ambitiously.
Marjan,
the owner of the islands, is looking to build about
9,000 hotel rooms and a similar number of homes to
add to the existing properties. The islands currently
host six hotels with a total of 3,052 rooms along
with around 3,000 apartments, many of which are serviced,
including JW Marriott and Rixos. Las Vegas has almost
155,000 hotel rooms; some 10% of that total will exist
here within a generation.
But
for the emirate, which welcomed 1.2 million visitors
last year, the existing supply sharply lags demand,
said Al Abdouli, the CEO of Marjan. With about 8,000
rooms, the opportunity for developers is there to
grow the market and attract new visitors, he added.
Marjan
Island is different from the daily hustle and bustle
of being in downtown Dubai or Abu Dhabi, said
Al Abdouli. Its a getaway. Many of the
visitors come from other parts of the UAE for staycations.
There are mountainous areas for hiking, biking, triathlons
and beaches. But the Wynn resort will be a catalyst
like no other in the UAE.
Prices
have exploded, and for the lucky few who bought early
the returns have been spectacular. Bin Kalban said
prices per square foot not long ago were 300 dirhams
($82), but now you cant find anything below
800 dirhams.
At
the moment Ras Al Khaimah has 12 hotels in the planning
stage along with seven in construction, according
to CoStar, a London-based provider of real estate
data and analytics.
The
broader emirate of Ras Al Khaimah today has an old
Arabia vibe, mainly a vast expanse of red sand dunes
with sparse vegetation. Its a far cry from Dubais
skyscrapers and traffic jams some 70 miles down the
road.
In
the race to develop tourism destinations, Ras Al Khaimah
has an advantage over Saudi Arabia. Alcohol is legal,
and scores of Russian and Chinese tourists already
visit the emirate, despite the limited number of hotels.
The casino will help attract the gamblers but will
also lure families looking for a slice of Vegas in
the desert without the trans-Atlantic flight.
Still,
for Ras Al Khaimah to become a sustainable destination,
more investment is needed in the areas infrastructure,
along with restaurants and retail, to support a steady
stream of visitors.
Theres
a plethora of different things that are required,
said Philip Barnes, chief executive officer of Abu
Dhabi-based Rotana Hotels & Resorts. Thats
why I think when people are looking at tourism or
hotels, youve got to look at big picture. Where
do you want to be and where do you have the infrastructure?
Its great to get into a destination that is
developing because it allows you to get a foothold.
But youve got to be cognizant of the development
of facilities and supporting infrastructure, he added.
There
are no public transport options, for example, to visit
the Marjan islands from Dubai.
Las
Vegas, contrary to what most people think, is not
about gambling, its about conventions,
he said. The Sphere, this new concert arena
that theyve opened, drives traffic into that
city because they bring big names in with big impact
on the economy. Its not just about the people
coming in for the concert, its the hotels, its
the restaurants, its the retail. When youre
looking at tourism as a whole you have to understand
the whole picture.
Even
without that, developers are racing to complete property
as soon as they can. A typical four-bed villa on the
island costs 6 million dirhams ($1.6 million), while
top-end luxury houses here can reach 40 million.
Emaar
Properties PJSC, developer of the worlds tallest
tower in Dubai, is building luxury apartments and
townhouses, with its marketing touting its site near
the upcoming casino. The Address Residences, starting
at 1.8 million dirhams, will include apartments ranging
from one to four bedrooms and the community will include
gyms, pools and restaurants on the islands sandy
white beaches.
Abu
Dhabis largest developer tied up with international
luxury beach club, Nikki Beach, to develop three branded
residential buildings, and the first batch of 570
homes was sold within hours amid strong demand from
overseas and expatriate residents. Another development,
Rosso Bay Residences, has also been sold in an emirate
thats trying to lure the wealthy with various
plans.
Abu
Dhabi National Hotels last year started building a
1,000-room luxury resort on 1 million square feet
of land thats set to be completed next year.
A US-based private developer, WOW Properties, has
broken ground on 474 homes to be serviced by JW Marriott,
along with a 264-room hotel at a total cost of 4.8
billion dirhams. And Britains Aston Martin has
partnered with Saudi Arabian developer Dar Global
to design the interiors of luxury homes that are part
of a $250 million beachfront residential community
to be completed by 2028.
The
momentum of so many developers building at once is
going to create more and more synergies,
Bhupender Patel, co-CEO of WOW Resorts, said in an
interview. The whole markets about to
take off like youve never seen a market take
off in this part of the world. (Wires, AI News)
U.S
Casino, Gaming And Sports Business News
April
2024 casino, igaming, sports and VLT revenue
Arkansas
GGR rose 10.7% to $61.6 million. Gaming Commission,
6-24
Colorado
casino revenue rose 9.5% to $144.0 million. Gaming
Commission, 6-24
Connecticut
gaming rose 24.6% to $133.5 million. Gaming Commission,
6-24
Delaware
gaming revenue rose 11.9% to $43.1 million. Gaming
Commission, 6-24
Illinois
gaming revenue rose 10.3% to $402.0 million. Gaming
Board, 6-24
Indiana
gaming revenue rose 10.3% to $254.0 million. Gaming/Racing
Commission, 6-24
Iowa
casino revenue rose 3.4% to $165.6 million. Gaming
Commission, 6-24
Kansas
GGR rose 13.4% to $53.1 million. Gaming Commission,
6-24
Kentucky
HHR win rose 19.5% to $66.6 million. Racing Commission,
6-24
Louisiana
gaming revenue rose 1.7% to $303.0 million. Gaming
Commission, 6-24
Maine
gaming revenue rose 22.2% to $16.5 million. Gaming
Commission, 6-24
Maryland
gaming revenue ros e 5.6% to $224.1 million. Gaming
Commission, 6-24
Massachusetts
gaming revenue fell 2.8% to $155.0 million. Gaming
Commission, 6-24
Michigan
gaming revenue rose 21.0% to $352.5 million. Gaming
Commission, 6-24
Mississippi
gaming revenue fell 0.7% to $211.6 million. Gaming
Commission, 6-24
Missouri
gaming revenue rose 1.2% to $162.9 million. Gaming
Commission, 6-24
Nebraska
casino revenue rose 50.0% to $9.5 million. Racing/Gaming
Commission, 6-24
Nevada
gaming revenue rose 2.4% to $1.320 billion. Gaming
Commission, 6-24
New
Jersey gaming revenue rose 8.3% to $510.0 million.
Gaming Commission, 6-24
New
York gaming revenue rose 15.1% to $473.0 million.
Gaming Commission, 6-24
Ohio
gaming revenue rose 7.1% to $271.5 million. Gaming/Lottery
Commission, 6-24
Pennsylvania
gaming revenue rose 8.6% to $520.9 million. Gaming
Commission, 6-24
Rhode
Island gaming revenue rose 3.3% to $61.3 million.
Gaming Commission, 6-24
South
Dakota gaming revenue rose 4.2% to $41.8 million.
Gaming/Lottery Commission, 6-24
Virginia
gaming revenue rose 33.9% to $161.7 million. Lottery
Commission, 6-24
Total
national gaming revenue rose 8.7% to $6.118 billion.
