Gambling in the USA
Chairman Simermeyer announces bulletin and advisory group at the New Mexico Tribal Gaming Symposium
The National Indian Gaming Commission Chairman E. Sequoyah Simermeyer addressed Tribal Regulators in New Mexico, announced new NIGC Bulletin on Sports Books, and forecasts plans for a public facing advisory group on Agency bulletins.
The National Indian Gaming Commission Chairman E. Sequoyah Simermeyer met with the New Mexico Association of Indian Gaming Commissions today. This was one of his first public meetings since being commissioned to serve as the National Indian Gaming Commission’s Chairman.
The meeting took place at the Santa Ana Star Casino and Hotel, an Indian gaming operation north of Albuquerque, NM. The Santa Ana Star Casino was one of the first tribally regulated sports books to open following a May 2018 decision from the Supreme Court of the United States. That decision struck down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992, a federal statute that prohibited legalizing sports betting in most jurisdictions. Since 2018, Indian gaming sports book operations in Mississippi, New Mexico, and New York have joined an Indian gaming sports book in Nevada that was already in operation before the Supreme Court’s 2018 decision. All these operations are regulated under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988.
“Clear Agency guidance empowers tribal communities to regulate and develop Indian gaming in their own communities,” said Chairman Simermeyer. He went on to say, “Today’s Bulletin provides a new resource for tribes contemplating policy considerations related to the sound regulation of sports betting on Indian lands. It also underscores the NIGC’s role in the oversight of sports books on Indian lands as part of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act’s framework.”
The Bulletin responds to requests from tribal officials and the Indian gaming industry in recent years. Those requests sought clarification from the NIGC on the topic of sports books on Indian lands. The Bulletin is available on the NIGC website at www.nigc.gov.
The Bulletin discusses the use of fact-specific advisory opinions from the Agency. Those opinions serve as proactive assessments of agreements during the planning phase of a tribally-regulated sports book operation. Specifically, the Bulletin describes how such agreements might implicate management and violate the sole proprietary interest requirement under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. The Bulletin also highlights Freedom of Information Act provisions for redacting commercial and/or proprietary information from publicly available advisory opinions.
Chairman Simermeyer also shared his plan to emphasize outreach and Agency accountability in the NIGC’s daily operations. The NIGC website is host to numerous bulletins on a variety of topics. Chairman Simermeyer discussed the Commission’s support for a more formal process that would invite tribal representatives to participate in a public facing group to advise the Commission on NIGC bulletins, including potential topics for future bulletins.
Simermeyer told the New Mexico Association of Indian Gaming Commissions, “It is the NIGC Commissioners’ responsibility to maintain this body of guidance in an informed and transparent manner. An advisory group can only aid the Commission in ensuring that its guidance remains relevant and continues to address the needs of a growing and sophisticated industry.” He went on to say, “Vice Chair Isom-Clause and I are working on a process to stand up an advisory group and hope to offer more details in the coming weeks.”
The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act created the National Indian Gaming Commission to support tribal self-sufficiency and the integrity of Indian gaming. NIGC oversees the efficient regulation of 520 gaming establishments operated by 247 tribes across 29 states.
SOURCE National Indian Gaming Commission
The three Detroit casinos reported $101.98 million in monthly aggregate revenue (AGR) for the month of September 2024, of which $101.23 million was generated from table games and slots, and $755,519 from retail sports betting.
The September market shares were:
• MGM, 47%
• MotorCity, 31%
• Hollywood Casino at Greektown, 22%
Monthly Table Games, Slot Revenue, and Taxes
The casinos’ revenue for table games and slots for the month of September 2024 increased 1.2% when compared to the same month last year. September’s monthly revenue was 8.6% lower when compared to the previous month, August 2024. From Jan. 1 through Sept. 30, the Detroit casinos’ table games and slots revenue increased by 1.0% compared to the same period last year.
The casinos’ monthly gaming revenue results were mixed compared to September 2023:
• MGM, up 6.6% to $47.68 million
• MotorCity, up 0.5% to $31.17 million
• Hollywood Casino at Greektown, down 7.8% to $22.38 million
In September 2024, the three Detroit casinos paid $8.2 million in gaming taxes to the State of Michigan. They paid $8.1 million for the same month last year. The casinos also reported submitting $12.5 million in wagering taxes and development agreement payments to the City of Detroit in September.
Monthly Retail Sports Betting Revenue and Taxes
The three Detroit casinos reported $22.02 million in total retail sports betting handle, and total gross receipts were $771,751 for the month of September. Retail sports betting qualified adjusted gross receipts (QAGR) were down by 52.0% in September when compared to September 2023, and down by 55.4% when compared to August 2024.
September QAGR by casino was:
• MGM: $601,794
• MotorCity: $11,817
• Hollywood Casino at Greektown: $141,908
During September, the casinos paid $28,559 in gaming taxes to the state and reported submitting $34,905 in wagering taxes to the City of Detroit based on their retail sports betting revenue.
Fantasy Contests
For August 2024, fantasy contest operators reported total adjusted revenues of $613,448 and paid taxes of $51,530.
