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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 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. 

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.  

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 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.

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.

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 31^st and although no strike has been declared, the lack of a contract means that the strike could begin at any time.  

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. 

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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. 

In a ruling with wide-ranging applications the United States Supreme Court ruled on May 14^th 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 10^th 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.”

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.

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:  

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?

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.  

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.

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. 

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: 

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.

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 21^st century. 

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.

Poker enthusiasts and casino enterprises have been attempting to offer poker-style Vegas games to online players for many years. The legal standing of online poker was murky but now it seems that more gamers have more opportunities to compete in poker online. The increase in players, as well as the increase in featured online poker variations, is good news for the online poker industry in America which believes that the game entertainment will soon start to experience a resurgence.

East Coast gamers are anticipating the long-awaited MGM casino resort's opening which is scheduled for August 24^th. In addition to Vegas online entertainment, gamblers will have access to a land-based casino venue with opulent surroundings, top eateries and luxury accommodations.

Much attention has been focused recently on the fate of the Wynn company's Boston Harbor casino project but MGM is now stealing a bit of that thunder with a lavish opening that is drawing attention from casino observers worldwide.

Shares of MGM Resorts International are plunging and MGM is admitting that it's taking longer than expected to recover from last year’s Mandalay Bay shooting. MGM shares dropped 8.6 percent, from $3.04 billion to $32.29 billion which wiped away about $1.7 billion of market capitalization from its Vegas games empire. Instead of moving ahead after October's Mandalay Bay shooting incident the casino operator is seeing its biggest drop in month.

Wynn Resorts is still reeling from the February resignation of company founder and Chief Executive Officer Steve Wynn, his sale of his Wynn Resorts stock holdings and the return to prominence of his ex-wife Elaine. Now deep changes in the Board of Directors are taking place, giving online Vegas casino players and Vegas patrons a chance to see how the company operates.

The company just announced the appointment of three new executives to its Board of Directors. All three are women with extensive experience in management.

On May 1^st New Jersey will join a multi-state player pool. The state legislature is making a concerted effort to offer expanded gambling opportunities to NJ residents and visitors. This includes their United States Supreme Court suit to be able to offer online sports betting and Grande Vegas online gaming options in the state.

The Poker Pool is just the first in the state's long-awaited expansion of online gambling alternatives for those in the state of New Jersey. On May 1^st New Jersey will join a poker pool that presently involves Nevada and Delaware. Poker players will be allowed to compete against each other for cash prizes along with the fun and excitement that goes along with the chance to engage in multi-state poker matches.

A major "freedom of information" court case for European Google users was decided this week when a UK judge ordered Google to remove old articles about a businessman's past crime from its search results. With his ruling the judge dealt a blow to Google as it supported Europe's "right to be forgotten" law. 

In short, the law, which Google was testing, states that every person has the right to start anew, regardless if their past misdeeds that took place in their home, their business or in a Vegas Casino. The case revolved about two businessmen who appealed to the court to order Google to delist several articles about their old crimes.

Few companies have gone through as many tumults in as short a time as has the Wynn Resorts. A massive court battle between Steve Wynn and his ex-wife was followed by allegations of sexual misconduct  against Wynn who resigned  as company CEO.

That quickly led to Wynn, a Vegas legend who set the company on a successful course that's been emulated by other Vegas casinos, to sell off his shares in the company. Wynn is now basically a non-entity in the company that he founded and built but the Wynn name is still a player.

Winx has captured the hearts of horse racing fans around the world who are leaving their online games and gaming devices to watch the thundering mare pull off win after win. Winx is breaking records left and right as she puts Australian horse racing on the map.

Few mares have been able to stand up to the males the way that Winx is doing. The champion Australian thoroughbred racehorse has won 25 consecutive stakes races in the last 3 years including 18 Group 1's at distances that range from 1300 meters to 2200 meters.

Gamers who play online games (either the casino type of game found here at the Grande Vegas Casino or other online games) and those who play face to face competitions, generally try to keep up with upcoming game trade shows and conventions. These are the events where developers talk about the games, demonstrate new features and role-play characters and allow people to experiment with playing upcoming games.

Some people wait for the conventions and shows that take place in their locale but others actually travel long distances to participate in some of these events.

