Gambling in the USA
Gaming Americas Weekly roundup
Welcome to our weekly roundup of American gambling news!
All news are in one way or other influenced by COVID-19 lockdown. Many of the news have positive hues. Several gambling companies are in preparation for their reopening. Some have announced the dates for their “phased” reopening.
The re-opening would mean some unprecedented safety measures in casinos. Some of the gambling equipment manufacturers have come up with innovative Corona-specific products as well.
Then there are the financial results. As you would expect, most the the first quarter financial results were hit by the lock down and social distancing measures.
The following is a brief summary of top news happened in the North American gambling industry. Read on and get updated.
Casino Reopening
As the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) and North Carolina begin to lay out a framework for easing restrictions relating to COVID-19, the casinos are looking forward to a return to operation. Harrah’s Cherokee Casinos is going to reopen its Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort and Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River in North Carolina on May 18.
In Arkansas, Gov. Asa Hutchinson has permitted the casinos to reopen from May 18 with limited capacity. The casinos are in preparation for resuming the operations.
Safety Measures
Gaming companies are implementing health and safety measures in their properties in this pandemic situation. MGM Resorts released health and safety guidelines for its reopening.
The guidelines titled “Seven-Point Safety Plan” offers a multi-layered set of protocols and procedures designed in conjunction with medical and scientific experts to deter the spread of the virus, protect customers and employees and rapidly respond to potential new cases. The guidelines touch on virtually every aspect of casino operation and ensure healthy social distancing.
Many casinos have even redesigned their structures to offer greater distancing and provide more separation between players. Palace Casino Resort in Mississippi is an example for this.
The resort has redesigned its casino floor layout for social distancing. The spa and fitness centre will remain closed to avoid direct contact. Valet parking, room service and other hotel services will not be available when the property reopens.
Smith Rosen Gaming Partitions has launched a set of scratch-resistant slot machine partitions, which can clean themselves. The new innovation based on UVC-powered technology will help casinos to tame the spread of the corona virus as well as to satisfy the recent regulations and recommendations for social distancing. The specifically engineered slot machine partitions are proven to stop the proliferation of virus and bacteria in a casino environment.
Financial Reports
Some companies have announced their financial results this week. Eldorado Resorts announced their first quarter 2020 results. Eldorado reported a 25% decline in revenue during Q1 due to the Coronavirus crisis. Net revenue for Q1 was US$473.1 million. Eldorado also announced an operating loss of US$123.2million. The operating income in Q1 2019 was US$123.6million.
Twin River Worldwide Holdings also announced its financial results for the first quarter of 2020. The results are expectedly modest, as the casinos remained closed from mid-March.
Compliance
In Oklahoma, the Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association (OIGA) amended its bylaws and suspended the membership of the Otoe-Missouria Tribe and the Comanche Nation. The board and membership of OIGA voted to amend its bylaws and remove two tribal members from the organisation.
The amendment to the bylaws states: A member tribe found by a vote of the Board of conduct not in the best interest of the Association may be suspended for the remainder of the calendar year. Once the suspension has expired, the tribe may seek reinstatement of membership, which shall be voted on by the board.
But, the chairmen of Otoe-Missouria Tribe and Comanche Nation have defended these gambling compacts and urged the U.S. Department of the Interior to approve them. Both the chairmen outlined their positions in a ten-page legal memo sent to Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt.
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
Scientific Games was recognised with three prestigious honours in the 23rd Annual American Business Awards. The global lottery company won two Gold ABA awards for its retail technology, SciQ and PlayCentral Powered by SciQ, in the Operations Management Solutions and Emerging Technology categories, respectively. Scientific Games’ recently retired VP, Instant Game Production, Joe Bennett, earned a Silver ABA Award for Achievement in Management—Manufacturing, recognising his career contributions in secure lottery instant game production. This year, more than 3700 nominations from organisations of all sizes and industries were submitted to the ABAs. Winners were scored by more than 300 professionals worldwide during a rigorous judging process evaluating innovation, integrity, effectiveness, creativity and growth.
MGM Resorts has announced that it has reached a new employment agreement with CEO & President Bill Hornbuckle through December 31, 2028. As part of his new employment contract, the Company has also agreed to offer Hornbuckle an advisory agreement at the end of the term to assist with its integrated resort project in Osaka, Japan until its opening. As CEO, Hornbuckle oversees all aspects of MGM Resorts’ strategy, operations and hospitality and gaming development projects. He leads the company’s global development efforts and its digital gaming strategy.
Minimum Deposit Casinos (MDC) has released new insights into the tightening regulatory landscape for sweepstakes-based gaming in the US. Recent moves by lawmakers in New York, Louisiana, and Montana suggest a coordinated push to eliminate or restrict these alternative online gambling models. In New York, Senate Bill 5935, introduced by Sen. Joseph Addabbo, has advanced through the legislative process and targets the operation and supply of sweepstakes-style platforms. The bill specifically addresses platforms that use two forms of digital currency — one of which can be redeemed for real-world prizes — a setup now under scrutiny by state regulators.
New Partnerships
Rush Street Interactive (RSI), in partnership with Integrity Compliance 360 (IC360), has launched a new initiative called Gaming Literacy Aiding Decisions (GLAD), an innovative programme designed to assist educators in enhancing high school student gaming literacy and promoting that cohort’s responsible relationship with this ever more socially prevalent activity. The GLAD curriculum will initially launch in New Jersey and Delaware where, this spring, RSI and IC360 have been working with educational districts on a speaker series and educator curriculum delivery. These initial efforts will help define success metrics and gather feedback to shape the programme’s future, which will ultimately be available to educators more broadly to curate the content that resonates best with students.
