Caesars Provides $4m to Missouri Campaign Against Legalized Sports Betting

The campaign against a Missouri amendment to legalize sports betting has received a $4m donation from Caesars Entertainment.

A political action committee (PAC), Missourians Against the Deceptive Online Gambling Amendment (MADOGA), was formed last week in an attempt to convince Missourians to vote against the proposals when they go to the polls on November 5.

Caesars’ donation to the group means that it is the first casino company to declare a position on the proposal, which has been backed by a PAC called the Sports Betting Alliance, consisting of BetMGM, DraftKings, Fanatics Sportsbook, and FanDuel. Contributions from DraftKings and FanDuel alone have totaled $9.525m.

Missouri is one of 12 remaining states without some form of legalized sports betting; the issue has faced political deadlock for the past five years. Three years ago, an alliance of prospective operators and sports teams formed a campaign, but the new amendment is more restrictive, limiting each operator to one sports betting skin, even if they own multiple properties in the state.

polls have been extremely mixed on the issue

The proposal was also the subject of a lawsuit which argued that it should not have been considered for a public vote, but after it emerged victorious, Missourians will now be able to have their say. Polls have been extremely mixed on the issue, with multiple studies released showing public support both for an against legalization.

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Flutter Pays $350M for Majority Stake in Brazil’s NSX Group

Flutter Entertainment (NYSE: FLUT) said it acquired a 56% stake in Brazil’s NSX Group for $350 million in cash to bolster its footprint in that country.

The Brazilian flag flying against a background of the Christ the Redeemer statue
The Brazilian flag. Flutter is paying $350 million for 56% of NSX to expand in that country. (Image: iStock)

NSX operates the Betnacional brand. Including Betnacional, NSX is the fourth-largest iGaming and online sportsbook company in Brazil. Importantly to Flutter, the target is already profitable. Flutter said NSX is expected to generate 2024 revenue of $256 million on adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) of $34 million.

Dublin-based Flutter said it will combine its 56% interest in NSX with its Betfair business in Brazil. Under the terms of the agreement, Flutter and NSX have “reciprocal put/call arrangements” by which Flutter can increase its interest in the Brazilian gaming company five and 10 years after completion of the original purchase.

The $350 million transaction, which was announced last Friday, is scheduled to close by the second quarter of 2025.

NSX Buy Could Be Smart Move by Flutter

Flutter taking a stake in NSX could prove to be a prescient move because Brazil is slated to fully regulate its iGaming and online sports betting markets at some point next year.

That’s expected to open the floodgates for international operators to bid for licenses in the country. Flutter has an advantage because it’s already established in Brazil, but partnering with a local company like NSX could be viewed favorably by regulators and it’s a move some rivals have signaled they’ll employ as well.

For gaming companies, the allure of Brazil is undeniable. The country is Latin America’s largest economy and is home to more than 200 million people. Data confirm it’s also a rapidly growing betting market, adding to the attraction for international gaming companies.

“Strong demand for sports betting and iGaming products with compound annual gross gaming revenue (GGR) growth in the unregulated market of 38% since 2018, to almost $3 billion in 2023,” according to a statement issued by Flutter.

Brazil’s Booming Gaming Market

In the eyes of many US investors, Flutter is viewed as the parent of FanDuel — the largest online sportsbook operator in this country – and while that’s accurate, the company has a massive international footprint that includes exposure to Australia, Europe, and Latin America.

The acquisition of the NSX stake is the latest in a series of shrewd buys by Flutter that have enabled the operator to add market share in countries around the world. Flutter pointed out that NSX entered the Brazilian market in 2021, and since then, has amassed a 12% sports betting share and a 9% overall share in internet gaming. The Irish company added that Betfair Brazil could deliver 2024 sales of $70 million.

“Flutter Brazil will be exceptionally well positioned to take full advantage of the significant growth opportunity in the newly regulating Brazilian market,” concluded Flutter in the statement. “In line with our successful strategy in other newly regulated markets such as the US, we expect to drive market share growth and embed future profitability through disciplined customer investment. This is expected to result in a Flutter Brazil adjusted EBITDA loss of approximately $90 million to $100 million in 2025.”

