News

GMA quoted on USBets.com

Maryland Permitting Up To 60 Mobile Sportsbooks, But Reality Could Be Far Less

by Gary Rotstein

One gambling industry consultant calls Maryland’s wide-open new sports betting legislation the “Oprah bill.”

“YOU get a license, and YOU get a license, and YOU get a license,” is how Brendan Bussmann, director of government affairs for Global Market Advisors, jokingly refers to a law that, in theory, could give Maryland more than twice as many online sportsbook operators as any other state currently has.

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GMA quoted in the Las Vegas Review Journal

Las Vegas ‘buzzing,’ recovering faster than expected, experts say

by Mike Shoro and Bailey Schulz

People ready to declare Las Vegas is “back” are a bit premature, experts in and around Nevada’s gaming and tourism industries say.

Still, it’s returning faster than many thought it might.  And there still appears to be room to grow, which has hotel-casino executives and industry observers feeling good about Las Vegas’ future.

The valley’s economic drivers, hospitality and gaming, are on the upswing, and there’s a noticeably different vibe these days in its resort corridor.

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GMA quoted on PlayUSA.com

Why Arizona sports betting law could be a huge revenue boost for state pro teams

By Brant James

Multiple American jurisdictions have allowed professional sports teams to benefit financially form legal sports betting:

The Chicago Cubs have a plan for a DraftKings Sportsbook at Wrigley Field.

Capital One Arena in the District of Columbia has a William Hill sportsbook that operates even when the Washington Capitals, Wizards or Mystics aren’t playing inside.

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GMA quoted on SportsHandle.com

Florida Becomes Biggest State By Population To Legalize Digital Sports Betting

by Jill R. Dorson

In what seemed very much like a predetermined outcome, the Florida House of Representatives on Wednesday ratified the new gaming compact between the state and the Seminole Indian Tribe, 97-17.  The approval came after an hour of debate and attempts at multiple amendments, making Florida the biggest state by population to legalize sports wagering since the fall of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act on May 14, 2018.

The compact all but creates a monopoly for the Seminole Indian Tribe, which is already the driver of gaming in Florida.  Any and all sports bets- even if made on mobile devices or via parimutuel partners – must “go through servers” placed on tribal lands, and the tribe gets a cut.

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GMA quoted in the Nevada Independent

Henderson and Reno rise as pandemic driven casino closures skew national gaming revenue ranks

by Howard Stutz

Casinos along the Boulder Highway and much of Henderson make up the ninth-largest gaming revenue market in the U.S., according to the American Gaming Association.

The Northern Nevada area that includes casinos in Reno and Sparks is now ranked No. 12 among the Top 20 U.S. gaming markets.

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GMA quoted in the Las Vegas Review Journal

Fewer masks, more visitors: What to expect Memorial Day Weekend

by Bailey Schulz

This upcoming Memorial Day weekend could be the kick-start to a strong summer of tourism in Las Vegas.

The holiday is the first major travel event since mass vaccinations took off in the U.S. Industry watchers expect strong demand from visitors over the three-day-weekend – a stark contrast from last year’s Memorial Day, when casinos across the state were still shuttered.

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GMA quoted on USBets.com

Vaccination, Lifted Restrictions Setting Up A Hot Summer In Vegas

by Buck Wargo

Las Vegas is gearing up for one of its strongest summers in history, and if this past weekend is any indication, that’s just what the city is going to get.

The Centers for Disease Control announcement Thursday that vaccinated people can forgo masks in most indoor setting prompted Nevada regulators on Friday to loosen the mask-wearing requirement in casinos. Casino resorts, most of which were greenlighted to return to 100% of their capacity last week, saw huge crowds, including an influx of drive-in traffic from California and Las Vegas residents celebrating with family and friends to mark the apparent winding down of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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GMA quoted on USPoker.com

Legalization Update: A Look at US States Considering Regulated Online Poker

by Sean Chaffin

US online poker players have seen some big news in recent months.  Five states offer legal, regulated online poker and several others have made some moves toward legalization.

Illinois and Connecticut remain strong possibilities, but other have also at least shows some interest in the last few months.  Online poker is currently legal in:

-New Jersey

-Pennsylvania

-Nevada

-Delaware

-West Virginia

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GMA quoted on SportsHandle.com

Mobile Sports Betting, Betting on Local College Teams Stripped From Nebraska Sports Betting Bill

By Jill R. Dorson

A half page amendment that would ban mobile sports wagering and prohibit betting on in-state college teams created a firestorm on the floor of the unicameral Nebraska Legislature Thursday morning, complete with name calling and finger pointing.

The amendment to LB 561 strikes the section of the bill relating to geofencing and bans betting on University of Nebraska and other college teams.  The amendment, which passed 31-4, also altered what keno will look like in casinos.  The bill was then sent back to be engrossed by a vote of 39-3.  The amended bill, which would limit wagering to physical sportsbooks located at racinos, racetracks, and tribal casinos, will likely come up for a vote next week.

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GMA quoted in the Las Vegas Review Journal

Station, Caesars, MGM properties approved for 100 percent casino capacity

By Bailey Schulz

Three of the largest casino operators in Las Vegas can now run their casinos at full capacity.

MGM Resorts International, Caesars Entertainment Inc. and Station Casinos are the latest companies to have gaming floor capacity and social distancing restrictions waived by the Nevada Gaming Control Board. The Wednesday announcements mean an additional 24 casinos across the valley can now operate at full capacity, effective immediately.

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