CDC Gaming Reports, 6-24
Year-to-date
gaming revenue rose 7.6% to $30.064 billion. CDC Gaming
Reports, 6-24
The
other categories:
Macau
gaming revenue rose 29.7% to $2.5 billion. Reuters,
6-1-24
Igaming
revenue rose 20.2% to $634.5 million. CDC Gaming Reports,
6-24
Sports
betting revenue rose 24.8% to $971.4 million. CDC
Gaming Reports, 6-24
Horse
racing handle rose 0.5% to $1.4 billion. Racing Biz,
6-24
Dow
Jones Industrials rose 2.3% to 38,686.32. Yahoo Finance,
5-31-24
Adams
Index rose 3.2% to 942.22. CDC Gaming Report, 4-30-24
News
The
results by jurisdiction
Arkansas
had a total of $61.6 million in GGR in May 2024, up
from $55.6 million in 2023. From the three reporting
casinos, casino revenue was $58.1 million as compared
to $53.4 million in 2023. Sports GGR was $3.5 million
in 2024 and $2.2 million in 2023. Sports handle for
the month was $39.8 million, up from $22.7 million
a year ago.
Colorado
casino and sports revenue in May was $144.0 million
compared to $124.1 million in 2023. Casino win for
May 2024 was $99.1 million and $92.7 million in 2023;
slot GGR was $84.9 million versus $79.4 million in
2023. Black Hawk reported $75.8 million, Cripple Creek
$16.1 million, and Central City $7.1 million. Sports
GGR was $44.9 million versus $31.4 million. Handle
was $447.5 million compared to $360.3 million.
Connecticut
total gaming revenue for May was $133.5 million, up
from $107.1 million in 2023. Slot revenue in May was
$70.1 million compared to $65.6 million in 2023; igaming
revenue was $46.3 million compared to $26.4 million
in 2023, while sports betting generated $17.1 million
on a handle of $163.6 million compared to GGR of $15.1
million and handle of $109.4 million in May 2023.
Illinois
combined casino and VLT revenue in May was $402.0
million as compared to $364.2 million in 2023. The
states 15 casinos reported $143.8 million in
win compared to 13 casinos reporting $122.0 million
in 2023. Slot revenue in 2024 was $107.2 million,
up from $92.3 million; table games generated $36.5
million as compared to $29.6 million. In 2024, 1,058,189
people were admitted to the casinos as compared to
872,629 in 2023. The May VLT win was $258.2 million
compared to $242.2 million in 2023. There were 47,985
units in 2024 and 45,890 in May 2023.
Indiana
sports and casino combined revenue was $254.0 million
in May as compared to $230.1 million in 2023. The
states 12 casinos generated $215.1 million in
casino win as compared to $196.4 million in 2023.
The 14,804 slot machines generated $176.9 million
as compared 14,208 slot machines generated $162.1
million in 2023. Table-game win from 610 games was
$38.2 million as compared to 610 games and $34.2 million
in 2023. Sports win was $38.9 million on a handle
of $361.5 million. In 2023, the sports win was $33.7
million on a handle of $283.4 million.
Iowa
combined casino and sports revenue in May was $165.6
million as compared to $160.1 million in 2023. Casino
win was $148.7 million, down from $143.6 million;
slot coin-in was $1.350 billion and GGR was $135.1
million. Table-game GGR was $13.6 million. There were
1,451,817 admissions in May as compared to 1,399,662
in 2023. Sports win was $16.6 million on a handle
of $182.4 million as compared to a GGR was $16.5 million
on a handle of $147.7 million in 2023.
Louisiana
combined sports, casino, and VLT revenue in May was
$303.0 million as compared to $297.5 million in 2023.
Riverboat revenue was $154.7 million as compared to
$153.4 million in 2023. Land-based Harrahs New
Orleans reported a win of $19.9 million, slot machine
win at the racetracks was $29.0 million, and VLT win
from the states 11,959 machines was $64.8 million
as compared to $65.1 million from 12,080 slots in
2023. Admissions to the riverboats, racinos, and Harrahs
New Orleans were 1,676,538 compared to 1,700,132 in
2023. The Shreveport/Bossier market reported $45.3
million in win, down from $46.3 million in 2023; Lake
Charles had $64.1 million compared to $64.7 million.
The New Orleans region had $21.6 million in win versus
$20.3 million and Baton Rouge had $23.5 million as
compared to $21.9 million in 2023. The GGR from sports
betting was $34.6 million on a handle of $256.6 million
as compared GGR of $29.6 million on a handle of $193.5
million in May 2023.
Maryland
combined casino and sports revenue was $212.1 million
in May as compared to $212.1 million in May 2023.
Slot revenue was $121.1 million, table games generated
$51.9 million, and sports GGR was $51.0 million on
a handle of $431.5 million as compared to $111.9 million
from slots, $57.45 million from tables, and $42.7
million from sports on a handle of $328.4 million
in 2023.
For
May 2024, MGM National Harbor generated $71.7 million,
$44.2 million from slots and $27.9 million from table
games; in 2023, MGM generated $72.2 million in total
GGR. Live! Casino GGR was $65.0 million, $47.6 million
from slots and $17.3 million from tables; in 2023,
the total win was $58.9 million. The Horseshoe Baltimore
had $14.7 million in win, a slot win of $10.2 million
and tables $4.4 million; in 2023, the total win was
$17.5 million. Hollywood had $7.8 million, $6.5 million
from slots. Ocean Downs generated $8.3 million, $6.8
million from slots, and Rocky Gap had a win of $4.9
million.
Massachusetts
gaming revenue in May was $155.0 million as compared
to $159.6 million in 2023. Casino revenue was $97.9
million as compared to $98.7 million in 2023. Sports
generated $57.0 million with $587.4 million in handle
versus $60.9 million on a $554.9 million handle in
2023. Encore Boston Harbor generated $61.1 million
as compared to $62.5 million in 2023. Encore slot
revenue was $35.7 million and table games $25.3 million.
MGM had a gaming win of $22.4 million and $23.3 million
in 2023. MGM table-game win was $3.8 million, while
slots contributed $18.5 million. Slots-only Plainridge
Park had revenue of $14.3 million as compared to $12.8
million in May 2023.
Michigan
gaming revenue from casinos, sports, and igaming in
May 2024 was $352.5 million as compared to $291.3
million in 2023. Casino revenue was $111.3 million
as compared to $104.7 million. Igaming revenue was
$198.5 million as compared to $150.5 million in 2023.
Sports wagering revenue was $42.7 million on a handle
of $354.8 million as compared to $36.1 million in
GGR on a handle of $305.2 million in 2023. Mobile
sports generated $40.8 million in revenue from a handle
of $343.6 million.
Missouri
casino revenue in May was $162.9 million as compared
to $160.9 million in 2023. The slot win was $140.2
million from a coin-in of $1.460 billion; table games
won $22.7 million. Admissions were 2,384,136, and
2,376,622 in 2023. By market, the win in May 2024
in the Kansas City region was $57.8 million, up 3.3%
from 2023 and St. Louis $80.1 million, down 1.3 percent.
The Out of State market reported $24.7 million in
win as compared to $24.2 million in 2023.
Mississippi
casino and sports betting revenue in May was $211.6
million as compared to $213.1 million in 2023. Casino
revenue was $209.6 million as compared to $210.2 million
in 2023. Sports win was $2.0 million on a handle of
$27.0 million as compared to GGR of $3.1 million and
$26.7 million in handle. Slot coin-in was $2.239 billion,
with a win of $175.7 million, a 7.8 percent win, as
compared to coin-in of $2.203 billion and a win of
$171.9 million, 7.8 percent. Table-game drop was $161.0
million with a win of $29.0 million and a hold of
19.5 percent, as compared to a table drop of $161.5
million and a win of $31.5 million, 19.5 percent in
May 2023. By region, the coastal casino win was $136.4
million, the northern casinos reported $45.5 million,
and the central casinos won $27.5 million.
New
Jersey casinos and racetracks reported a combined
GGR of $510.0 million in May from casinos, igaming,
and sports betting. The GGR was up 8.3 percent from
$470.9 million in 2023. Casino revenue for the month
was $239.1 million, up 5.2 percent. Slots won $181.2
million, up 4.8 percent, and table game win was $57.8
million, up 6.4 percent. The igaming win was $192.1
million as compared to $161.4 million in 2023. Sports
win was $78.8 million as compared to $82.2 million.