If you're thinking about attending a show or convention, we've reviewed some of the top 2018 Trade Shows and Conventions for gamers:

Sports betting is a multi billion dollar industry that is presently dominated by Vegas casino interests, illegal bookies and offshore markets. That may change this May when the Supreme Court rules on the legality of disallowing sports betting online. 

The expectation is that the Supreme Court will, indeed, give the go-ahead for online sports betting to move forward. If so, observers are worried that monetizing and implementing this industry will fail thanks to the NBA and MLB's push for a piece of the action.

Many communities offer Vegas games and other lottery activities to their citizens via local gambling venues, gaming events and other casino-type activities. In many cases a portion of the revenues from the profits achieved through such pursuits are designated to go to charities, non-profits and other local public institutions. 

This point is often cited by gambling proponents when they promote the building of new casinos and the opening of new gambling sites. They aim to demonstrate to legislators that, by expanding gambling options for local citizens, the community will benefit.

Wynn Resorts, a giant in the Vegas casino scene, has been struggling to recoup after the company was rocked by charges of sexual misconduct against CEO Steven Wynn. In the last few months Wynn resigned as company CEO, sold his shares and stepped completely away from the running of the business – a business that he founded and built.

The company's holdings in Macau, which are considerable, are in jeopardy due to the Macau Gaming Commission's investigation of the charges. Now the company is facing a further challenge in the form of Massachusetts casino regulators who are stepping up their own investigation.

One of the newest and most popular of the Vegas games isn't taking place on the gaming floor. It's an esports competition that's running for an entire weekend at the Caesars Entertainment Studios in Las Vegas. Teams from around the world will battle it out in the Gears of War 4 competition at an event dubbed the GearsPro Circuit Las Vegas Open.

GearsPro Circuit Las Vegas Open brings the popular Gears of War game to Las Vegas for a competition that combines team collaboration with old-fashioned gaming rivalry. Players will be battling for a share of the $150,000 prize in front of thousands of fans. The event has quickly become a popular venue for gamers and spectators alike.

Things were a little shaky in 2016 when Macau implemented new cash withdrawal regulations which, observers believed, would negatively impact on the casino industry. Sheldon Adelson, the Vegas casino king, had faith that the downturn was only a blip on an otherwise upward Macau gambling trajectory. His instincts turned out to be spot on and he celebrated with a $1.7 billion bonus that brings his net worth up to $34.9 billion.

It was only a few years ago that Adelson's Las Vegas Sands invested more than $10 billion to build a string of casinos in Macau. Today shares of Adelson’s casino empire, Las Vegas Sands, are shooting up following a report that showed a 23.7% increase in Macau gaming revenue.

There are many venues in Las Vegas where cybercurrencies are an accepted form of payment but in many of the casinos, bitcoins and other forms of cybercurrency payments are not yet accepted.

Observers note that cryptocurrency promises benefits for the regulated Nevada industries including land-based casinos and for online games, as well. It also might become more widely used in the other major Nevada industry – marijuana. Yet in the casinos, bitcoins can be wagered at the slot machines or at the tables only after the gamer converts it into cash at a special ATM that is located on the casino floor.

Two hundred members of the Pamunkey Tribe have voted to search for a site where they can build a Vegas Casino type of resort. The tribe, which is known as a group of Native Americans who keep to tribal customs and traditions, has decided to add casino gambling to the list of activities that take place on their ancestral lands along with fishing, trapping, hunting, and farming.

The tribe is prepared to spend approximately $700 million on the resort-casino. Plans include a gaming floor, hotel rooms, a spa and entertainments space. Tribe members are checking out locations in or near the 1,200-acre King William County Pamunkey reservation. The  reservation is located approximately 30 miles east of the city of Richmond.

Imperial Pacific International was looking forward to a banner year in 2017. The company, owned by Chinese multi-millionaire Cui Lijie, moved out of its shopping mall digs and set up its Vegas games in a new beachfront tower that's located in the heart of Saipan’s central tourist district. The venue attracts Chinese high rollers who find that they prefer the convenience of a Saipai location over other Asian casino venues such as Australia, Macau and South Korea.

