Is Las Vegas in a Decline?
Earnings reports for the second quarter of 2018 weren’t encouraging for Vegas-based online casino and live casino operators. Both MGM Resorts International and Caesars Entertainment reported soft numbers for the period encompassing April, May and June and indications are that the third quarter won’t be much better.
Across Vegas, operators reported declines in their revenue per available room (RevPAR) profits. RevPAR is the most commonly-used metric to assess profitability of Vegas casinos. The second quarter RevPAR showed a 4% decrease in overall Strip occupancy, a 1% decrease in overall visitation and room occupancy and a 3% decrease in convention attendance – of particular concern since convention guests spend significantly more on dining and rooms, even though they tend to spend less time on the gaming floors than other guests.
Canadian Casino News
Gambling is permitted in all Canadian provinces. The provincial Gambling Corporations control the lotteries, land-based casinos and online casino gaming based on their individual province’s laws and regulations. The variety of casino offerings differs from one province to the next – some provinces offer brick-and-mortar casinos, lotteries, online casino activity, racetracks and other gaming organizations while others feature a more limited menu of gambling options.
FanDuel Controversy in New Jersey
Almost as soon as the United States Supreme Court handed down its ruling that allowed individual states to legislate sports betting in their domains, the FanDuel Fantasy Sports Provider started to carve out its piece of the pie. The company has made some valuable partnerships which makes it a logical resource to get sports betting going in the states in which it’s been legalized.
FanDuel’s place as a pioneer in the world of sports betting gives it certain advantages but it also means that it is testing the waters.
Japan Prepares to Welcome Integrated Casino Resorts
Japan is getting ready to move forward with the development of three new casino resorts which were OK’d by Shinzo Abe’s coalition in July. There are still many unanswered questions about how the new bill will actually function. Where will the casinos be built? Will there be an online casino? Who will operate them? How will the government address criminal elements and gambling addictions which are certain to become problematic?
Macau Casino Entertainment
The epicenter of the casino world is shifting. Whereas only a few short decades ago Vegas was the focus of global gambling, new online casino and land-based centers have opened around the world. In the East Singapore, Hong Kong, Korea, India, Australia, New Zealand and even Japan are developing casino industries. Macau, however, has become the epicenter of Asian gaming with a multi-billion dollar infrastructure that continues to grow annually.
Wynn Resorts Returns Big-Time
Less than 12 months ago Wynn Resorts was rocket by allegations that founder and CEO Steve Wynn had sexually molested women. The story caused stocks to plummet, Wynn to resign and release his stock holdings in the company and officials to launch investigations in multiple locales.
Today however, the company seems stronger than ever. It is expanding land-based and online casino venues in both America and overseas and may even become one of only three selected companies to open the casino entertainment business in the lucrative Japanese market.
Poker Tournament News
Casinos run online Vegas games tournaments for many of their games but the highlight of any casino’s tournament schedule is the poker tournament. If the casino is a big one and if the prizes are major, the tournament may draw the world’s top poker players to the competition. It’s not uncommon for the poker pros to fly from one tournament to the next and the casinos schedule their tournaments to accommodate the big players’ schedules.
Many amateur poker aficionados pay significant buy-ins for the chance to play with the pros. Usually the opportunity to sit with the world’s top poker players is enough but every once in awhile a newcomer walks away with the grand prize.
New Ontario Casino Activities
The gambling industry in Canada isn’t a Northern backwater enterprise any more. Canadians and their provincial governments are embracing gaming entertainment with Grande Vegas and a wide range of additional brick-and-mortar and online initiatives. Ontario has been a leader in bringing gambling to Canada on a big scale and its casino industry brings a boost to the local economy.
Some of the latest casino happenings in Ontario include:
Sports Betting Goes Online
The Supreme Court ruling that allows states to legalize sports betting is only a few months old but states, Vegas casino companies and other gaming enterprises are now beginning to come to grips with what the new laws mean.
One of the biggest changes involves the ability of states to legislate online gambling. Many states have done just that including New Jersey where sports betting and online gaming are moving ahead quickly.
Macau Casinos and Security
Security at the Macau casinos is some of the toughest in the world. The Vegas online and land-based casino industry fights a daily battle against the region’s organized crime which has been, for many years, intertwined with politics. When the Portuguese ruled Macau as a colony the Portuguese administration had a cozy relationship with casino operators. Together with the general bureaucratic corruption, the situation was ripe for organized criminals to grab a big piece of the pie.
Calorie Labels for Slot Machines?!?
