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In the ‘70s -- the early days of video games — gaming wasn’t an “industry.” There were just a few companies with a few employees in each. Everybody seemed to know everybody else and many of those early companies collaborated freely. First there was the “arcade boom” and that was followed by home computers, mobile devices and game consoles. Over the years, as the popularity of video gaming grew, the need for events where people involved in the industry could collaborate grew - whether it was to share tech know how, ideas for player perks like casino sign up bonus give-aways, new game development, gaming a.i. or an unlimited number of subjects. Thus was born an industry of its own – Games Industry Events.

There are few issues that are as polarized as the subject of online casino and land-based sports betting in the United States.  It is now legal for states legislatures to legislate sports betting for their states' residents but each state sees the issue differently. Some states show no interest in allowing sports betting in their jurisdictions while others had sportsbooks running within weeks of the Supreme Court ruling that allowed them to run legal sports betting in their states.

Looking for a no deposit bonus code?  Check out the PA lottery.  The first round in the battle between seven Pennsylvania casinos and the Pennsylvania lottery resulted in a win for the state’s new online iLottery.

According to estimates, half of Americans now live in states where sports betting is legal or will soon be legal. Sports betting is a $150 billion industry in the United States and New Jersey has now overtaken Nevada - where sports betting was once only available at Vegas casinos - in becoming the top state in monthly legal sports betting.

According to a recent report, casinos and hotels in Las Vegas have become soft targets for cybercriminals who are targeting the huge numbers of financial transactions and no deposit bonus codes that take place in those institutions every day. 

The online casino industry is a fast-growing market that is reaching more and more gamers every year. The industry has expanded at a compound annual rate of 9% over the last 7 years – three times higher than that of the global GDP.

On July 15th, Pennsylvania became the fourth state in which their local, land based casinos are now able to launch their own online version of themselves.  Of course, our own Grande Vegas Casino online has been available for the past 25 years.  This update is about a change to local, land-based casino activity.

The US gambling industry is growing. Now Virginia, a traditionally anti-gambling state, is stepping into the casino gambling waters, toes first, with small slot machine gambling venues that are sprouting around the state.  Bet they won't offer a new player casino sign up bonus, like our very own Grande Vegas does - but let's see....

Together with 7 other sports betting states, Arkansas has finished organizing the infrastructure to get sports betting with no deposit bonus codes up and running at the Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort in Hot Springs. Meanwhile, an online sportsbook has launched in West Virginia to give WV residents an extra wagering opportunity.

Antithesis to online casinos, like our very own Grande Vegas online casino, which encourage players to play responsibly within their budgets, Macau’s brick-and-mortar casinos are now using artificial intelligence to identify the players who are the most likely to lose the most money. The casinos have known for a long time that the longer a gamer plays, the more money he stands to lose.  Now casinos in Macau are employing digitally-enabled poker chips and baccarat tables, facial recognition technology and hidden cameras to track how individual customers behave at the betting table. The casinos then use that knowledge to determine the players' appetite for risk. 

Pennsylvania sports bettors can now place their bets via their online casino app on their mobile device. Everyone agrees that online betting in PA still has some glitches to overcome but the state has taken a big step in making sports betting more accessible to more people.

If you're looking for a new welcome bonus casino to enjoy, try Grande Vegas Casino - from the safety and security of your own home.  And stay clear of the new Japanese IRs.  Here's why.....

Last month, a federal court ruled that a recent Department of Justice interpretation of the 1961 Federal Wire Act was unconstitutional regarding Vegas casino online gameplay. The DOJ sought to suspend online gambling activities across a number of states but the court ruled that the Wire Act’s scope did not address online casino gaming.

In an creative move that’s bound to bring the sports betting industry to a new level, Draftkings has announced that it is inviting sports bettors from around the country to participate in its first annual Sports Betting National Championship and enjoy no deposit bonus codes. 

The Apple app store has released a new online casinos policy that requires that all real money games sold at their store be created specifically for the iOS platform.

