Gambling in the USA
Gaming Americas Weekly Roundup – October 26-November1
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 include the latest news, new partnerships and new appointments. Read on and get updated.
Latest News
Score Digital Sports Ventures (theScore Bet), a subsidiary of Score Media and Gaming, has joined the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) as a Platinum Member. NCPG is a leading national organisation for people and their families who are affected by problem gambling and gambling addiction.
The Argentina government is going to impose a higher rate of tax on online gaming for the forthcoming year. The initiative from Minister of Finance Martín Guzmán, which increases taxes on online gambling from 2% to 5%, was included in next year’s draft budget.
North American organisation Cloud9 has announced the signing of an all-female VALORANT roster. The team formerly known as Team MAJKL will now compete as Cloud9 White. Moreover, the organisation’s all-male team will be rebranded to Cloud9 Blue.
John Levy, Founder and CEO, Score Media and Gaming Inc., joined his team and Dani Lipkin, Director, Global Business Development, TMX Group, to celebrate the company’s graduation from TSX Venture Exchange to Toronto Stock Exchange and open the market.
Nevada State Sen. Keith Pickard, President of the National Council of Legislators from Gaming States, is leading an effort to expand the national organisation’s reputation as the primary source of best practices in gaming law and regulation.
Partnerships
The FanDuel Group has entered into a multi-year partnership with DC United and has become the exclusive sports betting sponsor of the club. The deal marks the first sports betting partnership for FanDuel with a Major League Soccer team.
Caesars Entertainment has expanded its partnership with IBS Software to transform digital distribution and sales across its entire portfolio of properties. Caesars is using IBS Software’s iHospitality distribution platform to provide real-time access to a global audience as it looks to fuel its recovery from the COVID-19 downturn. By centralising operations and extending reach, iHospitality allows Caesars Entertainment to reduce costs while increasing revenue.
The Detroit Red Wings has renewed and expanded its strategic partnership with BetMGM. As per the deal, BetMGM will continue to have an on-ice logo at Little Caesars Arena, along with in-venue signage, fan promotions and a sponsored presence on the Red Wings’ digital platforms. The District Detroit mobile app will also feature the BetMGM Stats Module, providing Red Wings fans access to betting odds and statistics next season.
New Appointments
Riot Games has appointed Jason Bunge as its first Chief Marketing Officer (CMO). Jason brings years of experience in gaming and global product marketing at a time when Riot is making its transformation into a multi-game publisher.
eQube Gaming Limited has appointed Amy Janko as its Chief Financial Officer (CFO), effective following regulatory approval. Ms. Janko brings more than eight years of senior financial accounting experience to the eQube team.
Acquisitions
Twin River Worldwide Holdings has entered into a deal to acquire the Tropicana Evansville casino operations from Caesars Entertainment. As part of the acquisition, Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc. (GLPI), a publicly traded gaming-focused real estate investment trust (REIT), will acquire the Evansville casino real estate for $340 million and lease it back to Twin River for $28 million/year in rent, subject to escalation.
Simplicity Esports and Gaming Company has signed definitive documents to acquire three additional franchisee-owned esports gaming centres in California and Washington. The closing of these acquisitions gives Simplicity a total of nine corporate-owned and 20 franchisee-owned gaming centres open and operational.
Compliance
Golden Matrix Group Inc. has entered into a software licence and services agreement with a leading sports betting software and trading services provider to market and distribute a white label sportsbook platform for online betting.
Compliance Updates
Gaming CEOs Optimistic on Industry Outlook, Report Evolving Industry Challenges
Amidst an evolving economic landscape, gaming executives report a positive outlook on future industry business conditions while remaining satisfied with the current business environment, according to the American Gaming Association’s (AGA) Gaming Industry Outlook.
Nearly all gaming executives surveyed characterized the current business environment as good (44%) or satisfactory (50%), mirroring similar sentiment from Q3 2023. Meanwhile, executives are more optimistic about future conditions, with 32 percent of CEOs expecting business conditions to improve over the next six months, up from 20 percent in Q3 2023.
“Gaming’s record-setting growth over the last three years has set a new standard for industry success,” said AGA President and CEO Bill Miller. “However, as we enter a period of market normalization, continued investment and innovation in offering world-class, responsible entertainment experiences will be required to maintain industry momentum.”
Gaming Executive Panel
Gaming executives have become more positive in their views that overall balance sheet health will improve over the next 6 months (42% net positive), but they expect the pace of revenue growth (13% net negative) and new hiring (22% net negative) to slow. These expectations for decelerating growth have influenced expectations for increases in capital investment and gaming units in operation, with smaller net positive sentiments than before.
- In contrast to past Outlooks, gaming equipment suppliers are slightly pessimistic about the sale of gaming units for replacement use and new or expansion use (both 13% net negative). However, they remain optimistic about the pace of capital investment (38% net positive).
- Half of operator CEOs expect capital investments in hotels over the next year to be higher than normal, and compared to last fall, more also expect higher than normal levels of capital investment in meetings and conventions and table games (28%). Meanwhile, 44 percent of CEOs expect increases in food and beverage investment, down from 67 percent in Q3 2023.
These expectations are also informed by evolving macroeconomic challenges. Executives report that inflationary or interest rate concerns continue to be a major factor limiting operations (28%), but these have been overtaken by geo-political risk (34%) and uncertainty of the economic environment (34%) as the biggest limiting factors in the most recent Gaming Executive Panel.