In an effort to help consumers learn more about the addictive components of slots entertainment, the Ontario Gambling Corporation is testing “calorie labels” on its casinos’ online Vegas games slot machines. The experiment, which was designed in an attempt to copy the warning labels that are placed on nutritionally questionable foods, gave the slots gamers basic information about slots odds and its focus on getting players to play more and more.
Global Gaming Industry Forecast
The growing Asian market, sports betting and a proliferation of new slot machines is fueling the growth of the Vegas online and land-based casino market. By 2023, estimates are that the global gambling market will reach revenues of over $525 billion with a 4% CAGR growth in the years leading to 2023.
The market, which is seeing increasing penetration of online gaming and betting across the North American and European region, will be augmented by increasing per capita income, growing interest and rising number of dual-income households worldwide. It’s expected that the increasing penetration of mobile applications and the rising demand for online games will help attract new players in this market over the next few years.
Legal Sports Betting and College Football
College sports officials were some of the most vocal opponents of the push to lift the ban on sports betting. Now that the Supreme Court has ruled that sports betting is, indeed, legal in states where the state legislature authorizes the practice, these officials are monitoring the situation carefully to make sure that the online (maybe at our own Grande Vegas one day?) and offline sportsbooks respect college football’s unique position.
The first college football games of 2018 were played last week and it was the first time that legal gambling was allowed on predictions of the games’ outcomes. Gambling on college football has been taking place – illegally – around the country for decades but now it’s out in the open. Everyone is getting ready for the adjustment.
Mississippi Sports Betting News
Mississippi has been building its Vegas casino industry for almost 3 decades, making it an attractive tourist destination for area travelers. The state legalized casinos in riverside and coastal counties where the residents of those counties agreed to host the casinos. Today Mississippi hosts multiple casino venues, both small and large, as well as sports betting operations and Vegas online entertainment.
Mississippi’s Gaming Control Act of 1990 legalized casino games in tribal casinos and on riverboat casinos, live poker, lottery betting and bingo games. Mississippi’s legislature added sports betting to its list of sanctioned gambling activities after the US Supreme Court ruled, in May of this year, that states could legalize the activity in their state.
Poker Tournaments
Starting as a little known domino-like card game played in China in the 10th century, poker evolved into the game of Ad Nas of Persia and Poque of 17th century Europe. Today poker is one of the casino’s most popular online Vegas games that features multiple variations. different modes of play and a lot of interactive action.
Card game enthusiasts around the world gather at the poker table at their local land-based casino or sign into their online casino account to play against the dealer. For gamers who are looking for a chance to take part in a more competitive poker match, there are poker tournaments that take place in various locations around the world.
Sports Betting News
Barely 3 months after the United States Supreme Court ruled that states could legislate their own sports betting laws, the move towards sports betting is fast and furious. Five states presently allow sports betting – Nevada, New Jersey, West Virginia, Delaware and Mississippi – and over a dozen more have pending legislation that will, if passed, bring sports betting to their state in the near future - either through land-based casinos, or through online casinos, like our very own Grande Vegas Casino.
Some of the latest news in the world of sports betting includes:
Tribal Gaming News
Almost 50 years ago the United States Supreme Court ruled that states do not have authority to tax Natives on their reservations. In addition, the Court said, states lack the authority to regulate Native activities on reservation lands. This ruling set the stage for Native American tribes to set up casinos on their reservations and operate the casinos themselves.
Over the years, the issue of tribal casinos has returned to the Supreme Court numerous times. States attempted to exert authority over the Vegas online and land-based casino activities that took place within their states and the tribes fought back, arguing that the states lacked authority to make these types of decisions.
Asian Casino News
The success of the casino industry in the East is a compelling factor in the activities of governments throughout the region to bring Grande Vegas style casinos to their countries.
Japan is moving ahead quickly in its plan to open new casino resorts in the country. Japan’s Casino Administration Committee (CAC) will begin operations in less than one year. The government is presently laying the groundwork for the CAC which will oversee and regulate operators in the country’s forthcoming commercial gaming industry.
MGM Opens in Springfield MA
Seven years after Massachusetts legalized casino gambling MGM is set to become the first of the Vegas casinos to open a luxury integrated resort. In addition to the entertainment, activities and luxurious accommodations the opening will mark the first time that gamers can legally wager on table games such as poker, blackjack and craps within Massachusetts.
New Fantasy Sports Betting TV Shows from FanDuel
FanDuel is taking online Grande Vegas and other online games for sports fans to the next level with a new line-up of sports betting TV shows. The company, which recently merged with mega-sportsbook operator Paddy Power Betfair, planned their new shows to coincide with the opening of sportsbetting ops at racetracks and gambling parlors in states that have legalized sports betting.
