February 2017 Infinity Gaming Magazine

InfinityGaming www.gaming-awards.com | ISSUE FEBRUARY 2017

LOOKING INTO THE FUTURE

GAMING + ARTICLES + BUSINESS+ GLOBAL+ ONLINE + NEWS

2

FEBRUARY 2017

22 “IF�

Teresa Tunsall

24 29

A VIRTUAL REALITY Chritina Thakor-Rankin

53 NEW AG WORRIES ONLINE

Opinion Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in all external articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of The Infinity Gaming Magazine Any content provided by our feature writers or authors are of their opinion, and are not intended to malign any religion, ethic group, club, organization, company, individual or anyone or anything.

INFINITY GAMING

FEBRUARY 2017

4 EDITOR NOTES Lana welcomes you to the November edition of Infinity Gaming Magazine.

6 OUR WRITERS Meet our feature writers, the superb writers on our rosta.

08 THE IGA10 FINALISTS See all the finalists

23 SPORTS BETTING

40

Kicked in to touch

31 MICHIGAN Consider sports betting

VR GAMBLING TO EXPAND BY 800% Paul Swaddle

33 CAESARS End bankruptcy Case

NEW GAMBLING REFORM BILL Florida thinks again

51 MACAU GETTING Back on Track

51 MASSACHUSETTS Considers online gambling

+ ALL THE LATEST NEWS & Opinions

INFINITY GAMING

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FEBRUARY 2017

A note from the editor CONTACT US Clever Duck Media Centrix@Keys Keys Park Road Staffordshire WS12 2HA UK Tel: +44(0)1543 478 889 PRODUCTION Clever Duck Media Centrix@Keys Keys Park Road Staffordshire WS12 2HA UK

Time to get ready for the awards event of the year

PUBLISHING Infinity Gaming Magazine is operated by © Clever Duck Media Ltd ®

Lana Thompson - Editor

Welcome to the final edition of the Infinity Gaming Magazine for 2017 and a busy time for all.

Hello and welcome to the latest edi-

Teresa Tunstall covering all things re-

tion of the Infinity Gaming Magazine

lated to problem gambling.

and hope you are having a great start to 2017. Also want to wish all our Chi-

We know this is a very busy time for

nese readers a great Chinese New Year

everyone and with the 10th Interna-

that is just around the corner. The year

tional Gaming Awards just around the

of the Rooster!

corner it going to be a huge night come 6th February.

We kick of this edition with a look at the technology that will transform the

So with all the very latest news from

gambling industry over the next 5 to 10

all over the gaming world we have you

years, Virtual Reality.

covered to keep up with the very latest events, so enjoy the magazine and look

The application is still in its infancy al-

forward to meeting many of you at the

though in one form or another has been

awards evening of the year.

around for many years but now with faster computers and better design Vir-

Enjoy the magazine.

tual Reality will transform many people’s lives not just in the gaming sector

So, “To Infinity and Beyond!”

but in so many other ways.

Regards, Our superb writers Christina ThakorRankin and Paul Swaddle looking at the

Lana

future for this technology, along with The Editor

INFINITY GAMING

Company Reg. No. 687 1018 (Registered in England) V.A.T reg. no 972 6372 91

Sponsorship Opportunities Colin@cleverduckmedia.com Business Partnerships Svetlana@gaming-awards.com Marketing & Advertising claire@cleverduckmedia.com Editorial Content & PR media@cleverduckmedia.com

FEBRUARY 2017

Infinity Gaming Magazine Contributing Writers A magazine is only as good as the content inside and with some of the leading specialists within the gaming industry. With specialised articles covering customer service, the gaming law, new prducts, technology and current affairs with the sector the Infinity Gaming Magazine is delighted to showcase our superb line-up of contributing writers.

Christina Thakor-Rankin - Gaming Consultant Christina is Principal Consultant at 1710 Gaming Ltd, a specialist betting and gaming consultancy, delivering a range of services including licensing and compliance (incl. regulation, money laundering and social responsibility), business start-up, training and strategic reengineering, project management, research, business analysis and development, to start-ups and established multi-national operators and providers, gambling regu-

lators, law enforcement and government agencies, media, and specialist interest groups and associations within the sector, in both established and emerging markets across the world.

www.1710gaming.com

Teresa Tunstall – Independent Gaming Consultant After many years of working in casinos in the UK and on USA ships as a croupier and inspector, Teresa turned from ‘poacher to gamekeeper,’ spending 16 years with GamCare, who offer help and support to those who develop problems with their gambling.

Teresa now works independently consulting on all issues relating to Social Responsibility and Problem Gambling.

Working closely with the betting and gaming industry, She developed strong links delivering Social Responsibility and Problem Gambling training around the world, from Antigua to Moscow, and Auditing in the UK.

To contact Teresa regarding consulting please email: Teresatunstall1@gmail.com

Paul Swaddle - CEO Pocket App A self-confessed ‘gadget geek, Paul Swaddle has been working at the leading edge of mobile technology for the past 15 years. He co-founded Pocket App in 2011 to bring the creative and technical development elements of mobile technology together under one roof.

This unique approach continues to differentiate Pocket App in today’s increasingly competitive landscape.

INFINITY GAMING

Working across a range of communications disciplines such as acquisition, loyalty, retention and customer development, Paul understands the importance of a strategic and coordinated marketing approach, particularly between on and off-line communications. In the past decade he has enabled brands as diverse as Kellogg’s Fruit Winders, Barclays and Loaded magazine to get the best out of mobile.

.com

ALEA.com is an award-winning casino operator founded in 2012 by Alexandre Tomic and Charles Gross, who have over ten years' industry experience ranging from affiliate network owner to casino operator. They are driven by innovation and dedicated to staying on the cutting edge of technology; with this in mind, ALEA’s product, SlotsMillion, is an online casino with over 1,300 slots and many inventive features. This includes the world’s first real money virtual reality casino, which is available to play in both VR and 3D and has received very positive reactions at conferences and from industry and mainstream publications.

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Three early favourites for Japans casino resorts business

J

apan who recently passed legislation allowing for casino integrated resorts and is currently in a year long process of drafting new laws and regulations on casinos which is expected by the end of 2017 is being wooed by international casino operators desperate to get one of the elusive licenses.

It is expected that initially there will be three licenses issued and those licenses along with the operators lucky enough to be given one will be announced in 2019 with what is expected the first resorts up and running by 2023.

The market in Japan is thought to be worth anything from $20 billion a year up to $40 billion and will make it the second largest casino zone after Macau meaning every major casino operator in the world wants in on what is the last big market to open up to casino resorts.

