sports betting | BestUSCasinos.org

Indiana Casino Three different casinos in Indiana have furloughed a combined total of nearly 4,000 employees due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The affected casinos include Harrah’s Hoosier Park Racing and Casino, Indiana Grand Racing Casino in Shelbyville, and Horseshoe Hammond.

Harrah’s Hoosier Park Racing and Casino cited they furloughed 998 employees since March 16. Indiana Grand Racing Casino furloughed 1,126 employees on April 1. Horseshoe Hammond furloughed 1,693 employees since March 16.

While these furloughs are expected to be temporary, the fluid nature of the pandemic could see them lasting longer, and possibly even be permanent.

Casinos File through the Warn Act

The Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act was put into place to help provide workers with ample time to prepare for job transitions and protection for workers, their families, and communities with the requirement that employers provide 60-days-notice of plant closings or mass layoffs.

However, with the unexpected nature of the outbreak, an advanced 60-day notice was simply not possible.

With the public health emergency, compliance was not something that could be foreseen in advance, and it’s a reason why for leeway that’s been given to the casinos.

According to Trent McIntosh, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Harrah’s Hoosier Park Racing and Casino, their notice was given as soon practically possible under the circumstances.

Indiana’s Gaming Figures Plummet in March

With figures not unique to the state of Indiana, their gaming figures have plummeted in the month of March due to the coronavirus.

It’s no surprise that American casinos have taken a heavy economic hit with the forced closure of casinos that began in March.

For the month of March, Indiana’s 12 licensed casinos and racinos made $90.6 million in adjusted gross revenue (AGR).

Compare that number with February’s AGR however, which was $192.5 million. That’s a 52.9 percent drop in gross revenue.

COVID-19 is also Crunching Indiana’s City Budget

It appears it’s not just the state’s casinos that are taking a financial blow, but the losses those casinos are generating is causing the state to cut city budgets to make up for lost direct revenue and lost employment taxes.

The state’s major attractions are looking at their budgets and cutting out any and all unnecessary attractions.

Sports Betting in Indiana Takes a Back Seat to COVID-19

March was gearing up to be a historic month for the state of Indiana, as it was the first March for legalized sports betting.

With sports being canceled due to the pandemic, however, it made for a less-than-impressive month. March was going to be chock-full of sports bets, with the NCAA Tournament and March Madness going on, but the suspension of the NBA season put that to an abrupt halt.

Things were going well for Indiana on the sports bet front in February, hitting $187.2 million in placed bets. Their betting handle for March, however, was $74.8 million.

Before March came, Indiana was fourth place in the sports betting market throughout the entire nation, an impressive feat indeed. They were only behind Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Nevada.

Stay Tuned

With the fluid nature of COVID-19, it’s unsure whether or not these furloughs will be a temporary solution or end up being permanent.

Indiana isn’t alone when it comes to being strategic with its budget amid the coronavirus crisis. Other casinos across the country, namely Las Vegas, have also resorted to furloughs and layoffs to deal with the economic downturn of the outbreak.

We hope that Indiana’s sports betting market will bounce back once business returns to normal. We’re optimistic that it will.

Be sure to check back for coronavirus casino updates!

Posted on April 28, 2020

Casino

Legal Sports Betting Could End Up Saving Colorado’s Casinos

By James Murray

Late last year, voters in Colorado approved a measure to allow online and in-person sports betting. Many analysts predicted this new industry would be hugely profitable for the state. Some now believe that legal sports betting may end up saving many of Colorado’s casinos currently shut down.

The first sports betting options will become available here in just a few days. Today, we’re going to discuss how this form of gambling will help casinos in Colorado.

Let’s get into it!

Sports Betting is About to Go Live in Colorado

Colorado is known for having a large and passionate sporting fan base. There are several major professional sports teams here including the Denver Broncos, Colorado Avalanche, and Colorado Rockies. For years, residents in this state have asked for lawmakers to legalize sports gambling.

Up until fairly recently, however, this wasn’t possible. A set of laws called PASPA were set in place for decades that prevented any states other than Nevada from offering sports gambling options. The Supreme Court decided to remove PASPA in May of 2018.

This immediately gave every state in the country the ability to legalize sports betting. Today, more than 20 states have approved legislation to regulate this industry. Colorado voters approved a sports betting bill in November of 2019.

Since that time, officials here have worked to come up with specific regulations for this form of gambling. Both land-based and online sports betting are set to become available. The first sports betting options are now set to launch in this state on May 1st.

Of course, land-based sports betting is off the table right now. All of Colorado’s casinos are currently closed down. Hope is that the online sports wagers placed here will help to provide gambling venues here with some much-needed revenue.