To date seven states have legalized sports betting, following a Supreme Court ruling in May that granted individual states the right to choose whether to allow sports betting for their citizens. New Jersey, Delaware, Mississippi, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and, of course Nevada have already enacted sports betting legislation. In addition New York, Michigan, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Iowa, Indiana, California, Illinois, Ohio and several other states have pending legislation to allow sports betting sitting in their state legislatures, waiting for the 2018-2019 legislative year to begin.
Pennsylvania Gambling News
The Pennsylvania legislature is more open than ever to online vegas games, brick-and-mortar casino entertainment and sports betting activities in a state whose official motto is "pursue your happiness." Multiple new initiatives are set to join the existing gambling options that citizens of Pennsylvania and visitors to the state already enjoy.
Gambling Grows in the Far East
Increasing numbers of Asian and Pacific Rim countries are exploring ways that they can benefit from the growing Vegas casino gambling industry.
Gaming Designers Show Profits
The stock market gains and revenue increases in the Vegas casino industry is spreading to the Vegas online gaming designers who are reveling in positive 2nd quarter showings in almost every area of activity.
MGM and NBA Team Up
The National Basketball Association and MGM Resorts announced that they are embarking on an official multi-year partnership that will make MGM Resorts the official gaming partner of the WNBA and the NBA. The partnership came about as the result of a May Supreme Court ruling that allows states to legalize sports betting for both Grande Vegas players, mobile and online bettors and land-based casino patrons.
Sports Betting Gets Under Way
Now that the Supreme Court has opened the door to states to legalize sports betting in the United States, numerous online Vegas games companies, land-based casino sites, fantasy sports groups and others are laying the groundwork to make sports betting more accessible to more people.
Fantasy Sports and Daily Fantasy Sports Moves Forward
Fantasy sport games have been a popular activity among sports fans since the 1960s. Fantasy sports involves competitions in which players build teams of professional athletes and then earn points based on the actual players' real world successes. There are more fantasy sports options today in more states than ever before.
Wynn Resorts Update
Wynn Resorts board members couldn't have been sleeping well these past months. First came the revelations about former CEO and founder Steve Wynn's sexual improprieties with female staff members. Then, just as the company was recovering from Wynn's exit, Wynn's ex-wife actively moved to oust board members who had been loyal to her ex-husband and bring some of her own board members to the board.
Now the land-based and online Vegas games company is back in the saddle, moving ahead slowly with new investments and developments around the world.
Sports and Online Betting Launches in the United States
Only a few months after the Supreme Court's ruling that gave the go-ahead to legalize sports and online betting, multiple wagering options are being opened up to bettors in locations around the United States
Vegas Legend Dies
Richard Jarecki, a Vegas casino legend who caused mayham in casinos throughout the world, died this week. Jarecki is remembered in Vegas and along the French Riviera for figuring out how to predict the results of a roulette wheel's spin which earned him millions in casino wins and put the casino industry in a tailspin
Australia Casino News
If Vegas online Australian casinos were worried about the impact that the growth of other casino empires in the Far East might have on their country's gambling industry, they needn't have worried. Despite high growth in Hong Kong, Macau, the Philippines and other Eastern locales, Australia's casino industry is thriving.
Some of the latest updates:
Plans for Japanese Casinos Move Forward
Plans for Japanese casinos are moving forward though stumbling blocks still remain. Galaxy, a Vegas online operator which is hoping to get in on the ground floor of the Japanese casino industry, is launching a program to teach Japanese hosts about running Integrated Resorts while MGM is advancing its own plans to build in Osaka.
News from the World of US Online Casino Gambling
An Auburn, Washington casino is taking an innovative approach to increasing its customer base and bringing Vegas casino action to the client. The Muckleshoot Casino is launching a new app in conjunction with Playport Gaming Systems that will allow gamblers to place bets and purchase real money games from anywhere at the casino.
The games will include Bingo and other games that aren’t played against the house. This marks the first app that requires a gambler to be present at the casino to deposit or to cash out of an online game. In similar operations in Mexico Playport makes such games available directly from the Playport point-of-sale.
The Gaming Industry and Blockchain
The worlds of cryptocurrencies and Grande Vegas online gaming are increasingly working in tandem with each side fulfilling many needs of the other.
Continuing Development in Vegas Points to Market Optimism
Worries about the impact that online gaming might have on the Vegas casinos seem to be unfounded. Even as playing online Vegas games online grows, profits at the Vegas brick-and-mortar casinos is skyrocketing, leading industry insiders to predict that the economy can look forward to new developments and investments in Vegas entertainment.
