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The post Stake Launches New Tool to Create Casino Games and Earn 10% Revenue appeared first on Vegas Slots Online News.

While the world of online casino game development has always been dominated by traditional studios, Stake is now allowing people to contribute their own creations.

The crypto gambling site announced on Tuesday the rollout of its Stake Engine remote gaming server (RGS) system, which allows for the quick creation and deployment of new titles. The developer will earn 10% royalties on the monthly gross gaming revenue. Stake claims it is the most developer-friendly iGaming commercial model, with most slot providers usually getting half that amount.

Stake Engine-created games generated turnover totaling $3.3bn over the past year

It remarked how Stake Engine-created games generated turnover totaling $3.3bn over the past year, with three custom titles making it into the site’s 50 most popular games in Q1.

Stake isn’t restricting the types of games people can make, whether it’s slots, wheel-based action, card-based logic, or something completely original. Once it passes the standard requirements, you’re good to go.

Stake Co-Founder Bijan Tehrani remarked on X that while the announcement might fly under the radar, it “will someday be seen as one of the biggest disruptions to gambling” ever:

There’s currently a waiting list for anyone who’s interested in getting started with Stake Engine. You can send your name and email address to apply, with people also encouraged to include their GitHub link and provide some comments on what types of games they’re planning to build.

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The post Man Wins $800,000 Sports Betting at Caesars Casinos, Caesars Refuses to Pay appeared first on Vegas Slots Online News.

A parlay strategy that actually worked

A 24-year-old Chicago man is fighting to get $800,000 in sports betting winnings that he believes two Caesars-owned casinos owe him. So far, though, he has not had the luck he had when he made his bets.

he was convinced that he could beat the sportsbook

Thomas McPeek did his homework. He read a shelf-full of books on gambling and sports betting and developed a personal system for picking winners, keeping meticulous notes and charts in a good, old spiral notebook. He was convinced that he could beat the sportsbook playing NFL and college football parlays. And while most people who think that are usually very wrong, he was right.

“It was a calculated attack where I thought I had an edge,” McPeek told CBS Chicago.

Avoided detection

McPeek started with Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, Indiana, in August 2024. Over the course of a week, he bet $30,000 and won $350,000. In September, he moved on to Isle Casino in Bettendorf, Iowa, where he bet $20,000 and won $450,000.

He is well aware that playing parlays is risky (as is all betting, for that matter), even showing CBS Chicago giant stacks of losing betting slips. But he was committed and it worked.

only bet at kiosks to lower the risk of a human rejecting his wagers

Casinos don’t like winning players, so McPeek said he disguised himself to avoid detection and only bet at kiosks to lower the risk of a human rejecting his wagers. He also switched casinos to try to stay under the radar. He wasn’t doing anything illegal, but he did not want to be tagged as a winning player.

Talking about his experience at Isle Casino, McPeek said: “I sat at the kiosk for four hours just punching in my bets — bet after bet after bet after bet after bet.”

Caesars said he broke the rules

Over half a year later, though, neither casino has paid him, saying that he violated house rules. Specifically, Caesars cited its “Structuring/AML Standards” policy, which reads: “The structuring of wagers to circumvent federal currency transaction reporting thresholds is strictly prohibited. Additionally, all wagers are subject to the federal AML reporting requirements, including the filing of currency transaction reports and suspicious activity reports.”

Caesars also pointed out its “Repeat Wagers” rule, which says the company “reserves the right to investigate repetitive wagers made from a single account, or syndicate accounts, with the same outcome” and can void or withhold payment if permitted by state regulators.

It’s horrible what they’re doing to me.”

McPeek has filed complaints with both the Indiana and Iowa gaming regulators, telling CBS Chicago: “There’s no rules against staying under the radar. It’s horrible what they’re doing to me.”

The Indiana Gaming Commission has sided with Caesars; the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission is still reviewing the case. McPeek said he could end up suing Caesars if he doesn’t get his desired result.

McPeek also won $127,000 at the FanDuel Casino at Blue Chip Casino in Michigan City, Indiana. While Blue Chip ended up banning him, it still paid out in full. Caesars has offered to refund his wagers, even the losing ones, but will not pay McPeek his winnings.

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The post Las Vegas Stock Drops as MGM Ends In-Person Concierge Service, Cutting Staff appeared first on Vegas Slots Online News.

