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Atlantic City’s Ocean Resort Granted New Jersey Casino License

Posted on June 26, 2018 by -

The Ocean Resort in Atlantic City should open as scheduled on June 28 after receiving a casino license from the New Jersey Casino Control Commission just one week before the opening date.

The casino—formerly the Revel casino—was granted a special hearing before the commission last week which ultimately ended with the commission voting to license the facility, but also including 26 conditions recommended by the state’s Division of Gaming Enforcement. The conditions mostly revolve around financial matters.

One of the conditions is that Ocean Resort maintain at least $36 million of liquidity at all times, a condition to which the casino agreed, according to the Associated Press.

Casino officials said the casino plans to gain about 10.5 percent of the Atlantic City market, increasing to 12 percent by 2021, according to the Press of Atlantic City.

The hearing was highlighted by testimony from Bruce Deifik, the head of the Colorado-based group that bought the property from Florida investor Glenn Straub for $200 million in January.

Deifik told the commission he had first made a refundable $10 million investment in the property without ever having visited Atlantic City. His testimony was described by several news outlets as emotional as he described the long fight to see the former casino—which cost $2.4 billion to build—reopen.

“It’s been much harder,” the Philadelphia Inquirer quoted Deifik as saying when asked how his family was feeling about the venture. “It’s taken a lot to get here.”

Deifik’s group bought the property for $200 million and has invested $35 million in renovations, he said. Deifik has personally put up $70 million of his own equity, he said adding that he has spent the last 13 months living in the city.

During the hearing, Deifik outlined some of the challenges the casino has faced, including the difficulty of dealing with Straub, who dominated headlines in the resort the entire time he owned the property. Even as Deifik’s group was already paying $2 million a month to maintain the property and was about to close, Straub was denying to reporters that he had even met Deifik, he said.

“I finally had to say to him, ‘Glenn, you’re telling everyone there’s no buyer. I’m that guy, and we’re closing tomorrow,” he said.

Straub maintains an interest in the property in the form of a three-year share of parking revenue, Deifik testified. “It’s not a favorite subject of mine,” he said according to the Inquirer.

Deifik said the casino has been redesigned to address complaints from customers of the former Revel including better Boardwalk access, a new open casino layout and the hiring of ambassadors who will show people around.

Other changes include removing a total ban on smoking and also allowing single-night stays, which weren’t allowed at Revel. The casino will also include a sportsbook area with huge screens in the middle of the casino floor. Deifik said the casino invested in the sportsbook even before New Jersey won a Supreme Court challenged that allowed it to begin sports betting this month.

Most importantly, officials said the Ocean Resort will cater to all level of players and not focus solely on high rollers as was often the case when the property was the Revel.

“If you’re someone betting $5 or $10, how often does someone come up to you, shake your hand, ask how your day is coming and ask if there’s anything you need?” asked Frank Leone, Ocean Resort’s CEO who also testified at the hearing. “We are going to ensure that customers who don’t get personal attention at other properties get personal attention here.”

Deifik said he expects the casino to prosper as it does not carry the massive debt that helped sink the Revel and that the property would “surprise the world.” Ocean Resort will also begin online gambling on July 1, officials said.

According to numbers submitted to the state, the group projects the casino will generate $384.6 million in net revenue and a gross operating profit of $81.1 million in 2019. Officials predict the casino will take in $292 million in overall gambling revenue in its first year, and $127 million in nongaming revenue, according to the Press.

The casino has also announced that it will open 14 restaurants on the property. Deifik told the commission he spent the last year negotiating deals to buy out the restaurants and nightclubs that had leases at the former Revel and set up more favorable deals with all but one, he said. Several of those restaurants and clubs had been in a legal battle with Straub to stay at the property under his eventually unrealized plans for re-opening.

Though Revel’s restaurants were seen as much more successful than the casino itself, their profit did not help Revel’s revenue, Deifik said.

June 28 will be a busy day in Atlantic City as the Hard Rock Atlantic City is scheduled to open on the same day as Ocean Resort. However, the Hard Rock—which is separated from Ocean Resort on the city’s Boardwalk by the now non-casino Showboat Hotel—is planning major events and entertainment to mark the re-opening of the former Trump Taj Mahal.

The two casinos have restored about 6,000 of the 11,000 jobs lost in the city since five casinos closed starting in 2014.

The Hard Rock underwent a much more noticeable transformation than Ocean Resort as renovations of the property removed all signs of the property’s former life as the Indian-themed Trump Taj Mahal.

The casino has now announced it will offer live music at the property for 365 straight days starting with its opening. Carrie Underwood is scheduled to perform at the casino’s main stage June 28, but the ambitious schedule includes numerous free concerts at the property’s other venues. That includes a Sunday Jazz Brunch and Monday Night Blues at the property’s Hard Rock Cafe each week.

Foxwoods CEO Rappaport Dead at 65

Posted on June 26, 2018 by -

A fixture of Las Vegas gaming for four decades, Foxwoods CEO Felix Rappaport died unexpectedly over the weekend in his Connecticut suite at Foxwoods. He was 65.

