Category Archives: Casino

Posted on: September 30, 2021, 12:05h.

Last updated on: September 30, 2021, 12:24h.

November 2 is election day in Virginia, but early voting is underway across the commonwealth. Residents in the capital city of Richmond are being asked if they want to authorize a single casino resort to spur economic activity locally.

Richmond qualified to ask residents if they wish to bring the region a commercial casino under 2020 legislation passed by the General Assembly and signed by Gov. Ralph Northam (D). The capital opted to delay its local referendum by a year to review a half-dozen pitches submitted to the city by interested casino developers.

Richmond eventually went with a scheme from Urban One, a publicly traded media conglomerate. Urban One has partnered with experienced casino firm Peninsula Pacific Entertainment (P2E) in presenting Richmond with a $565 million undertaking known as ONE Casino + Resort.

The casino plan targets vacant land just south of the Philip Morris tobacco plant along I-95 at Walmsley Boulevard and Trenton Avenue.

South Richmond has been waiting for an economic development opportunity of their own, Urban One CEO Alfred Liggins told Virginia Business this week. Other sections of Richmond have seen tremendous growth in recent years, but that growth has not, to date, included South Richmond.

If a simple majority of Richmond votes back the casino question, Urban One and P2E will be cleared to proceed with the enterprise. Early 2021 voting began on September 17.

Virginia voters in four cities backed local ballot referendums during the 2020 general election that approved one casino resort for each locale. Many in Richmond hope the capital will join Norfolk, Portsmouth, Danville, and Bristol.

ONE is going to be a catalyst for new jobs, critically needed tax revenue, and additional economic development and opportunities in this part of the city, added Liggins.

Urban One has embarked on a campaign to woo over Richmond voters. The company has put up billboards along I-95, and bombarded television and radio commercials with spots highlighting the potential benefits of answering yes to the ballot question.

The company claims ONE Casino + Resort would generate $500 million in new tax revenue and a $5.7 billion economic impact over the casinos first 10 years in operation, and bring 3.7 million tourists to Richmond each year. Urban says it would hire 1,500 permanent positions with an average compensation package of $55,000 per year.

Not everyone is on board. Richmond for All, a nonprofit, opposes gambling in the city. The Richmond for All committee claims that a casino would rob our community just to make a few folks wealthy.

The gaming question facing Richmonders is cut and dry. It reads:

Shall casino gaming be permitted at a casino gaming establishment in the City of Richmond, Virginia, at 2001 Walmsley Boulevard and 4700 Trenton Avenue, Richmond, Virginia 23234, as may be approved by the Virginia Lottery Board?

Those who want to bring ONE Casino + Resort to reality will vote Yes.

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Richmond Residents Deciding Fate of ONE Casino Pitch in Early... - Casino.Org News

Stars Casino Michigan and Stars Casino Pennsylvania is offering all players a chance at some freeplay credits over the next couple of weeks, with $5 in bonus available to all players who wager $10 on NetEnts popular Spinsane video slot.

The offer is part of Stars Casinos regular Game of the Week, which offers credit to players who try out a specific casino game during qualifying periods.

This specific promotion started on September 27 and will be running through to October 1so players have until the end of Friday to take advantage of it.

All real money players on Stars Casino PA and Stars Casino MI are eligible for entry.

Stars Casino USA: Top-quality online casino available to residents of Pennsylvania and Michigan!

In order to enter the promotion, players just need to visit the Challenges section of their Stars Casino account, and opt in.

Once in, players simply place $10 in total wagers on Spinsane to get the the credits. Whether you win or lose, the $5 freeplay credit will become available in the players account within the following 72 hours. This can be used on the Spinsane game only.

This promotion is available to all players, whether you have recently registered or have an account for a long time.

Keep in mind that you will need to earn 2 redemption points per $1 of freeplay in order to be able to cash out any winnings, which means a total of 10 redemption points will be needed to cash out after accepting this Challenge.

Stars Casino offers freeplay credits for one of NetEnts most popular gamesThe werewolf-themed slot has 27 paylines and a whole lot of action on the reels.

Spinsane is a game that will take you into the mysterious world of the night beasts and keep you on the edge through every spin, with 3D effects and bright lights illuminating the action.

With its 96.25% RTP and its super symbols and stacked wilds, Spinsane is one of the most appealing games available on Stars Casino and in the US online casino market in general.

New players joining Stars Casino have a lot more to look forward to, as a $50 instant bonus is available to all players who join up and make a real money deposit.

