Gaming Americas Weekly Roundup – June 8-14

Welcome to our weekly roundup of American gambling news again! It was again an eventful week in the USA, despite the still-active virus attack.

Here, we are going through the weekly highlights of the American gambling industry which includes casino reopening, new partnerships, new tax regulations, and survey results. Read on and get updated.

Casino Reopening

Century Casinos has resumed the operations at its Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack and Resort on June 5. Prior to reopening, Mountaineer implemented comprehensive and state-specific safety and social distancing protocols as directed by the West Virginia Lottery.

Colorado casinos are going to begin reopening on June 15 following a three-month shutdown due to COVID-19. Casinos in Cripple Creek will resume their operations on June 15. Gaming properties in Colorado’s other gaming hubs of Black Hawk and Central City will come back online on June 17.

Churchill Downs Incorporated (CDI) is in preparations to reopen Derby City Gaming, its historical racing machine property located in Louisville, Kentucky. All CDI properties will implement and practice the “CDI 360 Degree Approach to Safety,” which includes initiatives to facilitate social distancing, personal protection, and enhanced cleaning.

The Michigan Gaming Control Board has announced the minimum reopening guidelines for Detroit casinos. As per the guidelines, the capacity is limited to 15% of the established maximum capacity of casinos. Poker rooms will remain closed and other table games will only allow three players at one time.

New Partnerships

Philadelphia based Susquehanna International Group (SIG) has become the exclusive trading partner of Dignitas, the esports vertical of New Meta Entertainment (NME). The multi-year agreement will provide SIG with unique exposure to esports through Dignitas’ teams that compete in the world’s most popular games, including League of Legends, Counter Strike: Global Offensive, and Clash Royale.

BetMakers Technology Group has secured the rights to manage on-course Fixed Odds betting at New Jersey race track Monmouth Park.

BetMakers, through its wholly-owned subsidiary BetMakers DNA (BDNA), has signed an Agreement with Darby Development LLC, the operator of Monmouth Park, and New Jersey Thoroughbred Horsemen Association for a 5-year deal that is subject to BDNA obtaining regulatory approvals from the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement and the New Jersey Racing Commission.

Latest Surveys

During a time of casino closures and league shutdowns, Colorado bettors have shown their willingness to engage with the state’s newly regulated sports betting offer.

In a recent survey by ColoradoSharp.com, 75% of respondents said they would return to casinos “as soon as they’re open.” Also, Colorado has generated sports betting revenue of $25.5 million in May 2020. All signs point to a statewide boom for betting revenue when full-fledged gambling returns to The Centennial State.

New Tax Regulations

A new VAT has come into force for foreign companies that provide digital services in Mexico. All companies that have businesses in the country must pay the 16% tax, despite not having residence there. The affected companies include betting operators, gaming platforms, as well as audiovisual entertainment and transport services.

New Launchings

Sky Racing World, the US-based subsidiary of Australian gaming and racing giant Tabcorp, has announced the imminent introduction of an Australian Greyhound Racing simulcast in the US. The product will be accessible to the audiences in the US on June 15.

New Gambling Compacts

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt has announced that the federal government has approved the new gambling compacts between Oklahoma and two tribal nations – the Otoe-Missouria Tribe and the Comanche Nation. The new compacts authorize the tribes to offer additional forms of gambling, including sports betting, and to build new casinos closer to metropolitan areas.