Here’s How Legal Sports Betting Can Help Colorado’s Casinos

As we’ve already mentioned, more than 20 states around the country have now legalized sports gambling. Most of these states are earning an incredible amount of revenue from this industry. Many analysts predict that the sports betting industry in Colorado will be hugely successful.

This may prove to be the only gambling revenue being made in this state for the foreseeable future. All of Colorado’s casinos are currently closed down. It’s still not entirely clear when these gambling venues will be allowed to open again.

It’s an extremely difficult situation for casino companies here. Some of these venues are losing millions of dollars every week. Several of these venues have stated they will not be able to survive much longer under the current restrictions.

This is also devastating to the workers employed in the gaming industry. David Farahi, COO of the Monarch Casino in Black Hawk, spoke about the impact of this shutdown to the media.

“Every casino in America is closed right now and it’s a very trying time,” he said. “Our industry being shut down not only greatly affects the 10,000 employees that are directly employed by the industry but it has ripple effects across all the beneficiaries of gaming tax dollars.”

Sports betting may help things here. Several of Colorado’s casinos are set to launch their online sports betting platforms later this week. The revenue will be crucial to help these gambling venues survive during this time.

The truth is that no one knows when casinos here will be able to open their doors. In the meantime, these gambling venues will need to rely on their sports betting revenue.

US Casino Revenue Continues to Drop

Colorado isn’t the only state that has ordered casinos to shut down. The entire US casino industry is completely shut down and it’s costing many companies an incredible amount of money. Las Vegas, in particular, is taking a serious hit due to these regulations.

This city is known as the gambling hub of the United States. Many of the biggest and most profitable gambling venues in the world are located here. Due to the casino shutdown, tourism and gambling revenue has almost completely stopped here.

Some of the casino companies in Las Vegas are now looking at Macau for revenue. Unfortunately, revenue in this Chinese territory remains low, as well. Most experts agree that it will be a long time before Macau’s revenue gets back to normal.

Casino revenue is dropping around the country. Several states are beginning to open back up, yet casinos are likely to remain closed for some time. Online sports betting may end up being a hugely important revenue source for these gambling venues.

Colorado’s casinos remain closed to the public. It seems likely that this state begins easing its restrictions over the next few weeks. We’ll need to wait and see how the casino shutdown affects these gambling venues over time.

Stay tuned for more Colorado casino news!

Posted on April 22, 2020

Casino, Virginia

General Assembly is Ready to Review Virginia’s New Casino Regulations

By Nickolas Branson

Lawmakers in Virginia have been discussing opening up the state’s casino industry for years. It seemed as if casinos were set to become legal earlier this year, yet certain state officials are still asking for revisions to the gambling legislation. This week, the state General Assembly is meeting to discuss Virginia’s new casino regulations.

Virginia Casinos

If all goes according to plan, Class III casinos will be approved in this state before the summer. Today, we’re going to discuss the changes to gambling laws here. We’ll also look at what other forms of gambling may become available over the next couple of years.

Let’s get into it!

Virginia’s Governor is Asking for Changes to Proposed Casino Laws

More states are beginning to embrace their gambling industries. It seems like every few months, another state announces it’s becoming interested in legalizing casinos. This is certainly true in Virginia, which has been looking at the legalization of casinos for years.

As we already mentioned, it seemed like casinos would become legal here last year. Things failed to materialize, however, and another push to legalize casinos began in the beginning of this year. In February, news broke that the House and Senate approved a set of casino bills.

That didn’t mean casinos instantly became legal here. Virginia Governor Ralph Northam began taking a closer look at this legislation. Eventually, the Governor asked for an amendment to the casino bills that would allow revenue from these gambling venues to go towards public school construction.

It was a little disappointing for those hoping to see casinos legal this year. Northam’s decision now means the House and Senate will need to agree on the new terms. It’s unclear whether this will take place.

The fact that all US land-based casinos are shut down right now isn’t helping either. There are some analysts that feel the country’s casino industry will never look the same once this pandemic has ended.

This week, Virginia state officials will once again look at the casino legislation being presented.

Officials Are Now Set to Review Virginia’s New Casino Regulations

It’s clear that legalizing casinos is not easy. As many in Virginia now realize, there are several legal steps that need to be taken before these gambling venues can be approved. This includes gaining approval from the state’s General Assembly.

Once again, the House and Senate will need to review the new amendment presented by Governor Northam. These state government bodies will need to approve House Bill 4 and Senate Bill 36. If both bills are approved once again, casinos may finally become legal here.

Senator Todd Pillion gave an enthusiastic statement about this new meeting to the media yesterday.