The 2024 sports handle was $838.9 million, as compared
to $788.8 million in May 2023.
Borgata
had a total win of $110.9 million, a casino win of
$61.3 million, internet $43.9 million, and sports
$5.5 million as compared to $111.2 million in total
win last year; casino GGR was $60.5 million, igaming
$44.0 million, and sports $6.7 million. Resorts and
Resorts Digital had a combined win of $84.8 million
with casino revenue of $13.5 million and digital revenue
$71.3 million ($49.2 million from igaming and $22.0
million from sports). Golden Nugget had a win of $68.1
million; casino win was $13.5 million and internet
$54.5 million. Hard Rock won $63.8 million; online
and sports revenue was $16.1 million and casino revenue
$49.8 million. Caesars and Caesars Interactive combined
for $17.8 million. Tropicana posted $39.3 million
and Harrahs $19.8 million. Ballys generated
$23.0 million in GGR as compared to $20.1 million
in May 2023.
New
York gaming revenue from sports, VLT, and casinos
was $473.0 million in May as compared to $410.6 million
in 2023. The sports win was $203.7 million; the handle
was $1.978 billion. The mobile books won $203.3 million
from a handle of $1.972 billion. In May 2023, the
sports GGR was $152.6 million with $1.363 billion
in handle. The VLT revenue was $212.2 million, as
compared to $202.2 million in 2023. Resorts World
reported $62.2 million in gaming revenue, Nassau OTB
$22.3 million, Empire City at Yonkers $53.6 million,
Saratoga Casino $12.6 million, Finger Lakes Gaming
$10.7 million, Hamburg Gaming $6.9 million, Vernon
Downs $3.1 million, Batavia Downs $6.9 million, Jakes
58 $25.5 million, and Resorts World Hudson Valley
$7.4 million. The four casinos reported a win of $57.1
million as compared to $55.3 million in 2023. Resorts
World had a win of $17.0 million, Tioga Downs $9.3
million, del Lago Resort $12.9 million, and Rivers
Casino $17.6 million.
Nevada
casinos reported $1.320 billion in May 2024 as compared
to $1.288 billion in 2023, an increase of 2.4 percent.
The Las Vegas Strip reported $742.8 million in gaming
revenue as compared to $715.9 million in 2023. Las
Vegas welcomed an estimated 3.6 million visitors in
May as compared to 3.5 million in 2023. Harry Reid
International Airport reported 5.2 million passengers
in May as compared to 4.9 million in 2023. There were
461,900 conventioneers as compared to 453,900 in 2023.
Hotel occupancy was 86.1 percent as compared to 84.4
percent in 2023. The average daily room rate was $200.01
as compared to $183.40 in 2023. Las Vegas had 4,109,400
occupied room nights as compared to 3,971,400. Highway
daily vehicle count averaged 137,000.
For
May 2024, downtown Vegas had casino revenue of $74.8
million, the Boulder Strip $84.9 million, North Las
Vegas $24.7 million, and Laughlin $36.9 million. Reno
reported $65.2 million in GGR as compared to $65.9
million in 2023. Sparks casinos won $15.3 million
versus $15.0 million in 2023. The North Lake Tahoe
win was $2.0 million and South Lake Tahoe $17.6 million
as compared to $19.4 million in 2023. The Elko County
win was $33.6 million, Carson Valley area reported
$11.9 million, and the other reported
$18.5 million versus $18.9 million in 2023.
By
game type, the April win in Nevada was: twenty-one
$116.7 million, baccarat $126.3 million, craps $37.7
million, and roulette $44.1 million. Slot machine
win was $886.0 million as compared to $877.8 million
in 2023. In May 2024, Nevadas sports books won
$36.0 million on a handle of $515.2 million; in 2023,
the sports win was $30.0 million on a handle of $527.2
million
Ohio
casinos, racinos, and sports generated $271.5 million
in GGR in May 2024 as compared to $253.65 million
in 2023. In May, the sports GGR was $67.3 million
on a handle of $606.5 million as compared to GGR of
$57.9 million on a handle of $447.4 million in 2023.
Casino revenue in May was $84.5 million compared with
$80.5 million in 2023. The slot win was $62.4 million
and table games $22.1 million. By property, the results
for the four casinos were: Jack Cleveland $21.2 million,
Hollywood Columbus $23.6 million, Hard Rock Cincinnati
$20.4 million, and Hollywood Toledo $19.1 million.
Ohio
racino revenue was $119.7 million, up from $115.2
million in 2023. Belterra Park reported a win of $7.6
million, Eldorado Scioto Downs $19.9 million, MGM
Northfield $26.8 million, Hollywood Dayton $13.3 million,
Hollywood Mahoning Valley $15.0 million, Jack Thistledown
$15.4 million, and Miami Valley $21.5 million.
Pennsylvania
reported total gaming revenue of $520.9 million in
May 2024 as compared to $479.3 million in 2023. By
category, the win from retail slots was $214.1 million,
retail table games $83.1 million, online slots $126.8
million, online tables $44.9 million, and sports $44.2
million in taxable revenue; total sports GGR was $61.85
million, the handle $591.9 million. Online poker GGR
was $2.2 million, retail VLT $3.6 million, and fantasy
sports $1.1 million.
By
property, including retail and online gaming, the
total revenue was Hollywood at Penn $81.6 million;
Parx $56.6 million; Valley Forge $79.5 million; Wind
Creek $46.2 million; Rivers Philadelphia $50.9 million;
Rivers Pittsburgh $32.4 million; Hollywood at the
Meadows $22.3 million; Mount Airy $20.7 million; Mohegan
Sun $19.0 million; Live! Philadelphia $27.2 million;
Harrahs $22.6 million; Presque Isle $9.6 million;
Live! Pittsburgh $9.8 million; Hollywood York $8.8
million; Hollywood Morgantown $8.3 million; Casino
at Nemacolin $2.3 million, Golden Nugget $4.0 million,
Ballys $4.2 million, and Parx Shippenburg $3.2
million.
South
Dakota casino, VLT, and sports revenues were $41.8
million in May as compared to $40.1 million in 2023.
Casino revenue was $13.1 million as compared to $13.0
million in 2023. VLT won $28.4 million and $27.1 million
in 2023 million. In May, South Dakota sports betting
recorded $51,486 in win and $495,491 in handle.
Virginia
reported $161.7 million in GGR in May as compared
to $124.5 million in 2023. Casino GGR was $62.7 million
versus $45.4 million in 2023. Hard Rock Bristol generated
$15.4 million, Rivers Portsmouth $26.9 million, and
Caesars Virginia in Danville $20.2 million. The sports-betting
handle for May was $505.5 handle with a win of $59.9
million. The handle for May 2023 was $403.7 million
with a win of $48.1 million. Historic racing machines
reported $39.1 million in GGR from 2,791 units compared
to $31.0 million in GGR from 2,608 units in 2023.
Igaming
revenue from seven states in May was $634.5 million
as compared to $528.0 million for six states in 2023.
New Jersey reported $192.1 million versus $161.4 million
in 2023, Michigan $198.6 million versus $150.5 million,
Pennsylvania $174.1 million versus $170.4 million,
Connecticut $46.3 million versus $26.4, West Virginia
$17.9 million versus $18.0 million, Delaware $3.9
million versus $1.2 million, and Rhode Island $1.6
million.
