Author: Casino Connection Staff

Minnesota Casino Unveils ‘Vikings Party Pit’

Posted on December 2, 2019 by -

In an example of the increasing intersection between sports and gaming in the U.S., Mystic Lake Casino Hotel in Prior Lake, Minnesota has introduced a new Minnesota Vikings-themed gaming area on its casino floor to enhance its relationship with the team and its fans. This is the latest collaboration between Mystic Lake and the Vikings; Mystic Lake was an original 2016 U.S. Bank Stadium Founding Partner and one of the first casinos to ink a partnership with an NFL team.

The space, called the Vikings Party Pit, features Vikings-branded décor and blackjack tables with custom felts. Blackjack dealers in the area are outfitted in custom Vikings jerseys, and guests playing blackjack during Vikings games can win team merchandise and prizes. Guests can expect fun giveaways during Vikings games and a drawing at the end of the season for both Vikings and Mystic Lake prizes.

“Mystic Lake’s first-of-its-kind, innovative relationship with the Minnesota Vikings is all about bringing excitement to guests and fans,” said Angela Heikes, president and CEO of the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community Gaming Enterprise, which operates Mystic Lake Casino Hotel and Little Six Casino. “The new dedicated, Vikings-themed space on our gaming floor, as well as activities at U.S. Bank Stadium, provide even more unique experiences for football fans.”

Mystic Lake’s Club Purple and Little Six Casino’s Club Gold at U.S. Bank Stadium will now also offer promotional tables where fans can play free games on NFL game days. Mystic Lake’s Club Purple, which was the first of its kind for an NFL stadium, quickly became one of the most popular locations inside the venue upon its 2016 opening. The 28,000-square-foot space holds more than 1,000 people and includes lounge-style seating, three bars and an outdoor balcony overlooking the Minneapolis skyline. Mystic Lake expanded its existing footprint by introducing Little Six Casino’s Club Gold earlier this year.

The Vikings also recently launched a new “Pass or Play” game presented by Mystic Lake in the Vikings app where fans can select a football team lineup by “drawing” cards to reveal their players, and points are accrued based on performance. Fans can create their own groups to play against their friends and lineups are reset each week. This weekly free-to-play game features Mystic Lake and Vikings prizes.

“Our longstanding partnership with Mystic Lake continues to be focused on enhancing the experiences for Vikings fans and Mystic Lake’s guests,” said Steve LaCroix, executive vice president and chief marketing officer for the Minnesota Vikings. “These latest creative ideas bring the Vikings brand to life at Mystic Lake and integrate Mystic Lake into the fan experience both on game day and through the Vikings app.”

Tennessee Proposes Sports Betting Regulations

Posted on December 2, 2019 by -

The Tennessee Education Lottery recently released proposed regulations and hired Jennifer Roberts as director of sports gaming regulation. The draft rules will be sent to the state’s Sports Wagering Advisory Council for review and will be posted online. The lottery board will consider the rules following 30 days of comment from the council and the public and then take vendor applications.

No start date for sports betting has been established. Tennessee will be the first state to offer mobile-only sports wagering although officials said the regulations probably will be adopted in mid-January. Sports betting tax revenue is included in the 2020 budget. Analysts estimate Tennessee sports betting could produce $4 billion a year in wagers, with $250 million in annual revenue for operators at a tax rate of 20 percent. In New Jersey, mobile sports wagering accounts for 80-85 percent of monthly handle.

The published rules and regulations include:

  • No in-game prop bets on collegiate sports
  • No prop bets on “any type of possible injury”
  • A push in a parlay makes the parlay a loss–not industry standard
  • The Lottery will approve all sports betting advertising and marketing
  • Sportsbooks must allow customers to set betting limits if they so choose
  • All sports-betting technology must be physically based in Tennessee
  • Books must report handle annually
  • “Commercially reasonable terms” for league data on in-play bets not clearly defined.

Utah native Roberts worked for 11 years at the gaming law practice Lionel Sawyer & Collins in Las Vegas. She also serves as associate director of the University of Nevada-Las Vegas William S. Boyd School of Law. She earned a Juris Doctor in 2002.

Roberts said, “The state is creating its own brand of sports betting. I see this as a great opportunity. I love working with regulators, and this is an opportunity to be involved in the process from the beginning. We know that mobile wagering usage is growing. There is no cap to the number of licenses, so I would think we’ll see the big companies enter the market. I believe this will become a very active market,” she said.

Tennessee Education Lottery Corporation Chief Executive Officer Rebecca Hargrove said, “We are excited to have Jennifer join the Tennessee Lottery team. Her experience and knowledge in sports gaming will be extremely helpful as the Tennessee Education Lottery Corporation develops the foundational components and regulatory management for the first-of-its-kind, online-only sports gaming product.”

UNLV International Gaming Institute Executive Director Bo Bernhard said Roberts “served as a pioneer for the university’s ground-breaking gaming law program.” He credited Roberts with the growth of the gaming regulation center, which has advised and educated governments on six continents and nearly 50 dozen global jurisdictions.

William Hill U.S. Acquisition Could Trigger Consolidation

Posted on December 2, 2019 by -

William Hill’s plans to acquire CG Technology’s sportsbook assets could be the beginning of major consolidation in the sports betting world.

Tony Cabot, a UNLV professor and a former gaming attorney, said the sports wagering industry is one that benefits a lot from mergers. Because each operator has fixed costs to run a sportsbook, adding more properties or customers has little effect on operating costs.

“It makes sense for the sports betting industry to consolidate,” Cabot told the Las Vegas Review Journal. “The more customers you have, the more you can spread your costs and increase profitability.”

Eilers & Krejcik Gaming analyst Chris Grove said he expects to see “a lot of consolidation” at most levels of the sports betting industry, including suppliers and operators. That poses an additional challenge to new operators, who already face licensing and regulatory hurdles, along with high costs to market entry. The operators that have already gone through a series of acquisitions and are able to compete in a national market—operators like William Hill—have a huge advantage.

Earlier this year, William Hill reported that it was the largest operator of land-based sportsbooks in Nevada, running 109 of the 191 casino in the state and taking in 32 percent of the market share’s revenue.

“William Hill has been a very well-established, very aggressive company, and I think that this is just indicative of their strategy to acquire as much market share in as many markets as possible,” Cabot said. “Ultimately, when the competition shakes out, they will be one of the surviving companies.”

But continued consolidation could be bad news for casinos, which face a dwindling pool of options when choosing a third-party sportsbook operator.

“That could result in higher prices,” Cabot said.

Grove said he doesn’t expect this consolidation trend to hit bettors, though. At least, not anytime soon.

“You still have a lot of distinct operators and a lot of distinct platforms,” he said. “At a point, if it over-consolidates, consumer choice is impacted. Then, illegal sports betting positions could look a lot more attractive.”

Florida Lawmaker Sees Way to Cash in Sports Betting

Posted on December 2, 2019 by -

The future of sports betting in Florida could be stymied by the Seminole tribe and Amendment 3. Then again, maybe not, according to state Senator Jeff Brandes, who last week pre-filed legislation to legalize sports betting through the state lottery.

“I did some research and saw that 19 states already have authorized sports betting and Florida is not one of them,” Brandes told LegalSportsReport.com. “But we know a lot of illicit sports betting already takes place in Florida, and there’s an opportunity to enhance liberty and freedom by allowing sports betting to take place through the lottery.”

The Seminole tribe operates seven Indian gaming casinos in Florida, including the two Hard Rock resorts in Hollywood and Tampa. In the last legislative session, sports betting was part of compact discussions between the legislature and the tribe.

State Senator Wilton Simpson, who will take over as Senate president following next year’s elections, worked out a tentative agreement with the tribe that would have paid the state at least $500 million a year in return for pledging to shut down the designated card games offered at state pari-mutuels, among other items.

However, Governor Ron DeSantis refused to sign off on the deal.

In response, the Seminoles told the governor they would stop making annual payments of about $350 million to the state until the card game issue is resolved.

Brandes isn’t exactly going rogue in exploring an alternate direction for Florida sports betting. With no money coming in from the Seminoles, legislators are rethinking the state’s approach to gambling. No longer is the effort geared towards the tribe having exclusivity in sports betting.

“What we need to start doing is looking at what’s available to us on the private side of the equation, versus just the compact,” Senate President Bill Galvano told The News Service of Florida.

Brandes said other states have tapped lotteries to work sports betting. Why not Florida.

“We think that’s pretty strong evidence that it can be done through the lottery system and doesn’t need to be done exclusively through the tribes.”

Brandes said a major feature of the legislation is that revenue from sports betting through the lottery will go to education spending.

“We think the lottery provides the most transparent, most safe, and a level of certainty and control not currently available through the compact.”

But does Amendment 3 stand in the way?

Last year, Florida voters approved a constitutional amendment that requires any new casino gambling to go on the ballot, taking control away from the legislature. Yet the language specifies that the measure does not apply to the Seminoles or the lottery.

The question becomes can the lottery issue licenses to operate online sportsbooks. Brandes’ bills authorize such licenses for $100,000 annually, plus 15 percent of revenue.

“We believe the lottery is exempt,” Brandes said. “Lotteries operate sports betting in many states and therefore this falls outside Amendment 3. But even if it is found to be within Amendment 3 and ultimately voters need to decide, I have no problem having that conversation as long as it’s run through the lottery.”

Florida has a short 60-day legislative session, starting January 14 and ending March 13. There could be additional sports betting bills introduced.

Representatives in the House previously indicated they want to look at the issue next session. With the exception of committee bills, legislation needs to be introduced by the end of the first day of the session.

Brandes said he’s not looking to exclude the Seminole or pari-mutuel facilities from having sports betting and that the tribe could work out a deal with the lottery or state to participate.

“The goal of this legislation is to start the conversation,” Brandes said. “I think there will be many iterations of the legislation over the next three months.”

After Narrow Vote Colorado Moves to Adopt Sportsbook Rules

Posted on December 2, 2019 by -

Following a razor thin electoral win for Proposition DD, the legalization of sports betting referendum, 51.4 percent to 48.6 percent, Colorado is not wasting time in adopting rules for licensing.