Upcoming NFL Season Spurs Applications for NJ Sports Betting Licenses
Less than two months after the Supreme Court ruled that states could legalize sports betting, New Jersey – the state that challenged Congress's ability to limit that option – is racing ahead. New Jersey already had the legislation in place before SCOTUS's May 14th ruling and almost immediately casinos started to submit their applications to operate sports betting online Vegas games in their venues.
Does Casino Self-Exclusion Work?
Casinos say that nobody connected to the Vegas online and on-site industry benefits from problem gambling. Problem gamblers lose money that they can't afford to lose, see relationships disintegrate and suffer emotional and physical health deterioration.
The casino industry also suffers. The fall-out from problem gambling is one of the biggest objections that community activists and public officials have to opening new casino sites. The sector's reputation suffers and that impacts business negatively.
How New Sports Betting Laws Affect Fantasy Sports
When SCOTUS ruled that states could legislate sports betting in their states, no one realized the impact that it would have on the fantasy sports industry. The Grande Vegas daily fantasy sports has benefitted from the new sport betting reality and is on the cusp of a major growth spurt in New Jersey and around the country.
Macau's Casinos Show Growth and Stability Amidst Worry
A threatened trade war between China and the United States might be placing the Macau casino empire in peril. Yet many observers see cause for optimism as the mass market drives Macau Grande Vegas casino growth higher from one quarter to the next.
Mandalay Bay Challenges its Liability for Deadly October Shooting
MGM Resorts International, which owns Mandalay Bay, went to federal courts in Nevada and California last week to request that the court declares that MGM is not liable for the October 2017 mass shooting that was carried out by a gunman who shot from his bedroom at the Mandalay Bay hotel.
The online vegas games company requested that all claims against them be dismissed, arguing that “plaintiffs have no liability of any kind to defendants.”
Esports Fight Card Matches Debut in Las Vegas
The World Showdown of Esports (WSOE), a new esports tournament series, will debut this weekend at the new PokerGo Studio in Las Vegas. WSOE is ESP Gaming’s latest Vegas casino esports venture. The fight-card format will see head-to-head matches between players from OpTic Gaming, Team Vitality, Team Envy, Tempo Storm, and other premier esports teams. The league’s first champions will be crowned at the conclusion of the PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG) Pan-Continental competition.
NJ Kicks Off Sports Betting $16.4 Million First Week
The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE) released figures for the state's first week of licensed wagering operations. The numbers show that the first week's legal wagers generated just under $3.46m in revenue. Naysayers have been saying that these types of Vegas online bets wouldn't fly in New Jersey but the statistics seem to show otherwise.
In addition, the sports betting doesn't seem to be taking gamers away from the land-based casinos. According to the NJ DGE, June’s brick-and-mortar casino revenue improved 5.1% over the same month last year, bringing in a total hit of $207.5 million. During the same course of time, slots revenue gained to $153.2, a 7.2% increase. Table games dipped a bit -- sliding 0.5% to just under $54.3 million.
New Gaming Adventures with Skill-Based Games
The popularity of skill-based games, in which the outcome of the game is determined by the competitor's mental skills (ability to reason, think strategically and remember information learned) or the physical skills (fast reaction-time, dexterity, etc) seemed to stall after the first skill-based games were introduced.
A new generation of skill-based games that were recently introduced to the Vegas casino by Gamblit elicited mixed results but Gamblit is moving ahead with new skill-based game designed, buoyed by the belief that, once players become accustomed to this new type of games, they will prefer such game options.
How Do States Win with Sports Betting?
Until May 14 2018, the only state where you could legally gamble on professional and college sports was Nevada.
The American Gaming Association is estimates that legal sports betting will generate up to $26 billion in economic activity. It is also expected to increase tax revenues to federal, state, local and tribal sovereign governments by as much as $5 billion.
The 49th Annual World Series of Poker
The 2018 Grande Vegas World Series of Poker gathering is taking place this year in early – mid July, bringing thousands of the world's top players – and tens of thousands of spectators – to the Rio Casino in a series of events that will determine who will hold the crown for Vegas casino and Vegas online poker wins.
For a $10,000 fee, players can join the tournament's 78 gold bracelet events plus the main event and vie for prizes that can reach millions of dollars.
Controversy over Crown Casino Special Swipe Cards
Activists have called on the Victoria government to end a special exemption that allows Melbourne's Crown casino to operate online Vegas games such as poker machines without a minimum spin rate.
Victoria law requires casinos to maintain a minimum spin rate of 2.14 seconds between each bet. A state-wide system, called "YourPlay" was introduced in 2015. The system allows players to monitor their spending on pokes and set limits so that problem gambling behaviors would be reduced. However, the system did not lock out punters who were able to continue to bet even after they'd reached a pre-set limit.