“Fixing our deteriorating schools is an issue that unites legislators across political and geographical divides,” he said. “Republicans and Democrats from Lee County to Norfolk recognize this is an issue that needs our attention. The amendment, which I support, will allow a portion of state revenues collected from casino projects to be returned to localities to fix our schools, directly benefiting our students and teachers. I am hopeful this solution will have broad bipartisan support in both the Senate and House.”

It remains to be seen whether or not these bodies will decide to approve these bills. If they are rejected, the legislation will go back to the Governor. It would then be discussed again once again in November.

Are any other forms of gambling likely to be approved here?

Sports Betting is Likely to Become Legal in Virginia Soon

Since May of 2018, every state in the country has been able to legalize sports betting. That’s due to the Supreme Court striking down PASPA. Today, more than 20 states have officially legalized this form of gambling.

Lawmakers in Virginia have discussed plans to allow sports betting for years. It now appears 2020 is the year this happens. During today’s meeting to discuss Virginia’s new casino regulations, lawmakers will also decide on whether or not to approve sports gambling legislation.

Most feel this will happen. The main focus point will be on how much sports betting licenses cost. Under the current plans, it will cost $250,000 for a three-year license and an additional $200,000 to renew these licenses.

Most agree that sports betting will be hugely popular in this state. Virginia is known for its large sports fan base. Governor Northam seems to recognize this, and almost all analysts expect him to sign the sports gambling bills once approved by the House and Senate.

It’s an exciting time for gambling fans in Virginia. This year, two separate forms of gambling are likely to become legal here.

Do you think Virginia’s new casino regulations will be approved? Let us know in the comments section below!

Posted on March 21, 2020

Sports Betting

Sports Betting Gets Creative with Wagers: Weather, Politics, And Celebrity Bets

By Joy Noel

MyBookie Bets Screenshot What does a sports bettor do if there are no actual sports to bet on?

While the thought of sports being “canceled” in the US seemed nearly impossible two weeks ago, that’s all changed with the rapid spreading coronavirus outbreak.

Just 9 days ago, Darren Rovell with the Action Network even predicted that all 50 states would officially make sports betting legal. His prediction came on the heels of several states, including Illinois and Michigan, legally green lighting sports betting.

The first major professional sports league to suspend play was the NBA after a player contracted the virus. Soon after, the NHL and MLB followed suit, with the most recent NCAA even canceling their March Madness tournament, a highly-anticipated event for bettors everywhere this time of year.

With the global pandemic heavy in play, it wasn’t too long until Las Vegas, the gambling mecca of the world, shut down their casinos for 30 days following a mandate given by Nevada Gov. Sisolak. And other casinos across the country have temporarily shut their doors, too.

So what does that leave a sports bettor to do? No sports. No casinos. But top bookies are saying “no problem” and choosing to get creative with their line offerings instead.

This creative spectrum of wagers is ranging from weather predictions, politics, Tom Brady’s future, celebrity dead pools and more. Let’s take a look at the unique lines being offered by some of our top bookies at BestUSCasinos.org.

Bovada

Trending betting opportunities at the popular online sportsbook Bovada this week asked what the weather would look like in several different states: “What will be the maximum temperature in Dallas, Texas on March 19?”

The winner said “Under 79 Degrees Fahrenheit, ” choosing to go under -155 as opposed to +155.

Bovada Bets Screenshot

Photo: Bovada Screenshot

“The severity of what’s going on in the world right now, it’s bombarding us,” said Pat Morrow, head oddsmaker at Bovada. “You can’t really flip away from cable news. You can’t have your usual distractions. So we figured: What else are people talking about? What else are people engaging with? Hopefully this could be our own way to provide distraction.”

Bovada also offers political wagers, which seem to be quite popular among bettors. Right now, political wagers are weighing the winnings odds between Republican and Democratic candidates, and the 2020 US Presidential Election Winner.

US Presidential Election 2020 – Democratic Candidate

Democratic Candidate

Joe Biden -2000
Hillary Clinton +1400
Bernie Sanders +2500
Michelle Obama +5000
Tulsi Gabbard +20000

US Presidential Election 2020 – Republican Candidate

Republican Candidate

Donald Trump -2000
Mike Pence +1600
Nikki Haley +3000
Mitt Romney +8000
Paul Ryan +10000
Ben Sasse +15000
John Kasich +15000
William (Bill) Weld +15000
All wagers have action. More upon request.

