Author: Casino Connection Staff

New York Online Sports Betting Stalls for Year

Posted on July 2, 2019 by -

New York bettors will not be able to use in-state online apps this year after a move to legalize online sports betting died in the state Assembly without a vote.

Since the legislature’s 2019 session has ended, that means a vote can’t be taken until spring, but advocates of online betting may have to wait longer than that.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has held fast to his interpretation that gambling in the state cannot be expanded online without approval of a referendum by state voters. Since New York law requires approval by the state legislature for a referendum in two consecutive sessions, online sports betting in the state could be years away.

New York’s Senate did approve a bill permit mobile sports betting and betting kiosks at many state arenas and stadiums, but getting the bill through the Assembly has always been problematic.

Supporters of the bill point out that neighboring New Jersey avoided a constitutional change by requiring all servers for online gambling to be located in Atlantic City, where gambling is permitted. They propose a similar arrangement with the state’s existing casinos, but Cuomo so far has not accepted that argument.

In the meantime, proponents of the bill say gamblers in the New York City area will likely continue to patronize the sportsbook at the nearby Meadowlands Racetrack or hop across the border to bet on any of New Jersey’s many online sports betting apps.

Two Casinos Launch Online Sports Betting Apps in Pennsylvania, Third Set to Open

Posted on July 2, 2019 by -

The number of casinos offering online sports betting apps in Pennsylvania has tripled as Parx Casino in Bensalem and Rivers casino in Pittsburgh both launched apps for their sportsbooks. And another representing Presque Isle Downs in Erie is set to debut as well.

Testing for the apps was conducted last week as ordered by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.

Rivers Casino’s app required less testing as the casino is owned by Rush Street Gaming, which owns the SugarHouse Casino in Philadelphia. SugarHouse launched the first online app in May and the two casinos will share technology.

SugarHouse has said bettors placed $573,163 in interactive sports bets during the last four days of May when its system was undergoing testing, according to the gaming board.

The move to online betting is expected to spur the state’s sports betting industry. In May, Pennsylvania sports betting generated nearly $36 million in handle and $2.9 million in revenue. By comparison, nearly 80 percent of sports bets placed in neighboring New Jersey are made online and the state saw a more than $236 million sports betting handle in May.

The sports betting lines and odds for Parx, SugarHouse, and Rivers are all managed by Kambi Group PLC, a European operator that recently opened its North American headquarters in Philadelphia.

The launch of the new apps has been hampered by new rules from Apple that make it more difficult to launch apps that serve the company’s iOS system. Rush Street president Richard Schwartz told CBS Pittsburgh that the company is working with Apple to test and review an app for iOS.

And the plans for a sports book at Presque Isle Downs & Casino outside of Erie, Pennsylvania, are back on track after a key supplier approval by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.

Presque Isle had originally planned to open a sports book on June 1. Plans were placed on hold pending the licensing of its supplier, KT Group Ltd., which supplies self-service kiosks for sports books around the country. The gaming board granted KT Group conditional approval for an interactive sports wagering manufacturer’s license at its June 12 meeting.

“KT Group was approved Wednesday so they are good to go in Pennsylvania,” Richard McGarvey, a spokesman for the PGCB, told the Erie Times-News last week. “Obviously, who they are working with is Presque Isle casino. They’re doing all the cabinet boxes that people would walk up to and do all of their bets for sports wagering on.”

The 1,275-square-foot Presque Isle sports book will be on the main casino floor next to the poker room and simulcast and race book area. The sportsbook will feature 50 large HD televisions airing sporting events and customizable odds boards. Around 317 square feet will be dedicated to self-service kiosks. The casino expects to install 50 units for bettors throughout the property, with 25 in the sports book itself.

The casino is now working to complete the book, but has yet to schedule required regulatory test dates or a launch date.

Billionaire Meruelo Approved as Coyotes Owner

Posted on July 2, 2019 by -

Alex Meruelo, the media-shy billionaire who owns the SLS Las Vegas casino, has been approved by NHL commissioners to acquire the Arizona Coyotes hockey team. The purchase for an undisclosed amount is expected to be finalized sometime in July.

The Coyotes are a hard-luck team that hasn’t performed in the play-offs for years and filed bankruptcy 10 years ago. Attendance has been low for a dozen years and the Gila River Arena in Gila is not a highly regarded venue.

Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly said the commission is hoping to reverse that course, one reason Meruelo was considered “an attractive potential owner.” The billionaire entrepreneur has a reputation for righting failing companies, and not by the tried-and-true method of breaking them apart and selling the pieces. That’s what he did for the Grand Sierra Resort and SLS Las Vegas. He also owns the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno, the largest casino resort in that market. He likes saving companies and then keeping them.

His purchase makes him a member of an exclusive club: casino owners who also own sports teams.

Unlike most sports leagues that have had a history of hostility towards the gaming industry, the NHL has built up a relationship with that industry through hosting season awards shows at such resorts. The league also approved of a franchise based in Las Vegas. It’s unclear whether there will be any restrictions on betting on the Coyotes in Merulo’s properties, but it’s likely to mirror the ban on betting on the Houston Rockets, controlled by Golden Nugget owner Tilman Fertitta.