Two Exciting New Games at Grande Vegas Casino
Real Time Gaming has come out with some exciting new Vegas online games this season and you can play them at the Grande Vegas casino. Whatever your fancy, you'll find it in the New Games lobby at the Grande Vegas casino.
Everything You Need to Know for World Cup Betting
As the World Cup moves into its third week of the five-week festivities, the betting activities are cranking up even higher. You don't have to be a professional gambler to have some online Vegas games betting fun by placing some wagers on the games. Here's a short summary of everything that you need to know to join the World Cup frenzy and -- hopefully -- make a few dollars along the way.
Six States To Offer Sports Betting Immediately
The ink has barely dried on the Supreme Court's recent ruling that overturned the PASPA Congressional Act. The Court's ruling allows individual states to legalize sports betting. Multiple states, including New Jersey, which took PASPA to court, and Delaware, which had laid the groundwork for legalized sports betting before the Supreme Court handed down its ruling on the case in May, have launched sports betting in their states and other states, as well as the Grande Vegas casino, are close behind.
Pennsylvania Daily Fantasy Sports
June 2018 marked the first full month of Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) in Pennsylvania. The Vegas casino industry's two major players, DraftKings and FanDuel, reported revenues of $673,013 and $632,008 (adjusted to account for the income received after the winnings were distributed). That number accounts for 98 percent of Pennsylvania's entire DFS Vegas games market.
Daily fantasy sports is now legal in Pennsylvania. DFS has been in a bit of a gray area for a number of years but Pennsylvania has now authorized six fantasy sports sites, including FanDuel and DraftKings, to operate legally. The bill was authorized as part of a larger statewide gaming expansion.
Will a US-China Trade War Affect the Casino Industry?
The U.S. and China seem to be steaming toward a full-fledged trade war. If the battle heats up, American casino companies could absorb a good portion of the collateral damage. Mainland China has been the largest source of international travel and travel spending since 2012.
Beijing can easily direct these travelers away from sites that represent the disfavored US government as it uses online Vegas games to reward its friends and punish its enemies.
Integrated Resorts Implementation Bill
Now that the general outline of casino regulations has been approved in Japan the ruling Liberal Democrats submitted the IR Implementation Bill for parliament's approval. The introduction of the bill remains a key milestone in Japan’s push for a casino industry.
Key measures of the bill, which would allow for Grande Vegas type casinos to be built in 3 Japanese locations, include requirement of a ¥6,000 entry fee for residents, a 3% cap on the size of the gaming area within an integrated resort and a 30% flat tax rate on revenue. Japanese citizens will be restricted to three casino visits per week and 10 casino visits per month.
Wynn Casino Updates - the Drama Lives On!
Wynn Resorts has been at the forefront of development throughout the casino world. The fallout from allegations of former CEO and founder Steve Wynn's sexual misconduct with Wynn employees has been hard for the company, causing investigations, losses in earnings and bad press. Now the company seems to be back on track in its leadership role as a provider of Vegas brick-and-mortar and Vegas online events.
The U.S. Supreme Court left standing a Nevada court's ruling that prohibited the casino from forcing dealers to share their tips with supervisors. SCOTUS denied a petition by Wynn Las Vegas to overturn the lower court's ruling that required dealers to share 15 percent of the tips that gamblers leave when they win at their Vegas table and online games.
Sports Betting Round-Up — What to Expect
As soon as the Supreme Court ruled that Vegas casino style sports betting could be adopted by individual states, gaming commissions in multiple states discussed plans to get started. Some states, such as New Jersey and Delaware, had already passed the legislation that would allow sports betting to take place in their state and were waiting for the formal OK from SCOTUS to get started. Others began the legislative process within weeks of the SCOTUS ruling.
Some of the newest updates in the American sports betting arena include new moves in Mississippi, Kentucky, Illinois, and New York.
First Casino for Long Beach Mississippi?
A development company owned by James Parrish has announced that it is partnering with Kentucky-based Encompass Develop, Design & Construct to open a casino along the waterfront in Long Beach Mississippi. The plans call for the casino to be built at the site of the old Sav-a-Center grocery store and Kmart with a wide variety of table games, slots and other online Vegas games.
The 12 acre site is located on a beachfront property on Hwy 90 at 241 East Beach Blvd. As soon as the Mississippi Gaming Commission meets in July the partners expect to receive approval to build what will be Long Beach's first casino.
What Do AI, 2 Univ Profs and Poker Have in Common?
Artificial intelligence is being used to tackle some of the world's biggest challenges, ranging from controlling environmental damages to enhancing the study of computer science, medicine and human resources. It's also used to spur on the development of finance, education, music, customer service, transportation, telecommunications, aviation and health care administration.