This November, Colorado voters will be asked to approve a referendum that, if it passes, will bring sports betting to the state. The public referendum will allow the state to license both physical and online sportsbooks. Existing land-based casinos will be able to obtain a master license which will allow them to partner with one operator for retail sportsbook operations and another operator who will run the online sportsbook activities - sure to come complete with casino sign up bonus perks.

The South Carolina-based Catawba tribe is trying to get permission to build a brick-and-mortar and eventually online casino in North Carolina but the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians is opposing their efforts. The Catawbas are planning to develop the land near Kings Mountain in North Carolina for their casino. U.S. senators from both Carolinas are backing them but that may not be enough to win their battle against the politically-powerful Cherokees.  

The casino industry continues to grow, but many casino operators are concerned that they are attracting an aging demographic.  Traditionally, they've tried many welcome bonus casino perks to draw in new, younger players - free drinks, free lodging, free parking, free buffet meals, and more.  Now, many casinos believe that they’ve found the answer – esports.

The earnings reports for Vegas casinos for the second quarter of 2019 show that Vegas is rebounding from the downward trend of 2018. While Vegas casino online playing is on the upswing, like here at Grande Vegas Casino, visitation at on-site casinos is slow in the rebound. It will take a while before the casinos see the numbers start to rise again.

Florida’s relationship with its native American tribes has brought the two sides to court multiple times. The state is in negotiations with the Seminoles regarding a dispute over their Vegas casino income. Seminole leaders are skirmishing with the authorities in a long-simmering dispute over gambling income in a disagreement that will likely have long-ranging repercussions.  

In Las Vegas, politics is recognized as the casino industry’s highest stakes game. Many of the online casino and Las Vegas strip’s biggest names, including Wynn Resorts, Red Rock Resorts and the Las Vegas Sands -- have ties to Republicans. Some influence their party of choice through donations while in others, executives engage in high-profile political involvement (i.e. Sheldon Adelson of the Las Vegas Sands).  

Poker players are no strangers to bluffing, as that is one of the most powerful tools every player has when playing poker online.

DraftKings Sportsbook and FanDuel Sportsbook are preparing to launch a $1m advertising campaign in Illinois to raise awareness about a "bad-actor" clause the state’s casino, Des Plaines Casino, is pushing. The casino wants to see the clause included in any state law that will legalize Illinois online casino games sports betting.

The Cherokee Nation Businesses is partnering with Legends, a hospitality company, as it tries to gain a license to build a Vegas casino resort in Russellville, Arkansas.

Sports fans have been betting on sporting events ever since the ancient Egyptians ran chariot races and the Spartans competed in the ancient Greek Olympics.  Today fans can place bets legally at multiple sites including at brick-and-mortar casinos, through online sportsbooks and at the online casino.

The town of Gay Head (Aquinnah) on Martha’s Vineyard has returned to court to ask a U.S. district court judge to require the Wampanoag Tribe to get building permits for their planned land based and online casino development. Even though the Wampanoag tribe succeeded in getting their casino project OK’d in federal court, the town isn’t relenting in its objective to exert its authority.

The Department of Justice’s recent attempt to apply the 1961 Wire Act to online lottery and Vegas casino online betting was ruled unconstitutional by a U.S. District Judge. Judge Paul Barbadoro ruled that the DOJ was acting outside its authority in applying a wider interpretation to the ban on interstate online wagering.

OK, so you enjoy playing your online casino games at Grande Vegas - who doesn't?!?  All is great for online games.  But once in a while you want to pack your bags and head off to a real casino.  Whether it be for some excitement, as part of your vacation or for a bit of R&R, you probably have hopes of going home with more money than you had when you arrived. 

A long-awaited piece of legislation that will expand Illinois' Vegas casino industry has passed the Illinois legislature and been signed into law. The  so-called “gambling-expansion legislation” will allow a casino to be built in the southern suburbs of Chicago. Now, the question on everyone’s minds is, where?

