The American Gaming Association has spoken out against a proposal by the Internal Revenue Service that would involve electronic player tracking on casino gaming devices. During a recent IRS hearing, CEO and President of the American Gaming Association, Geoff Freeman, testified that the gaming group is in disagreement with the recent proposal that involves player tracking. The IRS has proposed that casino loyalty cards used by players, be used as an electronic tracking device to be used for the purpose of tax reporting. However, the process of equipping the marketing tool for such activity would prove to be difficult as…

States that draw revenue from casinos should regulate online gambling, as online has a complementary, not cannibalistic, effect on land-based gambling. That’s one takeaway from a recently published study entitled “Consumer spending in the gaming industry: evidence of complementary demand in casino and online venues” penned by gambling experts Kahlil S. Philander, Brett Abarbanel and Toni Repetti for International Gambling Studies. The authors advise that “US operators should recognize the positive value that online gambling can have with relation to their online operations,” suggesting that operators are best served integrating online gambling as part of their overall offering, as opposed…

The American Gaming Association (AGA) today announced the formation of its Illegal Gambling Advisory Board as part of its “Stop Illegal Gambling – Play it Safe” initiative. The new Board met for the first time today at the AGA’s office in Washington, DC. Members of the Board will provide advice regarding industry efforts to develop actionable tools for law enforcement and to reduce the demand through public awareness; guide partnerships with law enforcement at the local, state, federal and international level; and provide strategies and perspective on necessary steps to plug existing holes in enforcement efforts. “We’re fortunate that five of the most well-respected…

Social gaming company has agreed to a deal to acquire Superlabs, the incubator founded by chief executive officer Mark Pincus prior to his return to the firm earlier this year. As reported by iGaming Business, Pincus in April returned to the company that he founded after the departure of Don Mattrick as its chief executive. During his time away from Zynga, Pincus founded the Superlabs incubator, with the idea of using his own money to build ideas and projects that he had been considering. Pincus is reported to have invested as much as $2.2 million (€1.9 million) in the incubator,…

Kirk Kerkorian, who made his name in Las Vegas when he built the International in 1969, has died. He was 98. Kerkorian’s death was confirmed Tuesday by MGM Resorts International, the Las Vegas-based gaming company he founded in the early 1990s. Kerkorian, who turned 98 on June 6, was the largest shareholder in MGM Resorts. Anthony Mandekic, the chief executive of Kerkorian’s private investment company, Tracinda Corp., told the Los Angeles Times Kerkorian died Monday night at his home in Beverly Hills. Kerkorian invested in a number of industries during his career, including Metro Goldwyn Mayer studios, United Artists, even…

It might seem like an odd statement coming from Jim Murren, chairman and CEO of the Strip’s largest casino company. For now, MGM Resorts International — which operates Bellagio, MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay, The Mirage, CityCenter and others — is done building hotel-casinos on the Strip. “It’s not my expectation during my career here that we will build another casino resort in Las Vegas,” said Murren, who became CEO in 2008. Before taking that role, he was MGM’s president, chief financial officer and chief operating officer for over a decade. During his career, MGM bought Mirage Resorts, Mandalay Resort Group…