His body was discovered in the suite at Foxwoods where he lived part of the time. He also had a home in Las Vegas.

No cause of death has been determined, although no foul play is expected in the death of Rappaport, whose career spanned MGM Resorts International, where he was executive at eight properties, culminating in becoming Foxwoods’ chief executive officer in 2014, in charge of one of the world’s largest casino and resort properties.

He began his career in the hospitality industry at the Sands Casino Hotel in Atlantic City in 1980. Before entering the gaming industry in 1991, Rappaport had worked as a hotel manager in Philadelphia of the Radisson Suite Hotel and with Hershey Entertainment and Resort Co. The sheer scale in the change of venue was remarkable: in Philadelphia he ran hotels that had 500 rooms. At the Mirage, at that time the largest hotel-casino on the Strip, he ran a hotel with 3,000 rooms.

In a 2011 interview with the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Rappaport recalled, “I remember vividly thinking to myself, ‘How the heck do we provide a high level of service for 3,000 rooms?’”

Fortunately, he found a way: “It’s through good organization and good preparation. Whatever number we set as a forecast in the hotel division, happily, we usually exceeded it and blew by it.”

In Las Vegas he was employed at Station Casinos and was president and chief executive officer of the Mirage and Treasure Island as well as a top executive at New York-New York, the Luxor, MGM Grand and the Excalibur casinos.

In the 2011 interview he talked about his first experience operating not just a hotel but an entire casino property, the Boulder Station. “I learned about slot and table games management, casino marketing, advertising, compliance, casino-cage management and financial issues. It was a great training ground,” he said.

In 2014 Rappaport had been senior vice president and chief operating officer when he was appointed to succeed Scott Butera, who left to become commissioner of the Arena Football League.

At Foxwoods, Rappaport had employed a strategy of diversification by adding many non-gaming attractions and amenities to the resort to make it more competitive in an era of increasing competitiveness in the industry, a trend that has been felt particularly at the Indian casinos of Connecticut.

A recent example was the development of Foxwoods Extreme Adventures, which includes the HighFlyer zipline. He also brought high profile celebrity chefs, such as Guy Fieri’s Foxwoods Kitchen + Bar and Sugar Factory to the property.

He also brought the PLAY Arena @ Foxwoods to the property. This innovative technology allows players to enjoy a variety of games from a single station.

Rodney Butler, chairman of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, issued this statement, “On behalf of the entire tribal council, Foxwoods’ management team and staff, we extend our deepest sympathies to Felix’s family.”

He added, “With his passing, we have suffered a major loss. Felix’s passion for modernizing and growing Foxwoods, as well as his friendship, mentorship and humor, touched everyone who worked with him. We are confident that Felix’s legacy will live on as we continue to push forward on the vision he set.”

The tribal council in a statement said it would “consider how to best resume Rappaport’s strategic plan for growth in the days ahead with a continued focus on the property’s long-term vision.”

“We are saddened by the news of the passing of our former colleague and friend, Felix Rappaport,” said MGM Chairman and CEO Jim Murren said in a statement. “Felix was a member of the MGM Resorts family for more than two decades and is remembered fondly by many. Our condolences and prayers go out to his family at this difficult time.”

During his five years at New York-New York, Rappaport had brought the Cirque du Soleil’s Zumanity, Nine Fine Irishmen, Coyote Ugly and ESPN Zone to the casino. New York-New York President Cynthia Kiser Murphy remembered him: “His larger than life personality and sense of humor will be part of his legacy here at New York-New York.”

American Gaming Association President and CEO Geoff Freeman made this comment on Rappaport’s passing: “Felix made profound contributions to the gaming industry over decades of service to several casino operators. In recent years, Felix led Foxwoods Resort Casino and was a driving force behind their active engagement in the AGA. We could always count on Felix to be publicly supportive, privately constructive and dedicated to the best interests of the gaming industry. We will miss his humor, companionship and unique ability to find the positive.”

New Jersey Sports Betting Off to Good Start

Posted on June 26, 2018 by -

Monmouth Park Racetrack in Oceanport New Jersey and the Borgata casino In Atlantic City both reported a strong first week of sports betting in the state.

State regulators have not released any official numbers, but officials for both facilities told the Associated Press they are very pleased with their initial numbers.

The two sportsbooks are the first in the state to offer live sports betting since New Jersey won its battle to strike down a federal ban on sports betting before the U.S. Supreme Court. Sports betting went live in the state June 14.

“We’re really pleased with the early results, especially considering it’s a slow time on the sports betting calendar,” said Joe Asher, CEO of William Hill US, which runs the sports book at Monmouth Park.

According to local reports, the track saw large crowds for its first full weekend with sports betting, including attendance of more than 23,000 for Father’s Day, more than 5,000 more than last year. The track also featured a full slate of racing for the weekend.

The track reported that racing numbers were up across the board on Sunday, including $1,211,030 bet on the in-house simulcast, up 8 percent from a year earlier, $973,402 bet on the live racing program, a 17-percent increase, and $4,886,393 bet on the Monmouth Park signal, up 18 percent.