US Presidential Election 2020 – Odds To Win

2020 US Presidential Election Winner

Donald Trump -105
Joe Biden -105
Bernie Sanders +4000
Mike Pence +5000
Hillary Clinton +8000
Nikki Haley +10000
Michelle Obama +20000
Tulsi Gabbard +50000

Data taken from Bovada

BetOnline

Tom Brady has been a hot topic of discussion during the 2020 offseason, especially amid the sport suspensions.

On BetOnline, popular lines featuring Tom Brady are focusing on his total interceptions, passing yards, and TD passes during the 2020 regular season.

BetOnline Bets Screenshot

Photo: BetOnline Screenshot

MyBookie

Keeping in line with its motto, “Bet on Anything. Anywhere. At any time.” the online sportsbook has been offering a wide variety of unique bets, including U.S. politics, Trump, and celebrity dead pools.

One wager is having bettors place odds on “who will play the next James Bond.”

MyBookie Bets Screenshot

Photo: MyBookie Screenshot

Some Sportsbooks Are Staying in Their Lanes

While it isn’t illegal to bet on politics or other creative forms of non-sports event wagers in the US, some sportsbooks are decidedly sticking strictly to sports.

“Any offerings in Nevada are still sports based and horse racing,” said Vinny Magliulo of the Vegas-based sports betting network VSiN. “With Nevada casinos closed, the only way to bet on a limited menu (Australian Rules Football & Rugby, Turkish Super LIG Soccer, MLB Pennants & World Series & Super Bowl Futures, some later in the year boxing) is on the mobile apps within Nevada.”

Bets are Still Happening in the Midst of the Coronavirus Outbreak

Futures betting for offseason leagues are still on, like the MLB and NFL. Esports is also expected to rise up during this period of shutdown, should they remain to hold non-spectator events. Virtual horse-racing is also available on some platforms.

Other online sportsbooks are even betting on which league will come back from the crisis first.

For professional sports bettors wanting to keep their bets focused on sports, they’re turning to International markets like Mexican soccer, Turkish soccer, and Serbian soccer to get their bet fixings in.

Other professional bettors are shifting focus to smaller Esports league. NFL futures, and some UFC games.

While these creative betting handles aren’t replacing the NBA or March Madness, they’re still beneficial to bettors and give them something to fill the temporary void of not being able to place American sports bets.

Which one of these bets would you be willing to wager on? The weather? Tom Brady’s future? Or who the next James Bond will be?

There’s still a lot to stay busy with during this season of sports shutdown.

Happy wagering!

Posted on March 10, 2020

Gambling Laws, news

A New Gambling Bill in Missouri Has Been Introduced

By James Murray

Missouri has a unique set of gambling regulations. Recently, a large number of illegal gambling machines have begun appearing around the state. As a result, a new gambling bill in Missouri was just introduced. Slot Machines Inside A Casino

It’s an interesting development. Missouri is now one of many states currently working to revamp its gambling industry. Today, we’re going to take a look at what exactly is being proposed.

Missouri’s Gambling Laws, Explained

Missouri is considered to have fairly liberal laws towards the gambling industry. Throughout the 1800s, the state had a large and successful gaming market. Eventually, harsh regulations were placed on this industry and gambling venues were forced to go underground.

In 1980, the state began allowing bingo gambling. About a decade later, a law was passed here to allow riverboat casinos. Many of these venues quickly began operating in the state.

Poker laws here are a little unusual. Technically, social poker games are allowed in private residences. Those charging to host poker games or playing with people you are not familiar with is actually against the law.

Generally, though, lawmakers in this state are open to the gambling industry. There are many online casinos in Missouri available that are growing more popular every single day.

Several bills have been introduced here to legalize sports betting. Some feel that 2020 is the year that officials finally decide to start regulating this form of gambling.

A rise in illegal gambling machines is being found in this state. Now, lawmakers have proposed a new set of bills to combat this issue.

What Does The New Gambling Bill in Missouri Allow For?

Missouri still isn’t thought of as a gambling hub. Recently, law enforcement officials here have discovered a rise in electronic gambling machines throughout the state. A new gambling bill in Missouri was introduced that’s intended to help increase legal gambling revenue.

This bill, called Senate Bill 566, allows for state-regulated video gambling machines to become available in fraternal and veterans’ organizations, truck stops and retail locations with liquor licenses. Only those above the age of 21 would be allowed to play. The State Lottery Commission would be in charge of monitoring these machines.

Not everyone is on board with these new regulations, though. Senator John Rizzo has expressed his fear that this will have a negative impact on children.

“I don’t want a kid to walk in a gas station to get a Gatorade and have to walk past three or four of these machines,” he said.

