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New York Casinos are Back in Business After COVID-19 Shutdown

Posted on September 11, 2020September 11, 2020 by Grant Mahon

Starting this week, New York casinos are back in business after a shutdown that lasted for months. To prevent the spread of the coronavirus, Governor Andrew Cuomo signed a decree on March 16 that made all commercial casinos in the state close down.

However, starting September 9, New York casinos are letting the players in once again. In addition to commercial casinos, the Empire State has also seen racinos getting back to business. Cuomo’s decision to let the gambling establishments reopen comes some three months after New York tribal casinos decided the same.

Four Commercial NY Casinos Reopen Their Doors to Public

Tribal casinos do not have to follow the guidelines of individual US states when it comes to casino gambling. This is the reason why some of them have reopened long before the New York Governor gave commercial casinos the heads up.

Some of the Indian casinos located within the state borders have been back in the casino game since June. Non-tribal casinos in New York, however, had to wait until September 9 to get back to work.

At the moment of writing, all four commercial casinos in New York are back in business. Those casinos are, namely, the following establishments:

Del Lago Resort & Casino in Tyre
Jake’s 58 Hotel & Casino in Islandia
Rivers Casino & Resort in Schenectady
World Catskills Resort in Monticello

Even though they’re back in business, the business is not going to be as usual for these casinos. The same as their tribal-owned counterparts, NY commercial casinos will also have to take some measures in order to minimize the risk of spreading the coronavirus.

Anti-COVID-19 Measures in New York Casinos

Governor Cuomo’s directive allows commercial casinos to reopen, albeit at limited capacity. The number of patrons allowed inside the casinos needs to be no more than one-quarter of the full capacity, which was also the case over in New Jersey when Atlantic City casinos reopened in July.

The role of the casino staff is to make sure the number of visitors does not go over. Another role of the casino employees is to ensure everything present in the casinos wears a face mask. They also need to make sure that social distancing guidelines are respected by the patrons.

All the commercial casinos that have returned to business had to install new air-filtration systems, as well as physical barriers between players’ seats in an effort to prevent the spread of the disease.

New York Gaming Commission to Monitor the Situation

As per the Governor’s instructions, the duty of the New York Gaming Commission is to monitor the situation. Together with the New York State Police, they are obliged to do regular check-ups on the casinos in order to confirm all the anti-COVID-19 measures are carried out properly.

If they spot rule-breaking, they have the right to fine the casino. And if the situation goes out of hand, Cuomo has the right to reverse his decision at any given moment. That said, it’s in the interest of both the casino management and the patrons to respect the newly-set guidelines.

Las Vegas Mayor Calls for Casinos to Reopen Despite COVID-19 Worries

Posted on April 24, 2020April 24, 2020 by Grant Mahon

Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman has called for casinos to reopen in Sin City as the gambling industry has started losing big money due to the coronavirus lockdown. She labeled the decision to shut down all non-essential businesses in the state “total insanity” and that the Nevada Governor is “killing Las Vegas.”

Goodman, an independent, urged all Las Vegas establishments to start bringing business back to normal as the pandemic is starting to show signs of backing down.

Mayor Goodman gave an interview to Anderson Cooper on CNN, in which she expressed her opinion that the coronavirus pandemic is not anything out of ordinary and that “viruses for years have been here.”

Goodman also suggested that Las Vegas residents could be used as a “control group” to test whether relaxing restrictions would be a good decision for the rest of the country. She did, however, add that she bears no responsibility for finding ways on how to maintain social distancing measures once the lockdown is over.

Reaction From Other Nevada Officials

Not everyone, however, shares Goodman’s opinion. Steve Sisolak, Governor of Nevada, a state with more than 4,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 at the moment of writing, has responded to Goodman’s comments saying the state is not yet ready to return to normal.

Similar reactions came from other Nevada officials as well, one of whom even called Mayor’s comments “reckless and dangerous.”

Jim Murren, the head of Nevada’s COVID-19 Response and Recovery Task Force, said that he believes the Las Vegas Mayor is wrong, adding that is opinion is that science has to lead the way.

The Rise of Online Gambling

It’s been more than a month since Governor Steve Sisolak signed the closure of non-essential businesses in Nevada, thus shutting down every casino in the world’s capital of gambling. The order will remain in motion until at least April 30.