The Colorado Division of Gaming is working to create emergency licensing rules to present to the Limited Gaming Control Commission. Once it approves the new rules the state can begin accepting license applications with the goal of licensed operators offering sports betting by next May.

Despite the obvious speed, the Division of Gaming promised applicants would be vetted with “the highest standards.”

Licenses are offered under three classifications: a master license, for existing casinos; a sports betting operator license for brick and mortar partners and an internet sports betting license. Only the 33 existing casinos in the state’s three gaming towns of Cripple Creek, Black Hawk and Central City may apply for a master license.

Ron Shell, vice president of customer and insights at PointsBet USA, spent a nail biter on election night. His Australia-based company recently established a new hub in Denver. He moved there in anticipation of the state approving sports betting. His company has been expanding in the U.S. as state after state has legalized sports betting. However, he emphasized the Colorado connection, telling CDC Gaming Reports: “We want to be synonymous with Colorado.”

PointsBet will undoubtedly be one of the companies competing for market share in the new sportsbook landscape in the Centennial state. It plans to take advantage of the fact that Denver is one of four cities with franchises of all four major sports. From there it can also serve the other three: Los Angeles, Phoenix and San Francisco.

This strategic placement could allow Colorado to play the same sports betting role for the Western states New Jersey has played for the Eastern seaboard.

Like New Jersey, and unlike Oregon, which has limited itself to one mobile sports betting provider, SBTech, Colorado could play host to as many as a dozen mobile operators. Some states have been hesitant to enter mobile sports betting, although New Jersey presents a sterling example of a state that has dived in and achieved great success. Nearly 85 percent of its monthly handle of $487.9 in October came from mobile/online sports betting. Its total so far this year is $3.46 billion with $2.85 billion coming from online.

Colorado doesn’t expect anything like those numbers, but some state economists project sportsbook could rake in about $11 million in FY from the 10 percent tax rate. Most of that is earmarked for the state’s water project.

FanDuel issued this statement: “Colorado is a model state for sports betting, and will likely be the first state in the West, outside Nevada, with mobile sports betting,” FanDuel Sportsbook said in a statement. “We look forward to bringing America’s favorite sportsbook to the great sports fans of Colorado pending licensure.”

FanDuel and its archrival DraftKings between them spent in excess of $1.5 million in lobbying and advertising to push Prop. DD, according to the AP.

A spokesman for DraftKings acknowledged that cooperation in a statement issued after the results of the election were known: “The Yes on DD coalition did an outstanding job educating voters but it was the broad bipartisan, diverse cross-section of support throughout Colorado that ultimately won the day,” adding, “DraftKings looks forward to working in collaboration with the Division of Gaming to take the next step towards bringing our best-in-class mobile and online Sportsbook to Colorado’s sports fans.”

Nevada has offered mobile sports betting for ten years, but its experience is tilted by the fact that Las Vegas is unique in that many tourists visit there just to put down sports wagers. So it’s probably not a good predictor of Colorado’s future as a sports betting hub, say experts.

Colorado is also an ideal location for mobile sports betting since the three casino cities are far from urban centers. Denver, where PointsBet will operate from, is 100 miles from Cripple Creek, where PointsBet has partnered with the Double Eagle Hotel and Casino. That partnership will include mobile sportsbook and retail wagering in the casino. Black Hawk and Central City are 30 miles from Denver.

Tribes Move to Place Sports Betting Proposal on California Ballot

Posted on December 2, 2019 by -

Eighteen California gaming tribes are pushing to certify a ballot measure to amend the Golden State’s constitution to allow sports betting by tribes and racetracks—but not cardrooms. The tribes have until June to qualify the “California Sports Wagering Regulation and Unlawful Gambling Enforcement Act,” for the 2020 November ballot.

The tribes November 13 announced an alliance to push the measure which allows sports betting on professional sports. But it also makes a prudent, cautious political appeal for those who view sports betting suspiciously by banning wagers on college sports events. It also strays on the side of caution by not allowing mobile sports betting, something many gaming tribes fear will draw feet on the ground from their brick and mortar operations.

Qualifying a statewide referendum in a state as huge and populous as California is a daunting prospect, even for wealthy gaming tribes.

One wrinkle is that by deliberately trying to shut out their bitter rivals the card clubs, the tribes virtually invite a competing ballot measure that would muddy the waters and possibly confuse voters.

Several months ago, a political consultant who may have been funded by the card clubs, tested the political waters by filing for a card club referendum called “Gaming Fairness and Accountability Act” that didn’t draw any interest (i.e. big donations) and so isn’t currently active. Card clubs might push a separate referendum that would allow them to participate, or perhaps act as spoilers by campaigning against the tribal measure.

State Rep. Adam Gray, who has been the most active state legislator to push gaming, especially online gaming, over the years, has again filed a constitutional amendment that would “authorize the Legislature by statute to authorize and provide for the regulation of sports wagering.” He is not seen as likely to drop his proposal, despite the tribal efforts. His proposal would also aim at the November 2020 ballot. So that raises to three the number of possible competing measures.

A ballot with competing measures could lead to no measure passing. However, only allowing brick and mortar participation could hobble California’s participation as a major player in sports betting. New Jersey’s experience demonstrates that online sports betting is by far the largest source of income. If Golden State bettors can’t make mobile bets, they are likely to continue to make mobile wagers other ways, including the black market.

The process for qualifying a ballot measure is as follows: The tribes submitted a request to circulate the title and summary of their measure on November 13 and the Attorney General posted the text on its website for a 30-day public comment period.

The state’s Department of Finance and Legislative Analyst has 50 days from the filing to create a financial analysis.

The Attorney General’s office has 15 days after that to provide a circulating title and analysis to the Secretary of State.

Following a typical path for a measure, the tribes would be able to begin gathering signatures by January 20. That will give them something less than the 180 days recommended for gathering the necessary 997,139 signatures. The deadline is June 25, since the law requires that an initiative be certified 131 days before the November 3 election.

Florida Greyhound Industry Demands $250M in Compensation

Posted on December 2, 2019 by -

It’s last call for greyhound racing in Florida. Last November, voters overwhelmingly approved Amendment 13 to the state constitution, which will put an end to the controversial industry by 2021.

Under the provisions of the amendment, “All dog racing in connection with any wager for money or any other thing of value (will be) prohibited” when the measure takes effect.

Like horseracing, greyhound racing is widely viewed as a sport whose time has passed. State figures show that, between 1992 and 2007, revenues derived from dog races toppled from $1.5 billion to $200 million. Even so, the greyhounds continued to run because of a 1997 state law that required facilities that run poker rooms to also operate parimutuel betting.

In recent years, however, the industry has come under fire for supposed animal abuse. In 2017, state Senator Tom Lee proposed the amendment due to “growing recognition that many of these animals live in inhumane conditions, a reality that is out of line with the moral standard of Floridians.”

Lee said the Florida legislature fought to end greyhound racing “for over a decade … but special interests derailed the issue every year. Now is our opportunity to finally end the mistreatment of greyhounds, reduce the amount of gambling in our state and restore community values.”

 

Fighting Back

Those in the field hotly deny allegations of mistreatment. According to the Florida Greyhound Association (FGA), “all racing greyhounds in Florida are well-trained and well-treated. … Greyhound owners ensure that their greyhounds receive the best treatment. Everything from the size of the crate, the quantity and quality of food, veterinary care to the amount of walking, exercises and play time is closely monitored for optimum athletic performance.”

The FGA adds that the state routinely inspects greyhound kennels at all tracks, and declared that it and the National Greyhound Association have a “zero tolerance policy” for animal abuse.

According to the FGA website, Amendment 13 will eliminate 3,000 Florida jobs and require more than 8,000 greyhounds to be relocated.

In an interview with GGB News, FGA lobbyist Jack Cory said it’s “unrealistic” for the greyhound industry to expect the new law to be rolled back. Now, he said, the name of the game is compensation. A lawsuit against the state seeks $250 million in compensation for greyhound owners, trainers and farmers—roughly the equivalent of the $26 million per year the races generated over the last 10 years.

 

‘Campaign of Misinformation’

It’s about the best the industry can hope for, Cory said. “The loss of the industry is horrible for the animals and horrible for the people,” said Cory. “It was done by out-of-state animal rights who are spreading misleading information about the care and treatment of racing dogs and have no agenda other than to raise money.”

He pointed to Grey2K as the chief offender, along with the Humane Society of the United States and the SPCA.

“They take care of no greyhounds. The Humane Society and the SPCA are very similar—they do nothing for animals, they adopt no animals. All they are is political action committees.”

Asked how he responds to those who believe the dogs are mistreated, Cory shot back, “If you spent $3 million in New Jersey media saying Global Gaming Business is a horrible organization, you would probably convince a whole bunch of people. I personally volunteer three Saturdays a month at a mixed-breed pet adoption group. I wouldn’t be talking to you, I wouldn’t be representing this organization is the allegations were true.”

In fact, Cory described a sort of charmed life for the working dogs: 12 months running loose as littermates, then a good three-year to four-year career as track dogs until they are adopted to good homes. He said the dogs love to run.

“They’re athletes. They run one-quarter of a mile every three days, and the rest of the day they’re playing. They’re walked four to five times a day. Please come to Florida to see it for yourself. All this stuff about the dogs being in kennel 24 hours a day—it’s crazy.”

However, according to a 2018 report in the Washington Post, Florida records showed that 483 greyhounds had died on the track or in kennel properties since 2013, “with most deaths directly related to racing.

“Causes of death included broken necks, heart attacks or electrocution from the high-voltage lures that lead the dogs around the tracks,” the Post reported. “The industry also has been marred by doping allegations, although trainers typically have disputed such accusations.”

 

‘A Hail Mary’

Grey2K Executive Director Carey Theil told GGB he’s not losing any sleep over efforts to overturn 13. “It’s a long shot, a Hail Mary, a desperate attempt. I’m not a lawyer, but my personal belief is the lawsuit is has a one in 100 chance of success. But courts do strange things all the time.”

