NCLGS Announces Multi-State iGaming Bill

The National Council of Legislators from Gaming States (NCLGS) met last week in Pittsburgh for its summer conference. The multi-state model iGaming legislation was a key topic on the discussion board. 

The model iGaming legislation is expected to be published on August 1. It is a state-wide blueprint for jurisdictions wishing to legalize and launch 360 iGaming from 2025 onwards. 

Focusing on online casinos (with only 12 states left to legalize sports betting, this frontier is long past), which have only been legalized in seven states (Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Michigan, Connecticut, and Rhode Island), the blueprint will cover tax rates, the optimal number of licenses and skins, revenue generation, responsible gaming, advertising, age limits, and data sharing. 

The document is also expected to address the question of land-based casino cannibalization, which has been a key argument for U.S. states to avoid legalizing online casinos.

DraftKings Makes Moves On D.C.

DraftKings has announced plans to launch in Washington, D.C., subject to regulatory approvals. D.C. will become DraftKings's 29th U.S. jurisdiction. 

The announcement follows news earlier this month that Washington, D.C., is opening its mobile sports betting market and adopting a competitive, multi-operator model.

"It has been incredible to see legalized sports betting grow rapidly over the past six years, and with plans to launch our online sportsbook in D.C., DraftKings looks forward to expanding its presence in more than half the country," said Matt Kalish, President, DraftKings North America. 

He continued, "We would like to thank the D.C. Council for creating a path to bring DraftKings' top-rated sportsbook to the nation's capital. Together with D.C. United, we look forward to delivering fans a best-in-class experience through our customer-friendly product."

Until now, FanDuel was the only sportsbook with full mobile market access in D.C. BetMGM, and Caesars had limited access linked to their retail locations. FanDuel and DraftKings are the two biggest operators in the USA, holding around 80% of the total market share.

Galaxy Gaming And Evolution Strike A Price

In a US$85 million deal set to close by 2025, Evolution Gaming will shore up its U.S. business by expanding its physical footprint and acquiring Galaxy Gaming, a Las Vegas-based table games specialist.

Going for a stock price per share of US$3.20, Evolution will pay a premium price, up 124% compared to Galaxy Gaming's closing share price on July 17. 

Galaxy Gaming is a strategic U.S. acquisition for Evolution Gaming as it supplies games and technology, like dealer terminals, to land-based casinos in 28 states. Under the plans, Galaxy Gaming will remain an independent brand post-acquisition.

Evolution Gaming has focused on becoming a supergroup in recent years, strategically acquiring online game developers NetEnt, Red Tiger Gaming, Big Time Gaming, Live Spins, NoLimit City, and DigiWheel.

Mohegan Gaming's Reputation Slammed: New York City Casino Bid

Former New York City official Kamal Bherwani has called on Governor Katy Hochul to reject Mohegan Gaming's New York City license bid as the competition heats up for the three new casino permits.

Bherwani has argued Governor Hochul should reject the Mohegan/Soloviev Group's Freedom Plaza bid (a US$4 billion, 6.7-acre casino resort on Manhattan's East Side) after his son, Ethan, died of a fentanyl overdose at Mohegan Sun Casino, Connecticut on May 18.

The incident was filmed on CCTV - which has since been made publicly available - and shows Bherwani's son motionless on the floor after collapsing at a blackjack table, left unassisted by staff for more than four minutes. It took 11 minutes for medics from the Mohegan Tribe to arrive. 

By the time Ethan arrived at Hartford Hospital, he was already brain dead.

Bherwani has told the New York Post, "If they had gotten to him in three minutes, he'd be completely alive,"

"My son was going to law school. He was cooped up during the pandemic and celebrating his graduation; he made a mistake … but it should not have cost him his life," 

Mohegan Gaming is one of 11 bidders for one of three New York City retail casino permits.

Pennsylvania iGaming Grows 27% In F.Y. 23-24

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) has reported total gambling tax revenue generated during the combined Fiscal Year 2023/2024, with taxes hitting record levels of US$2.54 billion.

According to the PGCB, the tax total resulted from the combined revenue generation of over US$5.89 billion from casino slots, table games, iGaming, sports wagering, video gaming terminals, and fantasy sports contests.

For F.Y. 23-24, Pennsylvania iGaming grew an incredible 27.16% year on year, with Hollywood Casino in first place for revenue, up 15.89%, Valley Forge (FanDuel) in second, skyrocketing 55.99% YoY, and Rivers Casino (BetRivers) in third, up 7.79%.

Overall, sports betting decreased 1.10% year over year, retail slots fell 0.56%, and retail table games were down 1.64%, meaning iGaming alone kept the PA iGaming market growing in 2023-24.

In other good news for PA players, Bet365 announced this week that it will become the latest operator to join the Pennsylvania iGaming scene.

Homepage Paid: Mirage Las Vegas Closes With Bang After 35 Years

Crowds gathered outside the Mirage Las Vegas for one last time on Tuesday night before the casino closed its doors for the last time.

The Mirage, home to the iconic Volcano, was one of the largest casinos in the world when it first opened on the Las Vegas strip on November 22, 1989. It was also one of the most expensive casinos, costing US$630 million to build.

As history records, The Mirage was a game changer, launching one of the first integrated resort models that now dominate Macau, Singapore, and the Philippines. With its 2,000-seat theater, the Mirage is also accredited with reimagining casino entertainment in a more "egalitarian" approach that all consumers could enjoy!

The Mirage, which was bought by the Seminole Tribe for US$1.08 billion from MGM Resorts in December 2022, will be replaced by Hard Rock Hotel & Casino and Guitar Hotel Las Vegas. 

The new Hard Rock Guitar resort is expected to be double the size and open in Spring 2027. It will be the Seminole's debut on the Vegas Strip.