Yet since the first months of 2017 Imperial Pacific’s shares have declined 33%.  Cui, who owns 63% of the company, has seen her net worth decline (although she’s still a billionaire).

SLS Las Vegas Hotel and Casino will be sold to the Meruelo Group, a privately-held management company that has big plans to add Vegas games and new facilities and features.

The Nevada Gaming Commission approved the sale late last week and the sale, which was originally announced in late 2017, is expected to be completed within a week. SLS Las Vegas has been struggling for a number of years but Alex Meruelo believes that his plans will stem the losses and turn SLS around.

The Westgate Vegas Casino and Resort has always been regarded as a top Vegas venue for gambling entertainment and other forms of gaming activity. Westgate is known as a trendsetter in Vegas. The latest innovation, a drink monitoring system, is being touted as an amenity that will help casino-goers enjoy an easier drinking experience. Other casinos are bound to follow suit which isn't the best news for casino-goers. 

The newest innovation at Westgate involves a drink monitoring system that, from the casino's point of view, makes it easier and more convenient for guests to enjoy their complimentary drinks. The system, which is expected to be copied by other Vegas casinos, monitors the guests' drink orders so that guests don't need to place new orders every time that they want to freshen their drink.

Wynn Resorts, which was recently rocked by the resignation of its CEO due to allegations of sexual misconduct, is now facing more troubles that may lead to a takeover. 

Court Proceedings

A senior court in Macau has ruled that Wynn Macau Limited violated Macau's personal data protection rules. The brick-and-mortar and online games company surreptitiously revealed the identity of a Philippines Amusement and Gaming Corporation former employee. Wynn Macau believed that the former employee, a regulator, was tied to allegations of corruption.

iOS mobile users will now be able to open and play the popular Fortnight games on their tablet or smartphone device. The company sent out the first wave of invitations this week with additional invitations set to go out in the coming days and weeks. Fortnight can't be found at the online casino but may only be downloaded through an invitation.

The iOS version was released first with an Android version coming soon. The game is downloaded via invite from the Apple Store and is still being tested – users are asked to report problems to the developer. The new mobile version is compatible with the 3.3 Fortnight that features remote explosive weapons and supply llamas

Steve Wynn and his ex-wife Elaine Wynn have settled their fight over an estimated $4 billion stock fortune. Now, the question is whether the King of Las Vegas will sell out and retire.

On March 15^th the District Court in Clark County, Nevada, ordered that the shareholding agreement between Wynn and the former Mrs. Wynn be terminated. This followed a joint submission from the lawyers of both parties. The court's ruling rendered the agreement "invalid and unenforceable as a matter of law and that neither party shall have any further rights or obligations thereunder.

Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat is promoting the idea that Europe should become the “bitcoin continent" and his country will help to facilitate that economic revolution.

Muscat spoke at the Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS) Ideas Lab conference which took place in Brussels in February 2017. After encouraging European countries to do more to promote the use of cybercurrency, Muscat promoted Malta as a "sandbox" where crypto-currencies and blockahsins would be tested.

President Trump has had a long and complex relationship with US casinos. He is one of the major casino owners in New Jersey's Atlantic City but that venture hasn't always been as profitable as he might have hoped. 

Now the industry waits and watches to see how Trump's presidency will impact on the casino industry. Will he take action to prop the industry up? Give casinos tax breaks? Support legislation that will allow the casinos to offer online games? Promote the development of casino centers in new areas of the country? 

Gambling has been taking place throughout the course of human history. Anthropologists have found evidence of gambling activities by early man in the form of prehistoric dice games. Archaeologists cite numerous relics that demonstrate that gambling existed in ancient civilizations including Greece, Rome, China, Africa, the Americas and Northern Europe.

There's probably never been a time in history when gambling has changed as dramatically as is seen in the last 20 years. The rise of the Internet has brought gambling to a new era. Bettors can now place their wagers online for games, sporting events and other gambling activities.  

The iGaming industry is experiencing phenomenal growth. In 2009 the online gaming market had an estimated revenue of $20.51 billion. That number has exploded to $41.77 billion in 2017 and is projected to reach $59.79 billion in 2020.   