Dennis Drazin, president and CEO of Darby Development, which operates the track told the Asbury Park Press the “numbers have been very strong.’’

“I think this shows you sports betting is not going to cannibalize our product. In fact, it makes it even stronger when we have more people there doing both,’’ Drazin said.

The Borgata—which has opened its sportsbook alongside its already operating race book—also said business is up.

“The revenue was definitely beyond what it would have been,” casino spokeswoman Liza Costandino told the AP.

Costandino also said sports wagering is attracting new demographics to the facility, including younger players and more female players.

“A full bachelorette party came in and they all made sports bets,” Costandino said.

Officials for both facilities said betting has been mostly on individual baseball games and World Cup soccer matches. Customers also are making long-term bets on who will win the World Series or Super Bowl, the AP reported.

Casino and tracks offering sports books will report their revenue to the state Division of Gaming Enforcement. The regulator will begin making regular reports on the revenue in July.

By that time, there could be a third sports book operating in the state as the Ocean Resort—scheduled to open June 28 on the Atlantic City Boardwalk—has said it will include its own sports book on its opening day. Bruce Deifik, principal owner of the casino, recently told state regulators that the casino began building its sports book facility even before the Supreme Court made its ruling.

New Jersey and Delaware have both legalized sports betting after the high court ruling, which culminated a nearly seven-year effort by New Jersey to get the federal Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act overturned. New Jersey spent an estimated $9 million fighting the ban.

Delaware, however, was able to go live with sports betting before New Jersey. Under PASPA, Delaware had a partial exemption to the ban and had regulations for sports betting in place. New Jersey waited nearly a month to begin sports betting as it adopted new sports betting regulations.

Caesars Benefits from Poker Player Sharing in New Jersey

Posted on June 26, 2018 by -

As would be expected, player sharing of online poker players between Nevada, New Jersey and Delaware has propelled Caesars Interactive into the lead in New Jersey’s online poker market.

Caesars interactive, through its WSOP brand and its partnership with 888 Poker, is the only poker operator with platforms in all three states.

The combination has allowed WSOP.com in New Jersey to displace PokerStars as the state’s leader for the first time since April 2016, when PokerStars first went live in the state, according to the website online poker report.

Prior to player sharing, Caesars was third in the state behind PokerStars and Borgata/Party Poker. Interstate online poker has increased Caesars’ market from 35 percent in April to 44 percent in May, the website reported.

The growth was also fueled by WSOP.com offering New Jersey players the chance to play in online events at the World Series of Poker now underway in Las Vegas.

In another New Jersey story, Evolution Gaming announced it has signed an agreement with Resorts Casino Hotel in Atlantic City in install a one-of-a-kind multi-camera Dual Play Roulette table, which will allow on-premise customers to play alongside online players.

The Dual Play installation will be Evolution’s first outside of Europe and the first to feature American (double-zero) Roulette, the company said in a press release.

Resorts’ new Evolution Dual Play table will be a five-camera installation with a customized rig and large screens designed to create a buzz around what will be a unique on-the-gaming-floor attraction. The rig-mounted screens will feature the live-streamed game feed from the table and promotional messaging designed to engage with visiting patrons, the release said.

The Dual Play table is scheduled to go live in the third quarter and will be made available as a B2B service to Evolution’s network of European licensees.

“This is a landmark installation for Evolution, which gives online players across Europe the chance to experience the thrill of playing live at a pioneering Atlantic City casino,” said James Stern, Director of Business Development & Land-based Sales at Evolution in the release.

Atlantic City Casino Revenue Declines in May

Posted on June 22, 2018 by -

Atlantic City casinos had another down month in May as casino revenue declined 5.1 percent compared to May 2017.

Figures released by the state Division of Gaming Enforcement show the seven casinos won $217.6 million in May. Online gambling remained a bright sport bringing in $24.3 million, up 15 percent over May 2017.

“Somebody was lucky in May, but it wasn’t the casinos,” said James Plousis, chairman of the New Jersey Casino Control Commission in a press release. “Casino win was down last month largely because casinos were unusually lucky at the tables last year in May, and players kept more of their money this May.”

The decline follows a tough start to the year that saw consistent declines attributed to bad weather, including several severe storms in the winter months and early spring.

For May, three casinos showed revenue increases according to an analysis by the Associated Press. Tropicana was up 4.5 percent to $34.3 million, Golden Nugget was up 15.2 percent to $2 8.3 million and Resorts saw a 1.2 percent increase to $15.5 million.

For the year, the casinos have won just over $1 billion, which is 4.3 percent behind the pace they were at over the same period last year, according to the AP.

For online companies, Caesars Entertainment-NJ was up 12.4 percent to just under $4.1 million. Resorts Digital was down 9.5 percent to $3.6 million. Golden Nugget casino led the online market with more than $8.6 million.

In another story, a report by the Lloyd D. Levenson Institute of Gaming, Hospitality and Tourism at Stockton University found key tourism indicators for Atlantic City were up in 2017.