Many analyst’s say that Genting, MGM and Las Vegas Sands are the three front runners for the licenses however many others are now vying for position with Hard Rock Casinos in the US recently sending delegations to Japan to meet local officials. It is also understood Galaxy Entertainment and Melco Crown Entertainment both based in Macau are to send their own people to lobby for one of the licenses.

Officially the tendering process has not started but laying the groundwork is very important to all those concerned.

Locations for the Casino resorts in Japan are rumoured to be Osaka and Yokohama with Tokyo unlikely because of the 2020 Olympics hampering construction, so could become the fourth location sometime down the road. So the third location is still unclear, however Osaka could have major competition from the neighbouring Wakayama Marina City just southwest of Osaka and near the Kansai International Airport.

It is a artificial resort island developed more than 20 years ago and only last year Tokyo-based Intrance acquired some major properties on island and at the time said it was a strong contender for casino resorts.

Intrance specializes in buying and renovating large buildings and could be the dark horse for an international casino operator to partner with as the Japanese company would have very few hurdles in regulatory form to clear.

One thing is for certain over the next 12 to 24 months Japan will see many visits from casino operators looking to get in on the world’s second largest casino market.

INFINITY GAMING

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Hawaiian Senator Suggests Legalizing Gambling with New Bill

H

awaii is a state that has a complete ban on all forms of gambling. Ironically, it ranks at 27 on the list of states where people enjoy gambling.

If things go well, Hawaii’s gambling aficionados just might be able to realize their fantasies without having to worry about the law.

A new bill, titled SB 677, is being looked at by the state’s lawmakers. This 29 page bill, which was proposed earlier this week, would make it legal for gambling operators to start operations in Hawaii. This would include almost all forms of gambling including lottery, online poker and various other games. However, sportsbetting has not been covered by the bill. Currently, only 3 states in the U.S. offer online gambling; namely, Nevada, Delaware, and New Jersey. Other states considering legalization are Pennsylvania and California.

In order to make a case, the bill also discusses the negative aspects of illegal gambling, which, includes the risks players face when gambling via unregulated channels. The bill uses this argument to suggest that legalizing gambling will bring in much needed revenue and eliminate various illegal activities associated with gambling.

The bill also highlights the fact that many Hawaiians already indulge in illegal forms of gambling, especially online gambling via questionable websites. Additionally, the bill points out that there is an outflow of money, due to illegal gambling, which could be channeled into the state through legalization.

The bill has been filed by State Senator, Will Espero, who isn’t the first of his kind to suggest the idea. Espero justifies the bill by claiming the loss of significant revenue. He believes that the bill will set things right through the implementation of The Hawaii Internet Lottery and Gaming Corporation.

The senator assures that measures will be in place to regulate the industry. For instance, there will be stringent rules in place to monitor the provisioning of gambling licenses. He also added that a board would be setup that would consist of prominent individuals with an experience in governing all aspects of the gaming industry. A criminal background check would also be put in place.

If passed, Hawaii will leave Utah as the only state to have a complete ban on gambling.

INFINITY GAMING

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FEBRUARY 2017

MEET THE IGA10 JUDGES 01

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Christina Thakor-Rankin Gaming Consultant

Desmond Lam Ph.D - Associate Professor of Marketing at the University of Macau

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Gavin Isaacs - Vice Chairman of the Board at Scientific Games Corporation

Gemma Strath - Group Head of Marketing at Betfred

Isabelle Andres - Chief Executive Officer of the BetClic Everest Group

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Janet Viippola - Gaming Consultant

FEBRUARY 2017

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Liz Karter - Specialist in Gambling Addiction in Women

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Marek Milewski- Operations Manager Casinos Poland

Mor Weizer - CEO Play-

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tech

Paul Armitage - Operations Director Grosvenor Casinos

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Onika Russell - Head of Gambling , Airlines & Travel Strategic Services, PayPal

Paul Swaddle - Founder and Chairman Pocket App

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FEBRUARY 2017

MEET THE IGA10 JUDGES 13

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Peter Hoetzinger - CoCEO & President, Vice Chairman Century Casinos

Prof. Dietmar Hoscher Deputy Chariman of the Supervisory Board of Casinos Austria

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Professor I. Nelson RoseSpeaker & Gaming Law expert

Richard Noble – Chief Operating Officer of the Aspers Group

Roger Marris – CEO at The Ritz Club

Roger Raatgever – CEO Microgaming

FEBRUARY 2017

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Sebastiรกn Salat - CEO

Zitro

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Stella Dalton - Head of Business Development at GamCare

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20 HAPP

Sim Bialk - CMO SUZO-

22 Stephanie Cheung - Chief Legal Officer at Melco Crown Entertainment

Tristan Sjoberg -Executive Chairman at TCS John Huxley

INFINITY GAMING

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FEBRUARY 2017

23

Supreme Court Puts Sports Betting Hearing on Backburner

G

roupssupporting legal sports betting in New Jersey saw hope in the horizon this week after the Supreme Court decided to delay the hearing of an appeal aimed at the legalization of sports betting. The Solicitor General had been invited by the court to file a brief in place of the government, which indicates that an actual decision is much farther away than expected.

The hearing, which was to take place on the 17th of January, would see the court discussing an appeal forwarded by the state of New Jersey in favor of legalizing sports betting.

Though the chances of the case being actually heard by the Supreme Court are minimal, the delay in hearing sends out a flicker for hope for supporters.

The court stated that it would wait for the Solicitor General’s thoughts on the problem. A pending appeal is a good sign considering that only 1% of petitioned cases are actually heard by the Supreme Court. In fact, on that very day, it is believed that almost 130 petitions were denied. However, experts on the issue of legalized sports betting suggest that New Jersey may not have too much to look forward to.

The Federal Government has always retained an anti-sports betting position and this has been reinforced through the

support provided by professional sporting leagues such as NBA, NFL, MLB, and NHL etc.

The prohibition of sports betting can be traced back to 1992, when the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) was passed by the Congress. The act made it illegal for all government entities to support or involve themselves in the authorization and promotion of gambling activities linked to professional sports. But, the situation may not all be bad, considering that the Trump administration will be in play any time now. Many are hoping that Trump will refrain from holding the same position on betting or gambling as earlier administrations. The expectations aren’t unwarranted, considering that Trump himself has been involved in the gambling business.