Of the 2.97 billion people worldwide who have web access, it's estimated that 1.8 billion are gamers. The U.S leads all countries with a total spend of $20.5 billion on games – this includes both digital gaming activities and land-based gambling. Other countries with high numbers of gambling citizens include China, Japan, Germany, the United Kingdom, Korea, France, Canada, and Italy.  

Will America change its anti-gambling laws anytime soon? That's the question that many people are asking as the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 comes under fire for punishing people who engage in a voluntary act that can only adversely affect themselves.

Constitutional lawyers say that PASPA is unconstitutional. They point out that nothing in Article I, Section 8 of the constitution authorizes Congress to enact laws to prohibit what's viewed as "immoral conduct."  They note that delegitimizing alcohol (Prohibition) could only be effected with an amendment and that constitutionally, gambling stands on the same ground.

Gambling revenue in Macau rose only 5.7% in February, short of analysts' expectations. Despite the disappointment the gambling hub showed a gain for the 19th consecutive month, encouraging new casino building efforts and renovations of older casino sites.

February marks the lunar New Year holiday and it's a time when the Macau casino market typically sees a spike in gambling action. Visitors numbers rose 6.5% in February's national holiday week while revenues in February climbed to 24/3 billion patacas ($3.02 billion U.S.).

While expectations were for revenue growth to be between 7% and 12%, the casinos expressed satisfaction with the smaller-than-expected increase.

The years-long battle to bring casino gambling to Japan has ended and gambling operators are already lining up in their efforts to obtain licenses to open casinos. While plans are in being finalized to decide which Vegas casino operators and other companies will be granted these licenses, a number of Japanese legislators are thinking ahead.

The ruling Liberal Democratic/Komeito coalition government of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has suggested that the integrated circuit chip that's found within government-issued My Number identity cards be utilized to limit foreign nationals living in the country and Japanese citizens to ten casino outings per month.

According to this plan, prospective players will be allowed only three visits over any seven consecutive day period and 10 visits per month -- an uninterrupted 28-day period.

Komeito/Liberal Democratic legislators are also proposing that the size of the gaming floor in any new casino be limited to around 161,458 square feet. This area would not be allowed to constitute more than 3% of the total floor space of any casino site.

Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has ruled that the Quebec provincial government Bill 74 violates Canadian Federal Law. The ruling was issued in response to advocates of freedom of Internet access and Internet service providers who protested that Bill 74 would restrict Quebec residents' free access to the Internet and would place undue hardships on Internet providers who were expected to facilitate the Bill's implementation.

Pro-Internet advocates welcomed the ruling. They had raised concerns that Bill 74 constituted censorship and violated the principles of free and open Internet access. In their ruling the CTRC wrote that the website blocking provisions of Québec’s Bill 74 are not compatible with Section 36 of the Telecommunications Ac which guarantees free Internet access to Canadian citizens.

2018 is forecast to be a good and stable year for Vegas casino enterprises. Vegas was in a much more difficult situation 10 years ago when the 2008 recession hit. Today financial consultants are looking at the Vegas turnaround in an effort to learn lessons that can be applied to other regions.

2008 - What Happened?

The recession of 2008 actually started in late 2007. Most analysts believe that the crisis was triggered by banks' lending policies which created too much money too quickly. This pushed up housing prices and led to a dangerous level of speculation on the financial markets.

Allegations regarding money laundering activities have led to the issuance of letters from the UK Gambling Commission to 17 online casino operators. The letters specify the allegations and warn the operators that the Commission will revoke their licenses if action is not forthcoming to prevent money laundering through their sites.

The warnings, which could potentially impact similar land-based Vegas casino UK sites, details the consequences that the casinos could face if they don't improve their anti-money laundering measures. The Gambling Commission acknowledged that the casinos were making efforts to stem the practice but their current policies aren't enough. The Commission called into notice the “serious nature” of its findings which also focus on problem gambling.

Playing Vegas casino games using cybercurrencies is a gamble in itself. Cybercurrencies are new and there's an element of insecurity in using them. Yet some of the world's biggest investors have put their eggs in the cybercurrency basket – maybe not all of their eggs, but a significant portion of the basket. That sends a message to others that those in the financial world who are up-to-date on the trends and options see cybercurrencies as the wave of the future.