Numbers were up for the year in three key indicators—Atlantic County lodging fee per 100 rooms, Atlantic City casino parking fee per 100 spaces and the Atlantic County non-casino revenue per available room. Still, the three indicators showed decline in the last three months of 2017, the report said.

Atlantic City’s Ocean Resort Races to Make Opening Date

Posted on June 21, 2018 by -

Atlantic City’s Ocean Resort casino is racing to make its announced June 28 opening date and will receive a special licensing hearing before the New Jersey casino Control Commission just eight days before the scheduled opening.

The state’s Division of Gaming Enforcement has filed a report on their findings for the casino and ownership, a spokesman for the commission told the Press of Atlantic City.

“This isn’t just a technicality. Being awarded a casino license is a very major step,” said Daniel Heneghan, spokesman for commission said. “We will hear testimony and they will discuss their plans to attempt to meet the burden of operating a casino, after which the commission will deliberate and make a decision.”

Ocean Resort officials are clearly confident that they will meet the state’s conditions and recently conducted a media tour of the refurbished property.

“We are fully on track with our gaming license to have it by the 28th,” Seth Shorr, a resort advisor told the Press. “We are confident we are opening and we are working very closely and on track to be opened by the 28th.”

Even if a gambling license is granted, Ocean Resort would still have to undergo a building inspection and operations test before its grand opening ceremony.

The $2.4 billion former Revel casino was bought for $200 million by a group led by Colorado developer Bruce Deifik earlier this year. It is scheduled to re-open the same day as the neighboring Hard Rock Atlantic City, which has undergone its own $500 million renovation from its days as the Trump Taj Mahal.

Shorr also told reporters that the casino will feature a sports book, 16 restaurants and the nightclub HQ Squared when it opens.

“All of our restaurants will be operated by our staff to be able to provide service that you just don’t get with a leased restaurant,” Schorr said. “There are a couple areas of the resort that were never built out. So we decided to open even more restaurants than were here. So, we aren’t behind schedule we just decided to open even more restaurants and accelerate phase two.”

The casino has announced an affiliation with Hyatt Hotels and will also feature a 138,000 square foot casino with 2,000 slot machines, a 32,000 square foot spa, six pools, and a TopGolf virtual driving range.

In another story, Scores Gentleman’s Club—which operated at the former Taj Mahal casino—has won a legal case and is scheduled to re-open at the Hard Rock Atlantic City.

Hard Rock had challenged the re-opening partially charging that the club would denigrate its brand, but the suit was apparently settled and dismissed in February, according to local reports.

Scores is scheduled to be ready to open on June 28 with the rest of the property.

Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa Leads the Way as New Jersey Enters New Era of Sports Entertainment

Posted on June 18, 2018 by -

Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa became the first Atlantic City casino to accept a legal sports wager under new sports betting regulations in New Jersey. The historic wager comes just three days after New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signed a bill passed unanimously by the State Legislature, creating a regulated environment where licensed casinos may establish legal sports books.

 “This is a proud day for Borgata and a proud day for New Jersey,” said Marcus Glover, President & Chief Operating Officer of Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa. “Today opens a whole new era in New Jersey sports entertainment. One we anticipate will bring new interest, excitement, and economic benefits to our community. Borgata is proud to list today’s first among the many innovative firsts we’ve accomplished as we celebrate our first 15 years in Atlantic City.”

The honor of placing the first sports bet at an Atlantic City Casino went to Hall-of-Fame basketball legend Julius Erving. The gifted star of the Philadelphia 76ers and a long-time Borgata guest, Dr. J was invited by the resort to place the historic bet.  The Philadelphia NBA legend maintained his allegiance to his team’s home city but crossed-over from basketball to football when making his first bet at Borgata.

“I bet on the Eagles to repeat,” said Mr. Erving, holding up his ticket after placing a $5 bet on the Philadelphia NFL team to win the pro football championship. At the time of the wager the Borgata betting line for the Eagles to repeat as champions was 8 to 1.

Alongside Dr. J at the next betting window, New Jersey Senate President Steve Sweeney, who was instrumental in passing the state’s sports wagering legislation, made a $200 bet on the Green Bay Packers to win the pro football championship.

While both men proudly displayed their first tickets for customers and media gathered for the occasion, Dr. J asked President Sweeney about his bet. Upon learning Sweeney made a competing bet on the Packers, Dr. J remarked, “Then you’re going down.”

As the only Atlantic City casino with an existing race book, Borgata was uniquely prepared to begin operations quickly. The Borgata Race Book has been renamed Borgata Race & Sports Book and will remain in its established location.
 
Plans for significant additions to complement existing Borgata Race & Sports Book facilities are in final stages of design. Details and timeline of those enhancements will be announced in the coming weeks.

As a part of MGM Resorts International, Borgata brings the wealth of that company’s Sports Book experience to its new operation. MGM Resorts International possesses more than 25 years of sports wagering operations experience in Nevada, where the company’s resorts combine to write more than 4 million sports wagers each year with an annual handle in excess of $1 billion.