Evans Named in D.C. Sports Book Controversy

Posted on July 2, 2019 by -

D.C. Councilman Jack Evans, who has been at the forefront of fast-tracking a brick-and-mortar sports book in the nation’s capital, was removed from a public roundtable discussion on the proposed $215 million no-bid contract to run the new sports betting program through the D.C. Lottery.

Evans was a champion of legalizing sports betting in D.C. as chairman of the council’s Committee on Finance and Revenue, taking a lead role in bypassing competitive bidding in response to the desire of the city’s Office of the Chief Financial Officer. The conflict arose when it was revealed that N. William Jarvis, Evans’ partner in his consulting business, was a lobbyist for DC09, the local company that partnered with Greece’s Intralot to provide the sports betting platform and run the program foe the lottery.

“What was Councilmember Evans’ role in the (lottery) contract?” asked At-Large Councilmember Elissa Silverman, according to the Washington City Paper. “Does Mr. Jarvis’ involvement present a conflict of interest that he should have recused himself from the bill?”

“It does raise concerns if his business partner is representing the sports gambling industry,” added Craig Holman of the advocate group Public Citizen, “and that draws another conflict of interest, which seem to be rampant for Jack Evans. The mere fact that Jarvis was a business partner with Evans, he should have recused himself to avoid a conflict of interest.”

Also last week, Shane August, CEO of Virginia Beach, Virginia-based August Holding Corp. has founded a D.C.-based subsidiary company, Handle19 Inc., and plans to apply for a Class B sports wagering license under the district’s new sports betting plan, according to a report in the Washington Business Journal.

The D.C. Office of Lottery and Charitable Games, which is responsible for reviewing the applications and issuing licenses, recently released guidelines that prospective sportsbook operators must follow to be approved for a sports wagering license.

As a Class B operator, Handle19 cannot have a facility located within two blocks of Class A operators, a group that includes the Capital One Arena, Audi Field, Nationals Park and the St. Elizabeths East Entertainment and Sports Arena. Class B licenses cost $50,000 for five years. After a 30-day public review and public comment period on the guidelines, operators will be permitted to apply for their licenses. Sports wagering is expected to officially launch in D.C. by January 2020.

August, a former quarterback at Norfolk State University, is currently the sole employee of Handle19 as its president, but August Holding’s management team has helped prepare the company’s application.

Atlantic City Fourth of July Events 2019

Posted on June 27, 2019 by -

It’s 4th of July at the Jersey Shore and Atlantic City will celebrate in style with several special events.

Fourth of July Fireworks Spectacular by Borgata
Borgata Casino Hotel & Spa – Beer Garden

Relax and enjoy live music with a craft beer while watching the Atlantic City fireworks at Borgata this Fourth of July. The Borgata Beer Garden will host a party with DJ Ernesto from 2:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Then, Stellar Mojo keeps the celebration going right at 7 p.m. The fireworks begin at 9 p.m. (Must be 21 and older after 6 p.m.)

Date & Time: Thursday, July 4, 2019 • 9:00 p.m.
Where: Borgata Beer Garden
Ticket Prices: Free Admission
Contact: 609-317-1000
Visit: https://www.theborgata.com/july-4th-weekend


July Fourth Fireworks by Tropicana
Beachfront – Tropicana, Atlantic City, NJ

Tropicana’s Free Summer Fireworks Series takes place every Saturday at 10 p.m., plus Thursday, July 4! The display can be viewed all along the beaches or boardwalk of Atlantic City.

Tropicana Atlantic City celebrates the summer season with Fireworks by Grucci, to start off summer with a bang! Now, and every Saturday night until September 7th, including Thursday, July 4th, Tropicana will dazzle the sky with a vibrant firework performance and then perform their Multimedia Video & Sound Show. The combination of these two spectacular mediums will make for an incredible summer night in Atlantic City!

Thursday, July 4, 2019 • 10:00 p.m.
Ticket Prices:Free
Contact:Phone: 609-340-4000
Visit: https://www.tropicana.net/events/fireworks

 

4th of July Fireworks Cruise
Historic Gardner’s Basin, Atlantic City, NJ

See the Fireworks from the bay on Cruisn 1 a United States Coast Guard licensed vessel cruising out of Historic Gardner’s Basin.

The enclosed portion of the main deck has a bar and galley, wide panoramic windows, wall-to-wall carpeting, upholstered seating, and is encircled by a full walk-around deck with ample external seating. The upper deck can be fully enclosed with perimeter seating offering great vistas and a large, airy environment, ideal for dining, dancing, entertaining or holding meetings.

Thursday, July 4, 2019 • 8:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Ticket Prices:$35
Contact: 609-347-7600
Visit: http://www.atlanticcitycruises.com/

 

Tanger Outlets Block Party
Tanger Outlets The Walk, Atlantic City, NJ

Tanger Outlets Atlantic City will host a Block Party featuring a variety of patriotic events during the 4th of July weekend. In addition, a DJ will entertain customers as they Pick a Duck from the Duck Pond, Spin the Prize Wheel for patriotic themed prizes or stop in the Photo Booth for some fun photos! A center wide sidewalk sale will also take place the entire weekend.