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Golden Nugget Danville Hotel Possible, Sportsbook Prospects Murky

The Golden Nugget Danville Casino opened in May 2023 and by all accounts, the venue has been a success. So much so that the operator is mulling the addition of a hotel in the future, but the outlook for a retail sportsbook is more dim.

The Golden Nugget in Danville, Ill. Adding a hotel is possibility in the future, but the outlook for a sportsbook is dim. (Image: WCIA.com)

At an event earlier this week celebrating the venue’s first anniversary in the Illinois town, General Manager Jahnae Erpenbach reiterated that a hotel is still part of the long-term plans for the venue, but evaluating demand is critical when it comes to deciding when to make large-scale additions to the property, which is one of the newest casinos in the state.

We need to make sure we balance the demand in our ability to do that,” she said at the event.

The casino is a joint venture between the Wilmot family and Tilman Fertitta, whose Fertitta Entertainment Inc. (FEI) controls the Golden Nugget brand.

Strong Start for Golden Nugget Danville Without Hotel

Casinos and hotels are often joined at the hip, but there are dozens of examples of gaming venues across the US that don’t feature guestrooms. That’s often the result of market factors, including population and the ability of the surrounding region to attract conventions and tourists.

Even without a hotel, Golden Nugget Danville is off to a strong start. At the event earlier this week, President Jimmy Wilmot highlighted the venue’s contributions to city coffers. He said that since the casino opened, it’s paid Danville $2.8 million in gaming taxes, $350,000 in property taxes, $402,000 in sales taxes and another $45,000 in food and beverage levies. Since its debut, the casino paid $5.6 million in taxes to the state of Illinois and has purchased $420,000 worth of products from Danville businesses.

Those are financial boons for Danville, which was banking on the gaming venue to lift it out of a public pension liability mess. Wilmot added that about half the visitors to Golden Nugget Danville since doors opened hailed from outside of Illinois.

That’s important because the property could face competitive pressure from Churchill Downs’ Terre Haute Casino Resort in Indiana, which is about an hour’s drive southeast of the Golden Nugget. Erpenbach acknowledged there was some impact to the Golden Nugget when Churchill opened the Indiana casino hotel in April, but that property won’t disrupt long-term plans in Danville.

Sportsbook Off Table Over Near-Term

Erpenbach added that the hope is Golden Nugget Danville will eventually have a retail sportsbook, but that appears unlikely over the near- to medium-term because DraftKings already has a land-based presence in Illinois and would be required to shell out another $10 million for a license to run a sportsbook at Golden Nugget Danville.

With the gaming company grappling with higher taxes in the state, that licensing fee isn’t economical, particularly when accounting for the fact that in Illinois, like the rest of the US, the bulk of sports wagers are placed online, not in person.

DraftKings and Golden Nugget have a relationship by way of the former’s 2022 acquisition of Golden Nugget Online Gaming (GNOG), which made Fertitta one of the largest shareholders in the online sportsbook operator.

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Bally’s Won’t Participate in Casino Near Penn State Campus

Bally’s and SC Gaming announced today that their agreement to open and operate a Category 4 satellite casino near Penn State University at the Nittany Mall has been terminated, but the project will move forward and remains on track to open in the first half of 2026.

Bally's State College casino Penn State Cordish
The Nittany Mall in State College, Pa. Bally’s will no longer be part of a casino project there. (Image: Mason Asset Management)

The decision arrived three years after the two companies struck an accord to develop a “mini casino” in what was previously a Macy’s department store at the Nittany Mall — a shopping venue located just five miles from Penn State’s campus. Bally’s wasn’t eligible to bid on the license when the auction was held four years ago, but Ira Lubert — the sole owner of SC Gaming — was eligible due to his stake in Rivers Casino Pittsburgh. He was the winning bidder and later partnered with Bally’s, agreeing that the gaming venue would bear the regional casino operator’s brand.