Current Conditions Index
The Current Conditions Index of 102.8 for Q1 indicates solid annualized real economic growth in the industry of 2.8%. This includes gaming revenue, employment and employee wages and salaries. Notably, the Current Conditions Index shows gaming expanding faster than the overall U.S. economy which last week reported 1.6 percent GDP growth in Q1 2024.
Future Conditions Index
The Future Conditions Index stands at 102.2, indicating annualized industry economic activity, after controlling for underlying inflation, is expected to moderately increase over the next six months. This outlook reflects Oxford Economics’ forecast that the U.S. economy will slow during 2024 but avoid recession. Despite a projected economic slowdown, consumer survey results continue to indicate that more than one-third of adults expect to visit a casino during the next 12 months, consistent with prior quarter results.
About the Outlook
The AGA Gaming Industry Outlook is prepared biannually by Oxford Economics. It provides a timely measure of recent industry growth and future expectations. The Q1 2024 survey was conducted between March 28 – April 10, 2024. A total of 32 executives responded, including executives at the major international and domestic gaming companies, tribal gaming operators, single-unit casino operators, major gaming equipment suppliers, and major iGaming and/or sports betting operators.
Chris Schroder
Colorado Launches Illegal Gambling Awareness Campaign
The Colorado Division of Gambling has launched a new illegal gambling awareness campaign.
The “Play Legit. Gamble Only Where Legal.” campaign aims to educate the public about the risks associated with illegal gambling and the importance of supporting regulated gaming venues.
The campaign emphasizes legal gambling options, including casinos in Black Hawk, Central City, and Cripple Creek, as well as online sports betting and off-track betting.
“With many certified and legal gambling sites available, it’s never worth it to put yourself in danger. Together, let’s play by the rules and ensure that Colorado remains a safe and responsible gaming destination. By recognizing and preventing illegal gambling, we all win,” Chris Schroder, Director of the Colorado Division of Gaming, said.
In Colorado, gambling opportunities abound, but not all are legal. Illegal gambling operations not only fail to protect players but can also serve as a breeding ground for serious crimes, including fraud, human trafficking, drug trafficking, and burglary, posing a threat to public safety and community well-being. Participants in illegal gambling activities also compromise personal and financial information, putting individuals at risk of identity theft, unreliable payouts, and potential legal consequences, such as fines and imprisonment.
Gambling in the USA
Gaming Americas Weekly Roundup – April 22-28
Welcome to our weekly roundup of American gambling news again! Here, we are going through the weekly highlights of the American gambling industry which include the latest news and new partnerships. Read on and get updated.
Latest News
The International Association of Gaming Advisors (IAGA) will hold its 41st International Gaming Summit Monday, May 27 through Thursday, May 30, 2024 at The Ritz-Carlton Washington, D.C. As a premier event that brings together leaders from all global gaming sectors, the Summit will provide operators, suppliers, attorneys, investors, bankers, regulators and other advisor delegates with an unparalleled opportunity to meet and discuss the most important issues facing gaming.
Marker Trax, a leader in cashless payment solutions for the gambling industry, has announced the appointment of John Henderson as its SVP of operations. Henderson is a seasoned, energetic industry veteran who brings to Marker Trax more than four decades of success in delivering technology-based business solutions, leading innovation-forward companies seeking to increase their industry footprints and to solidify their market shares.
Jackpot Digital, a leading manufacturer of electronic multiplayer dealerless poker tables, announced that it has successfully completed the installation of its Jackpot Blitz casino machines at Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino, located in Coarsegold, California.
Affinity Interactive has announced the appointment of Scott Butera as President & Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. Mr. Butera, who most recently led AI’s Sports Information Group (SIG) business, brings over 30 years of experience in gaming, hospitality, media, entertainment and sports to the pivotal role. In his new capacity, Mr. Butera will set strategy and oversee operations of the Company’s diversified portfolio of casinos resorts across Nevada, Missouri and Iowa.
North Star Network has acquired Um Dois Esportes, a sports coverage and analysis site created from the merger of Gazeta Do Povo and Tribuna do Paraná in 2020. NSN’s signing of Um Dois Esportes is the media house’s fourth acquisition of 2024, following the recent deals to purchase UK-based SportsMole and MrFixitsTips, as well as Chilean site AlAireLibre, which was announced in March.
Hollywood Casino at Greektown unveiled its new ESPN BET branded sportsbook and restaurant on the upper floor of the 100,000-square-foot Downtown Detroit casino. This sportsbook is the first ESPN BET branded retail location to open across PENN Entertainment’s (PENN) portfolio of properties.
Partnerships
Above the Felt, the leading poker and gaming marketing and talent agency, has announced a partnership with Potawatomi Casino Hotel in Milwaukee, Wisconsin for the grand opening of their state-of-the-art poker room this May. This collaboration marks a significant experiential poker event in the Mid-West US, bringing together top players, personalities and content creators with regional players for an unforgettable poker room grand opening.
SCCG Management, a leading advisory firm in the global gaming industry, has announced a strategic partnership with Comm100, a pioneer in AI-powered omnichannel communication. This collaboration signifies a pivotal moment in the gaming industry as it looks to revolutionise player engagement and customer support through personalised, 24/7 communication.
Betano and CBF (Confederação Brasileira de Futebol), the Brazilian Football Confederation, announced a new partnership that will see Betano become the new main sponsor and exclusive betting partner of Campeonato Brasileiro Série A. Starting from the 2024 season, which began on Sunday, April 14, the competition will be known as Brasileirão Betano.
The post Gaming Americas Weekly Roundup – April 22-28 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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