Thursday, July 4 – Sunday, July 7, 2019 • 12:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M.
Free Admission
Contact: 336-292-3010
Visit: https://www.tangeroutlet.com/atlanticcity/events/july

 

The Claridge Hotel

Red, White, & Booty
Boardwalk Showroom at The Claridge Hotel

NYC’s Premier Song and Dance Variety Show features high-energy synchronized dancing, live singing courtesy of female vocal group The Sirens, and cheeky comedy. Produced and directed by a female team, the show is full of sultry charm and feminine energy that’s redefining the American cabaret experience.

Date & Time: Wednesday, July 3, 2019, 9:30 P.M.
Ticket Prices: $20.00 – $35.00
Contact Info: (844) 224-7386; http://www.guiltypleasurescabaret.com/

 

4th of July Beer Olympics & Hot Dog Eating Competition
VÜE Rooftop Bar & Lounge at The Claridge

Gather a team of your closest friends this July 4th at the VÜE Rooftop Bar & Lounge at the Claridge Hotel for drinking games including flip cup tic tac toe, beer pong, cornhole, quarters, and much more. The hot dog eating contest will begin at 6 pm and will cost $10 to enter. The first and second place teams and the winner of the hot dog eating contest will earn various prizes including an overnight stay at the hotel, dinner at Twenties Bistro, and tickets to the New Year’s Eve 2020 party at the VÜE.

Thursday, July 4, 2019 • 1:00 P.M.
Ticket Prices: $25.00 for Beer Olympics, $10.00 for Hot Dog Eating Competition
Contact: 844-224-7386
Visit: https://www.claridge.com/packages/4th-of-july-beer-olympics-and-hot-dog-eating-competition/

 

Warped Tour Comes to Atlantic City Beaches

Posted on June 27, 2019 by -

It’s time to get Warped! The 2-day music and action sports festival, Vans Warped Tour, comes to the Atlantic City beach at One Atlantic Ocean (next to Caesars Pier) on Sat. June 29 and Sun. June 30.

The Warped Tour boasts a full line-up of over 30 bands each day, showcasing some of the best alternative acts in the country. Several bands will be available for signings at their merch tents or at sponsor activations.

Plus there are some fantastic action sports demonstrations on tap, including a skateboard ramp, freestyle moto cross, wrestling, a human cannonball and a Warped Museum featuring art and photos inspired by the tour.

2-Day and Single Day tickets are available starting at $99.50 and up. Doors open at noon, and sets will be played through until 9:30 p.m.-10 p.m.

Food trucks and on-site vendors will be available for eat and drinks. You’ll be allowed one unopened water bottle per person. No drugs or alcohol can be brought in, but alcohol will be sold to anyone 21 and up.

Note that once your there, readmission will not be allowed, so plan accordingly. Bring what you need (ID, sunscreen, towel, etc.). Have fun, be safe.

PRE & POST PARTIES
There will be official and non-official pre and post parties for the Warped Tour in Atlantic City.

FRIDAY • JUNE 28
OFFICIAL PRE-PARTY
WHERE: Wild Wild West Bar Bally’s Atlantic City
WHEN: 8PM – 11PM
WHAT: Karaoke w/The Emo Band, acoustic Aaron West and The Roaring Twenties
HOW MUCH: Free Admission

PRE-PARTY
WHERE: Bourre, 201 S. New York Ave., Atlantic City
WHEN: 7PM – ?
WHAT: Ill Rendition, Honey I’m Homeless, Stow Davies, Bad Mary, Color Killer, After the Burn, Run Rabbit Run, Aristocants
HOW MUCH: $10

OFFICIAL LATE NIGHT
WHERE: Haven Nightclub at Golden Nugget
WHEN: 10PM – 4AM
WHAT: DJ Sad and Boujee
HOW MUCH: $15
Visit: https://bit.ly/2WWvfCm⠀

SATURDAY • JUNE 29
OFFICIAL ARTER PARTY
WHERE: Bally’s Beach Bar
WHEN: 11PM – 2AM
WHAT: DJ Emo Nite
HOW MUCH: VIP Ticket Holders Only

OFFICIAL AFTER PARTY
WHERE: Bourre, 201 S. New York Ave., Atlantic City
WHEN: 9PM – ?
WHAT: Periodic Table of Elephant, Apes of State, Lucky 33, Why Not, Toy Box Brigade
HOW MUCH: Keep your bracelet on and get a drink ticket when you enter the after party. $10 at the door cash only.

SUNDAY • JUNE 30
POST PARTY
WHERE: Bourre, 201 S. New York Ave., Atlantic City
WHEN: 9PM – ?
WHAT: Ocean Heights, The Washups, Cardboard, Surprise Guest, Gutter Drunk
HOW MUCH: Keep your bracelet on and get a drink ticket when you enter the after party. $10 at the door cash only

For complete information visit: https://vanswarpedtour.com/events/atlantic-city/

Atlantic City Community Market

Posted on June 27, 2019 by -

The first Atlantic City Community Market will open on Sunday, July 7, 2019 at Cajun restaurant and music venue Bourré located at 201 S. New York Avenue on the Orange Loop.