Amid Bally’s shifting corporate priorities, the agreement was scuttled and Lubert is making clear to state regulators that he has the financial resources to advance the project on his own.

As a part of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board’s application and approval process, I demonstrated to the Board my resources and capability to independently develop and operate this casino project without reliance on a third party, including Bally’s,” he said in a statement.

Lubert developed the Valley Forge Casino Resort during the global financial crisis and has a 3% stake in Rivers Pittsburgh.

A Lot’s Changed for Bally’s in Three Years

When  Bally’s and SC Gaming decided to team up on the Pennsylvania mini casino three years ago, the project was inline with the casino operator’s prior ventures. Since then, however, Bally’s rapidly became more ambitious, targeting larger, more expensive developments in bigger cities.

The shift in Bally’s land-based casino priorities includes development of a permanent gaming venue in Chicago, which will be the operator’s highest-priced project to date. Additionally, the gaming company is pursuing a license in the New York City area and still holds the operating rights for Tropicana Las Vegas.

While the future of the Tropicana site is in flux and there are no assurances that Bally’s will procure a downstate permit in New York, the Chicago venture alone requires significant attention from the gaming company, indicating shedding of smaller projects, such as the Pennsylvania mini casino, could be prudent at this time.

Additionally, in July, Bally’s agreed to be acquired by Standard General — the hedge fund that is the gaming company’s largest shareholder. Such a transaction wasn’t on the table three years ago when the operator agreed to work with SC Gaming on the Nittany Mall casino.

Bally’s Has New Vision

Prior to Bally’s accepting the Standard General takeover offer, some shareholders criticized the company for becoming financially strained and placing too much emphasis on expensive projects in Chicago, Las Vegas, and New York. Some investors argued that some or all of those projects should be abandoned in the name of cost savings.

Some cost efficiencies are likely to be realized by dropping out of the Pennsylvania mini casino partnership, but Bally’s didn’t quantify that. With Chairman Soo Kim, the founder of Standard General, likely to take on a larger day-to-day role in Bally’s operations, it’s possible more cost-cutting moves will take place, but that remains to be seen. It is, however, clear that the Nittany Mall casino didn’t fit with Bally’s new vision for its future.

“The termination of the framework agreement aligns with Bally’s long-term strategic goals and allows the company to allocate resources towards other priorities. Bally’s remains confident in its ability to adapt and thrive in the ever-changing market,” said the company in the press release.

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Casino Smoking Opponents Argue That Workers’ Rights Are Being Violated

Opponents of Atlantic City casino smoking argue in their appeal to the New Jersey Supreme Court that the 2006 Smoke-Free Air Act violates workplace health protection rights.

Atlantic City casino smoking New Jersey Supreme Court
Steve Mitchell, of Wilmington, Del., smokes a cigarette while playing a slot machine at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City on Feb. 2, 2024. Atlantic City casino smoking remains under legal challenge in New Jersey courts. (Image: NBC10)

The 2006 law banned indoor smoking in nearly all workplaces and public settings. However, state lawmakers nearly two decades ago provided exemptions to the tobacco ban for cigar lounges, horse racetracks, parimutuel wagering facilities, hotels, and motels where up to 20% of the guestrooms can be designated for smoking, and casinos with a minimum of 150 slot machines and 10 table games.

Attorneys with the United Auto Workers (UAW), whose members include table game dealers that are most exposed to secondhand smoke because of the 2006 casino loophole, said in the union’s appeal that the smoking law wrongly favors an industry.

Exclusion of casino workers from safety protections given to other workers is blatant favoritism for a powerful industry located in only one municipality in the State, precisely what the New Jersey Constitution prevents,” the UAW appeal read. “Plaintiffs submit that the State’s decision to allow gambling in Atlantic City did not make it a ‘law-free’ zone or render its workers and residents unprotected by New Jersey’s Constitution and laws.”