For now, the Solicitor General will assess the appeal presented by the New Jersey, which suggests that PASPA goes against the constitution. According to New Jersey, the Federal Government is taking an unconstitutional stance by revoking the state’s independent right to operate a sports betting industry, especially when other states such as Nevada have been allowed to do so.

INFINITY GAMING

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FEBRUARY 2017

VR – facing up to the new reality

By Christina Thakor-Rankin

E

real game changer however will come

with the conundrum of how to engage

ver since it was first pitched at ICE

with the application of VR in educa-

a younger generation that has no inter-

back in 2014 by a then little known

tion and business, where virtual class-

est in watching horses or visiting ca-

company

bet-

rooms and boardrooms will become a

sinos, or repeatedly hitting spin on a

ting and gaming has been flirting

way of life bringing distance learners

two-dimensional game, and whose ex-

with the idea of Virtual Reality (VR).

into the classroom and home work-

pectations and attitudes to betting and

called

Oculus

Rift

ers into the office. Just like the inter-

gambling are widely different to that of

And not just betting and gambling.

net and smartphones, VR will become

their parents, and the gap widens with

Aside of video gaming and obvious sec-

a part of life, ushering in a new gen-

each new generation. Unless the sec-

tors such as architecture and engineer-

eration of ‘post- centennials’ who have

tor can find a way of working through

ing, the way in which key services and

never known life world without VR.

these challenges and re-engaging with

sectors are starting to harness the power of VR speaks volumes about what

the customers of the future, betting And this poses not just a challenge, but

and gambling as we know it today runs

the future could hold.

the risk of becoming

Healthcare is already us-

one of those things

ing it to train surgeons

that we used to do.

and deliver psychological services, such as the

Whilst

management of phobias;

question that the in-

tourism

hospital-

dustry needs to look

ity has grasped the ben-

at how it can stay

efits of promoting places

relevant in a chang-

and destinations using

ing world - the big-

360⁰ immersive virtual

ger question is how?

and

few

would

tours instead of traditional two dimensional

The sector’s foray

photographs; and retail

into VR has seen

has been experiment-

some

early

offer-

ing with how VR can bring a whole

a real threat to the gambling sector,

ings - most notably Slotmillions 3D

new dimension to home shopping.

which seems to have reached some-

VR casino which takes existing online

thing of a hiatus in the face of an ‘age-

games, against the background of a

The ‘experts’ are already suggesting

ing’ customer base and an increasingly

land-based casino, and Microgaming’s

that VR will not just be the next big

restrictive world of product and chan-

VR roulette showcased at ICE – but

UX - it will drive a ‘paradigm shift’ in

nel specific regulated jurisdictions.

nothing on any great scale and with

user behaviour comparable with that of the internet and smartphones. The

INFINITY GAMING

no great take-up. This should come The industry is still trying to get to grips

as no surprise for two main reasons.

FEBRUARY 2017

The sector’s foray into VR has seen

give some idea of where it’s heading.

some early offerings - most notably

supported with 3D graphics. This is not VR. The technology may be premised

Slotmillions 3D VR casino which sets

Secondly, product and UX. As the indus-

upon mobile (smartphone) but the VR

existing online games, against the back-

try has learnt over the years through

UX is a world away from mobile UX.

ground of a land-based casino, and Mi-

its experiences with mobile, it is not

crogaming’s VR roulette showcased at

enough to just take what exists on desk-

The whole point of VR is that the user

ICE – but nothing on any great scale and

top and repurpose it for mobile. The best

is an integral part of the action and not

with no great take-up. This should come

betting and gambling apps take the core

just an external observer. At a very ba-

as no surprise for two main reasons.

principles then re-design and re-build

sic level, this means placing the user

them specifically for mobile. This will be

in the game. At a more sophisticated

even more relevant in the world of VR.

level it may mean the user or their ac-

Firstly, timing. VR is still very young. In terms of its development, whilst not

tions taking on the role of the RNG.

quite on a par with the mobile bricks

Customers who prefer to visit land based

of the 80’s, it is probably still closer to

premises are engaging in a physical act

This means that for VR to succeed game

the early Nokia phones than the smart-

which brings with it a myriad of sensory,

developers will need to radically re-

phones of today. This means that seri-

tactile and random interactive experi-

think the relationship between the play-

ous interest and engagement with VR

ences. VR is still very much an audio-

er and the game. And this perhaps pos-

is still limited to those who are tech

visual experience, and until it can virtu-

es possibly the biggest challenge of all.

geeks, trend setters and followers, or

ally replicate all the other things that go

have money to burn. But like the inter-

with a physical experience it is unlikely

For most sectors ‘selling’ VR to the con-

net and mobile before it, and with some

to hold much appeal to this segment.

sumer is a relatively straight-forward

of the biggest tech brands in the world

matter – it helps the end user realise

throwing their weight behind it, the

Customers who currently play in a digi-

their objective in a way which is easier,

technology will move very quickly with

tal environment may be more likely

simpler, more beneficial or just gener-

every new iteration bringing a better,

to try VR, however one suspects that

ally better. This is easy to do where the

safer, smoother user experience, and

their views about this experience will

end goal can be communicated to the

lower costs. At this moment in time no-

be based upon their VR experiences

customer clearly and openly as in: learn,

one knows what VR will look like in 2

elsewhere. The games on mobile are

buy, visit, play, teach, see, watch, partici-

or even 3 years’ time, but there are al-

designed for players who are happy to

pate, attend, join, etc. etc.

ready a couple of companies prototyp-

sit and hit spin or swipe repeatedly. In

ing smart/VR contact lenses, which may

their VR format, the same actions are

INFINITY GAMING

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FEBRUARY 2017

VR – facing up to the new reality apps which let fans watch live games as if they were there in the stadium.

In the US fans of football and basketball can do similar with NFL and NBA games. Given how many sports-betting operators offer live-streaming or use broadcasting as part of their product offering across both physical and digital channels, the opportunity to take what is already out there and see if it works in betting as an enhanced version of their current streaming offering is there for those who wish to take it.

The third opportunity lies in the world

The problem for this sector is that for

there are some very real challenges

of land-based casino, and more spe-

most players betting and gambling is

where getting it wrong could prove

cifically in New Jersey and the recent

about winning money – but we cannot

very costly, but there are also some

launch of video game gambling ma-

say this. In an increasingly socially re-

obvious and immediate opportuni-

chines. These are the machines which

sponsible world this means that a prod-

ties for those operators who want

bring together the worlds of skill and

uct whose historical success has been

to stay relevant or start the VR R &

gambling and where the pay-out is

based upon selling a promise of riches,

D process sooner rather than later.

linked to the skill of the player. These machines are aimed at attracting the

success and glamour has had to be repackaged as fun and entertainment.