He said Grey2K has offered to help find homes for out-of-work racing dogs, but the industry has refused.

“We just want to adopt dogs, but the issue became politicized during the Amendment 13 campaign. All (greyhound adoption) groups that opposed racing were blacklisted, and no longer get dogs.” He added that Grey2K was instrumental in rehoming 500 greyhounds abandoned when the Macau Canidome racetrack closed in 2018. After languishing in kennels at the track for months, “all those dogs found loving homes,” said Theil—many in Italy, as well as other parts of Europe and the U.S.

Theil said he understands the distress of racetrack workers who will lose their jobs next year. “I have empathy for people in the industry. Many of them have done this their entire lives. Their parents and grandparents did it. Being a trainer an incredibly difficult job with long hours. The people in the industry are not only watching (their livelihood) go away, but they’re watching society call it cruel and inhumane.” He supports efforts to fund retraining for those workers, he said, and called it a “moral responsibility.”

“At the same time,” he added, “our economy should not be built on cruelty to dogs.

 

Race to the Finish

Grey2K’s next stop is West Virginia, where it will mount a similar campaign with the goal of ending all greyhound racing in the next five years.”

Theil recently told West Virginia’s MetroNews Talkline that a coalition will be formed to urge the legislature to support the elimination of greyhound racing currently at Mardi Gras Casino in Cross Lanes and Wheeling Island Casino in Wheeling.

“This is our top focus,” he said. “It’s going to be a lot of groups on the ground, local groups, on the left and on the right who are going to fight for this and support it.”

New Study Finds Loot Boxes Becoming More Problematic

Posted on December 2, 2019 by -

Loot boxes are becoming increasingly prevalent on computer video games despite concern over the early exposure of children to gambling, new research suggests. Researchers at the University of York indicate that the prevalence of loot boxes—virtual bundles of random items exchanged for real-world money—continue to grow on desktop games.

Such boxes increased from four to 71 percent over the past nine years. It also reported a rise in microtransactions, where specific items are purchased, from eight percent to 86 percent.

“A common line among industry representatives is that loot boxes are a niche feature in modern video games,” research author, David Zendle, told the Guardian. “In contrast to this, these results suggest that loot boxes have become a common presence in the lives of many gamers. We appear to have reached a point where the majority of gamers on Steam play games with loot boxes.”

Zendle believes the practice is more widespread in mobile games.

Spending money on loot boxes, which originated in Japan, has been linked to problem gambling since they involve a high degree of chance and a risk-reward factor, mimicking slot machines and roulette.

It is difficult to ascertain the true value of the in-game items, but one estimate suggests £23 billion (US$29.7 billion) was spent on them last year and it is forecast to be a £39 billion industry by 2022. A number of video game companies make more money from in-game purchases than from sales of the games themselves.

The industry has largely resisted calls to remove loot boxes voluntarily. It now faces an impending threat of regulation in the UK and elsewhere after Belgium, the Netherlands and China either classified them as gambling or moved to restrict them. Sweden is currently investigating how to regulate them.

Carolyn Harris, chair of the all-party parliamentary group on gambling-related harm in the last parliament, said the rise of loot boxes on video games was “shocking. They’re grooming children to normalize gambling activity by encouraging speculative transactions where you don’t know what you’re going to get,” she said. “They grow up thinking there’s nothing wrong with pressing buttons and spending money on something that’s not real. They don’t even think of it as gambling. But speaking to young adults, they’ve all brought loot boxes and have now graduated to becoming gamblers.”

A brief published earlier this month by the law firm White & Case said: “Sponsors with portfolio companies in this space should analyze the extent of the portfolio’s reliance on loot boxes as a revenue stream and assess the viability of alternative income models.”

Pressure for reform is also growing in the U.S. after a senator proposed a ban and criticized video game companies for preying on user addiction.

“Now that microtransactions are widely accepted as part of the gaming experience, the amount of money spent on virtual in-game items and loot boxes is only going to keep growing unless we follow the lead of other countries and seriously considers whether loot boxes are a form of gambling,” said Ryan Morison, a lawyer specializing in digital entertainment.

The Association for UK Interactive Entertainment, a trade body for the games industry, said millions of people across a range of platforms and devices enjoyed playing games “sensibly and safely.”

Gamesys to Use TruNarrative for Player Signups

Posted on December 2, 2019 by -

Gamesys Group Plc has agreed to utilize TruNarrative as a player on-boarding solution. The single platform solution promises fraud detection, prevention, AML, KYC, behavioral monitoring and ID verification technologies.

By using TruNarrative, Gamesys will be able to carry out identity checks, document validation, PEP and sanctions checks and ongoing monitoring. All via a streamlined user journey will have the ability to access multiple data source providers across all the markets in which it operates. It will bring a seamless automated on-boarding process for the player and provide an intuitive single user interface.

Adam Doyle, head of gaming at TruNarrative, said, “We are excited to be working with part of the Gamesys group plc, to provide them with access to multiple third-party providers covering their entire customer on-boarding journey via a single API.

“Sourcing multiple providers across the globe to meet varying regulatory requirements is a huge challenge. Providing Gamesys group Plc with the ability to work from a single platform across their on-boarding strategy will help the customer experience while also aligning with compliance and audit requirements.”

Unibet Becomes Latest Online Option in Pennsylvania

Posted on December 2, 2019 by -

On November 12, Unibet provided Pennsylvania gamblers another sports betting and casino option. A few snags delayed the launch, but won’t hamper the European-based firm’s long-term prospects in the state, said Arnas Janickas, Unibet’s head of U.S. marketing.

“We get an opportunity to fix these things without exposing too many users to those issues,” Arnas Janickas said, Unibet’s chief of U.S. marketing, told Penn Bets.

Under monitoring by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, Unibet is simultaneously launching both the seventh online sports betting site and fifth iGaming casino in the state. The company already had experience in both areas in New Jersey.

In Pennsylvania Unibet’s sportsbook and online casino are available through pa.unibet.com, where a single account allows customers to switch from one type of gaming to the other. Unibet has an agreement with the Mohegan Sun Pocono, where the company helps run a physical sportsbook that opened in September.

Unibet joins multiple other Pennsylvania sports betting sites that partner with Kambi as their odds originator. To attract bettors, Unibet is offering a number of incentives:

  • A $250 risk-free bet after depositing fund
  • A deposit match of up to $500, which is acquired over time as bets are made
  • Two $10 free bets of any kind
  • A “Free Bet Bonanza” during the first week, consisting of one designated contest each day on which any free $10 wager can be placed

For parlay bettors, Unibet is also offering temporary bonuses that increase the payoff on a three-leg parlay by 10 percent, a four-leg parlay by 20 percent, and a five-leg parlay by 30 percent.

There’s also a potential $100,000 payoff for those hitting a certain magical six-team point spread parlay: Pick six NFL games against the spread successfully with a minimum $10 parlay wager, and if all your teams not only win but beat the point spread by at least 9.5 points, there’s a $100,000 bonus.

For casino customers, the company is offering $10 in free play and a deposit match of up to $500.

In addition to Kambi, the primary online technology partner is Pala Interactive, a supplier of casino games that, like Unibet, has operated around the world and first entered the U.S. market through operations in New Jersey.

Much of what’s available through Unibet in Pennsylvania is similar to New Jersey, although Janickas said there are more casino games available on its New Jersey site because more vendors have been licensed there from getting a head start on Pennsylvania in interactive gaming.

Unibet’s Pennsylvania online casino is starting with 88 games, 13 of which are table games like blackjack and roulette. More games will be added over time, Janickas said.

Janickas credited Pennsylvania for authorizing both online sports betting and iGaming at the same time, unlike what other states have done, and despite comparatively high tax rates for both, “we’ll do our best to ensure the best experience possible.”

While Pennsylvanians won’t face any different betting odds that will hurt them due to the tax rate, it might be a factor discouraging Unibet from offering them all the same promotions the company will offer in other states. That could cut into the state’s ability to attract players away from illegal markets, Janickas added. But he understood that offering a weaker version in Pennsylvania could be problematic as bettors can simply cross the bridge into New Jersey.

“Our goal is to have consistent offerings,” Janickas said. “If you’re in South Jersey or Philadelphia, we don’t want to push customers to use one or the other app. They should get the same offers on the same.”

Janickas said marketing partnerships with the Philadelphia Eagles and New Jersey Devils could help build brand recognition. But Unibet faces a challenge competing with Pennsylvania online sportsbooks such as fantasy sports leaders FanDuel and DraftKings, which are far better known to the gambling public.

“Probably our most important key going forward is ensuring we build trust, and that’s a big part of why we have partnered with the Eagles and Devils,” Janickas said.

In terms of the overall size of the pie, Janickas thinks Pennsylvania is going to be similar to where New Jersey is. “It’s slightly bigger but doesn’t have the New York City market as players, but it has Philadelphia, which is absolutely crazy about sports. For us, we’re excited, we’re hopeful. We believe we have a good setup, and our strong partnerships with the Mohegan Sun and the Eagles are a good recipe.”

Italy to Limit iGaming Licenses to 50

Posted on December 2, 2019 by -

Italy’s 5Star-DP coalition government plans to cut the number of online gaming license holders from 85 to 50 by 2023.

The country’s ADM customs and monopolies agency will oversee the new licensing framework for iGaming incumbents. Operators will be charged €2 million to acquire or renew their digital concessions.

According to SBC News, the new online licensing framework forms part of the coalition government’s planned “sweeping reform” of Italy’s gambling marketplace, which will be limited to 250,000 slot machines, 58,000 video-lottery terminals, 35,000 bars and tobacconists and 2,800 gaming halls. The new online licenses will be granted for a period of nine years.

Taxes will be increased on VLT and AWP machines as the government’s budget looks for an additional €600 million in taxes from the gaming sector. The new coalition will also enforce a mandatory registry controlled by the ADM to monitor all gaming-related transactions and financial exchanges.

New ADM powers will allow the customs department to prohibit national banks from processing payments for gambling companies without an Italian license, with the agency allowed to sanction fines ranging from €300,000 to €1.3 million for banking institutions that do not comply.