Thirty-one
states reported sports betting handle and revenue
for May 2024. The handle was $9.28 billion with a
win of $771.4 million (10.4%) as compared to 27 states
reporting a handle of $6.478 billion with a win of
$742.3 million (11.4%). Ranked by handle, the top
five states were New York $1.978 billion, New Jersey
$838.9 million, Ohio $606.5 million, Pennsylvania
$591.9 million, and Massachusetts $587.4 million.
By win, the top five were New York $203.7 million,
New Jersey $78.7 million, Ohio $67.3 million, North
Carolina $63.0 million, and Pennsylvania $61.8 million.
With Illinois included, the adjusted handle for April
was $11.884 billion and GGR was $1.238 billion. In
April, Illinois reported $1.103 billion in handle
and $169.3 million in GGR. Arizona reported a handle
of $656.3 million and GGR of $64.4 million.
This
May, the gaming industry benefited from a full quota
of extra weekend days and the growth of sports and
igaming. Four new states, Maine, Nebraska, North Carolina,
and Vermont, boosted sports betting handle and win
to $9.2 billion and GGR of $771 million. In 2021,
17 states produced a handle of $3.677 billion and
a win of $268.3 million.
Igaming
had one additional state, Rhode Island. But the real
igaming story is the strength of the organic growth
in Michigan, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Those three
generated $568 million in GGR, an 86 percent increase
from 2021. The $568 million is more than any single
state except Nevada.
Year
to date, the total GGR is $30.0 billion versus $27.9
billion in 2023; igaming GGR is $3.2 billion, up 29
percent, and sports $5.7 billion, up 28.7 percent.
The year-over-year growth rate for the total GGR has
slowed from 20 percent last year to 7.6 percent in
2024. It is still exceptional, better than nearly
any other industry. There are headwinds for the industry
in 2024, but if sports and igaming continue to grow,
gaming is on solid ground. (Credit: CDC, Adams, AI
News)
Gaming,
Hotel, Casino and Sports News: USA
July
2024
American
Gaming Association announces 2024 Gaming Hall of Fame
inductees
The
American Gaming Association Wednesday announced the
Gaming Hall of Fame Class of 2024, honoring three
individuals for their contributions to the industry.
The new members are: Jim Allen, Hard Rock International
Chairman, Seminole Gaming CEO, and former chairman
of the AGA. Alan Feldman, UNLV International Gaming
Institute Director of Strategic Initiatives and Distinguished
Fellow in Responsible Gaming, and a former executive
with MGM Resorts International. Debi Nutton, Everi
Holdings Board Member, executive coach-consultant,
and former casino operations executive. (CDC, AI News,
Wires)
News
Las
Vegas: Downtown Grand hotel-casino seeks buyer
A
downtown Las Vegas hotel-casino is looking for a buyer.
Downtown Grand, the 1,124-room property one block
north of the Fremont Street pedestrian mall, is on
the market, multiple industry sources confirmed. The
property is owned by real estate investment firm CIM
Group and operated by Fifth Street Gaming, a Las Vegas-based
operator whose portfolio includes the Silver Nugget
and Ojos Locos Sports Cantina and Casino in North
Las Vegas and the Golden Tiki restaurant in Chinatown.
Fifth Street Gaming and the propertys agent...did
not respond to multiple requests for comment Tuesday.
News
New
Jersey fines DraftKings $100K for reporting inaccurate
sports betting data to the state
In
one of the most sternly worded rebukes they have ever
issued, New Jersey gambling regulators have fined
DraftKings $100,000 for reporting inaccurate sports
betting data to the state, which it called unacceptable
conduct that demonstrated weaknesses in the
companys business abilities. The errors resulted
in regulators having to post corrected financial data
for several months, something that had not happened
in 13 years. The mistakes involved overstating the
amount of money wagered on multi-tiered bets, or parlays,
and understating other categories of wagers.
News
Golden
Nugget Lake Tahoe hotel renovations set to begin
The
Golden Nugget Lake Tahoe Hotel and Casino is moving
ahead with major renovations under its new owner,
billionaire Tilman Fertitta. Last August, Ferittas
Golden Landrys LLC and GN NV Holdings acquired
the Hard Rock Lake Tahoe from Paragon Gaming with
cash, then rebranded it. Fertittas attorney
Sonia Vermeys with Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck
told the Nevada Gaming Control Board Wednesday that
the her client had always intended to finance the
transaction. In December, the owner of the land entered
into a term-loan agreement with Deutsche Bank.
News
Bermuda
regulators reports show efforts to resolve casino
industry roadblock
Failed
efforts by the Bermuda Gaming Commission to solve
the banking issues that have held up the launch of
a casino industry are described in newly released
annual reports. David Burt, the Premier, finally tabled
the publicly funded regulators reports for 2020
to 2023 in the House of Assembly last Friday, after
falling behind in sharing them with taxpayers. They
shed some light on how the commission has tried to
get banks to handle casino transactions a necessity
for the sector to get up and running but even
the most recent report, for 2022-23, is out of date.
News
Ballys
Chicago secures casino financing, unveils new hotel
design
One
week after taking possession of the Freedom Center
printing plant, Ballys has secured the needed
financing to supplant it with a $1.7 billion Chicago
casino complex on the 30-acre site in River West.
Ballys announced a deal Friday with Gaming and
Leisure Properties, a Pennsylvania-based real estate
investment trust, to provide $940 million to fund
the construction of the permanent casino. In addition,
Ballys has also finalized redesign of its planned
500-room hotel tower, which has been shifted from
north of the casino to the south to avoid damaging
city water pipes along the Chicago River, pending
approval from the citys planning department.
News
Walmart
is preparing major push into lottery sector
At
its annual summit in early April, retail giant Walmart
convened various lottery industry vendors and suppliers
and revealed, more or less: Walmart is preparing a
push from lottery bystander to active participant
and competitor, with plans to launch an app that it
may eventually equip with iLottery capabilities. The
message was conveyed in meetings with the likes of
IGT, Scientific Games, NeoPollard, and others currently
working with the retail behemoth. Walmart representatives
unveiled a slogan aimed at the lottery industry, Be
in it to Win it, according to presentation materials
from the Bentonville, Arkansas summit that were reviewed
by Lottery Geeks.
News
Colorado:
RCI Hospitality pulls casino license applications
in Colorado
Entertainment
company RCI Hospitality Holdings has withdrawn its
applications to operate casinos from the Colorado
Division of Gaming. The company, known for operating
strip clubs and nightclubs like Ricks Cabaret
and restaurants like Bombshells Restaurant and Bar,
also disclosed its intention to develop its share
buyback program. The decision follows the NASDAQ-listed
companys acquisition of three properties in
Central City for potential casino developments, which
will not proceed as planned. The company also intends
to sell other properties that are no longer required,
including a 20,000-square-foot building and another
site initially intended for a 30,000- to 40,000-square-foot
development.
News
Las
Vegas: Tropicana operators take the next step toward
implosion
The
Tropicana is one step closer to coming down, after
property operators submitted a commercial implosion
permit application with Clark County officials on
Thursday. A permit application shows Ballys
Corp., operators of the former Rat Pack-era resort,
want to implode a 22-story concrete tower and a 22-story
steel tower in a single explosive event.
A spokesperson for Ballys said the company is
still expecting an October implosion. No other details
were available. The company tasked with the implosion
will be Controlled Demolition Inc., according to the
application. (CDC, AI News, Wires)
News
Gaming,
Casino and Property News
Nevada
sets May gaming revenue record
In
Case You Missed It
June
27, 2024
Nevada
set a May record with $1.32 billion in gaming revenue.
It was also the eighth highest total in history as
the Strip continues to benefit from a strong events
calendar that boosted hotel occupancy and room rates.
The
$1.32 billion rose 2.5% or $31.6 million versus May
2023. For the year, total win is up 3.2% or $202 million,
according to the Nevada Gaming Control Board.
