This Week in Gambling

If you’re headed to the National Finals Rodeo in Sin City this December, then listen up: After all the riding, roping, and wrangling there’s still plenty to see, do, and enjoy. So, if you’re attending, we got you covered with how to do Las Vegas country style! Nearly 200,000 people will be attending the NFR in Las Vegas December 4th through the 13th for a 10-day competition in everything from steer wrestling to barrel racing! And This Week in Gambling, we’re sharing the country concerts, comedy shows, and special events that will bring it all together! What better way to…

Google has updated its advertising policies to exclude sweepstakes casinos from the social casino category, tightening its rules on what types of games can advertise on its platform. The change, announced as part of the company’s Gambling and Games policy update, clarifies that sweepstakes casinos no longer qualify for certification under the “social casino” label. The new policy distinguishes between games that simulate gambling purely for entertainment and those that offer real-world prizes, even indirectly. Social casino games, such as slots or poker simulations that do not pay out cash or physical rewards, may continue advertising if they meet Google’s…

Tourism and gaming revenue in Las Vegas both posted declines in September, extending a nine-month stretch of weak visitor numbers even as Nevada’s overall gaming win remains ahead of last year. According to figures from the local convention authority and the state gaming regulator, Las Vegas recorded 3.1 million visitors in September, an 8.8 percent drop compared to the same month in 2024. That amounts to roughly 300,000 fewer guests visiting the city. The decline in the core Las Vegas market was driven largely by weaker mid-week traffic and a smaller convention calendar. Convention attendance fell 18.7 percent to 428,400,…

Online gaming operator BetHog has introduced its latest feature: an innovation it calls the gaming industry’s first AI blackjack dealer. The character, dubbed Sunny, is designed to reshape how players interact in online casino environments. BetHog was founded in 2024 by industry veterans including the co-founders of FanDuel, aiming to bring cutting-edge technology to the gambling sector. The debut of Sunny marks a leap in the company’s ambitions. Sunny is intended to go beyond traditional live-dealer experiences by employing machine-learning and interactive capabilities. The AI is programmed to greet individual players by name, recall past sessions and conversations, track game-history…

We’re checking out the Zeus’s Thunderbolt 10,000 online slot from NetGaming! This is a follow up to the Zeus’s Thunderbolt original released in 2023, and this game also features a Lightning Ladder! Plus, the updated version has high volatility, free spins, re-spins, a buy bonus, and multipliers for wins up to 10,000 times your bet! This game transports players to Mount Olympus, where the god of thunder rules the reels. With bold visuals, intense sound design, and the potential for wins up to 10,000 times the bet, Zeus’s Thunderbolt 10,000 brings mythological excitement to life. Played on a 5×4 grid…

Las Vegas Prices have been out of control, causing many to stay away. Now, after months of falling tourism, costs are starting to move, and resorts are offering specials to bring back business! After Covid, everyone wanted to travel again… and they had all that relief check money burning a hole in their pocket! But now that ride is over, and after nine consecutive months of plummeting tourism, Vegas has finally gotten the message. Prices are beginning to see moderate declines, and specials are running on hotel rooms, food, shopping, even the mono rail. So, let’s get right into things…