Spanish iGaming Operators Agree to Ad Rules

Posted on December 2, 2019 by -

Jdigital, a Spanish online gambling trade association, says its members have agreed to observe new advertising and marketing “control measures” approved by the country’s gaming regulator, the Directorate General for the Regulation of Gambling (DGOJ) across TV, radio and digital advertising verticals within the next two months.

According to SBC News, DGOJ-licensed operators will cease all marketing activities that use “active athletes” to promote gambling services. They will also display uniform messaging that promotes responsible gambling and includes warnings for people under the age of 18.

In addition, operators will no longer be allowed to advertise during daytime broadcasting and will be banned from promoting their services through direct “in program” advertorials across TV and digital formats.

All incumbents will agree to a €200 limit on welcome bonuses, and use that no people under age 25 in betting advertisements.

“This agreement is the result of a long process of almost a year of work and has been possible thanks to the efforts of all operators,” said JDigital President Mikel López de Torre. “We are very happy to be able to reinforce the message of responsibility with the game that the operators promote since the Law of the Game entered into force in 2012.

“Gaming companies have always supported regulatory development, since it is also our objective to guarantee sufficient protection to users, paying special attention to more sensitive groups, such as minors or players who show pathological behaviors,” López de Torre added.

 

Partypoker Continues Bot Crackdown

Posted on December 2, 2019 by -

Online poker operator Partypoker its crackdown on fraudulent bot accounts which employ computer AI in poker game. According to the company, 57 accounts have been shut down through October across its two main dot-com (50) and European dot-EU (seven) networks.

The closures led to the seizure of $13,976 from the global dot-com pool, with a further €1,490 confiscated from the site’s ring-fenced dot-EU license. The poker room can confirm that the full amount has now been redistributed to all affected players.

Partypoker encourages players to continue reporting all suspicious activity at its tables, by emailing reports@partypoker.com. The operator promises to investigate all incidents reported.

The site continues to invest in resources aimed at safeguarding the safety of its players, spearheaded by a specialist Poker Fraud Team comprising a collection of former poker professionals whose duty is to investigate suspicious activity and aid Partypoker in ridding the site of unscrupulous accounts.

The site pledges to update players on the account closures made every month.

Holiday Happenings and Concerts for Atlantic City, 2019

Posted on November 20, 2019 by -

ATLANTIC CITY HOLIDAY MARKET
Bourre, 201 s New York Ave., Atlantic City, NJ
Sunday, December 1 from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Hosted by the businesses in the Orange Loop, the Atlantic City Community Market is back with a special Holiday Market, featuring a multitude of gift ideas for the holiday season. Get your Christmas list started and come out to support local merchants.

Visit: https://www.facebook.com

 

ABSECON LIGHTHOUSE LUMINARY LIGHT FESTIVAL
Absecon Lighthouse, 31 S. Rhode Island Ave., Atlantic City, NJ
Saturday, December 7, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

This popular southern holiday tradition illuminates neighborhoods by placing candles in white bags and placing them along streets and sidewalks for all to enjoy. Guests are invited to decorate and personalize a luminary bag in honor of a family member, friend, beloved pet, or just for fun. Guests will fill their luminaries with beach sand and a candle, and position their bag around Atlantic City’s own beacon of light and cottage.

Enjoy live violin music and sing-along caroling with popular tunes by the Music Studio of Linwood. Sip a glass of wine or beer & savor a cheese nibble, the company of family & friends and toast the season as we gather together to climb New Jersey’s tallest lighthouse and see the spectacular night view of Atlantic City.

Tickets are $20 per person and luminaries and supplies will be provided.
Please call 609-449-1360 to make a reservation.
Visit: http://www.abseconlighthouse.org/

 

ATLANTIC CITY BALLET HOLIDAY SHOWS
Atlantic City Ballet Presents “The Nutcracker”
Embarking on a wondrous journey through the Kingdom of Snow and the Land of Sweets, Clara encounters many unforgettable characters. Young and old alike will experience the many magical moments, of this beloved holiday ballet.

December 13 & 14, 2019 / 10:30 a.m. & 3 p.m. — Stockton PAC, Galloway
December 15, 2019, 4p.m. — Caesars Casino, Circus Maximus Theater
December 22, 2019, 4p.m. — Caesars Casino, Circus Maximus Theater
Ticket Prices: $25 – $45
Visit: https://www.acballet.org/attend


NOYES MUSEUM OF ART HOLIDAY EVENTS
Craft Market-Small Business Saturday
Noyes Arts Garage, Atlantic City
Saturday, November 30th from 12:00-4:00 p.m.
The annual Noyes Arts Garage Craft Market is your destination for unique, one of a kind items for your family and friends. Free event along with live music! Purchase more than $25 and receive free parking.

SCOSA: European-Style Snowflake Workshop
Noyes Galleries at Stockton’s Kramer Hall
Wednesday, December 11, 2:00 – 2:00 p.m.
FREE: In collaboration with SCOSA, the Stockton Center on Successful Aging, join Noyes Museum staff as we show you how to make European-style snowflakes and stars.

Visit: http://noyesmuseum.org/hammonton-events?view=calendar&month=11-2019

 

ATLANTIC CITY CHRISTMAS PARADE
Atlantic City Boardwalk, Atlantic City, NJ
Saturday, December 14 • 2 p.m.
3rd annual Christmas parade on the World-Famous Atlantic City Boardwalk! Enjoy the sights and sounds of marching bands, thundering drums, motorcycles, dressed up trucks, and amazing floats! The parade route is Vermont Ave. to Albany Ave. Parties will be set up at Bass Pro and Tropicana. Free to attend, free to be involved.

Phone: 888-228-4748

 

DECK THE HALL – FESTIVAL OF TREES
Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, NJ
December 12 – 31
Deck The Hall – Festival of Trees is a season-long charitable event intended to generate funds for CASA. In conjunction and with the support of the CRDA and the Press of Atlantic City, local businesses, organizations, arena partners, and individuals are invited to “Deck The Hall” by sponsoring a custom decorated holiday tree which will be displayed at a private reception with individuals and agencies who help local children and families in the Boardwalk Hall lobby on Wednesday, December 12th from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and to the public for the remainder of the holiday season.

Proceeds from the event will be donated directly to CASA to help recruit and train more volunteers to serve children living in the foster care system in Atlantic and Cape May counties.

Phone: 609-348-7000
Visit: http://www.boardwalkhall.com/events/detail/deck-the-hall-festival-of-trees

 

JAZZY HOLIDAY EDDIE MORGAN & REK’D 4 JAZZ
Dante Hall Theater, Atlantic City, NJ
Friday, December 13 • 7:30 p.m.
Dante Hall is bringing an entire concert of Jazz-styled holiday music. Be ready to “Sing & Swing” along as Eddie Morgan & REK’D 4 JAZZ uplift that inner passion to celebrate the true spirit of the holidays!

Tickets: $20 – $35
Phone: 609-783-8000
Visit: http://www.dantehallstockton.org/event/f1ca496a53e9a02f34f7cc6f1ff6a0a9

 

TROPICANA CASINO HOLIDAY CONCERTS & EVENTS

Guests can enjoy exclusive offers on dining, retail and more during the month of December

Official Tree Lighting Ceremony and Holiday Musical Light Show
Wednesday, November 20 at 5:30 p.m.
Daily shows begin Thursday, November 21 through Friday, December 27, presented every hour on the hour starting at noon.

Celebrate the 15th Anniversary of the Quarter and make the season bright with the official Tree Lighting Ceremony and Holiday Musical Light Show in The Quarter. The free Holiday Musical Light Show features a 35-foot ornately decorated tree with festive lights synchronized to the sights and sounds of the season.

Enjoy a celebratory 15th Anniversary dessert as well as samples from A’dam Good Deli, A’dam Good Sports Bar, Broadway Burger Bar, Carmine’s, Hooters, La Petite Creperie, Mrs. Field’s Cookies and Zeytinia.

Visit: https://www.tropicana.net/holidays

JINGLE: A Whimsical Wonderland
Select dates and times, November 24 – December 20
The Tropicana showroom is transformed into a whimsical winter wonderland with this family-friendly holiday show. Witness grace and glamour as dancers twirl across the stage in dazzling costumes to holiday classics performed by live singers.

Purchase Tickets: https://www.ticketmaster.com

Celtic Women: The Best of Christmas Tour
November 29 – 8 p.m. in the Tropicana Showroom
Multi-platinum international music sensation Celtic Woman celebrates the holiday season with its 8th annual “Symphony Tour.” These concerts offer an unparalleled live musical experience, with the all-female ensemble Celtic Woman performing timeless holiday songs accompanied by a full symphony orchestra.

Visit: https://www.tropicana.net/event/shows/celtic-woman-best-christmas-tour

The Polar Express: The Imax Experience
Special Holiday Showings Saturday, December 7 and Sunday, December 8 at 11AM / $12
Tom Hanks and director Robert Zemeckis reunite for “Polar Express,” an inspiring adventure based on the beloved children’s book by Chris Van Allsburg. When a doubting young boy takes an extraordinary train ride to the North Pole, he embarks on a journey of self-discovery that shows him that the wonder of life never fades for those who believe.

Purchase Tickets: https://www.ticketmaster.com

IL Verdi Seven Fishes Dinner
December 24, 2019 / $75pp
Buon Natale! Join il Verdi for a traditional and authentic ‘Feast of the Seven Fishes’ dinner experience on Christmas Eve. For just $75pp, enjoy classic Verdi menu items like Calamari Fritti and Salmone Di Susanna paired with one-night-only specials like grilled whole-head Langoustine or Flounder Francaise. This five-course menu ensures everyone will be able to enjoy this traditional Italian-American feast to the fullest!

https://www.tropicana.net/holidays

“What The Deadly Dickens”
Sunday, December 15 at 6pm / The Palm / $85pp / Includes 3-course Dinner & Show
It’s another Dickens of a murder! Despite hosting a murderous holiday party last year, which resulted in the murders of Ebenezer Scrooge and Tiny Tim, the Sawyer’s are going to give it another try. They have invited all of their closest friends for their annual holiday party. When an uninvited guest shows up, someone is bound to exclaim, “What the Deadly Dickens?!”