Local sea glasser and jeweler Lyntaga Smith of Sea Me Glow® has partnered with Bourré to create opportunities for makers and small business owners in Atlantic City who don’t always have access to larger audiences.

The first market will feature 25 vendors, most of whom live or own a business in Atlantic City. A mix of makers, food, farm and beverage vendors including: Sea Me Glow, Pink Royalty Boutique, Photography by Matt Crowne, Bleecker & Simmons Tea, Little Water Distillery, Alibi Gin, and Hayday Coffee along with non-profits C.R.O.P.S., The Leadership Studio, and Princess, Inc. Local musician Steve Kuzma will perform, followed by rapper Shawn Rock debuting his newly released single “Atlantic City,” an anthem to his hometown.

Admission to the Atlantic City Community Market is free and the market is family friendly. Bourré’s sand pit will be transformed into a kids play station complete with face painting, popcorn, and cotton candy from ASBC Party Rentals. The Atlantic City Community Market is presented by Sea Me Glow® and Bourré, with additional support from The Leadership Studio, Hayday Coffee, and the Orange Loop.

Where: Bourre AC, 201 S. New York Avenue, Atlantic City, NJ
When: Sunday, July 7 • Noon – 4:00 PM
Free Admission
Contact: 609-226-8011 or visit: https://visitorangeloop.com/

Atlantic City Fresh Market

Posted on June 27, 2019 by -

Fresh Markets delivers a highly curated series of farmers and makers markets to the Jersey Shore this summer, and they are coming to Atlantic City every Saturday now until August 31, 2019.

The Tennessee Avenue Beer Hall, near the boardwalk in the revitalized Orange Loop, will host Jersey-grown produce vendors as well as crafters, including makers of jewelry, clothes, sandals, bags and other quality merchandise.

The Tennessee Avenue Beer Hall has an outdoor garden perfect for hosting these weekly markets and is a great place for drinks and food. Come out and enjoy the party.

Dates & Times: Saturdays, July 6 – August 31, 2019 • 1:00 P.M. – 5:00 P.M.
Free Admission

Visit: https://www.atlanticcityfresh.com/markets/atlantic-city-fresh-summer-2019

Ladies Poker Brunch & Learn at Borgata

Posted on June 27, 2019 by -

Atlantic City’s Borgata Casino Hotel & Spa hosts one of its culinary events fit for foodies.

Wolfgang Puck American Grille will host a Ladies Poker Brunch on Saturday, July 20, 2019. Learn the game of poker and enjoy a delicious brunch! Sip mimosas while you and your crew receive how-to game instruction from Borgata Poker staff.

Food, poker and a delicious brunch in a world-class restaurant, what more can you ask for!

Date & Time: Saturday, July 20, 2019 • 10:00 a.m.
Ticket Prices: $45
Contact: 609-317-1000; https://www.theborgata.com/dining/events/poker-brunch-and-learn

U.S. DOJ Memos Puts Off Wire Act Enforcement Until 2020

Posted on June 27, 2019 by -

The federal Department of Justice has extended a grace period for enforcing its new opinion on the federal Wire Act—which could threaten interstate lotteries and online gambling—until the end of the year as it evaluates its recent loss recent loss in a New Hampshire lawsuit that challenged the opinion.

The New Hampshire Lottery sued the DOJ saying its recent reversal on the ire act threatened its interstate and online lotteries. A federal judge ruled against the DOJ saying the 1961 act applied only to sports betting where information crosses state lines.

The memo does not say whether the DOJ will appeal the decision, but does extend a period of forbearance—or grace period—for enforcing the opinion from June 14 to December 31.

“On June 3, 2019, a federal district court in New Hampshire issued an opinion holding, inter alia, that Section 1084(a) applies exclusively to sports gambling,” reads the memo as reported by Online Poker Report. “The Department is evaluating its options in response to this opinion. Accordingly, the forbearance period announced in the Deputy Attorney General’s February 28 memorandum is hereby extended from June 14, 2019 to December 31, 2019 or 60 days after entry of final judgment in the New Hampshire litigation, whichever is later.

The memo also says that a delay in potential enforcement is not a “safe harbor” from violations and is instead an exercise of prosecutorial discretion.

New Jersey Governor Touts Sports Betting Success

Posted on June 26, 2019 by -

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy marked the one-year anniversary of sports betting in the state by again predicting that New Jersey will soon pass Nevada in total sports handle.

State regulators report that almost $3 billion has been bet on sporting events over the past year and Murphy said the market is still growing. New Jersey’s sports betting handle is likely to exceed Las Vegas in the near future, he said.

“While we all knew it would be successful, I don’t think anyone expected how quickly New Jersey would come to dominate the growth in the market in the year since our sports betting law took effect, or how advantageously New Jersey would be positioned to dominate the entire marketplace,” Murphy said in a speech at the All-American Sports Betting Summit held at the Meadowlands as reported by the Asbury Park Press.