Gaming today, including video games, social media games and online casino games is a $99.6 billion industry. From land-based casinos to online and mobile casino sites, VR and AR games,  video gaming and other types of online and offline gaming activities, the industry is growing quickly. Industry observers credit social media for much of the rise, especially social gaming which is worth $2.15 billion in the U.S. alone.

The Comanche Tribe’s battle against the development of a Chicksaw Casino in Terral Oklahoma, near their native lands, seems to be at a standstill. The Comanches are fighting to prevent the Chicksaws from opening a rival casino project that was approved by the Interior Department with no consultation with the Comanches.

On May 15th, the House of Representatives passed the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Reservation Reaffirmation Act (HR 312) which could signal the end of the Mashpee Wampanoag struggle to open a Vegas Casino on their Massachusetts lands.

Wynn Resorts announced that talks with MGM Vegas Casino Resorts about a potential sale of its newly built integrated resort, located in Everett, outside of Boston, have ended without a deal.

Freemont Street Casino patrons will soon be able to add sports betting to their gaming pursuits. The land-based and online casino sportsbooks will enable sports enthusiasts to place bets on any of dozens of sporting events while the games are in play.

The Industry Group for Responsible Gambling (IGRG) has confirmed that a voluntary ban on TV gambling advertisements during live sporting events will go into effect this summer - that would include advertisements for our very own Grande Vegas Casino. The IGRG is a collective body for the UK’s five main gambling trade associations. This ban comes as a result of a number of recent changes to the IGRG’s self-imposed Gambling Industry Code for Socially Responsible Advertising.

While we sit around happily playing our Grande Vegas no deposit bonus codes and having fun online, a storm is still raging around the Wynn Casino's opening of its Massachusetts jewel in the crown, the Boston Harbor Encore project.  We could remain blissfully oblivious to the goings on, but we feel it's important to keep up-to-date regarding the entire casino industry.  So here goes, the latest news.....

Online pokies and sports fans in the United States now have a new outlet from where to access news and analysis on their favorite sports. The Action Network will, among other services, provide sports betting options to fans.

Last May, after more than 2 decades of holding off legal sports betting in the United States, the major leagues and the NCAA find themselves confronting a new reality. The Supreme Court ruled that PASPA, the Professional Athletes and Sports Protection Act, was unconstitutional and Congress could not prevent states from legislating legal sports betting in their jurisdictions, either at the online casino or at land-based gambling venues.

The American Gaming Association marked the one-year anniversary of the SCOTUS ruling that allows states to legalize land based and online casino sports betting with a set of self-regulations on marketing & advertising.

For several years, the Encore Boston Harbor project has been scheduled to open in late June 2019 but it now seems as though the finishing details will require a few more weeks of work. The resort, which has been the subject of bitter controversy for the last 16 months, got the final go-ahead a few weeks ago. Even though the delay in opening the gaming floor is disappointing for many, the fact that it will open at all is a relief for state officials, company execs and the local authorities.

The United States Bureau of Indian Affairs, which acts as the primary advisor to the Secretary of the Interior regarding the requirements of Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, is assisting the Tejon Indian tribe as it seeks permission to build and operate a small casino resort.  

Some people wager on sports for fun or as a hobby. Others look forward to wins and prizes. Whatever your reason for placing Vegas casino bets on sporting events, you want to maximize your efforts. Experts offer some ideas on how you can optimize your bets to create the best possible outcome.

Vegas casino gambling is one of the most competitive, crowded and fast-paced commercial sectors in the market today. There are multiple products and options that range from land-based casinos to online casino venues, lottery products, online sports betting and more. It’s almost impossible to get through a day without seeing some type of advertisements for these products – on TV, on the Internet, at live games and more.

The Quinault Nation, which owns and operates the Quinault Beach Resort and Casino in Ocean Shores Washington, has filed suit against Valve Software. The suit alleges that the Vegas casino software giant is making it difficult for regulated casinos to operate. 

FOX Sports and The Stars Group are finalizing an agreement that will see the two firms enter into a long-term commercial arrangement in which The Stars Group will gain an exclusive license to use specific FOX Sports trademarks. The initiative, to be called “FOX Bet,” means that sports betting will soon become more easily accessible, via an online app, to residents of sports-betting states.