Sports and sports betting are key entertainment experiences that drive ongoing consumer engagement. “As Borgata celebrates 15 years as both leaders and innovators in the Atlantic City market, we are committed to delivering a best-in-market sports book environment for our customers to enjoy. Having spent decades successfully operating sports books in Nevada and building trust with both customers and regulators, Borgata and MGM Resorts are well-positioned to be a leader in sports wagering,” said Mr. Glover.

Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa continues to raise the bar in Atlantic City, 15 years after its momentous debut, offering guests the biggest names in entertainment, exclusive culinary experiences, as well as unique casino promotions and special events.
 
Mr. Glover added, “Since entering the market in 2003, Borgata has made it our mission to grow and invest in not only our property and product, but our team members and guests; offering an unrivaled experience to anyone who walks through our doors.”

Announcing Daer Nightclub at the Hard Rock Atlantic City

Posted on June 18, 2018 by -

An exciting new addition to the Atlantic City nightclub scene arrives June 28 at Hard Rock Atlantic City. Daer Nightclub offers a grand opening weekend of special guests and cutting-edge DJs.

 

Starting Thursday, June 28, the Daer opening party will be hosted by Michael B. Jordan with music by Mel DeBarge and a special guest performance. On Friday, June 29 DJ Tiesto takes center stage and on Sat. Ludacris comes to town with music by Tur.

 

Daer Nightclub is a partnership with E-Rock Entertainment and the Hard Rock, the latest venue to hit Atlantic City.

 

Tickets on sale for Grand Opening Weekend Eventscan be found here: https://www.tixr.com/groups/hardrocknightlifeac

 

For additional information call/text (862)591-659.

 

 

Pro-Am Beach Soccer

Posted on June 15, 2018 by -

The biggest Beach Soccer Tournament to hit the Jersey Shore in years comes to Atlantic City. The Pro-Am Beach Soccer will be held at 1 Atlantic Ocean, North side of the pier in Atlantic City, NJ on July 28–29, 2018.

This is the first of 8 qualifiers for the US Beach Soccer National Championship to take place on August 18th & 19th, 2018. Be one of the first 8 spots, if you win, to accomplish being National Champions for 13u – 19u!  9u-12u will play to be regional champions, but will not travel for nationals. Nationals will host 17 Divisions; girls, boys, women, men, & Coed looking to win!

Entry fees vary, for additional information call 415-308-0603 or visit, http://proambeachsoccer.net/atlanticcity

Shenanigans with Magic and Hypnosis

Posted on June 15, 2018 by -

Dante Hall Theater in Atlantic City NJ, presents Shenanigans with Magic and Hypnosis on July 22, 2018 with two shows at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.

Want to get into some SHENANIGANS? Of course you do! Join Dante Hall on Sunday, July 22 with award-winning magician Joe Holiday and master hypnotist Mike McLaughlin. There will be two shows that will blow you away beginning at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. You may even become part of the excitement…IF YOU DARE! Mysterious and hilarious, this show will have you on the edge of your seat, gasping in awe, and laughing yourself silly! The 7 p.m. show features wine and beer bar by Ducktown Tavern.

Tickets:  $ 15.00 – $ 40.00
Visit: www.dantehallstockton.org

Demi Lovato on the Beach in Atlantic City

Posted on June 15, 2018 by -

Grammy-nominated, mutli-platinum singer/songwriter Demi Lovato will perform on the Atlantic City Beach on Thursday, July 26th with special guest LAUV as part of the 2018 Atlantic City BeachFest Concert Series.

Lovato is touring in support of her sixth studio album Tell Me. This will be the second of three scheduled Beach Concerts taking place on an outdoor stage located next to Playground Pier in Atlantic City. 

Tickets: TBA

Visit:  http://www.acbeachconcerts.com/

Cirque Italia Water Circus

Posted on June 15, 2018 by -

Dive into the magical world of Cirque at the Hamilton Mall near Sears in Atlantic City for three days of action-packed excitement for the entire family, Thursday, July 5 – Sunday, July 8 2018.

This new performance will feature an ultra-modern water curtain that controls every droplet of water meticulously. Audience members can expect to see words and beautiful patterns as the water falls to the ‘lagoon’ below. Cirque Italia is ready to provide a breathtaking experience. This new stage by itself is enough to amaze the most demanding audience, and synchronized with the most creative display of superhuman talent – the result is simply out of this world!

The box office opens on-site on Tuesday, the week of the show. Non-show days: 10am – 6pm, on show days: 10am – 9pm. Tickets are $10.00 -$50.00.

Showtimes:  Thursday, July 5 : 7:30 PM
Friday, July 6 : 7:30 PM
Saturday, July 7 : 1:30 PM, 4:30 PM & 7:30 PM
Sunday, July 8 : 1:30 PM, 4:30 PM & 7:30 PM

Visit:  https://cirqueitalia.com/

 

New York’s Best Comedians

Posted on June 15, 2018 by -

New York’s best comedians are standing up for our military and will perform at the Claridge Hotel Atlantic City on Friday, July 6 through Sunday, July 8 with show times at 10:00pm.