Reservations Call 609.344.0483

Casa Taco Christmas Breakfast & Dinner
December 25 / Breakfast / Dinner $45pp
Come to Casa Taco Tequila Bar and enjoy Authentic Mexican-American inspired dishes for Christmas breakfast. Later in the day Casa Taco is offering a prix fixe three course meal paired with Mistletoe Mojitos!

Make your Reservation Here

 

RESORTS ATLANTIC CITY
Tony Orlando Christmas Show
Superstar Theater, Resorts
Saturday, November 30, 2019 • 8 p.m.
Tony Orlando’s Great American Christmas is a show you will always remember and a Holiday you will never forget. A combination of all his hits and holiday mix. A standing ovation show that is now in its 25th year of touring.

Tickets: $55 – $75+
Phone: 1-800-772-9000
Visit: https://resortsac.com/entertainment/tony-orlando/

Allen Edwards
Superstar Theater, Resorts
Various Dates December 2 – 26 • Showtimes: 3:30 PM & 8:00 PM
Allen has produced a warm and touching Holiday concert that is Christmas the way it used to be. Allen sings songs that fills us with memories of long ago, from Christmas with Andy Williams, Perry Como, Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole and Elvis. Come enjoy this magical season of merriment with Allen at Resorts Casino Hotel.

Tickets: $15+
Phone: 1-800-772-9000
Visit: https://resortsac.com/entertainment-and-shows/


HARD ROCK ATLANTIC CITY
Leann Rimes – You and Me and Christmas Tour 2019
Friday, December 6 • 8 p.m. • Sound Waves at Hard Rock
Singer Leeann Rimes comes to Hard Rock with special guest Kalie Shorr, belting out all your holiday favorites.

Tickets: $44 – $64+
Visit: https://www.hardrockhotels.com/atlantic-city/event-calendar/sound-waves/leannrimes

Mariah Carey: All I Want for Christmas
Saturday, December 7, 2019 • 8 p.m.
There have been plenty of spectacular Hard Rock Atlantic City events over the years, but it doesn’t get much better than a Mariah Carey concert to celebrate the holidays. Sing along to “All I Want for Christmas Is You” and all her other festive favorites, and make sure your holiday season is filled with warmth and magic. Tickets are going fast.

Tickets: $70 and up
Visit: https://www.hardrockhotels.com

 

GOLDEN NUGGET ATLANTIC CITY
Michael Bolton: The Symphony Sessions, Greatest Hits & Holiday Favorites
The Grand Ballroom at Golden Nugget
Saturday, December 7 • 9 p.m.
From “When a Man Loves a Woman” to “How Am I Supposed to Live Without You” and more, Michael Bolton’s time, love and tenderness has created the soundtrack of our lives. Join the Grammy Award winner for an evening of timeless hits and a musical journey through pop, rock, soul, standards and even classical, specially arranged for symphony orchestra.

Tickets: $59 – $79+
Phone: 609-441-2000
Visit: https://www.goldennugget.com/atlantic-city/entertainment/entertainers/Michael-Bolton/

 

BORGATA CASINO HOLIDAY EVENTS
Borgata Holiday Show
December 13-15, 2019 • Times vary
Borgata Holiday Show is a festive new musical featuring your all-time favorite Christmas classics, performed by the world’s best tribute artists: Sinatra, Streisand, Elvis, Marilyn, Dean Martin, and Johnny Mathis. Accompanied by a swinging band and dynamic dancers, this show will have you singing along and celebrating the joy of the holiday season.

Tickets: $25
Visit: https://www.theborgata.com/shows/event-details/borgata-holiday-show-atlantic-city

Stockton Presents: Handel’s “Messiah”
Sunday, December 8, 2019 at 7 p.m.
The Stockton University Performing Arts Program presents the 15th production of Handel’s “Messiah”! You don’t want to miss this classic holiday masterpiece, featuring various groups from Stockton’s choral program and guests from throughout the community. One of The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey’s most enduring traditions returns to Borgata on December 8.

Tickets: $14 / $12/ $8
Visit: https://www.theborgata.com

The Burlesque Holiday Show
December 26 – January 1 at the Music Box at Borgata • 9 p.m.
It’s time for some adult holiday cheer! The Burlesque Holiday production features a talented, sexy, hilarious cast of dancers, comedians, and performers, along with a multitude of sparkling rhinestone trimming and tassels from the stars of the show with a festive twist. This highly entertaining, fast-paced revue frames classic vaudeville blackout skits and unique variety acts with burlesque-themed dance production numbers, featuring Burlesque star entertainers from around the globe.

Visit: https://www.theborgata.com/shows/event-details/burlesque-holiday-show-atlantic-city

 

HARRAH’S ATLANTIC CITY
Santa’s Christmas Wonderland
The Concert Venue at Harrah’s
December 10-15 • Times Vary
Start the holiday season in style as Santa and his merry helpers take you on an unforgettable Christmas journey at The Concert Venue. With sensational sets, nostalgic songs, a dazzling cast and the highest kicking chorus dancers this side of the North Pole, Santa’s Christmas Wonderland is a must see for the entire family!

Tickets: $39 – 54+
Phone: 609-441-5000
Visit: https://www.caesars.com/harrahs-ac/shows


DIZZY GINGERBREAD CONTEST AT CLAIRIDGE
VÜE Rooftop Bar & Lounge, Atlantic City, NJ
Saturday, December 7 • 7-9 p.m.
1st Annual Dizzy Gingerbread House-Making contest, along with a 2 hour open bar at the Vue Rooftop Bar & Lounge, located on the 23rd Floor of the Claridge, a Radisson Hotel. Winner will receive a $50 Vue Gift Card and their picture in the local newspaper.

Tickets: $49
Phone: 844-224-7386
Visit: https://vueac.com/happenings/dizzy-gingerbread-contest/

 

BAY ATLANTIC SYMPHONY HAPPY HOLIDAYS
Stockton PAC, Galloway, NJ
Sunday, December 8 • 2 p.m.
Every family enjoys a holiday tradition, so let the Bay Atlantic Symphony become yours! Enjoy a concert of classical favorites including: Holst’s Saint Paul’s Suite, Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 3, Strauss’ Pizzicato Polka, and Russell Steinberg’s Light’s On! A Hanukkah Medley as well as Schubert’s Ave Maria, Adam’s O Holy Night with magnetic tenor Andrew Sauvageau and Harris’ A Medley of Christmas Carols.

Plus, two carol sing-alongs will conclude the concerts and a memorable holiday tradition. One is with the orchestra and the PNC Holiday Youth Chorus and the other gathered ’round the piano led by the Symphony’s maestro.

Phone: 609-449-8780
Visit: https://bayatlanticsymphony.org/subscription/happy-holidays

 

BREAKFAST WITH SANTA
Tennessee Avenue Beer Hall, Atlantic City, NJ
Saturday, December 14 • 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Santa Claus is coming back to Tennessee Avenue! Bring the family over for a delicious brunch and enjoy lots of Christmas inspired craft beers and ciders. They’ll have your favorite holiday movies and all the games on large screen TV’s. Santa will be there with his list of who’s been naughty and who’s been nice!

Phone: 609-541-4099
Visit: https://www.tennesseeavenuebeerhall.com/

 

VENTNOR CITY HOLIDAY EVENTS
Ventnor City Tree Lighting
Join the City of Ventnor for its Tree Lighting at City Hall. There will be treats for the kids!
Saturday, December 1 • 5 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Ventnor City Holiday Parade and Block Party
6201 Atlantic Ave, Ventnor City, NJ
Ventnor City would like to invite you to their annual Holiday Parade on Saturday, December 7 at 5:00pm. There will be a block party to follow at Ventnor and New Haven Avenues.
Saturday, December 7, 5 – 9 PM
Visit: https://www.jerseyfamilyfun.com/event/ventnor-city-holiday-parade/

 

MARGATE HOLIDAY EVENTS
Get into the holiday spirit in Margate, NJ with festive events for the whole family.

Margate Firefighters Mutual Benevolent Association Local 41 Lunch With Santa
Santa Claus is coming to town! The Margate Firefighters Mutual Benevolent Association Local 41 will once again host its annual Lunch with Santa on Saturday, December 14 from noon – 2 p.m. at the Margate Municipal Building Gymnasium located at 9001 Winchester Avenue.

Robert’s Place 26th Annual Polar Bear Plunge
Celebrate the New Year in true Jersey Shore fashion at the 26th Annual Polar Bear Plunge. Beginning at noon on New Year’s Day, thousands of people will gather on the beach at Essex Avenue for a quick dip into the ocean.

Organized by Margate bar and restaurant, Robert’s Place, the event raises funds for the Wounded Warrior Project. Participants are invited to “pre-game” at the bar before the event and then continue the party afterwards.

For more information about holiday happenings in the City of Margate, visit margatehasmore.com.

 

DOWNTOWN HAMMONTON HOLIDAY EVENTS
Downtown Tree Lighting
Egg Harbor Road, Hammonton, NJ
Sat. December 7 – 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
The magic and beauty of the season comes alive for children and adults alike. This holiday tradition is complete with carriage rides, dance and theatrical performances, carolers, and of course, Santa Claus arrives at 7 p.m. to light our Downtown Tree.

https://www.facebook.com/events/2409654452630138/

Breakfast with Santa
Sat. Dec 15t, 2019
What can be sweeter than Breakfast with the Big Guy? Families can enjoy a beautiful breakfast at Annata Wine Bar right alongside Santa Claus. Lots of other holiday surprises and more are in store for St. Nick’s guests.

This event is a MainStreet Hammonton Fundraiser and tickets must be purchased in advance – Space is limited.
Click HERE to purchase tickets.

 

WILDWOODS HOLIDAY SEASON EVENTS
The Wildwoods, NJ – November 18, 2019 – With so many festive activities and holiday events planned in the Wildwoods there are plenty of ways to create family holiday memories.