The proponents of this bill believe that legalizing these machines will offer a serious benefit. Local areas where these gambling machines are available will also profit, they argue. It’s still unclear how the Senate and House will rule on these proposed regulations.

The Push For Sports Betting Continues in Missouri

Sports betting is now legal and regulated in more than 20 states across the country. This is all thanks to PASPA, which the Supreme Court struck down in May of 2018. In most states with regulated sports gambling, a huge amount of revenue is being made through taxes.

More and more states are beginning to see the potential in this industry. New Jersey, for example, is now one of the sports betting hubs of the United States.

Back in 2018, a bill was introduced to legalize sports gambling in Missouri. Unfortunately, it failed to make it past the legislative session. More attempts were made last year, to no avail. Many now believe that 2020 is the year this industry is finally allowed in the state.

One new gambling bill in Missouri that calls for the legalization of sports betting is now making its way to the Senate. The bill, called H 2318, seems very likely to be approved. Several major politicians have already endorsed it.

It’s an exciting time for gambling fans here. Before long, several new forms of gambling may become available here.

Posted on March 2, 2020

Casino, news

Poarch Creek Tribe Wants to Build New Alabama Casinos

By James Murray

Lawmakers in Alabama are currently working to gain more revenue from the gambling industry. This week, the Poarch Creek tribe revealed plans for two brand new Alabama casinos in the town of Huntsville. State officials are now taking a closer look at these casino plans. Alabama

Many states are currently revamping their casino regulations. Alabama may be the next to add several new gambling venues. Today, we’re going to take a look at what the Poarch Creek tribe has planned.

Let’s get into it!

Alabama’s Gambling Laws, Explained

For many years, Alabama had some of the strictest gambling laws in the country. Officials here made it illegal to partake in almost any form of gambling. In the late 1980s, things began to change in this state.

In 1988, the Supreme Court passed the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. This made it legal for Native American tribes to operate land-based casinos on sovereign land. Before long, several tribes in Alabama began pushing to open new gambling venues.

Today, there are several tribal casinos spread around the state. Most of them are hugely popular with locals and tourists from nearby states. No commercial casinos are allowed to operate here. It seems unlikely that any commercial casinos will be approved here in the near future.

Alabama still has not passed any laws to allow sports betting. Back in April of 2019, a 44-page bill was introduced here that would allow for wagering on professional and college sports. Lawmakers here are still waiting on approval for this bill.

Tribes in Alabama continue to push for new gambling venues. The Poarch Creek tribe has just presented a set of plans to open two new Alabama casinos.

Plans to Open New Alabama Casinos Are Presented

Over the past few years, several tribes in Alabama have presented plans to open new casinos. Many tribal leaders feel these additional gambling venues will help to bring the state millions of dollars in additional revenue every year. That’s the argument that the Poarch Creek tribe is making with their new casino plans.

This week, leaders of the tribe presented plans to open two new Alabama casinos in Huntsville. The tribe claims it will funnel $1 billion into these new venues. Not everyone feels this is the fairest option, though.

Alabama Senator Gerald Dial believes that a bidding process for any new casinos needs to take place.

“Once you pass a constitutional amendment, you can’t say the Poarch Creek Indians get the casino. You’ve got to have a process where you give anyone an opportunity. If someone from Las Vegas wanted to build one in Huntsville, they’d have the same opportunities,” he said.

Some are also concerned about a monopoly-like situation forming right now. The Poarch Creek tribe already operates several casinos in the state. Lawmakers want to ensure that the industry stays competitive for other tribes here.

It’s still unclear whether or not these new Alabama casinos will open up. The Poarch Creek tribe is certainly pushing hard.

A New Sports Betting Bill is Presented in Alabama

As we already mentioned, Alabama does not currently allow sports betting. That may change soon, though. This week, a new sports betting bill was presented to the state and some feel that 2020 is the year this industry finally opens up here.

Members of Alabama’s House of Representatives are now set to review this new legislation. If approved, land-based and online sports wagering will be approved. The bill, called HB 336, also details the tax structure set in place.

It’s extremely exciting news for sports fans here. Many believe that Alabama could become one of the country’s next major sports gambling hubs. Whether or not that’s true remains to be seen.

Several nearby states are looking into sports gambling legislation, as well. That includes Georgia, which is known for having some extremely strict laws towards gambling.

Many states in the Southern US are beginning to expand their gambling industries. Soon, several new Alabama casinos may open here.

Stay tuned for updates on this situation over the next few months!