Of
that, the combined total for the Las Vegas Strip and
the balance of Clark County are up $207.2 million
or 4.9% for the year. The Strip alone is up 3.5% for
the year.
The
Strips gaming win of $742.5 million increased
3.7% or $26.6 million and accounted for 84.1% of the
statewide increase in May. Statewide win excluding
the Strip increased $5 million or 0.9%, according
Michael Lawton, senior economic analyst for the Gaming
Control Board.
Lawton
said the Strip benefited from a very robust event
calendar in May. Harry Reid International Airport
recorded its second highest month in passenger count
in history in May.
The
Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority reported
3.65 million visitors in May, a 4.6% increase over
May 2023s 3.49 million. The LVCVA cited the
Electric Daisy Carnival, which typically attracts
hundreds of thousands of attendees, and convention
attendance of 461,900, up 1.8%.
Lawton
said special events or other items of note included
Canelo Alvarez fighting Jaime Munguia at the T-Mobile
Arena on May 4 for the undisputed Super Middleweight
world title. Justin Timberlake performed at the T-Mobile
Arena for his Forget Tomorrow world tour
on May 10. The Rolling Stones played Allegiant Stadium
on May 11. The MGM Grand Garden Arena featured Pearl
Jam for two nights on May 17-18. Maroon 5 returned
to Dolby Live at Park MGM May 17-31. Garth Brooks
and Adele were both in town for their residencies
at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace for multiple dates
during the month of May. Carrie Underwood returned
to the Resorts World Theatre from May 22-31.
The
strong event schedule helped fill hotel rooms; overall
occupancy was 86.1%, up from 84.4% a year ago. Weekend
occupancy was 93.4%, up from 93.2%. Strip occupancy
hit 88.5%, up from 87%. The average daily room rate
on the Strip was $212, up 9% from $194 a year ago,
according to the LVCVA.
The
Strips slot win totaled $402.9 million and increased
2.6% or $10.1 million with a 6.5% or $306.3 million
increase in coin-in. Slot hold was 7.99% versus 8.29%
last year, Lawton said.
The
Strips games win totaled $339.5 million and
increased 5.1% or $16.4 million and drop increased
4.9% or $100 million. Games hold percentage was 15.8%
versus 15.7% last year.
Strip
baccarat win totaled $122.1 million, but was down
$8.7 million or 6.6%. Volume totaled $758.1 million,
down 2.4% or $18.2 million. Hold was 16.1% versus
16.9%. Total win excluding baccarat increased by 6%
or $35.2 million.
Strip
twenty-one win of $93.2 million increased 17.6% or
$13.9 million. Volumes totaled $615.3 million and
increased 10.43% or $58.1 million. Hold percentage
was 15.15% versus 14.23% last year.
Strip
roulette win of $37.4 million increased 55.5% or $13.3
million. Volumes totaled $185.9 million and increased
28.7% or $41.5 million. Hold percentage was 20.09%
versus 16.63% last year.
Locals
casinos generate $277.7 million in revenue in May,
up 5.1% year over year. Revenue is up 10.3% for the
second quarter compared to a year ago.
Downtown
casinos had $74.8 million, up 1.6% over $73.6 million
in May 2023. North Las Vegas had $24.7 million, up
2.1% over last year. Downtowns occupancy reached
76.1% in May, up from 71.4% a year ago. Room rates
were up 15.4% to $124.92
Elsewhere,
Laughlin had $36.9 million, down 21.4% from $46.9
million a year ago. Mesquite had $16.3 million, up
8.5%. Reno had $65.2 million, down 1.1%. Sparks had
$15.3 million, up 2%. South Lake Tahoe had $17.6 million,
down 9.4%.
Lawton
said Laughlin was impacted by slot-revenue timing
in May 2023, as April 2023 ended on a Sunday and revenue
was subsequently reported in May 2023. Laughlin casinos
also experienced some softness in slot volume, down
5.7% even with an additional weekend day. Total win
of $36.9 million was down 21.4% or $10.1 million.
For the year, Laughlin is down 6.2%. Slot win was
down 23.4% or $10.2 million. Slot coin-in was down
5.7% ($27.9 million), while the hold was 7.2% versus
8.9%.
Statewide,
Nevada sportsbooks won $36 million, up 19.8% or $6
million compared to May 2023 on a hold percentage
of 7% versus 5.7% last year. Sportsbook wagers totaled
$515.1 million, down 2.3% or $12 million compared
to last May, when $527 million was wagered statewide.
Mobile wagers totaled $351.2 million, down 1.9% or
$6.7 million and accounted for 68.2% of total wagers,
Lawton said.
Statewide
slot win of $886.1 million increased 1% or $8.5 million
and coin-in of $12.3 billion was up $501.2 million
or 4.2%. Slot hold percentage was 7.19% versus 7.43%
last year.
Statewide
table, counter, and card games win of $434.3 million
increased 5.6% or $23.1 million and games drop of
$2.9 billion, increased 4.8% or $132.6 million from
May 2023. Games hold percentage was 15.13% versus
15.01% last year.
Statewide
baccarat win of $126.4 million decreased 5.5% or $7.4
million and baccarat drop of $780.3 million decreased
1.8% or $14 million. Baccarats hold percentage
was 16.20% versus 16.84% last year. Statewide total
win excluding baccarat increased 3.4% or $39 million.
This is the first decrease in monthly baccarat win
since June 2023, ending a streak of 10 consecutive
increases.
Statewide
twenty-one win of $116.8 million increased 11.4% or
$12 million. Volumes totaled $788.1 million and increased
12.9% or $90.2 million. Hold percentage was 14.82%
versus 15.02% last year.
Statewide
roulette win of $44.1 million increased 45.9% or $13.9
million. Volumes totaled $217.6 million and increased
24.9% or $43.3 million. Hold percentage was 20.29%
versus 17.37% last year. (CDC, AI News, Wires)
Finance
/ World Business News
Euro,
Gold, Crypto and more via Media Man and FX Pro
A
strong current account surplus may not help euro
The
eurozone's current account surplus climbed to a six-month
high of 31.9bn in December. Analysts, on average,
had expected a decline to 20.3 bn from 22.5 bn the
previous month. The current level was seen in the
eurozone during the relatively benign pre-Covid period
and sometime before Natural Gas prices spiked in the
second half of 2021.
The
normalisation of the surplus is good news for the
single currency, as it means more net capital inflows
into the region. But this growth has been fuelled
by falling imports, which can be the result of lower
commodity and energy prices (which is a very good
thing), but also partly indicative of a slowdown in
domestic demand. This threatens to translate into
economic contraction in the coming months.
The
euro area experienced periods of severe import contraction
in late 2008 and early 2010, and in both cases, the
economy experienced a severe downturn. Back in 2008,
all this was accompanied by the collapse of the euro.
Gold
Gold
rises but within a downward channel
Gold
rallied for the fourth consecutive session to reach
$2023, recovering almost all the losses suffered the
week before on the back of the inflation report. Gold's
ability to rally suggests continued domestic demand,
as some investors are clearly rushing to buy back
any losses.
At
the same time, however, we note that since the beginning
of the year, gold has been characterised by solid
selloffs on the news, forming a smooth downtrend.
In the context of this downtrend, a rise to $2040-2045,
which is the upper boundary of the bearish range,
looks quite acceptable.
The
area around $2035 - the highs of two weeks ago - also
appears to be a crucial intermediate level. Confident
buying from this level would be the first important
signal that the recent correction is over and that
gold is ready to make a fresh assault on the highs.
Much
more important, however, will be the behaviour of
gold as it approaches the $2050 level, where the reversal
of the decline in late January took place.