Greater Wildwood Jaycees Christmas Parade and Byrne Plaza Winter Festival • Friday, December 6
Kick off the holiday season with the Greater Wildwood Jaycees Christmas Parade on Friday, December 6. Registration will begin at 5 p.m. at the North Wildwood Recreation Center 10th and Central Aves. Line-up will begin at 5:30 p.m. and the parade will start promptly at 6:30 p.m. The rain date will be Sunday, December 8.

The parade starts at 16th Avenue in North Wildwood and heads south along Central Avenue and Pacific Avenue through the Holly Beach Station Mall until Rio Grande Avenue in Wildwood. It then heads west towards New Jersey Avenue and back north to Oak Avenue then heads east ending to the Winter Festival at Byrne Plaza where the awards ceremony will be held, immediately following the Tree Lighting Ceremony.

Trophies will be awarded to the following categories: Commercial, Community Service, Marching Bands Public Service and Individual/Small Group.

Visit www.WildwoodHoliday.com for additional information or call the Greater Wildwood Jaycees, 609-729-5501.

Hereford Inlet Lighthouse Christmas Tree Lighting • Friday, December 6
It’s the Hereford Inlet Lighthouse Christmas Tree Lighting at 4:30 p.m. The festive ceremony will take place in the Courtyard at the Hereford Inlet Lighthouse, 1st & Central Aves. in North Wildwood. The event includes music, refreshments, a free tour of the lighthouse and a visit by Santa Claus! Admission is free.

For additional information about the Hereford Inlet Lighthouse, call 609-522-2955 or visit www.NorthWildwood.com

Byrne Plaza’s Winter Festival • Saturday, December 7
Keep the festive spirit going with holiday activities at the Winter Festival at Byrne Plaza on Saturday, December 7 from 10 a.m. – 4p.m. featuring carnival rides, vendors and live entertainment.

Visit www.WildwoodHoliday.com for additional information.

‘Pinch the GrYnch’ Boardwalk 5K Run and 1 Mile Walk • Saturday, December 14
This holiday boardwalk 5K run and 1-mile walk is fun for all ages. Event starts at 10 a.m., rain or shine, with registration at 9 a.m. inside the Wildwoods Convention Center. Participants are encouraged to dress in festive holiday outfits. The race route will run south on the Wildwoods Boardwalk to Cresse Avenue, make a turn around and head north to 21st Street. Another turn will lead runners back to the Convention Center where refreshments will be served and prizes awarded.

Runners and walkers along with their cheering sections can then enjoy the Holiday Bazaar held inside the Convention Center. Registration is $30 per person or $15 if you donate a new, unwrapped toy for local children in need.

For more information call 609-849-8887 or visit http://www.LunchWithLynch.com/pinch to register.

Family Holiday Celebration at the Wildwoods Convention Center • Saturday, December 14
The Convention Center will be sparkling with holiday lights and filled with the sounds of holiday music as the FREE celebration takes place from 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Enjoy unique crafts and gifts, face painting, local school children’s choruses & band performances, music, gymnastics & cheer performances, a magician, FREE holiday movies and a special visit from Santa Claus. The Family Holiday Celebration will end with a Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony outside the Wildwoods Convention Center at 4:30 p.m..

For additional information about the Family Holiday Celebration, call 609-729-9000 or visit www.WildwoodHoliday.com.

Spirit Brands Cheerleading Festival • Saturday, December 14
On Saturday, December 14 from 10 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Spirit Brands holiday cheerleading competition will feature performances choreographed to music and sound effects, and winning teams will be awarded prizes. Admission is $20 per person & children under 5 are FREE.

For more information, call 866.52.CHEER (866-522-4337) or visit www.SpiritBrands.org.

Holiday Tours of B&B’s, Churches and the George. F. Boyer Museum • Saturday, December 14
Partners in Preservation will host the fifth annual Holiday Tour of B&B’s, Churches and the George. F. Boyer Museum in Wildwood. With a $10 donation collected at the first place visited, take a self-guided tour of historical landmarks in the Wildwoods such as Summer Nites, Candlelight Inn, Avair House, Holly Beach, St. Simeon’s Church, George F. Boyer Museum, and Sea Gypsy B&B.

For additional information about the Partners in Preservation, visit www.wildwoodNJhistory.com.

2nd Annual “Prelude to Christmas” Concert • Sunday, December 15
On Sunday, December 15 a Christmas Concert and Holy Nativity will be held at 6 p.m. featuring The Notre Dame de la Mer Parish’s Adult, Contemporary, and Children’s Choirs accompanied by Brass, Strings, Woodwinds, Percussion, Piano and Organ, under the direction of Jonathan Delgado. The event will take place at Saint Ann Church, 2901 Atlantic Avenue, in Wildwood.

For more information, call 609-522-2709 or visit NotreDameDeLaMer.org.

Boardwalk Basketball Classic • Thursday, December 26 – Tuesday, December 31
The largest holiday co-ed basketball tournament in the country! The event, held in the Wildwoods Convention Center, features an impressive lineup of high school boys and girls basketball teams from the South Jersey and Delaware Valley areas totaling approximately 1,000 competitors.

For more information, call 609-846-2720 and visit www.BBClassic.com for team schedules, times, ticket prices, and past results.

 

CAMP MAY CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS
Victorian Cape May and the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC) offers six weeks of tours and events that celebrate this exciting and beautiful time of year.

Holiday Season Calendar of Cape May Events
https://files.constantcontact.com/5bcc3fe5001/02c2192b-30d9-4dcc-8d35-784b2bb23cec.pdf

New Jersey Approves Esports Betting

Posted on November 12, 2019 by -

New Jersey’s Division of Gaming Enforcement last week became only the second state to approve legal esports betting when it permitted wagers to be taken on the League of Legends (LoL) World Championship, which was conducted in Paris last weekend. The “Super Bowl” of esports, the event pitted two popular esports teams— G2 Esports will face FunPlus Phoenix—against each other. The prize was in excess of $2 million in purses and the coveted Summoner’s Cup.

Nevada had previously approved esports betting for specific events, including the 2016 LoL championships, but it didn’t appear at press time that any Nevada sports books were taking action on this year’s finals.

Just minutes after the announcement, Atlantic City’s Borgata posted odds on the event.

“Borgata is proud to be at the forefront of this significant milestone as we look to engage with future generations of esports fans as well as traditional sports fans,” said Marcus Glover, president and COO for the Borgata. “We are grateful to the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement for their partnership in helping advance such an innovative initiative.”

Later, FanDuel and PlaySugarHouse and FoxBet all posted odds.

In its efforts to attract millennials to its properties, the casino industry has been dabbling in esports for the past several years. Downtown Grand in Las Vegas was the first to build an esports lounge, and later Luxor build a full-on esports arena. The success of both ventures has been spotty but the possibility of esports betting could propel the business quickly forward.

David Schwartz, a longtime gaming professor at UNLV, told Newsday that it may take a while to develop.

“I think in the short term, betting on esports has the potential to be a small growth area,” he said. “There is definitely fan interest, but right now betting on sports outside of the big three—football, basketball, baseball—is pretty small in the U.S. So it would be a small share of a small share of the overall sports betting handle.

“As with any new sport, there may be concerns over match-fixing and other compliance issues, which may further slow the growth of the market for esports betting. In the future, of course, it may become a much bigger segment, if bettors decide they want to gamble on it.”

The DGE gave no indication of the LoL championships were a “one-of” event or if there would be a steady stream of betting on esports going forward.

The Votes Are In

Posted on November 12, 2019 by -

Last week, after a surprisingly close vote, Colorado became the 19th U.S. state to legalize some form of sports betting.

More than 1.3 million Coloradans voted on Proposition DD, a bipartisan ballot measure that will legalize sports betting next year and tax it to fund a state water conservation plan. As of midnight November 5, there were 646,227 votes in favor of Proposition DD—50.2 percent—and 640,537 votes—49.8 percent—in opposition. According to an Associated Press tally later, “yes” votes led by a 51 percent-to-49 percent margin.

Voters in Black Hawk, Central City and Cripple Creek all passed municipal questions authorizing sports betting at the casinos there, opening the door for retail sportsbooks.

The measure was referred to the November ballot by state lawmakers and co-sponsored by House Majority Leader Alec Garnett, and House Minority Leader Patrick Neville. Estimates show that legal sports bets at casinos and through phone apps could eventually bring in $290 million in profits per year, producing $29 million annually for the water fund that needs to raise $3 billion.

Beginning next May, Colorado’s 33 casinos can offer in-person and online wagering on professional, collegiate, motor and Olympic sports. The proposal calls for a 10 percent flat tax on net sports betting proceeds, which is estimated to total about $11 million in the next financial year that starts July 1. The legislature passed a law earlier, allowing for use of those proceeds by the Colorado Water Conservation Board to award grants to help meet the state’s water plan.

 

Kentuckians Elect Pro-Gaming Governor

In Kentucky, meanwhile, Democratic Attorney General Andy Beshear claimed victory over Republican incumbent Governor Matt Bevin. With all 3,659 precincts reporting from the state’s 120 counties, Beshear received 709,577 votes to Bevin’s 704,388, a difference of 5,189 votes, with 99 percent of precincts reporting.

The following day, Bevin filed a formal request for a re-canvass of the vote. Bevin Campaign Manager Davis Paine said, “The people of Kentucky deserve a fair and honest election. With reports of irregularities, we are exercising the right to ensure that every lawful vote was counted.” The campaign has not provided any specifics regarding the “irregularities.” Kentucky Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes the re-canvass would take place November 14.

Beshear stated, “Last night the election ended. It ended and it’s time to move forward with a smooth transition. This isn’t about politics anymore. That ended last night. This is about being the best governor I can be for Kentucky.”

Regarding voting “irregularities” cited by Bevin, Beshear said, “I don’t know what information he’s working off of. We’re confident in the outcome of the election, but today is about moving forward. No one else is going to cast a vote, that ended last night.”