“In one year, we’ve gone from zero to 60 percent of the total handle in Nevada sports books, a state that had a 70-year head start,” he said “And yes, they can hear our footsteps. In other words, New Jersey sports book is a horse that can run and close and win. And we’re also a horse that is strong enough to create good jobs at our racetracks and casinos and in the growing tech sector. It’s a horse that can pull our entire economy, in many respects, forward.”

Murphy’s speech came at the site of the state’s No. 1 sportsbook. The FanDuel Sportsbook at the Meadowlands Racetrack which has seen $84.6 million in gross revenues from sports betting over the past year.

“It’s so much bigger than I ever thought it would be,” said Meadowlands Racetrack operator Jeff Gural, who claims the track’s FanDuel Sportsbook is now the largest sportsbook in the world. “For me it saves the day. We were really floundering at the Meadowlands, and I don’t know how much longer we could have held on.”

Sports betting is expected to generate around $23 million in tax revenue for the first year, off about eight percent from the state’s $25 million estimate.

“That’s not where the action is,” former state Senator Ray Lesniak, who initiated the fight to legalize sports betting a decade ago, told the paper. “The action is in job creation, and tourism. Atlantic City and our racetracks were on life support. Sports betting has helped bring them back to life.”

As sports betting continues into a second year, the new issue is the professional sports leagues seeking cuts of revenue and pushing to have official league data used by sportsbooks as sports betting spreads across the country.

“The leagues are starting to realize what a bonanza this is for them, with maybe the exception of the NFL, which seems to still be in denial for some reason even though they are the No. 1 product we have,” Gural said. “The reality is people are only watching a lot of those games because they have a bet on them because most of the time local teams aren’t playing. So, I think as the leagues become more and more a part of the process the sports betting market will continue to grow.”

The Meadowlands expects to have close to $2 billion wagered online over its first full year of with 80 percent of the money wagered on sports in the state so far this year being done via the internet rather than at brick-and mortar facilities.

In another boost for the state, Google Ads has approved the state’s licensed sportsbooks to use its ad services. Google has been slow to approved gambling ads, but the move is a solid benefit for the state’s licensed sites trying to distinguish themselves from unlicensed offshore sites.

The change does not apply to New Jersey’s online casinos for the moment.

In another matter, the Monmouth Park Sports Book by William Hill was shut down for several hours on June 15 due to internet and phone service going down at the racetrack. Though patrons could still order food and drink at the live facility, betting was shut down until about 2:30pm.

The track also had to delay taking entries for some race dates due to the outage. However, the track was able to take bets on races as its pari-mutuel wagering service was on a different system than the track’s internet and phone service.

Sports Betting a Go in New York

Posted on June 26, 2019 by -

The New York Gaming Commission has voted to approve regulations for allowing the state’s four upstate commercial casinos to take in-person wagers on sporting events.

The four—Resorts World Catskills in Monticello, Rivers Casino & Resort in Schenectady, Tioga Downs near Binghamton in the Southern Tier and Del Lago Resort & Casino in the Finger Lakes—have been preparing for months for the OK and are expected to be ready to lay odds and accept bets when their official licensing comes through around August 1 in time for the start of the college and professional football seasons.

Del Lago has partnered with DraftKings, a major operator of betting and fantasy wagering, to run its book. Resorts World Catskills has hooked up with Britain’s bet365, a British online gaming giant. Tioga Downs is partnering with Paddy Power-Betfair, another industry leader, also headquartered in the British Isles, and its U.S. fantasy sports arm, FanDuel. Rivers will operate with Rush Street Interactive, a division of its Chicago-based parent company.

They’ll likely be joined this summer by the Oneida Indian Nation’s three central-state casinos anchored around the tribe’s flagship Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona. The tribe has struck a partnership with Caesars Entertainment to manage the books. The Seneca Nation’s three casinos in Buffalo, Niagara Falls and Salamanca will likely follow suit with their own operations, as will the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe’s casino in the northeast of the state near the Canadian border.

The commission’s 6-0 vote makes New York the 13th state to regulate some form of sports betting since a May 2018 U.S. Supreme Court ruling struck down a federal ban that had been in place since 1993 and which exempted only full-scale betting in Nevada and limited parlay-style betting in the three other states (Oregon, Montana and Delaware) that offered it at the time the ban went into effect.

As expected, however, the rules delineate a considerably narrower market than betting advocates have sought. Players can only make bets in person at the sports books. Betting remotely by computer or mobile phone is prohibited and games played by New York college teams or on collegiate events taking place within the state will be off-limits. The casinos also will need to get regulatory approval for the types of bets they want to offer, including in-play wagering.

But supporters won a key battle with the commission’s refusal to make the sports leagues’ proprietary data mandatory for settling bets, which would have forced the books to pay the leagues royalties.

Which leaves remote betting as the big sticking point. Advocates point to the fact that where it’s allowed, remote betting is by far the option of choice for consumers. In neighboring New Jersey mobile currently accounts for more than 80 percent of handle. An industry expert testifying last month before the state Senate’s Racing, Gaming and Wagering Committee estimated that around 95 percent of New York’s handle would similarly be generated online if it was available. Without it, he said, the market at full ramp-up will struggle to surpass $50 million in annual volume, of which the casinos could expect to win, on average, around 5 percent.