In order to claim your $50 instant bonus, all you need to do is wager $1 in real cash within 5 days of signing up, which means you will need to deposit money into your account and start playing.

This new player bonus offer is available to all players in Pennsylvania, Michigan, and New Jersey, and can be used to play any games of your choice.

A wagering requirement attached to the bonus will require you to earn 2 Redemption Points for every $1 in bonus money, meaning a total of 100 Redemption Points need to be earned before you can request a cashout.

The Redemption Points towards the wagering requirements can be earned on all games, with some roulette bets being the only excluded ones.

You can sign up for Stars Casino today and start off your journey with this generous bonus offer that only requires you make a minimum deposit with the operator.

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Stars Casino's Game of the Week Gives Out $5 Credit for Trying New Games - Pokerfuse

Thanksgiving came early for Neighbor to Neighbor.

On Wednesday, 400 turkeys were delivered to the food pantry as a donation from Saracen Casino Resort, although high praise also went to Ben E. Keith Foods of Little Rock for finding the birds.

Carlton Saffa, chief market officer at the casino, said it was "a joy" to be able to give the turkeys to the food pantry.

"We're not even to Halloween, but Ben E. Keith found the supply so we wanted to do this now," Saffa said. "This is the kind of thing that just needs to be done. It's the kind of thing that businesses should be doing without being asked."

At 11 a.m., the food distributor's 18-wheeler backed into Neighbor to Neighbor's parking lot, and James McCann, who works for the food distributor, started dollying case after case of frozen turkeys down a ramp and into the agency's walk-in freezer.

Pat Tate, executive director of Neighbor to Neighbor, said the birds would be handed out to the agency's clients starting Nov. 1, and that if there were any turkeys left, they would be given out at Christmas.

"Our clients will be so grateful that they can have a traditional holiday meal with their families," Tate said. "I want to thank Saracen Casino and Carlton Saffa for their amazing generosity and also to Ben E. Keith Foods for locating and delivering the turkeys."

Finding hundreds of turkeys is no easy feat at the moment, considering there is a nationwide shortage.

Rusty Mathis, general manager with the food distributor, said the problem across the country is a lack of labor to process the turkeys, although his company has a solid supply line established at the moment.

"We were able to buy ahead of time, and we've got a decent supply, but it's going to be tight," Mathis said. "When Carlton called me, I said we can do this -- Saracen is such a great partner -- but we have to do it now."

Mathis was joined at Neighbor to Neighbor by Yvette Parker, director of public relations and marketing at Ben E. Keith Foods.

As Tate was thanking Saffa, he in turn thanked his employer.

"I appreciate the fact that Saracen Casino and the Quapaw Nation allow us to support the community like this," Saffa said. "We appreciate the fact that we can help families in this way. Many of these people would gladly switch places and be in a position to give away something like this instead of needing to receive it."

Saffa also thanked Ben E. Keith Foods for its generosity.

The delivery of holiday turkeys was not lost on two Neighbor to Neighbor's clients who were sitting at the front of the building waiting for the pantry's daily lunch. Both men said they appreciated the donation and were looking forward to receiving a turkey this year.

"This means a lot," said Rubin Rattler. "Some people are able to get food and others aren't, so seeing someone give food away to help people is really nice."

"It's a blessing for them to come and make this generous gesture," said Milton Cowin. "For them to make it possible for Neighbor to Neighbor to give someone a turkey at Thanksgiving, it has significance."

Asked if he would be preparing the turkey himself, Cowin said he would likely give it to someone else.

"I will gladly receive it," he said, "but I will probably give it away and bless somebody else. I used to be married, but my wife died of breast cancer so it's just me. I'll find someone I think might need it."

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400 turkeys casino's early gift to Neighbor to Neighbor - Arkansas Online

Chicago took a big step in gaming two years ago. Unfortunately, things have not progressed much since then. Yet, if all goes well, we will soon see the opening of the promising Waukegan casino in the north suburbs of Chicago.

If that doesnt sound like much, one must bear in mind all that is involved in opening a casino like the Waukegan. As soon as the license is validated to one of the current bidders for the casino, the state of Illinois can prepare for a job proposal invasion that will generate millions of dollars for both the city and its citizens.

But when will this good news arrive? And how many jobs will emerge out of the new casinothats struggling for so long? Lets see whats involved in the grand opening of the Waukegan casino in Chicago and what has caused the construction to be delayed until next year.

State Rep. Anthony DeLuca recently said he understands the delays for the Waukegan casino because of COVID, but so far everything is moving awfully slow at a snails pace.

