Calls for regulation

According to a report commissioned by the GambleAware charity, the UK��s gambling advertising regulations are too lenient compared to those of peer countries.

over ��1.5bn ($1.9bn) is spent on marketing by operators in the UK each year

Compared to many other European countries such as Spain, Germany, and the Netherlands, the UK has far fewer restrictions on when and where gambling can be advertised. The report noted that betting adverts ��continue to bombard the public�� – over ��1.5bn ($1.9bn) is spent on marketing by operators in the UK each year.

In the report, GambleAware called for a pre-9pm watershed ban on all broadcast advertising and a complete blanket ban across sports. The charity also called for mandatory health warnings, as well as increasing restrictions on online advertising.

Abundant evidence

A key criticism of the report was the failure of the UK to introduce new restrictions on gambling ads despite the wealth of data and research that has been produced in the country.

The report noted that the UK had ��almost 500 research papers in the last decade from British universities including specialist gambling units at academic institutions such as Bristol, Bournemouth, and Glasgow �C more research than Italy, Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium combined.�� 

��There is strong evidence to show that gambling advertising increases participation, and therefore risk.��

the UK relies mostly on co-operation and self-regulation from betting operators

In contrast to many European countries, including those such as Belgium and Italy which have banned all gambling advertising outright, the UK relies mostly on cooperation and self-regulation from betting operators rather than strict regulation.

Slow progress

There has been increasing pressure in UK politics for gambling reform despite recent governments�� lack of legislation.

Following the victory, chancellor Rachel Reeves also surprised analysts by not increasing gambling taxes in her first budget, despite being widely anticipated to do so.

The previous Conservative Party administration produced a policy paper outlining several guidelines for reform, including restrictions on advertising, but this was controversially shelved when the incumbent Labour Party took power in the 2024 election.

we remain woefully behind the curve in terms of the regulation needed to protect individuals��

Peers for Gambling Reform, a group in the UK��s House of Lords, have called for the policy paper to be resurrected and welcomed the report��s recommendations. Group chair Lord Foster of Bath said: ��There is huge public support to curb it and there��s a wealth of research showing the harm it causes. But we remain woefully behind the curve in terms of the regulation needed to protect individuals from harm.��

��Crucially, the power to regulate key aspects of this �C such as gambling advertising �C is already within the gift of the secretary of state as set out in the Gambling Act 2005. Our current regulations are too lenient, and fail to advance the much-needed public health approach to gambling that Peers for Gambling Reform has long called for.��

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Mike Tyson, one of the greatest boxers of all time, is taking on influencer Jake Paul in a bout Friday night, broadcast live on Netflix. And just in time for the highly anticipated fight, Jogo Global has released an online casino game featuring Tyson��s name and likeness called ��Mike Tyson Crash.��

Developed in collaboration with Radar Zero and released on the Swish Games brand, ��Mike Tyson Crash�� is another entry in the growing ��crash�� game category of online casino offerings.

it��s an experience that brings players closer to the thrill of the ring��

Radar Zero��s Mark Klein said of the game: ��Partnering with Jogo Global and Mike Tyson to create this game has been an incredible journey. Mike Tyson��s Crash is not just a game; it��s an experience that brings players closer to the thrill of the ring.��

The game features a cartoon version of Mike Tyson in a boxing ring playing a ��test your strength�� boxing arcade game. When the game begins, he punches the bag, and a multiplier counter starts increasing. At any point, those who have placed bets can cash out and win the amount of their wager times the multiplier. The maximum multiplier is 5,000x.

Eventually, and it could be immediately, the counter ��crashes,�� and anyone who has not cashed out loses their bet. It is a game of chance like any other casino game, but the player does have control over how long they want to wait before cashing out, risking their money with every fraction of a second that passes.

More than one player can participate in the same round, and players can see when others cash out. One player��s cash out does not affect anyone else��s.

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Virginia��s Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol is finally open for business, with a guitar-smashing spectacle marking the occasion rather than a ribbon cutting:

Thursday��s opening was four years in the making; over 200 items of music memorabilia are on display at the casino, including Elvis Presley��s gold jacket and one of Beyonc����s dresses.

almost 1,500 slot machines, dozens of table games, and a retail sportsbook

Country musician Blake Shelton is performing at 8pm Thursday to a sold-out 2,000-seat venue at the property. Gamblers can now enjoy almost 1,500 slot machines, dozens of table games, and a retail sportsbook. Work is continuing on a 14-table poker room, as well.