Posted on February 24, 2020

Gambling Laws, news, Virginia

Virginia’s Gambling Industry is Ready to Expand

By Nickolas Branson

Over the past few months, lawmakers in Virginia have discussed plans to allow commercial casinos and sports betting. It’s a huge change, as in the past, very few forms of gambling were allowed here. Today, we’re going to look at how Virginia’s gambling industry could expand over the next few months. West Virginia

It’s an exciting time for both casino gambling and sports betting fans in the state. There’s a lot scheduled to come here over the next couple of months.

Bill to Allow Commercial Casinos Advances in Virginia

State officials in Virginia have discussed plans to allow casino gambling for years. In 2013, a push was made to start allowing riverboat casinos here. It was nearly approved, yet ultimately failed in the State Senate.

Gambling proponents haven’t given up, though. Many politicians here have continued to push for the legalization of land-based casinos. These gambling venues will help to bring the state millions of dollars, officials argue.

Finally, it appears these casinos may be on their way. In November, a bill to allow commercial casinos in Virginia was approved by a Senate Subcommittee. Lawmakers here are now reviewing this bill to see how it will impact the state.

Before this can be done, several steps need to be taken. The bill still needs to gain approval from the Senate and House. Eventually, residents in Virginia will need to approve the new casino plans, as well.

Virginia’s gambling industry is set to expand soon. This week, several experts began to raise concerns about problem gambling in the state.

Virginia Residents Warn About the Dangers of Gambling Addiction

There are several reasons why Virginia has been so anti-gambling over the years. Lawmakers here have been very concerned about the dangers that this industry poses on society. With Virginia’s gambling industry set to expand, several experts in the state have once again begun warning about the dangers of gambling addiction.

Billy Hoffman, a former gambling addict and current member of Gamblers Anonymous, spoke about the dangers of this new industry. He claims that unlike most substance addiction, gambling offers a sense of hope. Dr. Carolyn Hawley, the president of the problem gambling council in Virginia, spoke about these issues, as well.

“As we’ve seen those markets expand, we’re seeing more people reporting those problems,” she said. “We have to have those discussions and a comprehensive plan in place, because there are some people who develop significant problems. And that hurts the individual. It hurts their families. It hurts their communities.”

Several lawmakers in the state recognize the dangers of this new industry. Fortunately, they have a huge number of other states to ask for guidance. Many states around the country have recently begun to expand their casino and sports gambling laws.

There are certainly more pros than cons when it comes to the gambling industry. Virginia will likely soon begin earning millions of dollars a month in the form of gambling taxes. This is especially true if the state decides to allow sports gambling.

Will Virginia’s Gambling Industry Include Sports Betting?

Since May of 2018, every state in the country has the ability to legalize sports betting. This is thanks to the Supreme Court striking down PASPA. Since that time, 21 states have officially decided to legalize and regulate sports gambling.

Many of these states are now earning a huge amount of money from the industry. New Jersey, in particular, is bringing in an incredible amount of revenue from taxing the state’s legal sports betting operators. Virginia lawmakers seem to recognize this and seem ready to embrace the sports gambling industry.

The state’s sports betting bills recently passed through the Virginia General Assembly. Under this bill, Virginia’s Lottery Board will take control of sports betting regulation. Hope is that the state’s sports betting options are available before the end of the year.

Lawmakers seem to recognize that it’s time for Virginia’s gambling industry to grow. Many states around the country are choosing to earn more money from their gaming markets every month.

It’s still unclear exactly when the first casinos will begin operating here. Several Native American tribes have recently begun presenting plans to open casinos in different parts of the state. In time, Virginia may become one of the East Coast’s gambling hubs.

Stay tuned for more Virginia gambling news over the next few months!

Posted on February 17, 2020

Casino, news

A New Glendale Casino is Opening to the Public This Week

By Nickolas Branson

Arizona’s casino industry continues to expand. On Wednesday, a brand new Glendale casino officially opens its doors to the public. Based on several reports, this will be one of the best new gaming venues in the state. Desert Diamond Casino West Valley

There’s a lot happening here. Several lawmakers continue the push to have sports betting legalized in Arizona. Today, we’re going to talk about what this new casino has to offer and look at the road to make sports betting legal here.

Arizona’s Gambling Laws, Explained

Today, Arizona has a large and highly successful casino industry. This wasn’t always the case, though. Just a few decades ago, this state banned almost all forms of gambling.

In 1988, the Supreme Court passed the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. This allows Native American tribes throughout the country to operate gambling venues on sovereign land. Not long after this law was passed, tribes in Arizona began requesting permission to open casinos.

Unfortunately, lawmakers here didn’t make things easy. Politicians began fighting the tribes in court, arguing they had no right to open casinos under state law. This legal battle lasted for five years and finally, tribes were granted permission to operate casinos.