With the legislature set to adjourn on Wednesday, advocates continue to push bills sponsored in the Senate by Queens Democrat Joseph Addabbo and in the Assembly by Westchester County Democrat J. Gary Pretlow that would allow remote betting, but the prospects look hopeless in the face of opposition from Governor Andrew Cuomo, who holds to the position that gambling online requires an amendment to the state Constitution, a difficult and lengthy proposition that would have to pass successive sessions of the legislature and win voter approval in a statewide referendum.

In a bid to compensate, Addabbo, who chairs the Senate’s Gaming Committee, has amended his bill with language that would allow all the state’s major professional sports stadiums and arenas to offer satellite books in affiliation with the casinos. The provision, which would take effect 20 months after the bill is signed into law, is an obvious attempt at an end-around on the remote ban, since the satellites would require internet connections to operate. Nonetheless, Addabbo said he believes he can get his bill to the Senate floor for a vote before Wednesday.

But Pretlow, who chairs the Assembly’s Racing and Wagering Committee, has acknowledged that the sentiment in the lower house is far less friendly.

“There’s still, as far as I can see, not much movement for doing this.”

SugarHouse To Become Rivers Philadelphia

Posted on June 26, 2019 by -

Rush Street Gaming, owners of SugarHouse Casino in Philadelphia, recently asked the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board to allow it to rebrand the casino to Rivers Philadelphia. A Rush Street spokesman said, “Our long-term plan is to establish continuity across Rush Street’s Pennsylvania properties, sportsbooks, iGaming and guest rewards program.” The company hopes to change all the property’s signage and branding by mid-summer. The cost would be about $15 million. The move would unify the Rivers brand across four casinos in three states.

Rush Street Gaming Chief Executive Officer Greg Carlin said, “Since receiving our casino license in 2006, gaming in Pennsylvania has evolved tremendously. Keeping pace with the changing landscape has been paramount to our success. Creating a unified brand is another example of how we’re anticipating and responding to the competitive market for gaming.”

SugarHouse launched the state’s first online betting app, PlaySugarHouse.com, less than a month ago. Rivers Casino Pittsburgh did not apply for an interactive gaming license but did receive a license to offer online sports betting; the new app is rumored to be called BetRivers. It’s not known what the PlaySugarHouse will change its name to or how it will interact with the Rivers product.

SugarHouse will be the third Pennsylvania property to be rebranded this year. The first, Valley Forge Turf Club, rebranded to the Oaks Race and Sportsbook to avoid confusion with FanDuel Sportsbook at Valley Forge Casino. Also, Sands Bethlehem has begun its rebranding to Wind Creek Casino in anticipation of its sale to the Poarch Band of Creek Indians.

Push for Casino Industry Regulations Review in Atlantic City

Posted on June 26, 2019 by -

New Jersey needs to review its casino rules as the threat of new competition in neighboring states remain and possibly consider limiting casino expansion in Atlantic City.

That was the message of casino operators, gaming regulators and Governor Phil Murphy’s administration to a state Senate committee calling for a comprehensive review of industry rules.

Atlantic City’s casino market has stabilized after nearly a decade of declining revenues and closed casino, but action is needed to hold off any future downturns, the officials said.

Jim Johnson, special counsel to Murphy for the Atlantic City transition, submitted testimony to the Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism and Historic Preservation Committee.

“It is often the case in times of market failure that regulatory and oversight authorities conduct a review to see how the failure could have been avoided and propose reforms that take into account changes in the regulated industry, the testimony said. “Since the period of crisis has passed, we recommended that policy makers undertake a similar review.”

No new legislation has been proposed, but Atlantic City area politicians did respond to the testimony.

“Instead of limiting the number of casinos, we should be encouraging new investment through competition while the state focuses on enforcing the Casino Control Act to hold the existing casinos accountable to live up to their obligations to our working families by creating decent paying jobs, fostering economic re-development, and supporting programs for seniors and the disabled,” state Senator Chris Brown, R-Atlantic, in a press release. Brown is a member of the Senate committee.

However, David Rebuck, director of the state Division of Gaming Enforcement, and James Plousis, chairman of the Casino Control Commission, all testified before the committee and said the state must move to protect Atlantic City’s casino industry.

The Casino Association of New Jersey, a trade group that represents all nine of the city’s casino properties, also submitted testimony in favor of regulatory review.

Johnson recommended exploring whether to cap the number of casinos or limiting the total market capacity.

“To protect the strength of the industry, we recommended that Trenton policymakers take steps to ensure that the regulatory approach adapts to current market conditions and learns the lessons that the past may teach us,” Johnson wrote.

Casino Association officials said that while the city has made great strides in diversifying its attractions, the threat of competition still remains.

“Unfortunately, the reality is that there is still a limited and finite interest in the gaming product itself as an attraction, which limited interest was historically not sufficient to support 12 casino properties,” the group wrote according to the Press. “In fact, based on the Division’s recent financial reports, that limited interest marginally supports the market now with nine casinos.”