A temporary casino operated nearby during construction – its July 2022 opening marked the first time a legal casino opened for business in Virginia. The permanent property will employ about 1,400 people and hopes to surpass the $157m in net gaming revenue and $66m in gaming taxes the temporary facility generated in its first year.

Hard Rock Bristol only became a reality in November 2020 when voters passed referendums allowing five cities in the state to develop casinos. Developers broke ground in December 2022 and changed plans from a phased opening during this summer to a full-fledged launch in late fall.

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Las Vegas-based global gaming supplier Light & Wonder is looking East as it recovers from losing one of its bestselling games.

Asia Gaming Brief cited CEO of Light & Wonder Matt Wilson stating on Wednesday that his firm is targeting expansion in several key Eastern markets, including Thailand, Japan, and the UAE.

The strategic pivot from the company formerly known as Scientific Games comes amid a recent legal blow affecting one of its most popular games, Dragon Train.?

a preliminary injunction that bans Light & Wonder from selling or leasing the online casino game

On September 23, a US District Judge granted Aristocrat Technologies a preliminary injunction that bans Light & Wonder from selling or leasing the online casino game.?

The court ruled in favor of trade secret allegations made by Aristocrat that Light & Wonder had copied elements from the former��s Dragon Link game.

According to AGB, however, Wilson made light of the potential financial hit Dragon Train will have on the Vegas company. The CEO said Light & Wonder��s portfolio and its ability to launch ��130 new games annually�� would maintain its ��leadership position in North America.��

Wilson also spoke of Light & Wonder��s interest in overseas markets, in particular within the three countries in the race to be the new Las Vegas, namely Thailand, Japan, and the UAE. 

In the meantime, Light & Wonder is developing ��a revised version of Dragon Train to comply with the court��s ruling.��

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New Zealand is gearing itself up for the expected launch of online casinos early 2026 by proposing new rules that include a capped number of licenses, hefty fines for firms operating without one, and a ban on advertising to children. 

limiting number of online casino operators

According to Radio New Zealand on Wednesday, the country��s Department of Internal Affairs has proposed limiting the number of online casino operators to 15. It also put forward a penalty of up to NZD5m ($3m) for firms operating online casinos without a license. 

RNZ cited the Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden as releasing the news on Tuesday. The proposed rules include a public register of licensed operators, and the requirement that those accredited will need to implement ��harm prevention measures and robust age verification systems.��

Van Velden said the objective of setting new rules was to protect bettors currently ��gambling on numerous offshore sites�� and boost government tax coffers. 

��My goal is to ensure that New Zealanders can play casino games online more safely than they can today,�� he said. ��By establishing a regulatory system, I intend to guide customers towards 15 licensed operators.��

The Minister stressed that the proposed new rules expected to be legislated over 2025, were ��not to increase online gambling but to provide a safer environment for those who choose to engage in it.��

Van Velden is part of The National Party that formed a new government in 2023 on the back of claims it could generate NZ$179m (US$105m) per year from offshore gambling firms.

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Senior employee layoffs

The Venetian and Palazzo casinos have laid off several employees across multiple departments.

The casinos parted ways with many employees including senior-level staff working in management across multiple departments, including hotel operations, marketing, and casino hosts.

The Venetian stated that fewer than 50 out of more than 8,500 employees were affected

The Las Vegas Review-Journal gained access to an internal memo which states that the aim of the layoffs was the need to streamline by ��reducing leadership and management positions.�� The Venetian stated that fewer than 50 out of more than 8,500 employees were affected by the cuts.

Streamlining plan

Speaking to the Review-Journal, a spokesperson for the Venetian issued a statement, saying: ��As part of our commitment to delivering exceptional service and remaining agile in a rapidly evolving industry, we have made the decision to streamline our organizational structure.��

this change was made with thoughtful consideration and guided by our core values��

��By reducing layers within our leadership, we can act more swiftly, make decisions more efficiently, and ensure a closer connection between our frontline teams and senior leaders. This change was made with thoughtful consideration and guided by our core values, recognizing that transitions like these can be challenging.