Having been hailed as the Best undiscovered Comedians of Tomorrow, New York’s BEST Comedians come to the grand Celebrity Theater on the Atlantic City Boardwalk for July 4th Weekend ONLY! Starring Military Veteran Headliner Zach Pickert (HBO), & NY’s BEST Comedians Elon Altman (Winner, New York’s Got Talent! Season 3), James Camacho (CBS’s Kevin Can Wait), Jen Kay (Finalist, New York’s Got Talent! Season 4), and Usama Siddique (Stand Up NBC). For everything there is to do in AC on the week of the 4th – This is one night of comedy you do not want to miss!

Portion of ALL ticket proceeds donated to US Military Veterans of Foreign Wars Fund

Shows: Fri July 6th, Sat July 7th, & Sun July 8th @ 10pm 
Where: Celebrity Theater @ The Claridge Hotel 
Tickets:  $25.00 – $60.00

Visit: http://claridge.com/entertainment

The Atlantic City Vegan Food Festival

Posted on June 14, 2018 by -

The first Atlantic City Vegan Food Festival will take over the Showboat Hotel Atlantic City right on the Boardwalk, on Saturday, July 14, 2018, for the biggest and most epic vegan festival New Jersey has seen yet. The Festival will feature 200 vendors, inspiring speakers, a 10k & 5k run on the Boardwalk, live music, cooking demos and much more.

Early bird tickets for the food festival include entry to the Friday Food truck event on the boardwalk and are only $10 for both events!

Tickets for speakers and the 5k/10k are separate. Speaker tickets available now and the boardwalk run registration is coming soon!

For additional information visit www.mustloveveg.com  or call 973-631-1731.  

Lawmaker Pulls Fantasy Sports Bill

Posted on June 14, 2018 by -

Despite bipartisan and industry support, North Carolina state Rep. Jason Saine recently pulled his fantasy sports bill from consideration just before it was scheduled for a committee vote. The same bill failed in a different committee last year. Saine said he worked closely with fantasy sports companies to write the measure which “protects consumers and allows for an increasingly popular industry to grow in our state.” He added the legislation bans players under age 18 and requires operators to register with the state and pay fines for violations.

Opposition included Christian groups who claimed the measure would expand gambling, although industry officials noted fantasy sports require more skill than luck. Reverend Mark Creech, president of the Christian Action League, said fantasy sports are a type of gambling and “moral erosion,” and urged legislators to vote against the bill.

State Reps. Mary Belk and Deb Butler said if the state decides to regulate fantasy sports, operators should pay fees to fund programs to help problem gamblers. “There’s nothing in here. We’re not asking these people who are benefiting from people playing to make sure people get help,” Belk said.

As a result, fantasy sports will remain in a legal but gray area in North Carolina, where players may be any age and major media companies like ESPN and Yahoo! Along with DraftKings and FanDuel run fantasy sports games for the NFL and other sports leagues. State Rep. Kelly Alexander said, “Whether it’s gambling or not gambling, it’s going on. It’s a reality. At least in my district, I’m told that some 20,000 to 25,000 people are participating in fantasy sports. We ought to at least start a regulatory framework, we ought to have some elementary protections to make sure that minors are not involved. So to vote against this measure is to vote in favor of the Wild West.”

Connecticut Lawmakers Mull Special iGaming Session

Posted on June 14, 2018 by -

The special session that Connecticut Governor Dannel P. Malloy plans to call to take up legalizing sports betting likely won’t include online gaming, say key lawmakers. Even though the most likely way to make sports wager is using a mobile platform such as a Smartphone.

The governor called for a special session after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the ban on sports betting (PASPA) was unconstitutional on fairly narrow grounds. It left open the possibility that Congress could craft a new law governing sports betting.

He declared, “As of today, I am prepared to call the General Assembly into special session to consider legalizing sports betting in Connecticut.” He added, “It is incumbent on us to consider the question of legalized sports betting in a thoughtful way that … fully realizes the economic potential that this opportunity provides.”

House Majority Leader Matt Ritter told the Connecticut Mirror “A special session does not lend itself to something so complicated. How do you verify age? How does it work when you go across the border? Are there daily limits?”

House Minority Leader Vincent Candelora added, “We really need to have the capacity for a full public hearing process and have it vetted. Unlike other issues, there’s not necessarily a deadline that is required of us to act. I think generally all the caucuses are concerned. I don’t believe there is one caucus saying we should bring it up.”

The state currently allows online off-track betting.

The governor says he will let lawmakers set the parameters for the state tribal gaming compacts he is currently negotiating with the tribes that operate Foxwoods and the Mohegan Sun, the Mashantucket Pequots and Mohegans. His negotiators have met with them three times and he participated in one.

He said he has heard loud and clear the leaders’ preference for avoiding stepping into the weeds of online betting, even if the tribes want to address it. “I think that the tribal nations are in a position to deal with reality, and if the reality is the legislature is not going to take up online gaming separate and apart from whatever is required from sports betting, that’s the situation,” he said.