Almost every sector is jumping on the VR

younger generation who have no inter-

bandwagon. All it needs is for the indus-

est in traditional RNG games, but do

This in turn adds ambiguity and different

try to step outside of its own world, see

engage in skill based video gaming.

forms of motivation for why someone

how others are using it and whether this

would visit a gambling site. For some it

already developed technology can be

Video gaming is the spiritual home of VR

might be the community and social in-

easy and cheaply adapted for use with

and where it has had its greatest success

teraction, such as bingo or betting shops;

existing betting and gambling products.

to date. If the aim is to bring the world of video gaming and its players into the

for some it might be capitalising on skill or judgment such as betting or poker;

One of the first industries to reap early

world of casinos and gambling, then

for some it is about killing time, and for

success with VR is adult entertainment –

the use of VR is relation to skill based

some it is just about winning money.

VR porn. On the basis that everyone here

gambling machines is non-negotiable.

is an adult and familiar with the industry, This is one of the reasons why multi-

there is no need to start a detailed dis-

Any of these would allow the indus-

channel works for some customers and

cussion about the presentation of the

try to start experimenting and finding

products – but not for others. This poses

product (and associated ASA wrist-slap-

its way around VR in a way which is

some real challenges when trying to de-

ping) and the choice and dress of deal-

relatively simple and cost effective. As

cipher how VR fits into the world of bet-

ers, but the parallel is obvious – and so

technology develops these early ex-

ting and gambling in terms of user en-

is the opportunity for experimentation.

periences will be critical in helping to understanding how VR can be used to

gagement, motivation and experience.

The technology is already out there

enhance and develop other initiatives.

Given the obvious challenges of mar-

– all that is required is for the cur-

rying gambling with VR, common sense

rent live dealer offering to be repro-

The alternative is to do nothing and wait

would suggest a ‘watching brief’ until

duced as a VR application, and the

and see what happens. The risk with this

things are a little clearer, and the atti-

player to invest in a basic VR head-set

strategy is that by the time VR is estab-

tudes and expectations of both existing,

(£9.99 on e-Bay, Amazon et al). At that

lished and the industry does get around

and the next generation of players is bet-

price the head-set could even be pro-

to acting it will be so out of touch with

ter known, and the costs of development

vided as part of the acquisition offer.

the needs, expectations and attitudes of the next generation of customers that

sufficiently low that a business can sustain a few failed attempts along the way.

But that should not be the case. Yes,

INFINITY GAMING

The second opportunity is linked to

may be too late and the opportunity has

sports-betting. Top flight clubs such

been lost, so perhaps it would be better

as Manchester City already have VR

to simply face up to the new reality now.

The Ritz Club 150 Piccadilly, London W1J 9BS +44 (0)20 7499 1818 | www.theritzclub.com | @TheRitzClub

FEBRUARY 2017

Florida Takes a Look at New Gambling Reform Bill

S

enator Bill Galvano presented the Florida senate with a new gambling bill, titled “SB 8”, last week on Thursday. The new bill aims to bring a range of reforms that could include the legalization of slot machines in counties that approve of it. The bill could, likely, also allow pari-mutuel locations to offer blackjack games.

Blackjack has always been dominated by the Seminole Tribe, which runs around 7 casinos throughout Florida. Last year, Florida saw a federal judge ruling in favor of the Seminoles, allowing them to offer Blackjack till 2030. According to another compact passed in 2010, the Seminoles had been granted exclusivity in providing banked games in exchange for a $1 billion to the state.

The agreement came to its end in 2015 and follow up negotiations hit a standstill. However, the Seminoles did not stop offering games. The state of Florida couldn’t move further due to an error of judgment made by the FDBPR, the state’s gambling regulator.

provide electronic blackjack and bank card games, which was a violation of the 2010 compact. The Seminoles, however, gained an upper hand after a new compact allowed them to pay $3 billion in exchange for exclusive rights towards roulette and craps for a period of 7 years. The new bill, according to Galvano, will prevent such issues by serving as platform for better negotiation.

Also, if all goes well, the bill will clear up the road for a new casino resort, courtesy of Ebro Greyhound Park and Poker Room. The company has been working to achieve this objective since 2012, when, Washington County passed a referendum to permit slot machines.

Ebro will also be able to follow up on its promise to offer over a 1000 jobs in the area by setting up the resort. The resort will be home to a 5 star restaurant, a gaming center, and an amphitheater etc. According to Ebro, the resort will attract around 2 million visitors to the Bay County and even create a 1000+ spin-off employment opportunities.

FDBPR had made it possible for racetrack and cardrooms to

INFINITY GAMING

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GAMING NEWS

FEBRUARY 2017

Michigan Flirts with Sportsbetting Legalization Again

L

egislation favoring the legalization of Sportsbetting has once again made its way in to the Michigan State Capitol, thanks to the perseverance of a lawmaker from the state. If passed, the legislation will allow state residents to place bets on their favorite teams.

However, it won’t be easy considering the hindrances that still exist.

The latest bill has been introduced by Representative Robert Kosowski from D-District 16. The bill, titled House Bill 4060, aims to make it legal for Michigan casinos to provide odds on sporting events. Kosowski, who hails from Wayne County, introduced the bill initially in 2015, but, did not find the support he hoped for.

The odds don’t seem to be in his favor this time as well, considering the fact that the biggest hurdle comes in the form of PASPA (Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act). Before anything can be done, PASPA will first have to be amended or revoked. The federal act, which was passed in 1992, made it illegal for any entity to place wagers on athletic or sporting competitions. The only states that were allowed to do so were Montana, Delaware, Oregon, and Nevada.

betting would function within Michigan. It simply states that casino license holders may accept bets on sporting events.

According to Kosowski, Sportsbetting could serve as a reliable alternative revenue stream and reduce the state’s dependence on gasoline duties, which are already quite high. Kosowski stated that he found it foolish to target residents for everything when other solutions could be put to use. He added that the sportsbetting industry was worth several million dollars, implying that the state could exploit this particular aspect.

Kosowski even suggested that the legalization of sportsbetting could end illegal bets in a more practical manner.

Currently, Michigan does have an illegal bookmaking problem and legalizing sportsbetting could go a long way in curbing it.

Koswoski also stated that people were going to gamble anyway, but, by legalizing it, the state could have greater control. He even brought up the issue of why only some states were granted with the freedom to offer sportsbetting, implying that all states should be treated equally.