In a recent whimsical, yet fascinating application of Artificial Intelligence, Grande Vegas casino players and other poker enthusiasts had an opportunity to observe AI compete in a poker battle with some of the world's best poker champions to test the limits of this mix of technologies.
3 Intriguing Las Vegas Trends
When people have more pay, they play. That's an old observation about the state of the economy that's as true today as when it was first spoken. Probably the most effective observation point for the American economy is Las Vegas where people take their leisure funds to spend on relaxing accommodations, sightseeing excursions, Vegas casino gambling action and theatre entertainment.
Observers watch the Las Vegas scene closely to get a sense of the state of the American economy. Some recent observations are discussed here.
Sports Betting Takes Another Step in New Jersey
DraftKings Inc. announced that it has submitted a formal application for a state license to offer Vegas online type sports betting in New Jersey. New Jersey has been accepting applications to offer sports betting since February, based on NJ state law. DraftKings Inc., however, waited until May when the Supreme Court ruled that a federal law that disallowed sports betting was illegal and that states could legalize the activity.
DraftKings applied for a Casino Service Industry Enterprise License and the application is now being processed. The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE) will decide on licensure which is expected to come through quickly. The filing makes DraftKings one step closer to securing a role as a leader in America's sports betting market.
Tribal Casinos, Taxes and You!
The relationship between the federal government and tribal casinos has always been filled with tension. The sides often turn to the courts to help navigate the rights and responsibilities of the feds and online Vegas games that are operated by Native American tribes at their casinos.
Over the last 4 decades casino gambling has become an interregnal component of many tribal economies. It often falls to the courts to decide how much autonomy the tribal economy has as they develop casino entertainment.
Las Vegas Strike Averted - For Now!
The Vegas online news reports that two of the city's biggest casinos, Caesars and MGM, have reached a deal with the Culinary Union which will avert a threatened strike and allow the casinos to continue to function. The tentative labor agreements mean that the union can now turn its attention to its negotiations with the smaller casinos which, thanks to the precedent set by MGM and Caesars, are expected to fall into line.
This week the Culinary Union said that it will be focusing on properties that are located downtown and on the Las Vegas Strip. If there isn't any progress in the negotiations with these properties -- which include the Tropicana, Treasure Island, the D, Downtown Grand and the Golden Nugget – the workers could walk out at any time.
Best Summer Poker Tournaments
Playing in a poker tournament gives you the chance to compete against the best players from around the world. There are tournaments at land-based casinos, at online casinos - like our very own, Grande Vegas Casino - that involve almost every type of poker from high stakes games of traditional Stud Poker and Draw Poker to games of Texas Hold 'Em Poker, Omaha Poker, Seven Card Stud Poker, Triple Draw Poker and more.
It's not hard to find games in which you're thrust into competition with amateur players but if you want to find the best games running this summer, check out some of the world's top poker tournament action.
Caesars Expands to 4 New Destinations Worldwide
Caesars Entertainment, the successful corporation which has brought Vegas games to casinos around the world, is expanding in new directions. The Las Vegas-based company has decided to focus on non-gaming vacation tourism that brings vacationers to their hotel resorts in different locations through four of their brings.
The brands, including the Cromwell, the Flamingo, the LINQ and Caesars Palace will be brought to locations that tourists frequent.
Marco Roca, former executive of Hard Rock International, has been hired by Caesars. Roca has the go-ahead to begin negotiating immediately to secure international deals. Some of the possible locales for development include Dubai , Hong Kong and Mexico. Other US and international locations may also be added to the development plan in the future.
Finally! Sports Betting Comes to Delaware!
Delaware is set to begin allowing full-scale sports betting throughout the state, starting in mid-June. Last month's U.S Supreme Court ruling cleared the way for States to implement sports-based Vegas games and other types of sports wagering schemes.
Delaware has three casinos which will all introduce sports betting, starting next week. They will feature betting opportunities on professional baseball, football, hockey, basketball, soccer, golf and auto racing for regular season games and championship games.
Strike Looks Likely in Las Vegas
In a sign of the times, the Culinary Union, one of the most powerful collective bargaining powers in Las Vegas, is bringing issues of sexual harassment to public attention as it heads into a strike scenario that will involve close to 50,000 casino workers in Las Vegas.
The union released survey results that show that workers are angry over safety concerns and widespread sexual harassment that continues to plague the no deposit and real money gambling casino culture of Las Vegas.
The union surveyed over 10,000 Vegas casino workers. The respondents, which included 27 percent of hotel housekeepers and 59 percent of cocktail servers, said they had been sexually harassed by managers, guests and others while on the job. The results have caused the union to add a call for stronger safety protections to their list of demands in the union's upcoming contract with casino owners. The old contract expired on May 31st and although no strike has been declared, the lack of a contract means that the strike could begin at any time.
