Gaming Archives

December 13, 2023

Bill Hornbuckle on MGM Resorts’ global growth ambitions

MGM Resorts’ home town of Las Vegas evolved beyond all recognition during Bill Hornbuckle’s time in gaming, but it’s not the only show in town. He’s eyeing up expansion across a range of global markets and expanding into new channels.

Things are booming in MGM Resorts’ home town, but it’s much more than a Vegas-based business. Hornbuckle leads global development efforts and having taken MGM into Macau he’s still looking east.

MGM Resorts looks east

Japan’s ministry of land, infrastructure, transport and tourism certified plans for a $10bn integrated resort in Osaka in April. After finalising agreements with Osaka Prefecture and City, construction can begin on the property.

Marginally closer, opportunities are emerging in the United Arab Emirates. First Wynn sealed an agreement for a resort in Ras al-Khaimah. Then a federal regulator, the General Commercial Gambling Regulatory Authority (GCGRA) emerged paving the way for resorts in other Emirates.

MGM is focused on Dubai, Hornbu..

December 13, 2023

Brazil’s senate votes to approve sports betting – igaming removed

Brazil's senate plenary voted yesterday (12 December) to approve the amendments to Bill 3,626/2023, which will regulate sports betting. However, igaming was removed from the bill.

Originally scheduled for 6 December, the vote was delayed due to a lack of available senators to vote.

The bill was presented by Senator Angelo Coronel to the senate yesterday evening. It contained the latest round of amendments following initial approval of the bill three weeks ago by Brazil’s Economic Affairs’ Commission.

While the bill faced significant opposition, three key highlights were focused on in yesterday’s voting session.

The first, and most notable, is that the senate voted to remove igaming from the bill. The amendment was presented by Senator Carlos Portinho, with 37 votes in favour of excluding igaming and 27 against.

In addition to the exclusion of igaming, the senate also voted to exclude virtual games and sports betting terminals. An amendment that would prohibit sports betti..

December 7, 2023

Fitch “neutral” on global gaming outlook for 2024

Fitch Ratings forecasts global gaming outlook for 2024 as “neutral”, citing pullback in certain US markets and potential stagnation in Europe.

A new report from Fitch Ratings forecasts the global gaming outlook for 2024 as “neutral”.

It is the second straight year Fitch has selected a “neutral” view for its gaming outlook. Fitch cited “slight pullback” from the “pent-up demand” in the United States as one of the reasons for its classification.

In general, the US is still performing well after a “robust” 2022. However, Fitch’s 6 December report details how regional gaming is showing some indication of stagnation.

Elsewhere, Asia Pacific is flourishing under improved demand thanks to the mass market returning after the Covid-19 pandemic. Singapore, meanwhile, continues to “perform above expectations”.

Limited regulation in the Middle East and Africa (part of EMEA) is proving beneficial, alongside the rise in US online profitability. Over in Europe, The UK Gambling Act review is exp..

December 7, 2023

Greenblatt: 2024 the year BetMGM unlocks Las Vegas

Speaking at Morgan Stanley's Global Consumer and Retail Conference, BetMGM's CEO says 2024 will be the year they unlock America's gaming capital.

BetMGM will “unlock” Las Vegas in 2024, according to CEO Adam Greenblatt.

Speaking at the Morgan Stanley Global Consumer and Retail Conference on Wednesday (6 December), Greenblatt says BetMGM will look to capitalise on the influx of sports events in Las Vegas.

Sports and Las Vegas licence to be key

The recent Formula One race in the city attracted 300,000 fans and was a record-breaking weekend for BetMGM. The operator took three times the number of bets than any other F1 race in its history.

“[20]24 is the year we unlock Las Vegas,” Greenblatt stated. “Why that’s important, is because recruiting a player in Vegas costs 27% of the cost of acquiring that player in the open market. They’re also more than 130% as valuable.

“The role of Vegas in player acquisition and retention is really important. Those players we acquire ..

December 6, 2023

Australian Senate approves credit card online gambling ban legislation

The Australia Senate has approved legislation to prohibit the use of credit cards for online gambling in the country, with a near-blanket ban set to come into effect within six months.

The Interactive Gambling Amendment (Credit and Other Measures) Bill 2023 was introduced in September. This legislation seeks to ban credit cards and other credit-related products, as well as digital currencies, in Australia.

Australia’s House of Representatives passed the bill last month, allowing it to progress to the Senate. Today (6 December), the Senate also approved the legislation, clearing the way for it to pass into law.

The country already has a ban in place on gambling with credit cards at land-based venues. This means the bill effectively places a blanket ban on credit card gambling across Australia.

What is in the credit card bill?

Aside from a ban on credit products, the bill features several other related measures. These include fines of up to AU$234,750 (£122,475/€143,003/US$154,282)..

December 1, 2023

Nevada gambling revenue exceeds $1.3bn in October

Gambling revenue in Nevada increased 3.1% year-on-year to $1.32bn (£1.04bn/€1.21bn) in October, helped by growth across multi-denomination slots, baccarat and sports pool betting.

Revenue was ahead of $1.28bn in October 2022 and also 3.9% more than $1.27bn in Nevada in September this year. It was also the best October revenue total in the history of the state’s market.

Slots drew the lion’s share of revenue, generating $894.9m in revenue in October. This was 2.0% higher than in the same month last year.

Multi-denomination slots were the single highest revenue source with $527.8m for the month, up 16.3%. Incidentally, almost all other slot games reported a decline in revenue, including penny slots, with revenue dropping 11.7% to $271.9m

Baccarat growth continues in Nevada

Figures released by the Nevada Gaming Control Board showed table, counter and card game revenue edged up 4.2% to $420.3m. This was helped by ongoing growth within the baccarat segment, with revenue jumping 35.3% t..