In another matter, Atlantic City’s State Monitor Rick Richardella and city Business Administrator Jason Holt will be leaving their positions, according to the state Department of Community Affairs.

“The city and state are excited about Atlantic City’s direction, the progress being made and what the future holds for this dynamic community,” DCA spokeswoman Lisa Ryan said in a press statement. She also said the two will be replaced soon.

“We are re-conceptualizing the business administrator position in light of the changes and opportunities in the city and believe this … will help keep the momentum going,” Ryan said.

Atlantic City Casino Revenue Up for 12th Straight Month

Posted on June 26, 2019 by -

Atlantic City’s nine casinos took in $266.76 million in revenue in May, up about 22 percent over May 2018.

It was the 12th straight month of revenue growth for the city, according to figures released by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement.

“The market’s momentum is pointing toward a great summer,” said state Casino Control Commission Chairman James Plousis. “With the most attractions and entertainment options in recent memory, Atlantic City is providing more reasons to visit for anyone seeking top gaming, leisure and recreation.”

Casino revenue has increased every month since the opening of the Hard Rock Atlantic City and Ocean Casino Resort in late June 2018. However, the addition of two new casinos has continued to cannibalize the city’s revenue with several casinos reporting more monthly declines.

According to an analysis by the Associated Press, the Golden Nugget had the largest revenue increase, up 10.3 percent to $31.2 million, Resorts was up 4.1 percent to $16.1 million and Caesars was up 3 percent to $22.9 million.

Tropicana had the biggest decline, down 14.6 percent to $29.3 million. Borgata was down 7.1 percent to $61.3 million. Harrah’s was down 6.7 percent to $25.6 million and Bally’s was down less than 1 percent to $16 million.

Casino win—combined revenue from table and slots—was up 15.3 percent in May over May 2018 with about $222.9 million reported. Only Resorts Casino Hotel (4.2 percent) and Caesars Atlantic City (3 percent) reported increases in brick-and-mortar casino win. Hard Rock and ocean Casino Resort saw $44.9 million of casino win.

Online gaming revenue continued its hot streak bringing in more than $38.3 million, a 57.8 percent increase over last year. The state’s record for online gaming revenue is $39.1 million set in March.

Through the first five months of 2019, online gaming revenue is up 34.9 percent to $179.4 million.

The state’s sportsbooks—which includes two through racetracks—handled more than $318.9 million in May. Since sports betting went live in the state in June 2018, the state’s handle has topped more than $3 billion and generated nearly $195 million in revenue. Atlantic City casinos made more than $5.5 million in sports betting revenue in May.

 

Okada Loses Wynn Claim

Posted on June 26, 2019 by -

Macau’s Court of Second Instance has upheld a previous ruling that absolved Wynn Macau of any responsibility in a MOP8.2 billion (US$1 billion) lawsuit by Japanese businessman, Kazuo Okada, a former business partner of the gaming operator.

According to the Macau News Agency, Okada filed the suit in 2015, three years after he was forced off Wynn’s board. He claimed that Wynn Macau illegally provided his personal data to former FBI Director Louis Freeh, who had been hired to conduct an investigation on Okada. Freeh’s report led to his expulsion from the board in February 2012, causing Okada to forfeit MOP8.2 billion in property and non-property losses.

The suit also claimed that Wynn Macau and Steve Wynn had paid US$35 million to an undisclosed company to get a 200,000-square-meter land plot in Macau’s Cotai district. Okada took Wynn to task for donating US$135 million to the University of Macau’s Development Foundation, a gesture Okada said did not serve shareholders’ interests. Okada had requested that Wynn Macau be liquidated.

PA Board Approves Penn Mini-Casino

Posted on June 26, 2019 by -

First Pennsylvania casino license in five years approved

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board has approved the first mini-casino license under the 2017 gaming expansion law, giving the OK to Penn National Gaming, which will build the $111 million Hollywood Casino Morgantown on a vacant 36-acre site in Caernarvon County, Berks County, near the intersection of the Pennsylvania Turnpike and Interstate 176.

Penn National predicts the casino will open in late 2020.

The new casino has generated significant controversy due to its location at the edge of Amish Country, including critics who lodged complaints that it is not a good fit for the rural, highly religious area. More than 200 people attended the public hearing the board held on the project in March, with those opposed—all sporting “CasiNO” badges—easily outnumbering those in favor.

However, the project has had the support of local business leaders and elected officials, who are welcoming the new jobs and economic boost the casino will provide. Some leaders have commented that the critics constitute a small but vocal minority.

Shelley King, a local resident who was among those speaking out against the casino at the public meeting, took issue with that opinion in comments to the PennLive news site last week. “This community is still very divided on this issue,” she said, “as shown by the petitions, letters written to the board and those speakers at the hearing.”

There are plenty of residents who approve of the project as well. “I think it’s awesome,” resident Rasheeda White told WFMZ-TV. “It’s going to bring more people into the neighborhood, more finances.”

PGCB Chairman David M. Barasch told PennLive that all opinions were considered before the license was issued. “The board has considered the various views throughout this process,” he said.