During the campaign, Beshear and Bevin frequently disagreed on expanded gaming, with Beshear noting the state has been losing millions of dollars in tax revenue to Illinois, Indiana and Ohio. All three of those states have casinos directly across from Kentucky cities on the Ohio River. Neighboring West Virginia also offers casino gaming, and the Virginia legislature is considering allowing casinos. Earlier this year Tennessee approved sports betting.

Beshear has called for Kentucky to allow casino gambling, online gambling, sports betting, fantasy sports and online poker. Under his proposal, a maximum of 10 casinos would be allowed statewide. Currently Kentucky has no commercial or tribal casinos, but four of its racetracks offer historical horseracing machines.

Bevin said casino tax revenue would not be nearly enough to address the state’s underfunded pension programs. He also said on a radio show that people commit suicide daily in casinos. He later denied making that claim in a debate with Beshear, even though the recording still was posted on the radio program’s website.

Beshear’s gambling proposals face strong opposition in the legislature where Republicans control both houses. During the campaign, Senate GOP leaders said any casino gambling bills would not pass their chamber.

Virginia Voters Approve Parimutuels in Danville

Voters in Danville, Virginia narrowly approved parimutuel wagering in satellite facilities, paving the way for a Rosie’s Gaming Emporium off-track betting facility which would be owned and operated by Colonial Downs. The vote was 5,083 (51.8 percent) to 4,717 (48.1 percent), according to the state Department of Elections.

Colonial Downs spokesman Mark Hubbard said, “We are extremely pleased. It’s great that voters in Danville saw the potential for good jobs and significant tax revenues and making Danville a better place. This was an important first step, and now we’ll begin in earnest the process of working with Danville city leaders to determine exactly what project the community would like to see.”

Danville City Manager Ken Larking said Colonial Downs hasn’t presented a specific proposal for a Rosie’s location, but the city intends to pursue a casino. the city hasn’t yet received a specific proposal from Colonial Downs for a Rosie’s location, but the city remains interested in pursuing a casino. “We have received a lot of interest from national casino operators who wish to do business in Danville,” Larking said.

Rosie’s would offer historic horseracing machines and betting on real-time simulcast horseraces taking place throughout North America.

Rosie’s currently operates four gaming centers in New Kent which opened in April; Vinton, opened in May; Richmond, opened in late June; and Hampton, opened October 29. The state legislature approved the games in 2017.

According to a recent report from Colonial Downs Group, the four Rosie’s sites have generated $5.91 million in state tax revenue, $2.73 million in taxes for New Kent County, $301,000 in taxes to the town of Vinton, $738,000 in taxes for the city of Richmond and $674 million in total prizes to players, including $17.6 million in parimutuel prizes. The four sites employ more than 1,000 people.

Colonial Downs Group Chief Operating Officer Aaron Gomes said, “We are extremely grateful to our patrons who have embraced what we are offering and helped us keep our commitment. The results are exceeding expectations and we look forward to continued growth, opportunity and economic development.”

 

Indiana County Passes Casino Referendum

By an almost 2-to-1 margin, voters in Vigo County, Indiana passed a referendum on casino gaming, which would allow a land-based casino in Terre Haute. With nearly 98 percent of the 88 precincts counted, votes totaled 15,145 to 8,729, or 63.44 percent in favor to 36.56 against, according to unofficial numbers from the Vigo County Clerk’s Office.

Voters were asked to answer the question, “Shall inland casino gaming be permitted in Vigo County?”

The sponsor of the legislation making the vote possible, state Senator Jon Ford of Terre Haute, said, “I think it was a solid vote that shows Terre Haute was ready for this opportunity, and I’m very happy about the outcome. The community came up during the legislative session and continued to work hard all summer and fall, and I think it sends a solid message to the rest of the state that Terre Haute is open for business, and]we are working to together to move the community forward.” Ford added, “There’s no doubt that had we not seized this opportunity, other communities in Indiana were ready to come after this license.”

Next, the Indiana Gaming Commission will accept and evaluate proposals from casino operators interested in applying for the gaming license. Proposals will be accepted until December 1. The nonrefundable application fee is $50,000. Among the requirements is that developers must make at least a $100 million investment in Vigo County.

The casino license became available after the Indiana General Assembly authorized Spectacle to consolidate its two casinos onto a land-based site. That was approved by the gaming commission on August 28.

A study prepared by The Innovation Group for the Casino Association of Indiana indicated a casino in Vigo County could create 650 full-time jobs and 140 part-time jobs and attract more than 819,000 visitors annually. It projected a total annual economic impact of more than $180 million. Estimated casino tax revenue of $4.6 million would go to the city of Terre Haute if a casino is built inside city limits. Estimated admission tax of $2.6 million would go to the city of Terre Haute, Vigo County government, Vigo County public schools and a regional economic development group.

Spectacle Entertainment Vice President and General Counsel John Keeler said, “We plan to vigorously compete for the license in Terre Haute.” Spectacle is partnering with Hard Rock International to develop the new Gary casino, and that affiliation is expected to help Spectacle’s bid for the Terre Haute license. The $300 million, 225,000 square foot Hard Rock Casino Gary is expected to be completed by December 31, 2020.

Full House Resorts also has expressed interest in operating a Vigo County casino.

Mayor Duke Bennett of Terre Haute said, “We really pulled off something big at the statehouse to get this opportunity. Communities have been wanting to do this for years but got no traction, couldn’t even get a vote in the House or Senate. Now, we’ve got the chance to invest in ourselves. We’re going to bring in brand new money, about $10 million a year, that we can invest in quality of life type of things.”

Meanwhile, Spectacle’s riverboats—including the former Trump Princess, previously owned by current U.S. President Donald Trump—are for sale. They’re listed at $6 million each through Storti Marine Services, a Florida boat brokerage firm. Records indicate each vessel cost more than $45 million to build in the early 1990s.

The 3,500-person capacity Majestic Star is described as being in “impeccable condition.” The former Trump boat, Majestic Star II, has a capacity of 2,990 people.

Between 1993 and 2002, the two boats competed for gamblers side-by-side from 1993 to 2002, the two boats docked at Buffington Harbor. The Trump casino sailed Lake Michigan every odd hour between 9 a.m. and 3 a.m., and Don Barden’s Majestic Star left the dock at the top of the even hours. The boats haven’t sailed since Indiana legalized dockside gambling in August 2002.

Trump sold his Gary license and boat to Barden for $253 million in 2005. Spectacle purchased both boats for an undisclosed sum in March from a Minnesota investment firm that had acquired them out of a bankruptcy settlement following Barden’s death in 2011.

 

Split Decision: 6 of 10 New Hampshire Cities OK Sportsbooks

When Nashua, New Hampshire voters streamed to the polls last week, Jim Rafferty had high hopes they would approve a ballot question to bring a sportsbook to the community, where he operates the River Casino & Sports Bar.

Rafferty’s hopes were dashed, it seems, by the slimmest of margins.

“We’re extremely disappointed,” said Rafferty, in a post-election interview with GGB News. “I knew it wasn’t a done deal, but when you lose by 75 votes out of 9,000, you think maybe a $10,000 media campaign would have done the trick.”

Voters in Concord, Dover and Rochester also turned thumbs-down on sportsbooks, but five municipalities said “yes”: Manchester, Berlin, Claremont, Laconia and Somersworth, for a total of six that will launch early next year (the city of Franklin had already approved the ballot question in a vote on October 1). Next spring, smaller towns and villages in the Granite State will have a chance to snap up the remaining four permits.

In July, Governor Chris Sununu signed legislation to legalize sports wagering, both online and at bricks-and-mortar facilities. The retail and mobile books will be operated by gaming giant DraftKings, with lottery sales handled by Intralot, both under the aegis of the New Hampshire Lottery.

Though New Hampshire has no pro sports teams to call its own, Rafferty said fans there are as rabid as any in New York, New Jersey, Texas, Florida or Illinois.

“All of New England is in love with the Patriots. All of New England is in love with the (Boston) Red Sox. I own and operate a sports bar in Nashua, and people are as nutsy here as anyplace else,” he said. “I think that’s why DraftKings was so ambitious to get in—they see New Hampshire as a $300 million market. And as a Boston-based company, they also see it as their backyard.”

DraftKings scored highest among 13 rivals for the sports betting contract, edging out global firms like William Hill and Kambi as well as Foxwoods, MGM Resorts’ Roar Digital, and a group that included venerable racetrack operator Churchill Downs.

DraftKings was not immediately available for comment, but issued a statement saying it’s committed to “bringing fun, safe and responsible sports betting to New Hampshire.”

The gaming legislation created a Division of Sports Wagering within the lottery to oversee the new industry. It prohibits wagering on collegiate sports or any college games that take place in New Hampshire. Players must be 18 or older, and the state’s cut of the revenues will fund K-12 educational programs.

Sununu has said he wants to “go fast, fast, fast” so mobile betting can be up and running before Super Bowl LIV in February. Retail locations could open by March, when the NCAA tournament gets under way. All of it hinges on the New Hampshire Executive Council, which still must OK the vendors and their contracts; they’re expected to do so at a meeting on November 20.

The governor’s urgency aside, Lottery Executive Director Charlie McIntyre told GGB News the sportsbook sites have yet to be determined, and the lottery will “take some time” to plan and develop the best destinations.

“Now that sports betting’s been approved, it’ll be part of our portfolio for years to come, so we want to do it right. By spring, we’ll identify locations and then get renderings of what they should look like. We regulate the gaming facilities, but these are conversations we want to have with DraftKings. This is a partnership here.”

McIntyre previously told New Hampshire Public Radio the retail betting parlors will resemble “your favorite sports bar—a place where you can get food and a beer, (with) a couple of windows where you can place a bet.”

DraftKings will be able to open its own facilities, or partner with existing retail establishments. That’s where Rafferty may have lost out. And while he’s disappointed now, he thinks New Hampshire voters will be persuaded over time.

“People are so skeptical of gaming referendums,” he said, pointing out that his operations alone have contributed $3.3 million to state charities over 10 years. “We’ve tried to be good citizens and helped a lot of people. And despite that, the gaming legislation failed. But I think things are going to change.