November 27, 2023

Brazil’s upcoming vote: Everything you need to know

Brazil's Senate plenary could vote to legalise sports betting and online casino on Wednesday (29 November). Ahead of the vote, we bring you all you need to know about the journey so far.

Before we delve into the complex legal history of sports betting in Brazil, let’s start off with last week’s key step.

Last Tuesday (21 November), the industry was waiting eagerly for Brazil’s Economic Affairs Committee (CAE) to vote on whether to greenlight sports betting and igaming through Bill 3,626/2023. This was delayed by one day on the request of senators, according to Senado Noticias.

The bill will now head to the Senate Plenary this Wednesday (29 November)

The CAE’s eventual approval on Wednesday 22 November gave the thumbs-up for the bill to move to the Senate plenary. This session will now take place this Wednesday (29 November). If the plenary vote goes in the bill’s favour, sports betting and igaming will officially be legal in Brazil.

Importantly, the outcome at the CAE confirm..

November 22, 2023

Michigan online sports betting handle hits record $533m in October

Michigan consumers spent a record $533.0m (£424.9m/€488.2m) betting on sports online in October, marking the first time monthly internet bets in the Great Lakes State exceeded $500.0m.

Gross internet gaming and sports betting receipts from commercial and tribal operators in Michigan reached $205.3m during October. This was 7.9% ahead of $190.2m last year but 2.4% down from $210.4m in September 2023.

Online casino was again the main source of all internet gambling revenue in Michigan. Gross receipts in the igaming segment reached $160.3m, an increase of 13.7% from $141.0m in the previous year.

In contrast, sports betting gross receipts declined 8.5% to $45.0m. This was despite sports betting handle climbing to a new monthly high in Michigan.

Adjusted gross gaming receipts exceed $167m in Michigan

After accounting for promotional deductions, adjusted gross receipts (AGR) from igaming and sports betting was $167.7m. This was an increase of 5.8% from $158.5m posted in October of last..

November 21, 2023

Delaware: sports betting grows but igaming declines in October

The Delaware Lottery reported another increase in sports betting handle during October, but igaming wagers in the state fell to a 19-month low.

Delaware consumers spent $10.7m (£8.5m/€9.8m) betting on sports in October. This was up 4.9% from $10.2m in the same month of last year and 40.8% more than $7.6m in September 2023.

As for sports betting revenue, this hit $2.6m in October. The Lottery said this was marginally higher than $2.5m last year and 173.1% ahead of $958,547 in September this year.

Delaware Park was again the sports betting market leader, posting $368,904 in revenue off a $2.5m handle.

Bally’s Dover placed second with revenue of $172,532 from $1.2m in bets during October. The Harrington Raceway followed with $79,437 in revenue and a $554,958 handle.

An additional $2.0m in revenue came from $6.4m in bets placed with retailers in Delaware.

Delaware igaming spend slips to lowest monthly total since February 2022

While the Delaware sports betting market continued to r..

November 20, 2023

Pennsylvania sports betting handle hits record $829m in October

Pennsylvania reported a monthly record $829.0m (£664.4m/€759.3m) sports betting handle in October, while the state also noted year-on-year revenue growth across several segments.

Total gambling revenue in Pennsylvania hit $483.0m in October. This was 7.3% higher than $450.2m in October 2022 and 1.4% up from $576.3m in September this year.

Retail slots were responsible for almost 40.0% of all gambling revenue during the month at $192.5m, down 3.3% from last year. Land-based table games revenue edged up 2.0% year-on-year to $81.5m.

Record spending pushes sports betting revenue up

The headline figure for Pennsylvania in October was sports betting handle, which climbed 4.0% from the previous monthly high of $797.1m to reach a new record.

This helped push sports betting revenue up 18.8% year-on-year to $48.2m. Of this total, $43.1m came from online wagering and the remaining $5.1m retail betting.

Hollywood Casino at the Meadows and Barstool edged back into top sport in the market wi..

November 20, 2023

New Jersey gambling revenue up 9.3% year-on-year in October

Gambling revenue in New Jersey increased 9.3% year-on-year in October, driven by growth across the state’s igaming and sports betting market.

Total market revenue in New Jersey reached $487.1m (£390.9m/€446.4m) in October. This was ahead of $445.7m last year but 6.6% behind $521.5m in September this year.

Physical slots, which have long drawn the most gambling revenue in New Jersey, posted a year-on-year decline. Revenue from retail slots dropped 1.9% to $163.0m in October.

However, land-based table games revenue for the month was 19.7% higher at $65.1m. This meant total revenue from the retail casino sector increased 3.4% to $228.1m.

New Jersey igaming markets continues to expand

In contrast to the retail slots decline, the situation was very different for their online cousins in New Jersey. Revenue from authorised online games, including internet slots, increased by 13.4% to $164.4m in October.

Online peer-to-peer poker games revenue also increased by 6.2% to $2.4m. As such, ..

November 14, 2023

Australia lower house passes credit card gambling ban bill

The Australia House of Representatives, the lower house of the country’s parliament, has passed a bill that would introduce a blanket ban on using credit cards for online gambling.

The Interactive Gambling Amendment (Credit and Other Measures) Bill 2023 was submitted in September. It seeks to ban credit cards and other credit-related products, as well as digital currencies.

Introducing the bill has led to significant debate in parliament, with several amendments being filed to alter the bill. However, these were ultimately unsuccessful and the bill passed today (14 November) with support from both major parties in Australia.

The bill will now move forward to the Senate, the upper house of parliament in Australia, for further debate.

Breaking down the credit card bill

Aside from the ban on credit products, the bill includes a host of other measures that would come into effect.

These include heavy fines for operators that do not enforce the ban. Licensees in Australia could face..

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Tag: Gaming