He won’t call officially call for the special session until an agreement is reached. The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act would allow the tribes to offer sports betting once the state legalizes it. What is unclear is whether the tribes could claim a monopoly on sports betting without that being written into their compacts.

This is a question because it is unclear whether sports betting is a Class III, i.e. casino game. It is a vital question because the tribes currently pay 25 percent of their gaming profits to the state in return for exclusive rights to offer casino games. They paid about $270 million to the state last year.

The 2018 legislative session ended May 9 without any sports betting legislation. Hardly surprising given that the Supreme Court’s ruling came a week earlier.

One reason was that the tribes immediately stated that they should have exclusive rights to offer sports betting. The state’s racetracks and its 16 off track betting facilities, as well as the state lottery, argued otherwise, pointing out that sports betting is not addressed in the compacts. State Attorney General George Jepsen agrees.

He issued a statement, “Sports betting is not listed as an authorized game. By contrast, for example, pari-mutuel betting on horse and dog racing and jai alai games are authorized games. The exclusion of sports betting from the specific list of authorized games is compelling evidence that the Compacts do not presently authorize it.”

Malloy is trying to craft a compromise. He argues that including online gaming to the discussions would help bring an agreement closer. The Mohegans and Pequots have both said they support both sports betting and iGaming, with the latter being their preference because they think it has a bigger profit potential.

During the legislative session last month, Avi Alroy, vice president of interactive gaming for Mohegan Sun, said in a written testimony, “To clarify, I believe that the state of Connecticut will benefit from both online casino gaming and sport wagering as it will reduce unregulated bets that are done locally and off-shore, and increase state revenues.”

Because the state wants its tribal casinos to remain competitive, and casinos in other states, such as the Yonkers Raceway and Empire City casino are figuratively breathing down their necks, the legislature and tribes have a real incentive to reach a deal.

Michigan Tribes’ ‘Poison Pill’ Slows iGaming Bill

Posted on June 14, 2018 by -

In Michigan, after several rounds of negotiations and drafting a new bill, state Rep. Brandt Iden’s HB.4926, which would allow online casino gambling and poker, seemed to be on its way to passage before the legislative session ends June 21. However, in talks with tribal leaders, one issue, which Iden calls the “poison pill,” remained unsolved.

Iden said the tribes, which operate 25 Michigan casinos, noted the latest draft of the legislation states if the federal government changes its laws to prohibit tribal casinos from offering online gambling, commercial casinos may continue to offer it. “What tribes want is that if the federal government says they are not allowed, the commercial casinos cease from online gaming as well,” Iden said. He noted he included the provision in the bill at the urging of Detroit’s three casino operators, who said they would not make the necessary investment to set up online gambling sites if later they had to stop due to a dispute between Indian tribes and the federal government.

However, Iden said it’s unlikely the federal government would make tribes stop offering online gambling. Even if it did, he said, Michigan would have little influence because tribes answer to the federal government. “The reality of it is, there isn’t a lot I can put in there to ease that concern,” Iden said. Removing the language could result in the Detroit casinos stopping any progress for the legislation; on the other hand, tribal leaders said they’ll stop it if the language remains in the bill.

Iden said he would attempt to include more equitable language in the bill to address the tribes’ concerns. He noted they were very close to an acceptable compromise. “At the end of the day, it will be a win-win for Michigan and our casinos, both tribal and commercial,” Iden said.

The bill also includes a provision authorizing sports betting following the U.S. Supreme Court’s lifting of the federal ban, which happened last month. Iden stated the ruling has resulted in more of his colleagues working to advance his bill in the House. It also needs to pass the Senate and be signed into law by Governor Rick Snyder. “I have a great partner in Senator Kowall, and we’re going to work to make sure it becomes law before the end of the year.”

GVC, Ainsworth Sign Deal for New Jersey iGaming

Posted on June 14, 2018 by -

GVC Holdings, the multinational sports betting and gaming group, announced that it has reached a landmark agreement with slot manufacturer Ainsworth Game Technology (AGT) to exclusively launch Ainsworth’s proprietary slot games in New Jersey’s online casino market.

The multi-year agreement means that GVC’s New Jersey platform, which powers the MGM and Borgata gaming brands, will initially launch around 20 of AGT’s slots, with multiple additional games added on a monthly basis. Under the terms of the agreement, GVC has a six-month period of exclusivity to launch AGT’s titles on its network, which also includes the popular GVC-owned nj.partypoker and nj.PartyCasino brands.

Ainsworth is one of the largest suppliers to Atlantic City’s brick-and-mortar casinos, with a market share nearing 10 percent thanks to titles such as Mustang Money, Electric Nights King Strike and Wild Fire Riches—all of which will be available exclusively on GVC’s network later this year.

The announcement comes on the back of the recent roll-out of more than 30 titles created by GVC’s in-house development studio, and further enhances the network’s differentiation from other operators in the market.