There are now a huge number of gambling venues spread all around the state. All of these casinos are operated by tribes. They help to bring in millions of dollars to the state every single year through taxes.

A brand new Glendale casino is opening up this week. Here’s what it has to offer!

New Glendale Casino Finally Opens on Wednesday

As we’ve already mentioned, there are a huge number of fantastic casino gaming options available in Arizona right now. On Wednesday, another is opening up. The Desert Diamond Casino West Valley officially opens to the public and gambling fans have a lot to look forward to.

Construction on this venue first started in 2017. It’s now a 1.2 million-square-foot facility that features a massive range of different gambling options.

Gamblers here can choose from 1,100 slot machines, 36 poker tables, 48 blackjack tables, five different restaurants, and a VIP lounge. This makes it one of the biggest casinos in the state. The Talking Stick Resort & Casino in Scottsdale, for example, offers only 900 slot machines.

It’s operated by the Tohono O’odham Nation, who believe this will be an extremely popular gambling venue. Treena Parvello, director of Government Relations and Communications for the nation, commented on the opening of the new Glendale casino to the media this week.

“This has been a long time coming,” she said. “We’re excited to finally unveil the next phase for this unique amenity in the West Valley, which is creating jobs and opportunities. This would not have been possible without the leadership of the Tohono O’odham Nation, and the guidance of the Enterprise Management Board.”

The ribbon-cutting ceremony officially begins at 8 pm on Wednesday. Tribal leaders expect a huge turnout for opening day. Hopefully, venues like this one can soon begin offering sports betting options.

When Will Sports Betting Be Allowed in Arizona?

This is the million-dollar question. In May of 2018, PASPA was officially struck down. This instantly gave every state in the country the ability to legalize sports betting. In the past, only Nevada was legally allowed to offer sports betting options.

Today, 21 states now have regulated sports betting options. Many more have bills being reviewed to open their sports betting markets. Arizona is one of the states currently looking into legislation to legalize sports gambling.

Several lawmakers presented HB 1158 to legalize sports betting in 2019. It failed to get approved before the end of the year. That isn’t stopping this push, though.

The main issue with bill 1158 was that it went against tribal rules. It seems that State Senators are now looking for an amendment that allows sports betting to be done throughout the state. Many analysts believe that 2020 is the year that sports betting becomes available here.

This state’s gambling industry is still growing. A new Glendale casino is opening this week and more will likely be constructed in the near future.

Stay tuned for more Arizona casino news over the next few months!

Posted on February 16, 2020

Arkansas, Casino, news

Cherokee Nation Reveals Study on New Russellville Casino

By Nickolas Branson

Arkansas’ casino industry is growing rapidly. Since 2018, Class III gambling venues have been able to operate here. The state’s Native American tribes have been preparing to open new casinos in the state ever since. This week, the Cherokee Nation revealed a new study that shows how much revenue the new Russellville casino will generate. Arkansas

It’s a great time to be a casino fan in Arkansas. Several new gaming venues are scheduled to open here over the next few years. Today, we’re going to look at how much money a casino-resort in Russellville could generate.

Let’s get into it!

Arkansas Finally Expands Its Gambling Industry

Arkansas hasn’t always been a gambling hub. In fact, most traditional forms of gambling were banned here until fairly recently. Finally, in 2018, lawmakers in this state decided it was time to make a change.

A bill was passed that year that allows four Class III casinos to open in the state. These venues will be operated by Native American tribes. Not long after this bill was passed, tribes began coming up with casino plans.

Arkansas also now allows sports betting. In July of 2019, the first legal sports wager was placed here.

There are now several popular gaming venues in this state. One that’s beginning to generate serious revenue is the Southland Casino. Recently, this casino began offering its first sports betting options just in time for the Super Bowl.

More casinos are scheduled to open here over the next few years. The Cherokee Nation has worked hard to have plans for a new Russellville casino approved. This week, the tribe released information about how much revenue this new casino could generate for the state.

The New Russellville Casino Will Generate Billions

Arkansas is shaping up to be a major new casino market. All of the casinos that open here are likely to be successful. According to the Cherokee Nation, the new Russellville casino will be a serious revenue generator.

The tribe released a study that indicates this casino will generate billions of dollars. An economic impact of more than $3 billion is expected over the first 10 years of operating. This study was made by the Economic Impact Group, which used information from six different counties to form these statistics.

Chuck Garrett, CEO of Cherokee Nation Businesses, commented on the report to the media this week.

“In forming our plans for Legends Resort & Casino, we turned to a network of experts to help us understand how this project would impact the region’s economy,” he said. “It was fitting for us to engage this research through Dr. Russell Evans and EIG who are already very familiar with current CNB operations.”

