Articles from March 2025

Strip casino sued

The widow of a Colorado man robbed and given a fatal dose of fentanyl by a sex worker and her pimp is suing Venetian Casino Resort LLC for alleged security failures.

On Monday, the Las Vegas Review-Journal revealed Jennifer Jacoby last month filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Venetian after Jeffrey Jacoby, 55, was killed in a Palazzo hotel room in March 2023.

According to court documents, Jennifer’s lawsuit essentially alleges Palazzo security could have prevented her late husband’s death.

Alleged failure to act

According to the LVR-J, Jeffrey met Cheylee Kessee at a Palazzo bar on March 1.

After meeting up with her pimp Kashon Glass, the two convicted felons browsed the casino floor with the victim before accompanying him to a cashier’s cage area, where Jeffrey withdrew $1,000.

found Jeffrey’s fentanyl-overdosed body on the bathroom floor

Kessee later went back to Jeffrey’s hotel room, but left less than ten minutes later. A Palazzo worker making a welfare call on behalf of a worried Jennifer several hours later found Jeffrey’s fentanyl-overdosed body on the bathroom floor.

The complaint, which asks for a jury trial, centers on alleged security-related failures against Venetian, which is owned by Vici Properties and operated by Apollo Global Management.

The widow’s lawsuit alleges Palazzo security guards “should have alerted Jacoby that he was being followed by Glass.”

Jennifer’s suit also alleges the Palazzo should have been able to ID the pimp and sex worker because of their history of “targeting hotel guests to rob and victimize them.”

Danger to guests

Glass and Kessee later pleaded guilty to charges including voluntary manslaughter, and robbery with use of a deadly weapon.

Given Kessee and Glass’s history of robbing guests, they fit what a UNLV Boyd School of Law professor referred to as “known dangers.”

you have an obligation to make sure the place is safe”

Professor Ben Edwards believes this makes Jennifer’s lawsuit one of interest. “Anytime you invite somebody onto your property, you have an obligation to make sure the place is safe,” he said.

“The kinds of dangers you have to protect against are really dangers you know about.”

Edwards added the court will now decide whether it was unreasonable for the Palazzo “to not monitor, or not communicate, for this sort of thing.”

The post Widow of Man Killed by Sex Worker, Pimp Sues Venetian   appeared first on Vegas Slots Online News.

US President Donald Trump has kickstarted a trade war with multiple countries, including China, Mexico, and the US. He has done so with a plan to add tariffs to products imported from these nations, but those countries are fighting back with tariffs of their own.

Canada, in particular, has taken issue with the new policy of its neighbor. As of March 4, the country is imposing a 25% tariff on $30bn worth of goods coming from the US. Canada says these tariffs will remain in place until the US eliminates its tariffs on Canadian goods.

the government will only purchase gaming equipment from countries that “share a free trade agreement with Canada”

As part of this trade war, Alberta has taken the decision to ban gaming equipment imported from the US. The Alberta Gaming Liquor and Cannabis Commission made the announcement on Thursday, claiming that the government will only purchase gaming equipment from countries that “share a free trade agreement with Canada.”

Notably, all in-person casino and online gaming offerings in Alberta and the rest of Canada are run through the government. PlayAlberta is the only regulated online gambling website in the province, while there are multiple retail casinos, including the Grey Eagle Resort and Casino.

The ban raised concerns in Nevada and elsewhere that other provinces would follow Alberta’s lead. Speaking with The Nevada Independent, Eilers & Krejcik Gaming analyst Phil Bernard said other provinces are “likely to follow Alberta, negatively impacting slot vendor sales in the near term.”

Alberta supposedly accounts for around 4% of sales for major US gaming manufacturers, such as Light & Wonder and Aristocrat Gaming. The province purchases an estimated 4,000 slot machines and lottery terminals per year.

The post Alberta Bans US Gaming Imports Amid Trade War, Experts Think Other Provinces to Follow appeared first on Vegas Slots Online News.

Choctaw Casinos & Resorts is embracing the world of cryptocurrencies, now allowing gamblers to exchange tokens for chips at its land-based casinos.

can currently use USDC, USDT, ETH, or BTC

This is made possible thanks to fintech firm Everi’s CashClub and the Miami-based Bitline, with the former saying this is the first time gamblers in the US have access to such an option. Patrons can currently use USDC, USDT, ETH, or BTC as payment gateways for transactions.

Talking about the landmark rollout, Choctaw Casinos & Resorts Senior Director of Cage and Credit Thomas McDonald said, “We are excited to be the first casino in North America to offer our guests another way to play.”

He also highlighted the operator’s long-term relationship with Everi, saying the two parties look forward to continually improving the way they treat VIP patrons.

Choctaw Casinos & Resorts has eight properties around Oklahoma, with its flagship casino in Durant offering over 7,400 slot machines and 100+ table games.

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As casinos look for ways to improve their bottom line, one of the biggest trends in recent years on the Las Vegas Strip is moving away single-zero roulette, also known as European Roulette. The big resorts now often only have a handful of such tables, with the high minimum bets discouraging the average joe from playing:

The main reason for this growing trend is the house edge that increases with a zero added to the table. Regular single-zero roulette typically has a 97.3% RTP versus 94.74% for two zeros and 92.31% for three. Table games historically had much smaller house edges than slot machines, something that is starting to change.