Kosowski’s current bill is only a shell that extends to just two pages. It contains very minor details on how Sports-

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Caesars Ends Bankruptcy Case

C

aesars Entertainment Corporation has received the green signal with regard to its bankruptcy case, which is estimated to be worth around $18 billion.

The company will now be prioritizing the restoration of its brands Horseshoe, Caesars and Harrah’s.

approvals.

Caesars Entertainment Operating Company (CEOC) gained approval to complete a restructuring process that will be overseen by the court. The approval was granted by the US Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Illinois, with the case being presided over by Chicago District Judge, Benjamin Goldgar.

According to Mark Frissora, President and Chief of Caesars Entertainment, the reorganization plan will serve as a major step forward into the entire process of restructuring and will mark the path to emergence. He added that the latest company will function as a better version with an established growth and investment plan, a better balance sheet, an improved approach to operations, and a heightened focus towards customer and employee satisfaction.

This marks the end of a legal struggle that lasted around 2 years. Now, CEOC will function in line with the debtors reorganization, which includes plans to eliminate around $10 billion of its total debt and the separation of property assets in the US from the gaming side of its operations.

The reorganization plan will also cover a merger between Caesars Entertainment and a subsidiary called the CAC (Caesars Acquisition Company). The merger will position CAC’s hotels and casinos under a single roof.

The reorganization plan, along with the CAC merger, will be subject to financing transactions and gaming regulatory

TPG Capital and Apollo Global Management, equity providers for Caesars, will own a combined share of 16% with regard to the restructured business.

CEOC’s entry will allow for improvements with regards to operational and financial performance. This will be achieved throw the pursuit of new investment opportunities and the growth of businesses and brands. Frissora added that there is a lot of excitement concerning the future, despite the fact there was still plenty of work to be done.

Caesars aims to come out of bankruptcy fully by the end of 2017.

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FEBRUARY 2017

Vietnam Publishes Decree; Will Allow Gambling for Locals

A

ccording to a new decree, locals in Vietnam will be allowed to gamble on a trial that is scheduled to expire after three years. The decree, which was published on Friday the 20th, will temporarily lift a ban that prohibited locals from gambling at domestic casinos.

Now, locals have the right to gamble at casinos in Quang Ninh province and Phu Quoc island.

The trial program will begin sometime in the middle of March and after its completion, lawmakers will be able to make a better decision concerning a permanent lift.

Several studies have shown that Vietnam has been losing a significant amount of its tax revenues due to illegal bets and competing casinos in neighboring locations. According to the decree, locals aged 21 and above with an annual income of over 10 million dong will be allowed to gamble.

As for casinos, they will be required to possess an investment of at least $2 billion, with 50% going towards disbursements. Also, the casinos will be required to function as part of an entertainment complex or casino. Based on the established requirements, only Ho Tram Resort Casino meets the cut.

requirement was set at $4 billion. But, casinos in Vietnam already pay an income tax of 20% and a consumption tax of 35%, however, with deductible junket commissions, which bring down the overall effective rate.

There have been no reports concerning the date of issue for local gambling licenses.

The legislative process aimed at deregulating the local casino industry has been going on since 2012.

Vietnam is a country of 94 million people and is home to several casinos. However, a majority of these casinos are small scale operators. Locals are prohibited from gambling even across the border unless they possess a valid passport.

With the new decree in effect, Vietnam expects to see investment interest from foreign operators, which is seen as a sign of good things to come.

There are plans to setup a series of large scale casinos as well.

This is good news considering that the initial capital

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GAMING NEWS

FEBRUARY 2017

Tabcorp look at global push following Sun Bets

T

he new venture between Tabcorp, News UK and service provider Playtech seems to be paying big dividends and could mark the start of a global push by Tabcorp.

Australian based bookmaker joined forces with News UK last year with Sun Bets which offers the branding of News UK’s Sun with Tabcorps expertise with sports betting, together with Playtech providing the services of online casino and bingo along with other online games.

Launched in August 2016 the Sun Bets platform seems to be thriving and marks the biggest challenge for Tabcorp in its 22 year history, when it ended its use of online service providers in Australia and went it alone hiring some 188 staff to perform that task.

Sun Bets project cost $20 million to put together using 36 different systems to provide the platform.

“This is very much about building something that is scalable, transferable and on our own software,” Said Chief Information Office Kim Wenn.

“So while establishing a profitable business in the UK is important, it’s also about building more capability. Sun Bets is about extending the organisation beyond its traditional boundaries and pushing our digital team in terms of how we build products and think about betting.” Continued Wenn.

The new project is totally mirrored in Australia, so when Tabcorp add a new game there it also adds it to Sun Bets.

Tabcorp see Sun Bets as a blue print to expand internationally and the next year for the platform in the UK will be a deciding factor on that push for a global online gambling platform.

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FEBRUARY 2017

MGM Cotai Opening Postponed Once Again

T

he MGM Cotai in Macau has had its opening date postponed a third time. The MGM China operated hotel and casino, which costs $3.1 billion, will not be welcoming guests until the latter half of 2017.

According to the latest report, MGM China Holdings Limited, which functions as a MGM Resorts subsidiary, had originally planned to have the opening sometime at the end of 2015. However, the dates were pushed all the way to early 2017. But, the delays did not stop there. Another announcement was made stating that the opening would happen in the second quarter of 2017.

MGM China Holdings Limited recently issued a statement, in which, it mentions that the opening will now be shifted to the second half of the present year, instead of the second quarter. The company has said the delay has been caused due to the level of complexity involved in the construction and current market scenario, which doesn’t reflect demand. The statement also mentions that government approval will play a role in determining the final opening date.

The MGM Cotai is said to house around 1500 rooms and suites, along with a casino that is expected to offer 500 gaming tables with live-dealers. The hotel will also house a luxury spa, stores, restaurants, meeting space and a theater that provides 14 different seating arrangements.

There is also speculation that the delay shown on MGM’s part comes from its observation of Wynn’s situation. Wynn, which just finished completing its Palace resort, has been unable to operate the new property as planned. This is mainly because the location of the resort falls right in the middle of a key infrastructure construction zone. As a result, guests find it very difficult to make to the venue.

Chairman and CEO, Steve Wynn, admitted that there were other issues as well. For instance, the casino floor was said to be too large, contrasting the preferences of patrons, who seem to enjoy closed spaces. On the other hand, the dining space received complaints for being too limited.

It is possible that MGM has observed similar drawbacks in its own construction plans and has decided to make changes.