Consolidation
at this level would confirm the breakdown of the downtrend
and set the stage for a move towards $2100 and the
subsequent renewal of historic highs.
However,
as long as gold is trading within the downtrend, there
is a greater chance of a breakdown or even an acceleration
of the downtrend.
Among
the fundamental factors, the potential for growth
could be provided by the fall in the dollar if Fed
officials show a softening of their position, bringing
the start of interest rate cuts closer.
On
the bearish side, equities could come under pressure
following the optimistic rally in the tech giants
and the news of a sharp slowdown in economic activity.
We also do not rule out the possibility that the recent
support measures for the Chinese stock market and
property sector will cool demand for gold as a safe-haven
for investors from that part of the world.
Cryptocurrency
Crypto
market growth halted amid capital inflows
Market
picture
The
crypto market has corrected 0.46% in the last 24 hours,
fluctuating within a narrow range without a clear
direction. Bitcoin is down 1% but up 3.7% over seven
days, Ethereum is flat for the day but up 10.6% over
the week. The top coins are mixed with BNB +2% and
Solana -2.5%.
Bitcoin
is currently drawing its fourth daily candle with
opening and closing levels close to each other. Such
sideways consolidations are characteristic of strong
bull markets, as opposed to corrective pullbacks on
smoother rallies.
Ethereum
hit local highs on rumours of a positive regulatory
decision before the end of March. Bloomberg analyst
James Seyffarth bet 4 ETH that the SEC will not approve
a spot Ethereum ETF next month.
According
to data from CoinShares, investment in crypto funds
rose by a record $2.452 billion last week, following
inflows of $1.116 billion the previous week.
Bitcoin investments increased by $2.424 billion, Ethereum
by $21 million, Cardano lost $6 million, and Solana
lost $1.6 million.
Since
the beginning of the year, crypto funds have seen
inflows of an impressive $5.2 billion, with total
AUM rising to $67 billion, the highest since December
2021.
News
background
Bitcoin
will see institutional support in the next three to
six months, according to Coinbase. Bitcoin ETFs could
eventually become a major competitor to gold funds.
According to IntoTheBlock, there is an 85% chance
that Bitcoin will reach a new all-time high within
the next six months. Five factors could contribute
to this: the halving of the price, ETFs, monetary
easing, the US election, and companies accumulating
BTC as part of their treasuries.
Former
CIA contractor Edward Snowden, who has been living
in Russia since 2013, called bitcoin the most significant
achievement of the financial system in the entire
existence of money and means of exchange.
Amberdata
admitted that Ethereum will outpace Bitcoin in terms
of growth due to more constructive deflationary policies.
The supply of ETH has been decreasing since September
2022, thanks to the update of The Merge, as well as
the implementation of a mechanism to burn part of
the commissions. During this time, around 0.36 million
ETH, or 0.3% of the total supply of 120 million coins,
have been removed from circulation.
Via
Roy Morgan Research and Media Man social media
Copper,
gold, and Bitcoin rise; Iron ore and oil fall; ASX
to fall in response to selling on Wall Street; US
vetoes Arab-backed UN resolution demanding ceasefire
in Gaza; Assange's lawyers warn that he risks 'flagrant
denial of justice' if he is tried in US
Latest
updates on Key Economic Indicators
21
February 2024
Roy
Morgan Summary
Australian
Dollar: $0.6550 USD (up 0.0011 USD)
Iron Ore Mar Spot Price (SGX): $120.85 USD (down $6.40
USD)
Oil
Price (WTI): $78.27 USD (down $1.02 USD)
Gold
Price: $2,024.37 USD (up $6.43 USD)
Copper
Price (CME): $3.8595 (up $0.0465 USD)
Bitcoin:
$52,059.35 (up 0.35% in last 24 hours)
New
report reveals Roy Morgan is one of Australia's leading
data companies - with in-depth information on millions
of Australians based on their Helix Personas
Market
Research Update
20
February 2024
Roy
Morgan Summary
Roy
Morgan leads the way as one of Australia's leading
data companies. A special in-depth report into Australia's
leading data companies interviewed Roy Morgan CEO
Michele Levine and Executive Chairman Gary Morgan
about the role the company plays in compiling data
and building profiles of different Australians. One
of Roy Morgan's key products is 'Helix Personas' which
profiles people under headings such as "young
and platinum", "smart money", "cautious
conservatives", "fair go", "working
hard" and nearly 50 other personas. For example,
the "young and platinum" group love their
mobile devices and are "always on the hunt for
the shiny, new and cool" and "making the
rent". Their income is around the $64,000 a year
mark and they can often be found "living a conventional
life centred around family".
Roy
Morgan CEO Michele Levine confirmed that the Helix
Personas market segments are based on statistical
information, not data from individual people. "It's
totally ethical. Unlike Facebook or any of these things,
it's not any particular individual", Roy Morgan's
chief executive Michele Levine, said.: 38,582.12 at
3.22pm NY time (down 45.87 points on Friday's close)
Roy
Morgan wins three-year contract to deliver domestic
tourism statistics for Austrade
21
February 2024
Roy
Morgan Summary
From
2025, Roy Morgan will provide Austrade with the world's
best practice survey methodology, big data integration
and modelling techniques to deliver accurate domestic
tourism statistics. Roy Morgan has reimagined the
future of domestic tourism statistics to move Austrade
and its stakeholders to the forefront of tourism intelligence
with a new platform that will drive the future of
Australia's tourism industry, which is estimated to
be worth in excess of $160 billion. Portia Morgan,
the Head of Client Services at Roy Morgan, says that
using face-to-face interviewing, which is the gold-standard
for surveying the population, enhanced with big data
and cutting-edge data science techniques, Roy Morgan
will be delivering a future-proofed system that will
be cost effective, reliable, and accurate. She adds
that Roy Morgan has been delivering survey-based tourism
insights via its Holiday Tracking Survey for 20+ years
and the company is thrilled to be working with Austrade
and the broader industry to provide a deeper of understanding
of how many people are travelling, where they go,
what they do and how they spend their valuable tourism
dollars.
Anti-mining
PM pushes BHP's cash offshore
Roy
Morgan Summary
It
is somewhat hypocritical of the federal government
to flag possible support for Australia's nickel industry,
given that Labor's anti-mining legislation may jeopardise
the expansion of BHP's copper operations in South
Australia. BHP is still likely to proceed with an
expansion, but the previously touted investment of
between $10bn and $15bn is now only a 50 per cent
chance. The new labour laws in the government's industrial
relations reforms mean that BHP is now more likely
to redirect much of this capital investment to its
criticals minerals projects in other countries; rival
miner Rio Tinto is already doing this.
More
than 2.7 million New Zealanders now read newspapers
and magazine audiences surge to over 1.7 million
21
February 2024
Roy
Morgan has released its readership results for New
Zealand's newspapers and magazines for the 12 months
to December 2023. The data shows that 2.73 million
New Zealanders aged 14+ (64.4%) now read or access
newspapers in an average 7-day period via print or
online (website or app) platforms. In addition, 1.71
million New Zealanders aged 14+ (40.3%) read magazines,
whether in print or online either via the web or an
app. The New Zealand Herald is still the nation's
most widely-read publication, with a total cross-platform
audience of 1,720,000 in the 12 months to June 2023
- almost five times as many as the second placed Dominion
Post with a readership of 341,000. Meanwhile, New
Zealand's most widely read magazine is still the driving
magazine AA Directions, which had an average issue
readership of 379,000 during the year to December
(an increase of 63,000 on a year ago).
These
are the latest findings from the Roy Morgan New Zealand
Single Source survey of 6,254 New Zealanders aged
14+ over the 12 months to December 2023.