Iowa and Nebraska vs. the Ponca Tribe
Ever since the Supreme Court 1987 ruling that overturned restrictions on Native American tribes establishing casinos on their native lands, tribal councils around the United States have built gambling centers to attract tourism, develop their local economy and create jobs. The ruling gave tribal councils the right to open bingo halls, run lotteries and operate casinos in states where casino entertainment was legal. Only Congress, the Court ruled, could limit or regulate land-based or Vegas online gambling activities on reservation lands in states where casinos were legalized.
Now the Ponco Tribe is testing that ruling by pushing ahead with plans to open a casino in Iowa, a state with no legalized gambling. Nebraska has joined Iowa in a suit, filed in Federal Court, which names the National Indian Gaming Commission and the U.S. Department of the Interior as defendants for their support of the Ponco tribe's plans.
Vegas Casinos Focus on Customer Experience
At one time, heading to the Grande Vegas Casino or any of the other Nevada casinos was a major experience in and of itself. The games, the theatre, the restaurants….all of these attractions added up to a high quality vacation package that attracted millions of casino enthusiasts every year.
Now the casinos have come to the conclusion that they must review their marketing and update the traditional vacation package offers. There are two reasons for this.
Market research shows that many younger millennials are simply not gambling. Playing games for money doesn't appeal to many of these people yet they like to travel, enjoy varied activities and look for vacation packages that offer them excitement and thrills. Now it's up to the casinos to think about how they can make that happen as part of their casino-resorts' promotions.
June 1st Looms as Deadline for Vegas Workers to Strike
Hotel workers in Vegas are set to walk out on June 1st over job security, health benefits and pay. The strike will not affect online casino sites such as our own Grande Vegas, but will impact the large land-based casino-hotels such as El Cortez, Planet Hollywood, Bellagio, MGM Grand, Caesars Palace, Stratosphere and The D.
Although workers in the actual gaming halls are not involved the strike will seriously impact the hotels by removing all of the support personnel such as the bartenders, housekeepers, bellmen, cooks and other kitchen workers, cocktail and food servers, and porters. In addition to regular casino traffic the strike will cause problems for hockey fans who are heading to Vegas to see the Vegas Golden Knights compete in the Stanley Cup Final. The game has attracted a lot of attention since the Golden Knights are in their first year as a national team and they have a good chance to take the Cup.
USA Sportsbook Gambling Launches with Big New Venue
Atlantic City's newest casino, the Ocean Resort Casino, will offer a Vegas online inspired sportsbook option when it opens to the public next month. The casino is partnering with the London-based William Hill gambling company to offer legal sports betting as part of its services to its clients.
Bruce Deifik, owner of the Ocean Resort Casino said that ORC’s sportsbook would be centrally located in the middle of the138k-square-foot gaming floor and would take up 7,500 square feet. Patrons, Deifik said, won't be able to miss the sports betting site which will feature private suites for high-rollers.
What to Expect When Hard Rock Casino Opens In Spain?
As casino entertainment expands in Europe the Catalonian Ministry of Economy and Finance announced that it has granted approval to Hard Rock Entertainment World to build an integrated casino resort in Spain's Catalan region. The resort will include Vegas games, luxury hotel rooms, shopping and entertainment.
The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tarragona is scheduled to be completed in 3 years and the project will begin to be built as soon as HRI secures the necessary building permits and submits a €10m deposit.
3 Things to Know About Vietnam's Casino Future
Hard Rock is working with the Banyan Tree Holdings to develop a $2 billion casino along Vietnam's eastern seaboard. The Cu Du Village site will operate with deposit and no deposit gaming options so that each visitor can play in a way that meets his or her individual gaming level and betting level.
Rumors of the casino project have been floating around since the beginning of the year. Plans call for Hard Rock to contribute approximately $100 million to cover costs for the gaming and entertainment sections of the complex which also includes residential hill villas built at Cu Du Village.
Sports Betting Gets Go-Ahead from US Supreme Court
In a ruling with wide-ranging applications the United States Supreme Court ruled on May 14th that the Grande Vegas casino and other gambling operations can offer sports betting in all states outside of Nevada. The court based its ruling on the 10th Amendment, saying that the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) was unconstitutional. The SCOTUS ruling paves the way for legalized sports betting across the U.S.
Justice Samuel Alito, writing for the majority, wrote “Our job is to interpret the law Congress has enacted and decide whether it is consistent with the Constitution. PASPA is not. PASPA ‘regulate[s] state governments’ regulation’ of their citizens…..the Constitution gives Congress no such power.”