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FEBRUARY 2017

Virtual reality gambling expected to grow 800% by 2021

By Paul Swaddle, Chairman, Pocket App

With the advances in technology and

conversation. In the UK alone, online

sino, playing a game of poker or black-

the corresponding growth in interest

gambling generates around £3bn an-

jack with a stack of virtual chips, when in

from major key players, VR is now in a

nually, and this figure is only expected

actuality, they are connecting remotely

position where the market can finally

to climb as online casinos and mobile

from the comfort of their own homes.

take off. Juniper released its study late

gambling apps continue to become

last year into augmented reality across

more sophisticated and widely used.

One of the benefits for the gambling

multi platforms and key findings were

Mobile gambling itself presents a sig-

industry has been the customer ex-

gambling wagers within VR are set to

nificant opportunity for the industry to

perience and marketing opportuni-

rise 800 percent in the next five years

engage with new players, growing by

ties within the VR portal. This offers

driven by “high rollers” using the tech-

10% annually and predicted in recent

a great opportunity for one to one

nology. The total number of bets from

forecasts to account for 40% of all on-

marketing within the virtual casinos.

VR gambling will grow from just over

line gambling in the next three years.

However, user uptake has been hin-

£47.2 million this year, to just under £423 million by 2021.

dered by cost of VR devices and a I therefore see no reason why online and

lack of understanding, as costs drop

mobile gamblers couldn’t find them-

and understanding increases the ex-

Online gambling is one industry that

selves using VR headsets to sit across

tent of user adoption will only grow.

is becoming quite vocal within the VR

from eachother at a table in a virtual ca-

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FEBRUARY 2017

Whilst online casinos can often ap-

drawing in younger audiences if they

and we expect 2017 to see a flood of in-

pear less engaging to a younger play-

use VR to gamify the casino experience.

creasingly sophisticated offerings mak-

er who is used to full on gaming on a

ing an indelible mark on online casino

PlayStation 4 or Xbox One, the recent

VR has made ground breaking progress

gambling. As of last year, many casinos

success of wearable technology, such

and with the growing availability of VR

had already taken steps to onboard VR

as the Apple Watch and Fitbit, clearly

devices to consumers, I think it is very

aspects to their offering in an attempt to

demonstrates that millennials connect

possible that this kind of online gam-

carve out their own niche in the VR mar-

more enthusiastically with the gami-

bling experience will be commonplace

ket. You already have Microgaming mak-

fication of tasks that they usually find

in the not too distant future. With new

ing a VR roulette table and VR Casino

less engaging, such as the use of tar-

VR offerings already retailing today

which has a fully-rendered virtual ca-

gets to make exercise more rewarding.

at the incredibly affordable price of

sino up and working, so as VR becomes

around ÂŁ15, this technology has well

more popular this will become even

By using VR technology to transport

and truly landed, and the gambling

more commonplace. Now, all that re-

players and their friends to exciting

industry has seen an opportunity to

mains is for you to put on your headset

locations for their online gambling ex-

be firmly seated on the bandwagon.

and pick out your sharpest virtual suit,

perience, such as a famous casino in

the VR casinos are ready to deal you in?

Las Vegas, or a smoky basement room

In short, here at Pocket App, we are firm

in 1920’s New York, mobile and online

believers that virtual reality is here to

casinos may stand a better chance of

stay. The ball has already started to roll

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41

GAMING NEWS

FEBRUARY 2017

Amaya Changes Guidance Range; CFO Retires

O

nline gambling company, Amaya, followed up with its November 2016 announcement of upgrading the 2016 guidance range. The decision to upgrade comes after the company analyzed future and present market conditions, along with the factors used to determine the previously set guidance range.

As of now, Amaya expects earnings to fall somewhere between $1,153 million to $1,158 million. Prior to this, the range was set at $1,137 million to $1,157 million.

The adjusted EBITDA is expected to cross the previous range and fall in the range of $521 to $526 million in comparison to the earlier range of $500 to $510 million.

Additionally, the company predicts that adjusted net earnings will cross the previously established range as well, which was set at $344 to $354 million. Now, the expected range is $364 to $374 million. The same is expected for adjusted net earnings per diluted share; present range has been updated to $1.87 to $1.92, instead of $1.78 to $1.83.

Rafi Ashkenazi, the CEO, stated that the company anticipates revenues for 2016 to be record breaking. Amaya has currently witnessed extremely positive results in

the fourth quarter with figures exceeding expectations.

This was applicable to all categories including casino operations, the re-launch in Portugal and the operations excellence program. He added that the company achieved all this while executing a measured and efficient approach towards marketing.

According to Ashkenazi, Amaya had achieved good momentum in 2016, which progressed all through the year.

He attributed this success to the company’s strategy aimed at creating a better poker ecosystem for casual players and the leveraging of competitive strengths in online poker to garner more customers. He also credited the company’s move to bring in new and old customer into their sportsbook and casino offerings via crossselling.

Amaya hopes to achieve the same in 2017.

In the meantime, the company will be looking out for a new CFO as the current CFO, Daniel Sebag, has retired from his duties. Even so, Sebag has assured that he will help Amaya with a smooth transition. A leading recruiting firm has been tasked with the duty of identifying Sebag’s replacement.

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FEBRUARY 2017

IF

By Teresa Tunstall

If’ - if you can take one heap of all your winnings And risk it on one turn of pitch and toss, And lose, and start again at your beginnings And never breathe a word about your loss.

T

his is just a small part of the poem written by Rudyard Kipling in the 1800’s yet it still has great relevance two centuries later making us ask ourselves the question, “why can’t we all gamble, lose, recover and move on?”

‘Where did it all go wrong?’ Human beings are unpredictable, gamblers with a problem have the advantage that there is no smell of alcohol, no dazed eyes from drugs, no layers of protruding fat from over eating, the fact remains behind every addict there’s a problem and their escape is to continue on the addiction road until they finally admit to needing help. That is the time they become open to the thought that they must do something about it.

Many counsellors working with a client encourage them to look at themselves for an answer as to why they spiralled into their addiction, a painful process for most addicts to admit to.

Why does something that was previously enjoyed spiral into an obses-

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sion?

Frequently, any compulsion turns into a means of escape from a deep rooted problem. This behaviour is typical of those who use it as a coping mechanism, sometimes not even aware of their actions or the extent of their problem, they are unable to cope.

Those who have developed a problem with their gambling have existed for hundreds of years-through the centuries there has been many problem gamblers. Georgina, Duchess of Devonshire in 1700’s escalated into problem gambling.