Until sports betting comes to our favorite online casino, Grande Vegas Casino, we'll just keep watch on those battling it out for the sports betting #1 position.

Sports betting in the United States is as complicated as the online casino for New Zealand. Each state has the right to make its own laws about sports betting which include whether or not to allow the pursuit and, if so, how to tax revenues, how to license, whether or not to approve online sports betting and the decision about which body will regulate the state’s sports betting.

Maybe one day soon, sports betting will come to our Grande Vegas Casino, but until that happens....

Everyone agrees that sports betting is in America to stay. Some states might not legislate for sports betting but their residents will head over to neighboring states to place bets. Congress is also trying to provide direction from a federal level. How might sports betting fans expect to see sports wagering change in the coming years? 

Cloud gaming has been around for a few years but its popularity is growing as new services become available. The idea behind cloud gaming is that people will be able to play their favorite games and access their Grande Vegas no deposit bonus codes without the need for consoles that include powerful PCs or consoles with expensive graphics hardware. Like streaming videos, the cloud gaming server operates the game. A video of the gameplay is streamed to the gamer. The player’s mouse, keyboard and controller input actions are sent to the cloud gaming server over the network.

The Ontario government has announced that the controversial casino in Ajax Downs will remain open while a new casino is built in Pickering. According to the deal, Ajax Downs will be allowed to compete with a planned mega casino set to be built in neighboring Pickering. Both will operate along side the OLG lottery and online casino platform.

Now that states can legalize sports betting in the United States, sports books, sports betting casinos and online sportsbooks - maybe our very own Grande Vegas casino will have a sports section one day - are turning their attention to creating partnerships with sports leagues and teams. What are the advantages of such partnerships?

Pavia, in Northern Italy, was once known as “Oxford on Ticino” but today a more accurate description would be “Vegas on Ticino.” Pavia’s history goes back over 2000 years and includes the establishment of one of Italy’s most prestigious universities. But in recent years, residents have been turning to slot machines - real slots machines scattered all over the city and maybe also taking advantage of the Grande Vegas no deposit bonus codes - as the city’s main mechanical goods industry declines. And that’s brought big troubles to the city.

One of President Trump’s latest tweets has caused an obscure bill to be pulled from the House floor after House Republicans indicated that they would follow the president in opposing the bill. Trump tweeted “Republicans shouldn’t vote for H.R. 312, a special interest casino Bill, backed by Elizabeth (Pocahontas) Warren. It is unfair and doesn’t treat Native Americans equally!”

For much of history, organized gambling was not as easy as the online casino for New Zealand, or for NW, or for the US. It was the hobby of the wealthy. From chariot races in ancient Egypt to athletic competitions of ancient Greece, early keno games in the palaces of Chinese Emperors and gladiatorial combats held in front of the rulers of the Roman Empire, placing bets in an organized fashion was the realm of those who could afford such a luxury.

Following a year in which Wynn Resorts struggled to overcome the disgrace of its founder and former CEO, a catfight over company stocks, a restructuring of its board, questions about its Macau property and a battle to keep its Massachusetts gaming license, the cliffhanging saga of the company’s future seems to be coming to an end.

In multiple states, Native American tribes are emerging as key players in legislative debates over whether online casino sports betting will be adopted. The tribes are divided over the strategy, with some supporting legislation as long as it promises their operations a monopoly while others oppose the idea because, they believe, it will threaten their casinos and will threaten revenues that they need to fund essential services for their members. 

From online casinos in New Zealand, to the burgeoning casino industry in the Far East, to the future of sports betting in the US, every day there is news as to the legalization and/or regulation of different forms of betting. 

Even though Nevada is a “right to work” state where unions have little legal influence, a union presence among Vegas casino workers is growing. Last year’s strike by members of the Culinary and Bartenders Union almost brought activity in the casino capital to a halt. By the strike’s end, the unions were able to negotiate a strong contract that went a long way to protect their members.