Atlantic City casinos can allow indoor smoking in up to 25% of their gaming areas.

Long Shot Appeal 

There are no rules requiring the casinos to physically separate their smoking areas from nonsmoking areas, and as a result, health officials say dangerous secondhand smoke lingers throughout the floors.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) last year reported that supposedly smoke-free sections of casinos that allow smoking elsewhere were determined to have dangerous levels of secondhand smoke. The CDC summarized that “the only way to protect people from secondhand smoke exposure is to prohibit smoking in all indoor areas.”

The New Jersey Supreme Court, however, isn’t ruling on whether the smoking allowance possibly threatens workers in nonsmoking areas with secondhand smoke exposure but whether the 2006 law was implemented improperly. In August, Mercer County Judge Patrick Bartels ruled that the 2006 Smoke-Free Air Act doesn’t violate employees’ rights to a safe workplace as defined under the state constitution because the law doesn’t prevent a casino worker from finding employment in a business where smoking isn’t allowed.

The New Jersey Supreme Court fields more than 1,000 appeals annually, but accepts only about 100 cases.

The Casino Association of New Jersey and Culinary Union Local 54, which oppose eliminating smoking, have joined the case as intervenors and are expected to submit their briefs in the coming days.

GOP Bailout?

If the New Jersey Supreme Court doesn’t accept the UAW casino smoking appeal, the only way to force the nine resorts in Atlantic City to go smoke-free would be through legislative action.

This week, Republican leaders in Trenton said if Democrats are serious about protecting casino workers, they’re ready to help get a smoking ban to Gov. Phil Murphy (D). Murphy is supportive of ending casino smoking but he says an overturn of the law should come through the legislature, not the courts.

Murphy has also said that concerns raised by the casinos, including claims that a smoking ban would hurt revenue and lead to thousands of job cuts, should be considered.

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Flutter Agrees to Acquire $350m Stake in Brazilian NSX Group

Flutter Entertainment will establish a new business in Brazil after agreeing to acquire an initial 56% stake in NSX Group, operator of the Brazilian Betnacional brand.

The $350m deal, which the group expects to complete by Q2 2025, includes a clause allowing Flutter to increase its stake both five and ten years after completion.

The group is expected to post $256m in revenue and $34m in adjusted EBITDA this year.

NSX has been operating in Brazil since 2021, and includes the Betnacional, Betpix, MrJack.bet, and Pagbet brands. Flutter will also add its Betfair brand to the new Brazilian arm of its growing empire. The group is expected to post $256m in revenue and $34m in adjusted EBITDA this year.

The deal comes as Brazil prepares to open up to new operators as it moves forward with plans for legal, regulated gambling, bringing the current gray market to an end.

Flutter CEO Peter Jackson cited the local know-how of NSX as crucial to the deal, stating: “We believe that combining the extensive local expertise of the NSX team, our existing Betfair business, and the power of the Flutter Edge, will create a compelling opportunity to capitalize on the growth opportunity in Brazil which presents an exciting runway of future growth.”

Further details of the deal will be announced on the company’s upcoming investor day, September 25.

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VEGAS MYTHS RE-BUSTED: The ‘Ocean’s 11’ Casino Robbery is Possible

EDITOR’S NOTE: “Vegas Myths Busted” publishes new entries every Monday, with a bonus Flashback Friday edition. Today’s entry in our ongoing series originally ran on Nov. 18, 2022.


The robberies of casino cages at both Resorts World Las Vegas and the Gold Coast Casino have brought back a favorite topic of Las Vegas speculation. Is it possible to successfully rob a casino vault, as depicted in the 2001 movie “Ocean’s 11?”

In 2001’s “Ocean’s 11,” a remake of the 1960 heist movie starring the Rat Pack, Matt Damon and George Clooney portray crafty criminals who rob a vault storing $150 million for the Bellagio, MGM Grand, and Mirage. (Image: Warner Bros.)

“I don’t even know where to even begin with that,” said Fred Del Marva, an Arizona-based casino security consultant and expert. Over the past 36 years, his clients have included Caesars Palace, The Mirage, and the Golden Nugget.