This was her escape after her husband announced that having found a new love she must leave the maternal bedroom with their children. Perhaps the most pain came upon her discovery that she had also been betrayed by her best friend who was her husband’s new lover. Who can blame her escaping into what must have been seen as the fun and friends in gambling on Kaluki, poker and other gaming. On her death her husband

was inundated by debt collectors owed from her gambling.

The responsibility for an individual’s gambling has to be their own, however the responsibility to exercise a duty of care is that of the operator.

What exactly does that mean? Often, interaction with a customer you have concerns about can be very varied as most operators know. Approaching the issue can create anger at the suggestion that they can’t afford it. What if they use cash machines to withdraw money how can that be traced by a casino? Is asking for proof of income an intrusion of their privacy? It certainly helps the tax man if such documents are provided!

The responsibility to address a suspected problem gambler lays with a member of gaming or betting staff but to what extent does bringing this issue up to them change anything without the customer taking the next step to get professional counselling help and who knows if they will take that step?

FEBRUARY 2017

Even if every problem gambler was eventually barred from all casinos, betting shops, amusement arcades, bingo clubs and remote gambling licensed in the UK would this achieve anything except to turn them towards online gaming sites situated outside the UK? It still doesn’t stop the problem .......

If we look at other addictions the answer is education, awareness and information to make a judgement towards the right decision and choice for themselves.

It won’t mean we will eradicate problem gambling, there will always be those who are not aware of the damage their actions are doing to themselves and their families, nevertheless, it should somewhat support them towards taking responsibility for their own gambling actions.

I am writing this from beautiful New Zealand where my daughter now lives, an interesting country approximately the same size as Britain, however, with a population of just four and a half million as compared to the sixty six million in Britain.

Gambling in New Zealand comprises of; gaming machines in pubs & clubs, gaming machines and tables in casinos, lotto, scratch tickets and other gaming activities.

With 6 casinos in the whole of New Zealand against 150 casinos in the UK casino gambling is small making harm related gambling in them minimal in numbers compared to that of the UK. New Zealand gaming doesn’t offer Remote gambling licenses yet harm related gambling online was divulged as a gambling activity in their New Zealand 2016 survey on problem gambling, www.nzct.org.nz and I quote; “Online gambling is growing at a rapid rate. In the United Kingdom about the same proportion of gamblers play slot machines Online as those who play in person. Unfortunately, the New Zealand Health Survey does not cover Online gambling but we can probably assume the numbers are not too different to the United Kingdom.”

Survey 2012 approximately 1 in 40 people are negatively affected by gambling in some way.

However, Skycity Auckland, was given permission by the New Zealand Government to install an additional 230 slot machines and 40 new gambling tables in exchange for a $402 million Convention Centre, attracting tourists and new energy to the area for all to enjoy.

Society for the Study of Gambling, (SSG) www.societystudygambling. co.uk was established in the 1970’s we are a voluntary group of professional people, of which I am one, from the gambling and betting industry who run meetings bi-annually. We invite speakers from all sides of the industry relevant to gambling be they Professors, researchers and those from betting, bingo, amusement and gambling, anyone relevant to gambling today.

We are fortunate to have a stand kindly donated by ICE exhibition, London, in February 2017, come and visit us for a chat about joining SSG and our forthcoming speaker events.

According to New Zealand Health

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GAMING NEWS

FEBRUARY 2017

VIP Segment in Macau Shows Growth

T

he VIP Segment in Macau has reported a 13% increase in 2016’s last quarter. The figures were published by the DICJ (Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau), Macau’s gaming regulator. A similar improvement was also noted in the mass market, which showed an increase of 7.3%. In 2014, the sudden exit of VIP rollers led to continued losses in revenue for the gambling market in Macau, which has held the top position for quite long. The exit itself was a result of the crackdown by the Chinese government on corruption and capital fight, some of which were linked to officials within the Communist Party. The crackdown had seriously affected Macau’s capital inflow.

Adelson. Similarly, Steve Wynn’s Wynn Palace, Galaxy Entertainment, and Lawrence Ho’s Studio City have also added to the gambling destination’s non-gaming appeal.

By the end of 2015, reports suggested that the gambling industry in Macau had been damaged for good. However, Macau proved to be resilient by restructuring its market appeal. It reinvented its image as a tourist location, which led to significant market growth. Now, Macau serves as a haven for the Chinese middle class with several family-friendly attractions. New casino resorts were opened in 2016 with the latest one being the $2.7 billion Parisian Macau by Sheldon

However, the VIP segment is losing its value as the mass market offers better prospects. For instance, the rise in the fourth quarter figures last year was primarily due to growth in the mass market. In contrast, the VIP market accounted only for 53% of total gaming revenue. Investors are now focusing more on the mass market, as well as non-gambling attractions.

However, challenges do remain. To begin with, experts from Morgan Stanley believe that the possibility of the Yuan’s further depreciation against the US Dollar could affect per capita expenditure, which will impact both, mass and VIP segments. Plus, it could also lead to more control measures over the outflow of capital. The Yuan had already taken a hit after the recent Trump victory and the U.S. Federal Reserve’s decision to increase interest rates caused the Dollar to rally. Currently, the Yuan is at its lowest in 8 years.

William Hill lower than expected annual results William Hill the UK bookmaker has said in a statement on trading that their annual results will be at the lower end of estimates following a run of poor results for the bookmaker helping punters win more than expected on football and horse racing results.

year.

The UK bookmaker said, “it had been hit by “customer friendly” results at the back end of last year, cutting profits by about £20m.”

2016 has been a turbulent year for William Hill, it was involved in a takeover bid by 888 Holdings and Rank which it fought off and it was itself part of a takeover of online gambling company Amaya which operates PokerStars.

That effort was eventually pulled as major shareholders at William Hill had grave reservations about the acquisition.

Those remarks now put estimates for the company at £260 for the year, it has hoped to be nearer £280 million for the year end. It was only back in November that the firm said it would hit the higher end of profits for the

“The recent run of sporting results have not changed our confidence in a better performance in 2017,” interim chief executive Philip Bowcock said.

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GAMING NEWS

FEBRUARY 2017

Paddy Power Betfair’s 2016 Earnings Touch Mid-Point

L

ondon based gaming and betting operator, Paddy Power Betfair announced this week that it had seen an increase of 18% in earnings for the financial year of 2016, bringing the final figure to £1,551m.

The business, which was recently merged, stated that its earnings had reached the mid-point of its goals even with poor results towards the end of 2016.