Strip casinos took in $358.7m from roulette last year

With gamblers betting billions on roulette at casinos every year, seemingly small differences in house edge can quickly compound. Strip casinos took in $358.7m from roulette last year, giving the properties a win percentage of 16.15%.

Anyone looking for better value table games in Sin City can head downtown to casinos like the Plaza, where $15 minimum bets are the norm for single-zero roulette, stacking the odds a bit more in your favor.

The post Single-Zero Roulette – An Endangered Species on the Las Vegas Strip appeared first on Vegas Slots Online News.

Bally’s plays hardball

Bally’s Corporation has made an unsolicited, eleventh-hour approach for a controlling stake in the troubled Australian gaming giant Star Entertainment. The move by the US gambling powerhouse came just days after Star reached a deal with its Hong Kong partners to save it from collapse.

controlling stake for a minimum of AU$250m

According to Australian media, Star is considering the US bid, which would give Bally’s a controlling stake in the casino group for a minimum of AU$250m ($158m).

Monday’s aggressive move by Bally’s came, however, after Star reached a deal Friday to stave off administration by agreeing to a deal with its Hong Kong partners.

Bally’s unceremoniously challenged the Hong Kong deal, calling its offer “an alternative path.”

Race to pick up falling Star

In dire need of a lifeline, Star agreed on Friday to offload its 50% stake in Brisbane Queen’s Wharf integrated resort casino to Far East Consortium International and Chow Tai Fook Enterprises (CTFE) in exchange for AU$53m ($33.5m).

CFTE’s entry pulled Star back from collapse; the beleaguered group has been seeking a financial rescue deal since February.

While the Hong Kong bid included a refinancing deal which gives Star access to AU$940m ($594m) in debt, Queensland regulators may question handing CTFE full control of the Brisbane IRC, given its past links to convicted junket king Alvin Chau’s Suncity Group.

Bally’s “alternative path” throws up many appealing options for both Star and regulators for whom the mention of Alvin Chau likely raises instant red flags.

very open to discussing a larger transaction”

Bally’s offer came directly to Star via a letter from its chairman Soo Kim. Kim proposed a Bally’s-underwritten $158m capital funding in exchange for 50.1% of Star’s shares. Bally’s chairman added his gaming firm was also “very open to discussing a larger transaction depending on our discussions with respect to Star’s liquidity and capital needs.”

Kim signed off with a call to action that Bally’s long-term funding and operational pedigree “will unlock the best alternative for Star and its shareholders.”

What next?

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation cited a chief investment officer as stating the rescue deal Hong Kong offered Star Friday doesn’t mean the casino giant won’t collapse.

Opal Capital Management’s Omkar Joshi added Bally’s entry was “good to see” because giving Star options means it could bypass the process of voluntary administration.

Joshi cautioned, however, that Star’s executive had work to do in comparing the business plans and “seeing if this latest proposal from Bally potentially brings out others as well.” Media reports state while Star is looking at Bally’s offer, there is no guarantee it will progress any further.

The Australian Securities Exchange has suspended trading in Star shares for over a week.

The post Bally’s Throws Hat into Ring as Gaming Companies Battle to Control Star Entertainment appeared first on Vegas Slots Online News.

The MGM Resorts International-operated Excalibur Hotel and Casino used to be the cream of the crop in Las Vegas. Now, the iconic property is struggling, and according to multiple sources, is having to lay off staff and cut the hours of housekeepers to stay afloat.

Vital Vegas reported on the rumors on Thursday this week. According to the Vegas-based news source, Excalibur is cutting valet, bell desk, and doorpersons. Las Vegas Locally followed this up with its own sources, claiming that people were indeed being laid off:

Many X users have provided their own insight into the issues facing Excalibur. One described Excalibur as “the most susceptible MGM property to an economic downturn.” Another argued that they had taken “a lot of the magic” out of the iconic property, while many complained about the prices of the rooms.

The Excalibur has so far not confirmed the layoffs.

In a similar incident in November, the Fonatinebleau Las Vegas reported mass layoffs and the closure of some restaurants as it also struggled to drum up profits. The casino-hotel had only been open for around a year.

The post Excalibur Laying Off Workers and Cutting Housekeeper Hours, According to Reports appeared first on Vegas Slots Online News.

No folding violet

A gardener from Gloucestershire’s gamble to weather a £20,265 ($26,136) payout from a Flutter-owned sportsbook, in the belief it owed her much more, has paid off handsomely.

court ruled she had won a ‘monster jackpot’

According to reports on Wednesday, Mr Justice Ritchie ordered Paddy Power to pay Corrinne Durber £1m ($1.3m) after the UK High Court ruled she had won a ‘monster jackpot’ instead of a daily prize.

Judge Ritchie ordered Paddy Power, one of FanDuel’s UK sportsbook cousins, to hand over the sum instead of the smaller daily jackpot of $26k+ it tried to offer her.