The reason for his complaint is that the Waukegan casino has been stalled for two years for various reasons. Obviously, you can say that the pandemic has been the biggest culprit. However, the real problem is the licensing that the Illinois Gaming board will have to give to one of the bidders who wants to take over the up-and-coming casino.

It was two and a half years ago when Prizkers signature created the licenses that were to open up Illinois to the vast universe of land-based gaming and also access to online casino websites popular among the US players. Yet things are taking so long because the gaming board is carefully choosing the next big fish that will lead the casino from Waukegan.

In total, seven applicants will make a public presentation on October 13 with the Illinois Gaming Board, which could mean that by mid-January of next year we could see the beginnings of the Waukegan casino construction, if a winning project gets chosen.

Although Waukegan looks like its going to open not before 2025, the impact of Chicago getting its big casino created both uncertainties and promising opportunities.

The Waukegan casino carries with it the promise that for every $1 million it will spend, it will create about 10 new jobs and thats just during construction. Such a significant casino near Chicagoattracts a tourism niche, eager to discover the new gambling house.

To cater to this tourism, there will also have to be in-house trained employees. Whoever has the winning project on October 13 will be responsible for hiring hundreds of Chicagoans, which will greatly boost the citys post-pandemic economy.

Currently, the United States is not one of the most permissive countries with its licensing and online casino generosity. In fact, the states that allow online gambling are limited, with New Jersey being the most prominent and permissive, followed by Michigan, Pennsylvania, and West Michigan who are barely noticeable.

What the Waukegan casino can bring to the state of Illinois will be a new point of view towards a relaxation of online gambling licensing. This will allow the big fellas of the iGaming industry to move to this new state and serve as another brick in the overall acceptance of online gaming in the US.

What no one knows is how long it will take for this to get going because all the current focus is on the advancements of the Waukegan casino.What we do know is that there is a light at the end of the tunnel, because what seemed unthinkable just a few years ago in the south suburbs of Chicago is now just a matter of time.

Featured Image Credit: Rivers Waukegan on Facebook

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Waukegan Casino Construction and New Job Opportunities in Chicago - UrbanMatter

Posted: Sep 29, 2021 / 05:07 PM EDT / Updated: Sep 29, 2021 / 06:18 PM EDT

INDIANAPOLIS (WTWO/WAWV) The Indiana Gaming Commission said during a meeting Thursday that it intends to announce the company that will be granted a Vigo County casino license on Nov. 17.

Applications for the license were due to the IGC on Sept. 22, with four companies putting their proposals in for consideration:

Applicants were required to submit a proposal to the commission detailing the proposed gaming facilities and proposed nongaming amenities, including any lodging facilities, dining facilities and retail facilities, at the proposed casino as well as pay a $50,000 fee. Existing Indiana casino owners had to submit a new application, but could reference their one on file with the IGC.

The application process for a Vigo County casino reopened on July 1 after the IGC denied an operating license renewal from the previous chosen applicant, Lucy Luck Gaming. According to the official order document from the June 24 ruling, the IGC found Lucy Luck to be ineligible for license renewal after extensive review and considering all statutory and regulatory qualifications for renewal.

Lucy Luck has appealed that denial.

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IGC to announce which company will be granted Vigo County casino license in mid-November - MyWabashValley.com

PLAINVILLE The agency overseeing the states evolving gambling industry is doing a generally good job, but it needs better collaboration on issues facing horse racing, including Plainridge on Route 1.

That was the conclusion of a report issued Thursday by State Auditor Suzanne Bump.

She said no defficincies were found in the examination of records of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission from July 1, 2018 through March 31, 2020 in its monitoring of problem gamblers and individuals listed on gaming exclusion lists.

The commission administers both voluntary and non-voluntary gambling exclusion lists that prohibit the individuals on those lists from playing at the states casinos. There were 648 people on the voluntary list and 31 on the non-voluntary list.

However, the auditor said in a statement that the commission needed to improve its administration of the Race Horse Development Fund, which the helps pay for benefits for race industry workers.

Through recent expansions of casino gambling and the closure of Suffolk Downs race track in 2019, the Commonwealths gaming and horse racing industries have changed, the auditor said.

With the closing of Suffolk, there are no more thoroughbred races run in Massachusetts. That means, the auditor said, under a state law that says the funds can only be used for races held in the state, the fund has an unspent balance of more than $16.8 million.