What We Know About AI and Gaming
Artificial Intelligence is a natural fit for gaming designers who use the technology to design entirely new types of Vegas online games and other video adventures that stretch the bounds of human imagination.
AI isn't bound by tradition and precedent. These are distinct advantages in game design that sets the stage for new types of creativity and innovation. Best of all, designing games with AI may lower the cost of game development.
Asian Year of the Casino
The astounding success of existing Asian casinos is causing developers to do everything that they can to expand. The casinos being built include small, intimate casino sites and large, opulent venues. While no deposit gaming is still offered by online casino sites, Asian casinos present gamers with options for high stakes gaming as well as casual gambling activities.
Japan is getting its feet wet in the world of casino entertainment while in the Philippines a project that could have a massive positive impact on the region stalled. Some highlights of recent happenings:
Too Few Women at the Corporate Level of Casinos
Today there are only 2 women among the 34 highest-paid executives in Nevada's Vegas games industry. There are only 3 women among the 50 most senior executives at the 10 most prominent gaming companies. The percentage of women board members of these companies is only slightly better. Why?
Who's Responsible for Gambling Addictions?
A court ruling in Austria regarding a casino's responsibility for a gambling addict's losses may compel other countries to review their own policies. Most countries protect the casino businesses by limiting casino's culpability for gambling addicts' losses. Now there's more pressure on the Grande Vegas casino and other land-based and online casinos to act more carefully to exclude compulsive gamblers from the games.
The Austrian Appeals Court has ruled that the two casinos where compulsive gambler Christian Hainz lost almost half a million pounds must reimburse him for his losses, based on their failure to keep the known gambling addict out of the casino. Courts in other countries are reviewing the Austrian case as they consider who bears responsibility for fueling a gambler's obsessive gambling behaviors.
Elaine Wynn.....Wins!
Over the last few months things have been moving quickly for Elaine Wynn. Ms. Wynn was embroiled in a court case with her husband for many years as he tried to exclude her from the decision-making process in the Vegas games company that she helped him start.
But since December, when news of Steve Wynn's sexual misconduct became public and he was forced to step down as company CEO, Elaine's star has been rising. First, Ms. Wynn finalized an agreement with Wynn that resolved all outstanding legal issues and allowed both parties to sell their shares in Wynn Resorts. Steve Wynn immediately sold his entire portfolio of Wynn shares, making Elaine Wynn the majority shareholder in Wynn Resorts.
What's Up in Connecticut?
A bill that would have allowed MGM to build a new Bridgeport casino was shot down last week in the Connecticut State Senate, leaving the state with only its online Vegas casino for online gamers as well as two Indian casinos that are operated by the Mohegan and Pequot tribes.
Multi-State Lottery Scandal
For thieves, getting your hands on a state lottery jackpot is like breaking the bank at an Vegas online casino. The cash is there and the opportunities are present. Since lotteries were made legal in the United States and Canada, numerous incidents have come to light to indicate that people are coming up with increasingly sophisticated methods of defrauding the lottery.
We know about those who have been caught. Are there others? One case study in the complexities of catching a lottery thief:
Going to Vegas? Don't Miss These Shows!
When you start to plan your next casino excursion look up Vegas online where you can find entertainment events that add fun and excitement to your Vegas adventure. It's not easy to pick which show you want to see. Tickets can be costly -- you want to make sure that you know what's available so you can make the decision that best fits your interests and preferences.
Your hotel might well have its own entertainment choices but you don't have to stay at your hotel. Look around Vegas so that you can find the right performances for you.
Pros and Cons of Playing Casino Games with Cybercurrencies
The term "cybercurrency" was introduced in 2009 but it has already changed the way that many people in modern society conduct their business transactions. For Grande Vegas casino players and other land-based and online casino gamblers the decision about whether or not to use a cybercurrency is a serious one. Financial advisors have developed a guide for casino players that will give them an overview of the cybercurrency-alternative for the 21st century.
Mohegan Tribe to Run South Korea Casino Project
U.S. tribal gaming operator Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment (MGE) has announced that it will be the sole operator of the new Inchon casino project. Mohegan acquired the partner's stake in the online Vegas casino themed Project Inspire which brought the tribal company's ownership to 100 percent of the project. Mohegan made the move after deciding to expand its operations in Asia which is, they believe, “the world’s fastest-growing major gaming and entertainment market.”
The Inchon project is expected to be completed in three to four years. Plans are for the complex to feature a 20,000 square-meter casino with 1,500 slot machines and 250 gaming tables, a three-tower luxury hotel complex with 1,350 five- and six-star guest rooms and a Paramount Studios-themed indoor-outdoor amusement park.