The Flutter-owned subsidiary had claimed a computer glitch on one of its online casino games “pointed to the wrong prize.”

Reap what you sow

Justice Ritchie’s granting of a summary judgment in Durber’s favor meant the Gloucestershire woman won her breach of contract case against Paddy Power without a trial, according to the BBC.

Durber had been playing a Paddy Power iCasino game in October 2020. At one stage after cranking the jackpot wheel, the gardner’s iPad screen displayed she had won the $1m-plus bonanza.

On Wednesday Durber’s patience paid off, with Justice Ritchie stating the “what you see is what you get” rule applies. Richie said players expect what they see on their screens “to be accurate and correct.”

They expect the house to pay out

“The same expectation probably applies when customers go into a physical casino and play roulette. They expect the house to pay out on the roulette wheel if they bet on number 13 and the ball lands on number 13,” Richie added.

The Justice essentially said it was unethical for operators to pass the buck to customers for its own “recklessness, negligence, errors, inadequate digital services and inadequate testing.”

Parting shot

Durber was pictured outside the courts Wednesday toasting the result in champagne with her lawyer, stating she is “relieved and happy” to get justice.

why not just “pay up straight away?”

Durber walked away with a sum she says will “look after the children” and help her enjoy retirement. She still, however, fired a final parting shot at Paddy Power, asking why did it not just “pay up straight away instead of putting me through this legal torment?”

“I will never bet with them ever again, and I advise others to be very careful, too.”

In a statement, Flutter stated “we deeply regret this unfortunate case and are reviewing the judgment.”

The post UK Gardener Digs in Against Paddy Power to Win £1m Legal Case appeared first on Vegas Slots Online News.

The New York City’s Clerk’s Office released the Lobbying Bureau report for 2024, and two casino-related companies top the list:

Queens Future, LLC is a corporation hiring lobbyists to drive forward the proposal for a casino development adjacent to the New York Mets’ CitiField ballpark, spending $1.4m to do so. Mets owner Steve Cohen is behind the push and has met significant headwinds to date.

The main issue is failing to secure rezoning for land near the ballpark, with local Queens Senator Jessica Ramos effectively vetoing this move. Cohen has tried to find ways around the block, saying that one person should not be able to shut down such a major project.

Bally’s is also seeking land zoning changes

Bally’s Corporation is second on the list after spending $914,161 and is trying to get one of the three available downtown New York casino licenses for a project in the Bronx on the site of a former Trump golf course. Bally’s is also seeking land zoning changes for a chance to get one of the highly coveted permits.

The New York State Gaming Commission will make its final decisions on the three recipients before the end of 2025. MGM Resorts and Genting’s existing slots facilities are the favorites to get two of the licenses.

The post Steve Cohen’s Casino Project Employs More Lobbying Firms Than Any Other NYC Entity appeared first on Vegas Slots Online News.

Gamblers can now go to the Rio Las Vegas and play what the property claims to be the first-ever celebrity-branded table game. Penn Jillette and Teller, magicians who have performed at the casino since 2001, are the faces of the new game, named ‘Penn & Teller Casino Monte.’

The duo performed some magic tricks as the game launched for the first time on Monday afternoon:

Executives from Adventura Gaming attended the media event. In terms of the gameplay, it’s pretty straightforward and thankfully doesn’t resemble the infamous three-card monte that’s popular on the Strip among street hustlers trying to part tourists with their money.

You choose to bet on either Penn, Teller, or ‘&’, with each option having a corresponding card. The dealer then shakes a die in a cup and rolls it, with the result indicating which of the three positions will get an additional card.

the winner being whoever has the highest total card value

Players can raise the stakes during the gameplay, with the winner being whoever has the highest total card value. The bet is paid out at 1:1, and the payout remains at 1:1 if two hands are the same, rising to 3:1 if all three positions have an identical hand value.

An additional ‘Full Monte’ side bet allows players to bet on certain card combinations for the initial three cards, such as a pair, flush, or three-of-a-kind.

The post Gamblers Can Now Play Penn & Teller Casino Monte appeared first on Vegas Slots Online News.

Superstar rapper Drake has a long history of gambling, partnering with Stake in 2022. He regularly posts screenshots of his sports bets on social media, livestreams online casino gameplay, and appears in ads for the popular offshore gambling site.

The 38-year-old was recently caught by a drone playing slots on the balcony of his penthouse in Sydney during his tour in Australia, which turned out to be an ad for the operator.

posted the logo to get $2m added to his account

In another supposed ad with a different twist, Drake posted an image of Stake’s logo to his personal Instagram account on Sunday. He claimed in the caption that he posted the logo to get $2m added to his account to cover losses.

The caption reads: “MEMBERS WE ARE DOWN BAD ON STAKE SO I AM POSTING THIS SOLELY FOR 2 MILLION DOLLARS CREDIT TO SPIN SLOTS…PLS KEEP SCROLLING.”

One of the people to comment on the post was popular gambling streamer Roshtein, who is also partnered with Stake and has streamed with Drake in the past. He commented: “This came up like a bat sign on my feed.”

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