Biz Journals – Thunder Valley Casino Resort launched a joint marketing relationship with MGM Resorts International where they now share rewards benefits. The reciprocal relationship means Thunder Valley customers with rewards programs can get discounts and special officers at MGM resorts in Las Vegas, and MGM rewards program customers can use their cards at Thunder Valley. Some of the shared member benefits include things such as personalized offers on hotel rooms, offers on dining and free casino play. “Thunder Valley is thrilled to be partnering with world-renowned MGM Resorts International and their prestigious Las Vegas properties to offer our Thunder…

Daily Gazette – Every day, Tim DuFresne leaves his job cutting masonry for the city of Amsterdam and drives down winding back roads to his home in the rural town of Florida. “Making that drive,” he said, “it’s all farm fields and trees. For me, it’s like driving into heaven.” From the front door of his little house, the Mohawk Valley opens in a sprawling vista. He loves that view. But now, with talk of a possible casino development at a site just two miles from his home, he’s worried the views and relative privacy afforded by country living will…

Calvin Ayre – While it didn’t quite the reach the initial £500 million estimates being thrown around last week, the Cheltenham Festival still proved to be a gold mine for UK bookmakers, both in terms of betting handle and customer acquisitions. That’s how big the four-day horse racing festival has become in the UK. Throughout the week, more than £250 million in bets were taken, a staggering figure that was compounded even more by the boost in new customers bookmakers were able to acquire during the entire week. It figures that with 67,814 attendees on the final day alone, Cheltenham…

iGaming Business – The Gambling (Licensing and Advertising) Bill is set to come into force in the UK after being given final approval by the House of Lords. Subject to Royal Assent, the new bill will see the Gambling Commission licensing system cover all UK remote gambling operators. Under the current Gambling Act 2005, remote gambling operators that locate their remote gambling equipment overseas do not need a remote operating licence from the Gambling Commission, whereas UK-based operators are required to have one. The new bill would require all remote gambling operators in the UK market to obtain a licence…

Poker News – While Portugal’s national government keeps working on the new online gambling law that was supposed to be approved by February this year, the Authority for Food and Economic Safety (ASAE) continues its war against illegal gambling and has announced the closure of yet another non-authorized casino. “We have already closed around 25 illegal casino rooms only in the Norte region (Northern Portugal),” said ASAE inspector Rute Serra in an interview published today by Portugal’s daily Journal de Noticias. Discussing ASAE’s latest anti-illegal gambling operation, Serra spoke about illegal gambling as a phenomenon on the rise, followed by…

In an effort to appeal to a younger generation, Australian poker machines are seeing changes to prizes, layouts and themes. According to a recently-released 2013 report from GamblingData.com, casinos and poker machine venues around the country are dealing with diminishing numbers from younger demographics. In an attempt to return boost their appeal, venues are changing prizes to include real products like Apple computers, as well as introducing machines with themes based on popular television shows and movies. Where is the younger demographic going? Internet and mobile gaming. International finance agency Credit Suisse has stated recently that both the Australian and…