While MGC has done a noteworthy job managing the states emerging gaming industry, our audit makes clear the commission should bring all relevant stakeholders to the table to consider the Race Horse Development Funds most effective use, Bump said. This consultation and collaborative effort would enhance oversight of the fund, and would benefit breeders, owners, and the industry as a whole.

Shes urging the commission to consult with horse breeders and state officials on how the funds can be better used.

In response, the gaming commission noted it has worked with breeders to make adjustments to the split between thoroughbred racers and standardbred racing the harness racing that takes place at Plainridge to limit the accumulating balance in the fund. In the current fiscal year, the split is 92 percent standardbred and 8 percent thoroughbred.

The gaming commission is trying to change legislation on the use of the racehorse development fund.

The MGC has filed legislation in the past that is relevant to this issue and we understand that there are currently bills under consideration in the Legislature, including an omnibus package. We stand ready to work with the Legislature on this issue, the commission said in a statement.

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Auditor urges better coordination by commission overseeing Plainville's Plainridge, other casinos - The Sun Chronicle

PROVIDENCE Rhode Island firstand largest state-operatedbut privately owned casino is about to getbigger.

State officials from the governor on down were slated to join union leaders at a groundbreaking Thursday for an anticipated $100-million expansion of theBallys Twin River Casino Resort in Lincoln.

The expansion mandated in the law that authorizeda new, no-bid 20-year state Lottery and casinocontract will add a projected 40,000 square feet to the gambling floor, a 10,000-square-foot spa, andwhat is being described as an "enhanced food hall area."

Todays ceremony marks the beginning of our $100-million investment in the state of Rhode Island, and we are thrilled to break ground on a project that will involve approximately 20 construction trades over the course of the next 12 to14 months, said Paul Juliano, vice president of operations for the Ballys Corporation, which is now the operating name ofthe IGT-Twin River partnership.

Juliano emphasized that the casino "will remain fully operational throughout construction."

"Undoubtedly, the combined improvements we will make in our facilities and in our customer offerings will well-position our Rhode Island properties to continue to play a key role in the economic prosperity of our state,'' Juliano said.

Among those expected to attend in addition to the governor and legislative leaders: AFL-CIO President George Nee and Michael Sabitoni, president of the Rhode Island Building & Construction Trades Council.

Suffolk Construction will serve as the general contractor.

We celebrate the fact that over 20 unions and hundreds of union members will have a hand in expanding, modernizing and operating'' the casino, Sabitoni said.

Bally's has appended its name to the two Twin River casinos in Rhode Island, in Lincoln and Tiverton, which now offer "Ballys dice, cards, gaming chips and table game layouts."

An additional 40,000 square feet of gambling space on the first floor. Thiswill allow the majority of the gambling to occur on one floor, freeing up the second floor for "an additional entertainment offering."

A 14,000-square-foot Korean-style spa attached to the hotel.

Improved air circulation and lighting, and greater separation between nonsmoking and smoking areas.

Modernized casino space with upgraded pathways, amenities and design features.

An additional food hall, bar areas and public restrooms.

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Twin River Casino in Lincoln is about to get a lot bigger. Here's what that means - The Providence Journal

Like many malls across the country, the numbers of anchor stores and occupied shops at River Oaks Center in Calumet City have declined in recent years.

As a result, the city's mayor has proposed to turn the shopping center into a multi-use entertainment district, which he said could generate upward of $500 million.

"Imagine a mall of the future where you have residential housing, where you have condos," Jones said. "We want to turn this into an entertainment district where everyone will come to Calumet City for two or three days as opposed to coming here for two or three hours."

The entertainment district might even feature a casino, according to the mayor.

But there's a hurdle that stands in way of the proposal moving forward.

Calumet City owns the building that once housed Sears, but not the other side of River Oaks Center. Jones would not elaborate on how the city would take over the remainder of the mall if it isn't for sale, but did say there are multiple legal options.

"We want to work [with] them on some kind of agreement that we can take over this mall," he said.

The mall's owners, Mason Asset Management and Namdar Realty Group, said their teams had a productive meeting with Jones on Friday and have scheduled a follow-up conversation to continue the discussion.

The companies' full joint statement is listed below:

Earlier today, the Mason Asset Management and Namdar Realty Group leasing and management teams had a productive meeting with Mayor Thaddeus Jones about the future of River Oaks Center. We have already scheduled a follow up conversation to continue the discussion, and we look forward to providing the community with more insightwhen there is news to share.