First of all, according to Del Marva, a criminal would need to know exactly where a vault is. That’s a tall order because every casino keeps theirs in a different, top-secret location. “Somebody has to have the blueprints on how to get in and out,” he said. “Or a very inside source, like the contractor.”

Also, a criminal would need to know the access numbers or have a card programmed to unlock all of the digital deterrents encountered along the way. In “Ocean’s 11,” Matt Damon’s character uses his pickpocketing skills to steal the codes for the vault doors. Del Marva laughed at the likelihood of this opportunity ever presenting itself in real life.

There are, of course, gadgets designed to override a vault’s security measures, Del Marva said. “But there are likely to be too many security systems that require overriding to make robbing a vault achievable.”

An Ocean of Wrong

“Ocean’s 11” got a lot of basic information wrong. For one thing, every casino needs to have $100-$150 million in its vault at any given time, Del Marva estimated, to cover potential big losses on the floor. However, the $150 million in the movie was split among three casinos, leading to another inaccuracy.

In “Ocean’s 11,” the Bellagio, Mirage, and MGM Grand also share a single vault because they also share an owner. This would never happen in real life, Del Marva said, because casinos switch owners all the time. In fact, those same three casinos, which were all owned by MGM Resorts properties during the movie shoot, now have three different owners (MGM, the Blackstone Group, and Hard Rock International).

“Listen, tomorrow, the newspaper could say that I’m wrong, that a casino vault was robbed, but I don’t think so,” Del Marva said, reasoning that, “if it could happen, someone would have at least tried it already.”

Welcome to Our Valued Robbers!

Both the Resorts World and Gold Coast robberies happened, Del Marva said, because today’s casino personnel are trained not to resist demands made by criminals. Ensuring that a gun is never fired inside a casino is a much higher priority than preventing a robbery, and criminals know that.

The deterrent is no longer the threat of armed response, Del Marva said, but the knowledge that everything that happens inside a casino is videoed from dozens of angles and that every skin cell that falls onto every surface will be analyzed for DNA evidence.

They know that nobody is going to be there to deter them from the time they park their vehicle to the time they get the cage,” Del Marva said. “Whether they get caught afterward is a different story.”

And they usually do. For the 11 post-“Ocean’s 11” robberies we identified below, suspects were arrested in nine of the cases. And none involved vaults.

11 Post-‘Ocean’s 11’ Vegas Casino Heists

Post-“Ocean’s 11,” here are 11 Las Vegas casino robberies we know about. We didn’t include Resorts World or Gold Coast since they just happened. Las Vegas police have already arrested a suspect in the former crime.

2022: El Cortez (unsolved)

On September 6, a man belly-flopped onto a craps table at the El Cortez casino and grabbed more than $19K of chips from the dealer. The thief, who appeared to be unarmed, exited the casino and is still at large.

2021: Rio, Red Rock, Aliante (solved)

On February 27, a Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department officer was arrested in connection with $78,898 stolen during a robbery at the Rio. Caleb Mitchell Rogers was also charged with a Nov. 12, 2021, robbery at the Red Red Resort and a January 6 robbery at Aliante. Rogers was connected to the robberies due to his unique gait. Suffice it to say he no longer works for the police department.

2019 and 2017: Bellagio (solved)

A man who robbed the Bellagio’s poker cage in 2017 and got away with it was shot dead when his second attempt proved far less successful. Michael Charles Cohen, 49, initially made off with $35K on March 15, 2019, but was shot dead by police who opened fire after he refused to surrender. The police were on hand investigating an unrelated case.

2017: Bellagio (solved)

Four thieves wearing animal masks used a sledgehammer to knock out a jewelry store’s glass door and rob handfuls of rings, chains, and other valuables. Sebastian Gonzales was arrested for the crime.