“Here in New England, people want their communities to change in small bites,” he said. “The church steeple, the centerpiece of the New England town or village, is really important to people, and they want change at a slower pace. I’ve argued that it’s unrealistic in today’s environment. The world doesn’t move that slow anymore. We have to move forward and evolve, because this is a technology people really enjoy, and it could be huge.

“I just don’t think we can sit this one out.”

Philadelphia Eagles Sign Sportsbook Partnership

Posted on November 12, 2019 by -

The NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles have signed a multiyear marketing partnership with Unibet, a global online gaming and sportsbook operator.

Financial terms of the deal, which represents the first casino partnership for the Eagles, were not disclosed.

The agreement calls for Unibet, which has its headquarters in Malta, to receive a permanent branding presence on Lincoln Financial Field’s newly constructed northwest suites on the main concourse. Unibet signs will also be prominently displayed on the “Eagles Nest Tower,” the stadium’s digital billboard.

The deal, as per National Football League rules, does not include any promotional rights for sports betting, meaning Unibet can’t directly promote gambling on its signage. In addition to the stadium branding, Unibet will receive exposure across the football team’s digital and print outlets including PhiladelphiaEagles.com, team publications and social media channels.

Unibet has partnered with Mohegan Sun Pocono to provide online gambling in Pennsylvania. The company said online gambling through Unibet’s website and apps will be available in Pennsylvania “in the coming weeks,” and has been live in New Jersey since June.

The Eagles casino deal comes a month after the Philadelphia 76ers signed their first casino partnership with Parx Casino in Bensalem.

New Casino at Atlantic City Showboat?

Posted on November 12, 2019 by -

Showboat Atlantic City owner Bart Blatstein, through his company, Showboat Renaissance LLC, has submitted an application to the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA) to create “five new lots” at the site in order to “accomplish future conveying and financing of improvements,” according to the Press of Atlantic City.

The subdivision seems to be Blatstein’s attempt to get around a deed restriction that prevents the Showboat from re-opening a casino on the property. The restriction was placed by Caesars when it sold the 1.4 million-square-foot property to Stockton University, which in turn sold Showboat to Blatstein, along with the deed limitation, in January 2016 for $23 million. In July of that year, Blatstein reopened the closed casino as a nongaming hotel.

In March, the Casino Control Commission awarded Blatstein a statement of compliance, a preliminary requirement for securing a full casino license in New Jersey. Blatstein told state gaming regulators he intended to construct a new gaming facility on an adjoining lot, thereby circumventing the imposed limitation. Hence, the request to subdivide the property.

Stark & Stark, a law firm that runs the New Jersey Law Blog, said in Casino.org, “Unless a restriction is deemed to be personal to the grantor imposing it, or there is a specified termination date, the passage of time alone will not serve to terminate a restriction.”

Last year, Blatstein received approval from the CRDA to convert 264 former hotel rooms into luxury rental apartments. The Showboat Residences offer fully furnished studio, one-bedroom or two-bedroom rentals with weekly rates ranging from $1,300 to $2,400.

New Jersey Lottery Revenues Exceed $28 Billion

Posted on November 12, 2019 by -

New Jersey voters approved a state lottery in 1969, and the first ticket was sold at the end of 1970. This month, the lottery celebrates the 50th anniversary of the referendum that approved the third lottery in the United States. An astonishing 81.5 percent of voters approved, making it one of the largest favorable public responses in New Jersey legislative history. And it’s paid off, bringing in $28 billion for education and the state pension system.

“The goal was to establish a state lottery similar to those conducted in neighboring states and abroad,” said New Jersey Lottery’s Executive Director James Carey in a release. “The New Hampshire and New York lotteries had been quickly embraced by their communities, and it wasn’t surprising considering what else was happening in the world at the time. American Astronaut Neil Armstrong became the first human to set foot on the moon in 1969, and later that summer, the Woodstock Festival attracted nearly half a million people for a weekend celebrating music. People were very open to change and possibility.”

During its first seven months, the New Jersey Lottery produced ticket sales of $72.7 million. The first full fiscal year was 1972, which produced sales of $137.5 million, said lottery spokeswoman, Missy Gillespie.

The original hope was that the lottery would generate about $12 million annually. There’s no way voters could have foreseen that revenues would exceed $28.1 billion over the next 50 years, continuing to make New Jersey a great place to live, work, and raise a family, Carey said.

“The lottery has been a success in the state but will never give the casino industry a run for the money,” said Rummy Pandit, executive director of the Lloyd D. Levenson Institute of Gaming, Hospitality & Tourism at Stockton University. “But the one does not threaten the other. Since the two cater to very different market segments, there does not appear to have been any visible impact after casinos opened.”

The New Jersey Lottery and casinos have historically offered distinct products that don’t directly compete with each other. “As long as they maintain distinctive products and consumer experiences they will continue to thrive,” Pandit said.

But as both the lottery and casino industry add new gaming products, people should expect to see some overlap and potentially some competition (see QuickPick in the Lottery and Keno in the casinos, he said).

The U.S. has a long history with lotteries, stretching back to the original 13 colonies, where lotteries were established to raise revenues for schools and universities. In 1823, Congress approved a private lottery with proceeds used to beautify Washington, D.C. However, the love affair with lotteries followed a tumultuous path, with breakups and makeups playing out over the years. By 1910, almost all types of gambling were illegal in the U.S. The first modern state lottery didn’t appear until 1964 in New Hampshire, followed in 1967 by a second state lottery in New York.

That’s all changed now. To date, 46 states and the District of Columbia operate lotteries. Mississippi is the latest, with scratch-off ticket sales starting this month and sales of Powerball and Mega Millions starting in January. There are over 200 lotteries worldwide; the New Jersey Lottery is ranked ninth in U.S. total sales and 23rd worldwide.

Since its inception, Jersey’s lottery has been a significant economic engine, and its fifth-largest revenue producer.

As of fiscal year 2019, the lottery has raised more than $2.1 billion for pensions. The revenue helps out the public employee pension system for teachers, police and fire personnel and other public employees, as well as supporting businesses and communities throughout New Jersey. Agriculture, education, human services, and military and veterans’ affairs also benefit.

The New Jersey Lottery also achieved the World Lottery Association’s Level 4 Certification in Responsible Gaming, the most comprehensive measure in the industry.

“Originally the New Jersey Lottery benefitted education and institutions,” Gillespie said. “In July 2017, the New Jersey legislature passed bipartisan legislation that was signed into law by Governor Christie, creating the Lottery Enterprise Contribution Act (LECA). Under the law, lottery net proceeds will be used to bolster New Jersey’s pension system for public workers. The LECA will provide ongoing fiscal stability and growth potential to the state’s retirement systems until 2047.”

After Eight Years, Online Poker Returns to Pennsylvania

Posted on November 12, 2019 by -

PokerStars dealt the first legally licensed hand of online poker in Pennsylvania last week, more than eight years since the operator—which runs the world’s biggest online poker site—accepted bets from players in the Keystone State.

PokerStars left the U.S. in 2011 after the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) seized its dot.com internet address and unsealed indictments against its founder, Isai Scheinberg, and director of payments, Paul Tate, for violating the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA). The day is remembered by U.S. poker players as Black Friday, the day Full Tilt Poker and UltimateBet disappeared.

PokerStars claimed that online poker was exempt from UIGEA and the federal Wire Act. The DOJ failed to fully clarify the matter when asked in 2005. But a $731 million settlement with authorities, as well as a change of ownership, helped PokerStars shake off its pariah status, and it reentered the U.S. via the New Jersey market in the fall of 2015. PokerStars has remained the biggest name in online poker with about 70 percent global market share.

Now, just over two years after lawmakers in Harrisburg legalized online poker, sports betting, and casino gaming, PokerStars has returned to Pennsylvania in partnership with Mount Airy Casino. The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) played it close to the vest, with Communications Director Doug Harbach telling PennBets.com, “At this juncture, all I can tell you is that online poker will be available when one of the operators which plans to offer it is ready to do so.”

The soft launch phase was expected to last a few days and feature real-money play within restricted hours, possibly with a cap on the number of players participating. Those with existing PokerStars accounts in New Jersey will need to create a separate account for Pennsylvania. Players can enter cash games, sit-and-go’s or tournaments for real money, but only at limited times until the PGCB has been able to properly test the game play and security measures. Once fully live, don’t expect an immediate return to the pre-2011 days. Players in Pennsylvania will not be able to link up with others in New Jersey.

In general, online poker participation and revenue has been a disappointment in New Jersey, and after a strong start, PokerStars lost its position as the clear leader in the state back in the spring of 2018. That was when WSOP/888 took the lead over ’Stars, powered by their ability to share liquidity between Jersey and Nevada.

The numbers for PokerStars have steadily trended down. In September, WSOP/888 led in revenue followed by PokerStars and PartyPoker. Combined, those only add up to about 71 percent of the business PokerStars alone was doing when it debuted in New Jersey.

Online poker’s reemergence in the United States in regulated form has largely been disappointing, lacking the necessary player volume to produce tournament prize pools and a variety of variations and stakes to cater to all tastes.

While New Jersey, Nevada and Delaware have entered into interstate compacts that allow them to share player pools, Pennsylvania won’t—at least not soon. Regulators were drawing up their rules around the time the Trump administration reversed a 2011 opinion that the Wire Act only prohibited interstate sports betting, not online poker or casino gaming.

The Obama-era decision paved the way for individual states to regulate online gaming, and its reversal would—in its very loosest interpretation—at least prohibit interstate online poker compacts.

The new DOJ opinion has been challenged successfully in the courts. In June, U.S. District Court Judge Paul Barbadoro said the Wire Act’s prohibitions are “limited to sports gambling,” although the DOJ has an appeal pending. Pennsylvania’s regulators erred on the side of caution, but that will likely change if the DOJ is ultimately defeated.

Since Pennsylvania has a population similar to Nevada, New Jersey and Delaware combined, the market is likely to get off to a better start than those states when they launched in 2013. But if interstate pool-sharing receives the go-ahead in the courts, the addition of Pennsylvania into the mix will give the online poker sector a huge shot in the arm.