��We remain dedicated to supporting all affected Team Members and positioning our company for continued growth and success. This restructuring will allow us to operate more effectively, create new opportunities, and maintain our focus on providing extraordinary experiences for our guests and team.��

Reports stated that severance packages for employees were dependent on position, seniority, and time of service. While non-disclosure agreements prevent exact details from being disclosed, they were described as ��inadequate�� by one former employee.

More Vegas layoffs

The move comes during a $1.5bn upgrade for the Venetian, which was billed by the casino as ��the largest and most expensive hotel renovation in history��. Among the areas of the project which are already completed and operational are the Venetian Expo Center, the poker room, and the new high-limit room.

The Venetian has also not been the only property in Las Vegas to be making layoffs recently. This week, it was also reported that Fontainebleau Las Vegas had also laid off a number of staff members across multiple departments.

In that case, employees were issued just two weeks of severance pay, even for senior and higher-level positions.

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Jaime Black, who joined the Nevada Gaming Control Board in 2014 and became the head of its Administration Division in June 2017, has thwarted her former employer��s bid to dismiss a racial discrimination lawsuit.  

dubbing Black��s claims ��baseless��

According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Black filed the lawsuit against NGCB board member Brittnie Watkins in September. The NGCB then submitted a motion to dismiss the case in October to the Nevada Attorney General��s office, which is representing the Board, dubbing Black��s claims ��baseless.��

On Thursday, however, Black��s attorney Mark Mausert filed a motion in Las Vegas��s US District Court accompanied by a 24-page response arguing there was sufficient evidence to back claims that Watkins discriminated against Black. The attorney added Watkins ��fostered a hostile work environment in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.��

Black��s attorney told the Nevada AG his client��s allegations hold ��a sufficient factual and legal basis for each cause of action.�� 

Black claims in her lawsuit she was pressured by her Watkins, who is Black, to practice discriminatory hiring practices, ��then fostered a hostile work environment when she resisted.��

According to reports on Tuesday, NGCB representatives had no further comment about the suit or the case Judge Miranda Du is presiding over.

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Strike planned as F1 looms

Virgin Hotels Las Vegas has hit back at the Culinary Union over a planned strike at the property with the 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix just a week away.

parties meet Thursday for last-ditch negotiations

The trade union has set Friday 15 November as the date for the strike. While the two parties will meet Thursday for last-ditch negotiations, Virgin has accused Culinary of running roughshod over its attempts at fair resolution.  

Culinary took to X late last week to announce the Virgin strike, stating it would be the union��s first ��in over 22 years��:

Culinary has called for the strike over Virgin��s ��$0 in wage increases for the first three years of a 5-year contract,�� which is has branded unacceptable. 

While the union has successfully used the Vegas Grand Prix as leverage against casino operators before, in a Tuesday statement Virgin accused Culinary of inflexibility and knowingly putting staff at the off-Strip casino resort at risk over its demands.  

Virgin��s beef with Culinary

According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Virgin criticized the union��s refusal ��to move off a position that it knows is not economically viable�� for the off-Strip resort and would ��negatively impact all hotel team members.��

Virgin on Tuesday stated it was ��fully committed to finding a fair resolution�� with Culinary that would avoid Friday��s planned strike. The resort��s management, whose main co-owners include the LiUNA Pension Fund of Eastern and Central Canada also, however, accused union negotiators of ��take it or leave it bargaining.��

Virgin leveled an additional claim that Culinary didn��t respond to it until November 8

Virgin also stated Culinary did not respond to the resort��s management��s request to put its counter proposals to a vote. Virgin leveled an additional claim that Culinary didn��t respond to it until November 8 ��regarding a return to the table or any other potentially constructive steps toward resolution.��

Virgin is no stranger to fighting back against Culinary. As recently as May, Virgin��s union members walked out for a two-day strike. At the time, the resort��s management accused Culinary of not negotiating ��in good faith�� and misinforming the press and Virgin employees.

When the two parties meet on Thursday, Virgin seems intent to negotiate from a position of strength, saying the May strike didn��t affect the resort.  

Virgin bullishly stated it was ��confident that our operations will be unaffected by any future strike.��

Union pushes back

Culinary��s Secretary-Treasurer Ted Pappageorge said in a statement announcing the Friday strike that Virgin staff ��deserve fair wage increases and they are organized and ready to strike for it.��

According to a Culinary news release, it has been warning of the strike risk and contract dispute at Virgin ��for months.�� The union said it had alerted ��locals, customers, investors, company board members and partners, gaming regulators, and community allies�� about a potential strike at the resort.   