2014: Bellagio (solved)

Michael Belton attempted to rob the Bellagio by swiping casino chips off tables. Police said Belton and another man wore wigs and sunglasses, sprayed a blackjack dealer with pepper spray, grabbed $115K worth of chips, and tried to run. Belton was convicted while his accomplice got away.

2010: Bellagio and Suncoast (solved)

Tony Carleo parked his Suzuki motorcycle near the Bellagio valet stand on Dec. 14, 2010, walked over to a craps table, and robbed $1.5 million in chips at gunpoint. The “Biker Bandit” is currently serving 9-27 years in a Nevada state prison for that robbery and for robbing $18,945 in cash from a Suncoast cashier’s cage on December 9 of that same year

2005: Mandalay Bay (unsolved)

On March 11, 2005, two masked men held up a cashier’s cage at Mandalay Bay. According to witnesses, the men fired warning shots into the ceiling and forced the workers to the ground. The robbers, who stole what remains to this day an undisclosed amount of money, made off in a car parked outside.

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Star Entertainment Facing Another AU$100m Fine if It Holds Onto NSW Casino License

Not good enough

Star Entertainment Group is hanging on for dear life as it waits to hear the fate of its casino license in New South Wales (NSW). The Brisbane-based company was subject to a second probe by SC Adam Bell after the authorities felt it hadn’t made sufficient progress in addressing serious issues uncovered by the initial inquiry in 2022.

issued a disciplinary notice to the company regarding four major breaches

The NSW Independent Casino Commission (NICC) confirmed on Friday that Star will have to pay a fine of AU$100m (US$67m) if it manages to hold onto its license to operate a Sydney casino. It issued a disciplinary notice to the company regarding four major breaches that the report from August 30 outlined.

These relate to not running welfare checks on hundreds of high-risk customers, forging these checks, and a case of cash fraud. Star has two weeks to respond to these allegations. The regulator also wants more insight into the operator’s current financial position and what it intends to do to remediate itself if it holds onto the license.

Many issues

Star issued a response by saying it might query certain issues and plans to reply by September 27.

Star Entertainment has to cover the AU$3.2m (US$2.1m) investigation costs for the second Bell inquiry.

The embattled company also has concerns in Queensland, where it operates two casinos. The Queensland regulator is waiting to see what happens in NSW before proceeding with its own probe into the company.

Investor money remains tied up as Star Entertainment’s shares currently aren’t available to trade on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) after it failed to report its annual report for the most recent fiscal year by the deadline.

Long-running problems

Australia’s casino sector has faced severe scrutiny in recent years. Authorities found that Star Entertainment was guilty of significant anti-money laundering failures, player protection issues, and other major compliance failings.

held onto its license following the initial probe in October 2022

It held onto its license following the initial probe in October 2022, but the regulator appointed a special manager, Nicholas Weeks, to oversee the remediation efforts. Despite the appointment, numerous issues raised further concerns, including an ATM malfunction that led to patrons getting AU$3.2m (US$2.1m) in free cash after it took the Star Sydney weeks to resolve the problem.

The other major casino company in Australia, Crown Resorts, dealt with similar issues and also had to pay nine-figure fines for its transgressions.

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Sands Long Island Casino Plan Draws ‘Environmental Racism’ Critique

Las Vegas Sands’ plan to develop Nassau Coliseum into a casino hotel is drawing rebuke from groups and some local residents that believe the project would be damaging to the environment.

Long Island Casino
Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, NY. An opposition group says Sands’ casino plan could stir up “environmental racism.” (Image: Brooklyn Vegan)

This week, detractors and supporters of the Long Island casino plan made their voices heard to the Nassau County Legislature. Public comment is essential because some opposition groups previously accused the county and the gaming company of operating in backroom fashion. Last year, the New York State Supreme Court ruled the lease transfer agreement on the coliseum between the county and Sands violated state open meeting laws.

While Nassau County is providing more avenues for residents to endorse or voice concerns about the casino plan, some groups it cannot be overlooked that construction of an integrated resort could violate New York’s State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA).