The operator’s online business saw a revenue decrease of 3% in the fourth quarter. However, sportsbook earnings had grown by 15%. The operator attributed the gains to a reduction in staff and marketing expenditure.

Last November, Paddy Power had forecasted its EBITDA to fall within £390-405 million from an earlier forecast of £365-385 million. The increased forecast was a result of the sterling value going up in terms of the operator’s euro revenue, along with positive sporting results and the merger.

According to David Jennings, an analyst from Davy Stockbrokers, the current outcome indicates a better overall performance than originally forecasted. Jennings

had originally forecasted an EBITDA of £408.8m. Jennings, based on his analysis of the statements, added that if results fell in the “normal” range of expectations, EBITDA could have exceeded over 420 million.

Last week, the operator took a £5 million hit as a result of Trump’s victory in the US elections. This is said to be the biggest political betting loss for the operator. However, its woes did not end here. The operator also saw losses after payouts had to be made in favor of several customer wins.

Though the number of bets was higher compared to the previous year’s fourth quarter, the results had been in favor of betters, resulting in payouts worth $40 million.

According to a Paddy Power spokesperson, the operator should have paid more attention to the money. Their mistake was to assume that the series of bets in favor of Trump were primarily made because they seemed far more rewarding than the odds in favor of Clinton.

Other than that, the company lost money on Football bets placed under their Sportsbook business.

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GAMING NEWS

FEBRUARY 2017

How Macau is Getting Back on Track

A

fter facing an extended period of decline, Macau finally appears to be seeing some growth.

Last week, the Macau Government’s Tourism Department hosted an annual press conference, where multiple statistics were shared. According to one of the statistics cited, Macau had experienced tremendous growth n 2016. It has been estimated that around 30.95 million people had visited the gambling destination, which indicates an increase of .8% compared to the previous year.

The main speaker for the conference was Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, who, in her speech, mentioned that Macau saw a year-on-year increase in visitors despite the economy being adjusted for 2016. This included both, international and overall visitor numbers, with international visitor numbers alone showing an increase of 8%. The director also mentioned that there was an increase in overnight visitors as well, compared to same-day visitors. To be specific, the rate of increase was estimated to be around 10%.

Most of the visitors who come to Macau come from neighboring regions such as Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Korea. Korea ranked the highest with an estimated 660, 000 visitors heading to Macau; that is a 20%

increase in Korean visitors.

A lot of visitors also came from Southeast Asia.

The conference was attended by 400 delegates who came from diverse backgrounds including the travel and trade industry. Members of the local and non-local press were also present, accounting for 80 of the 400 delegates present.

In wake of last year’s positive performance, Macau is now planning to make the most of this month’s Chinese New Year celebrations. In fact, all the major hotels in the Cotai Strip have reported 100% bookings for the third, fourth, and fifth days of the celebrations.

According to data provided by online booking applications, it has been found that of 23 major casino hotels in Macau, 80% have been completely booked from January 30th to February 1st. Sands China, which operates hotels known for their large room inventory, reported 100% bookings. The same was observed with Wynn Macau and Wynn Palace.

The data also showed an increase in advance booking numbers compared to the October Golden Week in 2016.

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GAMING NEWS

FEBRUARY 2017

In-coming US Attorney General worries online gambling supporters

C

ould the incoming choice for Attorney General by president elect Donald Trump spell the end of online gambling in the US?

In giving evidence to a Senate Judiciary Committee in regard to his nomination by Donald Trump for the top legal job in the US, U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions said he would re-visit the U.S. Justice Department ruling that allowed states Nevada, New Jersey and Delaware to open internet gambling to residents in the state.

“I would revisit it and I would make a decision about it based on careful study,” Sessions said in a question posed

by Senator Lindsey Graham who interestingly is an opponent of internet gambling in the US. In 2011 the U.S. Justice Department said that only sports betting is illegal under their eyes in relation to the Wire Act, this comment from the US Department of Justice allowed the three states to set up online gambling within their borders.

“Apparently, there is some jurisdiction or argument that can made to support the Department of Justice’s position, but I did oppose it when it happened,” Sessions told the committee.

These comments by the incoming Attorney General flies in the face of what Geoff Freeman, president and chief executive the American Gaming Association said recently that he believed Donald Trumps administration would he believed allow online sports betting in the US. That now seems like a highly unlikely scenario given Sessions position.

The comments will do nothing to ease the worry from online operators in the US that a new ban towards online gambling is a real possibility, given the huge support Sheldon Adelson gave Trump in the last few weeks of his Presidential campaign, believed to be in the region of upwards of $20 million. Given that the billionaire casino owner is a staunch opponent of online gambling and has said on several occasions that he will do and spend anything to stop online gambling growing in the US.

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GAMING NEWS

FEBRUARY 2017

Massachusetts May Get its Online Gambling Legislation in 2017

O

nline lottery gaming may just become legal in the state of Massachusetts. State Treasurer Deborah Goldberg recently made known of her plans to introduce legislation that would increase the competitiveness and act as a shot in the arm of the state’s $1 billion lottery market.

This plan is separate from efforts by the state to understand the impact of online casino-style games, following which appropriate legislation could be developed. The commission conducting the study is set to submit its report this August and put forth a legislative recommendation. However, current law does not permit the group to take up the issue of online lottery sales. Among those who have shown their support for a regulatory bill legalizing online poker and daily fantasy sports is Massachusetts Gaming Commission Chairman Stephen Crosby.

Goldberg believes that these games can potentially impact the lottery. She said that in an environment where casinos are cropping up, transactions are moving online, and daily fantasy sports are competing with lottery sales, it has become necessary to explore new solutions. She added that while the state was a nationwide leader in

Keno sales, the market – as such – had saturated and could see a dull phase.

The only gambling facility in the state – Plainridge Park Casino – offers only slots, while other other casinos inspired by Las Vegas casino architecture, are presently under construction. Plainridge Park Casino is of the opinion that – since the state’s physical casinos are still in their early stages – it does not make sense to pursue online betting and lottery services aggressively. The casino said that the legislation must take a careful look at any policy change that interferes with job and revenue creation in brick-and-mortar casino facilities. Last November, a plan for a second slots casino was rejected by state voters; this referendum came only five years after Las Vegas-style gambling had been legalized in Massachusetts.

Already, construction on the $2.1 billion Wynn Boston Harbor resort began last August. The facility will be equipped with a 90-table poker room, one of the biggest of its kind in the country. Another project – the $1 billion MGM Springfield casino – is also scheduled to open in 2018.

INFINITY GAMING

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