With nowhere to go to quench their thirst for gambling, casino aficionados have started looking for alternatives on the internet. As a result, many retail casino businesses are missing out on the opportunity to make money during the shutdown.

On the other hand, web-based casinos have been experiencing a major increase in revenue since the start of the pandemic. According to Morgan Stanley analysts, the industry is booming in the states that have legalized this form of gambling. In New Jersey, for instance, online casinos have recorded a 66% increase in revenue in March.

“We believe the impact of COVID-19 could spur more states to legalize online casino and sports betting”,
Thomas Allen of Morgan Stanley said.

The current situation is likely to prompt a number of states to start thinking about making online gambling legal. Right now, there are more than 15 states where activities like online gambling and sports betting are legal and regulated. That number is expected to double by the end of the decade. The COVID-19 pandemic is likely to speed up that process.

The same goes for land-based casinos who are expected to adjust their modus operandi and expand their business to the world of online gambling.

Scientifc Games and William Hill Extend Partnership by 4 Years

Posted on February 14, 2020 by Sophia Rojas

Scientific Games extends existing partnership with William Hill for another four years
William Hill focuses on driving growth in Europe and the United Kingdom through flexible betting solutions
SG continues to strike high-profile deals in the United States

William Hill builds on existing partnership with SG and chooses the OpenBet platform to spearhead further expansion efforts in Europe and the United Kingdom as regulatory pressure continues to mount.

William Hills Continues to Strengthen Partnerships with SG

Scientific Games is beefing up its partnership with William Hill by signing another four-year extension with the sportsbook company for its markets in Europe and the United Kingdom. As per the latest arrangement, SG will provide William Hill with the OpenSports suite, a betting technology solution.

OpenSports is based on the OpenBet platform by SG and has proven a desirable investment owing to the flexibility of the offer as well as the ability to tailor the solution to anything that currently corresponds with the needs of business.

Commenting on the partnership, Ulrik Bengtsson, chief executive at William Hill Group, said that the partnership marked a pivotal solution. Flexibility, Bengtsson stressed, was key to the further success of the company as it tries to navigate more challenging markets in Europe and the United Kingdom.

More importantly, flexibility translates into growth, Bengtsson explained. The deal also sent a clear message, he added, that William Hill continues to source operations to some of the best technical solution companies in the business.

SG Digital chief executive, Jordan Levin, also shared his satisfaction with the recent developments. Levin argued that William Hill’s decision to extend the existing partnership between the companies was a token of the company’s trust in SG’s products:

“We’re really building on one of our strongest relationships. The team at William Hill share an ambition to create next level player experiences and together, across sports and iGaming, we’re making that a reality.”

Meanwhile, William Hill also took a hit at home after the company lost around 7% stock value due to a statement by UKGC Chief Executive Neil McArthur that the regulator would consider reducing the online casino games’ maximum stakes from £100 presently down to £2.

A String of Partnerships

Scientific Games continues to maintain a leadership position in sports betting both as a content provider and trusted partner for established brands. Apart from its recent tie-up with William Hill, the company also works with Betfred.

On February 7, Betfred and SG have said that they are teaming up to deliver a dedicated sportsbook by the summer of 2020. SG also showcased the OpenSports platform during ICE London, demonstrating the data-crunching capabilities of the solution that makes it all a player and partner needs to have a satisfying experience.

Similarly, SG expanded on its existing partnership with Flutter Entertainment’s FanDuel, one of the leading DFS platforms in the United States. FanDuel is just one of the big names on Flutter’s portfolio which includes other names such as Betfair, Paddy Power and Sportsbet.

Las Vegas Sands Completes Rebranding as Wind Creek Bethlehem

Posted on October 14, 2019March 22, 2021 by Aran Malik

The Poarch Band of Creek Indians’ hospitality group Wind Creek has successfully rebranded and opened the former Las Vegas Sands property.

Wind Creek Hospitality Adds 10th Property with Sands Rebranding

PCI Gaming Authority Wind Creek Hospitality has completed the rebranding of Las Vegas Sands, five months after the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board approved the $1.3bn sale of the property.

The rebranded property features a 282-room AAA Four Diamond hotel, a 183,000 square foot casino floor, a 150,000 square foot retail mall and an event center.