Mini-casinos, or satellite casinos, were created to give current land-based licensees access to underserved areas. The facilities, known as Category 4 casinos, are limited to 750 slot machines and 40 table games, and must be at least 25 miles from a current casino. Hollywood Casino Morgantown will open with 750 machine and 30 table games (casinos can apply to increase the table-game floor to the maximum 40). The casino also will have a full race and sports book, a signature restaurant, a food hall and an entertainment lounge.

The project represents the first new casino license issued by the Pennsylvania board since 2014, when it approved the license for Philadelphia’s Stadium Casino LLC. The Live! Casino Hotel Philadelphia also is slated to open in late 2020. It is the first of five mini-casinos up for board approval, including a project of Stadium Casino in a former Bon-Ton department store at Westmoreland Mall in Hempfield.

Morgantown increases the number of gaming properties operated by Penn National to 42, spread across North America.

Horseracing Regulations Proposed in U.S. Senate

Posted on June 26, 2019 by -

A bill to regulate the horseracing industry has been introduced in the U.S. Senate to complement a similar bill introduced in the House of Representatives.

The bill is backed by the Coalition for Horse Racing Integrity, a group founded by The Jockey Club. The bill was introduced by Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) and Martha McSally (R-Ariz.).

The bill would appoint the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, a private, nonprofit group, as the overseer of racing’s medication rules and drug-testing programs.

The bill has drawn opposition from racetracks and horsemen’s groups, but is supported by the industry’s breeding community.

In a press release, the coalition said the bill is virtually identical to the House bill. However, the Senate version requires any seller of a horse to disclose to the buyer if the horse has ever been administered bisphosphonates, a class of drugs that has emerged as potentially problematic due to possible long-term deleterious effects on bone growth and density.

A version of the bill has been introduced three times in the House, but it has never advanced to a vote at any stage of the legislative process. However, the recent deaths of racehorses at Santa Anita Park has brought some new attention to the bill, the release said.

Rivers Pittsburgh Greenlights $60 Million Hotel

Posted on June 26, 2019 by -

Rivers Casino Pittsburgh announced that it will break ground later this summer on a $60 million hotel. The seven-story, four-star property will be called “The Landing Hotel Pittsburgh” and will include 219 guest rooms. The hotel will attach to the existing casino on the east facade, facing the Carnegie Science Center in the city’s North Shore section, on the banks of the Allegheny River.

Rivers Casino Pittsburgh received approval for a hotel from the Pittsburgh Planning Commission in 2017. The development was postponed following the approval of gaming legislation that added Category 4 “mini-casinos” and reshaped the Pennsylvania casino landscape.

In the meantime, Rivers Casino Pittsburgh successfully completed several significant property upgrades, among them adding a gourmet burger restaurant, FLIPT; opening The Event Center for upsized galas and expos; and launching Pittsburgh’s first licensed sports book.

“The time is right,” said Greg Carlin, CEO of Rivers and parent company Rush Street Gaming. “Statewide gaming expansion changed our schedule, but never our intentions. Rush Street always envisioned a hotel for Rivers to create a full-service destination on the North Shore. We see it as a natural evolution.”

This will be the second location for The Landing Hotel, which opened in Schenectady, New York, in 2017 as part of Rivers Casino and Resort’s complex at Mohawk Harbor. The Landing Hotel Pittsburgh will add approximately 128 new permanent hotel and casino jobs, along with 1,400 temporary construction jobs. To build the hotel, Rush Street has selected Pittsburgh-based Massaro Construction Group.

Making optimal use of its riverfront location, The Landing Hotel will feature expansive windows on every level with unobstructed views of the Ohio River and Pittsburgh’s famous skyline. Included among the guest rooms are 10 luxury terrace suites, each with private first-floor patios. A contemporary interior and exterior design, consistent with Rivers Casino’s upscale urban aesthetic, will integrate beautifully with other North Shore venues.

This represents a $60 million additional investment in Rivers Casino Pittsburgh, all privately funded.

Rivers Casino Pittsburgh has already begun the administrative process of applying for permits with the city. Pending approval from zoning and planning departments, construction is set to get under way sometime this summer. It will take approximately 18 months to complete the project. Rivers anticipates ribbon-cutting sometime in early 2021.

The hotel was designed by noted hospitality architect VOA. Klai Juba Wald is the executive architect for the hotel and related renovations, with planning and landscape design by the Pittsburgh office of Strada, LLC. Development Management Associates will serve as owner’s representative.

PA Truck-Stop VGT System in Place

Posted on June 26, 2019 by -

Pennsylvania has reached another milestone in the implementation of truck-stop video gaming terminals, approved as part of the 2017 gaming expansion law. According to the PennLive news site, supplier International Game Technology has completed work on expansion of the state’s central control system, which tracks play on casino slot machines, to cover the new truck stops.

Six truck stops have received licenses so far, but none have completed the process of adding the machines, which culminates in a final inspection and testing by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. The law permits up to five VGTs in each qualifying location.

Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board spokesman Doug Harbach told the news site he is confident the VGTs will be up and running before the end of the summer.