What does this mean for the casino industry? For the casinos and for their patrons?

Slots are one of the most popular forms of casino entertainment worldwide. They're fun, easy to play and offer a chance to enjoy a potentially money-making activity that meets your interests, fantasies and personal gaming level.

Most people play slots simply because they're a fun distraction. Playing the slot machines don't require knowledge of gaming skill or techniques or the need for high betting levels.

So what do the experts say about your odds of actually winning at slots?

Travelers who are looking for a chance to blend their visit to an exotic culture with some gambling entertainment will enjoy spending some time in Macau, Macau's past as a Portuguese colony allows it to present a unique blend of Eastern and Western cultures that enchant and enthrall.

In recent years Macau has built on the country's gaming history that stretches back for more than 300 years to develop an extensive gambling industry. The country now boasts some of the most luxurious casino venues in the world that bring travelers who are interested in high class resort tourism to the country.  

Las Vegas is in a state of turmoil after allegations of sexual misconduct forced casino mogul Steve Wynn to resign from his position as chairman and chief executive of Wynn Resorts. Ramifications of Wynn's exit are will be felt for many years.

#MeToo hit Las Vegas with a bang after allegations of sexual misconduct were made against casino mogul Steve Wynn, chairman and chief executive of one of Vegas's biggest gambling operations. Wynn's visions of how to build the gambling empire of the world have been adopted by other resorts and casinos, making him the acknowledged chief architect of 21st century Vegas.

Las Vegas sportsbooks bettors placed a record $150.58 million on Super Bowl bets but it wasn't all good news for the bookies. Oddsmakers almost universally named the Patriots as the favorites in almost every category but that's not how it played out on the field,. Eagles fans, including a mystery $3 million deposit, took most of the cash right out of the Las Vegas bookmakers' hands.

Those who were willing to take a chance on the underdog Eagles enjoyed a rewarding night while the books took home just $1.1 million – their smallest total profit since 2011 when the Green Bay Packers scored a victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

In 1987 the Supreme Court ruled that states that offered legalized gambling could not regulate gambling on Native American lands. Since that time numerous tribal governments have opened casinos. They look to casino gambling as a way to generate jobs in the often-remote areas and bring in needed funds.

Surveys of these casinos show that, by and large, the casinos haven't produced the desired results. The rate of tribal members who receive welfare hasn't decreased, unemployment rates remain high and significant numbers of reservation residents still live on land with no water or sewer intrastructure.

The US casino world continues to evolve and expand. What's one of the newest and brightest casinos on the scene?

The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians recently announced that it is reviewing an expansion proposal that would enlarge its Casino Resort Spa facility.

The tribe has plans to add over three hundred new hotel rooms to the sort in addition to an additional  58,000 square feet of gaming space. The casino has been operating for 16 years and has already proved that it is a profitable venture for the tribe, bringing revenues and jobs to the region that's located approximately 2 hours east of downtown Los Angeles.

Elizabeth Cronan, the American Gaming Association's senior director of gaming policy explained the thoughts behind the code. "[Responsible gaming] is an everyday, year-round responsibility that we have to every player that walks through our doors and onto our casino floors….. We appreciate that this is an issue that must be top-of-mind industry-wide for all employees, from those who interact daily with consumers on the gaming floor to the senior executive leadership and the boards of directors."

Gambling is one of the oldest forms of entertainment in the world. Archaeologists and anthropologists have found evidence that demonstrates that people engaged in gaming events as early as the dawn of history -- playing stones and sticks have been found at cave sites and in excavations on almost every continent in the world.  

If you’re interested in working at a casino you should review your options and investigate the possibilities before you submit your job application.

Elon Musk, South African-born Canadian American investor, engineer, business magnate has successfully launched the Falcon Heavy into space, making this the most powerful operational rocket ever sent into space from earth.

The rocket launch is the first stage in Musk's plan to colonize Mars. Musk's plan involves building up a revenue stream using SpaceX's current fleet of reusable Dragon spacecraft and Falcon 9 rockets. This, Musk says, will provide the funding needed to move on to build  Big F****g Rocket (BFR), SpaceX's most powerful rocket.