New
report reveals Roy Morgan is one of Australia's leading
data companies - with in-depth information on millions
of Australians based on their Helix Personas
Market
Research Update
20
February 2024
Roy
Morgan Summary
Roy
Morgan leads the way as one of Australia's leading
data companies. A special in-depth report into Australia's
leading data companies interviewed Roy Morgan CEO
Michele Levine and Executive Chairman Gary Morgan
about the role the company plays in compiling data
and building profiles of different Australians. One
of Roy Morgan's key products is 'Helix Personas' which
profiles people under headings such as "young
and platinum", "smart money", "cautious
conservatives", "fair go", "working
hard" and nearly 50 other personas. For example,
the "young and platinum" group love their
mobile devices and are "always on the hunt for
the shiny, new and cool" and "making the
rent". Their income is around the $64,000 a year
mark and they can often be found "living a conventional
life centred around family". Roy Morgan CEO Michele
Levine confirmed that the Helix Personas market segments
are based on statistical information, not data from
individual people. "It's totally ethical. Unlike
Facebook or any of these things, it's not any particular
individual", Roy Morgan's chief executive Michele
Levine, said.
(Credit:
Roy Morgan Research)
Roy
Morgan Summary
Roy
Morgan leads the way as one of Australia's leading
data companies. A special in-depth report into Australia's
leading data companies interviewed Roy Morgan CEO
Michele Levine and Executive Chairman Gary Morgan
about the role the company plays in compiling data
and building profiles of different Australians.
One
of Roy Morgan's key products is 'Helix Personas' which
profiles people under headings such as "young
and platinum", "smart money", "cautious
conservatives", "fair go", "working
hard" and nearly 50 other personas. For example,
the "young and platinum" group love their
mobile devices and are "always on the hunt for
the shiny, new and cool" and "making the
rent". Their income is around the $64,000 a year
mark and they can often be found "living a conventional
life centred around family". Roy Morgan CEO Michele
Levine confirmed that the Helix Personas market segments
are based on statistical information, not data from
individual people. "It's totally ethical. Unlike
Facebook or any of these things, it's not any particular
individual", Roy Morgan's chief executive Michele
Levine, said.
(Credit:
Roy Morgan Research)
Media
Man
Warrner
Bros
Profile
In
2010, the Warner Bros. Pictures Group broke the all-time
industry worldwide box office record with receipts
of $4.814 billion, which surpassed the prior record
of $4.010 billion (set by the Studio in 2009). Warner
Bros. also established a new industry benchmark for
the international box office with a total of $2.93
billion (marking a record third time of crossing the
$2 billion threshold) and retained its leading domestic
box office ranking with receipts of $1.884 billion.
2010 also marked the 10th consecutive year Warner
Bros. Pictures passed the billion dollar mark at both
the domestic and international box offices. Warner
Home Video was, once again, the industrys leader,
with an overall 20.6 percent marketshare in total
DVD and Blu-ray sales. The companies comprising the
Warner Bros. Television Group and Warner Bros. Home
Entertainment Group remain category leaders, working
across all platforms and outlets, and are trendsetters
in the digital realm with video-on-demand (transaction
and ad-supported), branded channels, original content,
anti-piracy technology and broadband and wireless
destinations.
The
Warner Bros. Pictures Group brings together the Studios
motion picture production, marketing and distribution
operations into a single entity. The Group, which
includes Warner Bros. Pictures and Warner Bros. Pictures
International, was formed to streamline the Studios
film production process and bring those businesses
organizational structures in line with Warner Bros.
television and home entertainment operations.
Warner
Bros. Pictures produces and distributes a wide-ranging
slate of some 18-22 films each year, employing a business
paradigm that mitigates risk while maximizing productivity
and capital. Warner Bros. Pictures either fully finances
or co-finances the films it produces and maintains
worldwide distribution rights. It also monetizes its
distribution and marketing operations by distributing
films that are totally financed and produced by third-parties.
The Studios 2011 slate includes Sucker
Punch, The Hangover Part II, Green
Lantern, Harry Potter and the Deathly
Hallows Part 2, Happy Feet 2
and Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows.
Warner
Bros. Pictures International is a global leader in
the marketing and distribution of feature films, operating
offices in more than 30 countries and releasing films
in over 120 international territories, either directly
to theaters or in conjunction with partner companies
and co-ventures.
New
Line Cinema, part of Warner Bros. Entertainment since
2008, coordinates its development, production, marketing,
distribution and business affairs activities with
Warner Bros. Pictures to maximize film performance
and operating efficiencies. Highlights of New Lines
2011 release slate, distributed by Warner Bros., include
Horrible Bosses, Final Destination
5, A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas
and New Years Eve.
The
Warner Bros. Television Group oversees and grows the
entire portfolio of Warner Bros. television
businesses, including worldwide production, traditional
and digital distribution, and broadcasting. In the
traditional television arena, WBTVG produces primetime
and cable (Warner Bros. Television and Warner Horizon
Television), first-run syndication (Telepictures Productions)
and animated (Warner Bros. Animation) programming,
which is distributed worldwide by two category-leading
distribution arms/operations (Warner Bros. Domestic
Television Distribution and Warner Bros. International
Television Distribution).
Among
the primetime series produced by divisions of the
Warner Bros. Television Group are Two and a
Half Men, The Big Bang Theory, The
Mentalist, Mike & Molly, Fringe,
Gossip Girl, The Vampire Diaries,
Nikita, The Middle, Southland,
The Closer, Rizzoli & Isles,
Supernatural, The Bachelor,
Pretty Little Liars, Randy Jackson
Presents Americas Best Dance Crew and
many more. Also produced by the company are first-run
syndicated programs such as The Ellen DeGeneres
Show, TMZ and Extra,
among others, as well as animated shows Scooby-Doo!
Mystery Incorporated and Young Justice.
WBTVG
is an innovative leader in developing new business
models for the evolving television landscape, including
ad-supported video-on-demand, broadband and wireless,
and has digital distribution agreements in place with
all of the broadcast networks. Internationally, the
Studio is one of the worlds largest distributors
of feature films, television programs and animation
to the worldwide television marketplace, licensing
some 50,000 hours of television programming, including
more than 6,000 feature films and 50 current series,
dubbed or subtitled in more than 40 languages, to
telecasters and cablecasters in more than 175 countries.
WBTVG
provides original shortform programming for the broadband
and wireless marketplace through its Studio 2.0 digital
venture, and its digital media sales unit is devoted
specifically to multiplatform domestic advertiser
sales for both broadband and wireless. WBTVG continues
its strategic expansion into digital production and
distribution with the launch of several advertiser-supported
entertainment destinations, including TheWB.com, a
premium, video-on-demand interactive and personalized
network and KidsWB.com, a premium destination built
around youth-oriented immersive entertainment.
The
final component of WBTVG is broadcasting: The CW Television
Network, launched (in partnership with CBS) in September
2006 with quality, diverse programming, is targeted
to the 1834 audience.
Warner
Bros. Animations combined classic and contemporary
library currently boasts 14,000 animated episodes
and shorts which air on domestic broadcast networks,
as well as cable networks and in direct-to-video releases
around the world. The classic library includes such
brands as Looney Tunes, Merrie Melodies, Hanna-Barbera
and Ruby-Spears as well as such beloved characters
as Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Sylvester, Tweety, Taz,
Tom and Jerry, Popeye, Batman, Superman, the Flintstones,
the Jetsons and Scooby-Doo.
Warner
Bros. Home Entertainment Group brings together Warner
Bros. Entertainments home video (Warner Home
Video), digital distribution (Warner Bros. Digital
Distribution), interactive entertainment/videogames
(Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment), direct-to-consumer
production (Warner Premiere), technical operations
(Warner Bros. Technical Operations) and anti-piracy
(Warner Bros. Anti-Piracy Operations) businesses in
order to maximize current and next-generation distribution
scenarios. WBHEG is responsible for the global distribution
of content through DVD, electronic sell-through and
transactional VOD, and delivery of theatrical content
to wireless and online channels. It is also a significant
worldwide publisher for both internal and third party
videogame titles.