Commenting on the rebrand, Wind Creek President and CEO Jay Dorris said: “Our team has worked to preserve what makes the property a special part of the Bethlehem community while introducing the Wind Creek brand, our Wind Creek Rewards program and our focus towards guest service. We invite everyone to come visit and see why they belong at Wind Creek Bethlehem.”

A grand opening event was held to celebrate the rebranding, including a ribbon cutting ceremony, performances by the Poarch Band of Creek Indians tribal dancers and special gaming promotions.

WCH VP of Business Development Arthur Mothershed has pointed out to the opportunities now made available to the region, citing economic growth and job creation.

The Wind Creek Bethlehem Set to Expand

WCH invested $15 million to complete the rebranding alone. Furthermore, the hospitality company plans to expand the property to include a 300-room hotel and to renovate its Machine Shop 2, allegedly into an indoor water park.

On Thursday, October 10, WCH officials said that the company was already eyeing a new 276-room hotel that would sprawl on 42,000 square meters. Estimated $90 million will go down in building the new property. Meanwhile, WCH is looking to bring flagship assets back to their former glory.

The No. 2 Machine Shop, located next to the main resort building, will get a $250-million facelift, restoring the space into a 400,000 square feet water park, and adding up to 450 hotel room. Wind Creek is also looking to improve on the overall guest satisfaction experience and market itself as a holiday destination.

To this end, the company is trying to fine-tune the amenities offered on its properties. Additional $100 million has been allocated to an indoor park, Dorris specified. However, Wind Creek will seek a partner willing to invest and contribute $150 million to help with funding the park.

Recently, Wind Creek pitched a proposal to develop a multi-million-dollar project and enter Chicago’s promising casino sector. The company has its sights set on East Hazel Crest and Homewood. Based on WCH’s estimates, the company will need to invest $275 million during the first phase of development.

The pitch has found help among local lawmakers, including Homewood Mayor Richard Hofeld who commented that the industry would effectively generate $155 million in the first year of operation alone.

Super 6 NFL Free Bet Game launches in New Jersey

Posted on September 13, 2019March 22, 2021 by Grant Mahon

The joint-venture between The Stars Group and Fox Network, Fox Sports, has rolled out a new prediction game for the NFL in New Jersey and beyond. Super 6 will offer players an opportunity to

Fox Sports Rolls with Super 6 NFL Game in the US

Fox Sports has launched its free-to-play sports prediction game that will be immediately available to US bettors. This comes as part of the second phase of its massive partnership with the Canadian gaming and betting company The Stars Group. A previous merger of the activities of the two companies led to the creation of the Fox Bet sportsbook, a dedicated real money online betting platform.

The new game, Fox Sports Super 6, will offer bettors an opportunity to bet on the outcome of six NFL games. Hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash will be on the line each week. Bettors will be able to choose from specific answers and six multiple-choice questions.

Each week can bring jackpot prizes of up to $250,000 which will be up for grabs to participants. Fox Sports President National Networks Mark Silverman said:

The Fox Sports Super 6 app will heighten the excitement of watching live sports while simultaneously deepening our viewers’ engagement with our brand.

A number of other games will also be available. The possibility exists that a player may not win a jackpot at which point smaller prizes will be distributed. TNF Super 6 will pose six different multiple-choice questions which will be all based on the NFL’s Thursday Night Football game, extending a $25,000 jackpot.

Capitalizing on both the official competition and collegiate sports. Robin Chhabra, Fox Bet CEO, had the following to say commenting on the game:

The Fox Sports Super 6 app offers a quick, simple and fun experience that we think sports fans here will love, just like they do in other countries where we run them.

Not a First for the Sky Group

The Stars Group has a similar offer in the United Kingdom where it has teamed up with Sky Bet, another proprietor brand. Instead of NFL, the company has focused on soccer in the country. The success of the format has emboldened the company to replicate its solutions for the NFL.

Super 6 will be focusing on becoming accessible to customers throughout all US states. Meanwhile, Fox Sports is already live in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, owing to favorable regulatory conditions in the states.

Fox Sports will be expanding its current offer by adding more sports, including NBA games as early as October 6. More states are actively legalizing their sports betting offers. Illinois has just undergone a major overhaul of its gaming and betting industry as well.

Sports betting has been booming. In New York, revenue more than doubled in August. Meanwhile, the NFL started off on a great note with viewership increasing some 20% year-over-year in the opening game of the season. Part of the reason why is chalked up to higher interest in sports betting.