MGM has been facing difficulties this year, and this has prompted some to raise concerns regarding the health of Las Vegas’s tourism sector, given the declining share prices of its gaming giants.

it will shut down its in-person concierge services at most of its Las Vegas Strip resorts

The operator confirmed in an email on Saturday that it will shut down its in-person concierge services at most of its Las Vegas Strip resorts. The changes will impact the MGM Grand, The Signature, New York-New York, Mandalay Bay, Park MGM, and Vdara.

The move comes following MGM’s decision to lay off more than 200 contact center workers last month. Not only that, the operator announced in March that it would lay off staff at the Excalibur, in addition to cutting the hours of some housekeepers.

Jen G, a Las Vegas-focused media personality on social media, shared her concerns to X. She said that it seems Las Vegas is “gearing up for lower tourism, a possible recession and department closings:”

Many have blamed Donald Trump’s administration for the hit to Las Vegas and the US economy in general. Around 68% of respondents to a recent poll determined that Trump’s tariff war with other countries would negatively impact Las Vegas’s tourism sector.

MGM’s share price has fallen 22% in the past year, Caesars Entertainment has dropped 24%, and Wynn Resorts has declined 15%, indicating the struggles of the Las Vegas-centered gaming giants.

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The post MGM Apologizes for Taking $5m in Illegal Bookmaker Wagers, Bolsters AML Compliance appeared first on Vegas Slots Online News.

MGM Resorts International is taking its $8.5m fine on the chin, holding its hands up for accepting almost $5m in bets from illegal bookmakers without reporting them to the authorities. The Nevada Gaming Commission unanimously rubber-stamped the penalty on Thursday after the Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB) reached a settlement with the casino company last week.

Commissioners didn’t criticize MGM too harshly, referencing its historically strong record of compliance, and put the blame mainly at the feet of certain bad actors. Former MGM Grand President Scott Sibella and two casino hosts allegedly encouraged Wayne Nix to gamble at the property despite his illegal betting business.

the people who breached the rules lost their jobs

At the meeting, MGM Private Counsel Scott Scherer said that the company strives to be a leader in anti-money laundering (AML) compliance and that it relied too much on trusting workers to act in line with their training rather than “going rogue.” MGM Chief Compliance Officer Stephen Martino added that the people who breached the rules lost their jobs.

The company is improving its AML compliance and training, investing an additional $1m into this area and preparing to roll out a companywide awareness campaign.

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The post Live Wheel of Fortune US Tour Kicks Off July at Paris Las Vegas appeared first on Vegas Slots Online News.

Caesars Entertainment subsidiary Paris Las Vegas will host the live stage version of TV game show Wheel of Fortune in July as the curtain raiser to a 60-city tour of the US.

A Thursday news release from Sony Pictures Television and Right Angle Entertainment stated the live launch will take place in Vegas on July 11.

Paris Las Vegas took to X this week to announce tickets will go on sale Friday:

Hosted by actor and TV personality Mark L. Walberg, the stage version will see fans randomly selected from the audience, giving them the chance to spin the famous wheel, solve puzzles, and win prizes while on stage.

All audience members attending the live shows will additionally get the opportunity to audition on-site for the chance to appear in future episodes of the Wheel of Fortune TV show.

President, Game Shows for Sony Pictures Television Suzanne Prete stated producers of the popular game show had been looking into expanding the brand to “create opportunities for our fans to engage in new and exciting ways.”

play a version of their favorite game show in their hometown”

“This live show is a fun, interactive first for enthusiasts to play a version of their favorite game show in their hometown.”

Senior Vice President & General Manager of Paris Las Vegas Ken Ostempowski, meanwhile stated the energy and fun factor of the game was “perfectly suited for the Las Vegas Strip.”

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The post Ex-Politician Jailed for Sexual Assault on Daughter After Gambling Night in Vegas  appeared first on Vegas Slots Online News.

Off to prison

Clark County District Court Judge Joe Hardy has sentenced John Jessup, 50, to a 6-15 year stretch in prison after finding the ex-politician guilty of sexual assault on his daughter after a gambling and drinking spree in Las Vegas.

my life feels like it’s shattered”

“Since my biological father sexually assaulted me on Jan 26 last year, my life feels like it’s shattered,” Jessup’s daughter Rachel Keesling told the court through tears on Thursday.

Jessup took Keesling to Vegas to celebrate her 21st birthday. They started the celebration at Harrah’s Las Vegas, gambling and drinking.

