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Casino News Media and Media Man Group: News from Las Vegas, Canada, Australia and across the globe

Nevada records fourth highest July gaming win in history and second highest on the Strip

Nevada gaming surpassed $1 billion in revenue for the 17th consecutive month in July, marking the fourth highest monthly total in history at $1.31 billion and the second highest ever on the Las Vegas Strip. It took a record July 2021 to keep last month from surpassing that total. July 2022’s revenue decreased $43 million, a drop of 3.2%, from the $1.35 billion in July 2021, according to the Nevada Gaming Control Board.

IGT to pay $270 million to settle social gaming lawsuit

Global gaming giant IGT says it will pay almost US$270 million to settle a class action lawsuit brought against it by customers of its former social gaming subsidiary DoubleDown Interactive Co Ltd (DDI). The company said this week that it has reached an agreement in principle in the case of Benson v DoubleDown Interactive LLC, which was first launched in 2017 just a few months after IGT disposed of DDI in a hefty US$825 million deal.

Ontarians wager $4 billion (CAD), market produces $162 million gaming revenue in first quarter

The public can finally see numbers indicating how Ontario‘s new regulated iGaming and online sports betting market is performing since its launch on April 4. Ontarians wagered more than $4 billion (CAD) and the market produced $162 million total gaming revenue — from iCasino, online sports betting, and online poker — for the period of April 4-June 30, according to the first revenue report released by iGaming Ontario. (As of Aug. 30, $1 CAD is equal to $0.76 USD.)

California: Top elected officials voice opposition to Proposition 27

Though California Gov. Gavin Newsom deems himself neutral on Proposition 27, the digital sports betting ballot initiative with funding earmarked for homelessness and mental health programs, several other key elected officials voiced strong opposition to the measure Monday in describing it as a sham. “Proposition 27 exploits California’s tribes and our resources while making no real investments in California,” Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis said in a press release shared by the No on 27 campaign.

VSiN’s announces new fall lineup featuring Broadcast Hall of Famer Brent Musburger

VSiN’s new fall schedule that launches today will be headlined by a member of the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame. “Countdown to Kickoff with Brent Musburger,” is the centerpiece of NFL football coverage on Sundays by the Las Vegas-based sports betting network owned by DraftKings. “The addition of this new programming and its industry leading talent will position VSiN to provide the growing number of sports bettors in the U.S. with expert betting insights and premium content,” said VSiN General Manager Len Mead in a statement.

Las Vegas: Circa, Able Baker Brewing partner to create ‘Vegas Vickie Neon Blonde’ beer

Las Vegas’ famous neon kicking cowgirl now has her own beer. Able Baker Brewing Company and Circa Resort & Casino in downtown Las Vegas have teamed up to create a custom blonde lager beer – the Vegas Vickie Neon Blonde. The new brew pays homage to the iconic kicking neon cowgirl, Vegas Vickie. According to a news release, the the 4.5% ABV beverage, which is only available at Circa, will be served in a 16 oz. can. The drink is described as a crisp and clean lager with more character and depth of flavor than the standard light beer.

Ainsworth returns to profit in FY22 as American markets boost recovery

Australian slot machine supplier Ainsworth Game Technology Limited (AGT) returned to profit in the financial year ended 30 June 2022, aided by improved performance in Latin America and the global-wide recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Profit After Tax reached AU$11.8 million (US$8.2 million), reversing an AU$53.4 million (US$37.1 million) loss in FY21 on the back of a 38% year-on-year increase in revenue to AU$220.2 million (US$152.9 million). This included revenue of AU$100.7 million (US$69.9 million) in the first six months of the financial year and AU$119.5 million (US$83.0 million) in the second half.

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Pokie proposal a win-win, Greens say - 14th October 2011

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Limiting poker machines to $1 bets and $500 jackpots is a win-win for all sectors of the gambling industry, Greens leader Bob Brown says.

The Greens have put forward an alternative gambling policy that eliminates the need for controversial mandatory pre-commitment on low-intensity poker machines.

Gambling clubs and operators, including James Packer's Crown Casino, have reportedly set up a $40 million war chest to fight mandatory pre-commitment.

Senator Brown described the Greens' policy as a "win, win win", as it would satisfy the pokie operators while dealing with the $5 billion scourge of problem gambling and satisfying anti-gambling campaigners.

Brown said in Melbourne national politicians felt a responsibility to tackle the problem.
"There's no doubt some clubs will, and potentially casinos and state governments will, see a loss in revenue," he said.

