News

GMA interviewed on Nevada Week: Vegas PBS

Omicron Variant and Las Vegas Tourism

The Omicron variant is the newest version of the coronavirus to put the world on edge. What impact will it have on efforts to bring back international tourism? Plus, Las Vegas casinos deck their halls for the holidays.

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GMA quoted in The Nevada Independent

Hard Rock to buy The Mirage for more than $1 billion, will add a guitar-shaped tower

by Howard Stutz

One of the Las Vegas Strip’s most iconic properties will soon change ownership after Hard Rock International announced Monday plans to pay $1.075 billion to acquire the operations of The Mirage from MGM Resorts International.

The company, which is owned by Florida’s Seminole Indian Tribe, said it would build a guitar-shaped hotel tower at the front of the 77-acre site along the Las Vegas Strip, while the entire property will be renamed Hard Rock Las Vegas.

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GMA quoted on CDC Gaming Reports

Hard Rock, buying Mirage operations, to be first tribal operator on Las Vegas Strip

by Buck Wargo

The Seminole Tribe of Florida has reached an agreement to purchase the operations of The Mirage Hotel & Casino on the Las Vegas Strip for $1.075 billion in cash. Plans include construction on a Hard Rock signature: a guitar-shaped hotel.

The deal announced late Monday by MGM Resorts International and Hard Rock International confirms the speculation that Hard Rock was looking to operate in Las Vegas. MGM had previously said the operations were for sale.

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GMA quoted in CDC Gaming Reports

UPDATE: Las Vegas to host 2024 Super Bowl; record visitation and betting expected

by Buck Wargo

In what will be a monumental day and weekend, possibly leading to record betting and visitation, the Super Bowl in February 2024 will be hosted by Las Vegas.

The Las Vegas Review Journal reported Monday afternoon that the official announcement will be made Wednesday at the league-owner’s meeting in Dallas.

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority released a statement late Monday without confirming the Super Bowl, the NFL’s championship game.

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GMA quoted in the Chicago Tribune

Homewood/East Hazel Crest site picked for south suburban casino

by Mike Nolan

State gaming regulators on Wednesday selected a casino proposal from Homewood and East Hazel Crest as the winning bid for a south suburban license. The gaming board’s decision, eliminating Matteson from contention, doesn’t award a license but sets the state for further evaluation of the proposal selected, said Marcus Fruchter, gaming board administrator.

Homewood and East Hazel Crest are partnering with Wind Creek Hospitality for a 64,000-square-foot casino on a 24-acre site southwest of the interchange of Interstate 80 and Halsted Street.

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GMA quoted on CDC Gaming Reports

Gaming and Leisure Properties to acquire real estate assets of three Cordish Live! casinos for $1.81 billion

by Buck Wargo

Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc., a Pennsylvania-based real estate investment trust spun off from Penn National Gaming, has agreed to acquire the real estate assets of three of the Cordish Companies’ Live! casino properties for $1.81 billion, further expanding its portfolio.

In return, Cordish will immediately lease back the properties and continue to control and manage the gaming operations at Live! Casino & Hotel Maryland, Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia, and Live! Casino Pittsburgh.

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GMA quoted on GamblingNews.com

GLPI Purchases Three Cordish Live! Assets for a Price of $1.81B

by Filip Mishevski

Pennsylvania-based Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc makes a massive move as it agrees to purchase a total of three The Cordish Companies’ Live! casino assets for a price of $1.81 billion.  Wall Street analysts greeted the developments as the purchase will allow Gaming and Leisure Properties to expand its portfolio.

The transactions between Cordish and Gaming Leisure Properties will be finalized at different times of the year in 2022.  All of them will be subject to financing, regulatory approvals, and other closing conditions.  With that being said, the Maryland transaction is set to be finalized by the end of 2021, while the Pennsylvania transaction is set to be finalized at the start of 2022.

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GMA quoted on GGR Asia

Bangkok good bet for any Thai casino biz: consultants

Thailand’s capital Bangkok would be an optimal location for a casino resort if that nation decides to legalize such business, say two casino consultants in commentary given to GGRAsia.

Their remarks followed news that Thailand’s House of Representatives – the lower chamber in the National Assembly – had voted on December 2 to set up a 60-member “extraordinary committee” to look into the possibility of legalizing casinos in the country.  It is anticipated the group would complete its study in “90 days.”

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GMA quoted on Sportsbook Review

Ohio Moving Toward Legal Sports Betting…in 2023

by Dave Bond

The idea of legal sports betting in the state of Ohio has been a contentious one indeed but there appears to finally be some good news regarding the eventual launch of the platform. An agreement to legalize has finally been made after months of legislative and regulatory wrangling.

While mostly positive, the latest legalization news has bettors in the Ohio market still waiting over a year to place their first legal sports bets.  Jan. 1, 2023 has been identified as the logical jumping-off point for sports betting in the Ohio market – not ideal for a market that was hoping to be live before the start of the current NFL season.

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GMA quoted on SportsHandle.com

Ohio Senate President On Board With New Sports Betting Proposal

by Jill R. Dorson

Ohio Senate President Matt Huffman has signed off on anew legal sports betting proposal, according to an industry source, and language for a new bill could be finalized by the middle of next week.  That news comes on the heels of Rep. Bill Seitz telling Statehouse news earlier this week that a “possible agreement” has  been worked out to legalize statewide mobile and retail sports betting.

Neither Seitz nor Sports Handle’s source could offer any information about the details of the latest agreement, which has been a year in the making.  Some stakeholders still say Ohio lawmakers won’t legalize until 2022, despite a yearlong effort that included 14 meetings by a Senate Select Committee on Gaming.

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