The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) has selected Caesars Entertainment as the Service Provider in the Windsor Casino procurement process. This is the final procurement process in the OLG’s land-based gaming modernisation initiative. Caesars Entertainment and its predecessor companies have partnered with the OLG to operate Caesars Windsor (fka. Casino Windsor) since the opening of the temporary facility in 1994. Caesars Entertainment will assume responsibility for gaming and non-gaming operations of the Windsor casino on behalf of the OLG under a 20-year operating agreement, which is expected to begin in 2026.
The post Gaming Americas Weekly Roundup – May 12-18 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa has been named the luckiest casino in the US according to a recent study conducted by Casinos.com. The resort claimed the top spot based on an in-depth analysis of Tripadvisor reviews, measuring the frequency of luck-related keyword mentions.
With a 25.49% luck rate, Seminole Hard Rock Tampa topped the list thanks to glowing guest feedback, including frequent mentions of jackpots, hand pays and bonus wins. 50 reviews mentioned the word “jackpot,” and 19 even referenced a “hand pay.”
Casinos.com tracked keywords such as lucky, luck, won, winning, success, jackpot, hand pay, winner, bonus, profit to determine which U.S. casinos inspired the most winning moments among visitors.
“I hit 4 jackpots. I stayed one night. I had a blast. The machines are as loose as anywhere else,” wrote one Tripadvisor reviewer, noted Casinos.com, capturing the essence of why the casino landed in the No. 1 spot.
“We’ve always known this was a lucky casino, but it’s exciting to see that recognized through data-driven research. It’s a testament to the vibrant energy on our casino floor and the unforgettable experiences we strive to create for every guest,” said Steve Bonner, President of Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa.
The ranking reinforces Seminole Hard Rock Tampa’s reputation as one of the premier gaming and entertainment destinations in the US. Seminole Hard Rock Tampa was not involved in the study and was unaware of it until the results were publicly released.
Over the past year, Seminole Hard Rock Tampa has paid out nearly 839,000 jackpots totaling more than $2.45 billion, continuing to deliver thrilling high-stakes gaming. Since May 1, 2024, the casino resort has awarded 375 jackpots of $100,000 or more, amounting to an impressive $61 million in winnings. Notably, 47 of those massive wins stemmed from bets of $5 or less and nine came from wagers of $3 or less.
Seminole Hard Rock Tampa offers a fully integrated casino experience with a sleek, modern design and welcoming atmosphere of 245,000 square feet of gaming space and entertainment. With 5230 of the hottest slot machines and a full range of table games such as poker, blackjack and baccarat, there is no shortage of opportunities to win. Additionally, guests can enjoy live craps, roulette, and sports betting at their leisure.
The post Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa Named Luckiest Casino in US by Casinos.com appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
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
Bragg Gaming Group confirmed that it will release its first quarter 2025 financial results prior to the opening of the financial markets on Thursday, May 15, 2025. The release will be followed by a conference call at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time, hosted by Bragg Chief Executive Officer, Matevž Mazij and Chief Financial Officer, Robbie Bressler, to discuss the Company’s financial results and provide a business update. During the call, management will review a presentation that will be available on the day of the call.
Context Networks Inc, the first programmatic advertising platform engineered for the gaming industry, has announced the rollout of its groundbreaking Deep Intelligence Marketing strategy, redefining how brands engage consumers in bars, taverns and on-premise slot route operations. Leveraging the power of AI-driven data analytics, machine learning and context-aware digital couponing, Context Networks is turning local venues into the next frontier of high-impact retail media. Through its Contextual Promotions Media Network (CPMN), Context is converting digital screens—such as slot machines in bars—into dynamic, smart advertising surfaces. These systems use advanced data signals to deliver highly targeted promotions based on real-time factors like venue type, consumer behaviour, time of day, and even emotional context, moving far beyond traditional static or cyclic Digital Out-of-Home (DOOH) advertising.
ACR Poker’s Blitz Bonus Boost promotion is back by popular demand to supercharger players’ bankrolls, offering a 50% bonus up to a sizzling $500. To take advantage, players need to deposit $25 or more by 11:59 pm ET on Saturday, May 31 using bonus code: BLITZ and ACR Poker will match 50% of it, up to $500.
Partnerships
International Game Technology PLC announced that IGT PlaySports technology is now powering retail sports betting at Silver Reef Casino Resort in Ferndale, Wash. This technology agreement builds on IGT PlaySports’ leadership in the region, marking the 11th casino in Washington State to deploy the Company’s award-winning sports betting platform, and the 10th casino in the State to leverage its trading advisory services.
Playtech and Hard Rock Digital (HRD) have launched New Jersey’s first-ever dedicated trivia experience on the top-rated Hard Rock Bet online casino platform. This milestone establishes Hard Rock Bet as the first operator to launch a dedicated Live Trivia Game Show in the state. Since the announcement of their strategic partnership in 2024, Playtech has provided a wide range of gaming content through Hard Rock Bet, including slots, card & table games, and live dealer games.
Everi Holdings Inc. announced the Company’s digital CashClub Wallet technology is powering Penn Entertainment Inc’s (PENN) “PENN Wallet” at M Resort Spa Casino in Henderson, NV. The “PENN Wallet” offers M Resort guests the ability to access cashless payments throughout the gaming floor via integrations with existing loyalty and payments systems. PENN currently utilises CashClub Wallet technology across 22 properties in 11 jurisdictions. CashClub Wallet elevates patron engagement with frictionless, omni-channel payments. Everi’s industry-leading cashless payments solutions drive additional volume, improve operational efficiencies and transform the traditional casino cash-centric environment into a modern, seamless experience for an enhanced player journey.
The post Gaming Americas Weekly Roundup – May 5-11 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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