If negotiations fail, around 700 Virgin staff are expected to walk off the job at 5:00 am on Friday. The Grand Prix weekend, which has even spawned a free anti-F1 party as a Vegas strip club, is scheduled for Nov. 21-23.

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The never-ending saga of the on-and-off-again Pope County casino project has its latest chapter. After Arkansas residents effectively voted on election day to strip Cherokee Nation Entertainment of the license it received in June, the company is now suing the state.

The constitutional amendment named Issue 2 passed overwhelmingly, despite voters in Pope County itself wanting the development to proceed.

called upon a federal judge to rule the amendment unconstitutional

The plaintiffs called upon a federal judge to rule the amendment unconstitutional before issuing a preliminary injunction and temporary restraining order to stop the amendment from coming into law on Wednesday.

Controversy over Pope County��s casino dates back to the 2018 election when voters approved four counties to get commercial casinos. Gaming facilities are up and running in the three other jurisdictions, but years-long legal action has meant no development has ever come to Pope County.

The Arkansas Racing Commission awarded Cherokee Nation Entertainment the license in June. The operator plans to invest $300m in a project that would generate an estimated $5bn in economic activity in the region over its first decade.

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Macau surpassed Las Vegas as the world��s biggest gambling hub in 2006 and hasn��t looked back since. A key driver in this success was Lui Che Woo, a prominent real estate and casino mogul who chaired Galaxy Entertainment, one of six Macau gambling license holders. The casino company owns more real estate on the Cotai Strip than any other concessionaire.

Galaxy will appoint a new chairman in due course

Lui passed away on November 7 at the age of 95, his company revealed on Monday. It remarked that his ��vision, tremendous leadership and guidance�� were imperative for its success. Galaxy will appoint a new chairman in due course and emphasized that Lui��s passing won��t affect operations.

The Guangdong native initially made his fortune in quarry mining and construction through the Hong Kong-listed K. Wah Group. Despite being one of the wealthiest men in Hong Kong, Lui remained understated, wearing a flat cap as he went about his business.

His son Francis is the deputy chairman of Galaxy Entertainment and leads many projects within the company. Other children work globally in other aspects of the family��s business interests.

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FanDuel co-founders Rob Jones and Nigel Eccles, who departed the company in 2017, have raised $6m and launched a new global cryptocurrency-only gambling site named BetHog.

Jones�� and Eccles�� initial target markets are Latin America and Asia users before potentially considering expansion into the US. Leveraging popular gambling live streamers and crypto-focused social media influencers is a key part of their customer acquisition strategy.

they believe most online casinos on the market are largely the same, offering identical games

An in-house team makes some of the games, a move BetHog hopes will create a devoted player base and open up potential licensing opportunities down the line as they believe most online casinos on the market are largely the same, offering identical games. An example of an in-house production is HODL!, a crash game with a meme coin trading theme.

Among the reasons for the focus on cryptocurrency is Eccles’ fear of relying on payment companies that can withdraw their services at the drop of a hat.

He referenced a meeting with PayPal when he was still at FanDuel in which a risk officer of the e-wallet platform questioned if it would continue doing business with the operator. Another issue is credit card fees, so BetHog is focusing on cryptocurrency to keep things simple.

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According to reports, the Fontainebleau casino in Las Vegas has begun to lay off large numbers of staff and close several restaurants.

The employees were also given just two weeks�� pay as severance, regardless of their role or seniority at the establishment.

rumors emerged last week of imminent layoffs at the casino

According to Las Vegas Locally, rumors emerged last week of imminent layoffs at the casino, which has been open for about a year on the Las Vegas Strip.

Those rumors now appear to be confirmed, as on November 12, Las Vegas Locally posted on X quoting a source who was a victim of the layoffs. The source stated it was ��part of an ongoing reduction that has affected employees across departments.��

��Fontainebleau has closed several restaurants, resulting in layoffs of upper management and essential staff, including HR personnel,�� the person stated.

��This process has lacked transparency, with no clear methodology or adherence to seniority, leaving many of us feeling blindsided. Severance packages are limited to two weeks�� pay, regardless of tenure, with little to no support or guidance from leadership.��

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