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
Jackpot Digital, a leading manufacturer of electronic multiplayer dealerless poker tables, announced that it has received approval from the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority (SLGA) to act as a registered supplier of gaming supplies and services to regulated casinos in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The approval follows the Company’s news release dated February 6, 2024, announcing the signing of a licensing agreement with the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority to install the Company’s Jackpot Blitz dealerless poker ETGs into SIGA casinos.
Underdog Fantasy, one the fastest-growing sports gaming and media companies in the US, was recognised as the number 15 company on LinkedIn’s 2024 Top Startups list in the US, alongside startups recognised for employment growth, engagement, job interest and attraction of top talent. This marks the second consecutive year Underdog has made LinkedIn’s top startups list. Underdog is the only sports gaming company to make the list in 2024, and is the only sports gaming company to make LinkedIn’s list since Underdog’s founding in 2020.
FireKeepers Casino Hotel announced the opening of the Aristocrat Gaming Lounge, a cutting-edge gaming area showcasing some of the most popular slot games by Aristocrat Gaming. The lounge is conveniently located near to the hotel lobby, offering easy access for guests. The Aristocrat Gaming Lounge houses 32 popular game titles by Aristocrat Gaming including fan favourites like Dragon Link, Buffalo, Mo’ Mummy, Whisker Wheels and more.
NIGC Compliance Officer Jo’Elle Thompson was inducted into the Emerging Leaders of Gaming (ELG) “40 Under 40” Class of 2025. The ELG “40 Under 40,” designed by The Innovation Group (TIG) in collaboration with Global Gaming Business magazine, recognises the significant contributions that gaming professionals under the age of 40 have made to the casino gaming industry. Recipients of this award are not only being honoured for their achievements, but also paving the way for the next generation of innovators and leaders in the gaming industry.
Partnerships
Fanatics Betting and Gaming has integrated a range of White Hat Studios’ award-winning games into the new online Fanatics Casino for customers in Michigan and Pennsylvania. Known for bringing branded entertainment to life, White Hat Studios will offer Fanatics Casino players access to popular slots, including the hit titles Goonies Hey You Guys and Ted Cashlock. Each title offers engaging gameplay and immersive visuals that connect players with their favourite brands.
Slotomania, the free-to-play slots game from Playtika, has announced an extended collaboration with the hit game show “Let’s Make a Deal”. From October 1 to 24, Slotomania will sponsor The Big Deal of the Day round on “Let’s Make a Deal,” offering lucky contestants the chance to win big with even more exciting prizes in the ultimate showdown of chance, luck and fun.
Pavilion Payments, the leading omnichannel payments provider exclusively serving the gaming industry, has announced a strategic partnership with betPARX. This partnership will integrate Pavilion Payments’ cutting-edge Real-Time Payments (RTP) solution—fully supporting FedNow and RTP networks—into betPARX’s platform, revolutionising the payout experience for patrons by enabling instant access to their winnings.
The post Gaming Americas Weekly Roundup – September 30-October 6 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Gambling in the USA
Zula Casino Kicks Off its Spectacular 1-Year “Zula-versary” with a Month of Events and Promotions
Zula Casino launched its online social casino in the US exactly a year ago delivering more. More games. More rewards. More free-to-play entertainment through a personalized experience. Zula Casino marked its one-year launch by crossing the 1000 casino-game threshold – a milestone that positions it among the top platforms nationwide.
The month-long birthday bash intends to go over the top to give back to its amazing player community that helped make this first year so incredible. With its advent calendar format, players can unlock a special surprise each day ranging from a “Win-a-Vacation” event, a carnival event, free spins and new exclusive games, and a prize pool of over 25 billion Gold Coins (GC) plus 150,000 Sweeps Coins (SC) to be given out throughout the month. Over this period, Zula Casino will run other special events, including surprise happy hours with special coupons, various social media contests, and special giveaways.
“We’re incredibly proud of the player experience we’ve built over the last 12 months. The platform has garnered a substantial and loyal pool of players, and it’s not just because we offer one of the largest game selections from leading global providers, but also the exclusive experiences we’re providing, and the platform’s continued evolution with enhanced promotions, personalization, and seamless user experience,” said Tamar Laypan, Program Manager of Zula Casino.
Zula Casino has added over 1000 games across all categories over the past 12 months, including slots, jackpots, fish, table, plinko, megaways, crash, hold and win, tumble games, and more. These additions include top games like Big Bass Vegas and Fire Stampede, as well as branded exclusives like Gold Gold Gold 5000, supplied by Booming Games, and Sweet Bonanza 1000 by Pragmatic Play. With recent additions, Zula Casino now boasts 25 game providers, including Relax Gaming, Habanero, Evoplay, Pragmatic Play, RubyPlay, Gamzix, Let Us Entertain You Inc., to name a few.
Zula Casino flourished in a tough and highly competitive market, launching its proprietary-integrated platform in September of last year. With an average TrustPilot score of 4.6 and almost 9K reviews, the online social casino is among the highest-rated free-to-play sites in the market.
Zula Casino was also previously shortlisted for the prestigious Global SBC Awards in the category of “Rising Star in Casino”.
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