This Week in Gambling

It took a while to get regulators to sign off on the idea, but now that the ink is dry the merger between Caesars Entertainment and Eldorado Resorts has created the worlds largest gaming company. Nevada gambling regulators approved the buyout last week, followed by Indiana casino and horse racing authorities. Eldorado agreed to sell three of its five casinos in Indiana. Executives also have floated plans to sell at least one Las Vegas Strip property. New Jersey gaming regulators gave the final approval Friday for a $17.3 billion merger, and Eldorado is expected to close the deal in coming…

In a battle with dangerous implications for the gaming industry, Big Fish Games has elected to settle a lawsuit with two former players in Washington State. The companies current and owners, Aristocrat and Churchill Downs, agreed to a $155 million agreement to settle the class-action lawsuits. The plaintiffs, Cheryl Kater and Manasa Thimmegowda, each spent thousands of dollars on play chips for BFG’s “free-to-play” social casino games. Both are residents of Washington and allege that BFG’s products constitute illegal gambling under state law. Kater and Thimmegowda argued that BFG enticed VIP players with free spins and proceeds to encourage addictive…

Las Vegas Strip casinos Aria and Mandalay Bay have both been found to have violations of the state face mask order, according to Clark County officials. Only 38 businesses were found in violation of the mask order and authorities issued notices meant to educate the staff on how to properly follow the directive. The businesses that were put on notice for face-covering violations included Aria Resort and Casino, where customers were seen without masks and not social distancing, KSNV reports. Mandalay Bay also failed to enforce social distancing at the pool on July 3. Clark County officials, who oversee many…

New Jersey will get it’s biggest casino back in just over a week, as a Borgata reopen has been announced. The property will reopen to the general public on Sunday, July 26th following the Atlantic City closure earlier this year due to the Coronavirus crisis. The Borgata said in a statement that its amenity offerings initially will be limited, with plans to open more fully in the coming weeks and months. “When we reopen, Borgata will introduce new outdoor dining experiences, as well as a convenient takeout program from several of our fine and casual dining outlets” said Melonie Johnson,…

While many casinos on The Strip are welcoming guests back, the Tropicana Las Vegas will not open it’s doors until late summer. Parent company Penn National Gaming announced that the casino is officially set to reopen September 1st at 10am. Like with other Nevada casinos, the crowd on the gaming floor will be restricted to 50 percent of the capacity, as determined by building and fire officials. Visitors will see other health and safety precautions in place, too. Among these are the required wearing of face masks, except when eating meals or consuming beverages. Social distancing will be in effect….

Nurturing the entrepreneur has always been an integral part of SiGMA’s events, particularly now that we will be integrating both iGaming and Tech into one show  . SiGMA is now accepting applications from iGaming and emerging tech startups that are looking for the best way to kick off proceedings. With over 10,000 expected to the 7th edition of the World’s iGaming Festival, Startups will not only get a huge brand exposure but also get access to investors and mentors eager to meet interesting projects. The SiGMA Pitch competition allows startups and business to put their presentation skills to the test. Over the years…