According to court records, the ex Hancock County Commissioner and Councilman continued to ply his daughter with alcohol throughout the night with the sexual assault taking place back at their hotel room while she was blacked out.

Night to forget

While still at Harrah’s, the ex-Indiana politician urged Keesling to “keep up” with his drinking despite her pleading she’d had enough after three Long Island iced teas.

What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas”

“What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas,” the prosecution accused Jessup of saying to her as he continued ordering her drinks. The disgraced father then took Keesling to a strip club, leaving her at the bar while Jessup went to a private room.

When Keesling started vomiting, the pair returned to their hotel, where Jessup needed a wheelchair to get his incapacitated daughter back to their room.

The Las Vegas Review-Journal cited court records stating Keesling found herself naked with Jessup touching her when she regained consciousness.

“Once she moved, he stopped,” and then apologized.

In tears at the Regional Justice Center courthouse in Vegas on Thursday, Jessup’s daughter asked the court for the lengthiest possible prison sentence.

Keesling stated that after voters in Indiana elected her father as Councilman, despite the sexual assault allegations, she decided to come forward publicly as the victim of Jessup’s “sickening” actions.

Deputy District Attorney Morgan Thomas said what Jessup did “was criminal, and it was a sexual assault.”

“Fathers are supposed to protect their children. They’re not supposed to violate them when they are vulnerable,” she stated.

Consequences and trauma

Judge Hardy stated that besides serving time in prison, Jessup will need to register as a sex offender.

His daughter, meanwhile, has had to get tested for sexually transmitted diseases, “attends therapy and has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, severe anxiety and depression.”

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The post Hackers Threaten to Release Blueprints of Tribal Casino Vault if Ransom Not Paid appeared first on Vegas Slots Online News.

A tribal casino in North Carolina has fallen victim to a cyberattack, and the hackers say they will release blueprints for the facility if it doesn’t pay the ransom. The Catawba Nation-operated Two Kings Casino is currently employing the services of cybersecurity experts to try to get to grips with the issue.

The Anubis hacker group posted its ransom threat online on Wednesday and threatened to release the blueprints that show sensitive information like the location of chip vaults and where the surveillance cameras are located.

claims that these documents are old and relate to the casino’s previous layout plan

Catawba Nation Gaming Authority Vice President Trent Trozel claims that these documents are old and relate to the casino’s previous layout plan. The target of the attack is not the existing temporary casino, it’s the under-development permanent facility that is set to open early next year at a cost of $700m.

Trozel said that it doesn’t appear as of yet that the facility’s network, customer data, or operations are impacted by the information the cyber gang obtained.

This is not the first roadblock the tribe has faced when trying to build its new casino. Extensive legal action meant that the project announced in 2013 only got regulatory approval in 2020. Then, work soon had to be stopped as it violated the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, as a non-tribal corporation had management authority over the facility.

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The post DraftKings Facing Lawsuit in Pennsylvania Over Unfair Welcome Bonus Requirements appeared first on Vegas Slots Online News.

DraftKings is facing a lawsuit in Pennsylvania over the operator’s welcome bonus for new casino players. The plaintiffs claim that it is difficult to understand and requires a significant amount of playtime, with users only having a small chance of generating a real money return.

Table games also contribute to the turnover targets at a much lower rate than slots. The complaint uses an example that a user betting $50 per blackjack hand would need to play for over 66 hours before the bonus’s 7-day expiration to meet the playthrough requirements.

It alleges that DraftKings is “falsely promising users that they will get free money which they can wager without any risk.”

seeking class-action status

Five plaintiffs are part of this case, and they are seeking class-action status. One of them says he gambled away over $350,000 after asking for his account to be closed. He also remarked that the account contained $45,000 at the time of closure, which DraftKings has not yet sent him.

This is not the first time DraftKings has been on the receiving end of legal action. It is also dealing with ongoing lawsuits in New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Illinois, and Kentucky for a variety of issues regarding its advertising of offers.

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The post Sri Lanka Takes Major Step Towards Gambling Industry Regulation appeared first on Vegas Slots Online News.

Regulation in the cards

Sri Lanka has taken a major step towards gambling industry regulation in Asia’s oldest democracy.

bill to be tabled in parliament for debate and final approval

Earlier this week, the Sri Lankan Cabinet approved the publication of the draft for a Gambling Sports Regularisation Act in the government gazette, which allows the bill to be tabled in parliament for debate and final approval.