The abounding harmful impacts of this massive casino are clearly unmitigable and should have informed any decisions on land control,” said Say No To The Casino, a civic group that’s long opposed the project, in a press release. “The SEQRA process should not only have been completed prior to entering into any lease with Las Vegas Sands, but also should have included the impacts of the $4B NYU Langone proposal at Nassau Community College.”

The organization added that a recent study noted Long Island’s drinking water supply is being threatened by climate change and over-pumping — scenarios that would be worsened by building a large-scale casino hotel.

Environmental Review to Sands Long Island Casino Plan

The environmental review, which is currently ongoing, is vital to Sands’ Long Island casino ambitions on multiple fronts, not the least of which is that under New York law, the lease transfer on Nassau Coliseum between the county and the gaming company cannot be finalized until the review is complete.

Expeditious completion of the review is important for another reason. If that process isn’t completed prior to the state opening the bidding window on the three downstate casino permits, it’s possible LVS would be precluded from that process until the review is finalized.

Additionally, should the review turn up issues and vulnerabilities, the county and Sands could work to address those matters assuming the process is completed in timely fashion.

On the issue of time, Nassau County and Sands may have that on their side because it appears increasingly likely that there will be no action on opening the bidding window for the three downstate permits until the middle of 2025 at the earliest.

Charges of ‘Environmental Racism’

Climate and environmental concerns are part of the territory with new casino hotel projects and that’s true regardless of location.

It’s equally as common for groups opposing those projects to leverage environmental worries to drive home their points. Say No To The Casino may be doing that and it’s calling attention to risks to minority communities stemming from the casino plan.

“We find it ironic that the same politicians who claim to want to ‘Save Our Suburbs’ are among the loudest voices in favor of forcing the country’s second largest casino, and the boundless long-term negative environmental, economic, and social consequences, into our community,” according to the group. “The brunt of the impact would be shouldered by the vulnerable minority communities that surround the HUB. Erecting this casino would be nothing short of environmental racism.”

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MGM Contracts for More Solar Energy from New Farm by 2026

MGM Resorts announced on Thursday that it has signed an agreement to more than double its access to solar electricity. The agreement is with Escape Solar, a utility-scale energy company building a solar plant 90 miles northeast of the Las Vegas Strip in rural Lincoln County.

MGM International’s existing Mega Solar Array project, located 30 miles north of Las Vegas, provides 90% of the energy its Las Vegas hotels need for daytime use. (Image: MGM Resorts)

The first energy from the Escape Solar + Storage project is expected to help power MGM’s needs by 2026.

According to an MGM press release, the Lincoln County facility — which will be operated by Estuary Power of Reno — will generate enough electricity to power more than 28,000 average homes.

MGM said it already uses 90% renewable energy for 11 of its Las Vegas resorts’ daytime needs, and that the boost from this new farm will fill in the 10% gap as well as allow it to store some of the energy needed for nighttime use.

Most casino resorts — we’re looking at you, Luxor – use more electricity at night due to the increased loads commanded by exterior lights, shows and in-room air conditioning.

“This agreement is the next step toward the achievement of our climate goals,” said Bill Hornbuckle, MGM’s CEO and president, in a statement. “As we continue the journey toward greater sustainability, we remain dedicated to finding new ways to reduce our carbon footprint, conserve resources and inspire others to join in building a more sustainable world for generations to come.”

In 2023, MGM said, it achieved two of its previously stated carbon emissions goals by reducing emissions per square foot by 45% by 2025, and reducing emissions per square foot by 50% by 2030. This has been achieved since 2016 via renewable Las Vegas energy projects including:

  • its 323,000-panel Mega Solar Array, which provides 100 MW to MGM Resorts’ 11 Las Vegas locations,
  • the 26,000 solar panels atop the Mandalay Bay Convention Center, which provide 8.3MW to that property, and
  • a 100-kW rooftop solar array that helps power T-Mobile Arena.

According to MGM, the new agreement “will help propel the company closer to its goal of procuring 100% renewable electricity in North America by 2030.”

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