News

GMA quoted in the Las Vegas Review Journal

LVCVA calendar shows many conventions already booked for 2022

By Richard N. Velotta

It begins and ends with CES.

The massive consumer electronics show, sponsored by the Washington-based Consumer Electronics Association, will fill every convention hall at the Las Vegas Convention Center, the Sands Expo and Convention Center and the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in the first week of the 2022 calendar.

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GMA quoted in the Las Vegas Review Journal

MGM Resorts bringing back paid self-parking

By Bailey Schulz

One of the few perks to emerge from Las Vegas’ pandemic-related casino shutdowns – free parking – is on its way out.

Paid event parking at select MGM Resorts International properties is set to return this month, followed by the return of paid self-parking at all of the company’s Strip properties starting June 1. Locals will have free parking for the first three hours, a new policy from the company.

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GMA quoted in GGB News

Virgin LV to Add Pool, Restaurants, More

Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, which opened on March 25, is planning to add new amenities including a pool, a beach club, a number of restaurants and a sportsbook.

Richard “Boz” Bosworth, president and CEO of the resort’s ownership group, told the Las Vegas Review Journal that hotel occupancy is “hovering below” 30 percent during the week rooms and up to 80 percent on weekends.

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GMA quoted on SportsHandle.com

Will Sports Betting Operators Besides Hard Rock Be Able to Find A Way Into Florida?

by Jill R. Dorson

In less than two weeks, Florida lawmakers will reconvene in a special session with the goal of approving a gaming compact between the Seminole Tribe and Gov. Ron DeSantis and passing legislation that builds a sports betting framework around that pact.

Just as there was an initial frenzy around the legalization of mobile sports betting in New York in April, so too has there been a frenzy in the industry about legal wagering in Florida.  But if Florida does legalize – and it would become the largest state to do so – it could very well create a monopoly, leaving sports bettors with no choices and, potentially, less attractive odds.

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GMA quoted in the Las Vegas Review Journal

Wynn, Encore casinos can operate at 100 percent capacity

by Bailey Schulz

Wynn Resorts Ltd.’s Las Vegas gaming floors have been given the green light to operate at full capacity, effective Monday.

The Nevada Gaming Control Board granted the Strip casino operator permission to amend its occupancy and physical distancing requirements after it showed that it had 88 percent of its employees vaccinated as of Saturday.

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Brendan Bussmann interviewed on Focus Gaming News

Brendan Bussmann: “Japan is one of the last strong markets that can exist”

Exclusive interview – Brendan Bussmann, partner and director of government affairs at Global Market Advisors, shares his views on the future of gaming in Asia and Las Vegas’ bounce back from Covid-19.

In Las Vegas, things are starting to look up.  Summer is in sight and casinos are looking forward to getting back to full capacity from June.

You can read and watch the interview here

GMA quoted in the Las Vegas Review Journal

Virgin Hotels CEO says Vegas property to grow with market

by Mike Shoro

The Las Vegas Valley’s newest integrated resort is still without a pool, a beach club, multiple planned restaurants, an operating sportsbook and hotel occupancy rates in line with the average.

All as expected, Virgin Hotels Las Vegas executives said Friday.  But that situation will change soon.

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GMA quoted in the Las Vegas Review Journal

Good news about tourism economy comes in bunches

by Richard N. Velotta

When it comes to good news about Southern Nevada’s tourism economy, it doesn’t get much better than it did last week.

The good vibrations came in bunches.

The McCarran International Airport passenger numbers started things off with the report that passenger traffic was up 60 percent from February to March and up 25 percent from March 2020 to March this year.

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GMA quoted in iGamingBusiness.com

Las Vegas goes back to the future

by Buck Wargo

Las Vegas takes a step closer to normalcy on Saturday when it expands to 80% of its capacity and prepares for the return of full-scale entertainment this summer- a big milestone since non-gaming amenities set the city apart from other US casinos.

Las Vegas took a step back in that regard when it reopened in June 2020 after a two-and-a-half-month novel coronavirus (Covid-19) shutdown.  It went wihtout entertainment, conventions, nightclubs and other amenities when it reopened to a 50% capacity on its gaming floors and restaurants and strict social distancing requirements.

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GMA quoted on OnlinePokerReport.com

Voices of Support Were Plentiful at Today’s Committee Hearing For Online Casino Gambling in Illinois

by Heather Fletcher

Illinois lawmakers are moving forward on their promise to consider legalizing online casino gambling in 2021.  To that end, members of the Illinois House Executive Committee held a hearing today on the proposed Internet Gaming Act.

Anyone watching the Illinois General Assembly consider the act probably came away with an optimistic impression.  If there’s any remaining cause for skepticism, it’s mainly about the launch date.  although Illinois sports betting became legal in spring 2019, the first app only launched on June 18 the following year.  The state is hoping for a much faster timeline from iGaming legalization to launch.

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