The study also claims that more than 1,700 jobs will become available once the casino is up and running. Lawmakers are likely to see these figures and should give the green light to begin construction within a couple of months.

Casinos Already Generate Millions in Tax Money for Arkansas

Most analysts predicted that Arkansas would become a hot casino market. These predictions seem to be correct. Since casinos began opening here, revenue from this industry has been skyrocketing.

In October of 2019, a revenue record was set. Casinos in the state brought in an incredible $554.4 million. That beat the state’s forecast by $36.8 million. With sports betting now up and running, revenue earnings are increasing even more.

The new Russellville casino will be a major revenue generator for the state, as well. If the estimates are correct, it will bring in billions to the state within a decade.

As of now, only four casinos are allowed to open here. That may change in the future. As time goes now, state officials may decide to allow more gambling venues to start operating.

We’ll need to wait for the state to approve the Cherokee Nation’s new gaming venue. Stay tuned for updates over the next few months!

Posted on February 10, 2020

Casino, New York, news

Revenue From Upstate NY Casinos is Slowly Increasing

By Nickolas Branson

Over the past couple of years, New York lawmakers have worked hard to expand their casino industry. Unfortunately, revenue from Upstate NY casinos failed to increase for months. New reports indicate that in 2019, things began to turn around for casinos in the Upstate area.

Lawmakers in this state are looking to earn more money from the gambling industry. More gaming options may soon become available here. Today, we’re going to look at how the Upstate casinos performed in 2019.

New York’s Expanded Casino Laws, Explained

For decades, New York was considered a very anti-gambling state. Lawmakers here implemented a blanket ban on casinos back in the late 1800s. Despite laws against it, many small, illegal gambling venues continued to operate in the state.

Eventually, state officials began allowing horse race wagering. In the 1950s, lawmakers decided to legalize bingo and five years later, opened a state lottery. It wasn’t until the late 1980s that officials began looking at the possibility of legalizing casino gambling.

In 1989, the Supreme Court passed the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. This set of laws made it legal for Native American tribes to operate casinos on sovereign land. Not long after this bill was approved, New York began allowing the state’s tribes to run gambling venues.

In 2013, lawmakers completely changed their stance and decided to officially legalize commercial casinos. Since that time, several of these gambling venues have opened up, most of which are in the Upstate area. Unfortunately, revenue from Upstate NY casinos hasn’t been quite as high as many initially predicted.

There are several reasons why this is. Most cite the competition as the primary reason why these casinos have struggled to make money. According to new reports, things are beginning to improve.

Revenue From Upstate NY Casinos is Going Up

It hasn’t been an easy road for casinos in New York. As we just mentioned, almost all of these are located in the Upstate area. Many are within close proximity to each other. Competition is extremely high here and just about every single casino has struggled to bring in players.

It seems things are improving, though. The four casinos in Upstate New York are beginning to see an increase in gaming revenue. Each one saw its revenue increase last year.

Resorts World Catskills, one of the largest casinos here, saw a massive 48% jump in revenue. In total, revenue at Upstate NY casinos increased by 18% last year. That’s fantastic news for the state, as lottery sales dropped by more than 35%.

Bob DeSalvio, president of Genting New York State, says he’s not surprised to see things start to get better.

“If you look at the history of regional gaming properties over their lifetime, it’s about two years for them to really click in,” he said. “A 24-month ramp up period is not unexpected in today’s environment.”

There has been fear that the state’s casino industry might fail. Lawmakers have discussed new ways to help these gambling venues generate more money. Things are beginning to improve, and new sports betting options may help make things even better.

New Sports Betting Options Might Be Coming to New York

In May of 2018, the Supreme Court officially struck down PASPA. This decision immediately gave every state in the country the ability to legalize sports betting. Today, more than 20 states have decided to legalize this form of wagering.

New York began working to legalize sports betting in early 2019. On July 16th of that year, the first sports wager was placed here inside the Rivers Casino in Schenectady. As of now, only land-based sports betting is available in the state.

This could change soon, though. For months, lawmakers in New York have discussed legalizing online sports betting. Many feel this will help to increase revenue from NY casinos.

This is currently being decided in the courts. Officials argue that allowing online sports betting will help to bring the state more revenue and make things more competitive with New Jersey, which allows sports wagering to be made over the internet. It’s still unclear whether or not the courts will agree with this assessment.

Revenue at Upstate NY casinos is beginning to increase. State officials hope that this trend continues. We’ll need to wait and see whether or not these officials can succeed in allowing online sports wagering.

Stay tuned for more updates over the next few months!