If Sri Lanka’s parliament gives the nod, the Act would usher in a new Gambling Regulation Authority responsible for licensing, oversight, and enforcement across multiple gambling verticals.

In his weekly post-Sri Lanka Cabinet meeting press briefing, Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa revealed the long-awaited bill’s progress after it was approved by the Attorney General.

Cabinet Spokesperson Jayatissa told the media the sole-entity regulator would be an independent body with broad powers to oversee and regulate all gambling-related verticals in Sri Lanka, including offshore, onshore, and online activities.

Regulation means revenue

Minister Jayatissa stated the proposed national regulator would have a “broad mandate, covering areas such as offshore gambling sports on ships and in the Colombo Port City, online gambling platforms and offshore casinos.”

According to Sri Lanka’s national daily business newspaper, the big push towards streamlining gaming and betting laws comes “amid growing concerns around unregulated gaming and betting.”

Daily FT cited ongoing calls to successive governments by the Committee on Public Finance to fast-track a regulator in order to avoid “major loss of revenue to the State coffers.”

booming iGaming industry remains largely untouchable

The CoPF has stressed that despite the government receiving tax from retail casinos, the booming iGaming industry remains largely untouchable, and has demanded swift action to bring iCasino operators and activities under the financial oversight of a national regulator.

Broad mandate

According to the draft, the regulatory body would issue and renew operator licences, set and monitor technical, operational standards, and anti-money laundering, know-your-customer rules. The regulator would also oversee responsible play measures including wagering limits and self-exclusion registers.

Under its enforcement remit, the regulator can sanction inspections, impose administrative penalties, freeze or revoke licenses, and hear appeals against such decisions.

Act will supersede multiple older laws

According to reports, the Gambling Sports Regularisation Act will supersede multiple older laws and establish regulatory procedures for “both domestic and foreign operators seeking to serve Sri Lankan customers.”

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The post Operators Frustrated as UK Shelves Plans to Relax Retail Slot Machine Rules appeared first on Vegas Slots Online News.

AGC sector unhappy

Operators of adult gaming centers (AGCs) in Great Britain have expressed frustration at the UK government’s decision to pause plans to relax the rules governing high street slot machine arcades.

relaxation of the “80/20 rule” will not happen in 2025

The move to shelve liberalizing the regulations means the relaxation of the “80/20 rule” will not happen in 2025, and as the Guardian reports, “could be dropped altogether.”

The status quo means only a maximum 20% of slot machines in AGCs can be category B3, namely terminals that allow stakes of up to £2 ($2.66) with winnings of up to £500 ($665). The remaining 80% of the slots can be class C or D, machines with a £1 ($1.33) maximum stake for jackpots not exceeding £100 ($133).

The UK’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) cited concerns over the AGC’s treatment of vulnerable players as the reason behind its move.

Unexpected decision

According to reports, the Starmer administration was “widely expected” to allow the booming AGC industry to install more slots offering higher payouts.

wasted floor space and unnecessary power bills

The AGCs had argued that the 80/20 rule stifled the vertical growth as most gamblers don’t play the lower-stakes slots, which amount to wasted floor space and unnecessary power bills.

Last May, the DCMS said it was mulling either a new 50/50 rule or dropping the 80/20 regulations entirely.

On Wednesday, The Guardian cited a DCMS letter announcing it was hitting the pause button on changes for 2025. While officials didn’t rule out revisiting the plan, they highlighted “concerns about the strength of protections for vulnerable people” within the AGC vertical.

A case in point arose in February when the UK Gambling Commission fined Merkur Group UK £95,450 ($126,983) for social responsibility failings at one of the AGCs owned by the German gambling giant Gauselmann Group’s UK subsidiaries.

The penalty came after a bettor lost £1,981 ($2,635) in November 2023 at a Merkur AGC in Stockport, with The Guardian revealing how “staff allegedly exploited a vulnerable cancer patient.”

Clinging to hope

Bacta President John Bollom expressed the frustration of members his body represents from the amusements and low-stakes, low-prize gambling arcade sector, but added Bacta remained hopeful the DCMS will revisit the plan.

“When the minister looks again she will see this reform for what it is – common sense, safe for players and good for our ailing high streets.”

Labour MP Beccy Cooper, however, welcomed the pause and called for even more restrictions on AGCs.

“Local councils also need more powers to enable them to restrict the number of gambling outlets in local communities,” she stated.

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