Gaming Americas Weekly Roundup – January 29-February 4

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, new partnerships and new appointments. Read on and get updated.

Latest News

Aristocrat Gaming announced that it has been awarded entry into the Québec video lottery terminal (VLT) gaming market. Distribution of Aristocrat VLTs is anticipated to begin in early Summer 2024.

Great Canadian Entertainment has opened an 18-table poker room at Pickering Casino Resort. The room is located on the third floor and will operate 24/7. The room has 16 traditional tables and two private high stakes rooms. It has a bar and tableside food delivery from The District, the resort’s food hall. The casino itself opened last year.

eCOGRA, the globally renowned Independent Testing Laboratory specialising in the testing, inspection and certification of online gambling software and systems, announced the opening of its new office in Denver, Colorado, marking a significant milestone in their expansion into the US.

BlueBet Holdings announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, BlueBet Louisiana LLC, has been licenced to operate in Louisiana under its ClutchBet B2C brand and has taken its first bets. Louisiana is ClutchBet’s third US B2C state, with the brand already live in Iowa and Colorado, continuing the Company’s “Capital Lite” US market entry strategy.

Newport Global Advisors, a leading middle market manager of opportunistic stressed and distressed credit investment, announced the completion of the sale of Mesquite Gaming LLC. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

New Partnerships

Underdog Sports, the fast-growing sports gaming platform, announced a partnership with McConnell Golf as part of its application for a sports betting license in North Carolina. Sedgefield Country Club, a private club, located in Greensboro, and host of the PGA TOUR’s Wyndham Championship, appointed Underdog to host, manage, operate and support the Underdog branded online gambling services in the state.

Light & Wonder announced that the Company will make its Québec market arrival in 2024 through an agreement to provide Video Lottery Terminals to Loto-Québec. Under this agreement, Light & Wonder will deliver KASCADA DUAL SCREEN gaming machines to be placed throughout the province.

New Appointments

Scientific Games has named Andrew Jackson as the company’s Vice President of Environmental, Social and Governance. Jackson, an expert in ESG with a background in multiple areas of engineering, joined Scientific Games in 1999. He most recently served as the Director of Quality, Compliance and R&D, based at the company’s UK instant game production and technology facility.

DraftKings has appointed Marie Donoghue as its new chief business and growth officer. Donoghue last served as Amazon’s vice president of global sports video. It was confirmed she was leaving the company earlier this month. In her new role, Donoghue will play a key role in driving further growth for DraftKings as it explores new business opportunities. She will also be charged with spearheading various internal processes.

Maurice Wooden has been appointed the president of Fontainebleau Las Vegas, a five-star luxury resort and casino on the Las Vegas Strip. A 36-year veteran of the luxury hospitality sector, Mr.Wooden’s experience and expertise complement the newly opened Fontainebleau Las Vegas, which is built upon a 70-year legacy of sublime beauty, unparalleled service and timeless design.