MGM Yonkers, a subsidiary of MGM Resorts International, has officially applied for a commercial casino license from the New York Gaming Commission and the Gaming Facility Location Board. The submission details a transformative $2.3 billion proposal aimed at upgrading the Empire City Casino in Yonkers into a state-of-the-art entertainment hub. This proposed development is designed to maximize benefits for the State of New York, the City of...
The much-anticipated City of Dreams Sri Lanka is set to officially open on August 2, 2025, marking a pivotal moment in Sri Lanka’s tourism sector. This $1.2 billion integrated resort, developed through a partnership between John Keells Holdings PLC (JKH) and Melco Resorts & Entertainment, introduces South Asia’s first fully integrated luxury resort and is poised to reshape the region’s tourism landscape. Luxury, sustainability, and modernity combined: Strategically...
The highly anticipated opening of the $1 billion Westside City integrated resort in Parañaque City, Manila, Philippines, has been postponed once again. Suntrust Resort Holdings Inc. announced in a regulatory filing that the new target for completing and launching the main casino is the third quarter (Q3) of 2026, rather than the previously expected December 2025 opening. This delay is attributed to an ongoing...
The $6.3 billion acquisitionof International Game Technology (IGT) and Everi Holdings by Apollo Global Management is one step closer to finalization. Following a unanimous vote by the Nevada Gaming Commission, the merger now moves toward its closing, scheduled for early July 2025. This deal, which will combine IGT’s gaming and digital sectors with Everi, represents a major shift in the gaming industry, setting the stage for a...
Kalshi, the New York-based prediction market startup, has announced a successful funding round that values the company at an impressive $2 billion. The Series C round, which raised $185 million, was led by Paradigm, a renowned venture-capital firm with a strong background in crypto investments. Notable investors such as Sequoia Capital, Multicoin Capital, and Citadel Securities CEO Peng Zhao also...
Arizona’s sports betting market experienced a surge in betting activity in March 2025, with bettors wagering an impressive $887.4 million, marking a 16.8% year-over-year increase compared to March 2024. Despite this rise in betting handle, the state saw a decline in revenue, with sports betting taxes and overall earnings dipping significantly. A strong month for sports betting handle: According to the Arizona Department...
PointsBet’s battle for control intensifies as its shareholders narrowly approved a takeover deal with Japanese firm MIXI, but not without a significant challenge from rival bidder Betr Entertainment. Despite the seemingly overwhelming support for MIXI’s AU$1.20-per-share offer, Betr claims that its votes were improperly excluded, throwing a legal wrench into the approval process. As the dispute continues, the future of PointsBet remains uncertain. Dispute over...
Japan has confirmed the appointment of Toshiyuki Shimada as the new Secretary General of the Japan Casino Regulatory Commission (JCRC), effective July 1. This decision marks a pivotal shift in the country’s regulatory landscape, as Shimada steps into the role following the tenure of Takuya Sakaguchi, who has held the position since July 2023. Shimada’s promotion comes at a critical time when Japan...
In 2025, California lawmakers have introduced a powerful new bill aimed at banning online sweepstakes casinos, setting the stage for a pivotal battle over online gambling regulation. The bill, led by Assemblymember Avelino Valencia and backed by the influential California Nations Indian Gaming Association (CNIGA), targets a growing segment of the gaming industry that tribes view as a direct threat to their exclusive right to...
Light & Wonder has secured a small but significant legal victory in its ongoing intellectual property dispute with rival Aristocrat Technologies, marking a crucial moment in the companies’ fierce competition within the gaming industry. The U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada ruled that Light & Wonder does not need to disclose the mathematical models behind its popular Hold...