From Sydney Morning Hearld Businessman David Murray is due to hand his final report on competing proposals from casino operators Crown and Echo Entertainment to Premier Barry O’Farrell on Wednesday, only a day before it is considered by cabinet. Each company has produced expert assessments which argue its project is of greater benefit to the state, leaving Mr O’Farrell under pressure to explain his decision, due to be announced on Thursday, on which one to back. On Tuesday a government spokesman said Mr Murray’s report would be released in full, but would not guarantee the same for supporting documents, saying…

From Reuters Gambling revenue in Macau rose 21.1 percent in June year-on-year, buoyed by a steady flow of wealthy mainland gamblers eager to place their bets in the Chinese controlled casino hub. June revenue stood at 28.3 billion patacas ($3.54 billion), according to government data released on Monday. Analysts had forecast June growth in the world’s biggest gambling market, to be up 18-21 percent. Macau is the only place where Chinese people can legally gamble at casinos in the country. Home to half a million people, Macau depends on high spending VIP gamblers, or ‘whales’, who spend 1 million yuan…

From Wall Street Journal Macau mogul Lawrence Ho is set to become Russia’s first well-known casino operator, as China’s northern neighbor enters the fray competing for the Asian high rollers who made Macau the world’s gambling capital. A company controlled by Mr. Ho signed an agreement to open a casino on the outskirts of Vladivostok, a person familiar with the deal said. The planned casino-resort in Primorye—a vast eastern region bordering China and Korea—is scheduled to open in the second half of next year. It will be one of the first in Russia after the country in 2009 banned casino…

From Wall Street Journal International Game Technology (NYSE: IGT) has awarded more than $11.4 million in two days on IGT’s Wheel of Fortune. Brunhilde C. of West Baden Springs, Indiana won a $8,316,562.38 jackpot at Fitz Tunica Casino and Hotel in Tunica, Miss. on Friday, June 28. This casino has been the winner’s ultimate choice for the last 15 years. The new multi-millionaire plans to use her winning to buy a new kitchen or even another house. Seven hours later on Saturday, June 29, Seifu D. of Las Vegas, Nevada won $3,140,171.88 jackpot at Palms Casino Resort just west of…

From Gaming-Awards.com US Operators with casinos in Macau could face more scrutiny on money laundering following a report from a congressional advisory panel which says U.S. regulators should tighten up scrutiny of casino companies operating in Macau because of the risk of money laundering. The panel Commissioner Michael Wessel said there should be stricter scrutiny of Nevada-based companies that operate in Macau. He said regulators need to “go deeper.” Mr Wessel is a member of the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission, which was established in 2009 to examine implications of the trade and economic relationship between the two countries…

The Indian Gaming Special Distribution Fund awarded $140,772.33 to Mendocino County agencies this year. All eight applicants were awarded funds, according to David Grim of the Mendocino County Executive Office. “Historically most of the money goes to the fire districts,” Grim said. The Mendocino County Indian Gaming Local Community Benefit Committee determines how local money is distributed. The committee is comprised of officials from around Mendocino County. Willits City Councilmen Ron Orenstein and Larry Stranske are the two local representatives on the committee. “We’re very pleased that funds will go toward a variety of activities to assist communities affected by gaming,” said…

Sports betting kiosks in Nevada will disappear on Sunday as William Hill pulls them out of about half the 84 bars, taverns and restaurants in which they operate statewide. Gone will be the opportunity for patrons to open an account, fund it or withdraw money, as well as place bets all without visiting a traditional casino-based sports book. But what remains is the ability for customers to fund their mobile sports betting accounts and get updated lines on games, according to a William Hill executive. “We are repositioning them from kiosks to mobile sports betting deposit hot spots,” said Dan…

From iGaming Business Australian interactive lottery firm Jumbo Interactive Limited has made further moves into the American market after signing deals that will see it provide two leading retailers with lottery promotion programmes. The agreements signed by its Lotto Points Plus joint venture, which was established in late-November in partnership with Retail Gaming Solutions LLC, will see convenience store operator Hess Corporation and supermarket chain Tops Friendly Markets provided with programmes encompassing an interactive lottery rewards system combined with physical fixture enhancements designed to increase sales of tickets at sites across the United States. “Jumbo Interactive is providing valuable solutions…