This Week in Gambling

Boyd Gaming has confirmed it will demolish the long-closed Eastside Cannery hotel-casino and sell the property for residential development. The move ends years of speculation about the fate of the site on Boulder Highway, which has been dormant since the COVID-19 shutdowns in 2020. The Eastside Cannery has remained closed since Nevada’s statewide casino closures more than five years ago. Boyd Gaming, which owns the property, determined that demand in the local market did not justify reopening the resort. Company officials said the decision followed a lengthy review of financial and operational considerations. Built in 2008, the Eastside Cannery featured…

New Las Vegas projects and construction is always popping up, but even the most promising and exciting plans don’t always work out. So, This Week in Gambling, we’re looking at four Sin City projects: Two open now, and two under construction, that might not make it another year. For every Las Vegas player who wins, there are many players who lose. And for every Las Vegas project that succeeds, there are many projects that fail.  Now, the city’s new baseball stadium and that high-speed rail project are in jeopardy. But let’s begin with one of Sin City’s biggest gambles ever:…

The epic 4 Fantastic Vikings Go Fishing is a 6 reel, 4 row online slot from Yggdrasil with 4,000 ways to win! The game features Wild Symbols, Free Spins, Multipliers, Fixed Jackpots, Scatter Symbols that trigger Re-spins, and the Money Ways cash on reels game mechanic! This game leans into charm while keeping intact the mechanical punch players expect from modern slot design! The 4,000 ways-to-win format create a dense, fast-moving playfield where symbol clusters and cascading outcomes feel lively and frequent. Visually the title follows Yggdrasil’s recent trend of polished, cartoon-forward art: the four Vikings are caricatured rather than…

The partnership between Penn Entertainment and ESPN Bet will end nearly eight years ahead of schedule, marking a major shift in the U.S. sports betting landscape. Originally launched in late 2023 as a 10-year, $1.5 billion agreement, ESPN Bet was intended to combine ESPN’s massive sports media reach with Penn’s gaming expertise. The collaboration struggled to meet expectations, capturing only around three percent of the national betting market, far below its initial targets. Penn announced that the partnership will conclude on December 1, 2025. The decision was described as mutual and amicable. Following the split, Penn will rebrand its sportsbook…

A new attraction called The Magicians Room has opened at the Linq Promenade, promising a blend of interactive gaming and theatrical illusion. The venue is being developed and operated by Las Vegas–based Pompey Entertainment, and it aims to offer a two-stage experience to visitors. Upon arrival, guests will enter a modern arcade area built around crane machines and interactive claw games. That section is described as a “crane-only” arcade, with a nostalgic edge designed to entice visitors as they explore. From there, a concealed entrance leads to the magic showroom, where audiences can view live performances. Access to the magic…

The NCAA sports betting rules are under consideration, and it appears the organization is closer than ever to allowing college athletes and athletic department staff to participate. Well, at least when it comes to professional-level sporting contests. On Wednesday, the Division I Administrative Committee approved a proposal to lift the ban on betting on professional events, though the new rule must still gain approval from Divisions II and III before it can go into effect. If all divisions agree, the change would take effect on November 1. The proposal would not allow wagering on college sports; it would only permit…