In
2010, Warner Home Video dominated the U.S. market
as the number one company in total sell-through video
(DVD and Blu-ray combined) with 20.6% marketshare,
theatrical catalog, TV on DVD, non-theatrical family
and animation, Blu-ray and VOD. WHV has been the number
one studio in overall DVD sales 14 consecutive years,
and is also the leading studio in the international
home video space.
With
more than 3,700 active licensees worldwide, Warner
Bros. Consumer Products licenses the rights to names,
likenesses and logos for all of the intellectual properties
in Warner Bros. Entertainments vast film and
television library. With a global network of offices
and agents in key regions throughout the world, including
North America, Latin America, Asia and Europe, WBCP
maintains an ongoing commitment to expand and build
the power of its core brands recognition in
the international marketplace through strong and creative
merchandising, promotional marketing and retail programs.
DC
Entertainments DC Comics has been in continuous
publication for more than 60 years, and is the leading
comic book publisher in the industry and the creator
of some of the worlds most recognized icons.
DCs characters continue to headline blockbuster
feature films, live-action and animated television
series, direct-to-video releases, collectors
books, online entertainment, digital publishing, countless
licensing and marketing arrangements and, most recently,
graphic novels. DC continues to attract new readers
and fans all over the world with its signature characters
Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and Justice League
leading the way.
Warner
Bros. International Cinemas provides a true state-of-the-art
movie experience to audiences in Japan with more than
60 multiplex cinemas and more than 600 screens internationally.
One of the pioneers in multiplex development for the
international marketplace, WBIC is continually exploring
new markets for expansion. (Credit: Warner Bros. Entertainment)
Press
Release
09
August 2010
MICROGAMING SET TO LAUNCH THE LORD OF THE RINGS:
THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING ONLINE VIDEO SLOT GAME
First Title to Utilize Proprietary Cinematic Spins
Technology Allowing Players to Experience the Film
with Every Spin
ISLE
OF MAN Microgaming today announced the imminent
launch of a new flagship game, The Lord of the Rings:
The Fellowship of the Ring Online Video Slot Game.
This slot game is the first to utilise Microgamings
new Cinematic Spins technology, allowing gamers
to see clips from the films with every spin.
The
Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring is a
new online slot game that is part of a multi-year
licensing agreement Microgaming signed with Warner
Bros. Digital Distribution in 2009. The company is
developing a series of cutting-edge, graphic rich
video slots based on this popular movie trilogy and
will use animation material, themes, and characters,
from the trilogy of The Lord of the Rings motion
pictures that include The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship
of the Ring, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.
These online slot games will be available to adults
only in countries where online gaming is permitted.
The
Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring is the
first online video slot to use Microgamings
Cinematic Spins state-of-the-art gaming technology.
This allows movie clips to act as moving backgrounds
behind the reels during spins providing players an
unprecedented level of excitement and immersion.
Win sequences and expanding wilds also use cinematic
clips, instead of traditional animated graphics. The
slots feature famous scenes from the film including
Ringwraiths during the attack at Weathertop, Balrog
in the Mines of Moria, and Uruk-hai in the woods of
Middle-earth. Players will also enjoy seeing characters
from the films that include Frodo, Aragorn, Saruman
and the deadly Black Riders.
Roger
Raatgever, CEO Microgaming comments: Microgaming
has always been ahead of the curve with innovative
offerings, but this game really does push the boundaries
of what an online slot can do. The Lord of the Rings:
The Fellowship of the Ring looks and feels like an
extension of the big screen film experience and were
confident that our operators will see a great deal
of demand from their players, when the game is released.
This is an important deal for Microgaming and highlights
our commitment to partner with the right brands, at
the right time. The Lord of the Rings is one of the
most successful and well loved brands on the planet
and we are excited about combining this widespread
appeal with Microgamings groundbreaking software.
The
Lord of the Rings Trilogy generated $3 billion in
worldwide box office receipts and was nominated for
a total of 30 Academy Awards®; of which they won
17, including Best Picture.
-
Ends -
Notes to editors:
*Cinematic Spins is a trademark held by Microgaming
©
2010 New Line Productions, Inc. All rights reserved.
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring,
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, The Lord of
the Rings: The Return of the King and the names of
the characters, items, events and places therein are
trademarks of The Saul Zaentz Company d/b/a Middle-earth
Enterprises under license to New Line Productions,
Inc.
For
further information please contact:
Duncan Skehens / Laura Moss/ Lyndsay Haywood
Lansons Communications
020 7490 8828
DuncanS@lansons.com / LauraM@lansons.com / LyndsayH@lansons.com
Warner Bros. Digital Distribution
Peter
Binazeski
818-977-5701
peter.binazeski@warnerbros.com
About Microgaming (www.microgaming.com)
Since the company developed the first true online
Casino software over a decade ago, it has led the
industry in providing innovative, reliable gaming
solutions. Thanks to an unrivalled R&D programme,
that averages 60 games per year and a unique partnership
approach to working with operators; Microgaming software
powers over 160 market-leading online gaming sites.
The companys front and back-end software supports
multi-player, multi-language games - over 500 of them,
all uniquely branded and provides platforms for land-based
and wireless gaming. Microgaming powers the worlds
largest Progressive Jackpot Network and has paid out
over €265million. In May 2009 it created the
biggest ever online jackpot winner with a single payment
win of €6.37m.
As
a founding member of eCOGRA, Microgaming is at the
forefront of an initiative focused on setting the
highest standards in the gaming industry, and leads
in the areas of fair gaming, responsible operator
conduct and player protection. Microgaming has been
awarded eCOGRAs Certified Software Seal following
a rigorous onsite assessment to ensure that the development,
implementation and maintenance of the software is
representative of industry best practice standards
Microgaming licensees are therefore eligible to apply
for the eCOGRA Safe & Fair Seal.
About
Warner Bros. Digital Distribution
Warner Bros. Digital Distribution (WBDD) manages Warner
Bros. Home Entertainment Group's (WBHEG) electronic
distribution over existing, new and emerging digital
platforms, including pay-per-view, electronic sell-through,
video-on-demand, wireless and more. WBDD also oversees
the WBHEG's worldwide digital strategy, partnerships
in digital services and emerging new clients and business
activities in the digital space.
News
2009
With
Time Warner sitting on $7 billion in cash, the Marvel
deal has ignited rumours of a second wave of consolidation
in the media industry. Dream Works Animation, home
of Shrek, is seen as a potential takeover candidate,
as is MGM with its huge library of classic films.
The games firms Electronic Arts and Take Two Interactive,
with its Grand Theft Auto franchise, are also being
touted as potential buys.
Profile
Warner
Bros. Entertainment, Inc. (also known as Warner Bros.
Pictures, or simply Warner Bros.) is one of the world's
largest producers of film and television entertainment.
It is a subsidiary of Time Warner, with its headquarters
in Burbank, California and New York City. Warner Bros.
has several subsidiary companies, including Warner
Bros. Studios, Warner Bros. Pictures, Warner Bros.
Interactive Entertainment, Warner Bros. Television,
Warner Bros. Animation, Warner Home Video, TheWB.com
and DC Comics. Warner owns half of The CW Television
Network.
Founded in 1918 by Jewish immigrants from Poland,
Warner Bros. is the third-oldest American movie studio
in continuous operation, after Paramount Pictures,
founded in 1912 as Famous Players, and Universal Studios,
also founded in 1912.
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