Author: OnlineGamblingDaily

After Macau lawmakers approved the new gaming law Tuesday allowing six licenses for 10-year periods, brokerage JP Morgan said in a note that they expect the new public tender for Macau’s gaming licenses to commence in late July or August, basing its expectations on the timeline of 2001. Furthermore, they stated that the result of the tender process may be announced by November.  In the note, analysts DS Kim and Livy Lyu remarked: “We recall, for the original concession 20 years ago, that public bidding kicked off around 40 days after the [original] law was passed and lasted for about three months.” “Based on…

International Game Technology (IGT) announced Wednesday that it has been awarded a gold medal sustainability rating from sustainability rating agency EcoVadis. This gold medal rating positions IGT among the top 5% of global companies assessed by Ecovadis for its comprehensive sustainable business practices. IGT’s sustainability program was assessed under the EcoVadis criteria using 21 benchmarks within the categories of environment, labor and human rights, ethics, and sustainable procurement. EcoVadis methodically evaluates environmental, social, and ethical performance using these international sustainability standards for companies worldwide. “As a leader in global sustainability for over 15 years, IGT has a thorough understanding of the…

Greentube, the NOVOMATIC Digital Gaming and Entertainment division, has signed a deal with Solbet that will see the company’s content go live in Peru and Ecuador. Solbet players in both jurisdictions have now gained access to a selection of popular titles, including Diamond Link: Mighty Sevens, Lucky Lady’s Charm Deluxe 10, and Book of Ra Deluxe. Greentube described the deal as strengthening its presence in the Latin American market. Sports betting and casino operator Solbet is part of the Dreams Group, which the studio describes as boasting a strong land-based and online presence in multiple regions across Latin America, including…

Gaming provider FBM Digital Systems (FBMDS) has launched its latest slot, Virá Festa, on the online casino Solverde.pt. The title is described as a thematic slot specifically designed for the Portuguese market and which, according to the company, “combines graphics and sounds typical of the national summer parties” in the country. In a press release, FBMDS highlighted that this is a product that “pays tribute to the local tradition, moving players automatically to the streets and to an environment of joy, euphoria and sharing that any person can enjoy during the popular Portuguese parties.” It comes as June marks the beginning…

Macau has extended its COVID-19 lockdown as of Thursday. However, casinos have been allowed to remain open, according to a statement from Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng on the government’s website. Furthermore, Macau’s more than 600,000 residents were required to undergo a second round of mass testing this week, as the number of infected people rose to more than 100 cases. Positive cases include people working or visiting the casinos, with a number of them related to a wedding banquet that was held inside SJM Holding’s Grand Lisboa Palace. Additionally, on Tuesday, satellite hotel and casino Fortuna, a venue operating under…

Online betting and gaming company 888 Holdings on Thursday warned of lower mid-year revenue amid tightened UK online gambling safety measures and the closure of its Dutch operations, sending its shares more than 6% lower. The company now expects £330-335 million ($403-$409 million) for the six months to 30 June 2022, ahead of its planned acquisition of William Hill’s international business on July 1. The UK has tightened restrictions in recent years, including a cap on the maximum stake on terminals, stricter age and identity checks for online gaming, and more support for those addicted to gambling. This week, Britain’s Gambling…

It sounds absurd to think that the Las Vegas Strip could actually be closed to cars. But believe it or not, it’s already happened once this year. And based on the feedback from tourists and locals, it was pretty cool. During the NFL Draft, which took place off the Strip behind LINQ in April, The Strip was closed to traffic for three days. While that was obviously a temporary move, county officials say it was met with a mostly positive response. Now, a state lawmaker has put forth a bill to make the move permanent. If approved, it would close…

Gordon Moody and fellow safer gambling charities have deemed ICE London’s Consumer Protection Zone as an “invaluable platform.” Rob Mabbett, Head of Growth at provider of gambling therapy services Gordon Moody, has highlighted the key role played by the event in progressing the safer gambling debate and providing not-for-profit organizations active in the space with a platform. Describing the ICE show as one of Gordon Moody’s “largest and most important events in the calendar, Mabbett said that the introduction of the ICE Consumer Protection Zone in 2018 has meant that organizations including Gordon Moody have been able to raise awareness…