“This is fantastic news for both our B2B partners and the wider casino playing public of New Jersey,” said Kevin Allan, GVC’s president of New Jersey operations. “The online market has been stagnant for too long, with many casinos offering a similar lineup of content. Ainsworth is helping us to really shake things up, bringing an entirely new collection of standout titles which are sure to be a major attraction and point of difference for our network.”

Jason Lim, general manager for Ainsworth Online, added, “We are excited to be partnering with the GVC Group for New Jersey and look forward to providing Ainsworth’s land based content online.”

Steve Nathan, VP Online Gaming at MGM Resorts, said, “We are extremely pleased to have this exclusive deal in place with Ainsworth for the New Jersey market. We are looking forward to giving our players access to some of the best and most recognized games in the industry.”

“We are absolutely delighted to be partnering with Ainsworth and facilitating their entrance into the New Jersey market,” said Andy Whitworth, GVC’s head of content and commercial management. “Of all the many, many deals we have completed over the past 18 months, this is the one I’m most excited about. It will be a real game-changer in the highly static New Jersey market, which is hindered by a limited range of content.

“Strategically, securing Ainsworth’s market leading OMNI-content is huge for GVC, MGM and Borgata. Being able to offer their games on our network six months ahead of the market is a massive advantage for us, and—combined with the introduction of our exclusive in-house titles—creates an offer that cannot be found at any other operator in the state.”

Report: Kindred Group Eying DraftKings

Posted on June 14, 2018 by -

Kindred Group is studying a possible acquisition of U.S. daily fantasy sports operator DraftKings, according to the website Legal Sports Report.

The report cited multiple unnamed sources, but gave no details of a possible deal. The move would come however, shortly after DraftKing’s chief rival in the U.S. FanDuel was acquired by Paddy Power Betfair.

It also comes after DraftKings announced a deal with Resorts casino in Atlantic City to run a sportsbook in the newly opened U.S. sports betting market.

Kindred has several gambling brands across Europe including Unibet and 32Red. The company had revenues in excess of £750 million in 2017 and has offices across Europe.

The report also said that the Kambi Group—which has been working with DraftKings on a sports betting product—is involved with the talks and the possibility of a business-to-business spin-off of Unibet for sports betting.

Kindred also recently created a U.S. division and appointed a senior vice president in charge of American operations.

Meanwhile, DraftKings has begun operations in the Australian market allowing players to take part in DFS competitions from other regulated markets where it operates including the United States and parts of Europe.

“DraftKings’ DFS product takes sports fans’ game experience to another level, keeping them more engaged with their favorite athletes, teams and codes,” said DraftKings Chief International Officer, Jeffrey Haas. “Australia is home to some of the most passionate sports fans in the world and that’s a key reason why DraftKings decided to open there. We’re confident Australians will enjoy the exciting and innovative competition formats we have available across 10 international sports, and their ability to compete against other people, both local and international.”

DraftKings is now available in eight countries.

Florida Campaign Promotes Ending Greyhound Racing

Posted on June 14, 2018 by -

With three rescued greyhound dogs in attendance, more than two dozen people recently attended the kickoff at the Humane Society of Tampa Bay for “Protect Dogs—Yes On 13.” Attendees heard a presentation about Amendment 13, which will appear on the November ballot and would phase out greyhound racing in the state by 2020, making Florida the 41st state to end the sport.

Christine Dorchak, president of Grey2K USA, the organization sponsoring the campaign, stressed the “inhumanity” of dog racing, noting, “Greyhound racing is cruel. Greyhounds spend 20 to 23 hours a day locked up in solitary stacked cages.” The group released a graphic TV ad depicting the caged dogs and dogs being injured on a track.

The greyhound industry said TV ad is misleading. Officials said they protect the dogs and that the ban will eliminate thousands of jobs. The Florida Greyhound Association filed a lawsuit to remove the amendment from the ballot. Association spokesman Jack Cory said, “We exercise the dogs all week. We give them all the proper food. We give them the proper care. We especially give them the proper love.” A court hearing has not yet been scheduled.

The Florida 2017-18 Constitution Revision Commission placed Amendment 13 on the ballot. It would ban dog racing and betting on dog races. At least 60 percent of approval is required for the amendment to pass. The amendment would allow card games and other gambling to continue at tracks even after dog racing ends. Live dog racing still is offered at 12 Florida tracks.

Florida Senator Dana Young, a “steadfast advocate of greyhound protection issues,” said she welcomes the amendment. “I have worked on the greyhound racing issue since my very first year in the legislature and I am thrilled that the voters of Florida will finally get a chance to decide the fate of dog racing in our state. I believe that, finally, common sense will prevail and these gentle dogs will no longer be forced to run around a track with no one watching,” she said.

“Protect Dogs – Yes on 13” will hold 13 grassroots meetings across the state. In addition to the TV ad, it also launched a digital campaign including a website, Facebook page, Twitter feed and Instagram account. Campaign Co-Chair Joyce Carta said, “This will be a true grassroots campaign. We are confident that when Floridians see the way greyhounds suffer in this industry, they will vote ‘yes’ for the dogs.”