"But this is very well targeted, so that loss in revenue is not going to come from the 90 per cent of ordinary gamblers who put a few dollars through the machines each week, but the problem gamblers," he added.

Greens gambling spokesman Senator Richard Di Natale said he had sent the policy to anti-gambling campaigners Andrew Wilkie and Nick Xenophon, the other independents and the Federal Government.

"We think it's really important that in a very toxic debate, particularly with the clubs running a deceptive campaign in the way that they are doing, that we put another option on the table," he said.

"It gives us more chance of success.

He added it won't get rid of problem gambling altogether, but would have a significant impact and would reduce the risks for problem gamblers.

Mr Wilkie said he was pleased the Greens' policy dovetailed with his reforms, which included $1 bets and mandatory pre-commitment on high-intensity machines.

"I'm continuing to work with the Federal Government to implement our reforms, which have not changed in any way," he said.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard said she was committed to helping problem gambling but wanted venues which would allow people "a good night out".

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Pokie reform may 'kill' Gillard - Abbott - 10th October 2011

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The proposed poker machine reforms could be the issue that kills Prime Minister Julia Gillard's leadership, says Opposition Leader Tony Abbott.

The Labor caucus is not behind the reforms that will force gamblers to pre-set the amount of money they're prepared to lose on the pokies, Mr Abbott told Triple M radio on Monday.

"There's only one person in a position of influence who really wants it and that's Julia Gillard because she needs it to stay in government," he said.

"But I don't think the Labor caucus like it. I think if she tries to ram it through, if she's still the prime minister, this could be (the issue) which kills her."

Labor plans to adopt mandatory pre-commitment systems for high-intensity poker machines by 2014 as part of an agreement with Tasmanian independent MP Andrew Wilkie.

Mr Abbott says the shadow cabinet will meet in the coming days and announce a formal position on poker machine reforms "shortly".

"But I don't like it, it's not Liberal party policy," he said.

"This is taking a sledgehammer to crack a nut, it will be very, very expensive, hundreds of millions of dollars at least to introduce and it's not going to work.

"If you're a problem gambler, you can set your pre-commitment at such a level but you can still gamble enormously.

"And if there aren't pokies, there's the internet."

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Australian Pokie Wars: Abbott VS Wilkie, by Greg Tingle - 1st October 2011

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The Coalition's decision to oppose slot machine reform has made "independent" Andrew Wilkie even more gun ho in pushing the law for change even if it comes to bringing down the unpopular Gillard Government.

"I will not budge on mandatory pre-commitment on high intensity poker machines," he said.

It goes something like this...

Prime Minister Julia Gillard promised to introduce curbs on problem gamblers in return for his support of the minority Labor Government. He has set the budget in May as the deadline for the delivery of the promise, either by voluntary agreement by the states and territories or by overriding federal legislation.

The Federal Government is trying to work out how to implement the mandatory pre-commitment technology, with the states and territories unlikely to agree on firm action by Wilkie's deadline.

The tech would basically force poker machine players to register before playing and to use a card to choose how much they wanted to gamble in one session. It's understood some punters will find loopholes around the mousetrap, such is their desire to play.

Some Labor MPs are disturbed by the aggressive campaign being waged by clubs...a key Labour support area...against mandatory restrictions on problem gambling.

Opposition leader Tony Abbott advised this week the Coalition would vote against the legislation if the Government decided to bring it to Parliament.

Although independent Tony Windsor has concerns about the move, Wilkie believes the legislation would be successful.

"I think the numbers are there in the Parliament for this to pass into law but I have obviously made it the Government's challenge to out and get those numbers," he said.

Wilkie is super determined to act if the legislation hasn't been approved, even though this would result in mayhem, something Labour is used to by now, and would not actually achieve poker-machine reform.

"The next morning I'd call a press conference and tear up my agreement with the Prime Minister," he said. "If I was Opposition Leader, I'd probably move very quickly to bring on a no confidence motion in the Government on its inability to deliver poker machine reform, which, on the fact of it, I'd probably support.

"Mind you, the new Opposition could then turn around and bring on a no confidence motion in Tony Abbott on poker machine reform and I'd have to support that as well, because he is not going to help me out there. But the Government has made things a bit simpler for me, because the Labor Party now has a worse policy than the Coalition on irregular immigration. I assume Tony Abbott would race to an election ... I reckon he'd go out to Government House that day and say the situation is unstable."

Wilkie predicted the Coalition would win an election held next year in those circumstances.

"I don't think the Labor fortunes are going to turn around for some time yet," he said.

What party are you going to gamble on? Make your vote count.

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