In the meantime, we are remaining committed to the future of River Oaks Center, our leasing and management teams have signed over a dozen new deals on-property thus far this year, on top of the renewals, relocations, and expansions they've secured with existing tenants. We are also taking steps to make any necessary upgrades to the shopping center, ensuring it provides a graceful shopping experience for guests."

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Mayor Hopes to Transform River Oaks Mall Into Entertainment District With Casino - NBC Chicago

Baton Rouges three casinos collectively took in 7% less revenue last month than in August 2020 and 30.5% less than in July, according to todays report to the Louisiana Gaming Control Board.

Every river-adjacent casino in the state reported a double-digit decrease from July to August, including LAuberge Baton Rouge, down 33.4%, the Belle of Baton Rouge, down 31.4%, and Hollywood Baton Rouge, down 22.2%. The state as a whole was down 27.4%.

Compared to August of last year, Hollywood was up 5.2%, while LAuberge was down 10.5% and the Belle of Baton Rouge was down 16.9%, according to the reported totals.

The state as a whole was up 5.2% year-over-year.

Casinos are hoping for a revenue boost from newly legalized sports betting. Last month, the gaming board approved emergency rules to get the process rolling, though the casinos havent started taking bets yet.

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Baton Rouge casino revenue for August down from a year ago - Greater Baton Rouge Business Report

In its 22 years under Chinese rule, Macau evolved from a sleepy and slightly sleazy Portuguese colony to the biggest gambling jurisdiction in the world. Fueled by foreign investment, laissez-faire oversight, and billions of gamblers a short flight away, casino revenue on the island reached a high of 363 billion pacatas, or $45.4 billion, in 2013, compared to $10.3 billion in Las Vegas.

Recent signals from Beijing, however, suggest the party may be over.

Lei Wai Nong, Macaus secretary for economy and finance, announced yesterday (Sept. 14) the government would begin reviewing the casino industry, with an eye toward tightening oversight in areas such as licensing, employee welfare, and daily supervision. This follows proposals to increase the number of casino inspectors from 192 to 459, and previous efforts to regulate illegal lending and cash transfers related to gambling.

The prospect of tighter controls over the industry come as casino operators prepare to rebid next year for the licenses necessary to operate in Macau. The new scrutiny opens up the possibility that companies found wanting could lose the right to offer gambling, and with it, their billion dollar investments. Investors, fearing the worse, this week dumped shares of casino companies with Macau properties like MGM China and Wynn Macau in record volumes, costing the industry $18 billion of market value. Analysts quickly downgraded the casino operators.

Over the past several months, China has been cracking down on perceived social vices and financial excesses of all sorts. On Aug. 17, Chinese president Xi Jinping took aim at the nations super rich, calling for common prosperity for all and leading to pledges from communist party officials to carry out reasonable adjustments. Soon after, the government placed restrictions on video games, which a state media outlet referred to as spiritual opium, restricting the days and hours they could be played by children under 18. Sectors ranging from technology to for-profit education have also fallen under Chinas crosshairs.

Casinos, palaces of capitalistic decadence, might seem ripe for draconian measures. But Beijing may also fear the potential flight of foreign investors.

Gambling has been a major industry in Macau since the 19th century, and starting in 1962, was largely run as a licensed monopoly by Stanley Ho and his company, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau. Then under Portuguese control, Macau had a reputation for lawlessness and corruption, which boiled over in 1997 as a gang war broke out among the Triads, organized crime syndicates, resulting in dozens of deaths. After control of the island passed from Portugal to China in 1999, authorities clamped down on crime and broke up Hos monopoly in 2002, opening the island to outside investors as well as mainland tourists.

Casino operators from the US, Malaysia, and Australia leapt at the chance to tap the worlds biggest gambling market. In 2007, Las Vegas Sands, the company controlled by latebillionaire Sheldon Adelson, opened the Venetian Macau, at the time the worlds largest casino. Other companies followed, and Macau soon surpassed Las Vegas as the worlds gambling capital. By 2020, there were 41 casino in Macau, supplying 80% of its tax revenue and three quarters of its jobs.

A 2014 crackdown on corruption and illegal money transfers led to a decline in gambling revenue, but Macau has largely been a success story for Beijing, enjoying unprecedented prosperity and a measure of corporate respectability. Particularly compared to its neighbor, Hong Kong, Macau has not actively resisted Chinese control and has caused few problems.

Significant new restrictions on the casino industry could upend that delicate balance. While a return of Triad gang wars seems unlikely, Beijing may be loathe to invite instability back to the region.

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Macau's casinos could be the next target in China's crackdown - Quartz