As settled and accepted as home-grown entertainment the online casino for New Zealand is, the sports betting world is continually pushing the envelope, and now....a new concept in sports betting appeared on the scene. PropSwap.com has a new strategy that seems set to transform the industry.

Sometimes there are news stories that make our own Grande Vegas Casino, THE online casino for New Zealand, seem tame.  Consider the next story:

It was only 15 months ago that Wynn Resorts founder, Board Director and CEO Steve Wynn resigned from the company after the company was forced to confront evidence that Wynn had sexually harassed female employees of the company. In the ensuing months, Wynn has had to fight to maintain its standing and its assets around the world. The chapter of Steve Wynn and his sexual misconduct is starting to see an end but the company will be tying up the loose ends for its holdings worldwide for a long time to come.

The British Columbia provincial government’s crackdown on money laundering at area casinos is causing a big headache for the province’s gambling venues. The government’s is aiming to end the tradition of turning a blind eye to the casinos’ practice of accepting  millions of dollars in questionable cash. The practice allowed money launderers to get rid of massive amounts of dirty money but the clampdown is throwing the city’s casino gambling business into turmoil.  Happily, this does not effect our beloved online casino gaming - yet, another reason to prefer online casinos.

The passage of sports betting legislation by individual states has gone faster than anyone could have predicted. The month of May marks one year since SCOTUS ruled that states could legislate in their own jurisdictions. Since that time, eight states have passed some form of sports betting authorization and over 2 dozen other states have begun the process of considering allowing online casino type of sports betting for their state residents. 

Although we all love our Grande Vegas Casino for all casino type games, we've all got one eye on how sports betting will play out with the new US regulations or lack thereof.  Let's look at Lousiana today....

Vegas casino gambling gets underway in Arkansas this month after Arkansas voters approved a referendum in November for a constitutional amendment that would allow casinos to operate in the state.  

New York State is trying to find its footing as it paves the way for online Vegas casino poker and sportsbooks to operate in the state while acknowledging challenges facing its upstate casinos.

Unlike the Grande Vegas online casino and other casino entertainment companies, Caesars Entertainment Corporation does not seem to be worried about unstable casino revenues. The company is seeing its profits rising amidst worries about a possible economic slowdown in Vegas.

The Supreme Court ruled that Native American tribes have the right to operate casino sites in states where casino gambling is legal. That hasn’t stopped the states from using other means to try to prevent tribes from opening casinos.

Until we can report that sports betting has come to our very own, Grande Vegas online casino...we'll keep you up-to-date on the latest going on in sports betting across the States.  The two largest Fantasy Sports Operators, DraftKings and FanDuel, are emerging as the leading operators of sports betting in the United States. Both operators have forged partnerships with existing gambling operators, brought sports betting to online venues and created strong affiliations with some of America’s biggest sports leagues.

We reported earlier that Japan was considering awarding new casino/integrated resorts permits.  Now, they're taking the plunge.  Here's an update to our previous report.

Japan’s government is pushing ahead with its plans to grant three integrated resort licenses to casino operators in the near future and see the IR development start within the next 2 years. Online casino gaming will, for the present, not be a part of the program. 

March Madness, the single-elimination tournament in which 68 NCAA teams vie to reach the Final Four competition for the national championship has been a little different this year. Thanks to last year’s May 2018 SCOTUS ruling that gave states the right to legislate for Vegas casino sports betting in their jurisdictions, sports fans are able to bet on the competition at legal on-site and online casino sportsbooks.

While our own Grande Vegas Casino is popping with excitement and forever adding new games and promotions to add to the fun of our players, real casinos in Vegas are showing some slipping numbers.  Causing worry for the casino industry, let's look deeper.

While we're all enjoying the convenience of our favorite online casino, Grande Vegas online casino, many of New York’s upstate land-based casinos reported that their 2018 earnings fell below early projections. Yet the operators believe that their revenues will increase this year, especially if the moratorium on New York City-area gambling licenses is lifted.