The Osage Nation, developer of the upcoming Lake of the Ozarks casino in Missouri, has launched a new website including detailed information about the planned $60 million investment, which is being touted as a tourism booster and job creator. It features a FAQ section and frequent updates.  Osage Casinos CEO Byron Bighorse said in a statement: “This new entertainment district will dramatically expand the Lake-area’s tourism footprint, generating new jobs and economic opportunity. While this project has generated significant support and interest, we know Lake area residents want more information, so we created this website to help keep them informed every step of…

Peru Gaming Show (PGS) 2022 gathered industry representatives on June 15-16 at the Jockey Exhibition Center in Lima, and Aruze Gaming showcased several of its offerings for the region’s market, such as the X-Wheel gaming series, Fantastic Dragons, and cabinets Muso Curve-43, Muso Triple 27 and CubeX V40, among others. In a statement issued by the company on Tuesday, Aruze said the event was “an excellent opportunity to meet with operators and investors in the region.” Officials also noted that Aruze’s presence “was one of the visitors’ favorites” during the event due to the products they presented. Michael Snyder, Vice…

Gaming provider International Game Technology (IGT) announced that the Enjoy Pucon casino in Chile has upgraded its gaming floor with a selection of IGT games and cabinets. As part of this casino upgrade, Enjoy Pucon is the first casino in the region to deploy IGT’s Game King video poker content on the Ascent-supported CrystalSlant cabinet, the company stated in a press release issued Tuesday. Enjoy Pucon has also introduced 30 total USwitch multi-game bundles on IGT’s PeakSlant32 and Cobalt 27 cabinets. Each bundle includes a mix of what the company describes as “proven, market-attuned IGT games” that enable casino guests to…

A North Carolina House panel has advanced two bills to legalize online sports betting in the state. The proposals were greenlighted on Tuesday afternoon, moving closer to a passage and keeping hopes alive as the end of the current legislative session nears. The legislation would see sports gaming launching as early as January 1, 2023. The two sports gambling bills were approved by the House Judiciary I Committee with minor amendments, which double the amount of money to $2 million a year for problem gambling treatment, according to WRAL-TV. The bills work in tandem to legalize sports wagering throughout the…

 June 22, 2022 A glimmer of hope in a mostly dim economic outlook finds Atlantic City casinos have joined the gambling revenue party. Even as the threat of recession looms on the horizon, profits for the East Coast gambling mecca hit over $440 million for April, which is the highest since early 2019. The numbers were published by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement and show that despite the continued explosion of sports betting across America, it’s been the Atlantic City casinos that have generated to most profit. Gamblers have been returning to casinos in droves to make bets…

Japan, South Korea, Philippines, India and Thailand present diverse challenges and opportunities for iGaming operators today. Peter Stehlik, a Lawyer at Slotegrator, analyzes the Asian market’s prospects in this column, and provides resources on how to operate successfully in the continent.  With roughly 60% of the world’s population, Asia is home to millions of potential online casino players. The region’s many countries with growing economies and high individual income levels are magnetic to online casino and sportsbook operators looking for the right market conditions to make their business grow. Slotegrator reports that in 2022, Asia’s gambling industry is growing rapidly…

Gaming provider Evolution announced Wednesday that its wholly-owned subsidiary Evolution Malta Holding Limited has entered into an agreement to acquire Nolimit City, a producer and developer of online slot games, for an upfront consideration of EUR 200 million ($211 million) on a cash and debt-free basis. The consideration is financed from cash at hand, the company explained in a press release. In addition, Evolution may pay earn-out payments in cash based on Nolimit City’s EBITDA for the years 2022, 2023 and 2024, respectively. Completion of the Transaction is conditional upon regulatory approvals and is expected during Q3 2022. With earn-outs of…

The transaction that saw Blackstone sell The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas for $5.65 billion, including a $1.625 billion lease-back deal for MGM Resorts International to acquire its operations last month, became the latest high-priced sale in Las Vegas that did not publicly report tax payments routinely levied on home purchases, in the form of real estate transfer taxes.  Blackstone announced on May 17 that it completed its sale of The Cosmopolitan. The same day, a deed for the property was recorded with Clark County that showed no sales price, no transfer-tax value and no transfer tax due, with those designated lines blank, according…